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“You!” Karina looks shocked. “How did you get here?”

I get to my feet, Sophia in my arms. Marlene steps up beside me. “You handle her. We’ve got the witches.”

The battle that begins is unlike any other I have ever witnessed. I knew Marlene’s coven was a strong one, but I didn’t know how powerful they truly were until I saw them in action. It makes sense because the coven is very ancient. One by one, the witches drop.

It’s as if my presence has rejuvenated Sophia because, leaning against me, she targets the black wolves who are acting as if they’re possessed. The wolves drop and Karina howls in fury.

Marlene and the others are also helping her.

My eyes are on Karina, who is looking around in shock. Her eyes meet mine, and I sneer at her. “You buried me in my hometown? Sometimes I think I know how depraved you are, and then you go and surprise me again.”

“This time I’m going to kill you!” she snarls. Shifting, she leaps toward me, all teeth and claws.

But I’m ready for her. Nudging Sophia aside, I don’t even bother shifting. Grabbing Karina by the throat, I slam her on the ground on her back. She struggles in my hold, her claws scratching me, but I don’t blink.

“What did you say to me? Do you remember all the threats you made against Sophia? You’re going to die because of those threats.” I rake my claws into her belly, and she howls in agony.

“Without your witches and your dark magic, you’re weak,” I taunt her. “You never made a mark on this land. Your revenge was pathetic. Even in death, you kept my parents together. They were never separated from each other. They were always together.”

Madness fills her eyes, and Karina shifts back, screaming and clawing at me. “I’ll kill you first! I’ll kill you!”

I squeeze her neck. “No, you won’t. You’ve lost. And it wasn’t me that defeated you. It was my mate. You failed."

I don't torture her. I don't prolong her death.

I just snap her neck.

And just like that, the woman who has tormented the entire North Alliance for decades is dead, her eyes staring unseeing into the night sky.

Chapter 27

Alex

Karina’s death is so anticlimactic that I stare at the body for a few minutes, dazed.

Sophia’s hand on my back as she crouches beside me helps me focus.

“She’s gone,” I whisper. “Just like that. I always thought I would… I always imagined how I would kill her and then she died just like this. I just broke her neck.”

My mate’s fingers ran through my hair, her hands shaking. “This was the best way. She didn’t deserve your time and effort. She craved attention and importance and you didn’t give her either. This is the best way for her to die.”

I turn my head and bury my face in her chest. It seems childish, but I need her comfort. Sophia’s arms wrap around my head as she holds me to her. “It’s going to be okay. You can finally move on.”

I hold her to me, breathing in her scent, relieved that she is fine.

“The things she promised to do to you—” I begin, but my mate shakes her head. “Forget it. Forget her. We managed to prevent the war. You are safe. And we are together. That is all that matters. Everything else comes last.”

Just then, I hear a scream. “Grace!”

Sophia’s head jerks up and I look over to see her mother convulsing on the ground.

A large white wolf rushes towards her, but another is closer and faster. Logan shifts into his human form and picks up Grace. “We need a healer he-”

He doesn’t even get to finish the sentence before he collapses, Grace still in his arms. Sophia tries to approach him but a strange glow is emanating from her mother. No, it’s coming from both of them. I shield Sophia’s eyes as the entire world turns bright, far too bright. And then it’s gone.

Everything is back to normal.

However, both Logan and Grace are lying unconscious on the ground.

The white wolf reaches them first and shifts into Cyrus.

But his eyes widen and he stumbles back. “How is this possible?”

“What’s going on?” Sophia cries out, heading over. Then she too, goes still.

The fighting stopped the minute Karina died. I walk over to see what has everybody so shellshocked and that’s when I catch it. Grace and Logan’s scent. It’s intermingled.

It’s like that of two mates.

Sophia looks at me slowly. “Tell me I’m dreaming.”

I crouch down and check the side of Logan’s neck. I see a clear mating mark where there had been none before. Her mother has the same mark on her neck.

“I told you she concealed the mating mark.” There is smug satisfaction in Marlene’s voice. “Who knew that her mate was with you all along. You should’ve been nicer to your father-in-law, Alex.”

I glare at her before muttering, “He always said I wasn't good enough for Sophia. Now he's going to hold it over my head, probably blame me for getting captured as well."

Sophia sinks to the ground, staring at her two unconscious parents. “How is this possible?”

“Your father must’ve been captured by the dark witches.” I put my hand on her shoulder.

Sophia shakes her head at me. “Shouldn’t he have recognized my scent? I mean, he’s my father.”

“I think it’s better for you to take the two of them away from here,” Marlene advises. I glance at Cyrus, who looks like his entire world has fallen apart. He'd probably hoped his daughter's mate was dead.

“Your mother.” I nudge Sophia. “Look at her face. Her color is getting better."

Her cheeks are flushed a bright red and Sophia purses her lips, trying to calm down. “Okay. We have to get them to a safe location. Everything else can be figured out after."

"The closest place here is my old hometown," I say, hesitantly.

"Alex?"

I look over my shoulder to see Patrick standing a few feet from me.