Chapter Forty Three

Lillian

Grandmother signs. "Corbin thinks he found the realm."

"Are you certain?" I look up at him, and he nods.

It appears my thoughts are wrong, and maybe they weren’t discussing that.

"We got one shot. If this isn't it, I don't know that my magic will carry us somewhere else." He looks down at the book and sighs. "The fake Alana spoke of a place called Dark Sun and made it into a bed-time story. That is what brought it to my mind, because the opposite of a moon is the sun and she named it after the pack.”

I walk over and snatch the book from his hand. As I thumb from the notes and glance over the pages. Sure enough, it’s an old story that looks handwritten about a place called Dark Sun.

Grandmother shakes her head. "It’s the only chance you two have to find the beast.”

Corbin shakes his head and grabs the book from my hands. "We're opening the portal in an hour. If you can, set up this diagram."

He flips through the pages and shows me a symbol to trace into the dirt. It's not what I expected but looks simple enough to do. It's a square with one line diagonally across it. On one side, there’s a sun, and on the other, there is a crescent moon.

Honestly, it looks rather plain and not witchy at all. "Are you sure that's the symbol you need? I thought spells were more complicated."

Corbin sighs. "Just be happy it's not this." He flips the pages over and the symbol that lies there is so much more complex and something that would take me hours to do. "Imagine drawing that with your finger."

"Nevermind. I'll take the square any day."

I walk outside and clear a place near the house, though my mind wanders to what that other image was for. There was no telling what kind of spell that was for.

It doesn't take long to draw the square, then trace my finger diagonally across it. Once it's complete, I look and admire my handiwork.

Soon I will see Lucian again and this nightmare will all be over. After everything we have been through, we'd finally get to just be. I've waited so long to be free and have the life I've longed for. It's finally happening today. And I’m getting my fated mate.

Corbin steps outside. Something about him is completely different. He has this air about him that just makes me grimace. He walks past me, the book still clutched tightly in his hand.

"Are you ready to do this, Lillian?"

"I'm ready as I'll ever be." Our gazes meet, and he smirks.

"Well, if that's the case, then let us begin. The sooner my part of the deal is finished, the sooner you have to fulfill yours." He flips the page and traces his finger down it. "Ah, there it is."

He recites the spell in a language I don't understand. The wind picks up out of nowhere and swirls around us as the trees and bushes move with it. It starts out gentle, but becomes more forceful by the minute.

"Are you sure this is the spell?" I shout over the wind. It’s so strong that it whips my hair around my face, nearly blinding me. He stands there unphased as he keeps his eyes trained on the words of the page.

His hands glow as he weaves one through the air while holding the book. Once the spell is complete, his eyes snap up, and he smiles. "The portal will open now."

I look to the left and a shimmering circle comes into view.

As I turn my head to look at Corbin, his eyes are wide with fear. He is staring at the shimmering circle, completely scared of what he's just created. Is it because he knows it leads to our doom or is it something else?

"So, this portal leads up to Lucian? Are you certain?"

He glances at me briefly, then returns his focus to the portal. "I don't know, but it's all my magic can do. If you want another portal right now, I won't be able to produce one."

I take a tentative step toward it, but Grandmother rushes forward, carrying my red cloak. "Here, take this."

My brow furrows in confusion. "Why do I need my cloak?"

She scoffs. "Please, just wear it. I don't know why, but I feel like you should carry this piece of your mother with you."

I reach for the cloak and take it from her carefully. As I latch it around my neck, I straighten the hood behind me. "Let's go. Grandmother, I love you and thank you. We’ll be back before you know it, so keep the pack in line for me."

She nods. "I love you too, child. This isn't the end. I'll just see you later."

I turn and approach the portal, scared and unsure, but Corbin steps up beside me and huffs out a breath, making the moment seem less than it really is. He throws the book down on the ground with a light thump.

"Let's get this over with."

I step through the portal first, everything swirling around me and making me wonder if it will ever end. My stomach rolls with nausea and finally, the other side comes into view. The world doesn't look different from ours and I wonder if we're just in another part of the forest. Then Corbin steps through and shakes his head.

"Well, this isn't what I expected. Where are we?"

"This looks like home. It doesn't make sense." I glance around wildly, but it looks the same. “Did she really create a realm that looks just like ours?”

