Chapter 17

"My dear friend," he whispered.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as his words reached my ears. I instinctively took a step back, trying to distance myself from him. My heart started racing, its rhythm erratic and unexplainable. I clutched my chest, feeling the need to escape the confines of my room.

"What on earth, Clara?! Don't succumb to these feelings!" I scolded myself.

"It's all in your head. Just a figment of your imagination!" I added, desperately trying to convince myself.

I had always been driven by one goal - to seek justice for my parents. That's what I should be focusing on. So why was I plagued by this strange sensation?

As I hurriedly walked down the corridor, I accidentally collided with Martha. Our eyes met, and I couldn't help but inquire about the whereabouts of Elijah and Aryana.

"That would be you, Martha," I said, forcing a smile.

"Where are they?" I asked her.

"Um, they're resting," she replied.

"And Aryana?" I asked again.

"She's resting too. I took her to the room Alpha prepared for her," Martha answered, a smile playing on her lips.

"Prepared by Alpha?!" I exclaimed, unable to believe what I was hearing.

"Yes," she confirmed.

His words infuriated me. I couldn't understand why I felt this overwhelming sadness. Before my emotions could completely consume me, I bid Martha farewell.

Once inside my room, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I cried out of disgust for my own feelings. I refused to let my parents down. My sole purpose was to bring justice to their untimely demise.

"No! It's not possible. I won't disappoint you. I promise, Mom, Dad!" I declared, determination lacing my voice.

I acknowledged that I had developed feelings for him. But I couldn't erase the fact that he was the one responsible for my parents' death. He was the cause of my early orphanhood. He was the monster who mercilessly took their lives, and I had witnessed one of the most horrifying nightmares of my existence.

The next day, I woke up early and prepared myself meticulously. I adorned myself, hoping to captivate the Alpha's attention. I constantly reminded myself of my true objective - to tame and toy with the Alpha's heart. I couldn't afford to be weak in this moment. Absolutely not.

Out of nowhere, a knock echoed through the walls of my room, jolting me from my thoughts. With a sense of urgency, I hurriedly made my way to the door, eager to see who it was. As I swung it open, I was met with the radiant smile of the Alpha. His smiles were enchanting, capable of melting the heart of any woman. However, I had learned to prioritize my true desires and intentions.

"Hello, Alpha," I greeted him warmly, returning his smile.

"I apologize if I got carried away last night, Clara. I truly had a wonderful time with you all," he confessed, his smile never faltering.

"No need to apologize," I reassured him, my smile mirroring his.

"Thank you, and thank you for guiding me back to my room. It's the second time you've done that," he expressed his gratitude, his smile growing wider.

"Well, if you're protective and caring towards me, I'll reciprocate the same, Alpha," I replied, my smile unwavering.

"Did I hear correctly?" he inquired, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

"Yes, I do have feelings for you, but I'm not quite ready yet," I admitted, my smile tinged with a hint of hesitation.

"That's alright. As long as I know you feel the same way, I can be patient," he responded, his smile filled with understanding.

"Yes, perhaps I do like you, but that won't hinder my plans for revenge. You still have to pay for everything!" I declared firmly to myself.

"Um, do you have any plans for today?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Um, nothing in particular. Why?" he questioned, curiosity evident in his smile.

"I would love to visit the Cave you mentioned, where the book of Magnus is. I've been curious about it since you first mentioned it," I revealed.

"It's dangerous, Clara. You saw what happened last night, didn't you?" he cautioned, concern etched on his face.

"Yes, but with you by my side, I have nothing to fear. Will you protect me?" I asked, my voice filled with sweetness.

"Didn't you mention that our fates are written there?" I added, a softness in my tone.

"I want to see where you've written my name," I whispered, my words laced with anticipation.

He sighed, unable to resist the charm of my words, and smiled at me.

"Shall we proceed?" I extended the invitation to him.

As we departed from the castle, he grasped my hand tightly, propelling us forward with astonishing speed. In the distance, a majestic mountain caught my eye, and he gestured towards it.

"Within that mountain lies the cave where the legendary Book of Magnus resides," he spoke with utmost seriousness.

My curiosity grew with each passing moment, especially as I bombarded him with questions. We treaded cautiously along the narrow path, which he claimed would lead us to the cave housing the revered engraved book known as the Book of Magnus.

Hand in hand, we ventured further into the cave. I remained vigilant, scanning our surroundings for any potential threats. Sensing nothing amiss, I continued my stride into the depths of the cave. I must admit, I felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of discovering the secrets held within this enigmatic book. I couldn't help but wonder why men still felt the need to inscribe their names after the sacred mating ritual. What could be the compelling reason behind it?

"Are you alright, Clara?" he inquired.

"Yes, absolutely!" I replied.

For a brief moment, I noticed a flicker of surprise in his eyes as he gazed ahead at the stones. I followed his gaze and spotted a large square object affixed to the wall, prompting me to look back at him.

"That is the Book of Magnus. Crafted by the first Lycan in ancient times, it bears the engraved names of two wolves destined for each other, as foretold by prophecy," he explained solemnly.

"Does that mean all the names of mated werewolves are inscribed within its pages?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"And what about you? What are your aspirations in life? Do you not desire for our names to be etched in that sacred book?" he inquired earnestly.

I couldn't provide an immediate response to his question. Drawing closer to the book, I reached out and touched its surface. It felt as though a hidden world lay beneath the wall, and the thickness of the book suggested an endless supply of pages. Nevertheless, I chose to peruse through the names meticulously. And amidst the sea of names, there were certain words that captivated my attention as I read the inscription...