《Cursed By The Moonlight》 Chapter 1 - The Alpha Of The Blue Moon Pack It was the year 2035, where humans and creatures of the night coexisted. Terra was a place where humans lived. The name came from its goddess, Terra, meaning land or earth, and the inhabitants were called Terrans or the humans. But now, it is also a place where werewolves, vampires, and other mythical beings lived. It was an era where humans did not fear the darkness of the night. Aramoor City is the main capital of Oprea, the largest terris in Terra with an area of around five hundred fifty square kilometers. It has a population of nine million creatures living among each other. On the porch of a two-story house, a girl with long blonde wavy hair was staring at the dark starry sky. It was the night where the moon was brightly shining. Her ocean-blue eyes were sparkling as the moonlight lit up her pinkish face. She raised her hand trying to reach the moon, then heaved a sigh when she couldn''t. She always loved watching the sky at night, especially when it''s a full moon. It calms her down. "Amaris, what are you doing? Come inside; you''ll catch a cold." A woman who was in her early fifties called. Amaris looked at the woman and pouted. She didn''t say a word and just went inside the house. The woman who called her wasn''t her mother but her aunt. Five years ago, her family was on the way to the mall when they got into an accident. Her parents and her older sister died on the spot except for her. It was a gruesome accident, and no one expected that one of them would survive. Because of that, some called her the miracle child, but most people said that she was cursed. She didn''t care what other people said about her. She couldn''t remember anything anyway. When she woke up at the hospital, she lost all her memories and didn''t even know her name. Her aunt introduced herself and explained everything, telling her about the accident. She was supposed to feel sad after hearing that her family had died, but she didn''t feel anything, maybe because she couldn''t remember a single thing about them, so she didn''t even have an ounce of love for them in her heart. She sat on the couch and was about to watch a movie when her cousin, Maxine, rushed to her side. "Ari, have you heard about the news on campus?" She excitedly asked. She frowned. She wasn''t interested in news and rumors in school. Her aunt only forced her to attend college after recovering from the accident. "You really piss me off sometimes. How could you not have the slightest interest in other people?" Maxine nagged at her. Amaris giggled when she saw her cousin pouting like a little girl. "Fine. You could tell me about it. So what''s the latest buzz?" She asked, trying not to show her disinterest. Maxine widely smiled and looked at her. "The alpha of the blue moon pack will be transferring tomorrow to our school." She squealed. Amaris didn''t know how to react. She wasn''t fond of other mythical creatures living in Terra. But her cousin was a die-hard fan of them. "So what about him? Is there something special about that Alpha?" She casually asked. Maxine glared at her and couldn''t believe that she didn''t know anything about the Alpha of the blue moon pack. "You really are na?ve, Ari. Zion is the current Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. He''s different because he doesn''t have a mate or a Luna, unlike other alphas. But even though he doesn''t have one, he''s considered the strongest of all the alphas." She wasn''t so clueless about other creatures living in Terra. Ever since they''ve been exposed and started living with the Terrans, the Ministry of Education added another academic subject: learning about them. An Alpha must have a Luna to rule a pack as far as she knows. A pack weakens if their Alpha didn''t have a Luna. "You''re getting interested. You''re thinking how he managed to lead a pack without his Luna? Well, no one knows. But rumor said that the Alpha of the blue moon pack was cursed." Maxine continued. "Cursed? We''re in the modern age. No one believes in curses anymore." She commented. Maxine crossed her arms and explained further. "Do you remember the first time we learned about werewolves in school? Selene, the Moon Goddess, and her lover, the Demon Prince, Phelan ruled the werewolves? It is said that Phelan cheated on Selene, and because of her broken heart, she cursed Phelan and his new lover." Amaris was just listening to Maxine. She suddenly became interested and wanted to know more about the Moon Goddess and her Demon Prince lover. "Selene cursed Phelan and his descendants that they will never have a mate or if ever they fall in love with someone, their mate will die. And there''s another rumor circulating that Zion is a descendant of Phelan because he had two mates before, but they died." Maxine continued. She didn''t utter a single word. For some reason, Maxine''s story about Selene and Phelan sounded familiar. Amaris thought she had heard about it somewhere, but she couldn''t remember where and who told her about it. She wasn''t curious about the Alpha of the blue moon pack, but she''s interested in the Moon Goddess. She was always fascinated with the moon''s beauty and wondered if the goddess really existed. "Look at him! He''s super hot and gorgeous!" Maxine excitedly said, showing her a picture of a man. She frowned when he saw the guy who was called Zion. He has jet black shoulder-length hair and a pair of silver eyes sparkling like diamonds. She looked into his eyes and couldn''t understand why she was drawn to him. His eyes were like crystals, but it was cold and somewhat sad. Her heart suddenly felt the loneliness inside when she stared at the guy in the picture. "Ari!" Her thoughts were cut off when she heard Maxine call her attention. "Ah yes?" She answered. "Do you think he would find his mate in our school? They said he was transferring to different schools to find a new mate. It''s romantic, right?" Maxine continued. She could see that her cousin had a huge crush on this Alpha. She was squealing like a thirteen-year-old girl who had just met her crush. "Ari, can you help me? Make me beautiful tomorrow, please." She asked. She stared at her cousin''s face, and she wouldn''t deny the fact that Maxine was pretty. But she always wears a lot of makeup, making her look more mature than her age. "You don''t like how I do my makeup, so I don''t think you need my help. Besides, you''re pretty even without makeup." She commented. "Whatever. I''ll do it myself. Let''s go to school early tomorrow, okay?" Maxine pouted. She nodded and shook her head when her cousin returned to her room. She picked up her phone and started typing, searching for a book or any reading material that she could find about the story of the Moon Goddess and her lover. Chapter 2 - First Meeting "Do you know if there''s a book about the Moon Goddess in the school library?" She asked Maxine. Her cousin frowned. They were on the table eating breakfast when she asked her. "Maybe. I''m not sure." Maxine shrugged. She nodded and finished her meal. She was unable to sleep last night because all she could think about was the Moon Goddess. She found out that after the great war between werewolves and vampires, the Moon Goddess disappeared. No one ever heard of her for more than a decade. She was known for her undying love for her werewolves, always present whenever they needed her but now, she was just a myth to them. "Ari, come on! Hurry up!" Maxine shouted. Her thoughts were cut off from her cousin''s loud voice. Maxine was so excited to go to school because of the blue moon pack''s sudden transfer. It wasn''t just Zion who transferred to their school but since his whole pack moved in Aramoor City yesterday, a lot of werewolves from their pack also transferred. When they arrived, students were lurking around the main building since it was the only way to get through to the classrooms. Maxine grabbed her hand and pulled her on the side. It was an uproar. It was like some well known celebrity would arrive. "Max, I''ll go ahead and wait for you in the classroom." She said. Maxine understood and let her be. She was starting to get anxious when more students came to wait for the alpha of the blue moon pack. She felt suffocated and couldn''t breathe every time there were a lot of people around. She walked around the school''s garden to see the flowers first. It was her favorite place in school. She would always drop by in the morning and would sit under the sakura tree to rest for a while. She looked at the time and saw that there was still half an hour left before class started so she decided to take a quick break. She sat down under the sakura tree and started searching the web again about the moon goddess on her cellphone. "Why can''t I find anything about her after the war?" She sighed. She looked at her phone again and kept searching. But she really couldn''t find any article or news about Selene after the great war. "Maybe I should ask a werewolf? But I don''t know one in Aramoor City." She was talking to herself, taking a deep breath. "How about you ask me?" She was startled when a man''s voice suddenly spoke behind her. She was even more stunned when she saw who it was. "Y-You''re the cursed alpha!" She blurted. She wanted to slap her mouth from saying the word cursed. She didn''t really know if the rumor was true. How could she say that to him? "I-I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to-, I heard it from my cousin but I don''t really care about you -" She stammered. He chuckled, seeing the girl who was stammering amused him. "It''s fine. Don''t worry about it." She noticed that like her he was sitting at the back of the sakura tree, hiding. Maybe he was trying to avoid those people so he came to school early. She wasn''t interested in him but she wanted to know more about Selene so she started a conversation with him. "Are you hiding from them?" She asked, pointing in the direction where the students were waiting. He sighed deeply and leaned his back on the tree again. He didn''t say a word and she knew he didn''t want to speak further so she decided to stop asking and just sit quietly. Fifteen minutes passed and she was satisfied from the silence of the surroundings. She doesn''t really like crowded and noisy places. She was always amazed by the beauty of nature. "Do you like this place?" The man suddenly asked her. She looked around the garden and smiled. She wasn''t looking at him. Her eyes were only focused on the flowers around her. "Only this place. I loved the flowers and this tree." She answered in a gentle voice. She didn''t notice that he was staring at her and he couldn''t understand why he was looking at the girl he just met. He didn''t feel a mating pull towards her but there was something in her that he was drawn to. She has long blonde wavy hair and a pair of ocean blue eyes. Her plump lips were red as the rose and her skin was pinkish white. She was breathtaking. He thought to himself. "What''s your name?" He curiously asked. She then turned to him, meeting his gaze. That feeling again, she thought inwardly. It was the same feeling from last night when she saw his picture. Seeing him in person, looking directly into his silver eyes, it was stronger. "I''m Amaris." She answered while giving him her sweetest smile. He tried to control himself when she smiled at him. His wolf didn''t react to her behavior but he felt something different towards her. "My name is Zion." He introduced himself. Normally, he wasn''t like that. He would never ask a girl her name and introduce himself to her. He wasn''t the type of guy who would talk to a random person. But he got curious when he heard her voice. "I know." She smiled again. He turned his eyes away from her and closed them, trying to calm himself. He was trying to reach his wolf to ask him but he wasn''t responding. "So what brings you here?" He asked her again after a few minutes that she didn''t speak. She mentioned earlier that she doesn''t care about him so he was curious if that was really true. Women from Terra usually do some crazy stuff to get their attention so he couldn''t believe that this girl has no interest in him at all. "This is where I always go to take a rest. My cousin dragged me early because you were coming to the school today but a lot of students were waiting in the main building and I don''t really like crowded places so I left her there to come here." She explained. He was about to say something when the school bell rang.. She stood up and was going to walk away when she felt his hand on his wrist. Chapter 3 - Be My Friend It also surprised him that he suddenly grabbed her hand when she was about to leave. She looked at him, confused. He couldn''t say anything and just let go of her hand, then he stood up and slowly walked closer to her. Her heart started pounding when she saw him getting closer. Her body became frozen and she couldn''t even move an inch. He was six feet tall while she was five feet six inches. His jet black shoulder length hair was half pony tailed and she noticed he has a black diamond earring dangling on his left ear. She would admit that he was really good looking. He got closer and was standing in front of her. She tilted her chin up to meet his gaze. He leaned forward, staring at the face of the girl who piqued his interest. Their faces were just a few inches away, only staring at each other yet no one dared to cross the space between them. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered. "I''ll see you again." Then he turned around and left her standing there. Amaris didn''t know how she managed to go to her classroom. She was confused on why she couldn''t move when Zion got closer to her. "Ari!" It was Maxine who called her, pulling her inside the classroom. "Where have you been? You missed the first period." Therese, one of her friends asked. She couldn''t believe what she just said. She didn''t know she was out for a long time. Did Zion do something to her? "Are you sick, Ari?" Maxine asked, worried. She shook her head but still couldn''t believe what had happened. They took their seats when the professor arrived for the next class. "We will be having new students from today onwards. Come inside!" The professor called. She wasn''t really listening and was just writing the lectures she missed from the first period. She frowned when she heard the girls from her class squealing but didn''t even check the reason. "I know you already know who they are so I won''t bother to introduce them to you. They are new here in our city and we''re expecting that you will all help them with what they need." The professor continued. "Where can we sit?" A girl, one of the new students asked. The professor looked around, trying to check for vacant seats. There were two vacant seats in front, one in the middle and another one at the back. It was perfect for the four of them but she wasn''t sure if they wanted to sit separately. "Are you okay sitting separately or would you like to sit together?" She asked, looking at the guy with jet black hair. He wasn''t listening to the professor so one of them answered. He was intently staring at someone. "Zion, what is it?" The new girl asked while looking around the room where Zion was looking. Zion didn''t say anything but to the surprise of everyone, he walked in the direction where Amaris was seated. "Is this seat taken?" He asked. Amaris was sitting at the back quietly. She was busy writing when she heard a familiar voice. She just met him earlier but for some reason, she was already familiar with his presence. She slowly tilted her chin up to look at the man standing in front of her. "That seat''s taken, he was absent because he ran into a fever." The professor said. He frowned when the professor said ''he'' which means a guy was sitting beside her. Amaris saw his face suddenly went dark when he glared at the professor. Without any word from Zion, the professor nodded and informed the class that the guy sitting beside him will be moved to the front seat. "Take your seats so we can start." Zion sat down beside her. She could see that the girls were giving her cold glare because she was sitting beside the alpha of the blue moon pack. Maxine was also looking at her, as if asking her what happened. She ignored them including her new seatmate and continued writing. She frowned when Zion handed her a small piece of paper. She knew she couldn''t ignore him forever so she looked at what it was about. ''Aren''t we friends? Why are you ignoring me?'' Friends? They just met and it was a coincidence. This guy is weird. ''Look around. The girls were glaring at me.'' She then returned the paper to him. He didn''t bother to look around. He didn''t care about the people around them. He was getting more interested in her. It seems that she was really different from the other girls. ''You want to know about the story of the Moon Goddess and the Demon Prince, right?'' He wrote. Her eyes widened. She suddenly looked at him when she read what he had written. Is he going to tell her about it? ''I''ll tell you the story. You want to ask a werewolf, right? Then I''ll be your werewolf.'' He met her gaze while holding the paper, showing her his answer. She blinked and bit her lips that made his inner thoughts crazy. He wasn''t really sure what it was. He was trying to figure out the reason why he was suddenly captivated by her. She snatched the paper and wrote something. Then she handed it to him with a frown. ''What''s the catch? I know you want something in return.'' He chuckled when he read it. She wasn''t an easy girl like the others. She was different in every way and that may be one of the reasons she caught his attention. ''Be my friend.'' She was confused. As far as she knows, werewolves don''t mingle with the Terrans. They lived together in peace and some of them worked with each other but she never heard that werewolves can offer friendship, much more from an alpha. He knew she was confused just by looking at her face. She was frowning and her eyes had a lot of questions. He crumpled the paper then leaned forward and whispered to her. "I will tell you everything I know if you meet me after class." She felt like a thousand volts of electricity ran through her body when his warm breath brushed into her cheek and neck. She could feel the goosebumps in her stomach.. She suddenly turned to his side and they were both surprised seeing their faces were just an inch away from each other. Chapter 4 - Connection His face was still close to her after telling her something. He couldn''t pull back when he smelled her scent. He was both drawn by her aura and captivated by her scent, he was trying to figure out her smell when she unexpectedly turned to him. They were both surprised and weren''t able to move, staring at each other, as if no one was around. He moved his gaze to her lips. He was still confused why he was acting like she was his mate. Werewolves would know if they found their mate just by the smell of their scent. The wolf inside them would feel the mating pull the moment they see and smell its other half. But his wolf wasn''t reacting at all. He wasn''t confirming nor denying the girl in front of him. "Can you be my friend?" Zion asked again, not blinking or even backing off. She curled her lips, thinking of the right words to say. "Just a friend?" She blurted. Again, she wanted to slap her mouth from asking something like that. He might think that she was not satisfied for just being his friend. "Why? Would you like to be more than that?" He asked, looking intently into her eyes. She suddenly got embarrassed when she realized how close they were, so she turned her gaze away from him. She looked around and was relieved that their classmates were focused on the lecture. He was about to lose control seeing her face was just an inch away from him. He wanted to cross that space but she suddenly turned her face away. Then he heard her chuckle. "My bad. Your offer seemed so simple." She honestly answered. She was actually right. Werewolves were known for being possessive with women. In her case, she wasn''t his mate but it was obvious that he was interested in her, plus the fact that they don''t usually make friends with Terrans. Offering her a simple friendship was really unbelievable for an alpha like him. "Just a friend." He simply answered. She was thinking about Zion''s offer. It won''t hurt her to accept his friendship. She was really interested in the Moon Goddess but she couldn''t find anything about her after the war. She sighed deeply and glanced at him, still blushing, she nodded and smiled. "Okay. Friends." She whispered. He was really happy with her answer. He reached out his hand to offer a handshake. She reached back to hold his hand. "See you later. In the garden." He said. She nodded. She was again looking into his eyes, trying to read what''s in it. She could still see some loneliness but a part of it vanished. She could sense that he was glad she accepted his offer even though he wasn''t smiling. When he slowly released her hand, his fingers slightly brushed her palm. She swallowed her saliva when she suddenly felt something burning inside her. She didn''t notice she let out a deep sigh. Again, she was confused that a simple gesture from him would greatly affect her. She had three boyfriends before but she never felt something like that when she was holding hands with them. That was one of the reasons they broke up just after a few days of their relationship. They told her that she was cold and too distant. She was physically present all the time, but her heart and mind were never there. She couldn''t understand the reason herself. When she agreed to date them, she was actually serious about it. They were her classmates and friends. She felt like she was in love with them, but she would always wake up one morning feeling nothing towards them. One of them asked her for a kiss. She tried accepting it but when he was so close to her, she suddenly pushed him. That was the day she got dumped. She thought she would be hurt and cry, but she actually felt relieved. After three failed relationships, she never dated anyone. There were a lot of guys who tried to ask her out. But she always rejected them. Zion was different. They just met but she felt like she knew him for a long time, but she wasn''t sure what it was that she felt towards him. "Can you feel it?" She was startled again by his voice. It was just a whisper, but she felt her body''s temperature rise from the warmth of his breath brushing through her skin. She frowned. Did he feel the same way? That feeling of connection between them, making her drawn to him. She thought inwardly. When he let go of her hand, he really brushed his fingers to her palm to see her reaction. He saw her flushed and let out a deep breath. He slightly smiled, seeing her react just by a simple touch from him. He was satisfied. He thought he was the only one who was affected by her presence. "Let''s talk." He said. "W-What?" Her eyes widened when he stood up. The professor noticed that Zion stood up. She turned to him and asked. "Yes? Do you need anything?" "I need to go out for a moment. We need to go out." He answered in a firm voice. Amaris became anxious. She didn''t expect that he would want to talk to her now. She thought they would meet after class was over. "Zion, what are you doing?" She murmured. It was a whisper but she was surprised when her classmates turned to them, looking specifically at her. She bowed her head when she saw her cousin staring at her, confused. He didn''t say a word. He didn''t even wait for the professor''s permission.. He suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her outside of the classroom. Chapter 5 - Her Scent She bowed to her professor as an apology while she was being dragged by Zion. Their classmates were shocked when they saw Zion pulling her outside. She was relieved that classes were still on going so there were no students in the hallway. But the classroom walls were made of glass so every time they passed by one classroom, she could see the students even the professors were looking at them, surprised and confused. "Zion, we could talk after class." She whispered. She didn''t sound convincing at all. She was embarrassed that almost everyone saw them but she actually wanted to know what was happening between them. Zion didn''t answer. For some reason, he was quiet ever since they got out of the classroom. She felt anxious when she didn''t hear anything from him. He dragged her in the garden, away from the eyes of everyone. She gasped for air when he suddenly pulled her, slamming her against the sakura tree. One of his hands was wrapped around her waist while the other was touching her face. He still didn''t say a word. He was just staring at her, as if he was memorizing every detail of her face. She couldn''t let out a single word either. She should be mad at him by dragging her outside while class was still on. She should be pushing him away, slapping his hand that was gently caressing her cheek. Instead, she felt a sudden rise of her body''s temperature. Her lips were slightly apart and she could feel the warmth of her own breath. "Z-Zion, what are you doing?" She asked in a trembling voice. He felt her breath brushing against his skin when she asked him. It was warm and smelled sweet. He wanted to figure out her scent so he leaned forward, burying his face on her neck. ''Fuck! She smells so nice.'' He thought inwardly. Again, he was trying to reach his wolf to help him figure out what she was to him and why he was acting like she was his mate. But the beast inside him didn''t respond. ''Useless animal!'' He said, shouting in his mind. ''I''m not useless!" His wolf finally answered. ''Why didn''t you answer? I need some answers regarding this woman.'' He asked impatiently. ''I can''t smell her. She''s different.'' He frowned. He was still savoring the smell of her scent while she stood there frozen. She bit her lips when she felt the heat from his mouth and nose. She couldn''t understand what he was doing, yet she didn''t have the strength to get away from him. ''What do you mean?'' He asked again. ''You know the reason why I can''t smell her. If you feel something towards that Terran, why don''t you bring her to the pack house?'' His wolf suggested. He knew his wolf wouldn''t be able to smell her scent. He was getting weak ever since he became an alpha without a luna. He couldn''t really blame his wolf, it was his fault. "Z-Zion, can you tell me what''s going on?" She finally had the strength to ask again. He pulled back a little, looking into her eyes. "I am craving for you. I don''t know the reason either. My wolf couldn''t smell you so I can''t tell if you are my mate. But your scent, there''s something about you. Who are you?" He asked. She couldn''t understand what he was talking about. She wasn''t that knowledgeable about werewolves. Her thoughts about them were based on books. This was the first time she actually encountered a werewolf. He waited for her response but she didn''t answer. He saw the confusion in her eyes and he knew she didn''t know anything either. His wolf said to bring her to the pack house. But what if she wasn''t the one he was looking for? His pack was getting weaker everyday because he never found his Luna. It will only weaken them more if he would bring a fake one. "Amaris, tell me, what do you feel towards me?" He asked in a soft voice. Hearing him asking in that tone, made her heart skip a bit. Her body was burning up and she could feel a tingling sensation between her thighs when she felt his crotch pressed against hers. "I-I don''t know. I can''t explain. This is a first for me b-but I felt like I know you. I felt like I met you before but I can''t remember." She said in a stammering voice. He could feel the warmth of her breath as she gasped for air. He knew she was beginning to feel the heat of her own body. He looked at her flushed face again. Her cheeks were red as well as her lips. She didn''t notice that she bit her lips and slightly parted them. She was also looking at his face, staring into his eyes. His silver eyes that were full of sadness, vanished. It was different this time. Was that lust? Excitement? She thought inwardly. He was trying his best not to cross the line. He wanted to be careful after what happened before. He couldn''t risk the safety of his pack again just because he felt something towards the girl in front of him. But he wouldn''t deny that this time, it was a lot different. He was drawn to her aura and intoxicated by her scent. He felt there''s a strong connection between them but he couldn''t tell what it was. He took a deep breath, staring at the girl who has ocean blue eyes and lips red as the blood moon. If it was just him, he wouldn''t think twice and would ravage her again and again. But he was an alpha who needed to protect his pack. He swore to put his pack first before anything else. She was just looking at the man in front of her. She was just standing there like a statue, her back leaning against the sakura tree. In her mind, she wanted to get away from him. But her body wouldn''t move. He let out a sigh again and was about to let her go, but when she suddenly wet her lips with her tongue, he snapped and lost control. "Fuck!" He exclaimed before leaning forward to cross the space between them. Chapter 6 - Be My Woman Her eyes widened when she saw his face getting closer. She wanted to push him away but her body didn''t seem to move an inch. When he pressed his lips to hers, everything stopped. She was supposed to run away from him, but instead, she slowly closed her eyes. They shared just a quick yet sweet and gentle kiss. He wanted a taste of her to confirm something but he didn''t want her to get scared of him. From her reaction, he knew she was his first kiss. He moved slightly away from her. Looking at the girl''s flushed face made him crave for her more. Her eyes were still closed, not moving from where she was standing. Then her body started trembling. He frowned when he saw her shaking. When she opened her eyes, he was surprised to see that they were starting to be filled with tears. He suddenly panicked and didn''t know what to do. "Amaris, I-I" She mustered her strength and with her hands, pushed him by his chest. Then she started walking away from him. Zion sensed that she would run away. When she was about to leave, he caught her again by grabbing her hand, slamming her back against the sakura tree. Tears were already falling from her eyes. She couldn''t even explain the reason why she was acting like that. It was obvious that she didn''t reject his kiss. She just stood there and did nothing. "Look at me." He ordered in a gentle voice. She didn''t look. With her head down and eyes on the ground, she started sobbing. "Look at me!" He almost yelled the second time. She was startled from the tone of his voice so she tilted her head up and looked at him. "You didn''t reject the kiss so why are you crying?" He asked with a frown on his face. He could see her lips curled and trembled as she tried to answer him while she was crying. He was staring at her face, memorizing the details of her beauty. She was mesmerizing even though she was crying. Her eyes were like the color of the sky and the vast ocean. "It''s my first kiss and you stole it from me." She answered. She was actually right. He didn''t ask her permission, he just pushed her in a corner and kissed her. He sighed deeply and stared into her eyes. "I don''t regret it so I won''t apologize. Besides, that would not be the last." He said in a soft voice. His gaze was making her body yearn for him. Him, looking at her like he was undressing her, felt like she was about to give in to him. "W-What do you mean?" She asked. "I don''t want you to be my friend anymore. Be my woman, Amaris. I want you to be mine." He blatantly said. She was surprised again by what he said. He didn''t expect that she would be kissed and asked by a werewolf to be his woman on the first day they met. "Are you making fun of me? You do realize that we just met right?" She frowned. "I''m a werewolf. I do not believe in courting and stuff." He answered casually. She took a deep breath and wiped the tears flowing in her face. She felt like she cried for nothing. She moved slightly away and turned to him. "Look, I will just pretend that this has never happened. I don''t care if you stole my first kiss, I can''t do anything about it anymore so I won''t bother thinking about it. Let''s pretend we never met. I will ignore you and you do the same." He frowned then tried to get close to her but she stepped back away from him. He raised his hands in surrender, signaling he won''t move from where he was. "Why? I''m serious." He said. "Are you seriously asking me why? Have you gone crazy? We just met. We don''t even know each other. You are a werewolf, I am a terran. Your kind believes in fate, mating and stuff. Our kind simply believes in love. You wanted me to be your woman like you were just asking to get something so easy. What about your mate? I don''t have enough knowledge about you, but I know that your goddess gave each one of you a mate, someone that you would form an unbreakable bond with." She answered, pissed. He sighed. "I am different. I am an alpha without a luna. A werewolf without a mate. The Moon Goddess didn''t give me one. I am cursed to live alone for a thousand years." She didn''t respond for a moment. She wasn''t really sure what to say to him. Hearing those words about him, made her realize the reason he looked so sad. But she would never agree to be his woman. "I''m sorry. But I cannot be your woman." She said then turned around and walked away. He didn''t bother to follow her. Her reaction was normal from a terran''s point of view. What made him think that she would be different from the other terrans? He sat down under the sakura tree, leaned his back against its trunk then rested his head. "How long have I been living alone like this? How many places have I been to? Just to search for someone that I don''t even know if she existed. I lost count already. Oh goddess, am I really cursed?" He said, talking to himself. The truth is he wasn''t really sure if he felt a bond with Amaris. But she was different. He felt something towards her, he just couldn''t explain what it was. ''Are you going to leave her alone like that?'' It was his wolf. Sighing, he looked at the flowers in front of him. It was beautiful and breathtaking like her, he thought. ''For the first time in a hundred years, I am not sure." He answered. ''I apologize for not being able to help. I think I am weaker than before so you need to bring her to the pack house. Why don''t you try telling her the truth? Maybe she would be willing to help you..'' He suggested. Chapter 7 - Promise A week passed and she never spoke to Zion. He was sitting beside her during lectures but they never talked. After being kissed by the most powerful werewolf, she just went home that day. She signed an excuse letter that she was not feeling well so she would be permitted to go home early. She knew if she ever did go back after being dragged by Zion, everyone would ask her why. Her cousin, Maxine, asked her when she got home. She made up a lie and told her that she accidentally said something offensive to Zion so he was just scolding her. Maxine believed her since she wasn''t like other girls who were fond of werewolves. Her cousin was the one who spread what happened between her and Zion so she didn''t really explain anything to anyone. Zion didn''t tell anyone about it either. He didn''t bother to correct the rumor that she was scolded by him. But she did feel the coldness from him every time that he was near her. The feeling that she felt from him that day suddenly vanished. She thought Zion was different but it was like the time that she had a boyfriend. She was happy and in love, but she woke up one morning and she couldn''t feel anything towards the guy. It was the same with Zion. The day they met, she felt a strong connection towards him. A desire was burning inside her especially when he kissed her. The next day, she felt nothing. Her memory wasn''t erased but her feelings were. She thought that was normal. But now she realized that there must be something wrong with her. All her memories before the accident has been erased, but her feelings towards a guy would always disappear overnight. It was lunch time, she was fixing her things when one of her classmates approached her. He was looking at her, smiling, showing her his white perfectly aligned teeth. "Ahm Ari! I was just wondering if you are free after class? I want to tell you something." He said, blushing. She already knew what he would tell her. She wanted to reject him but then she thought he could help her confirm something about her. She would try to get to know the guy and maybe she would fall for him then see if she would forget it after. She was about to answer him when they heard a loud sound. When she turned her eyes from the direction of the noise, she saw Zion was holding a guy by his collar. The sound came from the chair and table that was flipped on the floor. Did he do that? She asked herself, frowning. She wasn''t paying attention to Zion anymore after he kissed her, so she didn''t know what exactly happened. A lot of their classmates were still inside the classroom when the commotion started and were all shocked from Zion''s behavior. She wasn''t interested to know why but then she noticed the other werewolves in their class were looking at her. They were staring at her as if it was her fault. She saw Zion was aiming his fist to the guy when she suddenly stood up and called him. "Zion!" She exclaimed. She was surprised by her own reaction. She wasn''t sure why she suddenly called out his name. But she couldn''t take back what she did anymore. Everyone''s attention was on her and was waiting for her next move. Zion slowly turned his face to Amaris. His face looked dark and she knew he was angry. From whom? She didn''t know. She took a deep breath and walked towards him. She didn''t care about the other people in the room, her mind suddenly was filled with Zion''s face. "What do you want?" He asked her in a cold tone. For some reason, she felt her heart was pierced by a needle when she heard him talk to her in that tone. Another confusion of hers. She thought she already lost her feelings towards him. That feeling of connection that she couldn''t explain suddenly came back. When she got closer to him, she reached out her hand, brushed her palm gently to Zion''s arm. She felt his muscles tensed because of her touch. She saw his jaw clenched but his dark aura disappeared. "Stop. Let go of him." She said. Zion couldn''t understand why she wasn''t offended by her words. From the other people''s views, it seemed like she was ordering him. But for him, he felt something gentle hearing her voice. It calmed him. He slowly removed his grip on the guy''s collar and signaled him to go away. When he looked around, the students were looking at him and Amaris. The three werewolves were also staring at him, confused. After he kissed Amaris, his behavior changed. He became anxious. He wanted to talk to her but he felt like there was something in her eyes that he didn''t see anymore from the first day they met. He couldn''t feel that she was also drawn to him and it feels like she was getting far away from him everyday. "Come with me." He ordered before walking towards the exit door. She didn''t move. She was hesitating if she would come with him again. He sensed that she was just standing there and didn''t follow him. He turned around to face her again. "If you don''t come with me, I will never ask you again." He said in a serious tone, enough to be heard by everyone. They looked at Zion then to Amaris, waiting for her response. They were surprised and confused from what happened. The alpha of the blue moon pack suddenly stopped attacking someone just because a terran girl said so. "Will you promise me one thing?" She asked. "What is it?" Zion frowned. She sighed deeply and bit her lips before staring directly into his eyes. "Promise me that you will never let go of my hand." "I will never let go of you.." He answered before rushing towards her. Chapter 8 - Decision "So, what are we doing here? Are you going to ask me something?" Amaris asked innocently. Zion couldn''t believe what she just said. They shared another kiss earlier and in front of everyone, now she was asking him again as if nothing happened. "Why are you asking me like nothing happened? Are you playing with me?" He asked, looking at her with a frown face. She blushed. She suddenly remembered what they did earlier. She bit her lips and crouched down, pouting. They were back in the garden when Zion dragged her out for the second time. "What have I done? I kissed a guy in front of those people and he was a werewolf, an alpha to be exact." She was talking to herself in a loud voice. He chuckled. "You do realize I''m here, right?" She looked at him and he was smiling. She felt her heart skip a beat and the feelings she had on the day they first met came back. She stood up, her face became serious. "What is it?" He asked, confused. He saw her expression change and he knew she wanted to say something. "I want to tell you something. Can we talk somewhere else?" She asked. She wasn''t comfortable telling him her story in the school garden. She felt like someone was listening to them and the students would definitely look for them just to scoop some stories. "I can take you to the pack house. My wolf suggested the other day to bring you there but you were ignoring me for the whole week. So if you''re okay with that then I''ll take you there." He offered. She stared into his eyes, making sure of his sincerity. "Okay. But we will leave after class." She answered. Zion wasn''t just an alpha of a pack. He came from a very wealthy family. He''s the heir of the Verlice Empire, one of the richest clans in Terra but here in Aramoor City, they are the richest. Amaris didn''t really think much of his background. She was just starting to get to know him anyway. She wanted Zion to tell her about himself. She wasn''t interested to base her impressions on those rumors and news. After class, Maxine approached her to ask about Zion. She dragged Amaris in the corner and Zion saw that. Amaris looked at him and he knew she was telling him that everything''s okay. "I''ll wait for you outside." Zion murmured when he passed through the two of them. Therese and Gladies, their twin friends, also joined in with them. "What was that, Ari? Are you in a relationship with him? How did it happen? Are you his mate?" Maxine continuously asked. "W-wait! One at a time Max. I can''t answer you if you keep on throwing questions." She said, stopping her cousin from panic. Maxine crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. She didn''t ask another question but waited for Amaris answer. "So? Explain!" Amaris sighed and told them what happened on the day they first met. "Are you sure about this Ari? You said both of you couldn''t figure out your feelings. I don''t want you to get hurt." Max said in a worried voice. That''s what she loves about Maxine. She was a bitch and stubborn but she was always there for her. She was her best friend. She knew Maxine felt the same towards her. They were more like sisters than cousins. "Max, ever since the accident, I felt like there was something missing inside me. A part of me was lost for five years. When I met Zion, I suddenly felt a connection. I know there was something about him. I have this feeling that he was part of the missing piece of myself." She briefly explained. Max took a deep breath and held her hand. "You know that I would never stop you from getting your memories back. I made a promise to you, remember? I want you to be happy. But if anything goes wrong, I''m here okay?" Max said then pulled her into a hug. The twins who just listened to their conversation joined in. Then they went out of the room where Zion and the other three werewolves were waiting. She wasn''t expecting a warm smile from them, she was a normal girl after all. But she doesn''t really care about it now. "Zion, this is Maxine, my cousin. And my friends, the twins Therese and Gladies." She introduced them to him. "Hi!" The twins greeted in unison. Maxine was glaring at Zion. Just the other day, her cousin was fangirling over him but now she looks like she was throwing daggers at him from her eyes. "I don''t care who you are, if you hurt my precious Ari, I will make sure to put you in a cage!" She said with gritted teeth. "Max!" Amaris called. Maxine pouted but stopped glaring at Zion. Amaris noticed that the two other guys were smiling except for the girl who was staring at her. "This is Cole, my beta. Xavier, my delta. And this is Zoila, my sister." Zion introduced his comrades, ignoring Max''s rant. "Hi, I''m Amaris. But everyone calls me Ari." She answered while smiling politely. She first thought that Zoila had a crush on Zion because she was giving her a cold stare. Turns out, she was the sister. The evil one? She wasn''t sure of that. "Let''s go?" Zion asked, reaching out his hand to her. She wasn''t hesitating anymore. She made a decision that she would come with him to find out his connection to her. She looked at Max and as her cousin nodded, she reached back to hold Zion''s hand. They went to the parking lot and walked towards a red ferrari. Zion opened the passenger door in front, she looked at Zoila and turned to Zion. "She''ll ride with them. Don''t worry about her." He said. She nodded before going inside the car. Zion talked to his friends and sister first before following her in the car. "Where do you-" Her question was cut off when he suddenly grabbed her by the neck and slammed his lips to hers. Chapter 9 - The Pack House The kiss wasn''t like the first and the second time. She could feel his burning desire towards her. His kiss was forceful and hungry, yet she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. She slightly parted her lips to give way to his tongue. He explored the inside of her mouth, tasting and savoring the wetness of it. She moved her tongue to meet his and as they wrestled against each other, she felt his hand moved under her shirt. She was surprised when he suddenly fondled one of her breasts. "Zion." She called his name in between their kisses. He knew she was asking him to stop so he slightly pulled away, raising his hands to show her that he stopped. He gently kissed her on the forehead then to her lips. "My bad. I can''t control myself when we''re alone." He said. "Can we kiss for now? I mean, I''m not really sure if I''m ready with other stuff. And I really want us to know each other first." She suggested. He wasn''t sure if she was serious about it but she didn''t look like she was also kidding. He scratched his head and took a deep breath. "Are you planning to torture me?" He whined. "I''m not. But we just met a week ago. And this feeling I have today might be gone tomorrow." She said, giving him an introduction of what she would tell him. He frowned. His face showed that he got confused by what she just said. "I''ll tell you everything. Let''s go to your house first." She answered. It was an hour drive from the school to Zion''s pack house. It was located at the western part of the city far from the tall buildings and busy streets. It was her first time coming to this side and it was amazing. She always loved nature and the road to the pack house was full of pine trees. She noticed that they turned and were going up a hill. Zion opened the window and she was surprised to see the ocean sparkling under the soft glow of moonlight. She could smell the salty ocean breeze when the wind suddenly blew. "Do you like it?" He asked. "Are you serious? I loved it!" She said while smiling widely at him. His heart skipped a beat seeing her smile like that. When the wind blew, her scent mixed with the smell of the ocean. ''Gardenia!'' Zion was startled when his wolf suddenly talked. ''What the hell are you babbling?'' He asked, annoyed at his wolf for disturbing his moment with Amaris. ''Her scent! It''s the scent of the flower, gardenia!'' He confidently told Zion. ''Are you sure? You were unable to figure out any scent after the war. Are you telling me now that your sense of smell came back?'' Zion asked again. ''No. I could only smell her. I don''t think it came back but I''m sure about her scent.'' His heart started beating fast, if it was from what his wolf said, he wasn''t sure. But he felt that there was still hope. If he could smell her, does that mean she was his mate? Is she really the one who he sought for more than a hundred years? He looked at the girl who was sitting on the passenger seat. She turned to him and smiled. In the background, he saw the moon glowing in full and its entire glory in the night sky. He smiled back at her, right there and then, he swore that whatever happens, Amaris would be his Luna. She saw a huge mansion which was proudly standing at the top of the hill. She looked at Zion again and asked. "That''s your pack house?" She suddenly felt excited when she saw that the place looked like a castle. "It''s Verlice Castle. My family owned the place for centuries. Before, this place was called The Enchanted Hill by your kind. Back then, our kind was hiding from yours and no one was allowed to enter here except us." He explained, amused seeing her excited and smiling like that. "How big is it?" She asked, curiosity piqued. He chuckled, "Fifty hectares. The main house was the one in the middle. It has around sixty five bedrooms, eighty bathrooms, twenty three sitting rooms, it also has a five acre garden, indoor and outdoor pools. The other pack members were living in the small houses around the mansion. There are forty members of the pack who are currently living in the main house." "Wow, you said small houses but they are ten times bigger than our house in the city." She said, shocked by what he said. But what amazed her the most was the beauty of nature of the place. The smell of the trees surrounding the whole area mixed with the scent of the ocean breeze and the fragrance of different flowers. When they parked in front of the main house, Cole and Xavier were waiting outside. Zoila wasn''t there anymore so she assumed she was already asleep. Zion rushed to her side to open the door for her. He gave the car key to Cole then tapped the two men before dragging her inside the house. "Do you want to have a tour first or do you want us to talk now?" He asked. She really wanted to look around but she needed to tell him everything about her first. She wanted them to share something about themselves so they could move forward. "Let''s talk first." She said. He nodded, pulling her on the top floor of the mansion. "Come in." He said, inviting her. She frowned. From all the rooms in the mansion, he decided to bring her into his bedroom. She crossed her arms and looked at him with doubtful eyes. "Hey, I promise I won''t touch you from now on without your consent." He promised while making a cross sign on his chest. She giggled then walked inside the bedroom. When she looked around, it was like she was in an apartment unit. There was a living room, a mini kitchen and a bar. She bit her lips when she saw the huge king-sized bed. The bed looks like it was hand-built and the frame was made from ash, cherry, and chestnut wood with delicate and intricate carvings. The sheets were made from Italian silk and cotton curtains. The headboard was also custom-built embedded with diamonds. She was startled when Zion wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind. She didn''t stop him, instead she put her hands to his and slightly smiled. "Zion, what if tomorrow I forgot the feelings I have today?" She asked. Chapter 10 - Stay With Me He couldn''t understand what she was pointing out. She told him about it before they left the school but she didn''t explain it to him. "Okay, let''s talk about it. Come, let''s sit." He said, guiding her to the couch. But instead of making her sit on the couch, he suddenly pulled her into his lap. "Let''s talk like this." He said in a hoarse voice. She knew he was lusting over her but she didn''t reject him. She nodded and put her arms around his neck while looking directly into his eyes. "Will you listen to me? I want you to listen to everything, okay?" She asked, making sure he would attentively listen. He saw that she was serious about what she would tell him so he decided to seriously listen to every word she would say. "Five years ago, my family got into an accident. My parents and my older sister died on the spot. I died at the hospital. That was what the medical report said. But after an hour, I casually opened my eyes like nothing happened." She started. "That time, I felt like I was reborn and all of my memories were erased. I couldn''t remember a single thing about me, even my name. My aunt, Maxine''s mom, came and explained everything to me. I should be feeling sad, knowing that my family died but I felt nothing. A lot of people said that I was a miracle child, but most of them looked at me like I was cursed." She paused and took a deep breath. He could feel the sadness and bitterness from her voice. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "After high school, my aunt forced me to go to college. I don''t really want to go to school anymore. Ever since the accident, I felt like something was missing. I didn''t feel complete. I tried to live normally and just like other girls, I had boyfriends, three times. They were either friends or classmates. I agreed to date them because I really thought that I was in love." His face suddenly changed when he heard her say that she had relationships before. He felt something pierced his heart but he didn''t want her to get distracted. "So what happened? With those men." She chuckled. She knew he was jealous. Her feelings towards him may not be that deep for now but for a werewolf, once they feel something to someone, whether it was love or lust, they get overly protective. "I woke up one morning and I couldn''t feel anything towards them anymore. One of them asked permission to kiss me, I agreed at first but when I saw him getting closer, I pushed him. He dumped me after that." He was relieved to hear that she wasn''t bitter or sad when the guy dumped her. He was thankful that she wasn''t kiss by those guys or he might need to look for them to see how they look like. "The day I met you, I felt a connection between us. When you kissed me, I felt the connection was deeper than I imagined. But I couldn''t just agree with you when you asked me to be your woman. I went home, thinking about you. The next morning, I felt nothing. All those feelings vanished. I didn''t forget you, only the feelings towards you were gone." "So that''s the reason you keep babbling about forgetting me tomorrow?" He asked with a frown on his face. She nodded. It might sound funny and that she was just overthinking about it, but she wanted to know the answer to her confusion. "You said your feelings vanished the next day we met, but why did you suddenly approach me earlier?" "I don''t know. It came back all of a sudden. Do you think I''m weird?" She asked. He embraced her tighter and started kissing her on the shoulders. Then he looked at her face to answer her question. "Not really. Although, I''m not sure if what happened to you was something normal to your kind or something else. I mean something dark. If you want, I know someone that can help you." "Really? Who is it?" She asked, excitedly. "A witch. But you have to wait for her return. She was summoned the other day and would be back after a month." He simply answered. She pouted. She didn''t expect that she would find someone that could help her but it was disappointing to know that she needed to wait for a month. "Hey, I promise I will introduce you to her. I don''t want you to forget about me so I really wanted to help you." He said in a gentle voice. She felt Zion''s sincerity through his words and it was rude of her to act like that even after he offered to help her. "I''m sorry. I don''t want to wake up tomorrow and not remember this feeling." She apologized while holding on to her chest. He leaned forward but didn''t kiss her and was waiting for her permission. She gave him a quick kiss instead, with a flushed and a slightly smiling face, she stared into his eyes while biting her lips. He pressed his lip gently to hers, kissing her passionately. It was just a quick kiss but she felt like her body was burning up. "Ari, can you stay here with me?" He suddenly asked. She was surprised. Everything was too fast for her. She understood that werewolves were territorial and what he felt for her was somehow the same as a mating pull. But what if they were both wrong? "Zion, you told me that the Moon Goddess didn''t give you a mate. That you were meant to be alone for a thousand years. Can you tell me why?" She asked, curiously. He took a deep breath, thinking if he would tell her about his story. ''Tell her.'' It was his wolf. ''Are you sure? Do you think I need to tell her?'' He asked, still hesitating. ''Yes. Tell her.'' His wolf insisted. He looked at her again. It''s not that he didn''t trust her, but he felt like it was too early to tell her. "If you''re not ready to tell me, don''t force yourself. I will wait for you until you''re ready." She said in a soothing voice. He raised his hand to touch her face. He brushed his fingers to her lips then down to her neck. He looked away when he saw her shoulder. "What is it?" She frowned. "Nothing.. I was just thinking of what you said earlier about wanting to get to know each other. How about I start by telling you about our kind? So I will ask you again, can you stay here with me?" Chapter 11 - Introduction Amaris blinked twice and let out a deep sigh. She couldn''t decide if she would stay with Zion for good. They just met a week ago and everything seems too fast for her. "How about I stay here three days a week? Like every weekend?" She suggested. Zion looked at her, thinking. He kissed her gently on the forehead while she stared at him waiting for his answer. "Alright. But can you stay here tonight? You can sleep on the bed, I''ll sleep on the couch. Let''s see if tomorrow you will forget me." Zion agreed. She looked at the time and saw that it was almost eight in the evening. She didn''t want to disturb Zion to drive her home and she still wanted to explore the castle. "Let''s sleep on the bed but behave yourself." She answered. His face lit up when she agreed to stay for the night. He was about to kiss her when they heard a crumbling sound. She laughed while touching her stomach. "Come on. Let''s have dinner. It''s perfect timing since the pack eats at eight." He said laughing. She started to feel nervous. She wasn''t ready to meet all the members of the pack. She was still an outsider, a Terran who suddenly became their Alpha''s lover. Zion noticed her reaction. He held her hand, gently putting them to his moistened lips. "Hey, don''t worry. They''re not what you think they are. I know they will like you." He said in a reassuring voice. "B-But Zion, I am not your mate. Isn''t this forbidden to your kind? I have a lot of questions in my mind, things that I couldn''t understand. I really wanted to know more about you, your kind and the Moon Goddess." She said, looking at him full of confusion. He took a deep breath, pulling her into a hug. "And I promise that you will know about us little by little. I don''t want to tell you just like that, I want to show you who we really are." He explained. "Okay. I''m looking forward to that." She answered while hugging her back. There were a lot of things that she couldn''t understand. But she wouldn''t question her feelings towards Zion. It was stronger now. She wasn''t sure if her feelings would disappear in the morning but for now, she wanted to be with him. They went back downstairs and walked in a long hallway before reaching the dining hall. She was amazed to see how huge it was. Zion told her that it could accommodate more than a hundred guests. Stretching at a hundred and ten feet, carved with rosewood and lined with silver leather. When they entered, she saw the members of the pack, dining beneath the ornate chandeliers using gold and platinum cutlery. They were standing in the entrance door while being stared at by the werewolves of the Blue Moon Pack. Her heart was pounding and beating like a drum, seeing those eyes looking at her like she was a stranger. But she really was. A stranger who was randomly dragged by their Alpha. She felt Zion''s hand holding her and gently pulling her by the end of the table. He pulled out a chair, asking her to sit. Zion sat at the end while she was on his right. Across her was Zoila, Zion''s sister, who was again giving her a cold glare. "Everyone, I would like you to meet Amaris. She is a Terran, yes, to answer your question." Zion introduced her. She frowned. She didn''t understand what he just said. She didn''t hear anyone ask Zion about her being a Terran. She looked at him and he understood then pointed at his temple. "It''s called a mind link. An Alpha of the pack can communicate with its members through his mind. I can read everyone''s thoughts here." "Wow. That''s really cool. Do you have other superpowers or abilities?" She innocently asked. He chuckled. Seeing her asking like a little child with eyes wide open amused him. He wanted to see different reactions and expressions from her. But he was actually thinking of her expression in bed. ''You''re a pervert.'' It was his wolf. ''Shut up! Can''t you feel that craving when you smell her scent?'' He asked. The beast inside an Alpha usually has a stronger mating pull. Once they smell their mate, they will feel an increased desire to be close to them. ''Why do you keep on asking me about her? You know the answer to that question.'' Zion sighed. It was frustrating to know that his wolf couldn''t even have the ability to find its true mate. It was a curse given by the Moon Goddess. "Zion?" Amaris called, cutting his thoughts. "Ah yes! I have. But you have to find out about it yourself." He said in a naughty voice while winking at her. She rolled her eyes but was giggling. She wasn''t paying attention to the cold stares from the creatures around them. She wasn''t expecting that they would accept her that easily. She couldn''t even say if her relationship with Zion would last longer than her three other boyfriends in the past. But she couldn''t just deny the connection between them. The dinner went smoothly and quietly. No one dared to question their Alpha''s decision to have a relationship with a Terran. He hasn''t marked her yet and that''s one of the reasons they won''t say anything about it. They were thinking that she was only a substitute to lessen his loneliness. After dinner, the members of the pack went to their respective duties. Amaris learned that even though there was peace between werewolves, vampires and other beings, they still had guardians and watchers surrounding the whole territory. Zion pulled her outside of the dining hall to give her a quick tour when his sister called him. "Zion, can we talk?" She nodded when Zion looked at her. She saw the siblings go inside a room a few steps away from the dining hall. She was curious so she followed them and didn''t expect that the door was partially opened so she could actually hear their discussion. "Zion, what are you doing? I understand that you were attracted to her but that''s not a mating pull. Remember what happened fifty years ago? To our parents? You swore in their grave that you won''t make the same mistakes again." She heard Zoila ranting. She didn''t really know what she meant by those words. But the more information she got, the more she wanted to dig deeper. Chapter 12 - Deja Vu Amaris walked closer to the door but she was startled when someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned to see who it was, there was no one there. She frowned. She was sure that someone touched her shoulder. She suddenly felt goosebumps on her nape and her whole body shivers, getting an abrupt feeling of coldness. "Amaris." She gasped for air when she heard a muffled whisper in her ear. She looked around again but she was alone in a seemingly endless long hallway. She didn''t notice it earlier but looking at it, the hall was full of old paintings on the wall and a full window on the other side. You could see the full moon outside looking like a huge silver disc illuminating in the night sky. When she took a step on the red carpeted floor, a sudden chill swept through her bones. In every exhale, she could see her breath forming a small cloud. It was cold but she didn''t know it was that cold. Shrugging off the coldness of the hallway, she continued to walk forward to look for the one who called her. She glanced from side to side looking in some form of person or figure. "Amaris." Her heart started pounding when she heard the voice again. She wandered down the hallway and began to feel a sort of deja vu, she felt like she had been there before or at least a particular part of it. She continued to stroll, feeling a bit of anticipation, like something would happen or already had happened. She stopped and turned her eyes to an old painting of a woman. She has long straight golden hair with a pair of silver eyes and lips red as blood. On her head was a crown with a symbol of the crescent moon. She was sitting on a golden throne and the moon was shining brightly in her background. "She''s Selene, the Moon Goddess." She was startled once more when someone spoke in her ear. "Zion!" She was relieved to see who it was. She looked around to check if there were other people aside from them. But still, she didn''t see anyone and the feeling of coldness she had earlier was gone. "Is there something wrong? You look like you''ve seen a ghost." Zion asked, looking at her worried. She shook her head and just ignored the feeling she had. "I''m fine." She answered then turned to the woman on the painting again. For some reason, there was something on the painting that she couldn''t explain. She stared at the woman for a few minutes, wondering why she was drawn to her. "She''s beautiful. I''ve never seen her photo in books, all I could find was a description of her." She mumbled. "That''s because no one has seen her for decades. She was known to be a loving and selfless goddess until she herself fell in love with a demon." Zion sounded dejected. She glanced at Zion who was looking at the Moon Goddess with longing yet disappointed eyes. "What happened to her?" She asked, curiously. Zion took a deep breath, reached out his hand to touch the painting. "Selene is the daughter of Hyperion and Theia. They are one of the twelve Titans and the first original Gods. She resided on the moon and became the Moon Goddess. She was believed to be our creator so we worship her as a God. She was also the one responsible for our mating and shifting. But she fell in love with Phelan, a Demon Prince. The Gods were against them so they forced Phelan to join in a competition between all the Demon Princes." He paused, sighing deeply while looking at the painting. "Orcus, the Demon God, ordered Asmodeus, the current Demon King that time and the father of Phelan, to send his sons and daughters to the human world. Their duty was to spread fear and darkness. And there''s one rule given to them, to not fall in love with your kind. If they do, they will lose their powers and become mortals. They can never go back to their home as well. But the Gods had other plans, they made Phelan fall in love with a mortal." Amaris was just listening to Zion. The story he told her was not written in books given to them in school. It was just said that Phelan cheated on Selene. It was never mentioned that the Gods actually did something to make him fall for another woman. "Selene was furious with Phelan, not knowing the truth and blinded by hatred, she decided to curse him and his descendants. She cursed them that if they ever find their mate, one of them will die." Zion continued. Amaris bit her lips and mustered the courage to ask Zion. "A-Are you a descendant of Phelan?" She asked. He knew she would ask her about it. He openly told her that he was cursed by the Goddess, giving her a hint of his situation. "No. I am not. Or the answer is I am not sure. No one really knows who Phelan''s descendants are. Only the high priestess of the witches knew who they were." She was confused. He said he was cursed. If he wasn''t Phelan''s descendant, then why did the Moon Goddess curse him? "Like I said, I was cursed for a thousand years. What happened to Selene and Phelan was just a few decades back and I was cursed two hundred years ago." He answered her confusion but he didn''t actually tell her in detail. He still wasn''t sure if he would tell her about it now. He was afraid that if she found out everything about him, she would be disgusted. Amaris felt that Zion was still hesitating to tell her everything. She respected his decision and decided to wait further. She held his hand and smiled at him. "Let''s go to sleep. I suddenly felt exhausted." She said to change the topic. He nodded and they started walking away from the painting. Amaris took a last glance at Selene''s painting. There it was again, the feeling of deja vu.. From where or from who? She wasn''t sure. Chapter 13 - Permission Zion was pacing back and forth. He could hear the sound of the shower in the bathroom where Amaris was taking a bath. She told him she wasn''t ready to do more than kissing and he promised he wouldn''t do anything without her permission. ''Why are you acting like a gentleman towards her? You weren''t like that before.'' His wolf asked. ''I told you she''s different. It wasn''t just lust that I felt about her. Like what she said, it feels like we knew each other. Her scent, her touch, everything about her is different. I know you can''t figure it out now, but I think she''s the one.'' He explained. ''And what if you''re wrong again? You understand your sister''s point, right? What if it happens again? Are you willing to risk everything for a Terran?'' ''Then how can you explain her scent? You lost your sense of smell a hundred years ago. You were unable to smell anyone, especially your mate, ever since that day, but why were you able to recognize her scent?'' He asked his wolf. It wasn''t his wolf''s fault that he couldn''t smell anyone. It was part of his curse given by the Moon Goddess, that his wolf would never smell his mate for a thousand years. ''Gardenia. It was our mate''s favorite flower. Have you forgotten about it? The place where we always played was in a secret flower field. It was full of gardenia. Remember what she said? That flower was even more fragrant at night. Maybe that''s one reason.'' He wasn''t convinced. No one can break the curse given to him by the Moon Goddess, even the most scented flower. He was sighing deeply when the bathroom door opened. He was surprised to see Amaris wearing just a short robe. She was blushing while pulling the end of the robe to cover her legs. He looked at her from head to toe and swallowed his saliva when he saw her smooth, slender and perfectly toned legs. "I don''t have a change of clothes. I was wondering if you could lend me your shirt?" She asked with a flushed face. He took a deep breath again, scratching his head then walked towards the walk in closet. He didn''t notice that Amaris followed him. "Your room really looks like an apartment." She commented. He was startled when she suddenly talked. He averted his eyes when he saw her standing by the door, looking so sexy. "You know you''re making me lose my control. If you walk like that in here, I might just grab you and pin you down on the bed." He said while looking at his clothes. He was just staring at the pile of clothes, but his mind was full of her. Just seeing her wearing something so short, knowing that there was nothing beneath the bath robe, was making his body excited. "Hmm. I actually thought that you would barge into the bathroom and join me, but I guess you really have a lot of control." She said in a seductive voice. She was already beside him when she said those words. She picked one of his shirts then winked at him before turning her back to walk out of the closet. He didn''t expect that she would say that. Does that mean she was actually waiting for him to do something? He was confused and rushed outside to follow her. "Ari!" He called then grabbed her hand. She turned to him, looking so flushed. She was embarrassed to make the first move but she was really expecting something from him. "I want to touch you. Will you allow me?" He asked. She bit her lips while looking at him. Her heart was beating so fast and pounding loudly. She couldn''t understand why she was so attracted to Zion. But she wanted more than just lust. With her three boyfriends in the past, she didn''t feel anything like this. She was still worried that she might forget her feelings in the morning like what happened to her past relationships. She was hoping that she won''t forget this time and Zion would remain in her heart. "Zion, if I agree. If I tell you I want you, too. What will happen to us tomorrow?" He reached out his hand, brushing her cheeks with his fingers while staring into her face and memorizing every detail. "I will do everything for you. If tomorrow you forget this feeling, this moment, if you can''t remember my touch then I will make you remember. If that''s the only way for me to stay in your heart, I would be willing to do it everyday." She took a deep breath then started walking backwards. He frowned and started losing his confidence. But he was willing to wait for her until she accepted him. His eyes widened when she slowly pulled the robe tie. She stared into his eyes letting out a rapid breathing while she undressed herself in front of him. She let the robe slide down to her body, dropping it to the floor. She was completely naked in front of him. She wasn''t sure if her decision was the right one but she wanted to feel Zion''s warmth. Zion rushed into her and without a word, carried her on the bed. She suddenly felt embarrassed when he looked at her from head to toe. She tried to pull the sheets to cover herself but Zion stopped her. "You''re perfect. Like a goddess." He commented. He stood up and started taking off his clothes. She gasped when she saw his hardened flesh. She wasn''t so ignorant about the opposite sex''s thing, but she was surprised to see how big it was. "Zion." She called. He knew she was worried and scared. It was her first time after all. And not to brag, his dick was really bigger than normal guys. He wasn''t an alpha for nothing. "Don''t worry. Let''s take this slow. I won''t do anything you don''t like. If you want me to stop, just tell me okay?" He said in a reassuring voice. She nodded and waited for his next move.. He joined her on the bed, positioning himself on top of her. Chapter 14 - [R18] Take Me He took her lips and started kissing her gently. They were soft and tasted like candy, it was sweet. He was trying his best to be gentle and not scare her. He wanted her to not forget her first time. She slightly parted her lips when she felt his tongue brushing her lower lip. She moaned when his tongue found hers, sucking it gently. When she responded to his kisses, he started to move his hands to explore her body. She felt him fondling one of her breasts, groping it and gently touching her skin around her nipples. He pulled back a little and stared at her flushed face. He kissed her on the forehead then gazed upon her beauty. Her ocean blue eyes sparkled as her cheeks blushed from both the feeling of heat running through her whole body and the excitement his lustful eyes were giving her. She was panting and gasping for air. She could feel the warmth of her own breath every time she let out a rapid breathing. She couldn''t take the feeling of being stared at by him. She wanted him to touch her badly but she couldn''t tell him what she exactly wanted him to do. Covering her face with her palms, she bit her lips. He chuckled while he grabbed her by the wrists, removing her hands away from her face. "Don''t look at me like that. It''s embarrassing." She said in a hoarse voice. Her breasts were bigger than other girls her age. She had a perfectly shaped waistline and a flat belly. She wasn''t conscious about her figure but after the accident, her doctors gave her a balanced diet and was told to exercise to stay fit and healthy. She was perfect like a goddess. He touched her on the cheek and softly planted a kiss on her forehead again and then to her lips. It was just a quick kiss but it was enough to make her ask for more as he slightly brushed his tongue to his lips, licking them. "Don''t be. You are breathtaking. Ari, can I touch you more? I want to kiss you from here down to here." She panted when she felt his finger run through her neck and slowly to her crotch. "Zion, please. Don''t ask. I want you. Touch me more, I am craving for your touch." She said while gasping for air. He suddenly felt his excitement grow when she said those words. He was trying to control himself but now that she permitted it, he felt his dick twitched and hardened. He leaned forward again and kissed her lips then moved to her neck. She felt his tongue circling around her bare shoulder, licking it. As far as she knew, that was the place where a werewolf marked his mate. She wasn''t expecting a mark from him and she wouldn''t ask something like that from him. For an alpha, marking someone who wasn''t even his true mate was a huge decision to make. He wanted to mark her to make her officially his. He wasn''t hesitating but for werewolves, he should mark her first in front of his pack then complete the mating ritual on their first night as Alpha and Luna. Instead of biting her, he sucked her gently on the shoulder, giving her a temporary mark. She moaned when he felt him sucking him while his tongue continuously licked her after. "I promise I will give you my mark once everything''s settled. You are mine, Ari and I am yours." He said. "But what if you found your mate? I''m scared. What if what we felt wasn''t the right one?" She suddenly asked.. She was happy by what he said. Her heart was beating for him but she was afraid that it wouldn''t last, knowing that his fate was controlled by a powerful being. "Ari, I have decided to fight fate for you. I am willing to risk everything for you." He answered. The first time he saw her, he felt something different about her. It got stronger everyday and every time she was close by. And now that she was beneath him, he was sure that he had found her. His long lost love. "Then make me yours. Take me." She answered. He moved his lips slowly down to her chest. She could feel his warm breath brushing her skin as his lips travelled down to her breast. She moaned when he licked one of her nipples while his hand fondled on her other breast. "Zion!" She called out his name when he sucked her tit. He continued to suck her breasts, squeezing them together to lick and play with her nipples. Her hands were on his head, tweaking his hair as she pulled him closer while she arched her back from pleasure. "Ahhh. Zion!" It was music to his ears, hearing her call his name over and over. When he left her breasts, he moved his lips down to her belly, kissing her navel. She gasped when he felt his hand caressed her thigh. Then he brushed his lips further down to her crotch. She felt a sudden electricity run through her body when he parted her legs. She felt a mixture of embarrassment and excitement as he gazed upon her entrance. She smelled like vanilla, it was sweet, making him drool and wanted a taste of it. She was having a hard time breathing as she panted heavily because of the heat she felt from the warmth of his breath. He was staring at her pussy, snipping her like she was food ready to be eaten. She bit her lips and closed her eyes while letting out deep breaths. She howled when she felt him touch her folds, opening them. She was grabbing on to the sheets while arching her back when he started rubbing her clit. "Ohhhhh fuuuuuck!" She screamed when he leaned forward to lick her clit, giving it a circular rub with his tongue. Chapter 15 - Last Memory He was staring at the girl lying on the other side of the bed, sleeping quietly. He took a deep breath and brushed the back of his palm to her cheeks. He could really feel that she was the one he''s been looking for. The connection between them was stronger when she finally gave herself to him. It was the same feeling he felt one hundred years ago. ''Are you really sure it was her?'' His wolf asked. ''I''m one hundred percent sure. But how can I make her remember me? Remember us?'' He answered. ''The only one who could break the curse is our mate. If she''s the one, she has to remember us. If not, you know what will happen to her, right?'' He didn''t answer. Instead, he tried to remember the last time he saw his lover. ***VERLICE CASTLE, ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO*** "Zion, where are you going? You can''t do anything about it now. She doesn''t belong in this world. The Gods have taken her." It was her sister, Zoila. He panicked when he heard that the Gods took his lover so he decided to go after her. "Zoila, she''s my mate. I won''t let anyone touch her, even the Gods." He answered with gritted teeth. Zoila took a deep breath and signaled the guards to stop him. "I''m sorry brother but I won''t allow you to ruin yourself and our family." The guards were about to attack Zion when the entrance door of the castle suddenly opened. It was a strong breeze, enough to open the castle door. A woman who was wearing a white dress loosely wrapped around her body with a sash holding the folds in place at her waist. "I am Iris, a messenger of the Gods. You are Zion Sebastian Verlice, am I correct?" She asked. He didn''t answer so she took it as a yes. She then handed him a mirror with a golden handle and frame. "The Gods have given you some time to talk to your lover through that mirror. You could at least say goodbye to her. Do it now. The mirror will be just an ordinary one after half an hour." She said before turning her back away from him. The mirror suddenly lit up then he saw a woman who was caged and chained dressed in rugs. "Love? What have they done to you? Where are you?" He asked, almost yelling. There were signs of bruises and cuts in her whole body, proof that she was beaten and tortured. She looked at him and instead of crying, she gave him a genuine smile. Her left eye was swollen and there was a deep cut in her lower lip, blood was flowing from it. "Love, I''m happy to hear your voice. At least for the last time, even if I can''t see you, I was truly happy." She said. From her statement, only he could see her but she couldn''t see him. "Wait for me. I''ll make sure to save you." "No, love. They will kill you. I don''t want you to get hurt. My life will end but I promise I will come back for you. Will you wait for me, my love?" She asked. She wanted to cry from the pain from her heart. She wanted to see him badly but she knew that the Gods would never allow him to live if they continued their love. "Don''t say something like that. I won''t allow it. Please wait for me. I will find you and I promise that they will pay for what they did to you." He was a werewolf. A soon to be Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. He fell in love with a woman who was not a werewolf, nor a human. Her birth was considered an abomination by the Gods of Heaven and Demons of Hell. No one knows what she''s called. She was a product of a forbidden love. Cast out by her mother and a father she never knew, she found herself in the arms of Zion who saved her from the brink of death. After that, he never saw her again. He went on a rampage, looking for her everywhere and became a monster, killing everyone who crossed his path. The Moon Goddess cursed him and his wolf because of what he did. His wolf''s power has been sealed. He could never shift to a werewolf and because of that his wolf couldn''t smell the scent of anyone, especially his mate. An Alpha without a Luna, cursed to be alone for a thousand years by the Moon Goddess. But he couldn''t easily accept his fate. He promised he would find her. She promised she would come back to him. Now that he found her, he would never allow anyone to take her away from him. ''I am still not convinced that she was our mate but I couldn''t feel any rejection either. Do you think the witch could help us out?'' His wolf asked. ''The witches'' powers came from Orcus, the Demon God, so there''s a big chance they could help us, especially the High Priestess.'' ''But the current High Priestess was living with that Demon Princess. I don''t like her.'' ''I don''t care who she is. We need to see the High Priestess. She has all the knowledge about curses.'' His wolf didn''t answer back. Ophelia, the current High Priestess, was summoned by the Demon King and currently in the Underworld. She would be back in a month like what he told Amaris. "Oh Goddess, I''ve been searching for her for a hundred years. Isn''t that enough? Did you really curse me for a thousand years? When will you come back and bless us with your light? We have been waiting." He thought inwardly. He sighed and looked at the girl beside him again. She was sleeping like she was in a deep slumber. He laid down beside her, pulling her closer.. He kissed her on the lips before closing his eyes to sleep. Chapter 16 - Voice "Amaris." She frowned. She could hear someone calling her. It was the same voice she heard in the hallway yesterday. Who is it? She asked inwardly. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. She couldn''t recognize the place. From the looks of it, she was in a bedroom. She moved to sit down on the bed. She flinched when she felt a sudden pain on her back and between her legs. When the blanket fell from her body, she realized she was naked. Her heart suddenly pounded loudly. Panic and fear were starting to consume her. What happened to me? She asked herself. She tilted her head around, trying to remember where she was or why she was in that bedroom. She then felt something heavy on her legs. She looked at the other side of the bed and saw a man sleeping quietly beside her. She stared at him, trying to recall what happened last night. Did she really allow this to happen? Did she just give herself to this man? She knew the guy, it was Zion, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. She felt a throbbing pain in her head. She couldn''t just react violently towards Zion. She wasn''t sure if she allowed this to happen but it didn''t look like he forced her. It was weird. With the guys she dated, she could remember the things they did in the past, she only forgot what she felt. But now, she couldn''t remember what happened yesterday. Not all of it though, parts of it have been erased. Like why she was in his bedroom or in this house. She remembered someone was calling her yesterday in the hallway, though. But that was it. "Amaris." That voice again, sending shivers into her whole body. She mustered her strength to get off the bed to follow the one who was calling her. Her knees were shaking when she stood up and looking at bed, she saw droplets of blood. She sighed. She really gave herself to him, but she didn''t feel disgusted about it. She just feel sad that she couldn''t remember what it felt. She walked towards the couch, naked, and took the robe hanging on the backrest. Her back really aches a lot and she felt the soreness between her legs. Giving a last glance at Zion, she went out of the bedroom. The room seems to be on the last floor of the house. The hallway was lighted dimly with wall lamps, making it feel like she was in an old abandoned place. "Amaris." She gasped for air when she heard the voice whisper in her ear. A sudden chill ran through her body. She embraced herself and bit her lips, letting out a deep sigh, she continued to walk on the red carpeted floor. The castle walls were full of old paintings and statues of different creatures. In the middle of the hallway, she saw a painting of a werewolf and a woman sitting next to each other in a flower garden. She raised her hand to touch the painting but was surprised again by the voice, calling her like a wind howling through the night. "Amaris." As she turned around to wander down in the dark cold path, she saw a door with a symbol carved on it. It was a sword overlapping the crescent moon. She was sure that the voice came inside the room. She took a deep breath and was about to hold the knob when a powerful force held her shoulders, pushing her away from the door. She fell on the floor, feeling a mixture of pain and fear. She looked around but there was no one there but her. Her heart was beating so fast and her breath started to get ragged. She could feel the pain in her shoulder and a numbness in her left foot, her back was leaning on the wall where she was pushed. "Who''s there? What do you want from me?" She almost yelled. A sudden gust of wind that sent shivers into her spine blew inside. It became colder and chilly. There were no windows from where she was so she didn''t know where the wind came from. Then she heard the voice again, but this time, it wasn''t her name that was being spoken. She couldn''t understand what it was but she knew it was in another language. "Ere bi te aime, afflition les de luna." "Ere bi te aime, afflition les de luna." It keeps on whispering into her ear. The frigid wind brushed through her skin, making her tremble both in fear and from the coldness of the hallway. She covered her ears and started screaming. "Stop it! Stop it! Leave me alone!" She shouted over and over. But the voice didn''t stop. Tears started falling from her eyes and her whole body was shaking. She felt alone. Then she remembered the man who she left in the bedroom. "Zion! Zion! Please, help me!" She cried out his name. She was startled when a warm hand touched her shoulder. "Ari, it''s me!" It was Zion''s voice. She tilted her face to make sure that it was him. