Chapter 50 — Fagua

All too soon, Sky kissed my shoulder to rouse me from sleep. It was still pitch-black outside, but instead of groaning and snuggling down into the covers, I leapt out of bed. My nerves raked my insides as I quickly showered and dressed. My hands shook as I brushed out my hair.

As much as I knew this was the right thing to do, going against my father and the pack wasn't going to be easy.

My entire life, I thought he was a great alpha. Now I saw why he'd kept me in Small Heath like a cage. Used my mother's magic to keep me trapped. How I'd wanted to go to Vegas ever since I was a teenager, except every time I got to the limits of our small town, I had an overwhelming desire to hurry back home.

It had been him keeping me where he wanted me. Until Keith. A human who had snuck into our town, paid by Winter, Sky, and Husk, to get me out.

I hadn't thought it odd when he asked me to marry him and I said yes. I'd never been so impetuous in my entire life. We had a slam-dunk wedding in Vegas. But later on, I discovered he'd done that to try and get more money out of Husk, Sky, and Winter. Keith hadn't really loved me and hadn't even told me the necklace he gave me was from them, something to help block my mother's power over me not being able to leave town.

I let out a breath and put the hairbrush on the counter. My magic was flaking out and I just had to hold it together until we faced off with my dad. Being with Husk had recharged me.

"I'll be fine," I told my reflection.

"Ready?" Winter called from the bedroom doorway.

I nodded, not trusting my voice at the moment. My stomach was tying itself in knots, but this had to be done. We had to stop my dad before he hurt anyone else.

Winter tugged me out of the bathroom and kissed me. "It'll be okay."

I was going to meet my dad.

I was going to try to convince him to stop.

I had no idea how, but it was too late to run.

"Time to face the music," I said, trying to joke and ease the tension pressing on my chest.

"Don't think too much about it," Sky said. "Just trust your instincts."

Sky's hand covered mine and squeezed.

I turned my hand and laced our fingers together.

"Let's go," he said quietly and gave me a soft smile.

The walk to the main part of the penthouse was short but felt like it took forever. The farther we went, the harder my heart raced. I nodded again and followed Husk out the back door.

The air was chilly and invigorating.

When we reached Winter's Maserati Gran Turismo, I had to grip the door frame to keep from falling.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It was now or never.

I gripped my hands and squeezed until my knuckles turned white. The scent of adrenaline flooded my nose as my heart raced. I was sick with fear, but I had to do this. I had to stop my dad from being alpha. There was no doubt he would hurt Sky, Winter, and Husk if I didn't stop him. We took a private jet to Minnesota, which I should've been giddy to do, but I guzzled vodka and passed out.

We landed and Winter ordered a BMW. Sky slid into the back seat with me while Winter took the driver's seat and Husk sat shotgun. We rode mostly in silence. The only sounds were the radio and the wind whistling past the windows. It took almost an hour to get to the town, but every mile felt like a year.

"Should we try to convince your dad to step down first?" Sky asked, laying his hand over my fist, and I let out a shaky breath.

"He'll never listen," I said, recalling all the times I argued with him about letting me leave town for even a holiday. "We're going to have to take him down. There's no way he's going to listen to us. He's been like this for years."

A growl rumbled out of Husk and he shifted to look over his shoulder at me. "No taking chances, Fagua. You stay back and throw your magic. Let us handle the fists and teeth."

Our argument about my magic being unstable flashed in my mind. But I couldn't wait. If we didn't do this, it gave my dad more strength to come after us.

"If that's the case, we'll take him," Winter said in a cold, hard voice so different from when we were alone together.

A chill raced down my spine, knowing that if Pa had a chance, he would hurt them. I couldn't let that happen. Even if I had to burn out my magic to keep them safe and stop my dad.

I shook my head. "No. I'm just saying, I don't want us to go in there thinking we can reason with him. I tried... through my mom. But he has her and everyone brainwashed."

"Then we'll have to wake everyone up," Sky said and then he leaned over to kiss me. I slid my fingers into his silky, dark hair.

