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A battle of wills
Last Updated:
2025-01-25 01:09:30
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Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The void’s trap
Melissa’s POVIn the Void's realm, the air was oppressive, a mixture of ash and a bitter substance that stuck to my lungs. The ground beneath my feet wasn't firm; instead, it moved with every step I took, seemingly alive. All around me, shadows loomed, their forms bending and twisting as though they were observing me.I froze as I turned a corner in the never-ending darkness. Damon was standing there, hardly discernible in the gloom.His voice was tight with relief as he yelled out, "Melissa!" His boots crunched on the unfamiliar, shifting surface as he ran toward me."Damon!" I sprinted to meet him after gasping. When he finally got to me, he drew me into his arms and held me firmly.His voice trembled as he murmured, "You're okay." "I believed—I believed I had lost you."My chest ached with the weight of all that had transpired, so I held on to him. With my voice muffled against his shoulder, I murmured, "I'm here." "I'm all right. For the time being."Elissa!" I turned to see Liora
Last Updated : 2025-01-25Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate Crossing the Abyss
Melissa’s POVI was going downhill. As the emptiness drew me closer, the surroundings became a haze of shadows and blackness. As my heart raced in my chest, I made frantic attempts to hold on to anything in order to prevent myself from falling."Elissa!" Like a lifeline, Damon's voice broke through the confusion.He was leaning over the brink of the collapsing bridge with his hand out when I looked up. "Grasp my hand!"Like cold claws, the Void's grasp on my flesh was unrelenting. I grabbed for him, my fingertips grazing his, my arms hurting."I'm running out of patience!" With a quivering voice, I yelled."You can, indeed!" Damon snarled. His fingers closed around my wrist as he extended his reach deeper. "I've got you. You dare not let go.As soon as his fingers touched mine, the pressure drawing me down grew stronger. The Void itself seemed unwilling to let me leave."It's too strong, Damon!" I sobbed as I felt my hold loosen."I will not let you leave!" His voice was full of resol
Last Updated : 2025-01-25Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The anchor revealed
Melissa’s POVThe chamber was enormous, impossible to imagine in its vastness. Along the tall walls, shadows moved in strange and unexpected ways. The anchor of the Void hung in midair in the middle of the chamber. A bright crystal that pulsed with a rhythmic intensity, like though it were alive, was not what I had anticipated.I stepped forward gingerly while keeping my eyes on the crystal. "That's all," I muttered. "The anchor of the Void."Standing next to me, Damon narrowed his eyes and looked around the room. He mumbled, "And look at what's guarding it," pointing to the future.I froze, following his stare. Grotesque and twisted, shadow creatures prowled around the crystal. As like they already felt our presence, their bright crimson eyes were staring at us.Kael coldly remarked, "They're everywhere," as his palm clenched around his sword's hilt. "And it appears that they won't let us waltz in."Damon's voice was steady yet tight as he stated, "We'll have to fight them." "There i
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Melisa’s POVI opened my eyes to find myself outside the chamber. Rather, I was at a location that felt... unbelievable. The stars were so close that I felt like I could touch them in the swirling silver and blue sky. The earth was firm enough to walk on, but it shimmered like water beneath my feet."Where am I?My voice echoed in the vast expanse as I whispered.From behind me, a gentle, melodious voice replied, "Child, you are in a space between realms."I froze, spinning around. In front of me was a glowing person whose presence was both reassuring and overwhelming. With her moon-like eyes and flowing silver hair, she was breathtakingly gorgeous. She exuded strength and warmth."The Moon Goddess," I exhaled, nearly collapsing."Yes, Melissa," she uttered softly, her voice a calming tune. "You've gone through a lot to get here."I stepped forward unsteadily. "What brings me here? Am I? Dead?"The deity gave a little smile. You are near the edge, yet you are not dead. You have been ma
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Melissa’s POVI was encircled by the darkness, which closed in around me. The voice of the Void reverberated in my head, chilly and smooth."You cannot win, Melissa. Your friends will die, and your world will crumble, but I can save all of them. All you must do is say yes. Surrender to me, and I will grant them safety."It was as if the entire world was weighing on my shoulders, causing my chest to feel heavy. I paused for a second. Is it speaking the truth? Would everyone be saved by surrendering?"No," I said with greater force, "No! You’re lying. You don’t want to save anyone. You just want to control me, to take everything I am."The icy, ruthless laughter of the Void echoed. "You think you’re strong, little wolf? Your defiance will destroy you. Remember my words when they scream for you to save them, and you cannot."I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes. "I won’t let you win. Not now, not ever."I gasped and startled up as the dreamscape broke. Immediately, Damon was by my side, p
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Melissa’s POVAs we stood in the darkened room, the atmosphere was heavy with anxiety, the Void's presence weighing down on us like a heavy blanket. The marks it had seared into my skin were shining faintly as my hands shook and I clutched the celestial blade.An old map was etched into the stone floor, and Kael leaned over it. "This is it," he stated in a steady yet quiet voice. "The anchor is at the heart of the Void. If we destroy it, we destroy the Void for good."Liora paced. "But it won’t just let us walk in and do that," she said. Nervous energy flicked at her tail. "The shadow creatures will swarm us the moment we make a move."Damon was standing next to me, staring at the sword I was holding. "We’ll keep them off you, Melissa. Kael, Liora, and I will hold the line. Your only focus is the anchor."Despite the tightness in my chest from terror, I nodded. The words "I… I don’t know if I can do this," I said, hardly raising my voice above a whisper.With his hands firmly grasping
