Chapter 138 138
Venessa’s POV
“That is why I haven’t killed you, my darling Venessa,” she said softly. “There is a way for both of you to win if you join my side. I won’t replace your lives with mine, but you will serve me. Many who serve me do not carry my life force within them. Serve me, and I will appease the underworld on your behalf so you may live a full life. Atabey’s life force may fade, but I will grant you a new one. You will bear children, grow old beside your mate, take revenge on those who hurt you and you will be happy.”
I stared at her.
In that moment, the offer was tempting.
The time frame given to me felt like a ticking bomb lodged in my chest impossible to ignore, impossible to escape. Atabey would let me die once my time ran out. And then what?
“Join me now, my child,” she urged, “and I will spare you and your husband. Serve me, and I will reward you as I have rewarded all who stand with me.”
A thought slipped quietly into my mind.
I remembered every person I had encountered under her influence. Every battle. Every victory. Every death. She claimed I would not share their fate but deception was her greatest weapon. I knew she was lying.
The question tore at me: should I reject this chance and die… or accept it and survive?
But then I remembered the future Atabey had shown me and I looked at what Eshera had already done to my world. I understood then that I could not let her win.
Even if I would not live to see it, Denzel would. Our children would. Everyone innocent or guilty deserved life. Deserved choice.
Eshera wanted to take that from them.
I could not allow it.
I swallowed my pain, my longing, my bitterness, and reached deep within myself. This was no longer about me. I had to be a leader. A soldier. I had to fight for freedom, for life, for my people.
I called inward, past the fear, past the grief, and summoned Atabey.
“I will not fight for you today,” I said aloud, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “You will prove how much you want to win this how much you want to save us by overcoming your weakness to silver, by taking control and saving both my life and Denzel’s. If you do not emerge, I will join your enemy to salvage what little remains of the life I was robbed of by your design.”
I meant every word.
I looked at Denzel. He stood naked in his human form, eyes pleading, helpless without his wolf. We couldn’t link cut off by the silver dust saturating the air. We were utterly alone.
“What is your decision?” the woman asked, stepping back.
I stayed silent, buying Atabey time. This was her battle now not mine. If she wanted my loyalty, she would have to earn it.
I sat down slowly, watching the woman’s patience fray. When I felt nothing heard nothing I decided I would switch sides. Someone else would have to carry the fight.
I drew breath to speak.
And then
Power surged through me.
Light exploded from within, brilliant and blinding, flooding every part of my body. I turned sharply to Denzel and he was glowing too, wrapped in the same radiant force. The attackers recoiled, stumbling back as the light pushed them away.
“Run,” Denzel said, gripping my hand.
We ran together, the light shielding us, making us untouchable. Snarls and furious growls echoed behind us the corrupted Lycans raging as they realized they had lost.
Atabey had answered.
The moment we cleared the forest, the light vanished. Something within me went quiet fell asleep.
“Nyla,” I called.
No response.
Denzel, weak but determined, lifted me into his arms and carried me toward the jeep. We were naked, exposed, but it didn’t matter. Silver poisoned our systems we needed help immediately.
He helped me into the vehicle, and we drove.
At the hospital, Denzel carried me inside, still holding me close. Blood streamed from his nose, dark circles hollowed his eyes, yet he refused to falter. I knew I looked the same I could feel the warmth running down my own face.
Gasps followed us as staff rushed forward.
“Put me in the same room as my wife,” I heard Denzel demand as they moved us onto stretchers.
“Get Dr. Dwayne,” I forced out, my voice cracking. “There’s silver in our bloodstream… silver in the air.”
That was all I had left.
They rushed us away. The world blurred at the edges, but it didn’t matter. We were alive. We were safe.
It was enough.
I welcomed the darkness as it claimed me, surrendering to it as my body fought to purge the poison. I drifted into deep sleep, trusting that we would wake again.