Sapphire's footsteps were heavy as she approached the gates of her tribe's settlement. The familiar sight of the towering stone archway, etched with runes of protection, brought no comfort this time. Instead, it felt like a barrier she was about to cross into judgment. Her heart was still raw from Kellan's rejection, his cruel words echoing in her mind like a haunting melody. She had hoped he would stand by her, fight for her—but he hadn't. Now, she was returning to the only place she had left, though she knew deep down it wouldn't be safe for long.
The settlement was quiet as she entered, the usual bustle of witches going about their daily tasks subdued under the pale morning light. Sapphire kept her hood low, avoiding eye contact as she made her way toward her small home on the outskirts of the village. She needed time to think, to plan—but first, she needed someone to talk to.
Inside her modest home, Sapphire sat across from her closest friend, Marisol. The two had grown up together, sharing secrets and dreams in their youth. If there was anyone Sapphire could trust with her burden, it was Marisol—or so she thought.
"I don't know what to do," Sapphire said quietly, her voice trembling as she cradled a cup of herbal tea in her hands. "I can't stay here much longer. If they find out…"
Marisol leaned forward, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "You're saying Kellan is the father?" she asked in a hushed tone.
Sapphire nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "And now he's gone. He turned his back on me."
Marisol reached out and placed a hand on Sapphire's arm. "I'm so sorry," she said softly. "But you have to tell the council before someone else does. Maybe they'll show mercy if you come forward willingly."
Sapphire shook her head vehemently. "You don't understand. They won't show mercy—they'll demand I terminate the pregnancy or exile me."
Marisol hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "Then… maybe you're right to keep it secret," she said carefully.
Sapphire let out a shaky breath of relief at Marisol's words. For a brief moment, she felt lighter, as though the weight on her shoulders had eased just a little.
But later that evening, as Sapphire prepared for bed, there was a knock at her door—loud and insistent. Her heart sank as she opened it to find two members of the tribal council standing there with grim expressions.
"Sapphire," one of them said sternly. "You are summoned before the council immediately."
Her blood ran cold as realization dawned on her—Marisol had betrayed her.
The council chamber was dimly lit by flickering torches mounted on stone walls adorned with ancient symbols of their lineage. Sapphire stood in the center of the room, surrounded by stern faces that bore no trace of compassion.
"You have broken our sacred laws," one of the elders declared, his voice echoing through the chamber like a judge delivering a death sentence. "A union with a werewolf is forbidden—and now you carry his child."
Sapphire's throat tightened as murmurs rippled through the gathered council members.
"This cannot be allowed to continue," another elder said sharply. "You must terminate the pregnancy at once."
"No!" Sapphire's voice rang out before she could stop herself. She clenched her fists at her sides, trembling with anger and fear. "This child is innocent—it has done nothing wrong!"
The elders exchanged glances before one spoke again, his tone colder than before. "If you refuse to comply, you will be exiled from this tribe and stripped of all protection."
Sapphire opened her mouth to respond but was silenced by an all-too-familiar voice behind her.
"She will comply."
She turned sharply to see her mother stepping forward from the shadows of the chamber. Lady Elara was a tall woman with sharp features and an even sharper tongue—a force to be reckoned with in their tribe.
"Mother…" Sapphire began weakly.
Elara cut her off with a glare that could pierce steel. "You've brought shame upon this family," she said icily. "But I will not allow you to destroy yourself—or this tribe—with your foolishness."
Before Sapphire could react, Elara gestured to two guards standing nearby. They seized Sapphire by the arms and dragged her from the chamber despite her protests.
Sapphire found herself bound to a chair in a small room within their settlement—a place used for rituals but now repurposed for something far darker.
Elara stood before her with an assortment of vials and herbs laid out on a table nearby—ingredients for a potion that would end Sapphire's pregnancy.
"You leave me no choice," Elara said coldly as she began mixing the potion with practiced precision.
"Please don't do this," Sapphire pleaded desperately, tears streaming down her face as she struggled against the ropes binding her wrists and ankles.
Elara didn't respond—her focus remained on the potion as though blocking out Sapphire's cries entirely.
When Elara finally turned back toward Sapphire with the completed potion in hand, Sapphire felt panic surge through her veins like fire.
"No!" she screamed again, thrashing against the ropes with renewed vigor—but they held fast.
Elara approached slowly but deliberately—and just as she raised the vial toward Sapphire's lips—a surge of magic erupted from within Sapphire like an explosion.
The ropes binding her snapped instantly under its force—and Elara was thrown backward across the room by an invisible wave of energy.
Sapphire didn't hesitate—she bolted from the chair and out of the room without looking back.
As Sapphire fled into Eldergrove Forest once more—her heart pounding wildly in her chest—she couldn't shake the feeling that someone—or something—was following close behind…
Sapphire's heart raced, and she strained to listen, the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs echoing in the stillness. Was it her mother, or was something more sinister tracking her? She couldn't shake the feeling that an enemy lurked in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Who's there?" she called out, her voice echoing through the
trees. Silence answered her, but the tension remained, thick and suffocating.