Skin or bones

"What do we do now?" Josh asked me as I walk towards the barrier, everyone was in their place waiting for my command, and Craig looked at me waiting for my permission to proceed, I close my eyes trying to concentrate making sure that my decision was not wrong.

without further ado, that would make me second guess my decision, I nod at him "let's do this " Craig nods back, opening his arms wide chanting continuously his eyes rolled back, and he drowned within himself the moment he started chanting. at a certain point, his body flew about the ground, the energy was coming out in waves from him, the wind blew around us in the opposite direction it was getting hard to see.

"I know that I don't the authority to ask you this but, are you sure about this?" my pack's head hunter asked me covering his eyes from the hurricane.

"I just want to know if my mate is gone," I replied the tone of my voice had never been this low, he nodded his head in understanding.

A huge boom echoed in the woods scaring away the animals and the birds nearby, we flew back with the intensity of the explosion, Sorin ran to his mate he fell off from a great height, Sorin held his unconscious mate tighter to his body, he glared at the ground but I could feel his rage towards me. guilt made its wake inside me as I watch Sorin hurry off carrying his mate to get help

I hold his arm when he ran past me, "I'm sorry Sorin, " he nodded his head half-heartedly, I let him go not trying to stop him.

as the wind clams down around us, I see a small wooden cabin in the middle of the woods next to the river, a cabin that didn't exist a couple of minutes ago.

"Be on your guard, don't let anyone or anything harm you, Alpha Cade said the witch is still alive, and without Craig, it would be difficult to handle her, " I said looking at my team, there were ten of us and most of them looked terrified

"If it's too much for any of you, I would understand if you leave now," I said but none left their spot, I felt a bit of pride inside me knowing that even if they were terrified they would still have my back.

"look for his... his bones or anything that might be useful to determine his... death," I stammered mid-sentence, my friends smiled sadly at me but said nothing. they nodded their head accepting my command and moved forward.

we moved within the cursed place, the inside of an invisible circle this place gave off a weird vibe, and the atmosphere turned cold as we proceed with the circle and to the wooden cabin. the air was so thick it was hard to breathe, but yet we kept going, four of my guards turned into their wolves protecting us while walking on either of our sides and back. I gulped nervously when I raised my hand to push the door open, surprisingly the door was unlocked, I pushed it open and the old door creaked it sound echoed in this deserted place.

I nod at them and signaled Josh and My pack's head, hunter Mike to follow me, the other split into groups and cover the other side of the cabin. we slowly move inside while the wooden floor squeaked under our footsteps, we keep going, and realized this place was under a spell because it getting bigger with every step we took. I glance at Josh and Mike to see them on alert, sighing I stride deeper into the never-ending hallway, we kick open any door we pass by but none of them were used, it was dusty and old like it hasn't been used for a long time, on a turn I see stairs that lead beneath the surface, meaning there was a basement, and in our world basement means torture room.

slowly and carefully we walk down the stairs the weeping sound of someone rang around, we stood still when the terror seeped within our bones with how hollow and scary the cry was.

"Did you hear that?" the voice scared the shit out of me, I turned to see motherfucking Craig standing next to whispering in my ear.

"what the hell are you doing here? and where is Sorin," I pulled him closer to the railing covering his body with mine, he shrugged not caring.

"I left him, he was too pissed to bring me here," he said peeking down the stairs like a child in a park, an excited little bunny.

"And this will calm him down?" I asked sarcastically "let's just go, we don't know what we will encounter," I ignore him and walked down. the stairs squeaked under our weight but we kept going until our feet reached solid ground. the cries intensified as we walked closer.

"do you feel his power?" I asked Craig in a hushed voice, he nodded his head, and I sighed him to walk ahead of me and lead him to where he felt Alejandro's power. he took the lead and strode towards the source of Alejandro's power, he said he could feel the power of the bones of the deceased, my heart squeezed in discomfort just thinking about it. I convinced myself that all of this was for closer and nothing else. I needed to accept the truth and that begins with securing his remains.

the cries finally stopped when Craig stood in front of a room that had a metal door, he mumbled a spell and the door flew open. Craig stood shocked at what he saw, I followed him curiously and I too last my footing.

"it's a...," Josh spoke but stopped himself

"it's a kid," Craig confirmed our thoughts.

"Hey, kid what are you doing here?" I asked him closing the distance between us, I smiled politely but his face was stone-cold

"you shouldn't have breached the barrier, she will not be pleased, every one of you is going to die," the boy disappeared from his place right before our eyes.

I looked at Craig for an answer and he looked interested in what he witnessed "it was not a real boy, right?" Josh asked pale-faced Craig glanced at him annoyed with his question.

"it was a ghost, a spirit that was trapped here for a very long time," the sound of footsteps broke through our discussion, they were closing in, faster and in hurry.

we stood ready to fight when the door burst open. but couldn't when the person looked more shocked than angry, we stare at each other intensely waiting for someone to take the first step.

"How did you break the barrier?" she asked watching every one of us curiously. my group and I share a look and without losing our stance I answered

"We have a very powerful witch, stand back, we will leave once we get what we came here for," I moved forward

she crosses her arms, standing straight "you, broke the barrier?" she asked looking at Craig, he puffed his chest arrogantly taking in all the pride.

"Yeah, and if you try to stop us, witch, we won't hesitate to kill you," replied creating fireballs in his palms, she smiled amused at him.

"the dark witch is dead, I killed her a long time ago but lost all my powers, I got trapped in my trap," she said but we didn't believe her. she sighed tiredly "what are you looking for, I doubt there is anything that interests you," she said, her voice lighter than any bird I have ever heard. then a thought crossed my mind, light witches use earth magic to harvest pure and clean energy.

"Why should we believe you?" I asked holing out my claws, the fangs made their presence known, she turned her attention towards me, and her face twisted in a different expression

"I don't care if you believe me or not but don't you think you would be dead if I was the dark witch, " she smiled politely at me, she had a point but she could also be lying to use us to get out of his place, "now, what was that you were looking for?" she asked again.

"We are looking for my mate's remains, and don't bother denying it we know you have it here somewhere, just give them to us and we will be on our way," I bargain hoping she would buy it.

"hmm, I have a better solution," she said confidently

I don't speak waiting for her to continue because she looked like someone who always has something to say.

"how about I take you there, it would be more convenient " she smiled, she smiled was creepy as hell.

she walked ahead of us without a glance back, and we followed behind until as reached a door. she smiled again and opened it. we walk inside and stop in the middle of the room, not believing my eyes

"I don't have anyone's remains with me but I hope this will do," she gestured towards the bed in the middle of the room.

there was a bed and there slept the love of my life, unharmed. sleeping peacefully