"Fagua, we can take him down," Winter insisted, but in the rearview mirror his brow furrowed. Going up against an alpha and a few rogue wolves was one thing. Fighting a whole town of wolves was another.

"Fagua?" Husk growled sharply. The brooding tension poured between his words, and I wanted to give him the reassurance he and the others needed. I breathed deep and slow, counting each inhale and exhale. Calm, chilled air filled my lungs and it soothed me.

I trusted Sky, Winter, and Husk, but if they got in over their heads, I would do what I had to.

The closer we got to town, the more nervous I got. If I lost control of my magic, I had no way to stop my dad or anyone.

I gripped the door handle and pressed my cheek to the cool glass.

Sky's hand slid over mine, but his touch didn't have the same calming effect as it had last time. Within a few minutes, we pulled to the edge of the woods outside of town.

My heart hammered against my ribs as nerves took over and the reality of what was going to occur hit me full force. Sure, we talked about it. Planned it all. But it was one thing talking about it and hoping that it wouldn't need to happen—even if subconsciously, I knew that wasn't going to be the case—and something totally different when it came time to put it into action.

My magic grew restless. I wanted my dad out of my life, out of everyone's lives, and I'd do whatever it took to make that happen, even if it meant attacking him head on.

Winter stopped the car, switching off the engine. Husk opened the car door and I slid out.

A cold sweat broke out over my skin. I couldn't get enough air into my lungs.

Sky took my hand.

It wasn't enough.

"Breathe, Fagua. Breathe," Sky said soothingly.

Winter came and took my other hand. "You can do this."

Even Husk walked over and stood behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"We've got this if you want to stay here," Husk said in a voice that sounded more like a command than a suggestion.

I shook my head. "No. No way."

Husk leaned over and squeezed my shoulder. "We'll be fine, Fagua."

Warmth spread from his hand into me.

"I know," I squeaked.

I centered myself with a deep breath.

Winter lightly squeezed my hand. "We're with you, Fagua."

"I know," I said, staring at the forest ahead. I wouldn't let fear control me. Fear never did any good. I could do this.

I just had to have faith in myself and my magic. After I murmured a spell of protection and for our clothes to manifest on us if we switched back from wolf to human, I checked my phone.

"Mayia, Rebecca, and the others are almost here," I announced.

"Good." Winter scanned the road. "Remember, stay in your wolf form until you need to use your magic. You'll be a distraction and they won't know you're even here until it's too late."

I shivered and fought against the nerves twisting inside me. Part of me didn't want to hurt Pa, and certainly not Ma or any of the people in this town. Sure, there were bad people and bullies, but there were so many more great wolves here. People I'd grown up with and saw everyday for years until I left SmallHeath. Could I fight them?

"Okay," I said as I typed the text. "They're pulling onto the road now." The plan was for them to head directly down the main drag of town and meet us at the center. "It's time."

I sucked in a deep breath, attempting to calm the anxiety in my gut and tensing muscles, but it didn't really work.

"Hey." Sky tugged on my hair and tilted my chin so my gaze met his. He gave me a small smile. "If we can't get him to listen and if he tries to hurt you, then don't hesitate. Use your magic and protect yourself. You're strong and we'll be right here."

I nodded. After one last look at my men, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I imagined my body transforming and how I wanted to look. I drew on my magic and focused on being a vibrantly colored wolf.

When my magic filled me, I let out a breath as my body shifted. Soon, I was on all fours, my furred back pressed to Sky's. I tilted my head so I could see him. He winked in his wolf form.

Winter rubbed his nose to mine.

I took another deep breath and tried to feel confident, but I knew I was still shaking.

There was no going back now.

The four of us snuck through the forest, getting closer and closer to town.

The ground felt weird beneath my paws. The forest was too still and quiet. But the damp smell of pine and decomposing leaves was the same. The air was freezing, and I was glad as a wolf I had a thicker coat than my human clothes of black pants and a T-shirt.

A smell tickled my senses.

I lifted my nose and inhaled.

