Chapter Forty-Six
The world blurred past us. The trees became distorted sticks as we wove in between. Bushes and uneven terrain became wider obstacles that we jumped over. The animals, the birds, they knew something was happening, and they stayed quiet and out of the way.
Megan passed the borders of the pack lands, she weaved between the border patrols that were following their routes, and others that were just out for friendly hunts.
We finally slowed to a stop to catch our breath and to figure out where to go.
She looked around. Nix receded back beside me and collapsed.
Are you okay? I hurried to her side.
Yeah. She huffed and sagged against me. I pushed too hard, that’s all.
I cuddled her to my side, holding her up as she caught her breath, and I realized the sun had set. How long did it take us to run here?
Nix huffed out a breath. Not long. Around two hours. Why?
Why is the sun setting? I looked around and the woods were definitely darker.
Megan looked up, and we saw it. She checked the sun, but it was still where it should be high in the sky. The trees were just growing darker. The air is thicker. That doesn’t seem good.
Go. I called and Megan started running again. I pushed forward this time.
Amy, I don’t know where to go.
It’s okay, Megan. I’m here. I felt a tug ahead of us and to the right. I pushed her that way. We will follow the tugs.
She pushed harder and soon we were rushing through the trees again.
Nix called to us. Hurry! We're close.
We kept running, but I felt a push to slow, so I pulled Megan back. Slow down. Get low.
Megan dropped to her stomach, and together we barely breathed as she crept through the brush to get close enough to whatever was happening.
There were voices, and Megan stilled for a second.
I pulled magic around us to deaden our noise and we crawled closer.
“What do you mean the kids aren’t ready to harvest?
” Vince’s voice was livid. He stomped around the clearing just ahead.
“You fucking said they would be ready by today. You fucking checked the whelp last week personally.” There was a smack and a small yelp.
“I’m sorry Vince. She was ready. I swear it, but somehow, they have all grown stronger. Their wolves should have been dead already and their souls ready to harvest, but their wolves are all still alive. I don’t understand.” That voice made Megan’s ears twitch.
You have to be fucking kidding me. Inch closer, Megan, I need to see to be sure. I needed to see who was in the clearing. My heard was thudding in my chest.
“Verity, I’m about this close to ripping off your fucking head. You said we could harvest today and I’m already at the end of my fucking rope.” Vince growled.
“Dad, calm down.” Brandon cut in. “What the hell is the point of being this annoyed, so you have to wait another week? You’ve already waited fucking years.” Megan inched closer.
Please, Goddess. My words were soft and to myself, but Nix caught them.
Her voice was soft, to not distract Megan, who was still inching closer.
I looked at her and released a breath. I don’t know. I have this pit in my stomach and I’m terrified that someone in that clearing is going to break my heart.
She looked at me and then back out to the world. You think Rowan is there, don’t you?
I sighed. Yeah, yeah I do.
Megan pushed out just enough of her face from the bush to get a clear view of the clearing. Verity was standing over a child, while Vince and Brandon circled her. But there was no Rowan. I sighed in relief.
See, he’s not here. Nix rubbed against my side, calming me. You worry too much. She chuckled. But the laughter died as Rick came from behind a tree. His smile was cruel, and his eyes were dead.
Morgan and Rick were laughing. They entered the clearing and Vince whirled on them. “What fucking took you so long? We have been waiting.”
“You haven’t fucking waited for anything a day in your life, Vin. You already had your witch try to drain the kid, didn’t you?” Rick laughed as he looked down at the pup. But there was zero emotion on his face.
“You’re right.” Morgan chuckled. “And give me a break that fucking whore left me,” He groaned. “I was so fucking close…you’re so lucky, Rick. You got yours pregnant right off the hop. Mine waited. I was so close and then Shannon fucking ruined it for me.”
Brandon laughed. “You ruined it for yourself. And I’m hanging on by a thread. Do you know how pissed Amy is?” He dropped his head back. “Do you know I almost had her mated and pregnant within two months, and then your daughter had to open her fucking mouth?”
