Fate Mate

Chapter 39

"That's it?" Dylan asked, unimpressed.

Zephora's lip curled, "Are you questioning my magic, mutt?"

The Black Lupis Delta growled, but Nolan already raised his hand to gesture for silence from his pack members, "No one is questioning anything, Zephora."

Speak for yourself, I nearly snorted aloud. My eyes flickered to the pack house, where my blood had been smeared across the threshold like a crimson rainbow. Apart from the ominous chant and an inconsequential breeze, nothing seemed to have happened. Nothing magical, at least.

"Did you curse the house?" I wondered aloud, slowly turning back toward Zephora and the coven.

"We prefer the term 'enchant.' We enchanted the house," Angelina, the youngest witch who had remained silent until now, finally stepped forward. "Now, no being or spirit can enter the house without your permission."

I blinked, "Mine?"

Zephora twisted the little emerald talisman on her right hand's ring finger, and I could have sworn I felt a thrum of magic pulsate from the object, as if it would have been content to cement itself on its true owner's finger. The beautiful witch smiled, "We've created a safe haven for you, Luna. And one can only reverse the spell if she wields this talisman."

I took a deep breath. The witch coven hadn't only offered protection to me, but to the elders and children of the Black Lupis pack that were unable to fight. They gifted us with a safe hospital for the injured to heal. Others would also benefit from the protective enchantment, but only so long as the rest of the pack was alive to keep fighting. Zephora's magic did nothing to help the warriors. It provided no weapon that might turn the tide of battle.

My family, my friends, my mate... They would be left to fight the swarm of hybrids alone.

"What about everyone else? The ones fighting outside of the pack house?" I whispered, although I couldn't be sure if I wanted to know the answer.

Zephora frowned, "The prophecy states that you, Charlotte, are the key to defeating the hybrid army. My coven has vowed to keep you safe, and we will fight by the side of the pack. But our magic cannot end this war. You can."

Her words sent a wave of nausea rolling up my throat, and I swayed on my feet. Nolan's firm chest at my back was the only reason I remained upright.

Why me? I wanted to scream at the Moon Goddess, or whatever cruel power had determined that I could handle this responsibility. You are wrong! I can't do this... You have the wrong girl.

I could feel a hundred pairs of eyes shift to watch me, as if they, too, were suddenly doubting our chance of success-- our chance of survival. If it hadn't been for Nolan's steady hand on my arm, stroking the fabric of my black sleeves, I might have forgotten how to breathe.

I might have forgotten that I was a Luna, and these were my pack members-- my family. And they needed me.

"Look..." I began in a whisper, eyes sweeping the crowd of werewolves and witches alike. "Those hybrids are coming for me. I've brought this terror to your doorstep, and I am sorry."

The crowd shifted on their feet, exchanging uncertain glances with one another. I took a step forward, away from Nolan's protective support. I needed to do this on my own. "And I understand if you do not want to fight. I will not make you fight to protect me."

"Charlie--" Nolan tried to interrupt, but I shot him a challenging glare, and he fell silent once more.

I continued, readdressing my pack once more, "But think about all of the innocent packs that have been slaughtered... The hybrid army is killing for no reason beyond wiping out an entire race. It seems like they won't stop until they've killed us all. And now-- now might be our only chance to stop them."