Chapter 333: Chapter 333

Lila’s POV

“Our blood is supposed to be healing,” my mother said, drawing our attention to her. “So, maybe with your blood combined, it could heal her.”

“I don’t understand,” I said, looking back at Hazel. “What do you mean that we are the ones that broke the curse?” I then looked up at Enzo. “Did you know?”

To my surprise, he nodded his head once.

The last thing I remembered from the curse was being squeezed lifeless by those tendrils; the next thing I knew I was being carried away by Xander.

I didn’t break any curse.

“I’ll explain it later,” he told me gently. “But for right now. I think they are right. Do you trust me?”

“With all of my heart,” said without hesitation.

“Good,” he said, smiling down at me.

He held out his hand for me to place my hand in his palm; I did so. Hazel handed him a sharp rock she retrieved from the ground and in one quick motion, he made a thin slice across the palm of my hand where blood pooled together.

I kept the blood in my hand while Enzo did the same to his hand. Once he had blood pooled in his palm, he poured it into the blood in my hand, mixing them.

I didn’t need him to tell me what to do next.

I turned to Sarah who was still staring up at her father who was whispering how sorry he was to her. I knew she probably had plenty of questions for him; questions she wasn’t going to be able to ask if she was dead, so I needed to be quick and pray to the moon goddess that this worked.

I knelt beside her, touching her face gently with the hand I wasn’t holding the blood in. She turned her gaze to meet mine and I saw fresh tears forming in her eyes. Her breathing was getting shaky, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before she stopped breathing completely.

I raised my cupped hand to her lips and her eyes widened as she took in the scent of fresh blood. She shook her head, trying to move her mouth away. It was Brody who held her head steady and her father tightened his hold around her, keeping her in place.

“Sorry…” I whispered to her as pressed my hand to her lips.

With a bit more hesitation, she finally opened her mouth and allowed the blood mixture to enter her mouth and run down her throat. She winced at the taste and coughed as it stung her throat.

Once the blood was completely gone, I pulled my hand away, watching as she coughed and gagged from the taste.

She was panting heavily, and I thought she was about to have a panic attack; that is until she hunched over, squeezing her eyes shut as a wave of pain coursed through her body. I stumbled backward, as did almost everyone else besides Brody and Alpha Jonathan.

Alpha Jonathan kept his arms around Sarah as she screamed in agony, slamming her fists into the hard dirt around her. Brody stayed nearby, ready to jump in if anything happened to his mate.

I watched with wide eyes as a dark cloud of smoke escaped from Sarah’s body, lifting her hair in the process like a gust of wind. The dark cloud lifted into the air, drawing our attention to the sky where we watched it disappear into the night air.

Sarah had finally stopped screaming but she was still breathing heavily, and she was laying limp in her father’s arms.

“Sarah?” He asked her, cautiously, giving her limp body a small shake. “Are you okay?”

Brody whimpered with worry and my heart grew heavy in my chest as I looked at Hazel who was still staring up at the sky.

“Did it work?” I asked.

She looked down at me and nodded.

“The curse left her body, yes. But she’s had it for so long. I’m afraid it took a toll on her.”

“What does that mean?” Jonathan asked loudly and threw his teeth as he glared up at Hazel. “Is she going to be okay?”“She should see a doctor,” Hazel said, her eyes finding Sarah’s limp body. “With proper medication and rest, she should get stronger again. Now that the curse is gone it's up to her body now.”

Sarah groaned, drawing our attention to her.

“Dad….” She whispered.

I finally let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“I’m here…” Alpha Jonathan breathed, holding her close. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired…” she murmured.

“We are going to the pack hospital,” Alpha Jonathan told her, standing to his feet and taking his daughter with him. “I’m not going to lose my daughter because of my mistakes.”

Alpha Jonathan turned to walk away with Sarah in his arms, but then he froze and glanced over his shoulder at Brody, who remained frozen with his head lowered.

Jonathan narrowed his eyes and pressed his lips firmly together until they formed a tight line across his features.

“Aren’t you coming?” Jonathan said in a low and threatening tone.

Brody straightened his body and stared up at Alpha Jonathan, clearly confused.

“Alpha?” Brody asked; we all turned to look at Alpha Jonathan who just rolled his eyes and turned away.

“She’s your mate, is she not?” Jonathan asked as he continued to walk. “Figured you’d want to remain by her side. Guess I was wrong.”

