Chapter Fifty
The guard was pacing nervously, every once in a while he'd glance back and mutter to himself, which put me on edge.
Why does he keep looking back here? Nix stood and started to pace.
I don’t know. But it’s not good. I moved to the clearing, checking on my magic. I had been funneling all of mine and Nix’s extra energy into our well. Building it until our flame turned into a giant bonfire. The magic was burning bright, and it took effort to keep it contained, much like my aura.
How are you doing? Megan called back to me.
We are ready. I shot back. I’d been studying the book for days until I figured I could use a reversal rune to block the drain of our power.
It will actually pull power from those chasing us and feed it into our bodies until we remove the rune.
I had carved the rune into Nix and myself, leaving Megan for last.
The door slammed open and Brandon strolled in. I wanted to recoil from the look on his face; it was so vicious. But I would never hide or cower from this man.
“Looky looky.” He smirked as he crouched down. He smiled, and I could tell he was really enjoying this. The sick fuck. “You messed up, girl.”
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. What could we have possibly done in here?
He’s an idiot. Nix shook her head but settled at the barrier in case Megan needed her.
“You pranced around here, with your scent clogging up this place.” Brandon took in a deep breath. “I’ll give it to you. You smell delicious. But my dad doesn’t like distractions, and that is exactly what you have become.”
Megan turned her back to him, ignoring his words.
“Don’t fucking turn your back on me.” He lunged, and his hands slammed into the bars. He reeled back, screeching as he went. Burns covered his palm, his other arm, and one side of his face.
I started to laugh. Every time I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, then he does something like this.
He kicked at a bar, snapping it from the base, but he didn’t notice. He was too busy screaming. “Stupid fucking whore.” Megan chuffed out a laugh. Brandon whirled. “You think this is funny? You like this, you stupid bitch?”
Megan turned and leveled him with a look. Then she slowly nodded, taunting him more. Finally, she chuffed out another laugh. “It’s amusing to see how fucking stupid you are, pup.” Her words seemed to tip him over the edge.
He kicked another bar, snapping it from the base.
“You can laugh all you fucking want, bitch, but I’m not the one that’s about to be drained.
I’m not the one that is going to be diced up and fed to scavengers out in the middle of the forest.” Brandon loomed over us and smirked.
“Better enjoy the next hour, slut. Once my father is back, you’re dead. ” He turned and stomped to the door.
“Why wait until daddy comes back?” Megan called after him, freezing him at the door. “Can’t do it on your own?” She laughed.
He just looked back at us over his shoulder.
“You think you can taunt me into letting you out, but I’m not stupid.
You’re a fucking rogue. Death is too good for you.
We will drain your blood first, then your power, and we will feed off of it.
Your death will help us kill the King. So be thankful your last breath will be for a good cause.
” He was gone before I could process his words fully.
They are going to kill Rowan… I turned to Nix, who was already pushing through the barrier.
Get your ass up here, Amy. Nix called back. We will need all three of us working together to get out of this shit hole.
I pushed past the barrier, and the three of us merged into one mind. It was a confusing jumble. “Shut the fuck up.” Megan whispered. “You are both thinking too loud.” We all took a minute to calm ourselves. “Now. Let’s get out of here.”
We pulled back and aimed at the two broken bars. Then we slammed against them full force. I wanted to scream as the silver slid across our body. The burns searing into my very soul. One of the bars went into my shoulder. The silver cauterized the stab wound as I pulled free.
Hurry. Nix cried out in pain as we limped forward. I pushed my magic into our healing as we stumbled to the main door just as the guard came back in.
“What the fuck?” The guard took a minute to register what he was seeing. The bars of my cell were bent outward, two snapped from the bottom. The smell of burnt flesh and fur hit his nose and his eyes searched the room. “Where-”
But that’s all he got out before my claws sliced across his throat. He dropped, blood pouring from him, and I felt a twinge of guilt as we jumped over his body and out into the forest.
“Hey!”
I heard Vince call out behind us, but I pushed Megan to run fast. I felt the first trap try to pull strength from us, and I realized I hadn’t carved the rune onto Megan yet.
Fuck. I pushed forward, shoving my wolves back. The instincts were telling us to run, to flee, but I needed to get the rune on to her skin or else we wouldn’t make it very far.
Amy, we have to run. Nix screamed from behind me, but I still forced Megan’s body to freeze.
I stretched out our leg and used a claw to cut into the skin.
I could hear the footsteps coming behind me.
Amy! There is more than just Vince chasing after us.
We have to go. She tried to push, but I held her back.
Trust me, we need this or else we are cooked. I looked behind us as Vince pushed through the last trees, blocking our view. His face broke into a smile, but then he faltered as he saw what I was doing.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Vince stepped closer and the smell of blood hit his nostrils. His eyes snapped to my leg. “If you wanted to die, you could have just allowed us to drain you instead of killing my guard and then coming out here to do this to yourself.”
I barked out a laugh. I was almost done, but I needed to stall. “You think I would give you the chance?” He reeled back like I slapped him. I sliced again and stepped closer.
“Stop that.” He growled as he watched my blood trail into the earth.
“Why? If I’m going to give my life’s blood away, I’d rather give it to the earth. You don’t deserve a fucking drop of it.” I snarled and Vince’s eyes tightened.
“Who are you?” He stepped closer than Rick, and then Brandon stepped out of the forest.
I chuckled. “You think the three of you are going to be enough?”
The men stumbled at that comment. Brandon was the first to recover, and he laughed. “Do you really think you can take any of us down?”
It was my turn to laugh as I cut into my leg again. One more line and I was golden. “I could take you down in less than a minute, pup. You aren’t even strong enough to slow me down.”
