《Igniting Sparks》


 Author note

    Igniting Sparks


    Blue-eyed snow leopard werecats. Often described as feral, wild, dangerous, and easily angered. Let alone that they are very rare if they exist at all.


    Traumatized by two large events in her life, Azura has left the safety of her old home to deal with her past by herself. After a long time of moving around, she ends up in Pleyvale city, high up north in the mountains. The hometown of an old acquaintance of hers. She ends up living there, trying to rebuild her life and start accepting her past.


    But her past is not the only thing that she needs to accept. There''s something inside her firing her up. As she slowly settles in, her other side slowly comes out. A side she is terrified off. A side which she can''t control. Is she really that dangerous?If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ** ** ** ** ** **


    Note from the Author:


    This story is copyrighted and is only published here on RoyalRoad and on Wattpad under the username Nova_Zura. If you see this story anywhere else it means you''re reading a stolen version.


    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author''s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.


    The story has mature themes.


    I''m not a native English speaker. I have done my best to filter out all spelling mistakes and grammar issues. Chances are that some are still present.


    I hope you enjoy the story and I would appreciate reviews, feedback, or just simple votes! Let me know what you think!

 Chapter 1

    How could an entrance to a youth hostel be so daunting?


    Azura swiped a few strands of black hair out of her face that were clinging to her damp forehead. She was burning up while the piercing cold wind continued swirling snowflakes around her. The snowfall was getting heavier and a chill ran down her spine as she felt a melted drop of water slip underneath her jacket to her spine. She twisted the golden ring around her finger desperately as she made up her mind.


    This was her last option to get a bed for the night, otherwise she would have to spend the night outside once again. It was not something to look forward to as she already felt anxious enough. Facing the receptionist of the hostel while being close to a panic attack felt more appealing at this moment than having to find a place to hide her backpack and clothes and shift to her snow leopard to sleep. Besides, a hot shower to calm her down was much needed.


    With that lodged in her mind, Azura took a deep breath, opened the door, and made her way to the front desk.


    The moment she stepped inside, her fists clenched tightly and her breath faltered for a second as widened eyes scanned the environment hastily. Being inside a place like this felt like being smothered by a huge weight, making it so much harder to breathe. There was too much noise, too many people, and the walls seemed to close in on her at a rapid speed.


    Azura blinked a couple of times and tried to swallow her anxiety down. She just needed to hold on a little longer. As she gripped the receptionist¡¯s desk for support, it was noticed just how much her hands were actually shaking. She flared her nostrils and took a deep breath before looking up and facing the awaiting woman.


    The lady¡¯s face was gentle and kind with a hint of concern written over it, she felt her eyes as they scanned her over. Azura knew she didn''t look so great, the last time she¡¯d looked at herself she was shocked by her pale complexion, thin frame, and blue eyes that lay deep in her skull as if she hadn''t slept in weeks.


    "I would like a bed for the night, please." Azura tried to make her voice sound as normal as possible as she kept her gaze locked with the receptionist. It was the only thing keeping her sane. The soft, gentle green eyes staring back at her blinked a few times before they averted to the computer and eventually back to her.


    "First of all, welcome to Pleyvale Hostel." The woman flashed Azura a sweet smile as she clearly didn''t know how to react to her. "I''m so sorry, but we''re fully booked. It''s the high season and we just had a school class check-in. I''m sure one of the hotels has a room still available... To be honest you look like you could use a room by yourself more than sharing one with at least five others."


    Azura tightened her hold on the counter turning her fingers and knuckles white. The desk clerk had a point, she would not do well in a shared dorm room, but she just didn''t have the money for a hotel room right now. She let out a soft groan and nodded in understanding.


    "Thank you for checking. I understand." She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and let out a short huff before pushing herself away from the counter. She¡¯d been leaning on it far more than she¡¯d expected.


    Azura turned around without waiting for a reply and grabbed her backpack, swinging it onto her back.


    "Wait! Are you sure you''re okay?


    No, she sure as hell wasn''t. Azura stopped as she stared at her feet. Her lip had started to tremble softly and she clenched her fists so tight her nails dug into the palms of her hands.


    She forced herself to turn around with a meek smile on her face. Her gaze shifted from the floor up to the woman, and as she focused on the contours of her face, they started to move, changing ever so slightly. They were shifting, turning around, the lips changing from full and plump to thin, then even disappearing.


    Azura let out a short gasp as she clutched the side of her head. Her heartbeat sped up so fast it felt like it would burst through her chest. Stumbling back a few steps, she turned around, breaking eye contact with the morphing face, and forced her feet to the door.


    It was busy outside, people doing their last-minute shopping or tourists just wandering around enjoying the snow now that the festive lights turned on from the sun going down. Azura stumbled through the crowd, away from the hostel and occasionally bumping into people. The cold air clashed with the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead and dripping down her face, she was panting heavily, trying to get oxygen in as it was starting to feel like she was suffocating.


    "Watch it, girl!"


    A man pushed her to the side as she suddenly halted in the middle of the walkway. As if a bomb exploded in her head, Azura spun around, startled by the voice that painfully pierced her eardrums.


    His face was morphing just like the others... A menacing laugh sounded somewhere up from above and Azura stumbled further back until one of her hands reached a brick wall.


    "You''re a killer, Azura."


    "Wha-What?!" Her voice was weak and shaky.


    She was staring at a different person this time. Her glassy eyes moved to his face again only to find the face that haunted her in her nightmares. The lips were twitching violently up and down, blood trickled from the left corner of the mouth, and his eyes were completely white with no irises or pupils in them.


    "I said to be more careful. You almost knocked me against the lamppost." A man nudged his head at the pole next to him as she blinked a couple of times. His face returned to normal as he shook his head and walked off.


    Dazed, Azura pressed herself against the brick wall, the only thing that seemed real at that moment. The touch of the stones spread under her fingertips was cool as she closed her eyes, trying to regain control of herself. Her breathing became even more irregular and more shallow, and instead of calming down, her heart seemed to speed up even more as well-known images of her nightmares appeared behind her closed eyes. As she opened them again to get rid of the devastating faces, bright flashes of a camera filled her pupils.


    Each flash blinded her, sparking a jolt of pain in her brain and causing her to clutch her stomach in agony as she slowly sank to the ground with tears streaming down her face.


    "Azura?"


    Was she dreaming? The male voice sounded familiar. Brought her back to better times, easier times when life wasn¡¯t so fucked up.


    "Shit, Azu, it''s really you! I can''t believe it!"


    That voice made her smile a little on the inside. She couldn''t place it and refused to open her eyes just to get a face. The darkness that covered her vision made it feel like she was in a bubble. Safe from her nightmares, pain, and her body, which seemed to be rendered useless by another panic attack. She could stay here forever.


    "You were supposed to be dead! I saw you being taken away! I¡­ I believed you to be dead."


    Dead? No. For some reason, she was still very much alive... Unfortunately. He had no idea. If she wasn''t in this bubble she would be laughing her ass off right now.


    Who was he again?


    His voice sounded so familiar... From a time when life was less complicated.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    But didn''t it get complicated soon after?


    Darkness was clouding her brain. It was obstructing her thinking, her logic. It was for her safety, she believed, but it had come with very inconvenient timing. Maybe it was wise to open her eyes, then again, maybe it wasn''t.


    She felt someone tugging at her, but it didn''t feel threatening, so she went with it. Azura allowed her body to follow while she stayed safe in her own private encasement. That voice was one she knew and it was attached to someone she¡¯d once known. She figured if it was someone she knew, she would know if he meant trouble or if it was okay.


    It felt okay.


    Time was something that was no longer felt. She had successfully tuned out the internal voices as another external one had joined his not long after he had called out to her. It was female and she was talkative.


    Now was the time to maybe come back. She¡¯d felt them placing her down somewhere, felt the gentle caress of heat across her face and arms. It was almost like she could see the flames through the darkness. They felt like home as they had always done, but now they were forcing her to open her eyes, to truly see again.


    She needed to face the world again. Right as the thought crossed her mind, images from her nightmares started pooling back in. The safety of the bubble was broken. A face emerged from the black void, its features twisting and turning, blood dripping from his lips, and his eyes white as they rolled back and forth in his skull.


    "You''re a killer, girl. A cold-blooded murderer. You enjoy this, don''t you? Do it... Kill me! Let the world see who you really are! You''re going to kill them all!"


    "Azura? Can you hear me? Rose? Did you grab a glass of water?"


    It was time to open her eyes! She pushed back the images as she became aware of her ever-growing anxiousness.


    "I told you we should''ve taken her to the hospital, Lucas! She needs professional help. She''s not even responding to us."


    She really had to open her eyes.


    "I know her Rose, I owe this to her. Imagine waking up in a hospital after having an attack like hers. It would drive her straight back into another one."


    Maybe she needed to wait for a little bit?


    "Then how do you know her? And how do you know what she needs right now?"


    Or maybe she needed to open her eyes...


    "She''s the reason I''m still alive! She''s the reason my dad came back alive! Three years ago, I believed she died after saving all of us in that theater. She fought back and won. I... I thought she was dead, Rose. The blood, the insane amount of blood, the blast... The sickening silence during and the very real silence after..."


    It became quiet. She really needed to snap out of it. It was not safe in the darkness if she wasn''t in her bubble. Blood rushed through her veins as she started to feel like she was about to start hyperventilating again. Just as she took a deep breath, something so cold hit her face she couldn''t help but gasp loudly.


    The surprised woman blinked.


    Azura stared at the man in front of her with eyes wide open in shock. Water dripped down her face. She slowly moved her hand upwards, touching her cheek as if to check what was going on while staring at the caring green eyes of the man named Lucas.


    He looked just as familiar as his voice sounded. A short dark beard that was slightly more than stubble, a light brown tan, and wavy dark brown hair that was slicked back.


    It hit her like a truck filled with concrete. He had been there, at Greenwood college. She had even given him a tour and everything.


    "Azura? Are you ok?"


    She tasted the water on her lips and blinked a few more times before she scraped the sound from her throat.


    "I-I''m fine... Thank you, I guess." She sounded so weak she disgusted herself.


    He handed her a towel and she quickly dried her face before she glanced over at the woman behind him. Light green eyes sparkled with life and joy as she smiled, freckles on her small round face, and dirty blonde hair in a pixie haircut. Even though she was short, she made quite an impression and from what Azura had heard, she could be quite a handful.


    "Glad to see you''re alive and kicking. And sorry, I had no idea he wanted to use that glass of water to throw in your face. I''m Rose by the way. That guy is Lucas, but it seems you guys have already met once?"


    Azura actually managed to flash her a small smile as Rose nonchalantly waved at Lucas. He looked like he wanted to say something back but last minute decided to keep his mouth closed. Azura liked seeing their little interaction. It made her feel a little more human and less crazy. After a small pause in which her mind cleared up a bit more, Azura answered, trying to make her voice sound as steady as possible.


    "We did, a long time ago... In better days to say something like that. I''m just surprised to see you here, Lucas... I- I had no idea you lived here."


    She switched her gaze to the fireplace watching the fire without waiting for a reply. It was a calming view and it seemed to draw her in mentally. The more it drew her in, the clearer the images of her former life became. She was once happily in love with Charlie while trying to figure out what had connected her and Nora together but now they were both gone.


    She felt the tears prick in her eyes again as her lip started to tremble slightly. She had no idea how long she had been staring into the fire as suddenly someone snapped their fingers in front of her face.


    "Azura? Are you sure you''re alright?"


    Her head snapped back to Lucas and Rose who¡¯d draped an arm over his shoulder. Rose gave him a quick peck on his cheek before she let go and flashed a quick smile at Azura before she made her way to another room. Azura focused back on Lucas. She wanted to say she was fine, she wanted to lie as she always did but she couldn''t. She couldn''t pretend any longer. Slowly she spoke up, her voice shaky and sometimes even unstable.


    "I''m not the same person you met back then. Everything was different and I was naive. This... Me being here is an accident. I should probably be going because I don''t want to waste any more of your time already." She seemed pained while talking and even forgetting he was there. "I get these nightmares. I see the faces of the attackers... They call me a killer and a murderer. The faces shift to the ones I lost. They¡¯re twisting and turning, convulsing, blood coming out of their mouth and noses..."


    Azura stopped talking for a bit as she clenched her fists tight again. Lucas stayed quiet, almost shocked by what she was telling him.


    "There''s fire everywhere and I can hear her scream! Her screams of pain as the flames dance over her body. Then the flames dance on mine as well but they don''t hurt. They burn me but don''t hurt and then the whispering again! I killed her... It''s my fault! I could not save anyone, I''m a killer, and they are right!"


    Her words started to get more and more incoherent as she rambled. Tears ran down her face as she started sobbing. She hugged her knees to her chest and slowly started rocking back and forth. Lucas silently got up and sat next to her, pulling her into his embrace and softly stroking her black hair. She quietly started sobbing against his chest.


    "You''re staying here. There''s no way I will let you walk back out there in this state. We''ll talk more tomorrow. Just... Just know that to me... You are anything but a killer." Lucas spoke softly, trying to calm her down as her words struck home with him too.


    Rose quietly made her way back into the living room. Azura knew why she had left the room and it had worked. Strangely, she felt no hostility from the spunky woman. She accepted Azura even though she was in the arms of Lucas right now.


    After what seemed like forever, Azura felt herself calm down. A touch, a hug, it had worked wonders and Azura realized just how deprived she had been of it. After taking one more deep breath, she pushed herself away from Lucas and repositioned herself so there was some distance between them. She probably looked like crap right now but she no longer cared.


    Rose walked over to them and quietly sat down next to Lucas who put his arm around her. They trusted each other and to see that actually got a small smile from Azura''s face.


    "Thank you." She said it to both of them, but her eye caught Rose''s and the woman gave her a subtle understanding nod. "I am exhausted though... Is it really okay if I stay here?"


    This time it was Rose who answered. She actually sounded happy Azura decided to stay.


    "Of course! Your backpack is already in the room. Just follow me." Rose quickly got up and Azura followed more slowly.


    She¡¯d not noticed how stiff and sore her muscles felt earlier but now that fact hit her hard, grimacing as she stretched her arms and legs. Lucas looked like he was about to ask her something but eventually decided not to as he kept his mouth closed and got up himself. Rose walked up the stairs and stopped before the first door she encountered.


    "You can sleep here. The last door down the hallway is the bathroom and the other door is where we sleep." Rose opened the first door she had pointed to, but Lucas stopped her as Azura was about to walk in.


    "Azu, If you don''t mind me asking..." Lucas paused searching for the right words. "You and Nora... You were like entwined together." Azura froze when he said her name. Her whole demeanor changed as she turned to him coolly, her icy glare made him swallow the rest of the words he wanted to say. It was like the temperature had dropped a few degrees instantly.


    "She''s dead."


    Walking into the room straight after, the door is thrown shut behind her.

 Chapter 2

    The rays of the sun warmed Azura¡¯s face, causing her to softly groan and turn around in bed. Something was off, but the bed was really comfortable so she hugged the pillow and curled up into a fetus position trying to fall back into that deep, peaceful slumber.


    Peaceful. It had been peaceful.


    Azura opened her eyes in shock and shot straight up as fear gripped her by the throat. Her body had reacted sooner than her mind could comprehend and it took her a moment to calm her spiking heart rate down. She had a long and peaceful sleep. No nightmares had plagued her, no voices spoke in condemning whispers, and no flames haunted her mind or body.


    She also had no idea where she was.


    As she looked down and noticed she was still in the same clothes she had worn the day before, Azura scrunched her eyebrows together. Realization dawned that she¡¯d not used the blanket at all and yet it had been one of the most comfortable nights she¡¯s ever had in almost three years.


    As her heart rate calmed down, she felt a splitting headache forming in her head as some memories of the day before trickled into her mind. Azura groaned softly as she dug the palms of her hands into her temples, moving them in a massage in hopes to ease the dull throbbing. It helped a little and after a few minutes, she got out of bed and walked over to the window where the sun had been shining through so brightly.


    The curtains had been left open and the view was amazing. The white of the snow outside, a pine forest in the background, fluffy clouds together in the sky with the sun beaming down, it made everything sparkle and shine. Azura had to close her eyes to tiny slits so the bright light didn''t invade her eyesight as much.


    "It looks like a damn painting out there..." She softly mumbled to herself as she turned around and spotted her travel backpack on the ground. Making sure she moved slowly so as not to put more strain on her head, she got out of her old clothes and put on a pair of clean jeans and a simple hoodie.


    Azura straightened herself as she took one last glance at the simple room she had been staying in. A small one-person bed was what she¡¯d slept in, and there were a couple of closets placed in the room, but for the rest, it was empty. By now, more bits and pieces of the day before had connected in her head and she knew exactly where she was.


    "This...is going to be awkward." She couldn''t help but mutter it aloud to herself as she reluctantly turned to leave. As she placed her hand on the door handle, Azura closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths before turning it down and opening the door.


    She was on the top level in what appeared to be a small rustic farmhouse. The living room was beneath her and seemed to be put together by old furniture, which probably came from the thrift store. It made for an unusual mix and match, yet still ended up making a cozy place. There was even a small fireplace with a big deer head and antlers placed above it.


    Azura smirked as she took everything in. This was not what she had expected from the ever-cheerful Lucas as she¡¯d gotten to know him three years ago.


    "Azu? Are you finally up?"


    Even though she was half expecting it, Lucas''s voice still startled her as he called out from the kitchen. Not soon after calling out to her, he emerged while drying off a glass. Her gaze followed him from the moment he appeared.


    He had not changed much, but he had matured in his face. His hair was a bit longer than it had been three years ago, and his beard stubble seemed fuller in a way. She could still his green eyes though, the same green eyes that had surprised her back then.


    "Y-Yeah I''m up. Just wanted to take a shower." She tried to make herself sound happier than she felt to try to hide her nervousness, but he probably could see right through it. If he did, he let her retain her false bravado and didn''t show it.


    "Sure. Just make it quick, alright? I¡¯d like to have a talk with you. Towels and everything you need are in the bathroom. Rose made sure she left some shampoo and other stuff you women might need in there as well."


    Lucas disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving her alone on top of the balcony clutching the hand railing tight. When she was sure he was gone she became painfully aware of just how hard she had been clasping onto it. She carefully pulled her hands free and rubbed them gently together to ease the soft pain that flowed through them.


    Lucas had sounded so serious. She¡¯d not seen him like that ever before, but then again, how well did she know him? She had spent one and a half days together with him three years ago, so she basically knew nothing about him.


    She had hoped he would respond a bit differently though; like she had not just invaded his house and life without announcing. But who was she kidding, they needed to talk and it was not something to look forward to.


    In the bathroom, she quickly got undressed. Her eyes fell on the shampoo which was standing next to a package of hygiene pads and a box of tampons. So this is what he meant by ''other stuff women might need.'' Azura grabbed a tampon and rolled it around between her fingers. No, she would not need this. Not now, not ever.


    She tossed the applicator back into its box as she looked down at her stomach. Her hand traced the outlines of the gruesome and massive scar on the left side of her stomach. It was like a red and purple lightning strike, with several branches crawling across her skin, and a center point that was one big mass of scarred tissue. It didn¡¯t hurt anymore, but it was sometimes hindered her movements a bit.


    It stood out against the rest of her pale skin. Especially now that she was even thinner than normal. It was clear she had not been taking care of herself properly lately. Her blue eyes skimmed across themselves as she took a quick glance in the mirror before turning on the hot water and emerging herself in something she had highly craved for a couple of days now.


    *


    Lucas placed some bread and yogurt on the table together with two boiled eggs. It had been a couple of minutes since he heard the shower turn off so he was expecting her down any moment. This was going to be difficult, and he silently wished that Rose were still with him. Even though she always spoke her mind and it came out a little unfiltered at times, she had this way of making people feel comfortable no matter what the message was that she brought.


    She had helped him yesterday on how to handle the situation after Azura angrily disappeared into her room. He was grateful for that and even more grateful she decided to spend the night, even though it had not been her intention at first. Rose had been surprisingly cool about the whole situation and had even apologized that she¡¯d wanted to take Azura to the hospital.


    That turn around had earned her some raised eyebrows and a choking Lucas, as he had just taken a sip of his drink. He was glad that jealousy was not one of the words that Rose was familiar with. Not every girlfriend would have appreciated another woman staying in his house, especially not now that he wanted Azura to stay. It had been Rose''s idea to offer for her to stay, but only if she would accept professional help.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Hey... Good morning."


    Azura''s soft voice snapped Lucas out of his thoughts and he gave her a genuine smile. Her black hair was spiking in every direction like that of an untamed lion¡¯s mane, and her bright blue eyes lay deep in her skull. Even though she looked a bit better than the day before, she did not look like herself from three years ago.


    "Good afternoon, Azu. Did you sleep well?"


    Lucas offered her a chair before walking to the counter and took to pouring a cup of tea for her.


    "You seem a bit more refreshed and better than you did yesterday. If I recall correctly, you don''t drink any coffee, right?"


    He handed her the cup of tea as she reluctantly sat down, all the while playing with a ring on her finger. Apparently, he wasn¡¯t the only one dreading this talk.


    "You remembered that?" She raised an eyebrow as she folded her hands around the hot cup and eyed the food that was on the table.


    "How could I forget that long tirade about coffee machines that don''t have hot cocoa in them?" He chuckled as he remembered her ranting against the coffee machine at the college theater. "By the way, take what you want. I didn''t know what you¡¯d prefer for breakfast, so I just put out a bit of everything."


    She flashed him a small smile and tossed some things on a plate before digging in. There was a short silence as she ate. Lucas knew he had to address her being here, but after seeing how easily she could explode yesterday he was a bit unsure on how to begin. Azura seemed a little bit more at ease though, that was at least something.


    "Where''s Rose? It...was Rose right?" She broke the silence, reminding him once again he really needed to get down to business.


    "Had to work, she left a few hours ago." Azura finished her food and took the last sip of her tea before continuing.


    "She seems nice. Talkative, but nice." She murmured softly as she started flattening her black hair with her hands.


    "She can be quite a handful alright..." He trailed off, knowing all too well he needed to change the topic at hand before he¡¯d be unable to address it at all. Lucas impatiently tapped his foot on the ground as he avoided meeting her eyes. "But Rose is not what we should be talking about right now. You''ll get to know her soon enough though, don''t worry about that."


    She stiffened in her seat and he noticed her clenched fists. She was more nervous than he was, that much was clear. He had to continue right now.


    "Azura, I don''t know how to say this any different so I''ll just throw it out there." He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "I contacted Greenwood college and spoke with professor Sloan about your showing up here. He was quite surprised but also thankful that I contacted him. He was rather concerned for your well-being. Together we decided to have a short video conference with your foster parents and the Alpha of the Greenwood pack."


    "You did what?!"


    Her eyes spat fire as Lucas told her what he had done. He felt her anger fire up and it caught him by surprise by just how strong it was. Her eyes had turned to a cool blue stare and every sign of her being nervous was gone. Instead, he was sitting opposite a very angry woman who had shifted her emotions so fast it actually scared him a little


    "You had no right whatsoever! I am twenty-five years old and you decide to have a conference about me as if I were a child?!"


    Going from being timid, to angry, to absolutely terrifying within a matter of seconds. Lucas lowered his gaze to the table, twisting his thumbs around each other as she verbally let loose on him. When she was done he looked up again, realizing he had to calm her down, whichever way worked best.


    "I was afraid that you would react like this. Please just let me finish. I did it because I care about you and you need help. Help that I alone can''t give you, so I needed some advice from them. They know you the best, Azu. You''ve been running away from whatever troubles you for quite a while now, and from what I''ve heard from professor Sloan and the rest, and seeing you now, I can conclude your trip has brought you nothing you were hoping for. In fact, I think you''re even doing worse now."


    She clutched the sides of the table as she rigidly stared at him. For a moment, all the anger seemed to leave her but it swarmed around and he could see she didn''t know what to do. For a moment, he felt like he had the upper hand.


    "You can stay here. Rose was the one who suggested it and I''ve discussed it with professor Sloan and the rest as well. They all believe it would be best for you to stay put for a while." He paused for a short moment but right as she wanted to reply, he butted in again. "They care about you, Azura. They all do... Even the Alpha."


    She had averted her gaze as he was talking, and Lucas hoped she would give in. He tried to read her but she sat so still and rigid it was almost impossible. The only give-away was her trembling hands. Whether with anger or sadness, he couldn''t tell.


    Slowly she moved her head up and the death glare she gave him was enough to make him shift awkwardly in his chair. Instead of the blazing fire that was sprouting from her eyes earlier, hard coldness had now taken its place. Her voice resembled the mood her eyes were already giving away. Deadly, cold, and eerily calm.


    "The Alpha''s name is Andreas and you had no fucking right contacting them! You have no idea who they are, or what they mean to me. They have done so much for me and you''re here talking about them with no respect. You know nothing of my past and yet you''re here telling me what to do, completely disregarding what I feel. It was a mistake staying here."


    It actually hurt hearing her talk like that. Lucas sat perplexed in his chair, her words cut through him with ease even if she hadn¡¯t meant them to. Azura shoved her seat back and got up. She didn''t give him another glance as she briskly turned and walked away. Lucas watched frozen as she got up, but as she moved away, he bolted from his chair and sped after her, grabbing her arm to turn her back so she was facing him again.


    "Where are you going to go? You have no place to go to, Azura!" His mind was going crazy. On one side, he wanted to respect her wishes, on the other hand, she needed help and she would not find it herself. The clash in his head made him throw out the first thing that came into his head.


    "If you leave now you''re signing your own death sentence! You''re damaged and unstable and it''s not getting better. You''re right about me not knowing you, but what I do know is that you''re mentally broken, traumatized, and lost. I''m not going to sugarcoat it, you are destroying yourself! You''re wallowing in self-pity and you need a good firm kick in the ass! I can''t force you to stay here, but I can offer you this,"


    She froze. Her lip trembled and she blinked rapidly a couple of times while avoiding his gaze.


    "You''re free to stay here as my roommate. You''re living expenses are going to be paid for by your family. Meanwhile, you''ll go see a therapist and work on your issues. When you can handle it, you can actually start working to pay for staying here yourself. We are roommates, sharing a living room, bathroom, and kitchen. That doesn''t mean we have to do everything together. You''re free to do what you want, when you want, as long as you keep going to therapy. We don''t have to be friends, but I will be able to keep an eye out for you. I owe you that much."


    The mask she had put on earlier was gone. Lucas could see everything on her face at once. Pain, anger, desperation. She grimaced as her eyes darted around the room. Her skin became warm to the touch right before she pulled herself loose from his grip. She seemed like a lost puppy who just got beaten by a stick.


    It hurt him to see her like this. To see her so confused, out of place, and in obvious pain. The woman before him was nothing like the woman he had met before. Back then, she was sarcastic, a tad insecure, and impulsive. Someone who tried to keep private but would open herself to people she knew. She had been fun to hang around with, especially after she¡¯d realized he kept everything platonic. He hoped he would see that Azura again somewhere.


    Tension seemed to rise to an all-time high as Azura just stood there, clenching her fists so tight he was actually scared she would draw blood. Her lips were pursed and her whole stance rigid. After what seemed like forever, she finally met his gaze again, her shoulders slumping as she relaxed her muscles.


    "Fine." Her teeth were still clenched together as she spoke. "You win."


    She turned around without waiting for him to answer and almost stormed off to, what would soon become, her room. After she left, Lucas let out a deep breath he¡¯d been subconsciously holding for God knows how long. He turned back around and placed his hands on the oak dining table, leaning down on it with his head lowered. That talk had taken more energy out of him than he''d like to admit.

 Chapter 3

    She had agreed to stay. She foolishly had agreed to stay! Why?!


    It was the one question that kept running through her mind, driving her crazy as her thoughts were in complete overdrive. She wanted to run, cry, scream, anything, but she just sat on the bed, staring at the wall while her brain was close to a meltdown. She wanted to be angry at Lucas, wanted to feel that he had forced her to answer yes but he hadn''t. She still had a choice and if she wanted to leave, he would have let her go. Azura was certain of it, yet she wanted to be mad at him so bad.


    It was the easiest emotion of all, to just be mad at someone else, blame them for how you feel. She¡¯d done it several times, but eventually, she had realized it, and became angry at herself instead.


    It had been her choice to leave Greenwood. She tried to tell herself it wasn''t good to stay at the place that had given her so many memories, good and bad. It was a constant reminder of what had happened and after trying to blame every single person there she knew, she left after the blame fell on herself. That had been a year ago.


    A year...and she was doing worse than before she left. Lucas had been right about that. The fact that he had so bluntly confronted her with it still pissed her off, but then again, he never was one for sugarcoating stuff as she remembered.


    With a groan Azura fell back onto the bed, exhaustion already taking over even though she had gotten up just a few hours before. She needed silence in her head.


    A loud bang woke her up, making her sit up straight with sweat coating her forehead. Her heart was racing once again and her mouth felt completely dry. Azura groaned softly as she checked the time on her phone. It was almost four in the afternoon. Slowly she got back on her feet and shuffled to the door and pressed her ear against it.


    It was quiet.


    Her hand lingered on the door handle for a moment before she opened it as silently as possible and peeked around the corner. She felt like a complete idiot behaving this way, but she really didn¡¯t want to run into Lucas right now. Slowly she emerged from the bedroom and kept her eyes and ears open, ready to bolt the moment she saw or heard movement.


    There was nothing.


    "Lucas?" She called out to him before even thinking about it. She just concluded she did not want to see him and yet she calls out to him?!


    There was no answer though. Azura breathed out a sigh of relief and slowly made her way downstairs. Now that she was ninety-nine percent sure she was alone, she might as well explore a little bit. After all, she had been stupid enough to agree to stay here, so that meant this would be ''home'' for a while.


    It was a quarter past four when she entered the kitchen and found the short note with a set of keys next to it. First thing it said was ¡®Front door¡¯ with a big arrow to the top key and underneath it said ¡®Kitchen door¡¯ with an arrow slightly smaller than the first pointing to the second key. Azura skimmed down to read the rest on the note.


    Therapist!!!


    Dr. Nicolai Jensen


    555-016528


    Call him! I''m at work till late. There''s some food in the freezer.


    Azura sighed and stared at the note for a while. It wasn''t very personal, that much was clear. It was a relief to know he wouldn''t be back till late though. The idea of having to see him right now made her stomach turn into one knotted mess.


    She stared at the phone number and took a quick glance at the clock. It was agreed she could stay if she found professional help. Azura could still run... But where? Lucas''s words had struck true. She had literally nowhere else to go, and Greenwood simply wasn''t an option.


    Maybe she could stay...at least for a while. She had enough time to make the call though. It didn¡¯t have to be done right now.


    Azura had curled herself up on the couch with a blanket and a cup of tea as she stared at the calming flames that played and flickered around in the fireplace. With every passing minute, the note she¡¯d placed on the end table seemed to burn more and more as she had yet to pick up the phone.


    According to the clock, it was a little past five now. Azura had a hard time believing it, since the last time she had checked it was only a quarter past four and she had not spent that long sitting on the couch, yet her phone appointed the same time as the clock on the wall. With a shrug, she concluded it wasn¡¯t worth calling now as the office would probably be closed already.


    When the front door opened, Azura jolted up. Her muscles tensed and she felt the strain in her shoulders as her pulse had picked up to an unnaturally fast pace again. As soon as Rose emerged with snow covering her coat and short hair, Azura relaxed a little but still remained on her guard.


    "Hey there! Lucas told me what happened earlier today, Azura. Are you alright? He can be quite a dickhead at times with no tact at all. I kind of stole his keys at work to check on you. Thought maybe you could use some company and girl-on-girl talk."


    She walked to the couch and jumped down on it. "Oh, and I wanted to know if you had already called Dr. Jensen."


    It seemed as if Rose was completely oblivious to the state Azura was in as she barged in. Maybe she was just ignoring it, which would be another viable option of course. Azura rubbed her temples trying to comprehend what just happened and come up with an answer which actually made sense.


    "Excuse me? So did you come here of your own free will, or did Lucas send you?" She was flabbergasted still, and her voice betrayed it.


    "My own free will. Dr. Jensen once helped me tremendously. He¡¯s an amazing man. What are you still standing there for! I brought some take-away dinner so sit and bring the phone!"


    Azura cautiously walked towards the couch and sat down. How could this woman be so full of life and energy? She was so bubbly and happy, and acted as if she had known Azura her entire life.


    "Well, Azura, call the number! And tell the receptionist I¡¯m forwarding you. They can probably schedule your first appointment within a few days from now. And after that we¡¯ll get to know each other more, eat something, then maybe watch a movie?" Rose smiled and took Azura''s cellphone.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "Do I have a choice?" Azura protested a bit.


    "No, sorry! Here I have the number...oh no wait! It''s already ringing!" Rose had pushed the phone into Azura''s hand, but just as fast, she¡¯d pulled it back and put it against her own ear.


    "Hey, Vicky! It''s me, Rose. How are you? I''m doing great."


    Azura watched with her mouth open as Rose started talking to the receptionist of Dr. Jensen. But she also felt some relief as now she would not have to call herself. Lucas sure had his work cut out for him with Rose as his girlfriend, she thought, they probably made a fun couple though.


    Rose hung up and gave Azura her phone back, she seemed a bit calmer and bit more serious now.


    "I know first hand how difficult it is to make that first step. So this is my gift to you. Friday at 11am you have your first appointment. Just know that Dr. Jensen is no ordinary Therapist. He''s a so-called Vaim."


    "A ¡®Vaim¡¯? What''s that? Never heard of that before." Now that Rose had calmed down a bit, Azura felt herself relax a little more. Rose was a lot but she was also transparent, easy to read, and charming in her own way.


    "A Vaim is a person with special abilities. He''s like some kind of mind reader, but he can''t read your thoughts, just your emotions. And thus he is able to pinpoint specific feelings you didn''t even know you had. It''s what makes him such an amazing therapist! But, he demands that you''re brutally honest with him. If not, he can''t really help you. He has to respect patient confidentiality of course, so your secrets are safe with him."


    Rose must have seen Azura grow even paler than she already was when she started to explain about Vaims.


    "Look, It''s scary but you need it and it''s the right thing to do." Rose held up the bag with food and looked at it sadly. "I think we need to re-heat this. Are you hungry?"


    "No... Wait, yes... I am, but..." Azura found herself struggling with words as she was still trying to wrap her head around what was going on. She started playing with the ring on her finger again as the words finally seemed to come together in her brain.


    "Thank you... for making the appointment but I don''t even know what I will do yet. I mean, this is all so unexpected and to be honest...after this morning, I don''t know if I can stay here. I''m just surprised you''re so cool about this. I don''t want things to be weird and Lucas...well, I''m just scared."


    Scared. When it left her lips something clicked. No, she wasn''t just scared. She was absolutely terrified. The realization of herself being actually honest to herself and someone else set in. For the first time, Azura looked up and faced Rose directly. The warm smile she got in return surprised her but not as much as the hug that followed.


    "Stop worrying. You''ll be fine. You''re staying and that''s that." The short woman let her go and kept up her warm smile. Azura adjusted a little and focused on the fire for a moment before turning back to Rose.


    "You sure know how to give Lucas a hard time, I bet." Rose chuckled at Azura''s comment and grabbed the bag of take-away dinner.


    "Yep! You guessed that right! But now it''s dinner time, I''ll be right back." Rose practically skipped out of the living room to the kitchen.


    *


    It turned out Rose was actually good company to have around. She was quirky but in a good way. Azura had started to relax and let Rose do all the talking. It was easy and there had been no awkward silences throughout the evening. For a moment it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her body and she could breathe properly, felt genuine hope. The movie was never turned on.


    Rose had told her about how she and Lucas had met at work, at the climbing hall. How she tried to avoid him because to her, he seemed like a player. That all changed when his father got sick and eventually passed away six months ago. They had started talking and Rose came to know his real personality. He was closed off at first about his emotions and how he felt, but slowly he had opened up to her and they became friends, and from friends, they grew even closer until three months ago. ''Doomsday,'' Rose had jokingly called it.


    Azura had been shocked to hear Lucas''s father had passed away six months ago. He was quite old when she had met him three years ago, but still, it was shocking. She never had the chance to actually talk to him because soon after meeting him on the stage they had been attacked and kept hostage. When Azura had woken up and recovered from her injuries a month later, everything had changed and Lucas and his father were long gone by then.


    The clock showed ten-thirty in the evening when someone knocked on the door. Azura felt her muscles tighten again and the dark clouds fill her head once more. Her fists immediately clenched together so hard her own nails dug into her skin.


    "That must be Lucas! I just realized he has no keys..." Rose smiled as she skipped over to the front door unaware of Azura tensing up. Azura twisted the ring around her finger on her right hand. Her palms getting sweaty, her eyes frantically searching for a way out. She felt saliva pool into her mouth and had to swallow a few times to get rid of it.


    She was going straight into a panic attack and she knew it. The strange thing was her realizing it was an attack triggered by nothing, by Lucas, who was not a valid reason in her mind, yet his coming home had still set her off. She still could not face him after what had happened earlier that day.


    With all her power Azura struggled to get off the couch. She twisted her ankle in the process and lost her balance falling on the coffee table.


    "Shit shit shit shit!" She cursed under her breath trying to get up again. It was unnerving when she realized how bad her body was responding to her will. It was actually fighting her, immobilizing her. She silently cursed some more and got up again making her way to the staircase. All she wanted was to get out of the way and not have to face Lucas like this. She could hear Rose and him talking outside while she climbed and stumbled up the stairs on all fours.


    As Azura closed her bedroom door behind her, Rose and Lucas entered the house. Both staring at the mess that was once on the coffee table but now sprawled out on the carpet underneath it.


    "So... What did I miss again?" Lucas smirked as he turned to Rose.


    "A very good movie! We just got a bit excited I guess!" She grinned back at him and started to clean the mess on the floor. Lucas let out a defeated sigh.


    "Excited... Why don''t I believe you?" He got on his knees and picked up a bowl with some leftover crisps. "Honestly, I''m starting to think this was all just a bad idea. We should have taken her to a hospital and let the authorities deal with her."


    Rose got up and rolled her eyes.


    "No."


    "No? No what?¡± He stopped cleaning and raised an eyebrow.


    "Just no. You''re a dick, Lucas."


    "Excu-"


    "Let me finish! You probably thought she was just another damsel in distress you could easily save. One single night here, and she would be perfectly healthy and happy right? Well, that''s not how real life works and you''ve got to deal with it!"


    "Can I-"


    "No, You can not! You opened your house to her, so now you have to face the consequences. She needs a good friend. She needs you and maybe even me. That''s the only thing she needs. Plus she needs Dr. Jensen, but that''s already taken care of."


    "Just a good friend you say?"


    "Yes. We can''t save her. She needs to do that by herself. We can just support her when needed. So... It was a good thing you brought her here."


    "Are you saying you were wrong earlier?" He nudged her playfully.


    "Maybe, big boy..." She stuck out her tongue and smiled.


    "I''ll take what I can get."


    He picked up the last glass off the ground and placed it back on the table. Rose grabbed him by his collar and yanked him down to her level.


    "She''s a nice girl and she deserves all the help we can get for her, especially after what she has done for you and your dad." She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long kiss.

 Chapter 4

    Standing at the door of Dr. Jensen''s office, Azura hesitated a bit. Things between her and Lucas had been tense ever since their explosive conversation a few days prior. When they¡¯d been at the house there was a tense atmosphere that was almost suffocating, hence she mostly tried avoiding him. Rose had diffused the situation a bit when she was around, forcing them to actually kind of interact, but she was not there all the time.


    Her room had become a safe haven despite it being bland and not hers. This was the first time Azura had actually left the house. Besides that, the nightmares had returned after that first night. They were getting worse and had become so intense that she¡¯d woken up several times bathed in sweat and probably screaming. The actual hours she was getting a decent and good rest were slimming down rapidly. Her body felt tired, worn down, and she didn''t know how much more she was able to take.


    Azura took a deep breath and opened the door. She arrived in a big hall with marble tiles on the floor and a beautiful old oak desk in the middle. On both sides was a big indoor palm tree and on the left side to the wall stood a simple red couch. Not the average waiting room Azura noticed. She carried herself to the desk, her steps unsure and more hesitant with every single one. There was nobody there, but a small bell on the desk caught her attention. Azura pressed it and the ringing sound carried through the whole room. It was loud and to Azura, it felt like a cannon fired next to her ear.


    Soon after, the door behind the desk opened and a small middle-aged woman walked out. She looked a bit stern with small lips and round glasses resting on her nose. She had hair tied up in a neat knot on her head, brown strands with some gray in them betrayed she was a bit older than Azura first assumed.


    "Can I help you miss?" Azura was rudely awoken from her thoughts as the woman placed her hands on the desk.


    "Uh yes... I have an appointment with Dr. Jensen at eleven." Azura tried to give a small smile but she was put off immediately by the stale look the woman gave her.


    "Your name?" She said rigidly.


    "It''s Azura Thoreau. Rose made the appointment." She took a step back, intimidated by the woman in front of her.


    The woman raised an eyebrow at hearing her name but quickly composed herself again with a much softer look on her face. "Ah, Rose! Such a dear. How is she?" The sudden change of demeanor caught Azura off guard, but the woman would not let Azura reply. "Yes, yes... Here you are. You can go right ahead. Take the door on your right and then the second to your left. I will let Doctor Jensen know you''ll be coming."


    Azura nodded and turned to her right, letting out a sigh of relief as she walked away from the woman. Going through the door, she ended up in a hallway with a high ceiling and dazzling mosaics on the walls. Azura walked forward with her fingers lingering on the small tiles. Just then she noticed there was more to the wall than just colorful tiles, they formed an image across the length of the entire hallway.


    Azura stepped to the other side and gazed at the gorgeous image that unfolded in front of her. It was like the view from her room. Mountains with snow, a blue sky with a few clouds, and pine trees. As her eyes traveled to the left her heart skipped a beat when she saw the snow leopard. It looked to be made like it was hunting a mountain goat also depicted in the image. Even though it was mosaic and not so detailed, the image looked so lively to Azura.


    A door behind her opened and a short bald man stepped out of the room. "Miss Thoreau?" Azura spun around as he spoke up.


    "Oh, I''m sorry! I was admiring the mosaic. It''s simply amazing!" She smiled and raised her hand for introductions.


    "It is, isn''t it?" He shook her hand firmly and let go. "My name is Doctor Nicolai Jensen and we already established you are Miss Azura Thoreau. Come, let''s go inside." She nodded and with a last look at the mosaic, then followed him into his room.


    It was quite a change from the hallway to the office. It was furnished like an actual cozy living room. Warm inviting colors on the walls with simple but functional furniture. A modern desk, two lounge chairs, and a brown leather couch were the center of the room with a few bookshelves against the walls. Azura noticed more of the palm trees in the room making it more homely. Dr. Jensen gestured for her to sit at the chair next to the desk while he sat down on the other side.


    "Again, welcome Miss Thoreau. Today we''ll be talking a bit about you and what brings you here. I want to get to know you, who you are, and what drives you. Basically, what I''ll do is I''ll try to ''read'' you so I have a complete image of you in my head. That way I''ll be able to feel and place your emotions better so I can give you the proper tools needed to deal with your issues. Do you understand?" He stared at her inquisitively.


    This was a rather strange introduction. Azura closely examined the man in front of her. His eyes were a strange shade of grey she had not seen before. He had a round face with barely any hair left on it. He was an overall round man, bearing a bit more weight than was healthy with his height.


    "I understand." She replied hesitantly. Her muscles stiffened and she felt her shoulders hunching together, holding on to a lot of tension.


    "There''s no need to be nervous." He picked up on her uneasiness straight away. "Rose has told you about me and the way I work right? The more I get to know you, the more I''ll be able to read and feel your emotions. Even the ones you don''t feel yourself. That might happen because you either oppress them, or another emotion is simply too overpowering. It''s a delicate balance. Right now I just feel you''re anxious but there is more to you than meets the eye. I would like you to start feeling comfortable here." He placed his hand on hers and gave her a reassuring nod.


    A warm feeling spread from her hand through her whole body. Some of the built-up tension flowed straight out of her system. She got a slight feeling he could not only read but also manipulate emotions. It didn''t scare her though, it probably would help her she knew.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    "Now Azura, please, I would like to know more about you. What was your life like? Please just start telling your history. You don''t need to elaborate on every detail, but I would like to know where you come from, how you grew up, and what made you, you."


    Azura took a deep breath and closed her eyes. In her mind, she traveled back to her childhood.


    "I was adopted when I was not even three years old. I can''t recall my own parents, the only thing I have is this ring." She put her hand up and showed it to Dr. Jensen.


    "My foster parents are regular humans. They had no knowledge of any other races or magic before I came into their life. But they soon learned when I shifted into..." Azura stopped. A streak of panic raced through her as she realized she had almost spilled her biggest secret in just a few minutes of being here.


    "You shifted into... what?" Nicolai''s curiosity was awakened by the moment he had seen Azura, but now it went through the roof. There was something off with the young startled woman sitting in front of him and he was not able to put his finger on it just yet.


    "It isn''t important..." Azura hastily continued. "Anyway, they were not scared of me and raised me the best they could. They have been wonderful parents. They raised me as their own, even knowing I wasn''t normal, they treated me as if I was a regular human child. Maybe even trying to ignore what I am. So I went to a normal school, high school and so on... I was seventeen when I graduated but I did not immediately attend college."


    "Why not?" He had noticed she wanted to stop talking. Short questions like this would keep her going and thinking about her past. Azura chuckled as she remembered herself as a teen.


    "Well, you see... I was adopted... And I think it''s normal for some adoptive kids to start questioning who they really are. I started rebelling against my parents. I cut my hair so short I had spikes, started hanging out with the wrong type of friends, drank alcohol, and even tried some drugs. Every night I would go out to either hang with them, or to release myself in the woods in my other form. I got into more fights with my parents and for the next two years, even though we lived side by side, the distance between us was wider than ever."


    "Your new lifestyle wasn''t giving you what you were looking for." Azura nodded as he added in what she had left unspoken. He could feel her loneliness radiating around her as she spoke about this era in her life.


    "Yeah... After one night I decided I had enough of this fake lifestyle. My friends got drunk and decided to rob a night store. My ex-boyfriend joined them and tried to convince me to tag along as well. I didn''t go. As they went off, I had never felt more lonely. So I came back home and cried my eyes out in my bed. Not because I had just lost my friends and boyfriend, but because that was the moment I knew I didn''t fit in. Not with my parents, and not with anyone else who was human. My parents did the best they could, I don''t blame them for anything. They supported me and cared for me in whatever direction I decided to take."


    "Did they ever try to understand what you are?"


    "Yes...and no. They wanted to understand but at the same time, they were too scared to find out by themselves, and that fear had rubbed off on me as well. I was a conflicted 19-year-old. My subconsciousness wanted to find out what else there was in the world besides me and normal humans. Surely I was not the only one, that would be illogical and I knew in my heart there was so much more to discover, but my fear held me back. Scared of what I would find. So for another two years, I was lost and conflicted. Now I dare say that I might have suffered from a slight depression."


    "What makes you think that?" Even though Nicolai could feel she was telling the truth, it was better for Azura to give words to her own feelings.


    "The world had lost its shine to me. Normally I enjoyed being out in the woods. I could not wait to see new things and loved my hobbies. Just before, I had started rock climbing and loved every moment of it, but I remember everything stopped feeling special. I didn¡¯t get any satisfaction from any of the things I enjoyed before. I kept smiling at people, but on the inside, I didn¡¯t feel happy or any joy at all."


    Azura stopped talking and bit her lip. These were things not many people knew about and she was spilling them so easily here. She felt a little uneasy even though talking about her past did make her feel better.


    "Dr. Jensen? You don''t just read emotions do you?" He filled a glass of water and handed it to her.


    "You''re right. I can feel and read them, but as I had already said, I can also read the subconscious ones, and those are the interesting feelings. They show me what direction a conversation will go because before your brain has formed words to express that feeling, the feeling is already in your body. By knowing what will come, I can make you feel more at ease. See it as a small fence that''s preventing you from talking. I can chip away at that fence so you let go of your anxiety to talk. But that doesn''t mean I can do it all the time. With some feelings, people build too big of a wall for me to take down, and sometimes I don''t want to take it down at all because my clients need to learn to take it down themselves."


    Azura snickered a bit. "So you''re like a master manipulator, and you found the perfect job for your abilities." Nicolai gave her a friendly nod back.


    "Again you''re right. Not all people like my methods though. It can be very confronting and it has a big downside to it as well. I''ll explain that later."


    Azura was a bit surprised when he mentioned it had a downside. She had been intrigued by his methods of making her talk. For now, it had only been about her childhood and she hadn¡¯t too much to hide anyway, but what would happen later on? Could she actually trust him? Her worries started to surface again as she got lost in her own thoughts. He could not know what she was and without that knowledge, it would be impossible to confront her fears.


    It became harder to breathe and Azura closed her eyes trying to fight the feeling she knew all too well. Her fists were clenched together and her head started to hurt. Dr. Jensen had gotten up from his chair as he started to feel the change in Azura, he walked around her and gently grabbed her by the shoulder.


    "It''s okay to doubt me, but I am not the enemy. You can take this one step at a time whenever you are ready but know you can''t carry this burden alone. Now just breathe deeply and focus on that. When you''ve calmed down we''ll schedule the next appointment if you want to continue."


    His grip brought Azura back to reality. It was gentle, yet firm, enough to calm her racing mind and let her focus on what was going on. She needed some time to think about what he had said and to give room to her own doubts. After taking a moment for herself, overthinking what had just been said, she heaved a deep sigh and tried to smile as she got up.


    "Thank you for today."


    "No problem. Just go back to Vicky and she''ll set you up. Just one last bit of advice because I can sense a lot is going on inside you; find some company for the rest of the day. It might seem as if we haven¡¯t talked much about your issues, but we have already started touching them by talking about your childhood. It can cause some heavy responses from your body and mind."


    They walked out of the office and Azura threw a last glance at the snow leopard mosaic. She fiddled with her ring as she did and turned around to walk to the exit. Doctor Jensen had carefully examined her as she left, her interest in the mosaic combined with her touching the ring was fascinating. But if what he was suspecting turned out to be true, it was only a matter of time before all hell would break loose in this city.

 Chapter 5

    His face...


    The eyes of the man had rolled till they showed creamy white, mouth open slightly as if a scream was about to escape his lips, but got stuck in the middle. His body was slumped on the floor, back leaning against the wall with the head tilted slightly upwards. Limp arms hung next to his body while his skin was unnaturally pale for someone who normally had a beautiful olive complexion. A trickle of blood ran from a small gaping hole in his forehead between his eyes, down to the nose.


    Azura tried to speak, but her words would not come forth. She blankly stared at the man in front of her. Her Charlie. Her man. Her love. She tried to open her mouth but her lips refused to move.


    With a loud crack, his face abruptly jerked towards her and his lips started moving. His eyes opened wide exposing more murkiness as a crooked, evil grin spread across his face.


    ¡°Without you, he''d be still alive. You killed him. You put this bullet between his eyes.¡±


    Azura backed away in shock as a twisted voice emerged from between his lips. Fear gripped her heart and her breathing became erratic. The man¡¯s face had started twitching, lips going from a crooked grin to opening and closing while the whites of his eyes started to fill with blood. Azura backed away even more, then spun around trying to get this vision out of her mind.


    As she spun around she saw Nora. Their eyes met and Azura could see the fear in Nora''s brown ones. She was dark-skinned as was the rest of her pack, her hair a dark brown color. It¡¯d been straightened and tied into a large bun on top of her head, but something was off.


    Nora''s lips formed words Azura could not hear, the fear in her eyes had become more and more apparent as she raised her arm to point at something. Azura followed her gesture and stood face to face with a man. He was sweaty, dirty, and wearing a stained, blood-spattered shirt that might have once been white.


    His movements were jerky and slow; like his bones were not connected to each other. The worst part was his face; the features unreadable, morphing and changing constantly. Azura felt frozen, wanting to step back but unable to. He slowly came closer, limping with each step.


    Something cold had appeared in her right hand, and as Azura looked down she was shocked to see herself only in a bra and pants. There was no scar marring her skin, but blood splatter covered her body. The glistening of the knife caught her attention, and with seeing it, her fear subsided, and in its place rage started to fill her.


    It was like the knife triggered the immediate change of demeanor. She gripped the handle till her knuckles turned white. Azura started fuming as the rage built, all the fear inside her being replaced, burned by flaming fury.


    ¡°Can you feel it yet? You''re a wild animal! A killer! You''re a murderer and you¡¯ll have everyone killed. Everybody you know and love will meet their demise because of you. You''re feral!¡±


    It was unclear where the voice was coming from, but it only added more fuel to Azura''s anger. It was like someone else was controlling her emotions. She could feel the flames and heat inside her become so immense that she had to let it out.


    She finally found her voice as she started to scream, plunging her knife in the body of the manlike figure before her.


    ¡°That''s it, embrace it! Embrace who you really are!¡±


    Pulling the knife out, she felt the blood spatter onto her before she plunged the knife back into its abdomen. With one swift movement, she jerked the knife upwards, slicing him open from navel to sternum. Bones are laid to waste in her wake as ribs are sliced apart.


    Azura pushed the body away and let out a final scream before she dropped the knife, panting heavily. Her feet were standing in a pool of blood, which seemed to be steadily rising. It came from everywhere, surrounding, swirling, and capturing her.


    Azura let out another feral scream at it and raised her fists, then let them fall into the crimson fluid around her. As soon as they touched the blood, she felt the flames inside of her burst open. She spun around as everything caught on fire immediately, eyes stopping at the sight of Nora.


    The blaze had spread, burning everything in its path. All the blood had disappeared, leaving angry dancing flames in its wake. Nora stood on the other side of the room, the fire engulfing her.


    Azura''s eyes widened, her rage and fury gone in an instant. She reached out, but the flames held her back. They grabbed her legs, curled around, and bound her to the floor. They licked around her arms and pulled her back.


    In front of her, the flamestorm started to coil up, shaping and forming two gigantic wings. Azura gasped as she recognized the shape it was taking.


    Nora reached out for her as she was trapped within a vortex of flame. Azura looked back to the fire that had become the wings, only to see the thing she feared most.


    A phoenix had risen, its fiery wings immense. The tailfeathers split into several long whips of flame while two intelligent, beady black eyes stared at her. It just floated there, leering at her, taking her breath away before it turned around to face Nora. Without warning, it suddenly flew off towards her with dazzling speed, leaving only embers flying around in the place where it had been.


    "No! Nora! Please, no!" Azura found her voice again as terror filled her heart.


    She was forced by the inferno to watch as Nora was engulfed by the Phoenix, the fire licking her face, scorching her clothes and skin. Her eyes tormented by pain and her mouth writhing and twisting in anguish. Nora''s skin burst open from the extreme heat of the flames and it didn''t take long for her body to slump to the floor with the Phoenix engulfing it until there was nothing left.


    ¡°I told you it was your fault. Thanks to you she''s gone. Scorched thanks to you. It''s you, it''s all you, and you enjoy it. It makes your heart pump faster and your blood flow quicker. Embrace your killer side. You know you want to.¡±


    She still couldn¡¯t pinpoint the source of the calm, cold voice, but the messages made her shiver every time it spoke.


    The Phoenix had risen from the floor again, hovering in the air, looking straight at Azura. She felt her knees buckle but the fire kept her upright as if it were carrying her. There was a moment of a silent stalemate as both just stared at each other. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    There was a rush of emotions going through Azura''s body as if it were unable to choose what to feel. Somewhere deep inside she felt... something she did not want to feel. Something familiar, some fondness for this creature of death.


    Just as Azura was about to open her mouth, the Phoenix parted its beak, and a bright blue-white light formed inside. Completely panic-stricken, Azura opened her mouth to let out a pain-filled scream just as the lightning bolt struck the left side of her stomach.


    *


    Lucas gently shook her shoulder, she¡¯d been tossing and turning for a while now, but that scream had caused him to rush over and try to wake her up. Azura was sleeping on the couch when he came back home and he had just let her be while he went to the kitchen to prepare for dinner.


    She wouldn''t wake up. He tried shaking her again when she suddenly, forcefully, grabbed his arm. Lucas startled back by the sudden movement from Azura, the feeling of intense heat radiating around his clothes coming from her hand. His gaze traveled from her grasp to her face and he was taken aback by the look in her eyes.


    They were wide open, staring right through him it seemed. It looked like a fire was burning behind those deep blue eyes but she wasn¡¯t awake.


    "Hey, wake up!" It was the only thing he could think of doing. He pried her hand off his arm and took hold of both her shoulders to shake her. "Come on, you''re freaking me out!" His voice contained a hint of panic when she didn''t react immediately. "I really don''t want to throw a second glass of water in your face so please snap out of it!"


    Azura suddenly started to blink and had gasped for air. She frantically started to look around, a hint of fear still left in her eyes. The intense fiery gaze was gone though. Lucas let go of her shoulders as she appeared to calm down. He let out a sigh of relief as she became more alert.


    "Welcome back to the living! Normally I would ask if you had a good night''s sleep but in this case... I think I know the answer to that. Do you want some water?"


    Her throat felt parched and raw. She caressed her neck with one hand as the other moved to her side without seeming to realize it. Lucas had left her alone to get some water, not for a reply. Her posture had told him all he needed to know. Azura just now noticed the blanket that lay crumpled at her feet, she was sure she didn¡¯t grab a blanket when she decided to lay down on the couch.


    "Here''s your water." Lucas handed her a glass and gave her a reassuring smile. "You feeling any better?"


    "Yeah, I am. Thanks...." She returned his smile to try and sound more convincing, thankful that they were actually speaking again even though it was a bit forced.


    "No problem. Do you want to talk about it? The nightmare I mean."


    Azura was a bit taken aback by his forwardness but being subtle hadn''t been his best characteristic back in the day either.


    She shook her head. "No..." A coppery taste filled her mouth, so she placed a finger in her cheek and took it out to see if there was any blood. It came out clean. Azura took another sip of the water, hoping it would wash away the lingering memory before her eyes met his. "It''s changing you know," She softly spoke up again but had averted her eyes. "I used to have the same nightmare every night but ever since my first night here, it''s been changing. It''s mixing up details from the two attacks, fusing them together to become one big mess of blood, fire, and death."


    "Sounds like a killer combo to me." He chuckled slightly hoping to lighten her mood.


    Azura groaned while she fixed her eyes on the fireplace. "Oh, you have no idea." She mumbled back. The flames were dancing on the logs and it looked like they had been for a while. She wasn¡¯t the one who lit it though when she returned home, so Lucas must have covered her with the blanket and started the fire. She was finding it difficult to face him directly.


    "By the way, I was preparing dinner. Are you hungry? And if so, could you please set the table." If he felt the same awkwardness as she, he did a great job of covering it up. His voice betrayed nothing as he switched topics like a pro.


    Azura swallowed and forced herself to meet his eyes again, trying to go for the same lightness he seemed to have adopted. "I''m starving, actually!"


    She folded the blanket and got up, thankful he didn¡¯t force her to say any more about the nightmares and had shifted the topic of conversation. Lucas went back to the kitchen as she moved to the dining table to set it up. It was a good distraction to get her mind off the horrible images which were still imprinted in the back of her head.


    *


    Dinner was nice. They had ended up chatting a lot about simple stuff after the initial silence. Lucas had tried to follow the advice Rose gave him about being a friend and not a therapist. He had kept the conversation light and simple, talking about everything except her past, the nightmares, or her first meeting with Dr. Jensen. She¡¯d responded well, was open to him, and he even got her to laugh out loud a few times. She seemed to be at ease and with every minute she was starting to act like the Azura she had been before the ''shitstorm'' as she had named it.


    They sat down in the living room with the TV on, Azura had wrapped herself in the blanket again as she settled on the couch. Lucas watched her for a moment while she seemed more engrossed on the fire than the television. Despite her laughing, eating, and actually having a conversation with him, she was still easily distracted by something, and every time it happened she retreated back into herself. Whether it was about the nightmare or something else, he couldn¡¯t tell, and to prevent another blow-up, he didn¡¯t ask.


    The woman did look better now than when he had first opened his house to her. She was still pretty much skin-an-bones, but she had been thin when he had first met her. The dark circles around her eyes had lessened though, and she actually had some color to her cheeks. Lucas moved around the couch, looking for a spot to sit as she¡¯d taken up quite a bit of space.


    "Are you going to leave some room for me or am I banned from it?" Lucas gave her a small pout. It was like his words were a delayed reaction, reaching her a second later than he had spoken them. Azura jolted up as if caught red-handed and for a brief moment he saw the doubts and fear in her eyes before she put on a big smile and answered him.


    "For tonight you''re banned from the couch! Please try again tomorrow." She laughed as he put up an even more sad face.


    "Well next time I won''t be giving you a blanket when you sleep or cook you dinner. So the joke''s on you."


    "Oh...right... Forgot about that... Well, sorry then! You can sit right here!" She patted the empty spot on the couch while trying to flash him the most innocent smile she could muster.


    "Too late now! You made your choice." He sat himself down on the black leather seat instead.


    "But I..."


    "But what? There''s no buts." He interrupted her.


    Lucas and Azura''s facial expressions had switched. She was now acting sad and pouting while he was just smiling and acting all innocent. She knew he had her and gave up. "Next time you won''t win so easily, buddy." She glared at him and stoically turned to the TV.


    "We''ll see about that." He kept his eyes on her for a bit longer before turning to the box as well.


    She nestled even more into the blanket, eyes darting between the aimless program and the fire. The vacant, distant look taking over at times as the show progressed. She was pretending to be fine. Maybe to fool him, or maybe to fool herself, but she did look relaxed for once. When the show ended, it took her a moment to move, but she eventually turned towards him.


    "Can I...maybe join you at the climbing hall anytime soon? I''ve had enough with sitting here and doing nothing. I need some distraction plus I could use the workout." He could hear the insecurity in her voice as she asked him, like she was a little girl asking for something big that she was afraid to get.


    Lucas looked surprised, but a big smile soon sprawled across his face. "Sure. Come by whenever you want to."

 Chapter 6

    The silence was unnerving.


    Azura was home by herself and it felt like the walls were closing in on her. Ever since the nightmare she had during that afternoon, she¡¯d felt less and less uncomfortable being alone. She anxiously paced around the room, counting her steps to make sure the walls hadn''t actually moved, but it gave her no relief.


    Every time she had closed her eyes, images of Charlie and Nora plagued her mind. Their dead bodies haunting her. The unnerving voice telling her it was all her fault, was becoming louder and more frequent.


    She could even hear it throughout the day now. It was becoming more and more convincing as well. Azura had a hard time separating that voice from her own mind and it was driving her crazy. It became harder to segregate reality from the dream and she¡¯d already caught herself believing the nonsense the voice had put in her head.


    Azura clenched her fists again, digging her fingernails into the palm of her hands. She was sweating and had a hard time ignoring the shaking of her hands. They¡¯d been trembling for a few hours now. By clenching her fists she hoped it would go away, but it had not helped so far. A heaviness descended on her chest and she drove her fingers into her palms even harder. It started to hurt, but it was a good reminder of what was real.


    It took another ten minutes of restless pacing around her room before she had made up her mind. She needed to run. It had been several weeks since she¡¯d last shifted, and it hadn¡¯t once been done since she arrived here. She had not gone outside much at all since she had arrived, actually.


    Azura practically ran outside, throwing her coat on while doing so. She stopped as she reached the end of the driveway and looked back at the house. It was small, and maybe fifty meters away was a bigger sprawl; the main house of the property. Lucas''s dad had been living there till he passed away and Lucas had offered the house to his best friend and his wife after. She still didn''t know why he hadn¡¯t taken the house for himself, but he probably had his reasons for that.


    The cool crisp air was doing some good, allowing her mind a reprieve to wander to the houses, but that didn''t last long. Her restlessness soon emerged again and Azura quickly walked away to the nearby forest.


    She needed a good spot to keep her things yet not be too close to the city. If she were to change it would mean undressing and taking everything off. Including her ring, the one thing that kept her identity and true nature hidden. She didn¡¯t want anyone to discover her clothes, so after reaching the forest, she continued walking for another hour through the snow before reaching a small cave.


    Azura took off her coat and her clothes, then wrapped them up in a small bundle and placed them behind a small rock. Not too visible, and dry from the snow. The fresh air gave her goosebumps across her naked skin. The cold felt good to her, embracing her as if she was an old friend.


    Unfortunately, she knew she was still susceptible to hypothermia so she had to change quickly. The only thing she still wore was her ring. Azura grabbed it and hesitated for a moment. If she took it off, she would no longer be protected. Anything could pick up her smell and find her.


    She was quiet for a moment, listening for anything out of the ordinary before finally removing it, tugging it off. For the first time in a long time, she could see. All the smells hit her at once. When she was wearing the ring, her smell was hidden from anyone, but it also prevented her from smelling anything.


    Now she was completely naked and she could finally shift. Azura walked out with her bare feet in the snow. She loved the way it felt beneath her toes. She arched her back, closed her eyes, and turned her face upwards toward the sky.


    Teeth elongated into canines, nails grew long and sharp, fur covered her body as it grew in thick waves. She then collapsed to the ground and ended up on all fours, limbs reshaping. Her body finished the shifting and a beautiful snow leopard then stood where Azura had been.


    Her tail was just as long as her body, thick and fluffy, like the rest of her coat. All designed for a harsh and cold environment, just like the one she currently stood in. Her blue eyes still remained. An unusual color for a snow leopard, the only give-away that she was more than a regular snow leopard.


    The sounds and smells of the forest were all so much clearer now. Azura walked around for a bit, admiring the views from this other perspective. She hadn''t paid much attention to her surroundings when she came here, she¡¯d just been running, trying to keep her mind from going insane.


    Now the voice was gone, her caged feelings had disappeared as well and she had been left with a clear, calm mindset. It was such a relief she leaped up in joy, stretching her muscles, and ended up with her front paws against a tree, claws dug deep into its trunk.


    The forest was rich with the sounds of birds and other wildlife. Azura perked her ears forward when she heard a waterfall and decided to head over.


    The snow crackled under her large paws as the long tail flicked from side to side, blue eyes taking in all the new things from this unexplored territory. There were definitely no wolves living here, at least...not the human kind. She knew that smell all too well since she had spent so much time with Nora''s pack.


    She jumped over rocks, traversing the mountain to the sound of the waterfall all while she slowly started picking up her pace. Sometimes she would stop, sniff around, then scrunch her nose and lips while trying to identify a smell. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    The trees steadily disappear as she reaches the top of the mountainside, then more rocks and cliffs stood in their place. For humans, this terrain would be very difficult to traverse, but as a snow leopard, it was second nature. It had started snowing again, the flakes land graciously on her fur while others on her nose. The wind had also picked up, and blew a certain very enthralling smell her way. Azura raised her head and closed her eyes focusing on the smell. It was clearly an ibex.


    Instincts kicked in as she lowered herself to the ground then silently followed her nose. Making sure she stayed downwind to prevent her scent from being carried to the ibex. If that were to happen, it would flee immediately and she was not in the mood for a long hunting trip.


    She finally arrived at a small overlook and looked down upon the animal. Its horns were huge, curling all the way over its head so it was almost touching its back. It stood out amongst the snow with its brown fur.


    Azura observed the big wild goat for a short while, looking for an opening and opportunity to attack. The goat, oblivious to the threat he faced, hopped from stone to stone looking for something to eat himself. It stopped on a small rock with a flat patch of snow next to it. Azura eyed the distance between her and the goat and knew she could make the jump. She got up and prepared herself to jump.


    With a long leap, she floated through the air. Her whiskers and ears pointed forwards. Her animal instincts were all on point. The ibex noticed her but it was too late to react.


    As he was about to bolt off, Azura landed on him with all fours, knocking him down from the rock into the snow. They rolled on top of each other through the snow, the ibex desperately trying to get away, and Azura desperately trying to get a grip on it with her claws and teeth without being bucked or skewered by those huge horns.


    After what had seemed like forever rolling in the snow, she finally managed to bite into the animal''s neck. She felt her teeth sink through its skin and the blood seeping from the puncture wounds. The large cat bit down harder, trying to close its airpipe to make the ibex suffocate. The mountain goat kept struggling, but Azura made sure it did not get enough room to wriggle.


    Eventually, it stopped resisting and gave up, unable to breathe through a crushed larynx. She let go of her prey and stepped to the side panting heavily, it had been a while since she had made a kill as a snow leopard. It felt amazing. Exhilarating.


    Right as she ripped the soft skin on its stomach open, a chill ran down her body.


    You enjoyed the hunt. You loved to kill that animal, to feel the blood running through your mouth. You get a kick out of seeing the life leave a body. I told you, you were a murderer. A true killer. There''s no denying it! When will you accept it yourself? It''s in your blood.


    Azura growled and shook her head as she backed up from her kill. She looked at it with shock in her eyes. The snow had turned red around the ibex and her muzzle was covered in blood as well. The voice had brought her back to reality. She frantically tried to clean her muzzle with her front paws, dipping it in the snow.


    This was not what was supposed to happen! Being out in the open as a leopard had felt amazing! It had triggered her true instincts to come up, but realizing she had just killed again... And how much she had enjoyed it... Azura felt nauseous.


    She backed away even further with her head lowered, shaking it from side to side trying to lose the voice. Her tail also flicked around furiously. It was clear she was agitated. Finally, she turned around and leaped on another rocky platform before sprinting away.


    The large leopard didn''t care about her surroundings as she just ran. She stopped at an overhang and looked straight down, it was around thirty to forty meters of nothing before there was ground again. It went straight downhill after that.


    Azura hesitated, panic set in her eyes as she peered over the edge. Jumping down would most certainly kill her. It was no option, but still, she kept gazing down the cliff. A soft distressed yowl left her throat as she lay down at the edge, escalated breathing picked up again as she curled her tail around her body in an effort to calm down.


    Really? You''re thinking about this? It''s the easy way out. You''re a coward if you choose this way, yet go ahead if you please. But will it solve anything? Not only a killer but a coward as well. Huh... Who would''ve guessed...


    Azura jumped up again and backed away from the edge. She put her head between her front paws and frantically tried to cover her ears and wipe the voice away. Snarling as she did so, but it didn¡¯t help. She took another glance at the edge of the platform and backed away even further.


    So not a coward. You made your choice. But can you accept the rest? You don''t have to right now. Maybe later... But time keeps on ticking.


    Azura lifted her head, mouth hung open with some drool dripping down from the left corner. She scraped the ground with her claws before setting off again.


    She back-tracked through the mountain, going down as fast as she could. Within minutes she had reached the trees again and she set off in search of her clothes. She didn''t register anything as she ran by. Her mind was on lockdown, her body moving on auto-pilot. She didn''t feel the wind in her fur, her paws running through the snow, nor the scraping on the rocks.


    Azura finally arrived at the cave with her stuff and shifted back. As soon as she was human she grabbed the ring in a frenzy and put it on. Tears streamed down her face, her whole body trembling. Clothes were grabbed, but let go of right after as her body started convulsing. A rushed turn to the other corner of the cave was made just in time before she hurled.


    Azura sat on her hands and knees and threw everything out. She screamed out of frustration hoping it would give her some relief, hit the rock walls with her bare fists scraping off layers of skin. Her knuckles started bleeding, and her knees were damaged as well from moving around on them. Finally, she lay down naked and crying, hugging her legs.


    Several hours had passed since she had changed back. Azura staggered out of the woods back home. Some of the scrapes and small wounds had already healed over, but the dried blood was still on her hands and body. She had changed into her clothes again before she left and finally reached the house. Azura stopped as she saw Rose walking away, she hadn¡¯t noticed her yet, and she was walking fast.


    Azura started to run, wanting to call out to her, but as she came closer she stopped. Rose looked like a mess herself.


    "Rose?" She called out anyway, a little hesitantly.


    Rose looked towards her and after the first shock started heading her way. Azura started walking which turned into jogging, and as the girls met they embraced each other. They hugged for what seemed like an hour before Rose spoke up with a trembling voice.


    "We broke up.."

 Chapter 7

    Lucas didn''t even look up as Azura entered, sitting on the couch with a half-empty bottle of whiskey and staring into the fireplace that wasn¡¯t even burning. She observed him for a moment. He looked defeated and slouched on the cushions. It was clearly not just Rose suffering from the recent breakup.


    Azura hesitated a bit. She didn''t know what to do. Should she go over to him and console him or just leave quietly? Against her own will, she decided to join him.


    She slowly walked towards him and stopped on the side of the couch, where he finally noticed and looked her up and down. He didn''t make any remark on how dirty she appeared, with her hair being in a big mess yet again, some dried blood still on her hands, and even some smears on her face. Instead, he remained reticent for a time, then grabbed another whiskey glass, filled it, and offered it to her.


    "Rough day?"


    "Rough day. You?" She replied while accepting the glass.


    "Rough evening." He replied


    She sat down next to him and they drank in silence. The liquor burned down her throat every time she took a sip. It felt good for now though.


    They sat in silence for half an hour, refilling her glass and his own when needed. Even though there¡¯d been no talking, she took some comfort in the fact that he was here. Feeling bad alone was worse than feeling bad with company. Slowly, the alcohol was taking effect in her system, it gave her a nice buzz and made her feel a little lightheaded. Seeing as Lucas had drunk more, he probably felt the effects as well.


    Out of nowhere, he spoke up, his voice hoarse and croaked.  "What the hell did you do by the way? You look like crap."


    Lucas turned to her. while finishing his half-full glass in one go. He definitely wasn''t sober anymore. The whites of his eyes had turned partly red. Either from alcohol or tears, Azura guessed it was probably the former.


    "Me? You''re not exactly a pretty picture yourself right now." He chuckled at her remark. He knew she was right but still... He was not the one slathered in dirt and whatever else she was covered in.


    "In all seriousness Azu. What did you do?"


    "Seriousness? We both just drank an insane amount of whiskey and you want to be serious?" She had to hide a small laugh as well. This whole situation was just too ridiculous and alcohol always made her giggly no matter how bad she felt.


    "Yeah, I do. Alcohol makes people tell the truth. So, third time, what the hell did you do?"


    "Fine... Have it your way." She paused, drank the last bit of whiskey, and placed the glass with a hard bang on the table. "I was going stir-crazy from being inside, so went outside for a walk. Enjoyed it, and then it got bad again and I was contemplating suicide, but didn''t and then I ended up back here, and I have no recollection of what happened in between."