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Melissa’s POVAs the Void spoke, the room grew dimmer, the shadows writhing and curling. Its voice, a mixture of serenity and venom, crept into my head and whispered secrets I didn't want to hear."Melissa," the Void whispered in a remarkably quiet voice. "Are you acquainted with your parents? Should I reveal their reality to you?My fingers were white as I held the celestial blade tightly. I yelled, "You're telling lies." "They wouldn’t have anything to do with you."The sound of the Void's laughter reverberated through the atmosphere like a menacing tune. "Oh, my beloved wolf, you are no longer protected by denial. Allow me to educate you.The surrounding air glistened before I could move, creating pictures so realistic they seemed real. I saw my parents standing in front of a darkened altar, their familiar faces furrowed with concern. My mother's voice was shaking as she gripped my father's hand.My mother pleaded, "Please," her voice cracking. "Preserve our pack. Preserve our peop
Last Updated : 2025-01-25Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate Breaking the chains
Melissa’s POVI could hear the Void laughing louder than before. I could hear my parents' gentle, begging voices all around me. These sensations were brutally genuine.Once more, my mother's warm and comforting voice said, "Melissa, sweetie." "You've shown such strength. Simply let go. I swear, we'll be together.I closed my eyes tightly, my fingers whitened from holding on to the celestial blade. Every statement made my heart hurt, but something wasn't quite right.I shook my head and whispered, "You're not real." "You're not real."My father's forceful but gentle voice retorted, "But we are." "Have you not missed us?" We have always kept an eye on you.I stumbled, my chest constricted. "Why didn't you stop this if you were watching? Why didn't you spare me this suffering?"The closer the Void leaned, the brighter its crimson eyes shone. "Because, little wolf, they couldn't." Now they are a part of me. Do you not see? You could stop this suffering by joining them.With the sound of a
Last Updated : 2025-01-25
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Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The last conflict
Melissa’s POVThe earth underneath me trembled. Once full of stars, the sky had become a whirling mass of red and black. I had never seen anything like the full form of the Void, which loomed over us. It was a shapeless shadow that seemed to extend across the sky, a hideous, writhing monster with sharp teeth and flashing crimson eyes.Damon gripped my hand more tightly. "This thing is destruction, Melissa."I took a deep breath. Then we put an end to it. Together.Waves of darkness broke against the shield of our combined force as the Void shouted. With the help of our light, Damon and I managed to push back.Behind us, in formation, the pack channeled the force of the rite by raising their hands. The air was filled with golden symbols that glowed brighter as they infused us with their vitality.Even though he was tired, Eldric's voice was loud and clear. "Hey, Melissa! Make use of the power! Attack its very center!I concentrated as the energy rushed through me. In my palms, a golden
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate complementary souls
Melissa’s POVFrom within Damon and me, a golden, bright light burst forth. It pushed the darkness aside as it rushed outward. The Void flinched for the first time.I gasped as I sensed our strength entwined, our spirits united. My brightness became Damon's, and his power became mine. We were invincible together.The Void screamed, its dark shape contorting. "Not possible! You can't disobey me!Damon grinned. "It appears that we just did."As the darkness faded, the pack behind us cheered, their spirits rising. Hope flashed for a minute.The Void, however, altered its strategy.Rather than attacking us, it turned to our fighters. The gang stumbled abruptly as a dark pulse sped across the air. Their eyes grew wide with agony.I let out a gasp. "What's going on?"Eldric clutched his skull and yelled. "Our link is being attacked by the Void! It is cutting off our relationship with one another!Damon's face grew serious. "No. It is attempting to separate us from the group.I felt the conn
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The greatest offerings
Melissa’s POVThere was anarchy on the battlefield. Everything in their path was devoured by the shadows that slithered across the earth. The sky was now a whirling pit of blackness.Grasping the shimmering relic tightly, I could feel its warmth pulsing in time with my beating. I understood what needed to be done; the truth had become ingrained in my chest.The Void inside my light needed to be sealed.I glanced at Damon, my fingers shaking. I uttered, hardly raising my voice above a whisper, "I know how to stop it."Damon scowled. "What are you talking about, Melissa?"I inhaled deeply. "I must cage the Void inside of me to put an end to this. I can control it if I unite with my light. However, I will not be able to return.His gaze grew gloomy. "No. Not at all.I took a step toward him and touched his chest. "I can do this, Damon. I must complete this task.With a solid yet desperate grip, he took hold of my shoulders. "You're not giving up anything. I will not allow you to.My eyes
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate Chaos unleashed
Melissa’s POVThe ground underneath us trembled with a thunderous roar. As the sky grew completely dark, I staggered, barely maintaining my equilibrium. Our planet was completely infiltrated by the Void.As they slithered across the terrain, shadowy tendrils ate everything in their path. Before the onslaught started, the trees withered, the air became dense with a suffocating gloom, and an unsettling hush descended upon the pack's area.First came the creatures. Monstrous, twisted forms sprang from the darkness, staring at us with luminous red eyes."Keep the pack safe!" Damon's voice echoed, firm and powerful.The beasts persisted despite the efforts of our troops. Growls, cries of agony, and claws slamming into teeth reverberated throughout the night. I made a feeble attempt to call forth my light.Panic rising, I muttered, "No... not now."I lifted my fists and pushed energy out. One of the things recoiled when a little flash of light touched it, but the exertion left me exhausted.