"Regardless, I did what I promised. I have brought you to where Lucian is, or at least tried. So, my job is done." He turns, looking around the woods. The portal has already disappeared behind him and he frowns. "Well, that is not what I planned. I probably should have brought that book."

"Oh, were you going to leave me here?"

"No," he coughs, and clears this throat. "I was just making sure it closed, but now I have a few more questions than I had before.”

Rolling my eyes, I turn my attention to our surroundings. Everything is quiet, too quiet if you ask me. A path to my left catches my attention and right as I head toward it, Corbin reaches out, grabbing my arm.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I turn with a snarl. "Going to get Lucian. Let go of my arm."

"Are you sure it's safe?" He glances around the trees, acting as if he heard something.

"Does it really matter? We're here now and I'm going to find him. Let go before I break your arm off." My wolf rises to the surface, my eyes bleeding red and my canines lengthening.

He drops my arm quickly, his hands in the air as a sign of defeat. "Fine, fine. Let's just skip down a random path and see where it leads. It makes me feel like Hansel and Gretel. The only problem with that is the fact they end up at a witch’s house and get eaten. Do you want to be eaten?"

I never answer him and start walking. As I reach the path a few seconds later, he is right on my heels, humming aloud.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"What? Aren't we going to the witch's house where we're going to be eaten after eating pieces of her delicious house? No? It totally feels like we are."

"You are so stupid." My cape whirls behind me as I move and resume walking down the path. I’m sure where it leads, but soon, something will turn up.

The deeper we go on the path, the more I worry that I've gone the wrong direction. Corbin whistles behind me again, complete off tune.. He isn't being much help and I worry he'll attract something out of the woods. We don’t know what is in these woods here.

"If something attacks us, I'm shoving you out in front of me as bait, so I can get away. With all the noise you're making, something is going to hear you." I huff out a breath and shake my head. This man is an idiot.

"Anything for you. I would protect you and save you from the killer rabbits,” he says with a laugh as he looks around the woods.

"Killer rabbits?" I mumble under my breath. What is he talking about now?

Something crunches in the forest to my right, and I stop in my tracks. I turn slowly, wondering what's about to make its way out of the woods. Suddenly, a small rabbit hops out, eating something off the ground.

I place my hand over my heart, sighing. "Such a killer."

"Oh, bunny. Where have you gone?" A woman's voice calls out, causing my eyes to widen. "I just want to make a nice stew with you."

"Who's that?" I whisper as I look around to see who is coming closer to us.

Corbin's brows raise as he glances around the woods. "I can't catch her scent."

"We have to hide."

I turn to hide on the other side of the path, but the woman rushes forward and stumbles out onto the path before we can find a place to cover ourselves.

She spies the rabbit first, completely ignoring us. "Oh, there you are."

Emmeline is standing before me, yet I don’t do anything. I should rip her to shreds while I have the chance.

Finally, she realizes she has an audience and smiles. "Oh, two newcomers. Are you here to have some dinner?"

"No, we came looking for a friend."

Corbin elbows me. "Don't tell her."

The woman smiles. "Oh, I know several people. Why don't you come with me to my home and we'll see if we can find your friend? If they are here, I'll be able to locate them." She picks up the rabbit and places it in her basket. Then she walks past us to continue down the path. "We're almost there."

A few minutes later, we stand before her home and it looks like a cottage similar to the one Grandmother lives in. It's not made of gingerbread or anything edible, but something sets my wolf off. She's alarmed and I can't shake the feeling something is really wrong here.

"Too bad it's not edible." Corbin mumbles under his breath and looks at the house again. "I'm actually getting hungry and an edible house would be great for now.”

"Will you shut up? You just sound stupid when you talk about it."

He shrugs and follows her to the door. I hang back, watching every move. Something crunches on the leaves behind me, and I turn slowly to see if I can find what did it, but my efforts don't turn up anything.

"Lillian, are you coming?" Corbin is waiting at the door, his brows raised as he studies me. "She has food."

My gaze narrows. "Why are you thinking about food at a time like this? We're in another realm, for crying out loud. Why are you at the door?”

