Chapter 287
I slipped the dark robe over my shoulders, fingers trembling slightly as I fastened the clasp at my throat. The fabric was heavier than I expected, woven with threads of silver that caught the light of the torches flickering in the chamber. I’m yet to understand the palace’s love for ancient torches, or was it part of the celebrations?
The cloak, meanwhile, which had been given to me by Adam—courtesy of his father, felt ceremonial, weightier than anything I had worn before—as though it wasn’t just cloth but expectation resting against my skin.
Today was the day. Or night p>
The day I would cast a protective spell strong enough to shield an entire pack, one of the most feared in all the realms. The weight of it pressed on me harder than the robe, harder than I expected.
Why fret? I had El on my side, and she hadn’t declared that it couldn’t be done. Yet, my heart thrummed with nerves, my magic stirring uneasily beneath my ribs like a caged bird.
I stared at my reflection in the polished mirror. My face looked the same—too extraordinary, too mysterious—with the mask emitting some faint glow.
How could this face belong to someone who would be trusted with defending warriors, Lycans, and the royal bloodline itself? I looked like a major show freak.
Stop it. You are enough.
El’s voice brushed through my mind, steady and soft, as it had so many times before. A warmth threaded through my chest, easing the tremor in my fingers.
You were chosen, Maya. Not by accident. Not by chance. By destiny. And so, you can do it. You will do it. Diana is with you too.
Of course.
I exhaled slowly, letting her words sink into the cracks of my doubt.
It helped that the days leading to this moment had not been grim. The pack had opened itself more in festivity, offering laughter, games, and endless feasts.
The friendly combat challenges, duels sort of, replayed in my mind—the clashing of steel, the roar of the crowd, the rush of victory still fresh in my bones. The horse competitions, Diana’s delighted squeals as she cheered from the sidelines, the wolves shifting beneath the moonlight—all of it painted a memory of belonging I hadn’t expected to find here.
Even Adam. For more chapters visit.net
I felt the corner of my mouth lift as I thought of him. Whatever this thing was between us, it remained unnamed.
But names were unnecessary when laughter came so easily, when stolen glances lingered a heartbeat too long, when his presence steadied me in ways I didn’t want to admit aloud.
His brothers had tried, in their own ways, to claim slivers of my attention, but somehow Adam was always a step ahead. Always there when I turned.
Even though I had turned down his request to ride on his wolf—cause why would I subject myself to such confusion—he wasn’t annoyed in the least, and his offer to ride on his wolf was still on the table.
And to be honest, with every ticking moment, my resistance was weakening.
A knock at the door startled me.
“Maya,” Diana’s voice sang softly. “Are you ready p>
“Almost p>
I had sent Diana to check if we were the only ones going to be around for the casting p>
“My guess was right. We won’t be alone.” Diana muttered, patting her own robe. “You ready p>
I sighed and nodded. Then I tied the final cord at my waist and moved to the window. The curtains had been drawn back, and the sight stole my breath. The full moon hung swollen and perfect in the night sky, silver light spilling over the palace grounds like liquid magic. It painted the roofs, the courtyards, and the faces of those already gathering below.
“The full moon,” Diana said quietly from behind me. Her voice carried an edge of reverence.
I nodded, my throat tightening. The witch’s prophecy pulsed in my memory then—warnings whispered about this journey, of snares hidden in pleasures, of drinks laced with chains meant to bind me.
“No drinks,” I murmured, almost to myself. “No distractions p>
Diana slipped her hand into mine, squeezing gently. Together, we left the chamber and descended the marble steps. The hum of voices grew louder with each step until, at last, we emerged into the open courtyard.
The entire pack seemed to be waiting.
Torches flamed in sconces along the perimeter, their light mingling with the silver of the moon. The king stood at the forefront, flanked by the council of elders. His sons loomed just behind, their faces grave, though I caught the faintest flicker of something softer in Adam’s eyes when they landed on me. The murmurs quieted as we approached.
I lifted my chin, meeting the king’s gaze. “I will be working with my sister tonight,” I said firmly, gesturing toward Diana.
The king inclined his head once, his expression unreadable. “Do what must be done p>
I turned to Diana, who gave me a nod so eager it was almost comical. I bit back a smile, then inhaled deeply, pulling magic to the surface of my skin.
It hummed beneath me, a current waiting to be channeled.
