Mated To The Beastly Alpha
Chapter 44

Liam paced back and forth with his arms crossed behind his back, with the Pack stakeholders surrounding him. They were discussing the coming full moon and some strategies to figure out why the witch was after Liam. "It doesn't make sense," Garrett mused.

"There has to be something," Connor added, "the witch has to have some sort of goal. Her attacks, I noticed, are carefully crafted and direct. She plays mind games, and she understands Dark Moon's psychology too much." Liam threw his arms in the air. Nothing came to mind, nothing that could point to where his feud with the witch was coming from.

Suddenly, messengers burst into the council room, interrupting the meeting with urgent news. Lilian had been attacked and threatened by the witch in her pack.

Liam's eyes widened with alarm as he listened to the messenger's report. His wolf rose to the surface, ready to fight and protect his sister. He was about to dash out to rescue her when James tried to stop him. It took the combined effort of James and Garrett to hold him back.

"It's just like last time. An ambush." Garrett growled.

It took a while before they stabilized him enough to let go. Liam's mind was flooded with worry for his sister. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her. He had to act fast before the witch's power grew stronger.

He raged at the thought that the witch was attacking the ones he loved. First, it was Nicole, then Garrett, and now his sister.

Why didn't the witch come directly for him?

"Send out scouts and guards," Liam growled, "Bring her back," Liam raged.

As they discussed the situation, a messenger burst into the room with another urgent message.

"The witch is growing stronger," the messenger announced breathlessly. "She has attacked and killed innocent wolves in different packs. She's gaining more power by the day."

Liam clenched his fists in anger and frustration. His mind flashed to Nicole. He had to act fast, but he was also worried about Nicole's safety. He couldn't afford to lose her, not now that she was beginning to trust him and open up to him. "We need to come up with a plan," Liam said, his voice stern and commanding. "We can't let this witch continue to terrorize innocent wolves. We need to stop her, once and for all."

The council members nodded in agreement, and their faces grimmed with determination.

"How ready is the witch bane?" Someone asked.

"Don't you dare," Liam growled. He was at his wit's end and ready to fight. His wolf was very pissed and it feared harm to his sister.

"We need to gather more information about the witch's movements," Liam said, his eyes darting around the room. "We need to know her next move before she strikes again." "We can not let this continue. We must stop her," Garrett said, his voice low and determined.

The council members murmured in agreement, their faces serious.

"As the Alpha said, we need to gather more information, strategize, and act quickly," James said, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Liam nodded in agreement. "We will form a team to gather intelligence and plan a coordinated attack. I will lead the team myself."

The council members nodded in agreement.

"The scouts will be sent forth," James said. "Before any move is made, they will be sent forth."

It was not in Liam to be patient, but he nodded and dismissed them to carry out their tasks. As they left the room, Liam remained behind, deep in thought.

The next few days would be crucial, and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes. He had to protect his pack, his sister, and Nicole. No matter what the cost would be.

-

The atmosphere in Dark Moon slowly morphed into something tense. They could feel it, everyone could sense that the witch's power was growing stronger with each passing day, and Liam had to prepare his pack for the inevitable showdown. The training sessions became a lot more intense, with him drilling them on various combat techniques and even having them practice fighting while under the influence of the witches' spells.

Slowly and steadily, Nicole's wolf returned. It grew stronger, and soon, she began to display some unique abilities that even Liam was surprised to see. Her senses were sharper, allowing her to detect motions and waves of energy easily.

It amazed Liam. While watching her train, he battled with the need to claim her as his mate and make her his permanently, but he wasn't sure. He needed to be certain that his wolf wasn't acting as a result of the mark.

Plus, although Nicole had shown great physical prowess, he knew that she wasn't okay mentally. It seemed like she had a lot of healing to do.

It was why he was watching her as he tried to figure out what he could do for her. A small smile slipped on his face as he saw the progress she had made. His attention was drawn away as James approached him. "Alpha, the scouts have returned. Your sister is safe. She didn't suffer any harm," James announced.

Liam's eyes widened in relief. "Thank the Moon Goddess," he said, exhaling deeply.

He turned to James, "Where is she now?"

"She's resting in her quarters. She's shaken up but physically unharmed," James replied.

"Thank the moon goddess," Liam whispered, running a hand through his hair. He couldn't believe that he had sent her away for no reason.

He turned his attention back to the training session and watched as Nicole fought with increasing confidence and skill. He was proud of his progress and determination to improve.

As soon as James left, he stopped Nicole's session and took her for a walk.

He ignored her curious glances until they were far enough from everyone.

