enjoyebooks Book 2: Chapter 51
Book 2: Chapter 51
"Are you having fun? Is knowing that I'm going through pain fun for you? Why do you have to make fun of me at a time like this?" I yelled, my breathing becoming ragged as I tried to contain my anger and frustrations while struggling to catch my breath and form a proper sentence.
My eyes burned with rage and tiredness as warm, salty tears freely flowed down my cheeks, touching my chin, and dropping to the grass on the ground. The feeling of the warm tears against my cheeks was the only thing keeping me warm in this cold, harsh weather.
I'm already in a tight space, and all that is happening to me right now is making it hard for me to breathe or stay calm; I can no longer feel my senses, and it's like my body and soul are dividing themselves. Knowing that right now the weight of my people is on my shoulders and I need to save Alaric from Anselm even without any strength left in me is exhausting.
I can't afford to freely shift into my wolf form as a pregnant wolf because it'll bring potential harm to my child. I'm helpless, and not only am I helpless but I am also useless. But why does she think she can make fun of my calamity this way?
"How dare you?" I yelled, my teary eyes burning into her soul as the smile on her face dropped.
"No, I'm not mocking you. I would never do so. I told you that I'm your friend," she said.
"I think you must have misunderstood me..." She protested.
"Then what sort of bullshit were you talking about earlier? I already know that I'm done for, and there's no way for me to save Alaric and my people, but you didn't have to mock me that way if you were truly my friend," I yelled, with the tone of my voice fading after every word that left my lips as I felt the last bit of strength in me waning away.
"I mean it. You don't need to be stressed over this battle because it's yours to decide but not yours to fight. She said again, placing her soft, cold hands on my shoulders, but her cold hands and the cold weather didn't seem to match as I flinched, causing her to remove her hands.
I heaved a heavy sigh as I closed my eyes in despair. My brows furrowed slightly. Slowly, I massaged my temples as I found it hard to comprehend what she meant.
I would have accepted the fact that she was only mocking me, but the look on her face said otherwise. Firmly, I looked into her brown eyes, searching for the tiniest hint of mockery, but all I could see instead was nothing but honesty.
There was not a hint of mockery in those enchanting brown eyes of hers as they softly stared at me with warmth.
Her warm eyes seemed to have soothed me; I no longer felt the cold around me, and somehow, her honesty and trust in me made me believe that there might actually be hope for me. Something else was attached to staring into her eyes; all of my concerns seemed to have calmly vanished. My tensed muscles seemed to have relaxed, my cold shoulders are now warm, my furrowed brows are soothed, and it felt like my body had just undergone some kind of cleansing.
It's hard to understand what just happened, but as long as it made me calm and brought me peace, I won't question it. I just need to know what she meant by calling me the chosen one. She doesn't appear to be joking.
"Then what do you mean?" I asked.
"First, I need to apologize to you for making you think I was mocking you. I would never do that," she said, assuring me and cleaning away the dried tears from my face. This time I didn't flinch when she touched me, and I let her wipe my tears away.
"I shouldn't have accused you either," I replied.
"I am not a wolf; I serve the moon goddess," she said. I almost found myself scoffing at her words, but her serious face somehow seemed to have convinced me that she might be telling the truth.
"If you serve the moon goddess, then can you perhaps help me tell her to get rid of Anselm?" I asked, eagerly waiting for her answer while my gaze was fixed on her without moving.
I was finding it hard to believe her words, but if truly she serves the moon goddess, then it's a blessing and a win for us because Anselm wouldn't be able to beat the moon goddess. The moon goddess could take pity on us; after all, she's able to see the things that are happening to us and knows that Anselm isn't meant to be here. He is nothing but a dead wolf and should go back to where he came from.
"She knew about this before you were even born," Jasmine replied.
"Then why couldn't she prevent Anselm from coming here?" I asked. I was starting to get pissed, even though I knew that I shouldn't be feeling this way about a simple conversation that isn't even true. I mean, Jasmine just said she wasn't a wolf, but I've seen her in action, the way she tackled Simon not once but twice, and the way she dragged me away from the pack house and brought me to this place in only a few split seconds.
Thinking about it again seems to be proving her statement correct because Simon is a Lycan and she had claimed to be an ordinary wolf. There's no wolf that'll be able to take on a Lycan, and how in the hell did we escape the pack house in only a few seconds? I had not sat down to think about it, but now that I'm thinking about it, she could be telling the truth.
