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A deep growl hums across my shoulder, sounding from Ravi. “What the fuck happened, Adam? You were supposed to take care of her. You were supposed to stay at the fucking yacht and wait for us. Why did you leave?”
“We were told to head to Blackshell.” Evander groans as he limps from the trees. “Then we were ambushed.”
It’s only partially true. There’s a lot more that happened, and I want to shout it to everyone. I just want them to stop fighting and to pay attention.
“I’m sorry, Ravi. It was me who took them off path to go another route. I suspected there would be issues after what the council did to me.” Sloan’s soft voice trickles from my right, and I catch sight of her resting against a tree, staying shielded by the thick trunk. “I didn’t expect you to finish the challenge here. It was supposed to be there.”
“You know how it goes. The council can only control so much, which is fine by me. They already have chains around us enough as it is.” Ravi turns and looks at me. “Now let’s focus. There was a mage here. We think it could’ve possibly encouraged the weakened packs to test their luck. Word shouldn’t have traveled so quickly from Starrise.”
Ice sweeps through my body, and I shiver. Ravi is right about that. We left Starrise in a hurry, and none of the alphas were coming. Except Sloan...
I jerk my attention toward her, wondering if maybe I misjudged her. She could be trying to double-cross me. Maybe even get involved with the packs that want me for a reason. She did mention she needed a male alpha. What if—
“It was Isaac.” Sloan meets my gaze, staring at me as if she heard my thoughts. And maybe she had. “He’s trying to set us all up. Think about it.”
Evander tenses, his muscles rattling and his eyes flashing gold. Sloan’s words bother him, but not because she accuses Isaac. I can see it written all over his face that he realizes it’s possible. Isaac could have spread the word somehow. We were supposed to end up in Blackshell, after all. He did tell me to submit to him. He wanted to save me. Or some bullshit.
“I can’t believe I bowed to him. I fucking trusted him as my alpha.” Evander scrubs his palms over his cheeks, tipping his head back and squeezing his eyes shut. “It’s making more sense. He was concerned that I would turn my back on the pack. Blackshell needs its members.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him. Eliana almost got taken because of him. The mage—” Adam hollers and hits his knees to the ground, his body seeming to give out on him. A sparkle of light flickers across his muscles, shocking across the skin.
“He’s here. He’s come back. He warned me—” Agony strikes me in the chest, forcing the air from my lungs. I open and close my mouth, trying to breathe. Shadows crowd the edges of my vision, and the world falls out from under me as Ravi drops me.
He hits the ground beside me, groaning and arching his back. We’re being forced to transform again. It feels just like it had before.
“Please forgive us for our intrusion, but we must pass the key to your wolves here on the island. We will not trespass without warning again.” Serena’s feminine voice chimes through the air, the melodious sound almost like a song. “I’ve also come bearing a gift. Something that should help speed up the process of picking your alpha, Eliana. Here.”
I can’t even get to my paws or bark or growl or anything else. Serena ties something around my neck, tucking it into my fur. Heat burns across my skin, and I flip onto my side and release a whimper. A strange sensation crawls from my neck and down my chest, traveling the length of my body until I yelp.
What the hell? What’s wrong with me?
“Be kind to her. She needs the upmost care from you. Do you understand? You need to prove that you can be the alphas she desires.” Serena strolls away from me, and all I can do is stare at her as my body cracks and shifts, and my human and wolf fighting over who gets control.
She steps toward Ravi, extending her hand. Something silver glitters in her palm, the magic strong enough to feel even from here. But it is nothing compared to the magic already coursing over me.
“Only those worthy of picking the strongest and fittest in the human world will be able to sail through the gateway. Choose your packmates wisely. Everyone has a purpose. You’ll ensure your species knows what their purpose is.” Serena bends down and sticks something into Ravi’s chest, making him growl. Turning to Slater, she does the same, jamming something into his coat. I expect her to disappear, but she spins one more time and sets her gaze on Kellan. She closes the space to him and bends down, stabbing something gold and glittery into his chest like the others. “An infraborne now an alpha. I expect powerful things to come from you. Do not disappoint us. Remember, to officially claim the Twilight Cove territory, you need an omega.” Serena locks her gaze to me, my body finally relaxing as I remain in my human form. “Perhaps it’ll be Eliana. I know your wolf has already chosen her, but she still needs to choose you. I look forward to reuniting upon the full moon to see the great lengths you’ve gone through to help your species survive and thrive.”
Rubbing her hands together, Serena manifests fog in the middle of the small clearing. She spins around once more, drinking us all in, and then she steps forward and the misty air devours her, stealing her away.
I groan and try to push up, my muscles weak, my heart heavy. What the fuck? It’s all I can think. What the fuck? Fuck. Fuck! What just happened? What did she do to me? What did she do to Kellan, Ravi, and Slater?
“Eliana, shit. Everyone, stay down. Hold your breath. Don’t look at Eliana.” Sloan pushes to her feet, jogging toward me. “That bitch. How could she do this? You’re already pregnant.”
Panic clenches my heart, stealing the beats. “What did she do to me?” I guess, a strange sensation clinging to every molecule of my being. I struggle to think. All I can do is focus on the hum of my body. The ache between my legs. How I’m suddenly feeling out of control and on the verge of... Fuck.
“I think she put you in heat. It shouldn’t have happened. Only the alphas were supposed to be a little nuts with you. But if you’re in heat...” Her voice trails off as several growls hum through the air.
“Get away from her. She is not yours.” Ravi bares his teeth and pushes from the ground.
“She’s not yours, either. Her wolf hasn’t claimed you. You don’t have permission to be her alpha yet.” Slater fists his hands, straightening his back to tower over Ravi.
“Stay where you are. Eliana is mine,” Kellan snaps, turning toward me.
Sloan releases a loud whistle, the noise stinging my ears. “Eliana, run. You need to get some space between you.”
But the thought of moving sends agony coursing through me. I feel as if I’ll die if I don’t get some sort of reprieve.
“What she needs is to have us take care of her,” Ravi says, inching his way closer, testing Slater and Kellan to see if they react.
