BETRAYAL

CHAPTER 63: BETRAYAL
~Gabriel’s POV~

Mika keeps flashing images of my beautiful mate in my mind. I am thankful that he is able to maintain control, Goddess knows I don’t want to betray Harper. What is this witch playing at? She took a seat across from me.
“You have heard the stories of my friend “the wolf” who tricked me into creating the stone. Yada, Yada, Yada.” She rolled her eyes. “Now the stone has fallen into the hands of Thane Kago, who is much worse than my so-called friend was. Thane is power hungry, and he will become immortal if we don’t do something soon. Werewolves everywhere, as well as other species including humans will not be safe. In fact, there’s a chance that humans will be eradicated all together.” She said, finally she stopped focusing on me. Her mood became more serious the longer she spoke.
“I know Thane has the stone, and that is where he is getting most of his power. I also heard that he may have an even stronger source of power, do you know anything about that?” I asked her, briefly looking into her eyes then turning away.
“I have heard rumors that he could be working with Hades. If that is true, chances of us defeating him is… slim to none.” She said while looking down. “If things continue the way they are, living creatures and beings all over the world may as well buckle down and wait to die. Especially anyone who plans to defy Thane.” Hades?! It’s worse than we thought.
“Is it true that he wants Harper because of her Lycan?” Kai asked her. She didn’t even look at him. Her eyes were focused on me.
“Yes, he wants her because of her Lycan, but not only that. After Harper’s birth, rumors started circulating about what was supposed to happen on her 18th birthday. When he became old enough, he started paying close attention to her. He grew up in the same pack as her, so they pretty much grew up together. He developed a crush of sorts as a young boy, and it quickly became an obsession. He will have her one way or the other unless he is stopped.” Mika growled. Anger pulsed throughout my body.
“That is not going to happen!” I raised my voice louder than what I should have. The witch didn’t even flinch. “Can the mating mark be reversed?!” I asked her.
“It has been done before. If Thane is working with Hades, I can see him easily reversing the mating mark and allowing Thane to mark Harper.”

I had heard enough. I was fighting for control with Mika. He wanted to come out and tear the witches head off just for telling us that.
“HOW DO I STOP THIS?!” I growled out at her.
“Calm down handsome, we still have a chance of defeating him. We can’t let Hades be released from hell. So, it is critical to move fast. Unfortunately, your journey has just begun.” I looked at her.
“TELL ME!” I screamed the words out. I am growing impatient with her. Kai shifted away from me in his chair.
“There is a weapon that was created by the dragons. It is a dagger, so I am told. You will need to travel to the dragon kingdom and retrieve the weapon. It has to be used to cut the stone out of Thane's chest.”
“What?! Why can’t I just tear it out with my claws? Can’t you do the same thing you did the last time to retrieve it from the other wolf?” she shook her head.
“Thane has completely connected and became one with the stone. It is essentially the soul of a dragon, so It will take a dragon’s weapon to remove it. The last time I retrieved the stone, its vessel, my so-called friend, had only been connected with it for a few hours. It was easy for me to remove with my magic. Thane has completed the connection. He and the stone are joined together.”
“SON OF A BITCH! How do I get to the dragons?” I asked her.
“The land of the dragons is far from here. It’s still on earth, but you wouldn’t know it. You have to pass through a barrier, kind of like the one you passed through here but on a much larger scale. Only Mythical beings can pass through it. Humans don’t stand a chance. I can show you the way, the same as I did when you began your journey to me.”
“You mean with the puff smoke?” Kai asks her, speaking for the first time in a while.
“Yes, just like that.” She said back to him, still not looking his way.
“Well, do it then, I need to get this done!” She looked down, seeming to be thinking about something.
“I thought you would need some time to think about it. No matter, follow me and I’ll show you the way to the dragons.” I stood to follow her, Kai did as well. “Not you.” She said to Kai. “Only Gabriel.” I looked back at Kai. He looked worried. I’m not sure about this myself, but I have to do this for Harper.
“It’s okay, Kai. Stay here, I’ll be back soon.” He nodded to me. I followed the witch into her rickety old hut. When we entered the doorway, it looked nothing on the inside as it did the outside. It was bigger and it looked to be a modern style home. What the hell? How did she manage this? I decided not to ask, I need to be on my way. I followed her into what looked like an elegant style bedroom, and she went to a wardrobe and opened the door. I stood there for a moment. The lighting in the room became dim. Her bedroom door shut, and I smelled something alluring. I turned to look at Iris, and the lustful pull I felt toward her earlier returned.

~Harper’s POV~
I walked out to Luna Mae’s Garden. I miss Gabriel so bad. Coming here reminds me of the first time we kissed. A tear slid down my cheek. The empty feeling inside me was getting harder. I tried to call him, but his phone goes straight to voicemail. I can’t mind link him either, it must be because he is too far away. Mia howled in my head. She also missed Mika. Mia is able to tell me that Gabriel and Mika are alright, and how Mika is feeling but other than that, we know nothing else. I sat down in the swing and began to move my legs. The sun was beginning to rise in the sky. It was only daybreak. I hadn’t slept all night. Gabriel was right, as soon as he is back, I am moving into his room. I want to feel his strong arms wrapped around me. I want his calming scent of cedar and pine to surround and calm me. Another tear escaped my eye and slid down my cheek. Suddenly, the emptiness in my chest turned into a sharp pain. I grabbed my chest and fell out of the swing, landing on the grass below. What is this? Another wave of pain shot through me. Mia howled louder in my head.
“Mia, what is happening to us?” I asked her.
“Mika is mad at Gabriel. They are with a woman. He feels like Gabriel is betraying us.” GABRIEL IS BETRAYING US? Tears fell faster now. It was like someone turned a faucet on. So that is why he left me here. He went to a woman! Another wave of pain shot through me, and this time it made me sick to my stomach. Mia howled louder in my head. How dare he do this to me. After everything! I got up and ran to my room throwing myself down on my bed. I mind linked Tanner.
“Tanner I am feeling ill, I am staying in my room today. Make sure no one disturbs me.” I said to him.
“Sure, thing Harper, are you okay?” He asked me.
“Yes, I’ll be fine. Just give me some time.” I closed the mind link. I stayed in my room for the rest of the day. What do I do now? I won’t stay with a man who cheats on me. I have more pride than that.
It is late evening now.

I heard a knock on my door. I quickly wiped the tears from my face and tried to gather myself. I walked over to the door and opened it. It was Tanner. I left the door open, and he followed me in.
“Harper what’s going on? You look like shit.” He said to me “Have you been crying?” He asked.
“I feel like shit, Tanner. I didn’t want anyone to know.” He looked at me confused.
“What’s going on?” He asked, pulling me into a big hug. That’s when I couldn’t hold back my anguish any longer. I cried into Tanner’s chest until I couldn’t cry any more. He went to the restroom and brought me back some tissues. “Are you going to talk to me?” He asked. All I could do was whisper out the words.
“Gabriel is with another woman.” The tears started to fall again.
“What, who? Gabriel? No… he wouldn’t.” Tanner said to me. I nodded my head.
“He is Tanner, Mia told me. I felt the pain also through our mate bond.” I sobbed, wiping my eyes with a tissue. I walked to my bed, laid down, and covered up. I had never seen Tanner’s face look so angry. He clenched his jaw and walked to my bed and slid in with me. He grabbed me up in another hug and he held me there while I cried. Somehow, I drifted off to sleep.