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Scott begins pacing once more. “Okay, we’re all here, butwhy? For what purpose?” Scott asks with barely concealed frustration. His brow furrows and gestures towards me. “Why are you here? Why did the witches take you?”
His frustration is understandable, and I wish I had an answer for him that made sense, but I still don’t really understand it myself. The queen is hiding something, and her explanation about needing me here to support her just doesn’t sit right. Now, two prophecies have been revealed that seem to focus on me, and they have changed everything. I’ve gone from someone everyone feared and hated, to being a hero who’s worshipped in some cases. How do I explain that?
“Um…” My hesitation stretches out, and I feel a drop of sweat rolling down my spine as the two wolves look at me for answers. Star stirs at my side, feeling my discomfort, and presses herself against my leg.
In desperation, I glance over at Atlas, hoping he’ll help me explain, but his eyes are firmly locked on where Joel and I are holding hands. Feeling my stare, he looks up to meet my gaze, and his expression fills me with trepidation. Atlas may not be a werewolf, but he certainly carries alpha type energy, and I can see him butting heads with Joel. He seemed to begrudgingly accept Syn, but Joel is a different ballgame altogether.
Thankfully, the anger and pride shining in his eyes seems to dim. Clearing his throat, he tilts his head to one side, keeping me pinned in place with his intense gaze. “Have you told them that we all have the honour of proving ourselves?”
The others’ gazes seem to intensify, their focus narrowed in on Atlas as they attempt to work out what he means. He makes it sound like the fact that we’re to prove ourselves is anything but an honour, making the tension in the room rise, the atmosphere thick with frustration and confusion.
Before he can say anything else to stir things up, or Nicolai and Joel decide to start demanding answers, I narrow my eyes on him so he knows that he pissed me off with his attitude. “Not yet. I was about to when you arrived.” My voice is snappy and tight, and I instantly regret it when I see him flinch. It was over before it’d really begun, and no one else would have seen it, but I did, and it hit me like a blow. This is hard for him. Sharing me, not having the full bond, and having to confront his hatred of werewolves is not easy, and I should give him more leeway for that. My expression softens, and I reach out through our bond. I can only share general feelings, thanks to the connection not being complete, but I send him a warm wave of reassurance. I won’t apologise, because he’s making this difficult and he needs to understand now is not the time or place, but he also needs to know that I’m not going to waltz off now that my other mates are here, which I think is the root of his jealousy.
His expression doesn’t change, but I feel a tentative stroke along the bond from his side, along with what could be an apology. Atlas doesn’t apologise, so I’m sure I’m interpreting this wrong, but I don’t have time to ask him now, so I push that aside and turn to address Joel and Scott.
“You know I’m part witch,” I begin, waiting for them to nod. Sighing, I run a hand through my hair, pushing back the red strands that are attempting to fall into my face. “Well, I’ve learned that my mother was from an important family amongst the witches, and that she was very close with the queen. My family supported the queen and her right to rule here. My mother is dead, I don’t know who my father is, and I have a half-brother.”
I realise that my explanation about my family is rushed and basic at best, but that’s all I really have to tell them. While I know a little more, there is so much I don’t know, and I wish it were otherwise. However, as I take in Joel’s and Scott’s stunned expressions, I see that perhaps I’m taking this too fast.
“A brother?” Joel’s brows rise, his surprise evident.
“Oh, it gets better,” Atlas croons, his arms crossed as he leans back against the wall, a smile pulling at his lips. He’s clearly enjoying their confusion.
Nodding, I continue with the explanation. “Apparently our family had a rare gift that travels through our line—the ability to command the stars.” As one, everyone looks at Star, the realisation hitting them hard. The wolf in question seems to be oblivious, leaning up against my legs and panting happily, waiting for me to tell her what to do while staring lovingly up at Joel.
