6. Déjà Vu

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WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE IN THIS CHAPTER!

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This chapter is unedited so please excuse the grammatical errors. Enjoy!

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Suzzanah's POV

The minute my feet hit solid ground again, my knees gave in and I tumbled to the undergrowth. My hands dug into the moist soil underneath me to keep my head from slamming into the earth.

My breath came out in soft pants, my chest heaving at a fast pace as I gasped for air. My heart was still beating extremely fast, making it hard for me to hear or feel anything.

Hazy hues of greens and browns clouded my eyesight and I blinked disoriented, trying to get the images to focus. My vision took a few seconds to clear, my mind taking far longer.

And so I sat there, frozen like a cold sculpture of ice, but on the inside, I was kinda warm.

Just a little bit...warm.

I found her...

My mind kept repeating those three words over and over again.

I found her Zuerien...I found her...

I found Megan.

Coughing softly, I closed my eyes, the image of those striking green eyes flashing in my mind as clear as day.

Megan's eyes.

On her supernatural shadow.

She had been there. She had been in that cottage, with that caped figure.

She was alright.

Involuntarily a smile made its way to my face and a breathless laugh escaped my lips. She was in Dublin after all, in the woods somewhere, recovering in a cottage and...

Not alone.

That was the greatest reassurance of them all. She was not alone. She had a companion there with her, one who seemed to be quite strong and well versed with magic.

And although somewhere at the back of my mind I realized that that could pose a problem when it came to finally retrieving our Luna of Intercession, for now I was glad she had someone with her to help her.

I pushed myself up to sit upright before looking down at my muddy palms and jeans. I had a few abrasions and cuts here and there from when I had fallen from that tree, but other than that, I felt perfectly fine.

My attention then immediately flew to my back which had taken the brunt of whatever magic that cloaked figure had infused into me using her staff. I could feel the cool breeze hitting the bare skin of my back through the torn halves of my shirt that had come undone, making it tingle.

Reaching behind me, I carefully ran my fingers over as much of the skin as I could, feeling for any injuries or tenderness, but apart from the dull ache caused by the overall strain of my unanticipated adventure, I didn't seem to have any injuries.

So it had just been some kind of teleportation magic then...

Lifting my gaze, I scanned my surroundings. I was sitting on a large patch of thick tall grass that reached up to my chest while I sat. And the area was flanked on all sides by tall trees as far as the eye could see.

So I was probably still in the woods...

Raising my head, I looked up to the sky which was still heavily cloud-laden, and sighed in relief.

And probably still in Dublin too.

Taking deep breaths, I stretched the sore muscles of my back and shoulders groaning at the dull ache. I couldn't believe how lucky I had gotten today.

Not only had I managed to survive a near death experience, I had also managed to get some insight into Megan's whereabouts, and learn a thing or two about her mysterious female companion- one whom I still couldn't pin as the good guy or the bad guy.

Well, seeing as I was still very much alive and largely uninjured too, hopefully it was the former.

I thought back to the look of disbelief that had flooded that cloaked woman's eyes just before I had teleported. Even though she had cast the magic on me herself, she had seemed completely baffled at the sight of what was happening to me.

Or perhaps, just at the the sight of me...

Why?

And why had I felt that bizarre yet striking emotion when I had looked into her wide eyes. I hadn't even caught their color. Nor had I seen the rest of her face as she had covered it with her hands in shock. And yet, I had felt like I had struck a strange chord with her.

I didn't know her, but it was like my instincts did.

Who was she?

According to Alpha Penson, Megan didn't have any existing blood-related family, as they had all apparently passed away. She had although mentioned her parents to me on one occasion, telling me that her father used to be in the military.

Had she been speaking about her real father or had that been a lie?

And if not family, did that mean that that cloaked woman was a friend of hers? Megan had never really mentioned the existence of any close friends to me, but then again I hadn't bonded with her enough to get her to open up to me about her personal life.

Either way, Megan had some powerful backup who would, hopefully, eventually prove to be an ally to the Werewolf kingdom.

I wonder what kind of supernatural that woman had been...

Had she been a witch too? Or an enchantress, as was the term used in that book called Cor-E-ssentials. Were those two terms synonymous or two entirely different entities? I really had no clue.

And yet I couldn't help but feel like the magic used by that cloaked woman had been different from Megan's magic. I couldn't exactly pin point why I felt that way, but I just...did.

I rubbed my back with the back of my hand, silently wishing I could see how it looked, just in case that woman had branded me with some strange magical symbol that I couldn't make out right now through touch alone. But alas, I couldn't, so for now, I just had to assume that nothing weird was going on back there.

With the exception of my thoroughly devastated shirt and its two fluttering halves of course. Since the knot I had tied earlier to keep my shirt in place had come undone, I could feel the shirt slipping off my back and shoulders.

Reaching around myself and tying the two ends together again, I lifted my gaze to the stormy sky.

Zuerien...I think...we have a lead now...

Megan was here. She was in Dublin, in the woods, in a little cottage by a clearing. And although I had no idea where that clearing or cottage was anymore, now that I had teleported away, I knew we could still find it. Alpha Penson would definitely know a way.

And I was pretty sure Zuerien and the others were planning to ask this League of Magic entity for help anyway, just in case they suddenly needed some magic at hand which was a little more stable and reliable than our Luna Prophecy's.

Although, it was all thanks to Prophecy's unstable magic that I had been able to find Megan. She was one heck of an extraordinary woman!

And speaking of Prophecy...

I pushed myself to my feet, dusting myself off and recalling the baffling sight I had witnessed just seconds before I had fallen off that tall arbor.

Prophecy

What was going on with her? Was she alright? Why was she randomly teleporting from place to place like that? Why was she floating in the air some 50 feet off the ground? And why was Alpha Ashford floating around with her?!

It was all so confusing that I didn't even know where to begin putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

But the most important fact was...Prophecy was in Dublin! I wasn't sure how- probably by teleporting- but she was! So, did that mean that Alpha Penson, Cole and General Reginald had reached Dublin too?! And if not, where were they?

Too many questions, I thought, feeling a headache coming, Too many questions for my meek human brain-matter. And not nearly enough answers...

Establishing that it was better to worry about all those questions at a later hour, I decided to concentrate on the problem at hand. To figure out where I was and how I could be reunited with my mate and friends.

Rino had said that he and Zuerien were in the woods. That they were looking for me. So it was possible that they had been close to where I had been before Megan's mysterious companion teleported me away.

Well...atleast Zuerien could have been close. I had no idea where Rino had been, which only served to heighten my worry.

Another issue that was causing me anxiety was that even though I had seen Megan's shadow in that cottage, her shadow had seen me too! And that would have definitely alerted her. If we didn't act fast, she would surely try to escape again or atleast increase the magical security around herself.

She couldn't leave Dublin thanks to the maze Marco had put up, but she could make her way into Shadow Territory which would make it just as hard to find her again. Not to mention dangerous.

For us as well as for her.

But then again...who was to say that we weren't already in the shadow territory?

That one thought immediately set off all the alarm bells in my head. Because if that was indeed the case, I was in a hell lot of trouble right now. A lot more than I had been in all day so far.