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She rushed into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Zion!" He didn''t know what happened. He woke up and saw that she wasn''t there beside him. He panicked and looked for her when he heard her screaming so he ran towards where she was. He saw her on the floor covering her ears and screaming on top of her lungs. "I''m here. I''m here, love." He murmured. She was crying in his arms and he could feel her body shaking from fear. From who or from what? He didn''t know. He let her cry while he hugged her tight, making her feel that she''s safe. When she stopped, she turned to him to look at his face. Just by looking at her face, he already knew she had forgotten what happened yesterday. Was she cursed? Did someone put a spell on her so she would not remember him, and even forget the feeling she has in her heart? Who did this to her? To them? Zion clenched his teeth. Rage was starting to fill in his heart. He would never forgive those responsible from breaking them apart.. He promised to find out the truth and get his revenge. Chapter 17 - I Will Make You Remember He took her back to his bedroom. He carried her like a princess and she was just leaning her head to his chest. She still couldn''t remember what happened yesterday but she felt safe in Zion''s arms. She didn''t notice that she voluntarily wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face on his neck. He sighed deeply when he felt her lips brushing through his skin. He put her down gently on the bed while she stared at him with confused eyes. He sat on the bedside and smiled slightly. "I know you''re confused. I promised I won''t do anything against your will. I didn''t regret what happened yesterday though, I wanted it to happen. But I didn''t force you, Ari." He explained in a gentle voice. His eyes were a mixture of loneliness and pain. He was expecting he''s different from the other guys she dated and that she would at least remember him, but he was wrong. "I-I know. I didn''t feel disgusted when I woke up beside you. I-I just feel sad that I couldn''t remember what happened." She blushed from her last statement. Somehow, he was relieved. He thought she would regret it. Although she couldn''t remember, she felt sad for forgetting what they did. "What were you doing outside? Why were you crying?" He asked. She took a deep breath and fixed herself to face him. They were sitting on the bedside facing each other. "I couldn''t remember what happened between us yesterday. But I somehow remember being here. Yesterday, in the hallway, I heard a voice, calling my name. I''m the only one there so I walked towards from where it came from, it led me to the Moon Goddess'' painting. It was the same earlier, I woke up from the voice I heard yesterday. I went out to look for that person and it led me to the room with a door that has a crescent moon and sword symbol. I was about to open it when a force suddenly pushed me on the wall." He was just listening to her. Looking at her beautiful face, staring into her ocean blue eyes. "The voice didn''t stop and it was whispering something in my ears. It was in a different language." She continued. "Can you tell me what you heard?" He frowned. "Ere bi te aime, afflition les de luna. Do you know what it means?" She asked. He saw her pouting when he shook his head. He wanted to help her but he really didn''t know the meaning of those words. "But why do you think I could hear it? I mean why is she calling me? And what''s in that room?" She asked. He took a sigh then stood up. He walked towards the window and gazed upon the moon brightly shining in the dark sky. "A hundred years ago, I met a woman and fell in love with her. I was happy. We were happy. But I found out that she wasn''t a werewolf nor a human. She wasn''t a vampire either. No one knows what she''s called. She was a product of a forbidden love and was considered an abomination both by the Gods and Demons. For some reason, she was cast out by her mother and came here. That''s when I met her. She was on the brink of death so I took her here and that room was her bedroom." He said in a gentle and sad voice. "What happened to her?" She asked. He turned to see her reaction. He was hoping she would remember him when he told her about their story. "The Gods took her. I didn''t really know what happened to her but I guess they killed her. The last time I saw her, she was in a cage, and she was full of scars. I know she was beaten and tortured. We made a promise to each other. Even if her life ended, she would come back to me and I will wait and look for her no matter how long it takes." He answered. She could feel the longing from his voice. He was looking at her and then she suddenly read what''s on his mind. "Z-Zion, I-I don''t know. I couldn''t tell if it was me you were looking for. I don''t even remember what I felt towards you yesterday. If I can''t be cured, it would be like this everyday." He walked towards her and sat on the bed again, taking her hands. "I know it''s you. I can feel it. My heart, my body, my soul, they''re screaming that it''s you. Why do you think you keep on forgetting being in love? I think someone did this to you. And I am going to find out who it was." He insisted. He has a point. As a Terran, amnesia was common in their world especially if you had an accident but she never heard of someone that could forget her feelings towards another overnight. But she wasn''t convinced that she was his former lover. From his story, she wasn''t human or a werewolf. She wasn''t a vampire either. If she was that woman, what was she in her former life? She looked at Zion''s face, memorizing the details of it. His shoulder length jet black hair was loosely scattered. She just noticed that he was half naked. She was trying to remember what it felt like to be in his arms, to be kissed and to be touched by him. It''s frustrating that she couldn''t remember her own feelings. He touched her on the cheek, worried. He was anxious that she would suddenly change her mind and won''t talk to him like what she did for the past week. "Hey. Don''t give up on me now. I know it''s hard. It''s disappointing, sad, all these feelings were messing me up inside. But Ari, I''ve been waiting for you, searching for you for a hundred years. I will do everything for you. I don''t care if you wake up each morning forgetting your feelings, I will make you remember. I will make you fall in love with me everyday. Stay with me, Ari. I promise I will help you get your memories back. They will pay for what they''ve done to you." He said in a firm voice. She really felt like she knew him for a long time. His voice sounds familiar and when he held her hands then touched her cheek, it felt like she was already used to it. Chapter 18 - [R18] Make Me Remember She wasn''t sure if it was the right thing but she wanted to know everything about herself, if she was really the woman Zion has been looking for. It was a risk she was willing to take to find out the truth. "I''m not going anywhere. I want to find out the truth. I want to know why the voice keeps on calling me. Zion, I''ll stay with you. I don''t know if I was the person who you said I was, but I can''t ignore this feeling towards you. " He pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight. He knew tomorrow she would forget him but he would never give up on her. He kissed her on the forehead, giving her a gentle smile. "Go back to sleep. Let''s talk more about it in the morning." He said. He stood up and turned his back to her. He decided to sleep on the couch and was about to walk away when she suddenly grabbed his hand. He looked at her, confused. He was surprised to see her face looking so flushed. "I-I want to remember what happened last night. I want to feel you. I want you to touch me. Make me remember, Zion." She pleaded. How can he say no to that face? She was looking sexy wearing a robe. He knew there was nothing beneath that tiny piece of clothing. Her face was so red and her eyes sparkled when she begged to be touched by him. "Are you willing to obey me, Ari?" He asked. She couldn''t understand what he meant by that. But she nodded and bit her lips. He was trying to control himself again. She couldn''t remember what he did to her last night, it was disappointing. So he needed to treat her like it was her first time. But then, he suddenly felt like doing it differently. Since she was begging for it, then she will have to obey everything he tells her. He turned to face her. She was sitting on the bedside while he stood in front of her. He touched her on the chin and tilted her face up to see her face. "Take the robe off and lie down on the bed." He ordered. His husky voice made her obey immediately. She was starting to feel something between her thighs. Her breath was beginning to get ragged and her body was already burning from just his eyes gazing upon her. She slowly took the robe off and dropped it on the floor. Then she laid down on the bed just like he told her. Her feet were almost touching the floor. It was embarrassing, she thought. He looked at her from head to toe. Her heart was beating faster and pounding loudly like a drum. She looked at him and waited for his next move She was on the bed, naked. He gulped, trying to calm himself when he saw her rounded breasts and perfectly toned belly. He wanted to make love to her but he needed to prepare her first, it was like the first time after all. He kneeled down in front of her, slowly parting her legs. She gasped for air and held on the sheets when he pulled her legs apart. She moaned when she felt his lips slowly kissing her from her feet up to his thighs. His hands were also busy touching her, caressing her thigh. He pulled her closer to his face, putting her legs on his shoulders before burying his face into her cunt. "Ohhhh¡­.Ahhhh¡­ Zion!" She howled when she felt his tongue licking her clit. He made an up and down movement of the tip of his tongue to tease her. She couldn''t understand what it felt like. It was new to her, maybe it wasn''t since they did it last night but she couldn''t remember. She bit her lips and rolled her eyes when he sucked her clit, but she screamed in pleasure when she felt his tongue licked her entrance. "Ahhh¡­ Ahhh¡­" He sucked her already dripping pussy first before thrusting his tongue inside her. He made sure his tongue reached the deepest part it could reach her pussy. Her body was on fire. She could feel her warm breath as she let out a rapid breathing. She didn''t know where to look, she didn''t know where to hold. She didn''t notice that she grabbed Zion by his hair, pushing him further while arching her hips. His dick became harder when he felt her hands holding his head. He smirked while he continued to fuck her using his tongue. She was so wet, he could smell the scent of her juice. It was making him crazy. He couldn''t take it so he stood up and looked at her face. She saw him staring at her while circling his tongue to his lips. She felt embarrassed, knowing that he was tasting her juice. "You''re delicious, love." He said. She bit her lips when he slowly took off his pants and underwear, showing off his hardened flesh. The first thing she thought was if it would fit. She was a virgin but she wasn''t that naive. It was her first time seeing a man''s dick in person. But girls have their dirty talks sometimes. Her cousin Max and the twins, Therese and Gladies, would bring magazines of naked men every time they have a sleepover. Zion''s wasn''t like those men''s dick, it was way bigger than them. She gasped for air when he rubbed his dick to her entrance. She was holding on to the sheets, tightening her grip as she waited for him to enter her. "Do you want this, love? Tell me you want me. Call my name!" He commanded. "Yes! Yes! I want you! Zion, I want you!" She answered in a hoarse voice. He smirked seeing her flushed face and pleading eyes. "Then ride me, baby." He said, lifting her, changing their position. Next thing she knew, they were both on the bed and she was on top of him. Her eyes widened, feeling his hardened flesh poking her dripping pussy. "Z-Zion, I-I don''t know how." She innocently said. He chuckled. He loved seeing her blush, so innocent, so enchanting. "I''ll guide you. Stand on your knees." He said. She did what he asked. Then he started rubbing his dick again into her entrance, positioning it.. She howled when he suddenly grabbed her hips, pulling her down to his full erection. Chapter 19 - [R18] Youre Mine "You''re so tight, my love." He said in a hoarse voice. She was on top of him, but still couldn''t move. Only half of his dick was inside and she already felt a mixture of pain and pleasure. She tried to move but flinched when she felt a sudden pain. She tried it again but it was really painful. She looked at him and he was also staring into her eyes. "Slowly, love. We just did it once last night so you are still sore. Would you like me to do it instead?" He asked. She could see that he was worried. His eyes were beaming with lust but he was also concerned about her. He wanted to apologize. He shouldn''t have asked her to be on top. She wasn''t experienced with this kind of stuff. But she might get offended. She was blushing when he asked her. She tried to move again but couldn''t take the pain so she bit her lips and nodded. He brushed his hand to her cheek before rolling over slowly. "Ari, hold on to me." He said in a gentle voice. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. "Kiss me, Zion." She said in a raspy voice. He smiled then slammed his lips to hers. She felt him move his hips forward a little and she could feel his dick sliding slowly inside her. She howled when he pushed further and deeper into her core. "Ahhh¡­ Zion!" She screamed in between their kisses. She felt his dick twitched inside as it poked her womb, making her deliriously insane. "Oh myyyy¡­" He smirked. He could feel that she was beginning to get used to him. He looked intently into her eyes, saw her flushed face and her heavy breathing. "Stick your tongue out, Ari." He said. She gulped and slowly opened her mouth, sticking her tongue out. He moved his face closer then opened his mouth to devour her tongue. He sucked her tongue then wrestled with it using his own tongue. She didn''t expect that french kissing could make your body crave for more. She could taste Zion''s saliva, and it tasted like cinnamon. It was somehow sweet and had a woody flavor with a slight citrusy and spicy taste. He leaned his forehead on hers when he released her lips. She could feel their warm breaths as they panted after the kiss. "Ari?" He called. She knew he wanted to move. She nodded when she couldn''t feel any more pain. His face lit up then grabbed her legs to wrap it around his waist. "Ahhh¡­ Ahhh¡­" She moaned when he started moving. She could feel his dick sliding inside and out of her core. He was big so he was moving slowly, trying not to hurt her. "It''s so warm inside you, love. Ugh. Ugh. So tight." He grunted. He started exploring her body with his hands. She gasped when he felt his hand fondle one of her breasts. He played with her nipple, circled his thumb then pinched it gently. He pulled half of his dick then thrust it inside her. "Ahhh¡­ Ahhh¡­" She couldn''t explain how amazing it felt when he started moving faster. In every thrust he made, she felt the tip nudging her womb. She felt his dick became harder and bigger, enough to reach her most sensitive spot. "Zion!" She called. "Yes, love. Call my name! Louder!" He said. She could hear the sound of his every thrust. Her pussy was dripping wet and a slurp could be heard every time he dug deeper inside her. "Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. You''re mine, Ari. Say that you''re mine." He ordered. As he said those words, he began thrusting faster and harder. She couldn''t feel any more pain, only pleasure. It was a different level of bliss and excitement. Her body felt like it was burning both from her own warmth and his. She arched her hips to meet his thrust. She didn''t imagine that a dick like his could fit inside her and it was perfect. "Yes! Yes! I''m yours!" She answered. Their foreheads were leaning against each other as they exchanged moans and growls. He moved his face, giving her a kiss on the cheek then slowly to her ear, nibbling it. She felt a sudden electricity run through her body when he whispered into her ear. She could feel the heat from his breath. "I''ll make love to you everyday so you can remember me. I will pleasure you in every possible way and touch every inch of your body until you yourself will beg for it. I will never allow anyone to touch you, Ari." He whispered in a hoarse voice. His voice sounded possessive but she didn''t mind. She knew that werewolves were like that and he was an alpha. He didn''t mark her yet but he made it clear that she belongs to him and if any man dares to be close to her, there will be consequences. She couldn''t respond so she just pulled him closer, hugging him. He moved even faster and harder, digging deeper inside her. She lifted her hips to meet his every thrust. She didn''t really know how she was able to do it but she controlled her muscles and sucked him whole. "Ohhh fuuuck! That''s so good, love!" He growled. When he pulled his dick, leaving the tip, she took a deep breath and almost lost her mind when she felt his dick sliding faster inside and out of her pussy. Her arms were wrapped around his body, her nails digging on his back as he continued to thrust his dick inside and out of her. "Ahhh¡­ Ahhh¡­ Z-Zion, I''m coming!" She screamed. He moved faster on top of her and with one hard push, she came. She howled when she reached the climax. Her juice flowed but he didn''t stop. He thrust faster and harder, sliding his dick inside and out. "Zion! Zion! Oh my gooooood!" She called his name over and over. He left her a kiss mark again. Sucked her and slightly bit her on the shoulder. It wasn''t a complete mark yet but it was enough to show everyone that she was his. He circled his hips and grinded her harder. She felt his crotch against her clit as he pounded her faster. She screamed his name again when she came for the second time. And with another grind inside her, he also reached the climax. "Oh fuck! Ugh. Ugh." He grunted. She felt a warm liquid was released inside her. He gave her small kisses on the shoulder then to her cheeks. He brushed his nose to her face before giving her sweet kisses on her lips. "Thank you for coming back to me." He murmured. She didn''t know what to tell him.. She knew he was waiting for his lover, although she still wasn''t sure that it was her, deep inside her heart, she was hoping that she was that woman. Chapter 20 - Do You Find Me Attractive? She stared at the man beside her, sleeping quietly on the other side of the bed. Her head was on his arm wrapped around her waist. She couldn''t sleep, but it was more like she didn''t want to sleep. She was afraid that she would forget everything again in the morning. She ran her fingers to his face, tracing the lines from his eyebrows down to his nose then to his lips. She will forget her feelings again so she wanted to have a memory of him. His jet black hair was scattered on the bed and was slightly covering his face. She cleared his hair aside so she could see his face and continued to trace it. His eyelashes were longer than an ordinary guy''s. His face was smooth, no sign that he was shaving it. His lips were plump and red, not like a woman''s lips though. "Hey." She was startled when he suddenly opened his eyes. He was amused to see her blushing when he caught her staring at him while touching his face. "I-I was just-" He chuckled. "Don''t be embarrassed. I''m glad you were interested in me. Do you find me attractive?" She pouted. He was making fun of her, she thought. He was really good looking, sexy and hot. Everything about him was perfect. "Do you really need to ask me that?" "Of course! It matters to me." He answered, looking at her with a serious face. She blushed again. Her heart skipped a beat by what he said, she was happy. "Y-Yes. You''re perfect. How about me? Do you find me attractive?" She asked, curiosity piqued. He smiled and gave her a quick kiss before answering her question. "You are breathtaking, my love." He answered. She couldn''t explain her feelings at the moment. Her heart was dancing with joy from his compliment and every time he called her love. "Z-Zion, what does she look like? You know. Her." She asked. She didn''t know her name and what she looked like. If she was that woman, she wanted to know more about her. It might help her remember. "I know I told you that she was you, but I don''t really like to describe her to you. It''s like I''m telling my girlfriend about my ex lover." He said. She was surprised by what he said. She wanted to make sure that she heard him right so she bit her lips and asked him. "G-Girlfriend? I-I''m your girlfriend?" He frowned. Is she that innocent? Did she think that after giving herself to him and knowing that she was the woman he''s been looking for, he would just let her go? "Ari, I thought I made it clear. You are mine. I gave you a temporary mark so everyone will know that you belong to me. I wanted to mark you so badly, but the marking and mating ritual were a lot different from the books you read. Once I mark you, we will share a bond deeper than you could ever imagine. I will explain everything to you little by little. I want you to be prepared. And I want to get your memories back before I claim you. Is that okay?" She didn''t really care if he marked her or not. As long as she''s the only woman in her life. "How about you? Can you promise me that I am the only one? I am not willing to share you with other women." He kissed her again and smiled. "I am yours, my love." He answered. She smiled back and gave him a tight embrace. They were still naked so she could feel the warmth of his body. She gulped when she felt her breasts were brushing through her skin. "Go to sleep. If you forgot about what happened, then I will make you remember again. If I need to make love to you everyday, every hour and every minute, I will do that." He said in a serious tone. She wanted to stay awake but she was exhausted and her eyes were closing on its own. Before she fell asleep, Zion whispered something in her ear. Zion woke up when he heard someone screaming. He stood up and saw Amaris standing on the bed side holding the blanket which was wrapped around her body. Her golden hair was disheveled and her cheeks were red either from anger or embarrassment. She was glaring at him as if he did something horrible. "What did you do to me!?" She yelled at him. He frowned, but he already knew that it would happen. He started walking towards her but she suddenly grabbed the white vase on the side table, aiming at him. "Don''t come near me! I swear I will throw this into your face! Answer me! What did you do to me?" She asked, almost hysterical. He took a deep breath, brushing his palm to his face. "Do you think I can force you to come with me and make love the whole night? Tell me, how do you feel? You can feel it in your body if I did something you didn''t like." He said, annoyed. She bit her lips and felt embarrassed. She couldn''t remember what they did, the feeling of making love to him was gone, but she knew who he was. Zion, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. "I-I can''t remember." She answered. She started feeling awkward. How could she forget what they did? He was her first. Why can''t she remember anything? She put the vase down when she felt a throbbing pain in her head. Her knees suddenly trembled. She wobbled and was about to fall when a strong hand gently grabbed her on the waist. She looked at Zion and saw that he was worried. She couldn''t really feel that she was mad at him. She tried to push him but he carried her princess style. "You have a condition. You will keep on forgetting me every time you close your eyes. But I won''t give up on you, Ari." He said while putting her down gently on the bed. She stared into his eyes and saw his loneliness. She couldn''t say if she was the reason why he looked so sad, but she felt like crying seeing him like that. Zion was surprised when tears suddenly flowed from Amaris'' eyes. "Hey, what is it?" He asked, worried while wiping the tears in her cheeks. "I-I don''t know. You are sad. I can see it in your eyes. I suddenly feel so sad, too." She answered. He sighed and sat on the bed beside her. He touched her on the cheek gently then leaned forward, giving her a kiss on the forehead. She closed her eyes when she saw him getting closer. When she felt his lips touching her skin, her heart suddenly beat faster. His touch was familiar, her body was reacting to him. "We''ll get through this, Ari. I promise. But for now, let''s go to school. Come on! Let''s take a shower." He said, casually. She blushed, thinking that they will take a bath together. She still couldn''t remember what happened, but she felt like it was okay to be touched by him.. So she nodded and saw his face lit up then he carried her again, and brought her inside the bathroom. Chapter 21 - History When they arrived at school, they were the center of attention. Who wouldn''t be surprised when the alpha of the strongest pack will get interested in a Terran. She wasn''t a nobody in school. She was one of the prettiest girls and the smartest. What made her popular the most was the fact that she had three boyfriends and only lasted either three or five days. Zion was already popular even before they moved back to Aramoor City. He was the heir to the Verlice Empire. Their family lived for centuries and their wealth couldn''t be compared to anyone. One of their businesses was a car company named Volare. It became popular and was the top selling company in 2034 because of the modernity and trending technology of the cars they make. He was using the latest model which was not released yet. Not everyone can afford it though and this model was a limited series. Rumor said that only five of this car would be released. The Volare 2035 has a level five driverless driving feature. It can adapt independently to any road types, environmental conditions and speeds, so you could basically do anything inside the car without worrying what''s ahead of you. Zion parked the car in front of the main building. Amaris was blushing and wanted to vanish when she saw everyone''s eyes were on her. Zion casually got out of the car and rushed to her side, opening the door for her. She took a deep breath and slowly went out. Her heart skipped a beat when Zion put his arms on her shoulder. She could feel the cold stares and glares of women and the confused faces of men. She gasped for air when Zion suddenly whispered into her ear. She could feel his warm breath brushing into her skin. "Relax. Let them envy you." She looked at him and pouted. It wasn''t fair that he could remember everything but she couldn''t. It was frustrating to forget even though Zion told her what had happened for the past week. "I just wish the witch would arrive earlier than a month. I don''t want to be like this everyday." She sighed. "I''ll think of something that could make you see the past. Don''t worry." He said while kissing her on the forehead. She was startled with his sudden gesture. She didn''t feel awkward with his aggressiveness, but she wasn''t used to being stared at. She knew werewolves were like that. They were possessive and always wanted to be near their lover. Inside the classroom, they just sat down on their seats without caring about the other people. Zoila and the two other werewolves arrived after them then went to their seats after greeting both of them. "Today, we''re going to study history. Since the Blue Moon Pack just transferred, the Board instructed us to learn about what happened fifteen years ago. The year 2020. Anyone have an idea what happened that year?" The professor started as soon as she came inside the room. Only one student raised her hand and it was her cousin, Maxine. She wasn''t surprised that Max knew something about it. She was obviously obsessed about other creatures living in Terra. "Yes Maxine!" The professor called. Maxine stood up and everyone turned their eyes on her including Amaris. "It was the year when the first mythical creature was sighted. Then everyday the police would find dead bodies in almost every corner of the city. The creature was first seen here in Aramoor City." Max answered. The professor smiled, confirming that she was correct. "Do you know what that creature was?" The professor asked. Maxine nodded. "It was a soul eating demon." "You are correct, thank you. Take your seat." She smiled at Maxine then continued the lecture. "It was Sura, the soul eating demon. After that, the government discovered that Terrans were not the only creatures living on this planet. In that year people started experiencing sudden changes in their health. They became weak. The first symptom was body pains followed by a high fever. Then after a few days you will lose your sense of smell and taste. After a week, you will experience shortness of breath and eventually die. Millions of people lost their lives and they thought it was a plague or a virus but they found out that it was a curse given by the Gods." "Why did they punish us?" Someone asked. "Because Terrans have committed the seven deadly sins. And that was our punishment." She answered. Amaris couldn''t remember anything about that year. But she was six when it happened. Maxine told her stories about it though. That year, the people were locked down inside their homes and no one was allowed to get out. The government would go to their houses and would leave food and things in the front door so they could survive. The reason they weren''t allowed outside was because of those mythical creatures lurking around the city. Maxine said that her father was one of those policemen who were assigned to patrol at night. But her father wasn''t that lucky, he was killed by one of those creatures. When Maxine told her that, she saw the reason why her cousin was so obsessed with them. It was because of her father. She wasn''t really mad at them but Amaris knew that she was looking for the creature who killed her father. "When was the time that werewolves and vampires appeared in Terra? Can we at least discuss about it?" It was Therese who asked. The professor was surprised. She glanced at Zion to see his reaction. Amaris turned her eyes to Zion but he was just sitting quietly beside her. Zion noticed that the professor and his classmates were looking at him. Then he turned to Amaris and saw her also looking at him. "What?" He frowned. Amaris gave him a sweet smile. He sighed and nodded to the professor. "We''ll talk about this later." He whispered. "I wanted to know about it." She said then turned to the professor again to listen to her. "It was the following year, 2021. They were asked to help the humans. We were called humans back then and the land we lived in was called Earth. I was twenty years old when they first appeared here in our city.. The werewolves were the shapeshifters while the vampires were the immortals." Chapter 22 - Legend Amaris frowned and got confused. She raised her hand to ask a question. Zion turned to Amaris when he saw her raising her hand. "Yes Ari." The professor called her. "So werewolves were not immortal beings? They die? They can be killed?" She asked. Everyone was surprised by her question. She looked around and saw them looking at her. She glanced at Zion and saw him glaring at her. "Really, Ari? That''s your question?" Zion asked, annoyed. She couldn''t understand why he was frowning and why her classmates were shocked by her questions. She was really confused by what the professor said. She leaned closer to him and whispered innocently. "You''re not immortal?" He couldn''t really believe that she was asking him something like that. It was offensive asking an alpha if he can be killed. It was like telling him his weakness. Everyone waited if Zion would get offended or get mad at her. But to everyone''s surprise, he took a deep breath then gave her a quick kiss on the lips. She blushed and bit her lips after he kissed her. Zion chuckled then turned to everyone. "Since my love was curious about us, I''m going to answer the question." The students and the professor were both excited. They were amazed that Amaris could do that to an alpha, and at the same time, they saw how Zion was really in love with her. "Werewolves were not immortal. Our kind could live in a thousand years. Around two thousand years or so. The oldest werewolf alive was my great grandfather, Theodore Verlice. He was now one of the elders of Terra. Vampires were called the undead. Because they would die and live again. I know you know how we can be killed so I won''t tell the details." Zion explained. "But you didn''t answer Ari''s question. Are you like the other werewolves? You are not immortal?" Maxine asked. Amaris frowned. Zion already said that they are not. He''s a werewolf so basically he wasn''t immortal. "There''s a legend I read that one werewolf was blessed by Hyperion, the Titan God, and Orcus, the Demon God. It says that he was favored and given immortality by the two Gods. It also says that the werewolf was the one who brought peace between Terrans and other creatures. He was also a favorite of the Goddess Terra. The reason earth has changed its name to Terra was because the Goddess blessed the land after the great war. It was a gift to the werewolf in the legend so he and his pack could live here in peace." Maxine blurted. She knew her cousin won''t stop asking until she''s satisfied. Looking at Zion, she felt like there were a lot of things that he was hiding from her. If he was the werewolf in the legend that Maxine was babbling about, then why was he cursed by the Moon Goddess. It doesn''t make any sense to Amaris. If he was favored by two powerful Gods and a Goddess, why didn''t he ask them for help when Selene cursed him? Was it because they were also the same Gods who killed his lover? She wanted to ask and know everything about him, but then she remembered that she would forget about him once she closed her eyes. She felt a sudden pain in her heart. She looked at Zion who was calmly listening to her cousin. He told her earlier what had happened for the past week. He also told her that she was the lover he''s been looking for, for the past one hundred years. How much pain did he endure? How much loneliness did he need to live through? He waited and looked for her for a hundred years and now that he found her, she couldn''t remember a thing about him. And the worst? It seems that she was fated to forget him over and over again. Zion felt Amaris'' gaze. He frowned when she saw her staring at him. But he couldn''t ignore her cousin''s remarks so he turned to Maxine again and answered. "You are well informed with this kind of stuff, Maxine. You said so yourself. It was a legend. Don''t you think it was just a story written for the sake of education or maybe it''s just pure fiction?" He commented. "No. I think the legend is real. And I want to know if you are that werewolf." She answered back while looking at Zion intently. "I don''t think I need to answer the question for now. I am the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack and that''s all you need to know. If Ari wanted to know more about me, he could just ask me directly and I will gladly tell her everything." Zion answered. The professor clapped her hands to cut their conversation. It was getting intense as Maxine was determined to find the answers. Zion looked at Amaris who was still staring at him. He leaned closer to her and brushed his hand to her cheek. "Hey why are you looking at me like that?" He asked. Her eyes sparkled like the ocean while she stared at him. Her plump lips were slightly pouted so he was curious why she looked like that. "Nothing. I just wanted to listen to your answer. I promise next time I will ask you directly." She answered. She turned to the professor again to listen but she was thinking of something else. How would she remember him? She wanted to have a memory of him, but how? His actions and words today, she would not remember anything about it tomorrow. How could she preserve the memory of him? She sighed deeply. When the professor turned off the lights and showed them an image, it caught her attention. "This is Terra. Around fifteen billion were now living here including other creatures. And this is Oprea, one of the largest teris in Terra. We will now discuss about Terra, our land.." The professor started. Chapter 23 - Terra Terra, formerly known as Earth, is a world like no other. It was the first planet to harbour and support life. A rocky, terrestrial place that had a solid and huge surface with valleys, mountains, terrains and so much more. Seventy percent of the planet is covered with water and only thirty percent of its surface is land. It was inhabited by beings called humans who were said to rule the land over other beings. Humans saw themselves more powerful than any other. They treat themselves as the unique and superior beings created by God. But in the year 2020, the first mythical creature was sighted. Paranormal events continuously happened that year. Bodies had been reported seen everyday in different places, as if their soul had been taken from them. Humans started to fear the night so the government implemented a curfew in some areas. Then humanity''s survival was threatened once more when one by one, people''s health started to deteriorate without any reason. Scientists, medical experts, doctors and leaders from all over the world were alarmed from the sudden rise of the death toll so they created a team assigned to study the certain phenomena. No one from the team of experts could scientifically explain such events. Until one woman who called herself the messenger of the Gods came forward, telling them that it was a curse. Humans became arrogant, sinful, and considered themselves as perfect. They have committed the seven deadly sins so as punishment, the Gods of Heaven allied with the Demons of Hell to test the humans. The Demon King, Asmodeus, sent his sons and daughters to spread terror and fear to the human world to test if they deserve to live in paradise or rot in hell. After knowing the truth, different mythical creatures surfaced, trying to invade Earth and cast the humans away. Thus the war begins. In the year 2021, Earth almost became a dead planet. It was split into six territories, the humans, the witches, the fairies, the demons and monsters, the Lamians or popularly known as vampires, and lastly the shapeshifters or the werewolves. The humans who were once considered superior to other beings became the weakest creatures on the planet. From being the hunter, they became the hunted. They became the prey for the creatures lurking in the night, especially for demons and monsters. It was the year that the Great War was recorded. The Gods pitied the humans and sent the messenger to tell them about a prophecy. According to that, Hyperion, the Titan God and Orcus, the Demon God have favored one creature, granting immortality and the power to end the war. The Gods, however, didn''t give any clue who it was. The humans searched far and wide to look for the one who was favored by the Gods. At first, they thought it was a human until a Demon Princess who fell in love with a human, told them that the one they were looking for was in fact, a werewolf. That time, the werewolves and the vampires were at war on their own. They don''t really meddle in the war between humans and demons. But the humans were desperate to survive so they decided to go to the werewolves'' lair. No one really knows what happened in that meeting. Rumor said that the human who was sent in the werewolf territory became a hostage. But after a few weeks, one of the elders from the werewolf clan, offered a peace treaty to all the creatures living on Earth. It was said that the werewolf who was favored by the Gods did something to the leaders of each clan so they would agree to sign the treaty. Peace and trust between clans started to form, but Earth''s resources became limited. Another war might happen again if they won''t be able to sustain each other''s needs. As Earth was slowly dying, the leaders from each clan had no other choice but to look for another planet to live on. They found Mars or the red planet, now known as Mirrikh, the second place that could support the lives of many. But the Goddess Terra or Mother Earth, also blessed the werewolf with a gift. She gave the humans another chance to continue living on earth and with one flip of her finger, earth became what it was before. Rich in resources, boasting an abundance of wildlife. As their thanks to the Goddess, Earth''s name changed to Terra and the humans were now called Terrans as they were still the original inhabitant of the land. The peace treaty has been signed by all leaders of the clans. They built a place where the elders of Terra gathered to maintain peace, security and to develop friendly relations to every creature living in Terra. The place was called Levaerun meaning free land. Built in the first month of 2022, Levaerun was the biggest structure in Terra located in the capital of Oprea, Aramoor City. The elders organization was called Sancta Elysium meaning abode for the blessed after death. They named it like that because earth died but was reborn with the Goddess'' grace and blessing. Those who held a position in the organization were called the Elysian Elders, or the blessed. "And that''s how our land attained peace even though different creatures were living here. The Elysian Elders were composed of Terrans, Werewolves, Vampires and the likes to make sure that all clans could give their opinions in every decision regarding Terra." The professor continued. "Does anyone know about the werewolf who was favored by the Gods?" One of the students asked. "It was kept a secret by everyone. Only one man was able to meet the werewolf. Who do you think that man was?" The professor asked. "The man who was held hostage. He was the one who was sent to the werewolf territory to talk to them." It was Maxine who answered. "That''s correct. The man who fell in love with the Demon Princess, Allistair Cohen.." The professor answered. Chapter 24 - Soul Transference After the first period, Amaris was still thinking of the things they had discussed. She couldn''t understand why it all sounded familiar. Zion noticed that she was quiet and was staring blankly at her food. They were at a nearby restaurant having lunch together. "What''s bothering you?" He asked. She looked at him with a frown face. If there''s someone that could help her with her confusion, it would be Zion. She thought to herself. "The things we discussed in history, it sounded familiar. I felt like I heard it before and that I already know all about it." She said, staring into his eyes. He sighed deeply before answering her. "Maybe you could remember some things in your past life. It''s possible that after your death, your anima ventured in Terra. Maybe you were looking for a vessel or a shell and those bodies that you''ve been to witnessed those things." He answered. "Anima? What''s that?" She asked, curiously. "An anima is a soul. When a powerful being dies, they can either choose to stay dead or live. When they choose to live, they will leave their original body and find another, it''s called soul transference. They need to find a corpus strong enough to handle the power they possess, in order for them to continue living. If that body couldn''t handle that power, it would eventually deteriorate, and the anima needs to find the next corpus." He explained. She nodded, but there are a lot of words that Zion was using that she couldn''t understand. Still he was willing to explain everything to her. "But still, it was just my opinion. I couldn''t think of anything else other than that. Although, soul transference can only be used by someone ancient." He continued. Amaris frowned again. His last words added more confusion to her. "Ancient? What do you mean?" She asked again. He intently looked at her, staring into her face. Somehow, she resembled her original body. He wasn''t really sure if she used that power. He didn''t really know if she could do that either. "They said only the Gods can do that. A titan God or Goddess to be exact." She was surprised and couldn''t believe what he just said. She couldn''t feel any power inside her. Aside from forgetting things about the men she dated, she never experienced anything unusual until she met Zion. The voice she heard, that was the first time either. She was living peacefully with her aunt and Maxine after the accident. She never felt that she was a supernatural or ancient being. She felt Zion touching her face, looking at her with a worried face. "Hey, don''t think about it for now. I also have limited answers to your questions. I can tell you everything I know. But there are things that weren''t clear to me as well and if I tell you, it might add more to your confusion. Let''s wait for the witch and for now, let''s think of something that could at least make you remember me." He said. She felt the sadness from his voice and her heart felt a sudden pain. She bit her lips and sighed, feeling so guilty from what she had been doing to him. She nodded and sighed deeply. She almost forgot the issues with her and Zion. She was also asking herself how she could remember him. If not completely, at least a way to show her what happened the other day. "How about we take a video of the things we do everyday?" He suddenly asked. She looked at him with a frown face. It wasn''t a bad idea, but if they would record it, does it mean that includes kissing and making love? She blushed with the thought that she would watch herself having sex with him. He chuckled when he saw her flushed face. He knew what she was thinking and it was amusing to see her innocent face, blushing. "D-Does that includes kissing and other stuff?" She asked, while biting her lips. He nodded. "Instead of telling you everyday. I think it''s best to record and save it. I''m not sure if it would work, but at least I have proof that I''m not forcing myself on you." He said. It was embarrassing just thinking about it and she felt like her privacy would be invaded. But does she have a choice? She wanted to remember the things they did. She wanted to know everything. He saw her worried face. It wasn''t a decent idea but he couldn''t think of anything else. It''s either they record or he would just tell her everyday about it. "Hey, if you''re not comfortable with it, then we don''t have to do it. I''ll be happy to tell you about it anyway so stop making that face." He said in a gentle voice. Her heart skipped a beat hearing his gentle and calming voice. She felt Zion''s sincerity and she knew he would do everything for her. "N-No. I want to see it. I don''t want to just imagine it, I want to see for myself." She decided. He was surprised. He didn''t really expect that she would agree to it. "I promise it would be for just the two of us. And Ari, I want you to stay with me. Last night, you agreed on staying three times a week, but I''m sorry I can''t accept that. I need you to live with me." He suddenly said, looking so serious. She knew he would say that. It wasn''t easy to deal with a woman who forgot about her lover everyday. He was worried that she would wake up one day and won''t remember him at all, even if he told her about them. "C-Can I talk to my aunt and Max first? I lived with them and I''m not really sure if they would agree with it." She answered. "They can move there as well. I know it''s quite far from the city and if only I could live outside of the pack house, I would be happy to buy a house near here, but you know I can''t do that right?" He said. Werewolves need to stay together. Not only them, but all creatures actually. It''s still dangerous for someone to be alone, or to be away from their clan. The Elysian Elders signed a peace treaty, but there are still a lot who weren''t in favor of living together in Terra. She nodded and looked into his eyes. He was really serious about living together and she knew he wouldn''t let him go that easily. ****************************** Reader''s Guide: Anima - Soul Corpus - A host or a vessel for an anima Chapter 25 - The Mideia She was in her bedroom packing her things. Zion came with her and talked to her aunt. Amaris thought that she would not agree with her living with Zion, but for some reason she easily agreed. "Ari, are you really sure about this?" It was Maxine who asked. Her cousin was helping her but her face looked so worried. Zion offered her aunt to move to Verlice Castle but it''s far from the place she worked so she declined. Maxine, on the other hand, was given a free will to decide on her own. "Max, I am very grateful to you and your mom. I wanted to be with you, I swear. But I felt like there was really something missing in me. There are a lot of questions in my mind and I feel like I can get the answers when I''m with Zion." She answered. Maxine sighed and nodded at her. She held her hands and smiled, still with a worried face. "What if you are not her? I mean Zion''s long lost lover." Maxine asked in a serious tone. She bit her lips and took a deep breath. She knew if someone learned about Zion''s missing lover, they wouldn''t easily believe that she was her. But she already accepted all the facts before deciding to live with him. "For now, I would like to enjoy the times I am with him. I want to cherish the days I spent and will spend with him. But regardless of what I am to Zion''s life in the past or in the future, I want to know who I really am." She explained in a soft voice. Maxine saw that her cousin was really serious about her decision and that she won''t change her mind. They continued to pack Amaris'' things and when they were done, her aunt came into her bedroom and asked them to sit on the bed. Amaris and Maxine glanced at each other, both with a frown face. "Max, I would like you to go with your cousin." Her aunt started. Maxine was confused and so did she. Amaris couldn''t understand why her aunt suddenly wanted her own daughter to live in Velice Castle with her. "Mom, what do you mean? I haven''t decided yet. I can''t leave you here alone." Max exclaimed. Amaris'' aunt sighed and handed her a necklace, while she handed her daughter a book. The book''s cover and pages were already torn on the sides. It was dusty and discolored, a sign that it was old. "Max, listen to me. You cannot leave your cousin alone. You should be with her to protect her. I cannot tell you all the details, but that book will give you some answers. Now, you have to hurry. They already know that the Alpha found her." Her aunt said, looking at her. "Aunt, I can''t understand. What are you saying? You are making us confused." Amaris asked. Her aunt''s face was different as if she was suddenly afraid of someone. She crouched down in front of her daughter and her niece. "Listen! Max, you are a protector, a guardian. You need to protect your cousin, not only you. There are five of you, find the rest and together you''ll be invincible." Then she turned to Amaris. "Ari, wear that necklace at all times. Do not take them off. It will also protect you and help you go wherever you want to go. I''m sorry I cannot help what you wanted to know. I am here to keep you safe until the right time comes. And this is the right time." Zion suddenly came inside her bedroom with a worried face. "We have to hurry. Zoila said they''ll be here any minute. Just bring anything. Let''s go!" They wanted to ask more questions to her aunt, but she almost pushed both of them outside the house. Amaris and her cousin were shocked when her aunt suddenly whispered that they thought it was an incantation. Zion pulled them inside the car where Zoila and his Betas were waiting. Both of them were still stunned and couldn''t say a word. They didn''t even notice that they had arrived in Verlice Castle. Maxine suddenly swayed and was about to fall but it was a good thing that Cole, Zion''s beta, has good reflexes and caught her. "Are you okay?" He asked Maxine. Maxine shook her head and without a word, Cole carried her princess style. Amaris saw her cousin blushed. She knew she was more affected from what happened earlier since they both felt that her mom was in danger. "Can we go somewhere so we can read what''s in this book? Mom said we will get some answers here." Maxine whispered. They went to Zion''s office to talk about what Maxine''s mom told them. Zion pulled Amaris to sit on his lap while Maxine sat beside them and opened the book. They frowned when they saw what was written in it. It was handwritten in a different language. There were six of them who glanced at the book. Amaris and Maxine were the first ones to look but Zion grabbed it when he saw their confused faces. Then he gave it to Zoila, Cole and Xavier. "Is it Latin?" Xavier asked. "I don''t think so." Cole answered. "It''s the Verrecian language." It was Zoila. Amaris looked at Maxine. They didn''t hear anything about that language, so again, they were confused. "The Verrecian language was only used by mythical creatures who lived around three hundred years ago. It''s a dead language." Zion explained. Amaris felt a throbbing pain on her head. She leaned on the couch and started massaging her temple. Zion saw her and wrapped his arms around his waist. "Are you okay?" He asked. She nodded before asking another question. "Do you know how to read it?" Zion nodded then looked at Zoila. "Zoila could read it. She''s better than me in that language." He answered. Zoila straightened and checked on the book again. They waited for her to read it out loud. She sighed and frowned before she started reading. "This is a mideia. A diary and not a book." Zoila started. Then she looked at the bottom of the first page. "Lorelle Custos. I think this is the owner''s name." She continued. Amaris eyes widened and so did Maxine. They couldn''t believe who the owner was. "That''s my mother''s name." Maxine murmured. ************************ Readers'' Guide: Mideia - a diary or a journal Verrecian - an old language used by mythical creatures; a dead language. Chapter 26 - Go To Hell Does that mean Amaris'' aunt was also a creature of the past who could live longer like the werewolves? Then how about Maxine? Is she the same? Amaris thought to herself. "Let''s see what''s written in it first. The answer lies in there, she told you that right?" Zion suggested. The cousins nodded in agreement. Zoila continued and turned the page to the next. "It says here that she was chosen to become a protrea. It means protector or guardian of an anima. The anima was sealed in a sacred hydria and could only be opened by a crystallum. Five of them were selected. One of them was chosen to be the tenere or the keeper of the crystallum. They were instructed to meet once the anima gave out light. They need to open the hydria so the anima could choose a corpus." Amaris could feel her head throbbing. From all the sudden events, terms and unfamiliar words spoken , she felt like her brain would explode. "Do you think the anima is her?" Cole asked while looking at Amaris. Everyone turned their gaze on her. She remembered Zion told her about the anima. She really couldn''t believe it, especially when Zion told her that soul transference can only be done by an ancient creature. "We''re still not sure about that. But there''s a possibility that it was her since her aunt told Maxine that she must stay with Ari and protect her." Zion answered. Zoila continued to see if there''s more information in the diary. "The anima was given by an ancient libera who didn''t mention who it belonged to. She wrote that as a chosen protrea, they could never question as this was the will of the Gods. They opened the hydria fifty years ago. As the anima''s guardian, they would have to travel or venture to different places and follow it. One of them should at least be as close as possible and she was chosen to be that protrea. " Zoila looked at her then continued. "The anima couldn''t find a strong and suitable corpus that could match its power so they wandered for decades. Then a lahmetar of the Gods came and gave her a message." Zoila paused. She gulped and drank the water on the table in front of them as they waited for her to continue. She took a deep breath after drinking and focused on the book again. "On the night of the next blood moon, a cria will be born and would become the anima''s corpus. The Gods will allow the anima to live a peaceful life but when the Alpha who was favored by the Gods found it, they will come and take it. That''s what it says. The next page was just words and not sentences so I''m not really sure what it means." Zoila said. They didn''t say a word for a moment. Amaris and Maxine were more surprised than the others as they were not used to this kind of stuff. "Did you feel anything different about your mom?" Zoila asked Maxine. "No. She would wake up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for us, go to work and come home in the evening. That''s what she does everyday except weekends. She''ll go out with friends every Saturday. I don''t really ask where she goes, for me it was her way to relax." Maxine said. "What is a lahmetar?" Amaris asked, curiosity piqued. Zoila stood up and walked to one of the bookshelves inside Zion''s office. There was a locked safety box in there, made of steel. She looked at Zion and made a facial sign to her brother. Zion sighed deeply and whispered to Amaris. She nodded and stood up. Zion walked towards the safe and dialed the code. When it opened, Zoila picked something that looked like a book. And an old one as well. Zoila raised the book with her hand, showing it to them. "This is an ancient book passed down in our family. It has almost everything in there. There are words that I cannot understand in that diary so if it''s okay, can I keep this for now?" Zoila asked, looking at Maxine. Maxine nodded in agreement then Zoila looked at Amaris while walking closer. She put the book on the table, opened it and searched for something. "Here!" She shouted. We looked at her confused. "It says here that a lahmetar is a messenger of the Gods. A beautiful maiden with golden wings and sometimes holding a herald''s rod or a water pitcher. This is Eiris, right?" Zoila said while looking at Zion. "Eiris? Who''s that?" Amaris frowned. It was a woman''s name so she thought that Eiris was Zion''s love interest in the past. Zion chuckled when he saw Amaris'' face. He was amused seeing her jealous. "Eiris is the Goddess of the Rainbow and the messenger of the Gods. She came to Zion to relay a message from the Gods when they captured you one hundred years ago. She gave the mirror to Zion." Zoila continued. Amaris looked at Zion who was sitting quietly. He sighed when he saw her ocean blue eyes staring at her. "We''re not sure if Eiris gave Amaris'' anima to Maxine''s mother. But I am getting really impatient with all this. We have half a month before the witch comes back, I cannot wait that long." Zion said in a serious tone. "What are you going to do? Go to hell?" Zoila commented sarcastically. Zion didn''t answer and everyone was shocked from his silence. It just meant that he was really planning to go to hell. "A-Are you insane? Can you do that?" Amaris frowned. "Zion, you can''t! Remember what''s written in the mideia? It says once the Alpha found the anima, the Gods will come. They will come for her. Are you going to leave her here and let the Gods take her again?" Zoila ranted. Zoila was right. When they took her before, he wasn''t around and he regretted it until today. He looked at Amaris again, raised his hand to brush it through her cheek. He smiled and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I would not let them take you away from me again. This time, I will protect you. I promise." Zion whispered. A cold wind suddenly blew that brought shivers into Amaris'' spine. The lights in the room started blinking then a black smoke slowly crawled and went inside the room from the window. It started to form a shadow then to a human being. A woman with long black hair and eyes appeared. "You don''t need to go to hell. I am already here." She said with a grin on her face. *********************************** Readers'' Guide: Mideia - a diary or journal Protrea - protector or guardian Crystallum - a crystal key Hydria - a jar or a container Tenere - a keeper Lahmetar - a messenger Cria - baby Libera - delivere Chapter 27 - Hybrid "Ophelia!" Zoila shouted. From what Amaris heard, it was the name of the witch that could help get her memories back. "We have no time. I came here as soon as I heard that you found her." The witch said, looking at Zion. Then she turned her gaze to Amaris. She walked towards her and looked at Zion. He waited for the witch''s response. "It''s her. Your lover." The witch said. Amaris felt Zion''s arms tightened on her waist. Zoila''s face lit up and she could see that tears were starting to fall from her eyes. Cole and Xander were also happy with the confirmation of the witch. Amaris, however, couldn''t understand the reason for their happiness. Ophelia frowned when she saw Amaris face full of confusion. Zion took a deep breath and looked at the witch. "First off, Ari, this is Ophelia, the High Priestess of the Underworld. Ophelia, this is Amaris or Ari. She couldn''t remember anything about me. Love, can you tell her?" Zion said in a gentle voice. Amaris nodded and gulped, before telling Ophelia her situation. "I had an accident five years ago. They said I died but after an hour, I woke up. I couldn''t remember anything, not even my name. Aunt Lorelle and Maxine took me. My aunt told me about my family who died in that accident. I never had an interest in taking back my memories, but I always felt something was missing." She paused. " When I met Zion, that''s when it all started. I felt a connection. It was deep but I couldn''t figure it out. But on the next day, I forgot about him. I knew who he was but my feelings were all gone. I thought it was normal until I heard the story of his former lover. All of this sounded or looked familiar to me. It felt like somewhere in my memory, it''s all there, just blurry." Amaris told Ophelia. "Surcus Extermina." Ophelia blurted. They looked at Ophelia who sat down across Zion and Amaris. "It''s an ancient ability only used by a Titan God or Goddess. The power to destroy memories. Memory destruction, a blank slate. Meaning your memory has been wiped clean. It''s an ultimate form of memory erasure." She explained. Amaris'' heart was pounding from different emotions. All that information couldn''t take her mind and gave her a headache. "Can you get her memories back?" Zion asked. Ophelia shook her head. Zion saw Amaris'' face pouting, she was so disappointed hearing those words from the witch. "Like what I said, a Titan God or Goddess did that. And whoever it was, they intend to keep her that way." "Why? I can''t understand the reason why Ari was killed in her past life, only to be sealed in a jar and woken up in another body. Did she do anything bad in the past?" Maxine asked, annoyed. Amaris wanted to know that as well. Zion told her that she was a product of a forbidden love, but why would the Gods allow her to live again after taking her life. She thought to herself. "She was considered an abomination of Heaven and Hell because she''s half God and half Demon." Everyone was shocked, especially Amaris. She looked at Zion and she saw his face was also surprised by that revelation. "You didn''t know?" Amaris asked Zion. "No. When we first met, I saw you in the flower field, naked and on the brink of death. I took you here. When you wake up, you told me you came from the sky then cast out from there. You said you were hated by both the Gods and Demons. That''s all I know. I never asked you because it seemed to me that you didn''t know the reason as well." He explained. Amaris turned her gaze back to Ophelia. "Who''s my parents? What creature am I?" She continued to ask. Ophelia stood up, then paced back and forth as if thinking about her answers. "I don''t know who your parents are. Let''s just say you are a hybrid but the first one of your kind, or maybe the only one. Hybrids are offspring of different creatures. The first hybrid was half human and half god. It was called a demigod. Then a lot followed, but you are the only one born to have a God and a Demon as parents. A love between creatures of heaven and hell is forbidden. " Amaris was looking at Ophelia, listening to every word she said. She couldn''t afford to miss a single thing about herself. There are a lot of things that are still not clear. Like why was she still alive? They could just kill her in an instant since they were powerful beings. "Why am I still alive? Why did they keep my anima?" She asked, confused. Ophelia stared at her and then to Zion. She took a deep breath and bit her lips. "When you were born, a prophecy was carved in your anima. You are destined to either bring destruction or balance to all worlds. I am not yet born during your time and there are secrets hidden in the abyss that were guarded and protected by the Gods itself. So I am not really sure about the exact details. But, I brought this." Ophelia said then a book appeared when she circled her finger. "This is the Book of Malum. I know there''s something in here about you." Ophelia continued. Amaris frowned. Those words again seemed familiar, but she couldn''t figure out what they were. "That''s the book of fate! Is that the one that belonged to the moirai?" Zoila exclaimed. Ophelia shook her head and smiled widely. "The moirai holds the Book of Fatum. This is not the book of fate. That''s for the Terrans. This is the book of doom where the destiny of the dark creatures was written." Zion and the others were shocked except for Amaris and Maxine. They didn''t know why it was shocking to hear that from Ophelia. "That book was kept in Altum, the deepest layer of the Underworld. The one who holds that book was the Demon King itself. How were you able to bring that here without being caught by the demon princes of the nine layers of hell?" Zion asked, curiosity piqued. "It''s a secret. You don''t need to know that." Ophelia grinned before opening the book on the table. Ophelia started turning the pages one by one, reading them carefully. After half an hour, she read almost half of the book but still couldn''t find anything. The others patiently waited, taking their deep breaths due to boredom and getting impatient. "Here!" Ophelia shouted. Amaris gulped and felt her heart pounding loudly. Zion held her hand tight while they focused on Ophelia. "It says here that a hybrid child and the one who was favored by the Gods would meet. They will bring imbalance to all realms and - and, shit!" They looked at Ophelia who was frowning and disappointment was all over her face. "What?" Amaris asked. Ophelia looked at her and sighed. "It''s been erased." ****************************** Reader''s Guide: Surcus Extermina - memory destruction/extermination, a power to destroy memories. Book of Malum - Book of doom, a book where the destiny of the dark creatures was written. ( Keeper: the Demon King) Book of Fatum - Book of fate, a book where the destiny of the Terrans was written. (Keeper: The Moirai) The Moirai - the three goddesses of fate who determined the Terran''s destinies. Chapter 28 - Its Mate "What do you mean it''s been erased?" Amaris asked. Ophelia sighed and showed them the written words. The last part was obviously erased. Amaris was so disappointed and pissed. She wanted to know the prophecy about her, but it seems someone or something was trying to hide it from her. "Could you help me regain my memories? Or do you know someone who could?" She asked Ophelia. "You can meet with Athanasia. Maybe she knows someone." Ophelia answered. Zion glanced at Zoila who looked so surprised by what Ophelia said. Amaris didn''t know who that was and looked at Zion. "She''s the demon princess who fell in love with a Terran." Zion said. Maxine''s eyes widened and her face lit up from what she had heard so far. She just realized everything Ophelia told them. "You are the werewolf favored by the Gods. The one who was granted immortality." Maxine exclaimed, staring at Zion. Amaris frowned and turned to Zion who was hugging her from behind while she was on his lap. Zion sighed deeply. "Yes. I am that werewolf. Though I am not sure why I was favored by them. When I was born, my mother told me that the Sky God Hyperion and the Demon God Orcus, came and granted me immortality and the power to bring peace between all creatures. That''s all I know." Zion confirmed. Amaris stared at Zion, confused with his sudden revelation. "But you were cursed by the moon goddess after, right? Why didn''t you ask the Sky God to remove the curse?" Amaris asked. "When you were taken, I don''t know if I could trust them anymore. I trusted our love to each other so even though I do not have my powers, I know I could find you." Zion answered. Amaris sighed again, thinking that she will forget him tomorrow. "Let''s visit the Demon Princess tomorrow. For now, let''s rest." Zion said. "B-But I will forget about you tomorrow." Amaris pouted. "We''ll do what I told you earlier." He insisted. He knew there are a lot of things that they couldn''t understand, and secrets that were kept from them, especially with Amaris. If they already knew that he found her, they would come for her. It''s just a matter of where and when. After Ophelia left, they went to their respective rooms. Cole brought Maxine to her bedroom while Zion took Amaris. Zion noticed that she was quiet the whole time and it was making him uncomfortable. When they went inside her bedroom, Amaris sighed again. She has been sighing a lot and it was adding more annoyance to Zion. "Can you please stop that?" Zion exclaimed. Amaris looked at him, pouting. "What do you want me to do? I think my reaction to everything was just normal. I was a normal girl a few days ago. I don''t need to worry about anything. Now, you were all telling me that I am some kind of unknown species. That I am a child of a God and a Demon, and that I might bring destruction to every world, do you really think that my brain could process all of it?" She answered in annoyance. Zion took a deep breath and pulled her into his arms. He hugged her tight and Amaris could hear his heart beating. "I know it''s hard to accept it. But I am happy that I found you. Ari, I love you. I''ve been loving you for a hundred years. Whatever happens, I will stay with you." He said. Amaris felt in her heart that she loved him but she couldn''t tell him because she knew tomorrow it would be different. "Z-Zion, I-I" "Shh. Don''t rush. Even if you don''t tell me now, I know what you feel. Seeing you and holding you like this, my heart feels so light." Zion said, tightening his arms around her waist. She didn''t say a word. Her heart was screaming, it wanted to respond to every word he said. But she was afraid that she would hurt him once she forgot him. They stayed like that for some time. She was standing by the window while Zion was hugging her from behind. She could feel his warm breath brushing through her skin. She waited for him to touch her. She wanted him. But to her dismay he suddenly let her go. She turned around to look at him. "It''s already late. Take a rest. Tomorrow is Saturday, no class. We can go and talk to the princess in the morning." He said in a casual tone. He kissed her on the cheek then walked out of her bedroom. She felt that he was avoiding her. She couldn''t understand the reason so she was hurt. Zion took a deep breath when he got out of Amaris'' bedroom. He wanted to touch her. He wanted her to sleep with him, especially now that Ophelia confirmed that she was really his long lost lover. ''It''s mate. We should mark her now.'' It was his wolf. His wolf wasn''t convinced before that she was their mate. He couldn''t blame him. His wolf''s senses vanished because of the curse, so it was always afraid that he would mark a fake one. If Zion marked someone by mistake, his true mate would be in constant pain. ''I don''t think she''s ready. If I mark her tonight, in the morning she will forget us. I don''t think I could take that pain. I might hurt someone.'' Zion explained. He went back to his bedroom and took a shower. He was starting to feel the heat on his body when he hugged her but he stopped himself from touching her. "You''re an Alpha. Why are you so weak when it''s about her?" He thought to himself. He adjusted the water heater to make it colder and sighed. His dick was already hard just thinking about her. "Fuck! Am I going to do it by myself? This is crazy!" He exclaimed. He was about to hold on to his dick when the bathroom door suddenly opened.. His eyes widened when he saw Amaris walking towards him while taking off her clothes slowly. Chapter 29 - [R18] I Take You He waited for her to join him in the shower. He gulped when she removed the last piece of cloth she had. Her face was flushed when stepped inside. He didn''t turn the shower off when she stood in front of him, staring into his eyes. She looked so sexy while the water was running down to her body. She looked down to his dick and bit her lips. Then without a word, she kneeled down and grabbed his hardened flesh. "Fuck!" He exclaimed. She looked at him with lustful eyes, took out her tongue and licked his dick from the base up to the tip before eating him whole. "Oh shiiiit!" He groaned. He held hair together while she moved her head forward, pushing her head further until she felt his dick touch her throat. He leaned his hips forward to feel her throat. Then Amaris started moving her head, bobbing it forward and back. She didn''t really know how to do it, but she saw it from one of Maxine''s adult collections. Her cousin was a hopeless romantic. She said she collected those kinds of videos and photos to prepare herself when she meets the man of her dreams. Amaris felt that Zion was guiding her and she could feel that he was enjoying what she was doing. She was really nervous when she decided to go to his room. It was locked but Zion gave him a spare key so she used that to get inside his room. When she heard the shower running, she knew he was taking a bath. She was just going to tease him but when she slightly opened the door, she saw his full erection. He was controlling himself, although she couldn''t understand the reason. But Amaris couldn''t control herself, she wanted him. She wanted to be touched by him. So she entered the bathroom to join him. She used her tongue to lick him one more time. She opened her mouth and put his balls inside, circling her tongue with it. "Oh love!" Then she slid his dick again into her mouth. He was big, she didn''t even know how it fit her mouth. She sucked it like a lollipop, licking it like an ice cream. Zion couldn''t take it and he might come any time if she would continue doing it. He pulled her by the shoulder, slamming her against the bathroom wall. "You are playing with fire my love. I am trying to control myself." He whispered. Amaris felt his dick rubbing against her crotch. She gasped for air because of the sensation it was giving her. She could feel her warm breath and her cheeks felt so hot. "Z-Zion, I-I don''t know what''s happening to me. I want you so bad. I-I think I''m going to go crazy if I''m not near you. Please, make love to me." She begged. ''Mate is in heat. You have to mark her or you have to wait for another cycle.'' His wolf said. He knew why she was acting like that. She wasn''t a werewolf but she''s half demon so her lust and desire was stronger. As far as he knows, demons need to release their Iust and desires to their chosen mate. If they don''t, they will go into a rampage and will transform into their bestia. Zion touched her on the cheek, tracing her face down to her lips with his finger. She slightly parted her lips when Zion put his finger inside her mouth. She sucked it, circling her tongue around his finger. "You didn''t know how much I longed for you, how much I missed touching you until you melted into my arms. I don''t care what you look like, your heart and soul will always be mine. I, Zion Sebastian Verlice, take you Amaris Hadley as my mate, my Luna, and my lover. Now and for all eternity." Zion whispered. He removed his finger into her mouth then leaned forward, kissing her gently on the lips. Her breasts pressing on to Zion''s chest as they feel and hear each other''s heart beating loudly together. Amaris wrapped her arms around his neck and responded to his kisses. It was a quick and gentle kiss, full of love. Zion backed away, giving some distance between them. She could feel Zion''s warm breath as he brushed his nose into hers, smiling sweetly at her. "I, Amaris Hadley, take you Zion Sebastian Verlice as my mate, my Alpha and my lover. From this day forward until the end of time." She answered. Zion didn''t really expect she would answer him. Amaris made up her mind to be with Zion''s side whatever happens. Even though tomorrow, she will definitely forget about tonight, she won''t let it stop her from being with Zion. ''Mark her!'' Zion''s wolf screamed inside him. Zion grabbed Amaris right leg then thrust his dick inside her pussy. She howled from the sensation she felt when he suddenly entered her. "Ahhhh¡­ Ahhhh¡­ Oh yeah!" Zion moved his lips from his cheek, kissing her softly then he left small kisses on her lips before brushing his lips down to her neck. Amaris gasped when he felt Zion''s tongue licking her between her neck and shoulder. It was the place where he would mark her. He started moving inside her, sliding his dick in and out of her dripping pussy. "Ugh. You are amazing, love." He growled. He continued to move inside her, thrusting his dick deeper into her core. She felt the head poking her womb when he thrusted harder inside. "Oh myyyy. Zion! Fuck me harder, love!" She begged in a flushed face. Zion moved his lips on her breasts, squeezing them together so he could taste her pinkish nipples. She grabbed on his hair when he started sucking her breasts while he rolled her eyes and bit her lips. "Wrap both of your legs on my hips." Zion ordered when he grabbed her other leg. "Ohhhhh¡­ Ahhhh¡­" She moaned louder when his dick reached further inside her in that position. ***************************** Reader''s Guide: Bestia - beast or monster inside a demon Chapter 30 - [R18] Marked Zion moved her hands to her bottom, grabbing them as he supported her while he continued to pound inside her. He thrusted faster and harder, making her moan for more. He brushed his lips back to her neck, licking it again. Amaris held tighter to Zion when she felt his movement became faster. His dick also got harder and bigger, but she couldn''t feel any pain, only pleasure. "Oh my gooooddddd!!! Ahhhhhhhh¡­." She shouted when she felt his dick twitched. She sucked him inside her and they both moaned from the ecstasy they felt. "Zion, ahhh¡­ More! More! Oh yeah! Ahhh¡­" Zion continued to dig deeper inside her core and when he felt that it was time, his eyes changed to fiery red and sky blue color. His fangs began to grow. And as he grinds and thrust faster in and out of her, Amaris felt another level of bliss when Zion bit her. She gasped for air when his fangs gently pierced into her neck. It almost drove her crazy when he started sucking her blood and his hands explored every part of her body. Amaris felt something was being transferred inside her. It was hot and electrifying. She felt like a thousand volts of electricity was running through her body. She could feel a mixture of excitement and thrill inside that she couldn''t explain. "Z-Zion!" She called in a raspy voice. "I''m coming!" He moved even harder and faster and when she felt his dick nudged her sensitive spot, she screamed in pleasure when she reached the climax. "Ahhhhhhhhh¡­" She moaned while she dug her nails on his back. Zion continued to move until he came inside her. He growled, slamming his hand on the wall. "Ugh. Ugh. Shit!" They both felt their juices mixing together inside her, and as he sucked more of her, she howled. Zion slowly removed his fangs into her neck, turned his gaze into Amaris'' face. She saw the different colors of his eyes, it was mesmerizing. They were both panting as their foreheads leaned against each other. ''Mate!'' His wolf screamed. ''W-What?'' Zion got confused. ''You are right! She is mate! I can smell her now! No, I can smell everything!'' Zion was shocked by what his wolf said. He looked at Amaris again, giving her kisses all over her face. Amaris couldn''t understand what happened. Zion slowly put her down, removing his dick inside her. They took a shower together then he helped her dry her hair. "My wolf suddenly said he could smell you and everything around us. I think his powers are back." He explained. "Really? How did it happen?" Amaris asked excitedly. Zion was amused seeing her smiling like that. She was breathtaking in every way. "It''s because of you. But I''m not really sure if the curse has been broken, I haven''t shifted yet. Maybe my powers will be back slowly." He answered. " Y-Your eyes, they have different colors earlier." She murmured. She was sitting in front of the vanity mirror while Zion was brushing her hair. She was wearing a short robe and Zion had a towel wrapped on his waist. "My wolf was different from the other werewolves. Half of it was red like the fire and half was blue like the water. It''s the same with its eyes." "Do you know the story about the Fire and the Water God?" She asked. Zion frowned. It was the first time he heard about it. Amaris saw his confused face and knew that he didn''t know about it. "They said that the Fire and the Water God always disagree with one another. They always argue and attack each other. In one of their fights, they accidentally made a hole in the sky, making it turn purple. The humans were afraid and sought help from the Gods for protection so Terra, the Mother Goddess, absorbed the two Gods'' powers and gave it to someone who would use it to protect the humans." Amaris explained. "Are you thinking that it was given to me? I don''t know anything about that. My mother only told me about the Gods giving me immortality, that''s all. Anyway, let''s stop thinking about it. It''s midnight, you have to rest." Zion said. Amaris didn''t say a word. She was staring at Zion in the mirror. He knew she was worried about waking up and not remembering him. He kissed her at the top of her head then carried her princess style. He put her down slowly on the bed then pulled the tie of her robe, exposing her naked body. "We''re not done yet." He smirked. She gasped when he removed the towel around his waist, showing his full erection. He joined her on the bed, parting her legs wider. She bit her lips while her heart felt like it would burst out from her chest when she saw him staring at her entrance. His eyes were full of desire, making her wet already. He slowly bent forward to lick her when she suddenly screamed. "Z-Zion!" Zion frowned and got worried. Her voice was different, it was raspy and her breath was ragged. When he looked at her, he was surprised to see her eyes changed to red and fangs started to appear. It was different from his fangs. It was longer and sharper than his. "Ari?" He called. Before he knew it, she suddenly stood up and grabbed him by his shoulders. She didn''t answer him. All she wanted was to pierce her teeth and bite his neck. Zion was shocked and wasn''t able to move. He felt Amaris'' fangs slowly piercing his neck. It wasn''t painful, it was a different feeling of sensation. He wrapped his arms around her body while she sucked him hard. He could hear a whimpering sound from her as she pierced her fangs deeper. Zion started to lick his mark on her, making her feel that they are one. He wasn''t sure what happened. He didn''t expect that a female who wasn''t a werewolf could mark her mate. Maybe because she wasn''t really a Terran, she was something else. "Now, we are one." He whispered. Amaris'' vision suddenly went dark. She was trying to control it but she suddenly felt exhausted, her eyes voluntarily closed.. She heard Zion whisper something into her ear before she lost consciousness. Chapter 31 - Not Just A Bite Mark Zion sighed deeply while looking at his mate sleeping quietly on the bed. There are a lot of things about her that fascinates him. Like how his wolf''s senses came back right after he marked her, how she could suddenly awaken her demon side and mark him. He stood up and decided to have a drink. He wouldn''t be able to sleep anyway so he went to the bar at the castle. The wine cellar was located in the basement. With brick walls surrounding it and wine cabinets that have around five hundred bottles. Most of them were over a hundred years old. There was a stunning set of furniture with Mediterranean flair consisting of a mid-low center table with a glass top and wooden frames. There were four sophisticated armchairs around it that feature graceful curves and ornate decorative details. There was a stunning modern chandelier at the center featuring an old-world design of 6 lights with metal construction. The wheelbase highlighted with brass nailheads was coated in an antique black finish with clear glass shades. It was suspended from 3 twisted rods with a 39-inch ceiling chain. Zion took a bottle of 1947 Cheval Blanc St-Emilion, one of the most expensive wines in the world. He sat down on one of the chairs, opened the bottle and poured the liquid in the wine glass. He sighed again before taking a sip. He was thinking of Amaris. He couldn''t understand why the Gods put on such length to erase her memories. Is she really someone that would destroy both worlds? Maybe the prophecy was misunderstood, there was something missing in the Book of Malum so it''s possible that they were wrong. He thought. "So you marked her." It was Zoila''s voice. Even if he won''t tell them, every member of the pack could feel it. Once an Alpha marked his Luna, the pack would feel a stronger power inside them. In Amaris'' case, he could feel that it was more powerful than they expected. Her sister sat on the chair across him while Cole and Xavier followed, occupying the vacant seats. "Yes. I didn''t plan it. I wanted to mark her once she got her memories but it seemed she was already in heat. It was sudden, I don''t understand it." He sighed. Cole frowned when he noticed something on Zion''s neck. He stood up to check what it was. "What''s that?" Cole asked, pointing in his neck. Zoila''s eyes widened while Cole and Xavier''s faces were shocked. Zion frowned and touched the mark Amaris'' put on him. "Ari marked me." He casually answered. "Look in the mirror!" Zoila exclaimed while handing him a mirror. Zion took it and with a frown face, looked at himself in the mirror. He was also surprised when he saw it. It wasn''t just a simple bite. There was a symbol formed from where she bit him. It was a crescent moon with a red pointed sword and on the handle was a red rose wrapped around in thorns. "Oh my! That''s the first time in the history of the werewolves. I don''t think she was just a child of some God and Demon. I think her parents were powerful beings and that may be the reason they were afraid of her." Cole commented. They went quiet for a moment. Cole has a point. The Gods were powerful beings, especially the ancient ones. But if two produced offspring, it could have stronger powers than the parents. "Did you feel the sudden increase in power and strength of the pack?" Zion asked, looking at the three. "Yes. Didn''t you hear the howling of the werewolves when you marked her? We were celebrating. Those who hadn''t shifted for decades suddenly shifted. It was a miracle." Xavier answered while Zoila and Cole nodded in agreement. Zion felt relieved and his heart felt so light from hearing those words. His pack suffered for a hundred years because of him and he felt guilty from being a weak Alpha. The reason they were able to maintain the strength of the pack was because he was an immortal. His wolf lost his senses, he couldn''t shift, his powers were sealed, but he couldn''t die. His healing ability was different from other werewolves. He could heal faster than anyone and he was also immune with wolfsbane. "Do you think you could get an answer from the demon princess?" Zoila asked. "I''m not sure. But she''s not just a princess, so I think she knew something." He answered. ''Love?'' He heard Amaris'' voice. The three frowned when they also heard her voice. "She could do that now? I think our Luna was really amazing." Cole excitedly said when Amaris used the mind link to talk to Zion. "W-Wait, she didn''t forget you?" Zoila asked, confused. ''I watched the video.'' Amaris answered Zoila. Zoila looked at her brother, curious by what Amaris said. She grinned, teasing him with a mischievous smile. ''I''ll be there. Wait for me.'' He answered, ignoring Zoila. He stood up and rushed back to his bedroom, leaving the three with smiles on their faces. Amaris face was so red after watching the video. Zion was able to record everything. She saw herself entering the bathroom and then pleasuring him with his mouth. She watched him marking her and she saw herself marking him. She touched her teeth to check on her fangs but they weren''t there anymore. It was a confirmation that she wasn''t really a Terran. She saw her eyes change to red and fangs grew from her mouth. She stood up and walked towards the full sized mirror. She was naked so she could see the mark on her neck. She frowned when she saw a symbol or more like a tattoo and not just a bite mark. It was a blue moon with a howling wolf and another two symbols on the wolf''s sides in color blue and red. "That''s my mark. And here''s yours." It was Zion, pointing to the symbol on his neck. Chapter 32 - Meeting The Demon Princess "What does it mean?" She asked. Zion stood behind him, putting her hair on the other side. She gasped when he touched her shoulder, tracing the symbol on her neck. "The blue moon represents the pack, the wolf is me, the Alpha. The blue symbol represents the water element and the red one for the fire element. I have the power to control both." He explained. She frowned. They said that werewolves have superpowers like superspeed and strength. It was the first time she heard a werewolf has elemental powers. He chuckled. "I told you I''m different from other werewolves. A lot of creatures envied me. I don''t really know the reason why I was given those gifts by the Gods. They said that I was blessed from the moment my mother got pregnant." She turned around to face him. She was naked but she didn''t really feel awkward. When she woke up, she couldn''t remember why she was in that bedroom. She remembered running away from home with Maxine and coming to Verlice Castle. She knew about what Ophelia told her but with all those scenes from yesterday, Zion wasn''t there. Zoila, Cole, Xavier, Ophelia and Maxine were there, but Zion was erased from her memory. She found a note on the bedside table telling her to watch the video saved on the phone beside it. That''s when she knew about Zion being there all along. Tears started to fill into her eyes. Forgetting him everyday, her feelings being erased every time she opened her eyes was hard and painful. She knew Zion was suffering, but he was still willing to stand beside her despite that. "Hey. Did you have a nightmare again?" He asked, wiping the tears in her eyes. She shook her head then wrapped her arms around his waist, her head on his chest. "I''m sorry. I''m too weak." She sobbed He embraced her tighter, feeling the softness and warmth of her naked body. "I don''t care about doing this everyday, as long as you are with me." He answered. She tilted her head up to face him, moving her hands to his neck. She pulled him closer while she tiptoed to reach him. With trembling lips, she kissed him gently. Tears fell from her eyes and Zion tasted the salty liquid that ran down to their tangled lips. Zion decided to deepen the kiss to calm her down. He carried her princess style and laid her down on the bed. While their lips and tongues savored their tastes, his hands started exploring her body. They made love until morning. Amaris didn''t want to close her eyes anymore. She was afraid and frustrated from forgetting Zion over and over so she decided to stay awake just until she talk to the Demon Princess. They went to the dining area for breakfast. They could hear the joyful voices and laughter of the pack outside. She looked at Zion, confused. She was wondering if there was a party or celebration in the hall. "They''re celebrating because I found my Luna." He answered. She also felt happy and relieved that she was able to make them happy. When they entered the hall, everyone became quiet and all eyes were on them. He felt Zion''s grip tightened. She turned his gaze around the dining hall. They were the same faces who previously had a bad expression on her. She felt someone was pulling her dress. She was wearing a white mini dress composed of woven chiffon that shapes a surplice neckline and sheer three-quarter sleeves that end with garterized cuffs. A blousy bodice tops a figure-flattering smock silhouette with a tiered and ruffled, mini hem. When she looked down, a little girl with emerald eyes was smiling sweetly at her. Zion nodded when she glanced at him. She smiled then crouched down while the girl handed her a flower. "Luna, you are beautiful!" The little girl exclaimed. "Oh thank you! You are prettier! I like your eyes." Amaris complimented the girl. Then one by one, the other girls and boys came to greet her. There were also teenagers and adults alike who approached her, all looking so happy from meeting their Luna. Zion pulled her and growled at the members of the pack. They bowed their heads and returned to their seats. He grabbed her hand and guided her to her seat. Zion remained standing, looking at every member. Amaris felt that they suddenly became anxious seeing Zion''s dark face. "I understand that you are excited and happy meeting your Luna. But you have to respect her privacy as well. She needs to eat breakfast to regain her strength. You all understand that we just had our mating ritual and it was just our first night. Can you let her eat first? Then we will make some time so she could visit or tour around our territory." "Yes Alpha!" They shouted in unison. Amaris blushed from Zion''s words. "You don''t have to tell them about last night." She pouted. He chuckled. "They already knew even if I didn''t tell them. Every one last one of them felt the power and energy when I marked you. But a much stronger power was transmitted to them when you marked me." "Is it weird? I mean, marking you." She asked. He pinched her on the cheek and smiled. "Let''s eat first. We''ll go and meet the princess." Zion answered. After breakfast, they went back to Aramoor City. They were accompanied by Zoila and Xavier. Cole was left in the castle to be with Maxine who was trying to decipher her mother''s mideia. The Demon Princess, Athanasia, lived in the penthouse of the sky tower. She lived in the mortal world as Asia Hart, an actress and model. She was rumored to fell in love with a Terran who was supposed to be her slave. They were greeted by Ophelia when they arrived at the princess home. It wasn''t eerie like Amaris imagined. The place was cozy and peaceful. The white and black colors of the walls and furniture complimented each other. She didn''t expect the house to be like that. They sat on the sofa in the living room and waited for ten minutes. When a door opened that seemed to be the bedroom, a woman who had white hair and red eyes walked towards them. Amaris frowned. As far as she knows, Asia was a blonde woman but this one has white hair. "This is what I really looked like. My hair changes when I''m outside." She explained when she saw their confused faces. "So Ophelia told me that the Legendary Alpha wanted to see me. I never thought that you would -" Athanasia cut her own words when she got closer to Amaris. Her eyes widened then looked at Zion. "You found her!" She exclaimed. Zion and Amaris glanced at each other. They couldn''t understand why Athanasia reacted that way. Then to everyone''s surprise, the princess rushed to Amaris and hugged her. "I''m happy I finally met you!" She whispered. Everyone was confused and wanted to know of Athanasia''s gesture towards Amaris. "Can you tell us at least what''s going on?" Zion asked. Athanasia released her then stood