Ch. 631..640

Chapter 0631

NO! I don't even know what happened to me. It's like my body and mind separated. The absolute feeling of despair, hopelessness, hatred, anger, defeat all licked up my insides like a white hot flame. While we were here distracted, someone or something else attacked our home. All the people waiting for us to bring some level of good news, where are they? Are they safe? Did they see it coming and get to safety?? Are the people we are holding prisoner safe? I didn't want them to die fighting for another person's obsession. I know I am breathing heavily, but I can't gain control over myself, I can't hear my wolf talking to me if she's trying. I'm drowning.

My chest is caving in and I know I am breathing, but my vision is lined in red. I will destroy these rogues and everything they love for what they have done and are doing to my pack. I let out a scream and a wave of energy blasts out from around me. My vision goes black for a moment.

Thick arms wrap around me from behind. I can feel the tingles run up my skin, I know they are supposed to calm me down, but it's not working this time. I am pulled back into a hard chest and I can feel breath on the back of my neck. Another set of hands grabs my cheeks. Again, I feel tingles, but I am so lost in my destructive thoughts, I can't for the life of me figure out who has me. I do know that my legs are noodles, I don't think I could stand if I wasn't being held up.

Wait! I know someone is holding me up. I'm in my human form, how did that happen? When did that happen? Someone is talking to me, but it's like speaking underwater; muffled, incoherent sounds. I still can't focus my eyes on anything but the plume of smoke eating what may be left of my home. I need to move, we need to move. Why am I trapped? My body isn't following instructions.

I think I am telling my body to move, but I don't seem to be going anywhere. Then heat trickles down my body like slow lava, from the top of my head, through my fingertips and to my toes, thawing out whatever had frozen me in place. I gasp and feel the needed air fill my lungs.

"Bitty, Baby, focus. Focus on us. Come back to us, we need you."

"Sweetness, come on, we've got you. Don't try to do this alone."

"Tiny, Love, we're here, always here. Breathe, Love, just breathe."

An electric jolt snaps me back into my body and I look around. My mates are surrounding me. Cam has me bundled in his arms from behind, Dakota to my right and Oliver to my left. They all have their foreheads pressed to my head, speaking to me softly and it's enough to break me out of my panic. I feel the tears running down my face.

"Can you turn it off baby? I think you got everyone here." Oliver doesn't break contact when he asks.

"Huh?" I look up and blink as I take in our surroundings. Every tree from the grove is gone, the ground is singed black, except for where we are standing. We stand in a circle of bright green grass. I blink a couple more times and notice the rest of my family in similar polka dots of green surrounded by blackened earth.

I can see what Oliver is talking about though, a white flame with black tip is burning slowly across the land. I reach into my wolf and my magic and ask it to stop. Just like that, it obeys me and the flame recedes into the ground. I don't know how I know, but no one else will be able to place magic here, it is now protected.

The buildings are still standing as if nothing happened, but there are no rogue wolves. All that's left of them are heaps of ash. I hope the Moon Goddess takes pity on the ones who

ant to be here. I'm sure, like

many were taken and forced into this servitude.

"We need to check on Ava and Brett. I don't know where they were supposed to be. Lenny and Martha were in the packhouse. Gentry and Elena are probably fine, but I need to see everyone. This is all my fault. They are here for me." I am sobbing and I can't make it stop. "Why can't I make this go away? This is like Kaley at school all over again."

I grip my hair with both hands. I can't stop the feelings. I know I'm spiraling, but they just won't stop. People are getting hurt no matter what I do. I'm not enough to make this situation better. The Moon Goddess chose wrong. Anyone else would have figured it out by now. Why won't she just stop this suffering?

"Baby, you need to stop, now." Oliver's whisper is only loud enough for the four of us to hear.

"You have always been enough, Tiny. Enough to bring all of us together to handle this."

"You have always been ahead of the pack, give us a minute to catch up, that's all. Let us help, all of us." Dakota kisses the side of my head.

"Are you ready to run, or do you want a ride? You know, for old time's sake?" Oliver lifts my chin and smiles that small half smile at me. All of a sudden my stomach is full of little butterflies. He has always known how to just shut down my nerves and over thinking.

I shake my head trying to focus. "I can run, but is everyone here all good? I don't want to run into the next fight with our best warriors running on empty."

"You shut your mouth over there, Midge! Our training was worse than this, and the only one actually trying to kill us then was Drina." Lil laughs and Wyatt, Nathaniel and I all join in. My mates all grumble. "Drina was just trying to kill Midge. The rest of us didn't put her precious leader position in jeopardy." Nathaniel jogs towards us after testing the blackened earth to make sure it was safe. "Are we going to run towards the danger or what?"

"You are not usually the first to willingly run to the fight, what are you up to?" Jena asks.

"Are you kidding? Do you know how many times I finally get called into a fight only to get there and Alpha Midge and her band of female badasses have destroyed everyone? I'm tired of missing out." He shifts and takes off, everyone else falling into step behind him.

 

Chapter 0632

"Sierra!" I shout before she can shift and run away. "It's time." She looks like she wants to kill me, but I won't risk her or her pup and she knows it. "Time for what?" Cam asks, but the grip on my stomach tells me he knows exactly 'what.'

