The Alphas’ P**n Star Mate
Chapter 174 – The Alphas’ Porn Star Mate

Frozen. Everything around me was completely still, like it was frozen with a glimmering sheen coating everything and everyone but me. "What the hell?"

My hands were still stretched out, and my muscles were still flexed with the cool energy that exploded from my fingertips. "Did you freeze them? What was that?"

My hands dropped to my sides, and I hesitantly took steps towards Estel and Boyd. Boyd's body still looked bound, but the violet cords of power were no longer surrounding him. Not visibly. His body was contorted in place, like they were still there. Fur was lining every inch of his skin, and his snout was fully formed.

"They aren't frozen," I said to Cortina as I felt the heat of their bodies. "Not like that."

Estel and Boyd remained unmoving, not even breathing as I walked cautiously around them, skirting between them, squeezing my body through the slender space between them, their body warmth pushed back at me.

I could feel the dark energy buzzing on the surface of Boyd's skin. The magic flowing through me sped up in rushing currents. I felt this need deep within me, like a restless energy, but didn't know why just yet.

Looking around the room, it wasn't just Estel and Boyd stuck in place. The curtains on the windows were stuck out in an awkward way, like they were frozen in the wind. "What the actual fuck?"

I walked hurriedly to the sitting room where there is a large clock on the wall. The hands were not moving, even the second hand.

"No way."

Walking back to the bedroom, I could see my mates and other warriors stuck in mid-strides while rushing to our room. One warrior was even fully in the air, both of his feet off the ground.

It's hard to even comprehend, but it almost seems like they're frozen in time. Frozen in place after the icy magic burst out of me.

"How long will this last?" Cortina asked, her concern going back to Estel, who was still far too close to Boyd's open jaws.

If this spell breaks, she could be done for. The look on her face was telling of her thoughts. She was hurting for him. She had no plans on fighting him off. The desperate, teary expression in her eyes awoke a deep desperation in me. I had to save them. I had to save them both from themselves.

That nagging feeling came back, and my feet moved involuntarily to Boyd. His eyes were black and vacant, more like a feral rogue than the warrior wolf I know. My hands were burning, tingling with that rush of energy. I lifted them and grabbed hold of his face, and when I did, that image appeared once again.

The snake, black and wicked, with fangs like daggers and eyes like the hollow hopelessness of death, lunged at me once again.

The room faded away. I was standing before the satanic serpent coiled tightly around an unconscious Boyd. His head was lagged over the top rings of the snake's giant body. I knew somehow that this was his subconsciousness, and he appeared to now be a prisoner in it. His unconscious face looked worn and weathered, much worse than when he came back from his captivity at the old hotel. The strain from the battle that had been consuming him from the inside out was evident in every crease, every bruise, and every crevice on his face. The hideous, goliath snake hissed menacingly, springing for me again. Unlike before, I didn't recoil away from Boyd. I didn't let go of his face. My hands gripped tighter as I stood my ground in his subconscious.

"Who are you?" I demanded. "What do you want with my friend?"

"Friend?" The snake squeezed Boyd's body tighter, making his skin turn a frightening shade of blue. "What friend would bear sss-such sss-salacious inclinations-sss towards you?"

I scoffed. "Most of my friends have at one point. Doesn't change anything. Now who the hell are you?"

He smiled. His serpent mouth rose at its corners, and his eyes creased in a menacing way that I knew he was smiling, mocking me. Then, the space between us slowly diminished, like I was on a conveyor belt being pulled towards him.

In my body, I felt the heated energy speeding through my fingertips, the power increasing the closer the snake got to me.

"I have had many names-sss throughout your hisss-stories. Many myths and legends attest to my greatness-sss to this very day."

I tried not to recoil as my feet stopped right before his thick, scaled body. I was almost close enough to touch Boyd, but not quite. I wanted to just grab him and run for it. My body was on fire with the need to save him.

"Ah," the snake's forked tongue licked the top of my head. "Who can blame the middling wolf for having sss-such sss-scandalous thoughts of you. My," his tongue forked out and licked the side of my head again, making me cringe and want to hurl, "You look so much more glorious in person, my masss-sked lady."

A chill ran through me, not having heard that name in quite some time.

There was no mistaking it. Whatever this thing was, it was a part of Mr. Smith, or whatever the hell the guy's real name is.

He's not getting me, and he's sure as hell not getting Boyd. Not when I'd actually started to like Estel. My sister warrior will not lose her mate because of me.

The burning energy suddenly shot through me, coursing from my true body to this subconscious space.

"Burn in hell," I sneered, then reached out and grabbed hold of Boyd just as the fire exploded in the void of his mind.

The snake screamed a sickening, hissing scream, uncoiling around Boyd just enough for me to pull him under me, shielding him with my body as the fire raged inside of his mind, burning away the dark magic that had been poisoning him.

The snake was still screaming, slithering to find an escape.

There was no escape. The violet flames were everywhere, purifying every corner of Boyd's mind. Soon, the fire overtook him, scorching him alive in this prerogative inferno.

Then, I heard another voice, like nails on a chalkboard. It was a woman's furious cry. "You better not fail me! You better not!"

Everything was in flames, except myself and Boyd, who was still unconscious, but safe under me. I looked around everywhere and couldn't find the source of the woman's cries.

"We're waiting! In the spot at the edge of the pack. Bring her to us, and do not fail," her screeching wails were possessive, demanding, and I could feel the weight of a Luna's command in her tone.

It had no effect on me.

Soon, the flames and the female's cries died down, and the serpent was reduced to dust. There was a lightness in Boyd's subconscious now, the dark threat of whatever demon had coiled around him was all gone.

Then I saw his wolf. His wolf emerged from the ash of the serpent, looking around like he was confused.

When his wolfish eyes landed on me, he recoiled, then hung his head in shame.

"I... I let the darkness take over," he murmured, glancing up at his human still sheltered underneath me. "I brought him into my world and let that thing trap him here. What have I done?"

Knowing Boyd was now safe. I lifted myself back to my feet and walked steadily towards his wolf.

"Sirius," I whispered, remembering his name from the few times Boyd mentioned him. He ran with Cortina a few times when we were living at Broom StiXXX. I don't know him well, but I do know this wolf, and seeing the shame written all over his gaunt face, also weakened by dark magic that he had been battling inside of his head, I knew he didn't mean for any of this to happen.

"I'm so sorry, Chloe," his body shuddered, his tail tucked between his legs.

I reached out and ran my hands through his thick fur. "What happened back at that hotel?"

He hung his head lower, though he still leaned into my touch, like he was trying to soothe himself. "I marked her. Our former mate. I didn't want to, but his magic was too strong. I didn't have a choice."

That's why he couldn't feel the bond with Estel. That bitch of a Luna ruined his happiness once again.

"It's not your fault. The magic is gone now. You can be free."

He lifted his face, and his expression was filled with so much sadness. "What if I'm not free from her?"

"Do you want to be?" I asked gently.

He nodded his head, his fur tickling my fingers. "More than anything. I hate her."

I could feel it. His hatred for his former mate was so palpable.

"I know a sure way to be free of her forever," I whispered, then looked back at Boyd. "You can give him and yourself the happiness you always craved too."