We had gone as far as we could by jeep and now; we ran as wolves weaving through the trees, following the small golden flickering light that Elder Ester had magicked to lead us to my mate... Willa.
'Spread out. She has to be here.' The Alpha instructed as we burst through the tree line to see the water dead ahead.
The golden light stopped its hypnotic dance.
He snarled as in rage as I shot a look his way for him to lift his lip, showing me a glimpse of his menacing canines.
He had point blank ignored me up to this point in our travels to locate Willa. Unless you counted his harsh thoughts referring to me as a runt and I wasn't fit to be his sister's mate!
Great first impression, Sylar!
He didn't know I could hear his thoughts. And probably better that he didn't.
As we spread out along the shoreline. I could feel her. She was close. I was sure of it. In the darkness I thought I saw a head of white hair. Shifting to man I ran into the water, diving headfirst, the cold waters not affecting my goal.
I surfaced, eagerly scanning the shifting waters. Wolfsbane! Where was she?
There! "Willa!"
The cold was biting as the swell of water forced me under. I broke the surface, spitting out water as my wolf whimpered. I'd lost sight of her again.
It's okay, boy, we'll find her.
I swam like my life depended on it—and it did. If she died, I would only be half a soul surviving, and I knew I didn't want to live in a world where she didn't.
I opened my senses and pushed them outwards, sending tiny vibrations through the water... If I couldn't physically see her, I would need to feel for her.
'Sylar.'
That was Willa... I snatched a deep breath and submerged my head.
She was there!
Fighting through waters that felt as thick as mud, it seemed intent on pushing and pulling me in all directions. I pushed harder, ignoring the burn to my lungs. She was all that mattered.
I grabbed her around the waist, and she panicked, jolted to life in my hold, and tried to fight me. 'Willa... it's me... Sylar. Stop fighting me.'
She didn't relax, but stopped fighting me. 'Kick your legs and help me get you back to shore.'
'I knew you'd come.'
She did as instructed, as we fought against the churning waters. My feet touched the water banks, and Seth and Nile waded toward us as they lifted Willa from me. Following, I dropped to my knees, shivering.
"Is she okay?" I shuffled closer. Remaining on my knees, I inhaled a measured breath and slowly released it. Panic ravaged my guts.
I cupped her cold face. "Don't give up now Willa, fight for me."
I looked up to Nile and Seth before my eyes dropped on the Alpha, whose breath misted around his face. His gaze on me was intense, almost cruel. I didn't bother tuning in to his thoughts.
Cursing under my breath, I returned my attention back to Willa. I couldn't help but smile.
Goddess, my mate was gorgeous. Her angelic face sent a thrill right through me. Her eyes were closed but, in my mind, her azure blues were never far from my thoughts. Dropping my attention to her full, kissable lips, I couldn't wait for the time where I could taste them. A shock of blistering arousal heated me in a flash as I hardened at her close proximity.
Shit! Get a grip—my mate was lying here out cold, and I was thinking with my di— And being stark naked didn't help either.
Quick as a snap, Willa's eyes sprang open as she gasped and sputtered, coughing out water.
Relief cartwheeled down my spine as I squeezed the breath out of me, thanking the Moon Goddess for letting me get to her in time.
Her head lifted. "Sylar?" Her voice was hoarse.
"Don't talk Willa, you're safe."
I heard the Alpha growl but ignored him.
Willa's eyes went wide. "Is she here?"
"Who?" Seth and Nile rose, their eyes sweeping the darkness looking for danger. The Alpha snarled. "Who Willa?" I asked again.
"Ember... my sister. She was in the water. I thought—" She lifted her arm "She cut me... I think." Her brow furrowed as I looked around.
The wind picked up around us. "We have to get inside; you'll catch your death if we don't get you dry."
She shook her head. "No - It was a trap, she wanted me to escape."
A hollow laugh had me looking over my shoulder. The moon came from behind the blanket of cloud, allowing me to see the same face that had graced my dreams... Willa's—but this was not Willa.
I gave my head a wobble as I returned my attention to my Willa who lay before me.
She saw my confusion.
Twins? It was the only rational explanation, but where Willa's hair was white, her twin sister's hair was black.
I looked back at Ember. She cocked her head, running her finger along a blade.
And if that wasn't freaky enough, as I looked closer, there was something else.
I could see another person or something project from within... her face distorted for a brief moment, but it could have been a trick of the eye. Curious, I pushed out my feelers and touched her aura with ease.
A chill burned right through me as I felt the strangest feeling followed by desire that squeezed my chest tight, forcing me to suck in a breath.
My wolf howled. His sudden excitement rolled in waves, knocking me off kilter. He tried to get my feet to move, to go towards her. I didn't understand the pull. But he said it loud and clear.
Mate!
Mate? My wolf recognised her as our mate?
My head snapped back to Willa, and guilt twisted my guts.
No, Willa was my mate. I felt it.
I reached for Willa's hand and squeezed it tightly.
"Sylar." Ember said my name in a sing-song tone.
I let go of Willa's hand as my body rose without permission., turning to face Ember.
'Sylar.' I heard Willa's voice in my head, but I couldn't look back. Ember's gaze swept over me, before dropping to look at her sister... darkening, savage with predatory intent.
The Alpha moved alongside me, nudged my leg. His growls low and menacing. It broke the trance-like state I was in.
Ember's fierce stare faltered as my mind was pulled in two directions. "Come with me, Sylar."
Her voice was like a tranquil melody meant to lull and relax me and I closed my eyes in delight, drinking in the feeling of peace, wanting to wrap myself around her. Without thinking, I stepped forward as if she held my hand, tugging me toward her.
Fingers cold as ice wrapped around my ankle as my eyelids cracked open, and I looked down to see Willa clutching it. She gasped out a raspy "No... please, Sylar." The dejection in her tone squeezed his chest as a curtain of vulnerability fell across her face.
What in the goddess's name was wrong with me?
Ember hissed. "Don't listen to her, Sylar." My head shot back towards her. Goddess, I felt confused. "Tell me you don't feel it." I couldn't deny I felt something. "It's the mate pull."
Holy shit! Did I have two mates?
As a man, I felt drawn to Willa. I wanted her heart, body, and soul.
But right or wrong, my wolf and his deep-seated whispers wanted Ember.
"I can give you so much Sylar. Come with me." She raised her hand. Desire teased her eyes. "You can be so much more."
For a moment I leant towards her with every intention of giving in to the wants of my wolf. But then I felt Willa's hold on me loosen as she let me go... without her touch I felt... bereft, cold. I was meant to be with Willa.
Stop. Don't.
I shook my head. "No Ember, I cannot leave with you."
A tension filled second ticked by, then another as hate fell across her face like a shutter. She and Willa may have shared the same face, but the sharp differences told a story beyond just their shared similarities.
She snarled, losing all trances of desire she had shown a moment ago. "You will be mine, Sylar. It's fated and shall come to pass." She sucked in a breath and uttered words I didn't know, but leaned towards it being Latin.
"Aperi est, in deos, videatur velle meum est, et fit."
Light flashed behind her as electrical current pulsed through the air to reveal a doorway opening.
Was it a portal? It was new to me.
Peering around her, I saw the home of the Elders.
Willa panicked. "Cassius, she intends to kill the Elders. You cannot let her leave."
The Alpha looked at Willa as I heard his concerns in my head, but giving direction to Nile and Seth, he bounded towards Ember who stepped through the portal. As the light faded, he leaped and vanished in a flash.
The electric current ceased, and darkness surrounded us.