Chapter 16

Bowen

I sprinted into the woods with Alaric, Valor, and Ezra hot on my heels, our collective anxiety snapping through the air. My wolf howled, riding the border of our skin, ready to take control.

We’d been in the Enforcer building as Alpha Wynn and Alpha Declan spoke on their secure line when the alarm blared through Hidden Creek. It was a sound we all dreaded—it meant there was an attack on our borders. Every member of the pack knew their roles. All Enforcers took their positions at the front line, and able-bodied, fighting men were to stay closer to the pack’s center as a second wave of defense. Women and the elderly holed up in designated safe houses as our orders directed us to the west border.

Our bond iced with fear. Every minute felt like years when Myla’s connection was blocked.

We’re here , Silas said through our bond.

He must have shifted. Not being able to respond made me grit my teeth, but I couldn’t risk charging in blind with my wolf’s rage.

Silas anticipated my need for information, and his words filled my head.

Gentry is with Myla, trying to stop her. All the Omegas are here. There’s powerful magic in the air. Something is trying to take them out of our territory.

Witches.

There was a moment of silence, and trepidation slithered over my skin.

The others aren’t here yet , Silas said. I’m going in.

No.

Fuck!

I pushed myself harder. Silas wasn’t reckless; if he felt there was no other choice but to barrel into danger alone, the situation was worse than I thought.

He needed backup, and he needed it now.

As we emerged from the trees, a chill went down my spine. Our Omegas were being pulled by some unseen force. Their faces twisted in fear and confusion as pack members placed themselves in their path, trying to stop them without causing harm.

Alpha Wynn was yelling orders while keeping close to his mate.

A blast of green light broke through the trees, and several wolves were blown back, yelping and crying out as they smacked into the ground.

I searched for Silas’s wolf and found him several feet away, lying on his side. My heart stopped, and the world slowed as I scanned his body for injuries.

In the span of a moment, every horrible outcome flashed through my mind. Then, his wolf shook his head, growled, and got back up, facing the trees beyond the clearing.

It wasn’t until he moved that the world blinked back to full speed. A hard exhale escaped me as relief gave way to vengeance. I ripped off my clothes and shifted faster than the crack of a whip.

My wolf raced to stand beside Silas as Theron’s wolf joined us.

More wolves darted into the trees, snarling and working together to lure the witches out of their hiding spots.

You all right? Theron asked.

I’ll be fine. That bitch packs a punch, though , Silas answered.

Fighting witches was technical. Their bodies broke easily enough between our jaws, but getting close was tricky. They used their magic to keep us at bay.

Thank the Goddess our bodies could withstand quite a bit of abuse. It took a lot for a spell to kill a shifter, and it often took several direct blows to slow us down. This made for hard, bloody battles on both sides.

Incoming , Theron said, facing the trees as three dark witches exited the forest.

Each of their faces bore the scars of their vows—the ones made in honor of their god when they gained their power. It was the sacrifice he required as payment for gifting them the ability to wield magic.

Each mark was different, but they were all located on their faces.

The pack’s counterattack was weakening the witches’ hold on the girls. Gentry succeeded in moving Myla a few steps back before her body went rigid and locked into place.

What the hell are they doing? Theron asked, getting ready to join the fray.

They’re trying to get them off our land , Silas replied.

Silas’s words struck something inside of me. Information pushed its way to the front of my mind, and the pieces fell into place. They were making them visible. We spent the last few months hiding our Omegas—Omegas that specific people wanted to see.

Do you remember the last time the Council was on pack lands? I asked.

How could we forget? Councilman Raza almost threw a tantrum when Isolde was too busy to see him , Silas said.

Shit , Theron said. He knows we’re up to something.

At the very least, he suspects it , I confirmed.

We knew concealing our pregnant Omegas wouldn’t work forever. Realistically, we didn’t need it to. We just had to keep the Council at bay long enough for us to finish the majority of our planning.

This attack was proof that they knew something was going on. They wanted to catch us in the act and justify their inevitable response. They needed evidence of our supposed transgressions and were willing to sacrifice our Omegas to get it. This would allow them to attack in earnest.

It was a risky move—one they wouldn’t try unless they believed the payout was worth it.

But they were showing their hand by using the witches.

From here on out, we couldn’t tiptoe around each other. Our secrets were on the table. The war had officially begun.

Be careful , I said to my unit. Remember to call for backup if you need it .

I descended into chaos with Silas at my side. Our senses heightened as we honed in on the dark magic source. The witches were using illusions, phantom versions of themselves that darted in and out of view as they shot bolts of green lightning at the wolves battling through their defenses.

We moved as one, our pack instincts guiding us as we fought. Silas’s wolf cut in front of mine, making himself the target of the next attack while I rounded the side of the group of intruders. Distracted by Silas’s onslaught, the witch dropped her guard, and I slammed into her.

She let out a yelp as I sank my teeth into her wrist, tugging and twisting to dislocate the limb. I jumped back as another blast of magic flew past my face.

The witch aimed two more bolts at me, and I zig-zagged, narrowly avoiding them as they scorched the dirt at my feet. A third bolt clipped my flank.

Pain sizzled up my leg, and Silas’s wolf jumped on the witch before she could land another blow.

The Alpha yelled, and I glanced across the clearing to find the Omegas on the ground, screaming in pain.

“Enough!” One of the witches yelled, her voice magically projected over the field. “One more attack, and your females will suffer the consequences.”

Alpha Wynn and the witch had a standoff. To make her point, she held up one hand and slowly curled it into a fist. The girls cried out. Isolde’s knees hit the ground, Myla staggered into Gentry’s chest, and Brielle gripped Korren’s arm for purchase.

Alpha Wynn snarled. “Stand down,” he ordered.

We all backed up, and the Omegas stopped whimpering.

“Good,” the witch said, a sinister smile tugging her lips. “No sudden movements, and they’ll get to their destination in one piece.”

She pulled the Omegas toward her again, and the ground felt like it was cracking beneath my paws. If we attacked, the witches would hurt the females, but if we did nothing, they would take them.

Then, without warning, there was a blinding flash of light so bright it was nearly white. The dark witch flew off her feet and slammed into a tree trunk. The air shifted, and a snap rang through the clearing. Shiloh stepped through the trees, her blue hair blowing in the wind as she chanted a language I didn’t recognize.

The two other witches attacked in unison, and Shiloh threw out her hands. Green and white clashed, and sparks lashed through the air.

Power choked the oxygen from our lungs. My ears popped as the spell shattered with violent force. I struggled to my feet, scrambling to reach Myla amid the chaos.

Wolves lumbered into motion, capturing the witches as Shiloh knocked them out.

Panic gripped me as I looked around. Isolde lay motionless nearby, and Blythe was crumpled against a tree, unconscious and injured.

Gentry held Myla as she sagged in his arms. I shifted, dropping to my knees by her side.

“She’ll be okay,” Gentry assured me. “We just have to get her to the medical building.”

Theron and Silas joined us as Gentry scooped her up, and we headed to the infirmary.

My nerves were still raw, but Myla came first, and we needed to ensure she was okay.