Page 50 of Charmed, I'm Sure
I open my mouth to ask, but she sharply shakes her head. Noted. One day I’ll have her tell me about it, but it’s not today.
“You know you should talk with Adren about the wolf traditions because there are a few that they do during the festival too.”
“Oh, I guess I should probably do that. I’ve got to check in with him now that I’m officially the unofficial puppy wrangler.” His shoulders droop, a sadness washing over his face.
“Don’t sound disappointed, Dog Boy; you will love it. It’s a run and roar thing. I don’t know a lot about it since, obviously, I haven’t taken part in that either. But I always hear the wolves bragging about it when they get home. Why do you look disappointed in your pack role?”
“Yeah,” I say, staring down into the gray liquid. It’s not that I’m not looking forward to spending time with other wolves, or even taking part in their traditions. It’s just that…I want to spend my time with Bellamy, watching her work. I would rather be wherever she is.
“I’m not, I just thought I would get something more along Sentinel or Hunter. But apparently chasing after the youngpups is more fitting.” I don’t want to talk about how even in the Rocky Mountain Pack I didn’t have what I would consider a noble role. I was actually being trained to be a healer, which isn’t what most male wolves are slotted in. My parents never shunned me for it or made me feel less than, but the other male wolves? Yeah, they made jokes at my expense because I had a girlie role. “Anyways, what is this gray lumpy liquid?”
I look up at her as she stands opposite me with a glinty dagger posed over the top and her hand hovering next to it. I should be worried about the dagger, but it's the look on her face that has my entire focus. I might not have said aloud what was bothering me, but something in her eyes tells me she already figured it out.
She shutters as she refocuses on the task. “This,” she says with a slice of the knife across her palm, “is what seals the veil again for the new year. Without this lock, any spirit, good or evil, could roam the world with no consequence.”
I gasp, droplets of her blood hitting the liquid, steam rising and sparks bouncing along the walls of the cauldron.
“What are you doing?” I whisper in awe.
“Adding the final ingredient, and the reason it has to be me. Blood of a witch, given freely, in honor of the power our ancestors give to the veil protecting our community from the outside world.”
“Why does it have to be you?” I continue to whisper, watching as the dull gray color slowly transforms into a glittering, pearly liquid. Sparks pop along the top as I continue to swirl it.
She wraps her hand in a bandage. “Because Dog Boy, I’m the only one willing to dabble in the dark, to dance in the shadows, and revel in all things that are forbidden. Does that bother you?”
She hooks her eyebrow up, waiting for me to say it’s too much. That she’s too much. But, that’s the farthest thing from my mind right now. What I’m seeing is a woman who carries the heaviest load with nobody in her corner. She may be someone who does the things she mentioned, butwhy do people fear her instead of praising her?
“You are an amazing woman, Bellamy. The people in this town should respect you and praise you. You are the reason they can live freely and without fear of the outside world. Instead of talking about you while you walk down the street, they should be singing their adoration.”
She humphs before turning around and grabbing the herbs and things she pulled out for this spell. I watch as she moves with an ease that only comes from someone in their space and comfort zone. She places each jar back in its rightful place, not saying another word. I continue to stir the mixture, quietly waiting for her to come back to me.
After a few moments of silence, she finally comes back to the cauldron. She looks down into the liquid that looks like she plucked stars from the sky and mixed them into it.
“You can stop stirring now,” she breathes, the glitter of the liquid reflecting in her eyes.
Bringing the mixture to a stop, I lay the wooden spoon down on the table.
“Now what?”
“Now, you go home or wherever you are going that isn’t staying here.”
I hesitate, waiting to see if she will change her mind. But she doesn’t give me the option, turning around, and walking into the back of the shop.
Checking the time on my phone, I realize I’ve only got time to walk around town before meeting up with Clarissa. Maybe I can chat with Adren about these traditions that Bellamy mentioned.
Chapter Sixteen
Howl You Like My Plan?
Miles
Iwander along the cobblestone streets littered with fallen leaves in oranges, reds, and yellows. The decorations are going up in every direction I turn as businesses prepare for the Samhain festival coming in four days. Witches use their magic to lift the big pumpkins, stacking them together in a beautiful display. People smile as I pass them, each time I dip my head as I continue to stroll.
In many ways, Pumpkinridge is just like Jasper. Small town, quaint businesses with quirky names, and generations of people who have lived here their whole lives. I can’t wait to get to know these people, too. Learning all their stories and quirks.
Walking off the path, I take the dirt path towards the wolf territory. Man, some things really don’t change, because tucked in the Whispering Pines are the wolf lodgings and main Pack House.
Deciding to explore the businesses, I open the door to The Lone Wolf Tavern and find none other than Adren sitting at the wooden bar, sipping from a tankard of beer. Well, time to learn more about this wolf pack.