I wait until the call brings me to her voicemail and try again, but she still doesn’t pick up. “Pick up, Mara, for fuck’s sake, I’m begging you, please pick up!” I mutter under my breath as I grip the steering wheel so hard my knuckles might have bruises. That is if I won’t bend the damn wheel before that happens.
No matter how many times I try, she doesn’t answer, so I tap on Kyan’s number, and finally, he answers. “Where is Mara?” I ask, louder and more aggressively than I’d like, but I don’t give a shit at this point.
“At home,” Kyan answers.
I swerve off the road, sending dust and debris everywhere. “Where are you?” I shout out the question.
“Heading back home. I went to check things at work,” Kyan answers as I kick the door open and get out of the damn car.
Jax is already on the very edge. He keeps telling me that he has a feeling we need to trust his instincts, and I would be damned if I ignored the primal instincts of my wolf.
“You need to get back home,” I tell him.
“Yeah, I am on my way back,” Kyan says, and then groans as I hear the sound of metal hitting metal in the background. The very next moment, pain smashes through my chest.
“No!” I gasp out as Kyan’s suffering intensifies.
I can feel it all through Kaif. He is alive and breathing even though he has gotten into an accident. I know that much because I’m still alive, even though this has to be the first time I truly wish to be fucking dead.
As I grit my teeth, my eyes widen in surprise. At that very moment, I feel the pain of her tether to him disappear. Jax shifts what seems to be ages before I have enough time and brainpower to register what it is. I feel it rip through Kyan and we are already running. We are running through the forest, heading straight toward the manor.
We have never run so fast. Not even when rogues tried to get into our territory. Now, we run on fear and adrenaline. And I can feel that Kaif has taken over Kyan too. They’re on their way to her too. Kyan has lost control and is also trying to get to her, but I know it is too late. It’s far too fucking late for him to try to he knows that. The worst of all is when it becomes clear… Kaif’s wailing scream reaches me as I get closer to the manor.
Everything blurs around me as we smash through the place and up the stairs. Kaif is on his knees, and my legs give way when I see her in his arms as he untangles the rope from around her neck.
“What have I done?” Kaif murmurs, looking down at her. Lucas stands horrified as he looks in the doorway. Tears trek down his face as he cups his mouth in horror at her lifeless body. I still can’t accept what is happening when Kaif suddenly shifts and gives up control as Kyan takes his place.
I just stare at the markings that wrap around her throat. Her limp, lifeless body is in his arms. She can’t be gone. I can’t lose my Mara.
“Do something,” I choke out.
Kyan’s face turns and his eyes meet mine as he swallows and tears stream down his cheeks. “I killed her,” he whispers. His bottom lip trembles as his eyes focus on me. I see nothing but desperation and helplessness in them. Nothing but fear and pain, the same fear and pain that mirrors my own
Katya
I let out a deep sigh and shake my head at how crazy this shit is. We just arrived at the damn camp in the wildness, and now, we stand surrounded by barely clothed men. Their lack of clothing doesn’t throw me off. I’m used to being around more or less naked people, but these men reek of bear.
It’s hard to explain how bad they reek. All I can say is some rogues don’t stink as much as these guys. And what’s even weirder is that I keep catching Eziah, glancing and winking at one particular bear for some reason.
I frown as my eyes study the men. Of course, I knew of their existence. I have seen them in the fountain of the past, but let’s be honest, there are far too many fountains for one person to keep track of. Besides, when I first caught a glimpse of one, I thought it was a trick of the light.
Mateo sits next to me and scoots a little closer as we take places around the campfire and watch the chaos ensue.
“Did you know?” Mateo leans in and asks as he nods toward a group of men that are huddled around Casen.
I glance at them and frown again. Every move Casen makes has these men on edge. I can’t believe the mess we have found ourselves in because of my niece. I love her, but right about now, I would really love to kill her.
I shake my head to focus on Mateo’s question and whisper. “Yes, Celeste cursed them. I didn’t think literally, though. They were a rival village or something, and they stole her bear skins, so she cursed them. She had quite a temper,” I chuckle.
“You can fix it, right? I think that is what they want in return for Rose,” Mateo whispers, and I scrunch up my face at the thought. Since when can I undo the doings of someone that came before me? First of all, has everyone forgotten that I never asked for this role?
I turn my head to face Mateo and raise an eyebrow at him. “Do I look like I am running a damn circus? Not my circus, not my monkeys. I have enough shit to worry about without chasing after Winnie the Pooh because they stole someone else’s honey. They need to figure it out themselves; I didn’t curse them. I sure as shit can’t un-curse them.” I huff.
Mateo raises his hands in surrender and pulls a face. “Woah, settle love, just asking. No need to get your panties in a knot.”
“I’m not wearing any for them to be in a knot!” I whisper-hiss at him. The last thing I need is for these bear guys to find out that their praised Moon Goddess isn’t wearing underwear.
Mateo wiggles his eyebrows at me and the next moment, I hear a gagging sound on our right. My eyes narrow in on our son. Just in case, I give him a warning look to see if he has anything he wants to share with his parents.