She growls and says nothing. I open my mouth, we don't have time for her pride, she blurts, "I might be pregnant." She covers her face. "It's not confirmed and Sky with her freak nose is the only one who thinks so, but..."

Sam stands there with the dumbest look on his face and I wish I could take a picture, it's adorable. His shaggy blonde hair is all disheveled from the fight, but his dark blue eyes are wide as the truth slaps him in the face.

"I'm a...I'm gonna be a...wait." He looks at me, that giant smile falling slowly. "You think she's pregnant with our pup." He starts using his hands to wildly gesture. "You clearly knew before you came into this fight, told her and YOU STILL LET HER FIGHT THAT LUNATIC!?! WHAT THE F*CK WERE YOU THINKING SKYLAR?!?" I don't think he noticed Jena and Lil step in front of Sierra during his outburst. "She could have been hurt! They both could have been hurt, we could lose our pup. I can't f*cking believe you." He is so pissed at me, but he isn't shaking or ready to fly at me. His wolf is keeping him from doing anything stupid. Telling me their wolves have probably already had this conversation.

"HEY! Slow down." Dakota steps in front of me. Both his hands raised showing he doesn't want to fight.

I take a deep breath, letting her fight was always going to be a touchy subject. Once I know I am calm, I wiggle out of Cam's arms, immediately missing his body heat, and step around Dakota. A warm hand slides up my back and rests gently on my shoulder. My mates won't let me battle anything alone again.

"Watch your tone, Delta." I let a little of my Alpha aura out. "My Delta was given a choice having all the information we had at the time. We decided that she was most safe with us, not alone. She decided she wanted to fight for a home and future to raise your pup in. I made her tell you now, knowing we are going into another battle that is going to be heavy in magic. That is less predictable and I don't think she should be in the fight, but it's not my choice to make. You deserve to know, no regrets today. You two can debate whether she should fight in the safety of this ruined camp." I gesture around me.

I step to my friend and pull her into a hug. "I love you." I whisper into her ear.

"Love you too, traitor." She squeezes me back, then hugs Jena and Lil.

I turn and follow the path Nathaniel started toward our unknown disaster. We all shift quickly and I do another check in with everyone. Maybe the Goddess is helping somehow. Because Martha and Lenny are alright, they were with Ava and Brett moving the prisoners out of the pit and to the underground cells.

***"Osiston, Nikolas, Gentry, Elena. Do any of you have any idea where all of these wolves are coming from? Some of them seem like they aren't even alive. It's like they are zombie puppets. At least this last group was. Does she have that kind power?"***

***"I've only heard of reanimation a handful of times and they were all in the kinds of stories you tell little kids to make them behave themselves. But all stories have some root in the truth though. So it's possible."*** Gentry calls out and sounds out of breath.

***"Gentry, what are you doing? Are you guys under attack? I thought everyone was safe."***

***"Little One we are alright, but as you have noticed, your pack is under attack. We will need your help sooner rather than later."***

****Skylar, we need you and your mates. There isn't anyone that we can see, but fires are starting everywhere."*** My wolf trips over her own feet at my surprise hearing my dad's voice in our head.

We run harder and pack that away to

think about later. When we run through the pack it is completely destroyed. There's no way this is only an hour of work. Most of the buildings are on fire. I can feel the magic reaching out to me. It's angry, but not at us. It is mad at used for destruction for no reason. I try to pull it back and set it free? I know I am doing it right when I feel a gentle warmth in my chest before some of the flames go out. It helped that one instance, but this is going to be way too slow to put everything out.

***"Try your element. I was able to pull some of the flame out and release it. The magic doesn't like what is going on, but it doesn't have any control."*** I say to my mates and they don't even question what I am asking of them. All of our wolves spread out, but none go further than twenty feet apart.

We slowly walk through the center

of the pack where the most important buildings are located. I continue to pull at the flames and thank them for doing as little damage as possible before releasing them.Oliver uses dirt to snuff out flames in lawns and gardens. Dakota is pulling water from bird baths and swimming pools to dump on the houses seeing the most damage. Every few feet Cam stops and takes a deep breath then lets it out slowly.

***"Cam, what are you doing?"*** My wolf walks up next to him and rubs the side of our head along his neck and under his chin."

***"Remind me later that we really

like it when you do that." He laughs in my head. "We discovered that if we focus, we can pull the oxygen specifically out of the air and

smother the fire."*** I don't say net

anything in response, but I do rub under his chin again, stepping forward letting The curve of his neck run along our back and our tail curls around his muzzle before I move on to check my other mates. Cam's wolf purrs as we walk away.

We finally get to our street and this is where the heart of black smoke is coming from. The packhouse and surrounding homes are decimated. There is nothing left to salvage. What I find most interesting is I don't feel anything. I never realized how little attachment I have to the places and things here. My only attachments are the people that are currently surrounding me.

***"Let's handle this so it doesn't spread any further into the island."*** Oliver calls out to us.

We all get to work. Some in human form, some in wolf form. Dakota and I found that we work best in human form, but Cam and Oliver stay at my side in wolf form. I do notice that Cam has constant contact with me. When I ask Elena about it as we work she says that his wolf is using me to keep him grounded and level. My mates' energy seems to deplete more than mine when they use it. By leaning on me I am sharing my magical endurance.

