Chapter 138: Ghosts from the Past

MATEO

I cannot believe what Alex just said.

“Are you serious? You are going to war over me and Isabella?” I say.

Alex gives me a stern look.

“This is bigger than you and Isabella now,” Alex says. “Esmeralda has Ariel and is planning to harm her. We can end her despotic rule tonight. I sent for my warriors.”

“How many are coming?” I ask.

“As many as we can spare,” Alex says. “We have around one hundred ready to go.”

“We’re either going to have to be stealthy or we’re going to need some big firepower,” Jo says, joining the conversation.

“I did some research when planning our escape. The palace alone has nearly three hundred guards. We’ll be outnumbered,” she adds.

“I know where we can find more help,” I say. I head toward the cockpit, Alex and Jo hurrying behind me.

I take the seat next to the pilot and check the plane’s navigation display.

“Where are we?” I ask, scanning the map on the dashboard for anything that is recognizable.

“Just about to pass over the mountains between Spain and France,” he replies. “We gotta get out of Spain as fast as possible if we’re to escape Esmeralda.”

“Turn toward the coast,” I say, pointing to a stretch of ruins on the edge of the map. “I know a place far away from Esmeralda where we can land and do repairs.”

“Are you sure?” the pilot says. “This plane can’t take any more damage.”

I turn to Alex. He nods.

“Do it,” Alex says. “I trust Mateo with my life.”

***

An hour later, we are safely on the ground.

It has been a long time since I have been here. Seeing this place again brings up so many buried feelings: anger, hatred, pride…but most of all, sorrow.

In the half-light of the morning sun, I see the crumbling columns and caved-in rooms that were once my home, surrounded by trees.

The pilot had landed the plane on what used to be the front lawn, a long stretch of grass that is perfect for a makeshift runway.

He is running around the perimeter of the plane and sighing every time he spots a bullet hole, before trying to patch it up.

I wander over to Alex and Jo. They are plotting the assault on Esmeralda’s palace, drawing lines in the sand and rubble, pebbles standing in for wolves.

“Vivian just texted,” Alex says.

“General Dave and the warriors are on their way. One hundred and four members of the Royal Pack. Once they land here, we’re marching to the palace. We can’t miss the deadline Esmeralda set.”

“Then I won’t waste another moment,” I say. “I have something I must do first.”

I strip down and shift, letting my wolf stretch out, before bolting into the forest.

It feels good to run through these woods again, the cool early morning air ruffling my fur as I race through the undergrowth.

I run for miles, deep into the forest. ~Please still be here.~

I skid to a halt by a stream and tilt my head to the sky.

~AAAWWWWOOOOO!~

My howl reverberates through the trees, but there is no response.

I howl again, longer and louder.

~Please respond.~

I hear the bushes behind me rustle. I slowly turn, surveying my surroundings.

Ahead of me I see a dark-gray wolf emerge from the undergrowth. Out of the corner of my eye I see two golden wolves stalk silently through the bushes.

More and more wolves appear from the forest, until I am completely surrounded.

I bow my head in respect to them.

“You do not bow to us,” a voice behind me says. I look up to see a man just finishing the shift back into his human form.

He appears a bit different since I last saw him. His salt-and-pepper hair, the same color as his wolf, is longer and more unkempt, and he’s thinner than I remember him.

But he still has a twinkle of life in his energetic blue eyes.

“The king does not bow to his people,” Manuel says.

I shift back and embrace the man, tears pricking at my eyes. I never thought I would see these people again, let alone alive.

“Manuel, it has been so long.”

“So long, my king,” my former beta says. “We prayed to ~la Diosa Luna~ for your safety.”

Manuel takes a step back and looks me up and down.

“But why have you come back?” Manuel says. “We sent you to America to be safe. If you are here, Esmeralda will find you and kill you. She will do anything to take away your birthright, to let you be the king.”

“That is why I am here,” I say. “I have come back to claim my throne and save my love.”

I continue: “I have made friends in America, and they have come with me to save Isabella and bring down that witch, Esmeralda. We are going to fight…and I want your help. If you are willing.”

