The next day at school, Callista tried to keep herself distracted. She laughed with her friends, shared stories, and for a moment, everything felt normal. But deep inside, a part of her ached with the absence of Lucien. The way he had looked at her, the way he had left—she missed him more than she wanted to admit.
After school, she and her friends decided to go shopping. They visited their favorite stores, trying on clothes and enjoying sweet treats. By the time she got home, it was late. The city streets were quiet, and the cold night air sent a shiver down her spine.
As she approached her house, something felt… wrong.
Her breath hitched as she noticed the front door slightly open. A deep sense of dread settled in her chest. Callista pushed the door wider, stepping inside.
Her home was in ruins.
Furniture was overturned, glass shattered across the floor, and the scent of something metallic lingered in the air. Her heartbeat quickened as she ran through the house, desperately searching for her mother.
"Mom?" her voice trembled as she made her way to her mother's room. The sight before her made her knees buckle.
Her mother lay in a pool of blood, struggling to breathe.
"No, no, no—Mom!" Callista cried as she rushed to her side, lifting her mother's head into her lap.
Her mother's eyes barely focused on her. With great effort, she whispered, "The witches… they found you… I tried to stop them… but my sister—she's their queen now. She overpowered me."
Callista's heart clenched painfully. "Mom, no! Stay with me, please!"
Her mother weakly reached for her hand, gripping it with the last of her strength. "You have to accept your destiny, Callista… Join forces with the werewolves. The witches will come for you. You are the bridge between our worlds… You must accept Lucien as your mate. He will protect you."
Tears streamed down Callista's face as she watched the light fade from her mother's eyes. The woman who had raised her, protected her, kept her secret—was gone.
She let out a broken sob, her body trembling. The weight of her mother's words pressed against her heart. Then, a noise from outside made her stiffen.
Callista turned to see a strikingly beautiful woman standing in the dim moonlight. She looked familiar, her presence regal, her power undeniable. There was an eerie calm in her expression as she smiled at Callista.
"I've waited a long time to meet you, dear niece," the woman said, her voice smooth yet laced with danger. "I am Sabrina, your mother's twin sister. The Queen of Witches."
Callista felt rage burn through her sorrow. "You killed my mother!" she spat, standing despite her trembling limbs.
Sabrina sighed, almost bored. "She made her choice. And now, you must make yours. Come with me, Callista. Embrace who you are meant to be. The witches are your true family."
"Go to hell," Callista snarled, her hands balling into fists.
Sabrina merely chuckled. "A shame." She lifted her hand, and two wizards emerged from the shadows. Their eyes gleamed with dark magic as they lunged toward Callista.
Panic surged through her, but her mother's lessons echoed in her mind. The survival spells. She had to use them.
Summoning her energy, she threw up a barrier just in time. The force repelled the wizards, but it drained her strength. They recovered quickly, chanting spells that cracked her defenses.
Callista gritted her teeth, pushing back, but she wasn't strong enough. One of the wizards blasted her with dark energy, sending her crashing to the ground.
She gasped, feeling her limbs go weak. Her vision blurred. Sabrina's laughter rang in her ears as the wizards closed in.
Then—
A deafening growl shattered the night.
A massive black wolf lunged from the shadows, its teeth sinking into one of the wizards. Two brown wolves followed, ripping through the attackers like a storm. The wizards screamed, retreating as blood stained the ground.
Callista could barely keep her eyes open, but she saw Sabrina and the black wolf staring at each other. Their words were lost in the haze of pain, but the last thing she heard before she succumbed to darkness was Sabrina's chilling voice:
"I will return for her. This is not over."
Then, strong arms lifted her. The familiar scent of pine and something wild surrounded her, and her heart, despite the pain, knew exactly who it was.
Lucien.
A small, relieved smile touched her lips as she let the darkness claim her.