Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Dakota 55 vouchers I stared at River , tears rolling down my cheeks . " So , you're just going to reject me like this ? You're going to push me away ? " River ran his hand through his hair . " Now , I understand why your stepbrothers rejected you . You are nothing but a nuisance . A weakling ! Trouble- " " River , " I cried out . " Go home , Dakota , " he said and turned around . I stood there . Shattered . Humiliated . Broken . Brenda appeared back at the doorway . " My son will always do whatever I want ," she said folding her hand and leaning against the door . " Now , get lost . Seeing your face reminds me of her . It makes me want to hurt you . It's better you avoid us ." " I like your son- " She stretched her hand and muttered a few words . Immediately , my head began to hurt . " Ouch , " I screamed . " Please stop . " I fell to the ground , tears rolling down my eyes . My wolf fought to be released but I refused . I couldn't control her yet . Brenda stopped when she realized she had weakened me . " Take that as a farewell gift , " she said and shut the door . I cried while forcing myself to stand up . Mom must be looking for me , I thought . I got myself together and began heading home . My legs felt like lead as I stumbled down the dimly lit sidewalk , barely able to see through my tears . Every word River said echoed like a dagger against my chest . A nuisance . A weakling . I pressed my palms against my ears , willing the pain away . But it didn't stop . The ache , the humiliation , Brenda's cruel spell - it was all too much . Who was she ? How could she have such power ? Who did I remind her of ? I just wanted to go home . I needed Mom . I was nearing the edge of the woods , only a few blocks from our house , when I heard rustling . My instincts went on high alert . I stopped , wiped my tears , and looked around . The street was empty , but the air felt charged . " Who's there ? " I called , voice trembling . 16:07 Fri , Sep 19 d Chapter 15 Silence . Then , footsteps . 60 55 vouchers Five - no , six people stepped out from the shadows . Cloaked figures . Faces hidden under thick hoods . My wolf stirred in panic . " What do you want ? " I asked , backing away slowly . " I don't have anything . Please , just let me go . " They didn't answer . Instead , they began chanting in a low , guttural language . The sound made the hair on my arms stand . The air around me grew thick , hard to breathe . " I said back off ! " I shouted . But they didn't stop . They crept closer , their chanting growing louder , rhythmic , dark . " Stop ! " I yelled again . " I don't want to hurt anyone ! " One of them laughed . " You ? Hurt us ? " The voice was male , deep and mocking . " You're just a little freak who doesn't belong anywhere ." I turned to run , but another figure stepped into my path . Trapped . Suddenly , a voice pierced the air . " That's enough ! Leave her alone ! " I looked over and saw an elderly woman walking toward us . Her silver hair glinted under the streetlight , and she held a cane that thudded purposefully against the ground with every step . " She's just a child , " the woman said . " Back off before you get more than you bargained for . This Pack is a peaceful place and not a war zone . " One of the cloaked men turned to her and , with a flick of his wrist , sent her flying across the street like a rag doll . " NO ! " I screamed and bolted after her . Without even realizing it , my legs moved with impossible speed . I wasn't in my wolf form , yet I was faster than any human had the right to be . In a blink , I caught her before she hit the pavement . My hands trembled as I gently set her down . " Run . Please . Get out of here . I'll handle them ." The old woman looked at me with wide eyes , stunned . " You ... you moved like- " " GO ! " I barked . 16:07 Fri , Sep 19 d . Chapter 15 She nodded and staggered away . That's when all hell broke loose . 60 $ 5 vouchers The cloaked figures scattered , attacking anyone within reach . Screams echoed from different directions . Glass shattered . Fires started . It was chaos . Three of them turned toward me . I crouched , breathing hard , trying to summon what little control I had . My wolf begged to be freed , but I was terrified . I wasn't ready . I tried to fight . I ducked under the first punch and kicked the attacker in the ribs . He groaned but barely staggered . Another grabbed my arm . I twisted and elbowed him in the throat . For a moment , I thought I could hold them off . Then I felt it . A sharp , unbearable pain exploded at the base of my neck . Something snapped . Darkness swallowed me whole . When I opened my eyes , I was in a dark room . The air smelled of old wood and herbs . I sat up slowly , groaning . My head throbbed , but I was alive . The door creaked . A light flicked on . Mr. Isaac stood at the doorway , his silhouette outlined by the light behind him . " Mr. Isaac ? " I whispered , squinting . He stepped in and closed the door . " You're awake . Good ." I blinked , confused and disoriented . " What ... what happened ? " " You were ambushed ," he said , walking toward me . " By nomadic hybrids . Dangerous ones . They were after you . If I hadn't been tracking their movement ... you would've died tonight . " My stomach turned . " They attacked other people . That old woman - did she- ? " " She survived , " he said . " Thanks to you . " A wave of relief washed over me . 16:07 Fri , Sep 19 Chapter 15 ... " They wanted to kill me , " I said , fearfully . 60 55 vouchers Mr. Isaac sighed . " Because you're not ordinary , Dakota . And they sense it . You may not fully understand your lineage yet , but others do . And they want to stop you before you awaken ." " Awaken ? " I echoed , frowning . " I gave you your grandmother's book some days ago . Did you read it ? " Shame flushed my cheeks . " No. I - I couldn't . I've been so overwhelmed - my stepbrothers , River- " " Excuses , " he snapped , his eyes suddenly sharp . " You think the world will wait until you're emotionally ready ? They won't . The war has already begun , and you're in the center of it whether you like it or not . " " I didn't ask for any of this ! " I shouted , tears brimming again . " No , you didn't , " he said softly . " But you were born into it . And now , you need to decide if you're going to let it destroy you or if you'll rise and fight back . " I stared at him . " If you keep running , you'll lose everything . Your wolf , your future and your life ." I swallowed hard . Mr. Isaac walked to a desk and placed the book on it . " Start reading . Tonight . There's no more time . You were marked by the hybrids . They'll come back . Stronger . " " Marked ? " I echoed , touching my neck . He nodded grimly . " That snap wasn't just to kill you . It was to leave a trace . A signal to others . " " I don't understand- " " You will , " he cut in . " Once you study that book . And when you're ready , I'll help you train . But first , you need to learn who you are . " I hesitated . My fingers trembled . " Why me ? " I whispered . " Why am I the target ? " He paused , then looked at me with a strange intensity . " Because you are the last known descendant of your blood line . Your blood carries ancient magic , Dakota . Magic that hasn't surfaced in generations ." My breath caught . " My blood ? " He nodded . " It's why you moved like that tonight . It's why your wolf is restless , even when you hold her back . You were born with abilities that normal wolves do not possess ." I stared at him , a lot going through my mind . 16:07 Fri , Sep 19 Chapter 15 60 255 youshers " They rejected you ," Mr. Isaac said , " but they don't know what they've lost . You are more than they can ever be . " A slow fire lit in my chest . For the first time , I didn't feel like breaking down . I felt something else . Resolve . " Okay , " I said . " I'll read it . I'll learn everything . But I want to fight back . I want to protect myself ." Mr. Isaac smiled faintly . " Good . You're finally beginning to understand ." The lights flickered , and thunder rumbled in the distance . He turned toward the window . " They'll come again , and next time , they'll be ready . But so will we ." AD