Tan-Tadaaa…. On the last day of this year, I am presenting Chapter 25 for you all :D

This chapter is dedicated to @ALIFEYA :)

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“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” 
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

EVERETT P.O.V

It was four-thirty in the afternoon and I was near the guest-house, waiting for Adio who was returning from Myron’s pack.

Tarik, who was supposed to go yesterday, chose not to go because he wanted to stay and put Templar to sleep. The Khepri’s have certain chants that they use when they remove a bad spirit from a person’s body. When they do that only the bad spirit will be awake, while the possessed person will be out like a light.

That is what Tarik does to Templar. Every time, he holds her hand, he pulls all her energy which leaves Templar in a limpness state. Drew’s spirit even though it’s awake, it is unable to do anything because the body it depends is unable to move.

It also explains why I felt shock pass through me when I touched Tarik to wake him up. His whole body was in fiery heat from the energy he had pulled from Templar’s body.

Right now, I was also waiting for Tarik, who had gone early morning to help his father in the FireLight Pack.

As soon as I heard horns of a vehicle, I climbed out of my car and leaned against the wing of the car. Two minutes later, Adio, Tarik, Cam and few wolves, who had gone with Adio as bodyguards, got out of their cars.

“Welcome back” I told Adio, who just nodded. I motioned for the guards to take Adio and Tarik’s bag inside for him.

“Did everything go well?” I asked Cam who nodded as a reply. “Did he tell anything?” the ‘he’ here referred to Adio.

“No. He just kept looking around the place. Asked for some stuffs to be arranged” Cam mumbled with a frown and I looked at him in confusion.

“Stuffs like?”

“Ropes, gasoline…” Cam answered and I furrowed my brows in confusion. Why would Adio need ropes and gasoline?

“Did he say why he needed them?” I queried.

“No. Myron kept asking but he didn’t tell why. Said he is going to tell only once to all of us” Cam replied and I scowled.

“Only once?” I mumbled. What is he going to tell us only once?

Scratching my forehead, I shook my head and looked at Cam. “Go home” I told him and he nodded.

Once the guards had left, I stepped inside the guest house and called for Adio.

“Now that you have seen the FireLight Pack do you think it is possible for you to do what you intend to do?” I demanded. My wolf perked up, curious to listen to what Adio had to say.

“Yes, Mr. Green” Adio replied with a smile.

“Well, what do you intend to do?” I questioned. I wanted to know what Adio had planned.

“Not right now Mr. Green. I am tired and I need rest” Adio said sincerely.

Feeling embarrassed for not bothering about that, I nodded once. “I will see you tomorrow” I told him and Adio nodded.

“Tomorrow, I am going to tell you what I intend to do” Adio stated and I nodded. “But I also need, few trusted wolves, who are also capable of fighting, with you there.”

I couldn’t even imagine what he had planned because Adio always spoke in riddles and it frustrated me like hell. I wanted to shout and order him to tell me everything, but manners compelled me to behave calmly.

My wolf was pacing inside me and it only made my frustration rise to a new level.

“Okay. Let’s meet at two in the afternoon tomorrow, here” I suggested to which Adio immediately agreed.

I decided the meeting to take place at noon because I wanted Myron to also be present. It was because whatever Adio had planned would happen only in his pack and also because I trusted Myron.

The first thing I saw when I entered our bedroom was Templar, who was sitting in the floor, with her knees close to her chest. My wolf whimpered and I paled.

“Templar” I called but there was no response from her. “Templar” I called louder rushing towards her and kneeling in front of her. She was staring into space and was not responding to me. Her face was expressionless and her eyes bleak.

“Baby, look at me” I commanded cupping her cheeks. My wolf started pacing inside me wondering what was wrong with Templar. Why wasn’t she talking? She was fine this morning. She was fine until I left her alone to meet Adio. What happened in between that short period of time?

“Templar” I called louder and then she dropped something on the floor. Immediately, I looked down to see what it was.

I was paralyzed to the spot. My heart stopped beating for a second and blood rushed to my veins, when I saw the half tarnished silver chain on the floor.