    "Wow, ok..." He just stared at her and grabbed the bottle. "Need some more then?"


    She shook her head, took the bottle from his hands, and placed it back on the table. Even though the alcohol was taking more and more effect, she still knew they both had enough. He didn''t even resist.


    "Your turn. I met Rose outside, what happened between you two?" He snuffed and leaned back into the couch facing straight forward again.


    "It just didn''t work. There were issues before you came here and after we found you we decided to try again. But alas, here we are. She''s an amazing girl but we don''t fit. That doesn''t mean I don¡¯t miss her. I miss her so fucking much already!" He suddenly jerked up and hit the table with his fist. "Fuck! I mess up everything!"


    Azura could swear she could see some waterworks forming in his eyes. He quickly composed himself again and nonchalantly laid back down on the couch as if nothing happened.


    They remained silent for several minutes, both lost in their own world for a time. Lucas suddenly glanced at her and chuckled again. She sat with her feet on the edge of the couch, hugging her knees. It didn''t look all that comfortable.


    He yawned and tugged her arm hard enough to where she toppled over. Azura let out a small yelp as she fell over, arms swaying all over the place before she landed with her head against his shoulder. His arm moved around and he gave her a strange sideways hug. He shifted a bit and placed his feet on the coffee table.


    Azura was shocked at first but started to relax. The alcohol in their systems made things a lot different than normal. She poked him and giggled like a high school girl when she noticed he started to fall asleep.


    After a while, she pried herself loose from his arm and got up. Azura swayed on her feet before finding steady ground. Stumbling, she managed to find her way to the dresser and steadied herself with a hand on top of it. When the world stopped spinning for a moment, she bent down and grabbed a blanket, and made her way back to Lucas. She had to hold on to several objects as she did, walking straight was a real challenge now.


    She gently covered him in the blanket the best that she could. He¡¯d probably done a better job when she¡¯d been sleeping on the couch, but seeing the circumstances, this was the best she could do.


    "See you tomorrow." She whispered while she placed a hand on his forehead. He was fast asleep already. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    *


    A throbbing headache was the only proof she had of the evening before. Azura groaned as the sun hit her face, she had forgotten to close the curtains again and now she was awake with something way too bright warming her up. She slowly got up and sat on the edge of her bed with her head in her hands. After a minute of getting comfortable in this position, she got up and put on her robe. The moment she had it tightened, she grabbed for her stomach as it made a rumbling sound.


    Azura''s eyes widened as she felt the urge to vomit and she ran out of the room to the bathroom the best she could. Once inside, she threw the door shut and practically fell to her knees in front of the toilet before throwing up. Her stomach kept convulsing even after there was nothing left to expel anymore. Her whole body ached and the headache was only intensifying. She took some deep breaths, still hanging above the bowl, and slowly got up.


    "You alright in there?" Lucas knocked on the door. Azura glanced at the door. How on earth could he sound so sober!


    "I''m perfectly fine! Just turning my own body inside out." Her sarcastic reply made him laugh. She could hear him through the door and waited until she heard his footsteps leave.


    She turned on the hot shower hoping that it would help. It would at least clean her up a bit. Something she badly needed as well.


    It had taken another three hours for her to be able to function rather normally. All the while Lucas was trying not to laugh at her. She gave him angry glances once in a while, wondering why he didn''t even show the smallest hint of a hangover.


    She had to get ready to see Dr. Jensen again, and after what happened yesterday, that was probably a good thing. She had to talk to someone and Lucas wasn''t the appropriate person right now. Even though he was acting like nothing was wrong, she knew he was suffering from the break-up.


    Azura put her hair up in a ponytail and walked through the house looking for her shoes. Lucas was browsing on his phone the whole time. Before she wanted to leave, he turned to her.


    "After your appointment, I want to see you at the climbing hall. The best thing to do after a night of heavy drinking is to sweat it out."


    "I already puked it out! Is that not enough?" She barked right back at him.


    "No. You still need to sweat it out!" Azura sighed and growled at him.


    Snarling she answered him, "So I guess this morning the first thing you did was ''sweat it all out''?


    "Nahh... I can simply handle my liquor a bit better than you can." He flashed her a sweet smile and waved her off.  "I¡¯ll see you at the climbing hall!"


    She stomped out. Mornings were never her strong suit, let alone mornings and afternoons when she had a bad hangover, and he just instinctively knew which buttons to press to get her riled up.


    Azura kept her head down during the walk. She tried to ignore all the happy people around her. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood except her. Maybe it was because the weather had turned out to be perfect ski weather? There were even some groups of school children around today, most of them on a one-day skiing trip.


    Unfortunately for her, Dr. Jensen''s office was right in the middle of the city, adjacent to the most crowded street in town. Azura only now noticed that it was actually quite close to the hostel she had been to on her first night here.


    As she entered the building, she saw Vicky sitting behind the big desk. There were, again, no other people in the lobby. Azura approached the woman, unsure of what mood she was in today.


    "Hello again. I''m here for my second appointment with Dr. Jensen."


    She tried to sound open and polite in the hope the receptionist would respond in the same manner. Vicky looked up from her desk, rummaged through some papers, furiously started typing on the computer, and after what seemed like forever, replied to Azura.


    "You know the way. You can proceed immediately."


    Azura raised an eyebrow "That''s it? No forms to sign or anything?"


    "No, he knows what he needs to know. Now please proceed. The doctor is waiting for you."


    "Alright then. Thank you." Azura slapped the desk with the flat of her hand. She tried to make it look like it was the most natural thing to do but failed miserably. She grumbled to herself a bit when she walked to the door with the leopard mosaic behind it.


    As she entered the hallway, Nicolai Jensen was already standing there waiting for her. He gave her a nod as she entered and waited for Azura to join him.


    "Hello, Miss Azura, nice to see you again."


    "It''s nice to see you too, Doctor."


    They shook hands and Azura already wanted to head into his office but the doctor waved for her to stop and turned to the mosaic.


    "You know Azura, this city has a rich history with snow leopards. They are part of our daily lives. You''ve probably already met a few."  Azura''s skin turned white as she felt all the blood leave her face. Her mouth opened as she stared at Dr. Nicolai.


    "Wha.. what?" It was all she could muster.


    He calmly continued speaking as if it was the most normal thing to say.


    "You had no idea? Maybe that¡¯s a good thing. Sorry for spoiling it. I''m not going to give you any names though, I think that''s safest for now. You''ll figure it out sooner or later." He turned to face her and took a deep breath. "I do, however, suggest you keep that ring on at all times. They do not take kindly to other cats here and you are in no state to face them yet."


    He gave her a smile and nodded to the door. "Shall we? We have a lot to talk about."


    Azura stood frozen. The guy just casually dropped a bomb the size of Hiroshima and now he expected her to just move on just like nothing had happened? Plus he knew about her being one?


    The doctor placed his hand on her shoulder and for a moment she thought she could see his eyes lit up for a bit. Straight away she could feel her astonishment and surprise fade away. It was like a warm blanket had just wrapped around her, relaxing every muscle and making her feel at ease. The man nudged her to the door of his office and she calmly followed him.


    They sat down and he offered her a glass of water. "This is something we will talk about later Azura, I know you have many questions, but there''s time enough for that. For now, I want to keep the focus on you. Please tell me, how have you been?"


    He was manipulating her. She knew it but was unable to resist. She wanted to get angry, but the emotions would just slide away. It was frustrating and he would actually leave that emotion hanging in her mind. Azura clenched her fists but started talking, resisting it any longer was useless. She started with her nightmares, the voice in her head, and ended up talking about the events that had happened only the day before.


    Doctor Jensen just listened and helped ease the emotions if things got too rough. Now that she had opened up to him, she was amazingly easy to read and tap into.


    When Azura was done she stopped and let out a long sigh. Dr. Jensen leaned back in his chair and let all the information sink in. For a short moment, there was not a single word spoken. He then got up and walked to the window.


    "Can you take me back in time to when you first met Nora and your other friends?"

 Chapter 8

    Edited: 3-9-2020


    "I met Nora three years ago when I had just arrived at Greenwood college for a research program." Azura closed her eyes and sighed softly, remembering those quiet days as she let her mind drift back to her past.


    *


    Azura moved through the crowd of students to the main building of Greenwood college. She tried to avoid the other students as much as possible, keeping her head down while still trying to take in as much as she could of her new surroundings. She didn''t like loud and busy places and had always found it hard to adjust and meet new people, but the opportunity of studying and doing research here was too big of a chance not to take.


    There were so many different races represented here to which Azura had never heard of. She was raised by human parents who adopted her when she was only two-and-a-half years old, and they had never known about the other races until they met her. When Azura had shifted in front of them for the first time they were shocked, but they also saw a little girl in dire need of help. After that, they never tried to indulge in the world of supernaturals, instead raising her as if she were a human.


    It was the last days of summer. The sun was already low in the sky and its rays held less warmth each passing day. Azura looked at the big red brick building that was overseeing the entire campus. It looked to be a colonial style building, with some massive pillars at the main entrance and a big clock tower on top. The green grass in front with some flower beds neatly arranged made for an impressive entrance.


    Azura glanced around. There were a lot of new students present like her, some carrying suitcases while others with their entire belongings on the street. Between those new students, those who had been there for much longer wandered around, offering help and guiding the new ones around.


    Her eyes stopped when she saw a dark-skinned couple heavily making out. They looked so engrossed in each other as if they were the only ones around. Her dark hair was braided in several small strands and bundled together on top of her head.


    Right as Azura went to look away, the girl turned around and stared straight at her for a moment. Dark brown eyes bore into her own blue ones, her stomach reacting to something she couldn¡¯t place. A feeling of longing?  Azura quickly averted her eyes, feeling like she had just intruded on an intimate moment between the pair. She quickly darted off to register herself as a new student and got to her dorm room where she was assigned.


    Room 119. Azura turned the key around and entered the room. She knew she would be sharing so she hoped her dorm partner would be a nice girl. The first thing she noticed was the color. Pink. Pink curtains, pink sheets on one of the beds, pink accessories everywhere, and a big abstract painting with several shades of bright colors.


    She had no idea how long she was staring at the overdose of pink. Her mouth hung open from surprise and she slowly entered. Nobody was here so the other girl was probably out somewhere.


    "So much...pink... Holy cow." She muttered in amazement. The only place not covered in it was her bed. Or so it felt at least. Azura started unpacking slowly, still overwhelmed by the room. She put her clothes in the closet and made her bed.


    "Who the hell are you? I was supposed to have a room by myself!" A bitchy high pitched voice rang through her ears.


    Azura spun around and saw a short girl standing in the doorway. She looked ready to pounce on her at any second. Brown curled locks framed a small round head beautifully, while freckles made it look as if she were a nice, cute girl, but the look in her light brown eyes proved otherwise.


    "Excuse me?" Azura replied annoyed. "I''ve never heard of anyone getting a room by themselves and I''m your roommate. Deal with it. Oh, and seeing as we''re sharing this room from now on, you might want to reconsider your attitude because otherwise, it¡¯ll be a long year."


    Azura saw she¡¯d startled the other girl. Even though she¡¯d not been that harsh, her voice had been that of a ''Don''t mess with me'' tone. It¡¯d worked... The girl probably wasn¡¯t used to other people talking back to her and had lost some of her bitchy composure.


    "Hmpf, well as long as you stay on your side of the room it will be fine, I guess." The girl entered and sat down on her bed playing with her phone.


    "Yeah, nice to meet you too. My name is Azura by the way, if you''re interested."


    "Whatever."


    The girl''s phone rang and she picked it up. The volume was so loud even Azura could partially make out their conversation. She tried not to listen in but did manage to get ahold of a name. When the girl ended her call Azura sat down on her bed and flashed the girl an innocent smile.


    "Nice to meet you too, Theresa."


    Theresa''s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her skull.


    "How did you know my name? Are you one of those freaks who hears everything?"


    Azura laid down on her bed staring at the ceiling with a wicked smile on her face.


    "Maybe..." She snorted and turned her back to the high-pitched tone of her roommate.


    *


    A week had passed by in a blink of an eye. Azura had joined the climbing group and things between her and Theresa had actually improved a lot. Theresa wasn¡¯t that bad, but she did have a strong opinion. Azura hadn¡¯t cared about the whims of the girl and as soon as Theresa had figured it out, she laid off a bit more and they actually got a chance to get to know each other.


    As it turned out she was the daughter of someone high up in management and had no choice of where to study, getting pressured to come here. Even though she was human and none of her old friends were here, her dad had insisted on her joining the college as part of a good education. Theresa had been pretty ticked off about it and vowed to hate all the things the college associated with, including the other non-human races. Her vow was broken in less than a week.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Classes had begun two days after Azura had arrived and it was hard. It had been a while since she¡¯d been confined by rules set by a school or college and the only reason she¡¯d come out was to study at the library. Azura was stunned when she had first set foot in the building, it was tremendous!


    She let her hand glide past all the books as she walked from shelf to shelf. There was so much information here about the world, both human and supernatural. Not just the fantasy stories humans had written, but actual historical facts and history about almost everything. Azura stopped when she saw the shelf with information about all the different kinds of shifters.


    Hope rose in her chest as she quickly hurried over in the hopes to find more about the werecats. There were tons of books about werewolves and shapeshifters in general but not so much about werecats.


    "Can I help you?"


    Azura turned to find the source of the angelic male voice. A tall slender man dressed in a dark green silk-like suit faced her. He looked to be in his early fifties, the tips of his eyebrows went upwards as if they were small wings on his face. His lips were thin and his nose was big and pointed. A strange sight for the eyes.


    "Uhm yeah... I was looking for books on werecats." Azura tried not to stare too much at the man, not wanting to appear rude.


    "Werecats? Those are rare. I haven''t seen one for a long time. Well until now it seems, but why would you want to read a book about something you are yourself?"


    It was like he was singing, every word rolled off of his tongue so soft and smooth you couldn''t help but listen. His every move was graceful and delicate as he bent over and grabbed a book from one of the shelves. He offered it to Azura, the book itself resting on the palm of his hand.


    "Thank you." Azura gave him a nod. "I was just interested. Like you said sir, werecats are rare and I have never met one besides myself. I was hoping I would find more here on campus, or at least find some more information."


    As she placed her hand on the book to take it, the man placed his other hand on top of hers.


    "I doubt you will find what you''re looking for in this book. It''s just old history, nothing current or to date. There is not much written about werecats, mostly because the term werecat is just an assembly name. If you want, you can stop by my office later and I''ll see what I can find. Just ask around for professor Sloan and someone will direct you to my office. Now have a nice day, Miss Azura Thoreau."


    Azura had no time to reply as he gave her the book and walked away. She was left behind, rooted and bewildered. She swore she had not given her name to him.


    It turned out Professor Sloan was a druid, according to Theresa, they were tall and gracious, and knew all about the world as they aged three times slower than regular humans. Their knowledge was overwhelming and once they read or heard something, they would not be able to forget it. Alien Sponges, as Theresa had claimed, soaking up every bit of information they encountered.


    As soon as Azura had set foot outside the library, a particular girl had caught her eye. The same flutter of longing rose in her stomach at the sight of the same girl who had been making out like no one else had been around on that first day. The girl stared at her intently, her dark brown eyes piercing right through Azura. It was not the first time their gazes had met but neither had even tried to talk to one another.


    Azura already knew she was a werewolf, one of the Greenwood pack according to Theresa, who had been a fountain of information to her. The pack had its territory around the college. The guy she had been making out with was probably her mate.


    Azura turned her head away while fidgeting with the golden ring that was dangling around her neck. The girl intrigued her for sure, but the staring and stalking part was not something she enjoyed. She quickly made her way to the giant garden and sat herself down beneath a tree in the sun and relished the rays of it warming her face.


    It was only a matter of minutes before a jolt inside Azura forced her to open her eyes. A feeling of a thousand little sparks running through her veins caused her to get up, irritated. She scratched her arms trying to get the strange feeling to leave but it would not go.


    "Good Gods!" Azura cursed loudly while clutching the book, highly irritated. It was like she was being bitten by a thousand fire ants from the inside. She got up and prepared to leave when she saw the girl standing only a few meters away. Azura could swear she looked uncomfortable as well but decided it was best to just leave.


    She hurried along the campus to the forest close by. The further away she got, the less irritating the feeling got. It was an open and widespread forest with diverse greenery and lush clearings.


    Azura wandered around calming herself when she was stopped by three giant grey wolves. The hair on her arms raised up in alarm. Her gut told her these wolves were not part of the Greenwood pack as their smell was completely different than the scents she had gotten used to around campus. They growled and sneered at her and slowly approached her with their teeth bared.


    Azura slowly backed up with her hands raised in front of her as a defense. "I''m already leaving. Sorry to disturb you."


    It was useless, but she couldn¡¯t think of anything else to say. The first wolf suddenly charged. It lunged straight for her and she tripped, falling on her butt as she saw the grey wolf coming for her. Suddenly the antsy feeling was back. Her skin began to crawl and she could hear a loud growl coming from her right side. The grey wolf stopped for a moment, looked to its left, and didn¡¯t even get a chance to react when a brown blur attacked him. The other two wolves were stunned for a short moment but soon joined the fight.


    The brown wolf stood no chance against the three greys but it was part of the pack and no doubt, it had already contacted other members. They could handle the situation just fine, Azura concluded. As an outsider, this was no place for her to be.


    Azura spun around and ran off as fast as she could. She would not be part of a fight between some rogues and a pack member. Her legs started to feel heavy the further she got, her body was screaming to turn around, to go back, but her mind was telling her to run. There was something pulling her back, to help the brown wolf.


    "Shit, really I''m crazy... I''m crazy... I''m crazy!" She was panting and stopped. It actually hurt to move away. Azura turned to the sounds of fighting and heard a loud yelp resound through the trees.


    "Yep... I''m crazy." Azura dropped the book and quickly stripped off her clothes before shifting to her snow leopard. She then turned to the sound of fighting and bolted towards it.


    She saw the brown wolf defending itself against two of the greys, the other wolf was lying motionless on the ground. One of the wolves attacked the smaller brown one head-on and knocked it back against a tree. The second wolf now made its move to finish the fight. Azura stopped thinking and let her instincts take over.


    She leaped onto the back of the second wolf and bit down hard into its neck. Blood started flowing immediately, the warm liquid filled her mouth, rolled over her tongue, and coated her canines, bringing a strangely satisfying feeling to her. She was thrown off in a matter of seconds but had stopped him from attacking the brown wolf. The grey wolves retreated for a moment, regrouping while the brown female had gotten up and joined Azura. One look between them was enough to understand each other.


    Loud howls emerged from the forest. The greys perked up their ears and exchanged nervous glances before they turned around and ran off. The Greenwood pack was coming. The brown wolf howled in answer and collapsed, there was blood in her fur and the fight had exhausted her greatly.


    Azura wanted to step closer until her eye caught sight of the guy she had seen earlier on campus, he was only wearing a black tank top and underwear as he ran towards the brown wolf.


    "Nora!" He yelled her name as he dropped down next to the wolf, not sparing the cat a glance. At his touch, the wolf shifted back to human form and Azura backed away as she saw the girl who had been following her laying in its place.

 Chapter 9

    "Things moved fast after meeting Nora and the pack. Her mate, Floyd, hated my guts from that first moment. I think he could feel I was a threat to the bond he and Nora had. He mostly avoided me though and I avoided him as much as possible."


    Azura drank some water and stared at the window in Dr. Jensen''s office. "The pack was kind to me. They trained me to fight, gave me a second house, and a few friends. Nora and I got to know each other better every day and it was apparent something was going on between us, some kind of bond we couldn¡¯t explain but was getting stronger."


    "Hmm... Did Floyd know from the beginning about your bond?" Azura had piqued his interest when she had started talking about the connection between her and Nora. He sat up straight, leaning slightly towards her.


    "No. Nobody did. We only found out about it much later, but I do suspect he felt something like what we had felt. Professor Sloan helped us with figuring out what it was and we eventually came to the conclusion that Nora and I shared an ancient blood-bond. A blood-bond can eventually grow even stronger than a mate bond, thus making me a threat to Floyd''s connection with Nora."


    Nicolai got up and started pacing around the room. There was so much more than he had expected to this young woman. The loss she felt from losing Nora still had to be gigantic if they really had shared a close blood-bond. He had read about it. It was described as losing a part of yourself when the other perished and it could drive you crazy. Most of the time it ended with suicide.


    "How long ago did Nora die?" As he asked the question he could feel her emotions spike. Nicolai tightened the grip he held on her, easing the pain she felt and taking the edge off the anger he felt building up within her. She remained silent for a moment, looking away before her eyes connected with his.


    "A year? A year and a half?" Azura shook her head. "I honestly...don''t know... It devastated me, heck look at me! I left soon after, been traveling around aimlessly since then. Days are muddled together, months overlap. It all feels like the same and..." She choked on her own words. "I don''t know when it was that she died... I just...can''t remember when it was..."


    Dr. Jensen took a stronger hold of her emotions, eased and guided them as if manipulating her whole presence. She was losing it and if he wouldn¡¯t help, she¡¯d close herself off completely or worse...


    His ability to mold the emotions of people was a gift. He knew some Vaims like him thought of it as a curse but he had learned to fully control his talents. He needed to touch people to really form a bond, to be able to pry into their system before he could fully access it.


    When he felt her calming down again, Nicolai spoke up again. "A blood-bond is never activated without a reason." Dr. Jensen carefully pried. "They are made and can lay dormant for over hundreds of years. There had to be a reason for you and Nora to start feeling the effects."


    Azura nodded and swallowed hard, sadness clearly visible in her expression. "The rising of the Phoenix."


    Nicolai stopped and turned towards Azura. A mix of surprise and questioning came across his face. "You two were bound by a Phoenix?" Azura just nodded at him.


    "So the fires near Greenwood... The rumors, they¡¯re all true? And you and Nora were there?"


    Azura could barely answer. Her throat had dried up immediately when they started talking about this.


    "Yes." She wanted to say more but she couldn''t. Tears had filled her eyes as a feeling of defeat and failure washed over her. She took one last breath and looked at Nicolai. "We killed it..."


    Nicolai stared in shock as she looked him straight in the eye. Her blue gaze had changed in an instant from insecure and scared, to a cold-blooded killer. Her voice had dropped and sounded cool and calm. For an instant, there was someone else sitting in the chair.


    As quickly as it had appeared, it disappeared, but his grip on her emotions had been slipping. Dr. Jensen placed his hands on the desk and stared down. Azura was shaking, her foot tapped restlessly on the floor and her hands trembled. A drop of sweat gleamed on her forehead. He noticed she was fighting to breathe as if something was choking her. The balding man watched intently as Azura seemed to focus on one specific point of the desk while seemingly fought a battle with her own body.


    "Azura..." He quietly inquired. She hastily looked up at him with a small bit of hope in her eyes. "Phoenixes never die."


    The glimmer of hope was gone in an instant.


    "What do you mean?" The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    He softened his voice. "Like I said. A Phoenix...never...dies..."


    She tightened her eyes and gritted her teeth together before she snapped. "Yes, I heard that! But what are you implying? That Nora died in vain? That everything was for nothing?"


    "I... I don''t know... Not yet at least." He replied meekly, a bit taken aback by her fierce reaction.


    Dr. Jensen had lost control of her and could not catch hold of the emotions again. He watched her every move as she got up, toppling the chair over in which she had been sitting, and circled around the room, the way she clenched her fists and her pacing told him she was furious. Not directly at him he hoped, but at the situation. She was like a ticking time bomb and he had to calm her down somehow. But if he were to cut the wrong wire, the consequences would be devastating.


    Azura headed for the wall and unleashed her frustration on it. Her right fist collided with the cement surface, hard. A loud crack could be heard in the room and she groaned as she crouched down. She hugged her hand in pain as tears streamed down her face.


    A comforting hand took hold of her shoulder, she didn''t look up but calmed down when hearing his voice. She knew he had lost his grip on her emotions a while ago, but it seemed he had gotten it back as soon as she had punched the wall. She didn''t fight it now. She needed it.


    "Crying over actual pain is so much easier than over your feelings, isn¡¯t it?" He helped her up and sat her down in the chair while he examined her hand from a distance. "You''re in luck, you''re a fast healer."


    Azura stretched out her hand and closed it again repeatedly. The pain had subsided already, some blood on the knuckles the only proof she had just smashed it into a rock-solid wall. She sighed and grabbed a tissue to wipe clean her wet face. The outburst had made her feel empty but it wasn''t necessarily a bad thing. She placed her hands on the desk but kept her eyes down.


    "Nora died while we attacked the Phoenix. It was what we were meant to do, but I didn''t want to do it at first, I hated violence and fighting. If I could, I always avoided it because I scare myself when I do engage."


    "Why are you afraid of yourself when all you¡¯re doing is defending yourself?"


    "Because I enjoy it, and I have trouble holding myself back. I kill too easily. Seeing the other bleed gives me satisfaction, tasting the blood makes my head rush and leaves me wanting more."


    They had started talking as if nothing had happened before. Dr. Jensen let her take the lead, not pushing her even though he wanted to know more. The situation was a delicate one and she was talking freely, but that could change in an instant.


    "After talking with Professor Sloan and Andreas, the Alpha of the Greenwood pack, Nora and I knew we had to fight. The Phoenix would otherwise destroy everything. It would grow stronger and stronger with everything it destroyed until the time it could engulf the earth. That would take some time of course, but by then it would have attacked us, and it would be unstoppable. Nora and I did what we had to do while the others kept the other attackers at bay. It was what the blood-bond was telling us to do. We never expected to emerge out of there alive."


    "Other attackers?"


    "Yeah. With every bad event that¡¯s about to happen, you have even worse people willingly supporting it. We were not the only ones who knew of the rising of the Phoenix. There was this...cult...of some sort. They wanted the Phoenix to destroy the world because they believe it would cleanse it and let it be reborn like the Phoenix itself. They were also the ones who had attacked the college months earlier in search of every bit of information they could find about the Phoenix. They had sent a small group to cause a distraction while the others ransacked the library and offices. The small group didn''t survive."


    "How so?" He knew what she was hinting at. Nicolai had already heard and talked about the attack with Lucas and his father when they had returned, but he had never learned of the real cause for the attack, and now he realized they¡¯d all been wrong about the real reason.


    Azura smirked and Nicolai saw that spark again. That relentless side of her. He could see it in the way she sat in the chair, how she moved and how she acted. She sat more upright, her eyes challenging him. Confidence radiated from her every move but he could tell it wasn¡¯t truly her. Not as it seemed.


    "I killed them." The cold harshness had returned to her voice.


    Dr. Jensen was relieved the presence was not as strong as it had been before. He hoped it was because she was able to tone it down a little. That would definitely be something he had to work on with her. Without a doubt, she could be a dangerous adversary to someone, it was also the reason he did not want her to show herself to the rest of the city just yet. That would mean certain death to not just her, but several others as well.


    "It almost cost you your life," Nicolai remembered Lucas talking about it but decided against telling her that he knew about the events.


    "I didn''t care. They had killed Charlie, my boyfriend at the time. When I saw him slumped against the wall with the bullet between his eyes, I stopped caring about myself. When one of them threatened to hurt and rape Nora right before my eyes, I snapped."


    Dr. Jensen kept quiet. He did not want to lose his grip on her emotions again and it was getting harder to control them. It had been enough talking for one day he decided.


    Azura slowly calmed down again and seemed lost in her own thoughts. He left her alone for a few minutes while slowly letting go of her emotions. When he felt the moment was right, he got up.


    "We''ll be working on that temper of yours in the coming few sessions Azura. I need you to be able to control it before you dive deeper into your traumas. If you''re able to control yourself more properly, it will be easier to deal with your other problems. Plus...It''s safer for me."


    He laughed as he spoke the last words and gave her a friendly pat on the back. Azura opened her mouth to say something but just shook her head in disbelief. "I''ll see you soon, Dr. Jensen."


    "Please, call me Nicolai."

 Chapter 10

    She was supposed to meet up with Lucas.


    Azura had been walking around slowly, processing the talk she had with Doctor Jensen, and hadn¡¯t really been in the mood to face Lucas yet. So much had been said and done. That deep, hidden anger she knew was there had surfaced, scared her, and made her feel completely distanced from herself. Worst of all, whatever the Doctor was doing to her made her feel like losing control, while at the same time talking about things she had never shared with anyone. Losing control was not something she liked, it was the only thing she had left, or what she thought she had left.


    It was nearing dinnertime when Azura found herself standing in front of the climbing hall. It was one of the tallest buildings in the city, overlooking Main Street. Painted in diverse colors, above the main entrance was a huge spray-painted image of a rocky skyline, with a climber hanging on a big overhang against a sunset. While she admired the artistic style of the layout, a short, blonde woman walking out of the front door caught her attention.


    "Rose! wait up!" Azura shouted a bit too loud.


    She ran towards the smaller startled woman and gave her a hug which Rose returned before she let go. Rose genuinely looked surprised and peeked at the climbing hall then back to the black-haired woman in front of her.


    "What are you doing here, Azu?¡±


    "Lucas demanded I would climb today¡­ Said it would do wonders for my hangover, but to be honest, that¡¯s been gone ever since I met up with Doctor Jensen. You just came back from work?"


    Rose let out a sigh and nodded her head. ¡°Yep¡­ Morning shift was good, first half of the afternoon was good, things got awkward when Lucas showed up. Now I¡¯m starving and I don¡¯t want to cook dinner.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Azura placed a hand on her stomach. ¡°I could do with some food as well. Maybe¡­ We could go somewhere and get some before I go climbing?¡± She hesitantly spoke.


    "Yes, please!" She jumped with joy as if a little kid who had just received a gift. "I know just the place! They have the best Thai food ever!"


    Azura couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Rose''s enthusiasm. It was contagious, to say the least, and it was just the thing she needed to get really onboard with the idea. They both started walking as Rose led the way. It was only a few minutes walk before they arrived at a small restaurant called Songkhla. The kitchen was right through the door, and they had to go up a tiny set of stairs to reach the actual restaurant area. There were only 10 tables and it felt kind of cramped together but cozy at the same time.


    "So... How''s Lucas doing?" Rose twiddled with her fingers as she glanced at Azura. It was clear it was the one question she had been dying to ask.


    "That jackass?¡± Azura softly tapped her fingers on the table while talking. ¡°It''s hard to tell... He was drinking yesterday and I joined in, getting drunk myself. I think you¡¯ve spent more quality time with him at work today than I have."


    Rose''s eyes grew big as Azura talked about getting drunk. She started fiddling more with her fingers and seemed to sink even lower in her chair.


    "Did you guys...like did something happen?"


    "Oh, God, no!" Azura made the most disgusting face possible. "What I meant was, we didn''t have much of an actual normal conversation. All he said was that he messed up and that you guys just didn''t match."


    Azura placed her hand on Rose''s and looked at her with concern in her eyes. They were disrupted by the waitress, so they ordered some food before continuing their talk.


    "What happened yesterday Rose? I thought you guys had a good thing going on."


    Rose sighed and started to fumble with her napkin instead. "I thought so too, but yesterday we got into another little fight. We had them often, mostly about really unimportant stuff, but it was getting frustrating. We''re both hot-headed and it was leading nowhere. I don''t know exactly how it happened but eventually, the fight got so bad Lucas just said that maybe we would be better off if we just broke things off. I agreed. I was so done with him at that moment! Especially since he wanted to just throw in the towel so quickly. I agreed... He grabbed some whiskey, sat down on the couch, and just stopped talking. Can you believe that?"


    Azura let out a small snicker as Rose told her how he had just stopped talking. A typical man with no desire to talk things over or express his emotions, she thought to herself.


    "Yeah laugh about it. The jackass, as you so nicely put it, just stopped talking and pretended I wasn''t even there! Real mature... I just screamed I was done with him and stomped out. It was not my proudest moment."


    "The way you left him is the way I found him,¡± Azura flawlessly continued. ¡°The only difference was he eventually talked to me...a bit...but I wasn''t in the mood to talk a lot myself so we just drank the whiskey. A lot of it, so this morning was a lot of fun. He actually made fun of my hangover so I stomped out as well eventually. I think he has a way of pissing women off. A knack."


    Now it was time for Rose to snicker. She raised her glass and Azura did the same.


    "To single life with no guys around to harass us poor girls!" Rose cried out and clinked their glasses together.


    "To whatever you just said." Azura giggled.


    The waitress brought them their food and they started eating. A spicy red curry made Azura''s mouth burn, but it was just too good to stop eating. The women kept on chatting during the whole dinner, and when they finished, Rose paid for both of them and they headed out.


    "You probably should get going. Lucas is probably wondering where you are." Rose prodded Azura in the shoulder.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Yeah, I know. I never expected to stay at Dr. Jensen¡¯s for so long though. I had actually wanted to be at the hall this afternoon."


    "Don''t worry about it. It was quite hectic there this afternoon so he probably has more time for you now."


    Azura nodded and gave Rose a goodbye hug.


    "Take care and we''ll talk soon okay?"


    They parted ways and Azura headed towards the climbing hall. It had turned dark already and the streets were quieter than before, now that the regular stores had all closed down for the day. It was not long before Azura found herself in front of the big building again and with a deep breath, she pushed the front door open to find herself in a small hallway with a display of climbing gear on her right. She continued on through another door and found herself in the main climbing area.


    It was impressive. The walls reached up to twenty meters at the highest point with diverse obstacles scattered around. There was one big wall that sported a hefty overhang all the way up. Azura spotted a slab wall, her favorite, and one she always called a chimney.


    "There she is! Finally decided to show up, Sunshine?" Azura flashed Lucas the finger and gave him a cheeky smile.


    "I know all your dirty little secrets now, Jackass. So don''t start a fight you can''t win." She winked and laughed as he pretended to cower in fear.


    "You know I''m just teasing you right? You just make it so easy." They sat down at the bar and Azura plonked her bag next to her on the floor.


    "I know, Jackass. Don''t worry, I''ll do the same to you." He tugged at her ponytail softly and got up from the stool.


    "Let''s get you some gear and you can change. Oh, and are you going to call me jackass this entire time?"


    "Yes." She replied without batting an eye. He raised an eyebrow and just shook his head.


    "Alright then, Sunshine. I already like it when you''re grumpy from drinking too much." He got up and pointed to the dressing room. Azura headed off and he walked toward the small indoor shop they had to grab some stuff.


    She had changed into a bright green tank top and a comfy pair of yoga pants. When she returned, Lucas handed her a brand new harness and a belaying device.


    "What''s your shoe size?" He had grabbed some boxes with different types of climbing shoes.


    She stared at the new stuff he got her before answering. "This is all brand new! I don''t have the money to pay for it yet."


    "Don''t worry, it''s a gift. Now, what¡¯s your shoe size?"


    "Seven and a half. Are you sure about this?"


    Lucas grabbed a pair of shoes and handed them to her. She tried them on and winced as they were a little too small.


    "If it hurts, it''s good. They are supposed to be a little on the small size. How do they feel?" He completely ignored her question.


    "They''re fine. This will work." She tested them and took them off again to spare her feet. She put on the harness while Lucas cleaned up around them. He soon returned and walked to the bar again and gestured to Azura to join him.


    "I want you to meet my best friend and our neighbor. In my dad¡¯s old house right next to us, he lives there with his wife. He owns this place as well.¡± He turned to the bar and yelled out.


    "Hey, Jeff! Come meet little Sunshine over here!"


    Azura gave him a little push as he renamed her. He just smirked and soon the biggest guy she had ever seen emerged from the office behind the bar. He was well over two meters tall, she estimated, and he was packed full of muscle. Even Lucas seemed short when he was standing next to this guy. Jeff carried a huge smile on his face with one of the warmest looks she had ever seen. A classic teddy bear guy she thought to herself.


    "So, Azura, meet Jeffrey, but you can call him Jeff. He''s big but gentle, just ask his wife. And Jeff, this is my new roommate, Azura. Since this morning, also known as Little Miss Sunshine." Azura and Jeff shook hands.


    "Nice to meet you, Jeff. Jackass over here just told me you actually live in his dad''s old home." Jeffrey roared with laughter when she called Lucas a jackass.


    "It''s good to meet you too Azura, and yes, I moved in two months ago. Lucas didn''t want to live there himself after his dad passed and I was in need of a bigger house with my wife. The office is the only area that''s still untouched."


    "Yeah, sorry about that man," Lucas answered. "I do plan on cleaning it all up, but I want to have the time to do so. My old man and his father have done so much research, I want to read through it all to know what I can throw away and what I want to keep."


    "No problem. We have enough space. Even when Sheila gets pregnant there''s room enough. But I''ll leave you guys to it for now, I have some more work to do."


    Jeffrey went back to the office and Lucas and Azura went to the wall. After making sure she still remembered the basics of climbing together, they started. Azura started off with the more simple routes at first, to get accustomed to her new shoes and harness. Soon she went for some more challenging ones, while Lucas was on one of the highest climbing levels already.


    Azura noticed she was not used to climbing this much. It had been over a year and a half since she last climbed and her arms and fingers barely had any strength left in them. She rubbed her forearms and shook them loose after and during each climb.


    "One more, Jackass... Then I''m done." She bent over with her hands on her knees catching her breath for a moment. Lucas searched for another route and waited for her to join him.


    "That''s fair. But to really make it hurt good, you''re going to do a route that''s just above your grade."


    She groaned as he pointed to a black route. It was a slight overhang with a corner element in it. The grips were small and it had some challenging traverses. Azura clipped herself in and waited for Lucas to attach himself with a belay as well. He nodded at her as they checked each other and she started to climb.


    It was a technical route where every step you made counted, there was no room for errors or wrong footing on this one. Azura had already started to notice her body was resisting when she tried to stretch out her left side. As she got higher she had slipped but Lucas urged her to continue on until she was no longer able to hold on.


    Almost at the top, she had to reach out with her left hand while putting all of her weight on her left foot. Her right hand needed to stay at the wall for balance while her right foot had nothing to stand on. As she carefully lifted her left arm she felt her body pull back.


    "Come one, stretch, Sunshine! You''re almost there. Just reach out!"


    She heard Lucas yell at her from down below as she tried again, but a sharp pain at the left side of her abdomen made her flinch and lose balance. She grabbed her stomach as she hung in the rope, biting away the pain.


    "Hey, one last time, Sunshine. You can do it!" Azura glared down and grabbed hold of the wall again.


    "Just lower me already, I can''t make the stretch. I''m done!" She yelled back down. Lucas shook his head and left her hanging.


    "One last shot, Sunshine! Then we''ll call it a day!" Azura groaned and tried to take position again, but it was useless. The moment she lifted up her left arm, her side started to tug and pull and began to hurt again.


    "No, Jackass! In case you forgot, I have a huge scar which prevents me from doing so!" She snapped at him.


    It felt like the whole climbing hall had stopped talking and stared at them as she hung there. In reality that wasn¡¯t the case, but she certainly got Lucas''s attention. He remained quiet and quickly lowered her to the floor.


    "Let me take a look at it." Was the only thing he said when she touched down.

 Chapter 11

    "Let me take a look at it." Lucas unhooked himself from the rope and placed his hand on Azura''s arm.


    "No!" She exclaimed and immediately shook him off, then walked away towards the bar, already regretting having shouted at him that she had the scar to begin with.


    "Please." He followed and grabbed her arm again, forcing her to turn and face him. Desperation sounded through his voice.


    "Please..." He was fighting to find the words, that much was clear to her as she looked him in the eyes.


    Azura was baffled by his behavior, he seemed completely out of his element, struggling with something just as she was about the past. People around them were staring and Azura realized how it must look with him still holding her arm in a tight grip. It never looked good when a man forced a woman to do something against her will. She noticed his lip trembled lightly as he was pleading with his eyes, not asking anymore.


    "Fine." She let out a sigh and loosened herself from his hold, giving in to his strange actions.


    He nodded and walked to the bar, leaving her alone for a bit. After exchanging some words with Jeff he gestured for her to follow and they headed upstairs to one of the private rooms for a local physiotherapist. She sat down and he closed the door behind them, providing them with the privacy needed.


    "Please, Azura," he tried again as he looked into her eyes with desperation, "I need to see it." His voice was trembling, his eyes flashing around as if he wasn¡¯t sure what to do.


    "Why?" her voice was soft and insecure yet held a hint of rebellion behind it. "You were there when it happened. You saw me... And up until now you just thought I had no physical scars from it? Why do you want to see it now all of a sudden? What difference does it make?"


    She was almost crying, her voice becoming more unsteady with every question that rolled off her tongue. With every word, her mind traveled back further to that day. Bringing back the pain, both the physical as well as the mental. The pain of loss, desperation, and anger.


    Lucas buried his face in his hands while his elbows rested on his knees, defeated.


    "I... I wanted to forget. Even though you are here now, I would not accept any of it had actually happened. For me... Seeing you alive is something I never could have imagined three years ago. So when you did show up... I kind of..." He stopped and looked at her biting away the tears.


    Azura was shocked to see him like this, forgetting about herself for just a moment. He was genuinely in pain and looked so vulnerable. She doubted he could even express himself properly but she understood his needs. A deep breath and some long overthinking was what she needed, but he needed an answer now. She bit her lip and her head softly bobbed up and down.


    "Fine."


    She wiped some of her own tears away and composed herself the best she could. She could handle this today, what was one more jerk at her brain when it was already mushed and stomped on by Dr. Jensen. Lucas looked at her hopefully as she agreed.


    "This may sound stupid but when you showed up, I realized I had never closed that chapter in life." He spoke softly.


    She crossed her arms and a bitterness appeared in her voice.


    "You need closure. I get it. So by seeing what that monster did to me, you think you''ll get the closure you need?"


    Lucas hesitated. He didn''t know if it would give him what he needed. He had obviously said the wrong thing again and could hit himself in the head for being so stupid.


    "I... I don''t know."


    A silence fell over them. Azura tried to comprehend what he had said. She got up and walked to the wall as Lucas still sat on a bench with his head buried in his hands. She turned to face him and took her climbing harness off. Without saying a word she lifted her shirt leaving her belly exposed. Lucas had looked up when he heard the harness fall to the floor and stared at her as she showed him her stomach. She then turned around to show him her back.


    "There¡¯s not a single night I don''t hear the lightning crack in my ears." She started to talk slowly and softly while she turned back around. Lucas''s face had gone pale. Slender fingers traced the scar that adorned her stomach, following some of the lines to her back and the rough skin there as well.


    "Not a single night I don''t feel it burning my flesh away. I can almost smell it sometimes, it''s the most horrid smell ever. Burned flesh, seeing it turn black, scorching me." A shudder went through her as she relived that moment in her head.


    She stopped tracing and placed her hand at the center of it. It was a deep, dark red and purple-like color. Some areas were bulging out but in the center, there seemed to be a big dent of about six cm wide. It hadn¡¯t healed properly.


    "Right here is where he hit me. His lightning magic went right through. The rest is branching, damaging as much as possible in and out. Thanks to that stupid bracelet, I was not able to heal in time. I lost a kidney, one ovary and it completely reshaped my uterus. It also damaged my large intestine, but that mostly healed when the paramedics were able to remove that darned bracelet thing." She sounded bitter as she spoke about it. It was still hard to accept the damage that had been done.


    "Holy shit..." He had grown even paler as she explained what it had done to her. Azura put her shirt back into place and sat down, then continued on. The bitterness was replaced with sadness, but her face became stoic as if she was just reciting lines from a script.


    "I was in a coma for over a month. I should have died. I wanted to die, I just didn''t care anymore when I attacked him."


    Her eyes met his as she looked up, a harshness had taken over.


    "I never intended to save anyone, I only wanted revenge. Before I drove the knife in the guy''s throat and he impaled me with his lightning, he told me I was a true killer because I enjoyed it. And he was right... He¡¯s still right..."


    Lucas tried to find the words to best match his feelings. He just stared straight ahead for a while letting everything sink in as his mind wandered back to that day.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    *


    It was almost dinnertime. Lucas was on the stage with his father after doing the last sound and video check. Azura had just walked back onto it as well after adjusting and programming the lights on the lighting desk. The guy who normally did the lights had already left so she was the one who did the last check. There were just a handful of people left. A few stagehands, the first technician, and Nora, who had been producing the convention.


    That was the moment three men with guns entered the auditorium. They fired some shots and quickly took them all hostage. Lucas still had no idea where they had come from and how they had gotten inside. Everybody was given a steel-like bracelet which prevented them from using any power they might have. Lucas could still feel the power radiating from the bracelet. It hadn¡¯t hurt but had made him feel weak and powerless as a regular human being.


    The men never gave out demands or tried to converse with people on the outside, they were just keeping them hostage before they started to threaten. Looking back on it, that was one of the tells that something else was going on. To make sure everyone did as they were told, one of the youngest stagehands got badly beaten before their eyes.


    This stalemate lasted for an hour before two of the men visibly got bored.


    They separated the women from the men and placed them against the wall. The men then proceeded to feel the women up before the leader ended it. He told them to each take one woman and find a room to have some fun and blow off some steam.


    They took Azura and Nora, Blackie and Whitey as they had nicknamed the girls. Lucas had wanted to protest, having gotten to know the two girls a few days before, he felt like he had to do something, but before he got the chance, Azura''s boss had already spoken up and it had cost him dearly. He was the second person to get badly injured.


    It had been around another twenty minutes when Azura had returned by herself. She was wounded, split lip, black eye, and blood pouring from her eyebrows and nose. She was standing in the doorway with only her bra and pants on, splatters of blood covered her entire body as she stood submissive, facing down, her hands trembling.


    The leader had enjoyed the sight of her, thinking one of his goons had sent her up like that on purpose. He had urged her to come closer, obviously wanting to have some fun as well. That turned out to be a mistake.


    Azura at first slowly approached him, acting obedient and defeated, but as she got closer she stopped. She¡¯d slowly raised her head to meet his eye, a wicked grin spread on her face as their gazes met and she¡¯d suddenly ran forward to knock him down. She had a knife in her hand and jumped on top of him, the man was caught by surprise and the blow knocked the gun out of his hands before he hit the ground with her riding him down. She immediately put the knife to his throat and straddled him in such a way that he was unable to move.


    Lucas could see they were talking. It didn''t sound friendly but he was unable to make out what was being said. It lasted for only a short moment before she slammed the knife into his throat, the man retaliated with an enormous lightning blast that blinded everyone.


    The guy had been a very strong energy caster, one of the most dangerous types around. Lucas knew them as one of his former friends was one. The leader had been smart and had kept his talent hidden till that very moment.


    When the light died down, Azura was still seated on top of him. Lucas remembered every movement she made, from sitting up, clutching her bloodied stomach to the moment she fell over and passed out.


    *


    "I don''t really know where to begin." Lucas shifted uncomfortably. "There was so much blood. It was unclear what was yours and what was his. I remember you sitting on top of him, seeing you drop the knife and leaning on your left arm. You were waiting it seemed. That moment seemed to last forever."


    "I wanted to see the light fade out of his eyes. Wanted to see him breathe his last breath before I could." she grimly added.


    "And when he did you collapsed. It was the most frightening thing I''ve ever seen. I was convinced you were dead. Some people rushed to your side and the authorities soon followed. Before me and my dad were taken away, the last thing I saw was three people by your side trying to stop you from bleeding out."


    He shifted once more and wiped away some tears.


    "We never heard the sound of the impact, just blinded by it. It was actually deadly quiet when he hit you as if we had gone completely deaf. Like all sound was swallowed by him. That''s actually the reason I hate quiet places. I still feel guilty for not doing anything that day."


    Azura swallowed hard. She could clearly see he had his own demons about the same event. She¡¯d never thought that other people could be traumatized by it as well. How could she have been so blind?


    "Azu, what exactly happened when those two men took you and Nora?"


    "Short version? They had every intent to rape and abuse us. They took us to the dressing rooms and that''s where I saw Charlie. He had come back early... Wanting to surprise me. It was a classic wrong place, wrong time thing. His body slumped against a wall, a single bullet between the eyes. Charlie had been killed by their leader when they came up. I was so shocked, I could only feel anger. They threatened that they would do the same to us if we didn''t do as we were told, so we did. They cut our shirts off with a knife and then they wanted to force me to watch one of them rape Nora."


    Azura actually let out a small misplaced giggle before continuing.


    "You know I can have a bad temper right? Well, these guys were about to find out as well and they never saw it coming. I got so angry, I beat one of them down and was able to snatch his knife. He got some pretty good hits on me too, but in the end, I sliced his throat and then plunged my knife into the other one''s stomach. I gut him like a fish with one hand while I had grabbed his neck with the other. I kept him standing until he had no more life left in him...and no more intestines. God, it felt good..."


    Lucas pulled a disgusted face and tried to hide behind his arm. He could tell she was enjoying this.


    "Sorry. Too much info?" she held back a misplaced laugh.


    Lucas raised his hand and made a small sign with his thumb and index finger, "Just a little."


    He had mixed feelings about her reaction. Talking about the killing she had done, seemed to trigger something in her, a ferocious side that did not match her normal personality, but it all sounded so absurd now that he couldn¡¯t blame her for almost joking about it.


    As if on cue they both started laughing to break the tension. It felt liberating for her to talk about this with someone who had been there. She felt he did not judge her for her actions nor how she felt.


    "Please! Please remind me to never get on your bad side!" he joked.


    After a short laugh together, the reality of what happened dawned back on them, which led both to go quiet again. Azura let herself sink into her own thoughts, reminiscing about all that had happened and what had been said. Lucas had buried his head in his hands again, softly massaging his temples as the whole scenario kept playing in his head over and over.


    "Lucas?"


    He looked up at her and gave her a small smile with a nod in acknowledgment after she thanked him. He looked at his phone and slowly rose.


    "It''s almost midnight, we should head out. You go change and I''ll close off everything."


    Azura quickly changed into her normal clothes and waited outside for her friend to finish closing up. It was quiet, even the crickets were silent. The sky was clear and the stars were sparkling bright. Azura walked in the parking lot and gazed up at the sky. He soon joined her and placed his hand on her shoulder.


    "You want to get a drink?"


    The look on her face must have said more than a thousand words because Lucas replied without even waiting for her to answer.


    "A no it is! A firm no judging by that look."


    "Of course not, you idiot! I¡¯ve had enough to drink to last me a month! Plus it''s not even the weekend, and let''s not forget the fact that I don''t do well with crowds and loud places. Especially after a day like this! So no, I won''t be joining you for a drink in town. I''ll be heading home to try and get some sleep and you should do the same before you do anything stupid."


    His amused look made Azura stop talking. He had been casually waiting for her to stop her rant and laughed as she finally stopped rambling


    "It''s so easy to push your buttons! I was kidding. Home it is!"

 Chapter 12

    A terrifying scream woke Lucas abruptly. He sat straight up and his bloodshot eyes widened as he noticed he was not alone in his bed.


    "Oh fuck." He groaned as he looked at the naked body of the woman next to him, she was still fast asleep. He grabbed his phone to look at the time and groaned a second time when he noticed it was only 4:30 in the morning. A second, less loud but more tortured scream erupted from the room next to his.


    "Fuck this a second time." He grunted as he got up and put on a shirt and a pair of boxer-briefs. He looked over his shoulder to the woman in his bed to make sure she was still sleeping and then left the room.


    Before opening Azura''s door he listened closely. He could hear her distress; talking and mumbling and some soft shouting came from the other side. It was not the first time she had a nightmare so bad she had woken him and it hadn''t been the first time he had woken her up. The intensity of how often it occurred though, had increased significantly since their talk at the hall a week ago.


    Her hair was clammy and she was covered in sweat. The blankets lay on the ground and she was tossing and turning on the bed. Lucas walked towards her and as he grabbed her shoulder, she suddenly gripped his wrist and stared at him with her eyes wide open. He could swear his heart skipped a few beats.


    "Fuck me a third time! You scared the shit out of me!"


    He could feel the intense heat that radiated from her hand as he gently tried to pull back. She wouldn''t let go, just stared at him with an ever tightening grip.


    "Azu? You can let go now." He gently nudged her, but she didn''t respond.


    As he grabbed her wrist, she in return grabbed his other hand so quickly he almost didn''t see it happen. Lucas flinched as he felt her fingers dig hard into his wrists. Her hands started to burn into his skin.


    "Come on, Azu! You have to wake up." He tried to pull back but she wouldn''t let him. Instead, she jerked him in even further till his face was next to hers. A hint of fear flashed across him as he felt the unnatural heat brush past his cheek.


    A soft unnerving whisper emerged from her lips. "We will make the world burn."


    She let go and Lucas immediately backed away, almost tripping over his own feet while rubbing his wrists. Her hands had left big red prints. He could feel his pulse racing as he tried to regain his composure.


    Azura had fallen back onto the bed with her eyes closed, she was back to soft mumbling in her sleep with a look of anguish on her face. Her brows furrowed together and her mouth convulsed as if something was hurting her. It took a short while for him to decide whether to leave or not but as she started to look more pained and about to scream again, he had to act. This time it was a not-so-gentle approach. He firmly grabbed her shoulders and shook her body a few times while calling out to her.


    "Azu! Wake up. You''re having another nightmare!"


    Azura''s eyes flung open. Still a bit dazed, she tried to free herself from being pushed down but soon realized she was no longer dreaming. Her breathing was ragged and her mouth felt completely dry. She blinked a couple of times as silent tears ran down her cheeks. It lasted only a minute before she pulled him in for a hug.


    He felt her body shake from the sobbing and her heart was racing. He stroked the back of her head with care as she clung to him.


    "I''m sorry..." It was so soft he could hardly hear her. "I woke you up again. I didn''t mean to."


    "Don''t worry about it. You did give me quite a scare though."


    He let go of her and showed his wrists. Her eyes widened in surprise and she got out of the bed.


    "In my nightmare, I saw... Something... The voice...it talks to me but now it felt different. It said: We will-"


    "-make the world burn." he finished her sentence in one fluent go. Azura stared at him with her mouth open.


    "H-How did you know?"


    "Because you whispered it in my ear." He gestured to the door. "Want to sit for a while?"


    She gave him a weak, nervous smile and headed off to the living room. It was not their first time doing this. He had woken her up from her nightmares often and they would usually just have a little chat in the living room.


    Spaghetti legs. That''s the way Nora had described this feeling. Azura felt like her legs could fail at any time. No strength left in them whatsoever. Lucas actually had to support her as they descended the stairs.


    "You didn''t get much sleep?" her voice was still shaky but almost back to normal. She had noticed his bloodshot eyes.


    "Three hours max." Lucas rubbed his eyes and yawned as he sat her down.


    "Sorry... Again."


    "Don''t be. I''d rather be here than in my own bed right now anyway."


    She raised an eyebrow as he left to the kitchen, wondering what he meant by that. It didn''t take long to figure it out though as a high-pitched female voice came from the stairs.


    "Who the hell are you?!"


    At the top of the stairs stood a scarcely dressed woman with long curly chestnut hair, wearing one of Lucas''s old t-shirts and a skimpy thong. She had beautiful curves and surprisingly perky breasts for their size. Compared to her, Azura was a flat-chested stick with barely any curves at all. The woman almost ran down the stairs looking angry as hell. Azura quickly got up and made sure there was something in between them.


    Get rid of her.


    Out of nowhere, it was there again. The voice from her nightmares.


    "You''re not supposed to be here! Get lost you black-haired freak!" The woman glared at Azura with contempt.


    Do it! She''s a threat.


    Azura tried to shake the voice out of her head while trying to form an answer. This was going so fast and she had no idea what to do, and that voice was not making it easier to react in a proper manner. Azura tried to see if there was any sign of Lucas, but he wasn¡¯t there.


    "I live here." It was the only thing that came to her head, and it didn¡¯t sound very convincing.


    She needs to go. Get rid of her or I will!


    Azura flinched as the voice became louder and stronger. With it, she felt something growing inside her. An all too familiar feeling of anger and rage confusing her to the point she was just frozen to the spot, unable to react.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "You''re here for him, eh? Well, Lucas is mine! You mean nothing to him! It was me who comforted him so get out!"


    The woman put her hands on her hips, standing there like she was protecting her property. Azura tried to separate her own racing thoughts from the voice almost screaming in the back of her head. She wanted to move forward, felt her muscles trying to move without her giving instructions. It was like something was slowly trying to take over her body.


    You''re taking too long! I will take her out!


    The anger rose and she curled her fingers into a tight fist trying to maintain control.


    "No!" she whispered, fighting her own body.


    Stop resisting me. This is what you are. Let me show you.


    She dug her nails into the palms of her hands fighting the newfound urge to attack.


    "No!" She resisted again, her blood boiling in her veins.


    Azura had no idea how she managed to sound so calm as she addressed the woman in a last attempt to stop this absurd situation. From the inside, she was raging and fuming, but she managed to sound cool and collected.


    "I suggest you alter your tone. I live here, Lucas is my roommate. You can do whatever you want with him. Now calm your tits before I kick you out."


    Azura grit her teeth as the woman closed the distance between them. She came to stand in her personal space, shorter than Azura, but didn''t seem the least bit impressed by her. The woman threw a quick glance past Azura and a dirty smile crawled across her face.


    "Don''t think you can steal my man from me, little whore. He is mine."


    The woman almost spat the last few words at her. Azura closed her eyes trying to control herself. Her nails drew blood, her hands were trembling and every fiber in her body was on the brink of exploding.


    Do it! Let yourself go!


    "Fine... " Azura stopped resisting. The build-up anger filled her body and mind. Her eyes almost turned red and the heat inside her came rushing out. She could feel her pulse picking up the pace, pumping more blood to all her muscles. Her breathing became deeper but ragged.


    The woman never saw it coming and Azura never felt it coming. It happened in the blink of an eye. The moment she lost control was the moment a piercing cold strong grip grabbed her arm and about the waist, preventing her strike.


    Lucas had grabbed her arm in mid-air in a split second before she was able to do anything. He quickly grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back so Azura was unable to attack the other woman. She was fighting him heavily, trying to wiggle her way out of his iron-like grip but he would not budge.


    The brown-haired woman stepped back with a jolt of pleasure, clearly enjoying the fact that Lucas was defending her from Azura. She was grinning victoriously and batted her eyelashes at the man who tried to control the raging female.


    "Bethany," his voice was bitter and angry as he addressed the woman. "I suggest you go up, pack your stuff, and leave."


    Bethany blinked in surprise as he told her to leave. "But Lucas. She¡¯s crazy!" Her protest was weak as she knew it was no use.


    "I think you misinterpreted this whole thing. I''ll make it clear to you," he was almost snarling. "Sometimes I get drunk and make mistakes. You are one of the biggest. To me, this night never happened. Now please leave before I lose my hold on Azura. Either you leave on your own, or she will force you to."


    He felt Azura start to fight less, allowing him to relax a bit more as Bethany scurried away like a beaten dog. He forced Azura to the kitchen by putting her arms down behind her back and guiding her like an inmate. She struggled and growled as he did so but he managed to eventually get her to move. She eyed him like a wild animal as he pushed her back to the kitchen counter. He tried to ignore her death stares but couldn''t help feeling a bit intimidated by her whole change of persona.


    He had heard Bethany come down and made out some muffled talking. It was as if his guts told him to look, so he had quietly entered the living room. The tension between the girls was sky high and he could feel Azura''s anger boil over. How Bethany had been so oblivious to it was a mystery to him but he couldn''t care less, especially after she had noticed him and cast him the most sickening smile he had seen from her yet. For a very short moment, Lucas thought about not intervening, but let that idea quickly pass as he felt Azura explode. For a moment the thought crossed his mind that she would actually try to kill Bethany.


    Now, he again was afraid Azura would not hear him. Lucas took one of the big glasses of water from the counter while restraining her with his body weight. The front door slammed shut, indicating Bethany had left, and at that moment he threw the ice-cold water in her face. She gasped for air and almost lost her balance from the shock.


    "Lucas! You asshole!" Azura pushed Lucas away from her with all her might. He was happy to see it had worked so well and was almost grinning as he watched her shocked reaction.


    "You are enjoying this way too much you jerk!" she snapped at him. He threw her a towel and his grin only grew bigger.


    "Come on, Sunshine, get dressed. We''re going on an early morning walk."


    *


    It was a clear sky again. The cold bit right through your clothes. Normally she would love the cold, but it was so intense Azura buried herself even deeper into her scarf. Lucas was a few meters ahead of her, walking with big steps as if the cold didn¡¯t bother him.


    They had been walking for maybe fifteen minutes and on the horizon, she could see the sky lighting up already. It was nearing sunrise.


    He started climbing up a small hill and stopped at the top where he waited for her to join him. The moment she saw the view, a gasp escaped her mouth. He grinned at her reaction.


    "Amazing, isn''t it? The best place to watch the sunrise."


    Before them was a deep valley with fresh, untouched snow and some lone trees scattered here and there.


    Her breath formed small crystallized clouds as she took in the sight. The sky was slowly turning into a brighter blue and the birds started chirping louder. It was as if their surroundings came to life together with the light. It didn''t take long for the first rays of sunlight to make their appearance. She forgot all about the cold as she relished in the beams hitting her face.


    "This makes up for the four ''fuck-me-moments'' you gave me in less than an hour." He broke the silence while keeping his eyes on the mountains.


    "Four what-now-moments?!"


    "The ''fuck-me-moments.'' First one was when you woke me up by screaming and I noticed who lay beside me-"


    "Partially my fault! Can''t hold all of that on me!" she interrupted him with a snort. He ignored her and continued


    "Second was when you screamed again and I knew I had to wake you up again. The third time was when you grabbed my wrist in your zombie state and whispered dirty things in my ear-"


    "I never did that!" she gave him a playful push. "At least the dirty whispering part..."


    He laughed and continued, undisturbed by her push.


    "The fourth time was a bit more disturbing since I was a bit afraid you would actually try to kill Bethany."


    Azura bit her lip and looked away from him.


    "I lost it. The voice was too strong...but she had it coming!"


    There was a short silence between them.


    "Your count is off by one." She turned to him carrying a mischievous smile, trying to lighten the mood.


    "What do you mean?"


    "You had five ''fuck-me-moments'', the last one is actually the first one."


    "Please elaborate." He cocked an eyebrow.


    "Your very first ''fuck-me'' was the moment you took her to bed. For some reason, I can actually imagine you saying it. I hope it was good sex though." Azura snorted as she said it. Lucas just stared at her, still smiling.


    "You really want to play this game with me, dear? Don''t say I didn''t warn you! Besides... At least I got laid! Can''t say the same about you."


    "Unlike you, mister, I can actually manage a time without sex. I don''t depend on it."


    Azura walked to a tree and leaned against it. He followed and stopped before her, then slowly leaned in, making sure his body was as close to her as possible. He caressed her cheek softly with his fingers while staring deep into her eyes. She just waited and let him come into her comfort zone.


    He moved his head closer to her so they were almost touching. Finally, he placed his lips next to her ear and whispered.


    "I''m guessing you haven''t had any for a looong time then."


    Azura gave him a rough shove, laughing hard as he fell and sank into the snow. She immediately grabbed a handful of the cold substance and rubbed it in his face. He retaliated straight away, throwing some snow at her head and took advantage of her being distracted.


    The carefree moment felt exhilarating. For a short while, it was just a snowball fight without any other issues. Azura enjoyed every moment of it. The battle lasted for a while, both not giving up until they were exhausted, wet to the bone, and freezing.


    They headed home, cracking jokes at the expense of the other and having a good dose of light-hearted talking. She hadn''t felt this happy in a long time and it felt good. That was until Lucas froze and stopped. He was staring at the snow in shock. Azura joined him and gazed down.


    In front of them were a couple of pawprints. They weren¡¯t fresh, but there hadn''t been a lot of snow the last couple of days. Her blood froze as she realized that those tracks were her own.

 Chapter 13

    "I heard you gave Bethany quite a whooping yesterday." Jeff was beaming with curiosity as he offered Azura a beer.


    She found herself in the giant man¡¯s kitchen. It was modern and only recently done so Azura guessed it was done when they moved in. Black cupboards combined with a dark wooden countertop and steel accents made for an industrial look. Together with light-colored walls and floor with a few big green plants made for a spacious and inviting kitchen. The ebony-haired woman glanced at the clock, which told her it was four in the afternoon before she accepted the beer and took a sip from it.


    "Me? It was Lucas who threw her out of the house. I just wanted to beat her pretty little face."


    Well, more than beat-in but that was something Jeff didn¡¯t need to know. The feelings she had felt and what had come over her were not things she wanted to experience again, and she wasn¡¯t exactly proud of it either.


    The giant man laughed so loud, Azura was afraid the windows wouldn¡¯t hold. He had invited her to come over after running into her at the supermarket. She had hesitated at first, not knowing Jeff all that well, but he had quickly convinced her to drop by seeing as he lived only a few feet away. The warmth and homeliness he emitted was so calming Azura couldn¡¯t refuse.


    "No really,¡± she continued, ¡°I don''t know why she was acting like that. I''ve never met her before and she became sickly obsessive over him without any reason. Like a badly written love story... It''s not like I have a problem with him taking women home for some fun time, but it is kinda my home now too. A little respect would be nice."


    "Beth and he have a strange history. She¡¯s had a crush on him since they were kids. They dated for a while back in high school but she was way too clingy and he wanted to be free to do as he pleased. Lucas has always managed to keep her at a distance since then but that never stopped her from chasing him whenever she saw an opportunity. My guess is that he was drunk and hurt over Rose and she probably took advantage of that."


    "Isn''t it a little unhealthy to have such a long crush on someone?¡± Azura scrunched her eyebrows together. ¡±Sounds like ''obsessed'' might be the right word."


    "Might be, but it never came in such extreme forms-" He was interrupted by loud knocking on the door and excused himself to open it.


    A sudden sneeze caught Azura off guard and from the living room she heard a ¡®bless you¡¯ being shouted at her by the big male. Azura smiled and took another sip of her beer. Normally she wouldn¡¯t drink this early but he had offered it to her and it wasn¡¯t like they were getting wasted. If anything, it made her feel a bit calmer and at ease for some reason. She did not have to pretend to be something she wasn¡¯t.


    The front door closed and Jeff walked back in with Rose trailing after him. The short woman just entered the kitchen before engulfing Azura in a tight hug. She was surprisingly strong for a woman her size.


    "Azu! It''s all my fault! I''m so sorry!"


    Jeff and Azura both looked puzzled as Rose spoke, but Jeff was the first to ask the question that was lingering on her tongue as well.


    "What do you mean by your fault?"


    "I had a short awkward talk with Lucas the day before yesterday. He actually wanted to try again but I turned him down definitively. He didn''t take it too well..."


    "But that doesn''t explain why something is your fault." Azura interrupted Rose when she paused for a moment.


    "You think it''s your fault because Lucas didn''t take the message too well and went off drinking and made stupid decisions?" The women turned to Jeff as he leaned against the kitchen counter.


    "Lucas is a grown man," he continued, "No one is to blame for this. You were honest with him and that''s that. He''ll recover soon enough. I''ve known him long enough to tell you this is quite a normal response after a breakup."


    Rose gave him a thankful nod and tried to grab the pair of keys he was holding in his hand. Before she was able to, he raised his arm out of her reach and his laugh roared through the room.


    "Oh come on Jeff!" Rose put her hands on her hips and gave the giant man a stern look.


    "I''m gonna be late for my shift! I might get fired. My boss is a real dick you know." She joked.


    Jeff dropped the keys in her hand, amusement in his voice ¡°If you keep talking about your boss like that in front of your boss, you might actually get fired, yes.¡±


    Rose completely ignored him and turned to the other woman. "Sorry it was so short, but I forgot my keys for the hall again and when Jeff told me you were here, I just had to see you real quick. Will I see you at the hall tonight?"


    "I''ll be there. See you tonight!"


    Azura waved as Rose left and Jeff sat back down, grabbing his beer. "A darn shame they didn''t stay together. She was a good match for him."


    "Yeah, I have to agree, even though I only saw them together for a short while."


    She finished her beer and Jeff gave her a new one without asking. They sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments.


    "Why is everyone so excited over a couple of leopard tracks, by the way?" She suddenly blurted out.


    When she and Lucas had found the tracks, he had insisted on going home straight away. He had moved so fast she had trouble keeping up and when they arrived back home, he left for the city straight away to inform other people about the tracks. Azura was left worrying about what was going to happen, but she¡¯d been too afraid to ask too many questions. Jeff looked a bit startled by her sudden topic change but shrugged it away.


    "Uhm well... I don''t know where to start so I''ll do my best to give you a brief explanation."


    Jeff repositioned himself so he was facing her, then started talking slow and careful, as if he was overthinking every word he said.


    "We have snow leopards around. We know their area of movement, yet these tracks were not from one of them. On top of that, they were found too close to the city. There hasn''t been a new leopard around in a long time so the city gets quite excited. Bollocks if you ask me."


    "So what happens now?" If her inner turmoil was showing on the outside, Jeff did not respond to it.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "Hmmpf. They''ll try to track it, see where it went, etcetera, etcetera. But they won''t succeed because the tracks were too old as I''ve heard."


    "Right... I remember Lucas telling me that as well."


    "His father would have loved this, he was always performing some kind of research on snow leopards. All the records are still here in the office, but Lucas hasn¡¯t gone through them yet."


    The front door opened and a curly red-haired woman came in. She was a tad taller than Azura and some would consider her a little plump but her body was well proportioned. Her green eyes had a lively sparkle in them as she walked in and gave Jeff a loving kiss. If you would put fifty people in one room and had to guess who were together, you would pick them right away. Azura couldn''t help but smile as she saw them together.


    ¡°Oh, you must be Azura! I¡¯ve heard a lot about you! So good to finally meet you!¡± She beamed as she walked over and gave the thin woman the biggest hug.


    Azura was a bit taken aback by the big gesture of someone she didn¡¯t know. Not a big fan or personal contact with people who were foreign to her, Azura had only initiated physical touch with people she was really familiar with in the past. So far, everyone she had met here did not go by those same rules. If she had to be honest though, she actually didn¡¯t mind as much as she thought she would.


    Sheila was the warmest, most caring person Azura had ever met. She was only three years older than herself but Azura felt like an oblivious teenager next to her. She had wanted to know everything about her and Azura told them most of her life story, leaving out certain details and gruesome parts. It was a pleasant conversation and Sheila made sure she felt right at home.


    Their conversation was cut short when a loud abrupt knock sounded on the door. Sheila and Jeff exchanged a brief glance at each other before he got up and opened it. Three men entered without even greeting them and turned their attention to the big man.


    "We have a situation, Jeffrey." The oldest looking of the three spoke, he also happened to be the shortest. Neatly dressed in a suit with a big gold chain around his neck while the other two also wore suits, one of them almost as tall as Jeff. They looked serious and Azura could tell something was wrong.


    "Mayor Reed. A pleasure to see you here. Nathan, Oliver." He gave the two other men a nod as he went forward to shake hands with the mayor.


    "No formalities this time, Jeff, there has been visual contact with a snow leopard."


    As if that was her cue, Sheila got up and urged Azura to get up herself. The three men hadn''t even looked their way yet but were suddenly aware they were not alone.


    "We shall leave you to talk quietly. If there is anything you need, just let me know please." Sheila gave them all a courteous nod and gestured for Azura to follow.


    "Thank you, Sheila." Mayor Reed gave her and Azura a polite smile. His gaze lingered on Azura before she felt a tug from Sheila, urging her to follow. As they left the room the men started talking again. Azura only heard a small bit, but what she heard made her blood stop running.


    "It''s a snow leopard...blue eyes...spotted this afternoon... A threat."


    The door closed on them and Azura turned to Sheila. She felt like she had seen a ghost. Part of her wanted to rush back in to hear what was going on, but she was also terrified of what she would hear.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Just some guy talk, I wouldn''t worry if I were you." Sheila smiled warmly at her, trying to pretend nothing was wrong


    "That''s not just some guy talk, Sheila, and you know it. Who are they?" Sheila let out a small sigh.


    "The oldest is the mayor of the city, Ben Reed. He is a stern but good man. He has his heart in the right place, but he can be very intimidating despite his size. The other two are with the city council. The biggest one is Nathan, and the other is Oliver. Nathan is alright, a bit reserved to new things and changes but alright, also the right hand of the mayor. Oliver can be a snake. I swear people with pointed noses like him usually are." She let out a soft laugh and continued.


    "Jeff is often consulted by them even though he is not in the council. They do take his opinion as important as Jeff is a well-known man in town. Apparently, something urgent has come up and it''s not our place to hear it. If needed they will inform the city later."


    Azura just nodded and looked at the kitchen door. They heard the back door slam shut and waited for Jeff to come out. He never did though and after a while, Sheila walked into the kitchen to find all four men gone.


    "It must have been a rather pressing matter for them to leave like this." Azura had followed Sheila in and leaned against the doorpost. Sheila remained quiet, a flash of concern spread on her face.


    *


    "It wasn''t me! I swear. The pawprints were, but I was at Jeff''s place when they spotted the snow leopard."


    Dr. Jensen looked worried. It was her fifth appointment after the time he had discovered she was a blue-eyed snow leopard. He paced around the room nervously as she sat in the chair. Azura bit at her lip anxiously as he was clearly not the calm man he normally was. She felt the tension in the air but also in her own body. Her heartbeat was racing ever since he gave her a call to meet him asap.


    "This really concerns me. You had been careless going out and shifting, as they had found your prints, but I am more worried about that other snow leopard they saw. Apparently, they only saw a glimpse of it, but enough to know it had blue eyes as well." He was still pacing around the room, hands behind his back.


    "But isn''t this a good thing? At least now we know I''m not the only one."


    He stopped pacing and turned to her.


    ¡°I never said you were the only, Azura. I don''t think it''s such a good thing. When we met in the past, it only led to bloodshed. The ones we¡¯ve met, they are ferocious, but we haven''t seen one in ages."


    A look of defeat spread across Azura''s face as he said it. "You think I''m like that?"


    He finally sat down as he felt her anxiety flare up.


    "It''s why we''re working on that temper of yours. I don''t want to lie to you, Azura, but I can see that trait in you, that untamed wild side. It can be disastrous if you don''t know how to control it, but I do believe you can. You have made a lot of progress already."


    It was as if he¡¯d just hit her right in the face. He was basically calling her a wild animal. She wanted to become angry but lacked the spirit to do so. Instead, she just sat, defeated, staring blankly ahead. He felt her discomfort and let her simmer on it for a short while before he spoke up.


