firm, surrounded by her mother, Aveline, Rafe, and the pack, their combined strength pushing against the dark tide that Kate had become. But a

n clawing at her throat. "This isn't wh

ou think I want anything to do with you? You've always been the weak link, Liz! Always h

nd shook as the darkness lashed out, striking at Liz and her allies. The force sent ripples of ene

"I am done with your weak attempts to save me! I will bring

against the darkness; it was a battle against the hatred that had festered between them. "Kate, I've always believed i

der of everything I despise! You had everything handed to you on a silver plat

torm. "Kate, this isn't the answer! The darkness is consuming you

grove. "You think I care about your love? You think that will save me? I've

"You don't have to do this!" she shouted, her heart aching at the rift th

I don't want you!" Kate shrieked, her voice a blend of pain and hatred. "You're just a b

nt that had been festering for so long. The darkness around Kate grew denser, swir

brimming in her eyes. "I'm trying to save you!

g? You're the one who needs to be saved from your own naivety! You've always lived in a bu

"We can fight this together, Kate! We can take the power y

ot be held back by your foolishness! I will become the most powerful force th

think that power is the answer? You're blinded by your hatr

u don't know anything about me! You don't know what I've had

that Liz and her allies had created. The grove trembled under the weight of their c

d for her sister-the laughter they had shared, the bond that had once defined them. "Kate,

change me with your words? I'm done pretending! I w

Kate see reason; she had to break through the hatred that had formed a chasm between them. "You are

e light flow through her and out toward Kate. She could feel the bond between t

raw emotion. "I will always fight for you, no matter ho

Kate's eyes hardened, filled with hatred and determination. "Love? You thin

rove shook violently, a cacophony of light and darkness clashing in a chaotic dance. Liz br

ting within her. She would not let Kate's hatred consume her; she

through the tempest. "You can fight back!

he shadows, determined to reach her sister, to break t

a whirlwind of emotion. Liz could feel the power of her allies surrounding

ou can reach me?" she screamed, her voice a mixture of fury and desperation. "Yo

ened to consume them all. Liz felt the darkness closing in, suff

voice a beacon of defiance. "I will figh

iding with the darkness. Liz felt the warmth of her mother's magic, the streng

the light within her!" Rafe shoute

e shadows. The darkness flickered, hesitating for just a moment as the love surro

ered within Kate, a dangerous force that threatened to tear them apart. And as the grove