 

 

Chapter 0633

Hours later all of the fires are out and everyone is accounted for. There are several injuries to attend to and we are all getting a crash course in coven healing. Field training was necessary for warriors, but this is a whole other level. Since they don't have the enhancements that our wolves give us, many herbs and other remedies more common to humans are used along with magic. All the injuries that our pack members sustained in the fight are strange. A bite that should have healed in minutes is still oozing even now. Gentry said it's the magic that has encapsulated the rogue wolves. It's almost like their saliva has a toxin in it.

"This is like what happened to you, Sky." Sierra has taken to helping with and is a natural at mixing the herbs and oils that Gentry and Elena have introduced us to. It makes sense considering what her parents do for a living. I almost forget that she has a whole other skill set in alchemy because of them.

"What do you mean? I was unconscious for that whole thing."

"We did so many tests and took so many samples. No one could figure out how you survived with everything that was running in your system and at the levels you were given."

"I think my wolf and I decided that no matter what we would never die at the hands of Kaley and her meatheads."

I didn't even think about the words that I just let fall out of my face. All my mates, my brother and Sam stop what they are doing and face us, not even pretending they aren't listening in now and move toward the table we are working at. I have never fully confronted the situation with Kaley out loud to them. The girls know bits and pieces, but with her dead, there is no retaliation they can do and I don't plan on mentioning it again. She was never worth the mental effort to even think about when she was alive, now I just feel like her karma came back and smacked her in the best way possible. No one will talk about her, no one will remember her, she died in such an unspectacular way, so many other exciting and scary things have happened, she became unimportant. It was always her worst fear and she did it to herself. "So it was her?" Dakota whispers in a defeated tone, standing next to me, hip propped on the table.

"It was always her in some way." I let all the implications sit in the air, thick and stale. Then I turn to Sierra, changing the conversation. "You are really good at this Si, I think I am going to have you stay and make sure everyone here is cared for and ready to join when Vincent comes back and Adrielle finally shows her face." I raise my hands to stop her protest. "You are the best person. You know the formulas for all of these potions and salves. You understand the toxins and poisons that are being used. You are quick on your feet, especially if the fight gets this far, and it will make every single one of us more calm and less distracted to know you are here. And everyone here knows and trusts your knowledge of all this plant sh*t."

"Sierra, you have our future inside that wild bossy stomach of yours, please listen to Sky." My brother approaches her like a skittish animal.

"Mateo, I can't just sit by waiting, that will be torture." I've never heard her desperate before.

"Look around you, do you really plan on being bored?" They both share a small smile

"I was going to ask if you would be able to duplicate this stuff on your own." Cam shakes one of the little vials with a green slime looking substance. "With Adrielle in play, we are going to need Gentry and Elena with us, guiding our magic. I still have no idea what the fu*ckam doing and I am sure I will have my ass handed to me. You can work with my mom and any other warriors available to keep the

healing supplies coming."

"I want all of you to know this is under absolute protest." She pouts, and Sam slides up behind her wrapping her in a hug.

She never would have stayed put if he had asked as her mate. She would have played it off as him being too protective and dug her stubborn heels in. But, two of her alphas giving her operational orders that really will be helpful, she can work with.

Three warriors make it over to us. We have set up shop in the school's gym. It is the only place we have found in town that is structurally sound. It works, for now.

"Alpha's the North side of the territory has been thoroughly investigated. The few houses that were up there cannot be salvaged. The forest has been unharmed though, along with your shrines with the Belladonna and Wormwood."

"Thank you, Zayn. Make sure you all get food and rest. We will send out another patrol soon." Cam directs him. They thank us and go on.

Lenny and Martha have been

keeping supplies here for the

warriors and the few rogues that we

collected when we got Gentry back It has been easier to keep everyone fed like this, similar to what the Elite Warriors do at the compound. These rogues have been so helpful today. They know what we are going through, I'm sure many of them lost their packs this way, but we have one thing they didn't. We have the power of knowing the war is coming.

Most can't fight, but that hasn't stopped them from asking to learn. Many of our warriors have gotten past the fact that they came from the same rogues we are currently fighting and brought them into our folds. They have proven so far that they want to be with us and side with us. I won't stop anyone who wants to help us get rid of this disease. They want a home, a pack to belong to. I hope we can give them that too.

"Osiston and Nikolas should have been back by now. Has anyone heard from them?" I ask the group around me.

They went to check the Southern part of the pack lands where Charlene and Alpha Brecc threatened us. I hate that I feel jumpy and anxious when I don't hear from someone every hour. I think I have been hard wired for check-ins since warrior training, but these constant attacks are making it worse. I need to be in constant contact with everyone just to know they are safe.

"They are fortifying your pentagram. Adrielle was able to break through and obviously do damage to your pack." Elena begins.

"Gentry finishes. "We think she was able to get through because all four of you were outside the pack borders. That is something we will have to research in the future. Your pack must be safe without the need to leave one of you behind. That sounds more like a curse to me."