    "It''s not your fault, it''s in your blood. But, because you have been raised without this knowledge, you do behave differently. You''re a normal person with a big bad temper, that''s all."


    "Who enjoys killing and bloodshed." She sarcastically added.


    "Only when you lose control, otherwise you detest it."


    "It''s still me though!"


    "A side of you which you have to accept."


    "It''s a side I don''t want to accept! I don''t want anything to do with it!"


    Do you really now?


    Azura froze as their short fast-paced quarrel stopped. Nicolai noticed her sudden change and observed her closely. She went from being defeated to angry during their exchange, but in a split second, she had become scared. She had grabbed her head with both hands and it was almost like her eyes bulged out of her skull.


    I think you rather enjoy those moments. Why would you want that part gone if it gives you so much pleasure?


    A chill ran across her spine. Her hands dropped as if the palms were getting sweaty, then she clenched them into fists. She felt everything in her body tense up and her mouth slightly twisted as she recognized what was happening.


    "I have to go... I have to go..."


    Her voice was soft but fast. Azura started reciting it over and over again as she started to rock back and forth in her seat. Then, as if stung by a bee, she got up and headed to the door. Her eyes were bewildered, her body shaking relentlessly. She kept muttering to herself and seemed to have completely forgotten Dr. Nicolai was still present.


    "You''re not going anywhere!" His voice reverberated through the room, making Azura cower just as she reached the door. She fell to her knees and kept rocking back and forth while biting her knuckles.


    "Please, I have to... let me go..."


    It was merely a whisper coming from her lips, not meant for his ears but for her own. He came closer, every footstep made a gigantic sound, blasting at her eardrums. She desperately covered them with her hands while chanting to let her go. Tears were falling down and she was drooling, seemingly to have lost control of her body.

 Chapter 14

    That first week after her breakdown, Azura had spent all of her time in her room. Lucas had tried coaxing her out and talking to her but she had not responded and had just spent most of her time in bed. Nightmares had plagued her mind every time she had dozed off. Blue-eyed snow leopards attacked everything they came across, while she was helpless and could only watch as their fury destroyed everything. Blood reigned in her nightmares, death was something that was forced upon her, either dying herself or being the one that killed everything. And then there were the flames, the voice, and the Phoenix.


    She had refused to talk to Lucas, driving him to his wit''s end. He¡¯d even eventually contacted Rose to come over in the hopes she would be able to get through to Azura. When that hadn''t worked, he¡¯d just given up. After consulting with Dr. Jensen, he was just making sure she was at least eating properly, and woke her up whenever she was freaking out.


    In the second week, Azura came down more often and slowly tried to pick up from where she left off before her breakdown. Nicolai had visited her a few times since to see how she was faring, but she had refused to say anything about what had triggered her. Rose had come by several other times and as long as the conversation stayed light, it was fine and they would have some good fun, but as soon she would try to talk about what had set Azura off, she would completely shut down. Lucas had told other people she had a bad case of the flu, not wanting to tell people what really had happened without her consent.


    It had taken her over three weeks to feel like an average human being again. Things had slowly returned to normal once more as both she and Lucas picked up their lives from where they had left them before her breakdown. He¡¯d had to explain to her about the first week, as she barely remembered anything from it, but after that, she decided to just move forward and he had agreed.


    From what she had gathered from Lucas, there had been no other sightings of snow leopards in the area and that had reassured her a bit. She was curious about these leopards that were like her, but she was also scared. Scared to find the truth about her heritage, or what they were like.


    That last fear was strengthened even more by the rumors she heard around town. The only person she could freely talk to about it was Dr. Nicolai, and he was not so keen on the subject, convincing her to focus on the task at hand; learning to control her temper. So far the only thing she had learned was that blue-eyes snow leopards were dangerous creatures, with no morals, ferocious, and lusted after blood.


    It had frustrated her and that had resulted in her having a shorter fuse than normal. Something Lucas had effortlessly picked up on and had made a sport in which to annoy her even further to the point she would eventually punch him in the shoulder because she had no other response available. He just laughed it off, eventually making her laugh as well and thus easing her frustration in a not so conventional matter.


    Azura closed the door behind her as she returned from a visit to Sheila, Jeff¡¯s wife. The fireplace was burning and Lucas sat hunched over on the floor in front of it with papers and binders scattered all around him. Except for the crackling of fire and the flipping of pages, it was quiet in the house. It was never quiet when he was home. There would always be some music playing or the TV would be turned on.


    "What are you doing?"


    He looked over his shoulder, pen in his mouth and his hair sticking up on all sides. She cocked a brow as he took the pen from his mouth and sat back up.


    "Getting used to the silence."


    "And all this?" Azura had walked over to him and pointed at all the paperwork scattered around.


    "Research from my dad to keep me occupied while the silence feasts on my brain."


    "And with all this, you decided to sit so close to the fireplace? Good choice¡­ If you want to burn down the house."


    He slowly got up, stretching his back and legs and flashed her a sarcastic smile.


    "The fireplace makes noise." He sat back down and quickly scanned the papers in front of him before putting some of them in a pile to his right and some in a pile to his left. Azura scanned the binders and noticed they were all placed together by topics. He was now sorting through the loose papers. Some were only scribblings, while others had full reports written on them.


    "Need some help?" She kneeled down next to him and tried to assess his working method.


    He gave her a sarcastic reply without looking at her.


    "With accepting the silence? All you need to do is to stop talking."


    "Nah you idiot, for that you need therapy like me. Join the looney bin, we have coffee!"


    He grabbed a nearby pillow and threw it in her face. She snickered as he did so, tossing it aside and ruffled through his hair.


    "You''re cute like this you know! All messed up like me..." Lucas let her do her thing for a while, rolling his eyes as she messed with his hair and poked him in the sides.


    "...Maybe we should rename this place the Looney Bin. I mean, we do have coffee here, and a firepl-"


    "Enough!" He placed his hand over her mouth, shushing her while holding back a laugh. "You''re crazy, did you know that? And you hate coffee." She nodded while he still had his hand covering her mouth. "If you really insist on helping, you can help me sort these papers. I know my dad did research on werecats, especially snow leopards and I guess now is as good as time as any to start to enlighten myself and maybe the town council and mayor as well."


    He removed his hand and gave her a pile of papers.


    "You can place the relevant ones here next to me. I write a number on them, skip through the content and write down what they are about in this notebook. So after the sorting process, I can easily find back what I want to read by checking out this book."


    "You should have become a sorting officer in a library or something like that... You thought about everything haven''t you?"


    He scoffed. "I didn''t think of a solution to keep this pestering human being at bay." He prodded her shoulder as he said it.


    "It would be useless anyway so it would only be a waste of time." She stuck her tongue out at him and casually grabbed the papers and started to sort through them.


    They worked in silence with the fire and the papers as their only source of noise. Azura would occasionally glance over at him, seeing his lips curled up just a bit. She turned back to her papers and put most of them to the side, some about astrology, some were just random scribblings she did not understand, and others were just notes on which books to read.


    She even put an old shopping list to the side, she grinned as she read diapers and baby food on it. A very old shopping list it was, as Lucas would be turning thirty soon. She stared at it for a short moment then moved to the next set of papers. They were stapled together and on the front, someone had written ''Important!!!!'' The handwriting was sloppy, obviously done in a hurry. There was nothing else written on it and she turned over the first page scanning the next one for information.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    It was a map of the country with a big circle in the area where they currently resided. There was an old photograph of a big snow leopard standing proudly in the snow with the words ¡®yellow/green¡¯ written underneath. A line was drawn from the picture to the circle that was around their area.


    Azura traced her hand over the picture as she stared at the physique of the leopard. Compared to herself she could tell this one was huge and much more muscular, she didn¡¯t resemble it in any way. Her eyes moved back to the map and she noticed another, smaller and less clear circle on the other side of the country. The only word written down was ''blue'' with a few question marks behind it. She gasped as she noticed there used to be a picture there just as there was with the first circle.


    Lucas looked her way and scooched over until he was next to her. He looked at the papers she was holding and eventually took them off her hands. He quickly turned another page and it was only one sentence. ''Place of birth defines us. But why?''  He flipped over the next one and it only contained more old black and white photographs of snow leopards posing. Written beneath the photos were names, places of birth, and other dates and times. Some were readable and some weren¡¯t as the ink had faded.


    Azura noticed the dates were old. Most of them around the 1930s. All the leopards looked similar to the one on the previous page. Big, muscular, and strong, but there was a single one which stood out. The photo was unclear as the leopard was not posing, but running as if it didn¡¯t know about the picture being taken. She noticed its physique was different, leaner and smaller like an actual normal snow leopard. More like her. There was no name written underneath the picture, only ''Not from here.''


    "That one is smaller." Lucas pointed to the photo she was looking at. "Most likely it''s a blue-eyed snow leopard."


    "How do you know?" She traced her fingers over the photo as if recognizing herself.


    "I think these were the records of my grandfather. My old man was inspired by his dad''s work and wanted to continue it. My grandpa used to tell me stories about the leopards here and one of them was about this small snow leopard that came around one day. At first, the town had accepted him without problem, but apparently, things went downhill. He was aggressive and eventually committed several murders. They banished him and stricter rules were set into place about accepting newcomers. These rules still apply today, though they¡¯ve never been put into action."


    Azura stared at him quietly, not knowing what to say. He took the papers and placed them on top of the pile he had yet to archive. She stared at the ground trying to muster up the courage to ask him one last question.


    "Are... are you a snow leopard?" She knew the answer straight after asking him. He just nodded and carefully examined her reaction.


    "The picture on the first page with the map? That was my grandfather." Her eyes almost popped out of her skull as the realization dawned on her.


    "Holy shit... He was huge!" Her reaction caused him to chuckle.


    "Apparently the bloodline I come from is one of the oldest around here. It has its perks but I am not the biggest in town."


    "Holy crap... I have so many questions I keep forgetting all of them! You just bamboozled my mind!" She was still in shock even though somewhere in the back of her mind there was something saying; You already knew from the start.


    Did she? She recalled Nora back in the days when they had first met him. She had come in just before he did, said there was a guy outside looking for his father and that his scent was different. She didn¡¯t think much of it just that it was something she had not smelled before. Azura fiddled with the ring she was wearing now and also back then. It had prevented her from smelling anything and she just had to take Nora¡¯s word for it. At that time, it was not important at all.


    He was laughing out loud now, relieved she had not run away the moment he told her. Azura was still staring at him forming silent words with her lips. She eventually grabbed the sides of her head with a dramatic theatrical gesture to show him how shocked she actually was. He laughed even harder as she started to put on a show.


    "Azu, calm down! You might hurt yourself from surprise if you keep going like this." She stopped and kept pointing at him.


    "You did this man. You kept this hidden all the time and now you''re calling me crazy?" He knew she wasn''t seriously blaming him.


    "I never kept it hidden, you just never asked."


    That shut her up straight away. She just eyed him as he cleaned up some of the paperwork that served no purpose.


    "Would you stop gawking at me? I''m not going to shift if that''s what you''re wondering about." He didn¡¯t even look at her to know what she was thinking. She could see he was trying to be stern, but he could barely hold his face that way.


    "I never asked." She grinned and took another look at the last papers they had found and stared at the picture of his grandfather. She then looked back at the question written next to it. Defined by place of birth.


    "Lucas, what do you think this means?" She pointed at the question and he looked over her shoulder.


    "That''s my dad''s handwriting. Judging by the map he drew and all the other things in here, I would say he thought that where a person is born, determines which type of snow leopard they are. Maybe even which type of big cat across other regions as well. It would explain why there are only greenish and yellow-eyed leopards here. If this is the only region where they are born, it might also explain why we are one of the rarer cat shifters around. It is a scarcely populated area and this city is the biggest around."


    Azura looked at the smaller, less clear circle on the west side of the country. Maybe a few days travel away. If what Lucas was saying was true, and this drawing was correct, that was her place of birth. She felt a tightness in her chest as her fingers played with the ring around her finger.


    She wanted to tell him so badly, tired of hiding her true self, but she wasn''t ready. Nicolai had warned her not to show herself and Azura had most definitely picked up on Lucas''s words about the city not accepting strange snow leopards easily. Especially her kind. She gritted her teeth and put the papers away before answering Lucas, trying to sound as normal as possible.


    "What about this area? It''s so much smaller and there is barely anything there. I guess your dad believed the blue-eyed ones came from there?"


    "I think so, but that part is almost uninhabitable. It''s harsher than here, tougher conditions. There might be some small villages around, but nothing major. It might be interesting to find out more about it one day, but for now, I''ll let it rest. Behavior and way of living, for now, are more interesting to me."


    He placed the paper on top of the rest and finished cleaning up. After placing another log on the fire so it wouldn''t die out, Lucas got up and pulled Azura up by her hand.


    "Would you-" She never got to finish her question as he rudely interrupted her.


    "No, I will not shift! You might see one day, but not now." She started to pout and he just let out a tired sigh, shaking his head. "You''re hopeless, tiresome, and a nuisance sometimes, you know that?" A wide smile was the only answer he got and he couldn''t help but smile as he saw her proudly boasting.


    "So tonight Jeff and I are going to the bar. You''re welcome to join if you''d like. You can annoy someone else other than me and that person might actually enjoy it!"


    "Are you serious?" All the playfulness in her voice was gone in an instant. Her posture had changed to a determined and slightly aggressive stance. "I¡¯ve spent three weeks crawling out of a big black hole which was triggered by something stupid and now you''re really asking me to go to a bar, again, with tons of people in a tiny cramped space? How is that a good idea? If something triggers me there, you''d best just kill me. It would have the same effect! I''m not ready for that, Lucas!"


    She was yelling at the end, unable to vent her frustration any other way. He let her blow off the steam regretting he had even asked. He rubbed his short beard before looking up and meeting her gaze.


    "I won''t stop asking you and it''s no use to freak out about it. A simple ¡®no¡¯ will do. I know your state of mind and I know what it enthralls." He sounded harsher than he had wanted to. "I just want to help, and sometimes you need someone to get you out of your comfort zone, but I do respect you and your wishes and I do want some of it in return, instead of you yelling in my face. I am not your enemy."


    Azura backed up a bit, not expecting him to actually oppose her. He had not done it before and it caught her off guard. The tension between them rose fast as they kept locked in each other¡¯s gazes for a few minutes without talking. It was a standoff and finally, Azura lowered her eyes accepting defeat.


    "I''m sorry..."


    He relaxed as soon as she said it and gently grabbed her shoulder, pulled her close to him, and placed his forehead against hers. She froze, wide-eyed at the closeness of him, but the calm he radiated had her loosening up and even closing her eyes at the foreign gesture he was offering.

 Chapter 15

    Azura placed her backpack down on the ground and grabbed her bottle of water, she downed most of it in one go as she had hiked at a rather fast pace for over two hours. After placing down the bottle she took out the map of the area to determine where exactly she was right now. She had found the hiking map in one of Lucas¡¯s bookshelves, it had been partly covered by other books and was a bit crumpled but readable.


    She was currently on a trail that led her to one of the mountain peaks far away from the city. There was no sign anyone had been here for a long time, something she had hoped to find. The sky was cloudy and it would snow again eventually. A snowstorm was predicted to come late at night, the perfect cover-up for her to be able to shift and let the snow cover up her tracks afterward.


    Azura put the map away and grabbed one last powerbar so she wouldn''t be hungry and after eating it she dropped her bag behind some rocks out of sight. She took off all her clothes, shivering as the cold wind touched her bare skin. The last thing she took off was the ring.


    Azura never fully realized the effects of it until she took it off; it prevented other people from smelling her, but it also prevented her from smelling a lot of things as well. The main reason she hadn¡¯t known Lucas was a werecat was because she simply couldn¡¯t smell it, and the only indication she¡¯d had was made by Nora when they had met and she¡¯d said he smelled¡­different. Now different could mean a lot of things and Nora hadn¡¯t pieced it together either back then so it wasn¡¯t that much of a clue anyway. Werecats being so rare, not too many knew of their scent to be familiar with it.


    She took a deep breath, inhaling the different scents from all around her. It was like the shackles were taken off and she could experience freedom all over again. Azura was only ¡®human¡¯ now, but it would all be enhanced even further when she shifted. It had been too long since she¡¯d last done so, that was for sure. She was itching to experience the world again on four feet after not having shifted since that first time she was here.


    Much to standard human beliefs, the animal within wasn¡¯t a separate entity. For some reason, humans believed, especially with werewolves, that the animal part was another being with its own voice. Good thing most humans had no idea the creatures they loved to read those little stories about, were as real as they could get.


    Either you shift now or I''ll have to set you on fire to keep you warm.


    Azura''s eyes flashed open in annoyance at the voice inside her head. Maybe she was just losing it and it was her subconsciousness trying to talk to her. She huffed and decided that for once, she would actually answer.


    "Either you shut up or..."


    Not much you can do about me, remember. Just shift already, I''m aching to feel the wind.


    "You are me. I know what I need, that''s why I''m here, you don''t need to remind me."


    Ha, cute! Who says I''m you?


    With a deep sigh and no longer wanting to argue with the voice, Azura stood on her toes, face up to the sky arching her back. She closed her eyes and let the transformation commence. It didn''t take long for her to fully change into the white and black spotted snow leopard and now she was back on all four paws overlooking the mountains and trees below them.


    About time. Now that you are your true form, might I show you your true power?


    Azura growled as she felt sparks igniting in her body. She pushed the unfamiliar feeling down, not wanting to lose control over herself, as it felt like something was trying to do. She then darted off, running down the mountain, jumping from one rock to the other like it was something she did every day.


    The first snowflakes had started falling already but that wouldn''t be a problem. She dashed through the trees letting her instincts guide her, emptying her mind. She¡¯d been aching to do this for a while now but kept postponing it because it would be too dangerous. It felt so good to be one with nature and she enjoyed every aspect of it. Once the first rush of adrenaline had died down, Azura slowed down, catching her breath a little, and examined her surroundings.


    She had descended quite a bit from the mountain as she had crossed the invisible border where trees would stop growing. She walked to the nearest one and extended her claws before digging them into the thick bark. Not only was it good for sharpening and maintaining her claws but she would also leave scent marks by doing this. Azura had not caught the scent of any other supernatural ever being here, so she hoped it would be safe enough to do this. It was in her nature to, and it was hard fighting that urge.


    The snow leopard tread over to the next tree and rubbed her whole body against it several times, eventually, she took a whiff of the bark and proceeded to rub the side of her head against it, scratching herself while scent-marking even more of her surroundings. When she was satisfied, Azura lifted her head and closed her eyes, her nose scrunched as a breeze came by. Her mouth opened a little, processing the smells that enticed her before lowering her head again and taking off in a direction where her nose said water was nearby.


    Minutes later, she came upon a small frozen lake. The ice was crystal clear and thick enough to support her. Slowly she placed one paw on it, admiring the beauty of it. Carefully, she placed a second on the ice as well. It wasn¡¯t as slippery as she would have thought but she kept her claws out just to be sure.


    In some places, there was more snow on the ice than others, blown away by the wind. She grinned to herself, enjoying the feel and touch of the frozen water beneath her. Azura laid down on a spot with no snow and rolled onto her side and back not able to contain her joy anymore. She tried catching her own tail as she rolled from side to side, giving in to a more childish side of being a big cat.


    There''s something there.


    Azura tried to get back up as she heard a branch snap in the forest. The voice was right. Her front paws lost their grip and she landed painfully on her chin before scrambling up again. Her eyes darted around the trees, trying to find the location of the sound. There was another, closer by this time. Azura spun to her left and slowly made her way off the ice, careful not to slip again. As soon as she had sure footing she lowered herself and started stalking towards the origin of the noise.


    She did not know who saw who first but suddenly they were standing eye to eye. Blue staring at blue. Her heart was pounding as Azura gawked at the snow leopard before her.


    Before she could even do anything, it took off as fast as lightning. Transfixed to the ground, Azura simply forgot to move. For a moment she had even forgotten how to breathe properly. A sudden chill ran down her body as the reality started to dawn in on her. They were really here. Slowly she started to move again, inching closer to the spot where he had been standing. She scrunched her nose, inhaling the scent and she set off as soon as she found it.


    She ran, following her nose until she was no longer able to. There was no trace of the other leopard beside the occasional track and a quickly fading scent. The snow had started to fall more heavily, making her search even more difficult. Panting heavily she stopped and crashed down on the ground trying to catch her breath.


    You''re weak. Giving up so easily because you''re tired. You need to gain more stamina.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Azura lifted her head as the voice started talking again. She snarled trying to get the message across to let her be. It was not like she had the same thoughts running through her head.


    Yeah, snarl all you want. I''m just pointing out the obvious.


    She stopped, knowing it was no use. The only thing she could do now was head back, and seeing as she would have to walk for two hours as a normal human, it was time to leave. Azura got back up and started running again, her long tail dancing behind her, helping to keep her balance while she traversed through the forest and mountains.


    *


    "Usually I¡¯m able to read you quite well, but now... You''re excited, happy, definitely holding something back, yet for some strange reason, there¡¯s fear in your eyes. Plus you''re exhausted, but that''s more physical than mental." Lucas curiously raised an eyebrow at her. He had spotted her walking past the coffee bar where he was seated with a friend. He excused himself and had called out to her.


    "I just had the longest walk in a very long time and the air did me some good." She avoided his questioning look. In her heart, she wanted to jump up and down with joy, scream at the top of her lungs that she was not alone. She wanted to laugh, cry, and kiss him at the same time out of happiness, but on the other hand, a slight hint of fear was gnawing at her. The longer she had walked the more excited, but also the more worried she had become.


    "The air...did you some good?" He emphasized every word and had to hold back a snicker as she looked at him with a challenging look. A wide grin sprawled across her face.


    "Yes, it did. I''ll see you later!" She spun around and walked away, not giving him any more time to interrogate her. He shook his head as she walked off, confused by her behavior which wasn¡¯t like anything he had seen from her lately.


    "Crazy and hopeless..." He smiled as he softly muttered to himself before turning back to go back inside.


    "Everything all right, dude?" Lucas joined Steffen again and finished his last bit of coffee.


    Steffen had been a good friend of his during college but they had drifted apart after graduating. Now they would meet up maybe two or three times a year, but it was always like they¡¯d been seeing each other every day. Steffen had moved to another city and the distance was one of the things that made it harder to see each other.


    "Yeah just had to check on my roommate for a moment."


    "That''s your roommate?!" Steffen stared at him in disbelief. He brushed his hand through his dark blonde hair as he smirked. "I''d do her. I love chicks with black hair."


    Lucas snorted at Steffen''s blunt remark. As the waitress passed by, he ordered another coffee knowing they would be sitting here for quite a while.


    "Good luck with that. I can arrange introductions but after that, you''re on your own, mate. I doubt you''ll have a chance. Just maybe she''ll like you because of your big hazel eyes, girls always seemed to love that part of you the most."


    Steffen boasted himself up in his chair, looking rather pleased with himself.


    ¡°Not just the eyes, man. Especially not after they get to know me a bit better!¡± He let out a laugh and winked at Lucas who shook his head as he smiled back. "So now comes the part where you''ll be trying to convince me you haven''t tried anything yourself?" Steffen continued.


    "I''m not going to convince you, I''m going to tell you. I haven''t done anything because she is living in my house and she''s actually a rather good friend."


    "Don''t bullshit me." Steffen leaned over to Lucas pointing his finger against his chest. "You used to try to get into every girl''s pants that would happen to walk in your vicinity."


    " ''Used to'' being the keyword there, pal." Lucas grinned and paused for a moment, "I have become a little more selective over the years. You should try it once. You were always worse than me. Just let me prove it. When was your last one night stand?"


    Now Steffen was laughing hard. The competition between them was always there, trying to outwit each other with everything. Steffen had won with the women often where they would both try to woo the same woman. He was charismatic, sported good looks, and there was this hint of innocence in his face because he had no beard.


    "My last one night stand? Actually, the day before yesterday. I met this awesome chick and she totally came on to me! I didn¡¯t have to do anything for it, she even took me to her house instead of going to mine. Easiest fuck I''ve had in a long time plus no hassle afterward because she had the same idea."


    Lucas shook his head while laughing. "You''re amazing, man. You haven''t changed one bit. Ever tried having a relationship for once?"


    "Me?" Steffen pointed at himself while looking around confused. "Been there, tried it, and it wasn''t for me. I prefer being single, doing what I want without anyone telling me what I can or can''t do. But what have you been up to lately?"


    They continued on chatting. Lucas was glad they finally managed to get away from the subject of women. Even though it was guaranteed for some good laughs, it was getting tiresome to talk about every time. One of the reasons he had cut back on the amount of contact they used to have. The door of the cafe opened and Lucas looked up as he heard a familiar voice. Rose stood there and waved at him as she entered.


    After Lucas had reluctantly contacted Rose when Azura was suffering from that anxiety attack, they had slowly started talking to each other again. Slowly but surely, they managed to go back to friends without the break-up standing in the middle. Azura had played a big part in that, Lucas realized, and he was glad she did.


    The short woman walked over and extended her hand to Steffen. "I''m Rose. Care if I join you guys for a short while?"


    Lucas gestured for her to sit down and looked at Steffen to see what he would think. Steffen just stared at Rose, holding her hand a little too long for comfort. "The name''s Steffen, and feel free. I never say no to a lady." He flashed her a smile as she sat down next to Lucas. Lucas watched him intently, already knowing his intentions.


    "So how do you two know each other?"


    Steffen looked one to the other. Lucas shortly glanced at Rose and knew instantly she was not going to answer that judging by her mischievous smile.


    "She''s my ex."


    "And the best one ever!" She added with a big smile. Steffen had to hold back a laugh and coughed deeply instead as he caught sight of Lucas''s kill-me-now face. "And what about you two?" Rose continued, oblivious to what was happening.


    After he was done coughing, Steffen spoke up. "Best mates in college. But I moved away when we were done, so now we don¡¯t see each other as often as we should."


    "Hmmm. Lucas never mentioned you as far as I can remember..." She pretended to think while Lucas just groaned and placed his head in his hands. Steffen looked on, amused by her pestering his old friend.


    "Lucas tends to forget things, like telling me he has a hot roommate and a hot ex. I don''t know how he does it!"


    "Dude!" Lucas jerked up and shot him a deadly glance.


    "It''s fine, Lucas. He''s just being nice." She brushed him off and turned her attention back to Steffen.


    "Yeah man, don''t fret it. I know when to stay away." He gave Lucas a reassuring smile but did not get one in return. Lucas looked just like he wanted to kill him, not reassured at all by either of them, he knew both all too well. Rose being naive and seeing the best in everyone and Steffen as the guy who likes to take advantage of that very trait.


    Steffen got up from the table, excusing himself as he went to the bathroom.


    As soon as Steffen was out of hearing range she turned to him coldly. "What''s your deal, Lucas? We''re just having fun."


    "What you call fun is him trying to get into your pants, sooner rather than later. I''ve known him a long time and for him, this is all a game." He was annoyed and showed it. Rose clenched her teeth together, holding back her first thought but replied soon after.


    "I''m a grown woman and can hold my own. You had your fun with Bethany and you did not hear me complain about it, so just let me be."


    He¡¯d rarely heard her get this defensive and cold with him. He swallowed hard and tried to think of something to say, but was cut short as Steffen returned. Rose got up as he sat down and gave them both a polite smile.


    "I have to go now, guys. Play nice and see you around." She waved and winked at Steffen just as Lucas looked away.


    "It was my pleasure, Rose. I just rented a new apartment for myself here, so you''re welcome to come over anytime." He returned the big smile and as Rose walked away he looked back at Lucas who''s eyes were spitting fire.


    "You''re doing what?!" He spit the words out in frustration.


    Steffen pretended not to hear or see the fury in Lucas''s voice and eyes and continued on as if nothing was amiss. "I''m moving back. I thought I had mentioned it already."

 Chapter 16

    It was a quiet moment in the climbing hall. Rose was high up on the wall, taking a short break from her work while Azura was belaying her. She got to the top easily and let herself go so Azura could let her down with ease.


    "Break?" Rose unhooked herself and headed to the bar.


    Azura followed, quite thirsty herself after the short but intense climbing session. Lucas had just gotten in, preparing the gear for a new group coming in for a short first-time experience. Rose walked straight past him without even acknowledging him and started to heat some water. Azura raised an eyebrow at him and mouthed ''what the fuck.'' He just shrugged and grabbed the last harness he needed.


    "Two days ago, I just warned her about an old friend of mine who moved back here. I guess she didn''t appreciate it."


    "You''re an idiot sometimes, you know that." Azura sighed, knowing this was hopeless.


    He gave her a puzzled look. ¡°What did I do wrong now?¡±


    Azura just rolled her eyes and followed Rose to the office as soon as she finished making the tea. Rose sat with her feet up on the desk grinning widely as Azura handed her her tea and sat down herself.


    "Thanks, Azu." She accepted her cup and placed it down for now.


    "Thank me after you enlighten me about what that just was. I thought you guys were finally back on speaking terms again."


    "Oh we are, he just doesn''t know it. I like to give him a hard time." She winked and laughed heartily. "Yesterday I joined him and a very nice old friend of his at the cafe. I have to admit, he''s kinda good looking."


    "And he''s just the one Lucas does not want anywhere near you."


    Rose nodded and grinned even harder.


    "Little does he know I met up with Steffen yesterday evening. And it turns out, he''s actually a cool guy. Lot''s of talk but he does have a moral code. Like not trying to get your friend''s ex in bed on the first time you meet."


    Azura snorted loudly as she said that. "So this Steffen likes to torment Lucas as well?"


    "You should have seen Lucas yesterday, Azu! I swear he was about to kill himself or Steffen while I was there. It was hilarious!"


    "I never knew you were this sadistic, Rose. I almost feel sorry for the poor guy." The girls both started laughing. Rose turned on the screen of the computer to check for new appointments and e-mails and let out a deep sigh as she read what was on the screen.


    "Work calls again... Sorry but I really have to do this now or else I''ll get Jeff breathing down my neck again."


    "No problem. Just, Rose," The blonde woman looked up at Azura from behind the computer screen, "You''re not the one living in the same house as him. I beg you, don''t torment him for too long, otherwise, I''m the one who has to endure it." Rose stuck her tongue out at Azura and she returned the joking gesture by making the I''m-watching-you sign at Rose.


    Azura walked out of the office and saw Lucas on the other end of the hall working with a small group of teenagers and their teacher. She cleaned some of the mess behind the bar and turned her attention to a male voice behind her.


    "Hey, gorgeous. Has anyone ever said that you are the striking image of Selene from the movie Underworld?"


    A pair of sparkling hazel brown eyes looked her up and down. Azura frowned at the man before her. He was good looking, just like Rose had said. Just a tad taller than her and well-toned from what she could tell with him wearing clothes. It had not taken her long to figure out who the man was as she noticed Lucas had started to throw some anxious looks their way, unable to make his way over.


    "No, no one has mentioned that before, but thanks for telling me. It reminds me I have to watch the movies again someday soon." Azura leaned on the counter closer to Steffen, occasionally throwing a look at Lucas to see how he would react. "Steffen right? Are you here to actually climb or to see Lucas?"


    "I see you already heard of me but I didn''t quite catch your name, beautiful." He gave her a wink and leaned in a little as well as he had caught her glancing over at Lucas.


    "It''s Azura. I live at Lucas''s place." She flashed him a sweet smile when she noticed Lucas was looking their way again. No pain in tormenting the guy some more for now.


    "Of course, he said something about him having a roommate. Nice to meet you. I''m actually here because I do want to talk to him. We didn''t end on such good terms yesterday..." Steffen paused as Azura placed her hand on top of his. "And this...surely ain''t gonna make that talk any easier. But it''s too good of an opportunity to pass up." He grinned, reading her intentions remarkably well as he caressed one side of her cheek, making sure Lucas was seeing it.


    Azura involuntarily dug her nails into his hand at his touch. He quickly retracted his hand from her face and she immediately leaned back, placing some distance between them.


    "Sorry, that was a step too far I guess?"


    She just nodded in reply, glad he had acknowledged it. "It''s ok. I initiated it." She pointed to one of the tables. "Just wait there. He''s busy at the moment with a group as you¡¯ve seen but will be done soon. He does look as if he is ready to whoop your ass though. You want something to drink in the meantime?" She grinned as Steffen glanced over at Lucas again and muttered a small ''crap''.


    He shook his head and made his way over to the table leaving her alone. Azura headed back to the office and said goodbye to Rose, but not before telling her Steffen was here as well. Rose squealed in joy and hopped out of the office in an instant after hugging Azura, neglecting her work once again.


    *


    It was past midnight and Azura started to watch the first Underworld movie. She was alone as Lucas had not come back yet and she suspected he had gone out for drinks.


    Outside, it was raining, a sign that summer was coming. An occasional lightning flash followed by some soft rumbling could be heard in the distance. Azura wrapped herself tighter in a blanket, trying to ignore the flashes, distracting herself with the movie. With every lightning strike a shiver ran down her spine, and with every rumble, she could swear she could feel pain flare up in her side.


    She put on her headphones and grabbed her laptop, hoping it would be enough to distract her. As soon as the movie started playing and the sound made her deaf to things going on outside, she was slowly able to relax a bit. Her fists were still clenched tightly together, nails digging into her palms, but the tension in her jaw was slowly releasing the more she focused on the movie instead of the thunder outside.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    It was thirty minutes in when the door opened and Lucas came in with a woman next to him. She clung to his arm, laughing and teasing him. As soon as they entered she grabbed him, pulled him down into a full-on french kiss, and started fondling him. He responded eagerly, taking off her jacket, his hands disappearing underneath her clothes.


    Another shiver ran down Azura''s spine as a cold wind brushed past her neck. The volume of the movie was so loud she hadn¡¯t noticed the front door opening or the couple making out behind her. As another gust flew past, Azura paused the movie and flinched as the thunder could be heard far away. She dreaded taking off her headphones but did so anyway as the cold wind was driving her nuts. She turned around seeing the door wide open and the couple next to it who were too engrossed in each other to notice her.


    "Hey, lovebirds!" It came out louder than intended. The woman let out a shriek and quickly removed her hand from his crotch. "Close the door and get a room will ya? I really don''t want to see this."


    Lucas just dumbly grinned at her and kicked the door shut, too lazy to even remove his hands from underneath her shirt. He was not at all bothered or ashamed of being caught and guided the woman up the stairs. She just giggled after her first moment of shock, trying to secretly feel him up at every possible moment. Azura turned back with a groan, not wanting to see any of it.


    "Headphones on again and I''m not moving for the next couple of hours..." She softly muttered to herself. There was a bright flash illuminating the room and Azura cowered, clutching her side. She cursed and quickly put her headphones on and pressed play to not hear the sound which made her cower in fear even more.


    Why do you let it dictate your feelings? It''s just a thunderstorm.


    She grit her teeth as the voice spoke up. "You know why."


    I was not there when you got hurt so I only have your memories to feed on. But you won''t like it when I do.


    "Stop it." She hissed at herself.


    Close your eyes.


    Azura did the exact opposite. She ignored the voice and tried to focus on the movie. Deep down she could feel the frustration and a bit of anger build up. It was heating her up, but she kept ignoring it like she had discussed with Nicolai during one of her sessions.


    Eventually, the feeling ebbed away, and by the time the movie was done, she felt exhausted. Not wanting to hear what was going on upstairs, she immediately turned on the second Underworld movie, but it became hard to focus. In the end, she paused it and closed her eyes for just a moment, not able to resist it anymore.


    A strange heat covered her body. Azura slowly opened her eyes again. Flames danced around her feet, the rest was pitch black. She felt constricted and it got harder to breathe. She tried to move but her body was locked in place. Her eyes darted around, searching anxiously for an escape. A sense of panic erupted inside and she tried to not let it rule her. She had to keep her wits about her and thoughts clean. She curled her hands into fists, focusing on that instead of the panic that wanted out.


    Why do you fear me?


    In front of Azura, the flames coiled together shaping themselves until there was a gigantic bird-like shape left. Its fiery wings stretched out far behind it. Flames dropped down like it was melting and its eyes were two black shiny orbs looking down upon her. It was gigantic and just as she remembered it.


    Azura started to tremble as the Phoenix took its shape and addressed her directly. She tried her hardest to get her breathing under control. Tears of fear started to form in her eyes but she was still unable to take a single step. Her legs felt like jelly, ready to buckle from underneath her at any given moment.


    I can feel your distress, but why do you fear me?


    She swallowed her fear, she wasn¡¯t capable of doing much else anyway. "Because you killed Nora! Because you killed Theresa! Because you killed tons of other people who meant the world to someone else! I fear you because you are a destroyer of everything I care about!" She screamed at the Phoenix, letting out all her frustration. Tears ran down her face as she let it all out.


    I killed your friend and many others, yes. I even killed you, yet here you are. Why does death anger you so? Did you not take three lives yourself before you came before me? Did you not come to me with any other reason than to kill me? Isn''t death a part of life and destiny? Why do you fight your destiny so much? Nora knew hers and accepted it so it gave her peace.


    "Stop with the questions already! Stop it, just stop it!" Azura placed her hands over her ears as her words turned into a pained scream. She fell to her knees, screaming turned into sobbing. Her whole body was shaking with every sob. Eventually, she was able to calm herself down a little and looked up at the flaming bird-like creature before her. Her voice was reduced to a mere whisper.


    "If... If you really killed me, then why am I here? Why didn''t I really die?"


    Because a Phoenix never dies. But it looks like our time is up.


    "But I''m not a-"


    The Phoenix was gone and the flames around her were suddenly doused by a big wave of ice-cold water that came crashing down on her.


    "-Phoenix..."


    Water dripped down her face as she gasped for air. It took her a moment to realize what had happened. She glared up at Lucas who, as her deadly gaze met his, took one step back as his grin melted like snow.


    "In my defense, you were absolutely screaming again and did not respond to anything else." He had raised his hands in a defensive way as he spoke up.


    Azura just stared at him, not able to decide on which swear words would emerge first from her mouth. Her look told him everything he needed to know though. There were so many thoughts running through her head she had difficulties keeping them apart. The conversation with the Phoenix, the questions she had and was not able to ask... Had it all been real or was it just another nightmare?


    "Fuck!" It took her a while, but in the end, it was the only word able to express her feelings. She rubbed her face dry with her arm.


    "That''s it?" Lucas had lowered his hands and seemed to relax a bit. "I don''t know what¡¯s going on, but I kind of get the feeling that was not an ordinary nightmare."


    "It''s a Phoenix, the voice is an effin¡¯ Phoenix and it''s in my head and it talks to me and I don''t even know what is real and what is not anymore and what the hell are you doing here while you should be up there doing whatever you''re good at with that woman!" It was one long stream of words with no break in between.


    "It''s been two hours. I don''t know about you, but my sexual escapades don''t last that long." He cast her a playful smile hoping to get her mind off the nightmare she had.


    "Too much info! Especially now." She eyed him suspiciously, not trusting him yet after he had doused her in water once again.


    "You asked for it, but I get the hint and will stop. Skipping to the next subject...what was that nightmare about and what do you mean about the ¡®Phoenix¡¯?"


    "If I''m going to tell you that, you first need to put some pants on. This-" She waved her finger up and down while pointing at him. "This is way too distracting right now."


    He was only wearing a t-shirt and black boxer briefs. Nothing she hadn''t seen before, as he usually wore this during their nighttime talks.


    "Now it¡¯s distracting? What about all the other times?" His grin grew even wider. He wanted to tease some more but at the last second decided not to.


    "Drop it please and just do it!" She waved him off.


    As Lucas left she untangled herself from the blanket. She had been sweating a lot. Her clothes were damp and wet. She took off her sweater and sat back down in the black tank top she had been wearing underneath.


    He returned swiftly, wearing an old pair of tracksuit bottoms. As he sat down next to her she pulled the blanket up to her chin again.


    "Start talking, Sunshine." He adjusted slightly so he was facing her.


    She began to talk, starting from the beginning when she and Nora had to face the Phoenix, up until this nightmare.


    It was deep into the night when she finished. Once she opened up, she told him almost everything except for the fact she was a snow leopard. She did make sure not to leave any hints about that while she talked.


    "I always suspected you had something to do with those rumors of the Phoenix. Can''t believe you and Nora actually took it down!" Lucas paused for a while and seemed to think things over.


    "This... ¡®voice¡­¡¯ in your head... It belongs to the Phoenix? And it''s been in your nightmares ever since?"


    Azura nodded. "Ever since I came here it has also started to talk to me when I''m wide awake. It''s driving me insane!"


    Lucas got up from the couch and paced around.


    "Tomorrow you will contact Dr. Jensen. We need to have a chat with him as soon as possible. There is something I''d like to discuss about this matter."


    He helped her up and then he noticed the laptop with a frozen image of the movie still on it. "Steffen was right. You do look like her." He gestured to the image on the laptop. It was close up off Selene while sporting the blue eyes.

 Chapter 17

    The three of them sat in a triangle, facing each other while deep in thought. Azura had just finished telling Dr. Jensen and Lucas about everything the Phoenix related things again and all the times the voice had spoken to her. She had been reluctant as both knew about it and repeating it again was not something she enjoyed. She did make sure to keep the details of the fight vague as Lucas did not know about her being a snow leopard shifter.


    "Now you wanted me to bring you here," she turned to Lucas, "You obviously have an idea, so spill it." She softly started tapping her foot on the floor while her fingers drummed on her knee. There was this uneasy feeling growing in her stomach. For some reason, she knew she would not like what he would say.


    "I¡¯m curious about your observations as well. We have mostly been focusing on getting her outbursts and anger under control, but this is something that goes hand in hand. Maybe if we get some more insight into this matter, we can tackle your problems from another angle." Dr. Jensen shifted his gaze from Lucas to Azura, addressing them both.


    "Alright, let''s start." Lucas took a deep breath. "What we know is that Azura killed a Phoenix together with her friend Nora with whom she shared a rare and powerful blood bond. In that fight, Nora died and so did the Phoenix-"


    "No, a Phoenix never dies. I told Azura that as well." Dr. Jensen interrupted him.


    "I know, that''s what she told me and that¡¯s also what had me thinking. Ever since that day, the voice started appearing in your nightmares. Your nightmares used to be of one single event but now both events started to haunt you at night, blurring the lines between them and almost making them one."


    He stopped talking and both Azura and Nicolai remained quiet. Azura had bit her lip softly and tried to keep her nerves under control.


    "Ever since you got here, the voice has become more prominent has it not? Talking to you even outside of your dreams? I, at first, just thought it was a figment of your own imagination, your way of dealing with the trauma, but there¡¯s something that¡¯s been bothering me. Whenever you get upset or are in a nightmare, you seem to radiate extreme heat. You even gave me some slight burn marks when you or the voice addressed me from that nightmare a while back."


    Lucas turned to Doctor Jensen and from the corner of his eye, he could see Azura shifting uncomfortably on her chair. She had grown even paler than she already usually was.


    "I believe you when you say a Phoenix never dies. And that''s why I came up with the following theory based on what Azura told me last night. That day they fought the Phoenix, they did kill it...but it might have killed both of them as well."


    "No! I''m here, alive and well! That''s not possible!" Panic filled her eyes as Lucas said the same thing the Phoenix had told her.


    She started to tremble and had to force herself to stay seated. She didn¡¯t want to hear it, but she knew she had to. Her eyes frantically darted between Lucas and Dr. Jensen as her heart started beating at a faster pace. Surprisingly, the voice had not yet spoken up and she did not yet feel the heat rising within herself.


    "You are... That''s what had me puzzled but I have this theory. You died Azura, there is simply no way you could have survived that fight. But what if you were reborn? Right there at that spot. A Phoenix always is reborn. What if the Phoenix and you were both reborn, that it brought you back to life. What if the Phoenix has become part of-"


    "Don''t you dare! Don''t you dare finish that sentence!" Azura had jumped up and stood before him pointing her finger in his chest.


    "Azura please calm down. He is merely speculating." Nicolai had gotten up from his chair and got behind her. He placed his hand on her shoulder trying to connect with her emotions so he could take some of it away.


    At least he understands.


    She felt her eye twitch as the voice spoke up. She stood frozen for a short moment fuming with undefined rage that had appeared out of nowhere. Azura had felt Nicolai tap in but had rejected him straight away. Eventually, she dropped her arm and bit her lip again, harder this time to stop the trembling and to focus on the slight discomfort it brought. Lucas had not moved, expecting this very reaction from her. He just looked her straight in the eye as if to challenge her.


    Whatever you do, don''t run. It was an old saying his dad used to say.


    "Can I continue?" He was calm and hoped that it would rub off on her. "I think the Phoenix is part of you. It explains your ''abilities'' and I think that it¡¯s only a fraction of what you are capable of."


    If only you would accept it.


    Her eye flinched again and she started twitching with her entire head to one side. It was just a small movement but big enough that Lucas had seen it. Dr. Jensen had backed off again, watching the whole scene evolve before him. The way Lucas was handling it seemed like he knew what he was doing.


    "It''s talking to you right now isn''t it?" A small grin started to play on the tall man¡¯s lips. He was on the right track. Pushing her to the edge so she would break down the walls to let her emotions go. Azura clenched her teeth and her fists together. Her brain started hurting. With her teeth still clenched together, she finally replied to Lucas.


    "I will never accept this abomination inside me. It has killed so many and it lives inside me? I can''t and will never accept it. It needs to leave and let me be, why can''t it just do that! If it did become a part of me, it can leave so I can live in peace!"


    If I go, you''ll die.


    "Then I''ll die! I prefer death over this life with the killer of my best friend inside of me!"


    No, you don''t. You already made that choice a while ago. You did not jump.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "I did not know what I know now!"


    Really? I think you did.


    "Just get the hell out of my head!"


    I will, for now, but I''ll be back. We do have a destiny to fulfill, you and me.


    Lucas and Nicolai had both stepped back a bit as Azura started to yell and talk to herself. She was clearly getting pissed off, drawing blood from the palms of her hands again as she yelled about dying. Her movements were jerky and it looked as if she wanted to escape from herself as she backed up into a wall.


    Lucas looked down at her hand, seeing the small trickle of blood. His eyes widened as he noticed a small spark igniting from her fist. Lucas turned his gaze to Nicolai and he knew straight away he had seen it as well.


    Azura collapsed to the floor, clutching her head in her hands. She had stopped yelling and just rocked back and forth breathing heavily. Nicolai looked over to Lucas and managed to find his voice after what he¡¯d just witnessed.


    "It seems you were right. This has just become so much more complicated."


    "Can you help her? At least for now?" Lucas was worried. He had wanted her to lose control, but to see her break down like this was not something he had hoped for.


    "If she doesn''t reject me, I can." Dr. Jensen walked over to her and placed both his hands on her shoulders.


    "Wait, she can reject you?" Lucas stared at him in shock. He had never heard of people able to reject a vaim''s control.


    "She has a powerful mind and will. I was just as surprised as you the first time." He closed his eyes and started digging into her mind.


    Azura stopped rocking as soon as she felt his reassuring hands on her shoulders. After a short struggle, she gave up, giving into the calm and serene feeling that wanted to overpower her. Her breathing calmed down and her body relaxed.


    As soon as Dr. Jensen let go, Lucas knelt down and gently helped her up. She was lethargic again, staring right through him. He guided her to her chair and sat her down. As he moved to let her go, she suddenly grabbed his wrist with an iron grip and pulled him in just as she had done before.


    Heat washed over him like the waves of an ocean. Lucas was caught off guard by her sudden strong force and was just in time to catch himself before he crashed into her. He noticed the small smirk right before she talked to him in a voice that was not her own.


    "Make her understand. She needs me."


    Azura released him, the sudden heat gone as soon as she let go. Lucas stumbled back, his heart racing. He looked over to Nicolai who had seen the whole thing and was observing Azura with a curious look. He could swear the old man was almost smiling but as he blinked, that smile seemed to have not ever existed.


    "That''s the second time it¡¯s talked to me." Lucas shuddered. In both those short moments it had spoken to him, he could feel the power behind it. It was frightening, to say the least. "What do you know about Phoenixes, Dr. Jensen?"


    *


    "You''re going to be the death of me one day!"


    Azura refused to look at Lucas and looked out over the valley where they had been before. In some places, the snow had started to melt, revealing the ground underneath. If you looked really close, some trees and plants had already started forming new buds, further proving Spring was just around the corner


    "You''ll be fine. I think I have you figured out enough to know how far I can push you." He offered her a sandwich.


    They were sitting on a fallen tree. He had to, almost literally, drag her out here but was glad she hadn¡¯t gone into the state she¡¯d been in the last time she had a breakdown. Nicolai had given her some medication that could apparently pull someone out of a lethargic state within an hour and it had worked. She had recovered quite swiftly.


    At first, she¡¯d refused to speak to either of them, but realized it was of no use to stay angry. Lucas and Dr. Jensen were not to blame for this situation, they had merely tried to help and find some answers. That didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t ticked off at Lucas, the way he had proven his theory was not one she could stand behind because it meant triggering her in a way that was beyond anything she could control. She wanted to stay in control, in fact, it had been the key point she had been working on with Nicolai. To control herself, her temper, and anger, and then Lucas did the one thing that made her lose control to a Phoenix. The Phoenix¡­ The same creature that caused so much grief and death.


    "I''ll be fine? How can you be so sure? Apparently, I already died once, and you might just be the cause for my dying a second time if you keep this up. Or I might kill you sooner because you make it really difficult for me not to at times!" She played with her sandwich, keeping her gaze on the bread or on the horizon.


    "Nah, you won''t kill me. The Phoenix likes me too much to allow it and I would never kill you. Not intentionally." Lucas smiled as he observed her, he could see the confusion on her face even though she tried to hide it.


    "Not intentionally? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?" She stopped toying with the sandwich and had to fight herself to not look his way. Not wanting to give him the satisfaction just yet.


    "I''m just joking! Look, I know what I did was probably not that pleasant for you. I don''t like triggering and seeing you in that state, but if we do nothing and only try to pamper you, we''re not addressing the problems and you will keep being haunted by your nightmares and thoughts."


    She didn¡¯t answer him straight away. Part of her wanted to explode and yell in his face that maybe this was not the right way as well. They were her issues, she had to solve them. She was responsible for her own well-being and it was her burden to bear. The thought crossed her mind that neither Lucas nor Nicolai even should be involved. She dismissed those strain of thoughts almost as soon as they had appeared though. She had tried to fight it on her own and that had not worked out well.


    Instead of answering, she just stared off into the distance thinking about what he¡¯d said. For a few minutes, the birds chirping was the only noise around. Azura had closed her eyes and enjoyed the wind as it gently caressed her face. It wasn¡¯t as cold anymore as it had been a while ago. Thinking about it, she hadn¡¯t really felt cold for a while now. Finally, she turned and faced Lucas.


    "These past years I''ve been thinking about ending it. I believed I wasn¡¯t able to handle this, thought I was better off dead, but never had the guts to do so. That night when Rose broke up with you... I almost did kill myself. I wanted to do it, longed for it even, but I made a choice that day and it wasn''t death. I will fight and eventually accept. But that last part? I can''t accept it just yet. I can''t accept that thing inside me, I can''t accept its fury or anger. I know I have a bad temper myself already, but this thing makes me dangerous. It feeds on my anger, triples it, and wants to take over. It''s destructive and it scares me because I can feel the strength of it and I know what it wants. I hope you¡¯re right about it not wanting to kill you, Lucas, because my biggest fear is that I lose control; that it takes over and I won''t be able to do anything about it. You''re wrong about not being scared of me as even I am scared of myself. If I was able to kill so ruthlessly without it, imagine what I can and will do with this thing inside me."


    "Do you trust me, Azu?" The question hit her like a ton of bricks.


    The last person to ask her that question was dead. Azura stared at Lucas. After everything she¡¯d said, this was the only thing he asked her? This damned question, which had been the last question Nora had asked her? Azura bit her lip and closed her eyes for a second. She felt him grab her hand and gently stroke it.


    After careful consideration, she answered the only way that she could. "Yes... Yes, I do."

 Chapter 18

    "Do you trust me?" Nora held onto Azura''s shoulders while staring into her bright blue eyes. "Do you trust me!" Azura flinched as she asked that question. Of course she did! And Nora knew it, so why ask her?


    "Yes! I do! I trust you, I always have and you know it!" Azura blurted it out, frustrated at herself and Nora and this whole situation. She was not a fighter and now she was being forced to by a force nobody really understood.


    "Good. We''ll get through this. You and me, we have to do this and we''ll get through it. We''re a team and this is what we''re meant to do. The reason we have this bond. I need your back on this, Azu."


    Nora grabbed her even tighter and drew her in for a tight hug. The girls stood there hugging for a few minutes until Floyd came in. He glanced at the two of them and Azura quickly let go of Nora. She still felt awkward around Floyd knowing he didn¡¯t have much love for her.


    Being a werewolf, Nora was better trained in fighting and battle tactics. Even though the Greenwood pack was peaceful and things like pack wars were ancient history, werewolves still had to fight at times. She was raised with it, unlike the snow leopard shifter who¡¯d been raised as a human most of her life. Sure, Azura had been training to fight ever since, but it was not something she enjoyed.


    "We have to move. The Phoenix is about to rise." Floyd spoke with his arms crossed and without much enthusiasm. Nora gave him a kiss and placed her forehead against his.


    "I love you." She whispered softly to him. Nora let him go and headed to the door. Floyd followed, but not after giving Azura a cold glare. He would never accept her, she would always be a threat to him and his mate bond with Nora. Azura followed a moment later, following the pair to the rest of the pack.


    Everybody was here, not just the werewolves and Professor Sloan. Other students from the college, druids, casters, and even some vampires. They were all willing to risk their lives to help them be able to fight something most of them had never even heard of. Something that had last been seen over three hundred years ago in another part of the world. But in the end, Azura knew she and Nora were the ones who would have to end it. It was in their blood, the reason they were brought together. The rest would just try to keep the Phoenix fanatics at bay. A tough fight as well, as that group had many followers and really good fighting skills.


    "There has to be another way." Andreas turned to Azura as she spoke up.


    "I''m afraid not. The only way to protect our land and country, perhaps even the world, is to kill it." Azura sighed and looked up at the Alpha of the Greenwood pack who gave her a reassuring squeeze to the shoulder before moving off. He climbed onto a big rock so he was overlooking everyone that was there.


    "We will attack as soon as it emerges. The first few groups are already in place. Our main goal is to keep those bloody fanatics away from here. The Phoenix itself... It''s probably too fast and too tough to attack. There will be a small group, including me and Floyd, trying to get the Phoenix''s attention to lead it straight here to Nora and Azura who have to take it down before the Phoenix reaches any of the cities. If we fail to stop it here, I don''t know what will happen." Andreas continued on speaking, giving out orders to what everyone was to do, and slowly the area became empty with all the groups heading out. It wasn''t long until the earth started to rumble.


    The girls looked at each other in shock and stared into the direction it came from. Nora stood next to her and grabbed her hand giving it a small squeeze. In the distance, they could see big ash clouds forming. They started to cover the sky, blocking the light. The clouds moved forward at an alarming rate, telling them this was no ordinary eruption. It did not take long for the ash to reach them. Azura gazed up as the first clouds drifted in, covering the sun and bathing them in darkness. She held up her hand and watched as black snowflakes landed on it. Nora gripped her hand even tighter showing she was scared to death. Azura shared that feeling, she felt a tightness in her chest, making it harder to breathe and making her heart work twice as fast.


    Andreas stood behind them, all three staring into the darkness. They hadn¡¯t noticed how everything had gone deadly quiet. There was not a single bird singing, no wind rustling through the foliage. There was nothing but their breathing. As if on cue, a bright red and yellow light erupted on the horizon. It was like lava spewing out from the earth. Andreas just muttered a single word to them.


    "Go."


    Nora was the first to react, she let go of Azura and ran down the hill. Azura soon followed and the two girls made their way to the open space beneath them. It didn¡¯t take long for the first sounds of fighting and screams to reach their ears. Azura climbed into a tree, taking up a position as high as possible. For a long time, she couldn¡¯t see anything.


    They waited. Seconds turned to minutes, minutes to what felt like an eternity. As she peered off into the distance there was nothing that could be seen beside the orange-red glow on the horizon. She narrowed her eyes when she saw movement. Unclear at first, but it became bigger quickly as the large Phoenix revealed itself and started coming straight at them.


    It was gigantic, with flames whipping all around it. There were several tailfeathers which were just as long as its body. The wings were shaped like that of a massive eagle, it''s beak as well. It looked like a big bird of prey, only sometimes it would not fly forward but come in an upright position and hover, overlooking and analyzing the situation. It would swipe its tail from left to right, igniting everything it touched. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    The flaming bird screeched loudly and swooped up to avoid the energy blasts and other attacks, even if they weren''t intended for it. Azura stared in shock as the Phoenix flew up and sometimes swooped down, burning everything in its path. What remained was black, charred, and dead.


    "What do you see?!" Nora yelled from down the tree. She wasn¡¯t a good climber as Azura was and preferred to stay on the ground.


    "It''s...actually strangely beautiful. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that it''s setting everything on fire!" Azura gasped as the Phoenix opened its beak and a long stream of fire erupted from it, scorching everything beneath it, including all the people who had started fighting. Friend and foe alike. Azura jumped down, all the color had drained from her face. "There''s no way... No way we can beat this thing, it just killed hundreds without even trying! Everyone is dying and that... That thing didn''t even try! How can just the two of us kill it?!"


    Nora placed her forehead against hers. "We will. We were meant to do this. We will find a way." She had always been the calm and sensible one. Azura felt herself calm down as she gazed in the dark brown eyes of her friend. They let go of each other and it didn¡¯t take long before the Phoenix appeared before them. It shrieked loudly and stopped flying as it gazed down at them. It had covered an incredible distance in such a short time that the girls were not prepared. They looked at each other and with a single nod, they both shifted. The Phoenix just watched, observed as the change took place, patiently waiting for them. A big brown werewolf and a slender blue-eyed snow leopard stood side by side. The wolf let out a loud howl and bared its teeth.


    The Phoenix roared and flicked it''s tail to where they were standing. The girls lept out of the way and the only thing that remained in their place was a long scorched area. The falling ash became heavier, clouding their sight. The Phoenix flew up again and carefully assessed the situation. It was big, and because of that, once it moved, it couldn¡¯t change direction fast.


    Something they had hoped was the case. The Phoenix looked down upon the wolf and leopard and swooped down again, right where they had wanted it to go. Azura lept onto a few rocks and made her way up to the top of the cliff on one side of the valley, Nora did the same on the other side as they had discussed earlier.


    The plan was to try and get the Phoenix to fly down in between the cliffs so they could get on top of it. It was exactly what they had hoped for. It flew down, the belly touching the earth and burning everything. If the wings were high enough, it would cover the top of the hills, killing them if it were to touch them. The girls exchanged one last look as the Phoenix passed in between them and took the jump.


    It burned her paws, her skin, her whiskers, and her hair but it didn¡¯t hurt. The stench was there, the same stench when she got burned by the lightning strike. Azura clawed at the wing, Nora next to her also trying to get a grip on the flaming body. Nora bit down hard, her mouth filling with flames. Azura could feel her pain in her own mouth as the flames wrapped around Nora.


    The Phoenix shrieked again, trying to shake them off. It flapped its wings furiously, causing it to roll to the side and crash down against the ground. Nora had let go and had fallen back on the body of the Phoenix towards the tail. Azura yelped as she felt herself almost slip off, but she clawed into it''s back, barely hanging on. The flames burned her paws but it wasn¡¯t killing her.


    Slowly Azura crawled forward onto its back, safe from the wings. The Phoenix suddenly turned its head around and looked straight at Azura. For less than a second they connected, for less than a second Azura stared into her own eyes.


    She heard a loud howl and drew herself away from the intense gaze, looking for Nora. She was barely hanging on, dangling right at the end of the body where it met the tail, her body burning and bleeding. Nora bit down one last time. As the Phoenix got distracted by Nora, Azura saw one glistening area not covered in flames; it was on the neck. If she could make the leap...


    Azura jumped and with all her might she bit down. Her teeth sank into something she could not describe as skin. There was no blood as she dug her canines in, but she could feel the heartbeat. She bit down and crunched her jaws together as tight as she was able to manage. The bird roared upwards in pain and Azura felt the flames around her becoming more intense. They were growing, surrounding and covering her, but for some reason, it wasn¡¯t burning her. As the bird shrieked again and reared upwards one more time, Azura felt her grip loosen and she had to let go. She was falling through the fire.


    They would die. There was no other way. Azura came to that conclusion as she tumbled down the body of the Phoenix. In the corner of her eye, she saw Nora being thrown off and the tail coming straight for her. It would be a clean strike. Azura closed her eyes in terror as the tail hit her best friend, flames engulfing her. A howl that was cut short was the last thing Azura remembered.


    Her eyes fluttered open. Azura lay on her back, naked and in human form. She stared up at the sky gasping for air. It was blue. The sky was blue. She slowly turned her head to see if she could find Nora. Her body was killing her, and she could still feel the flames burning away her skin. She groaned as she saw nothing and turned her head the other way.


    There... Azura blinked and rolled over to her side, ignoring the pain that came with it. Against the rocks lay a motionless body of a brown wolf, or what was left of it. Azura started crawling to it, her legs not willing to cooperate. She dragged herself, forced herself to move. Eventually, she was able to reach the wolf and she touched the back legs. The skin was cold, black, and blistered. Blood trickled out of the muzzle of the wolf, eyes charred close. She was maimed by the fire, broken by the force she had hit the rocks with.


    "Nora...please. Please wake up. You can''t do this to me." Azura started sobbing as she buried her face into the soft neck of the wolf.


    "You promised we would stay together...dead or alive. Wake up now. Just wake up..." Tears ran down her face before she collapsed and everything turned black.


    Floyd was the first to arrive, Andreas following not far behind. Floyd let out a massive pained scream as he saw the two lifeless bodies. He ran towards them and fell next to Nora where grabbed her head and cradled it in his lap as he wept. Andreas slowly approached and took off his coat. His eyes filled with tears as he knew this had been a complete massacre. He carefully placed his coat over the naked body of Azura as she partly laid on top of the still body of Nora. She wasn¡¯t as badly burned as Nora, it was mostly black ash covering her body, but her hands, feet, arms, and legs had some slightly burned areas. Nonetheless, she was as still as Nora, not breathing.


    Andreas knelt down next to them, remaining silent as the heartbroken cries of Floyd filled the air. He felt defeated. The Phoenix had left only death in its wake and now it was gone, not a single trace left of it, but at what cost? He moved his hand to Azura''s face and wiped some hair out of her eyes. She took a breath, a small one, followed by another. Her eyelids started to twitch.


    "She''s alive... She''s still alive!"

 Chapter 19

    Trust. A word that small with such big consequences. Azura had told him she trusted him, made him believe her, and she did for a big part. She had indulged Lucas on most of the story about the phoenix, telling him in detail what had happened except for one thing. She couldn¡¯t mention it, not yet. Feeling guilty about it, she tried not to let it shine through but she was just not ready yet, and the warning from doctor Jensen still lingered in the back of her head. There was no denying Lucas suspected something but he had not inquired about it and she was happy he hadn¡¯t. Still, she told him she trusted him, and yet her actions proved otherwise.


    There had not been much time for them to talk about it though, as a day later Lucas suddenly left after the mayor had given him a call. It wasn¡¯t just him, Jeff, Nathan, Oliver and another young man named Johnathan had left. A hike as he called it. Azura didn¡¯t believe him as he would not be asked by the mayor to go on a hike with a group of men. There was something else behind it that he did not want to tell her and Azura had an idea of what that could be. The very reason she had not revealed to him what she was.


    The thin woman forced herself to look up again, keeping her thoughts at bay as much as possible. No use in reminiscing about everything but better to stay in the present. With not much else to do, she spend most of her time in the climbing hall, helping out now that the men were gone or just hanging out with Sheila and Rose. As she looked over at Sheila she noticed the big woman seemed tired. Azura flashed her an acknowledging smile all the while Rose was still rambling on about whatever it was that had caught her interest.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you agree, Azu?!¡± Rose prodded in her shoulder trying to get her attention.


    ¡°Sorry¡­ I did not follow that last part.¡±


    Rose rolled her eyes before repeating what she said. ¡°I said, I had expected Sheila to be pregnant by now,¡± The small woman turned to Sheila as she continued. ¡°I mean, you guys have be-¡±


    Azura shoved her elbow into Rose¡¯s ribs in a not so gentle manner to shut her up as she noticed Sheila paling before them. A sadness falling over her face as she took a deep breath to steady herself.


    ¡°What the?! What was that for?!¡± Rose angry exclaimed as she rubbed the spot where Azura had nudged her.


    ¡°For being an insensitive idiot.¡±


    ¡°I was not¡­¡± As Rose turned to face Sheila she fell silent. Sheila gave them both a meek smile and shook her head.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. And no, I¡¯m not pregnant. Yet. We¡¯re trying, but it¡¯s hard. It¡¯s starting to take a toll on us both. We both got the greenlight healthwise, so that¡¯s not the issue. It¡¯s just that this whole baby-making thing, it¡¯s becoming forced. Jeff is getting frustrated; the fun is gone. Actually, I¡¯m rather glad the guys went out on that trip together. Gives me some time to clear my head and make a choice about what to do. I¡¯m thinking of putting this whole ordeal on hold for now. A baby will come when it¡¯s time. I would never forgive myself if I ruined our relationship over a child.¡±


    Rose placed her hand on top of Sheila¡¯s in understanding and the two women shared a short look together. Azura watched the two green-eyes ladies for a bit before her attention got distracted by a couple of shirtless men walking by ready to go climb. It had been a lot quieter now in the hall since the winter sports season had fallen to an end. There were fewer tourists around and now mostly the locals hung out in the hall. Some of those locals enjoyed that fact as they felt more at home to just climb shirtless.


    ¡°Seeing something you like?¡± Rose winked at her.


    ¡°Wha? No!¡± Azura stammered as both women just laughed at her. ¡°No, I just¡­ I¡¯m not ready for that! Any of that.¡± She waved at the men.


    ¡°So that¡¯s not the reason you cut your hair and started to wear some make-up?¡± Sheila had placed her elbows on the counter and leaned towards the raven-haired woman.


    Azura combed through her now shoulder-length hair. ¡°The reason I did that was cause Rose forced me to cut my hair and apply some make-up. There was no way I could refuse.¡±


    ¡°Damn right you don¡¯t refuse me! Plus, it makes you look a lot better! I bet even Lucas wouldn¡¯t say no if you aske-¡± Rose grunted as she got a second prod in her ribs from Azura.


    ¡°Dare to finish that sentence. Like I said I¡¯m not interested in guys, romance, or any of that stuff and I¡¯m just going to overlook the fact you brought your ex into this!¡±


    Rose grimaced and looked over at Sheila for help but she just shrugged her shoulders and kept her mouth shut.


    ¡°No Azura-babies either¡­. I get the message¡­¡± She mumbled softly.


    Azura¡¯s breath hitched for a small moment which did not go unnoticed by the two ladies. She gulped as she realized her friends had no clue what had happened and what the implications were.


    ¡°No Azura-babies ever¡­¡± Azura said softly. ¡°Though I never had felt the need to create little mini-me¡¯s the choice was taken from me back when I met Lucas. He must have told you guys some things about it?¡± Rose just nodded as Sheila placed her hand on top off Azura¡¯s and squeezed lightly.


    ¡°I got hurt; badly hurt. Heck, it¡¯s a fucking miracle I¡¯m even alive. Hence Lucas¡¯s reaction when he first saw me in town. My womb is greatly disfigured and scarred, on top of that one of my ovaries is gone and the other¡­ Well, that one ain¡¯t producing eggs anymore.¡± Azura shrugged as she blinked rapidly a few times trying to clear the water that was close to leaking out of her eyes.


    She never wanted to have kids of her own but it was her choice. A choice that could always change depending on age and place in life. Maybe in five years¡¯ time, she would change her mind and she would want to try to have a baby. That choice had been taken from her. She no longer had a choice and no matter how often she reminded herself she had no plans to reproduce, it still hurt. More than she¡¯d like to admit.


    A fake smile formed on her face trying to give the other two the impression she was fine. ¡°I never wanted to have babies anyway.¡±


    Oblivious to her friend¡¯s inner turmoils Rose spoke up. ¡°Well, I¡¯d like to have kids of my own one day. Just not now.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯d want one now I would really wonder who the father would be. You normally need a guy for that first.¡± Sheila butted in.


    Rose bit her lip and Azura could swear a slight blush crept on the woman¡¯s cheeks. She could not loo long as Rose¡¯s phone started to ring straight away. Mouthing an apology, Rose hurriedly walked away as she answered the call.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Sheila just shook her head and let out a small frustrated groan. ¡°That girl... I swear she is hiding something. You doing alright, dear?¡±


    As Sheila looked up again her green eyes clashed with Azura¡¯s cold blue ones. Azura stared at Sheila, all smiles and friendliness gone. Azura had her hands on the counter, fists clenched together as she bit her lip.


    ¡°Rose is obviously seeing someone.¡± Her voice was devoid of all emotion. ¡°Your eyes. They¡¯re green. As are Lucas¡¯s, Rose¡¯s, and I bet a whole lot of other people here. An almost unnatural green. Vibrant, strong. Yes, there are differences in hues but there¡¯s something deeper behind them. Behind all of you.¡±


    Sheila paled and took a step back as her eyes widened at Azura and the sudden change of topic. She wiped some red strands of hair out of her face while nervously looking around to see if nobody had heard Azura. ¡°This is not the place for such talks.¡±


    ¡°The guys,¡± Azura whispered, ¡°They¡¯re not on a normal hike. They¡¯re after blue-eyed snow leopards, am I right?¡±


    ¡°If you know, then you know that most ears are more sensitive than any human. This is not the place. But the quick answer is yes.¡±


    Azura visibly relaxed at the confirmation which in turn, allowed Sheila to relax a little as well. Tension still hung in the air between them but Azura leaned back and took a few breaths while quickly scanning the climbing hall. People were just doing their thing and there was nobody even remotely close to them so the likelihood of someone hearing her was minimal.


    ¡°Sorry¡­ I just needed to know. Lucas explained things about it all, about him, a little about blue-eyed snow leopards and green-eyed ones. I¡­ He did not say what was going on now, just seemed in a hurry to leave and the past few days has given me some time to think about it.¡± Partly true, Azura hoped Sheila would believe her and it seemed like she did as the big woman released and just gave her a nod with a small smile.


    ¡°We can talk more later if you wish. Just not now and not here. Could you maybe man the bar for the rest of the afternoon? Since the guys are gone, I¡¯m actually a person short.¡±


    A nod was all the confirmation Sheila got but it was enough. She gave Azura a wink and squeezed her hand for a moment as a reassurance of their friendship. ¡°Look, there was something else I wanted to ask you, Azu. You¡¯re here so often and you always help out. It¡¯s time you get paid for it too. Jeff and I discussed this earlier and we would like to officially employ you.¡±


    Stunned, Azura¡¯s mouth opened and closed a few times without words coming out. ¡°I¡­ Really? Are you sure? I mean, I¡¯m not the most stable person out there. That time I was ¡®sick¡¯ you do realize I wasn¡¯t really physically¡­ ¡®sick¡¯ right? I could, that could happen again.¡±


    ¡°I know. We all know. We won¡¯t let you take a shift alone and you can always back out of a shift if you need it. Just keep letting us know what¡¯s going on and how you feel.¡±


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll do it. Thanks, it means a lot to me!¡±


    Soon after Sheila left, Rose came back from her phonecall and both women worked the rest of the day till evening started to fall. Now that spring was here it was quieter in the hall. The tourists that occasionally wanted a break from skiing or snowboarding often came to their place but now it was mostly just regulars. According to Rose, summer was when things would pick up again. For now, Azura did not mind as exhaustion was setting in. She tried stifling a yawn and failed to do so right as someone walked up the counter.


    ¡°Hey, sleepyhead It¡¯s not even eight yet!¡± Leaning over, the blond-haired guy made her chuckle as she walked over.


    ¡°What are you doing here, Steffen? Lucas is gone for at least three more days.¡± She pulled a barstool over and sat down easing the annoying tingle in her feet.


    ¡°Yeah, I did not come to see that big ass. I was actually wondering if Rose was still around.¡± A slight blush crept on his cheeks which did not go unnoticed.


    A grin plastered itself on Azura¡¯s face as she leaned back a bit and turned her head sideways to the office.


    ¡°Rose!¡± She shouted it harder than needed, ¡°There¡¯s somewhere here to meet ya! He¡¯s tall, blond, and very handsome!¡±


    Azura got down the barstool and took a step back, leaning against a wall so she would have both Steffen and Rose in her view when the short one walked in. It didn¡¯t take long for her to appear and the grin on Azura''s face only grew larger as she saw Rose''s reaction to Steffen. Rose quickly grabbed his hand and dragged him outside while glaring at Azura to keep her mouth shut. Azura just gave a small chuckle and continued with her work as they both left. It was only fifteen minutes when Rose came back by herself.


    "Had fun?" Azura tried to hide a grin but failed miserably at doing so.


    "It''s not what you think!" Her flustered face betrayed her straight away.


    ¡°Yeah right, And I¡¯m an airplane.¡± Azura sarcastically replied. ¡°How long has this been going on?¡±


    "Ever since... Steffen came to town, I guess." Rose was shuffling her foot around like a toddler who got caught doing something bad. Azura just made a facepalm and shook her head.


    "You or Steffen need to tell Lucas. I''m sure he won''t mind, but you do need to tell him."


    "He''ll kill me! Well maybe not me, but he''ll kill Steffen for sure! And I know I need to tell him but we haven''t gotten around to it yet, and then the guys decided to leave all of a sudden, and this just became a whole lot more serious. You know how it goes..."


    "I don''t actually, but that''s ok." Azura grinned at Rose and turned around to help someone else. Rose walked past her and gave her a prod in the ribs before heading back to the office.


    It was not long before Azura left for home. Once there, she made her way to the bathroom, stripped, and started removing her make-up. It appeared as if she was only wearing mascara and eyeliner but as she proceeded, a layer of concealer also rubbed off. When she was done, she stared at herself in the mirror, her own reflection shocking herself. Dark circles lay underneath her eyes. Ever since Lucas had left, the nightmares had intensified since the whole Phoenix ordeal and this time, there was no one to wake her up. She was getting fewer ad fewer hours of good sleep and it was driving her insane. Afraid to close her eyes, Azura had tried many things to calm her mind before going to bed but nothing had helped to keep the nightmares at bay. She was just glad neither Rose nor Sheila had noticed how tired she actually was. Waking up bathing in sweat and absolutely terrified was something she did not like to talk about yet. This was something only she could stop and till then, she would try anything to just get one night of full sleep.


