hiya! enjoy


Chapter Fourteen

"Breathe."

"You keep saying that but she obviously isn't breathing."

"I'm saying it to you, she is fine. You're the one with the racing heart and not breathing. She can sense your anxiety, you have to breathe."

Sam rolled his eyes, looking down at Mercedes. "It's been three days and she hasn't woken up. My pack is on high alert and I need to be there, so can you do anything or not?

Angela, Darlene and Yvette all looked at him like he'd lost his mind and if he were honest, he would admit that he had. He was worried about Mercedes and his pack, he'd lost all communication with them since his fight with Zane.

"Stop thinking about that damn wolf and focus on her." Darlene said and Sam nodded.

"What exactly do you need me to do?" He asked.

Yvette placed her hand on Mercedes' forehead. "She's in there… just lost. It's like she's stuck somewhere that I can't reach."

Angela frowned. "I think I can do it… the women that did this to her are a part of my coven but it was taught by another… this magic is not like ours at all."

"What does that mean? Why are other witches doing this to her?"

"Because she has the ability to strip all of us from our powers." Angela revealed and Yvette looked at her confused.

"No, no. She can't contain that much power, it would kill her."

Darlene sighed, looking at her grand-daughter. "That's not what she means. She means she can strip us and be the only one with power. She absorbs and expels power so what's stopping her from absorbing ours then releasing it back into the earth?"

"So she's the only reason I have power again?" Yvette asked.

"Mhm. We never gave it back so whatever power you have is from her, she's like a fountain." Darlene answered.

Sam rolled his eyes. "This is all great and all but how does that help her wake up?"

Angela snorted. "Anxious energy will keep her away, you need to control your hormones. I know it's been a while but she's no help to you if she's only half present. The curse they put on her is not exactly a sleeping one… she's in a limbo state." She explained, walking around before grabbing Mercedes' hand and squeezing.

"A very scary place for anyone to be but it's worse for her because she thinks she's still among us, drawing her out will be hard to do…" She continued before her eyes flashed white and she let out a strangled breath.

"Is… is she okay?" Sam asked, starting to move but Darlene stopped him.

"Your instinct to protect us is charming but you are essentially useless right now." Yvette said, looking him over. "And you take up a lot of space, good Lord how big are you?"

Sam looked around realizing they were in a small area and shifted. "I'm not that big… my wolf is three times bigger than my human self." The women shot him a bored look before Mercedes jerked upwards.

Darlene grabbed Sam's arm stopping him from when he started to lung. "She's not out of it." She said.

Sam felt the urge to shift but stopped when Mercedes opened her eyes and they were white. "What's happening?"

Yvette shifted. "She's going to get her… she has to enter her mind and find her."

They all looked at Angela hearing her muttering and seeing that her eyes were the same shade of white as Mercedes. She slowly began to drift off the ground before she floated above, her arms and legs were limp and she was no longer muttering.

Darlene sighed, grabbing a chair and sitting down. "Now we wait…"


Mercedes stumbled through the woods, her feet aching and her body exhausted. She had been walking for hours, unable to find her way out, when she finally stopped in a clearing. "Hello?" She shouted, her voice bouncing back like it had been doing.

Suddenly, she felt a buzzing in the air around her and looked up to see a bright light that seemed to be beaming down from the sky. Mercedes stood there mesmerized by the light until she heard a voice call out to her "Come… Follow me…"

Mercedes followed the voice into the light, unsure of what was going on but knowing that it was the only way out of this place. As she stepped into the light she could feel a strange energy surrounding her and soon enough she realized that she was standing in a vast hall with high ceilings and wide corridors leading off into different directions. In front of her stood a woman who radiated power and authority -Angela.

"Mercedes, you are safe here now… I am here to help you… Can you tell me what happened?"

Mercedes blinked, shaking her head. "What are you talking about? I don't know where here is... I was at the ball, then Sam- wait... how are you here?" She asked, taking a step away from the woman.

Angela stepped forward, looking at Mercedes intently with an expression of understanding on her face. "It is clear that something has taken root deep inside your mind - something dark and powerful - something that wants to keep you trapped in this state forever unless we can do something about it"

"How can I be sure you aren't the reason I'm like this?" Mercedes questioned.

Angela shifted before moving toward Mercedes. There was a determined look etched into Angela's aged features, her piercing gaze meeting that of the confused girl.

"You have my word and the power of my covenant," Angela promised, her tone steady as she sought to convince Mercedes of their authenticity.

