Arden sat at the patio table outside of the back door from the kitchen. Aurora and Eli were playing in the yard. Eli had wanted to show them a new game that one of the children had shown him at school. Arden chuckled as he watched Eli spin Aurora around in five circles with a blindfold over her eyes. Charles had left the next morning. He said that he was going back to the council to see what other information he could dig up for them. Arden and Aurora had thanked him for what he had been able to share with them so far. It would still be a few years before the curse showed its true form. Not that Arden wanted to wait but it was helpful that they had some time to find answers. "Alpha, there is a witch in your office," Rich's mind link cut through his thoughts. Arden stood up from the metal chair in the next instant. Aurora and Eli were still playing outside. Arden decided to see this visitor before alerting Aurora. Arden walked to his office and pushed open the door. An older woma

"What are we to do with her?" one of the other women who had entered the room asked. They all watched Veronica as she exhausted herself in her anger. "I think it best that she is removed from the coven," the woman who had originally walked up the Veronica said. The others began to nod their heads. "She will come back for us. She is one of our more powerful witches," Someone else said. Lila could hear the fear in that one's voice. The older lady thought for a moment. "Then we strip her of her memory," some of the women looked over with their eyes wide. They have never stripped a witch of her memories before. It had never been needed in the past. As the idea sunk in, they nodded their heads once more. They could not see a way around it. The group began to gather around Veronica. They joined hands and began to chant together as one. Veronica stood in the center. She tried to go after one of the smaller women, but her actions were halted by an unseen force that protected those reciting

Aurora and Arden stood in the office. It was almost 6pm the following evening. The witch, Meredith, had told Arden to meet her in his office. Arden gently moved his hand to cover Aurora's. Her gaze was distant. Arden knew that she was thinking about Eli. They had dropped him off earlier with Faith and Doctor Collins. Aurora had held him tightly and kissed the top of his head. "I love you," she whispered into his ear. Eli pulled back and smiled at his mother. "I love you too, momma. Don’t be long. I want to show you how well I am doing in my reading class tonight," Aurora smiled and nodded before standing back up next to Arden. Arden had wrapped his hand around her waist as he smiled down and Eli ruffled his hair. Eli giggled and then went to stand by his grandmother. As Aurora stared at nothing in the Alpha office, she thought about the day that she had given birth to Eli. She had not been ready to be a mother at such a young age, but she had never once regretted her decision to

Aurora quietly closed Eli's door. They had not made it back before he had fallen asleep. Arden had carried Eli to his bed and then went to check in with Rich. Aurora had pulled the covers to Eli's chin and kissed his forehead. She watched her son sleep for a moment. She vowed that she would do everything that she could in order to break the curse. The witches had mentioned either the witch would break the curse, or she would have to die. Aurora shivered at the idea of taking another's life. Especially when she did not know the woman at all. Veronica. The name rang through her head once more. Aurora wondered if it was the same woman who was involved with Alpha Evander. Deep down she hoped it were so. They had no other leads if this one proved to be a dead end. Aurora closed the door to her and Arden's room. Arden sat on the corner of the mattress. Aurora put her hand to her heart. Arden chuckled as he walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her closed. I

"Why have you brought me here?" Aurora asked the young girl. Names were never given during their meeting with the other witches of the Whispering Shadows Coven. "I want to help you," the girl said as she took a few more steps forward. Why would this witch want to help Aurora? She did not even know her apart from their meeting the other day. "Why?" Aurora asked. "You have a son?" the girl finally asked. Aurora slowly nodded her head. She had told the coven this and wa unsure why that played a factor. She did not come from the mythical world but from what she has scene of witches, they are not the kind that would be selfless to just help anyone. "And you would do anything for him?" The girl questioned Aurora again. "Of course I will," Aurora answered without hesitation. The young girl nodded as if she had already known the answer. A small smile spread across her face. "I am sorry that no one explained this to you when were all in the meeting, but do you happen to know what mak