Chapter 13
1001 Words
Thelma's POV
I had to do something. But what? I was trapped in a silver-lined room, cut off from my wolf, with no weapons and no allies. I was completely powerless.
Or was I?
Xavier had told me I was an Alpha heir, that I had abilities I didn't even know about. Maybe the silver was suppressing my wolf, but what about my human mind? What about the bond we'd formed?
I closed my eyes and tried to remember everything I'd felt when Xavier and I had kissed, when we'd first recognized each other as mates. There had been something there, some connection that went deeper than physical attraction.
Xavier, I thought, concentrating as hard as I could. Xavier, can you hear me?
For a long moment, nothing happened. Then, faintly, like a whisper from very far away, I heard his voice in my mind.
Thelma? How are you...
I don't know, I thought back. But listen to me. Tonight, during the ceremony, they're going to try to steal my Alpha blood with some kind of ritual. You have to get word to your pack somehow.
I can't... too weak... they broke...
His mental voice was fading in and out, and I realized with horror that they'd hurt him badly. Really badly.
Stay with me, I pleaded. Don't you dare give up. I'm going to find a way out of this.
Not... possible... too many guards... ritual circle... can't be stopped...
Then I'll have to stop it myself.
There was a pause, then Xavier's voice came through stronger, filled with desperate urgency.
Thelma, listen to me. The ritual... if it goes wrong... if you fight back too hard... it could kill you both.
Better than letting them win.
No! Live... find another way... your real pack needs you...
Before I could respond, our connection was severed. I felt the absence of his voice like a physical pain, leaving me more alone than ever.
But now I knew what I had to do. If I couldn't stop the ritual from starting, maybe I could make sure it didn't finish the way they wanted.
As evening approached, Elena returned with several other women to help me get ready. They bathed me in water mixed with strange herbs that made my skin tingle, then dressed me in a white ceremonial gown that looked more like a funeral shroud.
"You look beautiful, darling," Elena said, brushing my hair until it shone. "Just like your mother did."
"You mean the mother you murdered?"
"Catherine was beautiful too," Elena said without a trace of shame. "It's a pity she couldn't see the reason."
They led me through the pack house toward the great hall, but instead of stopping there, we continued down a staircase I'd never noticed before. It led deep underground, to a circular room carved out of solid rock. The ritual chamber.
Candles lined the walls, casting dancing shadows everywhere. In the center of the room was a raised stone platform with channels carved into its surface - channels that looked suspiciously like they were meant to carry blood.
Pack members filled the space around the platform, all of them watching me with expressions ranging from curiosity to excitement. They thought they were about to witness me willingly give up my power to make their pack stronger.
They had no idea what was really about to happen. Marcus stood beside the platform in elaborate ceremonial robes, holding an ancient-looking book. Beside him, Yvonne waited in a matching white dress, her eyes bright with anticipation.
And kneeling at the base of the platform, barely conscious and covered in bruises, was Xavier.
Our eyes met across the room, and I saw him try to shake his head, trying to warn me away. But there was nowhere to run. Guards surrounded us, and I could feel the silver that lined this room just like my prison upstairs.
"Bring her forward," Marcus commanded.
As they led me toward the platform, I caught Yvonne's eye and smiled.
"I hope you're ready for this, sister," I said sweetly.
She smiled back, completely confident. "I've been ready my whole life."
"Good," I whispered. "Because you have no idea what you're about to unleash."
Marcus opened his ancient book and began to chant in a language I didn't recognize. The candles flickered, and I felt something stir deep inside me, something that the silver couldn't quite suppress.
Thalia, I called to my wolf. I know you're in there. I know you can hear me.
The chanting grew louder. Yvonne stepped forward, taking the ceremonial dagger from Marcus. The blade gleamed in the candlelight, hungry for blood.
They want to steal us, I told Thalia. They want to give our power to her. Are you going to let that happen?
Deep inside my mind, I felt something growl. Something wild and furious and absolutely refusing to go quietly.
Yvonne raised the dagger, preparing to make the first cut on my palm to begin the blood ritual.
"With this blade and this blood," Marcus chanted, "we transfer the power of the Alpha bloodline from one vessel to another."
The dagger came down toward my hand.
And that's when Thalia exploded out of whatever cage the silver had built around her.
The scream that tore from my throat wasn't human. It was pure wolf rage, echoing off the stone walls like the howl of a creature that had been caged too long. The sound was so fierce, so primal, that several pack members stumbled backward in shock.
"What's happening?" Yvonne gasped, the dagger frozen in her hand.
But I was beyond hearing her. Power was rushing through my veins like liquid fire, burning away the weakness the silver had caused. My eyes blazed with golden light, and I felt my canine teeth extending.
The ritual circle, designed to contain and redirect magi
cal energy, began to c***k under the pressure of what was building inside me. This wasn't going according to anyone's plan. Not even mine.
- Writer
