Chapter 6

• INDIGO'S POV
• “W-wait! We can all talk this out, can’t we?” I stammered, taking a shaky step back. My voice sounded pitiful even to my own ears.
• “Talk about what, exactly?” Lyriq growled, his glare piercing through making it impossible to meet his gaze for long.I felt a shudder down my spine.
• My mind raced for something—anything—to de-escalate the situation. If I didn’t act fast, this would end badly for everyone involved. Especially me!
• “Do you even realize what Valtor was about to do to you?” Lyriq hissed, his voice low but sharp. His words hit me like a slap.
• I couldn’t deny it. If they hadn’t showed up last minute, there was no telling how far things might have gone. A chill ran through me at the thought.
• It was at that moment I was reminded that I neither knew Valtor or Lyriq well enough to be sure that whatever mate bond could guarantee my safety.
• “Perhaps you misunderstood me, Lyriq,” Valtor interjected, his tone smooth but carrying a strong undertone. “Under no circumstances would I harm Miss Larkspur.”
• “Is that so?” Lyriq sneered, inching closer to Valtor. His every movement radiating hostility. “Then what, exactly, were you planning to do?”
• Their sharp words were daggers cutting through the silence.
• I froze, unable to move or breathe. Fear clawed at my chest, gripping me in place. My knees felt weak, and my hands trembled. I couldn't tell who was on my side and if I ended up being alone in all this I still couldn't use my powers properly.
• “Stop claiming her as yours, Valtor,” Lyriq growled. His eyes darkened, and his body shifted. His wolf form came to life, raw and primal.
• Valtor only smirked, stepping into his transformation with ease. His dark fur shimmered under the dim light, his eyes glowing with dangerous amusement.
• “You don’t care for her,” Valtor snarled back. “You don’t care for anyone. So why does her being my mate bother you so much? Feeling intimidated? Or is it that you can’t stand the idea of losing to me?”
• “Like hell!” Lyriq roared before lunging at Valtor.
• The impact was thunderous as the two wolves clashed.
• My heart leapt into my throat, and I stumbled backward. The sounds of growls, snarls, and claws scraping against the floor filled the room.
• Suddenly, a firm grip yanked my wrist.
• “No! Don’t touch me!” I screamed, my voice shrill and desperate. “Leave me alone—all of you!”
• All I wanted was to get away from here and never come back. Or at least an opportunity to think things through
• “Indigo!” Gage’s voice broke through the chaos like a lifeline. His tone was sharp, cutting through my panic. “This is not the time to start panicking, we have to get out of here. Now.”
• I turned to see his silver eyes, calm yet urgent. His hand loosened on my wrist, and instead, he intertwined his fingers with mine.
• “Trust me, please.” He whispered, his voice steady and grounding.
• I hesitated, but his words eased something in me. Slowly, I nodded.
• Behind us, the fight raged on. Lyriq hurled Valtor across the room, but Valtor recovered instantly, his massive form barreling forward. Their snarls drowned out the sound of my pounding heart.
• “Through the window,” Gage said, motioning toward the room’s only escape.
• “What?” I asked, my voice trembling. This was a three story building and we were on the second floor. “Are you insane? That’s a two-story drop! We can't-”
• Before I could even finish, Gage had already thrown himself out of the window and landed perfectly below like it was nothing.
• He looked up and called, “What are you waiting for? Jump!”
• I glanced back at Lyriq and Valtor, their battle so fierce they barely noticed me anymore.
• I still couldn't believe this was just my first day of school. I lifted myself up against the window slab looking below at where Gage waved his arms ready to catch me at any moment.
• “Indigo!” Lyriq’s voice boomed as he finally noticed me perched by the window.
• Panic surged. Without thinking, I dived forward, the rush of air stealing my breath.
• For a fleeting moment, my life flashed before my eyes—the rejection from Kymir, the betrayal of my family, my father’s scornful words echoing in my mind. Every painful memory resurfaced, a stark reminder of the life I desperately wanted to escape. I didn't have a single happy moment in my life.
• Then I felt it. Strong arms catching me, steady and secure.
• Gage held me as if I weighed nothing.
• “Not too bad, huh?” he teased, a boyish grin spreading across his face.
• Despite myself, I let out a laugh—raw and shaky, but real.
• When I looked up, I saw Lyriq and Valtor both staring through the window, their faces twisted with frustration and rage.
• “You’re in so much trouble, Miss Larkspur!” Valtor barked, his voice booming. I guessed we were back to ‘Miss Larkspur ‘.
• “Yeah, we better go,” Gage said with a chuckle, setting me on my feet. He grabbed my hand again, and we darted into the forest.
• The further we ran, the lighter I felt. The suffocating tension began to lift, replaced by the cool, fresh air of the woods.
• “You don’t have to worry about them,” Gage said, sensing my unease.
• “Why? Because of the mate bond?” I asked, my voice laced with doubt.
• He hesitated, his expression unreadable. “Not just the bond. They have responsibilities, positions to uphold. They wouldn’t hurt you.”
• I narrowed my eyes, catching a flicker of something in his voice. He was holding back.
• “Is that all?” I pressed.
• Gage opened his mouth, then stopped abruptly. He raised a hand, signaling me to stay quiet.
• “We’re here,” he whispered, his tone cautious.
• I looked around at the dense forest, shadows twisting between the trees. “Where is ‘here’?”
• “The elder I told you about. He’s… eccentric.”
• “Eccentric?” I repeated, trying not to laugh.
• “He’s also a necromancer,” Gage added with a smirk. “And he really doesn’t like people.”
• I raised an eyebrow. “Does that include you?”
• “Obviously not,” he shot back, rolling his eyes.
• A voice cut through the stillness, sharp and commanding.
• “Who goes there?”
• Both of us froze, our heads snapping toward the voice.