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.