Chapter 32: The Warehouse

We got back to the gym around noon.

The pack surrounded us. Questions flying.

"What did they say?"

"What's the plan?"

"How bad is it?"

Cole held up his hand. "Meeting. Common room. Now."

Everyone gathered. I stood at the front with Cole. Tried to look calm.

Inside, I was falling apart.

"The Council gave us information about the demon army," Cole said. "They're planning a full attack in three days. Every major city. Every pack territory."

"How many demons?" Alex asked.

"Thousands. Maybe more," I said. "They've been gathering for months."

"Can we win?" Stacey asked.

I wanted to say yes. Wanted to give them hope.

But winning meant my death. And Cole's death.

"We can win," I said. "But it won't be easy. We need to unite every pack. Train. Prepare."

"The Council is sending word to all Alphas," Cole added. "Mandatory gathering tomorrow night. Here."

The pack looked nervous. Scared. But determined.

"What do we do until then?" Marcus asked.

"We train," I said. "We prepare."

The pack dispersed.

I started to follow but Cole caught my arm.

"You're not telling me something," he said quietly. "Something big."

"I know."

"Are you going to tell me?"

"I don't know. Maybe. When I figure out what it means."

He searched my face. "Whatever it is, we face it together. Right?"

I nodded. Didn't trust my voice.

He pulled me close. Kissed the top of my head. "I love you."

"I love you too."

More than he'd ever know.

I spent the rest of the day training. Trying not to think about the prophecy.

But it was always there.

Three days. That's all I had left.

By evening, I was exhausted.

I ate dinner with the pack. Forced myself to smile. To act normal.

But inside, I was counting down to midnight.

At eleven, I excused myself. Said I was tired.

Cole walked me to my room. "You sure you're okay?"

"Just tired. Today was a lot."

"I know. Get some rest."

He kissed me. Slow. Deep.

When he pulled away, I almost told him everything.

But I couldn't. Not yet.

"Goodnight," I said.

"Goodnight."

He left. I waited until his footsteps faded. Then I got dressed. Black clothes. Boots. Jacket.

I climbed out the window. Shifted partially. Just enough for enhanced senses.

Then I ran.

The warehouse on Fifth Street was on the edge of town. Abandoned. Dark. Quiet.

Perfect for a trap.

I approached carefully. Checked the area.

Nothing. The place seemed empty.

I walked to the entrance. The door was unlocked.

Inside was dark. Cold. Only moonlight gave light.

"Hello?" I called out.

"You came." A voice from the shadows.

I tensed. Ready to fight or run.

A figure stepped into the light.

A woman. Maybe thirty. Long red hair. Green eyes. Beautiful.

Completely unfamiliar.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"My name is Morgana. I'm a witch. And I'm here to save your life."

"How do you know about the prophecy?"

"Because I've been studying it for ten years. Ever since I learned the Council was hiding the truth."

"What truth?"

"That the prophecy doesn't have to end the way they say. There's another way."

My heart raced. "Tell me."

"The prophecy says you must die. That your mate must die. But it doesn't say you have to stay dead."

"What do you mean?"

"There's a ritual. Ancient magic. It can bring you back. Both of you. After the demons are banished."

"That's impossible. Death is final."

"Not always. Not if the death is a sacrifice. Not if the magic is strong enough." She pulled out a book. Old. Worn. "I found this in my grandmother's collection. A resurrection spell. One that works on prophesied sacrifices."

I took the book. Looked at the pages. Words in a language I didn't know.

"How do I know this is real?"

"You don't. But what do you have to lose? You're already planning to die. This gives you a chance to come back."

She had a point.

"What's the catch?" I asked.

"The ritual requires three things. Your blood. Your mate's blood. And a willing sacrifice."

"What kind of sacrifice?"

"A life. Someone has to die in your place. Permanently."

My stomach dropped. "So someone else has to die so I can live?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"That's up to you. Anyone who volunteers. Anyone willing to trade their life."

I thought about my pack. About asking one of them to die for me.

I couldn't do it.

"There has to be another way," I said.

"There isn't." Morgana looked at me seriously. "But think about it. If you die and stay dead, the pack loses their Luna. Cole dies. Everyone grieves. But if you come back, the pack stays strong. The only cost is one life instead of two."

"One innocent life."

"Or one guilty life. It doesn't have to be someone from your pack. It could be an enemy. Someone who deserves to die."

I thought about Brian. About my mother.

Could I sacrifice one of them?

"How much time do I have to decide?" I asked.

"Until the moment you die. The ritual can be performed after. But you need to prepare. Gather ingredients. Find your sacrifice."

"And if I don't?"

"Then you stay dead. Cole stays dead. The world moves on without you."

I looked at the book.

This could be the answer. The way to save myself and Cole.

But it required someone else to die.

Was I willing to make that choice?

"I need to think about it," I said.

"Don't think too long. You have three days." Morgana handed me a piece of paper. "This is a list of ingredients. And instructions."

I took it. Folded it. Put it in my pocket.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked.

"Because it's right. The Council has been lying to Luna Alphas for centuries. Sending them to their deaths when there was always another way."

"How do you know?"

"Because my grandmother was supposed to be Luna Alpha. Three hundred years ago. She refused the prophecy. Chose to live. And the Council banished her." Morgana's eyes hardened. "I'm helping you because I don't want another Luna to suffer."

She turned to leave. Then stopped. "One more thing. Don't tell the Council. Don't tell your pack. They'll try to stop you."

"Is it dark magic?"

"All magic is dark if used wrong. All magic is light if used right. It's about intention. Your intention is to save lives. That's survival."

She disappeared.

I stood there. Holding the book. Holding the list.

A way to live. A way to save Cole.

All it cost was one life.

But whose?

I walked back to the gym. Climbed through my window.

Hid the book under my mattress.

Then I lay down. Stared at the ceiling.

Three days to decide.

Die and stay dead.

Or die and come back.

But only if I was willing to sacrifice someone else.

The choice should have been easy.

But it wasn't.

Because either way, someone was going to die.

The question was, who?

And could I live with that choice?