Page 48 of Alpha's Claim
‘Colt,’she whispered into the bond, pouring every ounce of urgency and hope she had into the thought. She could feel his presence—solid, grounding, like a steady drumbeat in the chaos. ‘I’m at the forest chapel. They’ve taken me. Please… come quickly. But be careful. If the rest of the coven shows up, it could get ugly.’
For a moment, there was no response, only the faint hum of the connection between them. Then, like the first gust of wind before a storm, she felt his awareness sharpen. His emotions hit her all at once—a mix of fury, fear, and determination so strong it nearly took her breath away.
‘I’m coming, Briar.’His voice rumbled through the bond, low and fierce, filled with a promise. ‘Hold on. I’ll find you.’
A small flicker of relief bloomed in her chest, but it was short-lived.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Briar’s eyes snapped open, her heart jolting as the guard pushed off the tree and strode toward her, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Stop that,” he ordered, his voice sharp. “Whatever it is you think you’re doing, just stop. You’re not getting away.”
Her magic surged in response, raw and eager. She didn’t have time for this—not with the threat of the rest of the coven arriving at any moment. Gritting her teeth, she focused on the nearest tree.
The willow’s branches quivered as her magic reached out, coaxing life from the dormant wood. A thick vine slithered down from the canopy above, snaking silently toward the man. Before he could react, the vine whipped around his torso and yanked him off his feet, pinning him hard against the tree trunk.
“Hey!” he shouted, struggling against the vine as it coiled tighter around him. His legs kicked wildly, and his arms strained against the crushing pressure. “Let me go, you little…”
Briar’s lips curved into a grim smile. She flicked her fingers, sending the vine squeezing just a bit tighter around his chest. The man gasped, his face turning red as the air was forced from his lungs.
“How’s that feel?” Briar asked, her voice cold. “Enjoying yourself?”
He growled under his breath, trying to summon magic of his own. A spark flared in the air around him, but Briar’s power surged forward, smothering his attempt with ease. His magic was no match for hers.
“You’re not getting out of this,” she warned, her eyes locked on him. “Save your energy.”
The man wheezed, still struggling, but the vine held firm. He glared at her, hatred burning in his eyes. “You think this changes anything? They’ll still come for you. You won’t escape.”
Briar ignored his threats, her mind already working on her next move. She needed a way to cut herself free—and fast. “Do you have a knife?” she asked, her tone sharp and impatient.
The man sneered. “Even if I did, why would I tell you?”
Briar rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll find it myself.”
She closed her eyes, reaching out with her magic again. Another vine slithered down from the willow, creeping toward the man’s pockets with eerie precision. He squirmed and cursed, but there was nothing he could do as the vine rifled through his clothing.
“Get off me!” he snarled, thrashing uselessly against the bindings.
Briar ignored him, her focus sharp. The vine slipped into one of his pockets and found what she was looking for—a small, sharp blade. The vine coiled around the handle, pulling the knife free with a swift, fluid motion.
Briar exhaled a small breath of relief as the vine brought the knife to her. She maneuvered the blade carefully toward herhands, gripping it awkwardly between her fingers. The position was awkward, and the ropes were tight, but she had no choice. She needed to move fast.
The blade sawed slowly but steadily against the rope, the tension beginning to ease with every stroke. Briar’s heart pounded in her chest, feeling the gravity of the moment.
Come on… just a little more…
The rope frayed beneath the blade, the fibers loosening one by one. The sharp sting in her wrists dulled as the bonds began to give way, but every second felt like an eternity. She could feel time slipping away, the danger creeping closer with every heartbeat.
The man pinned to the tree continued to struggle, his face twisted with rage and fear. “You won’t get far,” he spat. “They’re coming for you. You can’t escape.”
He was right. ‘They’ were coming for her; it just wasn’t the ‘they’ he thought it was. Briar gritted her teeth, ignoring his taunts. The knife bit deeper into the rope, and she could feel the tension finally starting to break. Just a little more…
The rope snapped, and Briar’s wrists came free. She sucked in a sharp breath, shaking out her hands as blood rushed painfully back into her fingers.
Without missing a beat, she scrambled to her feet, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She glanced around the clearing, her heart pounding. The forest seemed unnervingly still, but she knew better than to trust the quiet.
I have to move. Now.She needed to run, but doing so in the diaphanous gown would be tricky. Briar used the knife to cut the thing off just above her knees. That would make it easier to maneuver in.
The man thrashed against the vine one last time, his eyes wild with hatred. “Your fate is to bring the two covens together,” he shouted after her.