The Alpha's Silent Bride: Seventh Time's The Charm novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113: 113: Kael’s Rage

~ RONAN ~

The battle continues around us, but charging blindly into Quirin’s forces isn’t going to get us anywhere. We’re outnumbered, the witch is weakening my warriors, and every second we waste gives them another advantage.

"Nikolai," I continue through the mind-link as I block another attack and force the warrior backward. "I’m going to draw Quirin’s attention. I’ll get him talking and find out what the fuck he wants. While he’s focused on me, find a way around their formation and get to the witch."

"You want me to take her down?"

"Alive if possible," I reply, my gaze settling on the cloaked figure behind Quirin. "But if she gives you no choice, do what you have to do. Just stop whatever spell she’s casting."

"Consider it done.""

I sever the connection before raising my sword and signaling my warriors to stop advancing.

"Hold the line!" I roar, and one by one, my men fall back into formation behind their shields.

The fighting gradually slows as the command spreads to the opposing side. I step beyond the protective line of my warriors with my sword still firmly gripped in my hand, keeping my eyes fixed on Quirin as he emerges from behind his men.

"What the fuck do you want, Quirin?" I demand. "You’ve marched Lycans and a fucking witch into my territory, so I’m assuming you didn’t come all this way just to entertain me."

A smug smile spreads across his face. "I came to give you an opportunity to save what’s left of your pack."

A humorless laugh leaves me. "You attack my territory and suddenly you’re concerned about saving my people?"

"I don’t care about your people, Ronan. I care about what you have that belongs to us."

My brows pull together at his choice of words, but before I can question him, movement beyond his forces catches my attention. Another formation of warriors emerges from the woods, and the insignia on their armor makes something cold settle in my stomach.

Warren’s pack. Fucking hell.

Quirin notices where I’m looking, and his smile widens. "Now you’re beginning to understand."

I tighten my grip around my sword. "Understand what?"

"That you’re outnumbered." Quirin spreads his arms slightly, gesturing toward the forces surrounding him. "You can continue this battle and watch your pack fall one wolf at a time, or you can give us what we came for and end this before more blood is spilled."

My jaw clenches. "And what exactly did you come for?"

His answer comes without hesitation.

"Roselle."

Something vicious twists inside me. "No."

Quirin chuckles. "You haven’t even heard the offer."

"There is no fucking offer." My voice drops dangerously low. "Roselle isn’t property you get to negotiate over."

"Then perhaps watching your people die will change your mind."

Before I can respond, movement flashes behind Quirin’s formation.

Nikolai. The bastard actually fucking made it through.

He moves quickly, using the distraction exactly as we’d planned, and reaches the witch before the warriors surrounding her realize what’s happening. His arm locks around her as he drives her backward against a tree, knocking the wand from her hand.

For one glorious second, I think we’ve fucking done it. Then the witch smiles. Her lips move.

I can’t hear the words from where I’m standing, but I see Nikolai’s expression change immediately.

"Nikolai!"

An invisible force explodes outward.

His body is ripped away from her and thrown violently across the battlefield before crashing into the ground several feet away. The impact makes my heart fucking stop.

Everything erupts into chaos again.

The moment my paws slam against the earth, the entire battlefield changes.

A wave of black energy erupts from my body.

The ground trembles. Then it fucking splits open.

Cracks race violently across the battlefield, tearing through the earth beneath Quirin’s and Warren’s warriors. Screams erupt as the ground collapses beneath their feet, swallowing men whole while others scramble desperately away from the widening fractures.

Kael throws his head back and releases another thunderous growl, and the darkness spreads farther.

Trees bend violently, the earth shakes beneath us. Black veins of energy tear through the ground in every direction, consuming everything they touch as terrified warriors abandon their formations and run.

Quirin’s men are screaming, Warren’s men are scattering, even the Lycans begin retreating.

But then I notice something that sends the smallest shred of awareness cutting through Kael’s rage.

My own warriors are running too.

"Alpha!"

Their voices barely reach me through the darkness clouding my mind.

They aren’t retreating from the enemy, they’re retreating from me.

The realization should be enough to make me stop.

It isn’t. Kael’s rage has already swallowed everything.

Another growl tears through us as the earth splits wider, and the terrified screams surrounding me become nothing more than distant noise.

For the first time, I understand why everyone fears the Black Curse. Because right now, I don’t know if I can fucking stop it.