《The Gate Of Shadows》


 Chapter 1: Where it began…

    At first, I didn¡¯t understand what I was meant to do. I wondered why I was alive. Why did I have to live after what happened? So many died... So why was I still here? Before my fateful encounter with him. My life was simple. Why did he have to teach me how to feel?


    Why did he have to open my eyes to a world I didn¡¯t want to see? Why did he have to do all that? It would have been much better if I¡¯d never met him... But... if I never met him... I wouldn¡¯t have ever learned how life was meant to be lived. Thanks to him... I got to see beauty in this forsaken world.


    Fourteen years earlier. A month before the fall...


    Staking out the store they frequented, it didn''t take long for the boy who had caught my attention to come into view again. I had first noticed him weeks earlier while running an errand for the coven.


    What caught my eye?


    A young Lycan boy with a beaming smile strolled into a bustling game shop with his companions. Each of them belonged to his kin and hailed from the same clan.


    How can you smile like that? That was the first thought that ran through my mind.


    The enigmatic boy who captivated my attention wore striking silver hair that shone like moonlight. His fair skin perfectly complemented his captivating amber eyes¡ªa distinctive feature shared by all Lycans.


    This unique combination of features served as a telltale sign to identify them, especially when they concealed their wolf-like ears and tails with clothing.


    Their attempts to conceal their identity by wearing colored contacts made it challenging to spot them. Unfortunately, if they lacked training, their quick temper, and pride often gave them away. In their wolf form, their hair color perfectly matched the hue of their fur.


    Their humanoid form was unique, with wolf-like ears adorning their heads instead of the typical human ones. Their clothing often featured a specially designed gap to accommodate their long, fluffy tails. It appeared uncomfortable for them to keep their tails confined within their clothing for extended periods.


    Their features beckoned to me, tempting me to reach out and touch them. Yet nothing captivated me more than the boy''s radiant smile. The feeling of freedom was so intoxicating that I yearned to grasp it.


    Whenever I managed to slip away from the sisters or was running an errand for them, I sought the boys out. Concealing myself from view, I observed the wolves frolicking around the town. It was a buzzing city full of many establishments of different calibers.


    The floors were made from colorful bricks. Each color led to a different section of Silverant, our beautiful home. The scent of perfumes and foods filled the humming streets, also filled with people wandering around.


    Frequently, the boys would purchase playing cards and test them at the outdoor tables adjacent to the store they frequented. Alternatively, they would bring their electronic devices and gaming until dusk.


    On other occasions, they would make purchases and proceed to the beach to play ball or do anything that looked fun for the day. Hiding in the dark recesses of the lonely alley, I observed their infectious laughter.


    The fated day started like any other; I observed them from afar and was satisfied with that alone. The atmosphere shifted when one of the wolf boys, with a mane of brown hair, seized the silver-haired boy by the arm. Although rough play was their norm, he leaned in and whispered something to the silver-haired boy before they stepped into the shop this time.


    The situation didn''t seem significant at first, but as time passed and they still hadn''t appeared, a sense of unease began to creep in. Suddenly, I felt a firm grip on my shoulder, sending a shock through my entire body. A startled yelp escaped my lips as I quickly turned to see who had grabbed me.


    When they spoke, my heart plummeted.


    ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± The sound of a young boy''s voice filled my eardrums, clear and bright.


    My hands shook uncontrollably, turning to face him. I immediately recognized him as the wolf boy I had been secretly observing for weeks. His expression was alarmingly as if he had caught me peering at him.


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    A wave of panic swept over me, glancing around, but there was no one else in sight.


    He let out a heavy sigh before speaking again. ¡°Don¡¯t want to talk now? You¡¯ve been watching us. Who are you?¡±


    It left me speechless.


    They knew?! How long?!


    If they knew the truth, I would be...


    Suddenly, swallowing was more complicated to do.


    If the sisters found out, I¡¯ll...


    Especially today when I wasn¡¯t supposed to be out, let alone be noticed by someone. I needed to escape before he reported or took me back to the sisters. However, the boy''s gaze left me reeling blank.


    ¡°I¡¯m nobody!¡± I bolted away.


    The young boy effortlessly closed the distance between us, his strong grip seizing my arm and yanking me towards him, sending us both sprawling to the ground. I had no idea what I was doing in that panicked moment of flight. Lycans, with their incredible speed, outpaced all races.


    Their power was only rivaled by that of vampires. As a mere human, I stood no chance against him. Despite his young age, he possessed the ability to break my arm with ease. Yet, his grip remained surprisingly gentle, even as we tumbled together.


    We stumbled onto a pile of empty crates that a merchant had left in the earlier hours of the day. Securely, I fell onto his chest as he took the brunt of the fall.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± The boy complained while still holding me closer.


    My heart sank when I saw blood trickling down his forehead. The crimson stream originated from a deep gash caused by one of the sharp edges of the crates. I began apologizing profusely in a panicked attempt to distance myself from the situation.


    However, my efforts were thwarted when he held me firmly, making any escape impossible. Once more, I stumbled and found myself in his embrace. However, his hold on me this time was more vital than ever. It was suffocating, like a delicate butterfly trapped in a sturdy net.


    I struggled to break free from his firm yet tender grasp.


    ¡°Fenris!¡± his brown-haired friend called from behind us.


    His friends caught up with us after hearing the loud noise we had made. Fenris grabbed my other arm despite their presence, firmly preventing me from attempting to escape again.


    ¡°I gotcha, you aren¡¯t going anywhere.¡± Fenris smiled brightly.


    It amazed me that he could still smile like that despite being injured.


    How¡¯s that even possible? Aren¡¯t you angry with me?


    The enigmatic smile that held me spellbound eluded my grasp of its significance.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± His companion with golden locks inquired, bending down to get a better view.


    I found myself in a vulnerable position, surrounded by four wolf boys, one of whom had taken me captive. It was clear that none of them intended to let me go.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. It was my fault anyway. Tripped over my shoelace.¡± Fenris answered without setting me free.


    He accepted the blame for the incident, fully aware that I would seize any opportunity to escape. However, his reasons for shouldering the responsibility for my error remained a puzzle.


    The boy with grey hair caught a whiff of a familiar scent, causing his ears to twitch and his eyes to narrow in recognition.


    ¡°It smells like magic. She¡¯s a mage?!¡± The young boy announced confidently, his nostrils flaring.


    The brown-haired boy''s face contorted in disappointment as he couldn''t help but slap his face upon hearing his words.


    ¡°No, dumb ass, she¡¯s human. Mages can only be elves.¡± He corrected the grey-haired wolf, causing him to gasp.


    ¡°A witch?! Is she trying to curse us?! Should we take her to Cerberus?!¡± He added, intensifying the entire event.


    The mention of the organization''s name sent shivers down my spine. The fundamental distinction between mages and witches/warlocks lay in the origin of our magical abilities. Elven mages derived their power from the elemental forces of nature.


    The witches acquired it through sacrificial magic, also called death magic. This type of magic was even more sinister than dark magic, which was already considered taboo despite being used by a particular sub-species of elves.


    The practice of witchcraft was universally feared and seen as highly dangerous by all races. My people bore the blame for causing devastating plagues and widespread disorder throughout our history, leading to our stigmatization.


    To make matters worse, there was even an instance when we attempted to bring about the world''s end. During those times, Cerberus was an organization founded by Lycans that stopped them. A robust peacekeeping force wore the three-headed dog as an emblem, the gatekeeper to the underworld.


    ¡°Shut up, Ezra. If it¡¯s a curse, she¡¯s trying to cast. She clearly failed. No spell takes days to cast. Plus, she looks younger than us. Doubt she can even cast yet.¡± Fenris snapped at the grey wolf, who quickly stopped in his tracks.


    I quivered with fear, frozen by the name that had left the young wolf¡¯s lips.


    Are they going to report to me? The sisters...


    In this society, witches were marginalized and oppressed, occupying the lowest tier of the social hierarchy. They were scorned and looked down upon by others, while Lycans held the highest status and acted as protectors of all races. Their inherent resistance to most magical spells elevated them to the apex of the races, instilling them with an aura of power and authority.


    Their sole contenders in power were vampires, yet they were vulnerable to sunlight. It wouldn''t cause them to burn, but it would significantly drain their energy. Consequently, most used umbrellas when venturing out during the daylight hours.


    Some individuals consciously decided to avoid it, leading them to become night owls.


    Before I could devise a solution to escape the difficult situation, Fenris asked the question again. ¡°Why were you watching us?¡±


    The unsettling question left me shaken. I frantically searched for an escape route but to no avail. I found myself ensnared in a wolf den.

 Chapter 2: Feelings…

    Clutching onto the hand that had imprisoned me, I felt my head tilt downward toward the cold, unforgiving floor. At that moment, I realized it was my chance to break free from him, the only opportunity I had to erase all traces of him from my life.


    If I had seized that moment, everything would have been much easier. Alone and yearning, I longed for something more than I currently possessed.


    ¡°It...¡± I trailed off, shaking my head.


    The weight of everyone''s gaze bearing down on me felt suffocating. In the secluded alley, the only presence with me was the wolf boys, and the absence of the usual bustling pedestrians from the main street made the situation even more daunting. I felt the pressure become too much to bear.


    Letting out a heavy sigh, I was startled when Fenris gently took hold of my cheek, guiding my gaze to his piercing amber eyes.


    ¡°It what?¡± he asked, tilting his head.


    With a firm grasp, I jerked his hand away from my face, determined to finish my sentence. Despite feeling unworthy of his touch, I knew I wouldn''t be let go until I responded to the curious gaze of the young silver Lycan, who appeared intrigued by me.


    ¡°It looked like fun,¡± "I mumbled softly, my insides feeling empty.


    The realization that they possessed something I could never attain pained me deeply. I was unsure whether my expression or voice had provoked a reaction in Fenris, but his eyes narrowed as he rose. He then reached for my hand, gently tugging me up.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± the yellow-haired boy questioned Fenris.


    The silver wolf insisted on pulling me along with him.


    ¡°She¡¯ll join us for today,¡± he answered, making my heart stop.


    What?!


    He was relentlessly determined to bring me back to the store, pulling me along. For weeks, I had observed him and his companions, feeling we inhabited entirely different worlds. The street stretched out between us like an impassable chasm.


    The warm sunlight beckoned him to pull me onto the forbidden street, where our worlds collided with unstoppable force. This should have been the end of everything, the point where I should have been sent to Cerberus, as Ezra had suggested.


    The silver-haired boy gestured for me to sit next to him, taking the time to introduce everyone. First, Fenris introduced himself, followed by the sharp brown-haired boy, Liam. Then, the easy-going yellow-haired wolf, Owen, and finally, the slightly annoyed grey-haired Ezra.


    Everyone took their turn introducing themselves when all eyes turned to me, waiting for my name to roll off my tongue. But I hesitated, my words catching in my throat, unlike everyone else''s smooth introductions.


    Why can¡¯t they just let me go?


    Fenris sensed my hesitation and gently placed his hand on my head, offering a comforting gesture before revealing his hand of cards. Once again, his unexpected action took me by surprise.


    Isn¡¯t he going to press me for it?


    ¡°You don¡¯t know how to play, right?¡± His voice was warm and welcoming.


    I raised my head, orbs flickering, before gazing down at the solid, polished wooden table, shaking my head in disbelief.


    This can¡¯t be true... There has to be an ulterior motive.


    This wolf couldn¡¯t be this na?ve and pleasant to a stranger like me. One thing the sisters beat into me was never to trust the wolves or anyone other than the coven itself.


    ¡°Ezra, sit down. Let¡¯s show her how it¡¯s done. Or are you scared that a girl¡¯s joining us?¡± Fenris deliberately challenged the grey-haired wolf, who was already jumpy.


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    The adults had made sure to instill in him the knowledge of the dangers posed by witches. However, the other boys seemed comfortable around me. Ezra, on the other hand, harbored prejudice towards me.


    ¡°N-no!¡± Ezra stumbled, taking out his cards from a pouch.


    Liam sat beside Fenris while Ezra positioned himself on the opposite side with Owen. The silver-haired boy politely asked Liam to shuffle his deck. In a show of comfort and support, he held onto my hand, reassuring me that there was no need for me to flee.


    Although, in truth, it would¡¯ve been of little help even if I had tried to escape. He would catch me again with ease.


    Are you testing me?


    I couldn''t quite discern his expression, but how he held my hand was so delicate that a comforting warmth surged through my entire body. It marked the first occasion someone other than my mother had touched me in such a tender manner.


    Gentle, but why? You don¡¯t know me.


    Fenris would only let go of my hand to play his cards. With each passing turn, he meticulously narrated his every move, providing a detailed explanation of his actions and the overarching goal of the game, which was to triumph over every menacing monster card.


    The game allowed players to draw prize cards until all six were claimed. A player had to defeat six monster cards and collect all the prize cards to win. Fenris took the time to explain each move to ensure that I understood the game.


    Even though it meant Ezra knew what he was planning, the gentleness swayed me in ways I thought impossible. Back then, I was only ten years old. I had little concept of love other than what I felt for my mother.


    In the depths of my being, a delightful tingling sensation would surge through me every time I was in the presence of Fenris. Even observing him from a distance, I could feel this inexplicable and wondrous feeling blossoming. I couldn''t comprehend it, nor did I desire to, yet it was undeniably beautiful.


    After the intense match ended, Ezra emerged triumphant. Instead of concentrating on winning and catching his opponent off guard, Fenris spent the entire time explaining the unfolding events to me.


    Despite this, the grey wolf didn''t miss the chance to boast at his friend, who shrugged it off nonchalantly. Liam and Owen took turns while Fenris, Ezra, and I watched intently. With each match that ended, I delved deeper into the intricacies of the card game, observing their subtle reactions as one outplayed the other.


    The suppressed curses and muttered frustrations elicited a slight giggle from me. My unexpected outburst caught everyone''s attention, bringing me to a sudden halt. Although I was content just observing them play, Fenris unexpectedly seized Liam¡¯s deck and passed it to me.


    ¡°Play one with me.¡± He challenged me, putting me in the spotlight.


    Is it because I giggled? A punishment?


    ¡°N-no... I-I...¡± I stumbled, turning my gaze away.


    The silver wolf sighed before standing up and taking the chair before me. It caused my eyes to shift towards him again.


    ¡°Please?¡± His pleading expression caused my heart to skip a beat, leaving me feeling flustered.


    The intensity of the wolf¡¯s gaze felt almost illegal, peering directly into the depths of my soul. I stole a glance at Liam, hoping for some guidance.


    He smiled, nodding, ¡°Shuffle them.¡±


    I awkwardly attempted to pick them up, careful not to let them fall to the ground. It was a small miracle that they didn''t, considering my hands were still trembling. It wasn''t the familiar sense of apprehension that I was accustomed to. Instead, this feeling was something entirely novel and unfamiliar.


    Excitement¡­


    I had observed these boys playing without their awareness for weeks, never once considering that I could join in. The idea of being in their presence was overwhelming.


    ¡°Just take your time reading what each card does. If you don¡¯t know, you can ask Liam. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll help you out.¡± Fenris winked at his friend, triggering him to chuckle.


    My heart pounded as I watched intently, determined not to miss a single move. After hours of observation, I grasped the mechanics of the game. However, I was acutely aware of my lack of experience in strategically playing, an essential skill for success.


    When I raised my eyes from the cards in my hand, I locked myself in Fenris''s intense stare. Not once did he divert his gaze to his cards during our game. It was as if he was studying me instead.


    It dawned on me that the true purpose of our card game wasn¡¯t simply to win. Fenris was helping me come out of my shell. This eventually led to him allowing me to win my first match. While most people would be happy with a victory, I wasn''t.


    Ezra made fun of Fenris for being beaten by a girl. The experience left a lingering sense of bitterness within me.


    Why did you let me win? Are you testing me? It has to be!


    Questions bombarded me when I glanced away from him.


    ¡°Why did you let me win?¡± I muttered, clenching my fists.


    I desired no sympathy.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t let you. You won fair and square,¡± Fenris responded with a bold lie.


    For weeks, I had been closely observing him. His friends consistently struggled to win against him. With my limited experience, I¡­


    ¡°Liar! I¡¯ve seen you play! Being beaten by someone like me! It¡¯s not possible for you!¡± I huffed, puffing my cheeks.


    I didn''t require his kindness, even though it filled me with mixed feelings.


    ¡°Are you angry?¡± he questioned, tapping the table.


    I clicked my tongue, averting my gaze from the silver wolf. Despite not feeling outright fear, my body trembled with an unidentifiable emotion. The other boys stayed quiet as Fenris unexpectedly rose and sat beside me.


    ¡°Finally! All I¡¯ve seen you do today is shy and hesitant. It seems you can get out if you want to. Well, if angry enough, at least.¡± he chuckled, triggering me to glance at him, flustered by his intentions.


    Why are you like this? It¡¯s too bright. Your smile¡­

 Chapter 3: Reality

    When seen up close, Fenris¡¯s smile shone even more radiant. It had a mesmerizing effect, almost melting away my anger.


    Oh, how I wished I could smile like you.


    His carefree demeanor suggested a boy without a worry in the world. I resisted the urge to look at his face and turned away again. He proposed another round, this time with higher stakes. If he emerged victorious, I would have to reveal my name. Conversely, if I won, I could request anything from him.


    Reluctantly, I agreed, annoyed at his underhanded tactics that deprived me of a fair game, mainly since it was my first. This match unfolded in a completely unparalleled manner. He defeated me without a shred of compassion. This time, there was something he wanted to have.


    Before I could even comprehend what was happening, I found myself in a situation that was over in the blink of an eye. The other boys struggled to contain their amusement while Fenris, with a sly smile, reached out his hand and asked for my name. His gestures constantly stirred my heart in unexpected ways.


    Reluctantly, I succumbed to the silver-haired boy.


    ¡°Lilith,¡± I mumbled, shifting my orbs to the side.


    Fenris¡¯s face lit up with a radiant beam of joy when he heard my name.


    ¡°Well, Lilith¡¯s a pretty name. Why didn¡¯t you want to say it in the first place?¡± He rolled his eyes, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s nice to meet you finally.¡±


    Upon hearing my name, I anticipated a different reaction. It seemed as though they were unaware of the significance behind my name. Yet I longed to blend in with them, hoping for a sense of normalcy. The sensation in my cheeks was so intense that it felt like they might detach from my face.


    I timidly accepted his open invitation, mirroring his smile. As I reached out, a glimmer of hope filled my heart. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt a sense of relief and the possibility of a new beginning.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± I giggled, causing Fenris and the other boys to fall into a stunned silence.


    They appeared flustered for an inexplicable reason. Fenris¡¯s recovery was challenging Liam, who stuttered out a hesitant ¡°yes¡± before resuming the matches. The day spent with them provided a liberating escape from the looming obligations awaiting me back home in the coven.


    Fortune would have it; my coven was gone until nightfall, sparing me to fret about their return. When the sun dipped below the horizon, everyone began gathering their belongings.


    Then, Liam approached me, extending a bag in my direction. ¡°This is for you.¡±


    I hesitantly reached for the bag, feeling confused and curious. As I tilted my head, I couldn¡¯t fathom why they had given me anything. Then, Fenris revealed they had purchased a deck for me to use the next time I joined them.


    ¡°I can come again?¡± I inquired, feeling wholly bewildered by their motives.


    Especially when everyone enthusiastically agreed, with even Ezra chiming in with a remark.


    ¡°It was fun to be with you for being a baby witch.¡± The grey wolf huffed, crossing his arms.


    The other boys gazed at him with disapproval. Nonetheless, that compliment ranked as the second-best I had ever received. The first was when Fenris complimented my name as pretty. It made me feel valued despite being a witch.


    My laughter filled the air for the first time since we had met. Once again, I noticed their flustered expressions in response to my unexpected outburst.


    Fenris cleared his throat before speaking once more. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark. Want us to walk you home?¡±


    I was jolted back to reality as a wave of realization washed over me, causing me to tremble where I stood. I took a few hesitant steps back, shaking my head. It was clear to me that we inhabited two entirely different worlds. The thought of the sisters ever catching sight of them made me run cold.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. Thank you.¡± My voice trembled, feeling small in their gaze.


    Fenris¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, ¡°Ah, okay. So, see you tomorrow?¡±


    I felt bewildered and desperately sought an answer. Opportunities came and went, but I was uncertain when I could find a way to break free from the coven.


    In a calm tone, I found myself unable to complete my sentence. I struggled to find the right words that wouldn¡¯t sound suspicious. ¡°I don¡¯t...¡±


    Fenris seemed to understand my unspoken concerns effortlessly as I was lost in thought.


    With a warm smile, he said, ¡°I hope you can.¡±


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    After that, they all bid me farewell. I hurried back home before the sisters could notice my absence. Our coven was situated outside the town, concealed by a magical barrier within the evergreen forest. It wasn¡¯t unknown to Cerberus; they regularly checked on our activities.


    However, what transpired within its walls was hostile towards every other race. It was different, even if they were on their best behavior during the day and out of sight at night. Fortunately, I made it home that day before Grandmother learned about my excursion.


    She was deeply engrossed in a mysterious ritual, and her companions diligently prepared to perform a powerful spell. After years of preparation, they finally reached the culmination of their efforts. I hoped everything would finally settle once the coven¡¯s spell was completed.


    Retreating to my room, I carefully concealed the hole I had clumsily made in the wooden wall with one of my many paintings. As I ventured forward, the aged wooden floor protested with a soft, eerie creak under the pressure of my steps. My gaze darted toward the door, hoping for no unexpected intrusions.


    Thankfully, I knew that the likelihood of any unwelcome visitors was slim. No one checked on me unless it was morning and night. Releasing a sigh of relief, I sat on my bed, pouring the items the boys got me into it. My eyes sparkled, seeing booster packs, a deck, some sleeves, and somewhere to store them.


    The emotions stirred up by the Lycan boys resurfaced within me. I was unsure about what I was feeling. With a smile on my face, I opened the box and read the instructions that came with it. I spent hours going over each card, attempting to grasp the game. I only stopped when I needed to conceal the items from the witches, who had given me food for the night.


    Surprisingly, the simple piece of bread they brought tasted exquisite that evening. My mind couldn¡¯t help but dwell on thoughts of Fenris and his companions as I contemplated strategies to outwit them in the game after I immersed myself in yet another grimoire.


    The following day, I bided my time until the witches bid farewell, allowing me to slip away unnoticed. Despite their presence at home, I was irresistibly drawn to pay them another visit. The intense yearning to meet them and test my strategies eclipsed my rational thinking.


    I longed for the joy and laughter that awaited me. Upon arriving at the familiar alley, I froze. Negative thoughts clawed at my mind, threatening to overwhelm me. To my great surprise, Fenris approached me when he spotted me in the distance. Taking hold of my hand, he led me back into the warm embrace of the sunlight.


    This routine continued for a week, and I sneaked out to spend time with them. Over time, I smiled more often and felt increasingly at ease in their company. Ezra¡¯s guarded demeanor began to soften, allowing me to see a new side. I could sense a shift in his perception of me as if I had transcended being just a witch in his eyes.


    This shift felt like a significant achievement, perhaps even more than my triumph against Owen. As time passed, I gradually opened up, engaging in more conversations and sharing more laughter. The wolf boys injected vibrant colors into my once cold and grey world.


    Every day, they defied my sister¡¯s expectations. The air was still, a deceptive tranquility that preceded the impending storm. Unbeknownst to me, a single action of mine would swiftly wipe those smiles from their faces. It didn¡¯t take long for the coven to notice that something was also amiss with me.


    A week and a half had passed since I first met the boys when I couldn¡¯t recite an incantation word for word. It was a frustrating mistake that I should have dedicated more time to studying. However, my mind was full of other thoughts.


    After I failed the exam, I pleaded with the examiner not to tell Grandmother, fearing her response. Sadly, all I got was a slap for being disrespectful. This marked the first time I wouldn¡¯t see the boys waiting for me to laugh with them. Grandmother dragged me into a stone-cold room in the basement of our wooden home, stripping me naked.


    Taking out a leather whip, I could only cringe when she swung it my way, only to stop as if she were taunting me. This wasn¡¯t the first time I experienced this; it wouldn¡¯t be the last. My body remembered all my punishments. Trembling where I sat, I felt my body run fridge when she snapped on the stone floor beside me.


    In the wake of my mother¡¯s passing two years ago, my grandmother¡¯s heart became consumed by pure hatred. I found myself becoming the object of her wrath as well. Although it had been some time since I had been on the receiving end of her anger, I knew that any outward display of emotion or distress would only fan the flames of her fury.


    My thoughts drifted back to when Cerberus¡¯s ruthless raid turned my world upside down. Two years ago, before my mother¡¯s passing, my life was vastly different. It lacked vibrancy, but she illuminated my existence. I had never known a shortage of love until she departed from my life.


    The mental state of my mother was fragile. Per my grandmother¡¯s account, neither she nor my father had desired me. It was only my mother who truly longed for me despite struggling to cope with my father¡¯s abandonment. His departure took a toll on her mental well-being, causing her to lose her sanity gradually.


    This strained my relationship with my grandmother, as her daughter was also her guiding light. Although my grandmother never hurt me while my mother was alive, she never cared for me.


    The raid...


    My mother lost control and attacked them when the officers entered our room. It resulted in her death, along with a few members of Cerberus and other sisters who came to her defense. At that moment, the covens and my grandmother were consumed by an overwhelming hatred toward Cerberus and all those who had oppressed us.


    Despite her best efforts to make me despise the world, her actions only succeeded in fueling my hatred for life itself. Confining the agony within, all I could do was endure, hoping for an escape. After she finished lashing me raw, she drenched me with alcohol, leaving the liquid to sting my broken skin.


    They dragged me back into my cursed room once again, leaving me on the cold wooden floor, naked. My only saving grace was they didn¡¯t suspect my extracurricular activities. They labeled me as lazy because I didn¡¯t study enough. Mastering fifty complex spells a day was quite demanding, mainly due to committing each one to memory.


    Most witches record these spells and instructions in their grimoires, but for some reason, they insisted that I memorized them perfectly. Grandmother always expected a level of excellence that felt impossible to achieve. After enduring the punishment, I usually found solace in tears, but the emotional release eluded me. this time


    The absence of tears on my cheeks only intensified my profound emptiness. All I yearned for was to reach them, but my current condition made that impossible. Every ounce of strength had drained from my body, rendering me immobile. As consciousness slipped away, the image of Fenris and his luminous smile was the last thought to occupy my mind.


    Will... I ever see it again?

 Chapter 4: The Calm…

    The following day, I remained on the cold wooden floor where the sisters had left me the previous night. Next to me were bandages, a pouch full of coins, and a list of errands to run. This was another part of the punishment, along with no meal for my empty stomach.


    Struggling to get up, I attempted to bandage myself with the limited medical supplies they left. Despite my efforts, the makeshift bandages provided little relief. However, I knew I had to push through the pain and get moving.


    Failing to complete all the errands by the end of the day would have significant consequences for me. The first steps were usually the hardest ones. Each one sent sharp stings through my senses. As I walked through the halls, not one of the sisters showed any concern or willingness to stop and offer me help.


    The searing pain spread through every inch of my body, leaving me numb and struggling to maintain a facade of normalcy once I stepped beyond the barrier. I had to don a fake mask, pretending that everything was fine despite the agony coursing through me.


    No one ever bothered to spare me a second glance. I could have easily brushed it off in the past, but this time, an overwhelming weight settled on my chest.


    Is this what kindness does? Am I spoiled?


    The first item on the list had to be retrieved from an herb that flourished near the manor. The coven meticulously cultivated this particular one to ensure it met their spellcasting standards. The remaining items were found by visiting various merchants around town.


    Though most were animal body parts, when I was on the tenth item, my legs couldn¡¯t keep up with me anymore. The items themselves weren¡¯t heavy. They were small and in negligible quantities, but the walk and whipping exhausted me.


    Leaning against a weathered wooden post, I winced as a twinge of pain shot through me. A familiar voice reached my ears, wrapping me in a comforting warmth that felt like entering sunlight on a cold day.


    No¡­ not today¡­ please¡­


    ¡°Hey!¡± Fenris came from behind the post, followed by the others.


    Once before me, his radiant shine caused my poor eyes to shift away from him.


    ¡°We were waiting for you yesterday. What happened?¡± He asked, leaning closer.


    I shut my eyes and shook my head.


    Why are they here? I¡¯m not near the shop!


    Despite my efforts to stay away, it was futile. They had found me, and I was powerless to stop it.


    Can I hide it? I have to! If the sisters found out, I... They... No, never.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I had to study all day yesterday.¡± I struggled to fabricate an excuse or a lie.


    As I glanced toward the silver wolf, I noticed his eyes narrowing before he tilted his head. Subsequently, he instructed Liam and the others to fetch some ice cream from the nearby shop. Once they had departed, he seized me, pulling me out of their line of sight.


    Once in the alley, my back went against the wall; I tried to hide the pain that it inflicted on me. However, when he sniffed me, my world suddenly froze, triggering my cheeks to burn.


    How can I stop you? I can¡¯t let you!


    Before I could grasp a way to halt his actions, he uttered words that sent a shiver down my spine.


    ¡°Hey, why do you smell like alcohol? Is that blood, too?!¡± His eyes widened, biting onto his lip.


    ¡°No, I-I... I-I... I just... I... I spilled some on me and... f-fell and scratched my back a little. That¡¯s all!¡± I struggled, voice shaking.


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    ¡°Really?¡± He growled, eyes giving off a soft hue.


    The odor emanating from my body was peculiar. Even if everything I said was true, the intensity of the smell was far beyond what a mere spill of alcohol could produce. It was as if I had drenched myself in gallons of liquid. Additionally, my skin had become flaky due to prolonged exposure to it.


    The clumsy self-aftercare I had given didn¡¯t help my situation. The exposed areas of my back allowed fresh blood to seep into my dark clothing. Fortunately, I was wearing a black dress to conceal the bloodstains. However, there was no hiding it from Fenris.


    A Lycan¡¯s sense of smell, even young, was much more than a simple human. He brushed off my excuse, swiftly grabbing the list from my hands. In my attempt to retrieve it, a sharp, shooting pain coursed down my back, taking me by surprise.


    He stood there, his piercing gaze fixated on me as my facade faltered momentarily, betrayed by the stinging that contorted my features. When he unfurled the paper, a list of twenty-five items awaited me, with only ten crossed out.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been doing this like that? Are you crazy? Why didn¡¯t you ask for help?¡± Fenris interrogated with a hint of disapproval.


    I stood in silence, bowing my head once again towards the floor. He wrapped his arms around me, understanding I had no words to offer in return. It was the first time anyone had held me close since my mother passed away.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it hurt?¡± His voice shook, gripping me tighter. ¡°Damn it! Lilith, please call out for help!¡±


    It was unexpected; his sudden touch left me at a loss for how to react.


    Why do you care? Can¡¯t you be like everyone else who ignores me?


    Resting my head against his chest, I could feel the rapid rhythm of his heartbeat resonating through me. When Liam and the others returned with delicious ice cream treats, my eyes lit up as I noticed they had also thoughtfully picked one out for me.


    Seeing that I couldn¡¯t reach it, Fenris kindly grabbed the first thing I¡¯d eat all day.


    ¡°Hey, guys, I¡¯m gonna help her with these errands. They¡¯re too much for one girl to handle. So, carry on without me today.¡± Fenris declared, leaving me speechless.


    Before Ezra could protest, Liam swiftly stepped in, firmly grabbing his arm and leading him away. Owen followed closely, waving at us with a warm smile. The brown wolf¡¯s keen intuition always set him apart from the others.


    Yet, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had also noticed my condition. After they departed, Fenris kindly offered me an ice cream cone. I had only encountered them because they had come to purchase some ice cream.


    ¡°You should eat it now before it melts.¡± He smiled.


    I extended my hand toward it, my movements deliberate and cautious.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never had ice cream before,¡± I whispered, gazing at it like a precious gift.


    Fenris was left speechless as his eyes opened wide, revealing his astonishment. He appeared to be on the brink of uttering something, but then he hesitated, biting his lip before ultimately deciding to articulate a different thought.


    ¡°Well, eat it then. I¡¯ll buy you another one if you want more after.¡± Fenris smiled.


    A delightful chill spread through my mouth as I savored my first bite of the delectable treat. The creamy, luscious texture and the unique, unfamiliar flavor left me utterly enchanted. It was an unparalleled experience, my first taste of something exquisitely delightful.


    I couldn¡¯t know what expression I had planted, but it resulted in Fenris chuckling contentedly. I consumed the ice cream much faster than anticipated, leaving me with a slight headache. This only seemed to amuse the wolf even more.


    ¡°Silly, don¡¯t eat so fast!¡± He chuckled, tail swaying side to side. ¡°Do you like it? It¡¯s vanilla!¡±


    I nodded, unable to stop a smile from forming on my lips. He swiftly and with brief hesitation licked the corner of my mouth before licking his lips, too. It sent my poor heart into a raging storm, eyes opened wider than ever before.


    ¡°Yum,¡± Fenris savored the rich, creamy flavor of the ice cream he had slyly taken from me, only to realize his misdeed after indulging in its sweetness.


    The blush on our cheeks deepened into a rosy hue. I couldn¡¯t lift my gaze from the floor as if it held some mysterious pull in my eyes. I struggled to contain the wild thumping of my heart, fearing it might break free from my chest.


    Every fiber of my being felt like it was on the verge of detonation.


    Unaware of how his actions made me feel, Fenris turned around and said, ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s get going! Hop on!¡±


    His voice was faster than usual, and there was also a slight change in pitch.


    Are you like me?


    I found myself in a state of conflict, hesitating over my decision. However, his persistent pouting eventually wore me down, and I relented to his demand. I knew I had to finish the list, and he was adamant about not letting me go alone.


    As he lifted me onto his back, I instinctively wrapped my arms tightly around him, afraid of falling. At that moment, his touch seemed to have the power to make all the pain in the world disappear.


    Fenris looked at me with a furrowed brow, concern evident as he asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    He believed that I was causing myself more harm by clinging too tightly, but the discomfort I felt then was nothing in comparison to what I had experienced before he entered my life. His closeness was so intense that I momentarily forgot the reason behind his actions.


    The pain I experienced paled in comparison to the comforting, soothing warmth that enveloped my entire being. It made me yearn for something beyond what I had.


    If only¡­ Things can stay like this forever.

 Chapter 5: Bright Light…

    The whole experience felt like a dream. I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to ride a Lycan.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I leaned in close, speaking softly as I noticed the back of Fenris''s neck taking on a delicate shade of pink.


    I knew wolves ran hot, but you¡­


    I felt the comforting warmth of his body pressed against mine, like a cocoon of safety and reassurance. It was my first time embarking on a quest to collect items with a companion and having his assistance made the experience so much more enjoyable. With his help, I gathered nearly all the items on the list in a fraction of the time it would¡¯ve taken me alone.


    I mounted his back with ease, feeling the relief as we moved. It seemed as though the sisters'' attempt to punish me had backfired. Of course, that was a secret I would keep to myself. My only task was to hold the list and guide him to the shops.


    Fenris took charge of the negotiations and made purchases using the coins provided by the coven. While on him, a subtle aroma of roses wafted from his person. I couldn''t tell whether it resulted from a fragrant perfume or if he had a garden of roses at home, but I found his scent quite enchanting.


    His presence brought an unexpected sense of calm over me. No matter how lengthy my errand was, he remained steadfast and unwavering, carrying me without hesitation. His unyielding strength compelled me to depend on him more than I anticipated.


    On the way to the final destination, I couldn''t resist touching his adorable ears after staring at them for hours. However, when I did, he flinched, tightened his grip on my thigh, and slightly growled at me. I was taken aback by the fact that he displayed no signs of anger.


    His primary concern appeared to be the potential consequences if he had failed to catch himself.


    ¡°Do you want to fall?¡± Fenris huffed, holding onto me tighter.


    My body reacted instinctively, sending chills down my spine. I quickly withdrew from his ears; my mind flooded with negative thoughts.


    ¡°Sorry... I-I...¡± I trailed off, shaking where I stood.


    He sighed deeply, feeling the tension leave his body as he settled into a more comfortable position.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can touch them if you want. Just let me know before you do. It tickles, and I could¡¯ve hurt you without wanting to.¡± He mumbled, guiding me to a beachfront bench and allowing me to sit and take in the view.


    We were only a few short distances away from the last shop.


    Why worry about hurting me?


    He should have cast me aside like a discarded bag if it troubled him. The anguish wouldn''t have been as severe as enduring a whipping. The wolf''s behavior puzzled me, but he surprised me with each step we took together. To my astonishment, he suddenly knelt before me, a gesture that left me in awe. I gazed at him, feeling unsure about how to proceed.


    The eyes of strangers around us seemed to fixate on our interaction. His cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as he grew increasingly impatient with my inability to decide.


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    ¡°Do it,¡± Fenris muttered, a deep blush coloring his cheeks.


    My cheeks flushed with the same hue as his eyes averted from mine. Once again, my indecision seemed to unsettle the petite silver wolf before me. This time, rather than being tender, he was more assertive, firmly grasping my hands and guiding them to rest on his head.


    His hair felt like silk beneath my fingertips, an unparalleled softness I had never experienced before.


    ¡°Just do it, Lilith,¡± He growled, avoiding my gaze.


    Slowly, I brushed against his soft hair and onto the clouds he called ears. Suddenly, I found myself holding them in my hands. The softness of his ears against my skin sent a delightful shiver down my spine. His ears twitched in response to the gentle sensation of my touch.


    Despite his discomfort, he never voiced any complaints. Instead, he averted his gaze, leaving me to ponder what emotions he experienced when my hands were on his ears.


    Can it be anything like when my mother used to play with my hair?


    As I gently touched the base of his ears, I was struck by the sudden realization of the silkiness of his hair, a feature that I had admired from a distance for the longest time. Pedestrians hurled comments in our direction, creating a cacophony of voices that soon surrounded us.


    ¡°Aw, isn¡¯t that cute?¡± A human mother cooed to her daughter.


    I reluctantly pulled back my hands, feeling embarrassment wash over me. Fenris struggled to compose himself, trying to regain his lost pride after publicly letting me take over. Most remarks were similar to this until an elderly Lycan noticed us.


    The comment that received the most attention was the one comparing us to "young love," a resemblance usually found only in dreams. However, the older man seemed unable to tolerate the perceived innocence and sweetness.


    ¡°Oi, stupid boy! Why do you let her do that?! Aren¡¯t you scared you¡¯ll bring a bad name to your family by hanging out with a witch?!¡± The man snarled ferociously, his nostrils flaring.


    Fenris recoiled, swiftly pivoting towards the unexpected intruder. At that moment, I began understanding the depth of the sisters'' animosity towards Lycans. His eyes seethed with contempt directed at me despite never encountering this man.


    The young wolf had experienced embarrassment in the past, but this encounter made Fenris feel uneasy. His defensive stance was immediate, hinting at the pride and hot tempers typical of Lycans, especially when interacting with one another.


    In the wolf hierarchy, there were always two alphas, and the remaining members of each clan were betas. Silverant''s clan stood out as the largest within the Lycan hierarchy, serving as the capital of Lyari, the Lycan nation.


    ¡°What I do has nothing to do with you, old man. Keep walking.¡± Fenris emitted a low, menacing growl as he stood in a protective stance, ready to defend us.


    I stood up from my seat and reached out to gently pull on Fenris''s shirt from behind. I was cautious not to attract any attention or provoke a conflict with someone bigger than us. In his presence, we felt small and insignificant, like little shrimps.


    But Lycans¡­


    ¡°P-Please... L- Let us go.¡± I stumbled over my words, only to have the man scream at me to be quiet.


    The scene made me cringe as Fenris growled even louder at the man staring at me with scorn. The older man chuckled in response to the little Lycan¡¯s feeble attempt at aggression. The wolf, with its fierce gaze and menacing posture, was a stark contrast to the endearing appearance of the boys.


    Its presence stirred memories of the tragic day when my mother''s life was cut short by the officers who ultimately put an end to her rampage. My entire body shook with a sense of powerlessness.


    Fenris clutched the hand that gripped his shirt, casting a fleeting glance in my direction as if silently assuring me that everything would eventually be alright.


    The man spat on the floor, sneering at us once more. ¡°You should be ashamed to be seen with a witch! Don¡¯t you know they¡¯re vermin that need extermination?!¡±


    Fenris refused to back down, advancing confidently towards the man. The little silver Lycan displayed unwavering fearlessness. Despite being at a clear disadvantage if a fight were to ensue, he stood his ground with a sense of determination.


    ¡°Shut up, old man! She¡¯s done nothing wrong! And not all witches are villains! Most of our herbalists here are witches!¡± He snapped, voice rumbling.


    The older man chuckled as he scrutinized the small Lycan boy who stood protectively by the side of the miniature, fearsome witch. It was an unusual sight that he disapproved of. However, as he observed more closely, his eyes widened in realization, and he instinctively covered his open mouth with his hands.

 Chapter 6: Too Bright…

    The aged lycan let out a weary exhale, the weight of the years evident in the slow shake of his head. ¡°Wait¡­ It can¡¯t be. Aren¡¯t you the heir from the Silver Fang family?¡±


    Fenris growled, tensing up at the sound of that question.


    ¡°What a disgrace you¡¯ll be if your father doesn¡¯t set you straight soon.¡± The man scoffed before walking away.


    The Silver Fang family was the dominant clan that led all the other wolf packs, holding the highest position in the hierarchy of wolves. They were considered the top dogs, even above the alphas of each clan. Additionally, they were responsible for running Cerberus.


    The clan had numerous members, but their distinctive feature was their silver hair, which made them easily recognizable. Although not every member had that trait, it was predominant in the alpha line for the males. However, having it didn¡¯t necessarily mean that an individual was part of the alpha line.


    His royal blood could¡¯ve explained Fenris''s carefree smile and fearless demeanor, which puzzled me. Knowing that he came from the alpha line, I couldn''t shake the feeling that it was only a matter of time before he would turn against me, just like the others.


    After the older man departed, I swiftly backed away from Fenris, holding my hands tightly against my chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry... I¡¯ve taken too much of your time, and I can do the rest myself.¡± I murmured, keeping my gaze fixed on the ground.


    As he stood before me with the sun slowly descending on our day, I realized that being with me would only bring him more trouble. Unbeknownst to me, he belonged to the alpha line. I had initially mistaken him for an ordinary Lycan, but his demeanor exuded an air of regality.


    Picking up my gaze from the floor, he simpered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He doesn¡¯t speak for all of us. And I don¡¯t think that way, at least.¡±


    He appeared utterly unfazed by the entire experience. As he extended his hand towards me, I couldn''t help but feel utterly bewildered. The older man''s words had no impact on him, leaving me genuinely captivated by him.


    How can you like this?


    His words stirred a longing to accompany him, yet I couldn''t shake the knowledge that this was only fleeting. In my experience, nothing positive ever endured. My bloodline condemned me to a life of suffering.


    He would inevitably face the same fate, but that didn''t quell my yearning for something more.


    Can I have more?


    As my hand trembled, I extended it towards his, feeling the warmth of his grasp as he eagerly enveloped it in his own. With a tender gesture, he brought my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss upon it before lowering his head in a gesture of respect.


    ¡°My fair lady, I¡¯m Fenris Silver Fang. At your service.¡± He winked, smirking.


    His words unexpectedly struck a chord within me as he laughed it off. Tears welled in my eyes for the first time in what felt like an eternity. It was overwhelming. Despite my efforts, I couldn''t help but let this boy into my heart. Seeing my tears, he was taken aback and concerned.


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    His demeanor transformed from one of assuredness to one of doubt. His aim was never to bring tears to my eyes but to evoke a smile. Little did he know that the tears streaming down my cheeks weren¡¯t borne of pain or sorrow but pure happiness.


    My escape¡­ finally found me.


    As tears continued to flow from my eyes, I managed to smile in his direction. Unaware of his impact on me, this boy unknowingly became the guiding light in my dark and unforgiving world.


    He accepted me; instead, he gently guided me out of the darkness and into the warm glow where he was waiting. Just catching a glimpse of him, even for a moment, made everything feel right.


    ¡°Thank you, Fenris Silver Fang.¡± I felt a genuine smile spread across my face, struggling to wipe away the tears streaming down my cheeks.


    The young boy was completely oblivious to the intricate details of my life or the emotions that weighed heavily on me. Surprisingly, he offered more support and comfort than my family ever did. Even my mother''s warm embrace failed to evoke the sense of security and ease I felt in his presence.


    For the first time in a long while, I felt genuinely sheltered and protected when Fenris was around as if his presence could shield me from harm.


    His face flushed with a bright shade of pink, and he averted his eyes, clearly feeling embarrassed. With a gentle pace, he guided me towards the steps that led down to the sandy beach. After settling me onto a bench offering a clearer ocean view, he hurried into the shop to fetch the final item.


    The sun bathed me in its warm embrace as I sat there, feeling its comforting rays seep into my being. The sky was tinged with the soft hues of the approaching sunset. Typically, gathering all the necessary ingredients would have taken me until closing time, but I finished faster than ever before this time. It was as if time had accelerated in his presence, just as it did when I was with him.


    The scenery before me was breathtaking, and I took a deep breath, attempting to steady my racing heart. Unconsciously, I brought the hand he had kissed earlier closer to my lips, lost in the memories of that tender moment. In desperation, I found myself uttering a prayer to any deity, yearning for a response to my plea.


    Suppose there¡¯s a god out there. Any god... Please, I beg you. Please don¡¯t take him away from me.


    Opening my eyes, I was greeted by the breathtaking sunset, painting the sky with warm hues. A sense of hope washed over me, lifting my spirits after prolonged despair. To my surprise, Fenris returned and settled down next to me. He placed a bag containing all the needed items on the bench, carefully tucking the paper with the complete list of items inside.


    His presence exuded a warmth that took me by surprise. As he gently took hold of my right hand, I observed his careful placement of a delicate silver bracelet adorned with a red crescent moon. I gazed at it for a moment, feeling a sense of bewilderment, and reached out to touch it with the fingertips of my free hand.


    Is this a gift?


    ¡°I can¡¯t accept this,¡± I quietly uttered, holding his hand that had ensnared mine.


    His lips curved upward, and he gently shook his head from side to side, a warm smile on his lips. ¡°You can. And you will. With this, I¡¯ll find you no matter where you are. It¡¯s a magical bracelet, you see.¡±


    His words did little to persuade me to accept it. If he managed to find me while I was in the coven, then I...


    ¡°Even more reason for you to take it back.¡± I shook my head, gazing at him straight on.


    ¡°Listen, I want to give you this, and only to you. You see this one?¡± Fenris pointed towards his left wrist with his free right hand.


    At that moment, I noticed a second bracelet on his wrist. The black charm on it portrayed the moon in its waxing gibbous phase. The two bracelets formed a full moon as he gently turned my right hand with his left. The black waxing gibbous charm transformed, taking on a crimson hue reminiscent of the crescent moon.


    ¡°Together, they create a full moon. Neat, right? But what¡¯s more important is that if you¡¯re ever in trouble. My moon works as a compass, pointing towards where you are. So, I can find you and rescue you.¡± Fenris explained, triggering my heart to drop.


    Instinctively, I reached for my chest, grabbing onto my dress with my left hand.


    ¡°Rescue me?¡± I mumbled.


    No¡­ you can¡¯t!

 Chapter 7: Fear…

    Fear consumed me as I thought about Fenris coming near the house. The sisters wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill him.


    ¡°I really can¡¯t,¡± I mumbled, shaking my head.


    With a chuckle, he casually discarded my concerns as if they were insignificant.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s too late. You can¡¯t remove it. Mom told me to give it to someone I wanted to keep safe, and I chose you. Oh, and don¡¯t worry. The bracelet looks like any normal piece of jewelry to anyone but us.¡± He casually informed me, leaving me stunned.


    What?! You can¡¯t?!


    ¡°Meaning only the wearer can see it glow when activated. And if anyone tries to remove it by force, let¡¯s say it won¡¯t be pretty.¡± He smirked.


    I never vocalized my worries, yet he seemed to address most of them accurately.


    But why do you want to do this for me? I don¡¯t understand why you care when everyone else ignores me.


    ¡°I...¡± I couldn¡¯t finish.


    My voice quivered as he again grabbed my right hand with his left.


    Fenris pointed dramatically towards the ever-changing hues of the sky. ¡°Look, the sun¡¯s finally setting.¡±


    I let out a weary sigh, realizing that he was completely unaware of the gravity of the situation. Despite his determination, I was equally committed. It was becoming increasingly evident that he hadn¡¯t been dishonest when he claimed he couldn''t remove it, even if he wanted to.


    His determination to save me fueled my resolve to keep him safe. I was adamant that my coven sisters would never touch my light.


    Leaning close, I whispered, ¡°Thank you,¡± feeling comfortable resting my head on his shoulder.


    In a fleeting moment, he tensed up, then gradually, he eased, leaning his head against mine. Together, we stood in awe as we watched the breathtaking sunset unfold. I had seen one before, but this time, its full splendor captivated me like never before.


    As the sky transitioned to a dark shade of blue, we sat there with our hands intertwined, mesmerized by the glowing stars in the deep blue expanse above. A question weighing on my mind escaped from my lips without realizing it.


    ¡°Why are you so nice to me?¡± I asked, which caused Fenris to grip my hand tighter.


    He embodied the essence of tranquility, a wolf with a gentle spirit.


    ¡°When I saw you in that alley, your face looked like the world was about to end. So, I took your hand, and that was it. And it turns out you¡¯re worth it. These past days have been the most fun I had in a while.¡± He simpered, not moving from our tender moment.


    His words lingered in my mind, leaving me feeling exposed and defenseless. Despite my reservations, I yearned to trust in them wholeheartedly.


    ¡°It always looked like you had fun.¡± I couldn''t help but point it out, feeling a bit of a giggle escape me, utterly unaware of Fenris''s situation.


    Behind his warm, inviting smile lay many hidden emotions and experiences. Ones I had no idea existed in his world.


    ¡°Maybe everyone has monsters in their lives,¡± he informed me, closing his eyes.


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    I sat there, softly humming, savoring our precious time together. We lingered momentarily, unwilling to let go of the blissful tranquility. Yet, as much as I longed for it to last, all good things must come to an end.


    ¡°Are you sure you want to go home?" He paused Why not come with me to Cerberus?¡± he questioned, leaving me shivering upon hearing their name.


    The thought of leaving filled me with dread. If I departed, my grandmother would unleash her fury on the town or him. I couldn''t bear the idea of that happening. For the first time, I felt an overwhelming desire to return and protect him from the dangers posed by those creatures.


    Lycans were formidable, but they weren¡¯t invincible. An impact on his heart or head could potentially prove fatal for him. As a young boy, he lacked the strength to alter his circumstances, much like I, as a young girl, was also powerless.


    Neither of us could influence our situations. I was never curious about the sisters'' intentions for the town. Even so, I had to ensure that whatever it was wouldn''t threaten his home.


    ¡°Fenris, can I be brave like you?¡± I hushed, basking in the warmth.


    I should¡¯ve accompanied him. Maybe it could have changed everything. But I was young and foolish. No, I dreaded the consequences if she didn''t have me to blame.


    ¡°Brave? I¡¯m not brave. Just headstrong.¡± Fenris chuckled.


    A gentle smile graced my lips as I softly hummed a tune. ¡°I¡¯ll try to be headstrong then.¡±


    He gently nudged me softly, ensuring he didn''t cause discomfort or harm.


    ¡°You can be brave. Don¡¯t think of what could be, and do what you think¡¯s right. At least that¡¯s what my dad says. And it works for him. He has gotten out of a lot of trouble doing stupid things. Yet he ends up being the hero most of the time.¡± With a warm chuckle, he cheered me on to embrace my most authentic self.


    I couldn''t comprehend what had piqued the interest of this wolf in me. It seemed possible that I was either someone to rescue or in need of assistance, but it was the first instance of someone showing genuine care for me.


    ¡°I see,¡± I whispered.


    The evening stretched on as we sat side by side, the stars glimmering above as the moon ascended to its place in the sky. The streets gradually emptied as we finally rose from our spot and approached my home. Fenris walked alongside me as we made our way to the outskirts of the town.


    There, I thanked him for his companionship and bid him farewell. Concealing the bracelet beneath the fabric of my dress, I set off towards the grand manor, where my sister eagerly awaited my arrival at the entrance. Her gaze, in contrast to Fenris, was icy and almost lifeless.


    ¡°Did you get the ingredients?¡± she asked, leaving me to nod.


    Letting me into the house, she guided me toward my grandmother, who grabbed the bag of ingredients and checked for quality. Pleased with the goods I brought, she sent me to my room before I left. I promised her I wouldn¡¯t fail another test.


    ¡°You better, child. If you know what¡¯s good for you.¡± She let out a menacing growl and promptly ordered the other sister to escort me back to my room.


    I dedicated the entire night to studying in preparation for retaking the test I had failed the day before. True to my word, I excelled in the retake. Unfortunately, my sore back prevented me from sneaking out for the next few days, but I knew it wouldn''t be long before I could.


    I was determined to see them, no matter how much physical pain it caused me. My days were filled with lessons, afternoons with the boys, and nights spent studying. I attempted to eavesdrop on the sisters'' plans during their teachings, but my efforts were mostly in vain.


    The discussions about the ritual seemed to have faded away, leaving me wondering if it had already taken place, rendering my worries unnecessary. Failing to uncover any further details, the subject gradually disappeared from my attention.


    Three weeks passed, and I was happier than ever before. Fenris and his friends introduced me to chocolate. One of the most delicious things I ever had. Not only that, but I had also come close to beating Fenris in a serious match.


    His impending birthday weighed heavily on my mind. He was on the brink of turning twelve, while I was turning eleven the following month.


    Fenris made a deal with me that if I drew him a picture, he would bring me a slice of cake from his birthday celebration. I was at the beach with the boys when, somehow, I let slip that I had a talent for drawing.


    After a day spent alone with Fenris, he and his friends made it their mission to introduce me to the world''s wonders. Despite our exploration, we still found time to engage in playful activities after they showed me a few completely new experiences.


    With determination fueling my actions, I endured the discomfort and snuck back home. I hastily seized a nearby canvas and began to sketch my interpretation of my hero as I remembered them from our time at the beach.


    I couldn''t suppress a smile as memories of Fenris and his genuine kindness enveloped me in a comforting warmth. Lost in reverie, I failed to notice the subtle creak of the door opening and closing. Unbeknownst to me, the words that followed would mark the ominous beginning of the end.

 Chapter 8: The Wall…

    While lost in my painting, Grandmother suddenly entered the room, flanked by my two sisters. Her cutting words yanked me away from the canvas, leaving me stunned and shaking where I sat.


    ¡°Oh, child, what are you doing?¡± She asked, walking toward me.


    My gaze shot up to meet her icy glare. Those brown orbs narrowed, wrinkled her nose, and curled her upper lip upon spotting what I was drawing.


    But¡­ It¡¯s late! They never come this late!


    I could only tremble, feeling myself run cold, when I noticed a sister holding shackles. Baffled, I could only watch, unable to derive why they were there. None of my actions warranted their presence.


    Struggling to hide my bracelet under my pajamas, I shifted my orbs away momentarily, only to be met by a sister grabbing my hands. Her fridged hands made me quiver even more than I already was.


    She yanked me from my seat before binding my wrists using the cuffs she had. The cold silver metal left me unsure of what they planned to do to me. She didn¡¯t notice the bracelet that slid into the binds by a stroke of luck, hiding it from sight.


    Unable to form coherent thoughts, I sought guidance on why they were there.


    ¡°Oh, dear child, don¡¯t look so afraid. Do you think we didn¡¯t know what you were doing?¡± Grandmother¡¯s orbs landed on the painting, picking it up into her hands.


    ¡°None of this was because of your doing. We allowed you out, but it¡¯s time for you to lose all hope once again. The ritual we¡¯ve been preparing for will pass in a day from now.¡± She informed, leaving the same as when she started.


    I put up a brave front despite shaking where I stood to hold myself together. The silver wolf couldn¡¯t discover my circumstances; he had to remain ignorant of my peril. Her words resonated within me, though.


    Tomorrow?! It¡¯s Fenris''s birthday tomorrow! What?!


    It would only be a matter of time until everything was revealed. This woman was determined to destroy me from within.


    ¡°Why so quiet, child?¡± she scowled at the canvas in her hands.


    I tried to speak, but nothing came out. Every part of my being was shaking, and I couldn¡¯t stop. Her lips curled upward, tearing the painting before my eyes and throwing it in the garbage beside us. Tears stung my orbs, wanting to stain my cheeks with their streaks.


    However, I knew if I broke, then it meant she won.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been mingling with the enemy. With Amir¡¯s cursed child, no less. Did you know he¡¯s said to bring prosperity and peace to the Lycans? What a disgrace.¡± Her words weigh heavily in my heart.


    Even though I tried to deny her any reaction from me, my chest felt like a hole was opening up within it.  Yet, if I reflected on anything, it would infuriate her further. Nonetheless, it took time before she shoved me off the cliff I was standing by.


    How much can I hold? No, I have to! I can¡¯t break!


    A sense of dread filled my being, knowing if Fenris was Amir¡¯s child, then I signed his death sentence. He was the leader of Cerberus and one who commanded the raid on our manor. I knew from the point the older Lycan screamed at us, but I didn¡¯t want to let go of my light.


    No, I forced myself to believe he was the child of a brother or cousin of the Silver Fang clan.


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    ¡°I-I didn¡¯t know,¡± my voice shivered, incapable of hiding what I felt.


    This was the first time I had something to lose. Someone I had to protect at all costs, even if it meant I¡¯d lose parts of myself. My answer triggered her to grab my hair, yanking me up and slamming me against the wall.


    ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb, child! I taught you better than this! Silver hair is a trait only found in Amir¡¯s line of wolves! So, if anything, you should¡¯ve known he was part of the family!¡± Grandmother snarled, rubbing my face onto the barrier she had tacked me against.


    There was a part of her that was right and a part that was wrong simultaneously. Although not all silver wolves belonged to the Silver Fang line, they all shared his blood. Her hatred blinded her from understanding that not all silver wolves were the same.


    ¡°I taught you not to get friendly with them! Don¡¯t you understand they took your mother? My love!¡± She screamed, letting go of my hair before she made another attempt to fix her crumbled dress.


    In spite, I didn¡¯t want Fenris¡¯s name in her mouth; I was powerless. My heart raced with thoughts of how to stop this, flinching when she raised her hand again.


    ¡°Grandmother, please! I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t know!¡± I begged in one last-ditch effort to reach her heart.


    She smacked me in the face upon hearing what I called her, slicing my lip upon contact with the blow. The blow sent me tumbling onto the wooden floor along with waves of misery. My thoughts could barely collect together when the iron taste filled my senses.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fucking call me that! You cursed, child! It was your fault they took my daughter from me! If you weren¡¯t alive, she would be!¡± She sneered, stomping on the floor.


    ¡°Yes... S-Stella.¡± I struggled to voice, feeling blood fall into my hand from it splattering onto the wooden floor.


    It hurts.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore. Now it¡¯s my turn to take everything from you. You¡¯ll give your life to open the gate for us!¡± Stella announced, leaving me unable to follow.


    The gate? You can¡¯t mean¡­


    If that was her intended goal, she was crazier than my mother had ever been. Only one witch in history attempted to open the gates to the nether realm.


    Lilith, the malicious witch who wished to destroy the world.


    The coven had forced me to read and memorize her history, making me wonder why my mother named me after her. Her answer was simple, saying I could bring glory to the name.


    A silly thing¡­


    I knew what they were trying to achieve, thanks to all my academic sessions. My thoughts were filled with thoughts of trying to find a way to protect my radiant source of joy.


    I won¡¯t let anyone harm my light!


    If the gate, also known as the netherworld, were successfully opened, witches would finally have the upper hand against other races. Or at least that was what they thought would happen. However, the other infamous witch my mother named me after failed in her attempt.


    Thanks to her endeavor, though, the Cerberus order formed. Sadly, I didn¡¯t share my grandmother¡¯s goal, even though this world wasn¡¯t for me. Even if I didn¡¯t want to experience it, it didn¡¯t mean others shouldn¡¯t have.


    Above all, I didn¡¯t want my light¡¯s radiance diminished. Even if I wasn¡¯t in his life, my desire was for him to live it fully. If I could watch him from a distance, that would suffice just fine.


    My sole wish is that.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fun to watch you be the cause that ends that cursed Lycan, child. What¡¯s his name? Ah yes, Fenris.¡± She smirked, gazing at me full of malice.


    When his name left Stella¡¯s lips, I lost it for the first time.


    ¡°No! Don¡¯t touch him!¡± I screeched from the floor, shooting a glare at her.


    A sly smile rose on her lips before kicking me in my abdomen with such force that it knocked the air out of me. Gasping for air, I tried to crawl away, only for her to yank me back by my hair. Pushing my face against the cold wooden floor, ensuring my uneven orbs were on her.


    ¡°Oh, child, I won¡¯t be the one touching him. He and many more will end soon, all because of you. Most likely, there¡¯ll be a clean start to the world. After all, this world isn¡¯t worth living if she isn¡¯t in it.¡± She snickered, letting go of my hair before fixing hers that got undone.


    I coughed, unable to form words or coherent thoughts.


    ¡°Yes¡­ When it resets, we witchcraft users will be at the top again!¡±  She declared, fixating her dead gaze on me again.


    Trying desperately to get air into my lungs, I never could find enough, unable to crawl away towards the opening on the wall. My tiny body couldn¡¯t handle the brutal beating that came after she finished enlightening me.


    The following day, my eyes fluttered open, leaving me to find my body aching in ways it never had before. No longer was I in the little room I had come to know. All that surrounded me was the manor¡¯s stone basement, where I found myself naked and bound on the floor.


    The only thing lighting was a small rustic torch hanging by a wooden pole near me; its flame was brighter than my desire to continue. It was a struggle to move or even breathe. Living had become more than a daily chore, and I was slowly losing my grip on it.

 Chapter 9: Agony...

    A struggle ensued as I tried to remember the events that had led me to lie on the cold stone floor. My thoughts quickly snapped together when a simple one finally crossed my mind.


    The bracelet¡­ Oh no!


    Attempting to lift my arm left me reeling in agony. The entirety of my body felt like a pack of wolves had trampled on it. Even so, I tried to get the bracelet out of the shackles with little success; it was stuck under the metal.


    They protected it from my gaze, unable to tell if it had given me away. A soft, deep breath left my lips, leaving me praying it hadn¡¯t alerted Fenris to what was happening.


    Please don¡¯t come! It isn¡¯t safe!


    The only thing that stopped my thoughts was when I heard the wooden door open and slam closed. One sister had come in with a cold bucket of water before dumping it on me, leaving me shivering where I lay.


    Resisting the urge to scream, I tried to cope with what was happening to me instead of crying out for help; digging my nails into my palms, I internalized what was happening.


    I need to stay calm!


    Thanks to the freezing water, my body quivered uncontrollably. She threw a rotten piece of bread at me and closed the door, leaving me again alone. My belly rumbled like a thunderous cloud, making me shift my gaze towards the food.


    Even though the torch didn¡¯t light everything, it was clear enough to see that maggots were crawling out of it. Choosing to ignore it, I struggled to turn my body to its side, making me gasp when a surge of stings flowed through me.


    Once I got a grip again, I fought through the aches to move away from the wet floor, desperately trying to find warmth.


    Does it even matter? Why am I even¡­


    Before that thought fully formed, I quickly remembered what would happen if I let myself fall into despair.


    Don¡¯t glow. Please, gods, keep Fenris away from here!


    I again pleaded to the dead gods, hoping one would hear me. It didn¡¯t matter who heeded my pleas. All that counted was that one of them did.


    Please keep him away!


    Unable to move far enough, my consciousness drifted in and out, letting me dream of happier times. Hours passed in this state, and whenever I woke, I pondered how much time had passed. Without windows, it was impossible to tell if the sun was out or up.


    Is the ritual going to happen? Has Fenris come here? No... Please no...


    No one had entered the room since they threw the bread at me. I had lost consciousness more than once, each time because of exhaustion. Thirst and hunger didn¡¯t bother me anymore after hours of feeling them.


    Why is this happening? Was it something I did?


    Slowly, I lost grip on why I continued to hang on to this life.


    Please let it all end!


    My eyes closed for the longest time, startling open when the door slammed open again. The light that shone almost blinded me, making me wince. I turned away from it for a second, but my orbs would soon stick to my newest visitor.


    Stella walked in, face contorted with a sharp glare, grabbing a steel knife that was by a wooden table by the door before grabbing me again and slamming me onto the floor soon after. My body lacked the energy to fight her anymore.


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    ¡°Do you know who came to our door hours before our ritual?!¡± She howled, pressing the knife against my chest before slicing it.


    Biting onto my lip, I tried so hard to hold in the screams, but after the second slice, I couldn''t. With the little bit of spirit left in me, there was no way to suppress my cries of agony anymore. After a third slice, it clashed with the bucket used to throw cold water at me, setting it ablaze with a simple spell.


    ¡°Do you even know?! It was fucking Amir and his fucking eldest son with a battalion of mutts! He said his youngest son thinks his friend is in danger! Can you believe that?! How could a simple mutt know where you are?!¡± She snapped, placing the knife on the raging inferno next to her.


    All I could do was whimper, shifting my eyes slightly to the arm with the bracelet. It radiated a bright crimson color, one only I could see.


    ¡°How the fuck would he know that!? Huh, cursed child!? Do you know how close we came to being found out?!¡± she snarled, yanking the hot knife from the fire.


    My body trembled, feeling the wetness of the wounds on my chest slide down my skin.


    ¡°I... don¡¯t...¡± I struggled to say in between breaths, trying to lie for my light.


    That thought would never truly form before she clasped onto my face, using the searing blade to carve me anew. Every part the steel touched deformed me in ways I couldn¡¯t comprehend. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, making every gasp feel like it scorched my lungs.


    My consciousness wavered in and out until I didn¡¯t know when she finished, but somehow, I remembered what she said once she concluded her art.


    ¡°You should be thankful to one sister. She pulled off a spell that transformed one of our other girls into you, appearance-wise. One Lycan eyes can¡¯t detect.¡± She hooted, short of breath, whipping the blood off the knife with a cloth.


    ¡°They bought it thanks to the lack of evidence. Seems Amir can¡¯t care enough for his child¡¯s witch friend.¡± Stella threw the knife into the bucket, quenching the fire with a water bottle.


    The blade hitting the bucket made a loud, startling sound, yet my exhausted body refused to move. My vision was blurred, making everything hard to make out. Every part of me was numb, allowing agony to be the only thing I could feel.


    ¡°Oh, how I wish Amir would¡¯ve brought that cursed moon child along. I would¡¯ve loved to see his face when he saw that fake. Would''ve that mutt fallen for it? Or would he have seen through the illusion? I wonder.¡± She continued to boast, tipping the bucket over, and turned towards the door.


    Fen¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ I won¡¯t be able to see you anymore.


    ¡°Either way, soon it¡¯ll be all over. I¡¯ll return to get you for the ritual in a few hours.¡± She ranted, feeling better after torturing me.


    The moment she left to prepare for her precious ritual, the room went fridged, yet my body couldn¡¯t tremble. If it was, I couldn¡¯t feel anymore.


    Thank you, gods¡­ He can never come here.


    After that thought, I lost consciousness once again, only to be woken up by someone picking up my beaten body. Their warm hands felt soothing to my battered body, yet my eyes refused to open to see who they were. I felt my heart lift briefly as the thought of salvation flew through my mind.


    It all came crashing down when they threw me into a wooden tub filled with freezing water, jolting me awake. The transparent liquid quickly turned crimson from the blood that had already dried. It left me struggling to clap onto the sides; stabilizing myself, I finally saw what my grandmother did to me.


    She had carved entirely into my upper body, ensuring that everywhere she touched would never be the same. Every slice she caused would leave permanent scars, if not worse. Somehow, my areolas and nipples were intact, but the surrounding tissue wasn¡¯t as fortunate.


    Part of my arms and legs were also deformed, lightly compared to the center of my body. Stella made sure each wound was deep to leave a scar but not fatal, making sure I would live to be the ritual''s sacrifice.


    My face was free of injuries aside from the beating I took the prior night. The sister who threw me into the tube drained it before dosing me with soap and more water, preparing my body to be free of contaminants for their spell.


    Powerful rituals had to be done free of impurities. Anything could throw the enchantment out of balance, creating catastrophic results.


    Ah... I want to stop... Why can¡¯t the hurt stop?


    After draining the water again, the sister yanked on my hair and used a blade to slice it off piece by piece. With her swift movements, chucks of my locks were gone within seconds. My world spun out of control, and I was unable to focus on the face that was making me bald.


    A simple memory of joyful times came into mind. One where Fenris mentioned how pretty my curls were while trailing his fingers through them. This happened after our ear debacle a couple of weeks ago.


    The tender moment left me feeling flustered and skittish around the wolf. However, when the sister finished, the hair he had once admired barely covered my scalp. Another splash of icy water was poured over me to remove the strands that had landed on my body.


    I didn¡¯t care what had happened to me at this point anymore. Even though my thoughts were difficult to focus on, I tried to keep my consciousness from wavering. I had only one chance to halt this ritual and prevent them from hurting my light.


    One I couldn¡¯t screw up, no matter the cost.

 Chapter 10: Start Of The End…

    Attempting to focus my chaotic mind, I sought to use all the knowledge they had brutalized me against them. It was a long shot, and I was just a child, disadvantaged in every way against the adults.


    Unfortunately, I had never achieved an incantation nor possessed a grimoire, a witch''s best friend. So, my chances of doing anything fruitful were slim at best, but spells were feeble and easily manipulated.


    I learned that from watching my fellow sisters fail at complex incantations and from all their lectures. This was why human sacrificial spells were the top tier in complexity, making them nearly impossible without something going wrong.


    Something as simple as the state of mind of the sacrifice could throw the spell off balance. The wicked Lilith failed because her psych wasn¡¯t correct for breaching the gate, only opening a fraction.


    A fragment almost destroyed the world; if its doors swung open, it would annihilate everyone. It was unthinkable even to process how this coven planned to survive the end of everything, and perhaps they didn¡¯t.


    All Stella desired was for the realm that took her daughter to burn; many of the witches in this manor shared her sentiments. They all had stories of being oppressed and brutalized by the other races.


    I understood their resentment toward our reality, but not everyone deserved it.


    Fenris, Liam, Ezra, and Owen¡­ showed me that there is good in the world!


    The pups who lit my world anew unveiled a new world to me. They weren¡¯t born that way. The last time the gate opened, the races united against witchcraft users; if it were breached again, we would never have a place in this society.


    What did they use to stop it?


    That was a close-guarded secret only known by the Cerberus order. The last time the gate made its presence known, they had one advantage: Lilith performed the ritual in a dark forest away from civilization.


    Her choice allowed the order to respond to the minor breach between our worlds with as few casualties as possible, but this coven differed.


    We were right on Silverant¡¯s border, where wolves, vampires, elves, and humans congregate peacefully. The Silver Fang clan made this city for that purpose; even if racism existed, they were trying.


    The coven¡¯s reasons were flawed, and I couldn¡¯t let them destroy the world they were trying to create. I had to keep up with these witches for Fenris and my friends to survive what was coming. Everything I learned, thanks to their torturous methods, stuck to me like a moth to a flame.


    The irony of it all¡­


    Even if it was a feeble wish, as my grimoire hadn¡¯t awakened yet, I couldn¡¯t give up.


    Anything¡­ There must be something! Think Lilith!


    Somehow, I had to be brave for my light and deny them the chance to destroy this world that was still blossoming into something better. Their greatest downfall would come when they underestimated me.


    Once the sister purified my body, she dressed me in a white dress. Instantly, stains of blood formed within its fabric from the moment I stuck to my skin.  Grabbing me by the chains, she yanked me forward towards the ritual room.


    With every step, misery followed in waves, yet somehow, I managed to stay on my feet. The hall we headed through had other sisters, including the children, holding candles in their hands. They were all aligned in a straight line leading to the room where fates would collide.


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    When we entered the dreadful room, my limbs trembled as I stood facing my death.


    I must be brave! I have to be!


    Easier said than done, yet my orbs were wide open for the first time since the beating. My heart was pounding so loud that I could feel it in my drums. Stella was preparing the black ash circle inside the room, which was decorated with red lining and skulls of the dead.


    The spells were all in Latin, and words were written on the sides of the circle, some within it.


    Impia, succurrat hostium depopulentur nostris nos detinent. Hanc nobiles sanguinem victimae aperire januam regni corpus in lumine; Nos suppressors nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie justitiam.


    Unholy realm, come to our aid and lay waste to our enemies, who suppress us. We offer this noble and pureblood sacrifice. Open the gate to your realm and bathe us in your light! Free us from our suppressors and grant us justice.


    They wrote the incantation with red paint or blood; I couldn¡¯t tell the difference between them. Throwing me towards the middle of the circle, I couldn¡¯t help but stumble in the middle, falling on the wooden surface, barely able to turn to see Stella grab a broomstick before she split it in half.


    The loud snap caused me to quiver, unsure of what she was about to do.


    ¡°Do you know what time it is, child?¡± Stella asked, taking a step towards me.


    Instead of entertaining her, I stayed silent, trying to get everything I could to counter them.


    ¡°It¡¯s about to be midnight. Do you know why that is?¡± She continued with her query.


    I remained silent, having no intention of satisfying her anymore. There was no point in exchanging words with her; in her eyes, I was simply a sacrifice for her spell.


    ¡°Good grief, child, I didn¡¯t cut out your tongue. Maybe I should¡¯ve.¡± She retorted, grabbing my chin and forcing me to face her.


    Stella¡¯s orbs were fridged; there wasn¡¯t an ounce of life in them; this world had destroyed her. The fun part was that I didn¡¯t feel the same as she did towards her or anyone who had hurt me; no, I pitied her.


    It was a pitiful experience to allow hate to dictate everything in their life while I found peace in death. At least when I stopped breathing, peace would envelop me; this bitter woman forced me to grow up faster than I should¡¯ve.


    Grandmother tried to force me to be full of hate like her, but I denied her making me into the ruthless force she wanted me to be. Before I met my radiant light, I allowed her to control me with dread, but thanks to my new encounters, they taught me this world was worth protecting.


    Stella didn¡¯t know she was playing chess against me, and my mind was full of thoughts on how to outplay her.


    ¡°Stupid child, are you still hoping to be saved?¡± She scoffed, letting go of my face and gripping the wooden stick.


    You¡¯re wrong. There isn¡¯t any rescue for me, but¡­ at least I¡¯ll take whatever you¡¯re planning with me!


    My voice barely came out, struggling to say every word. ¡°I... don¡¯t... care...¡±


    My defiance triggered her eyes to scrunch up, nasal flaring before smacking my face with the stick. Blood splattered within the circle, not damaging any parts of the runes. All my teeth were still intact, but new lacerations within my mouth formed, and old ones reopened.


    I could only taste iron as the crimson liquid dripped onto the floor from my chin.


    ¡°Stupid child. We were lucky this morning when Amir came to question us. He was in a hurry to leave, and he got sloppy. Maybe his child¡¯s birthday is all that matters to him.¡± She tapped the wood on the floor, creating a slight tune.


    My arms struggled to hold my body up, shifting my orbs towards her.


    ¡°Of course, Amir¡¯s precious child matters more than the life of a young witch. I wonder how he¡¯ll react when we drop this bomb at his child¡¯s birthday party.¡± Stella gloated, enjoying the thought of watching him bear the feeling of losing his precious child, just like she had.


    Cerberus was the main villain in my grandmother¡¯s heart. If they didn¡¯t exist, my mother would¡¯ve still been alive, and if I hadn¡¯t been born, she wouldn¡¯t have gone insane. The sorrow of losing a daughter drove Stella into her current madness.


    Something she intended me to feel, too. Fortunately, I stayed sane through the abuse I endured at her hand. Amir''s watchful eye on Fenris comforted me; he wouldn¡¯t allow his son to look for me, even though his bracelet glowed madly.


    The birthday party was a blessing in disguise. With so much attention on the young silver Lycan, he couldn¡¯t escape to find me. It brought me solace to know my light was safe away from me, though, deep down, I wanted him to find me.


    I wished I could look at him one last time and see that beautiful smile that outshined the sun¡ªthe moment that thought formed in the shackles that held me captive shone brightly enough to snap me out.


    I desperately covered my hands with my thighs, forgetting that I was the only one who could see the crimson glow.

 Chapter 11: Blood Ritual…

    The bracelet''s crimson hue was so vibrant this time; I had never seen it go off so bright. It lit up the entire room, even though I was the only one who could see it.


    Is it because I thought of you? That I wished to see you? Oh, no! What did I do? Did it alert you? This morning... Did you send your dad just because you were worried about me? Or did this jewel warn you without me knowing?


    Memories snapped together, finally remembering I promised to play with him again at the beach. He planned to introduce me to a new game we hadn¡¯t played before.


    Were you waiting for me all day yesterday?


    With everything that had happened, my memories were hard to recall past the beating.


    Oh gods, please don¡¯t let Fenris see it glowing.


    It was about midnight, so I prayed he would¡¯ve been asleep when it shone.


    Don¡¯t come here! Stay away. I don¡¯t want to see you!


    It couldn¡¯t have been a more obvious facade when it made my heart plummet into a vortex where it shallowed up every emotion within me.


    Please! Stay away!


    My breath hitched as my heart flew, unable to contain the shivers rushing through me.


    ¡°Is the delay for the spell ready?¡± Stella asked one sister in the room, snapping me out once again.


    There was no time to worry about the silver Lycan that had stolen my senses. Yet he was all that was filling my mind.


    Focus Lilith! You have to be brave!


    ¡°Yes, mother. It is.¡± The sister answered, nodding and taking out her grimoire before placing it on a wooden stand near the circle.


    The books were individually tailored to each witch, allowing them unique appearances. Steadying my nerves, I endeavored to keep up with them.


    ¡°Good then. The delay will make the spell take eight hours to activate. The party should¡¯ve started by then.¡± Stella smirked, placing her fridged stare back on me.


    My mind was all jumbled up, producing lag between them, preventing me from entirely keeping up with them. However, some words did land with me, especially delay.


    Are they planning on running away in the chaos? Cowards!


    Forcing my meek, quivering body to sit up was challenging, but I didn¡¯t back down, achieving my goal. My arms trembled to hold me up, and I tried to focus my gaze on the women surrounding me.


    ¡°Are we ready? Is it time for the last ingredient?¡± Stella asked another sister, who held a giant hourglass in her hands.


    The device in her pale hands was made of black wood, clear blubs of glass, and full of blue sand.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s time, mother.¡± She replied, flipping the glass and starting the countdown to the end.


    Stella''s lips curled into a wicked smile, shifting her orbs into me again before approaching me with the same stick in her hand. This time, another sister accompanied her flank.


    ¡°Well, child, it¡¯s time for the last ingredient,¡± she announced, signaling her to grab onto my cuffs.


    My blurred vision could barely keep up with their movements when she yanked them over my head, pinning me down to the floor with my back on the ground. Their pathetic attempt to limit my movements was futile; I couldn¡¯t fight them either way.


    There wasn¡¯t an ounce of strength in my battered body that could oppose them. Little did I know what she had in store for me was one horror after another, determined to show a child how cruel the world was.


    ¡°The ritual demands the deflowerment of a pure, innocent soul.¡± Stella declared, voice full of malice, leaving me barely any time to dissect her meaning.


    Unable to move or understand what she would do, I stared at the wooden ceiling above, wishing everything would slow down. The only thing that snapped my orbs away from it was a sharp, unbearable pain that surged through me when she used that stick to do as she warned.


    There were no males in the coven to do the dirty deed, so Stella took it upon herself to brutalize me; ravishing me with the stick left me less desirable to anyone who would look my way. Not that she cared to let me live that long.


    By the time she finished, my mind or body couldn¡¯t comprehend what happened to it. The entire event couldn¡¯t register in my mind, suppressed into my subconscious to shield myself from it. At the age of ten, I didn¡¯t even know what sex was, let alone what she did to me.


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    It was ridiculous to think she did this to shatter me; my psyche was too weak to realize what she had done. All I perceived was that my back and abdomen hurt so much that tears stained my cheeks.


    No more... Please, I can¡¯t¡­


    Every part of my body hurt so much that I couldn''t form full thoughts other than those pleading for everything to end. My jelly legs refused to listen even though I only wished to run and hide. The back of my throat was raw from the screaming, leaving my voice hoarse, barely audible anymore.


    Laughing maniacally, Stella threw the stick she used to brutalize me outside of the circle. Oh, how she enjoyed my pain, my distraught. Her wicked expression in those moments was immortalized for all my future dreams.


    When she withdrew away from my battered body, I could barely catch my breath, forcing myself up through the tremors that throbbed through me.


    I need to move¡­ I can¡¯t stay here.


    The surging agony through my body made me desire life to stop. Dragging my body a few lengths, I gazed down towards my limbs that refused to listen to me. A pool of blood was where I had begun as my legs and bum were drenched in the crimson liquid as well.


    What¡­?


    Even though I didn¡¯t want to give up, my body folded to persist with my chaotic mind. Focused on my peril, I missed when the sisters cast the delayed incantation. The circle gave off a light blue shimmering hue, sealing me within the circle.


    A pulse rushed through my body, turning my world off like the click of a switch. By the time I regained myself once again, there was no trace of my assailants, like they had never been there, vanishing into thin air.


    The surrounding circle glowed light red, fading in and out like a bomb about to go off. On the side was the hourglass, but I couldn¡¯t determine how much time was left before it finished. Trying to focus on anything far away would turn my vision into a haze.


    All that remained was my death to finish the chant they had set on foot. Shaking my head from side to side, I became alarmed upon detecting something wrong with my body. Crimson markings appeared all over my exposed skin; some even gave a hue under the stained fabric covering the nastiest of wounds.


    The stamps in my body would fade in and out just like the circles glow.


    But how long was I out for? Hours, minutes?


    Groggily, I peered around to see the sunlight beaming through the small window, illuminating the room that would be my tomb. If the sun was out, it was around six in the morning, at least seven, almost hitting eight.


    At best, I had a few hours to work with, but at worst, I had less. This coven''s rite differed entirely from the one Lilith executed. After losing her husband and child to infighting between the races, she sacrificed herself, blaming the world, just like Stella did.


    My grandmother had made it her life''s purpose to enact revenge against Cerberus if she figured out what Lilith did wrong and fixed it. This incantation was impossible to stop. I was only ten, bordering on eleven years old, so the chances of me out-winning her in this game were zero.


    Compared to the fifty years Stella had under her belt, I was a simple bug to be squashed. Shaking that thought away, my orbs shifted toward the border of the ring that surrounded me. Filling my lungs with air, I forced my shaking body to move.


    There was no way I couldn¡¯t let it end like this. Every movement was torturous, but I pushed through it anyway. Slowly, I wormed my way until my hand landed on the invisible magical all that prevented my escape.


    Using every bit of strength I could muster, my trembling hand couldn¡¯t go past it. It didn¡¯t harm me to touch it, so it wasn¡¯t an offensive barrier but a defensive one to keep me in. Struggling, I used the wall to support my back to sit.


    I huffed a bit, trying to find vigor where there was none before noticing the symbols start to glow brighter.


    Times¡­


    At that moment, a memory of when I saw a beautifully rainbow-colored caged bird I saw when I was with Fenris and his friends came to mind. We were waiting for another piece of ice cream from a different store in Silverant. This time, the silver wolf was determined for me to discover the taste of strawberries.


    Tears streaked down my cheeks, making me whimper, unable to figure out how to win this. That colorful bird and I were the same. When my eyes met the bird¡¯s gaze, pitiful and helpless, it was like looking at a reflection in a broken mirror.


    It hurts so much! I want to see you! Why¡­ can¡¯t I be free like you?


    The bracelet under the shackles once again brightened up the room when I sobbed harder than ever.


    ¡°No...¡± I cried, weakly trying to make the bracelet stop shining.


    I didn¡¯t want Fenris to know this me.


    Caged, pitiful... Nothing worth saving.


    Tears continued to stream out of me when an idea finally flourished within my chaotic mind.


    Wait! Is there a way to cage the gate? Yes! There must be a way to seal it within a vessel. Think! Lilith, think!


    Sealing spells were one of the simplest to cast, but simultaneously, it was one of the hardest things I wanted to accomplish. In theory, all anyone needed to seal anything was a suitable container.


    However, it was a world I was trying to stop from coming through, not fire or flowers. A simple orb or crystal wouldn¡¯t work, either. Nothing was around the room besides the red lining and skulls the coven had left behind.


    How did Cerberus close the gate before? Think¡­ Lil¡­


    Before another thought was allowed to form, the most excruciating pain coursed through my body. It was like someone was carving something into my soul, making me want to scream. My vision blurred, and my body trembled uncontrollably once again.


    A sharp gasp left my lips when I felt the new sensation pulse through me. Parts of my vision went black, alerting me that my consciousness was wavering. I had to avoid this, but my time was running short.


    Biting into my finger, I wasted little time writing my first spell. I had no grimoire, but I knew how to craft one from all the books they forced me to read. Stella¡¯s book had the most incredible ones, from who she learned them I didn¡¯t know.


    After struggling to write it, I clasp my hands together, reciting it with my broken voice without letting the pain consume me.


    "Inferis offero corpus tamquam vas. Ligabis ad me ipsum. COPH vocem meam audiunt et ego praecipio tibi vincula et ligabunt te in me." I repeated multiple times in the hopes the gods were on my side.


    Nether realm, I offer my body as a vessel. Bind yourself to me. I command you to hear my plea and bind yourself to me.


    For just a moment, the circle changed colors from red to blue. I had no idea if it was me or just what the sisters wanted, but my hopes went up before they sent me plunging into the air, into the middle of Silverant.


    A teleportation?! Ah¡­ No!


    My mangled body fell through the vast blue sky as thoughts sped through my mind.


    Ah... Is this how they planned to kill me? A fall? Did my attempt to save my light fail? Did the gods not hear my plea? Is my offer not good enough for you!? Please! I don¡¯t want him to die! Take me instead!

 Chapter 12: The Fall…

    Once in the air, I found myself facing the deep blue sky, plummeting towards my death down below. Fenris was the only thing on replay in my storm of thought.


    Did I fail you?


    Screams of horror broke like a chorus from everywhere around me as the sudden appearance of a falling child invoked chaos from everyone below. Closing my orbs, I waited for the floor to meet me, yet it never came.


    Instead, I remained suspended in the air, frozen in time, right before I hit the floor. That was when I noticed I was at a popular marketplace I used to visit with the boys. It was the same one Fenris had trekked with him on his back.


    The transportation spell had failed to take me to its intended destination, the Silver Fang¡¯s youngest birthday celebration. Everyone around me stared, incapable of discerning what was happening before their eyes.


    Before I fell there, it was another busy day in the market; gently, like a feather landing on a surface, something guided me down onto the wooden table below me. Not an ounce of pain pulsed through me when my back touched it.


    A woman wearing the Cerberus insignia, the three-headed dog, came running towards my battered body, calling for help from anyone around her. Her blue orbs only showed pure worry, making her way to me.


    Are you the one who helped me? No... It isn¡¯t...


    She was a human woman with no magical potential. Threads of energy emanated from everything around me. It was almost as if I could see the magical energy radiating out into the world, but from her, there was none.


    A medic?


    Without hesitation, she cradled me into her warm embrace, yelling for help from her nearby group. A group of officers had been eating lunch when I mysteriously fell out of the sky. Anyone other than me would¡¯ve been happy with this change.


    I was saved, and everything was over. It was easy to think everything had worked out, but it was far from over. My heart was still beating, and I was breathing and feeling everything around me. In both my coven¡¯s spell and my makeshift one, I was supposed to die.


    A fatal error occurred with my spell and my sister¡¯s attempt. My body soon grew cold, feeling something swell in my core.


    The fall had begun.


    Clasping onto my cheeks, the lady''s soft lips turned into a wary smile, ¡°Stay with me, baby girl. We¡¯ll get you help right away!¡±


    Her warm words wouldn¡¯t reach me while something surged within me, feeling like it would split me apart. A short gasp left my lips, making her lean into me to see what was happening. In an instant, my back felt like a scorching fire had been set on it, triggering me to screech in agony.


    It was the worst I had felt¡ªthe branding of my soul. Pulses of energy left me repeatedly, morphing everything that it touched. Colors bent to their will as the sky within the waves turned crimson.


    Alarmed, another human comrade yelled for her to let me go, but it was too late. Before anyone could do anything, the amiable lady¡¯s upper body was gone. All remaining was her waist, which fell backward onto the floor, splattering blood all over.


    Shocked, I weakly peered around me to see it wasn¡¯t just her but everyone who surrounded me to give me first aid. They all lay dead either by the same fate or another form of dismemberment. The colorful bricks that made Silverant¡¯s streets were starting to turn like the sky had.


    I struggled to get up from the table, only to notice everyone around was terrified of me. More pulsations of the odd aura left my body, turning the surrounding area into a new domain. One bystander tried to run away for his head to roll to the side before he could take a step.


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    Another screamed, only to get crushed, bones cracking as her body turned into a puddle. Most of the other bystanders remained face pale, stunned where they stood, not knowing what was happening.


    The pulses emanating from me became more stable, allowing their attackers slowly to be revealed. Within the red hue surrounding us, shadowy creatures appeared from thin air, beasts with large fuzzy bodies and deep blue eyes that radiated their energy.


    Each had its unique shape, representing an animal of some kind.


    Did I do this?


    My body quivered, unable to discern the reality playing out before me. Another pulse of energy left me, causing me to gasp. My entire world was shaking as a blue hue emanated from my core. Struggling to sit up, a more visible creature came out of my chest this time.


    In a blur, it ran towards one bystander, sinking its claws into them, organs and limbs splattered around. The scene made me cringe, tears streaking down my cheeks again. Then, another creature came through, materializing in front of me.


    Before I could scream, something like caring human hands covered my eyes, triggering my body to emit another hue and expand toward the horizon. When the human hands disappeared, the cuffs that bound me were gone.


    It left behind a vibrant blue grimoire in my shaking hands. My mind couldn¡¯t keep up with what was happening. Little did I know that a god had heard my plea, but not for the reasons I wanted. My spell had converted me into the vessel to hold the gate to the realm where they existed.


    But I couldn¡¯t control nor contain it.


    I mean, how could I control it?


    My emotions were in disarray when monsters continued to materialize out of me, responding to the part of me that wanted to lash out at everything around me. They kept everything that could hurt me, even if another part didn¡¯t wish for this.


    I was conflicted, but no matter what I pleaded with them, the beasts wouldn¡¯t stop.


    Why do you care for these people? They all left you to die!


    Who left you to suffer?


    They were the ones who looked at you every day and ignored your pain!


    Death is what they deserve!


    The beings from the other side whispered into my mind, attempting to corrupt me. Part of me wanted to agree, to damn it all, but no.


    Fenris... He isn¡¯t like that! There wasn¡¯t a moment where he ignored me!


    The moment his name rose in my mind, the bracelet radiance outside the blue hue coming from me. Innocent people lay dead, scattered everywhere my orbs landed.


    If I give in, then you¡¯ll...


    Giving up wasn¡¯t the way if I didn¡¯t want the world he lived to die. Yet it was the most tempting of all the options, even so I¡­


    ¡°Please... Stop...¡± I pleaded, only to be drowned by the screeches from the masses that erupted from everywhere.


    These beasts were known as Shadow demons, who were set free in the world for the second time. One of the creatures that emerged from me was a feline bigger than myself. Perhaps it was bigger than any humanoid being.


    Instead of running off like the others, it stuck by me protectively. Its piercing blue eyes were like the rest and were in my mind like all the others. However, her voice was soothing and loving.


    Hush, my little beautiful child, don¡¯t cry. No one else will hurt you. I promise. The beast cooed.


    She was the only friendly voice I heard since my torture began. Instinctively, I reached out to her, knowing she would never hurt me. The moment I grabbed onto her fur, she helped me off the table and onto my stumbling feet.


    Even though their forms and eyes were the only visible things, they were also solid beings in their shadowy appearance. My hand didn¡¯t go through her or struggle to hold on to her. Her touch dulled the pain that was inflicted on me until I couldn¡¯t feel it any longer.


    Though I could feel the blood still trickling down my legs with each movement, my injuries were still there, but something was keeping me alive. Sadly, any light movement caused my wounds to reopen and bleed, but I couldn¡¯t feel the pain.


    What¡¯s happening to me?


    After a few steps, I fell into her. She caught me with her gentle tail and pushed me into her body.  Surrounded by nightmare scenes, I buried myself in her black fur, only to receive her purrs in return. The vibrations were calming me, creating a sense of safety.


    Tears stung my eyes, clinging onto her for dear life. This wasn¡¯t what I intended when I cast my spell, but I was na?ve and young. Even though I knew incantations were erratic, I did it anyway. One mistake was all it took to explode and turn into this horror.


    I had bound the portal to me as its vessel, but I couldn¡¯t halt the carnage the sisters had set into the world. No, I fueled it with my misery as these demons searched and destroyed everything they deemed dangerous.


    Before this mayhem began, my goal was to close the portal permanently with my death, but the beasts wouldn¡¯t allow me ever to die. The realm whispered warnings to me, most of which I didn¡¯t understand, but from what I could gather, they were grim.


    If I died, it wouldn¡¯t end well for the living world. With every step, I sent another monster into the world. My path laid waste on the town I had grown to love. The place that had become my escape was in an inferno before me.


    Worse yet, I was the origin of all the havoc inflicted on Silverant.

 Chapter 13: Destruction...

    In my path, chaos awaited anyone unfortunate to be near me, or so I thought. There was no way for me to know how far the shadowy beasts were traveling. If the sky was their limit, it was crimson until the horizon before me.


    It wasn¡¯t long until others of the Cerberus order arrived to bring serenity, only to fall at their deadly talons. None of them knew what was happening or what to expect when arriving on the scene. Most of the first line were elves, humans, and other witches/warlocks who were utterly ignorant of the state of things.


    The vampires hadn¡¯t yet arrived, and Lycans had been assembling for the birthday party more profound in the town. We were far from the headquarters of Cerberus, down by the lower sector of Silverant, where all trade occurred thanks to its docks.


    Where is it? I must stay away.


    It was a futile wish; it didn¡¯t matter how far away I was. The field of energy radiating from me was expanding to places I couldn¡¯t perceive. No matter where Fenris was, eventually, death would reach him.


    Stella called it a pristine start, but these beings took no prisoners. They would have crushed the coven if they hadn¡¯t fled. Part of me wished they would search for and eliminate them either way. If anyone had to perish, they were the ones who deserved it the most.


    My distress was fueling them to attack further and more viciously. It was almost as if my fear became part of theirs. The once gorgeous streets of Silverant were coated in blood, and buildings were destroyed as the Cerberus officers tried to protect everyone they could.


    The brave tried to vacate the innocent, struggling to keep the beasts at bay. Sadly, any blunder they made was their last. With each death I witnessed, the more hazardous I became. I cried at the top of my lungs for them to stop, but it was as if I hadn¡¯t said anything.


    These soldiers fearlessly tried to reach the energy pulses¡¯ core, unaware I was the origin. No one who saw me survived to warn them. Much to everyone¡¯s horror, a gust of wind picked up, almost as if I were a hurricane.


    Buildings disintegrated because of the powerful gusts that ate anything in their path. Struggling to keep up, my orbs searched for anything to stop the ensuing mayhem. The feline helped me take agonizing steps to stay away from Fenris.


    With every second that passed, disarray followed, leaving me weeping while clutching onto the cat¡¯s fur. From outside the storm, screams of agony and dread filled my surroundings. With the change in the weather, all the incoming monsters blended with the scenery, turning them into more dangerous foes.


    The storm made it hard for those in battle to determine what direction they would attack from. It also destroyed the little cover protecting the fighters, leaving them with little hope of hiding from these beings who ravished the town without mercy.


    Every time I closed my eyes, I could see what these shadowy beasts were doing in the distance. It was almost as if I saw through their eyes and heard through them. It wasn¡¯t long before the vampires arrived at the ensuing war.


    They were the only ones who could rival the Lycans¡¯ power. A black-haired woman was the first to jump into the middle of the storm. The moment she came through, it was like a rocket aimed straight at the core of the problem: me.


    When she was a few lengths away, a dark beast¡¯s hand came out of me, colliding with her rapier and snapping it in half. For a slight moment, our eyes met. Upon seeing a child in the middle of the disaster, her deep red eyes widened to total capacity.


    Without hesitation, she withdrew immediately from the storm surrounding me. Her moves were swift and elegant, much like a dancer on her stage. Even though her action took her far from me, thanks to the beasts everywhere, I could hear her from where she stood in the distance.


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    ¡°There¡¯s a child in there!¡± the female vampire reported to someone near her.


    Ah... They know where you are! Run!


    I wanted to scream, but my voice lacked my strength anymore.


    ¡°A child? Impossible. This is ridiculous. How can a kid do this?¡± another comrade questioned.


    However, before they discussed it any further, a feeling grew within me. Another enormous energy pulse was coming from within, triggering me to lose it. My vocal cords finally found the energy they needed to sing.


    ¡°No! Run! Get out of here! Something¡¯s coming!¡± I shrieked, not knowing if they could hear my poor, hoarse voice through the roaring winds.


    Like Lycans, vampires were known for their superb hearing, so I hoped my warning had reached them. My face remained stained by tears as I remained inconsolable. Sadly, there was no controlling the storm this had become or what would happen next.


    The deadly gusts of wind slowly died, causing my body to levitate along with the protective feline, who circled me. Throbs pulsed through my body, triggering my back to grow hotter with each one.


    A shadowy behemoth with spikes on its body emerged from me, slightly fading the radiation. It was the first one of this size, probably bigger than a regular house, with horns more prominent than banned hovercrafts only found in hybrid lands.


    Its tail was thick and short, though what was deadly about these demons were their teeth and claws used to rip anyone apart. A protective blue barrier sprouted around me when it charged toward the voices.


    Please... No more...


    Even though I never wanted to be a murderer, it was all I was becoming. The realization that all of this was my fault broke me down, leaving me sobbing loudly. The behemoth charged the vampire and her comrades without mercy, only to be met in kind.


    The woman heard my warning, allowing her enough time to create a blood barrier around them. Her swift defense forcefully repelled the demon, saving them from getting trampled. Vampires couldn¡¯t cast magic alone but could control the blood around them.


    On a battlefield surrounded by this substance, they were the apex of predators. In retaliation, she sent a flurry of blood spikes towards it, impaling it right where it fell. It would¡¯ve been a swift victory if the demon was impenetrable to damage.


    These shadowy monsters were immortal. Nothing they had tried could take them down; the only things possible were imprisoning or slowing them down.


    The beast also had the ally of the sun, wearing down the vampires'' abilities. The sisters planned everything perfectly, including the rays of the star that warmed our world. Luckily, the woman wasn¡¯t alone as more of them arrived at the source of everything.


    ¡°Why must we do all the work? Where the fuck are the Lycans?¡± another vampire joined the female one.


    This one had white hair and was unwilling to work, but in an unforgiving battlefield, that wasn¡¯t ignored.


    ¡°Keep your mind on the game!¡± The woman hissed, struggling to keep the beast at bay. ¡°Forget the wolves! We have to keep the citizens safe!¡±


    He scoffed at her attempt to make their intentions noble.


    ¡°You mentioned over the comms there¡¯s a child stuck in that orb, right? I¡¯ll finish this in a second.¡± The cocky male vampire raised his hands in front of him, producing blood to accumulate near it.


    ¡°Stand down! She¡¯s just a child!¡± With fear in her voice, the female vampire yelled.


    He disregarded her words, forming a spike, before sending it hurtling toward me at blinding speeds. My eyes couldn¡¯t perceive it; however, before it even came close to touching me, the feline that cradled me in its protective light stretched its body faster than the projectile.


    In a blink of an eye, she snapped the cocky vampire in half, gulping him down like a snack she had picked out. Everyone around stood there, eyes wide open as the feline monster shrunk back in size. Silence filled the air since everything began, allowing the gravity of our situation to sink in.


    This cat was on an entirely different level from the other demons. My orbs couldn¡¯t shift away from her, preventing me from noticing the entrance of the Lycans, who finally arrived later than expected.  A loud noise was the only thing that caused my orbs to be torn away from her.


    When I saw their shimmering silver hair, I screamed incoherently, unable to process who they were, breaking everything into pure discord. From behind me emerged an army of those shadow beings from tiny to ginormous.


    A second later, everything went blank, and I found myself in a white room surrounded by nothing. There were no voices in my head, either. It was just me, free of aches and blood. Since this began, there was time to breathe and think.


    ¡°Everything¡­ Was it a dream?¡± I mumbled, slowly rising onto my feet.


    The only thing that stopped me from moving forward was when my wrist began shimmering crimson, my only connection to my radiant light.

 Chapter 14: Phoenix Crystal…

    With a brief hesitation, I brought the bracelet to my lips, kissing it lightly.


    Ah... What is it I want?


    My desire to see the silver wolf who gifted me the glowing jewel grew exponentially.


    Fenris¡­ I want to see you. Can I stay with you? Watch you smile... Fenris... Fenris... Fenris!


    I reached for the empty space for it to morph into the horror from before. All the Cerberus officers that had fought the mayhem had fallen by my hand. They couldn¡¯t stop the beings that went on a rampage when I lost my mind.


    One last Cerberus member was all that was left, standing just a few lengths away from me. He had silver hair and amber eyes, just like Fenris. I was delirious already, unable to organize my thoughts.


    There was no way Fenris was there, but I wanted him there.


    You¡¯re finally here¡­ I¡­


    Reaching my hand out to him, the desire to meet with his warmth overwhelmed me.


    ¡°Fen... ris... I-I... w-wanted... t-to... see... y-you.¡± I managed to voice, desiring to run to him, but I couldn¡¯t move.


    My legs had given out by the time I found him. The wolf scrunched up his eyes, tilting his head at the name I had used to call him. It only took him seconds to realize what was going on.


    ¡°Oh... by the gods. You¡¯re Lilith?¡± the young silver wolf¡¯s voice broke, grabbing his right shoulder.


    At that moment, I sobbed loudly upon hearing my name come from his mouth. His voice was so soothing, too.


    ¡°Am... I... F-finally... D-dead?¡± I whimpered.


    His eyes shimmered as tears became visible in the corner of his eyes.


    ¡°No¡­ sweety, you aren¡¯t.¡± He answered, wincing soon after.


    His eyes were so pretty, though.


    ¡°Oh... Are... y-you... h-here... t-to... k-kill... m-me?¡± I quivered.


    He shook his head, ¡°No, I won¡¯t hurt you.¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡± I whispered, shifting my orbs towards my side to see the feline eyes move.


    My hands were still gripping her fur from one of her legs. She and all the other demons were frozen in time, as was the surrounding area, shocking me back into reality. My eyes finally perceived everything that had been hiding from me.


    Next to me lay the head of a silver-haired Lycan, the man called Amir. Due to all its injuries, it was almost unrecognizable. Before this, I had only seen him in pictures in some stores I walked by.


    The monsters emerged victoriously all around us, with the dismembered bodies of Cerberus officers lying everywhere. We were located on a crater that used to be the Silverant¡¯s marketplace.


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    Even the docks were gone like a bomb had left only desolation in its place. The vampire woman I had seen before was nowhere to be seen. My eyes couldn¡¯t perceive the end of the destruction, but probably more than half of the city was gone.


    How did this happen? Was it me? No... No!!!


    ¡°Ah... Ah!¡± My mind shattered into a million pieces, feeling the weight of it all.


    Before I could lose myself in the sorrow, the familiar young man standing before me took a step forward.


    ¡°Lilith,¡± he called, forcing my orbs to lock on him.


    Fenris...


    He wasn¡¯t the silver wolf I knew; perhaps it would¡¯ve been him if he had time-traveled a few years forward¡ªa more mature and taller version of the little wolf I came to love. Stella mentioned that Amir had an older son, too.


    Is that who I¡¯m staring at right now?


    A man who left you to die by falling for a fake. The whispers erupted once again, sending shivers down my spine.


    Placing my hands on my head in a feeble attempt to stop them, I shook my head. ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Even though time had stopped, there was no halting the nightmares from my mind. I was part of their realm, taking my sanity along with them. My psyche could slip at any moment again. The wolf in front of me was bleeding from his missing right arm.


    ¡°Baby girl, we don¡¯t have much time before this zone breaks. Do you see that crystal next to you?¡± the young Lycan whispered, pointing with his eyes next to me.


    I followed his gaze to see a shimmering purple crystal lying close to me.


    ¡°I need you to put that close to your heart. It should cancel the spell.¡± He informed, wincing in pain.


    Blood pooled under him, letting me realize his arm wasn¡¯t the only thing bothering him. His left leg appeared to be injured as well. The amount of red under him was worrisome as Lycan¡¯s had super healing qualities.


    Cracks began appearing around us, marking the impending doom of everything. It was almost as if the magic they had used to stop time was faltering, something that shouldn¡¯t have been visible to the naked eye.


    Yet somehow, I could see them; something was changing me.


    Don¡¯t listen to him! They must pay! The whispers tried to sway me.


    ¡°Will... i-it... stop...¡± I couldn¡¯t finish my thought, wincing from the hisses trying to drown me again.


    They were head-shattering, leaving me feeling like they would split me apart from all the voices invading me.


    ¡°Yes, it will.¡± The injured Lycan assured me.


    The words I shared with Fenris back at the beach replayed in my mind.


    Brave... Be brave for once, Lilith! No¡­ headstrong! Don¡¯t think! Please pick it up! Everything will end! Maybe then I¡¯ll find peace!


    No! The voices howled otherwise.


    Pulling away from the shadow demon who had protected me, I quickly fell onto my abdomen, forcing myself to worm towards the crystal. The cracks of the spell got more prominent, much like the ticking time bomb of the circle from earlier.


    The shadow beasts slowly moved again when I forcefully dragged myself towards my goal. No amount of pain would stop me from reaching it, a crystal I had never seen in any books I read. If the Cerberus order tried so hard to use it against me, it had to be what they used to close the last portal.


    However, before I could reach it, the feline protecting me moved before all the others. The incantation rolled off her, alerting me that she was pretending to be frozen before. She truly was something else.


    ¡°No!¡± the young Lycan shouted, falling to his knees.


    Ah¡­ I failed again.


    I thought it was over momentarily, feeling my heart plummet when she picked me up by my dress and sat me upward before walking to the crystal. The thought of her crushing it passed through my mind when her paw touched her stone.


    Gazing at the mesmerizing crystal, she plucked it up in her mouth and dropped it before me, leaving me stunned.


    ¡°Why¡­¡± I mumbled, watching her sit before me, pushing the stone closer.


    A soft purr left her, ¡°I¡¯ll always be with you.¡±


    With a brief hesitation about my well-being, I grabbed the crystal and shoved it into my chest. At first, it felt like I was being pulled out of myself, only to be blinded by blue light. Everything faded away, along with my consciousness, plunging into darkness.


    It was the first time I had felt at peace since the fall began, and I wished it would last forever.

 Chapter 15: Strangers…

    The next time my eyes fluttered open, I found myself in a comfortable bed in a white room with bland windows. Beside me was a man in a grey coat collecting data from the monitor; unaware I was up, he picked up some papers near a table before walking out and closing the door behind him.


    My eyes were so heavy that they kept closing on themselves; fighting it was futile, even if I wanted to know what was happening. Before I could drift off again outside, an argument erupted.


    Voices of a man and woman loudly echoed throughout the room from the closed door.


    ¡°Amelia, where is he?¡± a familiar voice questioned.


    The walls were made of concrete, but somehow, I perceived them. That was when I noticed a small black cat with bright blue eyes sitting by it when I glanced towards the door.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t want to come.¡± The woman called Amelia answered.


    ¡°Are you sure he¡¯s the one who doesn¡¯t want to come, or you?¡± the man huffed.


    Who are they¡­


    ¡°Why would he want to come? Tell me, Ben, that thing in there killed our parents. She dragged him from his party and into the abyss before anyone could do anything! It took us hours to find him!¡± she snapped back.


    ¡°Both of you have to understand that it wasn¡¯t her fault.¡± Ben tried to convey his point.


    ¡°What are you saying?! Everything that¡¯s happening is that thing¡¯s doing! It¡¯s nothing more than a monster that needs to be put down!¡± Amelia fumed.


    Are they talking about me?


    The dull echoing within me was enough to alert me this wasn¡¯t a dream.


    ¡°I knew it. You and Grandpa are the ones feeding him these useless thoughts! Are you insane?! Did you even care to read my report?!¡± Ben growled.


    ¡°Ben, I don¡¯t think you get¡ª¡± he quickly interrupted Amelia, losing his cool.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t get it because you weren¡¯t there. They¡¯ve given you roses and flowers as if life were black and white all your life. But it¡¯s fucking grey! If we had listened to Fenris instead of telling him his feelings were wrong!¡± Ben¡¯s voice shook.


    Ah¡­ it¡¯s about¡­


    ¡°Amelia, he came to us multiple times, telling us his friend was in danger. He even came to us on the day of his birthday, caring more about his missing friend than his party and gifts. What child does that?! He was serious! I don¡¯t think I even saw him smile the whole time!¡± his voice was so brittle.


    ¡°But we ignored Fenris, thinking it was a stupid witch coven that we had already put down once before. If we had searched just a little longer instead of feeling nothing could happen, everything would¡¯ve been avoided!¡± he snarled, slamming his fist into the wall.


    It caused the entire room to vibrate. Lycans could barely ever control their temper.


    ¡°Tell me, sister, don¡¯t you understand we could¡¯ve avoided this? Don¡¯t you realize that the thing you¡¯re calling a monster is just another victim of our negligence?! It¡¯s all our fault! No one else is to blame for this tragedy!¡± Ben ranted, having had enough of everything.


    She continued, unwavering in her beliefs, ¡°As the eldest, I won¡¯t allow Fenris to be exposed to this thing. No matter what you say!¡±


    Ben¡¯s words had rolled off her without a care, triggering him to sigh.


    ¡°Well, good thing it isn¡¯t your choice. And stop calling her a thing. She¡¯s a child that needs help. Fen was the only one who saw it before us, so she¡¯ll be his charge, and that¡¯s final.¡± He declared.


    Charge? Who¡­? What does that mean?


    ¡°No, Ben, you can¡¯t do that! He¡¯s a child still traumatized! That thing is something that needs to be locked away or killed!¡± she snarled, letting her raw emotions show, triggering her brother to lose his patience once again.


    ¡°Can you read the damn report I gave you instead of saying things that make no sense?! If you had read it instead of riding off into grief, you¡¯d know she can¡¯t die!¡± He snapped.


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    His voice was trembling, too.


    ¡°The cat who helped us made damn sure to warn me and every survivor around that if she died, so would the world! You can ask Tania if you doubt me! I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll set you straight, too!¡± Ben declared.


    Are you the wolf that I last saw? Why¡­ defend me¡­?


    Amelia struggled to find an argument against what he informed her of. But it wasn¡¯t long before she resumed trying to sway her brother.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean that monster needs to roam free!¡± She resumed the dispute, growling under her breath.


    A soft, broken chuckle left Ben, ¡°She won¡¯t be free. She¡¯ll live within the Cerberus Order. Under Fenris¡¯s protection. Either way, it isn¡¯t your choice.¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s yours?!?¡± She snarled, stomping over to him.


    ¡°Are you stupid, sister? He¡¯s an alpha by birthright. This is his burden to carry now by clan rule. The council that¡¯s forming soon will say the same, too. She¡¯s too dangerous to leave alone, and she trusts him.¡± His tone didn¡¯t boast confidence.


    No, it was low and full of doubt, though he knew he couldn¡¯t back down from this situation.


    ¡°I won¡¯t allow this! Father saw him as nothing more than an heir. I won¡¯t allow this world to hurt him, too!¡± she snapped, turning away from her brother.


    Movements came from behind the door while I struggled to understand everything they were saying. It was no mystery I was the topic in question, though I couldn¡¯t discern the meaning behind their words.


    ¡°Amelia, you think I want that for him?! But it doesn¡¯t matter! This is the only way! Don¡¯t you get it?¡± Ben sighed, taking a step towards her.


    When he did, the sound of wood hitting the tile floor echoed.


    ¡°I won¡¯t allow it!¡± she wouldn¡¯t relent.


    ¡°Then let me put it in simple terms for you. The phoenix crystal failed to dispel whatever the coven did to her. That poor girl is the vessel for the gate until she stops breathing. And if she stops breathing, we all do. Doesn¡¯t that make it clearer?¡± He huffed, growling.


    A loud slam came from the door again, vibrating the room again.


    ¡°Fuck! Don¡¯t you get it?! Putting her in isolation would be a mistake! We already experienced what she did when she was scared and sorrowful! Can you even fathom what will happen when she¡¯s full of resentment?!¡± conflict was present in his voice.


    This was the first time I¡¯d realized the burden I was placing on everyone around me.


    ¡°If we do that. We¡¯ll be making the same mistakes that our ancestors did. Don¡¯t you see that?¡± the young Lycan¡¯s tone shook again.


    ¡°I...¡± Amelia struggled to find the words for her cause.


    Both sides were right and wrong. There was no winning side to this dilemma.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, Amelia. I love Fenris, too. He¡¯s our goddamn brother, but his childhood ended the moment we failed them. Remember that we failed, not this poor child who...¡± Ben stopped momentarily, releasing another sigh.


    ¡°Did you even read what she endured? There¡¯s no wonder why those things that emerged from her killed everything that they deemed as a threat. It¡¯s a miracle there are any survivors. I don¡¯t want to see what could happen if she¡¯s full of hate.¡± Ben''s voice was brittle again.


    Amelia tried to defend herself, ¡°I couldn¡¯t stomach the medical report.¡±


    ¡°Well... I read every detail because I was among the people who failed her. And since you insist on calling her a monster. I¡¯ll tell you everything that made her into that. So, prepare that delicate stomach can¡¯t even handle a piece of paper.¡± Ben confronted her.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t. I don¡¯t want to know anything about her!¡± She sighed.


    Ignoring her, he proceeded, ¡°I¡¯ll start with the straightforward stuff for you. Multiple beatings produced hematomas all over her body. She got lacerations on her lip and the inner tissues of her mouth. Probably from a fist or something else, we¡¯re still trying to find things back at the manor to add to the report.¡±


    The broom and beating¡­


    ¡°She also has multiple lacerations with a heated, sharp object on her torso, deforming her for life. I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll have normal breasts like you do, sister. So, consider yourself lucky to be the beauty of the Silverfang manor.¡± Ben paused, breath hitching with every stop.


    ¡°Her abdomen is scarred for life, and she has multiple burns, making me wonder if she¡¯ll feel anything near them. They cut her arms and legs, which will probably leave scars, too. She¡¯s lucky to have no impairment.¡± He took another step towards her.


    ¡°That child is just a year younger than our brother yet is thinner than she should be. They probably starved her often, but that isn¡¯t even the worst of it. Amelia, she¡¯s skin and bones. The doctors don¡¯t even think her period will arrive if she keeps that weight.¡± Ben carried on, not caring how his sister was digesting the information.


    ¡°Oh, on her back, you can see scars from multiple whippings she endured over the years, too. That isn¡¯t even the worst part. That¡¯s¡ª¡± his sister, who walked away, interrupted him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear anymore!¡± Amelia dismissed.


    A loud snap came from the door, startling me. It was like wood had snapped in half, a sound that echoed within me, reminding me of what Stella had done and leaving me shivering where I sat. A soft blue hue came from my body with it, quickly fading.


    Thankfully, the wolf¡¯s voice brought me back.


    ¡°Amelia! You won¡¯t let your cripple little brother without his cane, right?!¡± Ben threatened, only for the sound of someone falling to echo.


    Footsteps rushed towards the origin of the sound.


    ¡°Ben! Are you crazy?!¡± she scolded.


    ¡°She had multiple lacerations in her anus, rectum, colon, vulva, and vagina, too. We believe a stick was used to violate her. They found multiple splinters in her colon and her uterus, cervix, and vagina during surgery.¡± He continued.


    All those words sounded so foreign to me.


    ¡°One even made its way to one of her ovaries, damaging it. She¡¯ll have a hard time having a child like you. The saddest part is that it could¡¯ve been avoided if we searched the manor. She laid there for an entire day!¡± Ben finished, struggling with his emotions.


    Amelia called for help from the nurses down the hall. Most of what the wolf had said that day made no sense to me. I wouldn¡¯t know until later what the sisters had truly robbed me of. After the help came, it sounded like they dragged him away.


    The other wolf left, muttering under her breath. Tears streaked down my eyes, remembering everything that happened and who that voice belonged to.


    Ben, I¡¯m sorry for ruining your life.

 Chapter 16: Fenris’s Charge…

    The black feline by the door shifted her gaze towards me, swiftly jumping into the bed. Her blue eyes were radiant when I reached out to her. From her, I felt a familiar aura. It was¡­


    ¡°You¡¯re still here.¡± I sobbed, touching her little wet nose.


    She smiled before licking my fingers, tickling my senses before she nested herself on my slightly sore belly. Tears still trailed off my cheeks when I petted her, even though it hurt.


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep calling you her or you. Now, can I?¡± I mumbled, attempting to think of a name.


    One quickly popped into me, making me hum.


    ¡°Hm... Shade... Do you like it?¡± I giggled, receiving a powerful purr from her.


    Before I could say anything, the same man in a coat entered the room. This time, though, his orbs met with mine, triggering them to open wide. They rushed out quickly upon spotting me awake. His eyes had dilated, pressing his lips before he bolted out.


    Ah¡­ he was¡­


    I was left alone once again.


    Is it truly my fault? I... It can¡¯t be. I...


    It wasn¡¯t long before an armed group of men and women entered the room, followed by the female vampire I saw when there was chaos. This time, she wore an eye patch that covered her left eye. There were traces of claw wounds on her face.


    Their hands trembled as they held onto their staffs, and the expressions on most of their faces told me all I had to know. Trying not to think, I stared at the female vampire as she approached me, clasping my hand.


    She placed a black bracelet next to the one Fenris had given me. It had the same shimmering crystal that had brought me peace before for a charm. It was such a pretty purple color I couldn¡¯t help but admire it.


    She did the same to my other arm before grabbing my chin and checking my neck, releasing a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Lieutenant, are the inhibitors working?¡± asked one soldier, who gazed towards the door.


    She nodded. ¡°Yes, they seem to work for now.¡±


    Picking up a chair, she sat next to me, building pressure within me.


    ¡°Do you remember anything?¡± she questioned, tapping her fingers on the rail keeping me on the bed.


    I remained silent, knowing that whatever I said wouldn¡¯t change what had happened.


    ¡°Can you tell us what happened to you?¡± she inquired, trying to piece everything together.


    Again, not a word left my lips trembling lips. There was no point in answering her questions; my orbs stayed gazing towards the door, wishing for the impossible. Instead of giving up, she continued to try to get me to open up, but the result was the same.


    However, it all changed the moment the door opened once again. There, I saw the face of who I wanted most to see.


    Fenris...


    Ben accompanied him and what I presumed to be Amelia, a white-haired female Lycan. She was beautiful, like the jasmines we grew in our gardens. Her hair was like snow, and her eyes reflected the sun.


    The moment the silver boy¡¯s gaze met mine, his eyes widened, and his pupils dilated, triggering him to shake his head before his eyes glossed.


    ¡°Fen¡ª¡± His name wouldn¡¯t leave my lips before he bolted away from the room, breaking me from within.


    His expression caused my heart to shatter into a million pieces. Air was no longer easy to come by, hitching in every fill of my lungs.


    Am I so detestable that you won¡¯t look at me?


    ¡°I told you so!¡± Amelia yelled at Ben, running after the poor boy.


    Unable to control the pain that swelled within, I clasped onto my face, trying to stop the tears streaking down my cheeks.


    Am I¡­?


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    ¡°Ah¡­¡± I wailed louder than when my mother died.


    My light hates me!


    The bracelets on me glowed, attempting to control the power swelling from within again. Sadly, it was quickly overloaded. Shade, who laid on me, doubled in size in seconds. Her piercing orbs quickly traveled towards me, placing her paws on my arm.


    My emotions were in disarray without a single way to bring myself together.


    "Tania, the tranquilizer!" Ben yelled, pointing towards the side.


    She reached over towards the table where a ready syringe lay, jamming it into my neck. It sent me back into the abyss, where I prayed I would stay. A world where Fenris would gaze at me like that wasn¡¯t worth living in.


    I robbed him of his smile, something I couldn¡¯t forgive. In my dreamless state, I stood in the darkness, wishing I would die, but I couldn¡¯t let myself fall into the abyss¡ªnot if I wanted him to live.


    The next time I opened my eyes, I felt hollow within. Shade lay on my stomach again, curled into a small ball. When Tania came in after being found awake again by a nurse, she explained that they had added another bracelet with another magical crystal.


    This one was to prevent my feelings from going out of control. It was a Luxorite crystal, an eater of emotions, hoping to keep me from going over the edge. They prayed it would allow them to be safe around me, but that was a futile dream.


    They tested the new addition by telling me everything that happened to Silverant. The destruction took half of the town, along with any innocent civilians on its path. They still didn¡¯t know how many were missing, but probably over six hundred people were dead.


    The number was bound to grow with time. Tania also tested my capacity by telling me how Fenris was found. One creature attacked where he was, killing his mother the moment it went for him. She tried to shield him from the beast.


    The boy was unharmed by the event. Instead, it dragged him towards the middle of the disaster. He was found just a couple of lengths away from the crater, traumatized by the entire thing. My desire to see him made the creatures hunt him down and bring him towards me.


    My desire to see him had ruined everything for him, leaving the last test I had to pass was Fenris, an obvious trigger for me. Amelia fought them, of course, yelling louder than ever before. But eventually, they brought the traumatized boy back into the room with me.


    His eyes glossed, and he shook his head upon seeing me again. My obsession with him took away everything he loved. For a moment, just a slight moment, I felt a hole open up in my chest after knowing everything I had caused the poor pup.


    Then, nothing; it was as if something temporarily turned off my emotions. When I didn¡¯t lose control, everyone was overjoyed, something Fenris didn¡¯t share. Tears were rolling down his cheeks, watching what I had become.


    Everyone else had avoided an apocalyptic scenario, but simultaneously, they killed off my ability to feel. The only one who resembled Fenris was Ben. His nose was wrinkled, eyes scrunched up, and lips curled downward.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t right.¡± Ben winced, shifting his gaze towards his little brother, who clung to him.


    The cheering from the others drowned his voice, while Fenris refused to gaze towards me.


    Is it the fact I had made you an orphan? I didn¡¯t blame you for not wanting to see me. I¡¯m sorry¡­


    A couple of weeks passed when Ben finally got Fenris to come into the room to visit me daily. I was his charge for life. His duty was to care for me, though he never spoke to me directly. The only thing that came to mind was the anger he was probably holding against me.


    I would avoid his gaze, too, hoping to lessen his pain. Ben usually tried to create chatter, but I would never talk back at those times. I had lost the right to address Fenris directly. The elder brother became my guardian, so he officially made choices for me¡ªuntil Fenris came of age.


    The silver pup was still too young for that responsibility. Even though Ben wanted to remove the crystal, making me an emotionless doll, he couldn¡¯t overrule the Cerberus Order¡¯s will. I wasn¡¯t free. No, I was their prisoner, even though they tried to hide it behind fancy words.


    This was nothing but a cage¡ªone where I trapped my light in, too. Ben was a fresh breath of air but was way over his head with me. There was no doubt I was a monster, yet he insisted on treating me like a child.


    The same kid who took his arm and ability to walk normally. He would have a permanent limp after the event, and his arm couldn¡¯t regrow. Lycans were powerful and could heal almost anything, but missing ligaments and limbs weren¡¯t part of it.


    Weeks turned into months when the day arrived for the first time; Fenris came in alone into my room with a gift. Placing it on my lap, he avoided my orbs. Not knowing what he wanted, I picked it up and opened it.


    Inside was a piece of bread decorated with pink powder and another small box. Opening that one, I found a red collar with a golden bell attached to it. Confused, I shifted my orbs towards him to see him fidgeting with his shirt.


    ¡°It¡¯s for your... Whatever it is...¡± The little wolf tried to start a conversation with me, making the warmest sensation rise within me.


    It was almost like butterflies invaded my tummy. Yet, I couldn¡¯t get ahead of myself. This didn¡¯t change what had happened.


    ¡°Thank you. Shade says she loves it.¡± I simpered, feeling the same hole that always opened up in my chest.


    It triggered the inhibitor to turn on.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to say that to me,¡± Fenris mumbled, biting his lip.


    I nodded, offering my right hand to him. This was the perfect chance for him to¡­


    ¡°I don¡¯t deserve this bracelet. Please take it back,¡± I whispered.


    Part of me didn¡¯t understand how I wasn¡¯t locked up for life. The silver wolf shifted towards me, orbs glossy, before glancing down towards the floor.


    ¡°No, you do.¡± Fenris clasped onto the hand I offered to comfort me.


    I didn¡¯t know what he meant by what he said back then. But at least I saw a glimmer of hope for the friendship I wished to have with him. I never allowed myself to be deluded by his kindness, though.


    How he gazed at me would never be the same as it once was. They would never forgive me for what had occurred the day of the fall. That was something I never allowed myself to forget as weeks passed before my wounds healed enough to be discharged from the hospital.


    After being let out, I was sent to live with Ben and Fenris in Cerberus¡¯ new headquarters, where my new limited life began. With each year that passed, Fenris warmed up to me again. After all, I was his life¡¯s charge¡ªhis burden.


    But would that be all I would ever be?

 Chapter 17: Time Moves On…

    Our relationship drastically changed when we were in our teens. By then, we were enrolled in a Cerberus training program, where we learned how to control our powers. Fenris trained his body and soul while I trained my mind.


    They hopped me from professional to professional to fix me, but I was too broken to be off the inhibitors, much to Ben¡¯s dismay. No matter how many doctors tried to treat my trauma, whenever they attempted to take me off the inhibitors that controlled my emotions, it set off a chain reaction as anything triggered me.


    I had gotten used to living with them, and my teenage emotions were too unstable for me to control. Six years passed like this, and no doctor or scientist had wanted to work with me by this time. Instead, I fell under Tania, who trained me daily to strengthen my mind.


    It was significantly different from when I studied under the sisters. This vampire didn¡¯t hurt or scream at me when I made a mistake. Instead, she would repeat herself no matter how many times she needed until I got what was being taught.


    Even though she wasn¡¯t a witch, she tried to teach me as best she could. Her blood control and my magic weren¡¯t too different, requiring the same dedication and concentration. Yet it wasn¡¯t her intention to teach me combat magic.


    During our lessons, I usually stared at her velvet black hair swaying behind her, only to notice that bright red eye glaring at me. My lack of concentration didn¡¯t cause her to snap, as she would only use her expressions rather than words to alert me to what I was lacking.


    If only Stella knew those alone were scary enough to set me straight whenever I wandered off-topic. The purpose of Tania¡¯s training was for me to learn how to protect myself. She was better than any doctor or professional I had ever been to.


    However, I knew she was doing it for the Order rather than me.


    In the eyes of Cerberus, they couldn¡¯t leave me alone to fend for myself. The purpose of keeping me from the public¡¯s view was to keep the witches away from any temptation I offered. When I became the gate to the nether realm, the others of my kin strengthened, too.


    It was negligible, but the order feared my existence would tempt them to get more if they knew. For that reason alone, they kept me from the world within the Cerberus headquarters, a modern building filled with technologies from all races.


    This was just another fancy cage. But I don¡¯t blame them. I was dangerous. A mass murderer, too. By now, I knew better.


    The only reason I wasn¡¯t dead was that the shadow demons would take them down with me. Only high-ranking officers of the Cerberus order knew the story of what happened that day. They cast an elven spell for the rest of the world to forget what had happened.


    They all forgot that a small girl brought the great city of Silverant to its knees.


    Their memory was warped and replaced by Stella¡¯s coven, who did the deed. They did this to keep the peace between the order and the civilians. They were calling for blood when they found out what had happened.


    I was only ten, but they didn¡¯t care about that.


    No, all they wanted was for my head to roll.


    Thanks to that spell, they wanted Stella¡¯s and her coven¡¯s heads on the platter instead. The order had a second reason for doing this, though. Cerberus wanted Stella and her coven to believe everything went according to plan.


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    They wanted them to believe I had died that day. Somehow, against all odds, the order closed the portal, leaving their plan unfinished.


    With this, they hoped the sisters would slip up and make a mistake so they could apprehend them.


    Or at least that was what Ben told me.


    But six years later, there was no additional news on them. It was like they disappeared into the shadows. Some officers from the order believed the nether realm had taken them, too, but I knew better.


    They were planning to continue where their first plan failed. It would be a matter of time before they attacked once again. Though, I also knew they weren¡¯t ones to rush. This time, they would devise a better plan than the last.


    However, all leads about the matter got cold, and the sisters efficiently hid from the world. Over the years, I learned to control the whispers slowly, trying to drive me insane. However, I heard them sometimes when my emotions got the best of me.


    The only one I could hear all the time was Shade, who had stayed behind once the gate closed, even though she had shrunk down a few sizes. Everyone around me who knew what she was treating her with respect.


    She was as big as a small house cat, though, far from the ferocious form of that day. While I had the Phoenix inhibitors on, it was her permanent size. A witch came to inspect her soon after the fall and officially called Shade a familiar.


    It was by a witch who inspected her soon after the fall. The feline was a unique familiar, coming straight from the nether realm, making her highly unpredictable. It was also rare for witches and warlocks to have one at such a young age.


    They usually needed years of practice to create one and didn¡¯t speak as Shade did. This enviously filled every witch/warlock who saw me with her, not helping my popularity status. Thanks to that, I was known as an untouchable, and it was all because Fenris was my protector.


    It didn¡¯t stop the glances of annoyance at my presence.


    A leech, they called me.


    Others of my kin named me a traitor for being so close to the Lycans. Even if they knew little to nothing of what I did, I was being trained separately and shared a room with the next alpha wolf. That allowed an atmosphere of resentment and bitterness towards me to form, not that I blamed them.


    They were ignorant of who I was and the danger I posed to everything around me. A simple tantrum from me could level the building and the rest of the city. Luckily, most left me alone. The part of Silverant I destroyed was still being rebuilt.


    Even though my magical power was suppressed, the inhibitors didn¡¯t lock away all my magic. I could still cast spells like any average witch. Even though my inhibitors quelled most of it away, the nether realm still increased my magical power significantly.


    All was well while my emotions had a lid. If not, accidents happen. No one has died yet, but¡­


    My grimoire was kept from me, locked behind a vault within the facility. I could feel its presence, alerting me it probably was in the basement.


    Powerful grimoires are indestructible. Not even elven fire can get rid of them.


    In its place, they gave me a fake one I had to carry, pretending it was mine. Sadly, caged with me was Fenris, who was forced to share a room with me¡ªall because I was in his charge. I thought the sudden change bothered him, but it didn¡¯t.


    He told me he was okay with it and that it was his idea to live with me. No matter what, he continued to be nice to me; even so, placing this much responsibility on a twelve-year-old was too much to bear.


    As the years passed, Fenris never complained about anything, even when he had to take care of me when I got random fevers, triggering me to collapse. Every time, I would wake up with him next to me.


    Holding the gate in my body placed a strain on it.


    The silver wolf held my hand while I was awake or sleeping beside me, including when I had nightmares. Before I knew it, I depended on his warmth to sleep, prompting him to wake up with me in bed every morning.


    This made Fenris late for his training. Yet he never complained and always ensured I was okay before going on his day.


    I can¡¯t help but feel like a burden.


    I was utterly useless. Fire made me wary so much that I couldn¡¯t cook. Lately, though, the silver wolf struggled with something. Yet I never asked, trying to keep to myself these days. For me, it was enough to see him every day without forcing a friendship between us.


    Of course, things couldn¡¯t stay like this. No, everything had to change before we hit adulthood.


    But who are we kidding? We aren¡¯t children anymore.


    No, we left that behind when I destroyed everything. Neither Silverant nor I were the same after that day.

 Chapter 18: He said… What?!

    Fenris and I would only say good morning and night every day if it were up to me. Thanks to his training, he would usually pass out from exhaustion when he returned at night. Whenever this happened, I would cover him with his blanket, fearing he would catch a cold or worse.


    Of course, he was always there when I woke him up because of a nightmare. Whenever I needed anyone, he was the first one there. Thanks to that, I had grown accustomed to him holding my hand every night.


    The silver wolf did this even though the crystals would keep me from exploding. Even when I jolted awake, there was no risk of an apocalyptic event. Yet, he would hold my hand until I fell asleep.


    That was why I woke up to him sleeping next to me most of the time. All because I never let go of his hand. They theorized the weird sickness that presented itself with an uncontrollable fever and weakness was because the nether realm was in me.


    A human was never supposed to contain the power I possessed, and even though the inhibitors were in place, that power still lived within me, placing a strain on my body. It bothered me that Fenris was there whenever I needed anyone. I was his burden¡ªsomething I didn¡¯t want to be.


    At the age of sixteen...


    This day, Fenris returned to our shared room in a foul mood. Shade, who still wore the collar he gave me that day, lay in her tower of glory. It was a simple cat tower, which she adored. He had gotten it for her, though he always avoided touching her.


    The night before, the silver wolf argued with Ben outside the room. Shade had tried to overhear them, being the curious little creature she loved to be, but I nabbed her before she could.


    It isn¡¯t my place to know what they''re arguing about!


    There was one more year until Fenris took over as my guardian. Throwing his bag onto his bed, he glanced over at me, only to look more troubled than when he came in. Instead of speaking to me, he went into the bathroom to shower.


    Unable to feel too distressed over his reaction, I sat on my bed for a few minutes, staring at where he had disappeared, before continuing to write the assignment that Tania had given me. It was a simple puzzle test that helped keep my negative thoughts at bay.


    However, when the silver wolf emerged from the bathroom, his mood was the same as when he entered the room. Much to the detriment of my heart, he neglected to put on a shirt this time. Every upper body feature he had was displayed, prompting me to gawk before tearing my gaze away.


    All his training had defined his muscles and ensured he was fit for any battle. I swiftly diverted my gaze back to my work to control my heart.


    This isn¡¯t good, you know! You can¡¯t be doing this to me!


    Ignoring my worries, the silver wolf paced all over the room. Something bothered him, but I kept to myself. Deep down, I wanted to ask what was wrong, though. However, Shade had other plans, as his movements annoyed her, launching at his pants from the tower.


    Luckily, they were baggy pants, allowing her claws to dig into the cloth.


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    ¡°Shade, what the heck?¡± Fenris huffed.


    ¡°Your pacing is annoying,¡± I answered for her without gazing at him.


    That wasn¡¯t meant for me. My feelings for the wolf were undeniable, though. They weren¡¯t ones of admiration.


    No, I¡¯m deeply in love with this silver wolf. But I can never act on those emotions. You¡¯re meant for brighter things.


    He turned towards me, ¡°Lilith, control your cat,¡± he growled.


    Shade climbed up his pants in a bid of revenge for waking her up ever so rudely. She had forgiven him for throwing his bag and slamming the door but not for the continuous pacing. No, that drove her over the edge.


    ¡°She isn¡¯t a cat. She¡¯s a familiar,¡± I corrected, sounding somewhat snarky.


    I quickly covered my mouth, noticing how it sounded like.


    I didn¡¯t mean¡­


    Fenris''s amber eyes twitched, but before he could get a word out, Shade made her move.


    ¡°Ouch! Lilith!¡± he whined loudly, startling me.


    Shade bit into the base of his tail when he tried to shake her off. I refused to look up, though. Sadly, it wasn¡¯t long before I gave in, feeling his fiery eyes on me. He wouldn¡¯t surrender until I took Shade off.


    It was winter, so everything was cold, too. Gripping my rugs, I hesitantly got up. It was easy to pick up the cat, who had hooked on his tail.  Luckily, she hadn¡¯t bitten through the skin, allowing his fur to retain its silver.


    Trying to avoid looking at his exposed skin, I turned around, disappointed at Shade.


    How could you get me into this?!


    Hehe¡­ I just went for it, Lily! She snickered, leaving me on the spot.


    This isn¡¯t¡ª


    Before I could take a step away, Fenris grabbed my waist, tugging me into an embrace. Shade fell upright on the ground, walking off towards her bed again. Laying his head on my shoulder, I felt the water from his wet hair drip onto my dress.


    This was new¡­


    ¡°Lilith... Do you want to try it?¡± he whispered.


    Try it. Try what?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean. Do you need help with some work?¡± I mumbled, feeling flustered by his actions.


    My heart was in the marathon of its life. It was going almost fast enough to trigger the inhibitor, but not quite. It only responded to negative emotions, and this was far from it. Fenris growled, holding me even tighter to him.


    There was little to no space between my back and his chest.


    ¡°You silly girl... don¡¯t make me say it.¡± He mumbled, holding me tightly and slightly shaking his head.


    Something wasn¡¯t right. Clasping onto his hand that held my shoulder, my body trembled.


    Did I¡­


    ¡°Fenris... Did I do something wrong? If I did, I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± I began, only to be interrupted by him gently nibbling on the slightly exposed skin on my neck.


    Instantly, I yelped, stiffing up like a pole. He licked where he pressed his lips, chuckling at my reaction. He rarely did things to tease me. Though, they usually happened whenever I apologized for something.


    There was no doubt that he knew how I felt about him¡ªnot that I would tell him about it, though.


    ¡°How many times do I need to tell you? I never want to hear you say sorry,¡± Fenris murmured, shifting his hand onto my abdomen.


    I was trapped in this wolf¡¯s embrace. There was a tone of sadness in his voice that I couldn¡¯t shake off. Pushing me onto my bed, I quickly turned to him, only for him to cage me under him. His cheeks were bright pink, eyes full of tenderness.


    ¡°Fenris...?¡± I called, feeling my cheeks burn.


    Seeing his shirtless torso made me want to touch him, too. His muscles were so well defined from all his training that I couldn¡¯t help myself when my eyes examined him.


    All I ever wanted was to be by your side, nothing more. Yet¡­ I can¡¯t help but want more¡­ Please¡­ don¡¯t tease me anymore!


    This was something that could only be a distant dream.


    It must be...


    ¡°I want to have sex with you,¡± Fenris announced, leaning closer to me.


    He had said the impossible. It left me stunned where I lay.


    I misheard him. You must¡¯ve said something else. Like you want to... To... have me cook for you. No, I don¡¯t know how to. Maybe you want to go somewhere with me. I must¡¯ve misheard you. It¡¯s a misunderstanding, for sure.


    Surely, I¡¯m utterly wrong. My ears must¡¯ve missed a tune.


    ¡°Y-you w-want... w-what...? Sorry, I... m-must¡¯ve m-misheard you.¡± I stuttered, stomach fluttering like never before.


    My heart couldn¡¯t bear it. It was about to fall out of my chest. It was the first time I felt this way.


    Hopeful? No... I can¡¯t be hopeful!

 Chapter 19: A First…

    Hope would only lead to disappointment, leaving my body growing cold with each passing second.


    My body isn¡¯t...


    Upon hearing those words come out of my mouth, Fenris¡¯s eyes twitched, lips curled downward.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be that dense. I just said it, Lily,¡± he growled.


    In response to my denial, he grabbed my hands, pinning them on the soft bed. There, he kissed my neck, sending shivers down my spine. It lit me up, almost as if lightning had struck me.  Intertwining his left hand with my right hand, he let go of my left to undo the buttons of my dress.


    However, I quickly trembled as tears rolled down my cheeks when I reached for the hand that threatened to undress me. The inhibitor bracelet slowly activated, coming close to my meltdown.


    ¡°I-I... I-I... n-no... y-you can¡¯t... I-I... I-I... I-I... don¡¯t... I-I... I¡¯m not worthy of you!¡± I struggled to say, sobbing.


    It triggered the bracelet, leaving me feeling hollow. The moment it shone, Fenris appeared like he wanted to rip it off, but doing so would¡¯ve placed everyone in danger. Instead, he took a deep breath, shaking his head.


    ¡°Lily... I can¡¯t think of anyone more deserving than you. You deserve the world to bend to you.¡± He tried to console me.


    His sweet words couldn¡¯t reach my closed heart, though. By this time, I had learned what the sisters had taken from me.


    I¡¯m not worthy of anyone anymore.


    Never was¡ªespecially someone like Fenris, who had people who adored him.


    You¡¯re untouchable to someone like me.


    My body would disgust him either way.


    It appalled even me.


    I was disfigured and dishonored in more ways than I could count.


    ¡°I... don¡¯t... I¡¯m dirty.¡± I whimpered.


    Cupping my cheek, he wiped away the rogue tears streaming down.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. You aren¡¯t dirty.¡± Fenris sighed, eyes glossing too.


    I couldn¡¯t understand why he said it.


    Don¡¯t you know what the coven did to me? If you don¡¯t, then¡­


    Something as pure as him shouldn¡¯t lie with something like me.


    ¡°The sisters¡ª¡± I tried to inform him, but he interrupted me.


    At that moment, his expression changed, flashing his fangs.


    ¡°I already know what those psychos did to you. What those bitches did, doesn¡¯t count!¡± Fenris reassured, leaning into me and kissing me lightly on my lips.


    One wish came true the moment his lips touched mine. No matter how light it was. It was enough to satisfy me for a lifetime. Yet this wolf¡­


    ¡°All of your first will be with me.¡± He declared, astonishing me.


    You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying!


    My body was undesirable, especially to the future alpha of an entire clan. Yet his words warmed my heart in ways I thought I would never feel. It would be a dream to be his, but that was all it would be.


    When this wolf saw my body, he would run, unaware of what he was getting into. He had never seen it before. I always wore clothes that would prevent anyone from seeing my scars. I even kept my hair short enough to reach my ears.


    Ever since that day I¡­


    Luckily, I didn¡¯t have to hide my face or neck from anyone as they didn¡¯t have scars to conceal. For my legs, I wore dark linings to bury everything they did to me. I only ever exposed my hands and face in public and inside the room with Fenris.


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    ¡°No, Fenris, I¡ª¡± I tried to explain, but this wolf wasn¡¯t stopping.


    Before I could finish, his lips clashed with mine, again silencing me successfully. When his tongue touched mine, I thought this had to be a dream. The warmth that entered my core was overwhelming.


    Did I fall asleep? When¡­


    Separating for a moment, I gasped as his hands peeled off my dress, exposing my deformed chest in one swoop. I never wore a bra since my breasts never grew, thanks to the trauma that they endured.


    Scars covered my entire bosom, marking each stroke the blade took.


    Ah¡­ if this is a dream, it won¡¯t be long until¡­


    Usually, this was when I woke up, fearing this silver wolf¡¯s reaction to seeing my body. Whenever I awoke from those dreams, he held my hand while I calmed down. Little did he know my dream was about his rejection.


    This time, however, I wouldn¡¯t wake up. Even though the bracelet kept shining brightly, Fenris¡¯s ears twitched before lowering, eyes narrowing as a soft growl left his lips. Instead of running away, he traced his fingers on my chest, triggering tickling sensations to overwhelm my senses. It also left a trail of heat in his wake.


    A low, shy mewl released from my lips, triggering him to gaze back at my face. I avoided his eyes, though.


    A soft chuckle left Fenris, ¡°You¡¯re beautiful.¡± He breathed, caressing my deformed breasts before leaning into them and suckling on my skin with no hesitation.


    Beautiful...? Impossible... I... I must¡¯ve heard wrong!


    More mewls escaped my lips before I bit into the sleeve of my dress, preventing my voice from coming out anymore. Focusing his kisses on my breast, he lifted the skirt off my dress, sticking his hand into my stocking and underwear.


    When his fingers touched my most private area, I felt a rush of adrenaline course through me. I finally glanced down to see him still suckling on my chest, leaving behind little bruises on them. Separating from me, Fenris met with my gaze, allowing me to see his pink cheeks.


    From there, he removed the clothes, exposing everything to him.


    There is no way this is happening.


    He licked his fingers before softly caressing my vulva. However, his eyes were planted on my face, watching for any reaction I had. Slipping a finger into me, I yelped, startling the wolf, who had thought he had hurt me.


    He hadn¡¯t. It was surprising how different it felt from back then. However, it did sting a bit, making it uncomfortable. My facial expression told him all he had to know. A soft smile rose on his lips when he gently thrust his finger in and out of me.


    Before long, it was two fingers in me, leaving me squirming to a new sensation I hadn¡¯t felt before. Pleasure, something I had never felt before. It swayed through my body like waves crashing onto the beach.


    Pulling my sleeve out of my mouth, Fenris replaced it with lips.


    Kisses...


    He gave me so many. I was overwhelmed by him, unable to form a coherent thought. Separating from him, I finally let go of all the emotions building up since we met that day at that game store.


    ¡°Fenris, I lo¡ª¡± I tried to profess my feelings only to be met with his light peck of my lips.


    ¡°I know.¡± He whispered, kissing me more profoundly than he had before.


    He removed his fingers from within my walls, spreading me apart with his hands. Positioning himself between my legs, he tugged away from my lips before trailing down my body with kisses.


    The wolf stopped when he reached my groin before gazing back at me; I couldn¡¯t help but feel flustered at everything he did.


    ¡°Beautiful everywhere.¡± He assured me, leaning into me.


    A second later, his tongue lapped my slits, leaving me gripping the bed and his soft hair; I couldn¡¯t control my voice. His name escaped my lips repeatedly. It was almost as if I was urging him to continue to make me feel like this.


    Before I knew it, a weird sensation swelled within my core. It was another feeling I had never experienced, but he tugged away before it could reach its peak. I watched him pull down his pants, exposing himself to me.


    Another thing I thought could never happen in this lifetime.


    You want me. Oh¡­ gods¡­


    Tears dripped down my eyes again, triggering him to wipe them away and kiss my forehead gently.


    ¡°Ready?¡± he mumbled, stroking himself with his wet fingers.


    Not knowing how to respond, I gazed at him with hopeful eyes. A soft sigh came from his lips, along with a sly slime. His cheeks were so rosy, though. Caging me again under him, he pressed his tip against my entrance before letting it slide, rubbing it against it.


    Leaning onto me, the playful wolf kissed my forehead, continuing to thrust into me without slipping it in.


    This is torture! Why are you¡­


    It wasn¡¯t long until I bucked my hips into him, triggering him to chuckle.


    ¡°Okay, I get it. No more teases.¡± He breathed, reaching towards where we would connect.


    When Fenris entered me, all I felt was pulsing pain, stretching my walls to his size and length. This wolf was much thicker than the stick they used back then, and nothing had touched it in the past five years since the fall.


    Baring from the discomfort, I clasped my hands into his arms. He panted for air, close to my ear, continuing to push himself into me until he filled me to the brim. A moan released from his lips when he found his release inside of me immediately after entering.


    I didn¡¯t know, but it was his first time doing anything like this. His member twitched inside of me, causing me to release along with him. My mind went blank for the first time in my life. It felt like bliss, washing away everything, including the pain.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Fenris panted, caressing my cheek.


    Slowly, I nodded, out of breath, too.


    This has to be a dream.


    But it felt so real.


    If it¡¯s a dream¡­ I don¡¯t want to wake up. Please don¡¯t let me wake up.


    Reaching out, I touched his cheek, smiling.


    Ah¡­ I thought I had forgotten how to smile.


    ¡°Fenris,¡± I called out to him, feeling bliss.


    It triggered him to kiss me once again. This time, though, he thrust himself into me, too. Each push was so gentle and loving that I could barely bear it. He was trying so hard not to hurt me, attempting to fill my senses with pleasure.


    I couldn¡¯t count how many times we held each other that day, but we mainly did everything in the book. Fenris¡¯s touch had set anew everything that the sisters had done.


    A touch that means everything to me.

 Chapter 20: ~ Shade and Fenris! ~ Part 1!

    Fenris woke me up again after making all that commotion that night.


    Me, Shade!


