36. MATEO

36

MATEO

The morning light barely crests the edge of the horizon as I slip out of the nest, the warmth of Nepheline’s body still clinging to my skin. My heart aches leaving her like this, her swollen belly cradled by her hands even in sleep, her midnight eyes closed but her magic still humming softly around her like a protective cocoon.

Last night, we all held her, cherished her. I’d watched as Darius massaged her feet, River stroked her hair, and Remi whispered something that made her laugh—an honest, carefree sound I hadn’t heard in weeks. Maverick and Asani were quieter, their touches reverent, their love shining in the way they leaned into her.

And me? I didn’t leave her side. I couldn’t. Not when every part of me screamed that this might be the last night I’d have her in my arms before the storm broke. The nest still smells of us—her scent, her magic, her love—and I carry that with me as I step into the kitchen, pulling on my boots and preparing for what’s to come.

Earlier, one of the guards tracking the pack of the Forbidden found where they were located and it’s all we need to face them to rid the packlands of this darkness. Unfortunately, that means leaving Nepheline.

“You’re thinking too much again,” Remi says from behind me, his tone soft but teasing.

I turn, watching as he leans casually against the doorway, a half-eaten piece of bread in one hand, his hair mussed from sleep. “You’d be too if you were in my head,” I mutter, tying the laces with a little more force than necessary. He chuckles as I check on Nepheline one last time, watching her turn over to curl up in Darius’ arms.

It takes some effort to pull myself away and meet in the heart, waiting for the wolves going with us to gather. Others hang just along the edge of the heart, watching and waiting, worried murmurs carrying through the air. By the time we’re all gathered outside, the air is sharp with anticipation. The pack is awake now, the wolves lined up to see us off, their faces a mix of fear and hope. I step forward, my mates behind me, each one a steady presence that grounds me as I turn to face Nepheline.

She stands in the doorway of the packhouse, her swollen belly cradled in her hands, her midnight eyes fixed on me. The way the light catches her hair, the way her magic shimmers faintly around her—she looks like a goddess, fierce and radiant.

“You’re gorgeous,” I tell her through the mindlink, unable to keep the thought to myself. “When I get back,” I murmur, “there will be our baby girl waiting for us. I’ll bring him back, Neph. I promise.”

Her smile widens, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’ve already brought him back, Mateo,” she whispers. “I’m just waiting for him to cross the lands.”

I always believed that Locke would return, there was no doubt about that but seeing that she worked her magic to do it on her own, in her own way means more than anything else. I lean down, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips, pouring everything I am into that touch. “I love you,” I whisper against her mouth, my voice cracking.

She pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, her midnight eyes unwavering. “I love you too. Darius is here with me and the doctor. And Victoria is just across the way. Now go.” I kiss her one last time before shifting and heading toward the crystal forest.

It feels like a kick in the gut that the Sapphire wolves aren’t at our sides, fighting with us but Victoria made it very clear that that wasn’t their place in bringing back the magic. They’ve settled in on the Nightshade packlands to help run things while we’re gone, just in case. I nearly begged Nepheline at one point to have Victoria by but realized that our Omega had all the help she needed.

A smile tears across my face as her last words filter through the mindlink.

Come back to me or I’ll drag you back and kill you myself.

The magic thrums around me like a second heartbeat, pulsing in my veins as I lead the wolves through the forest. The packlands feel distant now, the protective veil thinning beside us with every step as we move to the west. It’s a strange sensation—like leaving behind a shield you didn’t realize you were leaning on.

On either side of me, Remi and River move seamlessly in practiced precision, their dark fur blending with the shadows. Asani follows close behind, his usual calm now laced with a tension I can feel even without the bond. Bo and Elias flank the group, two Alphas from the pack of the Forbidden bringing up the rear. They’ve all been quiet since we set out but I didn’t expect to share any conversation.

Not on a day like today.

Maverick’s voice cuts through the mindlink like a whisper of wind. It’s quiet. Too quiet.

I glance up, catching a glimpse of him soaring overhead in his crow form, his wings cutting through the dawn light like blades. His presence is a comfort—a set of eyes we desperately need, watching from above.

What do you see? I ask, keeping my voice as steady as possible despite the unease crawling up my spine. With the new magic, each of the wolves can hear our conversation, not just my mates.

There’s a pause, then a low, shaky exhale. Darkness, Maverick says, his voice tight. It’s worse than we thought, Mateo. So much worse.

My stomach drops. I stop, raising my head to signal the others to halt. The wolves behind me pause immediately.

A ripple of unease moves through the group, the pack bond trembling faintly as fear trickles in. This isn’t a battle we can predict. We’re fighting against something unnatural. Something that was never meant to exist. If any of you feel like you can’t do this, if you need to turn back to protect your families, I won’t hold it against you. No one here will.

The wolves exchange glances, their gazes flicking between me and each other. I can feel their hesitation, their doubt. It’s thick in the air, clinging to us like a storm waiting to break.

Bo steps forward first, his chin lifting as he meets my gaze . We’re with you, Alpha.

Elias nods, his head bowing. To the end.

One by one, the wolves affirm their loyalty, their resolve hardening as they stand taller. Even the Alphas from the pack of the Forbidden nod silently, their expressions unreadable but firm.

