Zara’s POV
“Luna, Luna, they are coming!” Hayley stuttered anxiously as she came running into the room. “I-I don’t know if I can stop them. What shall I do? Tell me how I can help you…!”
My gaze reluctantly moved towards her, where she stood, panting out of breath by the door. She appeared frightened and scared of whoever was coming.
“Who is coming?” I inquired, feeling my heart rate rise.
Was it time already?
“The Rogue King and his Beta!” Hayley’s voice trembled in fear.
My throat immediately became restricted as a lump formed in my throat; my heartbeat raced uncontrollably, and I suddenly felt faint, nauseous, and weak.
Was I about to get an anxiety attack?
“This is not the time to feel sorry for yourself!” Kaya growled. “You are no weakling! You received training from the best! You were born into one of the world’s strongest wolf packs! You are a silver wolf! You are the Goddess’ daughter!”
“You are right, Kaya,” I whispered. “I am. I just feel afraid of what’s to come!”
“Use that fear to conquer the enemy!” she urged. “Show them why you are born to lead and be their queen!”
I closed my eyes, hoping it would help calm my nerves, and I pushed the unwanted feelings aside. I was stronger than my fear! I was stronger than them!
A sudden calmness washed over me and wrapped me in a comfortable warm cocoon-as if someone was hugging me, soothing the worry out of me, and giving me the strength to face my destiny.
I could suddenly think more clearly, my senses awakening. Everything around me looked brighter, more colorful, and more intense.
This was my destiny. I was born to do this. I was born to stop and defeat the darkness luring among the wolves. I was sent here to restore the balance and bring peace back among all wolves.
The calmness inside me shifted, and I suddenly felt excitement bubbling inside me. The burst of energy felt warm and almost soothing; it pumped through my veins, awakening everything inside me. I could feel it move toward the parts I could never reach, and a small smile grew on my lips when I felt my magic stirring inside me.
“Your magic is awake,” Kaya yapped. “It will help and protect you.”
I nodded and turned my attention back to Hayley.
“Let them come,” I replied calmly.
“B-but…!” Hayley started to argue. She didn’t like what I just said.
I shifted my head to the side and smiled, raising my hand to stop her.
“I am ready for whatever they have planned for me,” I said. “Trust me. This is what I was…”
“But… no… no… no!” Hayley cut me off and refused to listen.
“I am ready for what’s to come,” I told her. “The Goddess will give me the strength to….”
“But he might hurt you, or worse, kill you!” she interrupted, her anxiety growing in her pleading eyes. “I-I-I can’t let them do this to you- not after what you have done for me and the others rogues!”
My heart warmed at her words, and a soft smile followed on my lips. Hayley has already become attached to me. It would be hard to say goodbye to her should something drastically happen to me.
My gaze shifted down to my hands. It was all my magic’s fault that Hayley felt like she owed me her life-my magic took pity on her. It only required a single touch to heal her severely injured human body.
The only drawback was that the healing process was slow-because of her wolf-but the results were unbelievable.
I carefully moved a stray hair from Hayley’s face and captured her gaze. Her soft, chocolate-brown eyes were full of angst.
I traced my index finger over the ugly scar that had once ruined her pretty little face-now a thin, almost invisible, healthy pink scar was in its place.
“Hayley,” I stopped her. “I am the only one who can stop him… them.”
I needed to set her and the rest of these slave wolves free. The only way I could accomplish that was by destroying the dark magic-it was still feeding and weakening her wolf.
Hayley shook her head, bewildered, tears spilling over and running down her face.
“I don’t think you understand,” she whispered, grabbing my hands and pulling me closer. “You are with Pup! You can lose your baby!”
I stared at Hayley in disbelief.
Did she really just say what I think she said? Could it really be?
“I don’t know what you are going on about!” I huffed, feeling a sudden anger rise in me. What this girl is saying can’t be true. “I can’t be-”
Yet, that might explain the mood swings I was having.
“You have been pregnant since you were locked up in here,” she said, seriously. “I’m surprised that you didn’t know that!”
“It… it is impossible!” I sat back on the bed, focusing my gaze on my stomach. “There is no way I can be with Pup! I would have known if I was pregnant.”
Hayley squatted next to me.
“I think you might have missed it with everything that was going on,” she stated. “I can hear the pup inside your belly. You are indeed pregnant.”
“I…” I couldn’t find the words. If what she said is true, I need to protect my pup-he or she will be the future of all the wolves.
“Don’t worry,” Kaya chirped. “Everything will be fine!”
“Will my magic be able to protect my pup?” I asked, the realization that I might be pregnant hitting me hard.
“I am sure it will,” Kaya soothed. “And I will do everything in my power to do the same. I know how important he will be to you and everyone else.”
The door suddenly screamed on its hinges, and my gaze snapped in its direction.
Alpha Noah, five rogue guards, and a man who seemed to be Noah’s grandfather all stepped forward. My pulse quickened, and I forced myself to swallow; the betrayal was genuine, as I saw Alpha Jack and Luke among them.
“It seems we have a little traitor among us,” Noah’s grandfather sneered, pointing at Hayley.
“What should we do with the little traitor?” Noah asked, raising a taunting eyebrow.
“I know what to do with her. Let me have her, Father,” Luke said with a wicked grin.
A cold, uncontrollable shiver ran down my spine. I should have known Luke was part of this.
Hayley whimpered next to me. She seemed to be afraid of Luke.
“She has nothing to do with me!” I said, getting to my feet. “She only brings my food and drink. Don’t punish her. She has done nothing wrong but serve you.”
Alpha Jack’s gaze found mine-all traces of the once good-hearted Alpha were gone. I should have known when he sided with Alpha Noah he was against us.
“Even more reason for Luke to take and have her,” Noah hissed like a snake.
“Silence!” Alpha Jack roared, stepping forward and grabbing my chin between his index finger and thumb.
For a moment he just stared into my eyes.
“Seems like the future queen Zara favors the worthless rogue,” he said seriously.
“That is a problem,” Noah said. “We really should do something about that.”
Alpha Jack turned his gaze toward Luke and waved him closer.
“Get her out of my sight,” he growled. “Before I lose my temper and scar her pretty healed face again…”
“It would be an honor, Father,” Luke said, finding my gaze, and an unknown emotion flashed in his eyes before he grabbed Hayley by the arm and dragged her outside.
Will Hayley survive Luke’s attack?
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