Seeking Assistance

Alpha Tate

I’m seething. He’s taken her before we could intervene. Now, all we can do is return to our home and seek her mother’s aid. Soloman shifts back to his human form, running a hand through his hair and exhaling shakily.

“He’s got her. I failed to protect Mystic,” he admits, his head bowed in defeat.

I place a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It’s not your fault. He caught her off guard. We know he’s powerful, but we don’t know the extent of his abilities. We need to get back before he does anything.”

Tears well up in his eyes. “Her mother won’t let me return. She said if he ever got his hands on Mystic, I’d be banished.”

I shake my head. “I won’t let that happen. I need you by my side. You’re the only one who knows how to handle the chaos that’s about to ensue.”

Soloman looks down at his trembling hands. I place my hand on his arm, forcing him to meet my gaze. He nods, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. With a snap of his fingers, a rainbow portal opens. We step through, arriving at the crystal castle. A furious voice echoes from the entrance, startling us both.

“How could you let him take my daughter? I should strike you both down where you stand,” she rages, storming towards us.

I raise a hand to calm her. “We didn’t sense him until he was already in the room. We knew he was powerful when everything froze. We tracked him down as quickly as we could.”

Her eyes are ablaze with fury. “He’s cunning, but now he has my child. He’ll kill her just to hurt me.”

Soloman steps forward. “We’re here to ask for your help. We need to end him and his clan once and for all. You’ve said before that one wrong move on his part could lead to his downfall. This is it.”

She closes her eyes, struggling to control her anger. “I’ve been waiting for a chance to get back at him, but I can’t enter his realm. There’s a barrier that prevents me.”

Soloman steps back. “You may not be able to enter, but we can. You created me to protect them. I failed this time, but if you let us try again, I won’t fail.”

She turns her fierce gaze on him. “He should never have been able to enter the castle. Did Mystic put up the magical barrier?”

“She did. I saw her,” I interject. “He must have found a way around it. We didn’t have time to investigate. We were too busy chasing him.”

“What did I tell you would happen if you failed?” she asks, her gaze still fixed on Soloman.

I step closer. “He didn’t fail. We were preparing for the ceremony. Our wolves were restless, but we didn’t sense the shift in power until he was in her room. We did everything we could to protect her.”

She growls low in her throat. “You’ve always defended him, but this time he wasn’t there to protect my daughter.”

I growl back, causing her eyes to widen. “He was with me, preparing. There were others in the room with her, including my mate. They may not have our magic, but she wasn’t alone. We need to find a weakness in his realm to save her before it’s too late.”

She rubs her forehead and nods slowly. “Fine. Who will be the third member of your team?”

“Drake,” I reply, crossing my arms.

She blanches. “He’s human. How can he help? I have warriors who are far more capable.”

“His transformation has begun since he mated with Addy. His powers are raw and uncontrolled, but we’re trying to save his mate.”

She takes a deep breath. “Fine, but you’ll also take Ranjit. If anything goes wrong, he can defeat Ewart and his followers.”

We both groan, but she gives us a warning look. “He needs to understand that I’m in charge of this mission, not him. He may be your best warrior, but he will follow my orders unless his life is in danger.”

A high-pitched whistle echoes through the kingdom, and Ranjit appears, bowing to her. “How may I serve you, your majesty?”

She points at us. “You will join them on a mission to save my daughter. Ewart has her, and we need to rescue her before he drains her powers.”

His eyes narrow. “You let him take her? I thought she was under your protection.”

Soloman squares his shoulders. “She was. He appeared out of nowhere and took her. Now, the three of us, along with her mate, will bring her back.”

Ranjit laughs. “You don’t need anyone but me. I can have her back here in less than an hour.”

The moon goddess places her hand on his arm. “You are to destroy him and all who follow him. His realm will cease to exist when you’re done.”

A smile spreads across his face. “Finally. I’ve been waiting for this. They’ve caused nothing but trouble for as long as I can remember. I made Harold suffer for three days, letting him experience the pain he inflicted on others. I can handle this mission alone.”

“No!” I glare at him. “We’re doing this as a team. She’s allowed you to join us, but I’m in charge. Not you.”

He growls at me, then turns to her. “Seriously? You’re making me answer to him?”

She waves her hand dismissively. “It’s not a big deal. He asked for help, so I brought you in.”

He scoffs. “I don’t like working with others. I prefer to get in, eliminate the threat, and get out. They’ll just slow me down.”

I take a step towards him, but she steps between us. “Enough, both of you. I’m the one making the decisions here. You will all work together to bring my daughter back. Go to the office and plan your strategy.”

Ranjit rolls his eyes and storms off towards the office. We follow him to Mystic’s office, just down the hall. The moon goddess unlocks the door, and a burst of rainbow light spills out. Mystic’s office is a sight to behold, with its crystal desk and bookshelves that change color every few seconds. Papers are neatly stacked on the desk, and pens are arranged in a specific order. It’s a place of beauty and order, just like Mystic herself.

The moon goddess sits at her daughter’s desk, and we take the couches facing her. “How are you going to handle this?”

Ranjit sits up straight. “Once we free Mystic, I can destroy his entire realm.”

I glance at him, then turn back to her. “We need to know how powerful Ewart is. What are his strengths and weaknesses?”

She sighs and rubs her temples. “He’s not as powerful as us, but he’s still a threat. He can do about seventy-five percent of what we can. If he breaks their mate bond, he can drain her powers.”

I recoil in surprise. “I thought only she could do that. He can take her powers?”

She chuckles. “Sadly, yes. That’s a power he passed on to her. I don’t have it.”

We all stare at her in horror.

“Wait. Are you saying that Mystic is his daughter?” Ranjit asks slowly.

She gives a nonchalant shrug. “Not many people know who he really is. I wanted a child, and since we were lovers once, she was conceived. I didn’t really share the details of how I got pregnant with her; most people assumed I used my powers to create her. We had a major disagreement that left me no choice but to banish him from my kingdom. He wanted more than I was willing to give. He crossed the line when he tried to usurp my power, to take my title. I found out about his plans from a friend who warned me about his intentions. When I confronted him, he admitted that he wanted to be my equal, not my subordinate. He wanted to be as powerful as me, if not more. He wanted to rule everything his way; so I banished him, and he’s been in exile for the last five thousand years.”

Soloman’s jaw drops. “Are you saying that Mystic is that old?”

Her eyes twinkle in the light. “Yes. He tried to see her, but I wouldn’t allow it. His heart has hardened over the years, so I doubt there’s any love left in him. Mystic has been the cornerstone of every peaceful reign since she was old enough to fulfill her role. I wanted a child to send down to the packs, to bring peace and balance to all. He’s tried to disrupt it a few times when he manages to break through my wards, which are supposed to keep him contained. He’s become smarter the longer he’s been banished; my magic can’t hold him back anymore. He’ll beg and plead for his life, but he’s taken things too far.”

Soloman speaks up. “I think I know exactly how we can deal with all of this. I have the perfect plan.”