Page 97 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

I leap in the air just as Ezeikel’s men launch their silver tipped spears, praying I have enough time to take the blows. As I prayed to the Gods for putting me with the best family, Braxton, and hoping that our Pack would come out on the winning side of this war, I’m hit hard, knocking me to the side followed by howls.

My head bounces off the ground as I land. My brain is scrambled, but I try to shake it off to focus. Kenia and Levi are at my side, but I don’t see Skia. My eyes finally fell on her. Skia is laying on her side with the spears protruding from her side. I begin to fight off the hands that are trying to hold me down.

“Skia!” I screamed loud enough to make the ground shake, trying to get to her, not noticing that it was silent, and the fighting had stopped.

Kenia and Levi wince as my silver tipped claws come in contact with their skin, but I didn’t give a shit. They let me go as the pain becomes too much for them. Through the pounding in my head, I crawl to Skia. She is a part of me. One of the best parts and I can’t lose her.

When I reached her, her breaths were shallow. “You can’t leave me now, Skia. We just found each other and next to Kenia, you are my sister,” I whisper as tears roll down my face. I stroke her fur while clutching her right paw. Skia closes her eyes thenreopens them slightly, gripping my hand with her paw to let me know she understood what I said.

Braxton drops to his knees, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Skia is strong, she’ll make it through this,” he encourages.

My heart breaks as Ballian nudges Skia’s head with his. Braxton nor I can hear the mental conversation they are having. The thunderous sound that leaves Ballian draws goosebumps on my skin and raises the fine hairs on my arms. His yellow eyes fall on Ezekiel.

Skia whines, attempting to raise her head to stop Ballian.

With his focus solely on Ezekiel, Ballian says, “I already had it in my mind to not swiftly kill you today, but now that you’ve harmed my mate, I’m going to take my time. You will beg for me to put you out of your misery as I feed upon your flesh, making sure not to touch the vital organs so as to keep you alive longer.”

Ezekiel laughs, clutching the part of his shirt above his heart before his taunting demeanor turns diabolical. “I used to say and even now bitches are here for us to breed, not to fight alongside us.” The right side of his mouth lifts into a semi-smirk. “Shit happens, but I promise you it will be you begging for your life. My people killed you before and we’ll do it again, only this time neither you nor your Gods will be able to bring you back.”

I mentally block out what they are saying when a white wolf, Elder Nelah, appears beside me along with several female Pack members. She shifts into her human form before kneeling down next to Skia. Her eyes roll back into her head as she hoovers her hands over Skia’s wounds.

I’ve always had the utmost respect for Elder Nelah and would never disrespect her in any type of way but when she grasps the spears and yanks them from Skia’s skin, I’m having an internal battle with myself to not attack her with the same metal tips she graced us with. She orders the others to take Skia to her house.

Once Skia is loaded onto the makeshift gurney Elder Nelah side eyes me. “I know you’re under a lot of pressure right now, but this will be the last time you ever think about attacking me.”

What? How did she know my thoughts?

“Because, I am an Elder,” she vocally replied. “And you should never forget that,” she informs me before running off.

Braxton helps me to my feet. A new sensation fills my body, making me tremble from head to toe.

“What is it, Nyah?” Braxton asks.

I look down as my wounds and gashes start to heal, leaving no traces. Braxton moves back as the silver on my claws start to spread up my arms.

With my hands and arms covered, I call out to Ballian. He swivels his big head in my direction.

“Ballian!”

I hold up my arms.

Chapter 53

Braxton

I fall to my knees as the silver covers Nyah’s arms. What bewilders me most is that she calls out for Ballian instead of me. I am her mate and should be the only one she seeks solace in.

Ballian is at Nyah’s side. She carefully displays her metal infused hands and arms.

Before I can argue my point, Nyah looks at me. Her eyes roll to the back of her head as words from our ancient dialect leaves her mouth. I grip her shoulders, shouting out her name, careful not to let my silver claws touch her skin.

A tightness on my wrists grab my attention. I release Nyah to witness the silver coating on my arms.

Nyah opens her eyes, telling Ballian, “Skia, lives but is fighting to hold on. She has given me the last of her strength and if I fall then so will she.”

Ballian lowers his head as Nyah stands. Once she’s on her feet, the rest of us follow her eyes to the North end of the forest.

There stood two images. One of a man and the other a woman. Both are dressed for battle. Just from the description my father and other members of our Pack told me, I instantly knew the man was Odin. As for the woman, I study the similar features of her face that resemble my mates and Kenia’s. Nyah, Alpha Lightfeather, Kenia, and their pack members begin to whisper a name, and it becomes apparent to me who she is.

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