Chapter 11.Ana's phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting her awake. She groggily reached for it, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Damien's name flashed on the screen, sending a shiver down her spine. They'd only met once, but the memory of his piercing gaze and chiseled features lingered in her mind like a ghost."Need you close," his text read. "I have to shift."Ana frowned, confusion etched on her face. Why did he need her? And what did he mean by "shift"? She tried to push the thoughts aside, but her curiosity got the better of her. She tossed off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed."No, no, no," she muttered to herself. "I don't want anything to do with him."But her body seemed to have other plans. Her heart raced at the mere thought of seeing him again. She cursed her attraction to him, trying to shake it off like a bad habit.Before she knew it, she was driving to the address he'd sent her, her mind a jumble of emotions. What was she getting herself into?
Chapter 12.Ana watched as Damien's eyes flashed with anger, his irritation palpable. He wrapped the blanket tightly around her and smiled, his voice firm. "Can we manage to get her some clothes instead of standing around gawking? Acting like you all have never seen a Lycan before."The crowd scattered, searching for clothing for Ana to wear. She glanced around the room, noticing the eyes fixed on Damien and herself. Her gaze fell on Jamie, still healing from the gash on her arm. Ana smirked, feeling victorious.Just then, Jason entered the room with his friends, his eyes widening in shock. "What happened to my mate?" he exclaimed, rushing to Jamie's side.Damien stepped closer, his voice low and menacing. "She attacked Anastasia, thinking she was weak. Thinking she couldn't protect herself from her grasping her hair, yanking it, pushing her around, and smacking her. Thinking that she could do what she pleases to someone weaker than her fake, made-up position and your web of lies."Da
Chapter 13."Come in?" I looked at the door as I put on my white sandals.Claire walked in and she looked around the room. "Well this is super nice.""Hey! Yeah but it's not welcoming or homey feeling." I walked over to her and hugged her."That is true but it has a elegant touch to it." She smiled and returned the hug."Yeah, I suppose you are right. Ready to go?" I walked over and gathered my things."Yeah there is a limo outside for us with a light breakfast inside." She wiggled her brows."Oh nice! I wonder why we are taking a limo?" I questioned."Really, you're mated to a Lycan Prince, when you all mark each other you will be announced as a princess in front of all the high ranking Lycans and the High ranking Alphas and Betas of the strongest packs in their territory." She rolled her eyes."Oh yeah. It's just kind of hard to wrap my mind around. I went from a no body to being mated to a Lycan and being a Lycan myself!" I laughed.We ended up eating bagels with cinnamon cream che
Ana stood before Damien, her heart racing with anticipation. She had made her decision, and she knew it wouldn't be easy."Damien, I've been thinking," Ana said, her voice firm. "I'm going to continue my training with Victor."Damien's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "Ana, I thought we discussed this. Victor can't be trusted."Ana took a deep breath. "I know you don't trust him, but I need his help. And I'm willing to take that risk."Damien's expression turned cold. "Fine. But know this, Ana: if you're hurt because of him, I'll never forgive you."Ana's heart ached at Damien's words, but she knew she had to follow her path. "I understand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.Damien turned and walked away, leaving Ana feeling torn and uncertain. Had she made the right decision?Damien stormed out of the room, his anger boiling over. He couldn't believe Ana was willing to risk her safety for Victor's training. Didn't she see the danger in trusting him?As he walked, his though
Victor sneered at Ana, his eyes flashing with contempt. "You think you can defeat me, little witch?" he spat. "I have the power of the ancient ones on my side!"Ana's eyes blazed with determination. "I'll never let you win," she snarled, her powers surging to the surface.The two enemies clashed in a blast of magic, their powers locked in a struggle that shook the very foundations of the room. Damien fought to keep the pack at bay, his strength and agility honed to perfection.Elizabeth struggled to her feet, her eyes fixed on Victor. "I won't let you hurt them," she whispered, her powers building to a crescendo.As the battle raged on, Ana began to feel a strange sensation building inside her. It was as if her powers were growing stronger, more intense. She could feel the magic coursing through her veins like liquid fire.Suddenly, she knew what she had to do. With a fierce cry, she unleashed her powers in a blast of magic that shook the very foundations of the earth. Victor stumbled
I felt like I'd been living in a dream, and suddenly, I was slapped awake. Damien's words cut deep, and I couldn't breathe. I thought of all the times we'd shared, the laughter, the adventures, the birth of our son... it all seemed like a lie.I looked at Alexander, sleeping peacefully in his crib, and my heart ached. How could Damien do this to us? To our child?I tried to speak, but my voice was shaking. "How can you say that?" I managed to whisper. "We have a son together."Damien's expression was cold, unyielding. "That was a mistake. I didn't want to be tied down. And now, I'm free."Free? He was free? I was the one who'd given him everything, who'd loved him with all my heart.I felt a surge of anger, of hurt. "You'll never see Alexander again," I spat, trying to keep my tears back.Damien shrugged. "I don't want to."I knew then that I had to leave. I couldn't stay in this palace, with this man who'd broken my heart. I packed my bags, took Alexander, and walked out into the unk
