Chapter Thirty-Four #2
“Tina.” I grabbed her hands and squeezed.
“Breathe.” I sent calming thoughts to her and used my Gamma aura to settle her.
I didn’t want her going into real labor when we had a crisis on our hands.
One labor was enough tonight. “It’s okay.
I would never blame him. I know my father.
And I can almost guess that when he saw the ceiling collapse, he pushed Ronnie towards the entrance. ”
A tear fell from Tina’s eye as she nodded. “He grabbed Ronnie’s hand and whipped him out as they ran. But the cave-in was faster. They were still caught.” She shuddered as another cramp came on. She groaned as she cupped her belly.
Rowan ran back up to us, and his eyes bounced between the two of us. “Is everything okay?”
Tina nodded. “Just peachy.” She breathed out once more and then stood.
“They had rigged more explosives that we missed, and the entire ceiling came down on them.” She closed her eyes.
“We dug for about an hour before we got Ronnie out.” She pointed to a spot a few feet away.
“The rocks were out to there; we pulled about twenty-five wolves out of the first few feet.” She looked at me.
“They were almost free, and everything fell.”
“How many are still buried?”
She shrugged. “We don’t know who survived the fight, and who didn’t. But we are missing about fifteen more wolves. The rest went hunting.”
I nodded. I have to find fifteen bodies. “Rowan, take her to her mate, please.” I turned to the stones.
“Amy.” He came up behind me and kissed my shoulder. “Don’t do anything stupid until I get back.” He waited for my answer, still tense behind my back.
“No promises.” I smirked over my shoulder at him and kissed his lips. “Be fast.” He nodded once and then scooped Tina up.
“Stay safe.” Then he was gone once again.
I turned back to the cave-in. This time I sent all of my magic flowing through the rocks.
My entire being whittled down to the tiny cracks between the unsteady rocks.
Someone who was still alive shifted, and a few more rocks tumbled.
I felt the cry for help as the weight on top of the wolf increased.
“Please…someone.” Their whispered words resonated with my magic. I couldn’t hear them with my ears, but my magic pulled their pleas to me. “I can’t breathe.” I couldn’t tell who it was, but it reinforced that I was on a timer. If I was going to save anyone…including my father. I had to move fast.
I pulled back enough to move stuff around, but someone’s scream had me whirling. Rocks tumbled down in a waterfall. They poured from the entrance, covering a foot past where they were before. An Omega was panting where he fell, with a boulder next to him.
His eyes bounced to me. “I’m sorry, Alpha Amy, I was just trying to help.” His eyes bounced between me and the rocks. The scent of terror and sadness hit me.
I smiled at him. “Toby. It’s not your fault. Take a breath.” I nodded towards him, and another wolf came over to help him up. “Can everyone take a step back for a second?” Everyone nodded and moved back.
Nix paced with Megan. We have to hurry, or else every life we are trying to save will be lost.
Megan sniffed. The rocks are unstable. And obviously so is the ceiling of the cave.
I swallowed. What should we do?
Nix nodded toward the flowerpot. We push everything into our magic.
Megan trailed her to the clearing. Hold the ceiling in place to prevent a second cave-in. And then move the rocks out.
But we will have to move fast. I paced on the spot. Both my wolves nodded. “I don’t know if I have enough power for that.”
“You can take from me, can’t you?” Rowan’s voice surprised me.
I spun, facing him. “What?”
“Power. I know I don’t have magic, but you can take from me, can’t you? Through our bond.”
“I don’t know.” I looked at the rocks.
“Well, let’s try.” He smiled as he came up behind me again. “Is there a spell?”
I shuffled through the book in my mind. Found the one I would need to pull power to me, and the ones I would need to move the rocks. I nodded. “Yeah. There is.”
“What do we have to do?”
I swallowed. “If I pull too much, break the bridge.”
“The bridge?” He wrapped his arms around me. “What’s that?”
“Touch my skin. Like a bridge. If you start to feel sick, let me go. Or else…”
“Or else what?” His words were soft as I looked at my mate.
“I’ll drain you dry and kill you.”