"Besides," she added, her arms folded across her chest, "I wouldn't have spent all this time trying to reach you if I intended you harm. I'm here to help, Mercedes."

The lost girl seemed somewhat reassured, but there was still wariness in her eyes. "Fine. But I don't understand what's happening... Why can't I wake up?"

"The witches who did this," Angela began slowly, "they created a mental maze in your mind. It's why you've been lost and unable to return."

"But why? What do they want with me?"

"They fear your power," She answered bluntly. "You're a threat to them, Mercedes. They believe they can control you this way."

Mercedes looked at the woman, her confusion gradually giving way to a dawning realization. "And you think I can break free from this… maze?"

"I know you can," Angela nodded, her voice a comforting whisper. "You need to believe it too."

"But how? I've tried!"

Angela stepped forward, placing a hand on Mercedes' shoulder. "You've been trying to navigate this maze with logic and reason. What you need to do is let go. Use your innate ability to sense the energy around you. Use your power."

Mercedes chewed on her lower lip, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "And if I fail?"

"You won't," Angela declared, her eyes unwavering. "Not if you trust us, and trust yourself."

With a hesitant nod, Mercedes closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on the energy within herself and the echoes of magic throughout the maze. She felt a sudden rush of power surge through her, like an electrical current, making her skin tingle and her heart race. Her mind was awash with colors and shapes, paths and directions that seemed clear one moment only to blur the next.

Angela's hand was warm on her shoulder, a grounding presence amidst the chaos. Her voice was soft, yet commanding in Mercedes' ear. "Tap into your instincts, child. Do not allow the maze to control you."

With that in mind, Mercedes opened herself to the power coursing within. She could feel its potency thrumming within her veins, waiting to be harnessed. It was overwhelming, like standing on the edge of a precipice and realizing she could fly.

Slowly, the maze around her began to shift, the once murky paths illuminated by a radiant light that stemmed from within Mercedes herself. The once intimidating labyrinth was unraveling before her eyes.

Mercedes gasped as she felt something click into place. The maze, which had seemed so complex and sprawling before, now appeared as nothing more than a simple labyrinth with a clear path leading out.

"Follow the light," Angela's voice whispered in her ear. "Trust in your power. You can do this."

With newfound determination, Mercedes began to walk towards the path that was illuminated before her, each step filling her with a sense of purpose and strength she had not felt since she'd fallen into this sleep state.

The dark walls of the maze seemed to crumble away as she moved forward, replaced by a soft, warm glow that emanated from within her. The sense of fear and confusion that had plagued her evaporated as if it had never been, replaced by a solid certainty that she was on the right path.

As she neared the end of the maze, she could see a faint light growing brighter with every step. A rush of excitement surged through her veins as she quickened her pace.

Just when she thought she was almost free, the maze lurched ominously, and a dark figure emerged from the shadows. It was an embodiment of Mercedes' fear and despair, materialized in front of her like a setback.

"No! You're not real!" Mercedes shouted defiantly at the figure. "You're just another trick. I won't let you stop me."

With a strong, booming voice, the figure responded, "I am real as long as you believe I am. If you wish to escape, you have to defeat me."

Mercedes squared her shoulders and clenched her hands at her sides. Her heart pounded against her chest like a war drum, setting a relentless rhythm for the upcoming battle. "Then so be it," she declared, her voice echoing throughout the maze.

The figure seemed to smirk, darkness wrapping around it like a shroud. It lunged towards Mercedes with an unnatural speed but she was prepared. She held out her palm and a blinding beam of light shot out, throwing the figure back.

"Your power cannot protect you forever," the dark spirit sneered, slowly rising from the ground.

"But it can protect me long enough," Mercedes retorted confidently. She summoned another beam of light, pushing it towards the spirit with all her might.

The dark spirit retaliated with thick tendrils of shadows but Mercedes was quicker. She formed a shield of light around herself that deflected the tendrils, the impact causing vibrant sparks to fly off in different directions.

"You cannot win!" the dark spirit roared, launching another wave of shadows towards Mercedes.

"Watch me," Mercedes spat back, her eyes glowing with determination. She closed her eyes once again, calling upon every ounce of power within her. The air around her crackled with energy as she prepared for her final attack.

With a deafening roar, Mercedes opened her eyes and threw a blindingly bright beam towards the dark figure. The spirit had no time to react, caught off guard by the intensity of Mercedes' power.