    He had the gall to wake me up multiple times today! I forgave him so many times before. Especially when he was making Lily happy, but she was deep asleep beside him. And his phone made the most obnoxious high-pitched noise again.


    It would sometimes do that at night.


    Only me and Fenris can hear the damn thing.


    Lily would always stay asleep, even though it rang so loudly in my ears. I never had in me to wake her.


    This was a chance, though. Something was bugging me about this wolf. He always disappeared at night after receiving the messages, and I couldn''t sleep because of the persistent noise from the phone.


    Fenris groggily got up from the bed, fully naked, grabbing the phone from his bag by the side of his bed. Seeing him walking nude made me realize he had little to no respect for me!


    The gall!


    Instead of punishing him this time, I watched him throw the phone on his bed. He then walked over to Lily, sitting down on the bed, pondering the message he''d received.


    Why do you look so troubled, little wolf?


    He leaned over to her, pecking her on the cheek.


    "Don''t wake up to find me missing. I promise I''ll be back soon," he whispered.


    After making sure she was warm from the cold, he went to the bathroom and got ready to leave.


    Where''s he off to?


    It bothered me that Lily didn''t know that Fenris was gone. She usually was a heavy sleeper. Little noises wouldn''t wake her up from her dreams. Especially when she felt safe, and right now, she felt the safest she had ever been.


    That much I could feel. The warmth that radiated from her was comforting for me as well. However, my curiosity rose, wondering who was the one who woke me up from this time. I wormed into his bag, getting off from my tower of glory, knowing he never left without it.


    After being stuffed into that bag for a while, Fenris picked it up, heading out of the room and into the unknown, unaware I had infiltrated his belongings. As usual, he paid little attention to me whenever he left.


    Lucky for me.


    I giggled happily, having accomplished my mission, but no one other than Lily could hear me, and she was out cold from all Fenris had done to her. Somehow, though, I couldn''t get mad at him for exhausting her after making her feel so good.


    She had never been that happy before. It was nice for her to feel loved by him when she was in his arms. Ever since I met her, the only one who could ever make her feel the slightest hint of happiness was him.


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    So, even though he was on my blocklist for not respecting me, he was the last I would ever kill off.


    If at all.


    Not that I could ever execute Fenris off without hurting my precious Lily. This small wolf wasn''t too bad. Though I wished he would pay attention to me.


    Ew! No, Lily''s emotions are affecting me too!


    So, he was lucky to have more than a free pass from me. But if he ever hurt her, I didn''t know what I would be capable of. Even though I doubted that no matter how much he would hurt her, Lilith would never hate him.


    She didn''t hate anyone, couldn''t bring herself to do it, even when they mistreated her, constantly shifting the blame onto herself instead. After swaying within the bag and his belongings, Fenris opened the bag and found me in it.


    Oops...


    "What the fuck?! Shade, what are you doing here?!" Fenris questioned, eyes twitching, lips curled downward.


    He was in front of a door I had never seen before, and I couldn''t see who it was. The doors usually had nameplates on the frames to identify the offices in Cerberus, but I never paid attention to them.


    Lily was all that mattered.


    Following you, you interloper of my sleep! I answered, but Fenris couldn''t hear me.


    The wolf glanced at the door and me, then back to the door, not knowing what to do with me. Even though I couldn''t see, I heard footsteps approaching the door from the other side.


    "Fuck!" he shoved me down into the bag.


    There was more movement behind the door.


    "Stay in there, and don''t come out or move," he mumbled, retrieving a folder.


    Someone answered the door soon after he closed me up.


    "Fenris, is that you?"


    That voice... Ryker?!


    It was unbelievable that this bland elf was disturbing my sleep, too. He always looked at Lily with such scorn, marking him at the top of my shit list now! He was the temporary head of Cerberus, assigned him about four years ago when the council was formed to veto Ben from power.


    They all thought he wasn''t fit to lead during such dark times.


    Ben¡¯s the only one who¡­


    "Yes, sir... Ryker." Fenris walked into the room, bringing me along with him. "I thought I requested you not to call me at night anymore."  He sighed.


    Are you happy the elf didn¡¯t spot me? Fool! These mortals know not to mess with me! I¡¯m immortal!


    They did little to get in my way after my show of dominance on the battlefield.


    Tania showered me with gifts! Yummy treats.


    All of them should''ve been giving me tributes. Then again, the female vampire treated me like any other cute thing that came across her. She was also at the bottom of my shit list, along with Ben.


    Another one who would avoid destruction by my hands.


    "I would do it in the morning, but Ben''s here then. His presence makes it difficult to talk to you without his knowledge." The elf started, closing the door behind them.


    "Your brother seems to disagree with the council''s view. I hope you''ve come through already, though. They tire of waiting." Ryker announced, sitting down on a chair.


    It creaked under his weight.


    Just from hearing your voice, I don''t like you.


    He never hurt Lily personally, but something about him was always off. Then again, half of the people we met gave off the same vibe.


    "Sir, I¡ª" Fenris tried to speak, only to be interrupted by Ryker.


    "Let me remind you, you must do this. The council''s asking for it. And that thing seems to adore you. So, you''re the only candidate for this job, and we need to have that petty tyrant fully compliant." The elf clarified his argument.


    What are they talking about?


    "Sir..." Fenris trailed off, not wanting to finish his thought.


    Ryker didn''t care what the little wolf thought or wanted.


    That much is obvious with how much the elf is interrupting you!


    All that mattered was if it was done or not.


    What is it?


    "Is it done, or isn''t it? Do I need to remind you that the council will take the girl away from you, even if Ben disagrees? He isn''t even in the council anymore." Ryker threatened the little wolf.


    Anger was boiling within me. If only I could¡­


    I¡¯ll have this elf''s ears for my prize!

 Chapter 21: ~Shade and Fenris~ Part 2

    I tried to hold on to the urge to murder the elf, who seemed to be on the highest horse in history. It wouldn''t have been suitable for the little wolf if this man saw me.


    ¡°It¡¯s done, sir. But don¡¯t get me wrong. I¡ª¡± Fenris began, only to be interrupted once again.


    This elf gave no breaks.


    ¡°Then I can assume you made the monster a little more compliant?¡± he questioned with little emotion.


    It angered me to hear him call my precious one after that.


    Monster?! You can¡¯t be talking about Lily! Surely...


    ¡°Sir, she isn¡¯t¡ª¡± Fenris tried to defend her, only to meet the same end as before.


    ¡°Did you or did you not?¡± the elf asked.


    Let him speak his mind, you jerk!


    ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t understand why this happened this way. I wanted to wait for the time when she was okay with it. The last thing I need is you breathing down my neck for these things. She¡¯s special to...¡± Fenris trailed off, knowing it wouldn¡¯t change a thing.


    Ryker was only interested in what he wanted and nothing more. For him, all that mattered was what the council wanted.


    Uptight elf! I¡¯ll get you one day!


    ¡°That¡¯s irrelevant, Fenris. All you need to do is control that thing by every means necessary. Own her body and soul if it helps. I don¡¯t know why you and your brother see that cursed girl as more than a ticking bomb waiting to go off at any minute.¡± The elf argued coldly.


    Wait¡­ wolf¡­ did you do that because they ordered you?! You didn¡¯t, right?!


    Fenris breathed in deeply, letting it go. The elf wasn¡¯t done, though.


    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing the council was formed. You Lycans seemed to have lost your touch. Your brother¡¯s too soft, and it appears it¡¯s rubbing off on you. Don¡¯t forget that she was the one who made you into an orphan, boy.¡± Ryker huffed, tapping the table.


    A low growl came from Fenris.


    ¡°I hope your brother¡¯s heart doesn¡¯t run in you.¡± The elf continued.


    His tone made my blood boil.


    The way you talk about my precious Lily! Our Precious Lily!


    There was no forgiveness for the elf.


    Fuck my sleep! You¡¯ll die by my paws just because of how you think of her. All who seek to harm her will die from our wrath. Including you, wolf¡­ if you hurt her! I¡¯ll...


    ¡°Sir, she¡¯s more than that.¡± Fenris huffed.


    His words were disregarded, though. It was painful to see the annoying little wolf have a hard time when all he wanted to do was try to defend her, but it didn¡¯t matter.


    ¡°As I said, what you think is irrelevant, boy. Though it worries me, the way you¡¯re speaking makes me think you love her. If true, you don¡¯t need me to tell you not to fall in for that abomination.¡± Ryker declared.


    Fenris remained silent.


    ¡°Let me remind you. You already have a fianc¨¦e, Layla, who was assigned to you when you were born. She¡¯s coming to join us here in Silverant soon.¡± Ryker informed.


    The poor wolf suddenly went stiff.


    Fianc¨¦e¡­ wolf, you have a lot you haven¡¯t said to Lily. Just what are you planning?


    ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t plan to¡ª¡± Fenris was interrupted again.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t seen each other since you were children, right? I hear she¡¯s still very fond of you. She¡¯s grown to be quite a woman, too. Compared to that abomination, she¡¯ll be more pleasing to the eyes.¡± Ryker continued, triggering Fenris to clench his fist.


    How dare you call her that, pointy ears?!


    The wolf dug his nails into his palms, alerting me to the smell of blood. For a moment, I felt Fenris¡¯ murderous intent before he took a deep breath to calm himself.


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    ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t need you telling me anything. I can make my choices.¡± The little wolf declared.


    Ryker had no interest in hearing him, though.


    ¡°Children are always a pain. I hope you grow up soon, Fenris, or else you¡¯ll never be the leader your father was. If you want to free that girl, there isn¡¯t any other way but to climb up the ranks.¡± The elf snapped, standing up from his chair.


    Fenris clicked his tongue; however, not a word left him.


    ¡°Though I would love to see you fail and that monster heartbroken in the dungeon. It would be safer for everyone if they deemed you unworthy of leading this organization. This is only my honest opinion.¡± He rebuked the wolf, who sighed in response.


    There was no use speaking to this man. He saw Fenris as a little cub, unfit to have Lily with him.


    ¡°Yes, sir. Thank you for your wisdom. I¡¯ll go now.¡± Fenris bid farewell, setting down the folder in his hand on the desk before exiting the room.


    After getting far from that room, he opened the bag to let me out. When I jumped, he slid down onto the ground next to me.


    Ah¡­ You look like your world is falling apart, little wolf.


    Through the years I spent with him. I had never seen him so stressed. It was like the world was on his shoulders. He was a boy with too many responsibilities on his shoulders.


    ¡°What have I done? Was this the right way to go about things? I can¡¯t take it back. Fuck! Lilith! I¡­ I can¡¯t¡­¡± Fenris seconded guess himself, tears rolling down his cheeks.


    Ah¡­ Wolf¡­ you¡­


    I hopped off the bag, coming closer to him. Even though I was angry before, seeing him like this made me realize how little power he had over anything. They didn¡¯t deserve this.


    What is it that those fur dumbos that I represent do to comfort these mortals? Ah, yes...


    I rubbed my face on his arm slightly, releasing a small purr. My action startled him, triggering him to tug his arm away before gazing at me with glossy eyes.


    ¡°If I hurt her, you¡¯ll eat my head, won¡¯t you? Is that what you¡¯re saying? Well, I hope you do if I do.¡± He nervously chuckled, wiping his tears away.


    The pressure was too much to bear for this poor wolf.


    No, you idiot, I¡¯m trying to comfort you!


    I wished he could hear me say that, pushing my tiny paws on his arm. He picked me up and placed me on his lap for the first time.


    ¡°I... don¡¯t get why they want to ruin Lily so much. But, Shade, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t allow it; I''ll free her even if it takes years. She¡¯s just a normal girl who deserves only the best.¡± He shook his head, gazing at his hands. ¡°She was just a small girl in my arms a few hours ago.¡±


    Fenris¡¯s voice cracked slightly, prompting me to slant my ears down before licking his nose. It was like I had become his psychologist for the day.


    Not that I mind. This boy won¡¯t hurt Lily willingly. No, you cared about her. You loved her.


    I knew before today¡ªhow he cared for and gazed at her.


    Lily¡­


    ¡°Why don¡¯t they see it? It wasn¡¯t like she wanted Silverant destroyed. I don¡¯t know how they can¡¯t see how Ben was right. If the spell the psychos were doing worked. Those who survived wouldn¡¯t be here.¡± His body trembled, holding me close.


    I¡¯m sorry, little wolf. I don¡¯t remember anything from before coming into this world.


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for her sacrifice! None of us would¡¯ve been here! Why can¡¯t they realize this simple fact!?¡± Fenris broke, pressing his forehead against mine.


    Little wolf, those crystals one day won¡¯t be enough to hold us back. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll finish what we started! I¡¯ll make sure Lily is safe! I declared to comfort Fenris, but he couldn¡¯t hear me.


    Back then, all we wanted to do was protect Lily from anyone who would try to come to harm her. She was the first one to summon us for selfless reasons.


    No¡­ There is something else, but I don¡¯t remember.


    The only thing I remembered was hearing her plea and bonding with her.


    Anything else from that world escapes me. Arg! I can¡¯t even help Lily with her studies!


    Yet I was determined to make the world safe for them. Children were the only survivors on ground zero were children. Back then, Ben and Tania were seventeen, too. Lilith made us go easy on them, but they were on our way.


    Or at least that was what I remembered.


    I thought we were doing the right thing by eliminating all cruel adults. But it seems we made it harder on Lily. Or was it for other reasons?


    There was no way to know. Her mind merged with all those who left through the gate she opened.


    So, we knew she didn¡¯t want that to happen. Yet rage closed our eyes to that. Yes, we were just so angry that we saw pure red. But why were we angry? I can¡¯t remember.  The world appears to be headed to the end we predicted, though. Ah¡­ who was it¡­?


    However, some mortals in this realm surprised me in unsuspected ways. This boy and his brother were part of them. Perhaps this world wasn¡¯t too far gone.


    There may be something to save here.


    ¡°I won¡¯t allow them to take her away from me! Yes, I¡¯ll do everything I must to keep her with me, even if it might hurt her. Then, once I¡¯m at the top, I¡¯ll change everything for her.¡± Fenris whispered, letting me go and covering his face with his hands.


    Your pain will be sweet to bear compared to what they want to do to Lily. I¡¯ll forgive you, little wolf. So, don¡¯t feel sad.


    ¡°Seems you might eat my head after all.¡± Fenris joked, chuckling nervously again.


    I meowed at him, hoping he would hear me, shifting his gaze towards me.


    I¡¯ll forgive you, little wolf. I promised.


    He smiled, almost as if he had heard me, petting my head gently.


    ¡°This must be a secret from Lily. You know that right?¡± he sighed.


    I nodded, knowing it would destroy her to know how much pressure he was under. She would do her Lily thing and yank all the blame on herself. I couldn¡¯t trample over his efforts to keep her safe. So, this would be one secret I would keep from my other half.


    She can¡¯t know how much you love her.


    After that, he picked me up in his arms before heading back into the room. Luckily, Lily lay asleep peacefully, waiting for us to come back. He placed me on my tower of glory and dropped his clothes on the ground before joining her in bed.


    Softly and gently, he woke her up by caressing her arm.


    ¡°Fenris?¡± she mumbled groggily.


    He kissed her cheek when she turned to face him. Sadly, the following events wouldn¡¯t allow me to sleep until dawn. He was such a selfish little wolf, but I forgave him. As he was her world, and she was his.


    Even if she couldn¡¯t know it.

 Chapter 22: Layla…

    When my eyes flew open the following day, I was alone in bed. Fenris was nowhere to be seen, even though his warmth radiated from my skin. Shade was in her usual spot on the tower while part of me wondered if everything that occurred was a dream.


    I quickly realized it wasn''t when I moved. The soreness of my body was enough to tell me what I experienced, which was very much like I had been through a thorough workout.


    Ow, any movement makes me want to crash back down.


    Not only that, but it felt weird and sticky down there, and I urgently needed a wash. Glancing at my side of the bed, I saw the assignment I was supposed to do yesterday was on the floor.


    Crap, Tania is going to scold me again.


    Releasing a sigh, I rose from the bed and met the floor as my legs gave out. My fall startled Shade, who jumped from her tower towards me.


    Lily¡­ Are you okay? She asked, rubbing herself on my arm.


    "I''m alright," I reassured her with a smile, realizing I was utterly bare.


    Dark kiss marks on my chest, abdomen, and thighs allowed memories of yesterday to rush through my mind. Fenris left me with little doubt about what he had done to me and made sure there was no way I could believe my moments with him were a dream.


    Why did you¡­


    However, the moment I glanced at the clock to check the time was all the motivation I needed to endure my body''s soreness. I was late for my lesson with Tania, triggering shivers to run down my spine upon noticing how late I was.


    Rushing to the bathroom to shower, I dressed quicker than I had ever done so. Tania never hurt me physically, but her glare made me crumble where I stood, especially since her silent treatments were the worst.


    Shade jumped on my shoulder before I rushed out of the room. In my hurry, I stumbled onto an unknown white-haired female Lycan accompanied by Amelia, who instantly scowled at me and accompanied her.


    Ah¡­ I really didn¡¯t want to bump into you today.


    "Woah, are you alright?" the girl grabbed onto my shoulder, worried I had hurt myself when I crashed into her.


    She was a brick wall that barely moved because of the collision. For a moment, our gaze met, only for hers to shift towards the door.


    "Wait a minute, isn''t this Fenris''s room?" She asked, turning to Amelia.


    "Yes, it is. Layla, that''s his charge," The older sister informed, glaring at me.


    If it were up to her, she would''ve me locked up in a basement. Upon hearing those words, Layla¡¯s eyes widened, shaking her head.


    "A charge is living with him. For how long?" The white wolf queried.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "For the rest of their life. Whichever ends first." The elder sister answered blankly.


    Layla''s eyes twitched, "Ah... I see. How long has it been like this?"


    Her hands denied me the passage to leave, gripping me tighter. I didn''t feel welcomed, and my desire to leave grew faster than I realized. It was best to go before anything else happened.


    "Five years." Amelia continued to inform her.


    Even though I wanted to run away, part of me also wanted to know why she was looking for the silver wolf who had held me so warmly the previous night.


    "I was never told about this," Layla complained, seemingly shocked by the news.


    Amelia shrugged. "Ben thinks it''s better if fewer people know about their situation."


    Layla nodded, "I see.¡± Her gaze quickly found me, ¡°So, you''re a high-risk target to be under my future husband''s protection for life. Well, I hope we can get along." she smiled gently, shattering my heart where I stood.


    Future husband...? What...?


    The bracelet, however, prevented me from having a meltdown. It shimmered and drained me of all negative emotions. Shade tried in vain to push her hands away from my shoulder. Her words reminded me of something Fenris said last night when he held me in his arms.


    "Lilith, no one can know about this." He whispered into my ear before he swiftly made me forget his love.


    Was it love, or was it lust? There''s no reason to lust for me with the body I have. Why would you do this, Fenris? Ah... Is it to control me? Is that why you didn''t let me tell you I loved you?


    It had to be.


    No¡­ Lily. Grrrr! Let go of her already! Shade pushed with all her might, but with my bracelets, she was only an average cat.


    I tried my best not to let the tears run down my cheeks, even though I wanted to weep, wanting to hide from everyone, or perhaps it would''ve been better if I disappeared. It should''ve hurt, but all I felt was hollow inside.


    I had to act like nothing was wrong, for Fenris''s sake. I couldn''t feel anything about Layla''s announcement. Yet...


    I''m such a fool¡­ Of course, you can never love me.


    This Lycan girl was ignorant about who I was when she reached for Shade, thinking she was a typical cat.


    "Aw, who''s that little kitty witty?" Layla squeaked.


    It triggered Shade to hiss at her, only for Amelia to yank her back from me, screaming.


    "Get away from that monster!" the elder sister screeched, her voice echoing throughout the hall, bringing unwanted attention to me.


    Layla stood there with hands on her chest, utterly bewildered at her companion¡¯s meltdown. Freed from her grip, I tried to escape, but I could only freeze when Fenris came running from the opposite corner along with Liam.


    I hadn''t seen that brown-haired wolf in a while. Following my gaze, Layla finally caught a glance at Fenris, and that was all she needed. She rushed to his side and hugged him where he stood.


    "Fenris!" Layla shouted, breaming.


    My legs refused to move as the scene continued playing out before me.


    "Layla?! What are you doing here?!" he questioned, pulling away from her.


    Liam greeted the white wolf with a smile before gazing at me. Instantly, my eyes met the floor, and I avoided his glance.


    "Didn¡¯t Ryker tell you I was coming?" she pushed past, snuggling into Fenris''s chest.


    He tried to tug away from her again.


    Lily... I¡­ am sorry. Shade caressed my cheek with her head.


    My world crumbled, realizing he would never be mine.


    Last night¡­ was only a dream, nothing else¡­


    "Yes, but not today," Fenris growled, trying to pull away from Layla, who seemed to be glued to him.


    "I guess he wanted to surprise you!" The white wolf smiled at him, ignoring his demeanor.


    I wished I could smile at him as she did.


    "I guess Ryker succeeded in surprising me. Excuse me, I need to speak with my sister." Fenris''s mood soured, finally tugging her off himself.


    Taking a quick gaze at me, he turned to Amelia, ignoring that I was there. It was always like that. The reason was to prevent unwanted attention from going onto me. Jealous employees already targeted me for my special treatment, but this time, it hurt more than ever.


    Funny, this was what I wanted before yesterday. But now¡­ after having felt you.


    I felt hollow.


    Your kindness will never be for me.


    My chest felt heavy, even though I was utterly hollow inside. Regaining my legs somewhat, I turned away from them, heading towards where Tania was waiting for me.

 Chapter 23: Envy…

    Layla grabbed my hand, stopping me before I could get far.


    Why can¡¯t I get away?


    ¡°Wait. I don¡¯t know your name. Suppose you¡¯re my fianc¨¦¡¯s charge for life. I at least should know it.¡± Layla smiled.


    No matter her intentions, I had no intention of being her friend. She appeared to be an airhead, and that annoyed me. Though what probably bothered me wasn¡¯t her, but that I let my heart open once again, only for it to shatter. There was no use in feeling anything towards anyone.


    It was only a matter of time until she knew what I did, turning her attempts into loathing. No one would ever love me. The only thing I destined for me was to be an abomination that couldn¡¯t die.


    For Fenris¡¯s sake alone¡­


    ¡°Lilith,¡± I muttered, fully aware we wouldn¡¯t be on good terms by this end.


    ¡°Oh, like the witch in the history books. Your mom must¡¯ve had some weird sense of naming, huh?¡± she tried to joke to break the ice.


    I tried to smile even though I didn¡¯t feel like it. All I wanted to do was cry and be alone, but it seemed this wolf didn¡¯t want me to go yet.


    ¡°Yes, if you would excuse me. I need to be somewhere right now. Have a good day.¡± I bowed, heading toward Tania, who waited for me to arrive for over an hour.


    Fenris stayed behind as he spoke to his sister about her outrage scene instead of chasing me down. Not that I expected him to.


    Isn¡¯t this what I wanted? For you to move on¡­ Yes, I¡¯m your charge. But why did you¡­ make me taste what I¡¯ll never have again?


    When I finally saw Tania, instead of showing me anger when she saw my face, she appeared concerned about me. I didn¡¯t know what expression I had, but thanks to the bracelet keeping my emotions at bay, I felt nothing.


    Tania didn¡¯t ask what was wrong; instead, she gave me one of the warmest hugs I had ever had. It was surprising to me. However, she didn¡¯t forgive me for slacking off; instead, giving me more work since I hadn¡¯t finished the first.


    Thanks to her comfort, I recovered from the scene that played in front of me earlier. After a day¡¯s research, she sent me back to the room.


    But¡­ I don¡¯t want to go.


    Not wanting to bother the vampire any longer, I left. I didn¡¯t want to hear what Fenris had to say, especially after what had happened this morning. Somehow, I had become greedy; it should¡¯ve been enough to be with him once.


    It must be.


    Shade was strangely quiet, too. Usually, she would¡¯ve verbally assaulted Fenris for any reason. Not knowing where to go, I wandered the building until stumbling to a lone window with a bench underneath it.


    This building was modern, much like any other one in Silverant. There were cameras at every corner, too. They installed them after they decided to watch me from anywhere they could constantly.


    The guard who probably watches me through them knows me by heart¡ªif he or she knows anything about me.


    Technology was abundant, yet I wasn¡¯t allowed anywhere near it. The only thing I could do was go to the library and read the old way. Fenris would sometimes show me videos or play movies from his phone, but it never attracted me.


    I found comfort in the silence of books. Sitting on the bench, I opened my ¡®grimoire¡¯ and drew in it. Panting still was my escape from this world. I sketched the beautiful Lycan Layla within the pages, which perfectly fit Fenris.


    I¡¯m nothing compared to her. Fenris¡­ You¡¯d enjoy being with her more than me. She has pretty breasts and an hourglass figure.


    My pencil snapped in half as I felt the nastiest emotion I had ever felt settled in. Growing and unyielding, I feared it would consume me.


    Is this envy... Does life even have meaning if you aren¡¯t in it? Can I live without your touch after having it? Why did you have to touch me?


    Eliminate her. A whisper responded to the emotions I tried to suppress.


    Lily¡­ Shade pawed my arm, prompting me to shake my head.


    ¡°No, I... could never...¡± I muttered, trying to fight them off, only for them to continue.


    Once they started, they were relentless.


    If she weren¡¯t around, Fenris would be yours.


    Kill her.


    ¡°No!¡± I screamed, standing from where I sat.


    It prompted the people in the distance to stare at me, triggering me to gaze away from them.


    I probably look like a crazy person.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    This marked the first time in three years that the whispers had become vicious. Startled by their glances, I ran back towards our room, but I collided with two witches coming out of the library before I could get to it.


    Papers were scattered everywhere when I tumbled to the floor with one witch. We were alone in this hall.


    ¡°What the fuck?! Watch where you¡¯re going!¡± the witch yelled.


    I struggled to grab each piece of paper, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡±


    Instead of accepting my apology, the woman grabbed my arm, pulling tightly enough to damage one of my inhibitors. It was the one responsible for holding my emotions in check. They all knew not to touch me, but of course, they wouldn¡¯t listen, or perhaps they didn¡¯t know who I was at first glance.


    ¡°The fuck? Who do you think you are? You just ruined my dress!¡± She yelled at me, pointing towards the coffee stain on her white dress.


    However, I could only stare at my arm, where the inhibitor was damaged. I felt a flood of emotions course through me, swelling within me like a raging ocean. I tried to get away from the girl that held me, but they shoved me onto the floor.


    Both witches were unaware of the danger they had set into play. To protect me, Shade stood between them and me, hissing at them. My chest hurt in ways I hadn¡¯t felt in years.


    Ah! This isn¡¯t what I¡­


    ¡°Please let me go,¡± I begged, gazing up at one camera, hoping the guard who was on duty would stop this.


    It wouldn¡¯t be long before I lost control. I could feel surges of energy pulsating through my body.


    ¡°Oh look, Emma, it¡¯s the privileged witch. She has the famous black familiar, too.¡± The witch that had stopped my escape snickered.


    Knowing who I was didn¡¯t stop them. No, it fueled their misery.


    ¡°Oh... That¡¯s right, Mary. Maybe she can get me a new dress with all that privilege she has. After all, the future headmaster is protecting her. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s loaded.¡± Emma commented to the other witch.


    I pressed my back against the wall, trying to escape them.


    ¡°Please...¡± I pleaded, only for Emma to laugh.


    ¡°Please what?¡± taunted Mary, getting closer to me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry... Please let me go.¡± I begged, feeling the energies built within my core.


    The urgency in my voice didn¡¯t reach them. These witches hated me because of how I was treated. If they ever caught me, this would be a usual occurrence, but it was never physical. Again, I gazed towards the camera, hoping for help to arrive.


    ¡°Not good enough. Do you even know how much this dress cost?!¡± Emma scoffed, glaring at me.


    Mary stepped forward towards me again. ¡°Hey! Maybe she can pay with her familiar,¡± she suggested, grabbing Shade by her collar.


    Her words snapped me from the camera and onto her while Emma¡¯s eyes shone.


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll take your familiar as payment.¡± She retorted.


    Mary held Shade, whose short paws couldn¡¯t reach her assailant.


    Let me go, you stupid meathead! Why, I¡¯ll rip you to shreds! Shade hissed, swiping her paws at them.


    ¡°No, please let her go,¡± I mumbled, trying to hold back what was surging within me.


    Sadly, it was no use. My emotions¡­


    No more... Please stop.


    Tears ran down my cheeks, knowing I couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. It hurt to hold it in.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure familiars fetch a good price in the black market for witches,¡± Emma commented to Mary, who laughed.


    Ah... I¡¯m at my limit.


    These bitches! Let¡¯s eat them alive! A whisper caressed me in a way I could barely fight it off.


    Perhaps eating them was the best for everyone.


    No! That¡¯s not right!


    It is! Another howled within.


    Standing up, the witches eyed me down. ¡°Stop... Let her go.¡± I stated more firmly.


    Mary pushed me against the wall.


    Lily! I¡¯ll kill them! Shade hissed.


    ¡°What was that? Are you going to do something about it? Of course not! You¡¯re useless!¡± Mary challenged.


    It would be her last biggest mistake. I lost it, releasing a pulse of energy and shaking the entire building from within. The power went out, leaving the building dark as night, except for the windows, which allowed the sun in.


    A scream erupted from Emma within the darkness, bringing me back to reality. I could see Mary had become part of the wall d¨¦cor thanks to Shade¡¯s abilities. While Emma was left a living torso on the floor, screaming as she bled out.


    For a moment, I stood there, shocked at what had happened. Shade climbed onto my back, tugging on my collar.


    Lily, run! She yelled.


    I obeyed her with a brief hesitation, running until I reached my haven, the room. There weren¡¯t any witnesses to see what had happened, and the guard on duty for the cameras was on break or something. No alarms were raised when I ran past everyone on my way, but they would soon find out.


    I tried not to think too deeply until I entered the room, locked myself in the bathroom, and tried to calm myself. My breathing was unsteady, and I couldn¡¯t fill my lungs with enough air.


    I killed two people!


    My hands trembled when I realized what had happened. There were no shadow demons to blame this time, just me. Getting into the shower, my hands glowed blue. I was barely holding the power that surged through me.


    Breathing in and out, I tried to keep it in at all costs. Tania had taught me to control my panic attacks with meditation techniques, so I tried them. However, all of that was a work in progress.


    Lily¡­ Shade worried.


    I turned on the cold water, hoping it would shock me into reason. Thanks to the cold water that washed over me, blood dripped off me and into the tub. Another energy pulse radiated out of me, shaking the building once again.


    Everyone outside this room must¡¯ve been terrified and unsure of what was happening. I honestly was nothing other than a monster.


    It¡¯s true what everyone in that council said about me. Even Amelia is right to fear me.


    This power that went out of control with my emotions made me dangerous. I struggled to keep the gate from swinging open. Sadly, the only way was to calm down, which I struggled to do as I curled up into a ball, wishing everything to stop.


    Outside, the alarm finally flared when someone found what I had left of Emma and Mary.


    Soon, it¡¯ll be over. Cerberus will come for me and lock me up.


    Shade jumped into the shower with me, cuddling me. Even though she hated the water, she always placed me first.


    It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll always be with you. I promise. Shade purred.


    If only things like that would work for me. Taking another deep breath, I tried to stay calm and not think about anything. However, my mind was an unquenching storm, full of negative thoughts. Luckily, the whispers weren¡¯t going mad.


    Another pulse of energy shook the building once again. No matter what happened, though, I was determined to remain hidden within the bathroom. The bracelet Fenris gave me shimmered brightly, but I kept my sight on the floor.


    You¡¯re trying to find me. No¡­ Please¡­


    It should¡¯ve made me happy, but I caused the chaos that erupted.


    I¡¯m a monster!


    A million thoughts came through my mind; none of them were pretty.


    How can I end this life before I ever hurt Fenris? I¡¯ll¡­


    It was an impossible thing to do without ending his world, too. This curse trapped me in this living realm, even though I didn¡¯t want to be there. Taking another deep breath, I tried something new, something positive.


    My mind traveled to the day before this latest nightmare. Replaying that moment in my mind calmed my chaotic heart as Fenris held me in his arms. He was the only thing that could ever save me from the darkness surrounding me.


    I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t mean this to happen! Why can¡¯t I do anything right?!

 Chapter 24: A Danger…

    Remembering Fenris¡¯s touch made me feel like the cold water that washed over me was nothing.


    Will I lose control when you come through those doors? Or will I do something else? Something has to change. I love you. I want you to be mine, but you¡¯ll never.


    I had to face that if I wanted to control this. The lovely Layla flowed through my thoughts again.


    She¡¯s a better fit for you, but I¡­


    Envy slowly gripped me again as I pushed it down. Fenris could do whatever he wanted to me, but in the end, that white wolf would be the one to be with him. It was how Lycan culture worked.


    I¡¯m such a fool. How could I forget that?


    When I tried to profess my feelings to him, I was delighted by his fake affection.


    Fake¡­ It has to be, right?


    If I accepted that, I could watch him be happy with someone else.


    It¡¯ll have to be enough for me.


    I had to return to the days when I pushed everything inside and let it happen. Happiness was never for me, and he wasn¡¯t for me. I was right when I said his destiny was for brighter things. I needed to understand that because I didn¡¯t want to burden him.


    Control it. Hold it. Don¡¯t let it consume you, Lilith. For him, do everything in your power to keep it in!


    Someone forced the door open, shifting my gaze towards it. That was when I saw Fenris¡¯s expression of desperation to find me, which was so present on his face that it touched my heart. It was almost as if it washed away everything. Yet I¡­


    Ah... Don¡¯t look at me like that, or I¡¯ll misunderstand.


    Part of me wanted him to stay away from me, but he wasted little time closing the gap, cupping my face in his hands. A second later, he kissed me so deeply that I felt like I could drown in his arms. There was no way I could reject him.


    Accept it as it is and nothing more.


    Shade went into a corner of the tub when Fenris climbed into it with me. He grabbed my hand, only to realize that the bracelet that was supposed to keep my emotions in check was damaged.


    Tugging away from my lips, he gazed towards it, ¡°What?¡± he breathed.


    There was only one way out of this; I wouldn¡¯t lie to him.


    ¡°I got into an altercation with two witches, and it ripped, then I...¡± I trailed off, biting my lips.


    He shook his head, not wanting to know the details.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I know you. You wouldn¡¯t do anything to hurt anyone willingly.¡± Fenris assured me, voice shaking.


    He shivered before leaning into me to kiss me once again; slipping his tongue into my mouth, he slowly peeled away the bloody clothes from me. Heated as it was, I couldn¡¯t help but grasp his hand, triggering him to tug away and gaze at me.


    His eyes ere


    But for who? Me? Her? It doesn¡¯t matter, Lilith. You¡¯re his charge. He can¡¯t leave you.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared of myself. If¡ª¡± I started before I was interrupted by Fenris kissing me again.


    Unlike before, I felt all the fear the bracelet held back, but I wasn¡¯t losing control. No, while I was in this wolf¡¯s arms, I...


    Tugging away from my lips again, he shook his head lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t be. I¡¯ll never fail to protect you again.¡± He reassured me, taking off his shirt along with mine.


    After we removed our clothes, he turned the knob to warm the water. My body would shiver at the most straightforward touch he gave me. A chuckle rose from his lips, eyeing me down.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I mumbled, unsure of what he was cackling about.


    By this time, all the chaos from me halted, but the alarm still flared outside. I focused on this wolf alone.


    That¡¯s all I have to do. Focus on you and forget the world.


    ¡°You¡¯re cuter when you¡¯re nervous.¡± He purred into my ear, picking me up and placing my back against the wall.


    Again... Why do you want to hold me?


    The only reason I could think of was that he either loved or wanted to control me.


    Loving me would be too much to ask. Yet I want to hear that from you. Selfish¡­ I know.


    Grabbing onto the back of his head, I tugged him into a deep kiss while he held me up with one hand, unbuckling his pants with the other. Separating from me, he smirked playfully, enjoying this me.


    ¡°I won¡¯t take it easy on you right now,¡± Fenris warned, eyes full of desire.


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    I giggled, tracing my fingertips on his lips.


    Fenris¡­ do you know? I would¡¯ve fallen for you no matter who you were.


    ¡°You were taking it easy before?¡± I teased, letting myself be in the moment.


    A soft chuckle left him before pressing himself against my slits, slowly pushing himself inside with ease. The motion caused me to yelp a bit at his sudden touch.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you,¡± the wolf murmured, triggering a mewl to escape my lip before quickly covering them with his.


    My hands tenderly held onto his shoulders while he made love to me in the bathroom. Every thrust made me tremble, feeling him reach more profound than ever before. His hands clung to my bum, allowing his movements to become rougher with each passing moment.


    It didn¡¯t scare him to hurt me this time. Grabbing tightly onto him, my body reached its release, trembling in his arms. Sensing me clamping down on him, he licked my cheek. Enjoying the feeling of my body twitching in ecstasy in his arms, he leaned over to my ear.


    ¡°Did you...?¡± Fenris trailed off, leaving behind a tingly sensation where his breath hit me.


    I nodded, feeling embarrassed, still feeling the high of it all. The wolf chuckled, thrusting himself into me one more time, triggering him to moan when I felt him release me. Kissing me one last time, he helped me get clean of any traces of blood before taking me out of the shower.


    Once we were dried, he went outside, ensuring no one else was in the room, before allowing me out. At that moment, the power came back into the building. Before I knew it, I fell onto my bed with Fenris on me.


    The only thing separating us were towels. Pulling myself up, I kissed him lightly on his lips. He responded by grabbing the back of my head to give me a more serious and passionate one. His tongue left me breathless before he peeled the towels from us.


    Even though we had just done it, he was ready for more. I remembered what a girl, weeks before, gossiped to one of her friends in the hallway when I headed to Tania.


    ¡°Dating a Lycan can be so tiresome! I can¡¯t keep up with their libido!¡± She complained to her friend, who complained of being unable to hang onto anyone instead.


    The day before, I stayed awake through it all. I wanted to memorize everything about Fenris¡ªevery nook and cranny he offered. Even if my body felt numb after a while, I would willingly accept all his affection.


    No matter what their cause was, if it was lust, love, or control, it didn¡¯t matter as long as he touched me. I couldn¡¯t live without it anymore. Even so, I wished he would only be mine. One, I would push down as much as I could.


    After another round of Fenris, I felt exhausted because of my physical activity and emotional state. It was the first time I could feel all the awful feelings I didn¡¯t want to experience ever again.


    Fear, jealousy, anger, and greed... they¡¯re so ugly.


    I didn¡¯t know what to do with the swelling emotions within me. If Fenris were around, I wouldn¡¯t lose myself to them.


    But what if you aren¡¯t here? What if...


    I closed my eyes and tried not to think, lying beside Fenris, who softly caressed my hair. His warm touch comforted me in ways I never knew he would. The way he gazed at me could¡¯ve been confused with love. But I¡­


    It can¡¯t be.


    Before I knew it, I drifted off, only to be awakened by Fenris answering his phone.


    ¡°Shit! What now?¡± he cursed, reaching for the device.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir, she¡¯s here with me.¡±


    The silver wolf clicked his tongue.


    ¡°She¡¯s in control right now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it worked. But sir¡ª¡±


    ¡°Well, sir, maybe if¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes... sir but¡ª¡±


    ¡°No... that¡¯s unnecessary. I¡¯m sure¡ª¡± The conversation suddenly finished, leaving Fenris angered and cursing.


    He took a deep breath to contain his anger before turning to me while I pretended to be asleep. He gently blew into my ear to wake me up, making me shiver. He loved to do this technique since I was usually such a heavy sleeper.


    Grabbing onto my ear, I turned to face him. I saw his smile there, which caused my heart to race again.


    ¡°Get dressed. We¡¯re getting company soon,¡± he quickly informed me.


    The moment Ryker entered the room, Fenris¡¯s expression soured. The elf carried one of those bracelets made from luxorite, a unique crystal only found in elven land, prompting an argument to break out between them.


    While Ryker argued otherwise, Fenris was determined to keep that crystal away from me. It wasn¡¯t long until Ben arrived to reinforce his little brother¡¯s side.


    Ben... His arm is bionic now, and he uses a cane to walk after the fall.


    Even though I took so much from him, he defended me with such fury. Their efforts to keep Ryker away made me happy, but the elf was right. I was a monster that needed restraints. There wasn¡¯t an ounce in me to trust.


    I could¡¯ve leveled the building unwillingly without my beloved wolf.


    I don¡¯t have the confidence to keep myself in control.


    Standing up from the bed, everyone went silent, watching me.


    There is no other way. I can¡¯t be free. Not while I can hurt everyone around me.


    I walked over to them, offering my hand to Ryker.


    Fenris grabbed me, ¡°Don¡¯t, Lilith.¡±


    To him, today was proof I could do it without them, but it was the exact opposite. I had killed two people who didn¡¯t need to die. What kept me in control was the unbearable thought of harming Fenris.


    Something I can¡¯t live with.


    If this world would lose him, I would destroy it without a second thought.


    Ah... I¡¯ve become like Stella, obsessed. Hazardous. My obsession will end this world. Fenris¡­


    There was no way for me to be without the inhibitor.


    Not as I am. Weak, brittle, and easily swayed. No, I can¡¯t bear it.


    These emotions were too much for my heart to contain. Perhaps in a couple of years, I could try, but at this moment, I couldn¡¯t. These two brothers would be the end of me, though.


    ¡°Stand aside, both of you!¡± Ryker ordered, having had enough insubordination from the two wolves.


    Fenris had enough of the elf, too.


    ¡°I won¡¯t. Lily doesn¡¯t deserve this!¡± He stood his ground, pulling my hand away from the blond.


    Ryker turned to him. ¡°You know very well what will happen if you don¡¯t stand aside. Both of you know! Don¡¯t make my job any harder!¡± he threatened, clenching his hands into fists.


    It triggered Ben and Fenris finally to stand down, knowing full well that any more led to me being a prisoner for life. However, something inside of my beloved wolf was breaking. Something I hadn¡¯t noticed when Ryker grabbed my arm from under him.


    Replacing the inhibitor that would make me hollow once again if my emotions went out of control, he sighed. When the elf stepped away from me before Fenris embraced me, he wasn¡¯t happy about how everything turned out.


    After Ben and Ryker left the room, Fenris stripped me of all clothing and made love to me repeatedly until I lost myself within him. It frustrated him to have little power over the decisions that affected me.


    I didn¡¯t know that then, though. All I knew while in this room was that I was his. There was nothing more to hope for as it could risk destroying this world¡ªsomething I refused to do. The next day, they cleaned up the mess and wrote it off as an accident.


    The camera had caught up until the power went out. However, the guard had been talking to his wife rather than paying attention to his job. He was swiftly let go and made responsible for what happened, but with the device, they saw how the witches pushed me until I lost it.


    An enchantment went wrong¡­ They called it.


    Since it was a provoked event, I received no further reprimanding. However, after that day, Fenris changed once again. The final push to make him determined to free me from this chain of command.


    The only way to do that was to go up the ranks. No matter the cost.

 Chapter 25: Cora…

    After that day, Fenris became colder and more calculated toward everyone around him. However, every day in our room, Fenris would hold me until satisfied; even as the years passed, that never changed.


    Was it to make me depend on him or something else? I didn¡¯t know.


    This wolf shared little with me, and it wasn¡¯t like he had before, but I knew he was holding more back. Before, he would tell me about his day, but recently, he never got into it, and while outside of this room, he completely ignored my existence.


    I wouldn''t know if it was to please others or because he was insecure about me. I never approached him either, and it didn¡¯t help that Layla stuck to him like glue. Perhaps it was to please her, but he also showed little interest in her.


    Often, he would be spotted pushing her away. By the time I was twenty-three, I got used to things. Fenris was being groomed to be the new leader of Cerberus while I spent my time secretly studying to close the gate within myself.


    My goal was to free Fenris from his servitude to me.


    It doesn''t matter if my head rolls after the gate is no more. Part of me wants it. No, I wish for it. Sadly, I haven¡¯t gotten any closer to my answer in all these years.


    The gate merged with my soul, making it inseparable. The only way was to destroy the gate itself, but that was impossible for someone like me, and my limited resources only worsened my chances. Although, I was sure the order had its people trying to get it out of me, too.


    For Fenris''s sake, I had to find a way, and even if it seemed like a dead end, I refused to give up. Most of the time, I would be at the library, even though it reminded me of the incident with the two witches.


    The information I need is on these bookshelves. All I have to do is find it.


    The library contained millions of different grimoires and research. Yet I never spent too much time in there. Even when I tried to mind my business, eyes would always fall on me. When that happened, I knew it was time to leave.


    Especially when the usual nasty whispers around me erupted into an uproar. They were worse than the demons inside my head. Closing the book I had, I headed to place it away. That was when Cora, a vampire who had been trying to befriend me for the past half-year, came towards me to surprise me.


    Instead of having the desired effect she was looking for, I walked away from her as if she had done nothing at all. I tried not to get close to anyone, but she relentlessly tried to interact with me. No matter how many walls I tried to place between us, she would smash right through them every time.


    Grabbing onto my arm, she prevented my usual escape.


    "Hey! Wait a minute!" Cora struggled to keep me in her presence.


    "I¡¯m sorry, but I have to go." I smiled, attempting to tug away with no success.


    She grunted, hating my fake attempt for a grin.


    Too forced, she calls them.


    "No, Lilith! Don¡¯t do that! Your pretty face doesn¡¯t deserve that." She squealed, tightening her grip on my hand.


    I sighed, gazing away from her.


    You never give up. Unrelentless¡­


    Yet she was the only one who tried to get to know me.


    "If you aren¡¯t letting go of me, hurry and tell me what you want. I really am busy." I gave in a little.


    Why can''t you leave me alone?


    Any social interaction was useless for me.


    "Not fair. You¡¯re always busy! When can you spend time with me?!" Cora whined, pouting.


    The sigh train continued.


    "Fine, let¡¯s just go somewhere else," I suggested.


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    The stares of disapproval were stacked on us, turning the atmosphere heavy. Luckily, those would be my last words before she squealed, dragging me down the halls. My legs could barely keep up with her, gliding on the floor.


    Shade struggled to hold on to my dress while we swiftly moved through the building until we reached the entrance. Even though we had been far from the ground floor, we somehow ended up there in a few minutes.


    I hesitated to step outside, knowing I couldn¡¯t leave the premises unguarded and without permission.


    When was the last time I came out of my cage? Has it been six years already?


    The vampire warily gazed around to see who would witness our escape.


    "Cora, I don¡¯t know about this." I tried withdrawing my hand from her, but she kept pulling me along.


    "It¡¯s fine! I have the perfect place in mind, too!" she beamed.


    Before I knew it, I was outside, feeling the sun''s warmth hit my pale skin. It reminded me of when Fenris yanked me out of the alley and into the sunlight.


    Ah¡­ I can¡¯t remember the last time I felt the sun on my face.


    Taking a breath of fresh air to fill my lungs, a soft hum left me before I spotted Fenris, Liam, Ezra, and Owen sitting at a table. They were all enjoying the warmth the day brought and eating lunch, unaware of us as they were deep into conversation.


    They were a rowdy bunch.


    I haven¡¯t seen them together since¡­


    "Ah! Man, I can¡¯t get a break! These girls break up with me like I¡¯m nothing!" Owen complained, face planted on the table in defeat.


    Much to his dismay, his friends laughed at his troubles.


    "Maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯re too laid back and don¡¯t clean after yourself. Modern girls aren¡¯t looking to be maids, you know." Fenris smiled.


    I hadn¡¯t seen him have fun like that all the time he was with me.


    Owen shot back at him. "Well, excuse me! Not all of us are future leaders here! All the Lycan girls love you! Poor Layla will have to chase them away after the festival!" the yellow-haired wolf defended himself.


    Fenris flinched back, much like he had stuck his nose somewhere he didn¡¯t want to go into.


    "That¡¯s right! You have to marry her after the blood moon. What are you turning now, twenty-five? Man, how time flies. Have you gotten any action in before Layla ties you down?" Ezra nudged Fenris, catching him off guard.


    A soft smile rose on my lips, seeing him like that.


    "W-What are you t-talking about?" my wolf answered with a question.


    So... You also stutters when caught by surprise. How cute¡­


    "He probably has little time to deal with ladies. After all, he has to care for his charge." Liam tried to defend Fenris''s honor, but Ezra had no off button like always.


    The grey wolf wanted a definite answer from his future alpha.


    "Fuck that! I want to know how many ladies you¡¯ve done the deed with. Set an example for us to follow! Oh, dearest future alpha." Ezra snickered, enjoying having the upper hand on Fenris.


    The silver wolf narrowed his eyes as his smile vanished.


    "I don¡¯t know how that concerns you." He countered with a slight growl.


    "Man, that makes me feel like you¡¯re a virgin! At this rate, you must try it before you get married in a month! Layla¡¯s pretty and all, but isn''t it boring to have the same?" Ezra pressed on, rolling his eyes.


    In an instant, my wolf¡¯s cheeks turned bright pink. He¡­


    "Geez, you just won¡¯t drop it! I have already! Leave me alone!" Fenris¡¯s cheeks turned redder with every moment that passed.


    They were such close friends to tease each other like this.


    What could have been if I had never destroyed¡­


    Owen jumped into the conversation. "Oh? With whom? How many? Man, I¡¯ve had like ten." He commented with a sly smirk on his lips.


    Liam studied his friend¡¯s reactions, leaning closer to the silver wolf.


    "It doesn¡¯t matter with who and just one if you must know. Just change the topic already." Fenris answered, flushing his cheeks.


    Just one...


    My heart skipped a beat when those words left his lips.


    Does that mean you were pure when you did it with me? But that would mean it was your first time. Wait¡­ Was I your first?


    I could feel my cheeks wanting to fall off, trying to soothe my racing heart. Cora appeared annoyed at the boys, who were too loud with their banter. The wolf who owned my heart captivated me, rendering my legs useless.


    "Just one?! Impossible!" Ezra snorted.


    Fenris glared at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"


    Ezra pointed towards him. "You need more than just one! Man, you don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you! How long have you been with this girl?" He scoffed.


    Fenris¡¯s eyes twitched, growling deeper than before. "I only need one! I''m not willing to whore myself out like you! Why the fuck does that matter how long I¡¯ve been with my girl? I¡¯ve held her for nine years, and I still feel the same every day for her as I did when I first started!¡±


    It was the first time I had seen someone get under his skin. His eyes were giving off a light hue, too.


    ¡°Maybe there¡¯s something wrong with you?! Who the fuck needs to lay with so many girls?!" The silver wolf huffed; cheeks were red as a tomato when he realized what he said.


    The rest of the boys appeared to be shocked, too. However, Liam, as cunning as always, finally spoke up.


    "Oh? Nine years, and you never mentioned it to me? Is this a love triangle I¡¯m sensing?" the brown wolf commented calmly.


    Though his tone could¡¯ve cut through anyone, Fenris had lost his cool, struggling to form the correct words before he glanced down at the table in defeat.


    "Arg... Men are so nasty. Should we show them how wrong they are with our future love?" Cora suggested, shifting my gaze onto her.


    My heart wasn¡¯t keeping up with anything anymore, affecting my mind.


    "What?" I mumbled.


    She suddenly yanked me towards her, holding onto my hips.


    "Hey, men! This is how it¡¯s done!" Cora shouted, catching not just the boys'' attention but everyone around.


    Once all eyes were on us, she pulled me into a kiss, leaving me stunned. After the brief brush of our lips, she swiftly picked me up in her arms before shifting her eyes towards the silver wolf, whose eyes shone brighter.

 Chapter 26: Meadow…

    "Hey! What the fuck do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± Fenris seethed, clenching his teeth together.


    Cora bolted with me a moment later, leaving me with little choice but to hold on to her. The speed at which she jumped out of there was blinding. Even during the daylight, vampires were too strong for the average human to do anything about it.


    However, her stamina drained as she exerted more than she would during the night hours. Her white hair shined in the sun, hopping from place to place to outrun Fenris, who was right on her tail in his beast form.


    "Man, the wolf doesn¡¯t give up, does he? Why does he care so much, anyway?" Cora clicked her tongue.


    Unable to answer her, I held on to her for dear life. Poor Shade clung to me, not wanting to be blown off by the high speed we were traveling. I didn¡¯t know where she was taking me, either, nor did I know what she wanted.


    However, it wouldn¡¯t take long until I knew when she entered the forest before going towards a clearing.


    "Phew, we¡¯re here," Cora announced, gently setting me down.


    Once my world stabilized, I was in a flowery meadow, amazed at the colorful sight before me. Shade jumped off me, only to disappear from the flowers below.


    Someone like me can still see beautiful scenery like this.


    It was fourteen years since I stepped outside of the facility without armed guards around me. They never took me to somewhere as lovely as this, either. Fenris tried once, but Ryker prohibited it, leaving me to think I would never see anything out of the four walls that was my home.


    I could stare at it all day and say it wouldn¡¯t be enough. The sky above us was so clear that I felt I could fall into it any minute.


    "Seems we lost the mutt." Cora celebrated, unaware of her looming doom.


    I shook my head, seeing a light glow within my sleeve.


    "No... He¡¯ll find me." I informed her.


    "Don¡¯t see how. I lost him in the forest." She assured me.


    Her words tickled me, prompting a giggle to leave me. This vampire knew little about what Fenris and I were to each other.


    He¡¯s my protector, and I¡¯m his charge. He¡¯ll do anything to find me.


    Perhaps she knew, but not to the extent that he would go for me.


    "Cora... why did you bring me here?" I asked, staring into the bright blue sky.


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    Shade hopped like a rabbit between the flowers, enjoying the feeling of the petals on her paws. Tearing my sight away from the sky, Cora grabbed my hands, pulling them into her chest. This vampire was resilient.


    She had been trying to befriend me for half a year, and I didn¡¯t know why.


    Now you kiss me.


    Everyone avoided me, especially after the ''accidental spell'' when rumors swirled that I was the cause¡ªtrue in this case.


    "Because it looked like you needed to be out of that cage. I¡¯ve seen you do the same routine every day for the past half year. I thought you deserved a break from all of them." Cora gazed towards the side for a second.


    Again, her words tickled me, triggering another giggle to leave me.


    A break. You¡¯re out of your mind.


    If anything, all of them needed to get away from me.


    "This is stupid, I¡¯m dangerous, Cora. There¡¯s a reason they don¡¯t want me out." I enjoyed her ignorance to a point.


    It was nice to have someone around me who didn¡¯t know what happened or hated me for another reason, but her stupidity could cost many lives.


    "It¡¯s unfair. No matter the reason. You witches aren¡¯t treated right." She sighed, not letting go of my hands.


    It was a sweet gesture, but she had the opposite effect, leaving me uncomfortable.


    "Even if it means thousands die?" I questioned, gazing away from her red gaze.


    "What are you talking about? You aren¡¯t capable of that! You¡¯re a kind witch that makes plants come to life when no one¡¯s watching!" she answered, holding me tighter.


    I shook my head, "You¡¯ve been watching me, haven''t you..." I trailed off, glancing down onto the floor before releasing a sigh.


    The crystal that had been controlling my emotions hadn¡¯t activated in years since the accident. I had been forcing myself to control them so they wouldn¡¯t trigger and had been successful with Tania¡¯s help. Yet, I didn¡¯t trust myself without them.


    "Yes, I¡¯ve been watching you for months and fallen for you!" Cora declared.


    I couldn¡¯t help but laugh in return.


    What are you saying? No one could ever love me. I know it, and I¡¯m okay with it.


    Even though Fenris''s words earlier made me doubt my resolve. No, every moment I spent with him made me question everything.


    I must¡¯ve heard him wrong again.


    "Don¡¯t say that. You know nothing of me. I don¡¯t deserve your feelings, Cora, or anyone else¡¯s. Please forget about me in that way." I simpered at her, feeling happy for her feelings, but even so, I would never respond to them.


    My heart and soul already belonged to someone else.


    "I won¡¯t. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll make you fall for me." Cora declared, suddenly grabbing onto my chin, wanting to pull me into another kiss.


    It was a foolish action, as Fenris would never allow that to happen again. He owned my body and soul, after all. In a blink of an eye, he, in his beast form, tackled the vampire onto the floor, disappearing from my sight from how fast it happened.


    They were only a few spaces away from me, where she whiffled the white flag to a giant wolf with his paw on her chest. His silver hair was also beautiful in the sunlight.


    "I give up!" she nervously laughed in defeat.


    Fenris growled at her, leaning closer to her while flashing his fangs.


    "I¡¯m fine, Fenris; she only wanted to talk," I explained, turning away from them.


    This scenery was more appealing than seeing them fight. My wolf huffed, releasing her from his grip.


    "Woah... You can control this beast?" Cora asked, sitting up.


    Her words, though, tickled me.


    How ignorant are you? But it¡¯s better that way.


    "No... I¡¯m his charge. You really should do your research before kidnapping someone." I giggled.


    It was entertaining for once. It was refreshing because I hadn¡¯t laughed like this in so long. Yet her stupidity was also worrisome.


    Another act like this could be dangerous. I¡¯m lucky Fenris was near when she took me.


    However, this scenery was a blessing to see.


    If only I could stay here and forget everything that happened.

 Chapter 27: Temper...

    Cora continued to wave her white flag, "Ah... I¡¯ll give up this time, but I promise to make you fall for me, Lilith! Mark my words!" Her declaration caused Fenris to growl in response as she retreated.


    It wasn''t long before she disappeared from our sight. The silver wolf returned to his humanoid form as I shook my head at her words.


    Unbelievable.


    "You should be more careful," he mumbled grumpily.


    His temper was showing, which was natural for all Lycans, but it was rarely directed at me.


    "I¡¯m sorry for bothering you," I whispered, gazing at Shade, who was having fun in the flowers.


    Getting me here is probably inconvenient, but what can I do? It¡¯s not like she listened to me.


    A soft sigh left me while he peered around us to ensure no one was around before grabbing me by my waist and pulling me into a surprise kiss. My heart skipped a beat moment when his lips brushed against mine.


    I tugged away from my wolf, trying to steady my heart.


    We aren¡¯t in the room! Someone might¡ª


    "You can¡¯t do this. Someone might see us here." I worried Cora might still be around.


    Even if he checked, vampires were sneaky¡ªsilent killers in most cases.


    "There isn''t anyone, and it doesn¡¯t matter if that vamp is nearby. I¡¯m annoyed, and honestly, I can¡¯t care less if someone sees us right now." Fenris firmly declared.


    I gasped at his hand, going down into my stocking and underwear.


    When did you pull my dress up?


    He usually wasn¡¯t this aggressive.


    "Why are you angry? Did I upset you?" I mumbled, triggering him to growl at me.


    With brief hesitation, he touched my most sensitive area with his fingertips as I grabbed onto his shirt for dear life.


    "Don¡¯t remind me! You belong to me! How dare you let someone else touch you?!" Fenris chided, slipping his fingers into me.


    There was no resisting him. Trying to hold my voice in, I bit into my sleeve, only for him to tug me up to meet with another kiss. Even though it worried me that Cora might see us like this, he cared little about it.


    His touch made my legs give out, making me fall to my knees. It wasn''t hard, though; he had caught me on the way down. Licking the fingers he used to play with me, he pushed me onto the ground.


    Surrounded by flowers, he smirked a devilish, playful smile at me.


    This is torture.


    It was a sweet punishment just for me.


    One that I welcomed wholeheartedly.


    "This body¡¯s mine. So, don''t you dare let anyone else touch you as I do!" Fenris made his claim on me, kissing me deeply again.


    The way his tongue caressed mine left me humming under him, though that was short-lived as he tugged away before trailing down my body, stopping to lick where his fingers had been. He clasped my hands at my sides to prevent me from covering my voice.


    Though the sensation of his soft member sliding between my slits made me mewl in pleasure. There was no doubt in my mind he wanted Cora to know I was his. I whine loudly, not allowing myself to feel the fear I should¡¯ve had if they had found us out just like he wanted.


    ¡°Fenris!¡± I gasped, feeling him suck on my sensitive bell.


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    Grasping onto the arms that held mine captive, I lost my voice, erupting out of me in waves when he made my mind go blank like so many times before. My body twitched when he retreated from my most sensitive area, licking his lips like he had a tasty meal.


    "You smell so sweet today, and it¡¯s making me wonder if you¡¯re ovulating.¡± Fenris breathed, trailing his fingers on my vulva. ¡°Hey, if I make love to you right now, would you bear my pup?" He teased, leaving me flustered beyond my mind.


    A Lycan''s sense of smell was strong enough to smell the pheromones we women emitted when we were fertile. During these times, he would usually use protection whenever he touched me, like the previous day, but today, he was angrier than usual.


    He wouldn''t listen to his common sense. There were hybrids in every race, yet we weren¡¯t all compatible. However, humans, witches, and warlocks could breed with every single one of them. If the parent had a connection to their magic, the offspring could use it.


    They could also represent the different races that bred or bred us humans. However, a hybrid would be severely weaker than a purebred, or at least that was what they said. This made most races avoid mingling with humans.


    None wanted a witch or hybrid, though sometimes they could have normal children if the blood was pure enough.


    "Wait, you can¡¯t," I warned Fenris, trying to catch my breath.


    He wasn¡¯t thinking ahead of the moment that we were in, though. A Lycan¡¯s temper quickly consumed their senses, and he was no exception, but this was the first time I saw him this angry. Usually, he would let things slip off.


    "I can¡¯t?" He growled, inserting himself within me with no protection.


    Wait, no! That¡¯s not what I mean!


    "You aren¡¯t allowed!" I gasped, feeling his entire length in me.


    He thrust himself within me with little concern for the repercussions we would both face; if I bore his child, it would only lead to more anguish, but it wasn¡¯t because I didn¡¯t want it. No, I wanted it more than anything, but that would destroy his standing.


    Even what we did behind closed doors could if it got out. So, you can¡¯t.


    "Fuck that! Everything about you is mine." Fenris cursed, sending waves of pleasure through my body by pounding himself into me.


    Having his child would be something I could only have in a dream. Yet, I hoped I was ovulating from my damaged ovary this time as it was still functional, but only fifty percent of the time.


    If I am, your seeds might not find an egg to fertilize, but if it¡¯s from the other one¡­ I¡­ don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll do.


    There was no way I could hurt his child, even if he wanted me to.


    If you get pregnant, Lilith. Your child will have the power to rule this world. Shade whispered, watching us from where she was.


    Fenris kissed me deeply, keeping me from thinking straight. Unable to hold back from his affections, I responded to them, fighting for dominance in your lock of tongues. He continued to thrust himself into me at a steady pace, even though it soon became sloppy before exploding within me, filling me with bliss once again.


    The silver wolf¡¯s groan rang in my ear, leaving me panting for air as I tried to bring myself into reality, to no avail. The euphoria that passed through calmed him enough to realize what he had done.


    "Fuck! Lilith, I¡¯m sorry." he was short of breath, too.


    Pulling away from me, I felt a space where he had been, though he helped me up soon after. The entire event dazed me, replaying his words still in my head, yet I was happy to feel his warmth.


    "It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m okay." I whispered, slowly fixing my underwear and stocking.


    At least you didn¡¯t rip them.


    He picked up the shoes he had taken off when he yanked everything off me. It was the first time he had ever done something like this.


    The entire thing was rather careless of you, yet I¡­


    He knew I was his, and he was alone, but if Layla found out, it would hurt her, and he would be in a fantastic pitch of trouble. Feeling the weight of what he had potentially done, he sat on the ground shaking his head.


    I turned around, kneeling next to him. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    "Lily... If... If you¡¯re... If you get... I¡¯ll..." Fenris trailed off, biting his lip.


    Shade hopped on his shoulder, stopping him from continuing.


    "It¡¯s okay," I assured him, smiling.


    Nothing he ever did to me was terrible.


    No, you always fill me with happiness.


    Seeing my smile, he pulled me into another warm kiss before momentarily separating from me, "Lily, I¡¯ll protect you, no matter what. Even if¡­" he murmured before kissing me again.


    It had been a while since he said those things to me, even when we were alone. The last time was when I lost control of my magic, yet I couldn¡¯t move away from his warmth. His hand traveled to my abdomen when he tugged away from my lips, gazing at it.


    Such a silly, devoted wolf¡­


    Grabbing onto his hand, I tugged it to my cheek. "I know. It¡¯ll be fine." I smiled reassuringly.


    This is enough for me.


    Moments like these gave me the strength to control my emotions to the point that I no longer need the Luxorite bracelet. Though Ryker and the council still demanded it, I wore it. They feared I would explode out of nowhere, but they weren¡¯t wrong.


    I wasn¡¯t bothered by their demands. All I needed was to be with my wolf, and I was happy to be constantly held by him every night.


    Well, almost every night.


    The only time he wouldn''t have me was when I bled, marking a five-day break to catch up on all the writing or research I had to do. We sat in the flower field in each other''s company for hours, hands intertwined.


    Every moment I spent with him, I strengthened my resolve to change. Perhaps I could free him from my servitude one day.


    But when that time comes, will you stay with me, Fenris?

 Chapter 28: From Peace...

    After the sunset, it was too chilly to stay in the forest. The flowers in the meadows blossomed every season, though it helped that it hadn¡¯t snowed yet. Fenris shifted into his beast form, laying before me so I could mount his back.


    This wouldn¡¯t be the first time I felt his fur on my fingertips, but it would be the first I would ride him like this. When his fur touched my limbs, I felt a rush of electricity course through me. It felt so much different from his humanoid hair.


    It¡¯s so soft.


    When Fenris stood up, it caused me to fall onto him, grabbing his fur in tight fists. I had only felt his coat like this once before. On a chilly night, when the building heaters failed, one winter storm after holding me for most of the night, I woke up the following day to radiant heat overwhelming me.


    He had shifted into his beast form to keep me cozy throughout the night, and he never left my side until they fixed the heaters. I told him I was okay with a warm blanket, but he refused to go, no matter how often his phone rang; instead, he spent the entire day as my heater.


    Not that I minded, but he received a scolding from Ryker the following day. However, he didn¡¯t care for the elf¡¯s words, either.


    ¡°Late is better than never.¡± Fenris sassed back at Ryker, much to his annoyance.


    Heat radiated into every inch of my body, touching his fur even then. He was a warm, fluffy cloud in this form, to me at least. I didn¡¯t have to fear the fangs he would bear for his enemies.


    Before taking off, he shook his body to check if I was holding him tight enough not to be blown off. Shade again held onto my dress for dear life when the wolf ran at a blinding speed. He wasn''t as graceful as Cora, but just as fast.


    I closed my eyes, holding on to him tightly as we ran through the dark forest I used to call my home and into the lights of the town before coming to a complete stop. To my surprise, we weren¡¯t in the Cerberus headquarters but in an alley.


    It was a place I quickly recognized as it was the part of the town I had destroyed fourteen years ago. Fenris dropped on the floor to let me off again when I tightened my grip on him, hesitant to do so.


    I don¡¯t belong here! So many people died because of what I did! Why did you bring me here?1


    Over the years, Ben had drilled into me that it wasn''t my fault, even if it was in a failed attempt to save them. However, I still felt responsible for everything. The shadow demons from the nether realm went out of control because I couldn¡¯t control my emotions.


    Noticing my hesitation, Fenris shifted back to his humanoid form, even though I was still on his back. The sudden change caused me to grasp onto him as a baby monkey would to her mother. When his form stabilized, my arms ended on his shoulders and around his neck. The rest of my body rested on his back.


    I tightly wrapped my legs around his hips, refusing to touch the ground. A small chuckle rose from his lips as his hands and knees were on the floor.


    "Lilith¡ª" Fenris began, but I wouldn¡¯t let him finish.


    "No! I can¡¯t!" I refused to know what he wanted.


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    Even though I didn¡¯t know why he brought me there, I wanted to leave.


    "Lily! It¡¯ll be okay." Fenris assured me.


    He brushed aside my worries, but I didn¡¯t, couldn¡¯t, step in this part of town ever.


    "No!" I disagreed, burying my face in his back.


    The wolf released a sigh, standing up with me on him, triggering me to hold tighter onto his neck. Sadly, gravity wanted me to fall onto the ground below. Shade climbed up onto his head when he grabbed onto my arms, which held him hostage.


    "Lily," he gently voiced, shifting his grip onto my thighs to make sure I wouldn¡¯t fall by accident.


    I declined to continue answering him.


    "Oi, I¡¯m going to do something mean again if you don¡¯t listen to me," he warned.


    I ignore, pouting somewhat.


    You won¡¯t get the best of me in this matter.


    "I don¡¯t care!" I declared.


    My words caused his grip on me to tighten. "Oh... Well, then, I¡¯m glad you consented to this." He snickered.


    Before I realized it, I was in the air.


    What?


    The crazy wolf launched me upward to get me off his back. On the way back down, he swiftly caught me, pinning me in between the wall and himself. One of his hands held me up as the other ripped my stocking from my underwear.


    My heart raced, worried anyone would be around, making the light breeze the least of my worries. Luckily, everyone was busy doing other things than coming through this alley. The sky was devoid of any light, too.


    No one could look in there and see us unless they were a vampire. They had excellent eyesight at night.


    "Fenris... No... Someone will hear us here." I worried.


    He unbuckled his belt once again.


    Just what did I get myself into?


    I knew this wolf was insatiable. However, the cold wasn''t even a worry to him, thanks to the heat radiating from his skin.


    "Well, maybe you should¡¯ve gotten off when I told you to." Fenris huffed.


    I gripped his shirt tightly.


    "No... Why didn''t you take me back? You¡¯ll get into trouble too!" I tried to persuade him, but once he had a goal in mind, he wouldn''t relent, and I loved that part about him.


    "Liam will make an excuse for me. And for you... Well, you¡¯ve behaved like such a good girl these past years. That I¡¯m sure they think you¡¯re in your room." He murmured into my ear.


    His breath brushed against it, triggering shivers to run down me. With one swift movement, he moved aside my hindering clothes, leaving me to gasp when he slipped himself into me.


    ¡°Fen¡ª¡± I couldn¡¯t finish his name, feeling his length touch my core.


    Everything we had done before lingered in me, and he was pushing it ever more profoundly.


    "And for not taking you back. I want you to see how the world has moved on and how you should, too." He added, licking my neck.


    By the gods, I¡¯m nothing more than a plaything for you!


    Not that I minded.


    "Then show me!" I whimpered, unable to control my legs jittery.


    In response, Fenris¡¯s heat went into my walls entirely, grinding into me. My legs tensed up when he slowly thrust himself into me at a steady pace.


    "Too late for that. Now, you¡¯ll have to please me first. Hold your voice if you don¡¯t want unwanted eyes to look our way." He teased, knowing full well I couldn¡¯t.


    The sensations he sent through my body were too much to contain. I was addicted to this feeling.


    "Fenris!" I whined, grasping at his shirt.


    My lack of control caused him to click his tongue, yet there was a peaceful solution to my roaming voice. Feverishly, he kissed me to quiet me, an attempt to silence me that I didn¡¯t mind. However, we were in public, which caused my nerves to run wild.


    Thanks to what he was doing to me, I overlooked the bracelet''s failure to respond to my growing instability. Unaware of my turmoil, Fenris separated himself from our kiss, only to trail down my neck before thrusting himself deep within me.


    It caused me to whine again, making me bite into his shirt soon after, snuffling the mewls.


    "Lily... Don''t squeeze me like this. I don¡¯t know if I can control myself if you do this to me." Fenris panted lewdly in my ear.


    Just who¡¯s at fault here!? You aren¡¯t even trying to control yourself in the first place!


    My blood boiled because of the playful wolf¡¯s words. In response to his tease, I yanked him into another kiss, triggering him to hum happily. Our tongues locked with one another, unable to pull away from each other as my hips began to move into his.


    Focusing on our kiss, he stopped thrusting into me, leaving me bucking my hips into him, searching for more before plunging himself into me again. Moments before our release, he stopped, tugging away from my lips.


    Something had caught his attention, and I wasn¡¯t me.

 Chapter 29: To Chaos...

    Dazed, I wondered why Fenris stopped when I wanted more, unable to help my hips from bucking into him. However, before I could carry on, he clasped onto my hips, preventing me from moving; there, I saw his ears twitching to a stimulus.


    An explosion from the plaza soon followed it, filling the surrounding air with screams.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he cursed, shifting his gaze towards me.


    His eyes were wide open, biting onto his lips, alerting me he was wary of what was happening. Separating from me, he grabbed my hand, pulling me towards where the explosions happened. His warrior instincts flared, but he wasn¡¯t about to leave me behind.


    The moment we left the alley, yet another blast came from a bakery in front of us. Body parts dropped from the sky because of it. Fenris grabbed my waist, holding me tightly, scanning his surroundings for any clue as to what was happening.


    People screamed in a panic as they ran away from the source, only to find yet another horror waiting for them as detonations kept occurring all over the place. Nowhere was safe from the looks of it.


    Protectively, Fenris shifted for me to get on him, wasting little time; I got on his back. We quickly made our escape towards Cerberus. Swiftly, he ran through the town, avoiding every explosion before it occurred. They were of magical origin for him to know where they would go off.


    Lycans could hear the magic cumulating right before the caster finished the spell. That was why Stella''s coven made their base right outside of Silverant. It was also why she was so angry to have Lycans close to her when the ritualistic spell was about to be done.


    It was just another reason they were the apex of races. The wolves were entirely immune to elemental magi, but for sacrificial magic like ours, they had to be careful with it. From the appearance of the explosion, elemental magic wasn¡¯t the source.


    They had green flames erupting from them, leaving little doubt about what originated them. Suddenly, Fenris stopped dead in his tracks when an explosion happened right before us, blocking our escape. All the eruptions around Silverant made it hard to tell where the caster was.


    Suddenly, they overwhelmed Fenris''s senses, preventing him from knowing which way to take, freezing him where he stood. It was distressing to see him confused about where to go to keep us both safe.


    Lilith! Left! Shade yelled within me, alarmed by something headed towards us.


    Even though I didn¡¯t know what she saw, I cast a spell without hesitation, knowing she wouldn¡¯t lead me astray. Luckily, I always carried flowers in a pouch for quick spells. However, blood was usually a more powerful sacrifice to use.


    "Obice impenetrabilia." I muttered rapidly, creating a small barrier around us.


    It stopped the incoming attack in its tracks; whether they were magical or physical, it didn¡¯t matter. However, when my eyes focused on the source, my body ran cold, draining me of every ounce of courage.


    I recognized something that the Lycans had destroyed thousands of years ago.


    It can''t be... How?


    The only reason I linked it was because of a book I had to study when I was with the sisters. My grandmother¡¯s grimoire depicted it, and she burned that book into my memory. I could recite the entire thing by memory, and that image was unmistakable to me.


    Before I could say anything to Fenris, someone from the shadows laughed, catching his attention instead.


    "A witch and a Lycan? What a comical betrayal." A man announced beyond the darkness.


    With brief hesitation, Fenris went to launch where the man was, only to be stopped by Shade and me when I yanked on his fur as hard as I could. At the same time, she bit into one of his ears to catch his attention back to us.


    He hadn¡¯t seen the danger, but I wouldn¡¯t take my chances.


    Even if one of those scratches you, you¡¯ll...


    "You can''t! We have to leave! Now!" I screamed.


    My voice echoed through the street, and my heart raced, making everything appear slow. That was when a familiar sensation coursed through me. A throb pulsed through me, releasing a wave of energy that caused time and space to warp around us.


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    A blue vortex opened below us, leaving us little choice before it consumed us. In the blink of an eye, we were in complete free fall, traveling between realms. Unwittingly, I opened a gate, pulling us into the nether realm where light bent around us as we reached the end of the in-between.


    A blinding blue light made us close our eyes before finding ourselves in an eerie world when we could finally see again. It tinted everything around us blue, almost like something put a filter around our eyes, blocking every other color.


    Well, all but the black that the demons displayed. In front of us, they walked into their world, ignoring our very presence. It was almost as if they didn¡¯t care we were there, peaceful while they interacted with each other.


    Shade hadn¡¯t changed forms either, remaining on Fenris''s head, comfortably looking back at her homeworld. However, the wolf tensed up upon realizing what he was seeing. Defensively, he took a few steps back, only to fall into another warp that took us back to our world.


    It took us away from the explosions and back to our room in the Cerberus building. Unable to comprehend what had happened, Fenris stood still while I jumped off him and sat on my bed. Clasping my hands together, I tried to calm myself.


    What happened? No... What did I do?


    Fear ruled my soul the moment I saw what was reflected by the barrier.


    A knife radiating purple¡­ It can''t be! That plant is extinct! There''s no way anyone... No... I think... that book mentioned someone... No, I don''t want to feel anything!


    Nothing magical was that radiant before unless the caster mixed it with wolfsbane. Yet that plant went extinct about the same time the first gate opened. The Lycans made sure they had burned it all down.


    How?! Why does it fit the description in Stella''s book?! I...


    Glancing at my arm, I noticed my bracelet responsible for controlling my emotions wasn¡¯t shining. Even though I was shaking, it was silent, alerting me the damn thing wasn¡¯t blocking anything anymore.


    Coming back to reality, Fenris shifted back into his humanoid form, running to me. Worriedly, he called me, but I couldn¡¯t move my stare from the useless crystal. It wasn''t long until I grabbed onto it, ripping it off my arm and throwing it towards the wall in front of us.


    For how long hasn¡¯t it worked? Years?


    Worst yet, I didn¡¯t know how to suppress this fear I had only felt once on that day fourteen years ago when the sisters said they wanted to harm Fenris.  My wolf hugged me even though he had no idea what was wrong with me.


    I screamed incoherently, tears running down my cheeks. The world could do whatever it wanted to me.


    You can ravish, brutalize, and even scorn me. I don¡¯t care! But don¡¯t you dare hurt my light! I won¡¯t allow it!


    Lily¡­ Shade whispered, pawing at my feet.


    No one will receive my mercy if they harm my light. My beautiful light...


    Fenris held me tightly throughout the night, hearing mayhem in the distance. However, he faithfully stayed by me as his duty dictated. Though that wasn¡¯t the real reason, he remained.


    I was inconsolable, even though I was in his arms. There was no way to tell what would happen if he left me. He whispered sweet things to me, holding me closer to his chest, allowing me to hear the beat of his heart, yet I couldn¡¯t stop the feeling of dread that filled me.


    If I ever were to lose Fenris, then this world would have no meaning. Eventually, I fell asleep in his embrace from all the crying. I didn¡¯t even notice when Ben arrived to check on us while everyone else was scrambling to stop the chaos.


    A darkness planted by Stella all those years ago arose within me. My obsession with the wolf that had brought me into the light slowly chipped at my sanity. I was on Fenris''s lap when I woke up the next day. He stayed awake the entire night, looking after me with Ben.


    His brother appeared to pace back and forth with Shade on his shoulder. He was one of her favorites among everyone she had ever interacted with. Fenris gently stroked my hair before stopping, noticing I was up.


    I slowly got up from the bed, wiping my eyes of any trace of my slumber. Ben smiled when I glanced towards him when someone knocked at the door loudly. Standing up from beside me, Fenris went to answer the door.


    ¡°How are you, Lilith?¡± He asked, reaching to pet my head.


    His younger brother hadn¡¯t told him about what I did yesterday.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, a little rattled, is all,¡± I mumbled, feeling tiny at his touch.


    Fenris opened the door to reveal a distressed Layla behind it. With a brief hesitation, she jumped into him, not realizing Ben and I were in the room. Her sudden launch made the startled wolf stumble onto his bed behind them.


    "Fenris! I was so worried!" Layla burst, clinging to him.


    However, his eyes twitched as he flashed his fangs at her, thanks to the tackle he received out of nowhere. After everything that happened in his mind, there was no space to deal with his fianc¨¦e.


    "Get off¡ª" he tried to speak, only to be interrupted by Layla''s lips crashing onto him.


    For a moment, he couldn¡¯t comprehend what had happened, but the moment she licked his lips, he shoved her away. She fell right off the bed and onto the floor.


    "Ouch! Why are you always so cold to me?! That¡¯s no way to treat your future wife! I thought I would never see you again!" Layla whined, pouncing on the young silver wolf again.


    She had no self-control for her fianc¨¦, even if it bothered him.


    "What the¡ª" Fenris was about to curse at Layla, but Ben stepped in, noticing his mood before it got ugly.


    "Oh, Layla! What a lovely coincidence." Ben tried to calm the situation down.


    The moment the white wolf heard his voice, her cheeks went bright pink, giving Fenris a break to catch his grip. Usually, he could deflect her attempts to kiss him with a calm attitude, but what happened last night made him unable to deal with her.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time I had seen her do that too, but this time, I took particular solace in where his mouth was the previous day¡ªa devilish thought from a tainted witch.

 Chapter 30: A Glimpse…

    "Oh! I didn¡¯t know you were here. Ah... This is awkward." Layla smiled coyly at Ben, but he shook his head in response.


    It allowed Fenris to get her off him. Once she was off, he walked over and sat beside me. Underneath the covers, he held onto my hand, making my heart beat loudly. I didn¡¯t know if he did it to keep me under control or to comfort me from the scene I witnessed.


    I didn¡¯t care, though, intertwining my hand with his away from Layla''s view. It felt good. He appeared happier touching me than with her.


    "Why did you say you were afraid of not seeing Fenris? He¡¯s a capable fighter, you know." Ben asked Layla, who informed what happened in town.


    They found a lot of Lycans dead after the attack. It appeared that they went rabid, killing anyone who stood in their way before expiring for an unknown reason soon after. Even though it was early in the investigation, the officers thought the explosions to be distractions.


    It was apparent how the attackers targeted the wolves around Silverant during the diversion. They stabbed the victims with knives coated in a weird, radiant purple liquid. They would need more testing before we knew what it was.


    However, after hearing what it did to Lycans, I had little doubt about it. My initial fears were correct. It was like Stella¡¯s book said. Whenever witchcraft mixed with that poison, it would radiate purple. However, it had never been that bright before.


    The book described it as radiant purple. This was because of the plant itself, but a drawing was always different from reality. It also gave off a solid flowery smell, but I had no time to sniff it. Not that anyone could with all the explosions going off.


    Yet it didn''t change that wolfsbane was a plant long thought to be extinct. It was deadly to anything that shared Lycan blood, even hybrids. Long ago, vampires used it to submit the wolves to their will, but it quickly backfired. The Lycans went rabid, killing anyone in their path before expiring themselves.


    However, back then, it took days before they died. So, something was off. Most of the deaths that happened throughout the night had been because of these out-of-control Lycans. It made me confident of what the unknown substance was.


    Or at least something similar to it. Is that even possible? No...


    I could never forget something beaten into me, even if it were different. I was missing information. When Layla finished speaking, I held onto Fenris''s hand tighter, worrying that he was also a target for their attacks.


    If it was the sisters, he indeed was¡­


    "I think¡ª" I spoke, only to be interrupted by Layla.


    She turned toward Fenris again before jumping on him, even though he was in my bed. This action pried his hand off mine. I stared at them, stunned by what happened. It never crossed my mind she would do something like this.


    An ache in my heart was present.


    "It was so scary, Fenris! We should embrace each other before our vows!" she declared.


    He blocked her advances with his arm, seemly distressed again.


    "Just get off me!" Fenris ordered, growling.


    I stood off the bed, trying to calm my annoyance. It would be a mistake to allow myself to be pushed over the edge. I was no longer a child to throw tantrums over rival things. At least she didn¡¯t want to hurt him.


    Even so, I...


    How dare she take what is yours? A whisper arose within me, sending shivers down my spine.


    Ben grabbed me from behind, making me jump.


    "What were you saying, Lilith?" he asked curiously.


    I turned to him, trying to suppress my envy for Layla. At least this sweet wolf eased my heart. He very much was the father I never had.


    "What?" I mumbled.


    My mind was too cluttered to focus on one thing.


    "You wanted to say something before Layla, you know, did her thing." Ben shook his head, shifting his gaze towards the promising future alphas of the pack.


    I didn¡¯t know how he saw them, but he wanted what was best for his baby brother.


    "Oh... I think I know what that liquid is." I declared, making a conscious effort to avoid looking towards my bed.


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    Layla continued to assault Fenris, disregarding his complaints relentlessly. I couldn''t help him; any action on my part would doom him.


    "Oh? You do?" Ben raised his eyebrows, gazing at me oddly.


    I nodded.


    "Yes... It has to be wolfsbane." I replied, which caused Layla to snort before bursting into laughter.


    It triggered all eyes to fall on her.


    "Silly girl, that plant has been extinct longer than we¡¯ve been alive!" Layla countered.


    That¡¯s true¡­ but¡­ why do I feel like I¡¯m missing something? Stella¡­ did I hear it from her once? Where did...


    A blur of memory flashed through my mind, but nothing else. I turned towards the white wolf, unimpressed by her challenge.  Her demeanor rubbed me off the wrong way.


    "I''m sure it¡¯s wolfsbane," I argued, crossing my arms.


    Her eyes flickered; it almost felt like she was sizing me up.


    Lycans and their pride...


    Getting off Fenris, she came towards me, smiling.


    "And how would a sheltered witch like you know more than I, a future alpha? I¡¯m telling you that plant¡¯s gone." Layla argued, looking at me like I was nothing compared to her.


    The words she uttered were undeniably accurate. I couldn''t measure up to her in any way. Even so, I couldn¡¯t back down. Not when Fenris¡¯s well-being was at stake. Though, I was aware no one would believe me. After all, who''d believe something more than a thousand years old still existed?


    Yet I knew my grandmother. If there were a way, she''d find it. It was like saying some ancient virus or bacteria resurfaced after being extinct¡ªin this case, a plant that her ancestors had burned. Of course, she would fight it, even if the symptoms were alike.


    In their minds, it had to be something else. It could''ve been, but I was determined to warn them.


    "Layla!" Ben and Fenris shouted for her to back down.


    I smiled, feeling relieved. I had always wondered how the white wolf felt about me, but there she was, showing her true colors.


    So, this is how she feels about me... Figures¡­


    Folder... Feed her to us! A whisper passed through.


    The sight made me shake my head in disbelief as I confronted her. Others belittled me despite my efforts to be kind and keep to myself. The world felt exhausting and unwelcoming. Yet the two brothers in the room were my light.


    They showed me not all of them were like her.


    "Before I lived here, I was with the sisters..." I stopped for a few moments.


    Even mentioning them made me recall all the things they did to me.


    Tell¡­ we¡­ wolfbane.


    The same memory emerged again. There was no way I would¡¯ve ever forgotten a lesson that came from their abuse.


    But was it a lesson? Or something else? Why can¡¯t I recall it fully? No¡­ that wasn¡¯t when I read her grimoire. That was¡­ when?


    Taking a deep breath, I pushed those thoughts aside. I didn''t have time to dwell on them. But I recalled all of Stella''s grimoire. Yet that memory...


    "When I was with the sisters of Moira, I read about it in one of their contraband books. All those years ago, Lycans burned the plants, making them extinct. But it matches the symptoms exerted by these wolves. Yet¡­ something¡­" I hesitated, letting my words fade.


    I attempted to articulate my thoughts more clearly.


    I''m missing something. Stella... What did you do?


    However, I felt like I was missing something. That would be the least of my worries, though. When Layla''s expression changed, my eyes remained locked on her. The silence filled the room. Her amber eyes glowed brightly, like a sun that had just risen.


    Her face warped in ways I had never seen when she suddenly threw herself at me. Luckily, Fenris grabbed her before she could get to me. Ben yanked me towards him before getting in between us.


    "You were with the cult that killed my pregnant mother?!" Layla screeched from Fenris¡¯s grip.


    Unbeknownst to me, Layla''s mother was one guest on Fenris''s birthday who had suffered the same fate as many others.


    "Layla, she was just a child!" Ben tried to explain the situation, but all Layla saw was red.


    Cerberus wasn¡¯t telling anyone where I came from, and I could see why. The pure loathing reflected in her eyes when she heard I belonged to them was unreal. If Fenris hadn''t reacted swiftly, she would''ve severely injured me.


    "I don¡¯t care! I¡¯ll rip her throat out and save you the trouble of protecting her." She snarled.


    Before anyone else could say anything else,  Fenris slammed her onto the wall hard enough for it to crack. They made it of solid cement, and for it to do that. The force he used was excessive.


    The shock of her future alpha doing that to her alone made her breathless. He grabbed onto her face, holding her in place against the wall. His eyes glowed brighter than hers, veins bulging from where he stood.


    "You touch a hair on her head, and I¡¯ll rip you apart! Got it?!" he sneered.


    Ben grabbed his arm, stopping him from doing something he would regret. He let her go in response to his brother''s intervention before grabbing my hand.


    A second later, he yanked me out of that room.


    "Fenris... I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t know." I apologized, being ignorant that she was unaware of my origins.


    It was a mistake to assume since she was his betrothed, they would¡¯ve told her everything. Yet they hadn¡¯t. Before I knew it, I was in his arms. He clutched me closely to his chest.


    "It isn¡¯t your fault, Lily. Don¡¯t worry, Ben will handle it." Fenris shrugged.


    His heat emanated from him. I could hear his erratic heart wanting to pump out of his chest. His anger still surged through this wolf, yet his grip on me was gentle.


    I hummed, allowing myself to melt into his touch. In the time Ben spoke with Layla inside, my body trembled after seeing her hate me with such passion. She''d never stop hunting me if anyone told her the truth about what happened that day.


    The thought of not feeling Fenris ever again was too much to bear. After a few minutes, Ben came out with Layla, who profusely apologized for launching at me.


    "I didn¡¯t know you were a victim! I¡¯m so sorry!" she apologized, bowing her head.


    Fenris kept her away from me, though. It was hard to know if her apology was genuine or because of Fenris''s threat. After that, she retreated, followed by Ben, who went to talk to Ryker about what I deduced from the situation.


    From it all, I forgot to tell him where I heard it. It slipped right out of my mind. Not that it mattered. I doubted they would¡¯ve believed me either way. Once we were alone in the room, Fenris went over to a shelf where he took out the bracelet that I had thrown the previous night.


    He hid it when Ben came. Coming to me, he leaned into my ear, whispering, ¡°Lily, don¡¯t tell anyone about anything that happened yesterday.¡±


    The wolf placed it back on my wrist, leaving me unsure if this was the right thing to do. The wickedness in the world was starting to make their move. Soon enough, fates would collide once again.


    But first, the calm¡­ before the true storm.

 Chapter 31: The Sun Elf…

    Before placing it on me, Fenris tested the bracelet on himself to ensure it wasn¡¯t defective. His emotions were swiftly suppressed, causing a peculiar expression, shifting his gaze at me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how you¡¯ve tolerated this hollowness for so long.¡± Fenris let out an exasperated huff, swiftly removing it.


    Somehow, I became immune to the effects of luxorite, similar to building immunity to medication after long periods of taking it.


    The more frequently magical artifacts were used, the more their powers waned. This led to speculation about when the phoenix crystals, renowned for their potency, would eventually lose their magic if they hadn''t already. In my urgency to escape, I transported us through a gate a few hours earlier.


    Despite the bracelet''s apparent failure to work on me, Fenris gently placed it back on my arm. He then surprised me by urging me to pretend everything was fine, displaying an unexpected confidence in my ability to maintain control.


    He recognized something in me that I couldn''t see in myself. I became adept at concealing my emotions so the crystal didn''t leave me feeling hollow. While this was true, I had initially believed it would serve as a safety net in case I faltered. It felt akin to losing my life preserver, leaving me adrift in the boundless sea of existence.


    Afterward, he meticulously inspected my Phoenix inhibitors but found no issues. There was no clear explanation for why the gate briefly opened. Despite examining the crystals thoroughly, he saw no cracks or defects in their appearance. His only conclusion was that my fear had somehow influenced the gate.


    The force was powerful enough to break through the barrier created by the crystals. I had anticipated that seeing the creatures that had previously altered his life would be traumatic for him. Surprisingly, he expressed gratitude to me for rescuing him.


    After carefully inspecting everything, he abruptly hauled me into the bathroom. Once inside, he displayed pure affection for my efforts. It wasn¡¯t long before our loving headed towards the sheets, where he ensured I was well cared for.


    As we drifted to sleep, I could feel Fenris''s comforting presence beside me. When I awoke, his peaceful form was nestled close. I gently maneuvered, trying to worm out of his embrace on my way to the restroom.


    Managing to sit up only ended with him clamping onto my waist, using part of my lap as his new pillow. I couldn''t ignore the urgent need to use the bathroom, but I couldn''t help but be drawn to the opportunity to run my fingers through his soft, silver hair and gently stroke his fluffy ears, which caused me to giggle.


    Like always, they were little clouds on my fingertips. Glancing towards Shade, she was fast asleep in her tower. Then, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. In front of our bed was Ryker, gazing at me.


    Those emerald orbs felt like they were peering straight into my soul. His golden silk hair was placed up in a silver bun, carrying an air of solemnity. Stunned, I reached toward Fenris to wake him, but the elf spoke up before I could.


    "Don¡¯t wake up the poor wolf. It¡¯s you with whom I need a word. And I¡¯m not interested in a child''s body. Even more so a dysmorphic one. So, don¡¯t be nervous. I won¡¯t do anything to you." Ryker tapped his hands rhythmically on the cover of a thick book, his fingers creating a steady beat.


    He proclaimed me as a child, but something different was reflected in his eyes. Elves could live for hundreds of years, which wasn''t why he called me that. This one was aware of much more than that.


    Would anyone gaze at a kid with such scorn?


    The intensity of his glare made it hard to suppress the dreadful emotions; laying bare for him to see didn¡¯t make it any easier. For a few moments, he carefully observed my every move. It was challenging to mask my true feelings under his intense scrutiny.


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    "Ah... Are you worried, child? Because of what I see? Don¡¯t be. I already knew what Fenris was doing with you. I asked him to. It seems he did his job right, too. Well, maybe a little too well." Ryker delivered the news with a complete lack of emotion.


    It left me feeling utterly shocked and taken aback. The realization had already started to form in my mind, but when I heard it confirmed, it was like a blow to the chest. The pain was unbearable. I couldn''t bear to listen to it anymore.


    "What?" I quietly murmured, glancing at Fenris, who was in a dream-like state.


    The previous day''s events left him incredibly exhausted, causing him to sleep deeper than usual. Our voices couldn¡¯t reach him where he was. I felt the urge to awaken him with a sharp tug, but I couldn''t bring myself to disturb his much-needed rest.


    He had been awake all night caring for me, which explained his exhaustion.


    Hold it¡­ in. I don¡¯t want to make it harder for you!


    The intense emotions made it incredibly challenging to prevent the tears from causing a stinging sensation in my eyes.


    Will he notice?


    "Oh, poor child, you can¡¯t say you believe Fenris feels the same way about you. His one job is to protect us from you. To accomplish that, we made him own your body and soul. The kindness he shows you is just a show to keep you complacent.¡± The elf carried on like a knife to my heart.


    Please¡­ no more¡­ don¡¯t take my last happy place.


    Somehow, I found the strength to contain my emotions, but I couldn''t predict how long I could go on like this.


    ¡°You must know this, no? But don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll continue doing his duty even after he¡¯s married." Ryker clarified any doubts I had about the matter.


    Upon sensing my emotional state, Shade stirred from her slumber, her eyes snapping open as she let out a menacing hiss at the sight of the elf.


    What is this fucking elf doing here?! Her lips curled back in a snarl, preparing to pounce at him with her tiny but fierce paws.


    Don¡¯t! I¡¯m fine! Please!


    But! Lily! She winced, shaking her head.


    I was tasked with concealing my genuine emotions and never allowing them to surface. I had to assume a false persona and conform to their expectations, all for the sake of my beloved wolf.


    "What do you want from me?" I inquired, pressing my lips soon after.


    It was a struggle to contain the overwhelming wave of sadness that threatened to consume me. The first time I felt the warmth emanating from Fenris''s embrace, I found it increasingly difficult to maintain my composure.


    Despite being aware of his predetermined fate with another, the pain of realizing that his embraces were merely a result of obligation weighed heavily on me.


    I believed it was about maintaining control, but it wasn''t due to someone else''s directive. That was why he concealed my presence. Despite feeling conflicted, I tried to remain resolute.


    All of it is lies¡­ sweet lies.


    "You told Ben that you thought it was Wolfsbane. I came to tell you that you¡¯re wrong. It¡¯s something else. Something we can¡¯t identify yet." Ryker replied, leaving me utterly perplexed and at a loss for words.


    I saw what I saw, and the side effects aligned perfectly. Well, almost perfectly. However, I couldn''t shake the feeling that he had to be wrong.


    "I¡ª" Before another word left me, he raised his hands to stop me.


    With a cold and indifferent gaze, the elf clarified that my words were unimportant to him. In his eyes, I was nothing but a burden to everyone within the confines of the building.


    "Your theory can¡¯t compare to my technicians, who already tested the unknown substance. It wasn¡¯t Wolfsbane. Now, keep these conspiracies to yourself, girl. Before you spread panic for no reason." He finished leaving before I could say anything to argue back.


    As the heavy door closed behind him, a surge of emotion swept through me, causing tears to well up in the corners of my eyes.


    Suck it up, Lilith. This is just another thing you¡¯re wrong about.


    I kept repeating it to myself until it finally sank in. The ancient people wiped out wolfsbane ages ago. There was no chance that any of it still existed.


    Be glad, Lilith. He¡¯s safe from it.


    I struggled to force an emotion that just wouldn''t come. Still sound asleep, Fenris held me tightly as if sensing my inner turmoil. Despite my efforts to push them away, tears streamed down my face, a silent testament to the impact of Ryker''s words.


    A soft, almost inaudible hum emanated from me as I tenderly brushed my fingers through Fenris''s hair, feeling its silky texture. I attempted not to cry loudly, not to wake him, but my sobs were coming out without me being able to stop them.


    Fenris will never be mine.


    I had deluded myself into thinking it was okay if he was devoted to another. But thinking about it differed entirely from having confirmation.


    I¡¯m not okay¡ªit isn¡¯t okay at all!


    My heart grew greedy and needy over the years, becoming a thunderous storm spiraling out of control.


    Is what Ryker said true? Are you just following orders? No¡­ you have to care, even if it¡¯s a little¡­ Right? Tell me!

 Chapter 32: Annoyance…

    There wasn¡¯t a time I could recall that Fenris said he loved me, but his actions screamed it. Until Ryker polluted my mind, I hadn¡¯t cared that he hadn''t said those words to me. Undoubtedly, he cared, even if it wasn¡¯t my desired attachment.


    Am I stupid enough to think you¡¯ll love me? I stole everything from you. Of course you...


    My body trembled, driving me wince when I witnessed its condition. Every time he held me, he was embracing this distorted body.


    This¡­ body is broken. Nothing to be desired! Why would you ever hold me if it wasn¡¯t for control?


    It was foolish to forget I had made him an orphan all those years ago. For him to desire me the way I wished to be was a distant dream.


    I¡¯m the woman you should hate!


    Perhaps he did loath me, and this was all a mask.


    The pain... The loneliness...


    These emotions were something so foreign to me. I didn¡¯t understand what to do with them other than sob in the arms of the person I adored. My stability was something that I could pull off when it came to others, but for him, I could do little to stay calm.


    While in Fenris''s arms, I managed to drift off into a dreamless state; the next time I opened my eyes, it was dusk. The silver wolf was already awake and had brought food for us.


    When he spotted my fresh, puffy orbs, his eyes narrowed, ¡°Are you okay, Lily?¡±


    Taking a deep breath, I rubbed my face with the soft sheets, ¡°I am.¡±


    "Really?" he paused, studying me, "Well, let''s eat before the food gets cold."


    It was a slight surprise when he didn''t force me to say more. Instead, after we both ate and got refreshed, he made me his until I was senseless. A few hours later at night, when I was under his warm embrace, an announcement flared all over the building and cell phones in Silverant.


    The investigation of the attacks found witchcraft was part of the source of power for the explosions. However, the mysterious radiant liquid used in the attacks was kept as an unknown substance that needed more research.


    They warned every Lycan to be wary of any conflict, remaining indoors or within the limits of Cerberus until the investigation was completed. Every wolf within the walls of Cerberus was ordered to stay within the headquarters grounds until further notice.


    This meant the organization was about to get a bunch of refugees. Though it was no secret Lycans had been the main target in the attack, bringing shivers down my spine to think Fenris was almost caught in that mess.


    Cerberus also increased security around the town, assigning all the other races to investigate further into the attacks. Unfortunately, the next day started with Layla declaring she would stay with us for the next few days.


    She desired to stay with her future husband until the Lycan lockdown was done.


    ¡°Fuck no,¡± Fenris growled, eyes slightly beaming.


    ¡°Look! I¡¯m sorry! I know I messed up yesterday! This will be good for us! I have to bond with your charge at one point or another!¡± She huffed, not moving from where she was.


    ¡°I said no, Layla. Now, leave.¡± He wasn¡¯t moving an inch.


    She growled, not backing down from her alpha and husband, "Ryker agreed it would be a great idea!"


    Fenris froze when she showed him the key to our room. With it, she could come in whenever she wanted, even when I was under him. The simple gesture she didn¡¯t and announced it first was a blessing for us.


    ¡°Ryker¡­¡± The silver wolf muttered, eyes glowing even brighter.


    Taking the opportunity that his mind was on someone else, she entered the room with two luggage bags. It was packed with what appeared to be more than a few months¡¯ worth of clothes.


    A few days wasn¡¯t what she had on her agenda from the glimpse of her preparations. However, hearing the elf¡¯s name created a vortex in my chest that sucked up all of my emotions within.


    Is this his way of crushing my hopes? Does he want to show me the future that awaits me? No¡­ I don¡¯t want to know. I don¡¯t need to see it!


    Layla¡¯s subsequent remarks broke me from my train of thought.


    "I¡¯ll sleep with you in your bed!" She beamed, placing her bag full of clothes beside Fenris''s mattress.


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    He hadn¡¯t used that in years. The atmosphere in the room was heavier than a fog descending into a town.


    "You can sleep in my bed, but I won¡¯t sleep there with you. If anything, I¡¯ll use the couch or chair." Fenris countered, leaving the white wolf stunned by where she stood.


    "Why?!" she questioned, grabbing onto his shirt.


    In her mind, they were to be wed soon enough. There was no reason to keep waiting to consummate. If I hadn¡¯t heard Fenris chatting with his friends, I would¡¯ve thought they had already done the deed.


    "I don¡¯t want to. Plus, aren''t you always saying you¡¯re saving yourself until marriage?" he tried to shut down the situation, but his words slid right off her.


    It was more like an invitation to continue pressing the issue forward to the white wolf.


    "That¡¯s a silly and old thing, I tell the girls. All so they don¡¯t go crazy with rumors. But I don¡¯t mind if you take me now. As long as it¡¯s you." She simpered cheeks pink, tugging on his shirt.


    I tried desperately to keep my eyes on the book before me. However, my irritation was slowly boiling over; I had to separate myself from this before I blew up in their faces. I took a deep breath and closed the book, placing it in my bag.


    There was a time when I relied on crystal to be my safety net, but that was no longer an option. I didn¡¯t trust myself like Fenris did. He was a fool if he thought my heart was strong enough to withstand him holding another.


    "No," he sighed.


    His amber orbs shifted towards me, noticing me getting ready to leave.


    "Why are you always so resistant?! We¡¯ll marry soon!" Layla growled at him, crossing her arms and puffing her cheeks.


    Shade hopped onto my shoulder, wanting a better view of what was happening.


    Is Fenris going to slam her again into the wall? Shade wagged her tail.


    Her words caused me to rub her head.


    I doubt it. How can he? She''ll be his wife and better than me in every way.


    You¡¯re crazy, Lily; you¡¯re the best that pup will ever have. Shade snickered, making me roll my eyes.


    I shrugged, shaking my head from side to side.


    "Well, for one, we aren¡¯t alone here." The silver wolf indicated the obvious, hoping I would halt her advances.


    Instead of entertaining that thought, I headed for the door.


    "She¡¯s leaving." Layla countered, pouting.


    Before I could reach the door, Fenris grabbed me by the back of my dress as I passed them. Shifting my orbs towards him, I found myself in his piercing gaze, like a mouse stuck in a trap.


    "No, she isn¡¯t.¡± He sighed, tugging me to his side. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ll sleep with my charge if you¡¯re staying here."


    The wolf¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile, finding the perfect counter to his opponent. He wouldn¡¯t let me go anywhere, using me as a shield against his fianc¨¦e. My heart skipped a beat upon hearing him say that to her.


    For a moment, I thought he cared before the simple thought of the malfunctioning bracelet came to mind.


    Ah¡­ You¡¯re trying to keep me near you at all costs because I¡¯m a danger?


    As the argument continued, I couldn¡¯t read into it much. If I did, I''d...


    "What?! How could I accept that?! I¡¯ll be the one to sleep with her if anything!" Layla changed her tune.


    Fenris held me close when a distorted laugh erupted from his lips. He couldn¡¯t believe what came out of her mouth. This was a side I had never seen him be. That tone didn¡¯t fit him at all.


    "That¡¯s cute. After trying to kill her, you think I¡¯ll allow that?" he growled, eyes fridged, making shivers run down my spine.


    Not once had he ever gazed at me that way, and even if it wasn¡¯t directed at me, I couldn¡¯t help but feel intimidated by him. This was a Fenris I didn¡¯t know; the usual playful wolf who held me every night was nowhere to be seen.


    "Please, I said, am sorry! I didn¡¯t know she was a victim!" she explained.


    "I don¡¯t care. She¡¯s off limits for you indefinitely." He scuffed, not wanting to continue this charade.


    "This isn¡¯t fair!" Layla complained, glaring at me as if I were filling him with these ideas.


    It displeased her to know he would rather be with me than her. If she ever knew that he was holding me every night, it would hurt her beyond belief. Part of me felt guilty because of my role in it.


    She wasn¡¯t at fault for anything that happened in our lives.


    "My charge, my choice," Fenris informed.


    Her eyes twitched, "She¡¯ll be our charge soon, though." The wife wolf countered.


    He let out a low and menacing growl, clenching his hands into fists, "Layla, she¡¯ll never be in your charge. Cry and moan all you want, but if you¡¯re staying here. I¡¯m sleeping with her. Either accept that or leave. I don¡¯t care what Ryker says about that."


    Although his words and demeanor showed pure aggression, his hold on me was as gentle as always. I was a source of discord in his life. His words caused tears to swell in her eyes, which was discomforting.


    I never wanted her to feel like that, even when I was envious of her freedom to show him affection. However, the silver took the opportunity that she was at a loss for words to address me.


    "You want to go to the library, right?" he turned towards me.


    His eyes lacked any genuine emotion, freezing me on the spot.


    You¡¯ve never¡­ looked at me like that.


    I nodded, not wanting to annoy him, shifting my orbs away from him. Tugging on my dress, he sighed, drawing my gaze back onto him before allowing a soft smile to rise on his lips.


    "Okay, then. I¡¯ll go with you. Let¡¯s go," He clasped my hand, heading towards the door.


    Before we could leave, Layla grabbed onto his tail, triggering him to growl loudly. It caused me to cringe upon hearing the tone it had used. It was like an animal about to go rabid on an intruder.


    "Stop! You can¡¯t leave your future wife like this!" she shouted, attempting to stop him.


    His face warped in rage for a moment before he took a deep breath to control it. Though I wouldn¡¯t know how long it would take before he broke.


    "Layla... Let go." Fenris tried to restrain himself, but his eyes were giving off the same menacing hue from before.


    Managing their anger was something Lycan¡¯s usually failed at with ease.


    "No! You can¡¯t leave me like this! Especially with what¡¯s happening to our kin! Do you still put your mark on a higher priority than us?! I mean, why can''t she go alone to the library?! She¡¯s just a human! You can stay here with me to keep me safe!" She ranted, tugging his tail.


    It was clear Ben hadn¡¯t told her the complete story, scarcely informing her of what the coven did to me. The older brother didn¡¯t trust anyone with me, either. These two silver wolves were too much for my brittle heart.


    "Layla, enough! Let me fucking leave!" he snapped like a twig, yanking his tail away from her grasp.


    Shooting her a glare, she appeared stunned by him when he stormed out with me. His grip on my hand was tight enough for me to know he wasn¡¯t happy. However, part of me didn¡¯t want to ask how he felt.


    I gripped his hand, almost as if to soothe his mood, triggering him to glance towards me before shifting his path towards a restroom down the hall.

 Chapter 33: Unsuspected…

    Locking the door behind us, Fenris grabbed onto me. Before I knew it, I was against the bathroom wall with him in between my thighs. It was a simple room where employees did their necessities. When I glanced at his face, his eyes lacked the life they usually had.


    These arguments with Layla always got him in an awful mood, but this time, he was different. I couldn¡¯t help but feel responsible since most were because of me. It only solidified my belief that I was a source of discord in their relationship.


    If Fenris had never met me, perhaps his life would¡¯ve been better.


    Yes, I wouldn¡¯t be a liability you must watch for all the time.


    Even though that was true, I was happy to be in his embrace, without caring that it was part of his job.


    Yes¡­ That¡¯s right. I¡¯m a wicked woman who doesn¡¯t care if I hurt others. As long as I can have you¡­ Ah¡­ I can¡¯t, though, can I?


    If I felt any guilt for hurting Layla, it was nothing compared to how unstable I would''ve been without Fenris¡¯s touch.


    These moments have to be enough, Lilith. They have to be! So¡­ Please¡­ Let me be by your side even when¡­


    Ryker¡¯s words replayed in my mind, making me wince.


    You¡­ don¡¯t have a choice, do you, my love? This is your duty, all because I love you. I¡¯m sorry for putting you in this position, my dearest light.


    A long time ago, I decided to live for him. Getting used to the thought of him being with another would have to come. Reaching for his face, I touched his cheek, placing my other hand on his shoulder.


    He leaned on my touch, bewildered by my reaction to his sudden approach. Usually, I would be flustered and try to get away from him if it was in a public area, but I intended to comfort him any way I could.


    The poor silver wolf appeared to be having trouble finding the words he wanted to communicate to me. Feeling bold, I tugged myself towards him, kissing his lips lightly. His eyes widened, clasping onto the back of my head, yanking me into a deeper one.


    It was breathtaking how passionately his tongue caressed mine. There was no hint of previous exhaustion when he did this to me. Eventually, we separated slightly, allowing us to breathe better for only a moment as our eyes met again.


    His amber orbs were as radiant as always, and our cheeks were light pink. His expression changed from flustered into one of regret. Before a word could leave his lips, I clutched onto the back of his head, hauling him into another kiss.


    Is it to stop this? I don¡¯t want to hear it!


    Responding to the same affection, he tugged my legs up to his waist, securing them in place. It was the same position we were in back at the alley, yet I was pushing forward this time. A soft mewl left my lips, feeling him grind himself into me as his tongue entertained mine.


    Unable to hold on to my desires, I reached under my dress to tug on my lining, only for him to rip into it. A gasp left me, feeling it break under his strength. It was only a slight hole in the fabric to expose my underwear to him.


    Moving it aside, he held me up with one hand, undoing his pants with the other. All while our lips didn¡¯t stop showing affection for one another. Saliva dripped down my chin, feeling his tongue win the fight for dominance.


    A soft chuckle left the wolf, enjoying the affection I was showing him. Instead of words, we let our bodies assure ourselves of our feelings. It was almost as if he told me it didn¡¯t matter if Layla was there; our time together wouldn¡¯t change.


    Freeing his heat from his clothes, he pressed it against my intimate lips, triggering me to jitter in anticipation. A simple thrust was all it took for it to slip inside my walls, triggering him to hum within our kiss.


    Using Fenris''s lips, I muffled the voice his sweet touch desired to let out of me, feverously kissing him like it was the last time I would ever feel him. Every time we separated to catch our breaths. His facial expression was one of the eyes barely opened, lips glossy, wishing for more.


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    Bucking his hips into me, he searched for more of the sensation he only knew I could give. It made me throb for him, feeling him fill me to the brim with each thrust. If my body was enough to please him in this way, then I...


    A smile rose on my lips, softly caressing his ears. It caused them to twitch, making him lean into my hand, caressing his fluffs. My expression triggered something within Fenris, prompting him to lick my lips.


    His cheeks were a darker shade of pink. It wasn¡¯t the first time he did something like that. But it was the first time I noticed how he was gazing at me. It surely was nothing else than the same way I always looked at him.


    His amber orbs were affectionate towards me, twisting every thought I had within me. Ryker¡¯s words were still present in my mind as I questioned every intention this wolf had.


    Can I believe I have a part of your heart? Is it true? No¡­ How can you love the girl that makes your life a living hell? It¡¯s not possible.


    His gaze was making my heart waver from that thought.


    You can¡¯t! You aren¡¯t mine to have! That¡¯s right¡­ You¡¯re meant to be hers alone!


    Knowing that didn¡¯t stop the storm in my heart from wanting him for me.


    Please... Don¡¯t look at me like that! I¡¯ll want to keep it all!


    The thought of someone else having him stirred an ugly emotion I couldn¡¯t entirely control.


    If I can¡­


    Usually, Fenris started everything that happened between us, but I felt bold after seeing Layla¡¯s rejection. A silly thought began to form, one that I could only dream about with this broken body.


    Maybe... I¡­ can make you addicted to me as much as I am to you. Will you be able to leave me then?


    Clutching the back of Fenris¡¯s hair, I locked lips with him again, kissing him as passionately as he had. The suddenness of it caused a whine to leave him as his member suddenly twitched within my depths, declaring his release.


    Separating from my lips, a low groan left his, showing me an expression I had come to love. It filled me with pure ecstasy, feeling him shove himself deeper within me, intending to carry his seeds deep within my empty womb.


    Or at least I hoped nothing was waiting for his barrage of swimmers rushing into my core. The feeling of his twitching heat after the explosion brought me over the edge. Clashing my lips with his again, my mind entered a state of bliss.


    I refused to separate my lips from his, tangoing with his soft member while riding the high. Mainly while the sensation consumed me, making me convulse in his arms. My overly affection didn¡¯t bother him much.


    However, we both needed to breathe to live. When our lips separated, I felt his heavy breathing against my neck. We both were desperately panting for air, unable to catch ourselves after the loving we had endured.


    Clinging onto Fenris, I couldn¡¯t help but feel possessive after seeing Fenris fight with Layla and her open advances on him. I thought I had my emotions in control, but perhaps it was because the bracelet was working back then.


    Or maybe it was a placebo effect of thinking they worked. No matter what it was, it didn¡¯t change that I ignored it then, allowing the darkness within me to grow stronger daily and making my obsession with this loving wolf spiral.


    The years since the fall allowed me to control my emotions better when I was a kid or a teen, but when it came to Fenris, I had little to no discipline over myself. My feelings for him couldn¡¯t be held in a simple container.


    So, I would instead try to imprint myself into this wolf''s heart so that he could never live without me, even while he held another woman in his arms. However, I want his desire to be because of me, not because of this duty he had to carry out.


    I desired to be something more than his burden or duty¡ªsomeone who could proudly stand by his side.


    A dream¡­


    It could''ve been possible if I wasn¡¯t the vessel to the gate. The source of all his sorrows was me and everything I stood for. There was only one way to make it feasible: to eliminate what made me terrifying.


    But if I lose that¡­ will I lose you to the beautiful Layla?


    It didn¡¯t matter though. If I did lose him, at least he would be free from all the nightmares that I caused him. There was nothing more than I desired than my light to be free and happy. However, what was most important was to see that radiant smile that had attracted me to him before the fall.


    These moments will have to be enough for now. I can¡¯t ask any more of you, my love.


    A smile arose on my lips again once I saw Fenris''s expression on his face.


    Flustered, charming... You own my heart, little wolf.


    I couldn¡¯t resist kissing him once again. A startling banging came from the door before my lips could touch his. He swiftly placed my feet back on the floor, allowing me to fix my clothing. It suddenly hit me that we weren¡¯t in the room but in a public area.


    After fixing our clothes, we answered the door and witnessed a human man urgently waiting behind it. Fenris apologized for locking the door and said he needed a private place to chat with his charge.


    My protector¡¯s explanation didn¡¯t amuse the man who rushed us out, cursing at us. The entire event left me giggling before I glanced towards my adorable wolf, where I felt my heart skip, spotting a genuine smile on his lips.


    It wasn¡¯t as radiant as when he was a child, but it was alluring. Perhaps his innocence, which had been robbed that day, was what I was perceiving missing. He reached for me with his hand, and with a brief hesitation, I clasped onto it.


    From there, he led me toward the library, where we spent most of the day.


    Though... it wasn¡¯t long until...

 Chapter 34: The Forbidden Library

    Surprisingly, Fenris''s presence in the library brought less than my usual unwanted glares. Unlike I usually did, he seemed to repel them instead of attracting them. Perhaps the other witches and warlocks didn¡¯t want to anger the future headmaster.


    I don¡¯t know, but having you here makes everything oddly peaceful.


    The silver wolf closed his eyes, laying his head on the shared table, patiently waiting for me to finish what I was doing. At no moment did he rush me to get everything done. It was peaceful even though he had to be bored out of his mind.


    However, I could feel his gaze on me whenever I stood up to look for a book, watching me protectively.


    Are you trying to shield me from everything around us? Or everyone from me?


    Pushing aside those thoughts, I went for one of the shelves. This library was enchanted to have many different rows of books, though not all were accessible to its members. This made researching the realm within me almost impossible.


    All the books with any factual information were out of my reach. Much to Fenris''s displeasure, it wasn¡¯t long until Cora came into the room looking for me. The moment she spotted me by the bookshelves, she closed the gap between us within seconds.


    Her sudden approach startled me, prompting me to drop the books I held onto the floor.


    "Lilith!" she beamed, radiantly as always, triggering me to take a few steps back.


    A soft sigh left me, leaning to collect the books; however, before I could pick one up, she swiftly grabbed them and handed them to me, all with her smile on display.


    How are you so full of energy all the time?


    "Cora... What do you want this time?" I asked, grabbing onto the books from her hands.


    She never knew when to give up; I couldn¡¯t count the times this event happened.


    "So cold! I missed you so much! I thought I did something good last time we saw each other!" She professed, grabbing hold of my hips and pulling me onto her.


    I placed the books between her and me.


    Handsy and pushy!


    I still felt Fenris''s warmth within me and on my lips¡ªsomething I didn¡¯t want her to wipe with her touch.


    "I think you and I have two different versions of what happened," I shook my head, trying to figure out how to get out of this.


    Sadly, she never quit, no matter how coldly I rejected her.


    "How cruel to ignore the fireworks that happened?! You didn¡¯t like my passionate k¡ª" Fenris dropped a book on her head, interrupting Cora before she could finish.


    She was too preoccupied with me to pay attention to Fenris, who walked over to us. His eyes were glowing and narrowed before pulling me away from her and towards him. I was a doll in a fight between two apex predators.


    "Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself, bloodsucker," he warned angrily.


    Cora turned to face him, eyes glowing as well, nostrils flared, ready to tango with the wolf.


    "Ouch! How dare you hit me?! You mongrel! Brute! Let go of Lilith right this instant!" Cora confronted him fearlessly.


    He smirked, holding me tightly by my hip, bringing me a warmth that Cora didn¡¯t.


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    "You¡¯re out of line," Fenris answered, leaving her huffing cheeks puffed.


    I had never seen anyone get under her skin before; I always thought she was more of a ditz than anything else.


    "No! You are! Lilith, why¡¯s this mutt here?! He¡¯s never here!" she turned towards me for answers.


    Is Fenris using me as an escape from Layla? Or is he here to watch over me since my bracelet no longer works?


    I couldn¡¯t even mention it if that was the case.


    "Ah... I-I..." I tried to come up with something, but words escaped me.


    Cora turned back to Fenris, who sighed in response to my hesitance.


    "See? She can¡¯t even speak with you around, you stupid mutt! How about you let her go now?! And leave! No one wants you here!" Cora deflected back onto Fenris, who shrugged.


    "I don¡¯t see how that¡¯s possible. She lives with me. Where she is, I¡¯m not far behind." He commented, rolling his eyes.


    Cora continued to push forward, pouting, "I don¡¯t care! Make yourself gone, wolf!"


    Her red orbs were glowing more than usual, and her lips curled downward.


    He laughed, shaking his head. "Hah! How about you do that instead?"


    The wolf¡¯s grip on me tightened, and my orbs glanced towards him. She gasped, placing her hands on her hips and leaning towards us.


    "Fuck no! I found her first!" she shouted, narrowing her eyes.


    Fenris rolled his amber orbs, shifting them towards me. The tension around us was one where kids fought over a piece of candy.


    "Really now? She has been my charge for fourteen years. I doubt you know her more than I do. I probably know every nook and¡ª" Fenris ranted, triggering me to stop him.


    My cheeks flushed red from the embarrassment enough for me to grab onto his tail tightly, tugging on it to stop him from continuing his sentence. Instead of finishing that thought, a slight groan left his lips.


    That was when I noticed Shade staring at us from the table and all the others trying to study. If eyes could kill, we would be dead where we stood.


    "Well, well... I don¡¯t care! She¡¯ll be mine!" the vampire continued, ignoring our situation.


    The humiliation was reaching its climax, pushing me to stop the two titans from clashing.


    "Okay! Enough! Stop it, you two! It¡¯s a library! If you both can¡¯t be quiet, you can leave!" I snapped at them, causing them both to appear surprised by my outburst.


    Especially Fenris, who had never heard me yell at anyone.


    "Ah... Sorry..." Both bowed their heads.


    Pulling away from the silver wolf, I walked past them and towards another lane of bookshelves.


    How can both be so careless?! They don¡¯t care what people see or hear! Cora has always been a firecracker! So, it doesn¡¯t surprise me that she¡¯s causing a scene, but you, Fenris! How can you let Cora play you to her tune?!


    How can you say something like that where people could hear? Aren¡¯t you afraid that others will find out about our relationship? Or is it a slip in the heat of the moment? Arg¡­ Dummy¡­


    Cora had her way of getting under one''s skin; I knew how much she could dig into it. Perhaps I was reading too much into his words.


    Or do you know that Cora saw us in the meadow, and you taunted her?


    My mind exploded, unable to control itself, yet I attempted to push away these useless thoughts. Mindlessly, I walked through shelves without even looking at the books they contained. Before I knew it, I found myself lost in the enchanted library.


    Throughout the years, I attempted to research my condition but never scratched the surface of the abundance of information within it. The library was full of grimoires from different witches throughout the ages.


    It also had original books on every topic imaginable related to our world. All the knowledge, from good to bad, was in one spot. There was an enormous library in Lyari, but I would have to leave this building for that.


    Anyone who wasn¡¯t high ranking was restricted from most of the grimoires. They restricted me to anything related to the nether realm or combat spells. It didn¡¯t appear any differently from the unrestricted areas.


    Shade found me with ease while I, unaware, stepped toward the forbidden part of the library. They usually sealed it off for anyone without an access rune. It was so quiet; Fenris and Cora weren¡¯t around anymore.


    Where did everyone go?


    Somehow, in my frustration with the two, I broke through the barriers to protect this part of the library. When I noticed what had happened, the crystals that suppressed my magic glowed brightly.


    I pondered whether I should try to head back, but this would be my only chance to see something about the realm I held within my body. Lacking better judgment, I pressed forward into the unknown, following whispers guiding me through the arsenal of books.


    I eventually found myself in front of a bookshelf covered in glass, a barrier spell. People with normal eyes would only see it as a simple reflecting wall, but I could also see the cracks within the incantation.


    If I focus on the weak spots, I can make it shatter.


    However, if I broke it, it would probably send an alarm blaring, alerting the library''s keepers. Even so, the whispers continued to tell me to proceed. At this point, I was willing to risk any little information I could get.


    "Discutio," I whispered, touching one of the weak points of the barrier.


    It shattered in seconds after infusing my energy with it. With brief hesitation, I clasped onto the book that resonated blue. When it touched my fingertips, it felt like my soul was being torn from my body.


    A blast from the past yanked me into its embrace.

 Chapter 35: A Vision…

    I found myself gazing at a couple¡¯s struggle to survive, much like a play performed before me. Surrounded by fire, everything played out while I was a passenger, unable to interact with anyone around me. A man ran towards a woman who had stumbled onto the floor, running towards a burning house.


    "Lilith! We need to get out of here!" A man shouted, grabbing onto her hand.


    Is she¡­ the Lilith from the past?


    "Klein, we can''t! No, not without our daughter! Zoey, please come out!" She screamed at the man, who tried to pull her away.


    She yanked away from his grip, bolting towards where she had last seen her baby girl. Before she could reach the burning house, a fireball from an elven spell crushed it, watching it become ashes triggered a screech of despair from her lips.


    Klein clasped onto her face, forcing her to face him. Those blue orbs of his only glossed as his brown hair was undone the moment the battle commenced.


    Tears streaked down his cheeks, ¡°Lilith, we must run! If we survive this, maybe we can still find her! But only if we live through this; otherwise, what good are we dead to her?¡±


    Besides the fiery blaze surrounding them, her wailing was the only thing that won over the roaring fire. Tugging her up, the man tried to guide her out of the area, only for the howls erupting from the distance to take his attention.


    With how fast wolves were, they both knew it wouldn¡¯t be long before they reached them. Shaking his head, the man struggled to drag Lilith away from the blazing house. He tried to reach out to her with his words, but the shock of what was happening before her was much to bear.


    Yet Klein didn¡¯t give up on her, continuing to tug her toward safety. Even though she was much like a rag doll dragged on the ground. A soft curse left his lips as the howls got closer. The realization that their eminent doom was lurking grew more real with each second that passed.


    Glancing around at their surroundings, he noticed a small well nearby that could safely hold one person. Closing his eyes, he shook his head before facing the vast sky above him. He knew what had to happen if he wanted his beloved to live.


    With a goal in mind, he dragged an inconsolable Lilith towards it. Once there, he clasped her cheeks, tugging her into a passionate kiss. It caused my eyes to sting, sensing the emotions rushing between them.


    He loved his wife so much that her survival was his one priority, while she loved him too but found the will to live after losing her daughter.


    This world is cruel.


    He couldn¡¯t save their daughter, but he was going to do everything to save his wife.


    "Live, my love," Klein whispered with a soft smile on his lips.


    Lilith shook her head before he pushed her into the safety of the well, dragging me with him. The last image she had of her beloved was him smiling, tears running down his cheeks. He covered the well with a wooden cover before running away, leaving us in darkness.


    The growling and screaming merged with the surrounding area. The shock of Klein¡¯s shrieks silenced Lilith, trapped safely inside the well, while the wolves tore through the man she loved on the surface.


    She spent hours down in the well, trying not to cry loudly.


    ¡°Live,¡± she softly recited her love''s last words, holding onto the hope that their daughter was hidden safely somewhere in the chaos.


    She had to live for her and him. She owed him to find her at all costs. A day went by before she could crawl out of the well. When she emerged, battered and bloodied, the first thing she saw was the love of her life.


    He had been mauled and half-eaten by the wolves that had carnage everything left alive in the village. Not trying to think of what was happening, she rushed towards the house to find their ten-year-old daughter.


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    Sadly, she found that the only thing left of the house was ashes. She screamed multiple times for Zoey, but she received no replies. The further she searched, the more apparent it became that she had become another casualty of the war raging between the races.


    Lilith¡¯s screams echoed throughout the empty village, cursing the world that robbed her of everything she loved. Just like they burned her life down, she bowed to do the same to the world that had forsaken her.


    She spent years gathering materials to open the gate to the nether realm. Using hatred as her fuel, she eventually opened the portal through sacrifices. At first, the openings were brief and unstable, using animals before slowly moving toward humans and other races.


    Through her years of research in a secluded cave away from prying eyes close to the lands known as Celestelia, Lilith realized that humans were the most compatible with the gate. They stabilized the portal more than a simple animal or even another race. Just like Stella, she realized she needed a pure sacrifice.


    One day, the witch entered a town human town and found an abandoned boy. He was no older than her daughter when she lost her. At first, she saw the boy only as a means to an end. However, she didn¡¯t foresee the boy growing on her as the year passed.


    She never named the boy but grew to love him either way. He reminded her of her lost child, filling that void within her, but couldn¡¯t heal her away from all the resentment she had for this world.


    However, when it came to sacrificing the child, the witch couldn¡¯t bring herself to finish the act she had begun. It ended with her sacrificing her life instead of the boy¡¯s. The pureness of her love for the child was enough for a partial opening of the gate.


    That alone led to the chaos written in the history books. After her sacrifice, with her final breaths, she witnessed the boy she saved dragged into the portal and disappear. Everything went dark after that, and I suddenly found myself in one of my lost memories.


    My crazed mother hummed a lullaby while I played with a doll made from straws on the floor. Usually, those were used for curses, but my child''s mind only saw them as cute toys.


    "Lilith," Mom called, triggering me to turn towards her.


    She sometimes would say my name without reason, yet this time¡­


    "Mommy, why did you call me that? The others look at me funny because of it." I asked her.


    They didn¡¯t just look at me funny; they also called me nasty things like monster and psycho.


    "Well, I loved that name." Mother answered, rocking her chair, humming a lullaby.


    "Oh..." I whispered, not feeling quite satisfied by her answer.


    It was rare for her even to converse. Though she mumbled something I couldn¡¯t quite catch back then, it was so evident when it replayed in front of my eyes.


    "Your father loved it too," Mom mumbled, fixing her brown locks.


    Her maroon orbs reflected pure affection, leaving me unsure who her mind was full of. Before another thought could form, I fell into an abyss, jolting awake soon after. I was no longer at the library but in my bed, surrounded by Cora, Fenris, and Layla.


    Cora and Fenris were worried sick, holding each onto one of my hands. The white wolf was mumbling under her breath. The vampire clenched my hand when I glanced towards Fenris, prompting him to grab onto my chin, studying every little reaction I had.


    At first, everything that was happening bewildered me. My mind lagged to understand how I had gotten to my bed. Disoriented, I glanced around the room to see Shade on my lap.


    "How..." I mumbled, shaking my head.


    "I found you fainted by the bookshelves next to us with Shade in your arms," he answered, much like he had read my mind.


    Was everything I saw a dream?


    "I did?" I asked.


    Before the silver wolf could answer¡­


    "I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to stress you out so much!" Her orbs appeared on the verge of bursting into tears.


    I clasped her hands, shaking my head.


    "It wasn¡¯t your fault. I..." Trailing off, I glanced towards Shade, who tilted her head.


    I didn¡¯t know what happened, and neither did she. Everything that transpired was too real to be dismissed as a dream. I hadn¡¯t even felt faint before everything began, either. Letting go of Cora, I grabbed Fenris''s hand, needing his warmth.


    Shivers ran down my spine, remembering Klein and Lilith. Seeing her world burn, even if it was a dream, made me wary of everything. Intertwining my hand with his, he gently smiled at me.


    "I¡¯m here," the silver wolf reassured me.


    Layla grumbled in the background, gazing away from us. Cora hugged me tightly from the side. Her clinginess didn¡¯t bother Fenris since my hand gripped his. Part of me wanted to tell him everything I had witnessed and how much I loved him.


    The desire to do so was overwhelming, yet I couldn¡¯t. He probably would¡¯ve thought I was delusional if I had done so. These feelings were forbidden, no matter how much I wanted to kiss him at that moment.


    I had to suppress them, trying to stay in control. It wasn¡¯t long, though, until Fenris had enough of Cora smothering me with her bosom, swiftly dragging her out of the room.


    "I¡¯ll come back to you, my love!" Cora swore before the door closed behind her.


    When the silver wolf returned to me, he glanced toward Layla, the only one left. She didn¡¯t appear like she was leaving soon. Releasing a sigh, he turned back towards me, sitting beside me again.


    He spent the rest of the day with me, all while his fianc¨¦e glared at us from the bed. She couldn¡¯t say a thing to complain about it. I was his charge, making it his duty to ensure I was okay. Closing my eyes, I lay down, trying to make sense of everything that was happening.


    I drifted off, only to be jolted awake again by a banging sound from the door.


    So... much for peace...

 Chapter 36: Unwelcomed Company…

    Layla wasted little time answering the door, revealing Liam, Ezra, Owen, and a girl I had seen only once before, Kira. Fenris watched in disbelief when they waltzed in with sleeping bags in hand, ready for a sleepover slumber party for more than just a day.


    ¡°What the fuck are you guys doing here?¡± My wolf questioned, eyes twitching.


    "I invited them over to stay with us! That way, it¡¯ll be a party!" Layla announced happily, shaking her hips and tail.


    Fenris stared at her, brows raised, eyes scrunched up. "And for how long?"


    Ezra threw his arm around him. "Until the lockdown¡¯s over! We have nothing to do but bond, and Owen brought the good booze! It¡¯ll give us, Lycans, a good buzz!"


    Fenris took his arm off himself, huffing. "I don¡¯t think this is good right now." He glanced towards me.


    From the look of his eyes, I could tell he was worried about how I¡¯d react to others in the room. I felt like a fish out of water, but seeing his friends again filled me with joy; remembering the old times warmed me unsuspectedly. In response to my wolf¡¯s worries, I smiled at him, triggering him to sigh.


    For his sake, I¡¯d bear anything, though he probably wanted me to say something against it. Our little encounter in the bathroom wasn¡¯t enough.


    "No, it¡¯ll be perfect!" Kira announced, grabbing onto Liam, who slightly shrugged her off him.


    He appeared as uncomfortable as Fenris when Layla was all over him. Kira was an identical clone to Layla, personality-wise, perhaps with some different quirks, like she was more vocal and confronting. They were sisters, too, sharing that fabulous winter white hair.


    When her sister noticed me in the bed, she smiled to greet me, but it wasn¡¯t friendly. Her gesture sent shivers down my spine, alerting me that I wasn¡¯t wanted there, even though this was my room. After fixing their things, Layla and Fenris argued again over where he would sleep.


    He wasn¡¯t budging on sleeping with her instead of me. Especially now that there were more bodies to keep away from me. Drunken Lycans were the same idiots as humans or any race, even if it was more difficult for them to get intoxicated.


    The sleeping arrangements finished with Kira and Layla sleeping on Fenris''s bed while the boys used the sleeping bags they brought on the surrounding floor. Fenris would sleep with me until they all left, even though Layla wasn¡¯t happy.


    After they had settled everything, the wolves spoke about the moon festival that was coming up.


    Most of it was gossip.


    They didn¡¯t let outsiders like me know much about what happened on it, so the details were vague, like what they would wear or do during it. Most of the day, the girls gossiped with the boys about silly things.


    Fenris stayed beside me on the bed, unwilling to leave me for a moment. There was no point in trying to rest with the loud chatter in the room, so I wrote about the erratic dream instead. Shade rested on my side, away from all the intruders, too.


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    Fenris''s eyes followed my pen, reading what I wrote. I never intended to hide anything from him about the dream, but it was impossible to tell him about it with everyone surrounding us. It wasn¡¯t the first time I did this; it was better than explaining my emotions through words.


    Everyone else thought I was writing a spell I had learned, but Fenris knew I had never done that in my fake grimoire. I predominantly filled it with recounts of nightmares and drawings. It was a diary of sorts that I shared with him.


    When I finished writing, my gaze shifted towards him, spotting a seemingly conflicted expression about what I had written. However, he tried to hide it since discussing it with everyone in the room was impossible.


    Noticing how I had his full attention, I wrote to him something I had wanted to say for the longest time. They were simple words I had wanted to speak since he hauled me out of that alleyway into the sunlight.


    My heart pounded loudly, writing the words he would never let me say.


    I love y ¡ª Before I could finish the sentence, Fenris grabbed my hand, preventing me from completing it.


    A hollowness formed in my chest, feeling my heart sink.


    I¡­ just¡­


    Releasing a sigh, he grabbed my pencil, writing something next to my unfinished phrase.


    Not ye¡ª


    "Man! Fenris, you¡¯re marrying the best girl!" Ezra yelled from the other side of the room, startling both of us.


    Letting go of the pencil, he glanced towards the wolves. "Hah... I guess.¡±


    Layla smirked, covering her mouth with her hands.


    "He doesn¡¯t treat me like one, though!" she complained to the boys.


    Oh... So, this is what she¡¯s after. To peer pressure Fenris into doing her bidding.


    "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about," My wolf growled.


    In an assist, Kira glanced towards me, pointing my way. "You¡¯re always putting your charge before everything! You don¡¯t even take Layla out on dates or anything!"


    Fenris shook his head, rolling his eyes. The sudden change in atmosphere caused the other boys to appear unwilling to join the conversation. If their lunch chat was anything to go by, they couldn¡¯t care less if Fenris wasn¡¯t paying attention to Layla.


    If only she knew his friends wanted him to pay attention elsewhere before tying the knot, I¡¯d imagine she¡¯d blow her top.


    "A charge is the most important thing to a Lycan. But you know that Layla, don¡¯t you?" Liam defended Fenris, who appeared to relax upon hearing his friend.


    The brown wolf was the only one of the three friends I saw constantly by his side. Part of me wondered if he knew everything about me or if he was like the rest, ignorant that I was a danger to everyone.


    Liam came from Fenris''s line of wolves despite not having the same coat color. However, like my wolf, he lost his parents that same day. Ezra and Owen lost family members that day but weren¡¯t as sharp as the brown wolf.


    The way he avoided my gaze made me believe he knew more than what he let on.


    "Yeah, see? It¡¯s common sense." Fenris agreed with his friend, who smiled at him, wagging his tail.


    "How about we speak about something else?!" Owen suggested, attempting to change the conversation.


    Kira was displeased by that answer, continuing to push the idea that perhaps she had too much booze. "Still, putting a witch over your fianc¨¦e is wrong."


    It rubbed me the wrong way.


    A witch, is that all I am? Of course, it¡¯s all I will ever be for you, wolves.


    Shade climbed up to my shoulder, feeling the tug of my emotions. I closed the book and got up from my bed.


    First Ryker, then Layla, and now this girl, Kira¡­


    They were all judging me, prompting me to feel hollow inside.


    Even my kind can¡¯t stand me. I don¡¯t belong anywhere in this world.


    Slowly, I was tired of their scorn for me, especially after what happened to Lilith''s family in my dream.


    If that dream is true¡­ It¡¯s all your fault the gate was opened in the first place.


    I had to leave the space for fresh air before losing control.


    But before that¡­ I¡¯m done with being nice.


    Fenris appeared to be about to say something to her when I stepped in.


    "I¡¯m sorry I was born. Is that what you want from me?" I scowled, feeling something new.


    This wasn¡¯t the usual annoyance I would feel when something went wrong. No, this was different, yet it caught everyone off guard. Typically, I would be submissive and let anyone say as they pleased.


    But the entire event with the other, Lilith, shook me to my core.


    Why must the cycle of hate continue even now? I don¡¯t understand¡­

 Chapter 37: Liam…

    "I... I didn¡¯t..." Kira tried to defend herself after I placed her in the spotlight.


    The rest of the wolves were with their eyes open wide, too astonished to respond. Even Fenris appeared surprised by my outburst. I guess the true me was finally shining through.


    Turning to my wolf, I simpered. "I think I¡¯ll get something to eat in the store downstairs. If you¡¯ll excuse me.¡±


    I headed for the door, followed by him grabbing my hand and stopping me from going.


    "You just fainted a couple of hours ago. I¡¯ll go with you." He sighed, shaking his head.


    Are you trying to worm yourself away from your kin?


    In all honesty, I wanted to get away from him, too. He would never let me say how I felt about him, turning my heart heavy around him and his future family, a household I would be no part of.


    This isn¡¯t good. I want more.


    "I¡¯ll be okay. I¡¯m just going to go downstairs for bread. Would you like some?" I smiled for Fenris''s eyes to narrow, releasing a soft growl from his lips.


    He touched my head and gently stroked my hair before a soft smile rose on his lips. "Bring me a coconut one."


    I nodded.


    "Well, if we¡¯re ordering, I want a strawberry loaf." Liam broke the ice that was forming between everyone.


    The other boys followed suit, each placing their orders. Layla and Kira both remained silent on the matter. After writing everything they wanted, I ended up with a list of items more extensive than I expected.


    Do I even have enough hands to grab all this?


    I¡¯ll help you! Shade purred, rubbing her face on my cheek.


    After the door closed behind me, I walked only a couple of steps before someone yanked me to the side. For a split second, I thought it was Cora coming back for a second round, but it wasn¡¯t. It was a female black-haired Lycan who was jittery and avoiding my gaze.


    I¡¯ve never seen you before.


    Unable to identify her, I couldn¡¯t help but stare at her bewildered while she took a few steps away from me, fumbling about with her words.


    "I¡¯m so sorry! I-I just... Y-You came out of t-that room, right?" she bowed, pointing towards the door.


    It was cute despite her erratic reactions. Her cheeks were redder than a tomato, too.


    "Yes, did you need something?" I asked, puzzled by her strange demeanor.


    Usually, Lycan¡¯s were headstrong and combative, but this one was different. I couldn¡¯t sense a single hateful thing about her, even though it was how everyone usually greeted me. However, when I examined her further, something more concerning caught my eye.


    Something weird was coming from her; a faint black aura radiated from her body.


    A curse?


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    She didn¡¯t seem to be part of Cerberus, either. There was no uniform or emblem to identify her, meaning she was probably a civilian.


    That¡¯s right, they were planning to evacuate civilians into Cerberus headquarters grounds. But are they inside, too?


    "Uh... Y-Yes, could you please give this to Liam?! It¡¯s a thank you present for saving me." she blurted, presenting me with a beautifully covered box.


    Did you do this?


    The box''s red base was decorated with vibrant ribbons, leaving me pondering if this was a piece of art. The contents wouldn¡¯t matter with this presentation.


    "I see... Isn''t it better that you give it to him yourself?" I asked.


    My words triggered a sort of meltdown on the poor girl. Never had I seen a Lycan tremble like her; her eyes and pupils were so wide I wondered if I had a demon-looking beast behind me.


    "N-no! I couldn¡¯t possibly do that! That would be too much!" she ranted, squealing when the thought surged.


    Suddenly, her eyes grew, and she handed me the box before bolting for her life. It was almost like she saw a ghost.


    "Wait! Who...?" I trailed off.


    The entire thing left me utterly bewildered by the strange female. Her figure disappeared into the distance.


    What a strange wolf¡­


    Yeah, she seemed off, though. Shade shrugged.


    I felt a presence behind me, triggering me to turn around. There, I saw Liam staring at me.


    "Oh!" I squealed, startled by his sudden appearance.


    My heart almost left me for a second there.


    "Hey, Fenris asked me to come to help you with the shopping. I didn¡¯t expect to see Melody, though. What did she want?" he asked.


    Oh! I see, that¡¯s why she ran! What a silly girl.


    I giggled, realizing what had unfolded in front of me. The strange female was Melody.


    Ah... I see. So that¡¯s how it is. Pure love is cuter than I realize.


    It was refreshing to see what an ordinary admiration was.


    Nothing like my obsession.


    "She wanted to thank you for saving her with this." I presented him with the box.


    His eyes widened, tilting his head.


    "Ah... Why didn¡¯t she give it to me instead?" Liam queried.


    I shook my head, "I don¡¯t know."


    It wasn¡¯t my place to step into their relationship. However, I did root for the shy female, better than Kira. The white wolf appeared like a leech hanging over him, not that it was my place to judge.


    "Oh... I don¡¯t even know why she gave me this. She was the one who saved me that night." He created banter, walking towards the bakery downstairs.


    It was refreshing to have him address me so directly. Usually, he would be so silent around me; we had never been alone.


    "Maybe she perceived it differently," I noted.


    Liam shook his head, gazing at me differently, cheeks puffed up.


    "It¡¯s hard to see it differently. She pushed me down before those knives hit me. I didn¡¯t see them, but somehow, she did.¡± He sighed, shrugging, ¡°I panicked when I thought they cut her, but they only sliced through her dress."


    His words piqued my interest.


    "Oh... Did you see the liquid in the blades?" I inquired.


    He nodded his head, holding the precious box in his hands.


    "Yeah, they were radiant purple. Just by looking at them, I felt sick. Melody seemed unaffected by them, though. She dragged me out of the bakery even though she isn¡¯t a fighter." He sighed, frowning.


    Lycans and their pride, but I guess it must¡¯ve been a sight to see this cool-headed wolf lose his marbles.


    Yet blades...


    Radiant purple... It must be Wolfsbane. But how? Ryker said it wasn¡¯t, though. Could he be lying to prevent chaos? Or is this something else? Modifications¡­?


    Shaking off the thought, I glanced toward the brown wolf, hoping to squeeze any information out.


    "I guess she was more worried about you than herself," I said.


    He chuckled, "Hah, you think so?¡±


    A soft smile rose on the wolf¡¯s lips with light pink cheeks.


    "Call it an intuition," I assured him.


    "Oh? Is it the famously known woman''s intuition I keep hearing about? I wonder, is it the same intuition I have when I see you and Fenris?" Liam questioned, triggering me to stop in my tracks.


    My body ran cold when I hesitantly glanced over at him. He met with my gaze, triggering shivers to erupt within me.


    Crap, I got careless.


    At the moment''s spur, I forgot who I was trying to open to.


    Liam the cunning.


    "I-I¡­ don¡¯t k-know what y-you mean." I tried to keep my cool.


    My body broke into a cold sweat when Liam continued.


    "Fenris never said anything to me, which hurts. But it became clear after he slipped up when Cora took you. The anger on his face was much more than wanting to protect you." He noted, studying me.


    I froze again because of his words.


    Is this why you agreed to come? Was all that friendly demeanor to create chatter to lower my guard?


    I didn¡¯t know how to respond to him anymore. Yet this wolf had me right where he wanted me.

 Chapter 38: Liam’s Melody…

    Staring at what appeared to be a hungry wolf, I couldn¡¯t help but avoid Liam¡¯s gaze.


    I¡­ have to say something, but¡ª


    "I-I..." I started, yet the words refused to form.


    If you know about us, then¡­ Surely you must know about¡­


    Liam shrugged, scuffling my hair. "Don¡¯t worry. I would never do anything to hurt you or Fen. You¡¯ve both been through enough."


    Don¡¯t you blame me for what happened to your family and friends?


    "Fenris told you?" I questioned, glancing towards the floor, unable to face him anymore.


    How would you look at me? With Scorn? Anger?


    I didn¡¯t want to know.


    "No, they let me keep my memories. I¡¯m supposed to be Fenris''s right hand when he becomes the alpha. So, I know everything." Liam answered, leaving little doubt behind his words.


    "I see. Liam, I¡¯m..." Before I could finish, Liam suddenly tugged me towards a lounge in a nearby solitary area.


    No one was there, and we were away from prying eyes and ears.


    Grabbing onto my cheeks, he tugged me to face him. "Oi, sweetheart, don¡¯t be. It wasn¡¯t your fault. Honestly, I don¡¯t know all the details of what happened to you, but I know enough to know that no child... No child or adult deserves what you¡¯ve been through.¡±


    Huh?


    His words couldn¡¯t be true.


    ¡°I like to put myself in people''s shoes before I judge. Honestly, I would¡¯ve destroyed this bloody world if I were you. Yet you resisted the urge to.¡± He simpered, gazing at me with an affection of sorts.


    I could only stare at him with my eyes wide open.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know how to say this to you. So, I avoided it. But... After hearing, you say you were sorry for being born. I want you to know I¡¯m thankful for everything you did and for saving so many with¡ª" he stopped when tears trailed down my cheeks.


    Ben and Fenris said something like me before, but I never thought someone else would say that. I couldn¡¯t even find it in me to hide the tears, even though my bracelets were supposed to keep me from feeling negative emotions.


    Yet I...


    "Hey, I... don¡¯t cry. Fuck, Fen will murder me if you look like that." Liam sighed, gazing towards the side.


    I was bawling my eyes out, unable to control it.


    "I can¡¯t help it." I sobbed.


    Before I knew it, I was in his arms, gripping my tiny body against his. Gripping onto his shirt, I cried on him.


    "Geez, Lilith, I¡¯m sorry for everything you¡¯ve been through. I¡¯m also sorry it took me this long to say anything." His voice shook.


    The emotions surging through me were so different from the usual sorrow.


    Yes¡­ this is so different.


