Nicolas POV
My blood felt like lava boiling inside my veins as I witnessed Zara being tied down at an open altar. She and Alpha Keiran, at the looks of it, were in deep conversation while he tied her up and prepared for the rituals.
I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that whatever Alpha Keiran was telling Zara was terrible. Her face had turned pale, and she looked as if she was about to burst out crying or throw up.
My mind went into automatic mode, my body complied willingly, and I stepped forward. I did not care about the consequences of my actions.
All I wanted to do was rescue my mate and destroy everyone who was responsible.
I had mentally and emotionally prepared myself for this. As long as Zara was safe and well, I didn’t care if I died. I will give my life to her.
I took another step forward, the anger growing inside me. That was it; I was ready to make my presence known.
Someone abruptly grabbed my arm and yanked me back. A roar erupted over the link. Who would dare challenge me?
“Seriously!” Ronan snapped, annoyed. “Do you want to get all of us killed? Then this mission will all be in vain!”
Startled, I looked at him. What the hell was he going on about? When the hell did he arrive?
“That, dear Alpha Nicolad, is Jamie,” Ronan went on, and he furiously pointed in the direction of Alpha Keiran. “I don’t know why I haven’t picked it up sooner; I guess it’s because no one put any effort into finding out how he always got his way with the council.”
“That’s Jamie?” I muttered, surprised. I didn’t expect him to look like the Goddess’s old mate. How the hell did that happen?
“Yeah,” Ronan stated. “I can smell the dark magic that surrounds him.”
“That’s not how Celia described him,” I stated. I glanced back at him. I would have expected him to be younger and look a bit more like Celia, not as old and gray, ready to die of old age.
“I know, and I have a theory about that,” Ronan stated.
“And that would be?” I inquired, turning my gaze back to him.
“It is just a disguise,” he replied. “I suspect that Alpha Jack is the Goddess’s real rejected-fated mate.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked, finding the whole thing a bit complex and confusing.
“Look!” Ronan pointed to where Luna Mary was standing.
“She seems troubled about something,” I replied. Her face was all red and swollen as if she had cried. She looked miserable and very unhappy.
“I wonder how she fits into all this,” I muttered. “I can’t think that any of this is easy.”
“Being honest,” Ronan stated. “I don’t f*cking care. She is just as much a part of this whole fiasco as the rest of her. I hope you punish her with the rest of them.”
“I certainly will,” I replied. “I can’t wait to have my hands around Alpha Jack’s throat.”
I was already imagining seeing the light dim in his eyes as I sent him back to the spirit world.
“And before you do something foolish,” Ronan interrupted my thoughts. “Let us just wait for Beta Levi to arrive with more reinforcements. His is almost here!”
I nodded, watching the crowds’ every move from up here.
We found some decent hiding places among the rocky cave walls, which gave us a lovely open view of below.
Alpha Jack was yelling orders at some guards to remove Luna Mary, while Alpha Noah was called to assist Jamie.
“I thought you said you didn’t think Alpha Noah was involved,” I gestured.
“He wasn’t at the rogue meeting,” Ronan replied and gestured to Luke as he arrived.
“Seems like both of them are part of this,” I lowly growled in anger. “I am eager to penetrate Luke’s back and dismember him.”
Suddenly, Luke shifted his gaze toward the cave walls, and he locked eyes with me. For a brief moment, he held my gaze, and I wondered if he was going to alert everyone to our presence, but he simply smiled and winked before turning his attention back to his father.
“What the hell was that?” I asked, confused at Luke’s behavior. “Did you see that?”
Ronan shook his head, startled just as I was.
“I don’t know what Alpha Luke is planning, but hopefully it will play in our favor,” Ronan said, turning his attention toward the tunnels where soft paw sounds were coming from.
“That is if he is on our side,” I muttered as I turned my attention to the entrance of the tunnel, seeing Levi enter in his beautiful beast, Louis. He gave me a nod of the head as he came closer.
I guess all the tunnels connect back to this spot, just like the temple situated in the heart among the silver packs.
Was this the original template before the heart was constructed?
Were there additional tunnels connecting back to the packs?
Was the Great War responsible for the destruction of the tunnels?
Maybe we could bring this old temple back to life after this battle?
“Are all the tunnels secure?” I asked.
Levi nodded.
“Any casualties?” I continued to ask.
Levi shook his head.
“Did you have any difficulties on your route?” Ronan asked.
Levi’s wolf growled lowly, and the sound chimed in my ears like words.
“Wait, wait, wait, wait,” I stopped him. “Say that again. Just slower.”
Ronan gave me a look of confusion. He didn’t understand what I was doing, but I was sure I just understood Levi’s wolf.
Levi Wolf growled again, and my eyes lit up in wonder.
“You found twelve rogues,” I said. “Alpha Rico took ten hostages and escorted them out, leaving two dead.”
Louis’s eyes widened, and he yapped.
“Yeah,” I said, just as surprised as he was. “I understand you.”
Levi Wolf yapped again, and I nodded.
“It’s worth a try,” I replied, making Ronan look at me as if I had grown two heads.
“What’s happening?” he asked.
“Levi is wondering if we could mind-link,” I said.
“You do know that we have more urgent things to attend to?” Ronan stated.
“I know,” I replied. “But if we can, at least we could communicate better.”
Ronan sighed and rolled his eyes. “You should have tested it out before we came down here.”
I ignored Ronan and closed my eyes.
If I could understand Levi by his wolf’s yapping and growling, I certainly should be able to create a connection to mind-link him and the others.
I concentrated, searching for the connection from inside me. I was about to give up when something like a door appeared. The door glowed, beckoning me to open it with the urgency of a moth to a flame.
I grabbed the door handle and shoved it open, unconcerned about the consequences.
A bright, blinding light flashed, forcing me to take a step back.
“Don’t be shy; come closer.” A beautiful woman’s voice called me closer. “I need to bless you with a special gift created just for you….”
I sensed my mind expanding as barriers dissipated around me, and I marveled as connections emerged in every direction, uniting me with all the surrounding wolves. The knowledge was intense. The power was unlimited as it expanded to outside the room.
“You should be able to form a link with any wolf from now on,” the voice said. “You are truly a gift to the world, Alpha Nicolas. You are the future of Wolves…”
The voice faded with the light.
“W-who are you?” I muttered. “Tell me who you are!”
“Always so curious, Alpha Nicolas,” she chuckled. “Send my regards to my beloved daughter, and take good care of your unborn pup.”
With those final words, she vanished, leaving me with a renewed sense of responsibility.
Will my new ability work? Will I be able to defeat the dark forces, or would it just bring pain and confusion?
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