SEDUCE MY LOVE Page 14

  I'm gonna be sick.

  A shrilling scream was enough to catch my attention. Lifting my head, I saw the large wolf with charred fur. He looked even angrier than before, and I groaned.

  "For fuck’s sake! Come on and pick a fight with someone your own size, you jerk!" I screamed.

  His dark eyes met mine, and my eyes doubled when they began to glow, hints of magic beginning to sizzle through the air.

  OH, FUCK!

  I didn't have time to make a barrier or anything, my body being lifted like gravity was non-existent. I went flying into a tree that was a few feet from Annie's right.

  When I collided into it, something surely cracked, the sound vibrating through my head before my body plummeted to the ground.

  My body convulsed and my eyes fluttered closed. I didn't know if I blacked out or not, but I fought to try and get up. I wasn't going to die. Hell-to-the-no was I going to go down without putting up a real fight.

  Lifting my head, I felt the blood dripping from my nose and mouth. I spat out the pool of blood, breathing through my mouth while I tried to fix my blurry vision.

  Annie was slowly backing away from the beast, getting closer and closer to me. The wolf howled; the sound was long and sent fear through me. Victory. That was what it told me.

  The vision of my wolf came back in my throbbing head. She was struggling to the surface, limping with each step. She was hurt like me, but I didn't think I’d be able to shift again.

  "Annie. Run!" I begged. "Please. Go. I. Can stop him." My gut told me it was a him and I could tell he had to be Beta or Alpha because of the leader vibes I got.

  I noticed a shiny reflection at the corner of my eye — something was around the area and was being hit against. He made a barrier?! This wolf can use intense magic. Shit.

  Trying to contact one of the guys, I focused as hard as I could, but it was as if my messages were hitting a wall and each attempt only left me feeling weaker.

  Annie was only inches away, but the wolf was approaching us, its sharp white teeth bared at us as its glaring red eyes looked at us as prey.

  "Annie. Run. Please." I wanted to order her, but my body wasn’t working. Like it had given up on me at this point.

  Annie looked over her shoulder, her tear-filled eyes meeting mine. Something passed between us, like an understanding of sorts.

  "You know. I never thought I'd need this spell when Alexander taught the pack, but it's going to be handy now," she whispered.

  I didn't know what spell she was referring to, but she pointed her hand in my direction. "BARRINO SHIELD!"

  With a flash, an orange-white barrier wrapped around me like a bubble. I blinked, her action only slowly registering in my brain. Wait. Why only me? What about her?!

  "Annie? Where? Where is your barrier?!" I was beginning to panic, trying to gather enough of that deep magic power inside me to make one myself, but Annie shook her head in defeat.

  "Sorry, Sia. Alexander and the rest of the pack would kill me if I let you die. This is the least I can do for all the times you didn't scold me for being late. At least this submissive wolf did good. Remember me as a hero, maybe?"

  My eyes darted between her and the enemy wolf that was seconds away from her. Annie gave me the brightest smile.

  "Please, Anastasia. Love Alexander. Even with all his flaws. Save him from thi-"

  She never finished, as teeth clenched down on her neck. My jaw went slack as my eyes grew wide, my tears rolling down my cheeks as I watched the wolf tear Annie's head off, spitting it off to the side while her headless body fell to the ground, quivering away.

  My heart stopped and the only thing I could feel was the painful pounding in my head.

  Annie?

  That's when the pain hit me like a set of bricks, a scream escaping me as the flow of agony from multiple people hit me. I could feel the others for a moment, but the strongest pain I felt came from my mate. Brian. Our Alpha.

  I felt everyone's shock and pain and my neck felt like it had been torn apart entirely. The pain was crippling, but my mind wouldn't let me pass out.

  I deserve to experience every ounce of pain. For it’s my fault.

  The scream that reached my ears was bone chilling, but I knew it was mine. It was my mind finally registering what had just happened. What had transpired was because of my inability to fight back.

  We lost one of our own because I wasn't strong enough. We lost Annie.