"What can I do to make you feel safe with me?" He asked suddenly.

Nicole blinked severally.

Liam ran his hands through his hair, allowing his frustration to be visible for the first time.

"I know you're recovering and still have a long way to go. But it irks me. I want to make things better. What can I do for you?" Liam said, not believing the words coming out of his mouth. Nicole stood frozen as she stared at him.

"What's wrong, Nicole?" Liam gritted out, trying to be gentle. "You can talk to me."

Nicole hesitated for a moment before answering. "I...I just need some space. I need to feel like I have some control over my life."

Liam's lips pressed together.

Nicole thought for a moment before continuing, "After the witch is defeated, I want to be given my freedom as a free woman. I want to be able to make my own choices and live my life the way I want to." Liam was taken aback by her request, but he knew that he couldn't deny her this one thing. "I accept your terms, Nicole. You will be given your freedom but with the option to stay. You will become a part of the pack." Nicole shook her head. "No. I need to be free. I can not be shackled to any pack. Not now, not until I've healed. I was a lone wolf before I became a slave. I need to be a lone wolf again before I become a member of any pack." Liam nodded gravely.

"If you say so," he agreed. "But you'll finally agree to therapy sessions. That's it. Attend therapy."

Nicole stared wide-eyed at him.

"You're free. You've been free since you walked into this pack. But you can only completely attain that freedom when you finalize your therapy sessions."

Nicole looked away. She wasn't ready to open up.

"You need to get over what happened and stop being afraid."

Nicole nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Liam. That means a lot to me."

Liam's heart fluttered. He wanted to hold her, but he held himself at bay. He didn't want to crowd her space. Not after the conversation they just had. So instead, he reached out and held her hands, then walked back to Darkmoon.

As Nicole spent more time with the pack, she continued to discover new abilities. According to Asha, who had spent most of her time researching Nicole's kinds, she was supposed to possess some semi-magical abilities.

One day, as they were walking in the forest, Asha asked her to concentrate on a nearby tree. "Just feel the tree," Asha said. "Can you feel any energy around it?"

Nicole concentrated and soon felt a strange energy around the tree. She didn't understand it. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. "What is this?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

"It's natural energy," Asha said with a smile. "You have the ability to sense and control it."

Nicole's eyes widened in amazement. She had never thought she could possess such abilities. With Asha's help, she begins to learn how to control and manipulate the natural energy around her.

She found out that she had enhanced senses, especially around energy or magic. She could feel it from far away that others couldn't and could pick up on scents that were barely perceptible to others.

Another time, while training, she discovered that she had the ability to create a shield around her. It was an instinctive reaction when her partner had thrown a punch at her. The shield had formed around her, blocking the punch. These things made her feel good. With time and practice, Nicole's abilities grew stronger. She learned how to create a force field and expand to those around her. It was like her senses had been heightened to a new level each day.

Nicole also discovered that she had an uncanny ability to sense danger. She could tell when something was off or when there was a threat nearby, even if she couldn't see or hear anything.

It was like a sixth sense that she had developed over time. It was similar to that of an Alpha and his pack members.

Despite all of these new abilities, Nicole never loses sight of her ultimate goal: to help Liam and his pack defeat the witch and protect their land. She knew that she still had a lot to learn and that there were challenges ahead, but she was determined to face them head-on.

Aside from discovering her newfound abilities, Nicole finally agrees to undergo therapy sessions with a pack counsellor. It was a challenging process for her, as she had to confront her past traumas and fears.

Her biggest challenge remained; holding back. She didn't know why she was unable to tell her past. She was unable to say what she had gone through under Shane. But with each session, she felt a little stronger and more in control of her thoughts and emotions. The pack counsellor taught her techniques to manage her anxiety and flashbacks, such as deep breathing exercises and grounding techniques. Nicole also learned to recognize the triggers that set off her panic attacks and how to avoid them or cope with them in a healthier way.

Nicole's abilities were becoming more and more vital to the pack's success, and she was starting to see herself as a valuable member of the team. With each passing day, she felt more confident in her abilities and more connected to her wolf.

The therapy sessions, combined with the training and the support of the pack, helped Nicole to overcome her past traumas and reclaim her power. She was no longer the scared and helpless girl who had been captured by the witch. She was a warrior, fighting for her pack and the future of all wolves.

As they continued to prepare for battle, Nicole's abilities grew stronger, and she became an even more integral part of the pack.

She had found a home with them, and she knew that she would fight to protect it no matter what. But most importantly, she knew that when she was done, she would leave for good.