The firm soil crunched under the weight of his boots. The autumn air was brisk on his cheeks. Several other footfalls aligned with him. The soft embrace of Lily's fingers entwined with his settled his nerves. Slightly. The reassurance of what they were about to do wasn't enough for the Werewolf King. The tree line broke away to reveal the open dead clearing. It was only a few days ago when he charged through this forest and into this clearing. He didn't pay any mind to it before, but now that his head was remotely clear, he felt the heaviness in the air. There was an invisible weight in this clearing he hadn't felt before. A dark presence that lingered. He felt Nox stir within him. A low rumble in the back of his consciousness. A hunger. An intense craving to the darkness that haunted this place. Jayce felt ill at the thought. Lily squeezed his hand tightly. She felt his unease, just as it mimicked her own, but possibly for a different reason. Unlike the hunger his Wolf felt, he co
The weight of this place was heavy on her heart. As Jayce took a step back with the other men, the women surrounded her with both support and caution. She had a gist of what needed to be done, but still held the uncertainty of doing it. But the moment she knelt down and placed her hands on the ground, everything fell into motion afterwards. As if her powers surged forth on their own accord based on the emotions and thoughts she carried. Her desire? To rid this place of the darkness that consumes it. She could hear the humming in her ears and nothing else. Perhaps that was for the best. If she heard anyone or anything else, she wouldn't have been able to concentrate. "A-Amira..." A haunting voice drifted through her subconscious. Lily focused on the voice that probed against her thoughts. There was a presence within this cloud of death that blanket this space. No. There were two. "She's grown." A woman spoke. Her voice was tinged with nostalgia and longing. "Keep her safe." A man
He crossed his arms over his chest as he bear witness to the scene before him. He knew the wind was played by Willow's Magic. Yet, the moment Lily's eyes turned white, it took every nerve in his body not to react. He wasn't aware of what was to happen, but he knew he trusted her. "She's a big girl." Zalakai's mocking tone caused Jayce to bristle with annoyance. "She's finally come to terms with what she is." "Out with it, Demon." Jayce growled as he side eyed him. Zalakai smirked deviously. His black eyes took on an eerie shine. "You can't continue to ignore it." "Leave him alone, Zal." Aiden warned him. "We're all on the same team." "On the contrary..." Zalakai held up a finger. "I'm team Rayleigh. If any of you fools died, I couldn't care less." "In that case, why stick around?" Jayce asked him. "If you're only here for the woman, you could easily stay hidden, yet you bother us with your presence." "Your majesty, I'm hurt." Zalakai feigned pain as he pressed his hand to his
Waves crashed against the cliff side. The warmth of the glaring sunlight seeped into her cheeks. The vast ocean before her was a sight she had seen once before. Stone steps led up to a crumbled temple. History etched in the cracks of the stonework. "This is unexpected." Her soothing voice reached Lily's ears. Azura grumbled pleasantly. Lily spun around, finding Leto standing on a lower step with her Wolves at her side. She hadn't aged a day. Suppose a Goddess wouldn't truly age. Leto smiled warmly with her hair draped over her shoulder in a braid. Brass leaves adorned through the twists of her hair. Seeing her again brought down emotions Lily had fought to keep locked away. Anger, mostly, but also relief. "Who is that, Lily?" Amira's voice broke through her. Lily swiveled around and found not only Amira close by, but Willow and Rayleigh as well. "A Goddess..." Willow's words came out in a breath as her knees wobbled for a moment, but Rayleigh steadied her. "If I had known I was
The presence of the Goddesses was overwhelming. It surprised her that her knees hadn't buckled yet. Leto's kind and welcoming smile. Hecate's cool yet stern gaze. Artemis's curious incline of her head. It was an unexpected trio to come across. But perhaps, not so much unexpected. Lily was the first to follow Leto up into the ruined temple. The Wolves that acted as a barrier had curved around Lily as well in the same protective manner. Though, she believed it was more so for the sake of the Wolf that resided in Lily now than the Human counterpart. Amira took her place alongside Artemis without question. The Huntress placed a hand on Amira's shoulder and gave her a squeeze of reassurance. There was a silence between them, but words didn't need to be spoken. There was an understanding between them that a shared look was the only thing necessary. Rayleigh trailed along after Amira quietly. She seemed out of place here. Was she questioning her own beliefs? Willow was aware that Rayleig
What a way to stand out. Rayleigh silently observed the other women that accompanied their Goddesses. She was unaware of Lily's devotion to Leto or if there was devotion at all, but the Goddess seemed rather doting on her. Like a mother to their child. Then there was Amira alongside Artemis, but instead of a parental figure that Leto aired for Lily, Artemis and Amira were as colleagues. A mentor and student, perhaps. Artemis had taken off her bow and was going over step by step of its creation while Amira listened intently. Rayleigh was mildly aware of Amira dabbling with bows over the past year now before crossing the waters to retrieve the Werewolf Queen. She just wasn't aware of how seriously Amira was taking the Hunter role now. Rayleigh glanced back as Hecate, a towering presence, glided in alongside Willow. Willow, a soft and innocent woman, looked out of place beside the night Goddess. Hecate, who not only radiated with otherworldly beauty but also had a confidence about he
"Explain to us what you have learned so far of Karmina." Hecate requested as she linked her hands in front of herself. "She's tucked herself away in an abandoned mansion a previous Werewolf King had lived in." Amira stated. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a folded up map she had put there earlier. She laid it out over the table. "Based on Willow's previous visions, the location is marshlands surrounded by plains or dead trees." "Would you know the locations of where Nox was at one point?" Lily asked Leto. Leto inclined her head with a slight frown. "I am afraid once I gave life to the Werewolf King, his whereabouts were none of my concern." "And that is where you failed." Hecate clipped. Willow gave the Goddess a stern look, and the deity turned her chin away. "You're not exactly guilt-free here either, Hecate." Willow added in. The Goddess scoffed softly, but her posture eased slightly. "Even when we questioned Xander, he has a minimum recollection of how they
Dim light flickered in the small shack. The full moon hung high above, displayed as a witness. A man paced in front of the building. His sandy blonde hair ruffled countless times from the impatience he felt and the growing knot in his stomach. He was nervous, yet overwhelmed with excitement. The common feelings of child birth. A yell paused his next step and turned him to the window. The curtain had been closed for privacy, but he could see the silhouettes of two midwives shifting in and out of sight. He caught the scent of the two women that were assisting, and his Mate. He sensed her pain and wished he could relieve her of it. Then it came. A baby's cry. He stared as the door opened after what felt like ages. When it finally opened, one midwife stepped out, cradling a bundle of blankets in her arms. She met his gaze and smiled warmly at him as she nodded. "Come, Beta. Meet your daughter." The woman said as she raised her arms slightly in gesture to the infant in them. His heart