    It was like I felt a weight being lifted from my shoulders. Shade purred, rubbing onto Liam¡¯s cheek, much to my surprise. Yet another Lycan was opening my closed heart to the world. Unable to stop, I cried for a while on him.


    Liam tried his best to comfort me with little success. However, when the phone rang, he became alarmed when he saw the name of the person calling. My beloved wolf was checking on why we were taking so long.


    It prompted Liam to gesture to be quieter gently, trying to devise an excuse. He quickly flinched at the tone Fenris used against him, though. I couldn¡¯t hear what he said, but the brown wolf was sweating bullets.


    "The pieces of bread are being made!" he lied, biting his lip soon after.


    Luckily, my wolf bought his excuse. After hanging up, Liam appeared to be in a crisis, eyes twitching.


    "There better be fresh bread, or I¡¯m fucking dead!" He mumbled, glancing towards the door to the lounge we were in.


    Seeing him flustered made me giggle, prompting his amber eyes to fall on me. There, a soft smile rose on his lips. After waiting a couple more minutes to calm me, he led me out of the room we hid in.


    Finally arriving at the shop, Liam begged the owner for fresh bread even though he was closing. While we waited, he bought me a pack of ice to place on my eyes. It was to quell the swelling that rose from my crying.


    I created some chatter to calm the apparent jitters the call had left him.


    "So, when did you meet Melody?" I asked, trying to be friendly.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    My question caused the wolf to freeze before shaking his head. His mind probably was still on Fenris, which could explain why he appeared to be a fish out of water.


    "What? Oh... I met her about seven years ago. Her baking attracted me to her shop. I¡¯ll have you know that sweets are my guilty pleasure.¡± He found his voice, smiling.


    Ah¡­ You¡¯re fond of that memory, aren¡¯t you?


    ¡°When I first saw her, she worked with her grandmother at their shop. They brought out the biggest and most beautiful cake I¡¯ve ever seen." Liam recounted, shifting his orbs towards me.


    There had to be more, but I wouldn¡¯t pry myself into his cherished memory.


    "Was she here for..." I trailed off, not wanting to finish, fearing the answer he would give.


    "No, they came after. However, the explosions destroyed part of their bakery. Mel''s grandmother was in there. Sadly, she didn¡¯t make it." Liam stopped, biting his lip.


    Oh¡­


    "Ah... Did she suffer?" I continued to query, not knowing if it was too much.


    Social interactions weren¡¯t my thing, but I felt comfortable with him.


    "I don¡¯t know. When I found Melody, she was holding her grandmother''s body in her arms. That was when she jumped in between me and the blades." He informed me, shrugging.


    Melody was fearless.


    Can I be like her?


    "Ah... So, you weren¡¯t in the bakery when it started?" I continued.


    He shook his head. "No, I was back at Cerberus. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever run so fast in my life. Even though my senses were a mess, I had to make it there. There was no way I¡¯d leave Melody alone in that mess."


    So, even Liam can act rationally.


    Standing up from the bench we sat on, he grabbed a lollipop from the counter.


    "She seems like a lovely girl." I smiled.


    He turned towards me, responding with the same yet brighter smile.


    Wait¡­ You¡­


    "Hah... Melody¡¯s something special." Liam chuckled.


    His expression was so gentle when he thought of her.


    I wish Fenris would look the same for me.


    Aches in my chest began to arise, making me clasp onto my dress.


    "Oh, she is?" I mumbled.


    "Oh, shut up." He shot back, cheeks rosy.


    Damn¡­ I¡­


    My gaze shot downward to the tiles on the floor.


    I crossed a line I shouldn¡¯t have.


    "Sorry," I whispered.


    His words showed no anger, but I didn¡¯t expect that reaction.


    "No... I didn¡¯t... Arg... Melody can¡¯t shift into her beast ever since she was born." Liam blurted, trying to change the subject.


    I glanced at him again, noticing how red his cheeks had gotten.


    Oh? I didn¡¯t mess it up.


    "I see," I mumbled, trying not to pry further.


    The last thing I wanted was for him to hate me for being too nosey.


    "Yeah, no doctor can figure out why, and they labeled her a runt because of it." He continued.


    A runt was a Lycan who couldn¡¯t shift into its wolf form. Essentially, they were cut off from their other self, dulling their senses compared to a functional wolf. That could¡¯ve explained why Melody stayed calm despite all the explosions.


    Much like my subrace, her condition was looked down upon.


    To not be able to shift means one is cripple as a Lycan.


    "That¡¯s harsh," I whispered, not liking that Melody was going through something like me.


    Unlike me, she killed no one, making everything that headed her way undeserving.


    Liam nodded, "Yeah, it doesn¡¯t bother or stop her from being reckless. She keeps smiling, no matter what anyone says. Even when she hurts..." he trailed off, sitting next to me once again.


    It didn¡¯t take an empath to know the brown wolf was worried sick about her. From how he carefully grabbed the box to the frown on his lips, it screamed all I needed to know.


    When I first saw Melody... The black aura radiated from her. Could it have caused her shift problems rather than a defect?


    "Did she ever see a witch?" I asked, turning to face him.


    A witch/warlock could¡¯ve told her if she was cursed. Well, if they wanted to help Melody. But¡­


    Lycans and witchcraft users didn¡¯t like each other. They could quickly identify any medical reasons that caused a Lycan to be a runt with testing.


    Something isn¡¯t, right?


    "Yeah, she has been to every type of doctor," he answered.


    His words caused me to shake my head, narrowing my eyes.


    Figures they wouldn¡¯t help each other.


    I had seen cursed items in Ryker''s office the few times Fenris had to take me to talk to that elf. They had the same aura, although most of them had some cracks, unlike hers.


    There were no weak points in her curse. Just how¡­


    "I see... Will you believe me if I tell you?" I mumbled.


    His glance met mine, "On?" he tilted his head.


    I pointed towards my eyes. "What I see.¡±.


    His brows lifted, and his eyes widened, biting his lip. For a moment, he studied me, yet I didn¡¯t tug away from facing him.


    A soft smile rose on his lips, "And what did you see?"


    "She¡¯s cursed." I declared, glancing towards the baker who had come out of his kitchen.


    He had come out to grab a couple of ingredients before going back in. It somewhat startled me.


    "What?" Liam mumbled.


    His words caused me to gaze back at him.


    "Melody has a black aura radiating from her. I¡¯m no expert, and I¡¯ve only seen that once in Ryker''s office. There¡¯s a cursed item that reminds me of her in there. It may be what¡¯s keeping her from shifting.¡± I informed, shifting my glance to my hands. ¡°But it has no cracks. So, I don¡¯t¡­"


    "What are you talking about? Cracks?" Liam continued to try to keep up with me.


    Magic wasn¡¯t something Lycans knew much about. Even if they were trained in Latin to know witchcraft spells, they knew nothing about what made them tick.


    A soft hum left my lips; shaking my head, "My bond with the... You know, it allows me to see special things. Usually, in magical spells, I can see cracks or weak points within; if I concentrate, I can dispel them. Curses aren¡¯t any different."


    It triggered him suddenly to grab onto my hand. His eyes were full of life, almost sparkling.


    "Then, can you help her?" Liam asked, tightening his grip on me.


    Help? I¡­ No, I can¡¯t!


    It would be better for him to find a more stable witch to help Melody.


    "I don¡¯t trust myself enough even to try. Especially for a spell strong enough to have no cracks. I could end up hurting her instead." I tugged away from him, planting my eyes on the floor.


    I had no confidence in my ability to help her or anyone else. If it were an object perhaps, but a person I¡­ Shivers ran down my spine just with the simple thought of it.


    "Ah... I see. I won¡¯t push you to do something you aren¡¯t comfortable doing. Well, thank you for letting me know." Liam sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why the others said it wasn¡¯t a curse.¡±


    The baker finally came out of his kitchen, hands full of goodies.


    "Sorry... we can be resentful," I whispered low enough for him to hear.


    Standing up, we paid for our items and left the shop. On the way back to the room, Liam took a few steps ahead of me, turned towards me, and smiled.


    "Lilith... You put yourself down too much. I think you¡¯ll be a witch that witches will bow to one day." He assured me.


    My heart lifted momentarily before I shook my head, crashing back into reality.


    That¡¯s impossible.


    I like him. Shade commented, causing me to giggle.


    The people I was around shone a light on places I thought would never reach. Perhaps there was more to this world than Fenris and Ben.


    "Liam, I think that would be a pleasant dream." I smiled back at him.


    A hopeful dream indeed.

 Chapter 39: Trouble…

    When we returned to the room, Fenris''s eyes landed on me from the moment we entered, instantly grabbing me by my chin to inspect my face. Liam caught on quickly to his alpha''s demeanor, stiffening up when he studied me.


    Even though the ice had helped calm the inflammation my crying caused, this wolf knew every detail about me. If anything were off, he would notice where anyone else would¡¯ve passed it by.


    Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, hearing Fenris growl under his breath. He stepped away from me before glaring at Liam, who appeared ready to bolt. Before he could approach the brown wolf, I grabbed his hand, turning it to his palm and writing words.


    The girls and other boys entertained themselves with a card game to notice us.


    I¡¯m fine, I wrote.


    But my silver wolf eyes narrowed, alerting me he didn¡¯t believe me. A soft sigh left my lips, continuing to trace his palm with my fingertips.


    Liam was kind to me. Kinder than the others. However, my attempts to save the brown wolf failed.


    Fenris dragged him outside, either way, leaving me in defeat. I headed to bed before spotting something troublesome.


    Crap, I forgot my grimoire here?


    In my hurry to escape this room, I forgot the most important book a witch could ever possess.


    What a joke.


    Luckily, the others hadn¡¯t noticed, thanks to their game. Fenris wouldn¡¯t have allowed them to peek in it, either. Grabbing onto it, I turned the pages to where I wrote about Lilith''s dream. Something had been added to my unfinished sentence in Fenris''s handwriting there.


    Not yet. Not like this.


    I stared at his handwriting, munching on the bread we bought.


    What do you mean by that? Not yet? Not like this? Then when? When can I tell you how I feel? Once you marry? That¡­ isn¡¯t fair, you know?!


    Not wanting to think anymore, I turned the page, drawing the newest Lycan I saw, Melody. She was another beautiful wolf. Her amber eyes were a shared trait in her kin, but on her, with that silky black hair.


    It matches her so perfectly. Liam, you¡¯re a lucky boy.


    Her curves and other features were well outlined with her adorable dress. It wasn¡¯t revealing or anything. But her bosom was ample enough to be noticed through her beautiful pink dress.


    Melody is a gorgeous flower.


    There was no other way to describe her. In contrast, I was the complete opposite. My bosom was carved into, leaving behind an abomination in its place. My face and hands were probably the one thing that didn¡¯t seem out of place as long as I hid the rest.


    I don¡¯t know what Fenris sees in me.


    These magnificent female Lycans surrounded Fenris while I had nothing to offer him. What Ryker said about why Fenris held me had to be true.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    How can my body attract anyone?


    I couldn¡¯t figure out what anyone could see in me, especially Fenris, the typical top dog around and the future alpha of Silverant. He probably felt relief at not having to hold me while his friends were around. Perhaps he didn¡¯t embrace Layla because he was waiting for marriage to produce an heir.


    Or maybe he didn¡¯t sleep with anyone else because he didn¡¯t want to transmit any diseases to his charge.


    Protecting me is your duty. It¡¯s all we are.


    Before I knew it, I had finished a rough draft of Melody''s sketch when Fenris and Liam entered the room. The brown wolf appeared like a boulder lifted from him. I didn¡¯t know what they discussed, but it probably related to why I cried.


    Has Fenris sworn Liam into secrecy?


    The failure of my bracelet was apparent, though only a selected few knew about it. From my understanding, the only ones who knew were Ryker, Fenris, Ben, and Tania, but it probably included all the other council members.


    I¡¯ve never met them, but¡­


    Ryker was the proxy for the sun elves, and Ben was the Lycans'' proxy for outside council matters. They kept the actual council members in secrecy. Each one probably represented the races of this world: Lycans, vampires, humans, and the subspecies of elves.


    Elves had five subspecies: sun, moon, ocean, blaze, and nature, making them the majority. The sun represented light magic at the top of elven society. Moon elves were controversial, just like witches with their dark magic. Ocean ones had ice and water magic at their disposal, while blazes controlled fire and wind.


    Nature elves were blessed with earth magic, allowing them to grow plants from nothing. It was nothing compared to what I did to make the plants come back to life. I would have to make some sacrifices for that.


    Usually, my blood was enough, but these elves did it without expense.


    I envy them.


    All the elven magic was beautiful, unlike witchcraft. Ryker was a clear representation of how sun elves behaved. Nature elves and Ocean ones appeared to want nothing but peace and were a bit free-spirited.


    Elven cities had the most impressive sights to witness. Everyone who went to visit them said that they were almost fantasy-like. Their most prominent sights were the fairies that lived there in harmony.


    Fire elves were as hot-headed as Lycans with their volcanic lands, while the moon elves were unpredictable, hiding within enchanted forests. However, no matter what personality traits they had. Each had a place in the council, and their individual qualities made them different.


    Humans were restricted in their chairs with their subspecies of witches and warlocks. In this council, only humans not influenced by magic had a voice. They wouldn¡¯t allow any witchcraft users to know about me.


    In their eyes, we were a race that couldn¡¯t be trusted.


    It¡¯s not like we didn¡¯t give them plenty of reasons.


    The Lycans drank and had fun with their games while I tried to keep to myself. Fenris always stayed near me, even when Ezra forced drinks on him. It was the first time I had ever seen him indulge in alcohol.


    It was hours before the wolves felt tired, leading them to prepare their beds for the night. Seeing how things were winding down, I turned on the aromatherapy humidifier Tania gave me.


    It was an old thing she gifted me when she was teaching me how to control myself before she left to travel the world searching for clues about where the sisters may reside. When she gave it to me, she said it would help me sleep better, and it was true. The scent of lavender always made me feel at ease.


    Ever since my nightmares quieted a bit, it was the reason the room always smelled of flowers, too. A scent Fenris became accustomed to from the years of use. Even when he held me at night, he always waited for me to turn it on, or he would do it himself if his touch made me forget.


    Either way, it was part of my nocturnal ritual. However, when I turned it on, Kira growled and covered her nose.


    "Stop that. I can¡¯t sleep with that overwhelming scent and noise." The white wolf complained, slanting her ears back.


    The machine made a soft spraying noise, but it was relaxing for me. Fenris never mentioned anything about it, even when I first got it. The scent I had picked was soothing for Lycans, leaving me clueless about why it bothered her.


    "Kira, I welcome you to sleep outside. Lilith can¡¯t rest without it." Fenris growled at her before I could say anything to defend myself.


    "We aren¡¯t exactly in any position to complain. Plus, the scent¡¯s pretty pleasant to me." Liam added, leaving, gazing at the brown wolf, who gave me a soft smile.


    The other two boys also remarked on similar sentiments. The alcohol they drank wasn¡¯t helping when Kira¡¯s eyes twitched, flashing her fangs. Nothing good ever came from drunk, rage-fueled bravado, and this wolf wasn¡¯t ready to back down.

 Chapter 40: Wait!

    The atmosphere turned heavy, prompting me to fiddle with Shade¡¯s fur.


    "No! I won¡¯t sleep on the floor outside! Just turn it off! A few days without it won¡¯t kill you!" Kira glared at me.


    Much to Fenris''s annoyance, a soft sigh left my lips, turning the device off. A slight growl left him, triggering me to smile, trying to let him know it was okay, but to him, it wasn¡¯t.


    "Lilith, this is your room. She shouldn¡¯t have a say in the matter." He argued.


    I shook my head, desiring no more drama for today.


    "It¡¯s fine. She¡¯s right. A few days won¡¯t kill me." I assured him.


    I didn¡¯t want the wolf to go ballistic over me to keep it on. Kira scuffed before dropping on the bed, where Layla had been asleep for a while, probably after too many drinks. It was perhaps one of the hardest nights I experienced falling asleep.


    I was so used to having the incense, leaving me feeling odd without it, and being surrounded by wolves surely didn¡¯t help. The fact I was lacking in my comforts, such as Fenris''s personal touch, wasn¡¯t good either.


    Every attempt to sleep ended with no results. Not even Shade¡¯s purring ball next to me helped. However, once the rest of the invading Lycans were deeply asleep. My wolf grabbed me from behind, tugging me into his arms for a simple embrace.


    We couldn¡¯t do much without disturbing the other wolves, but he held me tightly against him, allowing his warmth to radiate into me. His tail rested on my hip, leaving me warmer than usual. Shifting my gaze towards him, I turned to see those vibrant amber eyes watching me.


    A soft smile rose on my lips, triggering him to lean into me, brushing his lips lightly against mine. It was the lightest kiss I had with him in years. When we tugged away from the sweet moment, I snuggled into his chest, finding enough comfort to soothe my troubled soul.


    Luckily, that night, I had no nightmares, even though I lacked most of the comforts he had accustomed me to. The following day, Fenris was the first up when my eyes fluttered open because the ruckus from the other boys waking up got me up as well.


    They were making their way out of the room and into the public bathroom nearby. To my surprise, they wouldn¡¯t dare use a bathroom where a girl showered. The girls did the same, respecting my privacy.


    Although they waited for the boys to return before leaving me alone with Fenris, it was a simple and effective way to rob me of his attention. I had hoped to have a little bit of him when they decided to leave the room, but that wasn¡¯t in the cards they wanted me to play.


    I didn¡¯t know how much longer I could live without the silver wolf¡¯s personal touch.


    When my monthly lady event comes, it always leads to five days of nothing but cuddles.


    This was different; I wasn¡¯t in my menstrual cycle. An itch was starting to form differently from when I was too preoccupied with my bleeding hole.


    This is something new...


    When I finished my daily routine, I walked out of the room towards the library, which wasn¡¯t on high alert after my encounter with Lilith''s grimoire. However, my wolf told me I had to return to the room after I picked out what I wanted to read.


    Perhaps what I experienced that day was a dream. Nothing more...


    On the way to the library, Melody hauled me again to the side. This time, she ran away after handing me two beautiful boxes, one labeled for Liam and the other for you.


    You... Does she mean me? Is this a thank-you gift for handing one to Liam?


    Bewildered, I stared at where she once was.


    This wolf¡­ is odd.


    After finding the books, Cora saw me once again, but I excused myself to return to the room. I didn¡¯t want to anger Fenris by being late. Instead of letting me leave the room alone, she accompanied me to it before bidding farewell.


    I opened the door to see the boys speaking about girls once again. Layla and Kira weren¡¯t in there. However, they quickly stopped when I walked in, allowing their amber gaze to land on me.


    ¡°Liam¡­ I¡­¡± I trailed off, feeling a little startled once in the spotlight.


    The brown wolf was quick to stand and meet me by the door.


    "Another?" he asked, spotting the beautifully decorated box in my hand.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    I nodded, handing it to him before glancing at the box labeled you. Unlike me, the boys teased Liam over Melody, appearing familiar with her.


    Why choose me instead of them?


    I hesitated to open the box momentarily, sitting on my bed. Fenris joined me, prompting my glance to shift to him. There, I spotted a soft smile on his lips.


    "Open it. You¡¯ll probably be surprised by what¡¯s in it." He assured me.


    I squinted, unable to figure out why she gave me this.


    I didn¡¯t do anything to be grateful for.


    "You know her too?" I mumbled.


    Open it! Open it! It smells so good! Shade pawed my hands.


    The way her claws dug into the ribbon made me realize she wanted that more than anything else.


    "Yeah. I usually bring you sweets from her shop. Although Melody only has eyes for Liam." Fenris added to the teases of his friend.


    Liam told his friends to shut up like he did to me the day before.


    Ah... It¡¯s just a reaction.


    Their small banter caused me to giggle. A question arose in my head, glancing over to Fenris, who appeared to be having fun. The other boys seemed too busy with Liam when I whispered something to Fenris.


    "Who do I have eyes for?" I whispered, triggering his cheeks to turn into a shade of pink.


    I turned my glance back into the box with a small smile.


    So, you can even have those reactions too.


    Leaving the hesitation behind, I opened the box to reveal the most beautifully decorated, heart-shaped chocolate I had ever seen with gold flakes. The treat was almost too precious to eat. Fenris grabbed my hand as the girls came in, quickly quieting the teasing Liam was getting.


    However, Kira didn¡¯t appear happy about what she heard when she opened the door. The room was soundproof, thanks to a sigil Fenris placed when we moved in. It was to keep all matters in this room private, but it was another matter if they opened the door.


    Ignoring Kira''s complaints, Fenris traced his fingertips on my hand.


    For me. He wrote.


    I glanced at him, feeling butterflies in my stomach. With rosy cheeks, he avoided my gaze, taking a deep breath before tugging away from me.


    Ah¡­ you know how I feel; I don¡¯t have to say it.


    Yet I wanted to. Everyone who saw my gaze aimed at him knew how I felt.


    It¡¯s probably why Layla always gazes at me like I stole something from her.


    If only she knew what happened when she wasn¡¯t around.


    She¡¯ll hate me beyond belief.


    Hesitantly, I ate the chocolate, only to find myself in bliss. The raspberry filling hit all the right spots on my tongue. I had nothing as good as this¡ªat least in chocolate. Usually, Fenris would bring me cakes or other baked goods, but Melody''s chocolates were out of this world.


    I never knew that she was making my palate dance when Fenris brought me treats. She was beautiful and able to create the most delicious things.


    While my hands¡­


    The black wolf would fit Liam if she weren¡¯t cursed. Lycans who couldn¡¯t shift couldn¡¯t marry each other.


    All because of purity and keeping the bloodline going.


    Melody would do the same for the next three days without leaving me a chance to speak. On the fourth day, I had enough, nabbing her by her hand before she could run away. Even though she couldn¡¯t shift, she could run faster than most humans.


    The wolf could have torn my arm off if she wanted.


    "Wait!" I yelped before she could drag me along with her.


    It would be the first time I had raised my voice to someone I didn¡¯t know, and it wasn¡¯t out of anger. Stunned, Melody slowly shifted her gaze toward me, shaking where she stood.


    "I¡¯m sorry!" she apologized, bowing her head.


    "No! I... I... Thank you so much for the treats you¡¯ve been giving me. Also... My name isn¡¯t you... It¡¯s Lilith." I declared, holding onto her hand.


    Melody turned towards me before dragging me away from the doors that held Liam and into another hallway.


    "You... Lilith, don¡¯t thank me. I¡¯m just using you.¡± She mumbled, glancing towards the door before focusing back on me.


    Usually, people avoid runts like her, yet I¡­


    "You still gave me something so delicious. How can I not thank you?" I simpered.


    You¡¯re such a silly, sweet girl. Using me to deliver a tiny package to my room? Does that even count? You even gave me some.


    "Ah... I¡¯m glad you liked them. I didn¡¯t know what you liked. So, I just went with personal favorites." Melody smiled, fidgeting with her fingers.


    I shook my head. "I didn¡¯t like them.¡± I sighed, making her gaze at me wide-eyed. ¡°I loved them. Thank you so much." I thanked her again, smiling.


    Her tail wagged rapidly when a smile rose on her lips. It was too cute.


    "But... you really should be the one coming to give them to Liam," I added, causing her to become stiff as her cheeks turned rosy.


    "I-I would n-never..." Melody trailed off, holding onto her dress.


    I grabbed onto her hand before she could run away again.


    "Yes, you can. Come." I was bold for once.


    Perhaps it would work better for her than it ever did for me.


    "Wait!" She squealed, allowing me to lead her.


    Silly, if you don¡¯t want to, you can just run.


    "I¡¯ll be with you, and I promise you¡¯ll be fine." I chuckled, feeling something rise within me.


    One I hadn¡¯t quite felt before. This girl posed no danger to me. She also gazed at me as she did at anyone else. I was nothing more than an ordinary witch in her eyes. Even Shade had a positive feeling about Melody, jumping off me and onto her head.


    Knowing the little black cat, it was probably from all the treats Fenris brought to the room. There was no better way to win her over than sweets.


    "You aren¡¯t like other witches. Are you?" Melody commented, allowing me to tug her along to my room.


    "I try not to be," I whispered.


    With that, I held the black wolf¡¯s hand when she finally handed the gift directly to Liam. He appeared flustered by the entire event, too. However, his smile couldn¡¯t be more defined on his lips.


    Kira, though, sent death glares towards Melody, who, instead of feeling intimidated, shrugged them off without an issue.


    Her only weakness is Liam. How cute¡­


    I could feel her wanting to run away every time he addressed her, but since I held onto her, she didn¡¯t. No matter how embarrassing it was for her, her tail swayed happily. Liam invited her into the room, where she spent most of the time by my side instead of his.


    Although the brown wolf was always nearby, chattering with us the same as Fenris. The other boys joined, too. Most of them tried to make a move on beautiful Melody, who rejected them flat out.


    Ezra appeared seriously hurt, tumbling onto his sleeping bed to mope. Owen laughed at him, suffering inside from his rejection. Feeling comfortable leaving me with Melody alone, Fenris and the boys left the room to find us some food.


    I thought I would never experience this much fun again. The black wolf was opening a part of me I had long shut away.

 Chapter 41: A Glimmer...

    Layla wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything to me while the boys were out with Melody there. The last warning Fenris gave her was a fruitful one. Kira, on the other hand, I watched for. She wanted to eliminate the black wolf from the equation, who ignored her glares.


    Melody appeared stronger than I could ever be when dealing with her kind. However, the boys left to get food for us. The white wolf made her move.


    "Why are you here, runt?" Kira scoffed.


    Melody shrugged, "Lilith and Liam invited me in," she answered plainly and sternly without gazing toward her.


    "All is well, as long as you know your place. I hope you know that." The white wolf growled.


    "Hey, not here," Layla warned, clasping her shoulder.


    Instead of instigating it further, the black wolf turned to me, nabbing my fake grimoire and flipping through the pages before I could stop her.


    ¡°Wow, your drawings are wonderful, Lilith.¡± Melody complimented, leaving me wide-eyed, unsure of how to respond.


    ¡°Oh, my, this would look great in a movie!¡± She giggled at a drawing I had made about one of the shadow beasts who had erupted from me the day of the fall.


    Again, I didn¡¯t know what to say. She wasn¡¯t reading anything, so passing through the pages wasn''t harmful. Eventually, she reached the page where I had drawn her.


    "I think you see me as a holy maiden. I¡¯m not." Melody giggled, tracing her fingertips through the page.


    Something about her touched me in ways I thought weren¡¯t possible. I could see why she enchanted Liam. When the boys returned, Melody spent hours speaking to us about her new job in the bakery within the building.


    Like every other Lycan, she was pulled into the vicinity of Cerberus for their protection. This meant she didn¡¯t know when she could get her shop rebuilt. When it was time for her to leave, I was sad to see her go.


    It was a first for me. I rarely cared about people, but I longed to look towards the door where she once was.


    What¡¯s this feeling?


    It was a different type of warmth that Fenris didn¡¯t provide me with. Noticing my weird demeanor, he sat down next to me.


    "Missing her already?" he asked.


    "I... don¡¯t know," I replied, picking up the book of awful memories that Melody called alluring.


    She didn¡¯t know what she was saying, but still¡­ I¡­


    "I think you¡¯ll become good friends," Fenris smiled.


    I placed the book on my nightstand, taking a glance at him.


    "I don¡¯t think I deserve that," I whispered, triggering the silver wolf to sigh.


    "Lilith, you deserve that and more." He nudged me


    Melody wasn¡¯t like Cora, who irritated him. He knew her at about the same time as Liam did. Perhaps that was why he trusted her more than the vampire.


    A better first impression?


    Hey! Don¡¯t forget I¡¯m the first friend you made! Shade jumped onto my lap.


    I picked her up, snuggling her.


    "No... you¡¯re family." I corrected.


    She purred in return, rubbing her little cheek on mine. That night, I had a wonderful dream. One where I was outside in the meadow with all the people who made me feel whole. It was one I didn¡¯t want to wake from.


    However, morning came, and so did another visit from Melody. However, after handing Liam another gift this time, she took my hand, tugging me along to Fenris. Her ears slanted down, leaving me pondering if he intimidated her.


    She stared at him momentarily, asking, ¡°May I take Lilith out?¡±


    A soft smile rose on my wolf¡¯s lips, taking out his phone. ¡°Only if you exchange numbers with me and answer every one of my calls.¡±


    I felt like a child going on a play date for a second.


    ¡°Yes, sir! I¡¯ll ensure she is home before nightfall!¡± Melody agreed.


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    Before I knew it, I found myself downstairs at the bakery shop where she worked. She asked the owner if I could come with her to see her back and help her.


    ¡°Wait, Melody, I can¡¯t cook,¡± I mumbled, making her smile.


    ¡°Of course you can! Come on!¡± She beamed, tugging me along.


    I had never done anything like that, but instead of finding it annoying, she focused on teaching me. Although it was a mess, Shade even received a scolding from the owner. Even so, it was fun.


    Seeing Melody work and fix my mistakes was something I thought I would never experience. Somehow, I didn¡¯t delay all her work, even with all my mistakes. Her passion for her work was admirable, and she fascinated me.


    She handed me another egg with each mistake and said, ¡°Again!¡± while giggling.


    After a few hours in there, flour and dough covered my clothes. Even Shade needed a shower after this, and all she was doing was sitting there watching us work. Melody appeared to be having the most fun, laughing at anything I did.


    It didn¡¯t feel bad to be tittered at by her, though.


    Seeing her enjoy her time with me makes me feel odd, but it¡¯s not bad.


    However, the entire thing dumbfounded me. I thought no one would relish their time with me. Cora was another weird vampire case, but Melody was a Lycan, and according to Stella''s teachings, we were supposed to be enemies.


    "Hey... Are you okay with me?" I worried about what others would think of her.


    The baker who owned the shop didn¡¯t mind me there, but not all were like the friendly elf, especially if they saw her with me. I didn¡¯t want to bring her any trouble.


    "What do you mean?" the black wolf asked, putting down her bag full of whipped cream she was using to decorate a cake.


    "I mean, won''t the others judge you more for being with me?" I whispered, holding onto myself.


    She scoffed at that thought.


    "Why should that matter?" Melody questioned sternly, her eyes narrowed too.


    "I..." I began, unsure of how to answer


    She sighed, "To tell you the truth, I¡¯ve had no one other than family around. Liam was the first Lycan to come to talk to me, and that was seven years ago. And now I find you who, instead of ignoring me, caught me like a fish waiting to be reeled in.¡± She started.


    Everything appeared so heavy on her.


    So¡­ you also struggle¡­


    ¡°It surprised me so much because everyone usually avoids me. I¡¯m a runt, you see. Most people think I¡¯m annoying with my positivity. They think I should grovel at their feet and beg for forgiveness for existing, but I won¡¯t give them that pleasure.¡± She huffed, shaking her head.


    Another exasperated breath left Melody, ¡°I¡¯m probably too much, aren''t I?" She glanced down at the floor.


    Impossible...


    I grabbed her hands, bringing them up to my chest. "No! You aren¡¯t! I... I admire you! Everything you do seems so full of love and passion that it¡¯s too bright! Being able to shift or not shouldn¡¯t matter! You¡¯re beautiful the way you are, Melody!" I assured her.


    My words caused her to tug me into a tender embrace.


    "Lilith, in truth... I brought you out today because I wanted you to have fun. When I saw your drawings, I could see so much pain in them. You¡¯re sad all the time, aren''t you? I don¡¯t know what happened to you. So, I might be out of place.¡± She snuggled me tighter.


    I couldn¡¯t help but hold her back, too. This wolf was breaking the walls I had placed in my heart.


    ¡°I want you to smile while you¡¯re with me," Melody whispered, holding me tenderly.


    What¡¯s this feeling?


    It was so different from what I felt for Fenris.


    I like you so much. What is this?


    "I... I... Thank you." I mumbled, trying to hold in the tears that wanted to roll out of me.


    It wasn¡¯t long until Melody let me go, smiling brightly.


    "Now, should we make something for Fenris?" She teased, setting my heart into a marathon.


    Is it really that obvious?!


    Pulling away from the black wolf, I grabbed Shade off the countertop, fiddling with her fur.


    "What? No... I can¡¯t." I mumbled, trying to keep calm.


    Though my cheeks probably betrayed me. Kira was fed up with Melody, and if she helped me try to get closer to Fenris, then she would suffer because of it. Layla would...


    "Hm? Why not? From all your drawings of him, I can tell how much you care about him. His expression is always so gentle in your drawings. But in reality, he¡¯s intimidating." Melody commented, shivering upon an unknown thought.


    How much did she read of drawings alone?


    "He¡¯s intimidating?" I asked, tilting my head.


    If anything, he was like a plush wolf in my eyes. Not once was he rough or rude to me, let alone scary.


    "You¡¯re kidding me, right? When I first met him, I could tell he was an alpha. He has that aura around him, you know. Scary? I can¡¯t even stare at him without wanting to bow down to him! Even asking him for permission to take you out here took every ounce of bravery I had!" Melody ranted, waving her hands, trying to make a point.


    Fenris? Intimidating?


    I had only seen him truly angry once when he slammed Layla into the wall, cracking it.


    Nothing a simple spell can¡¯t fix, though.


    "I don¡¯t see him that way," I mumbled.


    Melody laughed, gazing at me like I had lost a screw.


    "That¡¯s because the way he looks at you is different. There¡¯s a tenderness in his eyes. Ah... I wish Liam would see me that way." She hummed, twirling around.


    I shook my head in disbelief.


    She must have seen things wrong. Fenris surely doesn¡¯t look at me fondly. You don¡¯t even let me say what I feel.


    "I think Liam looks at you that way," I threw her words against her.


    Melody grabbed the whipped cream again, turning towards the cheesecake she was decorating.


    "No way... He¡¯s just nice. I¡¯m trash compared to him." She assured me confidently, triggering me to do something I had never done.


    "No, you¡¯re not! You¡¯re amazing!" I blurted out, causing her to squirt the whipped cream bag too hard.


    The cream splattered all over the cake, leaving us both staring at the ruined decoration. It was awful, but we gazed at one another, laughing.


    "I am, aren''t I?" Melody cackled.


    Even though laughter was leaving her lips, there was a visible pain in her eyes, too. There was only one thing wrong with her: she couldn¡¯t shift. Thus, being with Liam would be a dream for her, too.


    We both are in the same boat. Yet¡­ If¡­


    This wolf didn¡¯t know it was a curse keeping her from him. If it was lifted, they could be together without batting an eyelash.


    I¡­


    After all, unlike me, she could accomplish her love if I could find a way to help her without endangering anyone. It had only been a few days since I met this wolf. Yet she did more for me than most others.


    But... can I trust myself? Can I do it? Can I ever help anyone with this dreadful power I possess? I don¡¯t know if I can!

 Chapter 42: Conflict…

    My return to the room ended with Fenris utterly stunned once he saw me.


    ¡°How did you get so much flour on you to make you look so ghostly?! You¡¯re already pale, I can¡¯t!¡± He burst into laughter.


    His expression left me flustered where I stood, fiddling with my dress. Yet another laugh I didn¡¯t mind aimed at me. Melody, on the other hand, was happy with the results. She even went as far as calling our bake-out a success.


    In her hands, she carried the messed-up cheesecake and a cake she forced me to make for Fenris. Handing me the box, she nudged me to give it to my wolf, who couldn¡¯t control his chuckles, especially when Melody told him everything that had happened in the kitchen.


    The bombs of flour I dropped were too much for him to handle. He wasn¡¯t the only one, as the other boys in the room also enjoyed the story of my failures. Hesitantly, I offered the coconut cake to Fenris, triggering him to tilt his head before grabbing it.


    However, the silver wolf¡¯s cheeks turned pink when Melody announced I made it for him. A sharp snap came from his bed, where Layla broke a pencil in half upon hearing it. Shivers went down my spine, trying to ignore the death glare that soon followed.


    It wouldn¡¯t bother me for long, though. Fenris placed the box on my bed before tossing me into the bathroom with Shade.


    ¡°Shower, we¡¯ll talk after you get cleaned.¡± He avoided my gaze, closing the door behind him.


    Part of me wished he would have come in with me, prompting a sigh to leave my lips. While I showered, I also bathed Shade, who told me how much she hated every moment. Her coat was covered in egg and frosting from all the fumbling.


    Outside the door, chatter erupted when I finished drying Shade and dressing for the night. I glanced towards the mirror, where I saw my hair had grown slightly longer than usual. Normally, I would ask Fenris to cut it, but I hesitated since other people were around.


    Layla already hated every moment her future husband spent with me. If she saw him cut my hair, then she would undoubtedly blow. Ever since I destroyed Silverant, I had kept my hair short.


    Exiting the bathroom, Fenris waited for me in bed while the crew devoured the cheesecake Melody had brought them. By the time I was out, though, she had already left. Not being able to say good night to her left me feeling down.


    When I joined my wolf, he picked up the box to reveal a mediocre coconut cake, his favorite flavoring, something I learned from childhood. The decorations were mediocre, though. I could draw and paint, but the frosting consistency was something I never worked with before.


    My attempt was nothing compared to what Melody could do. Even so, she called it pretty for my first try. I thought she was joking, but Fenris didn¡¯t criticize the decoration skills; instead, he smiled, scotching over to me.


    "Let¡¯s share it," my wolf suggested, simpering.


    Layla tried to hide her displeasure, yet I could feel her glares on me.


    ¡°Sure.¡± I smiled, unable to resist this wolf.


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    He was so pleased to receive my gift that his tail wagged, a rare sight. On the first bite, I could tell it was delicious. Melody instructed me on how to do it step by step. Even though I had failed so many times, she made me continue until I nailed it.


    The cake was fluffy, moist, and rich in flavor. Once he tasted it, Fenris chuckled in delight, too. I could melt in his amber gaze when he tenderly glanced at me.


    "It¡¯s delicious, Lily. Thank you." He beamed.


    His smile was too dangerous, prompting me to shift my eyes away from him.


    Oh¡­ No¡­ I really want you!


    It took everything in me to fight the urge to pounce on him. Covering my mouth, I focused on the floor, trying to calm myself before I spoke again.


    "Y-You s-should t-thank Melody. S-she guided me the w-whole way." I stuttered, feeling a warmth erupt from my chest.


    I knew full well that if Melody hadn¡¯t helped me, the cake would¡¯ve been an utter failure, making it inedible.


    Many of the first batches were.


    "Your hands still made it. The recipe doesn¡¯t matter." Fenris noted.


    He wouldn¡¯t give me a break. I tried to suppress the emotions that were swelling within me, begging to come out. However, with one gaze towards Layla, I felt shivers run down my spine.


    If looks could kill, I¡¯d be dead on the spot.


    Kira tried her best to seduce Liam, who appeared to have had too many drinks. The poor brown wolf was uncomfortable by her advances. It wasn¡¯t long before Ezra jumped in to save him. My gaze traveled back to Fenris, who ate his small cake happily.


    How can Melody ever see you as intimidating? You¡¯re... adorable.


    I didn¡¯t know how I would keep my hands off him tonight. It had been days with little to no touch, filling me with frustrations I never knew I could have. Ezra and Owen teased Kira, who wanted nothing to do with them. Noticing my discomfort, Shade cuddled me, triggering me to pet her.


    It wasn¡¯t the type of touch I desired, but it would have to be enough. Layla walked over towards us before pointing at me.


    "Why do you always dress like that?" she slurred, swaying to her sides.


    Is she drunk?


    Fenris''s eyes followed her carefully, leaning closer to me.


    "I don¡¯t know what you mean by that," I answered.


    The white wolf rolled her eyes, "Don''t you ever want to dress sexy or get a boyfriend? Or girlfriend? From what I hear, Cora likes you. Why don''t you go with her instead of hounding my fianc¨¦ all the time?"


    I remained silent, gazing away from her.


    Ah... This is going to be a shitty night, alright, so much for the amazing start.


    "Layla that¡ª" Fenris began, only to be interrupted by her.


    "You must show off your goods if you want to have someone. You know you can¡¯t rely on Fenris forever." She huffed, side-stepping, trying to stay straight.


    "Enough, you¡¯re out of place. Back off." Fenris confronted her, causing her to flinch and retreat from me.


    She didn¡¯t want another lesson from him.


    Releasing a sigh, I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for taking Fenris''s time like that," I whispered, glancing down.


    If keeping the peace meant groveling, then I¡­


    I can never be like Melody.


    ¡°Lily, no, don¡¯t say that.¡± He reached for me, touching my cheek, only for me to retreat away from him.


    A sharp growl left him, shifting his piercing gaze towards Layla. Before he could say anything, though, Kira stood up from where she was, smelling blood in the water and wanting more.


    "Yeah, you better be sorry! Geez, Fenris, why did you make her your charge?! She¡¯s just like any other stupid witch! Useless trash!" The little white wolf snapped, shifting a glare at me.


    These past few days full of kindness had made me temporally blind to what I was to most of these people.


    That¡¯s right¡­ Why am I¡­ trying to be nice?


    "Will you two shut up? Stop reflecting yourself onto her!" Liam growled, getting up from where he was.


    Ezra and Owen were shivering where they sat, attempting to avoid the fight brewing.


    "No! She¡¯s utter trash! Having to have our alpha all over her for no reason!" Kira countered the brown wolf.


    The girls had drunk enough alcohol to allow them to ignore the fact they were in my room.


    This is my safe spot. You¡­ won¡¯t¡­


    Unlike Layla, I owed her sister nothing, and her racism made my blood boil. People like her caused the fall of Silverant, much like that older man from the beach oh so long ago. Getting off the bed, I stood in front of the two white wolves.


    Hate begets hate. Yet I¡­

 Chapter 43: Dread…

    Standing in front of two Lycans should¡¯ve made me tremble where I was, yet all I could feel was my temperature rising.


    "Let me correct you there. You¡¯re wrong about a few things. It wasn¡¯t Fenris''s choice to make me his life charge. Did you ever think why they forced me on him? Why he¡¯s so desperate to make sure I¡¯m safe?" I scowled at Kira, voice colder than before.


    My wolf grabbed my hand, "Lily..." he mumbled my name, voice quivering.


    It was the first time I had ever heard him like that.


    Is that fear?


    Liam sobered up faster than ever. They were fully aware of the terrifying consequences that could happen if I lost it. Behind me, Shade paced back and forth, anticipating a fight, ready to rip into them if I chose to.


    Layla backed off, knowing what the silver wolf would do if she did anything else. Kira, however, didn¡¯t.


    "Oh yeah? What could a little witch like you do to me?" she challenged.


    I couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh at her stupidity, but then I remembered Melody''s words.


    I have to be different.


    I was still cranky from the weird dream I had the days before, and the sexual frustration wasn¡¯t helping either. The lack of touch that Fenris had accustomed to me was getting to me. I knew I had to take a step back.


    Yet something pushed me forward.


    Her arrogance...


    I wanted to squish it.


    Wouldn''t the world be a better place without it?


    "I don¡¯t get how you can always be so high and mighty. Doesn''t it tire you out?" I poked her ego.


    Kira snapped, raising her hand to strike me, but Liam clasped her arm before she could swing it down. Fenris tore me away from the white wolf and into his arms.


    Meanwhile, Shade paced back and forth on the bed. Lilith let me rip her anew. She snarled, fur puffed up.


    All the anger and darkness swelling within me dissipated when I was in Fenris''s arms. I realized what I was about to do in my moment of clarity. It caused me to hold on to him for dear life.


    "Enough! This will be your last day here! I¡¯ll go to Ryker myself to get the lock changed tomorrow! I don¡¯t care what consequences it brings!" My wolf snarled at everyone.


    Kira noticed Liam''s hand tremble before glancing at Fenris, who held me protectively. My heart was racing as I found myself feeling something wicked within me.


    Something¡¯s wrong with me. I didn¡¯t want Fenris to step in; no, I wanted it to blow! What¡¯s happening to me?!


    That was the first crack in the fake mask I had built over the years. I had always tried to be better than the rest of my kin, but then again, I was a witch at my core, too.


    Perhaps that¡¯s all I can ever be.


    When it was finally quiet enough to call it a night, I dug myself into my side of the bed, feeling hollow. I wanted to yell so loud that everyone in Silverant would hear me. A desire to let all the bottled pain within me lose was growing.


    Even after all the kindness that I experienced, it didn¡¯t change who I was at my core.


    I¡¯m not okay.


    No matter what I did, I couldn¡¯t be as beautiful and bright as Melody. There was a darkness in me that desired to break loose. Like any other night, Fenris waited until everyone was asleep before tugging me into his arms.


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    However, this night, he held me tighter than any other night. My worries melted, surrounded by his warmth. This wolf was my only true anchor in this world. Though it took longer than usual, I eventually relaxed, closing my eyes before drifting into darkness.


    When my eyes fluttered open, I stood in a fiery scene of what used to be Silverant. A red moon loomed over the city as shrieks erupted everywhere before utter silence hazed. Hesitantly, I walked towards where the chorus of horror originated to see everyone I met until this point mauled on the floor.


    Tania... Ben... Ryker... Layla... Kira... Ezra... Owen... Cora... What¡­ happened?


    There were other unrecognizable bodies all over, too. Shivering where I stood, I shook my head before pushing through and searching for the only one that mattered to me the most. The only thing that stopped me was seeing Melody on the floor.


    I ran to her only to gasp when I recognized another body next to her.


    Liam!


    He had reached for Melody in his final breaths, holding onto her hand. Again, they were clawed into by an unknown beast. All the bodies around were in similar condition, too. I tore myself away from them, as I couldn¡¯t find Fenris anywhere.


    Everywhere I searched, I called out his name, but his reply never came. Instead, I saw destruction around me; the once-rebuilt Silverant was again on her knees. Yet this time, there were no survivors around.


    Whatever caused this covered the streets in blood and body parts, leaving behind a fiery inferno. I ran for hours, searching every place for Fenris, yet he was nowhere to be seen. After investigating the entire city, I headed into the forest towards what used to be my prison long ago.


    It was another blaze, yet I persevered no matter how hot it got.


    Fenris! Where are you?!


    His safety outweighed mine. Eventually, I made it to the manor, which had burned to the ground, too. I finally found who I was looking for, but not how I wanted to see him there. A dark figure held Fenris by his neck where the manor once stood.


    Bloodstained the silver wolf¡¯s hair as it trickled down his face, and one of his legs was missing, too.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt him!¡± I begged the shadowy beast, voice trembling.


    Upon hearing my voice, my beloved wolf reached out to me. Tears swelled in my eyes, unable to handle what was happening before me. In response to my pleas, the figure turned its face towards me, revealing a wicked grin on its lips.


    Even though I couldn¡¯t see its face, it made my core run colder than ever before. This monster didn¡¯t look human, neither did it look like a shadow demon. No, it was something else. It had piercing crimson eyes and a human-shaped body, though.


    This beast was taller than Fenris, as his remaining foot couldn¡¯t even reach the floor beneath him. Suddenly, the fiery scenery changed to black as purple flowers erupted around us.


    Wolfsbane?


    Before I could even understand what was happening in front of my eyes, the shadowy being released an inhuman snicker, enjoying the pain it inflicted on everything around it.


    ¡°Lily¡­ Run¡­¡± Fenris voiced weakly, gluing my gaze onto him.


    ¡°No! Please don¡¯t!¡± I broke, reaching for my beloved wolf.


    A soft smile rose on his lips before the being that held him ripped his head from his body, throwing it by my feet. It felt like my entire world had turned black momentarily, filling me with a hollowness I had never felt before.


    I fell onto my knees, reaching for my beloved¡¯s severed head as the figure walked towards me.


    Once in my trembling hands, ¡°Fenris? Fenris!¡± I desperately called out to my wolf to hear no reply.


    Touching his cheeks, they were still warm, but when I saw the color of his eyes fade, I lost it. Jolting awake, I shrieked louder than I had ever in my life. Not even Stella''s carving techniques made me scream like that before.


    With it, I lost control of my magic, triggering the building to quiver. The amount of pain that swelled within me was too much to bear. Shade was on my lap in an instant, warily searching for what had made me like this.


    Tears streaked down my cheeks before I covered my eyes, sobbing. My sudden shriek startled everyone in the room awake. Especially Fenris¡­


    ¡°Lily?! Are you okay?¡± He grabbed onto my chin, forcing me to glance towards him.


    He winced when he saw my expression before placing his forehead on mine. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here, Lily, I¡¯m here.¡± He assured me.


    His words, touch, and warmth made me realize what I had experienced was nothing more than a nightmare.


    You¡¯re alive¡­ but it felt so real.


    My legs ached from how long I searched for him in that burning city, and my trembling hands were stained red from when I clasped onto his head. The feeling of his blood-soaked hair on my fingertips still tingled, too.


    No night of terror had ever made me feel like this before. Liam turned on the light in the room to bring clarity. Fenris continued to comfort me, whispering sweet things. Layla, Kira, Ezra, and Owen stood there, stunned at what happened.


    I was out of breath, unable to control the emotion within me.


    ¡°Liam, turn on the aromatherapy machine,¡± Fenris asked his friend without turning away from me.


    Shade rubbed off against me, assuring me that everything was okay. Yet I couldn¡¯t believe any of them. It wasn¡¯t until Shade connected her mind with mine that she realized the full extent of what I had experienced.


    The red stains from my hands wouldn¡¯t go away even when she placed her black paws on them. Even Fenris''s constant comforting didn¡¯t help me. My heart had become an unstoppable thundering storm that left me utterly unstable.

 Chapter 44: A New Trouble…

    Once Liam turned on the small machine, I was still trembling.


    ¡°What the fuck was that?!¡± Kira finally complained.


    Everyone ignored her as they tended to me; sadly, it only annoyed the Lycan even more.


    ¡°It was just a fucking nightmare. Do we need to all stop for her?!¡± she huffed, crossing her arms from the bed.


    A sharp growl came from Fenris before he tugged away slightly. ¡°Get the fuck out!¡± He snarled, eyes shimmering bright yellow.


    ¡°It¡¯s too late for her to go to the dorms! Let¡¯s all calm down!¡± Layla said, trying to calm the situation.


    The outside dorms were where officers usually slept while only Fenris, me, and a few others stayed in the building. Before we moved in, this was a supply closet, and they revamped it into our room.


    Before another fight broke out between the Lycans, I finally found my voice.


    "I need to draw." I panted, unable to take my eyes off my quivering hands.


    In an instant, Fenris turned back to me, touching my cheek. "Okay... Okay... Let¡¯s do that then." He whispered, helping me off the bed.


    Usually, I would draw in my notebook whenever I woke up the next day. After being comforted by Fenris during the night, but this time, it couldn¡¯t wait. It wouldn¡¯t have turned out any differently if we had been alone.


    I had to get this nightmare out of me. Getting off the bed, I grabbed a canvas I stored in a corner of my side of the room. I rarely used these, but a small page wouldn¡¯t keep this one in. Fenris helped me set everything up since my hands were trembling too much to do much else.


    Once I sat down, I closed my eyes momentarily, picturing what haunted me the most.


    "It was just a dream, gosh! We can¡¯t sleep now?!" Kira complained once again.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Layla snapped, triggering her sister to silence.


    Fenris glared at them, not wanting to hear another word from them. Ezra and Owen went back in their sleeping bags. After scolding Kira, Layla approached my side of the room, sitting next to the silver wolf.


    He watched me intently, even though I still hadn¡¯t drawn anything. Liam also joined them as Shade hopped on my lap.


    Lily... I wish I could help you, but even I don¡¯t understand. She whispered.


    When I opened my eyes, the first thing I did was trace the scenery. The moon and the burning forest before sketching the figure that held my only anchor to this world in its grip. That alone didn¡¯t bring any comments, but the moment I painted in the colors. Layla was the first one to slip up.


    "Isn''t that a red moon? Why¡¯s she drawing it?" she whispered to Fenris, not knowing I could hear them thanks to Shade''s super hearing.


    My hand twitched when she mentioned that, desiring to know about the dreadful blood moon, but instead of trying to get my curiosity quenched, I continued to paint.


    The white wolf carried on chattering behind me, "That reminds me! Are you mentally ready for the red moon? You know, when you gain its power... We¡¯ll get married soon after that and have pups!"


    What?


    Fenris would gain some power during the coming red moon, but I knew nothing about it. All I knew was the moon, as they had forecasted it, and the witches at the library couldn¡¯t stop talking about it.


    No one ever mentioned that the Lycans were also looking forward to it. However, the festival they were planning was conceited with the moon.


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    Why didn''t I realize it before?


    Stella¡¯s words echoed within me.


    Cursed child¡­ Red moon, are they linked?


    "Hey... They think it¡¯ll be painful. Maybe I can convince the elders to let me tag along with you, even with all the security in place. I can try to find my way there, you know, and I can ease your pain. You¡¯ll probably¡ª" Layla tried reaching for him by grabbing his shirt.


    Fenris tugged away from the bed, interrupting her train of thought. Yet another rejection of her advances.


    Painful...? What?


    That was the first time I ever heard anything like this. I knew the moon festival was supposed to be some big event coming along, but...


    Will it be painful for Fenris? Why?


    When the witches were speaking about the moon, they made it sound sexual. They were planning an orgy ritual during the event to gain some of its power, or so they said. I always thought it was fake magic to pass the time.


    Is there more to it than that?


    "Enough, stop blabbering useless crap." Fenris sighed, sitting on the desk next to me.


    Holding myself back from asking, I carried on with the painting.


    Why didn¡¯t I ever try to connect the dots?


    I glanced towards the moon I had drawn.


    It¡¯ll be precisely twenty-five years since the last red moon.


    That boy is the cursed moon child said to bring the Lycans power and glory. Stella ranted to one sister.


    Were you born during the last one?


    Glancing towards Fenris, only to see his gaze full of concern.


    You¡¯ll never tell me something that can affect me negatively. Hah¡­ there will never come the day when you¡¯ll share your burdens with me. Not while I¡¯m the biggest one in your heart.


    Turning my gaze back towards the canvas, I continued to paint, omitting details. Instead of Fenris next to the black figure in my dreams, I painted rays of light where he would be.


    They represent my light¡­ You. But you wouldn¡¯t know unless you¡¯re in my head.


    If he wouldn¡¯t share his troubles with me, I would have to do the same to lighten his load. By the time I finished the painting, Liam and Layla had fallen asleep on my bed. The sun was already out, greeting the day.


    Instead of falling asleep like the rest, Fenris stayed awake with me, watching over me the entire time. I stared at the finished painting for a while, watching it dry, wondering what it meant.


    Is it a figment of my imagination or something much more?


    I turned my gaze towards Fenris, who studied painting with me. Thanks to the company, he probably wanted to ask me a million questions since Lilith''s dream but couldn¡¯t find the right time. This wolf couldn¡¯t help me; whatever was happening to me was something I had to find out for myself.


    Glancing back to the canvas, I picked up a small carving knife next to me. Slicing my finger, I traced my blood on the paint before Fenris grabbed my injured hand, turning his gaze at me, wincing.


    ¡°Why would you hurt yourself?¡± My wolf questioned, shaking his head.


    For offensive magic, living blood was the only thing that could suffice. The few spells I used before this moment had been plant-based to cast.


    "Fenris, could you open the window?" I asked, turning my gaze away from him.


    He sighed, letting go of my hand before doing what I had asked. After it was open, I grabbed the canvas before walking towards it. One in front of the window, I closed my eyes and focused on the incantation in my mind. What happened next would cause the other Lycans in the room to have a rude awakening again.


    "Ambustum," I whispered, triggering the painting to burst into flames.


    The other wolves woke up because of the sound the spell had caused rather than the smoke. Offensive spells were so much more irritating to them than supportive ones, especially if they weren''t wearing artifacts to dampen the noise.


    Fenris was one of the few who never wanted to wear anything to dampen his senses.


    "What the fuck?! Are you fucking insane?! We were just attacked less than a week ago!" Kira snarled loudly from being awoken in this manner from her sleep.


    Perhaps she had some post-traumatic stress, yet I doubt she was out when the explosions were going off.


    A soft smile rose on my lips, ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± I watched the canvas burn as Kira sent more profanities my way.


    Layla held her back, preventing her from coming towards me. Her hangover didn¡¯t make her any more pleasant in the morning. Tunning her out, I questioned everything happening, especially why Ryker sent Layla over.


    Is it to test Fenris or me?


    ¡°The sun is out. So, get the fuck out already!¡± My wolf snapped at Kira.


    Glancing towards the clock, I noticed it was already nine. Melody had made me promise to be ready by then for another round of baking. Ignoring the start of another fight, I headed towards the bathroom with Shade.


    Closing the door, I removed my clothes before turning on the hot water, trying to clear my thoughts to figure out what to do next; the warm water helped me relax.


    First... I have to figure out what the secrets are for the coming festival. Then... I¡¯ll have to figure out if that dream is a premonition or just another nightmare fueled by the grimoire I touched in the library.


    It was irritating not to know whose grimoire it was or if it even happened. The last time I went, no one in the library knew of any break-ins.


    If I cracked the barrier, there should¡¯ve been an alarm, right?


    Everything was too confusing at this point for me. I couldn¡¯t even trust myself to do anything right.


    Melody... I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t help you.


    Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when the door to the bathroom opened. However, the change of lighting within the room was enough to catch my attention.

 Chapter 45: A Close Call…

    "Fenris?" I mumbled, shutting off the water before gazing towards the light.


    Shade hissed at whoever was at the door, alerting me it probably wasn¡¯t my wolf. The curtains for the shower were completely see-through to allow Fenris to check up on me from the door if he needed to. This also meant the door had no lock since I last had a meltdown.


    Ryker¡¯s plans to show me my place were about to burn in a fiery inferno. Once my eyes adjusted to the sudden exposure to light, they widened upon seeing Layla. The white wolf had sneaked back into the room while Fenris was going off on Kira.


    I froze the moment I spotted her. Her amber stare was locked on Shade, who was about to jump her. If she focused on me¡­


    I¡­ I¡­


    Flashes of what happened to me rushed through my mind. The ones who had abused me were women, not men. I couldn¡¯t count the times female nurses had to back away from me when they were trying to clean my wounds.


    Thanks to that, Ben was the one who had to learn how to care for me. Fenris was too young to have that responsibility back then, so the older silver wolf took it upon himself to cure me whenever there weren¡¯t any male nurses on the shift.


    I was okay with men seeing me naked or probing me after the fall, but women were another matter. My body trembled, and I couldn''t move from where I was.


    "Hey... I just wanted to apologize for¡ª" Layla began, only to halt, eyes widening upon seeing me.


    We both stood there, not knowing what to say to each other, but she broke the silence soon after.


    "What the fuck?" Layla gasped, scrunching her eyes, visibly repulsed by what she witnessed.


    Melody''s voice echoed my name outside the bathroom, but I could only focus on the white wolf before me. My scars weren¡¯t a sight to behold, especially the burn scars, which were some of the worst anyone could have.


    Most of my imperfections were darkly pigmented, almost flesh-like, thanks to the burns I endured. Other scars lifted outward, popping out of my skin. My breast was disfigured beyond anyone''s imagination; luckily, the medical team could keep my areolas from decaying and falling off.


    There wasn¡¯t a part of my body that didn¡¯t have a reminder of what I had endured; not an inch was beautiful. That much was apparent from the way she gazed at me.


    "Get out," I muttered, feeling a wave of energy surge.


    I was losing my grip like a branch on a snowy day. It could handle only so much weight before a twig snapped off. Unfortunately, I wasn¡¯t as stern as a tree to hold any more weight. Not after the night I had.


    The way Layla gazed at me made shivers run down my spine. For the past years, only Fenris saw my disfigured body, each time calling it beautiful every time I was under his arms. Seeing her made me crash back into reality to the state my body was in.


    Fenris...


    My insecurities swelled, slowly reaching their climax.


    "This is..." Layla rasped, shaking her head in disbelief, taking two steps towards me.


    A smirk erupted on her lips, appearing pleased to see me like that, followed by a slight snicker.


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    "Get out!" I snapped, triggering Shade to jump towards the mirror cabinet by the sink.


    I¡¯ll rip those eyes out! Release me! Shade hissed, positioning herself ready to pounce.


    ¡°Lilith?¡± Melody called out to me once again from outside of the bathroom.


    The energies within me were spiraling out of control.


    Fenris... I¡¯m sorry.


    "Ah... I¡¯m relieved. Everything makes sense now." Layla breathed, unaware Shade was about to rip into her.


    Suddenly, I felt like I was once again that ten-year-old girl, helpless as I got stepped on and abused by the coven. The desire to wipe her face off our realm grew instantly, merging my mind with Shade¡¯s hostile wishes.


    "I said get out!" I snarled at the top of my lungs, energies surging from me again, prompting Shade to launch at the white wolf.


    When Melody heard my distress, she ran inside, placing herself between me and Layla.


    Ah¡­


    Her back was towards me, almost like she was trying to protect me from Layla. For a split moment, time froze¡­


    If that energy hits Melody¡­ Will she end up like Mary and Emma all those years ago?


    Images of the black wolf splattered over the floor rushed through my mind.


    No! I will not allow that to happen!


    Instantly, Shade bounced off Melody¡¯s head and towards me as the energy recalled back towards me. The moment her little paws touched me, the shock of it alone caused me to slam against the wall behind me, knocking the wind right out of me.


    Beside me, Shade fell limp as my body felt like it was about to be ripped apart instead. The surge wanted to come out, yet I could never let that happen to Melody.


    "What the fuck is wrong with you?! Can''t you hear her?!" She growled at the white wolf, who took a few steps back from her.


    Falling onto my knees, I grabbed onto the little unconscious feline, trying to grit through the pulses of agony rushing through me. Whispers I hadn¡¯t heard in years started to bombard my fragile mind.


    Let go...


    Let it end.


    Give in!


    Grabbing onto my head, my breath hitched, unable to fill my lungs with enough air. I didn¡¯t know how much longer I could keep it in. It hurt to try. Fenris was probably outside the room arguing with Kira and couldn¡¯t hear what was happening inside.


    Melody closed the door behind her, sealing the room from the inside. If he could¡¯ve listened, he would¡¯ve already stopped this. The other boys weren¡¯t in the room either. They probably went to get food or into their morning routine after having been awakened by me twice.


    Fenris was the only one who could stop this, though¡ªthe only one who could even calm me.


    I... need you!


    Tears swelled in my eyes before they streaked down my cheeks, struggling to hold myself together without my beloved wolf.


    I never wanted to hurt Melody, but how long can I hold it?


    Noticing my distress, the black wolf turned away from Layla.


    Grabbing onto the towel on the side, she opened the clear curtain to help me. Once she was close, though, she stopped, surprised by my body''s condition. Fighting the energy flowing through my veins, I shifted my gaze toward her to see her biting her lip.


    Before I could see her expression, she threw the towel over me, making sure my body was covered.


    "Lilith, are you okay?" her voice quivered.


    I finally saw the black wolf¡¯s expression; her eyes glossed as her brows were scrunched up like she was about to cry.


    Ah¡­ You aren¡¯t normal¡­ Are you?


    Her gaze alone was enough to soothe my troubled soul. Those precious seconds allowed Fenris to barge into the room with Liam behind him. I didn¡¯t realize when my bracelet shone, alerting him.


    My wolf pushed Layla aside, freeing the way towards me. Melody stepped to the side to let him reach me. This would be the second time he found me in this bathroom, losing myself.


    "I¡¯m here, Lily," Fenris whispered, grabbing my face.


    Melody turned to Layla once again, growling loudly. Liam didn¡¯t dare to enter the bathroom, staying outside, calling to the back wolf who grabbed Layla''s shirt in her fist. My body screeched in pain when I launched myself on Fenris.


    Delirious and unable to reason or hold back any longer, I kissed my wolf deeply. I had forgotten about everything that surrounded us.


    Where and who I was there with didn¡¯t matter to me.


    I only saw Fenris and how much I needed him. My tongue glazed over his lips when he clasped onto my cheek, giving me in for only a moment, tugging away slightly soon after. It wasn¡¯t enough for me, though.


    Before he could say a word, I yanked him into another kiss. Grabbing onto the back of his head, I claimed his lips as mine. This time, my tongue went into his mouth. However, he pulled away more sternly, holding my arms in his hands to prevent me from following suit again.


    He avoided my gaze when I finally realized what I had done.


    Layla...

 Chapter 46: A Misstep…

    Layla stood by the door, scowling at me after witnessing what I had done. Melody didn¡¯t have the strength to push her away from us. She had probably seen him reciprocate with the first kiss, too, no matter how short.


    Whenever Layla tried to kiss him, he would automatically push her away as far as he could without hurting her physically. Though sometimes it ended on Layla''s bum on the floor.


    "Fenris... I¡¯m...." I tried to apologize, only to stop wincing in pain.


    Fenris bit into his lip, turning back his gaze towards me. His eyes were so fridged that they sent shivers down my spine.


    Ah... I messed up big time.


    He entered damage control mode, and it was all my fault.


    "Say nothing... Stay here." He ordered before leaving me sitting on the bathroom floor while he dealt with Layla.


    My body throbbed, pushing down every emotion that wanted to swell out of me.


    Fear? Sadness?


    I didn¡¯t know how to differentiate anything anymore. Shade was still on my lap, out cold, prompting me to trail my fingers on her wet fur.


    Even though you hate getting wet¡­ You¡­


    "Fenris, this bitch was just harassing Lilith!" Melody growled, not allowing Layla to shift the narrative to herself.


    It forced her to enter defense mode.


    "I did nothing of the sort. I only entered the bathroom to apologize for Kira''s behavior." Layla assured him.


    "That wasn¡¯t what I heard!" the black wolf argued, not backing off.


    Layla¡¯s eyes shimmered brightly, grabbing Melody¡¯s arms. "What would a runt, like you know? You don¡¯t have sensitive hearing like pure breeds." She shot back.


    The brave wolf didn¡¯t stand down from her future alpha. However, with Fenris and Liam present, there wasn¡¯t much the white Lycan could do.


    "I might not hear as well as you, but Lilith told you to get out multiple times, and you refused to listen to her! That¡¯s harassment!" Melody stood her ground, growling back at Layla.


    Fenris walked towards them with his tail tense.


    "Enough," he snapped, triggering both females to go silent.


    Melody appeared startled by Fenris''s hostile voice, which lacked any warmth or patience that was usually present in it. Instead of getting in his way, she ran to help me. My body shivered from the overwhelming magical power I held back.


    With my body¡¯s temperature rising, my vision began to blur.


    "Not enough! Fenris, why did she kiss you like that?!" Layla demanded answers upon his approach.


    He glared at her, causing her demeanor to become somewhat submissive. She slanted her ears downwards, tucking her tail between her legs.


    "Lilith was panicking. This wouldn¡¯t have happened if you never entered the bathroom." He scolded, voice devoid of any emotion.


    His hands were in the form of fists, trembling too.


    "I thought it was fine. We¡¯re both women, after all." Layla suggested, ignorant of everything I had experienced.


    It triggered Fenris to scowl at her intently.


    "Oh, no, you¡¯re burning up," Melody whispered, becoming alarmed when she touched my forehead with her cool hand.


    "Not for her! You crossed a boundary! You know nothing about her! From this moment on, you won¡¯t go near her! Got it!?" Fenris declared, triggering Layla to flare up again.


    "I won¡¯t tolerate this. She fucking kissed my future husband. I¡¯ll speak with Ryker¡ª" Layla began, only to be interrupted by Fenris grabbing her face with one hand.


    His eyes were emotionless, while hers opened wide, freezing where she was.


    "Fenris, let¡¯s think about this carefully," Liam tried to be the voice of reason.


    Taking a deep breath, Fenris sighed, yanking Layla towards him, her feet barely touched the floor.


    "Layla, I don¡¯t want to and can¡¯t deal with you today. If I even figure out that you said anything to Ryker or hurt Lilith. Marrying me will be the worst decision in your life. Do you understand, future wife?" he threatened.


    Layla softly nodded in agreement, trembling where she was.


    "Good," Fenris affirmed, letting go of her.


    She stumbled, getting away from him. By this point, everything was getting too blurry for me to handle.


    "Fenris! Help!" Melody called out to him.


    I fell onto her bosom, unable to hold myself up anymore as Shade slid from my lap onto the floor. Wasting little time, Fenris turned back towards me. That was when Layla noticed something weird about me, although she backed up somewhat.


    "Why are her eyes glowing blue? Weren''t they brown earlier?" Layla questioned.


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    Fenris shot back a glare, triggering her to step back.


    "This doesn¡¯t concern you. Go deal with your sister. Liam, please find Owen and Ezra. Tell them the stayover is done. Everyone¡¯s going home." Fenris ordered.


    "Roger," Liam replied, dragging the white wolf out.


    ¡°Fenris! She¡¯s bleeding!¡± Melody panicked, holding a smaller towel to my nose.


    My world was turning a sunder, and I had no control anymore. With my world turning blurrier by the minute, I could barely hold my eyelids open anymore.


    "Fenris! She isn¡¯t okay." Melody held a soft cloth to my nose.


    Her touch was rather pleasant on my hot skin but nothing like Fenris''s was.


    "Thank you, Melody. I¡¯ll handle it from here. I¡¯m sorry for everything." Fenris apologized, swiftly picking me up from her arms and into his warm embrace.


    "The only thing you have to say sorry for is for that psychotic fianc¨¦e of yours. Geez, what a bitch!¡± the black wolf huffed following us out of the bathroom. ¡°Please, tell me if she¡¯s okay later."


    "Yeah. I¡¯ll make sure to let you know." Fenris promised, laying me on the bed.


    Melody narrowed her eyes, huffing up, still annoyed by Layla''s actions. "You better!¡±


    Before she left, she clasped my hands. ¡°You better get better soon so I can teach you more stuff!¡±


    Her smile was so bright even as I saw her in doubles.


    Two Melody¡­ that¡¯d be a handful. Though if there are two, Fenris. Layla wouldn¡¯t need to complain. But¡­ I¡¯ll want them all for myself.


    However, even in my delirium, something else caught my eye. For a moment, I saw tiny cracks in the curse that ailed her before they disappeared into nothing again. My fever was probably playing tricks on me.


    Once Melody left, Fenris tended to me. Drying me off, he placed a thin layer of a blanket over me to cover me, leaving me undressed underneath. He placed Shade next to me, pulling out some water to brew a chamomile tea that elves enhanced to help with magical ailments.


    That herb was probably the only thing that helped me recover from my attacks. This one, though, was different. An entire day went by before I could open my eyes and keep them open. Shade was still asleep next to me when I searched for Fenris, only to find him not too far from me by the edge of the bed.


    "Hey..." He whispered, clasping onto the hand looking for him.


    Dark circles from lack of sleep were visible in his eyes.


    You haven¡¯t slept at all looking after me, have you?


    "Fenris... I..." I tried to speak up for him to stop me.


    I felt guilty about everything that had happened.


    "It¡¯s fine, Lily." He assured me.


    Sadly, I couldn¡¯t understand how any of it would be fine. Layla saw me kiss him and had to be furious, inconsolable, and out for blood. The thought alone sent shivers down my spine.


    "No, I..." I tried to argue, only for him to shake his head, not wanting to hear anything from me.


    "Don¡¯t say anything. Just rest." he sighed, shifting his eyes to his phone.


    The device was off on the nearby table; obviously, he didn¡¯t want to think about anything related to Layla.


    "Is something wrong with me?" I whispered, noticing his different demeanor.


    He appeared warier about everything, and that wasn¡¯t like him. Upon hearing my question, he sighed again, gazing at me slightly.


    "Ryker came in with medics and checked you out. It seems you aren¡¯t as stable as you were before. Your body isn¡¯t equipped to handle the realm within you." Fenris informed, glancing away from me.


    "I see," I mumbled, remembering slightly a fight between Ryker and Fenris.


    I thought it was a dream fueled by delusions because of the fever, but it happened. When Ryker checked me with his light-based magic, he noticed that the emotional inhibitor wasn¡¯t working.


    The elf lost his cool when the wolf confessed to knowing about its failure. It began the argument of whose fault it was that I lost control. Fenris countered that this wouldn¡¯t have happened if he hadn¡¯t brought Layla into this room.


    However, the elf shot back with just as much ammunition. By the end, there was a standoff between the two.


    "Fenris... This was going to happen either way. Containing her was just a temporary measure. We can¡¯t kill this abomination because it¡¯ll finish Moira''s sacrificial spell.¡± The elf sighed, shaking his head.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a phoenix stone to close the realm if it opens again. It seems the world might be damned no matter what we do." Ryker added, pulling away from me.


    This elf had been fighting for peace for years to see it end like this.


    "I understand where you¡¯re coming from, but Ryker, you need to back off her. Testing her patience won¡¯t help curve the apocalypse you intend to avoid." Fenris huffed.


    The elf sighed again, gazing at the young wolf before him. "I will, after the festival. The girl will be your full responsibility when you gain the moon''s power. I fought with the council for you to keep her for this very reason. I knew you would be why she stayed in control.¡± Ryker confessed.


    ¡°My wife used to be my rod before she passed a year ago.¡± He breathed, gazing up to the ceiling. ¡°Even though I don¡¯t express it much. The fear of death is humbling to me. Even though I should be happy to meet her, the thought of leaving my daughters and sons I can¡¯t." He continued, shaking his head.


    "So, believe me when I say the thing you see as a girl is a bomb, Fenris. It¡¯s waiting to blow. You can¡¯t see her as anything else but a dangerous asset. For all our sakes, I hope you see that." The elf warned Fenris of his peril, who gripped the bed frame tighter.


    "I know that Ryker. I know she¡¯s dangerous, but you should¡¯ve seen these past few days. She was fine until Layla pushed her over the edge. If it weren¡¯t for Melody, my fianc¨¦e would be wall d¨¦cor. Such a shame.¡± My wolf sighed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear that last part.¡± The elf scowled at him.


    ¡°From what you analyze, she reabsorbed the energy, right? That means she must be able to control herself to some extent. But can she do it without harming herself?" Fenris mumbled, shifting his gaze towards Ryker.


    "Yes... She did. Perhaps the girl will control herself. We won¡¯t know until the time comes. Nevertheless, I¡¯ll change the lock to keep this room private for you two. As for Layla, if she makes more trouble, I¡¯ll speak with her.¡± The elf shrugged.


    ¡°Honestly, I thought she would befriend Lilith instead of this. I didn¡¯t think Layla saw her as a threat. You Lycans and your pride will be the end of us one day." He walked towards Fenris before grabbing onto his shoulder tightly.


    "Do remember that soon there won¡¯t be anything to contain her. You have a heavy burden to carry on those shoulders of yours. Yet... I¡¯m trusting you with my family''s safety. The last steps to convince the council are coming soon.¡± Ryker informed, shifting his gaze towards me.


    ¡°You¡¯ll need to steady yourself if you want everything to go your way, little wolf. I know your plans don¡¯t align with the elder''s wishes, and I¡¯ll support you while you hold the reigns. Though I know your father would be proud of the man you¡¯ve become." The elf added with a soft smile, letting go of Fenris''s shoulder before heading for the door.


    "Thank you, Ryker. We haven¡¯t gotten along perfectly, but I know what I must do to accomplish my goal because of you." Fenris declared, not taking his eyes off me.


    "I hope so. This world''s survival depends on it." Ryker chuckled, closing the door behind him.


    After he left, Fenris answered his phone several times, but all the conversations were hard to follow. Even though I felt better, my body refused to listen to me thoroughly. Even so, I wanted my beloved wolf to feel some relief.


    We had to speak about a lot when we had the chance.


    But all of that can wait a bit longer.


    Instead, with my sheer will, I took a deep breath, sitting up, only for him to lean closer to me.


    "Oi, lay down," Fenris grumbled.


    Taking the chance, he was close, so I grabbed his shirt.


    "No," I huffed.


    Luckily, he appeared too tired to deal with anything, as the dark circles under his eyes were apparent.


    "Lilith." He sighed.


    I tightened my grip on his shirt. "Fenris," I called, yanking him into the bed with me.


    Shade groggily got up from where she was, walking over to my unoccupied pillow on the bed before crashing on it. I climbed on top of Fenris, where his expression showed pure astonishment at my bold move.


    I guess I was taking pointers from Layla. He grabbed my arms and tried to sit up, but I pushed him back onto the bed with my hands.


    There is no escaping this wicked witch, my beloved wolf.

 Chapter 47: I’m Not So Innocent As You Think…

    I planted them on Fenris¡¯s chest, watching him gaze at me, cheeks purely pink.


    Adorable.


    "Watch it. I am unstable, aren''t I?" I cautioned, picking my words carefully.


    I want you to know I had overheard your conversation with Ryker¡ªif it even happened.


    Tracing his jawline with my fingertips, I gripped his chin, focusing his fiery eyes on me.


    "Lilith," he breathed in my name, letting go of my arms and clamping down his hands on my thighs.


    Ever since I climbed on top of this wolf, something was poking at my bum.


    You¡¯re as sexually deprived as I am. Why are you holding back, silly wolf? Is it because I¡¯m unstable or because you''re worried about me?


    "Don¡¯t move. I might crumble if you do." I murmured, triggering Fenris to release a nervous chuckle.


    Taking the opportunity, he was being obedient; I unclasped the buttons from his shirt, exposing his upper torse to me. A human like me could do nothing to stop him if he wanted me off. Though I studied his reactions to see if there was any hint of disgust in him, his eyes told me something else.


    Shaking my head, I traced my fingers down his pecs, triggering him to sit slightly to give me a light kiss on my lips. It was so tender that I couldn¡¯t help but push him back down again onto the sheets before brushing my lips against his jawline.


    A soft hum came from the wolf as his grip on my tights tightened, feeling me trail kisses down his neck before landing on his chest.


    ¡°Lily?¡± He called out to me before a small gasp left his lips when I licked his nobs.


    One of his hands went up to my back as I sucked on his nips, mimicking what he had done to me so many times before. This was the first time I did anything like this to him, and seeing his flustered reaction drove me to a corner.


    Why didn¡¯t I¡­


    This was all new to me, and I enjoyed indulging in him. The way his skin felt under my tongue left me tingling in ways I never thought possible. Tugging away from his little nobs, I shifted my gaze to meet with his.


    Am I really nothing more than your charge?


    Fenris cupped my cheek in his palm. "Are you okay?" he asked, although his cheeks were rosy.


    His question flared me up, raising my temperature. Even though my body was sore, I grabbed his hand and licked his palm. This triggered him to hold the back of my head, tugging me into another kiss.


    His tongue invaded my mouth when my forearms landed on his bare chest, scarcely holding me up. Feverously kissed me with one hand on the back of my head while the other traveled on my back, landing on my bum and squishing it in his hand.


    A soft hum left my lips, leaning closer to Fenris. His hand quickly traveled onto my inner thighs before tracing my vulva, provoking me to jolt away from the kiss. Licking his lips, he wasted little time invading my depths and caressing my walls.


    Gasping for air, I couldn¡¯t fill my lungs with enough cold air when the lustful wolf thrust his fingers into me, alternating to rub my sensitive bell.


    ¡°You¡¯re too tight to take me.¡± He mumbled, focusing on loosening me up while the other hand traveled to my back before pulling himself up to reach my breast.


    There, his tongue licked my nips, triggering me to grab onto the back of his head, releasing a sharp mewl from my lips. After that dreadful dream, feeling him like this was all I needed to find peace.


    More¡­ I want more!


    Everything Fenris did to me assured me he was alive, yet this wasn¡¯t all I wanted from him. Pushing him down once more, I tugged his fingers out of me, pinning his hands onto the bed.


    "No touching." I panted for air, feeling tingly from his touch.


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    For a moment, I gazed at him, watching for his reactions for any hint of him disliking what was happening. He nodded before I allowed his hands to go free; I watched him bring his fingers up to his mouth before licking them like they held a tasty meal.


    "Okay," Fenris breathed.


    This wolf had set my heart into a storm, making keeping my head in place utterly impossible.


    I want you to lose it, not me!


    Feeling heated by his teasing, I repositioned myself beside him, unbuckling his pants. His cheeks flushed red when he realized what I was about to do to him.


    "Lily, what are you doing?" Fenris spluttered out, sitting up slightly.


    I grabbed his fluffy tail, placing it on his belly to prevent him from seeing what I would do. Ignoring his question, I exposed his hardened heat, only to realize how big he truly was.


    In all these years¡­ I have never seen you so up close before.


    I had never touched it with my hands, either, so I was surprised when my fingertips traced it, allowing me to feel how warm and sturdy it was.


    My hands are tiny compared to your thing.


    In my defense, I had smaller hands than most girls. Melody called them adorable when we were baking together, and seeing his reactions made me feel shameful for never having done this before.


    I¡¯m such a selfish lover.


    "Lily, wait¡ª" Fenris gasped when I licked his tip.


    Even though I didn¡¯t know what I was doing, I found some pointers on how to accomplish my task from what he usually did to me. After several trials and errors, I noticed the head was the most sensitive area, responding the most when I caressed there.


    Yet this wolf always loved pushing himself in and out of me, allowing me to assume that pumping his base would leave him squirming for me. Feeling more confident with each attempt, I sucked on his head while stroking his length with my hands.


    Rewarding me with a couple of moans and groans that came from his lips, he grasped onto the sheets under him as I pushed his head deeper into my mouth.


    "Lily, let me touch you. Please," Fenris begged, out of breath, bucking his hips slightly.


    His reaction to what I was doing to him made me feel more confident in my ability to make him lose it, as he did to me. Even though he was tired before we started, he appeared more energized¡ªmore motivated as time passed.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Lily, stop¡­ Or¡­ Fuck, I¡¯m going to¡ª¡± He groaned when I didn¡¯t stop.


    It wasn¡¯t long before his member twitched inside my mouth, releasing a loud moan along with his seeds. His tail lifted from his belly slightly, filling my senses with a thick, salty, bitter taste. I didn¡¯t know what to do with the liquid that filled my mouth for a moment, but I ended up swallowing it, much to his surprise.


    "Lily... You didn¡¯t just do that." Fenris panted, grabbing my chin and turning me to face him.


    I had never seen him so flustered before. Nodding, I licked my lips as if I had a tasty meal. He gazed at me for a slight moment before kissing me once again. In response to his affection, I pushed him down again, straddling him.


    This time, with a unique plan in mind.


    "You just don¡¯t listen, little wolf." I licked my lips seductively, grabbing his tail to cover my bare skin.


    Will it be better if my body¡¯s left to the imagination?


    "Lilith, you¡¯re driving me crazy." Fenris breathed.


    Ignoring what he wanted, I slid his slightly soft member inside of me. A sharp whine released from my lips, feeling odd from his warmth. It had been days since I felt him like this. Usually, I only felt this way when he didn¡¯t touch me, thanks to my monthly lady thing, but this time was different.


    I had been craving him the entire time, and finally, I had his heat in me, filling me in ways I never knew it could. His member quickly recovered, feeling my walls tighten around him. A whine left his lips, more sensitive after a release.


    Grasping his hands to help me stay up, his tail wrapped around my waist and chest before I, for the first time, made love to him. Even though I was clumsy, he felt it, occasionally breathing my name from his lips.


    My voice merged with Fenris¡¯s as he filled me, too. I wondered how he saw me through those half-opened eyes and hot breaths leaving his lips. Swaying my hips to please him, that was when his eyes gave off a soft yellowish hue.


    It was a warning the wolf was losing himself to me, yet I didn¡¯t care, continuing my search for pleasure. A soft growl left his lips before he grabbed onto my waist, thrusting his length into me, prompting a yelp to leave my lips, stunned by the sudden fill.


    With my hips in place, he slowly sat up before licking my neck.


    "Sorry, I hit my limit. I¡¯m not that easy to tame, my love." Fenris purred into my ear, not realizing what he had said before pushing me down onto the bed.


    My heart throbbed when those words left his mouth.


    Did I hear right?


    Before I could analyze what the wolf said, he kissed me again. Our tongues fought for dominance while his movements picked up at a steady pace. They were rougher than usual and more passionate, rendering me incapable of rational thought.


    No, he was determined for me to lose myself within him after what I did.


    What I thought I heard couldn¡¯t be true. Can it? No, I must¡¯ve misheard him.


    Grabbing onto the back of his head, I played with his hair, wrapping my legs tightly around his waist. It only took a few more pushes for me to fall over the edge and into bliss, filling my core with ecstasy.


    However, Fenris rarely overstimulated me as I went over. This time, I continued to push forward, taking little to no sympathy for me and how long I could keep up. He made me feel like I was his, continuing to make love to me no matter how many times I convulsed under him.


    Though I could barely stay at his pace, he had never been this rough. I couldn¡¯t remember how many times my body twitched in pleasure while he held me. All I knew was that Fenris was as exhausted as I was when everything finished.


    I was overflowing with his seeds that couldn¡¯t stay inside my walls, leaving them to drip down my bum. Separating himself from me, he chuckled, enjoying how my body shuddered at the slightest touch he provided.


    He was such an unfair wolf, but he was my world.

 Chapter 48: Sweet Peace…

    Fenris dropped beside me on the bed before tugging me into his warm embrace. Even though I was just as tired as he was, I went to look at his face. Surprisingly, he had fallen asleep when he dragged me into his arms.


    The sun was finally going down for the day, meaning we had been at it since the morning. Even though I was dizzy and tired, I wanted to finish things.


    I¡¯ve slept enough.


    Wiggling my way out of Fenris''s embrace, I placed one foot on the floor, only to lose my balance when I tried to get up. Thanks to what he did to me, my legs didn¡¯t have the energy to go anywhere, and not only that, but everything we had done was trailing down my thighs.


    Is this another part of your evil plan?


    I couldn¡¯t help myself when I glared at the unconscious wolf.


    You took no pity on me!


    This all happened because we were so pent-up. However, when I saw his peaceful, sleeping face, I couldn¡¯t help but giggle. Shade, who had been out cold the entire time, finally woke up and groggily walked towards me before jumping on my head.


    Lily! Lily! I¡¯m so tired. Shade purred, curling up into a ball.


    A soft sigh left my lips, noticing I would get nothing done today. My body still shivered from all the stimulation Fenris had given me. Resting my head on the bed, I waited a few minutes before getting up and wobbly dressed for the night.


    Grabbing another nearby canvas, I sat on the bed before using the unsuspecting wolf as my model. Instead of using the chair, I sat beside him on the bed to get a better look at him.


    How can you sleep so soundly, even though I¡¯m dangerous and unstable?


    I grabbed the blanket he used for me and covered his more personal areas, not wanting him to get too cold, though not enough to keep all his features hidden. Gently touching his eyelids, I remembered how his eyes shimmered earlier.


    Lycans¡¯ eyes would glow when they were in their beast form or about to lose control, usually in anger. I had only seen Fenris''s orbs glow when he shifted or confronted Layla. He probably didn¡¯t even realize what he was saying when he flipped on me.


    Even if he wasn¡¯t thinking correctly and was full of hot thoughts, it filled me in ways I never knew it could. Drawing him took hours, thanks to my body''s condition, along with breaks in between for personal things.


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    I tried to make as little noise as possible to avoid waking him while I was out and about, and I also used colored pencils instead of wet paint to avoid irritating his nose. When he groggily got up, it was already deep into the night.


    "What are you doing?" Fenris yawned, wiping his eyes.


    I sighed, reaching to him before pulling on one of his ears.


    You¡¯re fault I¡¯m here, dummy. My legs are mushy, thanks to you!


    "Drawing you," I answered, pouting.


    A soft growl left him before clasping onto the hand that assaulted his fluffy ear.


    "Why? I¡¯m right here." He noted, sitting behind me and placing his chin on my shoulder.


    He was blissfully unaware of the emotions his words caused in me. A weird sensation filled me, remembering my dreadful dream. His death still plagued my heart.


    What if all I have with him is... this moment alone? How would I remember it? Cherish it?


    "Memories are best captured," I whispered, feeling a sting in my chest.


    The weight of my words was too heavy for me to keep the ache away.


    Can I even live with just the memories?


    Upon hearing my tone, Fenris got closer to me so I was in between his legs. He straddled me from behind, wearing no clothing from what we had done earlier, while I only wore a simple nightgown that he bought for me to use whenever we were alone.


    "How about I engrave it into your mind, then?" Fenris murmured, playfully tracing his hand up my gown and down my bare thigh, landing right in the middle.


    His previous touch left me extra sensitive enough to gasp when he caressed my inmate lips lovingly, leaving me tingling.


    "No. You already did enough." I pushed on his face.


    In response, he licked my hand before nibbling it. I was a bunny trapped in the wolf''s grip.


    "Did I? I thought you wanted me to lose control." Fenris purred, slipping his fingers into me once again.


    A whimper left my lips immediately following his entrance, prompting me to clasp onto his arm.


    You¡¯re right; I wanted you to lose control. But¡­


    "I..." I trailed off, unable to resist Fenris''s touch.


    My legs quivered, slowly parting, allowing him better access. No matter how rough or gentle he was with me, I was utterly addicted to him. He had me right where he wanted. Dropping my coloring pencil, his left hand intertwined with my right, continuing to caress my depths.


    ¡°Fenris.¡± I mewled, leaning onto him.


    The bracelet he gave me became one full moon with the one he wore. It happened each time he held my hand in his. A small chuckle came from his lips when the moon charms shone red, resembling the moon that would arrive in about three weeks.


    He took his fingers out of me, tenderly kissing my cheek before placing his tail over my lap.


    "Hey... try to draw me as I do¡ª" Fenris tried to tease me, only for me to respond by pushing him down onto the bed.


    Such a cocky little wolf.


    "Jerk." I pouted at him.


    My wolf smiled in return, charming me in a way I didn¡¯t want to let go of. It wasn¡¯t long until I leaned into him, stealing his lips for myself. From there, a flurry of kisses followed before my back met with the bed.


    ¡°Lily, I want you so much it drives me insane.¡± He breathed, leaving me starstruck where I was.


    Everything he did to me left me wanting more. I loved him with all my heart.


    But... will these moments be enough to quell this raging storm in my heart?

 Chapter 49: Kindred Soul...

    Two full days went by with Fenris alone before I finally found peace. We talked about everything that happened, although I didn¡¯t fully tell him what I saw during my dream or what I truly felt about it, dismissing it primarily as stress or warped fears already present within me.


    Though I didn¡¯t know if he believed anything I said, he didn¡¯t push me to say more; instead, he studied me while I tried my best to act normal, waiting for me to slip up. For these two days, he didn¡¯t let me out of his sight or the room, constantly holding me in his arms, leaving little room for anything else.


    On the third day, Fenris finally let Melody know I was well enough for her to visit. Much to our surprise, she rushed over with treats that could last a lifetime. She didn¡¯t even let my wolf open the door fully, shoveling him out of the way and hurrying into the room, slamming the door in his face because of her haste to reach me.


    The entire thing left me giggling where I was; it was the only reason he didn¡¯t go off on her.


    ¡°Why are you standing there, Fenris?¡± She asked, narrowing his eyes as he sighed.


    Melody came in with gifts and an explosive entrance. I couldn¡¯t help but avoid her gaze when she addressed me, shivering at the thought she¡¯d judge me like Layla had.


    Upon noticing my insecurities, the black wolf turned Fenris. ¡°How about you leave us alone for a bit?¡±


    He glanced at me for me to simper and nod back.


    ¡°Fine, there¡¯s a few things I need to do. So, call me if anything happens. Got it?¡± He huffed, picking up his bag.


    ¡°Roger, boss!¡± She grinned, saluting him like a soldier would.


    He probably wouldn¡¯t have left the room if it were anyone else. Ben visited me after Ryker told him what had happened, and while he was there, Fenris never left my side. Maybe it was the ''girl talk'' he wanted me to have space for.


    I had never had a girlfriend before. Cora tried to become one for the longest time, but I always categorized her as overly friendly. Grabbing Shade, I placed her between us to be a shield of somewhat, bracing myself for what was coming next and fiddling with her fur like a stress ball.


    "Lilith." Melody reached out to me.


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    I refused to face her, even pulling back from her approach. What she witnessed that day was something that could never be unseen. Even though Fenris made sure to make me feel desirable, I knew my body wasn¡¯t any of the sort.


    My silver wolf is just a silly and kind soul, to say otherwise.


    It hurt to even think of losing this black wolf; even if she had only been with me for a week, she had become something I wanted, a new feeling, coming with an unfamiliar ache I had never felt before.


    "I¡¯m sorry you saw that," I mumbled.


    Melody huffed, shaking her head. "Lilith!"


    I kept my eyes planted on Shade, who tilted her head. Lily, it¡¯ll be okay. This wolf isn¡¯t like the others.


    The little cat saw Melody as the least scary person in this building, probably because of her runt nature.


    "Look, I won¡¯t pretend to know how your body got to that state, especially since I wasn¡¯t there, but it had to be painful, right?" she grabbed my hands, facing me straight on.


    Her sudden touch caused me jitters, shifting my gaze to her. She wasn¡¯t afraid of touching me, even after what she saw in that bathroom. Even Tania, who knew everything that occurred to me, treated me like something brittle.


    Yet this wolf held me, just like any other day.


    How can your hand be so warm?


    Everyone who found out about my body''s condition always expressed pity toward me. My eyes widened upon seeing her expression.


    "Of course, it had to be so painful for you! I¡¯m sorry that ever happened to you! I wish I could¡¯ve been there to protect you from it!" Melody cried, tears streaking down her cheeks, leaving me stunned.


    She wept for me, and I didn¡¯t know what to do with that. I was used to rejection and prejudice, and this was something else entirely.


    "Melody," I whispered, mystified by her.


    Fenris showed only anger when he first saw my body, and she presented only sadness. I couldn¡¯t even understand them both.


    These two wolves will be the end of me.


    "I¡¯m so sorry!" she continued, apologizing for something she had no control over.


    She was the same age as Liam, meaning she would¡¯ve been twelve when Silverant''s fall happened. There wouldn¡¯t have been any way for her to stop it. Not even Fenris could convince the adults that something was wrong with me back then, even though he had tried so hard.


    According to Ben, on the little wolf¡¯s birthday, he sulked before the tragedy, not wanting to open his gifts. He didn¡¯t even care when they cut the cake or wanted to do anything with his friends. All the little silver blood wanted was to look for his friend.


    While many blamed themselves for


    "Don¡¯t cry." I tried to comfort her by placing my hand on her shoulder.


    It was almost as if my words were ignored.


    She continued to bawl, shaking her head.  "It isn¡¯t fair! I hate those who did this to you!"


    I shook my head before doing something I had never done to anyone but Fenris. I threw myself on her, hugging her ever so closely. Smothering herself into my chest, she continued to shed tears for me.


    "It¡¯s okay... Thank you... For shedding those tears for me. You don¡¯t know how much they mean to me." I whispered, holding her close to me.


    In an instant, she had become an irreplaceable existence.


    You don¡¯t know how good you¡¯ve been for this broken heart of mine. But will you accept the real me, Melody? Or will you¡­

 Chapter 50: Another Shimmering Light…

    Fenris opened the door, looking for the phone he had left on his bed. Melody didn¡¯t notice him come in. However, when he saw her sobbing, he turned right back around, only to slam into Liam, who rushed to the door upon hearing her cries.


    Seeing the boys almost tumbling into each other made me giggle.


    Is it okay for me to be this happy?


    "I¡¯ll protect you, too. Just Like Fenris does. No, I¡¯ll do it better!" Melody mumbled, continuing to sob.


    A soft hum felt my lips, feeling her fill a hole within me that no one else had.


    Will you say that if you know everything that happened that day?


    I tried to soothe her as best I could, but she quickly tugged away from me, noticing the audience we had gained. When the boys came into her view, she grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at them.


    "What are you two staring at?! Get out!" The black wolf yelled, eyes twitching, cheeks red.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t her room, it wasn¡¯t long before she stomped towards the door, kicking them out and scolding them some more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know to respect a girl¡¯s privacy!?!¡± She howled, not accepting any explanation from the two.


    Melody had such a small body compared to Layla, yet she was more fearless than anyone Lycan I had come to know. She told off two bigger wolves like they were pups, which amazed me. The boys were harmless to her, but the surrounding air didn¡¯t seem to be one of a runt.


    If anything, she reminded me of Fenris whenever his playful side withered away. Liam was right about her, yet to me, she was becoming my one and only friend.


    That¡¯s what Fenris called you, right? Can you truly be my first?


    She knew nothing about me, though. I didn¡¯t want this relationship to begin with a lie. Collecting my thoughts, I waited for the boys to leave as she slammed the door on them both.


    "Men... are just terrible, aren''t they?" Melody huffed, turning back to me.


    However, when she saw my expression, all her previous frustrations flushed away. I gently smiled at her, patting the bed beside me.


    "Melody... Would you like to hear my story?" My voice trembled.


    Even if it changed how she gazed at me, I wanted her to know everything.


    Fenris will probably yell at me for telling you later, but¡­


    I usually avoided anything related to my past; even my beloved wolf didn¡¯t know the full story from my side. They learned from a pack of files when Tania first took my account, which was missing many details.


    It felt like my voice wouldn¡¯t come out whenever I spoke about my past, yet something about Melody told me it would be okay.


    We were two kindred souls, broken in different ways. Perhaps knowing she wasn¡¯t a victim of the fall made me feel more comfortable.


    "I¡¯ll listen to anything you want to say to me, but only if you want to say it to me. Got it?" Melody answered, sitting beside me, ears and eyes entirely focused on me.


    A soft smile rose on my lips. ¡°Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me.¡±


    This was a tale I hadn¡¯t spoken to anyone about. Even though it was engraved in my mind almost every night, I would relive it some nights, others I wouldn¡¯t. Lately, what haunted me the most was the dream that ended with Fenris''s death.


    I also had a second reason for doing this: if, after this entire thing went down, she still could look at me the same way, perhaps she could help me figure out the festival''s meaning. Even though she was designated as a ''runt,'' she was also a Lycan.


    "Still, are you sure? You might hate me once, you know." I warned.


    Instead of backing away, Melody grabbed my hands, facing me head-on. "I really doubt that." She assured me.


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    It left me shaking my head slightly.


    You¡¯re one of a kind. I¡¯ll miss you dearly if this pushes you away. It makes me not want to tell you anything.


    "Hah... Before I start, I want you to know I¡¯m grateful for everything. Thank you for showing me what it is like to have a friend.¡± I smiled.


    Her eyes glossed, shaking her head as her lips curled down, "I¡¯ve never had one either. A broken wolf and a witch... What a pair we are." A soft sigh left her lips, "I¡¯ll always be your friend, that I¡¯m sure of."


    I glanced away from her and towards Shade, who tilted her head.


    Are you sure you want to do this? That¡¯ll be a hard hill to die on, Lily. Shade warned.


    There was no going back, though. If I wanted a genuine friendship, she would have to know everything.


    "Let¡¯s see after I tell you my story. If you still feel the same about me," I whispered, starting to feel a hole form in my chest.


    When my lips parted again, I began my story from the beginning until the end. I told Melody everything about my childhood, including how my mother slowly went insane after my father left us and how she died at the hands of the Cerberus order after they raided in pretenses.


    The events after my mother¡¯s death were still vivid in my mind. From how my grandmother blamed me to how she treated me whenever I failed to do anything, everything slipped out without stopping. Stella¡¯s search for perfection made me reach towards my back and remember all the whippings I had endured.


    How many grimoires are burned into this mind of mine because of you?


    I retold how she beat me senselessly for simply calling her my grandmother. Then I told Melody about my light and how I met Fenris. I watched him play with Liam, Ezra, and Owen before he yanked me out of the darkness.


    When I talked about my light, it filled me with an emotion that I didn¡¯t quite understand. I described how being with him made me feel alive, how I probably fell in love the first time I saw his smile, but most importantly, that he was the reason I wanted to live.


    Subsequently, I told Melody about how Stella tore me from everything to use me as a sacrifice to open the gate to the nether world. The way she beat me to a pulp before locking me up in a dark room for what felt like ages before coming back and carving my body into what it turned out to be.


    The smell of burning flesh still lingered vividly in my mind, and it made me shiver, wanting to turn myself into a ball. I continued telling Melody how it felt to wake up in freezing water before walking down a hall of witches, who were glad to see me sacrificed.


    The way the coven threw me into the sacrificial circle before Stella ravished me with a wooden stick, ruining me for life. I retold the moments when I woke up alone minutes before the ritual was completed and what I did in my stupidity to change the spell.


    ¡°I just wanted to save everyone, but I¡­¡± I trailed off before continuing.


    My mistake made me become the vessel of the realm the witches wished to unleash into this world. I destroyed Silverant because I couldn¡¯t control my emotions, along with all the people who died because of me, including how I made the man I loved more than life itself an orphan and crippled his brother.


    Liam had also lost his family because of me. I told her everything without hiding a single thing that happened. I thought I would¡¯ve broken down and cried, but my tears were dry. All I felt was hollow and broken, allowing me to confess how much I wanted to die when the dust settled but couldn¡¯t without damning the world to death.


    Throughout my story, I never dared to glance at Melody, who listened to me without interrupting. Fenris knew everything that happened from the files, yet he never dared to ask for my account.


    You probably thought it would hurt me, didn¡¯t you, my love? Ah¡­ you were right.


    It was agony to relive it, yet by the end of it all, I was empty. There was no anger or hate, just nothing. I had completely disconnected from the entire event of my torture.


    Yet my guilt is what weighs me down the most.


    ¡°Perhaps if I had died that day or if I hadn¡¯t done that spell that bound me. Maybe the crystal would¡¯ve been able to close the gate instead of being bound to me.¡± I voiced, gripping my chest.


    ¡°Nobody would live in constant fear of the world ending if that had been the case. Everyone would¡¯ve had a better life if it weren''t for me.¡± It didn¡¯t feel like it was me anymore.


    We sat silently for a moment while I collected my thoughts before slipping.


    "If I think about it. It would be better for Fenris... No, for everyone, if I could die without destroying the world. I want to die to make it easier for everyone. But I can¡¯t... I¡¯m trapped in this cage called life.¡± My voice trembled, breaking by the end.


    Ah¡­ I¡¯m still that caged bird. I never made it out of that circle.


    ¡°Now, I¡¯ll be forced to see the man I love marry another, unable to tell him how I feel. Pathetic, isn¡¯t it? I shouldn¡¯t be here at all." I cackled nervously.


    I knew my future was to be a caged bird without any sight of freedom. All the kindness Fenris wasted on me when I didn¡¯t want to be saved.


    No, I don¡¯t deserve a single ounce of anyone¡¯s kindness.


    The years never erased that from my mind. I was alive because I needed to, not because I wanted to. No matter how many times Fenris embraced me, it would never change the fact that he would never be mine.


    Even though I should¡¯ve been okay with living by Fenris''s side before I realized it, I wanted more than to be by his side.


    I want every ounce of Fenris to be mine and no one else. But¡­ It¡¯s impossible. If I do anything, I¡¯ll just hurt you.


    Even if he forgave me for everything else, I could never change my actions. Though, if I hadn¡¯t killed a single person, it still didn¡¯t change. He was the next alpha, destined to marry the beautiful Layla.


    When those words left my mouth, Melody snapped, yanking me into her sweet embrace.


    "Don¡¯t be so stupid! So, what if the world changed because of you?! You survived that horror and are still breathing now! That¡¯s all that matters! You¡¯re a survivor!" The black wolf declared, holding me in her arms ever so protectively.


    The only thing I could do was grip her dress, completely blown away by her.


    Your soul is too bright. I¡­ I can¡¯t!

 Chapter 51: Confrontation…

    Enveloped in Melody¡¯s warmth, I remained stunned, barely able to form words.


    "What?" I gasped.


    The black wolf held me tightly to her bosom, ringing her heartbeat in my ears, alerting me that she was worked up over what she had heard.


    "After listening to all of that, how could you blame yourself for everything that happened?" She huffed, growled, and held me like a pup in her protective embrace.


    Her warmth was like the one Fenris gave me whenever I woke up from a nightmare.


    "I killed all those people... Melody. That¡¯s something that can¡¯t be changed. How can I live when thousands died? I don¡¯t¡ª" I argued, trying to pull away from her.


    She denied me, though. There was no way she would let me go after hearing that.


    Do you even know what the netherworld is? Of course, you don¡¯t! You wouldn¡¯t be holding me like this if you did!


    Yet everyone knew about the gate after what happened fourteen years ago; the only thing hidden was me. I was the only piece of the puzzle that was concealed from the public view.


    "No, you didn¡¯t kill all those people! You were just ten, Lilith! If anyone must pay for this! It¡¯s that sisterhood that did this to you! You were trying to save everyone, not caring what happened to you!¡± Melody declared, leaving me wide open.


    Holding me closer, she wrapped her tail around me, too.


    ¡°So, what if it backfired?! You were just ten years old! How can anyone judge a ten-year-old girl who was abused in ways no one should?! Lilith, you¡¯re so brave and kind! Live! Live and survive in this cruel world! That¡¯s what should matter to you!" she cried again.


    Again, this wolf blew me wide open, holding me tighter with her trembling hands.


    This is the first time¡­ Anyone has¡­


    I was eerily reminded of Klein when he told Lilith to live, resulting in her living for revenge. Unlike her, I hated no one but had no desire to live other than Fenris.


    "I don¡¯t know if I can... I¡¯m just¡ª" I began, only for Melody to interrupt me soon by squeezing me.


    "Of course you can! Lilith, you must live! Not because of the thing inside you, but because you have the right to! Fight for whatever you want to! Heck, I¡¯ll help you win over that stupid wolf!" She smiled gently, cupping my cheeks in her hands.


    Tears fell from her cheeks when she tugged away from me, leaving me in awe of her.


    Can anyone like you exist? If they do, then how many can I meet?


    "I..." I trailed off, feeling her place her forehead against mine.


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    Grabbing onto my chest, I felt a new sensation grow within me.


    Can I live? Is that really a thing that is possible for me?


    "You¡¯ve just as much right to find happiness as anyone else. I¡¯m rooting for you and Fenris. Don¡¯t let the psycho bitch win!" she reassured me, swinging my heart open.


    This wolf was smashing all the walls I placed between my heart and this world. Tears flowed out of my eyes before I even realized it. Again, I broke, incapable of stopping my emotions; I cried in her lap as she whispered sweet things to soothe me.


    Her words had no hint of hate or anger, which I was accustomed to hearing. All I felt was her affection. I never expected her to cry for me or to say I had a chance at life, a first for me. Despite hearing everything I said, she pushed me forward with little fear.


    Shade, wanting in on the warmth, dropped beside her, purring. Much to my surprise, she didn¡¯t pull or push the little cat away after learning what she truly was; instead, Melody petted her with her free hand.


    "You did your best, Lilith. Now it¡¯s time to reach for everything you want in the world. It owes you that much." She caressed my hair, humming a lullaby.


    Her Grandmother used to sing it for her when she was distressed, something that stuck to her whenever she was baking. Kindness kept pouring my way, and I didn¡¯t know what to do with it.


    If I surround myself with people like her, I can move forward.


    When Fenris finally returned with Liam, who helped him carry some bags. Thanks to Layla''s slumber party, we had diminished most of our supplies in the prior days. However, chaos followed when my wolf saw me crying on Melody¡¯s lap.


    Dropping the bags where he was, he bolted towards us, stopping by the bed frame.


    "What did you do?!" Fenris growled at Melody, eyes shimmering.


    Ah¡­ You¡¯re wrong, she didn¡¯t¡­ hurt me. She filled me with hope, one I never thought I¡¯d have.


    Without looking at him, Melody continued to caress my hair.


    "All I did was tell her to live," She answered.


    I tugged away, wiping my face with the sleeves of my dress.


    "What?" Fenris questioned.


    ¡°Wait¡ª¡± I mumbled, attempting to come between the two.


    However, before I could finish, Melody turned towards him without flinching at her dreaded alpha.


    "Lilith told me everything about her past." She began, eyes twitching.


    ¡°Lily, told you, her past?¡± He breathed, shifting his eyes towards me before darting back at Melody when she gripped his shirt with her fists.


    "Fenris... Did you know she wants to die? How sad is that? Isn''t Lilith your fucking charge?!" she huffed, flashing her fangs at him.


    The silver amber eyes widened upon hearing her, shaking his head before gritting his teeth.


    "How could you fail so badly to protect her?! No... How cruel can you be parading that psychotic, heartless bitch around her?! Especially when she¡¯s so vulnerable?!" she went off on him.


    Lycans and their anger...


    This black wolf would be one heck of a Lycan to reckon with. If she ever recovered, her full connection to her beast form.


    "Melody..." I whispered.


    Fenris was aware of how I felt about everything that happened, but not that I still wanted to die. Part of me thought I had moved past it, but reliving it all left that desire alive, eating away at me, even if I slept in the arms of the man I loved every night.


    "Melody... I..." The silver wolf trailed off, shifting his gaze away from us.


    The brave Lycan holding him wasn¡¯t done with him yet, tugging on his shirt and forcing him to lock eyes with her.


    "Lilith wants to die, Fenris! It¡¯s all she wants, not to survive but to die! She thinks everyone would be better off if she were! Fix this! She doesn¡¯t deserve any of this!" she demanded.


    She asked for something he couldn¡¯t do in our last fourteen years together. Clenching his hands into a fist, he glanced towards me with an expression that made my heart sting.


    I¡­ never wanted you to look at me like that.


    Clasping onto my chest, my words felt so heavy upon seeing those eyes of him gloss.


    "Melody, it isn¡¯t as easy as it seems. Come, I will explain." Liam sighed, grabbing onto her shoulder.


    The black wolf quickly pulled away from him, "No! This is enough! Fenris, you need to do better! She¡¯s more than your ward, isn''t she?! I know she is!" She snapped at them both.


    Melody... If only everything were as simple as you wish it to be.

 Chapter 52: Connections…

    Melody had backed my beloved wolf into a corner.


    "Enough... Fenris¡¯s doing his best. He¡¯s always doing his best!" I spoke up, fighting the knots my voice had become.


    ¡°Lily¡­¡± My wolf trailed off, narrowing his eyes before grabbing me by my shoulders and pressing his forehead against mine.


    I had never seen him so troubled before like he wanted to say so many things to me but couldn¡¯t. Instead of putting it into words, he tugged me to meet with his lips, leaving everyone in the room speechless. Liam already knew about us, but Melody didn¡¯t.


    I would never dare tell anyone about what we did behind these closed doors. Before I knew it, Fenris''s tongue glazed over my bottom lip, causing me to welcome him in, unable to resist him. With a gentle smirk, he pushed his smooth muscle into my mouth before caressing mine.


    His tender kiss left me feeling hazed. I gripped his shirt with my fists for support when he separated from me to allow me to breathe. Licking his lower lip, he glanced at Melody, who was wide open, cheeks redder than a tomato after witnessing our tender moment.


    "I¡¯ll keep reminding her of reasons to live for as often as I need to." Fenris tugged my head onto his chest.


    His heartbeat was so loud that I could feel it against my cheeks, pounding just like mine. Melody stared at us, stunned by what the wolf had done. I had never told her we had a physical relationship, but from how he toned it¡­


    Is it an emotional one, too? Are my feelings not alone? Did I hear you correctly before?


    But he was¡­


    No, you aren¡¯t meant to be mine. Layla¡­ can I beat her? Can you be mine?


    "Y-you b-better!" Melody squealed, running out of the room, followed by Liam.


    Once the door closed and everyone was out, we were alone again. Fenris pushed me down onto the bed, growling under his breath. However, instead of yelling or scolding me, he hauled me into his arms. Once there, he held me quietly for a few minutes, allowing me to bask in his warmth.


    "You... told her." My wolf sighed.


    I nodded, leaning closer into his warmth.


    "Why?" he questioned, shaking his head.


    A kindred spirit...


    Though, what bothered this wolf probably was how I hadn¡¯t told him my side. My heart was becoming a storm that I didn¡¯t know what to do with. All that was clear to me was that I didn¡¯t want to burden Fenris anymore.


    I want to be your equal. Is that possible?


    "I didn¡¯t want to lie to her," I replied honestly, closing my eyes and trying to steady my heart.


    Are you going to yell at me?


    "Do you know how wrong that could¡¯ve gone?" My wolf held me closer.


    "Yes... I know." I mumbled into his chest.


    He sighed. "Heh... What¡¯s done can''t be changed, I guess. That girl... is something special, though." A soft chuckle left him, triggering me to hum before snuggling onto him more.


    "Yes, she is." I simpered, still feeling stuffy from all the crying.


    We both stayed silent for a moment, enjoying each other¡¯s warmth. Though, it wasn¡¯t long until¡­


    "Do you still want to die, Lily?" Fenris whispered, voice cracking.


    Will you cry for me if I do?


    That would be the last thing I would ever want to happen.


    "I do. Or I did... I don¡¯t know anymore," I replied, snuggling myself more, trying not to gaze at him.


    This time, though, he wouldn¡¯t let it go.


    "Why?" he asked, grabbing my chin and pulling me to face him.


    His eyes were painful to look at, alerting me that wasn¡¯t the answer he wanted to hear from me, while that wasn¡¯t the expression I wanted him to have.


    "I don¡¯t deserve to live," I confessed, touching his cheek with my fingertips.


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    His warmth tingled into them.


    "Lily..." Fenris muttered, narrowing his eyes, not enjoying my choice of words.


    "I hurt so many people. I¡¯m nothing but a..." I mumbled, not wanting to finish.


    I had decided not to tell him what I felt. It slipped with Melody, but I wouldn¡¯t burden him further, yet my desire to be more than just his charge grew.


    Can I be something more? Will this world allow me to be with you?


    "You are...?" Fenris tried to coax it out of me.


    Shade hopped between us, squeezing her way towards me before laying among us.


    "Nothing..." I answered, tugging away from his cheek.


    "Lilith," Fenris growled.


    "Why did you kiss me in front of them? I-I thought... No one could know." I asked for him to sigh.


    Shaking his head, he took the bait.


    "Well, you already kissed me in front of Layla." Fenris pointed out, causing me to stutter a bit because of it.


    I pushed myself away, narrowing my eyes.


    "M-Melody d-didn¡¯t see you r-return the k-kiss." I stuttered, only to realize he had never returned the kiss in front of Layla.


    It was so short.


    "Actually... you never returned the kiss," I whispered, feeling hollow thinking about it.


    It was like a hole opened in my chest, draining all other emotions within it.


    "I..." Fenris trailed off.


    His lack of words left me feeling hollow.


    After the red moon¡­


    "I¡¯m sorry. She¡¯s your future wife, and I should¡¯ve respected that." I tried to hold myself together, holding onto my chest.


    Before I knew it, his lips clashed with mine, and I instinctively allowed his tongue to play with mine. Caging me under him, he drowned me in a flurry of kisses before separating himself to allow me to breathe.


    His eyes shimmered, giving off a light hue.


    "I don¡¯t want you to ever apologize to anyone, not Layla, Kira, Ryker, or me." He growled.


    "Fenris..." I murmured his name, reaching for his cheek.


    Before I could meet with it, he kissed me again, gentler this time. Sitting me up, I was between his legs as he intertwined his hands with mine. Tugging away from my lips, his amber eyes met with mine.


    "Lilith, you¡¯re a part of me. If you die... I would lose that part of myself with you. I would lose..." Fenris stopped himself before finishing by biting his lip, shifting his gaze away from me.


    Even though I wanted him to finish that sentence, I didn¡¯t push him further.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I can¡¯t die," I assured him.


    His glance shot back onto me in a second, huffing before shaking his head.


    "You can be so dense sometimes. I don¡¯t want you to live just because you can¡¯t die, Lily." He sighed again.


    Perhaps I knew what he wanted to convey, yet I wanted him to say it, too. That was the only way I would know it was real, not some fantasy I made up.


    "I know," I whispered, for him to huff.


    "I don¡¯t think you do. I can¡¯t say it straight yet, but... Arg¡­ How can I make you understand?" He grumbled, rolling his eyes.


    I giggled. "Maybe I know.¡±


    My words caused Fenris to growl, ¡°No, you don¡¯t!¡±


    Remembering Melody''s words, I needed to surpass this.


    Perhaps... I can be like her.


    I had to be bold and let nothing stop me this time. My denial of believing Fenris could genuinely love me was something I probably couldn¡¯t beat unless he hammered it into me. It was easier to think it was because I was his sense of duty.


    Fenris never seemed to mind the scars on my body nor the skeletons in my past. Instead, he cared for me, no matter what. Melody had said he looked at me differently from others, too.


    But¡­ in this world, can I be something other than a duty to you? Can you love me freely?


    For once, the cage surrounding me blurred when I tried to escape.


    "You, Ben, Melody, Liam¡ªall of you confuse me. I could live if I can make a stupid wish first." I faced him straight on.


    Like I did with Melody, I could no longer hide my true feelings for him. I wanted to be his equal in every way. He cared for me all these years, but from this point forward, I would care for him too.


    A two-way street.


    Live, Melody said.


    I would try, even if I stumbled the entire way there.


    "And what would that be?" Fenris asked, gripping my hands.


    I mean... who can stop me from wanting you?


    Liam was right; I had suffered enough. Melody was correct; I had to fight for what I wanted. Fenris was also valid in his point; I had to stop saying sorry for everything. Perhaps, for once, the world owed me instead.


    Can I believe you aren¡¯t out of my reach, little wolf?


    Maybe Ryker was right, and they couldn¡¯t contain me any longer. All that truly held me back were my fears, the heaviest chains that bound me.


    Can I be something more than a sacrifice? Yes¡­ I can. Be bold, Lilith.


    All I had to do was break free and fly; it was the only way to prevent the horrors of that dream.


    Yes¡­ If I never leave your side, no one can take you away from me.


    "Become mine." I suddenly declared, triggering Fenris''s cheeks to flush red.


    I heard you right that day. You called me your love when you held me. I need to believe it! Or else I¡­


    Perhaps what he wanted to say before was that he would lose his heart if I died. Even if these were just dreams or delusions, I had to believe in them to move forward. If I forgot the pain, I could focus on all the good that happened within these past few days.


    They all showed I could be accepted and had to push forward without taking a step back.


    I know I can be loved!


    "I..." Fenris trailed off.


    His lack of words would¡¯ve devastated me if his cheeks weren¡¯t rosy or his eyes weren¡¯t full of desire. There was nothing more to hold back on. Melody''s outburst made me realize what I truly wanted in this world.


    Lily, I¡¯m with you! Show this little wolf who we are! Shade purred, dropping beside us.


    Yes¡­ I¡¯ll find a way to protect everyone I care about.


    It would all start by tethering myself to the heart of the man I loved the most so that no one else could have him, even if he weren¡¯t mine to have in the end. I would make it so no one could have him as I did.


    Taking my chance, I pushed him onto the bed frame behind him, smiling, feeling confident for the first time. The hope that filled my heart was bursting, swelling within me.


    "Ever since I saw you at that silly game store. I¡¯ve loved you, Fenris."


    It only took me fourteen years, but I told my wolf what I felt all these years. This time, no one could stop me. Even if he already knew, I didn¡¯t care. I wanted to tell him in my voice.


    He had to know what it meant to me every time he held me in his arms. From this moment onward, I would try to wish to live, to be with him and those who were dear to me. And... nothing would stop me from trying to break free from my cage.


    I¡¯ll fly further than anyone else in this world.

 Chapter 53: The Moira Witch

    After Fenris heard me say I loved him, his eyes glossed. He seemed to want to say something to me again but didn¡¯t. Instead, he bit his lip, glancing away from me before cursing.


    Ah¡­ Did I say something I¡¯m not supposed to?


    Every fiber of my being told me to run away and hide, but against it all, I stood firm. My gaze shifted away from the troubled wolf, making me clasp onto my dress.


    I¡­


    Before that thought could fully form, the silver wolf pushed me onto the bed, tossing Shade towards the side. Luckily, she didn¡¯t complain about this rough handling, heading to her tower instead.


    His piercing amber eyes gazed at me for a moment, "I... You... Not like this." Fenris bit his lip.


    I reached to touch his warm cheek, humming when he leaned into my touch.


    The last thing I want is to force you to say anything.


    My feelings had done the opposite of what I wanted them to do.


    "You don¡¯t have to say anything. I... know I don¡¯t deserve¡ª" I stopped, noticing a soft growl from him.


    His lips found mine a second later, silencing me from saying anything else, tugging away from our brief kiss before he leaned into my ear and undid the buttons on my dress.


    "You understand nothing. But you will... soon... give me more time. Meanwhile, I¡¯ll repeatedly make you mine until you finally realize what you are to me without me saying it." Fenris murmured into my ear.


    Hearing him say that made my heart beat rapidly, too, but there was something he got wrong¡ªsomething I had to correct.


    "I am already yours alone," I assured him, triggering a smile on his lips.


    "Where are you getting this cheekiness from? Melody?" Fenris asked, studying me.


    "Maybe... Is it bad?" I mumbled.


    He peeled my dress off, leaving me only in my underwear. Even though he had done this so many times before, I felt more exposed this time than the last time we made love; tracing his fingers on my bare skin, he chuckled.


    He closed his eyes before slowly opening them, meeting my alluring gaze.


    "Bad? No... I remember when you got angry at me for letting you win. I want you to be like that. Be more honest and happier with yourself," Fenris simpered, remembering a happier time.


    That was the one expression I always wanted to see in him.


    "I see," I smiled back.


    My expression triggered Fenris to grab onto me, kissing me lightly on my lips before going down to my neck. His fingers traced my chest to my navel, leaving me quivering in anticipation.


    "Hey, you know... you are beautiful, right?" Fenris suddenly declared, shifting his gaze to meet with mine.


    I didn¡¯t know what eyes he looked at me with, but they weren¡¯t normal. My body was unattractive to anyone else, yet his words warmed my heart.


    "I... only to you," I whispered without realizing it.


    In response to my out loud thought, Fenris grabbed onto my hand, placing it on his groin. There was something hard in his pants. His...


    "You¡¯re the only one who can make me like this. Layla can¡¯t get me like this." Fenris declared, triggering my cheeks to turn into different shades of pink.


    Flustered by his words, I tried to pull away, but he didn¡¯t let me escape. His actions were stirring me up to no end, too. Upon seeing my reaction to his confession, he chuckled before sweetly blowing on my ear, making me shiver where I was.


    "Fenris, wait, my heart can¡¯t keep you!¡± I huffed, feeling it drum within my chest.


    A soft chuckle left him, keeping my hand on his tented pants, stroking himself with them.


    "Why are you being like this? You already did so many things to it a few days ago. And now you are shy from just touching it through my pants?" Fenris purred, leaning onto my lips again.


    Letting go of my captured hand, he placed his on the back of my head to secure the kiss so I couldn¡¯t tug away. Not that I wanted to. Returning his affection, I hesitantly stroked him through his pants, causing him to release a slight moan.


    Separating from me, he licked his lips before unbuckling his belt. I continued to stroke him, even when he pulled his heat out of his pants. The hunger in his eyes was alluring to me. I was about to be eaten again by the big bad wolf towering over me.


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    The tip of his member was starting to get wetter with each stroke, leaving me wondering if it did that when he caressed my insides.


    Soft huffs left him, leaning into my ear, ¡°Your hand feels so good, Lily. But I want to bury myself in you.¡±


    A hum rose from me, shifting my eyes away from the wolf¡¯s hot breaths. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed the bags he and Liam brought in.


    Pulling away from his heat, "Fenris... The bags..." I pointed towards them.


    Following my gaze, Fenris rolled his eyes, annoyed by the interruption.


    A sigh soon left his lips, too. "Shit... Do you think the ice cream will melt if I make love to you first?¡±


    His question was met by a pinch on his cheek, triggering him to groan and wince.


    It has probably melted already! Food shouldn¡¯t be forgotten or wasted!


    "Put it away!" I scolded, puffing my cheeks.


    It instigated a light growl from his lips before he sighed again.


    "Fine... But after, I¡¯ll make you senseless." Fenris teased, licking my lips.


    Rolling my eyes, I pulled him into a light kiss before tugging away, smiling.


    "Promise?" I whispered.


    ¡°Of course,¡± He smirked, pulling me into another kiss. ¡°Stay put until I put everything away.¡±


    Something I didn¡¯t do as I got dressed soon after he left me to help him.


    ¡°Really? I would¡¯ve much rather have you naked on the bed. It motivated me way more.¡± He sighed, prompting me to throw a marshmallow bag at him.


    The wolf quickly caught it before it did any damage to him.


    ¡°Maybe you shouldn¡¯t think with your penis all the time, jerk!¡± I huffed, picking up another bag.


    ¡°Aw, come on, it¡¯s how I show how much I want you.¡± He chuckled.


    I couldn¡¯t comprehend how this wolf saw me as attractive compared to the other ladies in his life. Layla, Kira, Melody, and even Cora were all beautiful women, and then there was me. My body was nothing like theirs, and even if it was, it didn¡¯t change that I was a witch, one wicked being who loved him with all her heart.


    Yet because of this alone, the Lycan elders wouldn¡¯t accept our relationship. Alphas like Fenris could only marry a purebred wolf, much like Layla.


    Something I can¡¯t change¡­ But I can hope, can¡¯t I?


    Our room was small but came with everything we needed to live there. There was a small stove, microwave, storage, fridge, and bathroom within the confines, and it was finally restocked. After we put away everything, Fenris made do with his word, dragging me back onto the bed, where he made love to me repeatedly until I couldn¡¯t think of anything else but him.


    When I woke up the following day, he was still asleep on the bed. Kissing him lightly on his cheek, I stood up, only to be pulled into the bed again.


    "Where are you going?" Fenris mumbled into my ear.


    I lightly kissed him again, this time on his lips.


    "I¡¯m going to the library. There¡¯s something I want to look up." I informed him.


    My beloved wolf rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Why not stay here with me?" he asked, tracing his fingers down my curves to tempt me back into his arms.


    It would¡¯ve been a hard urge to ignore if I did have more pressing matters. Being in the room with my beloved wouldn¡¯t help me save my light from that terrible nightmare. If it was a premonition or not, I couldn¡¯t shake away the feeling it left in me.


    "Because I can¡¯t be productive if I stay here," I said.


    My words triggered his tail to wag, enjoying the challenge I posed.


    So cute¡­ No... don¡¯t sink in again. Be strong, Lilith.


    It only took a moment for my strong front to crack.


    Why are Lycan ears and tail like fluffy clouds?! It makes you harder to refuse!


    "Is that so bad?" Fenris teased, grabbing my hand and placing it on his chest before trailing it down to his abdomen and into his groin


    The warmth his skin gave me could last me a lifetime.


    "Yes!" I squealed, incapable of pulling away from him.


    Letting me go, he chuckled, enjoying my reactions to his playful attempt to get me back into the bed.


    "Fine. I¡¯ll go with you then, Lily." Fenris announced, getting up from the bed.


    What?! But¡­


    It wasn¡¯t ideal to have him tag along, but I would have to make do. If I had rejected him flat out, it would have made him suspicious.


    I guess I¡¯ll have to be careful about what I read in front of you.


    Witches and warlocks would know at least something about it. If not, perhaps another book from the library could have more information. Although grimoires were primarily found there, they also contained data about other races and their cultures.


    I also wanted to see if I could get Melody alone, once again, to ask her about what she knew about the moon festival. However, under Fenris''s watchful eyes, I couldn¡¯t do that to the extent I wanted to.


    "I can go to the library by myself," I mumbled.


    He licked my cheek, causing my cheeks to burn.


    You¡¯re so unpredictable.


    "I won¡¯t bother you," he reassured me.


    That isn¡¯t the issue!


    I knew he would wait for me as long as I needed it, but I didn¡¯t want him to know I was snooping. Sadly, the best way to hide things was to be open about them.


    "Fine..." I grumbled.


    Yet I couldn¡¯t tell him why he couldn¡¯t come either. It was a losing situation, no matter what I tried. Giving up on the thought of him staying behind, I went to take a shower, only to be joined by him not too long into it.


    After a steamy shower, we got ready to go when he picked up his phone from the table beside my bed.


    ¡°Crap, Liam called me ten times. Give me a moment, Lily.¡± He sighed, calling his friend back.


    Taking the opportunity, I headed out ahead of my wolf. It was sneaky of me, but I had to do it. I had to change to protect my light from that weird dream that chilled me. Little did I know that hours after I decided to live instead of waiting for death, my resolve was about to be tested.


    Walking down the hall, I could feel more glances than usual, and the comments were also directed at me.


    ¡°Is that her?¡±


    ¡°Oh god... It¡¯s her.¡±


    Lily¡­ Something is off. Shade mumbled.


    ¡°Shameful little thing.¡±


    ¡°Can''t believe she can just walk around here like it''s nothing.¡±


    The gossip piled up when Fenris yelled my name from behind me. His voice was full of pure desperation, stopping me where I stood when someone finally commented on something that made everything more evident.


    ¡°She¡¯s a Moira witch. Careful with what you say.¡±


    Ah... This will complicate things.


    Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath when Fenris reached me and grabbed me by my shoulder. His hands were trembling.


    Whatever Liam told you must¡¯ve been bad¡­ Crap.


    "Lilith, we have to go," Fenris growled, glancing at his surroundings.


    Something caught Shade''s eyes beside us. Lily, look, she pawed at my cheek, guiding me to gaze towards the billboard next to us.


    Fenris tried to drag me away before I could read what was posted, but it wasn¡¯t fast enough. On the board was an alarming article published by a news company in Silverant. They wrote the headline in bold letters.


    There¡¯s a Moira Witch in Cerberus Custody, And No One Was Told!!


    Below was the sentence that followed that headline: What happened to the justice for all those who died?!


    I never knew plans could go on fire until that moment. It wasn¡¯t only that; my entire life was going up in an inferno, turning my cage smaller than it used to be.

 Chapter 54: Shadows In The Distance…

    Even without thoroughly reading the article, I could see it was a hit piece on me for being associated with the sisters of Moira. Fenris didn¡¯t let me stay longer, dragging me back inside the room. His entire body heat was radiating hotter than ever before, along with soft growls leaving his lips.


    Liam promptly arrived with a paper in his hands moments later; it was the same article plastered all over the boards in the building, and whoever posted it spread all over town to blogs in the computerized applications. Upon reading the article, Fenris¡¯s eyes twitched, scowling at the sight of it.


    His eyes shimmered brightly, startling Liam, who seemed to be the bearer of bad news.


    ¡°Stay with her and don¡¯t leave her side, understood?¡± The silver wolf turned to his friend.


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Liam nodded, gazing at me.


    I quickly grabbed Fenris¡¯s shirt, whose glance also shifted towards me.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± I mumbled, unsure if I wanted to be separated from him.


    A soft smile rose on his lips, ¡°Ryker, something isn¡¯t right.¡± leaning down to kiss my forehead. ¡°Stay here with Liam.¡± He turned towards the door, but before reaching it, a knock came.


    Opening it, Melody rushed in, grabbing onto me protectively. Her embrace was so warm, yet my eyes couldn¡¯t shift away from my wolf, who exited the room to find the elf. My mind had turned into a storm, wondering what else they wrote in those pages.


    I didn¡¯t own a phone or anything like it. So, I couldn¡¯t see the article unless Liam handed me the papers. Luckily, in anger, Fenris returned the paper to the brown wolf before storming out.


    "Liam... may I see it?" I asked, walking towards him.


    He instantly hesitated to give them to me. "I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea, Lilith." The cautious wolf argued, narrowing his eyes.


    The article wouldn¡¯t make me explode, but I needed to know if my name was mentioned.


    "Lilith... It¡¯s just a one-sided hit piece. Nothing more than trash." Melody huffed.


    I shook my head before gazing at the brown wolf again, "If it¡¯s about me. I need to know. Please." I begged, not wanting to take it by force, but I would if I had to.


    He glanced away from me momentarily, only to sigh before handing them to me.


    ¡°Thank you, Liam.¡± I voiced for him to avoid my gaze.


    Is it that bad?


    Melody sat beside me, and Liam stood by us when I read the article about me. They based it on files that were dropped by the news company on what happened, leaving out crucial details, painting me as a terrorist who willingly gave my body and life to their cause.


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    The article called for justice even if I was a child when it happened, mentioning the cult brainwashed me to do their bidding. In their eyes, I helped end Silverant, naming me a murderer and monster, just like every other Moira witch. Worse yet, it told the world that the nether portal was opened because of these bodily sacrifices I made.


    Thus, I was responsible for everything. At least it didn¡¯t call me the vessel of the gate; instead, it said Ben Silver Fang had saved them all when he captured me. That didn¡¯t shake me much, even though it was full of misinformation.


    I already knew what people would make me be, but as I continued to read... I saw something written there that sent shivers down my spine. The writer never named the child until the end of his hit piece.


    The witch''s name is Lilith, and she¡¯s the granddaughter of Moira''s headmistress Stella.


    When I saw it, I felt a cold sensation embrace my body; remembering what Liam said, this was spread everywhere. Stella would know I survived the sacrifice, meaning nothing could stop her from finding me.


    Flashes of my dream flowed through me as I crumbled the article in my hands.


    Last time, you killed Fenris''s family. Will you come after him this time?


    Standing up from my bed, Liam and Melody followed me as I headed towards the window. The black wolf quickly grabbed me by my waist, preventing me from reaching it.


    "You can¡¯t!" she tried to persuade me.


    I glanced at her, unable to follow.


    "What?" I muttered, utterly baffled.


    Does she think I¡¯m going to commit suicide?


    Her hands trembled, warming my heart in ways I never thought I¡¯d feel.


    "There¡¯s so much to live for!" she continued, voice quivering.


    Ah... you misunderstood.


    "Melody..." I tried to explain what I wanted to do, but she grabbed me tighter instead of letting me speak.


    Any more, and you¡¯ll merge with me.


    "There is!" she continued to hold on to me.


    I lost it.


    How can you care for me so much? Silly girl.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to jump off." I laughed, unable to stop.


    Why do you always have to be so robust and random? How can you think I¡¯ll kill myself and damn everything around me?


    I would never do that while Fenris was alive.


    "What?!" she spat, surprised by my sudden burst of cackles.


    Liam chuckled on the side, sitting on Fenris''s bed.


    "I won¡¯t kill myself because of this." I giggled, unable to stop myself.


    Her reactions were tickling me too much.


    "But you were going for the window," Melody mumbled, shifting her gaze from me to the window.


    "Yeah... I just wanted some fresh air." I assured her.


    She slowly released her grip on me. "Oh..." she voiced, cheeks rosy, glancing towards Liam, who smiled at her.


    He enjoyed the moment as much as I did, melting her right where she stood. Stepping away from the smitten wolf, I returned to the window before opening it. Melody''s randomness lifted some of the desperation that was swelling within me, preventing me from going into a spiral of chaotic emotions.


    I didn¡¯t know if I would¡¯ve returned from that without Fenris. Glancing towards the crumpled paper, I sighed before throwing it out of the window. Somewhere beyond this city, Stella was waiting in the shadows.


    It¡¯ll be a matter of time before you know I¡¯m alive. The explosions and purple liquid made the Lycans go mad. Is all this your doing, grandmother? If they are, I¡¯ll stop every plan you have.


    For that, though, I needed to find out what it was. All I required was to steady my heart and fight, no matter the cost. The clogs were moving, and I had to do everything to stop my dream from becoming a reality.


    Even if it means turning into what society sees me as. Perhaps I was never meant to be a force of good. The world is evil; if it takes a wicked hand to deal with it, I¡¯ll gladly become it.

 Chapter 55: Tensions

    Sitting by the window, I saw crowds gather by the gates of Cerberus, all calling for my head on a silver platter.


    ¡°Kill the wicked witch! Everyone in the Moria coven must be put to death!¡± they chanted loudly, waving banners.


    Funny enough, I don¡¯t blame you a lot for feeling that way.


    They were discordant after reading such an article; it was a miracle that Cerberus guards weren¡¯t letting people in.


    Their dedication is almost admirable.


    Most of them had a history of what happened fourteen years ago. People hated me because of what I was, not what I did. No gate would hold them if they knew what I truly was. I wondered if they would touch me if they knew the whole truth, or would they live in fear like most of the people who knew me?


    However, compared to their anger, nothing scared me more than Stella. My thoughts obsessed over what she planned, leaving me trembling in my seat.


    I¡¯ll never let you do that again!


    When Fenris finally returned to the room, he announced someone had broken into the ''secured'' files where my medical records were located. A fire elf that worked in Cerberus was identified as the culprit but was found dead soon after in his dorm room.


    Suicide, they called it. They found him hanging by a ceiling fan.


    There were no clues in his room to explain why he did that. However, it seemed he didn¡¯t deliver the information to the news outlets.


    No, that was someone else.


    A camera near the news building showed a dark, hooded figure dropping it off. From the shape, one could tell it was a woman, though her origins were unknown. She covered her face well enough to avoid exposure.


    It also appeared that the files were stolen two days ago, but no one noticed. They were too busy preparing for the Lycan festival, ensuring it was safe for all the participants after the recent attack.


    Again, they had gotten comfy.


    A soft groan left Fenris¡¯s lips as he sat on the bed, shaking his head. "Why does nothing go right?¡±


    Keeping me safe was impossible, thanks to how everything was warped and leaked to the public. It was good that they still didn¡¯t know I was a vessel.


    That will prevent the witches from doing something stupid, but... If word somehow reaches Stella in whatever hole you''re in...


    She wouldn¡¯t care if I were or not.


    All you ever desired was for me to suffer and die. Well, after I had enough of your punishment.


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    Melody called Layla a psychopath, but she was nothing compared to Stella.


    No one¡¯s safe anymore.


    "Why can''t the ascension happen faster?! I feel so powerless to stop anything!" My wolf finally broke.


    The pressure was too much for him. That much was evident to me.


    This is what I want to avoid at all costs.


    If I weren¡¯t the vessel for death, then perhaps he wouldn¡¯t have to worry as much.


    Liam grabbed his friend by the shoulder. "Don¡¯t worry, Fen, we¡¯ll figure everything out. You aren¡¯t alone in this man. I¡¯m here for you."


    The years of stress were showing in the cracks forming on the silver wolf.


    Ever since I met you, you became my prisoner. All I want to do is free you, but I must change for that! Yes! I must move forward!


    Stella couldn¡¯t make me cower in fear anymore.


    I¡¯m not that tiny girl you used to take your frustrations on!


    I got up from the chair and headed towards Fenris.


    "Whoever did this... I¡¯ll rip them apart and ensure they can¡¯t see another day!" He growled, clenching his hands into fists.


    The pure animosity in his voice was startling, as I had never heard him speak like that towards anyone. Instinctively, my body moved, and I hugged him from behind. Covering his eyes with my hands, I tried to calm his rage.


    Hate was a feeling I had struggled to keep out of my life. I fought with every fiber in my body to not be like the woman who tortured me.


    Yet, you¡­ You can¡¯t let it win!


    "Fenris, you can¡¯t, I¡¯m okay," I whispered.


    Grabbing my hands, he turned towards me, pressing his forehead against mine. It was so warm. His tail wrapped around my waist, ensuring I was close to him.


    Safe.


    Intertwining his hands with mine, I simpered gently, enjoying his presence, even though he seemed in anguish.


    "Lily..." he mumbled, wincing.


    I caressed his cheek. "Fenris... You don¡¯t want to be a murderer. Once you have innocent blood in your hands, it can never be undone."


    There was no one better than me to know what it felt like to have killed thousands in the blink of an eye. It was something I could never undo and a feeling I never wanted him to have. Even though working in Cerberus meant he would have to kill, I didn¡¯t know if he had ever slain anyone.


    This wolf never told me about his training or what he endured. Even so, murdering someone who couldn¡¯t protect themselves or was weaker than oneself was unacceptable.


    "Innocent?! They¡¯re trying to hurt you! I won¡¯t allow that again!" Fenris argued, releasing a sharp growl from his lips.


    Even though he tried to seem harsh, his amber orbs appeared so tired.


    I¡¯d dare say delicate, too. My little wolf is struggling. I¡¯m so sorry I failed you, Fenris.


    In all these years, I hadn¡¯t released him from this burden he carried. Taking a deep breath, I sighed before shaking my head.


    "I¡¯m not innocent in this either. Even if they twisted the facts around for a more favorable response, I¡¯m still the Moira witch used for the sacrifice. Nothing can change that." I smiled, touched by him.


    Sadly, I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of him hurting anyone because of me, especially since I was guilty of some of their claims. Though unwillingly, I was part of that coven and participated in the ritual.


    I probably saved some lives with what I did, but still, many others died because I failed to do better. There was no reason to blame them for their hatred as long as I had an escape that mattered to me.


    "Lilith... No... I won¡¯t allow you to bear this all by yourself. You¡¯re nothing like those witches." Fenris sighed.


    ¡°He¡¯s right; it isn¡¯t as simple as black and white,¡± Liam added.


    "Yes, you¡¯re nothing like the article pains you as!" Melody huffed.


    Instead of changing my mind, they reinforce it.


    These three wolves are all I need to live.


    For that reason, I had to be strong. I could let no one else deviate me from the path I chose.


    To live for Fenris. To see you happy, even if you aren''t mine, as long as I own your heart, is all I need.


    "Thank you." I simpered, feeling flustered by their words.


    In response to my shy smile, Fenris lightly kissed my lips. His eyes shimmered a bit when he did so, leaving me pondering what was running through his mind.

 Chapter 56: A New Thing To Learn

    A soft smile rose on my wolf¡¯s lips, trailing his fingers down my cheek.


    "Liam... I¡¯ll need you to clear your schedule for the next few weeks," Fenris ordered, not turning his gaze away from me.


    Upon hearing his alpha''s command, the brown wolf nodded. "Already cleared Fen,¡± he confirmed.


    "Good. Melody... if I can¡¯t convince Ryker to let me stay with Lilith during the festival. Can you do it for me?" My wolf turned to her slightly.


    ¡°Of course!¡± She grinned, wagging her tail.


    His question left me hollow, though.


    Are you leaving me during the festival? I won¡¯t have you by my side for that entire week if that happens.


    If that was what he meant, I couldn¡¯t expect everything to go as planned. My time was running out.


    Upon hearing her confirmation, he smiled at her, making her cheeks rosy. She quickly turned to Liam, whose eyes twitched because of her reaction towards Fenris. Perhaps he wished she would react similarly to him, but she always did.


    "Great.¡± Fenris turned to me.


    ¡°Lily... You can¡¯t leave this room for the time being." He informed, cupping my cheek on his palm.


    Not only would he have to leave me as soon as the festival began, but I would also have to be stuck in this room.


    This isn¡¯t good at all.


    Everything was getting complicated in ways I hadn¡¯t expected.


    "Fenris, I..." I wanted to complain but couldn¡¯t pull any words together.


    How can I make things more difficult for you? Bear it...


    "We can¡¯t trust anyone here in Cerberus. I hope you understand, Lily." Fenris added.


    I nodded, not happy about it, but I wouldn¡¯t go against his wishes. All he was trying to do was protect me. However, I would be separated from him once the festival began, which bothered me the most. The timing for everything seemed off.


    Everything is too perfect and convenient to be accurate. Why are they isolating you from me?


    It didn¡¯t make me confident that the festival would go as everyone hoped. There were only a few things I could try to do before it began. Grabbing onto Fenris''s shirt, I drew him towards me when he went to get up.


    "Wait, I¡¯ll be a good girl... but in one condition." I started, causing him to get flushed cheeks because of how he fell onto me.


    Melody went to grab Liam and headed for the door, fearing it was about to get too embarrassing to stay in the room.


    "W-what¡¯s t-that?" Fenris stuttered.


    All I wanted was for him to...


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    "I¡¯ll need one of those tablets. If I can¡¯t go to the library, it¡¯ll just have to come to me." I suggested, smiling innocently.


    It caused Fenris to sigh in disappointment, thinking I would say something else. Liam and Melody appeared to relax, too.


    "Hah... Okay. I¡¯ll call Ben to buy you one. He¡¯ll bring it to you after he finishes in town." My wolf chuckled nervously.


    Cute, I can¡­ No, focus!


    "Ben¡¯s in town?" I asked, curious.


    "Yeah, he went to deal with the news company. Hopefully, they¡¯ll rescind the publication. Either way, it¡¯s out now, so we must be extra vigilant." Fenris answered.


    I nodded, letting him go.


    Extra vigilant, huh?


    Even if Stella hadn¡¯t seen the article yet, it would only be a matter of time before she did. Most of Cerberus thought she was dead, along with the other Moira sisters, yet I knew in my heart that she was still out there.


    Tania took it upon herself to travel, following any leads that might have led her to them. Though, I knew she was moving chess pieces from the shadows.


    Ah¡­ it¡¯s been years since I thought of you so much.


    That day was longer than any day should have been, and waiting for Ben to return was the worst. At least I had Fenris, Melody, and Liam with me the entire time. With them in the room, it almost felt like a typical day.


    Melody tried to distract me with idle chatter while Fenris and Liam searched on their phones for fresh developments. Thankfully, Ben arrived before dusk, shifting the atmosphere to change again in the room.


    The older brother had dark circles under his eyes, as if years of life had been shaved off him within hours. Even though he was tired, he always tried to hide his fatigue behind his smile.


    Why do the people I care about have to suffer?


    All the while, I was helpless in doing anything to help them.


    ¡°Hey, Lilith, don¡¯t look so worried. Everything will be okay.¡± Ben assured me, handing me the bag with my new tablet.


    A soft sigh left me before Fenris scuffled my hair, exiting the room with Ben and Liam. I couldn¡¯t be a part of whatever they were about to talk about. Even though it annoyed me intensely, I stayed put, turning my sights on the new device in front of my eyes.


    Technology has never been my thing, so I have never asked for a phone or anything like it. But¡­ I regret it now. How do I use this?


    Taking it out of the package was easy enough, but turning it on was unknown to me, much to Melody''s amusement and my embarrassment. Sitting beside me on Fenris''s bed, she helped me set up the machine, teaching me how to open browsers and search for things.


    It amazed me how much information was at one''s fingertips with one of these things. I didn¡¯t know how long the boys would be outside. However, I took the chance to ask Melody about what she knew about the festival.


    "Hey... do you know anything about the upcoming moon festival?" I asked, shifting my gaze onto her.


    "Oh, I know little about it. The pack is keeping me out of it." She answered plainly.


    "Oh... I see." I focused again on the tablet, trying to hide how her words had left me.


    However, she caught on to my change in demeanor and sighed.


    "I only know that Fenris is supposed to gain this mystical power from the moon, which will also pass to his future offspring." She relented.


    A rush of happiness pulsed through me.


    A step closer. Finally...


    "Is it the red moon?" I asked, trying to clarify what she was saying.


    "Yes, that one." She affirmed, leaving me with a sense of satisfaction within.


    I knew she wouldn¡¯t say much, but at least she knew more details than I did.


    Fenris is going to gain new power from the blood moon, which will be passed down to his future generations.


    I could see why his parents chose the ''perfect'' bride for him.


    You have so much on your shoulders.


    "Thank you." I smiled at Melody, grateful she allowed me in.


    She sighed, shaking her head, "If you want to know more, why not ask Fenris?"


    Oh no¡­


    This wolf was getting suspicious of me, and she was right. I should¡¯ve asked him, even though...


    "I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll answer truthfully," I mumbled, gazing away from her.


    She nudged me by the side, bringing my glance back onto her.


    "You won¡¯t know if you don¡¯t try." Melody encouraged, knowing she had left me wanting more than she could give.


    After that minor exchange, she taught me how to use the tablet before excusing herself as she was too overdue to return to the shop. With my newfound information, I tried to navigate the tablet''s abundance of data.


    Shade hopped on my lap to see for herself, too.


    Though who knew technology would be one of the greatest beasts I''d ever fought to tame?

 Chapter 57: Failure

    At first, I was clumsy while using the darn tablet and fell victim to strange sites and the wrong pages, but eventually, I got used to the rhythm. However, I still stared at things I wished I¡¯d forgotten.


    Why do people post those kinds of things?! Ek! No! Go away!


    Shade rolled around the bed, enjoying every reaction I had whenever I spotted indecencies on the screen. It didn¡¯t help that most of the red moon searches ended with invitations to the orgy the witchcraft community was planning.


    Luckily, I found an article about the red moon and Fenris before more privates appeared on the screen. The same company that did my hit piece published it a few days ago, allowing me to learn the exact date it would occur.


    The third day of the seven-day festival starts in around two weeks.


