Chapter 23 - Owen
Even though I want to track Trina right away, my body is aching so badly from my long day and the effects of the curse that I sit down for a moment to rest and wake up several hours later in pitch-black darkness.
I must have slept for hours. I might have even lost her trail by now.
I get up immediately to go after her, but I can barely stay on my feet. Knowing that I won’t get far without food, I go into the kitchen and pull out some leftovers, eating them cold as I walk through the house and out into the woods.
Even though I feel better than I did earlier, my strength and stamina are nowhere near what they should be. My wolf slumbers deep in my soul, and I know I can’t wake him, even if I had to fight for my life.
I know what it is now, to be human. Will I ever know my wolf again?
The feeling scares me almost as much as losing Trina, and I start to jog through the woods, following the thin trail of her scent. My wolf senses are dull and muffled, making it almost impossible to track her.
Eventually, I come to a small clearing, and I catch another, unmistakable scent.
Sadie!
I turn around and jog back to the house, feeling tired and weak by the time I get there. I’m soaked with sweat and panting from exhaustion as I shove through the back door and go to the kitchen to find my phone.
I text Rhys, hoping he’s awake. To my relief, he answers immediately, confirming that Trina is at his house and is safe.
Tension and loss expand in my chest, making it hard to breathe. I want to rush over there and take her in my arms and beg her to never leave me again. But I also want to rush over there and yell at her some more for making such a mess of the situation.
The rows and rows of bodies flash through my mind again, bringing a heavy dose of loss and helplessness with it. I swallow hard, trying to get myself under control.
My phone buzzes in my hand. Rhys has texted again, telling me I should take a few days before I see Trina. Even though my first reaction is to dismiss his advice, I know the worst thing I could do is rush over there right now.
I know I love her, and that I can’t lose her, but I’m still angry. I have no idea what kind of words will come out of my mouth, and the last thing I want to do is hurt her again.
With a heavy sigh, I put my phone down and go into Trina’s room, looking at all the empty spaces as if I could somehow conjure her to return if I focus hard enough. My body is still aching from the run and the long, hard day, so I curl up in bed, letting her scent soothe me.
***
Several hours later, I’m woken by the light pouring through the window. It looks like late morning, and I chastise myself a bit for sleeping late. I hurry to the kitchen to get my phone, dreading what I’ll find.
To my relief, no one else has died, but it is still touch-and-go for a lot of people. The infirmary is working nonstop to keep those people alive and fighting, and new cases have come in overnight. I only delay for five minutes to get changed, then run straight there.
I try to ignore the fact that Trina hasn’t tried to text or call. I know what I said to her was unforgivable, and if she never wants to see me again, I will have to deal with that for the rest of my life.
When I arrive at the infirmary, Merle is outside leaning on the wall with her eyes closed. Fearing the worst, I hurry over to her, ready to carry her inside to a bed if needs be.
“Merle,” I say, touching her on the shoulder. “Are you okay? Can I help you inside?”
“I’m okay, Alpha,” she says gently. “Just taking a break. The work is nonstop, but not as dire as yesterday.” She studies my face. “You look a bit better.”
“I am,” I reply. “And I’m ready to fight this thing. What can I do?”
She swallows hard and looks away from me, her eyes brimming with pain. “The… grieving families are here, and they want a funeral.”
Her words hit me like physical blows. Even though it’s so obvious, it hadn’t occurred to me until now that we’d have to bury the dead.
“Is there anything else you need?” I ask.
Merle shakes her head. “We’ll let you know.”
She turns and goes back inside. I follow her, seeing people gathered in the back of the hall where the bodies are still laid out in rows. I immediately call the family who owns excavators and organize for them to dig graves in the field beyond the infirmary.
The day is one of the hardest I’ve ever had to live through, but at the same time, it feels like slicing open an infected wound and finally cleansing it so it can heal.
As we stand over the graveyard, saying our final words, I make it clear to the pack that the increase of the curse was completely my fault.
I make it publicly known that I brought Trina here against her will and without the council’s permission.
I can tell much of the pack is shocked by this, and after the funeral, I don’t hear a single word against Trina.
Maybe I would, if the pack was talking to me at all.
Other pack members begin to avoid me completely, and the only thing I can do is work ceaselessly in the infirmary. My guilt grows over the next few days as I continue with my duties, wondering how much my actions really affected the spell, even the dark magic.
Did it go wrong because I forced her? Dear God, this could all be my fault.
***
By the third day, my emotions are raw, and my body is completely worn out. When a few of the older men stop in front of me on my way out, I stop and feel a sense of acceptance finally settling inside me.
Maybe they’ve come to tear my throat out. Make it quick, boys. Don’t make this something else I have to live through.
“Alpha,” one of them says, “the council has called you out to the manor. Haven’t you been checking your messages?”
“No,” I reply, shaking my head.
Looking at my phone got too fucking depressing. It was all bad news and silence from Trina.
“We can give you a ride,” one of the others says. “You have to answer for your crimes.”
Guilt aches in my chest, pouring into my guts and turning my blood to ice. I just nod, feeling almost relieved that this moment has finally come.
I let the guys take me to the manor. They seem surprised that I’ve come along so quietly. Even though they obviously want me to stand trial, clearly, the way I’m accepting my fate is something they hadn’t expected.
The manor looks ten times more foreboding than it ever has before, almost radiating pain as I walk inside.
I’ve always noticed the bad vibes here, but now it feels like the place is actually screaming.
