[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

[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

[Aera’s POV]I clutch the Oh shit bar above my head as Marah takes a turn on two wheels. Dammit, this woman was going to kill us before we even reached our destination. Who the hell gave her a driver's license because I was going to go and knock some fucking sense into them? She was a maniac and was going to cause a damn wreck before we got to Ayla!"Could you stop that?" She snaps, shooting me a glare as I squeeze the bar harder. "My driving isn’t that bad. I’m actually an excellent driver; the instructor I did my test with said so.""That person needs their certification for deciding whether a driver is good or not revoked," I growl. "Could you try to not kill us before we get to the temple?""Are you suggesting I slow down?" She asks, pushing the gas harder so that I’m forced into my seat. "How about you look above you, lover boy? The solar eclipse is almost complete."As she speaks, Marah places a manicured nail against the button that opens the sun roof above us, so I get a full

[Ayla's POV]All eyes come to rest on me as I work to try to control myself, but something about this scene seems so normal after all the days of stress, fear, and worry that I wouldn't have the chance to witness something like this again."Ayla, are you alright?" Aera asks, giving me a look of concern."Of course she is, idiot," Marah snaps, bouncing toward us. "Everyone is safe and secure in there.""I'm fine," I manage between giggles. "I'm just…."I don't get the chance to finish my sentence before the ground begins to shake and then buck, sending everyone crashing to the side while roots erupt and begin to form a dome around me and Barren."Shit," I hiss, turning my gaze toward Barren to find that he is sitting up and smiling. "You!""Did you really think I would be that easy to defeat?"As he speaks, I can hear the yells of my friends and family from the other side of the dome as they desperately try to get to us, but I fear they won't be able to get through in time."You should

[Ayla's POV]I stand in front of Crimson Tides Estate while my stomach churns and my heart races. Even though this place had always been my home, I wasn't back here for something pleasant.After mine and Celia's discussion, I made the choice to come home and see the man that haunted my dreams and try to see if I could help him.Of course, I had to wait a few days so that Brian and Gwen could be sure that everything was alright, and when I was released, Aera came to fetch me after I explained to him what I wanted to do."Ready?" He asks now, after a moment too long of standing in place. "Or have you changed your mind?""I haven't," I respond, snapping my gaze to the window of my father's room. "This is something that needs to be done.""And what if he is a hopeless cause?" Aera continues to push. "What do you plan to do then?""I'll figure that out when the time comes," I sigh, beginning to move."Welcome back," Aunt Lennox beams when we enter the estate. "I'm so happy you're alright."