Loraine looked down at Laney and then over at Viviane. It was as though she was conflicted and unsure of what to do. The winds around us began to quiet down and as Laney’s breaths slowed and evened, the tornado slowly dissolved. As Laney was dying so was the rage of the storm.
Speaking again, Viviane directed her attention to her grandmother while the other Evelyn and Careen continued chanting. “You need to look around at the destruction you have caused. We are not evil. Our power and magic was supposed to be good. Called on from Mother Nature and the elements our coven depends on. Please, hear us. Listen to nature. Listen to our hearts,” she called, beckoning her grandmother and the elements of her coven.
Slowly, Loraine floated back to the earth where we all stood, and as I looked into her eyes, I saw a glaze, that had covered them when I first saw her, begin to fade.
“No, don’t listen to them,” Laney barely whispered.
Loraine walked over to where Laney was lying on the ground, her body barely clinging on to the life inside of her. “Laney, they are correct. I feel as though a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I see now, you have cast a spell over me and caused my heart to turn black and ominous. We were not born immoral, but what we have become is. My dear granddaughter, your life is fading and so is the darkness that shrouds your soul and mind. Release the sin and evil and allow the light back into your life. For your eternal soul,” Loraine spoke, as she gently caressed the side of Laney’s face.
We all watched in horror and angst as Laney looked at her grandmother one last time and took her last breath. A single tear rolled down her cheek as a cloud of black fog surrounded her body, twirling and twisting as it lifted Laney’s lifeless body off the ground. Slowly, Laney began to fade away into the mist until it all dissolved and there was nothing left to see except for the blanket of night that covered the sky.
Once Laney was gone, Loraine looked over at her family and I saw a fear strike her. Something inside of Loraine changed the moment Laney was gone. Falling to her knees, Loraine began to weep as anguish overtook her body. Rushing to her, the Witches fell with their grandmother and embraced her in a hug. As we all stood by and watched the reunion, it was almost comforting to see how this family that was once torn and full of hatred had found a way back to one another. I guess one person really can throw off the whole dynamic of a group; and when that happens, it is hard not to allow a cloud of judgment and hatred to overshadow the love that was once there. Now that Laney was gone, and her spell disappeared with her, Loraine was able to see who really did love her. I believed Loraine was changed and would return back to the woman they had all once loved. The storm had died down and the sky was beginning to lose the darkness as the sun began to filter back into the afternoon sky.
“We are so sorry for all of the pain Laney has caused you, Elle. And the rest of Shady Oaks,” Viviane spoke up. “We realize now she had placed a spell on Loraine. With her gone, we can return back to our peaceful life.”
Nodding, we all agreed.
“I am just glad to know my dreams will go back to being mine alone. Knowing the terror Laney caused was gone, we could all get back to life as usual.”
“Yes, we are too. It will take us all some time to heal, but our family needs to mend,” Loraine stated, as she looked at me. “I hope you will find a way to forgive me. I never thought my own granddaughter would cast a spell on me to make me turn against my family and alienate those that loved me. I was caught up in the darkness and now that I see the light, I have to continue working with my family to heal.”
Holding out my hand, I shook Loraine’s. “I do forgive you. It wasn’t your fault that you fell under her spell. I am just truly happy to know your family is back as one and Laney is gone,” I said with a smile.
Placing his arm around my shoulder, my dad embraced me. “Elle, I am so proud of the strength you showed today. You were able to bring all of the otherworldly creatures together in unison, and we stopped a reign of terror. You are proving to be a great leader,” he finished with a smile.
I felt happiness through my tired and sore body. Now, all I could think about was getting home and sleeping soundlessly for the first time in a long time.
We all looked around at the destruction before us. Everyone had some form of cut, scrape, or bruise, but we were all safe and alive. Turning to leave, the Vampires Council stopped before walking away from us. “Elle, we are pleased that you came out alive and victorious today. Shady Oaks is lucky to have such a powerful and gifted Shifter,” they all three spoke before turning and running as fast as lightning away from us.
Once we were all alone, Asher and a few members of the pack lifted Maddox and together we all walked slowly back to my house. It was time to leave the others and return to what we knew.
Chapter 18
Two weeks after our epic battle with Laney and Loraine life had returned to… well our life. Maddox had sustained two broken ribs and a severe burn on his back. He was still healing, but he was almost back to normal. Once everyone saw him, we had to create an elaborate story about a car accident to throw off the humans. Thankfully, everyone believed us. Good thing Shifters heal fast or Maddox really would have been angry about his injuries. With baseball season in full swing, he needed to be strong and healthy to play. I had cuts and bruises that healed fast and I was back to running cross-country as well as working at the coffee shop. Asher, of course, never left my side and made sure to watch me at all times. Trust me, I didn’t mind one bit. What teenage girl wouldn’t want a hot Vampires keeping his eyes on her at all times?
