The Alpha’s Bullied Mate (Bluebell Valley Wolves #1)

Chapter 35 - Hayden

It was Hayden’s face, but there was no trace of Hayden in his eyes. He cocked his head, a slow smirk starting to worm its way over his face.

“Get out of your mate?” he repeated. “Think you figured something out, did you?”

Mica was keenly aware of everything around her, from the feeling of the hairs on the back of her neck to the vivid sunlight threatening to blind her. She held her ground, clutching the rope in her hands. The dampness made the twisted fibers even rougher against her fingertips. Her breathing was rapid as she glared at the archdemon.

“I know what you are. Now get out of Hayden, or you’ll regret it,” she warned.

The demon threw back his head and started laughing. “You’re funny. And stupid. Very, very stupid not to leave when you had the chance. But no matter—I’m going to enjoy this.”

He grinned, his fangs starting to lengthen. Mica’s legs shook with the urge to run, but she stayed where she was. He needed to get closer. Just a little bit. The demon took wolf form, Hayden’s glorious black coat gleaming in the sunlight. He snicked and sidled toward her, clearing in no rush.

“If you think I’m going to run, you can think again,” Mica said. Her fear started to leak into her voice. “And just how are you going to explain away killing me, huh? Everyone will know that you’ve possessed Hayden. You’ve lost. Just admit it!”

Foolish, foolish girl, a voice echoed in his head. You think I still need this pack. You are very much mistaken. Now, be a good girl and run. It’s so much more entertaining.

Mica took a deep breath. She flinched back, as though about to run. The wolf charged, and she threw out her hands. The rope sped away and looped itself over his neck. He went rigid, stumbling to the side. Surprised, yelp escaped him as his feet got twisted up in the ropes.

“I would have been here sooner,” Mica seethed at him. “But I had things to get ready. That rope has been soaked in salt water.”

The demon growled. He started to bite and chew at the rope; it wasn’t going to hold him long. With a shout, she rushed back into the house and grabbed the pail of salt she’d brought. Elin, Tess, and Echo were already racing around the edges of the house with their buckets. The four women made quick work, circling the demon with salt.

He snarled again and shifted back to human form. It was only then, seeing him fully dressed, that something clicked in Mica’s head. She’d never seen Finn have to change clothes after a shift…

She shoved that aside as she ran back to grab the rest of their supplies. They had limited time for this—an archdemon wasn’t going to be so easy to rip from Hayden’s body. She only hoped it would work and that the ritual wasn’t limited to aura-demons.

“This is amusing,” the demon said, but he didn’t sound amused now. His muscles bunched, and his eyes didn’t move from Mica. “But you have to know that this won’t hold me. And what are you planning, putting me in that?”

He gestured to the plain, stainless steel bottle that Tess put down. He rolled his eyes, and the doubt that lingered in Mica’s heart grew larger. What if this really was a stupid plan? What if they were just using up their advantage by revealing that they knew Hayden was possessed.

She ground her teeth as she placed the candles. That was exactly what the demon wanted, for them to doubt themselves! She wasn’t going to give up on Hayden.

“This won’t hold me,” the demon said, brushing his toes against the salt.

When Echo was possessed, she couldn’t touch the salt at all. Mica placed the last of the candles and nodded toward Elin. The demon turned to watch her, but Mica forced out a laugh. It was high-pitched and obviously fake but enough to draw the demon’s attention.

“It is holding you,” she taunted. Her eyes were wide as she stared him down. “Maybe not for long, but it will hold you for long enough. I’m going to have my mate back. You can’t have him. He’s too good and kind.”

“Good and kind? Are you still laboring under the delusion that he cares for you?” the demon mocked. “The words he said to you weren’t mine. They were his. You’re nothing but a fuck toy and incubator to him.”

Mica squared her shoulders. “You seem to be laboring under the delusion that I’m not smart enough to see through that bullshit. But thank you for talking—now we have what we need. Elin!”

Elin, in her wolf form, leaped from inside the pit back to its edge. She had placed the bottle on top of the stele while the demon was distracted. His face twisted in fury, and he howled as he beat his fists against the air. They seemed to hit an invisible barrier, but salt sprayed forward.

The candles were lit. The four women joined hands, creating a second circle around the demon. They all started to chant the words of the ritual in unison, clutching at each other’s hands.

The demon spun in a circle and it seemed as though he snorted literal fire. “You think you can stop me? How long do you think that puny little thing will last?”

Mica ignored him, continuing the ritual. She kicked off her oversized boots and stamped her feet as the other women did the same. The bells strapped to their feet chimed. The wind kicked up, whipping around them all.

“I will kill him rather than let you have him again,” the demon howled. “I’ll kill you and your whelp!”

The threats needled Mica’s heart, but she persisted, not letting herself falter. Some part of her deep inside knew if she faltered, all would be lost. The ritual needed all four of them if it was going to work against an archdemon.

“I won’t let you,” the demon howled again.

A bloody haze seeped from every pore of Hayden’s skin. He fell to his knees, screaming in pain as the demon was slowly ripped from his body. Patches of skin tore off as red, smoky hands clutched at him, trying to pull their way back in. A tornado of red formed in the circle of salt. Rocks shot out, striking the four women as they completed their chanting.

Hayden was jerked backward. Something burst from his chest, like a ripe tomato exploding. He was flung out of the circle, knocking into Mica. She fell, her hands yanked from the others. Hayden lay limp above her as a roaring, screaming static burst from the red tornado.

Then it was siphoned away. It funneled into the stainless steel bottle. Tess jumped into the pit and slammed the lid on it. Silence fell, so deafening that Mica could hear the blood rushing in her ears. Echo and Elin had been thrown free of the circle at some point. They stirred, groaning with pain.

Mica’s body ached. Her hands clutched Hayden’s back, but she was trapped beneath him. Tess clawed out of the pit and staggered over. Between her and Elin, they rolled Hayden off Mica. She pushed herself unsteadily to her knees, cupping his face with her hands.

His eyes were open, but there was no sign of recognition in them. His mouth hung slack. Blood bubbled from his nose and mouth. More leaked from his eyes and ears. Mica’s heart jumped to her throat as she stared at him, unable to make herself check for a pulse. There was no life in his eyes.

“Hayden,” she breathed. “Hayden?”

“He’s breathing,” Echo said.

That didn’t mean he was still alive.

“Elin, run for help,” Echo ordered. “Tess, get some blankets from the house. He’s ice-cold.”

Mica bent over her mate. She pressed her lips to his gently, but couldn’t make herself move. Echo said something to her. It didn’t matter what it was.

“Come back,” Mica begged, her voice so low it was almost silent. “Come back, Hayden. I love you. You have to know I love you.”