 

 

Chapter 0634

"No offense to either of you, but I'm f*cking over magic." Sam mumbles from the crook of Sierra's neck.

Elena side-eyes him. "Well, it's here to stay pup, and you have a direct line to it. I would apologize before your magic decides it is over your wet dog smell and stops working."

"You all may want to pray to your Goddess, the winds are shifting." Gentry gets out as a lightning bolt cracks along the sky.

"Get everyone to the tunnels, Sierra, NOW!"

We scramble. There was no time for 'I love you's' and 'see you soon's.' I just hope this wasn't the last time I speak to any of these people.

When we get outside along the main street the air is thick and green, wind is whipping around us in short bursts. The lightning is crawling across the clouds, no start or end point, just the static in constant motion.

"What the f*ck is that?" Wyatt skids to a halt next to me.

"We're under attack. She's here, I can feel her." I keep my focus forward, I think she's waiting for me to be distracted.

I pull at my fire magic, wanting it to be ready to hit anyone that pops out of the shadows. I am starting to enjoy the way that my skin crackles just below the surface. The fire is warm and inviting to me, but can be deadly when needed. Two sides of the same coin.

Lightning cracks and Thunder accompanies it in surround sound, swirling around us. We all move into protective circles, as ready as we'll ever be.

"ROAR!"

Several of our warriors are tossed past us from my back, then the volume of grunts and growls raise quickly as we are surrounded by a monsoon of red-eyed wolves from every direction. None of us think, just

act.

I shift immediately, not wanting to get injured in my human form, and head straight for the rogues coming at my front. These are faster, more refined in their movements. Vincent and Adrielle saved their top warriors for last.

My wolf ducks and slides under one

rogue only to collide with another. Jaws are snapping and biting at every available piece of fur. I sidestep my hind legs as I feel one approach from behind, but the slight movement and distraction was enough for the rogue in front of me to get a decent nip on leg. The poison in their saliva stings, but it's like a bad rash for me, nothing more. That's good to know, my fur can handle it.

With that knowledge, I dive in with a deeper desire to take these guys down. The initial fear is ebbing away to determination mixed with anger thrash at anything that isn't my

fr with adrenaline as we bite

pack. don't want any survivor né.

from this hoard. My heart is racing,

and slash through these wolves. It takes more time than usual to take them out since my wolf and I are not aiming for prisoners, but a death toll.

We are grabbed by the scruff of our fur and tossed back. I don't see much as we're flying through the air, but the sweet decay of apples lets me know it's Vincent. My wolf is brilliant and just as agile as I am. She twists so we can land on our feet, but the sight that finds me has my blood running cold.

Vincent is here. I'm not sure how he got in front of me when he's the one who tossed me, but he's here, unscathed. His form hasn't changed, but the energy surrounding him is so much stronger. His red eyes are more wild. He snarls and backhands me before I can observe any other changes about him.

I feel that in my soul. Our whole left side is throbbing with the pulse racing in our veins.

***"SKYLAR!"*** Jena calls my name as we right ourselves. I immediately send my fire into our fur, hoping to the Goddess that we can wound him or slow him down at least.

 

Chapter 0635

***"Careful, he's worse."*** I call back to her as we charge him.

I can get more leverage in my wolf form. I don't think there is any way we would survive in human form, but it would be nice to just punch him in the throat, just once. We are fully engaged now, biting and clawing at anything available. He is responding with just as many hits and kicks. The ones that make contact really suck, but our fire is scalding his bare skin when it comes into contact with our fur. So, now we are working on shredding his clothes to gain as much skin contact as possible.

***"You are dooming all of your loved ones, just to stay alive. How can you live with yourself being so selfish? Give me what I want and I will set them free."*** His silky metallic voice coats my thoughts.

***"I don't think any of the wolves fighting for you right now would consider themselves free."*** Don't let him bait me. Don't let him bait me. Don't let him bait me.

***"You are the host of powers you are not worthy to wield and don't even understand. You don't deserve to have them. Hand them to me, willingly and your pain will be minimized."***

Did he just tell me he would kill me nicely? How is he so calm and collected when he's talking about killing me while fighting me at the same time? Another backhand to our face tells me this is a trademark move and to be aware of it so it can't happen again.

He is clearly trying not to harm me so badly that he can't use me, but he is a masochist. He has a gleam in his eye every time he strikes me and draws blood. My wolf and I are holding on, but it's just us again, while the rest of our warriors are dealing with the rogues.

"Where's your witch, Rogue King?

е

I think you might be getting slower and need a magic reboost."*** I have to find a tell and weakness. He won't go down any other way. He hates the title. Let's see how much. He charges at me as fast as his bulk will allow and we jump, extending our

claws to their fullest lengths. The slash we rip down his side sends him into a screaming fit. Landing behind him we turn so he is never out of our sight.

He reaches back attempting another backhand, but we see it and dodge only to be hit with the other hand following through this time. He's learning as fast as we are. My wolf hits the ground and he jumps, using the momentum to pin us down. His hand on our throat sends me into a panic. My wolf tries to calm me down, but I just can't think, can't breathe, can't move.

