Chapter Forty

Lucian

I dart toward Lily, hoping to reach her in time, but before I can do a single thing, magic swirls around her and she fades from view.

My heart breaks as I stare at where she just was, wishing she’d come back. Footsteps fill my ears as Logan stomps toward Emmeline.

She cackles as she runs toward the safety of the woods and disappears.

Ma comes forward, falling to her knees beside me. "Is that her? Is that the girl who is your mate?"

I nod my head, so she understands.

Her eyes narrow as she shakes her head. "That witch. I will murder her myself, even if it means retching that head of hers off her shoulders. How dare she take your mate away."

My eyes widen for a moment as I watch her stand, and she heads inside the house. Pa comes to stand beside me with a look on his face that I can’t even begin to describe. It’s a mixture of surprise and wonder, but also a look of regret. He then looks at the woods and at the house.

“Emmeline has crossed a line which will cost her dearly. I hope she can run fast.”

Something clings together in the house, which makes me jump. When I look at the door, Ma comes out with a giant knife clutched in her hand as she takes off like a streak of lightning into the woods.

“That’s my woman,” Pa says with a chuckle.

He may be amazed by his mate, but I’m completely horrified.

I quickly stand and begin whining as I look at the woods where she just disappeared. Anything just to get his attention. He looks down at me in confusion.

“What is it? She can handle herself.”

I hold up my paw and wiggle it in the air, trying to ask if she can still shift, but he doesn’t quite grasp what I mean. He stares at me for a moment longer until he finally realizes what I mean.

“Oh, wait. No, she can’t shift. But there’s nothing to worry about.”

Instead of waiting for him, I dart into the woods after her, leaving both my father and brother calling my name as they stand near the cottage. There is no telling what that witch will do and I’m not leaving her defenseless.

“Lucian!” Pa yells.

I hear both of their footsteps as they come into the woods, but that doesn’t stop me. Instead, I pick up speed. Ma is probably in trouble, especially against Emmeline, who I feel has her own secrets.

I run as fast as I can through the trees, hoping I'll make it in time. Shouts echo through the trees toward me as Ma corners Emmeline up ahead.

"You treacherous witch. How dare you take away my son's mate. She could be the one that saves us all from this realm. Don’t you want that too? You’ve been stuck here for two hundred years, just like we have.”

Emmeline chuckles as she throws back her head. "What makes you think I want you to be saved? Maybe this was the plan all along and I'm carrying out my sister's wishes. It’s about time that everything comes to fruition."

I pause in my tracks as I near them at the edge of the tree line. Hidden behind the last row of bushes between me and them, I watch every move Emmeline makes. She doesn't have her hand raised, nor does she act hostile toward Ma.

All she does is pace near the creek, a grim look across her features. "Come on and tell me then. If you know me so well. What have I been doing all these years?"

Ma's face falls as she glances over at Emmeline. "You were so kind to us. How could you do something like this? You know Natalia was crazy, so I can’t see you carrying out her wishes.."

"It doesn't matter. Plus, you shouldn't be surprised it runs in the family." Emmeline's grim expression turns to one of delight. "All we wanted was to mate with your sons. Now look at what happened to my sister. She's gone and I'm the only one left of my family. You can't blame me for carrying out her dying wish."

Ma scoffs. "And what was her dying wish? Logan has no interest in you and Natalia is dead. Let Lucian return to his human form and be happy. Release us from this prison and we can all go home. You can leave as well and find someone else.”

Emmeline stops, her breath caught in her throat. For one split moment, I think she might actually do what Ma asked, but then her expression changes again.

"I can't do that.”

"But why? Your sister isn't here anymore and you are free to do as you please." Ma attempts to reason with her, but she just laughs.

"That's not how this works. I'm bonded to my sister, even when she’s gone. Everything she has done, like the curse on your son, will hold because of me. This realm and all of its magical properties are included. You don't understand how complex and calculating she was. She truly thought of everything, including her untimely demise. Your son’s curse can’t even be lifted by taking a mate alone. Someone else has to die."

"You don't have to do this anymore."

"You're missing the point, Ma. I do. Think of our bond as a contract. I have to uphold my end of the agreement or face the consequences." Emmeline looks at the river and grows quiet for a moment. "Doesn't this place look familiar to you, Lucian?"

I scan the surrounding trees and the river. It looks like the same spot I became cursed.

My heart thuds loudly in my chest.

"Interesting, isn't it? This world is so much like our own, but yet not. Natalia knew it would be the perfect place for us."

Ma takes a step back as I emerge out of the woods. What are you getting at, Emmeline?

She cackles. "Have you not figured it out yet? Natalia made this world to be just like the one we came from. She wanted us all to have a home together, away from it all. I helped her create this place by memory, you know? Then I upset her and she sent me here. It's not like I had to wait long, though. Your family showed up, but you and her never did."

She paces toward the right, closer to the water, and glances into the calm stream.

Why don't you just spit it out and be done? Stop dragging this out.

She sighs. "Always the impatient one. Why can't you pity me like your family? They felt sorry for me because my sister betrayed me, though that isn't the full truth, clearly." As she clacks her nails together, she glances up at the sky. I don't know what she's about to do, but I move closer to Ma.

