Chapter 16

“Are you sure this is a safe place?” I asked, clutching Jekia’s hand as he led me through the labyrinth of trees.

It was late in the afternoon. We’d spent the day together, just as he’d promised. We’d visited various villages and open spaces around his lands. I’d been having a blast, soaking in the sights of all the unique creatures and places.

Everyone was so nice to me. I couldn’t help but wonder if their kindness was because I was Jekia’s bride-to-be. But I brushed that thought aside and focused on enjoying the day. After all, I was with Jekia, and that was all I’d ever wanted.

As we left the last village, Jekia insisted there was one more place he wanted to show me before we headed back to the palace. He wouldn’t tell me what it was, just that it was a bit off the beaten path. I was curious, so I agreed to go with him. He seemed determined for me to see this place.

I hadn’t expected us to end up deep in the forest. I felt safe with Jekia, but the thought of something lurking in the shadows still nagged at me.

Jekia seemed amused as he led me through the underbrush. “Don’t worry. Nothing will harm you here. We’re almost there,” he reassured me.

“I guess,” I said, not entirely convinced.

“Relax. There’s no need to be so cautious,” Jekia teased.

We walked a bit further and finally arrived at a spot surrounded by towering trees with leaves as big as us. “Here we are,” he said.

He pushed aside one of the giant leaves, revealing a beautiful clearing. It was a good size, encircled by the large leaves. The clearing was several acres wide, dotted with large rocks and caves. A deep blue pond, fed by a stream from the forest, was at its center.

I could feel Jekia’s smile as he stood next to me.

“You seem to like this place,” he observed.

“It’s beautiful. Is this another one of your secret spots?” I asked.

Jekia shook his head and stepped forward, taking in the peaceful surroundings.

“No. I haven’t been here in centuries. I never thought I’d want to come back,” he admitted.

“You’ve been avoiding it?” I guessed, moving to stand beside him.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “This place holds a lot of memories for me, both good and bad. It’s where my clan used to live.”

I stared at him, his words sinking in. This was his family’s home? I couldn’t believe he’d brought me here. I didn’t think he ever wanted to talk about his family.

Jekia walked towards one of the larger caves. He jumped up to the top of it, taking in the view of the bright blue sky through the tall trees.

“Even after all this time, it feels like time has stood still here. The views are the same as when I used to sit here with her.

“My mother loved the colors of the sky and the stars at night,” he said.

I walked over to the cave, looking up at him. His expression was calm. He didn’t seem sad or upset, just lost in his memories.

“I know you must have a reason for bringing me here, but I wasn’t expecting it. You’ve never wanted to talk about your family before,” I said.

“You’re right,” Jekia agreed. He jumped down in front of me, landing silently. “I’ve avoided talking about it, not because I don’t trust you.

“As you know from what Sage told you, my family is a sore spot for me. It’s hard for me to talk about them, even after all this time.”

“I understand. I would never push you to talk about it.

“I’m just surprised you wanted to bring me here, considering the pain you still feel,” I said.

Jekia shook his head. “I didn’t think I ever would, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it might be good for both of us.

“You’re right when you say I keep things from you. I’ve done it with others since that time, too. But with you, I feel like I need to face these things now.”

“I don’t want you to force yourself,” I said.

“I’m not forcing myself. This is my choice,” Jekia assured me. He took my hand and led me into the cave.

Inside, it was surprisingly spacious, with glowing crystals that lit up as we walked by. The light from the crystals illuminated a large room. It looked like no one had been there in years. There were hollowed-out areas in the walls with tattered curtains, and what looked like old cotton bedding.

“Is this where you lived?” I asked, taking it all in.

Jekia nodded and walked further into the room, his gaze sweeping over everything. It was as if he was reliving old memories.

“Yes. This was our clan’s main den, where the female Luna Dogs raised their pups. I was one of the last ones born and raised here,” he said.

He walked over to one of the beds and gently pulled back the tattered curtain. It was larger than the others, and there were old markings on the wall, though I couldn’t make out what they were.

He stared at it for a few minutes in silence before turning back to me.

“You told me once that your parents weren’t thrilled about having a daughter. Were you really the only child they had?”

I paused, thinking about my response. “I think so. I don’t remember my mom being pregnant again as I grew up, and they never mentioned her being pregnant before me.”

Jekia glanced at the bedding again. “I see.”

“Why do you ask?” I continued.

“There’s a reason,” he confirmed, finally walking back over to me. “Like I said, this den is where I was born, and where I spent the first half of my life.

“But I was also lucky to be born. I was the only pup my mother had that survived, and even during my birth, they feared I would be stillborn.”

