Within the Sapphire Forest

Chapter 10

I followed as he traveled back through the hallway, down the stairs, and into a large room with multiple of each kitchen appliance and counters to spare. Justin was waiting patiently on a stool, picking at a bag of chips.

Caden opened the fridge and dug around for sandwich meat and cheese. He made himself a hefty meal in silence, while Justin watched.

A few pack members entered and saw Caden, but a quick look from Justin kept them from saying or doing anything. Instead, they stood in the doorways and watched as their newly returned alpha feasted like he hadn’t eaten in months.

I sent out little mental feelers, trying to see if any of them were team Nathan. Most of them seemed so thankful to see Caden back in the mansion, but I felt one was disappointed. No, that wasn’t quite right. Sure, there was a little disappointment, but it only barely covered the underlying rage. Whoever this was really wanted Caden dead.

I floated over them, careful not to accidentally touch any of them, and followed the torrent of emotions to a young woman in the middle of the group. She masked her face to show shock and relief, but I could sense the anger pulsing underneath that.

I hurried to Caden’s side and gently placed a hand on his arm. He didn’t flinch, didn’t react in any way. I forced the image of the girl into his mind and let him feel through me what she felt at that moment. 

Caden gingerly placed the sandwich on a paper towel and wiped a few crumbs from his mouth, using the back of his hand. Then, in a flash, I was in the doorway, holding the girl by her throat. I’d missed it completely, even in my astral from. He’d moved with such lightning reflexes that I hadn’t seen him until he was holding the girl. Everyone around him jumped back in shock, while the girl clawed at his hand, trying desperately to force him to let go.

Some of the pack members yelled at him to let her go, but he growled at them, and they stepped back further.

“You have ten seconds from the moment I let you go to answer my questions before I kill you without a second thought.”

I felt around again, trying to see if anyone else was angry or disappointed at Caden’s return, but it seemed like everyone was happy to see him, until he snapped.

Justin leaped to his feet and kept everyone back, trusting in Caden’s process.

“Where is Nathan, and how many followers does he have?” he demanded.

He dropped his hand and she staggered back into the wall gripping her neck.

“Ten,” he counted as she stood to face him.

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” she cried, fearfully. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

“Nine,” he growled, his eyes beginning to glow dangerously.

I couldn’t look. I knew he had to do this, that this was the only way he could take back control of his pack, but I was a healer, not a killer, and watching someone die wasn’t something I was comfortable with at all.

“He’s on patrol,” a voice in the crowd said. 

I looked and saw a timid, short man with messy red hair and black framed glasses.

Caden nodded to the man and picked the girl up by her shirt.

“Tell me how many followers he has, right now.”

“He has enough,” she spit out.

I spun around, closing my eyes as I heard a snap sound out over the room. Silence followed, and I turned back cautiously to see the girl's limp body lying on the floor, her head at a strange angle. I had to bite back the bile that built up in my throat.

“Nathan Rockwell has betrayed me,” Caden announced, and all eyes descended on him. “He sent his followers into the woods to attack me, to try to kill me so he could take over the pack. Anyone who would ally themselves with him is my enemy, and you will be dealt with in the same way as Cassandra, do I make myself clear!”

One by one, each wolf dropped to their knee and bared their neck to him, complete submission to their alpha. Caden nodded his acknowledgement of their willingness to follow him, and led them outside, ready to hunt down the traitors.

I should have sensed something wrong before he made it out of the front door. Cassandra said there were more followers, so why hadn’t I found any more.

The answer met us at the door, as a group of wolves surrounded the ones exiting the house. They snapped their jaws viciously, holding back those that were ready to fight. In the center of that pack was a gray wolf, who’s yellow eyes glowed menacingly.

He was too familiar for it to be just a coincidence, and I decided the nightmare I had the night before must have been another vision of sorts.

“Nathan,” Caden growled, stepping forward. 

One of the wolves closest to Caden leaped toward, biting and growling. I tried to call out to him, only to watch as the wolf fell back, whining in pain. Caden had kicked the attacking wolf with enough force to shatter its ribs.

The gray wolf phased into human form, a short stocky man with graying hair, and leered at the group trapped in the house.

“So, the young alpha returns from his little vacation. How was that? Refreshing, I hope,” he joked, laughing at himself.

