~Kade~
The warriors gathered their things. Mason and Cara geared up and packed the bags into the car. I sent twenty warriors to the pack, and they should be arriving within the hour.
My mother came walking down the stairs hurriedly with a bag in hand.
“Going somewhere?” I asked her with my brows pushed together in confusion.
“I’m leaving on an errand, but, Kade, be careful and don’t underestimate him,” she said and cupped my cheek, but my eyes were fixated on the bag in her hand.
“What errand?” I asked her.
“It’s none of your concern at this moment,” she said softly and smiled as her thumb graced my cheek.
My father would stay and look after the pack until I was back. My mother said goodbye and hurried outside. Another formation of warriors left the house. Some took the cars, and others shifted into the wolves and ran through the woods.
Justin came down the stairs, and as soon as he saw me, he stopped.
“We’ll talk later. Get ready to leave,” I said and turned to give orders to the warriors. Only five of them would be going with Mason and me. Cara left with the others, and the rest of our warriors were staying behind to protect the pack.
Danielle came running in dressed in pants and a shirt. This was the first time I saw her out of her pastel-colored dresses.
“I’m coming with you,” she said.
I grabbed the duffel bag and threw it over my shoulder.
“No, you’re staying here. I’m taking Justin.”
She started arguing, but one growl was all it took to shut her up.
“You’re staying here. That is an order. If Nathaniel sends people here, we need an Emberclaw to help fight them,” I growled.
“We have to leave,” my wolf said.
I gestured with my head to the warriors that it was time to leave.
She grabbed my hand as I walked out of the house, and her eye twitched.
“Be careful,” she said and slowly pulled her hand back.
I looked at her face, scanning every detail before I turned and left.
“Load up the cars!”
They all put their things in, and we left.
“How long before he arrives?” I asked Mason.
We had some watchers from the Red Moon Pack keeping tabs on him and his men. It seemed they were closing in on the borders.
“Not long.”
We had called to warn them, and all the warriors in the pack were ready.
The only thing bothering me more than anything was that I hadn’t had the time to test the pack or to train them, so I didn’t know who I could trust there. Some of them still displayed loyalty to Sebastian and his family, so we couldn’t be sure that they were all allies.
It was starting; I felt it. I knew that this was the beginning of the war that would ultimately decide the werewolves’ faith. My father was contacting the Alphas and letting them know that it had started. They would send their warriors, and the war would be on.
As we drove on the highway, I saw the shadows in the woods of the wolves running to the pack.
Suddenly, a sharp pain started stabbing inside my gut, and I folded over the wheel. Mason grabbed a hold of the wheel and steered us straight on the road.
“Who, what the fuck is happening? Are you okay?” he said fearfully.
“I’m fine.” I seethed and shut my eyes. What the hell was happening?
The stabbing eventually stopped. I could take control of the car.
“What was that?” Mason asked me.
“No clue, but it’s not important,” I said, but I didn’t let it go.
The pain just vanished, and a fearful thought hit me. Mates could feel each other’s emotions, and if having rejected Danielle strengthened my bond with Layla, it could’ve been her pain I felt. I clenched my teeth and pressed the gas pedal to the floor.
~Layla~
“Aaah! Get it out of me!” All air left my lungs as I screamed in pain and heard my voice getting darker and angrier with each fucking contraction.
Analise was running around the cottage, getting her things. This strange woman stood in the dark corner, refusing to step into the light.
“Fuck!” I grabbed the sheet I was lying on and squeezed it for dear life.
This kid was trying to kill me. It was too early; it wasn’t time for the baby to come yet, but the pain started an hour ago, and it hadn’t stopped. Analise made it so that I could leave the pack without anyone noticing, but I had no idea how. She wasn’t a witch; she didn’t have any magic, but I was just glad to be out of there for a few hours. I felt safe, and I knew that my baby was safe from any preying eyes or anyone contacting Nathaniel.
“Here we go,” Analise said and put the gigantic pot with heated water on the stepping stool next to the bed.
She took out rugs and towels and then touched my leg. I knew she was trying to be loving, but her hand on my leg felt like burning coal against my skin. My upped body flew up, and a loud growl filled the small cottage. She quickly pulled it away and laughed nervously.
“I think it’s time,” she said and winced.
I fell back down, and tears streamed down my cheeks.
“It can’t be. It’s too early,” I heaved as the sweat ran down my head.
“Sweetheart, everything is about to happen very quickly. You need to be prepared,” Analise said with a serious gaze.
From the dark corner, the woman stepped out. Her long black hair fell over her chest and down to her hips. Her violet lips were full, and in a soft smile, her purple eyeshadow enhanced the color of her green eyes. Whoever this woman was, I hated her for how beautiful she was right now while I lay in a pool of my own sweat and was trying to push a baby out of my body.
“I’m Tarisa,” she said with a thick accent.
Analise was busy fiddling with the towels and dipping them in the water as she poured some dried herbs.
Taris walked with a regal poise over to the bed where I lay. She lowered herself to meet my eye, and I was enchanted by the beauty and depth of her eyes. An energy radiated from her, a powerful aura surrounding her, and I felt her pure intentions and kind heart.
“You’re a witch,” I whispered.
She smiled and nodded.
“I am.”
Where was that accent from? I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Tarisa helped bring you here. Your scent is still filled in the room, and anyone who walks in there will think you’re asleep in the bed,” Analise said with a proud grin.
Tarisa smirked and threw her a wink.
My eyes started glowing as Clara growled and scratched the floor of my mind. I screamed out in pain, and my claws dug into the mattress and ripped it open.
“No, stop this!” Tarisa leaned over me. She placed her hand on my forehead, and my head fell into the pillow. “Shh,” she said calmly. A tired feeling fell over my body, and I sunk into the bed.
“We need to get the baby out. There’s no more time,” she said and looked at Analise.
She nodded and looked at me. “It’s time to push,” Analise said with a comforting smile.
The door slammed open, and someone came running into the room.
“Am I too late?”
I cried harder, not from pain but from joy.
Kade’s mother came running up to the bed and fell to her knees next to me.
“I’m here, sweetheart. Everything is going to be okay,” she said and stroked my head.
Being a witch maybe she’ll help her to fake her death with some kind of spell.