Page 54 of Their Mate
I shook violently, vision blurred with fury. “He bit Declan! He’s hurt!”
“Remember what Sera said,” Edward responded firmly. “We have twenty-four hours. Declan still has a chance. Don’t play into his hands.”
The Elder Lycan laughed, cruel amusement echoing through the enormous room. “Such optimism, but you’re mistaken. Declan is already lost. His fate was sealed the moment my teeth pierced his skin.”
Declan raised his head weakly, eyes blazing despite his weakness. “Don’t… listen… to him,” he gasped, his pain obvious, though we were all uplifted by his stubborn defiance.
I clenched my fists so tightly they trembled, nails cutting sharply into my palms, barely restraining my desperate rage. My breath heaved violently in my lungs.
I wanted to end him. Right here. Right now.
The Elder Lycan smiled, his grin malicious, stepping slowly toward the edge of the stage as his calculating gaze focused directly on me. “I see your rage, Aidan—your hatred. You finally understand the truth. There is no hope. Only strength. Accept that, and perhaps you’ll survive what’s coming.”
His voice echoed softly through the auditorium, distorted yet deadly clear.
“The clock is ticking. Declan’s transformation will come swiftly. You can try to save him. Either way, know this: your struggles mean nothing. Your pack means nothing. Only power matters. Only strength. And I hold all of it.”
Rage churned violently inside me, clawing to break free. I felt as if my very bones were vibrating, desperate to launch forward and rip the monster apart. But before I could move, before I could lose myself entirely, a clear voice broke through, steadying me instantly.
“What’s coming?” Sera asked suddenly. Her voice was calm, composed, despite the rigid posture of her body.
I froze and watched her carefully, a bit surprised she was able to act so level-headed right now. Despite the terror radiating from her, her expression was carefully controlled, and she’d managed to keep her head clear. I knew from experience the strength it took to do so.
The Elder Lycan settled his feral gaze slowly on Sera. A dark, cunning amusement twisted across his grotesque features. “Oh, so now you want answers, Sera Moore?” he drawled mockingly. “You seek the truth from the very monster you’ve sworn to destroy?”
She held his stare, her voice firm. “You’re the one playing games, driving us deeper into your maze. Why? What’s your endgame?”
A slow, chilling grin spread wider across his misshapen mouth. His elongated teeth gleamed. “What’s coming…” he murmured, voice dripping with poison, “…is inevitability.”
He paced along the stage’s edge, watching us closely. “I’ve watched humanity rise and fall, seen non-feral wolves fight futile battles with endless violence and meaningless loyalty. You think you can stop it, control the chaos? You’re all blind.”
He paused, gaze drifting across our gathered group—Edward’s fierce calm, Jamie’s tense readiness, Logan’s quiet fury, Sera’s stubborn resolve, and finally settling mockingly on me for a brief moment, then back to Sera. “Soon enough, you’ll all see clearly. This isn’t about you. It’s about something far greater.”
I stiffened, fury rising again. Sera didn’t flinch, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on the Elder Lycan’s grotesque form. “Stop talking in riddles, braggart,” she said coldly. “Tell us what you’re planning.”
The Elder Lycan chuckled, the sound chilling, echoing around us. “You’ll know soon enough. And when you do, when the truth is finally revealed, you’ll understand exactly how meaningless your struggle has always been.”
My heart raced, dread tightening in a suffocating band around my chest. He wasn’t giving us anything concrete, but the sinistercertainty behind his words chilled me deeper than any explicit threat.
Despite my growing unease, my gaze returned to Sera, noticing the barely detectable tremble in her fingers gripping the blade. Yet she stood strong, facing the Elder Lycan like she was ready to take him down right here and now.
Something shifted deep inside me, pride beginning to mingle with awe and respect. We’d seen each other fight, faced death and terror together, but watching her now, I finally truly understood the depth of her strength.
She was someone we could depend on. Someone who would stand resolute beside us, no matter how grim things became.
The Elder Lycan continued slowly pacing, his monstrous form looming dangerously close to Declan’s weakened figure. My rage simmered on a low burn, barely restrained.
Logan spoke, voice dangerously controlled. “We’re not pawns in your twisted game. Whatever you’re planning—we’ll end it.”
The Elder Lycan cocked his head, eyes glittering coldly. “You can try. But soon, you’ll understand how pointless that hope truly is. You’ll understand true despair.”
Sera’s voice rang out again. “Enough threats. You want to fight us—fine. But we’re done being your audience.”
The Elder Lycan chuckled again, his gaze sliding slowly across each of us in turn. “Oh, your defiance is impressive. Admirable, even. But futile.” His voice lowered ominously, eyes narrowing.
“We’ll stop you—whatever you’re planning,” Logan declared.
The Elder Lycan’s smile widened further. “Oh, I doubt that, Alpha. This little gathering of ours ends here, exactly as I planned it.”
