Page 74 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
No fucking clue, actually, kid, but getting you out of the circle was priority number one.
“Go with Cody,” I tell him, signaling over my shoulder.
My beta hurries forward and holds out his arms for my son. “Come on, Jarrod,” Cody says. “Those other kids are pretty scared, and they could use an alpha to guide them. Are you up for it?”
Jarrod looks at my friend, then back to me. He nods, and I see determination in his eyes.
“I’ll go,” he says almost breathlessly.
“Good man,” I answer. “I’m going to get your mom, and I’ll be right there. Then we can get the hell out of this joint.”
“Good luck, Dad,” Jarrod whispers.
I turn back to the circle, focusing on Scarlett right in the center. Azarian looks pissed that they lost the kids, and Vanessa is screaming at him.
I take a deep breath for courage and leap out onto the stone surface, praying I won’t be immediately melted. When my paws touch the stone, it’s hot, like baked desert sand in the middle of summer.
So, some people get burned to a crisp while others can pass. How does that work?
Vanessa shrieks from the other side of the circle and throws a lance of flame at me. I manage to dodge it and brace myself for another, but Vanessa falls to her knees, screaming for Azarian.
He looks between me and Scarlett, finally sheathing his knife and running towards Vanessa. I make it to my mate’s side and wrap my arms around her.
“Where’s Jarrod?” she asks.
“He’s with Cody. Don’t worry, he’s fine.”
“The other kids?”
“They all got out, too.”
“Thank God,” she breathes. “They need innocent blood in the center of the circle to activate the ritual. Without it, their magic fails.”
“What does that mean?” I ask. “Are we safe?”
“I don’t think so,” she shakes her head. “If the ritual fails, that’s when there’s a wild release of power that no one walks away from.”
“So, we might be fucked either way.”
Scarlett shrugs. “At least Azarian won’t get his power. Neither will Vanessa. Our son will survive.”
“We should get out of here,” I mutter, watching Azarian help Vanessa to her feet. “We can try to outrun the explosion, at least.”
“Okay.” Scarlett tries to get to her feet and stumbles, almost falling back down again.
“Easy,” I mutter, grabbing her. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
“I’m afraid not,” a hissing voice whispers against my ear. “Although that depends on your definition of ‘okay.’”
I jump away from the voice, seeing that Vanessa is now right beside me, with Azarian behind her.
“You move fast, bitch,” I swear at her.
“My will is within the circle!” she hisses, her face twisted as if she is physically changing. “And innocent blood has been spilled!”
“What—” I yell, turning back to look at Scarlett.
She’s crouched at my feet, looking up at me in desperation. She’s covered in small wounds, and the worst is the one on her head, its slow trickle the very trail I followed to get here.
