Harper

I laid Andrea down on the ground as gently as I could. I looked up at Caroline as I stood up and she bowed her head to me. Colton bent to his knees and looked up at me. I looked around and the three men did the same. Abigail looked up at me with tears in her eyes. She kept looking down at her mother and I could see that everything in the poor little girl was to kneel, but her need to grieve for her mother was strong too. I walked and kneeled in front of her. I forced a smile on my face and wiped at the tears on hers.

“Thank you,” I said and her eyes widened. “Thank you for your loyalty. But you don’t need to be strong.” She burst out crying and flung herself at me. I held her as he hung onto me and sobbed.

We sat there for a while. I hugged the devastated little girl as I watched the people move around us. I watched as Samual was dragged off through the woods and as the three men carried Andrea back over the border. Finally, it was just me and Abigail sitting on the edge of the territory. She had fallen asleep crying in my arms. I didn’t want to move and awaken her. It was nearing dark when I saw a shadow emerge from the woods. I looked up to see Marcus heading towards me. He looked around the clearing and sighed.

“I should have been here,” he said. He sat down next to me and watched me.

“How are you?” I asked, and he shrugged.

“I feel fine,” he said. “The pain has gone.” I narrowed my eyes on him.

“It’s not just the physical I was asking about,” I said and he smiled.

“I know,” he said and then shrugged again. “I guess I am just numb. I don’t feel sadness, or anything.” I didn’t like the sound of that, but I knew there were other things we had to deal with. Marcus nodded to Abigail.

“So I got caught up to speed on everything,” he said. “Alex told me it all.”

“What did he tell you?” I asked.

“That Elias is trapped in some demon cage and we are going to break him out,” he said. “And that you think that you are going to sacrifice yourself to save him.” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“I think?” I asked, and he smiled.

“If I find another way, I’m gonna take it,” he said. “You might be some queen but you are still my Luna and I swore to be your protector. I knew that sometimes that would mean from your own stupid self too.”

“I have to do this,” I said, and he nodded.

“I know, I will be there with you,” he said. I nodded in agreement. I knew it was useless to argue.

“Are you okay with deceiving Elias?” I asked, and he nodded.

“That isn’t Elias,” he said. “I have no issues with sending that d**k back to Hell.”

Abigail yawned and fidgeted in my arms. I looked down at her as her eyes opened. She looked around at Marcus with a curious expression.

“Why are you empty?” she asked him and he furrowed his eyebrows.

“What do you mean?” I asked, and she shrugged. I caught another moment and saw Jonas appear at the border’s edge.

“Everything is prepared,” he said and then smiled at my confusion. “For Abigail. She will stay with me for as long as needed. I will ensure that Andrea has a proper funeral.” I nodded and looked down at the child.

“Please let me stay with you,” she said, and I smiled.

“I have to do something super important,” I said. “And I might not be around for a while, but I will make sure you are looked after.” I didn’t know what I was going to do. But I guess I would figure it out soon enough. If I survived the night. I helped Abigail to her feet and then stood up myself. She crossed the border and took Jonas’ outreached hand. I smiled at her.

“I promise I will see to everything for you,” I said, and she nodded. I knew she also had a little brother, but I hadn’t seen him. I wanted to ensure that the children of the woman who saved my life were well cared for.

I nodded to Jonas, and he bowed his head.

“We have noticed some movements in one of the other camps,” he said. “We are already on standby if you need us. Alpha Tommy has assured us that if we need to cross the border to protect you, that we will be able to do so safely.” I nodded as he spoke.

“Please be careful,” I said, and he smiled.

“Of course my Queen,” he said. He walked off with Abigail, back into the shadows. I turned to Marcus.

“If worse comes to it,” I said. “I need you to ensure that they are looked after.” He nodded.

“It won’t come to that,” he said. “But I give you my word that we will follow your wishes.”

