Page 59 of The Alpha's Reclaimed Mate

“A rumor,” growled Lucas. “A lie, clearly.”

“This is troubling,” said Edmund. “We must meet with Oswald right away.”

“Yes,” members of the Council agreed.

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” said Magnolia. “We will discuss the next necessary steps. A meeting with the Alphas is in order.”

“Let me know when you have reached a decision,” said Lucas. “For now, Aria and I must return home. We have to protect our pack.”

“Travel swiftly and safely,” said Magnolia. The others echoed her sentiment, and within seconds, we were out of the house again, making our way back to the wilderness.

Meeting with the Council left my head spinning. I had heard so much about them, but finally seeing them in the flesh was like meeting a league of celebrities. None of them denied knowing who I was, but Mara was an enigma to them, and that fact was both validating and vexing. She lied about the accusations against me. I always knew she had something against me, but this just proved it. Why? Every answer unearthed twice as many questions.

By midday, I couldn’t withhold my thoughts any longer.

“Helga reacted differently than everyone else when I mentioned Mara,”I said to Lucas.

His wolf ears twitched.“I noticed that too. Mara may have connections to the Starlight Coven.”

Before, it would have seemed completely arbitrary for a wolf shifter to have anything to do with the Witches, but the more I thought about it, the more connections seemed to fall into place. I recalled the article I had read in the library archives while working down there.“Didn’t they want to betroth a Witch to someone in the Silent Shadows Pack?”

“You’re right... How did you know that?”

“I read about it. Who was the pair?”

Lucas parted his lips to speak, only for the answer to die on his lips. His gaze flitted past me, and I tracked his attention to a couple of wolves charging our way. On instinct, Lucas and I both tensed until we recognized them as our own packmates.

“Lucas!”cried Scott,“Hurry! We’re under attack!”

Fear vaulted my heart up into my throat.

“What? By who?”Lucas demanded, breaking into a run alongside Scott.

“It’s the Grey Creek Pack. They’re raiding the village looking for Aria.”

Racing beside Lucas’ hip, I caught his eye and gulped.“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t leave my sight, Aria,”commanded Lucas.

I nodded, intent on following his orders. Oswald made it clear he would take me by force if he had to. I supposed now he had reached his breaking point, and he was willing to destroy everything to get what he wanted.

We ran at full speed, clearing the remaining distance in a little under an hour. By the time we reached the village, plumes of smoke were curling into the sky, the stench of fire and blood choked our throats, and we panted with fatigue—I hadn’t slept in over thirty hours—but the potent danger pumped us with enough adrenaline that fatigue barely even registered. We followed the sound of screams, each step bringing us closer to the horrific reality awaiting us.

Scattered through the village were fights between wolves and humans alike. Dead bodies belonging to both packs forewarned what would become of us if the fighting continued. This was all because of me, and it wouldn’t end until Oswald withdrew his soldiers or I gave myself up.

The sound of chaos led us to the park in the heart of the village. There, masses of wolves tore each other apart. Snarls and growls sliced the air, deafening me. Lucas leaped into the fray, throwing wolves off our packmates, breaking bones, and tearing fur and flesh until he found what he was looking for. In the middle of it all, there were Oswald and Mara, wreaking havoc on our home.

I radiated with a vengeful fury unlike ever before. This was too far. It was time to bring down justice upon the Grey Creek Pack and ensure they would never hurt my new family again.

Chapter 28: Aria

Oswald and Mara circled one of the Silent Shadows’ wolves like a pair of vultures. It wasn’t until we got closer that I recognized her as Esther, and that was all I needed to erupt into a breakneck tackle, leaping at Mara before she could lay a fang on my friend.“Get away from her!”

Our bodies collided, releasing a yelp from Mara in surprise. We hit the ground rolling, kicking, and biting before Mara threw me off of her and fumbled to her feet.“You!”she shrieked, bristling with rage uncharacteristic of the usually demure, innocent beauty.“This is all your fault! None of this ever would have happened if you just did as you were told!”

“It never had to happen in the first place,”I barked back.“Stop this insanity, Mara!”

The silver wolf’s eyes lit up.“It’s too late! Nothing can stop me now!”She reeled her head back, spewing a banshee’s cackle as if she’d already won.

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