The Predestined
Author: Brie Paisley
Date: 2021-03-01 08:00:00+00:00
Description: The moment that I found my mate, was the very moment, that my entire world changed. I thought destroying The Facility, a government funded medical center, was my destiny, but now, I see that my journey is only just beginning. I may not know exactly what the future holds for me, but I do know, that I’ll do anything to keep my mate safe. However, in doing so, I begin to show everyone around me just how powerful and dangerous I can be. Even if I’m doing the right thing, how can I be sure that this is the right path for me to take? How do I know that I’m supposed to be their savior, when all I can

Copyright © 2021 by Brie Paisley

This book is a work of fiction. Any names, places, character names, establishments, locations, or incidents are the work of the author’s imagination and is used fictitiously. If any resemblance to actual persons, dead or alive, places, locations, establishments, or events are coincidental.

All rights reserved. This book is not to be copied, shared, or produced in any way without the written consent of the author.

Cover art by Daqri Bernardo from Covers by Combs

Edited by Nikki Reeves from Southern Sweetheart Author and Book Services

Formatted by Brenda Wright of Formatting Done Wright

Table of Contents

Chapter One-Melena

Chapter Two-Malik

Chapter Three-Melena

Chapter Four-Reagan

Chapter Five-Melena

Chapter Six-Malik

Chapter Seven-Melena

Chapter Eight-Reagan

Chapter Nine-Melena

Chapter Ten-Melena

Chapter Eleven-Malik

Chapter Twelve-Melena

Chapter Thirteen-Reagan

Chapter Fourteen-Melena

Chapter Fifteen-Malik

Chapter Sixteen-Melena

Chapter Seventeen-Malik

Chapter Eighteen-Melena

Chapter Nineteen-Reagan

Chapter Twenty-Malik

Chapter Twenty-One-Melena

Chapter Twenty-Two-Malik

Chapter Twenty-Three-Melena

Melena

Sometimes, I feel myself slipping away.

There’s a moment, when the doctor experiments on me, that I feel the darkness creeping in, and I don’t know, if I can keep stopping it from completely overtaking me.

It scares me, knowing that all of the hope I once had, is almost gone. Hope is a dangerous emotion, but it’s also one that can literally determine the outcome of my existence.

Sitting on the bed, I bring my knees to my chest, wondering if I’ll ever leave this place. I don’t even know how long I’ve been here, or how I ended up in this hell. That’s the other thing that worries me. There are pieces of my memory that have been erased, and I know another witch had to have done it. The mind is very delicate, when it comes to spells, so whoever wiped my memories, must’ve known how important they were.

I know who and what I am, and that I come from a coven. However, the details about my coven are just … gone. I don’t know who my family or friends were, or where they are now. I don’t remember anything about my past that could connect my memories with them.

Which is why, I think it’ll be easier most days to just give into the darkness that tries so very hard to suck me in. I find myself wondering how it would feel to be caressed by it, or even if I wouldn’t feel any more pain.

I’m tired, and that terrifies me.

When I first arrived at The Facility, a government funded medical clinic, I had so much fight in me. Every single day, I never gave up, and even though they tortured me, I never stopped fighting. But now, it’s hard to just wake up. It’s hard to do anything other than lay in this bed and think about the darkness.

I don’t know how I know that there’s something dark inside of me, but I do, and it has nothing to do with my memories. I can actually feel it inside of me, as if it’s lurking and waiting for me to accept it.

Shaking my head, I force myself to stop thinking about it. I fear the moment that I give into it, it’ll change me and who I am. Even as hard as my life is right now, there’s still a glimmer of hope left.

I remember as clear as day, when I saw the white-haired witch, during one of my exams. Lying on that table, with my entire body open for the scientist to study, I had this sense that someone was there, watching the entire scene play out. For some reason, I felt peace and reassurance that someone out there was looking for me. Maybe, I’ve finally lost my mind, because I know that I saw a woman.

She was small, but the power I felt coming off of her, proved that she’s more than capable of taking care of herself. Not only that, but hearing her promise that she’s coming for me, sent a surge of hopefulness throughout my entire body.

I don’t know the witch, but I believe her. There was something comforting about her, even though, I can’t explain what I saw or heard. Honestly, it’s the only thing that keeps me going, and from accepting this dark part of myself.

Looking around my small room, I realize how much I hate this place and everything that they do here. I’m also not the only one here either. They keep us locked up in these rooms, and no matter how many times I’ve tried to escape, there’s no leaving this place.

At least, not alive anyway.

The sickest part about all of this, these scientists actually think that they’re doing good here. They actually think torturing us is the right thing to do. It doesn’t matter that we’re actually living and breathing, as long as they get all of the information they seek. There have been rumors that the reason why we’re all here is because the humans are preparing for a war. However, that makes me question who exactly are they preparing to fight against? Why do they need us to experiment on, or more importantly, how did they even know of our existence?

Supernatural beings and humans have co-existed for centuries, so why are they doing this now? We’ve lived in peace for so long, because our kind stays hidden from them. What has happened to make them do these unspeakable tests on us? Turning my head to the left, I glare at the two-way mirror, knowing those sick bastards are on the other side, watching me.

Before I realize what I’m doing, a surge of electricity flows through me.

The action causes me to let out an ear-piercing scream, because it’s blocking all of my magic and causing me pain at the same time. Once I gain control over myself, I clench my jaw, hating this fucking device on my wrist. Looking down at it, I examine it for the millionth time, hoping that I’ll figure out how to take it off.

This bracelet is the only thing keeping me from using my magic and getting the hell out of here.

Every time that I use magic, this bracelet blocks it from happening. In return, it sends pulses of electricity throughout my body to stop my attack. It doesn’t discriminate at all about what kind of magic I want to use, either. I have figured out that I can use a meager amount of magic, and it won’t trigger the blocker. However, that small amount is nowhere near enough to help me escape this place.

Placing my hands in my hair, I wish there was a way to gain my freedom. I guess, the only good thing about being here is the fact that they let us congregate once a day in a type of cafeteria. It’s not like your typical cafeteria, since none of us need to eat, since we’re immortal, but we do anyway, so that we can stay strong. There are some ways to kill an immortal being, but it’s difficult to do so.

For a witch, the quickest way is to decapitate them, or take away all of their magic. Vampires are harder to destroy, because of their speed, but taking their head is a sure way to go. Another way to put down a vampire is to bleed them dry. Their main sustenance is blood, so if they’re starved, then they’ll eventually do one of two things.

The younger vamps will die a slow and agonizing death, but the older ones will just turn to stone. I’m not exactly sure why the process is different for their ages, and I also know vampires are very secretive about how to get rid of themselves.

The wolves are the easiest ones to kill, although, their strength could be a problem. They’re fiercely loyal to their packs, and they’ll do anything to protect their mates and pups. I’ve only read about wolves from my younger years, and I’m not sure why that information wasn’t wiped from my mind.

I don’t like the fact that only a part of my memories are still intact, or the fact that I remember how to kill other supernatural creatures. It makes me question why I need to know these things, and if I’m supposed to remember for a reason.

Being here in The Facility, has taught me much, since I arrived. There are so many things that I never cared to acknowledge, and now, I realize how jaded I’ve been. Not only are witches in trouble, but so is the entire supernatural world. Which is how I met Ruby, a vampire, and Ivy, who’s a succubus.

Ruby and Ivy showed up not long after I did, and it just proves what I’ve thought all along. These scientists aren’t just excluding witches. They’re going after every supernatural being that they can get their hands on.

Among us are multiple vampires and wolves, although, the wolves tend to stick with their own. It’s not surprising they stay away from me, since I’m a witch and wolves hate everything that we are. I honestly don’t know why they hate us, because of my memory wipe, but every time I’m close by a wolf, I sense nothing but hatred.

Ruby and Ivy have become my unlikely allies, and they’re the ones that have other connections in here. I’m not sure how they’ve figured out a way to use the guards to their advantage, but as long as the guards keep them safe, I might consider sparing their lives, once we’re free.

I worry a lot about Ivy though, and especially, because her gift is so rare. Succubae were supposed to be extinct, but somehow, Ivy is alive. She’s one of the strongest people that I know, even though, I’ll never tell her that. The most impressive trait about Ivy is how she can smooth talk her way out of almost anything. One of the times that I witnessed it, I was shocked and impressed. On the other hand, Ruby is shy and quiet, but I sense there’s something that she’s hiding. One of the best things about her though, is how loyal she’s become to not only Ivy, but to me as well.

Hearing the door to my room open, I snap out of my thoughts, and then stare right into the dull eyes of Dr. Edwin Stein. I watch him closely, as he slowly enters my room, and I wish I could say that I was surprised to see him.

I hate the fact that he comes to talk with me every single day.

He stands by the door for a while, but I never break eye contact with him. He’s the reason why this place is even here, because he runs it. I have no idea how he got government approval, but I do know that I have to tread carefully around him.

Since the moment I got here, he’s had this weird obsession with me and my powers. I despise him, and I suck in a harsh breath, when I feel tingles from the shocks, coming from the bracelet. Sucking in a calming breath, I will my magic to settle. Bringing myself pain isn’t the way to defeat these sick humans.

“How are you, Melena?” Trying to stay still, I push away the thought of his voice, settling over me. I refuse to engage with him, and I wish that were enough to deter him. “I hear you’re doing well with the new tests,” he states in a proud tone of voice.

As he walks closer, I take in his small form, noticing how his hair is turning white. Even the round glasses that he wears, make him seem feeble and almost sweet. However, I know the truth behind his disguise. This man is pure evil, and he’s only out to find his answers, and it doesn’t matter who’s in his way to get them.

When he sits on the edge of the bed, I move closer to the headboard, making sure to not let him touch me. “Melena, I want to be honest with you.” I stay silent, as he pushes his glasses up on his nose, and especially, as he claims, “I think you’re lying about your memories. So, unless you tell me everything that I want to know right now, then I’ll have no other choice, but to move you to a different facility. They’ll be better equipped to handle a situation such as this one.”

Before I can stop myself, I ask, “Are you threatening me?”

“I would never do such a thing,” he rushes out, and I narrow my eyes, not believing a word he’s saying. “I just want to understand you and your kind. That’s all.”

Losing my temper, I jump up, and then turn my hatred on him. “Understand us? That’s such bullshit, and we both know it. What you’re doing … it’s horrendous. You’re torturing us, and then using us as fucking lab rats for your experiments. You might want to do yourself a favor and stop lying to me, Doc.”

“Sir, do you need assistance?” A voice over the intercom interrupts, and I clench my jaw, knowing they’ve been watching us this entire time. I can never forget that someone is always watching.

Thankfully, Dr. Stein turns towards the two-way mirror, and then says, “No, stand down and wait for my order.” Crossing my arms, I shouldn’t even be a little bit grateful that he’s called off his guards.

But then again, I know what they’ll do to me, if he had given them the okay. I’ve been in that situation more than I care to count, and I don’t know, if I have the strength to endure it once more.

After a few moments of silence, Dr. Stein stands, and then gazes at me. I don’t like the way his dull, blue eyes take me in, as if he’s either in love with me or fascinated by me. Maybe, it’s both.

The very thought sends chills down my spine.

“Melena, there will come a time that you’ll have to make a crucial choice, and I can only hope that you make the right one.”

He starts to walk back towards the door, but right before he reaches it, I ask, “What do you mean by that?”

His solemn gaze makes my stomach dip, and it’s like he already knows what’s coming. Just as he starts to answer me, the door opens, and my eyes snap to the guard, standing right outside. Dr. Stein quickly leaves the room, but the guard stays where he is for a few moments, before he slams the door shut.

Jumping at the sound, I push out a deep breath, as I try to figure out that guard’s deal. Ruby, Ivy, and I have tried to put the pieces together about him, but we’ve yet to figure it out. The guard, Wyatt, is the most interesting human here. At times, I sense that he wants to help us, but then, he also shows just how violent he can be.

He’s a mystery, and I fear that, when his true intentions rise, we all might be in more danger than we realize.

Malik

Scanning the area, I make sure I’m not being followed, before making my way to the designated meeting area. I’ve been undercover, at a facility that Luna saw in one of her visions, for the past two weeks. In these couple of weeks, I’ve learned more than any of us ever expected to find.

When Ryker found his mate, Luna, no one ever thought it would literally change everything about the covens and the wolves. For so long, the packs stayed far away from witches, because we can sense their magic, and how dangerous it can be, when used improperly. The wolves suffered greatly, during The Dark Ages, and we’ve never fully recovered from that.

The details about that time have been lost throughout the ages, but the fear that’s been instilled in wolves is ever present. The moment that I met Luna, my wolf sensed the power within her, but it’s different from other witches. She’s a special kind of witch that we call The Foreseer. She can see into the future, and now that she’s mated to Ryker, my pack mate, he can sense them, too.

I don’t know exactly how it works between them, but I do know their mating bond plays a big role in their lives now. Ryker once told me that their bond saved Luna’s life, when she got trapped in one of her visions.

As I reach the gate, I clench my jaw, remembering why I’m even here. One of Luna’s latest visions was not only about the end of the world, but that this facility was one of the roots to the problems we’re going to have to face soon. Not only have these fuckers kidnapped my twin sister, but they’re holding my mate captive. Naturally, it made sense that I would be the one to infiltrate them, and then laugh, as I watch them all burn.

Pushing out a breath, I remind myself to calm down. The wolf is quiet for once, but I think it’s more because of the potion my cousin, Sameria, has been supplying me. To fully delude the humans, I had to come up with a way to suppress my wolf to blend in better. He’s still there, and I can sense him at all times, but he’s not as in the forefront, as he normally is.

It’s no secret that my wolf and I haven’t been the easiest to deal with, and the fact that he’s always pushing for control is a big fucking problem. There have been times that he makes his appearance without my permission, and I can’t have that happening, not while I’m undercover. He’ll blow the entire operation, before I can save my sister and most importantly, my mate.

So, I found a way to make it work.

Sameria is a hybrid, which means she’s a mixture of part wolf and witch, but that doesn’t stop her from excelling at potions and casting spells. There are many different types of hybrids, so it’s not exclusive to just being part witch and the other part wolf.

With Sameria being a hybrid, she has access to magic from both sides of her heritage. She’s a natural at it, and once I save my mate and find my sister, I’ll make damn sure she has a place with the pack again. I never quite understood why The Elders exiled hybrids, but it’s just one other thing I’ll have to deal with, once I’m done with my current mission.

Being an Alpha, isn’t the easiest of jobs, but someone has to do what’s right.

Looking down at my watch, I frown, realizing that my Beta, Reid, is late. It’s unlike him not to be on time, and for just a moment, fear rushes through me. He’s my only link to the pack, since I left, so if something has happened, I wouldn’t even know.

When I informed The Enforcers and Reid of my plans, they instantly protested. Their sole job is to protect the pack, particularly me. They’re the ones that enforce the laws of the pack, and the ones that I call on, when I need shit to be done.

The fact is I’m the only one that can do this without them dying.

I’m the only one that can sense my mate, and because Luna claims she’s pretty much the only person able to stop the world from ending, I knew what I needed to do. I’m also the only one that can find Bryn, my twin, since we share a bond. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I sense her and her thoughts.

However, I haven’t been able to get a beat on her for a long while.

Clenching my jaw, I refuse to even think that my twin is dead.

Snapping my head up, when I hear someone approaching, I use my right hand to hover over the gun strapped to my waist. That’s at least one perk about being a guard in The Facility. When I joined the ranks, they weren’t shy about giving me protective gear and weapons.

Not that I need them.

Staring out into the dark night, I narrow my gaze, as I see a figure coming closer. If I hadn’t been suppressing my wolf, I would already know who’s approaching, so the gun is just an extra precaution. Sameria did tell me more than once, that there might be side effects to taking her potion, so I guess this is one of them.

Right as I decide to kill whoever this is, I relax, once I see Reid’s wide grin. “Don’t shoot me, alright.”

Shaking my head, I glare at him, and then ask, “Where the hell have you been? Do you realize how difficult it is to sneak away to meet you?”

His smile widens, and I shake my head, hating how flippant he can be. “The pack is worried, so it’s getting harder to leave without The Enforcers following.”

Huffing out a sigh in frustration, I should’ve known they would at least try and follow Reid. However, I need him, not only because he’s my connection to my pack, but because he has what I need.

“Never mind the pack. I’ll deal with them, once I return.” As he nods, I glance behind me, making sure no one is behind us. Any other time, I would already know without having to look, but this potion is affecting me more than I realized.

Even if I know this, and the fact that more of my senses could be dulled too, I still ask, “Were you able to find what I need?”

One of the biggest problems with making certain potions is how damn hard it is to find the proper ingredients. Sameria is a clever witch, but the herbs she needs to make this particular potion is difficult to find to say the least.

Thankfully, Reid reaches behind him, and then pulls out the last herb that I need to mix with what Sameria has already prepared for me. Grabbing it from him, he states, “I still think this is a horrible idea.”

“I know, and if there was another way, I would do it.”

“Would you?” He asks, and it catches me off guard for a moment.

Narrowing my eyes, I claim, “If you need to speak your peace, then do so.”

His jaw clenches, and his gaze drops for a moment, before he says, “Your place as The Alpha is with the pack, and to lead and guide us. What you’re doing now isn’t where you’re needed, Malik. The pack needs you.”

When his gaze finds mine once more, I tilt my head to the side, as he states, “Anyone else could’ve done this job, but yet, you claimed to be the only one to be able to go through with it. I say this, only because I’m your Beta, and it’s my job to remind you of your responsibilities, and because I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“I think you mean to say you think getting to my mate isn’t as important, as the pack is.”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know that.”

Shaking my head, I declare, “I know how you feel about the witches, Reid. It’s no secret that you hate them, just as we were taught, and that you hate change. However, as long as I’m The Alpha, this is the plan.”

“And this potion is the right choice as well? You have no idea what it could do to you, and yet, you’re taking it willingly. How do we know that it won’t cause problems down the road?”

While I understand his side, I also know he’ll never understand the need that I have rushing through me to find my mate. It’s times like this that I wish that things were different. I wish that our pasts with the covens weren’t so fucked up, but there’s nothing I can do about the past. It’s our future that I’m concerned about right now.

Holding is gaze, I try to keep my tone even, as I say, “I don’t know if it will or not, but that’s my choice to make. We’ve been through this several times, Reid. This is the only way, and I need you, as my Beta, to take care of the pack, while I’m here. Can you do that?”

“Yeah, I’ll do my part.” He utters, and then adds, “I just hope you know what you’re doing. I’d hate for you to end up like the others in there.”

“I’m well aware of the risks,” I voice with more anger than intended.

I instantly regret losing my temper with him, especially, when his head drops. It’s his job to question my decisions and to be the voice of reason. It’s just when it comes to my mate, I can’t seem to help myself. I know my wolf is on the same page, even if he doesn’t exactly like that I’m forcing him to submit to my will.

Before I can voice an apology, Reid’s eyes snap up, and then he claims, “Someone’s coming.”

“Go. I’ll find a way to contact you soon.” His jaw clenches, but thankfully, he nods once, and then shifts.

Watching him disappear into the woods, I let out a sigh, as I think over his concerns. They are very valid, but I can’t stop my plan now. I’m so close to finding my mate and my twin, and as much as I hate it, I have to keep moving forward.

Turning around, I start walking towards the two guards that interrupted us. Right before I reach them, I make sure to hide the herbs Reid gave me. If anyone where to see them, they would know what they’re used for. I’m not sure how these humans have so much information about our kind, so it’s smart to stay extra cautious.

One can never be too careful around a group of psychopaths.

“Dr. Stein requests your presence,” the guard on my left speaks, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“What for?”

The guard’s eyes narrow, as he claims, “Does it matter?” The one on the right shakes his head, as if my disregard for the doctor is unbelievable.

Clenching my jaw, I sense my wolf rising, but because of the potion, I can fight his presence off so much easier now. Any other time, I wouldn’t have minded killing these assholes, especially knowing what they’re doing here. I also need to remember that every single person in this facility is a diehard follower. Which means, they’ll do anything to keep their precious Dr. Stein safe, while killing thousands of innocent souls. To be honest, this place and the followers remind me so much of a cult.

“I’ll head there now,” I push out, hoping they don’t suspect anything.

Giving the guards one final glance, I turn, and then make my way towards The Facility’s entrance. When I first arrived, I’ll admit I was impressed by not only how vast the building is, but how extensive the security is as well. It’s been difficult to say the least to stay undercover, especially knowing what they’re doing here. Every single time I’m inside, I have to fight so hard against my instincts to get my people and everyone else out of here.

As I walk inside, my eyes track every single thing around me. People are walking up and down the long halls, uninterested in me, and I have to clench my hands at my side, just to be sure I don’t fuck up and hit one of them, because of what they’re discussing.

Walking past them, I remind myself that their time is coming, and I’ll make sure every single person in here gets what they deserve. I’ve witnessed the heinous experiments they’ve conducted here, and I can’t believe they’ve been doing this for so long. Honestly, if it weren’t for Luna and her foresight, no one would’ve ever known that this place even exists, until it was too late.

It’s frightening to realize that they could’ve gotten away with their goals of war, but I fully intend on taking them all down. Even if it’s the last thing I do. What they do here, it’s wrong on so many levels, and I can’t just sit by idly, ignoring the call to protect the people here.

Making it to Dr. Stein’s office, I glance down the hall, and then frown, before knocking. For some reason, I have the sudden urge to go towards the sensation that’s pulling me away from the door, but before I can act on it, Dr. Stein opens it.

“Thank you for coming, Malik. Please, do come in,” he says politely, and then holds out his hand, guiding me to walk inside.

Ignoring the need rushing through me, I step inside of the office, wondering what he wants from me. “Please, have a seat,” Dr. Stein offers after a moment, and even if I don’t want to, I sit down in front of his desk.

His office is smaller than I thought it would be, but then again, I’m sure they wanted to have extra space for all of the fucking rooms that’s keeping their captives held against their will. I haven’t even gotten a chance to explore the entire building, since it’s so vast. However, I know that I must figure it out soon, so that way, I can form a plan with The Enforcers on how to take it down.

Seeing the doc walking around his desk, I narrow my eyes, when he takes a seat and then asks, “Are you aware of the crucial work that we do here?” Biting my tongue, before I say what I really want, I simply nod, hoping that’s good enough.

My answer must pass whatever test this is, because Dr. Stein smiles, and then he grins widely. “Good then. I’ll get straight to the point.” Sitting up straighter in the chair, I swallow hard, as I get a sense that whatever he’s about to say, I’m not going to like it one bit.

“I’m assigning you to the transport team. With your extensive background, I feel you’ll be an asset to our cause.” Keeping as still as possible, I don’t want him to see any sort of reaction from me. I’m supposed to be a dedicated follower, so any questions or resistance could get me killed.

I also realize that I need to thank Sameria for using her skills to create a false report on my experience. It’s amazing what you can get done with a bit of magic.

“I must warn you,” he starts, and then he glances away, as if he’s actually concerned. “The patient you’ll be transferring isn’t the usual type. It’s imperative to stay on guard at all times with this one.”

Before I can stop myself, I ask, “What’s so special about this one?”

Dr. Stein’s gaze snaps up, and then meets mine, as he excitedly claims, “Everything.” I frown for a moment, because I don’t fully understand his obsession. “Would you like to see her?”

Against my better judgement, I nod, feeling as if I need to see her for myself. I can’t explain this intense sensation that’s rushing through me, but I know that if I don’t find out why, I’ll miss out on something vital.

Keeping my eyes on the doctor, he quickly stands, and then all but runs towards the door. “Come, let me show you the most exquisite creature that I’ve ever seen.”

Slowly getting up, I reluctantly follow behind him, as he leads me down the hall. However, the moment that I do, I realize the sensation I felt before is back, and it only gets stronger the more we walk. It’s so strong that it’s hard to remember why I’m here, and what my ultimate goal is.

When Dr. Stein stops in front of a two-way mirror, my curiosity almost gets the best of me. Reminding myself to stay calm, like any normal human would, I slowly move closer to the mirror, wondering what I’m about to see.

“There she is,” he utters, and my stomach drops, hearing the excitement in his voice. Is it possible that his relationship with her is more than just need for knowledge?

Turning my gaze to the woman the guards bring inside the cafeteria, my eyes widen, as my heart begins to beat hard within my chest. Keeping my body as still as possible, as I watch her head to a table with one other woman, I suddenly realize Dr. Stein’s fascination with her.

He’s captivated and intrigued with her, because of what she is. I don’t know if he even realizes that he’s captured the most powerful witch of our time, or the fact that I’m staring right at my mate.

Gazing at her now, I finally understand why I felt the need to come to this exact spot. It’s because my mate is calling out to me, even if neither one of us knew it.

Turning towards the doctor, I ask, “When do we leave?”

With my heart pounding in my chest, he faces me, smiling proudly, and that’s when I vow that it’ll be me to end his life, before all of this is over.

Melena

Taking a seat in front of Ruby, I frown, and then turn my gaze towards the two-way mirror. For some reason, I have the need to go over there, but I don’t understand why. This sensation is different, and I’ve never felt something so powerful before.

Shaking it off, I turn my attention back to Ruby. Her jet-black hair flows freely around her shoulders, as her hands lay flat on the table. However, it seems she’s also distracted, which is unusual for her. For as long as I’ve known her, she’s never been the one to lose focus, especially, while we’ve been in The Facility. Not only that, but Ruby and Ivy both have a knack of finding out important information, and that’s hard to come by these days.

Watching her closely, I turn my gaze towards the area she’s staring at, wondering what’s really going on here. But then, I notice a new face, and it’s one that I don’t recognize. Narrowing my eyes, I feel as if I should know him, but sadly, I can’t seem to place his face. When his blood, red eyes land on mine, I swallow hard, realizing he’s a vampire. Not to mention, the warning in his gaze tells me all that I need to know.

Stay away.

It doesn’t surprise me that his eyes are red, since all vampires have the same eye color, but what does surprise me is how enamored he seems to be with Ruby.

Running a hand through my hair, I reach across the table, and then lay a hand on hers. “Do you know him?” I ask, hoping she’ll shed some light on what’s going on.

After a few moments, she finally looks at me, and then states, “No, I’ve never seen him before.” I almost ask her if she’s sure, because I get the feeling there’s something more going on, but then, I remember there’s much more to worry about.

Nodding, I push away the urge to question her more, and instead, I ask, “Have you seen Ivy? She’s supposed to be here already.”

“She’ll be here soon.” Ruby replies, and then adds, “She got a tip from her friendly guard, so she’s talking with him now.”

Huffing out a laugh, I pull back my hand, and then claim, “Ivy needs to be careful with him. Who knows if this information she’s getting is even right.”

“True, but then again, all of the tips she’s gotten for us have all panned out. Plus, Ivy loves this shit, so it’s her way of having fun.”

Nodding once more, I know all of this. It’s just I worry for both of my newfound friends, and I honestly don’t think I would’ve lasted this long without the both of them. They seem to make it easier, when I feel the darkness creeping in, and they renew my strength each time that I’m with them.

So, if something were to happen to either of them, I might not survive it.

Pushing out a breath, I change the direction of my thoughts, because where they’re headed, is dangerous. I’ve quickly learned that thinking and wondering about what might happen leads me down roads that I never want to face. Not only that, but it seems the more I consider losing the ones I care for, the more the darkness inside of me takes root.

“Here she is now,” Ruby states, interrupting my thoughts.

Thankfully, Ivy seems just fine, as she makes her way over to us, and then sits down beside Ruby. I smirk, noticing the wide grin on her face, and I already know what that means. Her source must have given her what she needs to stay strong.

Since Ivy is a succubus, she needs to feed or take the essence of another being. She once explained it to me before, and how it all works. She claims the easiest way to get what she needs is by sex, but that can also lead to dangerous obsessions. Ivy also said that each person that she takes from has a special essence or aura that gives her strength.

Which is why, she’s honed the art of manipulation.

It’s a good scheme she’s cooked up, and it’s obviously still working in her favor. It didn’t take her long at all, once she got here, to find her source, so that she doesn’t feel the effects of the bracelet, like myself and many others do.

“Who’s the new vamp?” Ivy asks, and I keep my gaze on Ruby, seeing if she’ll give away a hint of what she really knows.

Instead of answering Ivy, Ruby simply shrugs her shoulders. Realizing that she either doesn’t truly know anything, or she doesn’t want to tell us her secrets, I decide to drop the matter altogether. Ruby knows that she can tell us both anything without any judgement, so I’ll give her time to come to us, when she’s ready.

“What does your source say today, Ivy?”

The moment my question is asked, her gaze turns serious, and then, she can’t seem to look at me. “What is it?”

Ruby frowns, once she understands what’s going on, and then she asks, “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

Ivy sighs deeply, and then glances around the room, like she’s making sure no one can hear her, as she claims, “They’re going to move you to another facility.”

Swallowing hard, I ignore the sudden drop in my stomach, and how quickly my heart begins to race. “When?”

Her hazel eyes hold mine, as she states, “Tonight.”

“They can’t just take her somewhere else.” Ruby cuts in, and then she turns to me, adding, “We have to do something, because who knows where you’ll end up, or what they’ll do to you there.”

Ivy shakes her head, because she and I already know the truth. “There’s nothing we can do, while wearing these bracelets. It’s impossible to stop them right now.”

“We’ll find a way then,” Ruby claims with a stern and determined voice.

Looking at them both now, I realize that this might be the last time that I ever see them. As they begin to argue back and forth, I know it’s futile. Ivy is right. There’s no way we can fight back, since all of us wear the bracelet.

If we were to try and fight back, we’d all just end up dead, or something even worse than death. People tend to forget that dying is the easy way out. It’s the living or trying to live that’s one of the hardest things to do, and sometimes, no matter what you do, it all just seems pointless.

Right as I’m about to break up their fight, the door to the cafeteria opens, and then shuts with a loud bang. The entire room is instantly quiet, once the five guards are noticed.

I know they’re here for me.

Unwilling to just accept my fate, I glance at my friends once more, before I slowly get up. Standing tall, I feel a tingling sensation, rushing through me. While I know that it’s coming from the bracelet, I ignore the warning.

I can’t just let them take me.

The moment I open my hands by my side, every single guard pulls out their batons. Unmoved by it, I clench my jaw, as the first electric shock pulses throughout my entire body. Pushing past the pain, I quickly raise my hand, intending on killing some of the guards.

However, the moment that I cast the spell, I let out a scream in pain.

Dropping down to my knees, I suck in a breath, as the electricity flows through me. Glancing at my hands, for just a moment, I swear that I can even see it running through my veins like blood.

Everything around me sounds like I’m underwater, and I know it’s because of the pain still coming in waves. As I slowly look up, I realize that I did indeed take down one guard. The others are yelling, and some are checking on their fellow comrade, but I’m unsure, if I killed him or not, and I find that I really don’t care if I did kill him.

They deserve to die for what they’ve done to us.

Seeing movement out of the corner of my eye, I snap my gaze towards Ivy and Ruby. As they begin to stand by my side, I shake my head, and then order, “Stay where you are. I won’t let them hurt you, too.”

I know it’s hard for them to listen to me, but thankfully, they do just as I say. I understand their need to protect me, and their need to fight by my side, but I can’t allow them to get hurt, or worse, tortured for this.

Hearing the guards moving around, I frown, as I realize every single supernatural being in the room is watching closely. It’s like they’re waiting for something, but I’m not sure what that might be. Even the wolves seem to be preparing for a fight as well, and it makes me wonder why they would dare do such a thing.

I’m a witch, and that makes me their enemy.

So, why would they act like they’re prepared to help me in this moment?

Unfortunately, I don’t get a chance to see how the outcome will be, since the pain is winning. I have only a few more moments left, before I pass out. Trying to stand, I feel the sweat rolling down my back, and how shaky my legs have suddenly become. Standing tall once more, I heave in a breath, preparing for another strike. I know that I’ll never win, while my magic is being blocked, but I can’t just stop trying.

Forcing my eyes to stay open, I stand alone in a fight that I know I’m going to lose.

Just as I begin to raise my hand once more, all four guards rush forward. Since they’re expecting me to use magic, I smile, when I punch one guard in the nose. The others stop instantly, as if they forgot that I know how to defend myself, other than using my powers.

Sadly, the other guards recover quickly, and I do my best to ward them off. However, with each hit that I give, their force in numbers quickly gives them the upper hand. As a guard’s blow connects with my cheek, I’m instantly knocked to the ground.

Turning my head to the side, I spit out the blood, pooling in my mouth, and then, it’s as if time rapidly slows down. I groan, feeling the bracelet beginning to send electric shocks through me, but I’m unsure why. Confusion and fear almost consume me, because I don’t know what will happen to me, if this bracelet malfunctions.

But then, I notice the wolves moving in closer, and for a moment, I think that I’m imagining it. Not understanding what they’re doing, my eyes dart around the rest of the room, seeing that every single person here is doing the exact same thing.

For just a second, hope fills me, because surely The Facility can’t win against us, if we all stand together.

However, I should’ve known to never, ever drop my guard around these humans.

Out of nowhere, a boot kicks me in the face, and the force of the hit is so strong, that it makes me fall back. Looking up at the ceiling, blood steadily runs down my face, as I blink once, willing the pain to stop. My entire body is in so much agony, and for some reason, I think about the darkness.

Blinking once more, I understand why I thought about that dark part of me, as I gaze into the blue eyes of Wyatt. The darkness is tempting me to accept it, so that I’ll no longer feel this intense pain, but I somehow manage to push it to the back of my mind. As Wyatt towers over me with an angry look, I know he was the one to deliver the kick to my face.

Before I can even think to protect myself, his fury begins to show, and then, he kicks me once more. His blow is so hard, that it does what he intended. Losing the battle with staying awake, I welcome the blackness, hoping that this isn’t the end.

Waking up sometime later, I slowly raise my head, as I attempt to get my bearings. The instant that I notice I’m in a moving vehicle, I frown, and then try to figure out where the hell they’re taking me. It’s so dark out, so I give up after a moment. It’s pointless to try and find a road sign or landmark to know where I am right now, so I decide to bide my time, until I can figure something else out.

Glancing around the SUV, I count four guards. There’s one sitting beside me, one behind me, and I clench my jaw, seeing Wyatt sitting in the passenger seat. The driver, however, is giving off a different vibe than the others.

For some reason, a rush of calmness and protectiveness flow through me the longer I gaze at him. But what does it mean?

It reminds me of what I felt, before the guards attacked me, but I still don’t understand what any of my instincts are trying to tell me. Thankfully, the other guards don’t pay me any mind, as I continue to stare at the driver. A part of me senses something very different about him, but then, the other part is reminding me that he’s a guard. No matter what I’m feeling, I have to be careful, if I want to survive.

Licking my lips, I admire the driver, thinking it’s a shame someone as attractive as him could be so vile. Even if I can’t see his entire body, I know he’s built like a wall. His dark hair makes me want to run my fingers through it, and for a moment, I let myself think about something that I’ll never be able to have. I think about him, marking and claiming me, and then, bringing me pleasure that I haven’t felt in a very long time.

But then, I remember where I am, and who this man is. He’s the enemy, and that’s something I should never forget.

As hard as it is, I pull my gaze away from the attractive man, glancing out of the window. I wonder about Ivy and Ruby, and how they’re holding up. It couldn’t have been easy for them to watch the guards beat me like they had, and then take me somewhere else. My mind replays the scene, and I begin to run my fingertips over the bracelet, as I remember how the wolves were going to step in and help me.

Why would they do that?

I ponder my own question for a moment, before I sense someone’s gaze on me. It’s like a warm caress, and the sensation almost seems foreign. Glancing up to find the source of the feeling, my stomach clenches, as I meet the driver’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

His green eyes hold mine for what feels like an eternity, and for the first time in my life, I suddenly feel safe. It’s almost as if he’s trying to tell me something with his gaze, but I’m not sure what that could be.

That’s when I hear him.

“How badly are you hurt?”

Shock and confusion race through my mind, because this shouldn’t be possible. I shouldn’t be able to hear him, much less in my head. “Melena, answer me,” he demands, and I glance over to the guard, sitting beside me.

