SWNOVELS Chapter 42
I stand in the hall, staring at Cordelia, unsure of how to feel. "Chloe, Sukie is not going to let you have your life without a price,” She exclaims, pacing the hall. I grab her arm to stop her. "Cordelia, it will be fine. Malachi and I will figure this out. I'm alive right now and that is what's important,” I say, wrapping my arms around her. "You are Colette's daughter for sure. You have her fierce attitude and leadership,” Cordelia claims, pulling back to look at my face. "How can we help my mother and father become human again? Do you know any witches?" I ask her with hope. "There is one person who knows all the spells and is the most powerful witch,” Cordelia declares, searching my face. "Well, who is it?" I ask, giving her a look of relief. "Your mother,” She answers.
"She is a wolf. There is no way for her to make a potion,” I retort, dragging my hands through my hair. "You are half witch, Chloe. She can tell you the ingredients and what to say. You have the powers within you to do the spell,” She assures me, having faith that I can do it. I look down at my feet "I'll find my mom and see if there is a way to reverse this curse, but in the meantime, I need to find Cypress,” I say, pulling out my phone to look at the time.
"Would you mind watching Paisley for me? Malachi and I need to go on a search,” I announce, shoving my phone in my back pocket. "Yes, of course, dear,” Cordelia exclaims. I hug Cordelia and walk past her, entering back into the room. I stroll over to Amelia and take a seat grabbing her hand. "Hey, I have something I need to do. Your mom is going to take Paisley for me. I love you, and I'm so proud of you,” I tell her, pressing a kiss to her rosy cheek. Amelia smiles up at me, nodding. "Okay, love you too," she says, and I turn to Malachi. I wave my hand for him to follow me to the hallway.
Once we are out of the room, I stop and face Malachi. "Okay, so we need a witch to break the spell
on my parents, and I'm the witch who will do it," I tell him with confidence. "Chloe, are you crazy?
You have never done magic before. What if changing into a wolf caused the witch part to
disappear?" He hypothesizes. "We have to try, but first we need to find Cypress," I reply, grabbing
his hand to pull him with me towards the exit.
Malachi stops. I'm strong but not strong enough to move Mr. muscles here. "Why did you stop?” I ask, searching his face. "You promised me that we could deal with this after the wedding, but you can't let it go, can you?" He asks, looking hurt. "Hey, I'm sorry I know I promised, but this is important. Cordelia told me your father lied about Evadean and that he was in love with my mother," I explain, placing my hand on his arm. Malachi stands there staring at me as if he can't believe what I am saying. "Malachi? Say something,” I plead, trying to figure his expression. "I can't do this right now, Chloe. This has to wait until after the wedding,” He demands, moving his gaze from me to the floor.
I back away in shock while narrowing my eyes at him. "Okay, fine. If you won't help then I will do it on my own," I say, turning on my heels for the exit. "Chloe?" Malachi yells after me, but I don't turn around. I keep walking as I disappear out of his view and walk out of the hospital.
I get outside, and I'm walking across the parking lot when I see something out of the corner of my eye. I turn rapidly, thinking I must be seeing things, but I'm not, something is moving, but it takes off into the woods before I can tell what it is. I start chasing it. “Chloe stop!’ My wolf orders, stopping at the edge of the forest. "What?" I question my wolf with annoyance. “It's not safe to go out there alone,” My wolf warns. “Who is following me?" I ask in my mind. 'l sense a spiritual presence," my wolf declares. "Sukie!" I say aloud and start to move forward into the forest. “Chloe, STOP!!' She warns, but I keep moving.
I start to pick up my pace and shift mid-run, landing back on four paws. “Chloe, don't do this! Turn back around,” my wolf pleads. 'l can't! That witch ruined my childhood’ I growl. “Chloe, what are you doing?!” Malachi's voice questions in my head. “How do you know I'm in wolf form?” I ask, searching the area. I raise my snout in the air sniffing for his scent.
“We are mates I can sense when you shift,” He declares. “The witch followed me to the hospital. She wants something, and I'm going to find out what" I link to Malachi. “What witch?” He demands. “Sukie” I tell him. “Why would Sukie be following you?” His voice was confused. “That favor she did for you was a lie she is after more, and I aim to stop her before she can do so,” I say, looking around the forest for any signs of movement.
"Stay where you are, I'm coming” Malachi commands. “I don't have time, she is getting away, follow my scent wolfman,” I tell him as I start moving forward down into a valley of trees close to a creek. I can hear the water flowing. My ear perks up to the right at the sound of moving leaves, I twist my head toward the noise, only to find a deer staring at me with wide eyes. I take my focus away from it and look around for any sign of the witch.
As I'm about to turn and walk behind a big boulder, Sukie appears from a clearing "Hello, Wolf" She smirks. I growl baring my teeth, ready to tear her to bits. "I'm not here to harm you. I'm here to keep my promise,” She says. I crouch to give myself more power to lunge at Sukie, but as I start to run for her she puts her hand in front of her, and lifts me off the ground, throwing me into a nearby tree. I slam hard, falling to the ground.
I stumble, trying to stand on all fours and shift into my human form, naked as the day I was born, but not giving a shit who sees me. "YOU BITCH!! How could you do this to your best friend?" I demand. "Oh Chloe. I knew who you were the moment Malachi walked in with you, and as for your mother, she got what she deserved. She played too many games with Cypress, letting him believe he had a chance when she was always going to go back to Benjamin.” She glared.
"What do you mean playing games? My mother loved my father," I retorted as I observed her expression. "No, you see, sweet Chloe. Your mother is not what you think she is. She had an affair with Cypress and went home to Benjamin. So, Chloe. Your mother is a liar and deceived many people, even your father, who still to this day thinks you are his child,” Sukie declares.