Chapter 48 - find the strongest witch

Giselle sat alone in her room, surrounded by the soft glow of candles that flickered gently against the walls. Her thoughts were heavy, filled with the weight of uncertainty and a growing sense of loneliness. She traced the intricate patterns of the rug beneath her feet, trying to distract herself from the ache in her heart.
Moments later, there was a tentative knock on the door, interrupting her quiet contemplation. Giselle looked up, surprised, as her parents and siblings entered the room. Robert, her father, exchanged a concerned glance with Helen, her mother, while Jon and Cindy, her older siblings, hovered near the doorway, their expressions mirroring worry.
"Giselle, sweetheart, what's wrong?" Helen's voice was gentle, laced with maternal concern as she approached her daughter.
Giselle sighed heavily, her eyes briefly meeting each of her family members' worried faces. "I... I just feel like Shane has been distant lately," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Robert furrowed his brow, his concern deepening. "Distant? How so?" he asked, stepping closer to Giselle.
Giselle hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the turmoil in her heart. "He used to visit me every evening, talk to me about everything... But now, it's like he's preoccupied, distant," she explained, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion.
Jon spoke up, his voice earnest. "Yeah, I've noticed too. Shane hasn't been around as much as he used to."
Cindy nodded in agreement, her expression reflecting worry. "It's like he's avoiding Giselle," she added softly.
Helen placed a comforting hand on Giselle's shoulder. "Have you talked to him about this, Giselle?" she asked gently.
Giselle shook her head, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I've tried, but every time I bring it up, he just brushes it off or changes the subject," she confessed, her voice cracking with emotion.
Robert's jaw tightened, his concern turning to a hint of frustration. "That's not like Shane," he murmured to himself, more to process his thoughts than to voice them aloud.
Just then, another knock echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attention. Jon moved to open the door, revealing Shane standing in the hallway, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern as he glanced at the family gathered inside Giselle's room.
"Shane," Robert's voice was steady but serious, "come in."
Shane entered hesitantly, his eyes searching Giselle's face for any sign of what was wrong. "Giselle... What's going on?" he asked softly, his concern evident.
Giselle looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "Shane, do you still love me? Do you still want to be my husband?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling with vulnerability.
Shane's breath caught in his throat, taken aback by the directness of her question. He glanced at Robert and Helen, then back at Giselle, searching for the right words. "Of course, Giselle. You know I love you," he said earnestly, his voice tinged with guilt.
Robert's gaze narrowed slightly, his tone firm. "Then why does it seem like you've been avoiding her?" he asked, his voice holding a hint of accusation.
Shane shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck as he struggled to find an explanation. "I... I don't know," he admitted finally, his voice tinged with frustration. "It's like something inside me has been clouded these past few days."
Helen stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Shane, we need to understand what's going on. Giselle deserves to know the truth."
Shane sighed heavily, his gaze dropping to the floor as he wrestled with his conflicting emotions. "I've been... thinking a lot lately," he began slowly, choosing his words carefully. "About Trixie."
Giselle's heart sank at the mention of Trixie's name, a mix of hurt and confusion swirling inside her. "Why Trixie?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Shane looked up, meeting Giselle's gaze with a pained expression. "I don't know," he admitted honestly. "But there's this... pull. Like I can't stop thinking about her."
Robert frowned deeply, his concern turning to suspicion. "Trixie? Is she somehow involved in this?"
Shane hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "I don't know," he repeated, his voice tinged with frustration. "But something doesn't feel right."
Jon spoke up, his brow furrowed in thought. "Could Trixie be using dark magic?" he suggested, his voice filled with concern for his sister.
Helen shook her head, her expression troubled. "I hope not," she murmured quietly. "But we can't rule anything out."
Giselle wiped away tears from her cheeks, feeling a mix of hurt and anger. "Shane, do you love Trixie?" she asked again, her voice trembling with emotion.
Shane's gaze softened as he reached out to gently grasp Giselle's hands. "Giselle, I love you," he said earnestly, his voice filled with sincerity. "But there's something... I can't explain it."
Robert stepped forward, his tone firm but compassionate. "Shane, you need to figure this out," he said, his voice carrying a weight of paternal concern. "And if you truly love Giselle, you need to be honest with her."
