Chapter 66

“We should have killed them while we had the chance, but no, you had to keep rambling on. You are nothing but an idiot!” my stepfather yells, then kicks me in the stomach as I cower on the floor.
I hate this man with a passion. I refuse to look him in the eyes. I can’t stand to see his face—the face of my brother.
Four years ago, he told us he had thought up a brilliant plan. In a great address to our pack, he had declared, “Fear not my people. The lord of darkness is coming, and we can all feel the change. I know how we can make it into Enchanted Falls, so we too will be protected by the enchantment.” He had looked around at his people and everyone, except my brother, was cheering. My brother stepped out of the pack and did the unimaginable. He questioned our stepfather.
“How do you propose we get in? “My brother had asked, and then he turned to our people and addressed them. “Have you forgotten we have been banished and can no longer step through the walls?”
Our stepfather grabbed him by his collar, with anger glowing in his eyes, and dragged him into the middle of the clearing where we all gathered to see what would happen next.
“I needed a volunteer. I am so glad you have stepped up, son.” The sneer in my stepfather’s voice made my blood ran cold. His beady dark brown eyes and pale complexion made him look menacing. He was a calculating man who took pride in the rules and boundaries he had set for his pack. If you broke any of those rules, trouble would follow. The extent of the punishment depended on his mood.
“You see, my people, this rug rat and his family are our newest members. They are not subject to the banishment.” He gave my mother a chilling smile. Her face paled, and she looked as though she was about to pass out. At the time, I had no idea about the secret she and my brother kept. “I have found a witch. A powerful one at that. She dabbles in dark magic.”
Three of his favorite men dragged a young girl out. She had the most vivid green I had ever seen. Her hair reached her lower back in perfect spiral curls. The odd thing about her was that she did not look afraid. She was beautiful in a sweet, innocent way.
She was forced to kneel before the man I must call father. She looked him directly in the eyes.
“Do it!” he yelled at her. We watched and waited. None of us knew what was going on.
She incanted the words, “Who you were, you are now another, so take the place of Justin’s brother.”
The sound of my name coming from the rose lips of this beautiful girl made my heart crumble. I was shocked and happy at the same time. ‘She knows my name.’
My stepfather fell to the floor. One of the men rushed to his side and lifted his arm to check his pulse, and then darted for the witch. She didn’t move, just stood there waiting for him to collide with her.
My brother fell to the floor, and my mother rushed over and knelt by his side. Johnson crashed into an invisible wall. She looked out to the crowd and smiled.
My brother Lucas rose and examined his hands, feeling his face.
“I gave you what you asked for. You are now in the body of Lucas.” The witch laughed; it was an intoxicating sound.
“Why laughs which?” Lucas snapped.
“Because you are a fool.”
“Please, where is my son?” My mother rose from the ground and looked at the witch with pleading eyes.
The witch gave an evil snigger. “I am sure his soul is floating around in nothingness.” She then clapped her hands and disappeared.
***
Now I must look upon my brother’s face everyday. Only, it is not my brother but my stepfather. I was the only one who could enter the walls of Enchanted Falls.
My mother and stepfather were set alight by the walls of the enchantment when they attempted to breach them. They spent many days in wolf form to speed up the healing process.
I am the only one because at the time the banishment was cast, I was a cub, and it was declared I was not responsible for my own actions.
I found the witch who put the spell on Lucas and my stepfather. The only problem is she has lost her memory, and the Michaels are protecting her. I can’t let that stop me though. If needs be, I will force her. She will reverse the spell.
***
My stepfather towers over me and hollers “Get up boy!” I struggle to my feet. “We will attack when the moon is full. There had better not be any funny business or I will snap your neck on the spot!” His spit hits me in the face. I nod my head. He waltzes out of the room, and I collapse.
My mother looks at me with an expression only a mother can give their child and shakes her head disapprovingly. “You just have to make him mad, don’t you? Instead of following his rules, you have to push him all the time. Why?” I try to block out the sound of her whining voice. To be honest, she has never been much of a mother. She’s too much of a pushover. She hangs onto his every word as if it is gold.
I get to my feet and give her a look of pure hatred. She is no mother to me. She is nothing but a weak woman.