A/N: Ignore the chapter numbers as I've made a mistake, my editor will have to fix this. ~ ENRIQUE ~ By the time the meeting is about to commence, I’m a lot calmer. I found the dagger Jose had taken on the bed and placed it back in my drawer after cleaning it. Idiot, I don’t like people touching what belongs to me. There were dark bloodstains on the bed. Did the bruises caused by those Crawlers actually get worse? And if so… did he ask ‘her’ how to deal with them? I hope not. I had managed to remove all thoughts of a certain naked doll who is far too fucking sexier than should be allowed, but now she’s back on my mind. The men are here already, seated in a row with a low table in front of them. The members of the pack who will be sitting in to hear the case are all here. Sitting in the chairs that had been set up in the pack hall for this meeting. A lot more people than I was expecting are here. Rumours had spread since Francisco’s death, and everyone knew I had a foreigner in
~ KATALEYA ~ He remembers me! I feel elated at the thought, my heart racing a thousand miles per second, and I suddenly feel even happier than I did earlier. Was that even possible? It seems so! Taking a deep breath, I begin from when I left the club feeling dizzy and strange. “I’m going to stop you there. I clearly remember you declining a drink… Did you change your mind after?” My heart skips a beat under his gaze, and I try my best not to blush as I look down. He always sounds so sexy when he speaks. If I accepted that drink, would things be better? Well, it’s too late now to muse over it. At least I got to spend the night with him. Not that anything happened. I mean, I didn’t want it to happen! I just… I shake my head, clearing my thoughts. I was sleeping so peacefully that it had been Jose who had woken me up and told me I had to return; he didn’t look surprised at all that I had escaped, but I had been a little embarrassed that he had caught us sleeping together, and I had
~ ENRIQUE ~ “I don’t like the fact we have a royal in the cells.” Carlos sighs as he sips his mojito. “Neither do I. The United Kingdom might be small, but they’re powerful. I don’t think we want to piss off the Lycan King.” Jose adds quietly, his voice blending with the thudding of the music in the club. We’re down at Jewels because today had just been too fucking much, and I needed a break. But even while I’m here all I can think of is her. Even Jose isn’t having any fun, which is not normal for him, but Carlos doesn’t make fun of either of us either. Seems no one is themselves today. Even my fucking wolf is irritating the fuck out of me with his restlessness. We sit here staring, unseeing, at the distractions down below that seem to be rather dull tonight. “She’s no royal in my eyes,” I reply arrogantly, thinking of the woman who reminds me of a princesa right out of a storybook with that hair and those curves. “Yet you call her Princesa.” Jose mocks. I exhale slowly, “Cabró
~ ENRIQUE ~ It’s complete silence down here… Turning the corner, I head right to the back until she comes into view. Once again, I didn’t pick up her heartbeat. For a second, I stop, freezing as a wave of nostalgia washes over me. The way she’s sitting brings back memories. Her knees are up, her arms wrapped around them and her head resting on her knees. “Get up,” I command, my stomach twisting, but before I let my mind wander, I shut down the thoughts that threaten to creep into my mind. She stands up gracefully, her eyes sparkling, and she smiles at me coyly. Why the fuck does she look like she’s fine? “Can I help you with something, Alpha?” She asks innocently, but fuck, there’s something about it that makes my dick twitch and I frown. “Stop acting like I’m fucking visiting you at your home, although this is your home right now.” I smirk coldly, “But there is actually something you can help me with. But we both know you don’t really care to listen or obey, right?” I cock a b
~ ENRIQUE ~ The phone goes off several times, and soon I’ve lost count of how many times someone’s entered the fridge. It’s actually shocking how many times the pack members eat. Maybe I should up their training, they eat like fucking animals. No wonder money is spent like water, they’re fucking gluttons. I’m drifting off again when my phone chimes. I’m already sick of the damn tune. I sit up, seeing the green glow light up around the edge of the screen. I almost ignore it, feeling far too comfortable in my seat, but glancing at the clock, it is past three in the morning now… It must be the thief. I sit up, unlocking my phone and check the camera. “I got you,” I growl, seeing a hooded figure prowling my shelves. I can tell from that ass it’s a woman and what irks me is she’s picked up another one of my custards. Fuck. I stand up, and quickly and silently exit my office, heading down to the kitchen quietly. My eyes glimmer as the unsuspecting thief continues to eat MY food. I
~ KATALEYA ~ His eyes snap up to mine, and I’m scared he’ll get angry again, so I quickly continue. “I’ve been working on something for some years, and I wanted to give it to you. But things didn’t go as I thought… I knew it was going to be hard, but I never realised how difficult… I came here and things happened. You hate me… hate us…” It pains me to admit those words out loud, but there is nothing I can do but explain this in the best way I possibly can without upsetting him. “And what exactly did you need to give me? Because I can assure you, I don’t want anything from you,” he counters icily. “I know… and that’s why I was hoping to stay here until you were more accepting of me… to give me a chance to prove that we didn’t mean to make things worse for you. We had no choice but to end the Djinn-” “There are always options!” he growls, stepping closer. “No… there wasn’t, because my aunty was going to kill the Djinn and give up her life in the process.” I whisper. “There was no o