up. She started pacing back and forth then she stopped to face them. "Let''s just say I am your aunt. Your mom told me about you." Athanasia said. "So my mom''s a demon?" She asked. "No. Your mother is a Goddess.." Athanasia answered. Chapter 33 - The Forbidden Love Amaris wasn''t really surprised. She expected that one of her parents was a God or Demon anyway and all she needed was to know who they were. "Who is she? And my father, he''s a demon right? So you know him too?" Amaris asked. Amaris felt so relieved when Athanasia nodded. Then the princess took a deep breath then sat down across Amaris. She looked at her intently then continued. "Your father is my brother. One of the Demon Princes of the Underworld, Phelan. And your mother was the Moon Goddess, Selene." "W-What?" Zoila and Xavier exclaimed in unison. Zion glared at them, stopping them from reacting. But he was also surprised to hear that Amaris was Selene''s daughter. "A love between a Goddess and a Demon has long been forbidden. No one expected for a creature of heaven and hell to fall in love with each other so it wasn''t really a written law to us. It was obvious we weren''t allowed to be together. We''re not called the fallens for nothing." Athanasia started then she turned to Zion. "Why do you think Selene made your kind a werewolf? She could have chosen a different species right?" She asked Zion. "Was it because Phelan can shift to a werewolf?" It was Zoila who guessed. Athanasia slightly smiled. "Demons have bestias or beasts inside them. Each of us has different monsters inside us. We could transform into our bestias when we need it. Phelan''s bestia was a wolf. Selene felt that Phelan didn''t have a chance to be the next Demon King so she created the werewolves. She loved Phelan so much that she wanted an army of werewolves for him. A species that would worship both of them. Don''t think of her as a selfish Goddess. She loved her creation from the bottom of her heart. You were hers and Phelan''s children." She paused. "The Gods were not against the new species, but they were against their relationship. So the Sky God and the Demon God, ordered the Demon King, my father, to send his children to Terra. For the princes, it was a part of their test and training to be the next Demon King. There was one rule that we are not allowed to do here, that is to fall in love with a Terran." Athanasia continued. Zoila suddenly continued the story. "The Gods already set everything and made Phelan fall in love with one. Selene was so mad so she cursed him. All of Phelan''s descendants would never have a mate or a lover, and if they do, their mate will die." Athanasia chuckled and shook her head. Everyone was frowning. That''s what they knew from the history of the beginning of each species. "Selene didn''t curse Phelan. She was hurt and mad, of course. But she was too in love to curse him. When she found out she was carrying Phelan''s child, she came here to Terra and met me. She asked me to keep her pregnancy a secret. She was afraid that the Gods would take you away." Athanasia sighed. "She came to see Phelan so I took her from where he was. But my brother couldn''t remember her anymore, he was cast out from hell and became a mortal. Even though Phelan had no memory of her, Selene stayed near him. Before my brother died, he suddenly remembered everything. He regretted forgetting Selene but it was too late for them. He told Selene about what the Gods did and he told her to protect their child from them." Athanasia held Amaris'' hands and stared into her eyes. "Your father gave you a gift before he died. I was also wondering how he was able to give you anything but I think he gave you all of his remaining power, his life." Athanasia''s eyes started to fill with tears. She let go of Amaris'' hands and stood up. She turned around and they saw her wipe the tears from her eyes. "My brother was not the most powerful prince, but he learned the true meaning of love and life. He wanted to help Selene protect their unborn child so he gave your anima immortality." Zion looked at Athanasia with a frown face. "If she''s half demon and half god, she''s already immortal right?" He asked. Athanasia faced them. "Yes. But if a powerful God was your enemy, you could be killed. Your body can bleed and deteriorate if it was done by a God. So your father made your anima immortal. Your body will die over and over but your anima will never die. When your current body deteriorates, your anima would just leave and find another." "Soul transference." Ophelia finally spoke. "Yes. Or simply transmigration. Soul transference was the power to transmigrate the soul to another body after death." Athanasia further explained. "But wasn''t it done by someone ancient?" Zion asked. Athanasia took a deep breath. She couldn''t believe that they didn''t really know anything. "Didn''t you learn in history class who was Selene''s parents?" She frowned. "Hyperion and Theia." Xavier answered. "The titans." Zoila murmured. Selene was the daughter of two Titan Gods. She was a Titan Goddess who resided on the moon. The Titans were the elder Gods or the ancient ones. Phelan might be just a demon prince but Selene was also a powerful Goddess. "Are you saying Selene used soul transference because Phelan made her anima immortal?" Ophelia asked. "Bingo! It was done the moment her daughter died seven hundred years ago. Her body was kept in the deep abyss where all imprisoned Titans were kept, Tartarus. Selene went there and used soul transference. By the time the Gods came to stop her, it was already too late. Your anima already ventured into the mortal world." Zion was confused again. Why the hell it was so complicated to be involved with the Gods and Demons? He thought. "You said seven hundred years ago. But I met her just a hundred years ago." Zion babbled. "Our time and your time was different. You may be a mythical creature but you were using the Terran''s timeline." Athanasia answered. Amaris finally spoke after listening to Athanasia. "You said my body was kept in Tartarus. Are you saying my original body was still there? I thought it deteriorated." "Again, everything''s possible with the Titan Gods. Although I''m not sure why they were keeping your body there. " "Do you know how to get there?" Amaris suddenly asked. Chapter 34 - Complicated Answers Zion was surprised when Amaris asked Athanasia. The rest looked at Amaris then turned their gaze to Zion. "Ari, why are you asking that?" Zion frowned. She sighed. She knew he would react that way but she was curious about what she really looked like. And if there was a possibility that she could go to Tartarus to reclaim her original body, she would definitely do it. "I-I wanted to know if there''s a chance to get my original body back." She said. Athanasia understood what Amaris felt. Her anima transmigrated for centuries and with a mortal body, there''s a possibility that it was also getting exhausted. "There''s a way to go to Tartarus. But the problem is getting your original body. From what I know, it''s being guarded by the Centimanes. They are monsters with fifty heads and one hundred arms and there were three of them so let''s put that aside for now." Athanasia said. Amaris pouted. She already knew it wasn''t that easy. She just wanted to know the possibilities. "Do you know who cursed her?" Zion asked. It was the main reason they went to meet Athanasia anyway so he used the chance to change the topic. "What do you mean she''s cursed?" Athanasia frowned. Then Zion told her about what has been happening to Amaris. The demon princess was surprised to hear it. She couldn''t believe that there was someone who would do that to her. "Is there a way to get my memories back?" Amaris asked. Athanasia didn''t answer for a moment, making Amaris anxious. She was beginning to lose hope. She looked at Zion, her eyes full of sadness. "Memory restoration." Athanasia suddenly answered. Amaris'' face lit up as well as Zion''s. "There''s a way?" She exclaimed. "You could regain your lost memories but I''m not sure if it includes restoring your lost feelings." The princess said. Amaris turned to Zion as if asking if that was okay. Zion nodded. It was still better than nothing. At least she could remember him and maybe her heart will follow. "Do you know someone who could do it?" Zion asked. "A pure blooded vampire could do it, Damien." Athanasia answered while looking at Zion directly into his eyes. She was trying to see Zion''s reaction by mentioning the vampire''s name. She wanted to see how much Zion could risk just to help his Luna. Amaris felt a tension from Zion when Athanasia mentioned the name Damien. She knew that werewolves and vampires were enemies for a long time. It stopped when the peace treaty was signed. "Love, I can still wait." Amaris whispered. Zion smiled then touched her on the cheek. "I''ll send him a message to come to the pack house. He''ll be there." Zion answered. Amaris felt excited and happy. She hugged Zion and kissed her on the lips. She blushed when she realized there were people around them. The rest was just looking at her amused by her reaction. She was so innocent to be someone who would cause destruction to both worlds. Athanasia thought to herself. "I would like to ask also about the voice I heard in the pack house. Maybe you know what it means." Amaris said, looking at her aunt. "Go ahead. What is it?" Athanasia nodded. "Ere bi te aime, afflition les de luna." Athanasia frowned. Is it Selene''s voice that she heard? Is she trying to help her daughter or making a mess of her memories? She thought. "Do you know what it was about?" Amaris asked again. Athanasia shook her head. "I-I''m sorry. I don''t know." "How about the prophecy written in the Book of Malum?" Zoila asked after. Ophelia showed Athanasia the book. The princess glared at the witch. She knew Ophelia went to Zuriel''s chamber again to steal it. "I borrowed it." Ophelia pouted. Ophelia was the current High Priestess of the Underworld. She''s a witch who also lived in Aramoor City. They serve the Demon God Orcus. The High Priestess can only be summoned by the Demon King during rituals and ceremonies blessed by Orcus. But Ophelia was special. She could go to the Underworld anytime she wanted. The witches have been living with the Terrans for centuries. But after the classical period of witch hunts in early Modern Europe around 1450 to 1750, the witches hid their territory by using a powerful spell to protect themselves. Nobody really knows where they live, and even if you do you wouldn''t be able to enter their territory unless you are invited by one of them. Athanasia shook her head then turned the pages. She already knew that the last part of the prophecy was erased. She sighed then looked at Zion and Amaris. "The only one who could tell what was in this book is Phoebus, the Prorocist¨¦. He was the one who could only see the future." Athanasia answered. Zion was staring into Athanasia''s eyes. He knew that the demon princess was hiding something. "Where is he?" Amaris asked. "He''s not here in Terra. He''s also a Titan God who chose to live on the second planet. He''s in Mirrikh." Ophelia was the one who answered. "The red planet?" Zoila frowned. Amaris frowned. It was hard to get all the information from those who were involved with her. Mirrikh means fire, formerly known as Mars, the second planet found by the Elysian Elders that could sustain life of any creature. There were some Terrans who moved in Mirrikh and most mythical creatures who lived there didn''t belong to any clan. "Is it dangerous to go there?" Amaris asked again. Zion sighed deeply. He understood that she badly wanted to know everything, but they didn''t really know who they were up against. So they have to plan everything carefully. "Mirrikh was not as peaceful as Terra. Creatures who were exiled from their clans go there and they already formed their own clan, the Night Howlers. They are a group of werewolves, vampires, demons and all mythical beings. I don''t think they are very welcoming considering they were creatures who suffered from different kinds of tortures." Ophelia further explained. "Why don''t you focus first on getting your memories back? The rest will follow." Athanasia suggested when she saw her niece pouting. Amaris nodded. She didn''t really have a choice anyway, getting her memories and remembering Zion were her priorities. ******************************* Reader''s Guide: Tartarus - a place where the Titans were imprisoned. Centimanes - a giant monster that guards Tartarus. Maka - the Mother God Mirrikh - formerly known as Mars, the second planet that could sustain life. Prorosist¨¦ - the oracle, the one who wrote the Book of Malum. Chapter 35 - A Hybrids Craving Athanasia saw Amaris'' neck. She moved closer to her to check her mark. Then she looked at Zion''s neck and noticed the mark. "She changed and marked me." Zion said, explaining the symbol on his neck. "Into a bestia?" Athanasia frowned. Zion shook his head and told her what happened to Amaris. Athanasia proudly smiled. "The moon was your mom''s symbol, the sword was your father''s. The rose and the thorns signifies a forbidden love." Athanasia explained. Amaris'' heart felt happy and proud. The mark she gave to her lover was her parents'' symbols. She touched the symbol on her neck and looked at her aunt, hoping for an explanation. "An Alpha''s mark signifies his power. The water symbol and the fire symbol were Zion''s elemental powers. He was given the power to control both elements by the Mother God, Maka." Athanasia started. Zion didn''t really know why he was given those gifts by the Gods. His parents didn''t tell him about it and he wasn''t interested to know the reason until it appeared in Amaris neck. "Maka gave birth to four elemental Gods. Ignus, the Fire God, Aqua, the Water Goddess, Ventus, the Wind God and Terra, the Goddess of Earth. Among her children, Ignus and Aqua always disagreed with one another, attacking the other using their powers. With that, the humans were scared of them. So Maka took their elemental powers and randomly chose a creature who would inherit them. Zion was still in her mother''s belly when Maka gave that power." Athanasia continued. Zion sighed. It was like Amaris told him. Why him? The gifts, the blessing and the powers given by the Gods were overwhelming. His pack survived for a hundred years because of it. "Can a demon''s mark lift a curse from a God?" Zion suddenly asked. "In your case, you are cursed by the Moon Goddess, her mother. But her father''s blood was stronger and Selene''s weakness was Phelan. So it''s possible that the curse weakened or maybe lifted when Amaris marked you. Did you feel a change inside you?" Athanasia asked. Zion nodded. He didn''t try his other powers yet but his wolf''s senses were back and he felt stronger after he was marked by Amaris. "Your powers will get back slowly. You marked each other but you still have to go through with the Luna ceremony, right?" The princess asked again. Amaris looked at Zion again. "What''s a Luna ceremony?" "It''s where all the pack members including the elders will gather to introduce you as the official Luna of the pack. It''s done on the last full moon of the current month under the moonlight." Zion answered. "You will also mark each other in front of everyone. I want to remind you, since we don''t know yet if she has a bestia, it''s possible that she would suddenly transform into one. Demon''s transformed during mating when its desire and lust were at its peak. We don''t know when it would occur exactly, but we feel it. Amaris you will feel a different level of excitement and thrill. Your adrenaline will reach its highest level then you will transform." Her aunt continued. Amaris felt a throbbing pain in her head and her vision seemed a little blurry. All that information that she found out was making her dizzy. "How did you know all of this? You are a demon princess, a fallen one." Xavier asked Athanasia, curiosity piqued. Athanasia laughed. "It''s a secret. You don''t need to know anything about me. Anyway, last night was the first time she put that mark on you?" She asked, looking at Zion. Zion nodded. The demon princess smiled mischievously. Amaris didn''t know but she suddenly felt embarrassed talking about it. "Remember, she''s a half demon. For full blooded demons like me, we marked our mate on the first night in our human form. Then another mark in our beast''s form. She may or may not have a bestia since she''s half Goddess. But I know her heat wouldn''t be like her mother''s." Amaris and Zion frowned, glancing at each other. Amaris'' face was flushed and Zion was enjoying seeing her like that. "W-What do you mean?" Amaris asked, blushing. Athanasia gave a wicked smile before answering. "A female werewolf has seven to ten days of heat but a demon''s lust and desire lasts forever. If there''s a specific season for them, we don''t have that. But I think yours would come from both, you are half Demon and half Goddess. A hybrid''s craving, wild and sweet." Amaris'' eyes widened, but Zion was smiling widely. Zoila threw a pillow to her brother while Xavier was giving Zion a meaningful look. "Oh before I forget, we don''t have a specific time for that as well. If she wanted you to fuck her now, you should do it. Or else she''ll get wilder. You don''t want her to go around naked in front of everyone right?" Amaris'' face was so red from embarrassment, also feeling a sudden heat in her body. She looked at Zion and bit her lips. Zion saw that she suddenly became anxious. Is she in heat? That was fast. He thought. Amaris was startled when Zion held her hand. His warm hand was making her body hot. She felt like she wanted to be touched by him. She gasped for air and felt her breath burning. Athanasia could sense what''s happening with her niece. She was also like that with Alistair. That was one of the sins of demons, lust. Most demons lust towards anyone, but there are some who only felt it towards their chosen mate. "Love?" Amaris called Zion in a raspy voice. Zion nodded. He looked at Athanasia and the others. They understood what was happening. He stood up then pulled Amaris out of the penthouse. As soon as the elevator door closed, Amaris'' eyes changed to red. She couldn''t control herself anymore and to Zion''s surprise, Amaris pushed him against the wall, slamming her lips into his. He felt Amaris hands unbuckling his belt. He held her hands to stop her. Then she stopped kissing him. Zion saw that she was mad when he stopped her. Her red eyes were like fire burning with her own desire and lust, but with a mixture of anger. It was the first time he saw her like that. Was that a hybrid''s craving? He asked himself. "Are you rejecting me now?" She frowned. Chapter 36 - [R18] I Love You "No! Why would I reject you?" Zion said in a loud tone. She pouted. Her face was flushed while her red eyes were staring at him with desire. She bit her lips and suddenly changed from a lustful demon to an angel-like goddess. "Then will you make love to me? I will do everything you ask, my Alpha." She begged with a lewd face. Zion frowned. Is she trying to kill him with that face? How could he resist her if she looked so sexy? He thought. He wanted to make love to her. But they were in the elevator, he still wanted to have a privacy and not just have sex with her wherever they wanted. "You can use Unit F on the thirty first floor. We owned it. I already asked someone to open it for you." It was Athanasia''s voice. Did she just talk to them using a mind link? He ignored it for a moment and would just ask her again later. He pulled Amaris as soon as the elevator stopped. He rushed to look for the unit Athanasia told them. They saw a woman standing and smiling at them in front of Unit F. He nodded and took the key from her when she handed it to him. "Come here!" He said, slamming Amaris against the door as soon as it closes. They were both in a rush. Their hands were both busy undressing each other while their lips and tongues were tangled together. Amaris felt Zion''s hand between her thighs so she slightly parted them to make way to his finger. She gasped when he ripped her laced underwear, tossing it aside. She moaned when she felt one of his fingers rubbed her clit. Zion felt that she was already wet. He could already smell the sweet scent of her juice. His wolf was getting wilder and it was making him hard even more. He leaned his forehead against hers and stared into her while he rubbed her clit. He wanted to see her reaction and he was satisfied to see her biting her lips as she let out a rapid breathing. "You like this? Say it!" He ordered using his Alpha voice. "Oh yes! Yes! I like it deeper!" She moaned. Zion smirked. He could feel her warm breath through his face. His wolf was right. She really smelled gardenia. While he thrust his finger in and out of her, he moved his lips and other hand to her breasts. His hand fondled one and his mouth sucked the other. She was getting crazy from the pleasure Zion was giving her. She screamed in ecstasy when he inserted one more finger into her dripping pussy. "Ohhhhh. Fuuuuck! Z-Zion! Ahhh¡­" Her moans and screams were music to his ears. He knew they only had a short time since the others were waiting for them. He moved his fingers faster, making her eyes roll while he sucked her nipples harder. Her breasts were one of her assets so she was proud of it. Zion loved them, it was just the right size for his big hands. Her nipples were like cherries on top and he liked to suck them making it more pink. "Zion, I want you! I want you now!" He grinned. Then he removed his fingers and pulled her in the living room. To his surprise, she turned around, bent over on the couch while her hands were at her back. "Put it in!" She ordered. He didn''t argue. He actually liked what he saw. In her position, he could see her pussy while her legs were parted widely. His dick twitched seeing her throbbing entrance waiting for him. He got closer to her, held her hands with one hand while he rubbed his dick to her pussy with the other. He could feel how wet she was. "Ahhhhhhhhhhh¡­ Oh yeah!" She moaned louder when Zion thrust his dick harder inside. "Oh shit! Ugh. You are so wet, my love." Zion growled. He started to move, pounding her from behind. She could feel his every thrust in and out of her, his dick sliding deeper into her womb. Her ass slammed against his abdomen while he moved faster, making his dick harder and bigger. Amaris felt his dick grew inside her and it made her crave for him more. Zion wanted to see her face so he took his dick out and sat on the couch, pulling her on his lap. "Ride me." He said in a hoarse voice. She nodded then put her knees on the couch as she straddled him. She held onto Zion''s shoulders while he positioned his dick into her entrance. Zion howled when she suddenly pushed her hips down to sit on him. "That''s good love. Are you okay?" He asked. "Y-Yes." She stammered. She could feel his dick twitched inside her, making her face so red. Her body was burning with lust towards Zion. It was like she was on fire and only him could put out its flame. Zion guided her how to move. She moved slowly at first but when she couldn''t take it, she started to grind him faster until they both reached the climax. Her eyes changed back to normal after. She leaned forward, burying her face to his neck. "I love you Zion. I wanted to tell you even though tomorrow I will forget this feeling. I will tell you how much I love everyday until my heart screams your name." She whispered. He didn''t expect to hear it from her. It has been one hundred years since he heard those words and he felt really happy. He wrapped her arms around her waist and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you, Ari. I thought I would never hear those words again. I love you. I don''t mind reminding you about us as long as I can hear those words from you." He said. They stayed in that position for a moment until Xavier called them through a mind link. "Alpha, Cole sent a message. Damien just arrived in Verlice Castle." Amaris felt excited when she heard the name of the vampire who would help her restore her memories. Chapter 37 - Damien She was anxious on the way to Verlice Castle. Zion held her hand, kissing it softly. "Relax. I''ll be with you." He murmured. Amaris realized that Zion and the vampire had a history. Earlier, it seemed that he didn''t like it when he heard his name. She suddenly felt guilty knowing that he was doing it for her. "Love, can you tell me what happened between you and Damien?" She asked. Zion sighed. He didn''t really want to talk about it but he knew he needed to tell Amaris everything that happened to him when she was gone. "Did you know why the vampires and werewolves didn''t get along?" He asked. Amaris shook her head. She wasn''t really interested in them before and her knowledge just came from books in school. "We were not really enemies in the beginning. But seventy years ago, her sister came to our territory asking for help. She was in love with a werewolf and her clan was against it. Well everyone was against it except me. I know the feeling of losing someone so somehow I wanted to help them. The vampires found out that she was in the castle and accused us of kidnapping their princess. That was the start. Her sister and the werewolf ran away and no one ever found them until now. The vampires blamed us, especially Damien. I understood his feelings completely. Diana was his only sister, if it happened to Zoila I would feel the same way. But I have nothing to do with his sister''s disappearance." Zion explained. "Are you really okay with meeting him?" She asked. Zion slightly smiled and touched her cheek. "If it''s for you, I don''t mind facing a thousand enemies. I could even fight the Gods for you." He answered. Her heart skipped a beat from his words. She was more eager to get her memories back so she could at least answer his declarations of love towards her. When they arrived in Verlice Castle, they went directly to Zion''s office where Damien was waiting. They saw him sitting casually on the couch, reading a book. He frowned when they entered the office and stood up to greet them. The man was almost as tall as Zion. His long hair was pony tailed, showing his bare face that was pale as the snow, lips red as blood and his eyes were fierce with a hint of crimson color. "Damien." Zion greeted. When he introduced Amaris to Damien, she felt a chill on the back of her neck when he took her hand to kiss them. His touch was cold as ice as well as his aura. "So what''s the urgent matter you want to discuss with me?" Damien asked. "Memory restoration. You can do that right?" Zion started. Damien frowned, looking at Zion then to Amaris. Zion walked towards the couch, pulling her to sit beside him. Damien followed and sat across them. "I can. Is it for you or for her?" Amaris felt the chills again when he glanced at her. Zion started telling Damien about her condition and she could see that he was listening to Zion. "So can you help us?" Zion asked after. Damien didn''t say anything for a moment. He was quiet as if he was thinking if he would help her or not. "I can but it still depends on both of you, especially Zion." Damien answered while giving Zion a meaningful look. They frowned. Amaris couldn''t understand, it was obvious they wanted her memories back. "What do you mean?" She asked. Damien looked at her then turned his gaze to Zion. He straightened his back and his face became serious. "Memory restoration can be done by biting someone on the neck. Are you okay with that? I have to pierce my fangs to your precious Luna, Zion." Damien smirked. His expression seemed offensive and to her surprise Zion growled at Damien. Both men were standing and facing each other. Zion was mad, showing his fangs and only one of his eyes changed to red. "Say that again and I swear you won''t get out of here alive." Zion said with gritted teeth. Damien smirked again. "You know I cannot die, unless you want to burn me alive." Cole, Zoila and Xavier rushed inside the office and saw what was happening. Damien''s words were true, vampires cannot die. They also have evolved and could walk into the sunlight. The only thing that could kill them now was¡­fire. And to everyone''s surprise Zion''s hands started to flame, a confirmation that his powers were back. Damien suddenly walked backwards and raised his hands. "H-How did you-" He cut his own words when he looked at Amaris. "You marked him? You broke the curse? Is that even possible? What are you?" Damien continuously asked. "She''s a hybrid, half demon and half goddess. Her father is Phelan and Selene''s her mother." Zoila was the one who answered. Damien''s eyes widened and in surrender, went back to his seat. Amaris suddenly touched Zion''s hand which shocked everyone even more. She didn''t feel the heat from Zion''s flame. The fire on his hands split into two, one on his palm and the other on Amaris'' palm. "You really are something." Zoila exclaimed. Amaris looked at her hand turning it around while it was on fire. For some reason, she felt the warmth of Zion on the flame. She looked at him and saw his one eye was still in red. When it changed back to its original color, the flame disappeared. She reached out to his hand again and pulled him to sit down. "Hey. Calm down." She said in a gentle voice. Then she turned to Damien. "Is there another way? Maybe a woman on your side can do that?" She asked. Damien was still shocked from what he saw. He felt a sudden fear towards Zion now that his powers are back. And with a woman like Amaris on his side, he was even more powerful than any creature alive. "Answer her!" Zion growled. He wasn''t just a vampire. He''s a pureblood and a powerful one, but his powers were nothing compared to Zion. He nodded and looked at the couple again. "The only one who could do memory restoration is me and my sister. But as you all know, she''s been missing for seventy years." Damien answered. Amaris felt another disappointment. Even if she agreed with Damien, she knew Zion would not allow any man to touch her. It wasn''t just a simple touch, the vampire needed to bite her, not to her hand but to her neck. Zion took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He wanted her memories back.. He wanted her to remember him. But will he allow Damien to pierce his dirty fangs to his lover''s neck? Or will he let his pride take over and just let her forget him over and over again? Chapter 38 - Searching And Preparing "Love?" She called. Zion rested his head on the backrest of the couch. He was silent for more than ten minutes with his eyes shut. Amaris felt anxious again. She didn''t really want Zion to worry about her so she already decided not to do memory restoration. She looked at Damien and smiled politely. "If there''s no other way, then it''s fine. I don''t need my memories back." She whispered. Damien nodded. "I understand. If only my sister was here." Zion opened his eyes and saw Damien looking at him. He knew what he meant with those words. He wanted Zion to help him look for his sister. "It''s been seventy years Damien. We don''t even know where to start." Zion said. "Because we never tried looking. If you are not really involved with her disappearance, you will help me." Damien answered. Amaris looked at him, confused. She already declined Damien''s help so she couldn''t understand what they were talking about. Zion sighed deeply then turned his gaze to Amaris. "Can you still wait, my love? We''ll look for Diana, his sister. If we can''t find her, I will agree with Damien doing it." Zion said gently. Amaris was surprised. She didn''t expect Zion to agree with Damien, but she was happy to hear it. She was hoping to find Diana, though, since it will be awkward to be bitten by another man. Zion ordered his best men whether they were betas or omegas to look for Diana. Damien gave them one of her clothes to trace her scent. They said that mythical creatures would never change how they smell even if a thousand years have passed. "Are you sure about this?" Amaris asked. "For you, my love." He answered. She sighed. "If you''re not comfortable with it, we could just find another way. I don''t want you to worry." They were in his bedroom after an exhausting day and decided to rest for a while. He promised he would take her to the flower field where they always go in the past. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around his waist. She leaned her head to his chest to hear his heartbeat. "I am more worried that one day you will completely forget me. My pride doesn''t matter. You are more important than anything else." Zion whispered while kissing her on the forehead. "I''m still hoping we can find Diana. I honestly feel uncomfortable with the idea that another man will touch me." She murmured. Zion gave his men a week to look for Diana. If they won''t find her, Damien will be the one to perform memory restoration. They heard a few knocks on the door. Zion growled with whoever disturbed their moment together, but still he stood up to see who was brave enough to disturb them. "What?" Zion asked, annoyed. Amaris giggled seeing him answer the door with a frown on his face. She didn''t know who was outside but she saw Zion sighed and opened the door wider. Zoila and Maxine came inside Zion''s room with two more companions. She frowned and was confused about their visit. "You need to prepare for the Luna ceremony. I''ll be in my office." Zion said then walked out of his own bedroom. Maxine jumped into her cousin and hugged her. For some reason, she wasn''t worried about her mother, making Amaris wonder. She always thought that the two had a very close mother and daughter relationship so she was surprised to see her cousin smiling. "I''m happy for you. After the Luna ceremony and the memory restoration, would you like to look for the other guardians?" Maxine asked. She almost forgot about it. She just realized that there are a lot of things that she needed to do. There are still unanswered questions about her and everything Athanasia told her wasn''t that clear. She could sense that her aunt was hiding something from her. "I will have to ask Zion about it. But of course I wanted to look for the others. Is there a way to find them? Did you contact your mom?" She asked Maxine. Maxine shook her head and Amaris noticed that there was sadness in her eyes. She was just trying to be okay. Amaris thought. They went silent for a moment. They both knew that they were not really related. Maxine''s mom made up their relationship so she could stay with them to protect her. She was really thankful for her. If her aunt Lucille wasn''t there on the day she woke up from the morgue, she didn''t know what would happen to her. "Let''s forget those sad things for now. We should think of the ceremony first." Zoila excitedly said. She smiled and stood up to see what they brought. "This is our cousins Suzzy and Baelin. They will help with the preparation." Zoila introduced the two other girls. "Nice to personally meet you, Luna." They greeted her in unison. "Same here. So what''s the first thing I need to do?" She asked, smiling at them. The girls glanced at each other and giggled. She frowned and waited for them to answer. "Nothing. You just have to pick a dress for tonight." Suzzy answered while walking towards the door. She felt excited when Suzzy pulled a clothing rack full of white dresses. "You said tonight? Is it the last full moon of the month?" She asked. "Yes Luna. And tonight there will be a blue moon so it''s very special for the whole pack" Baelin answered. "Why?" She asked. Zoila smiled while looking for a dress for her. "Legend says that the moon''s power was at its peak during the blue moon. That''s why it only happens once a month. But for us, it was the beginning of a new chapter of our pack. Like the Luna ceremony tonight." She didn''t answer. She was still having doubts about her being the Luna. The werewolves were happy and she couldn''t afford to disappoint them. "You won''t. You will be an amazing Luna. Be confident. I will wait for you tonight, my love. I love you." It was Zion using the mind link. She suddenly felt excited to see him tonight so she took a deep breath and focused on choosing a dress. Chapter 39 - The Luna Of The Blue Moon Pack Maxine took one dress and showed it to Amaris. It was a floor-length Greek-inspired sleeveless white dress with multiways using braided ties. Zoila also took one from the rack as well as Suzzy and Baelin. She was overwhelmed by the girls'' support. Even though Zoila wasn''t that welcoming at first, she was very supportive of her and Zion. Zoila was holding a cleopatra inspired dress with plunging neckline and side slits. It was too revealing for her. Suzzy picked a mini white dress also with a plunging neckline and an open back. In Baelin''s hand was a white simple gown with a long train. It has lush layers of silk chiffon with satin liner underneath. There was an embellishment of swarovski crystal along its waist and shoulders. Amaris took the one from Baelin''s hand and the girls asked her to try it on. She went inside the bathroom and went out after. "So what do you think?" She asked when they didn''t say a word and were just staring at her. The girls glanced at each other before answering. "You look like a Goddess." Zoila commented. "She is a Goddess. Well, half-Goddess." Maxine chuckled. She was glad that the girls liked it, but she wanted to know Zion''s opinion. Zoila said he would have to stay outside, away from her until tonight, so she would have to surprise him with her looks later. Before the ceremony, the soon to be Luna needed to take a dip in a spring of water called Aquaimos. They said Selene, the Moon Goddess, blessed the water with her kindness and purity. Amaris needed to take a bath there for a cleansing ritual. Aquaimos will also determine if the Luna was the rightful mate of an Alpha. She would be accompanied by Zoila and Maxine since they were assigned to be her protector. She was wearing a thin robe with nothing underneath. All the pack members were not allowed to come outside once she took a bath. No one should also see her walking towards the spring except her protectors. When they arrived, Aquaimos was full of fireflies around as if they were lighting her way through the water. Maxine and Zoila slowly took off her robe, showing her smooth pinkish skin glowing under the moonlight. She walked towards the water and dipped herself in it. It was refreshing and cold but she felt like her mother was with her, giving her warmth. She took a swim to enjoy the water while looking at the sky. It was already a full moon, but the ceremony should start at ten in the evening and the ritual should be done by midnight. She frowned when she noticed a pure white light as if it was coming from the moon. She raised her hand to touch it and was surprised that the light scattered around Aquaimos. "There''s no doubt. She''s the one. The Luna of the Blue Moon Pack." Zoila exclaimed. Maxine frowned and looked at Zoila, confused. "Why? How could you say that?" "Did you know that all the previous Luna of our pack came here to just cleanse themselves? Nothing really happened when they bathed here. They said it was just a refreshing feeling and once you''re done, you could feel that you are pure. To Amaris, the light from the moon came down upon her. It was a direct blessing. Aquaimos was never lit by the moon''s glow, only tonight." Zoila explained. Maxine was really amazed by the mythical creatures. Their powers, their myths and legends, they ''re incredible. And she was glad to be a part of these wonderful beings. After Amaris took a dip, she changed into her dress while the two put on some makeup and fixed her hair. For them, this was like a marriage ceremony so everyone has to be present. It would be held on the sacred ground of Verlice Castle in the center of the territory. Maxine and Zoila walked in front of her. She felt another two werewolves were walking behind her and she couldn''t understand why she knew it was Cole and Xavier. As she walked towards Zion, everyone was amazed when the fireflies followed her, lighting up her way. She saw Zion smiling at her. He was standing on an elevated platform, enough to be seen by everyone. When she was a few steps away from him, Zion reached out his hand to take hers. She took a deep breath and turned to face him. She could feel her heart beating so fast. She was starting to have ragged breathing. One of the elders started the ceremony, saying the rituals and stuff, but Amaris didn''t understand any of it. She was just trying to control herself but she could feel her fangs grow inside her mouth. Her whole body felt she was being electrified. She could feel her blood was boiling, giving her a different level of adrenaline. It was different from the times she was craving for Zion. What she felt right now wasn''t lust or desire, she was changing. ''Love?'' She called Zion using the mind link. Zion frowned. ''What is it?'' ''I think I''m going to shift. I need your blood.'' She said. Zion and understood. He looked at the elder and stopped him from his speech. Everyone was whispering to each other. They were confused why Zion suddenly stopped him. Zion looked at the moon, then looked back at Amaris who was breathing irregularly. "It''s perfect." He murmured before leaning forward to Amaris neck. She felt his fangs piercing deeper into her neck again. She gasped when his warm lips brushed through her skin. Zion pulled her closer by grabbing her by the waist. Blood came out from her neck as he sucked her gently. It was the sweetest blood he ever tasted. When he released her, he saw Amaris'' eyes change to red. Everyone witnessed how she bit Zion''s neck with her long and sharp fangs. No one was saying a single word. It was so quiet. They were just looking at their Alpha and Luna while doing the ritual. Amaris felt a painful crack on her back. She screamed from an excruciating pain as if her skin were being dissected. Zion panicked and was about to touch her when he heard a voice. "Leave her! Wait and see!" It was Athanasia, the Demon Princess. ******************************** Readers Guide: Aquaimos - holy spring water blessed and purified by the moon goddess.. Only the chosen Luna of the pack was allowed to bathe here. Chapter 40 - The Alpha And Luna Of The Blue Moon Pack "What''s happening to her?" Zion asked Athanasia. "She''s shifting." The Demon Princess answered as she walked closer to Amaris. Amaris screamed from pain when she felt like something was coming out from her back. It was forcing itself to come out as if it had been caged for a long time. She could also feel that something was growing inside her. "Aunt! Help me!" She begged. Athanasia held her shoulders and stared into Amaris'' eyes. "You have to endure it! Are you that weak, Amaris?" Her aunt asked. She shook her head to answer her aunt''s question. "Did you know you are using your real name? Amaris, meaning child of the moon. You are the daughter of the moon goddess and the demon prince. Make your parents proud!" Athanasia said in a firm tone. Amaris'' confidence suddenly grew when she heard what her aunt had just told her. She looked at the moon again; it was indeed a blue moon. She turned her gaze to Zion, then to the members of the blue moon pack. They were looking at her, observing her. Then looked back to her aunt and nodded. Athanasia released her and stepped backward. Everyone couldn''t blink their eyes, waiting for their Luna to shift. Nobody knows what she would become after, but they wanted to witness what creature she was. Amaris took a deep breath and focused. She read in the books that when a mythical creature is a shapeshifter, it will experience unbearable pain because all the bones in the body would break. In her case, she only felt it at her back, and it didn''t feel like her bone was breaking. She felt like a knife had sliced her open. Her father was a demon, one of the fallen. They were called the fallen because they originally lived in Caelum but were cast out because they committed the seven deadly sins. But the fallen also have wings like the angels. She wondered if she also had one. She focused on the pain from her back. She closed her eyes and mustered her strength, putting all of her energy on the part where she felt the pain. Amaris suddenly felt like something was flowing through her veins. It was warm, moving faster inside her whole body. Zion wanted to get closer to Amaris, but Athanasia said he should let her be. His Luna stood just a few steps away from him with her eyes shut. With so much anticipation, everyone''s eyes widened, shocked when Amaris'' back suddenly started glowing. "Her back! It''s glowing!" One woman from the crowd shouted. As soon as her back glowed, Zion suddenly felt his bones break. It wasn''t the first time it happened to him. Every time he shifted into his wolf form, he experienced pain a thousand times over. But the last time he felt that pain was one hundred years ago. Is he shifting? Is this because of Amaris? He thought to himself. He growled when he felt the continuous pain all over his body. Everyone started turning their eyes to their Alpha when they heard his growls. Then they heard Amaris scream. A bright light from both the moon and Amaris body came out, making everyone close their eyes. Amaris felt a huge black feathery flesh come out of her back. It was indeed a pair of wings. It was nearly as tall as her with its smaller feathers mixed together with the large ones, rounding the narrowed curve of its bottom end. Her hair also changed its color. Half of it was black, and the other half was white. When the light of the two moons vanished, they saw their Luna change into a winged creature while their Alpha shifted to his wolf form after one hundred years. Amaris gasped when she saw Zion in wolf form. He was a white wolf with a pair of blue and red eyes. He was enchanting. Zion proudly walked towards Amaris, snipping her. She stared into his eyes and felt his presence inside the wolf. ''Love. It is me.'' He talked to her through the mind link. ''I know, love.'' She answered. ''This is my wolf, Hunter.'' He introduced. Amaris didn''t need to bend to reach Hunter. He was around forty-eight inches tall and seven feet long. She was sure he was the largest of their kind. She started patting him on the head then moved to his face, feeling the softness of his fur. She smiled then leaned towards him, kissing his forehead. Then Hunter turned to face the werewolves of the Blue Moon Pack. Amaris saw that some of them were wiping the sides of their eyes, including Zoila. Hunter started howling. It was loud enough to be heard by everyone in their territory, but Hunter''s howls were not just heard within their boundaries. The strength of his voice echoed in Aramoor City as if he was calling the attention of the other Alpha from different packs. Amaris focused again to show her support as the Luna of the pack, and as her red eyes shone like blood, her wings started to rise. She extended her wings wider and slightly flapped them, making her float in the air. Then one by one, the pack members shifted, following their Alpha''s and Luna''s call. Everyone celebrated by howling while running around their territory. They lighted a massive fire in the middle of the sacred ground. The tables had been set, and food had been prepared to celebrate the union of their Alpha and Luna. Back into their Terran form, the couple joined the pack. But in the middle of their celebration, Cole rushed into Zion''s side and whispered something into his ear. Then a group of people came forward and stood in front of the table where Zion and Amaris were seated. "I am Mallec, Alpha of the Crimson Pack. I am here to bring news to you, Alpha Zion." One man said. "Pleasure to meet you, Alpha Mallec. Go ahead, speak." Zion responded. Alpha Mallec looked at Amaris, then turned his eyes again to Zion. "The Elysian Elders wish to see the Alpha and the new Luna of the Blue Moon Pack." ******************************* Readers Guide: Caelum - another name for Heaven Chapter 41 - The Elysian Elders Aramoor City, the main capital of Oprea, is the most populous modern city in Terra. The city was home for Terrans and mythical creatures alike, living peacefully together. The tall buildings were located in the heart of the city, towering and boasting towards the sky. By daytime, the city''s busy streets were full of Terrans and different creatures walking side by side. Aside from its modern technology, the city was surrounded by trees, nature parks, and botanical gardens. The Elysian Elders ordered all the creatures to maintain a green and nature-friendly environment to symbolize respect to the Goddess Terra. By nighttime, the dazzling part of the city glows as the buildings and houses turn their lights in every color. The lights flicker as the starry sky guided and blessed by the moon''s light sweeps over the city. In the center of the busiest part of Aramoor City, the most prominent structure in Terra was the Levaerun. Gloriously standing at three thousand five hundred feet with two hundred and twenty-one floors. Levaerun was a place for all the clan leaders, an organization called Sancta Elysium. The Elysian Elders were representatives of each creature living in Terra. They were either chosen or voted by their kind. The elders consist of the Terran representative, a man named Alistair Cohen, who the Terrans recently elected. The immortal one from the Vampire Clan, Darius the third. The shapeshifter from the Werewolf Clan is represented by Zion''s great grandfather, Theodore Verlice. The demon prince, Sura, represents the Demon Clan. He was the first mythical creature who appeared and was seen in Aramoor City in the year 2020. The Fae Clan, represented by a nymph named Halia. The witches, represented by the High Priestess, Ophelia. The Atlantean, or the creature of the sea, is represented by its Queen, Nerida, while the Elven Clan or the elves, represented by Rychell, the Elven King. The Nain Clan or the dwarves, led by the Dwarf Lord Ludoc. And last, the Night Howlers of Mirrikh, a clan with different creatures living together in one territory. They call themselves the free beings, led by two hybrids, Cyran and Isei. Amaris sighed. She felt a throbbing pain in her head after reading the information about the Elysian Elders. Two nights ago, Alpha Mallec from the Crimson Pack arrived to give them an invitation from the elders of Terra. They were scheduled to meet them after the next full moon. Her aunt, Athanasia, asked her to know the names of the Elysian Elders so she wouldn''t embarrass herself. Zion, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, was feared and respected by all creatures living in Terra, so everyone expected that his Luna was an extraordinary being. "Why do I have to pretend that I am unique? Are they expecting that his Luna could breathe fire or has laser eyes?" She ranted. Maxine and Zoila giggled. Athanasia glared at them then turned her gaze to Amaris. "Power, my dear. Zion was like the representative of the Gods to them. It''s only natural they wanted a powerful Luna for him. Remember, he didn''t have a mate for one hundred years, so the news of him finding his long-lost love traveled all over Terra. It was quite a shock to them. Most of the elders offered their daughters to him, but he rejected them. They wanted to see what kind of woman captivated the Alpha''s heart." Athanasia explained. She curled her lips, biting them to stop herself from smiling. Hearing that Zion rejected a lot of women made her heart flutter. "It says here that the Terran representative is Alistair Cohen. He''s your mate, right? The one who was sent to the Werewolf Clan to talk to Zion." Maxine interrupted. Athanasia nodded and continued. "Yes. His kind recently chose him. That man left me for a week and would just come home every weekend to do his work in Levaerun. I want to strangle him." Athanasia said, pissed. The three girls laughed, seeing the Demon Princess''s eyes turned red from being mad with her mate. "The Demon Prince Sura is also your brother. Does that mean he''s my uncle?" Amaris asked curiously. "Yes. He''s the first mythical creature who made himself seen by the Terrans. He''s stubborn and has anger issues. He''s different from my other brothers." Athanasia answered. Amaris frowned. "Why is he different?" Athanasia sighed and started telling them about Sura. "Sura was initially a flesh-eating demon. But he only eats humans to appease his hunger. One of the laws of the underworld was not to eat human flesh. He was born like that, and I don''t know the reason until now. My mother, the Queen, asked for help from Orcus, the Demon God. He granted Sura a gift and became a soul-eating demon instead. He was the only demon allowed to consume the human soul." "How about now? Is he still eating souls?" Zoila asked. "Yes. Though, he only takes human souls who are going to hell. He changed and could control his hunger longer now by sucking his mate''s blood." Athanasia continued. "He has a mate? A Terran?" Maxine asked. Athanasia nodded. "Yes. The only Terran whose soul he cannot consume." The three girls frowned as they waited for Athanasia''s story. "That girl''s soul was missing. She was like a shell, as your body now, Amaris. Her anima was either lost somewhere or taken by someone." Amaris'' eyes widened. "But how could she be alive if her anima was missing? Can we see her? I want to see her. Maybe I could get some answers from them." Athanasia looked at her. She had a serious expression on her face. "Sura would never allow you to see her." "Maybe if he hears my story, he will at least allow me to see her. I am his niece, so maybe he could make an exception." Amaris insisted. Athanasia sighed. "You can try. I will not be with you when you meet the elders. You can ask Ophelia to introduce you to Sura." Amaris smiled and suddenly hugged her aunt. A Terran gesture, Athanasia thought. ''Selene, how could she be the answer? She was so innocent.'' Chapter 42 - I Can Smell Everything Amaris looked for Zion after her Luna lessons with her Aunt and the girls. She wanted to see Zion badly but she couldn''t find him. She''s bad with directions so she couldn''t remember where the exit of the castle was. Zoila showed her around the other but the place was so huge that she couldn''t memorize every detail of it. She was walking in a long hallway when she found a big glass door and saw some men practicing archery. She got interested and went to watch them. They suddenly noticed she came in and stopped to greet her. They were bowing their heads and smiling at her. "Luna! It''s a surprise to see you here!" One man greeted her. "I was looking for Zion, but I couldn''t find him. I''m a bit tired. Can I sit there and watch you practice?" She asked while pointing at a nearby bench. Three men rushed towards the bench to remove the things on top of it. She saw them cleaning it, making sure she could see comfortably. The area was like a training field. There were a lot of different weapons on one side and in front were the targets. The men were practicing different kinds of self defense like martial arts and boxing. Aside from archery, you could also use guns in the shooting range on the other part of the field. Amaris didn''t like violence, but she always wanted to learn archery. After a few minutes of watching the men, she stood up and approached one of them. "Can you teach me?" She asked politely. The man scratched his head, and was hesitating to answer. "Luna, it would be an honor to teach you, but we need Alpha Zion''s permission first. I am sorry I have to reject you today. If Alpha would agree, then I will gladly teach you everything I know." He answered. Amaris pouted but she understood what he meant with his words. "Luna, I saw Alpha Zion in that direction. He was with Shania." Another man said when he got closer. She frowned when he said Zion was with someone. "Shania? A girl?" She asked. The men glanced at each other before nodding. "Bring me to them." She ordered. They were hesitating at first but her eyes turned red when she started to get mad. She was looking for Zion for almost an hour already but she couldn''t find him because he''s busy flirting with someone else. One of the men took her to where Zion was. She saw him with a girl that looked younger than her. They were sitting in the center of the flower field, laughing at each other. When they got closer, Zion was surprised to see her. "Ari! What are you doing here?" He asked while walking towards her. ''Mate is mad. I told you to stay away with other girls.'' It was Hunter, his wolf. Zion gulped seeing Amaris''s eyes turned red. "Ari? So we''re on a first name basis now? What happened to your term of endearment when we were in bed?" Amaris asked in sarcasm. Zion took her hand and touched her cheek when he got closer, so she could calm down. But she got mad even more when she smelled the girl''s scent. "Hey, calm down." Zion said in a gentle voice. She glared at him then turned her gaze to the girl. "You! He''s mine! If I see you again near my man, I swear I will rip your throat with my own hands." "Ari! What are you saying? You''ve got the wrong idea. Shania was just a friend of mine. She already has a mate!" Zion almost yelled at him. Amaris didn''t expect that Zion yelled at her. She glared at him and smirked. "Oh really? She has a mate. Then why the hell I could smell her lust towards you? That bitch want to have sex with you. I could smell the scent of her juice from here. She''s wet just being around you!" Zion frowned and couldn''t believe what she just said. He glanced at Shania who was also surprised by Amaris'' accusation. "Love, I don''t think so. She''s a childhood friend. We''re here to pick some flowers for you." Zion insisted. "So you will believe her over me? Fine! Then make her your Luna! You jerk!" She yelled then turned around to walk away from him. Amaris was so pissed with Zion and the girl. She wanted to rip the girl''s clothes so Zion could see that Shania was wet because of him. "That lying bitch! How dare she lust towards him! If she has a mate, she should not be feeling that way! That cheater!" She ranted while standing on a cliff. She didn''t notice that she was already on that part of their territory. She kept on running away from Zion and his men when they started looking for her. She pouted, then laid down on the grass. She could see the vast blue sky hovering over her. It was clear with dashes and lines of white blending with its vibrance. She sighed. She was thinking of what happened this morning. When she woke up, she found Zion sleeping next to her. She thought he was a stranger, so she squealed and shouted help. Zion''s face was a mixture of sadness and disappointment when he heard her screaming. Then he played a video of them making love. He started telling her what happened in the past months, telling her that she was his mate and the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. When she saw Zion''s expression, her heart felt a sudden pain. He said he was willing to wait for her until her memories come back and until her feelings would remain the same. It was complicated. Only the part where Zion appeared in her life was being erased. She could remember everything, but not her involvement with Zion. She sighed again. She stood up and focused, then a huge black feathery flesh slowly appeared on her back. She wanted to be alone and go far away to think. She was mad at Zion and Shania. She was angry with herself for being cursed, and that she couldn''t do anything about it. She heard some footsteps running towards her. When she turned to look at them, she saw Zion and his men. "Love, what are you doing? Let''s go home and talk about it, please." Zion pleaded. She shook her head when he started walking towards her. "I want to be alone. You don''t believe me anyway, so it''s better to be alone." She said while walking backwards. "Ari, please. I believe you." He said. "No, you are not. Don''t lie to me. I can smell the lies of other creatures. Their fear, despair, lust, desire, almost everything. It''s frustrating." She whispered. Zion was surprised. He didn''t know she could. Was that one of her powers? His eyes widened when she crossed her arms on her chest then threw herself backwards on the cliff. "Ari!" He shouted. He ran on the edge of the cliff to see what happened to her, but then a winged creature flew upwards towards the vast blue sky. Chapter 43 - Unexpected Encounter Zion ordered his men to look for Amaris. He didn''t expect that he would fly away from their territory. When she jumped off the cliff, he felt like his soul had left him. He was relieved and surprised at the same time when she suddenly flew above him. "Love? Please, come down here. Let''s talk." He begged. But she didn''t listen. He saw tears from her eyes when she turned around and flew away from him. "Zion, what happened?" Zoila asked. He was in his office checking the map of Aramoor City and its neighboring town. He sighed and told Zoila what had happened. Maxine and Athanasia were also there, glaring at him. "Her sense of smell is stronger than a werewolf''s. She''s a half-demon. Werewolves could smell the physical scent, but demons could smell someone''s deepest desire. So when she told you she could smell that girl''s lust towards you, she was telling the truth." Athanasia explained. Zion didn''t say a word. He was wrong to treat her like she was lying. He thought she was accusing Shania because she was jealous and mad. ''Find mate!'' Hunter kept on growling at him. "Zion, we need to find her before dark. Think about what would happen if we didn''t find her tonight. She will wake up tomorrow without any memory or feelings for you." Maxine said. He felt his chest tightens, thinking that she would completely forget everything. It would be dangerous if the Gods or some night howlers find her alone. His teeth gritted in anger. He looked at the map again. Aramoor City was in the center of Oprea. The Werewolf Clan''s territory was in the western part, while the Vampire Clan was in the east. In between lived the Fae Clan. And the Demon Clan''s territory was in the southern region. Zion was sure that Amaris would not go to Damien or the Fae''s territory. He looked at the map where the Demon Clan resided; then he turned to Athanasia. "She wanted to see Sura''s mate. I told her about that girl." Athanasia said. Zion frowned. That girl? The one who captured Sura''s heart. The girl without a soul. ''Prepare the men. We will go to the Demon Clan''s territory.'' Zion told Cole using a mind link. Amaris didn''t know where to go. When she flew away from Zion, she just wanted to be alone for a while. But she didn''t notice that she had gone too far from Verlice Castle. She didn''t know what direction she came from when she looked back. She continued to fly until she saw a huge castle. The area was somehow dark and creepy. Small huts surrounded the place, and some parts of the land were burned. But what piqued her interest was one side of the territory was full of flowers. She decided to check and flew down to what seemed like a secret garden. When she set foot on a path of roses, she was amazed to see the beauty of different flowers. From above, the place was nothing but a barren piece of land. But if you look closer, it was different. There were a lot of flowers planted in various kinds and colors. The garden was full of roses in different colors on one side. And on the other side, you''ll find tulips in deep shades like purple and maroon, but pure white and yellow were also present. Amaris saw a girl watering some hyacinths at the end of the narrow path. She had the same height as her. Her hair was a mixture of black on the head but grayish in the middle and white in the end. "Hi!" She interrupted her. The girl was startled and turned around to look at Amaris. She was surprised and didn''t say a word. Amaris noticed that her eyes were silvery; it wasn''t sparkling. It was lifeless and felt like she was looking at a corpse. "I''m sorry I startled you. I lost my way and saw your garden. I got curious and wanted to see the flowers." She said, explaining what happened. "Do you like flowers?" The girl suddenly asked. She nodded and was about to say something when a man flew out of nowhere, rushing beside the girl. The man had waist-length black hair, a pair of red eyes, and long fangs from his mouth. He was half-naked, showing a dragon tattoo around his left arm. His wings were different from hers; they were huge and featherless, looking like a batwing. "Who are you?" He asked while staring at me from head to toe. "I''m sorry for stepping into your territory. I was lost and saw this garden from above. I was mesmerized by its beauty, so I came down here. I promise I mean no harm." Amaris answered. The man frowned, pulling the girl behind her. "Where did you come from? And why are you flying around our territory." He asked again. "I came from Verlice Castle. I am Amaris, the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. It was my first time flying, and I didn''t notice I was already here." She introduced herself. She wasn''t sure if he had heard the news about her, but she still answered sincerely. "You''re Phelan''s daughter." The man murmured. Amaris was surprised but suddenly became nervous. She remembered her life was in danger because the Gods were looking for her. They may have hired someone to look for her. The man knew what she was thinking by looking at her reaction. Amaris started to step backward and was ready to fly away when the man opened his wings wider. She thought he would attack her, but instead, he hid his wings and fangs. Looking at the man now, he was good-looking. He had these godly features but with a demonic aura, making him more mysterious in every way. He looked at Amaris again. "I am Sura. You are in the Demon Clan''s territory. I am your father''s brother.." He said. Chapter 44 - The Demon Clans Territory Amaris'' eyes widened. She didn''t expect to reach this far. She knew the Demon Clan''s territory was in the southern part of Oprea. Athanasia told her that Sura has anger issues, but he changed because he fell in love with a girl. She looked at the girl beside Sura. It must be her. No, it is her. She was sure of it. She thought to herself. "Aunt told me about you and the girl. I was curious and wanted to meet you after meeting with the Elysian Elders. I didn''t expect to see you this soon." She responded. Sura frowned. "Aunt? And why do you want to meet me?" Amaris gulped and bit her lips. She hesitated at first, then took a deep breath before answering. "Aunt Asia, your sister. I was told your mate was like me, that her body was an empty shell. She didn''t have an anima. I have my anima inside this body, but my real corpus was somewhere in Tartarus. I wanted to know how she could be alive without her anima." Sura''s expression became dark. It was like Athanasia told Amaris. Sura didn''t like talking about his mate. "Leave. You are lucky to be alive because you are Phelan''s daughter. If I heard you mention that again, I swear I will send you to the deepest part of hell." Sura answered, controlling his anger. Amaris'' heart started to pound. He didn''t yell at her. His voice was calm, but she felt the chills from the back of her neck when he said those words. She was about to leave when a sudden gust of wind blew, making her turn around. "They''re here." She said. Sura suddenly looked at the blue sky. Amaris couldn''t see anything, but she could smell the scent of blood. "Focus. Remember, your eyes cannot only see what''s in front of you but further beyond your imagination." Sura told Amaris. Then he walked towards her while his wings slowly appeared on his back. When he got closer to Amaris, he reached her face, pointing his finger to her forehead. Amaris gasped for air when he saw Sura''s long and sharp nails come out from his fingers. His eyes turned blood red, and when his finger reached Amaris'' forehead, she felt an electrifying energy run through her veins. Her eyes turned red, and when she looked at the sky, she could see five creatures flying towards the Demon Clan''s territory. "What did you do to me?" She asked curiosity piqued. "Nothing. I just forcefully opened one of your demon powers." Sura answered. "Who are they?" Amaris asked. "The Night Howlers." "But I thought they live in Mirrikh." "Yes. But they could still come to Terra anytime they wanted. Remember, they considered themselves the free creatures." Sura answered. Sura looked at her and frowned. "Are you scared of them?" He asked. Amaris didn''t say a word. She couldn''t understand what she was feeling. Her heart was pounding, but it didn''t feel like she was nervous. She was anticipating the Night Howlers'' arrival. "Not really. I-I don''t know." She answered. "Good. We have at least half an hour to prepare. Tell me, what do you see?" Sura asked again. She didn''t understand why he asked her that. Earlier, he asked her to leave, but now, it didn''t seem that he wanted to. She turned to look at the sky to see what kind of creatures were approaching. She frowned, trying to remember what Sura told her. ''I could see further beyond my imagination.'' She thought inwardly. "There were five of them; two of them were carried by two of the winged creatures. One looked like a woman with wings like yours and a tail. She also has two small horns. Two of them have the body of a bird with female faces." Sura was listening to Amaris and quite impressed that she could easily see it clearly, considering it was her first time to use her eyes. "The first one was Sharaya, a succubus. The two women were harpies, Lynea and Aela. How about the ones they were carrying?" Sura asked. "A minotaur and the other looks like a Terran." "That''s new. They would never bring a Terran here. But enough of that. Let''s go to the castle. Can you shapeshift?" Sura looked at him curiously. She still couldn''t understand what he wanted to do. She looked at him with confusion. "Never mind. I''ll explain later. For now, let''s meet them and stay beside me." He said in a firm tone. Amaris felt that Sura was trying to protect her from the Night Howlers. She nodded and followed him. Sura grabbed the girl''s hand, pulling her inside the castle. "What''s her name?" Amaris asked. "I''m Enid!" The girl answered, smiling at her. Sura didn''t react when Enid answered her. He was quiet until they reached the castle. "Will you let me know about her? Please. I just want to know more about animas. I''m desperate." She pleaded. Sura was still silent. He was walking faster while the girl was almost running behind him. Amaris was surprised when they entered the castle. It wasn''t creepy like its outside appearance. It was warm and cozy. There were a lot of flowers arranged in big antique vases lined up in the hallway between life-size sculptures of mythical creatures. The whole area was lit with crystal sphere chandeliers hanging from the rafters of the stainless steel base. She couldn''t believe that the castle, which looked so gloomy outside, was bright and lively inside. "What do you mean when you ask if I can shapeshift?" Amaris asked Sura again. "Your father was a shapeshifter. His bestia was a werewolf, but he could also transform into other creatures. One of his powers was to copy or imitate others." He noticed Sura hid his wings, and so she followed. Amaris was curious if other creatures lived in the Demon Clan''s territory. She hasn''t seen anyone ever since she arrived. They arrived in front of a big door with some carvings on it. They were like ancient symbols and words that Amaris couldn''t understand. Her eyes widened when the door suddenly opened, showing them demons and monsters doing some lewd and obscene stuff. Sura turned to her. With his blood-red eyes and long fangs, he smirked. "Welcome to Pandaemonium." Chapter 45 - Pandaemonium Pandaemonium. Amaris never imagined that she would see the place. According to the rumors, it was a place where everyone could do almost anything. Some say that it was just created by someone''s imagination. But a lot of creatures believed that it really existed. Some call it Paradise Lost; some named it A Demon''s Place. No one ever knew that the place was real. They said that once you entered Pandaemonium, there was no turning back. You only have two options in that place: stay or die. If you decided to stay, you would live a life full of lust and desire. But death awaits you if you choose to leave. Amaris hesitated to step forward. Sura turned to her and laughed when he saw her face. "So you''ve heard about Pandaemonium." Amaris nodded. "Stay or die. That''s the rule here. But don''t worry. I could always make an exception." Sura reassured her. Enid suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her inside. Amaris noticed that the girl was acting so weird. She looked so innocent that you would think she was just a kid that didn''t know anything about the world. As they walked inside Pandaemonium, Amaris saw that it was swarming with different creatures. Just like the rumor said, the place was open to anyone who wanted to experience a lifetime of pleasure. She saw Terrans having sex with monsters. There were beds, tables, and chairs with different sex toys used for sexual activities. Amaris also saw naked women who were hanging around in curtains and poles. There were dancers in big cages. And some creatures were shackled on their hands and feet, while the others were playing with their bodies. As the loud music played, creatures of different kinds partied like no tomorrow. They were dancing, drinking, and smoking. There were separate rooms for those who loved gambling. It was indeed a place where one could do everything that was forbidden. At the end of the huge hall was an imperial staircase or a split staircase. There was a long dangling chandelier hanging in the center of the ceiling. Amaris stared at the giant golden tree in the middle of the hall. "Uncle, what''s this tree?" She asked curiosity piqued. She had never seen a golden tree in her entire life, and seeing one amazed her. It also made her wonder why a beautiful tree was in the middle of the hall where all kinds of sinners lurked. "That''s called aurum vita or golden life tree. Are you wondering why it''s in here?" Sura asked. Amaris nodded while listening to Sura. "Pandaemonium is someone''s passage to the underworld. Creatures who come in here were those who had already sinned and had no chance of a second life. Aurum Vita was a gift from the Sky God. It blooms and would produce one fruit once a year. Aurum Vita would choose one from those who wanted a second chance in life and leave Pandaemonium." Amaris didn''t know that there was something like that in Terra. Maybe it was because the Demon Clan protects it, so no one would dare expose it. She followed Sura and Enid up to the fourth floor. Amaris felt that the castle was like an endless space, and the path they took had no end. After walking in almost half an hour, they finally stopped in front of another large door. When they entered, Amaris saw that it was a throne room. "This is where we would meet them. Stay beside me." Sura ordered. She nodded, but she frowned when she smelled a very familiar scent. It was more potent than any other scent. It was lingering around the room, and she knew Zion was already here. He had found her. "It seems like I have a lot of visitors today." Sura chuckled. Then out of nowhere, Zion appeared in his wolf form. Amaris felt a sudden urge to run towards him, but then she remembered why she had flown away from him. She walked backward, hiding behind Sura. Zion shifted back to his human form, naked. Then behind him appeared Cole and Xavier, handing him his clothes. "Ari, let''s go home." Zion said in a gentle voice. She shook her head and didn''t move an inch; then, she felt someone hold her hand. It was Enid. For some reason, the girl had a strong connection with her. "I''m sorry. I believe you. Your aunt told me about it. I was wrong, so please forgive me." Zion almost pleaded. Sura suddenly laughed. "I never expected that the legendary Alpha of the Werewolf Clan would beg to my niece." Zion glared at Sura. The only reason he couldn''t attack him was that Sura was Amaris'' uncle. "Enough of this. We are expecting another visitor." Sura said. "The Night Howlers?" Zion asked. Sura nodded then walked towards the throne while Enid dragged Amaris to follow Sura. Zion couldn''t do anything to get closer because his Luna chose to stay beside her uncle. He followed and just stood near them while they waited for the Night Howlers. "What''s their purpose in coming here?" Zion asked, but he already had an idea why they came into the Demon Clan''s territory. "Looking for your Luna, of course." Sura answered. The throne room''s door opened, then five creatures entered. Just like Amaris told Sura, a succubus, two harpies, a Terran, and a minotaur walked inside. ''Be alert.'' Zion said to Cole and Xavier using a mind link. The succubus, Sharaya, saw Zion standing a few steps away from Sura. She suddenly felt excited, and Amaris could smell an overflowing lust and craving from Sharaya. Amaris gritted her teeth and clenched her fist when Sharaya started walking towards Zion. Sura felt Amaris anger and wanted to see what would happen if she continued to feel that way. ''Focus. What would you like to do Amaris?'' Sura was talking to her in her head. Sharaya was about to touch Zion when a huge monster-like fox suddenly jumped into her. Zion looked behind and noticed that Amaris wasn''t there. He looked at Sura, who had a wide grin on his face. "She''s indeed Phelan''s daughter, a Mutare. That''s a nine-tailed fox." Sura said while staring intently at Amaris. ***************************** Readers Guide: Pandaemonium - a place where sinners enjoy their last moment before going to the underworld. Aurum Vita - a golden tree that chooses a repenter and grants a second life. Mutare - a switcher.. A creature that could shift or switch to anything. Chapter 46 - First Shift A nine-tailed fox¡ªan ancient spirit or creature said to have lived for a thousand years. One of its powers was seeing and hearing anything happening in the world. It can also create illusions and use a fire-fox, which was considered a destructive power. Amaris didn''t notice that she changed into a nine-tailed fox. They said you could feel a different level of pain when you shapeshift, but she didn''t feel anything at all. It just happened. Sura was also surprised when Amaris jumped at Sharaya in fox form. Phelan could shapeshift and copy different creatures, but there was always a limit. He could never use his powers all at the same time. His daughter was different. Sura couldn''t tell exactly her other powers and abilities, but he was sure that Amaris was more powerful than Phelan and Selene combined. "Ari!" Zion called, but he was surprised when the fox glared at him. She was colored white with red-orange fur surrounding her eyes that stretched up to her ears, the same color as her nine tails. The color of her eyes was like diamonds; it was clear and sparkling, although Zion could see anger in it. He started to walk closer to her. She was pinning Sharaya on the floor, and her claws were slowly piercing into the succubus'' arms. "Get off me, you beasts!" Sharaya struggled. Amaris growled at her, making the other shut her mouth. "Ari, please calm down!" Zion pleaded. But Amaris didn''t listen. She was uncontrollable and couldn''t stop herself from killing Sharaya, so Zion didn''t have a choice. It was forbidden in Terra to kill any creature without a valid reason. If Amaris kills the succubus, the Elysian Elders need to put her on trial and might condemn her to death. Amaris raised one of her feet in front, showing Sharaya her long claws, ready to slit her neck. Sharaya suddenly felt fear towards Amaris. She closed her eyes when Amaris moved. But Zion jumped into Amaris, this time pinning his Luna in his wolf form. He growled at her. ''Mate!'' He called. The fox growled back but suddenly changed its emotion when she saw who was pinning her. ''Mate?'' She asked. ''Yes. It is me, Hikari.'' Hunter answered. Then the fox''s expression changed to being playful. Hunter moved so Hikari could stand up. And when she did, she sniffed Hunter and licked him. It was the mating bond. Hunter finally felt it towards the fox in front of him. It had been a long time since he had felt the mating pull. He was sure that Amaris was their mate, but he felt incomplete without the bond. Having that feeling only meant that his powers were all back. "Enough of this! You two, change back to your human form." Sura ordered. ''Focus. And think of what you want to do, just like when you shifted earlier.'' Hunter said when he noticed Hikari didn''t know what to do. She focused and shifted back to her human form without thinking she would be naked after. Zion suddenly grabbed her to cover her body from the others. Enid ran towards her and handed her a new dress. "Okay, can we start from the beginning?" Sura said. Sharaya stood up and glared at Amaris. The harpies were laughing, while the minotaur seemed not to care at all. The Terran who were with them were shocked and trembling with fear. "Sharaya, what do you want?" Sura asked again. Sharaya was a beautiful succubus who seduced men. Before, succubus could only seduce men in their sleep. But now, they can already do it anytime. "You already know why we''re here. We need that hybrid." Sharaya answered while pointing at Amaris. Zion growled, pulling Amaris behind him. "You know I cannot give her to you." Sura answered, still sitting calmly on his throne. "And why is that?" Sharaya asked. "Simply because she''s Phelan and Selene''s daughter," Sharaya was surprised, as well as the other creatures. "It can''t be. You''re bluffing." Sura laughed. "Why would I bluff something like that? She''s my brother''s daughter. The blood of a demon and a goddess runs through her veins. Why would the Sky God order you to look for a mere hybrid?" Sharaya didn''t answer and thought that Sura might be telling the truth. Since all mythical creatures decided to live together, mating with other species was allowed, so hybrids were not forbidden to live in Terra. "So why would they want her?" Sharaya asked, looking at Amaris then to Sura. Sura stared at her intently. "A love between a demon and a goddess has long been forbidden. It wasn''t written in any books because no one expected it to happen. She was a product of a forbidden love, an abomination. But the reason they were afraid of her was not because of that." Zion and Amaris frowned. "Then what was it?" Zion asked. Sura grinned and looked at Zion. "It was because of you." Zion''s eyes widened. He was surprised by what Sura said. "What do you mean?" Zion asked again. "Have you read what was written about you in the Book of Malum? I bet not. But if you want to know, read it. I won''t tell you." Sura answered. "Whatever the reason, I have an order to follow. I need that hybrid." Sharaya insisted. Sura''s expression changed. His eyes turned bloody red, his fangs and wings appeared. "Then I guess blood will be spilled today." The demon prince said. Sharaya and her companions prepared themselves for an attack. Zion didn''t shift to his wolf form and decided to use his elemental powers instead. He closed his eyes, and one of them changed to blue. Harpies were scared of water, so he could use it against them. Amaris knew that she also needed to fight. She couldn''t be saved by Zion every time there was trouble. The ten feet tall minotaur, who was carrying a securis, slowly walked towards where Amaris was. Zion was preparing himself to shift, but before he could, the minotaur suddenly kneeled in front of them. "I am Grakar. A protrea. I have been looking for you, princess." ************************** Reader''s Guide: securis - a double-headed ax usually carried by a minotaur. protrea - protector or guardian Chapter 47 - A Protreas Mark "You''re one of my protrea? And why do you call me princess?" Amaris asked. Grakar tilted his head up but didn''t stand up. "You are the daughter of a demon prince, so you are technically a princess. I was chosen by your father to protect your anima." The minotaur answered. Amaris couldn''t believe him that easily. He came here because he was ordered to look for the hybrid. She couldn''t just accept him like that. "Here. This is proof of my loyalty to you and your father." Grakar said while showing him a mark on his arm. The mark was a skull with a sword piercing through it. The sword was similar to the one on Zion''s neck. "That''s my father''s symbol." Amaris whispered. "All of your five guardians had a mark given by your father or your mother. The mark would be similar to mine if it were imprinted by the demon prince. But if the moon goddess gave it, they will bear her mark." Grakar explained. Sharaya became impatient and started to get furious. She suddenly flew towards Amaris. She was fast, but Grakar was faster than her. Before she got closer to Amaris, he swung the double-headed ax he held, hitting Sharaya''s body. The succubus was hit so hard that she was tossed against the wall and fell to the ground. The harpies got scared by the sudden turn of events. They didn''t expect that Grakar would suddenly side with the hybrid. As the harpies tried to escape, Zion used one of his powers, the water rapid strike. Zion''s water element could create any weapon to perform precise, and swift stabs towards a moving target. Amaris saw how the water formed into swords when Zion attacked the harpies. She looked at Zion, whose one eye turned to blue. His body was overflowing with powerful energy. Only the Terran was left standing with all three badly injured on the floor. Sura stared at the Terran, who was obviously trembling from fear. He wondered why the Night Howlers brought a Terran into the Demon Clan''s territory. "Why did you bring that Terran here? It didn''t seem he was willing to enter Pandaemonium." Sura asked Grakar. "An offering for you. You could devour that man''s soul." The minotaur answered. "No! No! Please! I beg of you!" The Terran screamed. Sura didn''t say a word, but he was already craving for the Terran''s soul. He had never eaten one for almost twenty years. The Terran kneeled on the floor and begged. His body was shaking from fear for his life. Amaris looked at him, trying to see if there was any sign of filth to the man''s soul. But she could only smell the kindness in his heart. "I will take him." She said in a firm voice while staring at Sura. "And why would I agree with that?" Sura asked. "Because Enid wouldn''t want you to eat that man''s soul." She answered. Sura was caught off guard. He didn''t expect an answer like that. He looked at Enid, who was innocently standing beside him. She looked at him and gave him a sweet smile. He sighed deeply and turned to Amaris. "Fine! Take him with you!" He answered. "How about them?" Zion asked, looking at their fallen enemy. "I will keep them here and ask for more information. For now, take Amaris back to Verlice Castle. It seems they are already on the move, so I suggest looking for the remaining protrea." Sura responded. Before leaving, Amaris talked to Sura about her other powers. "If you inherited Phelan''s powers, you might have Selene''s as well. Try asking your Alpha about the goddess'' powers so you could test yourself." Amaris nodded and said her farewell to his uncle and Enid. Zion shifted to his wolf form as well as Cole and Xander. She used her wings to get to the Demon Clan''s territory, but it was too dangerous to fly back home, so Zion would carry her on his back. As Zion started to run, Amaris heard Enid shouting. "I hope to see you again, Amaris!" She said while waving her hand. Amaris didn''t get the information she wanted. Sura promised to visit her in Verlice Castle a day after meeting with the Elysian Elders. He said he would bring Enid and tell her everything he knew about anima. She agreed and was looking forward to their next meeting. Grakar came with them, along with the Terran. She didn''t expect to find one of her protrea while venturing around Oprea. ''Love? Are you still mad at me?'' Zion asked her using a mind link. ''What do you think? You didn''t believe me. You chose to believe your friend instead of me.'' She answered. Amaris could feel Zion''s guilt, but she was hurt and angry by how he acted. ''I''m sorry, Ari.'' He simply said. They arrived in Verlice Castle at dawn. Maxine and Zoila rushed into her when they saw her with Zion and the others. "Oh, thank goodness you''re safe!" Zoila exclaimed. "Ari, please don''t do that again. If you''re mad at Zion, come to me, and I will listen to all your rantings. Just don''t fly away like that again." Maxine scolded her. She nodded then introduced the two new members of the Blue Moon Pack. "This is Grakar, one of the five protrea. And this is, what''s your name again?" She asked, looking at the Terran. "My name is Dr.Adrian Lincoln." the man introduced himself. Amaris frowned and looked at the man from head to toe. He didn''t really look like a doctor. He''s good-looking, but he was more like a nerd with his clothes. "You''re a doctor of what?" Zion asked. "I''m a surgeon at Oprea National Hospital, but that succubus abducted me to treat one of the Night Howlers in Mirrikh. They promised to release me after the treatment, but it didn''t happen." The doctor answered. Amaris glanced at Zion. Now that they have taken the doctor, they can''t let him return to work in the hospital. It would be dangerous for all of them. "I''m sorry, Dr. Lincoln, but you can''t return to the city for now. You must stay here." Amaris said. The doctor understood. He wouldn''t want to return to work either after what happened. The creatures in front of him looked like they cared more about other beings than those he worked with. "How about him? How did you know he''s a protrea?" Maxine asked, looking at Grakar. Amaris remembered the mark Grakar told her. She looked at Maxine and raised the sleeves on her arms. "What the hell are you doing, Ari?" Maxine asked, confused. "Grakar said every protrea has a mark. Did you find anything in your body? Like a tattoo?" Amaris asked. Maxine nodded, lifting her dress to her thighs. Amaris saw the men avert their eyes, especially Zion. Then she saw a mark on Maxine''s left thigh. "It''s the Moon Goddess'' mark; she chose you..'''' It was Grakar who made the confirmation. Chapter 48 - A Familiar Feeling Amaris informed the others about what happened in the Demon Clan''s territory and that Sura told them that she needed to find the other protrea. "Grakar, do you know where we could find the others? Do you know what kind of creatures they are?" Maxine asked. The minotaur nodded. "One belongs to the Fae Clan, one from the Elven Clan, and the last is an Atlantean." "Does that mean we need to travel to their territory to find them?" It was Zoila who asked. "Looks like it. I don''t think they would willingly come here. The Gods might be looking for them as well, so it would be dangerous if someone knew about them." Amaris commented. Zion sighed. They have to meet the Elysian Elders the day after tomorrow, so they can only travel after the meeting. "Let''s rest for now. After the meeting with the elders, we will prepare our journey to the Fae Clan. That''s the nearest territory from here. Maxine starting tomorrow, you have to learn to use a weapon. Cole and the others can train you. Now, go to your rooms and rest." Zion ordered. Amaris turned around and ran towards Maxine. "Can I sleep in your room?" She asked. Before Maxine could answer her, Zion suddenly grabbed her hand, dragging her to his bedroom. "Let go of me! You''re hurting me!" She yelled. But Zion ignored her and threw her on the bed, pinning her down. "You cannot sleep in another room! You are my Luna! You have to stay with me! If you don''t want to sleep beside me, then I''ll stay on the couch. I''m sorry I made a mistake. I don''t know what I would need to do so you could forgive me. Please tell me." He begged. Zion was on top of her. He was holding her hands on top of her head. She tried to struggle, but she couldn''t even move an inch. Amaris'' heart felt the pain from Zion''s expression. He honestly didn''t know what to do to persuade her. Then she thought of something that could test Zion''s faithfulness towards her. "What if I ask you to vanish Shania? Will you do it for me?" Amaris asked, looking at him directly into his eyes. "If it would make you look at me again, then I will gladly do it for you." Zion answered without hesitation. She knew he would really do whatever she asked him to do. But she would never let him do it for her sake. Shania might be a bitch, but she couldn''t blame her for falling in love with Zion. She wasn''t the only one who fantasized with him, anyway. "Fine. I forgive you! But if I see her just a few steps near you, I swear I will rip her throat. You hear that bitch? I''ll kill you!" Amaris yelled, opening the mind link to all the pack members. Zion was surprised. He didn''t teach her about communicating with all the members. "How did you do that?" He asked. "I don''t know. I just want all of them to know that you are mine!" She answered. Zion''s face lit up. He was relieved that Amaris had forgiven her. "Now, can you move? I want to take a shower." She said. "Can I join you?" He asked with a huge smile on his face. She blushed and nodded at him in agreement. Zion felt excited, so he stood up and carried her inside the bathroom. When he put her down, Zion frowned when Amaris stepped backward then turned the shower knob still with her clothes on. And as the water drenched her bit by bit, she slowly brushed her hands to her body while staring into Zion''s eyes. Zion felt his dick become hard while looking at his Luna touching her own body. She started with her hair, then down to her neck, caressing her breasts. She still had her clothes, but it made him wilder seeing her soaked. Then she slowly removed her clothes, only leaving her underwear. She moved backward again, leaning her back against the wall. "Lick me down there." She said in a raspy voice. Zion took all his clothes off and rushed into her. He slammed his lips into hers while she wrapped her arms around his neck. They made love in the shower, then on the bed. Zion couldn''t remember how many times they did it. As Athanasia said, a demon''s craving was different from other creatures. He glanced at Amaris, who was sleeping quietly beside him. He sighed, worrying about what would happen again when she woke up. He made sure that everything was recorded, so he wouldn''t need to explain everything to her. He laid down beside her, pulling her closer to his body. She feels so soft and warm. He was getting another hard-on, but he controlled himself since Amaris was already sound asleep. ''Amaris.'' Amaris frowned. That voice! She had already heard it before, but she couldn''t remember when and where. ''Amaris.'' The voice was calling her again. