Chapter 54

Hello, My Loyal Readers. Please read Chapter 53. I released them out of order. Enjoy Chapter 54 for free. It's slightly different from the previous chapter I released.

Have a happy Halloween 🎃

Javonte

We plunged into the abyss, and my thoughts scrambled to piece together how this could be happening. The weightlessness in this fall felt endless, but in reality, it only lasted seconds. The moment my body slammed into the cold, unforgiving stone below, the air was forced from my lungs, leaving me gasping in the darkness.

Pain shot through my ribs, but there was no time to dwell on it. I quickly pushed myself up, groaning, and scanned the room, or what was left of it.

Groans echoed around me. My team is struggling to recover from the fall. I forcing myself onto my hands and knees, feeling around to make sure no one was seriously hurt. My wolf, Jasper, stirred within me, frustrated by the trap we had walked into, his growls rumbling in the back of my mind.

“Everyone okay?” I called out, my voice ragged.

“I’m fine,” Zace answered, though he sounded shaken. “Corey?”

“We're here.” Corey’s voice was tight with pain but steady enough to ease my worries. That him and Lukas were alright.

“Jordyn?” I rasped, heart thudding. If something had happened to her after she saved us.

“I’m okay.” Her voice was breathless but close. “But I don’t know where we are.”

I glanced upward at the gaping hole we had fallen through. No sign of Elder Jalen's mate or the rogues. They had vanished, leaving us trapped in this underground maze.

The blackness surrounding us was oppressive, thick, and heavy, like it had a life of its own. I couldn’t see a thing, but the faint scent of mold and dampness gave me a clue about our location. We had to be underground, likely in some old basement or cave system beneath the abandoned building.

“We need to get out of here before the rogues come after us,” Corey said, always thinking ahead.

I finally forced myself to my feet, the pain in my back a dull throb. Jordyn’s magic had bought us time, but how long could we rely on it to hold off our enemies?

Dan’s voice cut through the silence, laced with urgency. “This was more than just a rogue attack. I heard whispers before we came. The woman who trapped us... she’s after Serenity. This is all about her.”

My heart skipped a beat. “What?”

Jordyn stepped closer, her glowing hands casting a faint light around us. “I overheard some of the rogues talking about it before we got to you. They said something about Serenity being a key... something about her power.”

Serenity. The one person I swore I would protect at all costs, and now I was stuck in this hole while some vengeful crazy mate from the past was gunning for her. My blood ran cold when realization dawned.

“That woman is out for blood,” I muttered. “She’s using the rogues as pawns, but she’s not the one pulling the strings.”

“What do you mean?” Zace asked.

“There’s more to this. Elder Jalen’s mate... she couldn’t have orchestrated all of this on her own. She’s working with someone else, someone powerful enough to manipulate rogues and keep their eyes on Serenity. We need to get to her before it’s too late.”

Why couldn't I remember her name?

Jordyn stepped forward, her expression grim. "There’s powerful magic here. Dark magic. We need to be careful. Whatever they’re planning, it’s not over."

I wiped the sweat and dirt from my forehead, my mind racing. We needed a plan, but first, I had to make sure we could even find a way out of this pit.

"Jordyn, can you sense an exit?" I asked.

She closed her eyes, reaching out with her magic, her hands glowing softly while she concentrated. After a moment, she opened her eyes and shook her head. "The magic here is blocking me. It’s like this place is designed to keep us in."

Dan stepped up beside her, his jaw clenched. "We can’t stay here. If they sealed us in, it’s because they’re coming back for us."

I nodded, my mind settling on the harsh reality of the situation. We were trapped, outnumbered, and walking straight into whatever trap they had set. The only thing keeping us alive was that we had momentarily escaped their reach. But I had a sinking feeling it wouldn’t last long.

"We need to move. There has to be another way out of here," I said, signaling for everyone to follow.

We began to navigate the dimly lit tunnels. My senses on high alert. Jasper was restless, pacing just beneath the surface, ready to fight if needed. The oppressive atmosphere made my skin crawl, and every step felt like walking deeper into danger.

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I turned to the others, tension rippling through the group.

Jordyn’s barrier flickered, and she winced. “I won’t be able to hold them off for long. We need to move.”

We pressed forward through the darkness, the smell of damp earth and decay growing stronger with every step. I tried to push away the gnawing fear building inside me—fear for Serenity, for the pack, for everything that lay ahead. But I couldn’t afford to be paralyzed by doubt anymore. I had to be the leader and Alpha they needed.

As we moved deeper into the underground maze, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. Jasper was on edge; his senses heightened, but I didn’t detect any immediate danger.

Then, from somewhere up ahead, the sound of footsteps echoed through the narrow tunnels. We froze, our hearts pounding.

“They’re coming,” Dan whispered.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists ready for a fight. But as the footsteps drew closer, a familiar voice called out from the shadows.

“Tay?”

