Chapter 33

I’m lounging in the open field, the grass tickling my skin as I wait for Penelope. My father had wanted to tag along, but I’d insisted on going alone.

I admire Penelope, her strength and determination, but I can’t bring myself to agree with her plan. I’ll find another way, I tell myself.

The sound of snapping twigs draws my attention to the trees. Penelope’s blonde hair is a beacon in the darkness, a dead giveaway if she’s trying to hide.

I try to stand, but a wave of dizziness washes over me, nearly sending me sprawling back onto the grass. I manage to steady myself, focusing on my breathing and squeezing my eyes shut.

When I open them again, Penelope’s face is inches from mine. I startle, jumping back a bit.

“Remarkable. I’ve never seen someone falter so quickly after leaving their mate behind.” I raise an eyebrow at her, confused. I was just dizzy, it doesn’t mean anything.

“Probably just ate something bad.” Penelope tilts her head, considering.

“You wanted to see me?” I nod, relieved that she’s dropped the subject.

“Father told me about your... plan. I can’t kill the king. He’s still my mate’s father.” Penelope flops down onto the grass, not caring about being ladylike. I follow suit, sitting down beside her.

“If you don’t, you’ll die.” She leans back on her elbows, looking up at me.

“He won’t find me. And even if he does, he won’t catch me.” I sound more confident than I feel. The king has hundreds of warriors at his disposal.

“He’s already found you. But he’s not the one I’m worried about. If you don’t reunite with your mate, you’ll get sicker by the hour until eventually, you and your mate will die. You and I both know the king won’t let you near his son.”

“What do you mean he’s already found me?!” I ignore the part about Roman.

Deep down, I’m still afraid he rejected me for me. All those fights about being a warrior... The problems my family has caused...

“He came to me today. Yelling and screaming about how he heard you were hiding on my territory. Of course, he wouldn’t dare to touch me.

“No one dares after I’ve proven the Goddess touched me. If you wait too long, he’ll either find you or you’ll die from the lack of your mate.”

She looks up at the sky and I follow her gaze. A flock of birds is flying overhead, their song filling the air.

I mull over her words. There has to be another way.

If I kill the king, Roman will never forgive me. I can’t bear the thought of doing to Honora what I’d be doing to him.

“There’s a spell made by a witch long ago. Your mate’s mother can survive.” I stare at her in shock.

No one has ever heard of such a spell.

“Where is it?” Penelope leans forward, giving me a half-smile.

“The king has it, of course.” I roll my eyes. Of course he does.

I rack my brain for any other possible options. If I don’t kill the king, he’ll kill me.

Or I’ll live a life on the run, always looking over my shoulder, never able to feel truly happy or alive.

If I imprison the king, he’ll likely manipulate his guards into freeing him, or the pack will turn against Roman when he becomes king.

If I kill the king, Roman will hate me forever, even if I manage to save his mother.

Honora will be left alone, forever grieving. A pain that never ends.

She’s the one who called my father when the king accused me.

I feel trapped, wishing Roman was here. I wish I could talk to him about this, hold him. I feel a deep sadness being away from him.

Maybe Penelope is right, and I do need to be close to him.

“Train me. Teach me what you know, and when the time comes, I’ll make a decision. I don’t want to kill the king, but maybe I don’t have a choice.”

The scent of a wolf fills the air.

I’m on my feet in an instant, Penelope mirroring my actions. Her back presses against mine as I strain to see through the trees.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and even before he speaks, I know he’s there.

“Well, well, well. A plot to kill your king? How fortunate for me. Now I won’t have to lie when I kill you.”

I feel Penelope stiffen against me, and I know the king has emerged from the trees on her side.

But I’m too busy staring at the wolves that are appearing from my side.

To my surprise, Lucian isn’t among them.

“You enjoyed that burn so much you decided to come back for more, huh?” My magic stirs within me, creating a circle of red flames around Penelope and me.

“Good girl. I knew you’d use that little trick of yours. Your father will have seen the flames by now. It’ll make it much easier for me to kill you all.

“And you, Penelope... No longer the young girl begging for help, I see. Don’t worry, you won’t have to watch your friends die. I’ll simply kill you too.”

Penelope lets out a dry laugh that vibrates through me.

“We’ll see, old man. I’ve heard whispers about the king being too weak to fight, so he’s found a way around a challenge. I’ve always known you were a coward.”

Luckily, I see the wolf before he knocks me down. I raise my hand, pushing him away with a gust of wind.

My magic flares, the wind fanning the flames.

Penelope moves to my right, kicking away a wolf that’s trying to attack from the side. But not before the wolf throws something in my face.

I sneeze loudly, watching as my fire dies down. I raise my hand, trying to summon my fire again, but my magic doesn’t respond.

The king laughs again.

“Silly girl. Your magic is locked. Let’s see how strong you are without it. Capture the princess alive, I need her.”

Five wolves are waiting in the distance, and they start running towards me. I shift into my wolf form without hesitation, and I can feel Penelope doing the same.

As the first wolf lunges at me, I stay low. Just as he’s about to land on me, I spring up, my jaws clamping down on his throat.

I yank hard, blood splattering on my head. The wolf lets out a pitiful whimper before collapsing to the ground.

He’s dead. Suddenly, I feel teeth sinking into my back paw and I whimper.

I lash out with my other paw, hitting the wolf in the face. He releases his grip. I must have hit his eye.

Another wolf charges at me from the front while the one at my back pounces on me again.

I’m knocked to the ground, two wolves sinking their teeth into me.

One has a grip on my neck while the other is latched onto my back. I bite into the belly of the one holding my neck.

I thrash my head back and forth, feeling him do the same to my neck.

I push harder until my teeth pierce his heart. His dead weight presses down on me.

I shove him off with my front paws and howl in pain as the wolf at my back rips out a large chunk of my skin.

In a reflexive move, I spin around.

He didn’t expect that and is thrown off balance, landing next to me on the ground. I get up, wincing in pain, and in one swift move, I rip out his throat.

I glance quickly at Penelope.

She’s surrounded by bodies as she fights off the last wolf, but the king doesn’t seem worried.

I’m puzzled until a familiar scent hits my nose. I whip my head towards its source.

Jess is approaching me, his head lowered in submission.

As he gets closer, I growl a warning. Is he fighting for the king? Is he betraying me?

How can I kill him? I feel a wave of unease and take a step back from Jess.

His wolf form fades, revealing his human body.

He’s on his hands and knees, his gaze fixed on the ground.

“He’s sick. You have to come with us. Please, he’ll die. He’s all I have left.”

His voice is barely a whisper, but it brings tears to my eyes. I shift back to my human form. A cold wind sweeps over me, making me shiver. Jess looks at me with sorrowful eyes.

“You’re getting sick too.” It’s not a question, but a statement.

I need my mate. My body is failing me. Penelope stands beside me, growling at Jess. In the distance, I hear more wolves approaching.

“Don’t hurt him. Thank you, Penelope. But I have to go with them. It’s my mate,” I see what I think is annoyance flash in her eyes before she turns and runs off.

Growls echo from the trees and I can hear some of them chasing her. I turn to face the king.

“I’ll come. If you leave her and my family alone.” The king looks at me with his unreadable expression, but I know he’s weighing his options. I know he’ll come after them eventually.

“Jess, chain her. Let’s go home. My son is dying to see you.” His sarcasm sends a jolt through me.

Does he even care?

Anger surges through me, but instead of giving me strength, it brings me to my knees.

Jess moves closer, but before I can turn to look at him, I feel my strength draining away and everything goes black.