~ ENRIQUE ~“Then kill me… If it will ease the pain in your heart, I will die willingly.”My eyes flash as she promises those words so carelessly as if her life is something so small and invaluable that she’s willing to throw it away or speak those words so carelessly when we all fucking know life is precious.That simply angers me more. They act like they’re willing to die for others, but the fucking truth is they haven’t experienced death the way I have.They use it in heroic remarks that carry no fucking weight.Suddenly, an intense ripple of some sort of magnetic shift fills the air, and everything dulls. Before I can even speak, she suddenly tenses up, her head snapping towards the ceiling as she stares unseeingly past me, her brilliant pink eyes full of…Terror.There’s no other way to explain it.What’s happening to her?I’m about to call her when her body gives way, and she’s about to fall to the ground, but instead, I push her backwards, so she lands on the bed behind her.The
~ ENRIQUE ~ “She could heal you, and if saving your life costs me mine, I’m willing to die,” Jose says. “Señorita Kataleya Rossi has no ill intent… and if I told you her reason for being here, you would not like it.” I laugh mockingly. “Oh, I don’t like her being here regardless of her fucking reasons and I already learned what they are.” I snarl, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him up against the wall behind us. He grunts as his head smashes into the wall behind us. “Did you think I would accept that piece of prosthetic trash that she thinks can work wonders?! Did you feel sorry for me and think I needed it? I’m the strongest in these waters, and you know that!” Confusion flicks across his face. “Prosthetic?” I cock a brow. “What else?” Why is he fucking confused? Did I just fuck things up and make them worse by mentioning that detail? “I just knew that her coming meant goodwill for us. Nothing more. I know you don’t like her or the Lycan King, but she is light, the mo
~ KATALEYA ~It’s too intense, the power around me is excruciating, tearing into my skin, the pain making my eyes sear and it’s too much… I’m falling deeper into the depths of wherever this is.The Goddess’s scream of rage claws inside of my head and it’s as if it’s about to burst. The crawlers’ screams keep intensifying until my ears are ringing and then everything mutes out.I can’t breathe, and my body soon becomes numb. The pain is too intense to focus on anymore. I’m falling quickly, spiralling and falling, and the pain suddenly disappears and all I can feel is an empty dark blanket all around me.I think I’m floating in nothingness. I can’t see anything… I’m not sure if my eyes are open or shut.Where am I?Where is this place?My body isn’t hurting anymore, but I also can’t move at all. Is this the afterlife?Is there really no heaven? Is it just… emptiness?‘Heaven? You will never enter heaven, not after what you did.’The Goddess, she’s still here, but I can’t feel the power
~ KATALEYA ~I wake with a gasp, my lungs clawing for air, it feels like I’m drowning. I suck in a breath, clutching my throat. My heart is thudding but it’s as if the sound of it is coming from all around me, reverberating through the chilling darkness. It’s too silent.This place… it’s similar to Azarakh’s crypt, but not quite.It holds the same evil. Feeling something move, I look down and realise something cold and slimy is clinging to my legs, black tendrils - slithering as though alive.I gasp as I scramble to my feet or try to. The stench of rotting meat and damp earth so thick it feels like it’s inside of my mouth. Shuddering, I try to get up quickly, flinching as pain rushes up my waist and I touch it; there’s no wound, but the pain remains.How did I even get here?I frown slightly, trying to remember what happened.That woman! Her face was so warm and innocent. Was she a part of this? I touch my head. It hurts too.Dragging myself to my feet from the tar-like slime that cove
~ SKYLA ~Rayhan…I won’t forget this moment, and it won’t be one of those good, happy memories. This one is devastating. The heartbroken Delsanra who has always rushed to help others despite the risk to her own life. Ray…. Ri…Despite everything, they always were there for us, but in their time of need, where the fuck were we?Fuck! Why them?Raihana now wraps her arms around Delsanra as both women kneel on the ground, their grief so strong, their pain so sharp it could carve away flesh from bone.There has to be something we can do!Enrique is examining the symbols, his power swirling around him subtly.I look up at Royce, “Let’s try to open the portal, maybe he’s ok. Royce, Dante, you both saw the symbols-”“It’s too late for that. Kiara said Ahren felt the shift in power. He is now the Alpha of the Black Storm Pack,” Dad says brokenly.“How can he be Alpha?! He doesn’t even have his wolf!” I shout. This can’t be happening!“Love…” Royce wraps his arms around me tightly.“We have to
