Page 31 of Midnight Magic

Nia's voice carried authority as she added, "You need our knowledge, and we won’t do this without Rowan."

I felt a mix of emotions surging within me. I had found a place among these shifters, a sense of belonging I had never known before. The idea of being cast out, of losing everything I had come to cherish, was a terrifying prospect.

Wolfe stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. "We're a pack, and we make decisions together. Majority rules. All in favor of seeking training and guidance from the Fae and defending our home, raise your hand."

One by one, hands went up around the room, and my heart swelled with a sense of unity. They were choosing to fight together, to face the looming threat head-on. If only I had that same outlook.

Callan stepped forward, his face serious. “There’s another matter at hand here too. We need to weaken them, or they’ll never stop coming for us. For Rowan.”

“How do you suggest we do that?”

“We have to kill Cas,” I said quietly. It was something I’d been mulling over on my own, and no matter how I turned it over in my own head, killing Cas was the best way to hit the Queen where it hurt. So far she hadn’t made an appearance, letting her son do her dirty work. And without him, we stood that much more of a chance.

Wolfe scanned the room, waiting for someone to object. When no one did, he nodded grimly, his shaggy hair bouncing with the movement. “Then we do what we must.”

The hours passed slowly, each minute feeling like an eternity as we watched Elowen's life slip away. There was a profound sense of helplessness in the room, an unspoken acknowledgment that nothing could be done to change her fate. But there was also an undercurrent of fire. These people had been attacked in their homes, and they wanted revenge.

Elowen's breathing had become even more labored, her once-bright eyes now dulled by pain. I sat by her side, my hand resting gently on her arm, offering whatever comfort I could in those final moments, my guilt at Kai being caught in the crossfire driving my actions. Callan stood nearby, his expression a mix of grief and anger.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of fear for him, for what would happen once Lexi was dealt with. The bond between them, broken as it was, still held a powerful sway over Callan. His desire for revenge burned like a relentless fire, and I worried that it might consume him in the end.

"Rowan. Stop looking at me like that," he whispered, his voice barely audible over Elowen's shallow breaths. "I can't let Lexi go unpunished for what she's done."

I turned to meet his gaze, my heart aching for him. "I understand that, Callan, but don't forget the consequences of revenge. It won't bring them back. It will only kill you too."

He clenched his fists, his jaw set, saying nothing more, in typical Callan fashion.

The room slowly filled with the hushed whispers of pack members offering their condolences and sharing stories of the time they had spent with her. It was a bittersweet tribute to a woman who had touched so many lives.

Elowen's breaths grew shallower and further apart, her once-vibrant spirit gradually fading away. The room was filled with the quiet sobs of pack members, their grief palpable as her life ran out.

Then, with a final, shallow breath, Elowen's chest stilled. The light in her eyes flickered and then went out. She was gone.

A heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the sound of muffled sobs.

Callan stood there, his gaze fixed on Elowen's lifeless form, a haunted expression on his face. I reached out to him, my fingers brushing against his arm, a silent reminder that he wasn't alone, no matter what decision he decided to make.

But as I looked at him, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen when the time came for him to confront Lexi. The bond between them was a powerful force, and it had the potential to shape his destiny in ways we couldn't predict.

As the pack began to plan for Elowen's farewell, the looming threat of Cas and his forces still hung over us, and Callan's desire for revenge burned brighter than ever. It was a volatile mix of emotions, and tensions were high.

But for now, in this moment of grief and loss, all we could do was say our final goodbyes to Elowen and honor her memory in the best way we knew how.

ChapterTwenty-One

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the training grounds of the Clover pack. A sense of anticipation hummed in the air as the pack members gathered, eager to begin their training sessions. I stood at the edge of the clearing, taking in the sight of my fellow shifters and Fae, all with varying degrees of excitement etched on their faces as they practiced. Nia and Oliver were running drills with a group while I got private training from Finn and Callan.

Finn, who had volunteered for the job, stood beside me. His bright eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he grinned. "Ready for some training, Rowan?"

"You bet." Couldn’t have sounded more enthusiastic if I tried.

As Finn began to instruct me on channeling my innate magical abilities, Callan watched from a distance. His gaze never wavered from me, a heavy presence I couldn't help but feel a surge of Alpha dominance as he observed me, even though he wasn't the one training me in this moment. I tried to focus on Finn's guidance as best I could, doing my best to ignore the heat that bloomed in my belly at the thought of the enigmatic rogue. It was as if his very proximity demanded my attention.

Finn patiently guided me through the basics of elemental magic, teaching me how to connect with the natural energy around me, not only within. I was a quick learner, and with Finn's encouragement, I soon managed to conjure a small, controlled ball of lightning. It was much improved from what I had been able to do so far, which was just throwing out wild blasts as often as I could. They sparked in my palm, flickering with bright bursts of electricity.

Finn clapped his hands in approval. "Well done, Rowan! You're a natural." He almost never stumbled over the name now.

I grinned, a sense of accomplishment washing over me. "Am I really a natural if I’m just re-learning the things I forgot?” I leaned in, giving him a side hug as I let the lightning dissipate, grateful I was catching on to my powers. Not being able to unlock my memories had been devastating, but it was also like it had allowed me to better embrace my powers.

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