Page 34

Miranda

A small, one-room cabin deep in the woods is where we all stop to rest during daylight. It’s about halfway between Tenebrosa and the academy, according to Lucas, the rebellion soldier who wields the reflective shield.

There are two single beds adjacent to one another in a corner where Zephyr and Lucas are resting. Zephyr slept through all the events after he crushed the facility with his power. I can’t imagine how draining that must have been.

Aubrey and Rai sit in old, dusty chairs by the unused fireplace, Aubrey sleeping with his head tilted back, mouth open slightly. The sight makes my lips twitch a bit.

I’m seated on the floor with Colt’s arm possessively around my shoulders. He rubs my arms and back every so often, but stays mostly silent. My father sits on the floor all the way across the room, his gaze flicking to me warily and then away.

“ He’s being an idiot.” This from Colt in my mind.

I don’t react to his jab because this is the umpteenth time he’s said something like it since I murdered those soldiers.

I don’t blame my father for being frightened. I still don’t remember everything that happened, but the amount of blood and...bits...I had to wipe from my body when we got to the cabin clued me in that I’d probably killed more than I thought.

The killing itself didn’t bother me. It was the lack of control.

It was like when I’d started to go feral before mating with Aubrey, only amplified a million times. Which doesn’t make sense, because my pack bond is complete now. So why?

Maybe my desire to protect my Alphas was so strong that I lost it.

My father clears his throat quietly, drawing my attention to him. “How...did you escape the academy?”

I scrutinize him for a moment, Colt pulling me close and kissing the top of my head almost possessively. Then I give my father the abridged version of events, whispering so as not to disturb the others. I leave out any mention of mating, but I know he knows. It’s obvious.

When I get to the part where we met up with the rebellion, my father stills, hanging on every word.

“When I was first brought to the lab, the Beta in charge was...monstrous,” he tells us. “I only knew him for half a day, but that was enough.”

“You’re lucky,” Colt says. “If he hadn’t been replaced, you might not be here right now.”

Colt doesn’t tell my dad that I’m responsible for Dr. Ness’ death, and I’m thankful for that after what he just witnessed me do. I don’t need him to be more disturbed by my actions.

My father nods. “I believe you. A Major Tomlin addressed all of us during the transfer of power. He said we just had to hang on a while longer, but none of us knew what he was talking about at the time.” He looks over at Zephyr. “Some of the Cursed had been there since they were children. The ones still alive were deemed ‘special,’” he says the word like it disgusts him. “We were all experimented on. Even Dr. Song would inject us with things, but the other prisoners said the shots made them feel better or nothing at all. Since Ness didn’t get a chance to touch me, Song was the only scientist I encountered aside from her assistants.”

“Do you know what you were injected with?”

His head shakes no at my question. “Zephyr said that his curse got stronger, though.”

Colt sighs, leaning back against some piled-up blankets. “We need to rest so we’re ready for tonight.” He opens his arms to me, and without a second thought, I snuggle into him and close my eyes.

I feel my father watching, questioning. He hasn’t asked how I am able to control my power, and part of me wonders why. The other part refuses to acknowledge the nagging feeling that he knows much more than I imagined.

“Holy shit.”

Lucas had taken the wheel of the SUV, and after four hours of travel with one stop to refuel, using the canisters in the back, we’re on the road leading up to the academy. And what we find is devastation.

Fire lights up the grounds and building, thick smoke visible in the moonlight. Flashes of color from firearms and magic alike light up the night.

Lucas stops the vehicle off to the side of the road. “We should hoof it from here.”

He takes off in a jog, and Zephyr gives a wild smile, all teeth and no emotion. “Let’s feck some shite up!”

We all follow, spread out, to the busted-open gate. There are bodies, most of them GBE soldiers, littering the ground along the way. But there are also some fallen who aren’t in uniform. I don’t recognize them, don’t know if they were students or part of the rebellion, but my heart aches all the same.

My father and pack pass through the gate behind Lucas and Zephyr, but a strange sound catches my attention, drawing my gaze down the outside of the wall. The shadows cast by the tall stone make it difficult to see, but there’s movement approaching, slowly. It’s wide and makes a steady stomping noise.

Ice claws sprout along my skin on instinct, and I get low, until a scent invades my nostrils. It’s muted but familiar.

“Peace!” a male voice shouts at me, and I stand up straight, eyes wide.

The thing moving closer is an enormous polar bear. It’s adorned with black armor from its head to its back and legs, but moves easily. Riding on the bear like it’s a trusty steed, is a man in only a tee shirt and pants, a rifle peeking from behind his back.

“Major Tomlin!” I cry, but it’s quiet over the small roar of the polar bear that stops right in front of me.

The Major peers down at me, his face softer than I’ve ever seen it before. This close, his scent is more powerful, and I know for sure the truth.

He’s an Alpha. And he’s Cursed.

“Call me Jory,” he says with a small smile.

Jory? “You’re Willow’s mate?”

That smile grows wider. “Glad to see you two had a talk.” He pats the bear’s side and says, “I told you I loved animals.”

I’m still gaping as he looks at the wall and back at me, expression falling serious. “Are you ready for this?”

I shake the shock from my head, and there’s no question in my mind. “I’m ready.”

His smile returns, and he gestures behind him with his head as the bear lowers itself. “Hop on, then.”