Chapter 73

MILA

I stared back at the mirror in complete shock. I don't think I have done anything so outrageous. I had bright red hair, and Luke even styled it for me.

"What do you think?" asked Luke, taking a step back to suss out his masterpiece.

I grinned. "It's definitely different," I said as I turned my head to the side. I glanced back and noticed Luke was smiling, but Archer was leaning on the doorframe with widened eyes. "Little dove, you look fabulous."

I smiled.

Archer pushed off the door and walked over to me. He placed his hands on my shoulders and gently squeezed. He leaned toward me and kissed my head. "You look stunning," he said.

Archer moved, and I took him in. Archer had a haircut, he had short hair before, but this was cut short. His clothes had been changed into something more fashionable. If he weren't my guardian, I would find him attractive.

Sapphire looks through my eyes and smiles. "You look amazing," she said and glanced back at Archer. Sapphire cocked her head to the side and frowned. "Why does Archer look like that?" she asked.

"We both needed a change, I guess," I said.

Sapphire huffed out. "He looked better before," she said.

"I will tell him that little wolf," said Drack, as his voice came floating into my head. "Little dove looks so pretty."

I couldn't help but smile.

"I think we used up all of our time here," said Luke from the other room. I looked over my shoulder and noticed Luke peaking through the curtains.

Luke looked around and locked eyes with Archer. "We have company," he said.

Sapphire was up on all fours, ready.

I could feel my power burn inside me.

"Who's out there?" I asked him.

Luke looked at me but looked toward Archer. "Rogues," he said. "Something else too."

Archer growled. "Little dove, you need to stay here," he said. "We need to make sure you are not recognized."

I frowned.

"I want to help," I said, feeling like a child all of a sudden.

"Little dove," says Archer with a firm voice. "I won't tell you again. You need to stay here; we need to protect you."

Archer stared at me but turned and walked to Luke. "Come on," he said as he pulled open the door to the room.

Both men walked out, and Luke shut the door behind him.

I move quickly to the window.

Sapphire was close; she was pissed just as much as I was.

"We need to be out there," she said with a low growl.

"You don't have to tell me," I said. I saw eight men walking toward Archer and Luke as I looked through the curtains.

They were outnumbered.

I could help.

I was about to move when one of the men shouted. "HAND OVER THE WOLF," he yelled.

Sapphire growled loud.

Our power was boiling with our rage as we watched on.

"DON'T THINK SO," shouted Luke. "HOW ABOUT YOU ALL LEAVE?"

There were a few growls that erupted, but the man who was doing all the talking steps forward. "Not going to happen, we want that wolf, and we want her now," he said. His eyes focus on Archer and Luke, but he looks toward the window and smirks as our eyes connect. "Pretty little thing she is," he said. "Shame she has to be handed over to the witch."

The mere mention of Aria makes my blood run cold. She has found me, and she is using wolfs to get to me.

"We need to stop them," says Sapphire. "We need…." she starts to say, but I cut her off. "Wait," I said.

I glanced around behind the men, but I could feel something.

Someone else was out there, at least two.

They weren't showing themselves; I wonder why.

"Can you sense that?" I asked Sapphire.

Sapphire looked at me. She stayed quiet for a few moments, but she nodded. "It's a witch, but the other is too far back to recognize what it is," she said.

"We need to get out there," we say together. But before we could move, the man in front of Archer and Luke shifted into his wolf, and all hell broke loose.

All eight men shifted into wolves and started to tear into Archer, who didn't have a chance to change into Drack. I could feel Drack through the bond; he was helping Archer as much as he could. Luke was being held by three wolves, biting at him. All of a sudden, all I could hear were bones breaking and a loud roar.

My eyes grew wide as I stared back at the giant black bear known to man. The bear tore one of the rogues apart.

I moved to the door but stopped suddenly. "There she is," says the man from before.

He lunges at me, but I move out of the way. He landed on the table, and I ran to the door and straight into another wolf.

"GET THE OFF ME," I yelled.

I looked around, but Archer and Luke were still fighting the others. It looked like more wolves had shown up. "Now come on," says the man behind, who smelled rancid. "Let's take you…." he starts to say, but I cut him off as I fling my head back and hit him square in the nose. I turned around quickly and punched him in the face. He stumbled back, but he grunted. "Stupid bitch," he said through clenched teeth.

"LET ME OUT," roars Sapphire.

I didn't need any convincing, and just like that, Sapphire pushes through. She doesn't shift, but she is upforward in my body. She uses her speed, and her claws sprout out of my fingers. The man charges at us, but Sapphire rips his throat out as she spins and catches hold of him with her hand.

I can feel my magic build-up; I need to release it.

More wolves come, and we are outnumbered.

I felt something hit my side, and I glanced down and noticed a dart of some kind. I could feel it trying to take hold, but I have had enough of this shit, I thought. I let anger fill my veins, but as my magic carries through. My magic was ready to come out, and I didn't care who it hit.

I close my eyes and feel slightly drowsy. I need to kill them and to send a message to whoever comes after me.

My eyes flew open, and my hands went straight to the side of me.

I don't know what the hell is happening to me as all I can see is red, but I know I have to unleash my magic as it takes over.

I glared at the rogues; everyone stood frozen to the spot.

I flipped my hand to the side, and five rogues flew back. They hit the trees with such force that no one got up. I did the same; three went backward as one went straight into an oncoming car. I saw a few nearing Archer and Luke.

I flicked my wrist, and all the rogues were all thrown backward.

I closed my eyes, but I felt weak.

I stumble back, but someone catches me.

I have no clue who it is as I was sent into a deep slumber.

***************************************

ARCHER

I was stunned into silence after watching what little dove did.

She killed half of the rogues; most had run away with their tails between their legs, scared out of their minds at what she could do.

I could feel the power building up within little dove and Sapphire. But the magic that flew out of her was like flames from a flame, the candle's light. Her eyes were glowing purple as she used it.

I stared at little dove, but the woman's eye on me made me come back to reality.

A witch.

I growled aloud.

The witch turned to look at me as she held little dove.

She must have used everything she had been building up.

"GET OFF HER," I shouted as I took a step closer, but the witch held her arm up. "I'm here to help."

The witch's eyes land on me. "I am a friend, nothing to do with Aria."

I growled louder.

I was on the verge of shifting into Drack, who was having difficulty contacting little dove.

"They both are out cold," he says with a hiss.

I glanced at little dove and noticed a dart in her side. "What the hell is that?" I shouted.

The witch glanced down and reached for the dart. "Wolfsbane," she says. "We need to leave now; more will come back."

I growled.

I'm not going anywhere with a witch.