The Ivory Queen
Chapter 104

***Rosalie’s POV***

We sense rogues in the area the second we walk out of the pack house and it sends me into panic mode.

“Get on my back. I’ll shift and carry you to the safe house,” Eric offers.

I rub my belly anxiously and shake my head. “No, I can’t. I could fall off and hurt the baby. It’s just too dangerous!”

“Ro, we’ll be exposed if we stay on foot! We have to move quickly!” Eric’s snaps.

Just then we hear some snarling in the distance.

“Come on!”

Eric leads us through a heavily wooded area and has Gwen and I duck amongst the brush.

“Stay here,” he says before rushing off behind a tree.

He returns moments later in his wolf form and lowers himself.

“I’m not asking twice, Ro. Get on my back.”

“It’s okay little wolf. You and your baby will be fine,” Gwen soothes, grabbing hold of my hand. “I’ll be right behind you making sure you two are safe.”

Taking a deep breath, I climb onto Eric’s back, gripping tufts of his fur firmly in my hands. Gwen climbs on after me and Eric takes off in a fast but gentle trot.

No matter how fast we move though, the snarling only grows closer until we find ourselves surrounded. Eric’s stops running as six rogues emerge from the trees, baring nasty teeth at us. Eric returns their snarls but it’s clear we’re dangerously outnumbered as we’re backed into a tree.

Gwen chants a few words and suddenly a wall of sharp thorny shrubs begins to rise from the ground surrounding us. Unfortunately, the wolves manage to jump over the shrubs before they grow to full size and land in front of us. They encircle us, pacing back and forth wearing menacing grins on their faces.

“I’ll hold them off!” Gwen says, jumping off of Eric and standing in front of us in a protective stance. “You two get to the safe house.”

“Wait Gwen-“

“You are with child, wolf,” the witch replies. “You have to go.”

She opens a small portion of the hedge beside us just big enough for Eric to squeeze through.

“Be safe,” she whispers, keeping her full attention on the rogues in front of her.

I give her one last glance before Eric runs through the thicket. He rushes through the forest, more snarling at our heels but I refuse to look around and shut my eyes tightly for a while.

“We’re almost there Ro. Just hang on!” Eric tries to comfort me, making me slowly regain the confidence to open my eyes again.

As we approach one of the secret entrances to the safe house hidden within a large oak tree, a black blur rushes past us, causing Eric to come to a screeching halt. I nearly fall off of his back but manage to dig my knees into his sides and keep myself up. A large black wolf blocks our only way to safety and when I catch a glimpse of the white spot on its tail, I nearly burst into tears.

“Oliver?” I whimper. “Oliver, is it really you?”

He responds with a low growl, leaning back on his hind legs as if ready to attack.

“Why is he not responding to you, Ro?” Eric asks, slowly backing away from the black wolf as he inches closer to us.

“Oliver, what are you doing?” I snap. “You’re really starting to freak me out!”

It’s as if he doesn’t hear me, instead moving closer and closer. Just as he stands mere inches from us, Diego and Valentina emerge from the safe house in their human forms.

Thank Moon Goddess for mate bonds! Diego must have sensed something was wrong.

Diego is the first to rush at Oliver, but he anticipates the attack and dodges it. Diego slides across the ground but quickly manages to scramble back to his feet and charges once more, this time successfully grabbing Oliver’s massive head in a choke hold. Oliver attempts to bite down on Diego’s shoulder but Diego’s arm phases through his jaws.

As Oliver and Diego continue their fight, Valentina sneaks over to me and helps me off of Eric’s back.

“Come on, mija. Let’s get you inside,” she says after carefully inspecting me for injuries.

I’m shaking like a leaf, the past 20 minutes being the most difficult to bare. I just hope Carter and Gwen are okay.

“Where’s the witch?” Valentina asks as she takes my hands and pulls me towards the oak tree.

“Ay Valentina,” a sinister voice calls from behind us. “Siempre metiendo tus narises donde no te han llamado. {Always sticking your nose in someone else’s business}.”

Valentina stiffens, her grip on my hand growing tighter.

“Que haces aqui? {What are you doing here?}” Valentina snarls before turning to Karina as she appears from behind the woods, a black sword in her hand.

