Page 21

My heart races with a level of panic I didn’t even know existed until now. With Emily gone and both she and our unborn child in danger, my mind races with the knowledge that I stand to lose absolutely everything.

My pack is under siege, and my family is gone.

The forest rushes by in a blur. When a rogue appears in front of me, I barely pause before ripping out his throat.

The first time I saw the magically enhanced size of the rogues, I was intimidated.

Now, fuelled by pure rage and desperation to find Emily, I barely register the threat.

My fur matted with blood and dirt, I continue along the trail deeper into the trees, driven by an unseen bond with Emily that refuses to be severed.

I came so damn close to telling her how I really feel.

What I really want. Her and our baby, our whole future.

Why couldn’t I just say the words, or tell her before now?

Why did I waste all this time when I knew right from the start?

I knew it the first day I met her. My wolf knew, he tried to tell me, but I refused to see it just because she was a witch.

I assumed the worst because of what Ralph taught me about witches.

Deep down, I know I don’t agree with Ralph on almost everything.

Why would I believe him on this? I wish I knew the answer, but the truth is, I refused to listen to reason for far too long and wasted so much time.

I don’t even know if Emily can ever be happy with me, considering how I’ve treated her.

After everything she’s been through with her parents, the coven, her magic, and me treating her as though she were a criminal, why would she ever want to build a family with me?

I don’t deserve her or all the opportunities I’ve had to make this right and failed to take.

I see fighting up ahead and realize that Ryan and a couple of my betas are being held up by a small group of rogues.

One breaks free to attack me, but Ryan yanks him back while Oliver, one of my betas, tears out his throat.

I’m relieved to see we’re taking minimal casualties thanks to all the training we’ve put in and the runes the witches have given everyone that offer some protection.

But it’s not going to be enough if these rogues keep coming.

Intending to continue along the trail in search of Emily, I turn to tell Ryan, but suddenly pause, hit by the overwhelming sensation that Emily is near. The mate bond.

Glancing around the clearing, it appears empty, but it feels as though she’s standing right next to me.

My wolf begins to feel disorientated, and my vision appears unable to focus properly on the space in front of me.

Even though I can’t see her, I also can’t leave.

So in tune is the mate bond, I know she’s here, even though I can’t see her.

Feeling dizzy, I shift back into human form and survey the clearing again.

I’m dimly aware of a rogue behind me, taken out by Ryan, who is watching my back, but just as I’m about to say something to him, I hear an almighty crack that seems to split the very air around me.

A flash of shimmering golden light almost knocks me backward, and when I look up, I can see Emily lying on the ground with Malik only a few feet away, standing in what had been an empty clearing only seconds before.

Runes litter the ground near my feet, and Emily’s hands smolder with magical residue.

“You bitch,” Malik thunders, advancing on Emily, who is curled into a ball on the floor.

Knowing I have to stop him, I summon the power of the wind faster than ever before. A direct blast of the strongest hurricane wind I can muster sends Malik flying across the clearing. Rushing forward, I grab Emily and pull her away from the center of the clearing.

Running my hands over her, I’m frantic. “Are you okay?” I ask. “Did he hurt you?”

She shakes her head and clings to my shoulders. “He’s going to kill our baby,” she says, her voice cracking.

I shake my head. “No, he’s not,” I assure her, my voice strong and steady.

Though turning back toward Malik, I feel my confidence slip slightly as he begins to shift right in front of me.

Huge dragon wings unfurl from behind his muscular frame, which begins to twist in shape, scales appearing before my eyes.

I should be accustomed to the shifting process, but seeing a dragon's metamorphosis is something different altogether.

Staggering back, I know I’ll need all my power to even stand a chance in this fight. But losing isn’t an option. As Malik’s dragon lifts into the air, I see the fire in his mouth and focus a volley of wind at his wings, knocking him off balance as he misfires a blast of orange fire.

As he slams into the ground, I see an opportunity and shift into my wolf form, launching myself at him, intent on tearing out his throat or at least damaging his wings.