“Why?” I had to ask.

Jekia took my hand, leading me outside again so we could sit together by the nearby pond.

The grass was soft and green, and I could see various small creatures swimming deep in the water.

But my main focus was on Jekia. I had so many questions about what he’d just told me, and I hoped he would answer them.

“You know, Lana, I wouldn’t say this anywhere else, but you remind me of my mother in some ways,” he told me.

“How so? I’m human, so I don’t see how I could be compared to a Luna Dog woman,” I pointed out.

“Yes, in many ways you’re very different. I’m talking about your mind and your physical fragility, in a way,” Jekia responded.

He leaned back a bit in the grass. “Despite how it might seem with me now, my mother wasn’t a strong Luna Dog at all. I’d even say she was a weak beta at best.

“She was beautiful, yes. Strong-willed, absolutely. But she lacked many of the physical strengths of others like her.

“She was often sicker than her sisters, and she could never hunt and fight like they could.

“Many thought she’d be alone her whole life because she could never be a proper beta for any of the males, despite her beauty.

“That’s why it was such a shock when my father chose her over all the others when he decided to take a mate.”

“I guess your father was the opposite of her,” I noted.

“Very much so. My father was the strongest alpha in our clan and the leader at that time,” Jekia confirmed.

Now I understood why that was so incredible to them. His mother was seen as a weak beta, yet his father was the strongest alpha. It was certainly an unusual pairing.

“I don’t get it though. If he was the strongest, why would he choose a beta that was considered the weakest?” I asked him.

“I can’t speak for him, but he often told me that such things shouldn’t matter.

“He said many times that he loved my mother from the moment he saw her, and even though she couldn’t understand what he saw in her, my mother quickly fell in love with him too.

“But her weaknesses were still a problem even after they got together. As the lead alpha among the Luna Dogs, my father was naturally expected to have strong offspring.

“But my mother had a lot of trouble getting pregnant. For many years after they got together, she would get pregnant, then lose the pups almost immediately.

“She gave birth twice to full-term pups, but both died during birth.

“There were fears that she and my father would never have a pup of their own, and it was even suggested that he try mating with other females to ensure his bloodline continued.

“But he refused, wanting only my mother in his bed,” Jekia explained.

“And they ended up succeeding in having a child,” I added. “They had you.”

Jekia smiled. “Yes, they did,” he agreed. “My conception and birth were also a bit of a surprise for them.

“My mother hadn’t gotten pregnant for several years before that, despite their efforts, and when she found out she was pregnant, her happiness was tempered by fear.

“But my father was convinced that this would be the one to survive, and he insisted on being with her during the birth.

“It wasn’t something that was done before, but as the alpha, no one could argue with him.

“As I said before, the females expected me to be stillborn, but I was very much alive and well when I was born, and soon there were no doubts that I would be as strong as my father.”

I tried to imagine what he must have been like back then, and what his father must have been like. I was sure he was a very strong and proud Luna Dog, especially when Jekia was born.

“I’m curious: do you think you look like your father?” I had to know.

“I like to think so in many ways, although I admit that my coloring is more like my mother’s.

“You see, many Luna Dogs are more silver, much like Sage, although he’s also a bit unusual for a fox. My coloring is completely white, like my mother’s.

“My father actually saw that as a sign of divinity in me, along with my miraculous birth, considering that I should have inherited more of his silver coloring because of his status,” Jekia explained.

I listened, completely captivated by it all. It sounded so much like the fairytales I’d been reading in the library.

The lonely female that no one wanted because of her perceived weaknesses, then the handsome prince who loved her for who she was and would never leave her.

They would then have a family and live happily ever after.

But my fascination was tempered as I thought about the fate of this clan. Jekia was now the only one left, as the others had all been massacred.

“It’s sad, what happened to them. Was your father still the alpha then?” I asked softly.

“He was,” Jekia answered, looking out at the pond. “We’d long had a feud with the lycans for various reasons, but during the time I was growing up, the confrontations were few.

“We lived in harmony with the creatures around us, often forming alliances with them.

“My dad was the one who usually made those alliances, and he taught me to do the same.

“Even as I grew stronger, even starting to surpass him, I respected the creatures around us and considered many of them as my friends.

“Sage was one of those friends, and he had been since we were kids.

“This vast forest became our territory, and it was something that caught the attention of the Higher Ones when they were deciding who they wanted to name rulers within the Veil.”

“And that’s what pissed off the lycans, right?” I guessed.

Jekia nodded. “Yes. As you know from Sage, their alpha was also being considered at that time, and he was insulted that they would also consider me.