“No one knows that I’m speaking to you.”

“How is this possible?” More importantly, why isn’t my bracelet blocking this kind of magic?

“That’s not important right now,” he claims with an edge to his voice. “I just need you to be ready, when it happens.”

Frowning, I ask, “When what happens?”

A few moments later, the SUV swerves, and then it quickly comes to a halt. Glancing out of the window, as I attempt to figure out what’s going on, the driver states, “I’ll check it out.”

“I’ll come with you,” Wyatt adds, and I sigh, hoping that this isn’t the chance they’ll use to try and kill me.

Sitting back in my seat, I cross my arms, confused and utterly caught off guard by the driver being able to speak to me. The only thing I can come up with is that he has to be some sort of supernatural creature. Maybe, he’s a witch, and he’s able to communicate on a low frequency, so that the bracelet can’t pick up on it. Another possibility is that he’s human, but he’s also gifted with a small amount of magic. I’ve heard of this happening a few times, and it’s common with humans that claim to have psychic abilities. Plus, I can’t sense what kind of supernatural he is, so I’m sticking with my human theory.

So lost in my own thoughts, I’m completely paralyzed by shock, when Wyatt’s face is suddenly pushed into the window. Jumping away, I watch his face slowly slide down the glass, and I’m not even ashamed to hope that he’s dead.

However, the commotion has alerted the other two guards, and they instantly take action. One yells that we’re under attack, but something feels off about this entire situation. Having no choice but to watch, I try to calm my racing heart, as I figure out what to do. Should I try and make a run for it? Whatever is out there, it’s something strong and very capable of killing me, too.

The moment I hear gun fire, I clench my jaw, and then reach down to the door handle. “Fuck it,” I whisper to myself, and then, I quickly open the door.

Once my feet hit the pavement, I check my surroundings, hoping whatever is out here isn’t going to attack me. Taking a chance, I move around to the back of the SUV, and then, that’s when I see the biggest wolf that I’ve ever seen before.

His massive size is almost as tall as the SUV, and the only reason why I can see him, is because someone dropped a flashlight nearby. For a moment, shock and a bit of fear are the only things keeping me where I am, even though, I know I need to get my ass moving.

Snapping out of my shock, I make sure to keep my movements slow, as to not alert the huge, black wolf. However, I have a sense that’s telling me that the wolf wouldn’t hurt me. No matter how loud my instincts are screaming at me to run far away, I still stay on the side of caution, because I have no way to protect myself from this animal.

Not to mention, wolves won’t hesitate for a second to rip apart a witch.

Swallowing down my fear, I move closer to the flashlight, hoping to take it to aid me, while I slip into the dark woods. Just as I reach the item, a cold, hard voice stops me right in my tracks.

“Don’t you fucking do it.”

Cutting my gaze towards Wyatt, I feel my anger and utter disgust coming to the surface. I’d love to kill him right here and now, but we both know that I’ll probably end up hurting myself in the long run.

Holding his gaze, as he takes a step forward, I will my body to stay still. I know that I can’t outrun a bullet, and I’m reminded of that fact, as I see him holster his weapon. It’s not because he doesn’t think that I’m a threat, but it’s more of the fact that he knows that I’m not stupid. It would only take seconds for him to draw out his firearm, and then shoot me in the back, while I attempt to escape.

While the bullet won’t actually kill me, it’ll still hurt like a bitch, and it could also incapacitate me long enough for him to capture me once more.

As he takes another step closer, I catch movement to my right. Wyatt instantly stops, as he notices it too, and then, I stumble back, once the black wolf comes out of the darkness. Not watching what I’m doing, I trip over a fallen branch, but I don’t dare look away from the wolf.

It seems as if Wyatt is frozen in terror, and before he can react, the wolf lunges forward. I don’t even blink, as the wolf’s teeth sink deep into Wyatt’s leg, and then, as he screams out in apparent agony, the wolf slings him clear across the road.

Knowing that he’s no longer a problem, I turn my gaze back to the wolf, wondering if this is the moment that I’m going to die. So, when the wolf turns his bright, green eyes on me, I suck in a deep breath, and then swallow hard. There seems to be something off about this wolf, since it’s foaming at the mouth, and then it lets out a whine, like it’s in pain. Just thinking about this magnificent wolf being in pain makes my chest hurt, but I quickly realize how stupid that is. If this wolf is going to kill me, then I don’t need to be feeling sorry for it.

However, the longer I hold the wolf’s gaze, the more I sense there’s so much more going on here. The feelings of calmness and protectiveness come rushing in, like a tidal wave, and for just a moment, it steals a breath from my lungs.

As the wolf begins to move closer, I suddenly don’t feel any fear whatsoever. The closer the wolf gets, the more I want to reach out and pet him with loving care. My heart races with every step the wolf makes, and just as it’s within my reach, I hear a gunshot.

I frown, as confusion rushes through me, because I don’t understand who could’ve fired a gun. Looking down at myself, I make sure that I wasn’t the one who took the hit, and then, I instantly realize it wasn’t me who the bullet was intended for.

The wolf lets out a loud groan, and then I jump up, as he falls down on the ground. My mind races with what this might mean, once I sense all of those amazing sensations, vanish with a blink of an eye.

Jerking my head to the side, I narrow my gaze at the guard limping closer, holding a gun. As he raises his arm, I know he intends on shooting the wolf again. Fury unlike anything that I’ve ever felt before surges forward, and I instantly know that I can’t let him hurt the wolf again.

Right as the guard is about to pull the trigger once more, I scream, “No!”

The second the word is spoken, I send a devastating spell his way, knowing it’s going to kill him.

Dropping to the ground, I blink through the haze, trying to take over me. The electric shocks from the bracelet have yet to let up, but I vow not to black out, until I see that disgusting human die first.

The guard cries out in agony, and I manage to smile, realizing that my spell is working. As he drops to his knees, I jerk from the shocks, but I know it’s all worth it, as I see his blood, running out of every orifice he has. Forcing my eyes to stay open, I don’t even question why I enjoy the sight of his blood, running down his face, and then, his ears and nose. The moment he falls face first onto the ground, I let out a sigh in relief.

Slowly turning my gaze up towards the stars, I blink a few times, before a large figure stands over me. It takes me a few moments, until I focus enough to see the black wolf, standing over me. It’s so close that I can feel its breath and the warmth coming off of it.

Closing my eyes, I wonder if death is finally upon me.

Finally, losing the battle with the pain, my last thought is that death is most definitely easier than having to constantly fight in a war that I never wanted to be a part of in the first place.

Reagan

Making my way through the woods, I consider all of the facts that brought me here.

There once was a time that I had a happy and wonderful life, but sadly, good things never last where I’m concerned. Since the moment a power-hungry witch murdered my entire coven, I swore that I would get my revenge on her. Even if I don’t know her true identity, I’ve made it my mission to end her immortal life by my own hand.

Which brings me to my current predicament.

I need to find Luna once more to know for sure, if the rumors are true.

Other witches are talking about how there’s a witch out there somewhere, and that she’s supposedly the most powerful witch anyone has ever seen. If anyone knows the truth, it’ll be Luna.

Unfortunately, I can’t just walk inside of the packs’ den without dying, so I’ll keep my cloaking spell up, while I figure out what’s really happening. It’s a shame that I can’t let anyone know my plans, but the thing is, I just don’t trust anyone.

Not to mention, I’m the reason why Luna wasn’t appointed The Foreseer of her coven.

When I learned that her coven wanted to make her The Foreseer, I knew my chances of finding out the truth was disappearing. So, I took matters into my own hands, and I kidnapped her.

Funny thing is, that’s the moment I learned that the end of the world is coming.

In a way, I think things happened the way they were meant, too. I found out about an impending doom, while Luna found her mate, Ryker. Which is how I’ve also learned so much about the packs and other covens. Since Luna and Ryker’s mating, The Alpha, Malik, has decreed that wolves and witches are no longer enemies.

One would think that means that I can drop my cloaking spell, but I know that won’t be the case. Once they all find out what I’ve done to seek out my vengeance, they’ll want my head on a platter.

I’m well aware that I’m drawing a very fine line between myself and the pack, but I can’t seem to find a reason to care. The only thing that I want, is to see the bitch that utterly desecrated my coven, brought to my own brand of justice.

Approaching the entrance to the den now, I slow my pace, knowing what else awaits me on the other side. Stealing myself before I walk in, I can only hope luck is on my side, and that I don’t see him, while I’m here. The last time that I was here, I promised myself that I wouldn’t return, because of what might happen, if I get too close.

However, it seems like fate just doesn’t give a damn about what I want.

I see him the second that I enter the cave, and the moment I get a good look at him, my entire body seems to awaken from a long slumber. I can’t even lie to myself and say that I haven’t missed this feeling, because I have. There’s not a second of the day that goes by that I don’t think about him, and what he means to me.

My mate is literally standing inches away from me, and he doesn’t even know it.

As his gaze turns towards me, I know he can sense me, even with the cloaking spell. My thoughts on that are the mating bonds go much deeper than any spell, but at least, I know he can’t actually see me.

Against my better judgement, I stay right where I am, taking in his presence, as much as I can. He hasn’t changed much since my last visit, other than the fact that his brown hair is a bit longer. My fingers twitch and then ache to feel how soft it would be to run my hands through it.

His presence still feels the same as well, which isn’t surprising at all. Wolves are known to be alphas in their own right, and Nick is most definitely the dominant one here. His massive shoulders take up so much room in this area, and I wish for the millionth time, that things were different. In another life, he and I could’ve had the life that I used to want.

But I’m not who I used to be.

Who I am now, I know he wouldn’t want me like this. I’m filled with the need to kill and seek vengeance for the death of my entire coven, and I don’t care what I have to do to get it.

As another wolf approaches, I keep my gaze on Nick, wondering if he’ll figure out that his mate is literally within arm’s reach. After a few more moments, I decide this is enough torture for one day, and then, I leave to find Luna.

Walking away from him once more, is difficult to say the least, but I do it anyway, because this is the only way. I can’t mate with him, only to lose him in the end. I have no doubt that’s what’ll happen, so I’m sparing us both from the pain of that. With the end of the world hanging over all of our shoulders, why would I want to put us through that?

Sometimes, the only way to show someone that you care and love them, is to let them go.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I make my way through the intricate cave system, and I’m still impressed at how the wolves have modernized their home. Walking past the murals of their heritage, I promise myself that one day, I’ll stop and read them all. The wolves have the most interesting history, and I only hope that I can stay alive long enough to fulfil my curiosity.

Once I reach Luna and Ryker’s room, I lean in close, hoping to hear them inside. After a few moments, I realize that they’re either asleep, or they’re somewhere else. Taking a chance, I flick my wrist, while using my magic to open the door, just to be sure that they’re not here. It only takes me seconds to realize that they’re somewhere else in the den, since I don’t sense their presence inside of the room.

Using my magic once more, I shut the door back, as I turn around, and then begin my search. There are a few places that they could’ve gone, but I have a hunch of where they might be. Making my way towards the assembly room, my stomach clenches with sudden nerves. Deep down, I know that if I step foot into that room, and if I happen to get caught, they will kill me.

It’s imperative to stay hidden, until I finish my mission.

Reaching the room, I push back my shoulders, as I see most of The Enforcers and shockingly, all of The Elders, standing around the big, open room. It makes sense for The Enforcers and The Elders to be here, since this is the place where they conduct all of the meetings for pack business. This is also the main place Malik will come to discuss important matters that can’t wait.

It’s a place of utmost importance, and even I know, it’s off limits to only a select group.

Which is why, I’m slightly taken back, when I see Luna and Ryker, talking to Reid, the pack’s Beta. I decide to move closer, so I can hear their conversation, but I’m very careful, as I do so. No one can see or sense me, while I use this spell, but if anyone were to touch me, the spell would instantly break.

Nick is the only exception to this particular spell, because he’s my mate.

Shaking my head, I force myself to stop thinking about him and our mating bond. There are way more important matters at hand, so any distractions won’t be tolerated.

As I stand right behind Luna, I smile, realizing how happy she seems. I remember when Ryker first brought her to the pack, it wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience. The wolves even blamed her, when a pup went missing, but Luna held her head high, and even found the boy. Keeping my gaze on her, I know that’s why I like her so much. She’s a strong witch, and she’ll stand her ground, making sure the right path is taken.

“You’re sure he’s alright?” Ryker questions, and I snap out of my thoughts.

Reid nods, and then claims, “He’s determined to find her, but he’ll call, if he needs help.”

“He’ll find her, so don’t worry,” Luna adds, and I assume they’re talking about the witch that’s supposed to save the world.

“Do any of you understand what Malik has done?” Frowning, I snap my gaze to Alrick, the only Elder that has a knack for undermining The Alpha at every turn. Once everyone else gives The Elder their attention, he explains, “He left the pack without a second thought, and with no regard to what’ll happen, if he dies.”

The silence in the room is deafening.

“I assume none of you even considered that this so-called mission is a mistake.”

“That’s enough, Alrick,” Reid warns.

“Tell me, Reid. Are you going to become Alpha, if Malik fails or dies?”

Leaning against the wall, I cross my arms, wondering how this conversation is going to go. I have no idea how wolves appoint new alphas, but I have a feeling Alrick is barking up the wrong tree. I’ve never met Malik face to face, but even I know he’s strong and very capable of following through with his plan.

His reputation is impeccable.

“I think what we need to focus on right now, is what we’re going to do, once he finds Melena,” Luna interrupts.

I smirk, knowing she’s trying to defuse the situation between the wolves. Even The Enforcers, seem on edge by Alrick, and I have a feeling it’s more because he’s trying to start shit that he can’t finish.

Just as Alrick is about to open his mouth to spout out more bullshit I’m sure, Reid’s phone begins to ring. Crossing my arms, I narrow my gaze, as I realize whoever is calling, it has to be important. Reid’s entire body language changes so drastically that I would’ve missed it, if I hadn’t been paying attention.

The call doesn’t last for more than a few minutes, but the moment Reid hangs up, his jaw clenches tight. His hard gaze finds Alrick once more, and I have to bite my lip to hold back a laugh, as he claims, “Our Alpha is alive and well.”

It’s really hard to hold back my laughter, when I notice the shocked expression on Alrick’s face, but I somehow manage. Shaking my head, I wonder what made him like this. Something bad must’ve happened to him to make him go against his Alpha so much. Which is another reason why, I’m not surprised at all, when he quickly turns around, and then abruptly leaves the room.

“He’s alright,” Reid states, and every single wolf in the room lets out a sigh.

“Did he find her?”

Reid nods, and then says, “He did, and it’s all thanks to you, Luna.”

Ryker growls, and I roll my eyes, knowing how protective he is of his mate. “Stop it,” Luna sweetly says, but I can tell she enjoys this side of him as well. Her cheeks are a bright shade of pink, and the way she’s leaning into him, tells me she’s trying to keep him calm.

Reid runs a hand through his hair, and I realize he seems worried about something. After a few moments of silence, he says, “I need to go see him. It sounds like he needs the extra help.”

Hearing the strain in his voice, I move a little closer, as he adds, “I think he’s in trouble.”

Smirking once more, excitement fills me, because I know where I’m going now. Glancing to Luna, I silently say my goodbye for now, knowing I’m about to meet the one witch that holds the key to our entire future.

Melena

Blinking open my eyes, I instantly sit up, thinking that I’ve arrived in my own personal Hell again.

Scanning the room, I frown, realizing that I’m not in my room at The Facility anymore. For a moment, panic begins to rise up inside of me, because I have no clue where I am. Fearing that someone has indeed taken me to another torture house, I quickly stand, and then begin to search the room.

It’s a small area, and the room smells old, but I don’t let that stop me from looking around. If I’m in a dangerous place, then the least I can do, is find a weapon to protect myself.

I refuse to be held captive again.

The moment that I find a letter opener, the door to my room suddenly opens. Placing my weapon behind my back, as I turn around, my eyes widen, when I see the driver, standing in the doorway. For a long while, he and I only stare at one another, as I try to piece together what’s really happening.

For some unknown reason, I’m not afraid of him.

For some unknown reason, I want to trust him.

Unable to stand his intense gaze any longer, I drop my eyes down to the floor, hoping that he’s not here to hurt me. I hate admitting weakness, but right now, I have to do just that. My attack on the guard earlier tonight weakened me more than I realized, and there’s no way that I can do another spell like that for a while.

Glancing at the bracelet on my wrist, I use my fingers to touch it. As my fingers trace over it, I clench my jaw, knowing this stupid thing is holding me back. I know that I’m powerful, and that there are powers within me that even I don’t fully understand. I know that I can do many things with these powers, and I fear the longer that I’m wearing the bracelet, the more my powers will grow within me.

Without a release, I might just be consumed by my power.

“I know someone that can help get that off of you,” the driver claims, and I snap my gaze up to meet his once more. “I’m Malik, and I can promise you that I’m here to help you.”

Confusion and hope bloom inside of my chest, because I want that to be true, but I’m also apprehensive at the same time. Now that I have a name to go with his breathtaking face, I swallow down the lump in my throat, and then I ask, “Why would you help me, Malik?”

As he steps further into the room, I take a step back. For just a moment, I catch a glimpse of hurt in his eyes, but it’s gone so fast, that I think I imagined it. “I’m not going to hurt you, Melena.”

Regarding him carefully, I grip the letter opener tighter, wondering if he’s going to make me kill him. A part of me screams in agony at the very thought, but the other part, is reminding me that he works for The Facility.

“Why should I trust you?” I counter, needing to hear the truth for once.

Watching him closely, as he leans against the door frame, and then crosses his arms, I try so very hard to stop staring at him. He’s probably the widest man that I’ve ever met before, and I know underneath his black shirt holds the body of a God. The instant attraction to him is throwing me off, but I have to remember he’s the enemy.

“I thought it was clear that you could trust me,” he states, and I’m glad he did so. Now that I’m not distracted by his mouthwatering body, I meet his eyes once more. When I don’t respond, after a few moments pass, he adds, “I staged the flat tire that helped you escaped.”

My expression must give me away, because he grins widely, and I quickly avert my gaze. That grin is doing something to me, and I’m not sure if I like it or not. No one has ever made my entire body ignite with a fire that can’t be quenched with just one smile.

“I still don’t understand,” I finally state, hoping he’ll just explain it to me.

“You don’t feel it?” He asks, and I frown, not understanding what he’s talking about. As he runs a hand down his face, I suddenly feel a wave of guilt rush through me. I don’t know why, but his disappointment hits me harder than it should.

When he drops his hand from his handsome face, he looks off in the distance, as he somberly says, “I helped you, because you’re the only hope that we have for what’s coming.”

Chills suddenly race down my back, but it’s not a good feeling. The sensation feels more like a warning, or like an omen of death. “How do you know that I’m who you’re looking for?” I have to ask, because I’m no one special. At least, I don’t think that I am.

“A Foreseer had a vision of you, and about the end of the world,” he claims, and I get a hint of exhaustion in the tone of his voice. “She saw that you are the only one that can stop this from happening.”

Finally, the puzzle pieces begin clicking together, and I know not to question what a Foreseer has seen. They’re the most gifted witches, and their visions are always correct. “That’s why you saved me,” I softly state, and then turn to lay the weapon down, unsure of why I feel disappointed about it.

“That’s not the only reason,” he huskily states, and I turn around, and then jerk back, because he’s so close now. How did I not hear him coming towards me?

Now that he’s inches away from me, my heart races, and then, I have to lick my lips, as I take in his masculine scent. A man shouldn’t be so damn attractive, or even smell so good that I suddenly want to drop to my knees for him.

“Do you feel it now, regina meis?” Malik asks, as he brushes my hair behind my ear.

Parting my lips, a rush of air quickly leaves me. It’s as if a force is pulling me closer to him without my permission, and for some reason, I don’t really want to fight against it. There’s something about him that calls to my very soul, and deep down, I know what that must mean.

Shaking my head, I refuse to believe it. “I’m not your mate,” I firmly state. I would know if he were my mate, because I would’ve felt it the second we met.

“Just because you can’t feel our bond, doesn’t mean that I’m not right.” He states with an edge to his voice. It’s strange to be able to hear him so clearly in my mind, and also, how I can tell he’s upset that I don’t believe him.

“How can we be mates? You’re human.” He grins once more, like he knows something that I don’t. “What are you not telling me?”

“It is possible for a wolf to mate with a human,” Malik utters softly. While this is true, it’s also very rare. “If we’re not mates, then how is it that we can communicate through telepathy?”

“That could mean many different things, so I’ll ask you again. What are you not telling me?”

Holding still, as he drops his hands by his side, I keep my eyes on his. For a moment, I don’t think that he’s going to answer me, but then, my eyes widen, as his eyes change, and then begin to glow. It’s the exact same color of the black wolf’s eyes, and sudden realization dawns on me, as I see the wolf within him.

“You’re a wolf?”

“He’s The Alpha, actually,” a woman’s voice states, and I quickly move away from him.

Time seems to slow down, as I gaze at the man, standing in front of me. Shock and surprise fill me to the point that I can’t seem to process this new revelation. Of course, I’ve heard about The Alpha before, but I never imagined that I would be standing in his presence, much less him claiming that I’m his fated mate. The Alpha holds the highest position in the packs, and I honestly don’t envy his responsibilities.

“Malik, you should’ve called me sooner.”

“I was a little busy.”

Glancing between them, I huff out a breath, and then push away my curiosity about Malik, before asking the woman, “Who are you?”

The woman smiles, and then she quickly makes her way over by me. Staring at her, I can’t seem to utter a single word, as she reaches down, and then takes my hand. “What are you doing?” I ask, as I attempt to jerk my hand out of her grasp.

“Don’t worry, Melena. I’m here to help.”

That seems to be the consensus today.

Using my free hand, I run it through my hair, as I try to get a handle over my frustration. Before I get a chance to ask her how she’s going to help, I notice what she’s doing. So, I hold still, as she gazes intently at the bracelet.

“Are you a wolf, too?”

Malik chuckles, and I do my best to ignore him. I’m still not so sure about him, but this woman might be able to free me from my containment. “I’m a hybrid,” she states so calmly, like it’s not a big deal at all.

Unfortunately, hybrids have by far the worst reputation among the supernatural community. I’ve never fully understood why so many of us discriminate against them, since most are very powerful. Then again, I guess that’s the real reason why everyone is afraid of them. Most of them have gifts from both sides of their lineage, and a lot of people just can’t comprehend that.

As if she can feel my curious gaze on her, she sighs, and then says, “I’m part wolf and part witch.”

“She’s also the best option for getting that bracelet off,” Malik adds.

Deciding to see where this might go, I simply nod, hoping that he’s right. For a long while, the woman touches and inspects the bracelet, like she’s trying to figure out how it works. Needing a distraction, I focus on the woman, wondering what her story is. She’s very beautiful, and I can tell she’s honed her gifts wonderfully. There’s also a confident aura around her that makes me have more faith in her, too.

After a few more moments, she tucks a strand of her dark hair behind her ear, and then she glances up at me. I hold her green gaze for a moment, before she says, “I can get it off, but I need a little time to get the spell just right.”

I nod, refusing to let too much hope fill me, while Malik asks, “How long do you need?”

“A few hours at the most.”

A few hours.

In just a few hours, I might have this fucking thing off of my wrist, and my heart races with excitement. I want nothing more than to have full use of my powers again, and not feel pain, when I use them. So, a few hours is nothing compared to never knowing, if I can get it off or not.

“I’m Sameria by the way,” she states, as she stands.

“It’s nice to meet you, and also thank you. If you can get this bracelet off, it’ll help more people than you realize.”

Sameria grins widely, as she declares, “I know.” At my frown, she adds, “I know all about The Facility, and what they’re doing. So, if this works, then I’ll be sure to teach you the spell as well, that way you can help free the others, too.”

I frown, because I’m not sure why she would even say that. It’s like she knows that I do plan on saving those left behind, but yet, she doesn’t even know me. It’s almost like Malik and Sameria know much more than they’re letting on, and I’m not sure how to feel about that.

“Are you alright with waiting?” She asks, when I don’t respond.

Nodding once more, Sameria starts to walk out of the room, but suddenly stops, when I say, “If you can finally break the spell on the bracelet, there will more than likely be a surge of power that needs to be released.”

She slowly turns around to face me, as she utters, “Like a release of power that’s built up inside of you?”

“Precisely.”

Her eyes light up with excitement, and I wonder what she’s thinking. However, she confuses me even more, when she simply utters, “Interesting.” Glancing over to Malik and then back to Sameria, I start to say something more, but then, she quickly leaves the room.

“Don’t worry about her,” Malik says, interrupting my thoughts. “She’s used to being on her own, but she’ll figure out the spell.”

Pushing out a breath, I walk over by the bed, and then sit on the edge. “I don’t really have much of a choice, but to wait and see, if she can pull this off.”

For a moment, Malik stays where he is by the door, but then, my heart begins to pound in my chest, as he makes his way over to me. Averting my gaze, when he sits beside me, I remind myself to stay cautious around him. I don’t know anything about him, other than he’s The Alpha, and that he apparently works for The Facility.

Losing the battle, with my need to know his end goal, I turn towards him, and then ask, “If you’re The Alpha, then why are you working for them? How can you stand by those people, knowing what they’re doing to us?”

His gaze softens, once he meets mine, and then he claims, “I don’t work for them, Melena.” Raising my eyebrows, I start to call him out on his lie, but then, he adds, “I infiltrated them, so that I could find you and my sister.”

“So, you were just undercover?” I ask, making sure I fully understand him and his motives.

“Exactly.” I watch him closely, as I begin to see how much weight is on his shoulders. There’s a deep sadness within him, but I don’t understand what I’m sensing. It’s almost as if I’m feeling something other than what he’s letting show. The fact is, what I feel right now, it’s not coming from me, but from the wicked wolf, sitting beside me.

Before I can dwell on my new revelation, he claims, “Luna, The Foreseer I told you about, had a vision about The Facility, and what they’re doing. That’s when I knew I had to do something, and since I’m the only one that could find you and my sister, I decided to go in alone.”

Hearing the tone of his voice, I get the impression of how lonely he is. Against my better judgement, I reach over, and then take his hand. His head snaps to me, and I try so damn hard to ignore the sudden dip in my stomach.

“You’re not alone anymore.”

For a long while, it’s just him and I, staring at one another. It’s as if we’ve reached a point of understanding, because I do get it. I’ve been alone for so long, and now, Malik is going through the same thing. The choice to take on this task of finding me and his sister was all his, and I’m not surprised at how much I respect that. It’s what I would do to save Ruby and Ivy.

It’s actually what I plan on doing, once I’m free of this bracelet.

As I continue gazing into his green eyes, a warm sensation begins to flow through me. At first, I relish it, because it makes my heart and soul soar, but then, I shake the feelings away. They don’t make any sense, and the last thing I want is to get in too deep. At the end of the day, I have my own plans, and they don’t involve this handsome but wicked wolf, sitting beside me.

Pulling my hand back, I ignore the ache in my chest, and how disappointed Malik seems. Rubbing my hands on my thighs, I clear my throat, and then ask, “Will you tell me exactly what Luna saw in her vision?”

“Which part?”

As I stand, I state, “Everything.”

“Alright,” he utters, and then pushes out a breath. “She claims to have seen a darkness, consuming everything in its path, and she explained how she sensed great evil.” I nod, because I know how a Foreseer’s powers work. While I might not remember ever meeting one, I do recall the logistics of it.

A Foreseer can not only see the future, but they also experience heightened emotions, surrounding the event in question. To me, they have it the worst, since most have ended up going mad from his or her own visions. Most can’t handle the pressure, or how certain futures can possibly play out.

“We were there, facing this evil together,” he adds, after a moment of silence, interrupting my thoughts.

Crossing my arms, I think about this, and what it actually means to him. “That’s why you think that I’m your mate.”

He smirks, and then lets out a small chuckle, before saying, “It’s because Luna felt our bond, Melena. I know you claim not to sense it, but I do, and it’s there.” His expression suddenly turns grave, as he states, “I don’t know if it’s because you’re blocking the bond purposely, or if it has something to do with the bracelet, blocking the magic that binds us together.”

I startle, as he quickly stands, and then he makes his way over by me. Holding still, I do my best not to show him how much he affects me. I can’t deny that there’s something deep within me that wants all of this to be true. He’s strong and a determined wolf, so why would I want to pass up on this chance?

The thing is, I just don’t sense the connection, and that’s what’s stopping me.

Why would I want to bond myself to him, knowing that I’m not who he thinks I am? If it spares me more pain to avoid him, then I’ll do it. I’ve been through too much in my life to add this to my suffering. Honestly, it could also be true that the bracelet is blocking our connection, but I’m not sure, if I’m ready to find out.

Right now, the risks of giving in, before I know the truth, are too great.

As he holds my gaze, a wave of want and need flow through me, and I don’t know how to feel about it. I’ve never encountered someone like Malik before, so all of this is a huge change for me. After all that I’ve been put through by The Facility, could it really be possible for me to have found my mate?

I don’t want to hope that he’s right about this, because if he’s wrong, then it’ll destroy me. So for now, I have to keep my walls up around him.

“Look, Melena,” he starts, and I hold my breath, as I wait for him to finish. “I’m not going to convince you that you’re my mate.”

Frowning, I ask, “You’re not?”

“No,” he claims in a hard tone. “I believe in Luna, and what she said is true, but it’s up to you to find your own truth. I’m not the type of man that’ll pressure you into anything, but be ready, when that fucking thing,” he states, as he points to the bracelet. “Comes off, because then you’ll feel our bond.”

I smirk, finding that I like it, when he’s so straight forward with me about this. It tells me that he’s not only loyal, but that he’s true to everyone that he comes in contact with. “Your confidence about this whole mating thing is kind of scary.”

He shrugs, while letting out a chuckle, and then he says, “Well, to be honest, I never really cared about finding my mate, until I met Luna.”

Hearing this spikes my curiosity even more, so I ask, “Why not?”

“I thought that finding her, or you for that matter, would complicate things. Not only that, but I’ve seen first-hand what happens, when a wolf loses his mate. It’s something that’ll stay with me for the rest of my life, so I selfishly chose not to even think about finding you.”

Glancing away, I try not to let his words bother me, but truthfully, they do. Even if I don’t get why, the words replay over and over in my mind, making me wonder, if there’s more to this than he’s letting on. It wouldn’t be the first time that he didn’t fully come clean without a push.

“What changed your mind then?” I ask him, after a few moments pass.

Needing a distraction from his intense gaze, I focus on my hands, as he says, “Luna and her mate, Ryker, did. Seeing them together, it made me realize that having a mate isn’t a weakness, or a reason to hold back a part of myself.”

When he suddenly stops talking, I glance at him, wondering what’s going through his mind. It honestly should be a crime for him to be so tempting, and the longer I look at him, the more I feel the fire growing inside of me.

So, when he stands, meeting my eyes, and then reaches up, I don’t dare move. My heart pounds like a drum in my chest, as he caresses my cheek tenderly and lovingly. In this moment, everything around us disappears, and all I see is him. Nothing else matters, but him and his gentle touch.

“You’re the main reason why I changed my mind, Melena.” My lips part, as his words wash over me, and I know he means every word. It’s hard to miss the conviction in his voice, and the determination in his green eyes.

“The second that I laid eyes on you, I felt our mating bond, and so did my wolf. We’re one in the same, the wolf and I, and for the first time in my life, he and I agree on this.”

He leans in closer, and my eyes drop to his luscious lips, hoping he’ll kiss me. Every single thing I said before about not being with him is gone, and it’s like I never even thought about those words. All I do know is that right now, my entire body is on edge, and somehow, I know Malik will be the one to catch me, when I fall.

“I will claim you, regina meis,” he declares, and the moment he does, I let out a small moan. His nostrils instantly flare, and then he groans, as he says, “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Unable to utter a single word, I simply nod, as I lean in closer. The moment that I do, his thumb traces over my bottom lip. The air around us is suddenly thick with sexual tension, and a deep need to be filled, almost overwhelms me.

As he breathes in deep, his pupils dilate, and his wolf flashes in his eyes at the same time. Staring at him, I realize how much I like seeing him like this. Not only are his green eyes shining brighter, but I can see his hunger as well.

Right as I think he’s going to kiss me into oblivion, I hear, “I’m ready to do this, if you—”

Jumping away from Malik, I quickly move to stand over by Sameria. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. Do I need to come back later? Tomorrow, perhaps?”

Malik slowly turns to face us, and before he can answer her, I claim, “No, it’s fine. Let’s do this.”

Ignoring his hard gaze, I remind myself that the most important thing right now is to get this fucking bracelet off of me. After that, well, then I’ll deal with the brooding wolf, staring intently at me.

“Alright then.” Sameria says, and then adds, “I have everything I need in the living room.”

Nodding, she quickly leaves the room, and I hesitantly glance to Malik. As he clenches his jaw, and then walks closer towards me, I swiftly look away, once I notice the large bulge in his pants. Keeping my eyes on the floor, as he reaches me, I suck in a harsh breath, feeling his need coming off of him in waves.

Holding still, when he leans down, I clench my hands at my side, so that I don’t touch him. Even still, I find that it’s getting harder by the second to keep my guard up around him, especially, as he huskily whispers, “This isn’t over between us.”

Swallowing hard, I watch him, as he goes into the living room. Once he reaches Sameria, they begin to talk amongst themselves, and I frown, as an unfamiliar sensation starts to build in my stomach. The more that I stare at them, the more I begin to see that I don’t like it at all. Especially, when Sameria laughs at something Malik says.

Shaking my head, I push back my shoulders, and then push down whatever new sensation this is. Walking into the room, I ignore Malik completely, as I state, “I’m ready, so let’s get it over with.”

Sameria frowns at my tone, and I instantly regret speaking to her with so much crass. Thankfully, she doesn’t say anything about my attitude, as she grabs what she needs for the spell.

Once she’s ready, she faces me, and then says, “This spell will create a keyhole, along with the key to unlock it. I’m hoping this will force whatever magic that’s ingrained into the bracelet out, and then, you’ll be free of it.”

“Sounds easy enough,” I claim, hoping this will actually work.

“In theory, it should work,” she says, as she reaches down, taking my wrist.

With her free hand, she begins to hover over the bracelet, and I know the moment she starts the spell. Sameria doesn’t need words for an incantation, like younger witches do, because her magic is honed with her mind. Which means, her magic comes forward just by thinking about how she wants to use it. It’s a technique taught to all witches as children, because in the heat of a battle, it’s been known for a witch to forget the important words needed to help save thousands of lives.

So, when I feel the warmth of her spell flowing through me, I know to stay as still as possible. If I move, her spell may jump to a different part of my body, and that wouldn’t be a good thing. Each spell that’s created is unique, and it’s specifically catered to one thing. What does surprise me though, is when I see a keyhole, suddenly appear on the bracelet.

“Moment of truth,” Sameria utters, as she grabs the key, and then places it inside the hole.

The second that the key unlocks the bracelet, it quickly falls down to the floor. I stare at it in shock, as it bounces a few times, because I never thought this would actually work. Glancing up, I meet Sameria’s wide eyes, and it’s clear she’s surprised, too.

“Holy shit. It worked.” She states proudly, and I can’t contain my grin from showing.

“How do you feel?” Malik asks, and I take in a deep breath, as I sense my powers, flowing through me once more.

However, I don’t get the chance to answer him, because I suddenly become overwhelmed with magic. Right as I try and warn them about what’s going to happen, the front door swings open. There’s so much going on, and I can’t seem to form a single word, as I glance down at my hands, seeing so much power, running through them. It’s like a shimmer, shining back at me, and I grin widely at the sight.

As Malik, Sameria, and the newcomer talk, I begin to sway with an overload of magic, racing throughout my entire body. It’s too much all at once, and I know that if I don’t release some of it, it will consume me.

Forcing my eyes to stay open, I try to gain their attention to warn them, but again, words fail me. The only thought that pops into my mind is the mating bond, which is ridiculous. Even still, I can sense something new about not only myself, but between him and I, too.