“This magic skipped my brother, and when the queen discovered that I have this gift, she decided she needed me at her side and to teach me to control my power,” I explain quietly. I’m not sure why I feel the need to whisper, perhaps because they are all still staring at Star, enraptured, and I don’t want to disturb that—or it could be because I want to avoid the next part of the story.
“Why?” Joel asks quietly as he pulls his gaze from Star to return his attention to me. “Why does sheneedyou?”
Apprehension fills my chest, and I push aside the disquiet so I can attempt to explain. “I’m not sure. Getting a solid answer has been difficult, but it’s to do with the stability of her rule.” Taking a deep, steadying breath, I prepare myself for the next clarification and the volley of questions it’s going to trigger. “There’s more. There was a prophecy.”
I’m not sure why I’m dreading telling them about this so much. It might have something to do with saying it out loud making it true, like I believe that I’m the one who could save or destroy everyone.
Atlas huffs and pushes away from the wall with an eye roll. All attention switches to him, taking some of the heat from me. Did he do this because he felt my uneasiness, or was it random? Either way, I’m grateful for it.
Walking towards me with a swagger, he clucks his tongue and tilts his head to one side as he looks down at me. Both Scott and Joel growl at the witch’s proximity to me, but neither move. Atlas ignores them anyway. “We don’t have time for you to explain the whole prophecy drama. Unfortunately this isn’t just a social visit.” He turns to the males. “I’m only going to explain this once, so listen up. Essentially, it’s been foretold that Laelia is going to be the one who ends the war between the wolves and witches once and for all, or she could destroy us all,” he explains with a shrug, looking as though he couldn’t give a care in the world about the outcome. “Good, bad, and ugly, it will come down to her.”
His explanation makes me feel sick, and I notice that Scott’s looking a little pale too. Atlas is right though, if I reallyamthe one from the prophecy, the fate of both races is in my hands, which is a responsibility I don’t want or am ready for.
A gentle squeeze of my hand breaks me from my spiralling panic, and I glance up at Joel with wide eyes. I attempt to smile at him, but I’m not sure how it comes out since he just looks concerned.
Swallowing against the lump in my throat, I focus on what Atlas said before he summed up the prophecies, and a slight frown pulls at my brows. “What do you mean, this isn’t a social visit?” My voice is a croak, but I blame that on dehydration as I wait for Atlas’s answer.
When our eyes meet, I see the apology in his gaze, and I know before he speaks what he’s going to say.
“We’re required to see the queen.”
My stomach sinks, and I squeeze my eyes shut. Of course she would want to see us now, when I’m feeling emotional and vulnerable. She’s trying to break me, to show me who’s in charge and bend me to her rule, and I realise now it’s because she feels out of control. Well, I’m not going to let her break me. I have my mates at my side, and they make me stronger, not to mention I have a goddess watching over me.
Joel’s arms come around me as he pulls me back against his chest. He doesn’t say anything, knowing that I need a moment to collect myself. The warmth from his body is a comfort, as is the low humming noise he makes that gently vibrates through his chest. There’s another low, almost continuous growl in the room, but I allow it to wash over me as I remind myself of my strengths. When I slowly open my eyes, my emotions are in control, and I’ve pushed away my insecurities.
Searching for the source of the growl, I see Scott seething in the corner. I don’t know why he’s so angry—that’s not true, he has plenty to be angry about, but this behaviour is so unlike him. We’ve not known each other long, so perhaps I didn’t really know him at all.No, males who are angry don’t risk their lives to save a half wolf,I remind myself.Nor do they stay behind and protect her family because he knows how devastated she would be if anything happened to them.When I finally get some time alone with him, I need to talk to him and find out what’s causing him to act this way. I’d expect this from Syn, but not Scott.
Atlas says something to him in a low voice, too low for me to hear, but Scott has no problem hearing him.
Snarling, he spins and bares his teeth at my mate. “Tell that witch to shove herrequestup her—”
“If you don’t follow her… request, then they will happily drag you there. In fact, I might help them.” Atlas smiles, baring too many teeth as he goads the furious wolf. He’s enjoying this.
