Bryn POV
"I don't get why we allowed them to go," Flint huffed, frustration evident in his voice, as we pulled up to the lycan Kingdom. The air was thick with tension, and the sound of our car engine roared in my ears. We had made it, but the feeling of being followed the entire way lingered, making my skin crawl. As we approached the barrier, the crackling energy filled the air, a tangible reminder of the danger we narrowly escaped.
"We must never go past intuition," I responded, trying to steady my own racing heartbeat. Mia believed in this plan so strongly, she claimed she could feel it in her bones. We had to trust her judgment and prepare the warriors here.

"I still don't like it," Flint mumbled, his frustration palpable as he slammed the car door shut. The sharp sound echoed in the quiet surroundings.
"How about you get Leo set up in a room?" I suggested, trying to ease the tension. "There are abandoned stables out back he can sleep there." Flint's response caused me to sigh, a heavy weight settling on my shoulders. The air felt charged with hostility as I tried to mediate between them.
"It's fine, I can find a room," Leo admitted, his voice tinged with resignation. "Flint and I have never gotten along, even when I was raised on the pack lands, acting as a wolf." The bitterness in his words hung in the air.
"You had a pathetic, weak wolf," Flint blurted out, his words dripping with disdain. "But now it makes sense you were just a warlock playing dress up." The sharpness of his words cut through the air.
"Enough!" I snapped, my voice carrying the weight of my frustration. I turned to face Flint, my eyes locking with his. "You are acting like a child when we need to focus on the battle that will soon be upon us. Get yourself settled, and then we all must discuss our plans moving forward with the warriors. If you continue acting this way, you will be letting Mia and Atlas down." The tension in the air was almost suffocating, the atmosphere heavy with the impending confrontation.
"Sorry," Flint mumbled, his gaze shifting to me with those damn puppy dog eyes. My heart softened for a moment, but I quickly shook off the distraction. "That won't work," I muttered under my breath as I turned away, making my way towards Bram who stood at the door.

"You are two short," Bram pointed out as I approached. "I am well aware and happy you made it back safe. We have much to discuss," I said to him as he followed me inside, the heavy wooden door creaking as we entered. I was hopeful Flint would get his act together, although I also understood his hatred of Leo. The air in the room was tense with anticipation. But Leo had made an oath with Mia and Atlas, proving his loyalty now and his willingness to fight for our side. Once inside, I led Bram and two of the lead warriors to a meeting room.
"Thora still has a sizable army," I began, my voice steady and determined. "And we now understand that we may face not only more wolves but also more of her bloodline.
"Mia and Atlas have gone into hiding within the human realm temporarily so Mia can regain her strength," I continued, my fingers lightly grazing the cool surface of the table. "And then they have a goal of facing Thora, keeping her distracted while we face her army." The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the gravity of the situation. "I agree with this plan," I declared, my voice carrying a hint of conviction. "Thora's army has only ever been a distraction to weaken Mia and get to her. Mia and Atlas are the key to her spell, but they are also strong together, and I have complete faith in them."
Just as I finished speaking, one of the warriors spoke up, breaking the silence. "On our travels back to this kingdom, we noticed the rogues gathering," he reported, "None attacked, but they seemed to be preparing for something." The room grew colder, and a shiver ran down my spine. "We managed to capture one temporarily," he continued, his voice laced with urgency. "And noticed their eyes fogged over. It would seem they are under some sort of mind control."

