Chapter 24

**Nova**


The world goes silent around me. All I can see is Samuel standing in front of me and all I can hear is the sound of my racing heart. It's like I'm looking at a ghost.

He's older now, but I could recognize him anywhere. We grew up together and were best friends until our home was invaded.

How is he alive? I saw him and his family be torn apart...

This is impossible.

Abandoning the daggers he steps toward me slowly until his feet build into a sprint. I stand my ground and wait for him to reach me. If he doesn't remember me then I need to remind him who I am. He can't really want to hurt me, right? He is only a few feet away when a blast of energy throws him hard. When I look in the direction of the blast I see Charles standing nearby with his hands outstretched in front of him.

His face is tight and focused on the man I used to know. Like a dummy, I stand there in shock. I'm at a loss. Do I stand with my mate who is only trying to protect me or help my friend? Or the man who used to be my friend.

"Nova? Sweetheart, are you okay?" Chase steps into my line of vision and takes my face in his hands. "Nova? How are you here?"

"I-" My eyes move past him and I see Samuel running in our direction.

People are fighting behind him but I can't tell who is who. Why have these people come? Who are they working for?

What the heck is going on?

Samuel is moving closer and I see him raise his arm again and a dagger slips through his fingers. I push Chase aside and step in front of him just before the dagger hits him. Unfortunately, I'm not fast enough to catch it and it slams right through my shoulder. I cry out in pain, but I don't have time to assess the damage because Samuel is moving closer. So I pull the dagger out and throw it will all the strength I have right back at him.

Unlike me, he catches it and holds it high as he slams into me. I wanted to protect my friend and try not to hurt him but he isn't pulling any punches so I can't either.

"Sam! Stop!" I yell as he repeatedly tries to stab me in any place he can.

This close attack is more erratic as if he is possessed and can't recall the most effective way to kill me. I use this to my advantage and use my long claw-like nails to slash at his face. He screams and stumbles back and covers the injury with his hand. Blood slips through his fingers and down his arm. He's breathing hard and watching me like he is confused by what I am. Well, if there is even a sliver of memories still in his mind he will notice I'm not the girl he once knew.

His eyes narrow and turns dark with anger. When he drops his hand I see that his healing is starting to kick in but there is still a nasty gash across his left cheek. What I'm not expecting to see is it looks as if an infection is spreading from the injury. Black veins have started to spread but have stopped just under his eye and the end of his chin.

What the heck?

"Sweetheart we need to go. Now!" Chase grabs my arm and starts to pull me away.

I don't fight him.

We run over to where I see Charles making the motions of his portal. I also see Eli and Asher holding off attacks around him so he can complete his spell. When we finally reach them, Chase pushes me behind him and stands in front of me. Charles and I are protected by the others but they can't protect us from all sides, so when I see a wolf running toward Charles's exposed side I move around him. I throw myself at the wolf and pin him to the ground. This one isn't as strong as the first one that attacked me.

He snaps and tries to claw at me, but I'm small enough to move easily out of his way. Thankfully my shoulder is mostly healed and isn't impairing my movements, but that only lasts long enough for the wolf to clamp down on the same area with his teeth.

Okay, now I'm pissed!

Done with this I extend my fangs and scream before burying my teeth into his exposed neck. Never leave your neck exposed asshole! With a good hold on him, I twist my head and tear through the muscles and skin. The wolf howls in pain and starts to make a choking sound as he bleeds out. I scramble to my feet and wipe my mouth with my arm no doubt leaving a gruesome sight behind.

The taste of wolf blood almost makes me gag so I spit out as much as I can.

Strong arms wrap around me and I thrash trying to dislodge them but a familiar growl makes my body go lax. Eli holds me tight against his chest and takes a step back. I can see the field in front of me more clearly now and it looks as if a small war took place. There are men and wolves scattered around the ground. Some are pushing themselves to their feet but some aren't moving at all.

I spot Samuel for a moment before purple clouds close over my view.

We're home.

Everything is silent besides our hard breathing and the sound of Eli's chest growls. I'm not sure how long we stand around catching our breath but Asher is the first to break the silence.

"What the fuck!" He yells.

Eli's arms tighten more around me as if he were trying to protect me. I glance at him over my shoulder and give him a look that says he needs to ease up. With a tap of my hand over his he gets the clue that I want him to release me.

once I'm free I walk over to Asher. When he senses me he pulls me into his chest and breathes deeply.

"Fuck baby I was scared shitless. What the hell happened? We thought we lost you." He pulls back just enough that he can look down at me.

Before I can answer him he slams his lips on mine. Just like when Eli kissed me I melt against Asher and let him kiss the living hell out of me.

There is a throat clearing behind him but he ignores it.

"Alright pup, you aren't the only one who needs to properly greet our girl." Chase's voice seems playful but there is also a deeper emotion in his voice.

Asher ends our kiss and rests his head against mine and takes in another deep breath. I do the same and am pleasantly surprised that his scent acts like a balm to my frazzled nerves. When he steps back Chase is there to take his place. Now that there isn't a battle waging around us I realize how much I want to hold him. I may not fully understand the mate thing but I do know that the small amount of time that I wasn't with them made me miss them like crazy.

Chase smiles down at me and I return it with one of my own.

"Thanks for having my back earlier sweetheart and I'm damn glad to see you. Now with that out of the way." He closes the space between us and takes my lips with a bruising kiss.

His kiss is different from the others. Eli and Asher kiss with passion and hunger but Chase kisses me like he's savoring it. Heat radiates from him and this deep clenching need works through my body in search of relief. I rub my thighs together trying to get some relief but that only makes it worse because it's not enough.

Pure torture.

"Perhaps we should discuss a few important issues before I lose you two to your...baser needs." Charles's voice breaks through the lust bubble but also adds to the torture.

Still, I can't help but smile and pull back from Chase.

He releases a sound of frustration and grumbles, "I will hurt any of these guys if they interrupt what I have planned for you later."

He seals that promise with another lingering kiss. When he steps back breaking the kiss I stumble forward. He has to steady me so I don't embarrass myself and fall face-first on the ground. I narrow my eyes at him and push him away with a huff. Charles is seated in his usual chair and needing some space from the others I walk over and sit on the couch closest to him.

When he turns his head to meet my eyes worry makes my heart skip a beat.

"What is it?" I ask him.

"We have a serious matter to discuss." His words sound cold even for him.

"Spit it out then Mage," Asher growls.

"The people who attacked us...they had a mage helping them." He pauses and I see a look in his eyes that must match the one I had when I saw Samuel.

"Did you recognize the person?" I ask him.

"Yes. My father."