Using the new skill Malik opened up for us, I reach out to him with my mind. “Malik, I have to let it go.”

I know that he hears my plea, since he quickly turns around, while yelling at the others to brace themselves. I’m grateful that they listen, because a moment later, I let go of the magic, swelling up inside of me. Pushing the magic outwards, I let out a scream, as the force of the power races through me, like a bullet. The entire living room is quickly destroyed, as all of the windows in the room shatter at the same time.

It all happens within the blink of an eye, but I know the moment that it’s over. Suddenly, exhaustion overtakes me, and I find Malik’s gaze, as I begin to fall. Just as I think about how it’s going to hurt like hell to hit the floor, I’m suddenly in his arms.

Gazing up at him, I instantly lose every single breath in my lungs, as delicious tingles run through my veins. I try to smile, because of how good it feels to be in his arms, and about what this actually does mean for us, but I’m too tired to enjoy all of these new and exciting sensations right now.

Sensing him now, I know he’s thrilled about this, too.

The wolf was right.

I am his mate.

Malik

Laying my mate down on the bed, I brush her blonde locks out of her face, as she finally allows herself to rest. After the surge of power was released, I knew she would need to recharge for a while.

I’m still in shock that so much magic came out of her, but then again, I shouldn’t be this surprised by it. Luna did tell me that Melena is the most powerful witch of her time, so I need to learn to fully trust others, when they tell me something this important.

Gazing at my mate, I smile, enjoying the sensations rushing through me. While she really didn’t believe me at first about our bond, I know now that things will be completely different, once she wakes up. Using my thumb, I tenderly move it across her bottom lip, loving how soft her luscious lips are. I would give anything to kiss her right now, but in her current state, I pull my hand back, deciding to wait.

Even if my wolf is pushing hard to claim her right now, I know that she may need more time to come to terms with what’s happening. I’ve brought her into a war that she might not even want to be a part of. She might be our savior, but no one said she would agree to it.

However, the longer I stare at my mate, the more I sense that she’ll do anything to save us all.

As I begin to back away from her, the wolf within pushes against me, wanting desperately to be let out. Ever since I took the last vial of potion, before coming to the cabin, he’s been actively trying to escape more than normal. Frowning, as I feel something sliding down my face, I reach up, and then wipe away the sweat off of my forehead.

The moment I bring my hand down, I realize that it’s shaking.

Clenching my jaw, I force the wolf to submit, and it’s much harder to do now. In the back of my mind, I know that I don’t need the potion anymore, since Melena is free of The Facility, but the other part, craves more of it.

Turning away from my mate, I realize what I need to do.

Reaching the door, I hear Sameria and Reid arguing, but with my dulled senses, I can barely hear what they’re saying. The moment I open the door, they both snap their gazes towards me.

Before I can ask what’s going on with them, Reid states, “I’m going to do a perimeter check.”

I frown once more, seeing the utter disappointment written on Sameria’s face, as I step forward, intending on figuring out what’s upset her. “What’s going on with you two?”

She shakes her head, and then claims, “Nothing important.”

Somehow, I get the sense that’s not the case, so I ask, “Are you sure about that?”

Sameria sighs deeply, before saying, “He’s my mate, Malik.”

“Why don’t either one of you seem happy about that?”

Her green eyes move towards the door, and then back to mine, as she declares, “It doesn’t matter. Now, are you going to tell me what’s bothering you, or would you rather discuss my love life?”

Smirking, I can’t deny how much that I’ve missed her wit. Sameria and I are cousins, but she was banished from our pack, before I became Alpha. Now that things are changing, she’ll have a place in the pack once more, which is why I contacted her, when I knew I would need help getting inside of The Facility.

It’s also another reason why I trust her with what I’m about to confess.

Taking her by the arm, I lead her into the kitchen for more privacy. The last thing I want is for Melena to wake up, and then hear what I’m about to say. Once we’re standing in the kitchen, Sameria regards me closely, before she asks, “What is it, Malik?”

Running a hand through my hair, I utter, “I need more of the potion.”

She frowns, and then shakes her head, as she claims, “No, you don’t. There’s no reason for me to make another batch, since you don’t need it.”

Holding her gaze, I explain, “I’m addicted to it, Sam.” Her eyes widen in surprise, and I hate that I’m even having to have this conversation. “I’m starting to crave it, and it’s doing more than just making me go through withdrawals.” Huffing out a breath, I utter, “It’s affecting my senses, and the wolf is doing its damnedest to overtake me.”

“Your wolf is fighting harder against you now, because the potion is wearing off,” she adds quietly.

“I think he might be trying to go Rogue.”

“Fuck, Malik. That can’t happen,” she states, and her tone of voice makes it clear that she’s worried.

Rogue wolves are highly dangerous, because they have no humanity within them at all. The animal is all that remains, and if that does happen, I could easily end up killing anyone that gets in my way. If a wolf happens to go Rogue, then they’re usually exiled from the pack, and in the direst cases, they’re put to death. I can’t allow that to happen, because I have too many people that I care about counting on me.

“I just need the potion to hold me over, until you can figure out how to cure me,” I offer, hoping she can do it.

“Yeah, of course,” she answers, while nodding her head. “Here,” she states, as she reaches behind her back. “This is all that I have, so it’ll have to do for now.”

Taking the small vial, I inspect it closely, and then realize I already know what it is. “I thought you didn’t have anymore.”

“That’s just a sample, so that I could make more with ease. It’s not a full dose, but maybe, it’ll hold back your wolf from taking over you, until I can figure this out.”

“Thank you, Sam,” I softly utter, and then, I drink the last of the potion. Once it’s gone, I feel it immediately working through my system.

Sameria watches me closely, as I sway forward, but I hold up a hand, letting her know that I’m alright. “This isn’t something that I wanted,” she claims, and I have a feeling that she’s taking the blame for what’s happening with me.

Shaking my head, I roughly say, “None of this is your fault. You warned me that something could go wrong, since you’ve never made this type of potion before.”

“I’m sorry, Malik, but I just don’t see it that way.” As she runs a hand down her face, she adds, “I had a bad feeling about making this for you, and now, I understand why. If anything happens to you, the pack will want my head for it.”

Clenching my jaw, I nod once, understanding where she’s coming from. “The only one that knows about the potion is Reid, and I know him. He wouldn’t hold you responsible.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Watching her closely, I wish that I could sense what’s going on with her better. I know it’s because of the potion that I can’t, but I know Reid. “He’s been by my side for a long time, and I trust him.”

“Well, that’s comforting,” she claims sarcastically. Before I get a chance to ask her what that means, she says, “We’ll deal with this problem later, since there’s more pressing matters happening.”

She sighs deeply, and then glances towards the room that Melena is now resting in, before she turns back to stare at me. It seems she’s gathering her thoughts, before she finally asks, “Why is she really here, Malik? I know that she’s your mate, but there’s more going on than what you’ve let on, isn’t it?”

Nodding, I cross my arms, knowing it’s time to tell Sameria everything. When I approached her, before infiltrating The Facility, I only told her what was necessary to get the potion made. However, the time has finally come for her to know what’s really at stake.

So, I tell her everything, from the moment that I met Luna, what she is, and most importantly, what she saw. As I confess every single part about what’s to come, she stands still as a statue, and for the first time in my life, I worry that I’ve made a grave mistake by not telling her sooner. While I know people deserve to know what’s coming, I also know that I can’t just go around telling everyone. If the news of the end of the world gets into the wrong hands, it could cause more problems than needed.

“She’s the key to everything, Sam. Without her, I know that we won’t make it through this.”

The moment that her head drops, my wolf surges forward, and I grit my teeth, fighting against him. He’s not only fucking pissed that I’ve taken more of the potion, he’s also angry and frustrated with me for not trusting one of my own.

I’m reminded of that, when Sameria finally glances up at me, and her eyes flash with her own wolf.

“You have every right to be angry with me,” I begin, and then move a hand to the counter to keep my balance, hoping she doesn’t lose her shit and shift on me.

“You’re damn right about that,” she claims through clenched teeth. “Why didn’t you tell me before? All this time, you knew what was coming, and yet, you chose to keep me in the dark.”

“I didn’t tell you, because I—”

“Don’t trust me.” She interrupts, and I shake my head, as she adds, “It makes sense now, because if you had trusted me, then I would’ve already been back with the pack.”

“Sameria, you and I both know that’s not true.”

“What’s not true?”

Snapping my gaze to the left, my heart instantly pounds in my chest, as I see Melena, walking towards us. For a moment, she and I hold gazes, and I smirk, sensing how excited she is that we’re actually mates. While we’re not fully bonded yet, I can still pick up on certain sensations, flowing through her. It’ll also be the same for her, so I make sure to make it crystal clear how fucking glad I am that she’s alright.

She grins, and it takes everything inside of me not to go to her, and then claim her right here and now.

“It doesn’t matter now anyway,” Sameria pipes in, and I shake away the desire for my mate. For now, at least. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she says, as she faces Melena.

“Thanks to you,” Melena states, and I smirk once more, feeling her pride surfacing.

“Now that the cat is out of the bag, so to speak.” Sameria says, and then turns back towards me, as she adds, “I think we should talk about that bracelet.”

“What about it?” I ask, not sure where she’s going with this.

“A witch spelled it.”

“That makes sense.” Melena offers, and then claims, “If The Facility has a witch working for them, it could mean they have more forces on their side than I realized.”

“She would have to be a powerful witch to be able to do that type of spell,” Sameria claims, and Melena nods in agreement.

“At least, we have a way to get the bracelets off now, so it’ll have to do, until we can figure out the identity of the witch helping them.”

“I agree with Melena. There’s no way to find out who it is right now, so we bide our time, and take her out, when given the chance.” I pipe in.

“Okay, so we’re all in agreement, then?” Sameria asks, and Melena and I nod, knowing this is the only plan that we have.

Sensing concern coming from Melena, I turn to her, and then ask, “What’s wrong, regina meis?”

Her head snaps to me, as surprise is suddenly laced in her gaze. “It’s going to take me a while to get used to that,” she claims, but I also sense that she’s okay with me knowing what she’s feeling. “I was just thinking about the witch in question.”

As she turns to Sameria, she asks, “Do you think she could’ve altered memories, too?”

Sameria shrugs, as she says, “I guess, it’s possible. Why do you ask?”

I move closer to my mate, sensing a bit of fear, rushing through her. At the same time, the wolf pushes against his barrier, and I quickly push back, so that Melena won’t pick up on what’s happening within me. I know that she’s here to help me, and to be the one that gets me through all of the rough times. However, shame and guilt eat at me, because I should be stronger than this.

“I think someone messed with my head,” Melena softly utters, and I reach for her hand. The moment that we touch, I sigh in relief, as the tingling sensation races through me. Her warmth keeps me from losing the battle with the wolf, and she doesn’t even realize how important that is.

“Most of my memories have been compromised, and there’s also a lot that feels like it’s been erased or buried deep within my mind.”

“Shit, that’s not good,” Sameria claims, as she runs a hand through her hair.

“Why can’t we just reverse the spell?” I ask, genuinely concerned for my mate.

“It’s not that simple.” Sameria declares, and then adds, “The mind is something that most witches stay far away from.”

“Because if anything were to go wrong, it could mean the person loses their mind forever. It’ll make them forget who they are, or who they ever were. It would almost be like a certain type of death without actually dying,” Melena finishes for her.

“Let me get this straight,” I begin, hoping that I’m understanding this all wrong. “If someone were to try and fix what’s happening to your memories, then we risk losing you all together?”

Sameria instantly drops her gaze, and I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, as Melena answers, “Yes, it’s possible. Which is why, I don’t understand why this happened to me.”

“Tactical advantage, maybe?” Sameria offers, and I still can’t wrap my mind around all of this new information.

“I thought of that too, but it doesn’t make sense. Why would The Facility’s witch mess with my memories, when it serves them no purpose?”

Dropping Melena’s hand, as her and Sameria try to figure out the witch’s motives, a deep sense of foreboding overcomes me. The more I think about the possibility of losing my mate forever, the more the wolf within struggles against the potion’s bonds.

I know that I’m losing the battle with him, as I heave in a deep breath, and then, I let out a groan. The more that the wolf fights me, the more painful it’s becoming to hold him back. My entire body feels like it’s being ripped in half, and I have no clue how to stop him from breaking free.

If he does, then it could be the end of me.

Melena

Not understanding what I’m sensing, because the feeling isn’t mine, I glance over to Malik, and then, instantly realize something is terribly wrong.

Rushing forward, I catch him, right before he drops down onto the floor. “Malik, what’s happening to you?” All that I can feel is his fear, and then, it suddenly mixes with mine, making it almost unbearable.

As he lets out another groan, I glance up to Sameria, hoping she knows what’s going on. “It has to be the potion.”

“What damn potion? What did you do to him?”

“She gave him a potion to suppress his wolf, so that he could find you,” a deep voice claims angrily.

Snapping my gaze towards the new voice, I sense my magic instantly come to the surface. “Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m here to help,” he claims, as he holds up his hands. I know that he’s a wolf, by the way his own magic is swirling around him, but I’m still not so sure about him. There’s a dark aura surrounding him, but I’m not sure of his true intentions yet, since the darkness isn’t completely covering him. It’s almost like the darkness is dancing with the light, as it swirls around him.

Shaking my head, I know that I have no choice in the matter, but to trust him. Turning around, I try to help Malik stand, but it’s no use. His weight is too much for me to handle, especially, as he begins to cough up blood, and then falls down onto the ground.

Looking back to Sameria and the new wolf, I shout, “Help me!”

They both scramble forward, and thankfully, they help me pick Malik up. As we carry him to the bedroom, I battle with my own fear and worry. I can’t lose him now that I just found him. There’s no way that I can carry on without ever knowing what our life could’ve been like, if I lose him now. I refuse to accept that he’s dying, even if I know that’s exactly what’s happening.

Once we get Malik settled on the bed, my eyes widen, as I notice blood, coming out of his ears. Placing one hand on his chest, and then the other on his head, I send a rush of my energy into him. However, I know it’s not working, when he begins to cough up more blood.

“No, this can’t be.” I utter, and then, I jerk back, asking, “Why isn’t our bond healing him?” The moment I ask the question, I instantly know the answer. It isn’t working, because we’re not fully bonded yet.

Swallowing hard, I caress his pale and sweaty cheek, and then ask, “How do I fix this?” When no one answers me, I turn back, and then yell, “Tell me what to do!”

“I-I don’t know,” Sameria whispers, and the other wolf clenches his jaw tightly.

“I told him this was a bad idea.” The wolf states sternly, and then, he turns towards Sameria, as he claims, “This is your fault.”

“Fuck you, Reid. He asked for help, and I did my duty for my Alpha.”

“That’s bullshit, and you and I both know it.” He snaps back, and then uses his finger to point in her face, as he states, “This is just your way of getting revenge against The Elders for banishing you all those years ago. Well, fucking congratulations. You’ve just killed our Alpha.”

“No, he’s not dead, and he’s not going to fucking die,” I shout, but neither one of them are listening to me.

As they begin to argue back and forth about who’s to blame, I glance to my mate, knowing that if I don’t do something right now, he will die. At this point, I honestly don’t give a shit who’s at fault here. All I care about is saving Malik, and the only way to do that, is to take all of the potion, rushing through his veins, out of him.

The only problem with this plan, is the fact that I don’t know how to do that.

“I need time to think,” I utter, but it’s clear Sameria and Reid are so focused on their disagreement that they don’t hear me. “Will you two just shut up for a minute and let me think.”

My heart pounds so fast in my chest, as I gaze at Malik, laying so still on the bed, and I know his time is running out. I sense his own life force quickly waning, and no matter how hard I try, our bond isn’t strong enough to save him. Not to mention, my companions aren’t any help at all, as they shout back and forth, even though it’s not changing a damn thing.

Losing my patience and the hold on my anger, I quickly stand, and then scream, “Enough!”

The instant the word leaves my lips, I frown, when I realize that they did indeed stop. Not only have they stopped arguing, but they’ve also stopped everything. They seem frozen, and at first, I don’t understand what I’ve done. Turning around, I notice that Malik is just as still, and he’s not even breathing just like Reid and Sameria. Looking out of the window, I realize every single thing around the cabin has fully stopped, and then, that’s when it finally clicks.

I stopped time.

I fucking stopped time completely.

With a renewed sense of urgency, I forget all about Sameria and Reid, as I place my hands back on my mate. Closing my eyes, I think about him, and what needs to happen for him to survive this. All of my magic slowly flows down to my hands, as I continue to focus on healing him.

The moment I feel something leaving his body, my eyes snap open.

Keeping my concentration, I watch in amazement, as a black substance flows up, and then out of him. It’s almost like a black smoke, but it’s tangible, and I know that if I were to touch it, it would be hard like glass. It’s the potion abandoning his body, so I push harder for it to leave him entirely.

When I sense the last of it separating from him, time suddenly restarts. It’s in that same moment that Sameria and Reid exclaim what’s happening in shock, while Malik slowly begins to waken. As his eyes open, I let go of the potion, and it breaks into tiny little pieces, as it falls down onto the floor. Staring at it, I blink, seeing it looks a lot like black dirt now.

Slowly moving my gaze up towards Reid, and then to Sameria, she asks, “How did you do that?”

“I don’t know,” I whisper, and I don’t miss the hint of fear in her eyes. Glancing towards Reid, I clench my jaw, and then snap my gaze down, seeing the same expression on his face.

“Regina meis,” I hear, and my full attention is quickly back on Malik.

“I’m here, and you’re going to be okay now.”

Cupping his cheek, I let go of the breath that I was holding, as I gaze into his green eyes. Staying still, as he reaches up to caress my face, I lean into his touch, realizing just how close I was to losing him.

“You saved me,” he roughly states, and I nod, not knowing what to say. However, he must sense how relieved I am, since he adds, “I’m not going anywhere, regina meis.”

Letting out a laugh, I grin widely, as I take his words to heart. “Good, because I would’ve found a way to bring you back.”

He chuckles, and then groans, as he states, “Fuck, I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

“Here, let me help,” I claim, and then send a surge of calming magic through me and then into him. I know it’s working, when he lets out a long sigh, and then, he smiles in content. “Better?”

He nods, and I sense how grateful he is through our forming bond. “That’s great and all, but we have an even bigger problem now, unfortunately,” Sameria cuts in.

“What now?” Reid asks, and his frustration doesn’t go unnoticed.

Holding Sameria’s gaze, she claims, “We have company, and it’s not friendly.”

“Fuck,” Reid spits out, and then shakes his head.

“How do you know this?” I ask, wondering if she did what I think she did.

“I have a protection barrier around the cabin, and someone just breeched it. I sense their determination to capture you again.”

Nodding, I know exactly who this is. “It’s The Facility. They’re coming for me.”

“This makes no sense.” Reid pipes in, and then adds, “How would they even know where you are? No one but the pack knows about this place.”

“They must be tracking you somehow,” Malik offers, and I turn back to him, knowing what he means.

I hold his gaze for a moment, before turning back towards the others, and then I claim, “I must have a tracking device inside of me. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“What about their witch?”

“She wouldn’t be able to track me, while I had the bracelet on. It’s the reason why The Facility has been able to hide for so long. They’ve found a way to block not only their building, but they’ve done the same to every single person being held against their will. Not to mention, I hid my magic, just so this wouldn’t happen the moment I woke earlier.”

Letting go of Malik, I stand, and then look down at my arms, as I say, “One of you needs to check me for the tracker.”

“There’s no time for this,” Reid exclaims loudly, but he quickly shuts up, as Malik growls at him. After a few moments pass, he sighs, and in a calmer voice, he asks, “How long do we have, until they make it here?”

As Sameria begins to inspect my forearms for the device, she utters, “Ten minutes. Maybe, a little less.”

Reid shakes his head, and then huffs out an angry sigh, as he states, “Just great. Why couldn’t you just set the barrier further out, so that we might have a chance to run?”

Right as I’m about to tell him to go fuck himself, Sameria beats me to it. “I’m so sorry that I wasn’t better prepared. Please, excuse the hell out of me for doing what I could with the little time that I had.”

“We’re all going to either die, or be captured too, because of you,” Reid states through clenched teeth, and I suddenly have the urge to punch him in the nose.

Instead of following through with that plan, Sameria quickly jerks around, and then darkly states, “Either prepare yourself for a fight, or you can fuck right off. I don’t care that you’re my mate or not, so either die or fight. It’s your choice.”

Sensing Malik’s humor through our bond, I try to hide my smile, as Reid quickly leaves the room. The moment the door shuts behind him, Malik tries to stand, as he claims, “I’ll go help him.”

Jerking away from Sameria, I go to him, as she states, “We don’t have time to argue about it.”

Leaning down, I caress his cheek, and then softly claim, “I can stop them, so I need you to trust me and stay here.” Feeling his distaste for having to stay behind, I add, “There will come a time that we’re fighting side by side, but not until you fully regain your strength.”

“I won’t lose you. I can’t lose you,” I utter in my mind, and I know he hears me by the way his eyes widen.

When he nods, and then lays back down, I let out a sigh, before turning back around. “Let’s get this thing out of me.”

Sameria nods, and then quickly gets to searching for the tracker. Thankfully, it doesn’t take her long at all to find it, now that Reid isn’t constantly trying to goad her into a fight. Once she has its location, I glance down at my arm, knowing what to do.

“I need you to move back.”

When she does as I ask, I use one hand to hover over the tracker, and then will the small device to come forward. Gritting my teeth, as the pain suddenly comes forward, I push past it, knowing that I need to get this thing out of me.

Feeling Malik’s worry, I glance back to him, and then state, “I’m alright.”

Sucking in a deep breath, I brace myself for the pain that’s coming, when I jerk my hand back, forcing the tracker to rip through my skin. The second it’s out, I let go of the breath that I was holding, and then, Sameria is instantly by my side, making sure to dispose of it.

Glancing down, I watch closely, as my body heals itself, and I’m so glad that I’m immortal. It’s just a shame that immortality still doesn’t mean that I don’t feel pain.

“Okay, it’s done. They can’t track you anymore,” Sameria claims.

Ignoring the waves of pain flowing through me, I nod, and then state, “Let’s go meet our friends, then.”

She quickly leaves the room, and right as I’m about to follow behind her, I hear, “Come here.”

Grinning, as I turn around, I make my way over to my mate, knowing he needs to see me, before I go. Hovering over him, I lick my lips, sensing his need to claim me. Brushing his hair out of his handsome face, I declare, “Nothing is going to happen to me. I’ll never go back there.”

He grips my chin with his fingers, and then brings me closer to his lips, as he huskily states, “Kill them all, and leave no one alive. Do you understand me?”

My arousal instantly spikes, sensing not only his need, but his need to hurt those that have hurt me. In return, it only heightens what I’m feeling, and I find it’s hard to even think about anything other than kissing him.

So, it’s not surprising at all, when he leans up, closing the distance between us, and then, his mouth is on mine. The second our lips touch, I let out a throaty moan, as he groans at the same time. His mouth devours mine, like he can’t seem to get enough of me. Willingly submitting, I kiss him back with just as much passion and desperation that I can manage.

While I know that I’m needed elsewhere, I can’t seem to break our kiss. Nothing else matters right now anyway, so I let the kiss go on, wondering if it’ll always be like this. Will he always make my body burn with need? These intense sensations he’s bringing out of me are almost foreign, since I’ve never experienced them before, especially, when he deepens our kiss once more.

His needs and wants are suddenly all that I can think about, so I reach down, intending on giving him the relief he’s wanting, but then, his hand is suddenly on mine, stopping me in my tracks. When he pulls away, I lick my lips, feeling them beginning to swell, as I hold back the urge to demand him to keep going.

“I promise, that the moment we’re safe, we’re going to finish this,” he claims in a husky tone of voice, while caressing my face. “Now, go show those assholes who you really are.”

Grinning widely, I nod, and then state, “Don’t worry. I plan on sending them a message.”

“So blood thirsty.”

Giving him one final kiss, I stand, and then say, “I know you like that about me.” As he chuckles, I feel how proud he is to have a strong mate.

Just knowing how he feels makes it easier to walk away, because I know once I’m finished, Malik will be here, waiting for me to tell him every single detail about the carnage I’m about to create.

Reagan

I should’ve known that these fucking wolves would attract the wrong kind of attention.

Keeping my distance, I count at least thirty of The Facility’s guards approaching. I’m not sure how they found out where Malik and Melena are staying, but I fear that they’ve met their match. Each guard is armed to the tee, and I know there’s way too many of them.

For just a moment, I wonder if I should drop my cloaking spell to help, but then, I frown, when I see Melena walking outside. What the fuck is she doing? I know that she has power, because I caught the end of what she did to Malik, but even still. There’s no way she can take on this many guards without backup.

Right as I think that thought, two wolves flank her by her side. That has to be Reid and Sameria. There’s a lot that one can find out just by staying in the shadows. I know all about Reid, and what his position in the pack is, but Sameria, well she’s a hard one to get information on. I’m also assuming that Malik isn’t up for fighting, since he’s yet to make his appearance.

“This is your one and only warning,” Melena states loudly, and I narrow my gaze at her, wondering what she’s doing. “If you don’t leave, I will kill every single one of you.”

Jerking back, even I know that it’s a sound threat. The power coming off of her is astounding, and I’ve never sensed something like this before. Unable to control my own fear, I worry if letting Melena live is the right choice. She might be a savior, but what if she turns into our destroyer? Power like hers always comes at some sort of price, and I wonder, if she’s willing to pay that ultimate price.

Logic and reason are the only things that I use now, so it makes sense to take her out now, before something terrible happens, like murdering an entire coven just for shits and giggles.

But then, who will save us all from the darkness that’s coming?

Evil doesn’t discriminate, so if Melena is gone, I know we’ll all suffer for that. Letting out a sigh, I decide to wait it out to see which side she’s really on. Maybe, it’s because of my past, and how I can’t trust anyone that makes me think this way, but I’d much rather be prepared for the hard truth, besides being blindsided by it.

Shaking myself out of my own head, I watch, as Melena takes one step forward, and then says, “So, you’ve all chosen to die, then.”

The wolves growl, and then howl loudly, as the guards begin moving closer. However, the guards don’t get the chance to take one more step. As Melena cries out, both of her hands rise up, and then, the ground suddenly begins to shake.

The earth is splitting in half, and at the same time, pieces of it are shooting up, making deadly spikes. Half of the guards get hit, since they weren’t fast enough to avoid the attack. The others begin firing their weapons, but Melena just smiles, like a fucking lunatic, as she holds out her hand, and then blocks every single bullet, flying towards her and the wolves.

I watch with wide eyes, as Melena laughs, and then makes her way down the steps, as some of the guards start to retreat. Each guard that tries to leave is instantly vaporized, as the others continue to fire their weapons at her. It seems as if she’s not going to leave a single soul behind, and for just a moment, I turn away, hating what she’s doing.

It’s a fucking blood bath out here, and she’s just relishing it.

Seeing her like this, it’s bringing up so many past memories that I’d rather not remember. Hearing their screams and cries of utter agony, I shut my eyes, forcing the images and sounds to stop. I don’t want to remember that horrific day, but it seems this is my curse, and it’s my burden to carry, until the end of time.

Looking down at my hands, I recall all of the things that I’ve had to do to seek out my vengeance. How is this any different from what I’ve done? If I had just a meager amount of Melena’s power, I know that I would be doing the exact same thing.

Pushing down the humanity that’s slowly dying inside of me, I turn my gaze back to the fight. The moment that I do, I realize that there’s less than ten guards left now. I do have to give it to Melena, she definitely knows how to take out the enemy. Not to mention, I’m sure she’s taking out her rage on them, for what they’ve done to her. I might not know what she went through, but by the way she’s killing them off so easily, shows me her time at The Facility wasn’t good.

As two guards rush towards her, I shrink back, when they run smack into an invisible force field. They quickly fall down to the ground, and as Melena stands over them, she glances at them for just a moment, before their heads are suddenly smashed in.

Knowing this battle is almost over, I look for the wolves, wondering if they’re still alive. So, imagine my surprise, when I notice that they have yet to even leave the damn porch.

Well shit.

Melena is taking out this small army all on her own.

The rest of the guards quickly follow behind their comrades to their deaths, and when there’s only one left, Melena uses her telekinesis to bring him to her. The poor man is screaming in terror, but his cries are futile. I even notice that he’s pissed his pants, and that in itself is such a shame. I thought these guards, from The Facility, were supposed to be men, and not fucking crybabies.

Keeping up my cloaking spell, I move from my hiding spot, so that I can hear what Melena is saying to him. For some reason, she’s keeping this one alive, even though she could’ve killed him easily. Call it curiosity, but I want to know what’s being said.

When I reach a better position, I hear her say, “Tell them everything that’s happened here. When they come after me again, you remind them who’s waiting to end their lives.”

Now, I understand what she’s doing. She’s sending a message to The Facility, but I’m not sure, if they’ll hear her warning.

Once she’s finished scaring the piss out of the man, she tosses him onto the ground, and I cringe, when I hear a loud pop. The guard howls out in pain, while holding his arm, so I assume he broke it on the way down. Honestly, Melena might’ve been the one to do that.

“Go now and remember what I said.”

The man is so scared, and it’s clear he poses no threat to anyone. Melena turns her back on him, and for the first time in my life, I see so much strength and power from just one person. She’s not worried at all that this guy could shoot her in the back, because she knows he won’t. She’s put so much fear into him that he’ll do whatever she wants just so he’ll live.

That is fucking talent.

Smirking, I realize that I’m starting to admire her, even with all of this death surrounding us.

With her mission completed, the man scurries off like a rat, as Melena makes her way back towards the cabin. When she gets closer to the steps, leading up to the cabin, a white wolf blocks her from going anywhere.

“Move, Reid,” she states, but it’s clear this wolf isn’t letting her past him. “I won’t ask again,” she warns, and even I know he needs to move, or he just might die, too.

Right as Melena brings up her hand, the other wolf, the black and brown one, shifts. A woman stands bare ass naked, were the wolf was, and then, she instantly bends down. She seems to be talking to the other wolf, but I’m not close enough to hear her.

“Sameria, tell him to move. Malik needs me.”

The one they call Reid barks, and then snaps his teeth at Melena, but Sameria quickly diverts his attention to her. I’m sure it also helps the fact that Sameria is completely naked, so no unmated wolf could deny her.

As Sameria leads the wolf away, Melena stays right where she is for a moment, before she quickly turns her gaze towards me. Quickly moving behind a tree, I know that she can’t see me. There’s no fucking way she could, since I’m under the cloaking spell.

Even as I remind myself of this, my heart still pounds in my chest, like a fucking drum, hoping that she doesn’t know that I’m here. Honestly, she just might kill me, before she knows that I’m not her enemy.

Swallowing down my fear, I think about Nick for a split second, before I slowly glance around the tree.

“Thank fuck,” I utter, when I notice she’s gone.

Thinking that she’s gone inside to be by her mate, I let out a heavy sigh, and then, I decide to stay right where I am, until they leave, or I have the cover of the night. That was too close of a call for comfort, so I’ll keep my distance, and pray that I don’t wind up dead, like those guards.

Melena

Holding Malik’s hand, as he leads me inside the pack’s den, I glance back at Sameria and Reid, following behind us.

The moment I catch Reid’s gaze, I quickly advert my eyes, because I have a feeling that he’s going to be a problem. Back at the cabin, the asshole tried to challenge me, once I let that last guard go. It seems like no matter how many times I explained why I did it, he refuses to listen to me.

In a way, I get it. He’s worried about his fellow pack mates, and even his own mate, although, he won’t admit that. I finally put it all together, once Malik told me that Reid is his Beta. It’s his job to make sure the pack is safe at all times, as well as handling The Enforcers. So, he’s just doing his job, protecting the pack, and in a way, his Alpha, but it still bothers me that he’s constantly hounding me for my choices.

“Don’t worry about Reid. He’ll come around.” Malik claims, and I look up at him, and then nod my head.

I keep forgetting that he can pick up on my moods and some of my emotions with our bond. I also need to remember, once our bond is fully complete, he’ll be able to sense every single thing that I feel times ten.

Before I can ponder on how I feel about that, we walk inside of a huge room. The moment we entered the den, I was highly impressed at how the wolves have made this cave into their home. From what I can recall, the covens never worried much about where the wolves went, when they separated from us.

It still shocks me that wolves were created for the sole purpose to protect witches and our magic. It’s a shame that they left us, because there’s always been a dark cloud, hanging over all of the covens, since they did.

Although, it seems that they’ve done well for themselves, since deserting us, not that I can blame them. No one really knows what happened, during The Dark Ages, but whatever it was, it broke a truce between our two factions. However, I sense that things are changing once again, and I can only hope that it’s for the better.

“This is the assembly room,” Malik says, interrupting my thoughts of the past. Looking around the room, he adds, “This is where we’ll meet with the others, and then, I’ll show you around the rest of the den.”

Smirking, when I notice a huge, dark, oak chair, sitting at the end of the table, I instantly know that’s where Malik sits. It’s fit for a king, and I sense his pride, flowing through him, as he catches onto my thoughts.

“Every king needs a queen,” he seductively claims, and I don’t even bother to try and stop the delicious tingles from racing throughout my entire body.

As Reid pushes past me, Malik growls low in warning, but it seems he doesn’t care. “Ignore him. He’s pissed, because his wolf likes me,” Sameria offers, and I grin, knowing what she’s talking about.

Honestly, if it weren’t for her distracting Reid’s wolf, when she had, I probably would’ve killed him, too.

No one, and I mean no one, will stand in my way again, especially if it comes to my mate. So, that includes Reid as well.

Shaking away those dark thoughts, I realize just how many wolves are present. There are a lot of them, standing off to the side, and I stay close to Malik, as a few approach us. “It’s good to see you again, Malik.” One states, with a grin.

“It’s good to be back.” As Malik pulls me closer, he proudly says, “This is Melena, my mate.”

The wolf holds out his hand, and then smiles widely, as he states, “I’m Nick, the pack’s healer.”

I nod once, because I don’t really know what to say. I’m still wary of all of these strangers around me, but with Malik’s comfort running through me, it helps me relax. In a way, I’m glad he can sense, when I need it, because this is so out of character for me. I’ve been stuck in The Facility for so long, and it’s like I’ve forgotten how to be … well, not normal, but it’s close to what normal would feel like for me.

As the other wolves approach us, they each take their turn, welcoming me to the pack. There’s so many, so I don’t even try to remember all of their names just yet. Although, there’s two wolves that stand out more than the others. Axel and Jace. These two, at first glance, seem just like the others, but the longer I stare at them both, the more I see that there’s a lot more going on with them.

Before I get a chance to think about them, I move through the throng of wolves, as I sense a presence that I never thought was actually real. But then, I know what I saw at The Facility was real, as I gaze at the witch in question. Walking closer, she smiles widely, like she’s known me for her entire life.

“Hi, Melena,” she sweetly says, and all I can do is stare at her. “I know this is a lot for you, but I promise, this is where you’re destined to be.”

“I’ve seen you before,” I softly utter, hoping she can shed some light on how that’s possible.

As she nods, I notice a wolf, standing beside her. With the way he’s touching her, and standing so close, makes me think that he’s her mate. “I’m The Foreseer.”

“Luna?” I ask, needing confirmation.

Thankfully, Malik got me up to speed on everything, including what happened, when he first met Luna, while we made our way here, and I’m so glad that he did. I feel as though I’m still behind on all that’s happened, since I was captured.

Once she nods, I suck in a deep breath, and then sense Malik behind me. Not thinking anything of it, I reach forward, and then hug her tightly. “Thank you,” I whisper in her ear.

She holds me just as tight, because she knows how close I was to losing myself. Even though I can feel everyone’s eyes on us, I still hold her close, because this witch literally saved my life in more ways than one.

After a few more moments, I let her go, knowing that her and I are going to have a lot to talk about later. I owe her so much, so she needs to know that I’m indebted to her. As she introduces me to her mate, Ryker, Malik places his arm around me, and I try to ignore the fire inside of me rapidly growing. Feeling his need mixing with mine, it’s making things, like talking, hard to do.

