Chapter 45: Rejected by My Best Friend & Alpha

KILLIAN'S POV

"We're going to Greywood."

Marcus laughed. "You can't be serious. They're not going to welcome us there."

"Then we'll make them," I argued. "That's where Sarah took her. I'm sure of it. And whatever she has planned for Vivian, I'm sure it's not good."

Marcus stared at me. "You're serious."

I nodded. "And I'm coming with you. We're not just sending patrols. I'll meet with the Alpha, and we'll demand they release Vivian from their pack."

"Are you sure Vivian will like being torn from her pack?"

"I'm not giving her that choice right now. She can hate me later."

He patted me on the shoulder. "Okay, let's go save our Luna."

I grinned. "Knew I could count on you."

"You're the Alpha. Like I have much of a choice?"

*****

VIVIAN'S POV

"One, two, three," Sarah's voice echoed down the hall.

I groaned. Not the visitor I wanted right now. But I sat up anyway, rubbing my eyes, waiting for her to make her appearance. When she finally appeared before me, she was wearing a yellow gown, looking like she'd been pampered and not in mourning like I'm sure the rest of the pack was. "Hi, Sarah."

"It's been three hours. That means you have twenty-one left. I'm counting."

"I'm so glad you learned to tell time in hell."

She scrunched up her face. "I can't wait to see your head detached from your body."

"Then what will you do with your life? It seems revenge is all you're interested in and your only goal in life. Without me to torture, what will you do with yourself?"

She looked down at her nails. "Well, mate with Zeke, of course. And become the most powerful Luna in the land. Then overtake Blackmoon and squash Killian and our father."

I laughed. "You really think Greywood can take on Blackmoon? Greywood doesn't have magic. Blackmoon is ruthless and has magic. We just had a change of Alphas, too."

Sarah leaned in. "Blackmoon's magic is weak and getting weaker by the day. And with Killian not marrying into a magic source, they'll be drained by the next blood moon. They're weak and getting weaker. You think I haven't thought this through?"

I narrowed my eyes. "You're insane. Just leave. And send Chris to me. I'd like to say goodbye."

"So that's it? No fight in you? You're just going to say your goodbyes?"

I shrugged. "What am I going to do from a jail cell?"

She gripped the bars. "You're no fun when you give up."

"And you've never been fun."

She stuck a tongue out at me. "I'll see if Chris wants to see you. I'll allow you that decency. Just that. Only because it'll be nice for you to see how much he hates you again."

I smiled at her sweetly. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

With that, she turned and left, leaving me to my thoughts again. Laying back on the dirt floor, I stared at my hands. I didn't have much time. I wasn't powerful or knew anything about magic, but who knew what I could do?

I stared at my hand and willed myself to feel my energy pass through me. My fingertips glowed slightly, a smile lighting up my face. I sat up, running my fingers through the dirt.

Digging my fingers into the ground, I willed my energy into the ground, pressing and moving myself. Dirt moved, slightly trembling. Yes. I was getting somewhere. Not much, but somewhere. I heard a door slam. Awesome. Chris was coming. Hopefully.

I stood, wiping my hands on my jeans. I walked to the bars, waiting for him to appear. I just needed to touch him. Moments later he was there, not looking happy to see me. But I grinned at him anyway.

"Sam told me I needed to come see you. She said you wanted to say goodbye. I'm not sure why."

"Why wouldn't I want to say goodbye?"

"Because we don't like each other?" he said, shrugging.

"You were important to me once. And I was to you."

He shrugged again. "I suppose."

I needed to touch him. "Do you remember anything about our time together?"

"Not really. But I don't really care to."

"Oh."

"So if that's all, I really need to get going..."

He started to turn to leave. "Wait. I know there are bars and all, but could I possibly have...a hug?"

He spun around. "A hug?"

"You know I'm about to die, right? What's a hug going to do?"

He looked me up and down. "Sounds kind of suspicious. Why would you want to hug me?"

"Who else am I going to hug?"

"I mean...I guess. I just...okay. Just one hug, though."

I grinned. "Thank you."

I stuck my arms through the bar, waiting for him to enter my embrace, ready to press all my energy into him. This was my one shot. I needed this to work. He slowly stepped forward, almost nervously. He reached through the bars, wrapping his arms around me as I wrapped mine around him.

I squeezed tightly, immediately willing all energy into him, feeling like I was releasing electricity. I hope this wasn't dangerous, now that I thought about it. I had no idea what I was doing. He let out a pained sound and started to pull away, but I held on tightly, willing myself into him.

I felt darkness around him; I willed myself to fight against it. I was pushing and untangling it. I squeezed my eyes shut, gritting my teeth, as he started to struggle in my arms, pulling away. I held on, not wanting to let go. I felt like I was almost there when he finally jerked away, gasping.

"What...did you do?"

I stared at him, feeling like my body was weak. Did it work? "Are you okay?"

"Why does my body feel like lightning just struck it?"

"Did I hurt you?"

He ran his hands up and down his arms. "It's like static electricity is going through me. I'm not sure. I feel weird."

"What about your head?"

"It feels funny. Hazy."

"And what do you feel about me?"

He paused. Staring at me. "Confused."

"And Sa...mantha?"

"Confused. I feel like I need to get back to her...but I feel like I need to stay here."

He didn't hate me anymore. This was a start. I should've known I couldn't perfect curing him, but it was a start. I needed to get a healer from Blackmoon to cure him. Now I just needed his help to get the fuck out of her.

I reached out a hand to him. "Chris, I need you to listen to me. Do you remember what's going on here?"

He shook his head. "I'm not sure."

"I'm going to be killed for something I didn't do. You believe me, don't you?"

"Of course I do. Why would they kill you? We need to get you out of here, Vivid. What can I do?"

I grinned. "I'm not sure. That's something you're going to need to plan. I don't know what the guard situation is, but you're a warrior. I'm sure you can figure that out, right?"

He nodded. "You got it. Don't worry, Vivid. I got this."