I exhale slowly, nodding. Then let’s move.

The air changes as we officially pass through the veil heading north, the magic behind us fading into something colder, sharper. The forest feels alive in the worst way, the shadows stretching too far, the sounds too quiet. It’s like the world itself is holding its breath, waiting for something to snap.

It’s spreading, Maverick says through the link, his voice strained. The darkness… it’s crawling across the ground, consuming everything in its path.

My chest tightens as I pick up the pace, my wolf bristling beneath my skin . Stay above it. Don’t get too close.

You think I’m crazy? Maverick quips, but there’s no humor in his voice.

The group moves together, their steps silent but purposeful. Every crack of a branch, every rustle of leaves feels amplified, my senses on high alert as we push deeper into the forest.

Then I feel it.

A ripple. A shift.

The bond trembles faintly, like a warning shot across my mind. My wolf growls low, a deep, guttural sound that vibrates through my chest as the darkness thickens around us.

We’re close, Asani murmurs, his eyes scanning the trees.

The air thickens as we approach, the stench of decay mingling with something colder, fouler—an unnatural energy that claws at my senses. The darkness here isn’t just an absence of light; it’s a living, breathing thing, wrapping itself around us like an unwelcome embrace. It pulls at my wolf, suffocating, trying to drag us under.

No one speaks. Even through the mindlink, the bond feels strained, every wolf focused on the task ahead. As we near the edge of what used to be a boundary between safety and chaos, I feel the first ripple of it—an oppressive weight pressing down on my chest, slowing my steps.

Stay together, I murmur through the link, my voice tight.

The trees around us twist unnaturally, their branches reaching out like claws. The ground beneath my feet feels brittle, as though it might crack open and swallow us whole.

Then we see it.

The remnants of what might have once been a pack settlement lie ahead, though now it’s nothing more than a scar on the land. Barred cages line the perimeter, their jagged edges rusted and coated with something that reeks of blood and suffering. Inside the cages are wolves—or what’s left of them. Their forms are grotesque, twisted by the serum into something unrecognizable. Some are missing fur, their exposed skin raw and mottled, while others are unnaturally bloated or gaunt, their eyes glowing faintly with a sickly light. Ghastly howls echo through the clearing, mournful and filled with rage, sending a shiver down my spine.

These must be the ones who used the first version of the serum. Asani says softly from beside me, his tone hollow. He doesn’t need to explain. These wolves are the experiments that didn’t work—abominations to nature, discarded like broken toys when they couldn’t serve their purpose.

The anti-serum we brought with us will kill them—there’s no saving wolves like this—but it’s better than leaving them to rot in these cages, their bodies and minds consumed by the serum. Give them mercy, I command.

Two Beta Nightshade wolves carrying the anti-serum step forward strapped to their backs slowly slide off the straps and then shift to their human form. They both grab the short-barreled guns primed with enough shots to take down an army before aiming into the cages. I push forward, searching for any sign of Locke. To my relief, he isn’t here.

The cries that follow are horrific, echoing through the clearing like the wails of the damned. My wolf bristles beneath my skin, torn between the instinct to run and the need to fight.

Then, silence.

I exhale shakily, forcing myself to meet the gazes of the wolves who’ve completed the task. There’s no pride in their eyes, only a grim understanding of what had to be done.

We push deeper into the darkness, the weight of it dulling my senses, and I can feel it in the bond—every wolf struggling under the same crushing force. The shadows move around us, twisting and coiling like they’re alive, and the low growl of wolves in the distance sends a chill racing down my spine.

They’re here, Maverick says.

I glance up, catching a glimpse of his crow form circling above us, his sharp eyes scanning the path ahead. The growls grow louder as we approach, a guttural, bone-deep sound that vibrates through the air. Then, out of the darkness, they emerge.

The wolves are massive, their forms rippling with unnatural strength. Their fur is slick with something dark and oily, their eyes glowing with that same sickly light as the ones in the cages. But these wolves are not broken. These are the successful experiments—the true super wolves.

There’s no warning as the super wolves lunge forward, their howls piercing the air as they clash with our wolves. Teeth gnash, claws slash, and the clearing erupts into chaos. My claws sink into the nearest wolf, its unnatural strength nearly buckling me as it thrashes, but I hold on, tearing into its flesh until it collapses beneath me.

Aim with the darts! River’s voice cuts through the chaos.

The two Betas equipped with the anti-serum move quickly, their precision honed as they take down wolf after wolf. But for every one that falls, another seems to take its place, their sheer numbers overwhelming.

Asani fights beside me, darting in and out of the fray with surgical precision. Bo and Elias hold the line, their massive forms taking hit after hit but refusing to falter.

Through it all, I feel the darkness pressing closer, seeping into my mind like a poisonous fog. My wolf howls in defiance, pushing back against the weight of it, but it’s relentless.

Mateo, Maverick’s voice cuts through the bond. He’s watching you.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see it—the figure standing just behind the ranks, watching us with those molten gold eyes. The First Alpha. My blood runs cold as his gaze locks onto mine, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face.

I snarl, baring my teeth as I throw off the wolf attacking me, its body crumpling to the ground. The real fight is just about to begin and the worst is yet to come.