Dimitri’s POV
I stood by the almost foggy windows of our bedroom, watching the moonlight spill across the forest, the nights had grown longer, since the beginning of the prophecy and each time I stood here looking out the windows watching the spill of moonlight over the pack lands that I had grown up in and that I loved it made my heart tighten.
This pack lands had been in my family for generations, my father and grandfather It was a land that I had fought to protect, that I had bled for, but now… now it was all at risk.
This prophecy spoke of a great danger, a threat that could destroy everything we had built. And that danger had a name-Marcellus.
The prophecy hung between Kate and I, its presence a constant reminder that our time was running out.
Especially when the sorcerer Marcellus had made his intentions clear every day by attacking borders close to pack lands, it was infuriating to watch waters become blood red and the plants burn black.
His magic kept turning everything in it’s path dark, two of our beta’s had turned feral for no reason and had to be contained, I wanted to find him and get rid of him but he was well hidden and it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Even Odette was having a hard time locating him.
I clenched my fists, as the familiar heat of my wolf rising to the surface came over me . It was happening more often now, the wild energy of my beast Drey straining against the chains I made to keep him in. Every day it grew harder to maintain control, to keep the beast at bay. I could feel my control slipping, like sand through my fingers, and the fear gnawed at me. What would happen if I lost control completely? I felt it each time especially during these constant attacks that I just too close to losing control.
When the sorcerer’s rogues had breached our outer borders and we had been forced to engage them, the air was thick with the scent of blood and sweat, the sounds of fighting ringing in my ears.
I was not sure if it was the battle or just the curse itself but it left my wolf was snarling, snapping, desperate to break free, to tear into our enemies and leave nothing but carnage in its wake.
But I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t afford to lose control, not now, because if I did change to my beast then no one would be safe, not the enemy and definitely not my own pack members.
So I fought to keep the beast at bay, to channel its energy into something productive to my human self, something that wouldn’t end in destruction of those I loved around me.
Kate stirred in the bed behind me, and I turned to find her watching me, her eyes dark with sleep and filled with concern.
She knew something was wrong, sometimes I was certain she could feel it, it made me even more certain that her wolf was developing faster than we had thought.
I knew she was worried even if I hadn’t told her the full extent of what was wrong with me, how could I?
How could I admit that I was losing control, that the beast inside me was growing stronger, hungrier?
How could I tell her that I was terrified of what I might become, of the fact that I could become a monster that would cause the deaths of others around me.
“Dimitri,” she said softly, her voice a balm to my untethered emotions.
“You’re not sleeping again.” she asked and I forced a smile.
” I don’t think any of us sleeps well in these moments,”
“I’m just thinking,” I replied, trying to keep the worry from my tone.
“There’s a lot on my mind.”
She sat up, the sheets pooling around her waist, her hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. There was something about her in the moonlight, something fragile and precious, like she was made of the very light that bathed her.
“You don’t have to carry it all alone, you know,” she said rising from the bed and grabbing a robe to cover herself as she walked to me, her eyes searching mine.
“I’m here. We’re in this together.” she mumbled and I nodded
“I know,” I said, taking her hand in mine I led her across the room and sat beside her on the bed.
“But some things… some things I have to handle on my own.” I replied softly, it was my duty and I would perform it .
She frowned, her grip tightening on my hand.
“What things? Dimitri, you’re scaring me. What aren’t you telling me?”
I knew Kate was strong, stronger than anyone gave her credit for, she had faced death more times than anyone should have to, and she had come out the other side. But that didn’t mean she was invincible, certainly not to Marcellus and definitely not to the curse that plagued me.
And while her words should have comforted me, all they did was twist the knife of guilt deeper into my chest.
Together!
That was how it was supposed to be and here I was hiding things from her, things that she deserved to know.
But I wasn’t the only one with secrets, I could sense that she was hiding things from me too.
The prophecy… we had mentioned it more times than I could count but not once had she actually told me what it was, not even when I had asked her directly she bore the weight of her knowledge alone.
I looked away, unable to meet her gaze.
I couldn’t tell her that I was afraid of hurting her, of losing her.
I didn’t plan on loosing her, not when I had just found her.
“It’s nothing,” I lied, hating myself for it.
“Just the usual pack business. With the sorcerer, and the attacks… I’m just trying to keep everyone safe and worried I’m not doing a good job of it”
She frowned and I sighed a little bit guilty, it wasn’t a complete lie, Marcellus was a threat, a constant danger that we had to eliminate quickly before he destroyed us all.
But it wasn’t the whole truth either and it was clear that Kate knew it.
She studied me for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if she was trying to see past the walls I had built around myself.
“You don’t have to protect me, Dimitri,” she said, her voice soft but firm.
“I can handle whatever it is. But I can’t do that if you don’t trust me enough to tell me the truth.”
Her words struck a part of me deep inside and for a moment, I actually considered telling her everything. About the beast and the curse.
