The Royal Legacy Universe: The Beta and His Witch
Автор
Emily Goulden
Прочтений
112K
Глав
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.
“Hello?” His voice sounded like gravel.
“Ethan?” The guy on the other end laughed, probably at how rough Ethan sounded.
“August, is that you?” Ethan pushed himself up on one elbow, rubbing his eyes.
“Yeah, it’s me. You okay?” August asked.
“I was out all night. Barely slept.” Ethan squinted at the clock. It was after two in the afternoon. Shit.
“Sorry for waking you, but I’ve got news.” August sounded way too happy for this hour.
“What’s up?” Ethan sat up, the motel bed creaking under him.
“Josie had our son last night. Kade Johnathan Hayes. The future Alpha of Crescent Moon.” August’s voice was full of pride, and Ethan could practically feel it through the phone.
“That’s amazing, man! Congrats.” Ethan grinned, suddenly wide awake. “How’s Josie? And the baby?”
“They’re both great. Josie was a champ. Only thing missing was his Uncle Ethan.” August let out a sigh, and Ethan’s chest tightened with guilt.
“I know, man. I’m sorry. I thought I was close today, but she slipped away again. Do you want me to come home?” Ethan frowned, already bracing for the answer.
“No, not until you find her. I get it, Ethan. If it were Josie, I’d be doing the same thing. Kade will be here when you bring his auntie home.” August’s voice was soft, and Ethan felt a little less alone.
“Thanks, August.” Relief washed over him. It meant everything to know August still had his back.
“Get some sleep, okay? I’ll talk to you later.” August chuckled, then hung up.
***
It had been five long months since Ethan had found out who his mate was—a witch from the army Victoria brought to Crescent Moon’s packgrounds. Most of those witches had been forced to fight, and they’d surrendered the second Victoria died.
Ethan was sure his mate was one of them. She’d run the moment they realized they were mates.
After the dust settled, Ethan left with Mayze—the good witch—to 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. Ethan’s beta instincts and tracking skills picked up the faintest trace of his mate’s 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 old—she’d 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 didn’t even know her name. He didn’t know what she looked like.
He’d only caught her scent on the battlefield, Jesse pulling him toward her, but she’d 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 didn’t care. He’d 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 going—north, into the cold, chasing hope.
Ethan was grateful he’d remembered his passport. Getting through border control was a breeze—thank the Goddess for small miracles.
He let Jesse’s 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 he’d brought a thicker jacket. He jogged up the steps, trying to look more confident than he felt.
“Thanks for letting me through, Alpha, Luna. I’m Beta Ethan from Crescent Moon in Rhode Island.” He offered his hand, hoping he didn’t sound as nervous as he felt.
Luna Michelle smiled warmly. “Let’s head inside, Beta Ethan.”
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.
“The guards mentioned you’re looking for your mate?” Alpha Quinton asked, his voice gentle.
“Yes, let me explain…” Ethan launched into his story. He’d told it so many times over the last five months he could probably recite it in his sleep.
He’d 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 he’d 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. “Actually, 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.”
Ethan’s heart skipped. Finally, some good news.
“Could I get directions?” he asked, trying not to sound too desperate.
Alpha Quinton grinned. “I’ll do you one better. My beta will take you right to them. The Mother Witch seemed kind—she’ll help you, even if your mate isn’t there.”
Ethan couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you so much, Alpha.”
Alpha Quinton squeezed his luna’s hand. “The things we do for our mates, right?”
***
About an hour later, Ethan was back in his Jeep, this time with Green Mountain’s beta, Lance, riding shotgun. The drive was quiet at first, the forest pressing in on both sides.
“It’s pretty cool of your alpha to let you go on this search,” Lance said, glancing over.
Ethan laughed. “My alpha’s a pretty cool dude.”
Lance smirked. “Mine would lose his mind if I left.”
Ethan grinned. “Honestly, if August hadn’t found his luna—and she’s amazing, by the way—I probably wouldn’t have been able to leave either. She’s like a second alpha.”
Lance snorted. “What would alphas do without their betas and lunas?”
“True that,” Ethan said, shaking his head.
