Ella’s POV “Colton!!” | yelled as the dark snake-like tendrils liftedthrough the air to be joined by Sarah who was also struggling against the tendrils herself.We were no longer near the roof, but closer to the ground. Jazzy had a bonfire already made in the clearing of the forest and all her supplies were set up for the ritual, including a large cauldron.
Alpha Jonathan was also there, and he was staring worriedly at Sarah. He seemed confused as he was joined by rogues.
“Dad!” Sarah yelled.
But before she could get another word out, a dark snake tendril draped over her mouth, silencing her immediately. She tried to speak through her clamped lips but to no prevail.
“Why are you doing this to my daughter?” Jonathan asked, glaring at Jazzy.
“Because she’s being impossible. If you wantto save her, you'll letdo my job,” Jazzy seethed.
| saw more rogues running out of the forest, ready to help and protect. Jazzy lifted her arms and howled like an owl. I had never heard someone howl like that before and I didn’t know what it meant. That is until | saw others emerging from the forest as well.
Witches.
Telling from their auras and their glowing hands that were raised above their heads, | knew they still had their powers. | wasn’t sure how they had their powers during this dark curse, but | knew Jazzy had something to do with that.
A large, white, glowing shield began to transform from their fingertips and surround the area where Jazzy stood, which also surrounded Alpha Jonathan, sof the rogues, Sarah, and me.Colton growled loudly and charged toward the witches, only to be zapped away. | screamed for him, tears streaming down my face. But the more | struggled and screamed the tighter the tendrils held me.
There was howling in the distance, averting my attention to the fresh wolves that were running to join us.
My heart swelled as | saw my father in his large beastly wolf form. With him was Uncle Aiden and Donovan, Beta, and Gamma of the Nova pack. On my father’s back was Hazel, Jazzy's sister. She clung to my father as they ran to join Colton, my mother, and Xander.
Beta Ethan was also in the mix and soon the rumbling sounds of more wolves sounded in the distance.
Gamma Jack ran through the clearing with his army of gamma warriors; | noticed there were also Nova Pack Gammas in the mix as well and they all looked ready for a fight.
“Jasmine! Let the girls go!!” Hazel demanded, her voice carrying and booming across the forest clearing. | was surprised at how powerful and forceful her voice was. “You don’t want to do this!!” Jazzy completely ignored her sister as she motioned for the rogue army to fight the gammas. Soon, a large battle was breaking out before my eyes and | was helplessly floating in the air, unable to fight.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtJazzy, ignoring the fight, stared up at the red moon with a large smile on her face. Raising her hands above her head, she began to recite the spell that started the ritual. With each word she spoke, the fire grew and began to morph into different colors.
| was being held over the burning flames and | could feel the intensity of the heat.
Warmth pricked the back of my neck and | tried to struggle against the tendrils again, trying to get myself free.
But the more | struggled, the more they held on tighter.Jazzy was speaking in her Latin tongue, so | had no idea what she was saying. Alpha Jonathan was beginning to look more uncertain than ever as he stared up at his daughter who was also struggling and crying.
Colton was still trying desperately to break through the shield while this battle went on around him. Thankfully, he had his people around him, shielding him from any attacks.
To my surprise, Brody cout of nowhere and joined Colton at the shield, trying to desperately get through.
Upon seeing Brody, Sarah began to struggle even harder as tears washed over her pale features.
There had to be a way to get the witches to take down this shield.
They were standing side by side and | wondered if one of them were to step out of sequence, would the shield fall? Alpha Jonatha was still trying to ask Jazzy what was going on and why his daughter was being treated like this, but Jazzy was ignoring him completely.
Before | knew what was happening, the dark snake-like tendrils were pullingtoward the cauldron and were holdingover it. | struggled again and screamed for Colton, but the tendrils wrapped around my mouth, silencing me. They also tightened aroundeven more, cutting off my air completely.
| thought | was going to pass out from lack of air; | grew incredibly dizzy, and my vision becspotty as | tried desperately to keep myself awake.
My father had joined Colton and Ethan at the shield, attempting to break through. But the witches were too strong and kept the shield intact.
| knew Hazel wouldn't be able to help either; she was powerless due to this curse. It madewonder how these witches still had their abilities.
