"We must hurry!" Gregorio rushed into Gran's cottage. "Luna is going to go through with her plan to put Wolfsbane in the water supply!"
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgob7HpfJb
"When?" Chandler asked.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpe6KhTWZ1
"The council requested a demonstration before they'll give her funding. She intends to use all of you as test subjects for the poison as a punishment for betraying her. She's already found Duke and Heath."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMNqVDuM8U
Chandler shot to his feet and threw on his jacket. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26Nshw0U95
"I'm much too old for this," Gran said.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEDKM2pE2k
Gregorio gave an understanding nod and signaled for Rosalind to follow them.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFb8D4DjAu
"What? I can't go. I won't be any help, I'll slow you guys down."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6ElgJXePH
Gregorio placed a hand on her shoulder. "I won't force you to do anything you don't want to. I won't sugarcoat this, what we're about to do is very dangerous, and if you're not up for it, I suggest you stay here." He handed her the silver bow and arrows. "But I gave you these because I know you're strong enough to wield them."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElGlLLVoHE
She looked up to meet his gaze. "You're the one who put these in my room?"
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14x93PgOhb
He nodded.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY3wHTTOmU
She threw the quiver over her shoulder. "Let's go."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5pcvaqto7
The trio sprinted down the forest path towards Mr. Fowler's cabin. When they arrived, Duke, Heath, and Theo were trying their hardest to fend off the enemy werewolves, but they were vastly outnumbered.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqQZ77Mfi3
"Back away from them." Rosalind equipped a silver arrow and drew back the bowstring to prove she was serious. "This is your only warning."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTyLJXaEUm
One of the werewolves turned towards her. "Ha, go home, little girl. I'm not scared of you." He let out a low-pitched growl, trying to scare her, but she wouldn't back down. He sped towards her, ready to pounce. She released the arrow, it pierced the wolf's side, and he collapsed to the ground.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXUhP2gN9C
Rosalind ripped the bloody arrow out of his flesh and held it up for the world to see. "Who's next?"
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H4ml2jA8h
Some of the enemy werewolves slowly backed down, while others became increasingly hostile.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWLOuWzXjD
Duke nodded towards Chandler. "It's about damn time you showed up."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqrkgEQ9hx
"What? Do you need me to fight your battles for you?" Chandler teased. He cracked his knuckles and shifted into his wolf form.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7jd9tkkWx
Rosalind loaded another arrow onto her bow and aimed at the remaining wolves. "Where's my mother?"
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0GwkzB11W
"She headed towards the Dawnstar Cliffs," Duke said. "She's going to pour Wolfbane into the river from there."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApCx6wGq2L
"I need to stop her," Rosalind said.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhD11Nq5vm
Theo jumped in front of her, creating a barrier between her and the enemy wolves. "Climb on my back. I can get you there faster."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu5j6WjbCT
She didn't need to be told twice. She threw her bow over her shoulder, dug her fingers into his long golden fur, and pulled herself up onto his back.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs11XtdKIT
"We'll hold them off," Heath said.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD0zYDUJIy
Without another word, Theo darted into the woods. Rosalind whispered directions into his ear as they went.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDt2ox8j9C
A few of the opposing werewolves chased them into the forest. "You can't escape us, Mixedblood!" One of them roared.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllwHWaG7mD
"Do you remember when you captured Chandler in the hunting trap?" Theo whispered.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Nc68wmgCP
"Yeah."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoARxld7oM5
He glanced back at their pursuers.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxHaCRaWUl
Rosalind gave him a knowing smile and tightened her grip. They dashed down a woodland path, their harassers followed quickly behind them. One of the wolves tried to bite Rosalind, but she kicked it in the snout.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkLLBGM3GY
When they reached the trap, Theo leaped over it, sticking the landing on the other side.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1psjMVwyVI
The other wolves weren't so lucky. They'd walked directly into the trap, and they were now stuck in a massive net.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1mqw2rgBA
"Stay," Theo commanded.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLm3CtIY0d
They growled in response.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XRMMwuJ8H
Neither Theo nor Rosalind had time to wait and see if the net was strong enough to hold them. The duo decided to keep moving and hope for the best.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzviDYLzjsp
When they reached the edge of the cliffs, they spotted Pack Mother Luna. She hummed a jazzy tune to herself as she unloaded bottles of Wolfbane. Her expression soured when she spotted them. "I'm assuming you're not here to surrender."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL6fuUCmR0
Rosalind slid off Theo's back. "No, we're here to make you surrender."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYUDU9lIsB
Her mother laughed hysterically. "Look at you trying to be tough. You remind me of Chandler. Sure, you know how to threaten and intimidate, but deep down you don't have what it takes to do what needs to be done." She sighed. "What were the chances both of my children would end up being failures?"