Brandon lunged, but Vince caught him. I watched as his eyes rushed over me, calculating. Brandon screamed and tried to lunge again, but still Vince held him back. “Calm yourself.”
Brandon stopped pulling and turned on his dad. “Do you really think she could beat me?” I laughed at the absurdity of the situation. “Shut the fuck up!” He screamed as he wheeled on me.
“Oh, is the pup upset because daddy dearest doesn’t think he can beat little old me?” I watched his face transform from anger to pure hatred and rage. I laughed as Vince held him back. “Too bad. I would have enjoyed watching the life drain from your eyes, Brandon.”
They all froze when I said his name. But then Brandon shook. “You can’t trick us. You heard them say my name the other day in the clearing.”
I just smiled as I sliced the last line into the rune. I felt the drain stop and sighed. I stood up on my paws and grinned. “Well, it’s been really fun, guys. But I think it’s time I took my leave.”
Rick walked closer and I could see the slight panic in his eyes. “I don’t think so, girl.” He tried to shut down the emotion, but he was having a harder time today.
I let my tongue wag as I smiled. “But I do.” I turned to look at Vince and Brandon.
“Until we meet again.” I winked and then I turned and sprinted full force towards the field where we were going to hold our mating ceremony again.
At least I knew my way out of the pack lands through the streets.
The woods were full of traps anyway, and who knew what else was waiting for me?
I allowed Nix to take over, and I stepped back, pulling magic to us, and pushing it into Megan’s feet. Nix wanted to howl. The feeling of the wind in our fur once again was a gift from the Goddess, but she held back.
We were moving quickly. I heard Rick behind me, but then I heard him stumble. “What the fuck?” Rick called back to Vince. “Something is wrong.”
Vince made it to his side as he hit the ground. “What’s wrong?”
Rick shook in his exertion. “I feel drained.” He looked up at Vince. “I don’t know what’s wrong.”
I laughed as I slid to a stop a block away. Far enough for a head start, but close enough they could still hear my voice. “Your witch isn’t the only one with tricks.” Then I turned and ran.
I ran past my house, and I wanted to turn in, to check in on everyone.
But I had to run back and pretend I just got back in.
I ran past guards and patrols, gaining speed.
When Nix got tired, Megan took over. I kept feeding magic into our feet, and after a few hours of running back and forth, weaving through the groups of wolves, I was finally off pack lands.
Nix? I turned back to my exhausted wolf.
Yeah? She rolled over to look at me.
Use the vacuum.
She furrowed her brow. What the hell are you talking about?
Remember when we were learning to change our scent? The candle changed it and the vacuum…
Made it disappear completely.
I nodded. Exactly. I don’t want anyone following our trail.
She nodded and hopped up. I watched as she dragged herself to the clearing and I summoned the vacuum.
It was funny to watch her blow out the candle and then turn on the vacuum.
She got the switch on the third attempt with her claws.
She grabbed the hose with her teeth and sat down with it pointed at the candle.
I turned back to Megan. I know you’re tired. But we need to make this as confusing as ever. Just in case they can track our prints.
She nodded and started weaving in and out of the trees.
She ran through a few streams and then doubled back further up.
It was dark by the time we made it to the airport.
I shifted back to my body for the first time in almost a week.
I stretched before I jogged down to the SUV.
I pulled my keys out of my pocket and I kissed them, thankful that my shifting let me keep my keys, since they were in my pocket.
I slid into my mom’s SUV and grabbed my phone from where I left it.
It was dead, not surprising. So I turned the car on and plugged the charger into it.
I was going to wait, but then my stomach rumbled, and I realized I hadn’t eaten or drank anything the entire time I was locked up.
I pulled out and drove to some burger joint drive-thru.
I ate in the parking lot as my phone charged. As I finished my meal and finally turned my phone on, I had to wait a solid minute for all the notifications to stop. Before I could do anything, a call came through. My mom’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hello.”
I heard her quiet sob as she heard my voice. But she was still smart enough to be careful of what she said. “Hey baby. I miss you already.” Her voice was full of tears. “I feel like I haven’t talked to you in a week.”
I laughed. “It’s only been a few hours, mom.” I sighed as I stretched. “I just landed. I have a ton of notifications that I have to go through and I have to drive home. But I’ll video call when I’m home, okay?”
“Of course, sweetheart.” She sniffled. “Remember to stop and get groceries. The stuff at the house was pretty much gone, and anything that was left in the house is probably bad.” Shit, they needed food.
“Of course, mom, I’ll stop off at the store. Thanks for reminding me. Give me two hours and I’ll be able to video call you so you can see my face. Okay?”
“Sounds good, baby. Two hours. Promise me.”
“I promise. Two hours.” I hung up and checked the rest of my phone. I missed over a hundred calls from my mother. There were a few that I had no idea who they were from. Over twenty from Rick. Then there was a weird text message that was encrypted. I clicked it and was surprised it was from Rick.
R- Hey! This isn’t as secure as I would want it to be, but as soon as you open the message, it’s timed to delete. Your friend was caught in the forest…by me. If you can come save her, that would be great. I don’t want her to die. Please Amy, answer me. I need to tell you the full truth.
As I finished the message, there was a timer at the bottom of the message, and just like he said it would, it disappeared after the counter reached zero.
I started the car and turned back to the pack lands. “Nix. Put the vacuum away and release my scent. We need to grab some food for everyone and head to the cabin. Plus, tomorrow we have to invite Rick and his family over for dinner. We need to get the entire truth.”
Do you think he’s going to lie? Nix settled after the scent was switched, her exhaustion catching up with her.
Yes. Megan flopped next to her.
“We will have to see.”