Suddenly, Lance sat up straighter and pointed. “Oh, there it is.”
Ethan squinted. “Where? I don’t see—”
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. “Wait, really? Magical invisible bubbles are a thing? I could’ve been standing right next to my mate and never known?”
Lance laughed. “Not common, but yeah. Stop here. Someone will come get us.”
Ethan parked, and they both climbed out. Two women approached—one older, with long gray hair and a crown of flowers, and a younger one with long blonde hair.
“Beta Lance, welcome,” the older woman said, her smile kind. “Who is your guest?”
“This is Beta Ethan, from a pack in the States,” Lance said. Ethan bowed his head politely.
“I am the coven’s Mother Witch, and this is my daughter, Rhea,” the older woman said. “What brings you here, Beta Ethan?”
Rhea stepped forward, her eyes bright. “He’s missing someone. Someone very important.” She reached out and touched Ethan’s arm, and her green eyes started to glow.
Please, let this be it. Let her know something. Let me finally find you.
“Rhea has the Sight. She can sense people’s deepest emotions and thoughts,” the Mother Witch explained, her voice soft but steady.
Ethan’s hands were clenched at his sides. “I’m looking for my mate. She’s a witch, but I don’t know her name or what she looks like. She was following a dark witch—Victoria—who attacked our pack. She ran before I could talk to her. I don’t think she was with Victoria by choice. I just want to meet her. I’ve been searching for five months.”
His words tumbled out, desperate and raw.
Rhea’s eyes flickered with something Ethan couldn’t name. “Your mate’s name is Sybil,” she said quietly.
Ethan froze. Sybil. Her name is Sybil.
“How…how do you know that?” His voice shook.
Rhea’s gaze was gentle, almost sad. “I can see her through your soul. Would you like to see her too?”
“Yes. Please.” Ethan tried to sound calm, but hope was written all over his face.
Rhea’s eyes glowed brighter, almost unnaturally so. She pressed her thumb to Ethan’s forehead. Suddenly, a vision swept through his mind—so 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.
“Do you know where she is?” Ethan asked breathlessly.
“Not here,” Rhea replied, her answer frustratingly vague.
Ethan begged, “Please. I just want my mate.”
Rhea let out a long sigh, her eyes softening. She seemed to be searching for something inside him.
“She’s traveling alone, avoiding covens. The dark witch you mentioned—she hurt Sybil. Now Sybil doesn’t trust anyone. She’s powerful, with the Sight like me, and she’s strong with spells.
“She knows you’re following her, and she’s been throwing you off her trail, sending her scent in different directions. She went south, not north, from her last location.”
Ethan’s heart twisted. “She’s purposefully leading me away from her?”
“Yes. But her magic isn’t stronger than the mate bond—or your persistence. Your wolf has been guiding you, fighting through her enchantments, keeping you close behind her,” Rhea said, her voice gentle.
Ethan sighed. “I don’t want to hurt her. I just want to protect her. I just want my mate.”
Rhea nodded, her expression full of understanding. “I can sense your honesty, Beta. But Sybil has been betrayed and hurt too many times. She can’t imagine anything good coming from a mate—especially a werewolf. You’re her second chance mate.”
The words hit Ethan like a punch to the gut. Second chance mate.
“I am?” he whispered.
Rhea’s eyes were sad. “I don’t know what happened to her first mate, but it wasn’t good. She’s hurting, deep down. Finding her won’t be easy. Convincing her to trust you will be even harder.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “I don’t care how long it takes or how hard it is. I’ll do anything for her.”
Rhea smiled, just a little. “I believe you.” She turned to the Mother Witch. “He’s worthy. He needs our help.”
The Mother Witch sighed, then nodded. She reached into the deep pocket of her thick robe and pulled out a pendant—a 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.
“Take this. It will glow red when you’re going the right way. The closer you get to your mate, the brighter and warmer it’ll become,” Rhea said, placing the ruby in Ethan’s palm.
Ethan closed his hand around the pendant, holding it close. “Thank you. I’m so grateful. If you ever need anything, I owe you.”
The Mother Witch’s eyes were kind, but serious. “Your debt will be paid when you save our sister from her dark path.”