“All right,” I whispered. “Let’s begin p>
We walked beyond the gates, out into the night where the land stretched wild and endless. The spell demanded coverage, not a single place but a circle vast enough to embrace the entire territory. Every tree, every stone, every corner of the pack’s lands needed to feel its protection.
I pressed my palms together, closing my eyes. My breath slowed, syncing with the rhythm of the earth. The first threads of magic unraveled from my core, weaving into the air around me. They shimmered faintly, visible only to Diana and me.
El, help.
Diana raised her hands, blue light sparking from her fingertips, intertwining with mine. Together, our magic spread outward in ripples.
The first steps were almost easy. My feet carried me across the ground as though guided by an unseen path. Symbols formed in the air behind me, glowing and dissolving as the circle took shape.
But the farther I went, the heavier it became. Magic poured from me like water from a cracked vessel, draining faster than I could replenish. My breaths turned shallow, sweat beading along my temples despite the cool night air.
Still, I pressed on.
I saw glimpses as I walked—the edges of the forest, the silver curve of the river, the shadows stretching long and deep. My magic kissed each of them, leaving protection stitched into the very soil.
The murmurs of the pack followed me. Some voices carried awe, others skepticism, but all eyes remained on me as the circle widened. My body trembled, my knees buckling once, but I forced myself upright again.
We need fuel.
Of course, El.
It was why I had consumed foods like never before, and yet… It wasn’t enough.
And then I faltered.
The world tilted. My vision blurred, the threads of magic slipping from my grasp like sand through open fingers. My chest heaved, and I knew I was moments from collapsing.
You need motion, it will keep the magic running!
“Dora!” Diana’s cry split the night.
In the corner of my fading sight, I saw movement. Adam—running toward me. His body blurred, bones shifting, skin rippling as he transformed mid-stride.
In an instant, a massive black wolf with eyes like burning blue fire surged across the field. He skidded to my side, lowering his body, nudging me with his muzzle.
“Put her on me,” Adam’s voice echoed in my head, like he knew I needed motion, the strange telepathy of his wolf form reaching me through the haze.
Diana didn’t hesitate. With a wave of her hand, magic lifted me gently, setting me across the broad, furred back of the wolf. My hands fisted in his thick coat, and then we were running.
Gasps and murmurs rose behind us as Adam carried me, his powerful strides eating the ground.
No rest, no pause—only speed, only determination. Diana’s blue light streaked behind us, faint, tethered to mine, urging it forward.
I clung on, the wind slashing my face, the ground blurring beneath.
El, help me.
Adam ran, and I chanted—mere mutterings that kept pushing the covering around the pack. Somehow, Adam was helping too.
I wasn’t sure how. But he did.
And every time my strength waned, he knew; he surged faster, his heart pounding beneath me like a drumbeat urging me to continue.
At last, the circle closed. Just by the stream we had stopped at last night.
The moment it did, the land itself seemed to exhale, a shimmer spreading across the pack like a dome of invisible light. The protection was complete.
And then everything went dark.
I woke up in my room, the scent of roasted meat and herbs filling my nose. My body felt like lead, every muscle trembling with exhaustion.
How had he timed my waking time perfectly?
“Eat,” Adam’s voice commanded softly. He was seated at my side, a tray balanced on his lap. He set it across my knees, lifting a spoon to my lips when I tried to protest.
“I can’t p>
“You can.” His gaze brooked no argument. His blue eyes burned with something fierce, protective. “You gave everything tonight. You don’t get to wither away now p>
I sighed but parted my lips, letting him feed me bite after bite. The murmurs from earlier echoed in my head then—how the people had whispered when Adam had carried me on his back, how their eyes had widened at the sight.
Shock, confusion, something else I couldn’t name.
“Where is Diana p>
“She’s with the others p>
I frowned, checked the time. One a.m
Too late. What were they doing?
She trusted Adam enough to leave me with him?
Adam saw my skepticism, but said nothing, simply guiding me through the meal.
When the tray was empty, he set it aside, then pulled the blanket up over me with surprising gentleness. His hand brushed against my hair, lingering at my temple.
“You scared me,” he admitted, his voice low.
I tried to smile, though my eyelids drooped heavily. “Didn’t mean to p>
He leaned closer, tapping the lightest of kisses against my forehead.
Warmth spread through me at the contact, chasing away the last shivers of cold.
“Rest now,” he whispered.
And rest I did.