  The wolf howled in triumph, my pain only music to his ears, and he began to approach me. Something was nagging at my brain, calling for me and my wolf.

  S- Sia! Run! Ru-

  It didn't matter who it was at this point. The sound reminded me of Alexander, but my mind was forming a new conquest. One that only focused on revenge.

  My eyes drifted to the ground, noticing the large rock next to my hand. With all my might, I reached for it, lifting it as if it weighed a ton.

  The wolf looked at me with curiosity, his eyes almost mocking me, but I gripped the rock tighter, aiming it higher up.

  My gaze looked back down to Annie's body; the rage and pounding anger finally beginning to boil through me. Building and building with intentions of erupting.

  She deserves revenge. I'll get her that revenge.

  My wolf let out a final howl and I could feel the other parts of me agree with our decision. This battle wasn't mine to fight. No, it was time to use the part of me I was always afraid of unlocking.

  For she would be the weapon needed to destroy this wolf. She'd be the weapon my mother molded us into.

  With a final glance into the wolf's eyes, I smiled. A sinister grin that made the wolf growl and run toward me.

  "Tick Tock," I whispered, smashing the rock into my right temple and knocking myself right out.

  12

  His Heart Was Mine Once More

  ~ALEXANDER~

  * * *

  I fell to the ground, gripping my neck as a scream escaped me. I heard another loud scream from the other side of the barrier, the feelings of sadness and pain hitting me like a wall.

  The scream from our Alpha.

  No more than five seconds later did a high, piercing scream resonate through the pack bond, one that sent my heart into overdrive and my wolf crashing right through the surface and shifting us into wolf form.

  That scream was from Sia and now my fear seemed to double in size. I moved back and thrashed into the barrier, trying my best to fight through it. I wasn't stupid. I knew what type of barrier this was, one that could block our communication to Sia and keep us out.

  But there’s a way through it.

  When Pix first taught me a barrier spell out of sheer boredom, I'd taught it to the rest of the pack. It was the perfect little spell that almost anyone who had shifter blood or hints of magic could use. Every shifter held a hint of magic. It was something passed down from generations. Even Annie could do the spell. It wouldn't last long compared to a magic user, but long enough to protect someone for a good minute or two.

  Even with a simple spell, I wanted to learn more. The thought of being able to protect yourself or even give one temporary invincibility intrigued me, and that led to me asking Pix for more knowledge about barriers.

  He'd explained about this spell, creating such a barrier that would need the same amount of magic stacked up within the shifter for them to crash right through it.

  If Pix was here, we wouldn't have an issue, but that was the problem. I'd walked onto the property right when Liam and Brian got a call that something crazy had happened in downtown and Pix had no choice but to fight with a few other magic users in the area.

  That was also when we were ambushed by three wolves. It was a distraction obviously, but we didn't realize their target was Annie and Sia.

  Now we’re suffering the consequences for that lack of awareness.

  After trying multiple times, I paused and moved back, beginning to gather my energy. I tuned back into the pack bond, hearing Brian's commands.
>
  "We can't get in. We need Pix," Brian snapped.

  "I'm doing my best to contact him, Brian! I'm not a magic user," Lilith argued.

  "This was all a fucking setup. Whoever planned this made sure they attacked multiple areas." The new voice was one of our other pack members, Luko.

  He wasn't the type to stick near the pack, but when shit went down, he was one of the first to react and race to the scene, no matter how far away he was.

  "What do you mean?" Brian asked.

  "Singapore’s under attack again. This time, succubus nation. I heard your fiancée’s mom went on a murder spree. Your parents and the cactus-loving dude that was staying with you guys are at a different vampire coven that got randomly attacked after the nearby wolf pack got hit hard. Now the magic issue in NYC central. This was coordinated! This wasn't just about Annie," Luko explained.

  I bit my lip, swallowing the sadness the name brought. I wasn't going to act stupid.

  She’s gone...

