Chapter 9 (a)
Over the week, Katya’s excitement rose by the day. There would be a pack gathering this weekend and she loved attending them. But this one would be extra special because she got to go with Jasmine instead of being alone, like she usually was.
“It’s good to see you so happy,” Shirley said as she kissed her cheek. “Are you ready for this evening?”
“Yeah, and I’m so looking forward to it, but…” Katya sank down between her parents. “I’m also super nervous.”
“Why’s that?” Derrick asked with a concerned look.
“Because of the sparring sessions,” Katya said, rolling her eyes. “They’re so common at these gatherings and I’m worried about repercussions that might come my way. I’m one of the younger pack members so I’m sure I’ll be expected to participate.”
Derrick huffed and folded his arms over his chest as he leaned back on the couch. He was clearly frustrated, and Katya couldn’t blame him. Sparring was very common among wolves her age.
It was a way for them to develop their skills, but it often meant that both parties would shift mid–session. At her old pack, Katya never had to participate because none of the others wanted to fight a weakling. But here they didn’t know.
“I think you should take a wolfsbane, just to be safe,” Derrick
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said, as he pulled a small, metallic case out of his pocket. “We need to make sure no one picks up on your wolfless state.”
“I don’t want to take them again, Daddy,” Katya complained. “They dull my already dumbed–down senses and abilities. Not to mention that they make me feel so sick.”
“That’s the point, darling,” Derrick said, turning to face her. “Wolfsbane will make your weakness seem like it’s caused by some kind of medical problem, instead of you having no wolf.”
“But I haven’t taken them in a long time, and the last time I took them, I nearly ended up in hospital,” Katya reminded her father. “Can’t I just go to the gathering without taking them?”
Derrick looked at the silver capsule that was rolling around on his palm as if he was deep in thought, and Katya couldn’t help but sigh. She understood that her father only had the best intentions. She knew he would never do anything to harm her.
“I just want to help,” Derrick muttered in defeat.
Katya sighed at the sight of her father looking so dejected. “Okay, I’ll take one.”
As promised, she took the capsule from his hand and swallowed it in front of him. All Katya wanted was for her parents to enjoy their evening, but she knew her father would only be reassured if she did what he told her to do.
Katya gently patted his knee as she got up and went to her room so she could get ready.
The girls had only been at the pack gathering for a few minutes when Katya started feeling ill. The world around her was spinning so fast everything looked like a blur. Her
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stomach churned and suddenly she was overwhelmed with
nausea.
Her head was pounding, its rhythm matching that of her heart. The loud music drumming in her ears made her feel even worse, and there was only one thing she could think about.
“I need air,” she mumbled, mainly to herself, before stumbling into the woods.
“Hey, where are you going?” Jasmine called out from behind her, but Katya couldn’t respond.
She kept walking until all the sounds died down and the cloud of fog that submerged her brain dissipated. Katya leaned against a tree as she took a few steadying breaths.
As the fresh air filled her lungs, she started feeling a bit better. Katya closed her eyes, relishing the feel of her body instantly relaxing.
“Katya?” Jasmine asked as she came out from behind a tree. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I was just feeling a bit nauseous, but I’m fine now,” Katya said, straightening herself out. “Let’s go back.”
“Are you sure? I sensed something and…” Jasmine gave Katya a quick once over. “We can go home if you want.”
Katya hooked her arm around Jasmine’s and they started walking back. “Don’t be silly. We’re here to have fun. I’m not missing out on that.”
Even though Katya was still feeling sick, she was determined
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to have a good time, which was exactly what she did. The girls drank punch, danced around the campfire, sang along to songs they loved, and every now and then she stole a glimpse of Ezra.
Since she was forced to keep her distance from him, Katya did the only thing she could do. She admired him from afar, and he looked gorgeous. The light cast by the fire made his jaw look even more prominent, as it did with the rest of his features.
Since he was sitting higher up than the rest of the pack, he looked as if he were perched on a throne; a proud king admiring his adored subjects as they enjoyed the festivities.
But something, or rather someone, ruined the perfect image he portrayed. Angie… She was all over Ezra. Even though he paid no attention to her, the sight still made Katya feel sick to her stomach.
“Oh! Look,” Jasmine said excitedly. “The sparring started!”
Katya turned to face the two youngsters who had taken their wolf forms, and she rested her chin on her palms. The battle commenced, and she got wrapped up in their movements.
