The Gate of Shadows

Taking the opportunity that we were alone, Fenris informed Liam of everything that occurred at the festival. Even though I had theorized what had happened before, it seemed I was right about most parts.

An elder started a toast for the future alpha and the prophecy to come, but before a monologue that became a rant on how Lycans would be on top of the hierarchy again. Before the old fool’s speech was done, some of the impatient wolves had taken a sip of their drink.

Sadly, Owen was…

“If he’s going to keep ranting off, I would rather be drunk!” The yellow wolf huffed, gulping down the drink.

Luckily, my wolf and Ezra didn’t touch the liquid since he tried calling Liam with Ezra’s phone. The reaction was almost instant, triggering those affected to act strangely. They first thought their friend was ill or drunk, which was a hefty fee for a single drink to do, but it quickly changed when Owen grabbed onto Fenris's shoulders before clawing his face.

Luckily, the blond wolf missed his eye when he slashed through the flesh. After that, chaos rapidly broke out as Ezra got Owen off him before another Lycan attacked Ben, damaging his mechanical arm.

Amelia took the crazed Lycan off Ben while Layla helped Fenris from where he was. After that, the corpses came into the barrier before randomly vanishing. It wasn’t long until I came and did my part before losing control and needed to be saved.

After they quelled me, the Cerberus corps entered the scene and found the unknown substance laced on most, if not all, the cups that were supposed to be used for the toast. They still refused to come out and say it was wolfbane, not to scare the masses, but it did have similar side effects.

Although this plant was more deadly than wolfsbane, the afflicted hunted down everyone around them for an entire hour before they expired. The original one would put their misery to an end within minutes.

Fenris was so close to being killed by that attempt by the rogue witches that it sickened me to my core. When he finished his report to Liam, Melody glanced at me, assuring me it was time for me to come clean.

Even if it meant it would be harder for them to escape Fenris's anger, the boys were still speaking when I grabbed my wolf's shirt, tugging it slightly to catch his attention. I hesitated before he tilted his ears back, not knowing what to expect.

"What's wrong?" Fenris asked, noticing my hesitance to speak.

Shivers went down my spine, knowing that whatever I said would awaken his rage again.

"I..." I hesitated before letting go of everything that I did.

Everything I hid from Fenris was known as I held nothing back, recounting everything that popped into my head. However, I avoided his face, not wanting to see his expression. His anger resonated with his power again when he glowed like a decorated tree after I told him about the lucid dreaming spell, especially when I recalled what Alijah declared and did.

Once I finished, I closed my eyes, preparing to receive the scolding of a lifetime. Instead, Fenris took a deep breath and slowly let it go. I thought I was scot-free for a moment, but it would quickly change.

"I feel stupid. Here I was, being gentle with you. How silly of me!" Fenris growled, his tone sending shivers down my spine.

I couldn’t even imagine the expression he had. He glanced over at Melody, who froze right where she was. It was almost as if she saw death coming towards her.

Dropping onto her knees, “Please have mercy on me!” she begged.

Poor Liam glanced around the room, worried he was next. After all, he knew about the curse and had asked me to help, even though I had previously declined, and when I confessed, I admitted to everything—dooming the two.

They were both sweating profusely.

"Ah... don’t worry. Now that you’re a full-grown Lycan, I’ll ensure you know your command chain. Although... I know this little witch can be tricky to deal with." Fenris responded, walking over to them.

She could almost see flashbacks of her life from when the big, bad wolf stood before her. It left me helpless to help them. I could only watch while Shade got up from the pillow to observe what was happening.

Her tail swayed in excitement. Even though it would spell certain doom for Liam, he stood forward to help his beloved.

"Don't go hard on her. She just wanted to be free, Fen." The brown wolf tried to help.

It caused his friend to grab onto him by the throat. Effortlessly, he held Liam up and onto the wall behind them. The sheer power my wolf possessed was looming over me. Alijah would be ten, if not a hundred times worse.

"Oh, that I understand fully, but you... I expected better from you. I forgive you for leaving me stranded in this wretched festival alone. After all, you went to help Lilit, but I won’t forgive you for hiding that Melody had a curse and that my charge knew about it!" Fenris growled, eyes shimmering.

