Xander told her that the Beta of the pack was challenged by his daughter after she overheard him mentioning that he was going to challenge him. Xander’s daughter did not want the Beta, Derek, becoming Alpha. He was a narcissist and sadist. She did it because she had the best interest of the pack in mind. During the fight, Zara had gotten the upper hand and Derek did not want to yield to a woman, so it became a match to the death with Zara as the winner.
Throughout the day, she bumped into pack members Deck and Weston and they supported Xander’s story. All of them smelled her and looked confused. She ignored it and decided her scent was not something they had smelled before. Atara was also introduced to Sam, who Raven had helped Change. He appeared to be adjusting well to the wolf life and he expressed that he wanted to remain in this pack.
After all the interviews, she decided to take a walk through the woods. She wanted to see if she could pick up on the scent of the Rogues again. She knew that they were dead but has not forgiven herself for losing their scent. As she walked, she still could not smell where they were, even after going to their death site. Either they had some dark magic user on their side or Raven had already cleaned everything up.
Then she walked into an open field. She saw a shimmer of a barrier up. As she inspected it, she felt an immense amount of magic on the other side of it. When she touched it, it bounced her back ten feet and she landed on her ass. What the hell? Why is there a barrier up? She walked up to the barrier again and tried to see what was behind it. She felt the heat under her skin again and then could see past the barrier. Raven was training a young woman with magic. She was Atara’s height, similar build, with black hair like hers. Is this a new Coven member? Then she saw a tall man with reddish hair wielding elemental magic as well. An Elemental? In the Wolf Realm? What is going on here? To get her answers, she waited behind a tree until their training was over. She did not care how long it took, she wanted to know who this girl was because she had never felt magic at that level before.
Raven lied to Cyrus. This girl caused the power surge that he had felt.
Chapter Thirteen: Zara
Zara was meeting Raven in their normal location. She did not know how she managed to beat Raven there, so she sat down and began to meditate. As she took deep breaths, she felt his power and then caught his elemental scent. She opened one eye to see Tobias standing in front of her with just a pair of pants on and his bow staff strapped to his side. Her jaw almost dropped, and drool began forming in her mouth. She stopped herself before he could see. This man had well defined arms, pecs, and abs. His abs led to that v cut that girls went crazy for. He noticed her staring and cocked an eyebrow. Then he smirked. She stayed seated.
“Like what you see?”
“What on Earth are you doing here?”
“I see you are ignoring my question.”
“You are ignoring mine. You are in my territory once again, so start talking.”
“I would like to discuss my offer.”
“To align yourself and your kingdom with me?”
“Yes. As I said, I do not want anything to do with his evil. I would like to help you in any way that I can.”
She was still seated and realized she was being rude. He was a King after all, and she was sitting as if he was nothing. She stood up and he tensed.
“Afraid of the big, bad wolf?”
“One can never be too careful, Princess.”
“I am not a princess.”
“Could have fooled me.” He smirked again. Damn his smirk.
Zara had never felt drawn to any man. She often thought Derek had ruined her for men because of his sleaziness, but this guy proved that theory wrong. His presence alone was setting her body on fire and it travelled to her core. What is wrong with me? He is an elemental, for crying out loud! The King, no less!
“How will we make the allegiance official?” She asked. She was trying to keep her mind off his body.
“Are you offering something specific there, Princess?” His voice was too smooth and grew deeper.
“Not what you are thinking there, Your Highness.” Maybe reminding him of his position will make him stop flirting.
He laughed. The sound made her wolf happy. Traitor. She told her wolf.
“Not much. I can shake your hand and call it a day.”
She held out her hand and he took it. His hands were not what she expected. They were soft and warm. She could feel his elemental energy beneath his skin. His magic came to the surface and woke up her own. Her aura began to shine around her, and he took a step back. Zara’s eyes changed to her wolf’s blue mixed with silver and her magic rushed to the surface. She felt like it wanted to meet Tobias’s in a gentle way. Tobias looked at her in confusion. “Has this ever happened to you before?” He asked.
