Everwild (The Healer Series, #1) (29 page)

“I don’t think…I know,” Willow said
quietly.

“Don’t you do this! Don’t shut me out,
Willow!” Declan exclaimed.

“Just stop, Dec,” Willow said, unable to look
at him.

Declan was about to say something in return
when Emerson cleared his throat. “I’m sorry…to both of you. I
somehow wish the situation was better, but we have to deal with
what we are given. The Alphas will be here within minutes. I need
to prepare a new room for us to gather in since this one is
destroyed. Declan, you have to pack quickly. Henry is taking you
and the other warlocks to Darkmeer at…” he looked down at his
watch, “Seven. It’s six o’clock now. I’m releasing you from your
bonds. Don’t think you’re getting off the hook by what you have
done tonight.”

Emerson waved his hands and the binding rings
disappeared from Declan’s body. He rubbed his wrists absentmindedly
and then lifted his head and locked eyes on Willow’s. They stared
into each other’s eyes from across the room and it was as if
everyone had disappeared and they were the only two there. The
silence was deafening. The look he gave her nearly made Willow fall
to her knees and beg him to forgive her. Betrayal, hurt, confusion,
and pain were all mixed up in his expressive hazel eyes. But she
had to remain strong. She had to remain cold towards him or he
would know how much she was screaming on the inside, how much she
wanted him and wished everything was different.

“Willow,” Declan addressed her softly. “Do
you really want me to go? Do you really not…want me, anymore?”

Willow gulped. A huge lump in her throat was
slowly closing and swallowing her air supply. It hurt. She wanted
to cry. He was sincerely asking her if she loved him. She could see
his mind trying to work it out, trying to figure out why she was
acting this way. But it would never work out. She knew that falling
for Declan was more dangerous than trekking through the Everwild
with a giant EAT ME sign on her back. But she fell for him anyways.
And she fell hard. But even if it would kill her inside, she had to
let him go. Because as her vision showed her, she was destined to
be alone and Declan was destined to become a powerful warlock,
married to another. Their lives were going in different directions.
And even worse, she didn’t even know if she would survive the
night. If she confessed her love back, right now, then
Declan
wouldn’t survive the night. Bane was a constant
presence beside her, and she would not forget his threat. Things
were more complicated than she could’ve possibly imagined.

So looking back at Declan, directly into his
beautiful eyes, she did the thing she would hate herself for.
“Please,” she said shakily. “Just go.”

Declan sneered. “Goodbye…Willow Tree,” Declan
said darkly as he stood up straight. He was back to being the
cold-hearted warlock who hated her. The Declan she first knew. The
Declan she knew he wasn’t. It killed her inside to see him change
so quickly. Declan nodded to his father formally. “Keep me informed
while I’m gone, Father.” Emerson nodded back and Willow watched as
Declan stormed passed her out of the office, slamming the door
loudly. Willow winced.

Emerson sighed. “That boy can be so
frustratingly….emotional, can’t he?”

“That he can, sir,” Bane agreed. “Sir…how
long will the defenses be down?”

“Not long,” Emerson said and started walking
towards the door. “The Alphas are bringing some of their pack to
guard the perimeter of the land while we talk, plus some from the
Circle have agreed to keep guard. It shouldn’t be more than a few
hours, so we should be safe. Thank you for taking Willow. Are you
sure you don’t need another of the Circle to go with you?”

Bane shook his head. “No harm will come to
her, sir. She will be safe with me.”

It couldn’t have been farther from the
truth.

The bright moon blazed white light across the
warlock’s terrain as Bane tugged and pulled Willow to the edge of
the forest of Evergreen trees on the outskirts of Emerson’s domain.
It was quiet, until the crying howl of a wolf filled the night sky,
echoing and casting chills down her spine. The werewolves have
arrived. Bane, in sudden urgency, began jogging to reach the cover
of the trees.

“Bane, will you please stop?” Willow hissed
behind him. She had nearly tripped several times while being
harshly dragged around like some animal and couldn’t take any more.
Why Bane needed to be nearly a mile from Emerson’s house before
they took off baffled her.

“Shut it, Healer,” Bane snapped. “Come on!”
He urged pulling her so hard she stumbled and fell to her knees.
Bane nearly ripped her shoulder off as he pulled her back on her
feet.

