Bitten Witch

BITTEN WITCH SILVER WOLVES OF LOCKWOOD BOOK ONE WHITNEY MORSILLO If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed,” and the author has not received any payment for this “stripped book.” This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. ASIN B0BWT1YJDJ Copyright © 2023 by Whitney Morsillo. All rights reserved. Published independently by Whitney Morsillo, and any associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Whitney Morsillo. To all the abuse victims of a parent, a partner, anyone: you are stronger than you’re allowed to believe, and “the sooner you realize that you have every right to fight back, the more powerful you’ll become.” She was his light; He was her darkness. The stars whispered among them, The troubles, The rumors, The pain. But none knew that his darkness caressed hers at night. None knew that her light lit him up from inside, That he wrapped her so tightly in his arms The arrows never pierced her, Or that she didn't smooth his jagged edges But fit her own tight against them. The only thing that was spoken, The truth no one dared question, Was that to lay a finger on one Meant to seek the wrath of the other. For the others who had touched her Had their screams added to the chorus of Tartarus, I didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know. But they did. They just wished he didn't. Table of Contents Chapter one Chapter two Chapter three Chapter four Chapter five Chapter six Chapter seven Chapter eight Chapter nine Chapter ten Chapter eleven Chapter twelve Chapter thirteen Chapter fourteen Chapter fifteen Chapter sixteen Chapter seventeen Chapter eighteen Chapter nineteen Chapter twenty Chapter twenty-one Chapter twenty-two Names: Pronunciations and What They Mean The story continues… About the Author Chapter one Adara The leaves crunch under my boots, a trail of fiery orange, blood red, and golden yellow swirling on the dirt path around me. A million stars dust the clear, inky sky, shining through the branches as they shed their foliage. Sighing, I bring my head back down to my boots, mutilating the beautiful leaves on the ground in front of me. I don’t deserve such beauty—not the stars, not even these leaves. If I could walk with my eyes closed, I would, because that’s what I deserve—darkness—for being a traitor to my coven… even if it’s for a reason born of love. It’s why I left after the sun had gone down, just enough silvery light of the moon guiding my way. Though, I’m grateful it’s the night before the full moon. Tripping over a root arching up from the ground, I stumble and scrape my palm on the rough bark of the oak that caught me. “Damn it,” I hiss, the sharp stinging in my palm stealing my focus for a moment and making me forget where I am. My gaze snaps up, darting back and forth between the trees as my mouth goes dry. I need to be more careful, this is the Silver Wolf Pack territory. Licking my lips, I curl my fingers into my palm and bring it to my chest, then continue on the hidden path before me. Silver Lycans, the bar and gambling den on the other side of the forest that juts against the back edge of my mother’s property, isn’t far now. I can only hope that the pitiful amount of magic I have will conceal my scent for a few more hours while I’m among the wolves. A warm breeze rustles the hair gathered at the nape of my neck, and I shiver—it’s much too warm for a September night in New England. Swallowing hard, I keep my eyes trained on the ground before me and walk a bit faster, sweat gathering on my palms as I pull my jacket tighter around me. The sound of wings flapping grows closer, and my heart rate picks up, knowing any vile creature could be stalking me in this forest. A branch creaks as trees sway in the sudden breeze. Sharp claws cling onto my shoulder, startling me, and I whirl around with a barely contained scream. Black feathers blend in with the night sky, and I clamp my eyes shut, trying to calm both my heart and my breathing. “So, you were serious?” Opening my eyes to glare at the raven, I watch as he simply tilts his head. “Kaylus, I swear to the gods, if you weren’t my familiar, I would murder you on the spot.” He caws loudly, and I fight to not shove him off me. “You’d be lost without me, and you know it.” I scoff at his words as they sound in my mind, knowing they’re true and unwilling to admit it. Kaylus has been my familiar for five years, since I turned fourteen, and he’s been insufferable since—though making him live in the forest outside my house doesn’t help his mood. “I told you this was a bad idea. It was a bad idea the first night, and it’s a bad idea now.” I stomp harder on the leaves before me, fighting to keep my voice low. “I know that, but what choice do I have? Jules deserves to go to the academy. I need the money for her tuition.” Pressing my lips into a firm line, I scowl down at the forest floor as I walk. I was never invited to attend the Academy of Witches, but my sister is finally of age at fifteen and received her invitation to attend just last week. “That’s not your job, Addy. That’s Monique’s.” I swipe angrily at the tears running down my cheeks.