"Well, well. I thought someone didn’t need my help," Kael’s voice echoed inside Lance’s head, clearly gloating.
"Shut up," Lance replied flatly, his head still resting on his massive paws as he stared through the glow of the cage. His tail flicked once, a small sign of irritation. "I don’t."
Kael chuckled softly, the sound rumbling through the link they shared. "Really? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like the great Alpha Prince Lance Stormhold is trapped behind a glowing wall like a captured pup."
Lance huffed, not even bothered about opening his eyes. "You’ve started to talk too much. Is it Zen’d bad influence or the Omega’s?"
"I talk when someone is stupid enough to walk into a witch’s trap," Kael shot back, "What happened? You should have escaped by now..."
"I should have. But the witch had sensed me so she laid out a trap," Lance said simply.
His eyes flicked toward the door Owen had disappeared through. " I thought I’d let her have some fun. But this isn’t just about her anymore. And, anyway, I need to learn more about this ’master’ that these people keep mentioning."
Kael was silent for a moment before asking cautiously, "Are you planning to wait until he shows up?"
"No. I’m not foolish enough to face him without knowing who, or what, he is. We need more information before confronting him directly. And with the Omega this close to her heat, I can’t risk a fight. It would be a worthless risk to face this ’master’ when her scent could distract even the strongest of us."
"So you’re waiting for the Moonville wolf to bring her?"
"Yes," Lance replied quietly. "As soon as he brings her here, we leave. Whatever this ritual is, it is not going to happen. As for the confrontation with this master, it will be at a place of our choosing."
Kael hummed lowly in agreement. "Then hurry up."
A faint smirk tugged at Lance’s muzzle. "Uh huh..."
Just as the link with Kael was cut off, Owen walked into the room, carrying the unconscious Emira in his arms. However, following him was the witch with a cruel smile on her face.
"Do you really think you can command him to bring her here and I will let you take her away?" Her eyes gleamed with malice as she stepped forward. But the moment she looked at the body lying on the floor, her face froze for a moment...
Lance noticed the shiver of fear and her fingers’ tightening over the ring in her hand. But then, in the next moment, she recovered and continued, "You-trapped inside this cage-dare to think you can stop me?"
Lance didn’t move. Simply looking at her as she nodded and continued," It seems you are a skilled one. But smart you are, you will not escape! My master will be here soon, and when he sees you, he will take what he needs. He will cultivate your power, and your strength will belong to him."
As for this—" she hissed, and with a violent flick of her wrist, Owen stumbled forward as if struck by an invisible force. His grip on Emira faltered, and she fell limply to the ground with a loud thud.
Lance’s eyes narrowed dangerously at that as he stood up in that moment, his eyes flashing red as he had to forcibly stop his wolf from attacking the witch. His claws pressed against the floor and the witch laughed at his restraint as she taunted, "So what if you can command the wolves? I can destroy them with a single wave of my hand! See this?"
She raised her palm and threw another bolt of magic at Owen, and without having to look, Lance knew that the pup was dead. However, his gaze remained fixed on the witch, "Since you’re so eager to see this Omega, I’ll make sure you have a good view. I’ll have my people prepare her right here in front of you-to serve my master while you watch helplessly!"
Her laughter filled the room, as if already enjoying the scene she was describing, "After all animals like this sort of thing, don’t they?"
Just as the witch was about to turn back and call the others, Lance cocked his head to the side, "Do you really think this cage can hold me?"
The witch blinked, caught off guard by his speaking voice and whipped around, staring at the wolf. He was still in his animal form but he was talking.. How could he... "What did you say?"
But he did not give her a chance to repeat the question. Instead, in that flash of a moment, the wolf tensed and leapt up in one swift, powerful motion.
The cage flared violently and the witch narrowed her eyes, confident that the cage’s magic would burn him. However, instead of being thrown back or burnt by touching the light, the wolf shot through the barrier like a blade through water.
Before the witch could even react, his claws slashed across her face and hand, tearing through her skin and knocking a large signet ring from her finger.
She screamed, stumbling backward as blood smeared her cheek ant the ring rolled across the floor.
"No!" she shrieked, lunging toward it.
But before she could reach it, the air shimmered, the wolf’s massive form changed from wolf to human appearing between her and the ring. He bent down and picked up the ring before she could touch it.
"How..." she gasped, crawling backward in disbelief, one hand clutching her bleeding face as she stared at the man before her and then at the ring in his hand. "How did you get out? My magic-it’s flawless-"
Lance slipped the ring into his pocket and smile down at the wolf coldly "Your magic can indeed hold men," he said softly, "and wolves." He paused, taking a slow step toward her. "But not a shadow."
The witch froze, her eyes widening in terror as Lance walked towards her.
"The one you captured was merely my Shadow wolf."
He watched as the witch’s eyes widened in horror. "The Shadow Wolves are a myth... They are not real."
Lance smiled then," Are they? Then, I guess you were lucky to meet one, weren’t you? Too bad... you won’t be able to tell anyone about it..."
And before the witch could react, Lance’s fingers closed around her neck, choking her...