But as I get close, he whips around with his long black tail, sending me flying through the air.

I crash into a tree and slump to the forest floor, momentarily dazed.

“Tristen,” Emily calls out, and I see her scramble toward me, dodging Malik’s tail. “I-I’ll hold him off,” she says, turning to face the dragon.

No, I think, pulling myself to my feet and shifting back.

I sway slightly but draw on my reserves to use the power deep within me, summoning the very forest itself.

Branches and vines are ripped out by tendrils of wind, lashing out at Malik and entangling him.

He roars and thrashes, trying to break free.

Wrapped in vines and battered by the trees, I know it won’t hold him for long.

“You have to get out of here,” I bellow at Emily, but she shakes her head.

“I’m not leaving you,” she replies, “we have to finish this.”

Just then, Malik breaks free of his temporary forest prison, rising to his full height and towering over us.

His eyes glow red with rage, and the ground beneath us trembles.

Emily instinctively steps closer to me, and I slip my hand into hers.

The words are unspoken: I don’t know if we can defeat him, but I’ll die trying to save her if it comes to it.

With a roar, Malik launches himself at us, and I brace for impact, preparing to use the last of my power to protect Emily and our unborn child.

I raise my hands, summoning the wind to try and hold him back, but just as we’re about to collide, a blast of white-hot lightning explodes around us, and Malik’s dragon screeches in either rage or pain, I’m not sure.

Turning, I see Callum and Aiden, along with some of their betas.

There’s no time to even greet my brothers as we move in unison, our powers flowing as we unleash a volley at Malik that forces his dragon into the air to evade us.

Suddenly, Emily is by my side, and I see her hands form a ball of dark energy, which she fires directly at one of Malik’s wings.

Black blood gushes from the wound as the dragon flails in the sky, looking as though he may crash into the tree canopy.

Suddenly, though, he rights himself, his gaze fixed on Emily.

Banking hard, he swoops down and fires directly at her.

I don’t even have time to think before pushing her out of the way, the fiery magic hitting my side and lighting up my whole body.

I scream, but no words come out before everything goes black.

***

I regain consciousness and find Emily standing over me, facing Malik as she seems to transform before my very eyes.

Her hair lights up from within in a golden glow, her feet lifting off the ground, and her energy seems to engulf her in a haze.

Malik’s dragon appears to try and turn away, but she doesn’t give him a chance; she fires again and again—pure black magic straight at his chest. The dragon howls and fires back, the shots raining down on the forest. I hear screams all around as shifters, what’s left of the rogues, and witches all run for cover.

My brothers are standing with Emily. Malik’s power is immense, but with all three focused on him, they appear to be turning the tide.

I stagger to my feet, using the last of my energy to summon a huge blast of wind that obviously takes Malik by surprise as he slams against the rock face nearby.

Shrieking with rage, he pushes off the rocks and blankets the forest with a volley of dark energy.

I dive on top of Emily, pulling her underneath me as we all brace against the impact.

As the dust settles, I jump up, searching the sky for Malik, but he’s gone.

“Did anyone see where he went?” I call out, but only a few murmur in response.

The forest is torched with small fires burning all around. I look down and see Emily crumpled on the floor, her skin deathly pale. Crouching down, I lift her into my arms. “Em, are you okay?” I whisper frantically, “Talk to me.”

Callum puts his hand on my shoulder. “Get her back to town. We’ll take care of this,” he says, gesturing to the fires.

Nodding, I set off along the trail with Emily in my arms. She only murmurs without regaining consciousness, but at least I know she’s alive. “Just hang on, love,” I whisper, trying not to let the panic take hold. I have no idea what all this may have done to her, to our baby.

One thing becomes clear as I approach the town—the rogues have been almost completely wiped out.

Bodies litter the trail, and from the numbers, I’d assume this was most of his rogue army.

I spot some of my brother’s betas rounding up the few rogue survivors.

If Malik thought our island was divided after Ralph’s death, he was wrong.

My brothers came through for Emily and me today.

Malik is badly injured, hopefully dying somewhere, and without his rogues for once, I can see an end to all this.