Turning my gaze to him, I narrow my eyes, because I realize that he’s doing this on purpose. “Wicked wolf.”

“Devious witch,” he counters, and I can’t seem to hide my grin.

“Can you two communicate using telepathy?”

I duck my head, knowing that Luna has caught onto us, but Malik only chuckles, and then claims, “We can, and I find that I rather enjoy it more than I thought I would.”

Luna glances towards her mate, and then back to us, as she states, “I didn’t think it was actually possible.”

She’s right about that. There’s been so many things passed down about mates, and some mates having special abilities, once they fully bond. Now that I’m not distracted anymore by the wicked wolf, I realize that Luna and Ryker share something special, too.

As if Luna can read my mind, she says, “Ryker gives me a boost with my visions, and in return, he can feel everything that I do, when I’m having a vision.”

“Sounds like a blessing and a curse,” I state somberly, but the magic swirling between them is very strong.

Before she gets the chance to say anything back, the doors to the room suddenly open, and in walks a group of wolves. Frowning, as they come closer, I realize that they seem much older than the others. It’s in the way they carry themselves, and not to mention, the look in their eyes speaks volumes of their own pain and demons.

“The Elders,” Malik whispers in my mind, and I nod, knowing what they are to the pack.

On our journey here, Malik also told me much about them, and what their purpose is. They’re only here to guide and offer advice to him, while also keeping the peace between the other smaller packs. Apparently, it was The Elder’s idea to have the packs split into smaller groups. That way, if anyone were to attack them, they wouldn’t be wiped out completely. It makes sense, but then again, it doesn’t.

If the pack were attacked, then that would mean they’re all alone with their fight, instead of having the numbers to take down the enemy. Malik also claims that he’s trying to rid that rule, but one Elder in particular is fighting him on his decision.

“So, this must be the one that’s going to save us all,” the wolf, leading the others states, and as I stare at him, I begin to feel a dull pain, starting to rise in my mind.

“Alrick,” Malik says in a low voice, like he’s warning him.

The longer I stare at The Elder, the more my head pounds, and then aches at the same time. I don’t understand why I’m experiencing pain, when I look at him, but I realize I have to find out why.

“Melena, what’s wrong?” Malik asks, and I know it’s because he’s finally sensed my distress.

“It’s my head,” I claim, as I use my hands to rub my temples.

That’s the moment Alrick gazes right into my eyes, and then, I let out a cry in agony.

“What the hell is going on?” Malik shouts to no one in particular. It’s clear he’s worried, and so am I, because I don’t understand why this Elder is making my head pound so hard. “What are you doing to her, Alrick?”

“Nothing! You know that I have no other powers to do something like this.”

As I hold onto Malik for dear life, I push past the pain, flowing through me, and then, I lock gazes with Alrick once more. Something inside of me is telling me to hold on, and that this pain has a purpose. Trusting my instincts, I do just that.

So, when the memory is finally free, I suck in a deep breath, as it crashes through me.

I see it so clearly now that the pain is gone, and then, I realize what it is that I’m remembering. It’s a story my mother told me, although, I can’t remember her face. In the memory, she showed me the moment that Katherine, one of the first original witches, created the wolves.

My mother claimed that I needed to see it for myself, as most of the other powerful witches before me have.

I watch the memory replay, like I’m seeing it for the first time, and in a way, I guess that I am. In my mind, I see Katherine, and although I can’t see her face, I know it’s her. It’s no secret that she’s the reason why wolves were created, so I pay close attention to this memory unfolding. She quietly speaks to five humans, three men and two women, and then she asks them to open themselves up to their wolves. At first, the humans seem skeptical, but there’s one man that instantly agrees.

It’s Alrick.

He was the very first wolf ever created.

Snapping out of the memory, I heave in a deep breath, as Malik checks me over. “What the hell was that?”

Swallowing hard, I glance up to him, and then ask, “You saw it, too?” He nods, and I claim, “I’m assuming we can do more than just use telepathy, then.”

“What’s going on? What is she talking about, Malik?”

As Malik helps me keep my balance, I snap my gaze back to Alrick, and then state, “I remember you.” The entire room goes silent, and I ignore their worried gazes, as I add, “My mother showed me what Katherine did to create the wolves, and you were the first one to actually accept her gift.”

“What of it?” He asks, but everyone around him, looks at him, like he’s something more.

“They didn’t know?”

“No, he refuses to speak of that time,” Malik answers, and I frown, not understanding why.

“Why would you hide that? Being the first wolf makes you more powerful than most, so why do you choose to hide behind being an Elder?”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you, witch,” he proclaims through clenched teeth. Malik growls at him in warning, but I place my hand on his chest to keep him calm. “Enough of this.” Alrick states, and then adds, “We have much to discuss.”

“Later,” Malik growls out, and I smirk, sensing his need to hit The Elder. I can see why anyone would, because this wolf is such a dick. “Come, Melena. We both need to rest, and then we’ll talk.”

Nodding, I sigh, feeling the events of the day coming over me. Holding Malik’s hand, I use the other to wave goodbye to everyone, and then walk beside him, as he leads me down a long hallway.

The moment we reach a room, I suddenly feel the air become thick with sexual tension. As I walk farther inside, I realize this must be Malik’s room. Glancing around the area, I take in everything around me. This room definitely seems like him with its colors and dark, wood furniture.

There’s a huge bed in front of me, while there’s a small kitchen to my right. Seeing a door on the other side of the room, I assume it’s the bathroom. Turning around, I take in his bookshelves, full of books and other things that I’m sure that he’s collected in his long life.

Looking up at him, he shuts the door, and then makes sure to lock it. The second that lock clicks, I get hit with a wave of lust and desire, flowing from him. Licking my lips, I stay exactly where I am, waiting to see what he’s going to do next.

When his green eyes meet mine, he uses our telepathy to huskily state, “I need you, regina meis.”

Melena

Pushing out a breath, I finally understand what those two words mean.

My queen.

Now that we’re partially bonded, I see and feel how much that means to him. When he speaks those two words, I can clearly sense the meaning behind them. To him, it means honor, loyalty, and above all else, power.

That’s how he sees me.

To Malik, I’m not some damaged witch that just so happened to break free of my captors. I’m powerful, beautiful, and his desire for me takes my breath away.

As we stand still, just gazing at one another, the need I have for him continues to grow, until it’s to the point of unbearable. That’s the very moment he shows me what he wants to do to me.

Letting out a moan, as the images race through my mind, I do the exact same to him. I smirk, when he groans, and then, he uses a hand to hold himself up on a nearby wall. It’s only fair that I play this game too, so I use it to my advantage.

However, our little game is quickly turning into so much more than just teasing. My entire body feels as if it’s burning from the inside out, and the need he’s making me feel grows so quickly, that it’s becoming almost too much. I realize just how badly I need him, and then, I understand why I have such a deep sense of desire, flowing through me.

It’s the mating bond, working its magic.

Malik is my soulmate, and the one that will take me to places that I’ve only ever dreamed about. He’s suddenly the only reason why I’m alive, and the only reason for my existence.

After a few more moments, it seems he’s reached his limit, as he claims, “I’m going to take my time, claiming you over and over again, regina meis.”

I don’t even have a chance to respond, before he’s stalking towards me.

When he reaches me, one of his hands slowly slides into my hair, as the other one cups my cheek. As I run mine up his strong and muscular arms, he tilts my head just how he wants, and then, his mouth is on mine.

At first, his kiss is soft and gentle, but then, it quickly turns into hard and rough. Holding onto him tightly, so that I don’t fall, I let him control every single thing about our kiss, wanting and needing so much more from him. However, it seems he’s taking his time, making me burn even hotter with the lust he’s bringing out of me.

As much as I’m enjoying his passionate kisses, I quickly realize that I need him to quench this hunger he’s bringing out of me. Pulling back, I smirk, when his lustful and hungry eyes gaze at me. I feel his confusion, because he’s wondering if he’s moving too fast for me. Raising my hand, I snap my fingers, and then, my clothes instantly disappear. For a long moment, all Malik can do is stare at my naked body, and I have to suck in a deep breath, when I sense how much he loves what he sees.

“That’s one nifty trick you have there, devious witch,” he roughly claims, as he takes a step back, and then, I bite my lip, knowing how on edge he is, too.

“Want to see another one, wicked wolf?” I sweetly ask.

“Fuck, yes,” he growls in my mind, and hearing it, brings out a moan from me.

Repeating the same action as before, I lick my lips, when his clothes suddenly disappear. He quickly glances down, and then, he smirks, as his hungry gaze finds mine once more.

I don’t even get a chance to think my next thought, before he’s suddenly embracing me, while pushing me back against a small bookshelf. Hitting it, I instantly open my legs, giving him all of the room he needs. At the same time, one of his hands slowly moves up, and only stops, once he’s caressing my face.

“You’re mine now, regina meis,” he roughly groans out, and I have to take a deep breath, hearing how much lust and need is laced behind his words.

Not only that, but I feel every single thing that he is in this moment. It only heightens my own desires, making me moan, hoping that he’ll give me exactly what we both want.

Rotating my hips, I lean in, begging him to kiss me. He’s quick to deliver, and he wastes no time at all, bringing his other hand up, and then wraps it around my neck. Willingly submitting, he controls every single thing about our kiss. He devours me, while filling me with so much need to have him, that it’s starting to become unbearable.

“Please, Malik,” I plead, knowing he feels how much I need some sort of release.

With a low growl, he begins to leave a trail of hot and wet kisses down my neck, and then to my chest. Every kiss is followed by a caress of his hand that’s around my throat, and all I can do is let him have his fill.

However, I almost fly right off of the shelf, when his mouth is suddenly on my clit. So lost in lust, I hadn’t even realized where he was going, but I should’ve known he would want a taste. His wolf is the one urging him to follow through, but I also sense that Malik is more than willing to heed the command.

As his arms wrap under my thighs, he uses his hands to spread me even wider. When he begins to suck and lick my clit, I hit the wall behind me with my hand, as pleasure unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, comes crashing through me.

Malik is literally setting my entire body on fire, and I honestly don’t know if I can survive the flames.

Calling out incoherent words, as he slowly slides a finger inside of me, he growls against me, making my orgasm come closer to the surface. At the same time, he starts to show me all of the ways he’s going to fuck me, once he’s had his fill of my essence. The images make me moan, and then, I cry out, as instant ecstasy rushes through my veins.

Just the thought of his hard, thick cock sliding inside of me is all that I need to send me over the edge. Not to mention, his finger keeps the same pace, as well, once he’s thrusting deep inside of me, so it feels like it’s already happening.

As he lets me ride out my waves of pleasure, I realize that the walls around us begin to rumble. It causes Malik to pull away, and then I sit up, wondering what the hell is going on. But then, the rumbles turn into full blown shakes, and I know it’s an earthquake. It only takes me seconds to realize that it’s my power that caused this, so I quickly place a protection spell around us.

As soon as it’s in place, Reid suddenly barrels through the door, yelling, “Malik, we’re under attack!”

It doesn’t take him long at all to notice what’s really going on.

“Get the fuck out, Reid,” Malik commands, as he shields me from Reid’s prying eyes, and he doesn’t waste another second, following his Alpha’s order.

Once the door shuts, I’m actually surprised the damn thing still works. I do, however, send a flow of magic towards it this time, just in case anyone else decides to interrupt us. When I’m finished, Malik and I share a glance, before we burst out in laughter. As he steps closer, I wrap my arms around his neck, as we continue to laugh.

“I can’t believe that just happened,” I state, utterly embarrassed that Reid saw me naked.

Malik smirks, and then claims, “It’s an ego boost more than anything.” With my frown, he adds, “I gave you an earth-shattering orgasm. Literally.”

Rolling my eyes, I shake my head, as I say, “That you did, but we should be in the clear now. The protection spell will hold back any magic that releases, when I do.”

He quickly picks up my subtle hint, and the moment that he does, he groans. Pulling him in closer, I reach down. Grabbing his hard cock, I pump him once. His hand is instantly in my hair, holding me still. Moving my hand down, his other hand wraps around my throat. As I repeat the same motion once more, his mouth is on mine.

Letting out a moan, as I get a taste of him, he kisses me roughly, while keeping his firm grip on me. It seems the more I move my hand on his cock, the more he seems close to falling off of the edge. The second that I think that thought, I get hit with his own lust. It’s so strong, so when it mixes with mine, I suddenly feel drunk off of it. Pumping him one final time, I start to guide him inside of me.

As he pulls away from our kiss, I hold his gaze, as I claim, “I need you, Malik. Please, take me.”

His cock jumps in my hand, and a moment later, his hips move forward, giving me all of the help I need. Holding still, as his cock begins to enter me, I let out a throaty moan, when I start to feel my walls, stretching around him. The process is slow and utterly torturous, because I want nothing more than for him to thrust forward.

However, I sense how worried he is about hurting me, and I realize he needs to go at his own pace. All he cares about is my wants and needs, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make sure I have everything that I could ever want.

Once he’s buried deep inside of me, he holds still, as I get adjusted to his size. It doesn’t take me long at all to let him know that I’m ready for more.

Using my legs, I pull him forward, as I rotate my hips. The action makes him groan, as I let out a loud moan. Smiling, when the hand in my hair moves down to my hips, he grips me tightly, while ordering, “Stay still.”

Doing as he commands, I’m quickly rewarded with a kiss. With his hand still around my throat, he holds me right where he wants me, while devouring me all the way down to my soul. Nothing else matters, but him and I, and this intense pleasure he’s bringing out of me.

So, when he finally begins to move, I let my head fall back, as I enjoy falling right down into pure bliss. With each of his thrusts, I suddenly realize that I’ll never get enough of this.

I’ll never get enough of him.

I know he feels the same, as every single sensation he’s experiencing races through me. Fuck, it’s so powerful, that I call out his name, as my orgasm rips through me. “That’s it, regina meis. Let me feel you,” he huskily demands, and I’m quick to listen.

My orgasm continues on and on, seeming as if it never wants to end. For a moment, I worry that it’ll consume me, but then, I know that Malik will be there to pull me back. Even now, as his pace slows, I sense him helping me come down from the high.

Looking up, I lick my lips, seeing the wolf, flashing in his eyes. He’s so close to the edge, and I sense how hard the wolf is riding him. The wolf’s thoughts are as clear as day.

Mark.

Claim.

Take.

They repeat over and over, so I’m not surprised at all, when Malik quickly picks me up, and then places me down onto the bed. I let a small cry escape, as he leaves me, but then, I gasp, when I’m suddenly flipped onto my stomach.

Knowing what he wants, I push my hips up, letting him know he can take me any way that he needs and craves. Turning my head to the side, I glance back, wondering why he hasn’t acted on his wolf’s desires.

As he positions himself at my entrance once more, I begin to understand why he’s still moving too slow for my liking. He’s still afraid that he’ll hurt me, and that’s the last thing he wants to do.

“I promise, that you won’t break me.”

“I have to go slow,” he quickly responds.

Feeling him slowly sliding inside of me, I moan, instantly needing him deeper. Getting an idea, I begin to show him just how I need him. I make it clear just how hard and rough he can fuck me, because I trust him completely. Not only that, but I also show him how I’m meant for him and only him.

I’m his mate, which means that we’re literally made for each other.

Needless to say, he quickly forgets all about going slow.

As he pushes forward, I suck in a deep breath, and then, let it out with a loud moan. Feeling him deep inside of me, I will him to move, because I’m suddenly overwhelmed with the need for him to fuck me, until I can’t walk tomorrow.

Thankfully, he gives me just what I want, and just how I want it. His thrusts instantly turn from slow and tedious to rough and hard, seeming to be almost punishing. Through it all, I call out his name, while throaty moans leave my lips. All I can do is let him have his way with me, because I know he’ll bring me to heights unknown.

So, when I begin to sense his need to bite me, I waste no time, brushing my hair off of my shoulder, and then, I tilt my head to the side. It gives him all of the room he could want to follow through, and my stomach clenches tight, as he thrusts hard into me.

At the same time, he leans forward, and then, his teeth are sinking into my skin.

His mark instantaneously brings out another orgasm, which in turn, sparks his own orgasm to rush forward. Unimaginable pleasure flows through him and into me, mixing together and then bringing us both exquisite bliss. At the same time, I feel our bond forming, and then, I gasp out loud, once I sense how strong and complete it is now.

I thought before that I could feel Malik, but now, it’s like I can’t figure out where I start and he ends. His soul is intertwined with mine, and there’s nothing in this world that could break what we have. Not to mention, I get hit with a rush of just how much he cares for me, and it makes me realize just how deep my feelings for him are already.

“I’m falling for you, wicked wolf,” I breathlessly admit.

As he unclenches around my shoulder, he kisses his new brand, and then states, “As am I for you, devious witch.”

He continues to stay still inside of me, while licking and then kissing his mark on me. I honestly wish that we could stay like this forever, because right now, I’m understanding why so many mates crave each other. Being with Malik is addictive, and I can see myself unable to live without him. However, just knowing how he makes me feel is enough for me to embrace him and us.

It’s a good thing that we’re immortal, because having him for entirety, just might quench this hunger he’s brought out of me.

Malik

Gazing at my stunning mate, I run my fingertips up and down her bare back, loving the way her skin feels against mine. Now that we’re fully bonded, I sense just how satisfied she is, and I vow to keep making her experience this blissful state. She’s been through so much in her life, but it’s my job as her mate to make sure she has the best of everything this life has to offer.

As her golden eyes lock with mine, I have to suck in a deep breath, sensing just how much she already cares for me. It should seem strange, but somehow, it doesn’t. I know that fate made her just for me, so it’s pointless to fight the strong connection that we share.

Brushing her hair off of her shoulder, I admire the mark I left on her. I never in my life thought I would want to mark and then claim my mate, because I was so naïve and jaded before. I realize now just how wrong I was to even consider never finding my mate.

“I’m glad we found each other, too,” she whispers, and then, I grin widely.

Caressing her cheek, I state, “This is definitely going to take some time to get accustomed, too.”

She lets out a small laugh, and I instantly realize how much I love the sound. “Doesn’t it seem strange, though?”

“How do you mean?”

She sighs, and I can’t quite figure out what she’s feeling. It’s so much, and it’s also confusing to pin the right word for it down. It’s a mixture of happiness and joy, but then, there’s also foreboding and dread. “With everything around us, and everything that’s coming, it just seems wrong, in a way, to take these moments together.”

Understanding what she means, I softly say, “That’s exactly why we need to take these moments. I know what’s coming isn’t pleasant, so every time that we have a chance, I’ll always choose to spend that time with you.”

“Such a sweet talker,” she says with a laugh.

“Get used to it, regina meis.”

“So, tell me,” she starts, and then reaches over to run a finger down my arm. “How does one become The Alpha?”

Using my hand to prop up my head, I continue sliding my fingers on her back, as I state, “It’s usually through the bloodline.” With her frown, I add, “My father was an Alpha, so it passed down to me, since I was the first born.” Raising my eyebrows, I let out a grunt, as I claim, “It’s just funny to me, because there’s only one minute of a difference between Bryn and I.”

“Your twin?” She asks, and I nod once, trying not to worry too much about her.

I know that she’s fully capable of taking care of herself, but I can’t help but to wonder what really happened to her. Luna said that The Facility has her, but I found no trace of her, while I was there. It’s possible that she’s been moved, and if that’s the case, I’m not sure where to even start looking for her.

“We’ll find her, I promise.”

Nodding once more, I know she means that. Letting out a sigh, I shake away my worries, and then continue explaining what she’s so curious about. “When my father died, The Alpha position was supposed to belong to me.” Frowning, as I recall the events that happened after his death, I try to push away how much I despise that time of my life.

“I was too young to become The Alpha, so the Beta, Kale, took the role instead.” Clenching my jaw, all of the anger from that time comes rushing forward. As Melena tries her best to comfort me, I roughly state, “He was a harsh leader, and he’d rather dictate than allow others to offer advice. He was ruthless, and he’s the reason for a lot of the pack losing allies. Many lives suffered under his rule, and I can’t even count how many wolves he banished for no reason at all.”

Rolling over to my back, I sigh deeply, wishing that things could’ve been different back then. So many families crumbled at his hands, and I’ve done my best to right his wrongs, since the moment I became Alpha. Sameria is the main one that comes to mind, because Kale was the one to out her as a hybrid. Once her secret was out, The Elders claimed that they had no choice, but to exile her.

“What happened to him?”

“I challenged him, when I became of age.” Glancing over to her, I confess, “When a wolf issues a challenge, it’s a fight to the death. Two Alphas can’t live peacefully within a single pack, so I took his life, because I knew he would never submit, and then brought the packs back to what they were meant to be.”

Thinking about how things are going now, I wonder if I’ve truly done right by the pack. I fully believe in Luna, and that we need change to survive, but I just can’t help but to question the things that I’ve done.

Especially, when it comes to finding my mate.

I’ve done things that I never imagined doing, and I fear that I’ll suffer for those choices soon. Even now, I feel the wolf stirring, trying to break free of me. While Melena did heal me, I don’t know if the wolf will ever forgive me for using the potion.

“Time heals all things,” Melena says softly, and I realize she’s picking up on my sudden mood change. “This guilt you feel, it’s normal. It means you care, and that you’re loyal to those you love. I understand why you feel things could’ve played out differently, but this was the only choice you had at the time.”

As she leans over me, she caresses my face, giving me all of the comfort I could ever want, as she states, “Don’t let it consume you, Malik. You’re an exceptional leader, and I know every single person here will agree to that.”

Holding her gaze, I let her words wash through me, as I think over all of the things that I’ve done for the pack. Some leaders crumble under the weight of the responsibilities, like the former Alpha had, and I want to think every word she’s saying is true.

But then, I sense my wolf’s anger, and the fact that he’s growling at me, so I know nothing good is going to come from this. I’ve done a good job of hiding it, but I still fear the wolf is trying to go Rogue. It’s a sense I have, or maybe, it’s my instincts. It could also be that the wolf is subtlety preparing me for when it does happen.

Either way, when it does happen, I don’t know how any of us are going to face it.

“I have an idea,” Melena starts with a wide smile. Giving her my full attention, she offers, “How about you shift, and let me have some time with your wolf.”

My first instinct is to say no, because I feel how much the wolf wants to be free. It worries me, because if I do set him loose, he may never give me back control. “It’ll be fine, Malik. Trust me and our bond. I’ve bonded to the both of you, so I won’t let anything bad happen to either of you.”

Shaking my head, I claim, “He’s so ready to be rid of me, Melena. If I shift, then I may never come back.” Her concern is laced in her gaze, and I sigh deeply, sensing how much she believes things will be okay.

In a husky voice, I utter, “He hates me for suppressing him with that potion.” Licking my lips, I gaze up at the ceiling, as I say, “It’s like he’s angry at me for doing what I needed to do, because he doesn’t understand that I had no other choice. To him, I robbed him of what he’s owed, so now, he’s adamant about making me pay for that.”

“I didn’t know your wolf could be so—”

“Vicious, cruel, and vengeful,” I finish, knowing exactly what’s going through the wolf’s mind.

Feeling her hand on my cheek, she guides me to gaze at her, as she declares, “I was going to say disgruntled. He’s hurt, Malik.” Pain instantly slashes through my chest, because she’s right. It’s not only his anger that stops me from shifting, it’s his own pain for what I did to him.

“You need to change.” She states, and then quickly adds, “If you do, then maybe, he’ll see that you’re truly capable of coexisting again.”

Running my hand through her hair, I say, “Maybe, you’re right.”

She grins widely, as she says, “I’m always right. You might as well get used to it.”

Chuckling, I shake my head, and then pull her in for a languid kiss. I kiss her with all of the passion and desire that I have for her, knowing she can feel every single bit of it. As I pull away, I gaze into her golden eyes, realizing how quickly that I’m falling deeply in love with her.

Without her by my side, none of this makes sense.

Without her, I can’t do what needs to be done.

Holding her gaze, I sigh deeply, as fear of never returning back to myself rushes through me. What I’m about to do just might change the outcome of our entire future, but I know that I can fully trust her to bring me back.

“Alright, I’ll shift, and just maybe, you can reason with the beast.”

Melena

Jumping up, I stand by the bed, waiting for Malik to get up. He smirks at my eagerness, but he does finally get out of bed, too.

As he slowly walks towards me, I part my lips to suck in more air. It seems he’s always taking my breath away, and I wonder if I’ll ever get used to that. Once he’s standing inches away from me, his eyes rake down my naked body, and when he licks his lips, I already know what’s going through his mind.

Understanding what he’s trying to do, I state, “Distractions won’t work.”

He grins, and then chuckles, as he says, “Can’t blame me for trying.”

Using our telepathy, I softly claim, “It’ll be okay.”

He nods, but I sense his apprehension. He has every right to feel this way, because I know exactly how he feels. The thing is I can’t sense how the wolf feels, as much as I should be able to, which is another reason why he needs to change. If I can sense the wolf better, then maybe, I can help him heal, too.

Watching him closely, I send a rush of comfort and appreciation through our bond, hoping it’ll give him the courage to go through with it. I just have this deep sense that if he changes, things will be alright. Honestly, I worry more about his wolf keeping all of these emotions bottled up, instead of Malik changing.

So, when he sighs deeply, and then his body begins to shake, I know he’s about to change right before my eyes.

As he drops down to his knees, his entire body suddenly changes from man to wolf. It happens so fast that I would’ve missed it, if I had blinked. Thankfully, I watched the entire shift, and I smile widely, as the huge black wolf shakes out his coat, and then looks at me.

“Hi there, big guy.” I instantly feel how much he adores me, and I laugh, as he sends me a flood of protective vibes.

Stepping closer, I hold out my hand for him, hoping that Malik is alright. I sense him, deep within the wolf, so it’s more like he’s being pushed down, so that the wolf can have his turn. It’s so strange to feel the wolf’s presence now that we’re fully bonded, but I know this is the key to fixing this problem.

Finally reaching him, I grin widely, as he meets my outstretched hand. He even lets out a small grunt, as I run my hand down his face, and then down his neck. His fur is so smooth to the touch, and I feel the power behind his form. Making my way back up to his head, I use both of my hands to continue to sooth him. Somehow, I just know that he needs this, and I realize, that I’ll do anything to make him happy.

As he nudges my stomach, I suck in a deep breath, as the wolf shows me what he wants. It’s not words, like how Malik and I communicate, but it’s with images. The meaning behind these few pictures is very clear.

My eyes begin to fill with tears, as I see the wolf’s desire for pups.

This is what he wants more than anything.

A family to call his own.

Not only do I sense how much he needs this, but I also feel the love and utter devotion our little family could have. While I know this is the wolf’s perception of what our family could become, I still fall more in love with every single thing that he’s showing me.

So, when the images suddenly stop, I blink my eyes rapidly, and then bend down in front of him. “One day, we’ll have that perfect family.”

His response is to lick my cheek, and then, he lays his head on my shoulder. Wrapping my arms around him, I suddenly feel totally and utterly complete. It’s like the bond is growing stronger than ever before, and it just enhances every emotion that I sense between us.

After a while, I lean back, and then gaze into the wolf’s bright, green eyes, as I ask, “How about we spend the day together? Just you and I.”

I know his answer is yes, when he licks my cheek once more.

“Okay, big guy. What shall we do first?” I ask, as I stand. It’s so interesting to talk to the wolf, because one would think that he doesn’t fully understand what I’m asking. But then, he simply walks over to the closet, and then brings back a shirt with him.

He holds it carefully between his sharp teeth, and then doesn’t let go, until I grab it. Smirking, I quickly put on Malik’s shirt, and instantly, smell his masculine sent. Once I’m covered to his liking, he gently nudges me towards the kitchen. Following his cues, I stop in front of the fridge, and then realize what he wants from me.

“I’ll eat don’t worry, big guy.”

He sits ever so still, as I begin to make us food, and his presence is so calming. While I cook, I speak to him, like I would with Malik. It’s sort of freeing to be able to talk about everything and anything that’s going through my mind. The wolf just sits still, as he listens, and I actually start to think he does understand more than Malik thought.

It’s clear he’s intelligent by the way he communicates with me, and every single time that he shows me something, it always makes me pause for a moment. I’m not sure if it’s because of our bond is different than the others, or if it’s because he’s The Alpha. Either way, I find that I rather enjoy being able to communicate so easily with him.

Even as I finish cooking, and then make us both a plate, the wolf is always making sure that I’m well cared for. As I eat, I still talk to him, and he just listens to every word that I say. It’s not until I’m finished that he finally decides to eat as well, and I know it’s because he didn’t want to be distracted, while I speak to him. Our bond is unique, and the longer Malik is in wolf form, the more I’m starting to see the full effect of it.

The wolf and I spend the rest of the day in our room, just enjoying and getting to know each other. He listens intently to every word that I utter, and in return, I pet and praise him. I’m not entirely sure how long we stay like this, just enjoying each other, before I begin to realize that I still can’t sense Malik as well as I hoped.

Glancing down at the wolf, his head rests on my stomach, as I contemplate why I can’t sense my mate, like before. He’s still in there with his wolf, but something feels off about it. Running my hand down the wolf’s back, I sigh deeply, wondering if I made a grave mistake.

As if he can sense that something is on my mind, he turns to look at me, and then lets out a small whine to get my full attention. Gazing at this beautiful animal, I let out a sigh, and then ask, “Is Malik in there with you?”

He groans, and then, I actually see Malik. For a moment, I’m so confused by what the wolf is showing me, but then, it finally registers. Malik is in there with the wolf alright, but he’s trapped in some sort of cage.

Sitting up, once the image is gone, I frown, as I ask, “Why do you have him locked in a cage?”

He growls, and then bares his teeth, as the next images filter through my mind. The wolf is showing me why, but he’s going so fast that I can’t keep up. “Wait, slow down a bit.”

The wolf huffs, but thankfully, he tries to show me again, but this time it’s slower. From what I gather, the wolf has felt this way for quite some time. He’s angry, confused, and most importantly, hurt by what Malik has done to him. His perception of the events that led him to me, makes him believe that Malik wants to be rid of him. He also shows me how often Malik fights against him, so he’s done everything in his power to change that.

Once he’s finished showing me everything that he needs to, I run a hand through my hair, and then meet the wolf’s gaze. “This has been going on for a while, hasn’t it?”

His low whine is all of the confirmation that I need.

I don’t know Malik’s side of things, but I have to believe that he wouldn’t purposely treat his wolf this way without reason. Over my long life, I’ve heard many stories of wolves and how unpredictable they can be. It could be possible that Malik’s wolf is simply too strong to control, and he would have to fight his wolf daily just to have some sort of a life.

Maybe, it’s because the wolf is closer to going Rogue than I realized.

Maybe, it’s because of the recent events that has sent the wolf over the edge.

There’s no real answer here without talking directly to Malik. I’m only getting half of the story, and the only way that I know how to fix this, is to talk to him once more. I hate what I’m about to ask of the wolf, but I need to speak to Malik more than ever.

Keeping my voice calm, I ask, “Will you free him, so that I can talk to him?”

The moment my question leaves my lips, the wolf quickly understands. With wide eyes, I watch the wolf, as he suddenly jumps off of the bed, and then stands before me. His eyes glow brighter than ever before, and I know he doesn’t like what I’m asking. His teeth are bared, as he crouches down low, like he’s preparing for an attack.

I know that he’ll never, ever hurt me, and I can still sense how much he wants to protect me. The thing is, who is he trying to protect me from?

Moving to the edge of the bed, I hold his gaze, as I say, “I wouldn’t ask you to do this, if I thought for one second that Malik would suppress you again.” The wolf whines, and I feel his pain, crashing through me. It’s so intense that it steals my breath away, but I have to make him see reason.

“Please, big guy. Let Malik surface, so that we can fix what’s broken.”

With his loud bark, I drop my head, realizing that the wolf isn’t going to give in this easily. “Alright, big guy. You win for now, but we need to go see Sameria. Are you good with that?”

His answer is to yawn, and I shake my head at his dramatics. With a new purpose in mind, I quickly put on some jeans, and then with the wolf following me, I search for Sameria. She’s the only one that fully understands the potion that she created for Malik, so she has to know how to make this right.

The wolf stays close to my side, as I try to figure out where to go in this intricate maze in the den. It’s a shame that Malik didn’t have the chance to show me around earlier, but I know the longer that I’m here, the quicker I’ll find my way.

Thankfully, the wolf is quick to lead me around, and I’m grateful for his guidance. If it were just me alone, I probably would’ve been wandering around for hours, looking for her. However, I know that we’re getting close, when I begin to sense Sameria’s magic close by.

Following her trail, I walk down the hall, and then stop, once I reach a big, open room. Stepping inside, I realize this is like a common area with a small kitchen towards the back. It reminds me of a breakroom that humans use at their workplace, as it’s the only similarities that I have to compare with.

However, the second that I walk further into the room, I quickly realize that Sameria isn’t alone.

My eyes widen, as the wolf huffs, when I see Sameria on the counter, with Reid standing in between her legs. They haven’t noticed me, since they’re so focused on kissing the hell out of each other, so I cough loudly to let them know that I’m here.

Reid instantly jumps away from Sameria, as if they just got caught doing something that they weren’t supposed to be. I try to hold back my grin, as Reid runs a hand through his light brown hair, and then tries to hide his hard cock, bulging in his pants. Sameria looks flustered more than anything, and as I hold her gaze, I notice the longing in her eyes.

I don’t claim to know what’s really going on between them, but if they’re mates, I know they’ll eventually figure it out. The wolf also finds this entire situation hilarious, too. He shows me images of me laughing, and I glance to him for a moment, realizing he’s seen much more than I thought.

Knowing how important this encounter is, I meet Sam’s gaze, as I state, “I’m sorry for interrupting, but I need your help.”

The wolf huffs, like he’s annoyed to even be here, as Reid and Sameria gaze at him with a frown on their faces. “How long has he been in his wolf form?” Sameria asks, and I look at the wolf with dread, churning in my stomach.

“All day. He won’t let Malik take control.”

“This is a fucking disaster,” Reid roughly spits out, and I clench my jaw, hearing the tone of his voice. As I turn my gaze towards him, he glances to his mate, and then claims, “I knew you would end up destroying him.”

“That’s enough, Reid,” I shout, as I see the utter regret and hurt written all over Sam’s face. “No one asked for your help, so if you can’t do your job, then you can fucking leave.”

“Fine, let’s see just how well you handle this problem,” he snaps, and then shakes his head, before making his way out of the room.

At the same time, Sameria jumps off of the counter, and then races after him, as she says, “Reid, just wait a minute.”

The wolf whines low, and I drop down to my knees, as I try to comfort him. Running my hand through his thick and soft fur, I let out a deep sigh. “This is a mess,” I utter to the wolf.

“Reid is right, you know.”

Looking up, I frown, as Sameria walks back into the room with a devastated expression. “No, it’s not, and I don’t ever want to hear you say that again.” As I stand, I make my way over to her, and then take her hands in mine, and then firmly state, “There’s no blame here, so don’t for one second, think otherwise.”

She nods, and then says, “I’m trying, but it’s hard.”

“I know, but Reid is wrong about this, and I know for a fact that Malik would agree.”

Sameria sighs deeply, as she looks at the wolf, and then asks, “What do you need me to do?”

With hope suddenly flowing through me, I step back, and then say, “I’m honestly not sure, but I know that if anyone can fix this, it’s you.”

“How can you have so much faith in me?” She asks with a frown.

“I know, because I trust Malik, and he believes in you, Sameria.” Sensing she needs a little push, I add, “He would’ve never come to you, if he didn’t trust that you could help him. So, I’m asking you to help him once more by reversing any effects of the potion he took.”

Glancing away for a moment, I softly utter, “I thought I had pulled it all out of him, but now, I’m not so sure. There’s more going on here, and I won’t exactly understand without Malik’s input.”

When her hand touches my shoulder, I clench my jaw, before looking at her. Her concern and worry are laced in her green eyes, and I can sense how much she wants to help us. For a moment, she and I have a silent conversation, because no words are needed. She knows how much Malik means to me, and I don’t even know what the pack will do, if they find out about our situation.

