Chapter 33

Dylan

D ylan felt a searing pain at the back of her head, and she tried to use her hand to inspect the damage. When she couldn't move her hand, Dylan let out a deep growl. There were solid ropes around her wrists and ankles to confine her to a chair. Knowing she couldn't move caused another growl to rip through her, this time louder than before. The darkness that swallowed her when she entered the room was gone. In its place was a large room with pictures of wolves and people she recognized as Cole's friends. On either side of her were her mates, tied to a chair like her. They were still knocked out cold, so Dylan looked around the room again. She searched for Cole among those around her. It was shocking not to see him here.

"Where is your leader?" Dylan snarled as she moved her wrists and ankles to see if there was a chance they didn't tie it tight enough.

She could feel her wolf pacing inside her mind. We should go astral. We can get out of this chair if we go astral.

No, we can't. Shifting to wolf and then astral will take too much time.

Go astral now. Her wolf becomes more irritated with each passing second.

We can't. That's never worked for me.

The one brunette female who sat close to Cole around the fire stepped forward from the wall, catching her attention and making Dylan cut off her wolf. "Our Alpha had business to take care of. Don't worry, and he plans to come see you."

Dylan stopped moving and stared at Brandy with her hair cut short on her head. This one was named Brandy, if Dylan recalled correctly. She smelled different than she had before. The night of the fire, she smelled wolf on her, but she had her own scent. At this moment, she smelled of Cole instead. Cole, sex, and magic. Dylan looked at her neck; sure enough, a mate marking was on her neck. It made Dylan practically feel whiplash as she shook her head and looked at her neck again. It wasn't supposed to be a thing for two non-fated wolves to mark each other, and the magic actually took effect. There was a reason why they had fated mates, and if they did not find them, the wolves became feral. Yet somehow, the two people she knew were not fated mates were bonded.

Oh, good Gods... Please tell me their magic hasn't evolved into something like a damn witch's where they can do whatever the fuck they want! The Great Moon is not going to be happy about this.

Dylan felt her wolf stir inside of her. She thought briefly of starting the shift and calling on her astral form. If it worked, she would be out of these ropes and able to fight off these people. The downside would be that she would be fighting six people on her own. Cole would most likely show up before she got through this crowd, and then Lupe could also show up.

Yeah, I don't think I can accomplish that much fighting alone and end up on top.

"Tell me, Dylan. Do you understand your part in creating a pack of wolves that this world has never known? We know you saw Cole harnessing the magic from another."

If that's all they know that I know, we might be in good shape.

Dylan scrunched her face to look like she didn't know anything. "I was coming here to try to find you guys. Cole invited me, remember? Why am I getting tied up if I was offered to be part of your group?"

The laugh Brandy let out raised Dylan's hair on her arms and neck. It sounded unhinged as if this female was about to show Dylan a side of herself no one would ever want to see.

"Nice try. From everything we know about you, it's kind of painful to watch you sit in that chair defenseless. Lupe even said you had her tapping out during your sparring matches. It was quite easy to get the upper hand on you. I hope your daddy doesn't plan on letting you take control of your pack anytime soon. You aren't ready."

That does it!

Dylan lunged forward and snarled at Brandy. It didn't do much since she was tied to a chair, but it still caused her to jump backward as if she expected Dylan to get loose.

Hmm. They are afraid of me getting out of this chair. They fear me but probably know they have the strength in numbers right now.

"Anyone can knock someone out when the room is pitch black. If I saw you coming, I don't think this is how I would have ended up."

She smiled, that weird wolfish grin that sent a shiver down Dylan's spine. Dylan looked into this female's eyes, wondering how they weren't glowing when the wolf was so close to the surface. The scent of the wolves in each person was strong in this room. If they were all keeping their wolves to the edge, their eyes would have been glowing.

Lloyd said to free them. He was removing the walls to combine the wolf and man. This is what that looks like? I would think I would see more wolves than men, but even more glowing eyes.

That's when it hit Dylan. Removing the wall and the wolf being in control did not look like what everyone thought it did. It was just a human looking as though they had wolf tendencies. If they learned the wolf looked like it was in control, they could work on the mannerisms and then move through packs undetected.

"You said Cole was harnessing their magic. What does that mean exactly?"

Brandy rolled her eyes at Dylan. "For someone who has the top marks in the class, it is exhausting watching you slowly catch up to what is unfolding here."

The rest of the wolves just watched as they exchanged their words. Dylan kept her eyes on them out of her peripherals, but they did not move a muscle. It was disturbing to have all their eyes on her, but sitting so still, they seemed like statues. Either Cole pulled them all into a pack or even marked his Luna so he could command them as he wished.

