They don’t need to ask, we all felt it. Alpha Lucas is gone. The new Alpha bond formed immediately.
“What needed to be done.” Gamma Brett said. “You know magic was being used against us, through the Alpha. He and Ava made a decision and it’s the right one, to save us all.” He’s holding Ava tightly to his chest while she silently cries. I can’t even call her ‘Luna’ in my mind anymore. “Skylar, how are you, honey? That was a lot for your young shoulders to bear.”
Oliver holds me, sitting on the cot, just stroking my back.
“Wait? You helped?” Dakota sounds broken. “Why would you help him do this?” He’s crying now, not trying to hold anything back.
“Because he asked me to.” I sniffle.
“It was the only way to break the spell without also killing Ava, he chose to die willingly for her, the two of you and the pack. Kevin’s not as smart as he thinks and he didn’t curse all of us. Once the Alpha figured that out it was just finding the means for him to sacrifice himself, while also making sure you guys could survive. Killing an Alpha’s not easy, and Kaley in her jealousy gave us the opportunity.”
“What do you mean?” Cam’s still standing by his father’s head, his tears are floating in his eyes, unshed. “You can’t tell me this is a good thing.”
“Kaley can’t get rid of Sky or her effect on this pack, no matter what she does. Sky’s legacy runs deep. Kaley tried to sabotage the trials, which Kevin intended to use to weaken the warriors, to harm Skylar. It backfired and hurt Lucas enough, that even in her weakened state, Skylar was able to help him pass, painlessly, to the Moon Goddess and transfer pack control.”
“With your bracelets, she can’t cast anything else on you. Elena made sure of that, and Skylar made sure it’s permanent with the branding you all received.” Ava sits up and takes a deep breath.
“I need to contact Alpha Reggie. This is going to be the beginning of a lot of things. The pack will know the boys are Alpha now, we may be able to hold Kevin and Kaley at bay if we keep the events of Lucas’ death quiet. He was injured and had complications from that. We need to get Kevin to reveal how he is getting his magic and using it…”
“I can tell you what he’s using, I just can’t tell you where it is. My team has been looking for it for a few days. There is a pentagram with a candle designed to burn forever in the center. We have to snuff the candle, but can’t cross into the pentagram. Jena and I saw the same thing when Mike had us locked up. If you cross it, your life force powers the spell. We were instructed to take out as many of Mike’s guys as possible to weaken the spell. I believe it’s part of the issue with scents too, which means it’s been in the pack for a while. At least since our warriors found those Luna’s fingers.”
“What do we do?” Cam and Kota do that twin tandem talk thing.
“You lead, Mike is coming, the Rogue King is coming. Alpha Reggie will be here, but he has his own family and pack to protect. You can’t rely on him. Now is the time to man up, you don’t get another summer. You have to figure it out.” Brett is stern like one of my Elite instructors.
They both just nod. Then Cameron asks, “What about Skylar and Kaley?” I growl, my wolf making her presence known.
“You say my name and hers in the same sentence again and I will rip your lips off.” I say.
Kota puts his hands up. “Got it. We just know she’s a problem and you are usually her go to target, that’s all.”
“I need to check in with my team. And just so we are all clear, they will be brought up to speed on everything.” I look at Ava and Brett. Letting them know I mean everything. “I think you guys should do the same with Mateo and Sam. You need to be on the same page. Ava’s right, Mike will come for Jena and I and he is more than likely the reason we are trapped here with limited outside communication.”
“How do you know it’s limited?” Cam asks. I glare. “I just thought we have done a decent job of keeping that under control. That’s all.”
“You both are idiots if you think you or Lucas had any control over the Elite warriors that are here. Kevin is even dumber, for thinking he could control wolves who aren’t in this pack just by controlling the Alpha. We have outside orders that supersede anything a pack alpha would or could give us. I have basic outside communication with Osiston and Nickolas on a regular basis, from any distance. The last few weeks it’s been spotty at best. I have had contact with Elena recently, telling me there is a magic bubble of sorts around our pack, we are the target.”
“We’ are not the target. ‘You’ and maybe Jena are the target.” Brett says.
“What do you mean Skylar is the target?” Now all three of the boys in the room are speaking together.
“Skylar is special, we all know it. Mike figured it out. He wants her too. In that instance you are lucky for the beating you took.” He looks at me. He’s going to let me dictate how much I tell or confirm to the twins I need to know if they know I am supposed to be their mate, but that’s a weird question to ask and I don’t really care right now. Instead of saying anything I just nod. “I have a few theories, but if you’re right and he’s here just waiting, he now has the opportunity to strike on the pack. We need to make sure everything is doubled and fortified…”
“Way ahead of you. The warriors doubled patrols the day we were told about the trials. Being mandatory for all warriors was kind of a giveaway that they were trying to weaken us. This isn’t our first rodeo. I have already replaced the twins, Mateo, Sam and Oliver in the rotation. If I know my team as well as I think I do, they have replaced my route as well. Alpha Reggie has been updated.”
“Alpha Reggie knows. How does he already know?” Cameron asks the room.
“I told you my reach with the warriors is far. I have to be three steps ahead of my enemy, or I die. What are you guys taught at your camp? To knit? You should’ve thought of that. He should be here in three days. He has a family issue. His daughter and youngest son have been traveling abroad with Osiston’s mom and want to come home, but nobody wants that.” I stand, I need to pace, I am sad and angry and confused all at the same time. I really need to use the Alph..Lucas’ gym. That was always the best place to hit things and think.
“Well, okay then, since you seem to be large and incharge, what’s next, boss lady?” Dakota is about to be my next punching bag.
“I need to go home and debrief my team and we figure out where this f*cking pentagram is.”