As I stood there, frozen in shock, my sister began to circle around me, her eyes never leaving mine. "We were meant to be together, Ana," she said, her voice low and husky. "We were meant to rule together."I shook my head, trying to clear the cobwebs. "What are you talking about?" I demanded. "We're twins, but that doesn't mean we're automatically allies."My sister laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "Oh, but it does," she said. "You see, Ana, we're not just twins. We're two halves of the same whole. And together, we can achieve greatness."I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized what she was getting at. "You want to merge our powers," I said, horror creeping into my voice.My sister nodded, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Yes, Ana. Together, we can be unstoppable. We can rule the world."I knew then that I had to stop her. I couldn't let her get her hands on my powers, no matter what. I raised my hands, summoning a blast of magic to knock her off her feet.But my sister w
As we ventured deeper into the heart of the imbalance, the air grew thick with an eerie, pulsating energy. I could feel the weight of the prophecy bearing down upon me, the fate of our realm hanging precariously in the balance.Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. Damien, the mysterious and powerful sorcerer who had once rejected me, now stood before me with a look of determination."I know I was wrong to push you away," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "I realize now that I was blind to the true extent of your power and potential. I want to make it right, to help you fulfill the prophecy and restore balance to the realm."I narrowed my eyes, wary of his sudden change of heart. "Why should I trust you, Damien? You rejected me when I needed you most."Damien took a step closer, his eyes burning with intensity. "Because I love you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was afraid of your power, afraid of losing control. But I see now that I was wrong to fear i
."Phillip, please," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "This is about so much more than us. The fate of the Blackwood, of our entire world, is at stake."Phillip's gaze remained fixed on Damien, his expression twisted with a mixture of desperation and obsession. "I don't care about the Blackwood," he spat. "I only want what's mine – you and our son."Damien's muscles coiled with the promise of violence, his magic crackling in the air around them. "She is not yours, Phillip," he growled. "She is mine, and I will not let you take her or our son from me."Ana felt a surge of anguish coursing through her. She had once loved Phillip, but his obsession had consumed him, blinding him to the greater threat that loomed before them. She knew that she had to find a way to reach him, to make him understand the gravity of the situation."Phillip," she said, her voice firm and unwavering. "If you truly care about me and our son, then you will help us. The Dragonkin and Damian have breached the hear
I sat back at the table, sipping my water as the others returned and settled in. I could feel the tension in the air, the uncertainty and unease that clung to us all like a heavy shroud. As Ana and her mate Damien took their seats, I cleared my throat, gathering their attention. "Are you all ready to continue?""Yes, I believe we are," Ana replied, her voice calm but resolute.I took a deep breath, steeling myself to relay the rest of this tragic tale. "Alright, then. Let's go back to your mother and father..."I recounted the history, how Sophia's jealousy and thirst for power had driven her to manipulate the truth, trying in vain to tear apart your parents' mated bond. "Everyone knows you can't alter an accepted bonded pair, especially Lycans. But Sophia believed she could twist their reality, and she failed."I paused, hanging my head in shame. "This caused your mother to no longer feel safe returning home. The tension and mistrust rose, and your family was torn apart."Ana's brow
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. A gasp left my mouth, muffled by my hand covering it. I was now, more than ever, thankful for two things - Dexter's death, and the alternate reality I had been sent to. Without it, we would never have discovered this.I took a step towards the large underground chamber, but Everest stopped me."Avalynn, this may be a trap. Don't go in," he urged, his eyes filled with concern."But if I was led here, there must be a reason," I argued, my gaze unwavering."I'm with Avalynn on this," Brent chimed in. "She was sent here for a purpose."Everest sighed and reluctantly allowed me to proceed, following closely behind.As I descended the steps, a soft, barely audible voice came from the darkness. "I told you she would come for us. It was just a matter of time."My eyes adjusted, and the sight before me was deeply disturbing. Dozens of people were chained to the walls, their wrists bound together. The clanking of the chains and the grunts of those imprisone