Well, that's a frightening thought.

"I only know magic wielders who can harness other people's magic. Unless he is part witch, I'm unsure how he harnesses magic."

Another eye roll from Brandy. If Dylan weren't tied to a chair, she'd claw this wolf's face for all the attitude she was receiving just because she didn't know the evil plan. It made no sense as to how Cole was able to do the things he did. Before she came here, she didn't even know all the abilities a Shadowborn could have, and this came from a long line of Shadowborns and having mostly Shadowborns in her pack.

"I don't know how you weren't taught everything you should have been taught as a Shadowborn. You do understand we came from witch and wolf breeding, right?"

Dylan shook her head. "No. The Great Moon created us."

The unhinged laugh came out again. "No, you dumbass. That is the purer version of our beginnings. We are from pairings of werewolves and witches who practiced dark magic. There were breeding's of witches and elementals with an affinity for spirit, and how they used their magic caused them to be thrown out of their covens. We can all call on our shadow wolves because of magic from witches and elementals. Those who came from that line recognized their power and thought how they could make a killing machine that would be unstoppable. Can you imagine? Is a witch having the power of a pack at her disposal? Then, can we add them having an ability that can make them walk through walls, teleport across a room, and even change the laws of a pack bond to where they can push power through the rest of the pack? The army they could create would become this planet's strongest force! We could beat everyone, including those prissy angels."

Dylan laughed when Brandy was done speaking. Once she started, she couldn't stop. She replayed that speech through her mind and laughed harder at the thought of this being true. There wasn't a chance in hell that this story was the actual origin of Shadowborns. No one would have allowed any of the packs to survive if that was the case. Shadowborns were a threat because of their power, but this person actually thought it was possible for wolves to have that much power.

Brandy lurched forward and slapped Dylan across the face. It was hard enough to where Dylan felt her skin sting but not hard enough to make Dylan stop laughing. This enraged Brandy, and Dylan felt claws. Blood flowed from the wound across her face, some of it going into her eye, and she saw the room in red. Dylan pulled on the power from her mates and her wolf. The wound healed within a minute, and she locked eyes with her opponent.

The wolf's eyes were wide when she saw how quickly Dylan healed from the attack. Dylan's face was stern as she challenged Brandy before her with her stare. If Cole and she made these wolves into their pack, it didn't show because she dropped her eyes quickly as Dylan's power swelled in the room. The others dropped to their knees—all six of them.

That's when Dylan heard the door swing open and hit the wall. Cole was here. Rage rolled off him as he struggled to walk into the room. He practically crawled in, still determined to stand in front of her. Dylan cut off her power enough for the wolves around her to get to their feet. Cole smiled at her in that wolf way, but it looked somewhat human this time.

Like he is evolving to be more human…

"I apologize you had to be confined to the chair. Unfortunately, we do not wield the power you can, so we had to ensure our safety." Cole told her as he helped his mate to her feet.

"I wish I could say I understand, but I don't. Why the fuck am I here, Cole?"

His smile grew at the question. "I am so glad you asked!"

Dylan shuddered at the joy in his voice. It was almost like he had been dying to share exactly that with her all this time.

"When I came here all those months ago, I was like you. I viewed it as a possibility to grow myself and become a better version of myself regardless of whether my mate wanted me. See, when a male is sent here, it is different. We cannot find more mates to center us, make us feel more whole, and allow us to keep our heads on our shoulders. Instead, that darkness inside of us all creeps further into our hearts and souls until all we see is black. However, I realized where the problem lay."

Dylan lifted her eyebrows to show him she was intrigued, but she was trying to figure out the best route to survive this mess.

"See, the problem is we rely too heavily on the bonds between ourselves and our wolves. At least, that is what I encountered. Our wolves are powerful beings. Their instincts and senses alone outmatch humans and most other species in our world. Then there are Shadowborns that have extra magic and senses because of our Shadow Wolf. That gives us all power that most of us do not tap into for reasons I cannot fathom. But let's not even worry about that part just yet. Our problem is we rely too heavily on a goddess that does not care for us. We have been limited to relying on our human half for no reason other than our wolves being too powerful, so we needed a human mind to control it. I have learned we do not need that human half to keep control."

"I highly doubt that but go on."

