Chapter 41: Chapter 41

ETHAN

My body shifts into a protective stance with Scarlet behind me as my gaze lands on the dozens of soldiers that are now blocking our only escape. With my peripherals, I notice Will has also moved forward, helping to separate Scarlet from the enemy wolves.

There are about three times as many men as what I have with me at the moment, so I quickly mind-link the others. Once I know they are on their way and working on clearing a path out of here, I focus on what’s in front of me.

The spiral staircase is too narrow. If we try to attack them in such a cramped space, there are sure to be casualties.

It would be best to get them to come to us, but right now we have a blazing inferno at our backs as Scarlet’s power eats away at the pornographic paintings of her.

I try not to think about the images that are now forever burned into my head. The idea of that sick bastard envisioning my precious mate in such a sexual way makes me want to rip him to shreds. I’m beyond pissed off that the coward got away.

I have so many questions. There are so many things that I want to know, that I want to understand. But right now is definitely not the time. Right now, I need to focus on trying to get us out of here.

“Hand over the luna or perish,” the soldier at the front of the herd says.

“Hell no. She’s my luna. Now get the fuck out of our way or you’ll be the one to perish,” I demand as all my men take fighting positions, ready and waiting to see what will happen.

I can feel my alpha aura pulsing within me, stronger than ever. I notice it affecting the men in front of us as they shift anxiously on their feet, looking unsure.

The lieutenant in the lead is the first to grit his teeth and resume his defensive stance. After a moment, the Silver Shadow Pack finally charge, and I turn to Scarlet. “Stay here.”

Her eyebrows furrow, and she opens her mouth to argue, but I turn my attention back to the warriors that have taken up arms against us.

I rush into the fray, not bothering to shift since we are restrained by both time and space. We’ll be able to get down the spiraling stairs faster in our human forms, and I plan to dispatch the Silver Shadow warriors quickly.

I come up to the Lieutenant who swings his dagger at my neck. I duck and jab him in the gut before swinging my leg out and kicking his feet out from under him. He falls back, slamming into the ground with a grunt as the air is knocked out of him.

I don’t allow him any time to recover as I jump on him and punch him repeatedly in the face until another member of the guard jumps at me.

Leaping up from my position, I charge at him and send him flying as my shoulder plows into his chest. I duck another swipe of a knife as a different soldier attacks me.

While I’m fighting those two, another group of mine rushes up the steps to join the action. Within minutes, the fight is over, and we regroup. I grab Scarlet’s hand again as we run down the stairs.

She almost immediately pulls me to a stop before taking her hand from me.

“Scarlet, we have to go,” I urge impatiently, not sure why she’s delaying our escape. I reach out for her again as I see that several of the Silver Shadow soldiers are now dusting themselves off and gathering their weapons once more.

She ignores me as she closes her eyes, her hands held out to her sides with her palms facing upward. Suddenly, a burst of white light shoots at the ceiling at the top of the stairs and the stone arch crumbles down in front of us, completely blocking the soldiers’ exit.

Finally, she turns back to me, and I grab her hand again and drag her along as we hurry down the stairs. We reach the bottom as we sprint toward the main doors.

Fallen soldiers are strewn about the floor, and I hastily pick up an abandoned sword as we pass. I can hear the sounds of fighting outside as we near our exit.

When we burst through the double doors, both wolves and humans are scattered across the gated front lawn as they pummel and bite at one another.

My men notice as Scarlet and I run into the fray. They quickly surround us, protecting us from attackers and taking out anyone who gets close. More and more warriors surge into the battle and begin to overrun us. Scarlet seems to notice too as she stops me again.

This time I know why as I allow her to stand in front of me as she closes her eyes once more, focusing on whatever power she seems to possess and be able to control now.

I turn my focus to Scarlet as the air begins to hum around her. Light bursts all around her, temporarily blinding everyone as the ground begins to quake.

I drop my arm from my eyes once the bright white glow has faded and see that all the Silver Shadow soldiers are frozen in place. They seem to be frozen in time as they stand and lie in various poses, clearly mid-fight.

My fingers wrap around Scarlet’s as I pull her toward the gate just as our vehicles come screeching to a halt in front of it.

I hurry to open the back door to the closest one before placing a hand on the small of Scarlet’s back and guiding her in before I follow.

We quickly speed out of there with tires squealing as the wheels throw up rocks behind us. The rest of our party do the same and soon a whole train of SUVs are flying down the road.

We are thrown around as the cars maneuver rapidly through the city streets as we make our way back out of the city. Scarlet turns to look out the rearview window and closes her eyes before I see another brief flash of white.

“What did you just do?” I ask before I think of another question that I’m just dying to ask. “And how are you even doing that? Can you control them now?”

She moves so that she’s sitting properly in her seat again before her gaze meets mine. “I unfroze them. And honestly, I have no idea how I’m doing that. I’ve never been able to do anything close to that before. The only other time I tried to control my powers, I knocked over a trash can and that’s it. It feels like something is awake in me now, and I have access to a part of me that was locked up before.”

She clasps her hands in her lap and fidgets with them nervously as she looks down at them. I reach out and place my hand over hers, and her gaze moves back up to me. I’m sure she went through hell being in Lucian’s home. Her violet eyes shine like amethysts as they search my face, though I have no idea what she’s looking for.

That sick fuck is completely obsessed with my gorgeous mate. I can’t say I blame him. She is magnificent, but that certainly doesn’t excuse his behavior. He has violated her in so many ways now. He kidnapped and planned to make her his own.

Clearly that witch was trying to do something with our mating bond. My mark on Scarlet looks fresh, as if she reversed time to make it slowly disappear.

The mating bond has always been cherished and respected by all werewolves. It’s sacred, a gift from the Moon Goddess herself. And Lucien just spat on it.

We continue our way in silence as my hands soothingly rub up and down her back. I kiss her temple and gently caress her cheek as she looks up at me with her mesmerizing gaze.

“I love you, Ethan,” she murmurs to me.

“I love you too, my angel. More than anything. You are mine. And I am yours. Forever and always,” I reply back without hesitation.

No matter what, I will not lose her, even if I have to burn Silver City and all the damn witches to the ground.