There was a blinding flash as the beam hit the figure directly, causing it to disintegrate into a cloud of smoke that slowly dissipated into nothingness.

Mercedes stood panting in the middle of the now empty maze, her heart pounding in her chest. A sense of triumph washed over her as she realized she had successfully defeated her fears, navigated the internal maze, and harnessed her inner power. Her legs felt weak but she pushed herself to move forward, drawn towards the radiant light at the end of the tunnel.

As she crossed the threshold into the light, a feeling of warmth enveloped her. It felt like a soft blanket on a cold day, comforting and reassuring. She blinked as the world around her shifted from the gloomy walls of the maze to a sunny field brimming with wildflowers.

Angela was at her side in an instant, her face etched with relief.

"You did it," Angela uttered, her voice choked with emotion.

Mercedes nodded, tears streaming down her face. She looked down at her hands, still pulsating with residual energy. After all her struggles and self-doubt, she had broken free from the maze that held her captive.

"I did it," Mercedes agreed through the mist of her own disbelief. "I'm free."

Angela smiled. "Yes, you did. You've grown stronger, Mercedes. You found your power and used it to free yourself. That's something to be proud of."

Mercedes shifted uneasily, her heart racing with a sense of foreboding. "Why do I feel as though there's a but coming?" she asked, voice laced with apprehension.

Angela took a step towards her, her features stern and determined. "You may have broken free from the darkness in your mind, but you are still trapped within its grasp. You need to wake up," she urged, her words laden with urgency and concern. A chill ran down Mercedes' spine as she realized the gravity of the situation. Each moment that passed felt like an eternity, and she knew that she needed to break free before it was too late.

"Wake up." Angela urged.


Sam, Yvette and Darlene watched on waiting for something to happen before Angela's body came crashing down as she took a long breath, gasping for air. "Water..."

Darlene quickly left the room going to grab some water while Sam helped Angela to her feet. "Is she okay? Is she going to wake up."

Angela took a shaky breath, her eyes weary but resolute. "She... she has to be. She's stronger than any of us could have imagined." Her voice held a note of admiration, but it was tinged with fear. A fear of the unknown, a fear that Mercedes might not wake up.

As Darlene returned with the water, Sam helped Angela take small sips, her body trembling slightly from the frustrating experience she'd just been through. Fluid trickled down her throat, refreshing in its simplicity after the tumultuous journey into Mercedes' mind.

A deafening silence settled over them as they waited for any sign of Mercedes awakening. Sam couldn't help but glance at the clock intermittently – time was a luxury Mercedes didn't have and each passing second felt like a lifetime.

Suddenly, there was a change in the room's atmosphere. The energy shifted dramatically and filled the room with an electric pulse that made their skin prickle and their hearts pound with anticipation.

Mercedes's eyelids, previously sealed shut in her deep trance, fluttered open with a newfound light. She took a sharp intake of breath as if she had been submerged underwater for far too long. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically while her dark eyes darted around the room as if seeking for something – or someone.

"Mercedes!" Sam cried out, relief washing over him like a warm wave. He rushed to her side, gripping her hand tightly.

She blinked up at him, a weak smile tugging at her lips. "I did it," she said hoarsely, coughing a little as she adjusted to the dry air around her.

Angela, despite her exhaustion, managed a small smile. "Yes, you did."

Mercedes tried sitting up but found herself too weak to do so. She let out a groan of frustration to which Darlene quickly responded by propping up some pillows behind her for support. Then she offered Mercedes a glass of water which was accepted gratefully, its coolness soothing her parched throat.

"Oh, thank the stars," Darlene muttered, her voice cracking with emotion. She squeezed Mercedes' hand gently and added, "We were worried."

Angela stood up, weary but victorious. "Now that you're awake, we need to debrief," she said solemnly, her gaze piercing into Mercedes'. "What you saw in your mind... it could be the key to defeating our enemy."

Mercedes nodded slightly, understanding the importance of the situation. Her escapade inside her own mind had been a personal battle against her inner demons, yes, but it had also given her an insight into how darkness worked—how it manipulated fear and used it as a weapon.

"I saw... I saw darkness personified," she said slowly, recalling the terrifying figure she had battled. "It called upon my fears, made them real. But... I defeated them. I think...I think that's what we all need to do…"

Her mother stepped closer, her eyes scanning the group of women and Sam with a mix of fear and determination. She let out a heavy sigh before fixing her gaze back on her daughter. "Sweetheart, we don't share the same problem. The darkness within you is a battle that only you can fight. But the one we face... it's something else entirely." Yvette trailed off uneasily.

