46

Diego's POV

I focused on her trail, trying to push aside any pain I felt. In my mind, there was only one goal, to protect Nova and our baby. There was no room for doubt or fear.

After nearly twenty minutes of running, we reached the edge of Scarlet Ridge. Thick fog hung there, and I could see a figure in a thin cloak standing at the cliff's edge, her shoulders trembling, as if she were crying.

“Nova…” I whispered.

I walked slowly, raising my hand to signal my team to stay back. As I got closer, my footsteps rustled the leaves, and Nova immediately turned to look at me. Her face was wet with tears, her eyes wide in shock. But before I could speak, the ground behind her cracked, and a low growl echoed from below the cliff.

She had awakened it.

Damn.

Instinct kicked in.

I ran, grabbing Nova's hand and pulling her back roughly. “Are you crazy?!”

She didn’t answer, only sobbing, her body trembling with fear.

From the open crevice in the ground, two red eyes glowed, staring at us with an ancient hatred that couldn’t be explained. I stood in front of Nova, shielding her with my body, even as the creature began to rise.

My team started to surround the area, but I knew this wasn’t a battle that could be won with sheer strength. All of this happened because of Nova. She was the reason behind every step I took, every decision I made.

As much as I hated to admit it, one thing was clear, I wouldn’t let anyone, not even a monster from the depths, touch her. Not now. Not while she was mine.

The tension in the air intensified. My team prepared, but I felt panic rising within me. This plan wasn’t just about physical strength, it was about protecting something more valuable than my own life.

From a distance, I could see the silhouette of the creature moving, its power terrifying.

I clenched my jaw as the creature began to rise, its shadow growing among the fog. Its breath was heavy, hot, and carried the stench of ancient, buried earth. Scarlet Ridge held darkness that no one should touch, and now Nova, with all her explosive emotions, had touched it.

She had opened something that was meant to remain locked. In an instant, I felt a vibration of power flowing, penetrating the ground and seeping into my skin. There was something dangerous, something threatening to unleash horrors that had long been buried.

The darkness seemed alive, moving shadows around me. The creature, with all its wisdom and strength, appeared to be the guardian of a very ancient secret. Yet, Nova was unaware of the danger she had brought.

I had to act quickly. In my heart, I vowed to protect her, no matter what happened. With each heartbeat, I felt the tension rising. As the creature lifted its head, its eyes shone sharply, as if piercing my soul.

There was no turning back. The darkness was beginning to creep in, and I had to face whatever came next for Nova. She was my hope, and I wouldn’t let her be destroyed by a force we couldn’t control.

Nova was still behind me, her breath quick, her body trembling. I could feel her fear, but also her guilt. I knew she didn’t mean to do this. But in our world, good intentions were never enough.

“Nova,” I said softly, still looking toward the cracked crevice that now glowed red. “You need to go back to the castle. Right now.”

She shook her head. “I—I can’t… I don’t know… I just wanted to leave…”

“I know.” I turned halfway to see her tear-streaked face filled with guilt. “But you’ve awakened it. And that means you have to live to fix it.”

Nova looked at me, her eyes widening in fear, but there was something else there, something that made my chest feel heavy. She trusted me, even though I wasn’t sure I was trustworthy.

The creature finally emerged completely. It stood twice my height, wolf-like, with skin as hard as stone. Its eyes glowed like hellfire. This was an ancient being, leftover from a time before the Alpha, a time when blood and darkness were one.

The darkness enveloped us, and the atmosphere was tense. I felt a cold breeze, carrying the damp and earthy scent. Every step the creature took shook the ground, creating vibrations that penetrated my soul. Fear enveloped me, yet beneath it was a sense of responsibility that pushed my feet forward.

As the creature approached, I could feel the power and wisdom flowing from it. It wasn’t just a monster, it was the guardian of ancient secrets, a symbol of long-forgotten strength. In silence, we observed each other, two different worlds colliding in a tense moment.

“Diego…” Joseph stepped closer, breathless. “We can’t face it head-on.”

“I know,” I said flatly. “But we can hold it back. Long enough for Nova to be safe.”

I called forth my wolf form completely. My bones shifted quickly, muscles stretched, and my black fur fluffed up, my body growing into its full shape. The anger inside me burned as the energy from the Moon Goddess flowed through my veins.

The power surged, strengthening every fiber of my being. I felt the wolf instinct rise, awakening the urge to protect. Inside me, fear and responsibility wrestled, but one thing was clear, I would not back down.

Joseph stood beside me, his face tense. He understood how dangerous the situation was, but we had no other choice. We had to face this creature and hold back the encroaching darkness.

With shining eyes, I stared at the creature. The darkness around it seemed to grow darker.

The creature growled, raising its arm, creating a ripple of dark power that shook the ground. Before it could attack, I leaped and charged directly at its chest, hitting it with all my strength.

The impact jarred my bones.

My team joined the fight, even though we knew this wasn’t an ordinary enemy. Blood spilled onto the ground, the mist starting to turn pink. But I didn’t care.

As long as Nova was safe, I could fight.

Moments later, the creature let out a roar of pain and retreated back into the gaping crevice, as if realizing it wasn’t strong enough yet. Or perhaps it was just issuing a warning.

The crevice slowly closed, leaving behind cracked earth and silence.

I reverted to my human form, my body smeared with blood and wounds. My steps wavered as I walked toward Nova, who was sitting, sobbing on the roots of a large tree.

“Do you see what almost happened?” I asked, my tone cold despite my heavy breath.

She nodded, unable to speak.

I sighed deeply, crouching in front of her.

“You can’t just run away, Nova. Our world doesn’t forgive.”

“I didn’t know…” she whispered. “I just wanted to know the truth about my family, about who I am.”

I stared into her tired eyes, filled with pain and doubt.

And for the first time, I wondered.

Could it be that Nova had unintentionally drawn all of this into my life?

Or was she truly part of a much larger destiny?

Maybe Marian was right.

Maybe Nova wasn’t just the wife I rejected but the key to everything.

Damn.