He shrugs again and walks inside as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. This man knows how to get under my skin at every opportunity. I finally give up my pursuit and follow them inside. Maybe she'll have answers for me, but only if she doesn’t recognize and kill me first.

Once I close the door behind me, she sits some freshly baked strawberry muffins on the counter with a smile. Corbin snatches one up as soon as she offers, but I remain a few feet back.

"Come on and eat, my dear. They're perfect for a time like this."

I approach with caution. The muffins look delicious, but this is a witch we're dealing with. There is no telling what she has laced them with and I’m just waiting for her to mention something about me being in the realm.

Corbin scarfs the first one down, and reaches for another, but pauses. The woman smiles at him and nods for him to take more.

"Come on. You should eat too. Didn't you travel a long way here?" She glances over at me cautiously before grabbing a muffin for herself. "I promise nothing will happen to you if you eat one."

As she takes a bite, she moans about how good it is and I walk closer to the counter to grab one. I reach for it and grab the one closest to me. It's plump and fills the palm of my hand with how large it is. Little bits of strawberries adorn the top and the smell of it wafts toward my nose.

It's heavenly.

I unwrap the bottom, taking a bite from the top as I do. No wonder Corbin is on his second one. This is wonderful and possibly the best muffin I've ever eaten.

It's gone in a flash and I'm tempted to take another. As I reach for one, she laughs. "Told you they were good. I make them all the time for a family that lives here and they just love them. Sometimes I make blueberry ones too.”

My hand lands on the muffin, and I pause. What am I doing? I'm standing here, eating, like I don't have a care in the world. I'm here to get Lucian and shouldn't be wasting my time stuffing my face.

"What did you say your name was?" I ask, glancing up at her.

She cuts me a look, then runs her tongue across her teeth. "I didn't say. My name is Emmeline.”

My eyes widen as she confirms her name. Part of me says I shouldn’t utter my name in case she has heard of me, but that is quickly spoiled.

"I'm Corbin and this is Lillian.”

Her brows raise, and then she straightens her composure. "Well, it's nice to meet you. I'm sure you have business here to take care of while you're here. This world is just full of surprises."

"We need to go." I glance over at Corbin as he finishes his second muffin. He looks a little full and a weird expression crosses his features.

"What are in these muffins?" He looks at me and bats his eyes like he's dazed. "Lillian, they're laced with something."

While he falls to the floor, I'm completely unphased by whatever was in the muffins so far. She glares at me. "Well, aren't you just a peach? You've taken all our fun."

"What is it you hoped would happen?"

My hand shakes and I stick it behind my back, trying not to draw attention to it. It doesn't work and she notices.

"Not the reaction I hoped for, but you are affected. Natalia will be pleased." Her mouth spreads wide into a mischievous grin. "She's eager to see you again. I’m not sure how you found this realm, but you won’t be leaving here."

"But she's dead. We killed her. What are you talking about?” I don’t pay any attention to anything else she has said because hearing Natalia is alive is enough to hold my focus.

"Oh, sister. I have a new pet for us," Natalia calls from outside and I turn slowly toward her voice.

"No, this can’t be.”

Corbin gasps for air and fights the effects as he reaches out with one hand. "Run, save yourself."

The door swings open, revealing Natalia on the other side with a very large, furry wolf right beside her. She glances over at me, her smile turning into a smirk. "Oh, I'm so glad you're here. We've been dying to see you again."

"What have you done?" As my gaze moves to the wolf's, there is no recognition there. Lucian doesn't recognize me.

He steps forward, shielding her and growling as he lowers his head at me. My heart thuds loudly in my chest as he takes another step, fully placing himself between me and her. The beast I once knew is long gone.

“Lucian.”

He cuts his eyes toward me, growling and showing his teeth.

“Oh, you poor thing. He’s not the same Lucian you once knew.” Natalia reaches down, petting his head. “He’s mine now, just as I always wanted. It seems the news of you possibly taking Corbin as your mate left him feeling a little defeated and like he didn’t have any other choice. When you realize that your time is up and the only way to free your family is to sacrifice yourself, well, you do what must be done.”

“No,” I whisper. “What have you done to him?

Corbin reaches for the counter and pulls up, looking a little wobbly. “Lillian, he’s lost to us. We need to go home and forget this place.”