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. A gasp left my mouth, muffled by my hand covering it. I was now, more than ever, thankful for two things - Dexter's death, and the alternate reality I had been sent to. Without it, we would never have discovered this.I took a step towards the large underground chamber, but Everest stopped me."Avalynn, this may be a trap. Don't go in," he urged, his eyes filled with concern."But if I was led here, there must be a reason," I argued, my gaze unwavering."I'm with Avalynn on this," Brent chimed in. "She was sent here for a purpose."Everest sighed and reluctantly allowed me to proceed, following closely behind.As I descended the steps, a soft, barely audible voice came from the darkness. "I told you she would come for us. It was just a matter of time."My eyes adjusted, and the sight before me was deeply disturbing. Dozens of people were chained to the walls, their wrists bound together. The clanking of the chains and the grunts of those imprisone
We were running hard and fast, closing in on Dexter. I could smell his fear as we gained ground, the scent fueling Ana and Charlotte's power. They were thriving on it, pushing themselves to the limit."Babe, slow down!" Damien called out through the link, but Ana ignored him, driven by the intensity of the chase.As they crested the mountain, Ana caught a glimpse of Dexter, the sound of tires squealing in the distance as he tried to make his escape. With a mighty leap, Ana launched herself from the peak, Charlotte's growl echoing through the valley.Dexter turned, his eyes widening as Ana came barreling towards him. They collided, tumbling down the mountainside in a flurry of claws and teeth. Ana fought to maintain the upper hand, determined not to let Dexter slip away again.They crashed into a large boulder, Dexter's head slamming against the rock with a sickening crack. He howled in pain, but Ana refused to relent, her jaws clamping down on his arm as he tried to shove her off.Sud
The treeline concealed Ana and Charlotte as they stood among the other Lycans. The light breeze tickled their fur as Charlotte inhaled deeply, catching a familiar scent - Dexter.Ana's head turned towards the direction of the wind, a low growl rumbling through her. "It's Dexter's scent. Faint, but I'm sure of it," she linked to Damien."How sure are you?" Damien questioned."Willing to bet everything I have on it," Ana replied, Charlotte turning so they could look at Damien as he approached.They crouched, looking out over the small human town below. It was quaint, with a newly repainted courthouse and bustling businesses lining the streets. Ana could hear the faint voices of the townsfolk, knowing they had to be careful not to draw attention.Miranda came around, passing out herbal necklaces to conceal their scent. She helped secure one around Charlotte's neck before moving to Damien. The four of them overlooked the town as the sun set, discussing their plan to move in under the cove
The air crackled with tension as Phillip and Damien faced off, their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills. Ana clutched her son tightly, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the confrontation unfold."Phillip, please," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "This is about so much more than us. The fate of the Blackwood, of our entire world, is at stake."Phillip's gaze remained fixed on Damien, his expression twisted with a mixture of desperation and obsession. "I don't care about the Blackwood," he spat. "I only want what's mine – you and our son."Damien's muscles coiled with the promise of violence, his magic crackling in the air around them. "She is not yours, Phillip," he growled. "She is mine, and I will not let you take her or our son from me."Ana felt a surge of anguish coursing through her. She had once loved Phillip, but his obsession had consumed him, blinding him to the greater threat that loomed before them. She knew that she had to find a way to reach him, to ma
Jewel's lips curled into a cruel smile, and Ana saw a glimmer of madness in her eyes. "Oh, but it does, dear brother," she purred, her gaze shifting to Ana and her son. "The Blackwood, the power that flows through your son... it all belongs to me."Ana felt a chill run down her spine, her arms tightening protectively around her child. "Jewel, you don't understand," she pleaded, her voice laced with a desperate urgency. "The Blackwood is in danger, and your obsession with power is only making things worse."Jewel's expression darkened, and Ana watched as she drew her sword, the blade glinting menacingly in the shadows. "I don't care about the Blackwood," she hissed, her gaze fixed on Ana. "I only care about what's rightfully mine."As the confrontation escalated, Ana felt the weight of the Blackwood's power pulsing through her, a wild and untamed force that seemed to respond to the very depth of her desperation. She knew that she had to find a way to protect her son, to keep him safe f
The weight of Elea's words hung heavy in the air, and Ana felt a surge of dread wash over her. Damian, the alpha she had trusted, had betrayed them all, allying himself with the Dragonkin in a bid for ultimate power.Beside her, Damien tensed, his expression a mask of rage and betrayal. "How could he do this?" he growled, his magic crackling in the air around them.Elea's gaze was somber as she met Damien's fierce glare. "Damian has been consumed by his ambition, blinded by the promise of unfathomable power. He believes that by harnessing the Blackwood's energy, he can reshape the world to his liking."Ana's heart hammered in her chest, her arms instinctively tightening around her son. "Then we have to stop him," she said, her voice laced with a quiet desperation. "We have to protect the Blackwood, and our son."Elea nodded solemnly. "That is why you must hurry, Guardians. Damian's forces have already breached the inner sanctum. If they reach the heart of the Blackwood, all will be lo