Chapter 17

Blake's POV

Yesterday did not go as planned. I felt bad for not keeping my word to Brielle. She must be thinking the worst of me right now, but I had something important to do. Not more important than her, but I couldn't give an excuse not to go. I had to attend the annual Alpha meeting. I had forgotten about it completely. Father insisted I go there to establish connections with other Alphas and introduce myself to the community.

The event was quite eventful, but it turned dull and sour for me in an instant. I didn't know that Alphas could come with their mates to the event. I was green with envy just seeing everyone with their significant others parade around and have a blast. If only my mate was just like me, a werewolf, then it would have been so much easier to go with her so quickly.

I hadn't figured out a plan of how to tell her about everything. The thing is, I know she would freak out and run for it. Today I intend to make it to her and beg for forgiveness if I have to. I don't want her to get the wrong idea and misunderstand my intentions. I arrived at school and searched for her. I heard that she was in gym class, so I decided that we would meet in the next class.

I anxiously waited to see her. The gym was over, and the students were going back to their classes. I was waiting for her to come out. I waited quite a while, but she took too long. I went inside to check what was delaying her. There was no one left inside. She must be in the locker room. I went towards the lady's locker room and knocked. I called out her name, but I didn't get a response.

What is she doing in there that is taking so long? I put my hand on the handle, about to open the door, but I stopped. It isn't right to just go inside the lady's locker room. I shook my head. It's fine. There was no one except Brielle in there. Something might be wrong with her. Maybe she collapsed after the strain of exercising. You never know.

I slowly opened the door and peeked inside. There seemed to be no one in sight. She was here though because I can smell her scent, although it is faint now. I walked inside to inspect and there really was no one inside. But what I couldn't understand was how Brielle got out of there without me seeing her. She couldn't have left through the front door. Something was amiss. I looked for her locker and found it ajar. There was a puddle of water on the floor. I was confused by the looks of things.

Where could she have gone in a rush, and what's with the water puddle? I was about to walk away, but something caught my eye. I turned back and reached for a little note that was stuck inside the locker room.

It said, " If you want to see this girl alive, go to the abandoned cabin in the woods. Come alone or she is dead."

I crumbled up the piece of paper in my hand as anger surged through me. Who the hell dares to play such a dirty game with me? Who dares to use my mate against me? I saw red. Whoever did this would not be spared or allowed to live after pulling such a stunt.

Moreover, who was this person trying to mess with me? No one besides my family and close ones knows that Brielle is my mate. I can't think of a person who is behind all this drama.

I marched out of the school and headed to the location without looking back. I didn't need to tell anyone because I would handle it myself. I ran through the woods in wolf speed, trying to get there as fast as possible. I couldn't help but worry about Brielle. I don't want her getting dragged into whatever nonsense is associated with me. I wouldn't be able to live if something bad were to happen to her.

I arrived at the cabin. I wanted to barge in there, but I had to be cautious. If I did anything rash, it could put Brielle in grave danger. I tried to approach the cabin but something strange happened. I was stopped by a force field. I tried to go through, but I was stopped again.

This meant one thing. This was the work of a witch. Darn it! The guts of that person to come into my territory and do such a thing is maddening.

" Brielle! Brielle! Are you okay?!" I yelled out.

" Witch! Come out here and face me. Let my mate go right this instant! Whatever grudge you have against me has nothing to do with her."

After a few seconds, the door opened, and Rea appeared. I was stunned. I didn't think it could be her because I thought that I had settled everything with her. I sighed. " Not again."

" You are finally here, my love. Who would have thought that one day someone would be more important to you than I am," she said sinisterly.

" Cut the crap, Rea and let her go. She had nothing to do with you."

" She has everything to do with me, and I am never letting her go. Today you are going to make a choice once and for all. That means that one of us will stay alive, and the other will die, and you will be the one to make the call," she said, pointing a finger at me.

" Let's not play this game. I chose her. Will you die then?" I asked her. I was fed up with her crap. I never knew her to be this kind of person and I didn't think things would come to this one day.

" How can you say that so easily? Are you telling me that it would be better if I died so you could be with her? You jerk! Now you will have to watch her die!" She went back inside and I was left outside.

