My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 58

Jinora

Tears spill as I stroke a hand over Kade’s white fur. His eyes are closed, and his heavy head is in my lap. I keep waiting for him to start breathing again, but he doesn’t.

Kade isn’t moving, and his spirit is fading away. I wish I could do something for him, but there are certain things that not even love can fix.

My heart is breaking into pieces, and I choke on a sob. Oh, how I wish I had taken that last blow instead. Why did Kade take it for me? I would rather die than lose him…

In the background, Victoria is getting ready to attack, but time seems to be moving in slow motion. She raises a clawed hand, smirking before striking me, but she never makes it.

The b***d from Kade lights up, and a shield rises around me. Iridescent yet glittering with magic. It blocks Victoria’s attack, and she is sent backward with a powerful knock-back.

“W-what?!” Victoria is knocked into a nearby car, back first, and I stare at her as she sinks to the ground. She is down on her knees, and her glowing eyes appear furious when she opens them. “B***d magic to protect your loved one… Of course…”

Her words make a shiver race down my spine. I stare at Kade, who has now shifted into his human form. He isn’t moving, but a faint smile is on his lips as if he died happily.

It makes more tears gather in my eyes. “You idiot…” I dry my eyes with my sleeve, but there isn’t an end to my tears. “W-why would you offer yourself for me?”

“Because he loved you.”

I turn around, and relief washes over me when I see Avery standing behind me with soft eyes. He gives me a sympathetic smile, but it’s gone the instant he focuses on his mother.

“You really are a psychopath… it baffles me how the vampires can even follow such a mentally unstable leader. The only reason to follow you would be out of fear, not respect.”

Victoria smirks. “You wound me, son. My men respect me plenty. I’m their savior, the one who will ensure vampire reign.”

“Vampire reigns…” Avery snorts. “That won’t happen… and I’m sure the vampires can be happy without it. There are other solutions to ensure a good future for the vampires.”

“And what is that?” Victoria asks.

“Doesn’t matter since you won’t listen… you’re also way too crazy to be reasoned with,” Avery says and tilts his head. “So, are you ready to die, mother?”

Victoria laughs. “Die? You’re surrounded by vampires! There are also more of them in the city, and we are far stronger than your little werewolf army. We have magic, and your men don’t!”

Avery considers her words and then looks around. Vampires are hiding in every nook and cranny. To my surprise, he doesn’t look worried. Instead, he smirks at his mother.

“I’m not worried about that. In fact, this is a great opportunity to tell every vampire who I am.”

“Tell them what—” Victoria widens her eyes and hisses at him. “You wouldn’t dare!”

Avery ignores her and lets his eyes roam from one vampire to the other before he steps forward. “My name is Avery Hale. I’m the alpha of the Grimfang pack, but I’m not an ordinary werewolf. I’m a hybrid with vampiric and werewolf b***d coursing in my veins. Victoria, the vampire queen, is my mother. This means I’m of royal b***d. And that should mean I have the right to issue a challenge for the throne…”

“You can’t!” Victoria hisses. “Don’t listen to him!”

The vampires look at each other, and then one steps forward. It’s a man with long dark hair and a lean body. Like most vampires, he is too perfect to be human and smiles wickedly upon looking Avery up and down.

“You dare to challenge queen victoria? She has lived for centuries longer than you, and you might not win against her even if she is injured. Because if you wish to duel her, it’s only fair that you let our healer take care of her injuries.”

Avery’s expression darkens, but I don’t get the time to hear his answer. I’m distracted by a hand on my shoulder, and when I turn around, I’m faced with Lydia’s kind smile.

“Don’t worry,” she whispers. “Avery has a plan.”

I sob. “How can I not worry? Kade is dead!”

“Not for long,” Lydia whispers and gives me a reassuring look before she looks up at her mate. “Avery…”

Avery shares a look with Lydia, and then he smiles before speaking up in an authoritative tone again. “I will challenge my mother for the vampiric throne, and after I’ve murdered her, I want the heart of Chang’e… Actually, I demand it be brought here before the battle, just to ensure she hasn’t hidden it somewhere.”

My lips part, and then I glance at Lydia. “What do you want to do with the heart of Chang’e?”

“Try to use it.”

“For what?”

Lydia smiles. “It is said that the heart of Chang’e can grant wishes,” she glances down at Kade and whispers. “It might not be able to bring back people from the dead, and Avery might not win this battle… But don’t be frightened. We have a plan.”

I gawk at her. I’m beyond confused. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

She winks at me. “Just trust us.”

“The heart of Chang’e is right here,” the black-haired vampire opens his palms, and a bright light surrounds his hand. “I’m Victoria’s right hand and responsible for keeping it safe in our pocket dimension—”

Before anyone vampire can react, Avery snatches the heart of Chang’e and throws it at Lydia. “Catch!”

Lydia lifts her hand and catches the diamond-shaped gem. The vampires snarl in response, and Victoria hisses.

“Is that the kind of person you are, Avery?! The type who doesn’t fight fair and steals things like a thief!”

Avery laughs. “You’re one to speak, mother!”

Victoria snarls even louder and then lifts her hand. “Kill them!”

Avery grimaces. “Lydia… are you close to figuring out how to use that thing because we are in trouble…”

“Stall them,” Lydia replies while spinning the diamond around in her hand with searching eyes. “I’m still trying to figure out how to use it.”

“Stall them?!” Avery questions. “How?! We are surrounded, and I can’t possibly beat all of them!”

Lydia snorts. “Hush, you’re a man and not a baby! How about you shape-shift and try fighting those vampires instead of crying?”

“I’m not crying!”

“You are!” Lydia argues.

Avery hisses while tossing away vampires at lightning speed. He moves impressively fast while conversing with his mate. “Okay, so maybe I am?! But can you blame me?! We are all going to f*****g die!”

Lydia g****s in frustration. “We won’t die! Stop saying that! Your mother might be older and more powerful than you, but those are normal vampires! Get to work!”

Avery mutters countless swear words under his breath—something about Lydia being bossy, and I stare up at him when black smoke surrounds him. It makes the vampires pause on the battlefield.

Victoria growls. “Why are you freezing up?! Don’t let him shape-shift, damn it! Do you all have a death wish?!”

The vampires don’t listen to Victoria. They all stare as Avery rapidly shape-shifts into a giant black dragon. Skin is replaced by scales, and the ground quakes as he moves—smacking his wings and tail into the few vampires daring to lunge for us.

Fire erupts from the dragon’s mouth, and Lydia laughs; I think she is having a psychic conversation with Avery.

“You’re such a baby…” Lydia says and sighs. “Oh, and baby, would you mind shielding us with your wings or standing above us something? Put that huge body to use, will you?”

Avery rolls his eyes, and then he walks to stand above us. The sky turns into a black-scaled belly, and I shudder. Dragons are even more intimidating than lycans…

I tighten my hold on Kade and look at Lydia. “Anywhere close to figuring out how to use that thing?!”

“I have no clue how to use the heart of Chang’e, but I can feel it calling to me,” Lydia smiles at the bright crystal, cupping it in her hands before whispering, “It’s singing to me… oh, the heart of Chang’e. What is that you want? Please show me. I beg you.”

The gem glistens beautifully, and the last thing I hear before everything goes white is a kind voice saying, “I will only grant you one wish, little wolf.”