Page 18 of BeWolfed

Rudy took the amulet, examining it carefully. "There's something inside." His fingers worked the clasp, revealing a hidden compartment containing a tightly folded piece of paper.

My hands trembled as I unfolded it, revealing Rose's precise handwriting:

El—Seven witches, nine wolves, one traitor. Look beyond the obvious alpha. Blood magic serves a greater power. Katz knows the truth. Trust only those whose bonds are freely chosen, not magically compelled. Seven, nine, one = moon's fullest light. —R

"A greater power behind the alpha?" Rudy read over my shoulder, skepticism flowing through our bond.

"I don't know," I admitted, studying the note again. "But Rose specifically mentions Katz. He must know something crucial about all this."

I slipped Rose's note and amulet into my pocket, drawing strength from having something of hers close. Her message confirmed our theory about the full moon ritual but added newlayers of complexity. A traitor. A greater power. The game was bigger than we'd realized.

As we turned to leave, a sound echoed off the quarry walls—stone shifting against stone. We froze.

"We're not alone," Rudy whispered, his body shifting protectively.

Through our bond, I felt his senses extend. "Pack enforcers," he confirmed quietly. "Watching the quarry. They know we're here."

I reached for my magic, feeling it respond with newfound steadiness. Since the mate bond, my power flowed predictably, the erratic surges that had plagued me since childhood now replaced by a constant current.

"Options?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

Rudy assessed the quarry layout. "They're blocking the main exit. But there's another way out through the upper ledges." He nodded toward a series of narrow paths cut into the quarry wall. "Used by the miners. Leads to the ridge above."

"Then that's our path." I squeezed his hand. "I'll cover our retreat."

His protective instincts flared, but to his credit, he didn't try to take charge. Through our bond, I felt his struggle between wolf-driven protection and respect for my abilities. The latter won, his nod conveying both trust and concern.

"On my mark," he murmured. "They're spreading out, trying to flank us."

We moved as one toward the quarry wall, keeping to shadows cast by massive stone blocks. I silently thanked Rose for the combat training she'd insisted on during my teenage years, lessons I'd complained about endlessly but now appreciated desperately.

The first enforcer appeared at the quarry entrance—a young wolf with the telltale red glow in his eyes that signaled blood magic influence.

"Now," Rudy breathed, and we broke from cover, racing toward the narrow path up the quarry wall.

The enforcers spotted us immediately, howls rising as they gave chase. Two shifted into wolf form, while the third maintained human shape, hands glowing with borrowed magic.

"Blood witch," I identified, recognizing the unnatural signature. "They've got witch magic working through him."

The corrupted wolf-witch raised his hands, sending a blast of perverted magic toward us. I countered instinctively, my shield spell snapping into place with surprising strength. The collision of magics sent sparks showering across the quarry floor.

We reached the narrow path, Rudy taking the lead while I provided cover. The wolf enforcers scrambled up the quarry wall on either side, trying to cut us off. The blood witch hung back, gathering power for another attack.

"Keep moving," I called to Rudy. "I'm right behind you."

The next magical assault came as we were halfway up the path—a wave of corrupted energy seeking to unravel my protective spells. But my magic held firm, responding to my will with newfound precision. I countered with a binding spell, briefly immobilizing the blood witch.

One of the wolf enforcers reached the ridge above us, preparing to pounce as we neared the top. Rudy sensed the danger, his warning flowing through our bond an instant before the wolf leaped.

I didn't think—just reacted. My magic surged outward, catching the enforcer mid-air and throwing him back with controlled force. The spell executed perfectly, without the wild fluctuations that had plagued me for years.

Rudy reached back, catching my hand to pull me up the final steep section. We crested the ridge together, emerging onto forested mountainside above the quarry.

"This way," he urged, leading us deeper into the woods where the trees would mask our scent.

We ran in silence, moving swiftly until the sounds of pursuit faded. Finally, we paused in a small clearing to catch our breath.

"That was..." Rudy studied me with newfound appreciation. "You handled that blood witch like he was nothing."

---