Natalia cackles as she shuts the door behind her and Lucian. “Home? Sounds like a great idea. We should all go.”

With a wave of her hand, magic tendrils creep out and wrap around each of us. I notice three sneaking out under the door, toward something or someone unseen.

One black tendril wraps itself around my neck, choking me. I reach up and grab it firmly in my hands, trying to make it let go of my neck, but all I can hear is Natalia laughing.

The world fades from view as her magic takes us home. Suddenly, our territory comes swirling into view.

Corbin stands as the tendrils recede. I fall close to him, and he reaches down to help me. Grandmother comes out of the house, her eyes wide in shock.

“What is going on out here?” She sees Natalia and her brows raise. “Natalia?”

“Hello, Grandmother. Long time, no see. I hope you don’t mind. My magic has a tendency to always come back to here, where it all began. My sister and I are excited to be home.”

Emmeline steps out from behind her, a wicked smile on her face as she looks around. “Feels just like yesterday, doesn’t it, Logan?”

She glances behind her. Two men and a woman stand behind her, their eyes wide as they glance around.

“Let me introduce you to Lucian’s parents and brother,” Natalia says with a huge grin. “I bet you three thought you’d never see this place again.”

“What do you want, Natalia? What do you think you’ll gain by being back here?” Corbin steps forward, shoving me behind him as if he’ll protect me.

I growl out of annoyance, but he doesn’t pay me any attention. He’s trying to save me, but I know it won’t do any good.

She glares at him and smirks. “I heard that you two were going to mate, but I had no idea that my great grandson had grown to love her. This is surprising. It doesn’t seem she loves you, though. Oh, well. You two will figure that out. I just want to be free of the curse that was placed on me eight hundred years ago.”

I growl and step around from behind Corbin. “What does your curse have to do with any of us?”

Natalia glances around behind her and then at me. “Everything. Long ago, the Night Walkers and Dark Moon were to be joined. I fell in love with a man named Liam, who was from the Night Walker territory and the heir to the pack. He found his fated mate with a woman from Dark Moon named Adele.”

She reaches out and strokes Lucian’s fur and everything clicks.

“His ancestor rejected you, so you chose him.”

“Yes,” she says with a sneer. “He looks just like Liam. I consider this my revenge for what they put me through. You see, after he took her as his mate on the night of the full moon, I lost it for a few seconds. Can you guess what they did to me? No, probably not. They had Emmeline use whatever powers she had to curse us both. Here’s the kicker. A sweet wolf named Titus once helped us. He went to Dark Moon and became the alpha after taking the beta’s daughter as his own.”

I recognize that name instantly. “Titus -”

“Yes, Lillian. Titus is your ancestor. Emmeline and I had to wander the packs for years and watch you all grow from afar as the witches declined. They mixed with wolves and magic became scarce. We stayed in Dark Sun for a long time, but then we came out two hundred years ago. We saw these sweet boys and thought, oh how perfect. Brothers for sisters. They rejected us too. The rejection led to the curse on Lucian and tying our curse to his, but then I realized one little issue. Titus’s descendants still ran Dark Moon and his mate was a witch.”

“Witch blood?” I ask. No one in the family has ever used magic and I don’t know what she is talking about. “I’m not a witch. His mate couldn’t have been one.”

“It’s so diluted that it will never see the light of day. No, your magic is that little white wolf. Why do you think no one else has one?”

My eyes widen as I take in everything. “But Corbin has witch blood, and he’s gray. I don’t understand.”

She only tilts her head back and laughs. “Well, his case is different, but I’m not telling you that little secret. His family is special. The white wolf is a symbol of peace between the witches and wolves. It was a gift to your ancestors for combining the two, but also a symbol of your history.”

Corbin moves closer to my side, his hand reaching for my arm as he readies himself to pull me back behind him. “Enough with the trip down memory lane. Why don’t you take what you want and just go? Leave us alone.”

“Oh, I guess I forgot the best part, and it’s the reason I mentioned your history,” she says, keeping her voice low. “If you can’t mate with him to free him and kill us, then your blood will set him free. Being a white wolf is an honor because your blood can stop any curse, but I could never let you become his mate. You’d take him from me.”

