Ilooked up to see Kai being strapped into the helicopter, he was thrashing and biting.He had seen what happened to Devon. He was too high, there was nothing I coulddo. I felt something inside of me break free, something dark and wild. Themountain began to shake a little. I needed to calm down. In that moment, I knewI had enough untrained magic inside of me to kill everyone on this mountain ifI didn’t get it under control. It was the Devi. She was powerful; I had herpower at my disposal if I could learn to use it.
Maxwas talking to me with his hands outstretched in a sign of peace. I couldn’thear him. I could only replay the sound of the sword cutting through Devon’sspine. Of my alien scream. Suddenly, my chest pinched again and I felt Emma’senergy go completely dark. She was wracked with pain. As Alpha I was able tofeel them all, intimately. She was devastated, she couldn’t breathe. The baby.
Ilooked up at Kai as the helicopter took off.
‘Restin peace, my brother,’were his lastwords and then he was gone.
Death
Iwanted to mourn, I wanted to kill, and to freak out and try to shift into abird and fly up to save my mate, but I couldn’t, I needed to find Emma.
Ifelt power coursing through my veins.Alpha power. Max’s words came tome.
“Aurora,calm down.” His eyes were lowered. Respect for my Alpha status. I took a deepbreath and the trees stopped shaking. Max had killed the samurai man or I wouldhave already.
Alexawas sitting in wolf form, in shock. Her paws were glowing blue. RAIDOS used tobe her people; she felt like it was all her fault. I could hear her thoughts.She wanted to run away and leave. She thought she was a curse and she didn’tbelong anywhere. She had a deep respect for Kai and me. She felt awful.
Iwalked over to her.‘You did good. This isn’t your fault, and you aren’tgoing anywhere. You’re family and your place is with us now.’
Shelowered her eyes and nodded. I could also hear her thinking about differentlocations she knew of that they might be taking Kai. Good, let her figure thatout while I went to Emma. I ran. I ran faster than I ever had before, partly toshake off this horrible feeling of Devon and this feeling of responsibility fora bunch of werewolves that I wasn’t ready for.
WhenI followed my nose and neared the place Emma was, I could hear the sobbing. Mystomach dropped. I couldn’t do this. How did Kai do this? I could feelEVERYTHING. Her pain, her love, everyone’s pain. They all loved Devon, they allfelt his energy leave the pack. They were all mourning and it was driving mecrazy. I threw on a loose dress from a laundry basket by the door.
Islowly opened the front door to see Emma weeping on the floor. Diya, Izzy, Maya,and Anna were trying to comfort her. Alphas must be strong for their people,show no weakness. I didn’t know if I could be. I was grieving the loss of mymate too, not like hers though.
Shelooked up at me like a child lost in the woods.
“Whathappened?” Her voice shook, her eyes poured tears, her nose ran.
“I’msorry Emma, I should have protected him better. He died saving my life.”
Herlip quivered. “He did?”
Inodded and then the tears came. “He jumped in front of a threat and saved me.”
Emmasmiled weakly and held her belly, tears ran down her cheeks. “Then it wasn’t a waste.”Sobs wracked her body.
Mayacame forward. “Dying to protect your Alpha is the greatest honor a werewolf canhave. He is a hero.”
Howcould I have handled it differently? Maybe I shouldn’t have gone after theharpoon guy, I should have made sure Devon and Alexa were safe first. I didn’tknow how to be an Alpha. How can I protect everyone at once?
Emmalooked up at me and her green eyes pierced right through me. She held my gazelonger than I thought would be possible for such a submissive, there was astreak of dominance in her.
“Aurora,this wasn’t your fault,” she declared.
OhEmma, in her greatest time of need she was trying to reassure that I was okay.I ran to her and we held each other and cried. Suddenly, she hunched over andgrabbed her belly groaning. Diya jumped between us and lowered Emma onto thecouch. I could hear Diya’s thoughts. This was too much stress, she couldmiscarry, she needed strict bedrest. Everyone needed to leave.
“Everyoneout! Emma needs rest. Diya, stay with her,” I commanded as Alpha power oozedfrom my voice.
Iknelt by the couch and took Emma’s hand. “The man who killed Devon is dead. Iwill make sure that everyone else involved here today, dies too.” I let Alphapower seep through my bonds. That was a promise.
Hereyes looked fierce, she could only nod. Then she curled into a ball and faced thecouch.
Istood. The time for politics and alliances was over. As far as I was concerned,you were either on our side or you were dead. Mist crept from my pores. Theywill regret this day.
Ithrew open Emma’s front door and Max was waiting with Alexa and Raj. They werespeaking in hushed tones. I felt for my mate bond with Kai. He was unconsciousbut alive.
Rajwatched me make my way down the steps of Emma’s porch. A light smattering ofrain fell. Raj was on the council and so I wasn’t sure of his position on thehumans knowing about our race.
