Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

T rembling I dig my fingers into my thighs. "How is that possible?"

"She's a witch." Fell sounds certain.

"I remember her entire demeanor changed. She became another person right before my eyes. That mean glint she has multiplied. The evil emptiness made me feel she was capable of anything."

His forehead scrunches. "Her forehead felt like spiders crawling over my skin. It held me in place, and she dug into my brain like a surgeon without anesthesia. She drove the command into my brain, like a railroad spike." He licks his lips. "I remember her chanting."

"Stupid bitch." I ball my hands into fists. The sharp sting of my nails digging into my palms is a necessary relief. The rage inside me is too big to keep contained.

She'd done what she set out to do my entire life, break me. Fell's abrupt rejection was the final blow that cracked my chest wide open. It turned a triumphant moment into hell.

"Why?" Bo arches a thick eyebrow.

"Because she's an evil hag." I grit my teeth.

"That aside. She must've had an ulterior motive," Bo insists.

I stare at him. "You don't know her."

"And you're biased." Bo's gentle tone doesn't soften the delivery.

"Fuck you."

"I know the truth hurts, princess. But we have to proceed cautiously." Bo ignores my reply.

"He has a point, brat."

"You have no clue what it was like growing up with her. The hell she put me through. She did everything possible to ruin me. It was more than physical pain. She toyed with my mind. Knowing she issued that final mind fuck that took me out at the knees." Clenching my teeth, I shake my head. "She needs to pay for the pain she's caused." I tremble. A manic laugh slips free. "No. I want her to experience what she wrought threefold."

Fell wraps his hand around my fist. "Don't let her sour you. What matters most is we found our way back to each other."

"It's not enough." My voice cracks. Vision blurring, I look down. I don't want them to see her win again.

"Don't bow your head, princess. She doesn't get to take anything else from you." Bo places a finger under my chin and lifts my head.

"She's on the list of those who owe us a debt." Cadoc glances at me in the rearview mirror.

"They'll pay with interest." Kirk's words are angry and clipped.

"How?" Dejection washes over me.

"That's what we're here to figure out." Cadoc's calm voice brings me away from the edge of hopelessness I'm teetering on.

"She's gotten away with so much over the years. She feels untouchable," I admit glumly.

"She's not," Cadoc booms.

Slumping back in my seat, I close my eyes against the painful memories. Having a change forced over you, or your will taken over tears at the wolf inside. Snapping her jaws, my she-wolf goes on the offensive.

Bo's pocket vibrates. He pulls out his phone. "Cal?"

Blocking out the surroundings, I relive my childhood. What had I done to my aunt to make her hate me so passionately? Fell was the one consistent thing in my life, and she'd ripped him away in the most painful way possible. Waiting for the day I left to spring, her plan was a diabolic power move.

Fighting enemies on all fronts has worn me down. Closing my eyes, I place my head in my hands and rub my temples.

"Did you hear me, princess?" Bo places a hand on my knee. "We'll be resting at Cal's. She's created protection spells for us."

"Why?" I lift my head.

"My guess is she's hedging her bets. I won't pretend she's helping us out of the goodness of her heart. She's chosen to back us, so she'll do everything possible to see us secure victory."

"What does that even look like?"

"That depends on what we decide," Cadoc answers from the front.

"Because the pack will suddenly wake up and see the Alpha for what he is? Why would they even listen to what we have to say? They like living in the lies that make them feel safe." My aunt's words about Cadoc stepping up as Alpha play in my mind.

"Who do we plan for his replacement? We can't upend everything and leave a power vacuum. Even if we choose a pack member, we don't know how far the corruption goes. We could end up in the same position."

"I'll do it." Cadoc's voice is solemn.

"What?"

"I'll take his place and steer the pack in the right direction."

"How do you plan to be a guardian and the Alpha?" Is he going to step away from us? My heart races. I twist my t-shirt between my fingers.

"I'll make it work. At least until we flush out the rotten roots." Cadoc shrugs.

"You'll put an even larger target on your back."

"Good thing my broad back can take it then, huh?" He winks at me.

"Not funny." I scowl.

"It's laugh or go insane, brat."

"Do you think they won't be gunning for us?" Kirk turns in his seat.

"This will give us a blanket of protection. We need to make it hard to get rid of us," Bo agrees.

"Because we aren't already?" I look at the man.

"Not for some," Fell admits begrudgingly.

"What do you know?"

Fell shakes his head. "Nothing for certain."

"Delusion is a powerful thing. It can make smart men stupid, and desperate people reckless. Once they see we're set on an actual change, that'll dismantle their privilege, the gloves will come off." Bo's expression is grim.

"We're talking about the end of the supernatural world." My voice raises an octave.

"As long as they ride to the abyss in comfort and luxury, they won't care. These people believe money can buy their way out of everything." Bo's eyebrows nearly touch as he speaks.

