The sweat dripping down Shandra's face is hot, almost like lava, and produces terribly unsettling sensations on her cold, shivering skin. Tremors and spasms take over her body, and her eyes blink without stopping as, in desperation, the young woman tries to regain control.She remembers Marcus' words in her magic training, when they were still testing the limits of Shandra's magic. She asked the Alpha when exhaustion began, and he explained to her that there were two stages.The first had already happened to her in Fairy Town, which was the most common form of burnout. The second was the most dangerous and lethal, as it could destroy the magic bearer's body from the inside out.With each violent jolt that took hold of the girl's arms, legs and torso, the greater was Shandra's desire to cry, but even this she could no longer do.The sounds of the world also oscillated. The tree on fire seemed to scream louder and louder, only to fall silent the next instant as if it had never started.
Shandra's heart races as she prepares to face the unknown that hides behind the tree. Her determination and the strengthening of her magic fill her with confidence.With one swift movement, Shandra turns toward the tree, ready to face her pursuer. However, her expression of courage turns to surprise when she finally sees who was there."Julian?" she whispers, incredulous.The redhead, who is wearing the same clothes as the night before, runs up to her."Shandra!" He takes both her hands, looking her up and down. "You look... well?""I am now.""But you...? I mean, Sam was suddenly exhausted, so we came to the conclusion that you... well...""I really was exhausted.""But you were supposed to be lying there, dying of pain... How did you...?""It's a long story."The yellow-eyed demon looks around and notices the burned tree."É. Apparently so.""But I can't stay here anymore. I...I need to go back and help you."A pained expression forms on Julian's worried face."About that, I just wa
Taking deep, heavy steps on the ground pictured below him, Sam walked over to Julian and Shandra. They both looked quite surprised to see him."So that's it. You not only want to poison her mind against me, but how are you trying to do the same thing you did to Eluna?!"The redhead growls."What are you talking about, you idiot?!""I'm talking about your hypocrisy. You are always trying to tell Shandra how dangerous I am, how manipulative I am. But you just want to take her from me!"The coppery-eyed demon's words are so raw, so loaded with a sincerity never before seen, that the girl is stunned. She is unable to pry into the argument between the brothers."I'm offering my support to her," Julian explains, not showing even a little patience. "And just to be clear, Shandra is a free girl!""Free for you to put your claws into?""Free to make her own decisions! She doesn't answer to you. She answers to no one, Sam!"The man with fair skin and black hair finally looks at the girl."Are y
Sam knows that Shandra's request is fair.Even if he hated to admit it, it was obvious that she was not just an ordinary human, and that she had enough power to match his own. Maybe she was more powerful, even.But part of him still wanted to protect her from all the dirt that her history held; the long history of questionable actions and grotesque mistakes that he himself still could not face.Sam looks at Shandra, his face showing a mixture of surprise and concern. He knew that this moment would inevitably come, but he hoped he would have more time to prepare his words.However, faced with the determination in Shandra's eyes, he understands that he can no longer put off the truth."All right," Sam murmurs, his voice embittered. "I will tell you the story, but be prepared, Shandra. What you are about to hear is painful and dark."With that, the trio continues walking through the forest, each step bringing them closer to the werewolf camp. Julian comments:"Tell the whole truth, rathe
Sam's words echo in the air, filling the space between them. Time seems to freeze as Shandra processes the meaning and intensity of that sentence, so simple, yet so complicated.She looks deeply into Sam's eyes, searching for any hint of falsehood or deceit, but finds only sincerity and vulnerability.A whirlwind of emotions invades her heart, and she feels a mixture of joy, surprise and fear. The connection between them has grown deeper along the journey, but she never expected to hear these words come out of Sam's mouth.Yet the truth in his eyes and the way he tenderly holds her convey a sense of security and trust."Is it true?" she asks in a thread of voice.Sam's coppery eyes don't even blink."I swear on my existence."Julian, who is watching everything dumbfounded, takes a step back."But... But I-," Shandra begins, but is interrupted by the demon."Do you love me?"The girl blinks, almost choking on her own saliva so nervously, and answers softly:"Yes."And it was true.Sam
"What happened?", Shandra asks, visibly paling as she sees the seriousness on the Alpha's face."I received a message from the Dawn Clan to the east. They are being attacked by dark fairies."Upon hearing that name, the girl suddenly remembered the surprised attack on Dew."I thought fairies only rival each other.""For all these years, I thought so too. But since you told me about what they did to my half-brother, I believe there is something very serious going on between not only fairies, but werewolves as well.""Wait a minute, I don't understand anything," Sam says, looking seriously at Marcus. "We have nothing to do with it.""Maybe you three don't. But as an Alpha, it is my duty to always be on the lookout for signs of danger and imbalance between the Clans. It is also a Law of the wolves that, apart from cases where there is overt rivalry between them, one werewolf cannot deny aid to another.""Where are you going with this?" asks Julian, crossing his arms.Marcus' look is one
Caleb and Ezan were quite different from each other.The younger one, of course, had more energy and mood. He also seemed to be more willing to talk about whatever the subject was.The older one, despite being much more agile and stronger than an ordinary old man, liked to meditate more, to listen to the sounds of nature around him, and occasionally to whistle a song.Shandra, still very happy to have received that sword, could barely keep her focus on her surroundings. There was still a long way to go before everyone reached Tenebris, but with each passing day, the hope in Shandra's heart grew stronger.Duly camped in one of the enchanted woods that were directly on the way to the mountain range, the young woman decided she wanted to know a little more about the werewolf culture.The group was facing a tall fire, whose flames, instead of orange, were white and bright like Shandra's own magic. The fire was that color because of a strange powder that Ezan had thrown on the wood before
Shandra looks at Sam, surprised and concerned by his statement. She tries to understand the meaning behind those words."You can't go back to Hell? What happened? Why can't you go back?" she questions, showing her concern.Tense, Sam's shoulders barely move as he answers:"Because if I go back to Hell, then I will be the heir again.""Yeah... That much I already knew. What's the problem?""And Eluna would still be my betrothed."The girl retreats into silence. So that was it..."And you... You would have to...?" She can't finish her sentence.Sam answers with an affirmative nod of his head."But what about Julian? Aren't the two of them together?""Apparently.""But are they together publicly? Or are they still meeting on the sly?""To tell you the truth, I don't know. But I think that since I was banished in dishonor, her father may have approved the union of the two. It's hard to know.""But if the two are in love with each other, then why foster an arranged union? Why not leave thi