noun ~ the power of influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural force

PHOENIX

Silence echoed around the forest as Nova crept into no-man's-land. My heart in my throat, I had to remain where I was as she stopped half-way in the safe zone. My fists clenched at my sides, watching her breath shake as she inhaled. To my surprise, whatever she smelt caused her to freeze. Her head cocked and her eyes fluttered closed as her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths.

She unknowingly crept forward, following the scent. I watched her go, hoping she was aware of what she was doing. But she wasn't, because within five steps, she was at the furthest limit.

"Nova!" I called, warning her.

She gasped, tripping over her own feet. I stepped forward, ready to assist her if she needed it, but she caught herself on the tree. Still, I pushed forward, ready to aid her, but then the strangest thing happened. The moment her hand touched the tree, her entire appearance blurred. A blinding, sharp light erupted where she stood and, like lightning, the scent of smoke filled my nostrils.

I called out to her alarmed, but where she once stood and the light took over, now faded to a blank emptiness.

She was gone.

"Nova!" I shouted.

I opened my mind, panicked as I searched for her. My nose smelt nothing but her previous scent and I didn't hear her footsteps or her heartbeat. Fear clutched at my stomach as I frantically searched around. The bond was fizzled, gone much like it was when she was in a vision.

Spinning around, my hard gaze latched onto Charlie. His eyes were wide, staring down at the charred dirt that once held my mate. Even the oak tree held the shadow of her fingertips, a dark smoky smear on the bark.

"Shit." Charlie whispered. "She can teleport."

I snarled, ignoring him, sweat pooling on my palms. "Where did she go?"

He blinked, looking up at me with shock. "I don't know. She just... Poof!"

"Charlie!" I growled, baring my teeth.

He took a step back, dropping the act and baring his neck. "Shit, I don't know!"

"Can you smell her?" I insisted.

Charlie was the best tracker around.

He frowned, stepping over the border and looking around. "No. She's... where the fuck did she go? You didn't tell me she could teleport!"

"She can't!" I snapped. "She fucking vanished!"

"Alright, alright. There has to be an explanation." Charlie tried.

Too consumed with fear and rage, I fisted my hands in my hair. This was happening again. Why? Why was it happening again? What cruel fate destined me to be without my mate?

"You need to think logically-

"Fuck that! She just vanished!" I snarled.

"Her scent lingers, she can't just... go!" He huffed. "Why don't I take a look around and you go... cool off?"

"I should look." I shook my head.

His hands stopped me, pushing me back over the border and into privacy. The border had a sound shield, and glaring down at Charlie, I understood why when I saw his sympathetic gaze.

"What if that is what they want? What if they want their pack defenseless without their alpha pair?" He asked.

"What if she needs me?"

"I have sworn to protect her with my life, Phoenix." He shook his head. "I will let nobody hurt her. You have the twins to think about."

I growled, pacing as I knew he was right. My beast, my wolf, cried for me to find her. I had to search high and low and near and far. She couldn't just disappear.

"You go make some phone calls." Charlie told me.

"Why?" I snapped.

"You need to call Aldren, Gaia, somebody and find out what the fuck lightning strikes mean."

Gritting my teeth, fear fueled my agitation. "You're right. But fuck-

"No, fuck. I got this. I have the best nose."

"Can you handle it?"

Holding my gaze, he promised me. "I swear, Nix. I got this."

My mate's fate was in both of our hands.

I bowed my head in thanks. "Okay."

"Okay? Good. Now go. Don't waste time." He told me.

With a body burning with adrenaline, I turned and ran. I felt his hand pat my back as I turned before pushing myself to my limit to get back home. I had to be fast. I had to figure this out.

Busting into my home, I mind-linked Sean.

'What's up?'

Code yellow. I snarled.

He paused. 'You're shitting me?'

I wish I was. I told him. She vanished. Don't tell anyone. Rose has the twins, so if she asks; we are just busy.

'Yes, Alpha.' Sean snapped. 'Find her, for fuck's sake, not again.'

I will try. For the love of the goddess, I would try.

Moving to my phone, I was just about to pick it up and dial the cousin when a knock sounded on my door. I paused, a low growl rising in my throat. There was a witch at my door.

Why was there a witch at my door?

Turning around, I stared at the wood. "What do you want?"

"She's gone, isn't she?" The soft voice mumbled.

"You do not have permission to be here." I warned. "I have every right to kick you off my land."

"I know, but I can help."

Ripping the door open, I glared down at the queen. "Help? Her gift has been gone since you called to her last month and now she's gone."

"She's not gone." Theia shook her head, sidestepping me.

I growled as she entered my home and looked around. "What are you doing?"

"Do you want my help or not?"

I paused, jaw working to try not bite her head off. "Does my cousin know you are here?"

"I teleported." She shook her head. "Alexandar thinks I am in the gardens."

"What do you want? It better be a good reason before I chuck you out." I glared.

She raised her hands in defence, palms forward, and I took a step back at her submissive pose. "She's not gone."

"Then where is she?" I spat through gritted teeth.

"The border breeches-

"That's not what I asked." I snapped.

She glared back at me. "It is the answer, so listen."

Growling, I visibly shook as she continued to speak.

"You have had border breeches?"

"No."

Her eyes dropped into an expression of un-amusement. "The male that keeps coming to your pack borders is not a threat."

"Then why is my mate gone?" I snapped.