  A loud sound rang through the air, the ground shaking beneath us.

  "What the fuck was that? I could feel it from here!" Lilith snapped.

  She wasn't the best at combat and we couldn't afford to lose another wolf in our pack. I was shocked Brian was keeping it together, but I knew when all of this was over was when it would really hit him.

  When it would hit all of us.

  "Focus on getting in touch with Pix, Lilith! We'll figure out what's going on," Brian snapped. I could sense his fear trickling through our bond. It was enough to shut everyone up, knowing that Sia was now at risk.

  If we lost her, I was sure the world would go to hell; her three fiancés being the ones to wreak havoc across NYC. I may not be a part of the equation, but I too would have sought revenge.

  It won't happen. We have to get through.

  Another wave of rumbling shook us, and something bright blue lit up the barrier, but it still didn't break through.

  Now or never!

  My wolf growled and it was difficult to keep the gathered energy inside me. We rushed towards the wall of magic, letting go of our magic at the last second.

  Going through the barrier was like running through electricity. The power was so intense, my body shifted back in mid-air and I crashed onto the ground.

  OW! That fucking hurt.

  "Shit. Alexander?! Are you okay?" Brian's restless voice questioned. He seemed to struggle, almost as though our connection was slipping away.

  I'm fine. I got through!

  Opening my eyes, I scrambled to my feet. Looking to my left, my eyes grew wide while panic spiked through me. Pushing off the ground, I was a second away from being blasted to bits, as rays of silver magic sliced past me.

  A large black wolf jumped over me, running from the onslaught of magic following his movement.

  I heard a manic giggle and I looked to see Sia standing right in the center of the enclosed space. A little farther away, my eyes noticed a headless body, making my stomach drop as I realized it was Annie. What’s left of her...

  My gaze shifted back to Sia and I bit my bottom lip hard, knowing from the way her body twitched and her hands trembled that she'd been triggered.

  And it’s no level one stage.

  I remained on the ground, tuning out the pack's questions and concerns as I focused on Sia. Her hair was flipped everywhere as magic coursed around her. There was blood all over her bare body, nothing left of the clothes she must have worn previously.

  The blood was like another layer of skin, and I noticed the teeth marks on the side of her ribs, a few spots so deep I could see the white of her bone.

  Slowly moving along the ground, I got closer as the wolf finally stopped to try and catch its breath. From the weird scent, I knew it was a male, and definitely a Beta. An Alpha wouldn't be stupid enough to attack our pack with such numbers.

  If it was an Alpha, they would bring their pack and face us like true wolf shifters. This was a low blow and once we figured out who this douchebag was, we'd be one step closer to narrowing down the exact person playing tricks on us.

  I finally reached close enough to hear Sia's words as she laughed. "Tick tock, tick tock. Revenge, revenge, revenge."

  Even her teeth were drenched in blood and she pointed her hand out toward the wolf that began to charge toward her, baring its teeth.

  "I am a weapon. A weapon that will get her REVENGE!" The amount of energy put in the final word seemed to be the sole trigger of her magic, multiple purple and blue swords forming at her command and shooting out towards the wolf. He opened his mouth and in seconds a ball of energy shot back.

  He can use magic?!

  Now, this narrowed down the options. There were only two packs that could use magic and I knew for sure this wolf wasn't a part of my family's pack.

  His blast got through a few swords, heading straight for Sia, but she flicked her hand before the ball reached it, sending it flying to her left side. It crashed into the wall, but her swords hit their mark, piercing into the wolf.

  He cried out in agony, and that only excited Sia as she clapped her hands and laughed. "Tick Tock, Tick Tock. Torture time is here." She began to walk forward, step after step with her bare feet as more glowing magic swords formed behind her,

  She lifted her hands like a conductor in front of an orchestra, beginning to wave them as she sang the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb, but her words were replaced with ‘tick tock’ and her eyes glistened with joy.

  The wolf tried to fight off the swords that pierced through him and into the ground below, but there was no fighting it, the rest of the summoned swords striking him until he could barely move.