Morgan shrugged. “You should have kept your pants on. You only had to keep it in your pants for a few years, and you can’t even do that.” Morgan leveled him with a look. “You can blame Shannon all you want, but let’s not pretend she’s the only one you’re fucking.”
Brandon glared at him for a minute before laughing. “True.” He sighed. “But Shannon was the only one Amy had to deal with.”
Morgan leveled him with another look. “Again, it isn’t her fault you decided you wanted to drain Amy of her power. You could have chosen anyone else.”
Brandon sighed. “True again, but she is so fucking strong.” He grabbed his dick. “And she is so fucking stuck up. I was going to enjoy draining her.” Rick laughed. Fucking laughed, but when he turned, I saw it. A flash of something in his eyes. He didn’t want to be here.
What the fuck is going on here? Megan called back to us, but neither of us knew.
“Shut the fuck up.” Vince called back and everyone quieted. “Verity. How fucking long now?”
She sighed as she turned to a familiar little boy. Nix growled. Is that?
Yes. It’s one of the little boys from Abby’s class. One of the ones we went to see last night.
Holy Goddess. You saved his life. Megan inches closer, trying to hear more of what Verity was whispering.
Verity stood. “He has a week to mature.”
“Are you sure?” Vince growled.
“No, of course I’m not sure. The spell doesn’t give us a fucking timeline. I told you that when we started this. We just have to wait until the wolf dies, then we harvest their power.”
“And that is a direct tap into the mother’s power?” Rick asked.
“Yes, I fucking told you all this a million times.” Verity turned on them. “I’ll be back in a week.”
“Wait!” Rick glared at her and held out his hand.
“Oh.” Verity smiled. “Right.” She tossed a small bottle at him and he caught it.
He smiled, but the way his jaw twitched told another story.
“You know, for a man forced into this, you seem really willing now.” She winked and walked closer.
“Once this is all over, maybe we can have a little fun. I have a thing for older men.” She leaned up. “Just ask Gareth.”
Rick smiled, but I could tell it was forced. “Sounds like fun.” He leaned in. “Just keep my pup alive long enough to harvest.”
She kissed his cheek. “Will do.” Then she shifted and ran off back into the woods.
My heart was hammering in my chest, but I still didn’t move. I needed to see this through. Vince growled once more before he turned to Morgan. “Have you found out where she transferred to?”
Morgan’s face tightened. “She went to the pack of the whore Amy brought home. Tina…Tonya?” He turned to Brandon, who started to laugh.
“Toya.” Brandon dropped into a crouch, grabbing a stick from the ground. “She went to Toya’s pack, which makes sense. She is Amy’s closest ally.”
“So choose someone else,” Rick offered.
Morgan cut him a look, but Brandon stood and turned. “That’s what I fucking said.”
Morgan growled, but Vince waved him off. “It’s fine. She has to come back for the mating ceremony, right?” He turned to Brandon, who nodded.
“There is no way that Amy would get mated without her mom, and her mom wouldn’t miss it. Plus, she doesn’t trust me.”
Rick laughed. “Can’t blame her.” He bent over, laughing harder as Brandon glared at him. “What? I’m being honest, I would never trust you with any of my pups.”
Brandon looked at him for a moment and then grinned. “Smart man.” Then they both laughed more.
Vince just shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“So it doesn’t matter. We will just grab her then.
The spell doesn’t say the mate has to be willing.
Just that you are bonded, and the child is both of yours.
We will grab her, marry you two again, and then chain her until she pops out a pup for you.
” Megan didn’t even think. She jumped up and growled. Everyone turned towards us.
Oh fuck. I stood and screamed at my wolf. Megan run! She turned and sprinted into the woods.
“Who the fuck was that?” I sprinted away, but we had already used so much strength running here. Nix pushed forward, sending me back, and taking control from Megan.
Sorry, but we need to leave, and we can’t shift. Her words were soft but firm.
