Chapter 40: Chapter 40

ERIK

Lucian’s words sent a chill down my spine. I glanced at Aaron and Sebastian, their faces mirroring my shock. We had our suspicions about the Silverclaws’ alliance with the witches, and their access to the books had confirmed it.

But Lucian’s blatant admission was unexpected. Suddenly, the room plunged into darkness, the temperature dropping sharply. The witches were near.

I tried to strategize, but I knew it wasn’t my turn to step in—not yet.

Sebastian’s voice sliced through the silence, his words heavy with authority. “Tutela et lux,” he chanted, and with a swift motion of his hands, the room was flooded with light, a protective aura surrounding us.

“Miles, adjuva nos.” His second spell opened a portal to the Silverclaw pack’s entrance, and my soldiers began to file in, positioning themselves as we had planned.

Lucian’s gaze followed the soldiers, his face taut with tension. It was my cue. I moved toward him, each step calculated and deliberate.

Lucian started to speak, his voice steady. “You have magic, but we do too—”

Before he could finish, I was behind him, pressing the silver knife to his throat. “It could’ve been easier,” I whispered. “We could’ve traded. But you chose the hard way.”

Aaron’s voice echoed in the room. “We want the books. That’s all. We’ll leave without bloodshed, but if you insist on using force, Erik will slit your throat, his soldiers will destroy your pack, and Sebastian will counter any magic the witches throw at us.”

The witches were closing in, their dark forms circling us like shadows. I could feel their malevolent power, but Sebastian’s spell held strong—they couldn’t break through.

Lucian sighed, his defiance crumbling. “Take the damned books. We’ve already gotten what we needed from them anyway,” he spat, gesturing toward a room on his right.

Aaron moved forward, opening the door to reveal a small private library. The sight of the books—his family’s legacy, stolen and hoarded—brought a bitter look to his eyes.

He turned to the soldiers. “Take everything to the cars.”

But Aaron wasn’t done. His voice, steady but firm, echoed in the room. “I want the professors too.”

His demand caught me off guard, and I felt Lucian stiffen under my blade.

“No,” Lucian growled, his teeth clenched. “That’s too much.”

Aaron’s face was impassive, but I knew him well enough to sense the uncertainty beneath his calm exterior. This wasn’t part of the plan, and he was improvising.

“You’re in no position to negotiate,” Aaron said softly, tilting his head slightly. His voice was final, and it only stoked Lucian’s anger.

“I won’t let you take them!” Lucian snapped, but I pressed the knife harder against his throat, the silver burning his skin, the scent of acid filling the air.

The room fell silent. The tension was palpable, each second heavy with unspoken threats, until finally, Lucian’s resistance crumbled.

I could feel Lucian’s pulse pounding under the blade. His bravado was fading, but he clung to his power, despite the odds. His pride wouldn’t let him back down easily, but he was cornered.

I leaned in, my voice a low threat. “You’re in no position to refuse. You made your choice the moment you sided with the witches.”

Lucian swallowed, his gaze darting between Aaron, Sebastian, and the soldiers now filling the room. The pressure was mounting—the witches were circling like vultures, held at bay by Sebastian’s spells.

Their power hung in the air, like a storm ready to burst. It took all my self-control not to attack, to let my wolf take over. But this wasn’t just about me—it was about our pack and her. Jasmine.

Aaron moved forward, his demeanor steady yet unyielding. His words sliced through the tension-filled room. “Lucian, you’ve already sold your soul to them. You’ve shared knowledge with them, haven’t you? Whatever pact you’ve made, it ends today. We’re taking the books, and we’re taking the professors. We’re a united pack now, our powers combined, and you pose no threat to us. Either you let them go, or your rule ends right here.”

I could feel Lucian’s body stiffen beneath my blade. His breathing was shallow, almost frantic, but his voice held a defiant tone. “You can take the books, but the professors…no. They’re not yours to claim.”

“That’s not the right response.” I pushed the knife a bit further, just enough to draw a thin line of blood. The scent of silver filled the air, and I saw Lucian’s composure start to falter. “You either hand them over now, or you won’t live to see another day. And if you’re counting on your witches to save you, you’re wrong. They can’t break through Sebastian’s magic, and we won’t leave until we get what we came for.”

Lucian clenched his teeth, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. He glanced at the witches surrounding us, their forms swirling like shadows but unable to get any closer, then back to Aaron, who stood firm and unyielding.

