97. Power

KIARA

"You're fucking crazy." Alejandro said icily.

She frowned slightly, her eyes glimmering. I let my aura out, allowing it to swirl around our feet, keeping her dark magic at bay. I wasn't sure if I could fight her off, but… I could try. I was working purely on instinct here. One thing was clear: She was derailing Alejandro's mind, trying to get into it and manipulate him. Not only by words, but magic was at work here too. He was strong but I had to still be careful.

"So, you won't help me?" She asked, her face turning angrier.

"No. I"m not your fucking son, nor your fucking puppet. You've been accountable for so many fucking lives lost. Do you think I'd ever agree? Other countries know about me, they are setting up similar councils. We don't need to do anything more. When it comes to witches, do whatever the fuck you want. But do not for one fucking second think I'd ever forgive you for all the crap you put me through! I almost gave my mate up because of you!" He growled, his eyes blood red and his claws elongating. I felt the pure rage and anger rolling off him.

"Alejandro… don't make a rash decision. One way or another, I have worked far too hard to let you or anyone else mess with my plans. I gave you the option to stand by my side, but if you wish to deny it, then it is your loss." She hissed.

So, her true colours were coming out. I glanced at Marcel. We could show him the truth... He was just a pawn... Could I undo the magic on him just as I was able to reverse the Wendigo mutation? There was only one way to find out.

"You're messed up." Alejandro growled at his mother.

I stepped back slowly, letting go of Alejandro's arm. Instantly Endora's eyes snapped to me. I ignored her, pretending I was just engrossed in her words as I hugged Alejandro, slowly inching around him and leaning my head on his other shoulder. She looked away from me, glaring at Alejandro.

"I am doing what is our right. We are from the purest werewolf blood, Alejandro. From the very line that the first Lycan was born of. This is our birth right." Her voice sounded slightly unearthly and I felt the wave of power coming closer. I made sure to keep my own aura pressed against it. Whatever she was trying to do to Alejandro was not going to happen. Not under my watch.

"I"m going to have to burst your fucking bubble then. I will never side with you. Not now. Not fucking ever." Alejandro said quietly.

"Alejandro… If you are certain, then I will unleash hell upon every pack of wolves out there." She said.

"And I will be there to stop you." He said quietly, as I reached behind me and touched Marcel's arm, slowly channelling my power while maintaining a protective aura around us. It was clearly working as a barrier, keeping Endora"s magic away from us, but doing both was proving harder than I thought…

"Let me ask you three questions. Answer them honestly." He said quietly.

"I owe you nothing, Alejandro. If you do not wish to side with me of your own free will, then I will make sure you do by force." Endora said coldly.

"Answer me first. Then do whatever the fuck you want." He said coldly.

"What do you want to know?" She asked just as coldly.

It seemed his refusal had completely blinded her, and she was so angry she wasn't even paying attention to me. I felt the magic seep away from Marcel but it took a chunk out of me. I felt tired, like I had just trained for a few hours…. I knew when the effect drained off, he would come back, but I wasn't sure if he'd realise Endora was in the wrong…

"Why did Dad hate me?" Alejandro asked quietly. I motioned discreetly to Marcel not to move, hoping he understood.

"You are born to be hated, and to rule. No one will ever love you, Alejandro." Endora said snidely.

"That's not true." I answered icily, making her attention snap to me.

I instantly wished I hadn"t spoken… If she told Alejandro the truth that I had assumed, then it would just hurt him even more…

"Hmph, well maybe not. Perhaps I… influenced him on how to behave… I tried to do it with Rafael but the boy seemed immune to spells. I guess he inherited some of my abilities." She spat resentfully.

"So, you're saying you made Dad say all that shit? You made him dislike me?" Alejandro said, his heart racing at the revelation.

My heart was breaking for him, I wanted to take away all his pain.

"All for a good cause, Alejandro." Endora taunted. "Now what else do you want to know?"

"Jake… Why did he side with you?"

"Oh that pack owed me a life debt… and we witches always collect. His father worked for me and never repaid that debt, so Jake had to, but the fool was utterly useless." She spat.

I frowned, I never sensed evil from him... But then again, I only met him fleetingly. Perhaps he was just forced into this… We would never know. But for him to have been a part of this plan all along, made my blood run cold.

Her power was growing and I knew she was just buying time too. Alejandro seemed too stunned to even say anything. His turmoil filled emotions were swirling around him.

I decided to take over, I had a plan to get Marcel on our side but for that he needed to hear the full truth.

"Why did you lie to Marcel about the Wendigo's and Manangal, when you were the one who created them?" I asked.

She laughed mockingly.

"You stupid bitch! Why do you think? It was all for the cause. When I have you, just wait to see what I create, an entire army of wendigo's…. I will rule alone, I need nothing or no one." She spat.

Alejandro growled, snapping out of his trance.

"You're wrong. You need me, don't you?" I asked coldly.

"Kiara." Alejandro warned, I knew he didn't want her to direct her wrath on me, but I didn't really care. She had hurt my mate far more than she ever should have. A mother is someone who fights the entire world for her children, not mentally abuses them as she had done.

"So, it was all lies." Marcel said quietly.

Her look of surprise was one I would never forget.

"You…" Her eyes snapped to me and she whispered something.

"Not this time." I said, letting my power out. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, letting my senses spread to every corner of the room. I fuelled all my anger, pain and fury towards her for what she did to Alejandro, and I felt the flame ignite within me.

"What are you doing?!" She shouted.

I opened my blazing eyes, just in time to see Alejandro lunge at her.

"No!" I shouted.

A black blast of power knocked him back, but he held his ground, pushing against her powerful force field. He shifted as his aura worked against her powers. The room was swirling with three different powers, each working to their full capacity. A battle of power and wills.

"If you will not side with me, then there's no use for you!"

I felt the surge of power within me growing, the shrieks of the Manangal's and Wendigo's reacting to my power filled my ears. My heart thumped as Marcel rushed towards Alejandro, shifting as he rammed against the wall assisting him.

"Look at that, the rogue mutt is helping his younger brother!" Endora scoffed.

Those words alone let the blast of power roll off me, knocking everyone to the ground. Her powers dissipated as I rushed towards her, my staff raised.

"If I were you…. I'd save my mate." Endora hissed, whispering a spell. Her eyes glowed red.

I turned my head, my heart pounding in fear as I saw her powers wrap around Alejandro so fast he didn't have time to react. He growled in rage as her power lashed into him, spearing him with a hundred knife-like blades created from magic. His blood splattered everywhere as he crumbled to the floor, shifting back into his human form.

"Alejandro!" I screamed, my voice ringing off the walls of the cavern...