“We can’t tell anyone else about this,” she offers, and I nod once, understanding her meaning. “If the pack finds out, they may assume he’s gone Rogue, and that cannot happen.”

“Can Reid be trusted?” It’s a valid question, since he’s done nothing but show me that he can’t. At least, not when I’m involved.

“He wouldn’t betray his Alpha,” Sameria instantly claims, and I hope she’s right.

Deep down, I wonder about that, after Malik told me the story of Reid’s father. Would he try and get Malik out of the way, so that he can become The Alpha? Honestly, it’s a good plan, especially with everything that’s going on now.

If he wants to take his moment, then we’ll find out soon enough.

“I promise to do whatever I can to make this right,” Sameria states with determination in her voice.

“Good. I’ll make sure Malik is with me at all times, and I’ll do my best to keep him away from everyone else.”

Soon after, Sameria quickly leaves the room to get started, and I let out a heavy sigh, hoping that she can come up with a solution. Glancing down, I pet the wolf, wondering why he didn’t have much to say during our exchange.

Deciding that it’s better that he didn’t object, I beckon him to follow me back to our room. The whole way there, apprehension fills me to the point that it makes me question everything.

However, I have to keep believing that Sameria will find a way to save my mate. If not, then we’ll have an even greater problem in front of us. Reaching the door to our room, I look down at the wolf once more, and then, a single thought suddenly crosses my mind.

I’ll kill anyone who tries to hurt my mate, even if that means destroying this entire pack to keep him safe.

Reagan

One week later

There’s something different about the pack, but I haven’t figured out what it is just yet.

As I walk down the halls in the den, I realize that it’s too quiet here, and it’s like there’s a dark cloud, hanging over the entire place. I’ve yet to see any wolves walking around like normal, so I know something must have happened.

I’ve only been gone for a week, and yet, everything has suddenly changed.

At first, I worry that someone died, but I quickly shake that thought away. I can’t let myself think that way, because if they did lose someone, it would be devastating. Surely, if a wolf from the pack passed, I would’ve heard about it, before returning.

So lost in my own thoughts, I don’t even realize where my feet have taken me, until I sense him. Fucking mating bond.

Slowly pushing out a deep breath, as my gaze lands on Nick, I have to remind myself to stay hidden. It’s so hard to do, as I watch him working in the clinic. Being the pack’s healer, I’m sure his job isn’t for the fainthearted, but he seems to hold the position well. When I first realized he was a healer, I thought his position was unnecessary. Being immortal means that we don’t have to fight diseases, and we heal instantly.

However, Nick’s role isn’t for just everyone. His specialties are with the younger pups, and he makes sure to keep them out of harm’s way. Not to mention, he’s the one everyone goes to, when there’s a new baby arriving. As the humans would say, he’s a pediatrician and an OBGYN.

Honestly, this entire encounter with him would be so much easier, if he wasn’t my mate.

Against my better judgement, I step further into the room, and then, his head snaps in my direction. He must sense that I’m here, or how my emotions seem to be all over the place. Maybe, it’s both, and again, I wish that things could be different for us. While I’m full of anger and revenge, he’s kind and gentle.

There’s no way we would work.

However, I can’t deny the strong pull of our mating bond, trying to bring us together. I know he feels it too, as he stops working, and then, walks over by me. The closer he gets, the more my heart begins to race.

Especially, when I notice the want and hunger laced in his brown eyes.

Swallowing hard, I remind myself not to reach forward and touch him, as he stops inches away from me. I still wonder how it’s possible that he can sense me, while I’m under my cloaking spell, but in this moment, it’s only him and I.

For just a moment, I let myself wonder, as I imagine what it would be like to drop the spell, and then let him have his way with me. I can see it so clearly that I lick my lips, as I picture him reaching for me, and then pulling me in close. My stomach clenches with want, as he hovers right over my lips, and then kisses me, like he needs me to survive.

My imagination is so strong that I have to suck in a deep breath to calm myself, because I know this will never happen. Shaking my head, I push away the image of him roughly touching me, and the way it would feel being in his arms.

It was a huge mistake on my part to even consider anything happening between us, so I step back, hoping to end this connection from growing. Now more than ever, I need to find a way to break a mating bond, because this is becoming too much to bear. I can’t keep going with my plans, and then, come here to lust after my mate.

Backing out into the hallway, I hold his gaze, and I start to think that I’ve gotten off without a hitch. But then, Nick frowns, as he states, “I know you’re here.”

Clenching my jaw tight, I force the words not to come out. If he were to reach out and touch me, then my spell would be broken, and the same goes, if I utter a single word. This spell only keeps me hidden, while I’m silent and no one bothers me.

“Whoever you are, please show yourself,” he claims in a rough voice.

My heart literally feels as if it’s shattering into a million pieces, as the hurt and confusion cross his handsome face, and then, I realize that I can’t take it anymore. Just as I turn around, intending on leaving him behind once more, he growls loudly. The sound makes me stop in my tracks, and I glance over my shoulder, wondering what he’s going to do.

“I know there’s someone here, and that I’m not going crazy,” he says, but it’s like he’s speaking to himself. “I’m not fucking going mad.”

This is pointless.

I can’t keep doing this to him, so I turn back around, and then begin to walk down the hall. It’s only when I hear him utter, “Please, don’t go.” That I suddenly stop, and then quickly turn around.

As he steps out into the hallway, I stay exactly where I am, hoping I can fight the pull once more. But then, he sighs deeply, and before I realize what he’s doing, he shifts. My eyes widen, as I see him in his wolf form, and it takes every single thing inside of me not to go to him.

Instead, I gaze at the silvery, white wolf. He’s utterly magnificent, and I sense his power, radiating off of him. Not to mention, I just know that if I were to run my hands through his fur, it would be soft and silky at the same time.

Just as I start to give into the pull, I hear footsteps, coming from behind me. The wolf also hears it, since he growls low, and then crouches down, as if whoever is approaching is a threat. Frowning, I slowly turn my head towards the sound, as it comes closer, and then surprise instantly fills me, as I see Alrick and Reid going into a room together.

They seem to be up to something, so I decide to move closer that way I can find out for myself. Forgetting all about the wolf, I make my way towards the room they went into, and then stand outside of the door. Even if they can’t see or sense me, it’s best to be careful, especially, when it comes to that Elder.

There’s something about him that makes my hackles raise, and I’ve learned to trust my instincts.

“You’re certain that he’s going Rogue,” Alrick asks Reid, and I frown, because I have no idea what he’s talking about.

“I’m sure. I’ve seen it for myself.”

Sensing someone behind me, I jerk my gaze back, and then shake my head, when I see the wolf, standing nearby. Hoping he understands to stay quiet, I turn my attention back to the wolves inside of the room.

“Then you know what we must do.”

Reid huffs out a breath, and then claims, “I know, but it’s Malik, Alrick. He’s our Alpha.”

“I understand your hesitation, but he cannot be allowed to keep The Alpha position, if he’s gone Rogue.” Jerking my head back towards the wolf, as he growls low, I narrow my eyes at him, hoping he stops making so much noise. Right as I’m about to turn around, I notice that both of his ears are laid back on his head.

He must understand what’s going on.

“There has to be another way,” Reid states, stealing my attention, and I really wonder if he wants there to be another option.

“I know that you want that to be true, but there isn’t, Reid. We must do what’s right to protect the pack.” Taking a chance, I lean over the doorframe without touching it, so that I can look inside of the room. The moment that I do, I clench my jaw, as Reid nods. “Good. We must inform the other Elders of our plan.”

That fucking asshole.

Moving away from the door, I hover against the wall, as everything begins to make sense. Something has happened to Malik, and now, Alrick and Reid are conspiring against him. I honestly feel sorry for them, because when Melena finds out what they’re doing, they’ll pay for it.

Dearly.

Just as that thought crosses my mind, I realize that someone needs to go warn her of what’s coming. Seeing as I’m unable, I glance towards the wolf still standing by me. I can’t show myself just yet, because I still don’t fully trust this pack. Not to mention, what I did to Luna would definitely get me killed. If these two wolves are so ready to take out their Alpha, what would that mean for me? This encounter just reminds me to trust only myself, so I need to figure out another plan.

I have a hunch that the wolf knows exactly what just happened, and knowing how he acted, while Reid and Alrick were talking, I wonder if Nick can be the one to warn Melena. At this point, I don’t have anything to lose, because I’ll still be protected by the cloaking spell. I just hope I can get the wolf to shift, once we reach Melena. He followed me once before, so surely, he’ll do it again.

Deciding on my course of action, I start walking down the hall, hoping this plan actually works. Once I reach the end of the hallway, I look back towards the wolf, and thankfully, he quickly follows me. Sighing in relief, I quickly and quietly make my way towards Melena and Malik’s room. If they’re not there, then I’ll find them.

They need to prepare for what’s coming.

If Reid and Alrick have their way, then it could jeopardize not only the pack, but the entire world, too. Luna’s vision was crystal clear.

Melena and Malik are the pair that can save us.

Sure, Melena is powerful, and she might be the sole savior, but if anything happens to her mate, all bets are off. I’ve seen what she can do, when she’s on the defense, and I honestly don’t think The Elder realizes this. It could be that he does understand, but he doesn’t give a damn about anyone else, except his own agenda. I just hope that’s not the case.

With a sense of urgency racing through me, I move faster through the den, needing to get to Melena, as soon as possible. Thankfully, the wolf and I don’t run into anyone, as we pass through the hallways, leading to their room.

When we make it to our destination, I stare at the door, wondering how I’m going to get Nick to shift. I can’t drop my spell, and I can’t speak either. There has to be a way for me to get him to understand what’s needed without me compromising myself at the same time.

Feeling the air change around me, I frown, and then turn around. My mouth hangs open, as I see Nick in all his naked glory, just standing proudly outside of Melena and Malik’s room.

I guess, I shouldn’t have worried about getting him to change.

However, I face a new problem, since I get a very good look at him. I thought he was exquisite before, but now, I literally have no words. He’s rendered me thoughtless with just his body, and I already know it’ll be much harder to resist him now.

My entire body is screaming at me to reach out and run my hands down his muscular chest, and then down his cut abs. The thing is I wouldn’t stop there. No, I would take my time, getting my fill of him. I see it so perfectly laid out in my mind what I would do next to him, and the very thought of his hard and thick cock, sliding inside of my mouth, makes my pussy clench with the need to be filled.

Before I get too lost in lust, I feel his gaze on me. “Whoever you are, thank you.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me, and when he knocks on the door, I take my chance and get the fuck away from him, before I do something that’ll destroy me forever.

Melena

Laying on the bed, I pet the wolf, as I make a plan, just in case this situation with Malik doesn’t resolve itself with Sameria’s new potion.

For the past week, I’ve done my best to keep Malik hidden, because the pack can’t see him like this. If they do, then it could spike their fear even higher in these uncertain times, and that cannot happen. I shouldn’t want to deceive them, but then again, I’m more worried about what they’ll want to do to Malik.

Luna told me all about what they did to her, when she first arrived, and how the pack thought she had something to do with a pup that went missing.

I’ve enjoyed her company more than I care to admit, because being secluded again, brings up the time that I was in The Facility. However, if she hadn’t told me that story, then I would’ve already left the room, placing Malik right into their hands.

As much as I hate reliving my time at The Facility, I’ll do it for my mate.

I’m still on the fence of what I should do about the wolf still refusing to allow Malik to take control. I don’t really know how long Malik can last inside of the wolf without surfacing. Especially, since the wolf has shown me that Malik is still locked away. It makes me worry about if he will be the same, if he ever comes out of this.

Letting my head fall back, I gaze up at the ceiling, contemplating if Malik and I should just leave. It might be safer for him, if we do so, but what about Luna’s vision? Everyone here thinks I’m some sort of fucking savior, so I highly doubt they’ll just leave me alone, if I were to go. The fact is, I don’t know these wolves well enough to make a sound decision. There are too many variables that could go wrong, and I don’t want to make the wrong choice.

The wolf lets out a loud and long whine, as I sit up, and then, I turn to gaze at him. Rubbing him gently, I state, “I’m okay, I promise.”

He must sense how much stress I’m under, and how worried I am about this entire situation. It would be so much easier, if the wolf would just let Malik come back to me.

It’s getting harder each day without him by my side.

I fear, if he doesn’t come back soon, the darkness inside of me will consume me. Even now, I feel its claws, gripping me right down to my soul, and I know Malik is the only one that can keep it at bay.

I need him to come back to me.

Not only for my sake, but for everyone else’s, too.

I honestly don’t even want to think about what might happen, if I give into this dark part inside of me. When I was being held at The Facility, things were different, because I had no hope of ever getting out. But then, Malik came, and he saved me from that hell. I owe him too much to just give up now, so I make a promise to keep fighting. Even if this darkness is tempting and so strong, I won’t ever stop fighting against it.

Just as I’m about to lay back down beside the wolf, a knock sounds at the door. My gaze instantly snaps towards it, as the wolf growls, and then jumps off of the bed. Following behind him, my stomach drops, thinking that whoever is at the door is going to hurt Malik.

“Melena, it’s me,” Nick calls out, and I let out a deep sigh in relief.

The wolf sighs and then groans, as if he’s annoyed Nick is interrupting his peaceful rest. Shaking my head, I realize the wolf can be very dramatic at times. I find it interesting that he and Malik are a lot alike, but at the same time, they’re so different.

“Melena, are you in there?”

Moving closer to the door, I slowly open it, making sure it’s Nick and only him. The moment I see the look on his face, I ask, “What is it?”

“Can I come in? It’s kind of cold out here.”

Even though I know I shouldn’t glance down, I do anyway, and then, I quickly shut my eyes, once I notice he’s completely naked. “Sorry, I shifted earlier. Mind if I borrow a robe or something?”

Opening the door wider for him, I claim, “Yes, please cover up.”

He chuckles, and then instantly stops, when the wolf growls in his direction. Holding out my hand, I beckon the wolf to come to me, so that he doesn’t try and take a bite out of Nick. As I shut the door, I hear Nick returning, but I don’t dare turn around just yet. He’s handsome in his own way, but he holds nothing compared to my mate.

“I’m covered now,” Nick finally states, and I sigh, as I turn around to face him.

When I get a good look at him, I let out a loud laugh, as I notice he’s wearing my pink, fluffy robe. “Don’t laugh. It’s the only thing I could find in such a rush.”

Bending down, I hold myself up on my knees, as a wave of laughter races through me. Honestly, I needed this, but I do get a handle over myself after a while. “I’m sorry, but that’s some funny shit.”

He grins, and then shakes his head, as he asks, “You’re never going to forget this, are you?”

“Not a chance,” I declare, as the wolf walks over by Nick. At first, I think nothing of it, but then, the wolf nips him on his hand.

“What the hell, Malik?” Nick asks, as he shakes out his hand, and I frown, wondering what the wolf is thinking.

As he glances back to me, I hold his gaze, and then, he shows me why he bit Nick. The images are of a naked Nick, and then of me laughing. Rolling my eyes, I calmly say, “He’s jealous.”

The wolf looks at Nick one final time, and then growls at him, before he makes his way back to me. Running my hand down his head, I send a rush of love and appreciation to him, hoping he knows that he has nothing to worry about. So lost in keeping the wolf calm, I completely forget all about Nick for a moment. It’s not until he clears his throat that I jerk my gaze up.

“Why are you here, Nick?”

His head drops, and I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, as he claims, “They know that Malik is still in wolf form.”

“Who knows?”

Sameria, Reid, Luna, Ryker, and Nick are the only ones that knew, outside of myself. Sameria asked to bring Nick in to see if he had any ideas on how she could perfect her potion. It made sense, because Nick is the pack’s healer, and I trust him, and Luna asked to tell Ryker, since he’s her mate. I knew he’d find out eventually, since it’s nearly impossible to keep something from your mate, and I also thought it would be a good idea to have another ally just in case things go south.

When he doesn’t answer me, I ask again, “Who knows, Nick?”

“Alrick.”

Sighing deeply, I do my best to keep my anger in check. For some reason, that wolf just gets under my skin. “How did he find out?”

As his gaze finds mine, he states, “Reid told him. They were hiding in a room, and they were talking about getting rid of Malik.”

A surge of rage almost overtakes me, and the wolf leans into me, as if he’s trying to calm me down. If it weren’t for that simple touch, I know I would’ve found both wolves, and then ended their lives.

No one threatens my mate.

Pushing down my sudden need to kill them, I ask, “Do you know where Sameria is right now?” With his confused gaze, I add, “I need to find her, and ask her if the potion is ready. If we can give it to Malik now, then there won’t be a need for Alrick and Reid to go through with their plans.” Not to mention, it just might save their lives.

“What if it’s not ready?”

Letting out a deep sigh, I claim, “We’ll cross that bridge, when we get there.” Looking down at my mate, I softly state, “We’re going to go find Sam.”

“I’ll go with you, too,” Nick offers somberly, as if he knows how bad things are getting for us.

Nodding, I say, “Good. I don’t think Malik will mind you borrowing some of his clothes, so you can just catch up with us.”

With his curt nod, I quickly turn around, and then with the wolf by my side, I make my way to find Sameria. I just hope that Reid isn’t with her, because when I’m finished with him, there might not be anything left. I don’t allow any guilt about killing Sam’s mate fill my mind, because there’s no time to second guess myself.

Anger and rage unlike anything I’ve ever felt before comes over me in waves, and I have to keep reminding myself to stay calm. It’s just because Reid’s betrayal isn’t sitting well with me, especially, since he’s The Beta. He should be trying to protect his Alpha, not hiding in fucking rooms, planning to exile or kill him.

I can’t even think about that fucking Elder right now.

I’m not the slightest bit shocked at the direction of my thoughts, because I won’t just stand by and let them do this to Malik. Most importantly, he’s not even Rogue. Malik, the man, is still inside of the wolf. Not to mention, Rogue’s are considered to have no human trace left inside of them, and they will kill anyone that gets in their way.

My mate is far from that.

As we reach the assembly room, I glance down at the wolf, hoping he truly understands how dire this situation is turning into. If he would just let Malik come back, then all of this bullshit will end.

“Melena, I was just coming to find you.”

Snapping my gaze up, I let out a sigh in relief, as I see Sameria with Luna right on her heels. “Thank goodness. Look, I need that potion now.”

She frowns deeply, as Luna looks between us, and then to the wolf, before Sameria asks, “Has something changed?”

“You could say that.” Running a hand through my hair, I’m not sure how to tell her what her mate has done.

“Melena, please tell me,” she pleads, and I know that I don’t have a choice, but to tell her.

Glancing down at her hand, I notice the yellow potion. It’s glowing so brightly, and I have to hope that it’ll work. “First, tell me that will work,” I say, as I point to the potion.

“Yeah, it should. In theory, that is. I’ve never made this type of potion before, but I used all of the special herbs to create it.” She stops for a moment, as she looks at the potion. She keeps her gaze on it for a long while, before she softly utters, “There’s only one dose.”

My eyes widen, because if that’s the case, then this potion is invaluable. “Why only one?”

“The herbs I had to use, they’re so rare, and it was difficult to find them as it is.” I nod, understanding just how dire things are becoming. “Now, will you tell me what’s going on?”

The wolf is oddly quiet, but I don’t think much of it, as I state, “Reid went to Alrick. They’re planning to stand against Malik.”

Sameria’s eyes widen, as she realizes what her mate has done, and what that could mean for him. “He wouldn’t,” she whispers, and I don’t have it in me to convince her that it’s true.

“We shouldn’t be here alone,” Luna suddenly says, and it spikes my urgency to give Malik the potion. “Ryker will be here soon for backup,” she adds, and I nod my thanks.

I have a feeling that we’re going to need his help.

As Luna stands closer by Sameria, the wolf whines low, and I bend down, as I say, “It’s alright. I won’t let anything happen to you.” When he pushes his nose in the direction of the potion, I finally understand what’s going through his mind.

Petting him gently, I state, “I swear it won’t lock you away again, but I need you to take it, so that Malik can surface. Alrick and Reid are coming for you, so we need to do this now.”

Just to be sure that he completely and utterly understands what I’m saying to him, I send him images, using our telepathy. In the images, I clearly point out that Reid and Alrick have betrayed him, and that they’re coming for him at any moment. His response doesn’t shock me one bit. He howls so loud, that it makes me cringe, and then, he bares his teeth, as if he’s ready for a fight.

As I stand, Ryker and Nick walk into the room. Ryker instantly goes to his mate, and she quickly fills him in. Knowing that we have some extra help, if things turn from bad to horrible, I turn back towards Sameria, who looks completely heartbroken.

Laying a hand on her shoulder, she asks, “Why would he do this?”

Understanding her pain, I say, “I wish I knew. Maybe, we can ask him, once all of this is over.”

Right as she frowns, I hear, “Why don’t you ask him now?”

Stepping closer to the wolf, as he growls, I lock gazes with Alrick, hating the son of a bitch. “You have some nerve coming here.”

“Why is that? I’m an Elder, and this is my home,” he states calmly, as Reid walks up beside him. “It’s my place to make sure the laws of our pack are upheld, and that this Rogue is punished accordingly.”

“Like hell you will,” I spit out, feeling my magic starting to surge inside of me. Not only that, but I notice how Reid is glancing back and forth between Sameria and Alrick. I can’t be for sure, but I think he’s deciding, which side he needs to be on.

Just as I’m about to ask him, Sameria asks, “How could you do this, Reid? This is Malik, our Alpha, and you would stand beside an Elder instead?”

Shaking my head, as he drops his, I should’ve known he was a fucking coward. Even in the face of his betrayal, he doesn’t even have the balls to stand up and say why he did it.

“Enough of this. You will hand Malik over, so that we can deal with this.”

“Over my dead body,” I declare through clenched teeth.

The moment I utter those words, I realize all of The Enforcers have entered the room. Looking to them now, I claim, “Malik is still here, and I can promise you that he’s not Rogue. What this so-called Elder is doing is treason. His betrayal is out of fear of the unknown, so I ask you all now. Will you stand with him, or will you stand by your Alpha?”

It’s no surprise at all, when every single one of The Enforcers instantly move to stand behind Malik and I. Smirking, I glance at Alrick, seeing his face turning red with anger. “Careful, Alrick. Your true self is starting to show.”

Holding his gaze, I just hope this asshole tries to challenge me. I sense that he wants to just to prove that he can, but he must know he’ll lose. At the same time, I notice Reid slowly moving closer to Sameria, and before I can say anything about it, Luna suddenly gasps out loud. Ryker calls out to her, as she begins to fall, and then Sameria, Ryker, and I all reach forward to catch her, before she hits the ground.

Right as Ryker catches his mate, I quickly realize that Sameria doesn’t have the potion anymore. As I scan the room for it, I instantly stop, when I notice who caught it, before it could hit the ground. The wolf growls low in warning, as I hold Reid’s gaze, and I know that if I can’t get through to him, he’ll destroy it.

If he drops the potion, he’ll take away our only hope of getting Malik back.

Holding out my hand, I keep my voice low and calm, as I utter, “Reid, give that to me.”

His dark gaze locks with mine, as he asks, “What is it?”

My eyes dart to Sameria, and I slightly shake my head, when I notice she’s about to answer him. “It’s to help Malik.”

“Because he’s Rogue,” he adds, and I sigh, realizing I’m losing him.

“No, he’s not, Reid. Malik is still in there with his wolf.” Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I try to get a handle over the anger rushing forward, and then mixing with my magic. It’s so hard to keep myself in check, because all of this is his fault. However, I have a feeling that if I were to say that, he would shatter the vial just out of spite.

“Ask yourself this,” I begin, hoping that this will be proof enough for him. “Rogues are known to have no humanity left inside of them, and they’ll attack anyone for no reason whatsoever. Has Malik done that? He hasn’t showed anyone any signs of what a Rogue has before, and I still feel him.”

“The witch will say anything to save her mate,” Alrick states in a low voice, and I clench my jaw so hard that it causes me pain. “Don’t let her trick you, Reid.”

“Think about it, Reid. For once, stop listening to what everyone else is telling you, and listen to your own wolf. Listen to your instincts and let it guide you to the truth.”

Watching him now, I hold onto the small amount of hope that I have that he’ll listen to me. He has to, because the other option isn’t acceptable. As he glances to Alrick, and then to his own mate, I honestly don’t know what else to say to convince him of the truth.

So, when he drops his gaze down at the potion, my heart pounds in my chest, as the hope I have slowly dies. If he tries to destroy that potion, I’ll have no option but to kill him. While I don’t relish the idea of doing so, he’ll give me no choice. I can’t lose my mate no matter the cost.

Just as I’m readying a deadly boost of magic, intending on using it on him, he slowly turns towards Sameria, and then he states, “Give it to him. If he’s not Rogue, then he’ll shift.”

Letting out a rush of air, I let go of the magic, as Sameria takes the vial from him. When she looks at me for direction, I nod, and then she slowly approaches the wolf. Before she can open the vial, Alrick shouts, “Do not give him that!”

“You’ll do well to shut the fuck up, and stay the hell out of the way,” I snap, as I look into his golden eyes, realizing how familiar his eyes seem, while daring him to try and stop Sameria.

After a moment of intense tension, he shakes his head, accepting his defeat. Glancing back to Sam, I utter, “It’s okay. Give it to him.”

With her nod, she drops down on her knees, and then opens the vial. The moment she brings it closer to the wolf, I send him reassurance that he’ll be okay. However, the wolf has other plans in mind.

I quickly realize something isn’t right, when he barks, and then growls at Sameria. Reid instantly pulls her away from him, like he’s trying to protect her. Losing sight of the potion in the commotion, another wave of rage flows through me. At the same time, Alrick begins to laugh loudly, which makes my anger increase tenfold.

“It seems your mate is a lot smarter than he looks.”

“Fuck you, Alrick.” I spit, hoping he feels the utter disgust I have for him. Looking at the wolf, I use our telepathy to ask him why he refused to trust me.

His response almost brings me to tears.

It’s Malik speaking to me, not the wolf.

“I don’t need it, regina meis.”

“Why not? I don’t understand, Malik.”

“He needs to feel safe again, Melena. That potion won’t work anyway, because there’s no effects of the other potion left inside of me.”

Frowning, it takes me a moment to understand what he means. When I do, I simply nod, because this is what my mate wants. Now, I fully comprehend how the wolf and the man work within. They’re coexisting inside one another, and their relationship is built on trust and a bit of magic. Right now, the wolf doesn’t trust Malik anymore. The only way Malik can return is if the wolf finds a way to forgive Malik for what he had to do.

Feeling eyes on me, I look up, and then realize every single wolf is gazing at me. Even Ryker, who’s holding his mate close to his chest, has his eyes on me, like they’re waiting for something. I don’t get the chance to ponder what all of this means, or to let them know that Malik is speaking to me clearly, because Alrick begins clapping and has a wide grin on his face.

“Thank you for showing everyone just how unreliable our Alpha can be. This isn’t the first time he’s led the pack astray, but it will be the last.”

Feeling the rush of anger from the wolf, it only fuels mine in return. Unable to hold back my burning rage, I completely lose it. Using my powers, I push my hand forward, and then, send a pulse of it towards Alrick. It instantly sends him flying across the room, but I don’t stop there.

Advancing forward, I angrily state, “That is your Alpha. He’s given up everything to lead and protect you, and this is how you repay him? You dare defy him, betray him, and then think I’ll allow you to get away with it?”

As he tries to get up off of the ground, I force him back down, using my magic. “You’ve crossed the line, Alrick, and now, I’m going to make you pay.”

Forgetting all about who’s in the room with me, I take my anger out on Alrick, wishing he would try and fight back. It’s like he’s not even trying, as I force him down again and again. Needing him to fight harder, I use my hand to grip around his throat, thinking that he’ll at least show me he wants to live. With so much magic flowing through my veins, I’m able to pick him up off of the floor with ease.

Holding him up, so that everyone can see his utter disappointment in a challenge, and most of all, his weakness, I claim, “Submit or die.” The wolf urges me on, because his need for The Elder to submit to his will is so strong. It adds to my own power, like the wolf is lending me his magic as well.

“I’ll never submit to you,” Alrick barely manages to speak after a few moments, and I smile, knowing he’s pushing me to my breaking point. He must know that I’ll kill him, if it comes down to it.

Tightening my hold, I ignore the mumbles of The Enforcers. “Submit or die,” I shout again, because deep down, I don’t want to kill him. However, I know that I might very well have to, since he’s giving me no other choice.

While the darkness will enjoy it, I don’t want to become this person. If I take his life, it’ll only strengthen the darkness that lies in wait.

Clenching my jaw, when his face begins to turn blue, I lower him down to his knees. Keeping my hold around his throat, I lean in close, as he states, “Do it. Do it, then they’ll see you for who you really are.”

Before I get the chance to respond, I sense the wolf walking towards us. Glancing to him, I smirk, seeing his teeth bared. He only stops, once he’s inches away from Alrick’s face, and it’s clear he’s afraid. I can feel his fear, coming off of him in waves, and the sick part about it, is that I’m enjoying it.

I know that I shouldn’t be feeling this way, but I know it’s only because the wolf is feeling it, too. Whatever the wolf feels, it only heightens my own emotions as well, and it’s clear the wolf is out for blood.

As Alrick glances between the wolf, and then to me, I state one final time, “Submit or die.”

For the longest time, I wonder if he’s going to make us choose for him. But then, he sags forward, and then, I let him go, once I hear him mumble, “I yield.”

He flops down on the floor, looking so pathetic, as I quickly step back. Now that he’s submitted, I look at the others, standing nearby. I stare into their eyes, as the events of what I just did rush through me. I attacked an Elder in front of them, and then, I made him submit to me. I can’t be sure, but the longer I stare at them all, I sense their fear.

It seems that I didn’t have to kill anyone to show them who I really am.

No matter what I’ve done to save my own mate, they still gaze at me, like I’m the monster.

Slowly backing away, as regret and my own fear of what I’m capable of flow through me, the wolf lets out a whine, trying to get my attention. The thing is I finally understand why the wolves were so against protecting witches anymore. I see it so clearly now, as I look at them with their frightened gazes. To them, I’m a monster, and I’m incapable of controlling myself, even though, I had full control over my powers.

“They see who you are now,” Alrick claims, and I cut my gaze to him. “Deny it all you want, Melena, but you’re just like all of the other power hungry witches.”

“You know nothing about me,” I sneer, wishing I could kill him. However, I hold back, because the last thing I want is to prove him right.

He smirks, as if he knows something that I don’t, and then states, “They’ll never accept you, because of what you are.”

All of the insecurities about what I am, hits me at full force, because in a way, he’s right. I’ve always felt like an outcast, because of how powerful I am, and now, Alrick is trying to use that against me. While I know and understand this, it still doesn’t stop my own mind from trying to make these thoughts even more present.

Before I realize what the wolf is doing, he growls, and then crouches down low, readying for an attack. I see his anger and utter disgust for Alrick, and how badly he wants to make him pay for hurting me. He doesn’t care about what Alrick tried to do to him, because he’s focused on me and only me.

Right as he’s going to rip out Alrick’s throat, I yell, “Malik, no!”

Thankfully, he stops right before he has the chance to kill him, but it was close. The wolf’s teeth are inches away from Alrick’s skin, and if I hadn’t stopped him, I know he would’ve ended his life.

“He yielded, so he lives.” Looking down, I catch Alrick’s wide eyes, as the wolf slowly moves away. “For now, anyway,” I add, leaving the warning in the air.

As the wolf reaches my side, I lay my hand on him, needing to touch him. Sucking in a deep breath, I force down my own fear of what I’ll see, once I glance up. The moment that I do so, I notice everyone is still staring at me, like they don’t know who I am.

Honestly, they don’t.

No one understands who or what I really am, and that terrifies me, because I don’t know it either.

Sensing the wolf’s worry, I glance at him, and then hold his green eyes for a moment. I silently beg for Malik to surface, because right now, I need him more than I ever have before. Unfortunately, he’s gone quiet again, and my chest clenches, as I notice the wolf has locked him away once more.

In a way, I’m all alone, and I don’t know how to handle it.

Needing an escape, I turn around without a single word, and then with the wolf by my side, we leave them behind.

Malik

Leaning back against the cage, that the wolf has placed me in, I let out a sigh of frustration. I can sense Melena’s need to be near me, and how much she’s hurting. While I know she did what she had to, she still feels as though no one understands her.

She feels alone, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

I’ve done everything that I know how to do in order to get the wolf to see reason, but he’s still so angry with me. I fear that he’ll never allow me to surface, and I just can’t sit by and let this keep happening. Not to mention, just knowing how much my mate needs me right now is enough to drive me insane.

When I first realized what the wolf had done to me, as I shifted, I fought so hard against him. But then, I finally understood why he did this to me. Every single time that I remember what I did to him, it just reminds me that I do deserve this type of hell. I never wanted to hurt my companion, but it was necessary. If I hadn’t used that potion, he would’ve put us both in danger, while I was undercover at The Facility. My wolf isn’t known for his patience, and at times, he reacts before thinking.

If he had his way, then Melena and I both would be stuck in that fucking place.

I just have to figure out a way to make him see this, too.

Thankfully, now I can see and hear Melena, unlike before. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was scared shitless, when I woke up in this fucking cage, and I had no idea where my mate was. But now, the wolf allows me to see and hear everything that’s going on.

I’m still shocked that he let me speak to her earlier.

However, as I gaze at my beautiful mate through the wolf’s eyes, sitting on a boulder outside close by a waterfall, I realize that I have to continue fighting the wolf. Even now, I feel every single thing she is, and it just makes me hate my own choices that have led me to this point.

So, when the wolf breathes in deep, and I scent her tears, my chest clenches tight, and it makes me realize that I need to fight harder than I ever have before. For her. Knowing how much she needs me and not the wolf, I stand inside of the cage, and then call out to him. It takes him a while to appear to me, and as he walks towards the cage, I bend down, so that I can gaze into his eyes.

“You have to let me go,” I plead, hoping that this time, he’ll actually listen. When he growls at me, I state, “She needs me, not you. Don’t you see? Look at her, just look.”

When he turns his head, I know he’s doing what I’m asking. Licking my lips, as I sense his pain, I utter, “I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be, but you can’t keep me here forever. Our mate needs the both of us, but right now, she needs me more.”

Sliding down, I sit close to the bars of the cage, as I claim, “I understand why you’ve placed me here, and I don’t blame you. What I did to you … I know it broke your trust in me.” Glancing away, the guilt and shame rushing through me is almost too much to handle. However, I have to get him to see how much I regret my choices that led up to this point.

Clenching my jaw, I focus on the wolf intently, and then say, “You have every right to never let me out of this cage, and I wouldn’t blame you for one second. The thing is we need to find our way again, so that we can both be there for our mate. She needs the both of us for very different reasons, and I know you know that.” Losing some of my patience, I snap, “Why else would I tell you not to take that potion, if I wasn’t looking out for you?”

I knew the moment Melena gave us that potion, the wolf’s trust in me would never return. So, I did the only thing that I knew, and screamed for him not to take it. While I trust my mate and Sameria with my life, I knew the wolf’s trust in me was too important. Even if it doesn’t matter now, I have to think that it’ll make some sort of a difference one day.

As the wolf huffs out a breath, he glances back, like he’s searching for Melena. Taking my chance, I state, “I know you feel her now, and how much her entire body craves mine. While she needs you for protection and strength, she needs me to love and care for her.” When he turns his gaze back to me, I add, “I’m not asking to be free for me, but for her. If anything, trust that, because we both know, I’ll do whatever I need to for her.”

For a moment, I wonder if all of this is pointless. The wolf doesn’t seem to care about what I’m saying, especially, as he sits down, and then just stares at me. I know my window of convincing him to let me go is running out, so I try once more to ease his mind.

“I vow to never hurt or betray your trust again. We’ll find our way together once more, my friend. We’re meant to coexist together, but not like this. We’re stronger together, so that means we’ll be able to destroy anyone that gets in our way.”