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate A rift to escape
Melissa’s POVEldric stood in the middle of the circle, his voice rising in an old chant, and the air crackled with energy. With their hands clasped together and their eyes closed in intense concentration, the pack encircled him. A glistening gap that glowed dimly like a tear, in reality, itself started to form in front of them.My breathing was labored, and I gripped my chest. Weaker than ever, my Celestial Flame dimmed. I was exhausted from the battle.Damon stood next to me, his teeth clenched. "We need to move now, Melissa."A dreadful scream reverberated throughout the domain of the Void. The twisted forms of the shadows writhed in rage as they slithered closer.The voice of the Void bellowed. "You believe you can get away from me?"A wave of darkness smashed upon us, and I flinched. With his claws cutting through the closest shadow creatures, Damon jumped in front of me. "I'm sick of these things!" he snarled.Eldric's gaze flickered. "Avoid them! The rift is still unstable.My
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The final trail
Melissa’s POVThe heavy, oppressive darkness whirled about me. The golden glow of the Celestial Flame flickered like a candle in the wind as I held it tightly in my hands.The Void was different. It had developed shape and was no longer only a collection of shadows. A massive, purely dark figure with empty eyes blazing with insatiable desire loomed before me."Madela, you are nothing." The voice of the Void thundered like a tempest. "Every light bearer before you has been eaten by me. You'll tumble just like everyone else.I forced my fear down with a firm gulp. "How many you've taken doesn't matter to me. I am the one who ends it.The Void chuckled. "What a dumb girl. What has existed for all eternity cannot be stopped.The shadows surrounding us contorted into shrieking faces as it lifted its enormous arms—souls imprisoned in its never-ending hunger. My heart tightened. If I failed, would I end up like this?No.I lifted the Celestial Flame while clenching my teeth. The murky cloud
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate Damon’s sacrifice
Melissa’s POVI had the impression that the ground was neither solid nor airy. Above, the sky shifted between angry crimson and deep darkness, twisting in strange ways. Here, time seemed to be fractured, with seconds seeming to drag into hours.All around me, a chilly voice said."Hey Melissa, welcome home."I balled my fists up. "My home is not here."I experienced glimpses of a future in which I stood alone on a throne of darkness while the shadows grew darker and created shifting images. Everything around me was destroyed by fire.Additionally, II was the Void now.Staring back at me was a picture of my face, twisted in the gloom."Fate is beyond your control," the Void said.I gave a headshake. "This isn't real."The vision shifted. Damon was kneeling in front of me, broken. His previously vibrant eyes were now lifeless.The Void went on, "You will ruin everyone you care about." "It is unavoidable.""No!" With my light flashing, I yelled. "I decide my destiny!"I felt the darknes
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The artifacts revelation
Melissa’s POVIn my palms, the relic pulsed, its illumination alternating between eerie darkness and golden light. From within came a whisper, a voice old and powerful."Child of light, you're looking for solutions. I am the truth.I took a deep breath. "Tell me."The world around me abruptly changed when the air changed. I found myself in a wide area of whirling shadows and dim light instead of the battlefield. The relic glowed like a fallen star, floating before me.Once more, the voice spoke. "I am more than just a tool of authority. I am a piece of the Void's very center that was left over from the first fight, which took place ages ago.I gasped. "A… a piece of the Void?""Yes. I was made as a test, a means of determining whether mankind was deserving of existence outside the realm of the Void.I gave a headshake. "That isn't rational. Why would something that may be utilized against the Void be left behind?"Because the cycle needs to finish. You must put me back in the core of
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The flames of heaven
Melissa’s POVI could still hear Damon's cry. I glanced at the place where the shadows had pulled him into the abyss, my hands shaking. Something inside of me stirred, even though my heart hurt and the pain was intolerable.A fire, no, a warmth, flared in my chest. My light wasn't the only one. Something deeper, something more powerful.Then from the item beside me came a hushed voice."The Celestial Flame is being reawakened by you."I let out a gasp. “The Celestial Flame?"The voice hummed quietly. “A power your ancestors never reached. A light that may burn away even the deepest darkness.”Like flickering flames, a golden radiance rose from my fingertips. It was fire, not just light. My veins throbbed with heat, more intense than I had ever experienced.I balled my fists up. "I will use this if it can help me defeat the Void."The voice faltered. "The Flame is not so easy to wield. You have to go through a soul trial to manage it.I scowled. "A trial?""You have to face your demons
