He was the same man who had followed us in the forest. My stomach immediately churned at the sight of the stranger standing beside Stanley. His tall, muscular frame stood out, and he wore jeans and a fitted black shirt that gave him a bad boy allure. His thick, rust-coloured hair was styled away from his strong, model-like face. He laughed at something while talking to Stanley, giving me a peek at his dimples.As I made my way to them, his amber eyes met mine, freezing the air around us. Though this was the first time I had seen him, he somehow looked familiar. He tilted his head at me and narrowed his eyes while keeping his smile in place. His expression suggested he already knew me."Kristen. This is Jackson," Stanley introduced the stranger. "Jackson, this is... well, you know who this is." Stanley's tone held a hint of mischief.Jackson extended his hand, his amber eyes locked onto mine. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he said, his voice smooth and calm. "I've heard so much about you."I shook his hand, trying to mask my nervousness. "Nice to meet you too, Jackson," I replied, my voice a bit shaky."Have you guys met before?" Terra asked, her eyes darting between us.I shook my head slowly. "No, but he looks familiar. And those amber eyes... I can't shake the feeling that we've met before."Jakson's smile widened, a hint of mystery in his eyes. "Sometimes, paths cross in ways we don't expect." He paused to stare deeply into my eyes, stepped closer to me, and placed his high right hand on my cheek, which took me by surprise.Stunned, I froze on the spot. My hand turned cold, and the air around me stood still. I was getting a vision—a memory of his.I saw Jackson chasing a girl happily, hugging her from behind, lifting her into the air, and spinning her around. He planted kisses on her neck, and they both laughed, enjoying the moment. They seemed incredibly happy. Then, the vision shifted. A wolf was running through the forest, searching for something and sniffing the ground for traces. It ran tirelessly, stopping abruptly when it saw a man holding a girl by her neck, her body dangling lifelessly, and blood on the man's lips. The man looked disturbingly familiar to me. The wolf howled and charged at full speed, causing the man to drop the girl's body and flee.The wolf flipped her over, and my heart stopped when I saw the girl's face. I was shocked.How is that possible?Jackson cried out loud, holding the girl in his arms. A wave of sadness washed over me. Then the vision changed to the day of my accident at the mall. Suddenly, it all made sense. He was the one I had bumped into and fallen in front of. He had helped me up, looking at me with a shocked expression. He asked if I was okay, and I quickly apologised. He stood there, surprised, while staring at me. I felt my heart racing in my chest.The vision shifted again, showing a wolf jumping in front of my car, causing my accident. I saw the incident through his eyes. My car hit him, and he yelped in pain, lying in a pool of blood. Despite his injury, he struggled to get up and came to my car to help me. Jackson called my name and tried to free me from my seat belt. He was trying so hard to help, but his injury made it difficult. He looked behind him and saw William running towards us from the woods. Jackson fled and hid himself. The vision stopped, and I pulled my hand back, gasping for breath.As the vision ended, I found myself back in the present. I blinked up at Jackson with wide eyes. He watched me with a pained expression as if he had relived the memory I had just experienced. My mind raced with questions, and the surroundings seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us locked in this inexplicable connection."Kristen, what happened?" Stanley asked, concern evident in his voice."I just need a moment," I said while my gaze was still fixed on Jackson.Terra stepped closer, her face etched with worry. "Did you get a vision? What happened?"Tears welled up in my eyes as the weight of the memories hit me. "It was you," I whispered, looking at Jackson with a mixture of shock and recognition.He nodded, his eyes filled with pain and longing. "Yes, it was me. I've been trying to protect you."Stanley stepped forward, his face pale. "What... what just happened? What did you see?"I took a deep breath, my voice trembling. "You've been watching over me."Jackson looked down, his voice soft. "I didn't want to see you in danger. There were things you didn't know back then—things I've been trying to keep you safe from, but somehow the vampires sneaked in and I failed to protect you. I am sorry, Kristen.""You don't have to be sorry. I didn't know so many people were protecting me back then. I should thank you." I said and tried to give him a reassuring smile, but I still couldn't meet his eyes, which I was