I had removed it the day I found out she was possessed and kept it in my office, away from Templar’s view, but she still found it.

With shaky hands, I picked the silver chain and stared at the tarnished side of it.

“What is wrong with me Everett?” Templar demanded in a voice that was devoid of any emotion. I gulped and then finally Templar raised her lashes, to look at me. Her brown eyes displayed a sadness that made my heart squeeze in pain.

I didn’t know what to tell her. I didn’t know how to tell her.

Closing my eyes, I shook my head as a reply.

“Please don’t lie to me” Templar begged in a wobbly voice and I immediately opened my eyes to look at her. Her dark brown eyes were swimming with tears.

When I attempted to touch her, Templar shrank back and I winced when I saw that. My wolf howled painfully because he didn’t know what to do to help her, at this moment.

“Just tell me the truth. I will be able to handle it” she said gravely and I gulped. “You think I cannot but I can. I am not that fragile” she muttered. “So please, tell me how did this chain, that I had put on a few days ago, got tarnished?” she demanded looking at me.

“I don’t know” I lied and Templar closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“I know something is wrong with me Everett. I am not that stupid. I had been ignoring it the past few days, but I do know something is wrong with me” she sniffed and then continued, “I don’t remember what I had done in the one week I was away. My head starts pounding every day, the minute the sun sets. I don’t remember anything after that. I wake up next morning, without the pain and without any memory of the night” she sobbed and I lowered my head.

I couldn’t tell her. I just couldn’t. How will she behave? What will she do if she comes to know the truth? What can she do? There is no one who can help her other than Adio and he too cannot do anything until eclipse.

Templar wiped her cheeks and started talking again, “My wolf is not responding. I cannot mind link with my own pack members. I cannot control water like I used to. I am getting weak every passing day. You are behaving odd. My friends are behaving odd around me. You all are keeping me away. You think I wouldn’t have noticed that?” her hurtful eyes were focused on me. “You think I don’t know that you all are keeping your distance from me?” she demanded and I gulped.

My wolf lowered his head and whined softly.

“I know… I know the problem is with me but I don’t know what that problem is. If you do, then please tell me. Please” she kept on begging clutching the lapels of my leather jacket and pressing her forehead against my chest. “Please” she added once more and I closed my eyes.

For a long time, we sat like that. My arms were wrapped around Templar’s slim body and Templar was resting her cheek on my chest and sobbing miserably.

No matter what she said, I couldn’t tell her the truth. Adio had something planned and for his plan to work, Templar had to remain ignorant.

Looking at her eyes, that were desperately begging me for answers, I couldn’t lie to her either. That is why; I made the decision of only telling her the half-truth.

Clearing my throat, I looked her in the eye and stated, “You are going to get your wolf back.”

Templar blinked and looked at me unsurely.

“Your wolf is not with you and hence strange things are happening to you. But you are going to get your wolf back soon” I said confidently.

“How?” Templar asked in a shaky voice.

Taking a deep breath, I continued, “I cannot tell you how and when.  Instead, I am asking you to trust me Templar. I know you are going to get your wolf back and recover your memory soon.”

Templar blinked and gulped.

“Understood?” I queried and she nodded. I placed a soft kiss on her forehead and pulling back, I checked the time.

It was six-fifteen in the evening.

‘Terence, come to my place with Tarik’ I ordered through the link.

‘Already on my way’ he was quick to reply.

I wrapped a sheet around Templar’s body. Tarik had done what he does and now, both were sleeping like a log and I smiled when I saw that.

Even though Drew had taken over her body, there was no way he could do anything when Templar’s body was weak.

Sighing, I decided to get back to my work, but frowned when I recalled something. Drew, when he takes over Templar, he contacts Randall. The only way he could do that, according to me is through cellphone. But where is that cellphone kept?

At first, I decided to check our room but I doubted it would be there because the other day, Templar had cleaned our room and if she had found any cellphone, she would have certainly told me because she is herself every morning.