Today, we were just about to finish up our weekly meeting. After the battle with the Witches, we had all agreed to continue the weekly meetings. As the meeting was just about to wrap up, Jim cleared his throat to gain all of our attention.
“Before we leave today, there is something we need to share with everyone,” Jim began as he looked over at my dad.
My dad nodded his approval for Jim to continue.
“Well, news got out about the battle with the Witches. We all knew this was going to happen, the Vampires Council had warned us of this. So, another pack of Shifters from the Eastern boundaries has agreed to move to Shady Oaks to join our pack. Together, we can all be more vigilant and grow stronger in numbers,” Jim finished.
Low rumbles of conversation erupted after his news. I looked over at Maddox who raised his eyes at me with confusion. Why would we need another Shifter pack to join us? We obviously proved we could handle any enemy.
Voicing my own concerns, Maddox stepped up. “If we just kicked some serious Witch’s out of Shady Oaks, why would another pack need to come to our rescue?” he asked.
This time, my dad took charge of the conversation. “This isn’t about needing rescuing. It is clear with news about Elle spreading, we need more help than ever before. Our pack needs to grow so we can all become stronger. This is for Elle,” he finished.
A sense of worry tried to enter my mind again. I would forever be labeled as the Shifter with the unusual powers. That knowledge would always make me a target for some type of enemy. I wasn’t’ sure how I felt about a new pack joining us, but I guess I didn’t really have a choice. They were coming whether I liked it or not.
Once the meeting ended and we all began to leave, I called for Asher and Maddox.
“Hey, can I talk to both of you for a minute?” I asked, leading them both out back behind my house.
We all three walked over to a large oak tree that shaded a large portion of my backyard. Its giant brown branches almost touched the red brick of my house. Once we were all together, I turned and looked at both boys.
“I want to say something, and I want you both to hear me at the same time. I love both of you equally, but differently. Maddox, I have loved you since the first time I saw you. We have been best friends and soul mates and you were always there to protect me growing up.”
A smile spread across Maddox’s face as he ran a hand through his wavy hair. Turning to
Asher, I noticed his piercing blue eyes were locked on mine, wondering where my speech was heading.
“Asher, you took my breath away the moment my eyes landed on yours. My heart jumped to life like you were my lifeline. I love you now and will continue forever—whatever that means for us. You are my soul mate and I will never let you go,” I said, smiling at the boy who captured my heart and forever changed my life. Looking at Asher, I knew he taught me how to love in different ways I ever thought imaginable. Seeing the love radiating from me, Asher sighed and smiled at me.
Continuing, I said the last thing I needed them both to hear from me. “Maddox, you asked me to choose and I am. I choose both of you. My love for you both will never end. I need you both in my life in different ways, but regardless I am refusing to give up one for the other. So, you will both have to just live with the fact I love you both,” I finished.
And with that, I left Asher and Maddox standing together under my oak tree. Life had changed for me since the day I had learned I was a Shifter. I had found a love with a boy who had his own secrets to share and found a soul mate in a boy I had known my entire life. Challenges had presented themselves to me and somehow, I had discovered I was only growing and evolving. I was becoming stronger with each conflict that challenged my beliefs and love for those around me. I wasn’t sure what else life had in store for me, but I knew one thing-- I was surrounded by unique and amazing individuals who loved and cared for me the same as I did for them. Together, we would always be the Evershade, but we would never be Evernight, gone and alone. We would always triumph over the darkness and be victorious in every conquest that came our way. That was just how it had to be.
The End
Extras
Discover the next segment of the Shifter Chronicles.
Elle’s journey as a Shifter is just starting as her world continues to be pulled in different directions. With her Vampire boyfriend and Shifter best friend still at odds, Elle feels like things can’t get any worse. Of course, she was wrong. After learning of Elle’s new powers, more demons arise as they attempt to end the power she controls. Now with her life in danger even more, a new Shifter family arrives in town to join forces with Elle’s pack. However, the daughter of the new Shifter family falls for Maddox. Feeling the unease of losing her best friend, Elle realizes her competition and battles just reached a new level.
More from the Author
Wicked Cries Series:
Wicked Cries
Wicked Lies
Wicked Truths
Wicked Endings
Runaway Trilogy:
Runaway
Captured
The Shifter Chronicles:
Evershade
Everpure
Evernight
Everlight
Everpure (releasing Spring 2019)
Along With You
Out of Darkness
In the Shadows (a novella to release winter 2018)
Table of Contents
Copyright
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Extras
More from the Author
Evernight Page 14
