Chapter 52

Words : 1700 Updated : May 20th, 2025

Sadie. Waking up this morning, I felt like I hadn't gotten any sleep the whole night. I was tired, my eyes felt dry, and I had a headache to end all headaches. Is it wrong that I wish Alec had never stepped foot in my pack? Everything that has happened started when he came here. Before, though I was still in hiding, my life was peaceful. Then Alec got here. For whatever reason, everything blew up in my face. "Do you regret the changes? The power you got?" Nyx asked while I was getting ready for yet another day where Alec was still in my pack. "I don't know," I replied honestly. "I feel like these powers will interrupt the simple life I've built. I feel that with powers comes a destiny I'm not sure I'm ready for. Sure, it's good that I have them because now I can protect my pack, friends, and family better, but I just don't know." I'm not afraid to say that I was scared out of my mind. Things were changing right before my eyes, and I didn't like some of the changes. I'd thought the goddess was done toying with my life, but I was wrong. Why would she make Alec my mate? It would have been different three years ago before he shattered me. I would have been ecstatic about the news back then, when I was madly in love with him, but not now. Not after everything he put me through. Pushing those thoughts to the back of my head, I finished getting ready and went to Aspen's room. By the time we were done yesterday with Alec, she was already asleep, and I didn't want to wake her up. "Morning, my love," I said as I walked up to her bed. She sat up while rubbing her eyes to clear sleep. "Good morning, Mommy." After giving her a kiss, I walked to the windows and opened the curtains to let in the morning light. "Do you want to pick an outfit for you?" I asked. When she nodded her head, I walked to her closet and opened it. Aspen loved to explore. Her curiosity about everything and anything reminded me so much of Piper sometimes. Pulling a pink t-shirt with unicorns on it, black leggings, and a pair of flat shoes, I helped her get ready. When I was done, I helped her wash her face, brush her teeth and hair, before pulling her thick hair into pigtails. "You didn't come yesterday like you'd promised," she said, pouting as we walked to the kitchen for breakfast. "I'm sorry, baby. What I was doing took longer than expected, and by the time I was done, you were already asleep," I explained, feeling terrible that I didn't read her a book. "Promise that we'll have dinner together today and you'll read a story before I sleep." "I promise," I assured her. The smile that broke out on her lips caused something inside me to swell. Everything I've done so far has been because of her. I would do anything for my little miracle (I call her that because, despite the torture I went through, she still survived), including going head-to-head with Alec. After we finished breakfast, she was off to start her day, and I headed to the training room. "You need to work on your right hook, Brandon," I told one of my warriors. "You're left-handed, and I get you favor that hand, but that doesn't mean you neglect your right hand. You can't always fight with your left hand." King and I usually work with the werewolves and vampires, while Raven trains the witches. Compared to other packs, we are at an advantage since we have all supernatural species. When he nodded his head, I commanded him to continue. I stayed training them for a bit before I ended the session. I asked King to join me in the office while I sent another member to call Raven. Minutes later, I was seated at my office desk with King and Raven joining me. "We have a lot to discuss," I simply said, and they both nodded. When I got the idea to start our own pack—one that we would be safe in and one that would also give banished wolves, witches, and vampires a place to call their own—I didn't really count on being the alpha. From experience, I knew that not all of the banished were horrible people. I also knew that even though there are those who have committed crimes, they deserved a chance, especially if they were remorseful. Good thing we have Raven, who is really good at reading people. When I was chosen as the alpha, I chose King as my beta and Raven as my advisor. After all, it wouldn't have been possible without their help and encouragement. "Sadie?" Raven's voice pulled me back to reality. "I want to know the status of the hybrids." I cleared my throat and spoke. King wasn't wrong that first day we met. Hybrids were savages. Most of them had abandoned their humanity. The only difference between them and the rogues was that their human counterparts seemed to still be in control, unlike rogues who had handed control to their supernatural counterparts. "Nothing so far, not after we stopped their last attack," King updated me. "Something tells me they've gone quiet because they are planning their next attack." Did I mention that hybrids have gotten stronger, faster, and deadlier? They were almost impossible to kill, which was very frustrating. "Any luck with what kind of magic is being used to create them?" I turned to Raven. She shook her head. "No. All I can tell you is that it's powerful and ancient. I can assure you that not even the most powerful of witches is able to conjure the kind of power that is being used to create them. That's why I think it's something ancient. Something beyond our realm." Her words sent chills down my back, and a kind of fear gripped me. "So you're telling us that whoever is creating them is using powers that even coven heads can't beat?" I whispered, shakily. "Exactly," Raven replied softly. "Then what chance do we have against the mastermind of this whole thing? Against the hybrids he is creating?" I shot up, feeling uneasy and agitated. "I want to reach out to some of the covens," Raven said. “I don't know about whoever is creating them, but I am sure with witches and wizards by our side, it would be easier to deal with the hybrids." Silence descended in my office for a few minutes before King cut in. "I've been trying to think about why someone would create that many hybrids, and I can't help but think: what if they are creating an army?" he said, making me turn sharply to stare at him. "What are you talking about?" I exclaimed. That thought had crossed my mind, but I pushed it back, not wanting to dwell on it. "Think about it, Sadie. It's unlikely that they are trying to create a whole new species, not when most of these hybrids are the worst of the worst. If we look at it like that, then the only option left is that they are creating an army of inhuman, bloodthirsty warriors who don't care about right and wrong." His words rang in my head over and over again, refusing to let up. My heart started beating wildly at that possibility. "But why? Why create an army?" Raven cut in while pushing up into a standing position. I let out the breath that was clogging my throat. "Whoever it is, is gearing up for war. That is the only reason why someone would go to so much trouble to build an army." "Could this be what Nyx meant? Does she somehow know what's coming?" King asked. "I don't know." "It could also be why your powers showed up now. Remember you told us that Nyx told you it was time? The coven heads might not be a match for whoever this person is, but maybe you are. I've felt your powers, Sadie. I believe that none of the coven heads can match it," Raven said, not knowing that her words just added more pressure. I reached out to Nyx to ask her if what Raven said was true, but the moment I did, she blocked our connection. I released a frustrated sigh. Stubborn wolf. Why is it hard for her to cooperate? "Continue looking into it; we need more proof that someone is about to start a war," I told them before resuming my position by the window. My mind was running a hundred miles per minute. This whole thing combined with what has been happening with Alec scared me. Maybe Nyx is right after all. Can I really say I'm prepared for what seems to be coming? Shaking those thoughts away, I turned to face my family. Before I could tell them that they were dismissed, one of the warriors guarding the gates linked me. "Alpha," he called. "Just wanted to let you know that there's a lady en route to the pack house." My mind immediately went to Beth, but then I remembered that all my pack members knew her. If it were Beth, he would have used her name. I frowned before asking, "Who is she? And why didn't you ask for my permission to let her in?" I'm very picky about other packs coming onto our land. "She said that she's Alpha Alec's sister. I didn't see the need to stop her when her brother was already here." Piper? I immediately cut off the mind link, feeling angry at him for letting that backstabber in without asking first. I was so angry. What the hell was that woman doing here?

Chapter 52

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