“His followers felt the same, and one night they decided to wipe out the Luna Dogs once and for all.” He paused for a moment, as if he was remembering that terrible day.

“You know, Lana, I truly believe that there are twists of fate in our lives.

“The night the lycans attacked here, I was with Sage, meeting the Higher Ones for the third time and meeting Vincent for the first.

“That was the night Sage stepped down from consideration for the position of the northern ruler. Bastial was also there, but something about him didn’t feel right. He looked too smug.

“I didn’t understand why until I came back here and saw the bodies they left behind.”

I couldn’t imagine what that must have been like for him. Even now, he looked heartbroken as he closed his eyes and laid his ears back.

I wasn’t sure what I could say to comfort him, but I still wanted to try.

“That’s beyond horrible, and I can’t imagine how much you must have suffered, or how you still feel that pain inside.

“No matter what, they were your family, the ones you grew up with and cared about. Nothing can ever ease the pain of what happened to them,” I said softly.

“No, it can’t, and I admit that I felt justified when I killed Bastial afterward in our duel. It was the same when I was able to kill many of the other lycans under him.

“But it didn’t bring me any real peace in the end.

“Even with all I’ve gained, all the power and the protection I provide to others that my dad would be so proud of, that emptiness remained.

“I never understood why, no matter how much time passed,” Jekia confessed. He stopped and let out a long breath, closing his eyes as a smile slowly crossed his face. “At least, not until I met you.”

That one took me by surprise. “What do you mean?”

“Just what I said,” Jekia responded.

He turned a bit more to face me. “I’ve given it a lot of thought since I found you, and I’ve wondered why I feel such strong emotions whenever I think of you.

“To be blunt, I never thought about having a woman for myself, nor did I feel I needed one. But from the moment I saw you, I realized that you might be the missing piece for me.

“Just being around you brings peace to my heart that I haven’t felt since that time.”

I wasn’t expecting him to say something like that, and I felt a deep blush spread across my cheeks. But at the same time, a strange scene flashed through my mind.

A vision of the woods near the farm I grew up on, and a figure standing in them like they were watching me.

But the vision quickly faded, and I wondered whether it had been real or just a product of my racing mind with all of what I was learning.

“You really believe that I make that difference for you?” I managed to ask.

“I know you do. While I realize that you might think I’m unreasonable for some of the things I’ve done, I’m scared of losing you, more than I’ve ever been scared of anything.

“Having you with me feels like home, and I hope that one day soon the Higher Ones will give in and let us have a family,” Jekia said.

“I hope so too. I’m not against having kids with you, even if I’m not sure what to expect from it. I would guess that such pups would be a bit different in some ways,” I replied.

Jekia chuckled. “Maybe. But I believe that everything will be fine when that time comes.”

“I have to ask, is all of this the reason you were so upset when they told you that you couldn’t have kids with me?” I asked as we both stood up.

“It’s part of it, although I admit that I don’t like being told what I can and can’t do.

“They know how well I handle things, so it feels a bit insulting when they reprimand me without good reason,” Jekia said.

He sounded so sincere about all of that. I couldn’t help but giggle. This felt so nice too. I didn’t think I had seen so much of him like this before.

“For what it’s worth, I’ve enjoyed today too. I feel like I’ve seen more of who you really are, not the face you show to most others,” I added.

“I get it, and I know you’ve wanted more of that from me. As I told you before, it can be a hard habit for me to break after so long, but I admit that I’ve also enjoyed this feeling.

“I hope that we can have more of these times in the future too,” Jekia agreed.

He stepped over to me, and I stood still as he slipped a chain around my neck. A beautiful gem hung from it, resting against my chest.

I had never seen such a stone before. It was a deep blue, with sparkling bits within it like stars in the night sky.

“What is this?” I asked, sounding as stunned as I felt.

“I came across this while I was away and immediately felt that it would suit you, so I had to bring it back for you. I’m also happy to say that I was right,” Jekia said.

He looked very pleased as he took in the sight of me wearing this beautiful piece of jewelry.

I couldn’t hold back my happy smile. All of this was proof in my mind that he truly cared for me, maybe even loved me.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you so much,” I beamed.

Jekia’s smile was one of pure satisfaction as he gently stroked my cheeks.

“Regardless of what life throws at us, no matter the trials or misunderstandings, remember this—you are my one and only, and you will be until the end of time.”

We shared a few tender kisses before he decided it was time to head back to the palace. My heart felt light as we made our way back.

We’d spent a beautiful day together, and I felt like I was beginning to understand the real Jekia. The fact that he trusted me enough to share his pain about his family’s tragedy meant something.

