Forget Me Not (#2, The Mystic Wolves) (21 page)

“I don’t like it, but it would be better if we split up. We’re still going to do this my way, though. If you find her when you reach your place, you will not go in and confront her. Understand? You’ll text me and wait until I get you before you act. Promise me, Darcy. This is the only way we’re going to do this.” There was no arguing with the serious tone in his voice.

“Agreed. I’ll text you and wait. No heroics.” Knowing we needed to part ways, I stopped and quickly hugged him. “Be careful.”

“I’m more concerned for you, but I will. I’ll take the cabin, seeing as it’s the farthest away, and I’m the faster of us two. It won’t take me long to get back to you if needed.” Tilting my head, he stared into my eyes. “Safety first. This will all have been for nothing if we lose you.”

“Okay.” I offered him a smile, and patting my pockets to make sure I actually had my phone, I said goodbye and began jogging toward the small shack.

I moved quickly, covering the distance as though I’d suddenly sprouted wings and was flying. I’d contemplated changing into my wolf, but something whispered in my mind to wait and conserve energy. I didn’t know what I’d find at the old Pack home—Amber or decaying emptiness.

It didn’t take long for the building to come into sight, and as the hairs on my arms began to rise, I realized the feel of magic was definitely in the air. It seemed to radiate and pulse as the strength of the ritual being performed grew.

Careful about where I trod, not knowing if she’d set up any mystical alarm system, I caught a glimpse through the window and saw someone moving inside. I didn’t need to see the person’s face—my gut told me Amber was in there.

Sending a simple message to Devlin, I inched closer, needing to know how far along she was in her spell casting. My hope was she’d only just started, but I had no idea the length of time needed. She could be done in a few minutes or possibly hours.

A branch snapped as I finally crouched down underneath a window. I paused, bringing my body to a complete stop, and slowed my breathing. I waited for her to appear at the doorway, curious about the noise, but it was obvious whatever she was doing inside had her full attention.

Giving it a few moments, to be on the safe side, I slowly inched myself up. I peered in through the corner of the opening to get a clearer picture of what was happening. Anything I could learn would be helpful when Devlin arrived.

What I saw shocked me.

Furniture had been moved to make way for a large space in the center of the room. Drawn in the middle was a pentagram within a circle, each point having a flaming candle on it. There were other items placed in various intervals—crystals, dried herbs, and what looked like personal items of Mason’s. There was no mistaking he was the focus of the ritual—there was a large wooden frame displaying his photo placed in the center. Incense burned, the sweet odor wafting through the window.

This wasn’t what caused a fire to ignite in the pit of my stomach, or my fists to automatically clench. Standing with her hands moving about, words chanting from her lips was Amber … in my mating ritual dress. Somehow, the conniving wench had taken it, and all I wanted to do was burst into the room and shred it from her body.

Glancing over my shoulder, I scanned the area for any sign of Devlin. Anger fueled my impatience, but I forced myself to remain where I was. There would be plenty of time to remove her from the gown, but something in my heart already told me it was tainted. It made me want to scratch out Amber’s eyes—at the very least.

The flow of magic heightened, causing me to look back into the room. Whatever was happening, the way her eyes lit up and a smile curled her mouth—Amber was pleased. Her voice began to rise, revealing parts of the spell, and I noticed the flickering flame of the candles grow taller. The spell was coming to its climax. It was almost complete.

I checked my phone, praying there’d be a message saying he was almost here. I remained alone outside, and the only noise I could hear was from inside the shack. Devlin wasn’t going to make it in time. We weren’t going to stop her from casting her obsession enchantment, and it left me with no other response. I had to go in there. I couldn’t wait.

Knowing I’d promised to stay put, I scrambled to see if there was any other alternative. Yes, Devlin would eventually be here, but Mason would be affected.

Wouldn’t it be better to stop it, then wait and have to find the counter charm later?
I thought. My head said to wait, that it was better to be safe than sorry, but there was no denying my heart. How could I sit by and watch the completion of the ritual? How could I not try to stop it and save Mason?

Resolved, I jumped to my feet and raced inside, catching Amber by surprise. We stood there looking at each other, but as she smiled and uttered a final word, I realized I’d waited too long. With the ritual finished, a pulse of magic blasted out from the center of the pentagram, knocking us both off our feet, causing Amber to hit her head hard against the floor.

I closed my eyes, and sent up a silent prayer that Mason was okay, that he and Daniel had been able to somehow fight it. I didn’t hold out much hope though—judging from the way power still tingled over my skin, Amber had made this strong.

“You’re too late. You’ve lost him.” Her words were quickly followed by laughter.

“As long as there’s breath in my body, I’ll keep fighting. Don’t underestimate me. Mason will never be yours,” I growled, slowly bringing myself to a stand.

Amber swayed slightly on her feet, wiping away a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. She continued to chuckle as she stared with me with hatred. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that, my dear.” The condescension and surety in her tone seemed to drip from her voice. “Obsession is a powerful thing, and channeled properly overrides everything else—including the small pitiful love you think you shared. He’s finally mine, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”

I wanted to slap the smug look from her face. “Watch me.”

“Here are some words of advice. Leave. Go before you see how much Mason truly doesn’t love or need you. I’d say gather your things, but there seemed to have been a small accident in your room.” Amber wore a victorious smile on her face. She thought she’d gotten everything she wanted.

“And if I choose not to?” I retorted. “I’m not going to cower before the likes of you. You don’t deserve Mason—never did. It’s a shame the only way you’re able to get him is to enchant him. Who’s the pitiful one now? ”

Amber’s eyes narrowed, her expression darkening with hate. “You don’t have a choice. When he finds out how you tried to kill his future mate in a fit of rage and jealousy, he’ll exile you. You’ll spend the rest of your existence hunted and hated,” Amber added, coldly. Her words sent chills over my skin. “It’s actually more perfect than having you killed.”

