Chapter 4

"Five million dollars?" I paced Dimitri's office, trying to process the magnitude of what Holden had done. "Where did he even get that kind of money?"

"Serena's family. The Blackthornes own half of Seattle." Dimitri pulled up something on his laptop. "But that's not the worst part. Look."

He turned the screen toward me. A video played—Holden at a podium, addressing what looked like hundreds of wolves. His face was perfectly composed, the loving Alpha everyone believed him to be.

"My ex-mate, Camille Bell, is a hybrid abomination who has been hiding among us," his recorded voice said. "She killed her own mother in a fit of rage when she was young, and now she's kidnapped my daughter. She is dangerous and unstable."

"That's a lie!" I slammed my hand on the desk, and it splintered under my touch. I stared at the cracked wood in shock.

"Your strength is increasing too." Dimitri observed calmly. "The witch blood is enhancing your wolf abilities."

"I was three when my mother died. How could I have killed her?"

"You didn't. But the truth won't matter if enough wolves believe him." He closed the laptop. "We need to get to your aunt before the bounty hunters find you."

A knock interrupted us. Thea entered with Luna, who was wearing new clothes and carrying a small backpack decorated with wolves.

"Miss Thea got me travel supplies!" Luna announced proudly. "And she taught me how to mindlink!"

I looked at Thea in surprise. Mindlinking usually didn't develop until after the first shift at sixteen.

"She's remarkably advanced," Thea said. "Her wolf is already partially awakened."

"That's impossible. She's only six."

"Almost seven," Luna corrected. "And I can hear Starlight talking to me sometimes."

"Starlight?"

"My wolf. She says hi to your wolf, Mommy."

I hadn't heard from my wolf since rejecting Holden. I reached for her, but found only silence. The suppressants had damaged more than I'd realized.

"We leave in an hour," Dimitri said. "Thea, you're in charge while I'm gone."

"You're coming with us?" I asked, surprised.

"You think I'd send you alone with a five million dollar bounty on your head?" He stood, and his presence filled the room. "Besides, Morgana hates wolves. You'll need me to get through her door."

"Why does she hate wolves?"

"Because a wolf killed her sister." His eyes met mine meaningfully.

My stomach dropped. "She thinks I killed my mother?"

"No. She knows exactly who killed your mother." His expression darkened. "Former Alpha Ford. Holden's father."

The room spun. "What?"

"Your mother didn't die in a rogue attack, Camille. She was executed for the crime of loving a wolf and bearing a hybrid child."

"My father—"

"Was your mother's true mate. A wolf from a disbanded pack. Alpha Ford killed him first, then your mother. But not before she hid you and cast a spell to make everyone forget the truth."

I sank into a chair, legs shaking. "Holden knew. He knew his father murdered my parents."

"Yes. And he married you to make sure you never found out. To control you, just in case you inherited your mother's power."

Luna climbed into my lap, sensing my distress. "It's okay, Mommy. We have a new family now."

Through my tears, I saw Dimitri watching us with an expression I couldn't read. For a moment, his carefully controlled mask slipped, and I saw something raw and painful underneath.

"We should go," he said roughly, turning away.

An hour later, we were in an SUV heading south. Luna slept in the back while I sat beside Dimitri, trying to process everything.

"Tell me about my aunt," I said quietly.

"Morgana is... intense. She runs a supernatural bar in the French Quarter. Neutral ground for all species." He glanced at me. "She's also one of the most powerful witches alive."

"More powerful than my mother was?"

"Different. Your mother was a seer and healer. Morgana is a war witch."

"War witch?"

"She specializes in combat magic. During the Witch-Wolf War fifty years ago, she killed over a hundred wolves single-handedly."

I shivered. "And you think she'll help me?"

"She'll help you. You're her only family left." He paused. "But she might try to kill me."

"What? Why?"

"Because I was there the night your mother died. She thinks I could have saved her."

"Could you have?"

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. "No. I was seventeen, barely able to control my own shift. Your mother made me run, made me promise to protect you when the time came."

"You've been watching me all these years?"

"From a distance. I couldn't interfere directly without raising suspicions, but yes. Every time Holden hurt you, every humiliation you suffered... I knew."

Anger flared. "You knew and did nothing?"

