Chapter 471

112 – Elara

More yellow flashes and heat buzz around me. I can’t do anything but listen, so that’s what I focus on.

“…won’t keep it from me…stupid, no good…I will have it all…done stopping me.” The witch’s words are disjointed and strangled. She’s using a ton of effort to blast the wall in front of me with each muttered curse. From what I can tell, the Rift has a second barrier that starts at the cliff an inch inf ront of my face, a double protection. It’s magic can obviously leave the protection, but she can’t seem to get in and I am not interested in trying .

The image of the kid we found strung up in the tree flashes through my mind. All of my breath leaves me. That’s why she has me here. She is going to use me to break through the barrier here, like she did with that kid. Copyright 2025 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions.

I struggle against the roots that bind me, but they hold tight.

“Let me go! I’m no good to you as a kebob! That actually would be terrible for the both of us. What are you waiting for?!”

Another pulse through my hand. It’s waiting? Waiting for what, exactly?! I feel another squeeze on my hand. This one is not comforting though, it’s panicked. Ben is in trouble. He’s reaching out and I can’t get to him.

“I swear to the Goddess, if you let my mate die, I will happily watch you burn.” I don’t know where the aggression came from, but I won’t take it back. I understand that Ben and I are both willing to sacrifice for our pack, but not like this, not when I am just standing here, helpless to do anything. I will not be useless!

“MOM!!!! What do I do? What am I ready for? Please help me save Ben and Jax and Dev and everyone else this b*tch is threatening. What can I do?”

I feel the tears streaming down my face. I wouldn’t swipe them away if I could. I always thought I would run this pack alone, the third wheel to Jax and Dev’s epic partnership. I never thought I would get my fated mate, because our elders suck. I now have him and I can’t do a damn thing to save him or even myself from whatever she has planned. I retreat into my mind, looking for my mom, my wolf, Ben… something comforting. If I am going to die like this, I will be in a familiar embrace.

“I am so sorry, my girl. I couldn’t say anything when you were younger. I was bound and then it was too late. Please forgive me. You are not only a wolf. I think you know that you are special, your children will be special too. They cannot know before they are of age and ready to take on the role of Alpha.” Her pause pisses me off more than the vague start to this apparent explanation.

“Please, mom. I can’t do this. Give me a straight answer. What is going on?” I sob angrily in my head.

“You are a descendant from an

ancient coven of witches. Most of

these witches were mated to a different species. Some to humans and casters. Others to shifters like werewolves, dragons, bears and big cats. While others to demons, vampires and fae. This coven embraces the mate bond the same way that we do. It is sacred and special. Most covens stick to their own kind and the magic has faded over time for them. The Rift came to you as the heir of both the Black Claw Pack and The Crystal Moon Coven.”

“WHAT!?!” I shout out and the air around me stops.

I can see dust motes frozen in time, glinting with sunlight. The witch’s most recent blast of yellow light is mid-explosion against the barrier wall.

“Did you finally figure it out, little wolf? Took you long enough. Your elders are so secretive and paranoid. They keep all the information locked away to protect it. But what good is all that knowledge and power, when the person designed to wield it doesn’t even know it exists, let alone knows what to do with it now that she is aware?”

A nail runs down the side of my cheek. How is she moving when everything else is still?

She leans in close to my ear. “Give me your power, and I will let you and your little pack of pups live. Give me the power and all of this ends.” She simpers.

“Ha!” I try to clamp my mouth shut, but I can’t help it. I start laughing hysterically. Of all the things I have been told recently, this is the most absurd thing I have heard. If these roots weren’t holding me up would be on the floor rolling around

sound like a lunatic and can’t see her face, but the witch is probably thinking the same thing. Amused tears are running down my face right now, and I turn my head as far as it will go to look at her.

“Of all the things you could have said to me, witch b*tch with no name, you went with the ‘I’ll let you all live in peace promise’ when you get your way? Do you not watch movies?! No one falls for that!” I keep laughing at her. The energy through the roots is egging me on, bolstering my amusement.

She screams like a banshee, throwing her arms in the air. When she brings them down, many things happen at the same time. Copyright 2025 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions.

A flash of light and the loss of warmth around me as the roots fall away. I am thrown back and land on my ass about forty feet away from her. The wind has picked up speed, tossing our hair in all directions. Her hands fly towards me, fingers splayed. I jump to a crouch and cross my forearms bracing for the impact of her spell A force pushes me back, but nothing hits me directly. I didn’t realize I had closed my eyes when I braced. Peeking through one cracked eyelid, I see the remnants of red sparks exploding in a circle in front of me.

“Whoa! “Wonder Woman shield! Amazing!” I look at the witch and smile. Now I just

need to figure out how to duplicate that result.