Is party time

Adira’s POV

I cried softly when everyone was asleep, thinking about Magnus.

The door opened. He looked down at me, then crouched.

Your mate did not show up? Don’t worry, little girl, I will make you mine.

Tomorrow, fuck, just thinking about it gets me hard.

“You,” I said, “will die a horrible death. Believe me when I say, Magnus is going to rip you apart.”

So I keep hearing this from you, yet I don’t see him. Do I have to bow to him? he laughed unhinged.

See you tomorrow, beautiful, hmmm, he said, licking his lips.

Bile rose in my throat. I will die before you even touch me, I shouted.

Magnus, where are you? Did you leave me behind? Am I really just some plaything for this man?

I shook my head, desperate. I have to believe he is coming for me, that he loves me, despite the dread. I clung to his love, feeling it like a fading warmth in my chest. Yeah, that’s another puzzle for me. If we’re not bonded, why do I feel his emotions? Technically, the mate bond only lets us truly sense each other after the formal claiming ceremony, but sometimes, in rare cases, strong emotions can break through even before. Maybe Magnus is thinking about me so hard that his feelings slip into my heart. Maybe that’s hope making it possible. Then something happened, a warm feeling. Magnus. I smiled.

I hoped it wasn't a dream, but my eyes grew heavy, and I soon slept.

Magnus’s POV

We walked into the camp, and as we passed the back house, I picked up her scent. Faint, so faint.

Mate, Han immediately woke up. Han, my wolf, was always attuned to anything about our mate; his presence pressed urgently in my mind.

Stay hidden, Han. I need to get her out if we want to see our mate again.

"Yes, okay, I stay low. Mate," Han whispered.

My first reaction was to go and get her, but we will never make it out alive—too many rogues.

We found a place in the back by the trees. We lay down, pretending to sleep.

At daylight, I picked up more scents. Then I saw him, swaggering in every step, the leader. Arrogant, he grabbed an omega by the ass on his way to the pack house. He smirked, voice booming, "Party tonight. I got some entertainment. Who wants to see some yummy girls?"

They howled.

Fucking prick, I will lose my temper if he touches her, I told Brent.

"Control yourself," he said. "Now, let’s make a plan. It’s good; there is a party. Most of them will be drunk—easy to fight."

"Michael is waiting for my signal," I said. "But we need to get her out. I will stay behind and fight them."

"You’re fucking crazy, alone?"  "I know you are strong, but Magnus, look how many there are."

"Just get her away from here. Can you do that?" I said.

Of course, I will go and get something to eat for us. Behave.

You sound just like Adira, I said, my voice tinged with exasperation as I sighed.

Waiting was the hard part, but soon the sun settled, the fire was set, and music played.

The leader was sitting on a makeshift throne, laughing with another rogue. A woman stood up, and he stood up and bowed.

It worked, he said, picking her up. Everyone bows to Morgana.

Morgana? I thought Adira said that was her stepmother. Oh shit, my brain just fit the puzzle together. She did this to take over the pack... It was always about power with Morgana. Years of resentment built up between her and Edwin. Now it made sick sense, Morgana orchestrated this whole mess, selling out the pack to claim leadership for herself, even if it meant betraying her own pack.

A few girls were led to the fire. Adira was not among them. We walked closer.

"It's party time," Dran said, reaching out with his right hand. "Pick..."

He looked over the girls, picked one, and dragged her to one of the houses. He let them pick by rank.

Don’t worry, we will get more, everyone will be happy, he said

Dran, you said that tonight is mine, Morgana wine

"Nope," he said, pushing her away. "Bring her," he ordered.

My head snapped in the direction the man was going. He came out with Adira.

Brent grabbed my arm. Chill, not yet, he whispered.

He threw her at his feet. Dran lifted her head and said,

"Are you hurt?" Morgana spat her drink out and exclaimed.

Are you fucking stupid? This is Magnus’s mate.

So what? She’s mine now.

Dran, he will fucking rip you apart, that man is a savage, Morgana said

Adira smiled. Dran slapped her, and I growled loudly, apparently, because the rogues turned to me.

Take your filthy hands off my mate, I roared.

"Magnus, I have to say, you have balls of steel to come into my camp," Dran said.

"You and I fight like a man, Dran," I said. "I’m here to get her and tear you apart for even touching her."

Dran laughed. Morgana disappeared.

Rogues encircle them. I walked calmly to Adira and helped her up. I touched her face. "Go with Brent and don’t look back," I said.

She shook her head. "No, no way, Magnus. There are too many," she said.

"Let her go and fight me," I said.

Go, I said, smiling at Adira. I pushed her away from the circle. Brent grabbed her wrist and dragged her.

"Brent, no, I can’t leave him," she said. "They’ll kill him."

"We need to leave now, or we will die," Brent said. Adira broke loose and ran. "Call for help!" she said.

The rogues took one more step towards Magnus. Adira broke away from Brent and charged straight into the circle, shoving aside two shocked rogues. The circle broke as she crashed through, drawing all eyes. In that instant, Magnus lunged first, swinging his fist into the nearest rogue's jaw, sending him sprawling. Another rogue grabbed at Adira's arm, but she twisted free, kicking him in the knee. Brent rushed in to back her up, tackling one of the attackers to the ground. Chaos erupted. Three rogues lunged at Magnus at once; he dodged left and slammed one into the dirt, while Adira ducked a wild swing and slammed her elbow into another's stomach. The crowd surged, bodies colliding, and for a moment the fight became a tangle of arms, snarls, and desperate movement. Magnus caught Adira's gaze, both of them fighting back-to-back as more rogues rushed in.

They charged with knives at me, and that’s when something happened...

Adira started to glow...