76. Chapter 76

Chapter 76

T he dark magic continuously ripped Jax's cells apart even as Cain worked on healing them. Cole—that fucker—rounded up some of the strongest witches. They were no match individually for Diedre, but together they bound her up tighter than anything.

He gritted his teeth and looked sideways at Diedre. Her face was pale, her teeth snapped together, and her eyes closed. He sensed her pain. He felt all the pain in the room, even the children's.

"Silence!"

The command rippled across the room. Cain growled in his head at the challenge. Had he not been bound, he would have commanded Cole just as he did at the trial.

Another warrior fell beside him, and the pain slashed through his body when another bond broke. He was still trying to recover when Lincoln grabbed Layla by her throat. His claws dug into her delicate skin and punctured it.

And the scent of her blood overpowered every other smell in the room.

Her blood. Her pain. Her fear.

All of it clouded his head, calling on the beast that gave his life for her. The beast that had done nothing but kill Hunters and feed on their fears for months.

The plunge into Cain's darkness was quick. He had lived in his beast's head for months, revelling in the kills and madness. But he had never plunged so deep that he lost himself completely.

Cain growled—a deep, drawn-out sound reverberating through his whole body. His eyes narrowed on the wolf with filthy paws on the woman he loved as a red tinge covered his vision. Rage. Pure rage flowed through his veins, every other emotion forgotten.

Lincoln looked back and met his gaze. And he dared to smirk while Layla struggled to breathe.

Something came from the very depths of him, something even the war with the Hunters did not bring out. The magic binding him snapped as if it was made of cotton. Layla's magic weaved through him, burning the dark magic out of his system quicker than ever. It healed what was broken. He felt Nia as if she was within him for a second, guiding him to save the woman he loved.

He rose slowly, and the smirk disappeared from Lincoln's face.

"I told you not to fuck with me," he growled.

His deepened voice told everyone who was in control.

When he moved, everything around him remained still. All the sounds around him slowed as if time stood still just for him. He had Lincoln's head before the Alpha could react, and Layla fell to his feet, taking a deep, harsh breath.

His lovely Layla. He hadn't done a good job as her mate, but he would do his best now. He would show her they were always meant to be.

When Cole turned back to face him, his eyes lowered to the bloody mess he'd gripped by the hair. For a moment, the Circle's self-appointed leader's eyes returned to their usual colour, and a flash of fear showed in them. But Cole surprised him when his eyes turned black again, and he threw his head back and laughed.

"I never liked him anyway," Cole said.

Cole showed no more fear, like he was challenging him. It was a challenge he gladly accepted. His lips curled as he threw the lifeless body part behind him to where Hugo stood. The trembling Alpha fumbled and dropped his bloody present before he and New Finn backed away. The two of them were full of fear. Fighting them would be pointless because they would go down as quickly as Lincoln. He looked at Cole again, and the urge to unleash everything filled him. If this was his last fight, he finally found a worthy adversary.

The vampires remained in their places along the walls as if they had been ordered not to react. Maybe their job was to protect the witches. Without the magic, the Circle would be sitting ducks.

"You still think you're a king? You still fight when it's clear you've already lost?" Cole said.

"Because they are my people. I'll always fight for them. With my dying breath if need be," he growled. "And no matter what happens here today, you will join Lincoln. You reek of dark magic. You talk about following rules, but you're the ones who've forgotten your place."

Cole's lip twitched, and his annoyance coloured the air. His ego couldn't take any criticism, and it would be his ego that would be his downfall.

"Shall we dance, Cole? Or are you going to tease me all night?"

Cole moved with a speed he hadn't expected, but he saw the punch coming. He allowed Cole to hit him so that he could find out what the Alpha was working with. Cole must have put all his strength into it because it snapped his head back and forced him to stagger a few steps.

He spat a mouthful of blood and checked his jaw, keeping his eyes on the enemy.

"I'd say you punch like a pup, but that would be an insult to every pup that has ever walked this earth."

Cole snarled and lifted his hands. A magic attack. He was a fucking wolf, a majestic creature. Why the hell was he using magic the whole time?

