The Wolf Within Me
Chapter 30:

In the woods Embry setting the woods on fire

In Billie Jean’s head: But his scent is a wolf. As I see the flames rise and spread throughout the once peaceful woods. Flames concord from thin air, by a wolf shifter. My wolf bites me to come out. (Billie Jean Embry fighting)

In Kiani’s head: The fire surges around the manor. Forming a hellish fire circle. Smoke rises above the manor As the fire burns the night sky. (Rocco’s bedroom)

Rocco: “STAY HERE! FIRE OUTSIDE!”

River: “There’s a fire surrounding the manor!”

Kiani: “Oh, so it takes a fire for you to talk to me?”

River: “Are we done doing this now? Rocco and the pack are trying to put it out.”

Kiani: “Why hasn't the fire touched the manor?”

River: “I don't think it's a normal fire, Kiani. What is it?”

Kiani’s Wolf: “Kin in danger nearby…!”

River: “Kiani, what’s wrong?!”

Kiani: “My cousin, Billie! (Kiani runs off)”

River: “KIANI WAIT! DAMMIT! (River runs after her - in the woods)”

In Billie’s Jean’s head: Must be a Mystic Hunter! (in the garden at the manor)

Asher: “It’s not touching the manor! It’s a bloody circle. It’s a form of magic, Rocco!”

Rocco: “Definitely magic. This is a distraction.”

In Rocco’s head: Kiani! (in the woods)”

Embry: “You were not part of the plan.”

In Embry’s head: All I have to do is sizzle her throat.

Billie Jean: “What are you waiting for, coward?”

In Billie Jean’s head: I feel his power burn. The heat gets more intense as my breath quickens. As I waited with bated breath to be burned alive as I stared into his ember eyes. But the intense heat dies.

Billie Jean: “Why do I scent a wolf?”

In Embry’s head: Why the hell did I stop? (Kiani drags Embry into a tree)

River: “Are you okay?”

Billie Jean: “Yeah. It's not over.”

Fate: “Do I have to do everything, Embry? This has become more troublesome than anticipated. At least Kiani’s here.”

Kiani’s Wolf: “THREAT! (Bloodstone pack living room)”

Conan: “Something’s wrong with Billie Jean.”

Kylo: “I felt it too, through the pack link.”

Conan: “Then what are we waiting for? (Conan walks away - back in the woods)”

Fate: “It's a good thing I don't want you dead yet. But there are far too many rules for my liking. (Embry protect’s Billie Jean from Fate’s attack)”

Kiani: “RIVER!”

Fate: “Why did you block me? (Fate knocks out Kiani)”

Embry: “Take the girl in go, Fate. (Rocco throws Embry into a tree)”

Tao: “RIVER!”

Conan: “BILLIE!”

Billie Jean: “Dad! They took Kiani.”

Rocco: “My sister is barely alive. THEY’VE TAKEN MY MATE!”

Rocco’s Wolf: “WANT MATE NOW! KILL THE ONE WHO TOOK HER!”

Kylo: “WHERE’S KIANI?”

Rocco: “Tao, take River home, NOW! I WILL KILL YOU! YOU MYSTIC HUNTER WON’T NEED TO BEG FOR MERCY WHEN I FIND HER. NOTHING CAN SAVE HER FROM ME. DEATH IS HER SIGNED FATE!”

Kylo: “Why do I smell the scent of the wolf on you Mystic Hunter?”

Rocco: “He'll never talk. ANY LAST WORDS BEFORE I RIP YOUR HEART OUT?!”

Billie Jean: “WAIT!”

Conan: “Billie, what is it? He's no use to us alive but a threat. They would be highly trained not to say anything. Even through intense pain.”

Billie Jean: “He saved my life.”

Conan: “He did what?”

Rocco: “Why the hell would you do that?”

Embry: “You should kill me now while you still have the chance.”

Rocco: “Now I need you alive.”

In Rocco’s head: Maybe he'll talk.

Rocco: “IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY MATE, I’LL KILL YOU. SLOWLY! Even you wouldn't be able to stand the pain.”

Embry: “Only when the job is done will this end.”

Rocco: “Oh, it will end. With your blood.”

Rocco’s Mindlink: “Never be afraid, Kiani. I'm coming for you. (Hawthrone’s library)”

In Fate’s head: WHAT WAS EMBRY DOING?! So much for a clean job.

