Page 76 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

“Surely there must be another way,” I plead. “What’s the point of being the Silver Wolf if I cannot even save my mother’s life? I’ve been keeping her alive by sharing a little bit of my life force with her. If need be, I can share half…”

“Don’t make that mistake,” Marlene says severely. “Sharing your life isn’t as simple as it sounds. It can harm your mother in waysyou cannot understand. Even if she lives, she will never wake up.”

My fingers dig into the earth beside me. “That’s not possible.”

“Sharing your life force with another is a risky act. Each life force is unique. You can sustain someone’s life for a while using your life force, but at some point, it starts affecting the other person’s soul. That’s why it is far too dangerous to keep doing this.”

I feel my last bit of hope fading away. “There has to be a way. I refuse to believe that the cure is the only…wait…why can’t I re-create that cure?” I get to my feet, looking at Marlene. “Surely I can recreate it.”

I see the hesitation in her eyes. “What?”

“The cure was something that your ancestors produced. We call it a cure, but it is really a way to sustain the life of the Silver Wolf. It is a formula that even my coven, which has been around for centuries, does not know of. Even if I wanted to, I could not help you with that.”

My eyes burn and I squeeze them shut, trying to think. There has to be something I can do. This cannot be the end of the road for me.

“Although,” Marlene begins, “it is true that the Silver Wolf can perform miracles.” She gets to her feet and puts her hands on my shoulders. “I’m not going to give you false hope. But I’m also not going to tell you to give up hope. You came this far to save your mother. Stay here for a week. Let me teach you to the best of my abilities. I taught your mother, you know. Although a week is very little time, you have clearly already harnessed your magic,and you seem to be a natural at using it. I’ll teach you what you need to know. And maybe it’ll help you to save your mother.”

Before I can say anything, she touches my cheek tenderly. “But child, don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t succeed. Your mother may be in a coma, but she is very well aware of what is happening around her. She knows you’re fighting for her, even if nobody else is. And if she passes, she will know you fought till your last breath.”

My shoulders shake, a ball of grief stuck in my throat. I wanted to give my mother back the life she lost. I wanted to her to enjoy life like she had wanted to when she was young. I don’t want her to die knowing only pain and suffering.

“All right.” I give her a small smile. “Can you also teach me how to create a portal?”

Marlene smiles. “Creating a portal is very advanced magic. I can show you the basics, but you’re going to have to keep practicing till you are able to form one. It takes years to master it. Although, it might be a couple of months for you. Your type of magic is different from ours.”

“Sophia!” I hear Alex call out my name, and I brush the twigs and dirt off my clothes. He comes to a stop before us, Logan not far behind him.

The minute both of them see Marlene, their posture turns from worried to protective in a heartbeat. It’s strange that the two of them don’t get along, seeing as they are so similar at times in their behavior.

“Who is this?”

Alex is already shoving me behind him, and I roll my eyes. “This is Marlene. She’s from Elsa’s coven.”

Instead of looking relieved, Alex becomes even more agitated. “They are in cahoots with Cyrus, then! This is the witch coven you were talking about?” He glares at Logan.

Marlene makes a face. “We are not in cahoots with anybody, young man. And my coven has not pledged its loyalty to any wolf pack, much less the Silver Mist Wolf Pack. We provide services to the different packs and we are the only coven to assume the responsibility of training the Silver Wolves. However, I’m under no obligation to reveal your mate’s presence to Alpha Cyrus.”

“I want to get a week’s worth of training from Marlene,” I inform both Alex and Logan. “She’s Elsa’s aunt.”

“Does she have proof that she’s related to Elsa?” Alex demands.

Marlene’s lips twitch. “Well, aren’t you a suspicious one? And yes, I do.”

To my surprise, she brings out a phone from her pocket. “One of the younger witches here showed me what an album is on this thing. I have some photos on it of Elsa and your mother. Here.”

She shows me a picture that she has taken of an old faded photograph of two girls standing side-by-side. I recognize Elsa and my mother. As I move through the pictures, I see the two of them growing up. My heart warms.

They were indeed sisters. In one of the pictures, my mother is sitting on Elsa’s back, throwing flowers in the air.

I look at Marlene, my eyes wet. “I don’t have a phone on me. But is there any way I can get a hold of these photographs for myself?”

Marlene beams at me. “Don’t worry. We have one of those scanner things in the village as well. These young witches are really into technology. They have a whole office set up for these things. I’m training a young witch who told me she could print these photographs in color. I’ll see if she can do that for you. And when you see Elsa, you tell her that Aunt Marlene was asking after her. I will come and visit her. There has not been a day when I have not missed my Elsa.”

Alex looks reluctant but agrees to the training. He stops me for a moment, however. “A week is a long time, Sophia. I thought you were in a hurry.”

“I am,” I admit. “But we don’t have the cure, Alex. Maybe if I learn some things from Marlene, I might be able to help my mother. I’m at my wit’s end.”

It seems like he wants to say something, but then he gives me a small smile. “If this is what you think is best, then I’ll do what you want.”

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