Whatever spell Cole cast hit him in his chest and caused an inferno in his body. He hunched forward to catch a breath while Layla's magic cleansed him.

He'd always known why Layla and Nia were given to him. They were the same. The magic that healed him was full of darkness—full of the same shit that he was forced to hold back his whole life.

He straightened and watched the confusion on Cole's face.

"I'm starting to think you're the wolfless one," he stated, provoking Cole more. "If you claim to be the Circle's leader, your beast must be a sight to behold. Show me who you are, Cole. Don't bring a knife to a gunfight."

He tasted a frisson of fear in the air. Just a little bit, but enough to whet his appetite. Had he hit a nerve?

The world over had heard of him and Cain. He caused many nightmares in countless packs. But he had never heard of Cole's wolf.

"Is that it? Are you wolfless? Are you admitting that, without your magic, anyone in this room can defeat you? You have no idea how disappointing that is," he admitted. "I thought I found someone worthy to fight before I die."

Cole's claws lengthened, and he snarled. But he didn't shift.

"Get him," Cole growled.

The vampires moved as a unit from their positions along the wall. There were more of them than the ones who had surrounded him at the trial. He would get a good fight, after all. A glorious death. What more could a warrior wish for?

He unleashed all his rage, half-shifting before the first vampire tried to slice his neck with a silver blade. Though they moved faster than the eye could see, he saw them. He anticipated their moves. All thanks to Layla, he could finally fulfil his duty to her and their child. Vampire after vampire, throat after throat. He didn't stop until the last vampire fell at his feet.

And this time, when he looked up at Cole, the fear was unmistakable. But the Alpha still had an advantage. He still had witches in his corner who could kill everyone in their grip without much effort.

"You don't deserve to lead anyone," he growled.

"Why? Because I think only of myself?" Cole asked. "You claim you would die for your people, but you're no better than me. Your worthless human and your child come first."

"And you think my relationships weaken me? You still can't fuck with what is mine, Cole. And they're all mine. Every single one of them. From the pups to the elderly, even Hugo and New Finn. Whether they fear me or love me, they are mine."

"And they are mine."

Cole's eyes widened at the newcomer's voice. She snuck in like a thief, masked and ready to fight for the pack, just as when they hunted the Hunters. Rebecca strolled barefoot into the hall and stepped over a body to stand next to him. She was naked, and she looked fearsome. Her red hair looked like flames on top of her head, and her eyes glowed like a vengeful spirit.

Her anger was a force on its own.

He made the right choice for Hope and Layla. Rebecca would take care of the pack when he was gone.

Layla's mother looked around the room and saw her child and grandchild in the crowd. And then she growled. Even he felt goosebumps. Rebecca had years to learn all her strengths, which Layla never got to do.

The lights flickered, and a calm settled over the room. The witches lowered their hands just a fraction, responding to Rebecca's call.

And that split second was their downfall. He used his speed to run around the room, dispatching them one by one until none were left. And with each one that died, the magical binds loosened around his wolves.

"No! No, what are you doing?" Cole screamed.

When he stood in front of Cole again, the Alpha was frantic. His fear multiplied. When he saw that he lost, he ordered Hugo and Finn to attack him and ran towards the door. But he smacked into a ward that pushed him back with so much force he landed on his ass on the bloody floor.

Diedre stood near the door, finally free, her lips moving as she silently chanted. Her violet eyes sparkled as the strength of all the generations of witches before her bent to her will. No potions, no talismans. Her magic flooded the room, pushing back all traces of the darkness gripping them.

"You think you've won?" Cole shouted.

There was a scream and a whimper.

Brit and Hope suddenly pulled forward, back in Cole's magical grip. His heart dropped when he saw the fear in his pup's eyes. He'd still failed to save her.

"I'll still win, even if you kill me," Cole shouted. "Your filthy spawn will die with me."

Brit wrapped her arms around Hope, and the fear drained from her eyes. Her hazel eyes sparked and then glowed, a beautiful green colour like her sister's and her mum's.

Britney growled, and the threat of death had never been so clear.

Rebecca growled beside him, bending her knees, ready to attack.

And then, behind him, another growl echoed through the room.

This one brought the pack to their knees.