You asked for everything you've received.

"Maybe, but you could say the same for her. The curse she placed on you didn't just affect you, but her and your future, hence trapping you in that world. So, it's because of you that my sister is gone. If only you had been a good little boy and cooperated.”

I edge closer to my mother, wondering what her next move is, but she throws her hands down and looks in the water again. It's strange the way she is acting. I expect her to erupt with magic at any moment.

If we're going to fight it out, then let's go.

"Fight? Why would I do that when the curse she cast still lingers on you? You are the last thing I have of her for now." She glances toward the woods behind her, smiling. "Everything was meticulously planned. Even suppressing Lillian's wolf was part of it. It tickled my sister when her family came to ask for help. Without her alpha side, she could never save you nor would she have ever found out she was the white wolf required to break your curse. Then she murdered her parents and disposed of their bodies near the woods for good measure, knowing you'd be blamed, and Lillian would hate you. Even if her abilities came, why would she save the one who killed her parents?"

Ma growls. "You sabotaged everything for my son. You are nothing but a cold, heartless witch."

Emmeline smirks. "That would be my sister, but I gladly helped her for my own reward. Don't you want to hear the best part, Lucian? Like how she sent you here when you were both tied to that world when Lillian's alpha side was released from its prison? It’s funny how she had something planned in case that happened."

The way she's looking at me, I know I don't want to know, but I have to. If I want any chance of escape, I have to find out what happened.

"Smart poochy." Magic swirls between her fingers as she holds them up in my line of vision. "You weren't the only ones cursed and outcast. Oh, we had our magic, sure, but it was nothing compared to what it should be. So, Natalia tied our curse into yours. She even passed down our magic by taking another's form and mated into Corbin's family. She continued to watch from the shadows until she took over his mother's form after he was born, so she could teach him what he needed to know to set us all free and keep you captive, unless you did what she wanted."

You don't mean that, though. You mean you and Natalia.

Her eyes narrow as the corners of her mouth pull up in a smile. "Oh, did you like my sister's show? Did you really think she could be killed that easily? Some things had to be set in motion and we do have a dramatic flare.”

My jaw drops open as I process what she just said. Natalia isn't dead? If she isn't, where has she been?

Come to think of it, she never said her sister is dead. She always uses another term.

Leaves crunch as someone walks closer from somewhere in the woods behind Emmeline. I should have never asked those questions.

Natalia, no, it can't be.

She steps out of the woods, her eyes full of magic as she stares at me. The corner of her mouth pulls up into a smirk, similar to her sister's.

"Hello, sister. I'm so glad you finally told them our little secret."

"I couldn't hold it any longer. You know how long we've waited for this moment and Lillian is exactly where she needs to be. She's coming into her own finally, but I fear it may be ruined. Your great grandson offered his magic to help her in exchange for her becoming his mate." Emmeline eyes her, eagerly waiting for her response. “He’s always been a stupid one.”

Natalia bites at her lower lip as she turns her head slowly to eye me. "What does beasty have to say about that? If she becomes Corbin's mate then there is no hope for him, though it doesn't phase our plans."

Oh, this isn't good.

"You'd be right. It's not good for you because either way you lose. If you take Natalia's offer, though, then you can at least have some happiness. It's better than remaining in that awful beast form or dying." Emmeline glances my way, and then looks behind me as my mother takes a step back.

"Come on, Lucian. We need to go home." Ma has the knife clutched tightly to her side, a look of uncertainty crossing her features.

Natalia lets out a laugh that shakes me to the core. "Leaving so soon, Ma? Do I make you that nervous? You haven't even heard all of our plans, but I guess it doesn't matter. It's going to happen whether you want it to or not."

Ma shakes beside me, the knife clattering to the ground. "I will not go down without a fight."

"A fight? Well, that would be enjoyable. I've been dying to try these powers out on someone, but you wouldn't be much fun. You can't even shift."

Stop this, Emmeline. Your fight is with me. It's always been me because I denied her. Please don't hurt them.

Emmeline smiles. "That's what we want. Your full cooperation. Why do you think they were sent here?"

I thought I had everything figured out, but it turns out, I have been blind to what is really going on. All this time, this has always been the plan. We are just a part of a grander scheme to free them of whatever curse plagued them while getting them whatever they want.

"Well, we really do like you, though. Logan caught my eye, while you caught Natalia's. That has never been a lie, but my dear sister has a way of knowing the future. We knew you would lead us to our salvation by tying our curse to you, though I hoped you'd come around on your own." Emmeline glances toward Natalia, a look passing between them. "Everything has played out nicely and it won't be much longer."

"That it has. Now, we just need one last piece to be free."

They both cut their eyes to look at me. I cringe as intrusive thoughts swirl in my mind. What could they possibly be thinking about?

Emmeline is the first to laugh. "Don't look so serious. It won't hurt you, but it's not pleasant."

My tail tucks between my legs as I move in front of my mother to block her. Whatever it is they have planned, I will take the brunt of the hit. They seem amused by my action and cackle together.

As they step closer, I let out a low warning growl. Stay back. You will not harm them.

“Good, Lucian. Then do as I ask and no one will get hurt.”