The intensity of their strikes and the well dodged attacks had her eyes glued on them. She wished she could do that someday, that the sense of elation she was feeling could be displayed in a practice session of her own.
“Leave me the fuck alone!” Ezra‘ voice pierced the air. Suddenly all attention was back on him.
He pulled his arm out of Angie’s iron grip. From the force he
used, Katya could tell he was extremely annoyed.
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“Do you think I don’t know what’s going on here?” Angie asked haughtily. “You’ve been watching the new girl the entire night!”
Uh–oh, Katya thought to herself.
Even though she had realized that Ezra hadn’t taken his eyes off her, she never thought it would elicit this kind of reaction. It was the kind of response that Katya knew all too well, and it was something she couldn’t get caught up in.
Angie was red with rage as she turned toward Katya. “I challenge you to a duel!”
“This has nothing to do with me,” Katya said as she leaned closer to Jasmine. “I’d rather just sit here and watch the others.”
“What? Are you scared of a little competition?” Angie taunted. “Afraid you’re going to lose?”
“No,” Katya said, trying to suppress the rage that was building in her chest. “I just don’t want to get drawn into an argument that has nothing to do with me.”
“I don’t know what you see in her,” Angie said as she glanced at Ezra. “Here I am, trying to prove that I’m better than her in every way, yet she doesn’t even have the guts to stand up for herself. You need a woman like me, not someone like her.”
Katya couldn’t believe her ears. She was outraged by Angie’s insistence on putting the spotlight on her like that, but she was even more furious with the girl’s words. Ezra had the right to like whomever he wanted, and Angie had no right to interfere with his feelings.
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“You’re so full of yourself,” Katya mumbled, mostly to herself. “I could beat you in a matter of minutes.”
“Prove it!” Angie insisted. “Show Ezra you can be a woman worthy of his love or leave. There’s no use in hanging around where you’re not wanted.”
“I don’t need to prove myself to anyone,” Katya stated. “But if you feel that you do, please go ahead. Just leave me out of it.”
“Wuss!” Angie spat. “Only a weakling would turn down a duel!”
Angie’s desperate attempts to force Ezra to change his mind were ridiculous, and for some odd reason, that behavior rubbed Katya up the wrong way. Yes, Katya had a crush on him, and yes, she wished he felt the same way, but that wasn’t what made her so angry.
It was Angie’s constant taunting. It was because she made Katya look weak in the eyes of the man she had come to adore. It was all those things combined that made Katya feel like she was forced to accept the challenge.
“So what? You’re just going to keep making a fool of yourself until I accept?” Katya asked, knowing she was pushing all the wrong buttons. “Isn’t that a sign of weakness?”
“Don’t you know anything about werewolf etiquette?” Angie gave her a cruel smile. “When someone challenges you, you can’t refuse. If you do you’re the one showing that not only are you unfit as a pack member but that you can’t defend the pack if you need to.”
Katya tet out a heavy sigh as she got up. Angie was out for revenge, but her reasons to fight were far more valuable. She was going to prove herself once and for all.
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“I accept your challenge,” Katya said as she dusted herself off.
Angie’s lips curled into a vicious smile, as she stepped off the platform. The girls made their way to the sparring grounds, and as they stepped in, Katya looked over at Ezra. He was at the edge of his seat but his eyes were glued to her.
She said a silent prayer to the Goddess Selene as she took a defensive position. Katya was trying her best to keep this match civil, but she knew it was only a matter of time until Angie shifted. So she had to be extra vigilant to make sure that she wasn’t caught off guard.
“Let’s get this over with,” Katya said as she locked eyes with Angie.
Angie took a step forward, preparing for her attack. “Oh, trust me, it won’t last long.”
Angie struck with amazing speed, throwing a fist in Katya’s direction, but she anticipated the attack and moved before the punch could land. Her competitor’s eyes were burning with rage as she turned around and lurched at Katya, trying to tackle her to the ground.
Seeing how unstable and jerky Angie’s movements were, Katya jumped, as she did at the aptitude test. The challenger lost her balance and hurtled to the ground, giving Katya the opportunity to put some distance between them.
“Yeah, Katya! You go, girl!” Ezra shouted encouragingly. “Show her what you’re made of!”
She looked at the Alpha, who seemed to hold her in high esteem, and she couldn’t help but smile. No one had ever cheered her on, and she liked that he was the one doing it.