“Mom and Dad would not want this, Jazzy!” Hazel cried to her sister. “They would be so disappointed in you.” | found myself closing my eyes and beginning to drift off, despite all that was going on around me. There was no air traveling to my lungs and | knew | didn’t have long before completely passed out. If | passed out, | knew | wouldn't wake up again.
Jazzy would win.
She would bleedand force my blood into Sarah before killing her as well.
Just as that paper had said.
Suddenly, my eyes flew open.
That paper.
The one | found inside of Jazzy’s office on her desk. It had her plans written all over it. She was going to bleeddry and then make Sarah consmy blood. Then, they were going to kill Sarah. But because Sarah would have consumed my blood, it would turn her body into a Volana Vessel.
If Johnathan saw that paper, he would never go along with this.
| still had it inside of my pant pocket.
| wiggled my fingers, trying to reach into my pocket. It was difficult with the snake tendrils wrapped tightly around me, squeezing the last bit of air from me, but | managed to feel the paper with my fingertips.
| gripped the corner of the paper with the tips of my pointer and middle finger, wiggling it until it cout of my pant pocket.
Alpha Jonathan stood below, staring up at Sarah.
| tried to scream to get his attention, but the tendrils around my mouth made that almost impossible.
It was now or never; if he didn’t seedropping this paper to the ground, then | had no other plans and Jazzy would win.
Just as darkness clouded my vision, | released the paper and allowed it to fall to the ground.
Colton’s POV It was no use, this shield was too strong and regardless of what we said to these wretched witches, they weren't going to take it down. Max was furious and out for blood. He couldn’t wait for the chance to tear the witch's throats out from their necks.
He couldn’t stop growling and snapping his canines at them, and | didn’t stop him. | wanted their blood on our claws just as badly as he did.
Ella was floating in the air with dark swirls surrounding her. She struggled against them, but they seemed to be tightening with each scream and struggle.
| wished | could send her strength and comfort through our mate bond, but it wasn’t working.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm| had a feeling it had to do with this dark curse.
But | could still smell her amazing honeysuckle scent, which meant her wolf was still within her.
As the battle continued around me, | watched in horror as Ella’s head drifted downward and her eyes fluttered shut.
She was losing the little bit of strength she had left.
“Noooo!!!” | growled as her body went limp.
But then | saw something floating to the ground.
| looked over at Bastien who was trying to get Alpha Jonathan to talk to him and explain himself. Hazel was busy trying to get her sister to stop this nonsense and Ethan was still trying to break through the shield but to no prevail.The paper Ella had dropped was within the shield.
“Alpha Bastien!” | yelled at him, getting his attention. “I think Ella just dropped something important.” | motioned with my head for the paper on the ground. His eyes followed my gesture and they narrowed. He squinted his eyes, trying to get a view of the writing, but it was folded and crinkled.
“Jonathan,” Bastien said, trying to get the Alpha’s attention again. “That paper on the ground, | need you to grab ie.” Jonathan finally pulled his eyes away from Sarah to stare at Bastien.
“I'm sorry this had to happen...” Jonathan finally murmured. “I’m doing this for my daughter.” “And | understand that, but that paper... | need you to grab it.” Jonatha’s frown deepened.
“What paper?" He began to ask, but then his eyes found the paper on the ground.
He grabbed it and unfolded it, reading the words written on it.
His forehead crinkled as he read it again.
| could see that whatever was on that paper was affecting him greatly. His eyes widened as he read the words again. His face reddened and for a second, | thought he might explode. | could see the fury in his eyes and then the pure horror as he continued to stare at the words.“Jonathan!” Bastien growled urgently. “What is it??” “Tell us!” | demanded through my teeth.
If Ella had it, it must be important.
Jonathan crinkled the paper in his fist and stared up at his daughter with horror and fury still on his face.
“Alpha Jonathan,” Bastien growled loudly, his voice booming across the forest and shaking the trees.Jonathan finally looked back at Alpha Bastien, meeting his eyes.
“She’s planning on killing my daughter.”