Page 68 of Brutal Alpha's Forced Mate

I glance at the water, and my wolf snarls uneasily as I take in its unnatural stillness. The energy is strongest here, pulsingin waves that ripple across the surface. My gaze shifts to Jaslyn, and I can see the memory of her last visit to this place playing out behind her eyes. This is where I took her that night when she needed to get rid of her excess magic before it got the better of her. We came here to escape, to find peace, and now it’s become the center of everything we’re fighting against.

“Do you feel it?” Isadora asks. Her dark eyes narrow as she steps closer to the water’s edge with her hands outstretched. “The portal, it’s here. Somewhere beneath the surface.”

Jaslyn nods, her magic sparking to life as she follows Isadora’s lead. “It’s not just here. It’s strong. Stronger than any of the others.”

“That’s why the demons are coming through so fast,” Theo comments. “It’s a direct link.”

“To where?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

“Hell,” Isadora says bluntly. Her tone is calm, but the gravity of her words hangs heavy in the air. “Or whatever dimension the demons call home. This portal isn’t just a crack—it’s a doorway.”

I curse under my breath, running a hand through my hair as I try to think. The lake stretches out before us, deceptively calm, but the energy emanating from it is anything but. My instincts scream at me to destroy the portal, to close it down before another demon can come through, but the logistics are a nightmare. It’s underwater. None of us are equipped for this. Not me, not Theo, and certainly not the rest of the shifters.

“We’ll have to dive,” Isadora says suddenly, her tone matter-of-fact. She turns to Jaslyn. “The portal’s underwater. We’ll need to get close to seal it.”

“Absolutely not,” I snap before she can finish. “It’s too dangerous.”

“It’s the only option,” she counters. “You know shifters aren’t built for this. You’re strong and fast, but water isn’t your element. It slows you down. The water feeds off our magic. If anything, that’ll work in our favor.”

“She’s right,” Jaslyn adds, though her voice is quieter. She glances at me, her green eyes pleading. “We can do this, Gray. Isadora and I, we’re the best chance we have.”

“No,” I growl, stepping closer to her. “It’s suicide. If something happens down there, if you can’t—”

“We can,” Jaslyn interrupts. “You have to trust us.”

Trust. The word feels like a knife to the gut. I do trust her—more than I trust anyone—but the thought of her diving into that lake, surrounded by god knows what kind of energy and danger, makes my blood run cold.

“We’ll stay together,” Isadora interjects. “And we’ll be careful. But this has to be done, Gray. If we don’t close that portal, the demons won’t stop.”

“She’s right,” Theo adds reluctantly. “We don’t have a choice.”

I turn away, staring out at the lake as my thoughts race. Every instinct in me is screaming to keep Jaslyn out of this, to find another way, but I know there isn’t one. They’re right. The portal has to be closed, and the witches are our best shot at doing it.

Jaslyn steps closer, her hand brushing mine. “Gray, I need you to let me do this.”

I look at her, taking in the determination in her eyes, the way her shoulders are squared like she’s already made upher mind. She’s always been stubborn. Relentless in her need to prove herself, to fight for what she believes in. It’s one of the things I love most about her, but right now, it’s also the thing that terrifies me the most.

“You’re sure about this?” I ask.

“I am.” Her hand squeezes mine, just briefly, but it’s enough to steady the chaos in my chest. “We can do this.”

I nod, though the motion feels heavy. “Stay close to each other. No risks. If anything feels off—”

“We’ll pull back,” Isadora finishes for me. “We know what we’re doing, Gray.”

I force myself to take a step back as I watch the two of them prepare. Theo moves to stand beside me.

“You think they can do it?” he asks quietly.

“They have to,” I reply, though the words feel like ash in my mouth.

As the witches move toward the water, I fight the urge to stop them, to pull Jaslyn back and tell her she doesn’t have to do this. But I know better. This is who she is—strong, fearless, and ready to face whatever comes next.

And I can only pray that it’s enough.

Chapter 24 - Jaslyn

If I drown in this lake, at least I’ll know one thing: Gray was wrong. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

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