Page 50 of Bully Alpha's Secret Baby

Demons. Our legends spoke of them. We all grew up hearing the ancient stories passed down through the generations. But I never thought they were real—always figured they were just fairytales meant to scare the pups. Tales of creatures too dark to truly exist. But here it is. Right in front of us.

It’s the stuff of nightmares, a twisted, hellish thing that doesn’t belong in this world—and it’s coming straight for us.

In the blink of an eye, the thing tears through the air toward another shifter. The poor guy’s already injured with his arm hanging limp, and he’s struggling to stay on his feet. The demon’s claws slice through the air, aiming for the kill.

I don’t even have time to think before my body moves on instinct. “Get him out of there!” I shout to Mason and Leah as they rush forward, on the verge of shifting. But even as they close in, I know it won’t be enough. This thing is powerful. More powerful than anything we’ve faced before.

But then, out of nowhere, a blast of energy slams into the demon, sending it reeling back with a guttural screech. My heart stutters, and I look up to see Jade standing at the edge of the clearing with her hands raised and magic swirling around her like a storm.

“Jade…” I murmur, equal parts relief and awe flooding through me.

The demon snarls, and its eyes glow with rage as it tries to recover, but Jade doesn’t give it a chance. She steps forward and sings out in a spell that sends the demon stumbling back further, its form flickering like a flame about to go out. Another pulse of her magic, and the thing lets out one last shriek before dissolving into the air, vanishing into a cloud of black smoke.

Silence falls over the area, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing and the groans of the injured.

“Is everyone okay?” Jade asks, breathless as she rushes toward us, eyes darting from one wounded shifter to the next.

“Where’s Penny?” I demand, searching the area behind her.

“I put a protective barrier around the cabin,” she explains. “She’s safe.”

Without hesitation, Jade marches across the field and drops to her knees beside the nearest injured shifter—a guy from East Hills whose leg is bent at an impossible angle. Her hands glow faintly as she works, muttering words under her breath, and I watch as the wound slowly knits itself back together. The guy lets out a gasp, his eyes wide with shock, and I know Jade’s magic has done the impossible.

She moves on to the next shifter, a woman with a gash across her abdomen, and repeats the process. The air around us seems to hum with the power she’s using, but I can tell it’s taking a toll on her. Her shoulders sag, and her movements slow with each spell.

“Jade, you don’t have to—” I start.

“I’m fine,” she snaps, wiping the sweat from her brow. But I can see the strain in her eyes. She’s pushing herself too hard.

Finally, she turns to Patrick, who’s still lying motionless on the ground. “I’ll heal him next,” she says, though her voice wavers.

“Are you sure you can handle it?” Alec asks.

Jade ignores him and presses her hands against Patrick’s chest. For a moment, nothing happens. Her magic flares, but it’s weaker now, flickering like a dying flame. Patrick groans, and his eyes flutter open for the briefest second, and then… nothing.

Jade lets out a sharp breath, and her hands tremble as she tries again. “Come on. Don’t you dare die on me, Patrick. Not like this.”

But it’s no use. I can see it in her face, the realization that she’s spent. There’s no magic left to draw on, no power strong enough to save him. Patrick’s breathing slows, and his eyes close again, this time for good.

“No,” Jade whispers, her voice cracking. She shakes her head, as if refusing to accept what’s happening.

But it’s over. Patrick’s gone.

The rest of the pack stands in stunned silence. Patrick was a tough bastard, but he was also a leader—someone who kept his pack together through thick and thin. Losing him like this… it’s a blow none of us saw coming.

Jade pulls away, and. I can see the guilt in her eyes, the way she blames herself for not being able to save him, but I know better. She did everything she could. Hell, she saved two other shifters tonight—shifters who would’ve been dead without her intervention. But Patrick’s injuries were too much.

“Jade, you did what you could,” I assure her.

She doesn’t look at me, just stares down at Patrick’s still corpse. “It wasn’t enough.”

“It’s never enough,” Alec mutters, stepping up beside us. His voice is low, and there’s a hardness to it I rarely hear. “But we move forward. That’s all we can do.”

I glance at him, then back at Jade, who’s still sitting there with her hands clenched into fists. I want to pull her into my arms, tell her it’s not her fault, but I know she won’t accept that right now.

Patrick’s gone, and the demons aren’t finished.

Chapter 18 - Jade

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