“Peri, we must hurry. Wherever you are leading us, we must move more quickly.” Sally’s words were laced with desperation and resolve.

Q

Peri led them at a brisk pace as Sally’s words repeated ominously in her mind. She had told them she had a plan, and she meant it, but she couldn’t tell them what it was. She had told them they needed the help of the Warlock King, and at that time, she had believed it, but now she had a different plan. Peri knew that Alina would not approve. Her need to protect the women she no doubt now considered pack, herself included, would be too great to allow Peri to put them in such peril. But it was the only way to bring back their mates. Everything worth anything came at a price. Peri knew that all too well. She pushed on, looking back behind her to see if everyone was keeping up. Her only worry, and that alone bothered her because she never worried, was that Alina would figure out that she had been leading them in a circle for days. She had led them through the Transylvania Alps and all the way to the Carpathian Mountains and they were actually very close to their destination, but she wasn’t quite ready. She didn’t yet have the bargaining chip that she needed and so she had to keep their presence unknown and keep Alina and the others from figuring out her ploy. She looked back once again, and caught Alina’s eyes. Uh oh, Peri thought to herself as she saw the light bulb in Alina’s mind beginning to flicker. Peri knew that she was going to have to create a diversion. One that would hopefully take Alina’s mind off of whatever she thought she had figured out. Peri smiled to herself as she thought: it’s a damn good thing that I specialize in chaos.

Peri began to whisper under her breath, calling on the elements, drawing power to her through the life in the forest. It was harder than it should have been, but she knew that this was because of the evil that Mona had unleashed. Dark clouds began to gather overhead and they were suddenly enveloped in the murky forest with no light to show their way.

“What the heck is going on?” Cynthia yelled over the wind that began to whip and whirl around them.

Peri continued to chant so low that she could not be heard as she began to bring down rain. Lightning crashed all around, and thunder shook the ground beneath them. They all stumbled as they tried to stay upright and though Jacque’s magically floating cot didn’t need a steadying hand, Peri grabbed onto it anyway.

Peri called on the lighting again and sent it crashing down so close to the group that it briefly lit up the woods around them. Each saw the fear written on the faces of their friends. Peri continued to crash lighting around them lighting their way as she yelled for them to follow her. She ran through the pelting rain and tried to feel bad for scaring them, but she knew it was for their own good. She ran until she found the large rocks that she had been looking for. There was a large overhang that they could crowd under and wait out the supposed natural storm.

They all took cover and turned to watch the lighting dance and the thunder boom. The ladies shivered from the cold rain and tried to huddle together for warmth. After an hour, Peri began to try to calm the storm. She immediately became worried. The storm no longer heeded her command. The thunder and lightning continued, unabated. The rain continued to pelt their makeshift shelter. I swear if I think the word worry one more time I’m going to stab my own eye out with a spoon, she thought to herself, as she began to hunt for the magic that was thwarting her—the magic that was now controlling her storm.

Chapter 4

“You don’t realize the sacrifice you are willing to make until your child is in need of you. You don’t realize that you are truly capable destroying the world around you, crushing anything that gets in your path, bringing your enemies to their knees until you learn that the one thing that your world revolves around is being ripped from you. God help the one who gets in my way. Is it possible that even God might not be able to protect them from my wrath?”

~ Dillon Jacobs

“I know it sounds crazy, Dillon, but it’s true.” Wadim implored Jacque’s father, and the Alpha of the Denver pack. He had called the American Alpha at the request of Skender, who, in Vasile’s and the other top wolves’ absence was carrying much on his shoulders.

“You’re telling me that the Great Luna contacted you?” Dillon asked, incredulously.

“Like I said, I know it sounds crazy. She’s calling the packs.”

“The packs?” Dillon’s voice was tight with apprehension.

“As in all of them.” Wadim confirmed. “She gave the Fae moonstone. You know what that means.”

“She means to have the Fae call us with it,” Dillon’s words were not a question.

The line was silent as they each thought about the ramifications of what was about to happen. Dillon knew the situation must be dire if the packs were going to be together in one location. There had been such division among them for so long he wasn’t sure how they would be together without dominance posturing and bloody fights. It was quite possibly going to be the biggest damn disaster in their history.

“Who else knows about this?” Dillon asked.

“Only the Fae, myself, and now you.”

“Once the Fae use the magic of the moonstone none of us will be able to resist the call.” Dillon knew he wasn’t saying anything Wadim didn’t already know, he just felt the need to voice it, almost as if saying it out loud might help prepare him for the inevitable.

“There’s something else,” Wadim’s voice dropped. “I haven’t heard from Vasile or Decebel since they left.”

“They went traipsing off, attempting to take on this witch on their own. What the hell did you expect to happen?” Dillon growled. “Contrary to what you all believe Vasile is not invincible.”

Wadim returned the Alpha’s growl. “He’s handling a situation that should be all of our responsibility. You never should have left.”

“He told us to leave!” Dillon snarled.

“You’re an Alpha. You knew what he was taking on. You knew that this could affect more than just the Romanian Grey Wolves pack. It’s your job to discern when you are needed, so don’t preach to me about whether we hold Vasile in too high esteem.”

“Are you giving me orders?” Dillon’s voice was low and challenging.

“I’m only telling you what you refuse to acknowledge. This isn’t a Romanian pack problem. This is an all packs problem. You are needed. All of us, are needed and the Alphas are going to have to step up and set an example for their pack mates.”