Chapter 1

" I need to speak to him now!" I commanded as I laced my voice with determination.

"Was he expecting you?" The young man at the counter replied as he saw my aura of frustration. Frustration had washed over me as I made a step closer to the dimly lit jewelry shop in New Moon's heart.

The air was thick with the scent of incense and herbs, which created an atmosphere that embraced my troubles. With determination, I approached the counter.

Eagerness tinged my voice as I sought the famed Mzee Keith my last hope for understanding the love-philter's failure. Yet the shop boy remained an unwavering barrier.

"That ain't important for now. I must talk to that old man!"

"Let her in", a voice said from the back of the shop.

With an aura of mysticism clinging to him, the young Clerk guided me to the secluded back room- Mzee Keith's sanctuary and altar to the gods. As I entered. The room came to life with flickering candles, casting dancing shadows on the yellow and red-painted walls.

The seasoned cultist priest turned to face me, his eyes gleaming with ancient wisdom, and spoke with a voice that held both authority and empathy.

"What brings you to my sill, young lady? To get another spell, or possibly, hoping to bear a child now that you have got a man? His authoritative voice wove a tapestry of intrigue.

Trembling with anger and desperation, I poured out my heart, "I came to find love, papa Keith. I went by your rituals yet he saw me as nothing more than a passing whirl. I felt and I still feel deceived and robbed of the promises you made. I want him to see me as his true partner, his soul mate I must get married before the full moon remember".

The old man paused, his gaze unwavering, as he scrutinized me, he continued mixing potions and preparing herbs with methodical precisions.

"Daughter, the ways of love are as intricate as the spirits we invoke. It is hopeless to force or guarantee love , especially to go against your Moon Goddess's wishes". He spoke in a firm yet compassionate tone.

"But I kept my trust in you, papa Keith. I believed that your magic held the answers I've sought for a long. I believed you could overturn the Moon Goddess's plans. Now everything is dusted with doubt". My voice cracked, and the mounting frustration spilled into my words like a mug too hastily filled.

The old man turned to fully face me, his voice steady but tied with with an alarm. "Trust, my daughter, is a fragile thread that connects us to the gods. Tell me, did you follow the rituals exactly as I instructed?"

"I ...uhm ...I think so. I attempted to..." My voice faltered into a delicate dance of frustration and regret with each hesitant word.

"Daughter, I take responsibility for my role, but you must understand the importance of honesty and respect in magic. A potion alone cannot summon love. Sincerity, a profound togetherness, and openness with the energies at play are crucial," The old man crystallized.

"I ...ah I can't be without him. Desperation will eat me, and our Pack will be at risk I'm seeking a solution. Tell me what you need. I will do anything, everything as you say, sir..." A glimmer of moisture gathered in my eyes to betray me as the weight of my missteps became undeniable.

The old man infused his voice with compassion as he softened his expression, "Daughter, desperation can cloud your judgment and play against the forces you are trying to call upon. But hope remains. The path to love still exists. Learn from this experience and tie yourself into embracing its lessons, keep your intentions pure. The spirits will or may guide you to the love you are seeking."

I held my breath and inhaled deeply, the rise and fall of my chest meant a silent battle against the whirlwind of thoughts.

"Everything seemed okay, even after his death until they showed up" I confessed, rubbing my temples and exhaling heavily and loudly.

The old man's eyes narrowed, his tone cutting through the air like a sharpened blade. "Who? The spirits demand honesty, my daughter. Tell me what you know about them!" He was now concerned and very genuinely concerned. Why hadn't I shared the whole information, not even earlier?

Witches had a keen sense for detecting JuJu's magic, and the old man knew that werewolves and witches were not known to be allies. Something had completely gone haywire.

"The witches. I know little. It's all wrapped up in secrecy. About five or six of them have joined the Moon Stone Pack. They called themselves the "Hollow masters" I don't know who they think they are, the new moon gods. One of them has curled and white hair, she's unusual and different from the others. They are all so dated. Why are they even welcome at first? In our territory?" My words came out sharp and hot, like sparks flaring from a fire of frustration within.

The old man gasped, his eyes widened in shock. He didn't want to go against the Godrics Hollow coven, its leader Myra, and the White witch. He knew them to be one of the most potent covens because of their tight bond. And if they were allies to the Red Moon pack, he could not make enemies out of them. "Leave, daughter. There's nothing more I can do for you. Leave and never come back here. If I was to be you, I would rather seek help elsewhere, in other places. Better yet, put than one in your past. Maybe you shouldn't be going against your Moon Goddess's plans for you and him."

I walked back through the front door of the store. I was perturbed by the sudden kick out of the store. As I stepped outside, the store boy rushed to my side, as he guided me towards the exit. "Come let's go. There might be someone else who can help you" he whispered. His voice was filled with understanding and a sense of tension.

A cloud of confusion and despair shadowed my steps as I exited the Jewelry shop, the shop boy's presence silenced the echoes of my tumult. I carried a dangerous combination of disappointment and desperation.

"If he turns his back on me...so be it, " I whispered, my resolve hardening like ice. There's always another way out of trouble, another one who will listen," I muttered to myself, my determination casting a steely glint in my eyes.

" If help is what you are seeking, there would be someone else who holds more secrets and could help", the shop boy murmured.