Upon seeing my beloved silver wolf standing in the corridor, I froze.
"Let her go!" Fenris growled, eyes shimmering brightly.
My worst-case scenario was about to play out in front of me. He was covered in blood as his appearance sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't tell if it came from him or his opponents. However, if he were there, all the Lycans would also come after their Alpha.
I had run out of time. A massacre was the only thing that was left in our future.
"Why should I?" Alijah taunted him.
In an instant, Fenris's body erupts in the crimson aura that always responds when his emotions ever get the best of him. However, this time, it was thicker than ever before. Alijah appeared unphased by his display as he was out of my beloved's league.
If I weren't in the black wolf's arms, he surely would've already leaped to his death.
"She's mine." Fenris glowered, voice rumbling.
Alijah laughed, shifting his hands to hold me by my waist. The black wolf's expression was like that of a predator eyeing down his prey.
"That wasn't what she told me." He confronted the silver wolf with a smirk on his lips.
Ensuring I was on my feet, he stepped towards him as I struggled to take the bracelet out of the pouch.
No... I can't... I won't allow it!
I had to move before, yet my hands were trembling. All the emotions from before were starting to spill out as I realized I was about to lose everything. My wolf was ready to pounce, but luckily, he was more concerned about my proximity to Alijah, which prevented him from acting too rashly.
"What?" Fenris muttered, focusing on him.
Alijah spread his arms out to taunt his foe, ignoring me behind him. There, I saw the only opening I would ever get.
"I'll—" he began, only to be interrupted by me pouncing on his arm.
I yanked it back towards me, along with his eyes that soon followed my movements. Snapping the bracelet on him, I whispered a few elven words my wolf taught me to begin the process.
Translated, it was like: May you travel towards your destiny. The bracelet I clasped on him shone brightly soon after the words left my mouth. At that moment, the captive Lycan could've easily torn my hands off, but he didn't. His emotions for me would be his downfall.
However, the shock in his eyes shook me to my core. This wolf truly cared about me, and I used those emotions against him, much like everyone else he ever trusted.
"What are—" he tried to question, but before he could, another word out.
The incantation tugged at him, creating a distortion that threatened to swallow him. He levitated as I held onto his wrist, keeping him in our world.
I don't want…
"I'm sorry, Alijah, but this was the only way I knew how to do this." I apologized, feeling guilty for my part in his pain.
"Lilith!" He winced, shifting his eyes towards the distorting realm behind him.
The last thing I could do was see him off on the journey I would send him on. Fenris carefully watched what unfolded before his eyes as Shade held me in this realm by wrapping her tail around me, keeping me anchored there.
"I don't know where or when you'll end up." I began, voice shaking.
Why… do I feel a kinship with you? I'm hoping for a future that won't come, but… even so…
"This won't be like the last time. It'll probably feel like a second for you." I assured the black-haired Lycan, whose eyes glossed at me.
The pain he had felt throughout his life resonated with me. He and I were kindred spirits in that aspect, but I couldn't be to him what Fenris was to me. No, that role another would have to play it.
Ah… I wish you… No, that's improbable. The men from your past have broken you beyond repair, but even so…. I hope… perhaps after you've lost me that… you'll find a reason to live—someone who will guide you into the light like Fenris did for me.
"Why?!" Alijah snapped, radiating the same aura that Fenris had before, but unlike the magic from the mortal realm, the celestial enchantments were something he couldn't repel.
The anger in your voice is expected. I betrayed you, yet I don't regret it. No, what I…
However, the moment I let go of his wrist would be when he would disappear entirely. Something pushed me forward as more words formed before I realized it.
Let it be a year or thirty; I'll be ready for you if you come after my family. But that doesn't mean that you…
"After learning your story, I have one wish for you, Alijah. It's one that I know will be impossible for you to accomplish, but I'll say it. Maybe it'll come true if I do." I declared, holding onto him.
His body started to disappear as the incantation already took hold of him.
"Lilith, please don't do this!" He pleaded, unable to move.
There's no stopping this anymore. Your destiny isn't mine to have, but please... when we meet again, I hope it's on better terms.
I smiled gently to ease his worries. "I wish you find the light that'll guide you to live in this ugly world. I'm sorry, but I'm not the person for you, Alijah. I'm unsure if you'll ever find them, but I hope you do." I loosened my grip on him.
His pupils dilated as his eyes opened wide, searching for a way to escape this. He lost what I meant to him twice, but this was the only way. I wasn't the person he remembered, yet my heart felt for him.
I wished it would've been different, but he threatened to destroy everything I cherished.
If only… you weren't aiming to destroy my family.
"No!" he shouted, "I won't lose you again!"
Luckily, His desire to stay had nothing to do with this. This magic was beyond his control. We couldn't seal him again, but we could propel him into the future, where we would be ready to face him.
"Though... I wish to save you; know I won't hesitate to end you if you come after my family again. Goodbye for now, Alijah." I announced, letting go of him.
In an instant, he was gone, leaving me staring at where he had been. Somehow, I had sent him away before Fenris got to him, or vice versa. The rush that had triggered me to act soon left me as my legs finally gave out.
Fortunately, my wolf caught me in his arms before I hit the ground. Shade hopped onto my lap, too, feeling as relieved as I was. However, this was far from a victory; a giant unknown faced us in the future.
All we did was buy time… but for how long?
Alijah could pop again a year from now or perhaps one hundred years later. There was no way to know. The only thing we could do was watch for the distortions caused by the god artifacts.
"Oh… gods… You're crazy, Lily." Fenris held me close to his chest.
His heartbeat was chaotic, yet his hold on me was tender enough for me to smother myself in him. He was covered in blood but upon closer inspection. There appeared to be no injuries on him.
However, the cramps that should've quickly subsided after my stressor was gone continued to get worse, but I didn't want Fenris to worry.
We must get out of here. I'll tell you everything once we are safe.
"I'll do anything to save my family, Fenris." I smiled, reaching to touch his cheek.
He nervously chuckled before helping me stand from the ground. Yet I flinched, feeling something go wrong within me as a painful cramp triggered me to gasp. It was followed by a pop that drenched my dress with a sweet-scented liquid a few seconds later.