Page 65 of Alpha Exile

I repeat the lyrics of the song as the spirits gather around us, ignoring the odd look Lance throws my way.

"Anyone else feel cold as fuck?" Finn shouts, eyes alarmed. One of the spirits passes through him, and he looks creeped out. "Holy shit."

"It's the spirits of the undead," I tell them all, pressing my fingers deep into Roarke's forehead, soothing him as much as I can. "They're going to help us get this spirit out of Roarke—or at least overload his body so that it can't control him anymore. Then once Delilah is done with Delphine, she can help end the possession for good."

"Once this one has calmed down, I for one plan on helping Delilah kill that bitch," Lance says fiercely, looking over my shoulder towards the ongoing battle. "This is one fight I can't sit out for good."

I don't disagree with him. This entire time, I've kept the mate bond in the back of my head, reaching towards it to make sure Delilah is still okay. She's fighting on with all her spirit and determination, pushing Delphine back—but she's frustrated and angry still, as she hasn't gotten close enough to end the battle for good.

I'd focus on her more, but the spirits are swooping into Roarke's body now, and he's beginning to moan restlessly. So I redouble my efforts to calm him down, singing the children's lullaby louder and faster. It doesn't seem to do much, but it does make him relax enough that his hands relax and his claws retract—giving Lance the freedom to let go of his hands.

He surveys the rest of us, announces, "I'm joining the battle against Delphine," then shifts into his large, white wolf form and rushes into the fray.

Finn watches him with envious eyes, but stays with us for now, murmuring, "I want to see this through until the end. It's what Roarke would do for any one of us."

Kieran just lays his head down on Roarke's chest, curls up on top of him tighter, and stares steadfastly ahead. There's no doubt in my mind that, if Roarke doesn't make it through this possession, he'll stay there and mourn him until someone makes him move. Delilah may be the only person on this earth who he loves more than his best friend.

Which is why it must pain Kieran deeply to hear Roarke howl in pain as dozens upon dozens of spirits rush into his body. They sink beneath his skin, pulsing through him and rushing into every crevasse of his heart and mind. He twists and howls, his veins bulging and his muscles clenching over and over again at the pain.

Finn shouts, "Do something for him! It's going to be too much!"

"I don't know how to take his pain away!"

Roarke's body is fighting more and more—and then, suddenly, he goes limp from head to toe.

Almost as if he's dead.

Whimpering, Kieran stretches up, shifts back into his human form, and puts his fingers on Roarke's neck. His eyes fly up to meet mine.

"He's ice cold. His pulse is there, but—barely. We have to do something for him."

Swallowing thickly, I admit, "I don't know what to do."

I do.Delilah's voice enters my mind.

Swiveling my head around, I'm shocked to discover that the battle has moved hundreds of feet away; she and Delphine are locked in a tense battle. Twirling magic of both black energy and red fire twists above their heads, dozens of feet into the air. Lance circles around them, darting in to attack Delphine when he dares.

Delilah is so far away, but her voice is a clear bell ringing in my head.Kieran, stay with Roarke. Finn and Bastian—bring your wolves to me. We need to end this battle, now, so I have my hands free to help him.

I look to Kieran, questioning. "Go," he says, gritting his teeth and grabbing the torn rope restraints off the ground. "I'll tie him together again just in case he gets some fight back, but... I think he's worn himself out."

Looking around, I spot no more ghosts lingering in the air—only Jason hovering nearby, his eyes still black, his pale hands held above his head. He nods to me, his movements slow and alien, which I take as a sign that my part here is done.

There's another battle that I have to fight.

So I shift to my wolf form, letting his strength flow over my body. Finn does as well, pacing over to join me.

Shoulder to shoulder, we run into the fray.

It's time to defeat our enemy for good.

Twenty-Seven

Delilah

The mountain is at her back, and the more I push her towards it, the closer I am to cornering her.

As soon as I've got her trapped, the dagger is going into her heart. She'll pay for what she's done to Roarke—for the pain she's caused him, and my entire pack, for so many years.

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