"Mostly, they're right about the magic, money works."

"That's disgusting."

Bo shrugs. "But it's how countries run every day. Our species isn't unique in that."

"Doesn't make it right," Fell chimes in, sounding as exhausted as I feel.

"I don't waste time being upset over things I have no power to change." Bo's voice is nonchalant.

The distance between us grows. "I hate how easy it is for you to dismiss this."

"My family raised me to survive. Hate me for my choices, not things I can't control." Shaking his head, he looks out the window.

"I don't want to hate you at all, idiot!" I shove at his shoulder. He bumps into the door.

His lips curve into a smile. I jab him with my elbow. He grunts.

"Don't look so happy," I grumble.

"Okay, princess." He runs a hand down my arm.

The others laugh and I scowl. I run my hand over the dark gray seat. This vehicle is somewhere between a prison and a home.

"What did Cal say to you? I missed that part." I redirect the conversation.

"She insisted we come and up our protection," Bo explains.

"Did she say what prompted this?" I lean my head against the seat.

"No." Bo frowns. "You're worried she might set us up?"

"I trust no one." Shuddering, I close my eyes as the adrenaline fades.

Bo pauses. "I don't see how she'd benefit from double crossing us."

"Depends on who got to her," Kirk replies. His voice drifts back from the front seat.

"I trust her as much as I trust anyone." I close my eyes, letting the motion of the wheels on the road relax me.

I snort. "That's not saying much."

"It says a lot. She's always been fair and up front." Bo straightens, defending his friend.

"It's clear she believes in equality. So, this would be in her own best interest," Cadoc says.

"Bo?" Fell looks at him.

Bo hums. "She's always worked with any species. Money and favors are what matters to her. I can't speak to how she feels about them on a personal level, but her employees speak volumes."

"Give us an educated guess before we get there." Cadoc's tone is edgy.

"I think she genuinely wants to help, and her reasons are her own, as long as they don't affect us negatively." Bo glances around. "What do you think?"

He's including us all for the first time. Despite the dark situation, my heart swells.

"What do you say, Clan?" Cadoc asks.

"I think we need all the help we can get." Kirk leans his head back against the seat rest.

"This is the first of many calculated risks we'll have to take." I'm unable to glean emotion from Fell's neutral tone.

"Ylva." I wince as Cadoc breaks out my real name.

"I don't like it. But having her in our corner is imperative." I exhale.

"Then it's settled. Chin up, princess. Cal hasn't let me astray yet." Bo squeezes my knee.

"Hope you gave her the heads up that we're gross."

"I'll update her on that now." His fingers fly across the keyboard.

"Don't pout." Fell grins.

Turning my head from him, I ignore his laughter as I look out the window, feeling off balance and frightened. The world keeps tossing more on top of me. I can't catch my breath.

Cal didn't cause my frustration. She's just the unfortunate focus. Closing my eyes, I slow my breathing and try to soothe my frayed nerves. Fighting hate with hate is a fool's errand. But my rage has no place to go.

Give it to me. I offer the anger up to Fenrir. The amulet warms against my chest. My head clears and I breathe easier. The powerful medallion has changed the way we communicate. He feels closer. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.

I opt to channel my anxious energy into research. Recovering the book from the satchel; I search for more information on what it means to be a keeper. We've finished the search for the amulet. It's time to figure out what this powerful piece can do.

Flipping through the book, I pause on an entry.

The amulet has begun to change me. I connect with the gods easier, and something inside me has been awakened.

This is it! I turn the page.

A long dormant characteristic demands my attention. It slithers under my skin, showing itself where I peer in the mirror.

I think of my own shifting eyes and white highlights.

They told me the blood of Fenrir is what made me different. They lied. This is ancient and powerful ? —

"We're here."

"Huh?" I look up from the journal and find us parked in front of Cal's mansion. I need more time. Sighing, I mark my place with a green velvet ribbon and put the journal away.

We pile out, and I grab my carry-on, feeling like a flight attendant. Living out of Walmart brand suitcases, moving every few days isn't glamorous.

Bone weary, I climb the steps behind Bo. Cal answers in a black pants suit, pale and disheveled. Her hair falling from a messy bun, and eyeliner smudged, she's a wreck.

"What's going on, Cal?" Bo sounds panicked. She holds up a smoking bundle of herbs.

"We'll talk after you're all cleansed." She thrusts the makeshift wand out like a sword, waving it around as she chants quietly under her breath. I can almost see the white bubble of light surrounding him. With the dark residue blasted away, he stands straighter. The area feels lighter. Like an energy terminator, she cleanses us one at a time. Standing in front of me, she stumbles.

"You are not the same woman I met," Cal whispers.

I lick my dry lips. "Is that a good thing or a bad one?"

She studies my face. "I don't know."