"I did what your mother asked. I waited until your powers manifested." He glanced at me. "If I'd taken you before, without your witch side active, you would have been defenseless against what's coming."

"What's coming?"

Before he could answer, the car lurched sideways. Something had slammed into us. Through the window, I saw three massive wolves running alongside the vehicle.

"Bounty hunters," Dimitri growled, accelerating. "Hold on."

Another impact, harder this time. Luna woke up with a scream.

"Mommy!"

"It's okay, baby!" But it wasn't. The SUV was being forced off the road.

"Take the wheel," Dimitri commanded.

"What?"

He was already moving, climbing into the back. "Drive straight, don't stop for anything."

Through the rearview mirror, I watched him open the sunroof. Then he was gone, leaping onto the road in full wolf form—a massive black beast twice the size of a normal wolf.

The attacking wolves tried to scatter, but Dimitri was faster. He took one down instantly, teeth finding its throat. The second tried to run. Dimitri's paw swept its legs, sending it flying.

The third wolf was smarter. It went for the car tires.

The SUV swerved as the rear tire exploded. I fought for control, but we were spinning toward the trees.

"Hold on!" I wrapped one arm around Luna, the other gripping the wheel.

We hit the tree line. Branches shattered the windshield. Luna screamed. The world turned upside down as we rolled.

When everything stopped, we were hanging upside down, held by seatbelts. Blood dripped from a cut on my forehead.

"Luna? Baby, are you okay?"

"My arm hurts," she whimpered.

I could smell wolves approaching. Not just three—dozens.

"Well, well." A familiar voice made my blood freeze. Marcus, Holden's Beta, stepped into view. "Five million dollars, delivered right to us."

He wasn't alone. At least twenty Silver Creek wolves surrounded the overturned vehicle.

"Where's your protector now?" Marcus sneered.

A roar shook the forest. Dimitri burst from the trees, taking down two wolves before they could react. But even he couldn't fight twenty alone.

That burning sensation filled my chest again. But this time, I didn't fight it.

"Luna, close your eyes."

The fire that erupted from me wasn't like before. This was an inferno. It circled the car in a protective barrier, so hot the nearest wolves yelped and retreated.

"Witch!" Marcus snarled. "Kill her!"

They tried to advance, but the flames responded to my will, lashing out like whips. One wolf got too close and howled as fire scorched its flank.

Let me out, a voice whispered in my mind. Not my wolf—something else. Something ancient and powerful.

"I don't know how—"

Yes, you do. You've always known. Let me FREE.

I stopped fighting. Stopped thinking. I just... let go.

Power exploded from me in a wave that flattened trees and sent wolves flying. When my vision cleared, I was standing outside the ruined car, Luna safely in my arms. My body glowed with crimson light, and my eyes—I could see their reflection in Marcus's terrified face—burned gold.

"What are you?" he whispered.

"I am Camille Bell," I heard myself say, though the voice was mine and not mine. "Daughter of Rose Bell, last Queen of the Crimson Coven. And you made a mistake coming after my child."

Marcus tried to run. I raised my hand, and he froze mid-step, held by invisible chains.

"Tell Holden something for me," I said softly. "Tell him the real war is just beginning."

I released him. He fled without looking back, his remaining wolves following.

The power faded as suddenly as it came. I collapsed, Luna still in my arms.

"Camille!" Dimitri was there, catching us both. "What did you just do?"

"I don't know." My voice was weak. "There was a voice..."

His expression turned grim. "We need to get to Morgana. Now."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"That wasn't just your power, Camille." He lifted us easily, carrying us to another pack vehicle that had arrived with reinforcements. "Something else is inside you. Something that shouldn't exist."

"What?"

He met my eyes, and I saw fear there—real fear from an Alpha who'd faced down twenty wolves without flinching.

"Your mother didn't just bind your powers before she died. She bound something else. Something she took from the ones who killed her." He paused. "You're carrying the spirit of the First Witch. And if we can't control her, she'll consume you from the inside out."

Luna stirred in my arms. "Mommy? The pretty lady in my dreams says she's been waiting to meet you."

"What pretty lady, baby?"

"The one with red hair like fire. She says her name is Scarlett, and she's very, very angry."