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around the room. It seemed familiar, but she wasn''t certain whose room it was. She felt something heavy was wrapped around her waist, and she could feel a warm air brushing through her shoulders. She looked at the other side of the bed and saw a handsome guy beside her. She lifted the blanket and found out that they were both naked. What the hell? Who was this guy? Did she sleep with him last night? She thought. She tried to calm herself down and took a deep breath. But she panicked when the man suddenly hugged her tighter, pulling her closer to him. She couldn''t scream when she felt something poking her thighs. ''That was his dick! Oh my!'' Then she slowly lifted the blanket again to take a peek at the man''s hardened flesh. Her eyes widened when she saw how big it was. She covered her mouth to stop herself from screaming. For some reason, she didn''t want the man to wake up. She glanced at his face again, and she felt something towards him. She frowned. ''He looks familiar.'' She thought. She didn''t notice that she was mesmerized by the beauty of the man beside him. She slowly leaned forward, closing the gap between them.. Then she pressed her lips against him, savoring the taste of his lips. Chapter 49 - Disappointment ''Amaris.'' She opened her eyes when she heard the voice again. The man was still asleep and she blushed, realizing what she had done. She slowly removed his hands on her waist, then quietly got off the bed. She glanced at the man again, and wondered who it was. The room was dark but when the clouds covering the moon danced away, the light glowed on the man''s face. She was surprised to see who it was. "Zion?" She whispered. She was confused and couldn''t understand why she would sleep with the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. She looked around for her phone and saw it on the center table. She rushed towards it and took it so she could call Maxine. But she was even more surprised when she saw her phone''s wallpaper. It was Zion and her happily hugging each other while they posed on the camera. Then she noticed a small paper that looked like a sticky note and picked it up. ''Turn on the TV and watch.'' She frowned, but got curious and followed the instructions on the note. She took the remote and pressed the power button. "Hey, what are you doing?" Amaris'' eyes widened when the video started playing. It was her in the bathroom, soaked in the bathtub. The man who was filming her was Zion. "I''m filming you." Zion answered. "But I''m naked. What if someone saw that?" She blushed. "No one would. This video is exclusively ours. I want to film everything, so when you can''t remember me, I just have to ask you to watch this." Zion said while smiling at her. It was just a short video but Amaris could see how happy she was. Did she really forget about him? From what she just watched, they are obviously in a relationship. ''Amaris.'' That voice again. She felt like this already happened before but she couldn''t remember when. "Ari?" Amaris was startled when a deep voice suddenly called her. She turned to where it came from and saw Zion was already standing beside the bed. "Oh my!!! Can you put on some clothes?" She yelled. She was shocked when she saw him naked. Zion was a bit annoyed by her reaction, so he ignored her and walked closer. Amaris'' eyes widened when Zion suddenly grabbed her on the waist. Then she realized that she didn''t have any clothes on either. She gasped for air when she felt his dick rubbing against her clit. "L-Let go of me!" She stammered. "No. You already watched the video so I know you already knew that we have a relationship. You are my Luna and you are mine!" He said in a firm tone. "I-I know. But why can''t I remember anything about you?" She asked. Zion took a deep breath. It was the same thing over and over again. For how long would he need to endure being forgotten by his mate? He thought. He stared at her beautiful face then started telling her what had happened. Then just like what he expected, she cried. He pulled her closer to comfort her. When she was done crying, he quietly let her go and went inside the bathroom. Amaris felt Zion''s sadness and disappointment. What kind of woman would forget her lover the next day? She wanted to run to him and apologize, but in her condition the same thing would happen over and over again. She took her robe to cover her naked body. Then waited for Zion on the couch. When Zion came out of the bathroom, Amaris suddenly felt a strong desire towards him. He was half naked and she could smell the scent of his aftershave, warm yet slightly sweet. "You should also take a shower and prepare. Today is our meeting with the elders." He casually said. She nodded and went inside the bathroom. She dipped herself in the tub and sighed. She wasn''t able to tell Zion about the voice she heard again. But Amaris was certain that she already heard it before. After a quick soak in the bath, she dressed up and went outside the bedroom. Zion wasn''t there anymore and left a note saying he went ahead of her.. "Luna, you''re breathtaking!" It was Baelin who bumped into her in the hallway. "Thank you! Though I am not sure if Alpha Zion will like it." She smiled. "Oh! I''m sure he would, Luna!" Baelin exclaimed. She was wearing a pink above the knee dress and paired it with a crop top denim jacket. She put on two inches heel sandals so she could walk easily. She had light makeup on and just let her long golden wavy hair down. She wanted to rush towards Zion so he could see her looks. She was so excited when she saw him waiting outside. He was leaning against the car''s door while looking at his phone. "I-I''m ready." She said and waited for Zion to look at her. He turned to her, but to her disappointment, Zion didn''t say anything. He didn''t compliment her. He just opened the car''s door for her and then they quietly left their territory. Is he mad? She thought. Amaris knew that Zion was acting like that because of what happened earlier. Once again, he was hurt. She was told that it''s been months since she became the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. She saw all the videos Zion compiled everyday for her. She couldn''t imagine how painful it was for him that his mate would always wake up without any memory of him. Amaris knew she had to do something about it. She would not let Zion suffer anymore. The voice that she hears inside Verlice Castle, she felt that it had something to do with her condition.. Maybe it could help her remember and not forget her Alpha, or maybe it could give her a clue or a hint how she could break this curse that was binding her. Chapter 50 - Levaerun Levaerun. The biggest structure in Terra, located in the capital of Oprea, Aramoor City. This magnificent silver and green-tinted tower has the Elysian Elders'' personal offices and quarters. They parked in front of the building, and Amaris saw how wonderful the place was. Trees and flowers surrounded it, but at the same time, the lavish design of Levaerun and its modernity were exemplary. Two Terrans approached the car, opening its door for them. Zion got out first then reached his hand to Amaris. She took a deep breath before holding Zion''s hand. She was getting nervous and felt her knees weaken. She suddenly stumbled and was about to fall, but Zion was fast enough to grab her by the waist. "Careful, my love. I got you." He whispered. Amaris blushed. She felt his warm breath brush through her skin. She looked into his eyes as he stared intently into her face. She gulped when she felt his hand gently squeeze her waist. Is he doing this on purpose? She thought. "Alpha Zion!" They were distracted by the voice of a man behind them, so Zion turned to see who called him. Amaris frowned when she didn''t see someone, only to be surprised that when she lowered her gaze, she saw a bearded man who was about three to three and a half feet tall. "Elder Ludoc!" Zion greeted. From what Amaris had read, Ludoc was the Dwarf Lord of the Nain Clan and one of the Elysian Elders. "Great to see you, lad! So, I heard you found your Luna. Is she the one?" Ludoc asked, looking at Amaris from head to toe. She suddenly felt conscious, but she had to be nice in front of the elders, so she smiled at the dwarf and greeted him. "Elder Ludoc, my name is Amaris, Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. It''s an honor to be invited here in Levaerun." The dwarf smiled, but somehow Amaris felt that it wasn''t a genuine smile. Her Aunt Athanasia told her that the elders were hard to please. You wouldn''t know what was in their mind either. Among the ten elders, he had already met Ophelia and Sura. Now that she had met Ludoc, that was less than three elders to worry about. When they went inside, Amaris couldn''t believe what her eyes saw. The lobby of the building was huge and extravagant. There was a large chandelier in the center that was said to be the biggest one in Terra. It weighs around six tons, hanging a total of twelve meters from the ornate ceiling, adorned with Swarovski crystals, and had a delicate gold plated metalwork. The lobby itself could accommodate approximately ten thousand creatures around its sitting area. Amaris saw Terrans, werewolves, monsters, and other mythical beings walking back and forth. Some were just quietly sitting on the golden ottomans and couches. She didn''t notice that Zion was already ahead of her. Many creatures were lurking around in the lobby, so when she turned to look for Zion, she couldn''t find him. She didn''t want to attract anyone''s attention, so she couldn''t call Zion''s name. She tilted her head from left to right, but she couldn''t find him. She bit her lips, starting to get worried. Then she noticed a group of creatures looking at her like she was food. There were seven of them. There were two on her right, two in front of her, and another two on her left. She was sure that one of them was behind her. She couldn''t move an inch because she was already cornered. She thought of using her wings to get away, but then she remembered what her Aunt Athanasia had told her. "Alistair said that the elders had no idea what kind of hybrid you are. I think it is best for them not to know. We were not sure yet if we could trust them." They would know she was a half-demon if she showed them her wings. Yet, she felt like she needed to fly away from these creatures. She could smell a strong desire to kill from them. She closed her eyes and focused. She had to do something, or else she would get in trouble. ''What should I do, father? Mother?'' She called out to her parents. She wasn''t expecting any response from her missing parents, but somehow she felt like they were always with her. ''I told you to focus, Amaris! You can''t defeat anyone if you are so weak!'' That voice again. It was the voice of the woman who was calling her in her sleep. She frowned. Is this a vision of her past life? She thought inwardly. ''Slap.'' She was startled, so she opened her eyes when she felt her mother''s hand on her cheek. She looked around and saw that she was in a place that looked like a garden. "Amaris! What did I tell you? Focus! We have no time!" Her jaw dropped when she saw the woman who was yelling at her. It was her mother, the Moon goddess Selene. She was exactly like the woman in the painting on the walls of Verlice Castle. Amaris couldn''t control her tears and emotions, so she ran towards her mother, hugging her tightly. "Mother!" She said while crying her heart out. She felt her mother''s arms wrapped around her, embracing her back. "Shh. You found me." Selene whispered. "Mother, I have a lot of questions to ask¡ªa lot of things I want to say. But I know this is just a vision of the past. Still, I am happy to see you." She said. When she let go of her, Selene looked at her intently. "I will answer two of your questions. We don''t have much time. Hurry, ask me!" Amaris nodded. "Why did you curse Zion?" "It was necessary since he was beginning to be a monster when he lost you." "Why did you curse me?" Amaris asked. Amaris already knew that her own mother put the curse on her. She didn''t tell anyone about it, but she was certain of it. She stared at Selene, waiting for her to answer her last question. Chapter 51 - Second Shift The Moon Goddess stared at her daughter. Her appearance changed every time her anima transferred to a new body. The last time she saw her was fifteen years ago. "Mother?" Amaris called. Selene sighed. She already expected a question like that from her, so she answered. "It was necessary because Zion was fated to betray you. When that time comes, I cannot protect you. So I cursed both of you." She was shaken by what her mother told her. Why would Zion betray her? She thought to herself. "Amaris, death always follow you; thus, your father gave his life and granted your anima immortality. You possessed all your father''s powers and mine. But there was something else in you that the Gods feared." She frowned. She wanted to ask her mother what it was, but they had no time. So she decided to think about what her mother said after meeting the elders. "Focus, Amaris! What would you like to do?" Selene asked. Then Selene disappeared in front of her. She came back to reality and saw the creatures heading towards her. Like her mother and Sura said, she focused on what she wanted to do. Her eyes turned red, and before one of them could grab her, she vanished. The seven creatures tilted their heads to search for her. But they couldn''t find her. Amaris didn''t really vanish; she shifted for the second time. She was able to turn herself into a fairy and flew away as fast as she could. She tried to look for Zion and saw him searching for her. He was standing near the elevator, so she flew towards him. Zion felt Amaris'' presence was near, but he couldn''t find her. They were accompanied by the Dwarf Lord, who was also looking around to search for her. "Alpha Zion. It looks like your Luna is missing. Where did she go?" Ludoc asked impatiently. "I apologize, Elder Ludoc. It was my Luna''s first time in Levaerun. It was my fault for not holding on to her hand." Zion answered politely. Amaris decided to descend on Zion''s shoulders. She noticed that she could fly faster as a fairy than when using her giant wings. "My Alpha." She whispered into his ear. Zion frowned when he heard Amaris'' voice. It was clear but almost like a whisper. He was sure it wasn''t a mind link, so he was confused. "Interesting." Ludoc exclaimed. Zion noticed that the Dwarf Lord was staring at him. He walked closer to him and tilted his head while gazing at his right shoulder. "I think your Luna is a unique creature." Ludoc commented. Zion turned to his right and was surprised to see Amaris in her fairy form. She was so tiny and cute with golden wings at her back. "My Luna! I''ve been looking for you. Why did you suddenly become so small?" Zion asked in confusion. Zion''s expression went dark when Amaris whispered in his ear, informing him about the seven creatures. He didn''t say a word and just turned around to go inside the elevator. Amaris changed back to his Terran form and jumped into Zion, wrapping her arms around his neck. Zion knew she was scared, and knowing that those creatures almost took her made his blood boil. Dwarf Lord Ludoc knew something had happened, but he didn''t ask what it was. He was curious about the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack and wondered what kind of hybrid she was. They were guided inside a huge hall with around five hundred seats surrounding it. Amaris saw ten elevated platforms that looked like a balcony encircled the place. Zion and Amaris were taken in the middle. She felt like they were prisoners than visitors standing in the center of the state tribunal. One by one, the Elders of Terra stood in their respective places. Amaris looked around to see the faces of the Elysian Elders and saw Ophelia, who was wearing a long black dress. She also saw Sura, still half-naked, and Enid beside him. "Alpha Zion, we are very happy for you finding your Luna. We were informed that she was a hybrid. Can you introduce her to us?" It was Alistair Cohen. Zion let out a low growl then looked at Amaris. "Dear Elders, this is my mate and my Luna." Zion said then nodded at her. She nodded back before looking at the Elders. "My name is Amaris, the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. It''s my pleasure to be in front of the Blessed ones." "Luna Amaris, we received a report that you are a shapeshifter. You could turn yourself into a nine-tailed fox, is that right?" Darius the third, the elder from the Vampire Clan asked. Amaris nodded. "Indeed, I can. It was my first time shifting." "You are really interesting! Just earlier, I saw you in your fairy form. What kind of hybrid are you?" Ludoc asked. Amaris didn''t know if she would answer them, in all honesty. Athanasia said they still didn''t know if the elders would side with them, which might put her in danger if they found out. She looked at Sura, who was staring at her, and then she turned to Ophelia. She wanted to check if they would at least give her a nod to tell the truth. But they were just both looking at her. She bit her lips before answering. "I am a half-demon and a half goddess. I am the daughter of the Moon Goddes Selene and the Demon Prince Phelan." She answered in a firm tone while looking at the Elders without an ounce of fear. Then Amaris saw Sura smirked as if he was expecting her to answer them with the truth. The elders went silent for a moment and were just staring at her. Amaris glanced at Zion. ''Focus! Do not let them scare you. Let them fear you!'' Amaris was startled. She tilted her head up again and looked at Sura, who still had the same expression on his face. Her eyes turned red, and slowly, she let them see her huge black wings and long sharp fangs. Chapter 52 - Meeting The Elysian Elders Amaris heard whispers from the elders. Most of them were surprised, and some were in disbelief. They didn''t expect the legendary Alpha the Gods favored would be mated to someone like her. "Alpha Zion, we have received a message from Caelum to capture the hybrid once spotted." It was one of the two elders of the Night Howlers. Zion''s expression became dark, and he glared at Isei. "Is that the reason your minions attacked us the other day?" Zion gritted his teeth, remembering the attack. Isei glanced at Cyran. Amaris sensed some tension between the two. And among the ten elders, only three of them were having second thoughts about her. She turned to look at the Elven King, Rychell. He had the most doubtful look on his face. And Amaris knew that she needed to give them something that could make them respect her, like how they respected Zion. She glanced at Zion, then, to everyone''s surprise, she faced her Alpha, giving him a passionate kiss. Zion frowned and couldn''t understand her action, but he was happy with what she did. Then she turned to the elders, looking directly to their eyes. "Dear Elders, I would like to say something if you would allow me." She said. "Go ahead." It was Sura who answered. Amaris bit her lips and took a deep breath. "I am a product of a forbidden love, an abomination. My doom had long been written in the Book of Malum. I had been cast out from Caelum and was never accepted in Acheron. I was cursed by my own mother, the Moon Goddess. My anima had ventured into this realm for centuries, searching for the right corpus, and lived in this body for five years. I know you had doubted me the very moment I stepped foot in Levaerun. You had been questioning yourselves what kind of woman I was. My past was just half of who I am. If you would allow me to show you what I can do, I would gladly introduce myself in that manner." And there was silence. Zion was a bit surprised by what she said about being cursed by the Moon Goddess. Why would Selene curse her own daughter? Was his sin so grave that she condemned Amaris to forget him? When did Amaris find out that her mother cursed her? Why didn''t she tell him? Thoughts lingered in Zion''s mind, but he couldn''t possibly ask her now. Dealing with the elders and making them accept her were their priorities at this moment. "I had seen you in your fairy form earlier, and I was amazed by it. Can you shift in any other form aside from a nine-tailed fox and a fairy?" Dwarf Lord Ludoc asked. Sura wanted to know what his brother''s daughter could do, but he wondered if she could really surpass Phelan. Amaris'' father could shapeshift or copy someone, but there was a limit. He stared at the girl who was confidently standing in the middle. He had no plans to stop her since he was curious about the girl. "I can." She simply answered. Amaris suddenly remembered her training in the Moon Palace with her mother. Maybe Selene gave a part of her memories to show the elders what she could do. ''Mother, father. Please guide me.'' She thought to herself. She closed her eyes, putting her palm together in her chest. Then slowly, her black wings turned to white, and when she opened her eyes, it changed to silver. Zion was standing a few steps away in front of Amaris. He was surprised to see how she suddenly changed the color of her eyes, and her wings turned pure white. He thought she was done with it, but to everyone''s amazement, she shifted for the third time. "T-That''s an Equus." The Elven King, Rychel exclaimed. An Equus is a mythical winged horse and one of Terra''s most mysterious and magical creatures. No one had ever seen an Equus for more than a thousand years. ''My name is Elwyn. One of the ten forms of the Princess of the Moon.'' The elders were stunned. The Equus spoke to them in their minds. "Are you saying she could transform herself into ten creatures?" Halia, an elder from the Fae Clan, asked. ''Eone, the Goddess of Nature, gave the Child of the Moon a gift. She gave her the power to transform into ten powerful creatures. The nine-tailed fox Hikari was her first and original form.'' Elwyn answered. "How about the Fairy I saw earlier? Was it one of her ten forms?" Ludoc asked, curiosity piqued. ''No. The ten forms were animals and monsters, not something you could see every day.'' Sura smirked. Aside from having Phelan''s shapeshifting ability into different creatures, Amaris could transform into ten other ancient species. Is that the reason the Sky God and the Demon God were so afraid of her? He thought. Zion was mesmerized by Amaris. The delicate features of her in Equus form accentuated her ethereal beauty. She was enchanting, a pure white stallion, proudly standing in the middle of the Elysian Elders with her huge white wings on her back. "She''s magnificent! A unique creature!" Nerida, the Atlantean Queen, exclaimed. "Alpha Zion, you must be so proud of your Luna. However, we are afraid that the Gods might turn against us if they found out we had accepted her." Cyran, a hybrid and one of the elders from the Night Howlers. Zion glared at Cyran. "You are a hybrid yourself, Elder Cyran. Like her, you were cast out of your parents'' clans. That was the reason you ran away to Mirrikh and created the Night Howlers Clan. Are you saying my Luna shouldn''t be accepted by society because she''s a hybrid? She must be the only hybrid of her kind, but didn''t the elders sign a treaty to protect all living creatures in Terra no matter what blood they had in their veins?" Zion said in a firm tone. Cyran didn''t say a word, and all the elders were quiet and were looking at the Alpha and Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. Sura was amazed by Amaris'' unlimited power. Half an hour passed, and she was still in her Equus form. Then she transformed back to her Terran form. But like when she first shifted, she was totally naked in front of them. Zion covered her with his own body while the men of the Elysian Elders averted their eyes. Enid ran into Amaris, giving her a cloak. The elders were surprised by Enid''s gesture. She was a girl without a soul mated to the Demon Prince Sura. She was supposed to follow Sura''s every order and didn''t have the ability to think on her own. But she suddenly rushed into Amaris and handed her something that could cover her body while genuinely smiling at her. "This is extraordinary.. A miracle!" The Elders shouted. Chapter 53 - Fight Fate After the meeting, they were invited to eat lunch with the elders. Amaris wasn''t used to something grand and luxurious, but she was surprised when they were brought to a large room. It was like a royal suite of a hotel boasting the glorious view of Aramoor City. Amaris saw a gigantic window and a casually elegant living room when they stepped inside. It has one bedroom, bathroom, and a dining area. The suite was entirely in minimalist and modern design. Two women came inside, holding two boxes in their hands. They smiled and walked towards the center table, putting the boxes on it. "Queen Nerida wishes to give you this as her congratulatory gift to the Alpha and Luna of the Blue Moon Pack." One of the women said before leaving. Amaris excitedly opened one of the boxes. She couldn''t hide her smile when she saw a beautiful dress given by the Atlantean Queen. Zion was staring at her while sitting on the sofa. She was mysteriously special and charming at the same time. Then he remembered he needed to ask her some questions about her mother, Selene. "Ari, what do you mean when you said that Selene cursed you?" He asked while intently looking at her. Amaris sighed, then sat beside Zion. "I saw mom earlier. It was like a vision or a memory, but it looked real. I was able to ask her about your curse and mine. All along, I had this feeling that she was the one who cursed me. When I asked her, she said, your curse was necessary because you lost control when I died. And my curse was necessary because you are destined to betray me." Zion was stunned by the revelation Amaris had discovered. But how could he betray the woman he loved? "I don''t know what''s the whole story behind it. She didn''t give me an explanation. She said my father gave me immortality because death would always follow me. I was thinking of looking at your doom in the Book of Malum. Maybe we could find something. I mean, we were so obsessed with mine, and we didn''t think that perhaps our fate had always been connected." She continued. Amaris had a point. He never cared about his fate or destiny, but he knew there was a reason he was given those powers. "I don''t have anything to say about the Moon Goddess'' accusation. Let''s do what you want when we return home. After that, we need to prepare for our journey to the Fae''s territory. Let''s speak to Elder Halia later about the purpose of our visit." Zion answered. Amaris still felt like Zion was avoiding her. She wasn''t sure if that was because of what happened this morning, and she was beginning to have a feeling of guilt for forgetting him. "What''s on your mind?" Zion asked when she didn''t say anything. She looked at him, admiring the details of his beauty. His shoulder-length hair was tied in half, and there were some loose ends on his face. She had been curious about his black dangling crystal earring on his left ear but never had a chance to ask if it meant anything. Zion grazed her on the cheek and smiled. Then he slowly leaned forward, kissing her on the forehead. "You did great. You are amazing." He whispered. Then he pulled her into his arms, embracing her tightly. She put her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "Were you scared earlier? I''m sorry for not holding your hand. Elder Ludoc was quite a conservative man. Seeing a couple touching in public disgusts him." Zion explained. "Really? I thought you were avoiding me." She pouted. Zion chuckled. "I''m not. But I admit I was hurt when you looked disgusted seeing me naked." Amaris was surprised. She pulled herself away from him and stared at his face. "I-I was surprised. I-I know I have already seen you naked a lot of times, but it was different when I couldn''t remember what that thing looked like. I''m sorry. Am I always like that every morning?" She asked. Zion sighed then pinched her gently on the cheek. "Not really. There were mornings that you would suddenly scream and throw everything you touched at me. Sometimes, you would kick me out of the bed while I was sleeping. But there were days that you were just confused and would ask me nicely." Amaris bit her lips. If she was Zion, maybe she had already decided to dump that kind of partner. "Did Selene tell you about your ten forms?" Zion asked when she seemed upset about what he said. "No. Somehow, I felt like she unlocked some parts of my memory. I remembered training with her. She would always tell me to focus and never show weakness to anyone. After I mastered the ten forms, she cast me out of the moon." Zion remembered the day she first met her. She said she was cast out of heaven. But at that time, she could not remember anything at all. Did Selene curse her daughter as soon as she threw her out of the moon? If Selene''s reason for cursing Amaris was because he was fated to betray her, it only means that the goddess already knew that they were destined to meet. Selene knew that her daughter''s mate was Zion even before both of them were cursed by her. "Zion? What is it?" She asked when she saw him in deep thought. "Nothing. I was just thinking that meeting you was my destiny, and if I was fated to betray you, then I just have to fight fate for you." He said in a serious tone. Amaris felt her heart beating so fast. She had to do something about her mother''s curse. She cannot allow Zion to bear any more pain because of her. "Then I will do the same. If my mother gave me this curse, I would be the one to break it. No matter what the consequences, I will fight alongside you, my Alpha." Zion couldn''t control himself.. He grabbed her by the back of her neck, pulling her closer to him. Chapter 54 - Caught In The Act The lunch with the elders went smoothly. They were able to express their greetings to Zion and Amaris. Even Cyran and Isei, the elders from the Night Howlers Clan, apologized for the attack in the Demon Clan''s territory. Sura promised to release the succubus and the harpies as per Amaris request. Elder Cyran admitted that he was the one who ordered the capture of the hybrid who was seen flying near the Demon Clan''s boundaries. Zion and Amaris talked to Halia and told her their plans on visiting the Fae Clan territory to look for the protrea. The elder was happy and would be anticipating their arrival. When they returned to Verlice Castle, Ophelia brought the Book of Malum again to check Zion''s doom. "A wolf gifted with immortality and powers given by the Gods will meet his destined mate. A love started with the glow of the moonlight would always end in darkness. Betrayal comes after love while death comes after life." Ophelia read what was written in the book. Zion didn''t say a word. He was quietly sitting on the couch in his office beside Amaris. Ophelia left after sensing a dark aura towards the Alpha. "If you want to be alone, I can-" "Are you scared?" Zion asked, cutting her off. "No. But I''m worried about you." She sincerely answered. Then he pulled her closer to him, embracing her tightly. He sighed before giving her a kiss on the forehead. "We have to prepare for our journey to the Fae Clan. We will leave in a week. I need you to train as well. I am not sure what awaits us during our trip . Their territory was the nearest here but there are a lot of dangerous places on the way there. Maxine already started her training. You could join them or train on your own. Would you like me to ask Cole to train you?" He asked. Amaris hesitated to answer his question. But she was thinking if she could train him instead. "Do you prefer me over my men?" She nodded. "Yes. I wanted to train and try transforming into my ten forms. For that, I need someone stronger." "I see. Do you remember what kind of creatures they are?" Zion asked, curiosity piqued. "I don''t think so. Mother unlocked a memory of mine, but I could only remember three forms." She said. Zion stared at her, waiting for her to tell him about her ten forms. "My first and original form is Hikari, the nine-tailed fox. I could create illusions, could see and hear anything in Terra when I''m in that form. The other one is Elwyn, you saw her right. Then the third is Rielle, a mermaid. I''m not sure of the other seven forms, but I think I could figure it out if I train with you." She said in a gentle voice. "Okay. I can''t say no to my Luna. Would you like to start now?" He asked. She didn''t answer. Since this morning, Amaris felt like Zion was avoiding her. He did kiss her in the suite provided to them in Levaerun, but that was it. She couldn''t blame him. Everything they did today will be forgotten by her the next day. What kind of man would be happy to stay with that kind of woman? She thought. "Ari?" He called. "Y-Yes. I''ll change in the bedroom. I can''t train with this kind of outfit." She said. Zion stared at her while she walked out of his office. He sighed. He wanted to touch her so badly, but he was hesitating. ''Why? Are you scared? Since when? If you are like that, she might devour us someday.'' It was his wolf. ''What do you mean by that?'' He frowned. ''Look. An Alpha cannot be that weak. I understand your disappointment grew everyday. But what can you do about it? She was cursed. Are you avoiding her because she hurt your pride or are you just overwhelmed with her powers?'' ''No! I was happy to know that she was a strong and powerful Luna. I''m disappointed with myself because I can''t do something about her curse. I mean, my curse was broken because of her, but I don''t know how to break hers.'' Zion answered. After a talk with his wolf, he went to the bedroom to change clothes. He slowly opened the door and looked for Amaris. He frowned when he didn''t see her inside. He checked the walk-in closet, but she wasn''t there either. Then he heard something in the bathroom. He was shocked by the sound coming from the bathroom. Is that Amaris? He thought inwardly. He could hear moans and screams of pleasure inside. He suddenly felt the rage in him. The door was locked and with his strength, he kicked it so hard that it broke on the floor. Amaris'' eyes widened when Zion suddenly barged in the bathroom. His eyes were fuming with anger and he had a dark expression on his face. Zion was stunned by what he saw. It was his Luna pleasuring herself with a mini vibrator. He thought she was with someone so he suddenly got angry and broke the door. "T-This is -, I-I was-" She couldn''t find the right words to explain what she was doing. She was caught masturbating by his mate, how embarrassing. Her cheeks flushed and couldn''t look him in the eyes. She lowered her gaze while biting her lips. "I-I''m sorry. I couldn''t control it." She murmured. Zion didn''t move from where he was, but he was dying to touch her. She was sitting naked on the edge of the bathtub with her legs wide open while pleasuring herself. How could he possibly control himself? "Why didn''t you call me?" He asked, staring at her. "B-Because I thought you''re not in the mood to do it. B-But my body feels so hot, and I needed to be touched." She answered in a stammering voice. Zion rushed into her and grabbed the back of her head. "Would you like to be touched so badly? Answer me, Ari!" He almost yelled. "I only want to be touched by you. I may forget you over and over, but my body was craving for you. Only you, my love. Touch me, please." She begged. Zion smirked. Then he removed his shirt and unbuckled his pants. Amaris gulped when she saw his hardened flesh. "Open your mouth. If you want me so badly, you have to pleasure me first.." He ordered. Chapter 55 - [R18] You Will Be My Slave Amaris brushed her tongue to her lips, then she held onto his dick, wrapping her palm around it. She stared into his eyes, making sure he was watching her. Then she stuck her tongue out, licking him from the base to the tip before putting his full erection inside her mouth. "Oh shit!" He groaned when he felt the head poking her throat. He grabbed her hair together so he could see her every move. Amaris started bobbing her head up and down while her tongue played around with his dick. She saw him bite his lips, closing his eyes and heard him growl. His dick was big, but she was craving for him. She couldn''t remember what it feels like to have his thing inside her, and thinking about it was making her excited. Zion watched Amaris as she sucked his dick. Seeing his thing sliding inside and outside her mouth with her face looking so flushed felt like he would explode any moment. He grabbed her head so she could stand up and slammed her with kisses. He bit her lips then moved to taste her neck. While his hands explored her body, his lips were busy showering her with kisses. Amaris'' hands were wrapped around Zion. Her nails are digging at his back. She moaned when she felt his finger rubbed her clit. "Ahhhh¡­ Ahhhh¡­" Zion stopped kissing her to watch her reaction. He put two of his fingers into her mouth while staring at her. "Suck it." So she did. She gasped for air and panted when he thrust two of his fingers inside her core. "You''re a naughty girl, Ari. Do you like it when I grind your pussy with my fingers?" He smirked, then slightly curved his fingers inside her while turning it around. "Oh! Yes! Yes! Fuck!" She screamed. As he fucked her with his fingers, she arched her hips meeting its thrust. Zion noticed that her eyes turned red whenever she felt a different level of sensation, then her fangs grew when she was at her peak. He moved his fingers faster, grabbing her by the neck. He leaned forward, nibbling her ear and whispered. "Say my name and I will let you come." "Zion! Ahhhhhh¡­ More! More! My Alpha!" She howled. Zion thrusted his fingers deeper into her, making curves and grinding it faster inside her. She held onto Zion tighter when she felt her knees trembled. "Ahhh¡­ Uhhh¡­ Ahhh¡­ I''m coming! I''m coming!" Zion even moved his fingers faster when she heard her scream, then he felt her warm juice flowed into his finger. "Ahhhhh¡­" He kissed Amaris on the forehead then removed his fingers. She was surprised when he suddenly put them in her mouth. "You''re tasty, right?" He smirked, then licked his fingers to taste her juice. "I will fuck you with my dick if you satisfy me during training. It will be your reward. You want this inside, right? Answer me, Ari!" He asked as he rubbed his dick to her throbbing entrance. "Ahhh¡­ Yes! I want it! I want it inside!" She answered. "Then impress me." He said with a wide grin on his face. Zion didn''t make love to her. He insisted on doing it after her training. But he did touch her and pleasure her over and over with his hands, teasing her as they shower together. "If you win in a single fight with me, then I will let you order me around. I will be your slave tonight. But if I win, then we will do it my way." He said with a mischievous smile on his face. She frowned. "In what way?" He pulled her in front of the bookshelves then winked at her. He pulled one of the books and she was surprised that it was a fake. The shelves suddenly slid open and Amaris'' eyes widened by what she saw. "O-Oh my! Why do you have this kind of stuff?" She asked, then gulped. "I prepared it for you." "F-For me? B-But-" He pulled her inside so she could look around. Amaris saw all the sex toys and stuff that she only see in magazines. She didn''t expect to see them in person, and Zion would be using it to her. She saw handcuffs with and without chains. There were bondages, blindfolds and vibrators in different shapes and sizes. The vibrator she used earlier was the one she saw in the bathroom. Zion wanted to use it on Amaris the other day but forgot about it and accidentally left it somewhere. He didn''t expect she would find it and use it on herself. "You already tried one. Admit it, you like it. Besides, you can also use some of this on me." He teased. She giggled, and suddenly felt excited. She wasn''t sure if that was because the demon blood inside her was stronger than her mother''s, so her adrenaline rose thinking that she could use those things on Zion. "Fine. Then let''s go to the training field." She said. For Zion, he teased her so she could be motivated. It was indecent, he knew that, but she''s a demon. Her lust was on a different level than a normal Terran. Amaris was surprised to see the members of the pack gathered in the training field. They were waiting for their Alpha and Luna, and were excited to see their training. She was wearing a black leather bodysuit paired with knee-length boots. Zion loved how she looked in that outfit. She was so sexy, her body curves were emphasized especially her breasts and hips. ''Don''t drool on me, Alpha! We haven''t started yet.'' She said using a mind link. They were already positioned on each side of the field, a few feet apart from each other. Zion chuckled. ''I''m just admiring your sexiness from here. I can''t wait to fill you up with my dick, and my hands were aching to touch your breasts.'' ''Oh! Shut up! You will be my slave tonight!'' She smirked. Chapter 56 - Training Almost all the members of the pack gathered in the training field to watch the much-awaited fight between their Alpha and Luna. "Who do you think will win?" Cole asked Xavier. Xavier was scratching his chin and couldn''t decide whom he would choose. "I''ll choose our Alpha." He answered. "We choose Ari." Maxine said. Zion knew that the pack was having a bet between him and Amaris. He shouldn''t lose, but it would also be exciting if Amaris won. He shrugged what was on his mind to focus on their training. He didn''t move from where he was and just waited for her to attack. Amaris closed her eyes, putting her palms on her chest. ''Mother, father, please guide me.'' She thought inwardly. When she opened her eyes, it turned red. Zion saw Amaris'' eyes change; then she started running towards him. He couldn''t figure out if she would attack in her Terran form or if she would shift, so he didn''t let her slip through his eyes. When she was just a few feet away, she suddenly shifted into her first form, the nine-tailed fox, Hikari. Zion smirked and, again, was amazed by the power her Luna possessed. ''Mate!'' Hunter screamed. ''Oh, for the love of goddess! We''re being attacked!'' He yelled, then blocked him. Zion decided not to shift since Hunter looked like he would let Hikari win. So he opened his palm, and as his left eye turned fiery red, flames appeared into his hand. ''So you decided to burn me?'' Amaris exclaimed. ''You will burn with my touch, my love.'' He teased. Hikari growled then jumped into Zion. But before she could pin him down, he dodged and attacked her with his flames. Hikari fell on the ground, bound with a loop of flame around her body. "Would you like me to burn you more, love?" He smirked. Then with one flip of his fingers, the flame changed color, signifying that Zion made it hotter. Amaris felt the heat of the flames slowly burning her body, but she would not give up that easily. To everyone''s surprise, she suddenly shifted again into a fairy. Maxine and Zoila smirked and looked so proud of their Luna. "Clever." Zion chuckled. Amaris could easily move in her fairy form, but it wasn''t one of her ten forms, so it had limited power. She had to shift for the third time, but to what? She couldn''t transform into Rielle because, from what she remembered, she needed water to do that. ''Amaris! What did I tell you? Focus! Your mind always drifted away. What were you thinking?'' It was her mother''s voice. Selene wasn''t the nicest goddess when it came to her training. She was strict; that''s why she always had bruises all over her body. Her mother would slap her, but that was it. Her wounds came from the heavy training she did every day and not because she hurt her. Come on, Amaris. Think! What were your ten forms? She thought. Then she suddenly remembered one of them. Zion waited for Amaris'' next move. He frowned when he saw her flying around the field, then suddenly stopped in the center, only to fly faster towards him. Then again, she shifted when she was just a few feet away from him. The audience was in awe when they witnessed her transform for the third time. "That''s a centaur!" Someone from the crowd exclaimed. "A beautiful centaur!" Another one said. A centaur is a creature that is half-Terran and half-horse. Amaris head, shoulders, and torso were joined by the body and legs of a horse. Her hair turned white, and a thin white cloth only covered her upper body, exposing her breasts. Zion glared at the men in the field. He knew they were only watching, and it wasn''t their fault for seeing her like that. He opened his right palm, and as his right eye turned blue, he covered the whole area with water. "Hey, what was that for?" She asked. "Look at yourself." He shouted. She laughed at his reaction, which made him more annoyed. That was what she was waiting for. Zion was astounded when a bow and arrow appeared into the air when Amaris raised one of her hands. Then she held onto the bow, straightening one of her arms towards Zion. She took the arrow and nocked it on the string. Amaris took a slow deep breath before pulling the string. She aimed at Zion, and before she released the arrow, she gave him her sweetest smile. Zion didn''t move when he saw her Luna aimed at him with her bow and arrow. Centaurs were very skilled archers, but he still wanted to see in his own eyes her archery skill. When Amaris released the arrow, she already knew that Zion would be able to dodge it. So after releasing one, she attacked him with another. She shot him continuously while they ran around the field. "Do you really want to win against me that badly?" Zion teased. "This is training. I don''t know what you''re talking about." She smirked. Zion was just controlling himself from pinning her down. He could see her breasts jiggling every time she ran. He had enough, so he used his strength and ran towards her. Amaris was surprised when Zion suddenly moved faster. They said that werewolves have super strength, and their speed couldn''t be compared to anyone. It was the first time she saw Zion move at that pace in his Terran form. She aimed at him again, but he was so fast that she couldn''t see where he was. Then she was shocked when he suddenly jumped in the air and landed in front of her. Everything happened so quickly. Amaris'' eyes widened when she felt a burning sensation on her chest, forcing her to change back to her Terran form. The next thing she knew, Zion was already on top of her. "What did you do to me?" She asked, curiosity piqued. She saw Zion''s hand on her chest when she felt something hot inside her. It was like she was being melted. "I just wanted to get close and touch you so badly. You did great, but I still won.." He snickered before pressing his lips into hers. Chapter 57 - The Child Of The Moon Zion helped her stand up, but she realized she was naked. "Where did all your clothes go when you shift?" He asked, amused. She giggled. "I also wondered where." He took his shirt off and put it on her. Then he flipped his fingers to remove the water barrier. "Who won?" Cole asked. The pack members didn''t see what had happened and were whispering, asking each other who had succeeded. "Your Alpha. I lost." Amaris accepted defeat. The members who betted on Zion cheered and were delighted with the result. The Alpha just shook his head and didn''t scold his betas, who started the whole thing. "But next time, I will definitely win." She pouted. "I''m looking forward to that." He winked. They returned to the bedroom after the training, and as soon as the door closed, Zion pushed Amaris against the door, kissing her. She was only wearing Zion''s shirt and nothing underneath. She was sweaty, and so as he, but they didn''t care. Zion liked the scent of her sweat; it smelled like vanilla. Amaris could smell Zion''s masculine scent. It was making her demon side crave for him. She felt one of his hands move under the shirt, cupping one of her breasts. "I''ve been dying to touch your breasts. You were teasing me on purpose." He said in between his kisses. She giggled. "I like the way you looked at me with love and desire." "You are the only woman in my eyes." He said before moving his lips to her breast. After a steamy lovemaking, they stayed on the bed while cuddling with each other. "So, what''s the name of your centaur form?" Zion asked while playing with some strands of her hair. "Delestra. I was trying to recall my other forms, and she''s the only one I remembered." She answered. "It''ll come back. Don''t worry. It''s a good sign that you already remembered some of them, right?" She nodded and smiled at him. "Love, I''m sorry if I kept on forgetting you. I can''t imagine how painful it was for you." She said in a gentle voice. He pulled her closer to him and kissed her on the forehead. "I promised that I would wait for you no matter how long it takes. My love for you was beyond eternity, so do not fret, my love." He answered. Although she was happy by Zion''s words, Amaris felt the guilt in her heart once again. She tried her best not to fall asleep, but her eyes voluntarily shut on their own. Zion smiled when he slowly closed her eyes from exhaustion. He knew she didn''t want to sleep, but he couldn''t possibly allow that. She might get sick if she lacks rest, especially since they were about to go on a trip. ''Amaris.'' That voice again. Why did she always have to call me in the middle of the night? Amaris thought. ''Amaris.'' The voice was like a wind whispering through her ear. Her hair raised when she felt a cold air brush into her neck. She opened her eyes and quickly sat up on the bed. She frowned when she looked around, wondering where she was. She turned to her right, and from the glass door, she saw the moon brightly shining in the night. She felt an abrupt movement on the left side of the bed and was surprised to see a man lying beside her. She loured at him, trying to remember where she had seen him. Amaris already knew that she slept with him since they were both naked. She couldn''t remember anything that occurred between them, but she didn''t feel any resentment towards the man. She was surprised when she suddenly smiled while staring at him. She noticed a black dangling earring on him and remembered that he was Zion, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. She bit her lips and smiled again while holding on to her chest. For some reason, she felt that she knew him. The bedroom seemed familiar, and she could smell the mixture of his scent and hers lingering inside. She also remembered that Maxine and her had started living in Verlice Castle a few weeks ago. She knew all the pack members, but it was disappointing that she couldn''t remember Zion in all of it. ''Amaris.'' The distinct voice of a woman who kept on calling her was coming from outside. She stood up and grabbed the white shirt on the couch to follow where it came from. She remembered being called a few times, leading her to a chamber. She traveled down to the carpeted hallway, running directly to that room. The last time she was here, she was knocked out by a massive force. "If you don''t want to let me in, then stop bothering me." She yelled. Amaris couldn''t understand why it kept on calling her, leading her to this bedroom but would not let her in. She sighed, then turned around. She was about to go back when she heard the doorknob slowly rotate. She gulped when the door slightly opened. Then she took a deep breath before setting foot inside the room. Amaris walked inside slowly, looking around the bedroom. It was spacious but almost empty. The only thing left inside was a table and a chair beside the window. She saw a girl sitting on the chair, but she was facing the other way so she couldn''t see her face. "Are you the one who called me? Who are you?" She asked. The woman didn''t say a word for a moment. She was just staring at the crescent moon in the night sky. Like her, she had long golden wavy hair, glowing under the moonlight. Then she suddenly stood up, turning around to face her. Amaris'' eyes widened when she saw the face of the woman in front of her. "You''re me?" She exclaimed. The woman looked like her; the only difference was she had a crescent moon on her forehead, and her eyes were like crystals. "I am you. I am the child of the moon.." The woman answered. Chapter 58 - Cursed By The Moonlight Amaris couldn''t believe what she had just heard, and she couldn''t understand why she resembled her so much. "Why do you look like me? I-I mean, I understand that you are me, but this body is not ours, right? This is just a shell for our anima." The woman stood up and walked inside the room as if she was dancing. She was wearing a plain long white camisole dress and was barefooted. She looked like a goddess who had just descended from Caelum. "Did you know that we had been living on the moon for centuries? Mother was the only goddess who resided on the moon. She was happy living alone and never bothered to glance in another realm. But when she did, she saw the Demon Prince Phelan, who always visited Millieum. He would sit under a golden tree and would gaze upon the moon. She was curious about him, so she decided to leave the moon and see Phelan up close after ten centuries. They finally met and declared their love for each other. That''s when it all started." Amaris didn''t know how her parents met. A lot of her memories had been erased, including about her family. The woman continued the story of their parents and their undying love for each other. "Before Phelan died in Terra, we were still in our mother''s womb and, in his last breath, gave his life energy to us, making our anima immortal. Mother gave birth and raised us secretly on the moon. Eone, the goddess of nature, was mom''s best friend. She gave us the gift to transform into ten mythical creatures, and mother trained us to nurture that gift. The Gods found out about us right after we completed the training. That''s when mother cast us out of the moon." "And then Zion found us on the brink of death?" Amaris asked. The woman nodded. "But why did mother erase our memory?" The woman continued to dance inside the room. Amaris watched her as she gracefully moved her body. "She wanted us to have a new life here in Terra, away from the anger of the Gods. But fate had another plan. We met Zion and fell in love. Mother wasn''t against it because he''s a powerful werewolf, but she discovered Zion''s doom. She didn''t believe it at first and decided to watch from the moon." She paused and glanced at Amaris. "Are you saying he did betray us before?" Amaris asked. "Probably. Only Zion could answer that question. The Gods found where we were and took us. Before death, we promised Zion to return to him no matter what, but mother decided to curse us. She erased all the memories we had with Zion. And even if we meet again, we will keep on forgetting him." She explained. Some things were not clear about what her mother did. Did she curse both Zion and her to protect her? Or was there something more in that curse? "Do you think she gave the curse so what transpired in the past would not happen again? Or there''s another reason?" Amaris asked. "You need to go to Mirrikh and question the creator of the Book of Malum. But before you do that, you have to find all of the six protrea." Amaris frowned. "Six? But I thought there were only five of them?" "Initially, there were five of them. But civilization evolved in the last two thousand years. The powers our enemies possessed were greater than before. The last protrea was chosen by me. You have to find her; she would be the one to return all your memories." If that protrea was chosen by her, maybe Grakar didn''t know her since he only mentioned the other three. But Amaris already had an idea who the last protrea was. "You didn''t answer my question earlier. Why do you look like this body?" She asked. "Our anima ventured in Terra for more than one hundred years. It has already learned to adapt on its own. We have the power to copy another being, so every time the anima chose a corpus, it would give that body one or two similarities with the original one. But that corpus was different from the others. It was chosen by the Gods. She was born to be our anima''s corpus. That was also the reason her name was Amaris. It was our real name, meaning child of the moon." It was like what was written in her Aunt Lorelle''s mideia. The reason this body was born was to become her shell. Somehow, she felt sad for her parents, sister, and this body. "What about our original body? Is it really in Tartarus?" She asked, remembering what Athanasia told her. She didn''t answer her. Amaris didn''t take her eyes off her as she walked towards the window. If only she had her original body, maybe she could return the life she stole from the owner of this body. She thought to herself. "Why do you keep on calling me? And what are you exactly?" She asked her again. "I had lived in the castle walls for a hundred years, waiting for you. I needed to make sure that you could at least remember some of the ten forms before I fused myself into that body." Amaris frowned. "What do you mean?" She then turned to Amaris and looked at her intently. "I am part of the anima. I had been waiting in this castle to return to where I belonged. Once the anima is complete, you will be more powerful, and you will eventually remember the powers you possessed. I think you are ready." "Do you think this body could handle all those powers? What if we''re wrong? Do I need to leave this corpus and look for another?" Amaris asked. She chuckled. "As I said earlier, that corpus was chosen by the Gods for the sole purpose of handling a strong anima like ours. It won''t deteriorate." Amaris nodded. Then the other her walked towards her, raising her palms in front of her. "You won''t hear my voice anymore from now on. I am hoping that we can win against the Gods or find a way to reason with them." She said while giving Amaris a smile. "Can you tell me what you mean by ere bi te aime, afflition les de luna?" Amaris asked. "Bound by love. Cursed by the Moonlight." She whispered. Amaris didn''t respond but her heart skipped a beat hearing the meaning of those ancient words. She stared at her face one last time. It may be the only moment she could get a glimpse of her true form. She smiled at her, then raised her palms, putting it together with hers. ************************** Reader''s Guide: Millieum - a place between Caelum and Acheron. Caelum - another term for heaven. Acheron - another term for hell. Chapter 59 - I Surrender When their palms met, a bright light glowed from their hands. Then Amaris saw her starting to fade away. Zion slowly opened his eyes and was surprised when he noticed that his Luna was missing. He stood up and looked around the bedroom. He wasn''t in the bathroom and not in the closet either. He was worried that she had run outside or flown away from their territory, so he went out to look for her. He noticed a radiant white glow coming from Amaris'' old bedroom. He rushed towards it and found his Luna with hands joined together to her old self. He couldn''t believe what he was staring at; it was her a hundred years ago. She turned to him and gave him a sweet smile. "My love." She called. Amaris turned her head to where Zion was. She still couldn''t remember anything about him, but when she saw him staring at her old self, her heart felt like it was being stabbed. Funny. The woman and her were the same person, but she still felt the pain of seeing Zion staring at her. Zion didn''t say a word and just smiled at her old self. He knew it was time for her to leave, but he was happy to see her one last time. She turned to Amaris again. "Get stronger, and this time, fight for him." She whispered before she disappeared in front of her. Amaris felt a strong energy flow inside her, and Zion noticed that she started glowing. But then Amaris felt a burning sensation consuming her whole body. "Ah!" She shouted. "Ari! What''s happening?" Zion asked with a worried face. "I-It''s hot! Ah! Zion!" She screamed. She felt like she was on fire, and the heat was too much to bear. Zion rushed into her, and as she broke down on the floor, he wrapped his arms around her. Amaris held on to Zion''s shoulders as she gasped for air. She started to have irregular breathing. Zion couldn''t understand what was happening to her. But she said it was hot, so he opened his palm, and Amaris saw that Zion''s right eye turned blue. Then it started raining inside the room. She felt every drop of water falling on her skin was cold, and the heat faded away. Zion pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the forehead. They were both soaking wet because of the rain Zion made, and Amaris'' body quivered. When his eyes turned to normal, the rain stopped. Then he carried her and took her to their bedroom. "Take a shower. You might get a cold." He said. "W-Will you join me?" She asked. She still couldn''t remember him, but she suddenly felt the desire to be touched by him. She waited for him to answer her. She bit her lips when he didn''t respond and was just staring at her. She knew he was hesitating, so before he could reject her, Amaris took off the shirt she was wearing then walked towards him. "Zion, I''m going crazy. I couldn''t remember what happened to us, but I want you. My heart, my mind, and my soul, they''re screaming your name. Would you please make love to me?" She begged. She raised her hand to touch his face, but he grabbed her by the wrist to stop her. Amaris'' felt like something had impaled her heart. She glared at him then was about to turn around when Zion dragged her inside a conjoined room. She remembered seeing the room yesterday, but she wasn''t sure who was with her; now she knew it was Zion. She looked at him and was confused. He smirked, then pulled her again, throwing her on the bed. "Hey, what the fuck are you going to do with me?" She yelled. "What? You said you want me." He said with a wide grin on his face. She tried to get off the bed, but Zion already had her chained. She pulled her wrist, trying to free herself. "You can''t." He whispered. Amaris tried to shift to her fairy form, but she couldn''t. She looked at Zion, confused. She couldn''t understand why her powers didn''t work. "This room constrains any powers. Only mine could work here." He said, smiling mischievously. "You jerk!" She yelled. Amaris saw Zion''s dark expression when she yelled at him. She suddenly felt guilty for calling him a jerk. They obviously have a relationship, and she knew he loved her from the look in his eyes. Her old self also confirmed that he was her mate. It just so happened that her mother cursed her to forget Zion. "I-I''m sorry. I-I didn''t mean to-" "Didn''t mean to what? To call me a jerk or saying that you want me?" He asked while staring at her. A sudden sizzling feeling shrouded her whole body when she noticed his gaze on her. She almost forgot that she was naked, and Zion was freely watching her while kneeling on the bed in front of her. "That you''re a jerk." She whispered. "How about the second one? Did you mean it? If not, then I''ll let you leave this room." He said. The burning sensation she had felt became stronger. She huffed, and she could see a small cloudy air coming out from her mouth. She met Zion''s gaze with her flushed face. To Zion''s astonishment, Amaris opened her legs in front of her. He gulped when he peeked on her throbbing pussy. "I want you. Lick me, suck me, taste every inch of my body. I surrender myself to you, my Alpha." She said in a raspy voice. Zion suddenly got a hard-on just from hearing Amaris''s sexy voice as she begged for him to touch her. She opened her legs wider for him to have a great view of her entrance. "Fuck!" He exclaimed. He put down his pants, held his dick, and rubbed it against her pussy before shoving his hardened flesh inside her core. Chapter 60 - A Secret And A Duel "Aren''t you tired of her?" Cole asked Zion. They were in the training field with the warriors of the pack. Twice a week, Zion made sure that the warriors were physically trained. It was indeed an era where all creatures lived in peace, but he wanted to be prepared in case some mythical beings thought of attacking them. "What do you mean?" Zion frowned. "I mean, she keeps on forgetting you every day. You need to tell her your love story every morning, then make love to her every night, only to be forgotten again the next day. If I were his mate, I think I might go crazy and have lost control already." Cole said. Zion didn''t get offended by his beta''s opinion. He was his best friend and his most loyal subject. He knew Cole was worried about him. "I think waiting for her for a thousand years will be exhausting rather than introducing myself over and over. Besides, I feel more excited every night, thinking that I could see another side of her the next morning." He answered. Cole chuckled and shook his head. His Alpha had fallen madly in love with their Luna. He thought to himself. "You really are crazy over her." Cole commented. "Once you find yours, you will understand my feelings." He said while tapping Cole on her shoulder. Cole was almost the same age as him and had never found his mate. A lot of the male werewolves in their pack were still single. Maybe because of his curse, the other pack members couldn''t find their mate. He was lucky that they didn''t abandon him even though he was the reason his pack wasn''t able to shift for a hundred years. The curse was supposed to be one thousand years, but it was thanks to Amaris that they didn''t need to wait that long. She was a powerful Luna and a kind-hearted woman. The pack was delighted to have her, and they felt safer and more secure now that she was here. "By the way, did she tell you what her old self wants from her?" Cole asked. "Yes. She''s part of her anima. From Ari''s understanding, she was separated on purpose because her body was too young to handle such powerful energy as hers. So she waited for her to gain some of her memories and remembered her ten forms. She also asked Ari to go to Mirrikh and talk to the creator of the Book of Malum. It''s about my and her doom. And there were six protrea, not five." Cole stopped himself from checking the gun in his hand. He looked at Zion with a confused face. "The old her chose another one. She didn''t say who it was, but Ari already had an idea." Zion continued. "Who?" Cole asked, frowning. "It''s Diana." Zion simply answered. "Damien''s sister?" Cole exclaimed. Zion nodded and chuckled when Cole sighed. "Don''t worry about me. Believe me, she''s worth it." He said. "I believe you. I just hope that we can find all the protrea so we can go to Mirrikh." Cole commented. They watched the warriors'' training, and Zion was impressed by the sudden increase in their power. He knew it was because of Amaris'' and his powers combined that the pack members'' speed and strength grew in just a couple of weeks. "Did you tell her about what happened fifty years ago?" Cole suddenly asked. Zion didn''t respond for a moment, and Cole knew that he hadn''t told her yet. "You should tell her. Or are you scared that she''ll burn the whole pack if she finds out your secret?" Cole smirked. Zion gritted his teeth. He couldn''t tell her yet since she was still cursed. He wanted to tell her once she regained all her memories. "It wasn''t your fault, and you know that. But I don''t think she would accept it that easily." He still didn''t comment about what happened to him fifty years ago. He couldn''t say that it wasn''t his fault. He was so desperate to find her back then. His reasons became twisted; he became selfish and evil. But he regretted it until now. That was the reason it took another fifty years for him to decide to move back to Verlice Castle. He didn''t expect that he would finally see his beloved again. This time, she was real. The two men didn''t know that Amaris could actually hear their conversation. It was one of the powers of her fox form. She decided to stretch her legs and made a quick run around the territory when she heard Zion and Cole''s talk. She didn''t feel mad that Zion was keeping a secret from her. She knew he had his reasons, and she was willing to wait for him to tell her. But she still wondered what it was. She sighed when she reached the top of the hill. Tomorrow, they will start their journey and look for her remaining protrea. Then after that, they will go to Mirrikh to meet Phoebus, the Prorocist¨¦, the one who wrote the Book of Malum. "You''re here, Luna." She was in her fox form when she heard a man''s voice. It was Damien. She knew why he came to see her, but she couldn''t shift back to her Terran form because she would be totally naked. ''Are you here to ask me about Diana?'' She asked using a mind link. Damien was surprised that she could communicate with him even though he wasn''t a member of the Blue Moon Pack. She was indeed a powerful being. He thought to himself. "I was wondering if I could join you in your journey. You will look for my sister, and I want to be there when you find her." Damien said. ''What can you possibly offer to us? Aside from being immortal, I need to know first if you could help us or you will just be a burden.'' She asked. Damien knew he needed to show Amaris what he was capable of. And he wouldn''t give up the chance of finding her sister again. He looked at her intently before answering her in a firm tone. "How about a duel?" He asked. ''To whom? With Zion or me?'' Amaris asked. Damien chuckled. "No. You two are way too powerful for me. I don''t want to lose my head. How about a duel with your two protrea, Maxine and Grakar?" Amaris frowned. Grakar was a strong protrea, but she wasn''t sure about Maxine''s ability. She just had her training a few days ago, and it seemed that Max still didn''t know what her powers were. "Are you scared that they might lose?" Cole asked with a wide grin on his face. ''No. I trust them. But I need to consult Zion and my protreas first.'' She answered. "Sure! I''ll wait then. Oh, and I want you to know that I will do everything to join your party for my sister.." He said before leaving her alone on the hill. Chapter 61 - Blood Rain "Me? Why me?" Maxine exclaimed. Amaris told Zion and the others about Damien''s suggestion. She wasn''t sure if Maxine would agree, but she knew Grakar wouldn''t refuse a duel. "I don''t think it''s a bad idea. I mean, we can consider it as part of the training." Cole commented. Maxine glared at him, but Cole ignored her. "He won''t hurt you. He just wanted to prove his worth to us." Amaris said while looking at Maxine. "Why don''t you just let him in? It''s his sister. It''s only natural that he would want to look for her." Maxine ranted. Zion and the others glanced at the cousins who were starting to argue. Zion didn''t say a word and let Amaris handle Maxine''s tantrums. Amaris sighed deeply. From her expression, they knew that she was trying to be calm. "Look, we can''t just trust someone that easily. I''m not sure if he could really help us. Maybe you knew him from before or whatever centuries it was, but I don''t. I want to see it with my own eyes. And Max, I don''t know what you''re capable of either. I think it''s time to show us what you got. You don''t want to be a burden to us, right?" Amaris said in a cold tone. Maxine didn''t expect those words from her. Her cousin would always agree with her tempers. She pouted and didn''t talk back to Amaris. "Okay. Then it''s settled. The duel will be before dusk today, so I expect to see all of you there, especially you, Maxine, and Grakar." Their Luna said. Maxine stood up and turned around without saying anything. The others followed, leaving Zion and Amaris in the living room. "Aren''t you too hard on her? I mean, she just found out that she''s a protrea. She''s not a warrior. She didn''t even know how to hold a knife." Zion finally voiced out his opinion after everyone left. Amaris knew that. Maxine grew as a spoiled brat. Her Aunt Lorelle would always agree with her daughter and give her everything she wanted. She''s not used to being ordered around. "She has to grow up. Her mom''s not around anymore. She has to stand on her own from now on." She sighed. Everyone gathered in the training field again. Not to watch their Alpha and Luna, but to see the duel between the vampire, Damien, and their Luna''s protrea, Grakar and Maxine. Grakar was already on one side of the field, standing and waiting for the duel to start. On the other hand, Maxine was still inside one of the barracks. "Are you scared?" Amaris asked when she saw her cousin pacing back and forth. Maxine stopped then looked at her. "Why do you have to do this? Are you trying to humiliate me?" Maxine blustered. Amaris sighed deeply then walked towards her. She stood in front of Maxine and held her hands. "You know that''s not true. But the world we live in is dangerous, and I want you to learn how to protect yourself. You''re a strong woman Max. You just didn''t know it yet, but I know something was hidden inside you. I want to see that." She said; then Amaris put her palm into Maxine''s chest. Maxine''s eyes widened when it glowed. Then she felt something flowing inside her. It was warm, and she felt like she had become a hundred times stronger. "What did you do?" She asked, confused. "I just awakened your life energy. It was blocked and prevented you from using your strength. Now, go. You are my protrea. Show them what you got." She said while smiling at Maxine. Amaris sat down on the chair beside Zion. She looked at Xavier and nodded, signifying that the duel had just started. Maxine glanced at Amaris. Then turned to Damien, who was standing across her and Grakar. According to what she read, vampires have different abilities, but they are facing a pure-blooded one. His strength was ten times greater than an average vampire. Grakar was the first one to attack. He ran towards Damien while swinging his securis in the air. Grakar''s weapon was huge and heavy, and they said that only he could wield it, but he held onto it like it was nothing. The minotaur jumped and landed with so much force in front of Damien, but before he could hit Damien, he suddenly vanished in front of him. Maxine didn''t notice how Damien moved so quickly. It was too fast to see with the naked eye. The next thing she knew, the vampire was already in front of her. Damien planned to knock down Maxine first then deal with Grakar later. He clenched his fist and aimed into Maxine''s stomach when she suddenly smirked. Damien frowned. "Gotcha." She whispered. Then, to his surprise, Maxine suddenly jumped, swinging on her legs, hitting his body. Damien didn''t expect that a Terran would be able to kick him with such a tremendous blow. "Whoa!" Cole exclaimed. "What the hell happened? Did you see that? She kicked the vampire!" One of the members shouted. Zion noticed a change in Maxine''s appearance. From a petite Terran, her built became somewhat muscular. Her eyes were fierce, as if no one could scare her. He glanced at Amaris and talked to her using a mind link. ''You did that, didn''t you?'' He asked. ''Did what?'' She innocently asked. ''Look at her. She changed.'' He commented. ''I helped her unblock her life energy. She was hesitating because she didn''t know she had that strength.'' She answered. Zion grinned then turned to the field again. Damien fell to the ground. Maxine just hit her on the side, and he could feel a broken bone on his spine. He''s immortal, but it doesn''t mean he didn''t feel any pain. He could heal quickly, but not as fast as the werewolves. He stood up, trying to hide the pain from the Alpha and Luna. He has to do something about his opponents. For that, he had no choice. Damien''s eyes turned red, and as his fangs grew, he bit one of his wrists, making his blood flow. "Alpha, I think Damien would use that." Cole rushed into Zion. Amaris frowned while looking at Zion. "What is it?" She asked. "Blood rain.. A vampire''s forbidden power." Chapter 62 - The Lunas Companions "Blood rain? I''ve never heard of it." Amaris said, confused. "It is one of the original powers possessed by the vampires. It''s an ability that allows someone to control blood and use it as a weapon. The blood will form as daggers into the air and drop it like rain. It''s forbidden because the blood rain will hit all creatures with blood, so if Damien used it, everyone in here would get hurt." Cole explained. Amaris'' eyes widened. She didn''t expect that Damien would use something like that to win. She glanced at Zion and saw him calmly staring at Damien. She turned her gaze to the field again and watched if Damien would really use that power. Damien had no choice. He was desperate to win so Amaris would let him join them. He wanted to see his sister, and he would not waste this chance to look for her. Zion knew that Damien was serious about the duel. He could see in the vampire''s eyes the determination to win. He couldn''t blame him since Diana was like a mother to Damien. As Damien raised his hand, the blood flowed into the air and formed like daggers. Maxine and Grakar didn''t feel any fear towards Damien''s power. Maxine read about the blood rain before, and Grakar also knew about it. The two positioned themselves to attack Damien and dodge every drop of his blood rain. When Damien put down his hand, the blood started dropping one by one. But to everyone''s surprise, Damien''s blood rain was blocked by a huge red shield. Amaris frowned, and when she turned to Zion, he wasn''t there. She saw her Alpha walking towards the training field half-naked. She was confused. She wanted to see what was happening so she followed Zion who was now standing in the middle between her protrea and Damien. When she got closer, Amaris stood beside Zion and glanced at him. She was stunned when his eyes were both red. Then she noticed that his dangling earring wasn''t there. "Blood field. I didn''t know you could also control blood." Damien said while staring at Zion. "I didn''t know I needed to use it. You know it''s forbidden to use that, Damien. I know you''re desperate but your decision will put everyone here in danger. You are in my territory and according to Elysian law, an act that could impose harm to others is punishable by death." Zion said in a serious tone. Amaris couldn''t understand, but she knew that harming other creatures was extremely forbidden, whatever position you held in Terra. Damien sighed. His eyes turned back to normal, and in surrender, kneeled on the ground. Amaris gazed at the red field in the air. She noticed that it was really blood. Then she looked at Zion again from head to toe and saw that blood was dripping from his wrist. "Alpha!" She called while grabbing his hand. Zion smiled at her, and the red field slowly disappeared. When she looked at his wound, it was already healed. "The duel is over. Take him." Zion ordered. Damien was taken into Zion''s office. He was confused by the look on his face. "Care to tell me what that was?" Amaris asked Zion. He sighed. "If the vampires have forbidden power, the werewolves have it too. Both species could manipulate blood. Damien has blood rain, while I have blood field." "But the blood field is more powerful than blood rain since it can both kill and protect all creatures who have blood. Mine was a destructive power, unlike yours." Damien commented. Zion looked at him, then turned to Amaris. "Love, can we reconsider your decision? I''ve known Damien for a long time and all he wanted was to look for his sister." Zion whispered. Damien was listening to them, hoping that Amaris would agree with Zion. If she doesn''t, Zion will definitely respect his Luna''s decision. Amaris glanced at Damien while the latter waited for her answer. "I wanted to see what help you could offer, but I didn''t expect that you would decide to use a powerful ability to impress me. I don''t need someone like that. I wouldn''t be impressed if anyone in the pack would get hurt. However, I understand you did it for your sister, so I will allow you to join us to look for the remaining protrea. I just want to warn you, if anything like this will happen again, I will not hesitate to kill you. So I advise you to think of your decision next time." Amaris answered. Damien felt so relieved and happy that the Alpha and Luna gave him a chance, and apologized for what he did. He promised that he would do everything to help them. The team is now complete. With the Alpha and Luna of the pack, together with the two protrea, Maxine and Grakar, the betas, Cole and Zoila, and the vampire Damien, will start their journey to look for Amaris'' remaining protrea. "Who would guard the pack if you, Cole, and Zoila would come with me?" Amaris asked Zion while in their bedroom packing their things. "Xavier and the other warriors will be here. Don''t worry, they''ll be fine." Zion said to reassure her. For some reason, she felt like something would happen, but she couldn''t figure out if it would happen in the werewolf territory or their journey. Amaris looked at their bedroom, smelling the mixture of their scent that lingered in the room. She wasn''t sure when they would return, but she hoped that everyone in here would be safe until then. "Do you need a horse, my Luna?" Zion asked with a wide grin on his face. "Why would I need one if I could transform into one? I''ll just ride with you or would you like to ride on me instead?" She winked, giving him a playful smile. Zion grabbed her waist, carrying her on the black stallion. Then he rode on it while Amaris was sitting in front of him. "Let''s go to the Fae territory." Zion hailed. On the morning of the twenty-second day of Zukum, the year 2035, the Alpha and Luna of the Blue Moon Pack started to embark on their journey to find the guardians. **************************** Reader''s Guide: Zukum - name of the last month of the yea Chapter 63 - To The Faes Territory The year 2035 was a year of modernity and technology. Amaris couldn''t figure out why they rode a horse to get to the Fae Clan. From what she knew, they could travel by car instead of riding a horse. But the path they took was different from what she saw on the map. "Why did we take a different route?" She asked Zion. "They''ve been expecting we''ll take the road. This route would be the safest. If we encounter enemies, we don''t need to fight in a crowded place." He answered. Amaris nodded in agreement. They don''t want to involve other people in a fight, so it''s better to avoid the road. As they continued their journey to the Fae Clan Territory, a serrated mountain appeared in the distance. They made their way towards it since they had to stop and rest by sundown. The hill was lush green brooding over the land. Just as they approached, Amaris saw a narrow path on the edge of the mountain. They started to cross down the path slowly. One wrong move, and they will fall into a craggy surface. "There''s a river down this path. We could camp there and stay for the night." Cole shouted. The sky-scraping peak of the mountain was drenched in bright light. Spikes of thin sunlight melted the snow in a bristling, moving line. Amaris guessed that the heat had thawed the snow from the hip of the mountain. "I didn''t know that we had snow this year." She commented. She was confused since they didn''t experience snow in Aramoor City for years now. Terra''s climate has changed gradually ever since the year 2020. Before that year, Aramoor City would experience snow every winter, but now, they mostly have summer, spring, and fall. "This is part of the Fae Clan Territory. Fairies usually take care of nature. The snow fairies kept this side of their territory, so this is the only place in Oprea with snow. They need this kind of environment to survive." Zion explained. Amaris was amazed by the different creatures living in Terra. She couldn''t believe that even the smallest creature could bring big changes into their realm. As they continued to travel down the mountain edge, she saw the trees wrapped around with powdery snow. The atmosphere became icy cold as they came closer to the bottom of the hill. Zion felt Amaris'' body shiver. He could see a small ball of smoke coming out of her mouth as she breathed out. She was wearing her black bodysuit but no jacket on. He could also see that the girls weren''t wearing any protection from the cold. He didn''t expect that it was this cold here, so he didn''t tell them to bring thick clothing. Zion stopped the horse, getting off it. Amaris frowned. Then she saw his eye turn red. He crouched down, touching the ground with his palm. The group sensed a sudden feeling of warmth around them. Zion looked at his Luna and smiled. "Is it better?" He asked. She nodded with a smile on her face. Cole was in front, followed by Zoila. The Alpha and Luna at the center, then behind them were Maxine and Grakar, followed by Damien. Cole pointed on to something and shouted enough to be heard by everyone. "We''re here!" Cole exclaimed. Amaris looked at the bottom of the mountain, just a few steps away. She smiled to see the water glistened from the shafts of light coming from the sun. The sound of the river babbling made her heart calm and relaxed. Zion felt her calmness and happiness when she saw what was ahead of them. She really loved nature, and it made his heart at peace every time he felt the serenity of her heart. Amaris felt Zion''s arms wrapped around her waist tightly. She was confused, but she liked his warmth that gave her a sense of love and security. "What is it?" She asked. "Nothing. I just want to hug you tight, my love." He whispered, kissing her on the cheek. She leaned backward, resting her head on his chest. At the same time, she looked at the peaceful scenery in front of them. "I hope this memory lasts forever. Let''s do everything again what we had done so far once we broke the curse." She murmured. "How about we create new memories together? You, me, and our little ones." He suddenly said. Amaris was surprised. She turned to him and saw his face was just an inch away from him. "Zion?" She frowned. "I want to have a family with you, Ari. How about you?" He asked. She didn''t say a word for a moment then gave him a huge smile. "Y-Yes! Of course! After all of this, okay?" She said. "Yes. Your answer brought joy to my heart. Let''s do that in the future." He whispered, then kissed her on the lips. Zion deepened the kiss, and Amaris responded, grabbing his neck pulling him closer to her. Someone coughed, distracting them from the momentary pleasure. Zion glared at the person who had just disturbed them. Amaris'' face flushed when she saw Zoila, pouting like a little girl. "Can you at least do something like that inside the tent? We prepared it already." Zoila ranted. Amaris giggled when Zion got off the horse with a dark expression. He walked closer to Zoila then cupped her face. "Be thankful you are my little sister!" He said, flicking Zoila on her forehead. "Hey! That hurts!" Zoila exclaimed while rubbing her forehead. Zion supported her so she could get off the horse. Amaris walked near the river and was mesmerized by the shallow and clear water. River birch trees surrounded the area and flowers with only three petals. The leaves had a distinct heart shape, with two lobes hurling backward from the bigger forward-pointing main lobe. Amaris hunched, curious about the pink plants around the river. "What''s this flower?" She asked. "Wild pink flora. They usually grow in riverbanks near river birch trees." Damien answered. Amaris frowned. She had never heard of that flower before. "Only the Fae''s have this flower. You can''t get one of these flowers unless a fairy allows you. The flower is used to treat all kinds of wounds for any creature." Damien answered. Amaris nodded. She was about to touch one of the flowers when they heard a scream nearby. She frowned and suddenly smelled the coppery scent of fresh blood. "We have an enemy nearby.." She said while her eyes turned red and showed off her sharp fangs. Chapter 64 - Small Bite Zion was standing a few feet away from Amaris. He saw Damien beside her, so somehow, he was relieved. He knew she could protect herself, but she was still worried about the situation. Different creatures surrounded them; werewolves, vampires, a chimera, and hybrids. He didn''t expect that they would follow them in the Fae territory. "We just need the hybrid, Alpha Zion." One of the werewolves said. "I cannot do that. She''s the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack." He answered. "Then we just have to take her by force." One of the vampires said. There were twelve of them. There were three werewolves, four vampires, four hybrids, and one chimera surrounded them. The chimera had fresh blood on its mouth, signifying it killed someone. They heard a girl''s scream a while ago; maybe that was the blood from the chimera''s mouth. Amaris thought. "You''re from the Waning Moon Pack, and if I am not mistaken, the vampires were from the Silver Coven, right Damien?" Zion asked. "Yes, led by Cassius Hale." Damien answered. Amaris smelled a sudden fear coming from one of the vampires. She looked at them to see who it was. A man who was wearing a white shirt and black jeans smelled nothing but greed. The woman beside him with scarlet hair and wearing a blue bodysuit had a scent of anger inside her. Amaris turned her gaze to the last two vampires. She saw a girl and boy who were dressed in an oversized shirt. They didn''t look like someone who could kill, and she smelled fear. ''Don''t kill the kids.'' She talked to the others using a mind link. The werewolves shifted, and the vampires growled, showing their fangs to the group. The first to attack was the werewolves on the right side. Amaris saw Cole and Zoila shift. It was the first time she saw them change into their wolf form. Cole was a huge gray wolf, while Zoila was brownish-red. Two of them started attacking Zoila, maybe because she was a woman, and they thought she was an easy opponent. But to Amaris'' surprise, Zoila''s wolf moved so fast. When one of her attackers was just a few feet away, she jumped above, landing on top of it, then bit the black wolf on his neck. It fell on the ground, and she saw the wolf wasn''t moving anymore. Zoila did the same with the other one. Amaris heard cracking bones on the wolf''s neck before Zoila threw it in the air. At the same time, Cole''s opponent was bigger than the other two, but his wolf was enormous. In one swift move, he was able to pin down the enemy, impaling it with his sharp teeth. "Attack them!" The woman vampire ordered the two kids who were trembling from fear. "B-But-" The girl stammered. "Attack! Or I will kill you like your sister!" The woman yelled. The kids growled and suddenly ran towards Amaris. She knew they were doing it because of fear for their safety. ''Nobody moves. I''ll take care of it.'' She said in the mind link. Amaris'' eyes turned bloody red, and Zion saw her nails grow longer, forming into claws. When the girl was in front of Amaris, she grabbed her by the neck, piercing one of her claws in her. Then she put her down gently on the ground. The boy got scared but didn''t back down. He still attacked Amaris, biting her left arm. Zion saw her bleeding, but Amaris stopped him when she saw that he was about to run towards her. Amaris just pierced one of her claws to the boy''s neck then he also fell to the ground. The hybrids didn''t attack and fled into the woods one by one. The chimera, however, ran towards Amaris, but Maxine was able to kill it by shooting an arrow through its chest, killing it instantly. The two vampires growled again and were about to attack, but Zion burned them with his flames. "Everyone alright?" Zion asked. They nodded. Then Amaris crouched down to check on the kids. "What did you do to them?" Damien asked. "I