"Regina was alive but left powerless by your mother," Aunt Flora said after I explained everything to her.
I had managed to convince Lucian to let me visit the Jade moon pack. Aunt Flora was fickle, it was difficult to have a conversation with her on the phone.
Lucian finally relented, though he would not let me go out of his sight; hence he tagged along. Leaving Damon as in charge, we left with Savannah and a few other betas.
Lucian had to discuss the rogues and the witch issue with Rick. So, the trip to the Jade moon turned out to be favourable. I found aunt Flora in the nursery, babysitting Clara and Johnathan, Rick's twins. The kids were busy, playing with the building blocks.
"I am sorry I don't understand, aunty."
"Your mother was a true born, which, Regina wasn't. There are two kinds of witches, one who is born with some magical ability, like mind reading, conjuring, ability to talk to spirits. Others do not have any special abilities, but they can create spells and potions. They learn to be a witch. Regina didn't have any power of her own."
"But she was a coven leader, isn't it?" I asked. I assumed being a leader meant being the alpha, the strongest.
"Being a coven leader is a democratic process, it's not like the wolves were the strongest Alpha becomes the leader. Your mother was not interested in heading a coven. Regina, coveted power. She was good at managing the coven; hence she was chosen as the leader. However, she started to change. She became jealous of other more powerful witches, started selling dubious potions and spells for money. She even dabbled in black magic, which is forbidden."
I had no idea about the different types of magic, but black magic was bad news, even for a layman.
"Do you think she might have indulged in making poisons? Something which could harm werewolves?" I asked, thinking about Lucian's mother.
"It's possible," aunt Flora said.
She stared at Clara for a few seconds.
"She wanted you; hence I took you away from this place. She couldn't travel out of the country, she was broke."
"I am aware of that, aunty," I replied softly. I placed a hand on hers." Thank you. But why did she want me?"
She smiled, "When your mother left the coven and turned. Regina went deep into black magic. Most of the witches including me left the coven. She became weak and desperate. In her bid to gain power, she tried to kidnap you for blood magic. Werewolves are supernatural creatures. They already have magic in them. In ancient times, their blood was used for various magical potions. Of course, they are no more practised. You have the blood of a witch and the werewolf. Hybrids are sought after for blood magic. So, when she went after you. Your mother nearly killed her. Destroyed, whatever was left of her coven and Regina went underground. She never truly disappeared, though. She had been bidding her time, and I believe she is back."
I stayed quiet for some time, processing the information.
" Do you think these rogues are being helped by Regina?"
"I am quite certain it's her," aunty replied.
"Come on, I will show you something interesting." She stood up and walked towards the twins.
Puzzled, I follower her where the kids were playing with building blocks.
"Clara dear, can you have shown that trick to your aunt?" She said to Clara.
Clara gave me a toothy grin, and suddenly the blocks in her hands levitated in the air. I gasped, while she giggled, making the blocks float with her fingers.
"What the hell was that?" I almost shouted.
"Stop showing off," Johnathan grumbled.
"You are jealous because you can't do this cool stuff," Clara retorted, sticking out her tongue.
"Thanks, Clara, you can stop now, and don't quarrel with your brother," Aunty said.
The blocks fell with a clatter.
"What just happened?" I contemplated pinching myself. This could not be real.
"Clara is a witch, a truly born of which," Aunt Flora said proudly.
My mouth fell open in shock.
"How?"
"The magic of the wolf and the witch cannot be alternated. Rose, Clara's grandmother, was a witch that mated to a wolf and gave birth to Rick and you, both wolves. The witch's magic still runs in her line, though. Clara inherited it. It runs in your line too. When you conceive, you could give birth to a wolf or a witch if it is a girl, your sons will be the carrier of that trait, it doesn't manifest in boys." Aunt Flora explained.
"You mean my daughter can be a witch instead of a wolf?" I was not sure how to take this information. How would Lucian react to it?
"Not necessarily, the witch characteristics may remain dormant for generations, and suddenly manifest in some child in the future. Like it manifested in Clara." She lightly patted the brown curls of the little girl.
"So, Clara is not a wolf? Do Rick and Linda know?" I wondered how Clara would deal with growing up different among wolves.
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