    It also spoke about the marriage between Fenris and Layla, which would happen the week after the festival. Much to my dismay, it mentioned how excited everyone was about it. Sadly, that was where it ended, leaving me feeling hollow and lacking any accurate information.


    The Lycans are trying their hardest to keep everything secret. Why though?


    At the same time, witchcraft users were excited to do the sexual ritual to absorb the moon''s power, caring little about the Lycans and their secrets. The only choice left for me was to find out information from Fenris.


    Perhaps, if I approached it correctly, I could make him tell me everything I wanted. Putting the search information about the red moon on hold, I dove into what the sites said about the nether world.


    The lack of data was way worse than for the red moon. Even the hit piece about me from the event was nowhere to be found anymore. People still spoke about it on social sites, wondering if it was true or just a hoax.


    Cerberus had a great way to scrub information they didn¡¯t want out. The turn of events left me feeling heated and grumbling under my breath. Perhaps I wasn¡¯t using the device correctly, but it appeared useless.


    Melody even warned me to be careful of what I placed value in, informing me that some of the data on the web was inaccurate. My inexperience with it was showing its ugly face, leaving me unsure if I could believe anything I read.


    The forbidden library was the only other way. They would never scan those books into the system, but being stuck indoors until the foreseeable future made a second trip impossible. No matter what trail of breadcrumbs I tried to follow, it always ended in a dead end.


    When Fenris came in after discussing a few things with Liam and Ben outside, he informed the journalist who published the article that he would rescind it in the morning. They would label it misinformation and inaccurate, which was released without proof.


    After assuring me everything would be fine, he headed towards the bathroom to wash off the day. Outside, the crowds dispersed on Ryker''s orders right after he spoke through the coms. The elf told everyone that they framed the article in lies.


    I wasn¡¯t sure how many believed him or how long it would last, but it bought us time. Fenris spent a while in the shower while I tried to make sense of the tablet, to no avail. When he was out of the shower, he searched for me on my bed, only to find me on top of his.


    At this point, the tablet''s battery had died, and I couldn¡¯t find the strength to plug it in. I lay there, defeated by the complexity of the damned thing.


    I can¡¯t handle another one of those.


    Shade snickered, sitting next to me. My goodness, Lily! We saw so many penises! None come in comparison to¡ª


    "What are you doing over there? Come over here." My wolf invited me, not letting the little cat finish her remark.


    I shook my head, not wanting to move, before biting my lip.


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    I¡¯m running out of time¡ªMelody¡¯s right. I need to talk to you, the only high-ranking Lycan I know.


    Sadly, Liam would do nothing against Fenris''s wishes.


    "No," I refused to move from where I was.


    Instantly, he was on top of me with that unfair speed. His eyes shimmered, alerting me that he was irritated.


    "What do you mean, no?" he growled, leaning closer to me.


    His wet hair let tiny droplets fall onto my cheeks while I gazed at him, trying to steady myself for what was coming. I wanted to do it more subtly, but my frustration wouldn¡¯t allow me.


    Anger always gets the better of me; being around you influences me.


    "I want to know everything about you," I replied, leaving him puzzled.


    "You already know everything about me." Fenris huffed, raising his eyebrows.


    My words were too vague to convey what I wanted. Though I didn¡¯t take kindly to the lie, he was trying to make me buy.


    "Stella... she used to call you the cursed moon child... Why is that? And what connection do you have to the coming blood moon?" I confronted, focusing my glance on him.


    He growled upon hearing her name, narrowing his eyes before flashing his fangs.


    "I don¡¯t see why it should matter." He scoffed, turning the atmosphere heavy.


    Shaking my head, I grabbed onto his arms. "It matters to me!" I confronted him.


    There was no way I would back down, and Fenris was probably my only shot at knowing anything about what was coming. The desperation was getting the best of me.


    So much for finessing it, Lilith.


    My wolf studied me, an obvious sign he did when he was suspicious of what I was hiding, yet my worry was something I couldn¡¯t hold back much longer. The red that stained my hands in my dreams became visible again, triggering me to pull away from his skin.


    I wasn¡¯t as stable as I wanted him to believe.


    No¡­ I never will be.


    "Lily..." Fenris worried about my reaction.


    "I know I¡¯m not dependable, but it¡¯s driving me crazy! What if she¡¯s planning on hurting you again?!" I snapped, holding onto my arms.


    Everything was difficult to hide from him, especially since I continually reached out to him for anything before this.


    You¡¯ll be away from me once the festival begins. If I tell you everything, will you stay with me?


    "Lily, I¡¯ll be fine. We haven¡¯t seen Stella in years. She¡¯s probably rotting in some hole." Fenris tried to assure me of his safety.


    His words didn¡¯t help quell the raging storming within me. My heart wanted to rip out of me, pounding in my ears.


    "You don¡¯t know her as I do! She wouldn¡¯t disappear so easily!" I snapped, shivering at the thought of her touching him.


    That woman was pure malevolence in my eyes.


    There isn¡¯t a good bone found in her body, and roaches are hard to kill.


    Slowly, the silver wolf glanced toward where the canvases were stored before gazing back at me.


    Crap, I forgot how cunning you are.


    Unwittingly, I had stepped right into his grasp. I wasn¡¯t good at playing with people.


    I never wanted to. All I ever wanted was to be your equal. Why is that so hard?


    "Is this all because of that dream? You drew a girl kneeling in the distance of a demon back at the manor that burned down six years ago. Did that have another meaning you aren¡¯t telling me?" Fenris questioned, eyes turning cold towards me.


    Even though I had tried to avoid mentioning the dream at all costs, it appeared my demeanor betrayed me. The blood moon was the first thing I saw during that dream, prompting me to feel wary of the upcoming celebration.


    The thought that this could all be a part of my imagination never left me.


    But is it? That felt too real to be a dream. I...


    The way the life in Fenris''s eyes faded was too much to hold in; it shook me more than the current expression on his face.


    Anger I can deal with. You dying is unbearable!


    "I..." I trailed off.


    How did it turn out this way?


    He wasn¡¯t someone to deceive, either. Perhaps if I told him the truth, he would share what I wanted.


    But will you?


    Grabbing me from behind, he held me close to his chest.


    "Lilith, tell me," Fenris whispered into my ear, trying to entice me to tell him everything.


    However, it had the opposite effect.


    Why can''t you trust me?


    "How can you expect me to share when you don¡¯t?!" I snapped, causing the wolf to growl.


    Unwittingly, I had confirmed that I was hiding something. He was annoyed, and so was I. It hurt that he wouldn¡¯t confide in me. Even after all these years together, he went at everything like a lone wolf.


    "Lilith, if you don¡¯t tell me everything. How can I protect you?" he shot back, letting me go.


    I didn¡¯t back down; instead, I turned to face the fired-up Lycan.


    Not this time! No... You won¡¯t do as you please!


    Though, I knew this went back to when we were kids. If I had told him everything that day on the beach, perhaps this would¡¯ve been a different story.


    Too bad we can¡¯t travel back in time! Even so, I can¡¯t give in to you!


    "What about me? I want to protect you too!" I argued back, only for him to scuff at my words.


    His eyes twitched, shimmering brightly.


    "It isn¡¯t your job to do so!" Fenris snapped, opening a hole in my chest, much like a black hole that ate away at my warmth, leaving me cold where I stood.


    I felt stings in my chest, triggering me to clasp onto my dress. I had forgotten myself in the moments we shared in the past week.


    Even though I always knew how you felt about me, it hurts to hear those words.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± words escaped my lips, trying to close the emotions that wanted to lash out.


    His eyes widened upon noticing my expression. The raging storm within me was bursting without anything to stop it.

 Chapter 58: The Witch and Wolf

    The storm raging within me was unstoppable, like a typhoon headed towards an island; I wouldn¡¯t veer away from the angered Lycan. Melody had called this alpha intimidating, yet to me, he was¡­


    "It¡¯s not my job to protect you?¡± I mumbled, gripping my dress tighter. ¡°Whose is it? Layla''s? Sorry for stepping into something I don¡¯t belong in!" I snapped back, trying to hold the agony surging within me.


    Trying to hold my tears was hard, though; I didn¡¯t know how long I could do so. My heart wasn¡¯t strong enough to fight him.


    I... feel rejected.


    This wasn¡¯t how I wanted things to go.


    "Lily... You don¡¯t understand me. That isn¡¯t what I mean." Fenris tried to back off from going too far, but it was too late.


    My heart ached in ways it had never done before.


    All I want is for you to trust me and allow me into your heart.


    Perhaps I wasn¡¯t worth it in his eyes.


    Even though I tried to be positive...


    My true nature shone once again when negative thoughts bombarded my mind. It was something I couldn¡¯t escape from.


    There¡¯s no use in being like Melody. I can never be as pure as her.


    "I think I get you perfectly, Fenris," I breathed, trying to get off the bed, only for him to grab my arm before I could do anything else.


    "What¡¯s that supposed to mean?" he questioned, triggering me to smile, one of those he hated the most.


    When he saw it, his grip loosened, allowing me to pull away from him.


    "I forgot where I belong. Your duty and nothing more," I answered, shifting my eyes away from him. ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m nothing more. No matter how many times you hold me, I¡¯ll be the abomination that took everything! The thing you have to protect everyone from!¡±


    My voice broke, feeling a single tear escape me. Fenris¡¯s face warped into melancholy at that moment upon seeing my expression.


    How I wish I still had that bracelet. It¡¯s much harder to do it by myself, and it hurts.


    "No, that isn¡¯t true, Lilith. You¡ª" He tried to explain himself, only to be interrupted by me.


    I didn¡¯t want to listen to him anymore.


    It hurts to do so. No matter how much I love you. You¡¯ll never be mine. Being your equal is only ever going to be a dream. Ah¡­ I¡¯m tired.


    "No more lies, Fenris! I can¡¯t handle them anymore! Please, just let me be!" I cried, feeling the same hollow feeling within my chest.


    His expression changed the moment he realized that, by trying to protect me, he had hurt me.


    "Lily, let me speak." Fenris sighed, grabbing me by my arms before straddling me from behind.


    "I don¡¯t want to hear it." I refused, trying to compose myself, but I couldn¡¯t.


    "Lilith... Please listen," He breathed, gently caressing my arm.


    "Don¡¯t touch me!" I snarled, jerking myself away from him and out of the bed.


    After a few steps, I stopped, knowing that even though I wanted to flee the room, that would only lead to disaster. My emotions were stirring inside, and his presence kept me in control.


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    Even though I didn¡¯t want it now, he was my anchor. My words and actions seemed to have stunned him as I had never rejected him this way before, and his expression hadn¡¯t changed either.


    "Okay..." he breathed.


    Before I knew it, he pinned me to a wall, avoiding touching my skin.


    "I won¡¯t touch, but you got to listen to me." Fenris tried to convince me.


    I shook my head, trying to push him away, but it was like attempting to move a boulder.


    "No... Let me go! Do you even know how frustrating this is?!" I cried, turning my gaze down towards the floor.


    Control... I need some, but I have none!


    "If you don¡¯t tell me, I don¡¯t know anything, Lily," He whispered, holding me against the wall.


    There was no escape from my wolf.


    "I don¡¯t want to see you die, Fenris!" I snapped finally, unable to shake the feeling the dream left on me.


    Stella finding out about me was just the cherry on top of the sundae that my life had become.


    "Why do you think I¡¯ll die?" he asked, leaning closer to me.


    Lycans were always thinking they were stronger than anyone else. He didn¡¯t know what I saw that night.


    Why can¡¯t I put it into words?


    "You aren¡¯t invincible!" I pointed out the obvious, triggering him to shake his head.


    Stop beating around the bush and say it, Lilith. Maybe you¡¯ll listen. Or maybe you...


    "I know I am not, but I¡¯m not the same pup who was helpless back then!" Fenris growled, sliding his hands on the wall, ensuring my gaze met his.


    I desperately grabbed his shirt, wincing because of the stings in my chest.


    You aren¡¯t taking me seriously! I know you aren¡¯t the same boy before the fall!


    I couldn¡¯t take that dream as anything other than a warning. It wasn¡¯t like the others I had before; not even in the old Lilith''s dream felt like it.


    "You don¡¯t understand! Now that there¡¯s something like wolfsbane out, they can easily take you down!" I clung to him dearly.


    He sighed, ¡°Lily, there isn¡¯t any around.¡±


    Instead of letting him win, I shot back at him. "I know, Ryker told me, but I don¡¯t believe him! I saw it with my own eyes!" I screamed, feeling my body tremble in ways it had never done before.


    All I wanted was to make him understand.


    Why is it so hard for you to believe me?!


    "When did that elf speak to you?" He questioned, focusing on the wrong thing.


    "That doesn¡¯t matter! Listen to me, please!" I pleaded, feeling helpless.


    Why can¡¯t I say what I want to him?


    Perhaps it was because of the fear that it would come true if I said it out loud.


    Releasing a sigh, he shifted his weight towards me. "Okay... I believe you. I promise you I won¡¯t die." Fenris tried to comfort me.


    This wolf wasn¡¯t being entirely truthful. He believed something was wrong, but not exactly what I wanted him to know.


    "No... You don¡¯t get it." I tried to get his attention.


    Please listen... Please! Just say it, Lilith... Say it. Don¡¯t be a coward!


    "Can I please touch you?" Fenris asked, focusing on other things.


    I tightened my grip on his shirt. The concern in his voice was so certain, yet he worried about the wrong thing.


    Me. I want you to worry about yourself. You are their primary target!


    The only thing in his eyes was me. Nothing else mattered, but he was the only thing that counted in mine.


    "No..." I muttered, not happy that he wasn¡¯t listening to me anymore.


    "Lilith... I want to hug you. I will do nothing else unless you want me to." Fenris assured me.


    Don¡¯t give in... Be strong. Make him listen.


    I shook my head. "No."


    We were at a standstill, but he gave in to me, which was not how I wanted.


    "If the red moon is bothering you this much. I¡¯ll tell you, but only if you let me touch you again." Fenris proposed a compromise.


    One he could have avoided in the first place if he had allowed me in. Yet I couldn¡¯t complain since my original goal was in sight. It wasn¡¯t like I was blameless either; I didn¡¯t tell him everything I could.


    I didn¡¯t have to tell you everything, so this is good. Even if you don¡¯t want my protection, I¡¯ll give it.


    Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself, glancing towards him.


    "Only if you tell me the truth." I lay out my condition.


    It caused Fenris to chuckle. "Hah... You¡¯re turning into a devilish woman. Not that I mind it." His words were followed by a smile that left me flustered right where I stood.


    You¡¯re much more of a devil than I. You¡¯ve bewitched me since I first saw you, even when I didn¡¯t know it.


    "Will you?" I whispered, getting back to the topic.


    I hoped I could at least meet one goal today.


    "Yes," he assured me.


    "Fine... You can touch me then." I glanced away from him, feeling skittish at the words that left my lips.


    He wasted no time in swiftly picking me up in his arms.


    "Good... One thing first, though." He announced an addition I hadn¡¯t agreed to.


    I grabbed onto his shoulders, surprised by the sudden lift.


    "What¡¯s that?" I asked, holding myself steady.


    He carried me over to the nearest bed, which was his.


    "I¡¯m going to make you regret calling yourself my duty and an abomination. You¡¯re much more than that, Lily. So, you better listen to my story through your moans." Fenris declared, dropping me off on the bed, baffling me with his words.


    Do you mean? You can¡¯t do that. No... you wouldn¡¯t!


    "Wait, that isn¡¯t fair!" I tried to complain, but it was too late.


    I was getting exactly what I needed from the wolf who owned my heart.

 Chapter 59: The Red Moon Prophesy

    This silver wolf wasn¡¯t one to be trifled with. Taking off his shirt, he peeled off my stockings and underwear soon after. Before I could utter another word, he tugged me to the edge of the bed, lifting my dress.


    The moment his lips landed on my vulva, my back arched, clasping my hands onto his hair. A soft whine left my lips, feeling his tongue lap my intimate lips.


    This isn¡¯t fair at all!


    Fenris¡¯s hands cradled my legs apart, preventing me from doing anything to discourage him. There wasn¡¯t a bone in my body that could resist him. The wolf had become a cunning fox, making me mewl his name.


    His soft member lapped my slits before landing on my perky bell, leaving me in bliss. It wasn¡¯t long before his slender fingers plunged into my depths. Taking the opportunity to suck on my sensitive bell, I couldn¡¯t help but yelp his name when I felt the rush of ecstasy pulsing through me.


    Separating himself from me, he chuckled, studying the sight in front of him. His fingers continued to caress my walls while he traced my face with his free hand, landing on my dress. There, he slowly undid every button, peeling off the fabric and exposing my bare skin.


    Tugging his limbs away from my inner walls left me tingling and wanting more. He undid his pants, leaving me gazing at him longingly. Biting my lip, I tried not to get swayed by his actions.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± I mumbled.


    Fenris smiled in response to my uneven voice. ¡°I will,¡± he assured, freeing himself from his clothes and letting them fall onto the floor.


    I couldn¡¯t keep my eyes off him, enticing me by stroking himself with the hand that caressed my walls. At this time, I didn¡¯t know what hit me the most. If it was the look in his eyes or his tease, it left me unable to help myself.


    After all, I belonged to him entirely, too. Sitting up, I grabbed onto his heat before sucking it into my mouth.


    ¡°Oh, fuck, Lily.¡± He moaned, holding onto my short hair gently.


    This wolf never thrust himself into my throat. Instead, he caressed hair, fighting off the urge to do so. I treated his tip like a lollipop, sucking into my mouth while focusing on stroking his base with my hands.


    Even with my clumsy touch, it wasn¡¯t long until Fenris pushed me onto the bed. Licking his lips, he climbed on top of me, leaving a little space between him and me. His heat was twitching and seemed more prominent than when we first started.


    The warmth from his body radiated into mine, leaving me jittery.


    ¡°You¡¯re adorable, Lily.¡± He breathed, pressing his tip against my slits.


    It didn¡¯t take long until he found his way into me, triggering me to whine.


    ¡°Oh fuck, you¡¯re so tight around me today.¡± He huffed, cheeks rosy.


    ¡°Because of you!¡± I whimpered, triggering him to lean against me.


    ¡°Good,¡± He simpered, clashing his lips against mine before picking up a steady rhythm.


    When Fenris tugged away from my lips, he told me what I desired to hear in his husky voice. I would soon know everything about his connection with the blood moon. He informed me about an old prophecy that the Lycan elders recounted to every generation, even though it was hard to follow, as he took no pity on me with his movements.


    Either way, he kept his word. I guess this was his way of punishing me for what I said. The prophecy was about a Lycan being born during a red moon, who would lead the clan to prosperity. It stated that during the next blood moon, after the child was born, he or she would gain powers during the lunar event.


    Some called it moon-based magic, closely related to the moon elves¡¯ magic, but no one knew what would happen. Before this moment, Lycans could never use magic. Instead, they had high immunity to it, but if a spell was powerful enough, it could overcome their resistance.


    Though, if Lycans somehow gained the power to use magic, that would make them untouchable.


    I can see why Stella calls Fenris a cursed moon child. If this is true, then Lycans will become a threat higher than any other race.


    When he said this, it left me without a doubt that she would try to stop their gain of power.


    She had already tried to kill everyone in Silverant before. It would also be twenty-five years ago when Fenris was born during the last blood moon.


    ¡°That day, they gifted me the title Red Moonchild.¡± He sighed, stopping his movements before glancing at me and caressing my face gently with his thumb.


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    ¡°Are you okay? Need water?¡± he asked, unaware his touch left me dizzy.


    Even so, my body wanted more of this wolf; instinctively, I lifted myself and kissed him. He returned the affection by moving once again. Throughout the years, I saw everyone treat him differently from anyone else.


    I always thought it was because Fenris was from the alpha line, but that was far from the truth. One would think being special would¡¯ve driven him to extreme selfishness, much like Layla was, but he was different.


    Stella has it wrong. You aren¡¯t a threat to us. No, you can be the ally we¡¯ve been waiting for.


    Even after my kin had taken his family away, this wolf never blamed them all as a collective group. No, he just wanted the ones who were guilty to face justice. I was a fool to think Stella called him cursed because he was Amir¡¯s child, yet she never called Ben or Amelia anything like it.


    A question arose about how she knew about him, especially when the Lycans tried hard to keep it down in the wraps.


    There is something else, and I can¡¯t see it.


    Separating for breath, a moan escaped from Fenris¡¯s lips when we found our peak together. Panting for air like a hot mess, I reached for his face, only to be met by his lips once again. A feverous kiss soon followed, leaving me humming under him.


    Tugging away from my lips, he smirked before spinning me around. A second later, I was on my knees and my hands on the bed. Heavy pants left me unable to recover before he plunged himself into me again, triggering my voice to erupt to his tune.


    With his hands on my hips, he thrust himself into me repeatedly, ¡°Because I was born under the Red Moon, my life has been dictated by everyone else.¡±


    This wolf didn¡¯t let me feel bad for him, making sure I was preoccupied with him to listen fully. That was his goal, but he wouldn¡¯t beat me. I tried to reach for his hands but ended with him grabbing onto my forearms, tugging me up towards him.


    Holding my hands behind my back, he continued to immerse himself in my depths. I slowly lost myself in his touch. There was no winning against this devilish wolf. The moment I moaned Fenris¡¯s name, he freed my hands, grabbing onto my chest to prevent me from tumbling onto the bed.


    His other hand traveled down my navel and into my sensitive bell. The sudden touch, mixed with his thrust, caused my body to convulse in pleasure. My voice escaped me in ways I never knew was possible, clasping onto his arms that held me captive.


    I couldn¡¯t help but find my release once again. Pushing himself deep into me, he chuckled, enjoying my body¡¯s reaction, holding himself in place, not wanting to overwhelm me.


    ¡°You¡¯re so cute. Lily.¡± Fenris purred into my ear.


    I panted for air desperately, which seemed a luxury to me, even though it surrounded me.


    ¡°You¡¯re... so mean.¡± I struggled to voice, feeling my body shiver at his slightest touch.


    Fenris kissed my neck, trailing down my back before releasing me onto the bed. He was still holding my waist up, not finished with me yet.


    ¡°Giving up? I haven¡¯t even gotten to the festival yet.¡± He teased, grinding himself into me.


    This wolf also seemed slightly out of breath, but not as much as me.


    ¡°Just tell me,¡± I grumbled breathy, not wanting to back down.


    A soft smile rose on him, taking it as a sign to continue thrusting himself into me once again.


    ¡°Of course, my dear.¡± Fenris licked his lips lustfully, thoroughly enjoying himself.


    To his word, though, he explained what the moon festival was. It was nothing more than a celebration of the moon god¡¯s power. According to myths and legends, Lycans were born from it; as moon elves said, they were also born from it.


    Both worshiped two different gods, though. Fenrir was the Lycans¡¯ god, while the moon elves were a goddess named Selene.


    Fenris¡¯s mother took inspiration from their god when naming him. However, it was known that Lycans had increased stamina during full moons while it lasted, yet it seemed they were utterly intoxicated during the red moon by it.


    Some would even go rampant with their cardinal desires, so the festival was restricted to Lycans alone. Anyone who wasn¡¯t a wolf could get torn to shreds without them realizing it. It was why it was a miracle that Fenris¡¯s mother gave birth to him, even though she was under those effects.


    Before him, they thought Lycan pups couldn¡¯t be born during full moons. Let alone during the blood moon that happened sporadically through the years.


    The festival was a yearly thing, too, although Fenris never attended it before. He would rather be with me, and as passionate as he was during the full moons, he never once hurt me. This time, though, with the blood moon¡¯s appearance, he couldn¡¯t take the chance.


    It would also be during a supermoon, making it bigger than usual. Those alone usually made him wary since he would get rough with me whenever one happened.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if, with the red moon, I¡¯ll be myself or something else entirely.¡± He sighed, leaning into me before continuing his thrust. ¡°I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯ll be me after it.¡±


    His words snapped me out of my trace, triggering me to gaze at him. ¡°Fenris?¡±


    ¡°Hush, I¡¯m not done yet. Don¡¯t you want to know it all?¡± He smiled, plunging himself into my core, provoking a yelp to leave me.


    To separate him from everyone else for safety reasons, Cerberus made a special enclosure in case he went mad. In the end, though, it was all to protect me since it terrified him, and he would try to find me during it.


    I tried to find the energy to speak up, only for his member to twitch inside me. A sharp groan left his lips, releasing his seeds within my depths, leaving me to tremble again.


    Instead of a pleasurable moment, Fenris gave a nervous chuckle soon after. ¡°It¡¯s tiresome, being this thing people think I should be when I just want to be myself,¡± he mumbled loud enough for me to hear the pain in his voice, trying to catch his breath.


    I knew something trapped him, but I thought it was because of me, failing to realize I was just a contributor, not the actual cause. When he pulled out of me, I somehow found the strength to get up and hug him ever so tightly.


    For the first time, I understood Fenris and what he felt. His burden was heavier than I first thought, and it was more than just me.


    As you said, they had dictated your life since birth. Does that mean Layla was also their choice? That isn¡¯t fair! You should be able to love anyone without caring what others say!


    His family chose who he would marry because of the genes he would pass on in the future. Every decision around him was never about him and who he was but about his potential. I could never see him like that.


    You are Fenris, no matter what else changes about you. I¡¯ll always¡­


    ¡°I love you! No matter what, I¡¯ll always love you because of who you are, not what you are!¡± I declared, snuggling myself into his chest.


    He hugged me back. ¡°I... I know, Lily, thank you.¡± He struggled with himself.


    I continued to profess my love for him. At that moment, all I could think about was how to help free this wolf from his fate¡ªone he didn¡¯t want.


    I promise... I¡¯ll free us!

 Chapter 60: Frustration

    After professing my love for Fenris, he held me until I forgot when or where we were to the extent that I didn¡¯t realize when I had fallen asleep, only to be awakened the following day by the sunlight hitting my eyelids. Slowly, I rose from my sleep, finding him already up and dressed for the day.


    He was gazing outside to see if any protesters were left to be seen. Luckily, there seemed to be none. I slowly got off the bed. Upon hearing my movements, he turned towards me. I shyly tried my best to cover myself with the sheets.


    Even after all we had done throughout the years, I still found his gaze on me embarrassing when I bore it all to him.


    Butterflies fluttering inside my stomach kind of thing.


    Even though I wanted to look away from him, I could not help but learn every extra detail that emerged since I had last seen him. My wolf had freshly bathed, seeing how his hair was still moist from the water.


    Again, you¡¯re going out without me.


    However, what was more worrisome was the dark circles under his eyes.


    Have you not slept at all?


    When he took a few steps towards me, I instinctively avoided his gaze, glancing towards the floor.


    I don¡¯t want you to go, but how can I keep you with me?


    Petting my hair lightly, he smiled, ¡°Lily, I¡¯m going to see Ryker.¡±


    ¡°Take me with you,¡± I mumbled, prompting him to lightly lean into me and kiss my lips.


    ¡°It¡¯s not safe. Stay here.¡± He sighed.


    Even though I knew he wanted me to be secure, I also needed him to be safe.


    That¡¯s my most important goal in all of this.


    ¡°But¡­¡± I trailed off upon seeing his expression.


    ¡°No, everyone in this building knows who you are, and I can¡¯t protect you from the masses. This room is the safest point in the entire building.¡± He informed, leaving me clasping onto my dress.


    However, I couldn¡¯t argue with him after hearing that. Even if they retracted the article the same day, that was still out; not everyone was easy to fool, even with Ryker¡¯s efforts to bury it.


    Why am I so useless?


    It was funny how I possessed so much power, but I could never dare to use it. However, even though I knew why Fenris didn¡¯t want me with him when he saw Ryker, I couldn¡¯t help but feel bothered by it.


    ¡°Fine.¡± I sighed, casting a quick cleansing spell on the room.


    With a slight pout, I collected clothing to shower. This wolf wasn¡¯t about to leave me alone in this room. Liam would probably be the one to babysit me, which boiled my blood further. This dependency was becoming overwhelming for me.


    Shade accompanied me to the shower, where I sat by the closed toilet seat. I took advantage of the opportunity.


    I¡¯m going to be alone in here. Fenris won¡¯t dare come in while waiting for Liam.


    Therefore, a chance to control the magic that threatened this world came into play.


    If I can somehow keep it down. Maybe I can become more dependent and be less of a burden on my beloved wolf.


    However, when it came to taking off one inhibitor, my hand trembled reaching for it.


    But if I can ease the pressure on you. Nothing will stop me.


    The only way that would become a reality would be if I could protect myself using my power. If I wanted to shield him from the dream, I had to get stronger than I currently was.


    Glancing towards Shade, I shook my head. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare grow big, okay?¡±


    She tilted her head, Okay! Are you going to do it, Lily?


    Taking a deep breath, I slowly removed the left wrist inhibitor. I felt nothing but a pulse rippled through me for a moment, triggering my body to shake from the sudden wave of power released.


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    I tried not to pant too loudly, as whoever was outside of the room would notice I wasn¡¯t okay. The last thing I wanted was for Liam to come in and see me naked.


    Nope, that can¡¯t happen at all!


    Glancing towards the mirror, I could see my eyes glow blue.


    Don¡¯t panic!


    I tried to keep myself steady, only for the voices to barrage me louder than they had been in years. They whispered tempting, sweet wishes.


    Kill the witches and all those who oppose us!


    Destroy the festival and make Fenris...


    I could almost picture everything they said in my mind, forming a smirk on my lips.


    I certainly have the power to do what you say, but it isn¡¯t what I want to happen. Not yet, at least. There isn¡¯t a world where I¡¯ll be wicked like the ones who did this to me.


    However, when I tried to block the temptations out, I failed. Regrettably, I ended up placing the bracelet back on with little success, fearing that they would convince me to do things I didn¡¯t desire.


    The urges that erupted within me needed to be quelled with some sanity.


    Something that isn¡¯t my forte.


    Even though I had placed the bracelet back on, I could still hear some trying to get through. The magic still swelled within me.


    How will I¡­


    With brief hesitation, I hopped into the shower, opening the cold water to full blast to quell the desires.


    Never mind that. Focus on your goal, Lilith.


    Luckily, it didn¡¯t take long before they finally went silent. Breathing somewhat heavily, I tried to stay strong.


    I won¡¯t depend on my beloved any longer. Something must give!


    After washing my body, I got out of the shower, readying myself to face the wolf who would take care of me today. Luckily, Liam stayed on Fenris¡¯s side of the room, throwing innocent chatter my way while I sulked in the bed.


    Sadly, he could tell I was brooding over my situation. I tried to use the tablet, but it ended in utter failure once again.


    Nothing is going right anymore. Technology isn¡¯t my thing! Arg how will I live through this?!


    Shade tried to comfort me, but I was having none of it. I was tired of being useless and dangerous. Giving up on everything, I threw the tablet to the end of the bed before letting myself fall on it.


    I had no information besides what I knew, which was barely anything. For a while, I blankly stared at the ceiling, trying to find my way out of this dead-end I found myself in.


    You¡¯d punish me for not progressing fast enough at times like this.


    Even years later, I could still feel the lashings Stella gave me. No matter how many times Fenris would make me feel alive, part of me still felt dead.


    Ever since the day Stella took my innocence. I¡¯ve been stuck in place.


    She forced many things into me during the years I studied under her. Perhaps some of what they drilled into me as a child could be useful.


    Bring¡­ Tell¡­


    A memory struggled to emerge, leaving me trying to reach for it.


    Why is it...


    Then it hit me.


    Maybe the answers I¡¯m desperate to find are somewhere in my childhood memories. If I could relive them again, I could remember every detail I suppressed or forgotten.


    That thought swiftly stopped, though.


    Crap¡­ What I am hoping to do won¡¯t be that simple.


    The spell witches used to recreate memories in their dreams was powerful, which meant nearby Lycans would detect it.


    Impossible to do with¡­


    I glanced over at Liam, who was immersed in his phone. It would be foolish to underestimate him.


    You¡¯re sharper than anyone else I have ever met. Probably better than Fenris.


    It wouldn¡¯t be a simple task to outsmart him, especially when Lycans knew the language of our spells. Fenris was well-versed in Latin since he always understood every word I said whenever I cast a spell.


    These wolves weren¡¯t a species to be trifled with. Sadly, that wasn¡¯t my only hurdle. I was also short of supplies, even to cast the incantation. It required ingesting a potion for the spell to take effect.


    For me to have any chance, the enchantment had to be done at night when Fenris was asleep, or I would be alone that day.


    The more I think about it, the less likely it is to happen. If only I could find someone to help me with this without them knowing what they were getting into.


    Someone I could manipulate since they were gullible; instantly, a person came to mind, but it quickly disturbed me.


    How can I do that to her? Use her for...


    Part of me wanted to stop right there. Betraying Melody¡¯s trust should¡¯ve been a line I wouldn¡¯t dare cross, yet I couldn¡¯t help but want to. Her status as a runt would¡¯ve deprived her of any military training while dulling her senses compared to other Lycans.


    She wouldn¡¯t know what she looked at if I asked her to get the supplies.


    Not that anyone would.


    The ingredients weren¡¯t too eye-catching, to begin with. Yet the thought alone made me sick. I would use her disability for my benefit.


    What kind of friend would I be if I used you like that?


    Sadly, I was against the wall with no way out. Fenris wouldn¡¯t let me go to the library, and even if he did, Cerberus secured away all the valuable information that was inside from everyone but the heads of witchcraft.


    Standing up from the bed, I headed towards the desk, picking up a paper and pen.


    Are you sure? Shade asked, trailing behind me.


    I almost snapped the pen in half because of it.


    Of course, I am not! But¡­ How else can I¡­ Damn it¡­ Melody...


    I could lose her if she learned about this, but my fear of Fenris¡¯s death outweighed anything else.


    Of everything I could forfeit, you¡¯re the one thing I can¡¯t live without.


    I glanced towards Liam, wondering if Melody would do anything differently if she were in my shoes.


    You were dead in my dream, too, but perhaps there is another way. If I ask you for help, will you give it to me? Or will you call me crazy?


    It would be over if I told her, and she rejected the idea.


    I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t afford you rejecting me. Time isn¡¯t on my side.


    I wrote a list of ingredients I needed on the paper before me, adding some female hygiene items to prevent Fenris from looking too much into it. Luckily, the ingredients weren¡¯t too eye-catching either. I needed to buy fresh lavender, chamomile, and rose water for the potion.


    The most important ingredient was my blood coursing through my veins. After finishing the list, I couldn¡¯t help but stare at it for a while. The ugly sensation of doubt swelled within me, turning me cold where I sat.


    Can I do this? No, I must! If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll lose my only anchor to this world.

 Chapter 61: Inner Conflict

    It was like any other day when Melody knocked on the door. Sadly, I couldn¡¯t help but become nervous. Folding the paper in half, I tried to hide my turmoil before turning towards the door that Liam had answered, allowing her into the room.


    What¡­ How?


    I had previously thought I was delirious when I saw them, but they stared back at me again; tiny light-white cracks were visible in the dark aura surrounding her. The magic that had swelled within me hours before still coursed through me, permitting me to see them when I usually couldn¡¯t.


    Your curse...


    All the guilt that was swelling within me faded. I finally remembered something I had witnessed once with Stella, who had tried a curse directed at the Silver Fang¡¯s family but had failed back when I didn¡¯t know him. It was like, suddenly, every puzzle piece clicked into place.


    I thought Stella had done something different since it failed when she cast it, and I couldn¡¯t remember every detail.


    But what if¡­


    When my grandmother did the incantation, it had the same black aura coming from the cauldron she used. Of course, it wasn¡¯t as dark as the one that radiated out of Melody, but it had the same tone.


    Malice. Ah¡­ that¡¯s why it felt so familiar when I first saw it. I thought it was because of Ryker¡¯s collection, but no, it always comes back to you, doesn¡¯t it, grandmother?


    I remember getting beaten as if it were my fault when it failed. She had tried to cast it on the one she kept calling the cursed moon child. Other than that, I couldn¡¯t remember anything else.


    Why did it fail for Fenris but not for Melody?


    I was missing a vital piece of the puzzle and didn¡¯t know what it was. However, seeing the cracks meant that I was in full power. Perhaps I could fracture it, but I wasn¡¯t confident. Unlike Melody¡¯s affliction, the only thing I had ever tried to break were barriers.


    Their cracks were so clearly visible even with my inhibitors on. Curses were nothing like barriers; to breach one, I would have to understand it, or it would hurt the afflicted. There was a reason witchcraft had a branch that specialized in curses alone.


    And I¡¯m no expert. I still don¡¯t understand why no other witch diagnosed you. Are they scared of something?


    Whoever cast Melody¡¯s hex had to be robust and more potent than Stella.


    That alone is terrifying. I can tell whoever cursed you wasn¡¯t joking around when they did it.


    The extent of the magical essence that swelled out of the black wolf¡¯s body used to be weak, but with the magic that still was active within me, it was pungent. There was only one conclusion on why any witch would avoid this curse.


    Ah¡­ No, it can¡¯t be¡­ They don¡¯t exist anymore.


    The only reason a witch would avoid this curse was if an eternal behind it. Like there were rankings in every other race, witches also had their ranks. These types of witchcraft users were believed to be beings who dodged the passage of time.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Never aging or never dying of natural causes. That, though, didn¡¯t make them immortal.


    Most of the world thought they were long extinct.


    After all, there was a purge ages ago to ensure they were rid of Eternals.


    However, curses on people only lasted if the witches lived, and this one appeared older than I wanted to know. This new suspicion wasn¡¯t good for Melody as there was limited information about Eternals.


    Before this, I thought it was a generational curse cast with a cursed artifact that held the witch¡¯s essence inside, which could only be undone by breaking the item. After all, I couldn¡¯t see any cracks before, and back then, I wasn¡¯t interested in knowing.


    Perhaps that was why I tried to push the fact that I could do nothing for her.


    However, this changes everything if I see the cracks when more magic is coursing through me. Then¡­ No, nothing makes sense. What am I missing? First wolf¡¯s bane, and now this¡­


    Yet this new unraveling meant Melody still had hope. The way she glanced at Liam on the way in, surprised to see him here with me, solidified my determination further. I would use and help her.


    An equal exchange, even if you don¡¯t know. It¡¯s better that way.


    Perhaps by reliving my past, I could also learn about why the curse failed on Fenris.


    That curse isn¡¯t in your grimoire, Stella. So, whose book did you use?


    My mind was the key to Melody¡¯s freedom and to protect my wolf.


    Can my past... help someone?


    When Melody approached me, I only thought about Stella and what she said about Eternals. I had always felt more of them as legendary status that witches and warlocks worked to achieve, but to see a spell like this on her.


    Are they more than a legend?


    These weren¡¯t people to be trifled with, especially if their bloodline survived the purge.


    Breaking this curse will take more effort than anything I have ever tackled, especially if I don¡¯t want to hurt you.


    With my determination solidified again, I only thought about what I would do once I had all the ingredients. Casting the remembrance spell alone would be difficult, as it was usually cast in pairs, with one person reliving the experience and the other anchoring them to reality.


    This was to bring them back if something went wrong. Some who used it never awoke from their trip into the past.


    Everything seems set against me.


    I had no anchor to bring me back from my slumber. Without it, I could find myself stuck reliving the torture I endured when I was a child, but that didn¡¯t terrify me. No, what scared me was losing Fenris while I was trapped in a dreamless state.


    This risk... is a choice... I¡¯ll gladly make it when the time comes. A world without you isn¡¯t one worth living in.


    Melody¡¯s presence was one that I enjoyed while the day passed. However, I only thought about what I would do instead of what she said. I tried to pretend everything was fine, but part of me wondered how far I could take the facade. Luckily, Melody chatted about her day at work, wishing I would go back with her once everything died down.


    I wanted to crawl into a hole and stay there the entire time.


    Crap, I don¡¯t deserve your smile or kindness.


    She was the shining sun I could never be, but even so, I wanted to protect her.


    I¡¯ll give you the happiness you can¡¯t get alone. Is that fair enough? It must be.


    Melody brought treats for us to enjoy while we chatted, too. Although she didn¡¯t expect Liam to be there, she still enjoyed our time together. However, part of her was nervous because it was us and him.


    It took a little longer for Fenris to return from the meeting with Ryker finally. Melody¡¯s stress appeared to hit a tipping point, taking the chance that Liam was leaving to go with him. I didn¡¯t know what she planned on doing once they were alone.


    Before she left, I handed her the list, promising to pay her back as soon as possible. I could find most of the items in a store within the building but couldn¡¯t get them since I was stuck in this room. I expected some resistance for a moment, but to my surprise, she happily told me she would get them and even told me not to worry about paying her back.


    I felt relief, only to come crashing down soon after when Fenris swiftly picked me up into his arms, dropping me onto the bed. There, he climbed on top of me, pinning both of my hands on the bed. His amber eyes studied me, triggering me to avoid them.


    This wolf already knew that was out of character for me. It was apparent what he was about to ask.


    You¡¯re too watchful, but I must be better!

 Chapter 62: Wits

    "Hm... That¡¯s unusual." Fenris murmured, caging me under him.


    The tone of his voice triggered me to glance away from him as I tried to find the strength within me to lie to him.


    Will you notice? Of course, you will.


    I didn¡¯t want to lie to him, but I had no choice.


    If you know what I wanted, you¡¯ll do anything to stop it. I¡¯m your precious charge, after all.


    "I..." I tried to speak but choked.


    My nerves made this wolf even more suspicious, prompting him to eye me down more closely. He had always been the person who brought me everything I needed, including all my hygiene items.


    So, a simple excuse about it won¡¯t work! Think Lilith! Think!


    All this time, I was dreading giving it to Melody; I never thought Fenris would be the one to catch me.


    "What did you give to Melody?" he asked straight forward.


    You already know I¡¯m up to something.


    "I..." I tried to lie, but my tongue felt heavy.


    It was almost as if my whole being didn¡¯t want to, yet I was cornered. If I wanted to go behind his back. I had no choice but to lie through my teeth. He would never let me become what I had to be.


    I collected my thoughts for a moment before carefully opening my mouth.


    "I-I... gave her a list of items I need for my cycle that¡¯s coming soon. S-She had recommended some new pads, and I wanted to try them out." I tried to hide my lie with some truth.


    He, out of everyone, knew the exact day my menstrual cycle began. After all, he never touched me intimately while I was on my period, and it was due in a couple of days. Usually, while I was on it, he would cuddle me to sleep.


    Carefully, Fenris studied every expression and body gesture, hoping to read me.


    Is it good enough? Will you believe me? I wouldn¡¯t.


    Those thoughts bombarded me as doubt set in, and he knew something was off.


    My wolf... is too clever... and too caring to deceive.


    "Right... So why did you stutter? Nervous about something?" he questioned more assertively.


    The only way to do that would be by changing his mind from watchful to something else.


    What better way to do that than to seem like the innocent girl you wish me to be?


    He was right. I was turning into a devilish woman.


    "Because of you," I mumbled, feeling pressured by his query.


    Even though I thought I was finished, my words caught his attention differently from before. Fenris''s expression changed from concern to amusement, triggering a smile to rise on his lips before licking them temptingly.


    "Oh? Yesterday wasn¡¯t enough?" he teased.


    I, for a moment, was caught off guard.


    It worked?!


    My cheeks burned from the heat that rushed through my face; remembering everything he did the day before made me feel wanted and loved. This slip, perhaps, was the only chance I had to get him off my trail for the time being, and it wasn¡¯t like I didn¡¯t want it either.


    "It¡¯s never enough," I whispered, flustered by his playful tease.


    For a moment, I thought he would return to what he was previously querying about, but his cheeks turned rosy, much like mine. His ears slanted back, amazed by what I said, too. He probably thought I would stay silent or give in to his previous curiosity.


    I¡¯m too bold!


    Grabbing onto my chin, Fenris tugged me into a light kiss before separating from me, chuckling.


    Adorable¡­


    "I-I see,¡± he stumbled, clearing his throat.


    Trailing his fingers down my sides, a smile soon rose on his lips. ¡°I¡¯ll try to fix that before I can¡¯t touch you for a couple of days," he assured me, kissing me once again, this time more feverously.


    The moment his tongue caressed mine, prompting a whine released from me. His hand traveled down my dress and onto my hip, causing me to shiver. I couldn¡¯t help but respond by grabbing his shirt, only for him to separate from me again, taking it off.


    His features were so well defined, yet those dark circles remained prominent. I watched him tower over me again before my hand instinctively touched his chest. I trailed down to his navel and into his pants, where I unbuckled them.


    For some reason, I really, really want you, Fenris.


    A soft chuckle left his lips, leaning into me before licking my cheek and kissing me again when my eyes shifted onto him. Once his heat was in my hands, I caressed, triggering a slight groan to be released from his lips while they worked on mine.


    Impulsively, he tugged my arms away from his heat, trailing kisses from my neck down to my chest, peeling off my clothes.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    I tried to touch him again but met the bed instead of his skin. My wolf pinned me once again, kissing me more forcefully. It wasn¡¯t long before most of my clothes were gone, and I was in my underwear alone.


    He traced his fingers down my bare body before planting them on my hips. There, he yanked me towards the edge of the bed, triggering a squeal to leave me. I watched, yearnfully, while he licked his fingers before he invaded my underwear and depths with them.


    His touch set my body ablaze, rendering me incapable of pulling away from him. The way his fingers caressed my walls made my voice run wild as a knot formed in my core. Even though we did it multiple times the day before, I never tired of feeling him.


    Dazed by his touch, I didn¡¯t realize when he took off my underwear. No, I was entranced by him the entire time; it didn¡¯t matter how often I saw his body or expressions; it was never enough. I wanted more.


    No one would ever take you from me. You¡¯re mine, and whoever tries to take you will¡­


    "Lily... Don¡¯t look at me like that, or else. I¡¯ll want to be mean to you." Fenris warned, breaking me from my train of thought.


    For a moment, it stunned me. Those thoughts¡­


    What was I¡­


    He wouldn¡¯t let me ponder for long, though. Before I knew it, he spun me around, lifting my waist.


    I tried to reach for him but quickly retreated when he rubbed his heat on my thighs. It was also rubbing my vulva, concentrating on my sensitive bell¡ªa surprised gasp released from my lips.


    You¡¯ve never done anything like this before.


    This was an entirely new form of teasing, spreading my slits every time this wolf pushed into me, making the itch go deeper each time.


    Is it because I wasn¡¯t truthful earlier? Did you notice?


    My worries flooded my mind as a chuckle released from his lips, continuing to thrust himself in between my thighs. Even though it felt good, I couldn¡¯t help but want more.


    "Stop..." I mumbled, trying to get my head around the negative thoughts.


    However, even though I wasn¡¯t referring to Fenris, he immediately ceased his movements.


    "You want me to stop?" he asked, pulling back his hair from his face.


    I slowly glanced towards him, wondering why he halted his movements. I never intended to worry him about me or make him think he did anything wrong. I only wanted to end the negative thoughts that weren¡¯t his fault.


    My attempts to cease them were useless, though. It seemed like I had given him the wrong idea, thanks to them, too. From his earlier expressions, I could notice the worry in his eyes.


    "No... don¡¯t stop," I whispered.


    It triggered Fenris to tilt his head, ¡°Uh, just tell me if you feel uncomfortable with anything, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± I simpered.


    A soft smile rose on his lips, sending my heart into a different type of storm.


    Ah¡­ I¡¯ll give the world if I could read your thoughts for a second. Perhaps you aren¡¯t doing this as punishment but to see the reaction I give. I might be overthinking everything, but when can¡¯t I when it comes to you?


    This time, when I reached for him with my hand, I met with his, intertwining them together. He chuckled momentarily, pulling me up towards him and into his lap.


    My mind couldn¡¯t keep up when I suddenly faced Fenris in his full splendor. The way his bare skin felt on mine made me feel skittish. All I could do was try to avoid his gaze, only for him to trail kisses down my neck and onto my chest.


    However, I couldn¡¯t help but arch my back when his fingers found their way into me again. I grabbed onto his shoulders, shivering when he licked my chest as his other hand trailed down my back and onto my bum.


    My mind slowly became filled with him alone, yet¡­


    "Fenris... I want you in me," I mumbled, unsatisfied by his fingers alone.


    Oh, how greedy I¡¯ve become.


    The tone in my voice told him everything he needed to know.


    ¡°Okay, Lily, I¡¯ll give you everything you want, plus more.¡± He tugged away from my nips, leaning into me before brushing his lips against mine.


    Gripping onto my hips, he focused on the kiss before pressing his heat against my entrance. Feeling the tip slip into me triggered me to get jittery as I pushed my tongue into his mouth. A smirk formed on his lips before pulling me into him, allowing his length to meet my core.


    The moment he filled me with himself, I was in bliss. I couldn¡¯t help but whine loudly when he thrust deep into me, leaving no space between him and me, draping my arms around his neck before wrapping my legs around his hips.


    Every time he made love to me, his tail swaddled around my waste. His movements were always gentle, even when it felt rougher than usual. It was nothing compared to what he could do if he wanted it to hurt.


    This wolf showed me in so many ways how he cared that I couldn¡¯t help but mewl loudly, feeling the full extent of the ecstasy that Fenris was providing me with. My body had become extra sensitive to his touch, responding to him alone.


    Especially when I professed my feelings to him, the emotions flowing out of me were too complex to contain anymore. Before I knew it, I began to confess my love for him again before quieting by thrusting deeply into me and tugging me into another kiss.


    I didn¡¯t know if it was to stop me from telling him I loved him, but it was a tender kiss. Without separating from me, he pushed himself deeper within me to the extent that I embraced him with both my arms and legs tightly.


    Even though this all started with me trying to hide that I went behind Fenris''s back, it developed into something else. Even though it deprived me of rationalizing correctly, how he held me made me wonder what he and Ryker had spoken about.


    Usually, my wolf would only take an hour or two whenever it was a meeting, but he was out until dusk.


    Have you done something else I don¡¯t know about? Will you tell me if I ask? Ah¡­ I doubt it.


    Unable to keep my head straight enough to figure anything out, I let myself fall into the pleasure Fenris gave me, who, much to his word, didn¡¯t let me have a moment to catch myself. Not even when we were in the bathroom, he made love to me once again while we showered.


    Not that I minded his attention; it wasn¡¯t like I could try to handle my power with him around. He would be all over me when I took off my bracelet.


    You¡¯re too vigilant, so give me more of you! I can¡¯t get enough!


    This lovemaking continued throughout the night until Fenris suddenly plopped onto the bed, triggering me to think something was wrong, but I quickly realized he had fallen asleep.


    This is the first time I¡¯ve outlasted you.


    The suddenness of it all had caught me by surprise, though the dark circles under his eyes told me all I needed to know.


    You pushed yourself over your limit, all to satisfy me. Silly wolf¡­


    Releasing a sigh, I covered Fenris''s naked body with the blanket before lying next to him.


    Ah¡­ this happened once, back when we were kids.


    We had started living together, and he was going through his intensive training, determined to get stronger.


    How often have you told me you¡¯re trying to get stronger for me? I lost count.


    Thinking back, it had been fourteen years since we met, soon to be fifteen. I couldn¡¯t help but smile when I thought about all my time with him. The kindness he filled me with was far longer than the time I was tortured. However, it also made me wonder about another life.


    My wolf was such a sweet child back then. Perhaps you would¡¯ve been happy with your family if I had never pursued you. Or so I wish we both knew Stella would¡¯ve found a way to hurt Amir, using you.


    Unable to help myself, I kissed him on his cheek, which he responded to by pulling me into his arms. I thought he had woken up, but he hadn¡¯t. Instinctively, he was always protective of me. I couldn¡¯t tell when the emotion inhibitor stopped working, but I was glad I could feel it once again.


    Being denied of my emotions has made me docile and dependent on you. But that won¡¯t happen anymore. No, this time, it¡¯ll be my turn to protect those I care about, and it won¡¯t be like the failure of all those years ago.


    "I¡¯m sorry I depended on you all these years. It must¡¯ve been heavy to hold it all. I love you so much that it hurts, Fenris." I murmured, caressing his warm cheek.


    Oh... How much I love you. There isn¡¯t any stopping me anymore.


    Every drop of reservation I had of what I was about to do melted.


    I¡¯ll protect you at all costs. Even if... it ends the world as we know it.

 Chapter 63: Addiction

    The next day was nerve-racking, waiting for Melody to come with the supplies. All the while, Fenris never left my side since he woke up; he hadn¡¯t let me out under him. It was almost overwhelming, and it felt like he was holding me like it was the last time he could.


    Something must¡¯ve happened when he was out the day before and was again hiding it from me. Although I didn¡¯t mind his touch, all I worried about was what was to come. Sadly, it meant I wasn¡¯t enjoying him like I would¡¯ve liked. Part of me wanted to forget what was coming, but I couldn¡¯t truly accomplish it, even if it was to enjoy the moments when we made love.


    Everything I was about to do or happen kept playing at the back of my mind, eroding my senses and leaving behind the fear of losing what I held dear. Thanks to the interruption, when Melody finally knocked on the door, Fenris''s mood quickly soured.


    He planned for us to be alone for the rest of the day. I tried to stand up from the bed, but my legs failed me, sending me to fall straight into Fenris''s arms. A chuckle rose from his lips, releasing me onto the bed and prompting me to pout.


    It¡¯s your fault! You know!


    However, everything slipped by when he patted my head, smiling at me gently.


    "Stay here. I¡¯ll tell her you aren¡¯t feeling well." Fenris said as I growled in response.


    "But I¡ª" I tried speaking up, only for Fenris to come down towards me and softly kiss my lips before pushing me down onto the pillows behind me.


    He traveled to my ear there, triggering a shiver to run through me.


    "Listen, today I¡¯ll have you all to myself. Nothing else matters." He purred, swiftly silencing any protest I had.


    His tone of voice when he spoke worried me about what he meant. After all, he had never said something like that to me before this. Tugging away from me, he put on a pair of pants that were on the floor as I couldn¡¯t help but bury myself in the bed and under the covers.


    Once I was covered from head to toe with the blanket, Fenris opened the door to reveal Melody patiently waiting. Although I couldn¡¯t see her face, the atmosphere felt heavier than usual. Something was off about her, yet as naked as I was, I couldn¡¯t run to her and ask.


    Before the silver wolf could ask her why she was there, she swiftly handed him the bag she had gathered for me.


    "This is for Lilith!" Melody announced, jolting off.


    The suddenness caused me to poke my head out of the covers, allowing me to see how extra jumpy and aware she was of her surroundings than the day before. Fenris didn¡¯t seem pleased by her interruption, but he wasn¡¯t rude to her when he answered the door.


    He hadn¡¯t even said a word to her before she abruptly left.


    The previous night, you left with Liam. Did something happen between them?


    Part of me wanted to run after her and find out what was wrong, but my legs or Fenris wouldn¡¯t allow it. Out in the halls was dangerous for me since the person who stole the files and made them public was still unknown. The bewildered wolf closed the door, placing the bag beside my bed.


    Covering myself with the thin sheets, I glanced at him, appearing puzzled by Melody¡¯s behavior.


    "I thought she was going to nag at me for making her wait not to cry," he noted, shaking his head.


    I fought the urge that came through me to find her when he said that. She had always been wary of my wolf, but never to that extent.


    Did Liam say something to you? Or someone else?


    My wolf didn¡¯t give me a chance to think of it much when he shrugged.


    "No matter. I won¡¯t allow it to affect today''s outcome." He commented, peeling off all his clothes.


    Watching the silver wolf burned my cheeks until he connected with me again, drowning every thought in his presence. Even when my consciousness waned, he didn¡¯t let me rest or think of anything else but him. I felt my body grow overly sensitive to his touch for the entire day.


    He only let me be when I had to relieve myself or eat. Otherwise, he filled me up with himself until I was over the edge. I never lost consciousness, even though I was close, ensuring I would remember every hour I spent with him.


    By the time the moon was out, Fenris helped me into the shower, where he continued to make love to me. The hot water splashing over us didn¡¯t help me keep a leveled head. By this point, I was so utterly addicted to him that nothing else mattered, making all my worries from before vanish.


    His eyes were full of desire for me, even though he had me in his arms.


    Can¡¯t get enough like me?


    I had lost count of how often I told him I loved him. Every time it escaped my lips, he would kiss me profusely, drowning me in his affection, leaving me light-headed while thrusting deeper into me, marking even my deepest realms with his warmth.


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    I had never felt him like this before. Sometimes, we would do it all day, but never this feverously. Though it reminded me of nights with a full moon, even then, he would never let me get overwhelmed like this. Perhaps this happened because I told Fenris about my feelings.


    Can I believe I¡¯m more than just your duty?


    When I finally found my release inside the bathroom, a dark curtain covered my sigh as Fenris grabbed me to prevent me from falling into the tub below. Worried, he pinned me against the wall, holding my face with his hand and forcing my dazed gaze into his.


    "Hey... are you okay?" he breathed before licking my lips and grinding himself into my core.


    A whine escaped my lips instead of an answer, placing my hands on his chest. I could barely keep my mind straight, but the heat was getting too much for me.


    Ah¡­ I almost blacked out¡­


    "It¡¯s... hot," I mumbled, energy waning.


    I had never felt this tired before.


    "Okay... hold on to me as hard as you can," Fenris whispered.


    I clung to him on command, yet my arms and legs trembled to hold on. It was almost as if my body wasn¡¯t mine anymore. Turning off the water, Fenris took me out of the bathroom and onto the bed again, allowing the chilly breeze from the night to quickly cool me off.


    On the other hand, the heat from Fenris warmed me right back up. With little thought, he thrust himself inside of me once again, causing me to lose myself again. My voice was hoarse and raspy even though he fed me water every small break we had.


    I felt like I was floating in the air, unable to tell what was real anymore, leaving me clasping the sheets to hold on, yet he quickly entwined them with his. Each thrust felt like it was pushing towards the edge I was about to fall from, but his hands kept me anchored to him and this reality.


    Even though his mouth robbed me of every breath I could take, I never felt more alive. His desire for me made me feel invincible, even when the slight aches in my body tried to twist me back from the high I was on. Even though with each climax, I felt numb before being consumed with pleasure soon after.


    Fenris was my anchor to this world that much I knew. Even though my voice didn¡¯t sound like mine anymore, he enjoyed making it squeak to his tune. I had never felt more his than that day. His voice was also raspy and husky, something I hadn¡¯t heard him be before.


    Everywhere he touched, I felt raw and ready for more, even if my body could barely keep up. His eyes had been shining since we began, and they were more visible at night with the lights turned off.


    His wet hair trickled down onto my skin, leaving a trail of cold where it was once hot. It had always surprised me how gentle Fenris was with me, even though he had the strength to snap me like a twig if he wanted.


    Every time he held me, I had no bruises or any pain after my nights with him. Other than the playful kiss marks he left on me to remind me how he had held me. The worst I ever felt after being with Fenris was sore, but after a workout, anyone would.


    My heart ached because of it.


    Am I enough for you, my beloved wolf? If I were like you, then¡­ you wouldn¡¯t need to hold back.


    Perhaps it was the exhaustion taking hold or something else, but my insecurities grew to a boiling point.


    "Fenris..." I panted for air, clasping his hands tightly in mine.


    He kissed me upon hearing his name, leaving me breathless yet again. My head felt like it was spinning out of control while our tongues tangoed with one another. Yet I somehow found it within myself to lift my body lightly, kissing him back.


    I softly nibbled on his lower lip, causing him to tug away from me slightly. For a moment, I saw his fangs¡ªones he never used on me. While on the internet, I read that Lycan couples bit each other to mark each other.


    Otherwise, their kiss marks would disappear in seconds.


    I can never mark you like you do to me. Am I good enough? Is this okay for you?


    Somewhat avoiding his gaze, I struggled to sit up. The feeling of him still in me was overwhelming.


    "Am I enough?" I mumbled, trying to catch my breath.


    My gaze traveled away from him, only for him to grab my chin and pull it towards him.


    "What do you mean by that, Lily?" Fenris asked, out of breath as well.


    But was I? Do you want me as I do? Do you love me? I want to know. No, I need to know. Am I your duty or... something else? Please tell me, or else it won¡¯t stick.


    "Is this enough?" I asked, firmer, placing my hand on his warm cheek.


    "Of course, why would you think you aren¡¯t?" Fenris questioned, shaking his head.


    In a couple of weeks, they would force him to marry Layla, and I couldn¡¯t have her take him away from me.


    If that happens, I¡¯ll die inside.


    "You hold back with me, don''t you? Wouldn''t it be better with another of your kin? Like¡ª" he didn¡¯t let me finish.


    Instead, he suddenly thrust himself within me, closing the gap that he created when I bit his lip. A yelp left me, noticing his eyes glow brighter.


    "Where are you getting these ideas from? I¡¯m only with you, Lily. I only want you.¡± He growled, shoving himself within me again.


    Another whine left me, leaving me gripping his arms.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know? I¡¯m too rough with you sometimes." My wolf reassured me, kissing me deeply once again before moving once again at a steady pace.


    The moment he pulled away from my lips, I finally broke.


    "Liar!" I mewled loudly.


    He let little space between his thrust to let me speak, though.


    "That¡¯s because... you¡¯re used to it, silly girl." He huffed, feeling it, too.


    Yet I was having none of it. I didn¡¯t know what came over me, but I wanted a better answer.


    "I don¡¯t believe you," I rumbled, trying to keep my mind in one place, only for Fenris to fill me up with himself.


    Making sure my sight was back on him, he forced me to watch him making love to me by placing his hand behind my head. It was almost as if he tried to engrave his expressions into my mind. His face was full of pleasure, causing me nearly to freeze on the spot.


    Usually, he would let me glance wherever I wanted, but with his hand on my head, he firmly fixated my gaze on him. There, I saw where we were connected. Even though the lights were off, my eyes had adjusted to the dim light.


    Everything he poured into me was dripping every time he thrust into me. The sheets under us were soaked with our love.


    "I¡¯m utterly addicted to you, Lily," Fenris assured me in a raspy voice, not stopping momentarily.


    Seeing him like this was almost as if something within me broke wide open. I kissed him, not being able to hold myself back anymore. Separating from him for a breath of air, he took the chance to continue making love to me at the pace he had before.


    "I love you!" I whined.


    My confession triggered him to kiss me again lightly before licking his lips.


    "Hah... I molded you to my liking. Even your insides are all for me. You¡¯re mine," Fenris smirked, placing his hand on my abdomen.


    Before he kissed me more profoundly than previously, my wolf pushed into me, filling me up once again with his seeds. Pulling away from my lips, I saw a hint of sadness as Fenris gazed at me, still connected.


    "You¡¯re mine, right?" he whispered, with a soft frown that rose on his lips.


    Are you also thinking about the festival and everything that comes after it? Will it change everything for you and me? Are you thinking about the same questions that worry me?


    ¡°I¡¯m yours. Only yours!¡± I grabbed onto his cheeks, kissing him.


    He responded by deepening it before continuing with his movements. Throughout the night, he made love to me until the early hours of the morning. At that point, my desire to be with him could no longer keep up with my body.

 Chapter 64: Moment Of Truth

    The following day, I woke up to a loud knock. Shade cursed under her breath from her tower, annoyed at the sudden interruption in her slumber. Much to my surprise, Fenris was still in bed with me, watching me sleep before whoever came knocking and was already dressed to go.


    I was also fully dressed, not in my bed but in his. He had changed the bedding all while I was asleep. Shifting my eyes back onto him, he grabbed my chin and locked lips with me before I could speak.


    Unable to help it, I responded to his feverous kiss as I sunk to the bed, leaving me tingling with his warmth. Tugging away from my lips, he quickly closed the gap again with a lighter kiss.


    ¡°Be a good girl and stay in here, okay? Melody will be here, and Liam will check on you if you need anything. I have to be elsewhere today.¡± My wolf suddenly announced, getting off the bed and heading towards the door.


    I struggled to process everything as I saw him turn his back on me and open the door. Even though my mind raced, I couldn¡¯t figure out what was happening, but I knew my heart felt like a wrench was being torn into it.


    Even though I needed Fenris to leave for my plan to work, I never thought it would happen this fast, especially after the day we experienced it. Instead of relief, I felt anxious. Melody entered the room, avoiding Fenris¡¯s gaze, triggering him to sigh before leaving without saying anything.


    The desire to scream at him not to go swelled within me, yet I stayed put. Trying to shake the thoughts away, I glanced at my original goal. Much to my relief, the beg was in the same place he had left it the day before. Somehow, it slipped by him. Slowly getting up, I struggled to get to it with my wobbly legs.


    Melody quietly sat on a chair beside the table I usually drew at before gazing out the window. It was so out of character for her that I couldn¡¯t help but worry. Even though Fenris had consumed most of my thoughts the day before, I hadn¡¯t forgotten how she reacted.


    Part of me wanted to run into the bathroom and cast the spell, but the other part wanted to ask Melody what was wrong. My morality was at a tipping point.


    Do I care enough to want to help you emotionally? Or will I be a monster like every other witch in this world?


    Taking a few minutes to listen to her wouldn¡¯t hurt, but I could gain some humanity points if I did. A soft sigh left my lips before I sat beside her, grabbing her hand. This caused her to glance towards me, and her whole demeanor seemed off-putting.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked.


    Her ears slanted back, leaving me wondering what could¡¯ve broken her.


    ¡°What, oh sorry. I... have a lot in my mind.¡± She tried to dodge me.


    Somehow, this black Lycan claimed a part of my heart, too. Something that I thought only Fenris could do. So, if I could ease her pain, it would fulfill her in some aspect.


    It may be the guilt talking, but¡­


    ¡°I can¡¯t do much, but maybe I can listen to you. That¡¯s if you want to open up to me.¡± I tried to be there for her like she was for me.


    She shook her head as those amber eyes got glossier.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You already have so much to deal with.¡± Melody tried to shut me down.


    ¡°I want to be a friend if I can, even if I don¡¯t know how to do so,¡± I assured her, causing her finally to break.


    ¡°Lilith...¡± tears fell down her cheeks.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    It almost appeared surreal when she wrapped her arms around me, letting go of what bothered her. I soon learned she planned to confess to him the night she left with Liam, even if it was a train wreck.


    After seeing Fenris with me, her hope of being with Liam blossomed, but Kira found them before she got him alone and said a single word. She was waiting for Liam to come out of our room.


    Fenris had forbidden her from being near me, so she dared not knock, but the moment she was out, Kira threw herself onto Liam with what she said was cheerful news. Out of nowhere, the white female Lycan announced to him that the elders ordered them to be wed after the festival. Fenris and Layla would marry the same day along with them two, leaving the brown wolf flabbergasted.


    All the while, Melody stood there stunned to hear the words that the viper spewed out. However, that wasn¡¯t what hurt her the most. It was apparent Liam wasn¡¯t happy about the news. No, what hurt her was what came next out of Kira¡¯s mouth.


    She claimed to be pregnant with his child, much to the amazement of everyone around them. Bystanders said many celebrations of the union, but Liam was too shocked even to refute her claims. Not wanting to hear anymore, Melody ran away from them.


    After the following day, she went out to grab my requested things. Kira was waiting outside her dorm room, letting Melody know she didn¡¯t want a runt near her future husband and child. Liam tried to find Melody, wanting to explain himself, but she avoided him like the plague.


    She even asked Fenris for a favor if he wanted her to stay with me to keep Liam away from us unless an emergency happened. This black wolf never let being a runt bother her, but she hated what she was after the events that took place yesterday.


    I had seen her rub-off comments and other things thrown her way, but this time it concerned Liam.


    ¡°If I were normal, maybe then I would¡¯ve had a shot, but now, I¡¯m just worth nothing to him. I can¡¯t do anything if he¡¯s about to have a child!¡± she tried her best not to sob loudly, but tears refused to stop rolling down her cheeks.


    Instinctively, I tightened my grip on her hands tightly, pulling them towards my bosom.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t true!¡± I blurted out, without even realizing how much her pain riled me.


    Shade, on her tower, jumped onto my shoulder, interested in the new emotions surging within me. This was one time where I would raise my voice for someone other than Fenris.


    I... can... You still have hope!


    ¡°You can¡¯t say that when you¡¯re in the same boat as me! So, you know more than anyone how I feel right now! We¡¯re nothing to them!¡± she snapped, feeling everything she pushed aside for years.


    All the comments, hatred...


    It all came boiling down to the moment she lost the one she loved. Her anger and words weren¡¯t for me, but I accepted them either way. They needed to reach someone, and I would be that person for her.


    Just like you are for me.


    ¡°That¡¯s true about me, but not for you!¡± I announced.


    Unable to believe my words, she pulled away from me, standing from where she sat.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying!¡± she argued.


    She was lashing out, which I could deal with. Stella made sure that a few loud words wouldn¡¯t scare me, even if they came from a Lycan.


    ¡°But I do... You still have hope!¡± I tried to reach her, but it only led to more heartache.


    She had been told there was no hope all her life, and I challenged that.


    Of course, you won¡¯t believe me. How do I¡­


    ¡°Lilith, this isn¡¯t funny.¡± Melody got defensive.


    There was no use in trying to use her without her knowledge anymore.


    You can be¡­ what I need, so I¡¯ll come clean because, with the right push, you can become the anchor I need for the spell.


    It would increase my chances of success while reducing the possibility of getting stuck in the dream realm.


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to be. You have hope! I can...¡± I paused for a minute, knowing there was no turning back after I said what was coming next.


    Even so, it was the easiest thing to roll out of me. ¡°I can change this for you.¡±


    ¡°Impossible! I was born this way!¡± she threw back at me, growling.


    I shook my head. ¡°No, you weren¡¯t born this way, naturally. It has nothing to do with your genes!¡±


    She took a few steps back, gazing at me with eyes full of distrust.


    ¡°Lilith, I don¡¯t understand. Why are you lying to me?!¡± She got even more defensive by slanting her ears back and tucking her tail between her legs.


    It was almost as if a threat intimidated her. I was pushing all the wrong buttons. Yet I didn¡¯t know of any other way than to continue forward. I didn¡¯t want to hurt her more than she already was.


    But¡­ Unlike me, you have a chance to have a normal life!


    ¡°Melody... I don¡¯t have a reason to lie to you.¡± I sighed, glancing away from her and towards Shade.


    We stood there silently when I undid one of the inhibitors on my right wrist.


    ¡°Do you trust me?¡± I voiced slightly, trying to ignore every warning bell in my head.


    It made my previous question somewhat ironic.


    I don¡¯t trust myself. Yet I¡­ What I¡¯m about to do is incredibly stupid, but perhaps the only way for you to believe me. Please, let me help you!

 Chapter 65: Trust

    For a moment, the black wolf studied me without saying anything.


    "Yes... I do... but why are you saying these things?" She questioned.


    "I promise I won¡¯t hurt you," I whispered, unsure if this was the right way, but there was no going back.


    All I could do was believe I would control it long enough for her to see what I wanted. I took a few steps towards her, removing my second wrist inhibitor, marking the first time I had ever done this willingly. The sudden rush of magic that ran through me caused my body to shimmer in a blue hue.


    In the reflection of her eyes, I could see my brown eyes also turning blue. With a brief hesitation, I handed them to her, clasping her hand in mine.


    "If I¡¯m right, then I can show you what I see if¡ª" I tried to explain, but the moment I removed the second bracelet, the whispers became louder than my thoughts.


    Even so, I held onto her hands, feeding the dark aura of her curse with my magical power and making it visible to the naked eye. It was a simple trick we witches had if we wanted to show a curse on an item or person. However, this didn¡¯t work on all of them, and the amount of magic used to reveal them varied.


    This could¡¯ve been why they never told her, but her race was the biggest reason. No witch would risk angering an eternal witch but couldn¡¯t care less when they wanted to punish a girl she never met.


    Feeling it flow through me as my mana fed it, I quickly realized this was a generational curse from an ancient witch.


    "What¡¯s this?" Melody asked, eyes wide open.


    The aura was thicker than smoke, turning darker than the night sky. However, the whispers prevented me from answering her. I couldn¡¯t separate my thoughts from theirs.


    "It¡¯s what Lily sees when she looks at you with the eyes of what you call the nether realm," Shade answered, causing Melody to pull away from me.


    The more magic flowed through my body, the more it allowed the black feline to interact with our world, much like when she warned Ben about what my death would bring. However, I fell to my knees when the black wolf pulled away, unaware the whispers were drowning me.


    Kill her... She¡¯s just another enemy... She¡¯s a sin! A Lycan! Enemy!


    Hitching my breath onto each other, I soon started to hyperventilate, triggering Shade to act over a mortified Melody.


    "Girl, quickly put the bracelets back on, Lily!" she ordered a stunned wolf, who heeded her words and swiftly put both inhibitors back on me.


    The whispers slowly died down, allowing my thoughts to become clearer. However, the toll that it took on my body was another story. I wasn¡¯t used to the amount of power that suddenly coursed through me.


    "Lilith, what¡¯s all this? Are you okay?" Melody worried, bombarding me with more questions.


    An invisible clock ticked, and my time was running out. The spell would be impossible without an anchor, and there was my only shot of having one. Without a second thought, I stood up, wobbling towards the table where the ingredients were.


    Melody was right behind me while my head throbbed, wobbling my way to get a pot and then back to the table. The lights were becoming bothersome, ensuring my thoughts wouldn¡¯t be coherent.


    I prepared the ingredients, knowing my body would fail me soon before closing my eyes and preparing myself for what was coming next. The black wolf wasn¡¯t in the dark anymore about her curse.


    Perhaps it would¡¯ve been better to keep you in the dark, but I can¡¯t. I don¡¯t want to do that to you. Not when you¡¯ve been so kind to me.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Melody, you¡¯re cursed, and I can break if..." I trailed off, thanks to a sudden sensation of dizziness.


    Everything I did with Fenris the night before affected my body. Thanks to it, I was weaker than I thought. Even though the magic hadn¡¯t surged out of control, my body wasn¡¯t ready for the sudden burst.


    Perhaps all of this was a mistake, yet I pushed forward, feeling my body grow hotter by the second. Noticing my discomfort, Melody touched my forehead before swiftly going for her phone. Instinctively, I grabbed her hand, preventing her from doing anything to stop this.


    Shade faithfully grabbed the phone from her pocket and ran towards my side of the room.


    "Don¡¯t... call him," I muttered.


    There isn¡¯t any going back. If Fenris finds out, it¡¯ll be the end.


    I couldn¡¯t allow him to prevent me from casting this spell.


    Not to tell how angry you¡¯ll be when you know why I am trying to do this.


    "But you¡¯re burning up! We can figure this out another day." Melody tried to sway me.


    No! This is the only day we have! There aren¡¯t any others!


    It wasn¡¯t easy to fight her because I also wanted Fenris there to hold me. This left me trembling where I sat, yet my choices would¡¯ve been limited if he were there. I had to move forward¡ªnot only for my desires anymore but also for Melody.


    Perhaps I¡¯m pushing my emotions into you. But am I wrong? Don¡¯t you want to be cured?


    I wouldn¡¯t know unless I inquired.


    "Do you want to be free, Melody?" I asked, noticing her pupils dilated.


    Ah¡­ I¡¯m a menacing witch¡ªthe most dangerous one in this era. Does that scare you? Or are you worried about me? I can¡¯t tell you anymore.


    Instead of answering me, it was as if Shade had stolen her tongue while she gazed at me like a deer caught in headlights. Even so, I need an answer, as the anchor would only work if she were willing.


    "Do you?!" I asked again, clasping her slightly trembling hand.


    Tears rolled down her eyes once again, ¡°Yes, I want to be cured!¡± she finally responded, leaving me with little doubt about what I was going to do next.


    "Then... as payment, I¡¯ll have you be my hold to this world for this spell," I announced, pulling her hand before nipping her finger with a needle.


    With the fall of a single droplet of blood into the cauldron, I let go of her hand and grabbed a small knife before slicing my palm with it. Melody squealed, running to find a cloth on the side while I ignored her, allowing the blood to flow into the pot below.


    Are you sure about this? Shade asked me.


    I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle slightly, closing my eyes before a strange call came over me.


    Ah¡­ is this what freedom feels like? I didn¡¯t know I¡¯d feel so exhilarated to cast a spell without holding back.


    "Dulce somnium dicam tibi futurum ostenderet praeter me ducat." I chanted, turning the blood that flowed down to the cauldron black and shifting the liquid inside towards the same color.


    When the incantation took hold, a white light blinded us before it dimmed, revealing the potion that would send me back into my past.


    All that¡¯s left is to ingest it.


    Glancing around the room, I saw Melody running towards me with a cloth to cover my wound.


    Ah¡­ you¡¯re blessed not to be fully connected to your wolf.


    The strength of the spell alone could¡¯ve sent any nearby Lycan''s ears ringing to no end.


    But that''s a blame that can easily shifted to the witches here.


    The spell wouldn¡¯t have affected them as much if they had worn their nullifying earrings. However, Fenris never did, and he wasn¡¯t around. The simple fact that Liam was the one to come in case of an emergency was enough to let me know my wolf wasn¡¯t in the building with me.


    It was quick enough to cast that it could not be identified or located, but I imagined complaints being filed to the building''s magic department because of it. Wrapping my hand in the cloth, Melody scolded me harshly, pleading with Shade to return her phone.


    "Melody, whatever you do. Don¡¯t let go of my hand." I struggled to serve the potion into a cup with my free hand.


    My body quivered slightly, alerting me I was about to shut down.


    "What?" she questioned, confused.


    Without answering her, I chugged the liquid without giving the taste a second thought, causing her to gasp.


    After I gulped, a soft giggle left my lips. "I¡¯m going to relive my past. So, please don¡¯t let go," I whispered as everything became blurry.


    "Wait, what? No!" she tried to plead with me, but it was too late.


    The spell was already taking hold of me, making my eyes heavier. This triggered Melody to grab me and carry me over to the bed.


    "Why aren''t you saying anything now?!" The black wolf huffed at Shade, who tilted her head.


    "Meow,¡± she replied.


    A soft groan left Melody¡¯s lips before she stomped to the cauldron, approached me with it, and grasped my hand.


    "Why are you all so selfish?! I may be stupid for witchcraft, but I¡¯m not letting you do this alone!" She chugged whatever liquid was in the pot, throwing it on the side.


    Her action alone stunned me to my core.


    "Mel..." I mumbled, feeling my eyes close to me.


    Lying next to me, she held my hand in hers. "Together!" She huffed.


    What a stupid girl... Do you think she¡¯ll handle it? Shade commented, jumping onto the bed and placing the phone beside us.


    I¡­ don¡¯t know¡­


    I never expected Melody to do anything like this, but it was like her, much like when she jumped between Layla and me. However, it wasn¡¯t long until we fell into a place where my dreams would take me back into the past I dreaded to relive.

 Chapter 66: The Past

    When I came to, I found myself in a free fall, with Melody by my side. Around us were chains of memories that threatened to engulf us if I didn''t control them. I had to organize my thoughts and focus, but the whispers from before made my mind unstable.


    Melody held my hand dearly while I struggled to find a place that fit this scenario. Drawing my free hand forward, I tried to picture the perfect place to do research.


    After all, this is all for an investigation.


    Perhaps if I told myself that, I would come out unshaken by the things I would relive. Before we knew it, we were on solid ground, and bookshelves erupted from the ground surrounding us. Unable to contain herself, Melody scoured her surroundings, not quite believing where we were or not knowing where or when we were.


    She jumped into this world without a clue yet refused to let go of my hand even though she was visibly startled.


    "Where are we?" she questioned.


    Our surroundings had become a library of books containing all the memories I had lived through. Once I could focus enough, my subconscious chose a place I was familiar with.


    Besides the room, that place is my secondary cage, where I spend most of my time.


    "How poetic," I sighed.


    "Lilith, why are we here?" she asked, ears tilted back.


    The black space probably didn''t help, but she would soon understand why we were here.


    "Because I need to know what Stella knew about your curse and Fenris," I answered, attempting to move forward, yet she forced my gaze onto her with a sharp tug of my hand.


    "Stella, as in the monster that did this to you, we can''t!" Melody growled loudly.


    I could see how she felt, but it was a useless emotion in this matter.


    "Yes, and we do. It''s the only way." I answered, burying my emotions deep down within me.


    This wasn''t the time to let them get the best of me, mainly because of how unstable the entire spell was. I could see glitches around us as white fractures formed around us.


    Any little thing can go wrong. We can''t linger here for long.


    "No, you can''t do this. It''ll only hurt you." Melody huffed, eyes full of concern.


    "It doesn''t matter. I relieve most of these horrors every night, anyway." I assured her, but she was almost like an unmovable boulder.


    Lycans...


    My words made her desire to want to convince me otherwise more robust.


    "Lilith!" she growled, trying to sway me, but there was nothing to grab hold of.


    My resolve was unmovable.


    "Everything that you''ll see already happened. There''s no point in feeling anything over it." I sighed, not wanting to waste any more time.


    This is why you should''ve waited outside.


    With the spell as unstable as it was, it could collapse at any moment. Everything would''ve been for nothing if I hadn''t found what I wanted before it broke.


    "Lilith, that isn''t right!" Melody huffed, gripping me tighter.


    I already made up my mind: I must save you and Fenris. Nothing will change that, not even if you cry or hate me after.


    "If I want to free you. There''s no other option since your curse isn''t an easy fix. You''ve had it since before you were born, and it was probably your parent''s burden that was placed on you. I find it rather unfair for you to live with their mistakes." I informed her while leaving out any mentions of an eternal witch.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    The curse was older than a simple generation; no, it was ancient, yet part of me still wished to deny that.


    "Lilith..." she mumbled.


    This time, I didn''t feel like entertaining her any further, and luckily, this was my world, so only my rules applied.


    "Let''s go. The spell only works for a few hours, and we have much to cover." I shut her worries down, yanking her along into the library.


    Even though I didn''t know what memory of the information I had, I did have relatively good guesses on where to begin. However, I had to avoid any memories that would make me unstable.


    That dream¡­ is a big no. Melody, you should''ve stayed outside.


    Having my anchor next to me was not ideal, but it would have to do. Picking the first book out of the pile, it transported us to a time before my mother died. I played on the floor while she hummed a song, knitting a scarf.


    This would be the first time I ever saw Stella''s grimoire, but it would also be the day that would change my fate forever. We were passengers, only to watch everything that was about to unfold.


    "Is that your mother?" the black Lycan asked, glancing at the woman rocking in her chair.


    A younger me drew butterflies on the wooden floor with chalk.


    "Yes..." I whispered, feeling bittersweet.


    I had forgotten her face, but she was clearer than ever in this memory. There wasn''t an ounce of her beautifully curvy golden hair and blue eyes on me. My brown hair and eyes came from my father, something my grandmother loved to remind me of.


    "She''s beautiful," Melody commented, in awe of my mother.


    "Yes, she was. I had forgotten her completely." I simpered, shifting my eyes towards the door.


    Her grip on my hand grew tighter when sounds erupted from outside. I knew full well what was coming next. Screaming erupted from the halls, causing my mother to yell at me and scoop me up in her arms. Before we knew it, the door slammed open, revealing a Cerberus officer coming to inspect the room.


    "Lilith... is this when..." Melody gasped, unable to finish her sentence.


    Unlike her, I silently watched the events unfold. The officer pushed my mother, who was holding me in her arms, aside, tripping her to fall onto the floor. I scraped my head with a desk near where we fell.


    The moment my mother saw the blood flow down my head, her fragile sanity was lost. Setting me down next to her, she grabbed a pair of scissors that were on the table before jabbing the Lycan officer in the throat when he searched under the bed, killing him instantly.


    No amount of healing could save a wolf from losing his jugular vein or artery. Covered in blood, she turned to me, smiling, promising to keep me before kissing me on my head and running out of the room. All I could do was stand up, trying to chase after her.


    The first thing I saw were the victims she had attacked before she was caught by another Lycan, who crushed her throat. I could feel Melody''s hand tremble with rage, trying her best not to lose it.


    "Horrid! How could they do that to an unstable woman?! She only had a scissor as a weapon!" her voice quivered.


    However, in her path, she killed another Lycan, who was unsuspecting and harmed a human officer.


    I don''t blame them for killing her after she hurt them, but I wish they had approached it differently. If that man hadn''t pushed her, she''d be¡­


    A soft sigh left me when I saw Stella standing there with her eyes wide open. Tears ran down her cheeks before screaming at the top of her lungs. Her screech echoed throughout the hall, alerting every sister about what had happened, triggering chaos to break, but the Lycans quickly quelled it.


    When everything was set and done, she dragged me out of the room I had hidden in after I witnessed my mother die.


    "You pathetic coward! This is all your fault!" the elderly woman shrieked, dragging me by my hair. "If it weren''t for you! She would still be here!"


    A second later, she threw me against a wall, tossing books at my face, "The only thing in your mind should be to avenge your mother! You hear me!? Now memorize everything in these pages!"


    This was probably the first time she tried to fill me with hate, just like she was. In her hurry to leave, she had forgotten her grimoire was in the books she gave me. Taking a few steps towards my younger self, who sobbed loudly, seemed surreal. However, I tried to bury any emotion I might have felt.


    Instead, I focused on the goal, which was to gather information. The young me, who could barely see through the tears, slowly went for a book, picking her grimoire from the bunch before going from page to page. With a quick spell, I copied everything I saw in the book into a book back in the real world.


    Luckily, it was a minor one that could be cast, even in the dream realm that we found ourselves in. After falling asleep, Shade brought an empty notebook for the incantation to take hold of. Thankfully, my wound was still bleeding in our reality for the sacrifice needed.


    Once I was done, I headed for the door, only for Melody to stop me from continuing.


    "We can''t leave her like this." She shifted her eyes to the younger me.


    Her nature was so pure that everything she was about to see would probably change her.


    I sighed, shaking my head. "This already happened. You can''t change it, no matter how much you wish," I reminded her, pulling her along unwillingly.


    "But..." She pressed her lips before squinting.


    She grew quieter with every memory we went through, allowing me to focus on gathering information. The violence I experienced was something that she could never fathom, and it was chipping at her core.


    Yet she never let go of my hand, even as we dove deeper into the memories before the fall.

 Chapter 67: The Memories Of A Dreadful Dream

    Melody never let go of my hand, no matter how ugly or brutal the memories became. After each visit, the book I was creating got lengthier as I copied anything that might have been useful once we left this realm. Eventually, we found the one when Stella tried to curse Fenris.


    Seeing it happen made me remember everything so clearly.


    Ah¡­ that''s right. That day, I escaped from the room they usually kept me in before sneaking into Stella''s office to look for a book she had taken away.


    It contained the only picture I had of my mother with me. However, looking back at it, what drew me there was probably the magic gathering there. When I heard voices coming, I hid behind the bookshelves before trying to peek through them.


    It wasn''t long until I spotted Stella and a few sisters with a child arrive. She dragged the terrified girl up towards the cauldron, an orphan from the raid that killed my mother, forcing her to stand there. Black vapors rose from the cauldron where the girl stood, shaking where she was.


    "Are you sure this will work?" One sister asked Stella, who picked up a knife from the side and went towards the terrified girl.


    "It has worked before, and it will now. A precious daughter for a beloved son." Stella snapped, taking the blade off the sister before turning towards the girl.


    "Please, no!" The girl cried before her throat was sliced.


    Upon seeing that, Melody couldn''t help but jolt forward when she dragged me. Gargles came from the girl as she reached for her neck before Stell shoved her into the pot. If it was to kill her or prevent her screams, the girl quickly succumbed to her fate.


    "She''s long dead," I whispered once she stopped shaking her head, gluing her amber eyes onto me.


    Unlike the present me, the younger version soiled herself, witnessing what was unfolding. Tears beamed down my cheeks, frozen from where I was.


    "Spiritibus et rogamus te Queruntur filii eorum separatione animae Facite illos impurum genus! Quicumque volebat quemquam odio! Ut malediceret regi rogamus vos spiritum, ut mihi in iram meam et sceleratas sumere poenas!" They chanted, causing the room to glow.


    "Fenris Silver Fang!" Stella yelled, raising her hands into the smoke.


    This happened a year before I met you. So, your name wasn''t on my mind then. Of course, it slipped by me by the time I met you. To me, it could''ve been part of the incantation. If only I had remembered. I''m sorry, Fenris.


    Of course, I was too focused on surviving this than listening to every detail. Yet some of it stayed within my subconscious. The smoke from the cauldron was the same as Melody''s curse, yet lighter. Everything from the tables to shelves shook when the witches continued to chant the spell as energy pulses erupted through the room.


    "Spirits, I beseech you... Curse their children and separate their souls... Make them impure... Hated by everyone and wanted by none. I beseech you cursed spirit, take my rage, and exact my vengeance." I translated, triggering Melody to glance towards me once again.


    Stella continued to scream my beloved wolf''s name into the night. One that meant nothing to my younger self, cowering on the side. The spell appeared to latch onto something before a red sine soon erupted from the pot, taking the spell along with it.


    "No!" Stella screamed when the spell suddenly came to a halt.


    Howling like a rabid animal, she tipped over the pot, spilling the contents onto the ground below.


    Heaving every breath, "Clean this up!" Stella shrieked, making the sisters run out to gather the supplies.


    The head sister approached the angry headmistress when her eyes met my younger self for a moment, who had peeked out, yearning to find a way out. I quickly hid back, holding onto my dress, hoping she hadn''t seen me.


    There wasn''t any way out with them in the room.


    "This cursed moon child will be the end of us!" Stella yelled, throwing things around the room.


    "I-I don''t understand what went wrong. We followed the instructions word for word." The head sister tried to create chatter to quell Stella''s rage, but it was at a tipping point.


    Instructions? From who?


    "The blood moon''s power''s too strong! That''s what happened! This means I must destroy the boy with other means!" Stella declared, shoving her books on the table and sending them straight to the floor.


    "It''s just a child. Perhaps we can try to find another way to remove the power. " She tried to sway Stella, but it was of little use.


    Once her mind was made up, there was no going back¡ªa trait I inherited.


    "No! We already tried that! I can''t fail again! That cursed bloodline will suffer as much as I have!" she snarled, slamming her hands into the table.


    And so, they did, grandmother, but you aren''t done yet, are you?


    "No more mercy!" she declared with her face warped.


    I''ve never seen you that enraged before, not even when the ritual was interrupted. Oh, grandmother, you don''t do good with failure, do you?


    "I understand, mistress, but what do you presume we do? If the red moon is powering the boy, our magic is useless. I mean, even Mistress Edna''s spell failed." The head sister pointed out Stella.


    Edna? Who is that?


    A soft, broken laughter came from my grandmother, "Then we must accomplish what our predecessor, Lilith, set out to do."


    "That''s impossible, she failed. What hopes do we have? Plus, Edna said it''s too dangerous." The sister shook her head.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Too dangerous¡­ This Edna is... someone to look into.


    "No... it isn''t. We can do it, but I need your devotion. Sister Loren, I have your loyalty, don''t I?" Stella asked, sitting on her chair.


    "Yes. Of course, mistress. You''re my one and only." She replied, bowing her head to show respect towards her superior.


    "Then... I''ll share something that shall remain a secret from the rest of the coven. That special child we''ve been training will work for the spell. You see, she''s special. I had hoped to raise her as a weapon, but the child has the heart of my..." Stella trailed off, not wanting to finish that sentence.


    Instead, she slammed her hand onto the table in discontent. "She doesn''t to be called that deserve that."


    "Wait, you want to sacrifice your¡ª" the head sister tried to clarify, not quite following along.


    "Don''t call her that! She''s nothing but a tool to be used!" Stella shouted, triggering Loren to flinch at the harshness of her tone.


    It was much like venom, corrupting everything she influenced. Stella''s heart was long gone.


    "I see. So, this is when the choice was made. How stupid of a child I was not to know even when it was right in my face." I huffed, gazing towards me from the past.


    I shivered where I sat, covering my ears to appear smaller.


    Too bad you can''t hide. This monster finds you in the end.


    "You were just eight." Melody breathed.


    "Doesn''t change the fact that I didn''t remember! I witnessed this entire thing that should''ve been the biggest red flag." I snapped, glaring at my grandmother. "I remained ignorant enough not to know. What a fool¡­" I whispered.


    If¡­ I remembered that perhaps everything could''ve been avoided. I should''ve gone with you to Cerberus¡­ Fenris, I''m so sorry.


    Melody was right, though. I was eight years old and barely understood half of what was happening. It could hardly be my fault everything occurred, yet I was guilty of not taking that small boy''s hand when he extended it to me.


    In that, I did share the blame with you, grandmother.


    Melody trembled as her body temperature skyrocketed; if it were real, she would''ve probably tried to bite their necks off¡ªprobably would''ve been successful.


    Well, if she wasn''t a runt.


    Loren gazed towards the shelves before focusing on Stella, "But... Iris would¡ª"


    "Don''t call that name!" Stella snarled, prompting the sister to flinch.


    "Apologies," she bowed.


    Stella shook her head, waving at her to go. "Find that child for me. Oh, and send a crow to Edna. Tell her that the wolfsbane she saved might be necessary for later use. I think I know exactly what to do with it."


    Wolfbane?! This was where I¡­ Fuck! I knew it! Then you are behind it!


    "Wolfbane?!" Melody gasped.


    "Yes, I''ll send one right away, mistress," Loren affirmed, glancing towards where I was before leaving the room.


    Stella sat there, pondering her next move, while I stepped into the room, followed by Melody, walking over towards where she was. Her hands covered her face as the younger me cowered in fear, unable to move from where she was. The present me didn''t feel such fear towards this woman.


    No¡­ What I felt for you¡­ Is¡­


    The boiled body in the room didn''t help the black wolf who timidly kept up with me. Something like that wouldn''t stop me. I should have grabbed the knife on her table and impaled her instead of cowering.


    "Wolfsbane... That''s you, too? You crazy bitch! Why can''t you croak in a hole already?" I couldn''t help but laugh at my grandmother''s cleverness.


    Everything must''ve come easy for you since everyone underestimates you. Or thinks you dead, but I won''t do that. No, I''ll be ready for you, and when I see you, that will be the last thing you see!


    Everything was unraveling a mess that would take everyone with it.


    Ryker, you said it wasn''t Wolfsbane, but what if they modified it?


    I cared for the plants in the library, where I learned about cross-breeding.


    Did they¡­


    Melody gripped my hand tightly, worried about my state of mind, shifting my gaze onto her.


    "Anything to avenge my daughter," Stella muttered, returning my gaze to her.


    Oh¡­ How amusing? Do you think the dead will thank you for it?


    Unwittingly, my grandmother was doing what she first set out to do. I was filled with hatred but not towards who she wished I directed it to. It was in my nature to be a dreadful witch, something she made sure would awake within me.


    Can I fight what this world means me to be?


    "You did nothing but hurt your daughter from the grave!" Melody snarled, nasals flaring.


    Ah¡­ Thank you.


    Stella stood up from her chair before looking for the missing sisters outside, who were supposed to clean the mess she had made. That was when I took the chance to run, only to be caught by Loren soon after.


    I never received a punishment for that day, which left me wondering if she felt some guilt. Perhaps this woman knew my mother before she went insane. By the time of the ritual, she wasn''t around either.


    When we exited that memory, Melody stopped, preventing me from going further.


    "I think this is enough," she growled, determined to prevent me from further sinking into the despair that populated my memories.


    "No... I must make copies of every spell Stella made me read. There may be more information within them." I sighed.


    Now that I know they may have modified wolfsbane, I must see if they used a spell or¡ª


    I turned around to pick a book, only for her to drag me away.


    "No! You already got what you wanted. This is enough! You told me to be your anchor, so that''s what I''m being. Any further, and I feel like it''ll change you!" she pointed out firmly.


    Even though I tried to hide it, she noticed the change in my demeanor.


    Change me? I''m me, no matter what.


    I shook my head before planting my feet firmly, stopping her from dragging me around. "Melody... I''m sorry, but I must carry on. With or without you."


    Her eyes flicked, "No!" she yelled, yanking me towards her, triggering us to stumble against one of the many shelves around us.


    A single book fell from the shelves onto the floor as she instinctively went for it.


    Realizing what it was, "Don''t tou¡ª" my mouth couldn''t move fast enough.


    The moment her skin met with the book, it transported us into my worst nightmare, back to that crimson night where corpses surrounded us.


    "What the fuck is this?" Melody cursed upon seeing what surrounded us.


    "Ah¡­" Every breath hitched on top of the other, unable to fill my lungs with enough air.


    My brain lagged, and I could not follow what was happening. The one thing I wanted to avoid was staring right at me, and the only way out was forward.


    Or if I...


    "We need to get out of here... Now!" I yelled before hearing the roar of monsters around us.


    Wait¡­ That wasn''t in the dream before!


    Worse yet, my other self was nowhere to be seen, and in the sky flew a black bird that circled us. My legs refused to move even though seeing it through was the only way out of memory. It wasn''t long before I lost to my emotions, almost forgetting that this wasn''t real.


    The one thing I couldn''t handle was in front of me, and it placed Melody in real danger. Noticing my dilemma, she grabbed hold of both my hands.


    "I don''t know what this is... But I''m here with you. We''ll get through this together." She tried to calm me even though her hands were trembling with mine.


    Tears rolled down my face, just like hers, alerting me that she was as terrified as I was. Her will to worry for another before herself strengthened part of me, but what came at the end of this was something I couldn''t handle without Fenris.


    It was something that she couldn''t support me through. Much to my horror, the bird circling us suddenly flew towards the horizon, warping our surroundings before yanking us towards the end.


    I froze when I saw that thing holding Fenris''s neck in that thing''s grip. My mind went blank when Melody screamed upon realizing what was happening. My beloved wolf''s head came off a second later as my legs gave out.


    She was the only thing that mattered in the time we were in. The only thing that kept me from breaking into a million pieces.


    Jerking my hand away from her, "Dimmittis" I whispered, releasing us from where we were.


    Melody''s body soon turned transparent while mine remained solid.


    Huh? What''s¡­


    "Lilith!" The black Lycan reached for me before she disappeared, leaving me alone to stare at the beast approaching me.


    Having lost my anchor, I was stuck when the horror crouched down on the floor, picking up Fenris''s head from the ground. A second later, I wept, unable to control the emotions bursting within me. The entire world I found myself in shook when someone distantly called my name. Without realizing it, the monster reached for me as everything shattered into pieces, leaving it and me in a white space where I heard it say something to me.


    "My bride..."

 Chapter 68: An Imposter

    When the beast reached for me, I slapped its hand away.


    "Get away from me!" I screamed, getting up from where I was before attempting to place some distance between us.


    My ears couldn''t believe what I had heard it say. In the distance, Melody''s faint voice called my name, trying to wake me up from wherever I was.


    This isn''t real.


    Yet I was facing down a monster that I couldn''t fathom.


    It tilted its head, confused as to why I reacted that way toward it. I pondered what I could do to escape it momentarily, but my magic didn''t work where we were¡ªalmost as if I was severed from the source. Again, it stared at me before closing the gap between us again.


    "My beloved, does this form scare you?" it asked.


    "Stay away from me!" I shrieked, only to hit what was an invisible wall that sent me tumbling down to the floor.


    Even though the fall should''ve hurt, it didn''t.


    What''s going on?!


    "Ah... You appear confused." It sighed, shaking its head. This is a dreamscape. We can change forms here to anything we wish. Perhaps this one will make you feel more comfortable. After all, it seems you care for this wolf." It said before shifting forms into someone very familiar to me.


    I couldn''t believe my eyes as I was facing Fenris. He even wore the same clothes he had this morning before he left.


    Is it feeding off my memories? How else would it know? Just what is this place?


    "Now... Is this better?" the fake Fenris smiled, chilling me.


    It was his voice, too.


    How dare you use his voice?! After killing him in cold blood?!


    Rage swelled within me as I knew the man before me wasn''t the man I loved. Although his voice sounded tender, it was nothing like the wolf I knew. There was no warmth or life in it.


    And your eyes... are more dead than alive. Nothing like my precious light!


    Even so, it appeared happy to see me.


    "Don''t you dare use his voice!" I snarled at him.


    Unfazed by my hostility, he closed the gap between us in the blink of an eye, crouching down to me.


    "Oh, don''t worry, my love. This might be my body soon enough if you want it," the man wearing Fenris''s skin assured me.


    His words made the hair on my skin stand, pressing my back against the invisible wall.


    Is this even real? Or am I still delusional?


    Either way, the threat in front of me was one I couldn''t ignore.


    "I... won''t let you hurt him!" I declared, triggering a broken smile on his lips as he reached for my face.


    Again, I slapped it away, causing him to chuckle.


    "So feisty. My love, you won''t even notice the difference. I''ll be him, your wolf. Like before¡ª" He smiled, trying to comfort me in some twisted way.


    "You''ll never be him!" I firmly declared.


    The fake Fenris continued to chuckle, "You''ll change your mind one day once I purify everything that he has done to you."


    When he reached for my dress, I froze as a realization came to me.


    If this monster wants to do anything to me, I''m helpless to stop him. No... Will I be a victim again?


    "Purify...?" I muttered.


    I continued to press myself against the invisible wall behind me to escape, but there was none. Without my magic, I was another human, powerless to do anything to stop this Lycan. I closed my eyes when he undid my dress before stopping.


    In an instant, they flew open when he ripped my dress, exposing my battered body. All I could do was try to cover myself up as best I could while he stood up, eyes twitching.


    "What have these witches done to you?! They weren''t supposed to touch you!" he howled before punching the wall next to me, creating cracks within it.


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    My body quivered in his presence as he breathed deeply before releasing a sigh.


    "Ah... No matter... this isn''t irreversible. I''ll torture them before I kill them." He whispered, grabbing my chin and forcing me to face him.


    The usual amber eyes Fenris had were slowly turning red.


    "Why would you do that?" I asked, struggling to keep my ripped clothes together.


    I tried to put up a strong front, but it was useless. The feeling of hopelessness was coiling at my being, dragging me down.


    Weak... Powerless. I''m no different from when they used me!


    "That''s a simple answer: they harmed my bride. I''ll kill anyone who has ever made you cry. Including that wolf boy, who considered defiling you before I could get to you." He answered, leaving me stunned.


    Fenris... defiled me? You''re wrong! All Fenris ever did was...


    "He saved me!" I snapped, clenching my teeth soon after.


    The fake shook his head. "No... That silver blood did this to control you. The boy wants to make his city and people safe." He scuffed.


    Silver blood...? Why did you call Fenris that? Wait... How do you...


    "How do you know any of that?" I whispered, struggling to cover myself while he tilted his head.


    "Oh? I saw some of your memories when I connected with you. Most of them are with that stupid wolf you hold too dearly. Something that needs to be fixed." He growled.


    "I... won''t let you hurt him." I tried to defy him to caress my cheek.


    It was hard to hold back the tears that his words caused me, but this man probably spoke the truth. Fenris didn''t see me as anything other than his duty.


    You''ll marry another soon and probably forget me when that happens. Yet I...


    "Oh, love, you''ll change your mind once you meet me. The fake affection you hold for that wolf boy will be no more. I''ll be identical... Eh, probably." He shrugged.


    Fake? Be identical to him? No! You''ll never be the boy who pulled me into the light! Nor is my love for him a fa?ade!


    "You''ll never be like him! He''s my light who owns my heart and soul!" I declared, slapping his hand away again.


    A sharp growl left his lips, slamming his hands to the wall, successfully pinning me between himself and the barrier.


    "It enrages me to hear you call him that! You were born for me! That wolf-boy is just but a pastime for you! You''ll see it once we meet! Yes, everything will be clear! I''ll be your genuine light!" He announced, face inches away from mine.


    "That''ll never happen," I assured him.


    My words caused him to laugh again, triggering his eyes to shimmer brightly.


    "Ah, feisty. I like that a lot." He smirked, sliding one of his hands onto my waist, triggering my body to shutter.


    "Though... Why haven''t you fixed your body with magic?" He added, trying to change the subject.


    "I don''t know what you mean," I replied, trying to find the strength to survive.


    If my mind was playing a game or consuming me, I had to fight it.


    But how... This doesn''t seem like anything I know.


    When a lucid dreaming spell failed, most survivors said that darkness consumed them and they couldn''t find their way.


    That bird from before... Just what''s going on here?


    "Witches are known for their transformation magic, so I''m sure you can heal it. After all, you''re the vessel for the soul cairn." He clarified, trying to inspect my body further.


    It was like he was trying to memorize everything that I went through. Perhaps he didn''t have access to all my memories from this place.


    Just where are we?


    "Soul cairn...?" I questioned, lacking any knowledge of what he meant by that.


    "The thing you humans call the nether realm has an actual more appropriate name." He informed, sitting back down next to me.


    My mind, though, appeared to snap.


    Is this my mind trying to piece back my shattered self? I don''t understand what''s going on or how this...


    "This can''t be real," I whispered, trying to look for a way out, but there was none.


    Even Melody''s voice had died down to the point I couldn''t hear her anymore. Perhaps I had consumed myself beyond saving. Instinctively, he grabbed me by my face, forcing my gaze back onto him again.


    A touch that gave me so much warmth before only left me cold. Even if he appeared like Fenris, they were completely different.


    "But it is. Love... This is very real. I hijacked your spell to contact you. However, I''m afraid my body isn''t in your mortal realm. That''s the only reason I haven''t come for you, but I had to see you." He answered me without having to ask him.


    His ears slanted as his eyes narrowed, inspecting my expression before leaning a bit closer to me.


    If this is real... I need to figure out what you are. Luckily, you don''t appear hostile towards me.


    That was one advantage; if only I could control my fear of him.


    How far can I push you... if I control myself?


    "You aren''t in the mortal realm?" I tried to switch gears.


    His tail wagged slightly when I turned my words into less hostile ones.


    "No... I''m not. You see, my love, the elves trapped me long ago. I think it was them or their god-forsaken artifacts. Though this isn''t something to concern yourself with since I''ll see you soon enough in the flesh." He answered, smiling soon after.


    "Soon...?" I asked, concerned about the timing of everything and my dream.


    "Yes, soon." He answered vaguely this time.


    "How soon?" I followed up, needing to know if this had anything to do with the red moon.


    For a moment, he narrowed his eyes before shaking his head slightly.


    "A year... Maybe less. It depends on these buffoons if they can manage to... Ah... I get ahead of myself once again. I forget to stop speaking when I''m with you." He smirked.


    Acting like a fool won''t make me lower my guard. You''re any but one.


    "What do you mean by that? Why do you want me? What am I to you?" I barraged him with questions, glaring at the wolf.


    "Ah, my beloved." He answered one of my questions, leaving the others unanswered.


    His tail wagged while his ears were fully attentive to me, alerting me he was enjoying this. I wouldn''t know or care if it was because of starved attention or something else. None of it matters since I had to think of a better way to get him to talk.


    You think I''m your beloved. So, perhaps that''s something I can use.


    "If you want me to warm up to you, wouldn''t you think a name would be appropriate?" I asked, causing him to close the small gap I made between us.


    All I could do was hold my clothing from falling apart when he grabbed my hand, pulling me towards him.


    "I forget. Apologies. My name''s Alijah." He smiled, tugging me into him before kissing my forehead.


    This was the start of something else entirely¡ªanother fight I would need to win.


    No matter how you look like! You aren''t my wolf!

 Chapter 69: The Black Wolf

    Being kissed by another man anywhere, even if it wasn¡¯t reality, was repulsive. His touch alone made me goosebumps, unlike the real Fenris, but angering him wouldn¡¯t be the best way to get information.


    Luckily, this man appeared to enjoy my rejection like a weird fetish. However, seeing Fenris and feeling this way towards him was unsettling.


    ¡°Can you stop looking like him? It makes me uneasy.¡± I mumbled, trying to control my hostility.


    His touch was utterly different, even if he looked like the man I had admired all these years.


    ¡°I can shift into anything you would like while we are in here. Just tell me what will please you. I¡¯ll change to it.¡± Alijah whispered, grabbing me by my hips.


    I tried to dodge his unwanted affection by leaning back into the wall.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather see your real self,¡± I mumbled, shivering because of his touch.


    If I found out who he was, I may figure out how to stop him. So many questions were bombarding my mind, which didn¡¯t help my chaotic mind keep up.


    ¡°Very well.¡± He complied, letting me go.


    A red light consumed him, much like the blurry form from before. Yet when it died down, much to my surprise, he didn¡¯t look like the monster I pictured him to be. Instead, it revealed a Lycan like Fenris, who had pitch-black hair and eyes that radiated red, unlike the amber color on these wolves.


    His ears were there, though, and so was his fluffy tail. His face was probably one of the most handsome men I had ever seen, rivaling my silver wolf.


    ¡°Hey... if you touch me like that. I¡¯ll attack you,¡± Alijah warned me, flustered by my gaze.


    I unconsciously grabbed his tail with one hand, holding my dress together. His cheeks were rosy, much like mine.


    ¡°Sorry...¡± I uttered, releasing his tail.


    Before I knew it, I was on the floor, pinned by the black wolf. I usually couldn¡¯t keep up with a Lycan¡¯s speed, but my vision never registered when he moved.


    ¡°Never apologize for touching me,¡± he whispered, leaning into my nape before licking it, triggering me to gasp.


    It wasn¡¯t what I expected at all. Nor what I wanted, but with my body exposed and magicless, I could do little to defend myself against him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± I trembled, fearing what he was about to do.


    ¡°This is what I meant. Don¡¯t worry, and I¡¯d never hurt or hold you without you wishing it.¡± Alijah purred into my ear, pulling slightly away from me.


    I could barely sit up when he grabbed me by my chin, forcing me to meet my eyes with his. This wolf was one of the most beautiful Lycan I had ever seen. He could have any woman he pleased as his beloved.


    Why... are you interested in me? I¡¯m just a damned girl. There isn¡¯t a single thing about me to care for!


    I couldn¡¯t understand how he found this battered body appealing like Fenris.


    ¡°Alijah... Why me?¡± I tried to keep myself calm; however, my body betrayed me.


    Noticing my quivers, Alijah pulled me onto him when he sat down, leaving me to land in between his legs.


    ¡°Ah... hearing you say my name. It makes me happier than you ever could imagine.¡± He chuckled, holding me tenderly.


    Even though I wanted to escape him, his strength was overwhelming. All I could do was give up, leaving him to enjoy himself while I grabbed onto his tail to cover my battered body from his gaze.


    ¡°I want you because you¡¯re my...¡± Alijah trailed off, shifting his glance towards the side. ¡°You were the love that was denied to me long ago.¡±


    Huh?


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I questioned, tilting my head.


    His demeanor seemed to change when my cover wrapped around me defensively.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I should tell you, my love. I¡¯d hate for you to get hurt.¡± He whispered, leaning back before shifting his eyes towards the side.


    ¡°I won¡¯t understand anything if you don¡¯t tell me,¡± I mumbled, grabbing his fur vest.


    I tried to put some space between us, to no avail.


    ¡°Fine... I¡¯ll tell you. Perhaps it¡¯ll change the way you¡¯re looking at me.¡± Alijah finally gave in, catching my attention once again.


    ¡°Maybe...¡± I tried to coax him into telling me more.


    He let go of my head, allowing me to glance at him. His expression shifted into one of pure melancholy.


    What¡­ made you look like that? No! Don¡¯t be swayed by him!


    All I could do was harden my heart, and I had to see him as a threat to the one I loved.


    That can never change.


    ¡°Alright then... You and I were destined long ago before you were taken from me forcefully.¡± He started.


    Destined? When?


    I didn¡¯t remember this man, nor did I care to.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± I mumbled, glancing away from him.


    My action caused him to sigh.


    ¡°And you won¡¯t. Sadly, those memories are long lost, but I¡¯ll make new ones with you while we create this world anew.¡± Alijah smiled, grabbing my chin again so I would look at him.


    ¡°Create?¡± I echoed Alijah¡¯s words.


    You can¡¯t possibly mean... No...


    It took everything in me not to look at him scornfully. After all, he was the one who killed Fenris in my dreams, or at least I thought he was. However, it didn¡¯t matter when he had already threatened to kill my wolf.


    If I keep repeating that in my head. Perhaps then your words won¡¯t sway me.


    Shivers went down my spine when Alijah lovingly caressed my cheek.


    ¡°This world¡¯s unsavable, so let¡¯s rest it and make anew.¡± His eyes flickered before he flashed his fangs.


    Reset the world...


    ¡°You make it sound like you¡¯re talking about a past life,¡± I whispered, triggering him slowly to nod.


    ¡°I am. You¡¯re my beloved¡¯s soul, reborn. It¡¯s infuriating how you always must play the martyr. You¡¯re always the only one to suffer but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll change that this time.¡± He declared, leaving me unable to follow.


    Seeing him as anything but a madman ranting about impossible things was hard. Yet I was an impossible factor that should¡¯ve never happened.


    An anomaly in this world.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know any of this,¡± I whispered coldly.


    Alijah shrugged, ¡°You probably won¡¯t believe me, but in your first life. You were born a moon elf, a healer who worked for others. When I first met you, I met you as an ambassador for the Lycans back when war was brewing.¡± He sighed, shaking his head.


    Impossible, war? There hasn¡¯t been a one in¡­


    What he said next, though¡­


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    ¡°They chose me to be the advocate because I was born under a red moon and chosen to bring prosperity to the Lycans. It all turned out to be an awful joke.¡± Alijah huffed.


    Red moon¡­ It can¡¯t be¡­ Fenris is the first! But what if you weren¡¯t the first blood moon Lycan?


    ¡°Even though I was the ¡®chosen one,¡¯ blessed by the moon, I felt nothing more than a piece of furniture. It dictated my life, including who I lay with at night¡¯s end.¡± The wolf echoed some of Fenris¡¯s feelings, though his hostility grew as he recounted it.


    Alijah grabbed my cheek, triggering me to reach for it.


    ¡°However, that trip changed my life. At first, I thought it would be just another boring task given to me by the Lycan elders, but then I met you, and it was love at first sight. Well, for me, at least.¡± He smiled before chuckling, caressing my cheek tenderly once again.


    Even his tail wagged slightly, making it hard to cover my body. The monster that had killed the one I loved in my dream seemed nothing more than a lost child when he spoke with me.


    Are you really a beast? Or am I missing something?


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t stand me at first. Hah... You were the first woman to reject me, and that¡¯s when I knew I had to have you. You treated me like a normal person, with no royalty or special treatment.¡± He paused for a moment, smiling.


    ¡°Hah... You even threw me down a flight of stairs when I tried to kiss you for the first time.¡± Alijah laughed tenderly.


    Ah¡­ That¡¯s why my blatant rejection goes right through you.


    ¡°I eventually won your heart. When you finally let me in, oh... I can¡¯t count the times I made love to you. I loved you with my entire being, but that made me a complacent fool.¡± He huffed, gazing towards the side.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize my love was dangerous to you.¡± He scoffed, wincing, and clenched his hands into fists.


    ¡°Why?¡± I mumbled, wanting to know more about his life, which echoed similarities to the one of my beloved wolf.


    Although it could¡¯ve been lies, his presentation made it clear that this was all real to him.


    ¡°The other Lycans saw my attraction to you as a threat. You see, wolves and elves can¡¯t breed. No matter how many times I made love to you, no fruit would come out of it. Of course, I didn¡¯t care about that.¡± He bit his lip, shaking his head. ¡°All I wanted was the little piece of life that brought me joy.¡±


    You and I aren¡¯t different, are we?


    ¡°I wanted something my heart picked instead of being forced upon me. Why couldn¡¯t they let me have that, at least? I should¡¯ve married any stupid girl as long as I had you.¡± Alijah paused again, recollecting his thoughts.


    It was almost disheartening to see him like that.


    ¡°But I was young and dumb, and I didn¡¯t realize that my love would be the end of you. So, I defied orders and ran away from all my duties. I thought I hid you from it, but...¡± He trailed off, glancing off to the side, holding me closer.


    ¡°I thought I was invincible, but I never thought they would go after you. You see, the day that filled my heart with hate, I left you... for maybe an hour at most. I had gone to catch us a meal, leaving you to tend to the child who fell off a cliff.¡± Alijah recounted.


    Even though it felt surreal, his story and sadness resonated with me.


    The pain... I know it all too well.


    ¡°When I came back to our home, the first thing that hit me was the scent of blood. But that was usual in your clinic, so I thought maybe the kid hurt himself more or something else came in.¡± He shrugged, gripping me tighter.


    ¡°It never actually hit me; something happened to you. But... the moment I...¡± He trailed off, shifting one of his hands into my short hair. ¡°I saw you on the floor in a pool of your blood. Your abdomen was sliced open. They left you alone to bleed out on the floor to show me what happens when I defy orders.¡± He breathed, holding me close as a faint red aura came from his body.


    ¡°You were helpless against them. Even now, when I think about it, all I feel is rage,¡± he growled.


    Ah¡­ Of course, I¡¯d die like that in another life. If anything, your stories have a wicked irony to them.


    ¡°Why did that happen? Weren¡¯t you in the land of elves?¡± I asked, trying to focus.


    My words caused him to bite his lip as one of his hands trailed down one scar on my back. Even though I wanted to run away from him, I tried to stay strong. He was sharing, and that was something I wanted to keep coming.


    All while looking for the opportunity that you¡¯ll slip.


    ¡°Your people betrayed you. It¡¯s ironic seeing how your body is now.¡± Alijah seemed almost to read my mind.


    ¡°You¡¯re always the sacrifice. I¡¯m sorry I wasn¡¯t there for you this time, either. I¡¯m still trapped in this timeless prison, but soon... I¡¯ll hold you once again. This time, I¡¯ll keep you safe.¡± He assured me.


    His words, though, brought me little comfort.


    The woman you speak about is a stranger to me.


    ¡°What was her name?¡± I asked, thinking it would be easier to relate if she had a name.


    ¡°Her name was Lilith. It¡¯s the same as yours now, an elven name, made popular by the witch who tried to destroy the world, or so they tell me. I don¡¯t know much about what¡¯s happening in your world now,¡± Alijah answered, much to my surprise.


    Another Lilith... Why... How... Nothing makes sense.


    ¡°Oh... How do you know about the other human, Lilith, then?¡± I tried to understand how he could know about a witch from his prison.


    ¡°Just the one who¡¯ll free me from this state I find myself in.¡± He answered vaguely again.


    I narrowed my eyes, noticing his loose lips becoming less so. ¡°I see, so, how many times have I been reborn?¡±


    ¡°Only once. I felt you come into this world, even from this prison, giving me a reason to live again.¡± Alijah replied, caressing my back and pulling me closer to his chest.


    His tail was the only thing that separated me from the big bad wolf.


    This isn¡¯t good. You¡¯re getting drunk with my presence as much as I want you to slip! I don¡¯t want you any closer!


    Alijah leaned closer as I touched his chest to keep a barrier between us.


    A soft frown rose on his lips, ¡°Your essence differs from what I¡¯m used to. Well, not that it matters.¡±


    His words were something I couldn¡¯t keep up with, focusing on other matters I wanted to know more about.


    ¡°Why did they trap you in this prison?¡± I questioned.


    ¡°Ah... Back then, I was a kid when you died. Perhaps I was twenty at most? The moon hadn¡¯t blessed me with full power yet. No... that happened a few years later.¡± He paused as his body visibly trembled.


    Clearing his throat, he sighed soon after. ¡°To answer your question, something happened when I finally got the power. You see, my heart was full of hate and still is.¡±


    A soft, broken smile rose on his lips, ¡°There¡¯s much I can tell you, but it warped the moon¡¯s power, making me what I am today.¡±


    Hey, Alijah, why does it feel like I¡¯m looking in a mirror when I see you? If you had never lost the one you loved, perhaps you would¡¯ve had a happier life.


    ¡°A monster...¡± I mumbled as he picked up one of my hands, pressing it against his lips.


    ¡°Yes... We both are abominations. Lilith, vessel of the soul cairn.¡± He breathed.


    Shaking my head, ¡°You keep saying that. What is it?¡± I pressed onward.


    ¡°That¡¯s something you¡¯ll have to figure out, my love. Even I don¡¯t fully understand it. It was more known in my time than in your present time, but it wasn¡¯t the focus of my world.¡± Alijah shrugged.


    His words weren¡¯t full of deception but left me back in square one.


    Why are you being truthful yet avoiding anything that may give me too much information about your plans?


    Trying to shake away personal feelings, I continued my query. ¡°You said... red moon warped you?¡±


    I need more. Fenris would soon be bathed in the celestial bodies¡¯ light.


    ¡°I warped it. The same thing won¡¯t happen to your wolf.¡± Alijah corrected blatantly before continuing. ¡°The moon responded to my hateful heart and gave me the power I needed for revenge. My beloved, with you by my side, I¡¯ll eliminate all that caused our first love to die.¡± He appeared to go back to his murderous intentions.


    For a moment, I had forgotten he wanted everything dead.


    This wolf is broken, much like me.


    ¡°Those people died long ago,¡± I whispered.


    Your monsters are long gone while mine are still around. You appear reasonable to a point, perhaps. I can use the woman you knew to my advantage.


    ¡°Yet their cruelty still exists. Just look at what they did to you. All the races are just barely holding themselves together. This peace is a well-built lie.¡± Alijah refuted.


    ¡°This peace has lasted for many years! Ever since Lilith opened the gate, the races gathered and worked for it!¡± I assured him.


    However, all it did was trigger him to shrug.


    ¡°Since Lilith? Hah... They never told me it had been six thousand years since they banished me into this prison from where you are. Interesting...¡± He mumbled, getting back to what he was going to say.


    ¡°How long have they been at peace? A thousand? Maybe less, right? Don¡¯t kid yourself, love. This world is about to break again; look at your coven; they intend to start a revolution.¡± He finally slipped.


    I caught onto something that appeared out of place.


    Are the witches helping you the same ones who tried to destroy Silverant? Impossible... Why would a witch help a Lycan? One that¡¯s the exact thing they want to prevent. No... that makes little sense.


    I shook my head before biting my thumb¡¯s nail.


    You must have been referring to my memories. Right?


    ¡°How do you know about the revolution they¡¯re trying to make?¡± I pressed him, only to receive a smirk as a response.


    He wasn¡¯t stupid, even though he came from a different time. Everything he had let go of had a purpose for me.


    ¡°Ah... I heard it from a little birdy.¡± Alijah answered.


    Crap, I must shift gears again.


    ¡°There are good people in this world.¡± I moved away from that.


    He didn¡¯t want to answer my question, but his reaction was enough.


    ¡°That wolf? Or the she-wolf? Don¡¯t you know that they¡¯ll all betray you when it¡¯s convenient for them? Love, don¡¯t kid yourself. Do you know how we were found?¡± Alijah countered with his question.


    ¡°Because the elves betrayed her, too?¡± I mumbled, triggering him to sigh.


    ¡°Yes, that... happened, but that was after the Lycans discovered our location. It wasn¡¯t the only thing that led to your death. No, my mistake came when I wrote to a friend. He was closer than a brother. So, I told him to visit us and attend our wedding.¡± He paused, shaking his head.


    ¡°A mistake. He was a silver-blood Lycan, much like your Fenris, and he was the one who sold me out to my people.¡± Alijah answered, growling soon after. ¡°Through him, they found out about you. It''s just another reason to eliminate his bloodline, as thanks once I¡¯m out of here.¡±


    This black wolf had not threatened Fenris but Ben, who had helped me through so much. Though, his path of destruction wouldn¡¯t end with their deaths. No, from how he spoke, everyone else would go, too.


    ¡°They aren¡¯t guilty!¡± I tried to defend them, only for the black wolf to scoff.


    ¡°Love... everyone¡¯s guilty of something. You know that.¡± He huffed.


    I couldn¡¯t deny him that fact since I was guilty of horrors, and so was he. We both had ended more lives than we could count.


    Lovers, mothers, fathers, and children. We took them all.


    ¡°I...¡± I tried to fight him on it but couldn¡¯t.


    Everyone¡¯s guilty of something, but they don¡¯t deserve death. But how can I explain it to your closed heart?


    Before I could say anything in return, my body radiated little orbs of white light before turning transparent.


    ¡°Ah... It seems our time is over,¡± Alijah whispered, trailing his thumb on my cheek.


    He wanted more time, but it seemed it wouldn¡¯t happen.


    ¡°Wait, I...¡± I didn¡¯t want to go yet.


    I wanted to know more, but instead of letting me speak, Alijah pulled me into an unsuspected kiss that shocked me. Separating from me only for a moment, he smiled ever so gently.


    ¡°I¡¯ll... make sure you learn to love me again. It¡¯s all I ever wanted,¡± he promised, pressing his lips with mine again.


    My body disappeared from his embrace soon after.

 Chapter 70: Partners in Crime!

    My eyes flung open, gasping for air before I peered around to find Alijah, but he was nowhere to be seen. However, the feeling of his lips left on mine remained. My mind, a thundering storm, couldn¡¯t focus enough before Melody hugged me, trembling and crying my name.


    It appeared I was only seconds behind her, but I felt I had been with Alijah for much longer.


    I¡¯m sure I spent more than an hour with that wolf!


    There wasn¡¯t any way to erase what happened from my mind, but what Melody said made me wonder if I imagined everything.


    ¡°What was all that?!¡± She questioned.


    "I... don¡¯t know. It was a dream," I mumbled.


    Did you see me with Alijah? Or are you talking about the dream? Ah¡­ I can¡¯t tell.


    ¡°What?! What do you mean you don¡¯t know?!¡± she huffed, her hands still trembling, as I attempted to shake off the feeling Alijah had left me with.


    You weren¡¯t a figment of my imagination, or were you?


    I glanced at Shade, only for her to seem utterly unaware of what happened to me.


    Lily¡­ What happened? Why can¡¯t I see into your mind like I usually can? The cat tilted her head, triggering me to wince.


    You can¡¯t see?


    This had never happened before, almost like it was blocked from her. Before my mind could wrap around anything coherent, Melody went to find a first aid kit to help me with the gash in my hand. The cloth had done a decent job keeping the blood from spilling everywhere, but it wasn¡¯t the best remedy.


    Shivers ran down my spine as I didn¡¯t wait for her to return before I rushed into the bathroom, wanting to wash Alijah''s touch off me. A flurry of emotions invaded my core, from disgust to sadness, making it hard to tell them apart. I felt disgusted, annoyed, and saddened by it all.


    It feels like I betrayed Fenris somehow¡ªnothing like when Cora kissed me. Perhaps it¡¯s because I don¡¯t see her as something that could be, but Alijah¡­ he was¡­ serious. No! Fenris is my world, even if... I had to...


    When I tried to remove my clothes, my body failed me, causing me to crash onto the floor. The sound of me falling onto the floor made Melody rush from where she was. For the first time, I didn¡¯t mind someone seeing my bare skin.


    Instinctively, she grabbed a towel to cover me with, but instead of accepting it, I pleaded with her to take me into the shower. She hesitated to do so, but I could not shower by myself.


    ¡°Please¡­ help me,¡± I begged, shifting my gaze towards her.


    A soft sigh left her lips before she sat me inside the bathtub and turned on the water.


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    Handing me the showerhead, ¡°I¡¯m staying here until you get out, okay?¡± she sighed.


    Melody appeared tired of everything that had happened while I wasn¡¯t being rational with every action I took. Part of me wanted to tell her everything that happened, but I didn¡¯t understand half of what happened.


    Will you believe me? And more importantly, will you tell Fenris?


    My body was fragile from when I overdid it with the inhibitors, too. We were under the spell for most of the day, but my mind hadn¡¯t rested even though we slept. Worried about me, the black wolf sat beside me on the floor while I tried scrubbing every part Alijah touched.


    "Fenris¡¯s going to kill me." She sighed.


    I glance at her to see her contemplating life choices that were to come.


    "He won¡¯t." I tried to assure her, struggling to scrub my back.


    "You got injured under my watch, and you think he won¡¯t bite my head off? How do you see him as anything but intimidating?" she asked, reaching to help me.


    Her touch, I didn¡¯t mind.


    "I¡¯ll tell him it was my fault,¡± I mumbled, skittish from her touch.


    "Do you think he¡¯ll buy it?" Melody questioned, raising her eyebrows.


    "Yes... he will. I¡¯ve done things like this before." I assured her, remembering setting the painting on fire when the room was full of wolves.


    That alone would have been enough, but that wasn¡¯t the only time I cast a spell that required bodily harm. Cora caught me a million times reviving flowers with my blood, something Fenris had seen before and scolded me for.


    But it isn¡¯t like I¡¯m not used to it. You never like it when I hurt myself, such a caring wolf.


    "Will he?" The black wolf asked, shaking her head.


    I glanced at her again, only to see gloom planted on her face.


    Is this all too much for you?


    "Yes," I assured her again.


    "I see; if not, you¡¯ll have to visit me in the Silverant grave!" Melody giggled, helping me finish bathing myself.


    ¡°It won¡¯t come to that.¡± I smiled.


    This wolf amazed me in ways I could have never predicted. My grotesque body didn¡¯t bother her in the slightest as she aided me to wrap up in a warm towel before drying my short hair. It wasn¡¯t long until I was clothed and sat at the table where everything started.


    Melody warped bandages around my wounded hand, ensuring I was fine before shifting her attention to clean the room from the mess I had made. All I could do was follow her with my gaze as Shade joined me.


    However, as she worked in the room, I could tell her mind was storming to find a way to convey what she wanted. Once the room was sparkly clean, she turned to me, grabbing onto my hands as a bitter smile rose on her lips.


    "Something happened that you aren¡¯t telling me, right?" Melody read me like an open book.


    She was as sharp as Liam and watchful as Fenris, but I was no match for her.


    Typical. These wolves care too much, but you¡¯ll push when no one else does.


    "I¡­" I trailed off while my hands trembled in hers.


    Just remembering everything is making me¡­ queasy.


    "That... was horrible... but if it were a dream, you wouldn¡¯t be shaking like this. You seem genuinely terrified." Melody breathed, gazing back at me.


    I hadn¡¯t noticed that my body was still quivering like a branch on a windy day. This wolf was doing something Fenris didn¡¯t dare to do for fear of hurting me. Unlike him, she saw most of everything I went through and knew what I had survived.


    With that alone, she knew I wasn¡¯t as brittle as Fenris made me out to be. No, to her, I was something else.


    "I..." I trailed off, unsure of where to start.


    Should I lie? Or...


    "You can tell me anything you know," Melody assured me.


    Instead of saying anything, I stayed silent, releasing a soft sigh from her lips before letting go of my hands.


    It wasn''t long until she turned to me again, "We¡¯re partners in crime now. I mean... if I dare say a word of what happened, Fenris will murder me, and I like living a lot, Lilith." She raised her eyebrows, triggering me to giggle.


    ¡°I mean, look at me! I helped you clean the scene of the crime; I¡¯m so dead.¡± She sighed, appearing defeated by the entire thing. However, a slight smile rose on her lips as I laughed.


    Hey, can I trust you with this insanity?

 Chapter 71: The Beautiful Lycan

    Trying to control myself, I couldn¡¯t help but cackle some more as Melody¡¯s smile became more defined.


    "Mel, Fenris won¡¯t¡ª" I tried to clarify, but she continued instead of letting me speak.


    "As you know, I enjoy living. So, telling Mister Alpha anything about this is a big no for me. Not that I would either way." She pressed onward.


    "Thank you," I whispered, causing her to return to me.


    Shade pawed the notebook forged from my memories that she had brought from the bed before placing it on the table. In my rush to wash Alijah out of my system, I left it without a second thought.


    Ah¡­ I might as well¡­


    Slowly, I reached for it, only for Melody to intercept my hand with hers, drawing it towards her, along with my glance.


    "Lilith... You¡¯re a warrior, but you¡¯re carrying too much. I know it and feel it. So, I¡¯ll tell you what you told me this morning before all this madness happened. I want to be your friend. If you let me, I¡¯ll accept anything you throw at me." Melody said, gripping my hand tighter.


    I couldn¡¯t help but bite my lip, hesitating to say anything. It wasn¡¯t right to drag her deeper into the unknown with me, yet¡­


    ¡°Please, Lilith, let me help you.¡± She pleaded.


    I didn¡¯t know what broke me, whether it was Melody''s voice, expression, or words. It didn¡¯t matter, but for the first time, and against my better judgment, I let everything go¡ªeverything I witnessed and felt.


    When I finished telling her about the dream and Alijah, she sat there once again in silence, listening to everything, no matter how crazy or unrealistic it was. Everything felt connected, even though it sounded more farfetched than ever before.


    "I see. How can I help?" Melody asked, stunning me right where I was.


    I thought she would call Fenris right away after I finished. Her name was so fitting as she left a melody in the hearts of everyone she touched, and now she was filling mine with a tune I had never felt.


    "You believe me?" I mumbled, tears trailing down my eyes.


    She wiped them away with her caring touch and smile.


    "You would¡¯ve never made something like this up. I mean, I saw part of it with my eyes. That witch also said something about Wolfsbane, which confirms something¡¯s up. The order hasn¡¯t said a word about what caused the attacks, either. They¡¯re keeping everyone in the dark." Melody informed me, shifting her gaze towards the side.


    ¡°You know my grandmother died in that attack. No one more than me wants to see them pay, so I¡¯ll help you however I can, Lilith. You don¡¯t have to do this alone anymore.¡± She declared, facing me head-on, eyes shining with determination.


    ¡°I see¡­¡± I mumbled, shifting my eyes towards the book.


    Ryker had said the plant wasn¡¯t wolfsbane, but¡­


    What if... they made a mutant version of the flower?


    One that didn¡¯t share the same characteristics as the wolfsbane of old. I reached for the book again, picking it up before gazing at it.


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    Are all the answers in here? Or¡­


    "Cerberus has been incompetent at best about the attack. If the order can¡¯t figure this out, it¡¯s up to us. After all, we all die in that scenario if it comes to pass, right?" she retraced her steps, concluding that doom would be upon us.


    "Yes..." I whispered.


    She nodded, "Then I¡¯ll do everything I can to help you. It seems you know more than the order, and they don¡¯t trust you. So, I will instead.¡±


    Do you even understand what¡¯s going to happen? What¡¯s coming?


    The danger alone should have made her want to run away and hide until the end, yet she was ready to stand firm instead.


    Fearless, this you aren¡¯t a runt.


    "It¡¯s... dangerous and stupid. I can get you killed without even meaning to.¡± I sighed, triggering her to smile and press her forehead against mine.


    "I trust you¡¯ll find a way out of this. After all, you want to save Fenris''s world, and that¡¯s good enough.¡± Melody simpered.


    A soft, broken cackle left me, "I want to save you, too," I said without thinking.


    It was almost as if my emotions took hold of my voice. For once, a new, brighter light was forming in my heart¡ªone nearly as lively as Fenris''s. We had only known each other for a couple of weeks, but she pushed herself into my heart in a way I didn¡¯t expect.


    Melody crumbled every wall I placed in my heart, launching herself into me and bringing me into the light again. From a source of inspiration, she grew into something precious. Before I realized it, tears were running down my cheeks again.


    "I know. You don¡¯t have to say it for me, silly sweet witch." Melody smiled, engulfing me in her embrace.


    All I could do was cry on her bosom, unable to believe that I, against all odds, found someone willing to help me.


    Why did I ever think I could do this alone? When it¡¯s much lighter to share it with someone?


    A weight lifted from my shoulders, leaving me lighter than ever before. For a while, I cried, hearing her assure me everything would be fine. Perhaps this could free me from my past and save the future that was coming.


    Alijah, I¡¯ll be ready for you somehow, but other things take precedence. You¡¯re a danger to the future. The red moon comes first, so I must figure out what the coven plans. That''s why you mentioned their revolution, didn''t you? Arg... Everything is... a mess!


    This was a difficult task to achieve as the coven was deep into the shadows. Many problems surrounded us, leaving me to dry my tears before I opened the book I had created. There, I sketched Alijah on the empty pages¡ªthe end goal for all this.


    A curse, a red moon, a coven entire of wicked witches, and a crazed lycan stand in our way to a brighter future, Fenris.


    At least from where I could see, however, the shadows hid many, including the witch who had cursed Melody¡¯s family.


    What was her name again?


    "He is... Wow..." Melody admired the appearance of the man I drew.


    Alijah''s bright red eyes, long braided black hair that reached his waist, and fair skin were the most eye-catching features. His fluffy ears and tail were expected for every Lycan. However, I couldn¡¯t portray how silky smooth his fur felt through the picture alone.


    He wore a black lace vest made from fur, which showed most of his bare skin. Alijah also had what looked like silver earrings on his ears, probably inhibitors from his time. His pants were also made from fur, alerting me that he wasn¡¯t lying when he said six thousand years had passed since he was sealed.


    "Yes, Alijah was breathtaking." I agreed, knowing he was beautiful, but his mind was another factor.


    You and I are similar in a way. I¡¯ll surely doom the world if Fenris dies, but not because I¡¯ll kill every one of them. I mean, I¡¯ll hunt down and kill everyone who was involved in his death before I rid myself of this world.


    That action alone would have ended Stella''s spell. After all, a world without Fenris wasn¡¯t one worth living in.


    "Too bad he¡¯s a psychopath and bent on a dead lover," Melody commented, shifting gears.


    I shrugged, gazing at his picture.


    You¡­ There is much more than that, isn¡¯t there? You looked at me like I was the last straw of sanity you have, much like Fenris is to me.


    His soul was pure black, but part of me thought I could save him with the proper means.


    I must think that because looking at you is like looking in the mirror at what it is to lose all hope.


    "I don¡¯t think I want him even if he isn¡¯t one," I mumbled.


    Melody rolled her eyes, "Speak for yourself. Liam isn¡¯t the only good man out there! I know it!"


    Thanks to Kira, a rift had appeared in their relationship, but that would have to wait. Even though there wasn¡¯t a part of me that believed Liam slept with Layla¡¯s sister, I had to focus on the dangers to our future.


    However, it wasn¡¯t like Melody would¡¯ve believed me if I had spoken on his behalf. This lycan was stubborn, like me.


    And I wouldn¡¯t change you for the world. You are too perfect for me.

 Chapter 72: Planted Insecurities

    Leaving Melody to clean, I studied what I recorded in the book.


    I thought reading my memories would¡¯ve clarified things, but it complicated everything.


    Everything I experienced was jarring and came to me in waves as I tried to read the recorded information. Melody tried to put up a strong front but was terrified by everything she witnessed. It made every turn of the page a slug as I had to recompose myself with each one.


    I can¡¯t find anything about the red moon! Stella''s spell is the only valuable part of this book; everything else is practically useless!


    Hours passed before I slumped onto the table before Melody suggested moving to the bed, which I reluctantly agreed to. I placed the book on a shelf where Fenris would never find it. On my way to the bed, I glanced at the clock, only to see it was midnight.


    My wolf was still nowhere to be seen. Anxiety surged through me while Melody reassured me he was okay by showing me her phone. In it, there were messages he sent asking about me not too long ago.


    Most of her responses reassured him that everything was fine on our end¡ªfar from the truth, but she kept her promise. The screen also showed messages from when we went into the spell. She had grabbed her phone from Shade to send him a preventive message saying that I was about to nap and that she would let him know when I was up again.


    After that, he sent another message when we were both asleep, informing us of delays on his end. When Melody woke up, she informed him of her accidental nap with me. In his last message, he apologized to her for making her care for me for the rest of the night, assuring her he would be back by the morning.


    Part of me felt disappointed that Fenris wouldn¡¯t be with me tonight. After all, I wanted to remove Alijah''s touch with him. Even after the bath, his presence still lingered on me, leaving me to sleep with the sensation of another man¡¯s touch on me.


    Melody promised not to leave my side, grabbing my hands while staying by me the entire night. Even though her efforts were comforting, she wasn¡¯t Fenris. Her touch didn¡¯t soothe me like his. Multiple times throughout the night, I jolted awake due to recurring nightmares of past times.


    Luckily, I didn¡¯t dream of Alijah, allowing him only to plague my waking moments. When morning came, I went to work once again. Melody tried to prepare something for us to eat. The poor wolf hadn¡¯t slept either, waking up every time I did, leaving me feeling awful, but it wasn¡¯t something I could¡¯ve controlled.


    To start the day, I took a break from the book before grabbing the tablet and searching for information about the black lycan, but I found none. Many Alijahs appeared on social media, but none like the one I sought.


    It¡¯s something I expected. After all, you said you are six thousand years old.


    The technology we had in the present didn¡¯t exist back then, but I hoped there were myths or legends about him roaming.


    Alijah¡¯s the first blood moon wolf. Shouldn¡¯t there be information about you?


    Sadly, I could only find thousands of other useless things. Giving up on discovering more about the rogue wolf, I turned towards the blood moon, only to hit the same blocks as before. The Lycans were keeping everything on the down low, not that I blamed them after everything that happened.


    Or perhaps it¡¯s how I search for things that prevent me from advancing. Damn it¡­


    To help me, Melody made pancakes, which were probably the most beautiful morning cakes I had ever seen. She made one resembling Shade and a frog with food coloring.


    ¡°Thank you, Mel,¡± I smiled, triggering her to respond the same


    ¡°Mel, I like that! Can I call you Lily like Fenris does?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± I nodded.


    Her smile quickly disappeared when she gazed at her phone before showing me Fenris wasn¡¯t returning yet. Whatever he was doing delayed him again, putting a bitter-sweet taste to the food before me as this was the longest I had been without him in years.


    But I¡¯m no longer a child and can¡¯t always depend on you, so this is good and bad.


    With food in my belly, I set back into the research.


    Lily, create a priority list instead of searching for everything simultaneously. Shade mentioned jumping on my shoulder.


    She thought the reason I was finding blocks was that I was trying to fix everything at once, which I was. I couldn¡¯t concentrate on one thing alone. Sadly, that wasn¡¯t why I couldn¡¯t see past the vast information on the web.


    Staring at the ceiling, I tried to collect my thoughts. From all the dangers I knew, Alijah was the true danger, but he wasn¡¯t what would happen within the next few weeks. No, my gut told me it was something else that was coming.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The witches? Revolution? Were you warning me about something? Arg, why not just say it?


    One thing was certain: Stella loved to mess around with Fenris''s birthday, the day after the blood moon, during the festival. I glanced over at Melody to find her again, making some treats in the small kitchen we had in our room.


    First... I have to fix you, but how?


    Sitting up, I picked up Shade before placing her in my lap.


    For that... I need Fenris and the power you¡¯ll get from the red moon.


    From what Stella said back in my memory, it seemed my wolf had the power to cancel out the curse.


    But how can I harness that power to use it to help Melody?


    I pondered for a while before it hit me.


    Witches and their orgies!


    Supposedly, they use sex to gather the magic of the red moon and super moons. I had read enough blogs about what the lesser vengeful witchcraft users were planning and how they would do it.


    Maybe I can siphon some from Fenris''s essence during the blood moon, but that requires me to...


    Before I could think of anything else, cramps invaded my world, causing me to reach for my abdomen. Usually, Fenris would throw me a pad before I even realized I was getting into my menstrual cycle.


    This time, it came without warning, crashing my world. Something I had taken for granted was suddenly missing, and my eyes swelled, realizing that this could be my new normal.


    Will it be like this from now on? Alone...


    Alijah''s words invaded my thoughts, causing my insecurities to grow.


    What¡¯s Fenris doing? Are you with Layla finally consummating your relationship? Is that why you aren¡¯t here with me?!


    Getting up from the bed, I went into the bathroom in a silly attempt to escape my thoughts. Grabbing onto the bathroom sink, I tried to rid myself of them. Fenris assured me not a day ago that I was the only one he was doing these things with, but that could all change.


    People lie all the time, especially when the thing you¡¯re lying to is unstable.


    Alijah was tainting my mind.


    They¡¯ll get rid of you as soon as it¡¯s convenient for them. His words echoed within me.


    I glanced out the bathroom door and into Melody, who was nothing like he had said she would be. It would¡¯ve been convenient for her to have ratted me out when we returned from the spell, but she hadn¡¯t.


    Instead, she believed me and was there for me. She reached out to me even when confronted with many unknowns, helping me stand firm.


    Fenris¡¯s the same, too. I have to believe in you, or the darkness will consume me.


    Even though I thought I was okay with him marrying Layla, I wasn¡¯t.


    Perhaps I would¡¯ve been happy to be by his side once upon a time, but that¡¯s no longer true. I don¡¯t know if it ever was true.


    I would be miserable if that were to happen.


    Alijah, you¡¯re wrong. If you would have married someone, surely, the other me would have hated it too. That can¡¯t be the way out of this! I refuse for it to be it!


    However, I was stuck as there was nothing I could do to stop Fenris from marrying her. Though, what worried me more was what Layla said once when...


    I can ask the elders to spend that night with you. Her words were like poison to my heart.


    What if they''re together during the blood moon? If that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t be able to help Melody, either!


    My worries made my cramps worse, so I placed a pad on my underwear and returned to the room. There, Melody greeted me with a picture that someone interviewing Fenris had taken. The poor wolf had dark circles under his eyes and wore the same clothes he had left with the prior day.


    Layla was also in the picture, clinging onto his arm and posing for the reporters who swarmed them.


    So, you¡¯re with her.


    The article was: The long-awaited Lycan Wedding. Even though the title was happy, Fenris appeared cold and calculating, without an ounce of life left in his eyes. However, Layla enjoyed every minute that they spent together.


    He looked completely different from when he was with me alone, reminding me of how he seemed when walking through the hallways before I was cooped up in the room.


    "Fenris loves you. You can tell he''s miserable with how he looks in this picture. I feel bad for him; he''s probably running out of batteries." Melody commented, almost as if she had read all my insecurities.


    Sadly, Alijah was making me doubt everything.


    No... I already felt this, and you fed into it.


    "There¡¯s no way Fenris could love me," I mumbled.


    She shook her head in disbelief.


    "He does. Just look at him. He¡¯s wishing to be here with you instead of there. Trust me, I have a knack for this!" Melody proudly huffed.


    Yet you won¡¯t talk to Liam. I don¡¯t think you have that much of a gift for this.


    At that moment, a message from him appeared on the screen, sending my heart into a storm when I saw him wondering how I was. A simple thought was enough for me to smile. Melody took the chance to play with me.


    "Do you want me to call him? I¡¯m sure he''ll come for you if he knows you¡¯re lonely." She teased.


    I fidgeted because of her words, only to reach for my abdomen once again, thanks to the ongoing cramps.


    "No... I don¡¯t want to bother him. Can I bug you by making me a hibiscus tea?" I mumbled, trying to change the subject.


    It wasn¡¯t my place to bother him when he was so busy costing himself sleep. Melody was quick enough to fetch me my tea and even add some lemon. She loved cooking or doing anything with food, always putting her spin on it.


    Even the way she made the drink was so pretty that I did not want to touch it. However, the cramps urged me to grab the drink from her hands.


    "You know... Seeing how beautiful you are and capable of cooking, you would be the perfect wife," I complimented, feeling jealous of her qualities.


    All her talents made me feel somewhat tiny in comparison. I could never do the things she did or be like her. In my case, Fenris did all the cooking.


    "Thank you. I hope so, but no one will ever look at a runt like me." She shrugged.


    It was her usual response to a comment like that. Her words rubbed me off the wrong way, though. It wasn¡¯t fair for someone to decide her worth and life before she was born. Even if she were a runt, that wouldn¡¯t have changed how I saw her.


    Even so...


    "You aren¡¯t a one and never were. I¡¯m going to free you from that label." I assured her.


    ¡°Thank you, Lily,¡± she smiled before turning around and returning to her task.


    I took a few sips of the tea, hoping for quick relief. Hibiscus was an excellent remedy for painful cramps during the menstruation cycle women were burdened by every month. After chugging most of the tea, I sat on Fenris''s bed as Shade hopped into my lap.


    Before I said anything else, I tried to collect my thoughts before diving into delicate territory. I glanced at Melody, who kept herself busy so she wouldn¡¯t think about anything that happened with Liam.


    You can¡¯t be any more obvious, Mel; how can I help you see you have a chance?


    The one thing I didn¡¯t want to happen was for her to lose hope for the future she desired. One that was still brightly shining, waiting for her to clasp it.

 Chapter 73: She Can Never Know

    Taking another sip, I dove straight into uncharted territory.


    "Hey, Mel, when you''re free from your curse, do you think you could fight for Liam?" I poked the bear.


    She turned to me, almost as if I had touched something I shouldn''t have.