“Fen, I’m sorry. I didn’t think she’d do anything! Please, believe me!” Liam begged for mercy.

It was incredible how the silver wolf could lift him with one arm alone, even though they shared similar body types. Compared to a normal Lycan, his power was already excelling and evolving.

Alijah... will surely be...

Even though Fenris's anger was valid, he wasn’t a saint in all of this, either. I only went behind his back because he always wanted to keep me safe, and that alone would’ve prevented me from being anything but a weight on his shoulders.

Something I wanted to overcome no matter the cost, and to do that, I had to face him. He wouldn’t know how I felt unless I spelled it out. I had to gather the courage to face my beloved angered wolf to do that.

"Enough! If you want to be angry, then turn it towards me! I’m the one who did everything!" I worked up the courage to face Fenris's rage.

When he turned to me, his expression wasn’t one he had ever expressed to me before. It was almost as if I had betrayed his trust in more ways than one.

I never thought it would hurt you this much. Fenris… I’m…

All because I never thought he loved me as much as he did. I had always thought of myself as nothing more than his duty, but I was much more than that.

Why… was I so blind to how you felt about me? How come it took me to hear the words I thought I would never listen to you say? For me to realize your feelings for me when you’ve always said it differently.

From how you held, spoke to, and even looked at me, you screamed how much you love me!

 Yet all that stared at me currently was pure sorrow, making me realize I hurt him.

I never wanted to do that.

"Oh, little love, you don’t even know what’s in store for you. Everything you hid from me! Everything you denied me of knowing!" Fenris growled, letting go of Liam, who slumped onto the floor, quivering next to Melody.

My angered wolf took a step towards me.

Melody’s right, you can be intimidating, but I can’t let you win! If I want to stand by your side, I must be just as fearless as you are! You and everyone around us will hear me!

All I felt was the guilt from hurting him, but nothing else. I would do it all over again if the same events played out.

"You did the same to me! Kept me in the dark about so many things!" I argued back.

He gave me a soft, broken laugh, shifting his stance towards me. "No, no, don’t go there. That was to keep you safe!" he confronted.

"I wanted to keep you safe, too! Don’t you realize it?! I can’t... No, I won’t live without you! You’re my world, too!" I yelled.

It caused him to stop right before me, surprised by my outburst. Usually, I would crumble under him, but if I wanted to be his equal, I needed to be an alpha like him.

"Lilith..." Fenris called to me, reaching towards my cheek.

I pulled away slightly from his touch before grabbing his hand and facing him head-on. My wolf wouldn’t crack me.

You were born to be a leader, and I... If I want to be with you, I must be just as strong and fearless.

"I want to be your equal, not your burden or duty!” I shook my head, squinting. “No, I want to be much more than that! Please, let me be more than a load for you!" I continued to let go of my emotions as tears streaked down my cheeks before I even realized it.

A second later, Fenris enveloped me in his arms. We had both hurt each other; that much was clear, and all for the same reason.

"You’ve never been a burden to me, Lilith!" Fenris reassured me, holding me tightly against his chest.

"Then why do I feel it so?" I sobbed.

I was holding myself bare to him. Even though anger pulsed through every part of his being, he held me tenderly.

"Lilith... I’m sorry. I just wanted you to be safe." Fenris apologized, shaking his head a bit.

"I didn’t know you felt this way. I love you.” He began holding me closer.

His voice appeared brittle.

“Fuck! I’ve always loved you! You’re my world! One I failed to protect once before. I promised never to allow that again." Fenris professed.

Even though I already knew, it felt liberating to hear him repeat it. The biggest smile broke on my lips.

You’ve never once failed me, Fenris. Not even when we were kids, you did all you could! It wasn’t your fault that you had no power. We were just children.

"You big stupid wolf," I mumbled.

 “I love you, Lilith.” He sighed, tugging me up to a tender kiss.

"And the witch tamed the big bad wolf just like that." Shade snickered on the side.

Fenris growled at her as he held me close to himself. I had narrowly escaped his rage, but only for the moment. What would come next would change us and everything we fought for.

I never knew I would love someone more than I did Fenris.