Page 69 of Rejected Mate

"I'm so sorry," my mother said on a sob, tears falling down her cheeks.

My father's aura flared as he punched Sky again. He had to be seeing double. Sky growled at him, but my father still had the upper hand. I'd never seen him so strong, so powerful.

I had to help my men before it was too late.

"This ends now." I gritted my teeth, pushing the magic further than I ever had before. I held my hands out, my palms up, and the magic gathered at my fingertips. It felt different than it had before. I could feel it connecting to the magic around me. But that wasn't the same either. The magic around me was muted. Weak. Still, I pushed with everything I had, breaking through the spell. Little by little, it fractured like glass.

"How dare you," my father yelled. "I gave you everything."

"No." With the last of the spell broken, my magic died and I fell to my knees. "You used me. Controlled me like you've done everyone here." I lifted my chin, pain and exhaustion crawling through me. "You let your ego destroy your pack."

"You're an abomination," he snarled. "No daughter of mine will talk back to me. You're a traitor," my father roared. "I'll—"

My mother lifted a trembling hand and my father's words died on his lips.

Mom turned to me. "Are you ready to take over the pack as our leader with your alphas?"

I nodded, not sure I was going to last. "I am."

"Fagua," my mother said, " he is a danger to the pack and to your mates."

I nodded, tears clogging my throat. "Anything but kill him. I'm not like him and won't murder people who oppose me."

My mom walked over and stood behind him. But she didn't do anything to him. Instead, she faced the fleeing wolves. "Follow Fagua or you're an enemy of the pack."

A few grumbled but nodded. More smiled at me, and my heart lightened just a little.

My injured father lay on the ground, crying. He looked so old—older than I remembered—and fragile. Like now that the mind control he had through my mother's magic was gone, he’d crumbled. He couldn't dictate his will any more.

"What will you do with him?" I asked.

"He'll live out his days in our jail along with any who don't swear fealty to you and your men." My mom gave me a soft smile. "I'm so sorry I didn't help you sooner."

A crowd of people came over to her, patting her on the back. I pushed to my feet, thankful that I wasn't unconscious after using that much magic. The world spun but I kept one foot in front of the other. I had to get to Husk.

I had used magic to knock my father off his pedestal and I survived. And I knew why. Because I'd truly bonded with Husk now, but he was dead. My throat closed and I swallowed against the pain.

I knelt beside Husk. He wasn't breathing. My magic couldn't bring him back.

"Husk," I whispered, my chest so heavy I could barely breathe.

Tears filled my eyes and I couldn't stop crying.

"I don't know how to bring him back." I pressed my lips to his forehead. "Wake up, Husk."

My mother rushed over and dropped to her knees beside me. "Take my power. Use it to bring him back."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

She nodded.

Winter and Sky came up next to me on either side.

"Use our energy too," Sky said, his voice tight.

"It won't help." I closed my eyes and pulled. "He's already gone."

I knew their injuries made it hard for them to help.

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