Music recommendation: Madness by Ruelle
Allegra uses her inhuman speed to track down Donovan, but when she reaches the room where she saw him enter, he's nowhere to be found. Undeterred, she follows his scent until she finds him entering another room upstairs.
"Donovan?" she whispers softly, peering into the room. He halts in his tracks, tension palpable in his posture as he looks back at her.
"Can I come in?" she asks, hopeful.
Donovan's gaze lingered on Allegra as she stood before him, her features illuminated softly in the dim light filtering through the hallway. He took in the sight of her tied-up blond locks, her delicate features framed by strands of hair, and the faint blush that adorned her cheeks. Despite the shadows dancing around them, he could still discern the silk olive green gown she wore, its fabric draping gracefully over her slender frame.
There was a vulnerability in her presence, a rawness that struck a chord within him. As he observed her, a fleeting moment of hesitation crossed his face before he hardened his resolve and denied her entry into his sanctuary. "No," he says curtly before shutting the door in her face.
Allegra's heart sinks, feeling the sting of rejection. She considers leaving, but a flicker of determination ignites within her. Tentatively, she places her hand on the door.
"I'm sorry about Calista," she says softly, her voice barely audible through the closed door. "You shouldn't let what they say hurt you."
With a resigned sigh, she turns to leave. As she descends the stairs, Donovan remains in the darkened room, his thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions.
Alone in the dimly lit hallway, Allegra feels a pang of sadness but continues her descent. Meanwhile, Donovan sits on the edge of the bed, wrestling with his inner demons, his face buried in his hands. "Shit.."
After a moment, he rises to his feet and opens the door, only to find that Allegra has already departed, leaving him to grapple with his turmoil in solitude.
As Allegra descended the stairs, her eyes locked onto Calista's, a silent confrontation brewing between them. Anger simmered beneath Allegra's skin, her emotions swirling in a tempest of fury and resentment.
Declan's concerned voice pierced through the tension, "Where did you go?" but Allegra's attention remained fixed on Calista. Without a word, she strode purposefully towards her, her strides echoing with determination. With each step, her chest heaved with pent-up frustration, her breaths ragged and heavy.
As she reached Calista, a primal instinct took over, propelling her forward to push the woman forcefully. Calista staggered but held her ground, her eyes flashing with surprise and defiance.
"Why did you do that?" Allegra's voice was low, barely contained beneath the surface of her anger. She continued to push Calista, her movements driven by an unyielding rage. They were out side now and she pushed Calista harder. Calista snarled in response, pushing Allegra back with equal force. "What's your deal?" she retorted, her voice sharp and accusatory. "I just spoke the truth!"
The tension in the room intensified as onlookers watched the confrontation unfold, some stepping outside cautiously, ready to intervene if the situation escalated further.
The tension crackled in the air as Allegra's rage reached its peak. "What truth?!" she thundered, her voice echoing through the courtyard. Calista's snarl was her only response before she shoved Allegra forcefully, sending her crashing to the ground. Mud splattered onto Allegra's clothes as she landed, a stark reminder of her vulnerability.
As Allegra struggled to rise, memories flooded her mind – the day she was sold to Declan, the humiliation and pain she endured. Anger surged within her, fueling her powers. With a fierce determination, she stood up, her eyes flickering from grey to yellow, flames dancing within them.
In a swift motion, Allegra extended her hand, tendrils of fire licking her skin, casting an ominous glow around her. Calista recoiled, shifting into her wolf form, her brown coat shimmering in the fiery light. With a scream of pure rage, Allegra unleashed a ball of fire towards Calista.
The wolf dodged skillfully, narrowly avoiding the fiery projectile. Declan's voice cut through the chaos, his tone laced with concern. "Allegra!"
Amidst the chaos, Allegra's emotions were a tempest. "Why did you say that?!" she demanded, her voice laced with fury as she struggled to contain the inferno within her.
From his vantage point at the window, Donovan observed the unfolding drama with an unfanthomable expression. His gaze flickered between Allegra, her flames raging, and Calista, poised for evasion. He could sense the impending danger, his instincts urging him to intervene. As Allegra formed another ball of fire, Donovan's heart clenched in dread. Calista was planning to jump and Allegra was aware. If she hit her Calista may die. "Shit."
Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped into action, he jumped out of his window and ran, his transformation into his wolf form swift and fluid. He intercepted the fiery projectile, absorbing its impact with a resounding thud against a nearby tree.
Allegra's rage abated instantly, replaced by shock and fear as Donovan lay still on the ground. "Donovan..?" she whispered, her voice trembling with concern. Rushing to his side, she watched as he shifted back into his human form, relief flooding her at the sight of his face. His clothes were already shredded and on the ground but somehow he had shorts on. Calista, now in her human form, joined the frantic rush to Donovan's aid, the tension in the air palpable. Dante emerged from the crowd, his expression wrought with worry as he cradled his brother in his arms. Carrying him into the living room. "Don," he pleaded softly, laying Donovan gently on the couch. Allegra hovered at the threshold, her heart heavy with guilt and uncertainty. She felt like an outcast amidst the commotion, grappling with the consequences of her unleashed fury.
Dante placed his hands over Donovan's chest, a faint blue hue emanating from them as he channeled his healing powers. With a gasp, Donovan sucked in a deep breath as he sat up abruptly. His chest rising and falling in rhythm once more. Relief washed over the room as Declan pulled him into a tight hug, his embrace conveying both happiness and concern.
The rest of the family sighed in relief, tears of worry giving way to tears of joy as they gathered around Donovan, enveloping him in a circle of warmth and support. Each one took their turn to hug him, their gestures laden with unspoken affection and relief at his miraculous recovery.
As Allegra stood at the threshold, watching the scene unfold before her, a wave of guilt and self-loathing washed over her. She wanted desperately to join the others in their embrace, to share in their relief and joy at Donovan's recovery. But she held herself back, her steps faltering as she turned away from the house.
Her heart weighed heavy with the realization that once again, her anger had nearly cost someone their life. The memory of the fireball she had conjured, the sight of Donovan taking the brunt of it to protect Calista, haunted her thoughts. She couldn't bear to face them, to confront the consequences of her actions.
With each step she took away from the house, Allegra felt the weight of her mistakes bearing down on her shoulders. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she walked further and further away from the only semblance of family she had ever known. She didn't know where she was going, only that she needed to be alone with her thoughts, to wrestle with the demons of her past and the consequences of her present.
"Where are you going?" She heard someone say. She turns to face the person and it's Declan, his expression a mix of concern and confusion as he approached her with cautious steps. "Where are you going?" he repeated softly, his eyes searching hers for answers.
Allegra hesitated, unsure of what to say. She glanced back at the house, where the commotion was slowly calming down, before returning her gaze to Declan.
She ran towards him and hugged him. She cried. "I'm so sorry!" She cried. "I almost killed him.. I'm so bad. I acted out of rage again"
Declan wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she cried. "Shh, it's okay," he murmured softly, rubbing her back in soothing circles. "You're not bad, Allegra. You made a mistake, but you didn't mean to hurt anyone. You're just... dealing with a lot right now." He held her for a moment longer, offering silent comfort, before pulling back slightly to look into her eyes. "But you have to learn to control your emotions, especially your anger. We'll figure this out together, okay?"
She nods.
"Come on," Declan said gently, guiding her back towards the house. "Let's go inside and make sure Donovan is okay. And then we'll talk about what happened, and how we can prevent it from happening again." He offered her a reassuring smile, hoping to ease some of her guilt and anxiety.