But none of that matters without Emily and our baby.

Rushing through the town square, I see Marian with our pack medic leaning over an injured witch.

The scene is chaotic, with pack members running around, tending to the wounded, and checking on each other.

Marian seems to sense our arrival and looks up, her eyes widening before she’s on her feet, heading toward us.

“Emily?” she asks, looking at her stricken form in my arms. “What happened? Where’s Malik? ”

Swallowing hard, I nod toward the forest. “Defeated, I hope,” I say. “Certainly very injured, thanks to Emily, but we don't know more yet. The baby?”

Marian nods grimly as she directs me toward the hall and what appears to be a makeshift clinic. “Bring her here,” she commands, gesturing to a bed in the corner.

Emily stirs throughout the examination but doesn’t regain consciousness. Marian calls the coven healer over, and they begin to check her over. I can’t help but feel useless as I stand there watching them, waiting for any sign of life from Emily.

After what feels like hours, Marian approaches me.

“The baby is safe,” she says, and I feel like all the air has been knocked out of me with pure relief.

“Emily is exhausted. Her magic is untrained—unknown, really. She has obviously pushed herself beyond her body’s rhythms. She’ll wake up when her body has recharged. ”

Marian sounds so confident and even…caring. It almost takes me aback. I put my hand on her shoulder, and we both flinch a little at the unusual move. “Thank you, Marian,” I say, my voice filled with sincerity and respect. “I owe you and the witches a great debt for all your help.”

If I’m not mistaken, the usually stoic witch’s eyes go slightly glassy for a moment as she nods, but within a flash, it’s gone, and her usual demeanor returns with a vengeance.

She shrugs me off and walks away, turning to look over her shoulder and replying breezily, “A witch always collects, Alpha.”

With that, she walks away, and I pull up a chair next to Emily, taking in her pale skin and the tiredness marring her features even in sleep.

I run my hand through her hair, hoping she can feel the love in my touch.

I know I’ve been a complete ass to her, but now that I know she’s my mate, everything feels different.

She never bewitched me; it was the natural mates' bond, and I was too stupid to see it.

Despite everything, she fought by my side like a warrior, and is carrying our child.

I owe her everything and just want a chance to beg for her forgiveness.

As the night wears on, the clinic around us remains busy with all the injuries, but our corner of the hall is quiet. Eventually, I hear a soft sound and look up to see her eyelids flickering open as she looks around, confused. I reach over, grasping her hand. “Thank the goddess,” I murmur.

Her hands are uncoordinated but move up to rest on her stomach. “T-the baby?” she asks, her eyes filled with concern.

“The baby is fine,” I assure her, “you just needed a rest.”

She nods at that, visibly relieved. Silence falls for a moment, but I know I need to say what’s on my mind now.

I can’t wait any longer. “I’m so sorry,” I blurt out.

“I didn’t get a chance to explain earlier.

I know you didn’t bewitch me; it was the mate bond.

My wolf tried to tell me so many times, but I didn’t listen.

I let my stupid prejudice about witches cloud my judgment, and I’ve treated you so badly.

I want you to know how proud I am of you, how much I want this family… how much I love you.”

She stares at me, her emerald eyes incredibly hard to read. Despite the number of people in the hall, it seems to have gone very quiet. I suddenly realize I have never been this vulnerable. Ever.

Her hand, which has been resting on her stomach, slides over to mine, and I hold my breath. “I love you, too,” she says quietly.

I exhale a shaky breath, relief coursing through me. “I can’t believe I almost lost you,” I whisper, brushing her hair back from her face. “I will spend a lifetime proving I’m worthy of you.”

She smiles weakly. “You’ve always been worthy, Tristen,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe you had to figure that out for yourself.”

She moves over slightly, and I climb into the narrow bed with her, pulling her against me as she begins to tell me about what Malik told her when they were locked in the shield.

As the truth about her family unravels and her tears fall, I hold her tighter, whispering the reassurance that she has a family who loves her—a whole pack that supports her, and an island that owes her everything.