Eternally Bound, Chapter 57 Part 2
Eva
"We’re ready," Bael says, his voice steady, his presence a pillar of strength. He puts his arms around me. “We have found something worth dying for. We’ll do whatever it takes."
The White Wolf nods, a faint smile playing on his lips, though it doesn’t reach his eyes. "Then follow me. But be warned—the path ahead is not for the faint of heart." I sent Pehket’s warning to my mates through our link. Something is off about this White Wolf. He seems to have lost all humanity. Is that the effect of the darkness or something else?
With that, he turns and melts into the shadows, leaving us to follow. The forest seems to shift and change around us, the air growing thicker, the silence more oppressive. I feel a sense of foreboding, a weight settling in my chest, but I push it aside. We’ve come too far to turn back now.
As we delve deeper into the forest, the White Wolf leads us to a clearing bathed in an otherworldly light. In the center stands an ancient tree, its branches reaching toward the sky like a plea for salvation, its roots buried deep in the earth, a symbol of endurance and strength.
"This is where we’ll make our stand," the White Wolf says, his voice echoing through the clearing, his presence commanding attention. "But first, you must prove yourselves worthy."
"How?" I ask, my voice steady despite the trepidation in my heart, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.
The White Wolf’s gaze locks onto mine, his eyes burning with an intensity that makes my breath catch. "You must face your darkest fears, your deepest desires. Only then can you hope to defeat Astaroth."
Before I can respond, the world around us shifts. The clearing dissolves, and I find myself standing alone in a vast, empty void. The air is cold, the silence absolute, a void that seems to stretch on forever. And then, I see them—visions of my greatest fears.
I see my lovers, torn apart by Astaroth’s minions, their bodies lifeless on the ground, their faces frozen in masks of agony. I see my unborn children, their cries silenced before they’re even born, their tiny bodies cold and still. I see the world in ruins, the balance shattered, chaos reigning supreme, the realms consumed by darkness.
Tears stream down my face as I face these visions, my heart aching with a pain I’ve never known, a grief that threatens to consume me. But as I stand there, trembling, a voice echoes through the void, a voice that is both familiar and distant.
"Face your fears, Eva. Only then can you overcome them."
I take a deep breath, steeling myself, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. I will not let fear control me. I will not let Astaroth win. With a fierce cry, I push the visions aside, my divine power surging through me like a tidal wave, my will unyielding. The void begins to shatter, the darkness receding as light floods in, a beacon of hope in the despair.
And when it’s over, I find myself back in the clearing, my companions gathered around me, their faces filled with a mix of concern and awe. Their eyes search mine, seeking reassurance, seeking strength. “Everything is fine,” I reply with a faint smile.
Sam chuckles. “You owe the jar.”
I laugh. “I will gladly pay this time. I needed to know that I have the power to change fate. I am bound to fate.” I look around. “We are eternally bound to fate, so let’s make it one worth enduring for eternity.”
"You’ve faced your fears," the White Wolf says, his voice soft but filled with respect, his gaze unwavering. "Now, it’s time to face Astaroth."
He steps forward, his hands outstretched, his presence both inviting and daunting. "Take my power, Eva. Use it to strip Astaroth of hers. But be warned—this power comes with a price."
I hesitate, my mind racing, my heart pounding in my chest. What is the price? What will it cost me to wield such power? The thought terrifies me, but I know I have no choice. Suddenly, Raven’s words come back to haunt me. “You’ll pay.” Fuck! She was right. But for love, I would pay any price over and over again. "What is it?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, my hands trembling as I reach out to take his.
The White Wolf’s gaze is steady, his expression unreadable, his eyes burning with an intensity that makes my breath catch. "A piece of your soul. A part of yourself that you’ll never get back."
I take a deep breath, my heart pounding, my mind reeling at the cost. But as I look at my mates, at the men who stand beside me, ready to face whatever comes, I know I have no choice. Their faces are my anchor, their strength my resolve. "I’ll do it," I say, stepping forward, my voice steady, my resolve unshakable. "Give me your power."
The White Wolf nods, his hands closing over mine, his touch both warm and cold, a paradox that sends a shiver down my spine. A surge of energy flows through me, a power unlike anything I’ve ever felt. It’s raw, primal, and it burns like fire in my veins, a force that threatens to consume me. "Use it wisely," the White Wolf warns, his voice a low rumble, his eyes burning into mine. "And remember—once it’s done, there’s no going back."
I nod, my resolve unwavering, my heart pounding with determination. "I won’t let you down."
With that, the White Wolf steps back, his form beginning to fade, his presence lingering like a ghost. "Find me when it’s over. We’ll settle our debt then." And with that, he’s gone, leaving us alone in the clearing, the weight of what we’ve done settling over us like a shroud. I turn to my mates, my heart filled with determination, my mind racing with the implications of what I’ve just done.