Damian
I walked deeper into the ominous forest of darkness, fatigue clinging to my bones like a persistent shadow that I was failing to get used to. The twisted trees towered above, their gnarled branches like skeletal fingers reaching out to take my soul and leave my body empty.
Exhaustion settled over me with each step I took, the heavy darkness weighing on my shoulders, but despite the weariness, I kept on moving on the dreadful path like the tough alpha male I was. If it were anyone else, entering the foreboding forest would likely have led to their death.
Yet, for the time being, I endured.
The path ahead felt never-ending; the air was getting thick and cold with an otherworldly energy that created long shadows dancing on the uneven ground. I paused for a moment in high alert; every creak of a branch or rustle of leaves made me feel uneasy, making me aware that my solitary journey would surely become more daunting as time passed.
Suddenly, a distant howl echoed through the forest, sending shivers down my spine and breaking the eerie stillness, and then the air hung thick with an unsettling quiet, occasionally interrupted by the whisper of wind through the twisted branches.
I sighed, still on high alert, but moved forward as the gnarled trees closed in on me, their eerie shapes turning the forest into a maze and challenging my determination.
A sudden chill ran through my spine, and goosebumps prickled across my skin, as if invisible eyes were watching my every move. I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true because the Forest of Darkness hid secrets-supernatural secrets-and each step deeper only heightened the mystery.
However, that was the least of my worries because right now I was fueled by the urgent call to bring my dead mate back to life for the sake of my precious daughter, so I persisted through the eerie landscape, determined to unravel the enigma ahead.
The forest of darkness, like they said, had no beginning or end, and I was able to enter by chanting mystical spells at the borders of my pack’s territory. A portal to the forest then appeared after repeating the spell for the third time. Stepping through, I found myself walking for what felt like eternity as the weight of time felt heavy, and a sense of isolation set in as I continued walking, uncertain of when or if the journey would ever end.
I had entrusted my daughter to the hands of my beta, whom I trusted the most, without bidding farewell, fearing I might not return.
The constant walking tired me out, and I started breathing heavily, sweat dripping down my forehead as I navigated the maze-like paths of the forest. Here, time seemed to stand still, and the faint glow of the plants was my only source of light-my werewolf vision was useless in this strange place.
I could feel myself slowly going insane as shadows played tricks on my tired mind, and the distant whispers grew louder, creating an unsettling chorus of ghostly voices in my head.
Despite my growing tiredness, a stubborn determination pushed me forward. The search for the elusive flower of life kept me going, weighed down by the impending fate of my sister. If I could get two flowers of life, it would also be good for Selene.
The Forest of Darkness, with its eerie vibe, tested not only my physical strength but also the resilience of my spirit, and as the weariness settled deeper, I could feel my primal essence within growl in frustration.
Both my thoughts and my wolf’s feelings were wrapped up in the shared tiredness that touched every part of us. My wolf started howling loudly, urging us to stop for a moment.
“Human, we can’t go on like this. The Forest of Darkness is unforgiving, and every step drains us further-drains me further.”My wolf growled from the deepest part of my mind.
I acknowledged the fatigue, feeling the strain in every muscle, and I knew that most of the strength we had used so far was all his, as I was only an ordinary human without him.
“I understand, but we can’t go back now. Remember the promises we made to Anna about bringing her mother back to life? This is our moment to keep those promises, and it’s the only opportunity we have. Also, if what Selene mentioned in the letter is true, her life is at stake, and she needs the flower of life. She might be the result of our father’s unfaithfulness, but she is still our sister, and we must help her too.”
“What if it’s a futile endeavor? What if we can’t find the damn fucking flower? What if the legends about this forest are true and everyone who enters never returns? Then we will be doomed for life and be forgotten here.” My wolf whined, and a heavy breath escaped my lips as every word he said echoed through my mind, with doubt forming in my head.
“We press on, old friend. We can’t afford to dwell on what-ifs. We owe it to Ava and the memory of her mother to exhaust every option, so either way we are doomed.”
“Well, I am damn tired right now, and if you haven’t noticed, I am slowly losing myself. This is dangerous. Maybe we should reconsider and find another way.” My wolf murmured, its voice echoing in my mind.
I paused for a moment, feeling the weight of the forest bearing down on us, and I knew that resting for a while in this place could endanger our lives.
