Chapter 136 Under Attack-- Esme POV

Chapter 136 Under Attack-- Esme POV

Esme POV

“What the hell happened?” Zeron hurried over to me.

“You burned me!” Layla yelled.

“I-I didn’t mean to.” My voice trembled almost as badly as my fingers.

My powers were wild! I didn't call them. The violent outburst of power startled my wolf and made her pull away from me. I could feel the hum of power beneath my palms. It was like the magic was singing, but I didn't like the tune.

"Are you okay, babe?" Zeron kissed my forehead repeatedly.

"I-I'm okay. She's hurt," I said, staring at Layla.

She looked at me as if I were a monster. Her arms were red and sore. I didn’t see the fire touch her, just the magic bounce and hit the curtain.

“Let’s get out of here,” I mumbled.

“I don’t think we can run from this one, mate,” Zeron replied.

Now is not the time to think rationally!

“What’s going on?” The Lycan King boomed.

He and Griffin stormed upstairs, with beta guards moving with determination and strength behind them.

“That bastard burned me!” Layla screeched.

Dad turned to me with hard eyes, but kept his mouth shut.

“Guard, put out the fire,” he ordered.

“Didn’t you hear me? She burned me!”

“Come on, Layla. How could Esme have done that?” Griffin said softly. “She doesn’t have any weapons.”

“I…I don’t know what happened, but she burned me!” Layla yelled.

Griffin bent to her level and ran his fingers through her hair. “You need to get to the pack clinic.”

“I-I’m not crazy.” A shiver ran through her, and guilt crippled me. I did hurt her. I didn’t mean to. I just wanted her to stop talking and leave me alone.

“No one said you were, Layla. You just need to see the doctor. You’re a strong she-wolf. You’ll heal in a few hours,” Dad said softly.

Griffin helped Layla to her feet and ushered her downstairs.

“Guards, clean this up and then head back to the base.” The King ordered.

The guards bowed their heads. Zeron didn’t loosen his grip on me as my dad led us to his private office. He closed the doors behind us and locked them, not that it would do anything to keep anyone out.

“What happened?” Dad asked without turning away from the double doors.

“She attacked me. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I couldn’t control myself,” I explained.

“I know Esmeray.  That’s what your mother and I were afraid of,” he said softly.

“That’s why you hid my wolf,” I said.

Bessi whimpered. What if the only way to quiet these powers was to give up my wolf? I can’t lose her. It would be like ripping a part of me away. How could I live knowing I had something so wonderful, but I lost it?

“Yes, but that doesn’t matter anymore. Your powers are here, and they’re setting the pack house on fire.”

“Don’t worry about it, Kyan. I’m taking her home. She’ll set my pack house on fire,” Zeron grunted, irritated.

Dad glared at Zeron. “Are you sure you want her to burn your pack house? Or your fiancée?”

“She can do both. I don’t see why not?” Zeron snapped.

“Will you two stop it?” I groaned. “Arguing won’t help us. I need a teacher or a handbook.”

Dad chuckled. “A handbook on magic that comes from an ancient prophecy? That would be handy, wouldn’t it?”

I frowned.

Dad sighed and walked to his desk and sat down. He folded his arms in front of himself and smiled softly. “Don’t give me that face, sweetheart. I know what you mean. You and I both know there’s only one person who can help you.”

Reya.

“Mom said she didn’t know where she is,” I said.

“And she doesn’t. That doesn’t mean I don’t.”

My eyes widened, and my lips parted. I had a thousand things I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t come up with what to say first.

“She came to the pack years ago, but promised not to come back. I followed her. Call it curiosity, but I wanted to know where she ended up just in case.”

“How are you sure she’s still there?” Zeron asked.

My father shrugged. “I can’t be sure, but I have her last known location.”

“Which is?” I pressed.

Dad and Zeron locked eyes for a moment.

So, now they want to be friends?

“The Dog Territory,” Dad said.

Zeron crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s rogue territory. Very dangerous.”

“Reya lived outside the rogue packs, so that shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll give you ten of my best shifters—”

“That won’t be necessary. I can take care of my mate.”

That’s when Zeron and Dad went back to glaring at each other.

“Just because she’s far from the rogues doesn’t make it less dangerous!”

“I can handle it. We should start off now.”

“Are you sure, Zeron?” I asked.

He nodded. “We can always come back to your pack later, but it’s best things calm down here first.”

“Layla will be taken care of. Don’t worry about anything. Besides, I’d like a word with her for calling my daughter a bastard to my face.” He flashed me a soft smile.

I exhaled deeply. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Rowan had to go ahead of us to the West End pack. We’ll meet him there,” Zeron said.

It was only the two of us in the car. The afternoon sun was setting, and the Vaneka region was long behind us. I’d never heard of the Dog Territory, but since the trip had taken us nearly five hours, I’d say it was pretty far, and there was no end in sight.

“So, it’s just the two of us on this trip?” I asked.

“Yeah, an Alpha and an Alpha female can handle this on our own.”

My jaw dropped. “You know we’re dealing with rogues, right?”

Zeron grimaced. “We don’t have to interact with them.”

He drove onto the side of the road and parked. “We have to go the rest of the way on foot. A car will draw too much attention.”

I nodded despite my nerves. Zeron and I walked deeper into the woods as the sun set. One thing about rogues was they didn’t have the same rules a normal functioning pack did. They didn’t care if it was night or day. They attacked any time.

“What do I tell her when I meet her? Hi, I’m your daughter?”

“She’ll know who you are. Wolves can feel their kin, especially a mother and her pup.”

A shiver ran down my spine. She’s done so many awful things. I don’t know if I can trust her or if we’ll get along.

“All we need is a few minutes with her, and then we leave.”

That’s for the best. “I agree.”

“Good, I can smell smoke. There must be a settlement nearby.”

Great, because I was tired of walking.

“I think I can—” Zeron trailed off.

Something snapped branches as it zoomed through the air. Zeron raised a hand and caught it in his fist.

“We’re under attack,” I hissed.

Zeron dropped the arrow that would have pierced his chest.

“Shit! Get behind me.”

“Forget this damn mission. Let’s go back to the car!” I threw my arms in the air.

“Shift, now!” Zeron ordered.

Over a dozen battle cries filled the forest.