just put them to sleep." She answered. Zion rushed into her, grabbing her left arm. It was bleeding. She wasn''t a werewolf, and she wasn''t sure she also had healing powers. It wasn''t her original body, and from her understanding, she could still experience a normal Terran''s sickness and pain. "I''m fine. I brought a first aid kit in case something like this happened." She murmured. She instructed Grakar to bring the kids to a separate tent and guard them. Then Zion carried her inside the tent. "It''s not healing." He whispered. "Love, my body is not immortal, only my anima, remember?" She answered. Zion suddenly got anxious. He forgot that it wasn''t her real body, and it could still bleed and get hurt. "Ah!" She screamed. Amaris flinched from the pain. She was confused why a small bite from a little vampire would hurt too much. "Love, what is it?" Zion was startled when she creamed. "I-It''s painful! Ah!" She screamed again. "Damien!" Zion shouted, using his Alpha voice enough to be heard by everyone. Damien came rushing into their tent and saw Amaris breathing rapidly and sweating all over. "What''s happening to her?" Zion asked. Damien crouched down and checked Amaris'' wounds. He frowned when he saw that it was swollen and turned violet. A vampire bite wasn''t like this. "This isn''t a vampire bite!" Damien said. "Then what is it?" Zion asked, confused. "Ah! Zion!" Amaris screamed again from the pain. "Love! Damien, do something! Figure it out! If it''s not a vampire bite, then what is it?" Zion yelled. Then someone came inside the tent. It was Halia, one of the ten Elysian Elders and the current clan leader of the Fae Clan. "Ah! Zion!" Amaris screamed again from the pain. "Take her to the clan house! I need to check on her wound!" Halia said. Zion didn''t say a word and quickly carried Amaris outside, following Halia. Chapter 65 - Dream Torment Zion gently put down Amaris on the bed. Halia welcomed them and provided them a bedroom to rest. They were supposed to continue their journey in the morning, but Zion was worried about Amaris. Cole and the others were still at the riverbank and would follow them after they buried the bodies of the werewolves and vampires. Damien was the only one who escorted the couple. Amaris felt like her arm was being cut open, so she was screaming and crying on the way to the Fae Clan''s main house. Halia took Amaris'' arm to check on it. Earlier, on the way to the main house, they heard a girl screaming. But it was too late when they checked what had happened. The girl was gone. Only blood and a piece of a finger were left on the scene. It was the first time in fifteen years that someone in their territory had been attacked. They followed the tracks and found that the intruders were around ten to twelve of them. The tracks led them to the river, and they saw a group being surrounded by different creatures. Halia saw the Alpha and Luna of the Blue Moon Pack were among those being attacked. "What is it?" Zion asked Haliya. "Dream Torment. It''s a kind of poison that some pure-blooded vampires had on their fangs." Halia answered. Damien frowned when he heard what Elder Halia had mentioned. "Pureblood? Do you think the boy was a pure-blooded vampire?" Damien asked. The elder nodded. "Dream Torment is just a tiny bite because the vampire didn''t need to suck someone''s blood. It was powerful enough to torment someone''s mind. It wasn''t painful, but the poison would give you different feelings like pain and sorrow. It would also show you memories that you didn''t want to see." Halia continued. "Can you heal her?" Zion asked, worried. "The one who could heal her was the one who bit her." Zion immediately went out of the main house without a word to get the boy, but Cole and the others had arrived already. He took the kid from Cole and returned to where Amaris was. The little boy suddenly woke up and was scared when he saw that he was surrounded by the creatures they had attacked earlier. "My name is Zion, Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. That''s my Luna. You bit her, and now she''s suffering. Can you heal her?" Zion said in a gentle voice. "S-She killed my sister." The boy answered. Zion shook his head and smiled. "No. She just put you and your sister to sleep. Before you attack, she asked us not to hurt you and your sister." Zion calmly said. Then the girl came running inside the room and rushed towards her brother. "Don''t kill us. We''re not bad. We don''t know those creatures. They took us while we were playing outside our territory." The girl said while hugging the boy. Damien walked closer to the kids and crouched down in front of them. At the same time, Zion hustled towards Amaris when she screamed again. "I''m Damien, and I''m a vampire like you. Can you help us heal the Luna?" Damien asked. The boy nodded then his sister held his hand, taking him to Amaris. He took Amaris'' left arm, and then they saw the boy''s eyes turn red before biting Amaris again on the same spot he had bitten her. Amaris felt the poison was being sucked from her veins. It was painful, so she screamed at the top of her lungs before losing consciousness. "She''s okay. She''ll wake up after an hour." Halia said, looking at Zion. Zion nodded then patted the boy''s head. "Thank you. What''s your name?" He asked. "D-Daniel." The boy simply answered. "And your sister?" He asked again while looking at the girl. "Diane." Zion nodded then they went out of the room to let Amaris rest. They took the kids to Elder Halia''s office to ask about them. "You said they took you outside of your territory. Where did you come from? What''s the name of your coven?" Damien asked. Diane shook her head before answering. "We don''t belong to any coven. We''re just a group of travelers. Our parents were merchants, and we''ve been moving to different places. Mom would just create a barrier once we arrived in a certain area, serving as our small territory. But we accidentally stepped out of the barrier, and those creatures found us." "Barrier, you said? Only one vampire could create a barrier. It''s Diana." Damien suddenly exclaimed. The kids'' gaze turned to Damien. Diane had a frown on her face while Daniel was innocently looking at Damien. "How did you know our mother''s name?" Diane asked. Damien was surprised. Were these kids Diana''s children? He thought. "Was she really your mother? Can you describe her?" Damien asked to make sure that they were telling the truth or if they were thinking of the same person. "Mom has black hair and a pair of green eyes but changed color depending on her mood." Diane answered. Damien couldn''t believe what he had heard. He walked towards the kids, grabbed Diane on her shoulders. "Where is she? Can you take me to her?" He asked, almost yelling. "W-Why? How did you know her? Who are you?" Diane stammered. "She''s my sister. If you''re her kids, then I am your uncle. I''ve been looking for her. Can you tell me where she is?" Damien answered Diane and Daniel glanced at each other. Then Damien was surprised when the kids suddenly hugged him. "Mom told us about you. She said we would eventually meet you soon." Diane answered. "Can you take me to her?" Damien asked. The kids nodded and started smiling. Then Damien turned to Zion as if asking permission to leave and see his sister. "Take Grakar with you. And try to return as soon as possible." Zion said. "Leave Daniel here. I think it''s safer if you will just bring one of them." Maxine suggested. Damien nodded then talked to Daniel that he would have to stay behind.. The boy agreed, telling his sister that he would wait for her and their parents. Chapter 66 - Cole And Maxine Amaris slowly opened her eyes. She looked at the ceiling then rolled her eyes to see the surroundings. She didn''t recognize the place, but she was sure she was in a bedroom. She felt a throbbing pain in her temple and rubbed it with her hands. She took a deep breath then tried her best to at least sit on the bed. She looked around and saw that the room was pure white with a modern interior. It was simple yet elegant. A sitting area was on the left side, a few steps away from the bed, right beside three full-sized windows. The white vanity mirror with a gold accent was on the right side of the bed and a door, which Amaris thought was the bathroom, was on the right corner of the room. In front of the bed was a consultable with two vases of fresh flowers on top of it and a huge mirror with flower designs surrounding it. The door opened and her cousin, Maxine, stepped inside together with Zoila. "Finally, you''re awake!" Maxine exclaimed. "W-What happened?" She asked. "The boy who bit you had this poison in his fangs called Dream Torment. He was also the one who healed you. And we found out that the kids were Diana''s children, so Damien took the girl so she could take him to his sister." Zoila explained. She nodded. She couldn''t think clearly for now. Her mind felt drained, and she couldn''t think of anything. "Here. We bought some tea and a light meal. Zion was worried since you were unconscious for two days now." Maxine said. Amaris frowned. "Zion? The Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack? Zoila''s brother? Why was he worried about me?" Maxine glanced at Zoila. Amaris was asleep for two days after getting bitten by Daniel. They forgot that she wouldn''t remember Zion once she woke up. Zoila sighed and, without a word, walked out of the bedroom. Maxine knew that Amaris'' condition also hurt Zoila. It was her brother who was being forgotten over and over; it''s only natural that she would be affected. "Ari, can''t you do something about your memory? I mean, you are the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. Zion is your mate. You''ve been together for months now. Think about his feelings and those around you whenever you wake up forgetting him. You''re a powerful hybrid, and as far as I know, you are the only one of your kind. You should have at least the power to break your mother''s curse." Maxine scolded her. Amaris didn''t say a word. She couldn''t remember being with Zion for the past few months, and she had no memory of being his mate or Luna. But thinking about forgetting him was making her heart hurt so much. She held her hand on the chest and gasped for air. It was heartbreaking, and at the same time, her head throbbed from pain. Maxine sighed. She pitied both Zion and her cousin. They loved each other but fate decided to break them apart repeatedly. She admired Zion for loving a woman who forgets him every day. How she wished she also had someone like him. After Amaris calmed down, Maxine smiled and left her cousin. She went to the garden and sat under a tree. Trees surrounded the Fae''s territory, and you could hear the sound of the river nearby. The birds from the woods and some animals were dashing around the area. "What''s with that face?" She was startled when she heard someone from behind. She already knew that it was Cole, so she didn''t bother to look. "I''m worried about Ari." Maxine sighed. "Ah. She forgot again." Cole said before sitting beside her. Maxine nodded and pouted. "The Moon Goddess was a bitch. How could she do that to her own daughter? She fell in love with a demon prince. Why can''t she just be happy with her daughter loving a werewolf?" She ranted. Cole chuckled. The girl really amused him most of the time. She was a brat and loud, but she loved her cousin and cared deeply for those around her. "That''s what I like about you. You always say what''s on your mind." He smiled. Maxine turned to him and frowned. Did he say that he liked her, or he just liked her personality? She thought to herself. She suddenly felt awkward when they stared at each other for a few minutes. "If you don''t say what was in your head, you might go crazy. So I''d rather be honest than be a pretentious little liar." Maxine answered while turning her gaze away from Cole. Did her heart skip a beat? That can''t be. She thought inwardly. Cole was a nice guy. He''s good-looking and well-built. Any girl will fall from his charm, but Maxine knew that werewolves had a mate given by their goddess, and she didn''t want to interfere with someone''s fate. "Well, Diana will be here before sundown, so I think she would be able to help our Luna." Cole said. He just said he liked her, but she didn''t have any reaction. Did he say it wrong? Are Terrans have another way of confessing to someone? Cole thought to himself. Cole was still single because his mate was killed even before they met each other. He never marked her, and the mating was never completed. But he felt the pain when his mate died, and no one knew about it, even his Alpha. It happened a long time ago. He was in the woods outside their territory when he smelled her scent. But it was too late. She was already dead when he found her. She was killed by some night howlers. Cole didn''t want to have another mate after that incident. He was scared, but he suddenly wanted to have a woman beside him when he met Maxine. Maxine sighed. Her heart wouldn''t stop beating fast. She looked at Cole, staring into his brown eyes. Cole frowned and was curious why Maxine was staring at him. Then he was surprised when she grabbed the back of his head, pulled him closer to her, and kissed him on the lips. It was just a quick kiss, and he couldn''t respond.. Maxine stood up and ran inside the main house with a flushed face when she let him go, leaving Cole speechless. Chapter 67 - Harrowing Heart Amaris was startled when Maxine rushed inside the bedroom. Her face was so red, and she was panting when she jumped on the bed. "What happened to you?" Amaris asked with a frown on her face. Maxine shook her head, covering her face with a pillow. Her heart was pounding. It was her first kiss, and she couldn''t believe that she had initiated it. "Tell me what happened?" Amaris insisted. "I-I kissed Cole!" Maxine answered. "What?" Amaris exclaimed. Maxine took the pillow away from her face to look at Amaris. She bit her lips and took her cousin''s hands with a flushed face. "Ari, what does it feel when you''re in love?" She asked. Amaris was surprised by Maxine''s sudden question. "Are you saying you''re in love with Cole?" Amaris asked. Maxine sighed then lay on the bed while hugging the pillow. "I don''t know. He has been really nice to me ever since we first met. He took care of me from the moment I was separated from my mother. And he comforts me whenever I feel down. He said that he liked that I always say what''s on my mind. I''m not sure what he meant by those words. My heart suddenly beat so fast then I just grabbed him and kissed him. What should I do, Ari? Werewolves have mates, right? What if he found his?" Maxine continuously said. "W-Wait. Calm down. Okay. First, I think you like him¡ªa lot. The fact that you felt something in your heart, well, that means he affected you too much. And yes, maybe he has a mate, but I think it depends on him if he wants his mate or you." Amaris answered. Maxine sighed and wasn''t convinced by what her cousin had said. "But isn''t it painful if your mate rejected you?" Maxine asked. Amaris couldn''t answer because it was the truth. The mate bond was a powerful connection between two soulmates. If one of them breaks it, the other will suffer great pain, and they said some even died because of that pain. She remembered Zion. Forgetting him every day was like rejecting him. Was he enduring the pain of her rejection? His heart was being crushed by her over and over. Rejection was even better than forgetting someone you love. She thought to herself. "Ari?" Maxine called. "Ah. Yes, it''s painful. I suggest you talk to Cole about it. I know he would approach you because you kissed him." Amaris answered. Then they heard a knock on the door. Amaris smirked. They knew it was Cole. "Tell him I''m not here." Maxine whispered. "Come in!" Amaris shouted. Maxine glared at her while she giggled because of her reaction. Cole stepped inside and was looking at Maxine. "You can take her." Amaris said. "Ari!" Maxine exclaimed. "Let''s talk." Cole said in a deep tone before turning around to walk outside of the bedroom. Amaris looked at Cole, who seemed so serious standing in front of the bed. Then she glanced at Maxine. She knew her cousin was hesitating. It was Maxine''s first time to get involved with a guy, and he was not just a simple guy; he was a werewolf. "Maxine!" Amaris called. Maxine looked at her, surprised. "Go!" She ordered. Maxine didn''t say a word and just nodded. She stood up and followed Cole. Amaris was looking at her cousin while she walked out of the room. She smiled and thought that it was one of the best things that happened to Maxine and that was falling in love. She sighed. If she could just do something about her memory, it would be so easy for her to love Zion. Love. An intense feeling of deep affection towards someone. If her feelings towards Zion were deep, why did she forget him? It happened not only once but over and over again. You shouldn''t forget your feelings towards the person you truly love. Forgetting Zion every day was making his heart broken constantly. She sighed and had decided to rest for a while. But before she was able to sleep, she heard a knock, and Zion suddenly appeared. "Diana''s here, love." He said. Amaris was happy to hear that Diana had arrived. She quickly got off the bed and walked towards Zion. She knew she looked like an idiot, smiling widely at her Alpha. Zion was happy to see his Luna smiling at him. He knew she had already forgotten about him and that Maxine had told her about them. He was glad that someone had explained everything to her for once. He grabbed her hand, only to be disappointed that she abruptly took her hand away. Amaris was also surprised by what she did. She hurt him again. It was just a fucking holding hands! Amaris scolded herself inwardly. "I-I''m sorry. I-I was-" She stammered. Zion''s face changed. His relief and happiness became a disappointment. He had a dark expression on his face. "Never mind. Let''s just go and see her." He whispered, then turned around to walk out of the room. Amaris followed. She was looking at Zion''s back, and as he walked ahead of her, she suddenly felt Zion was starting to drift away. Her chest tightened, so she gasped to take in some air. But instead of feeling better, her heart began to feel pain. Amaris held her chest and started massaging it. What the hell? She felt like she was going to die. Was it because of the mate bond? Or something different. She thought to herself. Amaris was trying to call Zion, but he continued to walk to the long hallway. She reached out her hand when her vision began blurry. Zion couldn''t hear Amaris'' footsteps and her scent seemed a few feet away from him. He turned around and was surprised to see her leaning against the wall while holding on to her chest. "Ari!" He called while running towards her. When he got closer, Zion felt Amaris'' pain. He frowned. What''s happening? She wasn''t hurt physically, and he didn''t do anything for her to get hurt emotionally. He thought to himself. "Harrowing heart." A woman''s voice suddenly spoke. When they looked at who the woman was, it was Diana. Chapter 68 - Memory Restoration Zion was confused by what Diana had said. "Harrowing heart means her heart is in distress and grieving. Since you are her mate, you could feel her feelings if it was too deep." Diana explained. "But what''s the reason?" Zion asked, baffled. "Asked her so you could do something about it. Talk. I''ll be with my kids. Just call me when you have already fixed your issues." Diana answered before leaving them. Zion didn''t say a word. He felt his heart was being stabbed, and Amaris looked like she couldn''t breathe. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back inside the bedroom. "Tell me, what''s wrong?" He asked, worried. Amaris took a deep breath before answering. "I don''t know. I just felt like you were drifting away from me then my heart started aching. I-I''m sorry, I couldn''t do something about my memory." She whispered. Zion realized that he wasn''t the only one suffering and hurting. She felt the same way. Even though Amaris forgot him repeatedly, their hearts were deeply connected. He touched her cheek, held her on the chin, and tilted her head up to level his gaze. "I love you, Ari. I admit every day was torture for me, but I will endure every pain for you. I''m sorry for making you worry. I will never drift away from you." He said in a gentle voice. Then Zion leaned forward to give her a kiss. It was quick, but she felt his love towards her, and her pain vanished. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head to his chest. After a quiet moment, they went to Diana, who was waiting in Halia''s office. "So, you''re okay now. I''m surprised you didn''t know what was happening to your mate, Alpha Zion." Diana frowned. "Yes. I never had a chance to mark her before, so maybe that was the reason I''m not aware of it." Zion explained. Diana pointed at the couch, asking Amaris to sit down. Then she took the Luna''s hand and checked on her pulse. Amaris was confused as she stared at Diana. She was the female version of Damien, only a little older. "I think you''re fine. We could start memory restoration now if you like." Diana suggested. Amaris was surprised and felt excited because she could finally restore her past. She looked at Zion and smiled at him. Zion leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, making her face red. Diana chuckled. "Before we do it, I want you to know that memory restoration may or may not work depending on the level of power of the creature who erased your memory. In your case, it was a goddess. But don''t lose hope. You have to believe, Ari." Amaris nodded. Diana sat beside her and tilted Amaris'' neck to the side. Zion held one of Amaris'' hands when the vampire leaned forward. Amaris took a deep breath when she felt Diana''s warm breath. As her eyes turned red, her fangs grew, and without a word, she bit Amaris on the neck. Amaris suddenly felt like she was absorbed by something powerful. She screamed when she felt like a whirlpool was pulling her. Then she closed her eyes and flinched in pain when she felt like she was thrown into the ground. She opened her eyes and frowned. She looked around, trying to remember where she was. "Candra!" Amaris was surprised to see Zion running towards her. He called her Candra, a name she had never heard before. Her eyes widened when Zion just literally passed through her. Was she just an illusion? No. She was pulled in here when Diana bit her. This was her memory. She turned to see where Zion went and saw him sitting on the flower field beside a girl. She walked towards them and was surprised to see the girl''s face. "Candra?" The girl asked. "Yes. I''ll call you Candra from now on. It means glowing like the moon, and you are literally like that." Zion answered. The girl with golden-brown hair smiled at Zion. "Will you promise to stay with me forever, Candra?" He asked. "Yes. And even if I die, I promise to come back to you no matter what." The girl said. Amaris saw Zion''s face lit up, and she knew he was happy with the words the girl said. Then the girl suddenly turned to her. "But you forget." She whispered. Amaris was surprised and couldn''t say a word. "T-That''s why I''m here. I want my memories back. I don''t want to hurt him anymore." Amaris answered back. "Do you truly love him?" The girl named Candra asked. Amaris nodded. The girl was her one hundred years ago before her mother cursed her. She did look like her lost anima, but something in her looked differently. "Was it really necessary for mother to curse us?" She asked. "Go to Mirrikh. You''ll find the answers to your questions." Candra answered. Then flashbacks of all of her memories with Zion slowly came back. Diana was exhausted when she pulled her fangs away from Amaris'' neck. Diana felt like Amaris sucked in all her energies. The Luna was indeed a powerful hybrid. Diana thought to herself. Zion frowned when he saw Amaris'' tears fall from her eyes. He suddenly got worried and sat down beside her when Diana stood up. "Love?" He called. Amaris didn''t say a word. She had mixed feelings about her memories. She remembered how their love story started one hundred years ago. How could she forget him? She thought to herself. "I think you should talk in private." Diana suggested. Zion understood, and without a word, he carried Amaris back into the bedroom. He gently put her down on the chair beside the huge window and crouched down in front of her. "Hey, I wouldn''t know if you won''t tell me. What is it?" He asked again. Amaris looked at him, and as her tears kept falling from her eyes, she reached out her hands, wrapping around them to Zion''s neck. "I remember now. I remember you. I remember us.. I love you! I love you!" She said over and over. Chapter 69 - The Fae "You remember? Are you sure?" Zion asked. Amaris nodded while smiling at him. He couldn''t believe that she remembered him and he felt so glad that she finally had her memories. "You named me Candra because I can''t remember who I was before we met. We promised to love each other for eternity. I promised you that I would come back to you even when I die. I remember the flower field where we always chase each other, and when we get exhausted, we''ll sit under the tree to watch the sunset together." Amaris said. Zion''s heart was dancing with joy. He pulled her closer, hugging her tightly. "Oh, my goddess! Thank you for remembering!" Zion whispered while giving her tiny kisses on her face. "I''m sorry for forgetting you." She sadly uttered. Zion cupped her on the face and planted a kiss on her lips. "Hey, it wasn''t your fault. I''m really happy right now, so let''s not ruin that. You came, and that was the only thing that mattered to me. I love you, Ari!" Amaris smiled and hugged him back. "How about the memories when you were on the moon? Do you remember anything?" Zion asked. She shook her head and sighed. "No. When I was pulled in there, I asked my old self about my mother''s curse, but she told me to go to Mirrikh. I think that''s the only choice. She said I would find the answers there." She answered. Zion nodded in agreement then smiled at him. "Let''s forget that for now. Come on, let''s take a walk outside. You''ve been in this room for two days now. Maybe we could start looking for your protea?" "Yes, I would love to do that." They went outside to see the Fae Clan Territory and looked for her protrea. Now that Diana''s back, she needed to find the remaining three. Grakar said that the next was probably still living somewhere in the fairy''s land. Zion was holding her hand and was not letting it go. They asked permission from Elder Halia to look around their territory, and she agreed when they told her about the protrea. The land wasn''t that big like the werewolves'' ground. According to what she read, the Fae''s domain was the smallest among the territories. Amaris looked around and saw different types of faes. There were small ones, just like when she transformed into one of them the other day. There were also human-sized fairies living in the territory. The houses of the fae''s were not Victorian style like the werewolves, and it wasn''t gloomy and dark like the demon clans either. It was a biophilic interior design since it was evident that every home focuses on creating a calming space with a connection to nature. Amaris saw a little girl struggling to pull something under the ground as they walked around the area. She was curious, so she got closer and crouched down beside her. "What are you doing?" Amaris asked the little girl. She was around eleven years old, like Diane, judging from her looks. She had blue hair and silver eyes, a rare combination of her kind. Fae''s usually had golden or black hair and blue eyes, so Amaris was fascinated by her. The little girl was startled and turned to the woman who looked like a goddess. "You know you have a resemblance with my goddess." She said, not answering Amaris'' question. Zion was just waiting for Amaris. He was looking at his Luna, talking to the little girl with a frown on her face. "I look like your goddess? Really? Who is she?" Amaris asked, curiosity piqued. The girl didn''t answer and turned her gaze to the ground again. She started pulling something, and Amaris saw it looked like a long chain. "Would you like us to help you? Maybe we could pull it out if we do it together?" She asked the little girl again. The girl nodded, and Amaris was happy that she agreed. She stared at the girl from head to toe. The girl was wearing a white camisole dress and was barefooted. Her hands were filthy because of the dirt, and Amaris noticed that she already had some wounds on her hands, maybe because she was pulling the chain by herself. Amaris stood up and looked at Zion, who was confused why she was staring at him. "Love, can you pull this chain off the ground?" Amaris asked. Zion''s heart skipped a beat when she called him love. He felt that it was genuine, and he knew that she really remembered him. He smiled and walked closer to Amaris and the girl. He leaned forward and kissed his Luna on the cheek as if getting some energy from her. He then grabbed the chain and pulled it. They heard the clanking sound of the chain when it started to come out of the ground. Zion frowned when he noticed that the chain was long, so he pulled it again and this time with so much force. Then they were surprised to see that by the end of the chain was a rectangular box. It wasn''t big. It could only fit into Amaris'' palm, so they were confused why the chain was heavy. "Why is the box so heavy?" Zion asked the girl. "This is a crystallum. It''s heavy because I bound the box with my powers. So no one could find it. This is the key to my goddess'' body." The girl answered. Amaris couldn''t understand why she was interested in the girl. There was something in her that she was drawn to that she couldn''t explain. "Crystallum? A crystal key for a hydria?" Zion asked. Amaris looked at Zion and then back to the girl, who seemed surprised that he knew something about it. The girl nodded and stared at Amaris. "I heard that the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack is here. I wanted to give this to her." The girl said while showing the crystallum. "Why would you like to give it to her?" Amaris asked. "I am a tenere, keeper of the crystallum. I am a servant of my goddess, the child of the moon.." The girl answered while staring at Amaris. Chapter 70 - The Keeper Amaris was surprised by what the girl had said. The child of the moon, how many times did she hear about it? She thought inwardly. "My name is Amaris, the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. I am here to meet my protrea. What is your name?" Amaris asked. The little girl''s face lit up, then kneeled in front of her. "I am Azalea, your protrea from the Fae Clan and the tenere of your crystallum. It''s a great honor to finally meet you." The girl said. Amaris looked at Zion. They were both glad that they didn''t need to search for her. But she wondered why Azalea was covered in filth. "Azalea, where do you live? Why do you look like that?" Amaris asked. "I''ll show you! Come on!" The girl excitedly pulled Amaris. Zion and Amaris followed. Azalea took them to a small house covered in vines. A smoke was coming out of the chimney and it seemed like someone was cooking inside the house. The house had wooden fences around and some farm animals were lurking outside. "Grandpa! Grandpa!" Azalea shouted. Then a man came rushing outside. He was wearing an apron and like Azalea he was also covered in dirt. "Hello." Amaris greeted the old man. The old man bowed and seemed confused. "Grandpa, I found the child of the moon! She''s our princess!" Azalea proudly said. Amaris smiled at the old man who was surprised by Azalea''s introduction. "Come in! Come in!" The old man said. Amaris glanced at Zion to ask if they should agree. He nodded so she followed Azalea and the old man. They sat down in the living room as the old man served them some refreshments. "Oh, thank you." Amaris politely said. She looked around the house and saw that it was a mess. There were unwashed dishes on the sink, two plates of rotten food and a pile of dirty clothes. "Azalea''s parents died five years ago. Your original protrea was my son, but our territory was attacked by monsters. They were searching for the crystallum. My son didn''t tell them where it was so they killed him and his wife. Azalea is just a kid, I''m not sure if she could help you, but ever since her parents died she had been waiting for you. She''s an earth fairy and all of her parents'' powers were transferred to her. She''s a good kid." The old man said. Amaris felt the love and care of the old man towards Azalea. It wasn''t easy to raise a kid on his own so he was asking them indirectly to take care of her. Zion glanced at Amaris then to Azalea. She was skinny and was not even wearing clean clothes. "Don''t worry, we will take care of her." Zion answered. The old man was teary eyed when he heard those words from him. He looked at Azalea who was getting some clothes ready. Amaris stood up and walked closer to Azalea. She knocked on the bedroom door before stepping inside. "Can I help you?" Amaris asked the girl. Azalea nodded and smiled at her. Then Amaris looked at the things inside the bag. She felt pity and sad when she saw the girl''s torn clothes. Amaris stared at the girl and slightly smiled while patting her head. "Let''s buy some new clothes for you. Would you like to go shopping with me?" Amaris asked. The girl was confused and was just staring at Amaris. "What''s shopping?" Azalea asked. Amaris was surprised that she didn''t know about shopping. "I''ll show you. I''m sure you''ll enjoy it." Amaris answered. After bidding farewell to her grandpa, they went back to the main house to introduce Azalea to everyone. Amaris was happy that they already found two protrea and they just needed to find the remaining two. "That little girl is a protrea?" Cole asked, confused while looking at Azalea. "Yes. She''s the next generation. Her father was the original protrea but he died with his wife five years ago. She''s young and tiny, but all of her parents'' powers were transferred to her." Zion whispered. "She''s an earth fairy. Her powers include plant and soil manipulation. She can make flowers bloom and move vines and trees to restrain an opponent. She could manipulate the soil of an area. Azalea is powerful, that''s the reason no one wanted to play with her. The kids here were scared of her." It was Elder Halia who came suddenly. Zion and Cole bowed to pay respect to the elder. "I was wondering who attacked your territory five years ago and why didn''t you report it? I mean there was no news about the Fae Clan being attacked." Zion asked, curiosity piqued. The elder didn''t say a word for a moment. Zion looked at Halia and waited. With her green eyes and brown long hair, she stared back at Zion. "The elders knew about it, but we decided not to tell it in public. Azalea''s parents were killed because of the crystallum and the only one who knew where it was after their death was her. If they found out she was alive back then, she wouldn''t be with us right now." Halia explained further. "Elder Halia, do you know why the Gods want Amaris? I''m not sure if they want her alive so they could exterminate her themselves or what their plans are with her." Zion asked. Halia once again became quiet. Zion felt like the elders knew something about Amaris'' existence. They wouldn''t be interested in her if they didn''t know anything about her. When they met with the Elysian Elders, they first thought that she was an ordinary Terran. But Zion saw the different expressions from them after Amaris told them what kind of creature she was. "Every creature in Terra had their prophecy from the moment they were born, but Terra also had one." Halia started. "Terra? Are you referring to the Goddess or to the land?" Zion frowned. "To this land." Halia answered. Zion and Cole stared at the elder as she told them what she knew. "Terra had a prophecy that a child from the moon will come to the land of our forefathers to reclaim what was rightfully hers. No one could figure out what she will reclaim but according to the prophecy, she will bring death and destruction to all of us." Halia continued. ************************** Reader''s Guide: Tenere - keeper Crystallum - crystal key Chapter 71 - The Loculus Zion was still thinking about what Halia said. He was watching Amaris, who was talking to Maxine and Zoila. He wondered if she would really bring death and destruction to Terra. Amaris'' powers were overwhelming. He remembered what Athanasia said a few days ago. "Her powers were overwhelming and strong. It could bring death to everyone if she were not able to control it." "What do you mean?" Zion asked. "Two of her ten forms possessed a destructive power. The nine-tailed fox was one of them. The other form which I had never known, but Selene told me about it." Athanasia continued. "Is that the reason the Gods were afraid of her?" Zion asked again. Athanasia looked at him intently. "Possibly. Amaris'' powers surpassed her parents'' powers. Selene was one of the powerful titans, and Phelan wasn''t an ordinary demon prince. My brother was the only one who could transform and imitate any creature. And Amaris had both of her parents'' powers aside from her own powers." The demon princess continued. Athanasia suggested going to Mirrikh. Not only her, but all of those who knew about Amaris, told them to go to the red planet. Zion wasn''t convinced they would find something there, but it was his Luna''s decision that mattered. If she wanted to go there, then he would gladly agree. "Love, let''s talk to Azalea. She said something about the crystallum." Amaris said. Zion didn''t notice that Amaris was already in front of him. It''s good that she didn''t ask why he was in a daze, so he just nodded. Amaris pulled him so they could sit on the couch. Azalea was already sitting quietly, waiting for them. Cole and the others joined in to listen to the little girl. "Azalea, tell them what you told me earlier about the crystallum." Amaris started. The girl nodded then looked at the creatures'' faces before telling them what she said to Amaris. "I am the tenere of the crystallum of the child of the moon''s hydria and loculus." Azalea said. "Loculus? Do you mean coffin?" Maxine asked. Azalea nodded and continued. "The hydria was a small jar for the anima, and the loculus was used for the body. When the body died, the anima left and traveled to Terra. The Gods tried to take the anima, but they couldn''t find it. It wasn''t missing or got lost. It was taken by the Libera and sealed in the hydria. When it was given to Lorelle, the crystallum was given to my father. He was instructed to meet Lorelle after fifty years to unseal the hydria." She paused. "How about the loculus? Did they say something about when it should be opened?" Azalea asked. Azalea nodded. "The loculus should be unlocked fifty years after the hydria was opened, and the anima should be taken back to the original corpus." Azalea answered. "What if the anima couldn''t come back on time?" Cole asked this time. "The body will deteriorate and will be gone forever." The girl answered. Amaris was shocked by what she heard. Deteriorate? Meaning her body will rot if her anima won''t come back to its original body. But what about the body she was using right now? She thought to herself. "They said my body is in Tartarus. Is it true?" Amaris asked. Azalea looked at her and nodded. "Do you know where it was in Tartarus?" Zion asked Azalea. "Yes. It''s in the lowest part of the underworld." "I thought Altum was the lowest part of the underworld?" Zoila got confused. Azalea shook her head. She couldn''t believe that the creatures in front of her, who were older than her, didn''t know anything about the world beneath them. "There are two parts of the underworld. The first one is the nine layers, while the second is Tartarus. The name was originally used for the deepest region of the world, where the gods locked up their enemies." Azalea explained. "Why would they keep her body in Tartarus? It''s a place for punishment, and in her case, she couldn''t be punished since she''s still alive." Zoila asked. Azalea took a deep breath before responding. "Tartarus is the deep abyss used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans. It is the place where souls were judged after death and where the wicked received divine punishment. But remember, her anima is here in Terra, so how could they punish her?" Amaris felt sad about her body and soul being separated just because she was born a hybrid. She wanted to go to the Sky God and the Demon God to ask them the real reason why they wanted her dead. Zion sensed her sadness. He held on to her hand to at least lessen her worries. He knew what she went through and what she would go through was not easy. Everything that had happened and what would happen could make someone give up, but she''s a strong woman and would not back down without a fight. "Why would her body deteriorate? She''s a half-goddess and half-demon. She''s immortal. I can''t understand." Maxine commented. "She was cursed a hundred years ago. Her anima was made immortal before she was born by Phelan, but not her body. The corpus will only be immortal if the anima returns. If not, it is just a corpse." Azalea explained. "So I really need to go to Tartarus? How can we go there? Do you think we have time? We have to go to the Elven Clan territory then to the Atlantean. The other two protrea were in those territories. Once we find them, we will go to Mirrikh to meet the Prorocist¨¦." Amaris continuously asked. Azalea picked something inside her bag. It was a small booklet, and it looked old, and some pages were torn on the sides. "We still have time if we can finish everything in ten days. We have to be in Tartarus fifteen days from now." Azalea answered. "What? That was fast. We''re still unsure if we can find the remaining protrea in ten days. Are you saying fifteen days from now, the body will vanish?" Zion asked, pissed. Azalea nodded but looked at her little booklet again. "We have to make sure. The enemy won''t stop capturing the anima. You need your original body to fight them." Azalea said while looking at Amaris. Amaris sighed. She wanted to see her body, but she wondered what would happen to her body now. "So how do we go there? Have you already seen Tartarus? Tell us more about the underworld." ************************* Readers Guide: Loculus - coffin Hydria - small jar or container Prorocist¨¦ - the oracle who wrote the Book of Malum Chapter 72 - The Underworld Darkness. The absence of light. A word that defines evil. The Underworld, a bottomless pit and a realm of shadows where demons and the fallens gathered. Humans believed that it is an afterlife place where evil souls and sinners pay the penalty for their crimes. It is a place where eternal suffering and unending punishments for the wicked after death. Some believed it was a humongous, smoky land shrouded by fire, filled with an indescribable and suffocating smell where demons and monsters lived. But for them, the Underworld was simply their home. Demons are supernatural entities associated with evil or malevolent spirits that influence humans to act viciously. Monsters are creatures of the Underworld, usually described as scary and with hideous appearances. There were seven gates of the Underworld, and Acharon, the river of the dead, was the fastest way to go to Terra. The Underworld has nine layers. Semel, Cordus, Tertius, Poena, Gelum, Perfidia, Caligo, Letalia and Altum. The oldest demon princes guard the eight layers while the Demon King itself defends Altum. Zuriel, Amaris'' uncle, was considered one of the strongest demon princes and previous ruler and guardian of Semel, the first layer of the Underworld. Now, it is guarded by one of her sons, Igdred. Semel has infinite size, a barren land destroyed by endless battles. It is the only passage to the deeper layers of hell. Acts as the arrival point of all outsiders. It is a desolate, stony wasteland, shattered by rivers of blood and plagued with multitudes of biting flies. The guests and invaders of the demon realm will have to go through Semel and face Igdred. The next layer was called Cordus. It was a flat, empty plane with little more than black, stagnant rivers extending thousands of miles until it reached some rolling hills. A spiral labyrinth of peaks and gorges, rich with iron ore. All routes in the plane of Cordus were entirely made of iron defended by bastions made into the flanks of craggy mountains. In the epicenter of this plane was the Iron City of Cordus. The foul rivers beamed from a trench large enough to be called a lake shrouding the Iron City. The walls of the structures and the stones of the streets glistened by the faint red of hot iron; a short skin contact would result in severe burns. Astreth, Zuriel''s cousin, guarded the second layer of hell. Tertius, the third layer of the Underworld, guarded by Ellmin, was described as an endless marsh of horrendous pollution, rotting bodies, and decaying bog, constantly soaked by rain, sleet, and hail storms. The fluid, bone-strewn, disease-ridden wetland made movement very tough and occasionally broken by twisting volcanic rock ridges. The third layer was a realm depicted as a vast but low-vaulted cavern attached to Cordus. Oily water oozed through the roof of the cave and rained down upon swamplands, deserts of mud, and seeping black soil, potholed by rippling fumaroles and dirt geysers. The atmospheres rain down the acid, and large craters wait to gobble the unwary. At its center rises the muddy walls of Cordia Palace, home of Ellmin, the ruler of Tertius. He is the banker of the Nine Hells, frugal and ravenous. He is the only demon prince to adore coins and anima, and he stashes his fortune deep in his domain. Azalea wasn''t sure who guarded the following layers of the Underworld. Phoena, the fourth layer of the Underworld, most resembled the stereotype of a fiery world of endless damnation, loaded with active volcanoes, rivers of liquid flames, molten rocks, ash hills, smoking craters, severe heat, wracked by earthquakes and tremors. The city of Phoena was the seat of power in this domain, built with hardened magma, obsidian, and crystal in the caldera of an expired volcano which provided visitors some security from the elemental surroundings found throughout the rest of the plane. Gelum, the fifth layer, was the complete opposite of Phoena. It was either a bottomless ocean covered by an ice sheet or a frosty sea salted with enormous icebergs buried in cavern miles below Cordus and Phoena. A realm of freezing fire and bitter cold. The sky splits with lightning, and a frozen ocean envelops the layer. It is also home to numerous dangerous beasts. Perfidia, the sixth layer of the Underworld, was a perpetually slanted mountainside, serving as the nine layers'' jail and torture chambers. Those found guilty in Phoena were sent here for retribution. While structures built into the slope, boulders, and landslides are an ongoing threat, wreaking mayhem on the terrain. The seventh layer, Caligo, houses all the records of the Underworld. Spiraling belowground mazes contain every agreement signed or pact struck, designed in a way that only the protector and his minions can locate anything. It is also a bleak space of wrecked cityscape, flush with ruin and decay. Letalia was also a land of bitter cold like Gelum. But the eighth layer functions a much more vital role in the Underworld. Basically, it is one huge laboratory nestled in the ice created to conduct impenetrable experiments. Altum, the ninth layer, home of the Demon King itself. Amaris'' father, Phelan, was the son of Asmodeus, the former ruler of this barren place. He was the one who sent Phelan to the human realm. Now, Altum was ruled by Zuriel, the strongest demon of the Underworld. Barren of design movement covered with shaded pits striped with defenses lodging his faithful pit devil generals and their armies. He lived in the tower of Alsheem, the Citadel of the Underworld. It was large enough to shelter millions of devils, Zuriel''s vast army, which increased in number every time he produced a driblet of blood. Asmodeus itself designed Alsheem, so it was impossible to collapse or get ruined. The primary structure was made of stone, and Baatorian green steel, a lighter but stiffer than ordinary metal, extends in an X-shape for miles along with the foundations of both gullies. Below Altum was the second part of the Underworld, Tartarus. Chapter 73 - Tartarus Tartarus is the great pit beneath the earth used as a dungeon of suffering and agony and a burial place for the monsters, the Titans, and in later myths, for mortals who perpetrated unpardonable sins. It was also the lowest part of the universe, a separate entity lower than the Underworld. Some described it as a vast depth, both dreary and damp, and a place of wreckage. The Underworld was the final resting place of mortal sinners, while Tartarus was used for banished monsters and gods alike. "So how do we get there? Through the river Acheron?" Zion asked. Azalea nodded. "There were seven rivers of the Underworld that connected and ran through Tartarus. Acheron was the fastest way from Terra to the Underworld then to Tartarus." Azalea explained. Amaris was amazed by Azalea''s knowledge of things. At first glance, she looked like an innocent girl that didn''t know anything, but once you talked to her, she had a vast knowledge about the world. "How do you know all this?" Zion asked, curiosity piqued. "I don''t go to school. My parents were explorers. I learned from going to those places." Azalea said. "You''ve been to Tartarus?" Maxine asked. Azalea nodded. Amaris glanced at Zion. She felt like Azalea was hiding something from them. How can a girl like her be able to go to Tartarus? She thought inwardly. Amaris looked at Azalea and held her hands. "There''s something you''re not telling us. It''s not easy to go to Tartarus. You said so yourself, and you''ll have to pass through the nine layers of the Underworld. I don''t think your parents brought you there. Azalea, tell us what happened?" Amaris asked. Azalea stared into Amaris'' eyes and bit her lips. She then sighed before answering her. "They killed my mother in front of our house, then took my father. I could shift into any earth animal, whether big or small. I could even turn myself into insects. I turned myself into Kitti''s hog-nosed bat and hid inside one of the enemy''s bags. I wanted to save my father, but he was taken to Tartarus, and there''s no way I could get him out there. Everyone thought he was dead, but he was still alive when I left him there. Father gave me his powers and all the knowledge about the child of the moon. He said we were not the most powerful protrea, but we will be your navigator, your map. I know almost everything." Azalea answered. "You want to go back to Tartarus to see if your father is still alive, right?" Amaris asked. Azalea nodded. Amaris understood the kid''s feelings. If there''s a slight chance her father was still alive, he will do the same. She smiled at Azalea and patted her head. "We will go there and see if he''s still alive." Amaris said in a gentle voice. "Thank you, princess!" Azalea exclaimed. "Call me, Ari. I don''t like to be called a princess." Zion and Amaris went to their bedroom to pack their things. They have to travel quickly since Azalea said they have ten days to find the remaining protrea and go to Mirrikh. The remaining five days would be their journey to Tartarus. Zion suddenly hugged her from behind. She felt happy now that she remembered her love for him. "Are you sure you want to go to Tartarus?" He asked. Amaris sighed then turned around to face him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stared into his eyes. "I want to see if there''s a chance I could get my body back, and at the same time, if there''s a chance I could give back the life I stole from the real owner of this body, I will do it." She explained. Zion nodded and smiled at her. "I understand. I want to see what you look like, but you know, as long as it''s you, I don''t care about your appearance." He whispered. "I know. But I want to be complete so that I can love you completely." She answered. "Fine. But for me, you are perfect." He said before kissing her on the lips. After they packed their things, they bid farewell to Halia and Azalea''s grandpa. Azalea didn''t want to tell her grandpa about her father. She said she didn''t want him to give false hope. If his father were still alive, she would just surprise her grandpa. Before leaving, Halia gave Amaris a gift. "This is a dagger forged in the Shadow Mountains created by the powers of the fairies and the elves. I want you to have this. I know you are a powerful creature yourself, but I hope this will help you someday." Halia didn''t explain further, but Amaris was glad that the elder was nice to her. "Azalea, is it okay if you ride with Zoila? She''s the Alpha''s sister." Amaris asked. Azalea nodded then walked towards Zoila, who reached out her hand, seeing the little girl in front of her. "So, what''s the fastest route to go to the Elven Clan Territory?" Cole asked. Then they looked at Azalea since she said she would be their map. The girl understood then took something from her bag. Amaris wondered how many things that her bag could carry. She noticed Azalea never put it down. They were amazed when she sprinkled something into the air then murmured something. "Ostende mi viam." Then two balls of light appeared, showing them where to go. "Let''s follow them then." Zion smiled at Azalea. "Good job, kid." They started their journey to the Elves'' Territory, Hiborane. The Elven Clan was led by King Rychell, one of the elders of Terra. Amaris first met him in Levaerun and wondered if he was still doubting her. The Elven King was good-looking and had long white hair and pointed ears. "Don''t worry about Rychell. He''s a friend of mine and was worried that I just mistook you for someone else. After your first meeting, he asked me if he could meet you in person." Zion said when he felt her worries. Amaris suddenly remembered something. She didn''t ask before because she would forget about it the next day. But now, she didn''t need to ask because she remembered what had happened in the past. "I remember you cheated on me before I died! That''s the reason the Gods caught me because I was running away from you!" She yelled. Everyone was surprised when she suddenly shifted to her fourth form. Zion was not able to hold on to her. She jumped off the horse, glaring at him was a pair of amber eyes. ****************** Reader''s Guide: Ostende mi viam - show me the path Chapter 74 - A Misunderstanding Amaris felt a sudden rage inside her. She had forgotten that painful past, the day Zion cheated on her. She wanted to get away from him, so she jumped off the horse but didn''t expect that she would land with four feet. Everyone was surprised. They didn''t expect their Luna to shift in the middle of their journey. They stopped when Zion got off the horse to calm Amaris down. Amaris'' fourth form was a werewolf. Zion was glad that one of her ten forms was their kind. She was a pure white werewolf with amber eyes. She growled when Zion tried to walk towards her. "Love, listen to me. I did not cheat on you! It was a mistake. I admit it, but it was not intentional. The witch cast a spell on me." Zion tried to explain. ''I don''t believe you.'' She talked to him using a mind link. ''Why? Because you chose to believe that witch instead of me? You should know by now that I had never wanted to hurt you. I''d rather die than to cause you pain." Zion said. Amaris knew that Zion would never hurt her. She wasn''t really sure why she chose to believe that witch. She felt like the witch also put a spell on her. She slowly shifted back to her Terran form, so Zion rushed towards her to cover her body. Zion pulled her and passionately kissed her on the lips without a word. Amaris knew that he was mad. His kiss became forceful, and he felt his claws were slowly digging into her skin. He glared at her after letting her go. "Next time you do that, I''ll punish you." He said in a cold tone before turning around. No one said a single word. Zion was soft and gentle towards her, but he was an Alpha. She should respect him, at least. She ran away from him before and was caught by the Gods. Then just weeks ago, she flew away from him and got lost in the Demon Clan''s Territory. Now, she jumped off the horse in front of their companions. She should ask for an explanation first before jumping to conclusions. She suddenly felt guilty and embarrassed. She easily gets angry with Zion when it comes to women who like him. They continued their journey, but Zion didn''t talk to her after. Her heart felt like something was piercing on it. She hurt him again, and she wanted to apologize to him. That incident happened before the Gods caught her. She woke up one morning, and Zion wasn''t beside her. She remembered looking for him inside the castle but could not find him. She started feeling scared that something had happened to Zion. The witch, Fleur, was a temporary resident of Verlice Castle. She asked for help with the werewolves telling them that she was cast out from her coven. Zion''s parents pitied her and accepted her. When Amaris was looking for Zion, Fleur came running outside her bedroom. She was startled when she saw Amaris. Fleur was naked, and a towel was only covering her body. "What happened?" Amaris asked. Fleur suddenly cried and kneeled in front of her. "I''m sorry. I tried to stop him, but he insisted. He said he likes me. I like him too." Fleur said. Amaris frowned and couldn''t understand what she just said. Then the door from Fleur''s bedroom opened, and she saw Zion half-naked and had a bite on his neck. Rage suddenly consumed her. She rushed towards Zion and slapped him in the face before running away from Verlice Castle. She knew Zion tried to stop her, but she had already shifted and had gone away from him. Looking back, she never asked Zion his side of the story. They made love the night before, and Zion was beside her. Now that she was thinking about it, how could he suddenly come out of Fleur''s bedroom? Zion didn''t mark her yet that time, but they both knew that they were mates and their connection was deeper than their feelings with each other. If Zion had sex with that witch, Amaris would have felt her heart being torn into pieces. But she never felt anything like that. The sun was about to set, so they needed to stop and camp for the night. They stopped in the middle of the woods near a spring. The others started setting up their tents, so she got off the horse and walked towards the spring. "You messed up big time." It was Maxine. Amaris looked at her cousin and pouted. "I know. I just thought about it. That witch deceived me! Zion never slept with her. What should I do Max? He''s mad at me." Maxine chuckled. "Why do you have to ask? If you just explain and apologize sincerely, I know he will forgive you. The wolf''s crazy about you. But sometimes, you have to initiate the first move since you hurt the Alpha." Amaris looked at Zion, who was now sitting under the tree. She didn''t sit beside him and went inside their tent. She sighed and bit her lips before calling him. ''Can we talk?'' She talked using the mind link. He didn''t answer, but he came inside the tent after a few minutes. "So, what do you want to talk about?" He asked. "I''m sorry. My apology is one hundred years too late. But I want you to know that I believe you and that witch deceived me. I was wrong. Can you forgive me?" She said in a gentle voice. Zion didn''t say a word and was just looking at her. Amaris was standing next to their bed while he stood a few feet away. "What will you do if I don''t forgive you?" He asked. "I won''t take no for an answer, so I guess I just have to say sorry using my body." She said in a raspy voice. Before Zion could answer, she took her clothes off and walked towards him, naked. Chapter 75 - [R18] Her Apology Zion stared at Amaris from head to toe. His gaze was making her body yearn for him. She was craving for him, and she wanted to feel him inside her. "Love." Amaris whispered in a hoarse voice. He then took his clothes off, showing her his full erection. Amaris gulped and wet her lips when she saw his dick, proudly standing like a rod. She walked backward then laid down on the bed to wait for Zion. "You''re dazzling, love." He said. Then he grinned, showing her his right hand. Amaris'' eyes widened when she saw a handcuff with long chains and a blindfold. She gasped for some air when she felt a sudden excitement inside her. "You want this?" He said while looking at her intently. She didn''t answer and just bit her lips, her heart beating so fast. He took her hands and handcuffed them while the other end was chained above the bed. Amaris was now standing, her hands on top of her head. "So let''s begin." He said, then blindfolded her. Amaris suddenly started breathing rapidly and being blindfolded added thrills and excitement to her. She felt Zion''s hand slowly brushing her neck down to her chest. Then he moved to her breasts, massaging one of them while he encircled his thumb to her nipple. Amaris arched her back from the sensation and pleasure. She knew he was just getting started, but she could feel her pussy getting wet because of his small gesture, with the excitement she felt from being shackled and blindfolded. His palm slowly ran down through her belly, then to her navel, and all the way down to her throbbing folds. He opened her folds with his two fingers then rubbed her clit with his thumb. "Love. Ahhhhhhhhhh." She moaned. Then she almost screamed when she felt one of his fingers inside her. "You want this? Tell me what you want, Ari." She whispered while he continued to grind his finger inside her core slowly. "Ahh. Ahh. Ahh." She was still blindfolded, and her hands were chained above her head as she moaned and called out his name. Amaris felt her knees were getting weak. Zion smirked when he noticed her legs were trembling. He moved her legs apart with his feet and continued to finger fuck her. "Do you know what it feels inside your cunt?" He asked, thrusting his finger deeper. "Oh, my Alpha!" Amaris called with her raspy voice. "Your inside feels so soft and warm. As I thrust deeper, I could feel your wetness even more." He inserted one more finger and moved inside and out as he said those words. Amaris'' heart was pounding so loud, and she could feel the heat from her own breath. Her face was flushed as her body was craving for more. "Love, please." She pleaded. "Can you hear that sound? Shit. You are so wet." He said, ignoring her plea. "Zion!" She shouted her name. "What do you want, love?" He asked. "I want your dick. I want you to fuck me." Amaris answered him directly. She heard Zion chuckle. But instead of his dick, he drove out his fingers then licked her wet cunt with his tongue. "Oh fuck!" She shouted when she felt the heat of his tongue inside her. He sucked her hard and pushed his tongue deeper into her core. The wetness of his tongue mixed with her juice was making Amaris ecstatic. She continued to struggle, and her knees were trembling as he licked and sucked her soaking pussy. Her feet were tiptoed while she arched her hips towards his face. She wanted to pull him further, but she couldn''t hold on to him. "Love, I want to hold you. I want to see you." She begged. Every time Zion rubbed his tongue into her core, Amaris was shouting his name, pulling the chain as she arched her back and turned her head from left to right. "My Alpha, I''m coming!" As soon as she shouted, she came. She felt his mouth sucking her juice, everything that came out from her aching core. Amaris felt her juice flow on her thighs, but Zion licked them. She could hear his mouth slurping the white liquid coming out of her pussy. "Ahhhhhhhh. Ahhhhhhhh. Zion!" She shouted his name again. "You want my dick, love? Then I''ll give you what you want." He howled then shoved his dick inside her while he grabbed her legs to put it around his waist. "Fuuuck!" Amaris screamed. She could hear the chains rattling as she pulled her hand when he thrust deep into her core, poking her womb. "You''re so tight, love. And you''re fucking wet! Can you feel my dick? You like it, huh." He said as he drove his dick harder while his hands were squeezing her butt. "Yes. Ahh. Yes. More, give me more, love!" Amaris moaned. "Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Shit!" He fondled her breasts as he continued to grind and stroke her pussy. Amaris felt his dick throbbed and hardened when she arched her hips to meet his thrust. He groaned when she pulled him closer with her legs around his hips and sucked him in. "Oh, Shit! Love, you''re amazing!" "Zion, please. I want to touch you." He didn''t say a word but removed the chains from her wrists and removed the blindfold from her eyes. As soon as she looked into his eyes, he slammed his lips to hers. She clung to his neck and pushed his head closer to her face, kissing him hungrily. "I love you. I love you so much, Zion." She mumbled in between their kisses. "I love you, too." Zion answered. Then Amaris pushed Zion on the bed and positioned herself on top, straddling him. He smirked while he brushed his hands to her arms when she sat on top of him. "Fuck me hard, my Luna." He ordered. "Yes, my Alpha." She answered. Then she started to move her hips up and down while circling her bottom on top of him. "Shit! That''s it, love. It''s so good." He groaned. She continued to move while Zion held her by the waist. She couldn''t explain the feeling when his dick poked her most sensitive spot. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh." She moaned with the pleasure and ecstasy she felt. He sucked one of her nipples, pinching the other with his fingers. Amaris moved faster while moaning louder. She didn''t care if they were in the middle of the forest. She was screaming in satisfaction while she fuck Zion harder. She felt his dick continue to get harder and bigger. She moved faster, pounding him. She could hear the sound of her juice as she danced on top of Zion. "Love, I''m coming!" Amaris screamed again. They both screamed in bliss when she moved upward, pulling his dick and thrusting it harder inside her pussy, making them release their juices together. Chapter 76 - Damiens Mate "You just realized that I never slept with the witch?" Zion asked. They were on the bed after an exhausting lovemaking. Zion punished her by pleasuring her over and over. "I know I''m stupid for believing her. I got jealous, so I was mad at you without even listening to you. But now, I will never believe anyone but you. I''m sorry, love." "Apology accepted." He said, then gave her a quick kiss on the lips. She pulled him closer and responded to his kisses. The kiss was not enough for both of them and ended in another lovemaking. They were both panting after. "I didn''t know one of your ten forms was a werewolf." Zion commented. "Yes. Not all of my memories came back. I think only the part that we had been together a hundred years ago. But I remember my werewolf form, and her name was Faith. I also remember my other form, a siren named Avanah." She answered. "You are truly amazing! I loved to run with you. We haven''t done that before." Zion said. Amaris frowned then smiled at him. "You mean in our wolf form?" She asked. Zion nodded. "Let''s do that in the morning. Let''s run to the Elves'' Territory." "Okay! Let''s race! If I win, you have to be my slave!" She exclaimed. Zion chuckled. "Why do you want me to be your slave? I would love to do whatever you ask without any competition." "Because you are an Alpha. You could make someone follow your orders by just using your Alpha voice. It''s unfair." She answered. "Oh really? But you could make me follow you with just a simple touch. I will follow you no matter what." He said, amused. They suddenly heard a commotion outside, so Zion got off the bed with a frown on his face. Amaris stood up, put on some clothes, and followed Zion outside. "What''s happening?" Cole came running towards them. He was panting and looked exhausted. "Alpha, Luna, we found a night howler lurking around this area. We caught her." Cole reported. Then Grakar walked towards them while holding a woman by her arm. The woman was dressed in casual clothing but all covert with dirt. Her eyes widened when she saw who was in front of her. "Mate!" She exclaimed. Amaris frowned. Then she realized that the woman was staring at Zion. "What did you say?" Amaris asked. The woman didn''t answer and instead, jumped into Zion''s arms. Zion was confused and looked at Amaris who was glaring at him. "Wait! I don''t feel anything towards this girl! Are you going to run away from me again?" He said while looking at her. Amaris stared into his eyes and saw his sincerity and loyalty towards her. She was starting to get pissed, so she grabbed the woman''s arms, pulling Zion away from the stranger. But the woman didn''t back down and started sniffing Zion. They couldn''t understand why she was acting strange. "Not you! You are not my mate!" The woman exclaimed. "Yes! Because he''s mine, so stay away from him, woman, or I swear I will kill you." Amaris ranted. The woman ignored her and started sniffing again. Then she shouted again. "Mate! Mate!" When they looked behind them, it was Damien. They didn''t notice he was standing a few steps away from them. Amaris frowned and stared at the girl, who seemed not looking directly at Damien. Amaris waved her palm in front of the woman''s eyes and realized that she was blind. She was using her nose to sniff her mate and was just following his smell. Amaris glanced at Zion then turned to Damien, who was not moving from where he stood. The woman was struggling from Grakar''s grip and Amaris knew she wanted to run towards Damien. "Damien?" Amaris called. Damien sighed and walked towards the woman. Then he held Grakar''s hand, silently asking him to let go. Damien felt that he was drawn to the woman, but he knew his father would disagree with him having a werewolf as his mate. "Oh come on Damien! Are you kidding me? She''s your mate. Are you planning on rejecting her?" It was Diana who suddenly went out of their tent. "You know father would not agree with this." Damien answered. "Shut up! That''s the reason I never wanted to go back home! We''re in the modern age. We already lived together with them. Damien, don''t make yourself miserable. If you reject her, you know what will happen to you, right?" Diana scolded his brother. Damien nodded and sighed. Then he looked at Diana then to Maxine and Zoila. "Can you help her clean up? If you also have clothes for her, can you lend her one? I''ll buy her some clothes when we get back." He said. Diana smiled then walked closer to Damien. "I want you to be happy. You will never regret choosing your own path." Diana mumbled. Damien nodded and looked at the woman. "What''s your name? I am Damien of the Vampire Clan." He asked. "My name is Shelly, a werewolf of the Night Howler''s Clan." The woman answered. "Where''s your family? And why are you lurking around here? The Night Howlers lived in Mirrikh. Why are you in Terra?" Zion asked. Shelly didn''t answer for a moment. Amaris smelled fear and sadness towards the woman. "Shelly, how about we clean you up first, and let''s talk? Me, you and the girls." Amaris suggested. Zion knew that Amaris sensed something towards Shelly, so he agreed and let her handle the night howler. The girls took Shelly to a nearby spring. Cole and Grakar checked the area to ensure that it was safe for them to take a bath there. "So, Shelly, would you like to tell us what happened to your family? And why are you here?" Amaris started asking. Shelly nodded and bit her lips first before telling them her story. "I am a servant of Phoebus, the Prorocist¨¦. We were attacked; he told me to come here in Terra and find the child of the moon and legendary Alpha.." Shelly exclaimed. Chapter 77 - The Red Planet Mirrikh, commonly called the red planet, is the second place that could support life. When Earth was slowly dying, the leaders from each clan had no other choice but to look for another place to live on. They found Mars, the next planet to Earth. When it was first discovered, the bright rust color of Mars was known due to iron-rich minerals in its lunar soil¡ª the unconsolidated dust and rock wrapping its surface. After years of planning and preparing, the humans were ready to move to Mars. They already built huge structures on the red planet, enough to house half of Earth''s population. They had decided to abandon Earth and leave it to the mythical creatures who wanted to live there. However, the Goddess Terra gave the humans another chance and decided to give life to Earth again. It was a gift to the legendary werewolf who the Gods favored. Earth''s name was eventually changed to Terra. Mars or the red planet was abandoned for years before some creatures from Terra moved there. They were creatures forsaken by their families and clans. Most of them were beaten and tortured by other beings, so they ran to Mars to hide. Isei and Cyran, the two hybrids who were now elders of Terra, were the first creatures of Mars. Both were a product of an experiment and were hidden in an underground facility. The two escaped and went to Mars. They decided to create their own clan and named it The Night Howlers, a group of different creatures that were abandoned or forgotten by their own kind. The Great War happened both on Earth and Mars. But the latter had a greater loss than Terra. The planet''s rusty color became bloody red, and the stench of blood covered the atmosphere. The Elysian Elders voted and decided to change the name of Mars to Mirrikh, meaning death or slaughter. Most of the creatures living in Mirrikh had a grudge against those residing in Terra. But Isei and Cyran, set some laws and rules that every citizen of Mirrikh should follow. One of them was never to attack any creature without permission from the elders. But there were a lot of creatures that the two elders could not control, and they would sometimes ask for help from the Clan Leaders. One of the residents in Mirrikh was the Prorocist¨¦, Phoebus. He was also a Titan God who decided to stay with those below them. He was a God who could read the future of every creature. He wrote the Book of Malum and was the only one who could explain the meaning of those prophecies. "I lived with him ever since I was little. I was neglected by my parents and left to die in the streets of Aramoor City. He saw me from one of his visits and brought me with him to Mirrikh. He was like a father to me. But a few days ago, we were attacked by some night howlers. Phoebus told me to hide, so I did. I couldn''t see their faces or what kind of creatures they were since I was blind. But I know their scent. Before I hid myself, Phoebus told me that once he was gone, I had to go back to Terra and search for the child of the moon and the legendary Alpha. I''ve been walking around Terra for weeks and didn''t expect that I would find my mate here." Shelly shared her story. Amaris didn''t answer. Diana, Maxine, and Zoila were staring at her, waiting for her to tell Shelly that she and Zion were the ones she was looking for. She closed her eyes and focused on Shelly. She wanted to know her true intentions and if she was telling the truth. There it was again¡ªthe smell of fear and loneliness. Amaris opened her eyes and took Shelly''s hands. "My name is Amaris, Luna of the Blue Moon Pack, and I am the child of the moon. My mate is Zion, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack and the legendary Alpha." Amaris introduced herself. Shelly''s face lit up. She couldn''t see the woman who was holding her hand and claimed herself as the child of the moon, but she felt happy that she finally found them. The girls glanced at each other when tears started falling from Shelly''s eyes. They suddenly pity the girl. She might be exhausted and scared from running across Terra. She didn''t even know where to go or where to start to search for them. "I''m glad I found you! I''d been alone for weeks and was hiding myself from other creatures. I suddenly smelled my mate''s scent and followed it. I didn''t know he was with you. I''m really glad I found him and you." Shelly smiled. Shelly had shoulder-length black hair and a pair of gray eyes. At first, you won''t notice that she''s blind, but if you stare directly into her eyes, you could see that they didn''t have any sparkle, and you could not see your reflection in her eyes. "By the way, did Phoebus tell you the reason why you have to look for me? We actually had a plan of traveling to Mirrikh after the first task. I was looking for him and wanted to ask him something." Amaris asked. "Yes. He told me to give you a warning. He said he had expected something like this to happen. Before we were attacked, he was mumbling about the same thing that had happened with Athanasia, the Demon Princess who fell in love with the Terran, Allistair." Shelly paused. Amaris frowned. She couldn''t understand the connection between her and her Aunt Athanasia. "I apologize, but I cannot understand the connection." "You don''t know? Athanasia had the same doom as you. Phoebus didn''t know that sometimes, I read his prophecies. The demon princess was once prophesied as the bringer of death and destruction. She was also sent here in Terra by her father, the Demon King, Asmodeus." Shelly continued. "Shelly, do you know what Phoebus'' prophecy of me is? We saw it in the Book of Malum, but the last part was missing. It looked like it was torn from the book page." Amaris asked. Shelly nodded.. "Yes, and I also know the Alpha''s doom." Chapter 78 - Athanasia, The Demon Princess "Really? If you knew about it, then we don''t need to go to Mirrikh, right?" Maxine exclaimed. "Even if you go there, you won''t be able to meet Phoebus. He was taken by the Night Howlers." Shelly answered. Amaris was quiet for a moment. It was a good thing that Shelly knew about the prophecy, but she wanted to get an explanation and Amaris knew that only Phoebus could interpret that. "What do you mean when you said that my prophecy was the same with my Aunt Athanasia?'' Shelly seemed surprised to hear that the demon princess was her aunt. She washed her hair first before starting to tell the story of Athanasia and her mate. ******************************** Fifteen Years Ago For Athanasia, a hundred and twenty-six-year-old demon princess, the 75th child of Asmodeus and Lilith, King and Queen of the Underworld, Hell was her home. She grew up with her two hundred siblings, aware that the time would come when she would have to enter the realm of the humans. As a princess, she will be sent to the mortal world with one purpose, to spread darkness, like her other siblings. And the day has come that she would have to enter the world of humans. Her fate and life there lies in the hands of the witches. They are the ones who will assist the demons from preparations to settling down. A witch will be assigned as a companion to guide them along their journey. She also has to choose a human slave to assist her in the mortal realm. A list will be given by the Fates, three older women who thread human destiny. "Are you ready?" Antaura, one of her younger sisters, asked. She took a deep breath and smiled. "Yes, I am." She simply answered. She had been in her chamber since last week preparing for this day. She looked at herself in the mirror to see her appearance one last time. She has long, wavy silver hair, red eyes, and plump lips. She chose a simple red off-shoulder dress with a slit up to her hips. Unlike what humans believed, demons have a unique and extraordinary appearance. They are god-like beings, after all. They are not hideous with horns and tails described in the mortal world. However, they have a demonic creature that could take them over when they use their power at full strength. She stood up and walked towards her sister. Antaura is her 106th sibling, twenty years younger than her. She will enter the human realm once ten of the princes and princesses have returned. That''s how it works. Ten royal demons will enter the mortal world simultaneously, and once they return, the next ten demons will be sent. It is part of their training as a candidate to be the next demon king for the demon princes. And for the demon princesses, it is their duty to choose one of the princes to whom they will serve, protect and help become the demon king. His father, Asmodeus, did not choose an heir and decided to have his sons compete with each other. The competition will be held once all two hundred sons and daughters of the demon king complete their task in the human world. "You''re breathtaking Athanasia." Antaura commented. She smiled as they walked out of her chamber to the throne room. "I can''t wait for my turn to enter Terra." Antaura has been waiting for her time patiently. Terra is the place where humans lived. It is said that the name came from its goddess, Terra, meaning land or earth, and the inhabitants were called Terrans or the humans. "You still have a long time to prepare. Have you decided who you will choose?" Athanasia asked curiously. Antaura took a deep breath and looked at her sister. "I wanted to choose and help Azael for a long time. How about you? Have you decided?" Antaura asked her back. She held her sister''s hand to pull her inside the throne room. All of their siblings were already there, including the lower and higher demons. The throne room was located at the deepest pit of the Underworld, the Altum, where the King and Queen reside. Demons could only enter here once in every twenty years to witness the princes and princesses enter Terra, or if the Demon King permits it. "I wanted to help Zuriel." She whispered to Antaura before taking their seats. Antaura frowned. "Are you serious? Why do you want to be in the front line? You really love war. There''s nothing in Semel but countless wars." The Underworld has nine layers. Semel, Cordus, Tertius, Poena, Gelum, Perfidia, Caligo, Letalia and Altum. The oldest demon princes guard the eight layers while the Demon King defends Altum. Zuriel is considered one of the strongest demon princes, and he is the current ruler and guardian of Semel, the first layer of the Underworld. It has infinite size, a barren land destroyed by endless battles. It is the only passage to the deeper layers of hell. The visitors and invaders of the demon realm will have to go through Semel and face Zuriel. He is called the demon prince of war. "Antaura, I was raised on the battlefield. I''m not just a princess. I''m one of the Great Duchess. I commanded legions. I cannot stay in my chamber waiting for an order. I need to be out there." She seriously explained. Antaura took a deep breath and stared at Athanasia. "Fine. Maybe once you come back here, you will change your mind. You are the only princess who wanted to help Zuriel." She chuckled. She was older than Antaura, but she always scolded her. She will miss her younger sister''s nagging. "Oh, the witches are here. Who do you think will be your companion? I think Ophelia is the best witch." Antaura continued her prattle. She looked around and saw her other siblings. There are six princes and four princesses who will enter Terra with their witch companions. They are not allowed to choose a witch, but they will be given a list of human slaves to select the best candidate. The throne room went dark and eerie. When the King and Queen arrived, all the demons stood up and bowed their heads. The King sat down to his throne, and the Queen stood beside him. He signaled to the witches to start the ceremony. The High Priestess Sabrina stood in the middle to call out the princes and princesses. When Athanasia''s name was called, she looked at Antaura and bid her farewell. "Athanasia, your witch companion is Ophelia. Unfortunately, there''s only one Terran who was chosen by the Fates." The high priestess said while pointing at the cauldron. She frowned. They will be given ten Terrans to choose from as far as she knows. She walked towards the cauldron and saw the Terran, who would be her slave, the one who would change her life forever. Chapter 79 - The Terran Slave Death. The absence of life. A word that terrifies humans. For Alistair Cohen, his death is just around the corner. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart disease when he was a kid. "Alistair, your heart is too weak. You''re lucky to be alive at your age. Most people with CHD lived up to eighteen only so I am hoping you could at least be careful next time." Dr.Matthews scolded him. He was his doctor ever since he was born. Although his family was wealthy, the doctors said his heart cannot be cured even with surgery. At the age of twenty five, he is a successful young CEO living his life to the fullest, accepting his fate. "I wanted to have fun. I don''t want to die miserable. I only have a year to live after all." He said, sadly. A month ago, he was rushed to the hospital because he fainted. One of his friends asked him to accompany him to the gym so they could work out together. He obliged. But he suddenly felt a burning pressure from his chest, felt nauseous and fell unconscious. When he woke up, he was already at the hospital. He underwent a series of tests and found out that he only got a year to live. He felt his whole world crumble, his dreams were crushed and his future was ruined. After knowing he''s about to die soon, he wanted to enjoy his remaining life by doing everything he could possibly imagine. "I know that but if you would be so reckless, that one year could be reduced. Your parents entrusted you to me so please take care of yourself." The doctor pleaded. His parents died in a plane crash three years ago. He''s an only child so Dr.Matthews became a father-like figure to him since he''s also a family friend. "Fine. Fine. I won''t drink anymore but I could still have some fun with women right?" He grinned. The doctor smiled while shaking his head. He wrote down a prescription and handed it to him. "Don''t even miss a day without taking your meds or else I will have to tie you in a hospital bed." He was supposed to be in the hospital, resting. He was not allowed to go out and have fun but he signed a waiver declining a continuous treatment inside the hospital. He took the prescription paper and winked at his doctor. Giving him a sarcastic smile, he stood up and left the clinic. Walking out of the hospital was even exhausting to him. He noticed some gazes from the people in the receiving area. Eyes that show sympathy, confusion and mockery. He hated them. They looked at him as a weakling. When he was a kid, he was bullied by his classmates for being weak. He never joined any sports and was always alone. The boys in his class thought he was making it up and that his parents paid the school so he would be exempted for physical activities. He never had any friends until high school. During his college days, he became popular because his family''s business grew bigger. They became the most powerful and wealthiest clan in the country. The girls suddenly showed their concern to him and the boys respected him. But he knew they were all fake. He wanted to curse god by giving him this disease. He tried to live a normal life but he couldn''t. He was always afraid that his heart will suddenly stop beating. He was afraid to die. He continued to walk towards the exit and felt a sudden pain in his chest. ''What the hell? I just walked a few steps and felt like my heart was tearing apart.'' He thought inwardly. He straightened his body and rushed into the parking lot. He went inside his car and rested his head. He was panting, giving out an irregular breathing. ''Am I going to die right now? Ah shit. If only someone could save me from this mess. I would do everything in exchange for a normal life, even if it''s just for a while. I could even make a deal with the devil.'' He talked continuously in his mind. In the deepest layer of the Underworld, the demons watched as Alistair wishes to extend his life. Athanasia stared at the man who was going to be her slave. He was about 5 ft 11 in. He has black hair, a deep set of grey eyes with a straight nose like the Greeks and full luscious lips. ''Is he really a human?'' She thought to herself. Alistair was good looking, hot and sexy. Like them, he has a god-like appearance. Athanasia couldn''t understand but she was mesmerized by the Terran''s unique features. Her thought was cut off when the High Priestess called her attention. She went back in front of the throne and bowed again. "Ophelia, the tarot card." Athanasia heard Sabrina. Ophelia kneeled down beside her and handed out the tarot cards. "Pick one. This will determine what awaits you in Terra." She looked Ophelia in the eyes before picking up a card. Ophelia was the next High Priestess. Her magical powers were considered as powerful as a demon. She hasn''t seen her use one though since witches reside in Terra. They will only come to the Underworld if summoned by the Demon King. She didn''t know how to read the card anyway so he just handed it to Ophelia. Then Ophelia walked towards the High Priestess and gave it to her. She started telling Athanasia about her life in Terra. Her name would be changed to Asia Hart, a rich and famous twenty one year old superstar. She will be given a house and two cars. Her appearance will change from a silver haired red eyed demon to a blonde blue eyed Terran. She doesn''t really know what a superstar is but she would do everything to fulfill her duties as a demon princess. The High Priestess called the ten royal demons together with their witches. "You all studied Terra and were trained how to mingle with the Terrans. Your sole purpose was to spread darkness and terror. You could do everything in the human world. Except for one." Lilith, the Queen, walked towards her sons and daughters and continued. "You are not allowed to fall in love with a human.. If you do, you will lose your powers and become a mortal." Chapter 80 - Love Makes You Weak Love. An intense feeling of affection. A word that most humans dreamed of having. Lilith, the Queen walked silently in front of her sons and daughters. She was the mother of all evil. There are a lot of stories about her but for her children, she was a caring mother who wanted to protect them. "Terra is a place full of mortals. Though some other beings or entities lived there that came from the Underworld, it is still a land for humans. We do not have a place in that realm. We belong here in the Underworld. Remember, the reason you will be sent there is to test the Terrans whether they are worthy to live in paradise or to rot here in hell. The human slaves are people who have accepted their fate and are willing to deal with the devil in exchange of momentary happiness and luxury. Your time in Terra is temporary. You are forbidden to love a human. You could have fun with them but never taint your heart with love." She then gave each of her children an amulet before continuing her speech. "Our time here is different from Terra. Our timeline is seven times faster than theirs. That amulet will protect you from their mortality. You might find it hard sometimes to live in their realm and each of you will be sent to different terris. You will live there as one of the rich and famous. You could contact one another if needed and seek help from the Underworld using that amulet. After your time is up, you could only come back here once you devour the Terran slave''s soul. For them, there''s no turning back. Once they sign a contract, their names will be added to the book of the dead." Athanasia was listening to her mother''s every word. She wouldn''t allow herself to fail this task. She wanted to fulfill her duties and make her father proud. Then when her task is done, she will come back and choose Zuriel so she could help him guard the first layer of their home. "My sons and daughters, the punishment of falling in love with a Terran is death. You will lose the powers you have and will become a mortal. Love will make your heart weak and you will eventually die. Do not break this law and complete your task. Come back to the Underworld and make your king proud." When the Queen finished her speech, Asmodeus, the King of the Underworld, stood up and walked towards his children. "With the power granted upon me by Orcus, I, Asmodeus, the Fourth King of the Underworld, Protector of Altum and the father of all evil, I hereby permit six demon princes and four demon princesses to enter Terra. May the power of evil be with you at all times." The ceremony ended and all demons left the throne room, leaving only those who will enter the human realm. Each of them needs to enter Terra from Altum up to Semel. The first one to leave is her brother Azael, one of his powers is to control temptation and desire. He was one of the weakest demon princes of the Underworld. Maybe that''s the reason Antaura wanted to help him because his powers are no match to the others. The next to leave is Elisia, the 68th daughter who could control time. Phelan, a demon prince who could transform into a wolf. His lover is Selene, the moon goddess. Together, they rule all the packs of the werewolves. Samael, the prince of death. He is powerful enough to kill a human just by touching them. Dolion, a deceitful demon prince. Morana, a demon princess who could control dreams. She is responsible for the Terrans'' nightmares. Naamah, who has the power in seducing both demons and humans. Circe, an enchantress who uses potions and herbs. She could turn her enemies into any type of animal or monster. Sura, a demon prince who eats humans. Though eating humans was also forbidden, Sura was permitted by Orcus. However, he is not allowed to eat their flesh, he could only consume their souls to appease his hunger. Athanasia was the last one to leave. But before walking out of Altum, her father called her. "Athanasia, you are a virgin demon princess am I right?" He asked. She frowned and looked at her mother. "Yes father." She answered simply. "You might feel the urge of mating with another being whether it is a demon or a human, it doesn''t matter. However, if you feel it towards a human, remember the law, never fall in love." Her father reminded her. "Yes father. I will never fall in love with a Terran! I will not fail you and make you and mother proud." She smiled and bid farewell to her parents. As she turned and walked away from them, the High Priestess Sabrina approached her parents. "The Moirai didn''t give her an option. Only that Terran. It was supposed to be a list of at least ten Terrans, but she only received one. I consulted the Moirai, they said they have tried to search for more but it was just him. Athanasia''s doom has been written and carved in the abyss. It has never been found and discovered by any demons, even you my king. Her, being a virgin demon at that age seems so peculiar, don''t you think? Royal demons crave and lust for another demon as soon as they meet the monster inside them and usually it''s at the age of twenty, but in her case it was different. She had her monster when she was just seven, yet she never craved any demons here in the Underworld." The King didn''t speak and was just sitting in his throne silently. "Only Orcus knew about her doom. Athanasia is strong and I believe she wouldn''t fail us. She would never do something that could cause chaos in the Underworld.." Lilith, the Queen, commented instead. Chapter 81 - An Intoxicating Scent Athanasia and Ophelia travelled from Altum to Semel to enter Terra. In Semel, he was greeted by her brother, Zuriel. "Athanasia, I''ll be rooting for you!" Her brother Zuriel''s appearance is extraordinary. She heard the lower rank demons talk about him once and they were enchanted by his looks. However, if you look closely, he has many scars all over his body and the most visible was on his face. It looks like a burned scar. It was obvious that Zuriel''s scars came from the countless battles he went through. He was in the frontline after all. A lot of creatures and supernatural beings have tried to cross Semel. The most recent one was the battle with the Lamia or the vampires. They were powerful beings who were exiled from the Underworld because they couldn''t control their thirst from the Terrans'' blood. The vampires have been trying to take over the Underworld for centuries. Zuriel was the third demon who guarded Semel. The first two have been defeated. "Zuriel, once my task is done, I will choose you and fight for you." She said, seriously. Zuriel was surprised. He didn''t expect one of his siblings to choose him. "Are you sure? You are the only princess who chose to fight with me." Zuriel couldn''t believe it and wanted to make sure about what she said. "Brother, I believe you will be a great king. You are a powerful demon and you deserve to become the king." She answered while staring directly into his brother''s eyes. Zuriel''s eyes were like flames of fire. His pointed nose compliments his full bottom lip. His masculine and toned muscles will make every girl drool. Zuriel patted his sister''s head and smiled. "You really are different from all the princesses. I will be waiting for your return, little sister." He then turned his gaze to Ophelia. Athanasia was surprised when Zuriel suddenly pulled Ophelia into his arms and kissed her. ''What the hell is going on here?'' She thought inwardly. No one ever told her that these two have this kind of relationship. Or did anyone know about it? She saw Ophelia blushed when Zuriel released her. "Go! I will be waiting for both of you." He said with a wide grin on his face. She decided to ask Ophelia later so they continued to walk to the gates of the Underworld. "There are seven gates of the Underworld and we will choose Acharon, the river of the dead. This is the fastest way to enter Terra. Once we reach the end of the river, we will have to fly from there so I suggest you use your wings. Your slave is in Aramoor City and you also lived there. Before we go to your house, we have to find the Terran. He might be dying already at this moment. Remember, he cannot die. He''s the only slave chosen by the Moirai. If he dies, you could never come back here." Ophelia explained. She nodded and took a deep breath before they continued their journey. At the end of the river was a waterfall cliff, surrounded by the vast ocean and the vibrant blue sky. She looked at Ophelia, trying to figure out how she would fly out of the cliff. "I don''t ride in brooms. That''s too old fashioned." Ophelia said while she sprayed something into her body. After a minute, she began floating in the air. "Come on!" She shouted. Athanasia focused and as her red eyes lit up, her black wings started to come out slowly. Her wings were beautiful and perfect. It was nearly as tall as her, bending off her back like reflecting the surface of a concave mirror. She extended her huge wings and flapped them slowly at first. Then she soared above, gliding and sailing through the air. It was the first time she left the Underworld. As she continued to fly through the boundless blue sky, she stopped and turned around to see Acharon. ''I will come back no matter what! Wait for me, brother.'' She thought to herself. "Ophelia, do you know where to find that Terran?" She asked while they flew as fast as they could. She won''t allow him to die. He should stay alive until her time in Terra is up. Then she would devour his soul so she could return home. "Yes. He''s in a hospital parking lot. We should hurry Athanasia!" Ophelia answered. Looking at Ophelia''s face, the Terran''s condition seems bad. She flapped her wings faster and flew to where her slave was. She felt like the sky and ocean was endless. They''ve been flying for an hour at full speed but she still couldn''t see any land. She was already getting pissed when she saw a huge terris. And as they got closer, she could see the tall buildings towering and boasting towards the sky. Ophelia used her magic to make them invisible. Aramoor City is the main capital of Oprea, a terris with an area of around five hundred fifty kilometers and a population of nine million Terrans. Athanasia has been studying different terris in Terra so she wasn''t really surprised how it looks. However, she was still new to this world and there are still a lot of things she needs to know. "That''s the hospital!" Ophelia shouted, pointing at a small building. She flew towards the building and looked around the parking lot. Good thing it wasn''t in the basement. As she kept on searching for the Terran''s car, she suddenly smelled an intoxicating scent. It smells like a woody, spicy scent yet sweet and warm. She frowned and looked around. She followed the smell and found it coming from a red ferrari. She couldn''t understand why her heart started beating faster as she slowly came down and hid her wings. The smell became stronger and it''s making her insanely wild. She felt like her monster was losing control inside her and wanted to get out. When she walked towards the car''s door, she saw the man who was fated to be her slave.. Alistair Cohen. Chapter 82 - A Demons Craving Lust. An intense and powerful desire. One of the seven deadly sins. She was looking at the man laid down on her bed. When they found him earlier, he was already dying. "A-Are you my guardian angel?" Those were the last words he said before he closed his eyes. Funny. He called the devil but was expecting an angel to rescue him. Human feelings are really complicated. She thought to herself. She was getting curious of Alistair Cohen. When they arrived at the parking lot, she smelled a strong scent and she was surprised to see that it was coming from him. His scent was making her monster wild, wanting to get out. She couldn''t understand what was happening. It was the first time she smelled something like that. It was making her deliriously insane. "Here." Ophelia gave her a cup of tea. From its aroma, the traditionally sweetness, barely perfumed fragrance and the mix of floral scent, she could tell that it was a jasmine tea. She looked at Ophelia seated across her. They were waiting for the Terran to wake up. He was supposed to be dead but thanks to Ophelia for giving him a potion that could extend his life for another day. "Ophelia, are you with my brother, Zuriel?" She asked what was bugging her when she saw them kissing. Ophelia doesn''t seem surprised but her eyes were full of sadness. "I could never be his. I am the next High Priestess, I could never be owned by anyone, even the Demon King." Ophelia uttered. The High Priestess of the Underworld is a servant of Orcus, the Demon God of the Underworld. They do not obey the king and queen. They could only be summoned by the Demon King during rituals and ceremonies blessed by Orcus. The witches lived in Terra but no one actually knows where. Although they are allowed to mingle with the Terrans, like the demons, love is forbidden. They are allowed to mate with a demon and stay in the Underworld as long as you are not chosen as the next High Priestess. She decided not to question Ophelia further. It''s their first day in Terra together and she doesn''t want to pissed of a witch. "I thought my appearance would change?" She asked when she realized her hair was still silver. She doesn''t like the idea that she would go blonde but she was the one who picked the tarot card so she can''t do anything about it. "It would change once you and the Terran signed the contract." Ophelia answered. She looked at the man on the bed once more. She was getting impatient as the man was still sleeping and not even moving. She inhaled and there it was again, the smell of that spicy yet sweet scent, making her crave for the Terran. Ophelia was staring at her when she suddenly stood up and walked towards the bed. She couldn''t control the urge to get close to him. As if his scent was pulling her, making her body move on its own. "Princess Athanasia!" Ophelia called but she felt like she was in a different world and no one was there but her and the Terran. It was like the place was surrounded with flowers and she saw the man laying down on them. As she walked towards him, the lusty scent coming from him made her aroused. She felt someone tapped her on the shoulder, it was Ophelia. "Princess, what do you think you''re doing?" When her mind became clear, she was on the bed, leaning her face to the Terran''s neck. The smell was stronger since she was so close and she wanted to put a mark on him. No, it wasn''t really her but the monster inside her. She covered her mouth and immediately walked away from the bed. She felt nauseous so she ran towards the bathroom and barfed. "Princess, what''s happening? If you won''t tell me, I can''t help you." Ophelia sounded confused and irritated. She''s there to help her but she was still hesitating to tell her. She took a deep breath before telling Ophelia about what she''s feeling. "I want him. I''m craving for him. I couldn''t control it. His scent, it''s making me crazy! Why is that?" She brooded. Ophelia''s face was surprised and couldn''t say a word for a moment. She leaned at the bathroom''s door and looked at Athanasia. "You''re a virgin demon?" She asked. Athanasia frowned. It was the second time she was asked about it. "Yes. Father asked me that before we left. Is being a virgin demon that bad?" She sat down on the toilet bowl, still feeling nauseous as she waited for Ophelia''s answer. "You are a one hundred twenty six years old demon, it''s not really bad but from what I know, you are the only demon who has never mated with anyone." She couldn''t believe what she heard. She never really thought of having sex with another demon. She has never felt any lust towards anyone in the Underworld, but why with a human? "What do you mean? Are all my siblings had sex with any demon in the Underworld?" She asked, getting more buffled than before. "Princess, lust is one of the seven deadly sins. Why do you think demons were in the Underworld? So they could freely do whatever they desire without any hesitation. Demons lust and crave for another once they find their bestia. In your case, you found yours at the age of seven. Among the other princesses, you are the only one who had it at an early age. Most of your siblings found theirs at the age of twenty." Ophelia continued. Things are getting complicated from what Ophelia told her. "But why with a human? I have never felt lust with a demon. I can''t understand, why him? He was supposed to be my slave. What should I do?" She was beginning to get mad with this whole charade. "Have sex with him. That''s the only way you could fight your lust. Athanasia, your bestia is craving for him. If you won''t do it with him, what''s inside you will eventually go out of control. I am not the right witch to tell you this. I don''t have full knowledge about bestias. What I said was based on what I read, but I believe there''s a reason why that Terran was the only slave chosen by the Moirai." She was about to ask further when the intoxicating scent became stronger, making her excited and thrilled. She was in the bathroom while the Terran was on her bed. Why is it suddenly so robust than when she first saw him? Then they heard a groan coming outside. Her eyes widened while looking at Ophelia. The Terran was finally awake. Chapter 83 - A Sensually Sweet Scent Fear. The absence of courage. An unpleasant emotion caused by anticipation or nearness of danger. He groaned when he felt a throbbing pain in his head as he slowly opened his eyes. His visions were blurry at first but when it became clear, he frowned. He couldn''t remember what happened after he passed out. It wasn''t really a simple passing out. He died. After talking to Dr.Matthews, he walked towards the parking lot and felt the tightness from his chest. He wanted to go back inside the hospital but he was afraid that he wouldn''t be able to get out once he''s admitted. He feared being tied down to a bed, waiting for the day his heart would stop. When he went inside the car, he couldn''t breathe. He felt like his body was burning and suffocating, sweat was all over him. He could hear his heartbeat slowly fading. ''Am I going to die right now? Ah shit. If only someone could save me from this mess. I would do everything in exchange for a normal life, even if it''s just for a while. I could even make a deal with the devil.'' He talked continuously in his mind. His breathing became sluggish and his eyes were starting to close on its own. He tried to stay awake but he couldn''t. It was the day he always feared. His death. Before his heart stopped beating, he saw a woman coming from above. He couldn''t see it clearly, his visions were beginning to blur but he knew she had wings. It was faint but her scent was captivating, like a jasmine flower, it was sensually sweet. He saw her walk towards his car door and leaned, checking on him. She has a strong aura, with her red eyes and long silver hair, she was like a goddess who descended from heaven. "A-Are you my guardian angel?" He asked. But as soon as he said those words, his heart stopped beating. He groaned again from the pain he suddenly felt in his chest. He was surprised, he could still hear his heart beating. He wasn''t dead. He looked around to see where he was. It doesn''t look like a hospital. It looks like a bedroom. The bedroom has a combination of gray and black color only. Judging from the decorations, the owner was a woman. The bed was big enough for four people and there was a couch across the bed, fitted for ten. ''Where am I?'' He asked inwardly. He inhaled and there it was again, the scent of jasmine. The smell wasn''t faint anymore, it was stronger and he knew it was coming from the bathroom. He frowned when a woman who had black hair came out but the scent wasn''t coming from her. He knew there was another woman behind that door. "What''s this place?" He asked, confused. "You''re still in Aramoor. We''re in the penthouse of the sky tower." The woman answered. "I was supposed to be dead. I know my heart stopped. Why am I still alive? And where''s the woman with the silver hair?" He asked again. The scent was making him excited. He wanted to see the woman who smells like the jasmine flower. Then the bathroom''s door opened, there she was, walking slowly like an angel. He looked into her eyes and it was really red. Her perfectly small nose and plump lips compliments her aura. She was gorgeous and alluringly sexy. "What''s your name?" He asked. "My name is Athanasia and I am not your guardian angel." She answered in a cold tone. "Then who are you? Why did you bring me here?" He frowned. "I am a demon princess and this is Ophelia, a witch." Athanasia honestly introduced them to the Terran. His eyes focused on the woman who introduced herself as Athanasia, walking towards the couch and sat there. "Alistair Cohen, twenty five years old, CEO of Stillfire Studio. At the age of one, you were diagnosed with congenital heart disease and last year the doctors told you that you only have a year to live. Yes, you are correct. You died but before your heart stopped, you said you could make a deal with the devil as long as your life would be extended." Ophelia started. Alistair was on the bed, looking at the two women. He couldn''t believe what he just heard. A demon princess and a witch, is this for real? "W-Wait. You don''t expect me to believe that right? I mean I was on the brink of death, it was just a spur of the moment. A demon and a witch? Are you crazy?" He was staring at Athanasia who was sitting on the couch quietly. "You need proof? Okay." Ophelia was starting to get annoyed. Witches have a short temper, they are quiet but impatient. When Ophelia snapped her fingers, Alistair''s chest felt tight again. It was like someone was piercing his heart. He looked at the witch in front of her and gazed at the woman calmly sipping a cup of tea. He tried to speak but he couldn''t. He was starting to sweat again. Athanasia was trying to control the beast inside her. She couldn''t look at him when Ophelia started torturing him. Her body tensed and her hands trembled when his scent became powerful. She glanced at him and their eyes met. Her eyes widened when she saw him ruffling his chest. "Ophelia, stop! You''re hurting him!" She shouted. As Ophelia snapped her fingers again, the pain in his chest vanished. He coughed and was trying to gasp for air, as if someone had just strangled him. "Remember, you are supposed to be dead. I extended your life for a day and I could take it away if I want to. So shall we continue?" Ophelia smirked. He glared at the witch who was smirking at him. He hates being weak, especially in front of women.. But it looks like his life was in the hands of this black haired girl. Chapter 84 - Pheremones He mustered his strength to compose himself. He looked at the witch and then to the girl who smelled like jasmine. There was something in her that he couldn''t understand. He met a lot of women but she was different. He never had this feeling before. The jasmine scent was just a common perfume for women but he couldn''t explain why her scent was making him crazy. He felt the urge to touch her every time he looked at her. "Is she really a demon?" He curiously asked. "Yes. She would be the one to make a contract with you. Your task is simple. You will be her slave, assist her here in your world. Whatever she wants, you obey her. She''s here to test the humans if they are worthy to be in paradise or to rot in hell. You will help her complete her duty. In exchange, she would fulfill every wish you have. However, once you enter a contract with her, you will be bound to her. Your soul belongs to her. She could extend your life as long as she''s here in your world and you could live a normal life. But once her time here is up, she needs to take you to the Underworld by devouring your soul." Ophelia explained briefly. He didn''t say a word. He was thinking of what the witch said. The woman with silver hair was really a demon and they would be bound once he agreed to sign a contract. He doesn''t have a choice anyway. He was supposed to be dead but had another day to live because of the witch. If he agrees, his life would be extended and he could live normally. He wouldn''t have to worry that his heart would stop, at least he would know when his life ends. He looked at the demon but she wasn''t looking at him. He couldn''t understand why she''s diverting her eyes. Is she not attracted to him? He thought to himself. He wanted to make sure of something before he could agree with the witch''s offer. He stood up and walked towards the silver haired demon. She was still not looking at him. Ophelia frowned when she saw the terran walking towards Athanasia. She sensed something in him, but she couldn''t explain what it was. Is he the one destined to be the Princess mate? She thought inwardly. Allistair continued to get closer. Athanasia noticed that the Terran was walking towards her. As he got closer, his scent was getting stronger. She bit her lips to control both herself and her bestia. She suddenly felt the heat from her own body. It was her first time to lust for someone. She was craving for him. Her bestia was beginning to lose its control as his scent was lingering around her bedroom. Allistair stood in front of her. She tilted her chin up to meet his gaze. Affected by his stare, she could feel her body was starting to feel warm. "What?" She asked, trying not to show him his effect on her. "Why do I feel something towards you? What did you do to me?" He ranted. She frowned. Did he just say she did something to him? She calmed herself and stood up to face him. He was taller than her, but she didn''t care. She''s a demon princess and she wasn''t afraid of anyone. "I didn''t do anything to you. You needed help. It just happened that we accepted your request. You can still reject the offer. You will still die either way." She was right. If he rejects the offer, the black haired witch would definitely rip his heart out. If he agrees, he could continue living and die later. "But why does it feel like I want to have sex with you? I couldn''t take my eyes off you. Your scent is making me crazy." She sighed. She decided to tell him the truth about them. She wasn''t sure how long she could control herself anyway and she might just attack him anytime so it''s better he knew. "Demons are lustful. We released a sex pheremones if we sense a possible mate to attract them. Usually it''s with another demon or some other mythical creatures. But in my case, it was you. I don''t know why and Ophelia said that I''m the only demon who found a Terran mate." She explained. "So you also feel the urge of having sex with me?" He asked blatantly. Ophelia moved forward to answer him. She could see that Athanasia''s lust and craving was getting stronger. "Not really her. But her bestia or the beast inside her. Demons can shapeshift to a beast or a monster. To maintain its strength and power, they would need to find a suitable mate to have sex with, to bond. Demons have to release their lust, their craving to their chosen mate, if not, the monster inside them will lose control and eventually die." Ophelia explained further. Athanasia took a deep breath again. She was gasping for air as her body''s temperature rose. "Will you accept the contract? I don''t have all day." She said in a hoarse voice. He noticed her rapid breathing, her pinkish white skin was beginning to redden. "Last question. Do we need to have sex? Am I some sort of a sex slave?" She laughed. Is he really asking about it? She will do everything to not mate with a Terran. "It depends on the princess. If she could control her bestia, then there''s no need to do it. Remember, you''re a slave. You have to do anything she asks." Ophelia answered. He didn''t answer for a moment. He didn''t have much of a choice and the only way to survive was to accept the contract. He still wanted to live longer, to enjoy life and to at least fulfill his dreams. "Then I am yours, princess." He said while looking at him intently. Her bestia was getting wilder inside her when he said those words. It was getting harder for her to control the beast but she was determined not to mate with Allistair. "Let''s start the contract binding.." Ophelia uttered. Chapter 85 - The Bringer Of Death Alistair Cohen was supposed to be Athanasia''s slave. His days were numbered, and he literally died, but Ophelia gave him another day to live so he could choose. Alistair wanted to live a normal life without fear of dying, so he signed a contract with Athanasia. But he didn''t expect that being bound by a demon was not easy. "But they both didn''t know that their meeting had already been written in the Book of Malum and Fatum. Phoebus wrote Athanasia''s doom in his sleep. Then he gave it to the Demon God Orcus in his dream. He never wrote it in the Book of Malum. When Orcus saw what was written, he hid it somewhere in Tartarus." Shelly played the water with her hands while the others listened to her. "Asmodeus and Lilith never saw their daughter''s doom. But I heard from Phoebus that Athanasia was mistakenly prophesied as the bringer of death and destruction. And Alistair was the one who could right that mistake." Shelly continued. Amaris frowned. She couldn''t understand the connection between her and her aunt''s prophecy. "So, how was that related to me?" She asked. "Athanasia wasn''t the bringer of death. As I had said, it was a misunderstanding, a mistake. Phoebus really had a prophesy that one creature could bring death to all creatures, but it wasn''t your aunt." "Who is it?" Maxine impatiently asked. "It was the child of the moon." Shelly answered. Amaris'' eyes widened. She didn''t expect that Shelly would say that. She had to ask her Aunt Athanasia first. "Are you sure? How did you know all of this?" Zoila asked. Shelly shook her head. "I''m not sure if she was the one in the prophecy, but I do know that there was someone who would bring death to all of us. Phoebus told me that once it was written, it would really happen." They stayed quiet for a moment then Amaris sighed deeply. She couldn''t believe that there was something more beyond the words written in the Book of Malum. "So her aunt was mated to a Terran because it was written in the Book of Malum and Fatum, right? The Demon Princess Athanasia and Alistair met fifteen years ago, but how come the Terran didn''t look like he was getting older?" Maxine asked, curiosity piqued. "Alistair was still a Terran, a mortal. But once a Terran bound a contract with a demon, his age would stop. It was temporary as long as the demon was still alive." Shelly answered. Shelly turned to Amaris. Although she was blind, Amaris knew that she was using her sense of smell. "Your aunt is a powerful demon. The Gods also feared her, so Orcus ensured that she would be sent here to Terra. Just like what they did to your father, Phelan." "This is really getting crazy. I mean, it''s obvious that your aunt knew about the prophecy, but why didn''t she tell us?" Zoila ranted. Amaris didn''t say a word. She already felt that her aunt was hiding something from her. She didn''t expect that their prophecies were related. ''Are you done talking to Damien''s mate? We have to rest. Come back here. I''m waiting.'' It was Zion talking to him using the mind link. The girls stood up then took Shelly into Maxine''s tent. Amaris put on some makeup on Shelly''s face, then Zoila lent her a nightgown. They were amazed at how pretty she was when she was all neat and clean. Then they took her outside to present her to Damien. Shelly couldn''t see their reaction. She couldn''t even see her face or what she looked like after being dressed by some strangers. Damien was surprised to see his mate looking so sexy and pretty with her nightgown on. He knew his father would get mad at him, but he decided that he would not reject Shelly. He walked closer to her and, without a word, grabbed her hand, pulling her inside his tent. Zion chuckled then signaled to Amaris to get inside their tent. Everyone followed. As soon as they came inside, Zion pulled her, slamming his lips with hers. Amaris started removing her clothes slowly while she pushed Zion towards the bed. She smiled seductively as she undressed herself. When she removed all her clothes, he made her sit on his lap. She felt his dick poking her between her thighs. Zion kissed her back while his left hand cupped one of her breasts and played with her nipples. Then his right hand caressed her from her tummy down to her pussy. Amaris opened her legs so he could play with her clit. "You like this?" He asked, whispering into her ear. "Yes! Yes! Ahh" She answered. "You''re so wild, my Luna." Before putting his fingers inside her, he first put them in her mouth. Then she sucked it to make it wet, and then he slid two fingers inside her core. "Ahh. Alpha!" She called. "You''re so wet. You''re amazing!" He said while his fingers were moving inside and out of her pussy. He suddenly laid down on the bed but continued to play with her pussy. Amaris moaned louder because she knew that Azalea had made their tent soundproof. Zion removed his fingers then sucked and licked them. "Love, sit on my face. I want to taste and eat you." He said in a sexy voice. She gulped, then moved on top and positioned herself on his face. Then she felt his tongue reaching her entrance, licking it. "Fuck! This is making me crazy!" She exclaimed. He grabbed her waist down to grind her pussy on his face. She felt his tongue inside her, so she started moving up and down on his face. His mouth sucked her clit, and his tongue licked it over and over. She sat on his face and started to move forward and back. "Ahh. Ahh. Ahh. Love!" She screamed in pleasure while she grabbed her breast and caressed her nipples. "I''m coming! Ahh... Ahh..." She came twice but this time directly to his face. Zion pulled her by the hips, sucking her dripping pussy harder. "Oh, fuuuuck!" She howled. Chapter 86 - The Elven Clan Territory Erected in a field, the Elves Territory, Hiborane is home to high elves led by its King, Rychell. The main house was built fifteen years ago by the elves. It has escape routes underground, which were of great importance to the people of Hiborane and its success. The house itself looked amusing. With its birch wood rooftops, ceramic walls, and scented flowers, Hiborane has an enchanting atmosphere. The foremost attraction is the stables built ten years ago and designed with the help of the werewolves. Hiborane has a booming economy primarily supported by farming, crafting, and jewel crafting. But their most significant strengths were exquisite leatherworks and skills in the art of war. However, Hiborane lacked people with blacksmithing skills. Despite its powers and imperfections, Hiborane was most likely directed towards a delightful destiny under the administration of King Rychell, one of the Elysian Elders. Zion and Amaris looked down on the field at the edge of the hill where the elve''s territory was located. As their deal last night, they ran towards Hiborane in their wolf form. They rushed into the forest as soon as the sun rose. The forest was boundless, packed, and aborning. Its shelter was conquered by hazel, elm, and chestnut. But still, an abundance of light passed through their crowns for a mosaic of chaparrals to vanquish the nut and seed-covered grounds beneath. Reserved climbing plants dangled from a couple of trees, and a mishmash of flowers, which developed dispersed and sparingly, stood out against the otherwise amber lower level. A clash of beastly clangors, mainly those of birds and vermin, added life to the forest and soaked out the infrequent sounds of busting twigs beneath their feet. ''I won.'' Faith, Amaris'' wolf proudly said. ''Then I will gladly be your slave, my Luna.'' Hunter answered. ''You only let me win. I know that you were staring at me from the moment we started running. But I will take this chance and make you my slave for three days.'' She said. ''I can be your slave forever.'' Hunter responded. As they continued to go down the path to meet the welcoming party from the Elven Clan, the Alpha and Luna of the Blue Moon Pack shifted back to their Terran form. Maxine and Zoila handed Amaris her dress and robe. Four elves approached them, bowing in front of them. "Welcome, Alpha Zion and Luna Amaris. King Rychell awaits inside the castle." One of the elves greeted them. They followed them, but the others were stopped by the two elves who looked like their warriors. "We apologize, but the King strictly said that only the Alpha and Luna were allowed inside." Zion frowned but nodded in agreement. Inside, six narrow, round towers boasted above all, they were linked with short bridges and were connected by relatively low, giant walls constructed of dark green stone. Broad windows were scattered well across the walls in an asymmetric pattern, along with small hollows for archers and artillery. A medium gate with giant wooden doors and extensive crenelations shields those in need from the dangerous creatures outside, and it''s the only way inside, at least to those who didn''t know the castle well and its surroundings. Different large houses were scattered outside the castle gates and surprisingly looked like the elves were rich, living comfortably away from the crowded streets and annoying noises of Aramoor City. They were guided to a large hall that looked like the throne room. Modest braziers surrounding each of the eight limestone columns light up the lower parts of the throne room, engulfing the throne hall in a radiant glow. The illustration of battles on the diagonal roof dance in the flickering light while sculpted portraits glimpsed down upon the granite floor of this brilliant hall. A silver rug dashes down from the throne and draws the closest spot where individuals could stand when addressing the Elven King while matching pennants with embellished ornaments dangle from the walls. Between each pennant stand several tapers of different sizes. None but a few had been lit and, in turn, brightened the creative paintings of heroes and leaders below them. Drapes trimmed tall, stained glass windows of sacred mosaics colored the same silver as the pennants. Embroidered edges and jewels had adorned the curtains. A regal iron throne sits in front of a huge painting of the prior king, bordered by two similar but small decorated seats for the Elven King''s direct family. The throne was wrapped in twisted marks, and a gemmed moon was clinched on each of the front legs. The thick cushions were light gray, and these too had been trimmed with ornamented embroidery. Those who wished to see the Elven King can do so on the numerous impressively etched granite benches, all of which are facing the throne in a U-Shape. Those of higher ranks could instead take a seat in the relatively standard balustrades overseeing the entire hall. King Rychell glanced at them with excitement and thrills as they entered the hall. His silvery-white long hair was ponytailed in half, and you wouldn''t see any strand of hair on his face. Amaris saw a woman sitting on the right side while a man was on the left. Rychell smiled at them and stood up to greet them. He walked towards Zion to shake his hand. "Alpha Zion! We had been waiting for your visit." The king said. "Thank you, King Rychell for your warm welcome." Zion asnwered. Then the king turned to Amaris and smiled. Amaris couldn''t smell doubt from the king anymore. She could feel that he was glad and really excited to see her. "Luna Amaris, it''s a pleasure to see you again." He greeted. "Same here, Your Majesty." She smiled. "I want you to meet my son, the crown prince of the elves, Alwyn. And my daughter, Princess Elmyra." The King introduced his children. The crown prince stood up and walked towards them. He greeted Zion then turned his gaze to Amaris. He took one of her hands and kissed the back of it. Amaris frowned. He could smell something towards the Elven Prince, who was smiling sweetly at him. Zion didn''t say a word, but he was annoyed by the prince''s gesture towards his Luna. They were then greeted by Princess Elmyra. "It''s nice to meet you, Alpha Zion, Luna Amaris." She said, greeting them with a curtsy. Amaris felt awkward with the stare she was receiving from the crown prince. She could feel something towards the elf, and to their surprise, he kneeled in front of her. "Princess, I am the crown prince of the Elven Clan, Alwyn. I am your knight, your protrea, and one of the warriors who would gladly die for you.." The prince said. Chapter 87 - The Fifth Protrea "You''re my protrea? Where''s your mark?" Amaris asked. She felt something towards the Elven Prince, but she couldn''t explain what it was. She wasn''t convinced that he was one of her protrea, so she asked about his mark. The Elven Prince suddenly took off her royal robe showing off his right arm. Amaris saw her father''s mark. "Why didn''t you tell me that your son was one of my mate''s protrea?" Zion asked while emphasizing the word mate. Amaris knew that Zion sensed the same thing towards the prince. They both knew that the crown prince liked her romantically. "I don''t want the other elders to know that my son was a protector of a hybrid. I apologize Luna Amaris, if I sounded offensive, but the reason was because of my position as one of the elders of Terra. As one of the Elysian Elders, we should not side with anyone, including our family. You are considered a threat to all creatures, but my son does not believe in that. He could make his own decision. I don''t want to meddle with his own affairs." King Rychell explained. Zion nodded and looked at Alwyn. The princess, however, was just standing and listening to them. "Do you agree with your son coming with us?" Zion asked. King Rychell walked back to his throne and sat there. He looked at Zion directly into his eyes and sighed. "It was his destiny. He was not a second-generation protrea. He was the first of our kind. Phelan, your father, chose my son even though he was still in my wife''s womb. I don''t know the reason. But he said he would be a greater protrea than a king of the Elven Clan." The king answered. Then the prince and princess went back to their seats. Alwyn stared at Zion, then at Amaris. "I am destined to die for you, princess." The crown prince suddenly blurted. Amaris was surprised. She glanced at Zion then turned her gaze to the crown prince. "What do you mean?" She asked. "Creatures like us were created by the Gods and were given a mate. We could either accept or reject them. In my case, I was given a mate, but the woman I was destined to meet was already fated with someone else." Alwyn started. The King and the princess were sitting quietly, listening to the prince. Amaris could feel the sadness in their heart. "You are my mate. I already accepted that you belong to the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. I do not have a future. But I will gladly join you so I can protect you." The crown prince continued. Zion frowned. He couldn''t believe that his Luna had another mate even though it wasn''t mutual. "How could that be? The red thread of fate only has two ends. They were connected to two people only. There''s no way that there could be three." Zion commented. "Alpha, everything is possible with the powers of the Gods. From the day we were born, our future was already written in the Book of Malum. We could never change that." The prince said. After an unbelievable revelation from the Elven Prince, they were given rooms to rest for the night. The room was approximately three hundred square feet, and it features French luxury paired with a modern touch. A gold and white marble floor was laid in a traditional chevron pattern. The walls were glamorously embellished with magnificent patterns, and the ceiling was covered with exquisite design. It has a separate sitting area, a dining table for two, and a modern classic chandelier at the center of the ceiling. This room also has the best view of the city. A full-length one-way glass wall was added across the bed to see the beauty of nature outside. "So what do you feel towards the prince?" Zion asked. Amaris frowned. "Do I have to feel something?" She answered calmly. "I don''t know. Maybe you''re happy because you have two mates?" Zion said while sitting on the couch. "Seriously? Are you accusing me of cheating?" She asked. "No. I was just asking about your feelings towards the guy." "Are you jealous?" "What? I''m not jealous. I am the Alpha, and I am powerful than any guy, so I can never be jealous." Zion answered, not looking at her. Amaris laughed. She walked towards him and sat on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. "You are my only Alpha. I was flattered, and at the same time I pity him. But if that was his fate, I cannot do something about it. I can be his friend. Nothing more. I love you. I belong to you." Zion pulled her closer by grabbing her by the waist. "You are mine and mine alone." He whispered. "Yes. I am yours. Always and forever." Amaris answered, giving Zion gentle kisses on the lips. "By the way, what did Shelly tell you?" Zion asked while they were cuddling each other. "She said I am the bringer of death. She told us stories about Aunt Athanasia. I don''t even know how she knew every detail. She also said she knew about your prophecy, but I wasn''t able to ask her since you called me." She said. "It''s fine. We can talk to her again. Do you believe that you are the bringer of death?" Amaris shook her head then buried her face into his neck. "I don''t believe in that prophecy. I would not accept that someone would decide about my future. I want to change that, Zion. If I really prophesied as the one who would bring death and destruction, then I would have to fight fate so it would not happen. Before, I did not care about other creatures living in Terra, but I suddenly appreciated all those around me after meeting you. Now, I know how amazing they are." "Me too. I will fight with you. Whatever happens, I will stay with you. Let''s look for the last protrea and go to Tartarus." Zion answered. "Tartarus? How about Mirrikh?" Amaris frowned. "I don''t think Phoebus is in Mirrikh.. He''s now in the Underworld." Chapter 88 - You Are My Future "Why do you think that?" She asked. "Shelly said some Night Howlers took Phoebus. Where do you think they will take him?" Zion answered. She looked at Zion in deep thoughts. He was right. They won''t keep Phoebus in Mirrikh since it would definitely cause disorder to some creatures living there. The elders Isei and Cyran would not allow a God to be taken by the Night Howlers. "The Night Howlers considered themselves as free beings, but they still lived by principles and followed the laws of the elders. Some creatures disobeyed those in power, but still, a lot wanted peace. If someone who opposed kidnapping a God found out about Phoebus being retained in Mirrikh, they would tell the elders. So if I were them, I wouldn''t keep Phoebus on the red planet." Zion explained. Amaris nodded. "Why do you think he''s in Tartarus?" "The Night Howlers wasn''t really fond of the Gods in Caelum. They take tasks from the fallen ones, those creatures from the Underworld." Zion answered. "Why do you think they took him?" She asked. Zion chuckled then gently pinched her nose. "Why do you have so many questions?" She pouted. "I have had a lot of questions ever since I met you. Some were answered, but still, a lot hasn''t." "Are you regretting meeting me again?" Zion asked in a serious tone. Amaris frowned. She was still sitting on his lap while her arms were wrapped around his neck. "Why would I regret meeting the only man I love? There''s no way I would feel something like that." Amaris answered. Amaris felt Zion''s anxiousness. She wasn''t sure if that was because of the elven prince or something else. Zion embraced her tightly; his arms were around her waist while resting his head against her chest. He could hear the sound of her heart beat. "I think they took Phoebus because they didn''t want us to know about his prophecies. I personally do not believe that you are the bringer of death." He whispered. "Are you worried that the one in the prophecy might be me?" She asked again. Zion shook his head and sighed. "Whether you are the one in the prophecy or not, for me, you are my mate and my Luna, the only one I loved. I don''t care what your doom was. If you choose to make your own future, I want to be a part of it." He answered. "You are my past, my present, and my future. I couldn''t imagine my life without you." She answered. He slowly lifted her dress and continued caressing her thigh. Amaris giggled, and her breath started to get ragged. He then brushed his fingers higher, reaching between her thighs. She parted her legs as he put his finger into her pussy, rubbing it gently. She was wearing a thin black lace thong, so it felt like he was directly touching her. He rubbed his thumb into her clit as she tried to compose herself. She let out a soft moan from the sensation his finger was giving her. Zion pulled her underwear on the side and directly put his thumb into her clit, rubbing it in a circular motion. She bit her lips and wet them with her tongue. Zion got confused when Amaris suddenly stood up but then smiled widely when she took her dress off as well as her underwear. She suddenly felt the need to be touched by her. It must be her demon side that she craved for him all of a sudden. She was panting, and her whole body felt so hot. Amaris sat down on Zion''s lap again and quickly took off his shirt. He felt her breasts, especially her nipples, were rubbing against his chest. "Why are you so perfect? I can''t get my eyes off you." Zion complimented her. He brushed his fingers from her cheek then to her lips down to her neck, caressing her slowly. Amaris'' breathing became more irregular. She felt his finger run into her chest down to her navel and then between her thighs again. She moaned when he inserted one finger to her pussy. "Ahhhh." They were just staring at each other but his eyes beaming with lust made her whole body crave for him more. He stroked his finger inside and out while his thumb played with her clit. He leaned forward and put his forehead into mine. "Ahhhh... Ahhhh... Ahhhh..." She moaned again and again while he finger fucked her. The pleasure his fingers were giving her while looking at each other brought excitement to her. He then put another finger inside, which made her moan even louder. She held on to his arms while digging her nails as he continued to pleasure her with his fingers. "Moan louder. You like this, love?" He mumbled as he ground his fingers deeper inside her wet cunt. "Oh, yes! yes!" She exclaimed. He moved his fingers faster and ground them inside her core, feeling the warmth of her. "Ahhhh... Ugghhh... Oh, fuck yeah!" "You''re amazing. Shit! You''re so wet!" He said while fingering her even faster. "Yes! Yes! Oh, fuck! I''m going crazy!" She screamed in ecstasy. He then kissed her on the neck and sucked her skin. Amris felt his tongue circling and gliding in her skin, putting a mark on her. "I''m coming!" She shouted. "Say my name, and I will let you come!" He said, looking into her eyes again. "Zion, my Alpha, my love!" She said in a raspy voice. He smiled and again moved his fingers faster. He then whispered into her ear. "Imagine my dick thrusting you so deep inside your womb. I will make you moan and say my name over and over. My Luna, you are fucking hot! You are making me crazy!" He penetrated deeper, and she felt his fingers curve inside her as she screamed his name until she reached the climax. She was panting when he pulled out his fingers and licked them while staring into her eyes. "You''re delicious, my love." He said, grinning. Amaris smirked. She stood up and walked back towards the bed. She sat down then opened her legs wider. Zion gulped, seeing her throbbing pussy in front of him. "You like the way I taste? Then lick me, eat me, then fuck me hard, my love." She ordered. Zion stood up and rushed towards her while taking off his pants. "As you wish, my Luna.." He said before kneeling in front of her. Chapter 89 - Side Story - Enid And Sura Enid POV "You''re making headlines again." Krisna said while giving me the morning newspaper. It was when Erwin and Eunice came to visit me. It was captioned as ''Enid''s Secret Family.'' Funny, we''re not really keeping it a secret but we just don''t want to meddle with each others business. I threw the newspaper and stood up. We were at the restaurant waiting for the president of Stillfire Studio but it''s been half an hour already so I''m getting irritated. "Where are you going?" Krisna asked. "Time, Krisna. You know I don''t like waiting." She sighed and was about to stand up when the door opened. A man wearing a casual clothes walked in. He was about 5 ft 11 in. I was staring at his face when he moved closer to me. He has long black hair, a deep set of grey eyes with a straight nose like the Greeks and full luscious lips. He''s really good looking, hot and sexy. He was like a god. He was standing in front of me. And we''re both staring at each other as if we''re on our own world. I felt like I was drawn to him. There was something in him that I couldn''t explain. Is he feeling the same thing? Is that also the reason he''s staring at me? "Mr.Lawson, you''re finally here!" Krisna broke the silence. He didn''t say a word when he walked passed through me to sit on the table. I frowned. Krisna glazed at me, telling me to go back to my seat. I really wanted to go home but for some reason I was curious with this guy so I went back. "This is our talent, Enid. And Enid, this is Mr.Callum Lawson, Owner and President of Stillfire Studio." Krisna introduced us to each other. We were seated on both side of the table facing each other still staring. I know Krisna felt awkward so she sits down quietly. "Can you leave us?" Callum finally spoke. God! Even his voice is sexy. What''s this feeling? He''s just staring at me but I already feel hot. This is the first time I felt like this to a human. Krisna nodded and left. When the door closes, we both stood up and rushed closer and jumped into an embrace. Our bodies were pressed tightly to each other as he crashed his lips into mine, kissing me hungrily. I opened my mouth so his tongue can invade and glided with mine. He was rough but I was intoxicated by his kiss. Now, I get it. It was lust. I was craving for him the moment I saw him. It wasn new to me. I couldn''t understand why I was drawn to him. There was something about him that I couldn''t explain. He grabbed one of my legs and wrapped it around his waist. I felt his hand caressing my thigh while he moved his lips from mine down to my neck. Then he cupped one of my breast making me moan. He licked me from my neck down to my chest. I gasped. ''Snap'' Oh shoot! It''s Eunice! Time stopped then both Eunice and Erwin appeared. My brother was smirking while my sister''s face were a mixture of confusion and amusement. "Don''t rush little sister. This is your first time." Erwin said. I released myself from Callum''s embrace to face my siblings and fixed myself. I put my palm into his eyes first so I can put him to sleep. "Why did I feel like this towards him? He''s not like us, he''s a human, right?" I asked. "Don''t look at me. My first time is with a mythical creature so I have no idea either." Eunice answered. I looked at Erwin but it seems he doesn''t know either. Then he walked towards me and gave me a file. When I opened the envelope, it was for a companion candidate. I looked at it and saw Callum''s photo. So he''s a demon and I will be his witch companion during his stay here in Aramoor City. I sighed. And looked at the file. He''s real name is Sura, the 68th demon prince of the underworld. His witch companion died a few years back. And according to his file, he''s a soul eating demon. "I know. We received ten demons to choose but you only received one. I tried to reach hell but I can''t contact the high priestess Sabrina. The others were not helping either." Erwin said. "So I have to be with him until his task here is complete?" I asked again. I will throw those deities in the lowest part of hell and torture them for 100 years. They''re pissing me off. "Are you doubting yourself now?" Eunice grinned. "Of course not! And I have no choice, he''s the only option. But I still can''t understand what''s happening. I need to talk to the priestess about this. I mean I''m craving for him, I want to have sex with him but I don''t know if it''s allowed. I need to know why I crave for him." "Well, we''re not allowed to mingle with the Terrans, but he''s a demon and you are not the next high priestess so I think it''s fine." Erwin commented. We are witches who served the Demon God Orcus. We lived peacefully in Terra, hiding among normal Terrans. Our powers could only used by the sake of helping demons who entered the mortal realms. Every fifty years, the Demon King Asmodeus will send his sons and daughters to the mortal world to test the Terrans'' faith. As witches, we are to choose one demon to help and assist them to complete their task and until they return to the Underworld. Even though we lived in Terra, we were never allowed to get close to them especially to the opposite sex. We could lust for any mythical creatures, but not with a Terran. The man who''se real name was Sura, wasn''t a Terran. He''s a demon and a prince to be exact. I wasn''t convinced that this is possible but the connection I felt towards him was so strong that I felt like I was going crazy. I glanced at the man again. I know he didn''t know that I was a witch so I was able to put him to sleep. He was careless but who would have thought that a famous celebrity was truly a witch. "So what do you think I should do? Erwin can you do something about this? You can control temptation right?" I asked. "I''m not sure if it has an effect in you, I think I can only do it with a Terran. So for now, try to restrain yourself. Let''s take him to the coven first." Erwin answered. "Why do we have to take him?" I frowned. "You are his witch. From now on, you have to be with him at all times.." Erwin simply said. Chapter 90 - Side Story - Enid And Sura Part 2 I was sitting on the couch, looking at the man lying on the bed. I still can''t believe I was craving for a demon. His features were extraordinary and unique like a god, but I know he''s one of the fallen. Why would the deities give me no option? Ten demons came in Terra, but they just gave me him. They could at least ask me to choose from them. Erwin was still trying to contact hell but to no avail. Why can''t we reach them? No one answered from the coven either. I don''t think something happened to them. I was in deep thought when a man''s voice suddenly spoke. "Where am I?" He said in a hoarse voice. Ugh! Just hearing his voice makes me wild. "You''re in my house. You passed out." I said, calmly. "Why am I tied up?" He asked. I almost forgot Erwin tied him up so he won''t attack me. He looks pretty attracted to me. "My brother tied you up because we almost, you know, had sex." I''m trying to be cold to him, but my body''s burning for him. "I remember. I didn''t expect it either, but the moment I saw you, I wanted to tie you up on the bed and put my dick inside you." He said, giving me a naughty grin. God! I really want to join him in bed. "Maybe because you are a demon." I said, looking at him intensely to see his reaction. "Maybe. But it''s my first time to lust towards a Terran. I usually crave for their soul and devour them immediately." He said without blinking. "I''m a witch. But I''m still in training." I answered. "In training? You just joined, or you come from a family of witches?" He asked. I shook my head and answered him sincerely. "I''m an orphan. My brother Erwin found me on the street and took me under his wing. I''m just an ordinary Terran." He nodded and then stood up to sit. He was now facing me, staring directly into my eyes. Those deep-set of red eyes, beaming with lust as if he''s undressing me slowly. I want to run towards him and kiss him. "When did you come here?" He asked. "Half a year ago. I''m twenty-one. I was abandoned when I was twelve and lived on the streets for years before Erwin found me and took me here to Aramoor City. How about you?" I asked. "I''m one hundred seventy-five years old demon, but here in Terra, I''m twenty-five. You know why we''re here, right? I''ve been in the mortal realm for seven years. My witch died five years ago." He answered. "How about your Terran slave? Every demon who came in Terra had a slave. Where''s yours?" I asked again. "Dead. I don''t like the guy''s attitude, so I ate his soul." "Is that even allowed? From what I know, you should keep your slave alive because his soul would be your passage back to the Underworld." I frowned. I was surprised when he suddenly laughed. "I don''t care about the rules. I don''t even want to be the next Demon King. I came here to eat the Terrans'' souls. Besides, the slave''s soul is still inside me, so I still have passage." He said. I didn''t know he could keep a Terran''s soul inside for years. Erwin told me that soul-eating demons get their powers from the souls they had devoured. They needed to eat souls to appease their hunger and keep their powers. I sighed. "Look, I brought you here because I found out that I am the witch who would accompany you from now on. Supposedly, I have to choose from ten demons but I don''t know why the deities gave me one and no other option." "Because I''m the only demon who had no witch for five years. And since you are also a Terran, you''re also my slave. You will be bound to me forever. Meaning, only death can separate us." He exclaimed. My eyes widened. What did he mean by that? Am I both his witch and slave? He handed me a file, and when I looked at what was inside, Sura was telling the truth. I was chosen to be his witch companion and Terran slave. "I can give you anything you want. Just tell me and I''ll give it to you. However, as a demon prince of the Underworld, my time here is limited. Once my time is up, I will go back to hell, and for me to do that, I need to eat your soul. That''s my passage there. That is if my father won''t accept my first slave''s soul. If he accepts, then there''s no need for me to eat your soul." "Okay let''s do it." I answered. I couldn''t understand why I wasn''t thinking twice about it. I didn''t know what would happen, and I still had questions like why I was chosen to be his slave and witch. But I agreed. I felt like I didn''t want to be apart from him. "Why did you agree so easily?" He asked with an amused face. "I don''t know. I''m attracted to you. I could feel a deep connection towards you. I want to find out what it was." I responded. He was still sitting on the bed and hadn''t ,moved an inch from there. "Do you realize that your life would be mine as soon as we entered a contract?" He asked. I nodded. " Yeah. This was the first time I felt something towards anyone. I was alone for so long and only got a family when they took me in. So I want to understand what this feeling was. And besides, you said you can give me anything I want right?" I asked, confirming his previous statement. "Yes. You can tell me now and decide when you like to have it. So what do you want?" He asked. I bit my lips and stared into his eyes. "I want you." I answered in a serious tone. "What did you say?" He asked. I could see amusement in his face, but his eyes were full of lust. "I will agree with everything, but I would like you to take me as your mate in exchange." Chapter 91 - Side Story - Enid And Sura Part 3 The whole media industry was shocked by the sudden news that Callum Lawson, CEO of Stillfire Studio, is now engaged with me. A lot of people were asking how did it happen. Stillfire and the company handling me, Glow Entertainment, will discuss about having a press conference. Callum hasn''t arrived yet, and I''m getting irritated because he''s always late. I was sitting on a swivel chair at a long table; on my right was Krisna and the president of Glow Entertainment was on my left. Across us is the Vice President of Stillfire and the secretary of Callum. His secretary wore a fitted, above-the-knee skirt and a white collared blouse that emphasized her ample breast. She was also wearing heavy makeup on her face. The woman was looking at me intently, obviously not happy with the news. I took my phone out and dialed Callum''s number. "Where the hell are you? You know I hate waiting! Come here this instant or I swear you''ll regret it!" I yelled at him. Krisna and the others were shocked. They knew I was talking to Callum. "Ms.Enid, I think talking to our boss like that was rude. He''s a very busy man, and he wouldn''t just leave his business partners in the middle of a meeting because you say so." His secretary said, annoyed. Before I could answer, the door opened, and Callum was there, panting. "You were saying?" I said, looking at the whore''s eyes. They were dumbfounded and didn''t say a word. They didn''t expect Callum to rush here because I told him so. He walked inside and sat on his chair. He looked at me, and he knew I was pissed. "Baby, come here, please. Sit beside me." He said softly while pulling another chair. I rolled my eyes but stood up and sat on the chair beside him. I crossed my arms and stared at him. "Next time you''re late, I will punish and torture you with fire!" I said. "I loved that. But I won''t be late next time, I promise!" He said while smiling back at me. He''s even sexier when he smiles like that. He knew I was lusting for him, so he did it on purpose. "Can we start the meeting?" Krisna said awkwardly. "So are you really a couple, or this is just a show?" Callum''s VP asked. "Would you like us to prove it in front of you?" Callum said, smirking. They continued planning for the press conference and discussed who would handle the media coverage while I was just observing them. Callum was also quiet, listening to their suggestions. I was startled when I felt his hand on my thigh. I looked at him, but he didn''t look back, acting it was nothing. He slowly raised my dress and continued caressing my thigh. My breath started to get uneven. He then grazed his fingers higher, reaching between my thigh. He put his finger into my pussy. I was wearing a red lace thong, so it felt like he was directly touching me. When he rubbed his thumb into my clit, I tried to calm myself but I wanted to moan from the sensation his finger was giving me. He pulled my thong aside and directly put his thumb into my clit, stroking it in a circular motion. I bit my lips and breathed heavily. "So, Enid, what do you think?" Krisna asked, which made me startled. I suddenly stood up. I could see confusion from their faces, but Callum was still quiet. I knew my face was flushed and felt like I was burning with flames. "Anything''s fine with me. Just tell me the details. I need to go home now; I''m not feeling well." I said, I know I was gasping, and my whole body felt sizzling. I rushed outside and ran to the elevator, but Callum went inside before it closed. I glared at him when I saw him smirking. He closed the elevator door and walked towards me. "Hey, someone might come in here." I whispered. He didn''t answer and continued to get closer as I walked backward. I leaned my back on the wall for support because my knees felt so weak. He stood in front of me, looking into my eyes. "You are stunning. I can''t get my eyes off you." He said. He brushed his fingers from my cheek to my lips down to my neck, caressing me slowly. My breathing became more erratic when I felt his finger run into my chest and down to my navel. Then again, between my thighs. I moaned when he put his hand inside my thong and inserted one finger into my pussy. "Ahhh, Cal. S-Someone might see us. You''re crazy!" I stammered. "Then tell me you don''t want this and I''ll stop." He said. He stroked his finger inside and out while his thumb played with my clit. He leaned forward and put his forehead into mine. "Ahhh... Ahhh... Ahhh..." I moaned again and again while he pleasured me with his fingers. "I know you want this. Say that you want this!" He ordered. I nodded while brushing my tongue to my lips. "Yes! Ahhh... I want more!" I exclaimed. The bliss his fingers were giving me and the thrill of getting caught by someone brought me a new level of excitement. He then put another finger inside, which made me moan even louder. I held on to his arms while digging my nails as he continued to pleasure me with his fingers. "Ahh. Oh yeah!" I howled when he moved his fingers faster. "You''re amazing. You''re so wet! Do you hear that? Can you hear the sound of your juice?" He asked while fingering me even faster. "Yes! Yes! Oh, fuck! I''m going crazy!" I screamed in ecstasy. He then grabbed my breast, massaging them harder. "I''m coming." I shouted. He smiled and again moved his fingers faster, penetrating deeper. I felt his fingers move inside me as I screamed his name until I reached the climax. "Tasty!" He said while licking his fingers. "You''re enjoying this, aren''t you?" I asked while fixing myself. "I am, are you not?" He asked while looking at me. "Same. And now, I''m looking forward to how you will pleasure me with your dick." I answered naughtily while grabbing his crotch. "I''ll fuck you hard, little witch.. Just wait!" He said, smirking. Chapter 92 - [R18] Damien And Shelly "I thought you''d wait until I''m ready." Shelly asked almost whispering. "And when would that be?" Damien asked while his hands were busy caressing her thigh. "B-But you said-" He cut her off by kissing her on the lips. Damien tied her hands on top of her head. She felt his hand remove her underwear, then brushed his hand in between her thighs. When he released her lips, he moved his lips to her neck. His kisses were hungry and aggressive. "Damien." When she felt his hand was now on her pussy, Shelly called out his name. He stared at her with his eyes were burning with desire. "Shelly, you know I cannot control my desire towards you. If you want me to stop, just tell me, okay? I won''t force you." He said in a soft voice. It was hard for her to know her mate''s expression. If only she could see him. It was frustrating not to even see the one you love. "Don''t stop." She said. He was surprised. This was their second night alone together. He didn''t mark her yet since she looked scared of him. "Are you sure? You know I''m not pressuring you. You can still back out." He asked. "Shut up! Get out if you don''t want it!" Shelly yelled. His face lit up, and he had a huge smile on his face. "Don''t worry. I''ll be gentle." He said. It was embarrassing. She knew he was good in bed. She could feel that he had a lot of experience with women. And she didn''t even know if she could satisfy him. He kissed her on the forehead, cheeks, and lips. It was gentle and slow. It wasn''t a rush. She parted her mouth a little so his tongue could explore inside. When he slid his tongue, she glided hers with his. She then felt his hands start to move again. He raised her nightgown into her neck, exposing her naked body. She was panting when he let go of her lips and began kissing her down to her breast. He sucked one of her nipples, encircling his tongue around it while his hand was rubbing the other. Shelly can''t explain the sensation his mouth and hand were giving her. His other hand started folding her knees and opening her legs. After sucking her nipples, he traced her navel with his lips. She gasped when his mouth stopped in front of her folds. She could feel his warm breath brushing her skin, and it made her quiver. He then put two of his fingers into her mouth. "Suck it." He ordered, so she did. Then he opened her fold with his other hand and rubbed her clit using the fingers she sucked. "Damien! Oh shit!" Every time he touched her, She felt like she would lose her mind. She moaned when he slowly slid one finger inside her. He started to move his finger inside and out. She arched her back from the sensation she felt. "Shelly, I''ll insert another one." He said, and then he did. "Ahhhh. Damien, please." He smirked when he heard her moan. "Not yet." He said. Shelly was unsure why, but she wanted to feel him inside her. He then positioned his tongue into her pussy and started licking her entrance. He sucked her clit, which made her crazy even more. Her hands were still tied but it added excitement to her. When he removed his fingers, she felt his tongue slide inside her. She arched her hips to meet his tongue. "Damien more! That''s it. Ahhhh. Ahhhh." She moaned again and again. He used his tongue and fingers simultaneously to fuck her first. It was amazing! "You''re so wet Shelly." He said while grinning. She blushed which made him wilder.. He stood up to remove his pants and underwear. She gasped when she felt his dick hard and big. Shelly felt excited and nervous at the same time. He positioned himself on top of her and she could feel his erection rubbing her pussy. He was staring at her. "Are you really sure about this?" He asked. "Yes. I want you Damien. Make me yours." She answered. He pressed his lips onto hers. This time it''s wilder and invasive. His hands were touching her all over her body while he prepared to enter her.. Then when he thrust inside her, she felt a sudden pain. "Oh my!" She screamed. She felt his hand remove the ribbon which was tied on her hand. He kissed her on the forehead and looked at her. He didn''t move but she could feel his erection getting bigger inside her. "Are you okay? Relax." He said in a hoarse voice. "Why is it getting bigger? It''s painful!" He chuckled. "It''s because I''m getting more excited now that we are one.." They were both panting. She could hear his breathing was irregular and could also feel the heat from both of their bodies. "Shelly can I?" He asked. She nodded when she didn''t feel the pain anymore. "Hold on to me." He said while slowly moving inside her so he wrapped her arms around his neck. His thrust was slow at first. She could feel his dick sliding in and out of her pussy. Every time he thrust inside, she could feel his dick poking her womb. She couldn''t explain how amazing it felt. "Ahhh. Ahhh. Ahhh." She moaned while she heard him groan in every thrust he made. His thrust became faster and she could hear the sound of it every time he moved forward. "You''re making me insane, Shelly. Does that feel good?" He asked while he penetrated his dick deep inside. "Yes! You''re dick''s amazing! Faster!" She didn''t know where it came from but she just blurted it out. He moved faster and harder. He wrapped her legs around him and lifted her hips to meet his thrust. He grinded his hips while inside her. "Damien, I''m coming!" She shouted. He nibbled her ear and whispered. "Come with me, baby." Then he thrust so deep inside her core, and they both reached the climax. He released his cum inside her and she could feel their white juice mixing together in her womb. "Ahhhhhhhhh." He moaned. He then collapsed on top of her. She could feel his breath from her shoulders as they both panted together. "Hey are you okay?" Shelly asked. "I should be the one asking that." He said while kissing her on the shoulders. "I''m fine. I just hope I can see you." She said. "Hey, you could memorize my face by touching it. Here." Damien whispered, putting her hand on his cheek. She started tracing the lines of his face. She smiled while feeling his skin. "Shelly, will you allow me to mark you?" Damien asked in a serious tone. Chapter 93 - Cole And Maxine - Learning How To Kiss He walked two steps back and looked at her again. She was still a young woman but her body was perfect. She was obviously a spoiled brat that who gets everything she wanted. But she wasn''t like those older women he fucked. She was way ahead of them. She was innocent and pure. It amused him when she suddenly kissed him and ran away with a flushed face. Cole knew it was her first kiss. He reached out his hand and brushed her arms with the back of his hand. He slowly caresses her her arm down to her hand. Then he moved his hand to her neck, slowly brushing it down to her chest. She gasped when she felt his hand running down to her nipples. Maxine didn''t move and was just standing in front of him. "D-Do you like me?" Maxine mustered her courage to ask him. "What do you think?" He asked, looking at her with desire. "I-I don''t know. You have a mate somewhere so I-I don''t think I should be close to you." She said. Cole sighed then tilted her chin up to level his gaze. "I don''t have a mate. I will tell you when the time comes. I like you Shelly. I want you to be mine." He said. Maxine gulped. She couldn''t deny it anymore. She was attracted to him and felt like she already fallen for him. "Will you promise me that you will be mine, too?" She asked. "Yes. I''m yours Maxine." Cole whispered. "Okay. Then, I''m yours. But I want you to mark me. I don''t want just your words. And I don''t know about kissing and stuff. You have to teach me." She demanded. Cole chuckled. "I''ll teach you then. And I will mark you on the next full moon." He said he will teach her to satisfy him and she already made up her mind. She wanted him to be hers only so she asked for his mark. When he started caressing her, she thought she would hate it. But she was actually enjoying it. Her body was responding to his touch and she wanted more. "I want to make sure you won''t abandon me. My heart and body belongs to you now." She said. He wanted to laugh. She''s really stubborn. The mating ritual was not yet complete but she was starting to get demanding. "Why did you change your mind? You said earlier you don''t like me." He asked. "I like you. My heart said so but I know werewolves have mate and you believe on the sacred bond. I don''t want to ruin someone''s relationship." She answered. "I don''t have a mate. As I said, I like you and I want you to be my mate." Cole said. Maxine nodded. "It''s cold. If you want to shower, do it now. And starting today, we sleep together, okay?" He said. Maxine went inside the bathroom to take a quick shower. When she''s done, Cole was drying his hair. He took a shower to the other bathroom to lessen the heat from his body. He was half naked. She was wearing a white camisole lingerie and it was short, exposing half of her thigh. She''s really sexy. He thought inwardly. She walked towards the bed and lay down, tucking herself inside the blanket. She felt him lay down beside her. "Come here. Get closer." He said. Her heart began pounding again but she moved closer to him. "Look at me." He ordered. So she did. She tilted her chin up to look at his face, as if she was memorizing every detail. He''s handsome and sexy. He''s oozing with sex appeal. He pulled her arm and wrapped it around his waist. Then she felt him kiss her on the forehead. "Our journey to the Atlantean Territory will start early. Luna already found the fifth protrea and Zion wanted our journey to end quickly." He said. "Let''s go to sleep." He continued. Maxine frowned. She was expecting that he would do something but he wasn''t. "Cole?" "Yes?" "Teach me how to kiss." She begged. He looked at her. Amusement and confusion were on his face. She really surprised him a lot. She won''t stop torturing him. "You''re so annoying." He then grabbed her head and kissed her aggressively. He couldn''t control it anymore. She was forcing him to do it anyway. He rolled over on top of her. Pressing his lips with hers. He slightly moved his head backward, giving them a small distance. "Part your lips a little and meet my tongue with yours." He said in a hoarse voice. She parted her lips when he leaned forward. Then she followed what he told her. She met his tongue and glided with it. Their tongues were tangled, savoring the flavor of their mouth. She never thought that kissing was this good. She felt his hand pull her hands to wrap around him. He tried not to touch her yet. So he just put his hands to her hair, he tweaked her hair and deepened their kiss. She''s sweet, she tasted like candy. He didn''t expect what she did next. She suddenly sucked his lower lip and brushed her tongue before gliding again inside his mouth. He groaned. She''s a fast learner, he thought to himself. He felt her hand caressing his back. Then she wrapped it around his neck pulling him closer to her. She was kissing him back hungrily. She opened her mouth wider so he could invade her more. When he moved backward, they were both panting. Her lips were red and so was he. He was staring at her with a grin on his face. "You taste like chocolate." He said. She felt her heart skip a beat. She felt happy when he complimented her. Her lips were slightly smiling. She bit her lips again. "You taste like mint." She said. He chuckled.. Then he leaned forward again to kiss her one more time. Chapter 94 - The Elven Prince Silver, white hair hangs over a full, lively face. Glittering silver eyes like crystals, set appealingly within their sockets, watched intently over the village he had become enchanted by for so long. His soft and white skin elegantly compliments his long hair and leaves a delightful memory of his past. This is the face of the crown prince of the Elven Clan, Alwyn, a pure-blooded among the white elves. He was born to be one of the protectors of the child of the moon. The Demon Prince Phelan and the Moon Goddess, Selene, searched far and wide across Terra to look for five creatures who could protect their child from the Gods. The Elven Queen, Elmyra, was taking a stroll in Redwood Forest and saw Phelan unconscious. She helped the Demon Prince and attended to his wounds. "What are you doing here? This is part of the Elven Clan Territory?" She asked. "I was looking for powerful warriors across Terra to protect my unborn child. I have no time left. The Gods had erased my memory, and it was too late when I regained it. I am already a mortal. I will not be able to protect my child from my enemies." Phelan said. The Elven Queen pity the Demon Prince and the Moon Goddess. Their child was a product of forbidden love. No one expected that a creature of Caelum would fall in love with a creature of the Underworld. But no one could actually blame them. They all believed in fate and destiny. They were destined to meet and fall in love from the moment they were born. Love can never be wrong if your heart''s intention is pure. The queen thought to herself. Phelan looked at the Elven Queen and noticed she was pregnant. He frowned when he suddenly felt something towards the creature inside her. "Your son would be a great king someday." He whispered. Queen Elmyra was surprised. She didn''t know that her baby was a boy, so she was confused about how the demon prince knew about it. "How did you know that?" She asked. "I can smell him. One of my powers was to imitate and absorb someone''s power. My sense of smell towards a powerful creature was stronger than anyone. I can smell your son''s powers." Phelan answered. And without a word, Phelan touched the queen''s womb and transferred some energy to the creature inside her. "I, Phelan, Demon Prince of the Underworld, the fifty seventh child of Asmodeus and Lilith, King and Queen of the Underworld, chose you, crown prince of the Elven Clan, as the protrea of the child of the moon. You are destined to protect and give your life to her." After saying those words, the Elven Queen fainted. When she woke up, she was already in the castle. Months passed, the queen thought that all was just a dream. But when the crown prince was born, a mark appeared on his arm. Right there and then, she knew that the mark belonged to the Demon Prince Phelan. Growing up, the crown prince had dreams and visions about a girl he would love and protect. He couldn''t see her face because of the blurry images he saw in his dreams. But before his mother died, she told him about his fateful encounter with the Demon Prince. At first, he didn''t believe it, so he went to Mirrikh to talk to Phoebus, the Prorosist¨¦, and asked him about his doom. "What your mother told you was the truth. The Demon Prince Phelan chose you to be his daughter''s protrea. And you are fated to fall in love with her. The other end of your red string of fate was connected to the hybrid. She is your mate, but she would never accept you as her mate." Phoebus said. "Why? If she''s my mate, then why would she reject me?" He asked, confused. "Because she is fated to the Legendary Alpha. And you are destined to die for her." The oracle answered. He hated it at first. How could he die for someone he had never met? He only sees her silhouette in his dreams, but he admits he was already attracted and curious about her. Then a few weeks ago, news flew across Terra that the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack had already found his mate. Zion, the Legendary Werewolf who the Gods favored, and the one who was given immortality. His heart felt like it was being stabbed a thousand times, knowing that another creature had already claimed his mate. He envied Zion from being the favored one. When he learned that his mate was fated to the Alpha of the Book Pack, he searched to have information about him. He was given powers by the Demon God Orcus and the Sky God Hyperion. The Goddess Terra also gifted him by turning the planet into a beautiful place again. Maka, the mother God, gave birth to four elemental gods. Ignus, the Fire God, Aqua, the Water Goddess, Ventus, the Wind God, and Terra, the Goddess of Earth. Among her children, Ignus and Aqua always disagreed with one another, attacking the other using their powers. With that, the humans were scared of them. So Maka took their elemental powers and randomly chose a creature to inherit them. Zion was still in her mother''s belly when Maka gave that power. How lucky, he thought inwardly. The day the couple met with the Elysian Elders, the crown prince begged his father to take him. He wanted to see the woman in his dreams since the day he was born. Out of pity, King Rychell agreed. When he saw Amaris, his heart felt the love he had inside him. He could feel the bond towards her, but at the same time, it was tearing his heart into pieces. His mate was standing in the center with another man, and he couldn''t do anything about it. He couldn''t even tell her that he was also her mate. It was painful to see her with Zion, but he had already accepted his fate. His sister was against it, but his heart could never take another pain if she were far away from him. His father told him that she was looking for her protrea and that she would come to the Elven Clan Territory to ask him to join them. He was happy to know that they would finally meet in person, and it was an honor to be her protrea. When they entered the throne hall, he saw her walking towards them, and beside her was Zion. She was breathtaking, so he couldn''t pretend or deny his attraction towards her. He knew she felt something towards him, but he wasn''t sure if it was because she was his mate or something different. When he took her hand and kissed it, he saw the frown on her face. He looked so weird, and he knew that. But he couldn''t lie to her anymore, so he told her the truth. He didn''t tell them so she could choose him over the Alpha. He knew that was impossible. He just wanted to be honest with her. She was surprised, of course. He thought Zion would attack him, but it didn''t happen. He just asked how it happened, and the prince answered Zion. He was told that they would be leaving in the morning to look for the last protrea. Their next destination was the Atlantean Territory, or the creatures who lived in the ocean. Ocearia, an underwater city governed by Queen Nerida located in the deepest part of the Ethereal Ocean, was abode by different creatures of the sea. He packed his things with the help of his sister, Princess Elmyra, who was feeling anxious about his decision. "How about trying to seduce her?" Elmyra exclaimed. "What? That''s a crazy idea." He chuckled. He knew his sister was just worried about him. She had been worried ever since she found out about his doom. "Maybe if she chose you, you would not die." Elmyra answered. She had an edgy look on her face, so he took her hand and smiled at her. "I''ll be fine. Don''t worry about me, okay?" "Brother, I don''t want to lose you." He sighed then cupped his sister''s face. "I will try to search for a way to fight my fate. I vow I will come back here. Will you promise to wait for your big brother?" He asked. Elmyra pouted but nodded at her brother''s question. She knew he couldn''t do anything about it. His doom was written in the Book of Malum, so it would definitely happen no matter what. "But if you seduce her, maybe she -" They were interrupted by a low growl just outside his bedroom door. The prince stood up and opened the door to see who it was. To the siblings'' surprise, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack was standing in front of them. "Can we talk?" Zion asked. The crown prince nodded in agreement and followed Zion while the princess was left behind dumbfounded. Chapter 95 - The Other Mate "I''m sorry if my sister was saying some crazy things. I know you heard her." The crown prince said sincerely. Zion nodded. He couldn''t blame his sister since she was worried that her brother might not come back to them. "So, what do you want to talk about?" Prince Alwyn asked. Zion sighed and looked directly into the prince''s eyes. "About you and Amaris. Is it true that she was also your mate? I mean, I never heard of anyone mated to two men. Maybe you are just mistaken." Zion started. The prince chuckled. "I really wish that it was just a mistake. But I confirmed it to Phoebus himself. She is my mate, but I can never be with her. She is destined to be with you, and I am fated to die for her." He answered. "So are you saying you will accept your fate just like that? Are you not going to fight it?" Zion asked. The prince frowned. He thought Zion would warn him about his Luna, but he was different from the rumors he heard. "What do you mean? Aren''t you supposed to get mad or something? I don''t know, but it wasn''t what I expected." Alwyn said, confused. "Do you expect me to kill you just because your mate is Amaris?" Zion chuckled. "Amaris and I do not entirely believe in what was written in the Book of Malum. We both understand that Phoebus wrote it because that was what he saw, but we know there are ways to change it. Amaris would feel guilty if you die because of her, so I''m asking you not to let it happen. I don''t care if you are also her mate, don''t die for her. It would burden her for the rest of her life." Alwyn knew that what Zion said was true. It would burden Amaris if he would die for her sake, but what can he do about it? He thought to himself. "What do you want me to do then? Ask her to change her mind and choose me instead? That would not happen, and I know you won''t allow it. And I won''t do that either. I''m happy to see her happy even with someone else. That''s all that matters to me." The prince said. "She wouldn''t be happy if you died for her sake. So I am asking you not to make her worry. I don''t want to see her cry because of another guy. Don''t be stupid. If you die and she cries, I swear I will follow you in hell and kill you again." He said before leaving the prince alone. Prince Alwyn returned to his room, and as he opened the door, his sister was just behind the door. "Ouch!" Elmyra yelled when the door bumped into her. The prince laughed at his sister when he saw her rubbing the red spot on her forehead. She glared at him and pouted. "What? It''s your fault for listening to someone''s conversation." He scolded her. "I was just worried." She said. "I know. I was worried, too. I thought the Alpha would strangle me. But he''s different from what I heard about him." The prince frowned. "What do you mean?" Elmyra asked while walking back to the bed. Alwyn followed and continued to pack his things. "When I found out that my mate was the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack, I wanted to know about the Alpha of that pack. I actually thought of seducing her just like you suggested, but my plan changed when I started to investigate Zion." Elmyra frowned and quietly listened to her brother. "They met here in Terra when the Moon Goddess cast her out of the moon. They fell in love and promised to be together no matter what. That time, they both didn''t know where she came from. She didn''t have any memory, and her powers were sealed. Then the Gods took her, and before she died, she promised to come back to him. Zion vowed to search for her." He paused. Alwyn took a deep sigh and sat beside his sister. He smiled at her before he continued. "Zion lost his mind after she died. He became a beast. He was called a monster by some, feared by all creatures. The Moon Goddess punished him, sealing all his powers." "But Selene was his Luna''s mother. Why would she do that?" Elmyra asked "Because she was hiding something. Selene wanted Zion not to find her daughter, and the only way to do that was to seal the Alpha''s powers. But she didn''t expect that they would still meet. Fate brought them together because it has long been written in the Book of Malum." The prince answered. "I heard the Luna was also cursed by Selene. Is that true?" Elmyra asked. The prince was surprised that his sister knew about it. "How did you know that?" He asked. "I heard father talking to someone about it. Is it true?" Elmyra asked again. Alwyn sighed and looked at his sister. He nodded to confirm Elmyra''s question. "Yes. Selene cursed her daughter to forget Zion over and over. They said every time she woke up in the morning; she couldn''t remember anything about him. But I think they''re okay now. I could sense that they broke the curse." "How did you know?" Elmyra frowned. "I''m the other mate, remember. When they completed the mating ritual, I felt like my heart broke into pieces. My chest tightens every time they touch each other. I felt like being tortured every day. They had been closer than ever, and my heart was being shattered because of it." Elmyra was surprised. She didn''t know that her brother had been suffering for the past months. He was always smiling and looked so calm and firm. She never saw him sad or in pain. She felt sorry for him. But she knew his brother had already accepted everything. "I''m sorry, brother. I can''t do anything to ease your pain." She murmured. He chuckled then pinched her on the cheeks. "Hey! It hurts!" She exclaimed. "You''re so cute, little sister." He laughed. "Don''t worry about me. This, too, will pass. "But will you be able to take the pain during your journey? I mean, you will be joining them, and it would definitely hurt you more seeing them together." She commented. "I know. But this is my destiny. I am one of her protectors, and I want to fulfill my duty as her protrea." "You''re an idiot. You didn''t even know her personally. You only see her in your dreams, but you are already head over heels in love with her. I don''t know how the Gods matched us with other creatures, but if I do have one and it was like yours, I would rather die than suffer because of a stupid love." Elmyra ranted. Alwyn was amused by his sister''s reaction. She was a young Elven Princess and didn''t find her mate yet, so she couldn''t understand the feeling of a mate bond and the feeling of love. But he was praying that she would only have one mate and would not suffer like him. "You will understand it once you find your mate." He smiled. "How about the kingdom? You are the crown prince. What if -" Elmyra sighed. "What if you didn''t come back?" She asked. He smiled again and pulled his sister into his arms, embracing her. "I talked to father about it, and I had decided a long time ago that you will be the next ruler of the Elven Clan." Elmyra''s eyes widened, and she moved away from her brother. She stood up then paced back and forth. When she stopped, she looked at him intently. "No. I won''t accept that. Promise me you will return here to be the king, or else I will follow you even in hell." She said in a firm tone before turning her back around to walk away. The crown prince sighed. Elmyra was close to him. Ever since their mother died, she was always with him, and this would be the first time they would be away from each other. He knew she was lonely and worried that they would not see each other again. "Is there a way to fight my fate? Will I be okay during this journey? Can I endure the pain every time I see my mate in the arms of another man?" He asked himself. Morning came, and they needed to leave the Elven