My pack members walk behind me, blocking my retreat even though I have no intention of running. When I arrive in the council chamber, the room is barely lit, as usual. Shadows leap along the walls like tortured souls trapped in the old stone.
The six elders turn towards me as I walk to the end of the table with heavy steps. All of them look somber, but Darla watches me with open hostility.
“Alpha Jameson,” she hisses. “Finally, you’ve come to answer for your crimes. By going against our orders and bringing Trina into the pack, you have caused the deaths of over fifty pack members. Do you deny this?”
“No,” I answer simply. “It was my fault.”
She narrows her eyes, and at the edge of her mouth, I see the hint of a smile.
She is a nasty piece of work.
“Owen,” Sylvie says. “We are the elders of your own pack. Please, help us understand. We don’t want you to be executed, but the law is clear. Explain yourself.”
I shake my head, looking across the table to address them directly.
“I kidnapped Trina,” I say, accepting the truth of these words and judging myself for it more harshly than anyone else ever could.
“I went against orders and made a terrible mistake. I also ordered Trina to perform magic when she was nowhere near ready. Everything that happened is entirely my fault.”
The elders look at each other in disbelief, and I know that none of them want to punish me—aside from Darla—but I am giving them absolutely no choice.
Lay it on me. I have to pay. It’s the only thing that will soothe my soul.
“Actually, that isn’t true,” a confident voice echoes through the room.
I turn around so fast, I almost fall right over my own feet. Trina walks through the door, and my skin prickles with shock as reality cracks all around me.
“Trina, what are you doing here?” I choke out. “None of this is your fault—you don’t deserve to be punished!”
“That’s a lie,” she states. “Owen is covering for me. I did the spell while he was asleep. He had absolutely no say in it.”
The council reacts to this with shock, and Darla sits back in her chair with a catty smile.
“Just kill them both,” she says with finality.
“And sink Diamond Springs into anarchy?” Neville asks. “You’re out of your goddamn mind.”
“I’m saner than you,” she spits at him. “All your romantic ideas about witches and humans—you’ve had your head turned by those old books you read. It’s disgusting.”
“Not as disgusting as your attitude,” he almost spits at her.
“Trina is lying!” I yell, making myself heard over the voices of the others. “She’s just trying to protect me. Let her go, and punish me. Do whatever you want—just let her go.”
“No, he’s lying,” Trina says, coming to stand beside me. “I’m the one who doesn’t belong here. Owen is completely innocent, and I’m ready to accept any punishment you name.”
“How long do we have to listen to this?” Darla mutters. “Just end this, already.”
Faye shoots Darla a truly nasty look and gestures to Sylvie. “Sylvie, what about the solution we discussed before?”
“Yes!” Neville shouts. “Let’s try that.”
“Oh, for the love of the great luna,” Darla moans, putting her hand over her face. “We’re all going to end up dead.”
“I don’t see that we have any other choice,” Rafe says.
“And that’s majority vote,” Thorne agrees. “Trina, you must attempt to reverse this. If you are able to undo what you’ve done, the council can pardon you both.”
Darla mutters under her breath, but everyone ignores her.
“I have a spell already,” Trina says. “Sadie helped me find it. I can begin right now. The only thing I have thought about for days is undoing this curse. Thank you for letting me try.”
“If it goes badly,” Darla says in a soft, menacing tone, “I will slit both your throats. No one will even try to stop me.”
“Correct,” Neville agrees. “But your claws aren’t so strong right now, Darla. You may not be able to follow through on your threat while you’re still cursing yourself.”
Darla looks at him with pure loathing, and he returns her glare.
“Please, Trina,” Faye says. “Proceed.”
“Trina, wait,” I say. “What is this spell—what does it do?”
“I will absorb all the sickness,” Trina replies. “It’s the only solution. I can contain it within myself and nullify it because the curse doesn’t affect witches.”
“It sounds dangerous,” I say warily.
She smiles at me, shaking her head. “Not at all. I promise. The important thing is, this will work, no matter what, and your people will be saved.”
No matter what.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” I say.
“It’s okay,” she says, giving me a quick hug. “I know what I’m doing.”
She turns away from me and walks over to the fire. I follow behind her, wondering what the spell will involve. The elders leave the table and gather around as well. The other pack members who brought me here watch curiously but don’t approach.
Trina kneels on the rug by the fire and casts a circle with some cool ash from the fireplace. First, she leans forward and chants a few words, then leans back, looking up to the ceiling.
“This is an abomination,” Darla mutters. “Doing magic in our council chamber.”
“Shut up,” Neville says, and Darla looks at him like she wants to rip his throat out.
Trina begins to chant, and to my surprise, my body immediately feels lighter. Strength returns to my muscles, and my vision clears.
“My God,” Thorne says, looking at his hands. “It’s working! I can feel my wolf again.”
“Me too,” Sylvie agrees. “I haven’t felt so good in months.”
I know I’ll have to contact the hospital to know for sure if the spell worked, but so far, the result is promising, and gratitude flows through me. Closing my eyes, I say a little thank you to the universe and any gods that might be listening.
If Trina saves us, all will be well. We can finally work this out and be together.
When I open my eyes and look back into the circle, what I see shocks me. Trina is leaning towards the floor, barely holding herself up. Her voice is getting hoarse, and color is draining from her skin.
“Looks like the witch may heal you after all,” Darla laughs. “But it will cost her her life!”