Chapter 102: I carry Kieran's child

Chapter 102: I carry Kieran's child
As Gwendolyn started to reach out to grab the dagger, Julian pulled her into his arms. 

She stiffened against him as his hands lowered to her waist. Then he buried his face in the curve of her neck and sighed. 

"I can't believe you're mine again." He whispered. "I thought I lost you to that hybrid. I thought it was the end."

He pulled back and cupped her face. 

"I always knew nothing would ever come between us. We were meant to be together. The moon goddess must have made a mistake pairing you with him."

"You know you can say his name." Gwendolyn said. "He won't be coming between us ever again. Mentioning his name wouldn't change that."

"I don't want a reminder of him. Whenever I think back to that night he put his hands on you, I get so angry and enraged. You're mine, Gwen."

He turned her head to the side suddenly. When he saw the mark, his expression darkened. 

"He had the guts to mark you." He snarled. "We'll have to take care of that."

Gwendolyn's eyes widened. "Julian, that's not necessary."

"Yes it is." Julian snapped. "I don't want another man's mark on you. I will mark you tonight. You'll be my chosen mate."

He suddenly leaned forward, pushing his face into hers. She instantly pushed him back. 

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to kiss you. Now that you're mine, you can't reject my touch again, can you?"

He forced his lips on hers, his grip tight and painful around her jaw. 

A surge of disgust rose within Gwendolyn and she shoved him away. 

"Julian, stop! You can't force yourself on me."

"Force myself? I have every right to kiss you. You're mine now, remember?"

"Then wait until I'm ready."

He rose suddenly, his face twisted into a scowl. "Until you're ready? Was that what you told him when he tried to fuck you? I bet you gladly opened your legs for him..."

Gwendolyn rose up swiftly and slapped him. Her eyes were furious as she glared at him. 

"I will not tolerate such disrespect from you. Don't forget I am still your princess, your Alpha and heir to earth realm pack."

"The earth realm pack is no more."

"I don't care!" She snapped. "You will treat me with respect, Julian. At least Kieran respected me."

Hearing his name in her mouth, Julian's mood darkened. He grabbed the dagger and turned away, heading back to the carcass slowly roasting over the fire. 

Gwendolyn lowered back to the floor and sighed. Her mind was jumbled up as she thought of different ways to escape. 

First, she needed the key to the Khaldron. Second, Julian had to die. 

She wished she didn't have to kill him, but it was the only way. His obsession for her had grown darker, so dark that he wouldn't mind hurting her.

Tears brimmed in her eyes when she thought about Kieran. She missed him so much it hurt. He could be anywhere, searching for her. She needed to find him. 

She looked towards Julian who was crouched close to the fire. Smoke surrounded him, seeping out slowly through the window in the corner. If she wanted to act, now was the time. 

She carefully rose to her feet and walked towards him, silently putting one foot in front of the other.

Julian was preoccupied with turning the carcass over in the fire, so he didn't hear her approach. 

Gwendolyn's heart pounded wildly as she moved closer. She was now a few meters away from the dagger. All she needed to do was pick it up, harden her heart and stab him... then retrieve the key to the Khaldron. 

She dived for the dagger suddenly, but Julian already sensed her presence. He grabbed it before she could reach it and shot to his feet. 

"It appears I can't trust you after all." He muttered darkly. "I had good plans for you, Gwen. I thought we already settled our differences."

"You can't keep me imprisoned here, Julian."

He smiled suddenly and took a threatening step towards her. 

"I can. And I will."

As he lunged at her, Gwendolyn sidestepped, watching him fly past her and crash to the ground. Next she pulled out a piece of burning wood from the fire and faced him. 

Julian rose to his feet and pointed the dagger at her. 

"Gwen, put it down."

"Give me the Khaldron's key." Gwendolyn shot back. "You and I know you don't stand a chance when it comes to combat. I might not have my wolf, but I will fight you. So give me the key. Now!"

"You'll have to kill me to get it. And I know you wouldn't do that. You don't have the mind to kill me, Gwen."

"You underestimate me." She snapped. "I will kill you if that's what I have to do. I have nothing to lose. You've changed Julian. You've become a soulless monster. You're willing to force yourself on me when you know I can never return those feelings. My heart belongs to another."

Julian's face darkened. He gripped the dagger tightly as he shifted halfway. Sharp claws pushed out of his hand, and his canines emerged. 

"Then I'll take out that heart." He vowed. "I will kill you, right here, right now. I'd rather you die than go back to that bastard!"

"You wouldn't kill me, Julian. You can't."

"You think so? It's just like you said earlier. I have nothing to lose."

"You wouldn't kill a pregnant woman." The words left Gwendolyn's mouth before she could stop herself. 

Julian appeared confused for a moment. Then his eyes widened and lowered to her stomach. His jaw dropped, and the expression on his face cracked. 

"You're pregnant?" He whispered. "Medea was right? You carry his child?"

Gwendolyn took a step back, holding out the burning stick. Her other hand rested protectively on her stomach. 

"Yes, Julian. I carry Kieran's child. Future heir to Nightshade pack. And I swear by the goddess, I will do everything in me to protect it, even if it means destroying you."

Julian was visibly shaking now. He dropped the dagger and fell to one knee. His eyes transformed into the colour of his wolf, and he started to shift. 

"I will rip that thing out of you." He growled, his voice low and guttural. 

The crunching sound of bones filled the air as he slowly transformed into a large brown lycan, growing deep in its throat. 

Gwendolyn flattened against the wall behind her, her mind racing. The key to the Khaldron was around Julian's lycan neck, attached to a string, and beside him was the dagger. 

A plan suddenly formulated in her mind. As the lycan roared and leaped at her, she rolled out of the way. She crawled forward, urged by her survival instincts. 

Her grip closed around the dagger just as the lycan grabbed her leg and viciously dragged her back. His claws dug into her flesh and she screamed as bright hot pain shot up her leg. 

She twisted her body until she was free, then jumped to her feet and bolted out the door. 

The forest seemed unfamiliar as she ran. There was no path. She crashed through the brush, dragging her injured leg forward, leaving a trail of blood behind her. 

Suddenly the lycan crashed into her. She fell heavily, striking her head on the ground. She saw stars, and teetered on the brink of unconsciousness. 

As the lycan lifted her, she turned around with a savage scream and plunged the dagger into its shoulder. Then grabbed the key and ripped it off. 

The lycan roared, flinging her away. It pulled out the dagger and charged forward again. 

Gwendolyn's fingers shook as she unlocked the Khaldron and flung it away. Suddenly black fog spilled out of her body. 

She stopped the lycan's advance, wrapping both her hands around its furry neck. The black fog swirled faster, surrounding them both. 

In that split second, Julian's eyes filled with terror as realization dawned on him. He was going to die. 

\[Gwen...\] His voice echoed in her head, terrified, shaken. 

"Goodbye, Julian." She whispered in a broken voice. 

Slowly, Julian's lycan form dissolved completely, leaving a mass of blood and melted bones on the ground.