Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 912

Chapter 118: Battle for the Stone Circle

*Jared*

As bodies dropped around her, Hestia stood taller and stronger. She sneered, taking a step toward me. I noticed how her legs still trembled as she walked.

Even with all the new energy she'd sucked out, she was weaker than I thought, too weak to be a real threat.

“Argh!"

I leaped at Hestia, tackling her at the waist and knocking her down.

“Get off of me!" she groaned, rolling back and forth.

“I'm not going to let you hurt anyone else."

Hestia thrust her arms into my chest. Her magic knocked me back.

I landed hard on my back against the stone, sharp pain shooting through my back and my spine. For a moment, I lay perfectly still, trying to let the pain subside.

Hestia's body might have been weak, but she still had some magic. Was that what she was sucking energy up for, to do magic?

I sat up, glaring at her.

Hestia was partially hunched over. She looked pale and wrinkled again. One spell had taken a lot out of her. I could work that to my advantage.

“You forgot that I still have my magic," she hissed, smirking cruelly and standing up straight.

I could tell that she was trying to make herself look stronger and tougher than she was. “I didn't forget. But casting magic takes its toll on you."

Hestia sniffed. “It won't take much for me to defeat you."

Her eyes brightened and she held her arms out to me as she approached.

I glanced around quickly, looking for a way out. If I could run, maybe I could draw her fire and weaken her enough to overpower her.

“Uh-uh, you're not going anywhere!"

Hestia snapped her fingers and I felt the air close in around me, tightly. It kept getting tighter and tighter like a boa constrictor squeezing me.

I gasped, my lungs trembling as I wheezed, trying to breathe in. I tried twisting back and forth and crawling backward. I was stuck to the spot like glue.

“You won't get anything else from me! I'm not helping you," I hissed, my lungs heaving slightly.

“I'm a very patient woman," Hestia drawled. She hobbled toward me, clearly almost out of energy. “Even if you won't help me, there is another of your bloodline that might."

“The Alpha King won't help you. He's too smart for that."

Hestia threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, my dear boy, I'm not talking about your brother. How narrow minded of you. Isn't your young mate carrying your child?"

I felt the blood drain from my face and I growled, struggling against Hestia's binding spell.

She hobbled over to me. I didn't want to underestimate her again. Even with how weak she looked and how badly she moved, I was willing to bet she had enough magic to knock me on my ass again.

“One day, your child will be born, and I will be there to influence them. They'll have questions about their father… who died before they were ever born. I will happily answer those questions in exchange for your child's help in finishing my ritual."

“No!"

“Why do you think I was so willing to let you keep Eliza safe? That baby she carries is useful to me."

“If you do anything to–"

“How are you going to stop me? You're bound in place and, like a true fool, you came here on your own. I have all the advantages here."

Hestia reached out and grabbed my arm. Instantly, her dark energy seeped into me.

I felt weak, my energy draining quickly. Twisting, I tried to pull away from her, but her spell was too strong. It held me in place. My mind was starting to go numb.

“Jared!"

My heart soared.

“Eliza!" I called back, my mind clearing. Hearing her voice brought me back to my senses and I resisted Hestia's magic.

I completely forgot that she wasn't supposed to be at the Stone Circle. Knowing she was there for me, and didn't totally hate me, was enough.

“Get your hands off him!" Eliza growled.

She ran into the Stone Circle, a beautiful blur streaking by as I caught a glimpse of her from my peripheral vision.

By the time she reached Hestia, she was in wolf form, teeth bared and snarling as she pounced at Hestia, claws out.

Hestia sniffed and flicked her wrist.

Eliza's wolf flung to the side, hitting one of the large stones.

“ELIZA!"

Her wolf struggled to get up, whimpering.

“NO!"

Hestia laughed; her eyes wild with pleasure.

I clenched my fists! “I'm going to f*****g kill you!"

My wolf howled in my head, his anger blending with mine and completely taking over.

***

*Eliza*

“We're almost there," Archer informed me.

“Good, we should pick up the pace." I nodded.

“Eliza… we shouldn't push it. Not with the condition you're in."

I crossed my arm. “What condition? I'm perfectly fine."

Archer cleared his throat. “You're pregnant. Jared told me. You shouldn't push yourself like this."

“Archer, I appreciate your concern but right now, rescuing Jared is the only priority. Hestia needs Jared for her ritual and if we rescue him, it will stop her from killing a lot more people!"

“I understand what is at stake. But protecting you and Jared's baby are both high priorities of mine, too."

We got to the stone circle and Archer stopped me from going further, grabbing my arm.

“We need to assess the situation," he said.

I sighed and nodded.

