POV
Avery

The next afternoon after Shawn had regained control of his body, we were out in the back fields, the fields behind the packhouse.

Sitting down the back stairs across from the patio, I was teaching Shawn how to meditate. We were on the warm grass, the sun flickering through the tall trees cast shadows on us. Shawn was finding it hard to focus and kept incessantly chattering, "Baby can you stop talking and focus, Gods, you're like a puppy." I said. Before I knew it, I was on my back, Shawn attacked me, kissing and sucking on my neck and lips. I moaned out, feeling his hands travel up my shirt. He fondled my nipple, remarking about how puffy they were.

"Do you feel what you're doing to me?" He asked, grinding his hard-on into me. The warm grass beneath us tickled my neck. I pulled him closer to me by my hips, grinding back. "Mmm... You smell so good." He groaned, taking deep whiffs from my throat. "Excuse me, but there are pups at play, so maybe don't dry hump out in public." A voice said from above us, I popped open an eye to find Keaton's mate, Gram standing over us. "Jealous?" Shawn asked, sitting up, straddling me. 

"No, I'll have you know, me and Keaton are always mating. We just choose to keep the bedroom activities in the bedroom, and... Not... Where... Innocent eyes can see." The short man said, running his hands through his chocolatey curls. "We were just meditating," I said, feeling my face get hot. "Oh please, I can smell exactly what you two were doing." Gram said, rolling his hazel eyes and strutting off. "He's right, we should just hold off until after I win the bet," I said, and Shawn smirked down at me. "So you worked out a spell?" He asked, a snicker in his southern voice.

"Yes... I invited the circle over, we need the energy from what's left of the full moon." I said and he laughed, "You really invited your human friends here? I didn't hear you run that by me." He said, tickling my ribs. "S-stop." I laughed, and he laughed harder, the sound stealing my heart. "I-I made a decision, as the marked mate of this packs Beta, I can decide who has access to this territory," I said, and he nodded with a smirk. "So how will it work?" He asked, "You'll find out tonight at ten, besides you need to focus on what's gonna happen after the spell," I said, reaching up and licking his lips.

"Mmm... I want you right after." I said, kissing his stunned lips. "They'll be here in a few hours," I said, and he and I got caught for a moment in each other's gazes. "Let them come, but when the spell doesn't work, you and I will have ourselves a proper date." He said, and I rolled my eyes. "I can't wait to say I'm not a virgin... Are you going to mark me?" I asked, "N-no... Sunshine you are taking all of this too lightly, losing your virginity it's huge, and marking is even bigger. We will be bound, in ..." I interrupted him, not wanting to hear any more reasons on why I couldn't have my mate. "For the first time in years, I feel alive, I don't want to wait for anything good anymore. I may not love you yet, but I feel like it will be easy, I'm halfway there, and so... I want to fully mate, no more waiting, we can grow together." I explained. "W-So you understand everything?" He asked. "Yeah... Linked in mind, heart, and soul... I want that. I wanna be yours, the right way." I said.

"Win and well see." He said, and I nodded confidently.

#   #  #

After showering, and molesting Shawn, we were heading downstairs, we could both smell Adam cooking, and after days of eating pack cooking, we were starved. "My friends will be here in thirty minutes, we have to prepare some things beforehand," I said, as Shawn and I rounded the corner entering the kitchen where the smell was coming from. "You really wanna make this bet?" Shawn asked as we came into the room. I was behind him,  "What bet?" A'mosh asked as we entered the kitchen, I went straight for the sink, washing my hands. Then I walked over to Adam and his pot and stuck some bread into it. It was chili

"Sunshine thinks he's a witch, supposedly his coven is going to come and we won't have to worry about rogues ever again," Shawn said sarcastically. "Would that work?" Adam asked knowing what I was capable of. "I worked out a spell, I'm confident," I answered.