Sam shook his head, his jaw clenched in frustration as he took a protective step towards Mercedes. "There has to be another way. We can't just give up."

Darlene shifted on her feet, her voice laced with urgency. "The darkness inside her could consume her completely. And if we wait too long, it will..." she trailed off, unable to voice the grim outcome.

"Ruin us all," Angela chimed in, her eyes darting around nervously. "She holds the power to tip every scale, and her abilities are beyond imagination. I could feel it when I was inside her mind... It's irresistible and all-consuming. No wonder those other witches were able to control her so easily."

Mercedes listened, feeling her heart pounding against her chest as she processed their words. "So what does this mean? Are you going to have to kill me?" she asked, trying not to let panic take over.

Her mother quickly shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "No, no we wouldn't-"

Darlene shot her a warning look before answering firmly. "If we cannot bind you and the hold the darkness has on you is too strong... then we might have no choice."

A deep snarl erupted from Sam's throat as he stepped forward menacingly. "No one will lay a hand on her. She belongs to me and I will gather every pack in this region to protect her," he growled, making his possessive claim known.

Mercedes placed a calming hand on his arm. "But what if there's a way to remove it from me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Angela flinched at the suggestion. "I... I don't know..."

"Is it possible?" Sam demanded, his voice firm yet desperate. "Can we get it out without hurting her?"

Angela hesitated before shaking her head. "Not without causing harm, but it is possible."

Yvette interjected, her voice frantic with worry. "Shouldn't we just teach her how to control it?"

Darlene took her daughter's hand in hers, her expression filled with sorrow. "Teaching someone to control darkness is like telling the sun not to shine... it's not something that can be tamed."

"But there must be a way!" Sam exploded, his furious gaze moving between the three witches. "We can't allow this darkness to consume her. Not without a fight."

His desperation echoed in the silence of the room and Mercedes felt her heart ache at the raw emotion she saw in his eyes.

"It's not your decision to make, Sam," Angela said softly, her eyes fixed on Mercedes.

"But it is hers," Yvette quickly added, crossing her arms over her chest in a defensive manner. "She alone can decide what to do."

Mercedes felt the weight of their gazes on her, their unspoken pleas hanging heavily in the air. She looked to Angela, who had helped guide her through this darkness; she looked to Darlene, her strength radiating; then she looked at Yvette, her mother who brought her into this world and now was looking at her with such fear and hope. Lastly, she turned to Sam who stood beside her, his hand holding hers, his eyes shining with unshed tears and a fierce determination. He loved her, she knew that now more than ever, and he'd move heaven and earth to protect her.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the choice she was about to make. She had always been the one who ran from battles, who hid from conflicts. But now, she was in the middle of a war that could cost her everything.

"I will learn... to control it," she said finally, her voice steady. The room erupted in gasps and murmurs but Mercedes held up a hand to silence them. "I won't let this darkness define me or destroy what I love."

Sam squeezed her hand in approval while Yvette let out an audible sigh of relief. Angela nodded sagely - she didn't wholly agree with Mercedes' decision but respected her bravery. Darlene's face remained impassive, though she gave Mercedes' hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Then we must start training immediately." Angela said before Sam involuntarily jerked.

"Sam?" Mercedes said watching him jerk again before he bared his teeth. "What's wrong?"

"Someone's here." He snarled.

Yvette scrunched her face. "And you wonder why I don't like wolves, why on earth would that be a reaction to someone-"

Darlene snapped her fingers causing her daughter to stop mid sentence. "It's a threat, his wolf doesn't recognize the scent and since he's so close to his mate…"

Angela moved towards the door, closing her eyes to see if she could hear anything. "Whatever… whoever is coming I can't hear. It's not a witch."

"Zane." Mercedes breathed, her face suddenly flushed. "He's not alone." She continued.

Darlene looked at her before nudging Angela who turned and looked at their granddaughter. "This isn't… they shouldn't be linked." She whispered.

Darlene quickly moved closer to Mercedes before accessing her body until she saw the tiniest of marks on her wrist. She yanked her arm, "Mercedes did he bite you?"

Mercedes' breathing increased and a thin layer of sweat coated her skin. "He's… angry."

Yvette rushed over and pulled up her sleeve. "What… What is this?" She shouted seeing black veins spreading up Mercedes' arm.