And just like that all the joy and satisfaction I had been feeling over having run into Megan earlier vanished into thin air, leaving me with an ever increasing sense of dread that left me chilled to my bones.

The Shadow Territory.

Terrence Magnifis' territory.

Oh God...

Zuerien...help...!

I could feel my heart rate spike by at least 10 beats every second and a cold sweat drenched my body as I nervously scanned my surroundings which now seemed too quiet for comfort.

I knew it was silly of me to be this worried since I didn't even know for certain if I really even was in the Shadow side of Dublin, but the notion had already been planted into my head and it had taken roots. Its stigma had begun to spread, and there was no way I could ignore that possibility anymore.

Please...no...

It was like the minute that thought had occurred to me, I could suddenly feel dark ominous presences around me and see dull shadows moving in my peripheral vision. But every time my gaze flickered to them, they disappeared.

You're just imagining them Suzzanah. Its all psychological. Keep it together!

Trying hard to not let the growing fear get the better of me, I quickly tried to mindlink Zuerien again, desperately hoping it would work this time.

Clutching my chest with one hand and forcing myself to remain calm, I began mentally calling out to my mate. And although I could concentrate a lot better with my eyes closed, I didn't dare do so this time. I couldn't.

I was too afraid...of the darkness.

Zuerien...please...hear my voice

A sudden chill ran down my spine and my skin prickled, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. And then something dark began to seep into my veins, flooding my body, feeding my apprehension.

A bad feeling.

My breathing became laboured, hands starting to tremble as my mental calls to my mate became more urgent and panicked.

Zuerien! Please, please hear my voice! Please!

Something in the crook of my neck started to tingle fiercely. My hand immediately pressed down on the spot and I winced as pain rushed down my shoulder and arm.

My mark, I realized.

The tingling got stronger and I gasped for breath, hyperventilating in angst.

ZUERIEEENN!

Something like the sound of a foot crushing a dry leaf suddenly sounded from behind me and my body whirled around, eyes frantically scanning the tall grass and trees around me in terror.

I swallowed hard, breathing heavily through my mouth, and taking involuntarily steps away from the source of that sound. I didn't know why I was being so paranoid without even knowing if something was really out there. But I couldn't help it.

A bad feeling. That's all I could describe it as.

A very bad feeling.

The tingling sensation over my neck had now nearly taken over most of my left shoulder and arm and was now spreading up my neck and down my chest. And amidst my current state of frenzy, it actually served as a source of comfort, numbing some of the panic.

My eyes continued to hurriedly scan my surroundings for anything at all that could prove to be a potential threat, zeroing in alarmedly on even the subtle movements of the blades of grass as they swayed in the occasional breeze.

Something wasn't right.

Out of nowhere, waves of nostalgic terror washed over me and I suddenly felt like I had been thrust into a distant time. To a place where I had already been in this situation before, where I had already experienced this feeling of unexplained panic before.

As though I had yet again come face to face with an age old evil that I had crossed paths with before.

A feeling...of déjà vu.

A bad feeling.

Run Suzzanah...

My eyes went wide and a shocked gasp escaped my lips when a familiar voice abruptly filled my head in a soft, ominous whisper.

Run...Run Suzzanah...

Emily.

My blood ran cold as her gentle voice continued to repeat those two words urgently.

Run!

I took a step back.

Run Suzzanah!

And then another.

My heart was beating so hard in my chest right now that it was almost painful. Spells of dizziness started to wash over me and I started to find it hard to keep a clear head.

You need to run!

The sudden sharp sound of a twig snapping a short distance away from me tore through the deathly silence like a violent trident and my breath caught.

No...

SUZZANAH GO! NOW!

Without so much as another thought, my body whirled around, my feet slammed into the ground underneath me and broke into a wild sprint, running as fast as I could.

Running for my life.

And that's when I heard it.

The unmistakable sound of heavy footfalls crashing into the earth in pursuit of me.

They were after me.

Oh God no!

A terrified cry escaped my lips as I forced myself to run faster, dashing through the rows of unfamiliar trees, not knowing where I was going and not caring either, as long as it was away.

Away from whatever thing was after me.

The wind crashed into my body as I tore through it, feet pounding the moist soil at a speed I didn't know I was even capable of achieving.

And as I ran, bursts of nostalgic memories bombarded my mind, hitting me so hard that it became hard for me to tell the past from the present.

I remembered having run like this once before. It had been on my very first day of work. When I had gotten lost in the woods. When I had fallen from a tree. And when I had encountered a colossal dark beast, an age old legend of the dark woods.

A creature that howled to the moon and challenged the sun.

One who had changed my life forever.

Still dashing through the thick vegetation, my head shot around to try and glimpse what was after me. And my heart nearly stopped when for just one horrifyingly long second, I caught sight of the creature that was in pursuit of me.

And my throat went dry.

Its thick legs moved powerfully at a speed too infinite to be natural. Its humongous body glided almost fluidly over the thick roots and moist soil as it ran. Its giant head was bent, close to the ground, but I'd bet anything that it's feral gaze was locked on me.

It flew over the undergrowth like a mighty gust of black wind. And everything it touched seemed to wither and shrivel up. It was an animal that seemed to have risen from the deepest depths of Tartarus. A monster from the darkest pits of abyss.

And in the split second that I did see it, I could not have found a better term to describe it than the one that was ringing in my head right now.

A demon from hell

Dear God...!

RUN!

With my heart in my throat and adrenaline shooting through my veins like blood itself, I tore through the unfamiliar woods like a woman on fire.

RUN!

Emily's voice continued to ring in my head like a siren, being the only thing that kept me going. I didn't think it was possible for me to run faster, but somehow it seemed that one glimpse of that terrifying creature was enough to make me accomplish the impossible.

My surroundings were but a blur of dull colors, the stormy sky making everything darker, dimmer and far more ominous. The ginormous monster chasing me made nearly no sound at all, but the only thing that told me that it was still after me was the feeling of unparalleled terror that was searing through me.

A bad feeling. An evil aura.

An old enemy.

At it was after me, yet again.

I had no idea where all these thoughts were coming from or even if they were my own. But in that moment and time, they were the most real thing to me.

Thousands of thoughts bombarded my mind, questions demanding answers I didn't have. Why was I being chased by a wild animal? Was it a werewolf? A rogue? Were there more with it? Was I going to die?

And why was it that even though I hadn't encountered it before, I still recognized this aura of deep dark evil?

I dashed through shrubs, over roots and under branches, my body moving on reflex, as though it had been trained to tackle such situations. As though it was familiar with such predicaments.

As though...I had done this before.

And I knew I had. I had that day when I had met him for the first time. My mate. My protector. The man I loved.

Zuerien...!

But why was it...that as I ran through the woods experiencing the most powerful feeling of déjà vu that I ever had before, his was not the only name that was echoed in my mind.

Names both familiar and unfamiliar began to echo in my mind like distant cries. And all of a sudden, all breath left my body and I abruptly felt weightless.

Terrified, I looked down at myself to find that I was no longer wearing my jeans and torn shirt. No, I was wearing a long, almost tribal green dress that fluttered in the wind, the fair skin of my legs flashing as I ran.

