hortcut Hadiza forgot to take in her haste to escape, slouching to keep the tree branches hanging low out of their faces. The path was

hey walked the bushy trail, Hadiza's mind flooded wi

Still, her pessimistic side insisted it was Naphtali and she was beginning to lean towards that conclusion. If the rumours were true and Elm

smile to her lips, her thoughts faded and she tried to be more present. "We also n

ook and the wolf whined, she could remember only as much as Hadiza did. The faint outlines of Za's paws were the only evidence she plie

foreheads. Groaning in unison, they quickened their steps, almost at a near sprint when the clouds parted to

contemplated the request. Water coated her thick lashes, her hair stuck to her face but her feet never stoppe

out of her hair, she wished Wanji had a streak of rebelliousness in her body. She would never interfere with nature but for this mo

oing there," she said after seconds of quiet, knowing Wanji would agree. Her foot traced circles on the floo

all she got in response. It was hard not to love her brother. Zebulun was the kind of person you could ne

o the branch hanging over them, the protective bubble that kept the cold out, tha

ure who Wanji was talking about, her mate died at a hunt gone wrong. They never spoke about him because Wanji never did. Maybe she missed her mate and her alpha bu

inside their neck but this was Wanji. She took a deep

without your mate." Anger deserted Hadiza, her chest deflated. She would be a liar if she didn't agree with W

otions, a perk of being a witch. Curiosity clawed at

d whispered and Hadiza

a's throat, she nodded. "

e harder than others but it gets better. Time lessens t

. In their friendship, she was the talker. "You think so?" Hadiza asked, eyes fleeting to the lady standing beside her. Her eagerness l

now

a straight face. Staring at her mud-stained boots, Hadi

hypnotis

, hierarchy was important and a witch's power wasn't potent enough for the council,

d my mate," Hadiza whispered

f an alpha without a successor, the council volunteered a ruler. Hadiza could imagine them doing that but ove

had to be the death of her brother that was making her teary-eyed, she had better control of her emotions. Ma

take a whil

k her head, feigning anger and Wanji chuckled. Pulling

nji's arm on her shoulder. Unprovoked by her reaction, Wanji snickered and Hadiza's eyes narrowed. She asked for it and she got it.

etter than beauty. Her eyes took on a dreamy look as she listed qualities in

kind as him would be a great honour. Whoever ended up as her mate would become

entle. Stri

willful independence. A man of the opinion that females could also lead as she

iza stated with a wistful s

hed on one knee to dig the wet soil. Hadiza stood agha

nches from her feet. "Since you want perfect which doesn't exist, you will have to create him yourself." She

ng from Wanji's voice, she

over when she saw the smile Hadiza was fighting hard to hide. "There is no such

ght. The ring she used as the pendant sat on her palm, her fingers brushed the gem in the middle. It had lost

ed. On sensing her reluctan

nt it got into her custody but her fear had trumped curiosity. Right now, as sh

rs, Hadiza nodded. They might not have achieved their purpose but the weight she came out with had lessened.

e would have changed the rules but they were there before she was born. The bes

bounced on her feet. "I l