Natalia quickly pulls a long dagger from her tan belt around her waist and runs her fingers down the blade as she holds it up for all to see. “This may not be as fun as I thought. But it will free us all, since you have special blood.”

Corbin jerks me behind him to protect me from the blade, but Natalia uses her magic and sends him flying into a tree.

Then her magic whips around and covers Lucian entirely. His body twists and morphs until I see the man.

He stands to his full height and I look into his blood-red eyes. They dart around as he takes everything in. “How am I standing?”

“You are only temporarily a man, so if you want to stay that way, then you must make her bleed. My magic won’t hold you long.” She looks straight at me with one long finger pointing in my direction. “Kill her.”

Lucian turns and I take him in. He’s everything I have ever wanted and everything I will never get to have. His lean body is packed with muscle. As my eyes meet his again, I can’t help but admire how handsome he is with his strong jawline and stubble. I’d love to admire him all day, but right now is not the time.

“Lucian, please. It’s me, Lily. Your Lily.”

He just glares at me and takes one step toward me. “I don’t know who you are, but if your blood is what will free me of being that beast forever, then I’ll do what is required to become free.”

Natalia reaches out, blocking him from coming any closer with just a graze of his arm. “Hold on. Don’t ruin the fun. Let her have a head start and then chase her until you capture her.” She turns toward me with a smirk. “Run little alpha, run while you can because the big bad wolf is going to get you.”

Corbin comes to, clutching his head as he sits up. “Lillian!”

I don’t wait for him to try to protect me.

Instead, I turn and run into the woods right as the mating fever takes hold. It hurts as I run between the trees, but I hold on. My scent is going to fill the air and send him into a frenzy, or should. I’m not sure what it will do, since he is under her control.

The last thing I need is for Corbin to smell it and come running after me.

It isn’t a few seconds into running, I hear Natalia telling Lucian to go. His footsteps are heavy as he runs after me, the sounds of leaves crunching as he steps on them.

It reminds me of all the times I came to Grandmother’s house and he followed me from the edge of the woods. Oh, how times have changed.

I think of all of them standing back there and how their fates rely on me, but I know I’m probably not going to make it. He will kill me and free himself of the curse, plus theirs. I doubt he’ll even remember me then.

Maybe things are easier this way.

As I keep running faster, I can hear him gaining on me. It doesn’t seem like my scent is holding any sway over him.

Grandmother. I try reaching through the bond. If you can hear this, just know I love you. Please, take care of the pack and tell Corbin to lead them. I think my time is about up.

I see a creek up ahead and know that he’ll probably catch me by then.

Hold on, Lillian. Corbin is coming.

Stop him! I shout through the bond. Make sure that idiot lives. Someone has to lead, and he is better than none.

Stop telling her what to tell me. I’m coming for you.

I’m a few steps from the creek and about to tell him to not come, but I’m abruptly cut off as I’m tackled to the ground. Lucian heaves in a breath as he rolls me onto my back to look into my eyes.

“Are you afraid of the big bad wolf?” He asks as he reaches up to stroke my cheek with one finger. “So you are the white wolf who can end curses? Such a shame that your life ends this way.”

“Yes, apparently I am. I never knew it was given to the wolves as a gift until today,” I say between shaky breaths.

“Are you frightened? I love it,” he says as he leans down and takes a whiff. “Ah, the scent of mating heat. You are so young.”

Tears roll down my cheek as I see his hand shifting. The magic Natalia used is starting to wane and he’ll take his wolf’s form again in the next few minutes, if not seconds. When I meet his gaze, I begin to shake. This is it. He’s going to end me. “At least it’s you.”

His brows furrow as confusion takes over his features. “What?”

“If I’m going to die, then I’d rather die at the hands of my fated mate. It’s better than any of the other options that could have happened. If we didn’t find you, I was going to have to mate with Corbin. Can you imagine that?” I chuckle, then reach up with my other hand. “So, kill me if you must, but just know who I am before you do. At least I’m setting you free.”

“I don’t have a mate.” He snarls, his fangs extending. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Yes, you do. She lied to you and one day the magic will wear off. Don’t be hard on yourself when that happens. Please forgive yourself for me.”

He reaches out, clutching my throat in his grasp. “You are lying. This won’t affect me at all. You’re just some wolf shifter with blood that breaks curses.”