We are too weak, he keeps beating us at every turn. It's like Kaley and her meathead minions all over again. I was never strong enough to stop them either. No matter how hard we train or study or work, it's never enough. I am struggling as hard as I can. My legs flail, arms pulling against the hold his legs have on me.

Wait! What? When did we shift back? I can't be in human form, he'll kill me for sure. Our human form can't handle the amount of torture he's been giving us.

"You will give your powers to me. You should never have been given the gift in the first place, None of you have been worthy to hold and wield the gifts of the Goddess."

I can't respond or even think. My

body is growing weaker and weaker, He's going to take my powers and take me from my mates. I just got I them and haven't even had the- opportunity to appreciate what have with each of them. I think that is what is holding my hostage, the pain they will feel when he finally takes my last breath.

 

Chapter 0636

"NOOOOOOOO! Motherf*cker! You are done taking from us!" Jena comes out of nowhere, claws extended from her hands, slicing at his neck. Again and again and again. She is rabid in her efforts, but he hasn't released me yet. I still can't breathe, but I am so proud of her. She is closing this chapter finally. He is trying to hold the wounds on his neck closed, while continuing to hold me down. He's losing this fight. I know it, he knows it, she knows it.

She is going to take him out of this world, freeing his wolf for the Goddess to judge. I don't care where his human spirit goes, but wherever it is I hope he burns slowly. I'm just happy she gets this closer and I can't forget what the Goddess said. I hope my niece or nephew has the best place to grow up in after their mom rids the world of one of the worst monsters.

Her eyes are wild, scratching, clawing and biting, with her human teeth. Her face and claws are crimson, but he won't let go of me to fight her properly. That is how messed up his priorities are. All I can do is flail, but I am getting weaker by the second. Jena and I make eye contact, she knows I will let go if it will save them all.

"Don't even f*cking think about it Alpha!" She pulls one of my silver daggers from her waist. I don't even want to know where it came from. I haven't had my gear on in days, which is stupid considering. She drives it into his neck over and over again. This asshole is not dying easily.

Finally, after about ten deep stabs he collapses forward on me. I try to push his big ass off, but the way he had me pinned down it's hard to move, so I do what anyone in my position would. I explode into flames.

He will not come back a third time. My wolf and I concentrate as hard as we can to burn hot and bright. In minutes he is pounds of ash covering me. I am ripped up into arms holding me tight. "Bitty! What the f*ck was that?"

I hold Oliver as tight as I can. "I don't know, but we aren't done."

He sets me down and Cam and Kota

down

attack me the same way, but I only see Jena and Mateo. He's holding her while she cries. I put up a barrier around the six of us. We just need a minute. The fighting will still be there when we emerge and Jena needs me.

I hug her tightly and she doesn't fight the separation from my brother. "need you to go and be with Sierra right now." I pull back to look at her. "You have your closure and now your next chapter begins. Can you do that for me?"

She looks at me confused and then it dawns on her. "What are you saying?"

"I don't really know, I didn't get a lot of clear answers, but you and Sierra need to stay close to each other, and not here."

Her eyes are shining. It's the one thing she didn't know she wanted until it might have been taken away. "Sky..."

"I need you safe and alive. That is what will keep me going. Mateo, take her to Sierra, Now."

My brother doesn't question

anything. If he suspects what our

conversation was about, he

to his mate. He pulls her an talk

quickly, heading back to the school.

As soon as they clear the enclosure I have created, the clear safe bubble I created, turns green.

 

Chapter 0637

"It's about time that you started serving your purpose." This soft ethereal voice wraps around us. "I am done waiting for mindless, lazy wolves to complete tasks." Several rogue wolves drop just outside the bubble.

My mates move in closer to me, everyone of them has contact. The air gets warmer and I can't feel the magic that is holding the barrier up. I don't have control over it anymore. We are stuck here. It's the tornado scenario all over again.

I raise my hands letting all my anger and fear build in my palms then try to blast through the barrier with a fire blast. The flames just hit the glass like structure and glide along its edges, dispersing into the air. "Don't try to leave or overpower me. You are not trained enough or strong enough to resist, pups. You do not belong in any form of power. You belong in my service. Your magic can be used so much better with the right guidance. You are here to be collected by me. The only way you will survive this is to leave with me."

"That's not gonna happen." Cam growls into the open air.

"It's not a choice child. Your little mate decided to share her gifts with you, so now I have to endure all four of you. It was a mistake to gift magic to wolves. So emotional, never thinking with their heads. Selene should not have shared our magic with your Goddess. It belongs to us. You are an abomination."

"You were mated to a wolf and had a child that was a wolf. How can you say that?" I still don't know where she is and I think that makes me more nervous. She could be miles away, tucked safely in another warehouse while we are fighting for our lives.

"It was a weak attempt by Selene and the Moon Goddess to unite our kinds. To create balance in magic. Even the child I was given was weak, but he could have been so much more with you and you could no follow the plan that was set forth."

A sharp tingle runs down my spine, she's going to attack, I can feel it. I squeeze Cam and Oliver's hands and lean back into Dakota behind me. The bubble is starting to crackle and spark. A low hum of chanting is starting, I'm not sure if it's in my head or if they can all hear it, but I can't seem to ask either. My mouth doesn't work and my mindlink is stifled.

