Chapter 71

“Keep away from the window,” Cole says in my mind. I roll my eyes as I strain to see into the darkness. Suddenly, a pair of yellow eyes bore into me. I scream, but my gaze is firmly locked on the eyes of the wolf.
It bares its teeth, and an angry growl carries into my room. I turn away from the window and ignore Cole’s order to stay where I am. I go downstairs in search of the others.
“It is a full moon.”
“I am fully aware of that, Misty,” Chris answers in a grave voice. I step into the room, and all eyes turn to me.
“I thought I told you to stay in your room,” Cole snaps.
I cross my arms in defiance. “Why? I’m expected to help in the battle tomorrow night so why should I hide away from a pack of wolves now?”
“You are not fighting tomorrow. No one said you would be part of the battle,” Chris says as he flips through a book.
“What? I did all that training for nothing. Just so I can hide away. No way. I’ll be fighting tomorrow. None of you are in charge of me!” I yell as my anger bubbles to the surface.
“Ssshh,” they utter all at once.
“The wolves are harder to kill on a full moon and have exceptional hearing,” Misty explains. I look at her in disbelief and disgust.
“You want to kill Justin?” I ask a little shocked. Saying the words out loud makes it hit home just what lengths these people will go to.
“We have no choice, Kayla,” James states. I give him a death glare.
“Why is that?” I’m surprised by the venomous tone of my own voice.
“Justin and his pack are stalking us. It is only a matter of time before they break in. Basically, itis kill or be killed.”
“Surely we can talk to him. Talk him round. He was our friend.”
“We can’t. They have no human instinct on a full moon. Their inner wolf takes over completely. Plus, Justin used us. He used Enchanted Falls to get to the ancient sword. He used us to get to you,” Misty states. I stare blankly at her.
“What do you mean?” My voice trembles as the words of Mom’s letter rattles in my mind. ‘People will try to befriend you just to use you. Trust no one.‘
“Your blood will set them free,” James says. “It will reverse the curse Meredith placed on them all those centuries ago. They will no longer be forced to change on the full moon. Their inner wolf will no longer be able to take control.” I gulp and shudder.
“All this time, you knew this?” I ask. My hands tremble, and my body heat drops.
“Yes, but we didn’t think Justin knew. Not all wolves know of the legend. Most think it is a rumor with no truth,” James tries to reassure me.
Still, it doesn’t help. This Meredith seems to be my nemesis. How can one person born so many years ago, cause so much heartache now? I shake my head and hold back my tears.
The sound of glass shattering, followed by banging and howling, sends fear swimming through my veins. They’ve entered the building.
Cole runs and closes the door. He spins around and starts collecting various jars from the counter. He stands to the side of the door with his back flat against the wall, so he can’t be seen when the door opens.
Misty pulls me towards the utility room. Chris and James disappear in their tiny blue lights.
Misty and I peek from behind a gap in the door. We don’t have to wait long. The door flies off its hinges and crashes to the ground. A pack of six angry wolves barrel in, all with their fangs on display.
Cole throws a jar of pink liquid at the nearest wolf and disappears in black particles. The wolf whines and thrashes as smoke rises from its fur. The other wolves snap their jaws and howl a haunting ear-piercing noise.
One wolf sniffs the ground and whips its head in our direction. Chris and James reappear. James at the far side of the room, Chris near to us, standing in front of the door and blocking our view. Misty orbs away, leaving me alone. I see flashes of blue.
A huge brown wolf leaps at Chris, knocking him to the floor. Chris struggles and fights for all he’s worth to hold the big wolf’s mouth closed.
Meanwhile, James struggles in a comparable manner with a gray wolf. Misty stands on the counter, using a magical blue shimmering whip. Each time her whip connects with a wolf their fur is scorched. The smell of burning fur turns my stomach.
I step out from behind the door, and Misty’s eyes widen. Three wolves charge at me.
I will my power to come. The familiar feeling of electricity flows through my veins. Just as the first wolf jumps into the air, I let the blue ball of light go. It hits the black wolf in the face. The wolf claws at its face with its paws while whimpering in pain.
The other two wolves circle me. I watch them with caution. Misty whips one while I conjure a ball of electricity and let it go at the other. It hits its tail as it spins to dodge the attack.
Cole reappears and shoots fire from his hands. One after another the fireballs fly at the enemy.
The gray wolf, Justin, sneaks up on Cole and latches onto his leg. Cole falls to the floor. A sickening yelp makes my head spin around. Chris has snapped the neck of a black and gray wolf.
James is losing his battle. The wolf has taken hold of his arm and shakes its head aggressively.
“Kayla, repeat after me,” Misty says in a hurried tone.
“In this time and in this place, restore these wolves with their human face.” I repeat Misty’s words and watch as the wolves drop to the floor and shudder. Their fur begins to recede, and their eyes slowly turn to brown. The sounds of bones breaking make me cringe and cover my ears.