I felt complete and utter fear, and I leaned into Caden. He tensed, and I was worried I’d distracted him too much.

“This is your plan, rally your lackeys so you can try to take us down,” Caden yelled, his deep voice booming out louder than anything I’d ever heard. “We outnumber you, and we are stronger than all of you. If you back down now, I’ll let you live out your life as a rogue.”

Nathan laughed, a hysterical, cynical sound that sent ice running through my veins.

“Oh, no, puppy. You and I are going to duke it out here and now, and if any of your people switch sides afterward, I’ll understand.”

His creepy voice made me want to deck him.

“Fine,” Caden responded and he stalked toward the bastard.

Before he got even half way, a surge of energy flew over everyone, and landed on Caden. It lifted him at least ten feet into the air and threw him back against the side of the house. He landed with a hard thud, and took a second too long to get up.

“What’s wrong, pup, can’t stay on your feet?” he gloated. “Oh, is it my new friend that’s giving you a hard time? Sorry, she’s just so temperamental lately, being a witch and all.”

Fuck!

I floated up into the sky, looking around for where the energy had come from.

Then, I saw her, standing on the roof, letting her energy flow out openly like a god damned noob. She looked older than me, though, between thirty and forty, so I didn’t understand how she could act so inexperienced with her magic? 

It didn’t really matter, though, only a witch could properly fight another witch, especially when this b***h was hiding.

I sat up on my couch, looking for Melissa. When I didn’t immediately see her, I started shouting.

“What?” Melissa yelled running into the room.

“He’s going up against a witch. We need to go now!” I yelled, forcing my broken and bruised body to move.

Pain shot through me, but I ignored it, too afraid of losing my wolf.

“You’re too hurt, just sit down and relax,” Melissa said, trying to coax me back onto the couch.

“No! I’m going. It’s up to you to decide if you’re coming with me or not.”

Melissa sighed and helped me up off my leg. She held me up and nodded, so I focused on us, seeing us standing in the hallway behind the group trying to get out of the door. It was the only place that I figured no one would be racing around and getting in our way. I focused on us manifesting, and when I opened my eyes, we were standing behind the group, and no one seemed to notice us.

Melissa’s body buzzed quietly, and a tingly feeling settled over my skin. She’d put up an electric field over us to protect us as we moved forward. Shocked, the masses parted, and those that didn’t move fast enough got an awful jolt to their systems. 

We quickly made it out the door to see men, women, and wolves flying around the air, while the opposing pack guarded the few feet in front of the door, biting at anyone that got to close. The first wolf to try that with us was shocked so badly, his eyes rolled back and he seized, violently.

“Turned up the volts, didn’t you?” I asked, and she nodded.

I looked up to see nearly everyone staring at us. The opposing wolves looked angry, and everyone else looked shocked. I looked to the sky and saw Caden zooming around, his gaze trying desperately to lock onto me.

“Sit me down!” I yelled as the murderous pack stalked towards us.

Melissa wasted no time in sitting me on the ground, though she was very careful of my leg. She held her hands up and I heard the air crackle as lighting shot out of fingers, electrocuting the closest wolves. The others jumped back and glared at her, much more cautious now.

“I’ve bought you some space, so you best get your asses out here,” she growled at the group behind her, and everyone stuck in the house burst out, ready to defend their comrades.

I focused on the energy of the witch. I knew where she was, so I could easily thwart her, but that would cause everyone in the air to fall, and I wasn’t sure how rough of a drop that would be on them. So, while Melissa watched my back, striking everyone that got too close, I focused on ebbing my energy in and around hers, slowly taking over. I knew it was working as the flying came to a gradual halt. Her energy tried to snap back into place, but my hold was too strong. I pulled on everyone, and carefully set them down behind me.

Caden kneeled down next to me, glowering with rage.

“What the f**k are you doing here?” he growled, completely ignoring the blood bath surrounding us.

“You would have been f****d without me,” I answered, glaring back. “I know where the witch is, and I can fight her, so your asses aren’t getting thrown around anymore.”

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration clear on his face.

“Fine, but one single hair out of place when I get back to you, and I will turn into the most overbearing, overprotective motherfucker you have ever met, clear?”

“Crystal. Now, go whoop some ass.” 

He rolled his eyes and grabbed the scruff of a golden wolf nearby. She turned to growl, but quickly stopped when she saw who grabbed her.

