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"Because she cares about you guys," Morgan said. "And she hopes that this may be the first step to rebuilding the relationship between wolves and witches."
As far as I was concerned, she was off to a good start. She helped us in more ways than one since meeting her in that diner hoping for more information about the Wolf Moon's gift. She helped me, she helped Kai, and she became an ally we could depend on. Maybe there was hope for our species to come together again. We had to start somewhere.
"Del, tell your guards to stand by. We'll need to make sure the humans leave town safely," I said, not taking my eyes away from Roxanne as the pink crescent moon marking on her forehead shimmered to life.
"Right." Del pulled out her cell phone and made the call. It was hard to tell it was working, but I could feel her magic working overtime from where I was standing. I didn't know if she was in pain, however. Her face was stoic the whole time. Maybe the pain would only manifest itself when the spell was over. "I got confirmation. They said the town's people are getting into their cars and driving away. They look like brainwashed zombies apparently."
"Then it's working," Joaquin said matter-of-factly.
I was grateful for that. With them out of the way, there was less chance of innocent lives getting hurt. I wouldn't be able to guarantee the town would be in good condition when the fight was over, but I could at least make sure the civilians would be safe.
"It's really happening, isn't it?" Kao asked, and I knew he wasn't referring to Roxanne's magic.
"That it is, Kao," Joaquin answered for me.
"This won't be easy," Del said, still holding up her phone to her ear.
I agreed with her. "No, it won't, but we'll make it out of this alive. We have to."
"You know we got your back," Joaquin said. "We won't let anything happen to you and your territory."
My territory. Yeah, that's exactly what Kingsrose was. Mine. To think when I came back to live with my grandmother, that I would wind up where I was now, an alpha to the local pack. To be part of an ancient destiny that Mother Moon forged. To have four... five... men, who I would do anything for.Roxanne's spell took about an hour, and when she was done, she landed on the ground in a heap, hunched over and panting. Morgan rushed to her aid, making sure she was okay.
I walked over and knelt beside her. "Thank you, Roxanne, for all your help."
While Morgan silently muttered what I assumed was a healing spell under her breath, Roxanne looked up at me with hooded, exhausted eyes. "Happy to be of help. The humans will be gone for the next forty-eight hours. The stage is set up for your final battle, Your Majesty."
My eyes went from Roxanne and Morgan to my family behind me, then to the lodge full of our guests who were ready to help defend my territory and take back what belonged to them. This was it; it was really going to happen. It was time to see if I could continue the tradition of fighting against Fate and winning. For my mates who chose to be with me. For my family who were risking their lives for me. For the hundreds of shifters and witches who were offering their services. And for myself, the one who valued her free will more than what fate had planned for me.
"Then it's time we finish this once and for all."
26
ROSIE
Kingsrose was like a ghost town with all the humans and pups evacuated. All that was left standing were our army as we waited for Pierce's to show up through the entryway. Now that the time had come, my nerves were shot. Either Pierce or I would command the pack and take over Kingsrose. If he won, my mates and family would be slaughtered, and the world could be in trouble if Mordred stepped in to deal the Wolf Moon's gift.
"Rosie, squad A through D are in position," Del informed me through the earpiece I wore. She and her men were near the entrance to the rose field, ready to block anybody who would try to make their way to the lodge. That was where my mates, Rowan, Roxanne and I were waiting. The last line of defense. I stood in front of the porch steps, Joaquin and Byron were to my left, and Kao to my right. Rowan and Roxanne were upstairs, ready to jump down to help if Mordred stepped in. All across Kingsrose, there were dozens of shifters and hunters huddled in every shadowy corner. As soon as Pierce's army showed themselves, that was when we'd strike back.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" I asked my men for the last time before we jumped into battle.
"It will," Joaquin said with all the confidence in the world.
"You think Kai will show up?" Kao asked.
Kai...
"If he's under the effects of the New Moon's Curse, he will be here," I answered. "I don't know how we're going to break the hold it has over him, but we'll have to try. But we also have to prepare to defend ourselves if he attacks us. I know he's one of us, and we all love him, but we can't let Atropos' vision come true."
"We're picking up movement from a distance. Something's coming," Del's voice blared through the earpiece again.
"They're coming." I relayed the message to my mates. "Whatever happens tonight, I want you to know how much I love you. All of you. I couldn't have asked for a better group of chosen mates. Fate may not have seen you as a fit for me, but I did. I love you all more than anything."
"And we love you too, Rosie," Joaquin said, speaking for everyone. They all stole a glance to me, giving me the slightest grin to show that my feelings for them were reciprocated.
"Here they come," Del warned a moment later.
It was time. I took two steps forward, closing my eyes and drawing out the force of the Wolf Moon's gift. The power seemed to surface a lot faster than it usually did. Maybe it was because the Wolf Moon would be coming out tonight. Either way, I was grateful for it. I opened my eyes to see my body shrouded in a turquoise fog, similar to what happened with Roxanne yesterday. She wasn't back to full strength after her spell yesterday, but most of her magic did return to her. She'd be able to fight if needed be. The burn from my Wolf Moon's marking branding my forehead became a comfort to me. When I looked back at my mates, their own markings were visible, acting as physical evidence that they were also tethered to the Wolf Moon's gift. Tethered to me.