"Don't tell me you believe in magic, Luna?" Shawn asked, "Of course, you're a werewolf, magic exists." Adam responded. "You know what I mean, human "magic" its all positive thought and coincidence," Shawn said, and I sighed. "Lies, conjuring is an old form of ma'jek, handed down and taught to humans by angels," I said.

"Okay, what time is the coven suppose to get here?" Shawn asked. "Wait they're humans coming here tonight?" A'mosh asked. "Yeah, I gave the okay, they're using the western border," Shawn replied. "What?! Were you gonna notify me?" A'mosh demanded. "May I speak with you for a second, down the hall?" Shawn requested, and A'mosh sighed but followed his friend.

I watched them go then stood at the doorway, trying to snoop. I could hear them, but only faintly, my hearing wasn't that great yet. "You bet Shawn, and you're using sex as a weapon? Have you two had sex already?" Adam asked. "No, but we've come close," I answered. "What happened to you being scared of him?" I asked. "Ever since I summoned Lumen, I've been feeling so good. And Shawn doesn't make hating him easy. Monkey, he did this thing with his tongue, Gods it felt like he was trying to suck my soul out of me." I explained, and Adam smirked, proud that I was finally coming out of my shell.

"You spent the full moon with Shawn, what was that like?" Adam asked, "It was intense, he sat there in his cage, Meeko staring through him at me for hours. He explained why he marked me, said he was enraged, Shawn refused to look for me, so when Meeko took control, he was just wandering the woods, by then he was feral, and when he found me, he lost control."  He explained. 

"Shhh, here they come," I said, and we fell silent. "So, a coven of humans are on their way, we'll be taking them to the western border." A'mosh said, he and Shawn coming into the room, Adam turned to add a few splashes of tabasco sauce to his chili. "What about the ghost on the western border?" Adam asked. "Ghost?" I asked.

"Supposedly there are ghosts on the western border," Shawn said as if it weren't true. "There are ghosts and they don't like being disturbed," Adam said, and Shawn scoffed, while I visibly gulped. "Shawn I think I remember you running through the woods screaming yo.." 

"A'mosh!" Shawn gnarred, and A'mosh laughed, coming over and grabbing the wooden spoon beside me, digging in the pot and eating mouthfuls of the scalding sauce and beef. I was wondering if we could borrow some supplies from the greenhouse?" I asked. "Whatever you need," Shawn said, his eyes devouring me whole.

"Are you guys hungry?" Adam asked, turning the pot off and grabbing an oven mitt to take cornbread out of the oven. "When did you become a housewife?" I asked, and Adam sucked his teeth. "Please, you can cook too, maybe you'll be more inclined to once your marked," Adam said, making me blush. "There is no rush, Sunshine," Shawn said, winking at me.

We sat down to chili and cornbread, we laughed and talked.

#   #   #

Thirty minutes came and went before Marius called and said he and the gang were outside. Shawn, Adam and A'mosh followed me to greet them. The sun was setting, "Adam, Shawn, Alpha... This is Marius, Nikki, Athena, and Amber." I said introducing my friends. "If you guys don't mind, we could use some fast legs and extra hands," I said, leading my friends, and my family towards the greenhouses. Inside, the herbalist inside Amber came alive. Marius was also impressed, "Witts, where is this one from?" Athena asked, pointing to a small white flower, that though rose-like, was super small and tiny. "It's from the unseen world, Adornia... I know, I mean I was sure it was real, but to know without a doubt... Mmph." I said. Adam and A'mosh were off talking to each other, whispering.

"You said, you had a spell?" Marius asked as I grabbed a wooden bowl. "Yes, Lumen came to me, and not just him, multiple light spirits, one of them took over my body, and wrote out this spell," I said, sliding the notepad to Marius. "Nolis? What is the price?" Athena asked. "None, Nolis is an aggressive light spirit, his power won't fade for some time, he'll dwell in us and as a side effect, our reserves won't drop for at least a few weeks. Real power." I said, "I don't know." Athena said, and I sighed, I was a little tired of her. "Well, I do, I've been practicing the craft for years and I finally have a shot at real power. You're welcome to leave." I said, taking the bowl and walking off.