    "No way! If anything, I''ll find myself a better man than him!" she tried to shut me down before returning to her task with a slight pout.


    The pain in her voice deceived her, though.


    It''s apparent you still care for Liam. One mistake won''t change that¡ªthat''s if it''s one to begin with. That wolf doesn''t seem like the type of man who would have sexual interactions with Kira, let alone be anywhere near her.


    When they stayed in the room, Liam was nothing more than harassed by the white wolf, but Melody didn''t know that.


    "Why not? I think Kira''s more of a viper than a wolf. I wouldn''t put it past her that this is some charade," I didn''t back down, triggering the black wolf to turn to me again.


    I thought she would tell me to shut up and mind my business, but much to my surprise, she didn''t. Instead, she sat down next to me, tilting her head, having caught her attention.


    Good.


    "Why do you say that?" she asked, ears slanted back.


    "It''s just the feeling she gives me. She isn''t right in the head. Layla''s kind enough to be spoken to, but Kira''s a wild card. I don''t think Liam would ever touch a girl like her," I answered honestly.


    Melody seemed taken aback by my assessment of the situation. After all, even though Liam and I barely interacted in recent years, I had known him since that faithful day.


    That brown wolf isn''t stupid enough to dip into those waters.


    Some of his conversations with Fenris revealed his taste for women, but he never mentioned Kira or how he responded to her approach.


    "I don''t know. She said the elders¡ª" Melody tried to argue.


    I scoffed at the mention of them.


    They are a bunch of old prunes.


    I had only met them once, leaving me wanting nothing more to do with them.


    Especially Fenris''s grandfather. He''s the worst of them.


    Ryker was better in every sense of the word, and that was too much to say.


    At least the elf didn''t hate me for who I was but what I had become.


    "The Lycan elders are old-fashioned and will believe a high-ranking Lycan like her without proof. Well, until the baby''s born. I''m sure Liam will show them after that," I blurted out, not letting her finish her sentence.


    How they spoke to Fenris when I was there angered me in many ways. Back then, I had the bracelets controlling me, but remembering it echoed Alijah''s sentiments about feeling like a piece of furniture.


    Fenris... when you held me and told me about the moon, that was only a glimpse of what you''re dealing with. Your life is... You aren''t a piece of d¨¦cor for them to play with!


    Usually, I would sit silently before showing discontent, but it felt like I had nothing to hide from Melody. For the first time, I felt comfortable enough to speak freely.


    "Lily," the back wolf mumbled.


    Her tone when my name rolled off her tongue gave it up. She didn''t expect my outburst, but she was relieved that I was more comfortable with her to that extent.


    "I''ve met a few of them a couple of times. They''re despicably old-fashioned and racist, too." I added, triggering her to giggle upon hearing that.


    They were the main obstacle to any relationship between Fenris and me. It didn''t help that they were pushing for Layla, too. However, this wolf probably knew them better than I did; they were the ones who chose who was allowed in the pack and who was banished, much like a ''runt'' like herself.


    "I just don''t know what to believe. A lot of what I thought was wrong." She shrugged.


    I sighed, shaking my head. The choice was obvious to me, but then again, I probably was like her with Fenris.


    It''s easier to be prepared to be hurt than to hope and be hurt.


    "Well, why not give Liam a chance to explain himself? I''m sure if you listen to him, he''ll surprise you. He''s a gentleman, and if I may add, I also see the way he looks at you when you''re near Fenris." I tried to persuade her about her current course.


    The brown wolf cared for her, even though I wasn''t the best judge.


    "What do you mean?" Melody spluttered, eyes open wide.


    "I''m sure Liam thinks you like Fenris; he always looks so annoyed when you interact with him," I blurted out, laughing, unable to contain myself when I saw her expression of pure disappointment.


    I couldn''t bring myself to tell her I was sure he liked her, too. Emotions were fickle little things, and I didn''t want to bring her hopes up for them to come crashing out later. She would have to discover his feelings from him and no one else.


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    "What?! No, that isn''t possible! Fenris terrifies me!" Melody squealed, grabbing me by my hands.


    It left me unable to control myself, marking this one of the few times I laughed so heartily.


    "You speak with Fenris better than with Liam, so of course, he would get the wrong idea!" I giggled, unable to help myself as her distress grew by the second.


    "That''s because Liam makes me nervous, and I can''t think clearly!" she assured me, but I wasn''t him.


    "He doesn''t know that unless you tell him." I continued, triggering Melody to take the chance to turn this against me.


    My laughter quickly died with the words that left her mouth.


    "Well, have you told your feelings for Fenris?" She questioned, placing her hands on her hips.


    Sharp stings rose on my chest, shifting my gaze away from him.


    "I have," I confessed, remembering all the times I tried to tell him how I felt, only for him to deny me from telling him until I took him by surprise.


    Yet the silver wolf had yet to respond to them.


    No matter how often I tell you, I don''t get your response. I...


    "What did he say?" she continued to query curiously.


    A soft sigh left my lips before falling back onto the bed. "Fenris doesn''t know what to say to me," I answered, causing her to gasp before storming around the room.


    "What?! How dare he?! I''ll murder him!" Melody growled, huffing around and puffing her cheeks.


    Her emotions were all over the place, amusing me, but all I could do was breathe in. I had to make her understand it wasn''t as simple as she thought. Even if Fenris had responded to me, it wouldn''t have changed the many factors that kept us apart.


    "It''s okay. You know why it''s complicated. I mean, I caused his parents'' deaths. His sister hates me, while his brother feels nothing but guilt for leaving me to my fate. The elders hate me and want Fenris to marry a purebred Lycan." I let go.


    "Lily... It isn''t fair. You''ve loved him since you were a child. He loves you too, I''m sure. There has to be a way!" Melody frowned, knowing that there was nothing she could do to fix this for me.


    Not even I could remedy it for myself.


    "Life''s never fair, but no matter what... I''ll protect him and the world he lives in. Even if I''m not the one on his side by the end. Though, if I''m not... I might go crazy, Melody." I felt the tears sting in my eyes as she sat beside me while Shade curled into a ball next to me.


    Lily, I''ll always be with you. The little feline assured.


    "There will be a way! I know it! But I... don''t know how you do it. Being so strong when nothing''s sure, I want to be more like you, Lily." Melody mumbled.


    I gazed at her, unable to believe what she had said.


    Me, strong? You''re wrong! If anyone is strong, it''s you!


    "I''m not. My mind''s very weak, and it feels like it might shatter. Even my body... is damaged. I don''t know how Fenris can..." I trailed off, grasping onto my chest.


    She stood up from the bed instantly, grabbing me by my hand and pulling me up. Snatching onto my chin, she made sure I looked straight into her eyes when she spoke.


    "Not true! You''re far from that!" she declared.


    All I could do was stare at her, amazed by her faith in me. I thought everything she saw would change how she looked at me, but it reinforced her views. This wolf was an unshakable force that wouldn''t let me fall.


    "Melody..." I clasped her hands.


    My heart could barely keep up with her anymore. It broke in all the right places as she placed them together, building it more robust with each piece she restored.


    "How dare you call your body damaged? You''re beautiful! You''re a survivor who should be proud of all the scars on your body. They mean you were strong enough to survive that ordeal! That you moved forward no matter what happened!" She huffed, making sure I was still with her.


    "What you have. What you are. It''s a trophy that screams I survived! No one else matters!" Melody declared, triggering tears to run down her cheeks instead of mine.


    Not even Fenris tried this hard to understand me.


    You were too scared to push me, and I made sure to give you reasons to be afraid of. No, only Melody is the only one who can do this.


    The black wolf was the only one who witnessed almost everything firsthand and heard it from me. She was the only one I allowed a way into my heart to heal it, and she wasn''t going to squander that opportunity.


    "I can never think of myself like that, especially when I don''t deserve it," I countered, re-establishing the same walls I had always built.


    Alijah... You were wrong. Some people care; many others must be like her if she exists. It isn''t a waste of time to try to save this world!


    "Bullshit! Lilith, you were nothing but a victim! Nothing that happened was your fault! Do you hear me?! Nothing was your fault!" she reassured me, causing me to hug her.


    Instantly, my grip on the Lycan tightened as I felt some chains that held me to the cage I lived in break.


    "Thank you, Melody. But I... am not as strong as you think. I wish I were." I whispered.


    No... I hope I am. I have to be for you and for everyone I care about.


    She hugged me back tightly. "You''ll see. Everyone will see just how strong and beautiful you are one day." She echoed similar words that Liam had once said to me.


    The only difference was that he had called me powerful, while Melody called me beautiful. They truly were kindred spirits that resonated with each other.


    Hah... These wolves are going to be the end of me.


    These Lycans broke me in all the right ways I needed. They had slowly slipped inside my heart and made me care for more than Fenris.


    For their sake... I''ll protect this world, too.


    For a moment, we held each other, comforted by each other''s presence. However, it wasn''t long until Melody''s phone rang with an alarm, triggering her to tug away and rush towards where she had left it.


    "Oh! Oh no... I almost missed it!" she exclaimed, grabbing her phone and sitting beside me.


    She browsed for something in it, leaving me bewildered by what happened. I thought we were having a special moment, but it was over quicker than it started.


    "Missed it?" I echoed her words, baffled.


    Her eyes were glued to the screen while she searched for something desperately.


    "A sale! They''re selling these beautiful moonstones for the festival. I''ve always wanted one, but they''re really rare, and they finally have some in stock!" She declared, humming.


    The item she was searching for sounded familiar to me.


    "Moonstone?" I repeated after her, wondering where I had heard about it.


    Lily, you read about them in the article about the witches using gems to gather magical power within them. Shade reminded me.


    Ah... that''s right. The one they used sex for their ritual.


    "Yes, it''s a gemstone! A beautiful one, if I may add. They say that it can sometimes trap the essence of the moon! Though, that''s just hearsay." Melody informed me, unaware I wasn''t asking her.


    Upon hearing her say that, it was almost as if the last piece of the puzzle fell into place. With the tight schedule until the red moon, I hadn''t thought it was possible since the gem had to be pure enough for the ritual.


    If the ones you can find are pure enough... if they can harness the moon''s power, then... all I need to do is something foolish. But for you, it''ll be worth it.


    "Melody... Can you get me one?" I asked.


    She seemed too involved in the event to notice my demeanor change as a smile rose on my lips, feeling relief wash over me.


    "Of course. What would you like? A ring, necklace, charm, or a bracelet! I''ll go pick it up today!" Melody asked, tail wagging uncontrollably.


    I had never seen her this interested in something, but it didn''t surprise me. Even though they banned her from the festival, she still was a Lycan, and they loved their moon.


    "A necklace," I said, sitting beside her.


    I''m sorry, Melody. I can''t tell you this because you''ll definitely stop me if I do. So...


    She could never know what was going through my mind as she brought what I requested.

 Chapter 74: The Return

    When Fenris finally showed up later that day, he only stepped into the room to collapse onto the bed. Not a word left his mouth before his head found the pillows. It was almost as if he hadn¡¯t slept all the days since he was away.


    All I could do was help him off his shoes before tucking him in for the night. When Melody left for the night, no word was said not to wake him. After she made sure I had enough to eat for the night, the dark circles under his eyes were so prevalent that I did nothing to bother his sleep.


    Instead, I returned to research more about the moonstone to use it correctly. The incantation to activate the spell wasn¡¯t hard, and it would last until the morning. However, the other things I needed for preparations weren¡¯t as straightforward.


    Once my eyes couldn¡¯t stay open any longer, I found myself in front of his bed, wondering if it was okay to join him. He had collapsed there because it was the closest one to the door. Even so, I was hesitant to join him.


    The festival was only one week and a half away, and he was already busier than ever. My time with him was shortening, and I wasn''t fond of it. Sadly, I couldn¡¯t imagine how it would be when he spent the nights with his future wife.


    Is this jealousy or envy I¡¯m feeling?


    Unlike me, Layla didn¡¯t have to worry about others'' approval to be with Fenris. It felt like my heart was crumbling under the weight of it all. Not wasting another thought, I climbed into his bed, trying my best not to wake him.


    Slowly, I hugged him from behind, allowing the warmth radiating from him to envelop me. His scent filled my senses as he wore the clothes from the prior day, but I didn¡¯t mind. No, I craved for any sign of him for the longest time.


    I had no nightmares or dreams for the first time in two days, just a deep sleep. When I opened my eyes the next morning, Fenris was already up, ready to leave again. Noticing I was awake before I could say anything to him, he approached me.


    Without wasting a second, he kissed me lightly on my lips. I thought it would be short, but he pinned me down onto the bed, deepening it soon after. His tongue caressed my mouth, leaving me humming under him. His action surprised me, but quickly relief spread through me.


    Fenris¡¯s touch replaced Alijah''s, who had plagued me over the past two days. Pulling away slightly, he glanced over at my hand before turning his gaze back onto my face. I knew already what would come out of his mouth, but I could only feel content instead of worrying.


    "Anything you want to tell me?" Fenris questioned me, eyebrows raised.


    His amber eyes melted my heart and turned every thought murky. He suspected how I might¡¯ve gotten the injury in my hand¡ªa question I, luckily, rehearsed in my head enough times to know what to answer.


    Ah¡­ I¡¯m just happy.


    Reaching to touch his face, I smiled, unable to contain my emotion. His eyes widened as his cheeks turned rosy.


    ¡°Ah¡­ Lily¡­ I missed you.¡± He breathed, leaning into me before locking lips with me again.


    A soft whine left me as I happily returned his affection. We made out for a while, but we were unable to progress any further because of my cycle. This wolf never touched me sexually when I bled down there.


    Separating for air, he licked his lips, waiting for my answer.


    "I tried to help Melody cook, and the knife just slipped." I lied, short of breath.


    He sighed, kissing me again before pulling away soon after and licking his lips again.


    "You know you aren¡¯t adept at cooking," he huffed, shifting his eyes toward my injured hand.


    "I know... but I wanted to help her. It wasn¡¯t fair for her to do all the work." I echoed some truth into my lie, hoping it would be enough for him to believe me.


    "Oi, you never help me cook.¡± He growled, narrowing his eyes, which still had dark circles under them.


    Instead of answering him, I simpered, gripping his shirt.


    He let out a soft sigh, ¡°Just be more careful." kissing my forehead lightly before standing up from the bed.


    I knew he was leaving when I saw him pick up his bag. It pained me he was going so soon after being away for two days and a night.


    "You have to go again?" I pouted, feeling neglected by him.


    I was mostly jealous of whatever had been taking all his attention lately, though it slowly made me understand how Layla felt when he was with me.


    You¡¯ve spoiled me.


    "Yeah, the preparations are annoying. Ryker, with his stupid barrier crystals, will be the end of me." Fenris growled, releasing another sigh.


    Even though it was pulling him away from me, I saw the chance to get information.


    "Barrier crystals?" I mumbled.


    Perhaps a complication.


    "Yeah. With all the attacks on Lycans, Ryker decided to enclose the entire festival for seven days," Fenris rolled his eyes.


    Instantly, it felt like my heart dropped down a cliff with no end.


    Enclose? You can¡¯t mean¡­ No... If... this is true, then I...


    I wouldn¡¯t be able to help Melody, and worse yet, he would be away from me for a week.


    "B-but... t-that means..." My voice quivered as he avoided my gaze.


    Two days and one night was already too long, marking my longest without him. Even when he trained, he always came back to me at night.


    "Yeah, I won¡¯t be here for a week, but don¡¯t worry. Melody will be here, and if¡ª" Fenris tried to downplay the situation, unaware of my turmoil.


    No! Everything depends on me being able to reach you. What hope would a human have if the crystals could even enclose Lycans? None.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    However, what bothered me the most was¡­


    "Melody, isn¡¯t you!" I snapped, unable to hold the pain it instigated within me.


    It had been two days without him, and I couldn¡¯t imagine seven. Not only that, but I also needed to be with him when the blood moon came.


    "I know... it¡¯ll be hard for both of us, trust me," Fenris reassured me, grabbing my hand.


    I pulled away, placing them where my chest ached.


    Is it the stress of it all? Or the jealousy that someone other than me is taking your time? I hate it!


    "Will you be with Layla throughout the festival?" I asked point-blank, avoiding his gaze.


    "What? No. Fuck, no, I won¡¯t be with her, Lilith." He quickly replied to my bold question, causing me to turn back to him.


    "Then... why can''t you stay here with me?" I questioned.


    He sighed, "You know, I can¡¯t be anywhere near you during the red moon. It isn¡¯t safe." Fenris informed sternly, placing his bag next to the door.


    "But¡­ it¡¯s..." I trailed off, unable to think of anything coherent enough.


    The crimson moon was a massive event that could change him; convincing him otherwise was practically impossible.


    "Lily, I¡¯ll be alone during the red moon if that¡¯s bothering you." He announced.


    I glanced back towards him. A glimmer of hope sparked in my chest.


    "Alone?" I echoed the word.


    Fenris nodded, "Yes, alone. They¡¯re separating me from the rest of the group. My little playground, Ryker, calls it like it makes me feel better. Liam will fetch me the next morning, and hopefully, I won¡¯t rip his head off when I see him. No one knows how I¡¯ll react to the moon.¡±


    A soft sigh left him, ¡°Honestly, I''d rather be placed in a basement. They¡¯d chain me up with the strongest metals, and they could find and leave me there until I regain my senses, but the elders refuse to do it that way."


    Nothing I could say could change what would happen, and he wouldn¡¯t allow it to happen, either.


    "I see," I whispered.


    Fenris gripped my chin, tugging it up towards him. "Lily... after the festival, I¡¯ll make it up to you for days to come.¡±


    His words caused my cheeks to burn.


    "You better," I mumbled.


    He chuckled, "I would make it up to you right now, but¡ª"


    The only reason he didn¡¯t finish was because of a well-placed pillow on his face.


    "Don¡¯t! I feel all ache and icky!" I yelped, throwing another pillow at him.


    He caught this one with a smile that caused my heart to skip a beat. It was almost as if I had activated the playful nature inside of him. Placing both pillows back on the bed, he climbed back onto it, pinning me down onto the bed once again.


    "There¡¯s still a bit of time before Melody gets here. We can¡¯t fuck, but I want to kiss you, can I?" Fenris purred into my ear.


    Instead of answering him, I clashed my lips with his as a flurry of emotions overcame me.


    Ah¡­ it seems I was successful in getting the information I needed. Sorry, little wolf, but I need to be on top of this, even if I am genuinely upset that you won¡¯t be here with me.


    Not knowing when I would feel his lips on mine the next time, I indulged myself with him. However, in my mind, I tried to solve all the issues he brought up.


    Fenris wouldn¡¯t be available to me as easily as I wanted him to be.


    So, the blood moon night will require more planning than I first thought. Those barriers will be the real problem, especially. Luckily, I wasn¡¯t a mere human. Nothing will stop me anymore.


    Barrier crystals were made with dragon scales and some elven magic. They prevented any living thing from crossing the lines where they stood. Even Lycans, who laughed at most magic, had issues with standard barriers, but those wouldn¡¯t be used for the festival.


    No, that will be a military-grade one. Crap¡­


    At least Ryker was taking the situation seriously, but it inconvenienced me.


    How can I cross that barrier? It was already hard to sneak out of Cerberus, but now...


    Before I could investigate, a knock came from the door, interrupting us. Fenris pulled away from me, leaving me panting for air as a curse left him, tracing his fingertips to my face and lips.


    Our time was up; however, before he moved from the bed, I launched myself on him, locking lips together again as he didn¡¯t pull me away. Sticking my tongue into his mouth, he let me roam his features, including navigating his sharp fangs that hadn¡¯t once hurt me.


    Gripping into my hips, a soft whine left him as I grabbed onto his silky hair, securing myself on him. Tugging myself away from his lips, I saw how rosy his cheeks were before he pressed his forehead against mine.


    ¡°I love you, Fenris.¡± I cooed.


    A soft smile rose on his lips, ¡°After the festival, can I take you out of here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go anywhere with you,¡± I leaned in closer; however, before my lips could claim his, another knock came from the door.


    ¡°I have to go.¡± He breathed, finally pulling away and leaving me alone on the bed.


    He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself before opening the door for Melody. She quickly snickered upon seeing our condition. I didn¡¯t think I had ever been so embarrassed before, but somehow, looking at us, she knew something had happened between Fenris and me.


    Before he left the room, he informed me he had made me some tea and had left it in the thermos in the fridge.


    Always... caring.


    Once he was gone, Melody relentlessly tried to figure out what had happened, not allowing me to feel a moment of loneliness while she was there. After her drill, I calmed down enough to try to problem-solve once again every factor that arrived.


    I knew how to gather the energy but not how I would get to the source, Fenris. My only advantage was that he would be alone, but getting to him would be near impossible. From what I gathered, those barriers were war-grade, and they could only be taken down from the inside or by the switch that activated them, which would be heavily guarded.


    Ryker undoubtedly had Fenris''s barrier switch on him, which was good, but it made a complex task nearly impossible¡ªan entire day passed without any progress on how to get to Fenris on the day of the blood moon.


    The next day, hours went by with no progress while Melody happily hummed in the background in the small kitchen. Feeling defeated, I laid my head on the table.


    How do I¡­


    Lily, why not use the power of the nether realm? Shade suggested, triggering me to frown upon hearing her.


    Soul Cairn. I corrected her, remembering Alijah''s words.


    I shook my head immediately after.


    Impossible.


    Don''t you need to get to Fenris to lift Melody''s curse? I don¡¯t see any other way. The night of the explosions proves it can be done. Shade argued her point, causing me to sigh.


    As usual, this little feline wasn¡¯t wrong; I couldn¡¯t reach Fenris unless I used the power of the other realm since the barriers repelled any transportation magic that came from ordinary means. Yet the power from the soul cairn might have been enough to pass through it.


    Yes, but¡­


    Lily... try to control it. I know you have the power to do it. We can do it! She encouraged me.


    No way. It¡¯s too dangerous.


    You only need to open a portal, like when you saved Fenris. If you command the beast within the cairn, it won¡¯t be able to escape, Shade continued.


    I glanced at her before gently squishing her ears in my hands.


    You make it sound so easy.


    When in reality, I didn¡¯t know how that even happened. The squishiness of her ears brought some ease within me.


    It terrifies me. Shade, what if¡­


    After all, the last time I took two bracelets off, the whispers drowned me, although I had opened it with none of my bracelets off. The emotions were powerful enough, but that would require me to become unstable.


    From everything you read, I see no other way. Shade assured me, pawing at the bracelet Fenris gave me as a child.


    Maybe you¡¯ll find him in that chaos with this. You two are inseparable, Lily. She nodded.


    I grabbed hold of it, and even though I wanted to deny her every point, I couldn¡¯t. There would come a time when I needed to control this power and use it to my advantage.


    I didn¡¯t think it would be now, though it''s imperative that I do. Isn¡¯t it Shade?


    There was no way other than dying to cross that barrier, and I was no necromancer. I closed my eyes, trying to remember some of Tania''s teachings, the only one who ever attempted to teach me how to control my emotions without the inhibitors.


    It had been years since she was sent away, stopping my lessons, but I still remembered everything she taught me. Reminiscing about my times with her made me miss her dearly. Even though vampires couldn¡¯t do magic, she offered something else in return.


    Magic training wasn¡¯t what I needed after Stella drilled me with all the basics and advanced techniques, even if the order prevented me from knowing anything else by keeping me in the kid section of the library.


    Stella had trained me with more spells than my mind could carry.


    You wanted to make me a weapon, and I became one. It''s too bad it won¡¯t be aimed at those you thought it would. Okay¡­ Let¡¯s do this.


    Standing up from the chair, I lay down on the bed with Shade, who was excited to see what I would do next. It was do or die, and time wasn¡¯t on my side.

 Chapter 75: Bottling Desires

    Knowing time wasn''t on my side, I took a deep breath before glancing over at Melody, who happily tasted the results of her labor.


    You''re blissfully unaware of everything.


    "Mel, whatever you do, don''t interrupt me," I warned her, only for her to glance at me.


    "Oh? What will you do?" she asked, holding a spatula full of cream.


    A soft chuckle left my lips. "Something stupid," I replied.


    She stood there befuddled, only to realize I was taking off one of my inhibitors.


    "Oh... okay... I''ll be here if you need me. For you know¡­" Melody trailed off, going towards a corner of the room.


    Her silly reaction caused me to cackle.


    Ah¡­ My goal will have to be achieved with only one inhibitor. I don''t trust myself fully.


    Once it was off, whispers invaded my thoughts.


    All those years ago, you knew the day would come when I couldn''t be contained, didn''t you, Tania? That''s why you¡­


    Sitting, I took a deep breath before letting it go.


    Take a deep breath. Yes, that''s it. Now, clear your mind of any thoughts. Think back to a point in your life when you were happiest and let go of everything around you. Tania''s words replayed in my mind.


    How many times did I tell you it was impossible? But now¡­ I have more than just silly games I played as a kid. Fenris and Melody have ¡­ filled me in ways I never knew were possible.


    I felt nostalgic while her voice continued to ring in my ears.


    Keep trying. Keep going. The only way you fail is if you stop. You''ll get it, Lilith.


    Slowly, the whispers died down when I found myself in a clear state of mind. Sadly, it was interrupted by Melody''s pan falling on the floor. The loud noise was startling enough to bring back the whispers with a vengeance.


    I had to clap my bracelet back on while the black wolf profusely apologized. All I did was laugh, remembering Tania scolding me for not efficiently blocking out my environment. Getting this right would take more practice, but it was enough for one day.


    Closing my eyes, I threw myself back into the bed, hoping to figure all this out for the blood moon.


    It''s not impossible. If my emotions can do it, so can I.


    Shade was right, but it wouldn''t be easy to do it on command.


    If I do it, it''ll be the first time I''ll go into the soul cairn alone. My first was with Fenris. That world¡­ is so alien compared to ours. For Melody''s smile, though, anything will be worth it.


    Days went by while I rehearsed everything I could. I was on one bracelet for a few hours before the whispers went out of control, which showed progress towards something. According to Shade, the soul cairn would try to appease my request if I could keep it in mind long enough to accomplish it.


    However, that was the only card I left to fate. I made sure I was ready for the rest. I had all the needed materials¡ªall but one: Fenris''s blood. He had barely come around since the last time, and when he did, he would pass out right where he stood.


    Melody and I had to help him onto the bed multiple times, and by the following day, he was already gone. All these turns of events left me severely neglected, even after my cycle was done. When he said after the festival, I didn''t think it would be after the damn thing.


    Though I didn''t want to steal the blood from him while he slept, it seemed like I would have no choice but to do so. We were on the last day before the Festival began, making this the last time I would see him in seven days.


    Well, it''ll be sooner if I can get lucky.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    It motivated me to succeed, no matter how dangerous it would be for everyone. Instead of telling Melody what I was planning on doing, I lied to her about how I would collect the moon''s power.


    She thought I would cast a simple spell, and the moon''s power would flow into the stone, but the reality wasn''t as simple as that. Witches like me had no connection to the moon, so they usually used Lycan bones on the black market for rituals.


    They usually come from Celestelia, where the law rarely applies, but a bone won''t be enough for this location to break her curse. No, I need to siphon it from the red moon Lycan himself. Nothing else will work.


    I would have to make love to him during the blood moon to accomplish that. Once that was done, if he didn''t rip me apart during the process, I would return to the room to break her curse.


    But for all of this to come, I need your blood. How can I¡­


    The silver wolf had promised to spend the last few hours with me, even though I had waited for him the prior night. He didn''t show up until the morning of the festival. There were many setbacks, but what bothered me the most was that we had gone no further than a kiss for almost two weeks.


    When he returned in the morning, he rushed inside the bathroom to clean himself, leaving me to wait for him outside. Even though every fiber of my being wanted to go inside the shower with him, I didn''t dare go.


    Time was short; if I felt his tender touch, a few minutes wouldn''t be enough to satisfy the urge within me. That was also why he didn''t dare touch me further than a kiss. The time we had left together wouldn''t be enough to satisfy each other to the extent we desired.


    Or so I wish that was the case.


    I had never felt this way before, though. The sexual frustration was worse than during the sleepover; it felt like it was about to suffocate me. Once he stepped out of the shower, it took everything in me not to pounce on him.


    My eyes followed him no matter where he went; I honestly was addicted to him, but knowing what I knew was about to happen comforted me. After all, I would need every bit of energy to keep up with him during the red moon, or so I kept telling myself to curve the feeling of withdrawal that I was having.


    Fenris, unaware of the storm within me, sat in front of me as I prepared myself to ask him for his blood. However, I was thirstier in more ways than one, almost like a starved vampire craving flesh to sink my teeth into.


    The dark circles under his eyes were still prevalent, worrying me.


    When was the last time you had a decent sleep?


    "I''m sorry I didn''t make it last night." He apologized, leaving me feeling empty.


    I didn''t want to hear that from him, but I could do nothing about it.


    "It''s fine you were and are busy." I tried to hide my discontent.


    However, he tugged me onto his lap from my chair instead of letting it go. Resting his head on my shoulder, a curse slipped from his lips before he brushed them against my neck.


    Is my scent just as pleasing to you as yours is to me?


    This wasn''t healthy for my heart, though, slamming on the gas pedal, threatening to erupt out of me.


    "I want you so bad, Lily. It''s driving me crazy." Fenris purred into my ear, triggering my cheeks to turn pink.


    Perhaps I wasn''t so far off before, in my thoughts. One of his hands held me tightly to him, allowing the other to travel up my thigh and into my... Before he could touch me, I grabbed onto his wandering limb, knowing that if he had done what he wanted, it would''ve left me in a mess.


    No matter how much I wanted him or how badly my lady bits itched and throbbed for him, I needed to stay strong.


    "You can''t. Don''t you have to leave in a couple of minutes?" I tried holding back, keeping a goal in mind.


    "Yeah... Sorry." Fenris sighed, kissing me lightly on my lips.


    Though he seemed slightly off, his eyes gave off a hue, much like when he lost control. His skin was also running hotter than it usually did.


    Can all of this be because of the moon? You''ve never reacted like that to normal ones. Ah¡­ Lilith concentrate!


    For a moment, I tried to bring up the courage to ask him what I needed, only for him to trace his hands down my hair.


    "You haven''t asked me to cut your hair in a while. Are you letting it grow?" he asked, curious about my answer.


    I hadn''t thought of my hair since all this began, and for the first time, I didn''t mind it was getting longer than usual.


    "Maybe..." I mumbled, triggering Fenris to smile happily.


    "That''s good!" He wagged his tail so effortlessly.


    Ah¡­ Your smile is poisonous to me.


    Unable to hold it any longer, I grabbed his hands before finally letting go of the dreaded question that plagued me.


    "Can I have a few drops of your blood?" I suddenly asked.


    Fenris''s cheerful expression swiftly turned into one of bewilderment. Not that I blamed him.


    "What?" He blurted out.


    I closed my eyes, preparing for the fight I thought would happen.


    "Please..." I begged him.


    "Why and for what do you want my blood?" His eyes narrowed, tilting his head.


    "I... want to make a charm to feel you''re here with me," I answered.


    A lie within the truth, I''ll feel you with me, but not because of a silly charm.


    I felt like I was on a sinking ship for a moment, triggering my sight to shift towards the floor. It wasn''t long before he tugged me up to gaze at him.


    "Lilith..." Fenris mumbled.


    No! You can''t reject it!


    Grabbing him by his shirt, I pulled him into a surprise kiss, widening his eyes. It was almost as if I clung to him, but I didn''t allow him to kiss me back, tugging away as quickly as I started, glancing towards the floor.


    My lie won''t last much longer.


    "Please..." I begged again, closing my eyes, waiting for the rejection I thought was coming.


    Instead, Fenris drew me back into a kiss, this time deepening it. His tongue entered my mouth, only tugging away to let me breathe. I struggled to find air when his eyes appeared to glow lightly again; within his iris, I could see a soft shimmer of red.


    There was something off about him, but I couldn''t back down, not when everything depended on reaching him.

 Chapter 76: Ready As I’ll Ever Be

    A soft sigh left the silver wolf¡¯s lips, relaxing into the chair with me on his lap.


    "Fine, you have to cut deep. You know what?" He huffed.


    Unable to contain my happiness, I kissed him again. I was thankful he let me in without a fight. I grabbed a glass container on the table and placed it nearby before reaching for a small knife that was also close by. Unlike Melody, who had her beast sealed up by the curse, Fenris didn¡¯t suffer from that affliction.


    He was right. A little needle wouldn¡¯t be enough to make him bleed, meaning I had to slice his finger deeper than a needle could go. The needles used for Lycans to draw blood were thicker than the ones used on humans.


    Though this wolf would heal almost instantly, it wasn¡¯t a big deal for him, but I still hated that I had hurt him. I tried to prepare everything, allowing Fenris to hold me by my waist. Happily, I sat on him with his tail on my lap.


    He blew into my ear, teasing me, triggering a shiver to run down my spine. A soft yelp left me before he glared at the playful wolf. Instead of being intimidated by the fact that I held a knife, he chuckled, leaning into me to kiss my cheek.


    His affection didn¡¯t change my pouts as I huffed, grabbing his hand.


    You¡¯re too playful for your good!


    Yet, I couldn¡¯t hate that about him; no, I adored that side of him so much. Especially his loving smile, even if it was terrible for my poor, delicate heart. His hand didn¡¯t tremble in mine, fully trusting me, which pained me because I was taking advantage of that trust.


    However, it wasn¡¯t like it was for free. He licked and nibbled on my neck, distracting himself from the pain by touching me tenderly; his free hand searched for my nips within the dress, making me jittery on his lap.


    Without wasting another thought, I sliced his palm, causing drops of blood to fall into the glass bowl underneath.


    After the blood stopped coming down, instead of reaching for another cloth to clean his blood, I instinctively raised his hand to my lips before kissing it. It was something my mother did to me when she was alive whenever I injured myself. However, what I did next wasn¡¯t something she did.


    The taste of iron was something I was used to, so when I sucked his finger into my mouth, I didn¡¯t mind it. When I realized what I had done, it was too late. Fenris grabbed my head, tugging my lips onto his, shoving his tongue into my mouth.


    Even though he tried hard to hold back, I woke the wolf within him with that simple act. His hand traveled down to my groin, leaving me little chance to recover. A soft mewl left me when his fingers traced over my vulva through the fabric.


    That was when I saw his eyes shimmering brighter than before. Pushing me against the table, he didn¡¯t let me get a word in before grinding himself on my bum through my dress, gripping me tightly against him; I couldn¡¯t help but gasp for air once he let my lips free.


    Clasping onto my hips, he continued to ground himself into me, releasing a sharp growl from his lips as saliva dripped down his chin. One of the hands that gripped my hip slipped under the dress as he leaned into me.


    His fangs flashed briefly before a knock came from the door, snapping him back.


    ¡°Oh¡­ fuck¡­ what was I¡­¡± He shook his head before helping me up from the table.


    Luckily, nothing had spilled. Somewhat dazed, it left me wanting more than he could give. Noticing he was backing away from me, I¡­


    ¡°Please don¡¯t leave me!¡± I clung to his shirt.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lily. I have to go. If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll¡­¡± He trailed off, sitting me down in the chair.


    I couldn¡¯t help but whimper when he went to open the door for Melody, who was completely unaware of what happened. He could barely find the words to speak to her while I avoided her gaze.


    For a moment, Fenris lost control of himself, which was something new to him. This was normal for Lycans during full moons, but he had never once hurt me. Usually, he would hold me the entire night when they happened, and I had my cycle; he would either avoid me through the night or cuddle me to sleep, but today wasn¡¯t a full moon.


    Not once have you ever flashed your fangs at me. Is the blood moon already affecting you?


    It took me by surprise, and I felt like I was about to go wild after feeling him on me like that. The warmth erupting from me was overwhelming.


    If I fail, I won¡¯t see you for a week. No, I can¡¯t let that happen!


    When the flustered silver wolf left, I tried to find my composure, finishing the spell that was my first goal before I lost myself. It was a simple one, at least. All I had to do was drop the gemstone into Fenris''s blood and cast it.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "Ruber luna sub lumine facti sumus unum." I chanted repeatedly until the stone turned blood red, just like the moon would be.


    ''Under the red moon, we become one.''


    After that, I searched the shelves for a viable ring for the following incantation I needed. Luckily, Fenris also gifted one to me not too long ago. It was made of opal, another gemstone, only that this one appeared like a rainbow.


    It would be perfect for what I wanted, plus I needed something he gave me for it to work. With a brief hesitation, I dropped it in the remaining blood, casting another spell.


    "Invisibilia, sed solum videri potest ab oculis tuis." I chanted, causing it to glow white lightly.


    ''Invisible, yet only to be seen by your eyes.''


    This was like the spell Stella had cast to trick the Lycans into seeing the little girl like me. It lasted only a day and was activated when the magical item was worn. The same was true of the necklace. Once done, I placed both enchanted accessories next to the book, which I forged before preparing for other things needed.


    This included a specific potion needed after the night of the blood moon. I practiced everything I would do during the festival''s first two days.


    Well, minus opening the portal part.


    It was too dangerous to try with Melody around, and I didn¡¯t know if the world would end if I did it. Even though Shade was optimistic I could manage it, I didn¡¯t share her sentiments. Every hour that brought me closer to the fated time made my heart want to fly out of my chest.


    I didn¡¯t know if it was the worries that everything might fail or the sexual frustration that I had pent up. Keeping myself in one piece was hard while keeping Melody completely ignorant.


    I can already hear you yelling at me for how stupid I was and how you don¡¯t want Fenris to murder you.


    Undoubtedly, this black wolf would tell me to find another way.


    Sadly, there¡¯s no other way for a witch. Perhaps if I was an elf, but I am not one.


    I didn¡¯t know if Melody noticed my nerves the night before, but she sat me down to help me feel better.


    "Lilith, it¡¯s okay if it doesn¡¯t work." She assured me.


    Oh¡­ It¡¯s much more than that.


    "I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll work," I reassure her.


    Melody handed me a hot chocolate she made.


    "I know... but I¡¯m happy you tried so hard for me if it doesn''t. You¡¯re in my life, and I¡¯m so thankful for that. I don¡¯t need anything else,¡± she confessed, pressing her forehead against mine.


    This Lycan''s soul was too beautiful for me to handle.


    How can I keep lying to you? Because I must...


    "I¡¯m thankful for you, too," I whispered, trying not to crumble now that I was close.


    You know how to win my heart, don¡¯t you? I won¡¯t fail because you¡¯re depending on me. I¡¯ll set you free from your cage. I promise.


    We spoke of simpler things for the rest of the night. I sipped on sleeping tea to rest through all the emotions. The following day, my eyes flew open, but not because of a nightmare, yet the tension of everything at stake became real. Everything I had prepared for¡­


    Hours¡­ It¡¯s just hours away now.


    My eyes were locked on the clock by the wall on the side of the bed. I thought I had overslept for some reason, but it was only ten in the morning. Melody was still fast asleep next to me when I stood up, struggling to find my way to the chair by the table.


    Taking the accessories out of their hidey-hole, my hands trembled before I slammed my head onto the desk. The loud sound jolted Melody awake as I grabbed onto my shaking hands, trying to quell myself.


    Melody rushed to my side to see if I was alright. Somehow, I convinced her that a book slipped rather than my head. Although she noted my shaking, she decided not to push me this time.


    According to all the sites, the blood moon begins at seven at night and lasts until four in the morning. By seven, Fenris should be alone. My window to find you is around six to seven.


    Using the techniques I was practicing, I mastered my nerves. I readied myself for everything else needed after returning from my venture under the moon. Although I didn¡¯t have Fenris''s sense of smell, I knew I would ovulate soon by counting the days.


    Fenris wouldn¡¯t be capable of controlling himself this time. Although, I didn¡¯t know if last time I had ovulated from my viable side. This time, it could be possible that it was going to happen. I didn¡¯t want him to deal with the fact I attacked him, causing him to impregnate me.


    Layla will murder me if that happens, too.


    So, I prepared a potion that would cause the fertile egg to die after the act. Witches had their little handy things for their orgies, but that wasn¡¯t the only thing I prepared. Besides that, there was another potion made for Melody''s consumption.


    Luckily, she knew nothing of Latin, so I did it right before her, and she was none the wiser. This one was for her to fall fast asleep until I woke her up the next day by touching her. It contained my blood, making me the only one who could wake her, which made me feel terrible.


    If anything went wrong, Melody would be asleep forever, but if Fenris lost himself when he was with me and I died because of it. It would¡¯ve been a mercy for her to go while in her sleep. However, that was something I had to avoid at all costs.


    Even though I wouldn¡¯t mind dying by his hands if that were what it came to, I did care that Fenris would die after I did. I drew the moon to pass the time and the nerves, imagining how the silver Lycan would appear under it. The more I created, the more excited I became.


    The nerves quelled to leave a way to the desires I was holding back.


    How long has it been since I¡­ saw you¡­ Ah¡­ One way or another, tonight, we¡¯ll become one.


    Once done, I stepped back from the canvas to see Fenris in full splendor. I glanced at the clock to see it was five.


    Ah¡­ there are a couple of minutes until six.


    Melody sat by Fenris''s bed, waiting for the treats she had made to finish cooling.


    Grabbing onto the thermos with her potion, I handed it to her. ¡°Drink it.¡±


    For a moment, she glanced at me, puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯s for the spell.¡± I quickly assured her.


    As trusting as she was, she ended up chugging it.


    "Lily... I feel... what¡¯s¡­ happening?" Melody struggled to say a coherent thing.


    I simpered, "I¡¯m sorry,¡± turning away from her when she drifted into her dreams.


    Turning off everything in the kitchen that was on, I took off my clothes and headed into the shower to cleanse my body before covering it with an easily removable robe. I headed towards the room, placing the potion I had to drink the next morning in plain view.


    If it''s visible, I won''t forget it.


    After that, I picked up the accessories, glancing over at the clock on the wall. Watching the clock tick away, I tried not to let my doubts and insecurities in.


    So many things can go wrong, but it must work! I¡¯m not doing this only for myself but for¡­


    At six-thirty, I unclasped the bracelet and placed it on the table.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Shade asked as her eyes shimmered, thanks to the rush of magic flowing through us.


    Her words caused me to giggle, nervous about what was coming.


    "Ready as I''ll ever be."

 Chapter 77: Surprise

    When the clock ticked past half an hour, I placed the ring on my finger and wrapped the necklace around my wrist instead of my neck. It would have the same effect, and I didn¡¯t want Fenris to see it in plain view.


    To hide it, I draped a bandage around it to secure it in place. Shade grew large enough to challenge a deer to a standoff before joining me by my side. Once I was ready to go, I opened the window to let the night breeze in.


    Winter¡¯s only a month away; maybe wearing a robe isn¡¯t the best, but¡­


    I glanced up at the moon to see it was almost halfway red. Getting ready, I closed my eyes, concentrating on what I wanted. Extending my right hand toward the air, I tried to appeal to the realm that resonated within me.


    "Nether world, I beseech you. Take me to my beloved! Take me to Fenris!" I commanded.


    There wasn''t even a spark of a spell that could be felt.


    I never expected it to be easy, but time¡¯s running short.


    I stared at my hand, wondering what I was doing wrong. All the other times, it responded to my potent emotions but never towards a direct plea. The nerves I had tried too hard to bury threatened to erupt.


    Time¡¯s running out! Now isn¡¯t the time to not perform!


    "Try calling it by the name Alijah gave you. Maybe he¡¯s right." Shade encouraged me, placing her head on my extended hand.


    Ah¡­ Damn it, Alijah... How do you know more about that realm than anyone around me? Was it really more known in your time? Then why¡­


    Even though Shade was a resident of the realm, she had no memories of it. She could only recall that she had to protect me no matter what happened.


    Someone else gave that order to her.


    Like many others, Shade''s memory was inaccessible anymore, but surely whoever gave it to her lived in the Soul Cairn.


    "Use me as a channeling stone, too," She added, steadying herself.


    I sighed before taking a deep breath to calm my nerves yet again. All the other times, it never responded to being called the nether realm but to my emotions.


    However, we¡¯re wrong about many things if it responds to this name. This leads to the question of what Cerberus is hiding and why.


    Preparing for whatever happened next, I closed my eyes, allowing Shade''s fur to tickle my fingers.


    "Soul Cairn, I beseech you! Take me to Fenris Silver Fang!" I commanded as a throbbing sensation erupted from my core, focusing in my hand as a blue hue came from it.


    A pulse of energy radiated out of me and towards the window ahead of us, creating different shimmering shades of blue that swirled around much like a portal. It was like the one I opened when I wanted Fenris to be safe.


    Shade wrapped her tail around my waist with little hesitation, pulling me towards her as she launched into the swirling vortex before us.


    ¡°Wait!¡± I yelp, thinking we would crash through the glass that shut because of the pulse, but instead of that, we went through something I found hard to explain.


    Light warped around us while we went into free fall through a distortion point. It wasn¡¯t like the other time I wanted a place to run away to. It was almost as if the swirls guided me toward what I desired.


    ¡°Heh, Fenris, is what you want? You¡¯re such a simple witch.¡± A female voice erupted from within as I struggled to stay upright.


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    She sounded nothing like the whispers that usually invaded my mind.


    ¡°Who¡ª Whoa!¡± I squealed as a faint image of what appeared to be a bird twirled where the light blended into one.


    Shade appeared unbothered by it all while I, on the other hand, held on to her tail for life. Shadows blazed past us before a hand reached me from the warped light, slightly touching it while we continued our free-fall through the space we were in.


    A whisper erupted from within me as I slipped through its touch.


    My... Lilith... It called out in a different tone than the previous voice.


    This wasn¡¯t the time for a whisper to convince me to do other things. Yet, instead of going away, it continued to echo within me.


    I¡¯ve finally reached you. The voice chuckled.


    Shaking my head, I reached for Shade. She tugged me closer, allowing me to bury myself in her fur.


    That doesn¡¯t belong to a demon but belongs to a man!


    One I had never met before. Even though part of me wanted to investigate, time wasn¡¯t by my side. Also, I couldn¡¯t forget the last mysterious man I met, who left me with one of the most undesirable experiences.


    Ignoring the whisper, I held onto Shade as we reached the vortex''s end, which opened into a forest. Familiar voices erupted from behind the bushes where we fell by. Luckily, we were unnoticed by the two who sat in the clearing.


    When Shade shrunk back to her usual size, I took the opportunity to peer through the bush to see who it belonged to. One voice I knew very well, but much to my surprise, the other one belonged to Liam.


    The brown wolf was still with Fenris in a forest clearing, and the rising moon was also in plain view.


    Wait¡­ Why isn¡¯t it red?! It¡¯s barely turning! Was what I saw in the room an illusion?!


    That thought was quickly placed to rest when I was captivated by the silver wolf, whom I hadn¡¯t seen in three days. He seemed on edge, vulnerable, and almost breakable¡ªa side I had never seen him express so openly.


    "Are you nervous?" The brown wolf asked his friend, who appeared to be jittery.


    Fenris sighed, "Liam," he shook his head.


    His words caused the brown-haired wolf to grab his shoulder to comfort him.


    "Come on, man, out with it. What¡¯s bothering you?" Liam questioned, triggering Fenris to wince.


    Clicking his tongue, the silver wolf shifted his eyes towards the side, "If something happens to me, promise me you¡¯ll protect her for me.¡±


    The moment those words left him, my heart sunk faster than any anchor would.


    Nothing can happen to you!


    Nothing... Nothing... Nothing... Whispers invaded my mind.


    Shade placed her paw on my hand to soothe me.


    Lily... Relax. The little wolf¡¯s just worried. Shade tried to calm me.


    Liam¡¯s ears perked up before they slanted downward, "What are you talking about, Fen? You¡¯ll be fine. Lilith can¡¯t live without you, you know that."


    The silver wolf winced, shaking his head before covering his face with his hands. "What if I lose my mind and become like the wolf from that legend? She won¡¯t be safe with me if I do!¡±


    His voice quivered as I had never seen him in much distress before.


    No... You know about... How... Lair! You never mentioned a thing to me, even when you said you¡¯d tell me everything!


    Betrayer¡­ A throbbing sensation curved through my body.


    I struggled to stay in control as my heart ached.


    "Come now, that¡¯s a tale the elders told you to get you scared back when you were younger.¡± Liam nudged his friend, who winced, triggering a soft sigh to leave him, ¡°Even if it were true, you¡¯re stronger than him. I know it."


    This is no legend or tale! Alijah is real. That Lycan exists¡ªoh, by the gods, Alijah¡¯s real.


    I hoped he was a figment of my imagination all this time, but he was...


    "Am I? How will I protect her if I become like that mad wolf? I¡¯ll probably hurt her! No, I¡¯ve already hurt her enough! I don¡¯t want to hurt Lily anymore. All I want to do is¡­" Fenris trailed off as Liam guided his head towards his shoulder.


    "Man, I¡¯ve never seen you like this.¡± The brown wolf held his friend as he gripped his shirt. ¡°Fen, I¡¯m certain you¡¯ll still be you when this night ends. You¡¯ve got something that crazy Lycan didn¡¯t. Lily¡¯s waiting for you. I¡¯m sure she can¡¯t stop counting the minutes¡ªno, the seconds left for you to return to her."


    Fenris softly chuckled, tugging away from his faithful friend. ¡°You¡¯ve got so much confidence in me.


    ¡°Always, man, I¡¯ll always be by your side, Fen.¡± Liam smiled at his friend, who shifted his gaze towards the shimmering moon, which slowly shifted colors


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t I tell you about us before?" Fenris sighed, clenching his hands into fists


    ¡°Because you¡¯re an idiot who thought you had to do everything alone.¡± The brown wolf shrugged, gazing at his wristwatch. ¡°I can stay with you for a little longer. Seems we¡¯ve reached the half-hour mark."


    ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡± Fenris breathed, letting himself fall against the grass below.


    What Liam had said was utterly impossible, yet I knew he wasn¡¯t lying. The moon was halfway red when I had left, and the clock in our room had marked close to seven when the portal finally opened.


    Am I going crazy?


    Somehow, the soul cairn dropped me at a different time than when I had left.


    How... is any of this possible? Ordinary witches can¡¯t use time magic... So how did this happen?!


    This night was full of secrets that had yet to be revealed.

 Chapter 78: Two Friends

    There was so much I didn¡¯t know flooding my mind. I was searching for a way out of this mess. Shade pawing my face from my shoulder was the only thing that snapped me out.


    Lilith, focus on what you have in front of us right now! We¡¯ll figure everything out later. Just concentrate on the now! She huffed.


    My thoughts were slowly becoming more chaotic.


    I can¡¯t! Everything is a lie! I can¡¯t make sense of anything!


    This night was becoming too much. It was more than I wanted to bite, and it was far from over.


    Hey! One problem at a time, remember?! Shade pawed me again.


    Sadly, her words were secondary to me when the conversation between the two wolves caught my attention again.


    "Ah... Thanks." Fenris mumbled.


    "Let¡¯s think of the bright side. Will you tell her you love her finally? After the festival ends, I mean." Liam asked to lighten the mood.


    His words triggered Fenris to chuckle again.


    "That¡¯ll be the first thing I do after I ascend," my wolf affirmed.


    I tried not to quell too deeply on what they were speaking about.


    "See, you have something to look forward to after this stupid-ass festival ends!" the brown wolf yelled the last bit into the night.


    Fenris laughed before biting his lip, ¡°Yeah¡­ I can¡¯t wait, but I understand why we must isolate ourselves from the general population. I lost control and attacked Lily two days ago. Every ounce in me wanted to mark her as mine, and the moon wasn¡¯t even out yet.¡±


    ¡°Fen¡­¡± Liam tailed off, gazing towards the side.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I wanted to sink my teeth into her; she isn¡¯t a Lycan. I can¡¯t do that to her; I know that, but I just wanted to dominate her. Fuck, I don¡¯t want to imagine what I¡¯d do to her if she were next to me tonight." My wolf confessed.


    "We can feel the moon long before it comes. It¡¯s a miracle how you control yourself so well during full moons. I usually have to chain myself to a big metal post to prevent myself from doing anything I¡¯d regret." The brown chatted, trying to help his friend calm his nerves.


    "I don¡¯t think a poll would hold me today. Fuck, I don¡¯t even know if this barrier will. I hope it does. I can¡¯t be near Lily, but I know I¡¯ll try to find her tonight." Fenris added, sitting back up and reaching to the moon.


    "You¡¯re so chatty about her now that it makes me wonder how you ever kept it a secret from me.¡± Liam chuckled, triggering Fenris to frown and narrow his eyes towards his friend.


    "I couldn¡¯t risk anyone knowing. If the elders¡­" My wolf trailed off, only for his friend to nudge him.


    "Yeah, man, I understand. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m glad you let me in." the brown wolf reassured.


    "Hey, what about Melody? Aren¡¯t you going to talk to her about Kira''s lie? You know, misunderstandings only happen when we don¡¯t speak." Fenris changed the tune of the conversation.


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    Liam frowned upon hearing her name before clasping it onto his chest. "I tried. She ran away like I was a monster or something."


    Before Fenris could say anything to comfort his friend, Liam continued to speak.


    "Plus, it won¡¯t matter if I do. Those old fools want me to marry her, even though I¡¯m not the baby daddy. She can¡¯t lie, they say. It¡¯ll be back for the social standing, they say. Lycan traditions are shit!" He growled.


    I grabbed onto one bush branch to steady myself, only to accidentally snap it. The sound was loud enough to catch their attention.


    "What was that?" Fenris questioned, getting up from where they sat.


    Liam scoured their surroundings from where he was. Unexpectedly, Fenris walked toward the place where the sound originated.


    "Eh, forget it. It¡¯s probably a bunny or something." Liam dismissed the sound as fauna that usually roamed the woods beside Silverant.


    Luckily, he appeared more interested in Fenris''s emotional state than the physical dangers lurking. He was confident about the security of the event, which included vampires.


    Tonight, no one will dare come with them roaming around. Plus, mad wolves aren¡¯t easy targets and are highly unpredictable.


    ¡°Probably, a bunny¡­ huh¡­¡± Fenris shrugged, turning away from where I was, leaving me to sigh in relief.


    Even though I was safe, my heart pounded madly. Everything had come so close to ending.


    "Hey... Liam, don¡¯t give up. Once I take the pack''s lead, I¡¯ll change that stupid pure-blood policy." Fenris assured him before sitting right next to him.


    The brown wolf smiled, scuffling his hair, "I know, but it won¡¯t be easy for us to happen. I mean... I¡¯m sure Mel likes you for one."


    Ah¡­ Melody, I told you so!


    Fenris''s eyes twitched, and he shook his head. "What?! No way! That girl only has eyes for you!"


    Liam glanced off to the side. "I hope... Fuck it!" he scuffled his hair again, standing up before glancing towards the moon.


    It was halfway to being entirely red.


    "There are so many things to look forward to after this stupid moon and festival. Don¡¯t forget that, okay?" Liam added, gazing down at Fenris, who gazed at the moon.


    "Freedom, I promise," my wolf mentioned with a soft smile on his lips.


    "Yup. Know that I''m behind you no matter what." The brown wolf winked at him before reaching for the moon and turning away from Fenris.


    "I know. Thank you. I¡¯d be lost without you." My wolf acknowledged.


    ¡°I know,¡± Liam raised thumps to Fenris before walking away from the clearing and towards the forest, much to my relief.


    "I¡¯ll come to get you in the morning. Don''t do anything embarrassing or crazy," the brown wolf teased.


    "Shut up," Fenris growled.


    Liam laughed at his friend''s reaction and continued to walk away. For a moment, though, he stopped, glancing toward where I was, and we locked eyes, making my heart stop.


    Oh¡­ Crap!


    I tried to control my heartbeat, knowing their hearing was the best among the competitors. Luckily, Liam shrugged before continuing. However, he left my body cold and shaky from the experience alone.


    How stupid am I? The spell on the ring wouldn¡¯t have let you see me either way! But¡­


    The brown wolf was too sharp to overlook or underestimate. Surely, he would''ve seen me if I hadn¡¯t done this preparation beforehand. Still, the way he gazed towards me sent shivers down my spine.


    Liam, you¡¯re a scary beast!


    Putting aside All the information I gained made everything even more concerning. It confirmed so many things while jumbling up others. However, I wouldn¡¯t have time to analyze anything. The moon was already halfway eclipsed, and Fenris sat alone by the clearing, staring at it.


    I wouldn¡¯t move from where I was until the barrier activated. It was the only way for me to know that Liam was far away from us in case Fenris raised any alarms.


    One problem at a time, and right now, that¡¯s Fenris.


    After all, there were too many things I didn¡¯t understand. Time magic was something I thought only god artifacts held by royal Lycans and vampires could manage.


    Perhaps the fabled witches, too. What the soul cairn is capable of is one of the first things on my list to figure out.


    Part of me wondered if a time shift had happened the other time we were there. I fell into the cairn. I had no way to know, though. Shaking the thoughts away, I turned towards Fenris, who seemed impatient. He paced back and forth while staring upward at the moon.


    When the barrier went up, I took a final deep breath, deciding slowly to step out of my hiding place.


    Lily, I¡¯ll stay here, but if he tries anything, I¡¯ll¡ª Shade wouldn¡¯t finish as I nodded.


    I know. It won¡¯t come to that, hopefully.


    The moment I got close enough to Fenris, he turned towards me. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped before he shook his head. The night had only just begun.

 Chapter 79: Loss Of Control

    From how this silver wolf stared at me, I could tell the last thing he expected to find in these woods. We were surrounded by evergreens that waved with any gust, but luckily, they didn''t have much strength.


    "Lilith?" He called out to me, wincing before shaking his head. "Impossible. Is this an illusion?"


    "Fenris... I..." I trailed off, failing to find any excuse once I saw his expression.


    He closed the gap between us in the blink of an eye, placing his hand on my cheek. The warmth seeped from my cheek into his hand, enough to let him know I was there. Tugging away from me, he took a few steps back as his pupils dilated, and he broke into a cold sweat.


    You''re¡­


    "No... No! This can''t be real! You can''t be here!" Fenris panicked, trying to reach for his phone, only to find it wasn''t in his pocket.


    He had left it at the hut they stayed at for the festival. As he said in the last message he sent to Melody, which I saw, he hadn''t planned to use it until after the moon.


    "Fenris, I..." I tried to reach out to him, but he only took more steps back.


    "Stay away from me!" my wolf yelled, voice trembling.


    Shaking my head, I took a step toward him. "Please, Fenris, let me explain." I continued to pursue him.


    He gazed at me like I had lost my marbles, but I hadn''t. I knew how dangerous this was to my health. Articles about Lycans losing it and killing their friends and non-Lycan lovers were all over the news, advertising to everyone who wasn''t a wolf to stay away from the festival grounds.


    The outlets suggested locking themselves up in their homes for the night. All the killings usually happened under the full moon, but a blood moon was way more intoxicating to them.


    "No, what you need to do is get away from me right this instant, Lilith," Fenris ordered.


    I glanced up towards the moon.


    It''ll eclipse soon.


    "I won''t," I whispered.


    "Fuck! What do you mean you won''t?! Lilith, this is serious!" he lashed out.


    I tried not to let his words hurt me. He only wanted to push me away, something I couldn''t afford. Luckily, he couldn''t run away from me either¡ªnot while we were both in this barrier. Eventually, once he lost his senses to the beast within, he would hunt me either way, as I was the only living thing worth his time in this barrier.


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    "No, I won''t leave you. I''m not scared of you." I simpered.


    If I somehow survive this night the following day, your undying rage won''t be quelled, will it?


    "You should be!" Fenris snapped, triggering me to flinch. "I... can fucking hurt you, Lilith. Like, really hurt you. Don''t you understand, I won''t be myself! I''ll be an animal that''ll tear into you!"


    His hands were clenched into fists.


    "No, you won''t hurt me," I stood firm.


    It was apparent he couldn''t fathom why I was there, and if I told him there was no doubt in my mind, he''d destroy the gem, ending my plans instantly.


    "Lilith, please, I''m begging you. I don''t know how you got here, but you must leave now!" Fenris continued to push me away.


    My heart wouldn''t waver.


    "No. I''m not going anywhere." I affirmed, gripping onto the sting that held my robes together.


    A soft glow came from him, alerting me that the moon was already influencing him, even though it hadn''t fully eclipsed. His amber eyes slowly turned red, like Alijah''s, as his nostrils flared and lips curled downward.


    "Lilith, are you fucking serious?! Are you willing to put the world to death because of your selfishness?! Get out of here!" he tried to incite me into running away, but nothing he threw at me would work.


    I had already played every scenario that could''ve happened, every word he would use to make me run. There wasn''t a scenario where I expected him to be happy to see me, and probably, what I would do next would disgust him.


    But I have no other choice. Mel needs this, and I am the only one willing to do it for her. Not that I''d let anyone else touch you like I''m about to. To help her, I need to hurt you just this night.


    Taking a deep breath, I undid my robe, letting it fall onto the floor below and exposing my body to him.


    "Fenris... make me yours," I whispered, fully offering myself to the wolf before me.


    In response, he covered his mouth, narrowing his eyes before taking another step back. "No!"


    He appeared ready to bolt, but before he could, a throbbing sensation radiated through his body, making him grab onto his head. The blood moon was finally on us.


    "I know, I''m sorry. There isn''t any other way." I apologized.


    "Lilith... please... grrr¡­ I... grrrr¡­can''t... control... grrr¡­ my¡ªfor you!" Fenris declared in a snarl, grabbing his chest as the aura around him expanded.


    Even as menacing as you appear, I still am¡­


    I spread my arms, waiting for him to come to me. It was only a matter of time, and I didn''t know if he would eat my flesh or find pleasure within me, making this the stupidest thing I had ever done, but I refused to back down.


    "It''s okay. Let go. I accept you in every shape and form, just like you did for me," I reassured him.


    Before I knew it, I was on the floor, pinned by him as his transformation began. It was so fast that I barely felt the blow from the floor on my back. He growled, holding me down as I willingly spread my legs to let him in.


    I knew this wouldn''t be the loveliest time together, but it had to happen.


    "I... will rip into you. Please... get away from me." Fenris pleaded, tears dripping down his cheeks.


    Seeing him like this and knowing I caused it stung my heart, which made it unforgivable. Even so, I reached up to his cheek to wipe away from them, smiling at him. His warmth, even in this state, filled me with peace.


    I trust you fully.


    "You won''t," I whispered before Fenris finally lost it.


    The bloodmoon night was upon us, and I was ready for whatever came next.

 Chapter 80: The Blood Moon

    Fenris¡¯s breathing quickly became rapid and uneven before he ripped his clothing. The heat from his skin was overwhelming, keeping the night breeze away. I held my legs apart, letting him waste a little time entering me.


    There was no foreplay and affection; instead, all I felt was him ramming himself into me. It left me breathless momentarily, feeling like my first time again. Instinctively, I clung to his shoulders when he grabbed my waist, slightly digging his nails into my delicate skin.


    His voice shifted into one of a beast while his canines protruded slightly from his mouth. He struggled to hold back his transformation while holding me in place with one hand and keeping himself up with the other. His body slowly radiated a crimson aura that matched the moon, shimmering at us from above.


    All I could do was hold on for dear life as the moon''s essence slowly drifted between Fenris and me, gradually collecting into the stone hidden by my bandages. The pain came in waves with each thrust of his hips, though I had no one else but myself to blame.


    This poor wolf was doing the best he could to have his wilder instincts expressed into ravishing me instead of devouring me. Each of his thrusts allowed his head to touch the entrance of my womb, triggering me to whimper as a new sensation filled me.


    However, every time his tip kissed it, I felt a rush of pleasure running down my spine. Even without the foreplay required to prep my body, it slowly felt enjoyable. The pain and pleasure were mixing into something I had never felt before.


    Beast or not, my body responded to Fenris, no matter how forceful he was being. Once I could compose myself, I loosened my grip on Fenris, allowing my back to rest on the ground. He continued to ram himself into me, keeping my hips in place, close to his.


    With his other hand, he dug his fingers into the ground, crushing the ground underneath it. His groans filled my ears while I tried not to voice my pain or pleasure too loudly. However, it would soon be impossible to do.


    The moment a whine left my lips, he let go of the ground to grip my neck before plunging himself into my depths. A gasp left me when I felt his swell within me as his member twitched inside of me before exploding within me, sending me over the edge.


    A sharp mewl escaped my lips, slightly triggering Fenris to tighten his grip on my neck. It wasn¡¯t enough to make it difficult for me to breathe, but it was tight enough for me to feel pressure on my skin as his nails scratched the surface.


    Everything that was happening to me, he had never done before. The way he found his release wasn¡¯t how he usually did it, either. It was almost as if he was trying to lock me into himself, to impregnate me.


    Male lycans had a special gland on their members that stimulated the female wolf¡¯s cavity to lock down on the member. This mainly happened when they wanted higher chances of producing a child. However, I couldn¡¯t do that for him; no matter how much he tried to encourage it, I wouldn¡¯t respond how he wanted.


    Instead, it caused me to lose my mind as my body convulsed in pleasure under him. A loud moan left Fenris, still holding onto my neck as saliva dripped from his lips and onto my skin. When his heat stopped pulsating within me, I thought it would be over, but instead of getting a breather, he rammed into me again.


    This time, his crimson eyes locked with mine before releasing his grip on my throat and licking the tiny scrapes he made on my neck.


    I knew it¡­ You¡­


    This wolf could¡¯ve quickly snapped my neck clean; instead, he showed affection after the rough handling. My shaking hands tried to reach for his face, but he pinned them down with his, releasing my hips.


    Oh¡­ Fenris, I think I might die, but because of¡­


    The moment I felt his sharp canines on my nape, I braced, thinking he would bite, but instead, he pulled my lips onto his.  A hum left me when his tongue invaded my mouth soon after. The danger was far from over as his teeth threatened to pierce my lips with each brush.


    Instead of worrying about them, I responded to his kiss with equal passion, sucking on his tongue as it played with mine. Saliva dripped from my chin when he tugged away for fresh air. A low growl left him before grabbing my hair and jerking it back to arch my back.


    Again, he rammed himself into my deepest compartment before finding his release again, trying to lock with me. Each time wiping my mind, I responded to Fenris differently than he intended.


    The Lycans online called this the blissful knot, but it¡¯s supposed to be painful for humans! Why am I¡­ losing my mind every time you¡ª


    A husky moan came from his lips, and I couldn¡¯t control my voice any longer. He licked my neck in response to my mewls before trailing his affection onto my chest. Everything sent me into a world where my worries melted, only to come crashing back when he turned me around.


    Before I knew it, my knees and elbows were on the ground as he grabbed onto my waist and thrust his hips into me again. Unable to control my voice, I let it go as he indulged himself with me as much as I enjoyed him.


    Grabbing onto my hair once again, he tugged me up, allowing his left hand to run up my belly and onto my chest. His nails were so sharp that any slight pressure on my fragile skin caused scratches to appear.


    Even though the pain was new to me when I was with Fenris, I couldn¡¯t seem to hate what was happening. He was rougher and less forgiving, but at least I had my limbs attached. Though, what probably helped the most was that I yearned to be with him.


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    Every thrust made my toes curl, and my voice became erratic and raspy when a howl from a neighboring Lycan roared through the night. Another pursued it, then another, until a chorus of wolves sang. Thanks to them, Fenris stopped pounding me, ears twitching.


    He let me go onto the ground without separating his heat from me, feeling it twitch inside of me. A soft whine left my lips, trying to catch my breath while he assessed where his fellow Lycans were. We were alone in this barrier, but surely there was where the other wolves were in the neighboring ones.


    However, in Fenris''s current animalistic state, he couldn¡¯t recall that was the case; instead, the howls from others were a threat to him. For a moment, I could breathe, but only for a moment since my body ran cold when Fenris''s shift towards his beast''s side progressed.


    Fur formed in his arms, and his face was no longer humanoid. His crimson eyes glared up into the sky when a startling snarl released from him in response to the howls of his fellows. Even though I didn¡¯t comprehend what type of warning he sent out, it was chill-inducing.


    All this time, Fenris was fighting the beast within to keep it from tearing into me, but the moment he heard the others, it was like the beast himself stomped over whatever was trying to hold it back.


    Lilith! Shade cried out to me.


    When the silver wolf placed one of his hands on my back, it didn¡¯t feel humanoid, but it wasn¡¯t one of a beast either.


    It¡¯s okay... I¡¯m okay.


    Any movement she made would undoubtedly trigger Fenris to tear into me. Turning my head slightly and slowly, I saw something that should¡¯ve been terrifying to anyone, but to me, it was the most beautiful beast I would ever see.


    His breathing was heavy as more growls erupted from him because of my slight movements. I still felt the moon''s power flow through me, which meant we were still intimately connected. All his rough trusting made me slightly numb down there, yet I felt full of him.


    A Lycan could shift between three forms. One appeared humanoid, which they used daily. Another was the complete beast form, which allowed them to use their raw power, and their last form was a mix of humanoid and beast.


    This third form was one they rarely shifted into as it was the most unpredictable. Sometimes, the beast would win over the rational side. Soon, silver fur covered all the skin exposed to me, and Fenris¡¯s face and body were that of a beast and man.


    Instead of paws, he had fingers just like a regular humanoid, but furry and with sharp claws attached.


    You have never let me see you like this. Is it because you think I would¡¯ve been scared?


    Whenever I witnessed one, I thought it would be a dreadful sight. The books depicted it as such, but it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw under the moonlight. Lycans were fascinating creatures from the very start.


    My wolf¡¯s bright crimson orbs gazed at me, studying me. He didn¡¯t fully recognize me, yet I...


    "Fenris..." I whispered, voice shaking.


    My voice was hoarse from the previous actions I had endured. It was nothing a bit of water wouldn¡¯t fix, but I couldn¡¯t recognize myself. In response, he growled, placing both hands down next to my shoulders, pushing himself into me, not realizing we were connected.


    A slight mewl came from my lips because of the sensitivity it caused. Although it felt numb in parts, my sensitive areas were still tingling, especially when Fenris moved. Before I knew it, he spun me around again, and my back was again on the ground.


    Our eyes met, and he launched at my neck before being interrupted by another howl from another Lycan.


    Lily! I have¡ª Shade started.


    The only way for her to save me would be to cripple him, to prevent him from following us, and that was something I would never allow.


    Don¡¯t you dare! I¡¯m fine!


    My wolf responded with the same aggression toward the other wolves again. I closed my eyes, steadying my heart.


    "Fenris," I mumbled, shifting his attention back to me.


    Digging his nails into the ground, he didn¡¯t know what to do with me. I wasn¡¯t the usual prey he was used to, which confused him. I wasn¡¯t trying to run away from him, but neither did I look threatening enough to cause him to attack me.


    Slowly, I reached out to him, triggering him to growl in response to my approach. Luckily, he didn¡¯t launch at me again. However, what was more distressing for me was how painful everything seemed to him.


    Is the blood moon''s energy making you feel like this?


    Even though it flowed through me, all I felt was warmth, but to him, it was changing him to his core.


    "It hurts... doesn''t it?" I whispered.


    It triggered Fenris to launch at me again, only to stop inches from my neck as his body trembled. Somehow, a part of his subconscious was fighting to keep me safe, even in the chaos he was in. Unable to bear seeing him like this any longer, I threw reason out the window, touching his fluffy cheek.


    The sudden touch prompted him to pull away from my neck, leaving scrapes upon retreat. Luckily, they didn¡¯t tear the inhibitor that was there.


    "If... it¡¯ll make you feel better. Know that I¡¯ll accept everything you give me. I love you no matter what you become. Remember, I love you for you, and that will never change." I simpered, tears swelling in my eyes.


    I caressed his cheek only to find his fur smooth even in this form. No matter how he appeared or what he became, he would always be Fenris. I would accept and love him even if this were his new authentic self.


    This wolf was the one person I trusted with everything in the world, and that would never change.


    "Li... Li... Lily..." Fenris grumbled in that monstrous voice.


    I simpered, nodded slightly, and traced my fingers on his jawline, thinking the worst was over, but I was wrong. Upon recognizing me once again, my wolf licked me anywhere he injured me before he slowly started making love to me again in this form.


    "I love you! I love you!" Fenris muttered repeatedly.


    His thrust overwhelmed me again, leaving me little time to feel joy at hearing him say those words to me. A burning sensation erupted everywhere he touched as whispers in a language I didn¡¯t understand bombarded my mind.


    What is¡ª


    A blue aura radiated from my body while Fenris continued to press forward. Slowly, with every push, the aura radiating from me turned purple. It was merging with his aura, which still emitted pure crimson.


    No! My magic can¡¯t go out of control!


    This was nothing like I had expected. Shifting back to his humanoid form, he shoved himself into me, ignoring the lights.


    My mewls of pleasure combined with groans of pain, feeling like my body was being set ablaze again. Fenris''s lips crashed with mine to comfort me, muffling every sound I made. Even though he was back to his humanoid self, he wasn¡¯t in control.


    The moon still held my wolf, and it diffused through me, almost overwhelming my every sense. I dug my nails into Fenris''s back, causing him to groan in pain within the kiss without letting go. My consciousness wavered, but I tried to fight to stay where I was.


    I didn¡¯t know what was happening or what would happen if I passed out. So, I fought to stay. Suddenly, the whispers died off, leaving only one behind.


    Let go... The same voice I heard earlier incited me.


    I refuse! If I do¡ª


    However, even though I wanted to stay, my consciousness came and went, not abiding by my command. The pain was consuming me more than the pleasure, leaving me to dig my nails into Fenris''s back before a throbbing sensation erupted within me.


    Then everything went black.

 Chapter 81: The Sun Rises

    ¡°Lilith! Wake up!¡± Shade nudged me with her paw, but my body refused to listen.


    Everything was so sore that my body felt much like a log in a pond. However, it wasn¡¯t long before I remembered what I was doing before everything darkened. When my eyes flew open, I found myself on the ground next to Fenris, who was out cold next to me.


    Shade, the size of a deer, was by my side. The sun was slowly rising on top of us, marking the end of the blood moon. Even though my first instinct was to run and hide, I couldn¡¯t help but worry about Fenris, who lay beside me, unmoving.


    Every centimeter of his skin either had blood or dirt on him, yet there was nothing different about him. At least from the outside, the red moon hadn¡¯t touched him, which relieved me. It wasn¡¯t long before I noticed the dry blood on his back.


    I couldn¡¯t believe how badly I dug my nails into him. Hesitantly, I glanced at my hands only to wince, spotting the dried red liquid under them. Even though I knew he had healed faster than I could ever comprehend, my worries poured in.


    I reached out to touch his shoulder.


    When my skin met with him, he groaned lightly, ¡°Arg¡­ It¡¯s too early, Liam. Mhm¡­ Let me sleep a little longer.¡±


    A giggle left my lips when I realized my wolf was fine. After remembering everything he said the night before, I kissed him lightly on his cheek, prompting him to cover his eyelids with his hand, bothered by the light from the rising sun.


    Shade handed me the robe to get ready to leave, but I was planted where I was.


    Just a moment¡­ one more second.


    Remembering how many times Fenris professed his love to me the night before made me ecstatic. I didn¡¯t notice when the barrier went down, but Shade did.


    ¡°Lily... Times running out.¡± She tried to catch my attention, but I refused to take my eyes off Fenris.


    However, something else caught her interest when she tried to nudge me.


    ¡°Oh, my¡­ Lily... Your body.¡± Shade commented, pressing my thigh with her paw.


    Her words snapped me away from my wolf, causing me to tilt my head at her. I still had all my limbs attached, that much I could feel.


    What?


    When I finally inspected myself, Alijah''s words echoed in my mind.


    What the actual¡­


    The body I found myself in was unrecognizable from the night before. Even though I hadn¡¯t wished or even tried to do so. My body wasn¡¯t the one I had come with when the night started. Every deformity was restored, leaving me in a shell I didn¡¯t know.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    My breasts, which Stella enjoyed destroying, had volume to them. Not too much. It was a normal, slim chest, but it was new. All the deep-colored burn scars on my body were different, lightening to a shade of brown, appearing like tattoos on my body.


    The rest were light enough to be mistaken for my skin, especially if seen from afar. In disbelief, I touched myself to feel it tingle under my fingers.


    It¡¯s real! How did I¡­


    There were stories about witches changing their bodies, but that took years of learning, which wasn¡¯t a specialty for me. Alijah said I had the power to morph myself, but I was unaware of how to accomplish it.


    Nor was it on my radar of things to do. Memories of what happened arose in my head, trying to figure out how this happened. The burning sensation, blue aura, and everything that happened made no sense, but one thing remained true.


    It couldn¡¯t have come from me.


    If it isn¡¯t something I did... then... No... it must¡¯ve been...


    I glanced over to Fenris, who still slept. Usually, after a night like we experienced after the full moon, he was up and going before the sun was even out, but this time, he lay there exhausted. Leaving me to only one conclusion made me more nervous than relieved.


    Did you somehow control my magic? Is this something you wish for me?


    Instead of feeling relief, I could only feel shivers running down my spine. Not because Fenris desired this for me but because Alijah could do the same. If that was the case, then I was utterly useless against him.


    No one could stop you.


    Fenris, too, had no way to fight the black wolf. He had recently awakened to this power, while Alijah had an eternity to learn how to bend it to his will. My body trembled, realizing that man was a veritable monster.


    One with no checks and balances.


    Whoever was trying to bring him into this world didn¡¯t know what they were getting into. Suddenly,


    ¡°Lily, hurry.¡± Shade urged me to put on the robe.


    I barely had it on when she picked me up, bolting towards the bushes we had hidden in. Liam was coming to fetch the sleeping wolf. Luckily, he hadn¡¯t noticed us when Shade quickly shrunk in size. Shade had saved me from my blunder, as this was no time to ponder possibilities.


    Panicking at this moment wouldn¡¯t help solve the problems that were arising, especially if they caught me after I had been so close to my goal. Unlike Fenris, Liam was fully refreshed when he approached his friend.


    The brown wolf studied his friend before shaking his head. "So much for not doing anything humiliating." He sighed.


    My wolf didn¡¯t respond to his comment. Releasing yet another sigh, Liam crouched down towards the silver wolf before poking him on his shoulder with zero response again. Noticing something off, Liam grabbed onto Fenris, pulling him closer to him.


    There, he spotted the blood on his back.


    "What the fuck did you do last night?" Liam huffed.


    Again, my wolf didn¡¯t seem bothered by him.


    "Oi... Wake up." The brown wolf shook him a bit.


    Fenris groaned, tugging away from him. Each futile attempt to wake his friend up left him with eyes twitching.


    "Oh, okay. It¡¯s going to be like that then." The brown wolf growled, leaning into his sleeping friend.


    Grabbing onto his ear, Liam pulled it a bit while the sleeping wolf appeared unbothered by the tug, too.


    "Okay... You asked for it." He shrugged, gently blowing into Fenris''s ear.


    The action caused my wolf to jolt awake, shaking his head multiple times. Immediately, he growled at Liam, who straightened himself before crossing his arms.


    "Aside from the fresh pair of eyes¡ªyou don¡¯t look intimidating, at least how you look right now." He noted the fact Fenris was bare.


    My wolf¡¯s cheeks flushed rosy, "What? Where? Wait..." he mumbled.


    It wasn¡¯t long before his eyes opened wide, and he peered around the space, looking for something¡ªfor me. If only he knew how close the source of his confusion was.

 Chapter 82: What’s To Come

    Witnessing Fenris¡¯s strange behavior, Liam sighed before throwing clothes at him. "Here, I brought you new clothes. Luckily, I knew you would do something embarrassing, but I never expected this."


    Instead of caring for the clothes, he scouted his surroundings, desperately trying to find something.


    Do you remember the entire night or just parts of it? Crap¡­ Please just¡­


    "No, I..." my wolf trailed off, standing only to tumble to the ground if Liam hadn¡¯t caught him.


    The silver wolf was weak, something I had never seen him be.


    Is it because of me? Because of what happened last night?


    I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off him.


    Shade climbed onto my lap. Lily, cover your robes! You¡¯re still showing it all to the world!


    Yet I didn¡¯t care; all I could do was stare at Fenris, who was anything but himself.


    "Oi, Fen, is something wrong?" Liam questioned.


    "Lilith..." The silver wolf answered, voice trembling and breaking.


    Do you think you ate me? Oh, love¡­ you didn¡¯t, but I can¡¯t run to you!


    The tone in his voice made me want to, but I couldn¡¯t afford to be found. I held onto Shade tightly, who rubbed herself on my chest to comfort me.


    "What?" Liam couldn¡¯t follow, trying to help Fenris clothe himself.


    However, all my wolf wanted was to find me. "Lilith, she was here. I have to find her."


    ¡°What?¡± Liam glanced around, too, before focusing back on him. "Only your scent¡¯s here. I don¡¯t think anyone else was with you. I mean, your scent¡¯s overpowering anything."


    It wasn¡¯t like I usually didn¡¯t smell like him either way.


    Fenris shook his head, "No! She was here with me! I felt her! If I hurt her, I need to find her!"


    Liam''s expression changed into something I had never seen him do. His eyes scrunched up like his eyebrows, studying Fenris¡¯s strange behavior.


    "Uh... I don¡¯t know if I want to know those details." Liam huffed.


    His reaction triggered Fenris to growl at him.


    "You don¡¯t understand. Arg... Just give me my phone. You have it, right?" The silver wolf sighed.


    "Yeah, here." Liam took out a phone from his pocket.


    Fenris dressed before grabbing the phone and sending a message. Unsatisfied with that alone, he called too, but there was no answer.


    "Arg... Why¡¯s no one picking up!?" Fenris''s mood worsened as a soft red hue came from his skin.


    "Woah! Let¡¯s consider the time we are calling. It¡¯s only five in the morning; they¡¯re probably asleep," The brown wolf tried to defuse the situation.


    Instead of listening to his friend, Fenris called repeatedly with no response, which only made the red hue get deeper in color.


    "Fuck! I-I have to g-go see her! I need to know she¡¯s okay!" He declared, instantly dropping to his knees two steps away from Liam.


    ¡°Fen!¡± Liam reached to help him back on his feet before holding onto his arm. "Look, I know you''re worried, but you can¡¯t. You know you can¡¯t. The elders won¡¯t allow you to leave until the festival¡¯s done."


    ¡°Fuck them! No one will stand in my way! I need to know she¡¯s okay!¡± Fenris snarled, wincing soon after.


    Liam flinched, feeling the blunt anger his alpha felt, but he wasn¡¯t about to back down.


    "Fen, they¡¯re fine. I¡¯m sure of it. Melody won¡¯t allow anything to happen to Lilith." He added, trying to get through to him.


    My wolf growled loudly.


    "You don¡¯t know Lilith as I do! Something happened! I should¡¯ve fucking known when she asked for my blood!" Fenris snapped, triggering me to flinch.


    What awaited me when we met again was going to be something that I wouldn¡¯t enjoy.


    "I¡¯m sure she¡¯s fine; there¡¯s no trace of anyone but you here," Liam assured him.


    My wolf took a deep breath, placing his phone away. In his condition, there was no way he could get to me, not with all the Lycans in his way.


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    "I... don¡¯t know. Maybe I¡¯m confused." Fenris sighed.


    "Look, let¡¯s do this. Let¡¯s see the elders and do their stupid party; then we¡¯ll sneak out and check on the girls later tonight, okay?" he suggested a compromise.


    "No, I have to see her right now, Liam!" he snapped at his friend, who didn¡¯t back down either.


    He was probably the only Lycan who would stand his ground against Fenris.


    "Come on. Just a little longer. Please?" Liam grabbed onto Fenris''s shoulders and stared straight at him.


    "Fuck! Fine!" Fenris growled, using Liam as a support to walk out.


    Finally, I was left alone with Shade. When my beloved wolf saw me again, I would face a fate that no one could save me from. However, I had to concentrate on what I could salvage. Undoing my bandaging, I confirmed the moonstone turned bright crimson red.


    At least your anger won¡¯t be for naught.


    Shade shifted again, allowing me to use her to stand. After everything they had experienced, my legs felt wobbly; my entire body was foreign. However, I wouldn¡¯t complain about it, especially after hearing the words I desired the most the previous night.


    Without wasting another moment, I fixed my robe before slowly mounting Shade and contemplating running back toward Cerberus. The thought of opening another portal to the soul cairn made me shiver, but I had no choice.


    Fenris was in the woods, in a worse mood than I had ever seen. If I had run into him, everything would¡¯ve ended. Concentrating again, I opened a portal that returned me to the room with no issues.


    I noticed Melody asleep, right where I left her. I had to fight the desire to run to her and wake her, but if she saw me like this, a slurry of questions would¡¯ve been headed my way.


    There¡¯s no time to waste.


    Glancing outside, I noticed the sun was in the same place when I left the forest. It was the only reference point I had to tell if time had skipped or reverted. Sadly, it appeared the same as when I left, leaving me the same as I started.


    There are so many questions I want to ask, but focus, Lilith; you don¡¯t know how much longer the moonstone will hold Fenris¡¯s essence.


    Taking off the ring, I placed it on the desk before picking up the bracelet I left behind and clasping it on. After that, I gazed at the potion I had made to kill off any chance of bearing a child. With only a couple of seconds to ponder whether I should drink it or not, I opted not to take it since it could make me ill.


    Yes, I need every ounce of energy left within me to break Melody¡¯s curse. Focus on that first, then the rest.


    Unable to walk alone, Shade helped me into the shower, where I quickly washed, trying to get rid of any traces of where I was. After that, I dressed as I always did, ensuring every part of me was covered.


    It was no use letting her see my body''s changes or the new bruises and scratches I had picked up because of Fenris. Even though everything had changed, anything he had done to me was still present. Luckily, it wasn¡¯t anything my clothes couldn¡¯t hide.


    After I was fully dressed, with Shade''s help, I grabbed Melody¡¯s phone. My heart dropped when I saw over twenty missed calls and many more messages.


    Crap, they¡¯re all from Fenris.


    The messages all wanted her to make me get on the phone as soon as possible. Although he appeared kind in them, I knew the fury behind those words.


    If everything works out, I¡¯ll make sure he knows who to be angry at, Mel. I promise he won¡¯t kill you, but he might murder me.


    Shivers went down my spine, and I didn''t want to know what would happen when he laid eyes on me. Not wanting Melody to know what was happening, I pocketed her phone before finally waking her.


    Grabbing onto her hand, it triggered her eyes to fly open. She sat up faster than I could¡¯ve imagined. Disoriented by the spell I had undone, she glanced around the room, trying to understand what was happening.


    "What, where? What happened?" Melody asked me.


    Clueless is good for the time being.


    I giggled, "I just finished preparing to break the curse.¡±


    My voice was still hoarse from the night, triggering me to reach for my throat.


    Damn¡­ I forgot to drink water. Not that it¡¯ll take it all away.


    However, the tone triggered Melody to tilt her head upon noticing it. She was just as sharp as Liam, making me want to run and hide. Luckily, there were more pressing matters in her mind as well.


    "Wait? The sun¡¯s out? When did I fall asleep?" She continued her query, standing up from the bed and glancing outside.


    When she last remembered it darkening, the sun was in plain sight. At least Fenris¡¯s rage wasn¡¯t visible from where we were, yet I had to thread carefully around this wolf.


    "Don¡¯t worry. Everything was a success." I assured her, taking out the red stone that was once whitish blue.


    She reached for it, only for me to tug it away; it wouldn''t have been ideal if she had touched the stone before the incantation.


    Any impurities can make spells go haywire.


    "Oh, right... Sorry, I forgot. I can¡¯t touch it until the ritual.¡± She mumbled, shaking her head, ¡°So I missed the moon, damn it, I wanted to see it.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s always next time,¡± I assured her.


    She shrugged, ¡°Was it hard to get it?"


    Her simple question caused me to cackle nervously, as I knew fully what I had to go through to get this for her.


    Ah... well, there¡¯s no turning back anymore.


    "No... No, it wasn¡¯t too bad." I avoided her gaze as she approached me again.


    Grabbing onto her hands, I tried to lead her towards the center of the room, but I lost my balance. Luckily, she saved me from falling.


    "Hey, are you okay?!" she worried, holding onto me.


    "Yeah, the spell just left me a little battered. Don¡¯t worry, though," I assured her.


    Instead of dropping it, she narrowed her eyes, studying me closely.


    "I-it¡¯s only temporary. Come, we don¡¯t have time to waste," I added, leaving Melody to sigh and follow me along.


    Once in the middle of the room, we sat down as we had rehearsed. Taking off my inhibitor again, I placed it next to me, preparing for the ritual we were about to do. This wasn¡¯t something I found or wrote. Magic needed direction, and words usually simplified that, so I devised a small ritual to do with her¡ªa first of its kind.


    "Is this really going to work?" Melody¡¯s hands trembled, much like her voice.


    There was no way to know if it would work or not. But instead of instilling doubt, I tried to reassure her. After all, it had to work. Or Fenris would hate me for nothing.


    "Yes, it will. Although whoever cast it won¡¯t be too happy about it breaking." I smiled.


    ¡°They will know?" Her tail wagged as her eyes glittered.


    "Probably. We witches bond ourselves to curses. So, when they break, the energy goes back to them. It¡¯s why curses go away if the witch is slain. Usually," I informed.


    Shade joined us, sitting next to me and observing everything we did.


    "Good. I wish I could see their faces when they feel it break." Melody smirked as her tail wagged faster than before.


    Cute. Why are Lycans gifted with the ability to look adorable whenever they want? I¡¯m jealous!


    Clearing my throat, I readied myself for the next stage of my plan. The easy part, or so I thought.


    I mean, anything after the red moon has to be easy, right?

 Chapter 83: The Cursed Wolf

    My heart pounded, yet I tried to play it off with a brave front for Melody. The last thing she needed was for me to show her how terrifying it was for me to do this.


    "Well, let¡¯s begin. Remember... this won¡¯t feel pleasant for you. A part of you was ripped out, and we¡¯ll have to stitch it together," I warned her.


    She nodded, ¡°I¡¯m ready, Lily. Give it your best shot!¡± before closing her eyes and placing her hands on her lap.


    Taking a deep breath, she braced for whatever came her way. It was brave of her to trust the same race that had gotten her into this mess. There was no use in worrying about what came next. A soft sigh left me as I pushed down my nerves, concentrating on what we were about to do.


    If anything went wrong, I could hurt her worse than her curse ever did. Without wasting another second, I undid her blouse, exposing her chest to me. She shivered from the anticipation of what was coming while I grabbed the stone before pressing it against her chest.


    When it contacted her skin, it shimmered brightly, resonating with the dormant wolf within her.


    There¡¯s no going back anymore!


    My breath hitched as I felt the magic coming from the curse within her. It was like nothing I had ever felt before. A smirk rose on my lips, finding this opponent worthy of unleashing my wrath.


    No longer will they look at you like you¡¯re worth nothing. No longer will you be gazed down upon like the dirt they label you to be. There will be no chains holding you down!


    "Liberate in bestia, quae non potest totum contineri!" I recited, causing the gemstone to crack, releasing the energy into Melody''s body.


    A sudden gasp released from her lips when her body and amber eyes hued crimson as I continued with the enchantment.


    Free the beast within that can¡¯t be contained.


    I didn¡¯t know what to expect when I started this, but what happened next never crossed my mind. Suddenly, Melody collapsed before me as I tried not to overthink it.


    It has to be normal! It has to be!


    No one had ever attempted to do this before, and there were no records or documentation of any attempt to release a cursed wolf.


    Well, at least to the public.


    Shaking my doubts, I continued to press forward, triggering Melody to convulse before me, causing me to remove my other bracelet.


    More power! I need more!


    ¡°Lily, you''re almost there!¡± Shade rooted on the side.


    When the bracelet was off, my body radiated a pure blue aura energy. I closed my eyes, pushing forward again, not to see what was happening before me.


    There¡¯s no going back! This has to work! Please! Out of everyone I¡¯ve met, she deserves to be free! Do you hear me?! She deserved it!


    "Liberate in bestia, quae non potest totum contineri!" I shouted one last time.


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    Before, an explosion of energy radiated from us, flinging me to the side and knocking me out cold upon impact. However, instead of falling into darkness, it felt like it ripped my soul from my body, sending me flying towards the unknown.


    When I finally could tell where I was, I found myself where I least expected. In front of me was Stella in a room I couldn¡¯t quite identify. A heavy mist made everything hazy.


    What the heck? Is this a dream? The bitch hasn¡¯t aged a day.


    Next to her was a woman wearing a hood that clung to her chest, almost as if something had hurt her. The only physical thing I could see from her was her black hair from the cloth she covered herself with.


    "What¡¯s the matter, Edna?" Stella asked, grabbing the shoulder of the woman who seemed out of breath.


    "Impossible. Unless¡­" She gasped for air, shaking her head.


    ¡°Someone bring a hair in!¡± Stella called out to someone outside the room.


    They quickly brought a chair for the ailing woman to sit on.


    "Edna, what happened?" Stella continued to tend to the woman.


    Wow¡­ So, someone like you can be caring, as long as it isn¡¯t towards me.


    Sadly, I couldn¡¯t see this mystery woman¡¯s face, shrouded in darkness, but I saw Stella as clear as day.


    "Hah... So... It finally begins. Someone broke one of my curses¡ªan ancient one. It was impossible to do, yet they did it." Edna snickered, intrigued by what I had done.


    Her voice caused shivers to ripple through my spine.


    Ancient curse? So that means you¡¯re¡­


    ¡°It must¡¯ve been a fluke. You are unmatched by any regular witch." Stella huffed, crossing her arms.


    Edna grabbed Stella, getting up from the chair. "No... I sensed that power. It was a strong one¡ªstrong enough to rival me, perhaps, but weak compared to what I¡¯ve seen."


    Everything clicked in that instant. Curses usually traveled back to their point of origin once they broke; somehow, I hitched a ride with it, bringing me to this space.


    So, the person who cursed Melody''s family was with you, but why?


    With this encounter, more questions arose, with little to no answers.


    "Impossible. No normal witch can rival an eternal¡ª" Stella stopped herself before rephrasing what she would say.


    Eternal... That means this woman is¡­


    "I mean, a witch as experienced as yourself." Stella finished, causing Edna to laugh.


    I glanced around the room to find any clue that would allow me to identify them, but nothing stood out except the two women who spoke before me. Their surroundings, with their rugged walls, eerily reminded me of a cave.


    Where¡­


    "Well... we¡¯ll see if whoever did that will survive what happens next." Edna snickered.


    What?


    "Oh, what do you mean?" Stella echoed my thoughts.


    The woman slowly approached me, and I took a few steps back in response to her approach.


    Can she see me? Impossible.


    "It¡¯s one thing to put a beast to sleep. It¡¯s another to awaken it," Edna declared, standing right before me.


    Even from this close, I couldn¡¯t see how she appeared. However, there was a green glow within the darkness that shrouded her.


    "Oh, I see... They¡¯ll probably be torn to shreds." Stella deduced.


    The mysterious woman slightly nodded, "Yes... hopefully." She tilted her head. ¡°You don¡¯t seem like much, little witch.¡±


    Wait, you can see me?!


    Waving her hand, she sent me crashing back into my body. My eyes flew open, feeling like a pack of wolves crashed into me. Blood dripped down my left cheek and onto the floor below, only for me to wince when I reached for the source.


    The energy blast had flung me onto the bed frame, slicing my forehead upon contact.


    Even though everything sounded muffled, I heard Shade yell for me. ¡°Lilith, run! I can¡¯t hold her without hurting her for long!¡±


    It was hard to get accustomed to the changes I was experiencing as a minor skirmish continued out of my view. However, everything in the room was turned over or destroyed.


    ¡°Stay still! I like you and don¡¯t want to hurt you!¡± Shade huffed to whatever was in her paws.


    Unable to understand what was happening, I sluggishly reached my feet, only to see Shade atop what appeared like a beast. Slowly, my vision became more apparent, and I saw the source of the chaos: a giant black wolf who stared back at me like I was a snack.


    Melody was utterly uninterested in Shade, who held her back. She would undoubtedly charge at me if she slipped from Shade¡¯s grip. Her eyes glowed bright yellow, alerting me that she was out of control and I couldn¡¯t handle her.


    "Go get help! I¡¯ll hold her down!" Shade yelled, only for Melody to slide away from her paws before charging straight at me.


    That woman¡¯s words echoed within me. It¡¯s one thing to put a beast to sleep and another to awaken it.


    Ah¡­ Nothing I do ever goes right.

 Chapter 84: Beast Within

    Staring at a rampaging black wolf charging at me jolted me into action, throwing myself towards the side only for her to miss me by a few centimeters. Shade followed, pinning her down against the bed as I ran towards the exit before slamming the door shut behind me.


    The door alone wouldn¡¯t hold the wolf, though. Shade would have to do all the work of keeping her inside. My hands trembled uncontrollably when I realized I had left the inhibitors inside the room, too.


    It didn''t matter; I couldn¡¯t wear them if I wanted Shade to hold Melody. The entire situation was nothing like what I had planned.


    Betrayer!


    Kill her!


    The whispers barraged me.


    Quiet! I need to think!


    I tried to stand up to look for someone who could help, but my legs gave out. They had cleaned the wolves out of the building for the festival, so none of them heard my enchantment go off. Frustration built within me as tears welled up in my eyes.


    ¡°Help!¡± I screamed, but no one was around to hear me.


    Every race was outside, enjoying the festivities of the moon festival. Some were available to everyone in the town, leaving a few essentials inside the building, and whoever was on the cameras in every corner had their attention on something else.


    I couldn¡¯t help but release a shriek, slamming my hands on the floor. The sound caused my hands to glow blue, prompting me to retreat quickly against the door.


    No, I can¡¯t have a meltdown!


    With my condition, I quickly lost hope of finding anyone to help us. Trying to fight off the head-breaking whispers, I slowly felt like I was shattering. The only light of hope that came my way was when my pocket vibrated, triggering me to gasp.


    With everything happening, I forgot I nabbed Melody''s phone before removing her curse. Sitting against the door, I reached into my dress pocket to see who was calling. It was Fenris again.


    Ah¡­ You¡¯re the last person I want to tell this to.


    However, I had no choice but to do so. I had no way of helping Melody, who had lost touch with her gentler side. My finger trembled, going to hit the green icon on the screen.


    "Hey... Melody, please don¡¯t hang up." a surprising voice answered.


    It wasn¡¯t Fenris... but Liam.


    "I know you don¡¯t want to talk to me, but I promised Fen to keep calling you while he goes to talk with the elders," he said.


    I could barely manage any words to come out of me.


    "I just need to know¡ª" he continued, only for me to interrupt him.


    "Liam..." I broke out in a sob.


    "Lilith?!" he sounded alarmed after hearing me.


    "I need you." I wept.


    Tears continued to streak down my cheeks as the whispers drowned me in their never-ending suggestions.


    "Lilith, what happened?!" Liam questioned.


    I hung up, not being able to hold it.


    It¡¯s enough. This is enough. You¡¯ll come running, right? You will... You must...


    If not¡­ we kill her! A whisper erupted, triggering me to shake my head.


    No! Quiet! Don¡¯t hurt anyone!


    I tried to comfort myself while Shade continued to keep Melody in check. Thanks to my connection to her, I could hear what was happening inside the room. Curling into a ball, I closed my eyes and covered my ears, trying to calm myself.


    For a moment, I closed myself off to the world, waiting for Melody''s prince to save her. I lost count of time, withdrawing myself from everything that was happening. Blocking out everything and everyone was the only way to keep me from breaking.


    However, I couldn¡¯t help but be startled by someone grabbing onto my shoulder. Much to my surprise, it was Liam, who seemed out of breath and sweaty.


    "Liam! I¡ª" I cried, grabbing onto his arms.


    Liam went straight into protective mode.


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    "What happened? Why are you bleeding?!?" he queried, grabbing onto my face to assess my injury.


    The worry on his face was almost calming to me.


    Finally¡­


    "I..." I struggled to say anything.


    He glanced around to look for the girl he loved, only to find me alone.


    "Where¡¯s Melody?" he continued.


    I glanced away from him upon hearing his question.


    "I... broke her curse, and now she¡¯s berserk!" I informed, trying to hold onto some sense of self, yet my tears were hard to dry.


    What I said caused him to grab my hands. "What? How?" he asked.


    I bit my lip, hesitant to tell him. Liam noted my demeanor, probably connecting the dots from Fenris''s minor meltdown from earlier.


    "Never mind. We can talk about that later. Tell me about how I can help.¡± Liam focused on the task at hand.


    "She lost control and doesn''t even recognize me," I answered, trying to stay calm.


    However, my body radiated a blue aura, too. I was hanging from a thread, too.


    "Shit. Where are your inhibitors?" he continued to assess the situation.


    I shook my head. "I... left them inside. Shade¡¯s holding her from breaking out."


    The last thing needed was a rampaging Lycan in the building or near the city. He forced my gaze back onto him, reaching towards my injury and triggering me slightly to wince in pain from his touch.


    "Did she do that?" he questioned, appearing to lock away his emotions.


    "No... breaking the curse caused an energy pulse that flung me across the room, and I think I hit the bedframe," I answered.


    There wasn¡¯t a single reason to lie or hide anything anymore.


    ¡°I see,¡± Liam sighed softly before helping me up from the floor. "It¡¯ll be okay. Open the door." he smiled reassuringly.


    I couldn¡¯t help but gaze again towards the ground, nodding. He shifted into his wolf form before I opened the door for him, revealing a struggle between Shade and Melody. The entire room was a mess.


    "Oh, Liam... how good of you to show up. This little wolf must learn manners, but I¡¯m not the best candidate to teach her those." Shade scuffed teasingly, holding Melody, who struggled to escape her grip.


    I thought Melody would recognize her beloved wolf when she saw him, but she was no longer the woman she used to be before the transformation.


    ¡°Let her go,¡± Liam growled, ready for her.


    ¡°All your lover, boy.¡± Shade smirked, releasing the rabid wolf as she wasted little time launching at him.


    Swiftly, he pinned Melody down against the floor. Unlike her, he had trained all his life against other wolves. To be Fenris¡¯s firsthand, he needed to be just as good as him in any scenario, including combat, but this new wolf didn¡¯t stay behind.


    Her weight and power placed her not far behind him even though she had no experience. He struggled to keep her down, too. Shade wasted little time handing me my bracelets so I could put them back on, causing her to shrink in size immediately and jump on my shoulder.


    Did I do good, Lily? She purred, rubbing her little head against my shoulder as I pressed her against me.


    Oh, you were terrific; thank you, Shade.


    Unable to move, I could only watch as Liam asserted his dominance over Melody, only for her to fight back at every attempt. However, her inexperience quickly showed when he dominated her. Usually, Lycans would shift back once beaten in a scuffle as an instinctual response, yet this wolf¡­


    For a moment, everything appeared to settle, and I stepped inside the battered room, triggering Liam to glance at me¡ªa mistake that Melody took advantage of. She slipped from under him, biting into his neck before slamming him against the floor.


    Luckily, his thick fur prevented her fangs from going in too deep. However, that didn¡¯t change the fact that it pinned him under her, unable to move. If he tried to push her off him, her fangs would¡¯ve caused more damage.


    Melody dragged Liam to the desk, causing it to crack and tumble. Even though I wanted to help, I would only make everything more complicated if she noticed me. Unlike him, one bite from her would injure me critically.


    Even though I knew I would complicate things. I couldn¡¯t bear seeing them like that.


    Why did it turn out like this?


    "Melody! Please!" I yelled, triggering her to shift her attention onto me before snarling at me like a wild beast.


    Taking the opportunity I gave, Liam shifted back into his humanoid, catching her attention as she quickly turned to him again, growling. A show of strength wasn¡¯t working, so he tried something else.


    "Mel... I know it¡¯s scary, but you can¡¯t let it control you." He tried to reach her wherever she was under that beast.


    Before I knew it, he was on the ground again, beneath the giant black wolf that loomed over him.


    "Liam!" I called out, worried she would rip into him.


    "It¡¯s okay, Lilith. It¡¯s going to be okay. Right, Mel?" he reassured me from under her.


    Somehow, she hadn¡¯t bitten him. Instead, she watched him, like Fenris did to me under the blood moon.


    Wait, have you ever seen Liam in his wolf form before?


    "Hey, you¡¯re in there. I know you are, and I know... you wouldn¡¯t hurt a fly. So... please, sweet baby girl, come back to me?" He caressed her cheek.


    For a moment, I thought she would snap, but she responded to him by shifting back into her humanoid form.


    On top of him, she slowly reached for his cheek, triggering him to smile once her fingertips touched him as he leaned into her.


    "Li... am," Melody muttered before dropping limp on him.


    Instinctively, he clung to her tenderly. ¡°Thank you for coming back to me.¡±


    I slowly made my way to grab a blanket to cover her with. Unlike other Lycans, Melody''s clothes weren¡¯t enchanted and destroyed during her transformation. After covering her up, I tried to step away to look for a wet piece of cloth when he suddenly clasped it onto my hand.


    I hesitated to look at him, thinking he would scold me or yell at me for doing something so stupid.


    It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t deserve it, but¡­ I¡­


    Liam pulled me down towards them, tugging my head towards his chest. He held us both ever so tenderly.


    "Thank you!" His voice broke.


    It was almost as if he were about to cry.


    "What?" I mumbled, having a hard time accepting it.


    After all, I did something incredibly foolish. No, it was multiple ludicrous things that achieved this. I played with the lives of many to accomplish this, yet all he could see was the act of kindness I did for them.


    My eyes couldn¡¯t believe it when tears ran down his cheeks. A man I saw as a strong, unmovable Lycan was crying before me, thankful for what I had done for someone he thought of dearly.


    "You saved her! Thank you!" He cried, holding onto us both.


    Ah¡­ I¡­


    Within seconds, I broke as my heart ached because of what he said. Somehow, even though I took incredibly foolish actions that put the entire world in danger, it ended in something good¡ªsomething that saved someone from being punished for how she was born.


    That broke me. I saved someone and did something good for once, but it broke me.

 Chapter 85: Smoke In The Distance

    Liam held Melody and me for a while, not wanting to let go of either of us. All I could do was clasp onto him, hearing him thank me for saving the girl he loved. To me, it felt surreal how everything turned out. I thought I would get yelled at and scolded, but I was being thanked.


    This was a new feeling, and it felt warmer than I thought. The brown wolf let go of us only when Melody regained consciousness. She pulled away from him, squealing to the bathroom, realizing that the only thing covering her was a blanket.


    Liam and I sat there, surprised by her sudden outburst. However, it wasn¡¯t long before she popped her head out of the bathroom.


    ¡°What happened?! And why is he here?!¡± she asked, her voice higher than ever.


    In an instant, all eyes were on me as I stayed silent. However, I quickly cracked under the pressure and fessed up to everything I did, leaving both with gloomy expressions. I waited for the scolding to begin, but it never did.


    Instead, Liam sighed and picked me up from the floor before placing me in a chair that had survived the struggle. After sitting me down, he searched for the first aid kit while Melody asked Shade to bring the clothing from her bag.


    "You...aren¡¯t angry? No lectures?" I asked, shifting my glance onto Melody, where Shade dragged a bag with her tiny body towards the bathroom.


    Fixing the overturned table, Liam placed the kit he found on it, grabbing me by the chin to inspect my injury. This wolf knew where everything was; probably Fenris had informed me where helpful everything was when he babysat me.


    "Me? Nope. You¡¯ll have enough of that from Fenris when he discovers everything." Liam declared, sending shivers down my spine.


    Grabbing a cloth, he wiped the blood away from my injury, triggering me to wince. When Melody slowly emerged from the bathroom, her cheeks were bright pink.


    "Fenris¡¯s going to murder me," she mumbled.


    Liam chuckled, "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m on the chopping block too."


    It appeared no one was safe, yet his comment didn¡¯t please her, but I intersected before she could say anything.


    "How so?" I asked.


    He narrowed his eyes before biting his lip and chuckling nervously.


    "Uh¡­ Well... I left him there alone and took his phone." Liam trailed off, taking Fenris''s phone out of his pocket and placing it on the table.


    Oh¡­ no¡­


    I could only imagine Fenris''s rage after he found Liam and it missing. The brown wolf shuddered at the thought of seeing his friend again. However, he wasn¡¯t alone in that sentiment. The next time we all saw Fenris would be...


    After cleaning me and tending to my injury, Liam stood up to find a cloth to wipe the blood from his neck. Melody''s eyes followed him quietly as he moved around the room.


    "I think everything will be fine now. So, shouldn''t you be leaving? Isn''t Kira waiting for you back at the festival?" Melody grumbled, triggering Liam to turn to her, who appeared puzzled.


    Ah¡­ the Lycan anger is working just right. Let me hide here so I won¡¯t interrupt the brewing storm.


    "What? She isn''t waiting for me.¡± Liam started, shaking his head. ¡°Look, I¡¯m also not leaving you alone with Lilith. If you lose control again, you could rip her apart." He confronted the black wolf, crossing his arms.


    She pouted, "Well... I won¡¯t shift. So you can leave now!¡± she stuck her tongue out at him.


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    If only it were that simple. Lycans usually learned how to control their shifts when they were young, but Melody had no training, meaning she could shift by allowing her anger to erupt.


    "Please, Mel, I know you¡¯re smarter than that. You can¡¯t control something you don¡¯t know how to do.¡± Liam sighed.


    Even if his opponent were the girl he loved, he¡¯d ensure my safety, and the only way I¡¯d be safe was if he stayed to check on Melody. A sharp growl left her as her wild side erupted again.


    At least you two are talking now, but can we keep it clean? I don¡¯t think the room will survive any more rough handling.


    Lily, maybe we should go out for a walk. Shade mumbled as we felt the tension between the two wolves.


    "Well, I''m sorry I had a curse preventing me from learning! We can¡¯t all be perfect little snowflakes like Kira!" she huffed, turning away to clean the battered room and ignore his presence.


    "Ah... That¡¯s not what I¡­ Sorry." Liam apologized, taking a deep breath before letting it go.


    Melody tried her best not to tear into him.


    "It¡¯s fine," she mumbled, reaching for the broom before Liam suddenly grabbed her hand, tugging her towards him and embracing her from behind.


    Finally! Is the lover boy going for the kill? Shade snickered.


    I hope so¡­ They both deserve this.


    "Let me go," Melody growled, trying to push him away.


    He was relentless in his grip on her. "Nope, you¡¯ll run away without hearing me if I don¡¯t hold on to you," he huffed.


    The black wolf¡¯s ears slanted back as her eyes glowed yellow, responding to the anger surging within.


    "You shouldn¡¯t touch other women when you¡¯ve got a pregnant one waiting for you!" Melody snapped at him, flashing her fangs at him.


    Liam seemed immune to her hostility. Unlike me, he was used to unruly Lycan, making this day like any other.


    "Mel, that isn¡¯t my child. I¡¯ve never slept with her." He clarified, still holding onto her.


    Her struggles slowly subdued upon hearing him say that.


    "What? But the elders..." she grumbled, glancing up towards him.


    The brown wolf shrugged, "The stupid old farts heard her side and went along with it. I¡¯ll prove it with some testing once this stupid festival¡¯s over." He reassured, rolling his eyes.


    Melody slowly turned to him before gripping tightly onto his shirt.


    "So... You aren¡¯t having a baby?" she mumbled.


    Her words made him chuckle, and his response caused her cheeks to flush red. His smile was deadly for her.


    "Even if I were, which I¡¯m not! I wouldn¡¯t marry her. I don¡¯t care for her." Liam added, reassuring her.


    Melody smiled in return. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good! I mean, you could do much better; she¡¯s a bitch!


    Both their tails slowly wagged.


    Adorable.


    "You aren¡¯t wrong." Liam agreed, chuckling before pausing for a moment and biting his lip.


    He gazed at her, cheeks rosy. "Hey..." He began soon after.


    Melody waited patiently for him to finish. After all, there was nothing else holding them back anymore. She was finally freed from her curse, labeling a runt. He was free to pursue her with no backlash, to fall on her because of it.


    Ah, it seems we¡¯re playing Cupid, Lily. Aren¡¯t we awesome? She snickered, nudging me with her fluffy head.


    Melody deserves this and more.


    "You¡¯re the¡ª" Liam began, only to be interrupted by his phone when it rang.


    The moment was ruined instantly, freezing him in place before he reached to grab it. The screen showed Layla, but only one person could¡¯ve been calling us.


    Gulping, he slowly answered, placing it in the speaker. ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Where are you, Liam?¡± A female voice belonging to only Kira came from the other side.


    Rolling his eyes, he sighed, ¡°Ah¡­ I had to do something. What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Well, Fenris is looking all over for you, and I wanted you here with me.¡± She commented, making all of us feel shivers run down our spines.


    ¡°Something came up, and I won¡¯t be there.¡± He huffed.


    ¡°What?! But you¡¯re supposed to be here! The barrier is up! No one is allowed out!¡± She scuffed as loud noises erupted in the background where she was. ¡°Wait, what the fuck is¡ª¡±


    That was when screams broke out before an enormous explosion was heard. I instinctively rushed towards the window, allowing me to see a puff of smoke coming from the forest next to the city.


    "What¡¯s going on?! Kira!" Liam asked, but she didn¡¯t respond before the line went dead.


    Unable to contain my worries, I turned to him, grabbing him by his shirt.


    "Is that where Fenris is?!" I questioned.


    His eyes squinted as his mouth curled downward, shifting his gaze away from me. Even though he didn¡¯t answer, that was enough for me to know all I needed. My heart felt like it was about to rip out of me.


    Ah¡­ I have to¡­


    Letting go of him, I took off one of my inhibitor bracelets and threw it to the side. However, before I could take a step away, Liam grabbed me by my shoulder.


    "Lilith, what do you think you¡¯re doing?" Liam''s voice shook.


    All the joy from before vanished as, in my mind, only one action was left.


    "I¡¯m going to him!" I announced, tearing myself from him.


    No one will take you from me! No one!


    With no time to waste, I reached out with my hand towards the window.


    "What, no!" Liam reached out to me.


    Shade intercepted his hand with a whip of her tail. "Naughty, little wolf, don''t get in our way!" She hissed, allowing me to launch myself out the window and into a free fall.


    It was probably one of the most brainless things I had ever done, but I had one goal in mind¡ªand Fenris wasn¡¯t there.

 Chapter 86: A Man I Never Knew

    In mid-free fall, I extended my hand towards the ground below, "Soul cairn!" I called to trigger a portal to open from below and swallow me before I splattered on the ground


    Unlike the last time, though, I had no time to call for a destination. We fell through the vortex before Shade caught me, preventing me from rolling on the ground. All I could do was stare at my surroundings.


    A blue mist hovered over everywhere my eyes landed, and I soon realized I was nowhere near where I wanted to be.


    "This isn''t what I wanted! Take me to Fenris!" I demanded.


    Lily! We aren''t alone! Shade hissed, feeling a presence nearby.


    "Calm down, child." One of the two voices from the blood moon announced.


    I peered around the room to see who it was, yet everything was still shrouded in the haze. Shade hissed yet again when the voice chuckled in response to my hostility. The sound of wings flapping emanated around me, slowly fading the blinding mist, revealing a giant tree in its place.


    A black bird with radiant blue eyes and a flamboyant display of black feathers was perched on its decaying and unstable branches. However, what was more alarming was that, on closer inspection, a humanoid shape was part of the tree.


    What the¡­


    "Old friend, it seems you don''t remember me anymore." Shade''s response to the older man by the tree made him appear sad.


    She remained by me, reflecting my emotions towards the entire scenario. I wasn''t happy to see this older man or the bird. Fenris was my only priority, and he was in my way.


    "What is this? I don''t have time!" I declared, standing my ground.


    The older man smiled at me, triggering chills down my spine. Even though his skin appeared to have turned into the wood, he seemed familiar. His hair and eyes had the same color as mine, brown.


    "Yes, you do. Time passes differently here. So, calm yourself, or you''ll destroy all you care about in a tantrum," he argued.


    You''re not wrong; time is different, but I don''t want to stay here!


    "What do you know?!" I snarled.


    Sadly, this man was unbothered by my hostility.


    "Well, I made you." He announced, leaving me stunned upon hearing him say that.


    "What?" I mumbled, taking a step back from the withered tree.


    "Yes, child, I seeded you into this world with your mother''s help." He clarified, leaving me with a void in my head.


    My father? Impossible.


    All I knew about him was from Stella, who assured me he was a human who had abandoned my mother. She never mentioned my mother bred with a tree in a god-forsaken world. The complete revelation was unsettling, leaving me wanting to regurgitate my stomach contents.


    "Yes... I''m your father. It''s good to see you, Lilith." He spoke in a manner that was too friendly for my taste.


    He had read my mind, which I didn''t appreciate. For all I knew, this old fool was lying to me. After all, I didn''t know the being before me who claimed to be my father, nor was I interested in knowing him.


    All I wanted was to leave. Yet the man before me appeared to be my only way out as the world refused to listen to me.


    "Impossible," I muttered, taking two steps back. "You''re insane! Just let me go!"


    He sighed, "It isn''t. I wasn''t originally like this nor from this world. When my stepmother, who your mother named you after, killed herself, it sucked me into this realm."


    What¡­ You''re¡­


    Everything was surreal, and it wouldn''t get any easier. All he said would haunt me in the years to come, too.


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    "So, you say you''re the boy from that dream?" my voice trembled, shaking my head.


    He nodded, "Oh, it wasn''t a dream, but a vision gifted to you by your heritage." He added, diving me deeper into the void that my mind had become.


    My heritage?


    "But I... No one was alarmed. I never stepped foot in the library." I argued in a small attempt to collect my thoughts.


    Fenris¡­ said¡­


    "That''s because the grimoire itself invited you into that library." The man clarified, but it was as if he had said nothing.


    "Invited me?" I echoed his words, shaking my head.


    "Yes, it allowed you to pass through. It wasn''t with your body but your soul that traveled there." He tried to explain.


    However, I was skeptical about everything.


    "How''s that possible?" I questioned.


    Though I just had a witch''s energy slam me out of my body.


    Is that what he means?


    But Shade was with me back in the library. Then again, Shade saw what happened to me when I was out of my body.


    "The grimoire resonated with your blood and invited you into the library. You might not know this, but you''re directly descended from the witch who tried to destroy the world all those years ago." He announced, completely losing me.


    "What?" I fumbled to say, taking another step away from him.


    "Oh, lovely child, yes... The Lilith from my time thought her daughter died that day, but she never found her body." He started, shrugging, "Her daughter lived that day and became the prisoner of your beloved Lycans."


    I''m a descendant of Lilith, who sought to end the world long ago. No! That isn''t possible! You must be lying!


    "How can I believe any of this? What are you?" I scowled.


    He smiled, "Long ago, I was human, although that no longer applies. This realm changed me, made me part of it, but my human name was once Tobias." The strange man introduced himself.


    No¡­ Something isn''t right.


    Perhaps it was the fact that he was wasting my time¡ªif it even existed in this realm. For all I knew, this could be exactly like the prison that held Alijah. The soul cairn was unknown to me.


    "I don''t understand," I mumbled as an ache arose.


    None of this could be true. I was in vehement denial of everything he told me.


    "Well... You probably won''t understand many things I say today, but you''ll reflect on them eventually and learn your true purpose." Tobias pointed out, glancing towards the bird before shifting his eyes towards me.


    Having had enough, I tried to open a portal with no success. Instead of saying anything, Tobias watched me struggle before I stared at my hands and slowly turned back to him. My body heat rose as my breath hitched in every take.


    There''s no way out unless I listen to you. Crap! I¡­


    "Then get on with it unless you want me to become whatever you are now." I glared at the old tree in front of me.


    It was so hard not to shriek, even though it was all I wanted to do. There wasn''t a bone in me that trusted this man, especially when he was keeping me from Fenris.


    "Every well, listen to me as I reveal your origin." He smirked, telling the tale of his life.


    When Lilith sacrificed herself, opening the portal to the soul cairn, it swallowed him. At first, the trip caused him to lose consciousness. So, when he opened his eyes, he didn''t know what happened, finding himself in an unknown blue world.


    However, seeing the shadow beasts, as he called them, he soon realized that he wasn''t in the mortal realm he called home anymore. An unspecified amount of time went by as he spent it wandering around and surviving on anything he came by.


    Slowly, though, Tobias noticed his hunger and thirst were gradually changing to the point he no longer felt them. The beasts around seemed to ignore him, all but a small cat who constantly watched him from afar.


    Even when the boy tried to find any point of contact, none of the others interacted with him as he wandered around for what felt like an eternity.


    "I didn''t know what I was doing in this world, and then it suddenly spat me out into a time I didn''t know. It was startling, and more so since I wasn''t in the body of a boy anymore, no, I was a man." Tobias recounted.


    Once again, he found himself in a completely unknown world. Everything he knew had changed, and he didn''t know what to make of it. Luckily, when the soul cairn spat him out, he found himself in front of the most beautiful human woman he could''ve ever imagined, who was just as surprised to see him.


    "Her name was Iris, your mother." Tobias smiled, reaching to his chest.


    Somehow, the realm pushed him forward hundreds of years from his time while changing his body to fit the role it meant him to play¡ªa role he didn''t know he had.


    He spent two years learning from my mother, who taught him how to communicate, read, and, most importantly, live. During those two years, he fell in love with her, culminating in m, the fruit of their love. However, his connection to the world affected my mother''s mental stability.


    I inherited an unknown link to what used to be Tobias''s prison upon figuring out that the fetus had a connection to the soul cairn and that it was influencing Iris''s mental health. He pleaded for her to end it.


    In his mind, there had to be another way for them to have the child they wanted, but she refused, saying that the fruit of their love would never be the evil he thought. Even though he cared for her wishes, he cared for her health over one of an unknown unborn child.


    Although he couldn''t say no to her after hearing her part at first, he later planned to end the pregnancy. Although my mother was losing her mind because of me, she refused to end me. It had always been her dream to have a child out of love.


    Though Tobias couldn''t allow my existence to be the reason for her mind to rot, he planned to deal with Stella but never got the chance. The soul cairn claimed him back when he left Iris''s side to find my grandmother.


    Unable to hear his tangent, I stopped him in his tracks. His past didn''t interest me, especially since it appeared he was just another person who didn''t want me to be alive. I had had enough of that going around and wouldn''t take any more of it.


    Not from you or anyone else. I won''t allow chains to hold me back any longer!

 Chapter 87: The Breaking Point

    ¡°So... all you¡¯re saying in that unending rant. Is that I was an unwanted child, and the soul cairn¡¯s part of me before the fall happened?¡± I questioned, annoyed by everything Tobias mouthed.


    All this did was complicate things for me, as I could never be free from the Soul Cairn. It was in my fate to be a dreadful witch. The only thing I could offer the world was to release them from the incantation branded on my soul all those years ago.


    But I¡¯ll always be a monster. A witch with power beyond comprehension. Something to be feared and envied, yet I¡­ want none of it.


    ¡°No, I wanted you but also to save your mother. She was alive and with me while you were an unknown. My love blinded me to you.¡± Tobias tried to explain.


    A soft, broken cackle released from me when I realized this man was like me.


    Blinded by love. I guess we¡¯re father and daughter, after all. The apple didn¡¯t fall far from the tree.


    ¡°All I am is an abomination. I should¡¯ve never been born. Your first instincts were right, Tobias.¡± I smirked, locking away all useless emotions inside of my chest.


    From that moment, I realized my fate was to be this monster, and my heart was missing.


    Tobias sighed, ¡°No... That isn¡¯t what I meant. You¡¯re my daughter. I understand now that what I tried to do was wrong, and what you see now is my punishment, which I accept gladly! I deserve it!¡±


    Ah¡­ You¡¯re nothing but a waste of time. I don¡¯t need you or want you.


    ¡°I see... How does any of this information help me?¡± I asked coldly.


    All you did was wake me from a dream where I thought I would be free. Now I know that day will never come.


    It was the same as when I dove to travel through my memories. I wasn¡¯t allowing myself to feel anymore. Emotions were useless to experience¡ªall but the ones that pushed me forward.


    ¡°Well... I wanted... I can¡¯t help but see your mother in you.¡± Tobias simpered, reaching to me with his arms.


    Sadly, it was too late to mend anything between us. We were both strangers to one another.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what you see,¡± I said, taking a few steps toward the old man who called himself my father.


    No more hiding from monsters or pretending to be anything less. I¡¯ll be me even if I¡¯m not wanted, even if¡­ I¡¯m hated by most. If I have¡­


    ¡°I wanted to see you. Before I completed my punishment.¡± He announced.


    Sadly, I couldn¡¯t care less about his wish, stopping a few lengths away. I wasn¡¯t looking for any hugs. However, the demon in his branches watched me closely.


    ¡°Enough of this. Take me to Fenris. I don¡¯t have time to spare for a ghost,¡± I declared, clenching my hands into fists.


    Tobias winced upon hearing me say that, gripping onto his chest.


    ¡°Well... The soul cairn must¡¯ve seen this as a must for you to be here. After all, it allowed me to bring you here to me.¡± He tried to point out, making me laugh.


    You just don¡¯t get it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about what you have to say anymore. Just send me back to Fenris! He¡¯s the only one who matters to me,¡± I ordered, harsher this time.


    He shook his head, desperately trying to reach my closed heart.


    ¡°No. If I let you go as you are. All you will do is kill everyone you care about.¡± He warned.


    I dismissed his worries by waving my hands.


    ¡°I only care about a couple of people. What if a few nobodies die?¡± I smirked, feeling like nothing else mattered anymore.


    The darkness in my heart was showing.


    Perhaps this is what I am. Why fight nature when I can own it?


    ¡°Lily...¡± Shade voiced, brushing her head against my hand.


    Ah¡­ I¡¯m no different from you, am I Stella?


    ¡°Fool! You¡¯ll kill everyone! Even those you care about! You still fear the power within you. You must not fear it!¡± Tobias snapped, reaching towards me, only for me to slap his hand away.


    ¡°The only man who can touch me is Fenris.¡± I declared, glaring at him.


    He grabbed onto his hand, surprised by my action towards him.


    ¡°Oh, child, you don¡¯t even know what the soul cairn is. Yet you pretend to use its power to protect the people you love?¡± he scolded, shedding his affection for me.


    You never had it to begin with, that much, I knew.


    ¡°Then stop wasting my time and tell me. What is the soul cairn?¡± I scowled, causing Tobias to smirk.


    ¡°The soul cairn is the resting ground for the old gods and their servants. It¡¯s where the living ones trapped their souls, which makes this realm a powerful source of magical power for everyone, not just witches.¡± He began his unbelievable story.


    Someone created the soul cairn soon after this world was born to use when the gods went to war with each other. This was because the gods could reanimate even after death, and to keep their enemies from resurrecting, they created this prison.


    It¡¯s a soul-dumping ground.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me that all the shadow demons... That these beasts are dead god-like beings?¡± I resounded, shifting my gaze onto Shade.


    Even you¡­


    I can¡¯t remember, Lily. Shade shifted her gaze away.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a prison for the losers,¡± Tobias confirmed.


    When the gods created this realm long ago, it was supposed to be sealed from mortals, but we found it. Although we couldn¡¯t resurrect the gods that dwelled within, they could control the magical power emitted from the soul cairn, including the souls within.


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    He explained that was how elves created the god artifacts. Items that could warp time, much like the one used during the fall to halt the demons so Ben could get near me. Each race had a connection to the realm, although humans were the ones who benefited the most from it.


    ¡°How does any of this help me?¡± I asked, plainly wanting a simple explanation.


    Tobias chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s important to know what forces you play with, child. The power these gods possess has the potential to corrupt you, the same as it did with your mother. They were betrayed, and all they thirst for is revenge.¡± He paused, gazing towards the bird.


    ¡°So, if you learn to control those emotions, you can control the world if that¡¯s what you wish. Of course, you¡¯ll always risk it corrupting you. Or perhaps your body will give out before your mind does.¡± He smirked, focusing on me again.


    I scowled, remembering the whisper¡¯s wishes.


    I always thought you resonated with me, but it seems it¡¯s more with what you desire. Bloodshed¡­ They¡¯ll only respond to¡­ wickedness¡­ Maybe what happened all those years ago wasn¡¯t my fault, but their nature.


    ¡°Then I won¡¯t use this corrupt power!¡± I declared.


    My reluctant demeanor caused Tobias to burst out laughing in disbelief.


    ¡°You won¡¯t stand a chance if you don¡¯t use it. You¡¯re a powerful witch, but some powers are beyond your comprehension. Alijah¡¯s only one problem of many in this world.¡± Tobias pointed out, causing me to clench my chest.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stop him,¡± I vowed.


    He enjoyed my determination to fight, but what he said next shocked me.


    ¡°But that wolf isn¡¯t your destiny, child. That belongs to another.¡± He declared.


    If it isn¡¯t my fate to stop that madman, then whose?! I won¡¯t allow him to destroy what I love!


    Before I could say anything, Tobias continued.


    ¡°Your destiny is...¡± He began, only to choke on his words as blue flames erupted from his roots before smoldering.


    All I could do was watch him gasp for air before slowly composing himself. Once he regained himself, he burst out laughing, unable to contain his amusement and glaring at the bird perched on his branches.


    ¡°I see... You only want me to guide her and no more.¡± He smirked, shifting his gaze back towards me.


    This man was as insane as my mother and grandmother.


    ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Ah, to one of the residents of the soul cairn. She watches us as we speak, as you can see. Not all are bloodthirsty, and most are still in deep slumber. Some of them can be wicked, though.¡± He answered, relaxing his hands before opening them wide for me.


    So that bird¡­


    It was almost as if he wanted me to jump into his arms, something that would never happen. The bird wasn¡¯t the only one there anymore; many blue eyes were studying us, unsettling me.


    ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll tell her your message!¡± he began glancing up towards the sky.


    ¡°Lilith, you¡¯re the chosen vessel for the soul cairn, who will give life to a new power never seen in this world. You must not fear the soul cairn¡¯s power but make it yours. It¡¯s the only way to assure your future,¡± Tobias declared.


    Everything hit its insanity point, especially after he said the impossible.


    Control this realm? How can I even do that?


    If what he said before, many had tried and failed to do so.


    How will I be any different?


    ¡°And what do you think I have been trying to do? It is impossible to even think with all the voices!¡± I confronted him.


    He shook his head, glancing down back towards me with a wicked smirk on his lips and lifeless eyes. His time there hadn¡¯t been in vain, corrupting his soul.


    ¡°You already know how magic works. Do you know why witches seek this realm of power?¡± he asked, questioning my knowledge.


    I had very little to offer to him.


    ¡°Because it resonates with them?¡± I hesitated to answer.


    If, as he said, this was where dead gods lay, then this realm was much more than what they led us to believe.


    ¡°That¡¯s true to some point, but it¡¯s because a witch¡¯s power comes from death. And... here... there are a lot of dead gods waiting to be feasted on by witches and warlocks. However, they have something wrong with what to expect of this world,¡± Tobias explained, assessing me.


    He wanted to ensure my gaze was on him before continuing.


    ¡°They think it¡¯s their power source, but it isn¡¯t. This is simply a prison the old gods made for those who deserve to die¡ªor at least think that they deserve it. Of course, the truth that society wants to suppress is that witches can control death¡ªsomething that you can¡¯t forget.¡±


    His revelation lost me.


    If that¡¯s true, Stella would¡¯ve revived my mother without hesitation! Yet perhaps that isn¡¯t what you meant.


    It quickly reminded me of a book in Stella¡¯s library I read long ago about necromancy, the study of death manipulation. That branch of witchcraft was banned everywhere, and thought it to be a legend.


    Are you trying to warn me about something?


    ¡°So, necromancy isn¡¯t a tale?¡± I asked.


    Tobias smiled happily to see me keeping up. However, like time magic, this craft couldn¡¯t be practiced without being sentenced to death.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t. The winners of history burned the books on it. My dear Lilith, witches and warlocks have never been on the good side of history. Necromancy and sacrificial magic are some powers you possess; there are many more, even if the world wants to keep you down.¡± He informed, shrugging.


    ¡°My stepmother didn¡¯t help your cause, but even then, humans were always looked down upon,¡± he added, gazing at the surrounding residents. ¡°These poor souls are a shadow of who they used to be.¡±


    ¡°And here¡¯s where your role lies. The soul cairn wants to create a new type of magic that will define you as a summoner and allow you to free the creatures from this realm,¡± Tobias announced, leaving me unable to believe his words.


    ¡°What?¡± I mumbled, not quite noting what he meant.


    He pointed towards Shade.


    ¡°She results from what happens when it works. You¡¯ll create this new type of magic. That¡¯s your destiny, and your kin will follow until the world¡¯s changed and reborn!¡± He revealed.


    I let out a soft sigh, shaking my head. ¡°What are you ranting on about? Just send me home.¡±


    Tobias didn¡¯t answer, changing the topic toward his goal. It was no longer to make me understand their wishes but to push me towards my destiny¡ªor at least what they depicted it to be.


    ¡°You must be wicked to control this realm. Don¡¯t be afraid to jump into the darkness to protect those you love! It¡¯s the only way the shadow beasts will listen to you! Oh dear, summoner!¡± He continued, not stopping for me.


    ¡°Summoner? Wicked?¡± I mumbled, shifting my eyes towards the bird who matched my gaze.


    Just¡­ What¡­


    ¡°Yes, wicked! It¡¯s your nature and theirs!¡± The withered tree pointed towards the horizon, revealing all the shadow demons within view.


    From pretending to be unaware, they appeared riled up and itching for more.


    ¡°If I want to protect those who I love from myself. I must be wicked. If that¡¯s all, I won¡¯t shy away.¡± I glanced over at Tobias, who quickly changed his demeanor once again.


    ¡°Yes! Show no mercy to your enemy! It¡¯s the only way that wolf will survive what¡¯s coming. He¡¯s weak after resonating with the soul cairn¡¯s power. Don¡¯t allow him to fall. He still has his important part to play in this tale.¡± Tobias announced, almost as if he knew the future.


    So¡­ Fenris really¡­


    ¡°So, he truly caused what happened the night before?¡± I asked, hoping deep down Tobias would deny my suspicions.


    ¡°Yes... The wolf was the one who changed you. Red-eye Lycans can control most magic types, even the ones that the soul cairn emits to a point. With him...¡± He trailed, unable to say anything further.


    ¡°Then, Alijah will be impossible to stop,¡± I clasped onto my chest/


    ¡°Child! You aren¡¯t destined to stop him, but you must delay his rage. If that¡¯s possible, you must find out, though.¡± Tobias hinted, closing his eyes.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just tell me?!¡± I lashed out, angered by the fact he hid information from me.


    ¡°My child, this is all I can tell you. Once you save them, try speaking with the dreaded council.¡± He mentioned it like a passing thought, leaving me feeling hollow.


    Are the council the ones with the answers I seek? No¡­ they hate that I¡¯m under Fenris¡¯s protection!


    ¡°They won¡¯t hear me,¡± I argued.


    Tobias cackled before smirking, ¡°Oh... how sweet for you to think they have a choice! Make yourself heard! All you need is at the tip of your fingers! Control it, and let it flow, Lilith!¡±


    My brain was starting to lag due to the information overload, though my original goal was finally in sight.


    ¡°Then send me back!¡± I ordered once again.


    This time, The realm shifted as the mist set in, responding to me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fear or rely on it fully. Or it will control you, just like it did all those years ago,¡± Tobias warned, fading into the background as the bird took flight before diving for me.


    A second later, something sucked us out into another vortex.


    ¡°Shade... I was happy to see you once again, old friend.¡± His voice echoed within the storm I found myself in.


    In free fall, I spotted the bird twirling beside me as a voice resonated within me.


    Fly, Lilith. Don¡¯t let the cage hold you any longer! Burn the chains that bind you and live for yourself!


    However, I would do as she said. I had no other choice but to fly right out of my bounds.

 Chapter 88: Cleansing Flames

    After being expelled from the soul cairn, Shade and I found ourselves in another free fall, dropping through the deep blue sky. Instead of letting us go by the ground, it triggered us to plummet towards our destination.


    When it told me to fly, I never thought it would want me to. All I could do was reach for Shade. I touched her momentarily as my fingers barely grazed her fur before being shoved away by a gust of air right out of her reach.


    ¡°Lily!¡± she screamed, struggling to find her balance.


    Unlike me, though, she was fine with hitting the ground. I fought to relax so I could see the ground below. With only a few seconds before I splattered, I cast an emergency spell.


    "Supernatet!" I muttered just before hitting the ground, creating a cloud of dust that rose where I fell.


    My body trembled, levitating inches away from the floor. A second later, I realized I would¡¯ve been a decorative piece on the earth. Shade wasted little time finding me. However, screams and yelling erupted from all sides.


    We had landed in what appeared to be a warzone. Unable to see anything, I could only try to find my way out of the dust cloud. Before I could make it out, Shade yanked me towards her when an unknown body fell next to us.


    Unable to see clearly, I reached down to check if they were alive, but instead of warmth, their body was colder than ice itself. It was unnatural; a body would still be warm for a few minutes after expiration. It triggered me to yelp when it suddenly twitched, alerting me it was about to get up.


    Necromancy?! You knew?!


    Shade''s tail whisked me away wholly, placing me onto her back before bolting out of there and into the chaos outside the dust cloud. Once there, we found ourselves in a forest clearing, much like where I spent the night with Fenris, but much more prominent.


    This is where they chose to conduct the festival. So that means Fenris must be here!


    This clearing was closer to Silverant than the ones they used for the blood moon, but we were about two hours away at most by foot. A Lycan could quickly get there in thirty minutes, which meant reinforcements were surely on the way.


    The barrier that was supposed to protect the festival was nowhere to be seen, which was good since we would¡¯ve hit it otherwise on the way down. However, what was more concerning was the Lycans going nuts on each other, followed by what appeared to be corpses walking around.


    There was chaos everywhere my eyes landed.


    Can I find you in this mess?!


    No matter where I planted my gaze, all I saw was unknown. Shade flicked away one corpse that came towards us with her tail, jumping into another location to keep me safe. My bracelet shone brightly, allowing me to see its shimmering light through the sleeves of my dress.


    Its glow increased as my desire to find Fenris grew. The cadavers were like ants overrunning a nest someone had mistakenly stepped on. She only landed momentarily before jumping again to another place when a crazed Lycan launched at us.


    Lily, something is wrong with these wolves! Shade huffed, struggling to find a place safe for me.


    There was no time for anything but defense. However, it wasn¡¯t long before I saw something that distressed me. Ezra was holding down Owen, who appeared to be under the same influence as the crazed wolves.


    They were surrounded by other Lycans, who protected them from the incoming corpses, surrounded them.


    ¡°Get a hold of yourself, Owen!¡± The grey wolf shouted to his friend, only to respond with a snarl.


    The more I saw, the more my anger boiled within me.


    How can anything like this happen? Wasn¡¯t the festival supposed to be isolated from everyone? How did this¡­


    In the distance, by a cottage, a pack of wolf mothers were protecting their children who cried in fear. Kira was among them, holding onto a broomstick as a defense for the kids. When I spotted children in distress, it affected me more than I thought, reminding me of the old days when a young Fenris reached out to me.


    None of these people deserve... no more! If I must be wicked, that''s precisely what I¡¯ll be to those unfortunate enough to be my enemies.


    Stepping off Shade, I took off my second inhibitor bracelet, unleashing magic energy into my surroundings as my body gave off a blue hue while purple in my core. From what I read once when I studied under Stella, necromancy was one of the darkest forms of magic.


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    It reanimated corpses but didn¡¯t give them a soul, leaving the body much like a puppeteer controlling a puppet. So, they only had the casters'' desires in mind. Some of the fallen Lycans were reanimated, and others had fallen there.


    This necromancer has no shame! Using their victims to...


    I felt no remorse for what I would do next¡ªunleash my magical energy into the surrounding environment. I cast a spell that witches would use during plagues, and bodies were piling up. The only way to cleanse the dead and stop a necromancer was¡­


    "O sacra flamma, haec cadavera nos pellite, quae ante mor- os illos iunge pestis.¡± I whispered as Shade used one of her nails to slice into my palm, allowing my blood to soak the ground below.


    Oh, holy flame, rid us of these corpses that plague us before more dead join them.


    In an instant, a blue hue came from me, setting ablaze all the surrounding corpses. With every step I took, all the corpses within a certain radius burned into ashes. The flames that burst forth from them glowed with an otherworldly blue hue, giving off a sense of mystique.


    From the faint purple shimmer coming from my core, Fenris''s essence was still within me, probably the only thing keeping me stable for the past few hours. My body screamed for me to stop what I was doing, but there was no turning back.


    I wouldn¡¯t allow this injustice to continue unabated, not while I could do something about it. Alijah wouldn¡¯t be right about us any longer while I was around. In the end, all this just brought more hate into the world.


    Nothing would change if things continued their current course, and if I had to be immoral to keep the innocent safe, then so be it.


    Wicked, I will be.


    Whispers exploded in my mind, resonating with me as pulses of energy erupted from me, expanding the original radius of my spell. Every corpse within my visible view was burning before dropping to the floor. Even Lycan cadavers burned at my command. However, the flame didn¡¯t harm anyone with a beating heart.


    It quickly extinguished once it turned the body into cinders. Once the corpses vanished, only Lycans and event staffers remained in plain sight. However, they swiftly fixed all eyes on me¡ªthe new unknown. Most of the staffers were humans without powers, if not Lycans themselves and all of them appeared startled by me.


    They thought I was behind this, without a doubt. Ryker isolated the wolves, thinking it was safer that way, but he was wrong. He made the enemy''s attack easier by herding them in one place.


    There were little to no Cerberus officers on the festival grounds.


    How foolish¡­


    They probably wondered who would be crazy enough to attack a Lycan-infested party, but then again, witches were desperate to end them¡ª like when the fall of Silverant happened. The higher-ups had gotten cozy since there were no signs of my coven.


    I knew better; I always did, yet they always ignored me


    They don¡¯t deserve salvation!


    To oblivion to all of them!


    The whispers echoed within me.


    No! The only ones who deserve death are those who prey on the weak!


    They wouldn¡¯t overlook me any longer, though.


    I¡¯m no longer the child from that day.


    From the claw marks on every piece of furniture, the Lycans tore apart every part of the festivities, and it happened before the corpses even made their way there. There was a clean line where they had invaded.


    Somehow, whoever was attacking took down the barrier from the inside while the cadavers went through it, creating even more chaos. They only kept out the living, which should¡¯ve been good enough.


    Whoever took the barrier down must be an insider in Cerberus, but who?


    It was easy to think it was a human officer who had probably gotten away when I arrived.


    Clever grandmother¡­


    I had no doubt she was the one behind it. A plan like this would¡¯ve been easy to predict if they knew who they were dealing with. However, what was more worrisome were the corpses themselves.


    You can get a pass since a necromancer is in their ranks. Something rare enough to overlook, even so¡­


    Death magic was forbidden and required vast power to enact on this scale. All the books I read mentioned how volatile and complex it was to control.


    Is it Edna again or someone else?


    That woman was proving herself to be more than a simple witch.


    From Mel¡¯s spell¡­ to this¡­ Just who are you?


    Everyone was frozen when the corpses that survived my spell withdrew into the forest''s depths, where their caster resided. Drinking glasses were everywhere on the floor, leaving me wondering if all this began with a toast gone wrong.


    Remembering the memory I had relived a few weeks ago, Stella mentioned Edna''s wolfsbane.


    Had some of it been placed into the drinks for the Lycans?


    Since not all wolves were out of control, whoever drank it first was affected by it. Even though my body felt weak, I ignored every warning it threw at me as I took a few steps toward Owen and Ezra.


    They were the only two I recognized among the Lycans surrounding me. Shade climbed onto my shoulder in her usual size to look less frightening before I stopped before them. All the Lycans fighting the corpses watched me, unable to tell if I was a foe or friend.


    I wore no Cerberus insignia, so they didn¡¯t know who I was, while the others were too busy holding their mad companions. Most of the crazed Lycans that weren''t contained ran out of the festival and into the town, looking for easier prey, which would delay the incoming reinforcement.


    This is a problem for those in Cerberus, and since it''s daytime, the vampires will have a hard time, too. You really do think of everything, don''t you, grandmother? If I hadn''t come here, these wolves would''ve...


    There were injuries everywhere I gazed, including the staffers who trembled, hiding behind anything that could shield them. I could tell some of the wolves who stared at me knew about me, though most others didn¡¯t know what to expect.


    The difference between civilians and officers was apparent in their eyes, although they all had read the news that spread around thanks to the leaks.


    Am I enemy or foe? They probably thought.


    Ezra''s gaze met mine, allowing me to see how dilated his pupils were with his ears and tail tucked. That was when someone yelled at me from the side¡ªa welcoming voice, but not the one I wanted to hear. However, fates were colliding, and nothing could stop this anymore.

 Chapter 89: Mercy

    "What are you doing here?!" Amelia screamed from the side, dragging my gaze onto her.


    She was lively, as always, but with the same hostility she always bore toward me. Even though I didn''t particularly love her, she was Fenris''s sister, and he cared for her. On her side was an injured Ben, whose eyes were wide open upon noticing me, and his mechanical hand was busted.


    He probably tried to stop one of the mad Lycans, only to be attacked. Even though they weren''t happy to see me, I was glad to see them alive¡ªespecially Ben, the gentle older brother who allowed me into his family.


    A wall of wolves protected them from incoming dangers. However, behind the two siblings was who I wanted to see the most alive: Fenris, who Layla was tending. He had a facial injury near his right eye that slowly healed.


    Ah¡­ Another Lycan must''ve hurt you for it to affect you still.


    Even though Liam''s restored quickly, they were more superficial, thanks to his thick fur. Whatever happened to Fenris was when he was in his humanoid form and when he least suspected it.


    From everything I could gather, Owen was probably the culprit of his assault. The way Ezra held his blond friend while laying on him with his weight alerted me that his friend went mad, just like the others.


    Surely¡­ It''s from that variant Stella mentioned wanting to make.


    Blood was visible on Owen''s fingertips, solidifying my suspicions.


    Ah¡­ I''m sorry, I don''t think I can save you.


    "Lilith?!" Fenris called out, noticing my presence thanks to his sister''s announcement.


    Standing up from where he was, he took two steps towards me. Relief washed over me to see him up and still sane. Even so, the dark circles under his eyes alerted me that our late night lingered on him. That alone made me want to run to him.


    "Fen¡ª" before I could even call out to him, Owen, who elbowed Ezra, launched at me.


    In an instant, Shade met with his aggression, slamming him back to the ground and changing forms quicker than I had ever seen her do. Unlike Liam, Melody, and Fenris, Shade didn''t know Owen well enough to care for his safety, placing pressure on his limbs to the point bones were starting to crunch.


    Instinctively, I reached for her, "Stop!" wrenching my eyes away from Fenris before running towards her.


    I never meant what I said before with Tobias. The innocent don''t deserve to die, Shade!


    However, that state of mind would transform into something else when someone stepped from the shadows on the forest''s edge.


    "You... why do you help your oppressors?" A corpse shouted.


    How kind of you to announce that I''m not with you.


    All eyes were on me again, yet I refused to acknowledge whoever they were. Instead, I crouched down to Owen, whose eyes were bloodshot, and his eyes had a purple hue coming from them. Ezra reached for me, not knowing what to expect, but his sudden approach caused Shade to flick him away with her tail as a warning to stay away from me.


    Touching Owen''s face, I traced down his cheek, only for him to snap at me with his teeth, unable to form words. It triggered Shade to hold on to him tighter.


    Ah¡­ All the signs of wolfbane poisoning and that purple hue in his pupils are present. That''s new¡­


    Sadly, there was no cure for this deadly affliction.


    Oh¡­ Owen... No one deserves this. There''s a reason every race helped that plant go extinct. It''s inhumane. It''s supposed to be gone! Yet¡­


    I felt hollow inside, knowing this man''s fate was sealed to an agonizing death.


    Lily¡­ I''m sorry, but I didn''t know you cared so much about it. Shade''s voice quivered, feeling everything I felt.


    He''s a kind soul, but I must say goodbye to him. It''s the only kind of thing left to do.


    "It hurts... doesn''t it?" I simpered, remembering when we played together before the fall.


    While I was with Tobias, I was willing to let the insignificant person die, but that wasn''t me. No, I couldn''t close my heart to those in pain. If I did, I wouldn''t be better than those before me.