  The scent of his blood reached my nose, but there was a weirdness to it. Like there were chemicals in there as well, or some toxin that you'd smell in a lab of some sort.

  "Fun. Tick Tock. Revenge. Tick Tock." Sia reached the wolf, her naked frame only inches from his large mouth. The wolf struggled to move, to fight the swords and take the extra push to eat Sia.

  "Still, boy." The taunting sound in her command made the wolf visibly angry, but he did exactly what she asked, remaining completely still.

  She grinned and took a deep breath. It was like she needed to do that to remember what she wanted to do. Lifting her hand, she snapped her fingers.

  I watched in amazement as the swords that held the wolf down disappeared, but his body remained pinned to the ground like he was still in their sharp captivity.

  She took a final step, looking down at the wolf. His growl vibrated through his throat, his vivid red eyes looking up at her with pure rage, but Sia only grinned.

  "Shift back," she commanded.

  Bones cracked into place, and there kneeled a man, gasping for breath as his wounds began to bleed onto the ground that was already soaking up the previous amount of blood that had poured from his wounds.

  He had long black hair and tanned skin. Sia didn't delay. "Who do you work for?" She didn't use her power, her question only receiving a gurgling laugh.

  "Fuck off, triple hybrid. The moment I'm out of this barrier I'll tell the world of what you are. You think you can live amongst us. A being like you deserved to be an experiment like the rest of our lot. Only a matter of time till Silver gets you."

  Silver?

  Sia reached for his chin, lifting his head up so we could finally see his face. I gawked at the image, my stomach flipping at the face that was filled with scars. It was as though his face had been torn apart and sewed back together, almost like Frankenstein’s monster, except he had hair.

  "Who do you work for? The one who requested you to come here." Sia wasn't playing around.

  "Mr. Silverstein."

  That motherfucker! It didn't make any sense. He was a vampire. Why would he have control over a wolf pack? Especially the Beta.

  "Why? Who was he after tonight? I'm sure your Alpha knew nothing about your pathetic attack."

  I didn't know how Sia knew that, but I looked back at the man, who str
uggled against her command. Sia raised an eyebrow.

  "Why. Did. He. Send. You?"

  "Rumors. There were rumors that you were a triple hybrid. Silver wants you. No, he needs you. He wants you for experiments. He's desperate for an heir. He needs a child to take over or his coven will go elsewhere. We were instructed to kidnap you. The best chance we had was to attack the people around you to single you out. We’d go with the ginger submissive wolf. She was supposed to marry the Beta who's a part of Alpha's son's pack. Her death would have triggered his depressive state and we would have let his parents manipulate him into blaming you for the cause. The depression would bring a tear in the pack, and when they least expect it, we'd take you away. He'd-"

  "Enough," Sia silenced him. Her body was quivering, and I could see the energy draining from her eyes.

  "You will leave this place and not remember what I am. What you will do is confront your Alpha in front of the rest of your pack and explain what you have done. You will shed light that you and your dead comrades are the ones involved in the death of our wolf, Annie, and take full responsibility for it. You will explain that Mr. Silverstein sent you, but you will not discuss the details as to why, for you have already forgotten what you've just told me. Once that is recorded as evidence, you will kill yourself right there and then. No one can override this order. Shift back and leave."

  The shifter nodded, his eyes growing dull. He shifted back to his wolf form, his wounds still apparent, but it didn't stop him from running away. He passed by me, not even acknowledging my existence as he dashed through the barrier that began to flicker on and off.

  I was sure once he was far enough, it would fade in general, but at least the main threat was gone. Or so I hoped.

  Sia turned around, slowly walking toward Annie's remains. By the time she reached there, she was practically dragging her feet. Her head lowered to the body.

  My wolf whimpered quietly, feeling the same energy that pulsed off Sia.

  Regret.

  I immediately knew she was blaming herself. Even in her triggered state, she'd put the burden on her shoulders to carry alone.