The bubble around us shatters like glass, the humming grows louder and I can finally see someone approaching. Green smoke is billowing around her like an extension of her ornate dress. It surrounds us. The circumference is like a fence.

The warriors closest to us start to drop. The ones in wolf form are gagging with their tongues hanging out writhing on the ground and the humans are grasping at their throats choking on no air. They can't breathe and she hasn't taken her eyes off of me. How is she doing that?

"GET BACK! ALL OF YOU!" Gentry and Elena shout together.

"Adrielle, stop this madness." Gentry pleads.

Finally, someone with a voice. No one hesitates to listen though, dragging themselves and each other past the border of green smoke. I thank every higher power that is out there. The suffocation seems to leave them the further away they are from us. I'm not sure if they could cross back in if they wanted to. She's isolating us from everyone, but as long as the pack is safe, it's fine. We can deal with this. I can deal with

this.

Even her own wolves were affected and had to leave the space. They are milling about patrolling the perimeter, no longer fighting, but curious to what is happening. None of them seem like they plan on shifting to human form though.

My dad and Nikolas look panicked on the outside of the barrier watching their mates fight and they are powerless to help.

"You are a traitor to all witches." Adrielle spits at Gentry and looks away from us for the first time. "You choose to protect these mongrels, these pets."

I try to adjust my muscles, but I don't want to move from my mates. I think once we break contact I won't be able to get it back. The slight shift was all Adrielle needed to focus back to me though.

"Skylar!" Elena shouts as Adrielle takes a deep breath and lets out this slow hissing sound and a shimmering aura blasts out of her ripping my mates from me and tossing them out of the barrier, leaving Gentry Elena and I.

met

I am shaking with fear, but I don't look away from her. She continues to move towards me. Gentry and Elena stay put but continue to murmur encouragement to me. can't understand it but I can feel it. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up. Whatever they are doing it's calming. I am the only one that Adrielle wants, she won't let anyone closer.

"That moron thought he could siphon off your magic, as did his father and grandfather with all your ancestors. They thought they could just take it, like a jacket, because they wanted it. Killing both witches and wolves to gain power. And your Goddess and mine decided to force me into mating with that filth. He didn't want a mate, he wanted to control magic."

"Why help him then? Why let him do the things he did? So many people could still be alive."

"Because I saw the prophecy. It was given to me. You would be a hybrid, a true hybrid of our kinds with powers beyond anything we have ever seen. The one who mated with you would gain those powers as well. But the prophecy did not show your mate because you would be allowed to choose."

 

Chapter 0638

What does that mean? Did I choose my mates? Were they not my Goddess given mates? Did I take them from someone else? Their true mates. My body is still vibrating with all of my emotions. I don't know what to do or who to believe anymore. So many people have told me so many things about me, but nothing adds up or makes any sense.

She is just looking at me wil a smile on her face like she knows what is running through my head.

"Why would you be given a prophecy about me? I have nothing to do with you." I half whisper. I need to understand what I am meant to do, where I belong.

"You have everything to do with me, child. I am the High Witch in my coven..." I hear a grumble from either Gentry or Elena, "You should never have been given the title Gentry, you know as well as I that I am more powerful." She glances a look over my left shoulder.

"Power is not the only thing that makes a High Witch, Adrielle. You choose selfishness and greed over your coven and their safety."

"They are witches, they should be able to defend themselves at the very least. If they can't perform that simple task, why are they even allowed to join?"

"All witches need to learn and be taught. We are taught to work with the elements to make the world better."

"I am making the world better. Shifters are an abomination. They are not natural and should be removed from this earth."

"All three of you are mated to wolves. Clearly it's not a mistake or an abomination. Your Goddess and mine are trying to tell us something." I don't even know why I am talking, Gentry had her full attention. "They made me some kind of freak hybrid. I was given my mates. I don't know what you think the prophecy was about, but this isn't right."

She's going to fight me. Her whole goal is going to be to kill me since I'm not going to willingly help her and I don't think she'll be able to mind control me.

"You are a tool, and nothing more. Did you never wonder why you were never wanted? Why no one paid you any attention unless they needed something from you?" She smiles an evil smile, knowing her insults hit their mark.

I was never wanted. My dad didn't want me, he already had his heir and my mom died bringing me into the world without the right help. I never had friends until Sierra, no one wanted to talk to me unless they needed help with assignments or they were being bullied by Kaley.

"That's right child, you were not meant to be here, you were not meant for any of this. You are not designed to handle these powers even now. You can't do something as simple as control your element and release these wolves from my control. Your mates have left you here to deal with me on your own. You were never theirs. They only succumbed to the call of your power, nothing more."

Hot tears are streaming down my face. I know she's trying to hurt me, to distract me, but I can't help hearing her words and feeling their truth. Did I somehow trick them into being my mates? Is that why I have the twins and Oliver? Oh, Goddess! What if I did take them from their given mate because I was too selfish to be without the three of them.

I can feel my ribs constricting around my heart. The shallow breaths hurt. I love them, all three of them with everything in me and I don't even know if it's real.

