Layla's eyes opened and they were no longer gray in colour. They were purple. Bright purple that glowed with power.
Her body suddenly became illuminated with purple light and she shot upwards, heading towards the roof. Her eyes were alight with purple fire and all the pain she had gone through turned into a ball of rage and she now glared at Cara.
Cara moved backwards in shock, eyes amazed and perplexed. A thousand thoughts ran through her head and it didn't make sense to her. Riven's mate wasn't human? Then what was she?
Layla stretched her arm towards Cara and the latter felt her body lift up. Cara screamed as her body was lifted. She felt a strong pressure holding her in place and she could do nothing to stop it. She watched with terrified eyes as Layla took absolute control of her body.
Layla felt the powers coursing through her and she tightened her fist, watching as Cara let out a painful scream. She jerked her arm backwards and Cara was hurled over the edge of the roof. Her screams echoed after her as she hit the ground and lay in a twisted angle, arms and legs looking broken.
Layla's body descended slowly to the ground until she felt her feet touch the earth. Her eyes dimmed out, reverting back to gray. The purple light around her body faded and she suddenly felt dizzy. Her weak legs buckled and she fell back towards the ground.
Her body never touched the ground. She opened her eyes and looked into a pair of bloodred eyes. The sparks dancing on her skin told her Riven was there with her.
"Riven...",she whispered.
"You're safe my love",Riven said softly as he cradled her body close. "You're safe".
Layla's eyes slowly closed and the darkness claimed her again.
...
The shifters that had accompanied Riven arrived at the mansion with Alpha Dave. The scene they met was one of chaos. Alpha Dave noticed his daughter sprawled on the ground, looking broken and battered. He made to rush towards her but he was held back brutally.
Riven didn't spare a glance at the man and he carefully lifted Layla and carried her into the mansion. His eyes never left her face as he ascended the stairs towards his room. Her body was totally limp in his arms and it worried him. The strange occurrence that occured confirmed his suspicion. After strangely appearing behind his mansion the previous day with Brandon, he knew it had to be Layla. He knew Layla wasn't just a human because she survived days in the ocean. And now that her her powers were revealed, it only meant one thing.
She was a Sorceress. And a very powerful one because she had the purple aura.
It didn't make sense though. The last of the sorcerers were annihilated centuries ago after they joined forces with the witches to try and overthrow the lycanthropes from ruling the realm. Only the witches escaped to the human world. Did one of the sorceress escape with them?
He looked down at Layla again. Just what was the mystery behind her? He knew nothing about her but he was sure he would get his answers when she was ready to tell him about her past. He would slowly unravel the mystery surrounding his mate.
He dropped her carefully on his large bed and walked out. His eyes were still blood red and until he unleashed his wrath and rage, he wouldn't gain control.
He arrived outside and met a large crowd of shifters. Alpha Dave had sent a panicked mind link to his pack members and in a matter of minutes, they arrived at Riven's mansion. They snarled at the shifters holding their Alpha but could do nothing about it. Zane and Alex were among the crowd, glaring at each other after unsuccessfully trying to subdue the other.
The crowd went deathly silent as Riven emerged. The aura surrounding him was choking and the atmosphere became thick with tension. His red eyes were filled with fury. His handsome face twisted with rage. His head snapped up and his eyes zeroed in on Alpha Dave. He didn't waste his breathe on irrelevant things and went straight to the point.
"You've been stripped off your Alpha title",he said coldly. "As of today, you will no longer be Alpha of Silver Moon Pack!"
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO STRIP ME OF MY TITLE RIVEN!",Alpha Dave burst out in a fit of anger. He trembled all over and struggled with the warriors holding him back.
"Take him to the dungeons",Riven continued in his cold emotionless voice, totally ignoring Alpha Dave's outburst. "I will give him a slow death".
Dave suddenly wrenched his arms free from the warriors that held him. He hunched his back and shifted into his lycan form, bones popping loudly as his human body reformed and took the shape of a beast. His transformation completed and he charged at Riven, roaring out in rage.
Riven watched him approach with a calm demeanour. He didn't bother to move aside or shift into his lycan. He merely watched as Dave lunged and stretched out his claws to strike him.
Suddenly two identical looking lycans slammed into his form, knocking him backwards. They were Cade and Caleb. They snarled at Dave, giving him a warning to back down. Dave struggled to his feet and roared at the lycans in front of him. He sped towards them, rage evident in his eyes.
Four other lycans joined Cade and Caleb and they attacked Dave mercilessly. They didn't give him the chance to fight back as they slashed at him with their claws and ripped his body to pieces.
Dave howled towards his pack members, asking for backup but none of them responded. He used the mind link and still, nothing was done. Not that they didn't want to help their Alpha. Their minds were restrained with Riven's deathly aura and they could do nothing but watch as their Alpha was attacked before their eyes.
Riven watched his warriors attack Dave with emotionless eyes. He didn't even flinch when Cade bit down on his throat and ripped it out. Blood spluttered and bathed the fur of the lycans as they dispersed. Dave automatically shifted back to his human form and he lay there lifeless, battered and broken. His pack members all looked down, seething with anger and unable to do anything. Cade and the other lycans shifted back and stood behind Riven.
"Let this serve as a warning",Riven's cold voice reached their ears. "Whoever commits treason against my reign will face death. And most importantly, whoever harms my mate will wish for death and never see it".
His red eyes slowly moved round the crowd of shifters. His eyes fogged as he mind linked his beta.
Suddenly two shifters moved through the crowd and seized Zane.
"Get your hands off of me...",Zane bellowed as he was dragged towards Riven. They kicked his legs and Zane fell on his knees before Riven and he cowered under the Supreme Alpha's deathly glare.
Without thinking twice, Riven gripped the shifter's head and ripped it off his shoulders. Blood poured out in great gouts and the headless body fell away. Riven tossed the head aside and looked round the crowd of Dave's pack members. Then his eyes rested on the broken body of Cara.
"Lock them all up in the dungeon. And burn that one's body",he said and pointed towards Cara.
A dozen of Riven's lycans instantly seized Dave's pack members and hurled them towards the dungeons while another six lifted Cara's broken body and took her into the forest to set on fire.
"Cade get me Henrietta and the Ancient Fae",Riven said as he turned and entered the mansion.
"Yes Alpha".
"And find the elf who aided Dave".
"Yes Alpha. Right away",Cade said and began to mind link the shifters in the area to bring the witch.
Riven arrived in his room where Layla was still asleep. He moved closer and pulled her unconscious form into his arms.
Layla sighed and a whisper escaped her.
"Riven..."