"Well, what crawled up your ass Witts?" She mumbled, walking off. I ignored her, going over to the rosemary and clipping six parts. The blue buds and the herb.

From there, I walked over to the St John's Wort, it was up against the wall, I plucked close to sixty of the yellow flowers and twenty of the green leaves.

"Guess you told her... if you ask me it's about time someone let her know she doesn't run our circle... Ballsy Avery is hot by the way." Marius said. I laughed when his fingers tickled my neck. "St-stop Mar..." I giggled.

"Take your hands off my mate... Now!" We spun around and Shawn was right up in Marius's face, Shawn's eyes flashing from his to Meeko's. "Whoa, baby, calm down," I said, standing quickly in between them. "W-we are just friends," Marius said, and Shawn made a snarling sound in his chest. "Humans use that excuse a lot don't ya'll, friends should stay in the friend zone. Best remember that." Shawn said, pulling me into his chest and kissing me furiously. He pulled away, walking off, going over to A'mosh and Adam.

"Why these herbs?" Marius asked, trying to hide his smirk, "I don't know honestly, near as I can guess, the rosemary would be for protection, the St John's Wort would be a power enhancer. Did you bring the asafoetida?" I asked. "Yeah, I got it." He said, pulling out a bowl wrapped in plastic wrap, he took off the wrap sitting the bowl on the table.

I plucked out fifteen pieces and added them to the bowl of flowers and herbs. "The asafoetida is a jinx intruder, the spell says to grind them together until powdered, then they need to be offered to the four winds," I said, I looked around, spotting some tiny bags used for soil testing. I grabbed four, before going back to the bowl. Marius was talking to Nikki, while she watched him grind the contents of the bowl.

"That's enough," I said, walking over and taking the bowl. I poured equal amounts into the four tiny bags, before taking them to Adam, A'mosh, and Shawn. "Take these, the powder needs to be scattered in the wind at each border," I said. "Shawn, you take the eastern border, Adam and I will hit the north and south. Avery, don't go into the west woods, not until we get back." A'mosh demanded, and I nodded.

As soon as my brother and the wolves were gone, I sent Nikki and  Amber to see the weeping lilies, another plant from the other world. "So, how have you been, Athena?" I asked, "Still having nightmares?" I added. "No nightmares, but I keep hearing the man's voice, warning me... Telling me we aren't strong enough to face what's coming... Whose coming." She said. "Well, after tonight all the offensive spells you know, you can put them to use," I said. "You're sure about this? You're sure we can trust Lumen or any of the lights?" Athena asked, wiping a blonde tuff from her eyes, her hair always seemed to attack her face when she was the most serious.

"I don't know... Whoever did this, they are strong... Lumen's energy is powerful, but the dreams still get through even if to a lesser degree... how many more warnings do you think we'll get?" She asked. "I haven't gotten the first warning," Marius said, "I'm serious, the shop is not worth all this... I'm stressed and always on edge." Athena said. "We need clear minds and hearts, so if you don't feel up to it, maybe you should sit this one out," I said, "Gods what is with you, is that all you care about... This stupid spell." She mumbled.

"At the moment, yes, I have a lot riding on this spell," I announced, "More than protecting the pack from intruders?" Marius asked. "My-my virginity... Shawn wants us to wait, I don't... We made a bet, one I intend to win." I said. "Well then, I guess a few whispers in a dream can take the back burner for the night, for the sake of you finally gettin some," Athena said. Marius and I laughed.

"Thena, babe come look at these flowers, they're crying!" Amber yelled, Marius, followed Athena and I followed him, we walked out of the backroom and over to where Amber and Nikki stood. It was a small pond and inside of the wet slimy waters, plants grew. They looked like lilies, a few were peach-colored, with long green stems, the others were a rich dark purple.

