Chapter 19: Chapter Nineteen.

Jhelani's POV:

That night after Jace left, I was on my phone for a while, stalking the profiles of those three content creators for some thirst traps.

I watched the videos but I wasn't really watching them. My mind was reeling from everything that happened this evening.

The heated tension Damon and I shared, and then the way Jace appeared to comfort me in his own way, and even spent some more time with me at home. Making me laugh as we talked over small things that mattered a lot to me.

It felt good somehow. And I wondered why Jace didn't mind me kissing Damon. He didn't make a complaint about it, unlike the way other men would have.

I didn't realize when I drifted off to sleep in bed.

Maybe I shouldn't have slept at all. Because what came that night weren't the usual ones I had.

It deepened. Scarier than before. Terrifying my soul as I struggled to wake up from the nightmare.

I found myself standing in the middle of nowhere in a rainy forest wearing a bloodied-red dress, the blood mixing with the rainwater in the soil as I stood between three wolves, snarling.

My red hair glowed golden under the moonlight that hung on the horizon over the trees, the light flowing all the way down to my dress, and it felt like I was floating midair.

One of the wolves had grey fur with icy blue eyes, his strong paws hard on the soil as he growled at me.

"Leave, and never turn back," he said to me, hard-toned and final.

I got frightened.

How was I able to understand what he said to me?

How did I get there?

Why do I have bloodstains around me? Who did I kill?

Why is my hair glowing so bright?

Was I cursed, or is this nightmare playing a joke on me?

My mind ran with so many thoughts all at once.

"Why do I have to leave?! This Town has the heart of my mother and I am here to stay!" I retorted, swallowing my fear.

"Remember your promise, and don't go back on your words. You promised to leave if I fulfilled the dare. I did, so now do your part," he said in a manipulative voice. He wants me to leave but I can't. I won't leave without getting the answers I need.

Without putting an end to nightmares like this one. Without stopping those images that hunted me in broad daylight. Those eyes of a wolf. The kiss. The girl who got burnt to ashes with Packs of Wolves surrounding her like predators, judging her for ever existing.

"No. I won't. I won't leave until my mission is completed. And even if it is, here is my mother's land and I have every right to live in it. I committed no crime to be told to leave. I am going nowhere!" I said with every strength in me in one breath and voice.

I don't know what happened next, but then I materialized out of the forest, and where I found myself next was the place I dreaded most.

There were chanting drums around me, witches singing a voodoo song and then the wolves hitting their paws on the solid ground, syncing with the music as I walked into a burning fire.

My eyes were open but there was no soul in them. Almost like I didn't have a mind of my own. I just walked straight into the burning fire quietly, no looking back until I got in and caught up in flames.

The white dress I wore caught fire, shredding, burning, and the fire eating its way up my skin, hair, and everywhere else.

It was in that moment that I got myself back, and I began screaming in tears, crying for help, but it was too late. They threw more gasoline into the fire and it flared up. Burning until I was left with nothing.

"No, no, no, no. This can't be happening. Mom, please save me. Save me! Please!!" I cried out from my dream, and in that instant, I bolted up from the nightmare.

My chest was heaving, and my heart was beating, pounding so hard against my ribcage. I had to place my hand on my chest to help steady my breathing and my pumping heartbeat again.

Once better, I wiped at the beads of sweat on my forehead and face.

I glanced to the side and saw that the windows were still wide open, but somehow I was sweating and breathing fast.

It must be the dream. I thought, swinging my legs off the bed as I made my way to the balcony. Maybe some fresh air would help me feel better. I thought, sliding my feet into my flip-flops, rolling my hair up into a messy bun then I went outside.

The wind hit me right in the face, and I dragged in the fresh air. It was so cool and it helped me calm down a lot as I gripped the railings, my eyes shut for some seconds.

I snapped my eyes open when I heard a howl in the distance. It was loud and clear.

I would have thought I had mistook it or misheard it if it weren't for the fact that there was still this howling sound in the midnight. Like a signal. Like a call.

I felt my heart clench. I didn't know what to do.

Should I call Jace to come over or Mr. Ken? I need someone to comfort me right now before I lose my mind.

I was terrified, especially after having those horrific dreams about werewolves and myself. But this was the real world.

Wolves do not exist. Life isn't fiction where fictional creatures exist. I mumbled, trying to make myself believe the words I said. I didn't want to disturb my neighbor at this time of night, and calling Jace back here again...I wasn't sure about that.

Besides, I have never heard of anyone saying wolves existed or still exist.

I've never come across one before and I didn't wish to. I only read them in books, novels, stories, my mother whispered to me every night before bed, and it wasn't this terrifying when she spoke about them to me.

From what she said, she told me they were lovely creatures who were willing to do anything for their mate, Pack, and loved ones. They were protective, agile, intelligent, and knew perfectly when to use their strength, EQ, or their IQ.

The stories my mom read about them made me love them so much that I made a wish to God on one of my little birthdays as I blew out the candle on my cake. I wished to find a wolf who would love and protect me from the kids in my class who always bullied me.

It was a dumb wish, I know. But as a child, there was too little I knew. All I wanted to live was a fairytale dream.

Unfortunately, those wolves were now my greatest nightmare. I dreaded them.

They were what I badly wanted to get over with. I needed answers, but not only that. I needed solutions too. I can't keep having this dream every night. What if one time, I don't wake from them?

"No. No. No, this can't happen," I muttered, rubbing my hands over my face. That's just ridiculous.

It's just a dream. I thought to myself for the third time or so this night.

I saw something from the peripherals of my vision and whipped my head to it instantly.

Nothing.

There was nothing there. But when I looked straight ahead into the woods, I caught it.

A pair of golden eyes between tree trunks, watching me.

Then it vanished.

My heart skipped a beat.

What was that? I thought, my heart racing. Worried.

Then, it came again but in another spot in the woods, watching me intensely. My heart raced faster.

This is crazy.

But it felt like there was a pull, a voice in my head telling me to come. To go into the woods.

I didn't know when my legs began to move and I made my way out of the building, mindlessly walking down the road at night in my pajamas. A voice in my head is calling on me to come.

Come Jhelani. Come. Come to me. The voice sang like a melody.

And I did.

I went all the way through to the woods and when I finally got there, I was stunned. Frozen in shock.

"What the fuck? How did I get here?" Fear crept into my bones. This was getting way worse than I thought it could possibly be.

Did I walk into the woods at night out of curiosity, or is there something more to it?

Definitely, there's something more to it. The voice in my mind scolded. And all hell broke loose.

I was freaked out. I didn't know where to turn or where to run to.

The fucking woods had bunches of tree trunks in every angle and corner, and I stood in the middle of it all.

In the dark side of the woods, a shadow detached itself from the trees and filled the path.

Tall. Broad. Long lean lines of someone who could run down a deer and then sit beside me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The only thing I could see clearly was that he had a pair of brown eyes that were almost golden.

But no. I didn't have the leisure time for all that.

My legs moved, ready to make a run for my dear life, to find my way out of the woods.

I thought I was almost out, I could see the road not too far from here, but from nowhere, I was locked against a tree trunk in the woods.

His predatory frame towering over mine.

I shivered, too scared to look. I wanted to scream out but it felt like something was blocking my voice, stopping me from calling for attention. For some help.

When my eyes slowly drifted up, a sharp breath escaped my lips.

“Kian,” I whisper before I can stop myself.