sure were dimmed in a frown.Stanley cleared his throat to get our attention. Jackson stepped back, putting some distance between us."Are you alright?" Stanley asked. His blue eyes were dark in what I would have sworn was concern. He was giving a stay-away-from-my-girl look to Jackson. He was jealous and looked cute, though."I'll see you around," Jackson said it with a wink and walked away. Stanley was sending death glares at him while the girls were giggling. My smile widened looking at Stanley's expression. King Edmond called all the witches for a meeting the next day, and Sophia found herself among the invited. The news hit her like a physical blow. Being the mode of transport for the blood supply between vampires and witches? The mere thought made her stomach churn. Panic seized her, and without a second thought, she fled.Running deep into the dense forest, Sophia sought solace among the trees. But there was no peace to be found. Anger coursed through her veins, shaking her to the core. The weight of her betrayal by those she once trusted pressed down on her, suffocating her spirit.With a bottle of liquor in hand, Sophia sank to the ground, feeling defeated and alone. Kristen, the one she once called a friend, was now at the centre of it all, protected by everyone, even the council members. The thought of the upcoming wedding only fueled her rage further. She couldn't let it happen. She wouldn't.As she sat there, surrounded by the eerie silence of the forest, Sophia's emotions roiled within her. She felt powerless against the forces aligned against her. Lord Zephyr's presence loomed large in her mind, a constant reminder of the formidable obstacle standing in her way.Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized the enormity of the task ahead. But deep down, a flicker of determination burned within her. She may be alone now, but she refused to give up without a fight. With gritted teeth and trembling hands, Sophia vowed to do whatever it took to stop the wedding and reclaim Stanley.The head witch summoned her to the castle for the meeting with the king, sending shivers down Sophia's spine. She feared King Edmond and wanted nothing more than to avoid his piercing gaze. The thought of facing him made her want to hide away in the darkest corner of the castle. With a heavy sigh, she trudged towards the castle, her mind clouded with dread.As she made her way back to the castle, lost in her thoughts, Sophia's gaze fell upon someone sitting by the tranquil lake. A figure, familiar yet distant, caught her attention, and she felt drawn towards it. With unsteady steps, fueled by the alcohol coursing through her veins, she approached the person.Standing by his side, Sophia peered at the man, her vision blurred by the effects of her intoxication. Slowly, the man turned his head, his expression morphing into a frown as he met her gaze. It took a moment for Sophia to register who he was, and when she did, her eyes widened in shock.Prince William.Her heart skipped a beat as she took a step back, the realisation hitting her like a bolt of lightning. The prince, once distant and untouchable, now sat before her, his presence both unexpected and unsettling. Panic surged through Sophia as she struggled to comprehend the situation. What was the prince doing here? And why did she find him by the lake, of all places?Sophia bowed her head in respect, unable to meet Prince William's eyes. He seemed drained, lost in his thoughts, as he stared out at the still water. When he finally spoke, his voice deep and weary, Sophia jumped, startled by the sound."I was just passing by," she replied quickly, hiding the liquor bottle behind her back. But William's sharp gaze caught her movement, and he calmly requested that she take it out. Shocked by his calm demeanour, Sophia hesitated before reluctantly handing him the bottle.He examined the liquor for a moment before taking a gulp, the action mirroring Sophia's own feelings of loneliness and defeat. Seeing the prince, someone she once admired from afar, in such a vulnerable state tugged at Sophia's heartstrings.Her breath caught in her throat when he unexpectedly asked her to sit down beside him. Tentatively, she lowered herself onto the ground, her eyes fixed on the water as they sat in silence together, finding solace in each other's company amidst their shared struggles."You are Sophia, right?" Prince William's voice broke the silence after several minutes.Sophia nodded, her surprise evident. "Yes.""Are you alright?" His concern was genuine, catching her off guard. She struggled to respond, trying to suppress the nervous stutter in her voice."What do you like about him?" William asked bluntly, his question hanging in the air.At first, Sophia didn't understand who he was referring to, but then it dawned on her. "I don't know. I just