Another tear rolls down my face. “I never got to say it, but I love you, Lucian. You’ll always be my beast. It’s okay. I forgive you for what you are about to do.”

He laughs and tightens his grip, cutting off all the air. Claws protrude from his fingertips and dig into my flesh. “This won’t take long.”

Lucian drags his other hand down my side, his claws raking through my skin, causing blood to gush out from my stomach, onto the blouse, then the ground through my mother’s red cloak. I lie there, unmoving and refusing to fight back, but I can feel myself dying.

My wolf screams for me to make him remember, but I know the grip Natalia has is too much. The conversation we had was enough to tell me that much. My scent didn’t even phase him, so my words won’t either.

The pain spreads throughout my body as he continues to drag his claws through me repeatedly, my blood painting the ground red underneath my mother’s cloak. How ironic. The same cloak I wore to the mating ceremony when everything happened is the same one I wear tonight.

We must fight.

I close my eyes, my breath trembling. “Lucian, bite and claim me. At least grant a dying wolf that. Can’t you smell the mating heat? At least ease my pain in one way.”

He stops, looking up at me. “Why would I do that?”

“Let me die in peace and end this already.” It is a last ditch effort to wake him up before it is too late, though I fear it might really be the end.

Memories float through my mind as I close my eyes. All the times he snuck up on me, all those nights I ran because I heard him, and all those times he spoke through my mind. I never gave up on him. My goal was to save him from the other realm so he could live.

And I have finally done it. Though I hoped he would claim me and beat Corbin to it, that isn’t our reality. Natalia has ruined everything, but my blood will set him free.

Lucian opens his mouth and leans in, biting me at the base of my throat. It stings and isn’t pleasant like I was told, but it is a mating bite, regardless. I will take what I can get.

I hear Grandmother’s scream as everyone arrives.

My body feels light as I attempt to claim him in return. But then I remember it may bring him with me. No, I can’t.

I love you, Beast.

My eyes slide close as Lucian wretches back to look at me, his eyes wide with alarm. Blood coats his lips. “My Lily.”

Tears fill his eyes and fall onto my face as everything comes flooding back to him.

I reach up and touch his face lightly. “Don’t cry. You weren’t you. It’s okay. You saved me from a stupid deal I made to save you and I’d rather die by your hands than have to fulfill it. Remember what I asked of you? Forgive yourself. I have already forgiven you for it.”

“No, I would have claimed you before Corbin ever got to. Please, don’t do this. Claim me back and take me with you.” His voice shakes as he speaks.

“You knew?” My breath goes ragged as more blood gushes from my wounds.

He reaches down, caressing the edge of my face as he holds me close. “It doesn’t matter anymore. We can finally be together.”

Together. That sounds nice. How I wish it was possible, but I feel the life literally draining out of me and pooling on the ground below.

Natalia cackles. “Finish her, Lucian. Do as I say, my pet. You’re so close to gaining your freedom. You only have seconds before my magic wears off. So, do it quickly.”

Apparently, she doesn’t know he is back to himself or she’s just delusional. My wolf huffs in agreement.

Lucian shakes as my vision goes dim. I can barely make him out, but I know his arm is around me. His warmth spreads across my cold body. There’s so much I want to say to him, but I can’t find the words. Mostly because my mouth refuses to open anymore.

He smiles down at me, tracing his fingers across my face as he cries. “Lily. Please. Don’t do this. I’m sorry.”

He sobs as I feel everything shutting down. As he lifts my head toward his neck, I’m surprised. What does he think he’s doing? “Please, if you can move your mouth. Return the bite. This way, if you go, we go together, and I’ll see you soon once this is finished.”

I’m not sure how, but my mouth parts and he forces his throat into my bite. My teeth lengthen and sink into his flesh, claiming him as mine forever. I didn’t want to do it, but I guess my wolf had one last surge of energy to do it.

Now he is doomed to die after I do and I feel so guilty, but I can’t even tell him I’m sorry.

They say that the last thing that goes is your hearing. Though my world has gone dark now, the chaos that ensues can be heard for a few seconds after I start to fade.

I wish I had more time. There are so many things I want to do and see, but there is always something in the way.

At least, I fell in love, even if it is with the big bad wolf.