Getting to the clearing in the sorcerer's place, Mia and her mother, who looked really tired, waited for the sorcerer to finish everything he was doing inside his little room where he consulted the ancient spirits.
Walking back to them, the sorcerer's face looking downward and sad, he spoke to them.
"The demon within Alex hasn't fully recovered itself yet, but it's very strong because of the years it has stayed inside the human body, being fed regularly." He raised his head and looked directly at Mia.
"I'm sorry we can't do this alone, my dear. You'll have to go back and mobilize warriors to go on this battle with us. The demon has so many followers who, in return, are powerful. We just can't face them head-on all by ourselves."
"Especially not when you know nothing about your powers. It'll be better you call for his parents' assistance because you can't hide it from them forever; he's their son, and they caused this anyway," the sorcerer concluded.
Mia's face looked sad; the longer the demon stayed within Alex, the more it drained everything from him and made him weak. But she also didn't understand what the last sentence of the sorcerer meant; she looked up at him.
"They caused this anyway? Is there something else I'll need to know about everything happening now?" Mia asked, concerned.
The sorcerer smiled without giving her any response, so Mia continued talking.
"I can't tell Heartman anything about this; he'll die. Nathalie is still missing, and he believes Alex is dead, so I can't break his heart more than it is now," she said as she was lost in her thoughts.
Why is it that they couldn't do anything now to save Alex? What if, before she could get warriors, Alex is already overpowered by the demon?
"Please, is there no way to slow the demon from taking over Alex's body? Wouldn't Alex die if this happens?" Mia asked, concerned.
"I know you're concerned about your husband, child, but the more we wait, the worse it becomes. So I'll advise you make your choice now," the sorcerer said.
He walked out of his place with Mia and Stella, her mom following closely behind him.
"This is the way leading to your pack; just go straight, and you'll be home," the sorcerer directed.
Mia and her mom thanked the sorcerer and headed out. Stella was concerned about her daughter, who remained moody since the sorcerer gave his advice and led them to the way back to their pack, though she was happy they were out of harm's way. But her daughter...
Stella couldn't take it anymore, and she called Jayden, her husband, but he wasn't replying. So she mindlinked him, and he responded immediately that he left his phone out.
Mia's mom explained what transpired to him, and he asked them to meet him close to the pack entrance; he was coming to them.
Unknown to Mia and her mom, Jayden was part of the demon subjects, and he and Hendrix had already planned on killing Mia before now.
Walking back home, Mia and her mom were attacked by a masked unknown person.
After struggling for some time, he stretched out his sword intending to strike Mia with it, but Stella ran between them, and it hit her instead of Mia.
Her mother, Stella, stood between them, her eyes wide with disbelief and pain. Blood trickled from the sword that was pressed into her stomach, a result of the act of bravery that had saved Mia's life.
The person tried running away, but then his mask slipped away, revealing his face. He turned to Mia, and with sad eyes, looked at Stella lying there on the ground.
Mia's heart pounded in her chest as she absorbed the shocking revelation before her. The assailant who had attacked her from behind, the very person she thought she could trust with her life, was none other than her own father. The mask slipped from his face, revealing his identity, and the world around her seemed to freeze in that moment.
Mia's father, now unmasked, looked at his daughter with a conflicted expression. His eyes, once filled with warmth and love, now carried a heavy burden. "Mia, I never wanted it to come to this," he said, his voice laced with regret. "But I had no choice. There are forces at play here that you cannot begin to understand." He said and ran so Mia couldn't see him anymore.
Realization struck her, bending down Mia dragged her mom, crying and shouting.
The betrayal stung Mia like a thousand needles piercing her heart. How could her father, the man who had raised her, protected her, and taught her right from wrong, be the one to turn against her now that she needed him the most? Was he also possessed? Was the demon using him as well to take control? Is the demon targeting wolf pack leaders so he can take control of all the wolf clans?
Thoughts ran through Mia's mind as she held her mom on the ground.