So, it’s not the house, not the kitchen, not my office or the other rooms, because every day from last week, Templar has been cleaning a room. Sighing, I decided to check in the movie room.

Half-an-hour later, I found nothing in the movie room, nor in the gym. Keith, who came a few minutes ago, was searching in the game room for cellphone.

“Anything?” I asked leaning against the threshold of the game room.

“Nothing” Keith replied and I compressed my lips. Where else could Drew have hidden a cellphone? “Did you check outside the house?”  Keith asked and I shook my head.

“I don’t think-”

“It might be in garage” Keith incised. “There are so many stuffs in garage, we barely pay attention to any of it” Keith shrugged.

“You are right” I muttered going to the garage.

“I am always right” Keith boasted and I rolled my eyes.

“Found it” Keith shouted and I stood up and removed my gloves. Holy Goddess! Our garage was horrible and is in desperate need of some good cleaning.

“Found what?” I queried.

“Look” he said and then showed me a bag. Undoing the zip, flipped it upside down and dropped the contents on the nearest table.

My eyes widened, when I saw the contents in the bag. There was a paint box, paint brush, another box that contained bows and arrows, a lighter, a cellphone, a small box which contained ashes, a knife and some tablets.

I picked the tablets and decided to show it to Sveta, to know for what purpose they are to be taken, while Keith inspected the ashes.

“His own ashes” Keith murmured with a frown. “I will flush it” he said keeping the box aside while I laughed.

I then picked the cellphone but frowned when I noticed that the screen was locked, which without doubt Keith could unlock. “You know what to do” I told handing the cellphone to him.

“This is just five characters” Keith muttered with a smile. “I will be done within few seconds.”

Exactly twenty seconds later, Keith was able to crack the password and unlock. “Thanks” I said with a wide grin. “What was the password?”

“I guess it’s his birthday” Keith said with a shrug as I checked the hundred plus missed calls Drew had. Majority was from Randall and Simon Ryker.

Smirking, I called Randall who answered the call on the second ring.

“Drew?” Randall tested which caused my wolf to growl.

“He is sleeping” I replied calmly and was greeted with silence on the other side. “He is barely awake at night these days, isn’t he?” I purposefully rubbed salt on his wound.

“You cannot hurt him without hurting your mate” Randall pointed out and I growled murderously. “I hope you remember that” Randall added and I knew the bastard was smirking on the other side. My wolf bared his fangs, but I pushed him back with all my force.

 “No matter what you do now, you cannot stop Drew from taking over your mate’s body during the eclipse” he grated. Beside me, Keith growled and clenched his fists.

“Actually, I can” I answered calmly. The silence buzzed and I smirked. This time, I will be the one talking, while all Randall will be doing is listening.

“You are lying” Randall spat through gritted teeth.

“Randall, everyone knows pride comes before a fall” I retorted smoothly, which caused Keith to chuckle.

“I could say the same to you” Randall snapped. My wolf was pleased to see that I could rile him up so easily. Good! This was really good!

I want him to be scared.

“Yes. You can” I sighed.

“You do what you have to do on the eclipse to kill the white wolf, while I will do what I have to do to bring the white wolf back. If you win, I will be waiting for you and if I win, you know what I am going to do” I reminded cruelly before finishing the call.

“Damn! I wanted him to hear the flushing sound” Keith mumbled and I chuckled. However, the humor in me faded when I realized what Randall is going to do on eclipse to Templar.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath to calm myself. Nothing’s going to happen! Adio is going to bring back Templar’s wolf. I am sure he is going to do that.

“Adio wants to talk to us something tomorrow” I said looking at Keith.

“Us?” he probed.

“You, Cam, Terence, January, Ben and Myron” I told him and Keith nodded. These were the few wolves, who are not only fighters, but also the ones I know, I could trust with my life.

After telling him the time and place, I asked Keith to share the news with others. He agreed before leaving.

Drew’s cellphone rang again and it was Randall’s call but I cut it off, switched off the cellphone and removed the SIM card. Not being satisfied with that, I even threw the cellphone on the floor and stomped it, until there was a crack on the screen. However, I didn’t cut the SIM card, instead, I took it to my office and kept it in a drawer.

