Chapter 246

“How is this possible?” His words were a bare whisper as I stared at him, slowly walking towards him.

I laughed. What else could I do when a man stood in front of me, sure of his strength, and he was realizing it wasn’t doing anything? He pushed more, the strain evident on his face, but it barely moved me. Sure, he was strong for other wolves, but not me.

He didn’t even come close to the king’s strength, and even Rowan couldn’t put me on my knees.

Not with his power, anyway. Nix’s voice was amused, and she pushed a thought into my mind. I was on my knees in front of Rowan, and his hand was in my hair. I pushed the thought away.

“Not now,” I admonished her, but I felt the heat crawling up my neck as she laughed.

A pained moan snapped me back to what was going on. I could feel that Thinius was pushing himself to his limit, but it started to hurt everyone else. I turned to find everyone, including Toya, pressed to the ground. My eyes narrowed as I turned back to see Nina staggering to her feet, and Nadine smirking.

“Are you done?” I tilted my head.

“What?” Thinius growled, but Nina froze.

“I asked if you were done.”

“Uncle?” Nadine’s face fell as she looked around the room.

“Yes? This is all of your power, right?” I took another step as another pained mewl escaped.

“This isn’t possible,” Thinius panted.

“I guess it’s my turn, then.” I took one more step, putting myself in front of everyone on the floor, closer to the trio, and released the clenched fist around all of my power, and my aura slammed out. The three dropped to the ground instantly, their faces pressed directly into the marble floors, as everyone behind me slowly got to their feet. My aura blocked out Thinius’s, and everyone was finally able to move, and the pain they were feeling was gone. I heard a groan, and I looked back to find Brandon getting to his feet, a bruise on his cheek, and I winced. “You look like you hit the ground pretty hard.”

He nodded and rolled his neck. “Yeah, he was pressing pretty hard.”

I just nodded and turned back to the trio. Then I had an idea. I stepped next to Thinius and dropped into a crouch. “You like pushing your limits, right, Thinius?” I looked to the two girls just behind him. “Do you know I’ve never actually pushed my limits?” I cracked my knuckles. “I think I’m going to give it a shot.” I pulled my power out instead of letting it flow, and I focused my aura on the trio at my feet.

“Please,” Nina panted as I focused on them.

I heard the three groan, and I swore I could hear the creaking of their ribs as my power slammed into them over and over like a crushing wave. “Please,” Nadine was next to plead. “I can’t breathe.”

Nina started to cry, and Nadine soon followed, but I turned my focus on Thinius. I slammed my power into him over and over, earning a pained whine. “Stop this.”

“No, I don’t think I will. You pressed your power down on the women here. You tried to overpower us. You tried to command us to hand over our fucking right to apply to be the next queen.” I stood. “You overstepped your position as a council member once again.” I turned to check on everyone behind me, while I kept my power fully focused on the trio. I went over to help one of the last girls, still on their knees. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “Should I leave?” Her question hurt my heart. “I don’t want to be queen if this is how they operate.”

A few women nodded in agreement. I held her hands and shook my head. “There are rules against this.” I raised my voice so everyone could hear me. “The council is forbidden from using their status and power against any normal wolf. They aren’t even supposed to interact with any wolves with a lower rank than a gamma.” I turned and looked at Thinius. “Isn’t that right? You gave an oath to give away any claim to rank and the standard power structure when you pledged to the council. Yet here you are, throwing your power around to try and stop these women from applying to be queen. Yet, here you are. You have no right!” I screamed.

A murmur went through the crowd. You could tell not many people read all the laws for our kind, but my father made sure I did. Thinius sneered, face still pressed into the marble. “Of course I have the right,” he screamed back.

“Says who?”