[Ayla's POV] I stare at Celia as she buries her face in her hands, trying to stop the tears that are flowing effortlessly now. Did she just say that Barren was the one behind everything she had done? But why and how did they even know each other? "Celia," I murmur, kneeling in front of her and grabbing her wrists so I could remove her hands from her eyes. "Could you tell me what happened?" I wait as Celia examines me, like she has forgotten that I am even there. "He," she begins, but stops as she thinks better of it. "No, I can't." "You can," I counter, unwilling to let this go. "Please, if he hurt you or forced you, you need to let me know so that I can right what is wrong." "Ayla, is it really you?" Celia whispers, fixing her golden gaze on mine. "This isn't an actual dream formed by my guilt, right?" "That's right," I confirm, giving her a gentle smile. "It's really me. I'm here." "I'm so sorry!" She wails, wrapping her arms around me. "I know it's all my fault that you're
[Ayla's POV]"What did you just say?"Fear grips at my heart while I stare into Barren's eyes.No, there was no way that I was stupid enough to fall right into his fucking trap, and I even brought others in with me."Release them," I hiss through gritted teeth. "They're not involved in this.""But they are," Barren counters, turning his gaze toward the screens. "As long as they exist, they'll try to come between us, and I can't let that happen."Shit, he was crazy, but I couldn't let him achieve his goal. I had to do something to stop him before it was too late.Deciding that killing him was the best option I begin to move, extending my claws and baring my teeth."Stop."The word is like a fucking rope wrapping around my entire body, so I'm unable to move. Eyes widening, I look at Barren, who has a smug look on his face, while I struggle to break free of whatever the hell is holding me."I told you," he beams, moving forward and touching my face. "You won't be able to disobey me."No,
[Aera’s POV]I surge forward, aiming for the first bastard that comes near me while Silas, Isabella, and Marah flank me. However, when I reach it, a wall of water forms in front of me and then slams into my body, sending me crashing backward.Cursing, I shake myself off and move again, this time managing to dodge the water so that I can pin him to the ground and wrap my teeth around his neck while he struggles to break free.‘Watch out!’ Isabella’s voice announces in my head.Giving a quick yank, I snap the wolf I’m fighting with's neck and turn in time to see fire rushing toward me, but before it can hit, a wall of ice appears and stops it.‘Thanks,’ I huff, getting up and turning to take in the scene around me.Everyone was in battle with someone, and they were moving like a unit, staying close to each other so no one could get too close.Satisfied that they would be fine, I find another victim and move, preparing to attack while staying on alert for some sort of elemental magic to
[Ayla’s POV]I lean forward, trying to ignore the pain that shoots through me while the world fades in and out. I had told Barren to do his worst, and do his worst he did, leaving me battered and bruised and chained to a damn chair while he ran around who knew where.Grumbling to myself, I begin to pull at the chains around my wrists, but stop as the cold metal cuts into my skin, sending waves of agonizing pain through me.Fuck, this wouldn’t do. I couldn’t just stay here. I didn’t know how the others were or whether or not Barren had done something to them.Lifting my gaze, I take in the area around me, trying to determine if there was something I could use to try to pick the locks of my cuffs. When I spot a small pocket knife, I know it is exactly what I need. I just need to get to it.I begin to buck my body, attempting to bunny hop forward but only crashing to my side, sending more pain through me."Dammit," I growl, looking toward the weapon I need. "This won’t do. I can’t just s
[Alphonze's POV]I remain in place, not daring to move as Barren's words echo around us. His purpose all along was to use Ayla in her lycan form to take out the elders. What a sick bastard.I needed to send a warning to them before Barren managed to get close, but I still didn't know where the hell Aera and Silas were."By the way," Barren announces, snapping me out of my head. "Your mate is no longer a hindrance."Aera? He was talking about Aera, right? What the fuck did he mean? Did he come here? If so, did Barren's wolves manage to overpower him?As my thoughts begin to swirl, a whimper escapes Ayla, and I'm sure her mind is going where mine is too, but she can't show her emotions due to having to continue this game with Barren."Don't look at me like that, baby," Barren murmurs as a snarl of warning escapes Ayla. "I've left him and the others alive for you to take care of later.""What the fuck have you done to them?" Benny growls, letting his temper overpower his sense of reasoni
[Ayla's POV]I fade in and out of consciousness as I wrestle to retake dominance from the darkness.Each time I manage to gain control, I find that I'm inside what looks like a giant metal box that shakes and jolts as if it is moving.I can only guess that this box is attached to a vehicle, and we are heading straight for the capitol, where the elders are sitting prey.'No,' I hiss, knowing that I have to stop this. 'I have to get out.'As the words come forward, I feel tiny awakenings of my abilities deep within my soul.No, this couldn't be happening, not now.I was dangerous without my powers and full strength, but I was deadly when I had them.How was this possible? Was the serum the elders injected me with wearing off at this time?There was no way. They knew that the solar eclipse would happen today and therefore should have planned accordingly. This was something else happening entirely.Fear begins to claw at me as I slowly realize that I could truly hurt the elders in my curr
[Alphonze's POV]"Just a bit..." I murmur, moving my credit card up and down along the lock of my cell while listening out for the click that indicated that the door was being unlocked. "More.""Are you sure?"Benny's voice is full of annoyance as it reaches my ears, and I have half a mind to knock some respect into him, but I know that I don't have the time to do it.Even if I was no longer his alpha, I was still above him, and he would be wise to remember that no matter the circumstances we were under."Mind your attitude," I warn, keeping my focus on the door. "Otherwise, I'll have to teach you a lesson later."A soft chuckle escapes him, but nothing else is said, allowing me to fully focus on the task at hand until finally the lock clicks and the door moves."Got it!" I announce, getting to my feet and beginning to move. "Time to go!"I had to admit that, after eighteen years of being chair bond, I was still getting used to the fact that I could once again move around freely. In t
[Ayla’s POV]Fear begins to claw at me with each step that I take, despite everything in me screaming no. Whatever this fucking serum Barren injected me with was, it was powerful, and even with tapping into my strongest abilities, I couldn’t seem to stop.‘Do something,’ I hiss at the darkness, which had seemed to go dormant. ‘Before we both do something we regret.’I’m met with silence, causing my heart to drop as I realize that maybe the darkness was completely subdued due to the return of my abilities.This wasn’t good; I had to do something, but as I begged the universe to help me overcome this obstacle, I was easily led to the front of the temple."It seems they were anticipating our arrival," Barren murmurs, looking around at the many guards who are waiting for us. "But no worries, they’re just a minor hindrance."Letting out a laugh, he makes a bunch of roots explode from the ground that quickly wrap around the guards while I watch in horror and am unable to help.Gasps and yel