The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

ZADOK

“Don’t do it,” I muttered under my breath, very close to the circle.

Ithra seemed determined to kill herself. I felt our mate bond shrink as she poured out her life essence.

“Stop her!” Kir said in a frantic voice. “She is going to kill herself!”

I struggled to cross the line, pushing through the invisible barrier that weakened me, all to no avail. If only I could disrupt the circle, maybe I would be able to get through.

“No more..” Shilhi said, falling to her knees. But Ithra didn’t relent.

Whatever Ithra was doing, it was working. When the rogues saw that Shilhi was falling, they attacked Ithra.

Their attempts were useless because Ithra sensed them a few seconds away and directed her wrath on them, leaving Shilhi some breathing space.

The rogues were reduced to a pile of dust, and before Ithra could focus on Shilhi, she beat her to it and sent her down with a bout of dark light.

Shilhi laughed, seeming powerful. “Stupid, stupid girl.” She tutted, sending another powerful bout of power towards Ithra, causing her to fall. “Did you think you can kill me?” She approached her and caught her by the hair. “You just made me a lot more stronger than you are, bitch!”

Ithra was thrown to the floor by a furious Shilhi, who immediately conjured a circle similar to mine, caging Ithra inside. “That should hold you.” She muttered and faced the open ground.

“Iktar larni pakhi tar!” She roared, lifting her hands to the sky, as she chanted. “Ancient witches! The time has come! Rise!”

The atmosphere around us changed, and fog rose to the sky, forming a black gate.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Shilhi exclaimed, then said to the rogues behind her. “Quick! Use the knife! Kill her!” She instructed.

Controlled by her order, a rogue picked up a knife in the armouries and headed straight for Ithra. “Strike it directly to her heart! We need her blood flowing! Now!”

Before the rogue got to her, he was stopped by Shilhi. “Forget it. I’ll do it myself.” She said and faced Ithra with a stretched-out arm. “Die.”

Ithra fell as soon as the light from Shilhi hit her. Blood leaked from every part of her body and I felt her life force weaken. Ithra’s blood flowed into my circle and I felt my body convulse.

What was going on?

“Yes! Open the gates of the underworld! Here is your sacrifice!” Shilhi said, and I felt like my body was on fire.

The gates opened and like magic, dark shadows trooped out, standing in a straight line. As time proceeded, I felt weak – weaker than ever.

Ithra raised her head, looking deranged, “No..” She muttered and forced her way up. Our eyes connected and she shot me a defeated smile.

Her eyes traced my circle, and slowly, a breeze from nowhere started blowing the chalk. The effects were instant. I felt my wolf’s presence – though it was subtle, but it was there.

My eyes shot back at Ithra, and she blinked. She was the one doing this! She was trying to help me. I shook my head. She should be preserving her energy for crying out loud!© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Yes! More! Come out! It’s time to take our revenge!” Shilhi exclaimed with a grin, focused on the scene before her.

“I love you, Zadok.” A voice fluttered into my headspace.

Ithra. How did she? I looked at her, my eyes begging. Just a little bit more time and I would be free to end this madness.

“Just hold on,” I said through my mind link, I knew she could hear me. “Just hold on, Amore. I will end this.”

“You don’t need to do that,” Her voice choked, “You’ve done enough for me. Let me do this for you.”! Her eyes connected to mine. “Please don’t forget me.”

I looked at the circle that held me. Just a little more and I will be free. I had no idea what she was thinking but I knew it wasn’t good. I needed to stop her before she did something worse.

Suddenly, Ithra a blast of light from Ithra hit Shilhi, taking her off guard.

“Still haven’t given up?” Shilhi said as she turned around, “Are you really in a haste to die?”

Ithra remained silent. Focused on whatever madness she was doing. I couldn’t feel our bond anymore. I was losing sight of her and, my wolf was losing his mind.

“You must be stupid to give me more of your powers. Are you trying to kill yourself?” Shilhi said. Her voice thundered, as the power lifted her off her feet.

“Is there any need of living?” Ithra responded, gritting her teeth. “I will die either way.”

“That has got to be the smartest thing you’ve said so far. You are right! There’s no need to die with your powers when you can hand them over to my capable hands. I’ll do you a favour, and take it all!” She laughed, “I have an army to raise after all.”

Ithra was pushed back by a force from Shilhi, who took her powers with delight. Ithra was losing strength, and life, everything about her dimmed, the more Shilhi took, till there was nothing left.

“Thank you so much for the tip.” Shilhi mocked with a cackle. “Have fun in hell.”

Ithra fell to the ground, weak to the core. She managed a weak smile and said, “Oh I will. Knowing you are no longer in existence will keep me happy for all eternity.”

“What are you talking about.”

“You wanted my powers. Now you have them.” She coughed. “Lipha cardo len till.” She muttered and Shilhi’s eyes went wide.

“You.. who taught you that?” She said, fighting the light that gathered from every part of her body and centralized in her heart.

“I am an ancient witch. It’s only right I learn some spells, don’t you think?”

Immediately the words went out her lips, and Shilhi’s heart combusted to a thousand pieces, shaking the dark forest. I watched in shock as everything disappeared, the shadows, the gates, the fog, everything. Including Ithra.

“No!” I jumped out of the circle, realising I was free. I anxiously ran to the spot where she was – touching the floor. There were no signs of her. She disappeared. Leaving me with the rogues that surrounded me.

“Alpha!” I heard the voice of Azriel, running through the forest, and slaying rogues in their thousands.

I couldn’t feel it. I couldn’t feel the bond anymore.

I fell to the floor and Kir let out a loud and grievous howl, collapsing in the middle of the fight. At that moment, I was weaker than ever. I watched as Azriel, Athaliah and other warriors fight. I couldn’t believe it. She was gone.

Pain shot through me and my eyes turned black. Kir took over, raining carnage in the forest, till the dead bodies of the rogues littered the forest.

“We must find our mate.” He said, losing his mind. “We must find our mate and protect her!”

How do you explain to a wolf that his other half was dead?