I tapped my fingers on the table, the rhythmic sound filling the room. Although rogues had the tendency to fight, regardless if Thora was controlling them, we could potentially counter whatever spell she used to pull them out of their trance now that Leo was here. "I know this is a very dangerous request," I said, my voice firm but tinged with caution. "But we must have scouts at all times outside the barrier to relay information. We must gather as much as we can on her army and any potential movements for both us as well as Atlas and Mia."
"I will go to the warriors now and work out a schedule," one of the warriors spoke, his voice resolute. "We will report back with findings twice a day."
I then looked at Bram, "I need you to report back to Crimson," I said softly. "Her small army must be prepared, as we will need their help again. Also, ask them to report any signs of possible witchcraft immediately. I am sure it is only a matter of days, if even that, before we face battle."
Bram furrowed his brow, his eyes searching mine. "May I ask why you brought in the immortal warlock?" he inquired.
"For now, he is on our side," I replied, my voice steady. "But I ask, since you are good at gathering information and hiding, that you shadow him and report anything you see as possibly off about him. He is Thora's son, and he could be a great help to our army, but he could also become a great danger."
Bram nodded, his fingers drumming on the table. "If it helps his case, he helped save several hybrids who live amongst our kind in the past," he revealed, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "I never thought I would see him again."
"That does make me feel a little more comfortable," I admitted, a sense of relief washing over me. Just then, a gentle knock sounded on the meeting room door, breaking our conversation. Bram stood up, his chair scraping against the floor, and walked towards the door.
"I will be on my way and report back," he said, his voice fading as he opened the door to Leo standing outside. I watched as Leo entered the room, closing the door behind him.
"Can we talk?" Leo asked, his voice low and urgent. I nodded my head, motioning for him to come closer. As he stepped towards me, I could feel the weight of the room, the anticipation and tension hanging in the air.
"I am sure you are well aware that you can use a direct blood relative to aid in a tracking spell," Leo began, his eyes focused on mine. "Since Thora is my mother, she can trace me if I try to track her. But if you were to cast it, she would not trace anything."
I took a deep breath. "I have never cast that strong of a spell," I confessed, my voice filled with uncertainty. "It is not easy on an immortal witch."
"I can guide you," he reassured me. "I can sense the power in you, Bryn. You are more capable than I believe you give yourself credit for."
"I don't mind trying. Since we know your true identity, I know you are already well aware of who I am."
"This palace is stocked luckily with all that is needed to cast that spell," I continued, "So I will gather the necessary ingredients."
I looked at him earnestly, searching for any hints of information. "I know we have talked some, but any information you can provide about your mother's plan and the spell she is casting would be invaluable. Mia and Atlas may be separated from us, but I will still relay all helpful information to them."
My gaze shifted, concern etched on my face. "I also need your help," I confessed. "It has come to my attention that some of the rogues may be under mind control. Is there a spell or a potion you can suggest to reverse that?"
He nodded solemnly. "I will disclose all information I have," he replied, his voice filled with a mix of determination and fear. "This palace may actually hold the original copy of the spell. My mother has been insistent on reaching this place to complete everything."
"As far as the rogues, unfortunately, they made a pact with my mother. It is dark blood magic, something only she can reverse," he explained, his voice tinged with regret. "But I can help set up some protection and, of course, aid in the battle."
"I also know my mother does not need Mia dead to cast the spell. She simply needs to break Mia enough that she can tap into the power." He explained.
"I trust in Mia's strength not to be broken," he assured me. "But if my mother does end up being successful, we must be prepared to face my father as well."
I let out a weary sigh. "I know of the room Thora used here," I said. "I will take you to it, and you can help me search for the spell once we cast the tracking spell."
The door burst open with a loud crash, causing my heart to skip a beat. Flint stood in the doorway, his eyes blazing with anger. "What the hell are you doing in here with Bryn?" he growled, his voice filled with menace. I couldn't help but cringe, bringing my hand to my face in frustration. Leo looked back and forth between us, his gaze finally settling on the small exposed spot between my shoulder and neck. "Wait, you two are mates?" he asked, surprise evident in his voice.
"Yes, he is my mate," I confirmed, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Flint, still seething with anger, stepped closer to me. Instinctively, I reached out and took his hand, hoping to calm him down. "We're going to cast a spell to hopefully track Thora. Stay here with us and help me set it up," I said to Flint, trying to keep my voice steady. He took a deep breath and reluctantly agreed, his tone grudging.
But his attention quickly shifted back to Leo. His voice turned sharp and demanding. "I'll give you this one chance. I know you've had plenty of warnings, but Bryn is my mate, and as far as I'm concerned, Mia and Atlas are my family. So don't you dare mess with any of them. If Mia wants to be friends with you in the end, so be it. But once this is over, if she asks you to leave, you do just that," he warned.
Leo nodded, his expression filled with understanding. As I started rummaging through the boxes, searching for the spell casting ingredients, I couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. We needed to work together, to put aside our differences and support the new King and Queen of this realm. The fate of all species depended on it.