I nodded once, but I held out my hand. “Wait.” I turned to look at the wolves waiting.
The fear scented the air. Fear and desolation.
The pack was already mourning my father.
I opened my mind-link to everyone in the pack.
“Silvermoon. Hear me.” I felt the pack grow still.
The silence carried over the pack bonds.
Rowan nodded. “I am going to do my best to save the ones buried in the cave. But I need able-bodied wolves down here. Injured wolves, and the ones treating them stay in place, but everyone else, come to the caves.”
“Amy?” Rowan leaned into me. “What are you doing?”
I looked at my mate and I let him see my fear, my terror. “I don’t know how much I can do. But I know I can move enough that we have a shot at saving some, and that I can’t do it all alone. If I fall…maybe they can dig the rest out, but only if we move fast enough.”
Rowan glanced over my shoulder to the cave. “But the ceiling.”
I nodded once and turned. “It will be the last thing I’ll hold.” What I didn’t say…was that I was sure that I would drain myself…and him doing it. “Toby!” I called for the Omega, and thankfully he came running.
“Yes, Alpha.” He shook, and I felt bad.
“I’m not going to yell at you. I need you here.” I pointed next to Rowan.
“Anything for you.” Toby gave a tiny bow. I grabbed him and pulled him back up.
Rowan frowned and nodded towards the Omega. “What do you need him for?” He looked a little hurt, like I didn’t think he was enough.
“He is our safety net.” I turned to the rocks. “When I start, I need you to watch us, Toby. If Rowan starts to shake, if he changes color, or falls…” I turned to look at the two men. “I need you to pull him away from me.”
Rowan growled as he grabbed me. “Amy.” He started, but I held up my hand, cutting him off.
Toby swallowed past a lump, but I grabbed for him. “Can you do that for me?”
Toby nodded. “Yes. Yes, I can.” Rowan growled again, and Toby flinched away.
“Rowan, stop.” I cut him a glare. “I know you would push all you have into me, but I am not willing to kill you.” I grabbed his hand.
“I can’t control the drain while I am focused on the ceiling, the rocks, and the wolves buried in there.
I need you to live…and I need someone to ensure you do.
” He watched me for a few seconds before nodding once.
“Fine.”
“Thank you.”
Toby leaned in. “What are you talking about? Draining him how?” We both turned, and poor Toby held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry. I’ll mind my own business.”
I puffed out my cheeks. “No. No. You’re right. I’ve just spent so long covering it up that saying it out loud seems wrong.” I blew out my cheeks. “I have magic.” Toby nodded along and waited. I looked at Rowan, confused.
Toby’s eyes shifted between us. Rowan looked from my face to his. “Like real magic.” He emphasized the word.
Toby kept nodding. “And?” He looked between us again and gave a small smile.
“Your father…” He laughed again. “He isn’t as sneaky as he likes to think.
The main pack members…we all know. We have known for a while.
” He looked at me. “I assumed you inherited the magic…that’s how you saved everyone from Aurora.
” He tilted his head and I just nodded. His smile was soft, but confident.
“So what are you doing…just so I know what to do.”
I felt my mouth just hanging open for a second. “I’m going to use my magic to stabilize the ceiling and then move as many rocks as I can out of the cave.”
He nodded once. “Okay.” He looked back to the cave. “So when you run out of juice, you will pull from the King. And that’s why you want me watching.” I nodded. “Okay.” He turned to Rowan. “I’ll make sure you’re both safe.” His words were soft, but filled with sincerity.
I patted his shoulder and turned back to the gathering crowd.
“Silvermoon, hear me!” I called out and raised my hands, waiting for everyone to turn their attention to me.
“Our wolves are buried, and I’m going to do my damndest to get them out.
But I need you with me.” A cheer went out.
I waved my hand to quiet them down. “When I move the rocks, I need you all to be ready. If you see someone, run in and grab them.” Everyone nodded.
“If I fail…or falter. Or drop. You all need to run in and do your best to still dig. You will have a small window to save as as many as you can.” Another wave of nods went through the crowd.
I turned back to the cave. “Let’s do this. ”