My shoulders drop. "At least, you're honest."

"There's immense potential waiting to be unleashed." Her hand hovers over the place my amulet hangs. "It's more than your objects of power." She narrows her eyes. "Your aura has changed."

"To what?" I ask, desperate for answers.

"Nothing I've ever seen before." She frowns. "But I might have an idea. I need to research." Waving what's left of her smudge stick, she smokes me from top to bottom. "Now you can join me inside." We follow her across the threshold.

I grow dizzy. "You upped your security." She'd increased her wards.

"I had an unwanted visitor get closer than I liked." She waves me off, but I see the concern lurking in her eyes.

Who spooked this powerful magic wielder?

"You all look like you could use a hot shower and food," Cal says.

"Explain why we're here first." Bo crosses his arms.

Is she nervous? I step closer to Fell.

"Not long after you left, dark shadows started appearing on the edge of my wards."

"Shit." Bo drops his arms.

Cal grimaces. "My barriers and protection are usually enough to dissuade people. But they were persistent."

"They returned in greater numbers until they broke through. I kept them out of the house, but it rattled me. The amount of power it took for them to cross over." Trailing off, Cal meets Bo's eyes. "You have dangerous enemies who've dabbled into things I'm still trying to fully understand."

"What's strange about them?" Cadoc steps forward.

"Their magic is odd. I've never come up against anything quite like it before." Cal shudders.

"It has to do with the Fellowship."

Her face grows even paler. "You've caught their attention?" she whispers.

"They're after me." I raise my head.

"They cannot get a hold of you." Cal paces. "That would arm them with an atom bomb."

"The Fellowship hasn't seen her like this yet," Fell whispers.

"We need to keep them from finding out for as long as possible, or you'll be fighting a war on two fronts."

"We already are." Behind his hand, Bo's voice is muted.

"They attacked us during our mission," Kirk explains.

"They wanted this." I remove the amulet from my shirt.

Cal's eyes widen. She steps away from me. "What the hell is that?"

"Fenrir's amulet. I'm the keeper."

"And we are the guardians," the men echo.

"It all makes sense now. Come." She spins on her heels and hurries down the hallway.

I stare at Bo, who shrugs. We trail behind her, down into the basement where another complicated circle's drawn.

A small section remains open for entrance.

"When I received the visions, they made little sense. I get it now. You four represent the elements."

"And me?" I inquire reluctantly.

"You're the heart, the central force that connects all the pieces."

"Me?" I place a hand on my chest. "No. That makes no sense."

"If you want to survive, embrace this new version of yourself." Cal places a gentle hand on my upper arm. "The old you is dead. It's time to be reborn."

Her words wake something inside me.

"You have great power. Living in fear, keeping yourself small is over. Once your ancestors shielded you. Now they lend their strength and support."

I laugh. "Shielded me? My life was hell."

"It was a necessary part of a bigger plan."

"Oh, bullshit." My voice bounces around the room.

"You're angry." I hate Cal's angelic expression.

"Of course, I am."

"It couldn't be avoided." She sounds sad.

"And who are you to tell me this?"

"The one who hears spirits. Your ancestors have a lot to say." Her lips twitch.

The comment shuts me down.

"This circle will allow me to layer protection over all of you."

"What are you getting out of this, Cal?" Bo places a hand on her wrist, stilling her.

She looks over her shoulder. "We all have our missions. This is mine. For my own reasons. I screwed up in the past, and this is my penance. It's the start of my road to redemption. That's as much as I'm going to say." She closes his queries down firmly.

"You have to understand our caution." Kirk holds his hands up in mock surrender.

"I have nothing but perfect love and perfect trust for those who enter this circle. I vow to harm none who enter. I've spoken." The power in her words charges the circle.

I'm the first to step inside, deciding for all of us.

Pulling the chalk from her pocket, she closes the circle. Directing the boys, she arranges them in a manner that corresponds to the elements that match their ring colors. It can't be a coincidence. She lights candles of the same shade, green, blue, yellow and orange. Dressed with herbs and shiny with oil, the flames burn bright and high.

Standing, Cal holds up her hands. The flames dance.

Elements of Fire, water, Earth, and Air

None shall come to hurt or maim

They are protected by your flame

This shield protection they hold it strong

I see the elements personified. Alchemical symbols appear in the flames. The energy of primordial beings rushes into the circle. Glimmering, colorful arrays of energy settle around my mates, blessing them with their presence. Her voice rings out. The energies mesh, raining down over us in a shower of colors.

No ill wishes can come along

Bless this clan with strength and sight

Give them help to win this fight

I have spoken.

Panting, Cal stares at us. Nodding her approval, she thanks the Elements and opens the circle. "Now we can get you clean and fed." She wipes her brow with the back of her hand. The working took a lot out of her.

Will it be enough?