Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
‘Has anyone been able to mind-link Nina?’ Magnus asks. May attempts to mind-link Nina.
‘There is nothing,’ May says in dismay.
Magnus faces all the witches drinking tea at the table, ‘I need you to take me to Pandora’s Box. I need to speak with Alec,’ he says.
‘Why Alec? Wouldn’t Yiselda be a better help?’ Fern asks.
Magnus holds the note up, ‘The wolf Council have taken Nina hostage. They left a note for Alec and me,’
‘What!’ May shouts.
‘What does it say?’ Ela asks.
‘I will tell you what it all says later. But, for now, I need to speak with Alec, so Nina can be returned safe and alive,’ he says, knowing too well that if the witches know there is a chance that Magnus will let Alec out, then they most likely won’t allow him into Pandora’s Box again.
‘All right, we can go now.’ The rest of the witches and I follow Ela as she proceeds to the portal, where we enter through the circle and emerge outside Pandora’s Box. After entering the coven stead, I walk towards the giant mirror until Lilac lays her hand on my back and tells me to stop.
‘Alpha Magnus, we need to tell Yiselda first that Nina has been kidnapped and that you need to speak to Alec urgently,’ she says.
‘We’ll inform her afterwards,’ Magnus says.
‘Sorry, Alpha Magnus, but you will have to follow me into the kitchen and see Yiselda,’ Magnus, annoyed, clenches the note.
‘Fine!’ he snaps and follows them into the kitchen.
‘Yiselda, something terrible has happened!’ May says, racing over to Yiselda, who is eating breakfast.
‘What is it?’ she says, startled, standing up.
‘Luna, she has been kidnapped by the wolf council. They left a note for Magnus and Alec,’
‘What does it say?’ Yiselda asks.
‘You may read it once I’ve spoken to Alec,’ Magnus says, masking his displeasure at the question. ‘ It’s important that I speak with him right away. Nina is in danger,’ he says.
Yiselda stares intently at Magnus for a brief moment. ‘Well, I better take you to him then,’ she says and leads the way out of the kitchen and through the mirror. She materialises a book and transforms it into a stairway, and we follow her up to the enormous, hefty door in the distance. Yiselda unlocks the door, and Magnus dashes by her, ignoring the Grimghouls and Shadow Reapers he passes along the way.
‘Alec, Alec,’ Magnus shouts. He looks up to see two glowing brown eyes in the shadows of the cell.
‘I know you, and I aren’t close for obvious reasons, but Nina is gone. The Wolf Council have kidnapped her,’
Alec comes face to face with Magnus with such speed, sending Magnus to tumble back to the ground.
‘What do you mean the Wolf Council has kidnapped her? Nina is a witch, and she has her wand. So she would be able to protect herself,’ Alec says.
Alec is right. Even with all three alphas up against her, they still would not have been able to kidnap her.
The witches have caught up and circle the cell listening to our conversation.
‘I’m not lying. The wolf council must have had help to kidnap her,’ Magnus says as he hands Alec the note. ‘Perhaps they were able to take her wand away from her?’
‘That would make sense if what you say is true,’ Alec says, accepting the note. He holds it up and reads it out loud.
‘Alpha Magnus, if you want your precious Luna returned alive, you are to free the vampire king, and he is to eradicate the human race. Once the human race has been annihilated, that’s when your Luna will be returned. If you both refuse this order, then we will kill her, and then we will destroy your entire pack declaring you an enemy to all wolf packs and kill every single pack member.
Regards,
The Wolf Council’
The witches gasp and whisper amongst each other. Alec’s breathing becomes heavy, and he looks away in shock.
‘They have my blood flame and took her away from me. I will make the wolf council pay!’ Alec viciously snarls and lets out a horrendous deafening screech, with his hands clenched around the bars. Magnus and the witches cover their ears. The Grimghouls have become louder hissing and snarling while the Shadow Reapers shriek. Alec locks eyes with Magnus.
‘You have to let me out. Let me save Nina.’
Before Magnus can respond, Yiselda steps closer.
‘Not going to happen… ever.’ She says sternly.
‘Alpha Magnus, I hope you weren’t intending on letting Alec out? Is that why you wanted us to remain unaware of the note’s contents?’ Yiselda asks. Reaper squawks furiously at her before flying from Magnus’ shoulder and walking through the bars, perching on Alec’s shoulder.
Alec scratches Reaper’s beak and pats him, much to Yiselda’s bewilderment.
‘In all honesty, Yiselda, I had no idea whether I would release him or not, but I came prepared, for if I do. All I know is that I need Nina back in my arms and if we can’t come up with any other alternative, then….’
‘Stop! You will not go there, Alpha Magnus,’ Yiselda growls. ‘I know Nina is your mate and Luna, but we can’t allow the humans to be wiped out in her place.’
‘Yes, we can,’ Alec interrupts, ‘Now let me out!’
‘Repeliate,’ Yiselda says, waving her wand at Alec. He is thrown backwards by Yiselda’s magic against the cell’s back wall.
‘I will not let you harm the humans,’ she says.
‘What do you suppose we do then, Yiselda?’ Magnus asks.
‘Nothing, we do nothing,’ she says.
‘And let Nina, your Luna and coven sister perish?’
‘Her death will not go unnoticed. Do you believe I desire Luna’s demise? No! However, we cannot allow billions of people to perish in order to save her. Do you believe she would desire that?’ Yiselda refutes.
Magnus stiffens and clenches his hands as they begin to tremble. ‘I can’t live without her. If you are unable to come up with a better plan, then it will leave me with no choice but to release Alec,’
Yiselda pauses in thought and turns to Alec and asks, ‘After all these years, you still wish to eradicate humankind to avenge your blood flame?’
‘If I could travel back in time, Yiselda, I would change everything. I’m relieved that I was unable to eradicate humanity. Juniper would not have wanted me to destroy them, and I regret killing anybody who attempted to stop me. If I had been released before Nina’s k********g, I would not have sought retribution. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve recognised Juniper is no longer with us and that killing humans would not bring her back. Meeting Nina and having her as my second chance blood flame means the world to me right now. My primary concern is to keep her safe, alive, and near to me at all times. I know Nina wouldn’t want me to eradicate the humans either, but the difference between Juniper and Nina is that Juniper is dead and Nina isn’t, and I would do anything to keep Nina alive.’
‘I’m sorry, Alec. I can’t let you out, knowing you will kill the humans. It is final.’ Yiselda says.
‘Not, if I have a say in it,’ Magnus says, crossing his arms.
‘Alpha Magnus, I have no choice but to ask you to leave,’ Yiselda says.
‘Oh, I’m going to go, but I’m going to take Alec with me,’
Alec shakes his head in bewilderment at Magnus, unable to believe what he is hearing.