I don’t want to give my energy to the resurgence of feelings I’d buried a long time ago. Now that Dawson has the power to hurt me again, I can’t give in and risk getting my heart broken for the second time. It took me a long time to come to terms with raising our son on our own for the first five years of his life, and though Dawson resents me for running off before he came looking for me, I’m not even sure if I’d have been safe from his rejection once he found out I was pregnant.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face, lighting up the darkness behind my eyelids, the faint yellow glow dancing with the emergence of a dull gray spot. I focus on that spot, remembering Aurora’s advice that the silver tresses of color are linked to my psychic witch powers.
I had no idea that I was linked to the ancient tribes that once wielded so much power; they were feared across the States. Perhaps it’s something neither of my parents was aware of, but somewhere along the lines, we must have been descendants of those tribes, and somehow, I’ve picked up on the energy of that bloodline.
Just like Aurora advised, I focus on that dull gray speck, watching it curiously behind my closed eyelids until I notice itgrowing, turning brighter as it glows in a lighter shade of silver. My lips curl into a smile of self-satisfaction, realizing that the more I concentrate, the larger it becomes.
I canfeelthe power starting to ignite in my palms, streaming from the color behind my eyelids. But just as I’m about to take control of that power, the silver orb is extinguished, and the light behind my eyelids dims.
“What…?” I murmur, opening my eyes with a frown when even the sun’s warm light is seemingly cut off.
That’s when I realize why I’m unable to tap into that power I’d been set on focusing on.
Standing before me is a group of males—werewolves, with familiar faces I only recognize because I’d once been a part of their pack. It might be only a few weeks that have passed since that changed, but it feels like eons ago, and I realize that these werewolves are strangers now because I’ve found my place in Snehvolk, even if my belonging is still questionable.
Moonshine wolves.
At the center of the group that surrounds me and towers over me with looming threat is the Alpha of the Moonshine Pack.
“Alpha Owen…?” I murmur, the name slipping off my tongue and feeling foreign. When he snarls, and I notice his curled fists, and the menacing step he takes forward, I know they’re here to extract revenge for what the Moonshine Pack believes I’m responsible for.
The deaths of their betas.
I gasp in horror, then snap my head back to the only alpha whose name is my saving grace when I yell out for him.
“Alpha Dawson!”
Chapter 20 - Dawson
“Alpha Dawson!”
The urgency in that familiar voice sounds like a desperate cry for help, and I immediately stop in my tracks, placing a protective hand out in front of Gio as I step forward.
That’s when I see Yvonne, where we left her on the picnic blanket, surrounded by a group of males who snarl and sneer at her.
“Stay back, Gio,” I order my son, turning to him and grabbing his tiny shoulders. “Go hide behind that bush,” I say as I point to the fern bush on the side. “Your mama needs help.”
Gio immediately nods, his eyes becoming wide with worry, but he says nothing as he quietly heeds my instruction. Because he’s my son, he knows not to question an alpha’s orders, especially when it comes from his father.
Once I’m sure Gio is safely hidden, I turn back to Yvonne, marching forward with a furious growl rumbling deep within my chest.
“Step away from her!” I roar as I push the closest male out of the way, offering a hand to Yvonne. She takes it and rises to her feet to stand beside me as I scan the new faces of the males who reek of a smell that gives their kind away.
Rogue werewolves, but not just any misfits—they’re from the Moonshine Pack. Yvonne warns me of this with a whisper.
The one that stands out with bulky muscles and a buzz cut fit for the military steps forward.
“Don’t interrupt us,” he warns with a snarl that reveals his yellowing teeth. “The omega is guilty of killing two of our pack members. Our betas.”
I lift my chin and glower at him through narrowed eyes. “Ah, so you’re the Alpha of Moonshine, huh? Then you must know that you’re near Snehvolk territory, and Omega Yvonne Lang is a member of our pack. There will be grave consequences if you touch her.”
The alpha takes a step forward, and I immediately step in front of Yvonne, placing a hand on hers protectively.
“She committed a crime. Who are you to stop us from punishing her?”
I’m about to snap back at the alpha when I notice his eyes flitting to one of the werewolves on my left. Before I can react, cold metal spikes are pressed to my neck and spark with electricity that burns my skin, sending bolts of lightning through me that have me keeling over with the intensity of the pain.
A trembling hand lifts to my neck when I’m on the ground, and I realize that I’ve been electrocuted by some powerful homemade device that one of the men holds in front of my face to threaten me.
