It took all of the willpower I had in me to not charge into battle right then and there.
As if he was sensing what was going through my mind, Valen shifted his weight and pinned my body down to make sure I didn't give away our position.
"You have to control your emotions right now, Indigo," he told me over mind-link.
I realized then that clouds were forming in the sky and the wind was picking up. I closed my eyes and willed myself to calm down. When I opened them again, I stared out at Alexander.
His face no longer held an arrogant smirk. Now, he was frowning toward the forest. He must have expected us to have shown ourselves by now.
I snarled as he lifted his hand and smacked Artemis across the face, leaving a red handprint behind. She didn't make a sound, but fresh tears leaked down her face.
I heard Alexander growl as he turned to say something to the other warriors, before throwing Artemis to the ground and stalking back into pack lands.
"Indigo, Valen, we have just been briefed by Von. We're about two miles away from your position now. Come and meet us," King Ruben commanded before blocking off his link.
"If I move, you need to follow me and stay by my side. Do you understand?" Valen asked me. I nodded my head. He shifted his weight and I was free.
"Go to her!" Sienna yelled at me, willing my body to run toward my best friend.
"I can't! Not yet! We need help."
"Then go. Hurry!"
I glanced one last time at Artemis, who was now being dragged back into the gate, before turning around and following Valen back to our camp.
We took off sprinting into the forest, using our noses to track the direction that Von had gone.
After a few minutes of running, we were met with a group of wolves consisting of Von, King Ruben, Anton, and three other warriors.
I knew from training classes that they were formidable opponents and I was glad they had been chosen to come along.
"More will join us soon. Tell me what you know," King Ruben demanded.
I looked to Valen and he jumped into explaining what we had witnessed after Von left.
Von snapped his jaw and growled loudly, sounding more threatening than I'd ever heard before. His whole frame shook as he tried to reel in his anger.
"Those bastards are going to pay," he snarled.
"In time, my son. We need a plan of attack. They clearly still have the jump on us." King Ruben soothed.
"How is that possible?" I asked. "Aren't Celia and Seraphine still locked up?"
Anton and King Ruben exchanged glances.
"What am I missing?"
Anton stepped forward to answer.
"They escaped this morning. When we went to their cells to continue with interrogations, they were gone."
"You have got to be kidding me." I groaned.
"This just makes everything a lot more complicated."
"Indeed. But, we were able to track their scents heading toward Moonlight pack lands, so we have reason to believe that they are there now."
"How much time before the rest of the warriors are here?"
"Not long now," King Ruben answered. "About twenty more minutes."
"Well, let's get to planning then."
***
I was trying to calm my restless mind as I laid next to Valen that night. It had been decided a few hours earlier that we were going to attack at dawn.
In total, we had around twenty-five wolves prepared to fight. Surprisingly, Queen Stella and Aislinn were apart of that group.
They had shown up with the warriors and King Ruben nearly fainted from seeing his wife. He was angry at first, but Queen Stella explained that she couldn't let us do this alone. Artemis was like a daughter to her and Aislinn had agreed.
It made my heart swell to see how many people were willing to do anything for her.
I huffed in annoyance. I was no closer to sleep than I was when we laid down an hour ago. I turned over onto my side, my back now facing Valen.
He followed my movements in his sleep and wrapped his arm around my waist. I snuggled in closer to him, pinching my eyes shut.
Fifteen minutes went by before I gave up and shook Valen's arm to wake him. He groaned, signaling that it had worked.
"What if things go wrong tomorrow?" I whispered to him.
His body tensed and he pulled himself up onto his elbow.
"Why are you asking that?" His tone was harsh as he answered me.
"We have a solid plan in place. We will get her back with minimal casualties, I'm sure of it."
I sighed. I wanted to believe him, I really did, but something deep in my gut was telling me that tomorrow would be a lot harder than everyone believed.
Something was going to go wrong.
"I know it's a good plan, I just can't shake the feeling that something bad will happen. I don't want to lose anyone else that I love."
My voice cracked at the end and tears stung the corners of my eyes.
Valen pulled me in to a tight embrace, warming my shivering body with his touch.
"Just stay by my side at all times. I will protect you. I promise you we'll make it out of this and we'll get Artemis back."
He sounded so sincere, so sure.
I shook my head to rid myself of the doubt that was threatening to suffocate me and gave him a small smile.
"You're right," I kissed his nose.
"Let's try and get some sleep now."
He kissed my lips before laying back down. He was out before his head hit the pillow. I shook my head, but cuddled up with him anyway and shut my eyes once more.
I found myself in the same field I had met with Selene for the first time, but this time it was empty. I turned my head in every direction, looking for the guidance I was sure she would provide to me. Still, there was no one here. I was alone.
I got up and walked around, becoming desperate to find her. Suddenly, I heard a voice that sent chills down my spine and I stopped in my tracks.
"Indigo, my child." I turned toward it.
"Mom?"
Tears began to stream down my cheeks as I came face to face with the woman I had only ever seen in pictures. She was the spitting image of Aunt Maddie, but with darker hair and her signature violet eyes. She opened her arms wide and I found myself running to her.
"It's been so long. I've been watching you all of these years," she whispered as she stroked my hair.
"Why are you here? Why am I here? I don't understand what's happening."
"Selene granted me permission to see you. She brought you here so I could speak with you. But we must hurry, there's not much time left."
"Not much time left for what? What do you mean?"
"It'll all make sense in time, dear. Now listen closely. Your father is a cruel, vile man who has given himself away to the darkness. I fear there is no part of the man I once met left in him. You will need to be very careful tomorrow. I know you're plan is to save your friend, but something will take place that is bigger than that."
"I don't...I don't understand." I locked my gaze with hers. Her face was serious, but there was no fear in her eyes. A sense of calm rushed over me.
"You will understand soon. I promise, my dear. Remember to hold on to the light. The darkness will come but you must fight it. I believe in you, Indigo. Don't think you have to do this alone." I nodded my head and hugged her tighter before asking the question that was burning in the back of my mind.
"Mom, is someone I love going to die tomorrow?"
She pulled me away from her to look me directly in the eyes.
"Yes. But not who you'd expect. Please remember that, for those of us who are with Selene, there is no death. Only life after Earth. Everything will go as Fate has decided." She looked over her shoulder at an invisible force that I couldn't see.
"It's time for you to go now. I will be with you tomorrow. You'll feel me with you at all times. Be courageous. I love you, always."
I hugged her again as she placed a delicate kiss to my forehead. It felt like water running tickling my skin. I breathed in her heavenly scent and committed it to memory. She smelled like home.
"I love you, too," I whispered. Then everything went black.
Author's Note:
WE ARE SO CLOSE. Things will be INTENSE soon. I hope you're prepared! What do you think her mother meant? Who's going to die? Will Indigo save them?
Comment and Vote what you think!
Xoxo,
CrimsynIris