The Royal Legacy Universe: The Beta and His Witch
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Emily Goulden
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111K
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9
Chapter 1
The Beta and his Witch: The Story of Ethan and Sybil
Ethan was dead asleep in a cheap motel when his phone started blaring on the nightstand. He groaned, rolling over and smacking at the screen until he finally hit the green button.
âHello?â His voice sounded like gravel.
âEthan?â The guy on the other end laughed, probably at how rough Ethan sounded.
âAugust, is that you?â Ethan pushed himself up on one elbow, rubbing his eyes.
âYeah, itâs me. You okay?â August asked.
âI was out all night. Barely slept.â Ethan squinted at the clock. It was after two in the afternoon. Shit.
âSorry for waking you, but Iâve got news.â August sounded way too happy for this hour.
âWhatâs up?â Ethan sat up, the motel bed creaking under him.
âJosie had our son last night. Kade Johnathan Hayes. The future Alpha of Crescent Moon.â Augustâs voice was full of pride, and Ethan could practically feel it through the phone.
âThatâs amazing, man! Congrats.â Ethan grinned, suddenly wide awake. âHowâs Josie? And the baby?â
âTheyâre both great. Josie was a champ. Only thing missing was his Uncle Ethan.â August let out a sigh, and Ethanâs chest tightened with guilt.
âI know, man. Iâm sorry. I thought I was close today, but she slipped away again. Do you want me to come home?â Ethan frowned, already bracing for the answer.
âNo, not until you find her. I get it, Ethan. If it were Josie, Iâd be doing the same thing. Kade will be here when you bring his auntie home.â Augustâs voice was soft, and Ethan felt a little less alone.
âThanks, August.â Relief washed over him. It meant everything to know August still had his back.
âGet some sleep, okay? Iâll talk to you later.â August chuckled, then hung up.
***
It had been five long months since Ethan had found out who his mate wasâa witch from the army Victoria brought to Crescent Moonâs packgrounds. Most of those witches had been forced to fight, and theyâd surrendered the second Victoria died.
Ethan was sure his mate was one of them. Sheâd run the moment they realized they were mates.
After the dust settled, Ethan left with Mayzeâthe good witchâto try and find her. But eventually, they split up.
Now, Mayze called every so often with a new lead, using her magic to track the runaway witch. Ethan would drop everything and drive to whatever city or state Mayze named.
Every lead was solid. Ethanâs beta instincts and tracking skills picked up the faintest trace of his mateâs scent. His senses were always on high alert, but he was always a day or two behind.
Always chasing, never catching.
Right now, he was somewhere in Michigan, freezing his ass off as he tried to follow her scent through snowy woods. The trail was oldâsheâd been gone for days.
Jesse, his wolf, was barely holding it together, desperate for even the smallest whiff of their mate. That desperation made Ethan sharper, more determined, but it was never enough.
The worst part? Ethan didnât even know her name. He didnât know what she looked like.
Heâd only caught her scent on the battlefield, Jesse pulling him toward her, but sheâd sensed him and bolted. All he saw was her shadow as she disappeared into the trees.
Ethan grumbled, rolling out of bed and dragging the covers with him. He stumbled to the tiny bathroom and shut himself in the shower.
Three hours of sleep was normal these days. He didnât care. Heâd go without sleep forever if it meant finding her.
He showered fast, then stuffed his things into his backpack. He left the motel room and climbed into his black Jeep Wrangler, which had seen more of the country than most people ever would.
He tossed his bag in the back and pulled out of the parking lot. Jesse had lost the trail heading north, toward Canada. So that was where Ethan was goingânorth, into the cold, chasing hope.
Ethan was grateful heâd remembered his passport. Getting through border control was a breezeâthank the Goddess for small miracles.
He let Jesseâs instincts guide him as he drove along winding, empty roads, the kind that made you feel like you were the only person left in the world.
He finally pulled up to the Green Mountain Pack. The place looked like something out of a postcard, all log cabins and pine trees.
The guards waved him through, and he parked in front of the biggest cabin. Alpha Quinton and his luna, Michelle, were waiting for him on the porch, bundled up against the chilly mountain air.
Ethan shivered as he stepped out of the Jeep, wishing heâd brought a thicker jacket. He jogged up the steps, trying to look more confident than he felt.
âThanks for letting me through, Alpha, Luna. Iâm Beta Ethan from Crescent Moon in Rhode Island.â He offered his hand, hoping he didnât sound as nervous as he felt.
Luna Michelle smiled warmly. âLetâs head inside, Beta Ethan.â
The living room was cozy, with a fire crackling in the huge stone fireplace. Ethan felt his shoulders relax a little as he sank into the couch.
âThe guards mentioned youâre looking for your mate?â Alpha Quinton asked, his voice gentle.
âYes, let me explainâŚâ Ethan launched into his story. Heâd told it so many times over the last five months he could probably recite it in his sleep.
Heâd traveled from coast to coast, stopping at every pack he could find. Each time, people listened, offered help, and promised to keep an eye out.
No one seemed to care that his mate was a witch. The kindness heâd found along the way made him wonder how the council could be so full of hate when everyone else just wanted to help.
Alpha Quinton leaned forward. âActually, Beta Ethan, a coven of witches asked to settle just outside our land, up the mountain. The mother of the coven and her two disciples came to us, signed a peace agreement, and we let them settle about five miles north of here.â
Ethanâs heart skipped. Finally, some good news.
âCould I get directions?â he asked, trying not to sound too desperate.