He smiled; this time, it looked more human, and Dylan wondered if he was doing it on purpose now. "Human thoughts and morals slow the wolf down. Humans rationalize everything when there are times when rationalizing only leads to delays. We are animals and have the instincts of an animal to survive. An animal can overpower humans if they have the mind of one. The Great Moon gave us that chance and then built a wall between our minds so the wolf wouldn't have that power. Why? Because she knew what a wolf could do and grew too scared to find out what that would do. SHE WAS WRONG!" Spit came out of his mouth when he screamed those final words. Dylan felt fear trickle through her system as his eyes lit up in a wolf glow and then fizzled out. He took a deep breath to calm himself and then continued. "A wolf does not need a human mind to keep the control she feels only a human has. I used my Shadow Wolf to break down that wall slowly. I tapped into this incredible magic when I did. One that can pull the power from another, breaking the wall between wolf and man as I did. I learned that if someone with more magic than another, a stronger Shadowborn, could lead me to harness that magic so I can use it on others to do it for them if they are not a Shadowborn."

Dylan thought about how he mentioned that some people had more magic than others to Lupe. He was trying to find people who had Shadowborn in their lineage to pull on the wall of their mind if they did not have a Shadow Wolf. But if what he said was true about being able to harness another's magic, that was why he wanted her.

"So, because I am a stronger Shadowborn, you want my magic so you can unlock everyone's mind? Every wolf, whether they are Shadowborn or not?"

He cackled. "Now you are getting it!"

Dylan felt her mates stir inside of the bonds. She reached out to them through their minds to try to talk to them. They were waking up but not conscious enough to communicate yet. Her heart was racing. She needed to get out of this chair and start fighting to get out. If she were confined, Cole would be able to do what he wished with her. She didn't know if he wanted to break down her walls to allow her wolf to take over before he pulled her magic into him, but she didn't want to find out that was the plan.

"So, how many people have you turned? Why did it fail on those you killed?"

Sometimes, it was good to keep someone talking while sorting through the options to survive. Her parents taught her this when she started training, so she understood what to do if she was ever in a predicament like this. She wasn't sure if it was the best option since Cole was clearly unhinged, but it was the only play she had in her book with her mates still coming to consciousness, and they were all tied to chairs.

"I am aware you saw me use a drill. Well, that was to give me access to their cerebral fluid. It can help the process of tapping into their mind. It also helps draw out their wolf, which gives me more access to their magic. I did not want any of them to die, but they were not strong enough to survive the process. Such a shame, really. They were all strong wolves—just not strong enough to survive the procedure."

Dylan wanted to gag and then rake her nails across his throat in hopes of gaining access to his death. But that was not feasible at that moment. Instead, she would have to stroke his ego. Another gag threatened her throat at the thought of saying anything of praise to Cole, but she managed to hold it down. "You just want everyone to be happy and stronger from what it sounds like. People should be giving you an award for your efforts to create a more powerful species."

"YES! You understand!"

"Well, of course I do." Dylan had to bait them, which was the best way she knew how. The words felt vile in her mouth when she spoke to them, but it was a time for survival.

"That is only the start. Since I knocked down the wall, I have found that I can ignore the mate bond with the one who rejected me and choose another. Do you think this bond is not possible? WRONG! Once I broke the wall, everything was at my disposal. I overrode the Great Moon's chosen bond for me because it was holding me back. I did not need Brandy who rejected me for not being powerful enough. She wanted me to be a higher-ranking wolf when it was not in the cards for me. That is until I learned this trick of becoming one with my wolf. Now, I am more powerful than ever! I am now mated, making my wolf calmer and stronger. I don't have a human's morals to stop me from accomplishing anything my heart desires! I can now raise the ranks inside of a pack and turn each wolf into the powerhouse that I am!"

Dylan felt his swell of power fill the room. His energy brushed against her, and it did not feel natural. Though she almost laughed as her wolf felt irritated more than anything. His wolf was still not stronger than hers, and she would not feel the need to bow down to him any time soon. His followers were laughing as he practically did a victory lap around the room after his speech. Dylan wasn't sure why he thought he already won. He hadn't performed his procedure on her to steal her magic. Her mates were still coming as well, meaning they could get themselves out of their ropes and attack at any moment. Cole was too busy celebrating to notice they were awake and clawing at their wrists' bindings with their elongated claws.

Did he hurt you? Hunter grumbled in her mind.

No. He just spilled the beans about his plans.

Good.

Dylan breathed easier hearing her mate talk after feeling him unconscious through this whole mess. While focusing on her mates, Dylan did not notice Cole was now in front of her, his hands illuminated with his magic. Dylan felt her breath catch in her throat as he gave her his wicked grin. Seeing it almost appear to be human instead of a wolf in human skin was unsettling.

"Now, I believe it is time for you to join our ranks. I will remove this wall that keeps you bound to the laws of the Great Moon."

His hands hovered over her head, and she felt the pull of the magic creep inside her mind's walls. Dylan began to struggle underneath his hands, trying desperately to get herself free.

This can't be happening. I can't let this happen!