His despondent yet resolute tone was like a match that ignited a fierce and all-consuming fury within her. Tears trickled down her cheeks as his words replayed in her mind like a haunting melody, evoking a fear that rattled her heart to its very core.

"Be rational, Icarus," she said, her voice rough and unsteady. "Don't speak recklessly."

He gave a watery smile. "This is the only way to save the pack members and rid your kingdom of the disease."

"I can't."

"Why not?" he pressed in an attempt to sway her resolve. "You have a duty to fulfill."

"Because it's your life!" she bellowed, unable to restrain her emotions any longer.

She stormed out of his room and retreated to her own, slamming the door shut and locking it with a decisive click. Halfway to the bed, her knees buckled and she collapsed on the floor, her body shaking with the intensity of her sobs as she struggled to catch her breath.

As her sobs began to subside, a bone-deep weariness settled over her like a suffocating blanket. She closed her eyes, staying still and silent, listening to the erratic cadence of her own heart.

When she woke up, her head throbbed like she had a hangover after a night of heavy drinking. She tried to raise her head, but a sharp pain shot through her neck, making her wince. Slowly, she sat up, taking deep breaths to compose herself. Her gaze drifted toward the window and the thought of escape crossed her mind. But it wasn't big enough for her wings to fit through. Even if, against all odds, she managed to flee, she knew all too well that Icarus would catch her before she could set foot outside the pack boundary.

She looked around the room, the wheels of her brain turning to find a way to leave the Imperial pack unnoticed. She couldn't let Icarus sacrifice his life for others. In a moment of clarity, Grandma's words cut through her thoughts, guiding her to the closet. She rummaged around until she found the box she'd kept between her clothes. She cradled the pendant between her palms and closed her eyes, but as seconds turned to minutes, a sinking feeling settled within her chest.

If this wasn't the right moment, she didn't know how long she could wait. She was about to put it back in the box when a thought occurred to her. She clasped it around her neck and hoped for a miracle.

The world around her shifted, and she found herself outside. She assumed the pendant had somehow helped her escape but her relief was short-lived when a menacing growl pierced the air. A dark shadow loomed over her, causing her to freeze on the spot. Before she could react, the beast charged toward her. She held her breath, bracing herself for the inevitable impact, but to her shock, it passed straight through her like a ghost. She blinked and turned around to find it chasing a pack member she had never met before. Its serpent-like tail coiled around him, and the sickening sound of bones crushing filled the air as it squeezed the life out of him.

Letting out a horrified gasp, she rushed towards them, determined to stop the beast by drawing its attention to her, but it ignored her like she was invisible to him. The man fell to the ground with a thud, his body twisted into awkward angles that made her stomach drop. The fading light in his eyes mirrored the bleakness that enveloped her.

She knew she had to act fast to prevent the beast from hurting anyone else. With all her courage, she flew towards the beast, her wings beating furiously as she soared higher and higher into the sky. But as she reached out to strike it, she felt like she was grasping at a mirage, a mere illusion that taunted her. She reached out again, hoping to find some solid form to hold onto, but her fingers passed through it as if there was only thin air.

All she could do was watch the beast move through the village with deadly precision, its massive form towering over buildings and trees as it left a trail of destruction and death in its wake.

Her heart ached with grief and anger as the beast attacked an old woman. Its jaws clamped down on her neck with ruthless force, causing blood to spray in all directions. The woman's body convulsed before falling limp. The young boy who had strayed too far from home was next, his anguished screams piercing the desolate streets as the beast pounced on him, pinning him to the ground and biting chunks of his face with its razor-sharp teeth. His parents, stricken with terror, could only stand by the door, tears streaming down their faces, powerless to stop the carnage.

The scenes kept shifting like a movie being played before her eyes, each atrocity searing into her consciousness. She realized that she was experiencing all the past incidents because it wasn't midnight yet. It killed the innocents without mercy, heartless to their pleas and wails.

If she had not witnessed his transformation with her own eyes, she would have dismissed it as an outlandish claim. Icarus and the beast were nothing alike, not just in terms of their physical form, but also in their demeanor, behavior, and overall essence. It was as if the beast had taken over his body and erased all traces of him, making her feel like she was in the presence of a completely different being. She also couldn't help but notice that instead of weakening over the years, the beast was growing stronger and more vicious.

Unable to bear the suffocating presence of the beast any longer, she impulsively yanked the pendant from around her neck and found herself back in the safety of her room. As she scrutinized the insignificant piece of jewelry in her hand, she couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration and confusion. It was supposed to guide her towards the right path, to show her the way out of this nightmare. Yet, it had failed her completely.

"Casey, come here," she called out, her voice trembling with exhaustion.

In a burst of vivid orange, Casey appeared beside her. "What happened?"

"I need a plan to escape," she said, desperation seeping into her words. "I can't stay here for another moment. Icarus knows the truth, and he's on my mother's side."

"Is he out of his mind?" Casey asked, her eyes awash with concern.

"He believes sacrificing himself is the only way to save the pack members."

"Oh, goodness. Why must he be so selfless?"

Anaya shook her head. "Where have you been?" she inquired, pivoting the discussion before it tormented her.

"I'm following your mother."

"Why didn't you warn me about the attack?"

"What attack?"

"She destroyed the cottage and everything around it. It was the only place where the curse could be subdued."

"But she's been occupied lately."

"I know it's her," Anaya snapped, not intending to do so. "She likely commanded her minions to carry it out. She's trying to force me to finish my task."

"Shit, I'm sorry." Casey apologized, her expression contrite. "I should have been more careful."

"It's not your—"

Before she could finish her sentence, a knock resounded through the room, and Icarus stepped inside. They locked eyes, a tumultuous mix of emotions passing between them.

"Who were you talking to?"

"Casey," she replied in an instant, looking around the room, but her friend had vanished.

"The woman from the Weston pack?"

She shook her head slowly. "She is my divine beast—a nine-tailed fire fox. My mother sent her here to help me. Despite living among us, she remained immune to the serpent's poison."

"I see." It should have surprised him, but he had grown accustomed to the secrets everyone kept from him.

"Why are you here?" she asked, not wanting to hear him out if he was going to try to persuade her again. She would rather die than let him be harmed.

"Immanuel has invited us to the opening of his new bar. We will leave at 10 o'clock."

A lightbulb lit up in her head. She could use the distraction of the bar opening as an opportunity to escape.

"I'll be ready," she assured him. He stared at her for a moment longer before leaving. The awkwardness between them had become palpable, an unspoken barrier straining their connection. She despised the growing distance, but what was she supposed to do?

"What are you thinking?" Casey appeared as soon as the door closed.

"I'm running away tonight. You have to be there when I call you."