But then I thought of the prophecy, of the burden she was already carrying, and I couldn’t bring myself to add to it.
This was my problem.
She had enough to worry about without me piling my own fears on top of it all, we all did.
I leaned into her and kisses her cheek softly, one then twice and pulled back
“I do trust you,” I said, squeezing her hand.
“More than anything. But like I said… some things are better left unsaid. At least for now.”
She sighed, a sound full of frustration .
“If that’s how you want to play it, fine” she said, though I could hear the hurt in her voice
” I can’t force you to say anything” she grumbled and I huffed
” That’s because there is nothing to tell I muttered and she glared at me
” I may not be able to make you say it but don’t think I don’t know when you’re hiding something from me, Dimitri. I’m not stupid.”
I winced at her words, knowing she was right, there was something. I was just not telling her , I tucked her hair behind her ear
“Just trust me, Kate,” I said, my voice barely more than a whisper.
“Please.”
She held my gaze for a long moment, and I could see the conflict in her eyes her need to press me for information but finally, she nodded, though it was clear that she wasn’t entirely convinced.
“I do trust you,” she said quietly.
” I just wished you would be more open with me ” she mumbled and I shrugged
“But I’m not the only one keeping secrets, am I?” I asked and she glared at me as if offended.
She knew I was right but she forced seemed to be forcing herself to stay calm as she replied .
“No,”
I nodded
” We can both agree to not pry ” I offered, looking out the window,
” Besides Marcellus is threat and we will do this we’ll deal with it. Together.”
She nodded again,
“Together,” she echoed, but the word felt hollow, even though I knew she meant them, maybe it was my guilt but it felt like I was setting us for failure.
The day to fight came far sooner than I had expected.
Marcellus’ attacks had grown more frequent, more daring, I knew what he was doing it was what every seasoned warrior would do, he was testing our defenses, looking for weaknesses.
I felt him at the end of the perimeter, felt when he broke through our border .
I had our men at the edge of the forest, Kate was by my side, despite my best efforts to make her stay behind,. I wanted to trust the fact that we had our warriors spread out behind us.
But maybe it was the mating bond that made it hard to stand still
We were as prepared as we could.
He was letting us sweat, as the minutes ticked by, my wolf Drey growled in annoyance urging me to attack first ti find the enemy and destroy it.
It took effort and time to get him to stand down.
And then, he appeared stepping out of the black fog as if he had been born from them.
He was a tall and imposing. His eyes, dark as the night itself, hovered over the pack land briefly and the they locked onto Kate and I felt a chill run down my spine. Drey growling low in his throat, my fangs popped and I snarled.
“So, you’re the one,” he said, his voice smooth and mocking.
“The one who thinks she can escape her fate.”
Kate clenched her fists, as she answered
. “I’ve already escaped it three times,” she said, her voice steady
“I’m not afraid of you.” she hissed
Marcellus chuckled, a sound that had apprehension digging through my spine
“You should be. You have no idea what you’re up against.”
I stepped forward, his voice a growl.
” Oh we know exactly what you are but we have just a warning for you sorcerer, you’re not welcome here, Leave now, or face the consequences.”
Marcellus barely glanced at him, his focus entirely on Kate
“I’m not here for your pack, Alpha. The prophecy cannot be denied. Your mate’s destiny is sealed, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”
I glanced at Kate, her expression steely and determined, she was strong and i believed we could do this but it didn’t stop the fear slithering through me.
“We make our own destiny,” Kate said, her voice unwavering.
“And I will not let you take that from me or this pack.”
Marcellus’ eyes narrowed, his expression darkening.
“You foolish girl. You don’t understand the forces you’re dealing with. The prophecy is not just a prediction; it’s a curse. And you will fulfill it, whether you like it or not.”
I blanched slightly, my fingers tightening in a fist
What the hell was this prophecy ?
He turned to me and smiled something malicious
” You don’t know what it says do you” he asked but I ignored him
” Do you want me to tell you ” he asked and I swallowed
” Don’t listen to him” Kate mumbled
” The child of the half moon to destroy the worldender, will burn in flames eternal and the world will bow before the true one”. He mumbled his hands gleaming with black acidic magic
” Your mate will die by my flame, I will be the one to end her puny miserable life” he roared
I roared in rage moving to attack him but before I could make a move, Marcellus raised his hand, and a blast of dark energy shot toward us.
I barely had time to react, the impact sent me stumbling back, the force of it nearly knocking me off my feet.
Kate was at my side in an instant, her hand gripping mine as she channeled her what seemed to be magic into the barrier. Together, we held it, the energy crackling between us like lightning.
“You can’t keep this up forever,” Marcellus taunted, his eyes gleaming with malice.
Drey roared inside me, demanding to be set free, to unleash his fury on the sorcerer who dared to threaten our mate. ”
Marcellus drew closer increasing his power, his eyes gleaming with a sour gaze
” The prophecy will come to pass, and when it does, you will fall.”