Sam grunted, trying to keep from shifting. "It's a morsure d'amour, they turn into venom after being apart from the host for too long. Cajun wolves… alphas do it when they aren't sure if someone is their mate or if that don't want someone else to claim their mate."

"How do you get rid of it?" Yvette spat.

Sam took controlled breaths. "I can't." He answered through gritted teeth. "Not in a way that will allow others to be present."

Darlene let out a heartless laugh. "I'm starting to agree with my daughter about her views on wolves. Is everything centered around that?"

His breaths came out more rapidly. "No." he snarled, it's because of her… she's untouched. Most Lunas have gone through at least two cycles before meeting their mates. She's … different."

Angela looked at him before realizing the poison appearing in his veins. "Then why is it affecting you too?"

Sam jerked again. "I don't know but whoever is out there is getting closer to finding us. You need to get her out of here."

Darlene's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes wide with fear. "And how do you expect us to do that? She can't be moved."

In a split second, his head jerked towards her, his sharp teeth bared in a menacing snarl. "You're witches," he growled, his anger bubbling to the surface. "Figure it out!"

His transformation was swift and violent, his wolf form bursting through his human one. The only thought on his mind: protect my mate. He sprinted through the door, ignoring the pain of his body shifting into its powerful form, determined to reach whatever threat that waited down the never-ending corridor.

Behind him, he heard Darlene speaking urgently to Angela, their words a blur to his heightened senses. He didn't have time to decipher their hurried exchange; his instincts were directing him towards the imminent danger.

His paws thumped rhythmically on the cold stone floor as he turned around a winding hallway, snarling as he felt the presence of an unfamiliar scent. An enemy, slowly closing in. The scent was unfamiliar but there was no mistaking its intruding nature. It was threatening and carried the promise of a fight. He pulled back his lips in an aggressive growl, baring his powerful fangs in warning.


Back in the room, Angela and Darlene shared a frantic look as they tried to figure out what to do next. "What if we cast a protection spell?" Angela suggested, her eyes darting around the room, as if expecting an enemy to appear at any moment.

Darlene shook her head, her gray hair falling into her eyes. "That could buy us some time, but it won't solve the problem. We need to move her."

Angela nodded understandingly, "But how? We need a transportation spell strong enough to move a Luna... and we don't have the ingredients for such a powerful spell."

"Well, we'll have to improvise then," Darlene said with determination as she started rummaging through the drawers of an oversized mahogany dresser.

Meanwhile, Sam was engaged in a fierce battle. His wolf form was massive and powerful, snapping and snarling at the intruder who dared threaten his mate. The enemy was another wolf - larger than most but still no match for the strength of an alpha. Fangs bared, they circled each other, growling threats and promises of pain.

The intruder lunged at Sam but found only air as Sam swiftly sidestepped the attack, retaliating with a mighty swipe of his paw that sent the enemy wolf crashing into a wall. The intruder scrambled to its feet and shook itself, recovering quickly from the impact.

Sam had hoped to end this battle soon, to return to his mate's side, but the enemy was proving more resilient than he had anticipated. The intruder lunged again, this time catching Sam by surprise. Sharp fangs sank into his shoulder and he howled in pain, but even in his suffering he did not forget who he was protecting.

With a roar that echoed through the stone hallways, Sam used his superior size and strength to flip the intruder on its back, pinning it down with a massive paw. His fangs flashed in the dim light as he moved to sink them into the intruder's throat, intent on ending this threat to his mate once and for all. As Sam was about to deliver the final blow, a sudden burst of blinding light filled the corridor, forcing him to pull back and shield his eyes.

Back in the room, Yvette, Angela and Darlene had managed to put together a desperate plan. Darlene held a small vial of potion in her trembling hands, chanting incantations that echoed around the room. The air sparkled with magic as Angela positioned herself by Mercedes' side, ready to administer the spell that would transport her out of harm's way.

"Angela!" Darlene cried out as she completed her chant. "Now!"

As Angela poured the potion onto Mercedes' arm, she whispered the words of a powerful transportation spell. Almost instantly, Mercedes' body began to shimmer like heat rising from hot pavement. With one last look at Darlene, Angela nodded and touched Mercedes' forehead.

There was a blinding flash of light, so intense that Angela had to shield her eyes. When she looked again, Mercedes was gone.