Both the peach and pure flowers hung loose on their steams. White sap dripped from the petals. It was beautiful, they seemed to be crying, mourning some tragic happening.

"They're beautiful, I wish I could see the other world. Travel to Adornia, the legends don't due the beauty justice." Nikki said, and Amber agreed. "Weeping lilies have mind-altering properties. The sap is used to heal a broken heart, probably some sort of antidepressant." Amber explained, "Can I come back, and speak to whoever takes care of these?" She asked. "Sure," I said, "We should head over to the western treeline, we can wait for the others there," I said. We walked out of the greenhouse, Nikki, Amber, and Athena all complimenting me on my mate, telling me how hot, sexy and dangerous he was.

#   #   #

Sometime later the eight of us stood beneath a waning moon, we were in a grove at the tip of the western border. I  understood the rumors about the ghosts, I could feel something, something powerful and strong. "We are about to start if you guys could step back and stay quiet," I said, Adam nodded enthusiastically, A'mosh just agreed, but my mate... The jerk he can be, he was snickering. "Just stay quiet," I warned him, and he lifted his hands in surrender. I turned and gave the okay, we began to strip, "Sunshine what the hell are you doing?" Shawn growled.

"Nice ass..." Said A'mosh. "Don't fuck around, Alpha!" Shawn snarled. "Chill out man, I have the original, you can keep the copy." The Alpha laughed. "Guys please, we need focus... Shawn, baby relax, everyone here except for the Alpha has seen my body... So relax." I snapped. He growled, the sound in his chest vibrating, but he said no more. When we were naked, the breeze flowing over us, I began. Athena stood to the south, Amber to the west, Nikki to the east, Marius represented the north and I was in the middle of them. I was the spirit, I would act as the battery, the spell would flow through me.

I was ready, my solar plexus could handle it, it could manage the weight of such energies. I nodded to Marius to begin. He raised his hand's above his head, he was facing the north, so I was left with a view of his ass, I would have enjoyed it, but I was focusing. "O ye guardian of the earth, ye tower of old, hear us this night... Gather and stand guard. We call to you o lord of the north, Boreas, we call you forth. Stand before us lord of the mountains, o giver of patience, gather and root us to each other!" He yelled, summoning the watchtower of the north, and a god of the north winds.

"O ye guardian of the air, ye tower of old, hear us this night... Gather and stand guard. We call to you o lord of the east, Eurus, we call you forth. Stand before us lord of curiosity, o giver of creativity, gather and dwell here!" Nikki called out, summoning the watchtower of the east and a god of the east winds. The leaves of the trees around us made noises, the energies were responding quicker than they ever had as if they were as desperate as I was. Athena stretched one hand forward, the other reached for the skies.

"O ye guardian of the wildfires, ye tower of old, hear us this night... Gather and stand guard. We call to you o lord of the south, Notos, we call you forth. Stand before us lord of storms, o giver of passions. Gather and burn our circle with your power!" She shouted. I could hear Shawn chuckling, but unlike him, I could feel the energies growing, the wind whipped through the air, I could feel the winds, the towers standing tall.

Amber held her hands out in front of her, her head bowed. "O ye guardian of the seas and oceans, ye tower of old, hear of us this night... Gather and stand guard. We call to you o lord of the west, Zephyrus, we call you forth. Stand before us lord of the west atmospheres, o giver of power from the west, intuitions, and strength. Gather and envelope us!" Amber cried, and Shawn's laughter stopped, the air was alive, no doubt even he felt it. Amber had called forth the west tower and a god of the west winds, their power was present.

Then it was my turn, time for me to invoke the spirits of past conjurers, then call for the light spirit of boundaries and borders. Nolis. I lifted my hands above my head, raising my face to the sky. "We call forth our ancestors in the craft, those who have come before. We call you sister Shipton! We call you Tituba!... Fortune, and mambo Laveau!" I shouted and I kid you not, a force went through me. "Together we stand united, ad garo sigo Nolis!... Ad garo sigo Nolis!... Ad garo sigo Nolis!... Ad garo sig...." The words stopped as the familiar powerful energy of Nolis overtook me, it was strong like trying to carry a mountain on my back.

