Page 146 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

As alpha, I opened my mind and my thoughts reverberated through the pack, causing a low growl to escape my lips.The Dark Fae came from that castle in the distance. If we manage to breach the fae line, we will finally reach the Dark Lord and bring an end to this!

A chorus of agreement touched my mind. Around me, I could hear the thundering steps as we pushed closer to the castle. Wolves barreled past Dark Fae, biting and clawing all that flanked them. The bears charged, their thunderous footsteps creating a tunnel of open space as they plowed through the fae.

The Dark Fae shouted commands. Their efforts to strengthen the line increased as they slashed and lanced through the Werekind with their swords and dark power. I rose onto my hind paws between the fighting, head whipping about as I searched for Sasha.

It was as if she had disappeared into thin air.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: THE FINAL BATTLE

SASHA

“Ican sense a dark presence,” I told my light wolf.

I rode on her back as we neared the dark castle. When a break between foes appeared, I swung myself onto her back and commanded her to head for the castle. The Werekind couldn’t keep fighting forever, and the Dark Fae had an endless supply of soldiers joining their ranks to aid in the battle. If I could defeat the Dark Lord, the Dark Fae would have no leader—would surrender.

My light wolf let out a whimper, glancing at me over one broad shoulder.

“I know this is beyond stupid.” I growled with frustration. “Going in alone might could be suicide, but I can’t stay on the battlefield and not find the Dark Lord.”

I couldn’t let my family and Damon fall to the Dark Fae. I would do everything in my power to stop them.

I thought back to my inability to shift and the witch that had poisoned me at birth—sent by the Dark Fae. The Dark Fae wanted me dead. Because of the Light Fae power within me. And I would use up all the power to my dying breath in order to save my loved ones. My fangs lengthened.

They do not know what the hell kinda threat I am.

My wolf cast me one long look before she turned her head and crept toward the castle. It seemed all the soldiers had left the castle in favor of defending the battle line. The castle was empty except for the Dark Lord. Unguarded.

We circled the base of the castle, searching for a way in, when my eyes latched onto a massive door that loomed over us. My wolf pushed her head against the door, prodding it open. We stilled with bated breath, ready for a wave of soldiers to pour forth from the door. All was silent. Too quiet.

With a dry swallow, I mustered the courage to order my wolf to go ahead, and together we crept into the dimly lit space. The castle had no other light except for the mounted torches, which cast flickering shadows on the stone walls.

The small hairs on the back of my neck lifted. We slinked down one corridor, predator muted, gazes roving as we searched for our foe. Nearing the end of the passage, I bit the inside of my tongue. The passageway branched into several more hallways.

Damn it…

I inhaled, sniffing for the Dark Fae. The metallic iron tang was thick in the air. Clinging to the walls. It was impossible to make out his location, for the entire castle permeated with his scent as he dwelled within the walls. I stifled a sigh and made my decision, stepping into the passageway to the right. The air inside was cool and musty. A sharp jolt surged through my body. I hissed, glancing down and gasped. A fine shimmer of light enveloped my skin, like a halo.

What the hell is going on?

Disturbed, I told my wolf to keep going. She moved one paw-step and another surge of energy shot through my limbs. I clenched my jaw against the pain, blinking. Every time I moved down the hall, it hurt. Was my newfound power trying to lead me to the Dark Lord? Was I going the wrong way?

My wolf and I backed out of the passageway, and no pain manifested. Hope renewed, I tested out another section, and misery flared. At the last corridor to the left, the shimmering around my skin intensified. No pain appeared. The Dark Fae was that way. Padding on, we came across winding stairs leading up to another floor. I swallowed, fisting my hands against my trembling nerves. We sneaked up the stairs in muted awe, ears pricked, eyes flitting about for any sign of danger. Landing on the second floor, we glanced around. The room was empty, save for a throne that was at the far rear of the room, a dark purple carpet rolled out before it. Dark crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling high above. Shafts of moonlight filtered in through the open windows that spanned both sides of the room.

“I knew we’d meet one day,” a silken voice, dipped in ice, said.

My wolf and I spun around to face the source of the sound.

A tall man stood at one of the windows, looking out beyond. Elegant dark robes outfitted his lean frame. His hair swept down his back like an ebony waterfall. He angled his head to the side. Amethyst eyes fastened on me. A chill slithered down my spine. I could sense immense power wafting from the Dark Fae male. It rolled off him like a thick fog, choking off the air in my lungs. I fought to draw breath, to shove away my fear.

His gaze flicked to the wolf I traveled on.

“I see you are able to manipulate your Light Fae powers.”

I growled. “You wanna see how well I can manipulate it?” I commanded my light wolf to snarl, and a vicious growl tore from her.

“You have Light Fae blood running through your veins.” He turned to face me. “The only wolf to be born with fae blood in over a thousand years. The Light Fae are all but exterminated, and here you are, the bane to bring down the glory of the Dark Fae Empire.”

Now I understood why our family couldn’t trace our ancestry in the old records. They deemed the union between a fae and an ancestor as sinful and erased it from history. But in that moment I was grateful for these powers despite being a latent, for they would exact vengeance for Chelsea. Save all of Werekind.

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