    *


    She felt the knife in her hand, felt the cold touch of the handle in her palm. It was a perfect fit. She kneeled down next to the faceless body and pressed the blade to the throat. The vein could be seen pumping against the skin and she pressed the tip of the knife against it without breaking the skin.


    She felt her own bloodthirst rise up. She wanted the kill, the rush of seeing life ebb away as the blood flowed out of the body. But this body was faceless. It was alive as she could feel the warmth of the skin and the heart pumping, but there was no face to gaze at. No eyes that were pleading, no eyes demanding her to kill.


    Azura pressed the knife deeper into the skin until blood welled up at the tip. The body didn¡¯t move one bit, it couldn¡¯t feel anything and just laid there. She was getting restless, this is not how she wanted to kill. She withdrew the knife again and tried to throw it away but it clung to her palm. Her hand started to shake and quickly she got up and stumbled backward.


    Her hand closed itself around the handle of the knife again and acted on its own. It pulled her forward guiding her back to the body. She pressed the knife back against the throat and pushed harder. The skin was giving in, more blood started spilling and then the skin parted in slow-motion. On each side of the knife, the skin retracted and seemed to curl up a bit before blood started oozing out.


    The relief, the tension, the excitement it gave her was exhilarating. Slowly she dragged the knife around the throat, slicing it open even further until the blood was spraying out with every beat of its heart. She had sliced the main artery and it felt so damn good to feel the blood splatter on herself. It started as a chuckle but soon she was laughing hysterically.


    Like a maniac, her laughter roared around in the darkness surrounding her. She tossed her head back as she withdrew the knife and buried it in the chest of the faceless body. The laughter became even louder as she gripped the handle with both her hands and started plunging it again and again in the chest. She loved this feeling! She loved to kill! It was giving her that rush of adrenaline that nothing else could give her.


    "Azura?"


    She spun around, covered in blood grinning like a mad maniac. A tall figure appeared from the darkness and watched her. Slowly she got up and tossed the knife to the side. Another body to kill and this one was moving. This one was alive.


    She stretched her fingers and licked her lips. She had killed with a knife so now it was time to do it with her bare hands. The figure came closer and she kept laughing louder with every step it took. As the body touched her she lunged straight for him. Her hand wrapped around its throat and she applied pressure.


    "Jesus Christ, Azu!" A sharp pain erupted from the side of her cheek as her head was slapped to one side. She fell. She fell into a black hole, darkness surrounding her, hugging her until she hit the floor with a loud thud.


    Dazed, Azura looked around, finding herself on the floor of her own room. She groaned as she felt a sharp jab of pain in her cheek. She slowly got up on her knees and waited for a moment to regain her orientation.


    "What the hell were you thinking?" Lucas''s voice gave her shivers. He was furious. She turned around and stared at him in shock as he rubbed his throat.


    "I... I don''t know. I was... Dreaming? Did I...?"


    She was stammering. All the blood left her face as she realized what most likely had happened. Lucas groaned and motioned for her to get up. She complied and slowly she approached him.


    "I''m sorry. I don''t know what came over me... In my dream, it was just...you blended in. I didn¡¯t know!"


    She rubbed her cheek and sat down on the bed. Lucas''s anger was quickly fading as she started to apologize and he realized it was her acting in a dream. He sighed and joined her on the bed.


    "I shouldn''t have hit you but it seemed the only way to get your crazy ass off of me. You actually tried to choke me, Azu. Don''t ever try that again!"


    Azura stared at her feet. She had actually given in to the urge to kill. Even though it had just been a dream, she had given in. And the need to kill someone with her bare hands was just shocking.


    "I''m so sorry. You had every right. I would have done the same I think."


    Her voice was barely audible. It was silent for a while and finally, she looked up at Lucas. He still seemed in shock; skin pale and eyes rested deep in his sockets. He seemed exhausted.


    "What are you doing back so early?" Her voice was coming back. "I didn¡¯t expect you back for another few days."


    Lucas closed his eyes and leaned back, his weight resting on his elbows. She noticed he was struggling to keep his emotions at bay. "Johnathan has gone missing. We searched all over but there was not a single trace." His voice broke. "He just... vanished."

 Chapter 20

    ¡°Oh stop beating yourself up, Lucas!¡± Nathan sneered. ¡°The boy was green as grass and never should¡¯ve come anyway.¡±


    The weather seemed to reflect Lucas¡¯s mood as he stood with Nathan and Jeff outside a small farmhouse. Rain drizzled down on them, it not being cold enough to turn to snow or ice.


    ¡°How come Ben doesn¡¯t do anything against this kind of crap!¡± Stomping his foot down and throwing his hands towards the house, Lucas tried to vent some of the built-up anger inside him. ¡°He¡¯s the fucking mayor, our leader, and yet he doesn¡¯t take care of his own! He must know the way the boy was treated by his folks!¡±


    ¡°Private business. You of all people should know. Ben doesn¡¯t meddle in people¡¯s private affairs.¡± Shrugging, Nathan attempted to start walking away. ¡°Look¡­ Johnathan probably joined our expedition hoping that he could get out. You just got first-hand experience of how the kid was treated by his folks, they didn¡¯t think much of him and he more than likely tried proving himself over and over. Joining us and hoping to be able to catch a filthy blue-eyed was potentially his way of getting favor from his parents. By the time he realized we wouldn¡¯t get any, he probably changed his mind and ran away.¡±


    Jeff rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as he watched the two other men talk. His mind was already filled to the top with everything going on regarding Sheila, so he just wanted to go home.


    ¡°Run away?¡± Lucas scoffed. ¡°And where would he go?! There is no way he would survive alone out there for so long. He¡¯s been missing for five months now! We¡¯ve not found a single trace of him and mysteriously, no traces of the blue-eyed snow leopards either since then! What does that tell you?!¡± He balled his hands into fists, ready to hit anything close by. Finding nothing in the vicinity except the two taller and bigger men, Lucas cursed loudly, gaining him two pairs of raised eyebrows.


    ¡°I see her ways are rubbing off on you, eh?¡± Nathan¡¯s remark made Jeff sigh and roll his eyes again.


    ¡°What? Please elaborate.¡± Lucas was practically fuming.


    Johnathan¡¯s disappearance had been chewing at him ever since and now with this talk with his parents, it hadn¡¯t helped one bit. It had been the mayor¡¯s idea as a last attempt to try and find the boy, that maybe his parents would talk more to the men who were with their son when he went missing. How wrong he had been. Besides that, Ben has also been hounding him for more information about Azura to a point it almost felt like an obsession. He hadn¡¯t mentioned it to anyone as it wasn¡¯t anyone''s business but it was getting to the point where he simply couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    ¡°Oh come on, you know what I mean. You¡¯re raging like a lunatic. There¡¯s only one person who could¡¯ve taught you that seeing as how you used to be the calmest guy around, then you took that woman into your house. Speaking of which, How come she has no scent? Like¡­none at all?¡±


    ¡°Ok! That¡¯s it! I¡¯m done!¡± Lucas turned to Jeff who silently watched him. ¡°You, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow,¡± Turning to Nathan, he spoke up. ¡°And you, Get off my back, tell Ben to lay off my back too, in fact, I would appreciate if everyone would lay off my back! If Azura posed any threat to our community, Nicolai would have mentioned it by now. I trust her and if she¡¯s ready she¡¯ll tell us. Till then, I¡¯m not going to pry. Now, enjoy the rest of your day!¡±


    Not waiting for either to respond, Lucas started walking back to his house while swearing under his breath at the rain. Even though Jeff would have to go the exact same way, right now he just needed some alone time and perhaps a beer or two later. Besides, the big man seemed out of it the whole time as well, so Lucas guessed he needed his private time too. He could understand. One thing he preferred about guys more than women; no explanations needed and the next day, all would be good.


    Softly cursing at the continuing downpour, Lucas pulled up his hood even though he was soaked already. He could¡¯ve called a taxi as he had done on the way over but the physical activity of walking was also a warm welcome to calm his mind and organize thoughts. He was on one side of the city, a part he rarely visited as it consisted of mostly just houses with nothing to do in the vicinity. It would take around twenty minutes to reach the city center and from there another twenty to get back to his own place.


    Time he had since he had nothing else planned for the day. Well, aside from digging into his father¡¯s and grandfather¡¯s research that was. He had been meaning to do that again, hoping to find more clues about the blue-eyes but hadn¡¯t gotten around to it yet. Or to put it in other words; hadn¡¯t found the courage to do so. He didn¡¯t know exactly what it was that prevented him; scared maybe of finding something he wouldn¡¯t like? It didn¡¯t matter anyway. The research wouldn¡¯t go anywhere and he had more pressing matters to deal with. Azura being one of them.


    He had so often thought back to the moment he had met her. Trying to find out if she had a scent back then, but for the life of him, he could not recall even though he had spent a few days with her before the shitstorm hit. Every time he thought back, the only thing he could recall was her interactions with Nora, how they seemed to be almost as one. Their bantering, the looks they gave each other, the connection they shared...and then the blood.


    How she had looked, covered in red before attacking that bastard. The shock when he turned out to be an energy caster. The bloodied aftermath where her body fell over the attacker, lifeless. The thick smell of blood returned to his nose from the memory.


    The attackers had given them all bracelets. They were infused with some magic as they blocked all abilities a person had. Basically, rendering everyone human. That feeling had haunted him longer than he would¡¯ve liked to admit. Being so helpless, no extra power at hand, knowing that if he got hurt, his healing skills were next to nothing. His sense of smell and hearing had been reduced to that of a normal human, so even then, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to catch her scent.


    Caught up in his thoughts, Lucas had made it to the center of the city. Being a Thursday, most people were still at work so it wasn¡¯t too crowded. Lucas paused and glanced around a bit. There were a few things he could do; go home and delve into the research, or grab a drink to clear his mind. The latter seemed more appealing at the moment, so after a short deliberation, he turned to a smaller street on the side and made his way to his favorite pub. By night it was a club and bar but during the day they would act more like a bar and grill, serving some food as well.


    He had taken a spot at the bar¡¯s counter, the first glass of whiskey fresh in his hands as he swirled the liquid around slowly. Taking a sip, he cherished the burning feeling gliding down his throat. It was not a cheap whiskey but the lean man didn¡¯t care for that as he scratched his beard absentmindedly.


    No scent¡­ Nothing at all. It was weird and there was magic involved for sure. The way Azura always fiddled with her ring, made him strongly suspect that thing had something to do with it. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Of course he wondered what she was hiding, what she was that was so important to hide away from people. Nora had been a werewolf, that much he knew, but Azura sure as hell wasn¡¯t. It just wouldn¡¯t make any sense for her to hide it. Maybe a rare breed, that was a possibility. The thought had crossed his mind that maybe she was a blue-eyed snow leopard, just considering her eye color and her temper, but there was no evidence and if they were truly as dangerous as they were made out to be, he surely wouldn¡¯t be breathing by now. A witch, maybe¡­ A strong one as they were rare and known to be hunted. There wasn¡¯t much else he could think of really.


    Well, whatever it was, Lucas couldn¡¯t care less. If she was a danger to their community, Nicolai would have opened his mouth for sure. Even with the Phoenix, he hadn¡¯t raised an alarm and Lucas really saw no need for it either. The only thing he wondered is if the Phoenix residing inside her was held back by the ring too. What would happen if she were to ever reveal herself for who she truly was?


    ¡°How many drinks have you had?!¡± A jolly voice pulled Lucas from his musings.


    Annoyed, he looked up to Steffen who sat down next to him. After glaring at the blonde man without answering, his gaze moved to the almost empty glass of whiskey in his hands and the empty one standing next to it.


    ¡°Two¡­maybe three.¡± He spoke through clenched teeth, not catching the bartender raising four fingers at Steffen. ¡°I don¡¯t care. What are you doing here anyway?¡±


    ¡°Well, I ran into Jeff who told me bits and pieces. Most important thing, you being in a foul mood, as was he by the way... But! Jeff goes to cry over at Sheila¡¯s when he is, while you do what you do best when in a shitty-ass mood...which is drinking! So I figured I would stop by, see how you were doing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just peachy as you can see. Now I would appreciate it if you would leave me alone.¡± He chucked the rest of the drink in one go and waved at the bartender for another.


    ¡°Oh... Still pissed off about me banging Rose? Well, I got another one coming for ya. I¡¯m moving in with her as the lease on my apartment is ending.¡± Steffen barely dodged his friends¡¯ fist coming at his face and caught him as he toppled forward.


    ¡°Whoa there! Four you said you had? In what timespan?!¡± Steffen chuckled as Lucas grumbled and sat back on the stool.


    ¡°About an hour.¡± The bartender responded while helping another customer.


    ¡°Right¡­ Waste of a dang good whiskey if you ask me.¡± Steffen sniffed the glass, enjoying the rich smell of the alcoholic substance that had been inside. ¡°Make that fifth one a glass of water, would you?¡± The bartender gave him a nod and proceeded to get a glass of water for Lucas.


    ¡°What are you doing here, Steffen. Obviously, you¡¯re not just here to stop me from having a few drinks.¡± Lucas glared at the glass of water but eventually took it and drank most of it in one go.


    ¡°No¡­ I came to apologize actually.¡± Steffen took a deep breath and cleared his throat before continuing. ¡°Look, I know I messed up with how I handled the whole Rose thing. I¡¯m sorry about that. It¡¯s just that I really, really like her. And I realize as a good friend, you¡¯re normally supposed to stay away from your friends¡¯ ex but¡­ It just kinda happened. It felt good, and don¡¯t think I intentionally tried leading her on! That was not the case at all! Moving in with her¡­it¡¯s fast but you gotta understand, I¡¯ve never felt like this before! I...dare even say that she¡¯s the one, man. Don¡¯t ever let her know I said that though!¡± He smiled sheepishly at Lucas.


    The taller man just shook his head in disbelief and looked to the side to avoid looking at Steffen directly. He let a silence fall in where he finished his glass of water and just observed his surroundings for a bit. Steffen had been his best friend in college but after that, they had drifted apart due to moving to different cities. They had stayed in touch and it was always good when they saw each other after such a long time, but they weren¡¯t so close as they had once been. Steffen coming back to town was something he actually really liked, hoping to get some good, fun times with his old friend again.


    ¡°Look, it¡¯s ok.¡± Lucas finally spoke up. ¡°I see you two are happy together and are a good match. That¡¯s not the issue actually. The thing that bothered me most was you, and Rose, not telling me straight away. You guys were seriously dating for almost three months before you finally grew the balls to tell me! Why not ask me straight away?! I wouldn¡¯t have objected. Rose is my ex, but still a close friend. Why would I be a dick about who she¡¯s seeing? We didn¡¯t work as a couple, but you guys actually do. I¡¯m happy to see that actually. I¡¯m happy for her, to see her glowing again, and I¡¯m happy for you too. Just pissed at the fact you guys kept me in the dark for so long while others did know.¡±


    An awkward laugh erupted from Steffen¡¯s mouth as he leaned back. ¡°Dude¡­ I¡¯m sorry. But dang you¡¯re way too honest when you¡¯ve been drinking.¡±


    Lucas broke into loud laughter and slapped his friends¡¯ shoulder. This time, not falling off the stool while doing so.


    ¡°So¡­ We¡¯re good?¡± The blonde man piped in.


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re good,¡± Lucas answered, a smile still plastered on his face. ¡°Thanks for actually brightening my day, asshole.¡±


    ¡°Really? That brightened your whole day?¡± Giving Lucas a flash surprised look, the Energy-caster ordered a beer for himself.


    ¡°Yeah, well, never was one to stay in a bad mood for long. I¡¯m just glad to be sitting here, drinking with an old friend.¡± Lucas raised his empty glass of water as a toast.


    Snickering, Steffen replied. ¡°Dude, you really need to lay off that scotch.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, fuck you too.¡± A movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention for a moment before turning back to his friend. ¡°With Azura disappearing for the day again and not feeling like hanging out with the rest, I¡¯m glad you showed up.¡±


    ¡°Azura disappeared again? What, she found herself a hot lover or something?¡±


    ¡°No. Well, not that I know off. I highly doubt it actually. She disappears, once or twice a week for a big part of the day. Says she needs some time alone; goes hiking or whatever. I once asked if I could join her and she got her panties in a massive twist. Heck, she can be terrifying when angry so I just left it.¡±


    ¡°I think all women are terrifying when angry, to be honest.¡± Steffen grimaced. Finishing his beer, he ordered a second and after glancing at Lucas, ordered another glass of whiskey. ¡°Rose, even as tiny as she is, she can scare the shit out of me!¡±


    Another movement towards the exit of the bar grabbed Lucas¡¯s attention. Swirling his head around, he caught sight of a blonde woman leaving the bar. Steffen exclaimed a heavy sigh and tapped the distracted man on his shoulder to get his attention.


    ¡°Really, Lucas? Was I that bad back in college too?¡±


    Snickering Lucas took his whiskey and took a deep sniff of the amber liquid before taking a sip. ¡°Worse, man. Way, way, worse! I would glance at a woman, and you¡¯d already be all over her! I never stood a chance.¡± He pouted.


    ¡°You snooze, you lose. But no worries! I no longer stand in your way. Actually¡­ I can be your wingman! Now finish your drink, I need to let off some steam and have to show you some new tricks if you know what I mean.¡± He emphasized himself by winking while a white glow enveloped his hands.


    A small, white translucent ball formed between Steffen¡¯s hands before he quickly doused the energy that erupted from it. Lucas¡¯s lip twitched at the sight of it. Steffen had always enjoyed playing with his powers as an energy caster. Sometimes he found some really nice tricks to do, other times, it blew up in his face, or anyone around him at that moment.


    The man who had attacked Azura and caused the massive scar on her abdomen had been one as well, yet far stronger than Steffen. He¡¯d managed to convert the energy into lightning, becoming much more damaging than Steffen could ever be. The times that Steffen had hit him, on purpose or accident, had been painful but not life-threatening. It was more a zing, like running a certain amount of voltage through his body. Though convinced Steffen was capable of doing much more, he had never seen his friend use his powers to their full extent. Just as Steffen knew he was a shifter but had never seen him shift.


    ¡°Yeah sure, just...if you zap me again I¡¯ll tell Rose.¡± Lucas joked as he drank the rest of his whiskey.

 Chapter 21

    It had been over a year since she first arrived in the city. Almost a year since Johnathan had disappeared. Life moved on. Azura had tried to deal with the Phoenix as best as possible with not much luck as the voice appeared more often and she could sense it¡¯s presence within. The stronger it was becoming, the more she felt the urge to suppress it. Something she failed miserably at even with the help of Dr. Nicolai. Frustrated, she had stopped the sessions three months ago hoping it would bring her peace of mind.


    A turbulent three months where inner and outer confrontations only became worse. The friendship she had built with Lucas had been severely tested with her extreme anger outbursts but despite it, they¡¯d grown closer, yet she still couldn¡¯t tell him everything. The raging feelings inside, that ball of fire, ready to explode, the fact she was a creature they all despised.


    In the end, the only one she could fully confide in was Dr. Jensen. Now she sat across from Nicolai and as soon as he finished some paperwork on the computer he turned to face her. He had not changed one bit over the past year, unlike Azura. The way she carried herself had completely changed. She sat in the chair like a confident woman, her hair still cut short; just above her shoulders. She¡¯d even put on some weight but still was thin and lean with broad shoulders as most climbers had.


    "How are you doing Azura? It''s been a while. How are you coping with the Phoenix and controlling it?" Azura shrugged as if she didn''t care but the confident twinkle in her eye betrayed her real intention.


    "I¡¯ve come to the conclusion that it can''t be controlled. It''s there in my head, in my body, feeding on my rage and anger when I feel it. Worst part is, it''s getting stronger and more demanding. In the last few months I¡¯ve had a lot of time to think it over and I¡¯ve realized I won''t ever be able to control it. It won''t accept it...it¡¯ll keep pushing me over the edge."


    And you like it.


    The voice caught her off guard even though she was expecting it. She twitched her head slightly to the left as it spoke up, chipping away at her confidence.


    "And I don''t like being pushed over the edge. So maybe I do need to learn to accept it so it does become a part of me¡­ As frightening as that may sound."


    It only took you a year.


    "I once asked this question a long time ago Dr. Nicolai." Azura bit her lip, showcasing her insecurity about the matter. "How can I accept this thing that has killed my best friend and hundreds of others?"


    Dr. Jensen watched her with a sort of slight amusement. He could tell she was struggling to try and keep a facade that she was in control. Her contradicting herself in words and behavior made her look almost bipolar.


    The old man cleared his throat and took a moment to think it over. "Are you really ready this time around? I can see you¡¯ve come such a long way from the first moment you walked in here but I wonder if you''re emotionally ready. Physically yes and I can see and feel you have come to terms with most of your past as well, but you are still emotionally blocked."


    If only you would let me come out and play.


    She flinched. The answer was not what she had hoped for. Not from Nicolai and not from the voice. She sighed and leaned back in her chair as she closed her eyes.


    "Then help me to get ready." She tried to hide her frustration and disappointment.


    "I can''t. This you have to do on your own, but I can offer guidance and help get you on the right track. If I just go in and break the wall that''s keeping your deepest emotions behind it, you will get crushed by them."


    I could do it for you.


    "Well, shit."


    Dr. Jensen smiled as she spoke up. Her simple down to earth reaction was one she would not have said a year ago. It wouldn''t be long now before she was ready.


    "Trust yourself. You''re always scared to fully let go, afraid of what you might do or what might happen. If you manage to be able to fully go into a moment and trust yourself, I''m sure you''ll find what you''re looking for.¡±


    Azura buried her face in her hands and stifled a groan. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much longer I can take this, Nicolai. The more I feel at home, the more I feel alienated by hiding. I am lying to them, to everyone! I am what they all hate, how can I ever tell them? If I let myself go, there¡¯s going to be bloodshed one way or another!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you think. You should have more faith in your own capabilities.¡± Despite Azura raising her voice, Nicolai stayed calm.


    ¡°I have faith in myself, I trust myself! The one thing I don¡¯t trust is that bloody Phoenix inside me!¡±


    Maybe just try to give me your trust


    ¡°Maybe you should trust it and it could surprise you.¡±


    *


    Lucas was cooking dinner when Azura walked in. She took a peek in the kitchen and chuckled as she saw him walking around. He was wearing his best jeans and a neatly ironed shirt with a big apron to keep his clothes clean. Everything but his usual attire. The smell made her mouth water though.


    "What¡¯s the occasion? I rarely see you so dressed up!" He turned to her and flashed her a genuine smile.


    "Nina. She''s coming over later tonight." He took a plate out of the oven filled with sweet potato slices. Azura groaned as she looked at the food.


    "That...looks so damn good!" He let out a laugh and she turned her attention back to him. "You finally want to make it official? And I finally get to meet her?!" Her enthusiasm only grew. He shoved her to the table as he placed the last pot on it. She sat down and he removed his apron before joining her.


    "You don''t get to meet her, unfortunately. Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow morning. At eight I''m kicking you out and you can have some fun at Rose¡¯s."


    Azura pouted "You''re really kicking me out? Please say I can at least sleep here." He tried to muffle away a small laugh.


    "Bring earplugs when you do." He winked at her and took her plate to fill it up. "So how was your meeting with Dr. Jensen?"


    "I''m emotionally blocked and I have to break it myself. Or, as he says, ¡®trust myself and let go¡¯, ¡®be less of a control freak¡¯. In the meantime, the voice wants me to do exactly that, and I trust myself, but not that part of me." She sighed and played with her food a bit. ¡°I yelled at him¡­¡± She eventually added. Lucas''s grin was just growing wider, a playful twinkle appeared in his eyes. She looked up at him and scowled.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "What? Spill it!"


    "You need to get laid." He said it while casually putting a bite in his mouth. Azura stared at him with her mouth wide open. He casually chewed and swallowed, taking his time before continuing.


    "If you''re really want to let go and lose control, an orgasm tends to do just that. It makes a person the most vulnerable. And since you haven''t had a good lay since forever, it might just be what you need." He still had a mischievous smile playing around his lips.


    "We''re having dinner! Do you really think this is appropriate?"


    "Yes," He kept eating like nothing was wrong and urged her to eat as well. She took a bite all the while berating him with her eyes. "It''s just sex. I don''t know why people make such a big deal out of it. Everybody does it. Solo, duo, or with more people. Whatever floats their boat."


    "I already tested this theory of yours. I''ve had orgasms you know. I''m not completely asexual," She spoke between bites. If he wanted to play this game, she would not be the one to step out. "And it didn''t help at all."


    "By yourself is something different than getting an orgasm triggered by someone else. That asks of complete surrender to the other person, full trust, and for you to lose control. You can''t achieve that with your own hands." He gave her another wink, infuriating her with the ease he spoke about it.


    "So what do you suggest? For me to go out, find a guy, and have sex? Demand he give me an orgasm and then see what happens?"


    "Yeah kind of. That''s a good summary actually. And you''re going to do it this weekend. You can join me at the bar and I''ll give you a hand with finding a guy. And no, you''re not refusing. You''ve been turning me down when it came to joining me at the bar for over a year. This weekend, you and I go out and you either go home with someone or bring someone back here. I''ll even let you borrow a condom."


    This time it was her turn to laugh. She placed her utensils down and almost choked. Lucas offered her some water and patted her on the back. After she calmed down she looked up at him again.


    "You''re dead serious about this aren''t you?" The wide smile he gave her was enough of an answer. "Just don''t think you can turn me into a female version of you."


    "We''ll see about that. This Saturday, all you have to do is wear a nice matching outfit." Now finish dinner because I desperately need to kick you out of the house."


    "Oh, so now I suddenly have to hurry so you can try to make Nina your girlfriend. I''m still surprised you haven''t brought her home sooner. It''s been three whole weeks!" She paused and thought for a moment. A twinkle appeared in her eyes. "You haven''t slept with her yet, have you? You actually managed to keep it in your pants and you want to seal the deal tonight! Oh, Lucas, I''m seeing a completely different side of you!"


    She snickered as he glared at her. The tables had turned and it was her time to make him uneasy. Something he normally made sure did not last long.


    "Keep this up and no dessert for you."


    "Is that a challenge?" She spoke as she finished her food.


    The taller male took their plates and placed them in the dishwasher. "No, it''s not. Now could you please help me clean up in here?"


    He was playing with her, acting annoyed while he just found it entertaining to joust with her. Azura got up and cleaned the rest of the table. She suddenly stopped and stepped closer to him and studied his face closely.


    "You even trimmed your beard." There was surprise resounding in her voice. She raised her hand to touch his face but he quickly grabbed her wrist before she could touch him.


    "No touching! It took me forever to align all the hairs in the same manner and cut them all the same length and pull the ones that strayed from the rest, etcetera, etcetera. You get the point. Same goes for the hair before you get any ideas. Actually, the same goes for my entire body here, so back off and get out of the house already!"


    He let her go and pushed her away jokingly. Azura scoffed at him and stuck out her tongue before turning around and leaving him alone. She went up and returned soon after with a sweater and her coat. She opened the outside door and looked back at Lucas who was impatiently tapping his foot.


    "Have fun now! Don''t do anything I wouldn''t do either." She gave him a wink and left the house a little before eight without having her dessert.


    It was raining again and Azura hurried along the streets to Rose''s house. She pulled her hood on a bit tighter, her steps echoing off the buildings. She was almost alone on the street, the lanterns lighting her way. Eventually, she arrived at the right apartment building and rang the doorbell. Her jeans were soaked and the water was slowly dripping through her coat.


    "Hello?" The intercom squeaked a little as Rose answered the doorbell.


    "Hey, Rose, it''s me. Can you open up?" It was silent for a moment on the other side.


    "Azu? What are you doing here?" Azura softly cursed as she realized Lucas had set her up again.


    "I''m sorry, Rose... Lucas told me you knew I was coming. That jackass set me up again. Is this a bad time?"


    "No, come in!" Finally Rose buzzed the door open and Azura hurried in. When she entered the apartment, she hugged Rose tightly and entered the living area where Steffen was sitting on the couch. He got up and gave her a hug as well.


    "Nice to see you again. What brings you here?" Steffen let her go and returned to his seat. She looked between Rose and Steffen


    "I completely ruined your evening, didn''t I? I should be going, there''s probably still a movie playing in the cinema which I can catch."


    "Don''t be ridiculous!" Rose handed her a glass of red wine "You''re like family! And seeing as Lucas kicked you out, you do need a place to stay, and the current movies all suck at the cinema anyway. "


    "Lucas kicked you out? Why would he do that?" Steffen tried his best not to laugh as Azura pouted and sat down herself. Rose curled herself up against Steffen.


    "Because he has been dating the same woman for three weeks and he wants to make it official by having a romantic evening together. Apparently, I''m not romantic enough to be there. Really can''t imagine why though. I''m always full of romance!" The three of them shared a good laugh.


    "Lucas is being an idiot. And I''ve told him that before." Rose gave Steffen a glare in the hope he would stop talking. "Don''t give me that look, Rose. Let me finish." Rose shrugged and sent Azura an apologetic smile as Steffen continued talking.


    "We have this guy who always thought of me as the big player while he is just as bad. Even when he gets this wonderful woman living in his house, he still continues with his desperate search for love outside, while the perfect match is right in front of his nose. Me on the other hand, move back here, meet a girl, and before you know it... I''m the mature one with a steady relationship. So I told him about a dozen times he''s trying too hard and that he might have met the perfect woman already but he just simply refuses. Claiming you guys just have a very good friendship going on. Well to that I say; Friendship my ass, you guys need to get over yourselves and just kiss already."


    Azura just stared at Steffen with her mouth wide open before bursting out in a laughing fit she couldn''t control. It took her a few moments to recollect herself while a few snickers still left her mouth.


    "You can''t be serious. And you agree, Rose?!"  Rose was still flashing that stupid smile as she shrugged her shoulders.


    "Maybe... I mean... The way you guys act with one another... It''s just that... Well yeah. Maybe..."


    Azura sighed and shook her head at the thought of it.


    "I''m sorry to burst your bubble guys but it''s not going to happen. Him kicking me out is proof enough that he likes Nina very much. Besides, I¡¯ve never regarded him in that way at all. Not to mention Lucas is going to be my wingman this Saturday because he is forcing me to go with him to the bar to find a guy for a fun night out."


    "You both are idiots then. Just one day I''ll come over and say ''I told you so.'' Remember that, Az." Steffen was the only one to name her Az. Rose bounced up with a big smile and waited for Steffen to actually finish his sentence before she enthusiastically shouted out.


    "You''re going to the bar?! We need to have a girls'' night just before that to get you ready! I need to make sure you look absolutely stunning if you''re to hook some dude! I''m sorry, Steffen, I''m going to have to cancel our date and move it back a few hours till after I''m done with Azu. Priorities you know!"


    "I get it...girls above guys. What''s the female version of ¡®bros before hoes¡¯ by the way?" He looked puzzled trying to figure it out as Azura briskly blurted out a single line.


    "Chicks before dicks!"

 Chapter 22

    Blue eyes glanced at the clock which pointed at 8am as Azura just finished her yogurt. She heard him coming from afar without even trying. As Lucas entered the kitchen, she noticed his bloodshot eyes first before his complete ragged look; wearing an old pair of trainers which hung low on his hips with a t-shirt two sizes too big. It was nothing she¡¯d ever seen him in.


    It was awfully quiet when Azura had come home late from Steffen and Rose¡¯s. Not something she had expected. Instead, she had mentally prepared to deal with loud sex noises and had her earplugs ready in hand. She had a choice to spend the night somewhere else but having to choose between listening to sex coming from Rose and Steffen or Lucas and Nina, she had opted for the latter. Just ¡®cause it wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d heard Lucas go at it, and she was rather curious to meet Nina. Taking no chances, she¡¯d still put in a pair of earplugs just in case.


    Lucas just barely grumbled a good morning to her as he grabbed the eggs and put a frying pan on the stove. He broke the first egg too rough, dropping the shell into the pan. Frustrated, he threw the whole thing out, placed the pan back onto the stove, and grabbed a second egg. This time he was luckier, but he grunted as the yoke broke and the yellow started to ooze into the white of the egg. He grabbed the pan again, ready to throw it out, but stopped when he noticed there was only one egg left. With a louder grunt he placed the pan back on the burner, cracked the third egg, and seemed pleased that this time, it was a perfect sunny side up.


    Azura just observed him, trying not to chuckle too loudly. She knew better than to talk or joke at him right now. Guessing by his behavior, his night did not go as expected. When he was done he placed down the plate on the table and sat next to Azura.


    "You forgot the cheese."


    "What?" He stared at her bewildered, his hair a big mess.


    "The cheese. You forgot to put it on your eggs like you usually do." He turned back to his plate and stared at it like he saw fire burning on water.


    "I''ll live." He ignored her and started eating.


    "So I take it your night didn¡¯t go as predicted?" With a deep sigh, he placed his utensils down and gave her an annoyed look.


    "No." He kept staring at her as she got up from the table and moved behind him. She gently ruffled through his hair with one hand as she placed the other on his shoulder. "What are you doing?" She kept quiet as the hand on his shoulder slowly slid down to his chest and started drawing circles. She moved in with her head until her lips were right next to his ear where she slowly whispered.


    "Please don''t tell me she turned you down, big boy." Before he could react she let him go and jumped out of the way so he wasn¡¯t able to grab her. He started to swear at her but didn¡¯t bother to get out of the chair. His eyes were spitting fire as she just stood there letting him rage. When he was done and got quiet again, Azura walked over to her side of the table and sat back down.


    "That''s for kicking me out and sending me to Rose who had absolutely no idea I was coming. Let''s just say I ruined her evening with Steffen. And now that you got all that swearing out of your system, you can tell me what happened." She smiled sweetly as if nothing had happened. The silence between them was cut short by Lucas who, after giving her a deadly stare, couldn''t help but start to chuckle.


    "You''ve been living here too long, Azu. Using my own tricks against me, that''s dirty. but I have to hand it to you, nicely done."  He finished one of the eggs while she just leaned back with her hands behind her head waiting for him to start talking.


    "Things went rather smooth for the first half of the night. That was until things heated up a bit. Unfortunately, Nina had a bad dinner yesterday and right when I wanted to make my move, she got sick. And not just a little bit sick. I had spent the rest of the night cleaning, providing for her, and making sure she was comfortable. I had to switch buckets, hold her hair, wipe the sweat off her forehead, and curse the person who had made her dinner. She finally fell asleep at around four and she''s still sleeping now."


    Azura couldn''t help but laugh as he told her what happened. She grabbed his hand on the table and stared straight into his green eyes.


    "Oh wow... That sounds... Awful. I can''t believe that actually happened! So...now what?" He retracted his hand from underneath hers.


    "I wait for her to wake up and try again later. By the way,-" The evil glint in his eyes made Azura shiver. "-How was your nightmare?"


    She flinched as he asked her. He had probably heard her scream again, but he had not woken her up. Judging by what he told her, he probably had been too busy caring for Nina so she couldn¡¯t blame him but him, but his using it against her was new and very low, even by his standards. All the fun disappeared from her voice, her cold ice blue eyes pierced right through him.


    "You were there, hence it being a nightmare." This time it was his turn to flinch. He knew he had crossed the line and already regretted it.


    "Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have-"


    "You asked so you''re going to hear it. You were there and I had to kill you. Put a bullet between your eyes but it didn¡¯t kill you, so I was forced to grab my knife and stab you. I stabbed you ten fucking times before it made me slice your throat, letting your blood pour out. Afterward, I set you on fire. and your body changed to that of Nora then Charlie, Theresa, my parents, and so many more people I care about. All the while this voice kept ringing around telling me it was all my fault and I had killed them all."


    She had clenched her fists on the table and dug her nails into the palms of her hands again. That was one thing that had not changed. The nightmares. Still there, still haunting her. One night worse than the other, but seldom a night without them. She gritted her teeth together and just stared at her fists not registering Lucas getting up and pulling her into a hug.


    "I''m sorry." He whispered in her ear as he felt her starting to sob. A sign she was getting back to reality. He held her tight, stroking her dark hair while her body was shaking with every uncontrollable sob. As he looked up he looked straight into the eyes of Nina.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "We need to talk." She was completely dressed, her jacket resting in her hands. Her blonde hair was tied together in a big bun and her grey-blue eyes showed no emotion. Lucas let go of Azura, who quietly sat down and did not want to move one bit. Lucas just nodded at Nina and followed her outside. Azura softly banged her head on the table as soon as they both left and groaned loudly.


    "This is so messed up." She softly muttered to herself and sat back up. After twiddling her thumbs a bit she impatiently got up and got herself some more tea. There was still no sign of either of them coming back. Azura played with her made drink until it turned cold and tossed it away. She paced around the kitchen until she heard the door close. Curious but on her guard, she made her way to the living room. Lucas stood in the room, his shoulders slumped down. There was a crack in his voice as he started to talk.


    "It wasn''t about what just happened," Liar. It was the first word in her head as he spoke up. "She knew about you and what to expect but there was something else which made her decide to put an end to it." Azura wanted to shout at him that she knew he was lying, but instead, she just nodded.


    He walked off and headed towards his bedroom. Azura bit her lip and eventually just dropped down onto the couch. She still had a few hours to spare before her shift would start at the climbing hall but at this rate, she might as well just go right now. After rethinking what had just happened she managed to get up again and grabbed her stuff. Right as she wanted to leave, the doorbell rang. Wondering who would visit this early, she opened the door to find Nathan standing there.


    Towering over her, he was imposing. Though only having met him properly once, he wasn¡¯t the kind of guy you¡¯d easily forget. Almost as tall as Jeff, his dark hair was shaved short like a buzzcut, and clouded green, deeply set eyes which had more depth to them the longer you stared. He wasn¡¯t necessarily handsome but still he had some mysterious draw to him.


    "Is Lucas here? It''s urgent."


    "Yeah, I''ll go get him. Come on in." There was something about the way he spoke and his demeanor that screamed he was serious. Something had happened and it wasn''t good. Azura made her way up dreading every step.


    "Lucas?" She knocked on his door. "Nathan is here. He needs to talk to you, says it''s urgent." She heard footsteps behind the door and soon after, it opened.


    "Today really can''t get any better, can it." He rolled his eyes and stepped passed her to head down. She silently followed him feeling sick to her stomach for what was coming. Nathan didn''t even wait for them to come all the way down. Azura''s plan was to leave as soon as possible to not interfere with their conversation but she was left no choice as Nathan spoke up as soon as Lucas was down the stairs.


    "We found Johnathan." A deadly silence fell in the room. Lucas closed his eyes and said a little prayer.


    "Alive?" Nathan shook his head and Lucas slammed the flat of his hand against the wall. Azura jumped out of his way and pressed herself against the door at his sudden outburst. She was shaking but what Nathan said next made her freeze in fear.


    "They did a good number on him. Clawed to death. Not a pretty sight to behold. If I ever get my hands on one of those blue-eyes, I''ll kill it." The intense hatred resounded in every word.


    With every word he said, Azura felt herself crimp in even further. Her knees started to buckle, but she needed to stay upright. With her hand behind her back, she tried to find the door handle, afraid to turn her back to the men. Finally, she found it and as fast as she could she opened the door and almost fell through trying to make her way out. The door closed with a loud slam behind her and Azura stumbled across the yard to a few bushes. No longer to control her inside, she fell to her knees and hurled.


    *


    "So are you ready for tonight?" Rose held up two tops in front of Azura and eventually decided to go with the black one instead of red. "Here, try this."


    Azura took the top and pulled her t-shirt over her head. She took the top, unaware of Rose staring at her body, and put it on.


    "I''m not ready for it, but I could use the distraction. Besides, it''s not like anything will happen. This was just a crazy-- What are you staring at, Rose?"


    "N-Nothing. It looks good on you. I like this one." Rose gave her a smile and put up her thumbs.


    "And there we have the reason nothing will happen tonight! Even if I take a guy home or vice versa, the moment I take my clothes off, he will be distracted too much to even talk." The sarcasm was quite apparent.


    Rose seemed to have gotten herself pulled together and tossed Azura a skirt. "Then do it in the dark! When a man''s horny he doesn''t care!"


    "I... No. That''s not an option. I''ll just pretend I never heard that." Azura held up the skirt and tried to keep a laughing fit in.


    "So you want me to wear this?" She waved the skirt from left to right and measured the length of it by comparing it to her arm. She then put her arm to her side and laughed hysterically. "This thing doesn''t even cover my butt! No way I''ll be wearing this! Give me a good pair of pants please."


    "It''s called a mini skirt. It''s in fashion."


    "I know what it is, Rose, and I''m still not wearing it. Please just hand me a pair of jeans." Rose rummaged through the clothing pile that had gathered while they were trying to find a good outfit. After some digging, she eventually held up a pair of dark red skinny jeans and handed them to Azura.


    Without shame, Azura took off her own pants and tried on the skinny. It fit her like a glove and she proudly turned around before the mirror.


    "Now this is more like it." She turned to Rose and a wide smile sprawled across her face. Rose jumped up and walked to her bedside table and grabbed some lipstick.


    "You''ll need this, mascara, and an eye pencil." She threw the lipstick at Azura and waved her off to the mirror. "Go and be beautiful!" She squealed as Azura just stared at her like a freak. "In the meantime, you can tell me all about what happened three days ago. Both of you seemed out of it at work. Was there a big fight or something?"


    Azura got quiet as she was reminded of that day. She¡¯d only barely been able to ward off a panic attack after Nathan had visited and still decided to go to work. Lucas had to work that same evening and with Nina breaking things off and the news of Johnathan he was avoiding her and the rest as well. Even though he kept reassuring her it wasn''t her fault for what happened with Nina, Azura still got a strange vibe from him and partially blamed herself.


    They had gotten close in the past year and it sometimes gave people the wrong impression because they were so easygoing with each other. Even Rose and Steffen had an opinion about it. Maybe they had gotten a little too close so it became a nuisance with other relationships they would start. The strange behavior had only lasted a day though and on the next, he was himself again, with a hangover that was, and made it clear that she wasn¡¯t off the hook for the weekend.


    "It''s complicated. Too many things happened during a very short time. Let''s just keep it at that." Azura made sure Rose wouldn¡¯t ask any further questions and turned to the mirror to apply her makeup. Right then she felt her phone buzz and she took it out to see it was a message from Lucas.


    I have 3 rules for tonight:


    2. Even though your goal is to score a guy, if you want out you can. Just let me know and I''ll come and save your ass.


    3. Wear something nice. Not just the top layer but underneath as well.


    I''ll see you at 11!

 Chapter 23

    Heels, she was wearing heels. The only pair she owned and she almost never put them on. Tonight she was reminded why she didn''t wear them as much. They were not that comfortable, to say the least.


    The sound of them reflected on the building as she passed through some smaller alleyways. Trying to ignore her already aching feet, Azura focused on the stars shining above instead. The closer she got, the more people were out on the streets. The nightlife was actually quite rich, with a few good pubs, bars, and some clubs here and there for those who preferred dancing. It was all clustered together in three streets but the crowd moved around the whole city center. Especially on nights like these with no rain or snow in the air.


    Azura kept her head down while she moved as quickly as possible on those shoes. She did not want anyone to bother her right now as her nerves were through the roof. The whole way she just kept chanting to herself on why she was doing this. It didn''t take her long to reach the bar Lucas had told her to come to.


    ¡¯Pop¡¯s home.¡¯ A cheesy and rather dull name for a place as versatile as it was. Bar and dancing during the night but during the day it was a bar and cafe, serving small bites of food as well. Open from noon till whatever time it closed. Somewhere deep in the night, she believed, judging by the times Lucas came home at times.


    Looking around, her gaze fell on the tall, lean man as he was casually leaning against the wall close to the entrance. It wasn¡¯t just her who had dressed up. Wearing a pair of washed-out dark gray jeans she didn¡¯t recognize with a black long-sleeved button-down shirt tucked in the jeans. A brown leather belt finished the look making him look classy yet with a casual style. She could not deny he looked good with the slim-fitted clothes. Also, she wondered why he was outside in the cold without his coat. Some women openly checked him out but he didn¡¯t seem to see it as his eyes focused only on her. She couldn¡¯t help but flash a small smile as he gave her a wave and a big grin.


    She could do this. It was just one night.


    "Looking good." He let his gaze shift from top to bottom making her feel a little uncomfortable. "You''re even wearing lipstick. It suits you."


    "Yeah, well, stop gawking, and please elaborate to me about this plan." She had sounded a bit more snappy than she intended to but he didn''t seem to take notice.


    "Alright, we go in and we both just look around a bit - get yourself acquainted here. As soon as you feel comfortable, you take a seat at the bar and if you see someone you like, just make eye contact with the man and he''ll most likely come and talk to you. Easy as that. I''ll be around making sure you''ll be fine. If, for some reason, you want out, just try to find me and give me a sign. If I''m not around, just go to the bathroom and message me. Last but not least, there is a limit of two alcoholic drinks to make sure we''re both sober."


    Azura gulped as he made the plan clear and took in a deep breath to calm herself. Why this was so difficult she still had no idea. It wasn¡¯t her first time in a bar, even though it had been a long time. Yet the prospect of going into a crowded place, talk to a stranger, kissing, or becoming intimate with someone...just made her feel uneasy. The last time she had fun in the bedroom had been with Charlie and that was over four years ago. For some reason, she felt that if she were to do this, she would erase him from her past completely. Was she really ready for that?


    "Do you trust me, Azu?" Again that damned question. Lucas''s voice snapped her out of her thoughts, making her meet his green eyes. Even though she was wearing heels, she still had to look up at him slightly. He gently cupped her face, examining her with a slightly worried look in his vibrant gaze. "You can always say no if you don''t want to do this."


    "I trust you and I do want to do this. Like you said, it''s about time I opened myself up." She gave him a small smile to show him she was ok.


    He turned around and gestured for her to follow him inside. It wasn''t a very big place. There were some booths where people could sit, a long bar along the side with a couple of seats, and in one corner there was a small stage where either a band or a DJ could play with the dance floor in front of it. It was just a DJ playing now and the music was loud, but not too loud you couldn''t speak to each other. It was quite dark, except for some dim lighting along the walls and the colorful lights moving over the dancefloor. Above the bar and the boots were some small, bare LED light bulbs installed which emitted a faint but intimate light.


    The faint smell of old beer mixed with sweat and old vomit reached her and Azura scrunched her nose. If she could smell it now, imagine if she wasn''t wearing the ring. How Lucas was able to withstand it was one big question mark to her. He had to have enhanced senses of smell and hearing, probably even sight as she would normally have too. He never made it obvious he had them though, and as he had refused to ever shift in front of her, she had started doubting him having extra senses at all. Things never did add up though, so she still wasn¡¯t sure.


    Overall it was dark, hazy, and already quite crowded inside. Azura bumped into several people and excused herself every time without really looking at anyone. Some reacted and some didn''t. When they stopped, Azura pressed herself against the wall so she was able to oversee most of the place, and had to push down the feeling of running away. Unknowingly, she had closed her eyes for a bit and focused on her heavy breathing.


    The hand on her shoulder was reassuring and she was glad Lucas was still with her. She would not have kept it together if it weren''t for him, that was for sure. After chanting ¡®she would be fine¡¯ in her head over a thousand times, she was able to calm herself and felt that she was slowly relaxing. Nothing was going to happen and she would be just fine. It was just a bar. Nothing more, nothing less. She opened her eyes again and with a newfound determination, shrugged Lucas off and headed to the bar to find herself a seat. It was game on.


    She had been sitting there for thirty minutes, chatting with the bartender or other guests. At first, she had found it hard to make contact with other people. It was the bartender she had spoken to first besides ordering a drink. When he had walked off to help other customers another woman had addressed her first and after Azura found it easier to smile and actually make eye contact with people. It was getting easier to loosen up and she actually caught herself having fun. She had sometimes spotted Lucas walking by and flashed him a smile. It seemed like he was having a good time himself.


    "Is this seat taken?" A confident man stood before her. With his hand, he combed through his short dark hair while giving her a polite smile. He was handsome alright. He had a charming smile on his clean-shaven face. Azura shook her head and managed to give him a smile in return. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    He sat down next to her and ordered a beer. Square face, blue eyes, almost as blue as hers, she carefully examined him. Overdressed for the place he was in, he looked more like he was going out for a fancy dinner than a bar. Despite that, he looked fit and way out of her league.


    "Can I buy you a drink?" He looked at her glass of coke which was nearly empty.


    "A beer is fine. Thank you." She was surprised he would give her a drink so quickly. He ordered another beer for her and paid as the beers arrived.


    "So what brings a fine lady like yourself to this place?" He raised his glass in a toast and she did the same.


    "A long story is what brought me here. But it ended in a challenge which I did not like, but alas, here I am." She chuckled as he gave her a puzzled look.


    "So if I may, you probably came here with other people and they left you alone because of this ''challenge''?" He shifted a bit closer, never breaking eye contact.


    "Something like that, yes. So now I just want to have a good time. What about you?" She hoped he would start to talk about himself. The fewer questions he asked her, the better.


    "I''m here for the weekend. Just like you, I wanted to have a good time tonight and someone recommended this place. Looks like they were right about this bar."


    He sized her up without shame and Azura felt a slight blush form on her cheeks. He was flirting and to her great surprise, she liked it. They commenced further with the small talk and she gladly accepted a second beer from him. He was a businessman, wealthy, influential, and maybe a bit too full of himself, but for one night, Azura could look past that. He wasn''t her normal type and if she had been seriously dating, she probably would have turned him down already.


    After some time, he got up and placed his hand on her shoulder. It was the first physical contact between them and Azura felt a shiver run down her spine as his hand grazed past the bare skin of her arm. For a short moment, she felt like retracting her arm away but she stayed in place. It was not the reaction she had expected and she softly cursed herself for being such a doofus. She never got such a reaction from herself when someone touched her before so why now?


    "If you''ll excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom. I do hope you''ll still be here when I come back." He let her go and gave her a polite smile. As he walked away Lucas appeared out of nowhere.


    "By the looks of it, I don''t even have to do anything. You got things under control lady. I''m so proud of you!" He pretended to wipe a tear away. "My youngest prodigy is all grown up!" Azura sighed and punched him in the shoulder.


    "Stop it, you moron. But yeah, I think I like him. He''s nice and easy on the eyes." For some reason, she did not fully convince herself. If Lucas had noticed it, he didn¡¯t show it.


    "Good, then I''ll take my leave before he comes back." Lucas gave her a wink before walking off.


    "No, wait!" There was a hint of panic in her voice but he didn¡¯t hear her as he left. "I don''t know if I can do this." she softly added to herself. She frantically searched the place with her eyes but couldn¡¯t see him anymore.


    "Were you looking for me?" Azura turned around to see the man had returned from the bathroom. She didn''t even know his name and neither did he know hers she realized. Before she could react he took her hand and gave it a small kiss on top. Another shiver ran down her spine as his lips touched the back of her hand.


    "Would you like to dance?"


    Azura stared at him like a deer caught in headlights. Her mind was racing now that she couldn''t see Lucas anymore. Had he really left her to fend for herself? There was a small sense of panic deep inside her and it was growing by the minute. Her eyes darted around the room again until she felt a light tug at her arm bringing her back to this moment. She let herself be guided off the stool. Apparently, she had given him a nod of approval and he was completely unaware of her internal struggle.


    Her skin was tingling where he touched hers as he guided her to the dancefloor. The feeling of wanting to retract her arm was growing. Even though he seemed like a nice guy, his touch sent shivers down her spine and it was not the good kind. She pushed the feeling down, it was probably just her paranoia and she needed to get herself back together. She looked at him and noticed his blue eyes looking at her with a questioning look. She flashed him a smile and despite her body resisting, she still grabbed his hand.


    What are you doing? I don''t like this.


    "Sorry I thought I saw something." It was a shitty excuse and she knew it, but he seemed to buy it. The fact that the Phoenix¡¯s voice had the same doubts as she did not make her feel any better. But she didn''t know if she was feeding that doubt or if it was acting on its own. There was no reason to react the way she did to him. He was behaving like a gentleman, not giving any signals he wanted to do anything she wouldn''t like. What if her gut was wrong for once?


    The man started dancing and encouraged her to do the same. She pushed down the last feelings of doubt and closed her eyes to feel the rhythm of the music. Slowly her body started to follow and started to sway along with the beat. It calmed her down and now that he wasn''t touching her she actually started to smile again, enjoying the dancing. Dancing with her eyes closed felt as if she was alone. Nobody watching her.


    The song changed from a more upbeat tempo to a softer song. Azura opened her eyes to see he had moved in closer. Trying to maintain some distance, Azura took a step back but a push in her back brought her off balance and she fell forward right into his arms.


    "Careful now." He whispered in her ear as his hands snaked around her waist. Her hands rested on his chest. The resistance in her body flared up like a flame. She wanted out, it was too much. It was impossible to ignore her gut, the hairs rising on her arms, and the shivers running down her back. Her throat felt parched and talking seemed impossible. She tried to protest but nothing came out. It was like she was shutting down, her body no longer responding to her mind.


    You have to get away!


    As if she came back to life after the voice spoke up, she softly pushed against his chest trying to regain her balance. He held on and even tightened his hold a little. She bit her lip as she tried to push herself away again but all the strength had left her arms. What was happening to her? She started breathing harder as she felt herself go into panic mode. In a desperate attempt to talk she managed to squeeze out something that sounded like her, but it was weak and soft.


    "Could you...let me go?"


    As Azura looked up at his face he looked back with a big grin. Before she knew it, he kissed her. His lips were rough on hers and she was too stunned to kiss him back. For a moment she even thought she felt his tongue glide past her lips.


    Get away from him or I''ll make sure he won''t touch us ever again!


    The panicky feeling was changing into pure rage; he had kissed her without her consent and she felt her common sense slowly shut down. She was losing control and she felt the heat rise up faster than she could control. It was taking over and she allowed it. With one big push, she managed to break free.


    She was fuming, her eyes spewing fire. Her vision started to blur, except for him. He was a target now and she had locked on like she had done before with the three hostage-takers four years ago. For a single second, he seemed confused by her change, but that soon changed into an almost mocking smile. His mouth was moving but she didn¡¯t hear a single word he said. She curled her fingers into a fist and lunged forward only to be caught off guard by someone grabbing her from behind and preventing her from attacking.

 Chapter 24

    Lucas dragged Azura out of the bar by force. They were getting a lot of curious and strange looks as he struggled with her. She was resisting hard, fighting him with every step, growling like a rabid animal. but luckily most people had seen her flip out on that guy so they actually stepped to the side to let them through while blocking the man from even going near them. Her skin was searing hot, the heat pouring through her clothes and her eyes were spewing fire. This was even worse than when she had tried to attack Bethany.


    The guy she was with had yelled something at them as Lucas had intervened, but he couldn''t care less and didn¡¯t hear any of it. Seeing the guy grab and hold onto her while it was clear she wanted him to let go had made Lucas move in, but he was too slow to prevent him from kissing and actually trying to grope her. He had arrived just in time to pull her back as she went straight for him.


    She didn¡¯t just want to slap him, that was for sure. She was going for a kill. If she hadn''t lost control like this, Lucas would have hit the guy himself but now he had to keep his focus on her the whole time to prevent her from breaking free.


    The cool night air embraced them as Lucas forcefully dragged her along. He had managed to get one of her arms folded high on her back pushing her forward. Every time she would try to fight him, he would lift her elbow higher, causing her shoulder to move in a way that was quite painful and preventing her from doing anything. She grunted and growled at him in disapproval. It was a powerful grip, often used by police to control violent people.


    He guided her away from the bar to a nearby alley and spun her around to push her against the cold brick wall. Lucas grabbed both her hands and pressed them against the cold stone as he leaned in with his body to keep her trapped. It was a good thing the streets were almost deserted right now as most people were partying inside. Otherwise, he would have been charged with assault for sure.


    "This is the one time I need a glass of water and it''s not within reach." He sighed and instead he simply kept the pressure on her body with his own, preventing her from moving, hoping the cold wall and wind would do the rest.


    She refused to look at him directly. Her eyes moving around frantically as if searching for an escape. Azura was strong, much stronger than she looked. Lucas gritted his teeth as her nails dug into his arms. The heat coming from her body was immense but strangely it did not scare him. Knowing what caused it, knowing it would not attack him calmed him while her heartbeat raced.


    He felt it against his body, could feel every inch of her as if there was no space between them with his body pressed against hers. When he felt her muscles relaxing a bit he slowly eased up while keeping pressure on her hands and his leg pressed against hers to keep her in place.


    "Come on, Azu! Look at me. You need to calm down, I''m not the enemy." As he stared into her eyes he noticed they were not the kind of blue he was used to. Instead, there were streaks of red running through them. A bright flaming red. It was strangely beautiful. The hair on his neck rose up as a chill ran down his spine.


    Looking beyond her exterior, it was almost like her soul bared itself to him. The aggression she always tried keeping bottled up showed her true self. Deadly for those who crossed her and yet she was nothing like that normally. Two very contradicting sides of her which caused her to clash with herself over and over.


    The determination and the fire behind her gaze was just intoxicating. Mesmerized by her eyes, his right hand had released her arm and without fully realizing it, he gently caressed her cheek. Her sharp intake of breath had him halting as it brought him back from the weird ¡®high¡¯ he was on.


    Grumbling, Lucas could smack himself in the head for being so stupid. Words spoken to him earlier by Nina filled his mind but he quickly pushed them to the side as he tried focusing back on the here and now and getting the woman in front of him calmed down. One thing was a plus, with her being so riled up he did not need his coat to stay warm. Getting her out of the bar in a rush had left him incapable of retrieving his and hers.


    It took a few minutes for Azura to start breathing normally again as her eyes slowly turned back to normal as well. Lucas said a small prayer, thankful the cold air and wall was apparently doing its job to cool her down. As he felt her body relax, he did the same and eventually let go of her completely.


    The trembling started with her lip, but soon her hands started and it didn''t take long for her whole body to start shaking. Right before her knees started to buckle Lucas grabbed her again to support her and stay upright. He flashed her a small smile as she finally managed to regain control and looked up at him.


    "I fazed out again didn''t I?" She spoke softly.


    "I wouldn''t call it like that... I would rather call it flipping out, losing control,¡± He paused and shrugged casually ¡±wanting to kill him." She flinched as the words left his mouth.


    "The moment that guy kissed you I saw you become angry and all fired up. Literally. So I had to, sadly, save the guy before you decided to flame him up." She groaned in dismay and shame. She remembered him kissing her, but everything after that was one big blur.


    Lucas didn''t want to tell her the full truth. Besides the fact the night had a very different ending than what he had expected, he had not even expected her to pull through with the dare. When she actually engaged in small talk with that man Lucas had expected to feel proud, or happy that she was taking a step in the right direction, instead an uncomfortable knot had formed inside his stomach.


    When he had left for the bathroom, that was when Lucas moved in, kinda hoping Azura would back out of the deal. It had been his idea to do though, so as she seemed fine, he had left but had kept his eyes on them.


    Jealousy had never been a big issue for him, yet when that guy held her, kissed her, it struck. Only for a moment but undeniably there. Soon after it was replaced by anger as apparently Azura did not want the man¡¯s scrubby hand on her.


    Even though he had set this whole thing up for her, seeing it in action didn¡¯t give him the satisfaction he had hoped. Not to mention the words from Nina were still nagging him, and that nagging feeling had only gotten stronger as he had seen that look in her eyes.


    "Wait? You saw him kiss me?¡± Azura¡¯s nostrils flared as she raised her voice a tad. ¡°I thought you decided your job as a wingman was done and that you had left!"


    "Nah, of course not! How could I let you stay by yourself? I dragged you into this, so it only makes sense if I take care of you as well. Plus, it''s a good thing I didn''t leave right?"


    He smiled again, carefully wiping some hair out of her face. As his fingers touched her skin he felt a slight shudder under his fingertips. Surprised by this reaction his hand lingered on her face a little longer and both fell silent. Avoiding her questioning gaze, he dropped his hand as his eyes fell on his other. Suddenly aware he was holding hers. He had gone from grabbing her wrist to actually holding her hand gently and he hadn''t even noticed. As if the air became thicker, it became harder to breathe and goosebumps rose on his arms and neck. Nina¡¯s words again echoed in the back of his mind, becoming a real nuisance


    "There''s no room in your heart for me. That place has already been filled by someone else. You just don''t see it yet."


    He could still see Nina standing at the door looking at Azura and himself as he had comforted her. Looking back on it now, he realized Nina had been right. He had cared for Nina, but he painfully realized she was only a distraction from the person he really cared for. And Nina had seen it sooner than he had.


    He shook off his thoughts and focused on the moment. His mind had been racing and only a short moment had passed. He gazed at Azura''s blue eyes and made up his mind. Either she would accept it, or he would get smacked around hard.


    Cupping her face with his hand again, his lips brushed against hers. His beard prickled her chin. It was not a full-on kiss but enough to make her stiffen. He immediately backed away as she froze, afraid he had just made the biggest mistake ever. Azura stared at Lucas in shock as he took a small step back.


    Her mind was racing, she could feel the tension between them but this was not something she had suspected to happen at all. To her great surprise, she didn''t mind it. In fact, even if it was for a short moment, his touch had felt rather...pleasant. More than pleasant, actually.


    How come her body was reacting this strong and in a completely different way than with the other guy? With the first man, everything in her was rejecting it, and now, with Lucas, there was no resistance at all coming from her body. Instead, she wanted more, wanted to know what a real kiss would be like.


    Slowly she let herself relax and reached out to him. She placed her hand on the side of his face and gently caressed his beard and cheek with her thumb. Her breathing became more shallow as her eyes focused on his lips. Her lips still tingled with the sensation he had left. It was all he needed to know. He moved back in and cupped her face with his hands before placing his lips on hers. This time it was a full-on kiss.


    Butterflies exploded in her stomach. A comfortable heat rolled inside her, reveling in the joy it brought her. No voice in her head telling her to get away, yet encouragement to keep going filled her mind. The tingling sensation on her lips, the urge to keep kissing washed over her as heat pooled in her lower stomach. He gently pushed her against the wall again as the intensity of the kiss deepened. His hands roamed across her back going lower and lower.


    She could feel the heat inside her rise again but this time she wanted it. As lust clouded her rational thinking, she only wanted one thing. Him. All of him. She wrapped one arm around his waist and her other hand rested on the back of his head. She ruffled through his hair and he responded by teasingly licking her lips with his tongue.


    She opened her mouth and his tongue found hers. Time ceased to exist as she let herself go in the moment. When he broke the kiss she was about to protest but when his lips touched down at her neck, every protest died in her throat. Tilting her head to the side to give him better access he slowly moved down to her collarbone and up again till his mouth touched the soft spot on the side of her neck.


    Giving her a small nip Azura involuntary let out a soft moan. Lucas backed away from her with a goofy grin on his face. Both of their faces flushed as he created some space between them. She missed his warmth straight away. A feeling she had not experienced in a long time.


    ¡°Wha-Why...? ¡± It was all she could muster as she looked him in the eyes.


    He chuckled as he took her hand but did not reply to the question. ¡°We should go home. Let me grab our coats and we should find a cab. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re able to walk all the way on those shoes of yours.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    A nod followed by a sheepish smile was the only thing she could return as he led them back towards the bar.


    Twenty minutes of awkwardness from the moment he had pulled away from the kiss till the moment they were home. She had retracted into the confinements of her own mind while Lucas had tried making some small talk to ease the tension. It had not worked as the whole ride home, she could not stop thinking about the feeling of his body flush against hers and how she had reacted to it. He was her friend, a close one, but things just got all screwed up in a matter of minutes and she had no idea what to do with it. Now that she had come back from her high of adrenaline, reality hit her like a ton of bricks.


    Lucas opened the door and Azura stepped past him into the house. Clenching her fists unsure of what to expect next. As the door closed behind her she took a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart down. Refusing to turn around and face the tall man behind her, she slowly took off her shoes and coat. She felt his eyes burn into her back. He was waiting for her to make the next move, but she didn''t know what to do. Part of her just wanted to turn around and kiss him. A big part if she was honest with herself and it scared her. What if it had been a mistake?


    ¡°Azu, turn around. Please.¡±


    When she did not react, he gently grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. With her eyes cast down, the first thing she saw was his crotch. Feeling the blood rush to her cheeks she immediately looked up. A mischievous grin was sprawled on his face when she met his eyes making her groan in embarrassment for being caught.


    ¡°Kill me now please.¡± She whispered as she facepalmed herself.


    ¡°And why would I do that?¡±


    ¡°I¡­just¡­ I don¡¯t know! Cause I¡¯m an idiot, that¡¯s why!¡±


    He was playing with her, that much was obvious but until she knew exactly what she wanted she had no clue how to react. This night was not supposed to go like this. Best case scenario she would have ended up in bed alone. Second best case scenario, she would be in bed with a handsome dude who she fully trusted and actually proved to Lucas he was wrong.


    Worst case scenario was this. Being kissed by your closest friend and roommate and actually wanting more. It was a recipe for disaster. No matter what happened now, things would always be different between them.


    ¡°You¡¯re not an idiot.¡± He replied as he moved closer.


    Not waiting for an answer he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for another kiss. Heat spread through her body instantly, clouding her rational thinking again as she relaxed into his arms and let her lips move with his. It was a slow, deep kiss, not tender or sweet like the first one had been at first but more demanding, passionate.


    Azura groaned as she felt the heat come together between her legs. Pulling him closer, all she wanted to feel was his body against hers. Preferably naked. Right as that thought crossed her mind, he broke the connection between them.


    "Sleep well, Azu." He winked at her and left her dazed as he made his way up the stairs to his bedroom.


    "Yeah... Sleep well..." She whispered as he had walked off.


    What was he doing? Azura touched her lips with her hand as she slowly made her way up the stairs and into her own room. Questions filled her mind regarding his actions and behavior. Was he afraid to continue, or had it really all been a game to him?


    As her brains came close to a full meltdown she undressed herself on autopilot until she only was wearing her bra and panties. She had complied to rule three. Lucas had told her to wear ''something nice'' because who knew who she would end up with. It was the only matching set she owned. Simple black lace panties and a matching bra. It looked nice on her pale skin, creating a contrast she continued with her black hair.


    Azura walked over to her bed and let her hand trail across the covers. Was she really going to sleep alone? It suddenly felt weird to be by herself while normally she preferred it. If she slept alone, she would have failed what her goal had been for this night. The goal which at first she didn¡¯t want to reach, but now...


    Azura looked at the door of her bedroom and made her choice. She walked out and stopped in front of his door. She took a long deep breath and knocked.


    "What took you so long?" His voice was low and husky when he opened up.


    Azura bit her lip and dug her nails into the palm of her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t make me regret this, Lucas.¡±


    He extended his hand. ¡°I won¡¯t. I promise.¡± She took it and allowed herself to be guided inside. A playful smile curled around his lips.


    He was only wearing black boxers briefs. His upper body was nicely toned, but not overly muscular. An obvious climbers body, thinner waist, strong arms and shoulders. Her gaze slowly moved down his frame. He had dark curly chest hair, not too much but just the perfect amount she thought. It wasn¡¯t the first time seeing him half-naked but it was the first time her body reacted to it in a way she hadn¡¯t experienced for a long time.


    Heat pooled in her stomach as her gaze landed on the small stripe of hair going down from his navel to his pelvic area. A blush formed as she realized she was ogling his very apparent arousal. Mother nature had been kind to him, that was for sure. Her eyes shot back up as she clenched her thighs together, trying to extinguish some of the need burning between them.


    "You knew I would come over?" She asked when her eyes met his again.


    "No, but I was hoping you would. I had to make sure this is really what you want."


    He stepped closer. His eyes traversing across her body as she had done with him. He lingered on her scar for a short while but it didn¡¯t faze her as much as she thought it would. He had seen it before, had seen her before like this, and yet he looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time.


    What do you say you let go now? Make the fall, let it all go. Let yourself fly!


    The voice didn¡¯t freak her out this time. The Phoenix had been pushing her the whole time now, she had anticipated that it would voice its opinion. She disregarded it but it did push her across that last hurdle. No turning back now.


    Lucas gently cupped her face and their lips met once again. Her heart was beating more than twice as fast as usual. He kissed her slow, savoring every touch, making her melt against him as she returned and followed his lead. It was just what she needed. There was no ignoring her body anymore as it wanted one thing and one thing only. Despite her mind still having some reservations and doubts about the whole thing, there was nothing that could stop her from going through with this.


    As his hands traveled from her arms to her back, she froze again. Azura gasped as she broke free from his lips. It was only a fraction of a second as she had felt his fingers on her bra, ready to unhook it. That fraction of a second was enough for him to stop though. Without a hitch, his hands moved to her side again, gently stroking her.


    ¡°You good?¡± Azura nodded in response to his question, her body already relaxing and heating up once more. ¡°If you need me to stop,¡± Lucas whispered in her ear, ¡°just say so. I will stop.¡±


    There was no way she would tell him to stop. It had just been so long since someone had touched her like this. Her arousal, her need to be touched, her body fully ready for what was to come. It all felt like it was her first time all over again.


    ¡°No¡­¡± She softly moaned as she pressed her pelvis against his erection. ¡°I trust you.¡±


    Again his hands found themselves at her back. Azura could no longer suppress a moan as he nipped at her neck and unhooked her bra at the same time. She arched her back to him, pressing herself against his cool body. Their lips found each other again as their hands explored each other. Time seemed to slow down as he kept taking the lead. Small steps and she went with it. Hands found her small breasts, a mouth followed. She was a moaning mess just by his touches and kisses.


    Lucas moved her to the bed and pushed her down backward climbing over her but not putting any weight on her. Without pausing, his lips found hers again before they slowly traveled down to her breasts again and eventually, even lower. He paused at her scar and gently trailed the different paths with his tongue then trailed down more.


    Her hands gripped the sheets, crushing them as he explored every inch of her with his mouth. It felt so natural and right as he moved around, taking his time with her. He was in full control and she let him guide her. Her mind almost exploded with the different sensations she got. Her muscles sometimes contracted on their own as he grazed her with his fingertips. Every time that happened she let out a small moan of pleasure. Her breathing was quick and ragged as she lost control of her own body and her mind fogged over with lust.


    He stopped for just a short moment allowing her to regain some much needed oxygen. Her eyes flew open at the lack of touching she was now so used to. Just as she wanted to look if something was wrong he nipped at her inner thigh and immediately kissed it before doing the same on the other side. Azura¡¯s head thrashed back against the mattress as a loud moan escaped her lips. He touched her everywhere except in the one place she wanted to feel him. Impatiently, she started bucking her hips, needing him at the center of her heat.


    As if he was reading her mind, he looked up, a smug grin on his face before he took off the last piece of clothing she had been wearing and buried his face between her thighs. Apparently, it hadn¡¯t been just her who needed this.


    The tension built up inside her. Every lick had made her an even greater moaning mess. It had been so long she knew she wouldn¡¯t last. Not that she wanted to. She needed this release. Flames rose inside of her as his tongue moved through her folds and found the sensitive nub. The heat seemed to come off her in waves as the fire inside seemed to burn down a barrier she never knew was there.


    The voice encouraged her to let go. To fall and to rise again. The last piece of self-control and the last hurdle of acceptance. As she felt two of his fingers enter her, she bucked up her hips to meet his rhythm. She felt her muscles contract around him and with one last moan, she finally let go.


    Her body arched upwards, her hands crushed the sheets as ecstasy came washing over her. Wave after wave hit her as he never stopped stimulating her. Every muscle tensed up and released again time after time. She forgot how to breathe as stars danced in front of her eyes. Flames reared up inside her, fueled her desires as part of the invisible barrier had been destroyed.


    Her eyes fluttered open. Lucas had propped himself upwards looking at her face. A wicked grin spread as he saw her blue eyes had the exact same red in them as she had before. Trailing his fingers along her skin, he watched her muscles react. Small contractions, almost like tiny local seizures proved her body reacted in its most primal form. Like his touch was laced with electricity as he could only imagine it felt like. When she had calmed down a bit from her orgasm she managed to turn over on her side and buried her head in the crook of his neck. Lucas bit his lip as she pulled herself against him, her nails digging into his back.


    ¡°Whatever you do next, you better do it naked and on top of me.¡± She managed to croak out as her hand travelled to the waistband of his boxer-brief and snapped it.


    With a small laugh, Lucas untangled himself from her grip and did what she asked. When he crawled on top of her she could feel his excitement brush against her core. Hungrily, their mouths found each other as he lined himself up and slowly pushed forward with his hips. She couldn¡¯t help but curse as he fully sheathed himself inside her. He paused, letting her adjust to his length.


    When she smacked his ass, he took that as a cue to move even though he quite enjoyed the feeling of being just still. When he started thrusting he buried his face in her neck as she had done before with him, stifling a groan caused by the friction. Being buried inside was bliss, actually moving was a thousand times better.


    The first orgasm was good, but this¡­ With every thrust, Azura felt herself come closer to the edge again. She had no idea how he did it but as he picked up the pace, she knew she would not last long. Rolling her hips against his, in pace with his rhythm she clung to him as if her life depended on it. The fire reignited itself inside her. The flames consumed her from the inside out. She basked in it as they tore at that invisible barrier. Her head lolled back as she tried to postpone the inevitable, wanting to keep in this state of perfection.


    ¡°Don¡¯t -- hold -- back--¡± He grunted, feeling her starting to tense up.


    The words lodged themselves in her head as Lucas caught her lips with his again. Her vision started to blur, as, with a few more thrusts, he sent her right over that edge once more. Fire consumed her. Became her. Azura clenched her walls around him and as she cried out in pure pleasure, Lucas too could no longer hold back.


    She had no idea how long they lay together, panting. No idea if she had blacked out or not but she could¡¯ve sworn the Phoenix had been there, tearing that last bit of the wall down as she had let go of everything. It was content, just as she was fully sated. Lucas had rolled off her, his arm still around her. The power that had been released inside her moved through her veins. Azura laid still, her eyes still closed as she tried to comprehend what had happened. It felt good, finally free of something but deep down it was terrifying.