like him," she admitted, nervously playing with the mud beneath her.Turning the tables, Sophia gathered her courage and asked, "Why do you like her?"A soft smile graced William's lips as he replied, "I just do." Sophia couldn't help but smile, understanding his feelings without the need for further explanation."Do you not have a mate?" he inquired, his tone gentle.Sophia sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I don't know. I've never looked for him," she confessed honestly."Why?" William's curiosity prompted another question, drawing out the complexities of Sophia's emotions and experiences."Well, how do I put it," Sophia began, her voice tinged with sadness. "I was born with a destructive power. I could pretty much destroy everything if I put my mind to it. My grandma raised me and taught me to control it. At first, I thought I could be happy like others, but people started to see me as a bad omen after I nearly destroyed my village accidentally. I was cast away and lived alone with my grandma. Even if I had a mate, he would reject me for who I am."Prince William listened intently, his expression sympathetic, as Sophia revealed her painful past. Despite their differences, Sophia found herself opening up to him, comforted by his friendly tone."How did you end up here?" he asked curiously, inviting her to share more of her story.Sophia took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before responding. "The king summoned us when Kristen escaped. Even though I was cast away, the head witch learned about me and brought me here. I never wanted to be a part of any of this, but somehow I managed to screw things up," she explained, her voice filled with regret."Does he treat her well?" Prince William's question cut through the air, his tone sharp and direct.Sophia hesitated, grappling with her emotions, before offering a response. "He treats her like she's the only one. He would never take a glance at any other woman. Maybe that's what made me want to make him mine," she admitted with a rueful chuckle.Feeling a sudden surge of courage, Sophia decided to ask William a question of her own. "Can I ask you something?" she inquired, her voice trembling slightly.William looked at her with a stiff expression, but he nodded, giving her permission to continue."Is she your mate?" Sophia asked hesitantly, bracing herself for his answer.For a brief moment, William's fist clenched, a flicker of pain crossing his features before he regained his composure. "No," he replied sadly, his voice heavy with unspoken emotions.Sensing that it was best not to ask William any more questions, Sophia remained silent, providing him with comfort simply by being there. She was surprised by herself, realising that she felt comfortable talking to the prince freely. She had always feared him and kept her distance, but now she wondered if this was his true nature.The next day, when Sophia woke up, she found herself in her room at the castle. Her friends were bustling around, getting ready for the meeting. One of them urged her to hurry, and Sophia jumped to her feet, rushing to the bathroom to prepare herself. Soon, they all gathered in the throne room, awaiting the arrival of King Edmond and William.As they entered, Sophia noticed that the king seemed to be in a bad mood, as usual, while William appeared to have returned to his grumpy demeanour. He didn't spare a glance in her direction as he took his seat on the throne.The king's gaze swept over them, and he began to speak. "I believe you are aware of the situation," he said sternly. "The wedding cannot happen and should be stopped at any cost. Now that we have signed the treaty with the witches, we have gained access to the fork's land."Sophia felt a chill run down her spine as the king's gaze settled on her, causing her to instinctively take a step back and hide behind her friend. She couldn't shake the feeling that trouble was brewing, and she feared what might come next.Step forward, Ms Sophia. Sophia flinched at the king's commanding tone, feeling a knot of dread tightening in her stomach as she hesitantly stepped forward."You are the only one who can go and come freely to the Fork's land," the king declared, his voice grave and ominous. "You will visit them soon and find out when the wedding is planned to be held. We will make a surprise attack when they least expect it."Sophia's heart sank at the mention of the late queen, realising that this mission was not just about stopping the wedding, but also about seeking revenge for her. She felt a mixture of fear coursing through her veins as she realised the task was going to be a blood bath.Nodding slowly, Sophia swallowed hard and mustered up her courage. "I will do as you command, Your Majesty," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil of emotions raging within her.