A good scolding

"Quincy, what did you find?" His father Arthur questioned him the second he stepped into the study.

He sat down on one of the leather club chairs and let out a sigh, "I followed her, but she evaded.

me once she headed deeper into the forest," he lied. "But she didn't use her magic after Carl left."

"Hmmm…strange," his father trailed off, and rested his elbows on his desk, stroking his chin. "With so many guests here, we should be vigilant. We can't guarantee that the witch isn't staying in the mansion. Not to mention, we can't deduce what her goal is. The fact that she is concealing her true scent is what has me the most worried. You boys should head to bed, I'll send word for Max and Geoffrey to join us here, having some more of our pack here is sure to be helpful if things take an interesting turn."

Carl stopped on the landing of the grand staircase and turned to Quincy, "What do you think?"

"I'm not sure, but I don't feel like she means any harm."

***

Back in his room, Quincy could not take his mind off of the image of the lady floating in the air with her beautiful hair dancing in the wind. Unlike his father and brother, he hadn't ever actually seen a witch before. Sure, he had been with his pack on their runs when they all sensed someone using magic, but he was never sent to investigate its user. The pack was aware that there was a coven that met toward the east of their estate, but they generally kept to themselves, unless they were out healing the ill and on occasion, they helped behind the scenes, but that was rare. The last time that he knew of, they helped by summoning water to help crops during the last drought that threatened to leave many without food for the winter.

{I wonder who that was. But if father has sent word to Max and Geoffrey, he must be worried about something. The last thing I want to do after coming back is spend my break dealing with any trouble.} Quincy muttered aloud before drifting off to sleep.

***

After both girls were dressed, they joined their father for a quick breakfast in his quarters before they were to meet up with Lacey for the afternoon tea party. Their conversation, much like every other morning, was light and they mostly spoke of the events that were to take place and last night's dinner.

"Father, I know that Aunt Carol had spoken to us many times in the past about werewolves, but have you ever seen one?" Evelyn asked and placed her teacup back down onto the table.

Her father looked up from the papers he was reading, and his brows pinched together, "why are you asking? I can only assume that means you snuck out into the forest last night."

"W-well," Evelyn stammered, she knew that her father was aware that she would sneak out back home, but she didn't want him to know that she had done so here. It looked like the cat was out of the bag, and she needed to know more. "I… umm… I may have seen one…*cough cough*...last night," her voice was full of guilt.

"Evelyn, you CANNOT be sneaking out here! We have no idea who all is gathered here, and it is important that you girls are beyond careful why we are here. Why do you think that I have not let Peggy and you meet with the coven that isn't far off from here? No one here can so much as catch wind of your powers, but now it seems that we need to be even more worried about it now," her father scolded her with his fist clenched on the table. "To answer your question, I have seen them before. When your mother was alive, there was a pack that was not far from our domain. They had an agreement with the coven, similar to how many still hold those agreements now. Even to this day, the pact your mother worked hard to create still remains in place."

"Wait! Why am I just learning this now?" Peggy interrupted.

"You haven't learned of this because this information is only known to the current heads and the select few that were present at the time of the negotiations. This information is only revealed to others when there is a need to do so. It helps to maintain peaceful relations between the witches and the werewolves if fewer people are aware of the locations and identities of both the coven and its members and the werewolf packs and their members. But, having been present when your mother led talks with the pack, I have met several werewolves, including the current Alpha, Beta, and their children. I know that your aunt has told you many things, but although she means well, her warnings are biased. Your aunt was present during the time when the dark witches were rising in power and the pack in her coven's territory played a vital role in handling the matter. Her coven was home to too many dark witches, and it would have been impossible for the remaining witches, let alone us normal humans, to deal with them. As a consequence, your aunt witnessed their brutality and true power. I know she means well, but they are not normally like what your aunt saw, unless there is a need to be. But you need to now tell me exactly what you saw last night," his eyes burned into Evelyn's.

"Well, I felt someone watching me and I tried my best to lose them. I even made sure to ensure that no one was near me when I entered the forest, but I sensed it as I was making my way back. That was when I saw him. It was a giant wolf with bright yellow eyes."

"And what happened?"

"Nothing; it was weird. He stared at me and then after a while he retreated."

"Did you wear your cloak? Do you think he saw what you looked like? Do you think he would be able to recognize you?" He anxiously questioned her.

Evelyn nodded, "yes, I had my cloak on, and I had it pulled low. I don't think he saw me, and I don't think he would be able to recognize me if I ran into him while we are here."

"I see…" her father appeared lost in thought. "Evelyn, are you able to alter your scent using the charm your mother left you? I'm sure that they are willing to try to track your scent to sniff you out. The fact that you both smell human can only protect you so much, but now it has probably made them especially worried a "human" was the one doing magic."

"I have already done so once I got back to my room."

"Wait? You can do that?!" Peggy exclaimed. It was true that no one was aware of Evelyn's true abilities and to alter their charms was not an easy thing to do.

"Yes, I found out how to do it when I found mother's journals. I have been routinely altering our scents whenever you return from one of your healing visits and I had actually planned on altering yours before we left for the party this morning in case anyone sensed our magic usage yesterday," she shrugged her shoulders as she munched on a piece of toast.

"I can't believe you went out," Peggy scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Why couldn't you at least wait until I could go with you?" She mumbled.

"Quiet!" Their father glared at Peggy. He let out a deep sigh, "you girls need to be careful and sneaking out at night is not something you should even be doing at home, but it absolutely cannot occur here!"

"I know," Evelyn lowered her gaze, "but it's so hard to practice! How are we expected to improve our skills if we have no safe place to do so?"

"Evelyn, I know this must be frustrating, but that is why you should join Peggy at the coven."

Evelyn rolled her eyes, it was not a secret that she wanted nothing to do with coven, but she didn't want to argue with her father about this again.

"Now, I don't believe there should be anything to worry about with the werewolves. As long as you girls are careful with your magic, they should have no reason to suspect you now that your scent has been changed. They are only able to sense your powers when you wield them."