Moving to my knees, I hold the bars, as I quickly add, “Alrick won’t stop trying to take The Alpha position away from us, and I need you, so that I may become a better leader. We need to prove to him and to the entire pack that we’re what they need to survive this darkness that’s coming.”

Hearing Melena’s cries of sorrow, I jerk my head in the direction of the sound. Her pain crashes through me, and all I want is to hold her close to me, while I comfort her, until I find a way to take her pain away.

However, it seems I’m destined to sit here, while my mate cries out my name, begging me to come back to her. The wolf has yet to move, and I have a feeling he’s making me experience this moment for a reason. Maybe, it’s a form of punishment, so I don’t utter a single word. At this point, I’ve said all I know to make him see reason, and if this won’t make him change his mind, nothing else will.

I’ve always known that the wolf was stubborn, and at times, uncompromising. Somehow, I lost my way at remembering that he’s a part of me too, and I regret that most of all. I’ve forgotten that the wolf has wants and needs too, just as much as I do.

As I start to fully believe I’ll be stuck in here forever, the cage suddenly disappears. At first, I don’t fully understand what’s going on, but then, I look at the wolf still sitting in front of me. Letting out a heavy sigh, I slowly move forward, until I’m only a few inches away from him.

Reaching up, I run my hand through his thick, dark coat, making sure he understands how much I appreciate a second chance. Using my other hand, I cup his face, as I lean down, and then place my head onto his. As he lets out a deep sigh, I claim, “I’ll do everything in my power to make this up to you. Everything I do from here on out, I’ll remember this moment, because it’ll remind me to never take you for granted again.”

Once the promise is spoken, the wolf licks my cheek, and then, I’m suddenly laying outside on the ground. It takes me a few moments to realize what’s going on, and then, I grin widely, as soon as I figure it out.

The wolf set me free.

Closing my eyes, I thank the wolf, and then, I sense Melena. Snapping my eyes open, I instantly find her, sitting all alone, and the sight makes my heart break. She seems so small and a little broken, as she sits with her legs close to her chest. Each sound of her cries cuts me down to my soul, and I realize how much I fucked up with her, too.

If I hadn’t been so careless with my wolf, then she wouldn’t have had to endure all of this alone.

Going to her, I push down the awkwardness of being on two legs again. Nothing else matters, but getting to her, and then, making sure she knows that I’m here for her. The moment I reach her, I gently lay a hand on her shoulder, as I utter, “Regina meis.”

She quickly snaps her gaze to me, and her eyes widen, as if she can’t fully believe that I’m here. Caressing her cheek, I use my thumb to wipe away her tears, as I claim, “I’m really here, and I’m not going anywhere ever again.”

“I thought I’d never see you again,” she says with fresh tears, rolling down her face.

Wiping them away, as soon as they fall, I state, “I know, and for that, I’m so sorry. I tried and fought so hard to come back to you.”

As a small cry leaves her lips, she falls against my chest, and then wraps her arms around my waist. Holding her tightly, I run my hand through her soft, blonde locks, as all of her pain and sorrows break free. The instant I feel what she is, I have to suck in a deep breath, as it rushes through me, like a tidal wave.

I honestly don’t know how she’s able to stay so strong, because what I’m sensing from her, it’s too much for one person to handle. I know that she’s been through so much in her life, but in this moment, she’s just a woman that’s on the verge of losing herself.

The moment I realize this, I sense something else deep inside of her. Frowning, as I try to figure out what it is, I hold her closer. I’ve never experienced anything like this before, so it takes me a long while, before I’m finally able to put a name to what this force is.

It’s a dark presence that’s attached itself to her soul.

Even now, I sense it trying its hardest to break free, and then take over her completely.

Before I get a chance to ask her what this is, I feel her hands slowly sliding up and down my back and sides. Leaning back, I suck in a deep breath, realizing her sadness is now being replaced with something more carnal.

Standing still, as her delicate, small hands run down my stomach, I use mine to tilt her head up. Once her golden gaze lands on me, I state, “I’m really here, Melena.”

She nods, and then roughly says, “I need you, Malik. I need you to claim and mark me again. Remind me that I’m yours.”

My cock jumps, hearing the lust and desire laced in her voice. I can’t deny her anything, especially, as the wolf realizes how much she needs his brand, too. It’s like it’s all he can think about now, which pushes me into action. I sense how much she needs this, so for now, I’ll give her what she craves. Afterwards, I’ll whisper sweet nothings in her ear, as she leans on me for support.

Sliding my hand into her hair, I grip it, and then, I pull her up. Closing the distance between us, I place my lips over hers. Devouring her how I want, I relish the feel of her, and everything about her. As I dip my tongue inside of her sweet mouth, my cock jumps, and then, my hunger for her spikes, when she lets out a throaty moan.

With my other hand, I move it down, and then, I slide it underneath her shirt. Caressing her breasts, I take my time, making sure to heighten her pleasure even higher than it already is. The more I tease her, the more she lets me know how much she’s ready to take my hard cock deep inside of her. It’s hard to ignore her desires, mixing with mine, and I realize that I’ve never wanted her more than I do in this moment.

Tilting her head back, I kiss down her neck, making sure to leave my mark in its wake. The wolf pushes me to bite her again, but I want her crying out my name, as I’m deep inside of her tight pussy, when I claim her again.

Just the thought of sliding inside her wet and hot pussy, makes my entire body shake with so much need, and it’s so powerful, that it makes me lose my breath. Losing the hold on the control that I thought I had, I picture her naked, and then her clothes are suddenly gone. Glancing up, I smirk, knowing my mate is so tuned into my wants. This isn’t the first time that she’s used her powers to our advantage, and I’ll never complain about it, especially, when I sense her protection spell around us. The first time that we were together, she caused a slight earthquake, so it’s good to keep her spell up, just in case it happens again.

Now that she’s free of her clothes, her hands reach for me, pulling me in close. Taking her mouth once more, I kiss her hard and deep, knowing how much she wants it, too. It’s as if we’re both desperate for one another, and it’s getting harder to hold back the urge to take her rough and hard.

As she pulls away from our passionate kiss, she states, “Take me, Malik. I promise, you’re not going to break me.”

Touching her lips with my fingers, I utter, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t,” she says sweetly, and then, a bed suddenly appears.

Smirking, I pick her up, as I claim, “Devious witch.”

As I lay her down onto the bed, she says, “Wicked wolf.”

Reaching down, I groan, as my fingers touch her hot pussy. Melena lets out a throaty moan, as I slowly dip a finger inside of her, and then, she cries out my name, when I use the back of my hand to push against her clit.

“I’ll show you a wicked wolf,” I state huskily, as I repeat the same motion.

“Malik, please,” she begs, and I love the sound of her voice in my mind.

It’s like a silky caress, mixed with desire and need all at the same time.

Teasing her a bit more with my hand, I take her mouth once more, and then, swallow down her cries of pleasure. Feeling the wolf pushing against me, I groan, sensing his own needs, racing to the surface. His only thoughts are of four words, and when he makes me see those words, I get hit with their force, making me want to act on them instantly.

Taste.

Claim.

Mark.

Mine.

Breaking our kiss, I quickly move down to act on the first need that I sense. The first taste is unlike anything that I’ve ever felt or experienced before. Letting out a groan, I use my tongue to lap at her essence, while I use my finger to thrust deep inside of her.

As my bewitching mate rotates her hips to meet my thrusts, I use my arms to make her stay still. “Don’t move.”

“Please, Malik. I need more. I need you.”

Her plea sends a rush of euphoria down my spine, so I slip two more fingers inside of her. At the same time, I lick and suck on her sensitive clit, all the while, she screams out my name, as she suddenly comes on my fingers.

Letting her ride out the waves of pleasure, the wolf stomps his paw in my mind, reminding me that we’re not finished yet. Smirking, I quickly agree with my companion, because I crave so much more from her as well.

Slowly taking my fingers out of her, I sit up, and then, I place my hands on her hips to move her, so that she’s laying on her stomach. Swaying, when I sense how much she wants this, I raise her hips up, positioning her just how I want.

Taking my cock in my hand, I gaze at her tight pussy, glistening back at me. I know she’s ready to take me, when she moans out another plea, and I realize that I can’t hold back any longer.

Guiding myself inside of her, I move slowly, because I still worry that I might hurt her. The process is agonizing, since I’d love nothing more than to bury myself deep inside of her with just one thrust.

“Do it. Please, Malik, do it.”

“Fuck,” I grunt out, because I can’t deny my mate anything.

With one single thrust, I only stop, once I’m all the way inside of my queen. Holding still for a moment, while she adjusts to my size, I realize that she’s already ready for me to move. Giving her what she wants, I feel drunk from the sounds of her moans and cries of complete and utter pleasure.

Keeping my pace slow, but hard at the same time, I growl loudly, when her tight walls begin to clench around me. She feels so fucking good, and she’s so fucking wet that it’s becoming increasingly difficult not to come inside of her right this minute.

However, I push my own need down, forcing myself to give her more pleasure. But then, I make the mistake of glancing down, and I let out a throaty groan, as I watch my cock easily sliding in and out of her. It’s the most erotic sight that I’ve ever witnessed, but it’s also making me want to come way too soon.

Jerking my gaze away from the amazing scene, I lean down, and then use my hand to grab her throat in between her generous breasts. I still continue to fuck her hard and deep, because I know that’s how she wants and craves it the most. I clearly sense how close she is to her own orgasm, so I quickly show her what I want as well.

As she moves her hair off of her shoulder, she willingly offers her delicate neck to me. Licking my lips, the wolf surges forward, making me act only on need. Using my teeth, I bite her hard, knowing that it’ll leave my claim behind.

At the same time, Melena cries out my name, as her orgasm rushes through her. I keep my hold on her neck, as she rides out the waves of pleasure, while I finally let myself come right along with her. Slowing down my pace, I make sure to lick and then kiss the tender mark on her skin, while making sure she feels just how much I love her.

“I love you, too,” she whispers back, and I let out a deep sigh, thinking this is what coming home must feel like.

That’s what she is to me.

Home.

Running my hand up and down my mates exposed back, I let out a sigh of content. In all of my years, I never once thought I could feel so much euphoria. At times, I find myself thinking that all of this is just a dream, and if it is, I never want to wake up.

However, it seems no matter how happy I am, there’s always something hanging over us. Pulling Melena closer, she lays on my arm and chest, as I try to work through all of her conflicting emotions. It’s still a little strange having to figure out her needs and wants from my own, since they’re so strong.

“They’ll understand why you had to do what you did,” I softly claim, as I realize it’s what she did to Alrick that’s bothering her so much.

As she glances up at me, she states, “I know that they fear me more than anything.”

Frowning, I cup her cheek, and then say, “Give them time to get to know you first.” Letting out a heavy sigh, I know The Elders have done more damage than necessary. “All of these changes are hard for them, too. We’ve been enemies with the covens for so long, and that means the pack is still adjusting to all of the changes as well.”

“Do you think that’s why Alrick and Reid tried to take you out of the picture?”

Leaning up, I shake my head, and then claim, “Alrick and Reid are more alike than people like to admit. They both stick to their rules, because it gives them a sense of control. However, Alrick has hated witches, since The Dark Ages, and I’m not sure that’ll ever change.”

“And Reid?” She asks, and I look away, hating how much my friend has changed. For a long while, I try to find a reason for what he did. There’s a lot to consider, especially, knowing how we were raised.

Feeling her arms wrapping around me, I turn my head, so that I can gaze into her golden eyes. “I won’t make excuses for either of them, because of their own fear for change.”

“I highly doubt they’ll change their minds about me now.” She utters, and before I can tell her that it doesn’t matter, she adds, “Maybe, Alrick is right about witches.”

“No, he isn’t,” I declare, because what Alrick put into motion has done nothing, but hinder the packs. “The moment his law went into place, he took away so many future mates from the pack. Not only that, but he separated families, making us weaker.”

Shaking my head, I only wish that I was The Alpha back then, so that I could’ve put a stop to those laws. While it’s possible to continue the bloodlines without mates, it’s done nothing but put more fear into the pack. The wolves have stopped trying to exist with anyone other than wolves, and it’s something that I know needs to change. We need everyone to come together, as a whole, to stop this darkness that’s coming.

“Alrick wants to pretend that this dark force that’s coming doesn’t exist, even though, it does. Reid just wants to follow the rules, even though, they’re wrong.”

“You’re a good leader, Malik. I know that you’ll lead the pack in the right direction.”

Pulling her into my lap, I brush back her hair, and then state, “We’ll lead them together, regina meis.”

As her head drops, I use my fingers to tilt her chin up, so that her gaze is on mine. Using our bond, I urge her to tell me what’s really going through her mind. It’s hard to define one single emotion from her, because there are so many, racing through her.

“I have something dark deep within me, and it terrifies me.”

Clenching my jaw, I know exactly what she’s referring to. I felt it, and she’s right to worry about it. The darkness is strong, but I know my mate is stronger. “Everyone has evil inside of them, Melena. The only difference between being good or evil, is how you use your powers. It’s about the intention and actions, and not just the magic.”

She frowns, as she asks, “So, you believe I’m good, because I want to save everyone?”

Grinning, I claim, “I know that you don’t believe you’re the savior , but you are. With you by my side, I know that we can conquer anything.”

“How can you have so much faith in me, while I question everything?”

Holding her gaze, I caress her cheek, as I state, “Because you’re my mate, and I sense how strong you are. I feel how much you want to save your friends inside of The Facility, and how you want to stop them from taking anyone else. Your need to protect is much stronger than the darkness inside of you.”

She nods, but I know that she still doesn’t fully believe me. I know this is hard to take in, because of all that she’s been through. Someone like Melena can’t just forgive and forget what’s been done to her, and I don’t blame her for that. All I can do is stand by her, and then, remind her who she really is.

“I hope you’re right,” she utters, after a moment.

“No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side to bring you back,” I vow, hoping we never get to that point.

Melena is the most powerful witch, and if she ever gives into the darkness, I’m not sure what’ll happen. However, I have a feeling that she’s stronger than she realizes, and that makes me have faith in her.

No matter what, she’s my mate, and I’ll face whatever evil it is in order to make her believe in herself.

With my mate by my side, we walk inside of the den.

I only have one thought running through my mind, as we make our way back to the assembly room. I’ve never been the one who likes punishing any member of the pack, but right now, it’s needed. Alrick and Reid need to be reminded that I’m The Alpha, so when you cross me, there will be consequences.

So, it’s no surprise at all, when we make it to our destination, and everyone is still there, as if they’ve been waiting for us to return. Melena squeezes my hand, as we enter, and every single person in the room stares at me. I know they thought that I was Rogue, and that I would never return. I don’t know what bothers me more, though. Is it the fact that they gave up on me, or the fact that they were willing to believe Alrick and go along with him?

The betrayal racing through me is what shocks me the most.

I also begin to realize that the way we perceive Rogues, just might be wrong. If my wolf was able to take over me, and then lock me away, who’s to say Rogue wolves can’t be saved? If it weren’t for Melena, I have no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be standing here right now. Sensing Melena’s curiosity about it, I notice she agrees with me. It’s something we’ll have to figure out later, when all of this is over.

Pushing out a heavy sigh, no one bothers to move, as we walk further into the room, but their eyes stay on us, when I take a seat at the front of the table. Melena stands beside me with a hand on my shoulder, giving me the strength to do what’s needed.

Glancing towards The Enforcers, I sense their pride that I’m back. They’ll never understand how grateful I am that they stood behind my mate, and that they were willing to fight to keep me here.

Right as I’m about to speak, Alrick walks in the room, like he owns the place. My anger surges, and I feel my eyes flash with the wolf within. He wants revenge as well, and I promise him that Alrick will pay for his crimes. Narrowing my gaze, as I notice Reid following right behind him, the wolf growls in my head, and I understand his anger. Reid was supposed to have my back no matter what, but he decided to break the one rule of being Beta.

“I see you’ve returned,” Alrick says, and I’m sure he’s pissed that I’ve done so.

Glancing to Reid, he quickly drops his gaze, knowing how wrong he was to follow behind a fucking Elder. “I have.” Taking in a calming breath, I state, “Considering that I was never Rogue to begin with, I think you and I need to work through some things.”

His jaw clenches, and I know how much he wishes I were dead. From the moment that I took on The Alpha role, he’s done everything he could to tear me down.

“That ends today,” Melena whispers in my mind, and I smirk, loving how she understands me.

“Tell me, Alrick,” I start, getting his full attention. “What was your plan exactly?” When he glances to Reid for help, I quickly fill in the blanks. “We all know that you could never be Alpha, so I assume you thought Reid would accept the role without any hesitation.”

I know I’m right, because Alrick doesn’t have Alpha blood, and he knows no one would follow him. However, Reid would’ve gained the packs approval, since it’s been done before. It’s how Reid’s father became Alpha, which makes me wonder, if Alrick is the reason that this has been done before.

“You’re not fit to lead us anymore,” he snaps, making my anger spike once more.

Curling my fingers into a fist, I slam it down onto the table, as I loudly state, “I am The Alpha, and you will obey me.” Standing up, I hold his gaze, as I claim, “For your crimes of treason, I sentence you to rot in a cell, until the end of time.”

His eyes widen, like he forgot there are worse things than death. “You can’t do this to me. I’m an Elder.”

“Yet, you’ve proven that you’re not fit for that role either. The role as Elder is to guide and offer advice, and not to dictate or manipulate the pack. You’ve forgotten how to do your job, and since I can’t trust you, this is the only way to move forward.”

Glancing towards The Enforcers, I order, “Take him away.”

As they move towards Alrick, he shouts, “This is a mistake. You’re making a grave mistake!”

Waving my hand at his nonsense, I claim, “Be glad I’m not taking your fucking head.”

Sitting back down, I let out a heavy sigh, when Alrick doesn’t go easily. I knew he wouldn’t, because that’s not who he is. However, he’s no match for The Enforcers, and they easily overpower him. Once he’s out of the room, I know that problem is taken care of, for now at least.

Turning my gaze towards Reid, I beckon him to approach. He does so, and as he sits down, I regard him closely, wondering where I went wrong. Reid and I grew up together, and he’s always had my back no matter what. When Luna arrived, I thought he was on board with all of the changes I set in motion. Somewhere along the way, he lost sight not only with his role of Beta, but as a member of this pack.

As he meets my eyes, I think long and hard about his punishment. I don’t want him locked away, since he’s a good fighter, and we’ll need him to fight in this war. However, I can’t just let him go without reprimand.

Knowing what I need to do, I lean on my mate for strength. She willingly gives me what I need the most, and with her help, I state, “Your role as Beta is no more.”

He frowns deeply, as he asks, “This is your punishment?”

I nod once, and then say, “As much as I wish I could lock you away with Alrick, I also realize that we’ll need you to fight. Be grateful that you still have a place in the pack.”

“But not as your Beta,” he utters, like he’s trying to take it all in.

“I have no other choice, Reid. What you’ve done, it can’t be forgiven, and it also can’t go without some sort of consequence. If I don’t take away your position in the pack, they’ll never follow me. Not to mention, they won’t trust you now. They need to see their leader lead them in the right direction, no matter how much it pains me to do so.”

Shaking my head, I claim, “I don’t know what happened to you, but I need you to pull yourself together for what’s coming.” Feeling Melena’s apprehension, I add, “This is your chance to prove to the pack that you’re on our side.” Taking in a deep breath, I let it go, and then roughly state, “This is your one and only second chance, Reid, so don’t fuck it up.”

For a moment, he sits still, as if he’s taking in what I’ve decreed. I’m sure he realizes that there’s no changing my mind, because he knows that I’m right. So, it doesn’t shock me at all, when he slowly gets up, and then quietly leaves the room.

Honestly, there’s nothing he could say to make me change my mind, or my decision anyway. I just hate how he gave me no other choice.

Melena

Feeling my mate’s guilt, I cup his cheek, guiding him to look up at me. Once his green gaze meets mine, I claim, “You did the right thing for him and the pack.”

His jaw clenches tightly, and I know he doesn’t fully believe me. In a way, he feels like he’s responsible for the actions Reid has taken, even though, he had nothing to do with it. Sure, they thought he was Rogue, because he and his wolf were at odds, but then again, no one could’ve predicted that would happen, when Malik asked for that potion.

“None of this is on you, Malik,” I state firmly.

As he lets out a deep sigh, he slowly nods, and then says, “I need a new Beta now.”

“Well.” I start, and then move to sit in his lap, “Who else is qualified to fill the spot?”

“A few come to mind,” he utters, as he begins to play with my hair. “I trust Evan and Thrasher.” With my frown, he adds, “They’re Betas to our sister packs. It makes sense to ask one of them to fill the role, until I find a way to trust Reid again. Although, Ryker is a good candidate, too.”

“What about Alrick?”

“He stays locked in that damn cell,” he angrily claims.

Sensing the rage from him, I do my best to comfort him. I completely understand his need to keep Alrick locked away, and how much he wishes he could kill him. However, Alrick is the last original wolf, which means he can’t just be killed on a whim. He’s too special to just toss away, and I fear he’ll be an even bigger problem down the road.

“He’s going to keep defying me,” Malik utters to himself, and I run my hand through his hair, as I think through what I want to say.

For a long while, we sit in silence, and I know how much my mate needs a moment to think as well. Letting out a sigh, I ask, “What happened to him to make him turn into what he is now?”

“I wish I knew,” he says, and then leans back in the chair. “The Dark Ages were supposedly a horrible time, but yet, no one really knows what happened. It’s all on speculation, and Alrick refuses to talk about it.”

I know very little about that time, just like everyone else, but I have a feeling Alrick is connected to it more than people realize. I’ve only heard rumors about what happened, and I can see why Alrick would hate witches so much. It’s said that a witch became power hungry, and her thirst for it almost destroyed the entire world. Honestly, it all sounds a bit too familiar, and I sense that Malik feels the same way.

Right as I’m about to offer him more comfort, Luna and Ryker walk inside of the room. Her worried gaze makes my stomach drop, and I know Malik senses it, too. He holds me tighter, as Luna says, “I’ve had a vision, and we need to move against The Facility, as soon as possible.”

Ryker stands close to his mate, as if he needs to be there for her, as Malik asks, “What did you see?”

“Something has changed, and I know The Facility has something to do with it.” She sighs deeply, and then runs a hand through her hair, as she adds, “I think they’ve figured out how to control us.”

“You’re sure?” Malik asks, and I’m wondering the same thing.

“I’m positive. It’s the only thing that makes sense to what I saw.” As she glances to her mate for a moment, I turn my gaze away, as they share a private moment.

It makes me wonder, if their connection is like the one Malik and I share, or if it’s unique in its own way. I’m not sure why I can speak to my mate, using telepathy and others can’t, but then again, I know every mating bond is different.

“I saw Serina,” Luna utters, and I quickly snap my gaze up.

“Serina? The siphon?” I ask, because if it’s the same witch that I’m thinking about, then we have an even bigger problem.

“Do you know who she is?”

“Everyone knows that witch, and how dangerous she is,” I state, because it’s the truth. It’s surprising that I remember her, considering my memory wipe, but that name is one that I’ll never forget.

I heard all about her killing one of The Ancients, when they tried to help her. It’s something that was told throughout the covens to prepare them against Serina and her power.

“What does she have to do with The Facility?” Malik asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Luna lets out a heavy sigh, and then says, “She was fighting alongside the darkness that’s coming. She was using her siphon power to render everyone powerless. Somehow, she’s gotten even stronger, and I know that if we don’t find her soon, they’ll use her against us.”

“Do you know her location?”

Luna shakes her head, as she claims, “I’m sorry, Malik. I only know that she’s being held at another Facility somewhere else.”

“We could find the other locations, if we take down The Facility that I was held at,” I say to my mate.

“They must have records or something that left a trace,” he offers, and I nod in agreement.

“There’s one other thing you should know,” Luna interrupts, and the look on her face, makes my heart begin to race. As she gazes at Malik, I frown, realizing that this news is for him and him alone.

“Bryn is there with her.”

As I close my eyes, Malik’s rage spikes to new heights that I never thought possible. His wolf is howling in his head, as he tries to work through the news of his twin. All this time, The Facility did have her, but we never knew for sure, until now. I know that Malik had hopes that she was alright, and that she was just trying to find her own place outside of the pack.

It seems The Facility is always two steps ahead of us.

“Thank you, Luna,” Malik utters in a rough voice, and then, he turns towards a few Enforcers, standing on the other side of the room. “Gather the others. Tonight, we plan to take them all down.”

As they leave to find the others, I caress Malik’s cheek, as I claim, “We’ll find her.”

“I just hope we’re not too late,” he says somberly, and I sense his need to find her, as soon as possible.

It’s almost overwhelming, but I find a way to comfort us both. He needs it more than I do, so I make sure to send a wave of it through our bond. The wolf instantly calms, as the man slowly follows. I wish there was more that I could do, but for now, this will have to do.

At least, until we can destroy The Facility, and everything that they stand for.

Standing beside Malik, he and I look at the blue prints of The Facility that I was held at. The Enforcers, Sameria, Luna, Ryker, and even Reid stand on the other side, as they offer a plan to get inside. There’s even a map of the forest surrounding the building, which will come in handy. I have Sameria to thank for offering me the spell to use to conjure exact replicas of The Facility’s whereabouts, and since I was on the inside, I was able to get them the blue prints, while using magic to bring them into the physical world.

Our main concern is the enemies fail safe protocol that I told them about. I remember all too clearly what happened a few times, when someone either tried to escape, or they got out of hand. The Facility has a built-in defense system that renders everyone unconscious. I think it’s a gas of some sort, but it does the trick every time. If we were to go in, they could activate the gas, and then, that would mean we all would become their new lab rats.

Obviously, that defeats the purpose of a rescue, so we need to find a new way inside.

“I could go in undercover again,” Malik offers.

“Wouldn’t they question where you were?” Ryker asks, and he makes a good point.

“They could,” Malik starts, and then, he stops, as he gazes down at the blue prints. “If they do, then I’ll stick to the truth as much as I can. That way it’ll seem legit.” The Enforcers nod, seeming to like his answer. “I want teams of three here, here, and here,” he states, as he points to various areas on the map that we’ve lined up with The Facility.

“Nick, I want you and one other to get us transportation, so that we can take everyone with us, when we destroy the building.”

When Nick doesn’t answer, I turn my gaze towards him, and then frown, once I notice he’s not even paying attention. His gaze is turned to the side, like he’s staring at something that’s caught his curiosity. I’ve noticed he does this a lot, but I’m not sure what to think of it. There’s obviously nothing there, so why does he keep staring off in the distance?

“Nick, are you here with us?” I ask softly, as I lay a hand on his shoulder.

His gaze instantly meets mine, and then, he nods, as he states, “Yeah, I’m good.” He lets out a heavy sigh, and then asks, “Will two school buses work? I’m thinking it’ll be enough room for everyone.”

My mate frowns, as he stares at Nick for a long while. Using our bond, I sense his worry about him, and it matches my own. However, we need Nick, and since he has experience in the medical field, he’ll be very useful.

There’s no telling what kind of shape they’ll be in, after being experimented on, so being prepared is necessary.

“That’s a good idea. Make it happen.”

Malik has a good and solid plan about what to do, once everyone on the inside is out. However, I realize he still hasn’t told me how we’re actually going to get inside, once he’s there. “Malik, how are you going to get through security to shut down the safety protocol?”

When he glances at me, at first, I frown, because I don’t understand what I’m sensing. It’s like he’s shutting me out, which is strange, since he’s never done that before. Not to mention, I didn’t know that was even possible.

“Don’t worry, regina meis. Once I get inside, I’ll get it shut down, so that everyone else can breech the building.”

Nodding, I push down my apprehension, because I trust Malik. As he continues to go over the plan, I watch him in his element. I’m not sure why he ever doubted his abilities to lead, because it’s clear he knows what he’s doing. Malik is willing to put himself in danger just to get back inside, and even though I don’t like him going in alone, I’ll stand behind him.

If anything goes wrong, The Facility will have me to deal with.

“Melena, I want you to stay by Axel and Jace, until I call for you.” Glancing towards the two wolves, they each nod, seeming to accept their Alpha’s order. However, no matter how much I try, I know something about this plan is off. “Melena, do you hear me?”

Grabbing his arm, I pull him off to the side, as I ask, “Are you sure about this? Something doesn’t feel right.” No matter how hard I try, I can’t just accept him going alone into the lion’s den. It feels wrong, but I don’t understand why.

He has to know that I’ll do whatever I have to in order to keep him alive. Is that why he’s leaving me behind? Does he think that I’m a loose cannon?

As he caresses my cheek tenderly and lovingly, he states, “This is the only way, regina meis. Trust me, okay?”

“I do trust you, Malik,” I utter, but I can’t seem to say what I really want, too. The sense that he’s hiding something from me is almost overwhelming, but I tell myself it’s only because I’m worried about what might happen to him.

My greatest fear is that he’ll be captured, and there won’t be a way for me to save him from the horrors inside of The Facility. If anything happens to him … I won’t survive it.

Pacing around our room, I go over the plans Malik made earlier tonight. After we finished, he claimed he needed to go for a run, so I let him go, knowing that his wolf needs it, too.

The whole time that he’s been gone, I’ve been thinking over why I feel so much concern about him going in alone. I still can’t figure out, if I’m so worried, because I won’t be with him, or the fact that he’s clearly hiding something from me. It’s just a sense that I have, and I just know this plan isn’t going to go over without a hitch.

I feel him now, but he’s still blocking me. While I can sense him and his moods, it’s not as open like before. The moment I reach out to him, he sends a rush of love and devotion back, and it does settle my nerves some.

Shaking my head, I decide not to let it bother me anymore. It could be that he’s just preparing for what lies ahead of us tomorrow, and I know that he’d never keep something from me on purpose.

So, when he finally returns, I instantly go to him, needing to feel him against me.

He wastes no time devouring me, like I’m the only thing that can bring him life. When one of his hands slide up into my hair, he grips it tight, moving me just how he wants. Letting out a moan, as the other runs down my breast and then to my side, I sense just how badly he needs to mark me.

Who knows what’ll happen tomorrow, so I’m going to soak up everything that I can.

Just as I cast a protection spell around us, to avoid any mishaps, Malik begins to kiss down my neck. At the same time, he rips my shirt off, and then, my pants quickly follow. I smirk, because he didn’t even give me a chance to use my magic, like I usually do, but I sense how desperate he’s becoming to take me.

Which is why, I do the exact same to him.

When we’re free of our clothes, they lay on the floor around us in pieces, as Malik picks me up. Wrapping my legs around him, he leans in close, so that he can kiss me once more. Giving into him willingly, I relish how he feels against me, and just how much I need him.

I never once thought I would crave and yearn for anything like this, but he shows me every single day that I can’t live without him. Even before I fully realized that he was my mate, I knew he was special.

As he pushes my back against a nearby wall, he breaks our hot kiss, stating, “You’re mine, Melena. Nothing will ever change that.”

I nod, because I completely agree with him. Reaching up, I caress his cheek, and then huskily claim, “And you’re mine.”

The moment I utter those words, he sinks deep inside of me with one single thrust. The action causes me to cry out in pleasure, and it’s so intense, since he holds my gaze, as he does so. At first, he barely moves, as he lets me get adjusted to his size, but then, I moan loudly, when he begins to give me what I want.

His thrusts are hard, slow, and each one hits me so deep, that I wonder if I’ll be able to walk after tonight. Keeping his gaze, as he reaches down to rub my clit, I feel the protection spell around us, starting to vibrate.

It seems every time when we’re together, my magic spikes to higher peeks than before, but I know it’s only because our magic is blending together as one. It just makes the sensations and pleasure that much sweeter, especially, as he gives me what I crave the most.

So, when I begin to feel how much he wants to mark my skin again, I grin, and then let out a moan, as I tilt my head to the side. Not only does he need this, but so do I. His brand is a constant reminder that I belong to him, and that he also belongs to me, too.

“I love you, devious witch,” he roughly states, and then, he bites down on my neck.

The instant he does so, I call out his name, as my orgasm races through me. It never fails to amaze me how satisfying it is, when he claims me, and I hope that I never lose this feeling.

As he lets me ride out the waves of pleasure, I know it won’t be long, before he falls over the edge with me. I sense just how close he is to reaching his own orgasm, especially, as he bites me even harder. The moment he does, I get hit with what he’s thinking, and it instantly makes me orgasm once more.

All of his thoughts and feelings heighten every single thing that he’s making me sense, and when he finally lets go, I wonder if I’m drowning in lust. It’s so much that I fear that it might consume me, but it’ll be a blissful experience.

With Malik by my side, nothing else even matters, and that’s why we need each other. Even if we forget what lies ahead for just a minute, it’s worth it.

After tomorrow, who knows if we’ll get this chance again, so we’ll drown in pleasure and love, until we can’t anymore.

Malik

The next morning, I gaze at my mate, sleeping peacefully next to me. As the wolf whines, I do my best to console him, because he knows what’s about to happen. While I’m confident in my plan, there’s still so many things that could go wrong.

However, this will happen, because we need to find the other Facilities. If we take them all out, then the threat of our kind vanishing will stop. Not to mention, it’ll save us from having to fight against one another.

Since the moment Luna told us of her vision, I’ve had this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, because I can’t even imagine what these humans are doing to them. It’s sick and fucking twisted how they’re experimenting on us, and now, I learn that they’ve figured out how to control us.

I’m honestly not sure what’s worse for those poor souls trapped inside The Facility. Is it the torture, or is it the fact that they’ll control everything that they do? For a wolf, there would be nothing worse than having a human having control over what he or she does. Even now, I sense my own wolf’s distaste, and how much he wants to save everyone.

It’s our duty to save other beings like us, no matter if they’re not wolves.

Giving one final glance to my lovely mate, I just hope she understands why I have to do what’s needed. I’ve done my best to keep her in the dark, and no matter how much I hate it, I have to do this.

In the end, I’m doing what’s best for everyone, and one day, she’ll understand why. She might hate me, but the wolf and I agree that we’ll find a way to make things right, after all of this is over with.

Keeping a fair distance away from The Facility, and with the cover of the night, I wait for everyone to get into their designated positions. Looking down, I hate knowing that I’m wearing this fucking guard uniform again, but it’s the only way to get inside. Not to mention, everyone on the inside knows my face now, so this is the best way to do this.

Glancing to my right, I nod to Ryker, and then to Reid. I thought about leaving Reid behind, but at the last minute, I decided to bring him along. His fighting skills are what I need, and this is a sure way to test his loyalties.

After a few more moments, I get the signal, letting me know that everyone is ready. Clenching my jaw, I sense Melena, and how nervous she is about my plan. She doesn’t like that I’m going in alone, but what she doesn’t realize is that I won’t be alone.

“Stay here, until we open the front doors,” I command to Ryker and Reid.

They both frown for a moment, before they nod. Backing away from them, I quickly but quietly make my way over to where Melena is waiting with Axel and Jace. She senses me coming, and right before I make it there, she appears in front of me.

“What’s wrong?”

I feel her trying to figure out why I’m here, but I blank my mind, and only think of how much I love her. What I’m about to do, it just might destroy her. “I need you to come with me.”

“Okay,” she instantly responds. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

Taking her hand, I pull her in close, so that I can kiss her deeply. I pour everything into our kiss, knowing that she feels how much I adore her. I want her to remember this kiss, because she’ll need it, after this is all over.

As I pull away, I relish how her cheeks are flushed with want and need. Brushing her hair out of her face, I run my finger down her cheek, and then down to my brand, as I calmly state, “Stay by my side.”

Once she nods, I keep a hold on her hand, and then, I lead her towards The Facility. The entire way there, I keep my block up, because she cannot know what I’m about to do. I only wish that there was another way to do this, but every other option isn’t viable. This is the only way I can get in, and then, deactivate the defense mechanism.

She has no idea what I plan to do.

When we reach the front doors, it’s no surprise at all, that it quickly swings open, and then we’re met by four guards. “Follow my lead,” I whisper to my mate in her mind.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Trust me, regina meis.”

With her subtle nod, I slowly pull out the bracelet I asked Sameria for, and then, I quickly place it around Melena’s wrist, before the guards get close enough to see. Looking at them, as they finally reach us, I claim, “Get Dr. Stein. I’ve brought back his favorite captive.”