"A witch controls it."

"Again with the fucking witches." I huffed. "All your breed does is cause harm to my mate."

"This is not a dangerous witch, Phoenix."

"You say that, but you are one of them. You wouldn't know."

"Goodness, just stop it!" She shrieked. "Listen to me before you have an aneurysm."

My tongue clicked against the roof of my mouth, annoyed. "You disrespect me on my land."

"Nothing bad will happen if you have hope."

I paused, suddenly finding a spot on her forehead rather interesting. Why did she say that? What did she know?

"Have hope, Phoenix, and please listen to me."

My jaw tightened, but I nodded and let the door swing shut behind me. I heard her sigh in relief as I moved into the kitchen and poured a glass of whiskey.

First my mate disappears, and now there's a goddamn witch in my kitchen.

"Nova is no longer a physical form."

"So she's dead?"

"No." Theia chuckled softly.

"Not exactly funny, is it?"

Her face hardened. "Her gift is powerful, stronger than mine. She does not realise it, and the potential only grows as she does. She has not used it in a while because deep down she is unaware."

"She trained with Aldren." I shook my head.

"In conjuring visions. Nova has so much more. She can see so many possibilities. Her mind can travel to different times, realms, realities and dreams."

"Dreams?" I wondered.

"She could appear in your dreams if she tried." Theia nodded. "Her gift of sight is limitless."

Hesitating, silence echoed around my house before I spoke. "Why?"

"Why?" she repeated, frowning.

"Why Nova? Why is she so strong?"

"She is a lycan."

"Right."

"Her wolf is ancient."

"I am aware."

Theia sighed. "When Nova's mother passed on her wolf to protect her daughter, she did not realise the power that would possess. To do such a thing would require you speaking to the Moon Goddess herself. And her wolf didn't do that just once, but twice!"

"So because her grandmother and mother spoke to the goddess, she's somehow stronger?"

"Yes, in a way." Theia nodded. "That's three generations of raw power passed down into one person. The birth of the twins drained her physically and mentally. Her entire body turned into protecting those tiny babies. It caused her gift to be put on the side-burner, so to say. Slow cooking for a while."

"And now the heat has been turned up by a trigger of a witch?"

"Yes." Theia nodded. "This witch is not bad. I sense no bad magic here."

"The wolf hides his scent and teases us every week."

"Yet Nova knew he was coming today?" Theia smirked. "Her gift is smart. She listened to her intuition."

"And now she's gone." I deadpanned.

"She will be back when she has had her adventure."

"What if it is a bad one?" I asked, growling. "What if she does not know how to come back? She has never explored this part of her gift before!"

"Has Nova been doing anything different recently?"

"No."

"Not been over-protective, or determined?"

"No more than usual since the twins."

Theia sighed, shaking her head. "Okay, let me rephrase. Has she been looking after herself more lately? Have you noticed any changes to say, her body? Her mind?"

"She's been training with Sean." I shrugged.

"Right. I am assuming harder than normal."

"I'm not sure." I shook my head.

"In secret?" Her eyes widened with amusement. "She really is in protective bear mode."

I scowled at the witch. I hated she knew more than I did. Another reason witches were the bane of all existence was because they always knew more.

"So what do I do?"

"Support her. Explain everything when she comes back."

"When will that be?"

Theia cocked her head, eyes glazing. "Not much longer."

"How did you know to come?" I wondered. "Nobody summoned you."

"Nova spoke to me." She smirked. "Her visions are long, but in real time they are short."

"She told you to come to me?"

"No, I recognised she was no longer on earth and thought you'd need an explanation before you tear apart a human village."

"I am not a monster." I huffed.

"No, but it is a funny picture."

"Death is funny?"

"Please." She rolled her eyes. "Have some humour."

I hesitated, pondering my words. "How did you know?"

She frowned. "I told you. She came to me-

"No." I shook my head. "Hope. How did you know?"

Her eyes softened, a smile lifting her cheeks. "You don't have to go far to connect the burnt ash trails."

Another thing about witches; fucking riddles!

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means stop asking questions!" She laughed. "Just take my words, Phoenix. Nova will most likely reappear in a place she finds safe. Sometimes journeys like this don't return to the same point."

I nodded. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, I got it."

"Good. I'm going to go."

"You cannot teleport inside my house." I told her.

"I know." She rolled her eyes. "I can feel Gaia's magic."

My lips quirked at the fact it was strong enough to hold back the Luna Queen. "I will get the door for you."

She followed me to the main door and stopped at the threshold after I opened it.

"She will do great things, Phoenix. But there are always going to be people who hate that."

"I know." I mumbled.

Theia nodded, and without another word, stepped onto my path and disappeared. I watched the place where she vanished for a moment before shutting the door. Mind-linking Charlie, I told him a brief explanation. He cursed softly, but turned around and made his way back to where she had disappeared.

'Where will you be?'

In a place she finds safe. I told him.

'Your arms?' He cooed.

Rolling my eyes, I came to a stop in the doorway. No, our room.

'How romantic.'

Just stay there in case. I huffed. Wherever she goes, we tell each other.

'Sir, yes, Sir.'

Oh, and Charlie?

'Yeah?'

Thank you.

I could feel the shit-eating grin as his wolf stumbled to a stop. It was answer enough that he was happy, and with a shake of my head, I sat on the edge of my bed, waiting.

Hoping.

Waiting and hoping.