ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!
After all that work to get the councilman here. Of all the things right now, she's going to have a white wolf. A white wolf! That should’ve been me. Me carrying his firstborn. Me carrying a white wolf. If I had something to throw I would've at that moment. Instead I stood up. I couldn’t stand to be in the same room as her. I needed to act quickly. There was no way she was getting out of this. All that manipulation would not be for naught and I refuse to give up.
Our baby is just as precious, Alaia.
Who cares if it's competing against a white wolf, Elena. So stop coming to me with unimportant things I snapped at her, cutting her out completely.
She only seems to make me angrier. I left the room and went back to my office. I pulled out and opened the grimoire. I placed my hands on the pages to draw more power. I needed more than usual to manipulate the councilman. True he was old and no doubt resistant to magic but this grimoire was older than him. So let’s test the waters.
Are you sure? The voices of the grimoire asked
“Never been so sure in my life. Give me the power.”
In a split second I felt the grimoire’s power flow through my body and I thought of the spell I wanted. A spell to, let’s say, influence a tougher decision than what Councilman Faulkner is thinking. No leniency. I found the mind of the councilman and tried to fight my way in. However my control was weak and I was pushed out.
“I don't understand. Your power should have been strong enough for me to control him,” I said to the book.
Indeed it is but our power is only as strong as your body allows. Your soul is being pulled in many different ways.
“Then fix it! Now! Before he realizes it.”
As you wish.
I tried again to control the Councilman’s mind and this time I made it through. I influenced the death penalty and succeeded before my strength left me. I fell into the chair trying to catch my breath. I guess doing magic while you’re pregnant can take it out of you. I used a little magic to listen in on the room. It angered me that people came to her rescue, especially Isabella. Of course her best friend would do anything to help. I needed to find a way to separate them or put a wedge in between their friendship.
Then Councilman Faulkner asked for Isaiah’s input. I took this time to pull more power to send all the negative things Isaiah remembers about Zira. It wasn't much but hopefully it was enough for him to agree with the Councilman. Now I was really feeling tired and a sharp pain in my stomach interrupted my control.
“I agree with your decision, Councilman Faulkner, but I think we should consider the fact that Zira changed her mind before I got there. Even before the procedure could be done. If she was willing to give this birth a second chance then I think we should too.”
I was shocked but I was too tired to react. I know Isaiah said he doesn't love her like he does me but every time he's there to rescue her. It was starting to feel pathetic trying to compete with her. I touched the book one more time and sent one more influence towards the councilman before a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. From the cologne I could tell it was my brother. What the hell did he want?
“Come in,” I finally said after hiding the grimoire and making sure my arms were covered. I learned it takes time for the sigils to disappear after casting a spell. My brother let himself in and sat in one of the chairs in front of my desk. “What can I do for you, Zack?”
“Well, first, I wanted to check on you. You left in a hurry back there, so…”
“I'm fine, thanks.” I knew there was something else he wanted besides checking on my health. “What do you want,” I asked, trying to get straight to the point.
He laughed. “Straight to the point I see. Fine," he said in his serious tone. His eyes bore into mine and he said, "I know you still have magic.”
Silence filled the air like a pressurized cabin. I was too tired to act surprised or come up with anything to say. What was his game? Did he say anything to the Elders? Will I have to go back to the center? What am I going to tell Isaiah? All these thoughts flooded my mind at the same time and he noticed.
“I’m not here to bust you, Alaia. Actually I’m here for a favor.”
Now that piqued my interest. Zack found my secret yet he didn’t tell anyone because he needed me. My brother needed the one thing he took away from me. Maybe I should decline just out of spite. Then he might tell someone.
“What kind of favor,” I asked cautiously.
Knowing my brother, he doesn't ask people for favors. He prides himself on doing things with no help. This alliance with Isaiah is the first time he asked for help. So whatever he wanted me to do was serious. Serious enough to need me and my powers. Zack was deep in thought before he answered.
“I’m sure you know we went to the Wormhole two weeks ago to follow a lead on the rogue attacks. At first I thought it was the owner but no, he had no clue his men were bought by a witch. A witch was behind the whole thing,” Zack said with an emphasis on ‘witch’.