Territory to travel to Ocearia. Unlike the other territories that took two to three days to travel, their journey this time would take them five to six days. Everyone hoped that they wouldn''t find any troubles along the way since they had to go to Tartarus as soon as possible. "Are you ready?" Zion asked while they were outside waiting for Amaris to come out of the castle. He nodded, and they all turned their gaze on Amaris when she walked towards them. ''She''s breathtaking.'' Alwyn thought to himself. When Amaris got closer, she was surprised when the two men extended their hands to her. Chapter 96 - Conflict Amaris frowned when both men extended their hands to her. She looked at Zion, then at Alwyn. Then she looked at their hands, thinking if she should choose Zion. Amaris knew that choosing Zion was the right thing to do. He was her mate and her Alpha. But she didn''t want Alwyn to get offended. She was his mate, and she also felt something towards the Elven Prince. It wasn''t as strong as what she felt towards Zion, but she had something in her heart. To everyone''s surprise, another hand reached out to her. When she looked at who it was, Amaris saw Grakar. She smiled and held on to the minotaur instead. "Thank you, Grakar." She whispered. "Anytime, princess." Grakar answered. Amaris turned to both men and sighed. "I think I have to ride with Grakar for now. But before we continue our journey, I want to make something clear to the both of you." She started. Amaris looked at Zion first. "Love, you know I belong to you. My heart already belongs to you. But we have to consider Alwyn''s feelings. You know how the mate bond would hurt him, seeing you and me together. I hope you understand that." Then she turned to Alwyn. "Prince Alwyn, I''m sorry if I cannot return your feelings. I was surprised that I am your mate. I''m still confused about how it happened, and I want some answers. But I will be considerate of your presence during this journey. I belong to Alpha Zion, and I cannot be apart from him. I hope you would also understand that we have to do something a normal couple does." Alwyn nodded. "Princess, I don''t want you to worry about me. I understand that you are fated to the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. I am here to serve and protect you from anyone who would cause you harm and want to hurt you. I also want to remind Alpha Zion that if he makes you cry, I won''t spare him either." Zion smirked. "That''s good then. You know your boundaries, and I like that everyone around my Luna wanted to protect her. But I want to remind you as well not to forget your place. I won''t let anyone touch my woman." Amaris didn''t say a word and had a flushed face. She turned around and got on the horse to ride with Grakar. She was flattered by what Zion said, and her heart fell for him again. ''Why do you have to ride with Grakar? You know I won''t do anything in front of others.'' Zion commented using a mind link. ''I want to be near you, but we have to consider Alwyn''s feelings. Don''t tell me you are also jealous of Grakar?'' She teased. ''I don''t get jealous. I know that you are mine.'' He pouted. Amaris chuckled enough to be heard by everyone. Zion glared at her, so she bit her lips, trying not to smile. "Let''s go!" Zion ordered. They had been traveling for more than an hour, but Zion didn''t talk to her. She was beginning to get pissed at him. It was noon when they reached the boundary of the Elven Territory and decided to stop for a while to eat lunch in a nearby tavern. "This is the boundary of our territory. Beyond those fences, we won''t be safe anymore. We might encounter some Night Howlers or creatures hired by the enemy." Alwyn said. "Let''s eat and rest, and then we''ll leave around two in the afternoon." Zion coldly answered. They all got off the horse to go inside the tavern. Grakar supported Amaris then Maxine and Zoila immediately approached her. "Are you arguing with my brother?" Zoila asked. Amaris pouted. "He''s mad because I didn''t ride with him. He''s jealous of the crown prince and Grakar." Maxine frowned. "Grakar? Seriously?" "You can''t blame him. Werewolves are territorial creatures regardless of gender and kind. Besides, Grakar may be a minotaur, but his affection towards Amaris was the same as every man in here." Zoila said. Amaris was surprised when Zoila said those words. She looked at the men in their group. Zion, Alwyn, Damien, Cole, Grakar, Diana''s husband, and her son were the men around her. "I don''t think Diana''s husband and son feel the same." Amaris commented. Zoila laughed. "Of course, but Diana cares a lot about you, so I think your safety is their priority." "Just talk to Zion. His bad mood affects all of us." Maxine commented before getting inside the tavern. From the outside, the tavern looks comfy, captivating, and pleasing. Stone pillars make up most of the building''s exterior design. It was hard to see through the curtained windows, but the voices and music inside could be felt outside. They were welcomed by dancing elves, and they felt a sense of home as they entered the tavern through the decorated metal door. The bartender was pretty busy but still welcomed them with a smile. It was as lovely inside as it was on the outside. Rounded stone shafts support the upper floor and the attached torches. The walls were teeming with signatures and written messages, clearly from happy customers. The tavern was crowded as tourists seemed to be the primary customer, which usually shows excellent food. Satisfied, enthusiastic groups of people occupied several long tables. Some were dancing on the table, while others cheered them on with applause and shouting. The other, smaller tables were also occupied by people playing games and, considering their laugh, they were either telling jokes or perhaps embarrassing tales. Even most of the seats at the bar were occupied, though nobody seemed to mind joining in with different groups. They heard rumors about this tavern. And judging by the music and how many people were dancing, it must be the live band who just started playing and the energetic staff serving the customers. They managed to find a table and settled on it. A smiling waitress wearing a short red dress with a white apron approached them. "Hi. My name is Carrie. I will be serving you today. Here''s our menu." The waitress introduced herself while handing them their list of menus. The waitress'' eyes widened when she noticed Alwyn and the rest of the group. "Oh my goodness! Crown Prince!" She exclaimed. The customers inside became silent and suddenly bowed, paying their respect to the crown prince. Then a middle-aged elven woman came rushing towards them. "We apologize for not recognizing the crown prince of the Elven Clan." She greeted. "It''s fine. I am traveling with my friends right now. No need for formal greetings. You can continue with whatever you were doing." Alwyn said with a broad smile on his face. The crowd continued their cheers, dance, and lunch while Zion''s group started to order food. Amaris was glancing at Zion, who wasn''t paying attention to her ever since they left the castle. She was pissed, so she stood up and went to the toilet to take a quick break. The tavern had two toilets, one at the back and one inside. The toilet at the back was located outside, and no one seemed to go in that area, so Amaris chose that because she wanted to be alone. She looked at the mirror and sighed. She was thinking about Zion because she knew he was offended by what she did. It wasn''t her intention, but she pitied the Elven Prince. ''You are his Luna. Everyone knows about it, so you shouldn''t be thinking of your other mate.'' It was Hikari. Amaris was surprised. Her ten forms never spoke to her. Maybe they did when they were on the moon. ''Why do you think we have another mate?'' Amaris asked Hikari. ''You are different from the other creatures. You have ten forms, and maybe that was one of the reasons. Having two or more mates wasn''t really new to demons like you. Some just chose to have one like your father.'' Hikari answered. ''I don''t want to have another mate. I only love Zion, but I feel guilty for Alwyn.'' ''He already knew you belonged to someone else. There''s nothing he can do about it. Are you saying you didn''t want to hurt the Elven Prince, but it''s okay to hurt Zion?'' Hikari asked. ''No! I don''t want to hurt him either.'' ''But that''s what you''re doing right now. You are hurting him by showing your concern to your other mate.'' Hikari was right. Zion didn''t argue with her when she decided to ride with Grakar, but she knew he didn''t like it. He was ignoring her the whole time. She sighed and fixed herself before coming out of the toilet. She was startled when she saw Zion standing outside. She frowned when she saw him look so worried. "Are you okay?" He asked. Her heart melted seeing his worried face. She hurt his pride and feelings, but he was still concerned about her.. Then, she bit her lips and suddenly grabbed Zion''s hand, pulling him inside the toilet. Chapter 97 - Heartbreak "What? Are you hurt?" Zion asked while looking at her with a frown face. Amaris shook her head while staring at him. They were inside the toilet because she suddenly pulled him inside. He was leaning against the door while she stood in front of him. She was expecting Zion to do something and know what she was thinking, but his face still looked worried. "I thought something happened to you. What took you so long?" He asked. "N-Nothing." She murmured. Zion frowned again. He looked at her and noticed her face was so red. He touched her on the cheek and was surprised because she was burning. "Why do you look like that?" Zion asked again. He was staring into her eyes, and Amaris felt like her body was burning even more because of Zion''s gaze. She felt hot, and she could feel the warmth of her own breath. She was craving for Zion; that''s why she pulled him inside the toilet. "You''re mad at me." She mumbled. "I am. You know the reason for that, right?" She nodded. "Can you forgive me?" "It depends." He answered. "What do you want me to do so you could forgive me?" She asked. Zion smirked. He didn''t say a word but suddenly grabbed Amaris'' neck, slamming her by the door with her face against it. "Nothing. I''ll just punish you." He said. Amaris felt Zion''s hand lifting her dress then pulled down her underwear. "I will remind you that you belong to me and no one else. I am your Alpha, your lover, and your only mate." He said with gritted teeth before shoving his dick inside her already dripping pussy. "Ahhh...Yes! Yes!" She howled. Zion was mad at her, she could feel it with his movements, but it made her wilder instead of feeling worried. One of his hands held her by the nape while his other hand was exploring her body. He pulled the sleeve of her dress, showing her bare shoulder, and then she felt his tongue licking her neck. "Tell me Ari, who am I to you?" He asked. Amaris felt his dick sliding in and out of her core while he asked that question. He didn''t stop thrusting faster and continued to massage her breasts. "You are my Alpha and my lover. I love you! Believe me; I only belong to you. My heart, my body, my soul, all of me belongs to you." She answered. "Then don''t make me jealous again, or I might lose control and kill your other mate." He said in a serious tone. He finally admitted that he was jealous of the Elven Prince. He couldn''t accept the fact that another man was claiming to be her mate. It also made him mad that her other mate was fated to die for her. He was thankful that a lot of creatures were willing to risk their lives for her, but he couldn''t accept that one of them was her other mate. Amaris would definitely think about that man and would never forget him. Zion moved faster, and his thrust was forceful and rough. Amaris felt his anger and anxiousness. When he turned her around to face him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him gently on the lips. That''s when he suddenly changed his pace. He became calm when he responded to her kisses. After releasing his anger to Amaris, he pulled her closer, embracing her tightly. "I don''t want to have this feeling again. I felt like I was going crazy." He whispered. "I told you, I''m yours, and no one could separate us anymore." She answered. He didn''t answer and instead gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead. "I love you so much, Ari." "I love you more." Then they made love again, but this time he was gentle. Inside the tavern, Alwyn felt like his heart was being crushed. He couldn''t let anyone in the group know about what he felt, so he went outside. He wanted to run away as far as possible, thinking that the pain would lessen if he were far from Amaris. "Are you okay?" He was startled when he heard a soft voice just a few feet away from him. When he looked at who it was, he was surprised to see the Alpha''s sister, Zoila. "I''m fine." He answered, trying to relax. "No, you''re not." Zoila said while walking towards him. He chuckled. "And how did you know?" "You look like a mess. I''m sorry." The prince frowned. He wasn''t sure why she was apologizing. "I don''t need your sympathy." "I know. I don''t pity you. I actually admire you for loving someone who will never be yours. But I also think you''re stupid." Zoila honestly answered. Alwyn thought that Zoila was like her brother. She was brave enough to tell a crown prince that he was stupid. No one ever talked like that to him. Everyone was always careful when having a conversation with him. It was the first time that he wasn''t treated like a prince. He didn''t expect that the group he would be joining would be honest and sincere. He didn''t notice that Zoila was already beside him. He was leaning in an oak tree, and she did the same. Zoila looked at the sky, staring at the sun brightly shining and bathing the whole area with its warm light. "I had a mate once. He was an Alpha of another pack. I thought I was so lucky that he was my mate. The first time we met, I had a huge crush on him. I was young and innocent. When I turned eighteen, I found out he was my mate and was so happy about it. Imagine your crush was actually your mate. Who wouldn''t be happy and excited?" Zoila chuckled. "I felt like we were destined to be together. I didn''t tell anyone because I wanted to surprise my parents and brother, so I approached my mate first. He said he was also thrilled to find me finally, and we planned to tell everyone during my brother''s ascension as the Alpha of our pack. I was so excited that day, and I didn''t expect that it would also be the day that my heart would be torn into a million pieces." Zoila bit her lips, remembering the day she got her heart broken. Alwyn was just listening to Zoila. For some reason, he wanted to know what had happened to her. He felt her pain while telling him her story. "The party for my brother had started, and I remember all the guests had arrived, including that Alpha''s betas. But I couldn''t find him. No one really knew that I was his mate, so I didn''t bother to ask his companions. I suddenly felt a sudden pain in my heart when I ran into the woods to look for him. It was so painful that I felt like I was going to die. Then I heard a pleasurable scream and howls from a distance. The pain was already unbearable but I still wanted to see who let out that kind of sound. In my mind, I already had an idea but I wanted to see it with my own eyes." Zoila sighed. "Hey, y-you don''t need to continue -" Alwyn said, trying to stop Zoila. "No. I want you to know that I know how you feel." Zoila cut him off before continuing. Alwyn nodded and listened to her carefully. "I found my mate, fucking my cousin. It turned out they were in that kind of relationship for a long time. My cousin already had a mate at that time, so I was confused why her mate didn''t say anything about it. I wanted to confront them, but I couldn''t. I stood there watching them fucking each other. It was disgusting, and I was mad, but I couldn''t move an inch. After making out, I heard them talking about me. My mate didn''t like me because he was jealous of my brother being gifted with elemental powers. He just wanted me so he could get close to my family and kill my brother. He wanted to steal Zion''s powers." Zoila paused and looked at the sun again. "What happened?" Alwyn asked. Zoila took a deep breath and suddenly touched her chest. She felt the pain again. "Are you okay?" Alwyn asked, worried. She nodded and turned to him with a smile on her face. "What did you think happened? Do you think I will let anyone ruin my family and kill my brother?" She laughed bitterly. Alwyn saw Zoila grit her teeth in anger. "I pretended not to know anything and just went with the flow. But before he announced to everyone that I was his mate, I lured him and asked him to meet me by the cliff of our territory. The idiot thought I would let him fuck me after fucking my cousin, so he came. And I killed him.." Zoila said without showing any remorse. Chapter 98 - Rejection Alwyn didn''t say a word. He felt the pain of Zoila''s words. Imagine killing your own mate for the sake of your family. What he was feeling now was not as painful as Zoila''s. "Did Zion know about it?" He asked. Zoila extended her hand as if trying to reach the sun. "Yes. He saw me kill my mate. My brother was looking for me that night because he didn''t see me at the party. The cliff was one of my favorite places in our territory, so he came to search for me." Zoila answered. "But if he''s an Alpha of a pack, his betas and the rest of their pack members would definitely feel that something happened to him. How did you manage to fix that?" Alwyn asked, curiosity piqued. A wolf pack''s strengths depend primarily on the Alpha''s powers and its Luna. When an Alpha dies, the pack would feel weak because the connection broke immediately. "After I killed him, I told Zion everything. I was a mess and didn''t know what to do back then. My heart felt like it was being taken out of my chest while being stabbed a thousand times. I wanted to die with him. But Zion didn''t let me. He attacked me before my mate''s betas arrived. Then they told them he killed their Alpha because he tried to force himself on me. We''re half wolves but harassing someone was unforgivable even as a pack leader. Everyone knew that my mate was a flirt and enjoyed sex with different women. I don''t know how Zion found out about him raping the omegas of his pack." Zoila took a deep breath and continued. "I didn''t know he was like that. I thought he was like the other Alphas. His betas didn''t argue as if they were thankful for what Zion did. But my cousin couldn''t accept what had happened. She claimed that the Alpha was her mate and he wouldn''t do something like that. She got mad and left our pack. Zion and I knew that she would get back to us someday. I told my brother to look for her, but he said to wait, so I obeyed him." "Do you think your cousin felt a mate bond with that Alpha?" Alwyn asked. "I don''t know. As far as I know, only demons could have more than one mate, like Ari." Zoila answered. He nodded in agreement. When he found out that his mate had more than one mate, he was confused and did some research. Amaris was half demon and half goddess, so he knew that the possibility of having more than one mate was high. "Are you talking about the Eclipse Pack?" Alwyn guessed. There was news about the Eclipse Pack decades ago. It was disbanded because its Alpha was killed, and no one wanted to ascend as the pack''s new leader. "Yes. After I killed my mate, no one ascended as its new Alpha. Most of their pack members, especially the omegas, joined our pack. Zion accepted them. Some were accepted by other packs when Zion asked them to ." "How about the Alpha''s family?" He asked. "His parents went to Mirrikh along with his two brothers and sister. I don''t have any news about them after the incident." "Why didn''t his parents choose one of his brothers to be the next Alpha?" Alwyn continued to ask. Zoila sighed, then turned his gaze to the Elven Prince. "They were afraid of Zion. I think some of his betas knew about their Alpha''s plan to kill Zion and steal his powers. They didn''t want to be Zion''s enemy. My brother told them to rebuild their pack, but even the previous Alpha and Luna didn''t want to. They decided to leave instead." She answered. They were both quiet for a moment. He didn''t feel the pain anymore, and it only meant one thing. The Alpha and Luna were done with whatever they were doing. "I know how painful it is. It wasn''t just emotionally painful; it was physically and mentally distressing as well. So I understand what you are going through. I''m sorry if I cannot do something about it. Zion also suffered a lot when he lost Ari, and not only him, our pack suffered." "I understand, and I know my place. If only I could get rid of this pain." He mumbled. Zoila frowned and looked at the prince with a serious face. "You could actually do something about it. You didn''t have to make it so complicated." Zoila said. Alwyn turned to Zoila with confusion on his face. "You can reject her, or she could reject you." Zoila suggested. "But isn''t it much more painful if your mate rejected you?" Alwyn asked. Zoila shrugged. "I don''t know, but I do know that the mate bond would be broken if you both rejected each other. Maybe you two have to talk about it." Alwyn sighed but nodded in agreement. He didn''t get a chance to talk to Amaris because he wanted to respect her relationship with Zion. "Let''s go inside. Our food will get cold." Zoila said before walking inside the tavern. He followed her inside and saw Amaris laughing beside Zion. He took a deep breath and mustered the courage to ask her. He sat down across from her and looked directly into her eyes. Amaris frowned. She knew Alwyn felt what she and Zion did in the toilet. She sighed. "Can we talk?" Amaris asked. Alwyn was surprised. He wanted to talk to her and planned on asking her already. He looked at Zion to see if he agreed. "It''s fine. Go." Zion whispered. Alwyn nodded and followed Amaris outside the tavern. They talked at the same spot where he and Zoila chatted. They were quiet for a moment, and Amaris was pacing back and forth before she stopped and looked at him. "Look, I''m sorry if I am hurting you. I did feel something towards you, but I know it wasn''t love. If I consider your feelings, Zion will get hurt. I don''t want to hurt him." Amaris started. "I understand. You don''t need to worry about me. I talked to Zoila, and she suggested that we could reject each other. It might solve our problem." Alwyn answered. Amaris was surprised. She didn''t know that they could do that. She was a Terran months ago and just recently became a hybrid. She didn''t have enough knowledge about mythical creatures. "Do you think it will work? I don''t have any idea about this mating bond or how it works. But I do know that I love Zion." Amaris commented. "Can you at least stop saying you love him right in my face? It''s painful." He chuckled even though he felt like his heart was being pierced by something. Amaris bit her lips and suddenly felt guilty. She took a deep breath and held Alwyn''s hands. "I can be your friend. That''s all I can offer you. And about your doom, please don''t risk your life for me. I don''t want you to die because of me. We don''t know if your death would be an accident or you would do something for me; I don''t like both. Let''s fight fate. Zion and I will help you. Your family is waiting for you, especially your sister. My father chose you, and he said you would be a great king, so I think there''s a big chance that what will happen in the future would be different from your doom." She sincerely said. The crown prince was once again mesmerized by the woman in front of him. His heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly felt the urge to embrace her. And so he did. Amaris didn''t expect Alwyn to suddenly pull her arms and hug her. She wasn''t able to move because she was off guard. ''I want to run outside and kill that guy.'' It was Zion. ''Hey, let him be for now. I am already yours, and we decided to reject each other. What do you think?'' She asked. ''That''s a great idea. It would hurt him, but it would take just a few days for the mate bond to break completely. After that, he would feel nothing, and we don''t need to consider his feelings anymore'' Zion answered. ''Okay. Then I''ll do it.'' ''Do it now, and can you tell him to let you go. I''m losing my patience.'' Zion warned. Before Amaris could tell Alwyn, he already let her go. "I''m sorry. It would be my first and last embrace to you." He said. Amaris nodded and walked a few steps backward. She didn''t want Zion to get mad again, so she needed to make sure that it was the last hug from Alwyn. "Let''s do it." She said. The Elven Prince nodded and prepared himself for the pain again. He looked at Amaris'' eyes and breathed deeply. "I, Amaris Hadley, reject you, Prince Alwyn of Hiborane, as my mate.." She simply said. Chapter 99 - Surviving Pain Amaris waited for the prince''s rejection. She looked at him in the eyes and saw that he was hesitating. She stared at him with pleading eyes. She wanted to beg and tell him to reject her. It would be best for them both. Alwyn felt the pain when Amaris said those words. Her rejection was direct, and she didn''t waver. It was her decision, and there was really no hope to change her mind. He sighed deeply, then looked into her eyes. "I, Alwyn Sylric, crown prince of the Elven Clan, accept your rejection, Amaris Hadley, Luna of the Blue Moon Pack, and reject you as my mate. I hereby break the mate bond between you and me." He finally said. Alwyn could feel the pain of rejection. But for Amaris, she didn''t feel anything at all. But she was thankful for the Elven prince''s decision. "A-Are you okay?" She asked. "I''m already used to this. You can go; first, I''ll stay here for a while." He said. Amaris nodded and started to walk away from Alwyn. He stared at her when she began to get far from him. Again, seeing her was heartbreaking. He held on to his chest and continuously breathed. It started as a dull pain within his chest, but it shortly spread across his entire body. Panic took over him for a moment as thoughts of endless pain crept up in his mind. What if this excruciating stabbing pain would never stop piercing through his heart? He thought inwardly. Wave after wave kept coming. Cold shudders shot through his body, and both his hands and legs were shaking. He tried his hardest to ignore the pain, but it only got worse. Maybe giving up was the right choice. He thought to himself. This cruel, sickening pain had been with him for years now, but the pain now was a lot different from the previous ones. His legs gave out under him, and he sank to the ground. He felt weak, sweat covering every inch of his skin, and his hands were quivering out of control. His eyes peeked all over, desperately searching for a way to relieve the miserable feeling. He was exhausted, and the pain took its toll on him. Tired, but he couldn''t stop it. He paused for a moment and weighed every answer to this pain, considering each option and trying to find the best way to contain what he was feeling. Soft cries and grunts escaped his mouth. Weary and frustrated, he wanted it all to be over and done with. But he was unable to block out the pain completely. Sick of dealing with all this, the prince refused to accept the misery and mustered his strength to get on with his day to the best of his capability. Amaris sat down beside Zion and smiled at him. He smiled back at her and held her hand. ''So what do you feel? Are you hurt?'' Zion asked, using a mind link. ''Nothing. I''m relieved that we somehow found a way to break our connection. Do you think he''ll be okay?'' She asked. ''It will hurt his feelings. The pain will last only for maybe a week. But it''s better that way rather than being hurt for the rest of his life.'' Zion answered. Amaris agreed. If she were in his place, she would also choose to feel pain for a week rather than experience it forever. But she couldn''t stop herself from worrying about Alwyn. She looked at Zoila and thought of something. Zoila and Grakar were the only ones who didn''t have a mate for now. Maxine seemed okay with Cole and Damien with Shelly. Zoila might be able to help Alwyn. ''Can I ask you a favor?'' She mind linked Zoila. Zoila glanced at her and frowned. ''What is it?'' She asked Amaris. ''I rejected Alwyn, and he accepted it. Can you help him at least lessen his pain? I don''t know what kind of help he needs, and I cannot give anything to him. Can you take care of him?'' Amaris asked, almost pleading. ''Are you feeling guilty right now?'' Zoila chuckled. ''Hey, I''m not that bad. I had to do it. I love your brother, and I can''t make him worry because someone claimed that I was his mate.'' She pouted. ''I know. And I think that''s better than hurting the prince over and over.'' Zoila commented. ''So, do you think you could help him?'' Amaris asked. Zoila nodded and smiled at her. Amaris whispered thank you and gave Zoila a gentle smile. Outside, Alwyn was still trying to fight the pain he felt in his heart. Sweat was pouring from his forehead, his hands were moist and shaking, while he gritted his teeth and flinched from the pain. It took him some time to gather his thoughts, or at least gather adequately of them to think slightly clearer. He was so exhausted. Depleted both because of the pain and drained of dealing with the despair, he didn''t have a choice but to endure all of it. ''When will this pain stop? Someone, please make it stop; I can''t take it anymore!'' He said inwardly. The soil beneath him was drenched with his own sweat as he fell to the ground. He was on the ground, dying and in pain. To make matters worse, he felt like something was stabbing his heart. It seemed that he couldn''t even die comfortably. ''Ah. This is what it felt like when your heart was being torn into pieces.'' He thought to himself. He began to feel scared. He was alone while everyone inside was happily chatting with each other. He could hear the waves of laughter and cheers of the creatures inside the tavern while he was outside feeling the unbearable pain. ''Why hasn''t anybody looked for me? Does no one adore me? Does no one care for me? Or, they must be searching for me in the wrong place. I''m certain someone will find me soon. Somebody will find me and rescue me.'' He continued to think of those positive things to lessen his pain. He was so dizzy, and everything was spinning around her. He felt like think he might pass out any time soon. But he couldn''t let that happen. He lay down on the muddy ground and stared at the sun. He could feel the sunlight was directly brushing his skin. It was warm. He felt glad that he could still feel the warmth coming from the rays of the sun. It only meant that he was still alive. He wanted to close his eyes and was starting to give up when he saw someone was running towards him. He thought it was Amaris, but the woman had black hair, and he saw her left eye turn red when she crouched down on the ground. "You have to survive this! You are the crown prince of the Elven Clan. What would your people think about your family if you were that weak? Stand up!" The woman ordered. He frowned and stared at the woman ordering him to stay alive. It was Zoila. The woman who killed her mate for his brother''s sake. When he heard her story, he thought it was admirable and heroic. But now that he was feeling this kind of pain, he respected Zoila even more. How did she survive this feeling? He asked himself. Now he knew why some creatures who had their mates got killed or rejected like him died after a few days. Zoila''s story was much painful than his, but she survived. The prince mustered his strength and stood up from the ground. Zoila helped him, and to avoid being seen by the elves inside the tavern, she guided him to a much-isolated area. Zoila supported him, leaning him against a sequoia tree. He was breathing irregularly, and Zoila was starting to get worried. She saw herself in Alwyn''s face when she experienced the pain of her mate''s death. "Alwyn! Listen to me! You have to fight the heartache, and the pain will consume you if you let it devour your body. Think of something or someone that would make you happy. Think about your family. If you die, what will happen to your clan? What will happen to your sister? What if someone takes her away from your kingdom? No one will protect her." Zoila ranted. Alwyn looked at Zoila''s face and stared at her. She was right. Elmyra needs him, and he promised her that he would return to be the king. He suddenly saw his sister''s crying face, and right there and then, he decided to fight and never give up on whatever came in his way. Zoila saw that Alwyn was trying his best to fight the pain in his heart. She knew how painful it was to lose your mate.. He was still breathing irregularly, and without thinking, Zoila leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. Chapter 100 - Ghost Town Amaris felt like something had happened between Zoila and Alwyn. She didn''t ask what it was when they continued their journey to the Atlantean Territory. Zoila returned to the tavern with a flushed face and couldn''t look at them directly into their eyes. Amaris wished that the two would end up together, but she needed to wait for a few more days for the mate bond to break completely. The once smooth grid of roads leading to the Ethereal Ocean was unnoticeable from the surrounding terrain. Once trimmed to perfection, the trees were uneven and overgrown, returning to their cluttered natural state. On their way to the Atlantean Territory, they passed by a small town called Mineloa. "Have you been to this town?" Amaris asked Zion. After rejecting Alwyn, Zion didn''t allow Amaris to ride with Grakar which she agreed, to avoid any argument. "I''ve been here twice, but that was a long time ago." He said. "Alpha, I think something has happened here." Cole commented. "Yeah." Zion nodded while looking at the town from the cliff. Mineloa was once a growing neighborhood with hundreds of families residing there, but it seemed now that it was a forgotten remnant of a time long passed. The creaking of wood and grinding of metal on metal was now the only sounds in this town, making disturbing clangers around them. On the streets were abandoned homes as if it was made for frightening thoughts. Some doors had tumbled as rats ate away their edges. But most entries of the houses and establishments were gone entirely or mere remnants of rotten wood and rusty metal. The entrances looked creepy as only darkness showed within. They stopped and looked at one of the houses. The open doorway that was once possibly very welcoming was now eerie and unpleasant. Window panes hung perilously from their hinges and the curtains that had been flung out by the wind. A few rusted cars still stood in the driveways or just outside the streets, but most were stripped of all their spare parts. The Crimson Keep Hotel, located in the middle of the town, has had a few honorable guests over the years but was now weak and beginning to collapse bit by bit. Whether forced or not, the town was obviously abandoned by its people, but a few animals from the woods wandered around it. Each house was once a home belonging to a family, but now there was only emptiness. But even though everything may appear like it was gone forever, and it was no longer home to Terrans that used to live here, it was now a shelter to families of wild animals. The peaceful street was hardly noticeable because the weeds and grasses occupied it. Random scraps of long-forgotten possessions litter the roads and wild, rampant gardens within this town. Mineloa, once a place of modern housing and technology, was now but a ghostly shell of its former self. The air, which was previously filled with the considerable sounds of a growing community, had grown eerily silent. The occasional animal sound and squall would only break the quietness of the town. But what caught their attention was the abandoned hospital that seemed left because half of the place had been caught on fire and it seemed that it just happened a few days ago. The empty halls and rooms added to the lonely ambiance of this town. No matter how you looked at it, this town was a dreadful sight to look at. Lives were forgotten, perhaps wholly ruined, and there was hardly anything to offer in it. "Alpha, what do you think happened?" Cole asked. Zion didn''t answer and was also thinking about the town. Mineloa was one of the towns you would like to stop by when traveling towards the Ethereal Ocean. He couldn''t believe that a lively and rich town like this was now deserted. "Let''s stop here for now and see what we can find. We could use one of the houses to stay the night. Let''s continue our journey in the morning." Zion said. Everyone agreed, maybe because they were curious about what had happened to the town. Amaris hadn''t been in this part of Terra, but she had heard a lot about Mineloa from her aunt, Maxine''s mother. The protreas searched the town first and looked for a house they could use, making sure everything was safe before settling into one. "Do you think the town was attacked?" Amaris asked Zion. She was now riding with Zion after talking to Alwyn. Zion nodded but didn''t say a word. They stopped in front of the hotel and waited for the others. Diana and her family stayed with them since it was dangerous for the kids to lurk around. "We found a house big enough and safer for us to stay the night. I think it was the mayor''s house since it was gated and surrounded by a big fence." Damien said. The house looked magnificent, built with white bricks, and had mahogany wooden decorations from the outside. The tall, squared windows added to the house''s overall style and in a reasonably asymmetrical design. The house was equipped with a large kitchen and three bathrooms, and it also had a warm living room, seven bedrooms, an elegant dining room, and a relaxing wine cellar in the basement. The building was rectangular and partially surrounded by glass with overhanging panels on two sides. The roof was high and diagonal to one side and covered with wood shingles. A small chimney spurred out at the middle of the ceiling, and several long, thin windows let in the lights from the sun and the moon to the rooms below. They noticed that it was also surrounded by an exquisite garden, including hanging grapevines, a pond, a pagoda, and different flowers. Aside from dust and webs inside the house, the interior was still intact. It wasn''t like the other houses in town. "Why do you think this house wasn''t like the others?" Amaris asked Zion. "I''m not sure. Maybe it was the last house that they abandoned." Zion responded. "How about we all just stay in the living room? We could get the mattresses from the bedrooms and put them together." Amaris suggested. Everyone agreed since it would be dangerous not to stick together. Amaris frowned and walked towards the fireplace. There were pictures of a family on top. It looked like a couple with four children lived in that house. She was about to touch one of the picture frames when they heard a scream upstairs. Amaris saw Damien and Maxine rush to where they heard the scream. Amaris sat down on the couch beside Diana''s children and waited. When Damien and Maxine came back, they were followed by Grakar, who was holding a girl in his arms. Grakar slowly put the girl down on the sofa. When they looked at her, she was one of the people in the photos. "Is she a Terran?" Zoila asked. "She was a Terran before." Amaris answered. Zion frowned and was confused about what Amaris said. "What do you mean?" He asked while still standing in front of the fireplace. "I think she was bitten. Look!" Amaris answered while pointing at the girl''s neck. Zion walked towards them and looked at the bite mark. Only three creatures bit its prey: the vampires, the demons, and the werewolves. "It''s not a werewolf''s bite. Damien, can you check if it''s your kind?" Zion asked. Damien checked the girl''s neck and confirmed that the bite mark wasn''t really from a werewolf. He leaned forward to look closer, then he looked at Zion and shook his head. "It''s not from a vampire either. This wound was deeper, so it might be a demon." Damien said. They looked at Amaris to check it. "What? I never bit anyone other than Zion. I don''t know what it looks like." She commented. "Maybe you can try?" Zion asked softly. She nodded then kneeled beside the girl to see if she could do anything to find out what happened to her. ''Help me!'' Amaris'' eyes widened. She didn''t even start anything yet. Where did that voice come from? She thought inwardly. ''Who are you?'' She asked. ''I''m in front of you. But I can only speak through your mind.'' ''What happened to you? To your family? To this town?'' ''We were attacked two weeks ago by demons and monsters. They were looking for someone from Ocearia. They saw him come into our town and accused us of hiding that creature. They started hurting everyone, including my family.'' ''What do you mean?'' Amaris asked. ''The residents in this town were Terrans, and the mythical creatures were welcome here to visit and rest, but no one was allowed to live here other than our kind. They said they would turn everyone into a monster. My parents turned, and the rest of the adults living here. They didn''t bite the children, only the adults.'' ''Where are the children then?'' Amaris frowned. ''They took them.'' ''Where?'' ''To Tartarus.'' Chapter 101 - A Series Of Abduction ''Why do you talk to me in this way? Can you wake up?'' Amaris asked. ''I was bitten, so I am not in my right mind. I lost my sanity a few days ago. I might attack you once I wake up.'' ''If you went crazy, why are you talking to me using a mind link?'' ''I don''t know. I have been asking for help ever since that day. I screamed for help when I saw that minotaur and the other two who came running towards me, but you are the only one who heard me.'' The girl answered. ''What''s your name?'' ''Kayla. What''s yours?'' ''Amaris.'' ''Amaris? The Luna of the Blue Moon Pack?'' Amaris frowned. She didn''t expect that a Terran also knew her. She thought that only mythical creatures knew her, especially those looking for her. ''How did you know me?'' She asked Kayla. ''Everyone was talking about you. I heard those demons were looking for a creature that came from Ocearia because it''s one of your protectors.'' Kayla answered. Amaris looked at Zion and stood up. "Did you find anything?" He asked. Amaris nodded. "They were attacked by demons and monsters a few days ago." "Why?" Maxine asked with a frown on her face. "They were looking for the last protrea. They believed the protrea was hiding in this town, so they questioned everyone. But when they didn''t find anyone, they started attacking the Terrans, turning the adults into demons and abducting the children." Amaris explained. "Where did they take the children?" Diana asked, worried. "To Tartarus." ''Help me.'' Kayla talked to Amaris using the mind link again. Amaris looked at Kayla. She didn''t know what kind of help she could give her, but she suddenly remembered what her mother had taught her. She kneeled back beside Kayla while the others were curious about her action. ''Mother, father. Please guide me.'' She whispered. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, the others were surprised when it turned silver. Then a bright light came from her amulet. It was the amulet given by Maxine''s mom. "Resendo." Amaris mumbled while she gently brushed her palm in Kayla''s face. Kayla suddenly opened her eyes and started screaming again. "Hold her!" Amaris ordered. Damien held Kayla by the wrists while Cole grabbed her ankles. ''It''s painful!'' Kayla talked to Amaris. ''I know. But bear with it. I can''t make you a Terran again, but I''ll make sure you won''t lose your sanity when you turn.'' Amaris said. Kayla screamed again when she felt a sharp pain strike her chest from deep within. The pain subsided at times, just to burst up again and with seemingly boosted intensity. She started sweating when she felt her body beginning to get hot. The feeling of a sudden rise in her temperature added an intense pain. She felt like she was on fire. When she screamed again, a shadowy black ball-like figure came out of her mouth. "Le Vanescere." Amaris whispered. Then the black figure disappeared. Kayla fell unconscious after, and Amaris'' eyes turned back to blue. "What did you do?" Maxine asked. "She was going to turn into a demon. She would lose her sanity and attack us. I cannot undo what was done to her. She would still turn, but she would be fine." She answered. Amaris stood up and walked closer to Zion. She couldn''t understand why she suddenly wanted to be in his arms. Zion was staring at Amaris when she walked towards him. He was surprised when she leaned her head to his chest while wrapping her arms around. The others were also surprised and turned their heads away. Alwyn still felt the pain of seeing Amaris hugging Zion. He averted his eyes then walked out of the house. "Hey, are you okay?" Zion asked. "Yes. I suddenly felt like I wanted to be near you." She said. Zion didn''t say a word and just carried her. When he sat down on the couch, putting Amaris on his lap. "Rest. I''ll be with you." He whispered. Amaris nodded. She could not answer because her eyes suddenly shut down and she fell asleep. Diana sat beside them, looking at her kids, who were already sleeping on the mattresses they had put together. "Do you think we could save those children?" Diana asked Zion. "We have to try. If they bring those kids to Tartarus, I think something is going on other than Amaris." Zion answered. ''What do you mean?" Damien asked when he and Shelly sat across Zion. Zion sighed deeply before answering. "Ari said that they were looking for the last protrea, but why did they take those kids? It didn''t make sense. They should focus on what they were asked to do. The girl said they were attacked but look at this house. There''s no sign of any struggle here. She said it happened a few days ago, but we saw the houses outside. They didn''t look like it just happened." Zion explained. The houses and the buildings looked abandoned for years, but the house they picked was different. Aside from dust, all the things inside were still in good shape. "Do you think she''s lying?" Shelly asked. Zion shook his head. "I don''t think so. Ari could smell lies, so she will know if the girl''s not telling the truth." "Maybe we could just ask both of them when they wake up." Damien commented. Zion agreed. The girl was one of the children from the photos, so she''s definitely a Terran who lived in that house. But what really happened in Mineloa? He thought to himself. "Why do you think they were targeting children?" Diana asked again. Zion turned his gaze to Diana. He remembered that her kids were abducted as well, and it was a coincidence that they found them. "Do you think your kids were taken for the same reason that those kids were abducted?" Zion asked Diana in return. "Yes. When we looked for them, we heard that someone from the Underworld was ordering the demons and monsters. I didn''t hear the name, but there''s only one reason why they need children." Zion frowned. He knew what Diana was talking about, but he couldn''t believe it. "Diana, the Demon King won''t allow a Titan to wake up. They were taken to Tartarus to be imprisoned there for eternity. Even though the Demon King was not the one who guards Tartarus, if he failed to secure it, Orcus would give the Underworld to another demon." Zion said. "The Demon King is responsible for assigning demons who could secure the gates to Tartarus. Something might have happened if those demons that abducted the kids had brought them there. Demons were not allowed just to come and go in the mortal realm. It''s against the law of Terra. And we were talking about demons with Terran kids." Damien also explained. "Unless the demon king was held captive." Shelly blurted. The three looked at Shelly. She was from Mirrikh and ran away from her home because Phoebus was also abducted. "It''s the Demon King. I don''t think someone could defeat him. He has legions, and he''s powerful enough to fight the enemies." Diana commented. A long time ago, the vampires attempted to take over the Underworld, but the Demon Prince Zuriel stopped them. He was the one who guarded Semel at that time, and he defeated the vampires all by himself. "There''s always a way, and you all know that. Phoebus was abducted even though he''s a God. He''s not like the Demon King who could fight, but he could still use his powers against them, yet he was taken." Shelly said. She was right. Phoebus was not a powerful God. He''s a Prorosist¨¦, an oracle. But he still had his powers to protect himself from lower demons. Zion sighed and thought of what Diana said earlier. He looked at Diana then turned to Damien and Shelly. "If they were kidnapping children to feed their souls to a Titan, who do you think it was?" Zion asked. Zion never saw what was in Tartarus since they were not allowed to go even in the Underworld. But according to rumors and stories, the exiled and banished Titans were imprisoned in Tartarus, resting in glass coffins. They were put to sleep for eternity by the current Gods. They said that you could only awaken one of the Titans if you feed them children''s souls. A Titan needed to eat a thousand souls of children to regain its powers. Diana didn''t say a word, but she looked at the woman quietly sleeping in Zion''s arms. Zion frowned and gritted his teeth. "No. They can''t do that." He said. "It''s a possibility." Damien exclaimed. "Her body didn''t have an anima. Why would they try to wake her up?" He asked with a dark expression on his face. "They could force her anima to return to its original body, and in that way, it would be easier for them to capture her.." Diana answered. Chapter 102 - Amaris Corpus Zion was surprised by what Diana said. He suddenly got worried and concerned. "Do you know the Demon Prince Sura, one of the Elysian Elders?" Diana asked. Zion nodded. "Yeah. He''s Ari''s uncle. We met him." "His mate has no soul. If you see her, she looks like a normal Terran, but she is like a doll once you talk to her. Like someone was making her body move. She only knows one emotion, happiness." Diana continued. "Someone stole his mate''s anima, right?" Damien asked. Diana nodded. "According to rumors, when they met, the girl was chosen to be Sura''s slave and witch. Remember that before a demon enters the mortal realm, a Terran slave will be chosen and a witch as a companion. In Sura''s case, his slave and witch died during his first few years in Terra, so the girl was the second choice. She was a Terran and a witch in training at that time. Unlike other witches, she was allowed to study, and after she graduated, she worked as a model and an actress in Aramoor City." "But witches were not allowed to mingle with ordinary Terrans. What''s so special about her?" Damien asked again. "She was just an ordinary Terran, an orphan. One of the witches found her on the streets and took her in. No one really knows where she came from. She was normal when they met. One day Sura came home, and she was gone. He found her in one of the alleyways near her house. By the time Sura saved her, her anima had been stolen already." Diana continued. "Diana, I don''t know why you are telling me all this?" Zion frowned. "I''m telling you this because if someone was really trying to wake Amaris in Tartarus, it''s either they will force her anima to return to its original body, or they will use her body as a puppet like Sura''s mate." Diana answered. "There could be another reason. You only mention two, but don''t you think there''s another possibility why they are trying to wake her up?" Damien exclaimed. Both Zion and Diana looked at Damien, waiting for him to continue. "Spill it out!" Diana blurted impatiently. "What if they found an anima that could control her body? That''s also possible, right? I mean, we already knew that her original body would start to deteriorate if her anima won''t claim it. What if they were trying to make her body a shell for another anima? They could just take one anima and put it there." Damien answered. Diana was still frowning and seemed confused. Damien saw his sister''s reaction and sighed. "Come on! Think about it! The gods, the demons, or whoever wanted her would do everything. Putting an anima inside her would be easier for them. They''re in Tartarus. Different souls were imprisoned and trapped there. They could easily get one from mythical creatures, Titans, demons, or monsters. I''m sure they will take a strong anima since your Luna is strong." Damien continued while looking at Zion. Zion didn''t say a word. Damien has a point because the anima and the corpus must have equal strength and power for mythical creatures like them. If an anima is stronger than the corpus, the corpus will not be able to handle the power and would eventually weaken and die. It''s the same if the anima is weaker than the corpus. In Amaris'' case, her corpus needed a strong anima to control it. If the anima is weak, her corpus will not follow. Zion glanced at Amaris, who was busy attending with the girl. He was thinking about how strong she was. He had not seen all of her powers yet, but he was sure that she had discovered only fifty percent of it. "Any idea of someone in Tartarus stronger than her?" Zion asked while staring at his Luna. The siblings, Diana and Damien, glanced at Amaris as well before looking at Zion. "Cronus." Diana simply answered. Zion''s eyes widened. "Cronus? The king of the Titans?" Diana nodded. "Yes. Cronus was the leader and youngest of the first generation of Titans. He''s Selene''s uncle." "W-Wait. Let''s say you are right. Why would Cronus want his niece''s body? Isn''t he powerful enough to escape from Tartarus?" Zion asked. "We don''t know the reason. But if it''s true, our enemy is something beyond powerful. We are talking about Cronus. The one who overthrew his father, Uranus. We just don''t know what he wants." Diana answered. "I know." The three frowned while looking at the little kid who just spoke. It was Azalea. "What do you mean?" Diana asked. "Azalea''s father was taken in Tartarus, and she was able to sneak in there by transforming herself into the smallest insect." Zion said. Amaris got curious when she saw Zion and the others talking. They looked serious, so she walked closer to them to ask. "What''s happening?" Zion looked at Amaris and sighed. He knew she might get worried if she heard about Cronus, but he swore not to hide anything from her, so he told her everything. Amaris wasn''t surprised anymore. A lot had happened, and this was one of the things she had already expected. For some reason, she felt like she already knew about it or someone had told her. "You didn''t seem surprised." Zion commented. "I don''t know. It''s like I already knew. I think one of my ten forms felt something." She answered. Amaris looked at Diana as if she was asking for an answer. "Maybe one of them is connected to your corpus." It was Azalea who answered. They looked at the little fae with a frown. The girl rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she took something from her small bag; it was a book. Azalea opened it on top of the center table while they looked at what she was showing them. "This was my father''s research. He was researching about soul transference. At first, I didn''t know his reasons, but now I think it was because of you." Azalea started while staring at Amaris. Amaris didn''t say a word. She glanced at Zion then at the opened book on the table. She frowned when she couldn''t understand what was written on it even though there were illustrations. "Can you tell us what it says?" She asked Azalea, who immediately nodded. "It says here that Phelan made your anima immortal, but Selene granted your anima the power to transfer to another body. In short, soul transference. Selene didn''t complete the ritual, so some of your powers were left in your body, including two of your ten forms." Azalea started. "Is that the reason her body was preserved in Tartarus?" Damien asked. Azalea nodded. "Father confirmed that two of your forms were trapped inside your body, and one of them was powerful enough to destroy the balance between worlds. Do you remember all of your ten forms?" Amaris shook her head. She tried everything to remember her other forms, but she felt like her memories about them were blocked. "I can''t remember, but I felt something was missing, like one of my forms was connected to my body." She answered. "Not one. All of them. Your tenth and strongest form is a dragon. " Azalea exclaimed. "A dragon? I thought only one demon had a beast dragon, the demon princess Athanasia." Diana frowned. "No. The demon princess has a dragon, yes. But it wasn''t the strongest. Remember, she was once suspected as the bringer of death. In the end, it turned out as a false prophecy." "Are you saying that Ari''s dragon was the strongest? If I remember correctly, when I was a kid, I read something about an ancient dragon, the immortal dragon, Endralth. But it was just a myth. No one could control it, even the gods, so it remained a myth." Zion said. Amaris stared at Azalea. She was still a kid, but she already knew a lot, unlike them. Azalea sighed and looked annoyed because of the adults'' ignorance. "Endralth cannot be claimed by force. She wanted to choose for herself, and she chose you." Azalea said while looking at Amaris. Amaris was surprised. She wasn''t sure if Azalea''s words were true, but she couldn''t change the fact that she felt something powerful, making her more drawn to go to Tartarus. "Why me? If I was chosen, does it mean I met the dragon? But I can''t remember meeting Endralth. I don''t even know what a dragon looked like in real life." Azalea turned the book''s page again before answering Amaris'' doubts. "Here. According to my father''s research, Endralth was in hibernation for ten centuries. They said that she would wake up once the chosen one was born. When you were born, she woke up and searched for you. She came across Eone, the Goddess of Nature, and asked her where to find you.. That''s when Eone realized that Selene''s daughter was powerful, so she gave you a gift to transform." Chapter 103 - Endralth, The Immortal Dragon "Eone could summon mythical creatures except for Endralth. When she told the dragon that she was a friend of your mother, she agreed to be taken to where you are. You were just a baby when you met your ten forms." Azalea continued. Amaris sighed. "How sure are you that everything you said is true?" "I am one hundred percent sure about it. I do not doubt my father''s research. Ever since he was chosen to be your protrea, he became curious about you and the powers you possessed." Azalea answered. "You''re a second-generation protrea? Diana asked. "Yes, I am. My father was the first of our kind, but he passed me the position when they took him." "I thought you could only pass the position if the first generation died?" Damien asked, confused. "No. If the protrea betrayed Amaris, if they wholeheartedly passed the position to someone and if they were in danger, they could choose the next protrea themselves." Azalea answered. "How did you know all of this?" Diana asked, curious with the little fae. "I told you my father was the first protrea, and when they took him to Tartarus, he transferred all his powers to me. One of my father''s abilities is to memorize everything his eyes see, even if it''s just a glimpse." "A photographic memory?" Zion asked. "He had both photographic and eidetic memory." Azalea continued. "And it was transferred to you?" Damien asked again. Azalea nodded. Amaris saw that everyone was impressed by Azalea. She was a cute little fae, and at first glance, you will think that she was just a young maiden. But she was more than that. "Tell us about Endralth." Amaris exclaimed while staring at Azalea. It was already dark, and they decided to stay for the night. After dinner, they sat down on the mattress, and some of them rested on the couch in the living room while Azalea prepared herself to tell them the story of the immortal dragon. "Endralth belonged to the Dragon Clan, one of the ancient creatures who lived in the Iron Peak. Although they were powerful beings, they never hurt anyone and lived in peace. But some tales said that humans guided by greed wanted the powers of the dragons. They attacked the dragon''s home, slaughtering them. They thought they could just kill the Dragon Clan and take their powers. But they were wrong." Azalea started. "I never heard the story of the Dragon Clan. Did your father also research about it?" Cole asked. Azalea slightly smiled. Amaris felt that the girl missed her parents. Telling one of the stories from her father brought excitement and joy to Azalea. "Father was a curious fae. He couldn''t settle with one answer, especially if he''s not satisfied with it. He would do everything to look deeper. Mother became curious like him when he took us on his adventures. It was dangerous but fun. My parents knew that time would come that someone would approach them about his research, but he continued. He wanted to learn the beginning of all creatures, and as I grew up, I also wondered and got curious about everything." Azalea shared. Amaris smiled. She was happy that Azalea shared something personal about her family. Amaris wanted to know all her protrea so they could completely trust each other. "The Dragon Clan''s story wasn''t based on my father''s research. It really happened." Azalea continued. Everyone frowned and waited for Azalea''s next revelations. "Father was there when it happened. A dragon raised him, but the one who cared for him died back then. Father said only five dragons survived and escaped that day. The fire dragon, Azzurth. Zykur, the water dragon. Shirma, the wind dragon. Aldra, the ice dragon. And Endralth, the immortal dragon." "Are they still alive until now?" Maxine asked. "The demon princess Athanasia now owned Azzurth, the fire dragon. Zykur and Aldra died a long time ago. Father tried to look for Shirma, but he couldn''t find her." Azalea answered. "I didn''t know there was an immortal dragon." Zoila commented. "There was none at first. But when the dragons died one by one, their powers were transferred to Endralth." Azalea saw the confusion on her companions'' faces. She took a deep breath before continuing. "Endralth was different from the other dragons. She was not a fire dragon, or a water dragon. She didn''t belong to any of them. Because she possessed a power, no dragon could ever have. She can absorb the other dragons'' knowledge, memories, personality, talents, and physical abilities. But she could only do that when a dragon died. What made her unique was that it would still happen even though she didn''t want it." "What do you mean?" Zoila asked again. "Endralth can have a dragon''s power without even doing anything. It was like their powers would just transfer on their own once the dragon died." "Are you saying that all of the powers of the Dragon Clan were inside Endralth''s? And that dragon was inside Amaris'' body?" Zion asked. Amaris was surprised. She couldn''t believe everything Azalea had told them. Everyone told her she was a powerful being, but she wasn''t convinced. "Believe it or not, the answer is yes. That was the reason Endralth was called the immortal dragon. After having all the dragons'' powers, she became immortal. She knew that a lot of creatures would dare to steal the powers she possessed, so Endralth hid and promised that she would never yield to anyone but her master. " "You said earlier that all of my forms were connected to Endralth. What do you mean by that?" Amaris asked. "Endralth was their leader, their alpha. The creatures inside you were trying to reach Endralth. It would be best if you remembered everything. If you can''t remember your other forms, they will lose trust in you. I think the only reason the demons are trying to wake your body is because of Endralth. If Cronus successfully controlled your body, he would possess the power of the immortal dragon." Amaris sighed while staring at Azalea. It seemed that the little fae knew all of her ten forms. "Can you just tell me what my ten forms are?" Azalea stared back at her. "I can. But remembering your memories of them is a lot different from knowing their names. You have to remember, princess. There''s a reason why Eone gave you the other nine forms and the power to control all of them." "I know. Endralth''s powers were overwhelming. Eone and my mother were unsure if my body could take the dragon''s powers, so Eone summoned nine mythical creatures to balance with its powers. I remember that." Amaris answered. "How did you know that? You were just a baby when they transferred the powers to you." Maxine frowned. "Mother told me. She sometimes communicates with me." Maxine nodded then turned her gaze to Azalea. "Telling her about her other forms could be a start for Amaris to remember them. How about we give it a try? We already know that Endralth is inside my cousin''s body. You said earlier that there were two of them. What''s the other one?" Maxine asked. Amaris knew that Azalea was having second thoughts. The fae wanted her to remember on her own. It''s more sincere, and she knew that. But they were running out of time. Maxine was right. Telling her about them could help her remember. Azalea breathed deeply then looked at Amaris. "You have Hikari, the nine-tailed fox. Elwyn, the equus. Delestra, the centaur. Faith, the wolf. Avanah, the siren. Reines, the basilisk. Celestia, the unicorn. Stef, the pixie. Solaris, the phoenix. And Endralth, the dragon." "Solaris, the phoenix? Wow! You''re amazing!" It was Alwyn, the elven prince, who complimented her. Maxine chuckled at the prince''s reaction. "I was wondering why Zion''s wolf was mated with Hikari and not to Faith. I mean, they''re both wolves." Amaris asked, ignoring Alwyn and Maxine. "We are not Terrans. We can be mated with anyone." Azalea answered. "So what''s the other creature left in Amaris'' body?" Zion impatiently asked. They looked at Azalea, waiting for her to answer. "Solaris." Azalea mumbled. "The phoenix is also a powerful creature, right? Cronus might control both if the dragon and the phoenix were trapped inside Amaris'' body." Zoila commented. Amaris and the others became quiet. They thought that after they found the last protrea, they could at least relax for a while before heading to Tartarus. "How many days left until we reached the Atlantean territory?" Zion asked in a serious tone. "Two more days." Cole answered. Zion looked at Amaris to see her worried face, but to his surprise, she seemed calm. "It''s fine. I know we can do this." Amaris whispered. Zion nodded then turned his gaze to the rest of the group. "Let''s rest for now. Azalea can continue telling us about Solaris on our way to Ocearia. We''ll discuss our next plan once we find the last protrea.." Zion ordered. Chapter 104 - Visions "What is it? A nightmare?" Damien asked Shelly. The couple was already resting inside their tent when the girl woke up in the middle of the night. "I-I had a vision." She muttered. "A vision? Maybe it''s just a dream." Damien frowned. "No. It''s a vision. I need to talk to Amaris." Shelly answered while trying to stand up. Damien took a deep breath, grabbing Shelly''s arm. "Can you tell me what it is first? It''s in the middle of the night, Shelly. The Alpha and Luna might be doing something at this time. Can''t you hear the Alpha''s howls?" Damien said, slightly annoyed. They haven''t been a couple for a long time. It was just a week ago when they accidentally met and found each other. They were supposed to mate the other night, but Shelly suddenly blabbed about having weird visions. "This is more important than anything else, Damien. But you are right, and I apologize for not telling you. I know I should have since you are my mate. To be honest, I''m not sure if I could trust you when we first met. I know you don''t like to be mated by a blind woman, so I was being careful." "It''s fine. I totally understand. But from now on, I want us to be honest with each other. No secrets. I am your mate, and you are mine. Don''t ever say that I don''t like you because that''s not true. Now, tell me what''s happening to you." Shelly slightly bit her lips and looked at Damien straight into his eyes. "A few days before Phoebus was abducted, he said he took me in because I have a gift. He told me I am not an ordinary Terran and might belong to a family of seers. He said he would open my powers, and after he did something to me, I started having dreams about the Alpha and Luna, but it was more about Amaris. I told Phoebus about it so he asked me to look for them when something happened to him. Now that I think about it, it seemed he already knew that he would be taken to Tartarus." Damien was just listening to Shelly. She was a blind girl with a doll-like face. Both her eyes were white, but it didn''t lessen her beautiful aura. "When I met you, I also thought that you were just ordinary, but I felt something different towards you when I held your hand. I know you''re special." Damien responded. Shelly smiled when she heard the word special from her mate. "You said you started having dreams about Zion and Amaris. Are they the only ones in your dreams?" Damien asked. Shelly shook her head and continued. "No. I saw you and the others." Before she could continue, Damien grabbed her hand, pulling her out of their tent. "Where are we going?" "To Zion and Amaris. I think everyone should hear it too. I don''t want you to repeat it to them. You looked like in pain." Shelly was surprised. She thought she could hide it from Damien that she always felt her whole body in pain when she''s having visions. Damien woke everyone, and they gathered inside Zion and Amaris'' tent. He knew his sister, Diana, was pissed because he woke her up in the middle of the night. Funny. They''re vampires, one of the creatures of the night, but they love sleeping when the sun goes down. His sister always had a schedule of sleep, especially now that she got kids, and she didn''t like it to be disturbed. "So what do you want to tell us? It''s midnight, and you said it can''t wait, so this better be important." Diana ranted. Damien looked at Shelly and held her hand, reassuring her to tell everyone about her dreams. Shelly told them about what the Prorociste, Phoebus, told her. "So you''re a seer. That''s good." Damien glared at Diana when she said those words. "What? I am complimenting your girlfriend, Damien. It was already in the past; I don''t hold grudges." Diana commented. Amaris frowned, and just like everyone, she got confused. "That''s another story. Let''s focus on Shelly first." Damien said while gently squeezing Shelly''s hand. "I dreamed of Zion and Amaris. In my dream, I saw Amaris in Tartarus. You were standing on top of a mountain, all covered in blood. But when I looked closer, it wasn''t a mountain but a pile of dead bodies. I saw everyone in this tent, all dead. In Amaris'' right hand, you were holding a sword with roses and thorns around your arm. In your left hand, you were holding someone''s head." Shelly bit her lips when she suddenly felt the pain again. Damien wanted to stop her from telling them about her dreams, but he knew Shelly would still continue. All he could do for her was not to let go of her hand. "I-It was Zion''s head. Amaris was crying, and it was raining blood." Amaris couldn''t believe what she had just heard. Does it mean she would kill everyone, including Zion? She started glancing at them. They just met and spent some time together, but she felt like they had already bonded a long time ago. She wouldn''t let anyone hurt them, especially if it was her. "We''re not sure if that''s really Ari. It could be Cronus using her body in Tartarus. We can''t jump to a conclusion since Shelly''s dream is incomplete. It only showed her partial details. She didn''t see Amaris actually killing all of us." Maxine commented. Amaris saw the others nodding in agreement, but she was still worried. "Can you only see visions in your dreams? Have you tried looking into someone''s future in another way, like touching their hands?" Zoila asked. "I did once, but it wasn''t intentional. I touched someone''s hand by accident, and saw that werewolf''s future." Shelly answered. "You said you dreamed of Zion and Amaris. Is that all? You saw Amaris holding Zion''s head. How about Zion? Is there anything other than seeing his head?" It was the Elven Prince who asked. Zion glared at the prince. "Are you happy that I might be killed in the future?" "I''m asking because that''s what she said. She saw you and Ari, but it''s more like it''s just about Ari." Prince Elwyn answered. "I had another dream about the Alpha, but it''s the same with Ari. I saw him standing on top of the dead bodies, holding a sword and a head. The Luna''s head." Shelly exclaimed. "That''s ridiculous! Are you saying one of them will die in the end?" Maxine asked in astonishment. "I-I''m not sure. I''m sorry I cannot answer that. I could see someone''s future, but I believe it will only happen depending on the actions of those involved." Shelly answered. Amaris was surprised by Shelly. She smiled slightly at what Damien''s mate said. She chuckled, which also surprised everyone. "I''m sorry. It''s weird hearing those words from a seer. They usually believed from their visions and would insist that it would really happen." Amaris explained. "I''m not that kind of seer. I didn''t even believe Phoebus when he said that I could see the future. Even when I started dreaming about you and the Alpha, I didn''t acknowledge it as a vision or prophecy, so I kept quiet. But now that I saw blood and deaths, I think you should know about it." Shelly answered. "Thank you, Shelly." Amaris smiled. "You said you could see someone''s future when you touched their hands. Can we try that? Maybe you could see more of it." Cole suggested. "I can try." Shelly said. "W-Wait. Aren''t you in pain? There''s something you''re not telling me again." Damien frowned. Everyone didn''t say a word and looked at Shelly, waiting for her answer. "Shelly, you could tell us. Are you in pain? Why are you in pain?" Amaris asked. Shelly sighed deeply before answering. "Phoebus said that I am not an ordinary seer. I could also get information by touching an object or if I''m in a certain place. I could also see ghosts and talk to dead people. I could serve as a medium to reach out to lost souls. I could see both the past and the future. But using those powers was draining my energy, making my whole body painful, especially my head. The Prorociste said I was not born blind, but because of my abilities, I lost sight of the present." Damien was shocked and felt suddenly sad for his mate. He thought he could seek help from doctors if Shelly could undergo an eye transplant or find a way for her to get cured. He thought she was born blind, but her powers blinded her. "Let''s forget what Cole suggested." Amaris said. "N-No!" Chapter 105 - A Sibling Conversation Everyone was surprised by Shelly, especially Damien. He was relieved that Amaris didn''t want to continue because he couldn''t bear to see Shelly in pain. "S-Shelly, are you nuts? What if you exhaust yourself and another sense of yours got taken?" Zoila ranted. "I want to do it. I know I''m weak, and I could sense how powerful everyone is. I want to help, and I want to be useful. I also wanted to know the extent of my powers. I never practiced or trained. I just found out that I have these abilities, so I want to start getting used to them. The oracle said that my powers were sealed intentionally by someone, maybe to protect me from harm. Or maybe to keep me from seeing what the future holds." No one was able to say anything. They waited for Damien to stop Shelly, but he didn''t say a word. "We don''t need to rush. How about we do it after finding the last protrea? We have two more days to reach the Ethereal City then we will travel through the Ethereal Ocean for another day. So, Damien and Shelly, you have a lot of time to talk about it first." Zion suggested. They agreed by what the Alpha said and went back to their tents. Damien couldn''t sleep, so he volunteered to guard the night. "Can''t sleep?" Diana asked her brother. Damien kept quiet and just sighed deeply. "You know that Shelly is old enough to decide on her own." Diana continued when Damien didn''t respond. "I know, but I am her mate. She should at least talk to me about it before making harsh decisions. What if something happened to her?" Diana chuckled at her little brother''s reaction. "Damien, do you know the limit of Shelly''s power in her condition right now?" She asked. Damien frowned and finally looked at his sister. "What do you mean?" "She just found out that she had those abilities, and without any proper training or knowledge about it, she''s willing to risk her life to find out more about her visions. Why do you think she wanted to do it?" Damien was confused by her sister''s words and couldn''t think of any answer. Diana sighed and rolled her eyes, seeing her brother''s ignorance. "I can''t believe you, Damien. You said you are her mate. You should know more about her. She wanted to do it for you. Remember she said that in her dream she saw everyone was dead, including you. She wanted to find a way to stop what she saw from happening to save everyone, especially you. Have you ever asked her about your future?" "N-No. What do you expect? We just met. I never thought of having a blind girl as my mate. I wanted to reject her at first, and I regretted those thoughts, so I didn''t bother to ask. I felt like she didn''t trust me." "Idiot! If you wronged her, apologize and talk to her about it. Tell her what you feel. Damien, in her condition, she could only see the future through her dreams. She wanted to be stronger so she could also protect you. She also wanted to know what really happened to her. Don''t you want to find out who sealed her powers? What if someone knew the reason why she became blind?" Diana was right. He wanted to seek help from medical doctors for her eyes, and now that he knew why she lost her eyesight, he should not stop. Everything is possible in the world they live in. Even the dead can come back to life with the help of the Gods, so getting Shelly''s sight is possible. "I wanted to help her see again after all this because I wanted to introduce her to father. That was my goal once we came back to Aramoor City. After a few days of spending time with her, I found out how amazing she is even though she''s blind. I guess you could say that whatever answer we get, I will be happy to be her mate forever." Diana laughed. "I''m happy you''re not like the others. I haven''t apologized for leaving you that day. I''m sorry your big sister wanted to have a family and be happy. But I never stopped thinking about you. I always wish for your happiness and safety." "Is it worth it?" Damien asked. Diana smiled, and he knew that his sister found happiness. They were born centuries apart, so her sister was also an elder of their coven. Damien''s mom was their father''s second wife, Darius the third. When his mom died, Diana became a mother figure to him. But his sister gave up everything when she found her mate, a werewolf. Everyone in their clan was against it and wanted her to reject him, but Diana didn''t listen to anyone. Her mate wasn''t an Alpha nor a Beta. He was an omega, the lowest of the werewolf clan. If he were a powerful Alpha like Zion, Darius the third and the rest of their elders would gladly accept Diana''s mate. Aside from the fact that Diana fell deeply in love with the omega, she rebelled against their father and ran away. Damien knew his sister always wanted to break her relationship with the coven. She wanted to be free and explore the world, but she couldn''t because of her responsibility as his big sister. "You don''t need to apologize to me or anyone. I never stopped looking for you because I was worried. Maybe father also feels the same. You are his only daughter and the eldest among his children, so he was really hurt." "You''re still siding with him even though he treated you differently in the past." Diana chuckled. Silence. "What do you think I should do? I want to lessen Shelly''s pain." He asked. "Why do you need to ask the obvious? Mark her. Make her yours. In that way, she could share her pain with you. Her pain will be your pain, and she won''t need to carry it by herself." Diana answered. Damien chuckled. He knew that was the only way, but he honestly hoped that there was another. "Sometimes, I wonder why the Gods made us in pairs. Unlike the Terrans, who could freely choose whoever they want, we were born with a red thread tied to another creature''s finger." "Do you envy them?" Diana asked. "Only the part that they are mortal. Shelly is a Terran, a mortal. And I am immortal. I think I have the right to envy them." He answered. Diana was surprised and suddenly felt sad towards her brother. Her husband wasn''t immortal, but he''s a werewolf and could live longer than a Terran, so she understood what her brother felt. "What do you think would be father''s reaction if he found out about her? I mean, I''m sure he would accept her because she could see the future. But -" "You''re thinking that he might use Shelly to gain more power?" Damien said, cutting off his sister''s comment. Diana nodded. "I won''t allow that. And he doesn''t have to know that Shelly is a seer. I''ll introduce her as a Terran. That''s all." "Then he wouldn''t accept Shelly as your mate." "I don''t care. I''ll just run away with her like what you did in the past. Or maybe I''ll challenge him and make sure to win so I could take his position." Again, Diana was shocked by his brother''s words. But she understands Damien. Their father was ambitious and proud. He would never accept someone from low birth to be his children''s mate. She was the only one in their family who chose to stay with her mate, and it already caused a war between vampires and werewolves. If Damien would do the same, their father might wage war against the Terrans. But if he challenges Darius and wins, Damien could be the next Vampire Elder. "Let''s not talk about it for now. We already have a lot on our plate. Thinking about father is exhausting." Diana ranted. Then they both laughed at what she said. "It''s nice chatting with you again, big sister." "Hey, you''re too old to call me that." "But I miss calling you big sister." Diana smiled. "I miss you too, and thank you for not giving up on me." He smiled at her then turned to the fire again. "What do you think about Zion and Amaris?" He asked curiously. "I already knew Zion and Amaris have a good heart. I am one of the Luna''s protrea, so I will do what I had promised years ago." "Do you think a new war would happen?" Damien asked. Diana glanced at her brother, who was still looking seriously at the fire. "Maybe. As Shelly said, the future depends on the one involved. For now, all we can do is hope and wish that it won''t happen. But again, not everyone in this world thinks like us. Some creatures crave for war.. And I think Shelly wanted to find out if a war would happen in the future." Chapter 106 - The Seer After the conversation with his sister, Damien returned to their tent and saw Shelly sitting on the mattress. It was already three in the morning, but they couldn''t sleep. "A-Are you mad at me?" Shelly asked. Damien sighed and walked towards her. He sat beside her then held her hands. "No. I understand why you want to do it. It''s just that I was hoping you could at least talk to me about it before deciding by yourself." Shelly bit her lips and hesitated at first. But she wanted to open up with Damien. He''s her mate, so they have to trust and be honest with each other. "Even before Phoebus told me about having these powers, I''ve been dreaming about you already. It started when I accidentally touched a werewolf''s hand." Shelly started. "Who''s that werewolf?" Damien asked. Shelly sensed a bit of jealousy from her mate, which made her a little happy. "I bumped into him in a supermarket. I didn''t see his face. I touched his hand when he helped me stand up because I fell on the floor when he bumped into me." She explained. "I see. So what did you see?" Damien asked. "You killed that werewolf. I''m not sure why or where you killed him, but I continued to dream about you after that. I felt your sadness and longing for your sister. It felt like I was connected to you, so I asked Phoebus about it. He said that you were my mate. I didn''t believe him because I''m a Terran, and I didn''t know we also have a mate." She paused. "Phoebus said that Terrans could be mated to anyone, but unlike you, we could simply reject or be rejected by our mate without experiencing any pain. The Gods chose some Terrans to mate with different creatures, but the bond could be broken at any time." "Are you saying that our mate bond is weaker than any other couple? Is there a way to strengthen the bond?" Damien asked. Shelly''s heart skipped a beat. She felt like Damien really wanted to stay with her. "I-I don''t know. But I think it depends on both of us. Do you know the Demon Prince Sura, one of the elders of Terra and his mate Enid? The girl is also a Terran like me. Their bond got stronger as time passed. So maybe it could also happen to us." She answered. "Shelly, I want you to know that I decided to stay as your mate. I know we just met, and I don''t understand how Terrans start a relationship. For creatures like us, once we find our mate, we mark them as a sign of ownership. I can''t be like that since you''re not like us. But to be honest, I want you so badly. I want to start the mating ritual and mark you as soon as possible so that I can share your pain." Damien exclaimed. Shelly couldn''t stop herself from crying. Her heart fluttered by Damien''s sudden confession. She was happy to hear that he wanted to stay with her. "T-Thank you. I was afraid to meet you because I thought you wouldn''t want a blind Terran as your mate. When I returned to Terra, I was alone and so scared. I wish to meet either the Alpha and Luna or you. I was happy to find you finally but terrified of your disappointment." "I''m not disappointed. I was worried because of my father. He''s different." "I know. I had a dream of you and your father arguing about something, so I understand. About the mating ritual, I would love to do it with you." Shelly suddenly said. Damien was surprised. His heart raised from excitement. "Are you sure?" He asked. Shelly nodded with a flushed face. Damien chuckled. "You do know that once I mark you, we will be bonded for eternity. I don''t know if it would be the same for Terrans, but once it''s done, I will never let you go." "It''s the same for me. If one day, the Gods decided to mate you with another woman, I would find a way to keep you mine." Damien pulled Shelly in his arms and kissed her gently on the forehead. He then kissed her on both cheeks and gently pressed his lips against hers. It was just a quick kiss, but it was full of passion. "We will do it, but in a proper way. I don''t want to do it in a tent." He chuckled. Shelly nodded in agreement. She didn''t want to be marked in a tent either; it would be embarrassing. "By the way, why didn''t you tell us in the beginning that you are a seer?" Damien asked. They decided to lay down on the bed and continued to chat while hugging each other. "Phoebus said that I could only expose myself to the child of the moon and the legendary Alpha. But even though I had already met them, I couldn''t trust all of you at first. I guess it''s hard for a blind girl to trust someone easily." Shelly answered. "It''s okay. I''m glad you told us." "I want to be like the other girls here. Amaris is amazing having those powers. Although I don''t know Maxine and Zoila''s strengths, I could sense their strong aura. Azalea is also impressive, having vast knowledge about the world at her age. And I know your sister is a powerful vampire. I understand you are worried about me, but I really wanted to help." Damien sighed deeply. "Fine. But you will do it after our mating ritual. As I said, I want to share your pain. I don''t want you to carry it alone." Shelly smiled. She reached out her hand to touch Damien''s face. "I hope I can see you." She mumbled. Damien didn''t say a word but held Shelly''s hand while tracing his face. "Have you tried looking into your own past?" Damien suddenly got curious. "N-No. I don''t think it''s possible." "Why? You could see someone''s past and future, and I think you could also see yours." "But that''s one of the limitations of someone like me; we can''t look into our past and future. Phoebus said that if we could see our own future, we have the opportunity the change it, and that''s against the natural balance of life." "Phoebus said you are different from the other seer. Maybe that limitation doesn''t apply to you. How about you try it? If it didn''t work, then so be it." Damien suggested. Shelly didn''t have that thought before because she was satisfied with what Phoebus had told her. But now that Damien suggested it, she suddenly wanted to do it. "You don''t need to rush. Think about it. Whatever your decision, I will support you." Damien continued when he saw Shelly''s reaction. They were quiet for a moment, thinking about their conversation. Shelly decided first to break the silence. "Do you think another war would happen? I mean, Amaris is a powerful creature, and it''s natural that all the clans wanted her either dead or alive." "Don''t worry about her. Zion is her mate. That Alpha is not an ordinary werewolf either." "What do you mean? Phoebus only told me to find them, but he didn''t tell me anything about those two. I already know something about Amaris. How about Zion? I heard about him because he was a legend during the Great War, but that was it." Shelly asked, curiosity piqued. "Zion belongs to the Verlice Clan. The first werewolf clan Selene and Phelan had created. Like our family, they are considered the purebloods of their kind. Aside from that, he was favored by the Sky God and the Demon God, so they gave him immortality. Maka also chose him to be the keeper of two elemental powers, fire and water. The Goddess Terra also favored him, giving back the beauty of this planet as a gift to him." "Why? What''s in him that made the Gods in his favor?" Shelly frowned. "I honestly don''t know. I heard my father talking to the other elders discussing it. They were also curious about Zion. A lot of creatures envy him for having those powers, so I think he''s also a target, not just Ari." "Can he control blood?" Damien was shocked by Shelly''s question. Zion''s blood field is a forbidden ability like his blood rain, and only a few individuals knew about their powers. "How did you know that?" He asked. "I dreamed about it. I know you have it too. I think it''s a vision of you and Zion.. You will both use the forbidden powers at the right time, blood rain and blood field." Chapter 107 - Ethereal City The Ethereal City was built on the banks of a quiet natural harbor and was indeed a modern city. Its elegance was matched by the setting of pristine skies, which helped shape the place ever since it was constructed. The weather these skies brought was of great importance. Still, they were also significant in architectural designs. The vast majority of buildings were designed to bring the full advantage of the environment, as more brazen elements can be created when you don''t have to worry about powerful winds. The skyline was sprinkled with towering skyscrapers, and a new one appeared every other week. Technology was rising in Ethereal City, and it has drawn much attention. Modern technology has left its mark not just on business but also upon the city''s individuality. The citizens had a few conflicts before because of their differences. But as time passed, they helped each other preserve the beauty of their home, which unites all creatures of Terra to this day. The group arrived in the city at noon, and it would take a day to travel to Ocearia, so they decided to stay the night. "We should look for a hotel so we could at least rest and freshen up. We''ll journey to Ocearia tomorrow morning. Cole and Zoila, take Grakar and search for a place that could accommodate us." Zion ordered. The three nodded and started searching the area. The rest of them went into a restaurant to eat. Diana''s kids and Azalea complained about being hungry on the way to the city. Zion noticed that Amaris was busy helping Azalea, and he felt that his Luna was very fond of the little fae. ''What? I could feel your eyes staring at me.'' Amaris asked using a mind link Zion chuckled. He couldn''t really hide anything from his Luna, he thought to himself. ''You''re so busy taking care of Azalea. I''m jealous.'' He teased. ''Silly. The kid grew up without a mother. I could relate to that.'' Amaris simply answered. ''I know. I''m just amazed and proud of you.'' He said. "Alpha!" Cole called Zion''s attention, signaling to come outside of the restaurant. Zion stood up but kissed Amaris'' forehead first before