Kiani: “Where am I? WHO ARE YOU?!

Fate: “IF EMBRY DOESN’T COME BACK, I’LL BE YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE. You were supposed to be the easy part.”

Kiani:” My head. (Kiani faints)”

Mr. Hawthorne: “What happened, do we have her?”

Fate: “Of course I have her. But it didn't go smoothly. Now the pack has Embry.”

Mr. Hawthorne: “I thought you were the best? If he talks, it's all going to be over.”

Fate: “Calm yourself. Embry would die before he failed a job. He’ll be back. For now we focus on the girl. I hope you have a strong place to keep a dominant wolf shifter. I can't keep her down forever. That's why we kill on sight. This better work, Mr. Hawthorne.”

Mr. Hawthorne: “We have Kiani. Will it be strong enough?”

Mrs. Hawthorne: “It's strong enough to hold her. (River’s bedroom)”

Tao: “Why hasn't she healed yet?”

Sierra: “She has internal bleeding, Tao. She needs a healer to help her. I've done all I can. We need Kiani or she might not make it Tao. My baby girl. (Sierra cries - Tao hugs Sierra - Rocco listening outside the door)”

In Rocco’s head: This is the second time in my life when my wolf is beyond panicked. The first time was before I knew I had to challenge my father. Before he tried to kill my mother. Now my soulmate is gone, and my sister is in danger of losing her life. I can feel Kiani’s wolf like she's in the next room. Heightened by soulmates. Her emotions are high. She feels danger all around. Caged in. But I can't mindlink with her. Kiani’s not responding. Like she lost consciousness. If I don't replace her, I might die. That damn Mystic Hunter is the key. (Bloodstone pack living room)

Juno: “We’ll replace her.”

Conan: “I was right, he'll never break.

Kylo: “Your methods won’t work on a trained Hunter. We need to try a new method.”

Conan: “What do you suggest we do without killing him?”

Billie Jean: “How do you stop his fire power?”

Juno: “My mother was always wary of Mystic Hunters. I didn't think they were real, but here we are. Anyway, she made me read books about them. If they have any sort of power, we should chain their wrists with a special kind of metal. That's how, Billie.”

Kylo: “Did you notice he had a wolf scent?! What's that about?”

Juno: “He can't be a wolf shifter as well. It's impossible, right? Mystic Hunters were created by witches. They gave humans their power.”

Billie Jean: “What if they gave their power to a wolf shifter?”

Conan: “Impossible.”

Kylo: “You said he saved your life, Billie.”

Billie Jean: “Everything happened so fast. He could’ve killed me, but didn’t.”

In Billie Jean’s head: He also stopped his partner. Why?

Juno: “Perhaps we've been going about this all wrong. I think Billy needs to have a little chat with our Mystic friend.”

Conan: “Like hell she is.”

Billie Jean: “I fought him long enough. I can talk with him. If it helps us replace Kiani.”

Kylo: “Then you'll talk to him. Billie Jean. We need answers. For Kiani’s sake.”

Billie Jean: “I can handle him. Leave it to me.”

Kylo: “Good. I feel like them taking Kiani is just the start.”

Juno: “Mystic Hunters are hired after all to serve the humans. But the question is, who are they working for? (in the basement - Hawthorne’s office)”

Mr. Hawthorne: “We have Kiani. Rocco’s mate. But we’re down a Mystic Hunter.”

Fang: “What a shame, but they better not talk. We need to kill Kiani now. Their bond will be strong. It will lead Rocco straight here.”

Mr. Hawthorne: “Not before the police. Rocco’s rattled. The police will be watching the place 24/7. Making it hard for them to shift. Or even leave their own territory.”

Fang: “My pack and alliances will soon be up to strength.”

Mr. Hawthorne: “Why not let Kiani be the one to expose the truth?”

Fang: “Too dangerous, kill her now. We can always get another wolf shifter. If Rocco replaces her, it's game over. (Fang walks out)”

In Mr. Hawthorne’s head: But this girl would be perfect.

Mrs. Hawthorne: “What is it?”

Mr. Hawthorne: “Fang thinks we should kill Kiani now.”

Mrs. Hawthrone: “She's too valuable to kill now. It would be trouble to get another wolf shifter to experiment on when we have a perfectly healthy one locked up. Rocco will never replace her I can assure you. If he gets anywhere near her, Fate will kill her.”