My hair flew into my face and when I hurriedly pushed it away, I found my fingers combing through brilliant silver strands of thick long tresses that cascaded down to my waist.

And when my mind cleared, a name I had never heard before was resounding throughout my body.

LIAM...!

A voice that was not mine called out that unfamiliar name with a vigor and desperation that was almost palpable.

LIAM...ARIUS!

And somehow, even though both the voice and the name were not familiar to me, the sound of that name flooded me with just as much warmth, joy and affection as the sound of my own precious mate's name.

Liam Arius...

And something after that...which was missing making the name seem incomplete.

But before I could even so much as blink, the silver strands although still falling to my waist, turned dark brown, and the green tribal garment turned into a light pink dress, stained entirely with dark red blood.

The sight of my body clothed in the bloodied garment almost made me loose my footing in shock, but miraculously I kept running, perhaps even more fiercely than before.

And yet again a name resonated throughout my body and mind, and although the voice that called out the name still wasn't mine and the name that was cried out still did not belong to my mate, this time, I knew them both.

The voice and the name.

MICHEAL!

The voice immediately made my heart ache deeply and a silent whimper escaped my lips at the sound of the pained cry.

Emily Penson's voice.

Crying out her mate's name.

Micheal...Angus...Ashford.

It was the first time I had heard Alpha Michael's full name, and yet again it brought back the same feelings of love and yearning as Zuerien's did for me.

I had no idea what was happening, and why. I was having an out of body experience once more and I had no clue what to do next, except run.

Run to the ends of time.

Run...to stay alive.

Just as abruptly as the bizarre supernatural experience had commenced, it also concluded, and I found myself running yet again in my own body, with my mid-back length dark brown hair flying wildly around my face, in my own torn ragged garments, through the irish woods. My mind was completely and utterly muddled but my muscles continued to flex and extend hastily as I continued my desperate sprint.

All of a sudden, a thick mist began to seep into the woods around me, flooding the gaps between the trees, covering everything in a grey-white cloud of moist air. It engulfed me as though protecting me from my predator. It surrounded me as though shielding me from his evil aura.

And yet again it struck me that I had seen this before. It had happened to me before. That time when I had run from those werewolf warriors when I had gotten lost strolling the woods during the Annual Games, after having visited the orphanage for the first time.

And another time when I had run from Delta Del right after Zuerien and Cole's fight was over when he had recognized me as the intruder in the woods.

This fog had always sheltered me. Like an armor of grace. Like a divine protection.

My very own portal of refuge.

And it was here once again, covering everything as far as the eye could see.

For the first time since this chase had begun, I heard a deafening and furious growl from behind me, and the beast that up until now had been as silent as darkness, suddenly got louder, faster.

And closer.

It was gaining on me!

The feeling of security that the mist had brought with it started to fade and fear gripped my heart once more. And I gasped in terror when I saw that the fog slowly started thinning, giving way.

Fading.

NO!

I watched devastated as my protective shield against the evil predator chasing me disintegrated, leaving me utterly exposed and helpless once again.

Zuerien...!

The dark energy that the creature had been emanating suddenly increased tenfold, and I felt it shoot out from behind me like a giant claw ready to ensnare me in its clutches.

The energy was so sinister and strong that it broke my balance, and to my utmost dread and horror, I realized that despite having kept up the chase for so long, I had finally faltered and lost my footing.

My knees gave in underneath me and my body was thrown out of equilibrium as I found myself hurtling to the hard ground like a missile flying at its target.

My lips parted in a silent scream of despair at the sight of the small hard rocks protruding from the earth underneath me and I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling absolutely hopeless as I waited for either the sharp rocks or the beasts claws to sink into me.

My body slammed hard into ground, but instead of it being solid and ragged, it felt slippery and elastic. I gasped in shock as the surface underneath me suddenly curled and wrapped around my body, acting as a bed and breaking my momentum before my body finally came to a halt on a soft, plush surface.

My eyes shot open to find my body encircled yet again in a protective net of thick vines and laying over a bed of thick, soft grass that I hadn't seen before.

But before I could even exhale the breath I had been holding, the dark ferocious hell hound was upon me, shrouded completely in shadows as it lunged at me through a thick bush, teeth barred and claws outstretched to tear into me.

My entire life flashed before my eyes in the span of a short second as I watched the pitch black monster leap towards me. It was so dark that the feral creature looked just like a gargantuan shadow falling over me.

And for but a faint, fleeting moment, my gaze met the savage beast's blood red eyes, and my heart clenched at the feeling that cut through it like a spear.

Familiar pain

Its over.

With eyes that were too wide in shock to close, I watched petrified as death came for me once more, its scythe lifted high to retrieve my soul.

And then, the earth around me exploded, blazing a terrifying molten red, as searing flames burst out of the moist soil, creating a seven foot wall all around me.

The hound roared in pain as the red-hot flames scorched its large body making it lunge away from me in disbelief. And yet again death retreated, not having been able to claim my soul.

For my soul...already belonged to another.

I watched frozen like a statue of stone in shock as the flames brought with them yet another powerful moment of déjà vu.

A wall of flames shielding me from Megan's dark shadow in the woods

My mate's flames.

Zuerien!

My heart welled with overwhelming emotion and then a second ring of fire burst out in front of the first one, its flames charging towards the evil beast with a wild vengeance. The creature howled in agony, thrashing around before hurling itself away from the molten fire that was still lapping at it hungrily.

And then a thunderous mighty roar sounded throughout the woods, so powerfully that it made the trees shake and tremble. Waves of immeasurable power engulfed me, embracing me in their secure protection.

Reassurance as vast and endless as an ocean flooded my parched veins and tears of immense relief and joy pricked my eyes as my head shot around towards the source of that roar.

And when my eyes found him, I felt like I could finally breathe again.

He came like a gust of strong wind- raging, powerful and untamed. Moving at a speed so unimaginable that I almost couldn't keep him in sight. His enormous frame exuded infinite power, his strides valiant, resolute.

Fearless.

The earth trembled as his mighty limbs pounded it as he ran. His dark fur gleamed majestically even in the dim light, a single golden streak standing out like a striking ray of sunlight in the darkness.

And with each mighty step he took towards me, I felt like my heart would explode with uncontainable joy and relief.

Still clutching my heart I closed my eyes and breathed out, feeling a tear fall.

He was here. He was finally here.

A feral growl sounded from in front of me making my eyes shoot open just in time to see the giant hellish beast before me give me one last wicked snarl before turning around and bolting into the dark woods.

Running away.

The outer wall of flames around me screamed and sizzled before dashing after the hound as though they wouldn't be sated till the creature was charred to ashes. I squeezed my eyes shut and curled over, hiding my face in my knees as an intense wave of heat hit my body like a gale.

A ferocious growl sounded from behind me before the lightning fast footsteps of my mate sped past me and I realized that he was going after my predator while his protective wall of fire still blazed mightily around me.

And I didn't know why but the minute he dashed after that dark creature, an ancient, powerful, nearly crippling fear suddenly erupted inside of me, chilling me to the bone. As though I had just had a premonition that something devastating was going to happen.

Something painfully devastating.

Don't go... I found myself begging Zuerien through the mindlink, Don't go, Zuerien...please...please don't go after him!

