Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Noah
The scent of male wolves closes in on me. If I don’t run now, no one will get out.
My wolf doesn’t want to leave my mate, though. Searing pain lances through the center of my heart, leaving that organ nothing more than a bloodied scrap.
I force myself to think of my mission. Of Liora. And Oriana, the sister I just met.
I shift, tearing through my clothing and letting it drop in shreds as I race after the women. To my left, further in the trees, there’s one acolyte wolf torn to the ground by enforcer wolves.
Fuck.
A quick glance over my shoulder shows another one captured further back.
I force some speed into my legs, tearing across the forest floor on four paws, following the scent of my mother and sister until I overtake them and one other acolyte.
They’re the only ones who got out.
Fuck. It’s a shit show.
Aster….
I lost Aster.
Forever.
I still don’t even understand what happened. All I know is that my wolf wants to stop and howl until he’s hoarse.
I force myself to keep running, leading the she-wolves off Adalwulf land to the other side of the highway and into the forest. From there, I keep parallel to the highway, running in a little stream to hide our scents.
We race through the water for miles before I deem it safe enough to come out then head another five miles north to the cabin where I first brought Aster.
Fate, no. I can’t even think about her.
She…left me.
She fucking abandoned me just like Liora. Chose remaining with the Moonborn over being my mate.
She betrayed me.
I feel the metal bars of a cage slam down around my chest, locking down all emotion. All capacity for connection. All trust.
I will trust no female again.
Not as long as I live.
I shift and unlock the cabin door with a key I’d hidden, flicking on the lights and ushering the she-wolves into the small space.
I don’t know if it’s safe here, but the women are exhausted, and we need to regroup.
I lead them in and yank on a pair of sweats.
The she-wolf I don’t know lowers her head and tucks her tail in fear.
Come, I sign. You can wear my clothes. I toss pieces of my clothing on the bed then leave them there to shift in privacy.
The image of Aster wearing my flannel shirt crowds into my mind, nearly dropping me to my knees. My eyes and nose burn with the pain of it.
But I’m the alpha wolf here. I have to provide for those weaker than I am. Mechanically, I go through the motions of building a fire and pulling food out of the refrigerator.
Liora emerges from the bedroom. Just we four got out? she signs. Her eyes look haunted. She knows what happens when an acolyte tries to escape.
My anger with her returns in full force. She abandoned me for the Moonborn, the same as Aster.
Aster chose to stay, I sign.
Liora narrows her eyes and shakes her head in obvious disbelief. No, she signs. I don’t believe it.
Truth, I sign.
Liora shakes her head. But she’s your mate. I smelled your mark on her. She can no longer be Seeress.
My lips twist into a bitter frown. It wasn’t true. She didn’t lose her Sight after I claimed her.
How do you know?
She had a vision.
When?
My stomach rattles like I swallowed rocks that have sunk to the bottom. Before she told me she belonged with the Moonborn. Just like you.
Liora stares at me then reaches for my arm.
I jerk back, not wanting her touch.
Noah…my son. Sorrow fills my mother’s face. Her eyes are wet with tears. Aster’s vision must have told her to stay. Maybe it was the only way to get us out. She wouldn’t abandon you. Just like I didn’t abandon you. She sacrificed herself.
I pick up the toaster from the kitchen counter and hurl it against the cabin wall so hard it crumples from the impact.
Sudden movement from the living room snags my gaze, and I see Oriana, who must’ve jumped in shock. Her mouth is open as if she screamed.
Choosing Moonborn over me was not a sacrifice. It was a choice. Own up to it, I sign and stalk outside, slamming the door behind me.
Aster
Noah’s gone.
I betrayed him.
I did it to save his life, but the look on his face tore me to shreds. There’s no more Aster. I died when I told Noah I didn’t want him as my mate. When I crushed his heart and all hope.
All around me sound the whistles and howls of enforcer wolves.
They surround me. Their boots trample the daffodils, the crocuses, destroying the grove where I broke Noah’s heart.
And my own. A full phalanx of them drag two weeping acolytes back to Adalwulf land.
Soon Aiden will be here with the Warden, and I will learn my fate.
It doesn’t matter what happens to me. All that matters is that Noah will survive. Along with his mother and sister.
Go. Live. Be happy. Be free.
The largest enforcers crowd around me, their auras grey streaked with black. These are Aiden’s chosen Alpha Force. There’s a red sheen to their eyes, but they’re not fully soulless, not yet. One of them grabs my arm, holding me still. Another barks something at him, and he lets go as if burned.