“Haciendo lo que tuvimos que haber hecho hace todos esos años! {Doing what we should have done all those years ago}. Sofia was too weak to be Queen and she damned us all. Aurora and Celina should have never been born and you know it,” she spits back. “I’m here to finish what I started 5 years ago!”

“Eres una cobarde y una maldición! {You’re a coward and curse}” Valentina screams. “You killed the only person who could ever have the heart to love a b***h like you!”

Karina winces at the jab, pain flickering in her eyes before her face goes blank and she draws her sword. Eric stands in front of us, barking at Karina in warning but it seems to have little effect on her.

“I didn’t kill him,” she says quietly before a grin stretches across her lips. “But I will kill you.”

Eric lunges at her and in a swift movement, Karina leans back and slices her sword across his chest. He cries out in pain and staggers back as b***d spills from his wound onto his grey fur. I freeze in place as I watch in horror what she does next, unable to get my legs to react or move. It seems Valentina is shocked too, remaining still beside me. Karina then takes the hilt of the sword and bashes it over his head until he goes limp. “Eric!” Diego cries, turning to look at his injured mate slumped on the floor.

It’s enough of a distraction for Oliver to sink his teeth into his abdomen and launch him into the air. Diego collides with a near by tree and is out cold instantly.

“Diego!” Valentina screams, crashing onto her knees. A clone manifests behind her and runs to aid her son, crying and whimpering for him to wake up.

Karina stares at Michael in approval. “Go. He is waiting for you. I’ll take it from here.”

Without hesitation, Oliver heads west, quickly disappearing into the shadows of the woods.

My legs finally reacting, I run to Eric’s side, pressing my hands onto his still bleeding wounds. “You’re a f*****g monster,” I whimper.

I hear Valentina growl, getting back on her feet and seething in rage. Without a moment to waste, she charges at Karina, canines at the ready to tear her apart. With her free hand, Karina throws a punch at Valentina’s chest, getting her off balance. Valentina staggers slightly but proceeds to attack once more, swinging her arms at her, but landing no blows. Karina dodges them all. Valentina stumbles back and forth, panting in rage. She throws another punch and Karina is able to catch it with her free hand, twist it behind her back and kick her behind her knees and onto the floor.

Karina bursts into laughter as Valentina wobbles back onto her feet.

“Oh Vale, you were always too emotional of a fighter. It’s pathetic,” she sneers, pointing the blade at Valentina’s throat.

Valentina stares at her opponent from the other end of the sword, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“It’s a shame you’ll see Emiliano before I do-“

Valentina pushes the blade slightly to the side with her forearm and grabs a hold of Karina’s wrist, taking the sword from her hand. She twists her wrist harder until Karina is down on one knee. Karina, however, shifts her weight and gets back on her feet, turning on her heel as Valentina swings the blade at her. I scream when Karina catches the blade with her bare hand and punches Valentina in the throat, making her drop the sword and stumble back a few paces.

It’s enough to infuriate Valentina, her chocolate brown eyes now glowing turquoise. Her breaths come in short spurts ands she growls viciously at Karina before launching herself forward and shifting in mid air. She pounces on Karina, sinking her teeth into her shoulder and she screams bloody murder. Her hands frantically search and find the hilt of her blade.

“Look out!” I cry to Valentina but its too late.

Karina drives the sword through Valentina’s ribcage, a small gasp escaping her lips and her eyes stilling. Valentina’s gaze travels along Karina’s arm to the blade now piercing her body.

“No!” I scream. “Oh Goddess no!”

Valentina’s body slumps off to the side, her breath coming in ragged and sharp. Karina crawls out from under her body and leans into her ear.

“Tell Emiliano I miss him,” she whispers before looking up at me.

I try to get up on my feet but in my panic, only manage to keep slipping and falling on my a*s. Karina pulls the sword from Valentina’s body, dragging the bloody blade across the earth,

“Now, now, Rosita, calm down. Be a good girl and I won’t hurt you,” Karina coos, her face softening as she approaches me.

I shake my head as I whimper. “Please don’t hurt me.”

“It’s okay,” Karina soothes, getting on her knees and stroking my hair. “You’re just going to go to sleep for me,” she adds, pulling out a small syringe.

I cry, pushing at her arms but its pointless. I feel the needle prick my skin and my visions starts to blur.

“You’re going to be just fine,” she hums quietly. “Just go to sleep. It’ll all be over soon.”