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But Katya was so wrapped up in the encouragement that she didn’t see what was happening behind her. Angie pushed to her feet and, at the realization that Ezra was cheering Katya on instead of her, she shifted.
Suddenly, she stumbled, a wave of dizziness washed over her as the effect of the wolfsbane returned with full force. Katya blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision so she could prepare for the next strike. But dark spots had invaded her eyes, making it nearly impossible for her to see.
Katya was still trying to regain control of her senses when the sound of the low growl came from behind her. Her heart dropped to her feet when she heard the sound.
She spun around to defend herself, but it was already too late. Angie was mid–air and her focus was honed in on her target.
Katya was caught completely off guard. She had no time to defend herself, so the only thing she could do was run. But before she could will her feet into action, Angie slammed into her. The force was enough to make her legs buckle, and Katya crashed to the ground.
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Chapter 9 (b)
As soon as Katya felt a little wiggle room, she forced her back up and sent Angie flying. When the wolf came tumbling
down, she spun and landed a drop kick square in its jaw. But since she was just human, it didn’t have the impact she had hoped for.
Angie shook her head as she stalked up to Katya with a
predatory look in her eyes. And that was exactly the situation Katya had put herself into. She was prey, facing off against a predator with amazing strength, speed, and agility.
“You’re weaker than I thought you were,” Angie sneered through the mind link. “No real wolf would allow themselves to be taken down like that.”
“Says the person who just got her ass handed to her by someone in human form.” The words slipped out before Katya could even think of stopping them. “You can’t even pick on someone your own size without the help of your wolf.”
“Ha! Do you really think I shifted because I’m afraid of you?” Angie licked her lips. “No, I shifted because the human form is not enough of a challenge anymore. But what about you, hmmm? Too afraid to let your beast run loose? Or are you just too arrogant to admit you’re no match for me?”
Crap! Katya thought to herself. Angie had the upper hand and she knew it.
There was no way Katya could fight back, not in her condition. But the worst part was that she was depleting her own energy
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each time she had to defend herself. Her strength was waning, and it wouldn’t take long for her to be completely exhausted.
Katya looked around, hoping she would find something that could be used as a weapon, but Angie struck again. She darted to the side to avoid the impact, but the wolf reached out.
“Ahhh!” Katya howled as Angie’s claws ripped across her stomach.
The four deep gashes that were left in her skin stung so badly she could hardly stand upright. Blood was running from the wound, staining her white dress and the sand below her. It was bad, worse than any injury Katya had sustained before. That was when Katya realized that Angie wasn’t fighting by the rules anymore.
“I won’t survive this,” she sputtered as she felt those same claws sinking into her back. “I can’t…”
Katya whirled around, landing a punch on Angie’s jaw. But things had already gone too far.
Dark spots had appeared in her eyes. The world around her had stopped spinning. Her blood loss was catching up to her. Her body was too frail to keep going with the injuries she had already sustained.
“Mom! Dad?” she whispered through the mind link, but she got no response. “Shit!”
The wolfsbane… It had to be… It must’ve been blocking her ability to even talk to those she needed most.
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Katya knew she was screwed. She couldn’t keep dodging Angie’s attacks. Her body was far too weak, and there was no way she would get out of the battle alive. Even if she was willing to look like a weak fool in front of the entire pack, Katya knew Angie wouldn’t stop.
The wolf struck over and over again, coming at her
repeatedly. But each time it did, it came on stronger than the last. Luckily, Katya managed to evade each attack. Until Angie lunged at her and successfully managed to push Katya to the ground.
As she lay there with the giant wolf on top of her, all she could think of was that this was the end. Her miserable existence would be diminished by a jealous she–wolf who tried to prove herself to a man who clearly wanted nothing to do with her.
I guess that’s as good a reason as any, Katya thought to herself as she looked up at Angie.
The wolf forced her claws into Katya’s shoulders ever so slowly, causing her to cry out in excruciating pain. But at that exact moment, a sense of determination, with the help of her fight–or–flight system, forced her to act.
She punched Angie in the gut, making the wolf whimper as it moved off her. Katya got up, her body swaying with her weakness, but she still took a moment to look up at Ezra. As their eyes met Katya could clearly see his concern in them.