The Alpha Force wolves glare down at me, crowding close but not daring to touch me.
I still have power and authority here. I need to use it.
I don’t care what happens to me, but I need to do something about the captured acolytes. They don’t deserve to die. And I need to do all I can to protect Noah and his family. I can only hope they run fast and far, escaping this place forever.
“I am the Seeress. I have returned to you. All will be well.” I have to fucking sell this, but my voice sounds hollow, imperious. Soulless.
I sound like Oma.
My wolf whines, wanting to go to Noah. Not understanding what we’ve done.
Fierce, I tell her. Strong. Protect mate.
Her power flows into me, stiffening my spine.
In the recesses of my mind, I hear the Grandmothers whispering.
I’m angry with them, though, so when I feel the visions ready to burst on me, I don’t allow them through.
I use my newfound strength to keep them at bay.
Maybe I’ll let them in when I’m alone. Safe.
Except, I won’t be safe. Without Noah, I’ll never be safe again. The thought makes my knees buckle, but somehow, I stay upright. It helps that Noah’s scent still clings to me. The mark on my neck throbs, reminding me why I’m doing this.
I smell the Warden’s mold-like scent before his order rings out, “Stay back from her. She’s dangerous.”
The Alpha Force doesn’t move. They answer only to Aiden–Aiden made sure of that.
The Warden grinds his teeth, but there’s nothing he can do. He glares at me, and I keep my face serene.
I’m no longer Aster. There’s nothing left of my old self. I died when I rejected my mate.
I am the Seeress. My pack can kill me, imprison me, torture, and try to use me–it doesn’t matter. They can’t hurt me. Aster is dead.
The Seeress is all that remains.
So when Aiden appears, striding through the ranks of his red-eyed wolves, I feel nothing. Triumph glitters in his eyes.
“Take her to the dungeon,” he says.
Noah
I prowl through the woods around the cabin in my bare feet for an hour, patrolling it like a sentry guard. Trying to cool off, so I can make a plan.
I can’t think about Aster or Liora.
What’s done is done. They both made choices I disagree with.
But I’d known I was asking a lot of Aster to mate me. Asking her to give up her magic. Her visions. The powerful position she holds with the Adalwulfs. She’s basically their alpha female since Aiden is unmated.
And she explained to me the lure of the Moonborn. Their magical connection to nature and all that.
I guess what we had wasn’t enough to sway her to leave it all.
I force the shattering pain back into the cage, stuffing it as far as it will go.
I need to forget about her and think.
We can’t stay here–it’s not safe.
As much as I hate to ask anyone for help, I need to contact Sully, at least to get my phone and rented car back.
I catch the scent of Oriana outside the cabin and stalk back to make sure she’s not exposing herself.
She lifts her hand to her forehead in the sign for hi.
I stop. The cage around my chest rocks with fresh emotion. The enormity of the fact that I have a sister who I am just meeting for the first time hits me.
Fresh sorrow wells around something else–a protectiveness. She’s family. My pack. A female wolf I would defend with my life even though I know nothing about her.
Thank you for rescuing us, she signs. She appears one part afraid, one part in wonder. Like I’m some knight in shining armor who swooped in to change her fate.
I suppose I am.
You’re my sister, I sign. I would not let them harm you.
She runs to me, shocking me with a tight hug. Her scent is familiar and grounding. Like my wolf recognizes we’re related. That she’s safe. My arms band around her, and I hug her back.
She pulls away, looking awkward. Will you come inside? My–our–mother made French fries for everyone.
French toast? I sign back with a faint smile. The signs are similar and easily confused.
Oriana blushes and corrects the sign.
The last thing I want to do is come inside and eat, but I do need to get us the fuck out of here. It’s time to stop wallowing and take some action.
I nod and follow her in. Ignoring the females at the table, I go to my computer and send a message to Sully with the location of the cabin. Then I message Nan, letting her know I got Liora and Oriana out, and I’d like to send them to her in Kentucky.
Hell, maybe I’ll go too.
I need to be as far away from Aster and everything that reminds me of her as I can.
My heart will never heal. I don’t care about that. I don’t need anyone.
But I do know that staying in New York may drive me to madness.
Aster
The dungeon is a lot like the Tower, except for the stink of suffering. Old blood, rotting bones. Odin kept his dissidents down here, letting them starve to death if he didn’t torture them first.