She gives me an enraged look, and then her expression relaxes. “Maybe not, but there is something else I can do.”

Her lips start moving, and she points a finger in my mother’s direction. My mother’s eyes widen, and she collapses to the floor, gripping the metal band around her neck. It’s strangling her! My magic protected her from Lily’s spell, but it can’t prevent the metal band from contracting.

“Stop it!” I scream.

Lily laughs hysterically. “Yes! Cry! Beg me! Watch her die!”

The leaders of the Central Alliance are heading toward us now, but before they can do anything, a hooded figure appears out of nowhere, and almost as if a barrier gets placed in front of Lily, she is shoved backward. This time, she stays on her feet, glowering at the person now standing protectively in front of my mother.

“That’s quite enough, Tina.”

I know that voice. My fingers dig into Alex’s arm, Drew’s words ringing in my ears.

“Elsa disappeared the same night you did.”

It’s Elsa!

She removes her hood and looks straight at Lily. “I knew you’d been led astray, but this is far enough. I’m not going to let you kill my oldest friend.”

Wait. It can’t be.

I look between Lily and Elsa, and it hits me that their features are remarkably similar.

Elsa’s daughter’s name is Tina. Is Lily actually Elsa’s daughter?

My suspicions are confirmed when the girl I know as Lily gives Elsa an annoyed look. “Fancy seeing you here, Mom.”

Chapter 21

Sophia

“Elsa?” I breathe in shock.

Elsa showing up here isn’t something I was anticipating. But now I realize why Lily looked so familiar to me.

Not Lily. Tina.

I take advantage of the momentary distraction and turn to my mother. She cannot breathe. The metal band is already too tight around her neck. It has to be destroyed. Wrapping my fingers around it, I pull. It doesn’t break or even loosen. Infusing more of my power into it, I grit my teeth and yank even harder. My mother’s lips are turning blue as she struggles to draw in air.

Not like this. She’s not going to die like this. I won’t let her!

I feel my entire body tingle as the magic flows through me. The band doesn’t break, but as the force of my magic increases, it begins to disintegrate.

“No!” Tina howls as she realizes what is happening. “You can’t—You fucking bitch!”

“I told you you had potential,” Elsa murmurs, only for my ears. Then, her attention turns back to her daughter. “You’ve caused enough harm, Tina. I told you to stay away from Sophia.”

“Oh, shut up,” Tina spits out. “I will do what is good for me and my mate. And if he wants the Silver Wolf, he’ll get the Silver Wolf. Stay out of our way, Mom, or it won’t be pretty.”

“Have you taken leave of your senses?” Elsa demands disapprovingly. “You are destroying another person’s life just because your mate wants you to do so! Did I raise you to be like this?”

“Raise me?” Tina laughs derisively. “When did you raise me? You were too busy trying to protect your friends. Don’t pretend to be my mother now when you never had time for me before.”

“I never neglected you, Tina.” Elsa frowns. “I always tried to guide you onto the right path.”

“I’ve had enough of this.” Tina rolls her eyes. “You know, I’ve had enough of you, as well. You’ve never accepted Noah, and I’m not going to let you stand in his way. I may as well get rid of you.”

If Tina is a witch, that means that Elsa is also a witch. I know she’s not a shifter. She has to be a witch! Confused, I look between the two of them before diverting my gaze to Noah.