Chapter 130: Chapter 130

As soon as Charlotte shares what Daniel just told them with Nicholas, his face changes from calm to panicked in seconds.

“Please tell me this is a joke?” His eyes pleaded with her.

Charlotte looks at him as if saying sorry in every language but words refuse to come out of her mouth.

Both of them then relayed the same message to the folks residing in the woods.

A wave of panic washes over the crowd as they register their words! Charlotte sighs and begins saying.

“Please!”

Her voice is full of desperation and regret...regret of not being able to do anything for them.

“Please, try to understand! At present, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow. We just want to take extra measures to avoid any mishap whatsoever. Please cooperate with us. It is for your own safety!” She tries to assure them.

They quieten down but she can still sense their worry.

“What if we don’t turn into something we want to?” one of them asks.

“We’ll just have to figure it out as it comes I guess!” Charlotte sighs. “Look, I understand there is uncertainty around this whole shifting ordeal but from what information we have gathered there is nothing any of us can do at this point. I leave the decision to you all. It’s your wish whether you want to complete the shift here in the woods alongside others or want to leave. I understand if you want to leave but please…give me a chance. I have a feeling we’ll be able to control the situation better if we are together. God knows what will happen if you try to shift alone in the human world.” Charlotte pleads. “Please, make a decision wisely!”

She gulps and then continues. “My friend Katya will hold a session of meditation once this evening and again tomorrow morning where she’d guide you to focus on the being you want to shift into in the werewolf world so that it becomes easier for you to focus on the same tomorrow during the shift. Please trust yourself if you can’t trust me. You have been training to make your bodies ready for the shift and you have been strengthening your mind to make the shifting smoother. Trust your hard work.”

Charlotte is surprised that her voice isn’t wavering.

“Now, if you have any questions, ask away!”

*******

Katya stands at the border of the pack with Alana. They are walking towards the cell where Caleb is currently detained.

“The magic on Caleb is strong,” Alana says to Katya.

“I know. It was my mother who did that magic on him.” Katya explains.

“Oh!” Alana frowns. “I never met your mother but I do know she was respected and feared among the witches and warlocks. No wonder, I couldn’t strip the magic off him by myself.”

Katya stops in her tracks. “You tried to strip the magic off him?”

“Yeah...” Alana shrugs. “When I first met him I instantly knew that he was protected by the magic but usually I am able to detect and eliminate magic within minutes but it didn’t happen like that with Caleb. He was one of the reasons I decided to stay with Austin for a while…I wanted to understand why and by what kind of magic was he protected with. If not for his strength and ability to defeat Austin while sparring, I would have never guessed that he too is a white wolf!”

Katya nods. They soon reach the dungeons and Katya leads the way as they climb down into the hall.

“Hello, Caleb!” Katya says softly. She has a soft corner for this kid, she has no idea if it is because she sympathizes with him or just respects him to be able to survive.

“Hello!” He grins.

He sure is a character!

“Hello, Alana!” He walks to the bars but is careful to not touch them.

Alana gives him a death stare with a bored face.

“Thank you so much! I know it was unintentional but you saved my life. If you didn’t say those words to Richard that day, I’d be dead by now.” He sounds actually grateful as he should.

“You’re welcome!” she finally replies with squinted eyes.

“Alana and I are here to strip off the protective magic from you. I am going to open the lock…but don’t try anything that’d put you in danger.” Katya warns.

“Okay.” Caleb says and it’s clear from his face that he registers how serious this is.

Katya steps forward and unlocks the cell. Caleb steps out and stands in front of them. The whole area is cleared out and only these three are the ones present there.

Katya makes Caleb stand in the middle while she and Alana stand on each side of Caleb.

“Just remember, if you start feeling scared, call out to the deity or God or anyone you believe in.” Katya says.

“What if I don’t believe in anything like that?” Caleb doesn’t look like he is kidding.

“Then you can put your faith in any person you admire, respect or love. It doesn’t have to be spiritual.” Katya puts his mind at ease. She can see why he may not believe in any higher power. His life hasn’t been exactly a walk in the park.

“Okay.” Caleb nods.

“Now, I want you to sit down here cross legged and close your eyes.”

Caleb sits down as instructed. Alana and Katya give each other a look and begin.

They have already determined that the spell Katya’s mother put on Caleb is strong. To counter the spell, they needed the blood of someone more powerful than Caleb and the one who could bring him to his actual identity.

Katy and Alana join their hands above Caleb’s head and start chanting the spell. As their whispers grow loud, the energy around them starts shifting. The air feels heavy and unbearable. It’s like they can’t breathe properly. Regardless, they continue the spell.

It’s not even a minute when Caleb starts whimpering. Alana and Katya continue the spell but share a concerned look.

“Ahhhhh...” Caleb whimpers and rolls on the ground clutching his chest. His mouth opens as he struggles to breathe through his nose. His eyes are squeezed shut. He is drenched in sweat and his clothes are soaked.

“huh…no...please…” his voice is barely above a whisper this time.

Katya almost wants to stop but she can’t. She knows it’s important to strip off the magic in order for him to claim his actual identity. He is too young…he can’t spend his life being someone he isn’t.

“No…” He cries out suddenly. “Please make stop…please…Char!”

Katya’s eyes fill with tears at the state he is in. It’s painful to watch. Slowly, they unlink their hands while they keep chanting the spell. Alana pulls out the glass vial from her pocket that is filled with blood. She slowly bends down drawing a star on his forehead with the blood.

Once done she keeps the blood aside and they start chanting loudly.

This is the last spell they need to chant.

As soon as they finish chanting, something unexpected happens that chills them to the core.

Caleb’s body suddenly starts convulsing and lights on fire!