    ¡°Damn, you¡¯re burning up.¡± Lucas snickered as he snuggled against her side.


    Pulling her away from her thoughts, Azura rolled her head to the side to face him. As she opened her eyes the grin on his face grew so big she had to pull back a bit, confused by the biggest smirk she had ever seen.


    ¡°Your eyes.¡± He spoke. ¡°I was right! Getting an orgasm, or two, really broke your control issues.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t get all cocky now. And what¡¯s with my eyes?¡± She asked, confused.


    ¡°They¡¯re completely red. The brightest, fiery red I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±

 Chapter 25

    First light seeped through the small slit between the curtains. Azura stared at it for a while before looking at Lucas, who was fast asleep next to her. He lay on his back, hands behind his head, mouth slightly ajar. The blankets only partially covered his body, exposing his chest and one leg while just barely covering his groin. His hair was disheveled and his skin still looked sweaty after round two.


    He¡¯d fallen asleep quite fast after their workout, yet she had barely slept at all. Maybe an hour or two max but after she¡¯d woken up, she wasn¡¯t able to catch any sleep again. Azura stared back at the ceiling overthinking what had happened, every moment from the first kiss, to her deciding to sleep with him, and everything that followed. It was driving her mad, her thoughts were driving her crazy, pestering her and keeping her from falling asleep.


    With a soft groan, she got out of bed slowly, just as naked herself. Trying not to wake Lucas, she softly tiptoed to the bathroom to relieve herself. Before flushing, she closed the lid so it would make a little less noise hoping it wouldn¡¯t wake up the man asleep two doors away. She quickly washed her hands before gazing up at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were back to their original color and with it, all the feelings of doubt and anxiety.


    After the first session, she had gone to the bathroom and Lucas had told her to take a good look at her eyes before she came back. She was shocked at first when a pair of red eyes stared back at her, but it also intrigued her and she even liked it. The Phoenix had spoken to her, telling her it was who she really was. It was quite content with itself as she tried touching the power that resided within.


    The confidence she held right then had been shocking. At one point Lucas had shown up behind her, hugging her from behind. It was clear he could and wanted some more action to which she had gladly obliged. But that confidence she held then was gone now and all she could think about was probably the stupidest decision she had made in her recent life.


    Azura took a deep breath and leaned on the sink with both hands as her gaze fell from her reflection to the white porcelain. A shimmer of gold caught her attention as she looked at the ring around her finger. It was itching so she shifted it around a bit but it didn¡¯t give her the relief she was looking for. Her chest constricted and breathing was getting harder. A strange uneasiness was growing deep within her as her mind was being flooded with the images and contradicting thoughts of the night before.


    She just slept with someone she saw as maybe her closest friend, what would that make them now? Would he regret it? Did she regret it? She sighed and splashed some cold water in her face to help clear her mind, not that it did much to help. Bile rose in her throat as the knot in her stomach tightened even more. Swallowing it down, she sat down on the lid of the toilet, underarms resting on her upper legs as she put her head down and focused on her breathing.


    ¡®I slept with my best friend.¡¯


    It was the only thought that kept racing around in her mind. At moments, she felt like laughing about it, then she had to admit she had loved it and wanted more, but now she was feeling more and more anxious about it. Did she even have feelings for him, or was it the rush of the evening? The itching feeling spread from her finger through her hand and she tugged at the ring, rotating it and adjusting it in the hope it would ease the strange feeling. It was getting uncomfortable and more prominent as both her inside beasts were getting restless.


    Just take it off.


    She shook her head but the idea wedged itself in her brain. Taking the ring off would mean exposing herself, not an option yet she couldn¡¯t dismiss it. Azura noticed her gums starting to throb as her body involuntarily seemed to prepare itself to shift. The urgency to run, to clear her mind and be almost one with nature was something she could not ignore for much longer. Adding the strange sensation that the ring seemed to provoke and her own mind wondering what to do next with the situation at hand, she was one step closer to a mental breakdown.


    Azura jumped up and started pacing around, growling at herself for being all over the place. Trying to handle one thing at a time, she focused on herself and Lucas. Two options remained for now, go back to her own room, or go back to Lucas''s. With every step, she felt her body reacting more to the ring. The itch had spread on her entire body but around the ring, her finger was starting to burn. It felt like the ring was piercing her skin with a thousand needles. A few curse words left her lips as it was clear she had to focus on that subject first. Not one she wanted to deal with, then again none of them were.


    It''s no longer of use to you so it''s rejecting you.


    Voicing its opinions again, the Phoenix made the party in her head complete. Frustrated she decided to answer the voice because it would probably not stop bothering her otherwise.


    "I''m not taking off the ring. They can''t know what I am. Not yet at least." She spoke to the voice as if it was a person standing right next to her.


    It will hurt you more and more. You need to take it off.


    Azura leaned on the sink with both hands. "I can''t take it off. Lucas will find out. It''s not safe."


    Maybe it''s about time he learns about you. He knows you inside and out by now.


    She looked back into the mirror as if addressing herself and hissed through her teeth. "You know they don''t take kindly to my kind, especially after what happened with Johnathan."


    They have known you for over a year. They know you are not like them.


    "Didn''t I try to actually kill someone just yesterday? I¡¯m not so different!" She was getting frustrated and the pain in her finger only started to intensify. She gritted her teeth trying not to make too much noise.


    He was a threat. You felt and acted on it.


    She groaned and put her forehead against the mirror in a sign of defeat. She touched the ring again, but as she did, it burned her fingers straight away. The finger it was on was actually starting to feel numb and lifeless by now but the rest of her hand felt like she had put it in boiling water. She turned on the cold water and let it run over her hand, but it gave no relief at all.


    Nothing will help except taking the thing off. You should not be hiding as you have been for so long. It weakens me and yourself.


    The urge to hit something in frustration and pain was growing. The pain was creeping up her arm now and was becoming unbearable. It wanted her to expose herself, there was no way that would end well. Yet as the pain and the urge to shift started to cloud her mind, that was the only solution that kept circling around in her head. She also still hadn¡¯t decided which room she would go to after this bullshit was over and that bothered her more than she¡¯d like to admit.


    Azura righted herself and headed out of the bathroom and into Lucas''s room. If the Phoenix wanted this, it would get it. She quickly grabbed the ring, ignoring the burning pain that seared through her fingers and hand, and pulled it off. Placing the gold object on the bedside table, the pain was subsiding and she gave a breath of relief when she could feel her arm turning back to normal. Her hand followed soon after and in the end her finger which had started turning black slowly regained its normal color. It was as if a heavy burden was just lifted and she could finally breathe and stand up properly. Her mind cleared up allowing for her thoughts and senses to turn back to normal.


    The effects of taking the ring off hit her like a tidal wave. The first thing she noticed was the smell of sex combined with hers and Lucas''s. He groaned and turned around making her freeze in place in the hopes he wouldn''t wake up. He was bound to smell her as well now and she had no idea what would happen. Her eyes grew larger upon realizing what she had just done and panic set in. He would know... He would find out. She couldn¡¯t be here when he did. There was no way she could face him now! Stepping away from the bed, she grasped for the door blindly as her eyes never left the still sleeping man. She needed to run, to hide, to get away from here.


    Lucas groaned, his nose scrunched up as a frown formed on his face. He turned onto his side, the covers sliding off him completely. Averting her eyes from the now very naked form, Azura silently opened the door and quickly made her way out. She grabbed her head and gritted her teeth, cursing herself for listening to the Phoenix. Of course, the damned thing was silent now. One thing she did know was that she had to go and she had to go now.


    The shift started as she was making her way to the front door. Her bones cracking and realigning themselves as fur sprouted from her skin. Holding it back was painful but opening a locked door fully shifted was next to impossible. The moment the front door opened up, Azura fell to her knees, biting away the pain as the shift fully took over and a white snow leopard took her place.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    *


    His hand moved next to him and hit the mattress. A little surprised Lucas turned onto his side and opened his eyes to see an empty spot. He softly cursed and sat upright as a strong, unknown scent hit him.


    ¡°Dammit! What the hell?!¡± There was only one explanation as the scent of both of them filled his nostrils and embedded itself in his brain.


    It was hard grabbing her full scent but the more he sifted through the assortment of different ones, the more ¡®Azura¡¯ formed in his nose. There was no denying he liked what he smelled but underneath the first initial impression, something else lingered. Snow leopard shifters had a distinctive side to their scents, something he had never smelled on anyone else, and yet, she had that very same snippet in hers. It could only mean one thing and suddenly it all made sense as to why she was always adamant about wearing that ring.


    He grabbed his pants from the floor and put them on as fast as possible. As he grabbed his t-shirt his eye fell on the golden ring on the bedside table. He grabbed it and put it in his pocket before storming off downstairs, following the invisible trail she left behind. Before he was able to go outside a loud banging on the door confirmed his worst fear. He was not the only one who had noticed. Hopping on one foot while putting his shoe on, he opened the door to see a heated Rose.


    "Fuck, Lucas!" She pushed him to the side and stormed in.


    "You can say that again." He grunted as he finally got his shoe on. Rose tossed him his coat and watched him put it on, tapping her foot impatiently.


    A smug smile spread on her face just before she spoke up. "You actually did it. It¡¯s about damn time! You still smell like sex..."


    "If you value your life you will shut up about it! Azura¡¯s gone and probably the whole city knows so we need to find her before things go wrong." He pushed her out of the house as he snarled at her and closed the door behind them.


    Rose grabbed her phone and urged him to take a look at his as well. "Might be a little late for that... How long has she been gone for and what happened?"


    "I don''t know how long she¡¯s been gone, I was still asleep when she left. I also have no clue what happened. She must have panicked or something. The night didn''t really go according to plan if you must know."


    He cursed even more as he saw the messages and tons of missed calls on his phone. Taking in a big whiff of air, he found her trail. It was faint but somehow stronger and did point him in a general direction. The same direction one of the last texts he got said she was. She had shifted. Lucas closed his eyes as a small grunt escaped his lips. Rose gave him a confused look but seemed impatient.


    ¡°We need to go, Lucas! And what¡¯s with the weird look?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t smell it, do you? She shifted, Rose! Fuck, she¡¯s as good as dead!¡± He didn¡¯t wait for her reply but started running in the direction he had often taken Azura.


    ¡°Shifted?¡± Rose panted as she tried keeping up. ¡°What do you mean shifted? She¡¯s hu-¡±


    ¡°She isn¡¯t human!¡± Lucas interrupted her. ¡°She never was but she blocked her scent so I never figured out what she was. Take a good whiff of the air and let it sink in, will ya!¡±


    As they kept running, Rose did what he told her to do. ¡°I only smell you, sex, loads of it by the way, and¡­ Oh my God! You¡¯re wrong! She ain¡¯t as good as dead, the rest of them are!¡± She exclaimed loudly.


    Hearing her figure it out only made him increase his tempo as they left the streets and headed into the woods and towards the mountains. The smaller paths covered in thick fresh snow made them reduce their speed a little, but it was not that far of a journey. Focusing on following her trail, the two kept quiet for the rest of the way. The last text message Lucas had read worried him and he was afraid they might be too late already. They would kill Azura if she did anything. With or without Lucas there.


    The sun was high up already when they reached the cliff. The same cliff he had taken Azura to a few times to watch the sunrise, or just to have a chat. She had always felt at ease here so it didn¡¯t feel strange this was where she had run off to. Waiting at the edge were Mayor Ben and Nathan. Oliver and Nicolai stood a few meters away, softly discussing something. Seeing the bald Vaim calmed him down a little. Nicolai knew about Azura, no doubt and Lucas hoped that he had managed to keep the situation under control for as much as possible. Ben always valued Nicolai¡¯s opinion and Lucas never felt more glad about it.


    "It''s about damn time you showed up." The mayor turned to Lucas and Rose and pointed down. "We cornered her there. It''s a miracle she hasn''t killed anyone yet so she''s still alive."


    Rose ran to the edge and looked down. There were several Snow leopards surrounding and cornering a much smaller one. She was hunched down against the cliff, her tail flicking furiously beside her, warning them to keep their distance. They could hear her hisses even up on the cliff. She wanted to call out to Azura but at the last moment decided against it. She would probably be scared to death and the chance of her reacting in the wrong way was too big.


    "A miracle? She has been living in our city for over a year without hurting or killing anyone!" Lucas was getting angry and took a few steps towards the mayor. Nathan immediately stepped between them.


    "Mind your words, Lucas. Just take a quick peek down so you know what exactly she is." Lucas turned away from them and headed over to Rose. She jabbed his side and pointed down.


    "You nailed a blue one Lucas. Who would''ve thought." She grinned at him but he just growled at her.


    ¡°Shut up, Rose.¡± He sneered back as he kept his eyes focused on Azura.


    ¡°Sorry... ¡° She replied, anxiously hopping from one foot to another. Hoping to lighten his mood a little, she realized it had the opposite effect. Lucas¡¯s attention was solely on Azura with an extremely worried expression she had rarely seen on him.


    Seeing her down there in her shifted animal explained her temper for sure. Lucas stared at the sight beneath him and noticed the other snow leopards slowly coming closer to her. Azura was getting more agitated, baring her teeth to the others much like a wolf would. If they would come even closer, she would attack for sure. She had tried to attack people for less. Lucas had seen enough and turned back to Mayor Reed.


    "Ben, call them back! She''s agitated and under a lot of pressure. You''re provoking her this way! Let me approach her by myself. I can get her to calm down so we can settle this in a normal manner."


    Ben shook his head and replied showing no sign of emotion.


    "Sorry Lucas, I''m following protocol. I can''t let you go down there as you''re obviously personally involved. I have to make sure she is no threat to us. Especially after what happened with Johnathan."


    All the color drained from Lucas''s face as the true meaning of the words from Ben dawned on him.


    "You want her to fight..."


    Nicolai heard Lucas and walked over to him.


    "She''ll be fine. She can handle herself."


    Lucas clenched his fists together and gritted his teeth to prevent him from striking out at Ben. All hope he had left was gone the moment he realized Ben wanted to make her do the ''welcome'' fight. It was an old law that had never even been used. It was implemented after a previous blue-eyed leopard killed people in town after living there. To make sure nothing like that would happen again, the Mayor and council thought it was a good idea to make any newcomer fight to show they had self-control and restraint. Something they believed not a single blue-eye would have. Something Lucas doubted Azura would have enough off as well.


    Ben headed over to the edge and looked down. He whistled and motioned to a few cats to move away. Then he turned to Nathan and gave him a nod. Nathan started to grin and walked off, making his way down. Lucas''s eyes grew wide as he realized what was going to happen.


    "You can''t do this Ben! Of all people, you let Nathan do the right of ''welcome''?" He spat out the word welcome. "He hates blue-eyed snow leopards and will try to kill her! And if he won''t succeed, she will kill him and thus making everyone attack her and she''ll still be killed!" Lucas turned around to follow Nathan, but Oliver grabbed him and pulled him back.


    "Don''t make this any worse than it already is Lucas. Your smell is all over her, so we know on which side you''ll be if you go down right now." He was whispering so Ben and the other would not hear him. "Nathan will indeed go for the kill. But I''ve talked to Nicolai and he claims she will be able to control herself and not kill him. Maybe it''s wise to put your trust in him and your girlfriend down there right now."


    "Are you saying she is dangerous?" Ben slowly walked to Lucas making sure his higher-ranking seeped through his words.


    "No. If she was I would not be standing here. But if you provoke her, like you¡¯re doing now..."


    "So yes, she is dangerous," Ben emphasized every word and it was clear he would not tolerate any other word coming from Lucas¡¯s mouth.


    Lucas grunted and just headed over to the edge. Oliver was right, but he would now have to watch how Nathan just wanted to kill Azura and not be able to do anything. Rose joined him and took his hand and gently squeezed it.


    "She wouldn''t have done this if she wasn''t sure of herself. You have to trust her." He looked at her and managed to mouth a little thank you to her. Ben walked down a little and positioned himself at a spot he could easily see Azura and Nathan, who had shifted and walked towards her. He was almost twice as big as she was and kept his head held proudly high. Azura cowered some more, pressing herself into the wall as furthest as possible. Ben''s voice boomed over the valley, making them all look up at him.


    "As is the custom in our region, a foreign snow leopard is welcome to join after proving his or her dedication. Even though you have been living with us in peace mostly for over a year, I can''t overlook the fact you have kept your true identity hidden and with recent developments regarding the blue-eyed leopards around here, I have decided you shall have to prove yourself. You shall fight Nathan and you will have to beat him or you''ll most likely be killed. Fleeing is no option as we will hunt you down and will show no mercy."


    Azura had slowly gotten up as Ben spoke and stared at him before her eyes moved around the cliff to find Lucas and Rose up there. She finally looked back down at Nathan who was patiently waiting for her to spring into action. She sized him up and slowly walked around him in a big circle.


    Lucas never took his eyes off her. He could see she was in a good physical condition and prayed she knew what she was doing. Nathan was one of the most difficult fighters due to his size and weight advantage. If he was able to pin her down, it would be over in no time. He did have one weakness though. He was big, but slow compared to most others.


    Nathan looked up at his leader and mayor Ben, who gave him a small nod to indicate he could go ahead with the fight. He turned his attention to Azura and lowered his head before he started to charge straight at her.

 Chapter 26

    Azura lowered her belly to the ground in a low crouch as Nathan started his charge towards her. Her instincts were yelling at her that this was all wrong, that he was not acting anything like a true wild cat. She growled at him in warning but as he showed no signs of slowing, she braced herself for the inevitable. Whatever happened, she knew she couldn¡¯t allow him to hit her; his gigantic size and obvious heavier weight would give him a big advantage if he managed to pin her, and that was something she would avoid at all costs.


    A dangerous hiss escaped between her teeth as she bared them. It was a clear warning signal for him to stop which he blatantly ignored. Right as he was about to crash into her, Azura leapt out of the way and to the side. So close, he couldn¡¯t fully react, he only managed to swipe one large paw at her before he crashed into the rock wall. Azura quickly darted out of the way, fur puffed up to make her look bigger, but Nathan recovered faster than she¡¯d hoped and came at her again. Her instincts were confused by his reckless charging at her and she only reacted by jumping out of the way over and over.


    She didn¡¯t retaliate. Every time he came for her, she avoided him almost like a dance. She warned him over and over, growling and hissing at him while baring her teeth as a wolf would. She could see his frustration building the more she avoided attacking him. Being smaller made her more agile, one of the few advantages she held over him and one she exploited repeatedly.


    A loud deep rumble filled the valley they were in as Nathan vented his frustrations. A shiver ran down her spine at the obvious display of dominance from the larger male snow leopard. Her deepest instincts told her to run, while her more human ones urged her to put him in his place. She was a blue-eyed snow leopard! Considered dangerous and feral, why not prove them right for a change?


    Enough avoiding. He¡¯s a tough one. The voice came into her head. A welcome flash of heat followed as the Phoenix showed her a sliver of its powers. Don¡¯t let your guard down but attack.


    Knowing the voice was right, Azura allowed it in. It was with her, it was her, it could make her fly. Its power flowed through her, heightening her senses, and seemingly slowed time down for just a moment. Azura eyed the big male as he spun around after his last futile charge at her. She could hear the snow crunch under his paws, watched his whiskers point forward towards her, saw the hatred that burned in his eyes.


    Before he could launch another useless attack at her, she raised her head and did what she had picked up on while training with Nora and the rest of the werewolves. A sound so strange and unnatural left her throat it startled him. Close to a howl but laced with a cat¡¯s growl; it was one of the strangest sounds Azura could produce.


    He hesitated, taken back by her unnatural stance and howl and that was her chance. It was her turn to attack. Azura launched herself forward, leaping from rock to rock, never going in a straight line and avoided forming a pattern as she closed in on him at full speed. He tried to follow with his head, tried to figure out which way to go but knew he could not avoid her. His muscles tensed as he braced for impact as she was simply too fast for him to intercept.


    At the last moment she feinted to the right, forcing him to turn that way, exposing his side to her as she leapt and buried her teeth and claws into the scruff of his neck. The thick fur made it difficult to get a good grip as he toppled on his side with her on top. Her canines dug even deeper as she tried to slash at his exposed stomach with her hind legs. The metallic taste of warm blood filled her maw as she sunk home; her instincts kicked into overdrive as the need to kill took over her mind. It tasted so good, she wanted more and Azura bit even harder as she felt herself being dragged up as Nathan got back to his feet. He had let out a small yelp of pain when she had bitten down but that changed to a ferocious grown as he shook his whole body trying to get her off. It worked as she lost her grip and fell.


    Before she could dart out of his way, Nathan had spun around and with a powerful slash, razor claws hit home as his paw connected to her face. Azura was knocked off balance and he seized the opportunity to give her another blow to the side of her head. The force knocked her down as he put his full weight behind it. Azura landed on an uneven rock formation forcing all the air out of her lungs as her ribs took the biggest hit.


    You''re being careless! You let your bloodlust drive you. If you want to live, keep your head in the game, and don''t become feral!


    Nathan actually backed away after he had hit her. There was blood on his fur and he had a few scratches but it was nothing serious. Azura slowly got up, trying to steady herself as the gravity of her mistake hit her. He could have killed her, or at least seriously injured her right there and he hadn¡¯t. He¡¯d hit her good though and four claw marks now marked her face past her left eye, she was lucky he had not hit her eye and blinded her. Panting heavily, the two slowly started circling each other.


    They were again facing one another. He¡¯d had the perfect chance to kill her as she was down, but for some reason, he hadn''t. He started circling her, seemingly unaffected by his wounds. She tried to follow him, but some of the blood kept seeping into her eye, almost completely blinding her on one side. She shook her head trying to get rid of it.


    A mistake.


    She never saw him coming until she felt all his weight and muscle clash into her body. All the air was knocked out of her a second time within a few minutes and she was sure she could feel something snap in her ribs. They tumbled over, claws and teeth clashing together as each tried to get the upper hand. Whatever happened, he was not going to be allowed to pin her.


    Azura rolled onto her side and managed to get her back legs underneath his body. With one powerful push, she got him off of her. She had no idea if she had even managed to get some damage done in the close scuffle but she knew he had done some serious damage to her. Her ribs were burning, her shoulder hurt and she was bleeding from several places. Nathan had retreated assessing his own wounds as well.


    You fight like a wolf but you have forgotten their ground rule. They fight in packs. You are alone. They are always alert though. Keep one enemy in front, but keep your ears and nose on the other who is sneaking up behind you.


    Anger was building inside her, gnawing on her self control. She had tried keeping it at bay as the true power still scared her but she could feel the Phoenix tugging at it, urging her to release her boundaries. As the pain from her wounds broke through her hazed mind, she knew she had no choice. Lowering her boundaries, she felt the waves of power wash over her.


    Enough playing, we need to end this. Time we fly together.


    When she looked up, Nathan was gone. Pushing the pain aside, Azura slowly turned her head to find nothing except for rocks, snow, and some shrubbery here and there. She let her annoyance show by growling softly. As she could no longer trust her eyesight, she had to find him another way. As she focused on smell and hearing, a strange and comfortable warmth spread through her limbs.


    Her ears moved around in every direction as she felt the all too familiar heat rise up. But this time it was not scaring her. She welcomed it. She felt the snow underneath her paws melt away. She opened her maw slightly, panting heavily from the earlier exhaustion. Flames...


    We have to fly!


    Her mouth started dripping. Tiny flames fell to the ground like drool coming off her maw. She felt the burning sensation in her mouth, but it didn¡¯t hurt. It started small, but soon she felt the flames dripping from within become bigger.


    That''s it.


    She heard it. The crunching snow beneath the weight of a huge snow leopard. She waited, pretending to not hear him. There was a second similar sound. He was to her right, five meters away behind a big rock. She could almost envision him sitting there, waiting for the right moment to pounce. The only way to lure him out was to provoke him. Slowly she turned her head the other direction and pretended to stumble, appearing weak on purpose. Nathan moved onto the rock, no longer hiding, but she kept her back to him. She heard his claws rake past the rock, his tail swishing in the wind, and his breathing as if he stood beside her. As she let her senses tune into him, she could almost feel him starting to tense his muscles for the jump. He prepared to launch his attack, she prepared herself to embrace the Phoenix. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Fly!


    Nathan took the jump. Encouraged by the voice in her head, Azura dropped all her barriers in her body opposing it. As wounded as she had seemed to him, the more active and light on her feet she was now. She spun around and saw his eyes as they grew large as flames engulfed her body and huge flaming wings sprouted from her back. Her eyes were flaming red as the flames covered her whole body like a second layer of fur. It almost seemed translucent as you could still see her normal fur shine through. She jumped and they collided mid-air. He yelped loudly as her flaming paws connected with his face, scorching him and throwing him off balance in mid-air. He landed on his side and she was right on him, biting him in the back leg and burning him at the same time.


    The power was insane. This was unlike anything she had ever felt before. She wanted to grin and laugh at the same time but still had to fight off her attacker. She wanted to sink her teeth into his body over and over, feel his muscles rip underneath her claws, his bones cracking every time she hit him. She wanted to make him burn and suffer like he had been trying to do to her. She wanted to end it, end him.


    Don''t kill him!


    The voice snapped her back to reality. She had Nathan pinned down, blood covering his body, his throat between her jaws. It was just one bite that would end him. She stared down at him, every second feeling like a lifetime. She could see the utter terror in his eyes as she now held his life in between her canines. The urge to bite, to see the light fade out of his eyes was tempting her. To feel his pulse slowing down and come to a complete stop. It was all just one bite away.


    She let go.


    The flames died down, the wings were gone. There was a deafening silence as she backed away and looked at the maimed body. He was still breathing. She had no idea how bad she had hurt him, but he was still alive. She stared in shock at what she had done and only then noticed a burst of loud laughter roared through the valley. Azura looked up as she had completely forgotten about the audience. She saw Ben, standing with his hands in his side laughing.


    He was actually laughing.


    Confused, her gaze shifted back to the mauled body of Nathan and suddenly a blanket of fear covered her, clouding her mind. She had attacked and almost killed one of them and they would now come after her. The panic overruled the pain that had come to her tenfold after her attack and before she could rationally think, she turned around and sprinted away.


    *


    She was holding back. Lucas watched in horror as Nathan kept attacking and Azura kept evading. She was not giving it her all and was obviously holding back. He could tell she was struggling with finding a balance between fighting and going on a full-on rampage. As she finally attacked Nathan and drew the first blood Lucas felt a wave of relief crash over him but that soon ended as he saw her losing control and staying on too long. Long enough for Nathan to retaliate which he did in a brute manner.


    Lucas backed away from the edge, the urge to just head down there was rising. Rose tried to pull him back but he shook her hand away from him and turned around to where Dr. Jensen was standing.


    "Calm down Lucas. You won''t help her by freaking out up here." He placed his hands on Lucas''s shoulders.


    "How can I calm down if this madness is still going on! This is her death sentence don''t you see?! Nathan is just playing with her now but he will try to kill her! If he doesn''t succeed she will most likely kill him. Have you seen it?! She''s losing control as soon as she attacks. If she kills him, Ben will order the rest to kill her because she is dangerous. She''s not ready, Nicolai, far from it!"


    "I think she might just surprise you." Nicolai closed his eyes and tapped into Lucas''s emotions to take away the worst of it. Lucas calmed down straight away. ¡°We can''t afford you to do something stupid right now. Try to remain calm."


    Lucas just nodded and slowly made his way back to the edge where Rose was waiting. As he peered over the edge he clenched his teeth at the sight below. Azura was visibly hurt with diverse wounds and a slight limp, but Nathan was nowhere to be seen. His eyes scanned the surroundings until a slow movement caught his eyes. Azura had lowered her head and seemed oblivious to the threat that was just a few meters away from her.


    "Something''s off." Rose pointed at Azura and the way she was standing. "She got a good blow to her ribs, but it looks like she has just given up."


    Lucas noticed Nathan softly treading a little closer to the rock and then focused back on Azura. She was standing still, only her ears twitching back and forth.


    "No... She hasn''t." He stared at her body and his eyes rested on her paws and the lack of snow around them. He then noticed her face, and mostly her mouth. "Oh shit." Lucas quickly turned around, grabbed Nicolai and practically dragged him to the edge.


    "Tell me you see it too! She''s breathing fire. Look at her paws!" Nicolai edged closer and glanced at the female snow leopard beneath them. "She knows exactly where he is,¡± Lucas continued, ¡°She knows what he is going to do and she is waiting for him. She''s going to kill him." Rose looked up in shock at Lucas as he noticed exactly what Azura was doing.


    "It''s the Phoenix... She''s letting it out." Nicolai''s voice had become a soft whisper, not wanting to alert any others around them. Rose just stared at them in confusion before turning her attention back to Azura and Nathan.


    She was not a moment too soon as Nathan had perched himself on top of the rock, ready to attack. He did so a moment later, but at the same instant Azura spun around with newfound energy and she burst into a wide array of flames which formed around her body including a pair of gigantic wings. It happened so fast, Nathan had no chance. She attacked him mid-air, knocking him down and clawing at his body. Soon she jumped off and ran around, attacking from another side. She crashed into him, dug her claws into his skin, and would leave again but before he could recover and get up, she was on him again giving him no chance to retaliate.


    Lucas just stared, mouth open at the fight going on below. Azura had become something else. The wings moved in unison with her body, providing her with additional speed, balance, and another dangerous weapon; fire. Translucent flames surrounded her, cloaking her in a soft reddish and yellow glow. Everytime her paws would hit the ground, she would leave a scorched spot behind and the flames erupting from her mouth made her look like she was spewing fire. There was no longer any hint of pain or fatigue in her body, just her running around attacking and backing up again and again and again.


    Nathan stood no chance as she was basically beating him in all the ways possible. He was burned, beaten, clawed, and bitten until the end where she attacked one last time; pinned him down on his back, and grabbed him by the throat. All the flames slowly disappeared, leaving only the wings protruding from her back. It had gone completely quiet as she showed her dominance over him.


    Nathan was still alive but it was just barely. From what Lucas could tell, Azura had completely shattered his left hind leg. A chunk of meat was missing, baring the bone and the position it was in was anything but natural. He could see the blood welling up on Nathan¡¯s stomach but it was hard to see any more injuries due to the thick fur. He was broken though, in many ways. Azura now held the power to end his life any second and Lucas prayed she wouldn¡¯t do it. He closed his eyes and turned away not wanting to know what would happen.


    Ben''s laughter roared through the valley. He had come back up to the top and grabbed Lucas by the collar and yanked him to the edge. For an old man, he was surprisingly strong. Right then Azura bolted. Within moments she was gone. Aside from Ben, nobody had made a sound, all still too shocked from what they¡¯d seen. Ben slapped Lucas on the shoulder and motioned to a few others to fetch and tend to Nathan.


    "She''s something else alright. Go and fetch your girlfriend, I would like to have a word with her. And before you ask, yes, she can stay." Ben''s threatening and dominant attitude was gone, now he didn¡¯t need to keep Lucas under control.


    It was a trait that came with leadership, a way to control the group and keep them submissive and obedient. Lucas had never caught Ben using it before and he hoped he wouldn¡¯t experience it again anytime soon. It was suffocating and even though Lucas could¡¯ve gone against him, it would¡¯ve been a struggle and not worth the trouble. Ben didn¡¯t use it often as normally, life was pretty simple and bland around town.


    Lucas heaved a sigh of relief and it hit him that he¡¯d been holding his breath from the moment he had turned away from the edge till now. She had made it, alive and with nobody dead. With his relief, his practical side set in and he turned to Rose and tossed her his house keys.


    "Can you hurry and grab a set of warm clothes for Azura and bring them here?" He turned to the rest and the mayor. "I need everyone gone from here as soon as I return. I don''t know what state I will find her in and I don''t want anyone else provoking her right now."


    Oliver just nodded and headed down to see what state Nathan was in while Rose ran off right away without saying a single word. A rarity for her as she usually would have something to say. Ben nodded to Lucas and made his way down as well, leaving only Nicolai at the top. He approached Lucas and flashed him a comforting smile.


    "I told you she was ready. She did a mighty fine job and it looks like she has accepted the Phoenix."


    "It was quite a sight alright..." Lucas stared at the place where all the snow was gone and only black earth was left. "Let''s just hope she doesn''t hold a grudge because I, for one, would not like to face her." He took a deep breath, still overwhelmed by what he had just witnessed. "Thank you for being here Nicolai. Thank you for helping her this past year and for giving her your trust. Just... For how long have you known she was a blue-eyed snow leopard?"


    Dr. Jensen let out a small chuckle before answering. "I knew from the second time I met her. I was the one who advised her to keep it a secret until she was ready. Did you really not suspect anything?" Lucas shook his head.


    "No... Well, I suspected something, but I... It wasn¡¯t up to me to ask and I just figured thinking about it was a waste of time. Though it does explain some things."


    Nicolai gave him a short nod indicating it was time for him to start following Azura. Lucas managed a wry smile and walked to the tree line where he quickly undressed and shifted for the first time in years. He would be able to track her much faster this way.

 Chapter 27

    A pained growl escaped Azura¡¯s lips as she slowly opened her sleep-filled eyes. She could feel Lucas''s steady heartbeat through his chest as her head rested on him but it was not particularly comfortable. Her chest was being constricted by his arms wrapped around her and her ribs were painfully throbbing due to the position she found herself in. Both of them were still fully dressed and surely the events of before flowed back to her.


    Azura craned her neck to the side to tell the time and was surprised to find it only late afternoon. It¡¯d only been a few hours ago that she¡¯d fought Nathan and even less since she kissed Lucas again. It felt like a lifetime ago and even though it had felt like the right thing to do then, she wasn¡¯t so sure now. Grimacing as she touched her sensitive ribs she realized the salve had done a pretty good job at numbing the pain but clearly it had already stopped working.


    Trying not to wake the sleeping man beneath her, Azura tried to figure out where they were. Soft glowing embers betrayed her to be in the living room, on the couch, in between Lucas¡¯s legs. Somehow she had fallen asleep on top of him...or correction; they had fallen asleep together. Azura frowned as she stared at the fireplace and for once, didn¡¯t feel anything stirring within her before turning her attention back to Lucas and the rather uncomfortable position she still found herself in.


    A sudden jolt of pain ripped through her as Azura wiggled to get in a better position, forcing her to clench her teeth together to make sure she wouldn¡¯t make any sound. She gasped for air while clutching her side to ease the excruciating pain but it wouldn¡¯t subside. Tears pricked behind her eyes as she shifted some more which resulted in Lucas stirring beneath her.


    Still half asleep, his arms moved along her body and pulled her flush against his upper body. A surprised yelp and gasp combined slipped through her lips waking him a bit more. Lucas mumbled a bit before he buried his nose in her hair and took a big whiff.


    ¡°You smell.¡± He croaked, his voice still sleepy.


    ¡°You¡¯re hurting me and you don¡¯t smell pretty either.¡± She hissed back while biting away the pain.


    With that, Lucas let her go straight away, giving her the space needed to freely move and slowly push herself up on her feet. Lucas sat up as well and grabbed her hand to keep her steady as Azura still seemed a bit shaky on two feet. Letting out a sigh of relief now that the pain was ebbing away, Azura wiped a few black strands of hair out of her face and pushed them behind her ears. This made Lucas stand up and he gently grabbed her chin to tilt her head sideways. His sudden close proximity startled her and Azura flinched slightly. He didn¡¯t seem to take notice as he just observed the side where Nathan had hit her.


    "You might be left with a small scar from this blow. You can see it here in your eyebrow and there might be a faint line running past your cheek and jawbone. People won''t notice though unless they really take a close look at your face." He let her go and headed towards the stairs. "I''m going to take a shower. You need one too and afterward, you need to put that ointment on your ribs again." Azura nodded meekly, her voice caught in her throat.


    She followed him up the stairs and entered her own room where she took off her dirty clothes and quickly put on a robe. She refused to look at herself, knowing that the sight of herself wasn¡¯t that enjoyable. She was healing though, and quite fast too but it would take a while for the bruising to completely go away. The shower was still running, meaning Lucas was still underneath it. Azura slowly set herself down on her bed as she waited for him to exit. A cold shiver ran up her spine causing her to rub her arms to stay warm.


    ¡°Cold?¡± She whispered to herself as she raised an eyebrow. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t remember when the last time she had been cold as the Phoenix always kept her warm. Digging deep inside herself she found nothing of the usual heat. There was probably a good reason for it though, they had been in a big fight which took a lot of strength from both her and the Phoenix. Azura dismissed it and her head shot up as she heard the bathroom door open and close soon after, indicating Lucas was done. He was a whole different matter and something she had no idea what to feel about. She had kissed him, and it had felt right at the moment. But now, she was not so sure. Right now, she just felt drained and empty.


    *


    Azura sneered as the cold salve touched her skin. She was sitting on the stool in the kitchen again, her hair still damp from the shower. The color of the skin on her ribs had changed from deep red and purple to a lighter shade of purple with greenish and yellow edges. She smeared the salve all over her ribs and shoulder trying not to inhale too much of the stench that came from it. Lucas had left her to it, as she had refused his help to apply it.


    As soon as she was done, she closed the jar and pushed it along the counter as far away as possible. That smell was horrid and it was a miracle she had not gagged due to it. After thorougly washing her hands, she quickly dressed again, putting on a simple black long sleeve shirt followed by a thick dark purple knitted vest. As soon as she was done, she grabbed a chocolate bar and walked back to the living room while breaking off a piece and eating it.


    Lucas had set himself on the leather armchair and checked his phone to see that he had a few missed calls and messages from the mayor. As he read the last message he wrote something back and tossed his phone to the side again, obviously quite annoyed.


    "What was that about?" Azura asked while leaning against the door frame with the chocolate in hand.


    "Just Ben. Wanting to know when you''re gonna stop by. I told him we will as soon as you''ve recovered for everybody''s safety."


    "You make me sound like a maniac." Lucas grinned at her remark and walked closer, stopping just a few inches before her. The hairs on her arm raised up as he came close and she felt her face wanting to twitch to the side.


    "You are." He moved closer as she stepped back into the kitchen again until her rear collided with the countertop.


    Trapping her between his arms, his face moved closer but made sure not to touch. his lips briefly caressing her ear as he softly brushed her hair to the side. Azura¡¯s breath hitched at the sudden close proximity. He slowly moved down to her neck, barely touching her skin. A shiver ran down her spine as he moved down her throat, his hot breath caressing her flesh and giving her goosebumps.


    Her breathing became more shallow and she closed her eyes even as her body froze in confusion on what to do. He hadn¡¯t laid a hand on her but the effect he was causing was huge. While heat pooled between her thighs, her mind seemed utterly conflicted. Her body reacted on instinct and she couldn¡¯t stop herself from emitting a soft moan as his fingers grazed her arm.


    Coming back to her senses, she pushed him away with all her might. Lucas chuckled and stepped away. He moved to the side and put the jar with the homemade ointment away while she took the moment to fully let herself calm down. Her heart was still racing; still felt his slight touch and warm breath on her skin. This kind of playing and jousting each other was new and she was afraid she wouldn¡¯t get used to it. There was still something gnawing in the back of her mind and the feeling that something was missing made her feel more insecure.


    Not knowing what to say and knowing he would let her simmer in her own awkwardness, Azura decided to just ignore what had happened. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted,¡± She broke into a big yawn which resulted in a curse as another sharp pain jolted through her body.


    ¡°You ok?¡± Lucas stepped closer, eyes filled with concern but she stopped him in his tracks before he could get too close. The last thing she wanted now was him within her personal space.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, just need to get some sleep.¡±


    His presence was affecting her and she didn¡¯t know if it was in a positive or in a negative way. Right now, she wanted some alone time more than anything but it would seem he had other thoughts. She walked past him and made her way up the stairs in the hope he wouldn¡¯t follow. He had other ideas though as he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and followed her up.


    "What are you doing?" He spoke just as she was about to enter her own bedroom.


    "Going to sleep. What else?" She bit back, annoyed. Azura had her hand on the doorknob but dropped it with a sigh as she turned around to face the taller man. ¡°I need to rest. I¡¯m hurting and frankly, you¡¯re getting on my nerves and all I want is to sleep.¡±


    "Grab your pillow and come to my room. You''re sleeping next to me." Her nostrils flared as she clenched her hands into tight balls.


    ¡°What part about ¡®You¡¯re getting on my nerves¡¯ don¡¯t you understand, Lucas?! And why the hell did you bring a bottle of water?!¡±


    "Oh I understand that perfectly fine, but I¡¯m not letting you sleep alone tonight. I need to keep an eye on you. You pretend to be fine, but you¡¯re hurting, Azu. More than you let on and I can see that. This is not up for discussion.¡± He stared her straight in the eyes, both not blinking as they kept their gazes locked.


    Azura broke the contact first. She sighed and her shoulders slumped as she pushed past him to enter his bedroom.


    ¡°About the water; that¡¯s for me to use if you try to kill me again in your sleep. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve forgotten about that little stunt.¡± His attempt to lighten the mood fell on deaf ears as she ignored him completely. ¡°Oook¡­ You can also just grab it if you wake up thirsty. Will save you a trip to the bathroom.¡±


    Azura just growled at him as she took off her vest and yoga pants and crawled underneath the covers. Keeping to the side of the bed, she closed her eyes hoping he would just leave. After hearing him place the bottle down on the nightstand, she could feel his eyes burn into her before his footsteps indicated he left the room.


    *


    Her head was pounding like crazy. Her whole body ached. Her ribs were still sore and she felt her shoulder and legs burn now as well. But for once, the night had been calm and quiet without any dreams or nightmares. Azura took the two painkillers that she had grabbed from the bathroom cabinet and tossed some cold water in her face. Inside she felt quiet. There was no fire, no voice, and no pressure to shift. For once, she felt like a normal person. A broken normal person.


    "Morning, sunshine." As she entered the kitchen Lucas was already there. He walked up to her and gave her a small kiss on the lips as if they had been together for a long time. She tried not to flinch when he did so. It felt a bit strange for Azura to just act like that as her own feelings were still all over the place, especially after what happened the evening before. She was still annoyed at him for forcing her to sleep in his bed, but it had been one of the best nights of sleep she had in forever.


    Waking up, it felt like it had been wrong to sleep in his bed though. As if she wasn¡¯t allowed to do so. She was feeling so guilty it made her want to throw up. Guilt towards Charlie and Nora even though they were long gone. She missed them so bad and moving on like this started to feel more wrong with every heartbeat. It was only sleeping, but it had almost felt more intimate than when they actually had sex. The more she let her thoughts run wild the more the feeling that she was cheating filled her mind.


    "How are you feeling, Azu?" He had made her some breakfast and placed the french toast on the table. The smell was making her mouth water and her stomach grumbled loudly. She had not eaten properly in 24 hours she realized.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "I''m hungry and it feels like I was run over by a truck multiple times." She forced a small smile as she started eating, ignoring her feelings, and pushing them to the side.


    The taste was overwhelming. Now that she wasn''t wearing her ring and her sense of smell had returned she also noticed it affected her sense of taste. Even something as simple as french toast with a bit of sugar was an explosion in her mouth. No wonder she always craved food whenever she would shift.


    "Don''t you need to eat anything?" She finished the last bit and placed the plate in the dishwasher.


    "No. I already had breakfast. I''ve been up for a couple of hours already. Do you mind..." He waved his finger towards her chest. "I need to check it. Make sure you are healing properly."


    Azura took a deep breath and bit her lip, debating whether or not she would comply. She was not wearing a bra so he would get the full monty if she decided to show him but if she refused, he would definitely fight with her about it. Not wanting to get into another discussion with him she nodded and took off her vest followed by her t-shirt.


    Judging by the pain, it would probably look like she had the galaxy painted on her ribs. As she looked down, she knew she was right. The colors had changed again and they actually did remind her of a galaxy. Purple, red, blue, and yellow tones all spread across her ribcage flowing from and into each other. As Lucas softly let his hand glide down her ribs, he applied pressure here and there making her flinch in pain. She just stared at the ceiling as he examined her. She wanted this to be over as soon as possible.


    "Looks like any broken ribs you had have healed already. You''re a fast healer, even for a shifter. Everything is just bruised now. That''s actually more painful than broken ribs but unavoidable.¡± He took a good look at her shoulder and face, letting his hand glide over the still visible claw and bite marks.


    "Self-inflicted wounds heal even faster." Her cold remark made Lucas look up confused. "I''ve broken my own hand by punching a wall once at Dr. Jensen''s office. It was healed before I got home. Sure it was sore, but everything was back in perfect working order soon after.¡±


    "Why would you ever do that?" He sounded surprised and finished checking her injuries. She grabbed her shirt and put it on again as she started to shiver slightly from being cold.


    "Frustration, confusion, anger, you name it." She talked about it like they were talking about their favorite color.


    "Well, please don''t do that again." He hugged her and softly kissed her on her forehead before handing her the vest.


    There was a knock on the back door and not soon after Jeff''s face appeared behind the window. Lucas sighed, slightly annoyed their time together was cut short.


    "Looks like Jeff and Sheila are back from their holiday." He walked to the back door and opened it, letting Jeff in. Sheila followed not soon after.


    "Sorry to interrupt... Whatever that was." Jeff laughed and hugged Lucas before hugging Azura and giving her a kiss on the cheek. She flinched as he grabbed her tight but he let go soon enough. Sheila came right after and was much more gentle after seeing her painful reaction.


    "You ok, hun? I believe we have so much to talk about!" Sheila was beaming and Jeff couldn''t stop grinning either. "I''m sorry but I''m just going to throw this out here and then we can really talk. I''m pregnant!"


    Baffled by the news Azura could only react by hugging Sheila and whispering a heartfelt congratulations. The women held each other for a while before Sheila whispered in her ear.


    "You smell... different and who the hell pummeled you so bad? I swear if it''s Luc-" Sheila could not finish before Azura interrupted her loudly, making the boys turn towards them.


    "No! It looks like your hormones are already kicking in, eh? It was... Nathan... But he''s doing a lot worse."


    "Nathan?!" Jeff stared at Azura and then back at Lucas. "What did we miss?! Bring on the good stuff!" Lucas gestured them to the chairs and they sat down. Azura grabbed some water and placed it on the table.


    "Well, you guys have big news... But you have missed out on some fun times here as well. Turns out, that woman..." Lucas pointed at Azura. "Is a snow leopard. Not just any snow leopard, but considering her eyes, you can guess the kind. Now after an...interesting night...she ran off, took off her protection," He placed the ring, which he still carried with him, onto the table. "And she riled up the entire city. Ben and the others found her and he made her fight Nathan as a welcome right. She had some tricks up her sleeve, and Nathan is out of order for a while. This one," He placed his hand on her shoulder. "is thankfully, allowed to stay. And that''s the quick version."


    Both Jeff and Sheila stared at Azura with their mouths hanging open. Jeff''s surprise soon turned to pure amusement while Sheila started to look more concerned. It was Sheila who reacted first


    "We are gone on a holiday for two weeks for the first time we are together and during that, you guys just... Turn everything upside down! Are you really alright, Azura? Nathan is not an easy opponent. What happened?"


    ¡°I¡¯m physically going to be fine. Just black and blue." Azura took a few sips of her drink while tapping her knee absentmindedly before continuing.


    ¡°I¡­ would not have been able to beat Nathan normally,¡± There was still no trace of the familiar warmth in her body, and by now it was unsettling her. ¡°There¡¯s something you guys should know.¡±


    Azura continued explaining what had happened and decided to also tell them a little about the Phoenix. It was no use to hide it anymore as practically everyone knew by now but she left out the details and just brought them up to speed with what the rest had seen. With the emptiness that had settled deep in her core, Azura started to feel exhausted and her mind was wandering away from the actual conversation. Nonetheless, the smile on Jeff''s face only grew larger the more she told them and as she finished he was grinning from ear to ear.


    To Azura''s surprise, neither Seila nor Jeff said anything about her being a blue-eyed leopard. It was like they didn''t care about that. They had not asked any questions regarding her heritage but were far more concerned about her well being. They were curious about the whole Phoenix thing but Azura felt the lack of power to demonstrate. The longer the conversation went on, the more she started tensing up. The tapping on her knee intensified, the muscles in her strained jaw were actually starting to hurt, but the couple on the other end of the table seemed oblivious to her mental state.


    Lucas seemed to catch on though as he slowly eased himself in the conversation, taking over her story while throwing her a few concerned looks. It was not a moment too soon as she withdrew herself in her mind while blankly staring past their friends. It looked as if she was listening but none of the words reached past her ears. Sometimes she forced herself to come back and stay with them, responding with a nod, or a simple answer.


    "Nathan getting his ass kicked by you... Unbelievable! I guess my next stop will be to see how he is doing. But before I go do that I have to ask," Azura had missed a part again and bit her lip as she forced herself to focus on Jeff. His genuine smile turned into a playful one and a twinkle appeared in his eyes. "What is going on between you two? When we came home yesterday I took a quick peek through the kitchen window and what I saw was rather... friendly."


    Azura groaned and buried her face in her hands embarrassed by the fact Jeff had actually caught them. The moment she started paying attention was the moment Jeff asked the most embarrassing question. Azura just shrugged and didn¡¯t know what to answer. She didn''t even know the answer to that question herself. She just waved the question off to Lucas and refused to look up.


    "We just got to know each other a little bit better. Hence the interesting night." Lucas talked so casually about it it was hard to tell what he thought about it.


    Azura looked up at Jeff and Sheila with almost pleading eyes. "Don''t tell Rose just yet please."


    "Too late for that." They turned to Lucas who leaned back in his chair. "She knew from the moment she saw me. I did my best to make it clear she would keep her mouth shut, but you know... it''s Rose."


    "We''re never gonna hear the end of this, will we? I don''t even know what to think of it. Maybe it was just a mistake." Azura groaned some more and softly banged her head on the table.


    She had no idea of the impact of her words as her mind started clouding up again. Lucas stared at her as if stung by a wasp. He opened his mouth a few times wanting to respond but closed it straight away, just lost for words.


    "Maybe it''s time we leave." Jeff cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence, and got up as did Sheila. They quickly said their goodbyes and left the house through the kitchen door.


    It was gone.


    How often she had wished for the Phoenix to be gone and now it really was. The moment she had found out what was wrong; was the moment her anxiety flared up. Admittedly, she knew before but only accepted it when Jeff and Sheila were already there. Taking another step back she bumped into the wall behind her. Confused as to how she even got here, Azura forced herself to focus and actually see what was going on.


    Her body was acting on its own and she had no recollection of what had just happened. When did she get up and what did she do? Since when were Sheila and Jeff gone? Why did Lucas stare at her with such a hurtful look in his eyes? Was he the reason she had been backing up against the wall?


    Her head started to hurt as the questions popped up one after another. He came closer and she felt her breathing becoming more erratic. The sudden urge to run overwhelmed her as her confusion only grew. Why did she feel like she had missed an essential part of what just happened?


    "Azura? What''s going on? You''re acting strange all of a sudden. One moment you''re fine and next thing I know you''re going crazy." He closed in on her and extended his hand to her.


    Her eyes frantically darted between his hand and his face. She was starting to panic, her nerves were going into overdrive and her pulse was racing. It was getting harder to breathe and as she closed her eyes, white flashes started to dance in front of her. What did he want from her? What did she want from him? Her mouth filled with saliva. She had to keep swallowing to get rid of it and in between, she kept licking her lips. Words came to her in flashes, words she had no idea of what they meant or why they came from her. It was like someone else was speaking for her.


    "I made a mistake...It''s gone...You got too close..." Every word she spilled cut right through him. She could tell by his expression but somehow she could not stop the stream of words that flowed fast without intonation. "People I care about die. The Phoenix is gone. I am empty. I almost killed him. I enjoyed it...the power, having his life in my hands. I''m fucked up! I don''t want to hurt you, or anyone else for that matter. I was stupid for showing myself. Shouldn''t have done that..."


    More white flashes clouded her vision as her voice shifted into a state of complete panic and even though at first she addressed him directly, after a few more sentences her words became more incoherent and her voice again softened like she was talking to herself. Disoriented, she slowly slumped down to her knees as she kept mumbling.


    For a while, Lucas let her be, afraid of what she would do if he were to try to touch her. He wanted nothing more than to help her but he knew there was nothing he could do. He could only watch helplessly as she closed herself off from the outside world and seemed to get lost in her own.


    Eventually, she stopped mumbling and just stared straight ahead while rocking back and forth hugging her knees. When she was ''gone'' he softly grabbed her arm, shocked as to how cool her skin felt. He guessed she was right when she said the Phoenix was gone. She hadn''t been this cool to the touch for a long time. As he tried to lift her up, she shook herself loose and assumed her first position again, not allowing him to touch her.


    A catatonic state. Not the first time she went there. Lucas had called Doctor Jensen over and after assessing her, administered a big dose of benzodiazepine. She stopped rocking after thirty minutes and as her breathing calmed down Nicolai seemed to relax as well.


    ¡°She¡¯s responding well to the medicine. Give her a bit of time to recover.¡± Nicolai started grabbing his things while Lucas stayed next to Azura as she slowly came back.


    ¡°What caused this, Nicolai?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to understand she¡¯s under a tremendous amount of stress, Lucas. The fight, being exposed as what she really is, you¡­. Add that to the trauma from before and it¡¯s not strange she suffered a big setback.¡± The bald man adjusted his glasses as he watched Azura slowly move and lift her head to meet their gazes.


    ¡°How are you feeling, Azura?¡± The Vaim asked as he gestured for Lucas to come to him.


    A bit dazed, Azura stared back at him. She bit her lip while moving every toe and finger till she was satisfied and finally responded. ¡°Like¡­ I¡¯ve been hit by a truck¡­ In my body and brain.¡±


    She managed to push herself up from the floor, leaning on the wall for extra support. Lucas made a move to help her, but as she flinched back from him, Nicolai pulled the young man back next to him before focusing back on Azura.


    ¡°You should get some rest. Your body needs to recover from the fight and the stuff I gave you will make you relaxed and quite sleepy. Can I help you get up the stairs?¡± As he offered, he remained in the same spot while he touched Lucas to keep the man calm himself.


    Azura shook her head. Right now, she did not want anyone touching her. The thought alone made her heart race. Without batting an eye at Lucas, she slowly made her way out of the kitchen, grabbing onto things to help support her. When they heard her getting up the steps, Nicolai followed making sure to keep his distance. After she disappeared into her own room, Nicolai let go of Lucas.


    ¡°What the hell, Nicolai! You completely flattened me out! Made me a puppet! She needed help and you just let her go alone. Into her own room?! I need to monitor her, make sure she is healing properly!¡±


    ¡°She needs to be alone. This is why I held you back and nullified your emotions.¡± Dr. Jensen coldly bit back. ¡°You are saying what she needs, but she needs the opposite. Her body will heal, you don¡¯t have to worry about that. Leave her be, give her space.¡±


    Grabbing his coat, Doctor Jensen made his way to the door when he was sure Lucas got the point. Tipping his non-existent hat, he went out leaving Lucas alone. The tall man let out a sigh of frustration and walked to the cabinet holding the strong liquor. This was not something he had expected to happen. She had responded so positively towards him and just made a complete turnaround in only a few hours¡¯ time.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± He slammed the coffee table after setting the bottle of whiskey next to it. After taking a few deep breaths, he filled the glass and chucked it down in one go. This was going to be a long day.

 Chapter 28

    It was mesmerizing; watching the blood trickle out of a superficial cut on the upper arm made her feel so alive. She yanked the knife across the arm again, creating a slightly deeper cut underneath the first one. The faceless body stayed still as if it did not feel any pain. Blood welled up again and she smiled as it started to flow down to the floor. She followed the trail with her finger and carefully licked the crimson fluid of her finger. The taste was salty, almost iron-like. Azura closed her eyes and her smile grew even bigger as the taste spread in her mouth. Her heart rate increased as her tongue slowly moved past her lips. She cut the body again, this time a whole lot deeper. A moan escaped her lips as this time the amount of blood flowing out of the cut was significantly more. The need to taste it and touch it became overwhelming and without thinking, she put her lips against the stream and drank.


    The flow of blood stopped just like with the first two cuts. Azura leaned back and licked her blood-stained lips clean. She wanted more. The still body wasn''t enough. She wanted to feel it shake and shudder, see the skin grow pale, see the terror in the eyes. The rush it gave her every time she cut it withered as soon as the blood stopped. It was an addiction. She couldn¡¯t stop. In a desperate attempt to feel the adrenaline again she moved the knife to the thigh of the body and cut it long and deep. She severed the main artery and instead of a steady flow, the blood spurted out in pulses in sync with her own heartbeat.


    A small laugh erupted from deep within. She rubbed her hands together as the blood came out in bursts. Her breathing turned into panting as the excitement deep within her core started to grow. This was it, the feeling that she craved so much. Azura closed her eyes and lifted her head up to the sky waiting for the ultimate release.


    It didn''t come.


    Her eyes sprung open as she quickly looked down. The bleeding had stopped. Frantically she moved her hands over the cut, dug her fingers in the wound and went under the skin.


    Nothing. Not even a single drop was left.


    She retracted her hands, took the knife again and swiftly made several more cuts across the stomach. The cuts remained dry. Azura frantically cried out as she cut the body even more.


    "No... Please! I need more!" Her desperation grew only bigger as it dawned on her that the body had been bled empty.


    Azura got on her feet and stared in horror at the lifeless form in front of her. She watched the puddle of blood merge with another and automatically her eyes followed the other pool till they stopped at another cut-up body. A gasp of surprise caught her as she noticed another behind it and as she looked up, the line of dead, lifeless, cut-up bodies continued on and on. She counted ten, twenty, and still, there were more. Did she knife all of them? Had she bled them all out in sheer desperation of her own release?


    "They won''t give you what you''re looking for. Try me instead."


    That voice... She recognized it. It couldn''t be though. Azura spun around and stared at Charlie. He was grinning from ear to ear and in between his eyes was a small gaping hole with one drop of blood.


    "Cut me. Let my blood flow, drink it, touch it, savor it! It will give you your much wanted release." He reached out to her but she stepped back.


    "No! It will kill you! I can''t kill you. I loved you!"


    Charlie stopped and laid down on the ground in line with the other bodies. Azura ran over to him and grabbed his arm to drag him back up but he was so heavy he didn¡¯t move an inch. He just stared emotionless at her as she desperately was tugging at his body. When she was out of breath she finally stopped and dropped to her knees next to him. Charlie turned his head so he was facing her again and spoke up.


    "Did you really love me or did you just want to believe you loved me? Did you have the same feelings for me as you have now for Lucas?" Azura stared in horror at Charlie.


    "Cut me! Kill me! Drink my blood!" He yelled at her. "You have found your replacement! Drag that knife across my skin or I will drag him to hell!"


    "No! Don''t make me do this!" Azura was crying as she clenched the knife in her hand. It was as if an invisible hand forced her to move. Azura whimpered softly as her hands moved over his body. They stopped as the blade rested at his throat. It felt so good, yet so wrong.


    "Please, don''t make me do this." Her whimpers remained unanswered. Charlie grinned at her. The look in his eyes unlike any she had ever seen from him. Evil reflected back into her own


    "Kill. Me." He demanded.


    She could feel the pull in her arm, her desire to actually do it but she resisted as much as possible. The tip of the knife pierced his skin nonetheless. A single red drop appeared. The rush appeared in her body again. The tingling sensation she loved. It warmed her up, spread on her body as if it was the first time being touched intimately. The pull became stronger and she knew she could not resist it any longer. Another whimper escaped her mouth despite her body wanting it. She wanted to close her eyes, to run away but her body did not respond. Her body needed the release so bad it had stopped listening to her mind screaming no.


    With one swift move from left to right, she cut him open. The force with which it happened was so strong that a red stripe splattered the floor from the blood that was flung from the knife. A loud moan escaped her lips. She was so close but it was her body betraying her. It wasn¡¯t her, not her consciousness that wanted this.


    Azura stared down at the slice she had made. Blood oozed from his throat. She could see air bubbles rise through the red fluid, they burst one after another. His mouth was moving, gasping for air, his tongue and teeth covered in blood.  She could see the red stains on his teeth and she had to suppress the urge to taste it. All she wanted was to move her tongue across his lips, dip between and clean his mouth. The thought made her sick and revel in joy at the same time. She had just cut open her former lover''s throat and she wanted more. It made her sick.


    This needed to stop! She was no killer! What had she done?! Tears flowed down her cheeks as she stared at the smiling face of Charlie. He spit some blood out of his mouth as a smile formed on his face, his voice resonating in her head. "Stab me. Finish me. Once you do, you''ll feel what you''ve always wanted to feel."


    Tears ran down her cheek as she sobbed. She didn¡¯t want this, she was no murderer! She hadn¡¯t killed him. Her hand moved the knife to his heart, she could feel it beating, following her own rhythm. She knew what would follow but all the strength to resist had left her. Her hand moved up in the air, the knife pointing down.


    A loud scream escaped her as she plunged it straight into his heart. A scream of ecstasy as she felt the knife dig in between the ribs. He was right, this was her release. Wave after wave of pure pleasure and satisfaction came over her as she kept screaming. She closed her eyes as she wriggled the knife free again. The ultimate betrayal of her own body. Inside she was screaming out in horror but her outside made it sound like pleasure. She had to open her eyes again. Had to see what she had done.  Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    The scream turned into one of pure terror as the body beneath her turned and shifted. Charlie''s face changed, the hole between his eyes disappeared. Azura closed her eyes for what felt like a second and as she opened them she stared at the face of Lucas.


    "Whoops. Did I forget to mention you''ll kill him?" Charlie''s voice pierced right through her as she clutched her own heart. It felt as if the knife had cut her own. Azura tried to breathe, her mouth opened and closed again but no air filled her lungs. Her eyes widened as the lack of oxygen made her lightheaded. But this was just a dream... Right?


    "Breathe, Azura! Breathe!" A fist rammed into her back between her shoulder blades slamming all the air out of her lungs. She gasped, drawing in fresh air, and started coughing straight after. She inhaled again deeply through her mouth.


    "Good, keep it up. Keep breathing and calm down. Follow my voice. Breathe in... And let it go. In again and out."


    She followed the words. Until she was breathing steadily again. Slowly she opened her eyes.


    The bed. She was in her bed. Slowly she moved fingers while staring at the blankets. She was sitting, a pillow in her back, wetness pooling between her thighs. Something was holding her up. Did she sleep like this? No that could not be.


    "Can you look at me, Azu?"


    Wait not something... Someone was holding her up. She only now felt the strong hands on her shoulders. Her mind was so fuzzy! All she could remember was that intense release, death, blood, bodies, and Charlie. Charlie, he wanted her to kill him. Did she? No... Yes... She did. But he had changed. It was not him. Lucas! She had killed Lucas!


    As if every fiber of her body came back at once, Azura jolted up and stared at the man she allegedly killed. With a big push, she shoved him away from her and crawled against the wall hugging her knees. Terror filled her eyes but she could not yet find her voice. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead. Her shirt was soaked and a shiver ran down her body. She was so cold her teeth started to chatter together.


    "Calm down, Azura. It''s just me. I''m not going to hurt you. You had a nightmare. That''s all." For her sake, he forgot to mention her lips had turned blue from the lack of oxygen when he had entered her room and he was about to toss her off the bed to perform CPR if the smack on her back had not done anything.


    Azura still had a bewildered look in her eyes as she kept staring at him. A nightmare? Had it not been real? It had felt so real, the release had been real and the blood had tasted so real. Was this real? The cold seemed strange to her. Slowly she let go of her knees and hugged her upper body. She pinched herself and when she felt the pain register she let go again.


    This was real. Charlie had been a fake. That had been a dream or a nightmare. She focused back on Lucas who had approached her again. He was sitting at the end of the bed, his hand resting on her leg. How long had it been there? Azura frowned as she stared at his hand.


    "Please answer me, Azu. Are you ok?"


    Shit. He had been asking questions. She would kill him. She was going to kill him. He was too close. She stupidly had allowed him to come this close. People close to her died! And she knew she would be the one to take his life. She had to get him out of her room and fast.


    Azura forced herself to look at him. She could feel the tears behind her eyes as she finally managed to speak.


    "Get out. Get the fuck away from me! It was a mistake! Now get the hell away from me!¡± She slapped his hand away and watched him get up. She could not look at his face. It simply hurt too much.


    *


    ¡°Lucas here?¡± Oliver studied the thin woman before him who shook her head. ¡°Fine. You need to come along now, Azura. Ben wants to talk to you and Lucas has been postponing it for long enough now.¡±


    She nodded and grabbed her shoes and coat without saying a word to him. Moving on autopilot, she did not care where she was going or with whom at this point as long as she was gone from the house. Oliver looked her over from head to toe before stepping back, allowing her to step outside.


    ¡°You healed completely within a week already?¡±


    Azura stopped dead in her tracks but did not turn around to face him. ¡°It¡¯s been a week?¡±


    Muscle soreness was all that remained now. The discoloration on her ribs had disappeared completely and she could move just as freely as she could before the fight. Now that Oliver mentioned it, Azura realized she was indeed almost completely healed...physically. Mentally, she had lost all track of time as doubt and guilt ripped her apart. The big empty hole within her had grown and without the Phoenix to fill the void, she had gotten lost within it. Nightmares hunted her each time she slept, but they had grown so many she no longer could tell one apart from another.


    This morning had been different though as her mind had been a complete blank until she found herself showered and completely dressed eating breakfast. Lucas had been gone and she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling something bad had happened. Her mind drew a blank though, but events of the past week did flash by. Images of her locking herself away, giving Lucas the cold shoulder, and her being a complete mess. The more memories flooded back, the stranger it was that she had been completely dressed now.


    ¡°Azura!¡± Oliver snapped her out of her dream state and gestured to the black Mercedes. "Get your head back in the game.¡±


    She nodded at the green-eyed man. She had never actually taken a good look at him before. He seemed a bit shorter than Lucas, more the height of Steffen, and his curly short hair seemed to sit right in between the two men as well. Not as dark as Lucas¡¯s but also not as blond as Steffen¡¯s hair. There was a hint of a mustache on his upper lip and a mole just beside his rather broad nose. Bushy eyebrows framed a pair of almond-shaped eyes that lay deep into his skull. He didn¡¯t seem so bad but not as friendly either. Wary, but she couldn¡¯t blame him. She had just beaten up his partner in a tough fight.


    Azura made her way into the backseat of the car and rested her head against the cool window as they took off. Now that they were driving she couldn¡¯t help but let her mind wander to the past seven days.


    This morning had gone by in a blur. She could remember bits and pieces but there were some major black holes in her memory. As she thought back to the previous week, she realized she was missing more parts of her memory. All the days seemed the same, overlapping and mixing together. As Azura stared out the window of the car watching the streets and building flash by she tried to puzzle everything together but came up short.


    She had stayed in her room most of the time except for the times Lucas would almost drag her out to make her eat. She had kept her distance from him though, only talking to him when needed and avoiding him for the rest of the time. He had stopped trying to get close to her, though she could see the pain in his eyes every time they were together. With the Phoenix gone, she felt a huge part of herself missing and it had shocked her how much she had grown accustomed to it being there. How could she have ever lived without it?


    A few conversations she had with Lucas popped up; mostly her blowing him off coldly. Somewhere she could feel a stab of guilt every time she did it but it was probably for the best, she figured. Some other times she knew she had spoken to him, but she had no idea of what she had said or did. And then there was this morning; she had woken up with more blankets on her bed than usual. She knew she had a nightmare but also what had happened there was a big mystery. Lucas must have come in... There was no other explanation. Azura placed her forehead against the cold window and closed her eyes.


    "Shit, shit, shit, shit!" Oliver shot a quick glance over his shoulder as Azura cursed. He raised an eyebrow as she punched the car door hard.


    "Careful with the car, will you." He shook his head and turned his attention back to the road.


    "Sorry." It was not much, but it was some sort of conversation. Azura rubbed her knuckles and made a mental note to not curse out loud again. She had cursed without thinking though as she remembered what she had said to Lucas this morning. Another mental note was to probably seek a new place to stay as she was sure she had screwed up big time. The car slowed down and eventually came to a full stop. Azura got out at the same time Oliver got out and stared at the massive building in front of her. Oliver joined her and took her arm, guiding her up the stairs to the immense door.

 Chapter 29

    Azura stood next to Oliver before the big carved oak door; the entrance to the town hall. It was beautiful and in normal circumstances she would¡¯ve taken a closer look at it but now Azura kept her head down and simply stared at her feet waiting for the doors to open. Oliver watched her closely but as she made no attempt to even try to open the doors, he walked past her and pulled them open.


    ¡°What are you waiting for? Ben is inside, so let¡¯s go.¡± When he grabbed her arm again, Azura couldn¡¯t suppress a growl and yanked herself loose.


    Surprised, Oliver jumped back. Azura couldn¡¯t help but notice the slight hint of fear that momentarily appeared on his face before he composed himself again. After giving him a defiant stare for a moment she looked away and sighed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just touch me out of the blue again and there¡¯s no need to fear me.¡± Those two things in one sentence even sounded strange to her but she dismissed the thought, knowing she couldn¡¯t take back the words. ¡°Ugh, what I mean is, I won¡¯t hurt you. I¡¯m not some kind of maniac.¡±


    Cringing again at her own use of words, Azura resisted the temptation to facepalm herself. It had been much more comfortable when they had not spoken to each other. One thing she was glad for though; for the first time since her breakdown, her brain seemed to be doing ok and she didn¡¯t have to force herself to keep focusing on the here and now.


    She just waved at Oliver to take the lead so she could follow. She couldn¡¯t help but catch the wary look he was giving her and decided it was better that she not look at him again for now. When she lowered her gaze once more he started to move and she followed. Except for the marble floors, Azura didn¡¯t see much of the inside of the town hall. Judging by the marble and the door, it probably was a beautiful building, but she couldn¡¯t care less as the nerves about meeting up with Ben started to take over.


    They walked for what seemed ages, corner after corner until finally, Oliver came to a stop and knocked on a door. Soon after, Ben opened it, making Azura raise her eyes as he spoke up.


    "Azura Thoreau. Finally, we get to properly introduce ourselves. My name is Benjamin Reed, mayor, and leader of Pleyvale city." Ben extended his hand and after a small hesitation, she shook it. He was dressed in a suit again, his gray hair slicked back and he was carrying the same golden chain she had seen once before when he showed up at Jeff''s house. His glasses fit his circular face perfectly and he looked like quite a charming man... But she had seen and felt the way he could cast his power and for now, she was very careful with her words and actions. She didn¡¯t know whether or not she could trust him. In her head, she said a little prayer that her mind would not abandon her during the meeting.


    "Welcome again, Azura." He offered her a seat as he slowly said her name and nodded to Oliver to leave the room. He hesitated for a short moment before leaving them alone.


    "Normally I would have wanted to see you straight away, but Lucas was dead set on postponing it so you could recover. I see that has happened and I''m glad you agreed to meet me today."


    "Did I have any choice?" The sarcastic tone was not one she could hide and she immediately regretted saying it as his face flashed from friendly to a look she would rather not see again. It was only a brief moment before his face was all friendliness again though.


    "No. And please reconsider your words first before outing them. The only reason you are still here is that I allow it. We don''t have a good relationship with any blue-eyed snow leopards but considering you have been here for over a year, and that Nicolai has vouched for you, I have made an exception. I do want to know more about you and mostly about the fire part. That is something I have never seen before and I would like to know more about it."


    "It''s a Phoenix. I have a Phoenix inside of me, though currently, it seems to be on a hiatus." She did not like how he addressed her and she replied coldly and without any emotion.


    "A Phoenix? The legendary bird that nobody has seen in over three centuries?" He raised an eyebrow and it was obvious he didn¡¯t believe her.


    "There was one in Greenwood three years ago. I killed it, it killed me, then revived us both with it inside me. Trust me, I was shocked just as much as you are." The sarcasm was again evident. The longer she spent in his presence the more her aversion towards him grew.


    "Right... I heard the rumors but did not believe them to be true." Ben was either ignoring the way she spoke or genuinely had no clue she could care less. She suspected the first.


    "Could you explain to me what happened and what your powers are? They could come in handy one day."


    So the cat was out of the bag. He wanted to use her. Anger was building up inside her but she tried to push it down. It would not help and she did not want to piss him off, knowing all too well what the consequences could be.


    She did what he wanted. She talked; about her past, about coming to Pleyvale, about the Phoenix, all in a factual way. She left out the emotional parts so he would not get any leverage on her. She also left out bits and pieces like the bond between her and Nora and she didn¡¯t utter a single word about Charlie and the scar that adorned her body. It was none of his business and wouldn¡¯t mean anything to him. Thankfully, her prayer had seemed to work and she felt more focused and clear than she had felt the entire week. Maybe it was the change of surroundings that kept her sharp.


    When she finished Ben calmly continued as if they were in an interview.


    "When Lucas joined us he did not want you to fight, claiming you would kill Nathan. Does he think you''re not in control?" He coolly asked while writing something in a notebook he had grabbed minutes earlier.


    Azura followed his intonation, starting to treat it as an interview, watching and weighing her words carefully while closely listening to his. She shut down her emotional feelings as best she could so it would affect her as little as possible.


    "He knows I get angry easily and he knows I''ve had my troubles in the past trying to hold myself back."


    "You''re a blue-eye; it''s a normal trait. They are feral at times, angry, and dangerous. And yet...even as the flaming version of you, you managed to show restraint and that showed you are in control."


    "Get to the point already." She crossed her arms. Azura was trying to act tough and confident, unphased by this torturous talk, but deep inside conflict started to rise.


    Why was she talking to Ben and acting as if she wanted to stay when maybe she didn''t want to? It had gotten harder every day being in the same house as Lucas, Ben just wanted to use her, and she had accepted her past and was much more stable than when she came to the city. Nothing was holding her here, she could go back to Greenwood anytime.


    "I''m just trying to determine if you are dangerous or not." He gave her a polite smile. "Sparing Nathan goes against everything we know of blue-eyes like you. Like I said before, we see them as feral and uncivilized. They are wild, almost like their wild relatives. How did you learn self-restraint? We always deemed it impossible." If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The way he was smiling at her while he casually implied she was uncivilized left her with her mouth wide open. The words had to sink in a little bit then she averted her gaze from him. She wanted to be angry, shout, and spit in his face but she couldn''t find the energy to do so. Azura licked her lips after taking her time to overthink his words several times. She could answer so many things but why bother, it was not like he would change his mind because she said so. Instead, she replied with a sneer.