Smoke.

I glanced at the sky. There were no clouds in sight, but the smell of burning wood was unmistakable.

It couldn't be a forest fire, or there would be animals heading away from the flames. I couldn't sense any magic either.

I let out a whine, lifting my nose to the sky for the others. Husk growled and Sky let out a yip, letting me know that they understood me.

We were going into a war zone. We had to be ready for anything. I swallowed a lump in my throat and tried to force myself to calm down.

I looked at Sky, Winter, and Husk as we raced through the forest. My heart, my magic, and all the feelings they inspired in me overpowered my fear.

Husk led us down a dirt path to the main road.

My pulse raced and I took a deep breath to try and get it back to normal. My breathing sounded too loud in my ears. I tried to slow it down, but my heart wasn't cooperating. I was so twitchy.

Mayia's van shimmed to a stop and a few of SmallHeath's wolves sniffed the air, then lowered their heads, teeth exposed. The wolves stirred and growled low in their throats.

Rebecca and her husband climbed out with Mayia, followed by several guys I didn't recognize. They circled Mayia as though shielding her, and I wondered briefly if these were guys she had told me about.

"You're not welcome here. Leave!" Charlie, who ran the mail, shouted.

In front of me, Husk and Winter shifted into their human forms. Their clothes transformed with them. Sky remained in his wolf form, not leaving my side.

"We didn't come here to hurt anyone. Just turn over your alpha and we'll leave."

Several of the wolves snarled.

One of the men laughed. "Good luck with that."

"He's not here," Charlie, the weathered mailman said. His stance was firm, unwavering.

"If that's the case, we'll deal with him later. But we need to talk to everyone," Winter said.

A wolf near Winter snapped its teeth too close to him for my liking, but Winter didn't flinch.

"There's nothing to talk about," Charlie said.

"There is," Rebecca said with a scowl. "In fact, it seems pretty damn obvious what's going on. Your alpha sent wolves to attack Fagua's mates." She waved a hand at Husk, Winter, and Sky. "They bonded and he wants to kill them so he can sell her. How can you allow that? It's a crime, an atrocity."

They knew as well as I did what mating meant for us wolves, yet I only saw a few of the wolves shift uncomfortably beneath her gaze.

"There's nothing to talk about," Charlie said again.

"We've seen what your alpha is doing and we're not going to just stand by while he hurts hundreds of people," Winter said.

Martha, the town librarian, walked up to Rebecca and sneered. "As if we'd believe the lies that you and your friends have to say about our alpha. Our alpha is a great leader." She glanced around at the other wolves, many of whom nodded. "All we have here is rogue wolves, two traitors"—she pointed to Rebecca and her husband—"and a half-breed vampire. They deserve to die."

"They're here to harm our alpha. We need to take them down." Charlie raised his fist, shaking it in the air.

Winter and Husk shifted back into their wolves.

Wolves circled us. We were so outnumbered it wasn't even funny. Why did I think we could handle this? Why did I think we could get through my dad's influence to reach these wolves?

My dad appeared out of nowhere, standing in front of us dressed in his usual Sunday clothes, his face blank but his eyes filled with venom. I couldn't look at him. I let out a soft whine, my body trembling. Terror struck me.

In my gut, I knew I would never be able to forgive him for this.

My father's nostrils flared. "I know your kind," he said, spitting the words out. "I know what you're capable of, but you will not take over my town. No one and nothing ever gets in the way of my plans."

He gestured to someone coming out of the diner. "Kill them all."

I spun around.

Mom stepped out onto the street, her face twisted in fury. Her lips moved as she muttered curses, increasing the power of the spell she had created. She looked at Mayia, then Rebecca—my friends—and pointed a finger at them.

My skin went cold and icy, and my hair stood on end as my magic took over. It was the sensation that someone had just dumped ice water on me and my body was trying to warm itself. The fiery magic inside me pushed against my skin until it popped and sizzled. I cracked like an egg dropped on pavement when I shifted into my human form.

I let my magic take over, flowing through me.