The next afternoon, while Templar had gone to pack house, to play with Luka, I went with others to the guest house. Myron was already on his way and I asked guards to directly escort him to the guest house. I didn’t want him meeting Templar, who would without doubt want to know what he is doing here.

Sveta, Molly and Ophelia were assigned the tasks of keeping Templar busy until we finished talking.

I hated the fact that Templar, who was the Alpha of this pack once, is now kept away from all the major decisions. Randall made that happen. Randall and Simon Ryker wanted her to die slowly and painfully and that is what was happening to Templar.

However, I pacified myself by saying that the meeting was for Templar’s benefit because we were going to talk about the plan which will help her shift into her wolf.

Adio and Tarik, were already waiting for us in the living room of the guest house.

“Is everyone here?” Adio queried when he saw us, while Tarik was drawing something in his ipad.

“Myron hasn’t reached yet” January told him, after we sat on the couch.

“Then we will wait” Adio said and I suppressed a groan. Why can’t he just tell it to me?

Myron arrived twenty minutes late and when I saw him, I wanted to rip his head off because from the past twenty minutes, my wolf had been going crazy. Like I had once said, patience was never his gift.

“Everyone is here. Let us start” I said through gritted teeth.

“Okay” Adio said and then turned to look at Tarik, who flipped the screen to our direction. I noticed that he had drawn a spiral in his ipad screen.

“What’s that?” January asked before I could.

“A spiral” Tarik replied.

“I know that. But why are you showing us a spiral?” she inquired.

“There will be a spiral done in front of the FireLight Pack moon temple by Baba” Tarik answered.

“Okay. What’s the use of that spiral?” Myron demanded.

“The total time taken for the eclipse will be nearly two hours” Adio began, “In that seven minutes is the time of total darkness. It is exactly in that time, during which, if we fail, Drew will take over Templar’s body” every one of us growled when we heard that. My wolf curled his lips while my claws snapped out.

“Control yourself Mr. Green” Adio advised, staring at me. “You will not like what I am going to say next either” he stated and hesitantly, my wolf retreated. What is he going to say?

“We have total fifty minutes before there is total darkness” Adio stated.

“We?” Cam asked cocking an eyebrow.

“What do we have to do in those fifty minutes?” I demanded staring at Adio.

“I want you to bring your mate, the white wolf, to the center of the spiral within those fifty minutes” Adio directed staring at me, while Tarik pointed at the central point of the spiral in the screen.

“That’s it?” January asked and Adio shook his head as a reply.

When I stared at Adio’s golden eyes, which were bracing for my reaction, I knew I wouldn’t like what he is going to say next

“All Everett has to do is bring Templar to the central point of that spiral?” Terence questioned.

“It will not be so easy” Tarik replied and I frowned.

“The moment the eclipse starts, your mate will be fighting to be herself or to let Drew possess her body” I inhaled sharply and so did the others after hearing Adio’s words.

“You mean to say, she will fight against being brought to the central point?” I asked in a whisper fully aware that the answer would be a yes.

“Yes” Adio confirmed.

Compressing my lips, I ran a hand through my hair, while others looked at me curiously. My wolf continued pacing. He wanted to shift. He wanted to go for a run and cool himself. Taking a deep breath, I looked at Adio, who had still not taken his eyes away from me.

“There is more, isn’t it?” my voice was barely audible.

“Yes” Adio replied.

“What is it?” Gulping, I braced myself to hear what Adio has to say.

“When Templar is brought to that central point, I want her body so weak that she is unable to move even her little finger.”

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Hope you liked it :)

As the year ends, all the negativity of this story ends and from next chapter, which will be posted on 6th January 2015, there will only be positivity :) I still can’t believe there was so much negativity in this book, but I promise, there will be no more of this :D

Say goodbye to 2014 with a smile and welcome 2015 with an even bigger smile :D Have an awesome night… Enjoy!

Oh! Don’t forget to vote, comment and follow :)

Love,

Shruthi :-*