Before she could answer, Raven teleported next to her. Zara and Tobias jumped, and Raven smiled. “The best side effect of this ability, scaring people is easy.” Zara glared at her. She was wearing one of her flowy dresses again, this time a deep purple. Zara felt like it played well with her sapphire eyes and black hair quite well. Raven then noticed Tobias and her eyebrows raised. “King Tobias, what an honor!” She gave him a slight bow.
“Please, no formalities. I am not even the official king yet.”
She smiled at him. “Of course. But, why are you here, if I may ask?”
“I have just aligned me and my kingdom with Zara.”
She gasped. “You have? May I ask what made you even consider that?”
“To put an end to Cyrus before it is too late.”
“I see. Would you care to join me in training Zara then?”
“Raven! What are you doing?”
“Well, what better way to prepare you for anything than to have you train with an Elemental?”
She could not argue. Training with Tobias could increase her chances of winning. Even though she felt like nothing but a distraction at this point. She would do anything to complete this prophecy and win.
They had spent the entire training mixing Zara’s magic with techniques that Elementals used. While Tobias was there, any elemental influenced spell came more easily to her. The invisibility spell was stronger than she had ever casted. She had been able to sneak up on both every single time and easily disarmed them. The earth responded to her as she lifted a boulder and threw it at them. Raven had to grab ahold of Tobias and teleport him to a different area because her magic was strong to the point her spells worked fast and was double the strength than usual. Raven had looked over at her and then Tobias several times and wore a look of contemplation.
Without thinking, Zara had a burst of energy come out of her which had a lightning bolt slamming down next to her. Tobias’s eyebrows were nearly to his hairline. “How did you do that?” He asked.
“We are learning every day that her magic creates its own spells to meet her needs. We have never seen magic quite like hers. She may have an entirely new ability or a variant of her mother’s ability”
“What ability was that?”
“She had the ability to mirror other abilities.”
“Why do you say she has this ability?”
“Her magic is almost mirroring your elemental magic, but not quite. She just called lightning. Is that not a hard skill to learn even for an Elemental?”
“Yes, it is.”
Raven felt like that was a good stopping point for the day. Zara felt the same even though she now felt magically charged and ready for more. She did not know why today was so different with her magic, but she wanted to train with Tobias more often. Their magic complimented each other well and his alliance during the fight for the throne will be a nice addition. She also wanted to know what exactly was going on between her and the Elemental King, but she will save that for another day.
Chapter Fourteen: Atara
Zara started to walk in Atara’s direction. As she walked Atara noticed her gait had changed. She was calmer, more confident even. She looked more comfortable wi
th her power and she could feel it coming off her. Atara smelled the bitter note of magic and the earthy note of wolf that was her scent, but something else too. Something familiar.... mint! Where have I smelled that before?
Now she was roughly thirty feet away from the tree Atara was behind. I could not let her pass me. She was breaking the law just by being alive. A wolf and witch hybrid. Cyrus had outlawed that mating pair twenty-five years ago and she looked roughly that age. Atara stepped out in front of her path. She stopped and stared at Atara with a calm expression. Almost like she knew Atara was there. I must have been downwind, and she smelled me. Rookie mistake. I cannot afford those kinds of mistakes. Last mistake I will make.
“Who are you and why did you follow me?” she asked.
“I am Atara, Enforcer of the Kingdom pack. Who are you and why aren’t you registered as a hybrid?”
“I am Zara, the new Beta of the Midwest pack. What do you mean registered?”
“Cyrus outlawed your kind. How are you alive?”
“I’m not understanding. I thought you just asked about being registered?”
Anger surged within her. Atara stepped within Zara’s personal space. “Do not talk back to your King’s Enforcer.”
“Look, I do not care who you are. I am alive because I am. I do not give a shit if the King likes it or not.” She tried to step around her.
