Chapter 486
123 – Elara
“Hey, pretty Alpha. Open those green eyes for me.” That deep growly voice has me searching for the use of my eyelids. When did I close my eyes? I blink and try to focus, but his scent hits me first. Sharp spice that energizes me immediately. My eyes fly open and I am met with chocolate brown beauty.
I bury my face in his neck and let the tingles from his touch radiate through me like an energy shot. All the pain is gone, the soreness, exhaustion. I feel alive. He shouldn’t be here, he wasn’t here minutes ago. But, he’s here now and I’m done trying to understand magic or the Rift or any of it. He’s here, with me, and we can stay like this for a little bit longer. Copyright 2025 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions.
“I didn’t realize how much I needed to hold you until right now, but we have things to do.” He sighs into my hair, squeezing me tighter as another shower of dirt hits us. “She can’t hurt you, but she’s hurting the Rift.”
That has my attention. “What?” Juliette and I say together. I pull back so I can see both of them.
“She’s hurting the Rift?” Juliette asks at the same time I ask. “What do you mean she can’t hurt me?”
“Both of you, I think. The Rift and I have been having an awkward round-about kind of chat.” He shakes his head when I go to ask what that means. “She needs the magic from the Rift, but she can’t gain control without some pretty dark magic.”
“What kind of dark magic?” Juliette asks, moving closer as another branch swipes at
us.
“Well for starters, she sent a pack of drugged up wolves to attack us.” Juliette’s hands fly to her mouth. “As far as I know, no major injuries to report, but we had to find a way to subdue the wolves. Eliza expected us to kill them, spill their blood on this land. What she didn’t account for is my girl having a connection to the Rift, which attaches me to it as well. I assume through the bond, but I wouldn’t know; I haven’t been able to talk to my wolf in days. The Rift however has been very vocal.” “What do you mean ‘days’? We’ve been in here for days?” My heartrate spikes as I think about my pack and the coven and everyone that was dealing with the aftermath of the packhouse.
“Yes, listen.” He mo moves his hands to
cradle my face again and it’s like the world disappears when he’s this close I think that’s the point magic or wolves, we can’t have both and right now we need the magic to beat her, but I will be happy to give it back.”
“So what happened with the wolves outside?” Juliette asks.
“We were able to subdue them with the help of Marietta and Brianna’s covens. We put silver collars on any of them who remained aggressive. Eliza needs blood to activate whatever spell she’s trying to do here. No one can get hurt on this land, she has something in the works already.”
“She keeps asking for a key. Do you know what that is?” Juliette asks.
“Possibly, but we need to contain her before she tries to spill her own blood to make this happen.” A feral scream rips through the air. “Our break time is over. Juliette, I need you to remove this wall of dirt.”
“What?!” We both shout at him, not caring if Eliza hears us.
“Trust me.” Ben holds my shoulders and looks me directly in the eyes. It’s not a question or a command. It’s a request from my mate. He knows something we don’t but he can’t, won’t, or shouldn’t explain it and we are just going to have to accept that.
“Okay. What’s the plan?” I ask.
Juliette inhales sharply and looks at
me unblinkingly. I don’t break her
stare. The air is charged and I know
Eliza i ready to attack again. We
don’t have time to debate or discuss Ben has never led me wrong in all the time I have known him; the over protective ass. She must find whatever she was looking for because she nods and looks at my mate.