"The moon goddess isn't meant to directly interfere with wolves, but she can send herself as help in the form of a female wolf, and that female wolf that was chosen is no one else but you." She explained. I scoffed, not because I was finding it hard to believe her but because I was believing her. How could it be? I've been nothing but a nobody since I was given birth to and only bloomed the moment I met Alaric.
"Of course!" I scoffed.
"Have you ever sat down to wonder where your abilities as a wolf came from?" She asked. I've had the question cross my mind multiple times, but I didn't dive too deep into it because I assumed that it should have been the norm because I was born into a special type of family whose females are shifters, and aside from that, I was also mated to the future Lycan king. That could have been where my powers came from.
"Isn't it because I'm from a shifter family and I'm mated to Alaric?" I asked. My curiosity is eating me up.
"Of course not. Tala doesn't have what you have, and Alaric hasn't marked you yet. It's impossible to possess some of his powers already, not to mention a strength greater than his." She answered. Everything suddenly became clear to me, and I finally accepted that she might not be lying.
"But why?" I let out the question lingering in my mind. Why was I chosen? Why am I just learning about this now? Why did my life have to be hell if I had all of this 'strength' in me? Why?
"As much as I would love to answer all your questions, I must remind you that we have limited time left, and it's important that you know that your duty is to bring peace to the world once again because if Anselm takes over by force, there would be chaos."
"Alaric won't let it go easily, and a great war would break out, causing multitudes to die because of the two brothers, and your role here is to prevent that from happening."
"The moon goddess has blessed you with all her powers but the ability to be immortal; you should do right with it and bring peace to the world, not war," she finished.
"How do I activate these powers?" I asked. I've been alive for years and had no idea I had such abilities until now, but how do I make use of those abilities?
"Reach out to your 'inner wolf," she answered.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go and put an end to Anselm's life," I eagerly said, standing up from the log of wood that I was sitting on, but the immediate cramps in my legs and back pain made me sit back down. I've been having these types of pains recently, and they have only increased in the last two days. I think I might be due soon.
I can only pray that my little child hangs on a little bit longer. At least until everything is settled, I would hate to bring my child into this world in the midst of chaos, and I would most definitely hate it if I was unable to put an end to this crisis because I had to be put into labour.
"If there's a way for you to bring peace without killing Anselm, then that would be best and just for him; after all, his own twin also tried to kill him a long time ago." She said, supporting me with her hands on my waist as I sat back down on the log.
She's right, just as Alaric doesn't deserve to die. Anslem also doesn't. Alaric had deeply wronged him and hurt him.
"I'll try my best," I replied. Heaving in a deep breath and preparing myself to stand up and walk back to the pack house
"You might be due sooner," Jasmine said. I took my hands into hers as she helped me get up.
"I pray my child hangs on a bit longer," I replied with a sigh, taking the first step away from wherever I am, but I seemed to be lost. I had no idea where I was. We're in the middle of the night, and I'm in a place I have no idea of.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"A place no one can find us," she replied, chuckling.
"How do we go home?" I asked.
"The same way we came here, but I think it'll be better to wait for dawn," she replied, as she gently squeezed my hand.
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"She's finally here; where have you been? I missed having you around." Anselm said the moment Jasmine opened the two large, heavy doors that led into the pack house.
Anselm seemed to have been waiting for me all night because he remained in the same position he was in when I left, but what broke me was the fact that Alaric was still his foot stool.
Seeing Alaric powerless like that scared the hell out of me, but I tried to compose myself. I hate to see him suffer, and I couldn't even handle it when Adolph tried to kill him in my presence.
Seeing him this way triggers a part of me that wants nothing more than to see Anselm below my feet as I squeeze out the life from him.
Seeing Alaric helpless on the floor makes me forget that I am not meant to act irrationally and that I'm meant to bring peace to the world.
"Get your legs off him," I threatened with a low but loud growl. Anselm seemed to have received my warnings by immediately removing his legs from Alaric.
"I've had my men search for you, but you weren't found. How did you hide?" he asked. He must have known that there was something else attached to my whereabouts. Jasmine made sure to hide me in a place no one can reach, and Anselm also deals with the extraordinary things normal wolves don't have any business with, so he must have known that we hid in a place like that.
"Where I was is none of your business, and I'm here to accept your offer." I announced, and the moment those words left my lips, I could feel the numerous eyes that fell on me. They were all shocked that I would come to make a decision like that, and even Jasmine wasn't so happy about it, but she said nothing. She was only here to guide me and not influence my decision. Moreover, whatever decision I make right now will determine the fate of the whole world.
"Do you finally agree to be mine?" He asked, his grin growing wider as he stood up from the chair. The moment his legs took the first step, his men immediately rushed behind him, following his every step, and it was then I spotted Otto; his face held no emotions as he stood firm beside Anselm with his shoulders broad and chin up high.
