Chapter 137 AURORA I hay children in my arms , and I couldnt even hold them .


    It almost caused me physical pain to step away from them , but there was no time .


    Trajan , get the children ! I called.


    My loyal second bounded immediately to obey .


    Then I threw my arms around Danes neck , blocking him from Waylon Reed with my body .


    You cant kill him ! This isnt what the ritual calls for ! Aurora .


    Dances voice was soft in my car .


    He leaned his forehead against mine .


    There was so much contained in just the sound of my name , I couldnt bear it .


    We dont have to do this , I insisted .


    Danes arms were pinned behind his back , and he was being held down by half a dozen wolves .


    Others grabbed me from behind , trying to rip me away from him .


    I fought tooth and nail , as fierce as I could be with no wolf of my own .


    Leave me ! I wont let you hurt him ! Aurora , please , Dane whispered .


    He promised that you and Chapter 137 the kids wouldnte to harm as long as he lives .


    Youll be safe .


    You need to help Piper guide Blue Ridge .


    No ! 2/5 I fought , but the wolf trying to pry me off Dane was too strong .


    Held me , kicking and shouting , and set me roughly on my feet in front of Waylon and Esther .


    I reached into therge pocket on my dress and pulled out the book .


    Theres nothing in here that says his blood has to be spilled .


    Thats because we made sure to take that part out , Esther said .


    Her words sent a shard of ice through my chest .


    I dropped the book .


    What ? She smiled .


    You were soft as a young girl .


    We couldnt trust you to agree to perform a ritual that involved a blood sacrifice , could We ? But … no .


    This book is ancient .


    You cant read it .


    We cant , Esther said .


    But your mother could .


    It didnt take much to persuade her .


    I couldnt breathe .


    It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest .


    I flipped through the book , examining the pages like Id done before .


    Pages had been torn from it that was why wed had to go Chapter 137 3/5 looking in the old Broken Forest pack house , after all .


    I assumed Id studied the ce where they were torn out closely enough .


    But now as I flipped the book open and peered closer in the light .


    of the torches Id lit ; I thought I could make out the faintest traces of one more missing page not torn but cut with a de deep the binding so it was almost impossible to see another page was missing .


    Feel the magic , child , Esther said .


    You know its right .


    Almost against my will , my awareness opened to that choking , smoky magic .


    I could feel it now , like a burning in my throat .


    She was right .


    This power thirsted .


    When Connall Montague betrayed us and decided he could run a pack better than me , he stole an item of power from us .


    An ancient tablet .


    He broke it and absorbed the magic into his blood .


    He thought it would make him stronger and it did .


    Waylonughed without humor .


    He stepped forward and grabbed Dane by the hair , tilting his head back to expose his neck .


    But the tablets magic was meant for him .


    It was the key to unbinding him .


    Thats why Montague was one of the goddesss chosen .


    Thats why hes so strong .


    Because of something his grandfather stole .


    And now its time for him to give it back .


    I squirmed and wed in the grasp of the wolf that held me .


    My Chapter 137 eyes were blurring .


    This whole time , I thought we were doing something good .


    But Id just been ying into the Reeds hands .


    I had been leading him to his death .


    Im sorry , Dane .


    I didnt know ! 4/5 His eyes caught mine .


    My grandfather said there would be a sacrifice .


    If it means you and the twins will live , Ill make it .


    His voice was strained from the way Waylon had his head tilted back .


    Inside , it was like my whole soul screamed .


    Wede this far .


    Wed done everything that had been asked of us .


    We had so much .


    How could we have gotten all this way , only to find out that Dane had to die ? A horrible thought crossed my mind .


    Did my grandmother know ? Augusta DeVere was an incredibly smart old woman with a massive magical library at her disposal .


    She knew about the relic when almost no one else did , forgotten as it had been in the fog of history .


    Had she always known Dane would die ? Was that why she had pushed me toward Holden ? Waylon pressed the tip of the silver knife to Danes throat .


    It was wickedly sharp .


    A bead of blood welled at the tip of his knife .


    Chapter 137 5/5 I sensed the moment the edge of the new moon moved above the trees .


    It didnt cast light , but its power fell on the intricate circle I had drawn with the symbol banded stone at its center .


    It wouldnt be long , now .


    Wait ! I cried .


    Please , Waylon .


    We have a little time .


    If you ever cared for me , let me say goodbye .