Chapter 43: Preparation for War

Three hours to sunset. Three hours to prepare.

The gym turned into a war room. Maps everywhere. Weapons laid out. The three old Lunas drew symbols on the floor with chalk and blood.

"This is the binding circle," Yara explained. "When the demon enters, it can't leave. Trapped until we finish the exorcism."

"How do we get it inside the circle?" I asked through Cole.

"You." Mei pointed at us. "The demon wants Cole. Wants to possess the Alpha too. It will come close to try."

"Then what?"

"Then we strike. All five Luna powers at once. Rip it from Lita's body." Rosa looked grim. "But we need to weaken it first. That's where your mother comes in."

My mother stood nearby. Quiet. Pale. She'd changed into all white. Ritual clothes.

"The sacrifice happens first," The Elder explained. "Her death releases energy. Pure energy. We use that to weaken the demon's hold."

"Will it hurt?" my mother asked.

"Yes. But only for a moment." Yara's old eyes were kind. "Then peace. Finally."

My mother nodded. Accepted it.

I felt sick. Even sharing Cole's body, I felt sick.

My mother was going to die. For me. In three hours.

"Can I talk to her?" I asked. "Alone?"

The Elder nodded. "Five minutes. Then we need to finish preparations."

Cole walked to my mother. We stood facing her.

"Hi, Mom," I said through his voice.

"Hi, baby." She smiled. Tears in her eyes. "This is so weird. Hearing you through him."

"I know."

"Are you okay in there? Is it uncomfortable?"

"It's strange. But I'm okay." I paused. "Are you sure about this? About dying?"

"I've never been more sure about anything." She touched Cole's face. Touched where I was. "I destroyed your life. James's life. This is the only way I can fix it."

"You can't fix it. But you can help end it."

"That's all I want. To help. To matter. To do one good thing before I go."

Silence. So much to say. No words fit.

"I love you," I said finally. "I know I shouldn't. After everything. But I do."

"I love you too. More than you'll ever know." She wiped her eyes. "Tell Cole to take care of both of you. However this ends."

"I will."

"And Lita? If you get your body back. If you survive. Live. Really live. Don't waste time like I did."

"I won't. I promise."

She hugged Cole. Hugged me through him.

"Goodbye, baby. See you on the other side."

She walked away before I could respond.

I would have cried if I had eyes.

Cole's emotions mixed with mine. Grief. Love. Determination.

"We'll make this count," he said in our shared mind. "We'll make her sacrifice mean something."

"Yeah. We will."

Alex walked over. "They're ready. The ritual circle is done. We just need to wait for the demon."

"How do we call it?"

"Already done. Stacey sent a message. Challenge from the Alpha. The demon accepted. It's coming at sunset."

"Where?"

"The old warehouse. Five miles north. We set up there." Alex looked at us. At Cole's body. "You sure about this? Once we start, there's no going back."

"I'm sure," I said.

"Same," Cole added.

"Alright then." Alex handed us a knife. "You'll need this. To cut the circle open when it's time."

Cole took it. The blade felt heavy in his hand. Our hand.

"One more thing," Alex said. "If this goes wrong. If you don't make it. I want you to know you were a good Luna. Even for just a few days."

"Thanks, Alex."

"And Cole? You're the best Alpha I've ever served. It's been an honor."

Cole's throat got tight. Our throat. "It's not over yet. Don't say goodbye."

"I'm not. Just in case." Alex smiled. Sad. "See you on the battlefield."

He left.

The next two hours passed in a blur. Last minute preparations. Wolves gathering. The three old Lunas chanting. Power building.

The Elder pulled us aside. "I need to tell you something. About the exorcism."

"What?"

"There's a chance it won't work. The demon is too strong. Too entrenched." She looked serious. "If that happens, we have a backup plan."

"What plan?"

"We kill Lita's body. Completely. No chance of revival. The demon dies with it."

My consciousness froze. "You'd kill me?"

"We'd kill the body. You'd still exist. In Cole. Forever." The Elder's face was hard. "Better than letting the demon use your power to destroy everything."

"Does Cole know about this?"

"He does now." Cole's voice was tight. Angry. "And I say no. We don't kill her body. We find another way."

"There might not be another way."

"Then we die trying. But we don't give up on her." Cole's determination filled our shared mind. "That's final."

The Elder looked at him. Then nodded. "Alright. We do it your way. But if things go wrong, don't blame me."

Sunset came too fast.

The packs gathered outside. Hundreds of wolves in human form. Armed. Ready.

The three old Lunas stood in the binding circle. Power radiating from them.

My mother stood at the center. White clothes. Calm face. Ready to die.

And in the distance, I felt it. Through the mate bond. Through the Luna connection.

My body. Coming closer. The demon inside it.

"It's here," Mei said.

Everyone tensed. Ready.

Through the warehouse door, my body walked in.

But wrong. All wrong.

Eyes glowing red. Smile too wide. Movements jerky and unnatural.

The demon wearing me like a suit.

"Hello, Cole." My voice but not mine. Multiple tones. Wrong. "Ready to join your mate? We can be together forever. In me."

"Get out of her body," Cole growled.

"Make me." The demon laughed. "Oh wait. You can't. She's mine now. Forever."

"We'll see about that."

Cole stepped toward the circle. The bait. Drawing it in.

The demon followed. Eyes locked on us. Hungry. Greedy.

"That's it," Yara whispered. "Just a little closer."

The demon stepped into the circle.

The trap snapped shut.

Light exploded. The binding symbols glowed bright. Power surged.

The demon screamed. Tried to leave. Couldn't.

"Now!" The Elder shouted.

My mother stepped forward. Pulled out a knife.

"I give my life for hers." She pressed the blade to her heart. "I give my life for hers." Blood started flowing. "I give my life for hers."

She fell. Dead before she hit the ground.

Energy exploded from her body. Pure. White. Powerful.

It slammed into the demon. Into my body.

The demon screamed louder. Weakening.

"Now, Lunas! Exorcise it! Now!"

The four Lunas began chanting. Ancient words. Power building.

And I felt it. The pull. My body calling to my soul.

Calling me home.

"It's working," I said.

"Then go," Cole said. "Go back to your body."

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine. Go. Before we lose the chance."

I hesitated. We'd been together. Safe. Now I had to leave.

"Go, Lita. I'll be right here when you get back."

I let go. Let myself be pulled.

Toward my body. Toward the demon. Toward the fight of my life.

The last thing I heard was Cole's voice.

"I love you. Come back to me."

Then everything went white.