The weight shot through me and brought me to my knees. My friends were on their knees, all with a look of intense focus on their faces. The grove was lit up, bright and glowing.

I  heard a voice nothing like Lumen's, this one was thunderous, yet fatherly. I felt safe, yet on edge... In awe. It asked me to speak about my desire. (Pray) The voice called. "Nolis... Protect these lands, Va'yos, Handolli, Ba'ya." I repeated some words of protection, offering them to Nolis. The light in the grove grew brighter, shining from around us and from within me... I was burning, not hot but powerful. The weight became bearable and I stood up, and as I stood my feet were lifted from under me.

I floated above my friends watching A'mosh and Shawn and Adam stand bewildered, as the light poured from my body, bathing the grove in what was lighter than sunlight. The light burned for maybe two minutes, before running off, moving through the trees with the wind, going to encase the other parts of the territory. I hung there in the air, glowing lighter than my friends, who were staring up at me in shock. That fatherly voice spoke again, except through me. "My power is yours!" The voice said through me.

Slowly I was dropped to the ground, and I felt the energy ringing inside me. I knew all the words of ma'jek that I understood, all the rhyming spells I had written. Any one of them would work, my reserves were full, I could work ma'jek. The feeling after a spell is exactly like a high, the one Nolis gave me was pleasurable, and in that high, I started to giggle. I couldn't stop. I heard Adam say that we would stop in a few minutes, we didn't...

#   #   #

Twenty minutes after the laughter finally stopped, which by the way was a little painful. I stood stronger and filled with power, I and my friends dressed before I walked over to Shawn. "I could make you float right now if I wanted... Or do you have enough proof?" I asked him, chuckling at his still surprised face. "How do we know it worked?" The Alpha asked, "The spell is alive, it knows intentions and can sense enemies. But in the case of banishing unwanted guest a verbal command is needed." I explained, leaving the three of them confused. "Athena, please come help me demonstrate," I called. She came over and I led her to the edge of the territory. "Shawn, forbid Athena Wilson from the pack," I said.

" Athena Wilson, I forbid you from entering the Devils wolves territory." He said. "Come here," I called for Athena. She tried to step forward, but a golden haze erected and she was shoved back. "Okay guys, let me back in." Athena hissed, as we laughed at her banging on the wall of energy. "Come in, Athena." A'mosh called and the wall dropped. "If she had been a real threat, I think it would have really hurt her," I said. "So I take it you're finally gonna lose your cherry!?" Athena shouted, trying to get back at me, so petty. But I felt no shame, I was empowered. "In fact I am, so how about you guys hit the road," I said, and they laughed agreeing.

Everyone started walking away, heading through the trees, going back towards the packhouse direction. I was following them when a hand grabbed my shoulder. I turned around, and the grove was changed, the trees were burned black, and the smell of fire was all around me. The hand was attached to a body, and he was so close I could have screamed. He was black, a really dark tone, he was dressed in a tattered suit, a ring went through his septum. Yet it was his eyes I couldn't look away from, they were dead.

"This is the second warning... My master must have her will done, and your charms won't last forever. Two weeks and these warnings will become attacks." He said, his voice almost a whisper. I should have been afraid, but I wasn't, I had confidence in my life now, and power to. I knew a thousand banishment spells, so I threw the first one that came to mind. "Oyo nok mani," (Storms of protection) I said, waving a hand, watching it glow with that bright light. The man vanished, as my spell waved over him. He was only an illusion, as when I blinked, Shawn was calling me.

I blinked a few times more, walking off to meet my mate. As he took my hand, whispering his disbelief at my win, I put the warning out of my head. Whoever was coming, they would find that with real ma'jek in my hand, I wasn't an easy win. Until the conjurer who had a problem with me came forward, I would focus on building my reserves and mating with my soul mate...