Chapter 37 Grumpy giant alpha;
The tense atmosphere in the room was suddenly broken by Elly's moan. Joe held her a little tighter. Gently stroking her face, he whispered softly:
"Eleanor... if you can hear me, I'm here. I'm by your side."
It was as if he was suffering along with her, and though Eva couldn't make sense of it until now, she had always felt Joe's emotions. Now she understood them, knowing they came from the same mother. This way, she had come to better understand Joe's love for Elly.
Elly, meanwhile, was drenched in sweat. Her eyelids were trembling, and the seal on her arm was becoming increasingly prominent, spreading across her skin. It pulsed as if it were alive, and with each throb, the young woman's body convulsed.
Eva immediately crouched beside her. She realized her consciousness was still not intact. Then she raised her head and looked at the ceiling. The runes were still glowing with blue lights.
And everyone was thinking the same thing:
Someone had spilled blood. This was a clear sign that danger was approaching.
They no longer had the luxury of delay.
Eva turned her gaze to Joe.
"Joe, you need to take the trial. Become an alpha or don't... you were sent here for a reason. Maybe Homay has something to show you. A sign."
Joe shook his head firmly. The gray rings in his eyes had become more prominent.
"No. I'm not leaving Eleanor in this state to go anywhere," he growled.
Kael's hoarse growl also interjected.
"And I don't want anything done to help this bad blood become an alpha," he said.
Eva turned her eyes to him. An expression that tested her patience appeared on her face.
"Really, Kael? Aren't you acting a bit too childish for a two-hundred-year-old wolf?"
Kael shrugged with an indifferent manner.
"He's a bad blood. He'll stab us in the back the moment he gets the chance. We're better off without him. Let's get out of here," he said.
Joe was barely even hearing him. All his attention was on Elly.
Eva pointed to Elly.
"Are you aware? Elly is not herself. How do you plan to take her in this state?"
Kael crossed his arms over his chest. An indifferent smile settled on his handsome face.
"I'm strong enough to carry you both, darling. Come on, let's take them and go," he said, walking toward Elly.
The moment he reached out his arm toward Elly, Joe suddenly appeared in front of him. His teeth were bared, his claws extended. The gray rings in his eyes glowed threateningly.
Kael, however, was still relaxed. He leaned down and whispered in a low voice:
"Look at me, you little fierce pup. Do you think you can stand against an alpha? I'll tear you into twelve pieces right here," he laughed with a snarl through his teeth.
His words dripped with venom.
Eva was now tired of this tension. She stepped between the two of them.
"No one is tearing anyone apart here today. But if you keep testing my patience... I'll tear you both apart before you even realize your limbs are coming off," she shouted.
Kael knew this wasn't a threat. Eva's power could actually do it. So he slowly backed away.
Joe, however, was still snarling with clenched teeth.
Finally, purple flames appeared at Eva's fingertips. She lightly touched Joe's chest. Suddenly an invisible force hurled him away; he hit the wall and stayed there.
Joe couldn't even understand what had happened.
Eva spoke in a calm but stern voice:
"Look at me, crazy wolf. Theoretically, you're considered my brother. That's why my powers are twice as effective on you. I think the one who should be afraid... is not the giant alpha behind you, but you," she said. Despite her small body, she was intimidating both of these large men.
Joe's ears dropped. His snarl softened; he almost grumbled to himself like an injured puppy. "Okay, okay, I'll behave!"
Eva took a deep breath.
It was time to take action.
Eva positioned herself directly in line with the rune on the ceiling and sat down. It couldn't be said that she knew exactly what to do. Most of her old abilities had returned, but her memories and consciousness were still fragmented; it was as if there were missing pages in her mind.
She closed her eyes. She opened her palms. Only a whisper fell from her lips:
"What should I do, Homay? Guide me..."
After a while, she felt a gentle warmth enveloping her body. It rose first from her ankles, then reached her knees, her chest, her neck. It pulsed like a heartbeat at her temples.
Kael and Joe watched her silently. Their astonishment was readable on their faces. Because the warmth Eva was feeling appeared from the outside as purple flames. The flames had completely enveloped her; someone watching from afar might truly think she was burning.
But the peaceful expression on her face showed that this wasn't harming her, that it was a divine calling.
Kael was cautious. Just outside the circle, he waited with his claws out. He was ready for any possibility. He couldn't allow anything to happen to Eva. She... was the only reality in his life. The only person he had to protect.
After a while, the purple flames reached the rune on the ceiling. The rune trembled. Then it dissolved like mist and began to slowly descend.
Right then, Joe noticed something. A purplish light... as if it was calling to him.
Without even realizing it, he took a few steps. He approached the rock wall. A symbol he hadn't been able to see before had appeared on the wall.
He reached out his hand. The moment he placed his palm on the symbol, the rune seemed to come alive. Fine thorns emerged and pierced into his palm.
Joe drew in his breath slightly. It hurt, but he didn't pull back. He could endure it.
The blood seeping from his palm began to fill the lines of the symbol. Dark red traces spread across the surface of the wall.
Then... his head began to spin.
His vision blurred. His knees gave way. He collapsed to the ground like a large sack.
The rune in his palm was still glowing.
Right at that moment, Eva emerged from her trance state. She opened her eyes. First she saw Joe on the ground. Then immediately beside her, Kael waiting on alert.
Kael went to Eva's side as soon as she opened her eyes.
"Darling... are you okay? Nothing happened to you, right?" he asked. His concern was evident on his face.
Eva leaned toward him. She lightly rubbed her nose against his, with a calm smile:
"I'm fine. No problem," she said. Then her eyes turned to Joe lying on the ground. "And I think Joe has entered his trial too."
Kael's face took on that familiar, sulky alpha expression again.
"I hope Homay finishes this business quickly, rejects him, and this nonsense comes to an end."
Eva laughed involuntarily.
Kael raised his eyebrows.
"What? Don't laugh," he muttered. With his furrowed brows, he really did look funny right now.
"What else should I do but laugh?" Eva said. "You look incredibly sulky right now."
The corner of Kael's lip curled.
"So I look funny... But I don't think you've laughed enough."
He suddenly grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to himself.
"Then let me make you laugh a bit more."
Eva's giggles echoed in the room. The gloomy atmosphere created by the flames and runes softened for a moment.
Then Eva smiled looking at his face, but the joy in her eyes slowly gave way to worry.
"Do you think... Elly and Joe will both be okay?"
Kael's answer was unhesitating. He knew well how to hide his own inner doubts; especially when Eva was concerned.
"They will be. They're both strong," he said. Then his voice softened.
"And we... we're getting married tonight. You'll celebrate Christmas night in my arms, my beautiful darling."
Eva's heart warmed at those words.
Even though darkness grew outside, the Christmas fire had begun to burn inside. And that fire, despite everything, carried hope...