    "Maybe you should update and rewrite your history books about us then."


    "Maybe I should, but you''re just one blue-eye and was not even raised amongst them. You''re actually a bad example to use as a subject for a new book about behavior." He wrote some more things while blatantly ignoring the obviously annoyed woman.


    He was driving her up the wall and it became harder and harder to keep her emotions down. Part of her just wanted to curse the heck out of him and leave. The more she thought about it, the more appealing the idea became. Azura bit her lip shortly to keep her from doing just that and looked around the room to keep her mind occupied with other things.


    It was just a boring, standard office like any other with just one door. There weren¡¯t even any personal items as far as she could see. Either Ben had hidden them all away, or this was not his actual office she concluded. She could still just get up and leave, they probably wouldn¡¯t try too hard to stop her.


    Ben was still scribbling in his notebook. Azura grabbed the handles of her chair and wanted to get up when right then Ben looked up at her with a cocked eyebrow.


    "You wouldn''t leave right now would you?" He placed the notebook back on his desk and examined her closely.


    "Actually, I was about to, yes. Give me one good reason why I should stay." She proceeded to stand up and crossed her arms.


    "Fine. How serious are you with Lucas because he seems pretty infatuated with you."


    "What?!" Azura dropped her arms, her eyes spewing fire. "That''s none of your business!" Gone was the cool demeanor. She let it go, not wanting to play the nice girl any longer. He was infuriating her with his weird talk, strange topics, and unreadable attitude. They had been here for over an hour and she still had no idea what he wanted or where he was going with this talk. Only that he wanted facts, random facts. As she burst out, he started smiling widely and that''s when it hit her.


    "You are purposely trying to infuriate me. You hop from one topic to the other, try to hit a few nerves, and see what I''ll do when I get angry. If you want a reason to dispose of me just ask. I can give you one right now!" She was fuming but stayed in the same spot. There were sparks, it was small but she felt it and embraced it.


    "And it''s working. Tell me Azura, Do you want to kill me? Do you feel the need to open me up, see my blood, watch me die? Are you losing control? Because this time there is nobody around to stop you. You can actually do what you want to do."


    Benjamin grabbed a knife from a drawer in the desk and slowly approached her. She eyed him warily but it didn¡¯t seem as if he wanted to hurt her. He grabbed her arm and placed the knife in her hand. The cold metal hilt felt like home. It was the same knife that always appeared in her dreams and nightmares. The one she had used to kill people with. She slowly rotated the hilt in her hand feeling the weight of the knife. Ben leaned in, the tip of the knife touching him but his green eyes never left her cold blue ones.


    "Tell me Azura. How does it feel to be one of Lucas''s victories? To be used and discarded just like that."


    She grabbed his arm tight and moved the knife to his throat. He was not scared, she could feel his heartbeat, hear it even. He literally put his life in her hands willingly and kept antagonizing her. She knew, but one side of her didn''t want to know. That side just wanted to see if she was able to kill him with one slide of the knife. She was starting to sweat, her hands started to tremble. Slowly she licked her lips as a wicked grin started to form on her face.


    "Tell me, Benjamin. How does it feel to have a knife on your throat? To be a puppet, waiting for me to make up my mind. How does it feel knowing I''m thinking of several ways to kill you? Maybe I''ll just slide the knife past your throat, maybe I''ll stick it in your gut instead. I could also give you so many small cuts you eventually bleed to death."


    His heartbeat was going up and he tried to pull back. Azura didn''t let it happen and grabbed him even tighter as she moved the knife around stopping at his heart.


    "Don''t you ever play this game with me again, Ben." She hissed at him. She let him go and tossed the knife to the side. He took a deep breath, composed himself, and made a gesture in the air to which the door opened and Oliver walked back in looking a bit paler than he normally did. As Azura looked up she noticed the camera in the room, concealed in the ceiling, almost invisible. Ben followed her gaze and smiled as he looked at the camera as well.


    "Beating Nathan was just one test. I had to know what you would do if provoked by someone alone. You made the right choice. I can see you¡¯re in control, but you won''t let others walk with you. That''s a good trait to keep. I do have to apologize about what I asked and said to you just now though. Please understand I was trying to provoke you and had to find the right subject to do that, which means that most things I said hold no truth to them. I am glad you told me the truth as to what is going on with you though. You''re honest and know how to deal with situations in a proper manner. So I say; welcome to Pleyvale city."


    On the outside and the way he spoke, Ben seemed a completely different person. Calm and almost strangely kind but something was off about him. She had slipped back into the chair during his talk, trying to fit all the information together. Something inside her was resisting the man before her yet she couldn¡¯t put her finger on it. When she noticed Oliver standing in the corner, she raised an eyebrow at his stance. His head faced down, but his body seemed on edge, every muscle tense.


    Ben was trying to have her submit. The concept was not new as it often happened in werewolf packs. Andreas had used it more than once on Floyd to get him to back off but Azura had never been affected by it. Now that she realized what was going on, she tried to feel his power but found that once again, she was not one bit affected. Instead, the urge to counter it welled up inside of her. Of all things, that probably was the worst option out there. He was being subtle about it, she could tell and he probably was under the impression it worked as she had gone from standing to sitting down again.


    Carefully weighing her options, she gathered it was probably for the best if she just went with it. Pretending to be compliant, while every nerve in her body screamed otherwise. Even if she wanted, she was in no state to counter him, and despite not agreeing with his methods, she had no reason to fight him over a power dispute. Azura lowered her head, clenching her teeth tight and as she did so, she felt his power waver. When it was all gone she raised her head again and pretended none of it all had happened.


    "I want to see Nathan.¡± She made sure to sound timid as the demand rolled off her lips.


    The two men exchanged glances after her request before Ben nodded to Oliver and gestured for her to follow them. They left the room and entered a long marble hallway where their footsteps resonated throughout. It was the only sound that surrounded them. Eventually, they came at a stop in front of a simple door with a small blurred window embedded into it. Ben entered first and Azura followed as Oliver remained outside and closed the door behind them.


    They were in a small room that looked very similar to a hospital room. On a high raised bed was Nathan, tubes going down his mouth and IV''s into his arm. He was in human form and his eyes were closed as if peacefully sleeping. The only sound was the beeping of diverse monitors around him. No cards or flowers in the room, only the bed, the medical equipment, and one chair. The whole atmosphere gave her chills and not the good kind. To Azura¡¯s surprise, Nathan was not wearing a hospital gown. His bare chest was partly exposed, his skin bare to them. Her eyes moved to his legs, one was still in a cast from foot to his hip and was kept elevated but for the rest, there were no visible signs of a fight. No burns, no marks, nothing.


    Benjamin startled her a bit as he spoke up. "We are keeping him in an artificial coma for now until he has recovered enough. He''s healing quite well, although you did bring him to the brink of death. You broke a lot of his bones and caused quite a bit of internal damage, but even though you were covered in flames and heavily burned him, those were the first to heal. He will, however, carry a few scars with him including a bad working leg. He will probably be limping for the rest of his life. Don''t feel guilty though. It was his own wish to fight you and knew darn well what the consequences could be."


    Azura walked closer to the bed as Ben was talking. She looked down at the big man in the bed and frowned as she gazed at all the machinery attached to him. He did not look so big and strong now. He was just a normal man, beaten and down. The urge to touch him was growing. Her breathing became a tad shallower as she let her fingers glide over the cold steel of the bed frame. Like the urge to kill she got sometimes, the urge to move her hand down was becoming overwhelming. There was no harm in touching him, right? Slowly she moved her hand down and as her hand touched his a jolt of electricity flowed through her and everything went to black.

 Chapter 30

    Her feet were bound to the ground. Moving was impossible she found, but she didn¡¯t feel scared. Sparks were igniting around her and soon flames formed around her feet, licking at her legs and spreading in the darkness. Her heart jumped with joy as Azura started to smile and knelt down to touch the flames with her hand.


    "Welcome back. I can''t believe I''m saying this, but I''ve missed you."


    The flames erupted around her and a small fiery vortex started to form three meters away from her. As the vortex started to grow, Azura smiled even wider and slowly got up. She could feel the flames, the intense heat, grow as the vortex became twice the size she was. The wings broke free first, the tail with flaming feathers followed and two big talons tore through the vortex breaking the wall of fire and leaving the Phoenix by itself. It was hovering, slowly flapping its wings, and looked down upon her.


    Azura closed her eyes, feeling the power flow through her as the Phoenix emerged. She arched her spine and straightened her arms back as if they were wings, imitating the posture of the bird in front of her. The fire rising up her legs twisted around her stomach and crawled up to her chest before it enveloped her completely. She was breathing fire. She became fire. Her arms became wings, her mouth a beak, and her eyes had turned a deep shining red.


    You were lost without me. I could feel your doubts, your anxiety, and insecurity. You almost messed things up and you tried to push away those who have supported you this past year and a half. What made you doubt? What scared you? I gave you back the person who you were before you encountered me. I left you, as you wanted me to.


    The voice felt like home. Hearing it again was like a part of herself had returned. In her head, she embraced it, caressed the warmth like a long lost lover.


    "Yes, you did. You left me,¡± Azura replied out loud. ¡°You made me become a normal woman again. I used to believe that was what I wanted." Azura let her arms drop next to her body and slowly started pacing around as her feet were free again, the flames following her every movement and clinging to her like a vine to a tree.


    "But I am not who I was before, I know that now. I don''t want to be that girl anymore. It doesn''t fit me. It keeps me hanging in the past, forces me to stop moving forward with my life. It actually scared the shit out of me to be that person again." She stopped pacing and lifted her head to face the Phoenix.


    "You are part of me. We are the same and don''t you ever think of leaving me again!"


    The Phoenix stared straight back at her and without saying a word it slammed its two gigantic wings together creating a gigantic bright wall of flames that lasted only two seconds. Azura shielded her eyes from the bright fire and as it died down, the Phoenix was gone. Instead, the red and yellow now danced around her in a big circle, just enough to illuminate the darkness and make her feel safe.


    Azura gasped as a petite figure emerged from the darkness. A smile she had craved so bad to see again. Azura''s mouth fell open as Nora slowly approached her and gently caressed her arm before placing her hand against Azura''s cheek. For a moment Azura was too stunned to move. The touch just felt so real. Her breath staggered and she felt a single tear run down her face.


    "Oh, how I''ve missed you. I''ve missed you so much, Azura. I had to watch and see you struggle all while I was unable to reach out and do anything. Oh how much I''ve been wanting to tell you it was not your fault I died. That you were not to blame. I wanted to smack your head in at times for being so darn stupid and I wanted to hug you all the times you were down. How I''ve been longing to kick your ass to stop looking into the past and focus on the life you have built for yourself now. You''ve been doing great without me, Azura."


    Nora placed her forehead against Azura''s and stroked the back of her head gently. Azura repeated the gesture, slow and careful at first to make sure the dark-skinned woman before her was truly there. She could feel the skin of her friend, her touch, her breath. Azura relished every second Nora was with her. She caressed Nora''s head and buried her face in the crook of her neck. With more force than was needed, Azura pulled Nora flush against her body, wanting to feel every bit of it so she knew it was real. More tears flowed from her eyes as Nora hugged her back. After what felt like forever, Azura slowly let go but kept holding Nora¡¯s hands as uncertain lovers as they stood across from each other.


    "Nora... You left me... You left me when you promised you wouldn''t. Either we would live together or die together and yet I''m the only one breathing. I miss you! How could you, you stupid girl! We were supposed to stay together. You, me, and-¡± Azura grimaced just before speaking his name. ¡°Floyd¡­"


    A chuckle escaped Nora''s lips as Azura spoke.


    "I never left you, silly. We''re still together. We died together and both of us entwined with the Phoenix. It just decided to use you to come back. It had a choice, you know, and you were the better fit. But that also means I am still here with you. That''s why you felt so empty this past week as the Phoenix left you. I was gone as well. And we both know you are nothing without me."


    Nora laughed and stepped away from Azura. Azura smiled at her and wiped away another tear that ran down her cheek.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "For once, I might actually agree with you. I am nothing without you by my side. You crazy woman! But don''t forget that I''m still the better climber."


    "You''re a cat, I''m a wolf. It would be strange if it was otherwise."


    Nora smiled and Azura couldn''t help but smile back. Even though this was Nora standing in front of her, her way of talking was a little off. At times she was exactly like the Nora she knew, and at other moments she was more distant and reserved. She dismissed it though as for now, she was just happy to see and talk to her. The only problem? There were so many thoughts and questions going through her mind but she didn¡¯t manage to grab hold of any. They all jumbled together, creating a big mess in her head and prevented her from asking them.


    Azura softly grabbed Nora''s wrist and turned it so the inside of her arm was facing upward. The werecat shifter stared at the tattoo-like symbol of a flaming feather that was etched onto Nora¡¯s underarm. This was something new. Nora had no tattoo''s so how come she had one now? She traced the outline of it with her fingers and had to suppress a smile as she noticed the stark contrast between their skin. Her own skin, still pale as ever with the dark skin of Nora made for quite an appearance whenever they were together.


    "What is this, Nora? What does this mark mean?"


    "You''ll find out. All I can say is that the Phoenix has its plans. You will have to trust it, Azura, please promise me that. Trust the Phoenix even though it may seem like the worst idea ever. I have to go now, Azu. Please stop feeling guilty. We need you alert and ready for what''s to come. You''ve got a world to set on fire and you''re not doing it alone."


    Before Azura could react Nora placed a kiss on her forehead and disappeared as she turned away from her. There was no time to wonder about the body fading away for it didn¡¯t take long for the fire to come up again and the Phoenix to reappear. Azura stretched out her hand and the Phoenix lowered its head, so for the first time, she could touch its face.


    "Thank you for letting me see Nora." Azura smiled and let her hand fall down and the Phoenix rose up.


    It''s time to start playing with fire. Trust me, and I will trust you. Now wake up.


    *


    Azura groaned as she slowly got up from the floor. The back of her head hurt and as she touched it she felt something wet sticking to it. Her hand was covered in blood as she looked at it and she groaned even louder to see where she had hit her head. A small dresser. It was actually slightly damaged from where she had hit it. Nathan was still there of course but where was Ben? Azura turned around to see him sprawled out on the ground much as she had been. A tad confused, she went over to him and checked his pulse and breathing to see if he was still alive. She shook him gently trying to wake him up while wondering what the hell had caused him to blackout. Ben groaned and slowly he woke up. Pleased he was doing ok, Azura walked to a box of tissues and grabbed a few to press them to the back of her head. The wound had already stopped bleeding so all she did was clean the blood around it. She headed to the door and motioned for Oliver to come in. He gave her a sideways glance as he immediately turned to help Ben get up.


    "What happened here?!" Oliver placed a still slightly dazed Ben on a chair.


    "We passed out. It was harmless though. Nobody got hurt." She had no idea how to explain this to him. Oliver just stared at her before his eyes scanned the room and stopped at the small pool of blood on the ground.


    "Harmless you say?"


    "It''s fine. I just hit my head when I went down. Want to see?" She grinned as she held a new tissue to her head.


    "Let her be, Oliver. She''s speaking the truth. We both passed out but not because of something bad." Oliver let out a sigh showing he was still not convinced. Benjamin got up and walked towards Azura. "Do you often have these dreams?"


    "Depends. I don''t know what you saw."


    "Fire. A lot of fire."


    She shrugged, a little smug smile on her face as she felt the flames dancing within her. "My dreams might be something like that."


    The warmth in her body was back. She was fully aware of the internal flames that had returned since they had left a week ago. She welcomed it with open arms. This was the new Azura. Phoenix and everything. It had taken her only over three to four years to accept it she thought to herself. Having felt what it was like without it had been terrifying and the doubts and insecurities had completely taken over. Now she felt more at ease and seeing Nora had given her such a boost she couldn¡¯t help but keep grinning like an idiot even though her head was hurting from the blow she had suffered.


    Lost in her own world, Azura opened her hand and focused on the flames. It started small, but soon a flame as big as her own hand was dancing on her palm. Ben and Oliver had noticed she was rather distracted and when they both stared at her, the flame appeared. It was like she had completely forgotten about them as she quickly closed her fist and briskly headed towards Nathan. She stroked his head slowly.


    "Please don''t be mad when you wake up." Her voice was soft as she talked to the unconscious man.


    She closed her eyes and pressed her hand to his forehead, keeping it there for a bit before letting go. As she turned around, Oliver and Ben stared at her with wide-open eyes.


    "You did not just allow a blue-eye to live here but you also allowed a Phoenix to take residence in your city. I promise though, I will behave." She winked at Ben. "Nathan will be fine soon. Do you need anything else from me? Otherwise, I will take my leave."


    Still a bit baffled by Azura, Ben finally managed to shake it off and answer.


    "You¡¯re free to go...even though I do have many questions. I really don¡¯t know what happened while we passed out but I¡¯m glad to see this confident you. You came in like a frightened deer and yet look at you now. I¡¯ll call upon you soon, Azura, as I do need to know more.¡±


    He put up a smile that for most people would appear friendly, yet for Azura, it looked more like a sly smile. Not wanting to waste any more time on Ben, Azura moved past the two men, giving Olive a small nod.


    Ben¡¯s behavior was off but she really couldn¡¯t care less as the only thought in her head was how she could make sure she would not get kicked out of the house. Even though there were still gaps in her memory of the past week, this morning was as clear as day and it was not good. She needed to find Lucas, and fast.

 Chapter 31

    The house was silent as Azura pushed the front door open. No fire, no music, no life. It was clear Lucas had not been home in the time she had been gone as everything still sat in the exact same way as she had left it.


    ¡°Dammit...¡° She softly hissed.


    The house felt cold without his presence and her heart dropped when she knew this place might not be her home for much longer. She had flat out rejected him and even though she wasn¡¯t in her right mind when she did, she could not take any of those words back. Azura let her hand glide along the back of the couch and they lingered on the blanket she had often curled herself into. Grabbing it, she brought it to her nose and inhaled deeply. Lucas¡¯s scent clung to it strongly. Instead of her, he was the one who had used it last week judging by the strong musky scent.


    She had been a fool and Azura groaned, almost feeling homesick. His scent, even though she only knew it for a few days, had ingrained itself on her and confirmed everything she dreaded. She had fallen for him and she had ruined things before they even really got started.


    Leaping over the back of the couch, Azura landed on the sitting area, wincing as the sudden movement still had her ribs aching. She grabbed the blanket and cuddled it with one hand as the other grabbed her phone. No calls and no new messages. Disheartened, she tossed it to the side. Lucas had not responded to any of her calls or messages. Either ¡®cause he did not have his phone with him, or he was blatantly ignoring her. The latter wouldn¡¯t even surprise her but it still hurt.


    Maybe he would come home for dinner. It was later than she had anticipated already. It had been morning when Oliver had picked her up but at what time exactly, she really had no clue. The whole thing with Ben had taken up more time than she¡¯d thought and her whole sense of time was jumbled. Well, it had been for a while now, who was she kidding. Her memory had not returned with the Phoenix and it still bothered her.


    Taking another deep breath of the blanket, Azura completely curled herself into the corner of the couch. Conflict raged through her. The Phoenix was back; it completed her and she felt stronger than ever but it would not fix her relationship issues. She glared at the door to the kitchen and for a moment, saw herself leaning against the post as Lucas moved in. Without touching her, he had backed her up against the countertop and as the scene played out in front of her, the feelings she felt then came back to her.


    She needed to find him. To apologize and she couldn¡¯t wait any longer. As she got up, one other thing popped into her head and as quickly as she could, Azura put on her shoes and coat and left the house.


    She started walking slow but picked up the pace until she ran to the front door of Sheila and Jeff and bashed her fist against it. It wasn''t long before Sheila opened the door and Azura practically lunged at her giving a major bear hug to her friend.


    "Azu, calm down! What''s gotten into you?!" Sheila laughed as she freed herself from Azura''s hold. Jeff took a quick peek around the corner after hearing some ruckus and as he did Azura went straight to him to hug him as well.


    "Thank you guys for everything! And I''m so happy for you two that you''re going to be parents soon! I can''t wait to meet the little one! I should have stopped by sooner. I''m so sorry! Not my proudest week for sure. I hope you can forgive me." She took a deep breath to fill her lungs again after throwing it all out.


    "Forgive you? For what?" Sheila placed her hands on her hips. "You had to fight someone from this very same city for a right to stay here, which is an insane rule if you ask me, and you were badly injured. Now you want us to forgive you for not being your usual self this past week?! Come on! We completely understand and I''m just happy to see you this vibrant again. I guess Lucas is likewise happy to see you like this."


    Azura shuffled with her feet as she frowned. "Yeah about that... I think he decided to flee the house today after I''ve been giving him the cold shoulder the past week and kind of yelled at him this morning. I wanted to make it up to him but I haven''t seen him and he hasn''t returned any of my messages or calls. So I was hoping if you guys had any idea of where he might be."


    Jeff sighed and shook his head. "I have no idea. I don''t think he''ll be at the bar now. Maybe he just went out for a walk? Or the climbing hall perhaps. Rose is working tonight but she is almost closing. You could always go check there and if he''s not there you can always catch up with Rose. She''s been worried sick about you. In the meantime, if he shows up back home I''ll give you a message."


    She nodded and flashed them both a smile before going back out. She kind of wanted to stay longer, hear all about their holiday and the pregnancy, but she needed to sort things with Lucas first. How did she not think of the climbing hall before? She cussed at herself all the way there and once on location did not waste any time bursting in.


    Rose looked up startled as the door was almost thrown open and Azura rushed in. The small woman bolted from behind the counter and hugged her tight.


    "Azu! I was so worried! How are you doing? You need to tell me everything! Are you still hurt? No burns or anything?" After trying to scan the hall, Azura looked back down at Rose and laughed at the petite woman''s questions.


    "I''m fine now, Rose. Just had a bit of a strange week and I¡¯ll tell you everything later. And no I have no burns and I have healed and I really need to see Lucas because I need to make up with him. Is he here?" She was rambling so fast, she again forgot to breathe in between the sentences.


    Her eyes were still jumping from between Rose to the hall, trying to find Lucas. There was only a small group of regulars sitting and having a drink. All the ropes had been bundled together and nobody was climbing anymore. Rose tugged her arm and dragged her behind the bar.


    Her voice lowered as her face dropped the smile. "He''s here. He''s quite frustrated though. He''s been giving everyone a hard time around here. Especially today. What happened? He simply wouldn''t allow me to contact you in any way!"


    The black-haired woman facepalmed. "Ugh. The past week I wasn''t myself. I''ve been in my room mostly avoiding any type of social contact. I pushed him away. Even said some stupid things about us which I deeply regret. You remember the first two weeks I was here?"


    "How could I forget?" Rose placed her hand on Azura''s shoulder.


    "I went back to that. Back to shit zero. Rock bottom, completely paranoid." Azura took a deep breath and felt the tears sting behind her eyes. "Damnit, Rose! I basically told Lucas sleeping with him was a mistake in front of Jeff and Sheila!"


    "Ouch... But was it?" Rose''s voice had gone even softer. Azura remained quiet for a while as she scanned the hall again. There was still no sign of Lucas anywhere.


    "Because, Azu,¡± Rose continued, ¡±I love you... I really do, but the past week... I''ve never seen Lucas like this. If it''s true what you''re saying, you really put him through hell and he doesn''t deserve it. I was almost scared of him when he came in this afternoon and he isn''t even supposed to be here! He can''t take much more. So... was it a mistake or not? Because if it-"


    "No! It was anything but!" Azura interrupted her and had to force herself not to raise her voice.


    "Then tell him already! I''m sure he''ll understand. I''m all about chicks before dicks in normal circumstances but for now, I''ll make an exception." Rose looked up to see Lucas coming around the corner. "Speak of the devil. Good luck, Azu!"


    Rose nudged Azura to get up. Lucas was doing a last round, checking all the ropes and making sure things were in order and he had not yet noticed Azura. The confidence she had felt earlier about seeing him had faltered and instead, the knot in her stomach grew tighter. She took a few deep breaths and walked from behind the counter. Right at that moment, Rose rang a big brass bell that hung above it getting everyone''s attention.


    "Alright people! Last round has finished and we need to get out of here!" Some of the regulars groaned but they did not go into a discussion at the early closure after taking one look at Rose. She made sure her attitude discouraged them to do so and they knew better than to argue with her.


    ¡°NOW!¡± Rose yelled at the people and it seemed to work as they started to move faster.


    Rose just smiled and gave Azura a wink as the latter threw her a death glare. Rose¡¯s announcement had not gone unnoticed by Lucas and Azura quickly walked past the group of people to the faraway wall where he had turned around. He was waiting with his arms folded showing no emotion on his face as she stopped before him.


    Azura avoided his gaze as she felt it burn down on her. She had so much to say yet the words would not come. Even a simple apology seemed to get stuck in her throat. Right as she finally opened her mouth to speak she dared to look him in the eye and closed her mouth straight away. Instead, she flung her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.


    The warmth radiating from her skin engulfed him, stunned him but he melted into her soon after. There was no denying the hot-blooded female in his arms as she demanded access to his mouth. Behind her, the group of people had all gathered their stuff and were being herded out by Rose. As some whistled at the couple, they were quickly shut up by a girl chasing them to the exit.


    The ruckus made Lucas break loose from the kiss. When he noticed what was going on, he pushed Azura away from him and scraped his throat. It was easy getting lost in the lip action and there was nothing he wanted to do more than continue, but things needed to be said. She had hurt him and it was not something he wanted to happen again.


    "You''ve been giving me some very mixed signals lately. Care to make up your mind?" Azura blushed at his remark, casting her eyes down again.


    "I know! I''ve been such an idiot." Pain reflected in her soft voice. When Lucas kept silent, she mustered up the courage to face him again and continue. "It wasn''t a mistake, none of it. I should not have said that and I shouldn''t have been treating you the way I did last week."


    She grabbed his hands and he could feel the heat radiating through them. It was no use trying to hide a small smile and before he knew it she placed her lips on his again. At first, he joined her pace, letting her hands roam around his back and pulling him in even closer but then he broke their connection quite abruptly and pushed her back once more.


    "Stop, Azura. You need to stop right now." A little hurt she stepped away from him. Lucas looked over her shoulder to see a radiating Rose dangling the keys. Everybody else was gone and she tossed the keys on the counter before waving goodbye and taking her leave. He turned his attention back to Azura immediately after.


    "You can''t just barge in here, kiss me, say sorry, and expect me to just forget about what happened. What is it that you want, Azu? Because I, for one, don''t want to get hurt by hearing you say it''s a mistake again. Let me be clear to you that it never was a one-time fling to me. Normally I''m all up for games but not this time. I hate the attraction and pushing away part. It''s either all the way or nothing at all. Make your choice." Lucas crossed his arms over his chest again as he waited for her to respond.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Everything he said cut right through her. All or nothing. She really had hurt him more than she thought. Azura bit her lip and felt her nails dig into her palms once more. She took a few deep breaths before she looked him straight in the eye.


    "I''m sorry for everything. For saying sleeping with you was a mistake, for ignoring and avoiding you these past few days, for scolding you this morning while you were only looking out for me. I have to admit...and it''s probably just a lame-ass excuse to you, but I have no idea what happened this morning. I have these gaps in my memory from last week. I know I had a nightmare, and I know I have said things I shouldn''t have but... I really truly can''t remember what happened. All I know is when I woke up there were considerably more blankets on my bed than normal and now that I think about it," Azura stopped, her lip started to tremble slightly. "There were more blankets on the floor.¡±


    The gears in her head were turning at a max speed as she puzzled everything together. ¡°You actually slept in my room last night? On the floor? Even after I snapped at you?"


    "You really don''t remember do you?" She shook her head and gently bit her lip. Lucas sat down on one of the bouldering mattresses that were next to the wall and waited for her to join him.


    "I came in because you woke me up screaming. It was unlike any other scream you''ve ever done while experiencing a nightmare. It was... terrifying. But it was just a single scream and then it got quiet. Considering how you had been acting I was actually doubting whether to wake you up or just go back to sleep, but something felt off so I did go in to check on you."


    Lucas paused as the same panicky feeling he had this morning came back to him. He took some deep breaths and licked his lips while he was fumbling with his own hands.


    "You weren¡¯t breathing, Azu. Your lips were blue, but your body was still twitching and turning. Your eyes were open and you looked mortified. I just did the first thing that came to my mind and that was to just slam my fist in between your shoulder blades. It worked, thank God, but I was ready to just throw you off the bed and start CPR on you."


    He stopped talking for a moment and Azura took his hand, entwining her fingers with his. Hearing that she was actually not breathing had shocked her badly but she managed to keep it together after taking one look at Lucas. He wasn¡¯t doing much better, in fact, he might have looked worse than she did. Despite it, he still managed to continue and Azura just swallowed her questions and feelings to let him talk.


    "When you woke up, you were completely out of it. Didn''t seem to even recognize me in the beginning. Eventually, you just started to shout at me to get out, that you would hurt me etcetera. You were shivering from the cold badly so at first, I did leave but I came back with some extra blankets. You were already sleeping again then but it was not a calm sleep. I decided it would be safer to just watch you sleep in case you stopped breathing again. You see, Azu, I care about you. More than I would like to admit."


    He fell silent again and stared at the wall on the opposite side of the room. Azura leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder as she slowly stroked his hand with her thumb. Seeing him this vulnerable did not happen often.


    "Do you still want me to answer the question you asked me earlier?" They had sat in silence, leaning against each other for ten minutes, hands and fingers entwined together. Lucas turned slightly so he faced her and just nodded with a slight smile tugging at his mouth. She placed her hand on his face softly brushing through his short beard. For a moment she admired his face, the deep green eyes staring back at her. She had never noticed before really but now she had to admit, he was handsome.


    "I want you. I want all of you."


    As the words left her lips his gaze softened. A sparkle returned to his eyes as he leaned in closer to her. Her heart was pounding in her chest as he pressed his body against hers and kissed her hungrily. The same butterflies she had felt the first time erupted in her stomach as his lips found hers. For a moment, she believed she would be in control of this but with the way he kissed her, she knew he was running the show now. Their tongues found each other and she let herself melt into the kiss which then grew more and more passionate. His fingers grazed alongside her arms leaving goosebumps all over. She pulled back from him and couldn''t help but chuckle as her fingers went through his hair.


    "What? Enjoying this are you?" His hands had moved to her waist and trailed along the skin at the edge of her jeans. He could feel her muscles contract and relax and every time it happened, she gasped slightly. In between, she chuckled some more and answered him.


    "No. Well, yes, but I was just counting how many grey hairs you have." His hands stopped.


    For a moment he just stared at her in disbelief before bursting out in laughter and throwing her back on the mattress. He swiftly climbed on top of her and she could swear she actually let out a little purr as he crashed down on her lips again. Her hands moved over his back, pulling him closer to her. He moved his hips against her resulting in a soft moan. From her lips, he started kissing her cheek and slowly moved up until his lips were next to her ear.


    "The grey hair is all because of you. Now, take off your clothes."


    She was most definitely no longer in control. Replying was not an option as he claimed her mouth again with his lips and she was happy to oblige. She felt the familiar warm tug in her groin as Lucas ground into her hips once more, the tracksuit bottoms he was wearing didn¡¯t hide much of his excitement and apparently, he wanted to make sure she felt it.


    When he finally released her lips to catch some air, she managed to answer him. ¡°You got me trapped! How am I-¡±


    Lucas silenced her with a finger to the lips and a big grin on his face. He pulled her up in a sitting position and snaked his hands underneath her clothes. His fingers rested against her ribcage for a moment while she still tried to wrap her head around his sudden move.


    ¡°Arms up, now.¡± Dominance laced his voice and she felt her own body reacting to it.


    Azura bit her lip as she did what he instructed. The multiple layers of clothing were discarded remarkably fast and she found herself topless in front of him. She frowned as she realized the lack of wearing a bra. Her wandering mind was brought back by Lucas as he cupped her face and placed his forehead against hers. His warm breath tickled her nose and she closed her eyes feeling more at ease than ever.


    ¡°Keep your head in the game, Azu. You started this.¡± A small gasp escaped her lips as his finger flicked her small stiff nipple.


    At times he was gentle as he explored her upper body, at other moments, the build-up frustration from the past week seeped through even though he tried to hide it. Both tongue and hands caressed, nipped, and licked every spot on her body. He watched her reactions closely, found the spots that were most sensitive, and avoided others she didn¡¯t react to. She didn¡¯t mind, in fact, even though she was only bare from the waist up and he was still fully clothed, everything he did had made her quite wet in anticipation.


    The scent of her arousal was obvious and when Lucas broke away from her, his pupils dilated in direct response. A growl-like rumble erupted from his chest before he hastily pulled his own shirt over his head and tossed it to the side. His hungry eyes scanned her body and when blue met green, he licked his lips at seeing her having the same reaction to him.


    Lust ran through her body, even stronger than the first time she had slept with him. If it was because of her not wearing the ring, or something else, she couldn¡¯t say, but every fiber in her body wanted him to possess and ravish her like the animals they were.


    With speed she did not know he had, Lucas was on top of her again. His mouth captured hers with an aggression he hadn¡¯t shown before. Tongues wrestled for dominance as she dug her short nails into his back and dragged them along his skin. It would leave some marks for sure, but it only fueled his desire as he unbuttoned her jeans blindly.


    ¡°Fuck¡­¡± She managed to croak out as he lifted her waist and dragged the jeans over her small ass, taking her panties with it in one go.


    Lucas¡¯s eyes twinkled and a grin spread on his face as he gazed at her heated state. ¡°Fuck indeed. Remember, you started this.¡± He repeated, his voice slow and deeper than it usually was.


    Azura bit her lip again and squeezed her thighs together trying to rid herself of the need that burned between them. As he took his time observing her squirming body she propped herself up and reached out to him. She wanted; needed to feel him against her skin, inside her, entwined with her but he grabbed her wrist with force and held her at an arm''s distance.


    ¡°No, Azu. You¡¯re not the one running this show.¡± Shivers ran down her spine with his authoritative tone. A new wave of heat rushed over her and she whimpered in response.


    Lucas let her go and she stayed on the mattress as he stood up. Her instincts had accepted his dominance and forced her to submit to him. It was something she had never experienced before and the fact it only fueled her desire for him had her on the edge already.


    She took everything in as Lucas took off his tracksuit bottoms and boxer briefs. He was lean but with broad shoulders and a smaller waist. His legs were strong and she got a quick peek of his firm ass as he turned sideways for a bit. Toned, but not overly muscled. A true climber¡¯s build. She loved every bit of it. Her eyes raced over his body, followed the chest hair as it thinned into a line leading down to his navel and she stopped as her eyes landed on his erection.


    ¡°Like what you see?¡± He grinned and stepped closer. ¡°Get up.¡±


    Azura nodded meekly, her cheeks flushed from being caught ogling him. She managed to get herself to her feet and right as she stood, he pulled her flush against him and his lips claimed hers again. Feeling his hardness pressed against her flat stomach forced a small moan to escape her lips. Her need to get some release became larger and larger and she tried to grind her hips against his. Lucas chuckled at her desperate attempts for friction and after letting her try for a while decided it was enough.


    His hand snaked between them and his fingers buried themselves in her wet folds. Her knees buckled as he buried two fingers inside her and started pumping them while his thumb coated her clit in her own slickness. Azura cried out in pleasure as he finally gave her what she needed. There was nothing left of the gentleness he had shown the first time though and that wasn¡¯t what she craved for either. She tried to silence herself by biting down onto his upper arm while her arms clung around his body as waves of pleasure hit her over and over.


    ¡°Cum for me, Azu. Don¡¯t hold back.¡± The words hung between a demand and coaxing her.


    She had never come undone so fast, but as his thumb stimulated her clit and his fingers worked their magic inside her, she couldn¡¯t hold back. Her knees buckled for real this time as her whole body spasmed. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t breath as the heat inside soared to an all-time high. Lucas held her up with one arm as he eased off the pressure on her most sensitive bundle of nerves.


    Without waiting for her orgasm to end, Lucas pushed her backward until she hit the wall and pinned her against it. He had managed to find a spot without any climbing stones so there was nothing pushing into her spine. With a small lift, he raised her up and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist before he sheathed himself deep inside her. She couldn¡¯t keep quiet as he stretched her inner muscles. He buried his face in the crook of her neck as he grunted. Azura clenched them tight around him as Lucas started to move.


    It was anything but the first time they had sex. Lucas was rough and forceful as he pushed himself in and out, but she loved it and her cries of pleasure only encouraged him to move faster. With every stroke, he made sure to rub up against her clit, and even though it was still sensitive from her first, fast orgasm, it was bringing her right to that edge again.


    Azura bit at the base of his neck again as she tried to muffle her own sounds. She made sure not to break his skin, but couldn¡¯t help but leave a few marks as Lucas managed to hit the exact right spots. When the second orgasm hit, she didn¡¯t even try to stop it. Again, she stopped breathing while gasping for air silently. The spasms overtook her body and she couldn¡¯t help but clench herself tighter around Lucas. When she did, he managed to thrust two more times before he spilled his seed deep inside her.


    Their sweaty bodies stilled against each other as they both tried to gain their breath again. Azura laid her head on his shoulder while her hands gently caressed his back even as she kept her legs wrapped tightly around him.


    ¡°Holy fuck¡­¡± She breathed out softly.


    Lucas just chuckled as he gently eased her down onto the floor again. He wrapped her thin body in a big hug and kept her there for a minute before letting her go.


    ¡°You started this. But holy fuck indeed¡­¡± He replied as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. ¡°I do love it when your eyes turn that deep fiery red though, I couldn''t hold myself back after your first orgasm and they changed.¡±


    Azura frowned and stared up at him. ¡°They are red again?¡±


    Lucas nodded while she caressed his chest, her fingers playing with the chest hair. She could stay there forever, locked in his embrace naked as the day she was born. There was no speck of doubt left, just a warm comforting feeling and a very content flaming bird inside her. When she shifted her weight, she noticed the sticky feeling between her thighs.


    Azura cleared her throat as she pulled herself from his embrace. Lucas raised an eyebrow as she started to shift her weight uncomfortably from one leg to another.


    ¡°You need to pee?¡±


    ¡°No, but I do need a desperate shower.¡± Gathering her wits, she walked away from him before turning around and giving him a wink. ¡°You coming?¡±

 Chapter 32

    It was a particularly cold morning and the sun had only just risen above the horizon judging by the colors of the sky, Azura couldn¡¯t see it yet as it was still behind the tall mountains in the background. Exhaling resulted in clouds of frozen vapor and she rubbed her hands together more instinctively than that she was cold. The area she found herself in was one she hadn¡¯t been to before. It was in the forest, with the mountains in the background but she stood in a big, wide clearing. Snow coated the ground undisturbed, proving not many came here and It was the perfect spot for what she wanted to do. It was just the hour that rubbed her the wrong way.


    An arm snaked around her waist as lips descended onto her neck. Azura tilted her head back, a small moan escaping her mouth as Lucas nipped at her skin. She couldn¡¯t help it but his touch set her body on fire once again and the ache between her legs rose just as fast as it had the other three times.


    ¡°You sure you can handle another round, Sunshine?¡± He teased her as he hugged her from behind.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t help but flush red at his suggestion, then shook her head right after. ¡°Or no, actually. I¡¯m pretty sore from all that thumping and being here at this ungodly hour doesn¡¯t help either!¡±


    Lucas laughed and let her go. ¡°Is that a complaint I hear? Did you not enjoy it? ¡®Cause I swear I heard you shout several times not to stop... In fact, the last round, you were on top of me and I barely had to do anything. Plus¡­let¡¯s not forget us being here was your bright idea. I wouldn¡¯t have minded a bit more sleep after that last fuck.¡±


    Azura grabbed the knitted hat off her head and tossed it at him with all her might as she huffed in disagreement. ¡°Yeah well, you had your arms wrapped around me so tight your morning wood was poking into my hip. Can¡¯t waste a perfectly fine boner, and yes, that woke me up. If you weren¡¯t so scared of me running away, we would still be sound asleep in your bed, Jackass.¡±


    ¡°Back to jackass, are we? I¡¯ll take that as a compliment.¡± He winked at her while looking around for a place to sit. When he looked back at her, Azura was already stripping naked.  ¡°Hey! Slow down on the undressing part! It¡¯s not like you can catch a cold and I like the view.¡±


    ¡°This was your idea, mister. Now let me strip and shift and ¡®flame up¡¯ as you put it! Just remember, I¡¯m still angry that you refuse to shift.¡±


    She took off her pants and tossed them towards him followed by a snowball which hit him right in the face. Azura chuckled at his surprised face but before he could retaliate she started the process of shifting. Bones cracked and moved underneath her skin. Teeth elongated and sharpened as if it were the most normal thing in the world. As she dropped to the ground on all fours, white fur with black and gray rosettes sprouted from her skin and covered her from head to long tail.


    Once the transformation was done, Azura stretched her front paws all the way to the front before shifting her weight and stretching the back paws in a similar fashion. Her mouth opened in a big yawn, flashing all her teeth for the world to see. When she turned her attention back to Lucas he flashed her a wide grin right as he let a giant snowball fly through the air towards her. There was no way she would get hit by it, that was something they both knew, but it never hurt to try.


    Azura jumped to the side, the long bushy tail providing balance as she dug her pads into the snow and charged straight towards the still grinning Lucas. The idea to just knock him over edged itself in her brain but at the last moment, she decided against it and skidded to a halt before him before rubbing herself all over him like a normal house cat. A loud purr reverberated from her body as she scent marked the human man before her.


    A warm laugh filled the air around them as Lucas sat down on his hunches and buried his hands in her thick rough fur. He smiled at the big cat in front of him before he placed his forehead against hers inhaling her scent.


    ¡°Staking your claim by rubbing your scent all over me? That¡¯s your ¡®revenge¡¯ for the snowball? Which, by the way, you started. Now that I think about it, you tend to start more things.¡±


    She gave him a playful nudge followed by a very rough tongue going across his cheek. Lucas stumbled back by the action and landed on his rear. He looked stunned for a moment but shook his head as he watched the female snow leopard before him roll over onto her back and stretch her front paws in an invitation to play. She chirped at him and cocked her head to the side waiting for him to react.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not going to play with you!¡± Azura huffed in disappointment at his rejection but rolled over to her side. Somewhere she was still pleased he had actually recognized her body language.


    ¡°Time to get serious, Azu. Let¡¯s see if you can fire yourself up again.¡±


    Lucas got back up and brushed himself off then walked over to a nearby tree and leaned against it while he waved her off to the clearing. Azura got back on four paws and shook her fur before trodding away from him. When she was almost in the middle she stopped, lowered her head, and closed her eyes. She could feel the snow beneath her paws, the muddy ground underneath it. She breathed the fresh cool air, felt the wind blow through her fur. Her tail moved from left to right slowly, the tip sticking up as a small radar. She could feel the heat inside her stir, the flames beginning to emerge. Her mouth opened a little, bearing her canines.


    Let''s say we put on a little show for him. He deserves it after all.


    The flames started in her mouth again as they had last time. Soon her paws were also covered in flames and slowly but surely they crept all over her body like a blanket. With one last power surge, she felt the wings explode from her back. Slowly she moved them one by one at first, stretching and closing them. During the fight with Nathan, she had used them by instinct, allowed the Phoenix to guide her, but now it felt different. She was in full control and even though the wings wouldn¡¯t be able to carry her, they did give her a whole new sense of balance she had to get used to.


    The immense power that surged through her body felt amazing. After getting used to her new form, Azura turned around to face Lucas. He was still leaning against the tree, a wide smile of adoration on his face. She started running, first straight, trying to speed up as much as possible with the use of her wings. After, she tried cornering, as fast and tight as possible without losing her balance. Something that she needed a little more practice with as she tumbled and rolled over several times. Every time she did, her wings would disappear for a moment until she was back on her feet again. When she finally got the hang of it, it was clear to herself and to Lucas that she was more agile and faster than anyone else.


    As the last bit of exercise, she tried leaping and jumping. She hoped that with the use of her wings, she would be able to go higher and maybe even float a little. She jumped from a high rock several times, sometimes with the wings tucked in and other times with the wings spread wide open and it did make a difference. Flying, however, would be impossible as the wings had no solid matter and would not be able to carry her.


    After an hour she was done. Her energy level had withered and she was panting. Being fused like this drained her energy much faster than normal. Something to hold into account whenever she were to use it. She walked over to Lucas who got up from the rock he was sitting on and stopped two meters away from him. She knew the flames wouldn¡¯t burn him, but she had no idea if he knew. She chuffed at him and bowed her head, folding in her wings as well.


    "You want me to touch you? Like this? Are you crazy?!" He chuckled a little as he guessed but she could smell he was a bit afraid. Azura chuffed again and took two steps closer.


    "What are you doing, Azu." He watched her suspiciously as she slowly crept closer. "You''re still on fire... Stay there."


    Right as he said it, she closed the distance between them and moved her head lower so his hand was resting on top of it. She felt him stiffen up but he did not move or back away. He was shocked as he felt her fur beneath his fingers, the flames around his hand. It gave a small tingle but it did not hurt at all.


    He had been holding his breath as soon as she came to him and now slowly he exhaled, his heart racing. Slowly he stroked her head, amazed at the effect that it had. The flames rippled past his hand like water. Azura started to purr and moved around his legs until she was standing on the other side of him. He scratched behind her ears and couldn''t help but smile as some of the flames slowly crept up his arm like branches from a vine.


    Both their faces shot in the same direction at the same time. Lucas retracted his arm at the same time Azura jumped away from him but the flames around his arm stayed. A sharp and heavy pain erupted from his lower arm as Azura let her flames wither away. Lucas''s eyes grew wide as the burning sensation intensified and he buried his lower arm in the snow. He rolled up his sleeve and cooled his arm down with the cold ground.


    Azura had run off and returned moments later in human form and fully dressed. She¡¯d felt it, the sting had gone right through her, but the scent that they both had caught had made her ignore it. It had made her forget to douse the flames while they were passive. As she saw Lucas hunched over in the snow, she ran over and dropped down next to him. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "I''m sorry! The smell caught me off guard! I didn''t know it would burn you!" Lucas just grunted and pulled his arm from the snow.


    He examined his clothes but they seemed perfectly fine before he turned his attention to his actual injury. Slowly he rotated it around till the inner arm was facing up. He blinked a few times as goosebumps erupted over his skin. A strange heat was still present as he watched deep red lines form and crawl on his flesh. It was almost as if they were performing a slow dance.


    "What the hell..." Lucas traced it with his fingers and flinched as the burning again intensified as the red lines stopped flowing. He groaned in pain and clutched his arm to his chest. It lasted only a short moment before the pain subsided completely. "What¡¯s going on, Azu? This is no normal burn!"


    "I don''t know, but I do know that we have company." She hissed at him and slowly got up.


    Lucas quickly rolled down his sleeve and got up as well looking in the same direction that had gotten their attention earlier. Still far away two moving figures appeared. One a snow leopard and the other a man. They made their way over, moving slow and with their heads tilted down a bit. The man had his hands in constant view while the snow leopard next to him swept his tail side to side in a relaxed manner.


    They were like her. Azura gasped as the realization hit her. The way the snow leopard moved, the size of it, and the eye color of both of them told them everything they needed to know. The man was as tall as Azura with brown curled hair pulled to the back in a man bun. He was thin but through the thick layer of clothes, you could still see he was strong. She guessed him to be around ten years older than herself. The snow leopard was a fraction bigger than herself when she was one. He still matched the normal size for a true snow leopard but she knew he was a shifter too. Azura clenched her fists as they came to a stop a respectable distance away from them.


    "Hello, Azura and...partner." His steel-blue eyes betrayed no emotion but the man¡¯s light voice did all the more. He was clearly amused but there was no hint of threat in there.


    "How do you know my name?" Azura barked right back at him. Hearing him say her name had startled her and the only way she knew to react was to be on the offense. Lucas grabbed her wrist and pulled her back a little before stepping forward himself.


    "Who are you and what do you want?" Unlike Azura, Lucas was calm and tried his best to give his voice a sense of authority. "You¡¯re trespassing so you better have a good reason for coming here."


    "Don''t worry." The man in front of them began to speak again focusing mostly on Azura. "My name is Killian and this here is Zahair." He pointed to the snow leopard at his feet. "We''ve only come to invite you back to our lands, Azura. It''s been too long and you have become quite a woman. I still remember the day you were born as if it was yesterday."


    Azura stiffened at his words. Any response seemed to flee her brain making her just gape at them without actually saying something. When Killian had pointed at the snow leopard Zahair, she had focused on him briefly but quickly had forgotten about him as she frowned at the man she apparently should remember. Her mind drew a blank though, no matter how hard she tried.


    A hand at the small of her back made her snap her head at Lucas who had stepped next to her.


    ¡°What do you want? Isn¡¯t it enough that you guys killed one of our own? Now you want Azura to come to you guys too?!¡±


    Killian kept his calm as he changed his focus from Azura to Lucas. "I''m sorry about your friend but he overstepped some boundaries and attacked first. He actually stayed with us for quite some time after getting lost and all went well until a rather...unfortunate event. He attacked and we had no choice but to defend."


    Azura and Lucas exchanged looks. With the little information he had shared, her mind was already spinning. He wanted her to come back to the place she was born? He had known her from birth so he probably also knew her mother and possibly her father. The names didn¡¯t ring a bell but she was barely past two and a half years old when she was found and adopted. Too young to have actual memories of her prior life. She bit her lip and lowered her head for a moment.


    "You had no right to kill him the way you did." Lucas''s voice snapped her out of her thoughts again.


    "As I said, it was a rather unfortunate event.¡± Killian hesitated a bit, his eyes darting down to Zahair for just a millisecond before meeting with Lucas again. ¡°We didn''t want it to happen the way it did but we had no choice. He was young, like the one that he challenged. He made a mistake and angered one of our youngsters and as you might know... We can get a little out of control. Especially when we''re young. The one who killed him has been punished according to his crimes. You will have to take my word on that."


    Killian seemed unfazed by the whole incident but he was clearly done with the topic at hand and switched back to Azura. "We want to welcome you back to our home, where you belong. Seeing as how you''ve managed to live alongside them for so long without incident, there might be a way to reunite our kinds with you as a leading aspect." Killian gestured at Lucas before continuing. "You can even bring your...partner along with you. We won''t harm him. Maybe this is the time our species comes together and rekindled. It''s an invitation. Think it over."


    Azura managed to find her tongue again and spoke up. ¡°How did you know where to find me? And why now?¡± She tried to sound indifferent but couldn¡¯t hide the small tremor in her voice.


    Killian chuckled and pointed down at Zahair. ¡°He found you. A little over a year ago, I think. It was an accident but he was out on a walk and noticed you walking on a lake as a snow leopard.¡±


    The incident rang a bell in her head as the memories flooded back. She remembered the lake, remembered rolling around on the ice before a sound had sparked her interest. She remembered the blue-eyed snow leopard staring back at her from a distance.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t know it was you just yet so we had sent out some patrols to try and find out. After we verified, the next challenge was catching you alone¡­¡± Killian glanced over at Lucas. ¡°Or as alone as possible. That proved to be more difficult than we thought but here we are. Think about our offer. We would like to see you return again.¡±


    The sudden movement at Killian¡¯s feet startled Azura as she glanced at the snow leopard who turned around and walked off. Killian gave them a curt nod and turned around as well.


    "Wait!" Azura reached out and as the two blue-eyed shifters turned around she dropped her arm. Killian turned in such a manner as if he were waiting for this to happen, a small smile on his lips, while Zahair just glanced back for a moment and slowly started walking away.


    "Where do we go? And how do I know you''re speaking the truth?" The smile on the thin man¡¯s face grew.


    "You have to trust me, I guess. But let''s say I have noticed you are no longer wearing the ring your mother gave you. I hope you still have it. There should be an inscription in the ring. The date she and your father first met. To find us, just go to Norbury and head up in the mountains from there. We will find you. Just know the invitation is just for the two of you. If you bring anyone else we will see it as an act of war." He turned back around and walked away leaving the two of them behind. Neither Azura nor Lucas moved until Killian and Zahair were out of sight.


    "Now what?" Azura turned to Lucas, a pained expression on her face.


    "Please tell me you don''t trust them." Lucas still kept his eyes on the horizon as if he was waiting for an army to start attacking them.


    "I don''t! But they know me! They know where I come from... I might even have some family left there. How else was he able to know my name and know about the ring?" She bit her lip again and buried her nails into the palm of her hands. Her voice became quiet. "What if he is speaking the truth? What if I go there and I¡¯m able to negotiate something between our species. We''re all snow leopards..."


    Lucas moved to her front and gently grabbed her hands as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "He invited us. He gave us no time limit or date, it was only an invitation. Norbury is not that far, we have time to think it over. I know your head is full right now, but we do need to head home because we have some more explaining to do to the rest. While you were exploring your ¡®flamey¡¯ side, I gave everyone a call if they could meet with us later. It¡¯s time we tell them what we discussed last night." He wrapped her in a hug. "Oh, and I will get my revenge on you for burning me."


    She couldn''t help but laugh as he switched topics like a pro. He let her go and she rolled up the sleeve on his right arm. There was a barely visible red mark that resembled a flaming feather. The same that Nora had on her arm in her vision. Azura traced the outline of it and smiled as she looked up at him.


    "I guess you''ve got a tattoo now." She murmured.


    Lucas just stared at it bewildered and lowered his vest and coat over it again. "Marked by a phoenix... Wonderful... Here I am thinking only those werewolves mark each other."


    "What? Werewolves don''t mark each other dude! That only happens in stories and fairytales. Get your facts straight." She shoved him in the side with a big grin.


    ¡°They don¡¯t?¡± Lucas looked genuinely confused. ¡°Then what about the whole mate thing? Didn¡¯t you say that Floyd and Nora were mates?¡±


    Azura cocked her head to the side as she placed her hands in her hips. ¡°You really don¡¯t know? You¡¯ve been to Greenwood for crying out loud! Werewolf territory! And you¡¯re telling me you really thought they marked and mated for life?! Which books have you been reading?¡± She started to laugh as he crossed his arms.


    ¡°Alright fine, I¡¯ll explain...as we¡¯ll walk home.¡±


    Azura dug her hands into the pockets of her coat and started heading back while she started talking. ¡°Yes, Nora and Floyd were mates. That¡¯s what it¡¯s called when two werewolves start a relationship. There is an actual bond between them which does grow, but it¡¯s an emotional bond and they can choose their own mate. It¡¯s not a soulmate, not the other half of you, and they can break up and start other relationships without a problem. The marking and soulmate crap is a thing humans made up for their own tales. It¡¯s a myth. Floyd and Nora were a strong couple. They knew each other since they were little and their ¡®so-called¡¯ mate bond was quite strong because of that. Floyd being a tad possessive, and his general dislike of anything other than a werewolf is what made him have a thing against me.¡±


    The change of topic had lightened the mood as they walked back home but Killian¡¯s invitation still lingered in her mind. Not just his invitation if she was honest. The longer they walked, the quieter she became till she was completely silent and just stared absentmindedly at the path in front of them. Lucas shot some glances her way but kept his mouth shut as he noticed the frown between her eyebrows. Instead, he just took her hand in his and entwined their fingers while his thumb gently rubbed the back of her hand in a soothing manner. Azura glanced up at him and her features relaxed immediately when he shot her his signature smile.


    ¡®¡°You think they saw me all flamed up?¡± She bit her lip and dug the nails of her free hand into her palm.


    ¡°If they did, they did remarkably well hiding it. I highly doubt it, Azura. They were upwind and we managed to smell them out before we saw them. I¡¯d say you''re safe.¡± He gave her hand a small squeeze which she returned as she went silent again.

 Chapter 33

    Lucas tossed her ring to her and she swiftly caught it. Azura had no idea he¡¯d kept it with him after she¡¯d taken it off and she carefully examined it. It no longer hurt her as she held onto it but as soon as she tried to put it on her finger, the burning sensation hit her straight away. Grumbling about the pain, she carefully picked it up again and examined the inside of it. For some reason, she had never bothered to check the golden ring this close before in all those years.


    He was right... Killian had been right. There was a date in the ring and it was set twenty-eight years back. A little over a year before she was born. Azura stared at the numbers and shook her head. In theory, Killian could be right. She closed her fist around the trinket and brought it to her lips, she could feel the tears burn behind her eyes as she tried to swallow them away. A hand on her shoulder almost made her jump up in shock. Lucas was standing next to her and handed her a small red velvet box.


    "What''s this?" She looked up at him bewildered.


    "Something from my mother, I thought you could use it. You can combine it with the ring so you can keep it with you even though you''re not able to wear it."


    Azura looked back at the box again and slowly opened it. Inside was a simple but timeless gold necklace. She took it out and admired it hanging down before opening it and putting it through the ring. Lucas took the necklace from her and fastened it around her neck.


    "It''s perfect." Her hand caressed the necklace. "Thank you!" Azura got up and threw her arms around him and kissed him on the lips. As the doorbell rang he reluctantly let go and placed his forehead against hers.


    "No problem. Now, are you ready for a shitload of commentary?" She chuckled and he let her go open the door.


    She touched the ring one more time before slowly getting up and following Lucas to the living room. Rose had just taken her coat off and sprinted towards her enveloping her in a tight hug. Steffen stepped in and after greeting Lucas he came over to Azura and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He then turned back to Lucas with a sly grin on his face and pointing his finger at his friend.


    "To you, my friend, I say... It''s about fucking time!" Steffen then turned to Azura and kept his finger pointing at her as well. "And to you, my darling... I told you I was going to say this, so here it comes. I. Told. You. So!" He stopped with every word, his grin grew bigger with every word and behind him, Rose was trying her best not to burst out laughing.


    "You done?" Azura crossed her arms and tried her best to suppress a laugh herself. "Oh, and Steffen, one more thing. We tried you know..." Azura pointed between herself and Lucas. "But it just didn''t work out.¡± She even managed to keep a straight face and saw Lucas walking away to the kitchen after he winked at her.


    "Wait, what?" Steffen just glared at Lucas as he walked off. "Are you serious? Did he do something stupid again? I need to knock some sense into that guy. Excuse me!" Steffen looked genuinely confused and hurried along after Lucas. Azura smiled at Rose and gestured to the couch. Rose gave her a high five as she walked past and sat down.


    "So... A real update this time?" Rose rubbed her hands together. Azura just raised three fingers. "You came only three times?¡±


    Azura facepalmed as a chuckle escaped her lips. ¡°No! Way bet-¡±


    ¡°Ohhh!¡± Rose interrupted with wide eyes. ¡°No way. What the hell, Azu!"


    "Hey, we had some good talks in between alright. And we managed to get home... So yeah, it''s official - I''m dating your ex."


    "Oookay... Now you make it sound so wrong. I definitely need a drink!" Rose glanced towards the kitchen. ¡°Maybe later¡­¡± She mumbled before turning back to Azura with a wide grin on her face. ¡°So? How was he? Any good? You know I taught him some tricks and-¡±


    ¡°Stop comparing my sexual performances! I¡¯ll gladly ask Steffen about how well you perform if you dare to continue.¡± Lucas leaned against the doorframe as Steffen popped up behind him.


    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to share the good stuff, bro.¡±


    ¡°Steffen! You ass!¡± Rose shrieked as she jumped up and charged at her boyfriend.


    Lucas casually stepped into the living room to make space for Rose as she came straight for Steffen. The blonde man just laughed and kept her at an arm''s distance right as a knock was heard on the kitchen door. The knock was just a formality as Jeff stepped in followed by Sheila. Unlike Steffen and Rose, they kept their comments to themselves but their looks and grins told them enough. It was just the distraction needed to break Rose away from Steffen and greet the newcomers.


    ¡°Hey, guys. Are we late to the party?¡± Jeff¡¯s deep voice filled the entire kitchen. He happily accepted the beer Lucas offered him and Steffen.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a little early for this?¡± Steffen glanced at the clock pointing at one PM.


    Azura shrugged and gestured to Lucas to give her one too. ¡°We¡¯ve been up since five this morning, it¡¯s not too early in my head.¡± She turned to the two women who did not yet have any drinks. ¡±What can I get you?¡±


    Rose just pointed at the beer Lucas handed Azura and he grabbed another one for the short woman.


    ¡°Water for me, please. It¡¯s the only thing this little bean will let me drink.¡± Sheila rubbed her stomach and sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I like these hormones¡­¡±


    Azura chuckled and grabbed Sheila a glass of water. ¡°Do you have many pregnancy oddities?¡±


    ¡°The usual according to Nicolai. Nausea in the morning, sensitive breasts, you name it. And apparently, I¡¯m only allowed to drink water. The smell of coffee in the morning is enough to get me a free ride to the bathroom. I just hope that passes soon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it will!¡± Rose piped in.


    Jeff grumbled as he appeared behind his wife.¡°I hope so too. I have no idea how to survive the rest of the pregnancy otherwise.¡± He kissed the top of her head and Sheila just rolled her eyes.


    Even though it was nice to spend some time with her friends as if there was nothing to worry about, Azura knew she would have to address them soon. Nobody had asked her any questions yet but it was clear everyone had some and they deserved answers. Azura stepped back to the kitchen counter and occasionally sipped her beer while responding to the others when needed. After a bit, Lucas joined her as he opened his second beer. His scent blocked the rest out and she moved closer to him enjoying his close presence. He placed an arm around her and placed his lips next to her ear.


    ¡°Time to tell them, Azu. You¡¯ve been postponing for long enough now.¡±


    ¡°I know. I just don¡¯t know how to start.¡± She took a deep breath, allowing his scent to calm her and clear her mind before she looked up at the rest.


    "Thanks for coming, guys. It¡¯s nice having everyone around for a change. It was short notice so I''m quite surprised you¡¯re all here. I got some things to clarify but let¡¯s move to the living room first.¡± Azura ushered them all to the other room and followed last. Lucas sat down on the couch while Steffen and Rose made themselves comfortable on a smaller couch that was barely used. Sheila took a chair while Jeff just sat on the rug next to her. Azura kept standing, her feet softly tapping the floor as five pairs of eyes turned towards her.


    ¡°Right,¡± she finally spoke after a tense silence, ¡°After the events from last week, Lucas and I decided it might be a good idea to tell you guys everything on what''s been going on and happening regarding-"


    "The two of you finally hooking up?" Azura had her hand raised in mid-air and her mouth hung half-open as she swallowed what she was going to say before Steffen interrupted her.


    She closed her mouth as she felt her face flush red. Despite that she managed to flash Steffen a death glare and only when he looked away did she start to laugh. Sheila softly chuckled and just lightly shook her head.


    "No! Well... Yes, but that''s not the point!¡± Azura continued after winning the staredown with Steffen. ¡°There are other things I want to tell you guys as well. I have been keeping things from everyone for different reasons including Lucas but now those reasons are gone and I feel like I should be honest with you guys."


    She paused and took a few deep breaths to calm down. Even though they probably knew most of the things already, she just felt like this was needed to clear the air and kill any strange rumor that might have surfaced. Lucas took her hand and guided her around the couch and sat her down next to him. He noticed some glances between Sheila, Rose, and Steffen and before Azura could continue he stopped her and a sweet smile spread on his face.


    "Alright, guys. Who won the bet?" All five of them stared at Lucas but Jeff quickly looked away spelling the word guilty on his head as he spoke too soon.


    "What bet? There is no bet."


    "Thank you for confirming it, Jeff. So I''m gonna ask again, who won the bet?" Lucas was still smiling as he stared at the four people who all seemed to avoid his eyes.


    "I have no idea what you''re talking about and I''m guessing neither do they." Jeff tried to keep a straight face.


    "Jeff... I''ve known you guys for some time now. I know the way you guys think. Heck, I''ve been in these types of bets before. Never won though, unfortunately. The point is, I know there''s a bet on me and Azura getting together and you have what you wished for. So, who won?" You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Azura almost spit her drink out and in trying to force it back in she choked and started coughing and wheezing as she tried to keep breathing. Lucas just patted her back until she was done and her face turned back to a normal color.


    "Me... I won." Sheila did not sound too enthusiastic as she said it while she raised her hand. "Though we had to restart the bet two times because the two of you were so dense!" Lucas started laughing and gave Sheila a thumbs up.


    "Congratulations! Seems like the baby hormones are helping you make the right choices. So now we have that out of the way, I''ll let Azu do the talking again."


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t the hormones as I placed my bet before I got pregnant. You guys just took forever.¡± Sheila rolled her eyes but it was clear she was joking around.


    Azura stared at all of them as they turned to her in anticipation. "Wait... Just like that?! You blatantly force them to tell you about a bet they had on us and after knowing who won, you expect me to just continue a serious conversation as if nothing happened?" She looked back up at Lucas who just shrugged and grinned at her. Nobody spoke up as she turned to face the rest of them.


    "Alright... I''ve known you all for a while now to know nobody is going to say anything. Thanks a lot." She shook her head trying to think what to say next. In the end, she decided to just act like the whole previous conversation never took place.


    "As I said before, I have some things to share with you guys. Most of it you already know, some parts may be new, but we thought it might be a good idea to just get everything out there so you are all on the same level." She stopped again and she couldn''t stop the wicked smile that formed. "For one, stop fucking with me because I am a blue-eyed snow leopard and am considered to be the most dangerous one here. Second, a phoenix decided it would be a good idea to become a part of me, or...me part of it. I don''t know. All I know is that It killed me and I killed it and when I woke up, we were one. So that makes me double as dangerous, so seriously, don''t piss me off."


    "Wait, hold up!" It was Steffen who interrupted her. "Are you saying you died and then came back to life?¡±


    ¡°Yep. That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying.¡± She replied.


    She took the last sip of her beer and placed the empty bottle on the side table. When she returned her attention to Steffen her heart stopped. Time slowed down. All heat seemed to leave her body as all sounds became background noise to the crackling of lightning in her ears. Flashes of light danced before her widened eyes and a searing pain erupted from her stomach.


    This isn¡¯t you anymore. You¡¯re more than this.


    The words repeated in her head over and over. The Phoenix warmed her from the inside, pushed past her fear, and forced her to open her eyes. Time had slowed down. Steffen¡¯s hands were brightly glowing with energy. He moved them around, his smile falling as he looked at her but it happened so slowly. Azura turned her head around and noticed how Lucas had his mouth open as if he was yelling something while his arms were in the process of wrapping around her. He was trying to protect her.


    Keep looking. Focus on him.


    The ¡®him¡¯ was Steffen. The Phoenix did not need to call his name and Azura did what the entity asked of her. She focused on him, on the white energy around his hands. It had hurt her but it wasn¡¯t the same. The more she looked, the less threatening it became. He had not tried to kill her. It was not the same energy that had surged through her.


    Lightning marked you, not this. You¡¯re not that girl anymore.


    Time sped up again. The sound was the first that returned but she was pulled against Lucas¡¯s chest soon after. Azura gasped but her body relaxed straight after. The energy Steffen had drawn died out as Lucas shouted at him. The blonde man looked shocked as he pulled pack but before he could say anything Azura pushed herself away from Lucas and onto two feet.


    ¡°Stop!¡± She was breathing heavier than normal, her legs were shaking but she dismissed it as she shushed Lucas before relaying her focus to a shocked Steffen.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know,¡± He began, ¡°I was just joking-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s one of the things I wanted to tell you guys.¡± She cut him short before lifting her sweater and exposing her scarred stomach to everyone to see. ¡°An energy caster did this.¡±


    Rose had seen it before but aside from Lucas, she was the only one. She felt their eyes burn on the ridges of rough and red skin. She observed them as they watched her. After a minute she put her sweater down and sat back down between Lucas¡¯s legs as she nestled herself against his chest.


    ¡°I had no idea, if I had known I would have never done that. I¡¯m really sorry, Az.¡± It was weird seeing Steffen so self-conscious as he was fidgeting around uncomfortably.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It happened a long time ago. I was a different person back then.¡± The truth of that hit her hard but she knew the fact to be true. She flashed Steffen a reassuring smile to which he seemed to relax.


    ¡°It was lighting, right? I have only heard of one guy being able to do that. He was kind of an asshole I heard.¡±


    ¡°A dead asshole.¡± Azura chuckled. ¡°I killed him. But I¡¯m getting ahead of myself.¡±


    She lifted her hand and focused on the familiar Phoenix as flames appeared from out of nowhere on the palm of her hand. She twisted her hand around and let the flames dance along her hand before strands of it reached down her arm before she killed it.


    "So... that wasn''t a figment of my imagination when you decided to go all flamy with big gigantic wings and kicked Nathan''s butt?" Rose exclaimed loudly.


    She and Lucas were the only ones who had seen it. Jeff and Sheila had heard what happened, but seeing only a small bit was enough for them to be dumbstruck and unable to say anything.


    "It''s very real, Rose. The Phoenix is part of me, makes me who I am now, keeps me sane. It took a while to realize and accept it. After fighting Nathan the Phoenix left me as I had always wanted it to ever since I knew about it, but that resulted in me going crazy last week. I¡¯m not the same woman I used to be. Yesterday I had some sort of epiphany and it came back to me. It belongs with me. It makes me whole, sane, warm, and fuzzy. It''s who I am."


    Memories and facts ran through her head like a stampede. There was just so much to be said and it already felt like she was jumping from pillar to post. There was only one thing to do to start making sense and that was to start from the beginning.


    ¡°Everyone still good with drinks? Because I gotta start from the beginning.¡± At her remark, the man behind her pushed her a bit forward so he could get up and get everyone some drinks.


    ¡°Alright, here we go.¡± When everyone was provided for she continued. ¡°Several years ago when I was in college, there was a special conference. That''s where I first met Lucas. At that point, me and some others already knew of the growing threat of the Phoenix and it was not long after we learned I had to fight it together with my best friend Nora. We shared a blood bond. Something so strong that even a wolf''s mate bond looks weak in comparison. Since Nora was a werewolf and had a mate, I''ve had first-hand experience with that; the guy probably still hates me. Back to college. The day of the conference we were attacked by three men whose intentions at first were unclear. They hurt several people and kept us hostage. Eventually, they got bored and two of them picked me and Nora to enjoy themselves. When they brought us somewhere else I saw one dead body against the wall. My boyfriend at the time. They had killed him with a single gunshot between the eyes. That got me angry and when one of the two wanted to rape Nora, I lost it and killed both of them in pure rage. I took the knife one of them carried and went back up where the last one was."


    Lucas gently squeezed her hand as she stopped talking. She had just confessed to killing two men to her friends and the third would follow. For a moment the thought crossed her mind that they would hate her, call her a murderer, and would not want to have anything to do with her anymore. She quickly shook those ideas out of her head and continued.


    "The last one was the energy caster, something I didn¡¯t know of at the time. He saw me, partly undressed, beaten up, and covered in blood and it took him off guard. I attacked and ended up pinning him down with my knife to his throat. As he attacked me with his lightning, I slit open his throat. I watched him die and after I lost consciousness myself due to severe blood loss. That''s how I got this scar and met Lucas. Well, technically I had met him three days prior. Eventually, it turned out that the three men were a distraction to the official theft of very old documents about the Phoenix. These guys were part of a large group who believed the Phoenix would come to cleanse the earth. Still with me guys? Oh, I forgot to mention I was adopted by my foster parents at around 3 years old. They were human and even though they knew I wasn''t they still raised me as one. It wasn''t till I was ready for college that I started to learn more about the world and different races altogether. Right, I kind of got adopted and trained by a pack of werewolves seeing the bond I had with Nora. Most of them liked a werecat, except for Nora''s mate... I still don''t think he likes me... Blames me for her death."


    "Azu?" Lucas wrapped his hand around her mouth preventing her from talking. "You''re starting to ramble. What do you say we have a little break to give their heads some time to process what you just said."


    It was a much-needed break even though Azura had not been talking for that long. She made her way outside and leaned against the house with her eyes closed. Her breath crystallized in the air but the cold didn¡¯t get to her. Talking about what had happened didn¡¯t upset her anymore, but still, she had a hard time keeping her story clear and understandable to others. It was all so clear in her head and when the words came out it was as if everything got scrambled together. One on one talks were fine, easier. Addressing five people of whom four only knew snippets was another task.


    "So should I be afraid of you?" The deep masculine voice betrayed Jeff standing next to her. He was joking with her as he softly shoved her shoulder and Azura smiled back up at him.


    "I should have told you guys sooner. I once believed I would be able to fix all my problems by myself. It brought me nowhere. Well...it brought me here so that''s not all true."


    "It''s alright. We already knew there was more to you than you would let us know. Like killing three people to prevent others from getting hurt." Her eyes shot up at him trying to find out if he was judging her or not. "I think you did the right thing Azu. It must¡¯ve been hard."


    "Actually no... It was easy. And to be honest, I never did it to save the other people there. That thought hadn''t even crossed my mind. I just wanted revenge. I wasn¡¯t in control, just acted out of instinct. That''s what makes us blue-eyes so dangerous and why you guys think we go feral. The only thing I remember is the rush it gave me to kill them. It felt so damn good. Like getting high, but a thousand times better."


    "I never took you for a girl who has done drugs." The deep laugh that reverberated from his chest lightened her mood.


    "Really, Jeff? that''s the one thing you concluded from that?" He made her feel good, relaxed, and the topic at hand a whole lot less heavy. Something she had always admired in Jeff. "I did my fair share when I was young and stupid though." She softly added.


    After talking a little bit more, they went back inside. Jeff made his way to the living room leaving Lucas and Azura alone together. Lucas handed her what seemed to be a regular coke. She sniffed it and glared at him. He just winked at her.


    "You want to get me drunk? At two PM? Fine, but then I''ll tell you this now while I''m still sober. Before Jeff joined me outside I was thinking of something. I''ve been completely ignoring and neglecting everyone back at Greenwood for a couple of reasons. I see now that that was a stupid choice so... I need to go back there." She took a sip of the spiked coke and grimaced as the strong alcohol filled her mouth.


    "Careful, it''s a strong mix. I thought it might help a little bit with loosening you up for part two. You''re doing great, Azu. About Greenwood... You might not know it, but I''ve always been in touch with Andreas since you came here. He asked me if I could do that after the first time I called him, so I did. I updated them once in a while about your progress but kept some details away. I''m sure they would love to see you again and I would love to join you whenever you decide to go." Azura grabbed his hand as one of the happiest smiles he had seen emerged on her face.


    "Perfect! And after Greenwood, I''ll accept Killian''s invitation to go to their territory. I really hope you''ll join me there as well." Lucas stared at her for a moment before he reluctantly nodded and kissed her shortly.