Atara immediately threw her right fist at Zara’s face. She ducked, spun around her and elbowed Atara in her back shoulder. Atara faced her and threw another punch. She blocked and threw one at Atara’s body. Atara stepped to the side to avoid it. Atara kept throwing punches, she blocked. Zara threw punches, Atara blocked. When they kicked, the other ducked. Zara threw another punch at Atara’s face and Atara grabbed her arm, bent forward, and threw her over her shoulder. She went a few feet and landed on her back. She brought her knees to her stomach and flung herself forward.
When she faced Atara, Zara’s face expressed determination. She lunged and shifted. Her wolf was as white as snow and crystal blue eyes. Before Atara registered anything else, she put her hands together and threw her weight as she brought them sideways into Zara’s side to bring her down. She rolled and got to her feet. She lowered her head, bared her teeth, and growled. That is when Atara noticed the light gray streak going down her neck and back. She is the wolf! The one Cyrus thought was dead! Before Atara could continue the fight, her eyes changed. They were now glowing pure white, but her blue irises were still there with silver mixed within the blue. She had never seen anything like this before. Then the wall of power hit her next. Her scent was everywhere, and the bitter taste of magic filled Atara’s mouth. What the? and then she was hit with an invisible wall and she was airborne.
Atara’s back hit the ground first. Then her legs were behind her head and she was rolling backwards. She just used her magic while in wolf form. She was much too powerful. She had to die!
Atara shifted and began to run straight toward Zara, head low and teeth bared. Zara was waiting for her. She bent lower to the ground, waiting for the right moment to lunge. Atara was closing in. Then Atara’s wolf halted. Enough! Atara’s wolf’s voice filled her mind. Since when did my wolf talk to me and not want to kill?!
Zara:
Zara watched Atara shift into a black as night wolf. Her piercing gray eyes glared at her as she charged. Zara lowered herself to the ground to prepare to lunge. The earthy scent of wolf filled her nostrils mixed with something she recognized. It was mint. Wait...isn’t that what Derek said I smelled like? Then the wolf halted just five feet from her. Zara’s wolf’s motherly voice filled her mind Enough, little one. She will not hurt you. She said. Why would not she hurt me? She was just trying to kill me! Zara said back. Because she is your sister. Her wolf answered. Then she felt something snap within her mind.
There was a fire going to keep them warm. Their mom’s arm was around Zara’s shoulders as they sat on the ground. Zara looked up into her sapphire eyes and they were filled with joy. Zara looked over to the other side and her dad’s arm was around another little girl’s shoulders. The girl had black hair that matched and light green blue eyes that matched her dad’s. Then they heard twigs snap. Their parents jumped up. Their Uncle Bryce came running out of the woods into the small clearing where they were seated. “They found us! Michael, they found us!” Their parents looked at them with terror then back at him. “Time to enable code black” Michael said to him. Michael and Danni hugged each girl. “We love you. Do not ever forget that you two are more powerful together than you are apart. You are sisters, so take care of each other.” Danni’s hand lit up with the blue hue of her magic. They both stood up and shifted. Then a dark gray wolf stood where their father was standing, and a light gray wolf stood where their mother was standing. Uncle Bryce called Zara and the other girl over to him. “Zara, Atara. We want you to go east. Go to the Midwest pack. We have an ally waiting for your arrival. Stay together.” They heard more twigs snapping. Uncle Bryce stood up, a light blue light emitting from his hands. “I’m sorry girls. I love you.” The light blue light covered Zara and Atara. Zara saw Atara shift into a black wolf and felt herself shift.” We looked to our uncle, “go! Now!” That was the last thing Zara remembered.
She shook her head and looked at the black wolf. The same one from her memory. Zara shifted back and so did she. Her facial expression matched her own. Pure disbelief and confusion “Atara?” Zara said softly. She shook her head yes. “Atara as in…”
She cut her off. “As in your sister.”
They both remembered what they were spelled to forget.