The instant shock on my mate’s face will haunt me, until the end of my days.

“Why? Why would you do this?”

Clenching my jaw, I hate that I can’t sense her through our bond anymore, or how I don’t know what’s going through her mind. I specifically asked Sameria to cast her own spell on the bracelet, and I realize it’s working better than I thought. However, I don’t like the fact that I can’t speak to Melena anymore.

If I could, then she would know what my plan is, but since she can’t, she fully believes that I’m turning her in.

She believes that I’m betraying her, even though, it’s all for show.

As she jerks her hand away from mine, I stand still as a statue, waiting for the vicious words to come out of her luscious mouth. “I’ll kill you for this,” she sneers, and I don’t blame her for her anger.

Knowing that we have an audience, I state, “Good luck with that. Now that you’re under control again, there won’t be any bloodshed today.”

When her golden eyes begin to fill with tears, the wolf howls, knowing how much our mate is hurting, even though, he can’t feel it. On our run, he and I had a long conversation about what I had planned, and while he didn’t approve, he also realized it needed to be done.

Grabbing Melena by the arm, I lead her inside of The Facility, because I can’t stand the look on her face anymore. Not to mention, I need to get this over with, so that I can fix what I’ve broken.

The other guards follow behind us, and as one slams the door shut, I know there’s no turning back now. As Melena struggles against me, I pull her in close, and then whisper, “Trust me, regina meis.”

“Fuck you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill all of you!”

“There’s no need for threats, Melena,” Dr. Stein claims, and she instantly stops struggling. “I’m so glad that you’ve returned to us.” He states to Melena, and then, he turns to me, as he says, “I thought you were dead. Come, we must speak privately.”

Nodding, I hand Melena to a guards, and then without a word, I follow behind the doctor. The moment the guards begin to take Melena back to her cell, she screams out more threats, and each one cuts me down to my soul.

However, I stop dead in my tracks, as she shouts, “I’ll never forgive you for this, Malik.”

Giving her one final glance, I hope that’s not true.

“Come, Malik, we have much to discuss,” Dr. Stein says, and I have no choice but to follow him.

My only mission now is to find the locations of the other Facilities, and then, shut down the gas. If I fail, then all of this was for nothing. Since security is close by the doctor’s office, I only need a single moment to get in and out.

But then, as we enter Dr. Stein’s office, I instantly realize something is very wrong.

“I have to admit,” he begins, as he walks around his desk, and then sits down. “You almost had everyone fooled.”

My wolf growls, and then, he bares his teeth, because he senses something that I haven’t yet. Trying to get him to calm down, before the doctor catches on, I scan the room, trying to find the source of the wolf’s warning.

“Come now, you don’t have to hide anymore,” Dr. Stein states, and at first, I think he’s speaking to me. But then, I clench my jaw, as I get hit with a wave of magic that I’ve never felt before.

It’s nothing but pure evil, and my wolf growls once more, as the woman steps out of the shadows.

This is why my wolf was on edge the moment I entered the room. It’s all because of the witch, standing right by Dr. Stein. I realize now that Sameria and Melena were right about The Facility having an outsource of magic. She has to be the reason why all of our kind are here, being tortured and experimented on.

Which begs the question, why is she working with them? Why is she helping them capture us? What exactly does she stand to gain by doing this?

Better yet, who the fuck is this witch?

I’ve been around for a long time, but I’ve never encountered this particular witch before. It makes me wonder just how many other witches are there, and we just don’t know of their existence yet.

“Hello, Malik, or should I call you The Alpha? It’s a shame that you turned in your own mate, just so that both of you can die today.”

Fuck.

They know who I am, which means, this entire plan is doomed, before it can even begin.

Melena

Standing in the middle of my old room, I wonder how I got to this point.

I should’ve known all along that Malik was playing me, and I hate the fact that he made me fall for him. I feel so stupid for playing right into his hands, when all along this was his plan. Even if I don’t fully understand why he betrayed me, I can’t help but blame myself.

His betrayal has cut me so deep that I can’t even think about him anymore.

Giving up, I let the tears come, because they refuse to go away. So, as they fall down my cheeks, I mourn the loss of my freedom. It’s once again been stolen away from me, and I vow to never trust anyone else ever again. Why would I want to put myself through so much pain for just one minute of love?

It’s not worth it anymore.

Slowly walking over to the bed, I lay down, and then curl up into a ball. As the tears continue to fall, I think over the last few weeks, wondering where it all went wrong. I knew Malik was hiding something from me, but yet, I ignored my instincts. I shouldn’t have blindly gone along with this fucking plan, but there’s no going back. I don’t have the power to alter time in that way, so what’s done is done.

However, I know that I won’t just sit here and rot, like before. I’ll find a way to escape this place, even if I have to die to do it. Honestly, death is much easier anyway. The entire world is just full of people who give false hope and love, which is so much worse. I’d much rather someone torture me, than to do what Malik has done to me.

Sitting up, I use both of my hands to wipe away my tears. He doesn’t deserve them, so I won’t waste another second crying over him. Malik obviously doesn’t give a shit about me, because if he did, then he would’ve never considered handing me over to the enemy.

The thing is no matter how hard I try to hate him, I can’t seem to do it. His words flow through my mind over and over about how I need to trust him, but how can I? Why would he say that, when he never meant it?

As much as I don’t want to face it, something about his plan isn’t making sense.

Our bond is true, since we’re mates, and I had a direct line to his every thought, want, and need. Where did it all go wrong? How did I not see it? Was I so blinded by the thought of someone loving me, that I just didn’t realize what was coming?

Pushing out a heavy sigh, I realize that it doesn’t matter anymore. The only thing that does matter is getting the hell out of here.

I just have to figure out how to do that.

I’m not sure how much time has passed, when the door to my room suddenly opens.

Sitting up in the bed, I narrow my eyes at the woman entering the room, holding supplies to take my blood. Shaking my head, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. The Facility waits for no one, so why would they hold off on poking me like a lab rat?

As she slowly makes her way towards me, I think long and hard about snapping her neck, and then, using her keycard to get out of the room. The only problem with that plan is what’s waiting for me on the other side. Since Malik blocked me from using my powers with the bracelet, I’ll have no way to protect myself.

So, I do the only thing I know that’ll keep me alive for a while longer.

Without any hesitation, I roll up my sleeve, exposing my veins to the woman. Her eyes widen, as she bends down to do her job, and I realize something is different about her. Her face is familiar, because she’s always been the one to take my blood, and I could never forget a face from this horrid place, but it’s her eyes that are different.

I’m certain that the woman’s eyes weren’t green, but yet, I’m gazing right into her green eyes. Shaking my head, I must be losing my mind, because a human’s eye color doesn’t just change like that.

Right as she’s about to stick a needle in my arm, she states, “Don’t move.” Before I have a chance to ask her why, she adds, “It’s me, Melena.”

For a moment, I frown, because her voice sounds so familiar. It takes me another moment, before I finally figure out what’s going on here. “Sameria?” I ask so low that no one will hear through the two-way mirror behind us.

She nods, and then says, “I’m going to unlock your bracelet, so that you can get out, and then, save everyone on the inside.”

Hope begins to bloom in my chest, because surely this isn’t some sort of game. However, I’m still so hurt by Malik, and it’s hard to fully believe her. “How are you here?”

“I’m using a concealment spell that makes me look like one of them.”

Frowning, I say, “I don’t understand. How would you get the identity of one of their workers?”

She smirks, and then states, “Your faith in me really sucks, you know?” As she glances away, pretending to do her job, she adds, “I casted a spell to locate someone in a similar shape as mine that was in this building. Turns out, this lab tech was the perfect candidate.”

A part of me really and truly wants to believe her, and that she’s here to help me. However, Malik’s deception is still too fresh. Jerking my arm away, she frowns, as I command, “Tell me something that only you and I would know.”

She sighs, but she quickly states, “The first time we met was at the cabin. I used a spell to unlock your bracelet, and when you were free, you nearly destroyed the entire cabin with your magic.” Slowly giving her my arm back, she adds, “You asked me to make a potion for Malik, when everyone at the pack thought he was Rogue, even though he wasn’t.”

“Okay, I believe you,” I utter, and she quickly sticks the needle in my arm. While I know it’s all for show, I still don’t bother to hide how much I hate needles.

“Stay still, while I do the spell. You’ll be free soon.”

Nodding, I lean in close, and then ask, “Why did he do it? Why did he turn me in?”

Sameria sighs deeply, and then claims, “I told him not to, but he truly believed this was the only way in. I think he knew, once he got inside, that they would interrogate him, and he wouldn’t get a chance to take down the gas, so the others could come inside.”

“Then, why didn’t he tell me?”

“Because, Melena, he knew you would never go along with it. He knows how much you care for him, and that you’ll do anything to save him.”

Turning my gaze away, I have to admit she’s right about everything. I would’ve never gone along with the plan, if I had known what might happen to Malik. Even when he suggested coming in alone, I still didn’t want him to do it. Not to mention, he knew how much I wanted to take down The Facility, and I might have blown everything with my need for vengeance.

“He didn’t betray you,” Sameria utters softly.

For a moment, I think over her words, and then, I shake my head, because it still feels like he did. “I know it feels that way, but I can promise you, Malik knew I would come to free you, so that you can do whatever is necessary to free our people.”

Glancing down, I watch my blood flow into the tube, and I suck in a deep breath, before I ask, “So, he went to you about this?”

“He did. I’m sorry, Melena, but he made me vow not to tell you.” As she shakes her head, she adds, “You and I both know that Malik never does anything without thinking through every scenario.”

“I’m still so angry with him,” I mutter, and I realize how true it is. While I understand his side, I’m also pissed off that he didn’t bother to include me. Isn’t that what mates are for?

“I would’ve been mad too, if I were in your position.”

Pushing out a breath, I know that I can’t just keep dwelling on it. My only focus now is getting out of this room, freeing the others, and then, destroying The Facility. However, if Malik is in trouble, I can’t ignore the need to go and save him. No matter how much he’s hurt me, I can’t just let him be hurt or worse killed.

“Just hurry up and do the spell. I need to get to Malik, before they start torturing him.” I know how this place works, and they’ll to whatever is necessary to get the information they seek.

I don’t think Malik knows how much danger he’s put himself in just to save everyone.

But then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. Malik is the type to offer up himself, if it means he’ll save the others. It’s what makes him such a good leader, because he’d rather place his faith in Sameria and me to follow through with his plans.

“Hold still.” Sameria says, and then she adds, “This shouldn’t take too long.”

“What if I have a release of magic, like the last time?” The entire plan will go up in flames, if I alert the guards that I have my powers back, before I’m free of the bracelet.

“It’s always possible, but since it hasn’t been on you for long, I don’t think it’ll be a problem.” Nodding, I hope she’s right. The last thing I need is for them to gas us now, when we’re so close to freeing everyone.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I will my nerves to calm down. It’s like my entire body is humming with the need to get this damn thing off of my wrist, and to start tearing this place apart. Deep down, I know that I shouldn’t want to fill the halls with the human’s blood, but then again, they deserve what’s coming. Maybe, this will be the moment that they realize that there’s no way they can keep taking us from our homes, and then using us for their sick and twisted ways.

Feeling my wrist starting to warm, I look down, seeing that Sameria is almost finished with her spell. The second I see the keyhole appear, I glance up towards the two-way mirror, hoping that the ones watching can’t see what’s happening. If they do, then it won’t end up going over so well for Sameria or myself.

Thankfully, they don’t see, and I grin widely, once the bracelet unlocks. Keeping up with her appearance, Sameria slowly grabs the supplies she came in with, and then, she moves closer to the door.

However, I know it won’t be long, before The Facility realizes that I’m free.

Jumping into action, I quickly stand, and then before I can think about what I’m doing, I hold up my hand, as I send a devastating force of magic towards the mirror. The moment it shatters the glass, I smile, as I watch the humans inside try to escape.

Turning towards Sameria, I order, “Stay here. I’ll be back in a moment.”

With her nod, I move closer towards the broken window, and then, I quickly climb inside. As the humans try to leave the room, I quickly make sure that they can’t get out. All of my anger, frustration, and aggression suddenly overcomes me, and I don’t even blink, when I hear their loud pleas of mercy.

Did they really think I wouldn’t make them pay for what they did to me, or to everyone else? Not once, did they listen to me, when I cried and begged them to stop, as they tortured me. Not once, did they stop to think, for even one second, that what they were doing to me was wrong.

So, no, I don’t listen to them, as I end each of their lives.

By the time I’m finished, the entire room is coated with their thick, red blood. For just a moment, I breathe in deep, feeling the rush of satisfaction, flowing through me. It’s sort of poetic how they’re all laid out on the floor, and I don’t even think about what I’ve actually done.

Right now, I’m focused on making them pay.

“Melena, we have to go!”

Turning my head, I frown, once I see the expression on Sameria’s face. But then, I hear the alarms sounding, and I realize why she’s terrified. “Shit. They know I’m free.”

“Come on, we can still get them out. We just have to hurry, before they release the gas.”

Nodding once, I step back into my old holding cell, and then, with Sameria right on my heels, we leave the room forever. As we walk out into the hallway, I’m instantly bombarded by five guards. They waste no time, firing their weapons at me, but they must’ve forgotten who I am.

Holding up my hand, I slow down time, making the bullets stop in midair. Knowing how many souls are waiting for us to appear, I quickly use my telekinesis, forcing the bullets back to where they came from.

And they head straight towards the guards.

Dropping my hand, after the bullets hit their targets, I grab Sameria’s hand, pulling her behind me. I have a feeling most of the people here are in the cafeteria, so I head there first. Along the way, I’m met with more guards, but they’re no match for me. Honestly, this is becoming boring, because the guards are so out of their depth. Sure, they had the upper hand, when I was powerless, but now, they have no idea what’s been unleashed within me.

So, when I get to the cafeteria, I easily take down the guards sent to keep my people here. Walking inside the large room, I quickly lock the doors behind me, as I scan the room, trying to get eyes on Ruby and Ivy. If Sameria can unlock their bracelets, then it’ll just give me more time and extra help to find Malik.

“Melena! I’m over here,” I hear Ruby cry out, and then, I finally find her, hiding behind one of the over turned tables.

Quickly making my way over to her, I move the tables out of my way. I assume they must’ve heard the commotion, and then decided to barricade themselves for protection. Bending down, I grab Ruby, and then pull her in for a tight hug. I honestly wasn’t sure if I’d ever see her again, and the fear that she might be dead, before I could get to her, makes my stomach clench.

“How did you get free?” Ruby asks, once I let her go.

“I had some help,” I claim, and then, I look up at Sameria. Smiling, I’m glad she’s dropped the concealment spell, so she looks like herself again. Turning back around, I frown, once I notice Ivy isn’t here. “Where’s Ivy?”

Ruby shakes her head, and then states, “She was with her source, before everything started going haywire. I think she’s still with him.”

“Do you know where they are?”

“No, I’m sorry, but we need to get out, before they use the gas on us.”

Knowing she’s right, I nod, hoping that Ivy is alright. If I had more time, I could cast a location spell. But then, I hear loud banging on the cafeteria doors, and I know it’s the guards, trying to break inside. Deciding to find her later, I stand, and then state, “Sameria, I need you to stay with Ruby, and help her get everyone out.”

“What about their bracelets?” She asks with wide eyes.

Shaking my head, I claim, “There isn’t enough time to unlock them all, so get them out, and then free them.”

Right as I turn to finish the task of taking down every human inside, Sameria grabs my hand, and then asks, “What about you? What if they catch us? I’m not as powerful as you, so I can’t protect them.”

Holding her gaze, I understand why she’s so worried. If I’m not with them, then it could mean that they might be captured. Squeezing her hand, I declare, “I’ll deal with the humans. Just make sure everyone else gets out, and that they’re safe.”

“Be careful, Melena,” Ruby says softly, and I hug her once more.

With one final glance, I have faith that Sameria and Ruby will get everyone out to safety. I know Nick will be waiting by the buses with Ryker nearby, so if he needs to make a quick getaway, then he’ll be able, too. Not to mention, once Sameria frees everyone from the bracelets, they’ll have more than enough power to protect themselves.

Turning around, I close my eyes, as my powers suddenly surge forward. The moment I open them, the door bursts open, sending the guards that were trying to break in, into the wall behind them. Walking out into the hall, I sense even more guards coming. Which is why, I’m not surprised at all, when the hall is suddenly packed full with them.

As they raise their guns, intending on shooting me, I hold up both of my hands, and then I let out a loud cry, as my magic swiftly and rapidly shoots out. It does exactly what I wanted, and as each guard falls to the ground, I slowly drop my hands.

For just a moment, I stare at the dead bodies scattered all around, seeing their blood splattered all over the walls and floor, but I don’t let it affect me. Too much is at stake to stop and think about all of the lives I’ve taken, no matter if they deserved it or not. Now, isn’t the time to think about my guilt, so I push it down, and then, walk through the piles of dead bodies.

Right as I reach the end of the massacre, I hear one of the guards groaning. Frowning, I bend down, and then pull a body off of the guard. As I reach down to take off his helmet, he cries out, while pleading, “Please, God. Don’t kill me. Please, I have a family.”

Pulling him up by his caviler vest, I demand, “Tell me where my mate is.”

“I don’t know. I don’t know. Please, don’t kill me,” he sputters in between his cries.

Disgusted by his lack of bravado, I slam him back down, and then, I snap my fingers, making his neck break. Seeing his lifeless eyes, gazing up at me, I claim, “Mercy is only given to those that would give it firsthand.”

Standing, I will my magic to settle, as I try to use the mating bond to find Malik. It’s not like it was before, but I instantly realize it’s like something is blocking me from him. While I feel him, and that he’s still alive, I can’t sense anything else.

But then, I notice something that I don’t fully understand at first. The force I’m sensing is magic, and although it seems familiar, the source is unknown. However, it only takes me mere moments to figure out what I’m feeling, and once it all clicks, I follow the trail.

The magic I’m feeling, it has to be coming from The Facility’s own witch.

Letting my instincts guide me, I walk through the maze of hallways, ending more guard’s lives, as I go. When I finally reach a door, I tilt my head to the side, as I inspect the strange magic behind it. It’s like the witch has the entire room spelled, so that no one can enter, or no one would be able to sense anyone inside.

That just won’t do.

Stepping back, I lick my lips, and then call my magic to come forward once more. I close my eyes, as it swirls around inside of me, and I’ve never felt more powerful. For just a single moment, I understand why the witch that caused The Dark Ages did what she did.

Powerful magic like mine is addictive, and if I’m not careful, I could turn into something that no one wants to witness. I could fall into the bliss of magic, and then, become even more powerful than I am in this very moment.

But then, I realize Malik must be on the other side of this door, so I quickly snap out of my power high.

Shaking my head, I focus solely on taking the door down. It takes a few seconds, before my magic begins to do what I want it to, and when it does what I command, the door and wall instantly dissolve away.

The first thing I notice, when I walk inside, is Malik sitting in a chair, and I realize he’s out cold. Clenching my jaw, I snap my gaze away from him, although I’m grateful that he’s not dead. It’s a bittersweet moment, because everything that he’s done recently comes rushing back, and then, I relive every single emotion that he made me feel within the past few hours.

His betrayal is what sticks with me the most.

Blinking back the tears that try to come, my heart begins to race, as I notice two others inside the same room with me. The moment I see Dr. Stein, rage unlike anything that I’ve ever felt before, hits me so hard that I stumble back.

“My dear, Melena. I’m afraid that you’ve chosen the wrong side,” he sadly says, and for just a second, I wonder if he’s truly upset about it. He looks almost crestfallen by this fact, even though, I don’t understand why.

My attention is suddenly on the other person in the room, as she moves behind the doctor, and then she gazes at me, like she knows who I am. “My darling, you’re too late to stop me now.”

Standing still, my head begins to pound, like it did, when I saw Alrick for the first time. Using my hand, I reach up, and then rub my temples, as the pain crashes through me. Unable to stop looking at the witch, I shake away the pain, because I have to protect Malik from her.

Something deep inside of me is telling me that she’s here to kill him right before my eyes.

However, the pain increases to the point that I can barely stand, which means I’m distracted. The witch uses the opportunity to send a surge of her own magic towards me, and it hits right where she intended.

Her magic is so strong, and as it sends me flying out of the room, I gasp loudly, once I hit the wall behind me. Dropping down onto the floor, I cough again and again, as I try to catch my breath. Heaving in a deep breath, I raise my head, so that I can look up. The moment I meet the witch’s gaze, she smiles widely, and then, she glances to my mate.

“No, not him. Please, not him!” I cry out, realizing what she’s intending on doing.

As I look to her, and then to my mate, I know that if I don’t do something now, she’ll kill him. He’s no match for her, especially, since he’s unconscious. Honestly, I don’t know if he could take her down, while in wolf form either. Her powers are much stronger than I thought, and for the first time, I really and truly wonder, if I’m who people claim I am.

If I’m the most powerful witch, then how is it that she was able to hurt me so easily?

Knowing that I have no other choice, I clench my jaw, as I force all of my powers to come forward. What I’m doing, it just might kill me, because I know to never use this much magic at once. I run the risk of depletion, which could mean anyone would have the perfect chance to kill me, or stand over me, watching while my life drains out of my body.

However, as I gaze at my mate, I remember how loved I am. I remember how amazing it is to be held, comforted, and most of all, how it feels to have someone like Malik in my life. He’s brought meaning, when there was nothing but darkness. He gave me hope, and then made me realize that I’m worth something.

So, if I have to die to save his life, then I’ll gladly do it.

Just as the witch reaches him, I call out to her. Gaining her attention, I grin widely, as I raise my hand. She instantly frowns, and then, before I can send the surge of power at her, she screams out, “Stupid girl.”

Ignoring her, I push the magic right for her, intending on killing her. Blinking away the darkness suddenly clouding my sight, I will myself to stay awake long enough to make sure that I ended her life. But then, I clearly see the witch, standing next to Dr. Stein on the other side of the room with a devious grin on her face.

“Better luck next time,” she states, as she glances down to her bleeding arm, and then, she suddenly vanishes.

Losing the battle on staying awake, I close my eyes, and then, my head slowly drops onto the floor. Right before I pass out, I call out to Malik, hoping that he’ll come to me. I’m not sure how the witch survived my blast, but it’s clear she’s more powerful than anyone realized.

Taking in one final breath, I wonder why she looked and felt so familiar.

Reagan

Leaning against the bus, I gaze out into the woods, wondering where the others are. It’s been a long time now, since they left to free the others, and something is telling me that they’re in trouble.

I was there for their plan, and even heard all about Malik’s idea to bring in Melena without telling her beforehand. Shaking my head, that stupid wolf really thought it was a good idea to trade his mate, so she could take down The Facility from within. Sure, his plan sounded good at the time, but there’s so much that could’ve gone wrong. For one, Melena is probably on her way to kill him just out of spite.

I honestly don’t blame her.

It’s what I would’ve done if I were in her shoes.

Crossing my arms, I glance over to the side, and then shake my head, seeing Nick pacing. He’s been like this for a few hours, and I know he’s anxiously waiting for his pack to return. Ryker is also close by, waiting by the second bus a mile down the road. It was decided that they would spilt up, just in case the pack happened to get separated, once everyone on the inside was freed.

However, Nick seems on edge, and I know I’m the reason why they left him behind.

I need to find a way to stay far away from him, before they think he’s going insane.

Pushing myself off of the bus, I stand on the edge of the gravel road, as I stare into the woods. Something isn’t right, even though, I have no reason to think this way. I just have a gut feeling that they need help, and I know that there’s something I can do. It’s still not wise for me to drop my cloaking spell, but maybe, I can use it to my advantage again.

Giving a final glance to Nick, I wish I could let him see me. It’s a foreign sensation, wanting something so badly, but not being able to have it at the same time. He’s like the ultimate test, and it’s one that I’m not ready to face yet. I’m reminded of that, as I remember how much he gazes at me, even though, he can’t see me. Soon, his entire pack is going to think he’s losing his mind, because no one else can sense me, like he can.

Sucking in a breath, I turn back towards the woods, and then, I decide to make my way towards The Facility. A part of me thinks this is a dumb fucking idea, because I just might be giving myself over to those sick humans. But then, the other part, whispers that it’s my duty to help them. I would want someone to step in and free me, if I were in their position.

With my mind made up, I keep moving forward, knowing I could very well be walking into a trap.

Being extremely careful, I avoid making too much noise. Not to mention, I have to keep an eye out for anything that could touch me. If a twig were to just graze me, my spell will be broken. It only reminds me that I need to perfect my cloaking spell.

Thankfully, it doesn’t take me long at all to reach the building, but I do keep a distance, so that I can form a plan to sneak inside. Scanning the area, I notice the others, sitting within the forest for more cover, under the dark sky. Frowning, I instantly know that something is wrong. They should be inside by now, helping Melena and Malik. My stomach drops, and then fills with nervousness, as I realize that something bad has happened.

Which means that Malik wasn’t able to deactivate the gas.

Shit. This is bad.

Knowing I’m running out of time, I begin to walk forward, but then, I quickly stop, when I hear something coming up from behind me. Turning around, I shake my head, as I see Nick in his wolf form. He must’ve followed me, which is so stupid.

This is why I’ve avoided the mating bond.

It makes people do ignorant and irresponsible things, like follow their mate right into danger.

Shaking my head, I turn back around, knowing that I can’t make him stop following me. He’s just doing what his instincts tell him, and maybe, he could be of some use. But now, I definitely need another way inside, since with the wolf following me, I can’t just walk in through the front door, like I had planned.

This is why I always work alone.

Now that Nick can be seen, I make sure to back track behind the pack, hoping that they don’t see or scent him. If they do, they could alert The Facility, and I don’t think it’ll be a good idea to start a war with them right this second. Even though, it’ll take me longer to get inside, I still go through with my plan just to be sure Nick isn’t hurt.

Once I make it to the back of the building, I notice a security camera, hanging above the entrance. Making sure Nick isn’t in its view, I think about what I should do. Nick is obviously going to keep following me, and alerting the enemy is out of the question.

I have to take out that camera to avoid more trouble, so I follow the wires that’s feeding its power. After a few moments, I find its source, and then, I quickly use my powers to shut it off.

It doesn’t take long, before I’m satisfied that the coast is clear, so I move towards the back door. Flicking my wrist, it unlocks, and then slowly swings open. Before I can go inside, the wolf rushes forward, and I have to clench my jaw shut, so that I don’t call out to him. I waste no time going in after him, because he could be walking right into a trap.

Sometimes, I wonder about the level of intelligence of these wolves.

However, the moment I step inside, I instantly stop. The wolf whines low, as I realize that Melena was indeed here. Her magic has a very distinctive trace, and I don’t think one wolf could’ve caused all of this. She’s left countless bodies in her wake, and even I’m surprised by all of the carnage. For a moment, I consider leaving, because there doesn’t seem to be any humans left alive to turn on the gas.

But then, I hear footsteps, so I decide to follow them.

Making my way down the halls, the wolf sticks close by my side. It’s actually nice to have someone watching my back, even if he doesn’t fully realize it.

After walking down a few more halls, I catch wind of the guard, heading straight to a room. Upon closer inspection, I curse in my head, as I see he went inside of the security room. Anyone with a working brain would know why he’s going in there. Just as I’m about to walk in behind him, I hear whispering coming from behind me.

Jerking my gaze towards the noise, I curse once more, because they’re survivors. Once I spot Sameria, I realize they’re most likely trying to escape, and if that guard activates that gas, then they’ll be captured once again.

Having no other choice, I go inside of the security office. The moment I do, I instantly spot the guard over by some sort of computer. My instincts scream at me to do something to stop him, and right as I’m about to do so, the wolf growls, and then attacks the guard.

Well, that was much easier than I thought it would be.

Rushing over to the computer, I sigh in relief, once I realize the guard didn’t have a chance to activate the devastating gas. Turning around, pride rushes through me, as I watch Nick end the guard’s life without any hesitation whatsoever. For a single second, I think about dropping my spell, just so that I can kiss the shit out of him. Who knew watching my mate do what he does best could make me want him even more than I already do.

Before I can act on my own needs, I’m distracted by a loud crash nearby. Frowning, I quickly leave the room, searching for the source of the noise. But nothing, and I mean nothing, could prepare me for what I see, once I’m back out in the hallway.

Melena lays so still on the ground, while there’s a huge dent on the wall behind her. My guess is that something or someone tossed her right into the wall, and the force was so strong, that it definitely left its mark. Hearing the wolf whine low, I hope he knows not to fucking move an inch.

Something isn’t right, and the power I sense coming out of the room Melena flew out of, makes my entire body freeze. It only takes me a few seconds to place why I’m so stunned by this power, and when I do, my anger spikes to an all-time high.

The witch responsible for the death and destruction of my entire coven is in that room.

So blinded by my own need for vengeance, I don’t even notice Melena casting her own counter spell. When I do, I watch with wide eyes, as she pulls all of her magic into one blast, and I know where it’s going, before she finally releases it.

It happens so fast that I can’t stop it.

Honestly, no one could stop that ball of magic, except Melena.

As she flops down on the ground, I know she’s depleted herself. No one could use that much magic and still be conscious. Taking a huge risk, I go to her, hoping that she’s not dead. I’ve never sensed so much power from a single witch before, and it’ll be a miracle, if she’s even still alive.

Bending down, once I reach her, I keep my gaze inside of the room, making sure that fucking witch is dead. But then, I frown, because there’s no body, or any indication that she’s indeed dead. The only one in the room is Malik, and by the looks of him, he needs some serious help, too.

Turning my attention back to Melena, I have to act fast, if I want to save her life. However, I notice the wolf making his way over to me, and I know that if I try and save Melena, I’ll out myself. Having no other options, I glance down, realizing that the entire pack is about to know who I am.

But then, I spot some small debris on the floor, so I use my powers to send it flying by Malik. The noise quickly alerts the wolf, and I let out a sigh in relief, once he rushes towards his Alpha. Thank God the wolves will do anything to protect Malik, so now, I can try and save Melena.

Sitting up on my knees, I roll up my shirt sleeve, and then hold my hands over her still body. While the wolf tries to wake Malik, I close my eyes, and then begin sending healing power through me and into Melena. The more power I force out of me into her, the more I feel myself weakening.

This would be so much easier, if I had someone else to take power from. Some would claim that I’m a siphon, since I can take powers from others, but I know that it’s not true. I’m more of a conduit, and I’m much different from siphons, because I only transfer powers into others. It’s a special gift to be able to give powers to others, and most of the time, it doesn’t affect me at all.

But since I’m giving Melena my own magic, it’s draining me much faster than I had hoped.

Right as I’m close to passing out, I hear a groan, and the sound makes me snap my eyes open. That’s when I notice Malik moving, and the wolf stands beside his Alpha for extra help and protection.

Pulling my hands away from Melena, I make sure my cloaking spell is back up, and that it’s solid, before I slowly get up. I know Malik will find his mate shortly, and all will be okay with them. Even if Malik technically betrayed his mate, I have faith they’ll work it out.

Knowing how fast my energy is waning, I glance towards my beautiful wolf one last time. In a way, I’m grateful for the stupid wolf for following me, because without his help, none of this would’ve been possible.

However, it still doesn’t change my mind about revealing myself, so I turn my back towards them, and then, I leave from the way that I entered.

Malik

Running a hand through my hair, I try to shake off the effects of the magic that bitch used on me. When I followed the doctor into his office, I had no idea what was waiting for me on the inside. Which is how that witch was able to catch me off guard, and I’m surprised that she didn’t kill me.

As the wolf howls in my head, I cringe at the sound, because he’s so fucking loud. At the same time, I hear barking. Thinking it’s my own wolf, I beg him to shut up, so that I can get my bearings. But then, I feel something heavy, laying on my lap, and when I finally focus, I realize it’s Nick in his wolf form.

Petting him gently, I ask, “What are you doing here?” When he turns his head, and then barks, I follow his directions.

That’s when I see her, lying so still on the floor.

I instantly jump up out of the chair, as my heart pounds in my chest. The only thought going through my mind is that my mate is dead, and there’s nothing I can do about it. The wolf howls and then whines, which only adds to my own agony. Reaching her, I don’t even hold back the tears that fall down my face, as I lightly touch her.

Her hands are ice cold, and for just a moment, grief and guilt overwhelm me.

I should’ve never placed her in this fucking place again, even if it was the right move. I should’ve kept her by my side, so that I could’ve protected her from all of this madness. Pulling her into my lap, I let out a loud cry, as I hold my mate’s body. Using my fingers, I brush her hair off of her face, and then, I caress her cheeks, hoping that she’s still here with me.

However, she’s so still and cold to the touch, and I know she’s not here anymore.

Hearing Nick’s cry close by, I refuse to accept that my mate is dead. There’s no fucking way it’ll end this way, and I just can’t even think of never seeing her again. I can’t imagine my life without her, right by my side. All I ever wanted was to love and protect her, and yet, I’m the reason why this happened.

There’s no one else to place my blame, because I know this was my doing. The second that I realize this, I want to die right by her side.

I did this to her, and I’ll never forgive myself for it.

Even the wolf continues to howl out his grief for our choices, and I’m right there with him. My pain mixes with his, and my entire body feels its wrath. Sucking in a deep breath, I close my eyes, as I use our mating bond to try and sense her.

I’m not sure how long I sit here, holding my mate’s body close to me, before I feel a hand, laying on my shoulder. Glancing up, I have to blink a few times to clear my vision, before I realize it’s Reid, standing over me.

“She’s dead. I killed her,” I utter, and then a wave of sorrow and misery race through me.

“Give her to me, Malik. It’s okay. I promise to take care of her.”

Shaking my head, I claim, “No, you’ll do no such thing. She’s mine.”

As he bends down, I see how much this is affecting him, too. For the first time, I’m seeing his own pain, regrets, and even a bit of sorrow, staring right back at me. “Trust me, brother. I’ll keep her safe, so we can get out of this place.”

Hearing footsteps, I hold Melena closer, as I turn my gaze towards the sound. The moment I see Sameria, Ryker, Jace, and Axel, I know they’re here for me, too. They’re here to make sure that I don’t do something foolish, like turning Rogue. Honestly, I get it now why wolves turn Rogue, once their mates die. The pain is unbearable, and I don’t think I’ll survive without giving myself over to the wolf.

Even now, I sense the wolf offering me a way out, and how it’ll be alright to let go. Fuck, I want to, I really want to, but then, Sameria calls out to me. “Don’t you fucking do it.”

Frowning, I roughly ask, “Why not? Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.”

“Because, Malik,” she starts, and then lays a hand on Melena’s chest. “She’s still here with us.”

Shaking my head, I state, “No, she’s gone. I can’t feel our bond anymore, so I know what that means.” As I say the words, I know it’s true. Where our bond once was, now all that’s left is an empty black hole.

“She is alive,” Sameria tries once more. “Let go of your grief and guilt for just a moment and feel her. I can still sense her magic, and that means she’s still here.”

A single tear rolls down my face, as I glance down at my stunning mate. For a long while, all I can do is gaze at her and her beauty. Even in death, she’s still exquisite to look at, and the longer I stare at her, the more I begin to feel something within our bond.

It’s so faint that I can barely sense it, but it’s there.

Letting out a small laugh, I realize that Sameria is right, and Melena is still here with me. Her life force is barely there, but it means she’s fighting to stay alive. Leaning down, I place a kiss on her forehead, and then, I hold her tight, as I stand. My pack gazes at me, as I begin to walk down the hallway with Melena in my arms, as I lead them outside.

Once I make it out of the doors, the wolf sighs, because he’s starting to sense the bond as well. I’m still in a state of shock, because I truly thought my mate had died. However, as I hold her tight to my chest, I know there’s a way to bring her back to what she once was.

I just have to have patience that she’ll return, when she’s ready.

