The Secrets of the Panther

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All we could do was watch as my mate screamed in pain.

I went to go near her, but her skin was burning up; it was as if I stuck my hand in a fire or something.

Suddenly, Izzy bends over but slowly sits up.

I look around at everyone; there are many worried and frightened faces in this room besides me, but when I look back at my mate again, her eyes fly open. We are not met with her colored eyes or even Puna’s, but they are completely back.

Izzy is completely quiet but looks at all of us and smirks. “I knew this would work,” says a voice that doesn’t sound like my mate.

She cocks her head to one side and turns to look at me. “Mate, I presume,” she says in a mocking tone.

“Where are Izzy and Puna?” I growl; I can feel Axel come to the surface; he wants whatever is inside Izzy out.

“What the hell are you?” Growls my father, who has come to my side. I can feel other members watch on but all the men and others nearby.

Izzy moves her head to look at us all individually.

“TELL US,” I roar. “NOW.”

Izzy smirks. “Keep your pants on, mate of panther; I’m not as evil as you might think. I am here to help you,” she says and cocks her head to the side. I am friends with Izzy and Puna; they just fingered out who we are and are happy for my help in explaining some things to you all. Izzy sent that witch to hell, but I noticed Helga latched her emotions to Izzy to help her figure stuff out. Everything in her emotions will help her, but,” she says, “She needs to be prepared, as there is a force to be reckoned with, especially when dark magic is concerned.”

“You telling us that Izzy will have to use dark magic,” says Lena, who moves from behind Dale.

Dale places his hands around her waist to hold her back, but she shakes her head at him.

“I know who you are, and I am honored to meet you,” she says, turning to look at us all. “This is Hecate.”

I look back at her. “You mean the goddess of magic,” I say, but glare at the person who has taken over my mate’s body. Whether or not she is a god, she needs to leave.

“HOW?” I say, “WHY?”

Hecate laughs. “Mate of the panther is stunned,” she says; once she stops laughing, she turns to me and smiles. “Izzy is one powerful panther, even more powerful than her ancestor,” she says. “Let’s say I can help right now; she needs to know what is happening and how to defeat what is coming. There has always been another witch in play, but the elder and that pathetic young vampire thought they were in charge, but they were just pawns in their games; they are ancient ones who killed Izzy’s ancestors, mate.”

She looks at me. “You need to remember, Panthers only have one mate in their lifetime,” she says, turning her attention to Graham and hisses at him. “And you hurt a good woman, but she forgives you, as you understood nothing like normal wolves. You just thought with your dick than you actual head.”

Graham growls, but Kacey holds him back. “You know he was spelled; why would you bring it up?” She says.

Hecate looks at Kacey. “Ah, the sister,” she says and cocks her head to her. “I’m glad you came out. It is so nice to see you be the true you,” she says. “I had to tell him, as I know Izzy won’t tell him, as she is trying to repair her old wounds and what Helga did to her family. I can make that witch suffer for her crimes.”

Hecate looks back at Lena. “You, my dear, need to prepare to help Izzy,” she says.

She looks at me. “You young mate, protect that little angel, and as for your mate,” she says, “Let her do whatever she needs to do to save everyone; I promise you, your moon goddess will protect her, and she will come back to you.”

Hecate smirks. “I need to leave now,” she says, closing Izzy’s eyes.

Izzy kneels on her heels, but suddenly a loud, piercing scream comes through Izzy’s mouth, and with that, she falls back.

I use my werewolf speed and catch her before she lands on the floor. My mate lies in my arms, passed out.

I look back at everyone. “We need to prepare now,” I say. I look at Todd and Kat. “Both of you train as many warriors as you can. Show them the technique of how to kill the vampires.” They nod, but Kat’s eyes are on Izzy. “How the hell did that witch goddess do that?” she says, looking at Lena.

Lena sighs. “I think it has to do with the dark magic that latched onto Izzy,” she says.

She walks over to me and looks down at Izzy. “I think we all need to be prepared. Once Izzy wakes, she will tell us what is needed to be, and hopefully, she can tell us about this other witch.”

I can hear a growl from the side; I look up to see my father. “We have no clue what we are dealing with, and we need to know, judging by what that witch goddess said, the war will be on us sooner than we thought.”

I nod. “We need to get everyone prepared.”

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. Paul opened the door, and three guards came running in with the woman from the nursery with Allie in her arms.

I look up and go white. “What happened?” I growl.

“Someone came onto the parklands and wanted Allie,” she says, out of breath.

She looks at Izzy with concern and then looks back at me. “I remember no one should take her unless you tell me. Two guards came running onto the territory to help, but the person ran away,” she says.

“Who was the person?” Snarls my father.

I hold Izzy tight as Lena takes Allie from the nursery lady; Allie is sobbing.

I growl. “TELL US” I shout.

The woman looks like she wants to cry, but one guard speaks next. “It was a man,” he says. “It was that, elder.”

I growl loud. “He still has a way to get on here.”

“How the hell did he get in here undetected?” I say through gritted teeth, but suddenly my father’s phone rings.

He looks at the screen. “It’s Tilly,” he says as he presses the button and puts her on the loudspeaker.

“Alpha Derek,” she says, “The council has been attacked. I got free; there were loads of vampires. They were going through the whole council, but no elder.”

“No, he is still here; he tried to take Allie,” he says through gritted teeth.

“He wanted the young one,” she says. “They will be after her and Izzy; I will be with you soon. Make sure everyone is safe; we are going to need allies, and I bet the elder has sent Drake to get more wolves.”

I stare at my father, but he sighs, and his hand slides down his face. “Tilly, come here. Bring any survivors with you. We need all the help we can get. There is a war, and we are in the center.”

“Okay, I will see you in three hours,” she says and hangs up the phone. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

My father looks at me. “We need to keep Allie and Izzy safe; place Allie with your mother and Anita in the bunker now.”

“I want mummy,” says a little voice in a sniffling mess.

I look up, and Allie is out of Lena’s arms; she walks over to Izzy and me. She kneels with me and places her hand on Izzy’s. She moves it to Izzy’s chest, and Allie looks at me with tears. “Mummy,” she says.

I place my hand on her cheek, and she leans in; her other little hand goes to mine. She holds it there for a second but moves it to her other hand, over Izzy’s and her hand.

She looks at me. “We are family,” she says.

Something flows through me; I see some glowing coming from all three of our hands.

I look at Allie, and her eyes are closed.

Lena gasps behind her. I look up at her. She looks at me. “Her panther, she is awake; she wants her mother,” she says. “She believes you are her father; she is using your strength to help Izzy return to us.”

I’m shocked.

After a few seconds, Allie opens her eyes as some tears escape her little eyes, and she smiles at me but looks at her mother.

I look down towards my mate, who is now stirring in my arms.

Izzy moves slightly, but her eyes fly open, and she bolts upright but moves too quickly. “AHH,” she says as she places her hand on her head, but she looks at Allie, slightly confused. “What?” She says, but she looks at me. “What happened?”

I look back at her. I can’t help but move my hand and pull her closer to me; I place my lips on hers.

I needed to kiss her.

I move back; she looks back at me, stunned. “What was that for?” She says and looks around. Izzy blushes, realizing that everyone is watching us.

“Izzy, you okay?” Asks Lena.

She nods.

“I don’t know....” she says but stops.

“Hecate,” she says in a whisper.

Lena nods.

Izzy places her hand in mine.

“I know what I have to do,” she says and looks at me. “We have six days till they come to attack our pack.”