Wolf Moon Ritual

COUNTDOWN DAY 4

Alexander’s POV

After catching up with Emery and finally getting the answers I needed I sat quietly by the river, heartbroken. My mate was enduring unimaginable pain and suffering and I were here, safe.

I couldn’t be around people anymore, I didn’t want to be. The look of pity in their eyes every time they glanced my way, was unbearable. How could I stop my mate from being taken over by a powerful witch? How could I get her back? Rid her of Latina and have her all to myself.

I were powerless. No. less than powerless just plain useless. Maybe everyone was right to look at me with pity in their eyes. I were pitiful. An unworthy Alpha with no luna.

My chest burned right over my heart, the searing pain caused me to grit my teeth together. I moved my shirt out of the way, well, not just out of the way but clean off my body as the burning radiated to my back.

I fell forward onto all fours and let a loud howl rip from my lips. The burning intensified, the wounds on my back began to itch and pull tight. Knitting together. Healing.

I let out panting breaths as the intense burning started receding. Greedily pulling air in by the mouthful I were able to regain moderate composure over myself, only now acknowledging that Aurora healed me. I felt her essence, as if she extended a healing hand over me and healed my wounds.

“Aurora.” I called out with my mind but got no reply. I tried again focusing only on her dwindling presence. Still I got nothing.

On wobbly legs I stood to my full height, causing a residual tingling feeling on my chest. Pressing tentative fingertips to the sensation, I could feel the puckered scar of Circe’s symbol below and traced it lightly with my index finger.

“Trust in your mate and your own heart.”

Leo’s POV

I knew something wasn’t quite right I could feel it in my bones that someone powerful was in the vicinity of the pack house. I just couldn’t work out who.

The whisps of magic drifted in the air and grew in strength until it reached its pinnacle, then dissipated into soft spikes of raw emotion.

I’ve felt that power surge before but when? And more importantly by who?

I stared into the open flames of the fire and watched as they flickered in a rhythmical dance towards the chimney’s flue. A distant memory shimmering at the back of my mind as I traced the printed design of the knife on my right forearm.

**Flashback**

The silhouette of a woman standing in front of such a roaring fire pulled all my attention to her. Logs crackling and kindle popping as they burned brightly. Her naked form sashaying to the sway of the flames, her arms and body moving to the sensual, but silent beat of a tune so loud I couldn’t help myself but be captivated by its tempo.

Her hair loose and rippling as black as night down her back, ending at the top of her voluptuous ass and curves that begged to be stroked.

She knew I were there and emphasised each movement, enticing me to come closer, to feel her. I gave into my need, my desire for her. To claim her as I have so many times before.

She stopped my advance with a one worded command. “Strip.” A command I had no problem, no second thought in following and quickly relieved myself of every item of clothing I had on, and joined her by the fire.

I wasted no time at all taking what I wanted from her. With needy hands I grabbed her breasts firmly, pinching her nipples between my fingertips as I bit down on her neck and sucked on her delicate skin, extracting pleasurable moans from her that spurred me on.

I wanted more.

Squalling her onto her back in the cascaded furs that were under foot, I plunged myself deep within her walls and purged myself of all my anger, all my guilt for killing my brothers and father earlier that day, but revealed in the power it brought me. She were enjoying everything I gave her, felt every raw emotion that I exhumed and still spurred me on.

I wanted more.

At the peak of our passion, she screamed out my name in pure pleasure before I drove a knife deep within her heart. Taking exactly what I wanted from her.

Everything.

But still… I wanted more.

Oryan’s POV

To say I were shocked were an understatement. I didn’t know what to do, let alone what I say to that. My brain was frozen and words wouldn’t form, instead got stuck in my throat.

Before I could unscramble my mind in search of a reply, it was pulled in another direction. Twenty men started to convene on us, each one had a weapon of some kind clutched in their hands and threatening scowls on their faces.

I quickly scanned the scene in front of me and I saw some had knives, while others had chains and lengths of silver. All following one man.

My father.

The rage that twisted his features was one I’ve seen many times before. It was one that promised to cause hurt in the most brutal of ways.

The pressure on my back left and stepped away from me, leaving me to the wolves and unable to defend myself as I were still imprisoned on this cross.

“Aww Leo. Is this all for little me? You shouldn’t have.” Latina’s sickly sweet voice filled the expanse of land.

Although her words weren’t loud I knew the prowling wolves could hear every word clearly, affecting each and every one of the men, but not my father.

“Latina.” He spat her name as if it were filth. “You finally figured it out then? Took your time though. You losing your touch old man?” She giggled. Causing him to grind his teeth together.

“How are you here?” His tone clipped with fury. Latina only laughed at him. “Answer me.” He growled in rage, every bit the merciless alpha he is. “I answer to no one.” She screeched.

Latina started to chant words quietly, the wind around us howled and picked up speed. Causing me to grit my eyes closed tightly against the dirt and debris of fallen leaves that whipped round in the strong gusts of wind. Only for it to suddenly disappear and Aurora’s body crash to the ground, her eyes closed and her features lax.