“Why do we have to go into the forest first?
What are you waiting for?” She said with tears of pain stinging her
eyes.

“We have to be quiet or else--”

“Or else what?” A very familiar, angry voice
halted their retreat. “Scared we’ll sniff out your warlock
bullshit?”

Bane fiercely shoved Willow backwards and she
landed hard on the ground. Willow’s heart practically exploded from
her chest when she looked up and saw five huge wolves standing just
at the edge of a line of trees. Smack dab in the middle of it, with
his arms crossed and a feral expression on his face was none other
than Chase Hawthorne in human form. Willow was so happy to see the
werewolf that actual tears started falling from her face. He always
showed up at the most convenient time.

It was such a shock to see Chase, someone she
thought she would never see again, that she remained on the ground
with her mouth hanging open to take in the magnificent sight. Chase
looked absolutely menacing standing there with wolves that were
practically his height. They formed a semi circle around him as if
they were trying to protect their pack-mate in human form. All the
wolves looked strong and fit. As they moved, tight muscles rolled
just underneath their shiny fur.

And now, all the wolves were intently focused
on Bane, giving her no notice as they watched her captor with
careful eyes. Their mouths lifted in a snarl. A couple of them had
their heads hanging so low that they were in direct line with their
vertebrae, as if they were intending to strike.

“In a hurry to go somewhere?” Chase
questioned, never taking his brilliant blue eyes off Bane. His deep
voice almost sounded like a growl. Chase was not in the normal,
playful mood like he always was when taunting someone he didn’t
like. This was strictly business.

“Out of the way Wolf,” Bane warned. “And keep
your nose out of warlock affairs.”

“Oh for the love!” Chase said in frustration.
“We are were-wolves. Were… as in… half human! You’d think that a
warlock would show a little respect! But no, the big bad warlock
thinks he can talk down to us. As I see it, though, you’re
outnumbered, so you might want to keep the insults at a
minimum.”

Bane looked at Chase dangerously. “Get. Out.
Of. My. Way.”

“Can’t do it,” Chase said and stepped towards
Bane, the wolves simultaneously moving with him. “You see, it’s our
sense of smell that allows us wolves, as you like to call it, smell
when evil is close. It’s one of our unique abilities, among our
other assets,” This time, he did look down on Willow and smirked a
little. Willow would’ve missed it if she wasn’t looking directly at
his face. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “And right now,
you’re giving off a really, really, REALLY disgusting smell. Now
hand over the Healer, and maybe we’ll let you go.”

“I’m under direct orders from the Head
Warlock himself, boy,” Bane said unfazed by Chase’s threat. The
wolves beside Chase growled low and dangerous. “She must see the
Seeker immediately and I’m taking her there. Now move!”

“No,” Chase said and stepped even closer.
“Hekate is out there and can probably easily take you on and kidnap
her!” He pointed to Willow. Bane was literally turning red with
rage. “Oh, wait,” Chase said suddenly and put a finger on his chin
like he was thinking, “Come to think of it, Hekate really isn’t all
that powerful. She probably wouldn’t be able to take down such a
mighty warlock such as yourself. She’s just an evil little wench
who is spoiled and used to getting her way.”

“NO SHE’S NOT!” Bane bellowed. “How dare
you—”

“So she really is as powerful as the rumors
say?” Chase interjected.

“YES!”

“And honorable in
all
her
intentions?”

“YES!”

“And smart and motivated and just trying to
be the best in the world?”

“YES, YES!” Bane said crazily.

“And you’re working for her?”

“YES!” Bane drew back and frowned. “I
mean…no, NO I’M NOT! What the--”

“Seems to me like the cats out of the bag,”
Chase said and turned to his pack members. “See how I did that
there? Cat? Get it?” The wolves just continued to growl at Bane and
take cautionary steps forward. Chase turned back to the warlock.
“Admit it Bane. You’re working for the Dark Queen herself!”

“I AM NOT!” Bane roared and rubbed his hands
by his sides that then ignited with a red glow. He was readying his
magic. It was Dark Magic and Chase smirked when he confirmed what
his instincts have told him. “You tricked me you little jack
ass!”

