"Please stop, stop the killing! Please, just stop it!" I cried out, jolting awake and struggling to catch my breath. My heart pounded in my chest, relentless and wild. "Oh my God, not again..." I murmured, gripped by the familiar terror that had invaded my dreams for the past few nights. Each time, I found myself trapped in a relentless cycle of horror, standing on a blood-soaked battlefield, surrounded by the agonizing echoes of war.
This was the third night in a row that I had been haunted by the same relentless dream- a vivid nightmare set in the chaos of war. And each time, it felt more suffocating. The war raging in my dreams was more than just a nightmarish vision—it was a horror show filled with bloodshed, littered with the lifeless bodies of shifters from countless races, their faces a haunting remainder of the war.
In the midst of that haunting battlefield, I watched helplessly as I cradled a creature unlike any I had ever seen. It was magnificent yet fierce, resembling a wolf but standing proudly on its two powerful legs, towering with sharp glistening teeth in the chaos. As I held it, tears flowing freely down my cheeks, my heart shattered into countless pieces as I desperately tried to revive the lifeless form in my arms. But my efforts were in vain. The creature was gone, leaving me consumed by a profound sorrow that lingered even after waking. The palpable ache in my heart reflected the swirling emotions within, as if the dream clung to me like a shadow.
I felt lost in that nightmarish realm, where screams and pleas for peace fell on deaf ears, and even selena my wolf shared the weight of my despair whenever I awoke.
Moreover, there was another recurring dream that plagued me, this one's painted in shades of darkness. I would find myself enveloped in a shadow void. In that void, a voice whispered to me; it was ancient, soothing, yet laden with urgency. "It is almost time for you to awaken" it would say, echoing in the recesses of my mind, "and fulfill your destiny."
As I sat on the edge of my bed, trying to steady my breath, attempt to gather my scattered thoughts and calm my racing heart, I heard the familiar soft sound of my door creaking open. Amelia's familiar figure emerged, a look of concern etched on her face.
"Hey, are you okay? You look terrified," she said gently, settling into the edge of the bed, her voice laced with worry. The warmth of her presence was a small comfort amidst my turmoil.
"I'm fine," I replied, though my voice trembling betrayed my unease, and my hand instinctively pressed against my chest in an effort to calm my racing heart."I just... had another nightmare."
"Is it the same nightmare that's haunted you for the past three nights, the one you refuse to discuss? The one that brought you here to sleep with me?" she probed gently, her tone a mix of worry and compassion as her hand reassuringly patted my back, her touch soothing.
"Yes, it's the same nightmare," I admitted, sipping water from the bedside as if grounding myself in reality, my voice tinged with fatigue. " I can't seem to escape it, and it keeps me awake at night."
"Try to relax. Just clear your mind and don't dwell on it," she urged, her voice gentle and reassuring.
"Let's focus on something else for now. Where have you been?" I inquired, seeking distraction from the storm brewing within me.
"I attended the meeting with my parents," she replied, her tone revealing a hint of seriousness.
"The same one that the king called for the high-ranking members of the pack?" I asked, my curiosity piqued despite my distress.
"Exactly that," she confirmed.
"What? Why didn't you wake me up? I should have been there!" I asked, rising from the bed, my voice laced with frustration and a tinge of hurt.
"Relax! I didn't wake you on purpose. You've been so stressed lately and unable to sleep properly. You looked so peaceful this afternoon, I couldn't bring myself to disturb you," she reasoned, looking up at me, her hand clasping mine.
"Okay, but did my parents ask about me?" I inquired, walking over to the sofa and sinking into its cushions.
"Yes, Jayden specifically mentioned that he wanted you to do something on his behalf since he has to attend the meeting," she informed me, sitting closely beside me, her presence a balm during this unsettling moment.
"Thank you for letting me know. What was discussed during the meeting?" I queried, feeling a mix of anxiety and incomprehension creeping in.
"they spoke about the Lycan and their return to the world," she shared, her voice steady yet filled with an underlying tension.
"Lycans? Aren't they just a myth?" I asked, My voice trembled, caught between disbelief and fear.
"Yes, that's what we all believed, but now... they called the king and requested him to spread the news that they are back. The king and some high-ranking wolves are being invited to a celebration to commemorate their return," she elaborated.
my eyes wide with the weight of the revelation and perhaps concern for what it meant for us all.
"Wow, I can hardly wrap my head around that! So when is this celebration supposed to take place?" I asked, my, curiosity piqued
"In just one week's time," she replied, each word carrying the weight of our new reality.
"Will I be accompanying them to the Lycan empire?" I inquired hesitantly, my heart sinking at the thought.
"Yes of course! As the alpha's prince chosen mate, it's important that you are there," she affirmed, her voice steady yet imbued with empathy.
"I wish it weren't the case," I lamented, feeling powerless against my fate.
"You don't have a choice in this. You need to accompany them to show the world the soon-to-be werewolf queen. This will be your first official appearance with prince Jayden after announcing your bond" she reminded me, her voice firm yet understanding.
"Hmmm, I know," I sighed, feeling the weight of inevitable pressing down on me.
"Once we return, only a week will remain before my mating ritual with the prince. I can only hope there's a miracle that could prevent it," I added with a heavy heart, wishing fervently for a different path.
"I wish for that too, so you could find your happiness. You deserve it, truly," she reassured me, her sincerity clear in her tone.
"Alright, but you should also start preparing, as you'll be going too," I said, a faint smile creeping into my face.
"Of course! I can't let you go alone, beside let's be honest you can't live without my company" she teased, a playful smile crossing her lips, adding lightness to the heaviness that had settled around us.
"Indeed, Your Excellency, life without your delightful presence would be unbearable," I replied, a small smile breaking through my apprehension. With that shared moment of understanding, I stood, taking a deep breath as I left the room, steeling myself for the challenges that lay ahead, grateful for Amelia's companionship along the way.