With a look of utter surprise, Brody didn’t hesitate to run after them.

“I won’t leave her side. Not ever, Alpha,” Brody said as he caught up to Alpha Jonathan.

“Then here,” Jonathan muttered and to my surprise, he placed Sarah in the arms of Brody.

Sarah gave Brody the biggest smile she could manage before burying her face in his neck and keeping herself close to him.

We watched as the three of them walked away together.

Enzo wrapped his arm around me, and I found myself burying myself in him, feeling all sorts of relaxed.

My mother’s voice broke through the silence that surrounded us.

“It seems that our darling Lila isn’t the strongest Volana to exist,” she said, her eyes twinkling as she looked up at Enzo. “At least not alone she’s not.”

Enzo gave her a timid smile as he tightened his hold on me.“You mean… we are the strongest together?” I asked, peering up at Enzo with tears in my eyes.

He nodded.

“Yes,” he answered before Hazel could respond. “It’s you and me.”

On that note, he bent down, and his lips finally found mine.

“We should go,” my father announced to the rest of us. “I’m sure many of us are tired and would like to return home.”

“I know I am,” I breathed, leaning against Enzo.

My father gave me a knowing smile.

“I’m going to escort the Volanas back to Diana’s village,” my mother said, giving my father a kiss on his cheek. “Are you returning to the Nova pack tonight?”

“Yes. I’m sure all the kids are worried about everything that’s going on,” my father said. “I’m going to update them on everything.”

A thought occurred to me suddenly.

“What about Rachel?” I asked. “Where is she being held.”

My father glanced at Enzo before looking at me.

“She was in the Calpso dungeon,” my father explained. “But we transferred everyone to the Nova packhouse. So, she’s there with the others.”

“Is she in the dungeon?” Enzo asked, curiously.

My father hesitated, but then he shook his head.

“I didn’t find the need to keep her in the dungeon,” he admitted. “I don’t think she’s a danger.”

“She’s the reason Lila was kidnapped,” Enzo said through his teeth, which honestly surprised me.

“Darkness is the reason she was kidnapped,” my father said, folding his arms across his chest. “Rachel was a victim like everyone else.”

“How do you know she’s not still possessed?” Enzo asked; I didn’t like the distrusting tone he gave me my father.

“Because she’s been monitored for the last 24 hours,” my father answered. “There’s no indication of darkness. She barricaded herself in a guest room and according to the gammas I left on the premises, she hasn’t left.”

Enzo looked like he wanted to say something more, but I put my hand on his shoulder, drawing his attention to me.

“Trust that my father knows what he’s talking about,” I said gently. “If he says Rachel isn’t a danger, then she’s not.”

Enzo finally sighed and bent to kiss the tip of my nose.

As we walked back toward the other Volanas and warriors, we could hear them speaking to one another as they healed the injured warriors. Most of them were back in their human forms and changed into clothes.

Some wolves were patrolling the forest and making sure no other rogues or witches were lurking around.

Diana was finishing healing Beta Aiden when we approached. She turned to look at us and her smile grew large. Her eyes were no longer the chocolate brown that I had come to know and love. They were the color of a Volana wolf; purple and blue.

My heart swelled upon seeing this; her powers were restored, and she looked happier than ever.

She quickly stood to her feet as Enzo rushed toward her, wrapping his arms around her.

“I’m so glad you are safe,” she breathed. She extended her hand for me to take and once I did, she pulled me into the hug.

I chuckled as I hugged them both.

“Diana, you totally kicked ass,” I laughed. “Your arrival was everything.”

“I enjoy making an entrance,” she teased.

I noticed my father was speaking to Xander and what looked like a hostile situation turned into a friendly smile and a firm handshake between two comrades. I wondered what had happened between the two of them that caused this.

My mother, noticing my curious look, took my hand and pulled me along with her until we were in front of Xander and my father.

“Lila…” my mother said, motioning for Xander. “I know you’ve met, Professor Xander already. But allow me to introduce you to the real Xander… Gamma of the Ero’s pack.”

My entire body froze as I stared up at Xander who gave me a small smile and a head nod.

“It’s nice to officially meet you, Lila,” he said, keeping his head lowered.

“The Ero’s pack?” I breathed.

“Yes,” my mother said, smiling brightly. “That’s—”

“Uncle Drake and Aunt Sophie’s pack!!”