Tania appeared shocked to hear I was Fenris's fiancée, as Ben hadn't told her yet. A lot had changed since she was in Silverant. On the other hand, Asher was unpleased by the turn of events. Our show of power wasn't unnoticed by him.
After all, vampires and Lycans had always clashed for power. The reason Cerberus was made was to avoid that as well as to keep the witches in check. However, I was still shaken by Kaiden's intentions for Shade, which was enough for me to keep her close to my bosom.
Everyone sat silently before Charles called the meeting adjourned for the time being. Tensions were too high, and nothing would get done. Thus, a two-day suspension was ordered to allow everyone to get their affairs in order.
Fenris's threat wasn't taken lightly. After the meeting, Jaxon informed us that he would hand over any artifacts still in the moon elves' possession. However, if they were helpful, that would have to be seen.
The sun elves also agreed to hand over theirs. Sadly, the other three more reluctant branches hadn't decided yet. The two days would give them time to reconsider after weighing every option.
Soon after the meeting, we returned to the manor without further incidents. With Ryker's help, we exited through the back door to avoid all the reporters who tried to swarm us at the entrance. Once home, I profusely apologized for losing control of everyone.
Although no one was angry with me, all I did was push them away, and I injured no one on my rampage either. However, Fenris pointed out some things that caught his attention. I could cast spells without muttering a word, which was a concerning change.
I couldn't do this before, which led us to believe I used our child's power as my own. This happened in rare cases with some elven and human mothers, though we didn't know how powerful they would be and didn't delve deeper into it either.
Instead of worrying about what could be, Amelia focused on the present. She rushed to prepare a meal while Amara checked me for any abnormalities. Luckily, none were found.
"Where is Ben?" Melody asked, noticing his absence.
Amelia chuckled when she finally asked. "Probably with Tania. They have a lot to catch up to."
So, those two really are…
After the harrowing battle to save Silverant, they both became fond of each other. However, our peaceful time came crashing down when a knock came on the door. A maid rushed over to Amelia to whisper something in her ear.
The news brought to her caused her to click her tongue, "Fen come."
He was hesitant to leave my side, but her eyes showed urgency. Melody and Amara stayed behind me as Liam rested his back against the wall where they had gone. This brown wolf wouldn't allow anyone into the room where I was.
Shade, being a curious familiar, followed Fenris out. They opened the door to the manor, triggering the screaming to start.
"Please tell me this isn't real! You can't marry that human! We're meant to be!" Layla shouted from the doorway, snatching everyone's attention.
Layla was one of the wolves in the room when he called me his fiancée. Her arm was still bandaged from our previous encounter, yet that didn't stop her from confronting the man who was supposed to be her husband.
This change wasn't something she was willing to accept. Perhaps the fact I was pregnant, she could take, but marriage? Nope, she wouldn't allow him to marry anyone other than herself.
Slowly, Melody and I snuck up the wall behind Liam to see what was happening outside. I could hear everything thanks to Shade, who was by Amelia's feet.
"Oh, this is too funny. Look, I don't need to answer you. You've been nothing to me since you got here." Fenris sighed, rolling his eyes.
"What?" The white wolf shook her head.
"Layla, please leave. I don't want you to be carried out by force." Amelia pleaded.
"Eh, she should be. This is harassment." Fenris huffed.
Liam glanced at us from where he was before chuckling. "You two love trouble, don't you."
"Hush!" Melody pouted, wanting to focus on the conversation.
To this black wolf, this was the day she had been waiting for since our encounter in the bathroom.
"Wait… she's here?!" Layla snarled, noticing Shade at Amelia's feet.
Somehow, she thought I would be elsewhere, probably behind Cerberus's locked doors after my performance.
"Obviously." Fenris scoffed, "Where I am, Lily will always be there, and vice versa, especially now that she's pregnant with my pups. Like I'd ever leave her anywhere."
His words were sharper than any knife to her heart.
"You cheated me! You owe me better!" she sobbed loudly.
All she wanted at this point were answers, but those were replies he wouldn't give her.
"Cheated?! That would require I saw you as my girl, which you never were. I don't owe you a single thing. I never told you I loved you and didn't feel loved by you, Layla. You never once cared about me other than your status. Get over it and find another person to get hitched with." My wolf snapped.
She stepped toward him to mend this as if the situation were savable. It made me feel bad for her, though. She was where I thought I'd be when Fenris married her.
Something I don't think I would've survived.
"How can you say that? We were made for each other. I gave you everything!" Layla growled.
He huffed in response to her demands. To him, she gave him nothing. He never touched or showed affection to make her believe he cared. He did the opposite, shoving her to the side and picking me whenever it mattered.
"No, Layla, you and I aren't meant to be. How delusional do you have to be to love someone who treats you like a second thought? I never gave you a reason to love me, and I never will, even if Lilith wasn't around. I still hate the fact that you force yourself into my life." He assured.
At that moment, the white wolf let out a heartfelt wail as she lost everything, including the pride she had held so close.
"You! You'll be miserable! She will never be able to please the wolf within you like I would!" Layla tried to find any piece of hope to cling to, sobbing.
After all, Lycans were rarely pleased by human partners such as me. I couldn't do what another wolf could do to him.
"Oh... Fuck, you can't be serious." Fenris struggled not to laugh at her feeble attempt to change his mind. "Lilith pleases me just fine, Layla. She tamed the wolf within me years ago. I've lost count of how often we've rolled in bed together."
