The cave

The cave
Stormy POV

“Katie, what do I do?” I asked my wolf. “You always tried to help me when I was at the institute. You always knew more than possible.”

“You have to wake him up,” Katie replied.

“Whose side are you on?”

I frowned. I can’t trust her. I just met her.

“You can trust me, Stormy. Our connection to the moon goddess comes from being descendants of the original werewolves. You have to set Gareth free. It’s what she wants.”

“Why doesn’t she do it herself then?”

“She never does her own dirty work.”

Crap.

I stared at the man in the glass case. So, I’m the one who woke him up.

“How do you suppose I do that, Katie?”

“Let him drink your blood.”

“Is that all?” I doubted it.

“No.”

“Katie!”

She didn’t respond after that.

I was trapped between two betas and the others watching me like a hawk.

I didn’t know what this meant for the werewolf world, but he had to wake up today. I didn’t know how I’d come to this point. I’d been on Alex’s side the entire time and now I was going to ruin what they’d fought so hard to achieve.

“You won’t make it out alive without him,” Katie said.

“So now you want to talk,” I grumbled.

She remained silent again.

No one told me these wolves could be so infuriating.

“What are you going to do to me?” I asked.

Salazar smirked, his wolf flashing in his eyes. I saw the sickness in them. I saw the line between sanity and insanity grow thinner in his lopsided smile.

“Your blood will open the portal.” He pulled out a knife long enough to be my arm from a bag he hid in the corner. “That’s the sacrifice of the original werewolf. You and your uncle’s blood.”

Ivan raised his head.

My heart pounded in my chest, and fear laughed in my face.

“Okay.”

“Have you accepted your fate, child?” Ivan questioned.

“I was designed to die, wasn’t I?”

Salazar laughed. “Good girl.”

I turned to Leiah and saw the confusion on her face. Still, she remained glued to the King. All her friends could be dead for all she knew. None was more loyal than a wolf to her pack.

Salazar took my arm and sliced it. I winced and closed my eyes.

“Allow enough blood to hit the floor. It must be where the moonlight can touch the ground. Ivan come,” he ordered.

“Couldn’t you bring a smaller knife?” Ivan grumbled.

I felt Katie fighting the healing process.

“What are you doing?” I asked my wolf.

“It’s not enough yet.”

“I’m going to pass out.”

“I know that.”

I’m really screwed if Katie’s the one helping me. Where’s Gabbie? She could jump in at any moment now.

The sound of wolves barking and howling outside the cave made my heart pound faster.

“Don’t worry about them. They’re occupied,” Ivan laughed.

The blood on the ground turned black. The little puddle grew almost as if it were alive.  I then noticed the moonstone in Salazar’s hands. It flickered almost as if it were humming.

“Close your arm,” Katie said.

I pulled my arm back. The cut closed like a zipper. Time to bust free.”

The next part is the sacrifice. It’s time to show them I’m not a Lunar wolf anymore. I elbowed the beta holding me and broke free.

“Stop her!” Ivan ordered.

I shifted into my wolf skin. I pounced on the betas who’d been holding me. One hit the wall and passed out, while the other stumbled into his buddies.

“Impossible,” Salazar whispered. “It’s not the full moon yet.”

I turned to Gareth’s glass case. Leiah was still in front of it. Her wolf flashed in her eyes. I didn’t know how to mind-link her. I needed her to trust me.

I didn’t even trust myself.

I charged and avoided a beta wolf who sought to cut me down. I jumped on the glass, but it didn’t break. Right, it was impenetrable.

I had to get to the button.

“I don’t want to hurt you, but I will knock you out,” Leiah threatened.

I didn’t want to hurt her either.

A commotion at the door grabbed our attention. Alex and the other alpha wolves filled the cave. During Leiah’s lapse in concentration, I pressed the open button. The glass top opened. I dragged Gareth out of the chamber by his shirt.

“Stormy no!” Alex yelled.

I shifted back into human form and touched his cold face.

He needs to drink my blood.

“Please just trust me,” I begged Leiah.

“Did you hit your head or something?” She hissed.

“I wouldn’t come any further if I were you, Alpha Alex,” Ivan threatened.

“I have your sister,” Alex warned.

“Keep her. I have over a thousand wolves marching to your pack. They are going to destroy the Henry Pack before you get down the mountain.”