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRlyn5BXM8
"Pretty high, considering you sucked as a mother."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BDgN1b3PY
"Don't use me as a scapegoat for your own shortcomings." She scolded.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEztvvHlPab
Rosalind was about to retort when Theo stopped her. "She's trying to stall us."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldp6y4Uune
A smirk spread across the Pack Mother's lips. "You're pretty clever, Mr. Lovell. If you'd been born a Pureblood, I could've used someone like you in my pack."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3iHLAeMYs
Rosalind had heard enough. She fired an arrow at the crate full of Wolfbane. Her arrow plowed directly through three of the bottles, causing them to shatter. The cream-colored seeped into the ground, making the grass wilt.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvU5iFnTcgf
For the first time in her life, Luna looked genuinely surprised.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB4GuPSQ0Y
Rosalind lined up another shot, ready to destroy more of the bottles, when a werewolf stepped out of the forest with the bloody body of another werewolf in his jaws. He dropped the body at Luna's feet. "I've captured one of the traitors, Pack Mother." He said.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEse4FbRbZ1
Luna glared down at the body with a look of disgust. "Is he even still alive? I specifically asked for you to bring them in alive, so I could be the one to kill them!" She snapped.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9OSsM8dry
"I'm pretty sure he's still alive." The wolf said, with a twinge of uncertainty in his voice.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOdOhCFPgU
Luna leaned down to get a closer look.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfidRGkVa2o
The wolf was still breathing. The beaten wolf shifted back into his human form.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgPfUt5dil
"Well, if it isn't my beloved husband, Gregorio." She yanked him up by the hair. "You were always such a loyal lap dog. What happened? Why did you betray me? She roared.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxJ5ixKGOY
He didn't respond.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMJvFfgYHg
She smacked him in the face. "Why?"
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm4H2Rt34O
"Because I enabled you for too long. I watched you tear apart our family and abuse our son. I didn't do nearly enough to stop you. I wish I'd betrayed you decades ago." He gazed over at Rosalind. "Maybe then I wouldn't have been forced to choose between my daughter and my son."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPsL7XZn1G
Luna let out a scream that resembled the cry of a banshee. "You worthless traitor!" She punched him in the nose repeatedly. Once she had her fill, she reached for one of the bottles.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1CRdp5gHG
"Don't kill him." Rosalind didn't know why, but she had an overwhelming urge to protect him. "You can take whatever you want from me."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSUF8421L6
Her mother considered the offer for a few moments, then said, "Give me the locket."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlsbAKOO1o
Rosalind nodded towards Theo. She refused to release her grip on the bow and arrow, so Theo shifted back into his human form and removed the locket from her neck. He tossed it to Luna, who caught it in one hand. She promptly threw it off the edge of the cliff and into the ravine below. "It's time for you to stop hindering your gifts, Rosalind.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2UqfOlrgX
"Okay." She said. "Now stop hurting him."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0pD1XgzAv
A wicked grin spread across her mother's lips. "Watch and learn, Rosalind. This is what happens to people who betray me!" She uncorked the bottle of Wolfbane and pressed it to Gregorio's lips.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTdK58wZjk
Gregorio gazed affectionately at Rosalind. "It's too late for me now. Fetch your brother and get away from here. I'm sorry I couldn't be there, Mija."
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt9fVOJZsV
Rosalind froze. Mija? Gregorio was her father? It couldn't end like this! She'd finally found her family, she couldn't lose him now. In her shock, she lost her grip on the arrow she'd been aiming, and it plunged into her mother's chest. Luna's eyes widened as she stumbled back from the arrow's blow. She released her grip on Gregorio, as she fell backward off the side of the ravine, where the sharp rocks tore her apart.
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSBuHbbKqE
Rosalind crashed to her knees in a fit of sobs. Theo knelt beside her and held her in his arms. She sobbed into his shoulder. "I killed my mom."
ns216.73.216.197da2