Shane nodded slowly, his eyes filled with guilt and turmoil. "I know," he murmured quietly. "I need to talk to Charles."
Helen placed a comforting hand on Giselle's shoulder, her gaze softening with maternal empathy. "We'll give you two sometime," she said gently, leading Robert, Jon, and Cindy out of the room.
Alone with Giselle, Shane took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead. "Giselle, I'm sorry," he began, his voice filled with regret. "I don't want to hurt you."
Giselle looked at him, her heart breaking with each word he spoke. "Shane, if you love Trixie... If you don't love me anymore, just tell me," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.
Shane's shoulders sagged with the weight of his conflicting emotions. "I do love you, Giselle," he insisted earnestly. "But I need to understand what's happening."
Giselle nodded slowly, her tears falling freely now. "Just... please be honest with me," she whispered, her voice filled with pain.
Shane pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as he struggled to find the right words. "I will," he promised softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I will find out what's going on, I promise."
As they held each other in the quiet of her room, Giselle couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that lingered in the air. She knew that their love was facing its greatest challenge yet, and the outcome remained uncertain. But amidst the turmoil, she clung to a flicker of hope that Shane would find his way back to her, and their love would emerge stronger than ever before.
The morning after the emotionally charged conversation with Giselle, Shane found himself seated in his office, staring out at the expansive grounds of the Silver Stone Moon Pack. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and unanswered questions. He knew he needed to take decisive action to unravel the mysterious pull he felt towards Trixie, a pull that seemed to defy reason and logic.
Leo, his trusted beta and assistant, entered the room quietly, sensing the gravity of Shane's mood. "Alpha Shane," Leo began cautiously, "you wanted to see me?"
Shane turned his attention to Leo, his expression serious and determined. "Leo, I need you to find a very strong witch," he said, his voice firm with resolve.
Leo furrowed his brow in confusion. "A witch, Alpha Shane?" he asked, trying to make sense of the request. "Why do you need a witch?"
Shane leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk as he met Leo's gaze squarely. "I have a hunch, Leo," he explained carefully. "I believe Trixie has put a spell on me."
Leo's eyes widened slightly in surprise, processing the implications of Shane's words. "A spell?" he repeated, his voice tinged with concern. "But why would Trixie do that?"
Shane shook his head, his thoughts racing as he struggled to articulate the inexplicable pull he had been feeling towards Trixie. "I don't know," he admitted, frustration lacing his tone. "But I can't shake this feeling that something isn't right. Ever since Lucille and Trixie entered our lives, things have been... complicated."
Leo nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "You think Trixie's spell is influencing your feelings towards her?" he asked, seeking clarity.
Shane nodded grimly. "Yes," he confirmed. "And I can't afford to let that influence cloud my judgment, especially when it comes to Giselle."
Leo frowned, understanding the gravity of Shane's predicament. "So you want the witch to remove the spell," he surmised, his voice tinged with concern for his alpha.
Shane nodded again, a determined glint in his eyes. "Exactly," he affirmed. "I need to be clear-headed, Leo. I need to know that my feelings for Giselle are genuine and not manipulated by magic."
Leo crossed his arms thoughtfully, considering Shane's request. "Do you have any leads on where to find this witch?" he asked, already formulating a plan in his mind.
Shane leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair wearily. "Not yet," he admitted. "But I trust you, Leo. Find the strongest witch you can, someone who can undo whatever spell Trixie may have cast."
Leo nodded firmly, his loyalty to Shane evident in his expression. "I'll start looking immediately," he assured Shane. "And I'll make sure she's discreet."
"Thank you, Leo," Shane said sincerely, grateful for his beta's unwavering support. "And Leo, once the spell is removed, I need you to ensure that Trixie understands where I stand. Giselle is the only one I want as my Luna."
Leo nodded once more, his determination matching Shane's own. "Understood, Alpha Shane," he said firmly. "I'll handle it."
As Leo turned to leave the office, Shane's thoughts turned back to Giselle. He couldn't shake the guilt he felt for allowing doubts to cloud his feelings for her. She deserved better than uncertainty, and he was determined to set things right.