“Tell me boy. Has she made an appearance before?” My father now in front of me, asked as he seized my chin in his grip. I nodded. “Not in person like that but in voice.” He huffed and let go of me.

“I have no use for you now.” He spat. “Wait what about our deal?” I said in panic. He chuckled. “Latina isn’t stupid. She will not let Aurora give her power up. So as I said, I have no use for you.” I were desperately searched my mind what could I say, do that would help me.

“Wait. I know how to kill her.” I blurted out. My father raised a questioning eyebrow at me, not knowing if I were telling the truth or lying to save my own skin. In truth I didn’t know. Not fully anyway. But it seemed to me that Latina would be able to use Aurora’s body to get what she wanted and then possess her completely? She could already control it, so my theory wasn’t exactly to out there.

“And that is?” He questioned me. “If I tell you, you will kill me.” He smirked. “I knew I didn’t raise an idiot. Now I know you don’t actually know how to kill her. But I do believe you have some information that will prove useful to me. So, this is the new deal. You fight for me, do everything in your power to get her to that alter and help me kill her and in exchange, you will have your freedom.” I reluctantly nodded, agreeing to his terms. I had to think of myself, and my own life.

“Throw them back in the dungeon.” He ordered Peter before leaving.

Aurora’s POV

I didn’t know what had happened, not entirely anyway. Latina had fully taken control, I were just along for the ride. As she freed herself from the cross by using my power and what I assume was a little of her own, the torture device dropped from her and burned into cinders at her feet.

Although her power intrigued me, I could only think of Alex and how much I yearned for him. The more I focused on him, I started to sense him. Only very faintly but it was undeniably him. He were hurt and in pain. What had happened to him? I reach for him further, pulling on that thread that connected the two of us together and gasped in horror.

The wounds that littered his back were the exact replica of my own. He had suffered every lash with me, but how? I thought back to the punishment and remembered the searing hot pain that wracked my body, but I also remember thinking of Alex, trying to distract myself from what was happening to me and gain some hope, some semblance of solace.

A tear left my eye as I now realised that in doing so I opened the bond between us and caused his infliction. “I’m so sorry.” I whispered inside my own mind hoping he could hear me.

A thought occurred to me. If I could use the mate bond to cause him pain then maybe I could heal him too. As Latina stretched out my limbs I could feel her power build again as she started to heal herself. I reached out again with my mind holding tightly to her threads of power and the bond between Alex and I, just hoping that this would work.

His screams were my answer that this were working, I reached my hand towards him, wanting with all my heart to be with him but knew I had a job to do first.

I needed to vanquish Latina.

Alexander’s POV

I ran back to the pack house with a new lease of life. If Aurora could share her pain with me from this distance and then heal me. Maybe she didn’t have to be consumed by this witch. Maybe she could reverse it and do the same to Latina. Kill her from the inside, so to speak.

I rushed forward going as fast as my legs could carry me and burst into the dining room that my father and Emery occupied. I panted to get my breath as the two men recovered from their startled state. “Aurora… She.. Healed me.” I spoke as I still couldn’t regain my full composure. “What?” Emery questioned as he twisted me around looking for proof. He gasped as he found the evidence irrefutable. My bare back no longer held multiple wounds, not even scars were left. My father had the same stunned reaction.

“How?” The two men questioned in unison. I shook my head. “I don’t know, but whatever magic Latina possesses within Aurora, she can use too. I felt her heal me through the mate bond.”

Emery only nodded. “Of course. When George made you alpha, and Ruby made Aurora luna that made you both stronger. The heightened power that you both now have is what will have allowed Latina to come forth from being hidden within Aurora. That is how she plans to take over the ritual, by taking control on Aurora’s body she could wield the knife that holds the moons power and bind it with herself. There will be no stopping her if that happens. We must get there now.” He demanded.

“Wait. Do you think Aurora knows this?” My father questioned. “Maybe you should try and connect with her again and tell her.” He finished his thought. “No, I’ve tried. She told me herself that Latina will not allow us to communicate.” I replied defeatedly.

“But it has happened. There must be certain circumstances when even Latina is weak and therefore allowing you both to connect.” We all nodded. Emery was right, I have felt a few instances of this, some more poignant than others. I shook the feeling of the whipping away from my mind quickly, not wanting to relive that ever.

We all took seats at the table in our own thoughts. Each trying to come up with an answer, but none stuck.

“If I may suggest something.” Rays asked from the doorway. I looked round and saw that he were stood nervously rubbing the back of his neck. “Continue.” Emery replied.

“Leo has an amulet made by Latina herself, if found can be used to siphon her magic.” He cleared his throat. “If you were to brand Latina with it while she is in control, maybe that will push her back and allow Aurora to come forward.”

“That could work.” Emery stated. “What consequences would that have on Aurora?” I questioned sceptically, not liking the sound of branding Aurora’s body in anyway. “That’s just it. There is no way of knowing.” Rays wrung his fingers together still nervous.

