Chapter 16 The Second Clash #2
“We won’t face them now!” I heard him thunder just as that ominous aura filled the room. My head felt like it was being split open as if claws were being dug into my head.
Alejandro… I knew he couldn’t hear me, but would he feel this pain?
Would he know that something was wrong? My aura was depleting fast. I was barely managing to hold him at bay as I stared blurrily at the man before me.
I fell to my knees as blood dripped down my face.
I didn’t know how long I could hold on… I did my best to stop him from ripping my head open…
“Leave…” he growled to his men.
The claws sank deeper into my skull, and a scream ripped from my lips as that dark, ominous aura grew. For a second, I felt as if there was something else before me, something made of pure fire, the body doubling around the Alpha before me. Burning red… crimson…
He looked like he was on fire... the power and darkness oozing from him…
I felt something inside my head. Something was wrong.
“She has been touched...” This time when he spoke, the voice wasn’t his own. This voice alone made me feel worse, dark, sickening, and evil. Something that was not for the mortal ear to hear.
Just when I felt like I wouldn’t be able to hold on any longer, he stepped away, smirking as if he had gained a victory. Glancing towards the window, he left the room swiftly, leaving me in the middle of the office, bleeding onto the woven rug on the ground.
I kept my aura up just in case he came back and tried to kill me completely, knowing I needed to find Kataleya before they took her.
I couldn’t get up, but I crawled to the door.
Using all my strength, I snapped my shoulder back into place, groaning due to the pain.
My head was burning with agony. Blood coated my light brown locks.
I needed to find my baby girl.
The smell of fire filled my nose, and I froze. The vision that I had after I had found the first letter returned to me in full force. Had that been a premonition?
Goddess, please, no!
Kataleya!
I grabbed the door handle, pushing my body to my feet. I didn’t know how I managed, but my only thought was of my baby girl. Where do I look? The fire was enveloping the entire building.
Think, Kia... where would you keep a prisoner…
The basement or attic!
I looked up at the ceiling that was completely on fire, I wasn’t sure if the fire was real or if this was an illusion, but either way, it was hot and it was destroying the house.
“Kataleya…” I staggered through the burning flames. I’ll take a look in the basement first, then I’ll head upstairs.
I rounded a corner when suddenly a sob reached my ears. A voice that I yearned to hear. My heart leapt like an eagle taking to the sky, relief and happiness flooding me.
“Mama?”
“Baby!” I looked around frantically, spotting her standing at the far end of the hall.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, her large eyes full of sadness and fear, eyes that lit up when they saw me.
I could see a few bruises on her face, which only made my anger rise.
Her dress was a mess, torn and bloody as the flames were beginning to touch her, yet when she didn’t even flinch, I realised that they were created by magic. My angel was immune to magic.
“Kataleya…” I stumbled over to her, pulling her into my arms and swatting away the fire that had caught her dress. I began kissing her on her head, shoulders, and face. “Baby, are you okay?” I cupped her face, looking at the bruises on her body. How could they…
“I’m okay, Mama! Let’s go, you’re hurt,” she whimpered, looking at me.
I didn’t care if I was hurt. Seeing her safe filled me with relief. With renewed energy, I wrapped my hand around her small one, kissing it as tears filled my eyes. My baby was okay.
“I’m okay, Mama,” she whispered, brushing blood and tears from my cheek.
I nodded, holding her hand firmly, turned, and hurried down the hall. I just needed to get her out of there. The windows were all barred from the inside, and I didn’t think I’d be able to break them.
We were almost at the door when the roof caved. I wrapped my arms around Kataleya. She may be immune to magic, but she was not immune to a tonne of wood falling on her. Her scream pierced the air as one of the wooden beams fell on top of us. I kept my back arched, shielding her beneath me.
“Go outside, Kataleya,” I whispered, feeling my vision darken.
“No, Mama!”
“Baby… now,” I commanded, praying she listened.
She looked down at me. I could see the tears streaming down her dirty face before I was pulled into the abyss of darkness, and my world went dark…
Alejandro
I was waiting for Kiara to show up when I heard my phone beep and knew it was her by the notification tone.
I looked down at my phone, frowning when I clicked on the message.
Reading her message, I opened the map, zooming in on her shared location.
I texted her quickly, waiting for her reply before I mind-linked the others. I needed to get to her location now.
