Layan stood still in place as he saw Liam's body come to a screeching halt as the she-wolf raised her arm. A huge blood-curdling gasp came out of his mouth.
Oh, it was just like that time. Priscilla felt the blood pulsing and coursing through her entire body. Rage, excitement, hatred, a sea of emotions swirled inside her. She tilted her head and a false smile sat on her lips watching Liam shudder, lifted into the air, as her something grabbed him off the ground and squeezed him. Instead, Priscilla's hand was only raised in front of her with an open palm. Palm that felt so warm yet cold.
And then... it closed.
The only sound heard after Liam's moans was the creaking of something before he lay still and his limbs fell next to his body... lifeless. Seconds later he collapsed on the ground without moving.
Layan didn't move from the place assimilating what had happened. Only when, in front of him, Liam's corpse began to turn to dust and disappear completely did he realize that he had stopped breathing.
-It's over- Priscilla's voice reached him- He's dead... now it is.
Layan looked at her finding that her eyes had returned to their normal silver, but he had to transform and run to her as her knees buckled to collapse in his arms. The aura of magnificence that once enveloped her had dissolved along with the body the alpha.
-Pris- he embraced her, cradling her to his chest and kissing her head- You did good, you did good love.
Priscilla let him embrace her but she couldn't return his embrace. She felt no strength in any part of her body. She could barely feel her legs at that moment. It was as if everything had suddenly drained away leaving her so vulnerable that she could barely speak properly. Apparently the time had come. She was ready for it.
-Layan-- she called to him barely in a whisper.
The alpha broke away slightly and leaned down to kiss her lips and place his forehead against hers.
-What's wrong?- his voice sounded broken. She knew perfectly well he was weighing in. Before he had killed Liam he had told his mind.
-Promise me you'll get along with your wolf- she barely lifted her hand to touch his cheek- it's part of you.
The alpha closed his eyes and growled, but when he opened them he nodded his head.
-Only if you promise not to let me touch you without telling me first.
The she-wolf couldn't help but chuckle softly at his comment.
-Can you take care of my ma and pa? They'll be sad.
Layan denied.
-I won't. You'll be with them to do it- Layan was reluctant, despite everything to accept reality.
She was aware that Priscilla's time was up, maybe it would have lasted a little longer if she hadn't fought Liam, but it was already a month, the month she had told him to be by her side. She had known this would happen from the start. And he... he'd just wasted time uselessly. If only he had known before.
-La... yan- Priscilla raised her hand with what little strength she had left and cradled his cheek- It won't be.... long- she smiled smiling at him as her finger got wet and she could see how that hard and haughty alpha had his eyes shining and tears escaping from his cheeks- Don't cry.
-Can this be funny Priscilla- he couldn't stand it anymore and cried, he didn't care about his position, or who he was, he was just a simple wolf who was saying goodbye to his mate- It's not fair. You don't play fair. You show up in my life and make of it what you want, and now you want to leave like this.
She bit her lower lip.
-It's not something... that I can change- she apologized in her way and that made Layan raise her head and blink hard avoiding uselessly the tears, these kept running down her face.
-You... you've always been like this- Layan glued his forehead to hers again and pulled her tighter against him. His arms wrapped around her until he could almost melt into her body- You're so damn much like your parents- he chuckled under his breath.
-But you liked it- she copied him- You were the first one to claim me, remember.
Layan bit her nose lightly.
-I'm only going to admit it this once, but don't make it hard for your father, he'll go crazy if he knows I claimed his unborn princess. You know he has a hard time accepting our relationship.
Prisicla nodded with a smile and snuggled more against him.
-You will have time to... convince him- this time her voice was softer, almost fading, dropping all her weight against the alpha- Layan... I... I... I'm sleepy.
And the alpha pursed his lips and eyes, holding back a sob. Instead, he controlled himself and kissed his she-wolf's forehead.
-Well, sleep little one, I'll be waiting for you,- he moved a little lower.