    I can''t be wicked to everyone. No¡­ Just those who hurt those who can''t protect themselves! Those who hunt the weak when they least expect it!


    "Cor tuum sit sedare, perturbatione anima patitur ut innotescat." I whispered.


    Calming heart, allow this troubled soul to find clarity.


    It was a simple, calming spell¡ªone I had no hope of being successful with. Yet Owen appeared to briefly regain control of himself as he fought the raging beast within. This enchantment didn''t usually help Lycans.


    I didn''t expect it to do anything, but I wished him a moment of peace. His strength resonated with my magic, allowing him to cling to clarity. Sadly, it was temporary.


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    Ah¡­ I forgot how strong you are.


    Even after the fall, Owen wasn''t malicious to me whenever he came around or anything that showed hostility towards me, even though I was a witch.


    Just like Ezra and Liam. You''ll always be precious to me, even if we drift apart.


    Even if we had grown apart because of what life had in store, my first friends would never forget the kindness they showed me the days before the fall, even if Ezra was more of a brat than the others.


    Tears swelled in his eyes, regaining some self-awareness.


    "End it... please!" Owen pleaded as Shade freed a single hand, which he used to grasp onto his chest.


    "What?! No!" Ezra reached for us again.


    The tone of pain in his voice resonated with me. He wanted nothing more than his friend to live, but all that was left for this wolf was suffering. Shade again pushed him away, this time rougher, sensing a change within me.


    "Don''t interrupt, mortal!" she snarled at him, her eyes shimmering.


    Finally, she was showing her true nature as her body became more like the demons from that fateful day. My feelings were influencing her as the temperature within me skyrocketed and my heart drummed in my ears, yet I couldn''t show that to a dying man.


    No, to him¡­


    "I''m sorry, but I can''t save you," I whispered.


    None dared to get close to me while Layla held a weakened Fenris back. I was thankful for her. He couldn''t be near me for what was coming next. All the others watched, helpless to do otherwise.


    One of the other Lycans stopped Ezra from coming back towards me after Shade''s last shove. They all knew what she was, and I could feel the fear radiating from them, leaving me wondering if that was another thing a witch could gain power from.


    My kin are truly dark beings.


    "I don''t... want to hurt anyone else, please!" The blond wolf pleaded to me, slowly losing himself within the beast again.


    My heart ached in a way that it had never done before.


    Ah¡­ I''ll ensure you don''t suffer needlessly if I can''t protect the innocent. I''ll become a monster to free you all from your pain.


    All I wished was to end his suffering, to grant him the mercy that the others were too scared to give. Wolfsbane would kill him after an hour of rampaging, but knowing my grandmother made this variant, it probably took longer.


    It was sad that no one studied it enough to create one; thinking it was gone wasn''t the answer. Around me were other cases like him, all loved by someone.


    Death¡­ is it possible for it to be a mercy?


    I couldn''t count how many times I wished for it to come to escape from my agony, and now all of them were waiting to be released from theirs. I was too late to do anything for them but to be their harbinger of death.


    I don''t know anything about necromancy, but death magic, which necromancy is just a branch of, is something different. There''s so much more to it.


    The many moments I revived withering flowers in the garden using my blood as a sacrifice replayed in my mind.


    I only extended their insignificant experience when I should''ve just let them go. Yes¡­ death is just a part of life, even when we don''t want it to be.


    Witches and warlocks were the true messengers of death as we communicated and fed off it.


    Ah¡­ we''re nothing more than reapers. This will be no different.


    As a kid, I created an incantation to bind dead gods to me.


    How hard can it be to create an enchantment, to release tormented souls from their binding?


    Closing my eyes, I placed my bloody hand over Owen before releasing a soft sigh.


    Releasing a beast differs from sealing it, but I did it. This will¡­


    To create an incantation, all that was required were three simple things. One was a strong understanding of how magic worked, which, thanks to Stella, was engraved into my mind. The second was a powerful emotion to accompany the idea of what the caster desired to happen. The third was the words to channel what one desired into fruition.


    Spells are fickle little things; anything can make them go wrong. Yet¡­ I can''t¡­ allow that to happen.


    Even if everything went right, there was a chance that it wouldn''t affect the Lycans, thanks to their resistance to magic; however, if they were overwhelmed by sheer power, then¡­


    I won''t hold back. Forgive me, but I won''t let you suffer any longer.


    Upon feeling the magical essence gather around us, reacting to my intentions, a soft smile rose on the blond wolf''s lips before mouthing something that caused my eyes to widen before wincing.


    There isn''t a single thing to thank me for. I''m¡­ Just¡­


    "O dulcis excrucior animabus vestris viam inveniam in tenebris, et in vertice montis de longe, quo modo scire pace. Dulce est mori in complexibus haesit." I whispered as a tear trailed down my cheek.


    Oh, sweet, tormented souls, find your way through the darkness into a deep slumber where you will only know peace¡ªinto death''s sweet embrace.


    For the first time, I would take the life of an innocent on purpose.


    I''ll be the wicked witch who brings the end to their suffering.


    A shimmering blue hue emanated from my hand before erupting from him and the other afflicted Lycans around the festival grounds. In an instant, all the lights radiating out of the bodies shot back to me, gathering in my bleeding palm. However, I wasn''t using my blood for this spell.


    No, the sacrifice was the last moment these people could''ve had with their families. For a moment, I was stealing from them like the harbinger of death that I was. Noticing Owen''s lifeless gaze, I straightened myself up before gazing at the hand where the souls of the departed were gathering, leaving their empty shells.


    Raising my hand towards the deep blue sky, once the light from the afflicted diminished, all the growls and snarls from before were gone. Pure silence filled the space around us as my previous incantation burned the dead, preventing the necromancers from using their friends as fodder for their gain.


    At the same time, my hand erupted with an array of shimmering butterflies, counting each soul the spell had claimed. Each flew to their loved ones for one last goodbye before fading, leaving the ones behind to break down weeping.


    Destroy!


    Injustice must never be forgiven!


    Eat them alive!


    Following the spell, more whispers erupted in my mind. I could only imagine the ringing sensation the surrounding survivors were feeling from the sheer magical energy I had expelled into the world.


    However, it wasn''t long until their pain was directed toward me as, in their eyes, I had killed their kin. Most didn''t know what was happening or why their kin had gone rampant. No one would think an extinct plant would come to haunt them.


    And how did they know it was extinct?


    A locator enchantment that allowed everyone to know where everything was. In this case, nature elves created it to find wolfsbane. I didn''t know how it was still around, but it probably related to Edna.


    That woman hid the plant somewhere; the elves couldn''t find it.


    It also didn''t help that the organization that protected them kept them in the dark. However, none of them moved an inch. Even Ezra and Fenris stood there, shocked that their friend, who had just been laughing beside them, was no longer in this world.


    Destroy!


    Kill!


    Make them pay!


    The whispers tried to sway me as a pulse rushed through my body. Wiping the single tear off my cheek, I closed off all emotions. There was no time for doubts or pain. No, all I had to do was punish those who instigated this to happen.


    Focus¡­ None of this was your doing, Lilith.


    "Shade," I called out as she wrapped her tail around me before bringing me to the corpse, where it awaited my response.


    With her help, I disguised the discomfort slowly rising within me. However, what happened next wasn''t something I had prepared for.

 Chapter 90: Betrayal

    After reaching the forest''s edge behind me, they finally released Ezra, allowing him to run towards his fallen friend''s ashes as Fenris joined him.


    "Lilith!" My wolf called out to me once again from behind me.


    However, this time, I ignored him. Turning to him would break me, and I couldn''t afford that to happen, especially since I didn''t want to see how he was looking at me after I killed his friend.


    "Who are you?" the corpse asked instead of attacking me as it quickly turned into burst into flames from the previous spell.


    Watching it turn into ash, I slowly glanced towards the forest as a smirk formed on my lips.


    "You think you can hide from me?" I breathed, raising my bleeding hand towards the forest. "Ut incenderent cinere, impius animarum." I muttered, swiping it to the side as the blood formed a scythe that flung their way.


    Burn to ashes, wicked souls.


    In an instant, the forest became a fiery blue inferno that didn''t care if one was living or not, seizing anyone in its path. The sudden heat triggered most of the hidden witches to run out towards the clearing while others ran away from it only to be consumed by the flames.


    It all depended on what was closest to them, but there was no escaping my wrath. I intended to draw out whoever was nearest, but if some burned to their deaths, their voices of horror became a symphony for all those around to hear.


    A necessary casualty that I don''t care for.


    I would shed no tears for them. However, most of them fell to the ground before I finally answered their question, even if the one who asked wasn''t there.


    "Welcome, I''m your death," I smirked.


    The voices in my head told me to show no mercy to those who stood before me. I raised my hand forward, intending to let my fury go, but someone stepped from the burning forest into the light before I could unleash it.


    "Wait, please!" they pleaded to me in a familiar voice.


    What?


    Shock washed over me upon realizing why I knew them.


    No¡­ It can''t be. I haven''t seen you in weeks.


    "Who are you?" I asked, not wanting to know the answer.


    Yet it had to be known. And it would pain me to know. I should''ve burned them where they stood instead of letting them cause my heart to waver.


    "Lilith, why are you here? You aren''t supposed to be here. You''re supposed to be back in Cerberus!" The female stranger announced, taking off her hood and revealing someone who had claimed to try to be my friend.


    The same one who used to stalk me in the library and told me she cared for me.


    What a joke.


    "Cora? Why are you with them?" I questioned as my voice broke.


    Her face scrunched up, gripping her cloak before shifting her gaze away from me.


    "You wouldn''t understand." She pushed my question aside.


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    I stood there, unable to comprehend how a vampire would work for the witches¡ªthe same ones who intended the downfall of everyone but themselves¡ªespecially her, who was so bright and refused to leave me alone.


    However, it all stopped once the article was written, as a realization slowly formed in my head. The only thing we knew about the person who leaked it was that they had a female voice.


    You¡­ This whole time, it was you? Ah¡­ it explains why you never came around after it leaked.


    "Is this why you were after me?" my voice trembled as I clenched my hands into fists.


    I let my guard down.


    You betrayed me after constantly insisting on being my friend. Ah¡­ you¡­ liar!


    Betrayer!


    Kill her!


    Make her bleed!


    Silence! I need to think!


    "No, I didn''t know you were his charge until much later. Please, believe me!" Cora reached towards me before her eyes widened when chains that erupted from under me interrupted us.


    Before I knew it, I was bound up in the sky alongside Shade.


    These little shits. The feline muttered, shifting her gaze onto me. Can I kill them already?!


    "Lilith!" Fenris sprinted towards me, only to be met by a wall of these chains, separating us from him as Layla grabbed onto him before yanking him away from them.


    "You can''t! She''s dangerous!" The white wolf yanked him away as Amelia joined her to hold him back.


    "Let me go!" He growled.


    Ah¡­ that was a beginner''s mistake. It''s foolish to let my guard down for someone who played me once already.


    The chains that held me had visible cracks to break the spell quickly.


    This won''t hold me, but¡­ what if¡­


    "Stop! You said you would let me speak with her!" Cora snarled at whoever was standing beyond the shadows.


    "Not a chance. Do you even feel that magical power radiating out of her? Did you see what she did to all those Lycans? There''s a change of plans. Let''s take her with us. I''m sure Lady Edna will be glad to have her." A man announced, sprouting from the darkness that clung to him.


    I couldn''t help but feel tickled by his words. They were so full of themselves that they thought they could handle me¡ªtheir beginners'' mistake. They were young like me, inexperienced in the art of war.


    "Take me?" I lost it, unable to stop myself from laughing loudly.


    They all watched me as if I were crazy. Perhaps I was going insane.


    This... No, nothing makes sense anymore.


    I didn''t need to understand them any further. They had to be destroyed.


    No one will ever separate me from Fenris!


    "What the fuck is wrong with that?" The hooded man huffed defensively.


    I choked on my laughter, unable to stop.


    A little crazy, maybe, isn''t bad. No, this feels so good! Ah¡­ No, what to do with these idiots?


    Let me slice them up into a million pieces, Lily! Shade glared at them with the intent to end them.


    This world was as fucked up as it could be, but it had lights. Beams would keep me from being consumed by the shadows surrounding me, but that didn''t mean I would be merciful towards the few piglets that crossed my path.


    "I''ve never heard something so damning before in my life!" I cackled, prompting the boy to tighten his bounds on me.


    "Shut up!" He growled, killing all the laughter that left me.


    Shade¡­


    "Finally, understanding your situation?" He huffed, unaware of what was happening inside my mind.


    "The only one who doesn''t realize he''s in the wolf''s jaws is you, little warlock," I announced, infusing my magical energy into the chains that held me, triggering them to shimmer in colors as some cracked under pressure.


    "If you take me to them, I''ll rip them all apart, but even if that makes my job easier, I can''t let you take me. If I''m not here, I can''t protect him." I smirked as his incantation melted, overwhelming my essence.


    When was the last time I felt this free? Ah¡­ never¡­ I''ve never felt¡­ this alive.


    "Everyone around him is an incompetent buffoon. He''ll die if I''m not here." I smirked, floating down onto the ground with shade as the energy within me erupted, shattering my bounds and the entire spell he had cast.


    "What the fuck?!" the man shook his head, too stunned to move


    "None can take him! The moon wolf is ours! Whoever is his enemy will be my playmate!" Shade hissed before suddenly launching at him.


    With one swift movement, Cora saved the warlock before turning to me with her pupils fully dilated and grimacing.


    "No, Lily, please listen to me!" she pleaded for mercy.


    Energy radiated from me to the point it almost became overwhelming to anyone around me. My body''s rest would have to wait until all of them disappeared.


    There''s only one ending for you.


    "Only my friends can call me that, and you... You''re nothing more than a talking corpse!" I snarled, knowing what came next would make me a monster, but I didn''t care.


    They deserved nothing less than to vanish.


    Destroy¡­


    Break them!


    Traitors!


    Annihilate them!


    It was much easier to go with the flow than to fight the urges rising within me.

 Chapter 91: The Wicked Witch

    Raising my hand upward towards the sky, I finally felt free from all the chains that held me.


    "Die!" I declared, triggering energy pulses to erupt from me and into the surrounding environment.


    For a moment, in everyone else''s eyes, nothing happened as I lowered my hand towards the side, prompting the hooded man to laugh loudly, thinking I had failed. He was completely unaware of the danger that lurked out of sight.


    An invisible vortex was before them, allowing beasts they couldn''t see yet into our world before closing. The energy that pulsed out of me slowly spread to reveal them, but before they could see what was happening, one demon grabbed Cora, slamming her against the ground and knocking her out cold upon impact.


    Everyone who followed along in the young man''s laughter stopped in that split second. Instead, they watched closely as the chains blocking the Lycans from us shattered. For once, that wasn''t me, but my beloved wolf, who finally got a grip on himself.


    Layla was on the floor after being shoved away by Fenris, but instead of running towards me, he stood right by the wall behind me. The energy he felt from me stopped him right where he was as his fianc¨¦e got up from the floor and grabbed his arm.


    It wasn''t long before the energy reached them, revealing what I had unleashed into our world. The sky above turned crimson, just like the day Silverant fell; however, unlike that time, I was in complete control.


    The two shadow beasts I summoned appeared to be a lion with bird legs and a lizard''s tail. They circled me while awaiting my command. I would use it for my wishes for the first time since I gained this power.


    I''ll become their judge and executioner.


    Shade snickered, "This is the part you run, worm!"


    The inhibitor around my neck prevented me from summoning even more beasts, though that was a purposeful decision. I doubted I could handle one more without losing myself in the whispers already threatening to take over me.


    You''ll all get your fill.


    "Today... I become the most nefarious witch that ever lived! The one who preys on her kind. No, on anyone who threatens to hurt what I love. There will be no mercy! Kill them all!" I condemned, letting go of all my fears and worries and leaving behind fury in their stead.


    In a split second, the two beasts launched into the witches that screamed upon being pounced. The crunching of bones filled my ears while they swiftly soaked the ground in blood.


    Without hesitation, I walked over their dead bodies and toward Cora, who lay unconscious on the ground. The rest of her comrades were being torn to shreds by the two beasts I unleashed. Limbs and innards were splattering everywhere as these corpses were too mauled for anyone to use.


    The sight was similar to the one of the fall, which should''ve made me feel ill, yet all I felt was relief. Each one that dropped was one less foe I had to worry about. Until this point, I had always run away from violence.


    When in reality, it''s where I belong.


    My heart felt stretched to its limit. Shade joined me instead of chasing after the intruders, yet she never left my side long, even though she wanted nothing more than to create chaos.


    Unable to hide my disdain for Cora, I grabbed her hair, yanking her up so I could see her face. For a moment, I pondered ending her life as well. However, that thought stopped when a pulse of electricity ran through my body¡ªfollowed by a throbbing sensation that caused me to release her.


    It was almost enough to drop me if it wasn''t for Shade, who caught me on my way down. That was a warning that I couldn''t keep this up for much longer. My body was reaching its limit as I placed my hand on my face, only to notice my nose was bleeding.


    The power that swelled within tore my body apart. That wasn''t the only negative effect, as I was also slowly losing control of the beasts. For a split second, one beast eyed down a Lycan that ran behind us to an injured human on the side.


    At least, I was glad that the forces that began this chaos appeared scattered and defeated. Without having to say anything, the two shadow beasts killed everyone in their path¡ªwell, all but two of the assailants.


    Cora, a witch, and the warlock were the only survivors of the attack. I wanted the warlock alive to see the life go out in his eyes. He appeared to be the leader of this group and probably was the necromancer, too.


    The witch I wanted for a message I needed her to give to their leader. Getting a grip on myself, I smirked when I crouched down to the feisty warlock that was way over his head.


    "You fucking bitch, I''ll kill you!" He snapped, although his piercing blue eyes were fully dilated as blood covered parts of his golden hair.


    He was young.


    Maybe a teen? Pity.


    He was quite the looker, but I only wanted to tear his face apart. However, he had a formidable front for such a little man. Part of me wondered if this warlock was the same one who also attacked that night. Yet that thought allowed another to rise in its place.


    That night... You...


    I glanced over at a sleeping Cora, who had dragged us out to the meadow that day and even ensured Fenris was fired up enough to follow her when she kissed me. We probably played right into her hands that day.


    They possibly planned to kill him that night when the explosions overwhelmed him. It wouldn''t surprise me if they killed the other Lycans to make it seem like Fenris wasn''t their primary target.


    It''s the same as now... Pathetic...


    If it weren''t for Melody, I would''ve been wallowing that no one would ever befriend me, but that girl had proved me wrong. However, it was too early to tell. Perhaps with her powers awakened, she would leave me behind, too.


    Alijah might be right after all. I really don''t want you to be though.


    Even though Cora was part of the enemy, I didn''t want to hurt her. Whenever the thought came, I was overwhelmed by the memories of her trying to become my friend.


    Even though I saw you more like a pest, how often did you make my isolation less lonely? Ah... That''s why it hurts. That''s why I can''t...


    Ignoring the unconscious vampire, I glanced at the witch, who soiled herself.


    "I have a message for Stella. Will you deliver it to her?" I asked, grabbing the girl''s hair and forcing her to stare at me.


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    The shadow beast let go of the warlock, only for Shade to trap him. She wrapped her tail around his waist before hanging him like a pi?ata.


    "How do you know her?!" the fearful witch replied with a question, much to my displeasure.


    It was almost as if she didn''t know her position. Although her voice trembled, I released her hair and stood beside Shade. There was no escape¡ªnot while these beasts were around.


    "If you don''t answer, your friend here will suffer. Isn''t that right, Shade?" I smirked, gripping her fur.


    The whispers urged me further, which was intoxicating and liberating.


    "Say nothing!" the boy ordered his comrade.


    I shrugged, leaving him to Shade as her grip on the warlock tightened enough to snap his back. His scream echoed in the air, bringing me much delight. The girl below screeched upon hearing his spine break, though.


    Ah.... Is this why you hurt me, grandmother? Pain is such a delightful thing to hear. It seems I''m just like you!


    "Aw, does it hurt? Don''t give up on me yet, little warlock." I reached toward the warlock''s face, his expression bringing a smile to my lips. His eyes rolled back as he gasped for air, tears rolling down his cheeks.


    However, unlike you, I''ll never have these desires towards those who don''t deserve it.


    These people didn''t deserve anything less than what they ditched. Thanks to them, Owen and others like him vanished forever.


    He was someone''s Fenris, and you took him from them! Unforgivable!


    "Tell Stella that her past''s coming to hunt her down," I declared, tracing my fingertips over the warlock''s cheeks.


    "That old hag will choke on her blood!" Shade hissed, tightening her grip on the warlock, triggering blood to come out of his mouth.


    There were still so many questions I wanted to ask this boy who appeared to struggle to hang on. Before I could say another thing, a blood spike sprouted from the warlock, striking me by my neck. Shade turned towards me to shatter it, launching the warlock into the air and away from us.


    Cora grabbed the male in that split second, bolting towards the forest. The beast before me crushed the witch under its weight before chasing the duo with its partner.


    Huh... there''s no pain.


    I reached for my neck only to notice the damage to my third inhibitor.


    Oh... you ripped it off.


    In a split second, I crashed back into reality as I lost control of everything. Energies radiated from me at an uncontrollable rate, and the purple aura emanating from me was nowhere to be seen anymore.


    The whispers drowned my thoughts. I could barely tell what was happening anymore. All the beasts I tried to hold in were forcing their way out. I stumbled back a few steps, out of breath, but before I knew it, a vortex erupted from me, surrounding me with a ball of magical energy that sent me floating into the sky.


    Again, I had become the gateway to the soul cairn. The extra magical power overwhelmed me, triggering my body to throb uncontrollably as the agony came in waves. It was nothing like the time I was a child.


    Then again, my body was already shredded during the fall of Silverant. Beast swiftly emerged while the same twister from the fall formed around me. The initial responders of the Cerberus order arrived at the scene, only to witness the disaster I had become.


    However, I wasn''t the child I used to be.


    I will not let you do as you please!


    To hold on, I curled into a ball, attempting to hold back everything spilling out, even if the pain became unbearable. I couldn''t tell my thoughts from theirs, though. It was like screaming in an ocean where I couldn''t hear myself.


    A giant scaly arm from a beast within the soul cairn materialized from behind me. Just like the fall, Shade curled herself around me protectively. I let out a shriek, attempting to hold in what was coming out of me.


    It hurts! Gah!


    Another scream erupted from me as it felt like my entire body was burning alive. The more I tried to hold the demons back, the more they slammed into me, trying to get out.


    Shut up! Shut up! I kept screaming in my head, struggling to keep my sanity intact.


    The formed vortex prevented me from seeing if anyone was alive below as it picked up any debris around me. All I could do was hope that no one was harmed as my mouth began to taste familiar with iron.


    The beast that emerged from me slowly dragged its head out as other smaller ones materialized without problems. The creature that struggled to come out was something else, though. It was a monster that only lived in myths, even though a stone was named after it, the same one used to protect the festival.


    A dragon''s head came through the vortex, breathing what seemed like black flames into the red sky above. At that moment, something caught the corner of my eye, climbing up the dragon''s arm and into the center of the vortex where I was.


    I raised my head to see another beastly arm emerge from the portal, attempting to intercept the intruder that got too close for their liking. Its claws grazed their face, triggering silver hair to spread into the air, followed by blood droplets.


    The moment I saw shimmering hair, I knew who it was. Only one person would be crazy enough to follow me into this inferno. I reached for Fenris, who barely avoided the blow, shifting into his humanoid form before falling onto the barrier that contained me.


    His eyes glowed crimson when he punched the barrier, smashing right through it before reaching me. Our fingers touched briefly, but the relief that washed over me was short-lived. Suddenly, a smaller shadow beast in the form of a raven yanked him away from me.


    "Fenris!" I yelled, unable to believe he had been a few centimeters away from me.


    In an instant, all I saw was red, "Don''t you dare touch him!" I screeched again, letting go of every part I tried to hold back.


    The moment I did, Shade morphed into a humanoid being as her hand extended towards where Fenris was. She clasped onto the bird, freeing him from its grip before disappearing back into her feline form.


    It sent my wolf into a free fall where, down below, an elf cast an enchantment, growing a tree from nothing and giving him a safe landing into a tree. When his feet hit the ground, he shifted back into his wolf form, bolting towards the vortex again.


    This time, he was followed by some fellow Lycans while the rest of the shadow demons were frozen. Somehow, what I did stopped them from continuing. However, that didn''t last long when my body throbbed once again, snapping me out of the control I had.


    It was almost as if a twig broke within me. Blood dripped from my ears, turning my vision blurry. Unable to hold them much longer, they began slowly to move again. The dragon let out a mighty roar, startling everyone around.


    Fenris launched himself from underneath the vortex and towards me using his fellows. Smashing the barrier from underneath, he grabbed Shade, who willingly pulled him towards me.


    Tears streaked my cheeks when his hand reached my face, pulling me towards his embrace. Cracks formed everywhere as the shadow demons began to disappear. Instead of yelling at me, Fenris tugged me into a tender kiss.


    Even though he didn''t know what he was doing, it was almost as if instinct guided him. A red glow emitted from him and into me, shattering everything around us on its command. All the shadow beasts disappeared when I kissed him back without caring who was watching.


    Ah... Finally... Everything is quiet.


    He slid his hand to my head, his fingers curled around my hair, securing me to him. His tongue erupted from me as the taste of blood didn''t deter him from caressing me. The only reason he separated from me was when we entered a free fall once all the surrounding energy dissipated.


    He held me close to his chest as Shade caught us before we both hit the ground. Cheers erupted from the Lycans surrounding us as Fenris kept his hold on me, not caring what anyone saw. His hand trembled, holding me close to his chest as it rose and fell with each breath.


    Lily... it doesn''t look like we hurt anyone else, Shade informed me, shrinking in size before curling into a ball on my belly.


    Ryker''s gamble, this silver wolf could reach me even in that state worked.


    "I wanted to rip into you for not answering me earlier, but now I can''t find the words." Fenris''s voice trembled.


    He held onto me ever so tightly. Gripping onto his shirt, I struggled to glance at him to see Ben running towards us. I wanted to show him I was fine and there with him, that he saved me just like I protected him.


    However, my voice was heavier than ever.


    "You''ll..." I struggled to speak.


    "Don''t talk." Fenris used his sleeves to wipe the blood still flowing out of my nose, only to notice something that left him with his eyes wide open.


    "Your eyes changed color. They''re blue now." Fenris mumbled as my consciousness wavered.


    I hit my limit a long time ago. I probably should''ve rested when the curse broke, but I didn''t regret a thing. When my poor wolf noticed my ears were dripping blood, it only alarmed him further.


    "Fen..." I tried to say, only to fall promptly onto his chest before I could finish his name.


    It was getting hard to breathe, let alone speak.


    The moment he touched my face, he turned to Ben, and in pure desperation, he took over. Somehow, my consciousness hung on, yet everything was blurry. Fenris tried to stand up, only to tumble down with me in his arms. All the energy he had before, all this mess, was used to reach and stabilize me.


    We were both a mess. When Ben tried to pick me up from his arm, my wolf couldn''t help but growl at his brother.


    "I''m just trying to help. Okay. Come stand up. I can''t carry you both." Ben reassured him, taking me from his embrace.


    The last thing I remembered was the older brother rushing with me into a cabin the festival grounds had built. After that, everything went dark.

 Chapter 92: Turmoil

    The next time I regained consciousness, we were inside the same wooden cabin I last saw. Inside, the smell of oak was the first thing to hit me as noises from arguments erupted. My head was on Fenris''s lap, and he held an ice pack to my forehead while he sat on a comfy sofa with grey linens.


    The decorations were no different from our living quarters, which always resembled a modern home, although we weren¡¯t anywhere near home. The arguing parties were unaware I was awake, not that they cared since their voices were loud enough to leave my ears ringing, prompting my headache to worsen.


    Everything was so blurry that I could barely tell who was in the distance. I saw shapes and colors forming at most, but never into anything too accurate.


    "This isn¡¯t what we planned! How does a thing like this even happen?! Where¡¯s Ryker?! Why isn¡¯t he here?!" a silver-haired Lycan, seemingly on the elder side of the spectrum, screamed at another smaller wolf.


    "He¡¯s almost here, sir. Some things needed to be taken care of at the capital. Rogue wolves made it there, too." The one getting yelled at responded, trying to appease the angered elder.


    "I don¡¯t care. He should be here already! I mean, that abomination made it here! Why not him?!" the elder pointed at me.


    I tried to keep my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. However, part of me wanted to break out laughing upon being called that. Even though I saved their lives, I was still an atrocity in their eyes.


    Ungrateful.


    Enemy.


    The whispers arose within me again.


    "Don¡¯t call her that. She has a name, Grandpa.¡± Fenris tried to defend me, knowing I didn¡¯t get there normally.


    Instead of getting ground, the older Lycan turned his rage on him, prompting the young Lycan to growl at his superior.


    "You! You were supposed to control her!" the elder huffed, pacing.


    ¡°Eno¡ª¡± Ben tried to intercept, but instead of letting his brother take the lead like he usually did. Fenris didn¡¯t back down. He was done hiding.


    "She¡¯s a living thing with free will. I can¡¯t control her choices, no matter how irresponsible they are. Just be grateful she saved us instead of scorning us for every unforgivable thing we¡¯ve done to her," Fenris snapped back.


    "You¡¯re a disgrace to this family¡ªeven if you¡¯re my grandson! Didn¡¯t you see her lose control of her power?! She¡¯s your charge! I bet you she has something to do with this! All witches¡ª" Fenris''s grandfather went off the rails, only to be interrupted by Ben.


    "Evan, look, Lilith has nothing to do with this. You weren¡¯t here when she saved us from those corpses! We didn¡¯t know what the fuck was happening and still don¡¯t, but if it weren¡¯t for her, most of us would¡¯ve been injured or worse." the older brother huffed, taking his younger brother¡¯s side.


    Another Lycan from the group in the room jumped into the fray.


    "She killed some of us!" he argued as tensions rose in the room.


    "Only the ones who put down were going rabid! If it was anything like what happened the night of the explosions, she did them a favor!" Ben snapped back at him.


    Having enough, Shade jumped off my belly and into the fight, knowing full well I was awake, unlike everyone else.


    "You mortals seem to be so dumb. Honestly, it makes me wonder how all of you are still alive. It¡¯s a wonder why Lily cares for you idiots. I would¡¯ve let you rot if it were up to me." Shade snickered, jumping onto a table nearby, gathering everyone¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°So that you know, I voted to save our little wolf alone; none of you deserve to live.¡± She huffed, shifting her eyes to the older brother, who tilted his head. ¡°Maybe Ben, too. The rest of you are as good as trash that deserves removal from our space!¡±


    Although tiny, she appeared like a typical cat¡ªunlike the previous form. Amelia, who was also in the room, stood up to her.


    "What does a monster like you know about how we feel?!" the eldest sister snarled at her, who didn¡¯t flinch at the hostility.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Instead, my familiar chuckled at her feeble attempt to intimidate her.


    "Monster, you say. Maybe I should behave like one and eat that dumb face of yours. Oh, wait, Lily doesn¡¯t want me to!" Shade rolled her eyes, licking her paw.


    "Enough, Shade, you aren¡¯t helping." Fenris tried to stop it all before it went out of control.


    The last thing we needed was more infighting, although this little cat wanted nothing more than blood. She had to sit there for the longest time, unable to be heard by anyone but me. Sadly, I could feel her get more flared up by his attempt to quiet her.


    "No, not enough, little wolf! I¡¯ve been silent, watching all these years, but no longer! You mortals need a good crashing back into this world! Lily has saved you twice now! Do you even know why my fellows didn¡¯t shred into you right as she lost control?!¡± she snarled, puffing up.


    ¡°Do you even know why only the children were left alone back then?! Because she held them back! You miserable lots are alive because she cared enough to keep you breathing!" she snapped.


    She wouldn¡¯t stop there, though. No, she had years of pent-up anger that could finally come out unfiltered.


    "All of you are pathetic fools. If it were up to me, I would¡¯ve loved to see your heads roll. Maybe then the world might be better off, but no, Lily fights back at every turn! What a fucking ungrateful bunch you morons turned out to be!" She huffed, wanting nothing more than to dig her claws into them.


    I knew all she felt was because of me, but I couldn¡¯t help but love her more. She cared for me to the point of wanting to obliterate some of their faces off the face of the planet, but even so, she was mine.


    My little Shade.


    "Why¡¯s this monster here?!" another Lycan other than Amelia growled.


    Ben sighed, picking Shade up from the table before another wolf tried to do something to her, turning this into another bloodshed. It was almost as if he had picked up a plushy. We could hear purrs coming from her when she was in his hands.


    He was always her favorite Lycan, other than Fenris.


    "She¡¯s her familiar. Be grateful she only looks like a kitten now." Ben informed as she stuck her tongue out at them.


    "Which means where Lily goes, I follow dumbass. Be grateful I allow you to be in my presence!" Shade snickered, making Ben pinch her cheek.


    ¡°Enough out of you.¡± He sighed, unrelentingly resulting in her cheeks.


    ¡°Okay! Okay! I¡¯m sorry! Mercy!¡± She giggled, purring.


    Her attitude only sent the confronting Lycans over the edge.


    "I won¡¯t tolerate this disrespect!" Evan growled, reaching towards where Shade was, which caused her to smirk.


    Touch me, I¡¯ll end you, old man. Shade snickered.


    The motion prompted Ben to take a few steps back from his grandfather.


    "Enough! Touch Shade, and she¡¯ll end you where you stand," I warned, slowly rising before wincing.


    My head throbbed in ways I never knew it could. Shade hopped off Ben and onto my lap.


    You¡¯re such a little troublemaker.


    She always was, but now she had a voice to speak with.


    "Lily! I was breaking the ice for you." She announced happily.


    I pinched her cheek in response, much like Ben had done.


    It''s more like building a mountain that I have to climb over now.


    But, but Lily! I¡¯m sorry! She purred, pawing my hands.


    I sighed, turning towards the elder Lycan, who glared at me.


    "You should show manners to that familiar of yours!" Evan tried to defend his kin.


    Ignoring him, I reached for my head, which was already pounding, and their argument made it worse. Fenris drew me towards him to assess my condition, which was better since my nose and ears had stopped bleeding.


    "How long have I been out?" I asked, trying to figure out who was in the room with me.


    Everything was still a blur. However, I knew Fenris''s touch even if I lost my eyesight.


    "Five hours," Ben informed me, standing by us.


    Fenris grabbed a cold cloth and handed it to me. The fabric was refreshing to my skin and cooled anywhere it touched. I placed it on my neck when he touched my forehead to check my temperature.


    You¡¯re always caring my darling wolf.


    "How are you feeling?" he asked, reaching for my ears to verify them.


    He worried about me while all I cared about was how he was safe and in front of me.


    "Like I got run over by a pack of Lycans." I joked, trying to lighten the air.


    Fenris shook his head, tugging my ear, slightly annoyed at my awful choice of words.


    "Oi... You should be grateful; that¡¯s all you feel. Oh, and don¡¯t use any magic. We haven¡¯t found your other inhibitors." He sighed, gazing at the injury on my forehead.


    It was the one I got from helping Melody.


    I have so much to tell you, but not with the crowd here.


    For a moment, I stayed silent, collecting my thoughts through all the whispers invading my mind.


    Make him yours!


    Mostly, what they kept bombarding me with, I only had the neck inhibitor that was found nearby where I collapsed, which someone fixed the collar while I slept.


    "I don¡¯t want them," I announced, turning the room upside down as the atmosphere dropped a couple of degrees.


    "What?" basically, everyone in the room muttered.


    "I said, I don¡¯t want them. I¡¯ll keep myself in check from now on." I repeated, mainly leaving everyone with their jaws on the floor.


    It wasn¡¯t what they wanted to hear, though. Amelia stepped forward, grabbing me by my dress and pulling me to her height.


    "That¡¯s impossible. You¡¯ll just go insane, but that seems to have already happened! Do you plan to take us with you, too?!" she snapped at me, her eyes shimmering brightly as her lips trembled.


    I grabbed her hands when Fenris tried to stand up, only to fall right back where he was. He was exhausted, like me. If she let me go, I would probably stumble onto the floor. However, I was in no mood to back down.


    I was susceptible to her attempts to intimidate me into submission, even though she was Fenris''s sister. I was tired of being controlled.


    There¡¯ll be no more cages for this bird.

 Chapter 93: No More Hiding

    Amelia had me in her grip, and I wasn¡¯t backing down.


    ¡°Let her go,¡± Fenris growled, unable to do much.


    He was still recovering from our night together and saving me, which overwhelmed the usual energetic wolf. Ben came over to us to stop this. However, what she said resonated with me.


    So, what if I am crazy?!


    Shade may have had the right idea before.


    ¡°If I do, then Fenris will keep me stable as he did before. Isn¡¯t that why you made me his charge or why he made me utterly addicted to him? To the point, I can¡¯t live without him. I mean, Shade¡¯s right. He¡¯s the only reason I came here in the first place.¡± I smirked, having had enough.


    Upon hearing my words, everyone in the room was silent, though it wasn¡¯t long before Amelia¡¯s face twisted in pure revulsion.


    Oh, you didn¡¯t know?! How cute¡­


    However, she wasn¡¯t the only one, and Ben appeared stunned, too. I glanced over to Fenris, whose eyes were wide open and jaw dropped, caught completely off guard by what I said. I would¡¯ve been worried if his cheeks were the shade of red, matching a tomato. The old Lilith would have never dared to face down Amelia, but that girl wasn¡¯t strong enough to fight for what she wanted.


    She was useless, allowing anyone to do as they pleased with her. No, more¡­ I¡¯m done.


    A part of me that had to die if I wanted to live in this world with Fenris.


    No more guilt, no more pain. I¡¯ll reach for what was mine and claim it. The world owes me as much.


    ¡°What?!¡± Amelia rasped.


    Her tone triggered Ben to grab her shoulder, snapping out of his surprise. There was a more pressing matter to the older brother than who his little brother bedded. Shade had climbed onto my shoulder, staring at an unsuspecting Amelia, waiting for her to make any part of me ache to cut her where she stood.


    The poor wolf¡¯s eyes were glued on me, making her blissfully unaware of the danger that gawked at her.


    One move¡­ and¡­ Shade¡¯s voice became bloodthirsty.


    Don¡¯t.


    ¡°Let Lilith go.¡± Ben echoed Fenris¡¯s words to his sister.


    He hoped to reach her before she did something she would regret.


    Don¡¯t worry, Lily, I won¡¯t kill her, but she doesn¡¯t need an arm or leg to live. Shade snickered, ready to launch at the instance the white wolf tried to hurt me.


    Don¡¯t, Shade. She¡¯s still Fenris¡¯s sister.


    Why care about that when she has hurt you so many times?! She huffed.


    I¡¯m not a monster, Shade. It¡¯s not what I want to be, even if they see me as one.


    However, that didn¡¯t mean I¡¯d stay silent anymore.


    ¡°Fenris... is mine to have.¡± I boldly declared.


    There was no going back. My words made Amelia glare at me as growls left her lips. To her, all the alarm bells were ringing. Luckily, she wasn¡¯t stupid enough to harm me. However, yelling and insulting me was another ball game.


    ¡°Lily...¡± Fenris mumbled my name, dumbfounded by me.


    I had broken the one thing he had asked me not to do, and I didn¡¯t care that my sudden words had rocked his world in more ways than one, but there was no stopping me anymore.


    ¡°You are crazy if you think I¡¯ll let you have my little brother! I knew it was a mistake to let them make you his charge, let alone live with him! You took advantage of his kindness!¡± she growled.


    I probably would¡¯ve agreed if I had never heard the words come from his mouth, but this wasn¡¯t the case. He loved me so much that he healed me in more ways than I could count.


    ¡°Is that what it was? Do you even know how many times we¡¯ve fucked? Heck, this festival has been the only reason we went through a drought. Yet he still kissed me every time he has seen me.¡± I smirked, feeling confident for once in my life.


    If I have your love, I can do anything and everything.


    ¡°You are nothing more than a perversion!¡± She snapped, letting me go as I fell back onto the sofa behind me.


    All I could do was laugh at her as Ben held her back. My wolf appeared to be short on words, though. When he left me, I was quietly holding everything in. The Lilith in front of him was one he could barely recognize, someone who wasn¡¯t all bark.


    Everything I had experienced to this point made me like this. Perhaps the whispers helped, too. It felt like it was ages since this all began. Everything was changing, and I was different because of it.


    It took Fenris to leave my side to realize what I was meant to be.


    Tobias may be correct, but it doesn¡¯t mean I must play it to his tune, either.


    ¡°You¡¯ve just noticed that? I¡¯ve always been crazy! I just decided to take what I wanted for once! It¡¯s more fun than letting you people dictate what I can and can¡¯t have! Fuck, don¡¯t you get tired of trying to micro-manage everything?¡± I chided.


    Shade sat on my lap, snickering and enjoying the chaos.


    ¡°You¡¯re an abomination! You should¡¯ve been thrown into a dungeon! One where we would never allow the light to shine on you!¡± Amelia continued to assault me with insults.


    I continued to shrug them off. Her words couldn¡¯t harm me any longer.


    ¡°If that would¡¯ve happened, then you mortals would¡¯ve been doomed. You¡¯re lucky Lily has something to live for. Our wolf is the reason you¡¯re all alive.¡± Shade stepped in, only to receive the same treatment.


    ¡°And you should¡¯ve been destroyed!¡± Amelia snarled.


    Shade hissed in return, yet I felt no anger or hatred towards her. Someone poisoned this poor wolf against me, and I could tell it came from the elders themselves. From the way Evan gazed at me, I knew he hated what I was.


    None of them knew me to feel some way about me, but they identified what I was and didn¡¯t need anything else to judge. I was lucky Ben had a powerful mind to guide Fenris through the madness from the fall, though part of me felt back for this white wolf who didn¡¯t have a single thought as her own.


    Perhaps we could¡¯ve been different if her heart wasn¡¯t filled with poison.


    If only¡­


    I noticed when someone more interesting came into the scene, thanks to Shades¡¯s hearing.


    ¡°Hey¡­ Ryker, aren¡¯t I right?¡± I glanced towards the opening door.


    He had been there for a while. However, he probably heard the yelling since he didn¡¯t have super hearing.


    ¡°So, you sensed me and lost what was left of your mind. How wonderful, just what we needed.¡± He sighed, entering the room.


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    I smirked at his blank expression.


    That elf always looks too like someone died. Shade huffed.


    For once, I didn¡¯t care about what others thought of me.


    Make yourself heard, Tobias¡¯s words echoed.


    So be it. I¡¯ll yell until everyone hears me! If it means saving Fenris and his world, I¡¯ll do anything. Even if I¡¯m wicked, even if I¡¯m hated and feared, I will be heard.


    Fate never meant for me to be the quiet girl I desired.


    No, I am much more.


    ¡°Perhaps I did lose my mind. Either way, I have plenty of questions for you.¡± I grabbed Shade, who snickered.


    ¡°It seems your power has done a number on you. What are you going to do with you, child?¡± Ryker shrugged, fixing his golden hair.


    I giggled, unable to hold myself. If it were my power, and perhaps it was, everything would be more straightforward. However, my sanity wavering would all depend on what and how they would respond to what I said next.


    I hope I am delusional. It¡¯s the best-case scenario. Otherwise¡­ our future is¡­ bleak.


    ¡°That was so funny!¡± I started erasing my smile as soon as it appeared. ¡°I really hope I am crazy and out of my mind, Ryker. Otherwise, you¡¯ll regret not listening to me when I said they had wolfsbane.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± he breathed, narrowing his eyes as the elder wolves around us remained quiet.


    This alerted me that they all knew and still conducted the festival.


    Prideful idiots¡­ You almost cost Fenris his life! I should¡­ No¡­


    Yes, let¡¯s end them! Shade shined in with her choice.


    No, being a moron shouldn¡¯t equal death.


    I vote for it! She purred as I trailed my fingertips down her fur.


    A soft sigh left my lips before snickering like someone had said a joke. ¡°Oh, enough, don¡¯t act cute! You¡¯re no fool, Ryker.¡± I smirked, shifting my eyes to Amelia, who gazed around the room, lost, like Ben did.


    The younger wolves knew nothing.


    Keep the young dumb and easy-to-control fools.


    ¡°Let¡¯s cut the charade. You know they have a variant of something ancient and made new, yet you locked the Lycans up in barriers, hoping for the best. Didn¡¯t you all learn anything from the fall?¡± I huffed, feeling shivers run down my spine.


    ¡°Child, it¡ª¡± the elf started, only for me to raise my hand and stop him.


    My body wouldn¡¯t last forever; I still was seeing blurry.


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t really care if you want to kill everyone with your decisions. Just leave Fenris out of them, okay?¡± I huffed, shifting my eyes back onto the elf.


    ¡°Lilith, it wasn¡¯t my decision to lock up the wolves; it was¡ª¡± He defended himself as that was the first time I had heard him use my name.


    ¡°No, no, don¡¯t do that. It¡¯s your say in the end. As the head of Cerberus until Fenris is of age, don¡¯t pass the blame onto others for your incompetence, especially after you assured me it was nothing related to the plant.¡± I didn¡¯t let him escape the burden.


    With all the power, you also hold the blame.


    ¡°I thought elves were smarter than to let these old wolves who can¡¯t do anything right pressure you. I mean, weren¡¯t they around for the fall? What the heck did they do to stop it? I¡¯m pretty sure it was a teenage wolf who saved everyone.¡± I snapped, shifting my eyes at Evan, whose eyes twitched; however, he stayed quiet.


    With elven emissaries there, it wasn¡¯t as easy to barrage me with insults.


    ¡°With all the secrets and bull shit they say, everything will end as a mess either way. You should know better, no?¡± I huffed.


    ¡°Secrets?¡± He prodded, triggering me to smirk.


    ¡°Well, they aren¡¯t alone in that. You probably know about it, too. For example, the thing we know as the nether realm is called the soul ca¡ª¡±


    Ryker¡¯s eyes widened, quickly cutting me off.


    ¡°Enough! Don¡¯t speak of that here where prying ears can hear!¡± He quipped quicker than I thought.


    ¡°Ah¡­ isn¡¯t this just the rambling of a crazed girl?¡± I snickered, realizing only the council and high-ranking members knew about it since this elf was aware.


    If it were up to them, they would leave others in oblivion. Even most of the Lycan elders there were confused about what I said¡ªwell, all but Evan, who once again stayed quieter than a corpse. From Ryker¡¯s quick reaction, Tobias was right.


    Perhaps it¡¯s the reason behind all the wars. Alijah is right; this world is fragile. Will I be able to prove you wrong? Well, not with these fools¡­


    ¡°Oh? Then maybe I should turn my question towards the feisty little silent grandpa over there.¡± I turned my gaze towards Evan, who flared up at what I called him.


    ¡°What did you call me?!¡± he shouted, triggering me to wince.


    There was no need to be so loud. Though these people were never my friends, nor did I care for them to be.


    ¡°Grandpa, isn¡¯t that what you are? Especially if I end up making Fenris mine.¡± I tilted my head before smirking at him.


    Shade snickered, amused by his reaction.


    Good, rail them up. They won¡¯t realize when they slip. She encouraged, wagging her tail.


    ¡°You insolent child! I demand respect!¡± Evan stepped towards me, almost as if he wanted to intimidate me.


    A stupid gesture.


    He was but a mere pup compared to my real enemy. No, Alijah was more than any of these fools, and to stop him, I would have to use every ounce of my wit.


    Delay¡­ is it even possible? No¡­ I had to stop him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care how you see me. What I care about is if you know about the red-eye Lycan named Alijah and why the fuck is he stuck in a time prison?¡± I questioned, triggering a change in his face that I could¡¯ve never expected.


    From anger, all of his colors drained as his pupils dilated upon hearing that name, and that alone was an answer, but what he said next placed the nail in the coffin.


    ¡°How do you know of him?!¡± he questioned, stepping back.


    He wasn¡¯t the only one with that reaction. The other elders present always had their colors drained, which triggered me to burst out laughing.


    Ah¡­ Fuck! I¡¯m not insane! This is¡­ Unbelievable.


    These people weren¡¯t worthy of being alive, let alone lead anyone.


    ¡°Lilith, what are you talking about?¡± Fenris asked, just as lost as his siblings were.


    It seemed they also kept him in the dark, like most others, probably until he took the Lycan chair that had been empty all these years.


    Hey, perhaps a little crazy¡¯s fine.


    However, leaving him in the dark was something I wouldn¡¯t allow any longer, especially since I knew it was true. I had seen Alijah with my own eyes.


    ¡°That legend of the red-eye Lycan that went mad. The one you think is a children¡¯s myth. It¡¯s a fucking real psychopath that¡¯ll come back to this world in less than a year! We¡¯re so dead!¡± I cackled.


    ¡°What?! That¡¯s impossible!¡± Evan tried to shut me down.


    I couldn¡¯t care less what he wanted anymore.


    ¡°Oh... yet it¡¯s going to happen under your fucking leadership! While I¡¯m being hunted by fucking dead gods! Maybe I deserve a bit of happiness, don¡¯t you think?!¡± I snickered, peeking towards Fenris, who was overwhelmed by the entire event.


    He reminded me of when I first encountered the information myself, but slowly, I was solving the puzzle. It all pointed towards the council, hiding more than they should¡¯ve. The leaders of the races had used the same incantation of the fall to erase the soul cairn from everyone¡¯s mind.


    It probably happened after Lilith opened the gate for the first time while the Lycans tried to hide their dirty past.


    ¡°I think so!¡± Shade reassured me.


    I scuffled her head. Even though I was putting on a strong front, my body felt like it was going to crumble if anyone touched me again. However, I couldn¡¯t back down. All these liars deserved nothing more than to be brought into the truth.


    Amelia, Ben and every Lycan who wasn¡¯t an elder seemed extremely perplexed by everything.


    ¡°Ah... It seems I¡¯m not as insane as you think, Ryker! Maybe fewer voices in my head might make me less spontaneous, but I think I¡¯ve made my point.¡± I giggled, gazing around the room as none knew how to respond to me anymore.


    This was perfect. I only had one warning left for them.


    ¡°Oh! I also want a meeting with the council and if you won¡¯t give it to me. I might hunt down every one of them. Your choice.¡± I shrugged as Ryker sighed in response to my request.


    There was no denying me any longer, though. This confirmed my earlier assessment of the entire situation we found ourselves in, and if I followed the whispers along in their quest for bloodshed, they seemed to be quieter.


    ¡°Fine... I¡¯ll get you a meeting. Just don¡¯t say anymore. You might start a riot if you continue.¡± The elf released another sigh from his tired lips.


    He wasn¡¯t as surprised as the others; he probably always expected this day to come.


    ¡°Oh, I think this meeting is long overdue. Oh! And remember, Fenris¡¯s mine to have.¡± I declared, yanking an unsuspecting wolf into a kiss.


    His warm lips on me were reassuring after everything I had said, even if it did push me over the edge.


    ¡°You little¡ª¡± Amelia almost launched at me.


    Shade shifted forms, stopping her in her tracks as my little vicious kitty stood firmly between her and us.


    ¡°I want to see you try, little wolf,¡± she warned.


    Fenris tugged away from me, slightly licking his lips, mystified by everything I had just done.


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep up. You just... threw every plan I made into oblivion,¡± he whispered, unable to resist kissing me again.


    His bold action upset his sister even more as Ben cleared his throat, glancing away from us. Even though the older brother didn¡¯t know for sure, he had always suspected Fenris¡¯s feelings for me. While mine, well, I never hid them.


    I couldn¡¯t keep myself off my beloved wolf, especially after hearing that he loved me the previous night. Even though I didn¡¯t know his plans, I didn¡¯t regret making them crash and burn. He was the only one keeping me in the light.


    Separating for air, Fenris wiped my lip with his thumb, chuckling. There were a million things I wanted to say to him, but all I could say was...


    ¡°Fuck the plans. I can¡¯t hold myself back anymore. Especially after what you told me last night.¡± I murmured, getting closer to Fenris, hoping he was the only one who could hear me.


    The others discussed their course of action for returning to Silverant while other arguments broke out. However, instead of saying that sentence to me once again, he tilted his head.


    ¡°I told you something?¡± Fenris mumbled.


    It caused my heart to sink as a slight pout left me.


    Ah, well... at least I know.


    Even when he was out of control, I was in a part of his heart. Reaching to his ear, I tugged on it, triggering him to grip my hand and gently nibble on it.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can wait until you tell me again.¡± I simpered, enjoying his affection.


    Everything became blurry again.


    Wait¡­ were there always two Fenris?


    Unable to keep up anymore, I fell onto his chest again as his arms wrapped around me.


    ¡°Ah... You were pushing yourself the entire time, weren¡¯t you?¡± he gently scolded, holding me tenderly.


    I gripped his shirt, slipping from this world. ¡°Sorry...¡± I trailed off, closing my eyes before slowly drifting into a slumber where I knew only peace.

 Chapter 94: A Sun Elf

    The next time I opened my eyes, I found myself in a bed. Someone searched around the room for something I had no awareness of. My vision seemed more precise than before, allowing me to see it wasn''t someone I knew.


    Fenris held me close, asleep beside me. However, the intruder had my full attention. Lifting myself from the bed, I saw it was a female sun elf with blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin.


    Yet she appeared younger than most elves I had seen and wore a Cerberus uniform. Grumbling to herself, she picked up a kit and placed it on the table before noticing I was closely watching her.


    "Oh, you''re up; that''s good," the sun elf said, closing the gap between us and carrying her kit.


    She instinctively reached for my head, only for me to slap her hand away. I didn''t know this woman or trust her, especially after Cora; I didn''t know who to believe in anymore.


    "Ah... sorry. I have a nasty habit of acting before introducing myself." She apologized, clasping onto the hand.


    A groggy Fenris slowly rose from his slumber thanks to the sudden jerk since his arms were around my waist. However, instead of being surprised by the intruder, he knew her.


    "Oh... Amara, what are you doing?" He yawned, wiping his eyes.


    She turned to him, cheeks puffed, placing her hands on her hips.


    "I''m Checking on my patients! What else do you think? No one told me she was awake until a day later, even though I was the first to tend to her! The nerve of these people!" Amara huffed, glancing back at me with those blue eyes of hers.


    I''m your patient. You''re the reason I''m feeling better?


    My head throbbed, but not as bad as the day before. Sun and moon elves both possessed the ability to heal with their magic. Although they couldn''t do miracles, they could save lives if they got there in time.


    "Does your father know you''re still here?" Fenris asked, shifting my gaze onto him.


    The poor wolf still had dark circles under his eyes but appeared much better than the previous day. However, something else caught my attention.


    You sound familiar... How do you know her?


    "He has nothing to do with what I want to do! I chose my patients, and I picked her!" Amara grumbled, grabbing a stone from her kit and handing it to me.


    Huh? Just who are you?


    "You''re a medic?" I asked, trying to fill in the blanks in my mind.


    "Yes, it''s a pleasure to meet you. My name''s Amara," she announced, smiling at me.


    However, I could only feel distrust towards anyone new, even though it wasn''t her fault.


    "She''s also Ryker''s beloved youngest daughter," Fenris informed, yawning again.


    She huffed at him again, not pleased by his revelation. It was almost as if she didn''t want anyone to know her connection to him.


    "Don''t tell her that! She doesn''t need to know that to be treated!" the beautiful elf pouted, turning back to me and grabbing my hands. "Treat me like you would another medic, and let my skills do the talking!"


    Ah... I see. You don''t want to be linked to your father because you''ve fought for your merits and don''t want to be in anyone''s shadow.


    I could relate to that since the shadow I tried to avoid was Stella''s, which cast a darker side to me more than anything else.


    "Well... at least you aren''t like him," I mumbled.


    She appeared more likable and more expressive than her father, though I wasn''t willing to fully trust her yet.


    "Nor do I want to be. Although no one''s better than me in this field," she boasted, full of herself.


    Ah... never mind. There is the sun elf ego.


    Fenris rolled his eyes. "You just started not too long ago. If anything, you''re a novice."


    It looked like they were old friends. She pouted at his tone of disapproval.


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    "I''m the best there is! Now stop hugging my attention, and let me work!" Amara huffed, returning to me and speaking in a language I didn''t understand.


    I was unfamiliar with the elf tongue. The transparent stone she handed me glowed yellow before shimmering in different colors as she read the lights and interpreted the results.


    "Hm... it seems I healed most of the damage, but you should rest. Oh, and..." she trailed off, glancing around before shaking her head.


    "Never mind; it''s probably nothing," she concluded, grabbing the stone and returning it to her kit.


    "What?" I mumbled.


    Instead of answering me, she changed the subject slightly.


    "Although I need to ask you. The maid who changed your clothes last night reported something that intrigued me. I want to know how your body changed from what we have in the medical records." Amara informed.


    I hadn''t noticed that I wasn''t wearing the garments I came with. Instead, I had a long-sleeve shirt that was big on me and baggy pants. Her words triggered something in my wolf before I could answer Amara''s question.


    He grabbed my shoulder, pulling me down onto the bed beside him. It was the first time I saw his face clearly since everything began. Though he was after something else when Shade jumped onto his head as he undid the buttons on my blouse.


    After opening my shirt, he reached his hand into my blouse. Amara sat there, stunned by his action. When he touched my skin, his eyes widened before he glanced at the elf, whose cheeks were deep red.


    "Leave," Fenris ordered.


    "What I¡ª" She tried to talk, only for him to growl.


    That was when she finally received the message and ran out of the room, promising to return later to check on me. His gaze returned to me when the door closed behind the startled elf. All I could do was wait for him to undo my blouse fully, exposing my upper body to him.


    His eyes studied every part of his view, tracing my newly formed skin with his fingertips.


    It was all a new territory for him. He didn''t recognize my body anymore. The moment his crimson orbs met with mine once again, all I could do was try to glance away.


    He climbed over me, tugging me by my chin to face him. There was no running away.


    "I..." I began.


    Words were short, though, even though I had so much to say the day before. Fenris licked his lips, not knowing what to say to me. But it wasn''t long until he broke his silence. He collected his thoughts, trying to remember the night when he lost control.


    "Liam had made me think I was going crazy. The moon played a trick on me, but that night was real. You really came to me during the crimson moon." My wolf traced his fingers through my bosom, assessing their new volume and tendency to jiggle.


    It was embarrassing and new to me, but I didn''t mind if it came from him.


    "Y-Yes..." I mumbled, trying to keep my nerves in check.


    Shade jumped onto Fenris''s back, essentially making him her bed.


    "Why would you do something so stupid?" Fenris growled, cupping my right breast in his hand, squishing it slightly.


    His touch made me get jittery. Even though he appeared bothered, a soft smile rose on his lips. I didn''t have any volume or form to them before. My body was horrendous before our encounter. However, perhaps the reason he was teasing me was more to get back at me like a punishment of sorts.


    After all, I was always beautiful in his eyes, or at least he always told me so, even though I didn''t fully believe him. It wasn''t like the change would allow me to compete with those who surrounded him.


    I still had every mark, yet it was in a different shape.


    "Because I wanted to help Melody." I breathed.


    Fenris tilted his head, "What?"


    Ah... Liam didn''t tell you anything about her? I... guess it wasn''t his story to tell.


    The tilt of Fenris''s ears, though, was rather cute. I wanted to reach up and grab them. Slowly, I was becoming bolder with my desire.


    Maybe I can grab them...


    "Help her? What do you mean?" my little wolf echoed my words.


    However, that was an issue that I gladly and easily filled him in with. It was just one of the many things I had to tell him, but all in sweet time. I didn''t want to overwhelm him with all the information, either. After hearing about it, he understood why I acted that way.


    Fenris''s eyes twitched as a soft growl left his lips, "Even so... you could''ve been hurt, or worse," before placing the hand that was caressing my chest next to my head.


    He held himself above me while Shade was still on his back. Again, he didn''t mind her using him as her bed. Taking the opportunity, he studied me. I reached over to his shoulders, wrapping my arms around his neck.


    "Fenris... you didn''t hurt me. Instead, you did this to me." I simpered, trying to reassure him.


    He healed me in a way we never expected.


    "Wait, I did this to your body?" he questioned, glancing down again to inspect me.


    "Yes... you did." I slowly nodded.


    He bit his lip again, gazing back at me with those red eyes I wasn''t entirely used to.


    "How?" he asked, a question I didn''t know how to answer.


    Even so, I would try to explain to him what I thought it could be. Although...


    "I don''t know, but it seems the red moon gifted you with some unique abilities¡ªones only accessible to Lycans born during it. To some extent, they allow you to control magical energies, including my own." I replied, yet I didn''t know the first thing about his new power.


    The only one who did was looking forward to killing him¡ªanother thing I had to tell him in due time.


    "I don''t know how to do anything like that. Even when you lost control last time, I just wanted to save you." Fenris mumbled, wincing, probably overwhelmed.


    It was hard to believe that his immunity to most magic had developed so that he could control it at a whim. Everything that happened was a lot to take in for me. I couldn''t imagine how he felt.


    "I know, but we''ll figure it out. Together." I nuzzled my nose into his.


    My action triggered him to kiss me before separating and smiling playfully.


    "I guess I have to make you mine all over again." Fenris purred.


    Shade took the note in his tone to jump off his back and onto the bed, laying down on the pillow where he rested before. She wanted no part in what was about to follow.


    "Make me yours again?" I whispered, tugging him down for another kiss.


    It was a short one since I pulled away before he could respond.


    "Silly, I''ve always been yours. I love you, Fenris. From the moment I saw you. I''ve been smitten by you for who knows how long." I professed my love for him.


    Yes... and I''ll be for an eternity to come.

 Chapter 95: Sweet Moment

    Fenris smirked, tugging the covers over us, leaving Shade on the pillow undisturbed. Licking his fingers, he trailed his hand down my pants and into my underwear before caressing my vulva.


    "This hasn''t changed much." He purred.


    A low mewl left me before he leaned into me, meeting me with his lips. After a breathless kiss, his fingers found their way inside my walls, triggering me to grab onto his shirt, trying to keep myself from bucking into him. Unlike me, he was more energetic and fully refreshed after a full day of rest.


    Even though my body still felt awful, Fenris''s touch was welcoming. Pulling his fingers away from me, he licked them clean before undoing his pants slightly. He tugged down mine, along with my underwear, tossing them aside from the bed.


    My eyes followed their fall to the floor before I felt him hover over me. I turned to face him, only to be greeted by another kiss. His tongue explored my mouth while his member gently rubbed against me, letting his heat radiate into me.


    He wasn''t ready to enter me; instead, he teased me, leaving everything he touched tingling. I couldn''t help but murmur his name, feeling impatient. He chuckled, kissing my cheek while my legs rested on his hips.


    He was being more upfront, and little did I know I would melt soon after.


    "You know, I wanted to tell you so many things after the festival, but now that you''ve publicly claimed me. I guess I have no reason to hold back anymore." Fenris brushed his lips against my forehead.


    His affection felt warm, leaving me with butterflies rummaging in my belly. He drew away from me, meeting my gaze again with those new crimson eyes the moon gave him. I couldn''t help but stare at him with hope, wanting much more than I ever thought I would have. Even though I already knew how he felt about me, I could''ve never expected what he was about to declare.


    "I was smitten by you the moment I met you in that alley," Fenris announced, gently sliding his heat into me.


    I gasped, feeling his member stretch my walls. Even though it hurt from the previous time we were together, it also felt tender. He was being so gentle with me, compared to the last time. Instead of moving right away, he hovered over me, waiting for me to get used to his shape.


    Fenris gently caressed my cheek, triggering me to feel butterflies fluttering inside of me. My body slowly twitched in response to his member being inside of me. It was almost frustrating how gentle he was, but I was brittle in his eyes.


    "Fenris!" I mewled, prompting him to kiss me in return.


    It was another short one as he tugged away, tracing my lips with his thumb.


    "Patient, little witch. I have a lot to tell and show you." My playful wolf smirked.


    I tugged him into another kiss, gently biting his bottom lip in protest. Almost as if to respond, he shoved himself into me, filling me to the brim as there wasn''t any space between our connection. It was a bit discomforting, but it quickly turned to pleasure when his tip kissed the entrance to my womb.


    Taking the chance, I was out of breath, he continued.


    "My mother used to tell me this stupid story about a bond that happens in Lycans when they meet the person destined to be with them." Fenris started slowly bucking his hips into me, keeping a soft, gentle rhythm.


    It was slower than any other time he had ever held me, yet it left me feeling satisfied as he focused on all the sweet spots he had memorized over the years.


    "Like... soulmates?" I murmured, trying to control my voice.


    Sadly, I was slowly losing myself in his touch. Instead of the usual playful caresses, he was facing me straight on this time. He pinned my head in between his arms, forcing me to memorize every wince of pleasure he expressed.


    This was the only cage I would allow myself to be in. Another mewl escaped my lips as his mouth covered mine to muffle me. The walls weren''t like the ones in our room, and there were no sigils, either. However, even knowing that his movements didn''t stop.


    I had never felt this intimate with him before.


    He slowly parted from my lips, "Try to be quieter. I don''t want them to hear your voice like that. That''s for my ears only." He leaned into me again before licking where he had kissed.


    I bit into them, trying to quiet down. However, it wasn''t easy because of how he was being.


    "That''s... I can''t." I tried to keep it in, but it was leaking.


    He was more interested in hitting my sweet spots than pleasuring himself. Thrusting deeply into me, he kissed me to avoid my voice escaping the room. My body found its release soon after in response to his love.


    It was almost as if he knew how I would react, too. He chuckled, pleased by what he had accomplished. However, he was far from done attempting to fulfill my physical and emotional needs. Even though my mind was barely keeping up anymore, he was intent on making sure I knew what I meant to him.


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    "I thought mom was crazy and that it was a myth. I still remember telling her it was stupid. How stupid was I? I was just a kid, being a kid. Instead of writing me off, she insisted I would know my soulmate when I met them." He continued to push into me.


    His voice became husky because of it, and my mind struggled to keep up, thanks to the high I was in.


    "Dad, though, had different plans for me. He wanted to marry me off to a high-born Lycan once I gained the powers from the moon." Fenris sighed.


    My body shivered when he leaned to kiss me lightly before continuing.


    "He told me most Lycans never meet that certain someone, but then, when I met you back in that alley. I felt my heart stop. It was as if lightning had struck me right where I stood." Fenris panted, watching me, waiting for me to react to his confession.


    My cheeks burned as hot as our connection, yet I couldn''t help but simper to what he said.


    You can''t possibly mean... No...


    "But you... said nothing about it." I huffed, struggling to find cold air to cool me off.


    Fenris rolled his eyes before kissing me and moving again to the same pace as before. I tried to hold back my mewls even though most of that escaped me; he would try to silence me with his mouth. Licking my lips, he simpered before kissing me deeply.


    It left me without a breath to hold on to as he tugged away before studying the mess he made.


    "No... I didn''t, but that was why I gave you the bracelet back at the beach. I knew you were the girl who would make me what I am, but most importantly, I knew you would be my world." Fenris whispered into my ear, thrusting himself in once again.


    A slight moan left his lips while I called out to him, feeling overwhelmed by everything he was saying. His response to me mewling his name was to meet me with another brush of the lips. I thought he would release within me momentarily, but he didn''t.


    Instead, he waited to calm down again. He usually did this when I had a sweet smell coming from me, and he didn''t want to use protection. Even then, he would usually finish outside after a couple of times before breaking the rubber, unlike this.


    Everything from his words to his touch excited me, making me even more sensitive. Every time he stopped would be a time I found my high. Taking the opportunity that I was humming in ecstasy, he continued to speak.


    "Hey... I want to go back there with you and when we do. I want to ask you something I hope you''ll agree to." Fenris panted for air as we were both a sweaty mess.


    Huh? Why does it have to be in that location?


    "Can''t you ask it now?" I fumbled to say, dazed by his touch.


    A soft chuckle left his lips, and instead of letting me breathe freely, he denied me the opportunity when he kissed me. The only reason he separated from me was to make sure I wouldn''t pass out due to lack of air.


    Once my blurred vision stabilized, he smiled ever so brightly. I wanted to engrave his expression of pleasure and happiness in my mind.


    "No... not now, but..." Fenris trailed off, focusing on sending waves of pleasure through my body.


    All I accomplished was burying my face in his chest to calm myself. In response to hiding from him, he grabbed my hair, tugging me back to face him. The intimacy was overwhelming me, leaving me dizzy.


    You''ve never been this direct before.


    Unlike the previous night of the blood moon, my wolf was in complete control, which made me feel in ways I thought I would never feel.


    "Oi... don''t hide. I was planning on telling you this after the festival, but as I said, you threw my plans out of the water." He teased, locking eyes with me once again.


    The crimson eyes matched him so well. I felt like I could drown in them as I gripped his arms. Unfortunately, I was unable to answer him coherently. The only thing that made me mumble was his name, as it was hard to withstand his caress anymore. I was about to lose control, and I wanted to.


    Shoving himself into me, "I lo¡ª" he began, only to be interrupted by Liam slamming the door open, startling my wolf and me.


    We were in our world, and Fenris was hyper-focused on me to pay attention to who was nearby. He hadn''t heard Liam arguing with Amara outside the door. Shade hadn''t cared to warn us, either.


    However, I couldn''t help but feel bothered about her snickering on the side.


    "Oi Fenris! I heard about Owen. I needed¡ª" Liam announced before stopping right where he stood, realizing he made his grave even more profound.


    Behind him were Melody and Amara, who were trying to stop Liam from barging in. All of them appeared like deer caught by a big bad wolf. The interruption caused Fenris to growl loudly. Allowing us to see how little control he had over his power.


    A red aura radiated from him soon after the interruption.


    "Oh, fuck!" Liam muttered, hearing his alpha almost snarl at him


    Fenris slanted his ears back as his tail fluffed up. Covering my chest by tugging the ends of my blouse, he sat up and tugged out of me before scowling at Liam. The alpha froze the beta where he stood. Shade was quick enough to hand me the clothes that had been thrown to the side.


    I used the cover Fenris provided to place them on. He also fixed his clothes, waiting for me to clothe myself well. Once I was decent, he fully turned to Liam and company, who stood there frozen.


    Fenris appeared like he was about to pounce on them, but before he could take that leap. I hugged him from behind. The last thing I wanted was for him to lose control because he wanted to protect me.


    "Don''t, it''s okay," I reassured him while Liam and the rest appeared to be statues.


    My legs trembled in their effort to hold me up from the ground. Turning back to me, he grabbed me by my chin, kissing me deeply in front of the crowd. Amara covered her eyes before running out of the room.


    My legs gave out, only for him to grab hold of me, preventing me from going down onto the floor.


    "Okay... I''ll see myself out." Liam turned for the door, taking the opportunity Fenris was focused on me.


    However, when those words left him, my wolf tugged away from our kiss, picking me up in his arms.


    "No... We have a lot to speak about, and since you''re finally here and eager to interrupt us, you might as well stay and get what''s coming to you," My wolf growled.


    Liam could only follow his alpha''s request, closing the door and sealing his fate. Fenris sat me down on the bed before sitting beside me and glancing over to his, who seemed not to be ready for what was coming next.


    However, he would try his best to overcome his friend''s rage.


    "I''m sorry for not being here." Liam apologized.


    Fenris sighed.


    "You went to help Lilith. It''s fine." He breathed, trying not to allow the anger to win.


    Luckily, I told him about everything that had happened in the room and how Liam had saved us before he got to the brown wolf alone. It saved him from that one mistake, but a reckoning was coming.


    I''m not looking forward to it since I haven''t told you everything yet. How... angry will you be when you know?

 Chapter 96: Confrontation

    Taking the opportunity that we were alone, Fenris informed Liam of everything that occurred at the festival. Even though I had theorized what had happened before, it seemed I was right about most parts.


    An elder started a toast for the future alpha and the prophecy to come, but before a monologue that became a rant on how Lycans would be on top of the hierarchy again. Before the old fool¡¯s speech was done, some of the impatient wolves had taken a sip of their drink.


    Sadly, Owen was¡­


    ¡°If he¡¯s going to keep ranting off, I would rather be drunk!¡± The yellow wolf huffed, gulping down the drink.


    Luckily, my wolf and Ezra didn¡¯t touch the liquid since he tried calling Liam with Ezra¡¯s phone. The reaction was almost instant, triggering those affected to act strangely. They first thought their friend was ill or drunk, which was a hefty fee for a single drink to do, but it quickly changed when Owen grabbed onto Fenris''s shoulders before clawing his face.


    Luckily, the blond wolf missed his eye when he slashed through the flesh. After that, chaos rapidly broke out as Ezra got Owen off him before another Lycan attacked Ben, damaging his mechanical arm.


    Amelia took the crazed Lycan off Ben while Layla helped Fenris from where he was. After that, the corpses came into the barrier before randomly vanishing. It wasn¡¯t long until I came and did my part before losing control and needed to be saved.


    After they quelled me, the Cerberus corps entered the scene and found the unknown substance laced on most, if not all, the cups that were supposed to be used for the toast. They still refused to come out and say it was wolfbane, not to scare the masses, but it did have similar side effects.


    Although this plant was more deadly than wolfsbane, the afflicted hunted down everyone around them for an entire hour before they expired. The original one would put their misery to an end within minutes.


    Fenris was so close to being killed by that attempt by the rogue witches that it sickened me to my core. When he finished his report to Liam, Melody glanced at me, assuring me it was time for me to come clean.


    Even if it meant it would be harder for them to escape Fenris''s anger, the boys were still speaking when I grabbed my wolf''s shirt, tugging it slightly to catch his attention. I hesitated before he tilted his ears back, not knowing what to expect.


    "What''s wrong?" Fenris asked, noticing my hesitance to speak.


    Shivers went down my spine, knowing that whatever I said would awaken his rage again.


    "I..." I hesitated before letting go of everything that I did.


    Everything I hid from Fenris was known as I held nothing back, recounting everything that popped into my head. However, I avoided his face, not wanting to see his expression. His anger resonated with his power again when he glowed like a decorated tree after I told him about the lucid dreaming spell, especially when I recalled what Alijah declared and did.


    Once I finished, I closed my eyes, preparing to receive the scolding of a lifetime. Instead, Fenris took a deep breath and slowly let it go. I thought I was scot-free for a moment, but it would quickly change.


    "I feel stupid. Here I was, being gentle with you. How silly of me!" Fenris growled, his tone sending shivers down my spine.


    I couldn¡¯t even imagine the expression he had. He glanced over at Melody, who froze right where she was. It was almost as if she saw death coming towards her.


    Dropping onto her knees, ¡°Please have mercy on me!¡± she begged.


    Poor Liam glanced around the room, worried he was next. After all, he knew about the curse and had asked me to help, even though I had previously declined, and when I confessed, I admitted to everything¡ªdooming the two.


    They were both sweating profusely.


    "Ah... don¡¯t worry. Now that you¡¯re a full-grown Lycan, I¡¯ll ensure you know your command chain. Although... I know this little witch can be tricky to deal with." Fenris responded, walking over to them.


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    She could almost see flashbacks of her life from when the big, bad wolf stood before her. It left me helpless to help them. I could only watch while Shade got up from the pillow to observe what was happening.


    Her tail swayed in excitement. Even though it would spell certain doom for Liam, he stood forward to help his beloved.


    "Don''t go hard on her. She just wanted to be free, Fen." The brown wolf tried to help.


    It caused his friend to grab onto him by the throat. Effortlessly, he held Liam up and onto the wall behind them. The sheer power my wolf possessed was looming over me. Alijah would be ten, if not a hundred times worse.


    "Oh, that I understand fully, but you... I expected better from you. I forgive you for leaving me stranded in this wretched festival alone. After all, you went to help Lilit, but I won¡¯t forgive you for hiding that Melody had a curse and that my charge knew about it!" Fenris growled, eyes shimmering.


    ¡°Fen, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d do anything! Please, believe me!¡± Liam begged for mercy.


    It was incredible how the silver wolf could lift him with one arm alone, even though they shared similar body types. Compared to a normal Lycan, his power was already excelling and evolving.


    Alijah... will surely be...


    Even though Fenris''s anger was valid, he wasn¡¯t a saint in all of this, either. I only went behind his back because he always wanted to keep me safe, and that alone would¡¯ve prevented me from being anything but a weight on his shoulders.


    Something I wanted to overcome no matter the cost, and to do that, I had to face him. He wouldn¡¯t know how I felt unless I spelled it out. I had to gather the courage to face my beloved angered wolf to do that.


    "Enough! If you want to be angry, then turn it towards me! I¡¯m the one who did everything!" I worked up the courage to face Fenris''s rage.


    When he turned to me, his expression wasn¡¯t one he had ever expressed to me before. It was almost as if I had betrayed his trust in more ways than one.


    I never thought it would hurt you this much. Fenris¡­ I¡¯m¡­


    All because I never thought he loved me as much as he did. I had always thought of myself as nothing more than his duty, but I was much more than that.


    Why¡­ was I so blind to how you felt about me? How come it took me to hear the words I thought I would never listen to you say? For me to realize your feelings for me when you¡¯ve always said it differently.


    From how you held, spoke to, and even looked at me, you screamed how much you love me!


    Yet all that stared at me currently was pure sorrow, making me realize I hurt him.


    I never wanted to do that.


    "Oh, little love, you don¡¯t even know what¡¯s in store for you. Everything you hid from me! Everything you denied me of knowing!" Fenris growled, letting go of Liam, who slumped onto the floor, quivering next to Melody.


    My angered wolf took a step towards me.


    Melody¡¯s right, you can be intimidating, but I can¡¯t let you win! If I want to stand by your side, I must be just as fearless as you are! You and everyone around us will hear me!


    All I felt was the guilt from hurting him, but nothing else. I would do it all over again if the same events played out.


    "You did the same to me! Kept me in the dark about so many things!" I argued back.


    He gave me a soft, broken laugh, shifting his stance towards me. "No, no, don¡¯t go there. That was to keep you safe!" he confronted.


    "I wanted to keep you safe, too! Don¡¯t you realize it?! I can¡¯t... No, I won¡¯t live without you! You¡¯re my world, too!" I yelled.


    It caused him to stop right before me, surprised by my outburst. Usually, I would crumble under him, but if I wanted to be his equal, I needed to be an alpha like him.


    "Lilith..." Fenris called to me, reaching towards my cheek.


    I pulled away slightly from his touch before grabbing his hand and facing him head-on. My wolf wouldn¡¯t crack me.


    You were born to be a leader, and I... If I want to be with you, I must be just as strong and fearless.


    "I want to be your equal, not your burden or duty!¡± I shook my head, squinting. ¡°No, I want to be much more than that! Please, let me be more than a load for you!" I continued to let go of my emotions as tears streaked down my cheeks before I even realized it.


    A second later, Fenris enveloped me in his arms. We had both hurt each other; that much was clear, and all for the same reason.


    "You¡¯ve never been a burden to me, Lilith!" Fenris reassured me, holding me tightly against his chest.


    "Then why do I feel it so?" I sobbed.


    I was holding myself bare to him. Even though anger pulsed through every part of his being, he held me tenderly.


    "Lilith... I¡¯m sorry. I just wanted you to be safe." Fenris apologized, shaking his head a bit.


    "I didn¡¯t know you felt this way. I love you.¡± He began holding me closer.


    His voice appeared brittle.


    ¡°Fuck! I¡¯ve always loved you! You¡¯re my world! One I failed to protect once before. I promised never to allow that again." Fenris professed.


    Even though I already knew, it felt liberating to hear him repeat it. The biggest smile broke on my lips.


    You¡¯ve never once failed me, Fenris. Not even when we were kids, you did all you could! It wasn¡¯t your fault that you had no power. We were just children.


    "You big stupid wolf," I mumbled.


    ¡°I love you, Lilith.¡± He sighed, tugging me up to a tender kiss.


    "And the witch tamed the big bad wolf just like that." Shade snickered on the side.


    Fenris growled at her as he held me close to himself. I had narrowly escaped his rage, but only for the moment. What would come next would change us and everything we fought for.


    I never knew I would love someone more than I did Fenris.

 Chapter 97: I Wont Be Left Behind

    After the flares died, everyone took a deep breath and stepped forward to discuss everything known. Even though everything sounded like a fantasy, Melody could back up what I said, as most of it was undeniable.


    The boys had no choice but to take everything at face value, no matter how ridiculous it appeared, especially with all the events. Undoubtedly, the rogue witches got a new type of indisputable wolfsbane.


    Throughout the entire conversation, I couldn''t take my hands off Fenris. He also held me back, never wanting to be separated from me again. I would find my way to him if I weren''t with him.


    An hour went by when Amara came into the room again. This time, she was jumpier than the last time, and it wasn''t because of how she had found us previously. When Fenris asked her what was wrong, she pointed towards the outside of the cabin.


    "There are a lot of angry Lycans outside. Most of them won''t listen to reason, and they''re demanding Lilith''s head." Amara announced.


    "What?" Liam rushed outside.


    Melody stayed in the room with us, shifting her eyes towards me.


    "For what reason do they want her?" Fenris questioned, holding me tighter to his body.


    His grip on me was almost smothering, yet I didn''t mind it.


    "From what I heard. They believe we could''ve saved all the Lycans she released. They don''t listen to me when I tell them it was the same as the night of the explosions. My squad keeps them outside, but their numbers are growing." Amara informed, warily glancing back outside.


    Shade climbed onto Fenris''s shoulder, huffing, "I''d eat anyone who ever tries to harm, my Lily!"


    "I''ll speak with them." My wolf sighed while I clung to him dearly, never wanting him to leave me behind again.


    "No... I don''t want to be away from you!" I protested, shaking my head.


    "No, Lily, stay here. We can be pretty dense, but don''t worry, I''ll make them listen." He reassured me, yet I kept my hold on him.


    You''re never leaving me behind again!


    "No! Maybe I can say something, too. After all, I euthanized their family members; I know why they''re angry at me." I tried to sway Fenris.


    Before he could say anything to protest, Amara stepped forward.


    "Lilith... all you did was make a choice that had to be made, and it was a hard one that few could do. Lycan sedatives didn''t affect them either. There was no other way but to end them violently. You found a way to make their deaths peaceful." Amara began catching everyone''s eyes.


    Even though she was trained to save lives, she knew when there was no hope. In her eyes, she viewed what I did not as a crime but as a kindness.


    "I wasn''t here when you did it, but some humans witnessed what you did. They are calling you an angel of mercy. This is exactly how I see what happened, too. The ones who weren''t around to be affected by your spell. They ran close to town." She began clasping her hands into her arms.


    "Sadly, most of them ended up tearing into the townspeople and themselves by the end of their mania. The ones we couldn''t hunt down gouged out their eyes and tried to rip out their necks before they expired." She sighed, biting her lip.


    "I doubt the stupid hot-headed Lycans outside would enjoy placing their family to rest with disfigurements or watch them become part of the dead army for that necromancer," Amara stated without veering for a second away from my gaze.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    It was almost as if she were thanking me for preventing the pain and suffering of the ones I sent into their eternal slumber.


    "Angel of mercy... yes, that''s a very fitting title for you, Lily." Melody smiled, feeling the same way.


    Fenris chuckled, "Hm, I''d call her a fairy more than an angel. All those butterflies flying around was a beautiful sight, even bittersweet." He simpered, caressing my cheek ever so tenderly.


    I couldn''t believe the words that had escaped their mouths. After all, angels were the messengers of the gods and were portrayed as beautiful, while fairies were gentle beings that rarely interacted with any other living thing.


    I can never be anything like that, but... I know I have to face the people who are angry about what I did.


    Even though I had stopped their family members from suffering a worse death, I still robbed them of time.


    "You... Ah, I think you''re crazier than I am." I mumbled, feeling my chest tighten because of their words.


    They were delusional, but I wouldn''t change them for the world.


    "Well, I''m not hearing voices in my head like you, but I know what you did for Owen was the mercy he asked for. So... thank you, Lily, for helping our friend find peace." Fenris declared, leaving me open.


    Though what I did was close to necromancy, there was no doubt everyone would try to throw the book at me. It surely wasn''t anything to be grateful about.


    Ah... You... Why are you always... I didn''t do it for... No, I won''t let you deviate from this!


    "Well... if we talk about the voices in my head. They demand that you be mine forever and that I stand by your side no matter what. That includes the angry pack of wolves." I pouted.


    "Lily, I don''t know." Fenris sighed.


    A foolish thought.


    There was no holding back what and who I was anymore. Everyone was going to find out. I would become a target no matter what I did, but perhaps if they heard my side, it would be different.


    Not everyone will accept me, but if there are more Melody''s out there... Maybe...


    "I''ve lived in a world of hate all my life, Fenris. A couple of angry wolves won''t be much different." I assured him.


    His conflicted expression let me know he wouldn''t give in that easily, but if he didn''t take me, I would follow even if I had to crawl there. Grabbing his left hand with my right, I connected the two halves of the moon, smiling at him.


    If what you said was true¡ªthat I''m your world¡ªthen... I won''t allow you to leave me behind.


    "I want to live with you. Next to you... not behind you." I added.


    My words triggered Fenris to pull me into a light kiss before tugging away from me and smiling.


    "So, demanding. Hah, keep showing me these new sides of you. I love them." He teased, licking my hand.


    In response to his playful gesture, I tugged on his ear when he leaned in to lick my lip, too. Shade jumped onto his head.


    "Dumbass wolf, you aren''t alone here." She huffed.


    Melody skittishly glanced away. Amara appeared to study us instead of being flustered by our show of affection.


    "Yeah, yeah. I just..." Fenris rolled his eyes at Shade.


    "Don''t worry, little wolf, she has me too," she announced, pawing his hair.


    A small chuckle left his lips when he grabbed her, placing her between us.


    "You seem just to cause more mayhem than help Shade. Maybe a little less bloodthirsty this time around?" He sighed, eyes narrowed with a slight frown on his lips.


    "If a mortal wants to die by my hands, why should I deny him or her? I won''t discriminate!" The little cat declared.


    I pressed my hand on her head, slightly squishing her onto the bed. She huffed up again, puffing up her hair. I shook my head, scuffing up her head.


    "Shade..." I trailed off.


    My tone caused her to freeze, slowly glancing at me. I returned her gaze with another scruff.


    "Sorry! I''ll be a good girl!" Shade complained, slightly purring.


    I giggled, picking her up into my arms before noticing her collar wasn''t around her neck anymore. She had always worn the one that Fenris picked for her all those years ago, but with all the fighting, it had been torn off at one point.


    "Ah... you''re missing your collar," I mumbled.


    Fenris stood up from the bed, reaching to help me. "Don''t worry, we can choose one for Shade after we leave here." He simpered.


    I grabbed onto his hand, only to be tugged up by him. Shade jumped onto my shoulder.


    "You mean to go into town?" I asked, clinging to him.


    My legs were shaky, and what we had done before didn''t help my cause, either. Ever watchful, Fenris noticed the weakness of my legs. Clearing his throat, he tried one last time to sway me.


    "Yeah... But focus on what''s on hand unless you don''t want to go into the wolf''s den." He tried to convince me otherwise one last time.


    I huffed, just like Shade had done before.


    "No, take me with you!" I pouted, clasping him.


    Never again apart.


    He sighed again, failing to take me away from my current course. He turned around, getting on his knees, gesturing for me to mount him for a piggyback ride. I couldn''t protest since going outside in my current condition would have been impossible.


    Yes... together... towards our future.

 Chapter 98: My Story

    Effortlessly, Fenris carried me on his back into the living room. There, we met with Amelia, who was with Layla. However, when my gaze met with the young white wolf, I instinctively buried my face in my wolf¡¯s back.


    She hadn¡¯t been there when I made my declaration of love. After claiming the silver wolf as mine, I hadn¡¯t thought about how I would face her. I was ready to fight the council and the Lycan elders since they were a bunch of prunes, but Layla was another matter.


    She had never been fond of me being with her fianc¨¦ because of what she knew I fancied him. Not only that, but everything she feared occurred, and she wasn¡¯t at fault. The elders had groomed her like Fenris for a specific role.


    Yet I was keen on breaking it into pieces and taking him as mine. I would take her destiny from right under her nose, and I would have to face her. Sadly, Layla would bite my head off, unlike Amelia, if I weren¡¯t careful.


    Luckily, Fenris¡¯s older sister hadn¡¯t spoken to her about what had happened, and it seemed I had kept my voice in check well enough. Amelia wasn¡¯t gazing at me with any more disgust than usual.


    Soon enough, though, I would break Layla''s world into pieces, and I wasn¡¯t ready for that yet.


    You¡¯ve done nothing wrong, but even so, I can¡¯t let you have the man I adore.


    ¡°Hey, are you two better?¡± Layla asked as I peeked outside to see something that caught my attention.


    The moment Amelia saw Melody come out of the room behind us. Her expression changed to one of contempt.


    Do you know her?


    I quickly noted it before the older sister entered a different room without creating a scene.


    ¡°We¡¯re fine,¡± Fenris dismissed Layla''s worries without looking at her.


    Instead, his eyes were locked towards the door where the rest of the wolves were.


    ¡°They are just grieving and don¡¯t know what they''re saying.¡± She reassured him. ¡°You should just leave it to Liam and Ben. They know what to do.¡± She reached out to him.


    Grief is something that happens naturally when someone loses a loved one, but¡­ that emotion can warp perspectives, especially when they¡¯re trying to find someone to blame.


    I was the immediate outlet for their anger in these Lycans'' eyes. I tightened my grip on Fenris, preparing myself for what was coming.


    "No... I¡¯ll be their alpha once the ceremony¡¯s done. I must be the one to quell their restlessness once and for all." My wolf declared.


    Layla smiled in awe of her alpha and future husband. However, her eyes twitched when she found me on his back, arms tightly wrapped around his neck.


    "Then maybe leave Lilith inside. I know you wouldn¡¯t like your charge in danger, and they want to get to her." She glanced at me, tone full of envy.


    In response, all I could do was hold on tighter, triggering Fenris to sigh, knowing I wouldn¡¯t allow that to happen even if it was also what he wanted. I had to bite my tongue for the moment, but there would be a day when she knew he was mine.


    "No. Where I go, she goes." The silver pushed past a surprised Layla.


    However, instead of staying behind, she followed us when Melody opened the door, revealing one of the biggest, angriest crowds I would ever see. Ben and Liam were effortlessly arguing with the Lycans, who all wanted my blood, especially since they finally connected the missing pieces to the destruction of Silverant all those years ago.


    When they saw me, their comments became more ravenous. Setting me down, Melody helped me stay up when Fenris took the front to assess their concerns.


    "Oh boy, can you all calm yourselves? We can be civilized beings. Unless you want to prove to every other race we¡¯re only beasts!" my wolf addressed the crowd.


    It was an ocean of bright amber eyes staring at us.


    "That witch caused the disaster all those years ago! Revenge! Justice! Blood must be paid in kind!" the mob echoed, chanting for my death.


    This is predictable, so it doesn¡¯t surprise me that they act this way. After all, you realized the article was right about me.


    There was a link between me and the incident all those years ago, but they were clueless about how connected I was.


    "Can you all stop and listen?! Lilith was a victim, just like all of you who lost someone when Silverant fell! She was a ten-year-old girl used as a sacrifice by the witch cult known as Moira. They¡¯re the ones who deserve your fangs, not her." Fenris tried to calm his pack.


    "No! Witches are evil beings! They only deserve to be stomped on! We must eliminate all of them! Another purge!" The mob continued to call for my blood, not listening to reason.


    The cycle was repeating itself over again. The racism would never end if no one stepped forward. However¡­


    How can I quell their anger when their kin can¡¯t? Will the cycle of violence continue no matter what? Probably...


    Nothing I could say would change the fact that they lost their loved ones, but even so, I would make myself heard, especially if I wanted to be beside Fenris, who was at his edge thanks to the insolence of his pack. Letting him be ruled by anger wouldn¡¯t help either; instead of letting it go any further, I would give them what they wanted: me.


    I wouldn¡¯t stay quiet any longer. No, they would hear me and then cast their judgment. Taking a step forward, my heart raced faster than ever before.


    "So... you pretend to kill me just because of what I am while being ignorant of what it will cause?" I spoke out, finally setting all eyes on me.


    Ben, Liam, and other Cerberus officers stood before the stairs to prevent the mob from climbing onto the patio where we were.


    "Lilith, let me handle it, please." Fenris pleaded with me to stay far away from the angry wolves.


    They got even rowdier the moment they heard my voice.


    "No, it''ll finish in more blood, like always. Will this ever end if I don¡¯t speak?!" I countered his worries.


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    Shade shifted forms to help me walk towards the crowd when I tugged away from Melody, only for Fenris to grab me by my shoulder. He wouldn¡¯t allow me to go any further. However, it was close enough for all those amber orbs to view me fully.


    I had always practiced in my mind at a moment like this. Though, it was the point of time I dreaded the most.


    It¡¯s finally time to own up to everything that happened because of me¡ªmy side of the story of when the fall occurred.


    I could see reporters behind the Lycans, and the flashes of light from their cameras were almost blinding. Letting go of my fears and doubts, I recounted my story to the masses to quell their anger.


    If it would work, I could only hope it did.


    "Yes, I failed you all when I neglected to keep the power of the... nether realm in its cage, but I was trying to protect you, and when I cast the incantation from earlier. It was so your loved ones wouldn¡¯t suffer anymore." I began as utter silence surrounded me.


    Whispers rose within me while I struggled to push them away. It wasn¡¯t a time to be ruthless but sympathetic. All these wolves were grieving and had the right to do so. It was less than a day since their loved ones were taken, and I turned them into ashes.


    I had no right to look down on them for what they felt.


    Not this time, at least, and certainly not when Silverant fell. I changed the lives of many. Including the man, I adored more than anything in this world.


    For the first time, I was about to open myself to them and tell my truth to the world.


    Blame and all.


    "Back when I was only ten, my grandmother wanted to end the world. I was a child who didn¡¯t comprehend what was happening. Nor did I know the consequences of my actions. All I knew was that I wanted to save those I cared about from my grandmother''s hatred.¡± I began.


    All their eyes weighed heavily on me, which turned my voice denser. It felt like knots were forming in the back of my throat.


    Will they care? Ah¡­ It doesn¡¯t matter.


    ¡°Regrettably, I was ignorant of my foolish attempt to change the spell.¡± I paused, trying to steady myself.


    My voice cracked when I felt Fenris¡¯s grip tighten to the point that it pushed me forward.


    ¡°I was ten and still didn¡¯t have my magic nor my grimoire. So, I didn¡¯t know the changes would allow these shadowy beasts to come from me.¡± I closed my eyes, remembering to write the words with my blood.


    With each word that left me, it was getting harder to speak. The memories replayed in my mind so vividly.


    ¡°I never wanted the mayhem on Silverant to happen. No, what I thought would happen that day... What should¡¯ve happened was that my death stopped the gate from slamming open. Instead, I somehow lived and became the gate for these creatures to come out of.¡± I paused, reliving the feelings of that day.


    It probably related to my father coming from the Soul Cairn, but that part of the story isn¡¯t for you to know.


    ¡°When the opposite happened, I didn¡¯t know how to stop or control them. Much like when I lost control¡­ Imagine picking up some water in your hand. Can you hold onto it all without it slipping?" I stopped again for a minute to collect my thoughts.


    Fenris grabbed my hand to comfort me before leaning into my ear. ¡°You can stop whenever you want. You don¡¯t owe anything to any of them,¡± he whispered.


    Somehow, I grabbed the attention of the crowd. I didn¡¯t know if it was the tone in my voice, but instead of yelling, they were listening.


    There was no stopping anymore. Judgment awaited me once they heard my side.


    "You all think I¡¯m heartless, but I... am not. If I were... I would¡¯ve just killed myself after that day, but if I did, then the gate would have ripped open.¡± I declared, feeling more confident about what would come out of me.


    ¡°After all, who would want to live after years of being tortured by the people who are supposed to be there when no one else is?¡± I continued, gripping tighter into Fenris¡¯s hand.


    You who aren¡¯t my blood have done for me more than¡­


    Shaking my head, every image was so real.


    Everything I went through. I¡¯m finally ready to leave it all behind. To walk with you in the light, Fenris. Please¡­ Let me walk with you.


    ¡°Everything I¡¯ve been through, I wouldn¡¯t wish it on my worst enemy. No one deserves to be ravished by a broomstick before being sent to their death." I bit my lip as Fenris rested his head against mine.


    Thanks to my medical reports, he knew what I went through, but to hear it was something else.


    Are they even listening anymore? Will any of this work?


    Waste of time¡­


    Murder them¡­


    Make them submit!


    The whispers were becoming chaotic. I honestly didn¡¯t know, but I could only smile bitterly, unable to contain my swelling emotions.


    "Kill me, you say. You don¡¯t know how much I wish I would¡¯ve died the day they sacrificed me. Fuck, I was counting on it!" I snapped, feeling empty.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Fenris wrapped his arm around my hip, secluding me close to him. "Lily... You don¡¯t have to do this, please. I¡¯ll handle them.¡±


    ¡°No, I have to do this. If I don¡¯t¡­ I¡¯ll¡­¡± I shook my head, pushing forward.


    Every time I blinked, images were flowing within me.


    Destroy¡­


    No! I won¡¯t allow you to dictate what I do, either! I¡¯m Lilith, a survivor, and I won¡¯t let anyone control me any longer!


    "Pathetic, I know, but that would¡¯ve been the easy way out for me, and it was fucking tempting. There were times I looked at the window in the hospital wishing to throw myself out of it.¡± I declared, drawing away from the warmth Fenris provided.


    I can¡¯t depend on you forever. This is my fight, and I have to make it out alone. My grandmother won¡¯t define me anymore. No one will!


    ¡°The only thing that stopped me was that I wanted to save the person who had become my light. For his world, I would give anything to save it from the fate that my grandmother planned, even if it includes my sanity and my morals.¡± I gripped tighter onto Shade, unable to read the crowd¡¯s emotions, but I knew what I felt within me was something new.


    ¡°I knew if I let myself die. The gate would¡¯ve swung wide open, allowing more terrifying things out with nothing to stop it. What you all saw that day was nothing compared to what the realm has in store." I warned, taking a step forward.


    I will fly so my past won¡¯t hold me chained to the ground.


    "Luckily, even though I didn¡¯t know what I was doing. I stopped anything too powerful from coming out, as most of what you saw were lesser beasts that slipped by me.¡± I declared, shifting my eyes towards Shade.


    The only thing that came out close to a goddess was you. Everything else¡­


    ¡°If you could see what I¡¯ve seen in there, you would be terrified of the thought of that gate slamming open with nothing to stop it." I paused, allowing memories to flash, triggering me to release a nervous cackle.


    Fenris stood beside me, shifting his eyes towards the crowd.


    "Sadly, even though I tried to change the fate of everyone in town that day. The first to die was a woman who was trying to help me. So yes, I¡¯m despicable, a harbinger of death, and I... couldn¡¯t stop the disaster from that day.¡± I acknowledged, closing my eyes.


    Yes¡­ I¡¯m a monster.


    ¡°For that, I¡¯m forever sorry. Nothing I can do change who died and who you lost that day." I bit into my lip.


    ¡°No, Lily, there isn¡¯t a reason for you to apologize. None of it¡ª¡± Fenris wouldn¡¯t be able to finish as one Lycan interrupted him.


    "Your apologies won¡¯t bring back our dead! Our loved ones!" the angered wolf yelled, triggering Fenris to growl loudly as his body shimmered a red hue.


    After listening to my story, others appeared unsure of what to feel anymore. Instead of the usual backing down, I continued to face their anger. I wouldn¡¯t allow Fenris to throw himself into the crowd to protect me.


    "I know my words are meaningless to you, but even so...¡± I trailed off, placing my hands on the railing rather than on Shade.


    ¡°You can¡¯t kill me for justice without dooming the world to that fate. Do you think I would still be alive if I weren¡¯t cursed to hold part of the realm inside of me? Sadly, if I stop breathing, then... you¡¯ll lose more than just your lives." I informed, trying to separate my emotions from what was happening.


    Most of the Lycans were baffled by what I announced. I could only glance toward Shade, triggering her to meet my gaze.


    Your warning from all those years ago still stands. It¡¯s the one thing that keeps me alive.


    Thanks to that, I lived to see the day when my one-sided love blossomed.


    "You¡¯ll lose your world if I die. It was the only reason that kept me from killing myself all those years ago, too.¡± I shifted my gaze towards my light. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to lose your world, Fenris. You¡¯re the only reason I didn¡¯t jump back then." I added as he suddenly yanked me into his embrace.


    This wolf couldn¡¯t stop himself after hearing everything. His hold on me was so tender that I couldn¡¯t pull myself away from him.


    "You stupid girl. Even if you weren¡¯t cursed, you still have all the right to live. None of this was your fault! Do you hear me? None of it." His voice broke, triggering me to wrap my arms around him, too.


    My little wolf''s embrace was warmer than I ever thought it could be. For a moment, everyone went silent before a female Lycan tried to come through the crowd, heading towards Ben and Liam, who both let her through upon identifying her.


    Clearing the way, she climbed the stairs, facing me straight on. This beautiful red-haired Lycan would change my heart in ways I never knew it could.

 Chapter 99: Hope

    Stepping between the red female Lycan, Fenris protectively placed his arm before me to separate us.


    "Mia... What are you doing here?" He questioned.


    The fact that he knew her left me puzzled. Then again, unlike me, he had a life outside of Cerberus. I pulled away slightly from him to look better at who was before me. She had tanned skin and vibrant red hair. I didn''t know her or have ever seen her near Fenris.


    She was a beautiful wolf who appeared pregnant because of the prevalent bump on her belly.


    "I''m tired of hearing the idiots speak." She glared at the mob, who still couldn''t decide what to think for themselves.


    "You all should be ashamed of yourself! She was just a small gal then... Not much younger than my little brother, who was almost killed by whoever attacked us yesterday! Did we all forget who the real enemy is here?!" Mia scoffed, crossing her arms.


    It left me utterly mystified by her.


    Wait, was one of the kids with Kira, your brother?


    "I wasn''t allowed here because of my condition. So, I didn''t witness it personally, but anyone who was here can goddamn say why most of them are still alive to complain today!" she scolded them like they were children throwing a tantrum.


    Undoubtedly, she would be a wonderful mother to her children¡ªat least an exemplary role model and part of one of the alpha lines. From how she walked and presented herself, she was much like Layla.


    "I..." I fumbled with my words, unable to find one say.


    Unlike Fenris, who was fully biased towards me, she was an utter stranger¡ªone who swayed the crowd with little effort.


    "You... as well..." Mia shifted her gaze towards before breaking down where she stood.


    Tears swelled in her eyes before falling onto her knees and bowed to me. It stunned me right where I was.


    "Thank you for peacefully sending Owen off into the afterlife! I... I can''t thank you enough!" she profusely expressed, leaving my eyes gaping open and my jaw dropped.


    I couldn''t move from where I was.


    Wait... You can''t possibly be Owen''s... No, the last time I heard, he was dumped by his girl. Were you the one he was with?


    "I..." I choked on myself again, not being able to answer her.


    Another male Lycan from the front did the same as Mia.


    "Yes... I was here! If what the medic said is true, then you saved my wife from a horrible fate, and for that, I''m grateful! Thank you!" the male declared.


    Huh?


    I was left unable to comprehend what was happening. Ezra, who had been behind us the entire time, stepped forward towards Mia, who was still in the same position.


    Someone has to get her up. I...


    "Lilith, I didn''t understand why you did that at first, but then I heard from Amara what fate would have waited for Owen if you hadn''t. I can''t help but be grateful as well. Thank you for peacefully sending someone I thought of as a brother off!" Ezra began, gripping his shirt as tears were visible in the corner of his eyes.


    I shook my head.


    This isn''t what I wanted to happen. There was nothing to thank me for! I killed so many people... that I...


    "No... I..." I trailed off, unable to express the storm that was building within me.


    I took Owen''s life without knowing! I had no way of knowing if he couldn''t be saved, yet I...


    Yet the words wouldn''t arise from me.


    "I... can''t seem to blame a child for what happened back then, either, especially when I was so close to you in the last few days and didn''t notice anything. I''m sorry for not noticing and for failing you, too." Ezra voiced as his amber eyes glossed over before joining Mia in her stance.


    "No... Please, don''t..." I reached for them.


    "Thank you for allowing him to say goodbye to me!" Mia cried while Ezra placed his hand on her back.


    I didn''t...


    When the butterflies scattered around, I didn''t know where they went in their final moments.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    I had nothing to do with that!


    Another one, this time a human that was present through the chaos, stood forward from the Lycans.


    "It''s... true... back in the battle. I could swear I saw wings coming from her back. She was an angel of mercy that came to us in our hour of need! Not one of those dreaded witches that sent those corpses!" the man announced.


    What?! I''m not...


    It was like a chain reaction as many more Lycans followed in Mia''s footsteps. They all said similar things before kneeling to me.


    "No, I''m not... a savior," I mumbled, unable to accept what was happening.


    Fenris smiled, pushing me towards Shade, following the same steps as all the others.


    "I think I''m the biggest offender here. Even though I knew you were in pain, I was powerless to stop it. I''m sorry for failing you all those years ago. I should''ve done more. No, I should''ve taken you with me." Fenris apologized, tracing his fingers on my cheeks and falling onto his knees.


    My heart broke when I shook my head, not wanting him to go down.


    "Thank you for saving my friend from a fate worse than death." He finished, taking the same position as all the other Lycans.


    "No... No... You..." I couldn''t find the words to speak to Fenris.


    Ben took the stage after his younger brother. Grabbing my hand in his, he smiled before kneeling in front of me. I shook my head while my eyes stung.


    Please, Stop!


    "I failed you, too. That day, I should''ve ignored my father and searched that building. The stench of fresh blood was in the air, and I knew something was off. Yet he assured me it was nothing. Calling it some bird the Moira sacrificed for a stupid spell." Ben began wiping one of my rogue tears away.


    "I''m sorry for leaving you in that basement to face the horrors by yourself. I should''ve done more." He pressed my hand on his forehead before bowing on the floor.


    Before I knew it, Lycans surrounded me on the ground. They thanked me for what I did all those years ago and for taking their families'' suffering away. When I told my story, I never thought it would reach them like this. I never thought they would see me as something other than the witch who destroyed Silverant.


    It was all


    It was almost as if my pain resonated with their grief. Some still didn''t follow the majority''s sentiment, but instead of causing any more ruckus, they left. Everyone I knew was thanking me for something I did with a second thought.


    I only wanted to save Fenris when I came onto the battlefield, but I protected many Lycans. Tears fell on my cheeks, pleading with them to stop.


    Liam... Melody... Even Layla... This doesn''t feel right!


    However, what surprised me the most was that Amelia, who hated me with a glorified passion, kneeled to thank me for saving her brethren.


    "Please stop... I don''t deserve this!" I cried, falling onto my knees before weeping like a child.


    Fenris came over to me, pressing his forehead against mine. "Everything is okay," he breathed.


    Ben hugged me to comfort me, too. "Yes, everything is okay. I''m so proud of you, Lilith. You''ve grown so much; allow us to carry your burdens, too."


    These brothers were melting me until I didn''t know what to do with myself. Somehow, my words, my tale, hit the pack''s hearts, allowing them to sympathize with me. Melody and Liam joined me while all the other Lycans thanked me for everything.


    It has to be a dream.


    A joy that I thought I would wake up from, but that time never came. Fenris left me in Ben''s arms to address the wolves, who seemed to have come to their senses.


    "We can see how easy it is to blame others without knowing the full truth behind the story. We were all part of what led to the disaster of Silverant all those years ago. How many of you saw the young witch run by when she was doing her errands raw after lashings?" he paused, allowing the gravity of the question to sink in.


    "And how many decided not to ask her if she was okay? Even when she reeked of blood and alcohol." He continued.


    The crowd remained silent, listening.


    "I know I was one. I should''ve not let her go back to that abuse. No, I should''ve taken her back to Cerberus, but I was just a child like her. Back then, I didn''t understand what I know now." Fenris confessed, releasing a sigh from his lips.


    The Lycans slowly rose from their stances to face their future leader¡ªone that would be appointed in a matter of days.


    "We hid who Lilith was because the council thought you wouldn''t understand, but now I see how wrong they were to deny you that knowledge. Now... that you lot... know the truth. I hope you''ll help me protect her like she''s done to us." My wolf addressed them.


    I cried in Ben''s arms, surrounded by multiple lights that were shining my world of darkness into one of purity, and I didn''t know what else to do but weep.


    "As you can see, she isn''t like the witches you are used to. She''s sweet and caring. Something lost within the cult of Moira and those who attacked us today." Fenris declared, turning the masses toward the real enemy.


    The Lycans focused on their alpha as the surrounding air around him differed from before.


    Can I ever walk beside you? It''s like you''re miles away already. You''re the brightest light in my world, while I...


    Before I could continue to doubt myself, my wolf walked over to me, drawing me towards him, allowing me to hold myself up by the wooden fence of the cabin''s patio.


    Ben joined us, as did Liam, while we faced the rest of the wolves. Fenris smiled at me before wiping away my tears and glancing towards the crowd. Following his gaze, I could see the Lycans were paying close attention to us.


    They all had determined expressions on their faces.


    "Lilith''s a powerful ally by our side. With her help, we will get justice, but not at the cost of innocence. We''ll be better than those who attacked us here today! We must be if this peace between the races will last for years." Fenris declared.


    His words were strong and powerful, and there was no doubt behind them. He glanced at me to make sure I was okay. I could no longer feel my heart, though. Shade was by my shoulder, pleased by what she was witnessing.


    "To accomplish this, we must work with everyone! We have to become better than what we were before the fall. I promise to lead you to that future where you don''t have to be ashamed of who or how you are born." He continued, standing behind me.


    It triggered the wolves to roar cheers to their future alpha, who had them right where he wanted them. Liam glanced at the silver wolf with a smirk planted on his face. This was a dream they had been aiming for.


    Fenris released a low chuckle, pleased with how his clan perceived him.


    "So, swear your loyalty to me, and I won''t lead you astray!" He announced, wrapping one of his arms around my waist.


    His action caused me to find my heart again. Somehow, it was beating faster than it was before.


    "We swear loyalty to the blood moon wolf, Fenris! Lead us to our victory!" the mob chanted.


    My wolf grinned, satisfied with how everything had ended. His first victory was on his road to becoming a leader like no other. All to change the world for the girl he adored. I never knew I could sway people''s hearts but with Fenris.


    Together, we would sway the world.

 Chapter 100: Aftermath

    After the crowd dispersed, Fenris went to work with everyone. His goal was to help clean up the festival. Everyone was more motivated to complete everything with their future alpha guiding them. I followed behind him, thanks to Shade carrying me the entire time while he ordered the fallen enemies to be buried with respect, surprising many.


    "They''re the same as us. Fighting for something they believe in." Fenris addressed their concerns.


    Even though many were torn to shreds by the beasts I unleashed, he still wanted to send them off with dignity. With the help of others, my wolf collected their remains, burying them in unmarked graves within the forest.


    The fire was put out by fire and water elves before it got too out of hand, but I still left my mark as parts of it were burned off. Mia chatted with me while Fenris worked with the others to complete everything.


    Even though she was pregnant, she was keen on helping, too. While speaking to her, I learned she was Owen''s on-and-off girlfriend. Their relationship was shaky, but the pair had gotten their stuff together and agreed to get married a week ago, finally tying down the blond wolf.


    However, with the turn of events, that would never occur. In an instant, a father was taken away from his unborn child and fianc¨¦e. Realizing the gravity of the situation made me feel hollow. My father didn''t want me, but this wasn''t the case for this unborn child.


    Owen would''ve been his baby''s loving and caring father, and Mia would''ve been a happy wife, but my grandmother and her plans tore away their life. In the end, fifty dead Lycans of the five hundred gathered.


    Slowly and steadily, more details of what had happened emerged. Even though I burned most of the corpses that attacked, one was found intact near the forest edge. When the corps members analyzed it, it showed the same substance in their bodies found in the cups.


    Luckily, the Lycans had ingested no parts of the corpses, but if they had, the same fate awaited them as those who drank from the cups. I had prevented them from spreading thanks to my hasty action of burning them down. However, that also included our dead, as their ashes were collected for their family members.


    My flames burned away their clothes, but their jewelry could still be used to identify the piles of ashes. The more information that came out, the more of a savior I appeared, which I disliked. All I wanted to do was rescue my light, but I saved his clan¡ªones who threw little embarrassing jabs at me for wearing Fenris''s clothing out in the open.


    I always thought I would be insignificant to them, but some even said we matched, and that was like a dream. However, their alpha glared at most comments, triggering the rowdy Lycans to return to work.


    Even so, most of their comments made me lose myself in my thoughts. It didn''t help that rumors were already breaking about what I did behind closed doors. Amara wouldn''t let me leave her sight, continuing to check on me throughout the day.


    Every hour that passed, I felt better. After they cleaned everything up, the sun was halfway down, making it four to five in the afternoon when we headed out of the festival location as a unit.


    Most elders who stayed behind enjoyed seeing their young alpha take the lead after a disaster.


    "A promising start." They called it.


    Many weren''t happy to see me by his side the entire time, yet kept quiet and wary of me. Mia and her brother rode in a carriage with Owen''s urn, and other family members carried the rest out. The ride to town was long but not eventful. I almost felt bad for having Shade carry me out of the forest while Fenris led the pack as I trailed behind him.


    She didn''t mind carrying me, especially after I gave her some of her favorite treats, which were usually sweet. Once in town, everyone rested well at the biggest and most famous inn in Silverant, Silver Clouds, which was entirely run by Lycans and had the capital''s best delicacies nearby.


    The last time I was in this district, I refused to take a step on it, but today, they left me with no choice. If I wanted to stay with Fenris, I had to show my face around there, which pleased him. Ezra, Liam, and the silver wolf all clapped when I stood in the newly built part of town.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Remnants of the explosions still existed, but it barely appeared like anything horrific had happened there. The town was resiliently moving on, rebuilding each time stronger. Luckily, Shade''s form wasn''t menacing, keeping her from scaring the kids, much to her horror, as they wanted to pet her.


    Something I tried to avoid as their moms would glare at me. This cat wasn''t friendly, but to my surprise, she let them pull on her ears and tail without a single complaint. Their parents all stared in horror while she let the children do as they pleased, especially after seeing her in action.


    Lily, why are you letting them smother me?! Shade whined, shifting her gaze towards me.


    Oh, you won''t die, and they don''t know any better.


    Lily! Not fair! You''re totally doing this on purpose! She cried, shaking off their grimy hands and jumping onto my shoulder.


    By the time they organized everything for the next day, the night had set, allowing the moon to grace us with its presence. Everyone had rented a room in the inn to stay. The first issue arose when Layla stormed over, adamant about sleeping with Fenris and me, something he refused, enlisting the help of Liam and Melody, who would stay in a conjoining room with us.


    Some rumors had reached Layla''s ears, and she wasn''t happy about them. However, she didn''t push it further since her future fianc¨¦ wasn''t a pushover. In my mind, there was only one real problem in this inn: the only showers were public bathrooms.


    I would also have to be separated from Fenris, someone I was used to showering with. Sadly, there were no unisex showers, just females and males. Cautiously, I went with Melody, who reassured me that no one else would see me but her.


    However, when the black Lycan saw my new body, she couldn''t keep her hands off me. It would be the first time I felt someone else''s skin on my body other than Fenris. She held me close to her heart and called me beautiful.


    When I told her she was crazy, she smirked widely. That was the first time I saw pure evil in her eyes. In a tease, she grabbed onto my chest with her hands, tracing my scars that had become more like tattoos on my skin.


    I couldn''t help but yelp as Shade laughed in the background, refusing to help me out of Melody''s grasp.


    Payback is a bitch! The little feline snickered.


    In my struggle to get away from my captor, I slipped out of the shower stall we were in and into the outside. I tumbled into Amelia, whom Layla and Kira accompanied. I braced, thinking the white wolf would shove me onto the ground, but it never came.


    Instead, she glared at me to get away from her, which I did faster than I realized.


    "Sorry!" I apologized for what happened.


    Melody popped her head from the curtains, instigating the older sister to stand up from where she was before she quickly stormed off without berating me and disappearing into another stall. Shade dropped a towel on me as Layla couldn''t believe her eyes upon seeing the fresh changes to my body.


    Instead of commenting on them, she bit her lip, grabbed Kira, and followed Amelia to the other stall. Somehow, I survived without panic attacks.


    "They really dislike us, huh?" Melody commented.


    I scowled at her for getting me into this situation. However, Fenris''s older sister was acting strangely again. Back in the cabin, she had left before uttering a word at me when she saw the black wolf, too.


    What kind of blood feud do you two have?


    After taking a second, less eventful shower, Melody informed me it had always been like that since she started working at the shop inside the building. Whenever Amelia spotted her, it was like she saw something unpleasant.


    However, the black wolf thought it was because of the runt thing. So, she paid no mind to the elder sister''s gestures, which she was used to. However, to me, it seemed like it was something more.


    Every time Fenris''s sister saw my friend, there was a hint of pain in her eyes. After the shower, we left without further implications for the other girls. Liam and Fenris were outside the bathroom, waiting for us and chattering with each other.


    The rough handling from the morning hadn''t affected their friendship. They had gone into the male showers when we went to our side, but thanks to the incident, I had taken longer than usual. I apologized for making them wait longer than expected.


    A scruff from Fenris, who didn''t mind it at all, met me. The robes the inn provided for us were covered enough to make me feel comfortable wearing them. Mine was white with beautiful pink flower patterns, while Melody''s gown was black and had firework patterns.


    Fenris wore one that was a solid navy blue, which matched him so perfectly that I was almost left in awe upon laying eyes on him. Liam wasn''t far behind with his solid grey one. Most females that passed by stopped to gawk at both boys, who were unaware of how pleasant they were in the eyes.


    "Such young eye candy," most of the onlookers called the pair.


    However, the boys couldn''t care less about the comments the women threw their way. They only had eyes for us. Melody, who fixed her hair, matched Liam perfectly, while I was a bit of a mismatch for Fenris.


    I never thought I would feel so ugly next to him. Most unsuspecting people didn''t know who I was and called me a servant for the Lycans, much to my annoyance. Luckily, all the rest I had while riding Shade gave me the strength to walk alone.


    Fenris insisted I hold on to him if I ever felt wobbly or weak. We would stay in town until they held the funerals the next day. They had moved the moon festival into town, opening the festivities to everyone, especially those in mourning.

 Chapter 101: Memorials

    The moon festival was moved to the central city, which was already doing its festivities. Most surviving Lycans weren''t in the mood to continue the celebrations. However, the other races didn''t let them stay alone, sulking in their rooms.


    Instead, outside of the inn, they created a minor event with stalls and activities to celebrate the life that the dead had. Usually, this was an elven thing, but Fenris agreed it would be a good idea for the grieving to commemorate the lives of their loved ones.


    To the elves, it would make the dead happier to be remembered for their lives than to be mourned. On short notice, the entire community came together to prepare everything for the wolves. Even witches and warlocks who came to participate were allowed into the festivities to open their stalls.


    Most were for predictions and tarot cards, marking them as fake magic, but it was fun. Ezra met us outside with Mia and her little brother, Kai, another red Lycan, who was the sweetest thing. When he saw me, he handed me a chocolate heart he had gotten with his sister for me.


    Even though I hesitated to go outside the inn, Fenris didn''t let me stay behind. He tugged me into the festivities, leaving me little time to worry about anything else. Everywhere, there were officers paying attention to every detail, including vampires at their hour of prime.


    After the previous failure, I doubted Stella would try anything before planning it thoroughly, especially after the message I left for her. Hopefully, Cora or the warlock would report it whenever they reached her.


    Our first stop was a memorial full of pictures of the deceased. Fenris pulled out three roses from a bouquet we bought near the inn and handed them to me. Out of all the pictures on the memorial, I only knew Owen.


    Sadly, to the others, it wasn''t like this. They knew more of the ones we lost than I did. Hesitantly, I placed the roses near Owen''s picture, followed by the rest. After a brief prayer, we moved on to the festivities, which made me somewhat nervous.


    Although everyone wore robes, sun elf style, in similar styles and colors to us, being around so many people was uncomfortable. The food we ate soon drowned out some of my worries since it was one of my tastiest meals, as each bite was savory and flavorful.


    Most of the stalls were filled with elven, which I had never tried before. I clung to Fenris''s sleeve the entire time, walking through different stores to see what they were selling. I wasn''t the only one, as Shade enjoyed devouring anything the boys bought, even if it wasn''t for her.


    Her gluttony behavior brought tension when Ezra had his meal invaded by her. It wasn''t long before an argument broke out between them about how much she was overstepping herself in their meals.


    It all culminated with Mia laughing loudly when Shade shifted into her bigger form, swallowing Ezra''s plate filled with food. He could do little to stop my rampaging familiar from claiming her dues, or so she said.


    In an instant, Mia''s smile defeated the grey wolf. Instead of escalating the fight, he stood up and grabbed an extra plate for Shade, who was victorious in every aspect. Ezra quietly shrugged, unable to help himself from enjoying the red female Lycan''s reaction.


    Fenris tugged me along to the side when everyone was distracted by the duo. Shade was the only one not far behind. He led me toward a stall selling collars and necklaces as the little feline found her way onto my shoulder again.


    On our way there, comments erupted around us. Most asked where his fianc¨¦e was and how mismatched he and I were. They came from locals rather than the people on the festival grounds, who knew more about what happened.


    Another Lycan would''ve been better for him than me, that much I was sure of.


    But is it so strange to see a wolf with a human?


    All the comments accomplished were for Fenris to intertwine his hand with mine.


    Giving me a soft glance, he smiled at me. "I saw this earlier and wanted to show it to you."


    He stopped by a stall before picking out a candy apple and handed it to me. It was so beautifully coated that I didn''t know what to do with it.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    I gazed at him, cocking my head. "Is this something you eat or put on display?"


    It was so red and sticky that it stuck to my teeth when I tried to bite it. Fenris chuckled, glancing around to check who was watching. "No, you.."


    Noticing barely anyone was looking at us, he licked it to show me how to do so.


    "Disgusting." One bystander commented, triggering me to tug my wolf into a kiss.


    All their remarks annoyed me. He was mine, no matter what they said. Kissing me back slightly, Fenris drew away before coming back, licking my lip and allowing my tongue to meet his shortly. It was warm and...


    "Sweet," he murmured, glaring at whoever mentioned us.


    After receiving his unspoken message, they quickly minded their own business. It had been an older Lycan this time. Grumpily, I ate the candy apple and made our way to the store. He spoke to the seller once we arrived.


    Shade nuzzled my cheek, "Can I have a bite?"


    My wolf never let go of my right hand, entwined with his left.


    "Which one would you like?" he asked, the little feline shifting her focus from the treat to the stall.


    His question triggered her to jump from my shoulder into the booth. She glanced around, picking one out that appeared like the one he got for her all those years ago. This one, though, had a white bell on it.


    The moment Fenris noticed, he couldn''t help but chuckle at her. Even in her rowdiness, she had a soft spot for him.


    "Shut it! I think red looks great on me!" She pouted, shifting her eyes towards me. "Put it on Lily!"


    All I could do was smile while outfitting the collar on Shade.


    Is it okay for me to be this happy?


    Fenris''s ears twitched upon hearing something I hadn''t. Shade was modeling around her new collar when I gazed at my troubled wolf. Before I knew it, he tugged me along again, but this time to a more secluded festival area, an alley.


    Memories of what happened the last time we were in one rushed into my mind, especially when he pinned me against the wall, covering my mouth.


    "Hush, not a word." He whispered, glancing towards the exit to see Layla searching for him.


    Once in the clear, he released a sigh, uncovering my mouth. That was when he noticed we were alone with Shade in the alley. He gazed at me lovingly before picking me up by my waist, pulling me higher than his height.


    My wolf held me up with one arm, using the other to caress my cheek.


    "You look beautiful in that flower pattern gown." He simpered, cheeks rosy.


    At that moment, my rationale hit the wagon. I let go of the candy apple, much to Shade''s pleasure, before pulling him into a kiss. A second later, he responded with the same passion. My hands caressed the back of his head, coiling my fingers into his hair.


    He took a few steps back to the wall to reinforce his stance with it as I tugged away from our moment.


    "Feeling weak on the knees?" I giggled.


    Fenris licked his lips before smiling at me, "A bit."


    At that moment, I felt something in my snap.


    Ah... You''re so... tempting.


    A second later, I attacked him again. For a while, we enjoyed each other. Well, until Layla shouted his name nearby. His name echoed throughout the festival as a growl left his lips. He wasn''t the only one who was annoyed by the interruption.


    The whispers were being ravenous again.


    Kill her.


    Intruder.


    "I want to tell her you are mine." I let my jealousy show.


    Fenris licked my lips teasingly. "You can, but it won''t change our situation until we meet with the elders. So, I recommend you wait until the meeting if you want to avoid trouble." He cautioned me.


    "I don''t want to hide anymore, and I don''t want her to touch you." I pouted.


    He chuckled, "Hey, I don''t want her to touch me, either, and I''m not hiding... well... kind of?"


    Even though it was frustrating, he was right. I sighed, deciding to let it go for the time being. However, I wouldn''t throw the battle. The whispers in my head wouldn''t allow me to.


    You''re mine and only mine.


    "Then should we retire to our room? Say that I feel ill." I whispered into his ear.


    It caused him to raise his eyebrows, surprised at what I was insinuating.


    "I hope you know what awaits you in the room. In the inn, there are sigils." Fenris informed.


    My cheeks flushed pink at the tone he used, but that wouldn''t stop me. No matter what we did in the room, I would enjoy it to the fullest.


    "I want you, Fenris. This morning wasn''t enough." I kissed him lightly on his cheek.


    He bit his lip before slowly letting me down.


    "Okay. Your wish is my command, my little witch." Fenris smirked playfully.


    He turned around, gesturing me to mount him. "It''ll be an easy sell if you hold onto me tightly."


    A second later, I wrapped my arms around him, enjoying the warmth he provided before we were on our way. The moment we came out of the alley, we ran into Layla.


    "Couldn''t you hear me? I''ve been looking all over for you!" She huffed, shifting her eyes towards me.


    Instead of letting her rant off, I held onto Fenris tightly, smothering myself onto his back.


    "I''m sorry, Lilith isn''t feeling good. So, if you''ll excuse us, I need to make sure she''s okay." He excused himself.


    "That isn''t fair! You can leave her and come back." She whined, grabbing onto his arm that held me up.


    "No, I can''t." My wolf excused himself, tugging away from her.


    However, she flared up before he could step away from her.


    "Fenris! This can''t keep going on! People are talking!" She snapped, triggering him to face her.


    "Let them talk." He huffed, walking away from her.


    I felt guilty for taking this wolf away from her, but all was fair in love and war.


    Fenris is mine, and nothing will stop me from having him; even if your only crime is loving him, I can''t let you have him.

 Chapter 102: Passionate Night At the Inn

    Liam and Melody were by the inn entrance, waiting for us before they retired for the night. It seemed Mia and Ezra stayed behind in the festivities, enjoying themselves, while these two wolves wanted to have the rest of the night for themselves.


    It was evident to anyone who saw them that they wanted to find where their relationship would take them, but the pair didn¡¯t want to go without seeing us off for the night. After bidding our goodnights, we each returned to our rooms. My wolf let me go onto the bed while Shade hopped off my shoulder.


    He went to lock the door, turning on the sigil to make this room soundproof from the outside. Undoing his robe, Fenris exposed the upper half of his body, slowly climbing into the bed with me.


    My eyes studied him when he went for a rubber from the cabinet. The inn had extra supplies for everything a couple might need within the drawers, or perhaps he had bought some when I wasn¡¯t looking.


    I grabbed his hands as he ripped it and placed it on.


    "I want you with nothing else on," I mumbled.


    My words caused Fenris''s cheeks to flush pink, eyes wide open.


    "I-I, uh, last month, we got lucky... and you still smell sweet." He pointed out.


    ¡°Ah¡­ I see, sorry.¡± I mumbled, wishing I could have him bare, but he was right.


    We weren¡¯t ready to be parents. The thought of bringing a child into this world scared me. However, something gnawed at me as if I had forgotten an important task. Fenris wouldn¡¯t let me think too deeply about that, pulling my robe loose before removing it.


    He left me only with my underwear, but it wasn¡¯t a second later when he took those off, too.


    Much to my surprise, he threw the rubber towards the night table before hovering over me.


    "I¡¯ll grant your wish. It should be okay if I don¡¯t let myself loose on you, but I¡¯ll only do this once.¡± He whispered, trailing his hand down my chest. ¡°Even though I want to blow in you so badly.¡±


    A soft growl left him, tugging away from me and trailing kisses down my jawline and onto my neck.


    ¡°Ready for me, my love?" He hummed, prompting me to cling onto the bedsheets, nodding.


    His lips trailed down my shoulders and into my breast. ¡°Gods, I can¡¯t get used to you having volume. They are just like I imagined you to be if¡­¡±


    He never finished sucking my nips into his mouth. Mewls escaped my lips as his touch and licks left me feeling tender. Anywhere he touched was left tingling and wanting more. My chest was practically covered in kiss marks by him by the time he tugged away from my breast.


    "Stop... just take me already," I muttered, impatient.


    Fenris kissed me in return before separating from me, smirking.


    "No... I want to make you mine my way." He announced, using the lace from my robe to tie my hands to the bed.


    It was to prevent me from intervening in anything he wanted to do.


    "Fenris?" I asked, puzzled by the binds, glancing at him.


    He was smirking playfully. The night he had in mind differed from mine. Trailing his hands over my body, all I could do was lay there as Fenris had a field day with me. Before I knew it, he was suckling on my breast again as saliva dripped down my chest.


    With every suction, I felt his canines on my nob, slightly pinching it, triggering whines to escape me. Gripping onto the fabric that held me captive, I could only watch as he tugged away from my breast before brushing his lips down to my groin.


    ¡°Fenris, wait.¡± I felt my entire body become jittery as he smirked.


    ¡°Now, you be a good little witch, and let me do as I please, okay?¡± He leaned into me, allowing me to feel his breath against my vulva.


    My breath hitched when he lapped my slits and bell, prompting me to feel jitters rush through my entire body. I could only whine loudly, closing my legs and making him pry them open his hands.


    "Remember when you didn¡¯t allow me to touch you? This is much like that, so behave, or else I might stop for the night." Fenris smirked, sticking two fingers into me before going back down to kiss my sensitive area.


    "I¡¯m sorry," I squealed, feeling my eyes want to roll back with the wave of pleasure crashing into me.


    He licked my sensitive bell, trying to find my sweet spot with his fingers, which was almost ecstasy-inducing. My hips involuntarily bucked into him, triggering him to chuckle.


    "I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re numb tomorrow." Fenris purred, finding the right spot in me, rewarding him with a yelp leaving my lips.


    Before I knew it, my mind went blank as I found bliss in his fingers. Yet this time, he didn¡¯t stop for me to ride out my high; no, he sucked on my bell, fingering every receptive spot he found within my walls.


    Soon, my voice wasn¡¯t my own as I begged the wolf for mercy, which he wouldn¡¯t give. When he pulled out his fingers, my body trembled from the slightest touch as my voice was raspy.


    ¡°Thirsty?¡± He hummed, licking his fingers clean.


    With a quick scan of my facial expression, the wolf could tell I was out of it, struggling to find cold air to fill my lungs and cool me off.


    He smirked before shifting his eyes towards Shade. ¡°Do you mind handing me a bottle?¡±


    ¡°Pervert.¡± The feline huffed, handing him one of the bottles from the mini-fridge.


    Drinking some, he quickly caged me under him before giving me one of the most refreshing kisses I had ever felt. Water filled my senses as some dripped down my cheeks and chin, leaving me little choice but to gulp it down.


    Tugging away from my lips, he gripped my chin to ensure my dazed gaze was on him.


    ¡°What more?¡± He mumbled.


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    I nodded, leading him to give me another kiss filled with more water before I felt pressure on my vulva. It quickly slipped from the entrance, allowing his tip to brush against my bell. Drawing away from my lips, I finally saw his eyes shimmering brightly.


    "If only you could see your face." Fenris breathed, eyes full of desire.


    My legs hung against his hips as he teased my entrance with his heat, prompting me to feel like I was going insane. The pleasure was all becoming too much for me, leaving me to¡­


    "Please, Fenris, I want you!" I begged, wishing nothing more but to slip his member into me.


    My pleas caused my wolf to plunge himself into me. The bliss that filled me from finally being filled was overwhelming, prompting me to mewl like I had never done before.


    "Naughty little witch, it feels like I¡¯m going to be squeezed to death by you," he murmured into my ear, shivering in response to my tight hold on his heat.


    Even though I wanted to touch him, too, he never undid the binds. No, he made love to me throughout the night, denying my touch. The entire night, he made sure I felt loved in every sense of the word.


    When the following day came, I woke up groggily with Fenris next to me in the bed. I glanced around, not remembering when I fell asleep, but it wasn¡¯t long before I recalled everything we had done the previous night.


    So many rubbers were lying around on the floor when he held me, too. An alarm rang from his phone, triggering him to get up and turn it off.


    Upon seeing me awake, he dragged me back into his embrace. ¡°Where are you going? You gave up on me before I was done punishing you.¡±


    A soft hum left me, feeling his hand trail down my navel and into my groin. However, we were interrupted when a knock came from the door soon after. Instinctively, I went to grab the robe from the floor, but Fenris had other plans.


    He suddenly hauled me back onto the bed, shoving himself inside of me from the back, clasping his hands on my hips.


    "Fenris! There¡¯s someone at the door!" I gasped at his rough handling.


    Not that I minded, but the person at the door surely would.


    "They can wait. You don¡¯t smell sweet anymore, and I want to fill you with me." Fenris announced, thrusting himself into me, dulling my senses.


    All the times before, he released it outside or with a rubber on. They were still around the floor next to the bed, and I was still sticky with the milk he had spilled over my abdomen. Everything had to be fixed before he even opened the door.


    However, I couldn¡¯t help but feel happy about how much he wanted me. The sigil was still in place, turning the room completely soundproof. Unlike me, all Fenris cared about was being with me.


    His hands, which were so firmly on my hips, soon traced my navel up to my breast. He tugged me up to meet his chest to my back. Caressing the back of my neck with his lips, he dragged my face to meet with them for a kiss.


    Our tongues tangoed with one another, leaving me humming in his grip. Clasping onto the back of his head with one of my hands, I focused on our lock as his thrust became more persistent and brushed against my core each time.


    Tugging away from my lips, a saliva string connected us as I wished for him to do the same thing he did during the red moon. Even though the knot had been a bit painful, it was also highly ecstasy-inducing.


    ¡°More,¡± I murmured, triggering him to smirk, allowing me to fall onto the bed as he pulled himself into me.


    ¡°I love you, Lily,¡± He whined, leaning over me as his thrust became sluggish.


    ¡°I love you too!¡± I squealed, feeling every knot that had formed within me release.


    In an instant, I felt my mind wash away with those words as he moaned loudly, shoving himself into me before letting loose within my core. He held me close before letting me go onto the bed, panting for air desperately, but the knocking was becoming obnoxious.


    However, instead of backing away from me, he licked the back of my neck, tracing his hands down my back and onto my bum¡ªa chuckle released from his lips, bending down to my ear before nibbling on it lightly.


    The affection caused me not to want to stop.


    "Later today, when we are alone... I¡¯ll make you mine repeatedly." Fenris purred into my ear, finally letting me free.


    Turning to the door, he growled at it. I scrambled to get my underwear on, only for his seeds to spill from me down my leg. Usually, it would happen in bed while I was sleeping, prompting me to glare at him.


    In response, he chuckled, watching me flounder around.


    "Stupid... wolf..." I grumbled, getting my clothes together.


    He picked up the scattered rubbers and threw them out before seeing who was at the door. When he opened it, much to our surprise, Layla, Kira, and Liam were standing behind it, and two were arguing.


    With one glance at the room, Layla grabbed Fenris and dragged him out. I almost tripped on myself, but I made it out the door to see her holding him against the wall. The fire in her eyes was undeniable as every dot connected in her head.


    "What¡¯s the meaning of this?! Why do you smell like her?!? Why does the entire room smell like something happened between you two?!" Layla demanded answers from the silver wolf.


    Melody came out of her room, unaware of what was happening outside.


    ¡°Enough, Layla, let him go.¡± Liam tried to calm the situation.


    ¡°No! You have to answer too! Why are you with the runt?!¡± Kira growled at him.


    Fenris rolled his eyes, removing himself from her grip. At that moment, all the warmth from before vanished as his eyes shimmered only because of the heat rising within him.


    "I don¡¯t owe you anything," He answered at the white wolf, who growled in return.


    ¡°You, this is all your fault!¡± She suddenly turned to me.


    In response, he grabbed onto her shoulder, tossing her onto the floor. It all happened before she could take a step toward me. The strength he used was almost excessive, though. The sound Layla made when she hit the ground was louder than if she tripped, but he didn¡¯t care if he broke her tailbone.


    He would never allow her anywhere near me. Layla was lucky to have her arm still. First, her eyes were wide open, but it wasn¡¯t long until she burst crying because of her handling.


    "How dare you treat her like this! She¡¯s your fianc¨¦e!" Kira snarled as her sister continued to weep.


    Although I felt terrible, it wasn¡¯t my place to say anything to her. This was between them. I didn¡¯t make any promises to marry her, nor did he. This was all in between parents who were long dead.


    "I never once said she was my fianc¨¦e, Kira. She¡¯s just another Lycan from the pack who¡¯s going after someone I love and who is my charge, too. Or did you forget that?" Fenris declared, but his expression showed no emotions towards her.


    Amelia had overheard the fighting. She was never far from the two girls, who were supposed to be family if the festival had gone to plan.


    "Fenris!" she called out to her little brother.


    However, this wolf had enough of being tossed around by them. He never intended to confront them, but invading his privacy was enough to send him over the edge.


    "No, fuck this! You all decided who I would marry when I never agreed!" Fenris growled at Amelia, who wasn¡¯t backing down to her younger brother.


    "You¡¯ll do as Dad wanted and create cubs with a Lycan girl, not a human one." Amelia scowled at me, yet her eyes flicked before shifting them away from me.


    "I¡¯ll knock up whoever I want, sis. That isn¡¯t for you or anyone to say anymore. It never was." Fenris huffed, flashing his fangs at her.


    "Fen¡­ No, the elders will knock some sense into that head of yours later," Amelia scoffed, helping Layla up before leaving with them.


    "I look forward to it, sis," Fenris growled, shaking his head.


    "We got your back," Liam assured his friend.


    ¡°Yes, for anything.¡± Melody chimed in.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± My wolf sighed, shifting his gaze towards me.


    Even though there weren¡¯t any dark circles under his eyes, he appeared tired.


    ¡°Come here.¡± He reached for me as I ran into his arms.


    Even though he wasn¡¯t planning on confronting anyone until the meeting, Layla took it out of his hands when she came for me again. The rest of the morning was uneventful. The white Lycan avoided Fenris and me like the plague as the funerals happened quickly and swiftly.


    All the families agreed to lay their loved ones to rest in one go, making it easy for everyone to mourn everyone they lost as a unit. When we came back to the inn from the graveyard, Ryker sent us a message.


    The council had agreed to meet me and would convene in a month. The Lycan elders would also be there. So, it would be like getting two birds with one stone.


    After that, Fenris and I retired to the main building, where tensions were higher than ever. Our room was fixed, and our daily life continued as usual. It also gave me the freedom to wander the headquarters again.


    Of course, Fenris was always with me when I did. With each day, he became more protective over me. Amara, much to her father¡¯s horror, came over a lot, claiming to run studies on me. I didn¡¯t mind her, though.


    Most of the time, though, I was stuck in the room. The media waited until after the memorials to publish their articles, but with that, they announced my story to the world. Some called me a monster and a victim, while others called me a savior.


    I was only allowed out of the building if Fenris had to go somewhere, as he wouldn¡¯t let me leave his sight. My world was slowly changing again as time moved toward the fated day of the meeting¡ªthe day that would change my life forever.

 Chapter 103: Sickness

    The days before the fated meeting, my body felt strange. The first change was my breasts, which got tender from wearing clothes. Then, slight fatigue set in, making me unable to keep up with Fenris as much as I could before.


    I wrote off most of it as stress caused by the upcoming meeting. Even when my cycle was delayed, that usually happened when I was anxious about something. It didn¡¯t help that Amara kept seeing me on the regular.


    She mentioned wanting to study my unique body but said a little about what she observed in me.


    I never asked her, either.


    On the meeting day, though, my world was set anew from when I woke up. I felt sicker than I had since the festival events. Fenris was startled awake when I ran into the bathroom, expelling everything in my stomach into the toilet.


    My world felt like it was spinning, even though I remained idle. Fenris joined me quicker than lightning before patting my back. It would¡¯ve been a comfort if I didn¡¯t have a magnetic pull towards the toilet.


    ¡°Hang in there, Lily. I¡¯m going to call Amara.¡± He breathed before dialing the medic to come.


    After finishing up the call, he texted Liam to come as well. Placing the phone away, he turned his full attention towards me.


    "Hey, she¡¯s on the way. Are you okay?" Fenris soothed my back.


    Shivers ran down my spine as I didn¡¯t know how to answer him. This was a first for me. Even with my fever moments, I never felt like this. The nausea had me pinned to where I was.


    "I don¡¯t know." I struggled to say as more of my stomach contents threatened to come out of me again.


    The prior night, I had eaten nothing too heavy. So, my stomach was relatively empty, yet I felt like everything wanted to come up¡ªacid and all, which t burned on the way up.


    "You think what you ate last night might¡¯ve done this?" he asked.


    I joggled my head, not knowing what was wrong. He tried to comfort me while we waited for Liam and Amara to come. It only took a few minutes for the brown wolf, whom Fenris had given a key to the room, to open the door, which allowed the medic to enter.


    Shade was by the door the entire time, watching everything unfold. Amara asked me a series of questions that I needed help to answer. My wolf hesitantly left the bathroom to give the medic space to work.


    After a few analysis spells, she sighed, relaxing her stance.


    "Do you know what¡¯s wrong with me?" I mumbled, still feeling ill.


    It was trickling away when Fenris''s phone answered a call from Ryker outside the bathroom about the meeting time and place. It caused the elf to be hesitant, looking outside towards the two wolves.


    "Yes... but..." Amara peered around.


    "But...?" I echoed the elf''s words.


    Something didn¡¯t seem right, and I didn¡¯t feel right.


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    "Have you been taking the pills I gave you?" Amara asked, changing the conversation.


    I gazed at her, utterly baffled by her.


    How does that have anything to do with it?


    She had given me some pills, telling me it reinforced my system about two weeks ago. It was vitamins of some kind, which I didn¡¯t mind taking.


    "Yes, but I want to know what you think it might be. Has the gate made me more unstable?" I started feeling unwell again.


    The urge to hurdle my contents made me hug the bowl again.


    She sighed, shaking her head. "I can¡¯t tell you. I need to do more analysis before I tell you anything concrete."


    "What? Am I dying?" I asked.


    Did my actions at the festival destroy my body?


    The elf grabbed my hands, "No! You aren¡¯t dying," she grumbled, glancing back at Shade.


    The little familiar tilted her head once eyes were on her.


    "Can you please close the door?" Amara asked the curious cat, who did as she wanted.


    Once the door was closed, she took out a portable sigil¡ªan accessory medics carried around to protect their patients'' confidentiality. Slowly, she leaned into me, brushing my hair away from my ear.


    "I can¡¯t keep this up for long, or they¡¯ll think something is off, but I can¡¯t tell anymore because the walls have ears. I¡¯m sorry. It isn¡¯t safe for you." She whispered in my ear, quickly taking off the sigil, hoping the boys were none the wiser.


    "What?" I mumbled, unable to follow her.


    Is someone listening to us speak here?


    Fenris probably knew, which would explain why he avoided speaking about anything vital while we were here. He would only allow certain topics to come up when we were there. The council probably did something when they rebuilt it.


    After all, we only used it to make love¡ªsomething he wanted to announce to everyone.


    "You have food poisoning. What you ate last night probably didn¡¯t go well with all your stress." Amara concluded, closing her kit.


    Fenris opened the door, worried about what was happening behind it.


    "Will she be fine?" He asked.


    The elf stood up from the bathroom floor. "Yes, she¡¯s okay. Just give her some plain biscuits to eat. Eat bland foods, and don''t eat anything too hot or smelly for a while. Oh! Tons of liquids, too!" She recommended.


    Fenris gently helped me up. My world was still woozy but calmer than before.


    "The meeting¡¯s in the afternoon. Will Lily be okay to travel by then?" Liam asked, sitting down by Fenris''s bed.


    I wondered how many colors my skin was turning when my wolf slowly led me onto the bed.


    "She¡¯ll be fine to attend. I¡¯ll be there in case, too." The elf assured the boys, glancing at Fenris, who was tracing my cheek, troubled that I was too pale.


    "Your dad¡¯s going to let you?" The silver wolf shifted his gaze towards her.


    Amara huffed in return. "Try not to stress her too much."


    The elf took a slight jab at Fenris, who growled at her tease. It was true he was drowning himself in me. We both were. His touch wasn¡¯t what caused this, or so I thought. After the medic left, he gave me some salt cookies, which fell decent on my upset tummy.


    However, I could stomach nothing else. A few minutes passed before everything returned to normal, and color returned to my face. Fenris was unusually protective of me, too. He was reluctant to leave me alone with anyone for longer than a minute or two, even if that person was Liam.


    He kept me close even when Melody joined us¡ªsomething unusual for him. It was like his protective drive was haywire. The black wolf was training Liam to control herself for the past month. Their relationship had also strengthened since the night of the festival.


    For the first time, I felt what Melody experienced when she saw Fenris and me kissing. They appeared happy together¡ªsomething my wolf didn¡¯t care about when he hounded me, ensuring I was okay before we left the room for the last time.


    The meeting was on the top floor of the Cerberus building. Even though I tried to keep up, it wasn¡¯t long until Fenris had to pick me up on his back. The fatigue was showing again; even the distance to the elevator was too much for me today.


    I never intended to enter the room on Fenris''s back, but I couldn¡¯t help it. Otherwise, it would¡¯ve taken me too long to get there. Melody held on to my dress behind Fenris, feeling intimidated by everything happening, too.


    This day was new for her; she thought it would never come as the elders would reevaluate her ranking. Liam led the way in the front while my wolf ensured we were both okay.


    Today is also the day I will make my case to the council and Lycan elders. I can only hope they¡¯ll listen to reason. If not¡­ I¡­

 Chapter 104: Council

    Once we were by the doors, Liam opened them to reveal a group of people inside. For the Lycans, there were five elders. Amelia, Ben, and Layla were there too. The other races had two people representing them.


    The only seat missing was for witchcraft, who would sit next to the human representative. Setting me down, Fenris addressed the council, who all bowed the same, greeting us. Ryker was next to the sun elf representative when Amara entered the room.


    Much to the elf''s embarrassment, she demanded to be let in, which ended in a minor bickering between the two. Huffing, she left him behind, standing beside the other high-ranking onlookers. I was the only witchcraft user in the room, and it showed as all eyes stacked up on me.


    In the center of the room was a table where the heads of every race sat in their chairs, waiting for me to address them. For a moment, I felt afraid even to speak. All their eyes were colder than anything else I had experienced.


    There''s no doubt you all know who I am. What a disadvantage.


    Fenris stood beside me to reinforce my feelings, helping me push my nerves away. The individuals I was facing today were Jaxon from the moon elves, Nyla from the earth elves, Roman from the human faction, Evan from the Lycans, Asher from the vampires, Charles from the sun elves, Jasper from the ocean elves, Kaiden from the blaze elves.


    They were the only ones from the people in the room who would address me directly. After this, the Lycans would have the stage to discuss their issues, but not before I made my plea to them.


    "I requested a meeting with you all... because of something I need to know." I started, only to be intercepted by Jasper.


    "Then spit it out, child. We don''t have all the time in the world." The ocean elf urged me to babble.


