CARLOS"I placed a forbidden curse on her blood," Elder Silvarum admitted quietly. "A protection spell of sorts, though 'curse' is the proper term. If anyone drinks her blood with the intent to use its power—they will die. Painfully."I remembered the fire surrounding Nora, the power that had radiated from her. "Is that what happened today? This curse activated?""No." Elder Silvarum shook his head. "What you saw today was Nora's true power awakening. The curse is subtler. It lies dormant in her blood, waiting. If the Ancients try to use her blood as they intend—to create new life or extend their own—the curse will kill them."Hope surged again. "So she's protected? They can't hurt her?""Only temporarily," the elder said gravely. "The curse has limitations. It will only last for three days before fading. And the Ancients are clever. Once they realize her blood is deadly to them, they'll find other ways to extract what they need from
CARLOS Everything happened so fast I could barely process it. One moment, Nora was collapsing after attacking Elara. The next, Elena was threatening our children, and Nora, my Nora was transforming before my eyes.It wasn't a wolf shift. This was something else entirely.Her hairturned a brilliant silver with streaks of gold running through it like liquid sunlight. Her eyes even in human form blazed like living volcanoes, amber and gold with touch of red that seemed to move and dance like actual flames.Power radiated from her in waves I could feel against my skin. The air around her was filled with heat, and actual fire danced across her fingertips, spiraling up her arms without burning her flesh.It reminded me of five years ago, when Nora had first changed. Back then, her transformation had been shocking enough, her eyes changing, her strength increasing beyond what was normal for a wolf. But this... this was something else. Something
NORA'S POVI gasped as I looked at their faces. They appeared human at first glance, but something was off about their skin. It was too pale, their features too perfect. And their eyes... their eyes were just like mine.Each of them had those strange volcanic eyes I had seen in my own reflection. It was amber irises with touches of gold and red that seemed to glow from within, even in human form. I'd always thought my eyes were unique, strange. Now I was surrounded by people who shared this trait."You're like me," I whispered, the realization hitting me like a blow.The tallest of them stepped forward. Unlike the others who wore identical black robes, his was trimmed with silver symbols. His face was ageless. He could have been twenty or one hundred with high cheekbones and a strong jaw."We are the Ancients," he said, his voice the same one that had commanded me to enter. "And you, Nora, are one of us. Or at least, partly."My
Nora's POVMy heartbeat was faster, my mind wondering what was about to happen next. Even from afar, I could feel her hurt. I could understand her hurting, yet I was the one she intended to kill. The world came back to me in pieces. First sound, then feeling, then sight. I heard her voice, Sorceress Elena, cold with fury. She was going to take revenge, for Elara, her daughter.Who almost killed me. "Starting with these children." Her voice cut through my thoughts.My eyes flew open. Through the haze of pain still in my head, I saw Elena moving toward the building entrance where my kids were trapped in prison. Her hands were filled with dark energy, her face squeezed with grief and rage."No!" I screamed, pushing away from Carlos with strength I didn't know I had. My children. She was going to kill my children.Elena turned, her hair whipping around her face, her eyes glowing with power. "You've taken my daug
THIRD POVNora walked away from them, her mind spinning with the sorceress's demand. Give herself up to save her children? The choice seemed both impossible and inevitable. She wandered through the trees, needing space to breathe, and to think.She found a fallen log a short distance from the cave entrance and sank down onto it. The forest around her was very quiet, as if even the birds and insects sensed the dark magic nearby. Her hands trembled as she pressed them against her face, trying to hold back tears."They're discussing whether your life is worth saving the twins," a soft voice said from behind her.Nora looked up to find Elara standing there, her face partially shadowed by the trees."Elara," Nora said, quickly wiping her eyes. "I didn't hear you approach.""I move quietly," Elara replied with a slight smile. "It's a useful skill for a lady's maid."Nora nodded absently, her thoughts still with her children. "
THIRD POVElder Silvarum continued to talk about the sorceress and her relationship with Carlos and the twins, after everyone had slowly recovered from the shock. "The sorceress has powerful magic, but I believe we can track her.""How?" Griffin pushed off from the wall, suddenly interested."With blood," the elder replied simply. He turned to Carlos. "Alpha, although I don't possess sorcerer abilities myself, my bloodline carries ancient knowledge. And your blood will be the compass.""Whatever it takes to get my children back." "I can perform the tracking spell. I've done similar workings before," Katherine offered. "It's dangerous," Elder Silvarum warned. "The sorceress will have safeguards.""I don't care," Katherine replied dismissively. "Those are my niece's cubs."Carlos rolled up his sleeve and extended his arm. "Take what you need."Katherine glanced at Elder Silvarum, who nodded an
THIRD POV Two hours later, they gathered in the twins' bedroom. Nora had laid out their favorite possessions: Zack's toy sword, Zoe's stuffed wolf, their hair brushes still containing strands of dark hair. Her hands trembled as she arranged the items in the circle Kathryn had drawn on the floor."This should be enough," Kathryn said, kneeling beside the circle. She looked exhausted, dark circles prominent beneath her eyes. "But I need to warn you all. My powers have limits. Especially against someone like the sorceress.""Just try," Nora whispered.Griffin stood back near the doorway, watching the proceedings with a heavy heart. He knew better than anyone what the sorceress was capable of. The years he'd spent in her thrall had shown him the depths of her cruelty, and her power.Kathryn began to chant, her hands moving in intricate patterns above the circle. The air in the room grew heavy with magic, pressing against their skin like
THIRD PovNora fought, earnestly, not knowing which powers controlled her. Was this her hidden heritage or something new? As the fight became even more fierce, she struggled to keep watch over the kids.Not until, she smelled them and the danger around. Nora looked up sharply, her gaze fixed on two Ancients emerging, dragging small, struggling forms between them. Her blood ran cold as she recognized Zack and Zoe, their faces pale with terror as they fought against their captors' grip."Mom! Dad!" Zack shouted, his voice filled with fear."Let them go!" Nora screamed, light flaring around so fiercely that several nearby wolves whimpered and backed away. How dare these people touch her babies!As her anger filled the air, Nora heard the evil laughter of the sorceress. "Now, that's interesting. You've grown stronger than I anticipated. Perhaps those meddling fools didn't suppress your power as thoroughly as they thought."
Griffin Her questions were becoming annoying. I wished I could just ignore it. That perhaps you hope to earn her gratitude. Her affection." Kathryn's voice was gentle but firm. "If so, you should know it's unlikely. She loves Carlos, whatever problems they may have." "I'm not a fool," I snapped, then immediately regretted my tone. "I know she loves him. I'm not doing this to win her over." "Then why?" I stared at the floor, struggling to articulate what drove me. "Because I failed her once before. I won't make that mistake again." Kathryn seemed satisfied with this answer. "Very well. I'll need time to prepare properly." I rose to leave, but paused at the door. "Kathryn... thank you." She shook her head. "Don't thank me yet. This may kill you more quickly than the sorceress's curse. Plus, I'm not assuring you that it is going to work." "At least it will be my choice," I said quietly. "For once." As I left the room, I felt the hunger gnawing at me again, stronger