Relief flooded me when I recognized the voice. It was Latrell and a few warriors. He stepped into the dim light cast by Jordyn’s hands, his expression tense.

“Latrell,” I breathed. “How did you find us?”

“Beta Corey sent us an SOS text,” he replied, his face grim. “I just tracked his phone to this location.”

I let out a breath that I didn't realize I was holding. The panicked kicked in once again. " Where's Serenity?" Gripping Latrell shoulders tighter, spit flying out my mouth.

"Last we heard, she was heading to New Moon to find survivors." Latrell reassured me. "She's fine. She's got the best protection team with her."

Latrell led us through the winding, damp tunnels, the tension in my chest eased—just a little. We weren’t alone anymore. Yet I knew this was far from over. Serenity was safe for now, but if this attack was meant for her, we’d be on borrowed time until they struck again.

After what felt like hours but was probably closer to thirty minutes, the maze began to thin out, the damp, rocky walls giving way to something more natural, like dirt and roots. I could feel fresh air seeping through, mingling with the earthy scent, as we followed Latrell.

Finally, a narrow opening appeared, a faint glimmer of moonlight leaking in. We filed out one by one, my legs unsteady as they touched solid ground. Looking around, I realized we’d emerged near the edge of the forest that bordered Meadowood—the ruins of my old territory were not far off.

Jordyn glanced around, brushing off the dirt from her clothes. "If we’re near Meadowood, we’re only about an hour from the Fox Village," she said. Her eyes caught mine, and I saw a flicker of determination. "Headmistress Toya might know something about the magic we encountered. She has ties to other magical realms and might have insight into why they’re targeting Serenity.”

I nodded, considering. Toya was powerful and wise, with deep connections to other packs, covens, and mystical circles. If anyone could help us understand what was happening, it was her. But I worried about splitting up again, especially with the threat looming over Serenity.

“Do you think it’s safe?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, but Jordyn heard. Her eyes softened with understanding.

“I’ll take care of Serenity,” she promised. “Besides, if Headmistress Toya knows what’s going on, we’ll all be safer. The woman who trapped us may be just one piece of this puzzle.” She glanced at Zace and Corey, her brow furrowed. “The forces at play here... they’re beyond what we’ve encountered.”

“Alright,” I said finally, locking eyes with Jordyn. “Take Serenity to Headmistress Toya. Find out everything you can. And be careful. We’ll regroup at the Fox Village afterward.”

She nodded, determination clear in her eyes. “We’ll find answers.”

Jordyn moved to the center of the clearing, her expression sharp with focus. She lifted her hands and palms outward and closed her eyes. A soft glow shimmered around her fingertips, growing brighter as she murmured an incantation under her breath. The air around her thickened with magic, rippling like heat waves, while the faint scent of lavender and rain surrounded us.

With a final word, Jordyn’s magic surged, illuminating the forest with a silvery-blue light. She opened her eyes, their usual warmth now replaced by an intense, ethereal glow.

“This will take me to Serenity,” she said, glancing at Latrell. “I’ll find her and meet with Headmistress Toya.”

He nodded, stepping forward. “I’ll go with you to make sure you’re safe. Headmistress Toya may have the answers we need, but the rogues and that woman... they’re not done. This isn’t over until we find out exactly what they’re planning.”

The glow intensified around Jordyn and Latrell, and then, with a flash, they vanished, leaving behind only a faint shimmer in the air. I felt a pang of worry, but Jordyn’s confidence and Latrell's brute strength reassured me. If anyone could protect Serenity, it was them.

Turning to the rest of the group, I exhaled. “We’ve got our own mission. Let’s move out.”

As we trekked through the forest, Corey and Zace walked close behind, their senses heightened. The quiet rustle of leaves and distant hoot of an owl were the only sounds in the night, but the oppressive tension kept us all on edge.

“We need to find the main facility.” Zace said, scanning the shadows. Pulling out the map and checking to see where the nearest facility was and using that as our starting point.

I needed to find Dr. Rivers. She could be our only shot at understanding why Serenity is so important to them.

Corey moved up beside me, his voice low. “If they’re using Serenity as part of some ritual or spell... it means she has something they need. Something unique.”

I nodded, trying to hide my worry. “And we have to figure out what that is before it’s too late.”

Corey was gaze distant before he spoke again. “I don’t like leaving her, Tay. We’ve never seen magic like this before. If Jordyn and Latrell run into trouble...”

I placed a hand on his shoulder, feeling his muscles tense under my grip. “They’re strong, and Serenity has them both. We’ll meet them soon. Right now, our focus has to be on getting answers and tracking down Dr. Rivers. We can’t help her if we don’t understand the threat.”

Latrell and Jordyn would reach Serenity in time. I had to believe it. But there was no telling how close the enemy was to striking again. My senses remained on high alert, Jasper’s presence intensifying, his instincts ready to defend at any moment. The stakes had never felt higher.