Chapter 24 - Grayson #2
“That’s your justification for enslaving people like me?” Cora demanded. “You’re no better than the ones who hurt you. You’re worse.”
Anya’s magic came alive in a pulse of dark energy that sent the surrounding shifters from both sides scrambling to get out of her way. “Don’t you dare lecture me! You have no idea what it’s like to be cast aside, to be told you’re worthless.”
“I know exactly what that’s like,” Cora countered, stepping closer. “But I didn’t turn it into an excuse to hurt others.”
Anya’s face twisted with rage, and she thrust her hands forward, sending tendrils of dark energy streaking toward Cora. The fight began in earnest, and the air between them erupted with magic, light and dark colliding with deafening force.
Grayson circled the fight, pacing as he watched Cora hold her own against the dark magic.
Anya’s attacks came one right after the other, each one more vicious than the last. Dark bolts tore through the air, leaving scorch marks in their wake, but Cora deflected them with skill and precision.
Her movements were so fluid that it was as if her magic was a glowing extension of her will.
Anya’s lips curled into a snarl as she summoned a massive wave of dark energy, hurling it toward Cora with enough force to split the earth.
Cora didn’t back down. She thrust her hands forward, releasing a beam of golden light that collided with the wave.
The impact sent both witches stumbling back, but Cora recovered first.
She raised her hands again, and the ground beneath Anya erupted. Vines, roots, and jagged rocks shot upward, forcing the dark witch to retreat. Anya countered with a blast that shattered the ground around her, but Cora wasn’t done.
With a final burst of energy, Cora released an orb of white light, sending it hurtling toward Anya.
The dark witch raised her hands to block it, but the force was too great.
The orb struck her chest, and Anya screamed as the light engulfed her.
The sound was piercing, filled with rage and fear, and then it was gone.
As the glow from Anya’s defeat faded, Cora’s chest heaved, and her arms trembled from the strain of the battle.
The field around them was eerily quiet, save for the faint groans of the injured.
Grayson shifted back into his human form, stepping to her side.
His body bore the marks of the fight—deep scratches and bruises—but his focus was entirely on her.
“You okay?” His voice was low, rough from exertion.
Cora nodded, though her legs felt ready to give out. “I’m fine. But it’s not over.”
Grayson’s gaze flitted past her. She followed his line of sight and froze.
From the tree line, a massive figure emerged, and she somehow knew immediately who this wolf was.
Theodore had arrived, and he wasn’t waiting for pleasantries.
His wolf was enormous, larger than any shifter Cora had ever seen, with a silver-streaked coat and eyes that glowed.
Grayson stepped forward, placing himself between Cora and Theodore. “Stay back,” he ordered.
“No.” Cora planted her feet. “We do this together.”
Theodore didn’t give them time to argue. With a snarl that reverberated through the area, he charged. Grayson shifted in a blur, and his wolf met Theodore’s head-on. The impact sent both wolves skidding and their claws digging into the dirt as they grappled for dominance.
Grayson was fast, his movements precise and lethal, but Theodore was pure brute strength. He slammed into Grayson, snapping inches from his throat. Grayson twisted, using the momentum to shove Theodore back, but the larger wolf recovered almost instantly, lunging again with savage ferocity.
Cora’s magic surged, and she raised her hands, sending a streak of light toward Theodore.
The beam struck his side, momentarily knocking him off balance.
Grayson seized the opening, raking his claws across Theodore’s flank.
Blood splattered, and Theodore roared in fury, turning his attention to Cora.
He bounded toward her with his massive paws tearing up the earth. Cora held her ground, summoning a barrier of golden energy just as Theodore leaped. His body slammed into the shield with a force that rattled her bones, but she gritted her teeth and held it firm.
Grayson attacked from behind, his claws tearing into Theodore’s hind leg.
The wolf howled, spinning to swipe at Grayson, but Cora dropped the barrier and sent another wave of magic tearing into Theodore’s chest. The blast sent him staggering, and his massive form swayed as he struggled to stay upright.
Grayson leaped onto Theodore’s back, clamping down on the back of the larger wolf’s neck. Theodore bucked and thrashed, but Grayson held on, driving his claws into Theodore’s shoulders to anchor himself.
Cora raised her hands and summoned everything she had left. Theodore’s glowing eyes locked on hers, and for a split second, she saw the raw hatred burning in them. He tried to lunge at her, but she didn’t flinch.
With a fierce cry, she unleashed a torrent of magic that engulfed Theodore in a blinding light.
The energy slammed into him, and his massive body convulsed before collapsing to the ground.
Cora didn’t stop, pouring every ounce of power into ensuring he stayed down.
The light seared away the last vestiges of his strength until his wolf form dissolved, leaving a broken, lifeless figure in its place.
The field was silent. Theodore was gone.
Cora sank to her knees. Her entire body trembled as exhaustion overtook her. Grayson shifted back and stumbled to her side, his own body battered and bloodied. He dropped to his knees and pulled her into his arms, holding her as if to reassure himself that she was still there.
“It’s over,” he whispered against the side of her head.
She leaned into him, burying her face in his shoulder. “For now.”
Grayson pulled back just enough to meet her gaze. “You’re right. The organization won’t stop just because Theodore’s gone. But this? This was the start of something. We’re not done fighting, but we’ve taken back control. We’ll deal with whatever comes next. Together.”
His hand cupped her cheek and brushed away a smudge of dirt.
“Always,” she agreed.
The sincerity in his voice brought tears to her eyes. She reached up, curling her fingers around his wrist as she held his gaze. “I don’t know what the future holds, Grayson. But I know I want you in it.”
“You’ve got me,” he promised. “For as long as you’ll have me.”
Cora managed a weak smile. “That’s a long time.”
“Good.” He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before resting his against hers. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”
The distant sound of approaching footsteps reminded them they weren’t alone. Ryder and Zane emerged from the tree line, and their faces were marked with exhaustion but relief.
“Looks like you did it,” Zane declared. “He’s gone.”
“For now,” Grayson added, rising to his feet and helping Cora up. “But there’s still work to do.”
Ryder nodded. “Then we’ll do it. As a pack.”
Cora glanced at Grayson, and a quiet strength settled in her chest. The battle was over, but the fight wasn’t. They had a long road ahead, but for the first time, she felt ready to face it.
As they turned toward the glow of the wards and the faint lights of Bellefleur beyond, Cora slipped her hand into Grayson’s. His fingers closed around hers, steady and sure, and for the first time in a long time, the future didn’t feel so uncertain.
They would face it together. Whatever it brought.