***
“Huh?” The warlock looked totally gobsmacked by Paige’s reaction and words. “Err…it can be…”
“I’ll do anything.” Amber sobbed. “You can send me back to them with whatever instructions you want.” Her body shook against Paige’s as she sobbed.
“Shhh…” Paige rubbed Amber’s back as she would someone that she actually had affection for. Everyone looked on in shock. “That warlock is going to kill you the instant she lays eyes on you again.”
“Without my powers, that will be a better fate.” Amber sobbed.
“Don’t say that,” Paige growled. “I’m going to kill her slowly and painfully.” She vowed fiercely, almost as if she’d forgotten they had an audience. “For the attempt made on yours and Jeremy’s lives.”
“Paige?” Paige heard her brother’s voice and looked at him, a myriad of emotions on her face.
‘Please, Lip…’ Paige pleaded softly on their mind-link. ‘I know she deserves to die for her part in this but please…’
Philip’s jaw dropped as he watched the sadness, helplessness, tenderness, and fear that danced in his sister’s eyes. “You must be shitting me.” Philip muttered, staring at his sister with wide eyes. He didn’t have to be a genius to know what was happening. Trust Luna to spring something like that on them at a time like that, Philip thought with shocked amusement.
The alpha thought about how his feisty and no-nonsense sister hadn’t reacted at all when she first laid eyes on Amber. He’d actually been surprised at how calm she’d been. ‘Cause knowing Paige, she would have attacked as soon as she’d been told what the witch had almost done. It suddenly dawned on Philip why Paige had acted so nonchalantly as she asked Ryan to unfreeze Amber.
Paige knew that for Amber’s role in the near-death of the alpha of all alphas, she had to die. Even though she hadn’t known what exactly was going to happen to Jeremy, as a witch, she’d known that her handshake was going to cause Jeremy harm. Her fate was therefore sorta sealed. And knowing his sister, she’d wanted to spirit the witch away before the pack acted.
That was how crazy a mate-pull could make people. The only thing that had probably stopped Paige from her ‘rescue plan’ was Amber dissolving into tears due to what Deloris and Ryan had done to her. Well, he was the alpha, Philip thought. And he definitely didn’t plan on inviting Luna’s wrath by denying someone their mate.
“No harm will befall her.” Philip assured his sister quietly. “You have my word.”
“Oh shiiiiit!” Stan bellowed. “Aw come on, we had plans for her.” The men laughed but Paige didn’t even respond. Her face was buried in Amber’s hair as she rocked her gently.
“Alright, Ryan.” Deloris sighed. “What do you suggest we do? From the look of things, there’s no guarantee that tracing with Paul’s personal items will even take us to the right, Paul.” She’d traced Paul, using the hair she’d taken from his comb. But taking into consideration who they’d found instead, the warlock didn’t know how to trace to the real Paul.
“Do it again,” Ryan said quietly. “This time, I’ll go myself. I will know whether he’s real or not.”
“And if he’s not?” Gloria finally spoke, clearly hating the idea that Ryan was about to put himself in danger.
“I’ll simply follow the trail of magic to wherever it is.” Ryan shrugged. “I’ll get Paul and then teleport us back. Fuck proper traveling.” He chuckled. “Please work on it, Deloris. I’ll leave at dawn.”
“I don’t like it,” Gloria muttered.
“I’ll be fine, mum.” Ryan leaned in to kiss Gloria on the cheek. “Have my personal bodyguard and shield, remember?” He said, rubbing his protruding tummy slowly. “Let me help.” At Gloria’s nod, Ryan gave a deep sigh… “Now I have to convince your son.”
“Good luck with that,” Gloria muttered. “His disapproval is only to be expected, don’t you think?” She asked as she linked hands with Ryan and Joel and steered them towards the entrance of the Stanton mansion. “Think your daughter will be more mellowed now that she’s found her mate?” Gloria asked Joel.
“Oh, hell no.” Joel chuckled. “That girl will never change.” He added, drawing laughter from both Gloria and Ryan. “I won’t hold my breath.”
***
“They killed her…you… your clone,” Mary said from the doorway. She didn’t look too worried though.
“How do you know?” Paul asked from his perch on the windowsill.
“What do you mean how do I know,” Mary snorted. “Her witchy essence was tethered here but I can’t feel her anymore. But I’ve decided not to send more clones after all. ‘Cause they’ll only figure it out and kill them. Those savage dogs. Their warlock must be very good. Well, I can use my witches in other ways that will be more beneficial to me so I’ll just send you to them.”
“Oh, please don’t.” Paul got down from his perch with eyes filled with terror. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Oh, but I thought you wanted to go back to your friends.” Mary tilted her head and gave Paul a smug look. The silly boy had had the nerve to tell her that Troy loved the wolf as a mother. Well… “Oh, and guess what… This time, you don’t even have to get near Jeremy. All that’s needed is for him to lay eyes on you. That’s the trigger. Both you and Jeremy and anyone standing around you, explode.”
“God…”
“Don’t waste your breath calling him.” Mary snorted. “He can’t help you. But for the shield they have around the pack-house, I would have sent you straight onto their land and make everything simpler. But as it stands, I have to dump you somewhere else for a pack member to take you to the pack-house. Good news is immediately after you explode, the shield around the pack-house will come down. Those wolves won’t know what hit them. At least you’ll get to spend some time with whoever comes to rescue you…till you enter the pack-house. Then BOOM!”
“Not like this, please.” Paul pleaded. “Just kill me now. I’d rather die alone than cause the death of Jeremy and others. I can’t…I just can’t…” He whispered shakily as his body shook with silent sobs.
“Enjoy the afterlife.” Mary turned to go. “If you ever come back to this world, befriend your kind and also watch the way you speak to your elders.” With that, Mary left a sobbing Paul.