There was a silence that followed me, followed by the sound of footsteps heading towards where I was lying. “I have no idea. I don’t recognize her scent. But how is she not making any noise?” Brandon’s voice was obviously confused.
There was another beat, and then I heard Vince scream. “Are you fucking stupid, or do I have to tell you what to do every fucking time something happens?” There was another silence.
I could barely hear Brandon when he turned around. “What?”
Vince hit something and yelled. “Fucking run after her.”
I heard them all shift and start after me. One after the other, I heard a growl and then charging feet. Even Rick, who knew I was going to be out here, was charging after me.
Rick, fucking Rick.
Why would he want me to see all of that? Megan’s words were ragged. She was waning, but Nix was pushing her body to the brink.
I think he needed us to see that. Maybe this started as a couple of friends, and he thought they were joking. Or it was a what if, and then he fell in love with Shelly?
Nix panted but hummed her agreement. I think it was probably in the middle. He thought they were just assholes joking around with the women they were using, and then he found his mate. But he didn’t want to let go of his friends.
Until his pup came back branded. Megan finished, and Nix agreed.
I feel bad for him. Her words made us stop.
But Nix pushed on. This about it, you’re trying to stay loyal to your friends but faithful to your mate and you think that witchcraft is probably fake and then suddenly your child comes back branded, sick, dying and you actually know why but you can’t tell your mate because it is a huge betrayal.
You thought it was all jokes and then it turned out to be too real, way too fast and your child’s life is hanging in the balance.
Megan and I felt the pit in our stomachs. It doesn’t matter. Before we decide, on what we should do regarding Rick and Shelly, we need to get out of here so we can save the kids. Megan stumbled back behind the barrier, leaving Nix riding her body.
I can’t keep up, I’m wiped. She slid against the ground and instantly fell asleep.
Nix? I turned back. Are you okay?
No, her body is too slow and they are gaining on us. I don’t know what to do. She called back, and then I heard it. Racing footsteps behind me, too close for comfort.
I pushed up to run with her. What can I do to help? We were overlapping, combining our strengths as we ran. I pulled a little bit from the magic and fed it into our feet.
How are you doing that? Nix sounded breathless and surprised.
Magic. I chuckled as I focused on her feet. Tiny bursts of magic when she pushed off from the ground gave her more momentum. We started moving faster and faster.
Can you keep this up? She pushed harder, putting more distance between us and the men.
I don’t-
I was tackled from the side, rolling us over the ground and ripping a chunk of fur from our shoulder. Megan was awake, whining as Nix and I popped up, turning to face whoever caught us. We snarled viciously and snapped our teeth at…Rick.
You mother fucker. Nix was on alert.
Rick quickly shifted. “I don’t know if you are Amy’s friend or working with Amy, but Vince has these woods locked down.
Magical traps set for days. I don’t know how you even got out here.
” He paced away and I looked away from his naked skin.
I didn’t need to see him like this. “I thought with her magic Amy could get in here to see. Fuck.” He came back, whispering.
“I needed to catch you. I’m sorry. I will message Amy as soon as I get back to let her know we have you, but Vince won’t believe you managed to get free with me here.
” He looked panicked until there was a snap of a stick a ways off.
The look died in his eyes, and a new coldness that I had never seen before was there.
It was like the Rick I knew was dead and all that was left was this man I didn’t know.
“Over here. I got her, but she won’t shift for me. Do you think you can force her Vince?”
A new pit opened in my chest. They couldn’t find out who I was.
There were footsteps, and eventually I was surrounded by naked men.
“Maybe I’ll have to borrow something from Verity or the twins.
” He crouched down near my head but I snapped at him.
He grinned. “Feisty.” He roughly grabbed the back of my neck and I allowed him, for now.
“I’ll enjoy breaking you, bitch.” He leaned in.
“And I will break you. Once I have you in human form, I will fuck you every night until you beg me to stop. But even then, I won’t.
” His grin almost made me vomit. “I will shatter you so thoroughly you will beg for me by the end.” He leaned in too close and I snapped at him again, catching him off guard.