Get everyone close enough to the location I’m forwarding now. Head here and wait for my arrival.
I forwarded the message before shifting and running off towards the location. I hadn’t gotten far before pain wrapped around me, and I gripped my throat. My eyes blazed red as my aura raged around me. Kiara was hurt!
Kiara’s in danger! Eight miles northeast of Oxford! Move! I growled through the link.
Hold on, Amore Mio… I’m coming.
I had a fucking thousand questions running through my mind? The pain in my body lingered, meaning she was injured. Fuck. Did she find something? The guilt that the last time we talked, we had argued rushed through me. I fucking regretted it.
I’m coming, Amore Mio... and I’m fucking going to kill the one who hurt you…
Drake, I need a witch. Can you find out if Raihana can portal over to me? I just need her for barriers. I’m not risking her like Del.
Understood, Alpha. Silence fell before Drake mind-linked me again after a short while. Alpha, Luna Raihana said she didn’t need the disclaimer, and she’ll see you in a few...
I was sure Raihana probably said that in a much more fucking colourful manner. I came to a stop. Looking around, it was just open fields for miles. Where the fuck was Kiara?
I shifted back, scanning the ground as I tried to keep my aura suppressed, not wanting to be discovered.
I knew many of my men were approaching; those who were in the area would be there soon.
I kept to the trees, despite them being pretty scarce.
I could see some country homes, so I walked forward, trying to find the exact location. We were close... but where was she?
I felt the presence of a witch behind me. Her scent hit me, and I knew before I even turned that Raihana had teleported. She was dressed in a mini dress that I wouldn’t actually call a fucking dress and ridiculously high heels.
“I’m here.”
“Yeah, looking like a fucking flamingo. What are you, a neon light to give away our location?”
“Oh, I know I’m glowing, thanks. But, I mean, I really think everyone will notice a pink flamingo compared to the terrifying furry beast standing by her side, right?” She smirked at me, twirling a strand of her hair. I gave her a withering glare.
“I’m not even in fucking Lycan form.”
“You were. Anyway, I can lower the illusion.”
“Don’t push against it. I don’t want you messing with a fucking djinn’s power,” I warned. I knew what the witches had said would happen if it was anyone other than Del that had tried that spell. They would have been fucking dead.
“Don’t worry. Del used a spell to withdraw the poison from Dante’s body…
I won’t be doing that. I’ll just be breaking something,” she said quietly as if she knew what was on my mind.
I gave a curt nod, just as more of our men reached us, including Elijah and Damon.
Raihana took a deep breath, ready to cast the spell.
“Just… take it easy,” I warned her. “Just make it visible. I’ll break through myself.” She gave me a small smile.
“Relax, I’ll be fine.”
I didn’t reply, but I wouldn’t risk her life. I was fucking worried enough about the two who were inside this place. I really hoped that Kataleya was there... fuck, I needed them safe.
She chanted a spell, and after a few moments, it was as if an entire veil was being lifted from our eyes. A huge country house surrounded by tall black gates topped with spikes appeared. I could see the haze-like shield around it, but it didn’t feel like normal magic…
“Uncle... be careful... whatever that is… it’s dark…”
“I’ve got this.” Liam’s voice came from behind us.
I turned as Liam and Rayhan appeared, both in sweatpants, and clearly, they had run fast. Raihana crossed her arms and I glared at a few male wolves, daring them to look at her. Fucking idiots.
I glanced ahead, hoping Kiara was okay. The pain I had felt was still there, and the worry that gnawed inside of me was keeping me on edge.
Liam’s aura surged around him as he strode towards the barrier.
Similar to Kiara’s purple one, his was blue, like flames reaching high into the sky.
His magnetic blue eyes looked almost shimmery.
The moment he barrelled into the wall, Raihana whispered a spell, a dazzling bolt of fire heading straight above Liam’s head and hitting the shield.
The impact of both forces made the barrier flash and tremble.
I glared at her for disobeying me. Did these fucking women not know how to obey orders?
“Once more, Raihana,” Rayhan commanded, his sharp eyes on the barrier.
“And this time, we just fucking push through,” I said, shifting and letting out a menacing growl as Raihana and Liam struck the barrier once more.
I saw the thin crack appear, and I charged forward, ramming straight into the wall.
Burning heat. That’s what it felt like. My entire fucking body was on fire.