I banged on the force with all my strength. No matter what, I can't let her kill Brielle. I will save her and put an end to Rea. Now that this is what things have come to, I have no choice. To save Brielle I would go to any lengths.

As I continuously hit the force, it suddenly went down, and I fell to the ground. I got up and ran up to the cabin. What I saw once I got inside ran a chill up my spine. Brielle was frozen in ice. I could see the terror in her eyes. She must be so scared in there and it is all my fault.

Rea was standing next to her tracing the ice with her fingers while looking at Brielle with pure hatred. There was another person in the room. A girl I've never seen before. She winked at me with a wicked smile. I suppose she is the witch behind the fiasco.

" Rea, let her go, okay? Stop this madness already!" I yelled, getting impatient.

" No, I won't! I won't let her go. You will have to reject her and leave her. Only then will I let her go. You are mine. You belong to me!"

" Alright, alright. Unfreeze her, and we will talk about it," I said, raising my hands in surrender. I don't know this witch's power, so I can't be reckless. My priority is to make sure that Brielle makes it out alive.

I looked between the two, still trying to see who I could strike first. If I take Rea, then Brielle will fall and if she falls she will shatter. Game over. If I decide to take on her ally, things could get really ugly and still Brielle will be the one in danger. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I could just get Rea to move away from Brielle, then I might gain the upper hand.

I turned to Rea's friend. She might not be as crazy as she is. I'll try to persuade her to stop this madness.

" You. Who are you and what are you doing in my territory?" I asked her. She smirked and bit her lip seductively while twirling a strand of her hair.

" Me? I'm Amanda. Amanda Price. Nice to meet you handsome. Rea here told me a lot about you. I can see why she's crazy about you," she said with a psychopath smile. I guess I was wrong. She seems crazier than her friend.

I swallowed hard. This was a delicate situation, and I was going crazy out of my mind. Brielle doesn't have much time in that state. Besides falling and shattering, her heart is in danger now. The ice formation must have started to penetrate her heart.

" Amanda, is it? Can I ask you for a favor?" I said as nicely as possible, careful not to trigger her.

" Sure handsome! Whatever you want." She sounded so enthusiastic, and I hope it remains that way.

" Well, I was wondering if you could undo the ice formation."

" No! Don't you dare Amanda!" Rea opposed.

" Amanda, please. She is going to die. Rea is crazy and not thinking straight. There are consequences of what you are doing, so think about it," I said, trying to get through to her.

For a second she looked conflicted and fighting with her thoughts. The room was tense as she mulled over her actions and Rea and I anxiously awaited her answer.

" No, I can't. I am repaying a life debt and that is what I will do. There is no way out here, handsome. Just give Rea what she wants and we will all go our separate ways."

I groaned in frustration. I guess this won't do. In wolf speed, I grabbed Amanda's neck and snapped it. Her face drained of blood and her eyes became lifeless. I let go, and she dropped to the ground with a thud. It was followed by Rea's horrified scream. My wolf was on the surface, so my eyes changed, and my fangs were out. I went easy on Amanda. I could have ripped her apart for daring to do this to Brielle.

I turned and saw Rea frozen in place, fear-stricken. I ignored her and saw that the ice had started to melt because the spell castor was dead. I don't want to kill her, but she pushed the wrong button. She should have listened to me.

Briell's whole body was now free of the ice, but her body couldn't handle it. She fell unconscious after gasping for air. I caught her before she could fall and carried her bridal style. Her whole body was cold. I have to take her home, so I can warm her up.

" Rea, I hate the person you have become because of me. I won't even try to lecture you because you never listen, but I will tell you this much. Now, I don't regret choosing my mate over you because you are crazy and despicable. I am letting you go for the last time. Let me not see your face ever again, because then I don't know what I will do. I will choose her over you all the time, so whatever scheme you try will never succeed . If you keep doing this, know that I will disregard that you are my sister's mate and kill you. It's not a threat."

Her face was pale, dripping cold sweat as she trembled in fear. She looked like she was about to fall at any moment. I walked away from her. She has taken things too far. It will be the last time I let her get away with something like this.

I had to deal with how I would explain everything to Brielle. Maybe it is about time I told her the truth. I hope she doesn't run to the hills.