She raises her arm in a flowy pattern. I can see she's going to cast like she's moving in slow motion. Something about the movement is familiar, but I don't know why. I'm mesmerized by the dance and the swirls of color in the air in front of her. No, not colors, just one color, green. Everything with her has been green. Her dress is made of a long and heavy green fabric with runes inlaid in a deeper green shade. It's almost as if they were branded into the fabric.

Green. What does green mean? Why is everything about her green? Then something hits me. "You!" I don't shout, but I am heard loud and clear. "It's your grimoire I found in the library." "What!

"Skylar, what are you talking about?"

Gentry and Elena say together.

"I found a dark green Grimiore in Lucas' library. I thought it was odd to have a second one in the pack and it is older than mine."How long have you been coming into the pack?"

I notice the storm outside our

secluded space getting far worse. I hope that my mates and pack members have found safety. This is not a normal storm. It is designed to keep them all from me, to keep me alone. I still have Gentry and Elena, but they can't seem to come any nearer to me. I wonder why Adrielle hasn't killed them or sent them away like the rest of my pack?

Adrielle just stares at me, studying, then she starts to chant a melody. It isn't happy or sad, just sound. Then I lose sight of everyone. I can only hear the melody which slowly starts to turn into words. Beneath the azure crescent's glow,

A wolf shall rise, with powers to show.

Born of witch's blood, a moonlit heir,

In her, two worlds unite, rare.

From royal lineage, her path unfolds,

A queen of shadows, as story foretold.

In choosing mate, her power blooms,

Their bond shall reign, the world consume.

Through woods they'll roam, in shadows dance,

A union strong, in wild expanse.

With shared dominion, races blend,

Their rule unbroken, until time's end.

"What the hell was that?" My words are still soft, but they break the spell on my eyes and I can see Adrielle in front of me, not moving to harm me, not walking away. Just studying. 1 play the words over and over in my head. I don't know how I remember them. But, like song lyrics, they stick and repeat on a loop.

"Your destiny and mine. You will now give me the power you never deserved. Why Selene chose you, an untrained unworthy dog to handle our greatest power I will never understand. But, you will give it to me." ś

 

Chapter 0639

"You've been trying to take it my whole life haven't you?" I don't know why I am surprised by this thought. "Not necessarily. I wanted it before you were born. The prophecy only talks about a child, not the mother."

I gasp. "You came for Lucas? Did you seduce him? Did he cheat on Ava?"

"I was the one to decipher the prophecy and figure out the child would be born in this pack and would be someone of rank. Why not start with the Alpha." She shrugs like that's no big deal. "I don't have to go into heat to conceive and I didn't care if he had his Luna, what is she to me? No one would know. Micheal, as the oldest child, should have been given the powers the prophecy foretold..."

"But, Lucas wasn't the carrier passing on the magic, my mom was. So It wouldn't have mattered how many kids you had with him, you never would have gotten what you wanted. Why did you keep coming back? How did you hide it?"

"The prophecy spoke of a girl, not a boy. I was not foolish enough to believe Micheal would be anything special. I needed a girl. The prophecy says the girl got to choose her mate, so I thought Micheal wasn't a complete waste after all."

I couldn't hide my shock. Cam and Kota were half brothers with Micheal and didn't know it. I killed their brother and she talks like he didn't matter at all. I have felt hurt and disappointment, shame and loneliness all day. Right now though, I feel anger. Pure, blinding, white hot anger.

The storm around us rages. Lightning sears the sky and rain is pelting down, but nothing touches us inside Adrielle's barrier.

I am angry at Lucas for starting this whole mess. And all the adults around me just kept making emotional decisions in reaction to Adrielle and Vincent and all of their bullsh*t without actually thinking things through. I hate Kaley and her dad for being a part of this. She was more than likely influenced by Adrielle too. It explains a lot if she was. We have all suffered for years because Adrielle wanted a power someone told her wasn't hers to wield. I am angry that even though Micheal was a d*ck, had a reason, he wasn't wanted anymore than I was. A product of selfish behavior.

I am angry. No 'angry' doesn't even come close to describing the rage or animosity I am feeling at suffering with so many other innocent people at the center of someone else's stupidity and greed. I can feel the earth beneath me rumble. I feel the air around me press into my skin. The rain just out of my reach is fighting to get in, pelting the barrier Adrielle has up. The flame under my skin is bursting to get out. It wants to take over like with Vincent and just incinerate the problem that Adrielle is. I just don't think she is going to go out as easy as he did, and there was nothing easy about that.

***"Skylar, my sweet girl. Do not give into the hate and anger. It will consume you and take control. Fight and defend, but do not give your control away, you will never get it back."*** I can see Elena has her hands up in my peripherals. I can't tell if she is showing submission or ready to cast.

***"I just need to end this, now!"***

***"You know good and well it won't end here. Don't let her control you too. Don't let her force you to use your magic She lives to control it, she has never understood it is a of her, of you, of all of us. M not selfish or kind, it works with the intention of the caster. The more

negative the emotion the more

is

energy it takes from you. She's trying to make you weak before you even begin."*** Gentry is making some kind of gentle swaying motion with her arm, definitely casting.