    His blue eyes appeared to twitch as his lips curled downward. I tried to hold my annoyance at his dismissal.


    This little¡­ No, that''s what he wants. Control yourself, Lilith. Ocean elves are known for being lazy and protective of their time. This doesn''t deserve your energy, even if you want to rip into him.


    "The soul cairn," I sighed, triggering everyone to send glares.


    If they want to get straight to the point, so be it.


    "How do you know that name?" Nyla asked curiously, narrowing her green eyes at me.


    A forgotten tale¡­


    "Alijah told me," I answered, only to be met with silence.


    All the other races that didn''t have fluffy tails or ears appeared confused. After all, that name meant nothing to them. However, the elder Lycans were uneasy as some paced.


    Liars...


    "Look, I want no more lies, just the truth. Why was the soul cairn deleted from people''s memories?" I questioned, shifting my gaze towards the council members.


    Jasper was right about how precious time was. We had already wasted a month on this meeting and couldn''t afford any more delays.


    Not when Alijah can come into this world at any moment.


    "Because one witch took it too far. While everyone else fought for its control." Kaiden answered, placing his hands on the table.


    Why do you always bring it back to us? Witches are wicked, but ignorance isn''t always bliss, elf.


    This one''s hatred for my kin wouldn''t distract me, and I knew how to hit them.


    "No¡­ it was because of the god artifacts your kind likes to make. Text from Lilith''s era don''t have it either." I pointed out.


    We knew this only because Liam and Melody had gone to the most extensive library in Lyari. They spent an entire week with no luck. A soft chuckle came from Charles, who nodded to confirm.


    "Yes, in the past, elves used their lives to farm these souls to make them into these holy relics, but that''s one reason it was banned from our world." He informed, beginning a chain reaction from the council.


    "Mostly, it used to be a part of life. Well, until your race came with the crazy idea to open the gate, allowing those beasts out." Asher announced, glancing at me more like I was a pest.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    His red orbs were full of disdain, triggering me to sigh.


    "Let''s not pretend like that was the only reason. No, before then, wars were fought over the realm. So, the heads of every race decided it was enough and closed off the public''s memory. This includes most of the population in our world." Roman informed, trying to take some heat off the humans.


    "So only a select few can know the truth?" I questioned, feeling off about it.


    How would we stop history from repeating if we didn''t learn from it?


    "Girl... only Lycans and vampires benefit from the soul cairn. They are the only ones who can withstand their power. Well, until you appeared and became the actual gate to it. No one would''ve missed its disappearance if it had gone to plan." Jasper trailed his hands on the table.


    "It seems it''s more than just that now, doesn''t it?" I continued.


    It caused Jaxon to laugh.


    "Yes, somehow, you made yourself a vessel for the cursed realm. Hooray, we''re doing something right." The moon elf sarcastically pointed out.


    Nyla shook her head in disapproval, picking up a pile of papers before her.


    "Seems you can even summon those things, too. From what the reports say, you''re something. Ah, what a waste of trees, though." The earth elf huffed, throwing them back onto the table.


    They loved their nature.


    "I can," I acknowledge, feeling a bit off again.


    Is it from this morning? I certainly don''t have to puke again. Do I?


    Even the whispers had felt irrelevant at this point.


    Just what''s wrong with me? I feel faint again.


    "Then it''s worse than we thought." Roman sighed, glancing towards his fellows.


    "The world seems to be at your whim, witch," Charles declared, tapping his fingers on the papers.


    I tried to snap out of what was happening to me to deny them, but the room was spinning, making it complicated.


    "I-I¡­" I trailed off, shaking my head.


    Their eyes are pilling; get a grip!


    A soft sigh came from my lips, "I''m not a danger to this world."


    Fenris tried his best not to step in to help me. It would be over if he did, but I could feel him looming over me. I would have to stand up by myself if I wanted to be heard by them.


    "Oh, but you are. Elves can try to capture the shadow demons again if they figure out that, which will produce more god artifacts and senseless death. Of course, lesser ones are all they can manipulate, but that alone requires sacrifices." Roman huffed, leaning on his chair.


    "Though, those things you summon are unkillable in our world, much like the ones from the fall. It seems the moment the souls step into this world, they''re out of our reach." Jaxon smirked, eyeing me down.


    Moon elves... are as chaotic as ever.


    "I don''t want to do anything to this world. All I want is to be with the one I love!" I declared, grasping onto my chest only to see the dismissal in their eyes.


    "Girl, the world doesn''t work that way. Eventually, power corrupts even the best of hearts." Nyla informed me, tapping her hand on the table.


    I shook my head even though what she said was true.


    "No, I..." I struggled to find the right words.


    Power corrupted the best of us. It could corrupt me eventually, but I... damn it, it doesn''t help I don''t feel good. Can all of this be because of the stress?


    "Look, the girl seems to struggle now." Jaxon exasperated me.


    His remark triggered me to fire up again as my temperature rose.


    You''re annoying!


    This elf knew how to push the right buttons to keep me going. Perhaps that was what he wanted.


    "This girl has a name, Lilith, and you''ll hear me if you want to survive what comes next!" I scowled at the moon elf, which triggered him to smirk.


    However, some of the council members remained unimpressed.


    "Threats will do nothing here, girl," Asher warned, leaning into his chair.


    His words caused me to glare at him, not wanting to back down either. Perhaps if the world would stop spinning momentarily, I could think better. Sadly, it didn''t seem to be in my cards. No, what I had to do was something else, and I wouldn''t like it.


    "All of you treat me like I''m the enemy. Perhaps I should be one." I sighed, turning back to Jaxon.


    You''re the one pushing me forward. So perhaps you''ll help me prove my point.


    Moon elves used to be close allies for witchcraft users.


    Maybe today it''ll be the same. If¡­


    "Go for it, moon elf. Look at my memories. Show them everything; I have nothing to hide from anyone." I pointed towards my head, smirking.


    This wouldn''t be pleasant, but at least they wouldn''t call everything a lie.


    "Perhaps that''ll wipe everyone''s grin off their faces." I walked over towards the table, leaving behind my beloved.


    "Wait, no! You don''t have to do this, Lilith!" Fenris tried to reach me, but Shade halted his advances by shifting and standing in his way.


    "Back off, lover boy, I won''t let anyone stand in our way. Not even you." She snickered.


    "Ah... so you know what I can do?" Jaxon smiled, amused by my willingness to prove them wrong.


    I nodded. "Of course I do. I know what every race''s capable of. Learning was the only thing that kept me entertained when I was younger. Lately, I rarely have the time, it seems." I sighed, showing little to no fear of what I asked him to do.


    Moon elves could see through memories, even project them into the room with their spells. However, it wasn''t a pleasant trip for whoever was being probed. It was worse the further back one went.


    It was usually only used on criminals, which meant I applied that definition simply by affiliation to the coven.


    "No! Lily, you can''t!" Fenris growled, eyes twitching.


    Shade didn''t let him through.


    "Now, little wolf, do I need to play with you?" The feline warned.


    "Shade," He huffed, shifting his eyes towards the elf


    However, this was the only way for the council to believe my words, especially since the Lycans refused to speak.


    Evan, for the mouth you had that day, you''re extra quiet.


    "Very well, bearer of the soul cairn. Let''s see what worries you." Jaxon smirked, standing from where he was before walking towards me.


    "Jaxon, don''t you dare!" Fenris snarled as his crimson aura began to erupt from him.


    The elf smirked, shrugging before pressing his hand on my forehead.


    "Lilith!" Fenris called out to me as Jaxon chanted a spell in an unknown language.


    Instantly, my body throbbed, triggering my memories to be projected into the room. The elf grabbed me by my waist so I wouldn''t fall to the ground while my wolf protectively tried to get to me, only for Shade to stop him in his tracks once again.


    This would be an experience I would never want to repeat.

 Chapter 105: Revelations

    This was the only way the council would listen. However, the incantation was excruciating to experience. It was as if needles were trying to rip my mind open even though it was willing. I tried to focus away from the pain and on what they needed to see to make it easier for me.


    No more, no less.


    In front of their eyes, they saw everything I had experienced through my eyes.


    Alijah... The soul cairn... Everything relevant to what today is about. You don''t need to know anything else.


    Seeing enough, Jaxon tugged away, stepping back from me as I held onto the table, attempting to stay up. Like everyone else, part of him didn''t believe me until he saw everything.


    Now, there''s no denying it.


    They all heard the exact words said to me from the Soul Cairn and Alijah. All the races glanced toward the Lycans while my body reached its limit, leaving me to tumble into Fenris''s arms.


    "So... the wolf that went mad is a true tale." The moon elf laughed, placing his hands on the desk.


    Amara ran to me to check if I was alright. Somehow, I kept my consciousness in one piece, even though my head felt like it was being split apart.


    "Stupid. Why did you do that?" Fenris whispered, holding me close.


    All I could do was cling to him. His heartbeat was soothing to hear as my body shivered, feeling sicker than before. However, it hurt to speak. In response to my inability to answer him, his anger only grew.


    "This was too far, Jaxon!" he growled.


    The moon elf gently smiled in return.


    "No, the girl... Ah, Lilith knew what she was doing. The order wouldn''t have believed her otherwise. Now your kin has a lot of explaining to do. I suspect not even you know about that Lycan, young silver blood." He assured my wolf.


    Even though I was worse for it, my warning resonated with them while Amara was trying to remedy my pain. However, what helped the most was being in my wolf''s tender embrace.


    "We have nothing to say," Evan declared, shifting onto his chair.


    The other Lycan elders appeared uneasy about the event but determined to keep their secrets.


    "Nothing? Didn''t you see what we saw? Hear it? Just who was that black-haired Lycan?" Roman questioned.


    "It could''ve been her imagination. Are we really to believe a mad witch?!" The old wolf deflected back onto me, who couldn''t respond to me even though I wanted to.


    Though the others in the council wouldn''t stand for it.


    "Oi! That wasn''t her imagination! That was real! Don''t question my ability to tell memories from a dream!" Jaxon scowled.


    Arguments continued to break out as control was soon lost until the point Fenris had enough of their bickering.


    "Can you all shut up?! This is going nowhere! Everything she said was real! Why even deny it, Grandpa?!" he handed me to Melody, who joined us when I fell.


    Once safe in her arms, he turned to face the council himself.


    "You''ll speak because I demand you do." My wolf slammed his hand on the table, startling everyone around.


    His temper showed thanks to a low red aura radiating from him as his power responded to his emotions. Everyone knew he was like Alijah but inexperienced, which made him unpredictable.


    "Don''t make any demands! You, a child, aren''t ready to be a leader!" Evan denied, sating from his chair.


    "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?! Isn''t this why you controlled my life?!" Fenris snarled.


    His grandfather barely flinched at his tone.


    "Where do I even begin?! You''ve been frolicking around with a human! Disgusting! You''ve brought nothing but shame to our clan!" Evan snapped.


    However, before Fenris could answer, his comment angered someone else, and she was unwilling to stand by any longer.


    "Ha? Shame? Excuse me?! You, mortals, are the only disgraceful things I see." Shade made herself known in her tiny form, hopping onto the table and pacing back and forth.


    She wanted to hurt anyone who tried to come between Fenris and us. No longer would she allow anyone to hurt us.


    "Shut up! You have no place to speak here, demon." Evan tried to dismiss the feline.


    She sat in front of him, smirking. He didn''t fear her as he should. He was out of Silverant during the fall and wasn''t at the festival grounds either. So, he didn''t know her as the ones who were there.


    A mistake he wouldn''t soon forget.


    Oh, touch me, mortal. Please, give me a reason to make you squeal to my pleasure. She wished.


    "No, I have all the fucking right to speak." Shade hissed back.


    Evan pointed towards the security around the room.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Will someone escort this beast out?!" the old wolf ordered.


    Shade tilted her head. "No... You won''t because whoever tries will lose a head or two." She warned, halting anyone who tried to come close to her.


    All but one, Fenris, picked her up from the table, placing her on the floor.


    "Enough, Shade, you made your point. Go back to Lily." He sighed.


    She grumbled, jumping on me again. Thanks to Amara, my head pounded less, allowing me to process things better. However, what was said next would cause my heart to race faster than I thought.


    "Grandpa, I''ll fuck, and marry whomever I desire. That isn''t for you to decide anymore." My wolf started, facing him head-on.


    Shade snickered, "I mean if you fuck someone else, I might end up hating you, little wolf."


    It caused him to growl at her, yet his cheeks were slightly pink, much to her pleasure.


    "Shade, you aren''t helping." Melody scolded.


    The feline huffed, puffing up her fur in response. Nothing would silence her until I picked her up in my arms. Her soft fur was so soothing to me. I was trying to hide how her comment flustered me, too.


    "You make a mockery out of this council." Evan declared.


    The rest of the council remained quiet at his remark until one spoke up.


    "No, you do that, Evan." Nyla finally broke the silence.


    Her words reflected on all the others glaring at the old wolf as she unleashed the floodgates on the unsuspecting Lycan elder.


    "What?" Evan mumbled, shifting his gaze towards the nature elf.


    "You''re hiding something from us. That''s something we don''t take kindly." Asher announced, standing up from his chair.


    His bright red eyes shimmered, alerting everyone that he was heated. Vampires were the most unpredictable race in terms of blood control. He could do severe damage to anyone at this range if he wanted.


    "We thought we knew everything. Perhaps it''s time for a change." Kaiden grumbled as his hair caught fire, much like his orange eyes.


    "We know nothing at all. Why waste our time like this?" Jasper yawned.


    "The boy, although young, has gained his power. I suggest he ascends as you step down from it, Evan. It was a mistake to let you have it first; Ben was right." Charles announced, triggering ripples in the room.


    "What?! You can''t possibly do that!" the old wolf confronted the sun elf, growling.


    Instead of paying him any mind, Charles glanced around his fellows, "What say you?"


    "Well, Evan has always been there temporarily, but I do see it was a mistake for us to think your eldest grandson couldn''t hold the chair because of his injuries," Jaxon added to the conversation.


    "Whoever this young silver blood sleeps with or caresses at night is none of our concerns. To make it so, it''s repugnant. You and your pure blood ways have always been misleading at best." Nyla mentioned, not pleased with how things were going.


    "You''re out of bounds! You don''t control what we Lycans do!" Evan fumed, slamming his hands on the table.


    This older man used to be the alpha before Amir, which meant he wasn''t used to being defied.


    I''m curious if your son challenged or allowed you to have your way. Was it he or you who decided Fenris''s life?


    "No... but we control who has a say at this table, and I believe we agree for once that you aren''t part of it any longer." Charles declared, standing up from his chair.


    "You can''t do this!" the old wolf pleaded with the council.


    He was stuck in the old ways when it used to be the Lycans deciding everything, but all of that shattered when his eldest son died.


    "We can. This is why the council was formed when Cerberus, the world-keeping organization, fell on the day Silverant was destroyed. Plus, I''m sure the young blood can best you in the old ways if needed." The moon elf pointed out, triggering Evan''s glare toward my wolf.


    In the old days, Lycans would fight for the spot of alpha, meaning only the strongest wolf would wear that title, which undoubtedly belonged to Fenris, who had shown his power when he saved everyone from me when I lost control.


    "Then it''s settled the young silver blood will be the new representative for the Lycans." Charles declared, once again bowing his head to Fenris.


    My wolf smirked as Evan continued to protest.


    "This isn''t what we agreed!" He huffed, shifting his eyes towards those who used to be his allies.


    Ah¡­ You planned to shut me down before realizing the truth. How dull¡­


    "No, it isn''t, but you can''t be trusted anymore, and if the peace is to last, this will have to stop. After all, we already tried having one leader, which failed." Jasper commented, tapping his hands on the table.


    Luckily, an ocean elf could get heated about that, as they hated anything that had to do with authority. Free spirits, they called themselves. However, that wasn''t the only reason the council was favorable to too many of the members gathered.


    After the Lycan rule, many races lost their voice, which gave everyone equal rights¡ªsomething Evan wasn''t used to. For changes to be made, there had to be unanimous agreement between the council members.


    "Are these new terms to your liking, young blood?" Charles asked Fenris, who blinked momentarily, still absorbing what had happened.


    However, it wouldn''t last long since he quickly shook his amazement off after being addressed.


    "Of course, I never intended to dissolve the council. Even when I took my place as the head of the pack and Cerberus, I wanted it to stay." Fenris announced, triggering smiles in the other races, who didn''t want to return to the tyranny the Lycans used to have over them.


    "Ah... you''ve made him wise, Ryker," Charles commented to his fellow, who smiled at the silver wolf.


    The elf had seen the boy grow from an orphan to the man who stood before the council. He couldn''t be prouder, even when they had blows and disagreements. Their partnership allowed me to stay near him.


    "No, the boy came to this alone," Ryker assured his leader.


    Jaxon shifted his gaze from Fenris to me when Melody slowly picked me up from the floor. It appeared everything ended well for us as the council agreed to help us with Alijah and the rogue witches.


    Fenris continued to address them with everything that we learned. However, the moon elf walked over to me, curious about something.


    "Lilith, why didn''t you tell me of your condition before we started earlier?" He bowed his head to me apologetically.


    I gazed at him, cocking my head.


    What¡­?


    On the other hand, Amara appeared jumpy upon hearing those words.


    "What condition?" I muttered, only for my head to throb when I took a few steps away from Melody.


    I held Shade up to my chest.


    Please remind me to put a leash on that thought of yours.


    The little kitty happily purred, climbing onto my shoulder.


    "Jaxon, don''t do it." Amara tried to sway him from his current course, grabbing the unsuspecting elf on his shoulder.


    Fate was a fickle little thing that couldn''t be stopped when it desired to happen, and what came out of the elf''s mouth would change my world. Pulling away from Amara, he glanced down at my abdomen.


    "I mean, if you would''ve told me. I probably could''ve gone easier on you." He kept going on.


    I softly glanced at him, "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    The moon elf smiled, "I''m sure of what I felt. You''re pregnant, aren''t you?"


    My world was turned upside down in an instant, and I wasn''t the only one. Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing, followed by various gasps from the Lycans in the room.  Sadly, my brain couldn''t fully process what he said, yet I instinctively reached for my lower abdomen.


    "What?" I mumbled.


    However, someone was worse off than me. The announcement ripped Layla''s destiny out of her hands¡ªone she had been groomed for her whole life. Fenris''s jaw dropped as his eyes couldn''t go any wider; after all, he had been careful with me.


    He turned to face me along with every other Lycan in the room. The most affected was Layla, who couldn''t tolerate losing her fated role at that moment. In a second, she closed the gap between me and her.


    Instead of me, though, she met with Shade, who ripped the arm she was about to use to claw into me. In reaction, Melody, the closest to me, protected me in her arms.


    Everything had changed in a matter of seconds, allowing the scent of blood to fill the air again.

 Chapter 106: Unsuspected Turn of Events

    In a split second, everything changed again as every soul in the room was reminded of how dangerous Shade truly was. In the time it took for everyone to realize what had happened, she shifted and bit Layla''s arm off, using her tail to slam the wolf onto the ground. Fenris immediately escaped his shock, nabbing me from Melody''s hands.


    Liam joined us as Shade stomped on Layla''s head, who screeched in pain beneath her. Silence filled the room. Amelia was frozen and unable to move, shaking where she stood. Everyone in the room watched the feline drop the severed arm next to her body, snickering.


    My mind lagged to understand what had happened.


    "Hah! The murderous intent that came from you was glorious. Yet... how stupid can you be? I warned you, didn''t I?" Shade snorted, bending her head down to Layla.


    The cat wanted a better view of the female Lycan writhing in pain under her paw. No one moved a centimeter to help her when the feline snickered, realizing she warned no one about harming me, but it was such an obvious thing to her.


    Stupid mortals, like I¡¯d let you hurt us. She scoffed, flickering her tail.


    "Ah... wait, I didn¡¯t. Well, it should¡¯ve been obvious. Would I sit by and let you have your way with my Lily? Do you think I look cute and fluffy for your pleasure? Wrong! It¡¯s all for my Lily! My half, and you dare to try to hurt us!" Shade gibed Layla''s stupid choice to go after me.


    The white wolf responded by yelling at the top of her lungs. Her yapping caused Shade to rub the Lycan''s face on the ground with her paw. At the moment''s spur, she probably didn¡¯t think it through¡ªa one-of-a-kind perk Lycans had when angered.


    At that moment, Layla probably wanted to eliminate the thing, causing her pain at any cost.


    "Shade, please..." I mumbled from Fenris''s embrace.


    For the first time since she came to this world, she ignored me, leaving Layla writhing in pain to pace around the room. It was almost as if a shark was circling us, waiting for her prey to move.


    "So, who¡¯s next? Who¡¯s going to try and hurt us?!" Shade hissed, triggering the crowd to flinch.


    She no longer was hiding behind her innocent form, either. Instead, what glared at them was the veritable beast she was. All of them were threats in her eyes, and she would let no one near me. Even poor Ben couldn''t step toward me without her glowering at him to stop.


    She was getting out of control. In her desire to protect me from everyone, she isolated me from those whom I needed.


    I need to¡­


    Even though part of me was still stunned over finding out that I was bearing something I didn¡¯t quite comprehend, I was the only one who could stop Shade from going on a rampage. She truly hated how everyone treated me; in her eyes, this was justice.


    Feeling as ill as I did, I pushed myself off Fenris to run to her. I was grateful to her for protecting me so fiercely, but making them fear me wouldn¡¯t help me in my quest for their help. Wrapping my arms around her, she appeared surprised by my approach and touch.


    Fenris wasn¡¯t far behind me, but he knew I was in no danger from Shade, even if she was on a rampage.


    "Enough, you¡¯ve made your point. Please, don¡¯t hurt anyone else." I mumbled, feeling a bit dizzy.


    The second I hugged her, she sat, wrapping her deadly paw around me, ensuring no one would come near me. However, her deadly embrace was comforting to me. She was the one thing who would never leave me, no matter what I did.


    "No... they should all know they can''t touch us lightly! You¡¯re my Lily... We are¡ª" Shade stopped, hissing at Fenris''s slow approach.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    I buried myself in her fur. Her hostility didn¡¯t stop him, though, just in time because my world slowly blurred. Even though Shade tried to stop me from falling on my knees, Fenris''s grip prevented me from tumbling down to the ground.


    Worried about me, Shade poked her head to lick my cheek with her rough tongue. I reached for her.


    My beloved familiar. No¡­ You¡¯re more than that.


    "Thank you for protecting me," I mumbled, trying not to lose myself.


    Fenris sighed, pressing his temple on mine. ¡°Lily, how did we get here?¡±


    His words were like a whisper, soon overruled by the feline, who flicked her tail again.


    "Arg! No, don¡¯t thank me. I didn¡¯t do it for such a shallow reason." Shade whispered worriedly about my well-being.


    ¡°I know,¡± I simpered, pinching her big cheek.


    Even though her appearance was terrifying, to me, she was¡­


    My Shade.


    She could have swiftly ended Layla, but she didn¡¯t, knowing it wasn¡¯t something I desired. Her anger spilled into the world, but she still tried to appease me.


    "Layla needs to get medical attention. Please let her have it," I pleaded to Shade.


    Nausea from this morning was coming in waves thanks to my earlier extortion.


    "Ha? She¡¯s lucky to have her head still." The feline huffed, shifting her eyes towards the injured wolf.


    "Please, Shade..." I breathed, triggering her to sigh.


    "Arg... Fine. For you." Shade mumbled, shrinking down once again before jumping on me.


    Fenris slowly helped me up from the floor. Sadly, it appeared I had a favorable attraction with it today as it called for me, even though my wolf held me, preventing me from going to it. After the initial danger of her losing control passed, he made sure I was close enough to him in case anyone else tried anything.


    His hands were trembling the entire time. Given the green light, Amara rushed to Layla''s side when Shade shrunk enough not to be dangerous. All the elders were shocked at what unfolded in front of their eyes. Evan, who hadn¡¯t taken Shade seriously, shook in his shoes.


    A medical team assembled near Layla to reattach the severed arm. Luckily for her, Shade had left the arm in one piece, but the Lycan would never regain the same strength she had before it was torn off.


    Luckily, wolves had a fantastic ability to heal quickly, so it helped if they could get their limbs reattached for a better prognosis. Ben, who didn¡¯t have the same luck when he was younger, slowly approached us as a council member broke the silence plaguing the room.


    "From your fianc¨¦e''s reaction. I take it that Lilith¡¯s pregnant with your child, Fenris?" Charles asked.


    I had been attacked, so what Shade had done was nothing more than self-defense. Behind us, Layla received the help she needed while she gasped and cried, as the pain couldn¡¯t be remedied in our current position.


    "Yes..." He replied, holding me close to his chest.


    His eyes shimmered, alerting anyone around him not to come near us. He was ready to defend me, especially Layla, who was still conscious as her arm was being reattached.


    "Preposterous! Humans are known for their willingness to open their legs to anyone, especially witches. The harlot could¡¯ve been with anyone!" Evan retorted, trying to discredit me.


    His words made my wolf growl before he could put it into words. Someone stepped in front of him.


    "From what I felt, she can¡¯t be farther than a month. So, whoever she was with was a month ago." Jaxon added to the information pool.


    Ah¡­ the night of the red moon, I forgot to drink the contraceptive, didn¡¯t I?!


    I winced, shaking my head. Within all the chaos, I had made a grievous mistake, forgetting about it so casually. However, it would have killed the egg even if I had taken it after the festival events.


    It did nothing to a fertilized embryo that formed when we were in the inn. Even though Fenris didn¡¯t remember the night, there was no other time we were together.


    How could I be so careless?! I¡¯ve¡­


    "You seemed to be surprised by the news, young silver blood. Are you sure it¡¯s your child she bears?" Nyla questioned.


    My heart stopped as my entire body turned ice cold.


    There is no way you doubt me, is there? I¡­


    A child coming to this world was challenging, especially when we prepared for the battle looming over us. Not only that, but it was something I forced him into when I carelessly walked into that open field and took advantage of him during the moon when he had no control.


    "Ah, am I surprised? Yes, but not because there¡¯s a possibility of not being the father of the pups she¡¯s holding.¡± Fenris started, shifting his gaze towards me.


    His eyes were frozen and calculated, and he wasn¡¯t allowing the emotions surging within him to affect him.


    ¡°There is no doubt that Lily hasn¡¯t been with another man other than me. A month ago, during the night of the red moon, Lilith was with me." Fenris replied, releasing a soft sigh.


    Every Lycan in the room appeared shaken by the revelation we conceived during the blood moon. It meant something more than a normal pregnancy.


    "What?!" Evan rasped, disgusted by the turn of events.


    Two Lycan elders reacted similarly, while the others appeared to change their tune. One was a red-haired female interested in our being together during the blood moon.


    "So that child was created under the red moon?" she asked, stepping towards us.


    Her words rang in my ears, making me clutch Fenris tighter. Friend or foe, I didn''t know which one she was, but one thing was certain. I wasn''t letting go of my wolf.

 Chapter 107: A New Sister

    Fenris held me closely, not knowing this red wolf''s intention.


    "I¡¯ll kill you, Lilith!" Layla screeched, finally stable enough to disrupt everyone.


    Amara grumbled in response to her hostility towards me as a fierce growl erupted from Fenris to meet her declaration of intent. He wouldn¡¯t allow her assertions to stand any longer. Before, the announcement of my pregnancy had stunned him, but he was determined to defend me himself.


    Shade wouldn¡¯t have to lift a nail to do so.


    "If you even try to do anything to her. You¡¯ll wish Shade ended you." My wolf glowered at her, triggering his eyes to shimmer a brighter hue than before.


    There was no doubt in my mind that he would rip into her himself the next time she came at me. The female elder Lycan sighed, clapping her hands to catch everyone''s attention.


    "Okay, enough. I think this is a problem that the other races don¡¯t need to hear. Can I kindly ask the council to reconvene tomorrow?" she asserted.


    The members sighed in response, as watching the Lycans fall apart was a great show. However, Jasper was happy to hear her, as he had wanted out since it started.


    "Very well, as enjoyable as that was. I believe we have the day to think over things. Let¡¯s continue to discuss our approach tomorrow. This Lycan matter has nothing to do with us. Although it¡¯s rather amusing to watch even you fail, Evan." Asher, who had fixed his white hair, chuckled, standing up from his chair.


    He went out of the room without looking back.


    "I hope you can get the information we need for tomorrow''s reunion," Nyla huffed at Fenris.


    ¡°Let it to me. I¡¯ll get all the information you need from my pack.¡± He nodded.


    "Make sure you reattach that arm." Jasper gagged, standing up from his chair and running out.


    Amara mumbled, ¡°Stupid sea ball, you think it¡¯s that easy?!¡±


    "Fenris... I expect great things from you." Charles, who looked like Ryker, smiled before leaving the room.


    "Crap... I wanted to see more." Jaxon, who had purplish hair and grey skin, shrugged.


    Kaiden, who had bright red hair and tanned skin, dragged the reluctant moon elf away, along with the other members. The only ones who stayed behind were Ryker and Amara, who were busy tending to Layla, whose intense glares made me shiver.


    Though Fenris stayed by me, surprisingly, Amelia slowly stepped towards us, glancing at my lower abdomen.


    Ben, who had a bright smile on his lips, followed her.


    "Are you holding my kin in there?" the white wolf asked, slowly reaching my abdomen.


    Fenris watched her closely, and even though she was not hostile, I took a step closer to him. She had been acting weird since the day I retold my story.


    "I... don¡¯t know," I mumbled.


    The fact I might carry life within me was surreal and scared the living soul out of me.


    Something must be wrong. This can¡¯t happen. I¡¯m not ready for any of this!


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    Shade rubbed her head on my cheek to comfort me. However, I felt light lighting had struck me where I stood when I saw tears rolling down Amelia''s cheeks.


    ¡°I... can¡¯t hate the mother of my baby brother¡¯s child or it, even if it¡¯s a hybrid." She softly sobbed, tugging her hand away from me.


    She was confused about how to feel about my current predicament. It was the first time I had seen the cold-hearted Lycan move by something.


    "Ah, how silly can you be? You hate an innocent life before it¡¯s born. Ami, you aren¡¯t a monster or heartless even though you try to be." Ben sighed, pulling her into his arms.


    This family had fractures, but besides harsh words exchanged between us, this wolf had done nothing to hurt me. For the first time since that horrible day, she was trying to break all the walls placed to prevent me from getting in.


    At this point, I didn¡¯t know the meaning behind her change of emotions, but I would later learn she could never bear a child because of a congenital disability. The children that her brothers would have were the only ones she would ever meet.


    Ben had none, even though he was the second oldest. So, I would be the first to have little feet running in the family, even if I still didn¡¯t know how to feel about it. Evan, however, wasn¡¯t as willing to accept the growing child within me.


    After everyone left the room for us, the show began again when the older man retook the stage. He was determined to end whatever was growing within me.


    "I hope you all know that abomination must be terminated," he started.


    Instinctively, I grabbed onto my abdomen.


    No! I¡­


    Evan¡¯s words caused chills to go down my spine, sending me back to the moment my father said he tried to end me.


    This child... Is it going to have the same fate? Will Fenris want the same?


    My heart dropped, shaking my head. Even though I didn¡¯t understand the first thing about being a mother, this life growing within me came from the wolf I adored¡ªsomething that couldn¡¯t be destroyed.


    The looming thought of what my mother went through came to mind.


    You gave up everything for me. Is this how you felt? Will I¡­ be able to do the same? If it¡¯s between the baby and Fenris, I¡­


    Stings rose in my chest as my wolf held me closer, noticing my subtle gestures of distress.


    "If you do anything to Lily, Grandpa, I¡¯ll make sure it is the last thing you do." He growled.


    Unlike me, my wolf appeared unshaken by his words of hatred.


    "You dumb child! Your line¡¯s made of pure blood! The next child will be no less! You¡¯ll marry Layla and make a true heir!" He confronted his grandson, who was about to lose his patience as his grip on me tightened.


    His reluctance to leave me unguarded prevented him from pouncing on the elderly man. Amara, who had finished tending to Layla, stood up from where she was, heading to join us. Her eyes were twitching as her eyes gave off a soft hue.


    The fact that the old Lycan would call my child a thing bothered her. Someone was worse off, though. Melody couldn¡¯t contain her rage, throwing the closest thing to her towards the elder. A chair he barely dodged as it smashed against the wall behind him.


    Liam held her back before she could pounce on him.


    "How dare you?! That¡¯s an innocent life! My best friend''s baby! You¡¯ll respect her child!" she snarled, trying to get away from her lover to dig her claws into her prey.


    Her devotion left me open in ways I had never felt before.


    Best friend?


    "Silence! You¡¯re nothing but a curse to your kind!" Evan spurred out in the heat of the moment, catching everyone''s attention.


    Finally, the subject shifted away from me, much to my relief.


    "What?" The black wolf mumbled.


    Evan would kindly fill her in as his anger took hold of his words.


    "You¡¯re a disgrace to even look at! Your slut of a mother could seduce my son, but you surely won¡¯t seduce this pack your way!" Evan fumed, trying to put her in her place.


    In his moment of rage, though, he didn¡¯t realize the storm he had set off.


    "Wait¡­ Wait¡­ M-Melody¡¯s d-dad''s daughter?" Ben stuttered, shifting his eyes back and forth between the two.


    Amelia glanced down at the floor, biting her lip. Even though Evan didn¡¯t speak, his hesitance to say anything else was enough to conclude what everyone was thinking. Fenris shifted his gaze between his grandfather and Melody, unable to follow along.


    The black wolf was close to Fenris''s age, shy of a year older than Liam. In an instant, the picture of the family he knew was gone, as he knew nothing of the secrets the adults in his life hid. Something that Amelia, who had been holding back the family secret for years, finally broke.


    "It¡¯s true, she¡¯s dad¡¯s child," the white Lycan announced, refusing to look at her.


    My friend was utterly speechless by what was unveiled. She never mentioned her parents to me as she didn¡¯t know them. The only one she knew was her grandmother, who was killed in the bombing of Silverant.


    Is that why Amelia looked at you full of contempt before?


    Her previous actions could have concluded that but more than that, they meant she was Fenris¡¯s older sister¡ªone he never knew and I loved.

 Chapter 108: Union of Hearts

    Once again, our world was shifted when Melody was revealed to be Fenris¡¯s older sister from an affair his father had. The two brothers were caught off guard by it as the young silver wolf turned to his eldest sister.


    "You knew this entire time?" He asked Amelia.


    She nodded, gazing away from her little brother.


    "I¡¯m the eldest, so I remember better than Ben what happened before you were born. When your mother found out what Dad did, she wasn¡¯t happy. It caused a storm I never wanted to relive, especially since he got another woman pregnant." Amelia closed her eyes, reliving unpleasant memories.


    It probably was part of what shaped her heart.


    "My son had a moment of weakness. That¡¯s all." Evan tried to backtrack, noticing he had let his anger send his family into a storm.


    Unfortunately for him, Amelia wouldn¡¯t allow her father to be a victim like Evan desired.


    "It was more than a moment of weakness! Dad loved Lora sincerely, and it broke Mom!¡± the white wolf clasped her hand onto her chest. ¡°It only got worse when she found out Lora was a runt. Nothing was more embarrassing than Dad cheating on her with a runt!¡±


    Those days were still vivid in her mind, triggering her to flinch.


    ¡°It drove Mom crazy knowing he kept seeing her even after being confronted. It led her to place a bounty on Lora''s head. Luckily, Dad helped his mistress disappear by taking the attention away from her and rekindling their marriage.¡± Amelia sighed, triggering alarm bells in my head.


    There was the thought that Fenris was nothing more than an excuse to keep his mother happy, but along that was another concerning matter¡ªone that mattered more than a family feud. If Melody''s mother were also a runt, it confirmed the curse as a generational one.


    How long, though? That woman¡­


    It would¡¯ve been impossible to know, yet something told me Evan and the other elders knew more than they were telling¡ªfinally, something that wasn¡¯t about me.


    I can fight that.


    "So... even Melody''s mother was cursed. Do you know something about that?" I got my feet on solid ground.


    It was easy to talk when it wasn¡¯t about what was in my womb.


    "Cursed?" Amelia asked, tilting her head at me.


    She was clueless. None of the younger Lycans knew what I spoke about. They probably didn¡¯t even realize I cured Melody.


    "I know nothing about such a thing." Evan tried to deflect.


    Though it was apparent he was hiding something. The way he avoided everyone¡¯s gaze yelled louder than his words. The female Lycan from before decided otherwise.


    "Well, I do." She announced.


    Evan turned to her in disbelief.


    "Ursula, you won¡¯t speak a word!" the old man commanded her.


    She shrugged, gazing back at me. In her eyes, there was something I couldn¡¯t quite tell.


    Hope? No... It¡¯s something else.


    "Melody is a direct descendent of Alijah. Well, his brother was cursed in battle long ago, or so the story says." Ursula informed, adding a crucial new piece of information.


    Melody is a descendant of Alijah''s family line!? Unbelievable¡­


    They were nothing alike, yet I remembered that her beauty was the first thing I perceived from her. Thousands of years had passed since the red moon Lycan was in the mortal realm, so family branches were lost long ago.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Is Melody the person Tobias referred to when we spoke?


    "Alijah had a brother?" I queried.


    "Yes, he did. The story is longer than what Alijah told you, but I¡¯m guessing you didn¡¯t have the time to hear it all from him or that he¡¯d want to live it." Ursula pointed out.


    The old silver blood stepped in once again.


    "This is treason." He tried to stop her by grabbing onto her shoulder.


    His touch caused her to growl before glowering at him, which caused him to let go of her.


    "Pathetic old fool, the real treason is trying to murder the red moon''s child, even if it''s a human bearing it! This is where our ancestors failed, and you wish to squander the opportunity?!" she snarled.


    What?


    Evan took a few steps away from her, losing control of his pack. However, it was never his pack to have. Fenris was supposed to gain the alpha title during the festival, but the attack interrupted this.


    "You don¡¯t know what you are saying!" Evan rasped, voice shaking as his eyes dilated.


    He dreaded what would happen if I brought this child into the world.


    An unknown. No, it''s an abomination in your eyes.


    Anything that wasn¡¯t pure would be nothing more than a curse in his mind. Instead of being swayed by his worries, Ursula stepped towards me, smiling.


    "Oh, but I do... a woman has her intuitions," Ursula reassured the old lycan of her beliefs, glancing towards Amara.


    The elf was watching everything that unfolded. Layla had stayed behind with Ryker, who was also watching. Although if looks could kill, the scorned woman would¡¯ve already claimed my life.


    "You, medic. How many pups is Lilith carrying?" Ursula suddenly asked Amara.


    The sudden shift in the subject caused me to grip Fenris again, as I wasn¡¯t ready. If anything, I wanted to continue investigating Melody¡¯s origins.


    "I..." the elf was hesitant to say anything.


    Ursula tilted her head. "Ah, I see! If you fear harm will come to her. Don¡¯t worry. If the moon¡¯s within her, the creed will protect her." Ursula reassured her.


    Amara clicked her tongue before sighing in response. "It¡¯s too early to tell. Something interferes with my magic, but I think at least two," the elf announced.


    Her words sent me into a world I knew nothing about.


    Not one, but two?!


    "Twins?" Fenris blurted out, glancing back at me.


    I felt worse when he said it out loud. The surprise in his voice didn¡¯t make me feel any better about my current outcome. If anything, everything appeared to move by itself again.


    "Maybe two more," Amara added, leaving me seeing doubles.


    That... That... can¡¯t be...


    "I-I feel s-sick." I stuttered out before emptying my stomach contents onto the floor.


    For a moment, we went from arguing to searching for a chair for me to sit on. Amelia tried ventilating the air with a hand fan while Amara checked on me.


    What¡¯s this world coming to? How can I carry a child, let alone potentially four? How can I¡­


    In an instant, my chest felt heavy as my breath became unsteady and my vision blurred. Fenris noticed before I hyperventilated. He grabbed me by my chin and forced me to face him, pressing his warm forehead against my cold one.


    "Lily... it¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll figure it out together." My wolf pushed aside his worries to help quell mine.


    His words did very little to help me, even though I appreciated what he said.


    You¡¯re nothing like my father, but you never wanted to be a dad, either!


    "Will it be loved?" I worded a thought out loud, tears falling down my eyes.


    My genuine fear was that it would be hated for what it was, and that alone made me want to tear out my womb from my body.


    How can I ever bring a child into a world like this? I don¡¯t want it to have the same fate I did!


    There was no point in having a child if they would suffer as I did. Upon hearing me, Fenris bit into his bottom lip, engulfing me in his arms. His heartbeat was faster than mine, pounding loudly in his chest.


    "Of course, we¡¯ll love our child! How can you think otherwise?!"  His voice cracked. ¡°I¡¯ll love them and protect them just like I do to you, but none of that matters. First, you have to decide if you want to have my pups.¡±


    Tears fell from his eyes as well.


    ¡°Of course, I want to have your babies!¡± I cried, holding onto him.


    ¡°Then that¡¯s all that matters.¡± He broke, too, holding me tenderly before cupping my cheeks and forcing my eyes to meet with his. ¡°I¡¯ll love anything that comes out of us. No matter what, I¡¯ll always love you.¡±


    ¡°Fenris¡­ I love you too.¡± I cried, triggering a soft smile to rise on his lips.


    ¡°I know. Thank you for waiting for me.¡± He breathed.


    "Ah¡­ Lilith, I¡¯m probably the least person who should say this, as I¡¯ve mistreated you for years now.¡± Amelia sighed, unable to take how his baby brother was emotional as well.


    ¡°But I assure you, your baby¡­ No, your babies will be loved no matter what they are.¡± She declared, triggering my gaze to fall on her.


    There, I saw tears in her eyes again, ¡°I¡¯ve been unfair and never tried to understand you because I needed someone to blame for everything that happened. But... I¡¯ll try to change. I¡¯ve allowed hatred to rule over me without understanding anything, so I apologize for everything I''ve done." She bowed her head to me, leaving me wide open.


    "I¡¯ve always seen you as part of my family, Lilith. Heck, many times, I saw you as my little sister. This makes it more official." Ben smiled, petting my head.


    Melody hesitantly approached us, not knowing if we welcomed her into this family huddle. After hearing her origins, she was wary about how the siblings would react to her. Upon noticing her approach, the elder brother reached for her, pulling her into the family bundle that started around me.


    "Lily!" Melody cried, hugging me from the side.


    Liam stood nearby, smiling at the union that the unborn babies did. Unable to contain it any longer, I wept, held by the tenderness of these wolves who were so willing to accept me.

 Chapter 109: The Shadow Of A Foe

    After a special moment with the Silver Fang pack, I had more lights shining at me than I could handle. Sadly, not everyone was on our side. Evan and the other two elders, who weren¡¯t pleased by the results, swiftly left the scene along with Layla, who had lost everything.


    Amelia had betrayed her in the last turn of events when the eldest sister decided to accept it rather than push it away. Ursula and another elder stayed behind with us. Even though I was still unsure of everything that meant to be a mother, I felt hopeful that the child would have a better life than mine.


    It was the least I could do for them.


    After I calmed down enough, Fenris still caressed my cheek to comfort me, whispering sweet things. On the other hand, the chaotic feline tested Amelia''s resolve by jumping on her from Ben. Miraculously, she didn¡¯t shove her off but refused to acknowledge that a murderous cat was on her¡ªsomething that Shade snickered at.


    Baby steps...


    I never hated the white wolf for how she treated me, but the little black cat was another story. It would take a lot to undo everything that was done, but I was also partly at fault. I never said my side because I thought it wouldn¡¯t matter to anyone.


    Holding onto Fenris tightly, I tried to wipe away his tears while he rested his forehead against mine. Finding a moment of peace, I tried to analyze everything that was said. I realized something had slipped when I asked about Alijah''s brother.


    A simple detail that filled me with a winter cold that I couldn¡¯t shake away. Tugging away from Fenris, I turned to Ursula, much to his worry, since he noticed when my demeanor suddenly changed.


    "Hey, Lily, are you okay?" my wolf asked.


    Ignoring him, I tried to focus on the question that plagued me. If I turned to him again, I would break.


    "Y-you... said Alijah''s brother was c-cursed?" I asked, voice quivering.


    Ursula nodded. "Yes, he had his child cursed with the inability to access his beast. It ran in every one of his lines, including Melody."


    Her words made me realize that there was a worse monster alive, staring right at us. It was worse than Alijah himself¡ªone of unfathomable power. If that witch had cast a strong spell thousands of years ago, then what she possessed could rival my power, and unlike me, she had complete control over herself.


    "No... i-impossible... t-that would mean." I stumbled to get my thoughts together.


    The curse didn¡¯t guide me into an item holding the soul of a witch. No, it had taken me to the living body of a woman who was scarier than Alijah. Fenris grabbed my chin again, forcing me to stare at him as my lip quivered.


    "Lily? What¡¯s the matter?" he questioned.


    Even though the whispers rarely plagued my thoughts anymore, my mind was a raging storm.


    "When I broke Melody''s curse, I thought it was a generational curse linked to an item with a witch¡¯s grudge, but it was so strong that it dragged my consciousness out. It took me towards her, and I saw her alive, standing next to my grandmother." I informed forgetting that had ever happened.


    After the festival events, it became a second thought to me.


    Ben stood up from where he was, pacing back and forth. "That¡¯s¡­ Impossible, the vampires hunted all true eternal witches down hundreds of years ago.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I shook my head, not believing it myself, but I saw her.


    I felt her aura, her power. She¡¯s no myth.


    ¡°She¡¯s called Edna... if she¡¯s still alive, then that means she¡¯s older than Alijah." I shuttered at the thought that left me.


    This woman had survived thousands of years undetected, all this time storing power. Death influenced a witch''s power; the more we witnessed, the more powerful we became.


    "You... didn¡¯t tell me this?" Fenris growled.


    "That¡¯s because I forgot. It happened so fast, and Melody went on a rampage, then the festival.¡± I tried to defend myself, to see him narrow his eyes.


    It caused me to slump my eyes towards the floor. ¡°I-I swear, I d-didn¡¯t mean to." I clung to Fenris''s shirt.


    Are my hormones making me more skittish?


    Petting my head, he sighed, letting it go. "It¡¯s fine... just tell me everything now," he mumbled.


    "If this is true... then we¡¯re dealing with a monster beyond our comprehension," Liam noted, voice shaking.


    Everyone appeared to understand our predicament. We knew too little about everything surrounding us, and the enemies'' purpose was unclear. Melody, who gripped me in her arms, suddenly stood up, taking a few steps away.


    My eyes followed her as she tried to make her chaotic thoughts clear. Her life was changed today, too. Not only was she a distant relative to Alijah, but she was also Fenris''s half-sister. Her eyes flickered before focusing on me.


    "Lily, Edna cursed my family... So, if she did that because she¡¯s after Alijah?" the black wolf asked, slowly triggering the puzzle pieces to build up for a clearer picture.


    Ah¡­ Alijah... what if you¡¯re just a pawn in that witch¡¯s game?


    From the moment I saw him, he always seemed confident and full of himself.


    Maybe... that¡¯s also part of Edna''s plan? But why does she want you?


    The puzzle still wasn¡¯t complete, making the picture more speculation than actual truth.


    "Isn''t the revolution about witches getting empowered? Why would they want someone like Alijah?" Amelia asked Melody, who shrugged.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know. It¡¯s just a feeling I get.¡± She mumbled.


    The eldest sister was right to question her. Alijah could stomp on Edna''s plans if she had nothing against him.


    Maybe she knows how to control you? But how...? How would she tame you, Alijah?


    He was so robust and keen on destroying the world. The only thing he cared about was his dead lover, who was far from anyone¡¯s reach.


    Can the new type of wolfsbane be the source of that witch¡¯s plan? Or is it something else? Think, Lilith!


    "Maybe... they want to control him, but I can¡¯t figure out how." I sighed.


    This witch was older than anyone I knew and probably more brilliant than anyone in this room. To be an eternal witch, one had to be a female born with the ability to control time¡ªsomething I wasn¡¯t interested in learning, yet I couldn¡¯t ignore how the Soul Cairn echoed similarities.


    Time magic wasn¡¯t something I wished to learn about as it was forbidden, and I hoped to die with Fenris when it came. That thought was morphing into something else, as in eight more months, our world would change.


    "Too many unknowns." Ben sighed, shrugging soon after.


    No one would¡¯ve thought this would turn into a big mess. Yet not everyone was going in loops; one of us was ready to throw it back in the ring.


    "Can you use me? Maybe since I¡¯m his descendant. I can stop Alijah." Melody blurted out, triggering Liam to grab onto her.


    ¡°What?! No way, you can barely control your shift!¡± he huffed.


    The brown wolf¡¯s words resonated with me as he was right. Melody would be nothing but fodder for Alijah.


    "No, Mel... That wolf doesn¡¯t care for you and will kill you before you speak," I whispered as flashes of the dream rushed through my mind.


    She and Liam were both dead, which meant she would meet her end by his hand like everyone else.


    Or perhaps you won¡¯t. The future can change. After all, Alijah won¡¯t¡­


    "But... he doesn¡¯t want to hurt me. Perhaps we could use that to our advantage." I added.


    A sharp growl left Fenris, who flashed his fangs at the thought. "What? No way. Nu-uh. You¡¯re getting nowhere near that psycho."


    But I¡¯m the only one who he won¡¯t kill instantly.


    Words I couldn¡¯t say without angering my wolf further. Alijah had been in that timeless prison; practicing his power meant that even if Edna could control him, it would mean the end of us, one way or another.


    However, part of me wondered if the witch could control him when he was a wildcard. This was all in speculation. Even though Fenris was against it, everyone saw how Alijah acted towards me in my memory.


    Ursula appeared to want to entertain that idea, even though she didn¡¯t fully love it.


    The other elder, Leo, who was a black-haired Lycan, nodded. "Hm... that might not be a bad idea. If we find another god artifact to use against him, that is."


    It took everyone by surprise. However, my wolf wasn¡¯t on board when his eyes suddenly shimmered brightly, turning to the wolf who might have the answer we needed.

 Chapter 110: A Plan

    Fenris pulled away from me, facing the two elders who had stayed behind.


    "No way. Lilith isn''t going anywhere near that mad wolf." He confronted the idea.


    However, Ursula stood her ground to him, knowing all he wanted was to keep me safe. Sadly, our choices were limited. Alijah''s time frame would be six months to a year, perhaps less. We had to devise a plan quickly or risk being surprised by the inevitable.


    "Ah, I understand your concern; I''m not a fan of placing her babes in danger, but saving the world might be a good idea, too. It''s their reality, too, after all." Ursula countered my wolf, who winced in return.


    She was right. A world where babies could be born would need Alijah not to destroy it.


    "I don''t think he would hurt them either," I whispered, shifting my eyes away.


    It didn''t feel right to label the black wolf a heartless killer. There had to be a reason why he was like that, and with me, he was a bit touchy, but nothing else. Something about him resonated with me, but he had to be stopped even then.


    Fenris went to deny it again, only for Ryker to step into the conversation.


    "Even if that was true. Those artifacts aren''t available anymore. The last one was used during the fall." Ryker informed.


    Ursula laughed, "So, you said years ago when the Lycans pulled one out to stop the fall along with the last known phoenix crystal." She pointed out.


    The elf shook his head. "That was the only one left."


    This time, Ben burst out cackling as well. "Nice try. You''re a terrible liar, Ryker. That would''ve worked on Evan but not on me. I''ve worked with you for too long."


    The elf clicked his tongue, releasing a sigh. "You Silver Bloods will be my end one day."


    With the direction of the banter, I could tell Fenris wasn''t uneasy with how things were ending up either, but he could say nothing to argue. Compared to the young Lycan, Alijah was on another level.


    My wolf had to think about the little ones coming into his life in less than a year. Even though he was reluctant, he joined in instead of resisting it any longer.


    "We can go to the elven countries. To see if one subrace has one they''ve hidden," Melody noted, gazing at Liam while wagging her tail.


    Ah, you probably want another small vacation with Liam.


    Fenris shook his head, "Nah, why go there when their leaders are in this building?"


    "And they already agreed to help, didn''t they?" The brown wolf backed his friend''s point.


    Ursula shrugged, "Elves can be zealous of their precious items. To them, they have a different meaning than to us Lycans and vampires."


    All eyes fell on Ryker, who sighed again. After everything was said, there was little to argue. This world was the same one his children were in, and that was worth more than trinkets to him.


    "They''re important to our culture. After all, it cost us our lives to make them. While pathetic brutes break them after using them." He commented, insinuating the destructive nature of the apex races.


    "I thought most of the population forgot about them," I commented.


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    Ryker shrugged at my assessment.


    "They did, but the leaders, on the other hand, still relish them in their museums. With that said, it''s hard to know if they have one that could help us. Artifacts come in various ways and sizes." He paused, shifting his eyes to Amara, who was gazing toward Ursula.


    There, a soft smile rose on his lips.


    Perhaps this elf... had his reasons for being.


    "The higher quality of the soul used to form it. The better the abilities it''ll possess. Of course, the higher the cost of creating them is."


    Higher-ranking souls would cost more elven lives to create artifacts from them. This was something I wanted to avoid. I didn''t want innocent to lose their lives over this.


    "Ah... decided to be helpful then, old friend." Ursula teased.


    The elf clicked his tongue at her playfulness.


    "If it''s convincing them. I can show them everything that I saw in my dream." I volunteered again.


    Fenris growled, "No! You won''t do such a thing again!"


    "But..." I trailed off, unsure of how to continue.


    However, he wasn''t alone this time, as the red wolf backed him up.


    "No, Fenris''s right. It''ll put a strain on your body. If you do that again, you''ll probably have a miscarriage." She warned.


    Again, I grabbed onto my abdomen instinctively.


    If I''m careless again, I''ll lose them? I don''t know...


    My hands trembled, unable to understand the gravity of everything.


    Fenris sighed, pulling my head to his abdomen. "If it''s convincing them to hand over their artifacts, then I''ll do that. You don''t have to do anything else."


    "You can also have Ryker convince Charles, leaving only three elves to go. I think the moon elf likes Lily. So, he might help on a whim." Ben pointed to the elf, who pretended to ignore him.


    "That would be two seats out of eight, and if Ben''s right about Jaxon, that makes three," Liam noted.


    The council worked better when it was in unison. Depending on the topic discussed, it could be by majority, but we had to be united. The vampires were easy since it would mean adding more artifacts to their arsenal. The humans and elves would prove difficult.


    But... what if we added one more? Maybe that can force humans to...


    "What if... I represent the witchcraft branch of humanity?" I mumbled out loud, catching everyone off guard.


    "They won''t allow a thing like that," Ursula assured me.


    I sluggishly stood up from my chair with Fenris''s help.


    "Think about it. Why do you think witches and warlocks feel so suppressed? If you had never stomped on us so hard because of the actions of one witch, this revolution would''ve never happened." I declared.


    It''s a long shot, but it might lower the coven''s forces, though they were probably pawns in that woman''s plans.


    Fenris didn''t stay far behind. "Lily''s right. We''ve stomped on witches and warlocks for far too long. It would also bring the chairs to nine. If it did, the human faction would ally with their kind." Fenris noted, shifting his eyes onto me.


    It was like he had read my mind, leaving me clinging to him.


    "Vampires would likely vote with us because there are precious artifacts to be gained. We would win with a majority even if it isn''t a united front. The other elves will be pressured to help." He added, holding on to me.


    "If Ryker here plays his part, maybe we have six. It''ll put pressure on the other three. It''ll also prevent the decision from having a deadlock." Ben supported us.


    Once again, eyes were on the sun elf, who smirked. "Well, Lilith here has shown her devotion for the peace. I don''t see why they would be against her joining the ranks. Witchcraft users have also proven themselves useful in present times."


    His words left me wide open. I never thought he''d agree to let someone like me join the council he worked for.


    Shade huffed, flicking her tail against me. That elf is an odd one. I can''t read him at all. Then again, I can tell why Fenris turned out the way he did if this man had guided him through the politics while Ben kept his heart alive.


    "It might make some of them leave the rogues, too." Melody smiled.


    "Making a dent in their forces seems ideal," Liam noted, following up his beloved.


    "Making us get more intel." She giggled, tail wagging.


    Ursula chuckled at the black wolf''s energy. "Yes... that doesn''t sound half bad."


    Fenris grabbed my cheek in his hand, ensuring I was paying attention to him.


    "If we do this... You won''t leave my side ever." He proposed his compromise to me.


    I hugged him like I would never leave his side willingly.


    "I don''t plan on ever leaving it!" I held him close to me, simpering.


    My smile defeated him, triggering a soft sigh to leave him. Our lives were about to become complicated, but thankfully, we weren''t alone. Melody, Liam, Ben, and even Amelia would be beside us to help.


    They weren''t the only ones, as new allies showed themselves slowly. It would be an uphill battle from this point on. However, my devotion was being refined. I wouldn''t be fighting for myself or Fenris alone anymore.


    No, I would battle for an unknown that was growing within me, and because of them, I would strive for their world to be better than the one I was born into. More secrets were unraveling, and the story of the mad lycan wasn''t easy to swallow, but it wouldn''t be one I shied away from.

 Chapter 111: Alijahs Past

    After finding our moment, Amelia left to find me something to eat with Ben. Ursula told us Alijah''s story as her mother told her. However, it was hard to know how accurate it was over time.


    Those who knew of Alijah considered him a failure of his kind, while others called him a deadly mistake. The rest of the Lycans considered him a legend¡ªa cautionary tale of the wolf that went mad because it was in his nature.


    Sadly, no one was born a killer; we were made¡ªa fact people tried to ignore as most of them thought it was because he was incapable of love, but it was the complete opposite. Alijah originated from one of the alpha families scattered worldwide at his birth.


    Silverant was but a dream back then.


    He was a prodigy, much like how they portrayed Fenris. They thought he would''ve started a new era for the Lycans because he was also the first wolf born under the blood moon. He had been trained, just like Fenris, to be the alpha over every single wolf out there.


    Alijah was the one who could unite all the tribes into a unit. However, his path was tarnished when he met an elven girl who stole his heart during one of his diplomatic trips. This happened before he got his blessing. They didn''t name the moon elf in Ursula''s tale, but Alijah called her Lilith in my memory.


    All she knew about her was that she was a medic who worked on the moon elf continent, Allora. Alijah went there to be an ambassador during tension within the races. The Lycans tried to sway the moon elves to be their allies instead of helping the witches, who had aligned themselves with the vampires.


    However, instead of going to do his task, Alijah was caught by the elf girl''s charm. He was only eighteen when he met her, which in their eyes was too young to know love. When the young man abandoned his duties to chase after the tail, the rest of the Lycans didn''t take to this nicely.


    Ultimately, they thought the elf was a distraction he would get over, but the moment he realized they would come for him to bring him back to Lyari¡ªthe wolf vanished with the elf. It took them two years to find them because of an anonymous tip that had arrived at their doors.


    A crow, a favorite familiar for witches, left a letter by the doorstep of the Lycan elders. As he said in my memory, the tale mentioned nothing about the silver wolves betraying Alijah. Back then, Lycans treated traitors with death, but this wolf was a fated fruit they couldn''t destroy.


    Instead, they took away what he loved as punishment for his defiance. He was helpless to stop them from punishing him, especially when he wasn''t present when it happened. According to them, he was barely a man and not blessed by the moon.


    They forcefully took Alijah back into the pack he left behind before it took a darker turn. The next part of the tale left me wishing it was nothing more than a story. It had to be something that had been mistranslated and added over time to make it seem worse, but from Ursula''s tone, it appeared genuine.


    At age twenty, the young wolf was isolated from everyone, including his family, who begged for his release but disappeared soon after they tried. He was fed and forced to procreate with any female deemed worthy to create a true heir for his line.


    However, that never happened. They didn''t know this back in Alijah''s time, but thanks to studies done on Fenris, this was all done without his knowledge. They learned that Blood Moon Lycans were sterile, which made them theorize they couldn''t produce an heir until the moon graced them.


    We proved it correct because Alijah couldn''t produce an heir during his years of torture, while Fenris did the moment he was exposed to the moon. The black wolf couldn''t escape his predicament, staying with them under those conditions for two years.


    It slowly chipped away at his sanity, and on his twenty-second birthday, the blood moon graced the Lycans with their presence once again. At that time, the imprisoned wolf unleashed unforeseen wrath over their kind, annihilating his pack that night alone.


    Only one survivor, a merchant visiting the pack, made it out to warn the others of the storm brewing. Most thought he would be done after taking his vengeance, but no, he wished to destroy everyone who turned a blind eye to his pain.


    For an entire year, the black wolf terrorized anyone who came on his path. No magic or weapon could stop him. Well, until a witch opened the gate to the soul cairn. It differed from the way Stella did, as it didn''t cause an apocalyptic scenario.


    The woman worked with the elves to create the first artifact with the soul of a fallen god. They made the others with lesser souls from brief natural moments when the gate opened. These openings weren''t enough for the souls to escape, but with her help, they were able to trap them.


    It can''t be... can it?


    It took the lives of one hundred elves to create an artifact powerful enough to seal Alijah away. They made the more minor artifacts before the witch opened the gate for them. They were too weak to do anything other than halt time for brief moments.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    The reason they never used Wolfsbane to stop him. That was because they feared he would destroy the world in his rampage. After all, he could accomplish it in a split second with his power, and everyone knew how the flower made the Lycans rabid.


    Alijah only took his sweet time because he wanted to see them suffer. He was twenty-three when he was sealed away in that forsaken realm that held him. His story resonated with me in ways I never knew possible.


    The Lycans of old were cruel. In most parts, I wanted to believe they weren''t presently like that, but his story sounded so eerily like what they wanted to do with Fenris.


    What if I was an elf, unable to bear a child? Would I have been treated the same? Or if I didn''t have this gate, would I be dead already?


    My life was in danger because I wasn''t a Lycan. However, killing me would''ve been their greatest mistake this time around.


    You poor thing, Alijah. I never thought your life was so crappy.


    I knew what it was to have your body ruined, to be tortured and mistreated for years.


    I know exactly how you feel! So... what if I never met Fenris? Would I have been like you? I''m sorry, Alijah. I can''t be your light, but do you deserve to die because of what you''ve done?


    By the time Ursula was done with what she knew. I wanted to throw up for other reasons than my pregnancy. Unable to hold my discontent, I buried myself in Fenris''s chest, which seemed to be the same as I was.


    It was almost like they were trying to do the same to him since everything my wolf heard was like his life.


    People never learned, even knowing their history. If...


    Disgusting, Lilith. If that happens to Fenris, I''ll... kill them all. Shade hissed, jumping onto her wolf''s shoulder.


    Alijah glossed over a lot when we spoke in that weird space. Perhaps it was because of the time constraints. Though I suspected he didn''t want me to feel pity for everything he went through.


    Or perhaps you were trying to be strong for me. How sad is this? Why did this have to happen at all? Just let people love whoever they want to love.


    I would never know the black wolf''s reasons, but he wasn''t the evil being I saw him as.


    You''re another victim of this cruel world of ours, and you have every right to hate the world that took everything from you.


    After his isolation, his family appeared to have abandoned him in that rotten place, too.


    Damn it, is there a way for you to live to see better days? Or are you too far gone? No... Tobias had said I wasn''t the one, but if it isn''t by my hands, then at whose will you finally know peace?


    Having had enough, Fenris urged me onto his back. Amelia and Ben returned from their errand, not knowing what had transpired. They handed me a few dull cookies to eat. Fenris held me tightly to him so I could eat while he carried me out of the room.


    There was a lot to swallow after the day''s revelations. Instead of heading to the room, Amelia insisted we go to the Silver Fang manor. Ryker agreed that the way tensions appeared would make it safer for me to be away from all of this.


    After all, the Silver Fangs had an army of Lycans loyal to them alone. No one would be dumb enough to go to the manor to harm me, and Evan didn''t live there. The fact I was leaving the building was surreal, especially knowing I was about to step into a world I didn''t know how to behave in.


    Amelia put it in terms of Fenris finally coming home. Melody shyly followed along when Ben encouraged her to go too. Liam also tagged along, though this wouldn''t be his first trip into the manor.


    However, for me, it would be the first time I ever laid eyes on it. The trip there wasn''t long, just a fifteen-minute walk from the Cerberus base. Before I knew it, we stood before a grey metal gate, holding a white manor behind them.


    Once they opened, they revealed a line of Lycans in their beast forms, who bowed to us on our way in. The scent of roses was the first thing that hit me as their gardens were full of bushes filled with colorful flowers.


    The main building was made of white marble with a black contrast, perfectly matching its royal theme. It was fancier than anything I had ever seen in a book. It was smaller than Cerberus, but that was an entire organization founded by Lycans.


    Was this where you lived your childhood before living with me back in the room? How much did you give up for me, Fenris?


    "My father built this when he married Mom. Do you like it?" My wolf asked, stopping by the entrance so I could inspect everything.


    The wooden decorations and doors to the manor were made of dark oak, a wood found in the elven lands. I wasn''t the only one feeling overwhelmed as Melody was taken aback by its beauty. Everything appeared like a fairy tale.


    "It''s amazing. This was your home?" I asked in awe.


    I was blissfully unaware of Fenris''s lineage until this moment. The majestic beauty of the building was on an entire other level. The architecture was on par with castles I had seen from the human side. On every corner of their yard, there were wolf statues.


    They each had plates with names on them¡ªthe lineage of the Silver Fang family. The closer I got to the roses, the more I remembered how their scent lingered on him when he was younger.


    "Mhm. Now it''s yours too." My wolf pointed out.


    I quickly crashed back into the world upon hearing him say that.


    "What?! No, I''m just a guest." I grumbled.


    He sighed, "You''ll be..." he trailed off before shaking his head.


    He headed inside, saying nothing else as Ben waited for him by the door. Amara had come with us, too. Amelia always wanted a medic in the home for me. Even though humans could bear children from any race, it was more complicated than a normal pregnancy.


    It didn''t help I was probably carrying more than I could handle. The white wolf promised Amara an entire lodge and pay while she helped me with the pregnancy. It was an offer too good to pass up, especially since she would work for the famous Silver Fang family, too.


    Once inside, the interior decoration followed much of what we saw outside, yet there were crystal sculptures. It never hit me that my wolf was basically from a sovereign family. I always knew he was important, but this hammered it in place.


    He was an heir to an entire kingdom. Even Amelia''s stuck-up attitude made sense if this was where she grew up. They even had maids, butlers, staffers, and things that I never thought I would ever see in my lifetime.


    All of them were purely loyal to the Silver Fang family, too. They were composed of every race, which surprised me even more. Of course, none were combat-worthy, but Lycans constantly patrolled around in the manor grounds, making this the safest place other than Cerberus.


    There was no safer place for me now that I bore Fenris''s pups¡ªthe Lycans'' future. Nothing was more threatening than a pack of wolves going after a threat directed at their pups.

 Chapter 112: Hearts Connect

    Amelia ordered the chef to make a meal I could digest easily when we came in. I wanted to tell her not to worry, but my stomach rapidly betrayed me. Without letting me down, Fenris asked one maid to prepare a bath for us.


    I tugged on his ears to tell him it was unnecessary. Instead, he growled at my treatment before ignoring me. Ben showed Amara to the living room. Hesitantly, Melody went in, too, unsure of her surroundings.


    Though Liam dragged her inside before sitting her on the couch next to him, even the maids called him young master. This was all too surreal. Instead of entering the living room, Fenris followed one maid upstairs to the bathroom.


    "It¡¯s about time we¡¯re treated with respect!" She smirked, wagging her tail.


    It took only a few minutes for the maid to finish what she was doing inside, leaving the room to ourselves. Setting me down on the floor, Fenris led me inside to reveal what looked like a pool rather than a bathtub.


    I glanced between it and Fenris, confused about what we were supposed to do. Shade hopped off my shoulder to paw the water with rose petals floating on it. This was too luxurious.


    "It¡¯s so warm!" She informed me.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even like the water.¡± I sighed, shifting my eyes towards my wolf, who whisked off his clothes.


    All I could do was flutter my eyes, studying every detail of his body. After finishing his clothing, he reached towards me and seized mine off. I could only stare at him, who chuckled and enjoyed my innocence.


    He undid the laces on my dress before kissing me lightly on the lips. After he was done, he reached under my skirt to remove my underwear, letting the dress fall on its own.


    "Come..." he murmured in my ear.


    Slowly, he led me to the stairs that allowed entrance to the giant tub. However, it seemed to be a pool more than anything else. Flower petals floating on the water stuck to his fair skin as he led me into the water that was as warm as Shade noted.


    After the water reached midway to my waist, Fenris let go of my hands, reaching for a basket on the side. Grabbing the metal bucket inside it, he filled it with water before drenching me in it. I stared at him, perplexed at everything that was going on.


    He grabbed the soap before lathering my hair, leaving me feeling like a pampered child. After the next bucket rinsed the soap away, I pouted, not wanting to be treated as such.


    ¡°Fen¡ª¡± I tried to complain.


    The playful wolf scooped my cheeks in his hands, kissing me lightly once again. His left hand traced through my body, ending up at my abdomen. Instinctively, I grabbed him, unsure of where he was going.


    When he pulled away from my lips, in his eyes was the gentlest expression I ever saw him have.


    "I can¡¯t believe... you¡¯re carrying my pups. I think I''m still in shock." Fenris confessed.


    Everything had happened so fast that it was hard for anyone to digest anything said that day. Instinctively, I glanced away from his eyes and down to the water.


    I placed you in a difficult position because of my carelessness. You¡¯re probably really angry with me.


    "I¡¯m sorry." I apologized, feeling aches in my chest.


    There was no doubt I had forced this wolf into fatherhood before any of us were ready for it. I desired to avoid that, especially since he wasn¡¯t in control that night.


    I was, and I failed you.


    "Hey, Lily, that isn¡¯t what I meant, " he reassured me, grabbing me by the waist.


    My wolf tugged my right hand towards his lips with his left.


    "What?" I mumbled, tilting my head at him.


    He wasn¡¯t yelling at me or scolding me for what happened.


    "I thought so many things would happen before this. Like..." he trailed off, glancing at me softly.


    Not for a moment did he give away from me. Something in his eyes told me he was dead serious about what he was about to do next. Placing my ring finger on his mouth, he bit into it slightly, breaking the skin.


    A soft flinch came from me when the rush of pain hit me, but it wasn¡¯t as bothersome as anything I had ever felt. No, this pain was bittersweet. Licking the blood off, he glanced at me once again. Sadly, I could only respond to him by tilting my head.


    Do you want me to cast a spell or something?


    A soft smile rose on his lips, "I wanted to do this by the beach, but it seems it won¡¯t happen soon. It would be too dangerous to take you anywhere right now, and I think I¡¯ll lose my mind if anyone dares to even think about touching you."


    ¡°What?¡± I mumbled as he leaned into my lips and brushed lightly against them.


    "By the time that heals... I¡¯ll have a ring to replace it," Fenris added, setting my heart ablaze.


    It... My ears must¡¯ve misheard.


    "F-Fenris?" I voiced, feeling my heart fluttering.


    He licked the wound around my finger. Upon closer inspection, it resembled a ring.


    "Lilith, marry me." My wolf proposed to me, placing my hand against his forehead with closed eyes.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    I stared at him, unable to process what his words meant. This used to be a dream, yet¡­


    "I... I..." tears dropped from my eyes." I¡¯m dreaming, aren''t I?" I mumbled, not believing my eyes.


    He tugged away from my hand before kissing my forehead.


    "No, you aren¡¯t dreaming. I want you to be my wife, silly witch." He simpered. ¡°Please, make the happiest man alive and be my wife.¡±


    His cheeks were slightly pink. Unable to contain the happiness flushing over me, I hugged him tighter than ever.


    Your wife... You really want me to be your wife?! This has to be a dream!


    "Yes! Yes! I¡¯ll marry you, Fenris!" I burst as a soft chuckle left him.


    ¡°Thank you for making me the happiest man in this world.¡± He breathed, tugging me into his arms.


    He held me tightly to his body for a while, only to notice waves forming behind him. His tail was wagging, something I loved to see him do. Pulling away from the embrace, he went to kiss me, only to be interrupted by Shade''s form of congratulations.


    "Good job, lover boy. It only took you forever!" Shade sassed him from the side.


    She was applauding him for being hitched. Fenris rolled his eyes before biting into his lip. He drew away from me briefly, diving into the water and swimming toward her.


    She rolled her eyes when he emerged from the water next to her. They gazed at each other for a moment before he chuckled.


    "You can¡¯t die, right?" Fenris asked her.


    "What?" she blurted out at the wolf, eyeing her down.


    He smirked playfully at her, tapping his hands on the stone floor. She was in the air a second later, splashing on the water below. Instantly, she shifted sizes to be big enough to poke her head out of the water.


    He snickered from the side when she hissed at him from the middle of the tub.


    "The nerve of you! If you weren¡¯t Lily¡¯s love, I would¡¯ve murdered you this instance!" Shade raged from the middle of the water.


    "So, I get a permanent pass. Good to know," Fenris smirked.


    In return, she grumbled to herself. I giggled, unable to contain myself after seeing them go at it.


    "It isn¡¯t that bad." I cackled when Shade frowned.


    Slowly, she made her way to me when Fenris swam back as well. Sitting next to me in the water, she grumbled curses to herself while he engulfed me in his arms.


    "Can... I make love to my fianc¨¦e?" my wolf whispered, picking me up by my waist.


    I curled my legs on his hips, and instead of answering him with my voice, I kissed his lips lightly. He smirked, trailing his hand down my curves before placing me on the edge of the pool. Leaning into me, I felt his tongue lap my slits as a lone finger pressed against the entrance.


    A soft hum left me feeling it go in as his lips focused on my sensitive bell. Thrusting his digit within me, it wasn¡¯t long until another joined its rhythm, leaving me gripping onto his hair. Tingles throbbed through my core every time his soft member teased my little bean.


    ¡°Fenris, that¡¯s enough. Give me more.¡± I murmured, feeling bold.


    Tugging away from my vulva, he simpered, ¡°I just wanted to prep you a little before the main course.¡±


    Tugging me back onto him, he secured me into place as I coiled my legs around him again.


    ¡°I¡¯m always ready for you,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°Gods, when did you learn to stir me up like this?¡± Fenris breathed, pressing his head into me.


    Every movement from us caused the surrounding water to make waves. Shade sat next to us, grumpy as ever, mumbling under her breath. A slight whine escaped me when he pushed himself inside. It felt like he was kissing the entrance of my womb as I clung to him.


    The last time he did this was on the blood moon when¡­


    "Ah¡­ I remembered something." I simpered, trailing my fingers on his cheeks.


    The shortness of breath triggered him to kiss me again, only to draw away soon after.  Curiosity was filling the wolf that had me in his grip.


    "Now? Out of all times?" He huffed.


    Is it okay for me to be this happy? To be your wife? Your one and only. Are my wishes coming true? Yes, you¡¯ll be mine for all eternity, right?


    This bliss was addictive. I needed nothing more, but little did I know. I still had other joys to discover alongside this wolf who owned my heart.


    "Mhm... I remembered something you did during the red moon." I giggled, pulling myself closer to him.


    He appeared unaware of what I was trying to say, tilting his head along with his cute ears.


    "You mean, other than trying to tear you apart?" He studied me.


    You¡¯re probably wondering if I lost my mind, but¡­


    Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tugged him down enough for me to nibble at his nose playfully.


    "No," I pouted.


    He kissed me in response to my nibble, only for me to draw away from him.


    "You tried to knot me like a female Lycan. It was cute, but¡­ I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t give that to you." I whispered, triggering his cheeks to go bright pink.


    He fumbled around his words before he shook his head.


    "I-I... Sorry, that must¡¯ve been agonizing." My wolf apologized, shifting his gaze towards the side.


    "Silly, it only hurt a little bit. I enjoyed it when you were trying so hard to..." I trailed off, not realizing what I was saying until it was too late.


    Fenris chuckled before kissing me again. This time, his tongue traveled through my mouth before separating from me. His affection left me flustered¡ªespecially the smile he had.


    "My hard work... gave fruit." He licked his lips, cheeks flushed pink.


    He wasted no time in moving once again, triggering me to hum as his thrust filled me to the brim before stopping and gazing at me again.


    ¡°Ah, fuck, I should probably confess that isn¡¯t the first time I try to knot you.¡± He breathed, biting onto his lip.


    ¡°What?¡± I mumbled.


    I don¡¯t remember¡­


    ¡°It happened on our first full moon together as mates, and I couldn¡¯t stop myself from knotting you. You passed out when I did it, so I thought it was too much.¡± He sighed, shifting his eyes back onto me.


    That night, all I remembered was him pounding away at me before feeling a pop as everything went dark.


    ¡°Is that why you haven¡¯t done it again?¡± I asked, cocking my head a bit.


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t want to hurt you while you¡¯re with me.¡± He pressed his forehead against me.


    ¡°All I ever feel with you is pleasure, Fenris. So, please, knot me more.¡± I whispered as a sly smile rose on my lips.


    ¡°Oh¡­ gods, what will I do with you?¡± He breathed, thrusting into me at a more steady pace.


    Every shove hit my sweet spot, triggering me to lock lips with him. My body moved with his in sync as his tongue tangoed with mine for dominance. A soft mewl left me when he tugged away, releasing a growl as he clamped his hands down on my hips, using them to anchor me down onto him.


    His thrust slowly became more shallow as I continued to pursue him for affection from his lips. It wasn¡¯t long until a groan left him, giving away a similar sensation from the blood moon. The wolf had done as I asked, swelling within me and triggering my voice to become erratic.


    My mind wiped out for a couple of seconds before I crashed back into reality, to him holding onto me as he pumped me full of his seeds.


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He asked out of breath.


    A soft mewl left me feeling his tip press against my womb.


    ¡°No, it feels so good!¡± I whined soon after as my high heightened because of the sensation he was giving to me.


    I held onto him, riding out the peak as he tugged me closer. A soft sigh left his lips, shifting his gaze towards Shade, who still grumbled to herself.


    "Hey..." Fenris called out to her.


    ¡°What?!¡± She huffed, narrowing her eyes at him.


    Even though she loved to bully him, there was no doubt that she adored him as much as I did. After all, our bond had made us part of each other. Usually, what I felt, she also felt.


    "I love you too. You know that right?" he simpered.


    A soft hum left her scowling before she licked his cheek soon after.


    "Is that why you thought I needed a bath?" She grumbled, rolling his eyes at him.


    He chuckled, glancing back at me.


    "Na... I wanted to drench you, too." Fenris teased her.


    ¡°Excuse me?! I don¡¯t need the affection Lily craves!¡± She pouted.


    Touching my cheek, he smiled.


    Ah¡­ You¡¯re shining again¡­ So brightly.


    "You two... are the start of my family unit." He breathed, leaning into me before placing a kiss on my lips.


    The happiness that radiated from Shade filled me as those words melted her heart and mine. Not wanting to push me too far, Fenris tugged away from me to finish his bath after the knot came down.


    I bathed shaded, who stared at me unenthusiastic at my attempts to make her smell good. This would be a sweet moment I would remember for the rest of my life.

 Chapter 113: Amelia

    After our lovely shower, Shade shrunk back to a kitten, allowing me to dry her more easily. When I was done with her, I focused on myself. However, I quickly noticed I had no extra clothes to wear.


    Fenris, who pulled a gown out of the clothes the maids had brought, quickly remedied this. It was Amelia''s.


    ¡°Tomorrow, they¡¯ll bring the clothes we left behind at Cerberus. So, for tonight, do you think you can show off more skin than usual?¡± Fenris asked as a soft smile rose on his lips when I nodded.


    I didn¡¯t want to create more work for anything, yet I wasn¡¯t used to having my arms and legs exposed. Once I had it on, my wolf gripped me from behind into a tender embrace.


    ¡°You¡¯re beautiful no matter what you wear.¡± He breathed, triggering me to shake my head.


    ¡°I think there is something wrong with your eyes.¡± I sighed.


    ¡°Is there? I don¡¯t think there is.¡± He chuckled, kissing my neck.


    His words made me not want to come out of the bathroom, standing there like a child who hadn¡¯t gotten her way, yet with a bit of coaxing from him and Shade, somehow, we made it out. After a bit more encouragement, I made it into the room with the others.


    They all gazed at me as if they had never seen me wear something like this. Fenris didn¡¯t let me feel too embarrassed, tugging me along to the couch. We sat next to Melody and Liam, who were holding hands.


    Shade followed along, jumping onto my lap before lying there. Everyone indulged in simpler things without mentioning what was to come. Melody tried not to say much, but Ben didn¡¯t let her stay too quiet.


    It was his first time having a younger sister, which was different from having a young, rowdy brother. He wanted to know more about her life¡ªsomething she happily shared with him. Even Amelia, who resented her because of what the poor girl represented to her parents'' ruined relationship, slowly allowed her in.


    Though mostly silent, I couldn¡¯t help but feel at peace. The stinging sensation left by Fenris''s bite reminded me of everything he had said. Before leaving the bathroom, he bandaged it to prevent it from getting worse if I accidentally caught it on something.


    It was a silly thing since the cut was superficial compared to some of my other self-inflicted injuries, yet it meant much more. Sadly, my world soon turned fuzzy again¡ªsomething my wolf noticed as Amelia rushed over with a drink and biscuits.


    Even though I was trying not to sour the mood, seeing her come to me like that triggered something within me. After all, she used to hate me so vividly.


    ¡°Why do you care?¡± I mumbled, pushing myself slightly into the chair.


    Perhaps it was the fact I felt sick, but I didn¡¯t want her near me. Not while her intentions were unclear. The moment that left my mouth, Ben suggested a house tour, and everyone agreed to follow the elder brother, leaving me alone with Amelia and Fenris.


    My wolf refused to leave my side, not that he had to. Amelia took a moment to collect her thoughts before answering me.


    "I... am sorry for how I treated you in the past. I tried to separate myself from your truth. It was easier to see you as a monster than a victim. I needed to hate you to make sense of everything. I was... No, I am awful for how I treated you." She began, shifting her eyes towards her little brother, who was gazing away from us.


    My little familiar was trying to eat my biscuits, much to the female Lycan¡¯s annoyance. After pushing her off the treats meant for me, the eldest sister sighed before meeting her gaze on the floor.


    "It was easy to do until... I unexpectedly walked into your side of the story when you were speaking to the others. I... couldn¡¯t bring myself to hate you after that. Nothing I say will change what I have done, but that day, I realized why my little brother was determined to keep you by his side.¡± She sighed, closing her eyes.


    ¡°I had to change to be a part of his life. It doesn¡¯t change the fact I was late to realize Grandpa had filled me with irrational hate, and that doesn¡¯t matter because I¡¯m as guilty for letting it happen." Amelia continued, not meeting my gaze.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Fenris gripped my hand against his chest. He didn¡¯t want to interrupt his sister, who was trying to change her ways, but he also wanted me to know he was there if he needed me.


    "Is that why you didn¡¯t push me away when I fell on you during the festival?" I asked, catching my wolf¡¯s attention right away.


    "You what?" he mumbled upon hearing my question aimed at Amelia.


    "If I hadn¡¯t heard your story. I probably would¡¯ve shoved you into that wall, but I couldn¡¯t. Not after I had spent the day reading your case files. Sadly, I had avoided them before, even though Ben wanted me to read them.¡± She paused, shifting her eyes to the changed scars on my legs.


    ¡°Then I saw the rest of your scars." Amelia traced her fingers lightly on my knee, which had some of them, triggering me to quiver at her sudden touch.


    Her gentle fingers, although cold, felt good on my skin.


    "They looked so different from the pictures in your file... During the blood moon, Fenris did that, didn''t he?" she asked, pulling away from my arm.


    I nodded slightly, not being able to find my voice.


    "I figured something like that happened after hearing Ursula''s tale from Liam. He filled us in when you were bathing.¡± She shifted her gaze towards Fenris, who met with hers. ¡°My stupid brother is probably why you may have more than a pup, too. This won¡¯t be easy for you or them."


    ¡°Oi¡­ I wasn¡¯t in control of what I was doing.¡± My wolf grumbled, triggering Amelia to shrug.


    ¡°Sounds like an excuse to me, baby brother. You¡¯ve probably been mating with her for a while, have you not?¡± She huffed, raising an eyebrow at him.


    ¡°I have, and I¡¯ve always wanted her to bear my pups. No one else will do.¡± He sighed, holding my hand tighter.


    ¡°You¡¯d better be good to her then. Nothing like father was to mom.¡± She scowled at him.


    A sharp smile rose on Fenris''s lips, tugging my hand towards him. ¡°I¡¯d never do her dirty like that. Lily is all I need.¡±


    ¡°Good, I¡¯ll hold you onto that, brother.¡± She cackled, shifting her eyes towards me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for everything I¡¯ve done to you. I can only hope you can forgive me one day."


    The sudden shift of their banter towards me left me a bit disorientated, yet I couldn¡¯t accept her request for forgiveness even though she had been cold and hateful before. I never blame her at all for it.


    The only ones responsible for all of this is the cult I belonged to, not you. You¡­ are just a victim of theirs.


    "I don¡¯t deserve your apology. I was part of the Moira when the incident occurred, so it was natural for you to hate me." I assured her.


    Amelia sighed, "No... you do. Lilith, I allowed myself to be filled with hate¡ªall because it was easier than trying to understand you. I¡¯m ashamed of myself for letting Grandpa dictate what I felt, for not thinking for myself, and for that, I¡¯m truly sorry."


    The sincerity of her voice broke through me. Even though our interactions were minimal and barely noteworthy, she felt guilty for not coming around sooner.


    Ah¡­ Perhaps our relationship could¡¯ve been different if you had, but maybe with that, that can change, too.


    The white wolf glanced down at the floor where she was kneeling to speak to me. Closing her eyes, she shook her head before gazing back at me.


    "Now... you must wonder why I¡¯m so interested in your pregnancy.¡± She started, biting her lip. ¡°That¡¯s because I can never have children of my own. I was born infertile. It¡¯s also why my first marriage failed."


    Bitter memories arose while she spoke, making her lip tremble and voice shaky.


    "Ben seems to have no plans involving children or has any. He¡¯s currently in a relationship with an incompatible race, even though he thinks he is hiding it so well, " she informed.


    ¡°I think everyone knows he¡¯s with Tania.¡± Fenris chimed in, chuckling soon after.


    With who?!


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t think so. Your big brother thinks he¡¯s hiding it so well, but it¡¯s so way to know when he stays up late every night talking to her.¡± She giggled,


    ¡°Ben can be an airhead at times. It¡¯s been a year since they last saw each other, right?¡± He cackled, shifting his weight towards me.


    ¡°Ben is in love with Tania?!¡± I squealed, triggering the siblings to laugh.


    ¡°Yeah, he is. They hit it off right after the fall, but I guess that would be hard for you to know since you can¡¯t go out.¡± Amelia answered, ¡°So, your babies are probably the only ones I¡¯ll ever see. Well, that¡¯ll be of my blood, and I¡¯ll do anything to be part of their lives.¡±


    Her eyes shifted away from me as I could barely shake the shock of Ben¡¯s relationship status.


    They¡¯ve been together for fourteen years?! Now that I think about it, you did pop up many times while in my training sessions with her!


    ¡°I just hope I can amend everything I¡¯ve done to you in time.¡± This white wolf was making my heart crumble.


    Her voice expressed the fear that I would never forgive her for how she treated me. This fear was eating away at her and me. I never hated her for how she handled me, though I always wished to have a good relationship with her.


    Of course, I never pushed it since I thought it was impossible, especially with everything I had experienced. Women weren¡¯t easy for me to get close to, and having my emotions dulled didn¡¯t help my cause to build bonds, either.


    "It¡¯s okay." I simpered, suddenly hugging Amelia. ¡°I forgive you,¡±


    She genuinely tried to make amends, and I was willing to accept that. My sudden embrace stunned her. She hesitated to return the affection for a moment, but the moment she gave in, I felt soothed by everything that happened.


    Everything was changing all because of the life that was growing inside of me.

 Chapter 114: Redo

    Amelia grabbed my hand when we separated, noticing the bandage on my finger. Releasing a sigh, she helped me back onto the couch next to Fenris before glaring at him.


    ¡°Are you an animal!?¡± she huffed, crossing her arms.


    I had never seen how these siblings interacted, but that would change.


    "What did you say?!" he growled at his sister''s insult.


    She grimaced at him, rolling her eyes at him.


    "You heard me, little brother," she affirmed her previous statement towards him.


    However, she continued without letting him get to the high ground before he could get another word out.


    "Wait here. I¡¯ll be back." Amelia announced, heading out the door.


    ¡°What¡¯s her problem?¡± Fenris growled, shifting his gaze at me.


    I couldn¡¯t help but gaze at their interactions, not realizing what they were fighting about. The others returned before Amelia, who joined shortly after they came with a tiny box in her hands. She glanced at Amara, who was about to sit down.


    "Can you heal her finger?¡± She asked the elf, who cocked her head.


    ¡°Sure?¡± Amara answered, coming over to me. ¡°When did you cut yourself?¡± she asked, grabbing onto the injured hand.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± I mumbled.


    What are they¡­


    ¡°Oh, she didn¡¯t do that herself. Fenris here needs to do a better job." Amelia huffed.


    The wound was nothing out of this world, especially with the meaning behind it. I was disappointed to see it slowly go away with her magic.


    "What are you going on about?" Fenris grumbled.


    Before he could even stand up to confront her, she threw a tiny, delicate box at him, surprising him. He stared at it briefly before opening it and revealing one of the most beautiful rings I had ever seen.


    It was a delicate little thing made from platinum. The centerpiece was a half-moon moonstone, and tiny pink diamonds and sapphires decorated it around it.


    ¡°This is¡­¡± He trailed off.


    "That¡¯s the Silver Fang family ring. It used to be moms. Now it¡¯ll be your fianc¨¦e''s." Amelia declared with a soft smile on her lips.


    What¡­ I¡­ How did you know?


    My mind sadly couldn¡¯t wrap around having a family heirloom on me.


    "Amelia, I can¡¯t..." Fenris trailed off, closing the box before trying to hand it to her.


    His sister sighed, ¡°Look, Fen, I¡¯ll never get married again, and Ben here isn¡¯t planning on starting a family. So, it¡¯s only right that it goes to you. You can pass it on to your pups and so on."


    ¡°I¡­¡± He breathed, shaking his head.


    ¡°If Mom were here, she would¡¯ve wanted Lilith to have it. Remember, she wasn¡¯t like dad or grandpa. She once said she wanted a little hybrid grandkid while looking at you.¡± She simpered, ¡°I think she knew you¡¯d marry a human instead of another Lycan.¡±


    ¡°Mom, said that?¡± Fenris asked, voice trembling.


    ¡°Yes, you probably don¡¯t remember, but she said that after you came home raving about the human witch you were befriending.¡± Amelia giggled, shifting her eyes towards her brother.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Hah¡­ I see.¡± My wolf smiled, eyes watery.


    His mom always pushed him to find the one he loved, probably because she never wanted him to go through what she went through with his father. Yet, my heart¡­


    "You accept me?" I mumbled, triggering the eldest sister¡¯s gaze back towards me.


    "Of course I do; I won¡¯t allow hateful words to split this family anymore. If Grandpa doesn¡¯t want to be a part of it, so be it, and I¡¯m sure Ben has no issues with it, either." The white wolf declared, gazing at him, who smiled in return.


    "No objections from me," he assured his sister, who turned back to us before urging Fenris to move.


    "Ah, fuck, Amelia, sometimes you stun me in ways I just can¡¯t explain." He chuckled, covering his face with his hands before deeply breathing and gazing back towards me.


    Kneeling towards her little brother again, she grabbed his hand and pulled it to her cheek.


    "I failed you as a sister, too. I have a lot to make up for. This is just the start." Amelia simpered at her baby brother, who was as surprised as I.


    He never expected his family to respond this way toward us being official, especially her. The support was there, which was more than he or I could ever ask for. However, something she said bothered me.


    I reached for her shirt, tugging on it slightly.


    "Hey¡­ Amelia... don¡¯t say you won¡¯t find love," I mumbled.


    I didn¡¯t know what happened to her during her marriage.


    But¡­ if someone like me can have it¡­ Surely, someone like you¡­


    Upon hearing me say that, her eyes widened before leading to a bitter expression on her face.


    "You¡¯re a sweet little thing. No, dear, I won¡¯t. Sadly, love isn¡¯t for me, but... I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll love again, even if it isn¡¯t the romantic type." She smiled, letting go of her brother to grab onto my hands.


    "Though I want you to know that there¡¯s one thing, that¡¯s for sure. I vow that your pups will have nothing to worry about. I, Amelia Silver Fang, swear to it." She promised, bowing her head to me.


    "So will I. My little nephews or nieces will be loved like they¡¯re mine." Ben reassured us from the side.


    Fenris, unable to digest everything, grabbed me, placing his head on my shoulder.


    "I love you," he whispered, ¡°so much.¡±


    Although, I was sure he didn¡¯t mean it to me alone. Amelia stood up from the floor, walking a few steps away to give us the room. Amara finished, closing the superficial wound before stepping away from us.


    "So, go on, baby brother, propose to her as she deserves it. Publicly and loud enough for everyone to hear. There¡¯s no need for you to hide your love any longer." The white wolf urged Fenris onward.


    A soft growl left him as his cheeks were redder than ever before.


    "I might murder you tonight, sis." Fenris gazed towards her, who smiled in return.


    Closing his eyes, he muttered something before glancing at me once again. Helping me up from the couch, he slumped down on his knee. Melody covered her mouth, excited at what was happening in front of her eyes.


    Again, I was in a scenario I never thought I would see. This time, I was surrounded by more lights than I ever thought.


    This world isn¡¯t dark at all, and it¡¯s blinding me.


    "When I was a kid, I fancied you in ways I had never felt before. Heck, I didn¡¯t know I loved you, but you always were in my mind, and I wanted nothing more than for you to smile.¡± Fenris started, facing me head-on as I felt brittle.


    It was like a gentle gust could tip me over and shatter me.


    ¡°Fenris¡­¡± I mumbled his name.


    ¡°So, when I failed to save you once, I promised you would never know pain like that again. That still stands today. I swear I¡¯d devote myself to you and only you.¡± My wolf professed, ¡°So, Lilith, will you marry me?"


    I felt my heart almost come up my throat. It should¡¯ve been an easy answer, but my voice failed me. Shade sat beside us, shifting her eyes between Fenris and me.


    Lily, this wolf is ours. Shade assured me.


    I tried to find the courage to answer him.


    Your eyes... No, everything was open to me at that moment.


    Noticing I had frozen up, Shade jumped on me to restart me.


    Get him! This little wolf¡¯s ours! Finally! Shade burst, feeling the same emotions as I.


    Our beloved wolf¡­ Yes¡­ I want that more than anything else.


    Closing my eyes, I tried to hold back the swelling tears.


    "Yes!" I declared.


    It had to be a sin for me to feel like this. I didn¡¯t know if it was the hormones, but I couldn¡¯t stop myself from crying silly. Their kindness was killing me. Fenris grinned widely upon hearing my answer, placing the ring on the same finger he had marked before.


    Without wasting another second, he kissed me lightly, only to be forced away by Melody hugging me.


    ¡°Lily! I¡¯m so happy for you!¡± She cried for me, too.


    ¡°Oi,¡± Fenris huffed.


    This time, though, I couldn¡¯t control my emotions.


    Liam went over to Fenris, grabbing onto his arm. "Man, Fen, it only took you ten years."


    ¡°Oi!¡± My wolf growled, eyes twitching.


    However, his annoyance was quelled when his older brother hugged him.


    ¡°Congrats, brother. I hope you find new peaks of happiness.¡± Ben smiled.


    Afterward, we moved to the dining table and had an incredibly delicious meal. However, what made it the best was that we were together, happily chattering. When we returned to the living area, I felt tired enough that it wasn¡¯t long before I fell asleep on Fenris''s arm.


    I didn¡¯t even realize I was gone until I woke up in an unknown room beside him the next day. This would be the start of my life in the Silver Fang manor.

 Chapter 115: The Declaration

    I was in a moderately decorated room, much like Fenris''s side. The sheets that covered me were softer than anything I had ever felt, and luxury was everywhere.


    Hm... the last thing I remember was falling asleep on your lap.


    The wolf''s arms were wrapped tightly around me, preventing me from moving without alerting him. Around the room were shelves with photos of young Fenris and his family. This was probably his old room before he moved in with me.


    The downgrade he had quietly endured was immense.


    How did you not complain about moving with me to a room when you had this waiting for you?


    Shade was by our feet, still asleep, unlike my wolf, who was already awake thanks to my slight movements.


    "Hey... did you sleep well?" he greeted me, caressing my cheek with his thumb.


    The gentleness in his eyes was melting me before the day even began.


    "Yes," I mumbled.


    Everything feels surreal.


    He slowly sat up, leaning down, kissing me. Pulling away from me, he glanced at the clock to see it was almost noon. The meeting would be at one. He had let me sleep until the last second he could.


    The moment I went to get up, my world spun again. These morning sicknesses appeared to become the norm while my body adjusted to the changes within me. Luckily, he already knew what to expect, thanks to Amara.


    Last night, he placed a bucket nearby, which was my saving grace in case my stomach wanted to erupt out of me. The nausea was the worst part of this episode, though. Thankfully, nothing came up since I ate bland and easy-to-digest foods.


    After a bit, everything stopped, allowing me to move on with my daily life. Fenris had already picked out clothes to wear the previous night, saving me time. These weren''t my clothes, though, which meant I would have to get used to my arms showing up more than I used to.


    Luckily, my loving wolf found me a jacket to wear¡ªone that was Amelia''s when she was younger. Today was a chillier day, marking the start of winter. I lost my balance when I wore my dress, only to fall right into his arms.


    He was always ready to catch me, even though he was also getting ready himself. Amelia prepared breakfast for us before we left to meet the council to avoid any more delays. Again, my wolf had to carry me all the way there when my energy waned.


    Amelia had pleaded with me to reconsider going, but I rejected every notion of staying back. I couldn''t let him handle everything. Instead, she ended up following us out of the door. The moment we left the manor, all eyes were on us.


    Someone who was in the meeting last time had leaked the scandalous news of my pregnancy. Reporters tried to swarm Fenris and me, but thankfully, the Lycans near the manor prevented them from coming closer. They opened a way out for us, allowing Fenris to rush inside the Cerberus building.


    Ryker waited for us in the lobby and accompanied us up the floors towards the door that separated the council from us. Fenris let me down onto the floor before Liam opened the way for us again, letting us into the fray.


    Once inside, the same people as before were in the same place they had been the prior day. However, instead of this time Evan being in the Lycan seat at the table, he was on the side with other elders.


    Rather than sitting on the chair designated by the council for my wolf, he stayed by me. He wouldn''t allow anyone to be close to me when the meeting began.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Well, Fenris, did you find the information we needed?" Charles threw the first question to the new Lycan chair in the council.


    "Yes... I did." My wolf started, focusing on the members ahead of us. "Alijah''s a Lycan who was also born under the red moon. Unlike me, he''s bent on destroying the world."


    After that, he recited the tale Ursula told us as I grabbed onto his shirt. I didn''t like the story, even when it came from his voice, which I adored. What happened to Alijah was cruel, which almost happened to Fenris.


    The similarity made me feel ill. When he finished retelling the tale of the mad Lycan. Most of the council members appeared to have overturned stomachs. The Lycan elders remained silent in one corner, refusing to say anything.


    "As horrific and appalling as the story is. It doesn''t change that we must stop him. How will we do that, young silver blood?" Charles asked, focusing on what mattered.


    No one wanted to know more of the poor bastard''s past or humanize him more. Even the cold vampire, Asher, appeared troubled by the story, refusing to gaze towards Fenris.


    "Well... for that, we need another god artifact. The magic within it isn''t something red Lycans can''t nullify, or at least that''s what was used to lock him away the first time." Fenris answered.


    The elves narrowed their eyes upon hearing that.


    "And where would we get one of those?" Charles continued to query.


    Fenris shook his head, knowing they wouldn''t be willing to part with their precious history. Ryker''s performance the previous day had prepared us as much. While Cerberus''s director wasn''t fond of me, he truly was an ally of my wolf.


    "Eh, you know it''ll come from anyone''s hidden stash. We only need one." The silver Lycan shrugged.


    "Are you saying there are more still lying around?" Asher jumped in.


    Vampires, just like Lycans, could use those artifacts for their benefit.


    "Yes, let''s not kid ourselves. We know one race, if not all, have at least one in their grasp. They were supposed to be surrendered to Cerberus long ago, but I won''t pretend to feign ignorance to tricks." Fenris noted.


    While Asher''s eyes sparkled with the knowledge of the existence of hidden god artifacts, the elves made their moves.


    "I don''t like what you''re suggesting, young blood. We don''t have any, as they all were surrendered when Cerberus was formed." Nyla argued.


    The others of her kin followed with similar sentiments


    Are you kidding me?! You''re going to deny it now?! Do you not realize time is running out?!


    Alijah was no laughing joke.


    The power you hold is beyond our comprehension.


    "Don''t be fools! One of those hidden artifacts might be why Alijah''s going free. So, let''s not lie in the face of death!" I retorted, clenching my hands into fists.


    The moment those words left me, all gazes cane towards me. Many weren''t pleased by my words, especially the blaze elves, whose leader despised I was free. If it were up to him, I would be in a dungeon.


    "Are you insinuating that we''re at fault for this coming catastrophe?" Kaiden questioned, voice devoid of emotion.


    I shrugged, not knowing if they were truly at fault, but the only thing certain was that Alijah would be free.


    "I have no idea if you have, but I''ve seen vampires working with the witches. So, who knows what other races might do the same? Someone allowed this to happen even if it isn''t on purpose!" I declared.


    My wolf smiled, seeing the perfect chance to step up the game.


    "That said, we need to fill the chair of witches as soon as possible. Nominating one will create the stability of witchcraft users who believe their only way is to rebel, and for that purpose, I would like to name Lilith for that chair," Fenris announced.


    I glanced at him, surprised by what had come out of his mouth.


    Are you really going to try to get me into the council?


    When I said it yesterday, it was nothing more than a fantasy, but now that he has mentioned it, the council''s expressions make it seem improbable.


    "You''re overstepping, sliver blood." Jasper sighed, tapping his fingers on the table.


    These people weren''t ready to forget what had happened all those years ago. He wasn''t alone; Nyla and Kaiden appeared to feel the same, yet Charles...


    "Wait a minute, shouldn''t we hear them out?" The sun elf announced.


    Asher couldn''t care if the witches had a chair as we were nothing to Royal blood, while Roman and Jaxon were interested, too.


    "Thank you, Charles." Fenris sighed, stepping towards the council. "We all know the witches have been stomped on for far too long. You may think it was just witchcraft users back then, but we were also at fault."


    This wolf still remembered everything I told him about the other Lilith''s story. Her fate was something that couldn''t be repeated.


    "We played a part in that. Something has to change if we want our world to be better!" My wolf declared, standing his ground against those who opposed us.


    Isolating our kind never helped in anything we did; it just made them resentful. He had promised his pack a better future, which he would fight for even if everyone went against him. There was nothing Fenirs wouldn''t do for his future cubs.

 Chapter 116: Edna the Eternal

    Surrounded by the council members, Fenris didn''t back down, not even when his words appeared to fall on deaf ears.


    "No race''s innocent of wrongdoings. Just take our example with Alijah. I''m sure you all have similar stories. It just happens the latest thing has to do with a witch." He shrugged.


    Most of them seemed unmovable, but what he had said was true. No race was innocent. No matter where one looked, there were evil characters. Elves sacrificed their lives for these valuable artifacts, which were used in war.


    Just how many lives did they take in the quest for beauty?


    We could say the same about the vampires who had a habit of drinking blood even when the individual didn''t want to.


    Just how many stories of vampires draining a village dry existed? There are too many to count.


    Not to mention what other secrets they hid. Vampires always tried to keep their records hidden from everyone else, but a closet full of skeletons eventually would be found.


    So, who knows what else they have in store for us?


    Cora was enough for me not to dismiss them anymore. The humans also caused many wars for territory and resources, which was why they were the richest of all the races. We had never been perfect, even when we tried to keep each other in check.


    It didn''t matter if we tried to bury down all the skeletons we dragged behind us.


    Sooner or later, they''ll rise for everyone to see.


    "I won''t lecture you all in your histories. Sadly, I frankly don''t know them all, but we can look at all the wars we started over the quest for power alone. With that, I can say enough is enough. If we don''t change, then nothing will be better. Our kids and our grandkids will never find peace." Fenris huffed, crossing his arms before biting his lip.


    Knowing he had pups on the way, this last sentence hit him harder.


    "I want my kids to have a world where they can be themselves. No matter what happens next, our loved ones deserve a peaceful place to live." He added, placing his hands on the table.


    Jaxon chuckled, tapping his fingertips on the papers before him.


    "If we place one of them in the chair to represent them. It might sway some away from the rebel forces, and I don''t see harm in it." The moon elf smirked.


    These elves have always favored working together with witchcraft users.


    "Maybes don''t win wars." Nyla countered, narrowing her eyes at her fellow.


    The moon shook his head, "If you don''t see the potential in front of you, I don''t know what to say."


    Not all witches did horrible things. Some created potions and medications for the population. We also created charms and magical artifacts with the help of the elves and humans with mundane tasks.


    Others tried to dispel curses placed on victims. Our evil actions overlooked these simple things that we contributed to the world.


    "No, but chances do, and if we don''t dwindle their forces, we may lose this war before it even begins." Fenris sighed.


    The other council members revealed their stances.


    "I also believe witches should have a chair. After all, we elves have one for each type of magic we possess. So why should the humans be any different?" Jaxon questioned his fellow elves, who weren''t receptive to it.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Charles listened silently, waiting to see what the others said before he said anything else.


    "Yes, the witches should represent themselves. I''m tired of dealing with their affairs if we don''t do that. We should shrink the elves'' chairs to one. I mean, you all have pointy ears and must have similar issues, no?" Roman complained, waving his hand.


    Dealing with humans and witchcraft affairs alone was a colossal burden for him, mainly when he chose to ignore our needs over his.


    "We''ll just be handing power back to the cause of mayhem!" Kaiden slammed his hands on the table.


    His red hair seemed set ablaze as the hot blood flowed through his veins.


    Nyla sighed, glancing at the silent sun elf. "Well... Charles, what do you think? You''re awfully quiet."


    He chuckled, "Am I?"


    The sun elf studied my wolf''s words, poses, and actions the entire time.


    "Well, Ryker trained you well, Fenris. Too well, I''d say. I accept Lilith as the representation of witchcraft. However, how do we pretend for them to follow her? She has no experience in this." Charles declared, glancing towards me.


    The other three elves against it glared at him, but it appeared Ryker had done his part to convince Charles. Thanks to that, the vampires quickly joined four of the votes, who didn''t care if we had a chair but found it helpful to disrupt the forces we stood against.


    "Lilith''s powerful enough for them to respect her. I''m sure she''ll create a coven fully faithful to her if you give her the chance." Fenris assured them before shifting his gaze toward me and intertwining his hand with mine.


    "Well, little witch. Prove to us you''re worthy of the chair. What''s your plan for stopping all of this?" Kaiden chided at me, not happy with the results.


    Yet, adding a chair didn''t need to be unison, but the majority. I sighed in response to his passive hostility. Thankfully, Fenris''s hand gave me all the comfort I needed to deal with them.


    "Well... we know that Alijah won''t harm me. So, I plan to use myself as bait to lure him and confront him. We''ll try to seal him again there, but we first need to get an artifact to work. Sadly, that isn''t the only thing we need to figure out." I stopped, shaking my head.


    There was a scarier monster than Alijah, Edna¡ªsomeone we knew nothing about.


    "We also have another issue concerning the witches," I answered the fired-up elf.


    Nyla appeared to be put off by my response.


    "What might that be?" she questioned.


    I closed my eyes, remembering the time. I saw the eternal witch, Edna. The power I felt from her was something else. She had even seen me in that incorporeal form when her spell dragged me out. Something about her was off, and if she were as old as Alijah, an issue might arise if we overlooked her.


    Stella might''ve been a pawn in all this without knowing it.


    "There is a woman known as Edna. I think something''s going on with her. It''s like she has a connection with everything that''s happening." I tried to fit my thoughts together.


    Sadly, her name had no meaning to most of those in the council, after all...


    "You''ll have to be clearer. That''s a common human name." Roman pointed out, raising his eyebrows.


    I sighed, shaking my head.


    Why is it so hard to explain everything?


    Perhaps it was the nerves, but words refused to form on my tongue.


    "She''s an eternal witch alive since Alijah''s time, but we think she might be older than that." Fenris intercepted, tightening his grip on my hand.


    She was a monster that provoked fear in my heart, worse than Alijah. After all, her intentions were utterly unknown. She probably didn''t want the world''s destruction, but something else.


    "Impossible," Asher mumbled, covering his mouth with his hands


    Vampires were the reason they went extinct, or at least that was what the stories said.


    "Ah, no, she exists. I never thought she was malevolent, though. She always came to us with good intentions." Jaxon announced, shifting his eyes to his hands.


    What?


    I could barely follow along.


    "What? Explain yourself, Jaxon! You knew the existence of an eternal witch and never said anything?!" Jasper questioned.


    From the wide-open eyes to his pupils dilating to the max as his lips quivered, he alerted everyone of his true feelings towards this revelation¡ªa usual response to dealing with a deadly being. Eternal witches couldn''t only control time but influence death in ways I yet couldn''t comprehend.


    Their magic was close to the one that flowed out of the soul cairn, leaving me to wonder how it was created.


    You probably know all about it, don''t you, Edna?


    She was probably behind the necromancy attack from before, too.


    Every tale about them placed them as the blight on the world.


    However, this witch''s story was more profound than that. Usually, the victors wrote history, which made every book highly inaccurate.


    "Edna''s older than Alijah''s era and not someone to be trifled with. Her power is something else, divine almost." Jaxon cautioned, shaking his head. "She never appeared to be one for fights, but if she is behind all of this, then... Oh gods... we are in trouble."


    Then... By the gods... You probably are the first and only survivor of the massacre of your species.


    There was nothing more dangerous than a woman who had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 Chapter 117: The Return of a Familiar Face

    A fiery storm was brewing in this room as everyone pointed fingers towards the moon elves.


    "Your kind are always protecting the witches! I knew you would be the death of us!" Kaiden huffed, spewing fire out of his hands.


    The moon elf waved his hands, not wanting any conflict. He was coming clean, after all.


    "Hey, I¡¯ve only seen her once, and I was just a kid. She saved my mother from a sickness years ago." He assured everyone.


    Elves, though, could live longer than two hundred years, and he was one hundred.


    "And you never reported her?" Asher questioned harshly. ¡°Do you realize what you¡¯ve done?!¡±


    "As I said, I was just a kid the last time I saw her. Dad always said we had a good relationship with her. That isn¡¯t even the important part of what I¡¯m trying to tell you." Jaxon sighed, shifting his eyes towards me.


    "Then get on with it!" The blaze elf yelled, triggering his gaze to lock onto him.


    When heated, these fiery elves could be almost the same as Lycans, yet Jaxon wouldn¡¯t allow disrespect to befall him.


    "Watch your tone, Kaiden," the moon elf warned, mana swirling around him.


    Charles stood up, placing his hand between the two. "Okay, that¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s not fight each other. We have more pressing matters."


    Fenris and I stared at the council, unable to believe they would lose their cool quickly, especially over information sharing. It was shocking to hear Jaxon knew the eternal witch, but I was more interested in what he would say next than that fact alone.


    The past can¡¯t change, but the future can! We still have time to stop the madness!


    Releasing a sigh, Jaxon let it go, glancing back towards me.


    "This should interest you, Lilith. Father paid Edna with various artifacts to save my mother." He informed, instigating me to get dazed from the thought alone.


    Various god artifacts are in that woman¡¯s hands?!


    In an instant, I felt faint enough to lose my balance. Stress wasn¡¯t good for me in my current state. My wolf grabbed onto me, preventing me from falling to the ground. Amelia swiftly ran towards me, worried that I may have hit my limit, which I had.


    This is all too much¡­ What hope do we¡­


    Melody rushed to find a chair for me to sit on. The arguments continued to spurt forward because of the new revelation. Everything was going out of control¡ªmuch worse than we had thought.


    Part of me had hoped we were in time to stop the witches from summoning Alijah, but that was impossible, too. They had the means to do it for far longer than we realized.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "This is chaos." Asher slumped into his chair as the bickering continued.


    It was hard to keep up as no one could handle themselves professionally anymore. Edna had various artifacts in her grasp, leaving little doubt that she would use them with any royal-blood vampire or Lycan.


    Or perhaps you can use them too.


    Nothing was known about eternal witches. By the time Melody found a chair for me to sit on, even though Fenris didn¡¯t want to leave my side. He had to step away from me and into his role as leader, leaving me behind with Amelia, Ben, Liam, and Melody.


    Order was lost until my wolf slammed his hands onto the table, startling everyone.


    "Enough bickering! Jaxon, do you know what the artifacts were?" he snarled at the heads of the races.


    They swiftly quieted down after hearing him. His body radiated a slight hint of red, making him appear even more menacing. Amelia vented some air to me using a fan in her bag. Melody told me to breathe in slowly to steady my nerves.


    Any stress seemed to put me over the edge of my nausea. My world went asunder, unable to get a grip on it. Yet my chaotic thoughts bombarded me, trying to figure out what Edna was planning and how she would do it.


    "Fenris, I was a kid. All I remember from back then was that one looked like a dagger, and another was a staff-looking one. I don¡¯t know more than that. I swear on my children. That¡¯s all I know." Jaxon gave his word.


    Sadly, his father had passed away years ago, same with his mother; there was no way for him to know what his parents¡¯ intentions were.


    ¡°Well, fuck aren¡¯t we in a pit of doom.¡± Fenris sighed.


    Edna had planned this for longer than we had been born. There were thousands of years of plotting to catch up, which was impossible. We were running straight into a dead end once again.


    "You said she had a vampire working for her?" Charles cleared his throat, trying to keep his emotions in check.


    "Yes, Cora Blake, she was a recruit in Cerberus," Fenris informed.


    Asher stood up from his chair, surprised by her name.


    "You said, Cora Blake? That means they have the means to use it. Fuck! Why did this have to happen?" the vampire tried to gulp down his worries, to no avail.


    "Wait, I thought only those of royal blood could use artifacts without paying the cost," Nyla commented.


    Asher nervously cackled, shaking his head. "Yes... If it¡¯s who I think it is, it¡¯s my sister''s daughter. She has always been this activist. I don¡¯t know if she knows what she got herself into this time, though."


    "Cora¡¯s an activist?" Fenris queried, shifting his eyes towards the vampire.


    Before all of this, she was a pest who once took me to a meadow, but slowly, it became much more than that. She had used me to get him out of Cerberus before the town was attacked.


    Clearly, you used me to get him out and tried to kill him!


    If she were successful, then Fenris would¡¯ve...


    "Yes, it all began when her girlfriend back in Blohin, a small village near Night City, was attacked and left in a coma. She passed soon after and was also a witch." Asher informed, closing his eyes.


    Night City was the capital of Celnaer, the vampire nation where Asher ruled as king.


    All the pieces are falling into place. Violence ultimately leads to more bloodshed. Yet, is there any way to stop them without it?


    I was part of that vicious cycle when I tore into those renegades in anger.


    It has to end. Somehow, it has to stop, but how?


    "So, Edna¡¯s using her, too. Great, let¡¯s keep adding names to that pile." I muttered, feeling my world spin.


    The lack of energy in my voice triggered Fenris to glance back towards me.


    ¡°Lily¡­¡± He breathed, shaking his head before tearing his eyes away from me again to face the leaders before him.


    "So now we know the how, but when and where are still unknown." My wolf sighed.


    Everyone in the room was silent when someone suddenly opened the door behind us. I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes when I finally saw who it was.


    It has been years since...


    "Perhaps I can help you with that kiddo." Tania declared, coming into the room with her usual elegance.


    The last thing I knew about her was that she was traveling the world.


    "Tania..." I whispered.


    My voice caused her to smile at me. However, she didn¡¯t stop until she was in front of the table full of leaders. She was still as beautiful as I remembered her, and what she said next would change the game for us.

 Chapter 118: A Snap

    All eyes were on her when my old mentor walked into the room.


    "Welcome back. Hope your hunt was fruitful." Asher sighed.


    The elegant black-haired vampire greeted the group before smirking.


    "More than fruitful, I know where these rogues are located. Well, kind of." Tania announced, leaving everyone stunned.


    When she was abruptly taken away from my teachings, they assigned her to travel around the world to find any information about the coven who eluded the world. After all these years, she had finally found her marks.


    "They¡¯re in no man''s lands, Celestelia. The half-breeds live there and are hard to deal with, but I managed to get my way.¡± She reported bowing down to the council.


    Celestelia... the land of dead gods, or so the legends say.


    Pure breeds abandoned the land because of the accidents that used to happen there. It was also home to many hybrids who didn¡¯t find their footing in our world. Usually, when humans and another race breed, their offspring resemble the race of dominance.


    However, in other cases, they could also form a half-breed known as luma for Lycans, peredhil for elves, and dhampirs for vampires. All of them had their characteristics and manners of being. Even though they weren¡¯t sought after, they also had their perks.


    Although they weren¡¯t as powerful as the pure breeds, only half-breeds between elves were the ones who could outclass the pure ones, and those were rare.


    "Ah... No wonder we haven¡¯t found them. Those forsaken lands are the perfect hiding spot for rogue witches." Charles commented, leaving a nasty taste in my mouth.


    Hybrids were usually shunned everywhere they appeared.


    Will my child be like that, too? Or will Fenris''s dominant genes kick in, saving it from that fate?


    There was no way I would know until I birthed them.


    Perhaps if I run further studies on my... No, I don¡¯t even want to think about it.


    "It¡¯s a land like any other. Now we have to find where they¡¯re located in Celestelia." My wolf tried to keep them on track.


    He wouldn¡¯t allow their prejudices to take control. This wasn¡¯t the time to shun any race, which included the hybrids. However, the hybrids in Celestelia were another pressing issue. These were hostile to all purebreds because of their treatment on the mainland.


    "From what I heard, they were seen near the Howling Forest," Tania added, placing the map she had used on the table.


    "Interesting. Where have I heard that before?" Fenris commented but couldn¡¯t place it in time when the female vampire continued with her testimony.


    "They call it that because of the howls the forest makes when the wind hits. The locals also mention it¡¯s as cursed as Bloodfalls. No poison there, though." Tania shrugged, tapping her finger on the largest forest in Celestelia.


    Bloodfalls was another historic location where the War of the Gods took place, or at least that is what the history books said. It was another location in Celestelia covered in poisonous miasma.


    "Why is that?" Charles asked the vampire.


    She shrugged, "I don¡¯t know, but when I went, the worst feeling was present. All the hair in my body stood up, and every instinct told me to run out of there, but I saw no witches. I think their true hideout is somewhere else."


    "The locals said nothing more?" The earth queried, rolling her eyes.


    There were still too many unknowns, so I understood her frustration.


    "No, they aren¡¯t friendly to outsiders or purebreds like me. I had to manage alone but can¡¯t cover the entire forest." The female vampire pointed out.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Jaxon sighed, ¡°It isn¡¯t like we treated them with dignity.¡±


    "Damn, hybrids will ruin us one day," Kaiden commented.


    "Wait, they aren¡¯t at fault. We haven¡¯t been kind to them, so why should they help us? I know I wouldn¡¯t." Fenris pointed out, crossing his arms.


    Silence filled the air again as he shrugged, "We¡¯ll have to scout the place without alerting the witches to our presence. Tania did all she could, but it¡¯s not enough."


    "No, all we need is an artifact to stop Alijah," I stated, wishing not to go in circles.


    My words caused their glances to return to me. Thanks to Amelia and Melody, I got my footing once again. However, the stress would bring me down again if this didn¡¯t finish quickly.


    "Ah, if you want one so bad. How about we test your devotion to this world, then?" The blaze elf turned his aggression towards me.


    ¡°What?¡± I mumbled, unable to follow.


    ¡°Mortal, how dare you! Lily has been trying to save you all for far longer than you realize!¡± Shade huffed, scowling at the elf from my shoulder.


    "Quiet cat, this isn¡¯t a place for you to speak.¡± The elf huffed, standing from his chair, ¡°If you want an artifact, how about you offer that familiar of yours in payment?" Kaiden suggested, smirking.


    Did I hear you right? You want¡­


    "What did you just say?!" Fenris growled, glowering at the elf.


    "Silver blood, that familiar is a dead god''s soul, or maybe one of its minions. I¡¯m sure I can find some willing elves to make you one artifact for you to use with it as a canvas. After all, why should we give in ours when you can create your own?" Kaiden clarified his intentions.


    In an instant, I saw red, triggering my body to radiate a deep color of blue.


    How¡­ dare you?!


    Energy pulsed through me, sending Amelia and Melody into the air. Luckily, they were caught by Ben and Liam before they hit the wall while everyone else held on to dear life.


    Lily, it¡¯s okay. If you need my life, I¡¯ll gladly give it to you. Shade tried to comfort me, purring against my cheek.


    Never! I¡¯ll never give you up! You¡¯re the one thing I wouldn¡¯t trade for anything!


    She and Fenris were the only things that were sacred to me.


    "Is this a test? If it isn¡¯t, I was wrong to believe you would be of any help." I smirked at Kaiden, who floated in the air with everyone around him. The only one unaffected was my wolf, who easily repelled my magic.


    "Lilith, it¡¯s okay. I won¡¯t allow anyone to¡ª" He stepped towards me, and my aura soon gave off a purple hint.


    The whispers that usually tormented me remained silent once as I was in control for the first time without outside influences.


    "No! Don¡¯t stand in my way!¡± I snapped, turning my glance straight at Kaiden.


    ¡°You¡¯re disappointing, but what did I expect from a fool willing to give more lives than to hand over stupid artifacts you already have.¡± I scolded.


    Kaiden realized too late that I was no pushover. Though I felt like I could fall at any moment, my state of being didn¡¯t matter¡ªnot when he threatened the only being who had been by my side since the fall of Silverant.


    The only one who had protected and loved me no matter what happened.


    That¡¯s unforgivable. It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re a goddess or not. You¡¯re my Shade!


    I stepped forward instantly to warp towards him without uttering a single spell. The elf¡¯s eyes dilated as I gripped his chin in my fingertips.


    "If you even try to touch a single hair on her head! I¡¯ll make sure your insides end up splattered on the wall behind you! Or better yet, they come out of your fucking mouth!" I promised, ensuring he knew it was no mere threat.


    Letting him go, I stared at the trembling elf before smirking, "Witches are terrifying, you say. My strength probably matches an eternal witch''s, yet here you are, thinking you can control me! You don¡¯t, and I¡¯m here because I want to save the world of those I love, which doesn¡¯t include you!" I announced.


    If I have to be a monster, I¡¯ll welcome the bloodshed. To protect them all, I¡¯ll do everything necessary!


    "That means respect us, mortal, before you turn into a slime." Shade snickered.


    Before I knew it, Fenris grabbed my arm, yanking me into his warmth. Covering my eyes with his hand, I felt my magic dissipate instantly at his touch. Blood moon Lycans truly were terrifying beings as he made his presence known instantly, turning me off like a light switch.


    "Excuse my pregnant fianc¨¦e''s actions. Her hormones are all over the place, making her jumpy. So, I refer you don¡¯t do that again for your good." He tried to hide the anger behind his voice, but it was too prevalent.


    He wanted blood as well, but taking it there would start an all-out war within the races, tarnishing our chances at a world where our children would have better days.


    "Fenris..." I mumbled.


    He sighed, shaking his head, "It also seems you were mistaken in my intentions when I said I wouldn¡¯t dissolve the council. I want it to stay open for you a lot so you can choose what happens. After all, it¡¯s better than my father''s tyranny, but..."


    Although his hand covered my eyes, I rested my head on his chest, allowing me to peek through to see his face. His eyes shone brightly, and he had a prevalent scowl on them. The room returned to normal, far away from the influence of my magic.


    "If you threaten my family once again. I assure you. Lilith won¡¯t be the one dirtying her hands in your blood if that time ever comes. You¡¯ll all see how scary the Lycan tyranny can be with me in the head." My wolf declared, uncovering my eyes.


    However, he kept me in his arms as his face turned cold. All the heads stared at Kaiden, who had brought this upon himself.


    ¡°Fenris, I¡¯m¡ª¡± Instead of letting me finish, my wolf shook his head before kissing my forehead.


    His affection was all I needed to get a grip. This was far from over, especially after he declared me his fianc¨¦e, which triggered all the Lycans in the room to be eerily quiet.

 Chapter 119: Laylas Stand

    Tania appeared shocked to hear I was Fenris¡¯s fianc¨¦e, as Ben hadn¡¯t told her yet. A lot had changed since she was in Silverant. On the other hand, Asher was unpleased by the turn of events. Our show of power wasn¡¯t unnoticed by him.


    After all, vampires and Lycans had always clashed for power. The reason Cerberus was made was to avoid that as well as to keep the witches in check. However, I was still shaken by Kaiden''s intentions for Shade, which was enough for me to keep her close to my bosom.


    Everyone sat silently before Charles called the meeting adjourned for the time being. Tensions were too high, and nothing would get done. Thus, a two-day suspension was ordered to allow everyone to get their affairs in order.


    Fenris''s threat wasn¡¯t taken lightly. After the meeting, Jaxon informed us that he would hand over any artifacts still in the moon elves'' possession. However, if they were helpful, that would have to be seen.


    The sun elves also agreed to hand over theirs. Sadly, the other three more reluctant branches hadn¡¯t decided yet. The two days would give them time to reconsider after weighing every option.


    Soon after the meeting, we returned to the manor without further incidents. With Ryker''s help, we exited through the back door to avoid all the reporters who tried to swarm us at the entrance. Once home, I profusely apologized for losing control of everyone.


    Although no one was angry with me, all I did was push them away, and I injured no one on my rampage either. However, Fenris pointed out some things that caught his attention. I could cast spells without muttering a word, which was a concerning change.


    I couldn¡¯t do this before, which led us to believe I used our child''s power as my own. This happened in rare cases with some elven and human mothers, though we didn¡¯t know how powerful they would be and didn¡¯t delve deeper into it either.


    Instead of worrying about what could be, Amelia focused on the present. She rushed to prepare a meal while Amara checked me for any abnormalities. Luckily, none were found.


    "Where is Ben?" Melody asked, noticing his absence.


    Amelia chuckled when she finally asked.  "Probably with Tania. They have a lot to catch up to."


    So, those two really are¡­


    After the harrowing battle to save Silverant, they both became fond of each other. However, our peaceful time came crashing down when a knock came on the door. A maid rushed over to Amelia to whisper something in her ear.


    The news brought to her caused her to click her tongue, ¡°Fen come.¡±


    He was hesitant to leave my side, but her eyes showed urgency. Melody and Amara stayed behind me as Liam rested his back against the wall where they had gone. This brown wolf wouldn¡¯t allow anyone into the room where I was.


    Shade, being a curious familiar, followed Fenris out. They opened the door to the manor, triggering the screaming to start.


    "Please tell me this isn¡¯t real! You can¡¯t marry that human! We¡¯re meant to be!" Layla shouted from the doorway, snatching everyone''s attention.


    Layla was one of the wolves in the room when he called me his fianc¨¦e. Her arm was still bandaged from our previous encounter, yet that didn¡¯t stop her from confronting the man who was supposed to be her husband.


    This change wasn¡¯t something she was willing to accept. Perhaps the fact I was pregnant, she could take, but marriage? Nope, she wouldn¡¯t allow him to marry anyone other than herself.


    Slowly, Melody and I snuck up the wall behind Liam to see what was happening outside. I could hear everything thanks to Shade, who was by Amelia''s feet.


    "Oh, this is too funny. Look, I don¡¯t need to answer you. You¡¯ve been nothing to me since you got here." Fenris sighed, rolling his eyes.


    ¡°What?¡± The white wolf shook her head.


    "Layla, please leave. I don¡¯t want you to be carried out by force." Amelia pleaded.


    "Eh, she should be. This is harassment." Fenris huffed.


    Liam glanced at us from where he was before chuckling. ¡°You two love trouble, don¡¯t you.¡±


    ¡°Hush!¡± Melody pouted, wanting to focus on the conversation.


    To this black wolf, this was the day she had been waiting for since our encounter in the bathroom.


    "Wait¡­ she¡¯s here?!" Layla snarled, noticing Shade at Amelia''s feet.


    Somehow, she thought I would be elsewhere, probably behind Cerberus''s locked doors after my performance.


    "Obviously.¡± Fenris scoffed, ¡°Where I am, Lily will always be there, and vice versa, especially now that she¡¯s pregnant with my pups. Like I¡¯d ever leave her anywhere."


    His words were sharper than any knife to her heart.


    "You cheated me! You owe me better!" she sobbed loudly.


    All she wanted at this point were answers, but those were replies he wouldn¡¯t give her.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Cheated?! That would require I saw you as my girl, which you never were. I don¡¯t owe you a single thing. I never told you I loved you and didn''t feel loved by you, Layla. You never once cared about me other than your status. Get over it and find another person to get hitched with." My wolf snapped.


    She stepped toward him to mend this as if the situation were savable. It made me feel bad for her, though. She was where I thought I¡¯d be when Fenris married her.


    Something I don¡¯t think I would¡¯ve survived.


    "How can you say that? We were made for each other. I gave you everything!" Layla growled.


    He huffed in response to her demands. To him, she gave him nothing. He never touched or showed affection to make her believe he cared. He did the opposite, shoving her to the side and picking me whenever it mattered.


    "No, Layla, you and I aren¡¯t meant to be. How delusional do you have to be to love someone who treats you like a second thought? I never gave you a reason to love me, and I never will, even if Lilith wasn¡¯t around. I still hate the fact that you force yourself into my life." He assured.


    At that moment, the white wolf let out a heartfelt wail as she lost everything, including the pride she had held so close.


    "You! You¡¯ll be miserable! She will never be able to please the wolf within you like I would!" Layla tried to find any piece of hope to cling to, sobbing.


    After all, Lycans were rarely pleased by human partners such as me. I couldn¡¯t do what another wolf could do to him.


    "Oh... Fuck, you can¡¯t be serious." Fenris struggled not to laugh at her feeble attempt to change his mind. "Lilith pleases me just fine, Layla. She tamed the wolf within me years ago. I¡¯ve lost count of how often we¡¯ve rolled in bed together."


    The realization of our relationship being older than she knew sent her over the edge.


    "I have given you everything while she killed your parents! How can you love her and not me?!" she screeched, gripping her shirt tightly.


    Fenris sighed, shaking his head. "Why bring that up?"


    "Because she did! She killed them and my mother, too!" Layla howled, eyes shimmering brightly.


    The only reason she didn¡¯t jump him was that he would overpower her. However, anything would chug him over the edge, especially since the council''s previous events were still fresh in his mind.


    "So?" Fenris sighed, ¡°Lily didn¡¯t do anything. Her coven caused that disaster.¡±


    "What? How can you say that? She destroyed Silverant! And now she¡¯s destroying our¡ª" Layla questioned, only to be interrupted by Fenris.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s change the perspective. Let¡¯s go with what you said. That Lilith did kill them. She was ten, and it happened after an abusive coven violated and battered her. All she wanted to do was protect herself. I don¡¯t blame her for seeing every adult as a fucking threat.¡± He snapped, taking a deep breath soon after.


    After releasing that breath, Fenris rose towards his face before clenching it into a fist. ¡°If I put myself in her shoes, I surely would¡¯ve been terrified to the point of not caring who the fuck got hurt. Not to say how fucked up in the head I would¡¯ve been.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Layla trailed off before shaking her head, "No! I¡¯ll tell all the Lycans what that slut did! When I do, they¡¯ll all turn on you! That¡¯s when I¡¯ll kill her for taking you away from me! I swear it!"


    Her threat triggered him to grab onto her throat in response. It almost seemed like his nails would gore her skin any minute. He was serious when he warned everyone about threatening me.


    "Fenris!" Amelia yelled at her baby brother.


    His crimson eyes glowed redder than ever as his body gave the hue.


    "I¡¯m tired of your threats and everyone else''s. Do you think because you have Grandpa behind you, I won¡¯t squeeze the life out of you if need be? You¡¯re nothing but trash to me.¡± He squeezed into her more, triggering blood to drip down her skin.


    ¡°Hah, don¡¯t make me laugh! The others won¡¯t turn against me as all we listen to is strength, and mine¡¯s undeniable anymore! I¡¯ll stomp anyone who tries to hurt my future wife and my pups!" Fenris snarled, digging his claws into her more, prompting her to scream in fear.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t! I don¡¯t want to die!¡± She pleaded.


    Before it got too far, I embraced my enraged wolf from behind.


    "Stop! Please don¡¯t kill anyone because of me." I begged, clasping onto him for dear life.


    This act of violence would spawn more. I couldn¡¯t control my anger, but I could try to manage his as he did with me. Instantly, Fenris dropped her as Shade jumped back onto my shoulder.


    "Lily..." he sighed, grabbing my hands that held him from the front.


    His fingers were full of blood, leaving me with the warmth of it in my hands.


    ¡°You should go before you lose anything else. He¡¯s done with you. Move on.¡± Liam huffed, walking over to Layla.


    She gasped for air, grabbing onto her neck, still struggling to heal. Amelia shook her head, not enjoying what happened to her old friend. This wolf didn¡¯t deserve this, but Fenris was at wit''s end. He didn¡¯t know what else to do to make her back off.


    All her actions fueled his hatred of her, even if she did nothing to deserve it.


    "Look at that. The witch you hate so much just saved you. Shameful, really." My wolf chided her before turning towards me and tugging my chin up to be kissed lightly.


    After the quick peck, he glanced over at her.


    "Do you need me to show you how I hold her? Is that what it¡¯ll take for you to get it through your damn head that you and I will never be?" Fenris questioned, glaring at her.


    It triggered Layla to stand up and take a few steps away from us, holding on to her wounds. In her eyes, we were monsters. This wasn¡¯t the first time he had placed his hands on her that way, and seeing the gentleness he touched me with was surreal to her¡ªsomething she would never have, even if I weren¡¯t around.


    "Please, Layla, leave. There¡¯s nothing here for you anymore. I¡¯m sorry." Amelia apologized, shaking her head.


    The white wolf gazed at the older sister, feeling betrayed by everyone there.


    "I hate you all! I hope you fucking all die!" she screamed, leaving the manor followed by Liam, who stood by the gateway to ensure she had left.


    "Fenris, you could¡¯ve been gentler." Amelia scolded him.


    ¡°Gentle? What? Do you even know what it feels like to be harassed day and night by someone who doesn¡¯t understand boundaries? She kissed me constantly even though she knew I didn¡¯t want it.¡± He growled, biting his lip.


    ¡°Fen¡­ I didn¡¯t know you felt that way.¡± She winced, realizing her little brother was tolerating it the entire time.


    ¡°Fuck! I tried so many times to get it through her fucking head, and for some fucking reason, she still came at me. She kept calling me her ''destiny''. Fuck! I also have a limit. I¡¯m done being gentle.¡± Fenris scoffed, gazing towards me.


    ¡°Layla never saw me more than fertilizer for her fucking eggs." He shuddered, triggering me to touch his cheek.


    His words reminded me of Alijah and all he suffered. His situation was unfair, and Fenris was close to experiencing the same fate.


    What if your test results had appeared that you were fertile before the moon? Would they have forced your marriage to Layla sooner? I¡­ How¡­ horrible¡­


    That thought sickened me.


    If it had happened while I had, my emotions dampened. Then I probably would¡¯ve lost my chance at being with you.


    "I wonder if that¡¯s how Alijah felt back then, but he had no one in his corner," I mumbled.


    Fenris cleaned his fingers with a wet cloth a maid had fetched before cleaning mine.


    "Probably, can¡¯t say I don¡¯t feel for the poor bastard." he sighed.


    In response, I hugged him as the nastiest of feelings swelled within me. People were unwilling to learn, even when they knew their history, which was unpalatable. However, thankfully, it would be something Fenris and I would try to change.


    After all, this world had to be altered for the sake of what was growing within me and for all those who came after them.

 Chapter 120: My Grimoire

    When Ben returned from his rendezvous with Tania, he brought a pile of files from the council for Fenris to fill out, much to the younger brother''s displeasure. Ryker also came to discuss everything that had happened.


    We found ourselves in the study that used to belong to Amir, their father. It had been unused since his passing, yet everything was well-kept. There were ancient items he had collected from his travels as the head of Cerberus.


    Once we were all sitting by one of the couches near the main table, the sun elf turned to the young silver blood.


    ¡°So, when will you take the helm in Cerberus?¡± He asked.


    A soft chuckle left Fenris, gripping me by my waist before tugging me closer. ¡°How about effective from today?¡±


    A soft nod left Ryker, ¡°I understand; I shall clean up my things by day''s end.¡±


    He went to stand, only for my wolf to stop him by grabbing his hand.


    ¡°Na, old friend, that won¡¯t be necessary. You¡¯ll be the director, but instead of me reporting to you, you¡¯ll be telling me about everything that happens.¡± He declared, triggering the elf¡¯s eyes to open wider than I had ever seen them go.


    With this, he would make most of the critical choices instead of the young Lycan, who had no intentions of biting more than he could handle. With the council and Lycans, he had enough on his plate.


    ¡°What?¡± The elf cocked his head.


    ¡°You¡¯ve always done what¡¯s best for everyone. Lilith would¡¯ve been in a dungeon or worse if it weren''t for you. I know you were the one who fought to keep us together, so I see no reason to kick you off the post when you saved my future wife and, in turn, saved us all.¡±


    ¡°Fen¡ªah, I don¡¯t know what you mean. I never did anything of the sort.¡± Ryker huffed, crossing his arms. ¡°But if you don¡¯t want your duties by birthright, I won¡¯t argue there. Let¡¯s keep working like we always have, young silver blood.¡±


    ¡°Hah, of course.¡± Fenris smiled as the elf left, allowing us to focus on other matters.


    Yet I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if I hadn¡¯t been pregnant¡­


    Would that have changed your decision?


    Shifting my eyes away from my wolf, I tried not to dwell on it. This development wasn¡¯t a bad thing, per se. After all, he already had a lot on his plate with the Lycans in the council and being the alpha they admired.


    Of course, Ben and Liam would be there to help along the way.


    ¡°Hey, Lily,¡± He voiced, drawing my gaze back onto him.


    Reaching to touch my cheek, he trailed down it, ¡°Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t accept because of you. I don¡¯t want my life to be work alone. It¡¯s a mistake my dad made, and I refuse to make it. Nothing¡¯s more important to me than my family.¡±


    His father¡¯s choices were something he wanted to avoid at all costs with me. After a brief, sweet kiss, he tugged away to be met with Ben¡¯s mountain of documents that needed to be processed. I sat quietly on the comfy couch while the brothers went to work.


    They dedicated the rest of the day to all the paperwork in front of them. It was the first time I saw him act so seriously. Liam was also there to be my wolf¡¯s ears and feet, running out multiple times to do errands that emerged.


    Even Ezra came around to help, too. The grey wolf spent time with Mia, helping her with the pregnancy and such matters before arriving to help his friend. With the new developments, everything became busier than ever before.


    Fenris, the head of the council of Lycans, took on the role effortlessly, working from home with the help of his comrades. When I became the new chair of witchcraft, a human visited me to teach me how to work with politics and such.


    Before I knew it, I also had a mountain of paperwork I hadn¡¯t considered doing. My wolf made it seem so effortless. Meanwhile, I dreaded every time someone came in with more papers or letters for me to read.


    Most of the time, it felt like my head was going to explode when complications popped up. They had trained Fenris since birth for this role, while I had nothing of the sort, even though my chair wasn¡¯t officialized yet.


    That wouldn¡¯t happen until I could deal with the masses publicly, which was a danger thanks to my pregnancy. However, that didn¡¯t stop rumors spreading, thanks to the Cerberus scouts traveling worldwide. It made some witchcraft users who had left or joined rogues come back to the order.


    Most of them had no other way but hoped to avoid persecution with the news of the new chair being filled. After all, never in their wildest dreams did they think witchcraft would be represented in the court.


    Every time their letters reached my hands, I couldn¡¯t help but relate to the feeling of having their backs pinned against the wall. However, that all changed when they found a voice through me. It had only been a day, and somehow, I was bombarded with ravens, leaving messages requesting the council to meet their needs.


    Most of them were reasonable, while others weren¡¯t. Whenever Fenris had free time, he would help me sort out and prioritize their request. I never knew seeing the difference between them would be difficult, but some had more urgent needs than others.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°They¡¯re all essential, but you can¡¯t meet everyone''s needs. Focus on the big stuff, and then the little things will fall in line with time.¡± Fenris voiced, holding me close in one of our short breaks.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s tiresome. My head feels like it¡¯s spinning; I don¡¯t know how you can mow down so many.¡± I mumbled, smothering myself on his chest.


    ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t do it alone, love. I¡¯ll always be here for you, but you must build your coven too. Fill it with people you trust, human or not.¡± He trailed his fingertips down my hair.


    This wolf wasn¡¯t wrong; even though he tried his best to help me, he also had his heaps of hoops to go through. Not every witchcraft user wanted to have a Lycan helping them either, though building a coven would require time, which we didn¡¯t have much.


    Luckily, Ryker was willing to help me find trustworthy people to keep me going. Though, they were just the start of everything. Before any letter came to me, it was checked for harmful substances. Thankfully, they never found any.


    This isn¡¯t your style, either way. You¡¯ll want bloodshed, won¡¯t you, grandmother?


    I never thought overseeing anything would be easy, but it was more complicated than I imagined. The pressure of having so many people depend on me for their needs was overwhelming. By the second day, the council had resumed a decision on the matters that we had left unsaid before.


    Thankfully, most elves had come to reason, pooling their sources together. Whatever god artifacts they had would be brought to Silverant within the following weeks. In the meeting, I tried to procure some resources the witchcraft users were asking for, only to be met by a dead end.


    Until we removed the rogues, the witchcraft chair couldn¡¯t fully proceed. Thus, helping them would only strengthen their forces. All the members didn¡¯t fully agree with this, but it didn¡¯t allow me to help those willing to return.


    Their rejection didn¡¯t deter me from arguing otherwise.


    ¡°You¡¯re all feeding the flame that¡¯s burning our world! I hope you know that!¡± I growled.


    Sadly, it was disregarded, leaving me feeling heated in ways I didn¡¯t understand. After the meeting ended, my wolf reassured me again that I wouldn¡¯t be alone in this. Sadly, I couldn¡¯t depend on him constantly, though.


    Silverant had its plethora of issues, especially after the recent attacks. It wasn¡¯t long before Nyla came forward, offering herbs to help the witchcraft users with their potions. She was followed by Jaxon and Charles, who offered to do the same.


    ¡°If we don¡¯t support them, they¡¯ll just leave again, and the rest won¡¯t turn towards us.¡± Jaxon sighed, ¡°So, just tell us what you need, and I¡¯ll try to acquire it for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± I smiled.


    The request that had been denied concerned the potions we witchcraft users could make. These potions would also help us and every race, allowing them to prove themselves for peace rather than chaos. Once we left them behind, Ryker took Fenris and me to his office.


    There, I saw something familiar sitting on his table.


    What...? Isn¡¯t that my grimoire?


    It appeared the same as when it was first summoned into this world.


    "Why¡¯s it there?" I mumbled, gazing at my wolf.


    He smiled in response to my question, gesturing to Ryker.


    "Well, if you want to be respected by witchcraft users, you must have your grimoire. Fenris has convinced me it should be alright for you to have yours." The elf informed, tapping the cover with his fingertips.


    Taking a few steps towards it, I barely recognized it. When the fall happened, I hadn¡¯t inspected it before. It was blue, with black laces around it. It had no title or anything else to identify, much like any other grimoire.


    "I thought you would¡¯ve destroyed it," I commented.


    Ryker shook his head in response to my assessment of the situation.


    "Well, powerful grimoires are indestructible. The magic within them makes them that way, and yours is from the Soul Carin." Ryker clarified.


    This was something I knew, as most were indestructible by normal means. Even so, I thought they would¡¯ve found a way to eliminate it.


    "Even to elven fire?" I asked, knowing their inferno was more potent than my incantation, which scorched parts of the forest.


    Nothing rarely survived them. Some even said they burned hotter than the stars, so they only existed in Blaze Elven territory.


    "Yes, although we never tried to do anything to this one," The elf reassured me, leaving me unsure of his intentions.


    "Why? I don¡¯t understand why anyone would allow this to exist." I continued my query, wanting to know more about my situation.


    "Ah, child, that¡¯s because I always thought there would come a day I would have to return it to you. Witchcraft magic¡¯s chaotic if deprived of a grimoire. With it, witches can make their spells work more accurately. It also records all the spells you¡¯ve learned throughout your life." He breathed, shifting his eyes towards my wolf.


    "I see," I mumbled.


    But¡­ can I control it too?


    Fenris stepped towards the grimoire, grabbing it in his hands before turning to me and offering it.


    "Also, no one can seem to open the book either. Even though they¡¯ve tried, or so I was told. I haven¡¯t even tried to read it." He added, shaking his head.


    His words left me baffled, shifting my eyes towards the grimoire.


    "But it has no locks," I noted, glancing at it.


    There weren¡¯t any restrictive spells, either. This book was nothing more than an ordinary bearer of information.


    "Some grimoires only respond to their owners or their kin, especially if they are still alive, " Ryker said, sitting in his chair.


    "Oh..." I murmured, remembering the library incident from before.


    So, Lilith''s grimoire resonated with me, and it was true. Tobias didn¡¯t lie. Yet again, he never did.


    I hesitantly reached for it when I walked towards Fenris, who held it. The moment my fingers touched the cover of it, it glowed slightly before dimming right after. A soft sigh left me, alerting me it probably was safe to handle since nothing terrible happened. I took it from his hands before finally opening it and revealing all the spells I had encountered.


    I had also created the newest ones, as many other pages were empty.


    "Witchcraft users, most of the time, create their spells to fill their pages. They do this by understanding other ones they have come across, but you already know how to do that since you turned ten." Fenris breathed, grabbing me by my waist.


    With every page I turned, I could see all the spells Stella forced me to learn, even the ones I had little memory of. There was an arsenal in there.


    "It also records any spell you might have seen. So, we hope maybe you saw something about what Stella has planned." Ryker voiced, leaving me to realize that probably was the only reason he agreed to return the grimoire.


    It didn¡¯t matter to me, though. Sitting down, I took the chance that we were alone in this room to glance at the book. While I did so, Ryker gave his report to Fenris based on what he had learned today. Nothing had changed in the past few days.


    Although Tania was processing the shipment of the elven artifacts, she would personally oversee getting them to Silverant to avoid any hurdles. It appeared Ben would have only one more day with her before she left to gather the artifacts.


    After a while of reading, I again fell ill, making Fenris call it a day for us. Leading me out of the room, we walked into another storm¡ªone I wanted to be no part of.

 Chapter 121: A Friendly Duel

    Reporters swatted us at the entrance before Fenris, and I could leave the Cerberus building. I closed my eyes and clung to my wolf, who carried me on his back. The flashing of their cameras was irritating to me.


    "Back off," He growled at the onslaughts of reporters questions.


    They were all trying to get a statement from him and me. It wasn¡¯t long before he started to shimmer brightly. His power resonated with his anger and desire to keep me safe while Liam, who would meet us before this mess happened, tried to make his way through the people.


    Noticing there would be no way out, Fenris took a few steps back from them.


    ¡°Hang on to me tightly, Lily.¡± He suddenly declared.


    He instantly shifted into his beast form, leaving Shade and me to cling to him for dear life. With a sharp snarl erupting from him, the reporters backed off, allowing us the chance to bolt away from there.


    This would be the second time I had ever ridden him while in his beast form. Even though all I could do was hang onto his hair, fearing it might blow me off if I loosened my grip. The fur under my fingers was so smooth.


    Part of me worried it would hurt him if I clung too hard, but it was a silly thought. Lycans were built to endure much more than that. We were inside the manor gates in a few seconds, safe from the crowd.