Archer motioned to his men to stay in the shadows and scout around the circle. I stuck close to Archer as we moved up to one of the stones. He wouldn't let me out of his sight.

Torch light flickered inside the circle. I could see some of Hestia's servants were lying on the ground.

It took me a moment to realize they were dead.

Jared was sitting in the center of the stone circle. He wasn't moving. Why wasn't he moving? What was wrong with him?

Hestia lifted her hand, hovering over Jared.

“Archer, we need to do something. Jared's not moving… something is wrong!"

“Hang on, Eliza. She still has her servants."

“Then get your men to take care of them. Hestia is about to hurt Jared!"

I didn't wait for Archer to confirm that he was going to do what I asked. I needed to stop Hestia from hurting Jared.

Without thinking, I raced into the stone circle.

“Jared!" I called to him, letting him know I was coming.

“Eliza!"

His voice was surprised but happy. I didn't pause to look at him. Tearing my clothes off, I ran at Hestia, shifting in midair, my wolf launching at her.

My wolf snarled, ready to rip this crazy woman to shreds. I was going to tear her limb from limb.

I'd seen her try to suck the life out of Jared.

Hestia turned to me, her eyes wild with anger and hatred.

“You dare attack me!?" She flicked her wrist.

An invisible hook grabbed me and pulled me to the side, ripping me right out of the air. I slammed into a big stone. My wolf tried to stand again, our legs trembling. We collapsed onto the ground.

My body was weak and aching. I could tell nothing was broken, though, and I wanted to get back up.

Hestia might have been sick and weak, but she had magical power that I couldn't contend with.

At least I'd gotten her to stop focusing on Jared.

“ROOOAAARRR!"

Jared's horrible roar shattered the night silence. I lifted my head and saw Jared break out of whatever spell had held him in place.

He shifted and attacked Hestia. Pouncing on her, he tackled her to the ground and they rolled around. Hestia beat her fists against him.

Jared yelped and whined every time her fists hit him like her punches had electric shocks in them. They probably did with her magic.

But Jared was furious. His wolf was running purely on anger and hatred. He snarled and scratched at her, leaving bloody streaks on her arms.

They rolled around on the ground. It was impossible to see who was winning. Fur and blood flew everywhere. He had enough strength to keep her at bay, but I didn't think he'd be able to defeat her.

She'd been surprised when he broke out of the spell but once she regained her strength, she might have gotten the upper hand.

I had to help Jared.

My wolf shook off and stood up. We ran right at Jared, tackling Hestia along with him.

She cried out as I joined the fight. Shoulder to shoulder, Jared and I rushed at Hestia.

His wolf and my wolf were in silent agreement that Hestia would never leave this Stone Circle....

“Awooo!"

Howls filled the circle as Archer and Jared's men ran in, attacking Hestia's servants and subduing the ones that were still alive.

Hestia glared at us. “You fools! You're killing us all!"

In unison, Jared and I jumped at Hestia, ready to take her down. Hestia snarled, flicking her wrist at Jared.

He was thrown back, but the blow wasn't nearly as strong as the one she hit me with. She was getting weaker. We'd be able to defeat her for sure.

I paused to check on Jared. He sprang up and shook himself off.

Hestia cackled and ran into the darkness.

Jared's wolf growled and took off after her without missing a beat. I lunged into the darkness after him.

My side twinged and I slowed down. A sharp pang shot through my side and stomach.

The baby....

Nervous, my wolf broke off the pursuit. We headed back to the Stone Circle and I shifted, gathering up my clothes and putting them on quickly.

Archer and some of Jared's men had gone after Jared and Hestia. If she was fleeing, then she knew her time was almost up.

I rubbed my belly, trying to ease the pain in my stomach. Archer was right. I should have been taking it easy. I'd pushed myself too hard to come after Jared and I'd endangered my baby in the process.

What was I thinking, attacking Hestia? She'd tossed me aside like I was nothing, and I'd hit that rock.

I glanced around the Stone Circle and saw an old decrepit skeleton, partially reassembled at the center of the circle.

What had Hestia been up to?

I went to the bones and poked them with the toe of my shoe. They were very, very old. I could tell from the coloration and bone density.

The pain in my side started to subside. I sighed with relief, still rubbing the place I'd felt the most pain.

Rolling my shoulders back, I stretched a little and checked on the servants to see if Jared's men had left any alive.

Crouching down, I checked the pulse of one of the servants. As I stood up, a strong tearing sensation shot through my stomach and down my leg.

“Oh… OWW!"

I cried out, my eyes blurring with pain and tears. Groaning, I clutched my stomach and doubled over.

Someone's arms came around me. “There, there, I've got you."

Mila's familiar voice broke through the pain and a strange sense of peace settled over me.