Chapter 302

“I’m sorry.” I pumped power directly into her.

She screamed as it burned, but she turned her wide eyes to me. “I trust you.” She screamed through gritted teeth. And I could see it in her eyes. Even though I didn’t warn her, even though I ripped into her, she still trusted me.

“Are you fucking insane?” Verity screamed. But then she froze. “There’s no way.”

I smiled as I pumped pure power into Toya’s shoulder. “Oh, but there is.”

She screamed and tried to run to us, but I pushed even more power into Toya’s gaping shoulder. Blood poured from her. Urbi howled behind us, but I needed to do this. I looked at Toya, and she gritted her teeth against the pain. Her eyes snapped to mine again. “Do it.” She gave one nod, and then I ripped the skin completely off her shoulder.

She screamed again, blood pouring from the wound. Her shoulder was shredded. Urbi ran to Toya, licking the wound to start the healing. But I turned to watch Verity. She was on her knees. “No.” She panted. “This is impossible.” She stared at the skin I had in my grip.

“Is it impossible?” I glared at her. “You know you’re a leech, a parasite. You use others’ power to fuel your life. Toya’s power to fuel your little glyph. Rowan’s power to level up your position. You do nothing on your own and it is just fucking pathetic.”

She snarled weakly at me. “You are in no position to judge me.”

“Oh, and why is that?”

She glared at me. “Didn’t you do the same? Get close to Rowan so that you could be queen?”

I laughed. “No. No, that isn’t what I did.” I knelt in front of her, raising the skin in front of her face. “I actually liked the man. I would have accepted him if he was a regular alpha, a beta. Fuck, I liked him so much I would have accepted him as my mate if he held no rank at all.”

She shook her head. “You’re lying.”

“Sad thing is, I’m not. But I respected his choice. He wanted to find his mate. And if that didn’t happen, his wolf was interested in another wolf. He wasn’t going to choose a mate his wolf doesn’t agree with.” I leaned in. “Tell me Verity…does Erubus accept you?”

She snarled in my face. “He does.”

But I could see the truth. “Liar.” Then I pushed my power into the flesh in my hand, igniting it.

“No!” She screamed and tried to dive for it, but it burned away too quick. And she burned away with it. Her body flaked off into ash and she drifted away. I turned back to Toya.

“Are you okay?” I knelt next to her.

She gave me a pained smile. “Nothing we can’t heal. But we need to get back.” I nodded, and I leaned in and kissed her brow.

“Thank you for always trusting in me. And thank you for fighting for so long.” I pulled back and stood. “I’ll see you in a minute.” Then I turned and ran back the way I came. The sand shifted under my feet until I made it to the shadows of the trees. The unfamiliar trunks and patches of grass gave way to more familiar trees, and a soft grass that I knew like the back of my hand.

Nix and Megan were waiting for me. “Did you do it?” Megan tilted her head.

“Did you doubt me?” I smiled back at her as I crossed the last barrier.

“Not for a minute.” She rubbed herself against me as Nix mirrored her on my other side.

“What happened?” Nix settled against my leg.

“I’ll tell you later. I need to check on everyone.” I ran my fingers through both of their furs, settling my stomach.

“Did you just rub Toya’s blood in my fur?” Nix’s voice was amused, but I froze.

“I didn’t even think. I’m sorry.” I leaned in and kissed her head.

“It’s fine. Check on our friends.” Megan bumped my shoulder and then they ran off.

I opened my eyes to find everyone at the table. My hand was covered in blood. Wendy and Hanna were pale, Toya and Micca were smiling at me. “Toya?”

“I’m back. I’m okay.” She looked at her shoulder, and thankfully, it was knitting itself back together.

“What the fuck was that?” Hanna pointed at my hand.

“What?” I looked at her.

She pointed at my hand. “You were just standing next to her, and then suddenly you slammed your claws into her shoulder, shredding it.”

Toya moved her shoulder in a circle. “She was saving us.” She sighed. “But it hurt like a motherfucker.” She turned to Micca. “How’s the whispers?”

“Gone.” She sighed in relief.

Wendy smiled. “Mine too.” We turned to Hanna.

“Mine too.” She sighed in relief.

“Perfect.” I sat down with a sigh. “So, who’s ready to find out their lineage?”