Chapter Fifteen: Xander
Xander was reading the newspaper in his study while Sophia was cooking dinner. Even though she was on the other side of the house, their mate bond made her feel as if she were standing right next to him. Even if she was not an Omega, he was sure she would still be the soul of the pack, the one to turn to when things went wrong, the one to tell every secret to because she would listen, and the one who would defend her territory and family with every fiber of her being until her last breath escaped her. He knew the Goddess gave her to him because she was everything he needed.
Xander was not a born werewolf, he was Changed. He was thirty and a Sergeant in the Marine Corps. His parents kicked him out at eighteen because he was always in some sort of trouble. He tended to fall in with the wrong crowd who would then get him into situations that he would have never chosen to be in. His only option was the military. If he did not, he knew he would never get his life straightened out.
Then, in the middle of a forest, something was waiting for him that would take him on a path he never knew existed. A werewolf. During a full moon, no less. Xander was doing a perimeter check when he was blindsided by a rogue werewolf. It left him for dead. Little did he know, that was the wolf’s intended purpose. That was the way the magic would take effect and create a new wolf. Not to mention, Xander was just a little too stubborn to die.
When he woke up in a wolf’s body, he knew he could not go back. No one would believe him and they might attack him. So, he ran and followed the scent of the rogue until he stumbled onto the Midwest Pack. The Alpha at the time had a daughter. She was not very tall, but her ability to stand her ground made up for what she did not have in height. Her brown hair was long, her brown eyes always soft and full of love. His mate even then knew how to keep everyone in a good mood without her ability. Her cooking and baking were able to do that alone.
As Xander reminisced, he felt a power surge like he’d never felt before. Oh no, they found each other! “SOPHIA!” She was already running towards the door. “We have to get to them before they hurt each other!” She yelled as she crossed the threshold to run out. She shifted into her brown wolf. Xander stayed in his human form knowing he would need to be able to speak to them when he got there.
Using their wolf speed and the pack bonds, they reached the girls during their fight. Stop them, Xander! Before they hurt each other! Sophia’s v
oice entered his mind. She sounded panicked. As Xander watched, he noticed that both were matching each other blow for blow and neither was able to land a single punch or kick. Their wolves are not allowing them to hurt each other, Sophia.
They went still in their wolf forms at that moment. He was right. Their wolves would not have allowed it and would tell them who they were to each other. Zara shifted back first. “Atara, Atara as in.” Zara said softly. “As in your sister.” Atara answered.
The air changed. Xander felt both of their power swirling around in the air and it brought him to his knees. Sophia was completely laying on the ground from it because she was in her wolf form. Sophia was barely visible, the different shades of brown within her fur almost blending in with the color of the ground. He thought Sophia should inch her way toward the girls to help calm them so their beacon of power would calm down.
The girls then embraced each other and sobbed. Twenty years of not knowing each other, not knowing their past had bubbled to the surface. Tears welled up in Xander’s eyes while watching them. He took a step toward them and Raven popped next to them. Scaring all four of them.
“Girls! Reign in your wolves and emotions! You’re going to blow your cover!” She yelled at them.
The girl’s jumped and stepped apart. Tears stained their cheeks. Xander felt their power dissipate.
“Aunt Raven? You are our aunt! Why did not you tell us? Why did not you tell us that our twin was alive! WHY WAS EVERYTHING KEPT SECRET?!” Zara started off calm, but then became angry. Xander understood. He kept some things secret as well. As if Zara could not hear his thoughts, she turned in his and Sophia’s direction. “When did you get here? Did you know? Did you keep secrets from me too? HOW COULD YOU?” Xander felt Sophia’s ability kick in and began to calm everyone. Xander walked over to Zara and pulled her into him for a hug. “I am so sorry, little one. I promised your mother that I would.” She looked up at him confused. “Now is not the time to get into this, Xander. Let me get us home and put up a barrier. Then we can tell the girls everything.”
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