Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 222: New Face

Olivia’s POV

I nervously stepped into the room. Alpha Damien followed close behind and quietly shut the door behind us. The room was dimly lit, the walls lined with shelves full of jars, herbs, strange stones, and things I couldn’t name. The smell was sharp—earthy and strange, like dried plants mixed with smoke and something older.

Seated on the floor in the center of the room was the witch. She was old, with long silver hair tied back loosely. Her eyes were strange—too dark, too deep—and they watched me like they could see every part of me, even the parts I didn’t want anyone to see.

"Sit," she said, her voice low and rough like sandpaper. She didn’t raise her head, just motioned to the small cushion in front of her.

I hesitated, glancing once at Alpha Damien, but he gave me a small nod.

Slowly, I stepped forward and sat down in front of her.

She began chanting in a language I didn’t understand. Her voice was firm, loud, and the air in the room seemed to shift with each word she spoke. I could feel it—like the air was pulsing around me.

Then she stopped.

Her eyes opened and looked directly into mine.

"You must give consent," she said. "Without it, nothing I do will work. Your body must accept the spell willingly."

I stared at her, frozen. My mouth felt dry. Every part of me wanted to run, to scream, to tell her no.

But I couldn’t.

I nodded slowly. "I give my consent for a change of appearance only for a year," I whispered.

The witch didn’t say anything else. She just stood and pointed to the small bed in the corner of the room.

"Lie down," she said.

I swallowed hard and took a shaky step back.

The bed was small, plain, with faded covers and a pillow that looked ancient.

"Will it hurt?" I asked, turning to her.

"No," she said softly. "It’s only for a year. You’ll wake up with a new face, but the old one will still be there... waiting to return."

That didn’t comfort me much.

But I did as she said, walking slowly to the bed and lying down. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

I heard her footsteps come closer.

Then, she placed something warm and thick over my face.

It was a clay pot. I could feel the heavy rim of it resting against my forehead and chin.

And then—darkness.

Total, complete darkness.

something moving... not just around me—but inside me.

Suddenly, the chanting stopped.

pot lift off my

let out a

said proudly. "It was

pounded

touched my face. It felt... the

knew

My breathing quickened.

me with a relieved look on his face, and in his hand

reached out and took the mirror

thoughts raced through my head—What if I didn’t recognize myself? What if I looked like a monster? What if... this

slowly lifted

And froze.

face staring back at me wasn’t mine. It

was beautiful—undeniably so—but

full and slightly arched at the corners, like she carried a secret. Her nose was delicate, perfectly shaped. And her eyes... they were a shade of deep brown,

most shocking

She looked older.

Not by much—but enough.

looked

face... it belonged to someone in her early twenties. An Indian woman, she looked so Indian

I didn’t look

had seen the world and

some ways... maybe

the sight of her—of

but the words caught in

well," he said. "You look completely different. No one

trembled as I slowly lowered the

dye your hair to its natural color... take off the blonde... remember it was only your face that was changed... nothing else," the witch instructed while I remained silent. Everything still felt

Damien turned to

laugh. "Hope you’ve

turned to the witch and gave her my clothes. "Yes. The lands are now yours," he said. "As promised, do the last work and hand

"Good," she said with a raspy voice. "I’ll do it quickly and hand it over to your

sat still, holding the mirror in my lap, unable to tear my eyes away from the reflection that no longer felt like

really who I was

disguise—it was a

turned back

blinked and looked up

That was it?

Just like that?

a little shaky, and followed him toward the door. One last

me for the next year, I would have to