I controlled my face not to give away my surprise. Is he really trying to accuse me to my face? I slowly opened the dresser with the grimoire, preparing myself for whatever he was going to do next.
“Why are you telling me this?’
Zack pulled out a necklace with a rune carved into it. It was Mirja’s. He placed it on the table.
“I got this from a rogue at the bar. It belongs to the witch,” Zack spit out ‘witch’ as if it left a foul taste in his mouth. It made me remember how long it took my mother to get him to like her, now all the progress was lost and I know it was because of me. “I need you to help me get her. She needs to pay for her crimes and I want to be the one who deals out the punishment. Can you use this to take me to her?”
I stared at the little transport rune on the jewel. “I might have a bit of juice to power this thing up but why do you want her? She attacked our pack. Why not let Isaiah…”
“She’s the reason the rogues attacked Zira,” Zack nearly yelled. “I’m sorry. It just...Zira’s...she’s...well...”
I saw a little blush on his cheeks while he shifted in his seat and refused to look at me. I never saw my brother this way so I know there was confusion on my face. Then it hit me.
“Zira’s your mate? She’s your mate!” I didn't mean to yell but this was just the icing on the cake. I exerted too much energy on that one and braced the table to catch my breath. My brother was at my side in an instance.
“Alaia, are you okay?” His eyes darted to the grimoire. I quickly closed the dresser and pushed him away.
“I’m fine, I'm fine. Just been a bit nauseous today and the nerves with everything going on.”
“Right. Maybe I should ask someon…”
“No, no, no. It's alright. I’m willing to help, especially if it protects your mate. Why doesn’t Zira know?” If Zira was his mate, why hasn’t she said or did anything about it? I could barely contain myself when I met Isaiah.
“I think she did but at the party I was consumed by Isabella. My guess is that she saw it and ran into the arms of your mate. I didn't realize it until the night the rogues attacked and I followed her scent. After the rogue got away I confronted her about it. When she ran from me, I took that as a rejection.”
I remembered seeing my brother jump in to save her from the rogue and I could never figure out why he was there. Now it all makes sense. His constant being around her, chatting with her, and being her savior.
“I feel that I owe it to her to see this through. It was all my fault she ran to someone else for something I denied her. So I’m asking for your help to bring justice to the one that tried to attack her. Maybe after, I will have a chance with her.”
This was just too good I thought. I smiled to myself as a plan was forming in my head that will help me get rid of any loose ends. “I’ll help."
“Really, just like that. You will help me,” Zack asked.
“Yes. You are my brother after all. Besides, I know how it feels to want to protect your mate. So I’ll do it,” I said, standing up. “As long as no one else finds out I have power. Agreed?”
“How did you get your powers back? Don't tell me you were able to trick the Elders,” Zack asked.
“What is that saying about a magician and his tricks? Besides, how did you find this witch?”
“Beat up one of the guys in the bathroom for information. He told me about the witch’s involvement and gave me this necklace before I knocked him out. Apparently she comes there often and gets into arguments with this Nas guy. I'm guessing he's the owner. Anyway I think she's hiding somewhere in there but I didn't have time to find her. I don’t know the deal she has with Nas but she is MINE to deal with. So the sooner I can get my hands on her, the better,” Zack growled.
I was loving the fire I saw in his eyes. He didn't know how much he was helping me. “Well back to my question. Do you agree to my terms or not?”
Zack regarded me with his dark eyes. Probably wondering if this was a good idea before nodding. For me, yes, not so much for him. I could see the hope he had in his eyes. Zack stood up and came around the desk to pull me into a hug. It was strange and took me completely off guard. I stood there frozen for a few seconds before he let me go.
“Thank you,” he said sincerely as he placed a kiss on my cheek and left the room.
I touched my cheek where he kissed me. I could tell he was being truly sincere. I wish it didn't feel so foreign. I wish it was enough for me to let go of this grudge but it wasn't. Every time I thought of James it was a reminder that Zack was a reason I wasn't with him. Now knowing that Zira’s his mate, I’m going to make him feel the same way. This opportunity came to me for a reason and I wasn't going to give it up.
I pulled out the grimoire to plan my next move when I felt a sharp pain flare inside my body. It was so sudden I had to grab the desk to keep from falling. I took a few deep breaths, trying to figure out where the hell that came from when I heard another knock on the door.