Manuel smiles. “For you, my king, we would fight ~la Diosa Luna~ herself. We have been waiting for the chance to take our revenge on Esmeralda! Lead the way!”

ARIEL

The clock in Isabella’s tower rings out and my heart sinks.

It has been two days since I got separated from Alex.

~That was Esmeralda’s deadline.~

~He hasn’t struck a deal.~

Before the chimes of the clock have even finished, the door to Isabella’s room is unlocked and a platoon of guards enter.

They grab hold of us tightly and take us back down to the royal gardens.

Esmeralda is waiting for us, sitting on a throne that’s been moved outside. Bubbles is at her feet, on his leash.

“Your mates have abandoned you,” Esmeralda says. “They didn’t even try and negotiate. Not a word.”

I know Alex. He wouldn’t just leave me here. And Mateo would move heaven and earth to reach Isabella.

Bubbles starts to pull at his leash. He’s getting antsy.

“It’s almost feeding time,” Esmeralda says with a cruel smile. “Bubbles is going to have a special treat. He’s going to eat both of you.”

Isabella turns to me, a terrified look on her face. I try to remain strong as Esmeralda continues to taunt us.

“I think I’ll make this fun—how about I give you a one-minute head start?”

She places a hand on Bubbles’s collar, ready to unleash him. Her eyes flick back to us. “You’d better start running!”

I turn and sprint away through the gardens, Isabella at my heels.

“We have to get out of here, or at least somewhere Bubbles can’t find us,” I say.

“Through here,” Isabella says, pointing to her left. “We can lose him in the hedge maze!”

It’s not the greatest plan, but it’s better than anything I can come up with. We need to lose him quickly, because there is no way we can fight him off.

Our wolf teeth and claws are nowhere near as long or sharp as Bubbles’s. He could probably cut us in half with one swipe.

We zigzag through the maze but come to a quick stop upon hitting a dead end.

As we double back, I hear Esmeralda call out:

“It’s time! Bubbles is on his way!”

~Shit. We need to get out of here!~

Isabella and I maneuver through a series of paths, only to find ourselves blocked off again. We turn around, and I can hear Bubbles’s paws stalking closer to us.

~Oh my Goddess, is this how I die?~

~Eaten by a tiger?~

I grab Isabella by the arm and shift my other hand into a claw to slash through the hedges, eventually stopping when we reach the castle wall that borders the maze.

“We’re trapped!” Isabella whispers. “What are we going to do?”

Before I can reply, I hear a growl behind us.

Bubbles has found us. He licks his lips and grins menacingly.

I push Isabella behind me and get ready to shift. I’m not going down without a fight, and I’ll do everything in my power to save Isabella.

But just as I’m about to jump forward at Bubbles…

~THUD!~

~RRRAAAAWWWWRRRR!~

A golden wolf appears in front of me, his roar echoing through the maze.

~ALEX! He came!~

Alex roars again and swipes a paw at Bubbles, trying to intimidate him. Bubbles doesn’t seem too fazed as he stalks closer, ready to pounce.

Three more wolves leap over the wall and land in between Bubbles and me. I don’t recognize them.

One of them raises their head to the sky and lets out another roar…and then a tsunami of wolves stream into the maze.

It’s an endless wave of wolves of all shapes and sizes, bursting through the hedges and gardens, toward the palace.

Bubbles shrinks back, seemingly intimidated by the hundreds of wolves appearing like magic in front of him.

He races off, his tail between his legs.

Alex shifts back into his human form. A warrior comes and hands Alex and I two sets of combat fatigues.

As soon as we’re suited up, we embrace.

Despite the danger, my attention is solely on my mate.

I nuzzle Alex’s neck, taking his scent in. It hasn’t been long, but I’ve missed him so much…

“Hey lovebirds, break it up, there’s a war going on!” General Dave roars at us.

We break apart as I look around at the wolves running past us.

“What is this? Who are all these wolves?” I ask.

“Mateo’s old pack,” Alex says. “They’re here to fight.”

“Fight?” I reply.

“We’re overthrowing Esmeralda…tonight!”