Eternally Bound: Chapter 54: Past Never Dies
Eva
I wake with a gasp, my body drenched in sweat, the vision of Astaroth and Raven still seared into my mind like a brand. The image of the white wolf, its fur matted with blood, its eyes locking with mine, is more than a warning. It’s a connection. My heart hammers against my ribs, each beat a reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows. I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t just about Sam or me anymore. It’s about something deeper, something they want to tear from us.
I sit up, the sheets sliding off my bare skin, and the chill of the room wraps around me like a cold embrace. My fingers tremble as I rub my temples, trying to ground myself in the present. The moonlight filters through the curtains, casting long, eerie shadows on the walls. I can’t stay here, not when every second feels like a countdown. I swing my legs over the side of the bed, my feet touching the icy floor, and wrap a robe around myself. The weight of it does little to ease the unease settling in my gut.
The living room is bathed in the soft glow of the fireplace, its flickering light casting an amber hue over the gathered figures. Sam sits on the couch, his broad shoulders tense, his eyes dark with worry. Vincent and Vlad stand by the window, their voices low, their bodies coiled like predators. Eric perches on the arm of a chair, his bright blue eyes fixed on me, his expression unreadable. Brandon leans against the wall, arms crossed, his usual sarcasm replaced by a grim silence. And then there’s Bael, sitting in the center of it all, his presence commanding, his deep blue eyes piercing through the shadows.
“Eva,” Sam says, his voice rough with concern. “You’re up. Are you okay?”
I shake my head, my throat tight. “I had a vision. Astaroth and Raven. They’re planning to kill a white wolf.” The words feel heavy, like lead in my mouth. I see the tension in their faces, the worry in their eyes. They know what this means. The white wolf—it could be me or worse, Sam’s child that I carry. Guinevere reborn.
“A white wolf?” Vincent asks, his voice low, his brow furrowed. “Are you sure?”
I nod, my hands clenching into fists. “I’m sure. It was... clear. Like I was there, watching it happen. The wolf’s eyes—they met mine. It felt... personal.”
Vlad’s sharp features tighten. “This changes things. If they’re targeting a white wolf, it could be a trap. A way to draw you out. They don’t know about the babies. They only know that you can transform into a white wolf.
“Or it could be a message,” Eric adds, his tone calm but his eyes intense. “A warning. They want us to know they’re coming. They want us to fear, but they showed you their target. Sam isn’t white, so their sights are now on his mate, you.”
I look at Bael, my gaze steady. He’s been quiet, his expression unreadable, but I can feel his eyes on me, weighing me, analyzing me. “Bael,” I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “Do you know anything about this? About Astaroth or Raven and their connection to a white wolf? Do they have a history with you?”
For a moment, he doesn’t answer, his gaze dropping to the floor. When he looks up, there’s a darkness in his eyes, a shadow I’ve never seen before. “They do,” he says finally, his voice low and gravelly. “A long one.”
My heart skips a beat. “What kind of history?”
Bael hesitates, his jaw tightening. “It’s... complicated. Astaroth and I were once allies. Long ago. Before I met you.”
“Allies?” Sam repeats, his voice sharp. “What the hell does that mean? Were they after you, too?”
Bael’s gaze flickers to Sam, then back to me. “Not exactly. We had a common enemy once. But that was centuries ago. Things... changed.”
“Changed how?” I press, my patience wearing thin. “Bael, we need to know. Every detail matters.”
He sighs, running a hand through his long dark hair, the firelight catching the strands like threads of midnight. “Astaroth and I... we had a falling out. Over a woman and a man. It turned ugly. Very ugly. Raven was this woman’s... protégée. The woman disappeared, and the man whom Astaroth was obsessed with blamed her. He saw how close she was to Raven because I showed him. When he chose me over Astaroth, she swore vengeance. Against both of us.”
Vincent scoffs, his arms crossing over his chest. “So this is all because of some lover’s quarrel?”
Bael’s eyes flash with anger, his voice cutting through the room like a knife. “It’s not just a lover’s quarrel, Vincent. It’s a centuries-old feud. Astaroth and Raven are not just enemies. They’re obsessed. And now, they’ve set their sights on you, Eva. On all of us. I imprisoned Astaroth after she and Raven killed all of those people, including Guinivere, but it looks like they aren’t done yet. I don’t know if they are just after Eva or anyone who could resurrect the original white wolf.”
The room falls silent, the weight of his words settling over us like a shroud. I feel a surge of fear, but I push it down, forcing myself to think clearly. “I don’t know how I could resurrect that guy. I don’t know how I am doing any of this. All I know is that I want peace and our children not to have to fight to survive. So, what do we do? How do we stop them?”
Sam stands, his muscles coiling like a spring, his voice resolute. “We fight. We don’t wait for them to come to us. We find them, and we end this before they can hurt anyone else.”
“It’s not that simple,” Eric says, his voice calm but firm. “We don’t know where they are. Or what they’re capable of. We need a plan. More than just using Morgan and Agnes and having Brandon hand them over.”
“A plan,” Branden mutters, his lips curling into a bitter smile. “Because that’s worked so well for us so far.”
I ignore his sarcasm, my mind racing. “Bael, you said Astaroth and Raven are obsessed. What does that mean? What are they after besides power?”
Bael’s gaze meets mine, his expression grim. “Power. Revenge. And you, Eva. They want to break you. To take what’s most precious to you.”
My heart clenches at his words, the fear I’ve been trying to suppress bubbling to the surface. “Me? Why me?”