Gemma
Gemma’s mind raced constantly. She had to figure out a way to get out of the silver bonds and escape from her dungeon prison.
On the days too intense, she wanted to just quit trying, but the baby seemed to whisper encouragement to her. She focused on the life growing inside of her and the love she had for Theo. Without them, she would have died on the inside, just as Theo had done.
Although it was excruciating, she had to bide her time until her birthday. That was when the wolf shifters would let their guard down. They would also have to release the silver bonds. They needed her to be in her wolf form when they sacrificed her.
She prayed, if the moon goddess did exist, she would help Gemma. The baby, though a wee mite inside her, was also powerful and would help give her the strength to fight for their lives.
She continued to eat the food they brought her to keep up her strength, although she put up a great show of being listless and weak. She continued to stare at the walls, as before, with what appeared to be a blank stare. They thought that she had lost her will to fight. That would be to her advantage because they wouldn’t be guarding her as much. They believed she would simply go meekly to the sacrificial altar.
After what seemed like an eternity, the fateful night came. In reality, it was the night she had been waiting for her entire life. She would die as a sacrifice at the hands of her wolf shifter packmates, or she would no longer have to spend her life running and fighting. Either way, she would be free.
Before she discovered the baby, she wouldn’t have cared which form freedom came in. Now, though, she had something to fight for. Two somethings.
During the entire day, the female shifters had been coming with their small children, asking her to bless them. Gemma told them she was not a deity and she could not bless anyone. She told the mothers the best way to bless their children was to protect them, just as her mother had done, from all who would harm them.
Finally, when the moon was high in the sky, the shifter guards came for her. Zagon was among them.
“I have heard you have accepted your fate. That is good for you. It will make it easier for you,” he said.
“Go blow it out your ear,” Gemma said. “I made a deal with you because you held my only family prisoner.”
Zagon laughed. “Feisty to the end,” he said. “I like that.”
Just then, someone rushed in and pulled Zagon aside. He nodded and said to the guards, “Get her prepared and take her to the altar. There is a little problem I have to take care of.”
The guards grabbed her and cut the silver bindings from her arms and legs. Gemma rubbed the areas where they had been as the agonizing pain from being bound so long gradually subsided.
Gemma put her hand on the wall as the guards helped her to stand. She had been saving all her strength for tonight, but she was still weak.
When she stepped into the night air, she felt as though all of her strength had been fully restored. She looked up at the full moon, and she swore she could see the smiling face of the benevolent goddess who didn’t want her as a sacrifice.
As the guards led her away from the dungeon, she heard a roar that shook the ground. When she looked up, the skies were filled with dragons. They had launched a full attack on the wolf shifters. At the front was Theo.
Theo came to save me. He must have realized I’m his mate. This kind of fury doesn’t come from fulfilling a vow.
That thought gave Gemma even more strength. The baby radiated power inside of her. The moon goddess had given her physical strength. And now her love, her mate, was here to protect her.
Several buildings were half demolished. Vehicles and trees had been picked up and thrown about like a child throws his toys during a temper tantrum.
The dragons were using their wings to cause a huge windstorm that picked up the dust and flung it into the wolves’ eyes. Some of the dragons were swooping down and picking up the wolves and dropping them from huge heights.
Zagon was in the middle of the fray, ordering people about.
As Gemma stepped into the clearing, the wolves surrounded her, guarding her from the dragons. They must have their sacrifice tonight. All their fighting and hunting had been leading to this one evening where the sacred white wolf would join the moon goddess and give them power and strength. With this sacrifice, not even the dragons would stand a chance against the wolves’ strength.
One of the dragons swooped down, buzzing the guards like a low flying plane. Instantly, they broke rank.
Gemma took the opportunity to escape. She ran for all she was worth.
Theo spotted her. He turned sharply and flew toward her, his claws outstretched.
She reached toward him, not paying attention to what was behind her. Theo roared, and she wasn’t sure why.
He reached for her fingers when she was jumped by a wolf shifter from behind.
Instantly, Gemma transformed into a huge white wolf that glowed in the moonlight.
