Zara’s POV
My entire body was burning, and it had spread like wildfire. I was in so much pain that I was having trouble breathing and moving.
My frantic screams had long since subsided, and I was now barely conscious.
“Oh, Goddess, Zara!” A familiar voice chimed in my ears. “What have you done to yourself?!”
I could hear the worry in his voice, but I could not tell who it was. My eyes were full of tears, making it difficult to see him.
Perhaps it was my dad? Did he find me?
“Before the goddess punishes me for neglecting you, we had better get you inside,” he murmured to himself. “I can’t believe you would do this to yourself! If the goddess sees you in this state, what will she say?”
With a sigh, strong arms scooped me up from the cave floor. He stroked my hair tenderly while carefully pressing my head against his chest.
“Everything is going to be alright,” he muttered, his heartbeat lulling me to sleep. “I will look after you.”
His words contained a promise that I could not ignore.
He walked silently toward the temple while I closed my eyes and listened to his heartbeat.
I wanted to beg him not to go near the temple at first, but as we got closer, my desire to be there grew.
“Welcome home, Zara,” a woman’s sweet and innocent voice said, sending a chill down my spine. “We have a lot to talk about, but you should first get some rest. Now go to sleep, my darling child. Rest well.”
Exhausted, I succumbed to sleep as a kind of calmness overcame me, relieving all of my physical pain.
I am not sure how long I slept, but I never anticipated being by myself when I woke up.
“Urgh,” I groaned quietly as I drew myself into a sitting position. “Where am I?”
I waited for a few seconds for my eyes to get used to the room’s low lighting.
My eyes swept across the room.
The room itself was nothing spectacular. The white marble walls were tall, and the only furnishings were a table and chair and a single bed.
My gaze swept to the fireplace. The fire provided just enough light to make the room feel comfortable and welcoming.
“It is plain and simple,” Kaya stated. “Yet so cozy and warm.”
“Kaya, you are back!” I chirped joyfully. “I was afraid I had lost you. “Where have you gone?”
When the temple glowed and I tensed in agony, Kaya vanished from my mind, leaving me alone.
“I apologize for abandoning you in that manner,” she said. “The…”
Kaya was interrupted when the door screamed on its hinges, and I turned to look at the ancient wooden door.
“I see you are awake. May I come in?” The voice called from the door.
“Y-yeah,” I stammered, identifying the person whose voice it was.
Could it be?
Has he saved me?
Beta John walked into the room, and my heart began to race. Rather than being upset about seeing me, he appeared worried.
Silently, he walked past me and placed a tray on the table with a kettle and cup.
He turned to face me after silently pouring the contents into the cup.
“You need to drink this,” he said, passing me a cup.
I stared at him in amazement, unsure whether I should trust him or not.
“Go ahead,” he said softly. “I assure you it is not poison. It is to make the pain go away.”
There was a warmth in his icy blue eyes, as though he sensed something beyond worry.
In an attempt to read him, I shifted my head to the side and knitted my eyebrows together, glancing up and down at him.
How did he know I was in pain?
Was he following me?
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and lifted the cup to my lips.
I pulled my face in disgust after taking a sip of the contents.
“Sorry,” he said, a smile forming on his lips. “I assure you that it will be beneficial, even though Celia mentioned it would taste a little bitter.”
I remained silent and nodded. I was at a loss for words.
I returned the cup to him after swallowing the contest as fast as I could.
“Good girl,” he said with a hint of pride before returning the cup to the tray. “I will take this back and bring you some food.”
“Beta John,” I said as he arrived at the door. He paused and turned to face me again. “I am grateful; thank you.”
A flash of an unidentified emotion passed through his eyes.
Grinning, he hurried out of the room.
“That was something else,” I muttered to myself. “Did you notice that?”
“Uhm,” Kaya said hesitantly as she turned to face me again. She appeared to be having trouble with something.
“What is wrong?” I asked. “What are you withholding from me?”
“Zara, I spoke to the goddess,” she quietly said.
“Whoa! That is fantastic!” I called out. “Did you explain to her my case?”
“She is not upset with you!” She cut me off. “She was not punishing you for coming here!”
“What did you two talk about then?” I asked, puzzled. “What is causing my pain? Is it Nic? Is he in trouble?”
“Oh, Zara,” she said, drawing nearer. “Nic is not hurt at all, but it has something to do with him.”
Kaya tilted her head, as though to let me know that I was overlooking something obvious.
What did I fail to notice?
“I do not understand,” I finally conceded. I detest the fact that she was unable to simply state what was wrong with me. “If the goddess is not punishing me, and if Nic is not hurt, then what is wrong with me? What is causing my pain? Am I ill?”
“Not exactly,” Kaya said in an uneasy tone. “It is a bit more complicated than that.”
Complicated?
In what way?
“Just tell me-” I let out an angry cry, but my senses flew into overdrive and my thoughts were disrupted.
Before the knock even came, my eyes darted to the bedroom door, and I raised my nose to the air to sniff the air.
My heart rate rose in expectation, and my eyes expanded with excitement.
I could smell Nic standing behind the door, his intoxicating vanilla and honey scent taunting me to go to him.
“He came!” I whispered. “He came to find me!”
Gradually, the ancient door opened, showing the wolf I adore so much, and his heady vanilla and honey scent filled my nostrils.
Heaven, just heaven. I couldn’t get enough of it. I was addicted to it.
Taking his time, Nic entered the dimly lit room. His steps were slow and calculated, as if he was scared of making any sudden movement.
I squinted at his behavior.
Something is not quite right.
Something did not feel right.
My heart skipped a beat when I met his eyes.
Ray had taken over, and pools of black had replaced Nic’s icy blue gaze.
Will I be able to find out why Ray is in control?
****