What if I am worse than Yelda?
Eliza’s POV
The weight of their words pressed down on me, a heavy shroud of confusion and betrayal. “So Yelda really was just using me?” I managed to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper.
Suddenly, a cold chill swept through the room, making the candles flicker as if a draft had burst in from an unseen passage. My heart raced, recalling how Yelda fed off my power. Who knew how long that had been going on? I clenched my fists, but not out of anger; it was profound fear — fear of my own abilities and who might exploit them again.
“She was manipulating you, Princess Eliza,” Rylan said, his voice steady amidst the chaos of emotions swirling within me. “Crafting a façade that made you vulnerable. We recognized it just in time.”
“What did you do?” I confronted them, rising from my seat, the chair scraping painfully against the floor. “Did you hurt her? Did you kill her?”
“She’s not dead,” Rio interjected quickly, his brows knitted. “She’s sealed, but her spirit lingers—unbound and resentful. We don’t yet know what she might try to do next.”
My stomach plummeted at the thought. “You mean Yelda could be plotting from wherever she is? What if she’s coming back for me?”
Rylan’s expression darkened, the gravity of the situation seeping into the room. “That’s why you need to stay strong, Eliza. We have to train you—to help you become the white wolf you’re meant to be.”
“The white wolf,” I murmured, the title ringing strangely in my ears. “What does that even mean? And why does it matter if I can’t even trust my own instincts?”
“Because your instincts are tied to ancient magic,” Theron urged, his intensity tearing through my haze of confusion. “Your lineage runs deep. You have untapped power, and we must unlock it before Yelda attempts to manipulate that darkness again. You need to learn to wield it, not just contain it.”
The room suddenly felt stifling, the air thick with the tension of unspoken truths. “But what if I can’t control it?” I pressed, desperation lacing my words. “What if I’m worse than Yelda?”
Rylan drew closer, his eyes piercing but soft. “You won’t be. You have us, Eliza. You have your pack. Even if shadows remain, we’ll face them together. But we need you to believe in your own strength.”
A flicker of my old confidence sparked inside. I squared my shoulders; I wouldn’t be reduced to mere fear. “Fine. What do I need to do?”
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the open window, causing all heads to whip in its direction. A storm brewed outside, the sky darkening menacingly. “What was that?” I asked, my pulse quickening.
“Stay behind me,” Rylan commanded, instinctively positioning himself in front of me as he scanned the vicinity, the protective ferocity emanating from him palpable.
From the shadows emerged a figure, cloaked and menacing, eyes luminous against the dim light. “You’ve awakened,” crooned a voice that sent shivers down my spine. “How delightful.”
“What do you want?” I shouted, stepping out from behind Rylan, unwilling to show fear.
The figure laughed softly, a sound as chilling as the wind whipping through the room. “What I want is to claim what rightfully belongs to me—the power you foolishly hold. And Yelda? Oh, she’ll be coming for you soon enough. She has her ways of breaking free.”
My breath caught as tendrils of dread curled around my heart. “You’re working with Yelda?”
“Oh, I’m her ally, but don’t misjudge me. The power of your bloodline holds great potential, and I intend to harvest it, whether you’re cooperative or not.”
Before I could react, the figure lunged for me, shadows distorting around them. Rylan and his brothers sprang into action, fierce as wolves, blocking the attack. In that chaos, adrenaline coursed through my veins.
“Get back!” Rylan barked, deflecting the figure’s strike with a shimmer of energy bursting from his palm. It illuminated the darkened room, illuminating the startled expression on the intruder’s face.
“Fools! You think you can protect her?” the figure hissed, retreating for a moment, gathering shadows as if they were a cloak. “Your time is limited. She will be mine!”
The menace disappeared with a rush of energy, leaving us in stunned silence.
“Who was that?” I breathed, still reeling from the encounter.
“An envoy of darkness,” Rio replied, his face taut, eyes betraying the anger within. “Yelda has allies we didn’t know about. This is worse than we thought. You’re not just dealing with Yelda; this goes deeper, and we need to move quickly.”
The tension in the air was thick enough to cut, but I felt an infusion of determination rising within me. I wouldn’t let fear consume me or my power. I would armor myself in the truth of who I was, forging ahead not just as the princess but as the white wolf — a force to be reckoned with.
“I’ll train,” I asserted, my voice gaining strength. “I’ll harness this power, and if Yelda—or anyone—thinks they can take me down, they’ll have another thing coming.”