But as we reached the palace, we found Emelio waiting for us. His face was neutral, but his posture was stiff.

Jekia noticed it immediately. He set me down from where he’d been carrying me and asked, “What’s happened?”

“Unfortunately, sire,” Emelio replied, “there’s been an incident in one of our western villages. We’ve received reports of an attack on several creatures, possibly by a lycan.”

Jekia’s eyes narrowed at this news. “Is that so?” he growled.

But he quickly composed himself and turned to me. “I need to handle this. I want you to stay here where it’s safe.”

“Of course,” I agreed without hesitation.

I wasn’t thrilled about returning to the palace alone, but I understood. We’d had a wonderful day, and I couldn’t blame Jekia for needing to attend to such matters, especially if it involved those despicable lycans.

After wandering through the courtyard, I decided to read for a while, then had dinner by myself. As night fell, I cleaned up and waited in bed.

I was a little anxious as the hours passed.

I trusted Jekia’s strength, but I couldn’t help worrying, especially after hearing about his family’s fate. His father had been a strong alpha too, yet he’d died that night. I wondered how. Had the lycans tricked him? Ambushed him?

I tried to push these thoughts away. Overthinking would only make me anxious. I needed to rest.

As time passed, my eyes grew heavy. My mind began to wander, and that strange vision returned.

It reminded me of my childhood on the farm, playing near the edge of the woods. But this time, it felt like someone else was there, watching me, speaking to me. I just couldn’t hear what they were saying.

I was almost asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. I sat up quickly, seeing Jekia’s familiar silhouette closing the door behind him.

But as he did, I saw a flash of pain cross his face. In the moonlight, I could see bandages on his right shoulder.

“Jekia? Are you okay?” I asked, rushing to him.

“Relax. I’ll be fine,” he reassured me as I stood before him.

“But your shoulder…” I began.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” Jekia interrupted, kissing my forehead. “It’ll heal by tomorrow. But for now, I need to rest.”

“I understand. But let me help you. I can see you’re in pain,” I insisted.

Jekia sighed, but he let me help him undress. Then he carefully lay down on his left side to avoid putting pressure on his injured shoulder.

I moved to the other side of the bed so I could face him.

“What happened out there?” I asked as we lay together.

“Nothing to worry about. A lycan was causing trouble, but I took care of him,” Jekia said simply.

I wasn’t convinced. “You say that, but you’re injured. He must have gotten to you at least once,” I pointed out.

“It happens sometimes,” Jekia admitted. “But as I said, it’s nothing to worry about. It’ll hurt for a bit, but it’ll heal by tomorrow.”

I wanted to argue, but I didn’t want to stress him. He needed to heal, and I hoped he was telling the truth about how quickly it would happen.

So I snuggled against him, resting my head in the crook of his neck. Jekia relaxed, his arm draped over me. His breathing slowed, signaling he was starting to rest.

It felt familiar and comforting, so I began to drift off too.

But just as I was falling asleep, I heard him speak.

“Are you really so worried about me? You know who I am,” he whispered.

“I know, but don’t I have a right to worry about you? You’re supposed to be my husband,” I reminded him.

Jekia chuckled. “You have a point. At least I know you care.”

“You wouldn’t lie to me about your healing, would you?” I asked.

“Never,” Jekia assured me. He slowly turned onto his back. “Come lie on me. It’s comforting.”

“That comfort is you wanting to feel my body against yours,” I countered, though I did as he asked, careful not to press on his bandages.

Jekia chuckled as he brushed my hair back with his good hand.

“You’ve got me there. But I can’t resist, especially after being away from you and too tired to enjoy you last night.”

“You’re hurt tonight, so I can’t imagine you’re enjoying this as much as you say,” I pointed out.

“True, but this is enough for now,” Jekia conceded. “I love the feel of your body against mine.”

I laughed softly, nestling my head on his shoulder. “I like feeling yours against mine too, but I wonder how that’ll change when we start having kids.”

“There are ways to keep the spark alive, even with a family,” Jekia reassured me. He pulled me closer with his uninjured arm, settling back into relaxation.

“But for now, let’s rest. We’ll have plenty of time to enjoy each other tomorrow.”

“I’m holding you to that promise.”

Maybe I should’ve been more worried about the possibility of him getting hurt, but I trusted Jekia when he said he’d be okay.

His past and the glimpses I’d seen of his world made it clear that it wasn’t always easy to survive, let alone rule. He was bound to face challenges that could leave him scarred.

But as long as he came back to me, as long as the scars were all he carried, I could handle it.

As long as I had him.