Page 32 of Stolen Oath
The pack either trusted Dimitri Bell too much and believed he could subdue a witch or they didn’t believe the old alpha’s accusations that I was one. None of them were paying close attention to us. Instead, they just gave us a passing glance or a raised eyebrow, which suited me just fine."
“Do you really want to go, Char?” Knowing my friend well enough I waited until she twisted her mouth in a grimace.
“No.” Char huffed. “Just because he is right doesn’t mean I want to listen. I was just saying. Playing, Captain Obvious if you will.”
“I thought so.” I felt better knowing my bestie was on the same page as me. “I think I got this. You stay here and just in case watch my back. From him, too.” My forefinger stabbed the air in Dimitri’s direction.
“I got you.” She petted her tote, got comfy on the trunk that was holding her up and narrowed her eyes on Dimitri.
“You can argue or you can help.” I told him making a split-second decision to point out what was at stake in case he missed it. “If she wins, the oath could be broken for your marriage. That’s a best-case scenario if I’m not mistaken? If not, she wins, and you are now engaged to the alpha of the neighboring pack. I see that as a win-win.”
“I can deal with the oath later. Your life is in jeopardy, Alaska. We need to get you out of here while they are preoccupied with the fight.” He tried to reason with me, I’d give him that. Unfortunately, I was already committed to the idea of being Angela’s fairy godmother.
“Can’t they just start nipping at each other or something.” Char was rubbing her arm, the one she was cradling to her chest. “Whatever it is that they are doing is making me want to claw my way out of my own skin.”
“He is trying to force her to submit.” Dimitri glared at Angela’s father for the first time. “If he cam make her shift he’s won half the battle.”
“I don’t think so.” Ignoring the strange glances I received from a couple of the people closest to where we were standing, I shuffled to the side until I had a clear view of Angela but not so much her father.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw the female for the first time not looking like she was photoshopped into life. Her platinum hair which looked silver in the moonlight and the glow of the flashlights was plastered on the sides of her face. Her chest was heaving as she panted and her hands were clenched into fists at her sides. With obvious effort she was resisting whatever power her father was throwing at her to a point where her body was starting to tremble. I had to help her somehow while pretending I knew exactly what I was doing so Dimitri doesn’t drag me out of the forest like the caveman he was.
How hard could it be to boost her power? If I could drain the life from someone I could do this, too. Right?
“Neart an spioraid.” Strength of spirit, I muttered curling my fingers like claws and turning my hand in a circle with obvious effort.
I figured if it’s a mental war they were having, enhancing her spirit might work in our favor so I poured everything I had into it. It seemed like I overdid it a touch because Angela jerked in surprise and she stiffened her shoulders. Thankfully she didn’t turn her head to look in my direction although she wanted to I could feel it. A connection formed between us like a rope attaching itself on both ends to our solar plexus.
“Is that all you’ve got?” She growled to her father, her usually sultry tone rougher and more animalistic.
“Stand down.” Her father took a step forward, his shoulders bunching up as if he was preparing to pounce.
A shout lodged itself in my throat to warn her like that would’ve done much difference. The old alpha shifted so suddenly I kept blinking at the air where his upper body should’ve been longer than it was necessary. The grey wolf launched himself at Angela while she struggled with her own transformation. It’s when I noticed that I was metaphysically gripping our connection for dear life and probably slowing her down, so following my instinct I simply let go of the control.
A whole new world opened for me that I didn’t know existed. The moment Angela shifted into her wolf something strange and astounding happened. The woods, the people, the night…it all disappeared to reappear to me in the most astonishing way possible.
I was looking through the eyes of Angela’s wolf.
Every movement was brought to my attention, including the rustling of the grass and leaves under her-mine? - paws. The wonder and elation of the new experience and sensation were lost when a sharp pain raked through the left side of my ribcage and my scream joined the howl of Angela’s wolf. I wasn’t just seeing through her eyes I was feeling everything she was feeling as well. The gravity of the situation pressed heavier on me when I felt warm liquid spread under my silky blouse.
“Alaska?” Dimitri’s voice reached me but I couldn’t see him at all. “What is happening?” he growled in my ear as he picked me up to his chest.
My body rocked with his movement and I realized he was running while holding me in his arms. Panic settled momentarily for Char and I prayed he didn’t just leave her behind. Howls and snarls filled the night air and I watched transfixed as the grey wolf circled and tried to jump Angela’s much smaller one from all sides. The bustard was going for the throat the majority of the time so I made sure not to ebb or stop the flow of magic channeling through me into the she wolf.
He raked his claws over Angela’s spine and another scream was torn from me as I writhed and trembled in Dimitri’s arms. Through all that pain and the thundering in my ears I could’ve sworn I heard Char yell something about me bleeding and her killing everyone. At least I knew she was doing good. He didn’t leave her behind.
All thought stopped when a sudden surge of magic rushed through me as if Angela sucked it in with a gulp. Heat burst through our connection and the vision of her wolf turned hazy and red. I felt the intent before anything happened. The thirst for power, the triumph and lastly the regret before the teeth of Angela’s wolf closed over her father’s jugular. I even tasted the coppery taste of blood on my tongue before everything wavered and I lost consciousness.
The last thing I heard was the victory howl from Angela before I passed out.
The terrain shifted from grassy fields to rocky outcrops as I came to while we raced away from danger. The sounds of snarls and howls grew fainter as we moved further away, but were still close enough for unease to settle within me. I desperately hoped that I did indeed hear Char earlier and she wasn't back there with wolves who just lost their old alpha.
We eventually came to a stop in an open field encircled by trees where I could see stars twinkling above us like fairy lights even if they were spinning from the snap back reaction I got as I fully returned to my physical body. Dimitri carefully placed me down on my feet and I clung to him for support when my knees wobbled from the disorienting sensation. His face softened at the sound of my gasp and he seared me with his smoldering gaze in a way that made me feel like he hoped he could read my mind.
As fast as I could, I released my hold on him and stepped away.
Char moved closer to offer support and we held onto each other waiting and holding our breaths. Seconds that felt like hours crawled by until finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Angela emerged through the trees with only minor cuts and bruises visible on her naked body. She changed back into human form right after the kill and walked towards us with an air of confidence radiating off her as if nothing had happened at all. Her gaze was locked on me and there was no doubt that she knew what I had done. The bad part?
She didn’t look impressed at all.