The minute I uttered those words, it was like they had triggered an age old memory and the very next moment I heard Emily's voice echo in my mind, desperately repeating the very same plea.

Don't go...don't go after him Micheal...please don't. Don't leave. Please. Please!

Terror built up to its zenith inside of me and I grit my teeth, screaming at the top of my lungs, each to our own mates

PLEAAAASE!

Sudden silence befell the woods, not a soul even daring to breath. The breeze died down and the heat from the flames surrounding me disappeared.

And I waited desperately with my heart in hands, for any kind of response from my mate.

A loud, piercing howl suddenly tore through the thick silence like a sword and resonated throughout the mystic woods like a declaration.

He had heard my cry.

Gasping, I released the breath I had been holding, before lifting my head, my eyes shooting open with only one person in mind. There in the distance, a few dozen feet away from me stood a ginormous, dark wolf that set my heart racing all over again.

His head was held high, body tense and muscles rippling, powerful claws planted firmly in the soil. He was like a mighty anchor holding everything down, keeping it all from falling apart.

He was the anchor holding my world together.

And I was just...so happy...to see him.

When his pitch black eyes met mine, a mixture of turbulent emotions spanning from extreme concern to blatant relief flooded their depths, and that was when I finally felt myself break down.

All the raging emotions came bursting to the surface and my body shook, tears sliding down my dirty, soot covered face as a soft cry escaped my trembling lips.

"Kai...?"

That did it.

The sound of my broken whimper made my mate's face contort in agonising pain and he came racing towards me. A desperate cry escaped my lips as I raised myself on my knees and extended my arms towards him.

The sounds of bones breaking and realigning filled the air for but a split second before powerful muscular arms engulfed my frame and I was pulled into a solid chest that sent waves of intense warmth and tingles shooting through me.

And I had never felt safer in my entire life.

"Zue-ri-ehn...", I cried into his chest as he embraced me tightly, pulling me closer to himself.

"Shhh its okay baby, I'm here", he told me desperately, combing his fingers through my hair and nuzzling his cheek against my the top of my head, "Its okay. Everything's okay. Its over"

His deep, warm voice immediately made my heart well with love and I held him tighter, pressing my cheek into his warm chest. His steady strong heart beat served to calm my raging emotions, just as it always did.

"Thank God you came back", I sobbed bitterly, "I was so scared"

"Shh its over", he whispered gently to me, "I'm here now. Please don't cry baby"

That just made me sob harder and he let out a pained cry before cupping my face and lifting my head, pressing desperate kisses to my forehead, my wet cheeks and down my neck and shoulders.

I too pressed my lips to his neck, jaw and temples, not being able to get enough of him. His presence was enough to make me feel like I would die of happiness. I had never before experienced such a fierce, immeasurable and all-consuming love before. But now I knew it existed. Because that was how I loved him.

That was how I loved my mate.

He pressed an open-mouthed kiss over my mark and I gasped between tears, my back arching into him as intense pleasure and unimaginable affection seared through me. Immediately lifting his head, he cupped my face and when his mismatched brown and black eyes met mine, he let out a urgent breath and crashed his lips to mine.

And my soul felt complete once more.

My hands clasped around his neck and my lips melted into his while his large arms wrapped around my frail body. The kiss was fast and desperate, raw and wild, with not an ounce of lust but an ocean of love and longing.

We kissed like starved lovers who had died a thousand days just to have one moment with each other. And with every second I spent in his warm, protective arms, I felt my fear stripping away till I felt completely safe and secure.

The kiss went on and on till I was so out of breath that I could no longer keep up. Gasping for air, I broke the kiss and lowered my head as he pressed his forehead to mine, breathing heavily as well.

I held onto his strong shoulders while his hand came up to cup my face once more before lifting my head so I could look into his eyes.

Both his chocolate brown and obsidian black orbs were filled with warmth and concern as he drunk in my features as though seeing me after a millennium.

"Heart", he whispered affectionately, caressing my cheek with his thumb, "You're okay aren't you baby?"

I smiled tearily at my mate and nodded, "Mhm", I breathed out making him sigh heavily before hugging me tightly once more.

He pressed a long and hard kiss against my forehead before nuzzling his cheek against it and gently rocking me back and forth as he patted my back comfortingly.

"Thank God", he whispered, and I closed my eyes trying to let the safety and comfort of my mate's arms calm my panicked mind.

"Zuerien...that beast-"

His grip around me tightened and a deep growl rumbled through his chest, "I'll take care of him", Zuerien said in a bare whisper- dangerously low and terrifyingly dark, "I'll take of him, heart. I swear to you, I will show him hell"

With every word he spoke, his voice deepened and morphed, turning so feral and animalistic that I immediately knew that Kai was threatening to take over.

My mate was furious. Seething.

Livid.

A shiver tore down my spine when I felt the unfathomable magnitude of his molten rage and I gripped his shoulder as a frightened whimper escaped my lips.

He immediately contained his anger and placed one hand over my head protectively as he hugged me, "Shhh, don't be afraid sweetheart", he said softly, "Everything's okay"

I nodded quietly, trying to let his words console my troubled heart.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" he asked gently, but I knew that on the inside, the anticipation for this particular question's answer was killing him.

"No", I replied, wanting nothing more than to put his mind to ease.

"Are you being honest?"

I nodded, "Yes", I breathed out before pushing away so that I look at his face, "I'm okay"

His eyes softened infinitely as he wiped the tears from my eyes with his thumb, "Your face is all muddy", he said, gently wiping my cheeks before adding quietly, "You look so tired baby"

I gave him a soft smile, trying to reassure him but unable to contradict him as my eyes welled with fresh tears. His features immediately scrunched up in pain but just as he was about to say something, a voice suddenly sounded loudly in my head, beating him to it.

Look what you did! You always make her cry, human!

Zuerien's face contorted in irritation while I immediately let out a soft laugh, my body nearly drowning in the onslaught of unparalleled love once more.

"KAI!"

Suzzanah, don't let the human upset you, my heart, Kai told me hurriedly, You look beautiful. Muddy is the new hot. Everybody likes it dirty.

I choked on a chuckle while Zuerien let out a frustrated growl.

Kai, do you even know what you're saying?

Whatever, atleast I made her laugh

She's laughing at you, not because of you, you fool!

She's laughing. That's all that matters. And don't forget that I'm in your head. You better stop making her cry or I'll bite the heck out of your brain and give you a mad headache

Argh! I swear I was born with the wrong wolf, Zuerien groaned.

Yeah, you got lucky. If only I had been that fortunate

I chuckled tearily, "The sass is real with Kai isn't it?" I said as I wiped my eyes while Zuerien glared up at his own forehead.

Kai, you're pushing it, he growled out.

Pushing what? Kai asked genuinely.

Your freakin' mutt-limits

Ouch you nasty curmudgeon!

What the hell?!

What the human!

What the human isn't even an expression!

Well, it is now

By now their bickering had me in splits. I was literally loosing all my air. And in the midst of my laughter, I felt my eyes grow misty again before tears started flowing down my cheeks once more.

Immediately Kai and Zuerien stopped fighting and their attention flew back to me, smug face dissolving into one of extreme worry.