I could tell he was considering his options, but he knew we had him cornered. There was no escape.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, Lucian conceded. “Fine,” he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. “Take them. But remember this, Scire—this isn’t over. The witches… They’re stronger than you believe, stronger than all of you combined. You’ll regret crossing this boundary.”

Aaron didn’t even blink. He simply signaled the soldiers, who promptly moved to gather the professors from the university. I kept my knife pressed against Lucian’s throat until I was sure everything was underway.

Sebastian, his magic still vibrating in the air, kept his gaze fixed on the witches. They hadn’t attacked yet, but I could sense their anger simmering beneath the surface. It was only a matter of time before they made a move.

Once the books and professors were secured, Aaron turned back to Lucian, his voice stern. “We’re finished here. But if you ever even ~think~ about attacking us, we won’t just take your books. We’ll take your pack.”

Lucian’s eyes blazed with anger, but he remained silent. He knew this wasn’t a battle he could win.

As we started to leave, I could feel the tension easing slightly, but I knew better than to lower my guard. The witches weren’t going to let us leave without making some kind of move. We were still in enemy territory, and every instinct in me screamed that the danger wasn’t over.

Just as we reached the door, a chilling voice echoed through the hall, sending shivers down my spine.

“You may have won today, wolves,” the voice hissed, thick with spite. “But your time is running out, and we will take what we want. Tieranthia will be mine, and these little spells won’t be able to hold it back.”

I turned, my eyes narrowing at the shadowy figure of the witch who had spoken. Her face was hidden in the darkness, but her presence radiated pure malevolence.

I tightened my grip on my knife, ready to fight if necessary.

But Sebastian stepped forward, calm and unflinching.

“We’ll see,” he said softly, his voice filled with power.

The witch let out a low, menacing laugh, but she didn’t move to attack. Not yet, at least.

With that, we left Silverclaw behind, the books and professors safely in our possession, but the weight of the witches’ threat still looming over us.

We’d won the battle, but the war had only just begun.

And as we rode back to Jasmine, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot worse.

“Those witches who spoke, were they Morgathis?” I asked Sebastian. I wondered if he had seen her before, but he hadn’t responded in a way that suggested familiarity.

“No, that was another one. I didn’t see her there.” I didn’t want to admit it, but his answer sent a chill down my spine.

Morgathis was their leader. Why wasn’t she there?

I saw Aaron shift in his seat, his hand reaching into his pocket. His phone buzzed in his hand, vibrating with a sense of urgency.

I watched as his face turned pale, his expression changing from triumph to fear in an instant.

“What is it?” I asked, though a knot was already forming in my stomach.

Aaron’s response was delayed, his eyes growing wide as he absorbed the text message.

He glanced at me, then to Sebastian, and said, “My father—our pack… We’re under attack.” His voice shook, a rarity for someone as typically unflappable as Aaron.

I shared a glance with Sebastian, whose usual cool exterior had morphed into something impenetrable.

We had anticipated this day, but none of us thought it would arrive now—especially not in the midst of these negotiations.

Aaron was already on his phone, his fingers quivering slightly as he dialed Jasmine.

His voice, normally steady and commanding, was filled with panic.

“Stop.” I attempted to intervene, but it was futile and too late.

“Jasmine…” He gasped for breath. “They’re attacking. The witches—they’re at Scire. I—” He faltered, pressing a hand to his forehead. “I just… I don’t know what to do.”

There was a lengthy silence, and even though I couldn’t hear Jasmine’s response, I could guess her thoughts.

Aaron might not have grasped it yet, but Jasmine wasn’t one to sit on the sidelines.

For a moment, I resented him for involving her.

We all knew Jasmine—she wouldn’t stay put, even if we commanded her to, and she would inevitably put herself in harm’s way.

Yet, I couldn’t help but empathize. If I were in his position, she would be the only one I’d reach out to in such a crisis.

This revelation also clarified why Morgarthis was absent, and why it had been relatively easy to secure the books and the professors.

They weren’t all present—they were launching an attack on us at that very moment.

When Aaron ended the call, he looked at me, his eyes filled with uncertainty and fear.

“She said she’d stay safe,” he murmured, “but… she wouldn’t actually—”

I remained silent, but we both understood the reality.

Jasmine wasn’t one to sit back while those she cared for were in danger—she would fight.