Page 74 of Challenged Mate
“Yes. There were sorcerers on the east side of town, closest to the forest’s edge, but they were dealt with pretty easily. Now, I guess we know why.” She looked meaningfully at the crumbled figures on the street.
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Once again, sorcerers had tried to abduct me. The first time, though, they hadn’t hesitated to try and kill me after I refused to go with them. They believed I had something of my mothers’, and they hadn’t listened when I said they were wrong.
But I wasn’t sure if the attackers from moments ago had the same agenda.
They’d called me “daughter of the Mother Goddess”, but they hadn’t threatened my life when I refused to go to them. Rather, they threatened my friends.
Was there meaning behind the difference? Or was I reading too much into it?
My hand trembled as I brushed sweaty strands of hair behind my ear. I fell back on my butt, unable to keep my balance on the balls of my feet.
“You’re shaking,” Kayla observed. “Stay here. I’ll get you some water.”
Before I could tell her not to worry about it, she hurried away.
Embarrassment crept over me. She and Chase had expended a ton of energy by constructing the magical dome that saved us from the attackers, but she acted as ifIwas the one in need of rest.
The worst that had happened to me was the reminder there were sorcerers who wanted to abduct me... not exactly a surprise
What was surprising, however, was that they had managed to infiltrate Wilds Pack territory.
I’d assumed the pack would be next to impenetrable. Considering several pack members had their own powers and could combat a sorcerer’s magic, it hadn’t seemed like a ridiculous idea.
Apparently, I was wrong.
I sat alone in the destroyed building, watching the busy conversations and hurried motions of those in the street, wondering what this attack would mean for the Wilds pack.
Would they blame me?
How many had died?
I brought my legs to my chest and closed my eyes. Leaning forward, I rested my forehead on my knees and allowed myself a moment of reprieve from the thoughts swirling in my mind.
Breathing deep, I shut out the sound of the Wilds Pack. I pictured the rugged terrain in Summit territory. I saw crisp fall leaves of yellow, red, and orange littering the ground. I imagined running through the forest with Stephanie at my side, our wolves’ tongues rolling out of our mouth but neither of us suggesting we stop.
Slowly, my adrenaline faded. My heartbeat slowed. I was calm—relaxed.
So relaxed, in fact, I didn’t hear the building’s beams give a long, warning groan.
“Blair!”
In my mind, Stephanie called my name as I nearly tumbled down a rocky hillside. I’d dug my paws into the rough ground, barely managing to stop before I tumbled down into the sharp ravine below.
“Blair!”
My eyes snapped open, finding Chase. He’s who yelled my name.
His face twisted with fear. I didn’t understand why.
Until the building released another ominous groan.
Plaster fell from the ceiling in large chunks. Wood creaked. The sturdy material would come next.
I scrambled to my feet, ignoring the frantic shouts and worried expressions of the shifters gathered on the street. I needed to move.
Easier said than done. I was quick, but the ground was littered with debris, and more fell from the ceiling. I had to take care to not trip and fall as I rushed to exit the building before it came down on me.