"Suzzanah! What's wrong?!" They cried out in unison, mismatched eyes wide in worry as Zuerien cupped my face in his large warm hand.

His touch immediately made soft familiar tingles spread across my skin, intensifying my emotions.

"Heart, please tell us what's wrong?" Zuerien asked desperately, "Are you-"

I cut him off by throwing my arms around his neck and hugging him tightly once again, clinging to him for dear life.

"I'm so relieved that you're here", I told him, my voice breaking as I spoke, "When you ran after that creature, I was so afraid you wouldn't come back when I called"

His arms encircled my waist and he pulled me closer as I continued, "When it attacked...I really thought that was it", I whispered fearfully, "When it lunged at me, I thought...that was goodbye"

"We would never let that happen to you, heart", Zuerien told me immediately, his voice firm and strong, a perfect balance between his own and Kai's deeper huskier tone, and I nodded.

"I know but I'm...I'm such a mess", I breathed out to which he tsked in disapproval.

"Suzzanah..."

"I'm afraid, Zuerien, Kai", I told him softly, pushing away to look into his eyes once again. His face was painted with worry as his gaze searched my countenance earnestly. I swallowed hard before adding, "I'm afraid...that something bad is going to happen"

Zuerien immediately began to protest, "Heart-"

"I can feel it in my bones Zuerien", I cut him off, needing him to listen to everything I had to say, "As if its happened before and it will happen again"

"What do you mean its happened before?" he asked.

I closed my eyes tiredly, "I don't know how to explain it", I told him honestly, "But I feel like what happened just a few minutes ago- the appearance of that hellish beast, that chase through the woods, the way it lunged at me with a mad intent to end my existence- its happened before. Like I've been through the exact same thing before!"

Zuerien's eyes widened in disbelief as I swallowed hard before adding cautiously, "And the thing that's troubling me most, is that...that animal...I-I...I felt like...I knew him"

"What?!"

"I can't tell you why I feel this way but I do, very strongly", I told him, "Almost as if I've met him before, known him before"

My heart rate spiked as I breathed out, "I felt like I have known him for a very, very long time. Almost as if...he has tried to attack me before"

"When?"

I shook my head, "I...don't know. I really couldn't say", I told him, "But its an incredibly strong feeling, very similar to the ones I have when I can feel when someone is in danger, like that time in that restaurant Satiété before the annual games when there was a rogue attack by the border"

Zuerien remained quiet, thinking deeply about what I had just told him. Hesitantly I asked, "What...was that thing? Was it a werewolf?"

His eyes flashed in anger, "I can't be certain, because that thing didn't have the same kind of aura that a werewolf does, but I think it was", he told me, "A bloody werewolf that may possess certain additional supernatural attributes. Just as I began gaining on him, he disappeared right in front of my eyes"

"What?!" I gasped, "You mean...magic?"

His jaw clenched as he nodded, "But I can't be certain whether the magic was his own or whether he was saved by another's powers", he told me, "He's escaped for now but this is not over. I'll find him again, and by the time I'm done with him, he'll wish he'd never been born"

His voice turned more furious and feral as he went on, "That bastard better start counting his days. He messed with the wrong person", he growled out, "For what he tried to do to you, I'll make every fúcking moment of his life hell. He'll regret the day he even dared breathe the same air as you"

Zuerien was so mad that his body had started trembling in rage, his eyes flashing pitch black, and canines elongating threateningly.

I immediately placed a hand over his chest, "Zuerien, please calm down", I pleaded softly before pressing my forehead against him, "Don't let the anger take over. Please. Calm down. Breathe"

Heeding my words, he closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to regain control. Once he felt calmer, he opened his eyes and nodded to me before pressing a kiss to my forehead reassuringly.

Pulling away and exhaled heavily, "I've already alerted the Ashford Pack about it and their patrol wolves and warriors are already searching for it, not just in the woods but also in the city", he told me.

For some reason the thought of other werewolves or just anyone at all going looking for that creature instantly made me uneasy, that same fear from earlier crawling back under my skin once more.

"John is on his way to meet with certain members of the League of Magic and request their assistance", Zuerien told me, "We were planning on doing that to find Megan anyway but it seems even more necessary now seeing as that bastard used magic to escape"

So the others were in Dublin too, just as I had thought earlier...

I nodded in agreement.

"If it was a werewolf then its not likely that he'd be a pack wolf. He was most likely a rogue", Zuerien said, "Do you have any memory of having encountered rogues or just any wolf or large animal before you came to the Royale Industries? Maybe from your childhood?"

"No", I replied, "The earliest memory I have from my childhood would probably be from when I was 3", I told him, "And I can't remember anything of that sort having happened from then on. Not once"

Zuerien frowned, his features scrunched up in deep thought. I knew the story I was spurting was not very believable since I had no memory of having encountered that creature ever, since I was a little girl.

Never in this life that is.

But...

"Please believe me", I whispered quietly to my mate in desperation, "I'm not making this up. I swear to you!"

He immediately shook his head, bending closer to me, "Of course I believe you heart", he told me, "I have never doubted a thing you told me. You don't have to worry sweetheart. I promise you we'll get to the bottom of this, okay?"

His words were just as strong and reassuring as the man himself and I nodded in gratitude before hugging his waist once more, "Thank you for coming for me", I told him and he sighed.

"I've told you innumerable times already, you don't have to thank me, heart", he said, gently caressing my cheek with the back of his palm, "I don't do it as a responsibility or duty. I do it because there's nothing else I'd rather do"

I smiled tearily, "Than come to rescue my butt from all the crazy shiz I get myself into?" I asked.

He chuckled softly, "Of course. Your sweet ass is worth it all"

Damn right it is!

I tsked smiling while my cheeks heated up, and I lightly slapped his chest with my palm which he immediately captured in his much larger one before lifting it to his lips and kissing my knuckles.

His other hand was wrapped around my waist, tracing comforting circles against my bare back, making me shiver.

"So, when do we talk about what happened back here?" Zuerien asked tugging lightly at the lose ends of my devastated shirt.

I sighed tiredly, "I don't know", I whispered honestly, "There's just so much to talk about. So much I need to tell you. And so much I need to ask..."

"Start wherever you like", he encouraged and I sat up on his lap and took a deep breath.

"I found Megan"

"WHAT?!"

Both Kai and Zuerien cried out in shock together, their calm, gentle expression turning thunderstruck the minute I uttered those three words.

I nodded, "She's here in Dublin in the woods somewhere by a clearing", I told him.

"You met her?!"

"No, but I got a glimpse of something for a few seconds which confirmed to me that it was her", I replied, "Her Supernatural shadow"

"How did you know it was hers?"

"Her eyes", I replied, recollecting those striking bright green eyes that were glowing in the dark, "They had manifested on her Shadow"

"Shadow Sight", he stated and I nodded.

"Remember how you asked me to try and recall what my last thought was before Prophecy teleported me to the woods?" I asked, "I was thinking about Megan. That was what actually drove me to try and look for her, even though it was dangerous"

"Because you aren't reckless enough already?" he asked, indignantly and I smiled sheepishly.