    "Can''t let you go alone. The invitation was for the two of us remember? I just want you to know we need to be careful. We need a plan. We don''t know what to expect and for all we know, they might just want to kill us. Don''t rush into this."

 Chapter 34

    The top layer of snow was frozen and it caved under each paw as she placed her weight on it. There hadn¡¯t been any new snowfall in days and during the day, temperatures would rise above freezing point. At night they dropped again, freezing over the melted parts and creating a dangerous and tricky ground to traverse on. Every step she took, she touched the snow first, testing it and making sure it would be as silent as possible before she placed her paw down. The same went with the next and she made sure to place her rear paws in the exact same place as where her front had been. The snow leopard moved graciously slow, her tail testing the air as it moved from side to side in unison with her body while she tracked the wild goat.


    Her body froze when she caught the eye of the soon-to-be-dead animal. Her whiskers and ears moved forward to her oblivious future kill. She waited, slowed her heartbeat and breathing for that perfect moment to pounce. With one paw still floating in the air, she shifted her body weight forward as her lip twitched upwards, exposing her canines. Just as she was about to take the leap, the goat lifted its head and looked to the left, alarmed before bolting to the right, obviously spooked by something.


    The female big cat let out a big gust of air through her nose and let herself collapse onto her stomach in the icy snow. She snarled softly at the lost kill knowing all too well there was no chance in hell she would be able to catch startled prey. The thing was, she had no idea what had scared it off. The snow leopard closed her blue eyes and just enjoyed the peace and quiet around her instead. There was always another time to hunt.


    ¡°Azura.¡± An unknown male voice woke her from her slumber. ¡°We need to talk, sister.¡±


    Her head snapped in his direction, pupils dilated as a loud warning growl came from deep within her chest. She got up and instinctively her tail puffed up while she lowered her head, her gaze landing on Killian. He raised his hands in defense and took a few steps back to appear less threatening. She let her guard down in return and spotted the male snow leopard just a bit off to the right of Killian. He watched her, mimicking her pose but still managed to disappear into the background.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad we managed to find you again. We¡¯ve been looking for you for a few days now.¡±


    She had no idea yet if it was a good thing she couldn¡¯t talk back or not. The debate was still happening in her head. Nonetheless, she sat down on her backside and licked her lips. Maybe to provoke them a bit, maybe just to show them they were on her terrain. It was instinctive as the animal form she was in had the upper hand. Killian looked the same as last time; his hair tied together in a small bun, the same clothes on his back. Zahair had made himself comfortable again, curled up in the snow licking his own tail.


    ¡°Look, Azura, things have changed. Our leader, Marric is not the most patient of people. He actually wanted us to take you back right as we found you but I managed to give you some time. A month. That¡¯s all I could do.¡± Killian spoke with a bit of remorse.


    A month? Before what? The confused look on her face must have been pretty clear as Killian continued on exactly that subject.


    ¡°He wants to start a war.¡± Killian¡¯s face remained stoic as he spoke and that irked her the wrong way resulting in some powerful snarling. Killian blinked twice as fast as he resisted the involuntarily spasm rippling through him.


    ¡°Look, I¡­ ¡° He paused as he set himself straight after her small outburst. ¡°I can¡¯t change things. I just hope that if you come, you¡¯ll be able to stop this from happening. You can be the key to getting our species together.¡±


    The temptation to shift back to human and shout at him was growing. How on earth was she supposed to stop his leader from announcing a war?! She just barely had her own life on track and now he expected her to just go and take the lead in something so precarious? Yes, she wanted to go back to her roots, see where she was born, find out what had happened with her parents, but what if people expected her to solve their issues?


    She was not a miracle worker and more important, not responsible for other people¡¯s actions. If she were not to go, what would happen to Pleyvale? To the people she cared about? In the end, she would be dragged into it no matter what.


    Azura quickly shook her head from side to side. The motion continued down her whole body and ended in her puffed-up tail. She huffed in discontentment but eventually accepted the facts and got up on all fours. She gave Killian a short nod in acknowledgment and attempted to turn around and leave.


    ¡°Wait! Before you go!¡± Her back was already halfway turned to him when Killian stopped her. ¡°This is my number. Please let me know what you will do.¡± He held out a card and waited for her to approach.


    Her gaze flicked to Zahair who was still just resting in the snow, seemingly uninterested in her. He was more busy cleaning his paws and head than paying them any attention. When she was sure he was not paying any attention to them, she slowly approached Killian while silently cursing that she was in her snow leopard form. Taking cards this way was a whole lot more difficult, that was for sure. As she gently took the card between her sharp teeth, she couldn¡¯t help but take a big whiff of his scent. No memories came to mind but it also didn¡¯t alarm her.


    With the card lodged between her teeth, she turned around and took off. She probably looked strange enough already and it was far from comfortable. A part of her wanted to trust them. Killian had known her when she was little so she was sure he could tell her more but she could not point out what was going on. He was not being completely honest but she wondered if he actually knew the full truth.


    You can trust him. You know his scent even though you don¡¯t remember.


    *


    Azura stared at the old pickup that stood in the garage with a smug smile on her face. Lucas was under the hood cursing as he tried to put the battery of the car back where it belonged. She never knew he owned a car but when he told her it hadn''t been driven ever since his dad passed away, all hope of the car driving now had vanished. He had been smart enough to get the battery out and maintained throughout the period of inactivity but for the rest?


    He had worked on it every day since they had decided to go to Greenwood though and that was a little over a week ago. After watching Lucas struggle for a while she sighed and walked up to him. She slapped his butt and pushed him to the side as he looked at her surprised. After looking down at the engine she took the battery, placed it and after a mere five minutes, she had it attached and hooked on properly. With a wide grin, she emerged from under the hood and blew him a kiss.


    "Where did you learn how to do that?" He stared at her with a look of admiration and surprise.


    "We had some old rundown cars at the pack back at Greenwood. General knowledge you know. Not every girl you meet is hopeless with cars." She shrugged her shoulders and laughed as Lucas pushed her back against the front of the car and let his hands run over her body.


    "I love a woman who can handle herself. Give me one reason why I shouldn''t do the things that are running through my mind right now." He kissed her neck and slowly moved up to meet her lips. She let him kiss her for a moment before she pushed him back and headed to the driver seat.


    "Pass me the keys, will you? No fun time before this car works!" Lucas grunted a little, dismayed she turned him down. He searched his pockets and finally found the car keys and gave them to her. "Thanks, now pray this car still works!"


    She turned the ignition and the first few times it wouldn¡¯t start. Lucas peered down at the engine while she was trying to start it, seeing if he could find something off. She sighed and tried one more time, but again there was nothing. Lucas was trying to hold back a laugh as she stepped out of the car frustrated.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Payback, Sunshine! I know what''s wrong though. There is no spark so there''s no way you''ll get it to start now. Give me some time, I think I know where the problem is. My old man did teach me a few things about this old baby."


    He gently tapped the side of the car and slapped Azura''s butt as she walked past. She shot him a death glare which soon faltered as she was unable to actually get angry. Lucas looked around the garage and started searching for some tools. After finding what he needed, he dove back into the engine of the car and sometimes asked for some other tools from Azura. She just watched him work for a while before she left to get some fresh air. Outside she squinted as the bright sun blinded her for a moment. Shielding her eyes from the sunlight, her gaze fell on Sheila who was working in the garden while she still could.


    The sturdy woman was starting to show a little baby bump. She had just passed the twelve weeks and she was just glowing. Poor Jeff had a much harder time dealing with her as the always gentle and soft Sheila turned into a hormonal monster according to him. Azura did not believe a word he said, knowing all too well he could overreact. Azura waved at Sheila, not wanting to disturb her, and just leaned against the garage.


    If they could get the car to work they would leave today most likely. She was feeling a bit nervous about it. Going back to Greenwood after not seeing and talking to everyone there for so long was a bit frightening. She felt guilty about not reaching out to them and hoped they wouldn¡¯t be mad at her for doing so. Her foster parents had settled down there as well. She and Lucas would be staying with the werewolves during their time there, however, Andreas had insisted on it as the house of her foster parents wasn''t that big.


    Lucas was still worried about staying in a werewolf pack though. When he had been there with his father, they had stayed at the campus and not within the actual pack. He had almost no experience with werewolves and from what she had told him, he wasn''t fully reassured. The only person Azura worried about was Floyd. He was probably a Beta by now, meaning he held a high status within the pack. A pack had several Beta''s though, so she hoped he wouldn¡¯t cause too much trouble. Maybe he had even forgiven her? The moment that thought crossed her mind she shook her head and giggled. No, Floyd would not forgive her. He would never forget what had happened and would probably blame her for the rest of his life. She just hoped Andreas''s calm nature had rubbed off on him a tiny bit.


    It didn''t take long before she heard a wonderful sound coming from the garage. The car had started and Lucas drove it out of the garage. He lowered the windows, turned up the volume of the radio, and started playing the cd that was still in there. Firestarter from the Prodigy was the first song. Azura let out a laugh as she saw him sitting in the car, arm on the door, jamming his head to the beat. She joined him and started banging her head to it as well. Sheila just raised an eyebrow as she caught some of the beats of the music and shook her head at seeing the two of them go crazy.


    "So now that we have a working car, what do you say you keep true to your word, Azu?"


    Lucas turned off the car and closed the garage. Azura ran towards him and practically jumped into his arms as he turned around. She felt his lips against hers and answered eagerly. She loved the feeling of being close to him, his arms around her and his body against hers. He was the one keeping her grounded, keeping her sane from the first moment she walked back into his life. She deepened the kiss, opening her mouth to let their tongues explore each other.


    *


    "We''re leaving. This afternoon we start driving and hopefully, we''ll be there by the day after tomorrow." Azura was on the phone with Rose. They¡¯d already said their goodbyes a day earlier but the moment they would go had not actually been set then.


    "Yes, I''ll take care of Lucas... Yes, we''ll be fine... Yes, we''re going to the blue-eyes as well... Yes, Ben knows about it... We''ll be fine, Rose! Love you too! Give Steffen a big hug from us." Azura smiled as she put down the phone.


    Lucas walked back into the bedroom naked and with a few drops of water still glistening on his body. Azura let out a soft growl from the bed as she stared at him with a longing look. He raised an eyebrow at her and just pointed at the door.


    "Dear naked lady, not even twenty minutes ago this godly body was on top of you and in between your legs making you scream and moan with pleasure and you already want more? I don''t think so. Go take a shower to cool down." He grabbed his black boxer briefs and put them on before she was able to get out of the bed, entangled in the blankets as she was.


    Azura pouted as he started dressing and she got out of bed trying to straighten her own hair. Not only the bedsheets were entangled and a mess but she also looked like it as well. She took a quick shower and returned ten minutes later with her hair wrapped in a towel. Her clothes lay scattered on the floor, proof of their haste to ¡®have some fun.¡¯ She took the brush and started brushing her hair. There weren¡¯t so many knots luckily but her hair was growing long again. Lucas was already gone, his suitcase no longer in the bedroom. When she was done she grabbed her own and took it downstairs as well.


    She peeked through the kitchen window seeing Jeff and Lucas talking next to the car. Azura grabbed a rice cracker and went back to the living room when there was a knock on the front door. Not expecting anyone to drop by, her surprise only grew when Ben stood on the other side.


    Looking flawless as the other two times she met with him since she saw Killian, he looked rather serious and she let him in after greeting him politely. Even though she had gone over to meet with him and inform him about the plans of the blue-eyes, she still had a hard time judging his character. He was being nice most of the time but sometimes she couldn''t help thinking it was all a facade and he did not want her in his city. Hence her biggest surprise was when they told him about their plans, he at first wouldn''t let them go to the blue-eyes. Only after talking to him for what had seemed hours, he finally approved, seeing the point in their arguments. And now he was here. She followed him into the house where he had already made himself comfortable.


    "I heard you guys are leaving today." Azura just kept standing and nodded at him before opening her mouth.


    "Yes, we are. It''s a long drive to Greenwood and we plan to stay there for a week before continuing on to Norbury." She made sure to sound as impersonal as possible.


    "Greenwood again,¡± Ben sighed. ¡°Lucas and his father went there to announce our very existence to the world. But alas, that never happened and when they came back we decided it was probably for the best. We don''t want any trouble here, Azura, and you tend to bring trouble with you. I was never for the idea of exposing ourselves but back then, Lucas''s father managed to talk me into it because I trusted him and knew he would handle things correctly. You, on the other hand... You''re impulsive. How do I know you won''t be starting a war, Azura?" His gaze penetrated hers. and she had to try her best not to flinch. He was intimidating her with all his strength and she could feel the power radiating off him.


    "I won''t be the one starting a war, Ben. If anything, I''ll be the one trying to stop one from coming. There is one coming already and you know it. You just need someone to blame when it does. Well let me tell you this, I call this place my home now whether you like it or not. I care for the people that live here and have no connection to that other place that is my birth home. I''m just hoping I''ll be able to cross the gap between our kinds so that we can continue to live in peace without the worries of war."


    ¡°And how do you know they spoke the truth?¡± He sneered.


    "It''s not that hard to see, Ben. The sighting of the blue-eyed leopards has only increased. They are watching us, circling us, and probably figuring out a strategy of what to do and how to do it. They are patient and calculating. A dangerous enemy if it would come to war because they will come prepared. According to the research from Lucas''s father and grandfather, it won''t be the first one."


    "I don''t believe they will come for us. They have no reason to attack us, Azura. Unless that is, you are the reason."


    Azura shook her head. "I''m not going to have this discussion again, Ben. Both me and Lucas are convinced of what will happen. I won''t be the cause a war starts, I won''t betray you guys. Like I said before, to me, this is home."


    After Killian and Zahair had found her the second time, she had informed Lucas and they decided it was best to leave as soon as possible. Lucas had insisted she would inform Ben as well but both with those meetings, there always had been this feeling he was not taking her seriously. Or more like, he didn¡¯t take the threat seriously. There wasn¡¯t much to go on if she was honest, Killian couldn¡¯t provide a lot of information, just that it would be around a month.


    Ben got up without a word and headed back to the door. He turned around just before he headed out.


    "Good thing we got that cleared up. I would hate to tell everyone you were the one that sold us out." He let himself out and Azura heard him move to Lucas and Jeff.


    After they had both passed out at Nathan¡¯s bedside, she had the slight bit of hope he would become as friendly as everyone said he was. Now she was not so sure anymore. The feeling about him having a hidden agenda now only intensified. Azura let out a sigh and moved around the house making sure everything was in order before they would leave. Even though they would come back, she still felt a little sad about having to leave the house which she had made and called home. Outside, she heard the car start again and she got a text from Lucas stating he would take the car for a little test drive to see if everything was working fine. Azura heard him pull away and just hoped Ben was gone now as well. That man had ruined her good mood in the blink of an eye.

 Chapter 35

    ¡°How the fuck am I supposed to bring our species together?¡± Azura mused as she stared out the window of the car.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we have this conversation a week ago? Remember?¡± Lucas shot quick glances at Azura as he was driving. ¡°It ended up with you getting angry at¡­the situation, venting it out on me, us making the decision to do this as soon as possible after-¡±


    ¡°After I made things up to you,¡± Azura butted in. ¡°With my tongue.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I wanted to say but I did enjoy that part for sure!¡± His infectious laugh filled the space around them, breaking the tension she had built in her body. Small wrinkles formed around his eyes and even though his short beard covered them, she could see the form of dimples in his cheek. ¡°What I was about to say was, that after your lashing out on me and me setting you straight, we did have a good talk. I just really don¡¯t like it when you get so angry with me over your own frustrations. I am on your side.¡±


    ¡°I know that. ¡°Azura heaved a sigh. ¡°It was just too much, my head was overflowing and my rational thinking went overboard. I¡¯m just nervous.¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°Greenwood. Going back there. If I¡¯m honest, that bothers me more than going to see the blue-eyes after. What if Andreas is angry with me?¡± She turned away from him and stared out the window again.


    They had been on the road for two hours by now and as Lucas let a silence fall, she stared out the window watching the landscape pass by. It was strange how fast it was changing. During her time roaming around the country, she had never noticed but she had been moving at a much slower pace. The pine trees and mountains that surrounded Pleyvale were mostly gone here. There were many more Broadleaf trees around and the mountains retreated into hills and big open spaces of flat land. Agricultural grounds, farms, and an occasional village here and there filled the rest of the area they drove past.


    ¡°He¡¯s not. Trust me, he¡¯s actually looking forward to your return.¡± The green-eyed man beside her gently squeezed her leg to reassure her.


    ¡°I didn''t even have the guts to call him or my parents!¡± She squeezed her hands into tights balls, digging her nails into the palms of her hands again. ¡°When we stop for the night, I''m definitely going for a run. I need to shift and stretch my legs.¡±


    "Really? Again? You just went two days ago. How come you need to shift so soon already?" Lucas looked like he had a big question mark floating above his head.


    "I''m not like you, Dude. I just can''t not-shift for years. I truly have no idea how you guys do it, but maybe that''s one of the big differences between our werecats. I just get this urging feeling, a sensation where I just want and need to shift. If I ignore it, it will just grow bigger and bigger until the moment I can''t resist any longer. Sometimes there can be a few weeks in between, sometimes it''s just a matter of days. Depends on how agitated or nervous I am. You truly have no idea how often I have shifted when you didn''t know I was a snow leopard, am I right?"


    "Nope. And maybe it''s a good thing I don''t know, Firestarter." He chuckled.


    "You''re a big pussy you know that!" Azura couldn''t hold back a snort and let herself sink back into the seat while staring at the road ahead of them as she turned the CD back on.


    The car was actually more comfortable than she had dared to hope. The only downside was the CD in the player. It was stuck and it was an old mix from Lucas when he was in his teens. There were some good songs on it, but after two hours she had enough of it already and they were unable to receive any radio station due to a broken antenna. After hearing the song firestarter a couple of times Lucas had started calling her his firestarter and she was afraid it would stick. Though she had some major fun when she found out there was a spice girls song on the same CD and when he had started blaring along to the lyrics on the top of his lungs she had decided his new name was Baby Spice. She placed her head against the side window again enjoying the vibrations of the car while she stared at the rest of the traffic and surroundings. They would be on this highway for quite some time. Lucas placed his hand on her knee and gave it a little squeeze.


    "You alright?" Azura flashed him a smile and nodded.


    "Yeah. Just enjoying seeing everything fly by." Her fingers entwined with his as she gazed outside again with a small content smile.


    It didn''t take long for her to doze off with the humming of the engine in the background. Her mouth opened a bit as her head sagged down. Lucas gently brushed some of the black hair out of her face. You could indeed still see the scar that ran down her face. It was almost white and seeing as her skin was also quite pale it was not that obvious. His thumb gently brushed past her cheek and chin and she shifted slightly at his touch. Lucas smiled as he took his hand back and overtook another car.


    Another two hours later they switched seats and filled up on gas. The sun was already gone. Lucas came back to the car with some drinks and snacks and tossed them on the backseat. Azura took the map and stared at it while stretching her neck.


    "Next time, instead of watching me drool in my sleep, wake me up will you." She groaned as a satisfying cracking in her neck could be heard. Lucas bent over and kissed her shortly.


    "No. You''re sweet when you''re sleeping and drooling and bending your neck in ways I never thought possible." She sneered at him while he pretended not to notice.


    "Dude! Really? I guess you find my nightmares rather cute as well?"


    "No. I actually rather hate those. Especially the ones that make you attack me or make you stop breathing. But you haven''t had one since that lovely fiery bird came back to you so that''s a good thing!" He winked at her and she just shook her head and turned her attention back to the map.


    "What do you say we drive for another three hours and then try to find a motel or something." Her finger traced on the map and stopped at a small town called Hundame. "My guess is we''ll be around here by then. Looks like a good place to shift as well.¡±


    ¡°Fine by me.¡± Lucas got back in the passenger seat and watched as Azura adjusted her seat and prepared to start the car. ¡°You sure you know how to drive stick?¡±


    The finger she gave him was accompanied by a wide grin before she started the car and drove away. It took them half an hour less than expected to reach Hundame. It was a small quiet town and they soon reached a motel at the edge of the town. As Lucas went to check-in she went off and after walking for ten minutes found herself at the edge of a forest. Carefully she sniffed the air trying to find scents that might become a problem if she were to shift. After what felt like an eternity Azura suddenly caught a whiff of something that made her blood turn cold.


    Werewolves.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    She spun back around and started running back to the motel. The scent only got stronger the closer she got and she was starting to fear for the worst. That fear was confirmed as she ran up the parking lot and saw three figures surrounding Lucas who was actually taller than all three of them. Azura stopped and hid behind a corner catching her breath. She could not understand what was being said but judging by the tone it was not that friendly. She should have given Lucas some lessons about werewolf behavior.


    Azura peeked around the corner and could only facepalm. He was not doing well at all. It was clear to her that these were not high ranked werewolves, just normal wolves on patrol who were having way too much fun intimidating him and pretending to be highly ranked. Lucas was responding in the worst way possible. He was trying to calm and soothe the situation. Probably trying to explain why he was there and that he was just here for one night. She prayed he had kept his mouth shut about her till now. With werewolves like these, you had to be brash, bluff your way through, and only show as much respect as needed. Otherwise, they would take a walk with you and without realizing it they would have pinned you down. If you were lucky. If you were unlucky, they would maybe just try to rip your head off if they were the violent kind.


    Azura kept her eyes on the two women and man. Since they were still talking, she ruled out the violent kind. There were hardly any violent packs around anymore. Werewolves were civilized, any quarrels they would have with each other would be discussed instead of straight away attacking each other but you could never be too careful. These three were probably just trying to intimidate and scare the shit out of Lucas before the Alpha or one of the Beta''s would come. That could mean real trouble but for now, Azura had to hold back a giggle as she saw Lucas getting more desperate on what to do.


    He was leaning against the car, his eyes darting between the three wolf shifters. He had his hands raised, palms open, and directed at his attackers showing he meant no harm. He must have said something wrong again as suddenly one of the women snarled loudly and actually started to shift into her animal counterpart.


    Bones popped, grey fur sprouted across her body, clothes ripped. It was a mere minute before a big grey timber wolf stood in her place with some tattered remains of fabric hanging off her body. She bared her teeth at him and took one step closer. The other two actually stepped back and allowed more space for the werewolf to come to Lucas. Neither of them had touched him until now, but this was getting out of hand.


    Having seen enough, Azura started walking towards the scene. The three shifters were too busy with Lucas to even notice her as she stopped barely four meters away. Lucas had noticed her though and she gave him a small sign to make sure he would let her handle it. She took a deep breath and put her hands in her side. The Phoenix stirred inside, flames igniting as she allowed the power to radiate through her.


    "Hey! Don''t you dogs have a bone to dig up somewhere?!"


    All three of them spun around to face her. Azura made sure to stand right under a street lantern so she was clearly visible. They hesitated just for a slight moment before the wolf and two humanoids came for her. The wolf only needed two jumps and Azura turned to her first making sure to stare her straight in the eye as she bared her teeth.


    "Stay! I suggest you don''t come any closer." Azura spread her arms, power rushing through her as she imagined to project it outward.


    The wolf stopped, teeth bared while a ferocious growl resonated from her throat. Azura kept her eyes locked on to the wolf¡¯s and took one step forward. The wolf growled even louder but lifted one of the front paws and placed it a bit further back. As Azura took another step forward, the wolf dropped her tail between her legs and backed off even more.


    Azura turned her attention to the other two now that she knew she had the shifted wolf under control. It wouldn¡¯t dare to attack now. The man and woman before her both looked the same. they were probably twins. Both blond hair, same height, and well-muscled. Two pairs of amber eyes observed her but the way Azura had spoken to their friend had left an impression on them as well.


    "I suggest you leave me and my partner alone. You clearly have not heard about the word respect." Azura crossed her arms and casually shifted her weight on one leg.


    "You''re trespassing on Red Dawn''s territory. We have every right to not respect you." The man stepped forward albeit a tad unsure. Azura stepped up her game a bit as her strategy seemed to work.


    "We''re not trespassing; we''re passing through. A big difference. Now leave us be!" The wolf snarled and got closer again. Azura kept her gaze on the man trying to intimidate him as much as possible.


    "You have no permission to be on our grounds!"


    "Your laws don''t apply to us as we are not werewolves!" Her voice thundered along the parking lot. A flash of red appeared in her eyes.


    The wolf whimpered and bowed her head while she put her tail between her legs again at the power burst from Azura. The siblings flinched and backed up, breaking eye contact. They bowed their heads, exposing their necks, acknowledging Azura as someone higher up in ranks even though she wasn''t part of the pack.


    Lucas had felt it. A slight tingle in his body as if his nerves all reacted to Azura. He watched awestruck as the werewolves seemed to back down, afraid to even look at her anymore. The moment was short-lived as Azura suddenly jerked her head up and spun around. She quickly made her way over to Lucas, took his hand, and quickly whispered in his ear.


    "Keep quiet and let me do the talking. I''ll explain later." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and smiled sweetly as a middle-aged man entered the parking lot. His long gray hair was tied in a ponytail reaching down to the middle of his back. The three pack members whimpered softly and took some more steps back allowing the man to walk up to Azura and Lucas. He carefully examined the pair before he finally spoke up.


    "Who are you and what are you doing here?" Straight to the point, he was calm but his voice was louder than normal.


    "Alpha, It''s a pleasure to meet you." Azura gave him a respectful nod and Lucas followed suit. "My name is Azura and this is Lucas. We were merely passing through, wanting to spend the night in the motel before we continue our way tomorrow to the Greenwood pack, sir."


    The Alpha glanced sideways to his pack members and back to Azura.


    "You are not a werewolf, yet you act like one and almost force my people to submit to you. What business do you have with the Greenwood pack? I would like to inform them beforehand if you''re looking for trouble. " Azura let out a small sigh of relief as he said that. The fact he probably had witnessed what she had tried to do was not something some Alpha''s would appreciate but this one seemed rather amused.


    "We are werecats Alpha. I had been living with the Greenwood pack for almost three years back when I was in college. Alpha Andreas has been like a second father to me, teaching me the ways of the pack and the werewolf."


    She noticed a slight smile on the Alpha''s face and it encouraged her to speak more freely.


    "Your patrol duty here, tried to intimidate and pretend to be of higher rank than they are, sir. I merely took it in my hands to make sure we were safe and the only way I knew how to, was to show them how to respect us."


    It pained her to talk like this but she was still unsure of how modern this pack was. The Greenwood pack was quite modern with its ways. They had a hierarchy but it didn''t mean that much except for the Alpha and Beta status. For an outsider, everyone would seem equal and the way Andreas talked to people was as equals. He was more of a chosen leader. With this pack, Azura had no idea yet how modern they were and she had to address the Alpha in a respectful manner. If she did not and said the wrong thing, they would be in a whole lot of trouble even though they were not actual werewolves. It was a delicate balance, one that many packs actually struggled with on their own.


    "A friend of Andreas¡¯ is a friend of mine. I will have a word with my patrol unit and you can stay of course. I actually might need to apologize for the rude welcome."


    Azura relaxed completely and Lucas seemed to follow suit. After some more small talk, the Alpha eventually excused himself and took the three young werewolves with him. When they were gone Azura turned around and grabbed her daypack from the truck. The urge to shift had withered completely.


    "Which room is ours?"


    Lucas took the key out of his pocket and turned it so he could see the number before showing it to Azura.


    "You do know that the Alpha actually never introduced himself to us right?" He took the last thing he needed from the car as he spoke.


    "I know. It''s not important. We''re only here for one night. Tomorrow I''ll have to teach you some things about werewolves and their behavior though. It was quite amusing to watch you struggle for a bit but next time I might not be there to help." She chuckled as he looked at her offended. Lucas shook his head and locked the car as they made their way to the room.

 Chapter 36

    Even though it was still early, several pairs of eyes watched them leave town. Both human and wolf eyes. Some in plain sight, others hidden. Hundame was a wolf town and how she¡¯d missed that when they arrived was one big mystery. A stupid mistake that could have ended much worse. Werewolves and their territories were a fickle thing. While traveling alone before arriving at Pleyvale, she was either wearing her ring, and thus not seen as a threat if she crossed one, or she had shifted outside of any werewolf territories.


    Lucas eyed the watching strangers in wonder as Azura drove away from the town and onto the big highway. Not long after, thick raindrops started to fall while ¡®Conquest of Paradise¡¯ played in the background. One of the songs on Lucas¡¯s CD Azura didn¡¯t mind hearing over and over. The couple remained in comfortable silence for the first hour. The male shifter knew better by now than to start a serious conversation in the morning. He sometimes placed his hand on her leg, and she sometimes flashed him a smile and caressed his hand or beard.


    Lucas grabbed a bottle of water and offered it to Azura. ¡°I still hold to my opinion you need to start drinking coffee.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? What?¡± Azura kept her eyes on the road, her thoughts being jerked from their travels.


    ¡°Coffee! That stuff that keeps you awake!¡±


    ¡°Gross. Never have and never will like it.¡± Her brows drew together as she pretended to puke. ¡±Just give me an hour of peace in the mornings and I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve had your hour. More actually.¡± His hand moved up her leg towards her thighs and the closer he got to her center, the more her breath faltered. ¡°Maybe¡­ I should have gone for some other way to wake you up.¡±


    Azura clenched the steering wheel till her knuckles turned white as his fingers brushed against her inner thigh. That one touch was enough to ignite a desire inside her making her inwardly curse as she knew the smell of her arousal would reach his nose soon.


    ¡°Fuck...off... I need to teach you about werewolves, not have you distract me while I¡¯m driving! And I¡¯m awake aren¡¯t I?¡± She cringed as her own scent hit her nose and she swatted his hand away while trying to put her mind on other things than their sweat-coated bodies slapping together.


    Lucas let out a low growl, his pupils dilating as her aroused scent registered in his brain and had his body reacting in an animalistic way that he¡¯d grown accustomed to by now. Azura glanced at him before her eyes moved down to his crotch. Even though he was wearing jeans, she could easily discern his growing erection straining against the stiff fabric.


    ¡°You better put your mind on something else, Horndog.¡± Azura playfully teased before placing her focus back on the quiet road. ¡°Like werewolves for example! What do you know about them?¡±


    It was for both their interest she tried shifting the focus. Hell, the idea of finding a place to park and just jump him had crossed her mind several times in the short timespan, but she had a goal; getting to Greenwood as fast as possible. Plus they had been at it like a pair of horny rabbits ever since she had come clean to everyone, so a few hours of not having sex wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he huffed, adjusting himself inside his pants. ¡°Way to kill the mood, Firestarter. But I¡¯ll humor you. Werewolves are shifters, like us, just they change into giant ass wolves. They live in packs, work with a strong hierarchy with the Alpha being their leader. They¡¯re territorial, weird, and apparently don¡¯t mark each other nor do they have soulmates. And they are fucking wolves! Wild, arrogant-¡±


    ¡°Feral? Are you even taking this seriously?!¡± She released one hand from the wheel and punched him in the shoulder. ¡°I can¡¯t help it that you guys are so far removed from your inner animal that you see every other shifter species as wild or feral. Fact is, that¡¯s the natural way! Maybe you should allow yourself to give in to your instincts more, than you¡¯d understand. Werewolves are indeed giant ass wolves. Yes, they live in packs, but they are by no means old-fashioned, feral, wild, or uncivilized. And yes, I know all these thoughts crossed your mind.¡±


    She allowed the words to sink in as she grabbed a bottle of water and took a big gulp.


    ¡°Alright, a pack structure is actually quite a lot like you¡¯re used to. The Alpha is the leader like Ben is to Pleyvale. Ben is supported by Nathan and Oliver as his right hands, you could compare them to the Beta¡¯s of a pack. Some packs operate with one Beta, some with more. I know Andreas usually has three Beta¡¯s. Now, this is where things will differ per pack. In the old days, there were gamma, delta, and omega ranks. Each rank served a different purpose within a pack. A werewolf was born into a rank and could only move up the ladder by challenging and fighting someone from a rank higher. Fighting; claiming a spot in the pack was a big thing back in the days as it is with normal wolves.¡±


    ¡°Savages.¡± He muttered under his breath.


    ¡°Excuse me? Anything but! By fighting, they kept strong and thus could beat any threats from the outside. But as I said, it was the old way. Greenwood only has the Alpha and Beta positions left. For the rest, they operate more like a democracy, with a council like Pleyvale. Not all packs have adopted that way of working though. Andreas is a modern Alpha with modern ways. Fighting, violence...pack wars, he sees those as things of the past and many other Alphas agree with him.¡±


    ¡°Then what happened yesterday, Azu? Those guys wanted to attack me but they started to act like beaten pups when you showed up!¡± His voice was laced with frustration as he tried to piece their behavior and Azura¡¯s explanation together.


    ¡°Powerplay. That¡¯s all it was. They wouldn¡¯t have killed or seriously hurt you, just subdued till their Alpha would show. They probably caught on to the fact you aren¡¯t human and seeing how you guys have lived hidden from society, they couldn¡¯t place your scent. Wolves are territorial, and they couldn¡¯t identify you, thus they did what their instincts told them to. Powerplay; pretend to be stronger, make the opponent submit, and secure the threat. They were young too and probably wanted to prove themselves to their Alpha, show him they can protect their pack. You didn¡¯t put them in their place, instead, you strengthened their farce by letting them intimidate you. Had they been more experienced wolves, they wouldn¡¯t have reacted the way they did.¡±


    ¡°How do you know it was a bluff? Because that¡¯s all that it was if I understand you correctly? And that still doesn¡¯t explain why you got them with their tails tucked between their legs.¡±


    ¡°I played their game.¡± She grinned as she put a few black strands behind her ear. ¡°It¡¯s all about power and what you emit and show. Andreas taught me that. I pretended, or rather, believed myself to be above them in rank. As long as they were bluffing, I could do that. If a werewolf is not bluffing, it will fail and you¡¯ll be in a lot of shit.¡±


    Lucas leaned back and crossed his arms as her words sank into his brain. The events of the night before played before his eyes. There was one thing that wasn¡¯t adding up though. A deep crease appeared between his brows as his mind kept playing things over and over.


    ¡°What are you thinking about, Babyspice?¡± She teased him, her eyes mainly focused on the road. ¡°I can spy that wrinkle even from here. Don¡¯t think too much or it¡¯ll become permanent and you will look even older than you are already!¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Lucas ignored her mostly as if he didn¡¯t hear her till he abruptly turned sideways, clogging the seatbelt as he jerked it too fast. Being forced back to his normal position, he huffed and gently pulled it out again so he could shift without getting stuck in it before he spoke up. ¡°You were not pretending, Azu.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± She still chuckled slightly after seeing his fight with the seatbelt from the corner of her eye. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You weren¡¯t pretending to be above them. You were radiating power, made them cower by force and not by bluffing. I could feel it, I¡¯ve felt it before whenever you got angry.¡±


    This time, it was her who jerked her head to the side making Lucas grab the wheel to steady the car as she swerved due to her sudden movement.


    ¡°Eyes on the road, woman!¡± He yelled. When she was steady again, he released the wheel.


    ¡°I know! But how come you never said this before?! I don¡¯t hold much natural authority, Andreas has actually tested that back in the day so what you¡¯re saying is not possible.¡± She forced herself to focus on driving and was glad the road around them was empty.


    ¡°That was before the ¡®shit hit the fan¡¯, using your words. You got a bloody Phoenix inside of you now. Things might have changed you know. Look, I never knew what it was until now. It¡¯s something that makes my skin crawl, raises the hair on my arms and it makes me¡­fidgety. I don¡¯t know how else to put it. I can fight it, it¡¯s just a small barrier that¡¯s being erected which I have to break through to actually do something. Yesterday it was stronger than usual and now that I think about it, it actually slightly resembles the way Ben tried to control me when you were fighting Nathan.¡±


    ¡°Ben fucking controlled you?! That bastard!¡± She exploded again, but this time kept the car going straight.


    ¡°He and Nicolai together. Took both of them and still, I could break free if I¡¯d wanted to. It was a good thing they did it though, otherwise, it would not have ended the way it did. Ben is our mayor for a reason. Our community might not be as close as a pack of werewolves but we¡¯re still a community and Ben is still our leader. If needed he can control us just as I imagine Andreas sometimes has to do with his pack. Snow leopards are solitary creatures in the wild but we¡¯re also human.¡±


    ¡°More human than animal¡­¡± Azura whispered while rolling her eyes. Lucas tapped her leg and tsk¡¯ed her to which she couldn¡¯t help but smile a little.


    ¡°I guess that maybe werewolves and snow leopard communities are not so different.¡± Not wanting to talk anymore about trivial things, Azura turned the conversation back to its original topic. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve strayed enough off-topic. The thing to remember with werewolves is to find out whether or not they¡¯re bluffing in their display of power. If they¡¯re bluffing, you step up your game and try to beat them. Even if you lose, it won¡¯t be such a bad thing since you played their game and they know it. If a werewolf isn¡¯t bluffing and you do the same thing, you¡¯re fucked.¡±


    ¡°And how can you tell if someone is bluffing or not?¡± He asked while fiddling with the bottle of water.


    ¡°Experience mostly¡­ Just believe me when I tell you that if we encounter Floyd, he won¡¯t be bluffing. You don¡¯t do anything with him and just let him do his thing. He¡¯s bound to try something with you but I¡¯ll step in if he goes too far. And it¡¯s not a question if we encounter Floyd, but a question of when.¡± Azura grabbed the bottle from between his legs and tossed it onto the backseat.


    ¡°Experience¡­great. The thing I have the most of in regards to interaction with werewolves.¡± Lucas turned to face the rear and managed to grab the bottle again. ¡°And why did you toss this into the back? I¡¯m thirsty!¡±


    She scowled and eyed him warily. ¡°I don¡¯t like you with a bottle of water in your hands. You always manage to find a time to dump some on me with some lame-ass excuse.¡±


    With a wide grin, he twisted the cap off and made an agonizing slow show of actually drinking the cold liquid.


    ¡°You know,¡± He placed the bottle against his lips once more for a small sip. ¡°You just make it too easy for me to make you wet.¡±


    As he wiggled his eyebrows, she snarled at him and at first did not reply. Her stomach started to rumble and they weren¡¯t far from the next town. When the CD had gone through all the songs, Azura turned it off. Fingers lovingly grazed past the ring hanging from her neck before she took hold of the steering wheel with both her hands again.


    ¡°You¡¯re a real asshat, you know that?¡±


    ¡°And you love every bit of it.¡± He replied, the big smile still present on his face.


    Even though the trip was long, they were ahead of schedule when they eventually stopped to spend the night. This time, they picked a town without any supernaturals in the vicinity and after a refreshing night, got back on the road early in the morning. It wouldn¡¯t take long now, and the prospect of returning to Greenwood excited her but also made her uneasy. The closer they got, the quieter and more nervous she got. As Lucas was driving, her fingers started tapping her knees while her feet kept shuffling on the floor. Without realizing it, she bit her lip, and every few minutes she would touch and fiddle with the ring. She still hadn¡¯t gotten used to it hanging from her neck and would often touch her ring finger first before moving her hand upwards. When they were an hour out, Lucas pulled over, earning him a confused look from the pale-skinned woman.


    ¡°What are you doing? We¡¯re almost there.¡± She spoke while he unbuckled himself and motioned for her to do the same.


    ¡°You¡¯re fidgeting. You¡¯re driving the last part. You know the area, plus it will give you something to focus on instead of being a nervous wreck beside me. Plus, this way I can inform Andreas of our arrival.¡±Azura took a deep breath and gave him a nod before getting out of the car and switching seats. He had a point and it would help with her nerves.


    It was a little past noon when they crossed the invisible border of the Greenwood pack. Azura couldn¡¯t help but smile as they were engulfed by the familiar forest. Her jitters of coming back calmed down as she breathed in the air that had once meant ¡®home¡¯ to her.  The trees raised up so high it seemed like they touched the clouds at times. There was no trace of snow here and the temperature was rather nice and warm. A complete opposite of Pleyvale where the cold held the region in its claws most of the year. Lucas stared out the window, taking in the new surroundings, and suddenly jerked up.


    "There''s something out there, Azu. I swear I saw a dark brown flash between the trees."


    "That''s probably Floyd. He''s been on our tail for a while now." Azura had noticed straight away they were being followed but it had taken her a while to identify who it was. Now she was a hundred percent sure.


    "The Floyd? The one and only Floyd, former mate of Nora? He¡¯s already on our asses?!"


    "Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!" Azura grinned at him to ease the tension in the air.


    "I¡¯ll pull over in a bit into a communal guest parking area. We''re almost there. If Floyd''s there, Andreas also knows we''ve arrived so it won''t take long for him to join us. Just remember what I¡¯ve told you about him."


    True to her word, Azura pulled to a stop on what seemed an abandoned parking lot a few minutes later. She held onto the steering wheel for a while as her nerves suddenly soared through her body. Afraid her hands would be shaking if she let go, she clenched it as tight as she could, drifting away in her own mind. They were already clammy and she knew Floyd would sense her uneasiness straight away, probably use it against her too.


    Lucas reached over, turned off the ignition, and removed the keys. He grabbed a fresh bottle of water and took a sip all the while Azura still seemed glued to her spot and steering wheel. She¡¯d closed her eyes and was focused on her breathing, seemed to have completely forgotten he was there with her. Lucas glanced at his bottle and back at Azura, remembering the conversation about it the day before and a small playful smile tucked at his lips. He placed his hand on her shoulder gently and called out her name. When she didn¡¯t respond he simply poured some water on the back of her neck which got the reaction he had hoped for.


    "What the hell, Lucas! I thought we were past this!" Azura slapped his hand away and glared at him.


    "Never!" He laughed and put the bottle away. "I will always keep doing that when needed. Now I think we have to get outa


    Azura removed her seat belt and then saw the big dark brown wolf emerge from between the trees followed by another, slightly smaller dark gray wolf. Pulling on a mask of indifference, she stepped out of the car followed by Lucas.


    "Hello, Floyd. Good to see you again."

 Chapter 37

    "Hello, Floyd. Good to see you again."


    Azura flashed an innocent smile at the brown wolf before her. She still felt on edge and it seemed like her skin was crawling; like it had when she had first met Nora, but she dismissed it and pulled up a facade to hide her nerves. Behind Floyd, the smaller gray wolf quickly disappeared into the forest.


    Floyd was a shade darker than Nora used to be, his eyes rimmed with a fine white line, and around his snout, the hair almost seemed black. He had trained hard these past years as he seemed more muscular than when she last saw him. He sized her up as if he were making up his mind if she truly was the same person who had left years back.


    She didn¡¯t approach him, instead waiting for him to move. Floyd moved his huge head towards Lucas and seemed to observe him for a while. He sniffed the air and licked his lips. He was judging Lucas''s scent. She knew it was different from hers even though they were both werecats and was unsure how he would react. Most likely not in a good way since Lucas was with her. He¡¯d probably never smelled it before since Floyd hadn¡¯t been attending Greenwood college like Nora and herself and he had not been around when Lucas had been on campus. The moment seemed to last forever and she noticed the normal bustling forest around them had grown quiet.


    Finally, Floyd slowly stepped closer. Azura was glad Lucas had been paying attention to her lessons and he stood his ground while not looking away. Slowly, Floyd walked all around Lucas, observing and sniffing. Lucas remained quiet and still and seemed pretty unfazed by the giant wolf that sometimes bumped into him softly. Suddenly Floyd let out a low growl and jumped away from Lucas staring at him intently. He bared his teeth and let out a snarl while pushing his ears flat against his head.


    "Stop with the bullshit already, Floyd!" Azura barked at him and walked towards Lucas. She positioned herself so she stood between them with her back against Lucas. She felt how tense he was and hoped he would keep it together a little bit longer.


    "What''s your problem? You knew we were coming."


    "Floyd thinks he smells weird. He smells¡­off..." Behind the large brown wolf, a young bulky boy walked out of the forest wearing only a pair of pants. He didn''t look any older than twenty yet. Like most of the pack, his skin was dark and he had dark brown eyes like Nora used to have. His hair was cut short; almost military style. Azura blinked a few times and started smiling when she recognized the boy.


    "Kaenan? Look at you! You have changed! You look good, mature." He flashed Azura a smile back and turned his attention to Floyd. For a while, they remained quiet and Lucas took the opportunity to snake his hand around her waist and pull her against him. He softly whispered in her ear.


    "Are they actually communicating right now?"


    Azura looked up over her shoulder and nodded.


    "Yep. Probably talking about ways to kill you." She tried to lighten his mood a little. "Maybe we should just tell them already you''re a snow leopard. I''m guessing that''s one of the details you never told Andreas right?"


    "Yeah... One of the details, alright. Also, the fact you can set things on fire and can produce some pretty big wings." Lucas gave her hand a quick squeeze as Floyd¡¯s and Kaenan''s attention turned back to them.


    "Floyd, Kaenan, Lucas here smells off because he''s a werecat like me. He''s from a different region and thus his scent is not the same as mine. It''s not a smell you guys know. That doesn''t mean he''s a bad guy. So please calm down, Floyd."


    Azura stepped forward towards the big wolf and Kaenan. Floyd started snarling again, showing her his teeth.


    "Still don''t like me either, do you." She sighed and shook her head. "Does it help to tell you that I was killed by the Phoenix as well and not just Nora?" Her voice softened as she mentioned her friend.


    "I know you miss her, Floyd. I do too."


    Her words hit a target as a hint of confusion filled his eyes momentarily. Floyd licked his lips and tossed his head around, still on guard. As quickly as she saw the confusion, it was gone again and he started snarling again.


    "I can¡¯t say that! Mum-" Kaenan suddenly stopped speaking and lowered his head to the ground while mouthing an apology. He was silent for a bit, his brows furrowing together as he stared at the ground. Eventually, the boy looked up again, his feet twisting nervously on the ground. ¡°Floyd wants me to translate literally. You want the rough version or the nice one?¡±


    "Give me the rough version.¡± Azura had to hide a smile seeing Kaenan struggle with whatever Floyd was mind-linking him. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he knew about the strained relationship she had with his older brother as the boy had just been a young teen when they met. ¡°No need to play nice. I can handle it."


    "Alright, Floyd says he doesn''t trust either of you. That it was a mistake that you came back here and you should have stayed away. He said,¡± Kaenan shot a glance at the big wolf next to him and his voice faltered, ¡°you should have died instead of Nora and that you''re a lying piece of shit for saying that you died because you''re here and obviously very much alive."


    Kaenan paused and looked around scanning through the trees. He looked even more uncomfortable if that was even possible. His fingers hooked around the belt loops of his pants and started tugging at them. When he spoke again his voice was barely audible as if he was scared someone was listening in on them.


    "Andreas is on his way. Floyd says that you both better behave because he will be watching your every move and won''t hesitate to kill either of you if needed. He knows the consequences that will have with Andreas, and he actually is willing to go that far."


    Kaenan seemed to pale more and more as he finished translating for Floyd. He shuffled his feet and stared at the ground once more. Azura almost felt sorry for him. He clearly had never been in such a situation before and was obviously torn between his own feelings and what Floyd was forcing him to say. Deciding it was nothing she could change now, she turned her attention back to Floyd. Flames unfurled themselves within her.


    "Careful who you call a lying piece of shit." Azura stepped closer to him while maintaining eye contact with him. She clenched her fists and made herself stand as tall as possible. The fire within her roared higher and she tapped into the power.


    "I don''t like being threatened, Floyd." She came even closer and Floyd started snarling at her. He lowered his ears against the rear of his head again and curled his lips back. Drool slowly started to drip from between his teeth and hit the ground.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "I was kind of hoping you would have moved on by now. Hoped that you had let go of this grudge against me. Clearly, you haven''t. If you try to do anything, know that I won''t hesitate either."


    With that Azura jumped towards him and grabbed the fur on either side of his neck. His jaws opened and slammed shut just inches away from her face but he yelped the moment she dug her nails into his skin and let the heat flow through her hands.


    "Let''s get one thing straight, Floyd. I am stronger than you and quite done with your little act here. Stop pissing me off." She hissed in his ear before she let him go.


    Floyd hopped back, shaking his head furiously from side to side. Confusion, anger, and embarrassment all showed in his face. Azura turned around and walked back to Lucas who now looked as pale as a sheet exactly like Kaenan. Floyd¡¯s younger brother looked like he was about to pass out. Azura kept observing Lucas though. His expression would tell her what would happen. He looked scared the moment she came back but she saw his mouth opening and eyes widen in fear trying to issue a warning to her. She heard the heavy thuds of Floyd''s paws on the ground, his heavy breathing as he came straight for her. He was blinded by rage and had missed one crucial detail Azura was more than aware of. She spun around and looked past the charging werewolf to a tall man who had placed his hand on Kaenan''s shoulder.


    "Andreas!" She smiled and called out to him as if there was no werewolf coming straight for her.


    As the name fell, so did Floyd. His ears perked up and he immediately stopped his charge, sliding forward until he almost touched Azura. His head snapped back to Andreas and he whined shortly before getting back up onto all fours and trodding back to Kaenan and Andreas with his tail hung low.  Andreas whispered something to Kaenan and the young man nodded. He seemed all too happy to leave as Andreas kept his eye on Floyd who stopped next to him.


    As Kaenan disappeared between the trees, Andreas turned back to Azura and Lucas. All the tension was gone from his face and a heartwarming smile sprawled across it. Azura smiled back at the light-brown-skinned man. He showed more grey hair than Azura remembered and his beard had turned a shade lighter, going on white. The wrinkles on his face had become more prominent and there seemed to be a permanent frown on his forehead now. His amber eyes still held that same lively sparkle though.


    "Quit gawking at me, young lady. I know I¡¯ve aged a little, but I didn¡¯t know it was that bad." Andreas enveloped her in a tight hug and Azura let out a deep breath she had been holding in for too long. She hugged him back as he held onto her like a long-lost daughter.


    "You look amazing, Azura. It''s been too long but I''m glad you''re here."


    Andreas let go of her and turned to Lucas who extended his hand to Andreas. Andreas took it with a firm handshake and pulled Lucas in for a quick hug startling him a little and making Azura chuckle softly.


    "Lucas. Good to finally meet you face to face. I¡¯m glad to see Azura actually got to meet with another werecat and thank you for giving her a place to stay while keeping those of us back here in the loop. We owe you for that."


    Andreas slapped Lucas''s shoulder in approval. Azura frowned as Andreas seemed aware of Lucas being a werecat. Either Kaenan or Floyd must have shared that with him since she told them.


    "So why on earth did you stop here? You''re not just regular visitors we need to pick up, you''re part of our pack. You should have driven down to the packhouse straight away." Andreas glanced at their car.


    "I stopped because Floyd was tailing us." Azura shrugged her shoulders and fidgeted with her fingers. "I didn''t want to anger him so I thought it was best to stop here to show off good intentions from our side. I was afraid it would rub him the wrong way if we were to come to the packhouse straight away. It''s not in the protocol to do that."


    Floyd had perked up his ears when she mentioned his name. He was listening in but kept in the same place and made no attempt to either shift back or come over. Andreas turned to the brown werewolf and after a short nod of his head, Floyd got up and ran off into the forest. Probably not out of his own free will. Andreas watched him go and Azura felt a bit more relieved now that he was gone.


    The alpha had joined them again after making sure Floyd was truly gone.


    "A solid way of thinking except you''re forgetting that Floyd was always held back by Nora. She had a calming effect on him, making sure he wouldn¡¯t do anything stupid and she''s no longer here. He will stay quiet on the pack grounds but out here, he''ll keep challenging you. I feel you can handle him but don''t become too confident around him, Azura." She just nodded in understanding.


    "That doesn''t explain why he got so angry at me though." Lucas put his hands in his pockets and leaned against the hood of the car.


    "Floyd hates anything and anyone that''s not a werewolf or from around here. Like Azura, you¡¯re both of them so he simply dislikes you. I promise you both he won''t be a problem during your stay here. Now, ready to go? I''ll join you for the ride there if you don''t mind."


    Azura started the car as soon as they were all seated and backed away from the parking area. Soon they were on the main road again. Andreas sat next to her and Lucas had moved to the backseat of the car. Now that the adrenaline in their bodies had died down it became clear that the trip had taken its toll on them. Lucas leaned back and closed his eyes while Azura and Andreas casually chit-chatted as if she had never left.


    After ten minutes Lucas opened his eyes again at the moment Azura slowed down and turned right. It was a small gravel path and Lucas raised an eyebrow as he stared at the road they were taking. Azura could only guess what he was thinking but it was clear the road had not been what he had expected it to be. After a few more minutes, the way widened so there was enough space for three cars next to each other and the loose gravel became flatter and more solid so it almost felt as if they were driving on an old tarmac road. It was another ten minutes on it before the big house appeared through the trees.


    It stood in the middle of the woods and looked like a small palace. Three stories high with white painted walls, big windows everywhere which you would only see in drawings, and topped with a dark-colored roof. A large flower garden took up the front of the house, no fence there to contain it, while the corners and sides of the building had creeping vines climbing it¡¯s walls. There were more plants decorating its sides, including the wisteria plant. When it was blooming the whole building became a surreal image but it fit perfectly into its surroundings.


    The first time Azura had seen it, she had laughed so hard Nora had to pat her on the back until she calmed down. The house could have come straight from a fairytale and Azura had not done anything to hide her surprise.


    She didn¡¯t pull over in front of what seemed to be the main entrance, instead, she drove a little past the red double-doors and stopped next to a smaller side entrance with just one door. Andreas got out of the car and opened the back of the pickup to take a bag with him. Azura and Lucas got out as well and both took the remaining bags with them. Lucas looked back at the main entrance and then at the door they were now facing.


    "The packhouse has a double function." Andreas interrupted his thinking. "The big doors back there are for everyone to use to get to the communal area. It''s where we gather and meet up from time to time. It''s also the place to relax and a general meeting point for the pack. Most of the house is actually for that purpose. This area here is just for the Alpha and Betas if they want. I live here on my own right now as the three Beta''s have decided to keep their own home. I''ll show you around."


    Andreas headed to the door and opened it. Azura let Lucas go second and she followed after. She knew the layout of the house by heart already. On the ground floor were the spacious living room, dining area, and kitchen. Andreas guided them upstairs to the second floor and pointed to two rooms opposite each other.


    "These are your rooms. At the end of the hall is the bathroom for you guys to use. I sleep one floor up."


    "Two rooms?" Azura looked at both doors and then back at Andreas. "One will be just fine. We''ll take the left one. It has a better view." She took her bag and opened the door to the room she mentioned. Lucas took his bag and walked inside. Azura chuckled softly at Andreas as a youthful grin spread on his face.


    "How could I have missed that?" Andreas shook his head and mumbled to himself as Lucas soon came back out.


    "That''s not the only thing you did not know about, Andreas. I might have held back on a few details because I wasn''t sure how much I could tell you without Azura knowing about it and some things really are up to her to tell you."

 Chapter 38

    Lucas sat straight up in bed when Azura started thrashing next to him, hitting him as her arms flailed around uncontrollably, sweat coating her trembling body as her movements got more and more frantic. As she got increasingly entangled in the blankets, Lucas swiftly got out of the bed and moved to her side. Grabbing the erratic woman by the shoulders, he pushed her down onto the mattress and immediately she started fighting him, pushing back and clawing at him with her nails. The more pressure he applied the more she started grunting and shrieking. Lucas pushed her further back into the mattress, hoping to calm her by immobilizing her while ignoring her screams which only became louder. He gritted his teeth as she got stronger and fought back harder.


    "Azura! Just cut it out already and wake up!"


    When pushing her down didn¡¯t seem to work, he pulled her upright into a sitting position and put his arms around her, hands on the back of her head in a tight intimate hug. It seemed to be working as Azura eased up on her struggling. He pressed her ear against his chest and tried to calm down his own racing heart as he gently stroked the back of her head and spoke to her softly in a hushed voice. Her mouth was open, still panting heavily with her chest moving at a much faster pace than normal.


    His fingers trailed from her head to her naked back and slowly moved up and down the skin. She was reacting to it even though she was still sleeping, goosebumps formed on her flesh and her breathing seemed to hitch for a moment. He avoided touching the scar on her back and kissed the top of her head. He let both of his hands softly touch her now hoping she would relax further and would actually be able to continue sleeping without the nightmare. She was relaxing and her breathing became a bit less erratic as one of his hands caressed her sides and trailed past her ribs. Following his movements, she moved her hands around his chest and started doing the same thing he was doing to her.


    She pressed him tighter against her. He could feel every inch of her body. Her soft small breasts against his own chest, the smell of her hair, her fingers trailing across his back, and her nails raking across his skin.


    Her nails...


    Lucas felt her tighten up too late, distracted by his thoughts. Every muscle in her body tensed and he had to hold back a painful grunt as she dug her nails into his skin. It lasted only for a short moment before she emitted a loud scream. Lucas flinched and the movement made her react by suddenly pushing him away from her with a force he hadn¡¯t expected. He was pushed off the edge of the bed and landed on one knee on the floor. She jolted again, lost her own balance, and toppled down landing on her back, feet still partially on the bed entangled in the blankets. Azura gasped and opened her eyes staring at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling faster than normal. Lucas got up and knelt down next to her flashing her a small smile.


    "Good morning, Firestarter. Rough night?"


    Azura just raised her hand and flipped him the finger as she untangled her legs and dropped them onto the floor. She just stared at the ceiling for a little bit as she tried to calm herself down. Lucas stroked her arm and removed some black strands out of her face before offering her his hand to help her get up. For a while, she didn¡¯t move but eventually, she took it and he pulled her back up to her feet. Holding onto his arm, she grabbed her head with the other hand and bent forward a bit trying to overcome the lightheadedness.


    Muscles seemed to have a mind of their own as her fingers and eyelids twitched faster than the beating wings of a hummingbird. She was slightly flailing around and she dug her fingers into his skin trying to steady herself. Without a warning, her body started to convulse from her toes to her head. She let him go and covered her mouth with both hands as she pushed past him to the door in a hurry. Walking in a straight line seemed impossible. Sometimes she would lose her balance and had to correct herself by sidestepping but she was still quite fast and threw the door open to stumble into the hallway towards the bathroom.


    "Oh, that''s a rough night alright," Lucas muttered softly to himself while he put on some boxer briefs and a t-shirt.


    Grabbing a pair of hipsters and a t-shirt for Azura, he followed her to the bathroom. He¡¯d seen her in this condition several times now and it didn¡¯t affect him as much as it had the first time. She was often barely aware of what was happening and reacted more out of pure instinct than human reasoning.


    Azura was hunched over the toilet breathing heavily and spit out the last remnants of saliva and stomach contents into the bowl. Lucas sat next to her and gently started rubbing her back as her middle contracted itself once more. Nothing came up though, her gut already being empty but her body still made her gag. Tears streaked her cheeks and snot came out of her clogged nose as she tried to ease air into her lungs instead of stomach acid into her mouth. In between it all, she tried to ease her sobbing and calm her erratic heart.


    When her body seemed more stable, Lucas handed her some tissues. She wiped her mouth and face clean before throwing it into the toilet and flushing what had remained of her dinner the night before. With a heavy sigh, she let herself topple over against his body and curled herself up against his chest, safely enclosed within his arms. She didn¡¯t utter a single word and was glad Lucas seemed to know exactly what she needed.


    Several minutes passed by where she just sat in his lap, her head resting against his chest while his rested on her. Her heartbeat calmed to match the warm body that had her in his arms. Once her breathing had gone back to normal too and the urge to throw up had left, Azura started moving again. Slowly, she got back on her feet and stepped to the sink.


    "Feeling any better? A bit more human maybe?"


    She grunted in response as she bent over the white porcelain and threw some cold water in her face before taking a big sip to wash the foul taste out of her mouth. Lucas passed her a towel and she dried off before handing it back to him. After taking another moment to recollect herself she finally turned around to face him. Her voice was hoarse and cracked as she spoke up.


    "I really wanted to believe the nightmares would have stopped completely by now." She took her t-shirt that Lucas handed her and put it on, covering her naked torso before putting on the black hipster panties.


    "Why? Just because they hadn¡¯t appeared for two weeks?" Lucas opened the bathroom door and let her out first before following her downstairs to the living room. She didn¡¯t answer him till they were down in the spacious living area where they sat down on the black leather couch. Lucas pulled her in so she was between his legs, her back resting against his chest. He could feel her trying to fight her own trembling body.


    "Somewhere in my mind, I was hoping they would be gone after accepting the Phoenix and getting together with you. Wishful thinking. Life is not like those stories you read where all problems are solved in an instant after kissing the love interest." Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Lucas snickered softly and pulled her in for a tight hug.


    "Well, life is no fairytale. It was to be expected, you know. Coming back to the place where it all happened was bound to trigger some nightmares. At least look on the bright side; you were nightmare-free for two weeks. That must count for something." He loosened his grip around and she wiggled around, making herself a bit more comfortable.


    "It does. This nightmare was a lot different than normal as well. Although, in the end, I still accidentally kill you on purpose. That part is still there."


    "Accidentally on purpose..." Lucas repeated thoughtfully. "You will have to explain that to me one day. What was the nightmare about?"


    The main light in the living room turned on making both Lucas and Azura cover their eyes and groan.


    "Still having nightmares? And what are you guys doing here in the dark?" Andreas''s loud voice made them sit upright and squeeze their eyes almost shut.


    "We could see perfectly clear without the light on, Andreas! And what are you doing up at this hour?" Azura blinked a couple of times as her eyes adjusted to the bright light.


    "Getting up to patrol the perimeter. Plus I heard you scream and some other ruckus. Thought I¡¯d come down to check up on you." Andreas walked into the living area and sat down. He was fully dressed ready to go out just as he said he was.


    Lucas sat up a bit straighter unsure of how to act. He had talked to Andreas over the phone multiple times without any trouble but being around the Alpha was a different matter. The man oozed power and it was hard to ignore the submissive feeling in his underbelly. It gripped him tightly like a snake coiling around its prey. The same feeling had been there the day when they arrived but not as strong. The male snow leopard shifter had dismissed the power radiating from Andreas as something that had happened due to Floyd.


    When he glanced at the thin woman in his arms, she seemed completely unaffected by it. Could an Alpha project his power on one single being and let the other know nothing about it? Lucas doubted it but Azura really seemed at ease.


    The surge became stronger and it felt like the snake had wrapped around his chest, squeezing the air out of his body. Lucas started to lose focus of everything except Andreas but there was something tugging his brain and stopping him from submitting to the Alpha. He didn''t dare to look him straight in the eye, but he was the only thing that Lucas could focus on to the point it was beginning to feel painful.


    Next to him, he could feel Azura''s body temperature rising. The tug was becoming stronger, pulling him away from his focus on Andreas. Being mentally pulled in two opposite directions caused a headache to form, one he tried to ignore but it was persistent. Azura didn¡¯t seem to notice the stiffening of his body. She was still partially leaning against him and wherever her skin touched his, a soft burning sensation started to form.


    Relief, distraction. It pulled him out of the hypnotic state he was feeling. The snake around his body left, the urge to bow slipped away and Lucas managed to look back up and his gaze met that of Andreas.


    He felt it too.


    Straight away Lucas could feel the power of Andreas slip away and Azura''s body heat reacted by going down as well. Lucas let out a soft sigh of relief as he felt he was able to properly fill his lungs with air again.


    "I''m sorry." Andreas leaned forward and looked a little bit pained. "That won''t happen again. I let out more power than I thought. Must have been subconsciousness. Why don''t you two go back to sleep? We''ll talk about this later."


    Azura got up from the couch and shot confused glances between both men.


    "What just happened? Why are you both looking at me like I just destroyed the world? And what do you mean about letting out power, Andreas? I didn''t feel a thing!"


    "We''ll talk about it later, Azu. Together with Professor Sloan and Andreas. Short version, you were reacting to Andreas and I bet Andreas was reacting to you making me the victim of a short power outburst without you guys even knowing it."


    It was something they had agreed on the day before. The three of them would pay Professor Sloan a visit so she would only have to tell the story once. Being a druid, the professor was like a walking encyclopedia and he had always been supportive of her when she attended college. In her mind, Azura had often compared Sloan to Startrek¡¯s Spock. Knowledge was everything and emotions were far less important. He was always objective and honest, sometimes a bit too confronting but still a good voice of reason.


    Azura stared at Lucas in disbelief before she turned to Andreas. The Alpha placed a firm hand on her shoulder gave her a smile.


    "He''s not lying. For a moment I didn''t even know what was going on until I saw his pained expression. Azura, I can feel things have changed with you. There¡¯s something powerful about you, something not there before and this just confirmed my hunch. I have a thousand questions but it will have to wait until we''re with the four of us. So go back to sleep and I''ll see you this afternoon."


    "No, no, and no! Hold up!" Azura grabbed hold of both of them and pulled them closer together so they were standing shoulder to shoulder facing her. "I know I''m slow with these kinds of things, especially at this time of night but you guys seem to suddenly know more than I do even though you," Azura turned her attention to Andreas. "Don''t even know half of the entire thing!"


    "Azu, you''re losing control." Lucas lowered his voice and pried his wrist loose from her hold. She automatically let go of Andreas. Lucas noticed she was starting to tremble as he looked at her hands hanging next to her body. She clenched her fists and turned her back to the two of them.


    "I can probably move the meeting forward. It''s probably for the best. I''ll see you guys at ten at the college." Lucas nodded to Andreas and mouthed a thank you to the elder Alpha who proceeded to walk over to Azura. He gave her a hug and softly whispered in her ear.


    "I love you like a daughter, Azura. I know this is frustrating but please try to keep your cool. There''s a lot going on, my wolf can sense it which is unsettling for me as well since we don''t know what it is yet. But I think you do know what it is, yet I''m not asking you to tell me right now. I ask you to do the same. Now please, try to get some more sleep." Azura gave him a hug back to let him know she understood and let him go.


    As Andreas headed out the door Lucas headed towards the stairs. She meekly followed and headed to the bathroom first.


    "Feeling like being sick again?" Lucas poked his head around the corner smiling from ear to ear.


    "No! But I do feel like brushing my teeth and entire mouth. So stop smirking like that. There''s nothing funny about this whole thing."


    His smile was contagious but she tried to fight the urge to laugh. She had no reason to. She actually would have preferred going to the roof and screaming her lungs out but she felt her muscles working against her and the corners of her lips slowly started smiling.


    "I can see that. You''re trying not to laugh so hard your whole face is disfigured."


    Lucas winked at her and she turned on the cold water splashing him before he could get away. He laughed as he closed the door and made his way to the bedroom. Frustrating as his diversion tactics were, he always did manage to lighten the burden a bit but as soon as he was gone the effect it had released its hold on her.


    She closed the lid on the toilet and sat down, burying her face in her hands. She blinked away the tears that started forming and focused on her breathing while murmuring softly to herself.


    "Don''t you dare cry right now. Don''t you dare break down. It''s just another thing you didn¡¯t know about yourself. Just another new piece of this puzzle that is named Azura. Add it to your list of new things underneath the rest and go with it.¡± She paused, taking a deep breath before lifting up her head. A hint of confidence found itself in her voice as she spoke up again.


    ¡°I am Azura, a blue-eyed snow leopard, a Phoenix, a girl, a woman, someone who has returned from the dead, a killer, a lover, a destroyer, a... Protector?"


    She stopped and cocked her head to the side. Could she really protect?


    "A protector or a destroyer?"


    Why not both?

 Chapter 39

    Andreas hadn¡¯t returned to the pack house that morning but the meeting at ten was still going to happen. Azura had taken Lucas to the town early on and now they were well on their way to the campus. They actually did manage to get some more sleep and she was glad they did. It would be a long day of meeting people. She had to fight the urge to see her foster parents when they had stopped in town, knowing she wouldn¡¯t have enough time to talk to them. It would have to wait till later.


    Azura never had spent much time in the village. She was either on campus or hanging around the pack house. From what she had seen now, the town hadn''t changed much. Cobblestone streets still adorned the town center that were a pain to drive on and on the sides stood small, old houses that seemed to come straight from the middle ages. Most of them didn''t though as they were rebuilt in the early 1900s after a devastating fire. It was all a bit modernized now but you could still get that old vibe when you walked or drove around. The facade was only for a couple of streets though. Behind it, they had chosen to build faster and more efficiently and the charm of the medieval village was soon gone. The road became regular tarmac and the town started to look like any other town built in the same time period.


    Some of the pack werewolves lived here, mixed with regular humans and a few other races like energy casters, other animal shifters, and even a vampire here and there. Some had attended college and stayed, others just moved in because of the friendly atmosphere. There was no hatred or jealousy between the races and most seemed to accept each other. All humans were aware of the supernaturals living here and they never seemed bothered with it. It was one of the few places in the country where this was possible and Azura knew Andreas was one of the people who made it happen. Technically, the college and town both were situated in the Greenwood pack¡¯s territory but Andreas had made them neutral ground yet still watched over them.


    The drive from town to college was short but went through some dense and thick forest so it gave you the feeling you were much further away from civilization than you actually were. Azura parked the car with the song Firestarter booming through the speakers. Lucas had put it on repeat since they left the town and had cranked up the volume till her ears were bleeding. It wasn¡¯t just the song but his singing along with it that had her driving at higher speeds than allowed to get to the college as fast as possible. The moment she turned the ignition off and the sound died off, she let out a big sigh of relief while he just chuckled.


    She looked out the front window to the familiar big red brick building. It looked like it came straight out of a European city. The architecture resembled a gothic revival with neo-tudor aspects. In front of the building was a big area of grass and centered across from the main gate was a big fountain with four griffins spewing water in all directions. The grand entrance had always seemed imposing to her and even now, years later, she still felt small next to it.


    With a big smile on her face, she quickly got out of the car and joined Lucas who¡¯d already slowly started walking towards the entrance while taking everything in. She quickly wrapped her arms around him, forcing him to stop walking as she pressed herself against his back.


    "Azu! what are you doing?" He laughed as he wrestled free from her grip.


    "You just looked so sexy from behind! Especially that ass. Couldn''t help myself." she giggled and planted a quick kiss on his lips before taking his hand.


    Being a Saturday, there wasn¡¯t much activity on the grounds. There were a couple of students hanging out but nothing compared to what it would be a weekday. Azura was glad there weren¡¯t too many people. Even though she could handle crowds better, being back for the first time had her nerves on a rampage and the Phoenix on edge too. She hid the coiling fires within her belly as much as possible as to not give Lucas a reason for concern.


    Every time she blinked, flashes of her younger, carefree self flashed before her eyes as memories replayed themselves in her head. The first time she had arrived at the college with her mother, young, uncertain about the whole supernatural world, and not knowing who she was. The first time seeing Nora and Floyd, kissing as if their lives depended on it. Azura had stared at them longer than was appropriate, her eyes drawn to the dark-skinned woman who didn¡¯t seem to notice her yet.


    They passed through the main building and found themselves in the courtyard; the heart of the campus. The whole area was built in circles; paths never going straight and the buildings surrounding it set in a larger circle around it. Even the benches had a slight curve to them.


    There were a few big oak trees that would provide some shade during summer. Azura smiled a bit as she remembered sitting beneath those trees. Sometimes alone, sometimes with Nora or Charlie or both. Even her old roommate had joined her there at times despite them not always being on good terms. It was also the spot where she had met Charlie for the first time and where they had shared their first kiss with the loud cheering of Nora in the background.


    As she looked around she came to the conclusion that nothing had changed. It was reassuring but also a bit strange to see that life here was ever-shifting and changing yet the courtyard and the feel of it still remained. Azura seemed to have forgotten about Lucas as the memories slowly flooded back to her. She wandered around until she stopped in the center of the courtyard staring at a solid black smooth monument. This was new and she had no idea how she had overlooked it when they had entered. It was almost three meters tall, pointing at the sky. The base of it was a square and towards the tip, the shape changed to that of a triangle. The only straight lines in the entire courtyard.


    It seemed to swallow up every bit of light that touched it. Azura let her fingers run over the smooth stone as she walked around it and stopped when her fingers trailed over engraved letters. They were a deep crimson red with a little bit of shine on them, making them sparkle and really set apart from the intense black of the pillar itself.


    ''From the ashes, they will be Reborn.''


    Underneath it, the first name she read was that of Nora. It felt like she was struck by a speeding truck as she stared at almost a hundred names written underneath. All in the same shimmering crimson red. All sounds around her seemed to disappear and she became completely unaware of her surroundings. A shiver ran down her spine as she read every name. She paused as she saw the name of her old roommate; Theresa. The daughter of the headmaster. She recognized more names, some of the Greenwood pack, others who studied or worked at the college.


    She was so engrossed in the monument she didn''t feel a thing when someone put his hand around her shoulder. She just kept reading as the tall slender man stood next to her, resting his hand on her shoulder. As Azura finally reached the end of the long list she became aware of the presence next to her. When he noticed she came out of her isolation he finally spoke up.


    "The perfect spot for a monument, don''t you think?"


    His soft, angelic voice and his touch were enough for her to know who it was. Azura smiled as she looked up at Professor Sloan. He hadn''t aged a bit since the last time she saw him. The almost silver eyes were still the most striking features of the druid. When you saw past those, the unnaturally long limbs and long angular face were the next things you¡¯d notice. He was a stately man, every movement made with purpose and grace and it was clear he held a lot of knowledge.


    He still wore the same type of silky suit as he always had. This time it was a dark green one and on the vest; light blue embroidery made for a shiny contrast. His glasses hadn¡¯t changed either; still the small round glasses only a certain group of people could look good in. She had to admit, he looked stunning as usual and perfect for a druid. He gave her a warm smile back as their eyes met.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "It''s hauntingly beautiful.¡± She replied. ¡°The colors are so intense and the design and placement here really make it stand out. It''s the only thing with corners in the entire courtyard. It''s perfect."


    Lucas walked up and joined them. She took his hand and gave it a little squeeze.


    "Did you two already meet?" Azura looked from one to the other.


    "Yeah. We already had an entire conversation while you were zoned out." Lucas winked at her and squeezed her hand in return.


    She pressed her lips together in a fine line trying to keep her mouth shut and not make a remark she would later regret but she failed in hiding the smile that involuntarily crept on her face.


    "Why don''t we go to the library and my office. Andreas will meet us there." Sloan tactfully ignored their little moment and took a few steps towards the library. Lucas followed but Azura stayed as she took a glance at the time. It was still another thirty minutes before Andreas would come.


