Page 57 of Brutal Alpha's Forced Mate

“You feel that?” Jaslyn asks, glancing at the other witches.

“Yeah,” Isadora replies grimly. “That’s definitely demon energy.”

“It’s stronger here,” Jade adds. “Like the cave is amplifying it.”

“Any signs of animals?” Theo asks.

“None,” I reply, scanning the area. The forest around us is eerily silent, and I don’t like it one bit. “Nothing alive would want to be anywhere near this place.”

“That makes five of us,” Jaslyn mutters under her breath.

Jade and Isadora exchange a glance before nodding. “We’ll seal it down,” Jade announces. “If we trap the energy inside, it won’t be able to spread or attract more demons.”

“Do it,” I tell them. “We’ll keep watch.”

The witches move to the entrance of the cave. Jaslyn lingers for a moment, her green eyes locked on the dark mouth of the cave before stepping forward to join them. They form a loose circle with their hands outstretched as they begin to chant in unison.

The air grows heavier with each word, and the magic swirls around them like an invisible storm. My wolf bristles at the sensation, but I force myself to focus, scanning the tree line for any sign of movement. Theo and the warriors fan out with their weapons at the ready, but the forest remains unnervingly quiet.

Until it isn’t.

A guttural roar erupts from the cave, so loud and sudden that it feels like the ground shakes beneath us. My heart lurches as a massive shape bursts from the darkness—a demon covered in black, chitinous armor. Its glowing yellow eyes fix on Jaslyn before it moves with terrifying speed, closing the distance in seconds.

“Jaslyn, move!” I shout, already lunging toward her.

She reacts just in time, throwing up a glittering barrier of magic that barely holds as the demon slams into it. The force sends her stumbling back, and her hands tremble as she struggles to maintain the shield.

“Gray!” she gasps, her voice edged with panic.

“I’ve got you!” I growl, shifting mid-stride and leaping at the demon with all the strength I can muster. My claws rake across its side, and it lets out a screech of rage, turning its attention to me.

Good. Let it focus on me.

The warriors join the fray, striking at the demon from all sides in their wolf forms. It’s fast, unnaturally so, but we’ve trained for this. Theo’s teeth find their mark, slicing through one of its legs. The creature staggers, its movements slowing.

“Keep going!” I shout, ducking under a swipe of its massive claws. “Don’t let up!”

Jaslyn and the witches resume their chant, their voices rising in unison as the air thickens with power. The demon roars again, but I slam into it with all my weight, driving it back.

You’re not getting anywhere near them, I snarl, sinking my claws into its throat. The creature shrieks, and its yellow eyes dim as the warriors deliver the final blows, cutting it down with brutal efficiency.

The demon collapses with a sickening thud, and its body dissolves into ash and smoke. I don’t wait to see it vanish completely—I’m already shifting back to human and spinning in circles, searching for Jaslyn.

She’s still standing, her hands glowing with residual magic as the chant reaches its crescendo. The cave entrance shudders, and a blinding flash of light erupts from within. Whenit fades, the oppressive energy is gone, replaced by an almost unnatural stillness.

“It’s done,” Jade announces, her voice weary but triumphant. “The cave is sealed.”

Relief washes over me, but it’s short-lived. Jaslyn sways on her feet. Her face is pale, and I’m at her side in an instant, steadying her before she can fall.

“Jaslyn, are you hurt?” I demand.

She shakes her head, but her hands grip my arms with a force that tells me otherwise. “I’m fine. Just… give me a second.”

“You almost died. If that thing had been a second faster—”

“But it wasn’t,” she interrupts. “I’m here, Gray. I’m okay.”

The conviction in her voice doesn’t erase the image burned into my mind of her standing there, so close to danger.

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