“Find another way? If you have suddenly forgotten, the only way out of this is to sacrifice our new mate, Ruby, in place of Ava. I understand you are using all your strength, but we can’t turn back now, and neither can we take a break. The Flower of Life is our only chance to undo the past without putting the life of our second chance mate at risk. Don’t tell me you agree with James to sacrifice Ruby in place of Ava.” I questioned, and a heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the distant, haunting sounds of the Forest of Darkness.
When James suggested that I follow my sister’s advice in the letter and use Ruby’s soul in place of Ava’s, it left me speechless. For the first time, I didn’t recognise my beta because his suggestion sounded heartless, which was surprising coming from him.
“We can’t sacrifice Ruby to bring back our dead mate for the sake of our daughter. She also has a son, whom she is protecting with her life. That would be selfish of us, as we would surely spend the rest of our lives regretting it,” my wolf said. I nodded in agreement and pressed on, the dim light filtering through the twisted branches casting eerie shadows on the forest ground.
Although we hadn’t formed a bond with Ruby, and even when my wolf tried to pretend like he didn’t care for her, I knew he was still protective and possessive.
“We will surely regret it, just like we have spent every moment of our lives regretting how we lost Ava, and that’s why we are here. Do you remember the painful process that Ava had to pass through to bring Anna into this world? It cost us her life, and it was our fucking fault that she died.” I spoke softly within our shared mental space, and my wolf howled painfully.
Memories of the past began to surface in my mind with images of when the doctor had brought Anna into my hands, which led to me silently shedding tears.
“How can I ever forget? It is engraved in my memory forever.” My wolf responded with a solemn tone, his eyes reflecting the weight of our past.
“Good, so we owe it to her, to Anna, to bring back her mother. If there’s a chance to retrieve the Flower of Life and undo the tragedy that befell us, we must take it.” I muttered, and my wolf growled in understanding.
The burden of the past pressed upon us, enclosing my existence. However, sacrificing Ruby just to please Ava was insane and irrational, conflicting with our shared purpose. As we trudged forward, each step etched a silent commitment to the quest that held the threads of life and death in its grasp.
“I’m so pissed that Bastard was her ex-mate; what if he tries to form a bond with her again and take her away?”My wolf growled, his fur bristling with agitation, breaking the silence between us after a while.
He had a point; Liam’s attempts to win back Ruby were relentless, and I couldn’t afford to let that happen. Yet, I couldn’t ignore the irony of my own actions-I was risking my life to bring back my deceased ex-mate, essentially setting myself up for a complicated dynamic with two mates.
The thought of having to choose between making Anna happy by reuniting her with her mother and pursuing my growing feelings for Ruby weighed heavily on my mind, but the thought of Liam swooping back into her life filled me with a sense of unease. Despite our complicated history with Ruby, I couldn’t deny the protective instinct that surged within me at the mere idea of her falling into Liam’s clutches again.
“We wouldn’t have become her second chance mate if the bond between her and Liam wasn’t broken. We just have to win her over, even if it means resorting to drastic measures, and we’ll deal with Liam if he dares to try anything,” I replied firmly, and I clenched my jaw, envisioning the possibility of Ruby rejecting us.
“And if, in the end, she doesn’t choose us, then we’ll have to accept it. After all, bringing Ava back from the dead would mean restoring our former happiness. Won’t that be worth it?” I reasoned with my wolf, who fell silent, contemplating my words.
“It would only be possible with the damn flower of darkness,” my wolf grumbled in annoyance, frustration evident in his voice.
“And that’s why we can’t give up. Right now, our priority is to find the flower of life and bring Ava back.” I declared, and my wolf within me emitted a low, supportive growl in agreement.
We pressed on through the mysterious Forest of Darkness with a new-found determination led by memories and the wish for a better future, even though we were exhausted beyond control.
“D-Damian?” A voice, soft as a whisper, pierced through the eerie stillness of the forest, causing me to freeze in my tracks. Slowly, I turned, my heart pounding in my chest as I dared to entertain the impossible.
And there she stood-Ava, my once-dead mate-her presence sending shockwaves of disbelief through my entire being. My eyes widened in astonishment, and my wolf stirred within me, sensing the extraordinary.
“A-ava?” I stuttered, barely able to speak, feeling both disbelief and hope as I tried to understand her presence. But one thing was clear: she was stunningly beautiful, just as I remembered her, maybe even more so. Her glow lit up the dark forest, and I couldn’t help but be drawn to her enchanting aura. Even though I was shocked to see her, her beauty was just as striking as it was in my memories.