~ DELSANRA ~“Rayhan…”Something isn’t right, I know it.I know I shouldn’t leave my spot, but the worst is sorted. I warn a few of the warriors I’m moving, and I rush to the crack where Rayhan and the others disappeared. I jump in, creating a barrier around me to protect myself from the crawlers that are still trickling out from the ground.They’re coming in smaller doses now, but they are still resilient.“Does anyone know if they managed to find the opening?” I ask worriedly.“No, not yet. We lost contact ” Liam replies, worry clear in his voice.He’s currently manning the break in the packhouse wall, making sure no crawlers get inside to the people.“We need to get down there!” I hear Sky shout from somewhere above.“What happened?” I ask.“I don’t know. Royce called for help!”My heart thuds as I keep going, moving as fast as possible.I can sense both her and Raihana not far behind me, the urgency and fear within me growing. I suddenly stop as a powerful pulsating that comes from
~ ROYCE ~We kept going down, and the deeper we go, the more I feel a power that is fucking immense and there’s only one other aura I’ve felt with this much power and that was Apophis’.“Do you guys feel it?” I ask, my voice low, but even then, it feels too loud in this darkness. Occasionally, a crawler or two will hiss and claw at us as they come from somewhere beneath us. A confirmation that we are headed in the right direction.“The aura?” Dante mutters. “Yeah, and I have no idea who it belongs to.”His unease is obvious, and I remain on alert. My royal mark is glowing, and I am not the one who is summoning it forth. Almost as if it too is warning me of the dangers ahead.“Don’t worry I won’t let anything happen to you both.” Rayhan jokes, although we’re both stronger than him.“Don’t fuck around,” Dante’s harsh reply comes.Rayhan turns to him, a flicker of concern on his face. “Dante, do you want to turn back?” he asks.“All three of us?” Dante replies.“I speak for myself. You tw
~ ENRIQUE ~Magic fills the air, strong and powerful and I know it’s Raihana’s. I can feel Delsanra’s reinforcing the barriers, her magic feels different, and there are parts that are not like ours – not from Hecate.Raihana is working on blocking out the moonlight, in a huge attempt to completely stop the crawlers from coming out of whatever shithole they are coming from. Jose quickly filled me in, and I sent more power to both witches, giving them the strength to continue.They are two witches alone and they are doing a lot. Royce, Rayhan and Dante have gone down to find the exact location. ‘Send some warriors to handle the crawlers so they are not burdened.’ I command Jose.It doesn’t even make sense that so many crawlers are able to get in. It’s not a fissure in the veil, but that’s something that’s been obvious from the start. The crawlers have appeared everywhere at any time, not from one point like the chupacabras. They had a different way to get through. Another means that we n
~ KATALEYA ~My eyes widen as I turn sharply and stare into Enrique’s molten gold eyes.“Enrique!”‘No!’ Azarakh shrieks, the earsplitting sound hammering into my head causing me to flinch.“I’m sorry it took a while,” Enrique murmurs in his deep, beautiful voice that makes my stomach flutter. I shake my head before looking back towards the spot where Dad had fallen. I can’t see him! I can’t sense a heartbeat amongst the storm of crawlers.“How did you break free?” I ask softly, torn between running to Dad and keeping my hold on Azarakh.I know Enrique is in control for now. I can sense his presence, his aura strong and free from darkness.“You needed me,” he answers softly as he stands tall. “You’re my strength, Mi Amor.” My heart surges with so much emotion as we gaze into one another’s eyes, pink and gold, perfectly complimenting each other.Azarakh’s form has solidified as he fights to keep a grasp on Enrique, but he’s failing.His unearthly shrieks are all that he has left as Enr
~ KATALEYA ~Azarakh’s mouth twists into a snarl as he lifts his claws, aiming for my heart. I can see the glint of triumph as he lunges at me, but I hold my ground, letting him think he’s got me. But the moment his claws dig into my waist, slicing through fabric and skin, the smell of the hot rush of blood, and the sharp sting of agony makes me cry out. I suck in a gasp, gritting my teeth as I clamp my hand around his wrist, ignoring the searing pain at the contact.In a single motion, I call forth every ounce of power I have, letting it surge forward in a blinding wave. A scream leaves me as I put everything into it. My blinding pink aura swirls around him in a flash, engulfing him completely. Azarakh recoils, his shrieks cutting through the night like metal scraping against metal. He claws at his prison of light, his form writhing, his shadowy form twisting in agony as he tries to escape and get away from my aura.But not this time. My aura is like an iron cage holding firm, shackli
~ KATALEYA ~‘We can share! I told you together we could have had it all. Yet you declined!’ Azarakh hisses, but he’s still only clinging to Enrique. The shadow form still surrounds him, but he hasn’t possessed him yet. Or perhaps he can’t.I fuel my power forward, trying to reach through our half-formed bond.“I would never choose you,” I say, my voice quiet yet firm. “Never.”‘You served your purpose, and you will continue to do so. That is why you were chosen, whether you wished for it or not.’ He chuckles darkly.What does he mean?“How do you have a hold on, Enrique? He is not evil,” I ask as our powers continue to slam against one another, attacking, hammering against one another. Light against dark.‘We were created from the blood of the same goddess. One could say we are brethren.’ I shudder at the very thought as his evil eyes now burn into me. His sharp teeth stained with blood. ‘The Goddess Hecate created us for another goddess, yet she betrayed my goddess by creating someon