“Protect this witch at all cost. If she gets hurt in any way, I’m coming for your hide.”

The wolf nodded, and Melissa glanced back to see who was my newest protector. They positioned themselves so they could see everyone around me, and no one stood a chance of getting through their defenses.

With that taken care of, I finally focused on the energy of the other witch. She was still on the roof, but she seemed more frustrated. Every surge of energy she used to try to grab at anyone, I countered easily. I was sick of being on the defensive, so I decided to shoot for an offensive maneuver.

I pooled my energy into one massive ball, and shot it out of me, aiming for the other witch. It hit her full force, causing her to fall forward off the roof. She managed to use her telekinetic power to catch herself before she hit the ground, and she landed softly less than five feet from Melissa.

“That was a dirty move,” she growled at Melissa.

Melissa smirked, and shot lightning at the b***h. She was able to deflect it, but the force knocked her backward a bit.

If she’s having a hard time fighting off Melissa’s attacks, then I think, combined, Melissa and I could subdue her.

With that thought in my mind, I let Melissa wear her out, throwing electrical punches like a champ. b***h witch kept just barely deflecting the lightning barrage, but one wrong step landed her on her ass. I turned to help, but a deep growl caught my attention. I turned to see the gray wolf form of Nathan a foot from my face, his glowing yellow eyes studying me.

The she-wolf was too focused on the pair of wolves that kept trying to get a solid bite on her, while Melissa had to backtrack as a few other wolves quickly defended the fallen witch. I scooted back as best as I could with my broken leg as fear forced my heart to leap into my throat. The way he was looking at me, I felt like a rabbit who was cornered, with nowhere to run.

Nathan phased back, and reached his hand out to grab my hair, but I slapped it away.

“Don’t you f*****g touch me,” I roared, putting as much rage into my voice as I could muster.

“You are absolutely intriguing,” he admitted, moving closer.

I couldn’t back away fast enough and he quickly grabbed my broken leg. Pain shot through me so intensely, I felt tears fill my eyes, but I bit my tongue to keep from screaming out.

“You’re much more powerful than Cleo, aren’t you? And you’re so young, I could definitely teach you a thing or two.”

“Go to hell,” I hissed through my teeth.

He smirked, and pulled with all his might on my ankle.

I couldn’t help the scream that erupted from my mouth. Every bone in my leg, every muscle, tendon and ligament felt the tearing mutilating pain that his movement had caused. I couldn’t feel my toes, couldn’t move my foot, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. 

I snapped. The pain was too much and the boiling anger consumed me in less than a second. I threw the full force of my magic and bastard and watched as he flew. The wolves that were attacking my defense system retreated to help their fallen leader, but the witch only poured more power into her assault. I turned my gaze on her, and my rage descended on her. She crumpled to the ground, screaming in fear, but for all the power I held, I could still just barely hold back from killing them all.

One by one, I brought every enemy to the ground, holding them with the energy of all the pain and anger inside me.

I was hit, suddenly, and my concentration fell away. The witch was able to pour just enough energy into an attack on me to halt my assault, and threw me back into the torment of my pain.

A howl pierced the air, and all the enemy wolves retreated quickly, leaving behind their dead and injured in their escape. Caden howled back, his white fur splattered in the blood of the enemy, and his pack gathered around him in small victory.

My scream echoed through the air as the pain of my leg reclaimed my system. I shook and cried, the pain ripping through me.

Wolfie was by my side in a split second, looking over my leg. It must have been really bad, because he couldn’t hide the horror that took over his features.

“Justin, come help me carry her to Doc’s!” he commanded.

The pitch black wolf phased and raced over. They positioned themselves on either side of me and gently lifted me up. The movement jostled my leg, causing me burning agony. I cried and dug my nails into their shoulders, praying for any relief.

“Go tell her we’re coming! Then gather the wounded and bring them to her office,” he roared over his shoulder.

The mention of others who might be hurt cooled the fire in my veins just a little. I managed to spit out, “Get my stuff.”

I prayed Caden didn’t need an explanation, because after that, I had to bite my tongue against the torment that rocked my system.

I prayed for a lot in the following minutes; that everyone was okay, that they went back to my cabin and grabbed all of my healing equipment, and that the pain stopped.

The goddess answered my third prayer as darkness enveloped me.