Yvette let out an audible sigh of relief, slumping back against the wall. "Did it work?" she asked, hands still shaking from the potency of the magic they had just wrought.

Angela nodded, a weary smile on her face. "Yes," she said. "The spell worked."

Back in the hallway, Sam shook his massive head in confusion. The sudden light had temporarily blinded him and when he regained his sight, his opponent was nowhere to be seen. Bewildered but undeterred, he raced back towards the room where he had left his mate.

Upon entering, he found Yvette, Angela and Darlene alone in the room. His heart pounded in panic as he scanned the room for Mercedes, but she was nowhere to be seen. "Where is she?" he demanded, shifting back into his human form as he approached Angela.

"She's safe," Angela replied, her eyes not meeting his. "We had to transport her somewhere safe... away from your kind."

His jaw tightened at her words, a growl rumbling deep in his chest. "What do you mean 'my kind'? She's my mate. I wouldn't let anything happen to her!"

Darlene stepped in, placing a comforting hand on Sam's arm, despite the tension thrumming within him. "We know you wouldn't, Sam," she assured, her gaze steady and understanding. "But we didn't have a choice. The morsure d'amour was getting worse; it was sucking the life out of her."

Angela nodded in agreement. "The transportation spell... It was our only option. We sent her somewhere safe until we can figure out how to remove the venom completely."

Sam ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He knew they were doing their best, but he felt a gnawing guilt for what Mercedes was going through. "So what's the plan now?" he asked, his voice filled with strain.

"We need to find a cure," Yvette said, her eyes burning with determination.

"But how?" Sam paced around the room, his mind racing. "The venom... I can get it out but you have to send me to her."

"We know," Angela said quietly, her gaze sympathetic. "But we believe there might be a way to remove the poison without forcing her into that. We just need... time."

Sam nodded, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on his shoulders. He would give them all the time they needed if it meant saving Mercedes.

"But until we find a cure," Darlene continued, "we need to keep you away from her."

Sam stopped pacing and stared at them in disbelief. "What?"

"You're too dangerous for her right now, Sam," Yvette explained. "You being near her will only worsen the effects of the poison."

"I promise, I'll keep her safe. I won't touch her unless it's necessary," Sam pleaded. His eyes were burning with desperate determination, his body quivering with the intensity of his words.

Angela and Yvette shared a look, their expressions grave and conflicted. They knew Sam would not let harm befall Mercedes but the risk was too great. Darlene looked at him, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Sam," she began gently, "you have to trust us."

His fists clenched at his sides, frustration seeping through every pore of his being. "Trust you?" he echoed bitterly. "You've sent her into a possibly dangerous situation without any protection!"

"We had no choice," Angela said quietly. Her hands played nervously with the hem of her robe as she avoided Sam's accusing gaze.

"There's always a choice," he retorted, his eyes blazing with fierce defiance.

Darlene offered a suggestion, "Maybe we could send him over there...". "It would give us a few days to assess the situation and see who is working against us."

"But we can't guarantee your safety, Sam," Angela said, her face pale but resolute. "You'd be going in blind, with no idea who or what lies in wait."

"I don't care," Sam interrupted, his voice unwavering. "She's my mate. I won't let her face this alone."

There was a silence in the room as each of them weighed the risk of Sam's proposition. The energy around them was tense; each second felt like an hour as they contemplated the severity of their situation. Finally, Yvette broke the silence.

"Alright," she said, determination glinting in her eyes. "We send him over. But only for a few days and only if it's absolutely necessary."

Sam's face softened with gratitude. "Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Angela looked at him seriously. "This isn't just for you, Sam," she said sternly. "This is for Mercedes too.

"I know," Sam whispered, his resolve never faltering. He turned then, his gaze meeting each of the women in turn. In his eyes, they saw a man willing to risk everything for the one he loved.

The room filled with an ominous silence as Darlene pulled a vial from her robe, swirling the magical concoction inside. It glowed bright turquoise, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Yvette took a deep breath, readying herself for what was to come.

"Are you sure about this?" Angela asked Sam, her expression somber.

"Yes," he said without hesitation. "I've never been more sure of anything."

Darlene nodded, handing him the vial. "Your intentions must be set on Mercedes and it'll take you to her."

Sam grabbed it. "Thank you." With that, he downed the potion in one swift gulp. His body shimmered momentarily before vanishing completely, leaving the three witches staring at the empty space where he'd stood moments before.


Whew! Now let's get them mated and some fluffy mess because war is COMING