-More... you... okay- Priscilla let Layan's lips press against hers allowing herself to feel the warmth and scent of her mate before....
Layan sobbed even with her lips still on her partner's mouth. They had stopped moving and the hand over her face had fallen with a dull sound to the floor. Priscilla had gone back to sleep again... for several more years.
***
Nebraska jerked up from sitting up in bed. Her eyes filled with tears and both Litus and Hades who were with her were aware of what had happened. She had filled them in.
The queen rushed out of the room followed by her husband in the direction of where they knew their daughter would be, along with Layan. Litus stayed in the room, this was not a time where he should be, his part would come later.
As she opened the door, the image she saw made her stagger and Hades had to be quick enough to hold her so that she didn't collapse on the floor, her face bathed in tears. He held her in his arms in a comforting embrace keeping her from crying as well. Before them stood Layan, standing in the middle of the room, in his arms cradling Priscilla's body as he buried his face in her hair, crying uncontentedly. He had not lost his companion, but he felt he had failed her.
Two days had passed since the event. The news that Priscilla had fallen back into a deep sleep spread like rain. Victore and Kei didn't know how to apologize to their alpha for having allowed her to enter along with him. Layan didn't blame them, after all they weren't to blame and Priscilla would have found a way to go with him, obstacles or no obstacles.
They were now at the entrance to the ice cave, where years ago they had left a very puppyish Priscilla. Before going to that destination they had met Leoxi and Nebraska's other four children to say goodbye to her for the time being. Noa and Alan had cried, as Nebraska had expected, only Rodrigo and Nicolas remained as passive as possible to the situation. Nebraska had had to return with them to the herd while Hades accompanied Litus, Layan and his daughter to their destination.
Hades was carrying his daughter at the time leaving a kiss on her forehead. She might have grown up too fast, but she was still his cub, stubborn and beautiful, just like her mother. With a pained smile he placed a kiss on her forehead.
-I'll be waiting for you, my princess,- he said with stinging eyes. He had NOT cried in front of anyone, but if it is secret, even from Nebraska, though he well knew she had found out, their connection was deep.
-Alpha, it's time,- Litus appeared in front of him. That cavern was so cold that a wolf couldn't go long without freezing to death unless he was precisely the alpha of the ice pack.
Hades nodded and knew it was time to say goodbye, to let her go. So he turned to find Layan. Hades was reluctant to let go of his daughter's sleeping body wrapped in a thick blanket, but procrastinating would only be more painful. So he let the red-haired alpha carry her in his arms.
Layan, feeling the weight of his mate pulled her tight against him and lowered his head leaving a quick kiss on her lips. They didn't move, but her face was so peaceful that it was pitiful to wake her up. She was sleeping peacefully.
-Alpha Layan, let's go,- Litus motioned for her to enter and she did so behind him.
The place was freezing cold, so cold that breathing was difficult. To think that his pup had been there alone for so many years. With no one by her side.
After several meters they stopped in front of a small crystal clear pond. The water was so clear that they could see the dark bottom far at the end.
-This is it,- said Litus, standing to one side.
-The time has come,- he gasped, pulling Priscilla tighter against him.
He ordered his body to move and get closer to the shore where he could feel the cold coming from the water. He looked at Litus still hesitantly, as if there was still some way, but the twin alpha shook his head. That was the only alternative. It was the only way for her powers to stabilize and thus guarantee her life.
And with that thought and even though it hurt like nothing else in the world he knelt down with trembling hands.
-Priscilla,- he said with his lips against her cheek, -You are my she-wolf, my mate, my queen. I'll be waiting for you until you wake up. Come running to me as soon as you open your eyes- he hugged her against him enveloping her in his pheromones and left a final kiss on her lips.
Opening his arms with regret he slowly left Priscilla's body on the water's edge and it slowly submerged. Losing herself in the depth of the water until the surface froze trapping her wolf inside.