Chapter 21 Defying Fate
Josh
Ugh. Where am I? Why does my head hurt so badly?
My head pounds like it’s been used as a drum in a rock concert. I blink, trying to shake off the foggy edges of unconsciousness.
I open my eyes, but it’s still dark. Blackness surrounds me. Groaning, I try to get up… I can’t. Pressure on my chest and wrists holds me tight. I strain in the darkness, unable to move.
The last thing I remember… Elias. What did he do?
Suddenly, my vision returns. A hood rips away from my head, and harsh light stabs my retinas. I squint, vision swimming as shapes blur into focus, revealing a miserable sight, the face of a scowling Alpha.
“Elias,” I croak out, my throat dry. “What the hell is going on?”
His stone face remains as cold as ever, but there’s something different in his eyes. Determination? Regret? Anger? I can’t quite pin it down. He doesn’t answer immediately, looming above me, arms crossed, watching me like I’m a puzzle he’s trying to solve.
“Is this about Bane? The fight? What’s going on?”
“Josh, you need to understand,” the Alpha rumbles slowly. “This is bigger than you and Bane. There are things at play you can’t even begin to imagine.”
“Let me go,” I snarl. Understanding isn’t my top priority right now. I’d rather get the hell out of here, wherever here is. A cabin? Somewhere remote and completely unfamiliar to me.
He stares down, indifferent to my pleas. “I can’t do that. Not right now. You were getting in the way.”
“Because I want to be with Bane?” Five years later and he’s still trying to pull the strings. “You said you wouldn’t oppose us and that it was up to us now.”
“And you two made your decision,” he replies with a sigh. “Perhaps I hoped you two would fizzle out or not be ready for the fight. It’s not just about Bane and you. I have plans now.”
“Plans?”
Elias opens his mouth, then stops and puts distance between us, crossing over to the window at the other side of the living room.
I use the opportunity to check my bindings.
My torso is bound with thick rope, securing me to the armchair.
I strain against the bonds, testing their strength, but they hold firm.
My legs are tied together, also making it hard to move.
I resist the urge to shift because I’ll only get one chance to catch him off-guard. Gotta wait for the right moment.
“This will be difficult for you to understand,” he begins without turning around. “The Iron Pack is supposed to stand for something. Your pack has no values.”
Or our values of community and peace are foreign concepts to him, but I don’t get a chance to interrupt.
“Our packs coexist because the witches believe Concordia is big enough for two wolf packs. They shield and protect us, so my predecessors went along with them. But the Clover Pack is a disgrace, unfit to even call yourselves wolves. How can my people respect ourselves if we let such weakness go unchallenged? It’s time the Iron wolves become the last pack standing. ”
“You’re going to get rid of the Clover Pack?” I gasp.
He turns away from the window, pride taking over his face. His smile is chilling. “Yes.”
I flinch in my bonds, wanting to struggle and get out of here to warn everyone.
Elias paces near the window, losing his calm edge. He’s excited. Excited about destroying my pack.
“Everything I told you about separating Bane and you five years ago was true. But in the years since, I found a new purpose. My pack doesn’t know why I’ve been pushing them harder, but I’ve been training my forces so we’re ready to act.”
The covens would never allow that. “You won’t get away with this, the witches—”
“Don’t insult me,” he scoffs. “I’ve been planning this a long time. Everything was all set, including how to justify our actions to the witches. I prepared for everything.” This time when he turns to glare at me, it’s withering. “Except for you.”
Oh. I’m starting to get it. “I’m supposed to help Bane fight.”
“Precisely. My plans revolve around coming together with my successor to eliminate our rivals. If you become the next Alpha’s Mate, I lose the support needed to succeed. You can’t fight with Bane today. I can’t risk putting you in a position to oppose my plans.”
Because if I’m the future Alpha Mate, I sure as hell won’t team up to destroy the pack I once belonged to. Both Bane and I will oppose his efforts.
“What about Bane? Are you sending him to fight his siblings alone?”
“That’s not what I wanted!” he roars. “Bane was supposed to find someone else and come prepared for the fight. But his selecting you meant that I needed to step in.”
“And now he has nobody,” I point out. “He’s facing the trained, deadly wolves you’re so proud of on his own.”
“I truly regret that. I hoped Bane might take my place. I looked forward to it. But my ideas for our pack are bigger than any one wolf.”
“So you’re sacrificing your son,” I counter.
“His siblings won’t kill him.”
“You don’t know that.”
“True,” he concedes, his face twisting with concern for a moment. “But I doubt it will come to that.” He shakes his head, resolutely insisting, “There were no other options. You two forced my hand.”
The Iron Pack Alpha would rather his son fight on his own and get hurt than have him win with me.
Getting out of here now and getting to Bane is all that matters.
I call on my wolf to shift. The living room is narrow but long and packed with little knickknacks.
Elias’s wolf is no doubt massive. If I shift quickly and maneuver around him—but nothing happens.
My wolf is muzzled, unable to respond. Panic swells in my chest. I can’t shift, can’t escape.
Don’t give up yet. There’s still hope. There’s still magic.
Tentatively, I reach for my magic, focusing on the familiar tingle at my fingertips. But it’s faint and hard to manifest. I push harder, straining to summon even the smallest spark, but Elias notices immediately.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Elias moves from the window, coming closer to tower over me. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. You’re being kept here, as you are. And your magic is tied up too.”
“What, what did you do?”
“All you need to know is that you’re going to stay here. You can’t escape. Your mother’s coven isn’t the only one willing to give exceptional customer service to an Alpha.”
Okay then. He bought some magical hindrances that confine my wolf and my magic. Guess there’s only one option left. I scream for help.
“No one will hear you,” he says calmly. “This cabin is on the far edge of our territory. Everyone is gathered elsewhere for the fight.”
Dammit. The only thing missing from his villain monologue was a ‘mwahahaha,’ though the smirk on his lips that can only be described as dastardly is doing a pretty good job without the evil laugh.
“Don’t worry, you won’t be harmed. Most of the wolves in the Clover Pack lack the discipline and strength required to join our ranks,” he explains. “They’ll have to flee or pay the price for staying. But you’re my son’s intended mate. You have a place with us.”
“Or you’re afraid Bane will kill you if you hurt me,” I suggest.
“In time, both of you will understand how this is for the best.” Like hell we will. “Now, I have somewhere to be.”
The same place I’m supposed to be.
Elias puts the hood over my head once more. The darkness surrounds me, and I hear his measured footsteps calmly reach the exit. The door opens and shuts, leaving me here alone while he leaves to plot the destruction of my pack.
Dammit. I’m trapped here while Bane is fighting his siblings on his own.
I have to do something. Something to stop Elias and help Bane. But I’m not even sure I can get out of this chair.
Without my wolf and my magic, I’m stuck. Powerless. Alone. Trapped.