"It was worth a shot, for Megan", I told him honestly, "It wasn't hard to find her either. It was like some invisible energy guiding me to where she was in a little cottage close to the clearing I had been teleported to. I was literally drawn to her!"

That doesn't sound right in my head, Kai said at the same time that Zuerien frowned, making me smile amusedly before going on.

"Once I was there, I looked everywhere for her but didn't find her. But then I saw her Supernatural shadow and even felt her presence very vividly, just for a split second, before I was teleported away from her"

"She used magic on you?" he asked, immediately sounding angered.

"No, not her", I replied, "Her companion. The woman I believe she is living with right now"

"So she has comrades here"

"Only one that I know of so far", I replied, "And she uses magic too. She is the one who teleported me out of the cottage and to this part of the woods"

His frown deepened, "Heart, you really were way too impulsive and heedless today", he told me chidingly.

"But it was worth it!"

"That's irrelevant, it was too dangerous!" he exclaimed, "What if she had hurt you?!"

"I know my actions were really rash but I knew that if Megan was really there, she wouldn't hurt me", I told him.

"But her companion could have!" he cried out.

"And yet she didn't", I replied thoughtfully, "Makes me think that she really wasn't a bad person"

Zuerien snorted, "Unless of course she was the bítch who set that bloody bástard of a mutt after you", he said, getting angrier by the minute.

I immediately patted his chest, trying to calm him down, "Please Zuerien, calm down", I said softly, "I can understand why you're mad and you have a right to be too, but think about it this way. If she wanted to hurt me, she could have done so much more easily right there instead of setting a crazy hound after me. I really don't think that was her doing"

He sighed heavily, jaw clenched as he tried to reel in his anger while I caressed his jawline.

"So she was a witch too", he said and I bit my lip thoughtfully.

"I don't know for sure but...somehow...I don't think so", I told him, "Her magic felt different from Megan's and Prophecy's. Obviously I could be wrong, especially since I know very little about witches and magic, and I can't really explain it but it just felt different on a deeper level"

Zuerien's face remained grim, his eyes shifting in thought, "You said that you saw Megan's supernatural shadow, but did it see you too?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it did", I said nervously, "And that's what I'm worried about. What if she-"

"Tries to escape", Zuerien completed, "Yeah, I'm sure she will"

"Oh no..."

I bit my lip worriedly as he said, "Describe that clearing in detail to me and everything you can remember around it. I'll mindlink the others and tell them to begin their search for it in the woods immediately"

I nodded and told him everything I could remember which honestly, in my opinion, wasn't of much help. And my sense of direction was terrible too so I couldn't tell whether it had been the east or west or whatever else I should have known.

Once Zuerien had mindlinked everything I had told him to the others, he returned his attention to me.

"Everyone's really relieved that you're alright", he told me, "And don't worry about Megan escaping. Marco's maze will prevent her from leaving Dublin even via teleportation, alright?"

"What if she escapes into Shadow territory?"

"She can't", he told me, "Marco's maze will prevent that too. So don't concern yourself with that, sweetheart. Tell me the rest"

I nodded relieved and decided that it was best to start from the beginning and wasted no time in starting to tell him everything that happened in the little cottage,but I could barely make it through even a single sentence without my mate interrupting me with shocked cries.

"You fell off the tree?!" he shouted horrified.

"I thought you knew", I told him surprised.

"Shit! Heart are you alright?!" he asked, totally freaking out as he ran his hands over my body worriedly, checking for injuries.

"Zuerien I'm fine!" I told him, pressing my palms on his shoulders, "I didn't get hurt at all actually because all the branches, leaves and trees in my way that could have hurt me had been burnt clean"

His eyes widened in recognition as I added, "I really thought that you had somehow found out that I was falling and that the burnt foliage was your doing"

"It was"

"Huh?!"

Now it was my turn to be confused yet again.

"So that was that terrible split second feeling I had had in the pit of my stomach", Zuerien said, more to himself than to me before looking back at me.

"A few minutes after I left Marco to go look for you and couldn't reach you anymore via mindlink, I had this overwhemlingly disturbing feeling like something bad was going to happen to you", he told me, "So without thinking I created a wall of fire around you, for protection"

"You can do that?" I asked in awe, "Even when you don't know where I am?"

He nodded, "You bear my mark now, heart", he said affectionately, "Me marking you strengthened our mate-bond profoundly and also greatly increased the extent to which I can protect you, even when I'm away from you, especially using my element"

"That's incredible", I whispered in wonder.

"But I don't understand, how are you...not injured?" he asked, his eyes still running over my body worriedly.

"Now that's the creepily interesting part. As I fell a whole bunch of vines wrapped around my body and also got tangled in each other creating something like a net into which I fell", I told him excitedly, "It was amazing! Like someone up there is looking out for me!"

"Or someone down here", Zuerien said in a voice so quiet that I almost didn't hear him.

"What?" I asked, confused.

He shook his head, "Its nothing. Go on. What happened after that?"

"Well actually...I should probably tell you what happened before all of that, instead of after", I drawled out uncomfortably, "And the real reason why I climbed a tree again despite what happened the last time I did so"

Zuerien immediately frowned, "Something tells me I'm not going to like what I hear"

"I'm pretty sure about that", I replied, knowing that there is no use hiding it anymore, "I made a lot of mistakes today"

"I can forgive everything, but not you recklessly putting my mate in danger", he told me, "I hope you know heart, you're my entire world now. If something happens to you-"

He stopped unable to complete the sentence and my chest consticted painfully.

"Oh Zuerien..."

"Tell me what happened", he said softy and I sighed before telling him everything about how I disappeared from my room and appeared in the clearing.

When I told him about the demon lampstand his eyebrows knit together in disbelief and then I went on to tell him about the woman in the cape and how I had to climb the tree to prevent myself from being discovered. And how after thoroughly having searched the clearing, the caped woman had walked off into the woods again.

"And that woman was her, Megan's comrade?" Zuerien asked and I nodded, "Hmm"

"And you didn't tell me"

I lowered my head, unable to meet his gaze, "Sorry"

He sighed, "I can guess why", he said in a heavy voice, "If you had, I would have definitely lost all my shit. That's what you were worried about, wasn't it?"

I cringed, "Zuerien-"

"Suzzanah, I'm sorry"

"What?!" I stared at him wide-eyed, "W-what ever for?!"

"I'm sorry that I gave you the impression that if you tell me that you're in trouble then I'll freak out and wreak havoc", he said, "Which by the way I probably would, but that's just how I am. And I can't promise you that that will change because when it comes to you, everything is a big deal for me"

I smiled softly at him as he continued, "But despite that I'm going to ask you this, please don't hide things from me again", he pleaded softly, his eyes brimming with concern, "I know you do so because you're afraid that I'll worry way too much, blame myself or lose control but just please don't keep me in the dark"

He shook his head, "I don't ever want to be in a position where I couldn't protect my heart when she needed me the most just because she was too worried about me to tell me that she was in trouble. I don't care how big or small the problem is. Next time, tell me"

I nodded apologetically, heart heavy with emotion, "Okay"

"Promise"

"I promise", I replied guiltily, "Zuerien, I'm so sorry"

He smiled gently before leaning in and kissing me again softly. Pulling away, he tucked some stray hair behind my ear and nodded.