“Again! The wrong animal!” Chase shouted and
then looked smugly at his pack. “See boys, I knew I smelled a…oh
what animal should
I
describe now? That’s it! A RAT! GET
HIM!”

The wolves jumped but not before the biggest
wolf, who stayed by Chase’s side, let out an excruciating howl into
the night. The others leapt in the air and tackled Bane to the
ground. Bane roared in fury and released his power, sending the
wolves flying backwards into the forest. Red light flashed as he
sent bright plasma balls towards the trees. They caught fire on
impact and the wolves barked and ran out of the woods towards him
again. Bane was poised and ready, a look of wickedness crossing his
face. The air darkened around him as he drew in more and more
power. He was using dark magic defensive spells, proving how he had
turned wicked.

“Stay back!” Bane screamed at the wolves that
were closing in on him again. They formed a circle around him,
snapping their teeth. Their limbs were tight and ready to dodge any
magic Bane would throw their way. Bane’s eyes were wild as he too,
turned around in a circle to face each wolf. Bane was a Third. He
was top ranked in the warlock circle, only second to Emerson’s
power. Facing five wolves would be easy for him, and suddenly
Willow feared for the werewolves’ lives. But just as Bane raised
his hands to let all hell loose, a loud shouting halted him.

Willow turned in shock to see Emerson, the
Alphas, and at least three dozen more wolves running full speed
towards him. Behind the wolves were other warlocks from the Circle.
Bane swirled around and turned on Chase.

“YOU DID THIS!” He screamed and threw a
plasma ball straight for Chase. But Chase was ready. He expertly
averted the plasma ball and shifted into a wolf in midair, but the
plasma ball followed him!

“RUN CHASE!” Willow cried for him and jumped
to her feet. The plasma ball chased the black wolf all over,
gaining speed and intensity. It grew into the biggest plasma ball
she’d ever seen. It tailed the wolf who swerved in between the
trees, trying to make the ball explode into one of the objects, but
it wouldn’t relent. It tailed him. Emerson and the others were
almost within fighting distance as Bane fired lightening and jinxes
and all sorts of incantations at the wolves. He hit two that were
closest to him and they fell to the ground writhing and squirming
in pain.

Willow screamed. The wolves that were running
ahead of the warlocks were finally there trying to attack but Bane
was hurdling everything within him towards the new attackers, and
wolves were falling to the ground like rain.

Willow’s eyes found Chase, who finally
managed to make the plasma ball explode in a thicket of small,
intertwined trees. The plasma ball only needed to feel the
slightest touch of an object and it blasted into fire. The small
trees didn’t stand a chance, but Willow blew out a shaky breath
knowing Chase had averted the warlock’s directed missile.

That was when Willow saw the Alphas. Ten
times bigger and thicker than any other wolf, the Alphas were like
rolling boulders flying towards Bane. They could jump at least ten
feet before landing again and their snarls were so vicious it had
Willow shaking where she stood. There were three and they were all
different colors. One was red and dark brown with piercing green
eyes. The other two had a mix of colors in their fur with glowing
yellow eyes. They reached Bane in two strides and overpowered him
easily. They dodged Bane’s attempt to thwart them and tackled him
to the ground knocking the wind from him. Bane’s head landed hard
on the ground and the light in his hands went out momentarily.

As soon as that happened, Chase rushed up to
Willow, and they attempted to scurry away from the fight. Even
though the wolves could distinguish her from Bane and the other
warlocks, they had surrounded her and if she didn’t move away, she
was bound to get hurt somehow. Chase nudged her in a random
direction when suddenly Bane woke up and stretched out his hand. He
was bleeding from his mouth, and the exposed areas on his arms had
deep cuts that gushed out dark red blood. But through his injuries,
he somehow managed to draw upon his magic. Fear guided Willow when
she saw the sight and tried running away from everything and into
the woods that was mere feet from her. The black wolf was behind
her and using his body like a shield to guard her.

But it was too late. Willow felt the impact
of Bane’s magic hit her like the target that she was and the next
thing she knew she was being whisked away backwards into the air.
She collided with Bane who had gotten to his feet and twirled her
so she was facing his enemy. He pulled her into his body with his
thick arm around her waist, and with the other, used his hand to
wrap it around her throat. She was caught and there was no way she
could get loose.