Page 86 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

“That we left the South Alliance?”

“Yes.”

I grin. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

I flex my muscles and he chuckles. “Well, you’ve protected me plenty of times before, so what’s one more time?”

“That’s the spirit.” I try to cheer him up. “Besides, even if Karina finds out that we left the South Alliance, she won’t have an exact idea of our location. Just one more week and we’ll be back home.”

Alex tries to relax. “You’re right. I’m worrying needlessly.”

Logan arrives soon after Alex sends the messenger dove to Brian. The two begin to skin the meat and for a moment, I marvel at how they’re slowly starting to get along. Logan is still derisive toward my mate but he seems intent on looking after me, and Alex is beginning to accept that. According to my mate, “he’s just a deranged old man who needs something to do with his time”, to which Logan had replied, “if you were to do your job properly, I wouldn’t have to step in”.

Maybe they’re not getting along just yet, but there is a peace between them for now.

I like Logan. He’s quiet and unassuming till he opens his mouth and shoots out barbs instead of nice, sweet words. He’s also a skilled fighter. Alex has been sizing him up recently, and along with the hourly sessions when I try to remove the darkness inside him, we are becoming a harmonious group of three travelers. At least when the two of them are not trying to insult each other. I hope he decides to settle within our pack. It would be nice to have him around.

“You guys do this. I’m going to go get some water.” I pick up the flask from the ground.

“Don’t wander too far,” Logan instructs, and I roll my eyes. “Sure, Dad.”

“He’s right.” Alex looks up. “Should I come with you?”

“I’m sure I can carry a flask of water back without falling over my feet,” I say irritably. “I don’t need to be watched like a hawk.”

The two exchange a look that has me bristling. “Just finish getting the food ready. I’m starving.”

The sun is just about setting as I make my way over to the stream. It’s not that far from the campsite. Lowering the flask into the water, I begin to fill it up. The weather is quite warm now that we’re in the South Alliance, so when I feel a chill, I look around in surprise.

Is that mist in the distance?

Narrowing my eyes, I look around and see a strange fog rolling in from every direction. By the time I get to my feet, the flask of water all but forgotten, the fog is surrounding me. It’s so thick that I can’t even see my hand if I lift it in the air. Alarm bells go off in my head.

“Alex!” I shout out, but there’s no response. I am not that far away from the campsite. Why can’t he hear me?

Turning on my heel, I quickly begin walking, but soon come to a halt. Why does it seem that I’m moving away from the others, rather than closer to them? I simply turned around and began walking in the same direction I came from. Something is very wrong.

My first instinct is to panic.

My second instinct is to take a deep breath, and lifting my hand, I summon a ball of fire. However, the fire is useless, because it still does not illuminate my surroundings. I’m not that easily intimidated, though. This is not a normal fog. The fire should have helped.

I cast a barrier around myself. A normal one doesn’t work, but when I add a couple of layers to it, I can see my hand. I start expanding the barrier, but it takes more out of me than it should. Whatever is in the fog is affecting my magic. A normal witch’s magic wouldn’t work. I’m sure of it. However, I still have to struggle to maintain control.

I am only able to expand the barrier to a couple of feet ahead of me. Everything else is a struggle. As I begin finding my way back to the campsite, I am reminded of what Alex just told me a while ago about the strange fog that had surrounded the village where the witch coven resided, right before the witches disappeared. It can’t be the same fog.

Can it?

It’s a struggle to maintain the barrier, but with each step, I focus. Just like Marlene taught me, I let the magic flow through me, pushing out every external force at play. My breathing is harsh when I finally reach the campsite. As I do, I begin to feel the effects of the spell I’m casting. I begin pushing the barrier out, having negated the effect of the magic within the barrier. As I push the fog away, and the barrier expands, I smell blood.

My heart stutters when I recognize the source of the blood.

Alex!

I don’t have the strength to speak yet, all my focus is on the magic. With a vengeance, I push the barrier out as far as I can until the entire campsite is covered. With one hand, I summon a ball of fire, lighting up the area. The fire I had started has long been put out.

I see a slumped figure beside the half-skinned deer carcass. I hurry over, but I’ve just taken a few steps I realize that it’s not Alex. I turn over the unconscious Logan, and his eyes are wide open. They’re also moving.

He’s paralyzed.

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