I don’t have to tell Emeric to guard Lumi with his life. He will. So will Rowena. They are the only people in the world I fully trust. The rest of the Moonlight wolves are good allies, but I would never trust them with Lumi.
I shift before letting out a commanding howl that I know every alpha within a hundred-mile radius can hear. The other alphas don’t like to be ordered around, but when they are in my territory and I’m the only one powerful enough to break the curse, they have no choice but to listen.
Quickly, I jog to the outskirts of my territory, the usual meeting place where the alphas convene after every full moon. Usually, we meet to discuss what needs to be done at the next ceremony. If there is someone we are missing who needs to be presented in the offering. Trying to convince one of the witches with seer powers to tell us another part of the prophecy.
Not this time.
I’m the last to reach the clearing in the middle of the forest. The fourteen other alphas are all standing in a circle, refusing to turn their backs to any other alpha. They each dig their claws into the dirt below them and alternate growling and baring their teeth at one another.
I sigh as I shift into my human form. The others stay in their wolf form, like that would somehow offer them protection against me.
“Come on, guys. We need to talk,” I say lightheartedly, trying to avoid giving another alpha command. But I’ll do it if they don’t shift willingly.
Nyx shifts into his cold, unsettling human form. “You want to talk about how I found your mate, and you weren’t strong enough to convince her to complete the marking ceremony?”
I ignore him completely as I wait for the others to shift. But either smartly or stupidly they remain in their wolf forms, knowing that a fight is about to ensue.Cowards.
“And how do we know it wasn’t your doing that prevented me from being able to mark her? You are the type who would find a way to break the curse and then spell her so you can control when the curse is broken,” I say.
The others turn on Nyx, growling and snarling in his direction.
Cool calmness remains on Nyx’s features as he holds me in his steady gaze. “And why would I do that when I am as desperate as anyone here to break the curse as soon as possible?”
I don’t have an answer for him, but Nyx is up to something.
“I told you to leave if you wanted to live. The fact that you’re still alive is proof of my benevolence for finding my mate. Take your pack and leave before my kindness runs out.”
“So, she is your mate?” Baelor says as he shifts into his human form.
“Yes, Lumi is my mate. And at the next full moon, I will mark her and break the curse.”
“Not without a challenge to prove that she’s your mate. That’s how it works, right? The challenge is supposed to ensure that the feelings you feel are correct, right?” Baelor says, his voice dripping in sarcasm.
“Baelor, I’m sorry—”
“You’re not fucking sorry! You didn’t lose your mate!”
“Adaluna wasn’t your mate!”
His eyes narrow at me, and I can see the shift in the tension of his body. I shouldn’t have said what I said, even if it’s the truth. But he has to face reality. We all need to stay focused if we are to break the curse.
Baelor’s pupils dilate, and his canines begin to sharpen. “I think you’re a coward.”
A hush spreads through the other alphas. Zephran, with his need for peace, tries to approach Baelor to calm him down, but I shake my head slightly. This is between me and Baelor.
“Don’t do this, Baelor. It’s not going to end well for you.”
He chuckles manically as fur begins to form down his spine, as he slowly continues his shift into wolf form.
“My life is already over. I can at least ensure that the others see how much of a coward you are. You aren’t the strongest among us, as you claim. When it comes down to it, you won’t sacrifice your mate for the marking. And even if you are strong enough to keep her alive through the marking, you won’t allow her to mark you in return and risk your own life. You’re nothing but a two-faced coward,” he says.
I wait until he fully shifts before I move. I give him every advantage I can, knowing it still won’t be enough. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. But as the alpha among alphas, I have no choice. I have to accept Baelor’s challenge. And I have to win, no matter the cost.
Chapter 13
Lumi
Light splinters through the window shades, flooding my room. My eyes squint open, and my body barely moves, begging me to go back to sleep. If the sun is any indication, I’ve slept most of the day, and there’s too much that needs to be done. There are too many unanswered questions. A curse needs lifting, and I need to talk to Ambrose—now.