Melena

Opening my eyes, I instantly sit up straight, as my surroundings come into focus. Looking around the area, I frown, because this doesn’t seem right. I’m sitting on a concrete alter of some sort, and the air isn’t what I expected it to be. It feels warm and calming at the same time, and a wave of peacefulness races through me. Gazing out into the distance, I grin, seeing how beautiful the landscape is. There’s even a bright, blue sky with clouds, and a sun, shining down on me.

It’s so strange to be here, sensing all of this, and for just a moment, I worry that I might have died.

“You’re safe here, child,” a soft voice speaks, and I turn my attention towards it.

As the woman approaches, my eyes widen, because I can see right through her. I can still make out her features, and as I gaze into her violet, opaque eyes, I realize she’s here to comfort me. It’s a sense that I have, and for some reason, she reminds me of Ruby.

“Are you a ghost?” I ask, because if she is, I never knew they really existed.

The transparent figure lets out a laugh, and the sound makes me feel so safe and comforted at the same time. “I’m not a ghost, but I’m also not from your world anymore.”

“Where am I exactly?”

The woman finally reaches me, and then, she lays a hand on my shoulder. I must be under some sort of spell, or I’m hallucinating, because I swear that I can feel her hand, as if it’s real.

“Do not fret, child.”

“No offense, but I’m sort of freaking out here. What is this place?”

As the woman gazes out into the distance, I look in the same direction, realizing everything seems coated in white now. It’s still not cold or hot, but it’s the perfect temperature. There’s no wind, or awful smells that I’m used to, and the longer I think about it, I begin to realize where I am.

“I died, didn’t I?”

“Not yet, but you do have a choice to make, Melena.” Holding her gaze, she adds, “This is the place where all souls go, before their choice is made. Think of it as a pit stop.”

Instant realization flows through me, as I say, “Which means I can’t stay here.”

“You would be correct. This place isn’t made for someone close too life and death.”

Nodding, I instantly think about Malik, and what he must be feeling right now. If he’s awake, then he’ll know that I’m close to death, or he might even think that I’m already dead. Reaching up, I place my hand over my chest, feeling my heart breaking into pieces. If I die, then that means that I’ll never see him again. I’ll never feel his touch, his kiss on my lips, or the way it feels to be loved by someone so strong.

As much as I wish I could hold onto the anger for him betraying me, I find that I can’t do it anymore. I’ve spent so much of my life holding onto anger, and I wonder what life could be like not to do that anymore.

Surely, it’ll be a better and happier life, if I let it all go, right?

But then, I remember all of the bad shit that not only I went through, but also, the things that I’ve done to others. I’ve cheated, lied, and even killed others in the name of our conquest. Was it right to do all of those things just to live another day?

Do I even deserve to live, knowing what I’ve done, especially recently?

Clenching my jaw, I think about all of the humans I murdered. Deep down, I know that there was another way to do what was needed, but I chose to take their lives. I took that away from them, as if it meant nothing.

Honestly, that can’t just slide without some sort of punishment.

Looking back up to the woman, standing beside me, I ask, “Do you think I could be forgiven for all that I’ve done?”

She gives me a small smile, before tucking my hair behind my ear. The action makes me remember all of the times, when I was a child, and my mother would do the same thing to me. Even if I can’t remember her face, I know it was her. I can even smell her sweet perfume, and just how it felt to be cared for.

“One only gets forgiveness, if they are willing to forgive themselves.”

Unsure of what she means, I shake my head, and then say, “What’ll happen, if I decide to let it all go?” Her eyebrows furrow, as if she doesn’t fully understand what I’m saying, so I add, “If I die, where would I go?”

“I cannot tell you that, my child.”

“What if I go back?”

“Is that what you want?” She asks somberly, and I clench my jaw tightly, as I find the words to answer her. “Don’t think about the bad, Melena. You are so special, and I know the world will suffer, if you don’t return.”

Closing my eyes, I let out a heavy sigh, knowing what she means. “It’s true then. I am the only one that can stop this darkness from claiming everyone in its path.”

“I’m afraid so,” the woman states, and I wish it weren’t true.

Out of all the people in the world, why is it me? How am I any different than the other witches out there? Surely, there’s someone else that can fill this role that’s beginning to weigh heavily on me.

“Melena, this is your destiny, as it’s been written way before your time.”

Frowning, I ask, “So, all of this, is predestined to come true?”

“Yes, child. I know it’s a lot to take in, but I have faith in you. Your mate has faith in you, as well as his pack.”

Turning around, I face her, and then ask, “How do you know all of this?”

As she gives me a wide smile, she says, “Once you wake, speak to Luna. She will tell you all you want to know about me.”

Glancing away, I utter, “That means, I’ll remember all of this and this place.”

The ghostly figure doesn’t respond, but she doesn’t give me any indication that she’s going anywhere. For a long while, she stays by my side, until I can come to a decision on what to do. It’s a huge choice to make, and I realize it would be easy to anyone else. However, this life that I’ve lived has been full of misery, pain, and utter disappointment.

The only wonderful thing to happen to me, is the moment I met my mate.

Malik.

The first time that I saw him, I thought he was my enemy. Turns out, he was only trying to save and protect me. We’ve come a long way from that moment, and from the time I saved him at the cabin, to him giving me hope that I’m exactly where I need to be.

I think about all of the times he and I were together, and how great of a team we made. Every single emotion he made me experience is something out of this world, because I’ve never felt anything close to what he makes me feel, before I met him. He’s a special man with special abilities that made me fall hard and fast for him.

But then, I wonder what life would be like without him. It doesn’t take me long at all to realize that I can’t go through life without Malik. I can’t even imagine never meeting him, and I honestly count myself lucky that I did.

Even now that I’m so close to death, I sense our bond, deep inside of me, trying its hardest to grow stronger than ever before. The sensation of warmth and true love makes me smile, because I know it’s Malik, forcing his own life and magic into me. He’s fighting so hard to keep me here, and to show me how much he needs me, too.

A single tear begins to roll down my cheek, as I finally make my decision.

Turning towards my guide, I swallow hard, before stating, “I’m ready now.” She gazes at me with love and a bit of regret, as I ask, “Can you tell me how I can get back to my mate?”

She nods, and then places a hand over my chest, while saying, “The bond you and your mate share is one of the strongest that I’ve ever felt before. It’s pure in nature, and I sense how much your mate longs for you.”

Another tear falls, as I hear her speaking about Malik and our bond. It’s truly an amazing experience to have found my mate, and to be able to share a life with him.

“I want you to think of your bond now, child. Believe in it, hold onto that sensation, and then, you’ll find yourself back in his arms.”

Frowning, I ask, “Is it really that simple?”

“Yes.” She claims, and then adds, “It’s as easy as breathing. Especially, for you, Melena.”

Once she removes her hand off my chest, I quickly ask, “Will you tell me why I’m the savior?”

“All will be revealed, when it’s time,” she cryptically says, and then, I realize she’s disappearing. My stomach drops, thinking that I’ll be left here all alone, and she must sense my worry, as she softly utters, “Worry not, child. You’ll see your mate very soon.”

Right as she vanishes completely, I mutter, “Thank you.”

When I feel a soft caress on my face, I smile, knowing the woman heard me. Whoever she is, I just have a feeling she’s one of the purest souls that I’ve ever met. It’s just a shame that I don’t know who she is, or what she is. Remembering what she said about Luna, I make a mental note to speak to her.

With a renewed sense on life, I take a deep breath, as I take in this strange, but yet, peaceful place. For a moment, I almost decide to stay here, where I’m safe, and I don’t have to worry about anyone’s judgement, or their own hate. There’s no evil force coming for me here, and there’s no reason to fight.

But then, I realize that it’s cowardly to stay here. Not only that, but it’s selfish to even think of staying. If I’m destined to stop this evil from consuming the world, then I’ll be the one to do it. Even if I don’t fully believe in myself, I do know that I have my wicked wolf, waiting for me to make me see it.

Closing my eyes, I think of him now, and then, I sense our bond once more. Holding onto every single sensation that flows through me, I take in one final breath, hoping that this actually works.

It would be one hell of a joke, if it doesn’t.

Malik

The entire pack has stayed by my side, since the moment I returned back to the den with Melena.

While I appreciate their support, I also know that they’re mainly here to make sure that I don’t turn Rogue. Sameria is quick to stop me each and every time I even consider it. Thankfully, the wolf hasn’t offered me the choice again, and it’s like he knows everything will work out.

I wish I had the same optimism.

It’s been days, since we left The Facility, burning in our wake, and I’m starting to think it was all for nothing. What’s the point in saving everyone else, if I drown in my own pain and misery? I’ve always prided myself for doing the right thing, and I always put my pack’s needs first.

But what about what I want and need most of all? Without my mate, I just can’t seem to find a reason why it all matters anymore.

As the wolf whines low in my head, I frown, because I sense he’s trying to gain my attention. Closing my eyes, I see him, standing before me deep inside of my mind. Bending down, I open my arms, once he steps closer to me. As he lays his head on my shoulder, I realize this is his way of trying to comfort me, while we wait for Melena to wake up.

A part of me doesn’t want to hope that she will, because it’ll hurt less, if she doesn’t wake. But then, the other part reminds me of what Luna went through, when she was trapped in a vision. I hold onto her words more than ever now, because she claimed the mating bond saved her.

Surely, it’ll work for Melena and me, too.

Petting the wolf, I search for our bond, noticing it’s growing stronger than ever before. Sensing it, I smile, because I can feel my mate. It’s a bit strange, since it’s like only half of her is here with me, but I know it’s only because she’s so close to death’s door. I just wish that I could be there with her, so that I could help her stand against whatever she’s facing right now.

I’m not sure how long I stay here, leaning on my companion for strength. He just sits still, as his head rests on my shoulder, while I continue to run my hands through his dark coat. I’m not even sure if he realizes how much I needed this, and the fact that he’s willingly staying here next to me, shows me that we’ve come such a long way already. I know our relationship will only continue to grow from here, and the thought of him forgiving me for what I did to him, actually seems possible.

However, I know that I have to return soon. I don’t want to miss the second Melena wakes up, and then, there’s the fact that my entire pack is probably wondering what I’m doing. To them, it’ll look like I’m meditating, or like I’m asleep.

So, as much as I want to avoid the reality of my life, I lean back, and then gaze at the wolf, before I say, “Thank you.” I smirk, when he licks my cheek, and then he huffs, like he’s telling me to hurry up.

Letting out a chuckle, I stand, giving him one last pet, before I let myself return to the real world. The moment that I open my eyes, I instantly check on Melena. She still looks exactly the same way she did, when I saw her at The Facility, and it makes my stomach clench with fear. How much longer will she be in this state?

Hearing someone approaching by the bed, I glance over, seeing Sameria with a somber look on her face. But then, she lays a hand over Melena’s chest, and then claims, “It won’t be much longer now.”

“What are you sensing?” I ask, because surely, I would know if something had changed. While I sense our bond, it’s still in the growing stage, which means Melena must need a push or something to wake up.

“She’s getting stronger, yes, but I think you need to help her.” Narrowing my eyes, I have no idea what she means. “You need to give her a reason to return, Malik. Yes, she’s fighting to stay in this realm, but she also needs a reason to live.”

“So, you’re saying that even though I sense our bond and how strong it is, it won’t matter, if she doesn’t want to come back?”

The moment Sameria meets my gaze, my entire body freezes, because the look in her eyes tells me all that I need to know. Even if I know the answer, I still wait for her to tell me. “I’m sorry, Malik, but if she doesn’t want to live, then neither one of us can stop that. It’s ultimately up to her, not us.”

Jerking my gaze towards my mate, I clench my jaw, as the wolf lets out a whine, and then a howl at our new obstacle. I almost lose myself with my own fear of never seeing my mate again, and the thought that she would just give up spikes my anger. I’ve obviously failed my own mate, if she’s even considering letting go.

Jumping up, I lean over her still body, and then, I grab both of her shoulders, as I roughly state, “Don’t you fucking do this to me, Melena. Please, fight harder for me, because I need you. I can’t do this without you by my side.” I have to stop, as my own grief and guilt begin to consume me.

She wouldn’t be in this position, if I hadn’t given her to The Facility.

If I could, I would take it back, and then find another way inside. I never wanted to hurt her, and I truly thought she would understand why I did what I did. Which makes me see just how much I’ve failed her.

As I try to work through my own hurdle, the wolf begins to show me what I need to do. Listening to him closely, I frown, when I understand what he’s trying to tell me. The sensations and his intentions clearly tell me to push my own magic and life force through our mating bond, so I waste no time in doing so.

If it’ll save her, then I’ll do whatever I need, too.

Reaching up, I caress her cheek tenderly, and then with the wolf’s help, I begin to strengthen our bond even more than I thought possible. I sense how much it’s grown, since I met Melena, but now, it’s unbreakable. Now, our bond is at its strongest, and there’s nothing in this world, not even magic, that could alter it.

I never knew that mating bonds could literally save a life, and I wonder if anyone else realizes this, too.

After a few moments pass, I suddenly feel my entire body beginning to weaken. Not willing to give up, I push even harder, and the wolf is right there with me, fighting to bring our mate back to us. I’m not ready to give up, and I don’t think I ever will, unless I die, trying to save her.

She’s what matters, not me.

She’s the savior, so she has to live, even if it’s to just save everyone else.

Right as I sag forward, I feel hands grabbing me, and I have to blink away the black dots that dance in my vision. Seeing Reid beside me, I reach over, and then lay my hand over his, silently thanking him.

The second that I glance back to my mate, time seems to come to a complete stop. It happens so quickly, that for just a moment, I wonder if I imagined it. But then, I glance over to Sameria, then to Ryker and Luna, noticing they’ve yet to even blink.

Before I fully understand what’s going on, my entire body is suddenly replenished, and then, Melena gasps out loud, as she sits straight up in the bed. With wide eyes, I can’t seem to move, because I fear that I’m just imagining that this is happening.

But then, time picks up right back to where it stopped, and everyone in the room lets out a cry in relief.

As Melena clutches a hand to her chest, I grin widely, realizing that all of this is real. Wasting no time at all, I rush forward, and then pull her into my arms. She quickly wraps her arms around me, holding me tightly, and I’m grateful for it. I need to feel her all around me, and even though, I know she’s alive and she’s here, I still crave her warmth.

“I’m here, wicked wolf,” she softly claims, and I let out a laugh, because I never thought I would hear her call me that again.

Pulling back, I run my hands through her hair, and then cup her cheeks, as I huskily state, “Regina meis, you nearly destroyed me.”

She grins widely, as she says, “You started it.”

Unable to stop my laugh from escaping, I welcome the rush of her own emotions, flowing into me. I embrace each and every one, as if I’m retuning home for the first time. Honestly, that’s what she is to me.

She’s my home.

Without her, there’s nothing else in this world that matters.

As everyone in the room begins to cheer, I continue to gaze at my beautiful mate, hoping that she realizes how much she means to me. “I know,” she utters with a sly grin, and I can’t resist leaning in to claim her mouth.

Forgetting all about our pack mates, I devour her, until she’s left breathless, and her arousal spikes to the point of no return. My hands roam her body, and it’s like I can’t seem to get enough. Every single cell inside of me, screams to touch her, kiss her, and then, the wolf growls at me to mark her. However, I know that we have an audience, so I make a deal with the wolf to hold off for now.

Once she breaks our kiss, I lean my forehead on hers, and then say, “I’m so fucking glad you’re back.”

“I am, too.” When her hand touches my face, she guides me to look into her eyes, as she adds, “I love you, Malik, but if you ever betray me again, I’ll kill you.”

Seeing the humor in her gaze, I chuckle, as the entire room bursts out in laughter. “Trust me, regina meis, I’ll never do anything like that ever again. I swear to you, that I’ll find a way to make it up.”

Before she gets a chance to respond, Sameria interrupts us by grabbing Melena by the arm, and then pulls her in for a hug. “Don’t you ever do that to me again.”

Watching them, I sense how much Melena is glad she has Sameria as a friend. Actually, it’s more than that, and as I look deeper, I realize my mate considers Sameria as a sister. Not to mention, as everyone else takes their turns welcoming her home, I know that Melena has finally found her place in this world.

Every time a new pack mate hugs her, and then tells her how glad they are that she’s back, I feel her faith in herself growing. This is all that I’ve ever wanted for her, and I’m finally witnessing it for myself.

Even Reid expresses his own gratefulness that she’s back, which shocks not only me, but Melena as well. Watching him now, as he stands close by Sameria, I wonder if he’s finally seeing the truth for himself. There may be hope for him yet.

However, after everyone has their turn, welcoming my mate back, I stand, and then claim, “Alright, it’s my turn.” Most of them leave right away, but a few give me a cheeky grin, before following behind the others.

Once everyone is gone, I glance to my beautiful mate, gazing right at me with a wide grin. Smirking, I make my way over to her, and then climb in the bed, so that I can have her close to me.

Pulling her in close, I hold her as tight as I can without hurting her. For a long while, I keep her right here, unable to find the words that I want to say. The wolf and I are beyond thrilled that we have our mate back where she belongs, but the fear that we could’ve lost her still hangs in the air.

As she runs her delicate fingers up and down my chest, I take a deep breath, relishing how good it feels to have this once more. It feels different now though, since I came so close to never experiencing these wonderful sensations again. It makes me have a different perspective now, and I promise, that I’ll never take a single moment for granted.

When I begin to run my fingers through her hair, I softly ask, “Will you tell me where you were exactly?”

“I’m not sure, if I can explain it like it deserves, but I’ll try,” she responds, and I frown, sensing nothing but a wave of peace, flowing through her.

But then, she shows me through our special bond where she was.

The wolf instantly lets out a content sigh, as he sees what she’s showing us, too. It’s no wonder why she didn’t immediately return, because where she was, it’s the most calming place that I’ve ever witnessed before. There’s no pain, worry, or sorrow, and the only sensations I feel are love and tranquility.

Pride and utter devotion instantly race through me, because my mate left this so that she could return to me.

“It wasn’t that hard of a choice,” she jokes, and I can’t stop my own chuckle from escaping.

“Thank you for showing me, but I’m still wondering where you were.”

As she leans up, she gazes at me, and then states, “I saw a woman there, and she said it was like a pit stop, before making the choice to travel to the afterlife.”

Frowning, I ask, “Someone was there with you?”

“Yes, she seemed to be there to help me understand everything,” she says with a smile. “I’m not sure who she was, but I’m starting to remember what I’m supposed to do now that I’m back.”

“You mean, other than saving the entire world?”

She instantly lets out a loud laugh, and I can’t help myself from reaching over, and then caressing her cheek. I’ve missed seeing her smiling and just living her life. As she leans into my touch, I close my eyes, feeling how much she loves me.

Holding her gaze, I make damn sure she can feel just how much I’m grateful to have her back in my arms. I open myself up completely, bearing my soul just so that she understands just how deep my love for her goes. It’s not just about the mating bond, bringing us together. It’s deeper than that, so I vow to remind her every single day how much she means to me.

One day, she’ll fully understand just how much I love her, and until then, I’ll do everything in my power to prove it.

Melena

Three days later…

So much has changed, since I returned back to my life with Malik.

I have no doubt that I made the right choice returning, but it also seems that being mated to The Alpha doesn’t give us much time to recover. There’s been a lot of adjustments needed, since the survivors from The Facility were brought here.

Malik and I decided to offer them a safe haven here with our pack, if they so choose. To us, our pack isn’t just for wolves anymore, but it’s for everyone that needs a home. A lot of them have opted to stay, but some, wanted to go back to their families.

Ruby, unfortunately, was one of the ones that opted to leave, once she was freed of her bracelet. Sameria told me that the second Ruby was free, she up and disappeared without a trace. While I know Ruby can take care of herself, I still worry about her. However, I’ve decided to give her space for a few more days, before I use my magic to find out where she is.

Not to mention, Ivy is still nowhere to be found. I remember Ruby telling me that she was off with her source, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to get a beat on her. I worry a lot for Ivy, because of what she is, and how important she is to me. I can only hold onto hope that she’s alright, and that she’ll let me know soon that she’s okay.

Thankfully, everyone was on board with our plan, and I’m proud of our pack mates for opening their arms, and even their rooms to our new members. Not to mention, with Malik appointing Thrasher as the new Beta, it’s only given the pack more faith in him.

It only proves that they all see just how much we need each other.

Everything would be wonderful, if it wasn’t for my strange dreams. They started the very night that I woke up from my time in Limbo, and they don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. I’m not even sure why I’m having these dreams, so I’ve decided to speak with Luna. She and I have talked a few times already, and I’m glad she was able to shed some light on the woman that I saw, while I was in Limbo.

I would’ve never figured it out without Luna’s help, and it seems Katherine, one of the first original witches, is staying around to guide us, even though, she’s been gone for some time now. Luna claims that Katherine guides her, when she’s having a vision, and that’s how she was able to find me, when I was captured.

My hope is that Luna will be able to ask Katherine why I’m reliving the moment that I first saw the powerful witch at The Facility. It’s almost as if my mind is trying to tell me something, but I honestly have no idea what it could be.

Honestly, these dreams are starting to scare me, because I’ve noticed that my magic feels different. I don’t know for sure, but seeing that witch, and then visiting Limbo, has changed something deep inside of me.

Malik is quick to remind me that I’m just recovering, but I have my doubts.

As I make my way through the cave, I try to clear my mind, because overthinking and dwelling over my current situation isn’t going to help anyone. Right as I turn down a hall, I sense Malik, and then I smile, once I feel his happiness.

He’s off in wolf form, so I know he’s having a blast. Things seem to be getting so much better between the two, and I have high hopes that their relationship will only grow stronger. The wolf and the man have come such a long way, since I first met them, and I know they’ll be just fine.

Turning left, I instantly stop in my tracks, as I hear someone arguing. Frowning, as I get closer to the noise, I shake my head, realizing it’s Sameria and Reid. Unfortunately, once I get closer, they both spot me, and then, Sameria uses the chance to walk away.

I don’t claim to know what’s going on between them, but I do know Sameria looked utterly devastated, before she left. Watching her, as she makes her way back to where I just was, I slowly turn my gaze towards Reid. For a moment, he doesn’t meet my gaze, but when he does, my frown deepens. I can clearly see his regret and pain, staring back at me, but what I don’t understand is why he keeps pushing his own mate away.

Before I can ask him, he sighs, and then says, “She’ll be fine.”

Shrugging, I decide it’s not really any of my business. Sameria is a powerful witch, so if Reid keeps hurting her, then she’ll take care of him. I’m honestly still unsure of Reid’s true intentions, because of how he acted with Alrick. I still don’t trust him either, but he’s a part of this pack, whether I like it or not.

Having nothing to say to him, I begin to walk away. However, I don’t get to take one step, before he grazes my arm to gain my attention. Glancing down at his hand on me, I remind myself not to hurt him. I know he’s struggling with his own demons, so I’ll give him one pass.

The moment I look up, he instantly removes his hand. I guess, he’s smarter than he looks. “Did you need something?” I ask, because he seems like he wants to speak.

As he nods, I wait for him to spit it out already. He must know how I feel about him, because he’s starting to look worried. “I just wanted to give you this,” he finally utters, as he pulls out a folded piece of paper.

Taking it from him, I ask, “What’s this?”

“It’s the locations of some of the other Facilities.”

“How did you get this?”

He sighs, and then glances away, as he claims, “I stayed behind, after Malik left The Facility, when he thought you were dead. I wasn’t sure if anyone else remembered to get this information, and I’m glad I thought of it.”

Swallowing down the sudden lump in my throat, I really don’t want to remember Malik in that state. He still thinks about it sometimes, and I hate when he does. When he thought I had died, he almost lost himself. His grief and misery ate at him so much so that he wanted to die, too.

It’s something that’ll stay with me for a long time.

“Why are you giving this to me and not Malik?”

He refuses to look me in the eyes, as he says, “I thought this would be better.”

Nodding, I do get why he’d rather go through me. Malik and Reid were close growing up, and I’m not sure if Malik will ever forgive him for what he did. “Thank you for getting this. We’ll save so many others with this information.”

With a single nod, he turns around, and then I watch, as he walks away. Shaking my head, I wish I understood what’s going through his head. He’s clearly torn about something, but I haven’t the slightest idea what that could be.

Once he’s out of sight, I slide the paper into my back pocket, and then, I continue to search for Luna. However, once I make it to the door of her room, I instantly realize that she and Ryker are otherwise preoccupied. Smirking, I know they’ll be busy for a while.

I instantly think about Sameria, wondering if she needs someone to confide in. Just as I begin to go look for her, I notice Nick, coming down the hall. However, I realize that something is seriously going on with him. I know he’s been acting strange lately, but this, this is actually very concerning.

He’s looking to his right, and he’s speaking, as if he’s talking to someone. The thing is, no one is beside him. I’m the only other person that’s here, so who is he talking, too? Before I get a chance to go to him, he goes inside of a room, and then, I sense something pulling me in the other direction.

Following the pull, I blindly let it lead me, until I stop in front of the door that goes down to the holding cells. For a long while, I wonder why this force is telling me to walk through the door, and then go down towards the cells. The door even slightly opens, as if it’s beckoning me to move forward.

Reaching up for the door handle, I start to listen to the force, until I feel Malik once more. This time, he’s letting me know that he’s coming back, so I make sure to slam the door shut, tuning it out completely. Turning around, I force the strange and unfamiliar pull to the back of my mind.

Following the trail Malik leaves behind for me, I grin widely, as I walk inside of our bedroom. The second I shut the door, and then glance up, I instantly frown, seeing Sameria and Malik, sitting at the small table.

Making my way over to them, I get the feeling her visit isn’t a happy one. My stomach clenches, once I notice her red eyes from crying. Not only that, but the heartbroken look on her face, tells me all I need to know.

This has to be about Reid.

Once I reach them, I stand beside Malik, and he quickly wraps his arm around me, as I ask, “What’s going on?”

“Reid.”

I have to take in a deep breath the moment my mate utters the name, and I knew to trust my instincts about him. I’m assuming this has to do with, not only the fight I sort of witnessed, but how Reid still refuses to accept Sameria as his mate.

“Sameria is asking to leave the pack,” Malik somberly states, and even I know how hard that is for her. It seems all pointless really. Sameria has done so much for Malik and me, and she’s done nothing, but help us every step of the way.

But then, she meets her mate, the one person that’s literally made to make you feel whole, only to realize that he won’t accept her.

“Don’t give him the satisfaction, Sam. We all need you here, so please reconsider,” I try, hoping that she’ll take my advice.

“It’s not just because of him,” she sadly states, and I frown, unsure of what she means. “I see the way people stare at me, and I know exactly what they think about me.” Before I can tell her to forget about those assholes, she adds, “I don’t care what they think, but I’ll always be just a hybrid. It won’t matter what I do to save this pack, because they’ll always see me as a freak.”

She lets out a small laugh, as she claims, “It’s why he won’t mate with me. I’m too different for him.”

Malik instantly drops his hold on my waist, as I go to Sameria. Pulling her into my arms, I whisper, “I understand.” As she lets out a sorrowful cry, I hold her tighter, knowing and feeling exactly what she is.

I’ve seen firsthand what those stares look like. It’s how most of the pack still look at me, when I walk down the halls, or try to be around them. I know it’s not entirely their fault, since every wolf was taught that anything different was a threat. However, times are changing, so everyone must change their own opinions, so that we all may live a peaceful life.

“If leaving will give you what you need, then I give my blessing,” Malik says softly, knowing she needs to hear the words.

Sameria may be blood of his blood, but that’s not why she’s so loyal to him. It’s because she admires him and his strength. She’s seen for years, even when they were pups, that Malik is not only a good soul, but his heart is with his people.

Placing my hands on her shoulder, she leans back, and then quickly wipes away her tears. “Thank you to the both of you.”

“You’re welcome to come back anytime that you want. This is your home, Sameria,” I state firmly, because I want her to know that if she ever wants to return, she can freely.

As she begins to stand, I move back beside Malik. Laying my hands on his shoulders, I sense how much this pains him. I do my best to comfort him, but his pain runs deep. He’s always felt a sense of responsibility for Sam, and that goes beyond him being The Alpha.

Watching her, as she leans down to grab her bag, I hope that she finds what she’s looking for. I hate that she feels the need to go at it all alone, but this is her choice. Who am I to stand in her way?

“Before I go,” Sam says, as she faces us. “I thought you should have this,” she offers, as she hands over the yellow, glowing potion to Malik.

“You kept it?” I ask, shocked and surprised that it’s still here.

“It’s too powerful and unique to get rid of. Who knows.” She says with a shrug, “Someone might need it one day.”

“I’ll make sure it stays safe. It’ll never leave my sight,” Malik vows, and I smirk, knowing just what to do.

Using my magic, I create a special necklace, just for Malik. Once it’s created, I make it slowly fall back into my mate’s hand. When his confused gaze lands on me, I claim, “It belongs to you now, so it’s protected. It’ll also change with you, when your wolf wants to come out.”

“Regina meis, you’re utterly magnificent.”

Smiling, I take his complement to heart. Leaning down, I place a tender kiss on his lips, making sure he knows just how much I love him.

As I pull away, before things get too heated, I glance up, and instantly realize that Sameria left without saying goodbye. For a moment, I want to breakdown and cry, because I thought of her more than just a friend. She quickly became like a sister to me, and I’m saddened that she would leave without telling me goodbye.

“She’ll be back, regina meis,” Malik says, and I realize that maybe she didn’t want to say goodbye, because it isn’t an actual goodbye. Even knowing this, I still hate that she’s gone.

“Why don’t we visit our spot,” he offers, and he knows that I can’t resist going back to our place.

Nodding excitedly, I let out a squeal, as he jumps up, and then shifts. As the black wolf shakes out his coat, I grin, when he notices me. “Hey, big guy.”

His response is a playful bark, which in turn, makes me laugh. Beckoning him to follow me, we head out of the den, and then to our spot.

Laying in Malik’s arms, I gaze up at the bright sky, enjoying this moment. The wolf and I had a blast, as we made our way to our destination, but I couldn’t resist at all, when the wolf instantly changed back into a very naked Malik.

After I conjured a bed for us, he showed me more than once that I made the right choice coming here with him. This place is special to the both of us, because this is where the wolf started his journey of forgiveness.

Thinking back, I honestly thought that I would never see Malik again. The wolf seemed so content in keeping him locked away, but thankfully, Malik was able to make him see reason. It’s still amazing to see them co-existing in perfect harmony now.

Reaching up, I begin to play with his new keepsake. It’s smart to keep it safe, because with what’s coming for us, it may be of use. Malik holds me tighter, as he senses my distress, and it instantly makes me feel safer.

Now that I’m thinking clearly again, I realize that I forgot to give Malik the list of other Facility locations. Rolling over in the bed, I sense his confusion, as I lean over the bed, and then grab my jeans. Pulling them into my lap, he kisses my shoulder, as I pull out the piece of paper.

Handing it to him, I claim, “It’s the locations of some of the other Facilities. This is what will help us save everyone.”

As he takes it from me, I smile, as I feel his pride, flowing through him. “How did you get this?”

“Reid gave it to me,” I state with a smirk.

“There just may be hope for him yet,” he says, and I know he hopes that he’s right. “This is good, because now, we can combine forces with the sister packs, so that we can form a plan.”

Nodding, I state, “It’s a start.” However, no matter how much I agree with my mate, I also know that our fight is far from over.

When I feel his worry, I claim, “The witch behind the torture is a much bigger threat than I thought.” Pushing out a breath, I remember just how she kicked my ass, and how I nearly died, going up against her. “Her power is unlike anything that I’ve sensed before, and it worries me that I might not be the savior.”

“I know that Luna saw me being the one to save everyone, and I know that Katherine also confirmed it, too.” Shaking my head, all of my doubts suddenly rise up inside of me. “She took me down with one hit, Malik. Just one. Mine barely put a scratch on her, so I don’t know how I’m supposed to save anyone.”

His hand is instantly cupping my cheek, and then, he guides me to look at him. His hand never moves, as he states, “I believe in you, Melena. I’ve seen and felt the power inside of you, and I know that the fight ahead seems impossible to beat.” He quickly licks his lips, as he adds, “But you have to believe in yourself, too.”

“I know that you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, and that’ll be the defining factor. You’re willing to put everyone else before yourself, so that they may live, so tell me, why wouldn’t someone with such a good heart and soul, defeat this evil?”

Leaning my forehead on his, I whisper, “You really have that much faith in me?”

“I do, regina meis, and I’ll remind you every single day that I do, if that’s what you need.”

Taking in his powerful words, I can’t help but to already feel the effects of it. I know he means every single one of them, too. Not only can I hear it in his words, but I feel it within his soul. Even the wolf howls out his own agreement, which makes me believe it even more.

“As long as you’re by my side, we’ll face whatever lies ahead of us. No matter how hard or terrible things may become, I’ll stand by you, Melena. You’re my heart and soul, so wherever you go, I’ll be right there with you.”

“Together forever,” he adds in my mind, and I close my eyes, loving the sound of that.

Just him and I, together forever.

Thank you so much for reading The Predestined. I would be so grateful, if you would leave a review of what you thought about the book. To leave a review, just click here.

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Okay, I’m going to get a little sappy for a moment. I have so many amazing people to thank, but I don’t want to forget anyone. Instead, I’m making this thank you for all of you. Firstly, I would not be here, doing what I love, if it were not for you, the reader. Thank you for taking a chance on me. I honestly don’t have enough words to express how grateful I am for you wanting to read my books. I hope you love it as much as I did, while writing it, and thank you again from the bottom of my heart for reading.

Secondly, to the wonderful ladies in my fan group. Thank you for sticking by me, when things weren’t going so well. Thank you for keeping me sane, and for all the laughs. Thank you for the naughty posts, as they were highly appreciated. You guys are absolutely amazing, and the love and support each and every one of you show me, is awesome. Ladies, you keep me going, and for that, I cannot thank you enough.

Thank you to my talented cover designer. Daqri, you nailed this design, and I’m so thrilled with how it all came together.

A huge thank you to my editor, Nikki. I honestly can’t thank you enough for all your hard work. I really appreciate every single thing you do for me, and not just as my editor. Your friendship means the world to me, and I love you, babe.

Linda, you’re such a great new asset to my team, and I’m so grateful to have you. Thank you for your hard work, and most of all, your honesty.

Last but not least, thank you to my husband. All of your support will never go unnoticed, and everything you do to help me complete a book. Thank you for giving me the free time, when I need it the most. I appreciate all that you do for me, babe.

Worshipped Series

Worshipped-book one

Betrayed-book two

Redeemed-book three

The Harlow Brothers Series

Carter-book one

Caden-book two

Caleb-book three

Carter and Shelby: Ever After (A Harlow Brothers Series Novella)

Clark-book four (coming soon)

Cason-book five (coming soon)

Standalone Novels

Temptation

Addiction

Infatuation

The Transcendent Series

The Foreseer

The Vow (coming soon)

Brie Paisley was born and raised in a small town in Mississippi, and now, she currently lives in different locations, due to her husband being military. She wanted to write at a young age and was always filling journals with her thoughts and short stories. Brie started with an idea for her debut novel a few years ago, and with the encouragement of her husband and sister-in-law, she was able to write and publish her first book. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading a good book, watching a good movie, or spending time with her wonderful husband and beautiful daughter.

Facebook: @authorbriepaisley

Instagram: @authorbrie_paisley

Twitter: @author_brie

Table of Contents

- Chapter One-Melena
- Chapter Two-Malik
- Chapter Three-Melena
- Chapter Four-Reagan
- Chapter Five-Melena
- Chapter Six-Malik
- Chapter Seven-Melena
- Chapter Eight-Reagan
- Chapter Nine-Melena
- Chapter Ten-Melena
- Chapter Eleven-Malik
- Chapter Twelve-Melena
- Chapter Thirteen-Reagan
- Chapter Fourteen-Melena
- Chapter Fifteen-Malik
- Chapter Sixteen-Melena
- Chapter Seventeen-Malik
- Chapter Eighteen-Melena
- Chapter Nineteen-Reagan
- Chapter Twenty-Malik
- Chapter Twenty-One-Melena
- Chapter Twenty-Two-Malik
- Chapter Twenty-Three-Melena