She didn’t understand what it meant, but then again, she couldn’t understand anything at that moment, so she just watched him in amazement. His lips were moving as if he was shouting something at her, but she couldn’t hear it.
“Shift! You’ve got to take your wolf form!” his words
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eventually pierced her shrouded mind.
“Listen to him!” Jasmine pleaded.
I can’t… The words were at the tip of her tongue, but her body was no longer responding to her commands. She wanted to respond to them both, to tell them she needed help, but she never got a chance to do so.
Suddenly, her heart rate shot through the roof. Katya clutched her chest as breathing became impossible. Her legs gave way beneath her and she fell to her knees. Her ribcage hurt so badly it felt like her heart was about to pop and suddenly something rose up in her throat.
Katya blinked her eyes open in an attempt to stay focused, but the only thing she saw was blood staining the ground as she vomited all over it. Darkness overwhelmed her, and the last thing Katya felt was her body quivering and her head hitting a hard surface.
Ezra couldn’t believe his eyes. His mate, the one person he’d spent his entire adult life searching for, was lying on the ground with her own blood pooling around her. He looked over at Angie, who had a mischievous look in her eyes as she sauntered over to Katya. At that moment he knew he had no
choice but to intervene.
“Stop!” he said through their mind link.
“She’s just playing dead,” Angie growled. “This is my chance to prove myself to you.”
When Ezra heard those words, he snapped. His fists balled as
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he got up and walked off the podium.
“What are you doing?” Mateo asked, his tone laced with concern. “You can’t interfere in this.”
“Watch me,” Ezra said through gritted teeth.
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Angie was about to bite down on Katya’s leg when he stepped into the sparring grounds, but luckily Ezra got to her before she could. Using all his strength, he pushed Angie away.
He sent the wolf flying through the air and only knew she landed when she let out a pain filled whine. But he couldn’t care less. Katya was his only concern right now. Angie should have been happy that she wasn’t dead.
Ezra kneeled down next to Katya so he could lift her into his arms. She was badly injured, and as he examined one of the wounds, he realized she wasn’t healing like she was supposed
- to.
His brows furrowed in confusion, and he leaned closer. As the scent of silver invaded his nose, all of the pieces fell into place. There was a large amount of silver in her blood, which could only mean someone was trying to harm her.
“Silver, she’s been poisoned with silver. That’s why she didn’t shift,” Ezra mumbled to himself, not realizing that the entire pack had surrounded them.
A wave of gasps echoed through the crowd of stunned onlookers, and all attention was immediately diverted to Angie. She had shifted back to her human form and was approaching Ezra when he looked up at her.
But all he saw was red. His wolf was coming to the surface.
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Both of them wanted answers. If Angie did it, she would suffer the consequences. His wolf growled in his mind.
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Ezra gently rested Katya’s body on the ground, and before anyone could realize what he was planning, he lunged at Angie. He grabbed her by the throat before raising her into the air, pinning her to a tree.
“What have you done to her?” he spat. “Was this all a part of your plan? Poison her with silver so you could kill her in front of everyone?”
He tightened his grip as he slammed her against the tree once
more.
“Was this the only thing you could come up with, knowing that she’s a million times better than you are?” Ezra asked, his voice rising with each word that slipped through his clenched jaw.
Angie whimpered and tears rolled down her cheeks as she
said, “I swear I had nothing to do with it. Yes, I challenged her because I was angry, but I would never try to win a fight by poisoning someone.”
“Uhm, Ezra,” Mateo said, the panic in his voice forced Ezra to look at him. “We have a major problem. She’s bleeding out.”
With the reminder that they should get Katya the help she needed first, Ezra released his grip on Angie. Not caring whether she was injured or not, he turned his back on his ex so he could rush to Katya’s side.
“Her healing is impaired,” Ezra said as he lifted her lifeless body into his arms once more. “If she doesn’t get medical attention right away, she’s going to die.”
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Even though Ezra tried to hide it, he was extremely concerned. Katya was already paler than usual. Her skin had gone completely cold. Her breathing was so slow it could barely be heard, and her heart rate was slowing down by the second.
Katya’s life was slipping away so quickly that it would be a miracle if he got her to the pack hospital in time. But he wasn‘ t going to give up on her that easily. He couldn’t.
Since she stepped into his territory, she became his life, that was something he couldn’t afford to lose. With determination, he got up. He held her close to his chest and sprinted to the medical facility, which was a few miles down the road.
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