Chapter 135

Even wolfless, with Evelyn holding my shoulders and Dane standing in front of me like a bodyguard, nothing could stop me from breaking free and running to my children. I tore from Evelyn’s grip. It hurt. I was sure I’d have bruises on my pale skin later. “Seraphina! Tristan!”

I sprinted forward. Dane tried to grab me, but even though he was lightning fast, I dodged him. A big, gray wolf ran to me, but instead of trying to stop me, it ran by my side. Trajan. The Broken Forest wolves parted, and a petite figure came forward with my kids.

My foster sister, Selene. She held each of them by one shoulder and looked like she felt so guilty. “They’re here, Aurora. I couldn’t stand to keep them away from you any longer.”

“Damn it! Selene, you were supposed to wait!” Waylon shouted.

Before I could cross the distance and reach the twins—did they look okay? Did they look bruised?—it was so hard to tell from here. It didn’t help that tears filled my eyes and blurred everything. Waylon crossed the distance and grabbed each of the twins away from Selene.

“No!” I cried.

Broken Forest wolves jumped in front of me. Trajan attacked, tearing into them.

“Get back!” Waylon shouted. He was in his lycan form, and he held his fingers to Tristan’s throat. My little boy lifted his chin. His eyes were wide and terrified, but he was being so brave.

“Call off your attack dog!” Waylon shouted.

“Trajan!” I shouted desperately.

Another lycan appeared at my side. Trajan was caught in a fight to the death with the two wolves, but Dane, in his massive lycan body, moved past me and grabbed Trajan by the scruff, yanking him back. At the same time, he shoved the other two wolves, sending them flying back toward Broken Forest.

Dane shook Trajan, then dropped him. “If you ever do anything to endanger my children again, I’ll fucking kill you.”

I wanted to protest that Trajan had only been protecting me, but my attention was completely caught by Waylon and the children. Silence fell between the two sides. As long as he had them, Dane wouldn’t let Blue Ridge move.

Chapter 135

“All right. Let’s restore order, here, shall we?” Waylon drawled. “We’re wasting time. Ann, I believe you have a ceremony to get everyone in position for. Alpha Montague…” His voice turned threatening, and he gave Tristan a little shake. “I believe you were about to back the fuck up.”

“Ow!” Tristan said. He glared up at Waylon.

Growling, Dane took a single step back. I tried to breathe and think and glanced up at the sky. He was right. The moon was almost in position. The ceremony needed to begin.

In less than an hour, we’d have the relic. If we were truly surrounded, we might be forced to give it to Broken Forest. But maybe not. Because there was still the guardian and his powers. Once he was free, if I chose him, he might fight for us. He’d called me his mate, but that had to be a mistake. Besides, I was bound to Holden. There was nothing he could do to me that hadn’t already been done.

“All right. I’ll set up the ceremony. Just keep my children where I can see them,” I said.

I turned and went to get my supplies: bags of chalk to draw lines, torches, mirrors.

“What do you need from me?” Dane asked.

I paused and looked at him. I’d imagined this night so many times. It was supposed to mean so much. Originally, all I’d wanted was to guarantee my position as Luna—heir of the High Alpe Pack. I had hoped it might bring my wolf back. I had wanted to help bring magic back to the world.

Later, once the attacks started, I’d only wanted safety and an end to the shadows. No more monsters. No more danger for Dane or his family, who seemed to keep coming under attack. For one amazing night, I thought tonight might be a turning point for Dane and me. That maybe we would somehow find our way back to each other as we unearthed this incredible magic.

Now, even though he was there, looking down at me with his golden eyes, even though he was close enough for me to reach out and touch, I’d never felt further from him. Now, I only wanted one thing from this night, and that was for my children to survive. And Dane. If I also managed…then maybe we could keep finding a way forward.

Looking into Dane’s eyes, I decided to say no to the guardian. He was confused. I wasn’t going to be his mate. Instead, Dane and I would gain the power of the relic. I’d use it to break free of Holden. Then, maybe, I could be with Dane. Maybe we could finally have a chance to be a family.

I finished setting up and directed the wolves where to stand. Only then did Waylon move forward. Now he didn’t just have Tristan. He had both of the twins.

Chapter 135

“I told you your blood would be spilled tonight, Montague,” he said cruelly as he tossed my children down next to the stone and drew out a silver-bladed knife. “Time to water the earth with the power your grandfather stole from us all those years ago. It’s the only way the guardian can be unbound and the relic can be freed.”