Die trying

Die trying
Stormy POV

“Thelma,” I said.

“Such a disrespectful young lady. That’s Aunty Thelma to you!”

I’d shifted out of my wolf skin. The transition back to human form didn’t hurt as badly as turning into a wolf.

“You’ve been elusive to us, Stormy. You’re worth a lot, so we have to go through a lot.”

“I’m not worth anything to you. I’m not a Lunar wolf anymore.”

Her eyes went wide. “Impossible.”

“You can thank my father,” I grinned.

“Salazar would never,” she gasped.

I shook my head. “I said to my father. Salazar isn’t my father. His brother is.”

Thelma clutched her head and groaned. “I don’t care about all this drama. You are a Lunar wolf! You can’t change that.”

“Look at the sky. Do you see a full moon?” Alex challenged.

Thelma held my attention, too scared to see if a full moon hung above our heads.

The corners of my mouth raised. “It’s over, isn’t it? You can’t wake Gareth without a Lunar wolf as a sacrifice.”

Her nostrils flared. “Don’t think you’re so smart. That won’t stop us from destroying all of you. You’re the reason Alpha Raymond died before we could use him. You killed Evans, and now you think you can spoil our plans? Waking the Midnight King is in our destiny! We’ve been on this path for three generations.”

“I’m going to be the one to end it. It stops with me!” I yelled.

“That’s what you think. Gareth is ours whether you like it or not.”

“No! Don’t let her leave this house,” Alex ordered.

Expecting betas to burst from the bushes and apprehend Thelma, I was shocked to see Gabbie emerge from the back door. She slammed Thelma against the wall. Gabbie’s eyes glowed as an aura and power came from her.

It was so soft yet deadly. I could smell her Alpha power from where I stood, and it threatened to knock me out. Alex stood behind.

“You’re still weak from your shift,” Alex whispered.

“I’m fine.”

“Alex, what do you want us to do with her?” Gabbie asked.

“Let me go,” Thelma rasped. “I didn’t come alone.”

“We’re sure you didn’t,” Alex growled. “I’m sick and tired of this. Where are your wolves?”

An injured wolf cried out in the distance, but it was loud enough to capture all our attention.

“Tristan,” Gabbie and Alex said in unison.

Thelma grinned. “I told you I didn’t come alone.”

“Where’s Tristan?” I whispered.

“Up on the mountain, patrolling,” Alex whispered back.

“Where’s Ivan?” I demanded.

Thelma chuckled like an evil villain in an old movie.

“I know he’s here! He’s probably up on the mountain. Leave her here so he’s alone up there,” I said.

Alex nodded.

“It’s your mistake for thinking he’s alone. It’s over. You’re all going to be dead by the end of the night. We offered you safety, Alex and you refused.”

I turned to my mate.

He shook his head. “Don’t listen to her.”

Another wolf cried out in pain, followed by two more.

“We have to go,” Gabbie urged. “Leiah’s up there too.”



I’d never travelled this long in wolf form before. All four of my poor legs were killing me. The four wolves ahead of me were done trying to let me catch up. I followed the others because they knew Tristan’s scent better than I did.

When Alex and Kade shifted out of their wolf skin first, I had a feeling we’d arrived.

“Tristan!” Alex called.

“Over here, Alpha!” Someone responded.

We hurried over to where Tristan lay on the ground, naked and bleeding from his abdomen.

“What happened?” Gabbie asked.

“I was stabbed,” Tristan groaned. “It was Ivan. He wasn’t alone.”

“How many wolves do we have up there with Gareth?” Kade asked.

“I don’t know. More than a dozen. The others were making sure the entry points were sealed.”

“You can’t go any further, Tristan. You’re done tonight,” Gabbie said.

“With all due respect, Luna. I’m not backing down now. That idiot up there is my friend. I want him back, but he’s not waking up tonight. We have to stop them. I’m not going to lie down.”

They all believed Gareth wouldn’t wake up. I saw it plain as day in my vision. The midnight king would wake up tonight.

“Watch out!” I screamed.

Vicious wolves jumped out of the bushes and attacked.

“Get out of here!” Alex yelled before turning to face the attack.

Gabbie took my arm. “We’re going up.”

Alex changed into a wolf. He fought effortlessly against the enemy wolves. My feet were rooted to the ground. What if he got hurt? He’d just been healed.

“We have to go, Stormy. He’s going to be fine. He’ll come back to you.”

I tore my gaze away from him and followed her. It felt like betraying him.

“Aren’t you worried about, Kade?” I asked.

“I am. Kade and I have fought a thousand wars. He always comes back to me. He promised. I have to trust him even when the situation feels impossible.”

“Look!”

I pointed at the opening of the cave where Gareth slept. Light came from the opening as if they’d someone had installed electricity inside a mountain.

“They got there before us,” Gabbie hissed. “Leiah better be okay.”

“We can’t go in at the same time. We need the element of surprise.”

Gabbie nodded. “I’ll go in first. Survey the area.”

“Are you insane?” I said through gritted teeth.

“Probably.”

“This won’t end well for us.”

“Get back!” Leiah yelled. “I’m not going to say it again. No one comes near him without going through me.”

A familiar chuckle that sent a shiver up my spine. It’s Salazar!

“Calm down, Alpha female. Your territorial nature will only get you killed. You’re outnumbered.”

I peeked into the cave. Salazar was right. It was seven against three surrounding Gareth’s glass case.

Damn, if we stand a chance of survival tonight, we need Gareth to wake up.

“I need you to trust me, Gabbie. Ivan doesn’t know I’m not a Lunar wolf anymore.”

“You’re putting yourself in danger.”

“Just for a little while. I just need to get close. We need a moment of distraction.”

“Let’s see how that goes the second Alex finds out about this,” she mumbled.

I sighed. That’s true. Without letting Gabbie talk me out of this, I burst into the cave.

“You’re looking for me. Here I am.” I raised my hands.

Ivan, my uncle and Salazar, my former father, turned around.

“Grab her,” Ivan ordered.

Two henchmen grabbed my arms tightly.

“She can serve as two sacrifices, can’t she, Salazar?” Ivan asked.

He shrugged. “I don’t see why not. We don’t have time. I’m sorry it had to end like this, daughter.”

He said that just to add insult to injury.

“Just let them through,” I said.

She narrowed her eyes. “I know you’re nuts, but this is too far.”

“You can’t win this fight.”

“I’ll never show my face in Sanders if I let this happen. I’ll die trying.”