"Alright, now don't be sad heart or Kai will never let me hear the end of it"

Too late, human, Kai growed out angrily making Zuerien cringe, I swear, I'm really going to enjoy watching you writhe in pain while I gnaw on your brain matter

"How the hell did I end up with such a psychotic wolf?" Zuerien asked me making me chuckle.

"I love you Kai!" I said softly making Kai cry out in joy while Zuerien gaped at me wide eyed.

"Seriously?" he asked me in shock and I laughed, cupping his face.

"Of course I love you too Zuerien", I said, "I don't understand why I have to mention the both of you separately when you're the same person"

"Don't remind me", they said together irritably and I shook my head in amusement.

"Okay, go on heart", Zuerien said pulling me closer again.

I gulped before smiling sheepishly, unable to hide my discomfort anymore, "Maybe after you put something on"

His face immediately brightened "So you noticed!" Zuerien exclaimed, sounding pleased.

My face flushed once more, "Its very hard not to", I replied.

"Not bad", he said, "I expected you to freak out like you usually do. This is an improvement"

Yeah! But its to be expected seeing as its nothing she hasn't seen before

"True! Last night-"

"Can you both please stop! You're dirsupting my concentration!" I cut in, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Concentration?" they asked in unison and I peeked up at them with one eye.

"I'm trying to decide how best to get off you without...seeing or stimulating anything"

Kai immediately burst out laughing while Zuerien just grinned, looking thoroughly amused.

"Well its too late for the latter", they replied together and I immediately buried my face in his chest again, in embarrassment.

Think of it this way Suzzanah, Kai began, You can get used to seeing us covering-less first, and then it wont bother you so much when other werewolves suddenly shift in front of you

"I'm hoping I never have to experience the latter", I replied, feeling extremely hot and flustered.

"That's a little hard in the werewolf world, especially when you're a Luna seeing as they're the most highly protected members of the pack", Zuerien told me, "Someone or the other is always shifting around a Luna"

"Ai yai yai"

Heart, its all just a matter of getting used to, Kai consoled, Its honestly nothing to be embarassed about. Humans are born into this world naked for a reason

"Kaaai", both I and Zuerien groaned.

Really! Just strip away all those layers of colorful covers and be free!

"Being free is not exactly how I would describe being naked", I replied, feeling more and more embarassed each passing moment, "Especially not in public"

"Who said anything about you being naked in public?" Zuerien and Kai asked in sync, raising an eyebrow, before Zuerien added "No one gets the privilege of seeing you naked except us"

My face turned red like a flaming coal, "B-but you just said-!"

I said you can get used to being around naked people, not being naked around people

His word play was starting to give me headache.

"Ugh, god. All I can hear is the word naked!" I exclaimed cringing, shaking my head vigorously trying to get rid of all the questionable images that were suddenly popping out of my imagination like popcorn, "I don't want to see naked people!"

"What about us? Don't you like seeing us naked?"

To my utmost horror I found that I could not immediately reply with a no and was left gawking at my mate with parted lips and saucer eyes. Immediately Zuerien smirked victoriously and I swore I could have died of embarrassment right there.

"She does"

"I-I didn't say that!" I squealed.

"But she didn't deny it either"

No she didn't

"She wants us"

But why doesn't she just tell us?

"She's being a prude"

"Excuse me?!"

So she's shy?

"Yup"

But what is she shy about? She's freakin' perfect

"I know", Zuerien replied as he looked down at me with loving eyes, "But that's just how she is I guess, our Suzzanah"

He caressed my flushed cheek with the back of his palm and smiled at me, making me feel breathless. My heart fluttered at his words and I found myself utterly lost. I couldn't understand how it was possible for them to make me feel extremely embarrassed and overwhelmingly loved at the very same time.

But I realized that every single thing they said and did just made me love them more.

So much more, everyday.

Dear God...thank you so much for giving me a mate...

Zuerien's smile immediately turned much warmer, "You have no idea how many times that very same thought goes through my mind in a day, my heart", he said cupping my cheek lovingly.

I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes and smiling, "You read my mind again, didn't you?"

"I'm glad I still can", he told me genuinely, "I was extremely concerned all day today given the multiple number of times you blocked us out"

"I'm sorry", I said wholeheartedly, "I didn't realize"

"I know Suzzanah, you don't have to say sorry so many times", he replied, "I was just really worried is all"

"I can understand", I said, "I was really frightened too when I tried to mindlink you earlier and I couldn't get in touch with you"

His brow immediately furrowed, concern painting his face again, "What?"

I told him all about how I suddenly couldn't mindlink them while I was on the tree even though I tried really hard to call out to them, and the more I explained it, the more his confusion and worry seemed to grow.

"That doesn't make any sense", he said sounding troubled, "How could you not mindlink, and me of all people? Now that I've marked you the process should be a whole lot easier"

"It did seem that way the entire day today except during that brief period on the tree, and after I fell off", I told him.

His frown deepened, "It could have been Megan's doing", he said.

My eyebrows shot up, "Oh that's right!" I exclaimed, "I didn't think of that. She could have put up a magical barrier to mindlink like she did when she had briefly trapped me in the library. But would she have had enough energy to do so after her teleportation from America to Ireland?"

"Maybe", Zuerien said thoughtfully, "Or it could have been her friend's doing since she also possessed the ability to wield magic"

"Man! All these magical ladies make me feel so subdued", I said with a sigh immediately making Zuerien look at me with a raised eyebrow.

"And yet they're not the ones who've got an entire country of werewolves worrying about them right now because of their recklessness", he stated immediately making me gape at him in shock.

"Aiyah", I breathed out worriedly.

"Yes. Aiyah", he repeated, cupping both my buttcheeks firmly and abruptly standing up.

"GAH!" A shocked shout escaped my lips as my hands and legs hurriedly wrapped around his neck and waist respectively, in an attempt to not fall out of his arms.

I had done way to much falling for one day already!

"Zuerien!"

Tightening his grip around me, he began walking through the woods leaving me utterly confused as to what had gotten into him all of a sudden. Still clinging to him like second skin, I quickly surveyed my surroundings with a flaming face hoping that no one was around to see one giant, heavily built naked male carrying a muddy, whack looking half naked female through the woods.

Surely it would create a very, very wrong impression.

"Zuerien!" I whisper-yelled at my mate again before my eyes zeroed in on his. They were glassy and distant.

Mind-link.

I wished I knew how to include myself in his mindlink or at least do something which would distract me from being able to feel his toned, rippled body so intimately against my own.

Not to mention a particular part of his very masculine anatomy which was pressing against me very inappropriately and literally wreaking hell and havoc in my mind right now.

But hey, he was my mate! I shouldn't be embarrassed right?

Oh Gaaawd I'm so embarrassed!

Suzzanah, you really are a prude!

"Yes, you are"

I nearly jumped out of his arms in alarm when he suddenly spoke up again.

"Holy wolf!"

He looked at me amused, "You come up with the most interesting expressions, don't you heart?"

"What are you doing?!"

"Carrying you and walking"

"Why?"

"To get where we need to"

"But I-I can walk"

"And so can I"

"And where are we going?"

