“Heidi!” Tye called to her before she could run off. “Everyone needs to be there.”

I didn’t like the look Tye shot her and neither did she. She nodded slowly before opening the large metal gates. I stomped the accelerator, passing a group of young weres playing football in a large open field. A howl from a wolf sent them, and another band headed for the library, racing toward the main building.

The truck thundered down the road as weres emerged from the châteaus that served as dormitories and classrooms. Martin and Makawee waited at the end, standing at the foot of the stacked stone porch, their expressions tight and distraught.

I skidded to a stop. Michael kicked the back doors open and leapt out before I cut the engine, clutching the giant bolt cutters against him.

Aric was waking up.

I raced toward the back of the truck and so did the Elders. Martin took in Aric’s state. “Celia, what’s happened? Why is Aric caged?”

Like a hound from hell, a deep menacing growl rattled from Aric’s throat.

“He’s cursed with moon sickness,” Tye said before I could answer.

Everyone stilled. “My God,” Martin whispered.

Aric struggled to his feet, falling more than once. His growls worsened each time he fought to stand. I veered to face Martin. “It’s okay. He’s going to be all right. Emme can help him. I know she can.”

Strong hands fastened around my arms. Koda, Liam, and Gemini had arrived, their faces ashen with shock. I hadn’t noticed them until Koda attempted to lead me away. I jerked out of his hold. He reached for me again. “Celia, get away from the truck.”

Aric rammed his body from side to side, rocking the giant vehicle. He was now completely awake and rabid with fury.

Gemini yanked me back. “Celia, you have to move now!”

I struggled against his strength. “No! We need to—”

Aric tipped the truck over. It slammed against the gravel, scattering the stones and coating the air with a large cloud of dust. He collided against the bars, bending the metal.

Gemini and Koda restrained each of my arms, keeping me in place as Makawee approached. Her wise eyes darkened as they met mine. “Child,” she said quietly. She stroked my hair away from my face. To my absolute horror, the faint howl of wolves erupted around me. She was using the power of the Pack against me.

Tye’s arms circled my waist and hauled me backward. “I’ve got her!”

“No. No. No!” I screamed as he dragged me inside the building, trying to change and shift—anything to break free. But like Anara, Makawee had robbed me of my abilities. I kicked and clawed. Tye wrestled to control my upper body while another wolf hugged my legs. Michael followed, except he did nothing to help. I couldn’t fault him. He stood as a lone vampire on were territory.

We reached the door in time for Aric to burst free.

Tye dragged me to a large study on the second floor where a grand piano sat in the corner and a large shelving unit took up an entire wall behind a mahogany desk. Michael shut the door to deaden the chaos and uproar outside. I still heard it, even through my struggles and swears.

Pain sharpened Gemini’s commands. “Herd him toward the back, but keep your distance.”

“Jason, you’re getting too close!” Liam’s tone was off, as if fighting back cries of anguish.

I started to hyperventilate and grew limp in my captors’ arms. They relaxed their hold.

And I attacked.

I head-butted Tye and slammed my right elbow into his stomach. The other were dropped with a single kick to the head. I scrambled under the piano and out the other side before Tye could grab me again. Michael stayed put by the door. He couldn’t help me any further, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to help Tye.

Tye and I circled around the piano. He clenched his jaw. “Celia, listen to me.”

The baby grand weighed about five hundred pounds. I grunted as I lifted it over my head and propelled it forward. Tye dove across the wood floor, thinking I meant to launch it at him. But it was meant for the window and that’s where it headed.

Glass shattered in a melodious shower. I leapt outside before he could stop me, landing hard atop a thick layer of slivers. I dug in my heels, kicked back the shards, and sprinted toward Aric’s snarls.

Tye bolted behind me, stopping short when the Elders halted my steps with their magic. Their power weighted down my muscles like hundreds of sandbags. I could barely move. Tye’s hand touched my face. “Celia, please. Come back with me, you don’t want to see this.”

He was right; I didn’t want to watch. But I did. The entire pack closed in as they surrounded Aric. He bared his fangs and scanned the crowd, seeking the weakest to kill first. Except among a throng of thickly muscled weres trained to fight, trained to slaughter, no one looked weak.

I turned desperately toward Martin. “Please don’t do this. You raised him as your own—like a son. My sister can help him. I know she can!”

Martin shuddered. His head slumped and his entire body seemed on the verge of collapsing. The Alpha male I’d always known vanished, in his place stood a dispirited old man. “Makawee…give the order,” he said. Then, almost silently, he murmured, “Forgive me.”

Makawee held up her head. “Members of the Squaw Valley Pack, your honorable Leader, Aric Connor, suffers. As his loyal supporters it is your duty to send him to his final resting place.” Makawee’s voice remained soft, but the might of her command was unmistakable.

“No!” Animal-like screams tore from my throat. “No, no. You can’t do this!”

Aric growled. Thick white foam slid down his mouth, drenching the damaged muscles of his torso. His eyes twitched, and his head jerked as if convulsing. He was so sick, but the tension in his back legs demonstrated he stood mere moments from attacking.

No one moved despite Makawee’s order. Gemini, Koda, Liam, and the other weres exchanged apprehensive looks, torn between obeying their Elder and sparing the Leader they loved. And while they openly feared Aric, sorrow was the prominent emotion they collectively shared. It hunched their shoulders and smeared their expressions with grief. Heidi and some of the younger students openly wept.

Their trepidation gave me hope. I thought they were incapable of hurting him.

I thought wrong.

One by one, they changed into their formidable beast forms and stalked closer toward Aric. “No! Please don’t do this, it’s still Aric!” I sobbed.