Chapter 22 23
Chapter 24
ADRIANA CROSS
I shifted on the soft bed, my eyes fluttering open. It took me a second to recognize my surroundings and I was in the bedroom I shared with Dimitri. All at once everything that happened last night flashed through my mind. Zoey's death. And the ritual. I passed out, and I had no idea if the curse was broken… if Dimitri survived.
Fear clogged my throat as I got out of bed, noting I was in one of Dimitri's dress shirts. I was about to run out of the room when I noticed the movements outside through the window. I rushed closer, and to my relief, I saw Dimitri there. He was speaking with a group of wolves.
I glanced around and I noticed the coffins that were moved by warriors around. This only meant some wolves didn't survive last night's transformation. After the ritual was completed, everyone was expected to shift into their wolves. The transformation was going to be brutal, and they'd experience unbearable pain than they did the first time of their shift. Only those strong enough could survive.
Tears welled in my eyes at the thought of Zoey and this time I didn't fight the pain in my chest. I let the tears fall.
I gasped as I felt strong arms around me, and a wave of electrifying sensation traveled through my body.
“It feels like there's a hole in my heart. Zoey shouldn't have died like that,” I cried out, and Dimitri pulled me closer.
“She shouldn't. And I swear to the goddess, they'll pay for this. I wish I could tell you it's getting better, but you know as well, the pain of losing a loved one never truly heals,” He kissed my forehead. “But now we all are here for you. Always, Adriana,”
“And the curse?”
Dimitri sighed. “It's broken. Though many young wolves didn't survive the transformation,” He cupped my cheeks. “We're holding a funeral for our loved ones we lost last night. Maya, Talia, and Gemma have taken care of Zoey. I want her to be buried here in the pack, in the wolves’ cemetery. She may have been human but she was one of us,”
“I'd like that too,”
“We should shower and get dressed. The funeral is in an hour,”
Soon, Dimitri and I joined members of the pack that had gathered in the large cemetery. A lone tear slipped from my eyes as I saw my sister in a glass coffin dressed her so beautifully. I only wished Zoey had lived longer to enjoy everything she couldn't while growing up.
The funeral began, and I said my final goodbyes to my sister as she was lowered into the ground and covered up. Naya howled in pain, and I wondered if losing her would ever get better.
DIMITRI VALEQUEZ
The entire week after the funeral had been very busy for all of us. Each day was the same for everyone in the pack and those in our ally kingdom. Every warrior has been training intensively. It's been a week after the attack and however, there's been no word from Nikola.
Everyone has been on the lookout, we have no idea when it'll be or where it'll be but Nikola would be bringing a war to our doorstep and I had a feeling our pack would be the first to be attacked. But we were ready. Kings and Queens from the other magical kingdom too were ready with their army. To gain a higher chance of winning the war, we needed every resource we could get.
Slowly, I watched Adriana swim in the silver lake. She's been coming here every day and I have been coming to watch her. Zoey's death had hit her hard, and although she had been trying her best not to show it, Adriana was hurting badly. She stepped out of the water, wet and naked.
She had started to wear her clothes when she smiled. “Are you just going to stand there and watch me once again,” She turned to where I was standing, barely hiding against the tree. “It's the fifth time this week,”
“And I didn't think you noticed,” I came closer.
“Is it fun watching me swim?” She asked seductively, wrapping her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist.
I pushed her back against one of the trees. “You have no idea,” Instantly, I crashed my lips against hers, kissing her.
Adriana moaned, matching the movements of my lips before I pulled away, lost in her beautiful eyes.
She kissed my lips. “You are perfect,”
“And so are you,” I kissed her back, about to deepen it when suddenly, the alarm bell of the pack rang out in warning.
Fuck. The war has started.