following Cole. "What is it? Did you find a place?" He asked. "Yes. We could go there after the kids finished their lunch." Cole answered. "Then that''s great. What seems to be the problem? You looked like you rushed in here." Zion frowned. "We found a suite big enough for all of us. Zoila already booked the room. It''s in the Ethereal Hotel. While we were in the lobby, I think I saw someone familiar." Cole started. Zion stared at Cole and waited for his next words. "It''s Eiris. If she''s here, the Gods must have sent a word to someone in the hotel." Cole continued. Zion didn''t say a word. Eiris is the messenger of the Gods and would visit Terra to give a message. They considered Eiris as trouble because she would always deliver bad news to creatures of Terra. "Why do you think she''s here? And who did she meet?" Cole asked. Zion looked at Cole again, who seemed worried. He couldn''t blame him because the last time Cole saw Eiris, his mate died. Zion didn''t tell Cole that he knew about the death of his mate. He was waiting for his Beta to tell him what had happened. "I''m not sure. Let''s investigate once we arrive at the hotel." Zion said. At their suite, Zion told everyone that Cole saw Eiris. "So, what''s with Eiris?" Diana asked. "Eiris might know something about what really happened to Amaris'' body and why the Gods kept her in Tartarus. She was the one who gave Zion the mirror to see Amaris for the last time a hundred years ago." Zoila answered. "She might also know something about my mother and Amaris'' anima. In mom''s mideia, it says a lahmetar came to relay a message from the Gods, and it''s about Ari." Maxine followed. "Why do you think she knows something? She''s a messenger. That''s her job. And even if she knew something, we''re not sure if she would tell us. Her loyalty is with Gods. She''s one of them." Diana commented. "Maybe. But we could still try asking her." It was Cole. "Why do we need her? Azalea already told us that my body is in Tartarus. We just have to go there to see it for ourselves." Amaris asked while looking at Zion. "We need to find out why she''s here and what the Gods asked her to do. It might be something about you or the abducted kids. Or maybe we could find something about the situation in Tartarus." Zion answered. Amaris nodded quietly. She didn''t like the idea of looking for Eiris. The first she heard her name, Amaris had an ill-feeling towards the lahmetar, maybe because Eiris was the one who gave the news to Zion when the Gods were torturing her. "Okay, then where do we start?" Diana asked. Zion looked at Azalea. "Yes, Alpha." Azalea knew she was needed, so she kneeled in front of Zion. Amaris didn''t like the idea of having her protectors kneeling in front of them, but Zion and the others said that it was a sign of respect and loyalty. "Can you look around the hotel? You can use one of your abilities and change into an animal." Zion suggested. "Why? Can she just look in her real form?" Grakar asked. "News has spread across Terra about you and your protectors. We need to be careful." Zion answered. "Then it''s dangerous for Azalea to do this task. Maybe Grakar or Damien could look around the hotel." Amaris said, worried for the little fae. The others were quiet and waited for Zion''s decision. They were surprised that Amaris disagreed with Zion. A Luna usually has to obey all of her Alpha''s orders, and she shouldn''t oppose him. "If someone as big as Grakar would walk around the hotel, it might raise suspicions. And Damien will attract too much attention. The last thing we need is to be seen by the enemy. Azalea is the best choice for this task. She could easily transform into an animal or insect if someone noticed her." Amaris bit her lips and didn''t argue. Zion had a point. She was thoughtless because she was worried about Azalea and didn''t think of the others. Grakar is huge, and creatures like him always end up in a fight because of their appearance. Damien is a pureblood and super good-looking. Women will definitely drool over him. "It''s fine, princess. I am one of your protrea. This is my job. It would be an honor to help you." Azalea said. "Azalea, I want you to know that I chose you not because of your responsibility as a protrea. I chose you because I trust you, and this task is part of your training. I made a promise to you that I will help you get stronger, so this is the start of it." Zion exclaimed. Amaris was surprised. She didn''t know the promise Zion made with Azalea. She didn''t even see them talk to each other alone. "Thank you, Alpha. I will do my best to find Eiris." Azalea happily answered. Everyone was happy with Azalea being chosen by Zion. They congratulated her, and the kid seemed excited about the task assigned to her. "I''m sorry for opposing you earlier." Amaris murmured. The couple was on the couch while looking at their companions, chatting with each other. "It''s fine. But I hope you should at least trust my decision. I know I didn''t consult or ask you about it, but it was a rushed decision since we had little left." "I understand. I promise I will never doubt your decision from now on." Zion took Amaris'' hand and turned to her. He kissed the back of her hand and smiled. "You were acting like Azalea''s mom. I think you will be a great mother to our pups." Zion suddenly blurted. "Z-Zion, I-I" He chuckled. "It''s just a compliment. I know this is not the right time to have kids. But in the future, I will be happy to have a family with you." Amaris'' face flushed, and her heart raised. She felt happy hearing those words from Zion. "It''s the same for me." She whispered. "Why do you think Eiris came here?" Amaris asked after a few minutes. "Eiris will come to Terra only to relay a message from the Gods. She will never come here without any reason." Zion answered. "Why?" Amaris asked again. "Because she hates Terra." "Terra the Goddess or the land?" "Both." Amaris frowned. She couldn''t understand what Zion meant. She never heard about Eiris or read about her in books, so she didn''t have any idea about the messenger of the Gods. "Eiris is also a Goddess. But she was never treated as one. She became a messenger because of the Goddess Terra.." Zion stated. Chapter 108 - The Messenger Zion and Cole went outside the hotel to investigate while Grakar stayed near Azalea to protect her if anything bad happened. Amaris sat on the couch again, thinking about Eiris. "You''re in deep thought. Is there something bothering you?" Diana asked while sitting across her. Zoila, Maxine, and Shelly followed, joining the two in the living room. "I was thinking of Eiris. Zion said that she wasn''t a messenger of the Gods before. Do you know what happened?" Amaris asked curiosity piqued. "Well, she was punished like the Fire God, Ignus, and the Water Goddess, Aqua." Zoila started. "By Maka?" Maxine asked, who became interested in Eiris as well. "No. By Terra. Eiris was one of the most beautiful goddesses of the sea and the sky. Before she became the messenger of the Gods, she was very fond of Terra, which was called Earth back then." Diana replied. "What happened?" Maxine asked again. "Eiris lived peacefully in the Rainbow Village. As a Goddess, she would travel to Terra at the speed of the wind from one side to the other. She was portrayed in different ways. Sometimes as a rainbow or a young woman with wings. The rainbow signifies hope for Terrans, so she traveled back and forth after every storm." Diana started telling Eiris''s story. "The Fire God, Ignus noticed her and was mesmerized by her beauty. He tried to pursue her, but Eiris didn''t like Ignus. The Goddess Terra wanted to help her brother, so she befriended Eiris and set up a meeting between the two. Rumor said that Eiris insulted Ignus that made the Fire God mad and forced himself to Eiris." "I heard that story from my mother. I didn''t know it was true." Zoila commented. "Well, no one knows if it''s true. They were the only ones on that day. Eiris told the Mother God Maka about what Ignus did to him. She persuaded Terra to side with her. But the Earth God didn''t know that Ignus would do something like that. He''s her brother, so of course, Terra didn''t believe Eiris." "Did Ignus go into trial?" Maxine asked. The Gods who committed sin will go into trial, and if proven guilty, they will be cast out of Caelum. They will either live as mortal and die or be imprisoned in Tartarus. "Yes. But Ignus said that Eiris agreed to it. He made it look like it was consensual. Terra also testified that Eiris knew that she would be meeting with Ignus. That part was actually correct. Eiris agreed to meet Ignus but only to reject him properly. In the end, Eiris lost, and as punishment, Maka made her the messenger of the Gods." Diana continued. "I don''t really see it as punishment. I mean, she would only come to Terra to relay a message. It''s not that hard." Shelly commented. "It''s hard for her. One of Eiris'' tasks, when she was still a goddess, was to punish those who lied. Maka believed she lied about Ignus, so she turned her into a messenger to relay only the truth. She could never lie. So even if the message would cost harm or pain to someone, it should be forwarded." Diana answered. "So that was the reason she hated Terra?" Amaris asked. Diana nodded. "Yes. Although Ignus no longer exist, Eiris could never forget that Terra betrayed her. She was happy when Maka punished her own son and took his power, but she could not forgive Terra." "Did Eiris know that the Fire God''s power was transferred to Zion?" Amaris asked again. Zoila frowned. "Why do you ask?" "I heard that if a God or Goddess had an ill-feeling towards their own, they could recognize them even if the one in the wrong is already dead. They are attracted to their powers, so it''s a possibility that Eiris knew that Zion inherited Ignus'' elemental power." Amaris answered. "I don''t think so. The last time we saw Eiris was when she gave Zion the mirror. It didn''t look like she was attracted to him." Zoila said. They were disturbed by someone who came running inside the suite. It was Azalea followed by Grakar. "I found her!" The little fae shouted. Amaris suddenly became interested to see Eiris. She felt like something would happen once Zion meet with the messenger of the Gods. "Where is she? I want to meet her." Amaris said. Diana glanced at Maxine and Zoila, who were also looking at each other. "Why do you want to meet her?" Shelly asked. "Ari, if you won''t tell us, we can''t help you." Maxine said while looking directly into her cousin''s eyes. Amaris pouted. "It''s just a woman''s intuition. I think the reason she''s here is because of Zion. Or maybe one of the reasons." "Are you suspecting that she has a thing with my brother?" Zoila asked. "Not to your brother, but the Fire God''s power. What if she already knew about it? Zion might get caught in between because of Eiri''s desire to get revenge on Ignus. I want to make sure, so I know how I could protect my man." Amaris answered. "Then let''s go and meet her." Zoila said and stood up. "Where are you going?" It was Elwyn, the Elven Prince. "Azalea found Eiris so we''re going to see her. We might lose her if we waited for Zion and Cole." Zoila answered. Before Elwyn disagreed with their decision, they heard a knock on the door. Grakar, Elwyn, and Zoila positioned themselves as if they would attack someone. "Who is it?" Elwyn asked while holding his bow and arrow. They didn''t hear an answer, but the door''s bang continued, and it was louder this time. Elwyn glanced at Grakar and Zoila, then nodded at them before slightly opening the door. He was surprised to see a woman standing in front. "Who are you? What do you want?" He asked. "I came here to see the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack." The woman answered. Amaris heard what the woman said, so she walked towards the door. She knew it was Eiris and wanted to see for herself, but Elwyn suddenly grabbed her hand. Zoila saw it but turned her eyes away from the two. She could see Elwyn''s affection and worried face towards Amaris. "It''s fine." Amaris murmured. Elwyn nodded then opened the door to let the guest in. The woman walked elegantly inside the suite. She was wearing a white satin dress paired with a denim jacket. Her eyes were green like emeralds; her hair was black and skin as white as snow. She looked like a Goddess. No wonder Ignus fell in love with her. Amaris thought to herself. Eiris looked around the room and gazed at everyone inside. She stopped and stared at Amaris, who was already back in her seat. "You''re the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. The halfling." Amaris frowned when she heard Eiris'' words. It was an insult and not a compliment. "Indeed I am. So what do you want with my Alpha?" Amaris asked after sipping her tea. Eiris smirked. "I''m here to take him with me." "What?" It was Zoila who had a more shocking expression than Amaris. Amaris chuckled. "What made you think he would come with you?" "I believe I don''t have an obligation to answer your question. I''m here for the Alpha and not you." The others didn''t like the way Eiris talked to their Luna. Zoila was beginning to get mad, and so was Grakar. Amaris raised her hand, signaling them to stop. "Eiris, if you believe that you can''t tell me about the reason you were looking for Zion, you won''t come in here that easily. I know you know what everyone is capable of. I could order everyone to attack you or keep you in here." "And you''re confident that they will follow you?" Eiris asked, still feeling highly to herself. "Why would you think they won''t? Grakar, the Elven Prince, Diana, my cousin Maxine and Azalea were all my protrea. They''re here to protect me and not Zion. And even if they don''t obey me, I could do it myself." Eiris laughed. She didn''t believe that Amaris could capture her without her protrea''s help. But to her surprise, she suddenly couldn''t move. "W-What did you do to me?" She almost yelled, which shocked everyone. "I just want you to know your place. I don''t care who you are or who you work for. You could never take Zion away from me." Amaris said. Eiris noticed that everyone in the room started walking backward, away from her and Amaris. When she looked at the Luna again, her eyes were red, and a black energy was coming out from her body. "W-What are you?" She asked, trembling. Chapter 109 - The Past Her feet were numbed. She felt so tired, and she was bruised all over. She had been running for more than an hour, but it seemed that the forest had no end. ''Where am I?'' She thought. It''s dark and dense. She wanted to rest, but a voice inside her echoed in her ears to keep on running. But why? Why did she have to run? She looked around and frowned, and then she remembered what had happened. Eiris came to their hotel suite, telling her that Zion had to go with her. Amaris threatened her and asked what the Gods were planning against them. "It''s just against you." Eiris said. She didn''t respond and waited for Eiris to continue. "You have no idea what you''re capable of. I''m tired of talking. How about I show you." Amaris allowed Eiris to get closer to her. She was surprised when the messenger grabbed her hand. When she opened her eyes, she was already in that forest. "Is this real?" She asked herself. "It was.." She turned to her side and saw Eiris standing beside her. She was confused, then turned her gaze again to the woman running in the forest. It was definitely her. "You also forgot this part of your memory. This was the day you got caught by the guards of Caelum." Eiris answered. Her eyes widened, and were more confused than earlier. Why would Eiris show her something about her past? She stumbled into a huge branch and fell. She tried to stand up, but her ankle seemed broken. She wanted to cry, but her instinct said she had to be quiet. The voice in her head also said not to look back and to keep her mouth shut. She found a small branch and used it as a cane. She couldn''t run, but she had to try to walk faster. She stood up and tried to step forward. ''Damn! It hurts.'' Amaris flinched as if she really felt the pain of her past self. Her whole body hurts so bad. She felt something flowing from her left eyebrow, and when she touched it, she saw blood. She cut herself when she fell, so her left eye was now getting blurry. Snap! She looked around. Her heart was pounding non-stop; she was scared. It sounded like a branch of a tree was cracked. Someone was following her. But who? She gained her strength and started to walk. She could feel the pain in every step she made. It doesn''t matter, and she must ignore it for now because she had to get out of that forest. She could hear someone running behind her. And it was getting closer. She couldn''t look back and just kept going. The sound of someone running towards her was getting louder, coming from different directions. She thought only one person was following her, but it wasn''t. She tried to walk faster, but she was so exhausted. She looked around to see if there was a place where she could hide. Then she saw a huge tree with a space in the middle. She walked closer to check if she could fit in. "That hybrid really could run so fast. They will definitely kill us if we can''t find her." One of the men said. "I found something!" Another man shouted. She knew they were close, so she tried to squeeze herself into the tree. She didn''t think there were any insects or snakes inside; she just wanted to hide from the people following her. She thought it was better to get eaten by animals than caught by those following her. She covered her mouth when she saw two of them in front of the tree. She couldn''t see their faces from where she was hiding, but she saw a tattoo from the left hand of one of them, a rose with thorns. The other one looked like a woman because of her painted nails. "Do you think she already got out of this forest?" the woman asked. "I think not. She''s wounded, and if she doesn''t show herself, the werewolf''s parents will die." The man answered. Then the man yelled loud enough so she could hear him. "You heard that, princess? If you don''t come out, we''ll kill the wolf''s family! Come back to the camp before sunrise if you want to save them." Then they left. She came out of the tree and sat there leaning her back on the huge trunk. She was panting. There''s not enough air inside the tree, and she had to cover her mouth, so she felt like she was losing her breath. Amaris turned to Eiris again. "When the man said parents, was he talking about Zion''s parents? What are you trying to show me?" Eiris didn''t answer her question and was just staring at her. "Let''s skip to the part where you were caught." Eiris whispered. All of a sudden, they were in a tent. She was being held by two men and was dragged outside. There she saw not just one, but a whole army. There were swordsmen, archers, warriors, and a lot more. She was confused once more. Why did the Gods send a whole army just to find her? "You were a threat to both the immortal and mortal world. It was a prophecy from Phoebus, so the Gods were scared." Eiris commented. "I still don''t understand why you are showing me the past." Amaris said. "So it won''t happen again. The last time you died, Zion went crazy. He became a monster. Phoebus'' prophecy has never been wrong. If he said it would happen, then no one could stop it." "So are you saying to give him to you? You want me to give him up, don''t you?" Eiris turned her gaze away. Amaris was now convinced that Eiris had something towards Zion. "You''re in love with Ignus." Amaris exclaimed. Eiris'' eyes widened, surprised by what Amaris had said. "I just heard your story before you came knocking on our doorstep. I already had this feeling that you felt the power of Ignus inside Zion. Now that I think about it. You gave Zion the mirror to show him that I was tortured and beaten by the Gods." Amaris chuckled. "The Gods never gave that mirror. It was from you. You want Zion to see me die so he would get crazy. Zion became a monster, killing everyone who stopped him from finding me. It was part of your plan. You thought one of the gods would kill him, but you didn''t expect my mother just to seal his powers and curse him." "I-I don''t know what you''re talking about." "I think you do." They suddenly went back to the present. The others were surprised by Eiris'' reaction, and they could feel her nervousness. "You think I wouldn''t find out? You underestimated me, Eiris." Amaris calmly said. Eiris smirked then faced Amaris. "So what if you''re right? Do you think Zion wouldn''t come to Caelum if the Sky God ordered him?" Amaris frowned. She wasn''t ready to hear those words. The Sky God wanted Zion? Why? She thought to herself. "You really don''t know anything. You haven''t talked to Phoebus, and you''re just basing your thoughts on that filthy blind girl." Diana suddenly got mad and was about to attack when Amaris stopped her. "Diana, stop!" She ordered. Amaris walked closer to Eiris, facing her. ''Slap!'' Diana and the others were shocked by what their Luna did. They didn''t expect Amaris to hurt someone. Eiris glared at her but couldn''t attack her. "Insult her again, and I swear you will never come out here alive!" Amaris said with gritted teeth. "I''m not afraid of you. You''re a halfling. You are someone that should have never been born! You''re a curse to all creatures!" Eiris yelled. Amaris felt something strike her heart, but she couldn''t show Eiris her weakness. "Shelly!" Zoila shouted. Amaris saw Shelly fall on the floor. When she got closer, Shelly grabbed her by the wrist. She was surprised to see her eyes in pure white. "Cursed by the moonlight. A love that was never meant to be will end all creatures. Seek for the sword hidden in darkness, concealed by fire." Shelly''s words surprised everyone, and no one could speak a single word. The opening of the door broke their silence. "What happened to Shelly?" Damien asked while rushing towards his unconscious mate. "Eiris?" Zion frowned. "Hello, Zion. We meet again.." Eiris answered. Chapter 110 - Away "What happened to Shelly?" Damien asked while rushing towards his unconscious mate. "She suddenly fell on the floor. She was babbling something to Ari when she grabbed her hand." Maxine answered. "What did she say?" Zion asked. "Cursed by the moonlight. A love that was never meant to be will end all creatures. Seek for the sword hidden in darkness, concealed by fire. Those were her exact words." Diana responded. "What sword?" Cole asked. "My father''s sword." Amaris said while pointing at the mark on Zion''s neck. "I thought it was just a symbol." Zoila commented. "It was not." Everyone looked at the woman who had just spoken. "Eiris?" Zion frowned. "Hello, Zion. We meet again." Eiris answered. "So it''s true that you''re in Terra." Zion said. Amaris felt irritated seeing Zion and Eiris looking at each other. She grabbed Zion''s hand and pulled him beside her. "Now continue." Amaris ordered. Eiris glared at Amaris, but thinking that she had no choice and sure that the Luna wouldn''t let her go, she decided to tell what she knew. "You''re father''s sword isn''t just a symbol. It is a weapon. Phoebus had a prophecy about Phelan, but I don''t really know exactly what it was. I just heard it from the Gods in Caelum. They said that when two different realms collide, it will bring unbalance into all realms. The Gods will not let it happen, so they tried everything to avoid Phelan seeing the titans." "But he''s in the Underworld, and almost all the titans lived in Caelum. The Fallens were not allowed to go back, and they should never meet with those who lived up there. They will go straight to Tartarus when they break the law." Prince Elwyn commented. "The law was only applied to the Fallens, but those in Caelum could actually enter any realm. The Gods didn''t expect that someone on their side would want to see those who lived in the Underworld, so they didn''t impose any law preventing the Caelians from entering that realm." Eiris continued. "So what about that sword? You said it was my father''s. Why did Shelly say to look for it.?" Amaris asked impatiently. "The sword was personally created by your father. Phelan discovered the prophecy, and he knew that his life was in danger. He made it for his protection. The sword was made out of the souls from the Underworld and the blood of the Death God, Thanatos." "Thanatos? He''s dead? He''s the Demon God''s lackey. How did he die?" Damien asked. "He''s not dead. Phelan took his soul and imprisoned him inside the sword together with other souls." Eiris answered. "W-Wait, I''m confused. I''m not sure why that sword is important? Why do I need to find it?" Amaris asked again. Eiris took a deep breath before answering. "The only reason I could think of is that that sword could kill anyone. No one could break that weapon. It was forged in the Colossal Mountain made with the hardest metal in Caelum, Abrium. When Phelan died, he gave the sword to Selene. No one knows where she hides it." "Shelly said it''s hidden in darkness and concealed by fire. The only place I could think of was Tartarus. " Zoila commented. Amaris touched her temple. She suddenly felt like her head was being smashed. "Let''s take everything one at a time. Our main goal now is to look for the last protrea in Ocearia, and then our next destination is Tartarus to look for Phoebus and Amaris'' corpus. If the sword is in Tartarus, we could also look for it there. Now, I want to know why Eiris is here?" Zion asked. Eiris glanced at Amaris, then turned to Zion. "Tell me why you''re here. I don''t want to hide anything from Ari." He said. Eiris felt disappointed but nodded in agreement. "I''m here to deliver a message." "From who?" "Him. He wants you to see him." Amaris wanted to know who was asking Zion to see him. But she had a terrible headache and couldn''t think straight. She couldn''t even clearly understand the things Eiris was talking about. "Can he wait? I need to help Ari." The others were listening to their conversation and were confused and curious about the topic. Eiris shook her head. "You know you can''t make him wait." Zion looked at Amaris, who was still holding her temple. "Love? I need to go, but I promise to come back in two days." Amaris'' vision became blurry. She couldn''t answer Zion. She couldn''t tell him not to go. Her head was a mess, and she felt so exhausted, so she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Zion turned to Zoila and the others. "You can go to Ocearia without me. I know you can find the last protrea without my help. Stay there and wait for me in two days." No one dared to talk back to Zion since he''s their Alpha. But Maxine didn''t care about it. "Zion, why do you have to go with that bitch? Amaris said that she''s attracted to you because of the power of Ignus inside you. She showed something to Ari. I want to know what it was." Maxine said while looking directly at Eiris. Zion turned to Eiris again. "What did you show Ari?" "T-The day she was caught by the guards of Caelum." "Why?" Zion asked again, but this time he was almost shouting. "I-I" Zion growled and walked towards Eiris, grabbing her arms. "Did you show her? Answer me!" "N-No! I was supposed to, but she was babbling about the day I gave you the mirror." Maxine felt that Zion was hiding something. "Zion! What is it? Why are you mad at Eiris? Is there something that you didn''t want Ari to see?" She asked. Zion released Eiris and glared at Maxine. "I have no obligation to tell you." "I will accept your answer for now. But I want you to know that the reason I follow you is because of my cousin. If you hurt her, I won''t hesitate to kill you." Maxine said before checking Amaris, who was sleeping on the couch. Azalea walked towards Amaris and touched her forehead. "She has a fever." Azalea whispered. Zion was surprised and rushed beside Amaris. "She''s fine. She just needs a rest." It was Eiris. "Shut up!" Zoila and Maxine yelled at Eiris at the same time. Zion turned to Zoila with a pleading look on his face. "What?" Zoila asked her brother. "Z, I really need to go. Can you take care of Ari for me?" Zion pleaded. Zoila couldn''t reject his brother''s favor. Although she was against Zion leaving with Eiris, she agreed because he never called her Z if it wasn''t that important. "Ari will get mad when she wakes up. But I''ll explain it to her." Zoila said. Zion smiled and looked at Amaris again before leaving the hotel suite. "I can''t believe it. He left with another woman while his Luna lay in bed with a fever." Maxine ranted. "Max, I know my brother very well. He would not leave Ari without any valid reason." Zoila responded. "Fine! But I just hope he really has a good reason." It was seven in the evening when Amaris woke up. She was still a little dizzy, but she mustered her strength to go out of the room. Prince Elwyn saw her then rushed towards her to support her. He took her hand and grabbed her waist, which surprised Amaris. "Are you alright? It would be best if you don''t move around for now. Let''s go back to your room." He said. "Where are they?" She asked. "They went out to eat at the hotel''s restaurant. I''m on first watch, so I was left here." The prince answered. "Is Zion with them?" Amaris asked. Prince Elwyn didn''t answer. He helped Amaris go back to bed then prepared her a light meal. "Prince Elwyn, I asked you earlier if Zion is with the others, but I did not receive a reply from you. Did he leave with Eiris?" The prince sighed and nodded. "But before you get mad, think about it first. Your mate would not leave you behind without reason. Maybe he really needed to go with that woman." Amaris didn''t care and couldn''t control her anger. She started screaming and throwing things inside the room. Elwyn could understand Amaris. She was hurt because Zion left while she was sleeping and sick. He sighed then grabbed Amaris, pulling her into his arms. "Stop it! Don''t act like a kid! He will come back. For now, let''s focus on finding the last protrea then we''ll wait for Zion in Ocearia. I got you. So please calm down.." The prince said calmly. Chapter 111 - Damien And Shelly Part 2 "I thought you''d wait until I''m ready." Shelly asked almost whispering. "And when would that be?" Damien asked while his hands were busy caressing her thigh. "B-But you said-" He cut her off by kissing her on the lips. Damien tied her hands on top of her head. She felt his hand remove her underwear, then brushed his hand in between her thighs. When he released her lips, he moved his lips to her neck. His kisses were hungry and aggressive. "Damien." When she felt his hand was now on her pussy, Shelly called out his name. He stared at her with his eyes were burning with desire. "Shelly, you know I cannot control my desire towards you. If you want me to stop, just tell me, okay? I won''t force you." He said in a soft voice. It was hard for her to know her mate''s expression. If only she could see him. It was frustrating not to even see the one you love. "Don''t stop." She said. He was surprised. This was their second night alone together. He didn''t mark her yet since she looked scared of him. "Are you sure? You know I''m not pressuring you. You can still back out." He asked. "Shut up! Get out if you don''t want it!" Shelly yelled. His face lit up, and he had a huge smile on his face. "Don''t worry. I''ll be gentle." He said. It was embarrassing. She knew he was good in bed. She could feel that he had a lot of experience with women. And she didn''t even know if she could satisfy him. He kissed her on the forehead, cheeks, and lips. It was gentle and slow. It wasn''t a rush. She parted her mouth a little so his tongue could explore inside. When he slid his tongue, she glided hers with his. She then felt his hands start to move again. He raised her nightgown into her neck, exposing her naked body. She was panting when he let go of her lips and began kissing her down to her breast. He sucked one of her nipples, encircling his tongue around it while his hand was rubbing the other. Shelly can''t explain the sensation his mouth and hand were giving her. His other hand started folding her knees and opening her legs. After sucking her nipples, he traced her navel with his lips. She gasped when his mouth stopped in front of her folds. She could feel his warm breath brushing her skin, and it made her quiver. He then put two of his fingers into her mouth. "Suck it." He ordered, so she did. Then he opened her fold with his other hand and rubbed her clit using the fingers she sucked. "Damien! Oh shit!" Every time he touched her, She felt like she would lose her mind. She moaned when he slowly slid one finger inside her. He started to move his finger inside and out. She arched her back from the sensation she felt. "Shelly, I''ll insert another one." He said, and then he did. "Ahhhh. Damien, please." He smirked when he heard her moan. "Not yet." He said. Shelly was unsure why, but she wanted to feel him inside her. He then positioned his tongue into her pussy and started licking her entrance. He sucked her clit, which made her crazy even more. Her hands were still tied but it added excitement to her. When he removed his fingers, she felt his tongue slide inside her. She arched her hips to meet his tongue. "Damien more! That''s it. Ahhhh. Ahhhh." She moaned again and again. He used his tongue and fingers simultaneously to fuck her first. It was amazing! "You''re so wet Shelly." He said while grinning. She blushed which made him wilder.. He stood up to remove his pants and underwear. She gasped when she felt his dick hard and big. Shelly felt excited and nervous at the same time. He positioned himself on top of her and she could feel his erection rubbing her pussy. He was staring at her. "Are you really sure about this?" He asked. "Yes. I want you Damien. Make me yours." She answered. He pressed his lips onto hers. This time it''s wilder and invasive. His hands were touching her all over her body while he prepared to enter her.. Then when he thrust inside her, she felt a sudden pain. "Oh my!" She screamed. She felt his hand remove the ribbon which was tied on her hand. He kissed her on the forehead and looked at her. He didn''t move but she could feel his erection getting bigger inside her. "Are you okay? Relax." He said in a hoarse voice. "Why is it getting bigger? It''s painful!" He chuckled. "It''s because I''m getting more excited now that we are one.." They were both panting. She could hear his breathing was irregular and could also feel the heat from both of their bodies. "Shelly can I?" He asked. She nodded when she didn''t feel the pain anymore. "Hold on to me." He said while slowly moving inside her so he wrapped her arms around his neck. His thrust was slow at first. She could feel his dick sliding in and out of her pussy. Every time he thrust inside, she could feel his dick poking her womb. She couldn''t explain how amazing it felt. "Ahhh. Ahhh. Ahhh." She moaned while she heard him groan in every thrust he made. His thrust became faster and she could hear the sound of it every time he moved forward. "You''re making me insane, Shelly. Does that feel good?" He asked while he penetrated his dick deep inside. "Yes! You''re dick''s amazing! Faster!" She didn''t know where it came from but she just blurted it out. He moved faster and harder. He wrapped her legs around him and lifted her hips to meet his thrust. He grinded his hips while inside her. "Damien, I''m coming!" She shouted. He nibbled her ear and whispered. "Come with me, baby." Then he thrust so deep inside her core, and they both reached the climax. He released his cum inside her and she could feel their white juice mixing together in her womb. "Ahhhhhhhhh." He moaned. He then collapsed on top of her. She could feel his breath from her shoulders as they both panted together. "Hey are you okay?" Shelly asked. "I should be the one asking that." He said while kissing her on the shoulders. "I''m fine. I just hope I can see you." She said. "Hey, you could memorize my face by touching it. Here." Damien whispered, putting her hand on his cheek. She started tracing the lines of his face. She smiled while feeling his skin. "Shelly, will you allow me to mark you?" Damien asked in a serious tone. "Hold on to me." He said while slowly moving inside her so he wrapped her arms around his neck. His thrust was slow at first. She could feel his dick sliding in and out of her pussy. Every time he thrust inside, she could feel his dick poking her womb. She couldn''t explain how amazing it felt. "Ahhh. Ahhh. Ahhh." She moaned while she heard him groan in every thrust he made. His thrust became faster and she could hear the sound of it every time he moved forward. "You''re making me insane, Shelly. Does that feel good?" He asked while he penetrated his dick deep inside. "Yes! You''re dick''s amazing! Faster!" She didn''t know where it came from but she just blurted it out. He moved faster and harder. He wrapped her legs around him and lifted her hips to meet his thrust. He grinded his hips while inside her. "Damien, I''m coming!" She shouted. He nibbled her ear and whispered. "Come with me, baby." Then he thrust so deep inside her core, and they both reached the climax. He released his cum inside her and she could feel their white juice mixing together in her womb. "Ahhhhhhhhh." He moaned. He then collapsed on top of her. She could feel his breath from her shoulders as they both panted together. "Hey are you okay?" Shelly asked. "I should be the one asking that." He said while kissing her on the shoulders. "I''m fine. I just hope I can see you." She said. "Hey, you could memorize my face by touching it. Here." Damien whispered, putting her hand on his cheek. She started tracing the lines of his face. She smiled while feeling his skin. "Shelly, will you allow me to mark you?" Damien asked in a serious tone. "I should be the one asking that." He said while kissing her on the shoulders. "I''m fine. I just hope I can see you." She said. "Hey, you could memorize my face by touching it. Here." Damien whispered, putting her hand on his cheek. She started tracing the lines of his face. She smiled while feeling his skin. "Shelly, will you allow me to mark you?" Damien asked in a serious tone. Chapter 112 - Edit Zion was still thinking about what Halia said. He was watching Amaris, who was talking to Maxine and Zoila. He wondered if she would really bring death and destruction to Terra. Amaris'' powers were overwhelming. He remembered what Athanasia said a few days ago. "Her powers were overwhelming and strong. It could bring death to everyone if she were not able to control it." "What do you mean?" Zion asked. "Two of her ten forms possessed a destructive power. The nine-tailed fox was one of them. The other form which I had never known, but Selene told me about it." Athanasia continued. "Is that the reason the Gods were afraid of her?" Zion asked again. Athanasia looked at him intently. "Possibly. Amaris'' powers surpassed her parents'' powers. Selene was one of the powerful titans, and Phelan wasn''t an ordinary demon prince. My brother was the only one who could transform and imitate any creature. And Amaris had both of her parents'' powers aside from her own powers." The demon princess continued. Athanasia suggested going to Mirrikh. Not only her, but all of those who knew about Amaris, told them to go to the red planet. Zion wasn''t convinced they would find something there, but it was his Luna''s decision that mattered. If she wanted to go there, then he would gladly agree. "Love, let''s talk to Azalea. She said something about the crystallum." Amaris said. Zion didn''t notice that Amaris was already in front of him. It''s good that she didn''t ask why he was in a daze, so he just nodded. Amaris pulled him so they could sit on the couch. Azalea was already sitting quietly, waiting for them. Cole and the others joined in to listen to the little girl. "Azalea, tell them what you told me earlier about the crystallum." Amaris started. The girl nodded then looked at the creatures'' faces before telling them what she said to Amaris. "I am the tenere of the crystallum of the child of the moon''s hydria and loculus." Azalea said. "Loculus? Do you mean coffin?" Maxine asked. Azalea nodded and continued. "The hydria was a small jar for the anima, and the loculus was used for the body. When the body died, the anima left and traveled to Terra. The Gods tried to take the anima, but they couldn''t find it. It wasn''t missing or got lost. It was taken by the Libera and sealed in the hydria. When it was given to Lorelle, the crystallum was given to my father. He was instructed to meet Lorelle after fifty years to unseal the hydria." She paused. "How about the loculus? Did they say something about when it should be opened?" Azalea asked. Azalea nodded. "The loculus should be unlocked fifty years after the hydria was opened, and the anima should be taken back to the original corpus." Azalea answered. "What if the anima couldn''t come back on time?" Cole asked this time. "The body will deteriorate and will be gone forever." The girl answered. Amaris was shocked by what she heard. Deteriorate? Meaning her body will rot if her anima won''t come back to its original body. But what about the body she was using right now? She thought to herself. "They said my body is in Tartarus. Is it true?" Amaris asked. Azalea looked at her and nodded. "Do you know where it was in Tartarus?" Zion asked Azalea. "Yes. It''s in the lowest part of the underworld." "I thought Altum was the lowest part of the underworld?" Zoila got confused. Azalea shook her head. She couldn''t believe that the creatures in front of her, who were older than her, didn''t know anything about the world beneath them. "There are two parts of the underworld. The first one is the nine layers, while the second is Tartarus. The name was originally used for the deepest region of the world, where the gods locked up their enemies." Azalea explained. "Why would they keep her body in Tartarus? It''s a place for punishment, and in her case, she couldn''t be punished since she''s still alive." Zoila asked. Azalea took a deep breath before responding. "Tartarus is the deep abyss used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans. It is the place where souls were judged after death and where the wicked received divine punishment. But remember, her anima is here in Terra, so how could they punish her?" Amaris felt sad about her body and soul being separated just because she was born a hybrid. She wanted to go to the Sky God and the Demon God to ask them the real reason why they wanted her dead. Zion sensed her sadness. He held on to her hand to at least lessen her worries. He knew what she went through and what she would go through was not easy. Everything that had happened and what would happen could make someone give up, but she''s a strong woman and would not back down without a fight. "Why would her body deteriorate? She''s a half-goddess and half-demon. She''s immortal. I can''t understand." Maxine commented. "She was cursed a hundred years ago. Her anima was made immortal before she was born by Phelan, but not her body. The corpus will only be immortal if the anima returns. If not, it is just a corpse." Azalea explained. "So I really need to go to Tartarus? How can we go there? Do you think we have time? We have to go to the Elven Clan territory then to the Atlantean. The other two protrea were in those territories. Once we find them, we will go to Mirrikh to meet the Prorocist¨¦." Amaris continuously asked. Azalea picked something inside her bag. It was a small booklet, and it looked old, and some pages were torn on the sides. "We still have time if we can finish everything in ten days. We have to be in Tartarus fifteen days from now." Azalea answered. "What? That was fast. We''re still unsure if we can find the remaining protrea in ten days. Are you saying fifteen days from now, the body will vanish?" Zion asked, pissed. Azalea nodded but looked at her little booklet again. "We have to make sure. The enemy won''t stop capturing the anima. You need your original body to fight them." Azalea said while looking at Amaris. Amaris sighed. She wanted to see her body, but she wondered what would happen to her body now. "So how do we go there? Have you already seen Tartarus? Tell us more about the underworld." ************************* Readers Guide: Loculus - coffin Hydria - small jar or container Prorocist¨¦ - the oracle who wrote the Book of Malum We still have time if we can finish everything in ten days. We have to be in Tartarus fifteen days from now." Azalea answered. "What? That was fast. We''re still unsure if we can find the remaining protrea in ten days. Are you saying fifteen days from now, the body will vanish?" Zion asked, pissed. Azalea nodded but looked at her little booklet again. "We have to make sure. The enemy won''t stop capturing the anima. You need your original body to fight them." Azalea said while looking at Amaris. Amaris sighed. She wanted to see her body, but she wondered what would happen to her body now. "So how do we go there? Have you already seen Tartarus? Tell us more about the underworld." ************************* Readers Guide: Loculus - coffin Hydria - small jar or container Prorocist¨¦ - the oracle who wrote the Book of Malum We still have time if we can finish everything in ten days. We have to be in Tartarus fifteen days from now." Azalea answered. "What? That was fast. We''re still unsure if we can find the remaining protrea in ten days. Are you saying fifteen days from now, the body will vanish?" Zion asked, pissed. Azalea nodded but looked at her little booklet again. "We have to make sure. The enemy won''t stop capturing the anima. You need your original body to fight them." Azalea said while looking at Amaris. Amaris sighed. She wanted to see her body, but she wondered what would happen to her body now. "So how do we go there? Have you already seen Tartarus? Tell us more about the underworld." ************************* Readers Guide: Loculus - coffin Hydria - small jar or container Prorocist¨¦ - the oracle who wrote the Book of Malum Athanasia looked at him intently. "Possibly. Amaris'' powers surpassed her parents'' powers. Selene was one of the powerful titans, and Phelan wasn''t an ordinary demon prince. My brother was the only one who could transform and imitate any creature. And Amaris had both of her parents'' powers aside from her own powers." The demon princess continued. Athanasia looked at him intently. "Possibly. Amaris'' powers surpassed her parents'' powers. Selene was one of the powerful titans, and Phelan wasn''t an ordinary demon prince. My brother was the only one who could transform and imitate any creature. And Amaris had both of her parents'' powers aside from her own powers.." The demon princess continued. Chapter 113 - Editing Amaris frowned when both men extended their hands to her. She looked at Zion, then at Alwyn. Then she looked at their hands, thinking if she should choose Zion. Amaris knew that choosing Zion was the right thing to do. He was her mate and her Alpha. But she didn''t want Alwyn to get offended. She was his mate, and she also felt something towards the Elven Prince. It wasn''t as strong as what she felt towards Zion, but she had something in her heart. To everyone''s surprise, another hand reached out to her. When she looked at who it was, Amaris saw Grakar. She smiled and held on to the minotaur instead. "Thank you, Grakar." She whispered. "Anytime, princess." Grakar answered. Amaris turned to both men and sighed. "I think I have to ride with Grakar for now. But before we continue our journey, I want to make something clear to the both of you." She started. Amaris looked at Zion first. "Love, you know I belong to you. My heart already belongs to you. But we have to consider Alwyn''s feelings. You know how the mate bond would hurt him, seeing you and me together. I hope you understand that." Then she turned to Alwyn. "Prince Alwyn, I''m sorry if I cannot return your feelings. I was surprised that I am your mate. I''m still confused about how it happened, and I want some answers. But I will be considerate of your presence during this journey. I belong to Alpha Zion, and I cannot be apart from him. I hope you would also understand that we have to do something a normal couple does." Alwyn nodded. "Princess, I don''t want you to worry about me. I understand that you are fated to the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. I am here to serve and protect you from anyone who would cause you harm and want to hurt you. I also want to remind Alpha Zion that if he makes you cry, I won''t spare him either." Zion smirked. "That''s good then. You know your boundaries, and I like that everyone around my Luna wanted to protect her. But I want to remind you as well not to forget your place. I won''t let anyone touch my woman." Amaris didn''t say a word and had a flushed face. She turned around and got on the horse to ride with Grakar. She was flattered by what Zion said, and her heart fell for him again. ''Why do you have to ride with Grakar? You know I won''t do anything in front of others.'' Zion commented using a mind link. ''I want to be near you, but we have to consider Alwyn''s feelings. Don''t tell me you are also jealous of Grakar?'' She teased. ''I don''t get jealous. I know that you are mine.'' He pouted. Amaris chuckled enough to be heard by everyone. Zion glared at her, so she bit her lips, trying not to smile. "Let''s go!" Zion ordered. They had been traveling for more than an hour, but Zion didn''t talk to her. She was beginning to get pissed at him. It was noon when they reached the boundary of the Elven Territory and decided to stop for a while to eat lunch in a nearby tavern. "This is the boundary of our territory. Beyond those fences, we won''t be safe anymore. We might encounter some Night Howlers or creatures hired by the enemy." Alwyn said. "Let''s eat and rest, and then we''ll leave around two in the afternoon." Zion coldly answered. They all got off the horse to go inside the tavern. Grakar supported Amaris then Maxine and Zoila immediately approached her. "Are you arguing with my brother?" Zoila asked. Amaris pouted. "He''s mad because I didn''t ride with him. He''s jealous of the crown prince and Grakar." Maxine frowned. "Grakar? Seriously?" "You can''t blame him. Werewolves are territorial creatures regardless of gender and kind. Besides, Grakar may be a minotaur, but his affection towards Amaris was the same as every man in here." Zoila said. Amaris was surprised when Zoila said those words. She looked at the men in their group. Zion, Alwyn, Damien, Cole, Grakar, Diana''s husband, and her son were the men around her. "I don''t think Diana''s husband and son feel the same." Amaris commented. Zoila laughed. "Of course, but Diana cares a lot about you, so I think your safety is their priority." "Just talk to Zion. His bad mood affects all of us." Maxine commented before getting inside the tavern. From the outside, the tavern looks comfy, captivating, and pleasing. Stone pillars make up most of the building''s exterior design. It was hard to see through the curtained windows, but the voices and music inside could be felt outside. They were welcomed by dancing elves, and they felt a sense of home as they entered the tavern through the decorated metal door. The bartender was pretty busy but still welcomed them with a smile. It was as lovely inside as it was on the outside. Rounded stone shafts support the upper floor and the attached torches. The walls were teeming with signatures and written messages, clearly from happy customers. The tavern was crowded as tourists seemed to be the primary customer, which usually shows excellent food. Satisfied, enthusiastic groups of people occupied several long tables. Some were dancing on the table, while others cheered them on with applause and shouting. The other, smaller tables were also occupied by people playing games and, considering their laugh, they were either telling jokes or perhaps embarrassing tales. Even most of the seats at the bar were occupied, though nobody seemed to mind joining in with different groups. They heard rumors about this tavern. And judging by the music and how many people were dancing, it must be the live band who just started playing and the energetic staff serving the customers. They managed to find a table and settled on it. A smiling waitress wearing a short red dress with a white apron approached them. "Hi. My name is Carrie. I will be serving you today. Here''s our menu." The waitress introduced herself while handing them their list of menus. The waitress'' eyes widened when she noticed Alwyn and the rest of the group. "Oh my goodness! Crown Prince!" She exclaimed. The customers inside became silent and suddenly bowed, paying their respect to the crown prince. Then a middle-aged elven woman came rushing towards them. "We apologize for not recognizing the crown prince of the Elven Clan." She greeted. "It''s fine. I am traveling with my friends right now. No need for formal greetings. You can continue with whatever you were doing." Alwyn said with a broad smile on his face. The crowd continued their cheers, dance, and lunch while Zion''s group started to order food. Amaris was glancing at Zion, who wasn''t paying attention to her ever since they left the castle. She was pissed, so she stood up and went to the toilet to take a quick break. The tavern had two toilets, one at the back and one inside. The toilet at the back was located outside, and no one seemed to go in that area, so Amaris chose that because she wanted to be alone. She looked at the mirror and sighed. She was thinking about Zion because she knew he was offended by what she did. It wasn''t her intention, but she pitied the Elven Prince. ''You are his Luna. Everyone knows about it, so you shouldn''t be thinking of your other mate.'' It was Hikari. Amaris was surprised. Her ten forms never spoke to her. Maybe they did when they were on the moon. ''Why do you think we have another mate?'' Amaris asked Hikari. ''You are different from the other creatures. You have ten forms, and maybe that was one of the reasons. Having two or more mates wasn''t really new to demons like you. Some just chose to have one like your father.'' Hikari answered. ''I don''t want to have another mate. I only love Zion, but I feel guilty for Alwyn.'' ''He already knew you belonged to someone else. There''s nothing he can do about it. Are you saying you didn''t want to hurt the Elven Prince, but it''s okay to hurt Zion?'' Hikari asked. ''No! I don''t want to hurt him either.'' ''But that''s what you''re doing right now. You are hurting him by showing your concern to your other mate.'' Hikari was right. Zion didn''t argue with her when she decided to ride with Grakar, but she knew he didn''t like it. He was ignoring her the whole time. She sighed and fixed herself before coming out of the toilet. She was startled when she saw Zion standing outside. She frowned when she saw him look so worried. "Are you okay?" He asked. Her heart melted seeing his worried face. She hurt his pride and feelings, but he was still concerned about her.. Then, she bit her lips and suddenly grabbed Zion''s hand, pulling him inside the toilet. Chapter 114 - Edit The year 2035 was a year of modernity and technology. Amaris couldn''t figure out why they rode a horse to get to the Fae Clan. From what she knew, they could travel by car instead of riding a horse. But the path they took was different from what she saw on the map. "Why did we take a different route?" She asked Zion. "They''ve been expecting we''ll take the road. This route would be the safest. If we encounter enemies, we don''t need to fight in a crowded place." He answered. Amaris nodded in agreement. They don''t want to involve other people in a fight, so it''s better to avoid the road. As they continued their journey to the Fae Clan Territory, a serrated mountain appeared in the distance. They made their way towards it since they had to stop and rest by sundown. The hill was lush green brooding over the land. Just as they approached, Amaris saw a narrow path on the edge of the mountain. They started to cross down the path slowly. One wrong move, and they will fall into a craggy surface. "There''s a river down this path. We could camp there and stay for the night." Cole shouted. The sky-scraping peak of the mountain was drenched in bright light. Spikes of thin sunlight melted the snow in a bristling, moving line. Amaris guessed that the heat had thawed the snow from the hip of the mountain. "I didn''t know that we had snow this year." She commented. She was confused since they didn''t experience snow in Aramoor City for years now. Terra''s climate has changed gradually ever since the year 2020. Before that year, Aramoor City would experience snow every winter, but now, they mostly have summer, spring, and fall. "This is part of the Fae Clan Territory. Fairies usually take care of nature. The snow fairies kept this side of their territory, so this is the only place in Oprea with snow. They need this kind of environment to survive." Zion explained. Amaris was amazed by the different creatures living in Terra. She couldn''t believe that even the smallest creature could bring big changes into their realm. As they continued to travel down the mountain edge, she saw the trees wrapped around with powdery snow. The atmosphere became icy cold as they came closer to the bottom of the hill. Zion felt Amaris'' body shiver. He could see a small ball of smoke coming out of her mouth as she breathed out. She was wearing her black bodysuit but no jacket on. He could also see that the girls weren''t wearing any protection from the cold. He didn''t expect that it was this cold here, so he didn''t tell them to bring thick clothing. Zion stopped the horse, getting off it. Amaris frowned. Then she saw his eye turn red. He crouched down, touching the ground with his palm. The group sensed a sudden feeling of warmth around them. Zion looked at his Luna and smiled. "Is it better?" He asked. She nodded with a smile on her face. Cole was in front, followed by Zoila. The Alpha and Luna at the center, then behind them were Maxine and Grakar, followed by Damien. Cole pointed on to something and shouted enough to be heard by everyone. "We''re here!" Cole exclaimed. Amaris looked at the bottom of the mountain, just a few steps away. She smiled to see the water glistened from the shafts of light coming from the sun. The sound of the river babbling made her heart calm and relaxed. Zion felt her calmness and happiness when she saw what was ahead of them. She really loved nature, and it made his heart at peace every time he felt the serenity of her heart. Amaris felt Zion''s arms wrapped around her waist tightly. She was confused, but she liked his warmth that gave her a sense of love and security. "What is it?" She asked. "Nothing. I just want to hug you tight, my love." He whispered, kissing her on the cheek. She leaned backward, resting her head on his chest. At the same time, she looked at the peaceful scenery in front of them. "I hope this memory lasts forever. Let''s do everything again what we had done so far once we broke the curse." She murmured. "How about we create new memories together? You, me, and our little ones." He suddenly said. Amaris was surprised. She turned to him and saw his face was just an inch away from him. "Zion?" She frowned. "I want to have a family with you, Ari. How about you?" He asked. She didn''t say a word for a moment then gave him a huge smile. "Y-Yes! Of course! After all of this, okay?" She said. "Yes. Your answer brought joy to my heart. Let''s do that in the future." He whispered, then kissed her on the lips. Zion deepened the kiss, and Amaris responded, grabbing his neck pulling him closer to her. Someone coughed, distracting them from the momentary pleasure. Zion glared at the person who had just disturbed them. Amaris'' face flushed when she saw Zoila, pouting like a little girl. "Can you at least do something like that inside the tent? We prepared it already." Zoila ranted. Amaris giggled when Zion got off the horse with a dark expression. He walked closer to Zoila then cupped her face. "Be thankful you are my little sister!" He said, flicking Zoila on her forehead. "Hey! That hurts!" Zoila exclaimed while rubbing her forehead. Zion supported her so she could get off the horse. Amaris walked near the river and was mesmerized by the shallow and clear water. River birch trees surrounded the area and flowers with only three petals. The leaves had a distinct heart shape, with two lobes hurling backward from the bigger forward-pointing main lobe. Amaris hunched, curious about the pink plants around the river. "What''s this flower?" She asked. "Wild pink flora. They usually grow in riverbanks near river birch trees." Damien answered. Amaris frowned. She had never heard of that flower before. "Only the Fae''s have this flower. You can''t get one of these flowers unless a fairy allows you. The flower is used to treat all kinds of wounds for any creature." Damien answered. Amaris nodded. She was about to touch one of the flowers when they heard a scream nearby. She frowned and suddenly smelled the coppery scent of fresh blood. "We have an enemy nearby." She said while her eyes turned red and showed off her sharp fangs. Hey! That hurts!" Zoila exclaimed while rubbing her forehead. Zion supported her so she could get off the horse. Amaris walked near the river and was mesmerized by the shallow and clear water. River birch trees surrounded the area and flowers with only three petals. The leaves had a distinct heart shape, with two lobes hurling backward from the bigger forward-pointing main lobe. Amaris hunched, curious about the pink plants around the river. "What''s this flower?" She asked. "Wild pink flora. They usually grow in riverbanks near river birch trees." Damien answered. Amaris frowned. She had never heard of that flower before. "Only the Fae''s have this flower. You can''t get one of these flowers unless a fairy allows you. The flower is used to treat all kinds of wounds for any creature." Damien answered. Amaris nodded. She was about to touch one of the flowers when they heard a scream nearby. She frowned and suddenly smelled the coppery scent of fresh blood. "We have an enemy nearby." She said while her eyes turned red and showed off her sharp fangs. Hey! That hurts!" Zoila exclaimed while rubbing her forehead. Zion supported her so she could get off the horse. Amaris walked near the river and was mesmerized by the shallow and clear water. River birch trees surrounded the area and flowers with only three petals. The leaves had a distinct heart shape, with two lobes hurling backward from the bigger forward-pointing main lobe. Amaris hunched, curious about the pink plants around the river. "What''s this flower?" She asked. "Wild pink flora. They usually grow in riverbanks near river birch trees." Damien answered. Amaris frowned. She had never heard of that flower before. "Only the Fae''s have this flower. You can''t get one of these flowers unless a fairy allows you. The flower is used to treat all kinds of wounds for any creature." Damien answered. Amaris nodded. She was about to touch one of the flowers when they heard a scream nearby. She frowned and suddenly smelled the coppery scent of fresh blood. "We have an enemy nearby." She said while her eyes turned red and showed off her sharp fangs. Only the Fae''s have this flower. You can''t get one of these flowers unless a fairy allows you. The flower is used to treat all kinds of wounds for any creature." Damien answered. Amaris nodded. She was about to touch one of the flowers when they heard a scream nearby. She frowned and suddenly smelled the coppery scent of fresh blood. "We have an enemy nearby.." She said while her eyes turned red and showed off her sharp fangs. Chapter 115 - Endralth Azalea nodded. Amaris saw that everyone was impressed by Azalea. She was a cute little fae, and at first glance, you will think that she was just a young maiden. But she was more than that. "Tell us about Endralth." Amaris exclaimed while staring at Azalea. It was already dark, and they decided to stay for the night. After dinner, they sat down on the mattress, and some of them rested on the couch in the living room while Azalea prepared herself to tell them the story of the immortal dragon. "Endralth belonged to the Dragon Clan, one of the ancient creatures who lived in the Iron Peak. Although they were powerful beings, they never hurt anyone and lived in peace. But some tales said that humans guided by greed wanted the powers of the dragons. They attacked the dragon''s home, slaughtering them. They thought they could just kill the Dragon Clan and take their powers. But they were wrong." Azalea started. "I never heard the story of the Dragon Clan. Did your father also research about it?" Cole asked. Azalea slightly smiled. Amaris felt that the girl missed her parents. Telling one of the stories from her father brought excitement and joy to Azalea. "Father was a curious fae. He couldn''t settle with one answer, especially if he''s not satisfied with it. He would do everything to look deeper. Mother became curious like him when he took us on his adventures. It was dangerous but fun. My parents knew that time would come that someone would approach them about his research, but he continued. He wanted to learn the beginning of all creatures, and as I grew up, I also wondered and got curious about everything." Azalea shared. Amaris smiled. She was happy that Azalea shared something personal about her family. Amaris wanted to know all her protrea so they could completely trust each other. "The Dragon Clan''s story wasn''t based on my father''s research. It really happened." Azalea continued. Everyone frowned and waited for Azalea''s next revelations. "Father was there when it happened. A dragon raised him, but the one who cared for him died back then. Father said only five dragons survived and escaped that day. The fire dragon, Azzurth. Zykur, the water dragon. Shirma, the wind dragon. Aldra, the ice dragon. And Endralth, the immortal dragon." "Are they still alive until now?" Maxine asked. "The demon princess Athanasia now owned Azzurth, the fire dragon. Zykur and Aldra died a long time ago. Father tried to look for Shirma, but he couldn''t find her." Azalea answered. "I didn''t know there was an immortal dragon." Zoila commented. "There was none at first. But when the dragons died one by one, their powers were transferred to Endralth." Azalea saw the confusion on her companions'' faces. She took a deep breath before continuing. "Endralth was different from the other dragons. She was not a fire dragon, or a water dragon. She didn''t belong to any of them. Because she possessed a power, no dragon could ever have. She can absorb the other dragons'' knowledge, memories, personality, talents, and physical abilities. But she could only do that when a dragon died. What made her unique was that it would still happen even though she didn''t want it." "What do you mean?" Zoila asked again. "Endralth can have a dragon''s power without even doing anything. It was like their powers would just transfer on their own once the dragon died." "Are you saying that all of the powers of the Dragon Clan were inside Endralth''s? And that dragon was inside Amaris'' body?" Zion asked. Amaris was surprised. She couldn''t believe everything Azalea had told them. Everyone told her she was a powerful being, but she wasn''t convinced. "Believe it or not, the answer is yes. That was the reason Endralth was called the immortal dragon. After having all the dragons'' powers, she became immortal. She knew that a lot of creatures would dare to steal the powers she possessed, so Endralth hid and promised that she would never yield to anyone but her master. " "You said earlier that all of my forms were connected to Endralth. What do you mean by that?" Amaris asked. "Endralth was their leader, their alpha. The creatures inside you were trying to reach Endralth. It would be best if you remembered everything. If you can''t remember your other forms, they will lose trust in you. I think the only reason the demons are trying to wake your body is because of Endralth. If Cronus successfully controlled your body, he would possess the power of the immortal dragon." Amaris sighed while staring at Azalea. It seemed that the little fae knew all of her ten forms. "Can you just tell me what my ten forms are?" Azalea stared back at her. "I can. But remembering your memories of them is a lot different from knowing their names. You have to remember, princess. There''s a reason why Eone gave you the other nine forms and the power to control all of them." "I know. Endralth''s powers were overwhelming. Eone and my mother were unsure if my body could take the dragon''s powers, so Eone summoned nine mythical creatures to balance with its powers. I remember that." Amaris answered. "How did you know that? You were just a baby when they transferred the powers to you." Maxine frowned. "Mother told me. She sometimes communicates with me." Maxine nodded then turned her gaze to Azalea. "Telling her about her other forms could be a start for Amaris to remember them. How about we give it a try? We already know that Endralth is inside my cousin''s body. You said earlier that there were two of them. What''s the other one?" Maxine asked. Amaris knew that Azalea was having second thoughts. The fae wanted her to remember on her own. It''s more sincere, and she knew that. But they were running out of time. Maxine was right. Telling her about them could help her remember. Azalea breathed deeply then looked at Amaris. Chapter 116 - Mates Blood Amaris wanted to keep her distance from Alwyn. They had rejected each other already, so she shouldn''t feel attracted to him. What he was doing now was because he was her protrea, nothing more, nothing less. But she couldn''t understand why she couldn''t get away from him. It''s like something was pulling her towards the Elven Prince. ''Max.'' She called using the mind link. ''Yes?'' ''I think something''s wrong with me.'' Maxine stopped walking and turned around to look for her cousin. She saw Amaris being supported by Alwyn. The prince''s arm was on her cousin''s shoulder as the two walked behind them. Maxine wasn''t against Alwyn, but Amaris got a mate already. Zion would definitely go berserk if he found out about this. She walked towards them and casually approached the two. "What happened? Are you okay?" Maxine asked. Amaris couldn''t say it out loud because Prince Alwyn was there. Maxine understood when Amaris looked her in the eyes. She nodded then turned to the prince. "Can you help Zoila with our stuff? It''s too heavy for both of us. Don''t worry about Ari. I got her." She said. The Elven Prince was hesitant at first. He looked at Amaris then nodded in agreement after. "What''s happening to you? You''ve been very close to Prince Alwyn ever since Zion left." Amaris gulped before answering her cousin. "I''m craving." It was just a whisper, but Maxine heard what she said. "What? Craving? Craving for what?" Maxine asked with a frown on her face. "For blood. My whole body feels so hot." "You''re in heat?" Maxine asked again to confirm. Amaris wet her lips and nodded. "Fuck! Why now? Zion''s not here." Maxine looked at the others who were walking ahead of them. Then she turned to Amaris again, eyes widened. "Are you craving for the prince''s blood?" She asked Amaris. "No. She''s craving for her mate''s blood." "Diana! Oh, thank god you noticed." "We have to hurry to Grakar''s house. It would be dangerous if the others notice." Maxine couldn''t understand what Diana meant, but she agreed since Amaris looked like she was about to burst. They arrived at Grakar''s house before sunset. They were surprised to see that the minotaur''s house was huge and modern. From the outside, the place looked stunning, built with white stones and had walnut wood decorations. The big, squared windows added to the house''s broad style in symmetric ways. The three-floor house was equipped with a huge kitchen and one standard bathroom. It also had a huge living room, a dining room, four bedrooms, two offices, a kids'' room, and a garage. In the living room, the ceiling was high and had flower carvings in it. A floral light sculpture was hanging at the center and served as a chandelier. The second floor was just the same as the first, creating a layered look with the roof. The floor had a slightly different style than the one below. Two small chimneys sat on either side of the house. Two balconies let plenty of light to the rooms below the roof. The house itself was surrounded by a modest garden, covered primarily of Atlantean healing trees, a few flower patches, and a miniature pond. "Your house is amazing, Grakar." Diana exclaimed. "My mate studied architectural and interior design. She''s the one who designed the whole house." "I think if Grakar designed it, the place would be gloomy." Cole chuckled. Grakar was not insulted by Cole''s sarcastic comment. He laughed at it and nodded in agreement. "You are right. I was born in the labyrinth island of Valmar, and the place wasn''t that nice. When we came to Terra, we were savage monsters. We kill and eat human flesh. But as civilization developed, we started to change the way we live. After Phelan chose me to be his daughter''s protrea, I traveled with him until the day he died. Instead of returning to Valmar, I came to Ocearia to live with my family. This place is peaceful. This is my home now. But as the Gods and creatures around Terra threatened the destruction of my home, I wanted to fight for it for my kids'' future." Maxine and Zoila became emotional by Grakar''s words. They didn''t expect someone like him to fight for his family''s sake. After settling their stuff, they brought Amaris to the bathroom and put her in the tub full of ice. "Do you think it would go away?" Maxine asked Diana. "I don''t know. But a demon''s lust and craving could last for more than a week. Like vampires, we could only stop our thirst for blood if we consumed one." Diana answered. "She said she''s craving for blood. Can we just give her any blood?" "We can''t. It will weaken her. She''s a hybrid. A half-demon, half goddess. Her level of lust or craving is different from any creature. And it seemed she''s craving only for her mate''s blood." Maxine looked at Amaris, who was sleeping in the tub. Before they arrived at Grakar''s house, Amaris lost consciousness and didn''t wake up even after putting her in the water with ice. Diana and Maxine went back to the living room to discuss the matter with the others. They could see in everyone''s faces that they were worried about their Luna. "Where is she? Is she okay? What happened?" Prince Alwyn asked continuously. Maxine sighed deeply before answering. "I think you shouldn''t get close to her." "What do you mean? Can you tell what the fuck is going on?" The prince asked again. "She''s craving for her mate''s blood. You being closer to her might affect her desires. She might lose it and go out of control." Maxine said while staring at Prince Alwyn. "W-What? I didn''t do anything wrong." Alwyn answered. "You''re obviously flirting with her." Maxine almost shouted. Prince Alwyn smirked. "I''m not. She was weak and couldn''t walk, so I supported her. She was stressed because of the Alpha. I could feel it." Maxine didn''t argue anymore. She sat down on the couch with the others. "We have to find a way to stop Amaris'' cravings and lust." "You can''t. The only way is to give her mate''s blood. Demons have bestia''s or beasts inside them, and the craving is from the one inside her. They said drinking blood could calm down the beast, but she has more than one in her case. That''s the reason she needs to drink her mate''s blood." Diana explained. "But Zion''s not here. What should we do?" Zoila asked. Diana turned to the Elven Prince, which surprised everyone.. The prince''s eyes widened when he saw everyone''s gaze on him. Chapter 117 - The Elven Princes Decision "No! I don''t like what you''re thinking." Prince Alwyn frowned. Diana sighed deeply. "This is for the princess." "I know. I would do anything to help her, but this is different." "Why? She needs her mate''s blood. The Alpha is not here, but you are." Diana insisted. "Look, we rejected each other, and I think I''m starting to feel less pain than the past few days. Giving her my blood might reconnect the bond between us." Prince Alwyn explained. "So, are you going to let her die?" Diana asked. "What? No! I didn''t say that. But the Alpha is her real mate, and I don''t think it would make a difference if she consumed my blood. Besides, Zion will definitely kill not only me but all of us. "He''ll kill us if we don''t do anything." Diana exclaimed. "Diana, there might be another way." Maxine interrupted. "What if there''s no other way?" Diana asked. Everyone didn''t say a word. Prince Alwyn took a deep sigh then walked out of the house. Zoila stood up to follow the Elven prince. The prince was pacing back and forth when Zoila followed him into the garden. She stopped to stare at the place where Alwyn was. Grakar''s house was shielded with a glass dome where you could see the ocean and the creatures swimming freely around it. It wasn''t just his house, but all of the homes and buildings in Ocearia had it. Zoila turned to the garden to see the beauty of the landscape done by Grakar''s wife. A variety of shrubs neighbored a wild patch of grass. A fountain stood in the back right of the garden, offering a peaceful, tickling sound of water. The plants and flowers were the pride and joy of this garden, as they were very well tended, clashing an eternal match for the best spots. The shrubs reached almost up to the glass dome ceiling, but this is uncommon and perhaps exceptional to this garden. A small picket fence looped around the place, leading the guests through the garden and ensuring all the best spots were marked. Grass and roots started to reclaim even all parts of the land, keen to grow their dominion. The fountain was undoubtedly the main appeal of the garden. The flowers and plants looked amazing, while the shrubs were eye-catching in their own right. Zoila wondered how the Atlanteans could maintain the beauty of their gardens since no sunlight reached the bottom of the Ethereal Ocean. She sighed. Although the place was breathtaking, her mind was full of unanswered questions. She had no time for admiring the beauty of the Atlantean territory. She walked towards the prince, who was now sitting on the bench at the center of the garden. She sat beside him and tilted her head, gazing at the creatures paddling above them. "Why did you reject what Diana suggested?" Zoila asked. Prince Alwyn took a deep breath while looking at the roses in front of them. "It''s not that I don''t like it, but I think I will cross the line if I agree with it. The Luna rejected me, and I respect her relationship with your brother. I don''t want to cause any trouble between them." He answered. "But you''re also her mate. What if she really needed her mate''s blood? She''s a half-demon. Her craving would not go away that easily. It would get worse as time passed." Zoila commented. The prince turned to her with a frown on his face. "Do you agree with Diana? Would you like me to help Amaris appease her craving, offer her my blood, knowing that she''s your Luna and your brother''s mate?" "If it will save her life, then I''m fine with it. She''s different from your kind and ours. The elves don''t crave for blood, but werewolves, vampires, and demons, we need blood to survive. Zion knows that. He''s an idiot leaving his mate alone. The demon princess, Athanasia, told him that demons could lust or crave at any time. If they continue to have that feeling, the monsters inside them could go berserk." Zoila explained. Prince Alwyn was surprised by what he heard. He didn''t have a slight clue that demons were like that. Funny, he waited for Amaris to come to get him, and he had loved her ever since he learned that she was his mate, but he didn''t know anything about her. "What about you?" He asked, looking at Zoila''s eyes. Zoila didn''t turn to look at the prince. She knew he was staring at her, and she didn''t want him to see all the doubts in her eyes. "What about me?" She murmured. "We''re sleeping together, Z." ''Z,'' that''s what he would always whisper in her ears when they fuck each other. Zoila didn''t know how they ended up sleeping together. She wanted to help him forget the pain of getting rejected by his mate, so she kissed him. After that, he came to her tent, and they had sex. It was nothing, she thought. His heart was broken, and she was lonely. They needed each other. That''s all. "So? We''re not a couple. What we did was to lessen our loneliness. I wanted to help you, and I think it''s the same with you. You heard what happened to me and my mate, so maybe you wanted me to forget about it." Zoila said casually. "Are you sure about this?" Prince Alwyn asked again. Zoila nodded. They stayed for a while, then returned inside after a few minutes. Diana and the others were staring at the Elven Prince when he sat on the couch, waiting for him to speak. Prince Alwyn took a deep breath before looking directly into the eyes of those staring at him. "Are you sure you can''t think of any other way?" He asked again. "Yes." Diana simply answered. "How about Azalea?" Alwyn responded. "I don''t know. I can''t tell you because we have so little time." Azalea answered. The prince sighed again before telling them his decision. "Fine. I will give Amaris my blood, but let''s wait for another day.. If, after twenty-four hours, Zion did not return, if Azalea and Diana did not find any other solution, and if the Luna still craves for blood, then I will accept what you suggested." Chapter 118 - Random God ''Luna'' Amaris opened her eyes when she heard a raspy voice calling her. It was like the first time she came into the Blue Moon Pack territory. The voice was faint but clear, and it was a man''s voice. Amaris tried to guess who owned that voice, but she couldn''t recognize who it was "Who are you?" She whispered. Amaris waited for the man to respond, but it was still quiet minutes later. She frowned when she looked around the place where she was. It was unfamiliar to her. She realized she was lying on a pure white canopy bed with purple curtains hanging around it. She stood up and was confused, seeing herself all dressed up. She was wearing a white dress that covered her shoulders and flowed down into a sheer sweetheart neckline. It was a snug fit that accentuates her breasts, but it does so elegantly. The sheer sleeves covered to just below her elbows were simple yet elegant¡ªa perfect combination of style and grace. The dress'' waist was thin, but it was the right fit. The dress was not adorned with anything to create a classy, flowing look. Below the waist, the dress fitted snug around her and had a draped style. The skirt reached all the way down, fully covering her feet, and was longer at the sides. She was wearing t-straps, a great pair to the elegant dress. To top it off, she had a small tiara banded into her head and mid-sized, stylish diamond earrings. ''Where am I?'' She thought inwardly. The last thing she remembered was walking towards Grakar''s house while being supported by Prince Alwyn. She felt something uncomfortable, so she called Maxine. She couldn''t recall what happened after that. She got off the bed and noticed that the place was plain white. She was in a room with no windows, yet she could feel the wind brushing through her skin. "Hello? Is there anyone here?" She shouted. She had a frown on her face when she saw that the room had no doors. How did she end up in that place? Did someone bring her there? Where are Zion, Maxine, and the others? Are they safe? Is this a dream? She had those questions while looking for a way to get out of that white empty space. Amaris knew she was in a room, but while she walked around, she was suddenly exhausted. That''s when she realized the place was boundless. She could walk for eternity, but she would never get out of there. A figure suddenly appeared just a few steps away from her. She rushed towards it, and she was surprised to see a man dressed in a plain white robe. "Excuse me, sir, can I ask what place is this?" Amaris asked when she got closer. Amaris couldn''t take her eyes off the man when he slowly turned around to face her. His face was different from all other creatures she had met, perhaps from those living in Terra. He was gorgeous, not in a conventional way, but he had an appearance that made him stand out in the crowd. He was fair, almost pale white. His impenetrable, golden-brown eyes differed exceptionally from his light-toned face. His eyes were as deep and expressive as you could get lost if you gaped long enough. His face had that faraway look that no words can describe. His smile, which reached up to his eyes and wrinkled them, flaunted his humbleness and modesty. Frequently, you could see a glimmer of pain in his sparkling eyes, which disappeared as abruptly as it emerged. Above all were his frame and his height. He was not highly muscular, with eight-pack abs or sixteen-centimeter biceps. However, he stood out, which was primarily due to his way of maintaining himself. Perhaps he was not the kind who had girls swooning over him. But he was innocent and straightforward. He was probably just one in a million, who was nothing special, but all the same unique. "It''s an honor to finally meet you, Luna of the Blue Moon Pack." The man said while looking at her with a smile on his face. Amaris nodded but didn''t say a word. Her confusion and curiosity could not be denied in front of the man. She heard him chuckle, but she didn''t give any reaction and was just standing in front of him. "Are you wondering where you are? I''m sure you''re questioning why you''re here and who I am. Do you want to know if this is a dream?" The man continued to ask. Amaris nodded. "Yes." The man smiled slightly at her. "I am Nynir, a sea god." Amaris frowned. Nynir? The God of dreams? She thought. Nynir was a hugely feared and considerably loved God. Oceans, dreams, and nightmares were a few elements this divine being was associated with. He was constantly believed to be ambitious and proud. He was often described as incredibly tall, large, mature, and immaculate. Nynir was usually honored through atonements and gifts. There were a few famous places for those who sought the assistance of Nynir, but small shrines and handheld symbols were prevalent even outside of the circles. Believers were relatively numerous and tended to come in the form of sovereignty and tavern residents. It was them that this God favored, provided they made the right atonements and gifts. Nynir had no interest for lovers. Of course, this changed nothing to the guidance and protection Nynir could provide, but it was only the most confident of gods that could stand by themselves. But why was she with Nynir? She wanted to see the Sky God and not some random God she believed was not helpful to her journey. "Ouch. That hurts." Nynir murmured. Amaris then realized that Nynir could read what was in her mind. She sighed deeply, then composed herself. "So, can you tell me why I''m here? Are you the one who called me?" She asked. Nynir smiled. "I''m not the one who called you. I didn''t expect that I''ll be meeting you in this world." "What world is this?" She asked again. "You''re in Draumur, the world of dreams." Chapter 119 - Draft 2 It also surprised him that he suddenly grabbed her hand when she was about to leave. She looked at him, confused. He couldn''t say anything and just let go of her hand, then he stood up and slowly walked closer to her. Her heart started pounding when she saw him getting closer. Her body became frozen and she couldn''t even move an inch. He was six feet tall while she was five feet six inches. His jet black shoulder length hair was half pony tailed and she noticed he has a black diamond earring dangling on his left ear. She would admit that he was really good looking. He got closer and was standing in front of her. She tilted her chin up to meet his gaze. He leaned forward, staring at the face of the girl who piqued his interest. Their faces were just a few inches away, only staring at each other yet no one dared to cross the space between them. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered. "I''ll see you again." Then he turned around and left her standing there. Amaris didn''t know how she managed to go to her classroom. She was confused on why she couldn''t move when Zion got closer to her. "Ari!" It was Maxine who called her, pulling her inside the classroom. "Where have you been? You missed the first period." Therese, one of her friends asked. She couldn''t believe what she just said. She didn''t know she was out for a long time. Did Zion do something to her? "Are you sick, Ari?" Maxine asked, worried. She shook her head but still couldn''t believe what had happened. They took their seats when the professor arrived for the next class. "We will be having new students from today onwards. Come inside!" The professor called. She wasn''t really listening and was just writing the lectures she missed from the first period. She frowned when she heard the girls from her class squealing but didn''t even check the reason. "I know you already know who they are so I won''t bother to introduce them to you. They are new here in our city and we''re expecting that you will all help them with what they need." The professor continued. "Where can we sit?" A girl, one of the new students asked. The professor looked around, trying to check for vacant seats. There were two vacant seats in front, one in the middle and another one at the back. It was perfect for the four of them but she wasn''t sure if they wanted to sit separately. "Are you okay sitting separately or would you like to sit together?" She asked, looking at the guy with jet black hair. He wasn''t listening to the professor so one of them answered. He was intently staring at someone. "Zion, what is it?" The new girl asked while looking around the room where Zion was looking. Zion didn''t say anything but to the surprise of everyone, he walked in the direction where Amaris was seated. "Is this seat taken?" He asked. Amaris was sitting at the back quietly. She was busy writing when she heard a familiar voice. She just met him earlier but for some reason, she was already familiar with his presence. She slowly tilted her chin up to look at the man standing in front of her. "That seat''s taken, he was absent because he ran into a fever." The professor said. He frowned when the professor said ''he'' which means a guy was sitting beside her. Amaris saw his face suddenly went dark when he glared at the professor. Without any word from Zion, the professor nodded and informed the class that the guy sitting beside him will be moved to the front seat. "Take your seats so we can start." Zion sat down beside her. She could see that the girls were giving her cold glare because she was sitting beside the alpha of the blue moon pack. Maxine was also looking at her, as if asking her what happened. She ignored them including her new seatmate and continued writing. She frowned when Zion handed her a small piece of paper. She knew she couldn''t ignore him forever so she looked at what it was about. ''Aren''t we friends? Why are you ignoring me?'' Friends? They just met and it was a coincidence. This guy is weird. ''Look around. The girls were glaring at me.'' She then returned the paper to him. He didn''t bother to look around. He didn''t care about the people around them. He was getting more interested in her. It seems that she was really different from the other girls. ''You want to know about the story of the Moon Goddess and the Demon Prince, right?'' He wrote. Her eyes widened. She suddenly looked at him when she read what he had written. Is he going to tell her about it? ''I''ll tell you the story. You want to ask a werewolf, right? Then I''ll be your werewolf.'' He met her gaze while holding the paper, showing her his answer. She blinked and bit her lips that made his inner thoughts crazy. He wasn''t really sure what it was. He was trying to figure out the reason why he was suddenly captivated by her. She snatched the paper and wrote something. Then she handed it to him with a frown. ''What''s the catch? I know you want something in return.'' He chuckled when he read it. She wasn''t an easy girl like the others. She was different in every way and that may be one of the reasons she caught his attention. ''Be my friend.'' She was confused. As far as she knows, werewolves don''t mingle with the Terrans. They lived together in peace and some of them worked with each other but she never heard that werewolves can offer friendship, much more from an alpha. He knew she was confused just by looking at her face. She was frowning and her eyes had a lot of questions. He crumpled the paper then leaned forward and whispered to her. "I will tell you everything I know if you meet me after class." She felt like a thousand volts of electricity ran through her body when his warm breath brushed into her cheek and neck. She could feel the goosebumps in her stomach.. She suddenly turned to his side and they were both surprised seeing their faces were just an inch away from each other.