    "Do you guys mind if I''ll join you a bit later? I would like to stay here for a while longer." As Lucas wanted to speak up she hastily added. "Alone... If you don''t mind."


    Lucas closed his mouth again and gave her a nod. Professor Sloan did the same and they both left. Azura watched as they both disappeared from the courtyard before she moved towards one of the big trees. With a big sigh, she sat down next to it leaning her back against the bark. She loved the feel of the grass beneath her hands and the smell really took her back to the time she lay down here with Nora during the same time of year. She could almost feel her fingers entwine with Nora''s.


    *


    "If we keep doing this, people might think we''re dating each other," Azura said with a smile. She gazed at the young vibrant woman next to her and gently trailed her fingers along Nora''s hand and arm. Nora chuckled and sat straight up, retrieving her hand from underneath Azura''s.


    "I could also just kiss you and get this whole thing over with. Then people don''t have to speculate." She licked her lips seductively and burst out laughing as she saw the stunned look on Azura''s face.


    "No way! Floyd would kill me if he found out! Besides, since when are you the one making these kinds of remarks? I''m the single one over here. I''m supposed to be the one to make dirty comments and tempt you into doing things you will regret. Not the other way around." Azura sat up as well and stared at her phone for a moment before she looked up again.


    "Important message?" Nora looked at her questioningly.


    "No, just Floyd messaging me to stay the hell away from you - the usual. It¡¯s as if he¡¯s got eyes in the back of his head." Azura stuck her tongue out at Nora and looked over the courtyard until her gaze seemed to linger on a guy who faced away from them. He casually ran his hand through his long, dark hair as he was talking to someone else. He wore a pair of dark blue jeans which made her almost drool by the way it fit him perfectly. Nora waved her hand in front of Azura''s face as she had stopped responding to her.


    "Earth to Azu! Why are you staring at his fine ass like that? He''s got a good one for sure, but he''s human. Come on, no fun in that." Azura chuckled as Nora diverted her attention away from the olive-skinned guy.


    "What''s wrong with a human? You''re a werewolf and I would still kiss you if you were single. And that says something coming from a cat! But just look at him... Have you ever seen such a fine-looking ass and back? Even from here, I can tell that guy is sex on legs!"


    "Hold up... You would actually kiss me if I was single?" Nora wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.


    "Yeah without a moment''s hesitation, but you''re too late now. I got my eyes on that dude over there. You''ve had your chance you know."


    Azura looked back at the guy on the other side of the courtyard. It appeared he was done talking to his friend as he¡¯d turned around and was walking towards them. He wasn¡¯t just good-looking from the back, but from the front as well. He passed her bar with flying colors. He wasn''t particularly buff, but the overall shape of his body was something she could swoon over. His long, dark brown hair reached over his chest, the front bangs tied to the back to keep it out of his face. He seemed to be a distant relative to Native-Americans with his high cheekbones and light brown eyes.


    "Prove it, Azu. I dare you to go up to him and just kiss him." Azura snapped her head back at Nora.


    "What?! Are you insane! I don''t even know him!" She tried to keep her volume in check but it was hard with that ridiculous dare.


    "Just go already! Before he¡¯s gone!"


    Azura gave Nora a friendly push against her shoulder but got up nonetheless. A dare was a dare and between the two of them, it was not something to be ignored. It was like a command that neither of them could ignore and if one of them did, the other would make their life hell for one day. It was a joke between the two and dares were not often vocalized so if one of them did, they knew it was about to go down. The upside was; if a dare was completed, the one who had received the dare was allowed to get revenge for one hour whenever she wanted.


    Azura had made Nora climb up the highest tree she could find once when they just started the game. The werewolf hated heights but in that hour, she was to do what Azura wanted. The price to pay for issuing a dare. The first time Azura had issued a dare to Nora, she lost and Nora had her shift in her snow leopard and swim in the lake for an hour. Some big cats didn¡¯t mind water or swimming but Azura hated it. Nora had often joked she was more like a house cat than a big predator.


    The moment Azura got up she briefly made eye contact with the guy who was almost near them. She felt her cheeks blush slightly and hoped it wasn¡¯t too visible. Nora just waved her off with a wide grin and Azura mustered up all the courage she had and walked straight to the human she had shamelessly ogled before. There was only one way out of this, and that was to act like she would do the dare and then switch colleges and never return here again because of Nora''s wrath that would doom her. The woman had grown quite vicious since those first innocent few dares.


    "Hi." Azura stared up at him and immediately forgot what else she wanted to say.


    His light brown eyes examined her closely and all she wanted to do was drown in them which she was doing right now... Azura gave herself a mental kick in the ass and smiled at him before continuing.


    "I''m sorry about this, but please play along? This is not something I do often..." Before he could answer, Azura placed her lips on his and kissed him. She surprised herself as much as she surprised him. She just decided she would not do this, and now all of a sudden she was glued to his face! To her great surprise he at first froze but then actually started moving his lips against hers. A little bit shocked, she was the one who froze but as he placed his hands around her waist she seemed to forget about everything else and just went with it. He was a great kisser for sure. There was no tongue involved just yet, but she could tell that would make it even more amazing.


    When they finally broke apart Nora gave them a standing ovation making Azura realize what she had just done. She felt her face redden as the guy started to laugh. She tried to find the words to say next but her mind would not cooperate with her. Luckily he could still talk.


    "Normally, I''d start with introductions before kissing someone but who am I to complain." He took a step back and extended his hand to her. Azura awkwardly took it, trying to keep herself from laughing out of pure embarrassment.


    "Name''s Charlie. And the wonderful kisser is?"


    "Azura," She managed to say her name without stammering. Inside she jumped up and down with joy. Besides a good kisser, he seemed to have a good sense of humor. "I''m so sorry... It''s just that... Well, it was a dare? I think?"


    "A dare?¡± Those gorgeous eyes took all of her in. ¡±What if we make it a date? Just one letter difference." Oh, he was smooth. Azura was gawking like an idiot at Charlie who was enjoying himself tremendously. He took out his phone and opened his contacts folder. He then handed it to her and Azura took it, staring at it, unsure what to do.


    "It¡¯s called a phone,¡± He teased. ¡±You type in your name and number. That way I can reach you to set a time and day for the date." He pointed down at his phone and Azura looked back up at him, finally able to think straight.


    "Who says I want to go out on a date?" She fiddled with his phone in her hands unsure what to do.


    "I was hoping you would. It''s not every day I get kissed by a total stranger who happens to be a good-looking woman. I would actually like to get to know her a little better. It''s up to you though. If you give me your number, I''ll take it as a yes, if you don''t, no hard feelings."


    She looked at his phone and seemed to doubt for a moment before making a decision. Hell, she had the guts to kiss him and he seemed like a nice guy so why not. She entered her number and returned his phone.

 Chapter 40

    Azura had entered the office at ten AM sharp with Lucas and Professor Sloan already there. Andreas showed up a little later, much to the dismay of Sloan, and it didn''t take long for them to go from general small talk to the real deal.


    The time she had spent alone in the courtyard had felt good and she was glad both Lucas and the Professor had not made a big deal out of it. The memories had washed over and overwhelmed her and if either of them had stayed or forced her to go along, she would have broken down. Being with Lucas had lessened the pain of losing Charlie but he was still an important part of her life and she couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty at times.


    She¡¯d just finished telling about the fight she and Nora had with the Phoenix. It was actually the first time she had shared it with anyone in so much detail aside from Lucas. She would always skip over the details but now she felt the need to talk about it. Partly because it was important for what was to follow.


    There was a reason she was barely affected by the flames of the Phoenix during the fight. Yes, they had hurt and felt like they were burning her alive, but when she had woken up, she barely had a burn on her. Even though nobody had asked her how or why, she knew she owed them answers. Answers she hadn¡¯t known herself till a few weeks ago.


    It felt good to share what had happened even though it was still a difficult thing to talk about. Azura had to pause several times during her story, especially when she came to the part where Nora had lost her grip on the Phoenix and eventually was killed by it. She could still see her close friend being thrown off, the tail of the Phoenix swatting her like a fly and burning her to death. Azura could still see the fear in Nora''s eyes as she lost her grip on the Phoenix''s body.


    "So Nora died and the Phoenix died." She let a short silence fall to make sure the rest was still with her. "I killed the Phoenix but the Phoenix also killed me."


    As Azura spoke the words out loud she closed her eyes and relieved that last moment herself. She was thrown off the Phoenix as well after she had bitten down on its weak spot with all her might. It had actually killed the Phoenix, but she had been killed somewhere as she fell from it as well and she could simply not remember how it had happened no matter how hard she tried. It was one of the things that still bothered her but the Phoenix had never answered that question. She could only guess if it was the impact of her hitting the ground, or that the connection between her and the Phoenix made sure she perished at the same moment the Phoenix did.


    "Wait, what?! You were killed?" She¡¯d certainly gotten Andreas''s attention. He leaned forward, sitting on the edge of his seat staring at her in disbelief.


    "Yes. It''ll be explained in a moment."


    Azura turned to Professor Sloan after shaking the thought of her death out of her head.


    "Now things get complicated and we could use your knowledge. You probably know that a Phoenix can''t be killed. It will always resurrect." Professor Sloan nodded.


    "Yes, it does. Back then I didn''t want to tell you guys that because normally it takes up to a couple of centuries for that to happen. It had been over 300 years since the last Phoenix and this one and before that one, there was an even longer time span. Based on history, I made the calculation the same would happen again and did not want to burden you with this information as it would add nothing of importance."


    "Well, what happened in the past doesn''t mean the same thing happened now." Azura leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees. "The Phoenix resurrected within minutes this time."


    "That would be impossible. The Phoenix would not be strong enough. It needs time to regain its strength to be reborn. A lot of time. That''s why there are always such big gaps between the resurrections." Professor Sloan objected straight away.


    For the first time, Azura saw a druid looking rather puzzled. They held the knowledge of the world, knew everything for hundreds of years. They were walking encyclopedias but for once, she had baffled one. Andreas seemed lost in thoughts but suddenly looked up as if he had connected some of the dots.


    "You say you died. Yet, when Floyd and I found you and Nora, you were breathing. Although barely alive, you were alive. It took us a matter of minutes to reach you guys after the Phoenix went down. Are you implying you were reborn together with the Phoenix?"


    "Yes. Well... Actually, I''m not implying it. It¡¯s exactly what happened." Azura licked her lips and gave them all a nervous smile. She felt the Phoenix inside her stirring. It was a reassuring feeling and she knew she was doing the right thing by letting Andreas and Professor Sloan know.


    Lucas took over giving her a little breather. She gladly let him and leaned back for a moment.


    "I first noticed during her nightmares that her skin got hot. She actually burned me in an accident once and the Phoenix spoke to me through the nightmare. At the time I did not know what it was though. It took us a while to figure out what was going on, and after we did, it took even longer for Azura to accept it."


    The heat inside her started stirring more but she had to push it down a little harder. She would show them, just not right now.


    "She showed her ''fused'' form during a fight. After that, there was no doubt left. Azura has a Phoenix inside her and it''s part of her." Lucas finished talking and Azura looked back up at Andreas and Professor Sloan.


    She could feel her heart beating faster than normal. Her fists were clenched together awaiting what they would say. Would they be able to accept it even though the creature inside of her had killed so many they knew? It remained quiet for a while as the lanky druid resorted to his books. He furiously skipped through them and threw them to the side one by one until none were left. When he was done, everyone just stared at him and the Alpha was even grinning as he saw the druid become more and more frantic. Professor Sloan just shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh.


    "What do you mean by ''fused'' form exactly? I have not heard about anything like this before and can''t find anything in the books."


    "It''s when I shift into my snow leopard and then basically grow a second flaming skin with gigantic wings. I become one with the Phoenix and it makes me a whole lot more powerful." She smiled as she looked at her fingers where a tiny flame danced around. Andreas and professor Sloan both stared at her with wide eyes.


    "So what if you''re saying is true," Sloan watched the flame intently until Azura stopped playing with it and the little spark of light went out. "New history is being written right now. There''s just one thing that concerns me. Phoenixes were always made to destroy. It was why you were meant to kill it with Nora. They bring destruction, fire, and death." He was almost scolding. Something he never had done before.


    "It has a plan! It knows the future, it has a goal! It was meant to be killed by Nora and I. It was meant to pick one of us to continue." Azura interrupted him, becoming a little more defensive.


    "And what exactly is that plan, Azura?!" Sloan snapped at her.


    He was supposed to be the calm and cool one. He was supposed to help her understand but now his sudden outburst caught her by surprise and for a moment she was at a loss for words as she asked herself that same question. The only answer she had was one that would prove him right even though she had no idea what it entailed.


    I know my goal and purpose, but the way there can vary. I''m just making sure we get there. I''ve seen millions of possible ways to reach it but your choices define the path. You know the outcome though.


    Azura flinched as the Phoenix spoke to her. It had remained silent for a long time and had only spoken to her through dreams lately. To hear it live again in her head felt strange but she also welcomed it. It made her feel a little stronger even though she knew she had to tell Andreas and Professor Sloan the only thing she knew. To admit it made her stomach turn as if she was betraying them. She was no monster, she would not become the monster.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "To set the world on fire..." The words left her lips softly and quietly and she refused to look up knowing all too well what impact her words had.


    She dug her nails in the palm of her hands, the pain distracting her from what was going on around her. She felt them slip away on her clammy skin and as she stared at her hands she noticed the veins were clearly visible on top of her hands. Her head was pounding and it seemed like forever before anyone talked. Every second felt like a lifetime until she felt the cool hand of Lucas taking her own. It made her breathing easier, and her uneasiness wither a little.


    "Sloan, this is all new to us. We don''t know what it means yet so we mustn''t jump to conclusions. Maybe you can contact other druids, ask around if anyone has ever heard of something like this. This is Azura we''re talking about and she seems perfectly in control. I don''t believe she will destroy the world. Besides, have you seen the place where the Phoenix attacked and burned down everything? It''s beaming with life."


    Hearing Andreas taking her side made Azura look up again. The knot in her stomach eased a bit. It had an effect on the professor as well. He seemed to calm down and cleared his throat.


    "I''m sorry. You''re right, Andreas. This whole situation just goes against everything I know about the subject at hand. I guess there is still much to learn. I will consult with others who might know some more about this. For now, Azura, do you think it''s possible to see the Phoenix? You have piqued my curiosity."


    We can. Just this time, we don''t shift to a snow leopard first.


    "I can show you guys. The Phoenix wants to as well. But not here and first I need to know what happened last night." She shifted in the chair and started fiddling her fingers. Andreas glanced at Lucas and Sloan and turned back to Azura.


    "You are much stronger than you think, Azura. With werewolves, Alpha''s have a standard level of authority higher than any of the other pack members. The Alpha uses this authority by letting out a surge of power to make other pack members or outsiders submit to them. This is not news to you as I''ve taught you this before and also how to harness your own. Everyone has a certain amount of power and you can also bluff your way through if needed. When you told me at dinner about the three patrollers of the Red Dawn pack I thought you had bluffed your way through as you¡¯ve never had so much power being a snow leopard, but last night I was proven wrong and it caught me off guard. We were subconsciously having a power battle. My wolf reacted to your authority so I let out some of my power and you did the same. It must have been quite uncomfortable for Lucas to get assaulted from both sides like that."


    The eldery Alpha patted Lucas on the shoulder and flashed a smile at Azura.


    "He held up better than I would have expected. Just a small look of discomfort on his face but he wasn''t crawling on the floor."


    "It was close though." Lucas grinned and took Azura''s hand. "I have noticed it since you fully accepted Phoenix as part of you. At first, I thought you were aware of it yourself but I guess not."


    "Alright... If what you guys are saying is true, then how come my ''authority'' is affecting werewolves? I''m not one of you guys and you never affected me in any way, Andreas." She was happy the subject of conversation had shifted away from the Phoenix although this topic was just as tricky to navigate.


    Professor Sloan cleared his throat making them all turn to him. He had been remarkably quiet since his outburst earlier but now finally spoke up.


    "All shifters share a common ancestor. Even though you guys are different species, the basics are still the same. Lucas was affected by Andreas even though you weren''t, Azura. I think the reason you never experienced the urge to submit to Andreas is that you already harbored the authority or power within you. It''s just now coming to the surface. You might have the same amount of power as Andreas... You might even have more now that you have the Phoenix."


    Any sign of his earlier outburst was gone. It was as if he had let the information sink in and now you could practically hear his brain grinding every tidbit of information on the various subjects together to form a new theory.


    "This is a first I''ve ever heard of a Phoenix fusing with another species, but seeing as how powerful Phoenixes are, I might just say you could be more powerful than anyone else. You need to be careful, Azura, if you display too much you will quickly be seen as a threat. Keep it inside and only show it when needed."


    I would listen to him if I were you. We are the strongest out there, but you need to grow some more before I fully let you feel it. I always told you we had a world to set on fire.


    Azura retracted her hand from Lucas as she felt her head twitch to the side. A grimace flashed across her face as the Phoenix spoke to her again more violently. She hated it when it did that and somewhere in her mind, a small alarm bell was going off.


    "Lovely." Azura''s voice was drenched in sarcasm as she responded to both the Phoenix and her former teacher. "When I was little and anyone would ask me what I would want to be when I would grow up, it most certainly would not be a werecat fusion with a Phoenix and turning out to be the most powerful being alive. But lucky for you guys, the Phoenix is not letting me have all of its power...yet... What the hell am I supposed to do with it? I already learned everything that happens has its reasons, so me gaining this power probably has its reasons as well but why me?!"


    "You''re meant to make the world burn, remember?" Lucas winked at her unaware the Phoenix had told her the same thing.


    He''s truly a smart one isn''t he? That''s why I liked him from the start. Just tell him he''ll be part of it as well. After this, we need to show them.


    "Oh shut up. You''re just as involved as I am." She sneered right back at him and quickly got up to pace around the office trying to ease her restlessness. "Besides, I have a Phoenix talking to me in my head right now and it thinks you''re the smart one. If I can''t rely on that big bird anymore, who can I rely on?!" Sarcasm still dripped over every word coming from her mouth and she had a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips but she knew it was only hiding her true feelings.


    Her skin was crawling and she rubbed her eyes out of irritation. Andreas silently got up and stopped her pacing by taking a hold on her shoulders and pulling her in for a short fatherly hug. When he let her go she straightened herself and took a deep breath. Now was not the time to start freaking out.


    "Maybe I should postpone stepping down as an Alpha." Azura''s jaw almost hit the floor as Andreas casually kept on talking. "I''ve got the feeling that you might need my help one day."


    Another smart man. We will need him one day. So much to do before you''re ready. We need to show them first though.


    "Stepping down as an Alpha?! But why? And who would become Alpha? You don''t have any children or anyone appointed as sub-Alpha."


    "I''m not stepping down yet, Azura. As to who will become Alpha, that is up to the pack. It will be one of the Beta''s but the pack will have the final choice. But that''s something to discuss another time. It won''t happen for a while though so you don''t have to worry about anything."


    We need to show them. Quit stalling!


    The Phoenix¡¯s voice got louder as it suddenly got quite demanding. It made her snap her head to the left in a short but violent twitch. She clutched her head and rubbed her temple to ease the pressure. The heat that had been building inside of her during the whole conversation seemed to triple almost instantaneously. It wanted to come out and it wanted to do so in such a violent and sudden force it felt like being stung by a needle a thousand times. Her hands started shaking and she felt the muscle in her eyelid start to twitch. It was getting harder to breathe again. Excess saliva was forming in her mouth and she was losing all contact with reality as the Phoenix started to push without giving her a chance to catch up.


    Azura was no longer aware of her surroundings as she suddenly had to fight an internal battle that had caught her completely off guard. She had clenched her fists together, her nails once again digging into the palm of her hand leaving deep imprints. Her knuckles turned white as she contracted all her muscles together. It was actually starting to hurt. Azura felt as if her skin was on fire. As if the flames were just underneath, trying to burn their way through. It was a sensation she had not felt before and it was quickly becoming one of the most painful things she had experienced. She gritted her teeth together to prevent herself from losing control and shouting out. She was in Professor Sloan''s office, she couldn¡¯t let the Phoenix out here. It would burn the whole place down.


    She stumbled and had to hold herself up by grabbing hold of the wall. After counting to ten to distract herself from the pain the Phoenix was giving her, Azura opened her eyes to find three people staring at her of which two seemed almost terrified. Lucas just seemed extremely worried, but neither one of them had even remotely come close to her or tried to touch her. She glared at all three of them and she noticed Professor Sloan actually stepping back as her pained gaze met his.


    "Azura... Your eyes!" Andreas gasped as he saw the fiery red eyes dart around between them as if they were scanning for the next prey.


    "Outside...Now!" Azura managed to hiss through her teeth and it seemed to work.


    Lucas seemed to snap out of his worried but frozen state and lunged forward grabbing her wrist and dragging her out of the office. Maybe it was her, maybe it was the Phoenix that decided not to burn him. She knew her skin had to be scorching hot but Lucas didn¡¯t appear to feel it while Azura didn¡¯t seem to feel the difference whether she was controlling it or the Phoenix. Her mind was partially her own still, but her body was quickly losing control. She started shaking more violently as Lucas dragged her through the hallways to the nearest exit with Andreas and Professor Sloan following behind.

 Chapter 41

    The more she pushed back against the Phoenix, the harder it fought her. Its fire scorched her from the inside as she felt herself being dragged along by Lucas. Andreas and Sloan were probably on their tails judging by the talking and shouting but the words didn¡¯t register in her mind. All her senses were dulled as she focused every bit of energy in her body to keep the Phoenix at bay. The raw, brutal power roared inside her and she wasn¡¯t sure how much longer she could hold it back.


    As she stumbled behind Lucas, she¡¯d lost all sense of direction. She saw his form in front of her but no details except for faint golden sparks and lines fading in and out of existence. The rest of the area passed by like a blur. Suddenly, the only thing she felt was the cool air and wind caressing her skin, soothing but it was like a drop of water on a forest fire. The Phoenix kept pushing to come out and Azura could swear the flames were breaking her skin by now. By the rough push she received on her back she concluded she was probably right.


    "Stop fighting it and shift, Azura!" It had to be Lucas who shouted at her and his words broke her last resistance. How she was able to hear these words and not the rest was a mystery to her.


    The push came so sudden, Azura couldn¡¯t react properly. One foot before the other before she tripped and fell to the ground; managing to catch herself on her hands. It was the final jolt that broke her restraint. Pain flared as muscles ripped themselves apart, bones broke and realigned themselves.


    Her arms and knees caved and Azura fell on her side screaming as huge tremors took over her body. Her limbs were pulled out of their sockets, arms yanked back as the fire erupted all over her skin. Clothes went up in ashes as her skin blackened and peeled itself off her body. Azura screamed till her voice no longer could, and tears no longer trail from her eyes.


    The flames broke free, engulfing her into their fickle fingers, and lifted her up. Azura¡¯s head snapped backward, further than was humanly possible, and a loud screech erupted from her throat. Where her mouth used to be, a beak covered in fire started forming.


    The transformation felt so unreal and unnatural to her. Every shift, crack and change hurt. She wanted to scream out in pure agony but she no longer felt the connection. The pain was in her mind, the body no longer hers yet the pain was still very real. What seemed to take forever, lasted for a couple of minutes. Her wings flapped alongside her body, her legs and feet had shifted into powerful talons. A tail with long separate tail feathers swooped from side to side.


    Before the three men flew a Phoenix. Smaller than the original one, but very much alive.


    It was different than when she had fused with the flaming entity. In her fight with Nathan, the Phoenix had given her its power which she had embraced. Now, the Phoenix was in control but their minds had mended together. She could see through the beaded, glassy eyes... Her eyes. A new sense of purpose had set itself in her head. Her own worries, anxiety, and sorrow were a side issue and she wondered how it ever had been so big that it ruled her life.


    New sights and smells assaulted her as she viewed the world through the eyes of the legendary bird. Threads of light danced before her, connecting the living things together, almost singing in tune. They flashed a bright golden when someone or something moved. It was as if she was transcended.


    All life is connected by the world¡¯s essence. All that inhabit your world are too inferior to see it but it¡¯s what keeps you alive.


    She needed no more explanation. Everything made sense as all the knowledge the Phoenix held had melted with hers.


    Azura and the Entity looked down at the men before her. Slowly she felt the Phoenix giving her control of its body. The movements were so different from what she was used to, the men beneath her would probably notice the sudden jerkiness. Luckily, the majority of the pain had subsided, but every slow flap to keep her hovering hurt as she used the muscles of a body she was completely unfamiliar with. She wouldn''t last long, that much was clear.


    It was kind of amusing to watch the three of them stare at her in awe and fear, so Azura tried to hold on to this new shifter form. She watched in curiosity as Lucas stepped forward. The gold lines jumped from him, sparks all around his body but around his arm, they intensified. Azura cocked her bird head sideways as she could see the contours of the feather mark through his clothing and before she could wonder about it, it all became clear.


    Stepping forward, he was scared but she observed his worry too. "Azura? If it''s you right now, could you give us a sign?"


    She could do that. They could do that. She planned to set herself on the ground. As she focused on the slow beating of her wings and placement of her talons she missed the person who emerged from the building.


    "That''s Azura?! She is the fucking Phoenix?!"


    Floyd came rushing towards her, pure hatred in his eyes. As Azura snapped her head towards him, she lost her control and balance. The internal balance between her and the Phoenix shattered, separating them mentally while she was leading its body. Forgetting her arms were no longer arms but wings, and her legs no longer legs, she acted as if she were protecting herself as a human.


    The Phoenix tried taking control over her body but she felt that it was completely exhausted as well and not capable of correcting her, let alone take over its own body. The graceful hovering was finished as they crashed to the ground, exhaustion taking over as their energy completely drained, forcing Azura to start the shift back right as the flaming bird crashed to the ground.


    *


    Lucas carefully dabbed at her head with a cold, damp towel. Her skin was still burning up and every time he opened her eyelids, her eyes were still that flaming red color. Her breathing was steady and strong but she¡¯d shown no signs of waking up anytime soon. He carefully caressed her face, placing a kiss on her forehead before a knock on the door made him pull away from her. Professor Sloan entered the room as Lucas opened the door.


    "How is she doing?" Sloan''s gaze lingered on the pale complexion of Azura.


    "Still burning up and her eyes still haven''t returned to normal. They normally take some time to do that though so I''m not overly worried about that. Has Andreas returned yet?" Lucas sat back on the bed next to Azura while the Professor kept standing.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "No. I think he has his hands full with Floyd still."


    Lucas shuddered at the memory of what had transpired. The Azura-Phoenix had crashed while in the process of shifting back. Her head had hit the ground hard while Floyd was in mid-shift and about to attack. He had never seen two werewolves fight before, let alone an Alpha fighting a Beta and forcing him into submission. Professor Sloan and himself had gotten Azura away from there as soon as they could while they left the gigantic gray wolf that was Andreas to deal with Floyd.


    Sloan walked closer to the bed while studying Azura closely. He also opened one of her eyes momentarily to take a closer look at her iris.


    "You''re thinking we should kill her aren''t you?" Lucas calmly said the words making Sloan turn towards him.


    "Can''t say the thought hadn''t crossed my mind but that''s not the way to deal with this. We find ourselves in unknown territory but killing her would bring us nothing. She is still Azura and not a Phoenix on a rampage."


    "I was hoping you would say that." Lucas had placed his hand on Azura''s legs, slowly stroking on top of the blankets.


    "This was her first time shifting into the Phoenix right?" Sloan closed her eye again and started pacing around the room.


    "Yes. Before, it looked more like she had fused with it. Only that happened when she was in her snow leopard form. Now it was a true shift... A forced and a rather painful one by the looks of it."


    "Do you think the Phoenix is getting stronger? Azura said something about it talking to her. If it''s truly a self-sustaining identity within her and forced itself to come out like this I am worried for what''s to come."


    "It''s getting stronger alright, but I truly don''t think it''s as evil as you perhaps think it is. I could tell Azura was back in control as soon as the shift was finished. Had Floyd not interrupted, she would have proven it."


    Sloan started pacing around the room again instead of replying to Lucas. He adjusted his glasses several times as he seemed lost in thought. Lucas dipped another small towel into the cold water and gently wiped Azura''s forehead again. She shifted slightly as the cool damp cloth touched her skin. A small smile appeared on Lucas''s face knowing she wouldn''t be out for much longer.


    "Sloan, she''ll be fine."


    The Druid stopped his pacing and faced Lucas.


    "Excuse me?"


    "She''ll be fine. I know you''re worried about her but she''s strong. The Phoenix has asked her to trust it; now I ask you to do the same. Trust her."


    Professor Sloan gave him a small nod after taking one last glance at Azura.


    "I''m a practical man. I trust numbers, facts, and proven statements. That being said, I''ve had to put my trust in her and Nora both once before and that worked out fine, so she has my trust. Always has."


    Lucas gave him a relieved smile before the older man went back out. The snow leopard shifter turned back to Azura who was still passed out and laid down next to her, his arm protectively around her.


    *


    Every muscle in her body ached and hurt. It felt like she had been torn apart and put back together piece by piece. Azura carefully opened her eyes and it took her a moment to be able to focus properly. Besides the body discomfort, it felt like her brain had expanded and been pushed back into a space too small for it. The enlightenment she had experienced while seeing in the Phoenix¡¯s mind was mind-blowing but the clarity it had given her was something she couldn¡¯t reach now. Connecting the dots seemed impossible as she tried to figure out what exactly she had seen and felt.


    She stared at the white ceiling while trying to move every finger and toe before even trying to look around. She felt the weight at her chest; the blanket touching her very naked skin, and the warm air against her neck every few seconds or so. When she was convinced everything still was in working order, Azura slowly moved her head from side to side but stopped as she looked at a tuft of brown hair partially resting on her chest. She started to wiggle a bit, trying to lose the weight of his head and arm on her chest. He groaned and groggily looked up as Azura moved and tried to sit up.


    "Morning, Firestarter. Welcome back." Lucas turned away from her and coughed, getting rid of the itch in his throat. As he turned back Azura had set herself upright and flashed him a small, uncomfortable smile.


    "I passed out naked again, didn''t I?" She pulled the blankets up to her chin.


    "Yes, you did." He chuckled slightly and kissed her forehead. "You still have the red eyes. Do you remember what happened?"


    "Every single bit of it... Sadly... It hurt like hell. The Phoenix started pushing without warning. I knew it wanted to show them, but not like this. And then the... " She stopped as she could not find the right words to describe her feelings. ¡°I just feel ripped apart. Mentally and physically. As if my body and mind are not my own.¡±


    She felt remarkably alert and awake despite having just woken up from being unconscious. By now she¡¯d had enough experience with it to know this was quite rare. A fact she didn¡¯t know was rather good or bad. Her body was another matter though. She moved her arms from side to side slowly; they still felt like they were protruding more from her back as wings instead of her sides as arms.


    "It feels like every part of my body is in the wrong place. I still feel like I have the body of the Phoenix but when I was the Phoenix it felt awkward and strange. Being a snow leopard is second nature but this is something completely different. I was trying to land safely on the ground when you asked me to give you a sign but Floyd threw off my concentration so I lost control. The Phoenix did give me full rein as soon as the shift was complete...It was a test run for it as much as it was for me." She purposely left out the part about the one thing she herself couldn¡¯t comprehend.


    "Is it something you wish to try again anytime soon?"


    Azura remained silent for a moment. She felt the Phoenix inside but it remained quiet. It wasn''t as strong as a presence as it normally was and she thought it probably had used up more energy than it could muster for the forced shift.


    "No. Absolutely not. It''s not strong enough yet and neither am I. It was a test, a try-out, and we both learned a great deal from it."


    "You know, Azu, sometimes it feels like I''m dating not one, but two people...or beings...or sentients...." He teased her a little until she grabbed her pillow and threw it in his face.


    "Next time it won¡¯t be a pillow, Baby Spice! You better behave." Azura threw the blankets to the side and got out of bed. She grabbed her suitcase and searched for some clothes to put on.


    "Oh, on a more serious note, where¡¯s Floyd?" She stopped searching to put on some underwear.


    "Andreas got to him before he could do anything. I haven''t seen him or Floyd yet. I was here the whole time waiting for you to wake up and talking to Sloan when he was here."


    "Shit...where are my bras?" She turned her attention back to the suitcase and it appeared like she hadn¡¯t heard him. "Floyd will come around by the way. It just takes time."


    "Time? He still hasn''t got past the fact you had a blood-bond with Nora. Now he thinks you are the Phoenix - thus has a legitimate reason to blame you for her death and you think he''ll come around?" Lucas had crossed his arms as he was talking.


    "Crap! Did all my clothes get burned when I shifted? I was wearing my favorite pair of jeans." Annoyance rose in her voice as she refused to answer him.


    He nodded with a goofy grin on his face as she grabbed the last piece of clothing from the suitcase almost naked. When she got everything she needed she got dressed and headed to the door. Before she got there though, Lucas had gotten up and had taken her arm to stop her from leaving.


    "What do you think you''re doing? You just woke up. You should be resting."


    Azura smiled at him and placed her hand on top of his.


    "My body and mind are aching for a run. It feels so foreign and I need to shake it off, ground myself. You''re coming with me by the way. No excuses."

 Chapter 42

    The smaller, whiter snow leopard nudged the much larger one and curled her tail across his back. While her coat was white with grey and black rosettes, his had a yellowish undertone to it. He turned his head towards her and placed his forehead against hers, emitting a low purr from deep inside his body. The vibrations carried through into hers and automatically she started to purr in sync with him.


    Vibrant red-colored eyes remained instead of her usual blue as she rubbed her side against his until she felt their purrs die down. With her rough tongue, she started grooming around his face, playfully nipping at his furry ears in between. The male snow leopard just let it happen, enjoying the moment together in this form. Engaged in their own world, they missed the Alpha of the Greenwood pack walking towards them, followed by a woman half his age.


    "Azura, it¡¯s good to see you up." Both leopards'' heads snapped to Andreas in surprise. "I can already tell having a discussion with you about what you''re doing won''t change a thing so I''ll just comment on the sheer difference between you two, give you a warning, and be off."


    Andreas smiled as he slowly scratched between Azura''s ears. The woman remained behind, watching them from a safe distance.


    The female shifter reached to between his knees and hips; close to sixty centimeters at shoulder height. It was the average size for a snow leopard. Lucas, on the other hand, was a whole lot taller, reaching well up to Andreas'' stomach. The only thing average about him was the color of his eyes. They resembled the natural eye color of snow leopards while hers were normally a bright blue.


    ¡°You should be resting, Azura. Not going out for a run.¡± The imposing man lowered down to his hunches and started scratching underneath Azura¡¯s chin. She emitted an approving purr in response. Not knowing how Lucas would react to petting, Andreas made sure not to touch him while still keeping half an eye on him.


    The Alpha was well aware of the fact Azura was instinct-driven; close to nature but he knew her well enough to know she also still retained enough humanity to think straight. With Lucas, he wasn¡¯t so sure yet. He reminded him more of the werewolves - bigger than their natural cousins but much more human. The animal instincts were almost gone but without knowing for sure he wouldn¡¯t take the risk.


    "I would like to know about why you two are so different but we can save that for a later time. You''ll owe me that one.¡± He got back up and took a few steps back. ¡°I do want to give you a little warning about Floyd though. He''s calmed down, but do try to avoid him for now. He''s unpredictable at the moment. With that being said, have fun, kiddos." Azura growled at him but Andreas didn''t seem to mind. He turned back to the woman as he retracted his hand from Azura. "Reyna, we''d better continue our duties."


    Reyna nodded and waited for Andreas to join her before they took off. Without looking back Azura took off as well. She sprinted into the forest not waiting for Lucas to join her. She weaved herself past the tall trees; the wind in her fur, and enjoyed the smells that were so familiar to her. It felt good to be back in Greenwood. She knew the territory by heart and it was exciting to be back.


    As she ran, she focused on the feeling of her body. Every muscle that stretched and contracted, every breath that would expand her chest, and every exhale through her nose. Her whiskers and ears pointed forward. Her paws felt like her own again, her tail followed her every movement. She was back in control.


    Azura swiveled her ears backward as they picked up the sounds of another set of paws hitting the ground behind her, so she sped up. For someone who rarely shifted, he was fast. Being silent was not his forte but no one excelled in everything. It was the second time she saw him like this but the first time she was too badly injured to actually pay attention. Not knowing when they would spend time like this in a relaxed manner again, Azura vowed to make it last and enjoy it as much as possible. Despite that, she kept up her speed, using her smaller size to sprint through the bushes while Lucas had to go around.


    The scent of the forest became more intense and the sounds of civilization around them slowly died down. Azura glanced up at the sky while running and noticed grey clouds were rolling in. The smell of rain in the air. Whenever the sky turned grey, it was as if the true colors of the forest came to life. The green seemed more vibrant as the browns and greys of the trees and ground seemed to darken. The tiny yellow flowers that bloomed on the ground looked like they were reflecting any light they caught. It made for an eerie but beautiful sight. Though she loved the almost eternal snow in Pleyvale, Greenwoods¡¯ forests would always have a special place in her heart.


    She slowed down a little as she came closer to her destination. The first drops of rain started to fall from the sky but her fur was thick enough to keep it away from her skin. Lucas was still following, it wasn''t hard to miss. He was anything but subtle. Azura tried to make as little noise as possible as she ran, keeping herself light-footed and agile. It was common sense to her, it happened automatically. If she were to stumble upon prey, she would still have a chance to catch it. With Lucas behind her, that was a no-go. He was so much bigger and heavier than her.


    He crashed through the bushes instead of weaving his way through. He hit the ground with such force she could hear the tremble it caused. She felt the tremors in the ground of his paws hitting the forest floor and every prey animal in their vicinity would be long gone. Hunting was not on her priority list but Azura couldn''t help but keep her senses open to an opportunity. With Lucas, she had an extra handicap with her though. He acted and ran as if he were a cub with no instincts yet. He had stamina though. She had to give him that. He had kept up with her with no trouble at all.


    As the rain intensified, Azura walked out into a small clearing with a big wide pond in the middle. She walked up to the water and stretched her front paws first before kneeling down to drink. This place was what she wanted to show him. It was so deep into the territory that the only sounds you could hear were those of the woods. He hadn''t joined her yet and Azura twitched her ears back trying to sense him around her. She was sure he had followed her but now it was quiet behind her. Too quiet.


    The rain beating down on her swatted down the scents plus the sound it made covered for the softer sounds she would normally easily pick up. She pretended to be drinking still but her mind was anything but occupied with drinking. It was a small sound but just loud enough to reach above the rain. A snapping branch because something or someone put its weight on it. She whirled around seeing the larger snow leopard mid-air about to pounce on her. She made herself as small as possible, pinned her ears against her skull, and hissed loudly at him. Her paw connected with his head, nails contracted to not cause any damage.


    Her blow took him off balance and as he tried to correct himself to land on his feet, he fell onto his side right after landing partially in the water. He growled but she was straight on him with a counter attack. The only thing she didn¡¯t take in to account was his speed. He wasn¡¯t Nathan who¡¯d been much slower. As she jumped up to attack him, he rolled over onto his back and caught her with his back legs to forcefully push her over him, sending her flying into the pond.


    She hated water. Rain was fine - water was not. There was a big difference between the two. It wasn''t that deep that she had to swim but the throw had her fully submerged for a few seconds. She felt her fur soak up the water and weigh her down as she gasped for air. Lucas had made his way out of the water already and sat on the ground watching her intently. If snow leopards could be smiling, he was laughing his ass off right now. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    He yelped at her as she made her way out of the pond. Her fur clung to her body and her normal bushy tail resembled a rat''s tail. She shook the water out of her fur as much as possible and started cleaning herself. It didn¡¯t help much. She growled as she felt the water still seep through her fur and touch her skin.


    She shook her head and when she stopped, felt a rough tongue on her face. He was doing it again, like he had done in the cave after fighting Nathan. He was licking her. Cleaning her. Not in a submissive matter but more affectionate. He brushed past her body with his, purring loudly again. He had won the fight and as much as she wanted to be angry about it, he made her weak and calm by doing this. Her body reacted to his touch, relaxing, but her mind wasn¡¯t so sure. Her instincts told her to let it happen while her mind still wanted revenge.


    Instincts won.


    As his rough tongue stroked the top of her head, she laid on the ground and could feel a low purr rising from her chest. It was making her drowsy. Azura laid her head flat down on the ground and curled her tail around herself. Even though they were not shielded from the rain she couldn¡¯t be bothered to find shelter. To prevent them from catching a cold, she started emitting some heat like she had done before in the cave, encasing them both in the bubble. She had closed her eyes for a little bit but opened them as soon as Lucas had stopped grooming her and laid down next to her. Maybe he was not so out of touch with nature as she had assumed at first.


    *


    After getting an elbow in his ribs for the tenth time that night, Lucas sat straight up in bed and gave Azura a soft shove back. She grunted softly but didn''t wake up. She had been restless all night, tossing and turning but it was not another nightmare. By now, Lucas knew the difference so he decided to let her sleep even though he could not find any rest himself. He softly brushed some hair out of her face and gave a quick peck on her forehead. She shifted once more, moaned, and muttered something under her breath he couldn¡¯t make out.


    With a sigh, Lucas got out of the bed and put on a shirt to cover his bare torso. Azura turned over once again and slapped half of the duvet away from her. She was now on her stomach, her arms sprawled all over the bed and her legs lay in such an angle there was no way Lucas could lie back down without having to move her.


    "Claiming your territory the moment I leave the bed eh? Women... They¡¯re all the same." He smiled as he spoke softly to himself and tucked her back in.


    He grabbed a pair of sweatpants and threw them on before grabbing his phone and leaving the room. It was a chilly night, nothing compared to Pleyvale but frost hung in the air. The fireplace was still smoldering a bit from last evening though and Lucas grabbed a piece of wood to fire it back up. He watched intently hoping the smoldering remains were enough to light up the new piece. As the flames started licking the new block, Lucas relaxed and wandered off to the kitchen to grab something to drink. He scratched his lower right arm as an annoying itch reared its head.


    As he walked back to the living area, the blaze was burning bright and Lucas tossed another piece of wood onto the fire. He set down his water and looked at his phone. Five new messages from Rose. Lucas raised an eyebrow as he stared at the time they were sent. Just twenty minutes ago and it was close to three in the morning now. Someone was not keen on sleeping. He opened the first message.


    - Are you two still alive? We haven''t heard anything the last couple of days and we were wondering how life is treating you guys back in werewolf country! You can''t just leave and not keep us updated! We deserve a regular check-up! But we''re fine if you must know. Nathan actually woke up. For the rest, it''s been boring as sh*t here without you guys. No new bets or gossip...


    Lucas laughed as he finished reading the message and opened the next one.


    - Why is it taking so long for you to respond?! Give me a sign of life! Anything!


    He quickly opened the remaining three messages, his smile growing wider with every single one.


    - Lucas! You ass! I need to know you''re alive!


    - No wait, I need to know if Azura''s still alive. That''s more important.


    - Way more important! So why are you both not responding?


    "Rose, you''re hopeless at times." He sighed and stared at the fire for a short moment before returning to his phone. He responded with just one short question, asking her if she was drunk, and waited for a response. He had no idea if she was still awake or not. Within one minute he had his answer.


    - I''m not drunk, you idiot! Just worried sick so I couldn''t sleep.


    Loud noises from outside made him look up from the device in his hands. It sounded like hushed voices and a car door slamming shut. He listened closely for a while but when it became silent again soon after he shrugged it off and got back to his phone to reply to Rose. There was something off though and he scratched the inside of his arm again as the itch returned again.


    - Rose, we''re fine! I''ll have Azura give you a call tomorrow. Sleep well and say hi to the guys for us.


    Lucas looked up as the front door opened and Andreas''s voice followed by another female voice he couldn''t yet place came through. He couldn''t help but overhear as the woman sounded agitated and spoke softly.


    "Andreas, think about it. These intrusions are happening more often ever since the Phoenix appeared. You said it yourself, they are becoming more and more dangerous, and yet you let her stay here even though she is the Phoenix itself?"


    Lucas''s throat dried up as he heard her and instead of getting up and making his presence known, he remained seated as soon as she mentioned the Phoenix. He scratched his arm again while he kept on listening. It felt strange and wrong to do so but he couldn''t help it, he needed to hear what Andreas had to say. Lucas stood and stared at the doorway leading to the hallway where he could see the two people faintly through the smoked glass of the door. It was silent for a short moment before the heavier voice of Andreas could be heard loud and clear. He wasn¡¯t trying to be quiet at all.


    "Don''t start now, Reyna. You''re allowing Floyd to get under your skin..."


    The door opened and Andreas stopped mid-sentence to stare at Lucas for a short moment before giving him a nod and walked inside. The woman, Reyna, stopped and stared at Lucas, a bit flustered but didn¡¯t attempt to enter the living area. This was the second time Lucas had seen her, but the first time he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to her since he was more focused on Andreas who had petted Azura as they were in their snow leopard form.


    Now he got a closer look at her; she had the same amber-colored intelligent eyes as Andreas and a rather square face. Her skin was quite fair for what he had noticed was common for the other pack members. Lucas guessed she might have her origins with another werewolf pack. Light brown hair cascaded down her back in loose curls and some of it was tied together in a small bun to keep it out of her face.


    "I- I probably should..." She stammered as Lucas held her gaze with an icy stare. She looked away, a small blush on her cheeks in knowing he had heard her talk. She fluttered her eyelids excessively and hopped from one foot to another, unsure of what to do.


    "Lucas, meet Reyna. One of the Betas. Floyd is one too and I have a third, but he¡¯s away from the pack at the moment. Reyna, meet Lucas. He was the bigger snow leopard you saw earlier." Andreas blatantly ignored the obvious tension and grabbed himself a drink while talking. "As I was saying, don''t let Floyd get under your skin right now, Reyna. He''s hurting. An old wound has just been torn open and he doesn''t know what to do with it so he instead focuses all his emotions on the one thing he does understand."


    Lucas took a deep breath and turned away from Reyna as Andreas was talking. He wanted her gone on one hand, but on the other... Reyna remained where she was, standing in the door opening, sometimes grabbing hold of the doorpost while letting go soon after and grabbing it with her other hand.


    "I really should go..." Reyna didn¡¯t wait for them to answer but turned around, closed the door, and left the house.


    Lucas rubbed at his forearm again. Scratching it had become quite irritating to the skin but the itch was still there. Rubbing it seemed to help a little but just took the edge off. The moment Andreas grabbed his arm to look at the spot he¡¯d been scratching all this time, is when Lucas became aware of how raw the skin felt.


    "What is this?" Andreas stared at the mark the Phoenix had left on Lucas''s arm. Lucas followed his gaze to the feather mark and gasped slightly as he saw the lines of it burn bright red.


    "Oh, right. Another detail." Lucas traced over the lines of the feather. ¡°Guess you can say the Phoenix decided to mark me.¡±

 Chapter 43

    It was dull and grey outside. The sun was hidden behind a sky full of clouds and there was no sign of it clearing up anytime soon. It would stay dry for the time being but the wind had picked up indicating bad weather was coming. The treetops and branches creaked and leaned as far as the wind could take them while leaves rustled leaving a harmony of sounds ringing through the woods. Some birds took advantage of the wind, gliding on their big wings, letting their bodies fall and rise with the currents.


    Lucas had wandered through the small town of the werewolves that surrounded the packhouse. He had been amazed by how well hidden it was since he had no idea there were any houses until he accidentally wandered in between them. There were no paved roads and the houses seemed to be built randomly around one another. Every house had a lot of privacy but there were no real backyards. The placing itself gave the owners the peace and quiet they wanted.


    There were some cars parked here and there and some houses looked to be in better shape than others. As Lucas glanced inside some of them he did notice every home had electricity and luxury depending on what the owner wanted. It made for a contradicting sight. The pack was modern in its ways but you could still feel the old traditional pack values shine through the exterior. He could understand why most of the pack members chose to live here instead of the more accessible town of Greenwood. This was as close to nature as they would get. One step outside your door and you were in the woods.


    He had tried to talk to some of the pack members but most seemed to avoid him. The stares were there though; people kept their eyes on him. Lucas had noticed they had reacted the same way towards Azura and she had done the same thing. There were actually only a handful of people she talked to. It puzzled him to see this, knowing how close she was to Andreas and how he treated her as one of the higher rankings in the pack. He had gotten the impression she was a well-known and respected person among them but now he was not so sure anymore what her status was. Azura didn''t actually seem to care though and she didn¡¯t talk about it either.


    This morning they had finally gone to meet with her parents. Even though they weren¡¯t her biological family, you wouldn¡¯t be able to tell the difference in the way they treated her. The warmth coming from them as they had welcomed them in was heartwarming and Azura seemed to completely relax again. After the talk with Professor Sloan and Andreas, she had been quite tense and the prospect of seeing her folks again after such a long time had not helped. Her worries had been completely unnecessary as they had opened their home for them as if she had never left.


    Lucas had felt slightly jealous seeing the three of them act and talk like a real complete family. Something he¡¯d sometimes lacked as a child after his mother had passed when he was only a toddler. His father had given him all the love he could in his own way but it was still different than having two parents looking out for you instead of one grief-stricken father. Then again, no matter how much these people cared for Azura, they weren¡¯t her true parents and they had no knowledge of any other races besides humans when Azura came to them. Something she had struggled with quite a bit from what she¡¯d told him. Only after going to college at Greenwood was when she finally started to feel truly at home and at ease.


    After they¡¯d gotten back to the packhouse, Azura had asked Lucas if he minded spending some time alone to which he hadn¡¯t objected. She wanted to go visit Nora''s grave alone and recollect her thoughts, so he¡¯d made his way outside through the makeshift town of the werewolves, and found himself somewhere in the woods surrounding the settlement.


    Lucas sat down on a moss-covered trunk and closed his eyes, enjoying the sounds and smells around him. Being here had shed light on why Azura held this place so close to her heart. The conversation he had with Andreas the night before ran through his mind. After explaining how the mark got on his arm they¡¯d come to the conclusion it was acting up because the Phoenix was getting stronger. Why Lucas had gotten it on his arm was still unanswered though. The itch had completely subsided now, luckily. The conversation afterward had been short but pleasant giving both men some more insight into each other.


    The sound of a clicking camera brought Lucas out of his thoughts. He yawned and lazily looked around while scratching his face through his short beard. It was a faint shutter click and Lucas looked around until he saw the same boy that had been with Floyd when they had arrived. Azura had mentioned his name but Lucas couldn''t quite remember it. It was there somewhere though, in the back of his mind. The boy hadn''t noticed him yet as the wind was blowing away from him.


    Lucas got up while watching him take pictures of the trees and greenery around them. He was barefoot, wearing a faded music band t-shirt and stained pants. There was something strange about the bulky teen. He had been working out and his hair was cut short like a buzz cut yet his body posture didn¡¯t match that of someone his age. There was a playfulness in the boy¡¯s movements, a sort of carelessness someone his age wouldn¡¯t normally have.


    "Hey. You were the boy translating for Floyd when we arrived right?"


    The boy looked up a bit startled by the interruption. He turned to Lucas and seemed to pale a bit as he noticed who had addressed him. He gulped and nodded before he spoke up.


    "Ye-Yes. I''m Kaenan."


    As Lucas took a step closer, Kaenan took a step back looking ready to run for his life. Lucas raised an eyebrow and stopped, keeping his distance. Floyd had probably talked to him too, or the teenager was just insecure about what to do.


    "I''m Lucas. I don''t think we got properly introduced yet. It was a bit hectic with Floyd like that." Lucas looked at the digital camera the boy held in his hands, cradling it as if it were his prized possession. "Do you enjoy photography? You have a nice camera."


    His tactics of changing topics to something universal and non-threatening seemed to work as Kaenan seemed to relax as he focused on his camera.


    "Yeah, I do. This weather is the best for taking good photos actually. The colors come out true to their nature and you have less struggle with heavy contrasts between light and dark. Plus I love taking pictures of color contrasts. Like here," Kaenan pointed to the spot where he was aiming the camera before. "You see that red flower? It''s surrounded by some fresh new leaves which are still a vibrant green and if you take the right angle, you can use the tree to make the background really dark making the flower stand out more."


    Lucas couldn''t help but smile as Kaenan enthusiastically started talking. His distant and nervous demeanor had disappeared in a blink of an eye. He had walked closer and his eyes followed Kaenan''s hand to where he was pointing. The male snow leopard shifter squatted down to find the angle the boy was talking about and he had to admit, he had a good eye.


    "Can I see some of the photos?"


    Kaenan smiled back and handed Lucas the camera. He turned it on and took a good look at some of the pictures. He couldn''t help but snicker a little as there was a picture of the pond where he had thrown Azura into. It was a good thing Kaenan had not been there to snap a picture of that because she probably would have tried to kill him at that point.


    Lucas handed the camera back to the teen. "You have a good eye. There are some really nice photos there!"


    Kaenan was beaming and pointed upwards to the crown of the trees. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "You know, when the sun is out, it sets behind these trees. On some days the sky turns this brilliant shade of orange and pink and it contrasts so beautifully with these branches. I haven''t gotten the perfect shot yet though." He fell silent as he kept staring up, almost expecting the moment to happen straight away.


    Lucas slowly let his gaze fall back on Kaenan. He might look like a young man but the way he acted and talked did not match his age at all. The short talk had convinced him, even more, that something was off. His youthful enthusiasm and whole demeanor were more like that of a child. Lucas couldn¡¯t remember seeing it at the parking lot but those circumstances were a whole lot different.


    "Kaenan! What are you doing here?! Your mother is looking for you! Didn''t you hear her through the mind link?"


    Lucas saw Reyna coming from the corner of his eye. She paused for a moment when seeing him but refocused on Kaenan soon after and headed towards him. The young man started blushing and looked down at his feet as he drew circles in the sand with his toes.


    "N-No. I''m sorry! I didn''t hear anything. Can you... Can you tell her I''m coming?" He didn''t look her in the eye as his head moved upwards but instead looked straight past her as if he was afraid of what would happen if their gazes met.


    "You can tell her yourself. You need to practice more with your mind link. We can''t have you shutting it out unintentionally when you are talking to someone. We know you''re fine with it on short distances, but you really need to learn to keep it up with longer distances. Now contact your mother and go see her straight after."


    Kaenan nodded and gulped as Reyna told him off. He looked nothing like a nineteen-year-old now. Lucas fascinatedly watched the scene in front of him evolve but wisely kept his mouth shut when Kaenan stepped aside to probably contact his mother through the mind link.


    "What are you doing here and where is Azura?" Reyna had her arms crossed across her chest as she bluntly spoke to Lucas. There was no trace of the hesitant woman she portrayed the night before.


    "I was just enjoying being outside when I noticed Kaenan taking pictures so I kindly asked him about it. And to answer your second question, Azura isn''t here. She went to visit Nora''s grave."


    It was hard to tell what her intentions were. Lucas could tell she was on guard just like Kaenan had been but that she was unsure of why herself as well. She eyed him suspiciously before taking a quick peek at Kaenan. The boy turned back to them and almost skipped over to them with a big smile on his face.


    "I have to go now. It was nice actually getting to meet you, Lucas.  I don''t know why Floyd dislikes you so much. Please say hi to Azura from me. See you later, Reyna!" He smiled at both of them and ran away holding his camera tightly in one hand.


    Lucas couldn''t help but smile as Kaenan ran off. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Reyna was smiling slightly as well as she watched him go. The smile was short-lived though as she looked back at Lucas.


    "He''s not your average nineteen-year-old boy as you might have guessed." Her voice had softened and didn''t match her distant pose. She was still making up her mind about him, but seeing Kaenan interact with him had most likely loosened her up a bit.


    "I thought so. Although the first time I met him I had no idea." Lucas tried to sound as friendly as possible hoping she would relax a bit more.


    "He had a shortage of oxygen when he was born. Mentally he is years behind. Sometimes he acts like an eight-year-old, other times it''s more like he is twelve. Floyd is quite protective over him as an older brother and takes him along on patrol duty at times." She let silence fall as she examined Lucas from head to toe again.


    "Kaenan seems to like you though and he was always very fond of Azura much to Floyd''s annoyance. Strange as it may sound, Kaenan is a great judge of character. I often find myself trusting his judgment more than I trust anyone else¡¯s."


    Reyna curled some hair around her finger as she finished talking. The meaning of her words actually only seemed to dawn upon her as soon as she spoke them. She sighed and licked her lips quickly.


    "I''m sorry about what I said last night. I didn''t really mean it. I was just scared after what Floyd told me about Azura. Is she really...? You know...a Phoenix? Andreas refused to tell me but Floyd was freaking out about it."


    "Who else did he tell?!" He almost did not let her finish before he hastily spoke up.


    "No one! Andreas made sure of that. The only reason he told me is that he and I are kinda a thing for a couple of months. Mates¡­ Like a relationship. So I''m guessing it''s true? Azura used to train in my group once a week when she was living on campus you know. She was always together with Nora though. I never really did get to know her that well."


    Reyna stopped playing with her hair. She looked up at the sky as the wind suddenly seemed to die down. She cocked her head to the side and hushed Lucas with just a single finger when he wanted to talk to her. There was a flurry of emotions going on on her face as she kept her hand up indicating him to be silent. He scratched his beard and just started looking around waiting for her to be done with whatever she was doing. Mind linking was a neat trick but it could be annoying as hell if you were the one interrupted by it and could not hear a single damn thing of it.


    "Hey, Lucas!" Reyna ran over to him as he had wandered off a bit and grabbed his arm. "Say hi to Azura from me as well. Maybe you cats aren''t such a big thing after all. And a bird that likes to hang out with cats? How bad can that be right? I have to go now. I''ll see you later." She flashed him an apologetic smile and quickly ran off. Whatever the message was that she got, it had to be urgent. Lucas had to hold back a chuckle at the idea of Floyd sending her a booty call through the mind link.


    A thick drop of rain hit him right on the head. More soon followed and Lucas quickly started walking home. This probably was the calm before the storm. It took him half an hour to get back to the packhouse. He had taken a wrong turn several times and with the rain, all the scents that were able to help him had washed out. He was now completely soaked as the rain had gone from a trickle to a full-on cloud-burst. When he finally arrived back Azura was sitting outside, on the ground, face up to the sky. Her black hair clung in strands on her face and just like him, she was completely soaked.


    "What are you doing out here!" Lucas stopped and watched her highly amused as she gave him a huge grin.


    "Waiting for you of course! What else?"


    She had gotten up and came over. Her eyes were sparkling and the grin that was plastered on her face was one he knew all too well.


    "What are you up to, Azu?"


    She stopped just out of his reach and pouted her lips.


    "Nothing. Why do you think that?"


    Lucas laughed as he closed the distance between them. He grabbed her around her waist and pulled her body close against his. He loved seeing her like this. It was as if at these moments she was able to let go of her thoughts and worries and could just be happy in the moment. It reminded him of the days, back when they had first met, where it sometimes seemed she hadn¡¯t a single worry in the world.


    "Because I know you. Whenever you get this twinkle in your eyes you''re..." Azura didn¡¯t let him finish as she pressed her lips to his and kissed him passionately.


    He felt the warmth spreading through his body as he slowly returned her kiss. For a moment it seemed it was just them, nothing around them, just the two of them caught in a time standstill. Nothing else mattered anymore. Even the rain that was pouring down on them was a nuisance no longer. It was simply not there.


    He could get lost in her taste, her smell, touch her over and over again. How he had taken so long to realize what she meant to him was a mystery to him now as he held her body close against his. If only this could last forever.


    Lucas groaned softly as they drew apart. She looked at him, a flash of concern showed on her face as she noticed his glassy eyes. Without saying anything, he placed his forehead against hers, holding the back of her head as he took a couple of deep breaths with his eyes closed. She seemed to feel and understand his emotions as she remained silent and wrapped her arms around his waist. He kissed her forehead tenderly and drew her in for a tight hug.


    She let him.


    Just them. He could feel her glowing skin embrace him. He could feel the connection. A thought flashed through his mind. Was this what it meant to have a mate? Were they the werecat equivalent of mates? Did something like that even exist? For a single moment, it felt as if they were one. As if they shared one mind. Neither had to explain anything to the other.


    A sparkling sensation erupted inside of him. Tiny little sparks. Dozens, maybe even hundreds moved around from his stomach to every fiber of his body. It prickled his senses, made him feel more alive than ever. It felt as if he were flying.


    When he locked his lips with hers again, he was.

 Chapter 44

    It was silent as he glided through the air. It was not his body flying but more like his consciousness was entwined with the thing that was. He was a mere spectator but could feel whatever it felt. Beneath them, the earth seemed tiny. The snow-covered mountains, the scattered trees, and then the city. The city he knew all too well.


    As Lucas tried to move his head to the side he felt the creature doing the same thing. Flame-covered wings slowly beat next to its body, keeping them afloat. It felt strange to see the wings moving, not making a single sound. He used to hate silence but it felt so tranquil and comforting now as his feelings entwined with those of the Phoenix and maybe even¡­ Azura''s?


    The head snapped back to look back to earth again. Was he a guest, a passenger, or a parasite on this ride? Were they aware he was with them? Lucas stared at Pleyvale from above. He could recognize everything. His own house, his old schools, and even the climbing hall. It was so strange seeing it from up here. So serene.


    Do you trust me?


    The voice sounded like Azura but not entirely. It should have spooked him as it spoke up so suddenly but Lucas felt as if he were expecting it. It was part her but part Phoenix as well. The question itself was strange though. Why wouldn''t he?


    As if Lucas''s eyes were opened again he found himself staring through the eyes of the Phoenix at the city. He saw the flames of the tail and the wings flash by at times but the ground was no longer moving. They were hovering above the city. Waiting for something...or someone as it turned out.


    Lucas stared at the male figure beneath them. He looked straight up at them and kept on walking until he was at the main square of the city. The man had no face but he seemed familiar. There was something about him, about the way he stopped and kept their gaze even though his face was blurred. Lucas tried to look around again, but this time he couldn''t. Had the Phoenix allowed him to look around the first time?


    He felt the heat building up. The flames coiling and growing on the inside. It felt so powerful, Lucas seemed to forget where he actually was. The sheer force that was growing deep within the belly of the beast drew him in. It was mesmerizing and for a moment he felt like walking right in the middle of it. A yank in the back of his mind drew him back as he again stared down at the city, at the man on the square. As the human raised his arm, Lucas knew.


    He was staring at himself as the Phoenix and Azura prepared themselves to spew the largest amount of fire at him he had ever seen. She wanted to do it, Lucas could feel it as he stared helplessly at the scene in front of him. The Phoenix and Azura would really do it. The heat, the flames, and the power he had felt and loved for a moment now felt distant and terrifying. They would kill him. He watched in horror as he looked at himself down there and the flames rolled out of the beak of the Phoenix creating a wall of fire going straight down. Right when the flames would hit their mark, everything turned white and a deafening sound roared through his ears.


    *


    A pair of blue eyes dug into his green ones as his fingers scratched the dirt. Lucas slowly raised his head when he realized he was flat on his back in a puddle of dirt and mud. Azura was kneeled down next to him and just stared at him without touching his body. He slowly sat up straight and cleared his throat.


    "Well... That was different." He smirked and rubbed the back of his head. Azura still stared at him, insecurity was written all over her face and she wasn¡¯t attempting to help him up or even reach out to him.


    "Do you trust me?" Did she sound frightened?


    Lucas tried to read her face but she had put up an astonishingly good mask. He frowned and thought back to the feelings he had felt from her and the Phoenix as they were about to burn him into oblivion. He was still here though, alive and well and he couldn''t simply ignore the feelings he had gotten right before that when they had shared that kiss. Well, more than a kiss. He didn''t know how to describe it so he decided to answer with the only thing he could say.


    "Yes. I trust you. Always have. Seriously, what''s up with that question though. It gives me goosebumps."


    Azura laughed, obviously happy with his answer, and lunged towards him for a hug. Lucas tried to catch her, but the force she used caused his hands to slip in the mud and make him fall backward with her thin frame on his chest. She laughed and muttered an apology but remained where she was. She placed her chin on his chest and looked up at his face.


    "I don''t know what the thing is with that question. People ask me that damned thing all the time and all I know is that when someone asks it, shit is about to go down."


    Lucas frowned as she said it and twisted a lock of her hair around his finger. "Wait... Then why are you asking me that damned question?"


    She shrugged and trailed circles on his chest with her fingertip. "Because the Phoenix asked it in the vision."


    Lucas grabbed her hand, stopping her from fiddling around, and pushed her off of him. He sat back up and helped her up as well.


    "You call that a vision?! Is that what we saw really going to happen?" She flinched visibly as his words came out harsher than he meant them.


    "I don''t know! It''s just like with my nightmares. They feed off false information in my mind, creating something that doesn¡¯t represent the truth. But they are based on facts. Maybe that''s the case with this as well. There might be a core of truth behind it, but the rest we should take with a grain of salt. You know I won''t kill you. You know the Phoenix won''t kill you. It likes you. It actually wants you... In a different way than how I want you, thank God. That would be awkward..."


    He silenced her with his hand as she kept on talking. She was quick on the defensive while he hadn¡¯t meant to attack her verbally. Lucas couldn''t help but smile as the image of a frisky Phoenix wedged itself into his mind. He removed his hand from her mouth and before she could do anything, crashed his lips onto hers.


    When he was sure she would remain silent if he withdrew, he did just that. A smirk on his face, he traced his fingers along her cheek and forehead leaving dirty smudges behind.


    ¡°You know,¡± He spoke, ¡°if you told me four years ago when we first met, we would be here sucking face and whatnot, I wouldn¡¯t have believed a single word of it. Also¡­ You got something on your face. I bet you didn¡¯t see that coming four years ago either.¡±


    The retaliation came fast and hard just as he had expected from her.


    * * *


    Azura connected the last plug for the floor lights on stage and gave a thumbs up to the lighting board operator who sat behind his lighting desk. He proceeded to turn them on one by one to see if they were working properly and gave her a thumbs-up back after everything seemed in order. She made her way off stage and saw the stage manager talking to an elderly man. She guessed him to be in his mid-sixties judging by the gray hair and scruffy beard. He seemed a bit restless and slightly on edge but Azura just shrugged and sat down waiting for something new to do.


    It was almost the end of her shift and they were ahead of schedule. In three days there would be a big congress with diverse speakers from all over the country with their findings and ideas about what the future with humans and supernaturals would look like. Some speakers were theoretics, historians, book writers but also leaders of packs and groups. It was a fascinating subject and she was looking forward to seeing and hearing different opinions about the subject at hand. It was a welcome change from her rather dull meetings with Professor Sloan and Andreas about the blood-bond she shared with Nora. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Earth to Azura!" The stage manager flicked the back of her head with a sly grin on his face.


    "Hey, that was uncalled for!" Azura rubbed the sore spot and gave him an angry glare. They were on good terms though and this was not the first time he did it.


    "I am going to show Mister Omayr around but his son should be here any minute. Could you wait for him to show up and tell him to wait here? We won''t be long. After that, you can go home. You''re here Sunday again right?"


    "Yep. Sunday for the second rehearsal and Monday for the conference itself."


    "Good. Have fun tomorrow with your man and see you on Sunday!"


    Omayr gave her a courtesy nod and followed the stage manager towards the offices. Azura sank back in the chair waiting for the son to show up. She grabbed her phone to play a game and kept her headset on in case the lighting or sound engineer needed something.


    It was another ten minutes when the door opened and Nora walked through followed by a tall man somewhere in his late twenties. When Nora spotted her, she squealed and lunged towards her embracing her in a tight hug.


    The feeling was mutual. Whenever they were apart there was this nagging feeling deep down in her gut. When they saw each other again, Azura immediately felt at ease and happy. The pin prickles on her skin would flare up but that feeling made her feel alive. It was also getting harder to ignore the pull to be close to Nora. The feeling had intensified over the course of the last year and even though they knew the cause was the blood-bond, they still didn¡¯t know what had triggered it or where it came from. Well, there was a suspicion, one that terrified Azura.


    Nora let go of her and Azura turned to the man who had witnessed their little reunion with slight amusement.


    "Sorry about that. I''m Azura, deputy stage manager."


    She shook his hand and couldn''t help but notice the vibrant sparkle in his green eyes. He had a one-day stubble on his face and his brown hair was cut short and stood almost upright.


    "I''m Lucas Omayr. I believe my father is somewhere around here?


    "He is here, yes. The stage manager is giving him a small tour right now. They''ll be back shortly. They asked me to keep you here in the meantime so make yourself comfortable."


    She grabbed a chair and offered it to him. Nora had already made herself comfortable on Azura''s spot. For a moment, Azura was tempted to kick her off but decided against it with Lucas around. She was deputy stage manager, she had to maintain some sort of professionalism around guests. To her surprise, he had grabbed a book from his backpack and seemed to be reading.


    "Can I get you anything in the meantime?" Azura took another chair from around the corner and sat down next to Nora who immediately grabbed her hand as if they were a couple, and started playing with her ring. Lucas watched with slight interest and responded with a shake of his head.


    "I''m fine, thank you. This gives me some time to actually try and read some more." He turned his attention back to the book and after making sure he really wouldn''t ask for anything else she turned to Nora who had been waiting for her to shift the focus.


    "Floyd came back early." Nora squeezed her hand, her voice soft and almost sad. "I''m going to see him tonight. He wouldn''t take no for an answer plus we haven''t seen each other for over a week."


    "You''re ditching me for him? What am I supposed to do now?! Charlie is with his parents, Theresa has a party somewhere I simply refuse to go to and my Friday evening is not going to be spent hanging around Alpha Andreas or Professor Sloan!" Azura tried to sound as hurt as possible to guilt-trip her close friend. It didn''t seem to work though, as Nora just started laughing.


    "I could use a tour around the campus and town actually." Both girls fell silent and slowly turned toward Lucas who they had completely forgotten about.


    "You what? Are you listening in on us?!" Azura spoke up first after a short awkward silence. She glanced at Nora for help but she just shrugged and kept her mouth shut.


    "Well, it''s not that hard seeing as you two are just a short distance away and this book is boring as hell. I''ve been stuck on the same page for way longer than I''d like to admit." Lucas closed the book and placed it back in his bag. "Look, it''s my first time around this area plus it''s actually quite tiresome to hang around with my father all the time. Since we''re going to be here for a few days, I thought it was a good idea to get to know some people." He smiled at them. Azura tried to find any hidden intentions behind his face and words but truly couldn''t.


    "I might not be the right choice for that." She finally answered. "I''m not the most social butterfly around here." She bit her lip and tried to get Nora to support her. The werewolf was just grinning like an idiot, a clear sign she was loving this whole situation.


    "She''ll do it. Don''t worry." Nora slapped Azura''s shoulder and ignored the death stare she got in return.


    The phone vibrating in her pocket couldn¡¯t come at a better time and she took it out to see a message from Charlie. Hoping the other two would drop the subject if she just ignored it, she quickly read it and cursed softly. Nora seemed puzzled for a moment, waiting for Azura to tell her what was wrong.


    "Charlie is not coming back tomorrow. Family issues. He''ll come back Sunday." She groaned as she realized her day off tomorrow was not going to be spent together with her boyfriend. "All my plans for tomorrow just went down the drain. I really don''t like his family at times."


    "Just as they don''t like you very much at times either, eh? But on another note, you still have plans for tonight!" Nora winked at her, trying to make her feel better. It was actually working and she hated it.


    "No offense,¡± She turned to Lucas, ¡°but it just feels weird going out with another man without my boyfriend knowing.¡± Emphasizing the word boyfriend, she hoped the male across from her would blow the whole thing off. Instead, it was the dark-skinned woman next to her who spoke up first.


    "Charlie doesn¡¯t care! Just tell him the truth and it¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ve never seen that guy jealous and it¡¯s not a healthy relationship if you¡¯re not allowed to have a fun time with friends!  It''s not like he cares if you hang out with other people. I think he would actually encourage you to do this after he is done laughing in your face." Nora got up and faced Lucas. "Have fun. She''s not as bad as she sounds." Before leaving, Nora hugged Azura tightly.


    "Fuck you, Nora." Azura softly hissed under her breath while her lips were next to her friend''s ear. Nora chuckled at the remark and replied loud enough so Lucas could hear her.


    "Oh, I wish I could fuck you, hun. That would be fun." Nora immediately let her go and Azura shook her head while a big smile crept on her face.


    Nora headed towards the door after waving to them both. Azura let out a loud sigh as she felt the all too familiar itch across her body as her friend left. She knew she wasn¡¯t the only one who felt it. It was slightly disturbing as she thought back to how demanding it had started to feel in the past couple of weeks. Azura turned to Lucas who was beaming with fun after watching the two of them interact.


    "Fine, I''ll show you around. I don''t have anything better to do anyway." She sat back down with another sigh and noticed the six-pack of water at the desk behind her. She grabbed two bottles and tossed Lucas one without warning him but he actually caught it to her surprise.


    "Thanks. For the water and also for actually taking me along. The two of you seem close by the way. Almost like a married couple." Azura chuckled as he said that. It was not the first time people compared them to a married couple. He probably wasn''t that bad a company for an evening and it did beat sitting in her dorm alone.


    It turned out he was excellent company. They had the same kind of humor and he was surprisingly nice to chat with. She had quickly discovered he was actually quite a big softy on the inside. He also made sure to keep a certain distance at all times making her quite relaxed knowing he wouldn¡¯t try to hit on her. After showing him around on the campus they ended up in one of the campus bars where they stayed till midnight.


    "So what are your plans for tomorrow?" Azura drank the last remains of her beer. Lucas had finished his a bit earlier and was playing with a coaster.


    "My dad has something planned in the morning. I have to help him with that. In the afternoon I have no plans yet. Why?"


    Azura sighed and watched the bartender clean the bar. Fiddling with the golden ring on her finger, conflict raged in her head. Would she ask him to hang out again? On one hand, he was good company. Someone she felt like she could be friends with if he lived closer. On the other hand, he was someone she had only just met. She knew Charlie would be laughing his ass off at her again if he was here. He never was the jealous type and she was really thankful for that at times.


    "Well, I had plans but they washed away this afternoon so if you would like I could show you around some more tomorrow." A coaster had piqued her interest as she plucked at it randomly. It had gotten wet and she plucked the cardboard thing apart piece by piece without even realizing it.


    "Sure I would like that." He smiled at her and she couldn''t help but return it.