The realization of our relationship being older than she knew sent her over the edge.
"I have given you everything while she killed your parents! How can you love her and not me?!" she screeched, gripping her shirt tightly.
Fenris sighed, shaking his head. "Why bring that up?"
"Because she did! She killed them and my mother, too!" Layla howled, eyes shimmering brightly.
The only reason she didn't jump him was that he would overpower her. However, anything would chug him over the edge, especially since the council's previous events were still fresh in his mind.
"So?" Fenris sighed, "Lily didn't do anything. Her coven caused that disaster."
"What? How can you say that? She destroyed Silverant! And now she's destroying our—" Layla questioned, only to be interrupted by Fenris.
"Okay, let's change the perspective. Let's go with what you said. That Lilith did kill them. She was ten, and it happened after an abusive coven violated and battered her. All she wanted to do was protect herself. I don't blame her for seeing every adult as a fucking threat." He snapped, taking a deep breath soon after.
After releasing that breath, Fenris rose towards his face before clenching it into a fist. "If I put myself in her shoes, I surely would've been terrified to the point of not caring who the fuck got hurt. Not to say how fucked up in the head I would've been."
"That's…" Layla trailed off before shaking her head, "No! I'll tell all the Lycans what that slut did! When I do, they'll all turn on you! That's when I'll kill her for taking you away from me! I swear it!"
Her threat triggered him to grab onto her throat in response. It almost seemed like his nails would gore her skin any minute. He was serious when he warned everyone about threatening me.
"Fenris!" Amelia yelled at her baby brother.
His crimson eyes glowed redder than ever as his body gave the hue.
"I'm tired of your threats and everyone else's. Do you think because you have Grandpa behind you, I won't squeeze the life out of you if need be? You're nothing but trash to me." He squeezed into her more, triggering blood to drip down her skin.
"Hah, don't make me laugh! The others won't turn against me as all we listen to is strength, and mine's undeniable anymore! I'll stomp anyone who tries to hurt my future wife and my pups!" Fenris snarled, digging his claws into her more, prompting her to scream in fear.
"Please don't! I don't want to die!" She pleaded.
Before it got too far, I embraced my enraged wolf from behind.
"Stop! Please don't kill anyone because of me." I begged, clasping onto him for dear life.
This act of violence would spawn more. I couldn't control my anger, but I could try to manage his as he did with me. Instantly, Fenris dropped her as Shade jumped back onto my shoulder.
"Lily..." he sighed, grabbing my hands that held him from the front.
His fingers were full of blood, leaving me with the warmth of it in my hands.
"You should go before you lose anything else. He's done with you. Move on." Liam huffed, walking over to Layla.
She gasped for air, grabbing onto her neck, still struggling to heal. Amelia shook her head, not enjoying what happened to her old friend. This wolf didn't deserve this, but Fenris was at wit's end. He didn't know what else to do to make her back off.
All her actions fueled his hatred of her, even if she did nothing to deserve it.
"Look at that. The witch you hate so much just saved you. Shameful, really." My wolf chided her before turning towards me and tugging my chin up to be kissed lightly.
After the quick peck, he glanced over at her.
"Do you need me to show you how I hold her? Is that what it'll take for you to get it through your damn head that you and I will never be?" Fenris questioned, glaring at her.
It triggered Layla to stand up and take a few steps away from us, holding on to her wounds. In her eyes, we were monsters. This wasn't the first time he had placed his hands on her that way, and seeing the gentleness he touched me with was surreal to her—something she would never have, even if I weren't around.
"Please, Layla, leave. There's nothing here for you anymore. I'm sorry." Amelia apologized, shaking her head.
The white wolf gazed at the older sister, feeling betrayed by everyone there.
"I hate you all! I hope you fucking all die!" she screamed, leaving the manor followed by Liam, who stood by the gateway to ensure she had left.
"Fenris, you could've been gentler." Amelia scolded him.
"Gentle? What? Do you even know what it feels like to be harassed day and night by someone who doesn't understand boundaries? She kissed me constantly even though she knew I didn't want it." He growled, biting his lip.
"Fen… I didn't know you felt that way." She winced, realizing her little brother was tolerating it the entire time.
"Fuck! I tried so many times to get it through her fucking head, and for some fucking reason, she still came at me. She kept calling me her 'destiny'. Fuck! I also have a limit. I'm done being gentle." Fenris scoffed, gazing towards me.
"Layla never saw me more than fertilizer for her fucking eggs." He shuddered, triggering me to touch his cheek.
His words reminded me of Alijah and all he suffered. His situation was unfair, and Fenris was close to experiencing the same fate.
What if your test results had appeared that you were fertile before the moon? Would they have forced your marriage to Layla sooner? I… How… horrible…
That thought sickened me.
If it had happened while I had, my emotions dampened. Then I probably would've lost my chance at being with you.
"I wonder if that's how Alijah felt back then, but he had no one in his corner," I mumbled.
Fenris cleaned his fingers with a wet cloth a maid had fetched before cleaning mine.
"Probably, can't say I don't feel for the poor bastard." he sighed.
In response, I hugged him as the nastiest of feelings swelled within me. People were unwilling to learn, even when they knew their history, which was unpalatable. However, thankfully, it would be something Fenris and I would try to change.
After all, this world had to be altered for the sake of what was growing within me and for all those who came after them.