Page 10 of Wolf Revealed

There was a pause, then Finn's voice rolled in, smooth and calm. "It's been a long time, Kadence. Things change."

She scoffed, the sound sharp and bitter. "Things don't change, Finn. Desires don't change." Her voice lowered, barely a whisper but just as clear. "I had plans for Ronan... plans that Artemis destroyed. He was supposed to be mine."

Finn's response was measured. "That was a long time ago, Kadence. Can't we focus on what's important now?"

"No, Finn," she snapped. "I won't forget what Artemis took from me. What he could have been... what we could have been."

Their voices faded as Mira's portal wavered, but those words lingered in the air, heavy with the weight of Kadence's resentment and thwarted desires. Her bitterness, her intentions, they were all too clear now. And our family's legacy was the target.

Ronan finally broke the silence. "We knew she'd be unhappy with our reunion, but this..." He shook his head; a frown etched on his face. "We need to be careful."

Bastian remained silent. His gaze focused on the flickering flames of the campfire. But I could tell he was deep in thought. As the sun rose higher, casting a warm glow on our faces, the gravity of our situation settled around us. Kadence's bitterness wasn't just a problem. It was a threat. And it was closer than we had anticipated.

Bastian's worry snapped me back to the present. I followed his gaze to Mira. My sister's face was pale, and the faintest sheen of sweat coated her forehead. She was worn out, and it showed. The portal flickered before us, unstable and dimming.

"We need more information, Mira," Bastian said, his voice edged with concern. "Can you open it again?"

Mira nodded, but her fingers shook as she moved to weave another portal into existence. My heart clenched as I watched her. She was pushing herself too hard.

I moved to her side, placing a hand over hers. She looked at me, a silent plea in her eyes. I nodded, pouring some energy into her and feeling our connection. There was a flash as the portal sprung back into existence, more vibrant than before.

Bastian gave me a grateful nod as we refocused on the scene unfolding before us. Mira leaned heavily against me, but her eyes were locked on the portal, intent on learning more about Kadence's plans.

Our timely intervention allowed us to tune back into the conversation just as Kadence declared her violent intentions. "Once I conquer the Magic Mountain pack," she snarled, her voice filled with venom, "I'll destroy those sisters. I'll have their heads on pikes around the village."

A wave of nausea hit me. I tightened my grip on Mira, drawing strength from our bond. This was more than we had bargained for, more than we were prepared to face. But we had each other. We always had. And that had to count for something.

Through the portal, Kadence's image solidified once more, her movements jagged and erratic as she paced in her anger. Ronan and Bastian, their brows furrowed with concern, drifted closer to us, their steps soft against the sand.

In her rage, Kadence was a storm incarnate; each word she spat was laced with venom. "Why did it have to be her? Why did Ronan have to choose Artemis?" She snarled, her fists clenching and unclenching.

My pulse pounded in my ears, the sound of her words reverberating through me. The bitterness in Kadence's voice and the rage in her eyes were all for me. Because of me.

Beside Kadence, Finn held his ground. He watched her pace, his expression stoic. He waited as she vented her anger, the calm amidst her wrath.

Finally, he spoke, his voice steady, soothing even in the face of her rage. "Kadence," he began, his tone firm but not unkind. "We need to focus on our goal—Magic Mountain."

I could practically hear the silent plea in his voice. Don't let your past cloud our future. The subtle tension in his stance was apparent. He wanted to move forward. He wanted Kadence to do the same.

As the portal closed with a soft hum, the ghostly images of Kadence and Finn disappeared, a silence filling the air where their voices had been moments ago. A heavy tension settled among us as we processed what we had just heard. Our worst fears were becoming a reality, and Kadence was closing in.

"Mira," I murmured, turning to face her. She looked worn out, the strain of constantly using her magic showing clearly on her pale face. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, her lips dry and cracked from the incantations she had been chanting relentlessly.

She met my gaze, a grim understanding reflecting in her tired eyes. "We need to warn the others," she said, her voice barely above a whisper but firm with determination.

I nodded, my heart thudding in my chest. "Can you manage a transport spell?"

A faint smile played on her lips despite her weariness. "I think so, but I might need a little help."

I reassuringly squeezed her hand, summoning my shifter energy to strengthen her. "Then let's do this. Our sisters need to know what's coming."

At that moment, our shared urgency seemed to overshadow the exhaustion, fueling us with newfound energy. We had a mission to complete and were determined to see it through. We needed to warn Petra, Syria, and Jezebel, and we needed to do it fast. Time was a luxury we could no longer afford.

"I need your help again, Artemis," she whispered, a small, tired smile on her face. "I can't do this alone."

Gritting my teeth, I nodded, stepping closer to her. I could feel the hum of her magic. It was weak but still there. Taking her hands in mine, I focused. I concentrated on my energy, willing it to flow into Mira.

"I'm here, Mira," I said my voice barely a whisper. "You're not alone."

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