***It all hurts so much, I don't know if I can control it."***

***"But you are. Can't you see? She is not making the storm outside, that is a reaction nto your emotions. It's all you, sweet girl. But it is getting

intense out there and we all have et

people we love in the storm. Think of them, ease your rage, reign in your temper. You will get your chance, but don't follow in the footsteps before you and sacrifice all that you love for something as useless as hate."***

Oh Goddess, NO! She's right I can feel it now that she's said it. The storm is mine and I am hurting people with it. What was I thinking? I'm not better than Adrielle. I can't fet that take my focus from her either. I see what Elena meant. If I analyze her like a warrior she is waiting for me to break down or unleash wild magic that will drain me so she can attack. I wonder if it works the same for her since she was born a full

witch?

I can feel the rage inside me calm the longer I process her and come up with a strategy. My wolf is giving me hints to her movements. Adrielle isn't as fast as us, but I'm sure that is due to her magic use. She probably doesn't have to do any kind of hand to hand combat because she is so powerful. But she's never met anyone who has everything to lose and will not put self preservation first.

"Give me my magic, mongrel."

***"Baby, Everyone is safe..."***

***"Love, let us in, don't fight her alone..."

"***

***"Sweetness, we're ready to fight this to the end with you..."***

Behind Adrielle, just beyond the border of the barrier, my mates stand tall and strong. Ready to back me in this. Then my brother and Sam flank them followed by Osiston, Nikolas, Lil, Wyatt, Nathaniel and all of the warriors who are still able to fight.

 

 

Chapter 0640

Adrielle doesn't see them, I hope. I think she is so locked on me and she keeps telling me to give her the magic. I don't understand what she's even asking for though. I can't just hand it over and I really don't want to. The magic feels like just as big a part of me as my wolf, I wouldn't give it up any more than I would give her up.

Now I have to figure out how to get rid of this stupid barrier that she's put up. I need to get them in here, and figure out how to break these rogue wolves from her control. Maybe some of them will be like the ones that helped rescue Gentry and just surrender. Or better yet, help us defeat the ones who are determined to help her.

***"Gentry, Elena, can you move? I need to do something with this barrier. I need to let the guys in. They will make me strong enough to battle her right? But they have to be closer, or at least on the inside of this barrier."***

***"She has us pinned in place. As her coven leader, I can break the spell, but it will take some energy. She has not behaved like a member in quite some time, but she has not ever renounced our coven, I do have some control. Like your pack members, we have an innate desire to belong to a group. Depending on what you need from us, I might be able to do something from here."***

***"Yes, they will make you stronger, our partners always do."*** Elena answers my question looking out at our family. I'm sure she's looking at my dad and as much as the mere thought of him hurts me, she is completely in love with him.

I take a deep breath. ***"The storm is mine, the magic in the air is mine. Can I use it to take out this barrier?"***

***"Let's try something. I know we are kind of out of your sight, but can you see us enough to mimic moves? It will be easier than trying to talk you through a spell. We will just continue your trial by fire training."***

I nod my head. The conversation

was so quick. I feel like everything I am watching is in slow motion, or I am just moving really fast. Adrielle is still standing there like I am going to walk up to her and place my magic in her hands. I take another deep breath, look past her to my mates, making eye contact with each one, letting them know to be ready. Then I start to move. I start to copy Gentry's movements and I see Elena is too. Maybe they can bolster my

magic if we do it all together.

A blue mist starts to form around me and Adrielle's eyes go wide. "What are you doing you stupid brat? You don't even know how to command your magic, it will never do anything properly for you. You will never learn to harness it. Don't embarrass yourself trying."

She is still solely focused on me and

I will use her weakness to our

advantage. She chose the wrong words if she was trying to get me to stop. Maybe if she had paid more attention to the things that really motivated and influenced me she would know telling me I can't do

something is not the best route net

go. Mymates have caught on to what we are doing and are mimicking the movements outside the barrier. The blue mistis forming around them too, creeping its way along the ground just outside her barrier. It makes me think of the twins' eyes and the argument I had with everyone forever ago about them having different colored eyes. Even when they themselves thought they had teal eyes, I saw them separately as individuals. Now though, all three of my mates share the mixed hazel eyes. I imagine our blue mist mixing with Adrielle's green and consuming it.

And like it always does the magic listens to my thoughts, swirling in and out of the dense green fog saturating the color turning it that beautiful teal color. I smile at Adrielle, more proud of myself than anything, but I'm sure it came off as taunting based on the red flashing in her eyes.

***"I have never seen that before!"*** I link to everyone. Then Adrielle screeches. The banshee sound sends a shock wave through me, but it has no effect on me. The barriers break and wolves come charging from all directions.

My senses are on overload and yet I

can sense each and every wolf in my vicinity, pack and rogues alike. We start moving and every motion makes contact with someone trying to hurt us. My wolf has all her hackles up, but doesn't want to shift yet, just in case Adrielle is waiting for the brief second of distraction. Two wolves try to attack from each side, I have my fire magic ready to blast them, but it isn't needed. Oliver and Dakota intercept and break their necks before they get within five feet of me.