    I had never seen him run so fast, not even when Cora took me.


    Is that also another boon from the Blood Moon?


    I struggled to hop off Fenris, who shifted back into his humanoid form. Grumbling under his breath, he glared at the crowd at the front gate. I hadn¡¯t noticed them in the blur from the speed he had run, but they had been waiting for us there, too.


    ¡°Lily, go inside.¡± Fenris huffed, visibly heated by the event, as Melody and Amara met me at the doorstep before he stomped his way over to the journalists.


    "Look, I understand why you want your story, but if any of you ever places my pregnant fianc¨¦e in danger again. I¡¯ll hunt you down and ensure no paper will ever hire you again!" My wolf threatened as they erupted him with more questions.


    They were mostly about his relationship with Layla and his desire to marry a simple human. Rolling his eyes, he rudely answered each of their questions, trying to appease them enough for them to leave me alone.


    The last thing we needed was for crowds to form outside our home, endangering its grounds. Sadly, the questions continued to where Melody urged me into the house to rest. Everything was becoming chaotic, and it wouldn¡¯t be slowing down soon.


    When Amelia finally got home hours later, Fenris was still outside with Liam by his side, trying to stop the mayhem. I could only sit by a window and watch him from afar. Sadly, it would be too dangerous for me to be near crowds.


    It¡¯s not only my life to worry about but those of my unborn child, too.


    My wolf wouldn''t have allowed it even if I didn¡¯t care about it. Stress was already taking a toll on me and my pregnancy. After they finally dispersed, he came in, appearing emotionally exhausted, falling into my lap before grumbling a few words and curses.


    I giggled, happy to have him back even if he had been cornered. It reminded me of when he had that picture taken with Layla, yet his eyes didn¡¯t have prevalent dark circles on him. Everything was getting to him as well, though.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Our free time was disappearing with every passing day while the silver wolf tried to find some control over this power he possessed. Shade offered to be his sparring partner, which he initially declined, not wanting to hurt her by mistake.


    However, she didn¡¯t take no for an answer.


    "Play with me, little wolf, or are you scared?" The feline taunted him, who rolled his eyes in response to her tease.


    We were in our room, and he had finished the work for the day. I was done with my studies, which were becoming bothersome and tedious.


    "If you break a nail, don¡¯t blame me," He huffed, raising his eyebrows at her.


    He had little control of his power, but Shade took it more as a challenge than a cautionary tale.


    ¡°I want to see you try.¡± She snickered.


    Unlike me before my pregnancy, even though we shared the same magical source, Shade could use magic with no backlash on her or me. She only used her power when she wanted me to see something or hear through her.


    Her shifts and form changes also used magic, but it never weighed on me when she did them. The next day after she offered, he took her to the back of the manor, where a stadium existed. It used to be a place where his brother and his father trained.


    I sat on one chair nearby, trying to catch up on the lessons left to me the previous day. The amount of knowledge being crammed into my head was extraordinary. Shade shifted into her authentic form, joining our wolf in the arena.


    ¡°Remember what you said yesterday,¡± Fenris smirked, anticipating her movements.


    ¡°If you say so¡ª¡± Before she could finish, he pinned the feline against the grown in his breast form.


    What?! I didn¡¯t even see him move! Shade huffed.


    He¡¯s getting faster; I can¡¯t even keep up with him using your eyes.


    Oi! This isn¡¯t fair! She grumbled.


    Unlike the more experienced wolf, she had no combat experience but loved playing dirty. They both weren¡¯t going for serious injuries, but Shade hated nothing more than losing. Grabbing him with her tail, she yanked him off her, launching him into the distance.


    "Not bad, little wolf. Let¡¯s get serious." Shade purred, flashing her fangs at him.


    My eyes wouldn¡¯t stay on the book before me when she used magic I had never seen before. She had always been defensive, never going on the offense. Once back on her feet around her, shadowy orbs formed before shooting beams of energy toward Fenris.


    The rays were so fast that he could barely dodge them in time as one scraped his side before she gave him a chance to catch his breath.


    "Are you trying to kill me?" Fenris growled, seeing smoke come out of his top coat.


    Shade snickered. "Oh? What? Aren¡¯t you magic-proof? Didn¡¯t you say I would break a nail?"


    My wolf grumbled under his breath, trying to figure out how to regain his dominance against his foe.


    "Plus, Lilith wouldn¡¯t let me kill you if I tried to," She added, posturing to pounce at him.


    Her tail flickered side to side as he got serious, giving off the same red hue that had increased his speed. This time, she created a barrier he quickly crashed through, but before he could pin her down, she shifted sizes, causing him to miss her.


    After escaping his grasp, Shade shifted back, taking the chance to pin him down. For a second, she felt victorious over the silver wolf under her. However, it quickly crashed when he shifted back into his humanoid form and grabbed her front leg, triggering her to shift back into her tiniest form.


    "Hah! Got you." He yanked her onto his chest.


    She tried to shove him off.


    "What?! Unfair! This is cheating!" Shade grumbled in his grip, unable to find freedom.


    "No, no, no! It¡¯s very fair! I¡¯ve declawed you, little one!" Fenris snuggled her nose in his.


    She licked him before pouting. "Hmph! Only because I went easy on you!¡±


    Even though Fenris didn¡¯t know how to control it entirely, from that brief interaction, I could see that magic was useless against him¡ªwell, at least the one that came from me. This meant we could only take red Lycans down through physical means.


    Perhaps with the magic of a god, too, but that¡¯s...


    It had to be the reason Stella created that variant of wolfsbane to stop Fenris. Unlike Alijah, who was set on destroying the world, my wolf wanted to live in it. He would bring forth children, who would give away to a new species of Lycans¡ªsomething every magic user dreaded.


    This means¡­ your life will always¡­


    A wave of cold flashed through me, triggering me to stand up from where I was before running to Fenris and throwing myself at him. The thought of something that could put him in a state beyond saving made me anxious.


    If there was only an antidote¡­ I¡­


    "Lily?" my wolf seemed surprised by my attack as I winced, wanting nothing more than to eliminate that threat.


    Can I make one? Will it be even possible?

 Chapter 122: I Want You

    My grimoire had no helpful information about the spell used to create the variant, and focusing on politics drove me away from that.


    "Hey, are you okay?" Fenris asked, cupping my cheeks as I shook my head.


    "No..." I mumbled.


    The tone in my voice triggered his eyes to open wide as he assessed everything about me. Any little thing off with me would send him into a mini panic attack, but before he could stand up to rush me to Amara, I grabbed him by his shirt, stopping him in his tracks.


    "You''ll never leave me, right?" I questioned, feeling my voice break.


    In an instant, he went limp, allowing Shade to sit next to us, grumbling at her defeat.


    "Of course not. Why would you think that?" My wolf answered, trailing his fingers down my cheeks.


    Is that something you can promise? No... It isn''t.


    The arena''s floor was made of sand or something similar. It didn''t stick to the skin, though it moved like it. It was probably made to mimic hard, harsher terrains than the usual concrete floor.


    "Then... never leave without me anywhere. If you perish... I want to die with you." I declared, leaning into his hand.


    His expression changed, wincing as his eyes got teary.


    "You can''t say that, love. The last thing I want is for you to die with me. Now more than ever." He started, placing his hand over my abdomen, leaving me to bite my lip.


    "But..." I mumbled, shaking my head.


    "No, love, you have something precious in here. You can''t follow me to death if I were to go. For them and yourself, you have to live for you, not for me." He whispered, breaking me.


    Tears rolled off my cheeks, sobbing because of his words.


    A life without you. There''s no meaning in that!


    "No... No! I can''t!" I cried.


    A soft sigh left him, tugging my chin to meet with a sweet kiss. My unwillingness to hear those words didn''t change that he was right. This had turned into more than my life and his. Even so, the thought of losing him killed me inside.


    It wouldn''t be the same without him there.


    Losing you isn''t an option for me.


    Tugging away from me slightly, he pressed his forehead against mine.


    "Lily, I''m not going anywhere. I won''t let you go through this alone. No matter what, I''ll find my way back to you." Fenris promised, triggering me to hug him tightly.


    Tears still rolled off my eyes while my body trembled in his arms. Trying to feel him more, I kissed him, only to be responded to in kind. Ever since he found out I was pregnant, he had been treating me gently.


    It sometimes screamed how much he loved me, but it also drove me crazy. There wasn''t a moment when our affection was missing, yet something was absent while we did it. Putting my full weight on him, I caused him to fall to the ground.


    There, I saddled him.


    "Lily?" Fenris breathed, cheeks rosy while under me.


    Shade turned into a ball next to us, knowing what I desired to do to our wolf. I wanted to be reminded that he was there with me in every way.


    I need to know that you won''t suddenly vanish.


    It didn''t matter that he was a sweaty mess because of the spar.


    "I want you." I declared, wishing nothing more than to make him mine.


    His cheeks turned redder as his crimson eyes opened wide. Swiftly, he averted his glance from me and towards our surroundings. There was no one around. Amelia was inside with the maids, and Ben had left to spend the last few hours with Tania.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Melody and Liam were doing errands for the Lycans, and Amara had gone to Cerberus for the day.


    "Here?" Fenris''s voice squeaked a bit.


    "Yes, here and now." I voiced, reaching down to his pants and stroking his member through it to harden him.


    Thanks to the previous kiss, it already had some form.


    "Ah, Lily," He breathed, sitting up slightly before tugging me into a kiss.


    His tongue tangoed with mine while I struggled to lower his sweatpants enough to free his semi-hardened member. A soft hum left him when I gripped his heat before stroking it. Pulling me onto him, he pressed his back against the floor.


    Slowly, he traced his hands down my back until reaching under my dress and into my underwear. Drawing away from our kiss, he leaned into my ear.


    "Are you sure?" Fenris purred, nibbling on it soon after.


    His fingers traced my most sensitive area, leaving me shivering on him. It wasn''t long until one of his fingers slipped into me, leaving me swaying my hips into him. A soft mewl left me before I clashed my lips with his again.


    Enough gentleness! I know I''ve been sleeping more than usual and leaving you by yourself when I do, but I still can be just as wild as before!


    Unlike his new baseline, I wasn''t willing to wait for his usual plays. No, I was more than ready to begin this ride. With no hesitation, I snatched his rock-hard member before plunging it into my depths.


    A sharp whine left me as I hadn''t realized how desperate I was for this wolf until I felt him fill me. It almost felt like I could see the celestial stars as my vision blurred momentarily while a groan escaped him, feeling the brunt of the unexpected action.


    "Fuck, Lily, I think I might finish before you do." He breathed, gripping my hips. "It''s like you''re strangling me in there."


    Fenris''s words made me jittery as I slowly ground myself on him. The feeling that followed was ecstasy-inducing, so much so that I couldn''t stop my hips from swaying.


    "I love you, Lily." He licked his thumb before rubbing it against my bell.


    Unlike all the energy I had before getting pregnant, it quickly waned even though I wanted to make love to him, ensuring sure he was there with me. The last time I tried to ride him like this, he pounced on me, yet this time, he let me do what I wanted while focusing on my sweetest spots with his thumb.


    Instead of taking control, he ensured I knew what he felt. His expression¡ªhis everything¡ªencouraged me to do more.


    Not too long ago, you told me I wouldn''t tame you that easy, but all it took was for your pups to be in my womb to conquer you.


    The warmth that soon filled me was genuine enough for me to calm down finally. Holding onto my hips, he watched me bucking my hips in search of my release. Wishing to feel more of him, I dug my hands under his shirt before clasping onto his pecs, triggering his eyes to shimmer brightly.


    "Ah, Fuck, you''re giving me such a loving." He breathed, unable to help but trust his hips into me.


    A sharp mewl left me, triggering him to clasp onto the back of my head before dragging me down into a feverous kiss. I knew my movements were nothing like the ones he needed to be pleased with, but my stamina wasn''t the same.


    Saliva dripped down his chin as our kiss became more heated and my movements became less prominent.


    Tugging away from my lips, he moaned, "Ah, more, give me more. I love you so much, Lily."


    The moment those words left him, my heart began its own race. "Knot me!"


    "You''ve really gotten to liking that, haven''t you?" He teased, gripping onto my hips.


    A soft growl left me as I pouted, "Just help me, make you knot me!"


    "Lay on me." He breathed, leaning back onto the floor, cheeks rosy.


    Instinctively, I did as he asked, resting my chest against his. His eyes swiftly traveled to the door before focusing back on me. A second later, he plunged into my core at a steady rhythm, making my voice erratic.


    Unlike him, I was close to my peak, which I quickly reached, triggering me to convulse on him. However, unlike the other times he let me finish my high, this time he kept his steady pace while I twitched on him, triggering him to whine because of it.


    "Lily, I''m going to¡ª" Fenris tried to warn but couldn''t when his heat began to expand within me, successfully knotting me.


    Even though my high had just died down, in that instant, it was like another snap, washing away my world for a slight moment while he held me close to him. When I came too, it felt wetter than usual down there, triggering me to rise instantly.


    "Oh... Did you squirt on me?" Fenris cocked his head, noticing his sweatpants were damp.


    "I... I..." I mumbled, feeling my eyes sting.


    Everything had happened so fast that I hadn''t noticed what was happening until it did.


    "Aw, adorable, don''t cry. It''s probably because your womb is swelling and pushing on your bladder a bit. My swollen knot probably didn''t help either." He assured me, trailing a kiss down my cheek and neck while wrapping his hands around my waist to prevent me from running away.


    His heat was still swollen within me.


    "Still!" I mumbled, shivering from his pulsating member within me.


    "It''s okay, I like it. We''ll shower after I calm down." He simpered, nuzzling his nose against me. "What''s more important is if you feel better?"


    Even though my wolf appeared cool-headed, he was also short of breath. I slowly nodded, only to be met with his blissful kiss. It didn''t take long for his knot to calm down enough to allow us to separate.


    After a quick shower, he carried me to the room, where we made love until morning. Upon his request, we only took breaks for the meals that arrived in our room. When it came time to get up the next day, my previous thoughts still haunted me.


    Even though Fenris took the day off to be with me, all I thought about was combating the only thing that could quickly kill him¡ªanother week passed in the blink of an eye while I tried to research more about it in my free time.


    However, juggling my extra responsibilities and the side effects of my pregnancy wasn''t easy.


    Yet I won''t give up. Not when this new dream-like life was on the line. I''ll do everything to protect it!

 Chapter 123: A Grim Future And A Hope

    When the news arrived that the artifacts had finally arrived, Fenris and I were on it. There were only ten artifacts gathered from the elves. It was a real disappointment that Blaze and Ocean Elves refused to let us get any of their precious artifacts, and from the ones we had gained, it appeared they were all too weak to trap Alijah again.


    It''s not like it matters. Even if we have it, a vampire of Lycan must be there present to activate it against Alijah.


    That would end in certain death to whoever had it in their hands¡ªsomething I wanted to avoid. We only had one chance to surprise that black wolf to ensure no one else died. Feeling defeated, I sat down on a chair near Ryker''s desk.


    "This situation isn''t ideal, Fenris." Ryker huffed from his chair.


    "I know, but it''s not like we can force them." My wolf sighed.


    "The world may end. I say we push them towards reason." The elf huffed. "If not, you think you''d be able to handle it, Alijah?"


    "What? I''m not sure. He has years on me, but I''m willing to try." He shrugged.


    Their banter continued while I mumbled under my breath. All their ideas were flawed and would eventually lead to more conflict. The only way forward was to have Fenris beat black wolf, which wouldn''t end well for my heart.


    Rolling my eyes on Ryker''s stupid idea, I went to touch an artifact. It was a golden ring with white stripes, yet the moment my finger stroked it, a white hue came from it. Immediately, Fenris grabbed my hand, dragging it away for the ring to stop shining.


    Ryker''s jaw dropped, shifting his eyes between the wolf and me. The artifact responded to me even though I wasn''t of Lycan or Vampire lineage.


    What? I''m a human, which makes that impossible. Unless...


    "How did you do that?!" the elf questioned, grabbing the same ring, yet it did nothing to his touch.


    "What? I don''t know! It did that on its own!" I assured them, unable to understand it myself.


    He stood there in silence for a moment, trying to figure out before...


    "Impossible," he mumbled soon after.


    Fenris poked at another artifact, a golden sphere that responded the same way it had to me. The biggest smile I had ever seen came across my wolf''s lips at that moment. He was beaming like a ray of sunshine.


    "Could it be..." he mumbled, trying to hide his happiness, to no avail.


    Ryker gazed at the excited wolf, only to realize what he meant.


    "Ah, So... somehow, against the odds, Lilith''s carrying a Lycan-dominant baby in her womb. Well, this will shut up the elders for sure." The elf announced, sitting down on his chair again with a soft smile on his lips.


    Before I knew it, Fenris picked me up from the chair, holding me up effortlessly.


    "You''re just full of surprises, aren''t you, wifey?" He simpered, tail wagging madly.


    The news that sprouted from a simple thing I did would save him thousands of headaches later. No one would deny our marriage ever again because of this.


    "Surprises?" I whispered.


    It took me a moment to realize what they were talking about. Thanks to the babies inside of me, I could somehow use an artifact. That was when I remembered what Tobias had said that day.


    It''s not my fate but the fate of another... Oh... Oh, gods...


    Instead of basking in Fenris''s warmth, my eyes shot back toward where the artifacts were. None of them were strong enough to stop Alijah, but they could delay him.


    All of this is just like Tobias said.


    The soul cairn had done something like that before, too. Perhaps we could also use them to propel Alijah through time instead of trapping him. This could buy us enough time to find the person who was supposed to stop him.


    It was a good plan, though an unpleasant thought crossed my mind. I glanced down to my belly as Fenris celebrated happily.


    What if it''s my child''s destiny to stop you? I... I don''t...


    Instantly, my stress levels skyrocketed, alerting my wolf that something was wrong when all the color from me drained.


    He quickly set me down, "What''s wrong?"


    "Tobias said it''s someone else''s destiny to deal with Alijah, so what if it''s our babies?!" I cried, wishing nothing more than happiness for my child.


    In an instant, the happy memory was tarnished by the looming thought of our baby having to fight a monster in the future. Fenris winced, shaking his head before clasping his hand in mine.


    "That''s..." He sighed.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Why? Why does it have to be like this? My baby''s going against a monster. No! I can''t allow that! There has to be something we can do!


    Our moment of happiness turned to dread before Ryker...


    "Look, I won''t pretend to understand what you two are going through, but focus on what you can do today rather than in the many tomorrows to come," He assured us.


    The elf was right, but it didn''t change my worries, which meant there was no option other than to kill Alijah, a task Fenris wasn''t up to par. Perhaps my wolf could face him if we pushed him through time long enough, but that was a future I needed to avoid.


    Our only viable option was to push him through the timeline. Ryker placed the artifacts in a bag and handed them to Fenris, who took them home to see if we could develop anything else. When we went home, each of us went into research.


    It was crucial to stop Alijah without involving our child in that fate. During this time, the Lycan elders met with Fenris at home. They called it an urgent meeting, but it was nothing more than to confirm that the child in my womb was a Lycan rather than a Luma.


    Once there, my beloved proved to them that a Lycan child was present in my womb thanks to the artifacts'' effect on me. It showed them that all their worries were for naught. During that meeting, Ursula appeared pleased to have made the right choice, calling the rest fools who would''ve placed the red moon child at risk.


    The two other elders flipped sides when they realized the child within me was a Lycan¡ªsomething that could be fixed with further breeding, which somewhat annoyed me.


    My child won''t be subjected or restricted to who they want to spend their lives with!


    However, that was a battle for a different day. With this, Evan was the only one reluctant to accept the child, but instead of fighting it for longer, he agreed to wait until the babies were born to see if they were fit to be heirs.


    Thankfully, this meant Fenris was getting the full support of the Lycans. This also helped me supply the witches and warlocks with everything they needed. However, even though Evan was against it, the other four elders soon named Fenris alpha, placing even more responsibilities on him.


    Two months passed while we searched and pooled our sources together, trying to see if we could find a way out of this predicament, but we found nothing. Much to my displeasure, my wolf trained his hardest in case he had to fight Alijah in the end.


    This was a fate I could never allow, even if I had to go behind his back again.


    No, that''ll never happen. Not while I breathe. I won''t lose you, and I can''t lose you.


    Even though that was my desire, all I accomplished during these months was to grow a belly with little progress on any side. With the help of witches and warlocks who joined our cause, I tried to study the magical properties of the new wolfsbane, but the answer or cure was out of my reach for the time being.


    It always failed, no matter what I tried to do, but it didn''t deter me. No matter what, I would find a way to beat the deadly plant my grandmother created. All I had to do was understand it, yet that was still out of my reach.


    Sadly, all the witchcraft users who joined us didn''t know the rogues'' plans. The only thing I advanced to was my morning sickness, which was improving daily. Every night, though, I would pass them in Fenris''s arms, who always held me until I couldn''t keep up.


    Sex had become the only way to relieve stress for both of us and to reassure us how much we loved each other. However, he took out much of his worries on Shade, who continued to be his sparring partner.


    No other Lycan could keep up with him, leaving poor Liam winded every time he tried. The little familiar gave him a good thrashing if she sometimes got too serious. On one of my mornings, much to my surprise, I found Amara with a weird machine that Amelia had ordered in the living room, waiting for me.


    "It''s a sonogram! An old tech used in human territories to see how the pregnancies are developing is helpful for yours since my magic seems to be repelled by it." Amara giggled, turning it on.


    "Huh?" I mumbled, unsure I wanted to use it.


    "Come on! Human medics use it all the time!" The elf assured me as I nodded.


    Until now, all the vitals she could read were mine, making it problematic. Therefore, Amelia took it upon herself to search for this machine from the humans in Arthion. At the point of my pregnancy, we could finally see the gender, which she wanted to know to ready the room.


    Amara was sure I was having twins, at least, which made me feel uncomfortable. It was easier for me to think of the baby as a singular unit than two. Hesitantly, I allowed the excited elf, who prepared me, to use the sonogram.


    Amelia brought Fenris, who had been in the office with Liam and Ben, to work on the pending tasks. Sitting beside me, he gripped my hand, noticing it tremble.


    "It''s okay, don''t be nervous." He breathed as I locked my eyes on the screen as it lit up.


    Shivers ran down my spine as she dripped a cold, clear cream on my belly before using the device to press on my swollen belly in search of the lives growing within me.


    "Oh! I''m so excited to see if they are a pair of boys or girls or maybe both!" Amelia beamed.


    The elder sister was more enthusiastic than I was about finding out their gender. However, Amara quickly grew quiet as she appeared dumbfounded by what she was gazing at.


    "Is something wrong?" I asked, clasping my wolf''s hand tightly.


    "Uh... Uh... How do I say this?" the elf slowly gazed towards us.


    "Say what?" I mumbled.


    If something''s wrong with the babies, I...


    That would be the last thing we needed. Amara stared at the screen for a moment, trying to double-check that this was what she was seeing.


    "You have four babies in you," the elf informed, counting the heads again. "Yep, that''s four."


    The number caused something in my head to crack as I felt like I was seeing doubles.


    "W-what?" Fenris spluttered, eyes glued to what the elf was showing us.


    "See, that''s the first," she pointed to the screen.


    The picture appeared to be humanoid, yet it wasn''t entirely so. I never knew a fetus could look so odd.


    "This is the second one," she flipped through the images. "And this is three and four. Number four is trying really hard to hide behind number two; it almost missed it."


    Fenris''s grip on my hand got tighter, too, as we were expecting more than just a pair.


    "F-four? I... h-have f-four in m-me?" I stuttered, fluttering my eyes, unable to understand what was happening.


    "Oh my! Eight adorable little feet will soon arrive at the manor! I can''t wait!" Amelia cooed, humming happily.


    I only saw worries filling me up as this meant if Alijah arrived before my due date, Fenris would never allow me to face him. A duo was already complicated, but a quad made my pregnancy even more delicate.


    "From what I can see, there are two boys and one girl¡ªthe other one''s hiding in between them. Sadly, I can''t see it well enough, but they all appear healthy. Would you like pictures?" Amara concluded, pulling away from my swollen belly.


    "Of course!" Amelia quickly took out her phone, "Send them to me, and I''ll quickly have them framed!"


    I gazed at Fenris, wondering how any of this would go. Yet something was certain: with this new information, my wolf would never let me go with him to the battlefield. I would have to push myself in there if I wanted to stop my dream from coming true.


    You... can''t face Alijah alone. He''ll take you away from me and them.


    No one would rob my children of the opportunity to grow with their loving father by their sides. I knew what it was to be unwanted, but that wasn''t the case for these pups. They were about to be born into a loving family¡ªone I would protect at all costs.

 Chapter 124: The Start of the Future

    Things were getting worse for us with every day that passed. Nothing we wanted went our way as complications continued to pile up. A month after the news, we were expecting more than just twins. A call came from Ryker, in which he reported distortions appearing by the howling forest.


    However, the locals weren''t eager to help find the cause behind the commotions. The changes to their homes made them more hostile towards our officers, and they probably thought we were the cause.


    Most of Cerberus''s scouts had to retreat before starting a small civil war in the area. To me, the only answer was that the witches were trying to summon Alijah to our world. However, an entire aerial search of the area found nothing.


    We had no choice but to continue to monitor from afar for any more changes. Even though everything was moving rapidly, my time halted when I felt a kick come from my stomach. Fenris noticed me stop in my tracks when we walked down the manor to the dinner table.


    I touched my inflated belly in response to the first movement, only to feel another kick. They were so gentle yet so well felt, triggering me to gaze up at my wolf before placing his hand on my belly for him to feel it.


    When he felt his first one, his lips formed the most significant and brightest smile. Before I knew it, he hauled me into his arms and called me beautiful. I had never seen him so happy before that moment. It was like a light lit up within him, much like it did for me.


    The moment I felt the fruit of our love, my perspective drastically changed. Although Fenris was my world, shifts were happening in my priorities. Before I felt them move, they had been a reason why my feet were starting to ache, nothing more, but suddenly, they were real.


    With that, my desire to protect them blossomed into something else. I would do everything to protect their world, especially from someone bent on destroying it. All doubts left me, allowing me to realize what I had to do.


    To protect their world, I could end this one if needed. It took me three more months to get my secret plan ready from Fenris. I knew full well he would disapprove, especially in the condition I found myself in when the news that the distortions became more concentrated.


    They were becoming so alarming that the residents of Celestelia finally reached out to us for help. With their cooperation, we pinned down where the witches were within the forest. Of course, Fenris would be among the first to enter the battlefield that awaited us.


    This was where my fight to keep us together would begin. Though it would be tough since I was almost ready to pop, or at least sure seemed like it. I could barely stay standing for long without my feet feeling it.


    Fenris sat beside me in bed when we were alone in the room before.


    "Lily, you can''t come tomorrow." He gripped my hands as I shook my head.


    This would be our last night together if it were any other average couple, but we weren''t. I was no longer the girl who waited for him to return to the room.


    "If you don''t take me. I''ll follow you," I warned him, soothing my belly.


    It was much bigger than I had ever expected. The dresses I wore were so loose on me to prevent any marks from forming on my skin, and I had been experiencing slight cramps, though I told no one.


    Amara had told me to count them, but they were still too far apart to be significant.


    "No, you can''t follow me. You have to stay here where it''s safe." Fenris argued, resting his head against my belly.


    A kick soon followed his touch, triggering him to wince. Although he wanted me to stay, he knew I would follow him until the end, which was something he wanted to avoid, especially since I was due in less than a month.


    Well, weeks.


    "I''ll be safe with you. We''ll keep each other safe." I assured him, petting his hair gently.


    His ears were as soft as always. Every time I touched them, it soothed my soul.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    My life... If all my pain led to this moment, I''m grateful I survived it.


    "Ah, I can''t risk the witches doing anything to you. I just can''t, please, Lily." Fenris mumbled.


    "They won''t touch me," I promised.


    A heavy sigh left his lips, shaking his head. This wasn''t the answer he wanted. Even though it had been nearly nine months since we began planning and training, he was nowhere near close to what Alijah was capable of.


    "Lily..." Fenris breathed.


    I shook my head, "I''ll follow you, Fenris. To eternity and beyond."


    Tugging away from me, he faced me head-on. "Why won''t you trust me? I''ll come back to you."


    I sighed, remembering the nightmare I had all those months ago.


    It''s as clear as a day to me even now. If the witches don''t get you, Alijah surely will.


    "I trust you, Fenris, but humor me for a bit if Alijah kills you. What do you think he''ll do after that?" I asked, trying not to think much into the words I let out.


    This Isn''t a time for emotions. My children won''t live without a father.


    "Lily, he won''t kill me." My wolf tried to sway me, but I was unmovable.


    There was no stopping me.


    "When he does, he''ll come hunt for me here. So, please... let me be with you until the end." I simpered, kissing leaning to kiss his cheek.


    I can''t live without your warmth.


    Rolling his eyes, he gently pushed me onto the bed.


    "There''s no convincing you. Is there?" Fenris whispered.


    Slowly, he got behind me, allowing me to lay sideways on our bed. It was more comfortable this way. The swollen belly made this a task, but it wasn''t one we stopped doing. With a couple of well-placed pillows, I was comfortable enough for anything.


    "Nope," I answered.


    A soft sigh left him before leaning into me and kissing me. His tongue tangoed with mine, leaving me humming while he undid my gown. There were no more words to be said other than what we felt for each other. He knew I wouldn''t stay without him.


    Tugging away from my lips, he licks his.


    "Well, then... let''s have our fill of each other tonight." Fenris purred into my ear before clasping my swollen breast into his hands.


    They weren''t ready to produce milk but were prepared to start immediately with the birth signal.


    "Hm, there''s no filling my heart, Fenris. I... can never have enough of you." I simpered, shifting my gaze onto him.


    There, I was met with a light kiss.


    "Neither can I. I love you, Lily." He murmured.


    My hair had grown past my ears and almost reached my neck. Fenris caressed it away from my face before trailing kisses down my cheek and shoulder. His affection was something I would engrave into my mind.


    In case of the off chance, I would never see him after our battle ended. His hand traveled from my swollen breast to my belly and into my groin. A mewl escaped my lips while his fingers stroked my vulva.


    Pulling me into another lock of our lips, Fenris inserted his fingers into me, sending shivers down my spine. The changes in my body didn''t bother him. No, he held me through them all. Sometimes, I wondered if he was blind to them, and he wasn''t.


    I knew because, with each passing month, he became gentler. He no longer knotted me, fearing it would cause me to go into labor early. It got to the point where he treated me like a flower that might wilt from the slightest touch.


    A couple of weeks ago, I asked him about his behavior change, to which he responded, "How else can I hold the mother of my children? Don''t get me wrong, I still want to ravish you at times, but that can wait until you''ve recovered after giving birth."


    "But isn''t it making me unattractive?" I mumbled, shifting my eyes away from him.


    "Where the heck did you hear that?" Fenris huffed, crossing his arms.


    Reluctant to answer, I kept avoiding his gaze as he got ready to go with Ben to the studio.


    "A site she saw in Melody''s phone." Shade answered, triggering me to twitch my eyes at her.


    "Ah, Oi, Lily, a real man will love the woman he adores no matter what shape or form she takes, especially after she has his kids. Tell me, will you dislike me if I suddenly grow a belly, too?" He raised his eyebrows at me while I gazed back at him.


    "Never! I don''t care about your looks. Sometimes, I wish you didn''t always look so handsome." I declared, facing him head-on.


    "Hah, maybe I shouldn''t work out as much." He chuckled.


    I would never be unfit for him, no matter what happened to me. Sometimes, I would miss how we used to make love, but I endured it. My condition wasn''t the best for the actions we were used to doing, something he knew.


    However, I couldn''t wait until what came after my pregnancy ended. For that to happen, I would fight with my all. Soft mewls left me as his fingers continued to caress my inner walls.


    "More, you''re fingers aren''t enough!" I whined, wanting much more than I could have.


    Pulling my leg up for better access, he gently pressed his tip against my entrance.


    "You really know how to drive me crazy." He breathed, slipping into my depths.


    A sharp mewl left my lips as his thrust became a steady pace.


    "More, Fenris!" I begged, wishing nothing more but to be dominated by him.


    My plea prompted the hardy wolf to rub my sensitive bell while squishing my breast with his other hand.


    "Relax, Lily, I''ll give you everything you want plus more." He breathed, licking the back of my neck as I twitched in pleasure as every ounce in my body succumbed to his desire.


    Ah... I want time to stop while we''re both here together.


    Sadly, time waited for no one. When morning came, my wolf got up before gently arousing me from my dreams. From here on out, it would be the ultimate battle against the faction my Grandmother had created¡ªone I didn''t plan on losing.


    When I see you again, there''ll be no mercy from me, just like you taught me.

 Chapter 125: Our Goodbye

    The following day, we boarded an airship with the destination to Celestelia, the nation of hybrids. These magnificent elven machinery ran on hydropower, ocean elves¡¯ magic. I knew little about them or their history, but Fenris told me they were built by Blaze elves who loved to tinker.


    When traveling to other locations, they hated disturbing the ecosystem. These machines were also faster than anything else Cerberus used for transportation. With the airships, it would only take a few hours to get there.


    Although beneficial for the environment, it was costly to make them. They appeared to be made from gold, but they weren¡¯t. What they used to make them was called etantil, a metal the blaze elves made but kept secret.


    That didn¡¯t matter since they were the only ones who could make that metal with their magic. These ships were used when traveling between the countries, but we weren¡¯t the only ones in the air since this was a Cerberus operation.


    All the race leaders were on their ships, packing the port as reporters¡¯ cameras flashed off in the distance. Each vessel had flags and banners that identified it. The one I was on, with the other Lycans, had a full red moon representing their emblem.


    It matched perfectly with their black background, making it stand out. On the other hand, the vampire¡¯s black feathered wing stood out perfectly with its white. I once found an odd story about them being able to fly, but that appeared to be more of a legend than anything else.


    The humans had a golden lion¡¯s head that matched their red backdrop. The other witches and warlocks in the same ship had joined us or worked for Cerberus, but we had no flag yet to represent us.


    I had been working on it, but the time constraint prevented me from finishing. However, we were between a crow and a cat, which Shade wanted to model after. Ocean elves had waves marked by blue lines.


    They stood out against the flag¡¯s white backdrop. The blaze elves had an erupting volcano, while the base was brown. Yet the flames that erupted off the mountain were bright red and orange, which matched perfectly with their black. The nature elves had purple orchids that matched their green background, while the light elves had golden sun with red for the rest.


    Lastly, the moon elves used the white crescent moon with their purple backdrop for their flag. The moon elves and Lycan¡¯s symbol reminded me of the bracelets Fenris and I wore.


    They were made with their magic, connecting us two in ways we never could undo.


    When the airships went into action, I was amazed at how these machines could be powered by water alone. Most of it was beyond my understanding, even when a friendly elven engineer who worked on the ship tried to explain it to me.


    They were usually only used to travel between nations with urgent needs, which meant they were used for official business only. However, Fenris wanted to open them to the public for transportation.


    This feat would take some convincing for the current council, as these weren¡¯t for the light-hearted. Amelia and Melody, who could only board because I came along, refused to leave my side while we traveled through the air toward our destination.


    However, we were guided below deck while the airship was running, and because of the speeds we were traveling at, anyone who stood outside would be blown away. Technologies for creating portable barriers existed but weren¡¯t implemented in these ships.


    Even though the vessels were eco-friendly, they were louder than cars, and the elves outlawed them. Yet, they would be more practical and valuable if they were used for the public instead of having ships sail from the ports.


    Sadly, that still wasn¡¯t the case for everyone. If it would ever be, I wouldn¡¯t know. For now, they were only for Cerberus¡¯s use and for those who could afford them. The trip there would be quick, and thanks to the hybrids that lived by the howling forest, we could pinpoint where the apostates hid.


    However, we were going in blind. The locals only helped with brief information; most would be gone when we came. They said it wasn¡¯t their place to fight a battle that didn¡¯t involve them.


    To them, the pure breed¡¯s affairs were theirs to fix. Their letter even warned them not to stay any longer than needed. The fact they barely helped didn¡¯t affect anything, though. Everyone already expected little of the hybrids that lived there.


    It was rather sad how they were so detached from everything, but I couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for them, too. It wasn¡¯t their fault they felt that way, but ours. Thanks to us, Celestelia was full of crime and outlaws, and Cerberus never came to restore order when they needed it.


    So, of course, they wouldn¡¯t trust us. I wouldn¡¯t either, especially after years of discrimination. These hybrids felt what witchcraft users experienced for far longer than we witchcraft users did. Unlike us, though, they had little power to change their fates.


    So, instead of living in oppression, they left everything behind and headed toward Celestelia, the forgotten land. There were rumors that purebreds sent their hybrid children there to hide the fact that they ever had one in the first place.


    That thought chilled me to my core, though. Even though I knew I had at least one Lycan baby in my womb. It never crossed my head to do that if I had a luma. It was out of my comprehension how any mother could give their child up because they were different.


    That was a trait I would share with my mom, who didn¡¯t abandon me even when the world told her to. It wasn¡¯t long until the Lycans around me soon broke into an uproar. They were getting pumped for battle as the young ones became rowdy.


    Although most of the chatter was about the fight, I felt their occasional gazes as most knew who I was. It didn¡¯t help that I was one of the few who wasn¡¯t a Lycan like them on this ship, along with the crew needed to fly the ship and the medics who would help the injured.


    Yet that wasn¡¯t the reason they took peeks at me. No, the reason was that I was pregnant with their future ¡®heir.¡¯ My heavy, swollen belly was too much to hide from everyone. Most of the young wolves that approached me quickly bowed to me, leaving me stunned every time.


    Even though I was still Fenris¡¯s fianc¨¦e, they still called me his wife, wishing me a healthy pregnancy. Of course, not all had the same opinion, but those who disagreed kept away from me. After all, the latter didn¡¯t want to invoke their alpha¡¯s wrath on them, who wasn¡¯t far from me.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Amelia and Melody accompanied me the entire time, which was a hassle. During the time Fenris had spent training, many Lycans challenged him to test their power, but the only one who ever bested him somewhat in battle was Shade, who was perched on my shoulder.


    The more wolves failed to best their alpha, the more they accepted me. After all, if I had it in me to tame this silver wolf, I must¡¯ve been a fearsome human.


    Their words.


    Others remembered me as the angel of mercy from the day the rebels attacked. Most of them also knew what he did to Layla for her insubordination, who had gone missing since the time we last saw her.


    Even Kira, who had already given birth to her baby, who was proven not to be Liam¡¯s right away thanks to testing, didn¡¯t know where her sister went. A mystery loomed over us, but we had no time to focus.


    All the Lycan elders who were once so opposed to us were also on the ship. They were by Fenris as he plotted their assaults on the resurgent faction.


    Even though I wanted to be with my wolf, I stayed away. I had to let him be the leader he needed to be for his clan. After our night, I still felt his warmth, which had to be enough to keep me going.


    Instead of running to him, I reviewed my plan with Shade, my faithful companion. I knew Fenris wouldn¡¯t let me come with him to the battlefield. He had only agreed for me to go to Celestelia with him, but I had to stay on the ship.


    It was probably why Amelia and Melody came, too.


    However, all of them were unaware that this morning, on our way to the ship, Shade had stolen a small bracelet, one of the more minor artifacts. Fenris was too busy speaking with Liam to care that Shade jumped on him like she always did before diving into his bag and nabbing one in her mouth, effectively hiding it from the two wolves.


    However, I felt my heart stop when she first nabbed it since my beloved shifted his gaze at her momentarily, wondering what she was doing in his bag. It appeared that wasn¡¯t the first time that had happened, allowing her to escape without saying anything when he took her out.


    The moment she gave it to me, I hid it in a pouch near my breast, preventing it from touching my skin. It would give me away while we were on the ship if it did. This marked phase one of my plan.


    Even though we weren¡¯t sure if the witches had succeeded in their intentions to summon Alijah, my heart knew that it was only a matter of hours before I saw him again. I felt in my bones that this was it.


    Perhaps the other Lilith within me resonated with Alijah or something else. I closed my eyes and tried to brace myself for everything to come.


    It¡¯s okay, Lily. I won¡¯t allow anyone to hurt you or our babies. Shade assured me.


    Her words were slightly comforting, yet I was sure a wave of witches and warlocks would stand in our way to reach our destination. However, I worried more about Fenris¡¯s and everyone else¡¯s fate than mine.


    The closer we got to our destination, the more tensions flared. Lycans were eager to go into the fray against anything that came across their path. At the same time, I wasn¡¯t as willing to dive into it. Luckily, I wasn¡¯t the only one, as Liam, Ben, and Fenris appeared to take it more seriously than the rest.


    If the witches used wolfsbane against them, something that took only seconds to activate¡ªthe only solution was to self-terminate. That reminded me of my failure, as I couldn¡¯t develop an antidote.


    Although I was closer than ever to doing so, within the last weeks, I had understood the witchcraft element of the variant, but I couldn¡¯t finish it in time. I tried not to think too deeply about what could happen if everything went sideways.


    Thankfully, Ursula¡¯s tale brought me comfort. When Alijah was out in this world, they didn¡¯t use wolfsbane for fear he would self-destruct, taking the world with him. Perhaps they would fear Fenris would do the same, stopping them from using it.


    However, there was no denying my wolf was weaker than the black wolf¡¯s destructive power; it still could¡¯ve served as a deterrent. Even so, they had tried to kill him with it before, but back then, he was weak from the awakening.


    So, I can only hope they don¡¯t try it again.


    Before I knew it, the ship stopped, revealing the howling forest underneath us. It appeared to have weird distortions around its bounds, giving off the atmosphere that something was twisting. Tania, who was in the vampires¡¯ ship instead of ours with Ben, was right about their lair being within the forest.


    The unique ability granted by the Soul Cairn allowed me to see the forest shrouded in darkness. Edna had used her magic and an artifact to keep anyone from noticing it. Sadly, it didn¡¯t matter anymore.


    Alijah¡¯s summoning blew their cover enough to alarm the residents who lived near the forest, which led to the mass raid forming on top of them. However, something I kept to myself alone was the location where the greater concentration of witchcraft magic was congregated.


    Not that anyone asked me either way.


    All of them planned to destroy the entire forest without my help.


    Not that I¡¯ll tell you even if you did ask me. I¡¯ll never allow Fenris near Edna and Alijah.


    The current aim is to eradicate all enemies to find her and hope that, somehow, we can stop Alijah from coming through.


    There isn¡¯t anything stopping you from coming; I know that now. So¡­ Please guide me to you again so I can end this for now.


    Fenris carried the remaining artifacts on him in case he met with Alijah, but I had to avoid that at all costs.


    These two wolves can never meet. If you do... My dream will surely...


    Melody appeared terrified when it was time for the Lycans to jump ship. She tried her best not to run to Liam, who was at Fenris¡¯s side with Ezra the whole time. Even though I tried my best not to gaze at my wolf, I couldn¡¯t help myself as tears ran down my cheek.


    Even though I wished nothing more than to be with him, I had my path to walk down towards. He had to be far away from me for it to work, but the fear of his safety filled my core. He said I would stay with Amelia, Melody, and Ben, who wouldn¡¯t go into battle.


    We would be accompanied by the crew and medics, waiting for the moment they claimed victory. Even though this might¡¯ve been the last time I saw Fenris. He refused to look at me, fearing losing his courage to fight.


    Unlike me, who longed to see more of him, he continued forward, leaving me behind with his family. Fenris¡¯s brother and sister stayed with us throughout these months, giving him the peace of mind he needed to endure this.


    He knew I would be in good hands if anything happened to him. Something I disagreed with, though.


    You have to come back to me! No matter what, you have to find me again!


    Before he jumped off with all the others, I couldn¡¯t help myself as I took a few steps towards him, only to be stopped by Ben, who grabbed me by my shoulders.


    ¡°Fenris!¡± I cried, triggering him to flinch upon hearing his name before shifting his gaze towards me.


    ¡°Please, come back to me! Promise me! Swear it to me!¡± I pleaded, triggering him to wince before shaking his head.


    Melody held me tightly in response, weeping as Liam stood beside Fenris, who smiled bitterly.


    ¡°I love you.¡± He declared, allowing himself to fall into the abyss below.


    ¡°Fenris!!¡± I screamed, unable to help myself, prompting Ben to pull me into his embrace.


    ¡°He¡¯ll come back to you. I know it.¡± The older brother assured me as I couldn¡¯t stop the tears.


    ¡°I promise to bring him back to you, Lilith, and to return to you, Melody.¡± The brown wolf smiled, triggering Mel to weep.


    ¡°You better!¡± She sobbed as Amelia comforted her.


    In the blink of an eye, his faithful friend was also gone and out of our reach after the Lycans leaped while we were allowed to be on deck to watch the incoming battle, which didn¡¯t take long to erupt.

 Chapter 126: The Tug

    As scouts watched the battle from above, support stations were built around the ships. This was to provide any information needed for the ground teams. It wasn¡¯t long before the fighting began as magical explosions and screams erupted below us.


    Clasping onto my chest, I patiently waited for my chance to join the fray. Sadly, I couldn¡¯t do it right away. If I did, Fenris would probably find me soon after Ben reported I went haywire¡ªsomething I had to avoid if I didn¡¯t desire my wolf to be in further harm.


    My desire to be with him couldn¡¯t be his downfall, so I had to wait, even though I wanted nothing more than to run towards the source. Everyone on the ground wore some ear device to communicate with the ships that acted as command stations, relaying information to everyone on the ground.


    Amara was on our ship''s support team, waiting for any injuries to be reported, but she was really there to monitor me. Although she appeared busy, yelling to have everything ready for the injured, she helped the medics on the ship prepare for any case.


    It showed how genuinely passionate she was about her profession. Seeing everyone try their best, I could only hope to do my part correctly, and that meant dealing with Alijah while everyone was too busy to notice me gone.


    Though I understood why they wanted me to stay still, I was heavily pregnant. I mean, I appeared to be inflated larger than expected, and Amara thought I would¡¯ve had complications before I gave birth. Yet, against all odds, I was holding four almost full-term babies in my womb.


    They were due in less than three weeks. Sometimes, my feet and lower back were painful because of the weight I carried every day, but that was where my limitations ended. Complaining about it day and night made them think I couldn''t accomplish anything other than staying on the ship, which was to my advantage.


    Phase two happened before they even realized it did.


    So, sneaky Lily. Shade snickered.


    Sadly, they underestimated my desire to keep Fenris alive. I finally had a dream that had to come true¡ªone that we would be a family together. I wasn¡¯t about to stand down and wait for fate to be decided anymore.


    At least not because my feet or back hurt. There isn''t an ounce of me that''ll lay down and take it anymore.


    Amelia and Melody watched me like hawks, making it unlikely for me to find a way out without them noticing. This meant I had to be creative, and thanks to my massive belly, I usually had to run to the bathroom frequently.


    The pressure the babies placed on my inners made it hard to keep my bladder full in command.  The magical booms made everything noisier and more complicated to follow, as some made the ships sway, too.


    The opposition¡¯s goal was to keep us busy long enough for Alijah to come through, or at least that was what we thought. Though, with Fenris in the lead, it wouldn¡¯t take long until they submitted the witches to their will.


    Well, if they don¡¯t use the wolfsbane. If they do¡­ Then¡­ Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    After a few minutes, which felt like hours, I excused myself to the bathroom. Much to my detriment, Melody followed me there. Luckily, she was keen on privacy and waited outside the restroom.


    After all, what could a heavily pregnant Lilith do to escape a big wolf?


    She had been training with Liam. Even if she wasn¡¯t combat-ready, she was fast enough to catch me in my current state. If I tried any magic, she would also hear me too. I was lucky enough to avoid Amelia.


    That white wolf would¡¯ve shoved herself inside to watch me. Undoubtedly, she knew I wouldn¡¯t stay quiet. Luckily, she was too busy with Ben to notice my sudden disappearance. However, it wouldn¡¯t be long until she did.


    Even with all the noise from outside, my hands appeared to be tied. Fortunately, I had grabbed a sigil from the manor to make the bathroom soundless. Before arriving at our destination, I inspected every bathroom while the elves took me on a tour. This one was the closest to the ship''s outer shell, allowing me to slip through with no one seeing me.


    It even had a window that showed the outside. Melody was none the wiser when I picked this one to go. After activating the sigil, I took the only chance I had. The tug of fate compelled me to go forward despite everything being stacked against me.


    Although challenging, I climbed on top of Shade, who hesitated to time an explosion before smashing through the wall before us. There weren¡¯t any more safety nets as we plunged towards the world below.


    It would probably take Melody twenty to thirty minutes to get worried about me and find out what I did unless Amelia found her first. Thankfully, I used to take a while in the bathroom, which shouldn¡¯t lead them to expect any less.


    Once in the air, the forest was bigger than I had imagined. Thanks to the temporary abilities given to me by my pregnancy, I secured our soft landing with ease. The moment we hit the floor, we bolted forward towards where the pull of destiny led me.


    It was also where the most concentration of magic persisted. Anyone who came on our way fell by Shade¡¯s claws as we were taking no prisoners. I couldn¡¯t afford to care for anyone else when I carried precious packages within me, yet I had never seen her so aggressive before.


    She would end it with no hesitation when she felt life near her. The more we ran, the further we got away from all the mayhem, leading me to believe that was only a distraction. It felt like someone hauled me forward toward the middle of the forest where the fighting hadn¡¯t yet arrived.


    The number of enemy hostiles we ran into was scarce as the rest tried to lure the dominant force away from this direction. Ryker was right when he said my grimoire made my spells less chaotic, allowing me to be more accurate with my magical attacks.


    Thanks to it, I didn¡¯t have to remember a spell. No, the words flowed into me, making me an unstoppable force. I never knew the bond between a grimoire and its user, but for the first time, I felt free, and thanks to my ability because of my pregnancy, I could cast spells without muttering a word.


    Unlike the time I set fire to the forest, I could precisely cast my spells to target individuals without having to concentrate as much. It also helped to limit the damage to the forest, unlike last time, when I set the whole thing ablaze.


    Shade and I were like knives cutting through butter, going through the few enemy lines that stood in our way. Their attacks never reached me, thanks to Shade¡¯s barrier that bounced off any magical and physical assaults.


    However, it was less effective at doing so. She quickly blocked any that slipped through it with her body, which didn¡¯t affect her, thanks to her immortality. Fighting through, we found ourselves in the middle of the forest.


    There was an ancient building that was never reported, which meant this was the place the eternal witch was hiding until the prison started to spill into our world. With my initial approach, most witches and warlocks watched me as I slowly got off Shade.


    They had witnessed us cut through their lines with little effort, which made them think twice about engaging me. My back started to hurt, though. It could¡¯ve been from the ride alone and the extra exertion, making me feel slightly off.


    Minor, consistent cramps raised within me, too, but I ignored them to see a familiar figure standing on the steps in front of me.


    Ah¡­ You haven¡¯t aged a day, Stella.

 Chapter 127: Stella

    In front of me stood a woman I never wished to see again, yet had to end if I ever wanted to live in peace.


    "Ah, it seems my past indeed haunts me to this day. I couldn''t believe the news, but I can believe my eyes at least." Stella announced, staring at what should have been a ghost to her.


    In response, I couldn''t help but smirk at her¡ªsomething about seeing her there pleased me.


    "Hello grandmother, it''s nice that you got my message after leaving me to die that day." I greeted, bowing slightly to her.


    Shade tilted her head as this was the first time she met Stella. However, the little cat saw her in my memories.


    Oh... Lily, I''m going to rip into her. Just tell me when! She snickered.


    "It seems I failed to kill you," Stella huffed coldly. "You always were an annoying roach that doesn''t know when to die."


    Around us were the warlocks and witches, who appeared wary of Shade and me as we took a step forward. They trembled where they stood as fear almost radiated out of them, though none ran away, loyal to their cause.


    If their devotion were to Stella or Edna, I wouldn''t know. Either way, their heads would roll if they stood in my way.


    "Well, I''m grateful your incompetence allowed me to live to this day. Would it have been your friend behind the ritual, I surely would''ve been dead." I noted, stepping forward towards her.


    Somehow, my bracelet still wasn''t shining, letting me know Fenris was unaware of my detour. I tried not to overthink it as I focused on what was before me. Upon noticing my condition, Stella''s lips curled as her eyes narrowed.


    "So, everything they say was true. You carry that cursed Lycan''s children. How much more disgrace can you be?" she rasped, noticing her blood would flow through the race she hated the most.


    I sighed, shaking my head, not caring about her sentiments. "Ah, I''m finally happy, grandmother, something you failed to take from me and will continue to do so."


    The steps before me were probably the most challenging part of this ordeal. My feet were getting the best of me.


    So, the witch in front of me was a trivial thing, unworthy of being anything but that.


    "But I''m not here to fight you. Can you be kind enough to step aside and let me in? I have other important businesses to attend to." I dismissed her significance in this.


    Upon hearing my intentions to enter the ruin, she became defensive, taking out her grimoire.


    Ah... I was hoping you''d do that.


    This woman couldn''t rule over me anymore. My binds were free¡ªsomething I realized when standing before her. I no longer was the caged bird she cursed me to be all those years ago.


    No, I''ll fly into the deep blue sky and find my way back to you, Fenris.


    "You think I''ll let you through?" Stella glowered, ready for a fight.


    I took the first few steps up the stairs, which was challenging. The cramps were slowly getting more annoying as I exerted myself further. They weren''t unusual¡ªI had been getting them for a while¡ªbut they appeared more prevalent than the others and came more rapidly each time.


    However, I had to ignore them while I stared down at the person who had marked me for life once before. I wasn''t about to let her do so again.


    "Yes, you will, or you will die. Either way, I don''t care." I smirked, not having the patience or time to deal with Stella, who appeared unafraid of me.


    Perhaps she thought of me as the child I once was and nothing more. It was long ago, but she had made me tremble in terror beneath her. Power like that was hard to forget.


    It''s a mistake I''ll gladly correct.


    "And how will that happen? You''re surrounded and outmatched." Stella huffed as her grimoire shimmered brightly.


    I stopped in the fifth step out of the twenty before me. The entire ruin appeared full of flora, which had claimed the man-made building. That made it eerily pretty, even though it was the destination of pure chaos.


    It would''ve been a shame to have it drenched in blood, but it appeared that was the destiny of those present.


    "I''ll let you figure that out as you did to me," I answered, grabbing Shade''s fur for support.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    My legs were indeed killing me. Something I didn''t allow to show peeking around. The others weren''t as strong as Stella was trying to be. They were visibly trembling because of Shade and me.


    "What?" the old woman uttered, not quite following me.


    She had ignored all the warnings I had sent her way. Perhaps she hoped I would shrivel up when I saw her confront me, but I felt nothing.


    I thought I hated you, but if I did, then that means I''ll let you have a hold on me. Never again will I allow such a pitiful being to control any aspect of me. You let yourself go so low for someone gone since I came into this world.


    "Oh, I have one last question before you decide your fate. Where''s our little eternal friend?" I asked, noticing no one here was spooky enough to be Edna.


    However, I felt like someone was watching me from the shadows. To live this long, she had to know how to survive. She probably had others do her work for her, like Stella. The woman before me didn''t know she was a disposable pawn.


    "Who?" she asked while my grimoire floated next to me.


    "Edna," I answered, taking another step towards up the stairs.


    "Why would I betray her?" Stella questioned, studying my reactions.


    "Ah, that''s funny. You betrayed your family to accomplish your means. Maybe you''ll betray her to live." I replied.


    Even so, it felt good to tell her that.


    "You were never my family," Stella declared, narrowing her eyes.


    A giggle left me, enjoying this last memory with her. "Well... don''t worry, grandmother. I never thought of you as such, either. It''s probably why I found love with Fenris, whom you hate so much. Despite what you tried to make me be, if Mom could see me now, she would be overjoyed to see who I am." I smirked.


    "How dare you say that! My daughter is mine alone!" Stella screamed before chanting a spell that was soon followed by her fellows who surrounded her.


    The more witches and warlocks joined an incantation. The more powerful it was, much like the ritual she cast, turning me into the witch I was. Around me, circles began to appear as I cocked my head before snapping my fingers, triggering a spell she had taught me herself to come into effect with a twist of my own.


    Lingua vestra cattus est perdere.


    Lose your tongue to the cat.


    My grimoire shimmered brightly as all the warlocks and witches surrounding us suddenly stopped chanting. The original spell robbed people of their voice; however, mine caused blood to erupt from their mouths before they all fell to their knees, reaching to their mouths as more blood spurted out and into the ground.


    Shade snickered as Stella glanced around her to find all her apostates dropping onto the ground.


    "Oh, how sad; Shade seems to have gotten their tongues," I cackled as their appendages fell around me.


    My grandmother took a step back before her mouth bled as well, yet instead of taking her tongue, I took her teeth. Even though her life had no meaning for me, we still needed her to speak about Edna''s plans.


    Ending it, there would be nothing compared to what she did to me, and she didn''t deserve a quick death.


    "Aw, does that hurt?" I asked as the witches and warlocks gaggled, choking on their blood.


    She shrieked, reaching for her face as a pulse of energy left me, allowing two shadow beasts to come forward into the world. It was effortless, unlike the last time I had tried to let them out. With no orders, they killed each of the renegades who were writhing in pain.


    Stella struggled to form coherent words because of her missing teeth and gushing blood that she struggled to swallow. Yet it didn''t stop her from trying to run inside the building as Shade pounced on the older woman while I slowly made my way up the stairs.


    When I reached the last step, the beasts roamed the ruin, looking for stragglers, which included Edna. I didn''t know how she appeared, but any dead witch in this forest was better than a live one.


    After those simple steps, though, my feet were obliterated. The cramps remained annoyingly present the entire time and got worse as I progressed. Gazing down to where I started, I wondered how I had made it up the steps.


    When I finally reached Stella, Shade had already broken her legs and arms. Unfortunately, the pain appeared to have made her lose consciousness.


    "I''ll carve her up good when she wakes, Lily." Her tail wagged as I sighed.


    At least she wasn''t going anywhere in that condition. Focusing on what was ahead of me, I went inside the temple. The way in was a long corridor leading to an opening in the distance made by a type of stone I didn''t recognize.


    Just how old is this place?


    There was no doubt that a scholar would go crazy investigating this place if the hybrids were allowed to. With Shade by my side, my aide, we walked towards the other side with little to no events., yet what we witnessed once out of the corridor left me with eyes and jaw wide open.


    In the middle of the room, the shattered staff pieces lay on the ground next to Cora''s body. From where I stood, she appeared unconscious. Above her and the broken staff was a distortion fracturing our dimensions into an opening reflected light, making it seem like a mirror that had broken into pieces.


    It''s too late.


    "Lily, let''s investigate; maybe there is a way to stop it." Shade announced, walking towards the downed vampire.


    Hesitantly, I stepped forward, only for a weird sensation to rise within me. It differed from the earlier cramps, triggering me to clasp my belly as a warmness radiated from within me. A soft shimmer of purple was also present.


    All this time, I had thought it was the other soul within me who was calling me to this place, but it wasn''t. It was one of my babies resonating with Alijah''s arrival.


    "Are you okay?" Shade shifted her gaze towards me, feeling the same.


    I caressed my belly, only to receive a gentle kick in response.


    "Yes... I''m fine." I glowered at the distortion created by the artifact.


    Alijah, you won''t have access to my child. I can them promise that much.


    Taking another step, Shade reached Cora before pawing her, only to feel her stiff body under her paw.


    "Lily, she''s dead. It must''ve happened hours ago for her to be like this." Shade informed, joining me again.


    "We got here too late. The only thing left is..." I trailed off as the distortion became bigger, allowing something to begin to emerge from it.


    First, a hand erupted from its core, prompting the warmth that had radiated within me to become overwhelming. A bright light shimmered, giving away to something as it fell onto the ground before us.


    After the hue dimmed, in an instant, I recognized who had been summoned into our world. Yet something was off.


    Why isn''t Edna here?


    Even though it worried me, there was a more pressing matter. The wolf from my dreams had finally arrived, and my part to play in this encounter was about to begin. The fight for my family''s survival wouldn''t be one of strength but of wits.


    Outsmarting this wolf wouldn''t be effortless, but it had to be done if I wanted those I loved to live another day.

 Chapter 128: The Silver Wolf

    Gazing at the forest below me, I knew there was a possibility I wouldn¡¯t come back to my beloved. Yet, to protect her from those who wish to harm her, I¡¯d dive into the inferno of war. While the others around me wanted nothing more than the glory of a fight, I desired to stay on this ship.


    Around me, others began to jump into the evergreens below as a voice reached me.


    ¡°Fenris!¡± Lilith cried behind me, making every fiber of my desire turn to her.


    But if I see you again, will I pull away? Ah¡­ who am I kidding¡­ Just one look won¡¯t¡­


    However, when I shifted my gaze towards her, it felt like my world was sent asunder.


    Oh¡­ I¡¯m not strong enough to handle this. How do I stop myself from running to you?


    ¡°Please, come back to me! Promise me! Swear it to me!¡± Lilith pleaded, scrunching her blue eyes as they filled with tears, quickly streaking down her cheeks.


    Oh¡­ Lilith¡­ How can I promise something I can¡¯t guarantee?


    I never knew that forcing myself to smile for you could hurt this much.


    ¡°I love you.¡± Was the only thing I could say before allowing myself to fall off the airship.


    You¡¯ll be safe if you stay. Please¡­ stay and wait for me. I will try to come back to you or die trying.


    Saying goodbye to her was the hardest thing I had ever done. Even though her warmth was still present since the prior night, it was never enough. Mid-free fall, my body morphed into that of a wolf before landing safely on some coverage nature elves had made for us.


    ¡°Fenris, we¡¯re ready.¡± A fellow howled, itching for blood.


    Ever since the festival, old wounds had resurfaced, making sure each wolf present wanted some type of


    ¡°Fill your anger for battle, but leave those who surrender unharmed.¡± I sighed.


    It wasn¡¯t like I didn¡¯t share their sentiments for blood, but the woman I loved was one of them. If she was on the other side, I could only hope someone found it in their hearts to let her live.


    ¡°No! They didn¡¯t do the same for us!¡± He growled as others followed with the same remarks.


    ¡°Fen,¡± Liam called for me, having followed me down.


    Unable to turn to him, I focused on the unrest before me. These wolves wouldn¡¯t be beast while I was at the helm.


    ¡°Just because someone jumps, do you do it?¡± I asked, taking a step to the wolf as he took one back.


    ¡°What?¡± He mumbled, tilting his ears downward.


    ¡°If someone takes a knife to a child, does that mean you will?¡± I continued to question, taking another step towards it.


    ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± He shook his head, tail tucked under his pants.


    My power always responded to my emotions, and my body usually shimmered before I even realized it did. The only reason I knew it happened was because of everyone¡¯s reaction to me. Lilith was the only one who never flinched, even when I did.


    ¡°Just because they¡¯re merciless doesn¡¯t mean we shouldn¡¯t be. We need to be better but don¡¯t get me wrong. It doesn¡¯t mean we should be the same! We¡¯re more than just beasts.¡± I growled as he hurried away towards the others.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    I quickly turned towards the others, ¡°Does anyone else have other concerns? Once inside, there isn¡¯t much time to chat, but I¡¯ll be watching.¡± I huffed.


    ¡°No, sir!¡± They saluted me as I smirked.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s get moving!¡± I stepped forward, only for Liam to suddenly grab me from behind.


    ¡°Wait a minute, Fen!¡± He huffed, gazing at me intently.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I sighed as the others began to move into the forest grounds.


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t right, Fen. She was bawling. Is that the last memory you want her to have? If this goes sideways?¡± He growled, standing his ground.


    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?¡± I winced, shaking my head. ¡°You think I don¡¯t want to hold her until she knows everything will be fine?!¡±


    The tone in her voice alone made me want to climb back into that ship and hold her, yet I couldn¡¯t. Out of everyone, if I wanted Lilith to stay out of the fray, I had to be in it. No one else could match Alijah, which was optimistic for me.


    That wolf¡­ has more experience under his belt than I do.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just promise her you¡¯d come back? You could¡¯ve at least eased her a bit.¡± Liam sighed.


    ¡°Ah¡­ I don¡¯t ever want to lie to her.¡± I bit my lip, shifting my eyes towards the forest as magical spells started to erupt out of them.


    ¡°Hah¡­ You and your pride. It was the same when you didn¡¯t know if you could be with her when you ascended. That¡¯s not something I agree with.¡± He huffed, grabbing onto both my shoulders. ¡°Well, I promised her I¡¯d make sure you make it back. So, don¡¯t make me into a liar now.¡±


    Of course, you did. I wish you hadn¡¯t, but..


    ¡°Hah¡­ I have no intention of dying today. I want to marry her and see my kids grow.¡± I assured, triggering him to smile.


    ¡°I got your back, brother.¡± He tapped my chest with his fist.


    You¡¯ve always been there, pushing me to be confident in everything I do. You are my right-hand confidant and friend.


    ¡°Thank you, Liam,¡± I said, feeling lighter with each step with him by my side.


    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t forget about me.¡± Ezra huffed, coming out of the forest where the others had gone in to.


    ¡°Who could? How about we get things done and return home to those waiting for us?¡± I smirked, placing the specialized earpiece for Lycans on.


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± They both answered as we headed into the unknown grounds of the howling forest, where fates would meet.


    Ripping through enemy lines was a breeze with my power as it shut down any magical spell within a certain radius¡ªsomething I had developed thanks to Shade¡¯s relentless spars. This made our foes resort to physical attacks, which were easy for us to handle.


    Even though I had hoped they would surrender, barely any of them did. The taste of blood had overwhelmed my senses as my hands were drenched in it.


    Is¡­ This still doesn¡¯t reach you, does it, my love?


    ¡°Command center, I need a ground report.¡± I relayed this to the communication hubs on the ships.


    ¡°Copy. The enemy seems to be retreating to the West side of the forest. All squads are steadily progressing, with minimum casualties.¡± An elf informed.


    Those words should¡¯ve brought me relief, yet¡­


    Something isn¡¯t¡ª


    ¡°Fen, something isn''t right.¡± Liam came from the corner, shifting into his human form.


    He was covered in blood, too. We all were. These witchcraft users were like lambs to a slaughter.


    ¡°Yes, it''s like they¡¯re luring us somewhere,¡± I answered as others could be heard chasing further into the west of the forest.


    ¡°But why?¡± Liam asked, using a tree for better support as this location was secure.


    ¡°Fenris! Do you copy?!¡± My brother¡¯s voice echoed through everyone¡¯s earpiece.


    ¡°Ben?¡± I responded, unsure of why he sounded so desperate to find me.


    ¡°Lilith is gone! We can¡¯t find her!¡± His words echoed in my mind, turning everything into a blur.


    ¡°What?¡± I breathed, feeling my world shake in ways I never knew it would.


    Lily¡­ You¡­ Why?


    It was the red moon all over again.


    ¡°She broke a hole in the ship, and we don¡¯t know where she went!¡± Amelia took over for Ben.


    ¡°Melody wanted to look for her, but Amy stopped her.¡± My brother sighed, taking the radio off her.


    ¡°What? No, keep her up there! She doesn¡¯t know any combat!¡± Liam¡¯s voice cracked, shaking his head.


    ¡°I know, Mel isn¡¯t going anywhere, but Lilith¡­ I¡¯m sorry. So sorry, Fen.¡± Ben¡¯s words made me feel like my world suddenly froze over as I turned to my bracelet, triggering it to shine.


    The simple thought of wanting to see her would guide me to her.


    ¡°Fen, go. I¡¯ll¡ª¡± My faithful friend started but wouldn¡¯t finish when another voice came from our earpieces.


    ¡°No, both of you go. I¡¯ll keep the others in line and the chase alive. There is barely any more resistance anyway. The vampires are taking most of the fun in the front.¡± Ezra announced, leaving me biting my lip.


    ¡°Hah, you wolves are just too slow.¡± Tania cackled as if it were light out; they reigned supreme in a field of blood.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± My voice trembled as Liam nodded.


    ¡°Good, get your baby momma, boss.¡± The grey wolf''s encouragement was all I needed to bolt out of there and toward where fates would clash again.


    I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever run so fast, but I¡¯m coming for you, Lilith. Please, be okay when I get there!

 Chapter 129: Alijah The Mad Red Moon Lycan

    Falling onto his knees, the black wolf shook his head, struggling to stand up after what he had experienced.


    "Fuck! That was rougher than I expected." Alijah cursed, gazing around the room to assess his situation.


    When his eyes met mine, I felt a thump come from within. My bracelet shimmered brightly as the distortion from our surroundings quelled, allowing me a clearer view of this place.


    Ah¡­ I¡¯m running out of time.


    Much to my horror, it was identical to the one I had dreamt of. Thanks to my magic, the sky above us was red. The only difference was that the red sun glared down on us instead of the moon.


    "Lilith..." he called.


    My body grew cold, and every fiber shivered when I heard his tender voice. I stepped back, trying to control my emotions as Shade moved away from him. The power that radiated from him was surreal. It even had my feisty familiar on edge.


    Fenris will surely...


    "I didn¡¯t expect you to be here, my love." Alijah burst happily, tail wagging.


    Although taller than me, this wolf didn¡¯t have much difference to Fenris¡¯s height. I took a deep breath to quell my emotions.


    Focus, the last thing I need is to lose myself. So, I breathe in and out; this wolf can¡¯t win this fight. That dream isn¡¯t going to happen, not today or ever.


    The only thing that broke his gaze away from me was when he accidentally stepped on Cora''s body. He hadn¡¯t seen her until that point. Unlike how he reacted to me, I witnessed his eyes narrow as all the affection from before melted away to something more sinister.


    The next moment, I flinched when the wolf kicked her hard enough to split her in half before her body melted against the wall on the side.


    You¡¯re¡­


    "Stupid roach," he muttered, stretching his arms as if warming up for what was coming.


    The sheer force he had alone was astonishing.


    If you get anywhere near Fenris¡­ He has no chance against you.


    Pushing aside my feelings, I took a step forward to this monster.


    I have to stop this before it gets too far. This wolf can¡¯t be here when you get here!


    "You were right, Alijah." I approached, trying to keep my body from shaking.


    My magic was useless against this opponent. Shifting his gaze back towards me, his eyebrows raised.


    "Ah, you¡¯re a little on the big side there, love.¡± He narrowed his eyes before scowling, ¡°I¡¯m going to enjoy ripping into him for doing that."


    I sighed, struggling to feel anything at all. There could be no distractions. After all, there was only one shot at this, and I had to make it count.


    That¡¯s right, focus on¡­ this alone.


    Yet I had no idea how to close the gap between us with the bracelet in hand. Shade shifted into her tiny form to appear less threatening to him. Undoubtedly, if she moved towards him, he¡¯d shred her.


    Whenever Fenris was serious, he could shut down all magic within a certain radius, making us two magicless and harmless¡ªsomething this wolf had more experience in.


    If I don¡¯t sell it right¡­ Then, this wolf¡­


    "If you do... Then make sure I¡¯m there to see his light go out." I closed my heart, preventing myself from feeling the weight of my words.


    Thankfully, the inhibitors that took my emotions away had trained me to do so with ease.


    "Oh, ho... what happened here? What did I miss, love?" Alijah asked, gazing at me as if he had won the lottery.


    Even though he had been stuck there for all those years, he was still stuck in a young man¡¯s body. The prison froze him at twenty-three, which meant he was full of himself and gullible, at least with me¡ªsomething I planned to use to my advantage.


    Though, deep down, I felt bad for him.


    Perhaps if you had a different life, none of this would¡¯ve happened. I¡¯m sorry the world made you this way, Alijah.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "When you left me, I realized he wanted to control me, as you said. It was a mistake to not listen to you sooner." I answered, caressing my belly.


    The cramps were getting worse, which made it hard to concentrate on the wolf in front of me. Shade slowly trailed behind me when I stepped towards him, who seemed unable to control his smile, yet it wasn¡¯t one full of affection.


    "Ah... So, you realized it. Why didn¡¯t you terminate then?" He questioned, studying my reactions.


    He knew full well we witches had spells and potions to abort a pregnancy since most of those spells were older than him. I closed my eyes, trying not to let myself feel a thing.


    A simple thing can ruin this moment; I can¡¯t let you get away.


    I had to convince this wolf I was there for him alone. In a sense, that was true, but not for the reasons he wanted.


    "Because I couldn¡¯t bring myself to kill something that came from me. My mother didn¡¯t when my father left, so I wanted to be like her." I answered, hiding the lies within the truths.


    Alijah nodded before shrugging, "Ah, well, don¡¯t worry, love. I can work them into my plan. However, are you sure you should be here?¡±


    It threw me off my game as he stayed right where he was.


    Crap, are you catching on? Did I play too hard into it?


    "What?" I mumbled, not understanding why he would ask something like that.


    In my mind, in all the scenarios I had played, Alijah never questioned me. Instead, he had embraced me in his arms¡ªsomething that wasn¡¯t happening fast enough for my liking.


    I needed to get closer somehow. This can¡¯t fail!


    "I mean, I thought I would have to find you. Not for you to walk here to me. After all, you weren¡¯t that accepting of me before, and the scent of blood is lingering everywhere." He pointed out, getting suspicious of me.


    He was too smart for Lycan. However, he enjoyed any attention that came from me.


    "I see. Well, I felt the tug of fate pulling me here. Should I have stayed away? Is that what you¡¯re saying?" I asked.


    My questions triggered Alijah to shake his head quicker than I thought he could. It reminded me of a child backstepping because he was about to lose what he wanted. He hadn¡¯t matured in all the years he passed in that timeless prison, but what impressed me the most was how sane he was.


    After all, he was alone for all those years. I thought he would be worse. No, something else was happening, but I would never know what it was. After all, my story didn¡¯t thoroughly mix with him.


    I would never understand him and never thought I would want to, not while his existence threatened my family.


    "No, I¡¯m happy you came to me.¡± Alijah breathed, taking a step towards me. ¡°Well, I¡¯m here now.¡±


    However, before he could get close enough for me to act, a weird energy pulse erupted around us. It quickly took his attention as he went on the defensive.


    What the¡­. One of the shadow beasts I summoned was suddenly cut off from me. How...


    No, that was a thought I quickly had to kill, as that was a problem for another day. The black wolf had to be my sole focus; he was agitated.


    "What was that?" he questioned, readying himself for a fight.


    Even though I didn¡¯t know what happened, I couldn¡¯t let him leave me. That would spell certain doom for everyone I loved.


    "Probably my beast roaming found another witch or warlock. Nothing to worry about." I lied, trying to keep Alijah with me.


    If he left me there, the game would be over, as there was no way I could catch him again. My bracelet shone, meaning Fenris knew I was missing and was searching for me.


    You¡¯ll get here at any moment, too. I have to hurry and close this gap.


    Luckily, Alijah turned back towards me upon hearing what I said.


    "Ah¡­ I don''t... Wait, you killed the witches? Why are you taking my fun, love?" he shrugged, shaking his head.


    I raised my eyebrows, and my eyes widened. He truly was a weird character, but that made him unpredictable.


    How will I ever stop you? No¡­ focus on the now. The future can wait.


    "I¡¯m sorry. I thought they weren¡¯t at the top of your kill list. After all, they ''worked'' for you, but isn''t your job to take care of the Lycans?" I tried to imitate his logic.


    He smiled, enjoying this new me¡ªsomeone different from the one he met during the dream.


    "I¡¯m really liking this new side. What changed you so much?" Alijah asked curiously.


    I knew the perfect answer, considering his history.


    "Lycans did," I answered.


    He huffed, alerting me I had clicked the right button.


    "Yeah, they can do that." He agreed, licking his lips.


    My bracelet shone even brighter, alerting me to the danger that was rushing its way there.


    Fenris... Please¡­ don¡¯t get here yet.


    Unable to keep coaching him towards me, I tried the latter. Even though I felt ill, that was never in question. The cramps were getting to me, but not to the point I was about to make it seem. I pretended to feel faint, causing Alijah to close the gap between us, preventing me from tumbling onto the floor.


    ¡°Lilith!¡± He called out, voice quivering a bit.


    Releasing a soft groan, one of my hands gripped his arm as the other reached where I had hidden the pouch with the bracelet. His touch was so gentle, too.


    If things had been different, you wouldn¡¯t have hurt anyone. I¡¯m sorry for what they did to you, but I can¡¯t let you get away.


    The pain the poor boy endured to become the monster from my dreams heated me up. The elders ruined a sympathetic soul.


    And for what? Legacy? They¡¯re a bunch of fools. None of them will touch my babies; I promise you that much, Alijah. What they did won¡¯t ever happen again.


    "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, cupping one of my cheeks as the warmth that resonated with him from my belly grew more assertive.


    It almost left me breathless.


    Why am I feeling this way? You aren¡¯t Fenris!


    Even though I wanted to pull away from him, I couldn¡¯t.


    "It must¡¯ve been a kick," I mumbled, holding the pouch.


    This was the point of no return, and if he saw through my intentions, it would be over. After all, a surprise was the only way a human would ever beat a wolf.


    "Ah... The pup must be a strong one." He breathed, suddenly gazing towards the corridor.


    Unlike me, his ears allowed him to notice something I hadn¡¯t. His aura changed from gentle and caring to menacing as I followed it. My heart stopped upon seeing what he was glaring at.


    Ah¡­ I¡¯m too late.


    In the doorway stood Fenris, panting from the marathon he endured to find me. The desperation was evident in his eyes when they met with mine. However, they quickly shifted away from me and towards the other Lycan in the room.


    My wolf was far from happy by the turn of events, but seeing me in Alijah''s arms was sending him over the edge. I had to move before¡­

 Chapter 130: My Wish For You

    Upon seeing my beloved silver wolf standing in the corridor, I froze.


    "Let her go!" Fenris growled, eyes shimmering brightly.


    My worst-case scenario was about to play out in front of me. He was covered in blood as his appearance sent shivers down my spine. I couldn¡¯t tell if it came from him or his opponents. However, if he were there, all the Lycans would also come after their Alpha.


    I had run out of time. A massacre was the only thing that was left in our future.


    "Why should I?" Alijah taunted him.


    In an instant, Fenris''s body erupts in the crimson aura that always responds when his emotions ever get the best of him. However, this time, it was thicker than ever before. Alijah appeared unphased by his display as he was out of my beloved¡¯s league.


    If I weren¡¯t in the black wolf¡¯s arms, he surely would¡¯ve already leaped to his death.


    "She¡¯s mine." Fenris glowered, voice rumbling.


    Alijah laughed, shifting his hands to hold me by my waist. The black wolf''s expression was like that of a predator eyeing down his prey.


    "That wasn¡¯t what she told me." He confronted the silver wolf with a smirk on his lips.


    Ensuring I was on my feet, he stepped towards him as I struggled to take the bracelet out of the pouch.


    No... I can¡¯t... I won¡¯t allow it!


    I had to move before, yet my hands were trembling. All the emotions from before were starting to spill out as I realized I was about to lose everything. My wolf was ready to pounce, but luckily, he was more concerned about my proximity to Alijah, which prevented him from acting too rashly.


    "What?" Fenris muttered, focusing on him.


    Alijah spread his arms out to taunt his foe, ignoring me behind him. There, I saw the only opening I would ever get.


    "I''ll¡ª" he began, only to be interrupted by me pouncing on his arm.


    I yanked it back towards me, along with his eyes that soon followed my movements. Snapping the bracelet on him, I whispered a few elven words my wolf taught me to begin the process.


    Translated, it was like: May you travel towards your destiny. The bracelet I clasped on him shone brightly soon after the words left my mouth. At that moment, the captive Lycan could¡¯ve easily torn my hands off, but he didn¡¯t. His emotions for me would be his downfall.


    However, the shock in his eyes shook me to my core. This wolf truly cared about me, and I used those emotions against him, much like everyone else he ever trusted.


    "What are¡ª" he tried to question, but before he could, another word out.


    The incantation tugged at him, creating a distortion that threatened to swallow him. He levitated as I held onto his wrist, keeping him in our world.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    I don¡¯t want¡­


    "I¡¯m sorry, Alijah, but this was the only way I knew how to do this." I apologized, feeling guilty for my part in his pain.


    ¡°Lilith!¡± He winced, shifting his eyes towards the distorting realm behind him.


    The last thing I could do was see him off on the journey I would send him on. Fenris carefully watched what unfolded before his eyes as Shade held me in this realm by wrapping her tail around me, keeping me anchored there.


    "I don''t know where or when you¡¯ll end up." I began, voice shaking.


    Why¡­ do I feel a kinship with you? I¡¯m hoping for a future that won¡¯t come, but¡­ even so¡­


    "This won¡¯t be like the last time. It¡¯ll probably feel like a second for you." I assured the black-haired Lycan, whose eyes glossed at me.


    The pain he had felt throughout his life resonated with me. He and I were kindred spirits in that aspect, but I couldn¡¯t be to him what Fenris was to me. No, that role another would have to play it.


    Ah¡­ I wish you¡­ No, that¡¯s improbable. The men from your past have broken you beyond repair, but even so¡­. I hope¡­ perhaps after you¡¯ve lost me that¡­ you¡¯ll find a reason to live¡ªsomeone who will guide you into the light like Fenris did for me.


    "Why?!" Alijah snapped, radiating the same aura that Fenris had before, but unlike the magic from the mortal realm, the celestial enchantments were something he couldn¡¯t repel.


    The anger in your voice is expected. I betrayed you, yet I don¡¯t regret it. No, what I¡­


    However, the moment I let go of his wrist would be when he would disappear entirely. Something pushed me forward as more words formed before I realized it.


    Let it be a year or thirty; I¡¯ll be ready for you if you come after my family. But that doesn¡¯t mean that you¡­


    "After learning your story, I have one wish for you, Alijah. It''s one that I know will be impossible for you to accomplish, but I¡¯ll say it. Maybe it¡¯ll come true if I do." I declared, holding onto him.


    His body started to disappear as the incantation already took hold of him.


    "Lilith, please don¡¯t do this!" He pleaded, unable to move.


    There¡¯s no stopping this anymore. Your destiny isn¡¯t mine to have, but please... when we meet again, I hope it¡¯s on better terms.


    I smiled gently to ease his worries. "I wish you find the light that¡¯ll guide you to live in this ugly world. I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not the person for you, Alijah. I¡¯m unsure if you¡¯ll ever find them, but I hope you do." I loosened my grip on him.


    His pupils dilated as his eyes opened wide, searching for a way to escape this. He lost what I meant to him twice, but this was the only way. I wasn¡¯t the person he remembered, yet my heart felt for him.


    I wished it would¡¯ve been different, but he threatened to destroy everything I cherished.


    If only¡­ you weren¡¯t aiming to destroy my family.


    "No!" he shouted, ¡°I won¡¯t lose you again!¡±


    Luckily, His desire to stay had nothing to do with this. This magic was beyond his control. We couldn¡¯t seal him again, but we could propel him into the future, where we would be ready to face him.


    "Though... I wish to save you; know I won¡¯t hesitate to end you if you come after my family again. Goodbye for now, Alijah." I announced, letting go of him.


    In an instant, he was gone, leaving me staring at where he had been. Somehow, I had sent him away before Fenris got to him, or vice versa. The rush that had triggered me to act soon left me as my legs finally gave out.


    Fortunately, my wolf caught me in his arms before I hit the ground. Shade hopped onto my lap, too, feeling as relieved as I was. However, this was far from a victory; a giant unknown faced us in the future.


    All we did was buy time¡­ but for how long?


    Alijah could pop again a year from now or perhaps one hundred years later. There was no way to know. The only thing we could do was watch for the distortions caused by the god artifacts.


    "Oh¡­ gods¡­ You¡¯re crazy, Lily." Fenris held me close to his chest.


    His heartbeat was chaotic, yet his hold on me was tender enough for me to smother myself in him. He was covered in blood but upon closer inspection. There appeared to be no injuries on him.


    However, the cramps that should¡¯ve quickly subsided after my stressor was gone continued to get worse, but I didn¡¯t want Fenris to worry.


    We must get out of here. I¡¯ll tell you everything once we are safe.


    "I¡¯ll do anything to save my family, Fenris." I smiled, reaching to touch his cheek.


    He nervously chuckled before helping me stand from the ground. Yet I flinched, feeling something go wrong within me as a painful cramp triggered me to gasp. It was followed by a pop that drenched my dress with a sweet-scented liquid a few seconds later.

 Chapter 131: Shadows

    Fenris stood there, shocked momentarily, unable to understand what was happening.


    "Is that?" he asked, baffled why I had suddenly appeared to sully myself.


    Right away, he knew it wasn''t urine but something else. The smell of the liquid that puddled around my feet gave it away. Amara had given us a slight education, but I was two weeks and a half early.


    A harsher cramp soon followed the event, triggering me to groan and bend to ease the pain. I had been in labor since this morning, yet I had ignored it.


    I thought it was the stress!


    Our trial wasn''t over yet, as this was no place to give birth to a complicated one like mine. My wolf froze, unable to register what was happening quickly. If it weren''t for the agony that I was suddenly in, I probably would''ve been like him, too.


    We were in the middle of a battlefield, far from the ideal place for his pups to be born. Noticing his state, Shade took control of the situation.


    "Oi! Stupid wolf, go get Amara or any medic quick!" she interrupted his chaotic chain of thought.


    The cramps worsened to the point I couldn''t walk well, let alone mount him or Shade to get me to safety. Any more rough movements would''ve made it worse for me.


    "What?" Fenris mumbled, glancing at the cat.


    She wouldn''t give him a break to adjust, though. They were coming, and there was no stopping their arrival. My legs gave out as Fenris helped me not to hit the ground. Before I knew it, I found myself on my knees and hands moaning in agony.


    The only time I felt pain like this was when my grandmother carved me up. My name left Fenris''s lips. He reached to help me up, but Shade pawed his hands away. This wolf was visibly panicking. We weren''t ready for this, especially in our remote location.


    "You can''t move her like this! I''ll keep her safe! Hurry, doofus, run! Only you can get help fast enough!" Shade yelled to get him moving.


    "Fuck! I know, I just¡­" He became hesitant to be away from me but had no choice.


    He was the only one fast enough to get Amara to stabilize me. Although it appeared, there was no stopping this. The babies wanted to come out no matter what. I should''ve been more attentive to the cramps from this morning.


    Sadly, I didn''t know that they were a sign that I went into labor. I thought they were the usual ones I had felt the entire month. The swelling was a pain I had never felt before, and the adrenaline had dulled them down.


    "Damn it! Liam, when you get here, stay with Lilith!" Fenris commanded, shifting and running out of the building faster than I had seen him go.


    Shade instantly came back to me as I held onto her, groaning in pain, trying to keep myself together. I tried to concentrate on my breathing as Amara had taught me, but it was interrupted soon after by a shadowy figure in the corner of my view.


    It walked towards me from the same corridor that Fenris had left. Shade immediately launched towards them, only to phase through them. I was left on my knees as it got closer to me.


    "Lily!" Shade hissed, running to me only to stop when they kneeled next to me.


    "What¡­ Layla?" I mumbled, unable to understand how she was in front of me.


    Much to my bewilderment, she had no corporal form. Instead, dark smoke radiated from her when Shade tried to yank her away from me, to no avail. All this time, I wondered where Edna was instead of what she was planning.


    Little did I know. I had walked right into her trap and was unable to fight. If this was a spell or curse, I saw no way to break it.


    Oh¡­ gods¡­ are you using a god artifact for this?


    "Lilith, you took what I loved the most, so I''ll take what you''ll love the most!" she declared, grabbing me by my face.


    Suddenly, she invaded my body as energy pulses radiated out of me uncontrollably. My belly burned, almost as if it was searing into me, leaving me screaming at the top of my lungs. Tears filled my eyes as the agony was nearly too much to handle.


    Tears streaked down my cheeks as I writhed in pain on the floor. My consciousness wavered a bit, too. Everything felt surreal; I felt helpless to stop what they were after. Unlike any other spell, I saw no cracks.


    All Shade could do to help me was hold my body so I wouldn''t hurt myself. I screamed louder than I had in years. It was worse than when Fenris changed my body, as something felt like something was being ripped out of me.


    The entire thing probably lasted a few seconds but felt like an eternity. All that crossed my mind during that time was my babies'' well-being. Just as it started, it soon passed, allowing me to catch my breath as I heard someone call my name from behind me.


    "Lilith?" Liam ran to me, grabbing me by my shoulder to help me sit up. "Hey, are you okay?!"


    His hands cupped my cheeks, and I was too dazed to say anything. However, from the small windows by us, the sky I had created was back to blue. I didn''t know what Edna had done to me then, and I couldn''t focus on it.


    After all, my babies were soon coming. Even though it worried me that she did something, what I feared most was that she did something to my unborn babies. From what Layla declared, I gathered they were as much of a target as I did.Stolen novel; please report.


    "L-Liam, my b-babies." I stumbled as I tilted his head.


    "Yeah, I know; Fen''s coming with Amara as fast as possible." He reassured me as I shook my head.


    "N-No! E-Edna¡­" I winced, unable to finish, grabbing Shade''s hair and groaning.


    Though, I wasn''t the only one feeling it. She appeared as lethargic as I did. From what I could feel, my connection to the soul cairn was accessible, yet something about it was odd.


    "Edna did something. Layla did something." She mumbled, lying beside me.


    "What? Fuck¡­ Is that blood?" The brown wolf huffed, triggering me to gaze downward to see my blue dress stained red.


    Edna, if you did anything to my babies, I''ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth.


    Eternal or not, she would beg for her life if my children had any lasting effects. However, I didn''t have the time to worry about it. Reaching down, I touched my thigh to see it drenched in blood.


    "No¡­ No¡­" I huffed, gripping Shade as I could do nothing to stop what was happening.


    "Fen, you got to hurry. This isn''t looking good," Liam informed the others as he held me close to his chest.


    We knew my labor would bring complications, which was why Fenris wanted me on the ship. My actions had placed us in danger.


    "It''s okay, he''s coming with all the others. They''re all coming for you, Lilith, so hold on." The brown wolf held me close.


    "Liam¡­ thank you for bringing him back to me," I mumbled, feeling weaker as the seconds passed.


    "No, hush, for now, and focus on breathing. I might not be blood-related, but those are my nephews you bring into the world; they''ll need you, too. So, focus on staying alive." His voice was shaky as I struggled to keep my eyes open.


    When my wolf finally returned to us with Amara on his back, she swiftly went into action. The airship had traveled with them to us, and its sound could be heard above us. I tried to let him know what had happened but to no avail.


    My voice was too shaky and unstable to get a word out. Taking Liam''s spot as my support, Shade groggily informed him while the elf opened a kit, taking out a machine to read my vitals and the babies. It was the same bag she had brought into the ship in case of this.


    Unlike me, she was fully prepared for anything, or so she hoped. She never expected me to jump ship and give birth on the ground below. After setting everything up, Melody and Amelia followed with other medics on the ship.


    "What''s happening?" Fenris asked, holding onto me.


    "I don''t know, an abrupt rupture of her placenta? I''m not sure. I can''t be sure with everything that''s happening, but what I do know is that these babies have to come out now, or she''ll bleed to death as they suffocate, too." Amara clarified, triggering Fenris to wince.


    "Okay¡­ Do what you must do to save them." He breathed, holding onto my hand.


    The other Lycans slowly gathered outside of the building, too. They would protect us from anyone. When the medics were in view, Amara barked orders. They quickly set up stations for the babies.


    From what I could count, there were two medics per baby. The elf would stay with me the entire time. Sitting behind me, Fenris became my support as he gripped my hands.


    "I''m here, love. So, don''t you dare give up on me, okay?" My wolf breathed as I leaned on him.


    Shade lay behind him, placing her snout on our left and coiling her tail around us.


    "Shit, your labor isn''t far enough. I have to speed it up, and Lilith won''t feel good." Amara warmed, shifting her eyes from the device monitoring our vitals to me.


    "Ah¡­ I¡ª" I couldn''t focus on anything as pain shot up, dulling everything else.


    Fenris clasped my hand, gazing towards Amelia and Melody, standing by the corridor. They were joined by Liam, who headed outside.


    "Do whatever you need to save them." He echoed my sentiments, even though I could barely get a word out.


    Luckily, we had talked about it before this moment. I wanted him to pick them over me, if it was my life or theirs. Even if he lost me, my wish would be something he would carry out. Somehow, I was still breathing and conscious, which had to be enough for this ordeal.


    However, my energy waned with every second that passed. Every drop of blood that left me meant I had less volume within me to handle it.


    "I''ll try to do everything without having to do a cesarian. That''s the last thing we want in a place like this, but that''ll depend on you and the babies, Lilith. So, I need you to stay with me." Amara announced.


    She felt my belly to assess the positioning of the first baby that was coming. I had been dilating since the early morning when the cramps began. Something I had kept to myself, and I struggled to confess to them. Upon hearing that, Fenris probably wanted to yell at me for everything I did, but he couldn''t find a single word to chide me with.


    Instead, he held onto my hands, steadying himself for what was coming. One medic grabbed my right hand from him, placing an intravenous line with saline to help combat the blood loss. After a bit of help from a spell Amara cast, it fully dilated me enough for the first baby to crown.


    It opened the floodgates as my world blurred at times.


    "You can''t lose consciousness, Lilith! Stay with me!" Amara huffed, spreading my legs as Fenris held onto me dearly.


    "You''re going to push only when I tell you to. Not before, not after, got it?" Amara ordered me as I sluggishly nodded.


    Most of my mind was in delirium, as I was doing this in cold blood. No medication could be given to me with my pressure lowering because of the blood loss. With every passing second, everything became overwhelming and merging.


    I was becoming even more delirious as I mumbled incoherently.


    "The first baby''s doing well, coming right as we want, " Amara said, trying to quell some worries in the room.


    However, a simple glance revealed that Fenris was also a mess. He wasn''t adjusting right, and his thoughts were chaotic. If only I could see what was going on in his brain, yet all of it was my fault.


    At least he was faithfully by my side, struggling but still present. Amara once told me there were a few men that fainted during births. Although that wasn''t the case for my love, his hands trembled uncontrollably while he held mine.


    Soon after, the elf told me to push with the intervals of the contractions. With her instructions, my first child quickly entered this world. A baby boy, a Lycan, was the first to be welcomed into this world.


    Soon after, his twin brother, also a wolf, was born. After him, their fraternal twin sister, a human, came out. With each baby that came into our world, Amara, after cutting their connection to me, handed them off to the medics, who tended to their needs.


    From what I saw, they had silver bits of scuffles for hair in their scalps. This showed how Fenris''s genes dominated over mine for our children''s features. However, with the last baby, Amara got serious.


    It seemed stuck and wouldn''t come down¡ªworse yet, it couldn''t come down with its position.


    "Shit, this one is the one with the abruption. Lilith, the last one, is coiled around in its cord. I have to¡­" Amara trailed off, knowing I probably wouldn''t survive it.


    My vision was blurring, and my consciousness wouldn''t last much longer. This ordeal was already a miracle that the others had come into the world without complications.


    "Kill Stella¡­ and do it," I mumbled weakly.


    A gasp came from his sisters, who were helping the medics with the born babies.


    "There has to be another way," Amelia said, stepping towards us as a medic stood in her way.


    Fenris placed his forehead on my hand, grimacing as a red shimmer came from him. My life was barely clinging on to this world. I wouldn''t take them with me. My choices would be my fate alone, while I would protect their lights as long as I lived.


    Even though I carried you for months, I don''t really know you, but I want you to live. Please¡­ live¡­

 Chapter 132: A Cold Embrace

    Amara shook her head, biting onto her lip. "Lilith, there¡¯s a good chance it won¡¯t live even if we do, but if we deliver it normally, it will reduce your bleeding. Three might be a good number."


    If I did this, she could lose two rather than one. Even though I was delirious, I knew what my words meant. I wasn¡¯t backing down from this. Even if it meant I wouldn¡¯t see them grow up.


    All they had to do was kill Stella to free me from her magic.


    ¡°Kill S-Stella¡­¡± I declared, not taking a step back.


    If I died before my heart stopped beating, she had to be dead.


    ¡°Lilith¡­¡± The elf winced.


    ¡°She¡¯s dead.¡± Amelia declared from the side.


    It seemed something else had happened that I didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°Do it.¡± I smiled.


    I gazed at Fenris, who seemed utterly lost but hesitantly nodded. ¡°Do as she wishes.¡±


    It triggered her to close her eyes, taking a deep breath before yelling orders to the medics around us. I knew she would do everything to save it. There was no doubt in my mind about her capabilities as a medic. After these months, I trusted no one else with my child''s safety other than.


    My wolf leaned over to me and kissed my lips lovingly. "I love you. You know that, right? I need you to know that."


    His voice broke as tears beamed down his cheeks. He tried to put up a brave front, but he was crumbling.


    My adorable, loving wolf, I¡¯m sorry for doing this to you, but at least¡­ you¡¯ll¡­ see them grow up. You¡¯ll be a better father than mine ever was.


    "I¡­ love y-you¡­ too." I simpered.


    Amara gave me something to bite into to prevent me from severing my tongue during the process. Fenris closed his eyes, not wanting to see what would happen. However, his hand intertwined with mine tightly.


    Tears rolled down my eyes when Amara ripped me open to extract the baby. Even though my voice was muffled, it still leaked, making Fenris''s eyes grow colder with each one. If I went, so did his heart¡ªsomething I didn¡¯t want.


    Sadly, I could barely think with the agony that throbbed through my entire being. However, this pain was different from the one my grandmother had given me. My consciousness wavered to the point I didn¡¯t remember when Amara extracted my baby luma from my belly.


    "Shit! Her pulse¡¯s weak!" the elf¡¯s voice was muffled as she ran to one of her colleagues, handing the baby off to them.


    My eyes followed the little pale baby as Amara bolted to me again. Heavy dark curtains wanted to fall on me while I tried to stay in our world.


    Ah¡­ Please¡­ Live¡­ Let me be¡­ the only one who goes today. You¡­ must live¡­ I don¡¯t know you, but¡­ I know you¡¯ll bring light into this world like your father did to me. So, please¡­ survive¡­ I know¡­ I would¡¯ve loved you if given the chance.


    No¡­ that¡¯s not right¡­ I love you.


    Words I wanted to say, but before I could, everything went black as I plunged into a darkness I had never felt before. It was so cold, yet I didn¡¯t shiver. Every step was so heavy to take that I soon found myself standing still, losing the will to live.


    ¡°Am I dying?¡± I whispered in the space I found myself in.


    ¡°Lily¡­ I¡¯m getting sleepy.¡± Shade¡¯s voice echoed through the void. ¡°Is this is? I¡­ I don¡¯t regret it. I¡¯ll be with you until the very end.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Upon hearing her voice, I searched for a way out, only to feel like my feet were dragging me down. Before I knew it, the darkness surrounding me shimmered a bright red, lifting everything around me. Everything became more apparent, and I found myself in an out-of-body experience.


    Fenris, who radiated the same aura that brought me back, held my lifeless body in his arms.


    The surrounding medics tried to revive my baby girl, while Amara wanted to seal me up as fast as she could, hoping to save me. However, I couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying to each other. The machines with my vitals went into a plain line from the usual peaks it had.


    Ah¡­ I¡¯m¡­ gone, aren¡¯t I?


    I reached out to Fenris, who was in distress over me until someone grabbed me from behind. Instinctively, I turned to see the woman who had brought me into this world.


    ¡°Mom?¡± I gasped.


    She smiled, ¡°Lilith, it¡¯s so good to speak to you after so long.¡±


    I ran into her arms in a split second as she hugged me tightly. I never thought I would get to see her again, but her embrace was comforting. It brought me to a time before every painful thing that happened to me occurred.


    ¡°How are you here? I thought I''d never see you.¡± I held on to her.


    She was the first person to love me and the only one who wanted me for the longest time.


    ¡°Ah, even though I lost my mind while I was alive, it all became so clear after I died.¡± She started, cupping onto my cheeks. ¡°I couldn¡¯t move on since the moment I left your side. So, I¡¯ve always been with you, my love. Watching over you and wishing you¡¯d reach your better days.¡±


    Better days¡­ For the past year, I¡¯ve been happier than I ever realized I could be. Is that what you mean by better days?


    ¡°Am I stuck in the in-between?¡± I asked.


    Usually, the tormented souls in this plain were there because something held them back from moving on. There was so much that I needed my mother to know.


    ¡°I have so much to tell you, Mom.¡± I simpered, gripping onto her hands.


    Iris shook her head softly, ¡°I¡¯m sure you do. But you can¡¯t stay here. Death isn¡¯t for you yet; the wolf can¡¯t keep this up. He doesn¡¯t know it, but he¡¯s sharing his life with you. If this keeps up, he¡¯ll collapse.¡±


    She glanced towards him, and my eyes followed her to see the color of his lips grow pale as Amara finished sealing me. My soul would never be at peace if I left at this moment. I would be leaving my little ones to fend for themselves.


    Shade was disappearing as well with every second I spent in this realm. I would destroy my family if I desired to die¡ªsomething I couldn¡¯t allow.


    Even if my mother''s embrace is peaceful... Even if I once desired death. Now... I...


    ¡°You¡¯re right; I have to go back,¡± I whispered reluctantly, reluctant to leave her sweet embrace.


    Slowly, I tore myself from her as I stepped towards my future.


    ¡°Does this mean you¡¯ve found your reason to live? Is it okay if I go now?¡± She smiled.


    I gazed back at her and beamed back.


    ¡°Yes, Mom, I¡¯ll be okay. I finally want to live. My little girl and my family need me¡ªthey¡¯re my reason for living!¡± I declared for the first time since the fall.


    I had a reason to move other than my obsession with Fenris. Even though I always thought he would be better off if I were dead, his expression as he tried to share his life with mine showed me otherwise.


    He would be miserable if I left him. Also, my babies wouldn¡¯t have a mother to love them, and that was the most sinful thing I could ever do.


    ¡°Now go back to him and your beautiful children. Live and never look back, Lilith. Always look forward to the future you want.¡± Mom pushed me from behind, ¡°There will be times when it hurts again, but with every ache, you¡¯ll also receive precious memories that make everything worth it.¡±


    Her words shifted the world, plunging me back into my body. My eyes flew open as my lungs filled with precious air. Fenris glowed bright red up close, almost like a shining star that shined my way back.


    Somehow, he had shared his essence with me again, allowing my way back to this world. This time, there was no ritualistic incantation to siphoning it into me. Fenris had brought me back with his power and will alone.


    ¡°Oh gods, you did it, Fenris,¡± Amara announced, eyes wide open as a soft, bitter smile rose on her lips.


    Unlike Alijah, my wolf¡¯s power had to do with healing and protection rather than destruction.


    "Hey..." his voice quivered, noticing me open my eyes. ¡°Thank the gods, it worked.¡±


    Besides me, the medics struggled to make my little luma breathe. The other babies were with the others, who appeared to work on them, too. They were two weeks early, while Amelia and Melody looked on helplessly, waiting for the chance to assist.


    Amara rushed towards the baby that was having the most issues, but nothing was helping the little Luma take her first breath. In a last attempt to bring her back, the elf kneeled beside me, slowly handing her to my shaking hands.


    She hoped that my touch would stimulate the little one to come back. The moment the little luma was in my arms, everything changed again. She was weak as the color drained from her little body.


    ¡°No¡­¡± I mumbled, tears rolling down my cheeks.


    Lumas, like any other hybrids, were sustainably weaker than purebreds. Usually, they would rarely survive birth, especially a multi-birth like mine. She was also smaller than the others, making her the runt of the litter, yet I couldn¡¯t help but think that perhaps if the spell hadn¡¯t happened, she would have been fine.


    This little one was the one that had been the one hiding behind her brothers and sister.


    My little surprise, baby. If you¡¯re lost, I¡­

 Chapter 133: A Mother

    Standing away from me, Amara asked the medics to hand me the other babies. We needed time to bond and mourn if the little Luma didn''t pull through this.


    "Hey... Please... don''t go." I weakly voiced to the little luma in my arms, but she was slipping fast.


    Fenris tried to do the same as he had to me, but nothing worked. Shade, who had recovered from our predicament, helped hold the babies before poking her head into the embrace as the other babies were being handed to me.


    Soon, I had two baby boys and girls in my arms, helped by the feline and my wolf. The boys were significantly more prominent than the girls, but I felt a hole in my chest instead of feeling happy. I failed to protect one of my babies.


    For a moment, silence surrounded us as the medics were on standby in case anything happened. Amelia and Melody both stood by the entrance, not wanting to impede anything, though they hoped for any signs of life to come.


    Usually, losing a hybrid wasn''t considered exponentially important. Yet the medics had tried everything to revive her. To them, it didn''t matter that it was a half-breed; losing an innocent child affected them, especially when they came there expecting injuries from the battle.


    They never expected to see the birth of life, only to end in death soon after. Fenris was trying so hard to be the strong one as I wept, unable to contain my emotions anymore. This should''ve never happened.


    His tail wrapped around me, helping me hold the babies to my chest. Shade nuzzled them with her soft nose. It seemed everything was lost when suddenly my grimoire radiated a blue light. It triggered the baby Lycans to emit a red aura like their father, who responded similarly.


    The baby human girl also released a purplish aura while I exuded my usual blue. There was a hint of purple, thanks to what Fenris had done earlier. Before we knew what was happening, a purple light consumed everyone in the room.


    It shined brighter than anything else I had seen before. When it finally dimmed, I felt a little tug come from the little one who hadn''t moved before erupting into a cry that caused all the others to weep, too.


    Tears still rolled from my eyes, staring in disbelief at the miracle that occurred in my arms. This turn of events was too much as Fenris finally broke, too. He had tried so hard to stay strong, but hearing our little one''s wails shattered him into a million pieces.


    He wasn''t the only one. Everyone had a tear in their eyes from hearing the little luma take her life back from the brink of death. My wolf hugged me tightly as our other babies made sure we knew they were alive.


    However, we were far from safe; they were still a little undeveloped, so they needed immediate medical care that could be found on the ship, but that was when another problem arose. The airships couldn''t land there thanks to the dense forest surrounding it, and I could barely move as it was.


    Fenris had healed me, but I was too weak to walk, let alone hold onto him or Shade while he took me to safety. The babies were also delicate little things to care for, and we couldn''t destroy the forest to clear a path, either. That would''ve started a war with the hybrids that hunted within.


    Amelia and Melody swiftly went to try to solve this dilemma, leaving their little brother, who wouldn''t leave my side. He had enough for one day and kept a hold on me to ensure I was warm and still with him.


    One step at a time was good enough as the storm had given way to the calm. Around us, howls erupted as the other Lycans that had made their way there learned of the news of their heirs. When Amara removed the little luma from within me, she also cleaned me out of everything that could cause problems.


    Even so, I was still bleeding somewhat from my private area¡ªa normal thing after birth, but it was less than before. However, Amara kept checking on me and pumping me fluids to compensate for my blood loss.


    I tried to feed the babies for the first time while they set everything for us. The two girls were first, then the boys, who were more robust than their sisters. While I fed them, Fenris held onto the two boys, who were adorably tugging his shirt, trying to lactate off him.


    It was a fresh experience that erased all the bad that happened. I didn''t know how I stayed awake after returning from the darkness. It must''ve been my maternal instinct on autopilot, yet my body felt like it was about to break any minute.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Even Amara was impressed that I stayed conscious after the adrenaline ran out, leaving me more than sore. It was hard not to fall asleep on Fenris once the babies were fed. Though everyone there was a mess, bloody or not.


    By the time Amelia returned, she had a two stretcher with Liam and Ben, who would help carry me out of the forest on foot with Fenris''s help. The babies would ride on one in what appeared to be specialized boxes for them while I took the other.


    The entire way to the ship, I kept my eyes on the babies while Shade rested with them. It took until nightfall to get somewhere the ship could land for us to board. This was because they had to carry me and the babies out manually and carefully. Fenris didn''t want to take any chances with the precious cargo they had in their hands, sending scouts before we moved towards safety. Even though they expected resistance, it never came.


    All the surviving enemy forces had disappeared and left little to no trace to follow. Again, Edna had burrowed underground for whatever reasons she had. Much to my surprise, Stella had been found dead by the entrance of the ruin.


    She was dead before the cavalry had arrived, and Fenris hadn''t cared to look for her in his rush to get to me. Liam had rushed inside with me to notice, too. Her throat was slit by someone when I left her, freeing me from the spell before the hex found me.


    Edna probably did it herself or one of her followers to close loose ends¡ªsomething I had no time to worry about with the little ones. Everyone called this a victory when we returned to the ship, but it felt so far from the truth to me.


    Edna never tried to get to Alijah, which was odd.


    If you weren''t her goal, then... this was all a trap. You were bait to lure me in for what she tried to do.


    What worried me more was what she did to my children. They were inspected right after, and it seemed like Edna accomplished nothing. However, the magic she had used wasn''t typical witchcraft.


    Why did it take the form of Layla? What''s Edna after? I can''t... understand it,


    After the fact, that and many more questions bombarded me. Fenris tried to find and explain it, too, but couldn''t come up with anything. From his report, the forces led them away from the source of chaos, which I found.


    However, we weren''t empty-handed. Many witches and warlocks were captured, but when questioned about their involvement. They couldn''t remember anything at all. Nothing would come up, even if a moon elf tried to see their memories.


    Something powerful blocked their memories, leaving us with more questions than answers. Luckily, I was fine, and the children appeared good as well. There were also minimal injuries during the raid of the Howling Forest.


    Even though there were many setbacks, we had accomplished what we had set out to do: delaying Alijah''s rage. We finally found Stella, though her place in this was more of a pawn than anything else.


    Edna''s intentions would have to be for another time, as I needed time to recover from my ordeal. A week later, while I still recovered. The babies were healthier than ever, too. The little luma appeared to have nothing to point to her close brush with death.


    However, my little girls'' bodies showed a dark mark that couldn''t be explained. Vera, the human one, had a crescent moon sign on her back, while Rem, the little luma, had one that appeared to be a waning gibbous on her chest by her right breast.


    Perhaps it was due to Fenris''s attachment to the moon, or it could''ve been something else. All we could do was watch over them closely while they developed. The boys, Caden and Aiden, were almost a spitting image of their father, yet the one he was most attached to was little Rem.


    I didn''t know if it was because she was the most brittle of the quad, making him want to protect her more than the others. That didn''t stop her from being the loudest of the bunch, though. She had heterochromia in her eyes, which meant her left eye was red while the right was blue like mine.


    She also had little horizontal strips of brown in her hair, but mostly dominated by Fenris''s silver. Every luma was different; some had fully Lycan ears, but Rem had pointy ears closely related to elven ones. However, what distinguished her the most from an elf was that she also had a tail, much like her brothers.


    Shorter, though.


    On the other hand, Vera had Fenris''s hair color, too. Unlike her sister, her eyes were purple¡ªa mix between me and him. She also appeared fully human, though she still possessed her father''s traits within her.


    My wolf pitched in while I was on bed rest, even though he had loads of work. His sister Amelia enjoyed caring for the babies the most, but she was also essential to helping me bond with the babies.


    Sadly, I could barely do anything while I healed from the trauma my body endured. However, I enjoyed breastfeeding the babies, even though it was uncomfortable most of the time. I also used formula because my milk alone couldn''t keep up with the need for four, especially the boys, who had too much of an appetite for me to keep up.


    Even using the pumps to drain my swollen breast was something new, which made me feel somewhat like a cow, but it was for the best. With each week that passed, I became stronger, allowing me to enjoy the benefits of being a new mother.


    With Alijah in mind, I slowly integrated myself into my new life. I was a mother and a leader for those who slowly joined us after the battle. I did most of my work from the bed, with the help of others who rose to the opportunity to help me.


    Thanks to them, my foreseeable future was mainly filled with joy. I sometimes wished that I could''ve seen what would happen next. Perhaps if I did, I would''ve stopped someone I loved more than Fenris from going through the hardships they did.


    Edna would''ve never touched my children with her darkness if I had been better, yet I failed to see it. Even so, I fought daily for a better future for all my children. It was all I could do, and I would never stop trying to protect them.


    It''s my sole duty. After all, only a mother can love like this.


    They were my world from the moment I saw them.


    For them, I''ll give anything, including changing the world.

 Chapter 134: Life Goes On

    A year passed before everything finally calmed down enough to be a tad less chaotic. Thanks to the chair I held, witchcraft had solidified itself in our society. While we still struggled against prejudice, it seemed like things were changing for the better.


    Even in these peaceful times, our lives were hectic. We juggled our children with work, leaving little space for anything else. Usually, we ended the day exhausted, so we barely had time for each other.


    There still were no leads that hinted at where Edna had gone, yet we didn¡¯t give up. She was playing the long game, but we would be ready for her next move this time. After work, I usually fell asleep earlier than Fenris, leaving me to wake up when he was gone.


    Changes were happening in Cerberus that needed his attention, as did the push to open airship ports in all the major cities. This kept my wolf busy, along with Ben and Liam, who were always behind him.


    Even with Amelia''s constant help, taking care of four babies was overwhelming for me. At this point, they were learning how to walk, which triggered a baby-proofing of the entire manor. Melody, who usually would help, had recently given birth to her baby girl, Sofia.


    Of course, Liam was the child¡¯s father, and they also got engaged soon after the pregnancy. Yet, because of the hectic pace of everything, their wedding, much like ours, hadn¡¯t happened. They conceived the night we came back from Celestelia¡ªthe same night I passed in discord with the babies and Fenris.


    We were all trying to adjust to our new standard even though work didn¡¯t give in to my desires. I was desperate to find time alone with my wolf recently, especially since Amara gave me the okay.


    It took an entire year for me to heal all the damage the spell had done to me. The trauma of the birth left me battered, even though Amara tried her best to help me through it with her magic. It took a long while for the bleeding to stop.


    Thankfully, I already felt better, and my only pains were from taking care of my energetic quads. They were becoming more than a handful¡ªsomething Amelia attributed to her brother¡¯s genes. It appeared Fenris was much like them when he was young.


    Even Shade tried to stay strong when they treated her like a stuffed toy. Usually, the worst perpetrator was little Rem. The little luma was ruthless, leaving the feline constantly complaining about her treatment, but I could tell she loved every minute she spent with the babies.


    ¡°This little brat doesn¡¯t realize I¡¯m a god-like being! Pulling my tail and ears like I¡¯m a plush! Lily! Do you hear me?!¡± She usually would be heard whining, yet she never pulled away from her.


    While Rem was a troublemaker, the twin boys didn¡¯t stay behind, testing the limits of this. They were the most robust next to Rem. Vera was calmer than her siblings as she usually watched them cause mayhem.


    From this point, I knew the ones who would cause me more trouble in the future. However, today was a special day. They finally acknowledged me as the witch''s chair in the council. Leaving my little ones behind, I headed towards the council with Liam.


    He got me instead of Fenris, who was reviewing some reports that had come up with Ryker. However, Edna was still nowhere to be found, and there were no signs of Alijah either. However, what was more worrisome was Liam¡¯s appearance.


    I had never seen him appear so out of it. There were deep dark circles under his eyes, thanks to baby Sophie''s crying at night. Even so, he couldn¡¯t stop commenting on how cute his baby girl was¡ªsomething Fenris shared since he could be heard gushing about his babies to people he was with.


    This continued to Cerberus, where I was met by Aria, a witch who had become my right hand in the last year. She was an asset in helping me deal with the witches and warlocks while I recovered. This new friend I met was essential to helping me manage the negligible amount of time I had between raising my little ones and trying to lead our kin toward peace.


    She had beautifully dyed amber hair and vibrant green eyes. She was older than me, which made her wiser in many of the dealings that had to be done. With her by my side, the meeting itself went well.


    Most members accepted me after I proved my loyalty, thanks to my actions and the peace we had acquired. This happened when I banished Alijah for the foreseeable future, saving the lives of those in that forest that day.


    In their eyes, I had bought us time to figure out what to do when he returned. We could only hope, but that black wolf was something else entirely. This new ruling stabilized the witchcraft users in society, although not everyone was glad about that outcome.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    After everything we endured, some still wanted to be paid in blood¡ªsomething I denied them at every turn. That alone was stressful. However, that didn¡¯t stop me from devoting myself to working on a cure for the new wolfsbane variant.


    Stella called it Iris. The irony is too much. Mom, your name shouldn¡¯t have been placed onto something meant to be the death of others.


    We had found this detail in my grandmother''s grimoire that we got from her dead body. Edna didn¡¯t care if we had her grimoire, leaving it behind for us to find. She didn¡¯t leave anything but a note behind for me to read.


    I never planned to bring Wolfsbane back in such a disastrous way. Sadly, my power also brings chaos into this world. It sometimes blinds me to what actions are right and wrong. I didn¡¯t see how much hatred that woman had for the wolves, so I played my role in her downfall.


    So, I gave her a gift to you from me, little witch. Live your life and leave Alijah to me. If you or your children stand in my way, I¡¯ll have no choice but to retaliate. This fight is more significant than you realize.


    Ultimately, it appeared my grandmother played both sides before being cast away as a pawn by her friend.


    A more significant fight than I realize. Just what are you doing, Edna?


    Like the message, the book taught me how Stella made the new variant. In honor of my mother''s name, she used witchcraft to combine the iris flower with wolfsbane, giving birth to a new species¡ªone easily harvested while carrying the potency of the original.


    Sadly, there wasn¡¯t a way to know how many Iris carried this new threat. Even with that helpful hand given to us by a dreadful witch, it would take me three more years to find an antidote. Unfortunately, it had to be taken minutes after the poisoning to be effective, and it was hard to produce.


    Cerberus had negligible quantities in stock, and even then, I continued to try to find better ways to prevent it from being used. Still, it was a major blow to our peace, especially when Stella¡¯s last gift for us was that she spread the plant all around Celestelia.


    Hybrids had them in droves, making it dangerous for Lycans to go near the place. However, that was something soon to come. Amelia noticed my recent mood change on the same day as my confirmation to the council.


    She approached me and said, ¡°Let me take the pups for tonight. I heard Fen is on his way back already, and I bet you two have a lot to talk about.¡±


    ¡°Amelia¡­ I don¡¯t want to cause you more trouble. You¡¯re already with them most of the day.¡± I mumbled, unsure of how she noticed.


    Was I sulking?


    ¡°Oh, I enjoy the little pups. It¡¯s no problem at all.¡± She simpered, gesturing for the maids to come collect the little ones.


    ¡°Is it just me who feels like they can be little gremlins?¡± I sighed.


    ¡°Nope! They are!¡± Shade huffed from the side, watching the maids pick them up.


    ¡°Hahah, that¡¯s because you¡¯re cranky and missing Fen¡¯s affection.¡± She giggled, taking a sleeping Aiden into her hands.


    ¡°I¡­¡± I trailed off.


    It was true. The lack of moments together was starting to get to me.


    ¡°Look, days like this will come and go, but please enjoy them to the fullest when they happen. Fen isn¡¯t like dad, but work can create wedges in any relationship. Please make sure to always make time for him and yourself.¡± She bowed her head as the maids took the little gremlins away for the night.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± I smiled, triggering her to respond the same way.


    ¡°Any time, please don¡¯t hesitate to ask for help. Oh, and please make sure the clothes in that box the maid left.¡± She bid farewell, leaving me alone in the room.


    I hadn¡¯t seen my wolf since the council meeting ended, but he would return soon. Turning to the item left behind, I opened it and saw only lingerie inside it. For a moment, my mind popped as I realized what she meant for me to do.


    Amelia!


    Shade snickered, pawing the underwear, ¡°You should wear it. The little wolf will love it.¡±


    A soft sigh left my lips, ¡°Can I? My body isn¡¯t¡­¡±


    The pregnancy had a heavy toll on my body. I had stretch marks that decorated my scarred body. It didn¡¯t help that I also had loose skin around my belly. Amara had told me these changes were expected, but I had never felt comfortable in my skin.


    Perhaps this is why Fenris isn¡¯t looking my way.


    ¡°Oi! Remember what he told us!¡± She huffed.


    A real man will love the mother of his children no matter what shape or form.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± She smirked, ¡°He¡¯ll love it, or I¡¯ll rip his balls!¡±


    ¡°Arg, fine,¡± I mumbled, putting the black lingerie on before hiding it under a gown.


    Magic could¡¯ve fixed all my insecurities, yet I never wanted to modify my body. However, there were other reasons I never did. The first was that I didn¡¯t know what Edna did to me the day my babies were born.


    Thanks to her intervention, my magic was more unstable than ever. Even a brief burst of casting incantations ended with my nose bleeding, leaving me using my magic for research purposes alone. Even though I was free of the spell that wouldn¡¯t doom the world if I perished, that didn¡¯t sever my connection with the realm.


    My fate would always be connected to the gate of shadows, which shifted my focus on trying to understand why it existed. We knew it was a prison, but why it was created would take most of my life to figure out, yet that didn¡¯t stop me from trying.


    After all, this was something my children would have to deal with, too. While I waited for Fenris to come home, Shade rested in her new, more enormous tower that Amelia had gotten for her. Fenris''s sister had been coming around with us more since the babies came into the world, and it was lovely.


    I never thought our relationship would turn friendly enough for her to buy me lingerie, but here we are.


    This would be the first nap the little feline had without babies around to stop her. When Fenris arrived, he appeared dead inside. Even though he always slept next to me every night, today, he seemed more tired than usual.


    Then again, I usually was out cold by the time he came back, but this evening, he was early, and I had my hopes up.

 Chapter 135: Sweet Advances

    Winter was on us again, slowing down work enough for Fenris to be home in time. It almost appeared that even the baddies took the season off, allowing my beloved to come home early. The moment our eyes met, I felt my heart skip a beat.


    This was the first time in an entire year that we had been alone¡ªsomething he quickly noted.


    "Where are the kids?" Fenris asked, taking off his coat and placing it on the hanger.


    It started snowing on his way back, leaving his hair lightly damp when he came in. The cold never bothered me while in the manor, though.


    "Amelia took them for the night," I answered, glancing toward the floor while he looked around for clothes to wear after his bath.


    For some reason, I felt shy about the entire thing. Even though this was far from our first time together, it felt like I was cornering him.


    Is it the lingerie I''m wearing?! Why am I feeling so embarrassed after everything we''ve done? There''s no use in feeling this way at all. Lilith, he''s your man. Get him! Like Melody said to me earlier!


    The whispers returned after my pregnancy, but they were less persistent and mostly muffled because of the change in our connection.


    "She did?" Fenris sounded more surprised than anything else.


    It added to my nerves as I nodded my head to confirm.


    "Yep," I mumbled, fidgeting with my fingers.


    He stood there momentarily, trying to figure out what was happening. A chuckle erupted from his lips soon after. It triggered my cheeks to go from pink to bright pink.


    "Don''t laugh!" I grumbled, trying not to feel too much into it.


    Though it made me wonder if he still wanted to hold me, part of me always thought he was diving into work, not to overwhelm me with his constant need for affection. Lycan''s libido was higher than that of a human.


    It was why we did it until the day I gave birth, but it had been an entire year since we last had touched each other.


    "Ah... Well, want to join me?" Fenris teased me further with a sly smirk on his lips.


    He found my attempts to find some alone time with him adorable. I stayed quiet, grabbing onto the bed sheets with my fist.


    "Dinner''s soon," I informed, trying to keep my nerves in check.


    Why does it feel like it''s our first time all over again? Get a hold of yourself, Lilith!


    "Hm... That doesn''t mean we can''t have a little fun before it." Fenris noted, sitting beside me.


    His words caused me hesitantly to glance up at him. He had fully caught on to what I wanted.


    "I-I¡ª" Before I could answer, a yelp left my lips when he picked me up, bridal style.


    I held onto him for dear life. He walked out of the room and into the bathroom with me in his arms. I had already showered, but he stripped himself of his clothing before slowly doing the same to me.


    For an entire year, we did nothing more than kiss and cuddle at night. After my birth, even though Amelia tried to repair most of the damage, it left me barren. There was no way to know if it was because of what Edna did, but that didn''t matter to us.


    We already had four adorable children to raise, which were a handful enough by themselves. We still didn''t know what the eternal witch had done or where Layla was, but that had to be pushed aside. This would be our first night alone in an entire year.


    Dropping the gown, Fenris stopped for a moment, taking in the sight of me in underwear I had never worn before.


    "Wow, you''ve never¡­" he breathed, studying every part of my body as I got jittery.


    "Does it look bad?" I mumbled, shivering when he traced his fingers down my back.


    Grabbing onto my hand, he quickly took it to his hardened heat, triggering my heart to flutter.


    "No. unless this isn''t the reaction you were looking for." He leaned to kiss my neck, leaving my hand on his shaft as I clasped onto it.


    A soft sigh left him as he trailed his other hand from my hip to my abdomen. There were the most significant scars and the only ones I was genuinely proud of. After all, it signified the birth of my baby girl and how we all survived that day.


    "Does it still hurt?" he asked, shifting his eyes to face me.


    This wolf still had vivid nightmares about the entire event. In most, he failed to save me, leaving me to comfort him every time he woke up¡ªa change of roles almost. In my case, though, my terrors died down since that day.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    I had left every one of them behind when I was brought back.


    "No," I simpered, feeling embarrassed by his touch as I stroked him, triggering a soft whine to leave his lips.


    It was so welcoming, and all my worries from before melted from how his eyes hungrily yearned for me. There wasn''t a single time when he didn''t look at me the same way. I was his world, and he was mine.


    Before I knew it, my cheeks were cupped in his hands, tugging me in for a tender kiss. Licking my bottom lip, I gave access to his tongue to play with mine. In such a way that by the end, I was left breathless.


    When we separated, a smile broke on his lips. He had been looking forward to this moment longer than I had realized. Of course, he moved at my pace. However, we were both worried about each other, so we didn''t realize we wanted this.


    "I love you," Fenris murmured in a husky voice.


    Do I ever feel cold in your arms? No¡­


    "I love you too," I replied, triggering the wolf to kneel before me.


    "Good, so be a good girl, and let me have a good meal tonight." He purred, gripping onto my thighs.


    "Huh? Wait, Fenris!" I yelped as he licked my vulva over the underwear.


    In an instant, I froze as he placed one of my thighs on his shoulders, gripping my bum to keep me steady.


    "Let me enjoy this gift." He smirked, using his thumb to move the underwear to the side as his tongue lapped my sensitive bell, leaving me mewling.


    Ah¡­ I haven''t felt this pleasure in so long.


    "Fenris!" I whined as he concentrated on lapping my little bean, allowing saliva to drip down his chin.


    I gripped his hair as he used his fingers to trail down my slits before pressing one gently into my entrance.


    In an instant, the knot that I hadn''t felt in an entire year tightened to the point I could barely keep my hips from bucking into him¡ªsomething he didn''t mind as he wanted me to lose it. When he tugged away from my bell, I saw his shimmering eyes studying me like he had the first time we had been together.


    "Let me know if it hurts." He breathed, slipping his finger into me as I nodded.


    A soft smile rose on his lips before letting my thigh free and raising himself to kiss me. A soft hum left me as his finger began to tug out of me before plunging back into me. His tongue kept my voice in check as he slid in another digit before picking up the pace.


    "Fen¡ª" I went to voice but yelped, feeling the knot tighten even more as his eyes shimmered brightly again.


    His heat rubbed on my abdomen when he pressed his body against mine.


    "Does it hurt?" He mumbled, triggering me to shake my head.


    "No, it doesn''t," I assured him, voice a little shaky.


    At first, it felt odd, but after the first few pushes, it gave away a pleasure I had come to miss.


    "Is it good?" He licked my neck, prompting me to grab hold of his hips.


    "So good. I want you, please?" I begged, allowing myself to sink into the feeling.


    A soft chuckle came from him as he sped up his movements, leaning into my breast before tugging the bra and opening the middle to allow my areolas to be exposed.


    "Cum for me; once you do, I''ll bury myself in you too." He assured, taking one of my nips into his mouth.


    "Fenris!" I squealed, feeling the knot release, washing my world.


    Holding me up by my waist, my body twitched with every sensation coursing through my body. The entire time he sucked on my nips, giving each one enough love to make them sensitive. It was completely different when he did it compared to our babies.


    I was still nursing them even a year later as those dreadful machines pumped me dry most of the time. Yet, it appeared there was still some left in them for this curious wolf.


    "You''re milk tastes sweet." He mumbled, tugging away from my breast.


    "Does it? I thought I pumped them dry earlier." I shifted my eyes to his heat, which was roaring to go.


    "Mhm, kind of jealous how the pups get to have it all." My wolf breathed, shifting his eyes towards me.


    "You can have some if you like, too. They''re starting to prefer mushy foods now." I assured him.


    "Ah, so kind of you to say." He smirked, nuzzling his nose against mine. "But I''m okay, and they can have it all if they wish. I''ll taste some while I pleasure you."


    He licked his lips, triggering me to clash mine with his. In an instant, his tongue met with mine as he picked me up, allowing me to wrap my legs around his hips.


    Drawing from our heated kiss, I lapped his lips, "More, Fenris, I want more."


    A soft chuckle left him as his tip pressed against my entrance. "Are you sure? I haven''t washed yet."


    "I don''t care about that. Please fill me up." I simpered, triggering him to clash with me again as the pressure on my vagina increased.


    Gripping onto my bum, he slipped his heat into me, triggering me to mewl loudly into our kiss.


    "Does it feel okay?" he worried, unsure if his thickness was making it hurt.


    All he wanted was to give me pleasure instead of pain. It was probably the reason he had only cuddled me to sleep, even after the bleeding stopped months ago. He was just too loving.


    "It''s fine. I love how your dick feels in me. I missed it so much!" I mewled louder than I realized.


    He smirked in response to my confession of loving his touch. There was no reason for him to hold back anymore after hearing that. Not that I minded. I was more than healed.


    "Love, don''t tempt me. I want to treat you gently." Fenris warned with a slight growl at my tease.


    Instead of backing off, I licked my lips temptingly, wanting him to lose it with me. Not wanting to wait any longer, I tugged myself up with my arms, lapping his lips with my tongue.


    "Do what you want to me, my love, and please knot me like you mean it." I purred, shedding away all the previous insecurities.


    He bit into his lip, grabbing onto my hips, and suddenly tugging his heat out before shoving it in. I whined in response to his sudden fill, clasping my hands onto his shoulders. Licking my neck, he thrust himself into me as my mewls of pleasure echoed around the room.


    The sensations were consuming us both. Fenris groaned lovingly into my ears, allowing me to know that even though I had four babies. My body still pleased him, and unlike before, he didn''t need to worry about whether I was fertile or not.


    It was almost as if we had just found our release for the first time when he exploded within me, knotting me where we stood. My body responded to his release with mine as I convulsed in his arms.


    Fenris chuckled before pressing his forehead against mine, allowing me to see his cheeks were pink as his heat twitched within me.


    "That was¡­" he trailed off, flustered yet holding me tightly.


    "Cute." I finished his sentence, feeling more than satisfied by what happened.


    This wolf had probably held off this entire time, focusing on work to replace this, but that didn''t have to be anymore. There was no reason for him to avoid me anymore.


    "Yes, you are." He simpered, tugging me out once his swollen knot calmed down and leading me into the tub.


    Once there, he turned me around and thrust into me again, not wanting to stop at only one round. Not that I didn''t want to either. Mewls left me, enjoying every push and pull that came from him. Turning me around, he caged me in between the tub and him, allowing our skins to glide on one another.


    More sweet noises left us when he shoved himself into me at a pace I used to love. Nothing would hold us back anymore. Thankfully, we could enjoy one another to every extent available. Nothing could stop our love anymore.


    Our affection for one another continued into the night and the early hours of the following day before we collapsed in each other''s arms.

 Chapter 136: Changes In Our World

    When the morning came, we were still in each other''s arms. Fenris called Liam to let him know he was to oversee everything for the day and asked him to inform Aria that I would also be away. Amelia still had the babies in toe with the help of the maids, leaving us yet another day to ourselves.


    Even though we had pulled an all-nighter, he and I were still getting our fill of each other. After all, we missed an entire year of affection. He told me all the times he pushed his urges aside to make sure I was okay, but that wasn''t needed anymore.


    I was his, no matter what. He was the one I wanted to spend my life with. Even though we hadn''t said our vows yet, I felt like his wife. By noon, we had fallen asleep in each other''s warmth when the first call came in.


    Groggily, he grabbed the phone off the table, "What? I thought I told you to handle it without me today." He mumbled as I tried to snuggle myself into his chest.


    Even though we had slept next to each other for the past year, I missed the way our love made me feel, from the warmth that dripped out of my core to feeling his bare chest on mine. I couldn''t help but hum, wanting much more.


    Sadly, my attempt to get comfy was ruined when he suddenly got up, hearing what Liam had to say.


    Immediately, my wolf''s demeanor changed, "What?!" He gasped, shaking his head.


    The tone in his voice triggered me to sit up with him.


    After finishing the call, he kissed me lightly, "Lily, we have to go to Cerberus. Something''s changing."


    "What?" I mumbled, shaking away all the sleepiness as I bolted with him to dress.


    "Liam didn''t tell me fully, but it isn''t good." Fenris sighed, grabbing my hand as we met this new development.


    My mind wandered to Edna surfacing again or, worse, Alijah, but it had to do with neither of them. Once at the headquarters, we learned that a hybrid village near the howling forest had sightings of giant black-blue-eyed monsters roaming around.


    One even took a picture of the beast for us to identify. Undoubtedly, it was one of the shadow demons from the soul cairn. Unlike the ones I summoned, they were docile if no one got close, reminding me of how they were while roaming the soul cairn itself.


    Sadly, one villager, who inspected closely, was eaten by the shadow beast before it disappeared soon after his death. Immediately, Fenris sent scouts to investigate the event, especially since I had nothing to do with their appearance.


    That was when we found out part of what Edna had done that faithful day. She had torn part of the gate out of me and merged it into this world, temporarily allowing these demons to leave their realm. The periods initially only lasted a few minutes, but they grew longer.


    Our only saving grace was that the beasts that emerged were docile for a few minutes, but if they saw anything living near them, an attack was inevitable. It first started in the forest, where we stopped Alijah''s rage, but slowly, it spread worldwide.


    This made me remember that the whispers had died down ever since my pregnancy. They were still in the back of my mind but weaker, almost like soft murmurs. I had thought it was because I had the babies, but my connection to the soul cairn had grown weaker.


    However, I still didn''t know the full extent of what Edna did to me, and the remaining voices in my head scratched at my sanity at times when I was stressed. Luckily, I had people around me to help keep me on track.


    Witches and warlocks also gained an increase in power because of the random openings of the gates. With that boost, they could even challenge the Lycans and vampires. Even though that was good for us, it made Edna even more dangerous than she already was.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Even though she had said she wasn''t a friend or foe, she had already left scars in her wake. Her goal that day wasn''t to capture Alijah but to draw me out, which she achieved.


    Yet how did you know I would come to him?


    It would''ve been impossible unless Alijah told her, but that alone made no sense. That wolf would never trust a witch like her with any information about me. After all, he planned on finding me after killing them.


    There were many mysteries that I couldn''t uncover alone. Thankfully, I wasn''t since I had Fenris, our family, and my new kinship coven to help me. Together, we would figure a way out of the mess we found ourselves in.


    Or at least we hoped we could.


    With each passing day, we made advancements thanks to the magic I used to combat this recent issue. We created tracking devices to find these rogue beasts, which was accomplished by syncing tackers with the soul cairn''s energy pattern. This came to be thanks to the fantastic engineers from all races.


    Thanks to Shade, who we tested the device on, we found it worked perfectly at identifying them. However, it was short-range detection, making it useless when the demon needed to be right on us to notice it. We hoped to make the devices better with time.


    Before I knew it, I had a dedicated laboratory within Cerberus with a team of witches, warlocks, humans, blaze, and ocean elves. The occasional Lycans also helped us with all the heavy workflow.


    Our sole purpose was to dedicate everything to research to make the world safer for those we loved. Within months of creating the Soul Cairn Tear tracker, I also created a way to subdue the shadow beast with weapons made from their magic.


    I used my power to create an incantation rune, which extracted some of the demon''s energy and placed it in a gem. It differed entirely from the artifacts the elves could do, which meant it was weaker than a weapon containing a soul, but it allowed us to stun them for a certain amount of time.


    We had to stall for time in these fights rather than take them down. However, that process was slow since I had to rest one week between each batch of five. I no longer had the abilities my babies gifted me during my pregnancy, which made me vulnerable again to the influences of the soul cairn.


    Usually, I would push myself until the point where I got a nosebleed, something Fenris didn''t appreciate.


    I would do nothing if it were up to you, but I can''t stay still. It''s just not who I am.


    I was also the only one who could do this. We needed a way to fight these beasts that threatened to appear from anywhere without warning. Luckily, the beasts seemed to come one at a time, with long periods in between.


    This allowed us to gather everything we needed to equip some officers so every village of every nation had at least one weapon. Fenris also focused on building shelters where people could try to hide while the phenomenon was going on.


    However, it was always advised to let the demons be if they were docile. Shade was pleased with what we accomplished, even though it affected her, too.


    "It''s a fighting chance! We all know you mortals need one!" She snickered from her tower.


    Yet compared to the others of her kind we had seen, she was something else. Most of the weapons I created had little to no effect on her. At most, they would temporarily repel her away, which meant she was unique, even among her kin.


    Or perhaps you were a high-ranking god in your past life, but why did you choose me to be bound to?


    It terrified me to wonder what would happen if another one like her emerged.


    Will we be able to stop it? Doubtful.


    Luckily, the holes the gate formed weren''t big enough for anything too powerful to slip by.


    Sometimes, I wonder if you were the god who heard my pleas that day.


    Closing my eyes, I leaned back into the chair I always used in our laboratory. It was strange to have an office all to myself. Fenris had left after eating lunch with me while Shade rested in her decorated tower.


    All our team members had placed an ornament on it, leaving her to thank them for their offerings. She truly was something else, yet she would always be...


    "Hey, Shade," I called out to her, triggering her little eyes to scan towards me.


    "Yes, Lily?" She hummed, scratching her ear.


    "Thank you." I smiled, triggering her to smirk.


    "I''ll always be with you, Lily." She cooed, jumping from her tower and into my arms.


    Unfortunately, not all shadow beasts were this reasonable. If we were forced to engage against one of them, it was always a fight against time. After all, these demons were immortal in this realm.


    With the detection devices and weapons, most events ended with few casualties. Luckily, the events were sporadic, allowing us to adjust to this new normal. However, where we had our blessings, nothing of Shade''s caliber ever popped from these random events.


    The population of Silverant skyrocketed because of these random gates. The city needed me to protect them from these beasts, as I could easily send them away. However, the rest of the world had to fend for themselves with what I could give them.


    There was little I could do, but I tried my best to help them. Even if this was a new norm, we had to cope and move on towards a future where conflict would occur again. Yet this time, I would have to pass the torch to another for their destiny entwined with the fated black wolf set on destroying us.


    But before that...

 Chapter 137: A New Beginning

    A year later, after slowly adjusting to this new normal, Fenris and I wed. It was a small festivity with our two-year-old toddlers running around the entire place. Rem had to be in her dad''s arms most of the time, refusing to leave to the point that she would start crying if she wasn''t with him.


    Those little heterochromia eyes would shine brightly every time she pouted when Amelia came for her. She even held his leg, refusing to go, remaining there while we took our vows¡ªnot that we minded sharing the spotlight with Rem.


    We had a small gathering for our wedding in the Silver Fang Manor as only our truest friends were there. Melody and Liam had already married each other before we got the chance. Ben had traveled with Tania but returned for the moment Fenris and I would be bound for life.


    Sadly, the vampire beauty was always more concerned with her job than the relationship with the older brother, but that wasn''t something Ben minded. This wolf''s loyalties rested with his family, too.


    It was probably why their relationship worked the way it did. Though I could tell he wished she would come to him to settle down at times, he knew traveling was what she loved. Her career was first, which wouldn''t change.


    So, he would join her whenever he wasn''t busy with his brother. After all, Fenris didn''t need him as frequently, and neither did I. Something I didn''t quite agree with as he was the sole reason I was still alive.


    He was also the only father figure I knew. For the wedding, Amelia insisted on me wearing a beautiful white dress. I wasn''t comfortable about it, but I relented when she didn''t back down. However, Fenris seemed incredible in his white tux. Yet the moment he set eyes on me, the words flew out of his mouth.


    "Gods, you''re beautiful, Lily. I don''t think I can be crazier about my wife." He purred, trailing his eyes down my figure.


    Not once did this wolf ever say I lacked something to please him. Vera, who was more attached to me, stayed nearby with Amelia, staring at me with those beautiful purple eyes, which glossed every time I went too far from her.


    She was the shyest of the rowdy bunch, while Caden and Aiden were more interested in the surrounding people. However, Aiden wanted to be with little Sophie more than anyone else, even though she had just started to walk.


    After the wedding, I developed my magic even more, creating a new type of magic. I hoped to stop Alijah whenever he returned to this world with it as Fenris struggled to shut it down.


    However, I was still far from mastering it, and it was something only my offspring and I could possess. Back then, when I sent Owen to his death, I thought I had used necromancy, but Aria told me it was something else entirely.


    Necromancy was more about bringing the dead back to life, soulless, rather than dealing with life itself. Since what I did had no name, I called it Spirit Magic, which involved people''s spirits or souls, alive or dead.


    This magic was why I could travel into the soul cairn and call on them to aid me, earning me the title of summoner. However, that was something I tried to limit. Witches and warlocks always could deal with souls, but it was more for the dead than anything else.


    While I studied this new magic, I found myself lost in its capacity to expand into something else. By the time little Vera was ten, she appeared to have inherited that trait from me. Rem also appeared to be sensitive to this magic, although it was too unstable for her to use, thanks to her closer connection to the blood moon.


    At the same time, I discovered that souls comprise many components. This happened when I tried to find a way to save Alijah from himself by attempting to separate the part of me who he loved from me.


    However, it was missing, leaving only behind fragments of where it used to be. Souls were made from the memories that they experienced while alive, yet they persisted into the next life. So, I hoped to create his Lilith by extracting the memories from my past life and implanting them into a doll.


    The entire thing was far-reaching, as it would have involved creating a new body for her memories to live in.


    A homunculus¡­


    I didn''t know how that would''ve ended, but it didn''t matter since there was no way to recover those memories. That was when I realized what Edna planned to control Alijah with. It wasn''t the new variant of wolfsbane, iris, but the prospect of seeing the one he loved again.


    Edna had already outplayed me in this sense, leaving me with breadcrumbs that lead nowhere. This witch knew how to hide. After all, she had hidden for thousands of years before this. She had even survived a purge of her kind.


    In the end, there was nothing I could do to stop Alijah from wanting to destroy everything once he returned.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    My only choice is to end you. I''m sorry, it seems my wish won''t come true.


    This witch won at every turn, and I saw no other way but to kill the mad wolf. It was almost as if she could see into the future¡ªa trait that eternal witches didn''t have. By the time Vera awakened to her powers, I had trained her in everything I had learned.


    Her magic was more stable than mine, meaning she would have to be the one who subdued Alijah, and unlike every other witch, she possessed no grimoire. At the age of ten, she got the familiar hound, who was cockier than Shade.


    He popped out one day out of the blue and was like he had always been there. Perhaps something about us linked us to the beasts within the Soul Cairn. Shade''s and Ruzgard''s personalities usually lead to banter between them.


    It was hard to concentrate to get Vera focused on her studies because of it. Fenris took the helm in preparing the boys and Rem for anything in their path. Although this little luma was unstable in every sense of the word, she was far stronger than an average human, which meant her dad had to teach her how to control that strength.


    They had many outings to different places while I stayed behind, waiting for them to come home. Sadly, I couldn''t help but worry each time they left. I always voiced my concerns to Fenris, but he promised to keep them safe.


    Even so, I constantly nagged him to be careful with Rem, who was too stubborn for her good.


    "Daughter like mother." My wolf chuckled as I huffed back at him.


    The little luma didn''t want to stay behind in everything she did, even when told to stop. Usually, she tried to follow her robust brothers and was completely unaware of her limitations. She was the only one who couldn''t shift, leaving her senses dulled.


    This made her a runt, which was rare among lumas, especially when they came from purebred Lycans. Yet, in Fenris''s eyes, his little girl was perfect, and he was always careful with her.


    But... when fate dictates something, it usually happens without anyone to stop it.


    One day, when we were out fulfilling our duties at Cerberus, an accident happened when the kids were twelve. A maid was supposed to watch over the kids for the day, but she had left them alone for two minutes to answer the phone.


    When she returned, she only saw Vera reading one of her books in the living room. The other three were gone, which wasn''t unusual. The trio loved to cause trouble no matter who was around.


    However, tragedy struck when they found Caden, Aiden, and Rem. Our little girl, who never accepted her limitations, followed her brothers to the roof. With one misstep, she fell from the manor''s roof onto the ground below, creating a catastrophic event.


    Fenris was already there when I arrived, holding Rem, who had gone berserk. The boys were terrified inside, barely consolable, while their father struggled to keep her down. Darkness radiated from her tiny body as if she appeared to be a shadow beast herself in her wolf form.


    Like Melody had been years ago, the beast within her was out of control. Even though she showed no signs of shifting before the moment her life was in danger, it all changed. I had never seen such a rabid wolf who appeared possessed while she snapped at anyone who came near her.


    Even though Fenris was using his power to try and quell her, he struggled. She didn''t recognize him or me, and those heterochromia eyes shimmered with pure hostility throughout the event,


    Sadly, before we got there, she slaughtered five people who had come to her aid. Witnesses said she was lying on the floor in a pool of blood before she attacked. According to those who survived, she was unconscious with labor breathing before she suddenly went rabid.


    After struggling under Fenris for a few more minutes, she automatically shifted back into her humanoid form out cold. Fenris grabbed her in his arms protectively while searching for any injuries in her body.


    I ran to them while everything appeared to slow down when I saw her lifeless in his embrace as the dark aura slowly dissipated from her, leaving behind the color she once had. The entire event was written off as an accident, but Rem wasn''t the same after that day.


    The following day, we searched her for any traces of a curse. Much to our horror, we located one, but it wasn''t like any I had ever seen. The little Luma radiated with the energy found inside the soul cairn, leading us to believe an artifact had been used.


    However, what killed me the most was that I couldn''t help her like I had with Melody. This curse was something she would have to learn to live with. Luckily, it wasn''t the end for her. All I had to do was kill the witch who cast it.


    You who dare call yourself a friend or foe are nothing more than a monster. I''ll hunt you down and kill you even if it''s the last thing I do!


    Usually, curses lasted if the witch lived, so if Edna died, it would free my baby girl. Sadly, the years rolled by, and once again, all I had to show was empty words as Edna continued to elude me.


    Sadly, this turn of events meant Rem was stuck indoors for the years to come. We feared anything would happen to her, preventing us from sending her to the freedoms our other children had. It was unfair how she was the only one to suffer this fate, which made me want to keep them all together by the same rules.


    Yet this was something our baby girl refused to have her siblings share.


    "If it''s my fate to be like this, then so be it, but don''t let me limit Vera, Caiden, and Aiden. I don''t want that to ever be the case." Rem sighed, biting her lip.


    "If that is what you wish, my love." I cupped her cheek as her beautiful eyes watched me carefully before shaking her head.


    She was only thirteen, yet she deserved everything that Edna robbed. I swore to protect her from the world, but was utterly useless. I thought I would never come to hate anyone, but Edna filled my heart with what she did with Rem, and I wasn''t the only one. Fenris was also helpless in helping his little girl.


    After that event, he could not take her on any more trips. This led us to promise to protect her at all costs, even though it partly cost her happiness and freedom. Part of me wondered if we were being too overprotective, but the thought of losing her to the unknown drowned everything else.


    Sadly, it took another seven years before anything else happened, but that story wasn''t mine to tell.


    No, that belongs to someone I cherish more than life itself. The next part of this tale is told through their eyes, and what a story it is. Who would''ve thought they would try to save the person I thought was beyond rescuing?


    Even though I wished for it so long ago, I had given up hope for you. Twenty years ago, to be precise, I hoped you''d find your light.


    The book closed as the tale of the witch who lost it all, only to gain more than she could ever wish for, ended while a new one began.