Why did he have to bring his men in today? They weren't here with him yesterday when he fought with Alaric, and Simon was the only one with him. Speaking of Simon, he's nowhere to be found. I hope Anselm hasn't done anything bad to him.
The sight of all of these hefty and bulky men surrounding me intimidated me, but Jasmine seemed to notice the change in my aura and was quick to comfort me by wrapping her arms around my back and softly caressing my shoulders.
"I will not be yours, Anselm, but I'm willing to give you the nation."
"I understand that you were wronged when you were young; the pain Alaric caused you seemed to have driven you into this state of yours, hence I'm willing to give up the nation for you. It's yours to rule, and I hope you rule it rightly and not out of spite for your brother."
"I will take Alaric and my closest friends away from your sight, and you will never have to see us anymore." I was about to finish when I was interrupted by a loud laugh.
"I believe that was yesterday's deal. My mind changes quickly, and right now I want everything, including your lives, to myself." He laughed, taking a step closer to me.
"You can't do that," I protested. It took me a lot of time to think of a solution; he can't just throw it out the window. I'm trying my best to bring peace between us all.
"You have no choice either. Diane didn't save me by letting Alaric go away unharmed." He said.
"Anselm, but…"
"Silence!" he yelled, cutting Diane off her speech and taking yet another step closer to me.
I could feel the hair on my neck standing; he's getting too close to me, and I'm not sure if I would take it lightly with him if he's close enough to feel my breath. It's taking every ounce of patience I have to remain calm with him.
"You must accept my offer, or else you won't like whatever will come for you." I threatened through clenched teeth, with my chin raised high to look him dead in the eyes. For a split second, I could see fear in his eyes, but they were quick to vanish.
"You must have something or someone giving you all of these guts, don't you?" He asked. Circling both Jasmine and me
"I'm not like your usual Lycan, and I can sense when someone isn't one of us." He added. He must have had a whiff of Jasmine.
"She's the one, isn't she?" He asked, but his question was more rhetorical as he forcefully dragged Jasmine away from me.
"Jasmine!" I yelled, attempting to reach for her, but before I could get anywhere near them, he pulled out a sharp pocket knife and held it to her throat, threatening to kill her if I got any closer to her.
I shouldn't be worried; a knife wouldn't be able to hurt Jasmine, and neither will Anselm's powers work on her.
"Let me go!" Jasmine warned while he continued to choke her with his hand firm around her neck, lifting her above the ground, and with his other hand holding a knife to her throat.
"You're not normal, and that's why my powers didn't work on you last night," he knows. He was quick to sniff Jasmine out, and I have no idea how he did that so quickly.
"Don't be scared; don't panic; he can't kill or hurt her. His powers don't work on her," I repeatedly said to myself, assuring myself that he couldn't harm her.
"You can't harm me!" Jasmine spat on his face; her actions seemed to have aggravated him as his rage increased.
"We'll see about that," he growled, pressing the knife tight on her neck, and my nightmare was confirmed. I had not expected a knife to pierce through her neck, yet here he is, slicing her neck with his knife as she struggled to catch her breath.
"Leave her alone!" I screamed, but my voice only made his smirk grow wider. He wasn't stopping; he was having fun with himself by torturing and harming Jasmine.
"Let her go!" I yelled, and salty tears weren’t far from my eyes as they freely flowed to the floor. I tried to run to him and stop him from hurting Jasmine, but his hefty guards surrounded me, giving me no access to Jasmine. I tried to break free from their chain, but nothing that I did seemed to be working.
The world suddenly feels so slow as I watch Jasmine staring at me with her eyes red from terror. Her strength failed her; her hands fell, and she no longer struggled with Anselm's hands, which were still choking her.
Lenora," I could hear her whisper as her lips slowly curled into a sad smile, and for the first time since I knew her, I could see tears building up in her eyes. She was about to give up the battle with Anselm. I can't let it be! I can't let Anselm take someone else from me! I can't let it happen!
"Bring peace," she struggled to say as her eyes slowly closed and the tears in her eyes flowed down her brown cheeks.
"No!" I gasped, watching her soul leave her body right in front of me while I panted.
"No!" I gasped, watching the smile on Anselm's face grow wider as he licked his lips.
"No!" I gasped, watching how Josh struggled to break free from the paralysis, but his efforts were to no avail.
"No!" This time, my voice didn't come out as a gasp but as a loud scream, causing everything around me to shake like an earthquake. Everyone around me fell to their knees in an instant.