We walked back through the forest. It felt like the night was alive. Even my werewolf senses were dull compared to what I felt with this. I looked up as we reached the pack house. I didn’t even need to see him to know that War was standing on the steps. He came down and glared at Marcus.

“Someone shoots at her and you aren’t there to protect her,” he growled. Marcus growled back. I moved between them and looked up at War.

“I am fine,” I said with a smile. “Who told you?” He quirked his head.

“Tommy did,” he said. “Is there any reason why I would not be told that your own grandfather tried to kill you?” Erm apart from it happened because I was doing something that would take him down.

“I told him how we were out on a walk,” Tommy said as he walked out of the pack house. I nodded.

“Where is the bastard?” I asked.

“He’s in the cells,” he said. “We will deal with him tomorrow. After…” he trailed off, but I knew what he meant. After I was in Hell. I could only hope to see Samuel there.

“Is everything ready?” I asked and Tommy nodded.

“We were just waiting on you,” he said. “Everyone else is at the seal.” I smiled and held my hand out to War. He took it and I felt a shock run through us both as our skin made contact. He looked confused but then smiled at me.

“Shall we end this?” I asked, and he nodded.

“Absolutely sweetness,” he said.

We headed into the pack house and followed Tommy as he took us down into the basement. I had never actually seen the seal. I just knew that it was somewhere under the pack house. We continued down another level before we came to some stone corridors. They were dark and lit with fire lamps. I could already feel an increased pressure in me. It felt like I was being pushed and pulled at the same time. Tommy pushed open some doors, and we walked into the room. I could see Brianna and Drake standing to one side talking. I looked around and the room was otherwise empty.

“We need to keep it clear,” Drake said, almost like he could read my mind. “Just those of us who are doing the ritual.” I saw War looking at the stonework in the centre of the room. Visually it just looked like stone but it felt like I could feel it glowing in my mind. It seemed to hum with energy. I looked back up at Drake.

“You are doing the ritual too?” I asked, and he smiled.

“Yes,” he said. “Brianna will be our anchor to this world. And I will be our anchor there. I will be the one pulling us out when we are done.” War looked over at him curiously.

“Why would Harper not be able to do that?” he asked, and I smiled.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“I think it is going to take a lot from me and you,” I said and Drake nodded.

“Yes,” he said. “I am older and will be able to pull all of you out, whilst our girl here will be using her energy to close the seal.” War nodded and Drake raised an eyebrow. I knew what he was thinking. He called me ‘our girl’, that would have been something that Elias would have reacted to.

“All of us?” War asked, “Who else is coming?”

“Me,” Marcus said. And he nodded.

“I suppose it is only fair that you actually do your job,” he said and Marcus glared at him as he turned away. I shook my head at Marcus and he turned away.

“Are we ready?” Brianna asked, and I nodded. Tommy gave me a nod and made his way to the door.

“I have Warriors on guard, just in case,” he said, and I smiled. He walked out of the room, leaving the five of us alone. I looked at Brianna who looked terrified and sent her a reassuring smile.

“You will do amazing,” I said, and she forced a smile on her face.

“I certainly hope so,” she said. “Well, I need you all to be standing in the seal.” She pointed to the seal, and we all moved to the circle etched into the stone. Brianna held out her hand to Drake, and he took it while holding his other out to me. I copied and did the same with War and he took a hold of Marcus’ hand. Brianna started chanting something in some language I couldn’t understand but it sounded familiar. Drake nodded to me and back to Brianna.

“Enochian,” he whispered.

“Oh,” I replied. Well, that made sense. I didn’t know too much about language but I knew that Enochian was meant to be the language of the angels. Brianna glanced at the pair of us and I winced and mouthed sorry for interrupting. She smiled slightly and carried on what she was chanting. I started to feel really warm and light-headed. I knew I was swaying on my feet. Her words seemed to get louder and then they were inside my head. I felt like I was going to burst right open when I felt my knees hit the ground below me. I was vaguely aware of some other noise and the doors bursting open as my eyes closed and I was swallowed into darkness.