Alpha Quinton grinned. âIâll do you one better. My beta will take you right to them. The Mother Witch seemed kindâsheâll help you, even if your mate isnât there.â
Ethan couldnât help but smile. âThank you so much, Alpha.â
Alpha Quinton squeezed his lunaâs hand. âThe things we do for our mates, right?â
***
About an hour later, Ethan was back in his Jeep, this time with Green Mountainâs beta, Lance, riding shotgun. The drive was quiet at first, the forest pressing in on both sides.
âItâs pretty cool of your alpha to let you go on this search,â Lance said, glancing over.
Ethan laughed. âMy alphaâs a pretty cool dude.â
Lance smirked. âMine would lose his mind if I left.â
Ethan grinned. âHonestly, if August hadnât found his lunaâand sheâs amazing, by the wayâI probably wouldnât have been able to leave either. Sheâs like a second alpha.â
Lance snorted. âWhat would alphas do without their betas and lunas?â
âTrue that,â Ethan said, shaking his head.
Suddenly, Lance sat up straighter and pointed. âOh, there it is.â
Ethan squinted. âWhere? I donât seeââ
Before he could finish, the Jeep rolled through something invisible, and suddenly a whole camp appeared out of nowhere. Tents, gardens, and a little cottage, all hidden by magic.
Ethan groaned. âWait, really? Magical invisible bubbles are a thing? I couldâve been standing right next to my mate and never known?â
Lance laughed. âNot common, but yeah. Stop here. Someone will come get us.â
Ethan parked, and they both climbed out. Two women approachedâone older, with long gray hair and a crown of flowers, and a younger one with long blonde hair.
âBeta Lance, welcome,â the older woman said, her smile kind. âWho is your guest?â
âThis is Beta Ethan, from a pack in the States,â Lance said. Ethan bowed his head politely.
âI am the covenâs Mother Witch, and this is my daughter, Rhea,â the older woman said. âWhat brings you here, Beta Ethan?â
Rhea stepped forward, her eyes bright. âHeâs missing someone. Someone very important.â She reached out and touched Ethanâs arm, and her green eyes started to glow.
Please, let this be it. Let her know something. Let me finally find you.
âRhea has the Sight. She can sense peopleâs deepest emotions and thoughts,â the Mother Witch explained, her voice soft but steady.
Ethanâs hands were clenched at his sides. âIâm looking for my mate. Sheâs a witch, but I donât know her name or what she looks like. She was following a dark witchâVictoriaâwho attacked our pack. She ran before I could talk to her. I donât think she was with Victoria by choice. I just want to meet her. Iâve been searching for five months.â
His words tumbled out, desperate and raw.
Rheaâs eyes flickered with something Ethan couldnât name. âYour mateâs name is Sybil,â she said quietly.
Ethan froze. Sybil. Her name is Sybil.
âHowâŚhow do you know that?â His voice shook.
Rheaâs gaze was gentle, almost sad. âI can see her through your soul. Would you like to see her too?â
âYes. Please.â Ethan tried to sound calm, but hope was written all over his face.
Rheaâs eyes glowed brighter, almost unnaturally so. She pressed her thumb to Ethanâs forehead. Suddenly, a vision swept through his mindâso vivid it stole his breath.
He saw a beautiful woman with short, wavy brown hair and wide, ocean-blue eyes. Her skin was warm, golden brown, her cheeks full and round. She looked both strong and heartbreakingly vulnerable.
Then Rhea stepped back, dropping her hand. The vision faded.
âDo you know where she is?â Ethan asked breathlessly.
âNot here,â Rhea replied, her answer frustratingly vague.
Ethan begged, âPlease. I just want my mate.â
Rhea let out a long sigh, her eyes softening. She seemed to be searching for something inside him.
âSheâs traveling alone, avoiding covens. The dark witch you mentionedâshe hurt Sybil. Now Sybil doesnât trust anyone. Sheâs powerful, with the Sight like me, and sheâs strong with spells.
âShe knows youâre following her, and sheâs been throwing you off her trail, sending her scent in different directions. She went south, not north, from her last location.â
Ethanâs heart twisted. âSheâs purposefully leading me away from her?â
âYes. But her magic isnât stronger than the mate bondâor your persistence. Your wolf has been guiding you, fighting through her enchantments, keeping you close behind her,â Rhea said, her voice gentle.
Ethan sighed. âI donât want to hurt her. I just want to protect her. I just want my mate.â
Rhea nodded, her expression full of understanding. âI can sense your honesty, Beta. But Sybil has been betrayed and hurt too many times. She canât imagine anything good coming from a mateâespecially a werewolf. Youâre her second chance mate.â
The words hit Ethan like a punch to the gut. Second chance mate.
âI am?â he whispered.
Rheaâs eyes were sad. âI donât know what happened to her first mate, but it wasnât good. Sheâs hurting, deep down. Finding her wonât be easy. Convincing her to trust you will be even harder.â
Ethanâs jaw tightened. âI donât care how long it takes or how hard it is. Iâll do anything for her.â
Rhea smiled, just a little. âI believe you.â She turned to the Mother Witch. âHeâs worthy. He needs our help.â
The Mother Witch sighed, then nodded. She reached into the deep pocket of her thick robe and pulled out a pendantâa ruby set in old iron.
She handed it to Rhea, who closed her hand around it. Her eyes and fist glowed, then she held the pendant out to Ethan.
âTake this. It will glow red when youâre going the right way. The closer you get to your mate, the brighter and warmer itâll become,â Rhea said, placing the ruby in Ethanâs palm.
Ethan closed his hand around the pendant, holding it close. âThank you. Iâm so grateful. If you ever need anything, I owe you.â
The Mother Witchâs eyes were kind, but serious. âYour debt will be paid when you save our sister from her dark path.â