“You’re assuming he’ll believe you. It’s not me who has the history of deceit and manipulations. No spell you cast will make him forget that.”

She answered by taking the top of the dress bodice between her hands and violently ripping it down the middle. She next took a hold of the material below the waistline, and pulled hard, causing it to tear away. With two well-placed yanks, she’d turned my exquisite dress into something a street urchin would wear.

Running her hand through her hair, causing it to ruffle and tease out, she laughed. “Do I not look like the victim of a grievous attack? Do I need to make it more convincing?”

She was crazy, and whether it was love or obsession, I knew this couldn’t go on any longer. “Remember, you never take from a wolf what is hers,” I spat out, stepping toward her. “Devlin will be here any second to arrest you. Whatever spell you cast over Mason will eventually be broken. This is over.”

“I believe it is.” She rushed at me—her hands almost claw-like as she tried to shred the skin from my face.

I did my best to block her, relying on the lessons Daniel had taught me. Using her anger and weight against her, I was able to step to the side and avoid her attack. Screaming in frustration, it didn’t take Amber long to turn around and try to hit me again. We began to pace around in a circle—me wanting to keep some distance between us until Devlin arrived. It was tempting to go on the offensive, to give in to my own anger, but I knew I needed to let justice take care of it. Keeping a wary eye on her, I blocked her attempts at breaking through my defenses.

“What have you done?”

Amber’s face lit up in triumph as we both turned to the doorway to see Mason’s large build filling it. He seemed to tower over everything, his voice like thunder as his gaze took in the scene.

“Look what she did, my beloved,” Amber screeched. “She’s attacked me, and nothing I did or said could convince her to stop. She’s dangerous, Mason. Please protect me from her!”

If the situation hadn’t been so dire, I would’ve snorted at her pitiful attempt to play the damsel in distress. Staring at Mason, trying to judge whether the spell had completely affected him, his focus never wavered from Amber’s face.

“You don’t need protection from her. You need it from me.” Mason’s tone was all seriousness. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard.

Looking down at the completed ritual, I figured something must’ve gone wrong. The man standing before me was nowhere close to being enchanted. He was furious, and as Mason strode toward Amber, he kicked at the paraphernalia on the floor, scattering it across the room.

“No!” she screamed, throwing herself to the floor in an attempt to put everything back in its place. “This should’ve worked! She promised! You were to be mine. What happened?” Her actions were frantic, but it didn’t take long to realize it was all for nothing.

Amber tried to hastily replace the items, but eventually gave up. She sat still, trying to control her rapid breathing, and when she finally spoke, her face was contorted in fury and directed at me. “You. You did this.”

“Enough!” Mason roared, and gesturing to the side, I watched as Devlin entered the room. “She’s all yours, Enforcer.”

Devlin wasted no time, crossing the room to restrain Amber. She took one look at the hardened appearance of her captor and the silver handcuffs in his hands before releasing a howl so loud it threatened to pierce my eardrums.

Backing away, a look of panic in her eyes, Amber turned to Mason, throwing herself to the floor. “Why don’t you love me? You were meant to be mine, this isn’t supposed to be. I followed the instructions perfectly … you should be defending me!”

It was a strange sight to watch someone unravel before you—the once confident werewolf becoming a weeping, pitiful creature. She stretched forth her hand, the action beseeching, but as Mason took a step closer to me, it shattered and left behind a wild fury again.

I caught the sudden whiff of an impending shift, and realized things were about to become dangerous if Devlin didn’t cuff her now.

“She’s changing,” Mason yelled in warning.

Not waiting for the shift to be finished, Amber launched herself at me, screaming at the top of her lungs. Her hands fangs descended—a crazed manic gleam in her eyes.

Acting on pure instinct, I didn’t wait for her to make contact. I grabbed her by the throat, slamming her to the ground as I pushed down hard. She fought, trying to stop me from cutting off her air supply, but the last week fueled my anger.

I could feel my nails lengthening into claws. Just a simple flex and twist, and her larynx would detach in my hand, silencing her forever. I stared down into the face of the woman who had caused me so much grief, and I could see her death play out in my mind. It would’ve been so simple—she deserved it—but instead I let go, stepping back.

I let out a jagged breath from the adrenaline coursing through me. “You don’t deserve to die here. You deserve worse, and I pray wherever the Council sends you, you spend the rest of your life regretting what you’ve done.”

I felt arms wrap around me, the scent telling me it was Mason, and turning I threw mine around him, burying my face into his chest. It had been close, but we’d won.

“Amber Bracken, you are hereby under arrest on charges of malicious use of magic with the intent to infiltrate the Mystic Wolves. You are charged with attempted murder with the use of magic. You are also charged with enchanting the Alpha of the Mystic Wolves for the purpose of seeking power. You will be brought before the Council to stand trial and receive sentencing.” Devlin lifted her from the ground, and snapped on the silver handcuffs. The action created a visible deflation in Amber’s appearance, her opportunity to shift stolen from her. She was now in the custody of Devlin.

Stepping closer, Mason towered over Amber. “Not only will you be facing the Council, but you will also be judged by me. It will give me great pleasure to speak at your trial, and Amber,” he paused for effect, causing her to look up into his face. “There will be nowhere for you to turn to find support.  I’ll see that you’re banished, in every sense a rogue wolf, with all packs closed to you.”

I didn’t want to, but I winced. Not because this was the future for Amber, but because as a werewolf I would rather die than to be cut of so completely from my pack. There was protection in joining with others of my kind, and one glance at her expression, I knew Amber understood the gravity of what Mason had declared.

“Mason,” she whimpered, and he glared at her. “Don’t let them poison you against me. Please.”