Rays actions now, coupled with my earlier intrigue in him left me unable not to ask. “Who is Aurora to you?” I studied his face as he swallowed hard and wouldn’t look into my eyes.

“I erm… I’m her uncle. Well not biologically her uncle but I was once known to her by that familial title.” I furrowed my brows. Uncle? That made no sense. Leo killed all his brothers, well except Rex.

Wait! “You were his beta. That’s how you know so much about their pack. About Leo.” Rays nodded, pain and sorrow evident in his eyes.

“I was. I just didn’t know that my wife were in league with Milla to help Aurora escape the night of the failed ritual. Leo killed my darling Jacy that night and damn near killed me too, but he spared me in exchange to do his bidding.” He huffed out a breath at his loss, trying to conceal a sob. “That’s when Emery found me and I’ve been helping him ever since.”

I’d heard enough. “Gather the warriors we set off in an hour.” I commanded, all the authority of my new position evident in my voice.

Aurora’s POV

My body was weak as my eyes started to open. I struggled to keep my consciousness for long periods of time but one thing were clear. I were back in the dungeon.

My hair being swept to one side brought my attention to the warmth under my head. “Welcome back.” My brother greeted in a soft tone as he looked down at me from where my head rested on his thigh. “Hey.” I greeted in a groggy tone. Still under the influence of whatever were injected into me.

I tried to sit up but it was clear I had no energy nor strength for that. “Take it slow. Father had you anesthetised with atropa belladonna and opium. You will be weak for a while yet.” That made sense, but did not make me feel any better.

My brows furrowed I’d heard that name before but where. Oryan answered my unspoken question. “Deadly nightshade.” My eyes widened in surprise. In the wrong doses that could have killed me in seconds.

“Are you okay?” I asked him, now remembering that he were punished just as I were. He nodded. “I’m healing slowly.” He half smiled at me.

I frowned, hating that I were the cause of his torment. “Maybe I could heal you like I did myself and erm… Alex.”

“Alex?” He questioned. Should I tell him? Bit too late now I guess, I did just drop myself in it. “While Latina was in control I erm… used her power and funnelled it down the mate bond. He received every lash along with me when Peter whipped me. I just did the same thing to see if it would work.” He looked surprised by my confession.

“And did it. Did it work?” I nodded affirmatively, my eyes starting to droop. “Get some rest. Tomorrow is the fifth day. You will need all the strength you can muster.”

The pleasant sound of the very familiar babbling and lapping water on the lake from the clearing welcomed me into sleep. Only this time the sun were beaming down on me and I were dressed in a long flowing white gown. It billowed in the breeze along with my hair behind me.

I turned to the vast expanse of space before me but I were alone. Alex were no where in sight. Trying not to panic I walked from the waters edge towards the centre of the clearing and sat amongst the wild flowers. Taking in the amazing floral smells around me, I basked in the calmness of my surroundings.

“Aurora?” I lifted my head to the call of my name and were faced with Ruby at the edge of the tree line. Before I could answer, my name were called by another voice. I turned to see George at the opposite edge of the woods. I didn’t understand what were happening, but one after the other my friends and family called out to me before appearing in the circled around me, not one any closer than the other, each one stopped at the edges of the clearing.

I stood spinning on the spot, faced with not only my present but my past too. Sheila stood proud within the circle backed by the scenic view of the lake and the mountains. Jacy linked arms with her as she appeared, smiling brightly at me.

My love called to me from my side, I reached for him as I turned my eyes up to meet his. No other words were exchanged. I crushed myself to Alex’s chest not knowing what else to do and not wanting to be anywhere else.

I gasped in shock, my heart jolting and leaping into my throat as my mother faded into view at the side of both Jacy and Sheila. I wanted to run to her, embrace her and never let go but I found myself unable. I could move just fine, but found myself not able to advance to her.

“My darling daughter. I need you to be strong for me just a little bit more.” She repeated her words from the night I last saw her. Tears flooded my vision causing her to blur. “I’m trying. Really I am.” My tears finally escaping, running down my cheeks. Alex moving at my side catching my tears, but I paid no attention to him and his actions. Even with the strangeness of them.

“You need to believe in your power and strength and trust in your mates heart Aurora.” Sheila said. I moved my eyes to her, her face a little clearer as my tears had fallen and not yet built back up. “How can I? Latina is too strong.”

“You know what to do. Outsmart them, use their weaknesses against them.” Jacy added. “But I don’t know their weaknesses. Please help me.” I pleaded. None of them answering me, but each one of the faces forming the circle each started to fade into nothingness.

“Don’t leave me.” I begged. Not wanting to be left on my own. “Alex please don’t go. I need you.” I turned to my last hope.

“I’m never far away.” He lifted my hand palm up, his hands beginning to fade as he placed a small vial in my hand. “Your tears mixed with your destined parents blood will help you. When the time comes you will know what to do. I love you.” With that statement he vanished.

I was all alone.