Therion looked down at Naymoi, revulsion curling in his gut as he struggled to reconcile this frantic creature with the fierce, She-lycan he had known for years. This was not the woman he had once bedded; this was madness incarnate. Naymoi's desperate reaction to his return with Aysha was more frantic than he could fathom.
"You're nothing special," Naymoi spat, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth, each word a desperate jab. "He's tasted more females than we can count."
Aysha's blood boiled at the provocation. Pain surged through her body, a relentless tide that clouded her mind. A monstrous growl erupted from her throat, a primal sound that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present. Anger eclipsed reason; her consciousness faded as fury took the helm.
As if in slow motion, fear flickered in the eyes of the onlookers as Aysha lunged at Naymoi, claws extended, teeth bared. The impact was brutal, a sickening thud as Naymoi's head struck the ground. Aysha was upon her, claws tearing through flesh, blood splattering across the stone floor like a gruesome canvas. Naymoi's screams turned into a gurgle, a final testament to the chaos unfolding.
Nayomoi tried to fight back, but her senses were hindered. Aysha was fueled by pure primal thirst, her movements feral and unrelenting.
Horror etched itself into the faces of those watching, but Aysha didn't care. She was consumed by an insatiable hunger, a rage that drowned out everything else.
Therion broke through the haze of violence, rushing to Aysha's side. He lifted her, pulling her away from the mangled body. The moment their bodies connected; her mind began to clear. The reality of what she had done crashed down on her like a wave, and she trembled in Therion's arms, the lifeless form of Naymoi a haunting reminder of her loss of control.
"What have I done?" she whispered, panic rising as her racing heart began to steady.
Before she could process her grief, instinct surged. She clawed at Therion's arm, breaking free and bolting into the depths of the forest.
The shadows enveloped her, dark and foreboding. Each frantic heartbeat echoed in her ears, drowning out the memories of her actions. The scent of blood clung to her nostrils, mingling with the damp earth, a reminder of the chaos she had unleashed.
Panic surged as she stumbled over roots and branches, her legs moving with a mind of their own. She could sense Therion's relentless pursuit behind her, but the weight of her actions propelled her forward. The primal beast within had seized control, and she felt the dark consequences loom over her like a storm.
"Aysha! Stop!" Therion's voice pierced through the trees, urgency lacing his words.
But she couldn't stop. The forest felt like a sanctuary, a place to escape the reality of her fury. Yet, Naymoi's screams echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder of the world unravelling around her. Each step she took pulled her further from the bond she shared with Therion.
A sudden flicker of movement caught her eye—a shadow darting among the trees. Fear gripped her heart as she realized she had lost all sense of direction drifting far beyond Therion's reach.
Without warning, she was tackled, the breath knocked from her lungs as she hit the ground. Dazed, she looked up, but her assailant was long gone from her vision, leaving only the rustling leaves behind.
"Who are you?" she shouted into the void.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—tall, imposing, with dark voids one would call eyes.
"You've made quite the mess," he said, his voice like nails on a chalkboard, sending unpleasant shivers down her spine.
"Stay away from me," she warned, her voice a hoarse whisper, laced with venom.
"Call me Zarek," he said, a cruel smile spreading across his face as he approached. "You've gotten yourself into quite a predicament, haven't you?"
Confused, Aysha glanced down and realized she was completely naked, boy painted with the blood of her victim, panic rising as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"I can smell the musk of chaos on you. It's quite thrilling, but the stench of rage disgusts even me," Zarek continued, glancing back toward the scene of carnage behind her. "Do you understand what you've done?"
Her heart raced. "I—I lost control. I didn't want to—"
"Control is a luxury you cannot afford to lose," he interrupted, his smile predatory. "In our world, weakness is a death sentence. And you? You're teetering on the edge."
Fists clenched, she shot back, "I'm not weak! I just don't understand!"
"Ahh," he sang, a gleam of mischief in his dark eyes. "Looks like the big bad wolf didn't tell you everything."
At that moment, Therion burst into the clearing, breathless and wild-eyed. "Aysha! Get away from him!"
Zarek chuckled, an unsettling sound that echoed through the trees. "Ah, the Champion here to protect his damsel. But tell me, what will you do to save her from you?"
"I don't need saving," Aysha said, her voice gaining strength. "I just need to understand."
"Did you hear that, Champion? Your mate doesn't want to be saved," Zarek taunted, stepping closer. "Why don't you help her understand that she might not survive the year?"
Therion's expression hardened. "Don't listen to him, Aysha. He thrives on chaos."
Zarek's eyes sparkled with satisfaction. "See, Aysha? I'm telling you the truth, and he can't even deny it. He doesn't trust you enough to let you make your own choices."
She turned to Therion, desperation in her gaze. "What does he mean, Therion?"
"I'll explain when we get back home," he urged, trying to coax her away from the darkness closing in.
Home. The word echoed in her mind, a long-lost dream from her childhood.
"What do you want from me?" she asked Zarek, her voice wavering.
Zarek stepped closer, his tone low and enticing. "I want you to join me. I can give you everything he can't—especially your life."
As he drew closer to her, Aysha mind fogged, her eyes clouded white and Zarek marvel with excitement as he witnessed what was once tale.
"Marvelous, truly marvellous" he smiled, enchanted by the white eyed being before him.
"Stay away from her!" Therion shouted, rushing toward Aysha.
"Come with me and I can promise you your life" he whispered, as he was close to reaching his goal, arm outstretched to bring her into his embrace.
In that moment, visions flooded her mind—images swirling like a storm, pieces of a puzzle coming together. Time slowed, Zarek and Therion moving like shadows against a vibrant backdrop of her memories.
"Liar!" she shrieked, her arm slashing toward Zarek's face.
Zarek stumbled back, shock etched across his features.
"I know what you're planning," she declared, her voice steady, eyes blazing with newfound resolve, her clouded white eyes and knowing smile sent an unfamiliar shiver down Zarek.
As Therion rushed him, he vanished into the cloud of black smoke beneath him.