Shock flashes over Aiden’s face. He hides it immediately, probably because any human emotion was beaten out of him by the brute of his father.
I need to remember that whatever was done to me, Aiden knew worse torture and from a younger age.
And he’s not even the true Alpha. Noah is. I can drop that bombshell at any time, make the Warden complicit, and ensure all our deaths.
“It’s so good to have you back with us,” Aiden continues.
“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit,” I retort. I read that in a book somewhere. “And it doesn’t become you. You’re the Alpha, Aiden. Act like it.”
His eyes flash silver at my chiding tone. I really do sound like Oma.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t have you killed.”
I shrug. “If Fate wants me dead, I will die. But I have visions yet to see.”
“You’re a traitor to this pack.”
More power gathers in me. It feels like…Noah’s alpha power. Was this what Oma siphoned from Odin?
“You See so little it might as well be nothing.” Aiden might rip out my tongue for this, but fuck it. I’m going to keep lecturing him, Oma-style. It’s too much fun. “I am the Seeress. I walk beyond the veil. You cannot order me around like one of your Soulless.”
He blinks at the word Soulless.
“That’s what your Alpha Forces are, aren’t they? Soulless. You’ve poisoned them to make them more powerful, more compliant.” I sniff. “I thought you might be better than your father, but I was wrong.”
“I am nothing like my father,” Aiden’s voice rings out, painfully loud. Hugh’s fur stands on end, and the ghost wolf lets out a sharp bark.
Aiden doesn’t like being compared to his father? Interesting. I can use that to steer his actions toward good. Or use it to attack him. Either way, he revealed something about himself, and I have a weapon to use against him. And he knows it because he goes cold again.
“I allowed myself to be taken,” I say. I’m telling the truth; I wanted to go with Noah. “And in doing so, learned much about the enemy pack.” Also true but not because I planned to betray Noah. Because I planned to stay with him.
“You betrayed us.”
“I betrayed him,” I swallow down the pain. “And then I returned.”
Aiden can’t deny I allowed myself to be taken by his Alpha Force. I rejected Noah and sent him away. “It was a test of Fate, and I passed.” I spread my hands as if to say, and now I’m here.
He has to believe me when I say it was all part of Fate’s plan. What does he know about Fate’s plan, anyway?
I hold all the power here. And if he kills me, then I die knowing I protected my love until my last breath.
Let death come, I tell my wolf. In front of me, Hugh whines. Lightning is flickering along his ghostly form, and I can see the clear markings of his fur–midnight black with some white hairs around his face. He still doesn’t have eyes, but in the empty sockets, there’s a bright amber glow.
“It all went according to plan,” I say. I hold the certainty in my heart to make my words true. Because it did all go according to plan–Fate’s plan. I got out with Noah. And when the time came, I made my choice to save him.
Now I will use whatever power I have left to stop Aiden and the Warden. Save the acolytes. Do what I can to guide my pack from injustice to justice, from war to peace.
“Now we will host the Alpha Rites, and I will give myself over to the power. And I will give you a vision that will guide you for ages.”
“What makes you think I would let you out of this cell?” Aiden’s eyes are flashing silver. His wolf is going wild. Right in front of him, Hugh is bristling like he’s ready to pounce. Maybe Aiden’s wolf senses the ghost wolf?
“I will have a vision whether I am in the Cradle or not,” I shrug. “If you are afraid of my power, Alpha, then by all means, keep me under lock and key. The full moon brings me power no matter what. I walk the veil even if my body is chained.”
“You will be chained, then. Your body will suffer silver bonds until I free you from them.”
“Do what you will. If that’s what it takes for you to feel safe, then so be it.” I smile as I taunt him. Silver chains will burn wherever they touch my skin, but whatevs. I’ve survived pain and discomfort many times before. “But never forget, Alpha, that I do not live to serve you. I live to serve this pack, and I seek the wisdom beyond the veil, so I might lead us all according to Fate’s plan. One day, you and I will die. But the pack will still remain.” And I will guide the pack towards good, I vow. I sense the Grandmothers nodding and whispering their approval.
Just let Noah live, I tell them. Keep him safe, watch over him. I will give myself over to you, but if you put him in danger, I will slit my own throat. That is the price of my sacrifice.