"Somewhere"

"ZUERIEN!"

Smirking at me and ignoring my annoyed glare he bent his head and pressed his lips to my mark, immediately sending waves of intense pleasure shooting through me like electricity. My back arched involuntarily and my breasts pressed into his solid chest.

And his chest wasn't the only hard thing pressing into me.

"O-oh my god!" I gasped breathlessly, feeling my face shine like a red warning signal, "Z-Zuerien...stop that!"

He cocked his head to side, feigning innocence, "Stop what?" he asked, pressing me closer.

"THAT!" I squealed in alarm before burying my face in his neck, "I'm going to go mad. Please just put something on!"

"I will"

"When?!"

"When I find some clothes"

My head shot up again, "Are you serious?!" I shouted in shock.

"Absolutely", he said, looking completely unfazed.

"And what? Till you do you're just going to roam the forest in your birthday suit?"

"Its not uncommon for werewolves to do so"

Aye, Kai agreed enthusiastically.

What the heck was I going to do with these two- no, one uh- two in one?! What was I going to do with these two in one.

"You do realize that doesn't make any sense"

"GetoutofmyheadZuerien!" I cried out.

"Calm down, my pretty little mate", Zuerien said calmly, thoroughly enjoying my distress, "I've already mindlinked someone to ask where I can find clothes. So while we get there, why don't you continue your story", he suggested, "If the woman already left the clearing then why and how did you fall? Did you slip?"

My eyes widened in recollection, "Oh yes, I did slip. But not spontaneously like I usually do", I said, "I slipped because I was in shock from the sight that suddenly appeared in front of me"

His brow furrowed in question and I added, "Prophecy and Ashford"

"What?"

I quickly went on to tell him everything that had happened from then on till my feet touched the solid ground again.

"I have no idea why they were floating up there or how they got to where I was", I told him.

"Prophecy was probably subconsciously trying to find you making her unstable magic search for you and teleport her to where you were", Zuerien reasoned, "But like I said, her magic is unstable so she wasn't able to maintain her position when she found you and teleported away again"

"And Ashford?"

"I have no idea why he was being teleported with her", he told me.

I immediately felt worried, "Oh I hope they're okay"

"They're fine", Zuerien replied, "I mindlinked Marco earlier to tell him that I had found you. He told me that Ashford had mindlinked him saying that Prophecy's magic had finally worn out and she had fallen asleep again. Ashford is with her so there isn't anything to worry about. He'll get her back to the hotel safely"

"Thank goodness", I breathed a sigh of relief before an interesting idea occured to me, "Say, seeing as Ashford and Prophecy were teleporting together and floating together and everything..." my face lit up, "Do you think...could they be-!"

"Stop right there, Luna of mine", Zuerien said, smiling, "You should know better than to get carried away. Don't you remember what happened just a few hours ago this morning?"

I gasped before slapping his muscular shoulder, "It would have been fine if you hadn't said anything Alpha", I said narrowing my eyes at him.

"Why are you so excited about the idea of other people finding their mates?"

"Why not? Mates are awesome!" I exclaimed pumping one fist in the air and he chuckled.

"Is that right?" he asked, gazing at me lovingly.

I smiled puting both arms around his neck again, "At least my mate is awesome", I replied, looking into his beautiful brown black eyes before running a hand through his thick dark brown hair, "My Zuerien Kai Royale"

"Micheal Angus Ashford"

and

"Liam Arius..."

I gasped when, the minute I uttered Zuerien's full name, the two names that had echoed in my head while I had been running from that beast resounded in my mind again in same voices I had heard before.

Emily's and...another that I wasn't familiar with.

The memory of that entire run through the mist replayed before my eyes- the clothes, the hair, the voices and the names- making a sudden chill run down my spine.

What...was all that?

It had almost felt like I had turned into someone else, like those clothes, that hair and those voices had belonged to me.

As though the names those voices had uttered had been precious...to me...

"Heart?"

Zuerien's voice jerked me out of my thoughts to find him looking at me worriedly. He had stopped walking and was holding me closer, the heat radiating from his body and his heavenly scent of earthy wet soil immediately comforting my troubled mind.

"Suzzanah are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern, "What's wrong?"

I blinked, trying to shake off the haze, "I'm alright", I replied, "I just...remembered..."

"Remembered what?" he asked.

I looked into his brown eyes, then at the golden streak running through his dark hair before looking back into his eyes. Specks of gold occasionally peaked out of his otherwise chocolaty brown orbs which were quickly turning darker.

I was Emily's reincarnation, and the voice I had heard second was definitely hers as she called out the name Micheal. I knew that Alpha Micheal had been her mate. But was this the same Micheal...?

"Zuerien", I said softly, "Do you know what Emily's mate's full name was?"

He frowned, "Alpha Micheal?" he asked and I nodded.

"Micheal Ashford", he replied, making my heart skip a beat, "Alpha Micheal Angus Ashford. He's an ancestor of Alpha Dominic Ashford here in Ireland"

It was him!

Something strange started to build up inside of me, a feeling that was both uneasy and exciting at the same time.

I was Emily's reincarnation. And the name she called out belonged to her mate. So what about the woman I had heard first? The one with...silver hair...and...the name that she had cried out?

"Heart, are you okay?"

"Zuerien, I have one more name for you", I told him, "Tell me if you know who this person is"

He waited for me to utter the name. I swallowed hard and exhaled a ragged breath before saying, "Liam...Arius"

Zuerien's eyes immediately widened, surprise painting his features as he gazed into my eyes, "How do you know that name?" he asked softly.

"So you know who it is?" I said, my apprehension rising.

"Every werewolf on Earth knows who that is", he told me making me recoil in shock, "Liam Arius was the son of two omegas gone rogue who once belonged to a small pack that inhabited the Western Border of his country thousands of years ago", Zuerien told me, "A son who grew up to be the most powerful werewolf in all of werewolf history"

My heart rate spiked as he continued, "Liam Arius was how he was called before he rose to power. But once he was enthroned, he was known universally as Alpha Almighty, The First. Alpha William Arius...Royale"

And my breath caught, lips parting in shock as he completed,

"He was the very first Alpha King of the Werewolf Kingdom"

****

A/N

Hey guys!

I'm back after another really long break and I'm so sorry that I have to be away for such lengthy periods before I can give you updates. But I'm trying my best so please bear with me.

September so far has been a terrible month. I just hope it gets better.

Anway, how did you like this chapter?

Please don't worry about the new characters popping out of nowhere. They will not overshadow the existing characters. They will infact throw more light on our heroes and their identities.

Feel free to post your theories about what's happening so far in the comments. I would love to read them XD

This book will dive deeper into a lot of varied aspects and I promise to do my best to keep it interesting all the way.

There has been a glimpse of a new yet 'old enemy' has in this chapter. Thoughts?

And speaking of enemies, the main attraction in the villain category of this book will be making an appearance soon.

If you know who I'm talking about, you'll know that things are going to get super sizzling and crazy fun very soon.

Its going to be dark, dangerous and hot hot hot!

And I hope you guys are excited for it.

If you enjoyed this chapter, please do VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE!

Until next time,

All my love

May