Sorry for the long wait!

And thank you so much for the 14K followers and 160K reads on Shadowed Hearts! 

Dedicated to Ezramadhu. Happy belated birthday my darling! Love you always!

A huge shoutout to Eeshabela for the incredible support you have always shown towards Unconditionally and also for the absolutely phenomenal cover above! You're amazing doll!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

PLEASE DO NOT COPY MY WORK! If I find any followers copying my work, I will immediately REPORT and MUTE you. Do NOT test my patience or take advantage of my friendliness. You have been warned.

This chapter is unedited so please excuse the grammatical errors. Enjoy!

____

Suzzanah's POV

Why, Rino...?

Why...?

My head felt heavy, my body weighed down as I tried to digest what they had just told me.

Shadow side...

I couldn't understand a thing. My mind felt completely muddled, clouded, as though I had just been hit hard over the head and was extremely disoriented.

Why...why was he...?

"I need to get through"

My eyes widened, my heart speeding up as the words I had heard him say via mindlink earlier echoed in my head.

"I have to find her-!"

"I need to get through to the other side"

"Anna! I have to find her!"

No...

He was looking for me.

"Oh God Rino..." I breathed out, my body suddenly feeling weak as my trembling hand covered my lips in shock, "Oh no!"

I stumbled, my knees nearly giving out from underneath me and immediately everyone surrounded me worriedly.

"Luna!" Cole exclaimed.

"Queen!" the warriors behind us shouted alarmed and Kai was by my side in a flash.

Suzzanah! He cried out, his eyes panicked, Heart, are you alright?!

"He's looking for me..." I breathed out, eyes wide in horror, "Kai...Rino, he's looking for me!"

"What?!"

Both Kai and Cole exclaimed in unison.

"Its true", I gasped out, "When I was trying to mindlink him just now, I think I read his mind. I-I don't know how o-or why but I heard his voice in my head loud and clear. He was saying 'I have to find her! Anna! I have to find her!'. That means he's still looking for me!"

Cole and Kai immediately exchanged sharp looks before Kai straightened up.

Cole, take Suzzanah back to the hotel now! He commanded, I'm going after Rino

"I-"

"I'm coming with you!" I cut Cole off making Kai's head snap back to mine, "Please!" I pleaded, "Please let me come with you"

Kai eyes hardened, No

"Please Kai!" I said desperately, "I...I..."

My stomach turned inside of me, my chest clenched painfully at the thought of what would happen if he went alone.

To Rino...and him!

"I have a really bad feeling", I finished, "Please! I wont get in the way. Just don't go alone. Please let me come with you!"

"And me", Cole added, "Please, let us both come along, Alpha"

Kai's eyes flashed in anger, Cole you know how dangerous it can be beyond this point! And you still want me to lead my Luna beyond the first wall?!

"I give you my word, I'll protect her", Cole said, his eyes firm, honest and resolute, "I'll protect the Luna Queen with my life. So please don't go alone. Let us come with you"

Kai looked back at me I looked at him imploringly, "Please Kai"

His dark eyes immediately softened before he stepped closer to me and nuzzled his head against mine.

Heart, I'm only trying to protect you, he said gently, You wont be safe beyond here

"I'll be safe wherever you are", I told him, honestly, hugging his neck, "Please don't leave me behind. If...If you leave alone, I won't be okay. I really won't be okay"

His heavy sigh filled my mind before he stepped away to look into my eyes once more.

Stay behind me at all times

My face immediately broke into a huge smile, tears sliding down my face as I nodded vigorously.

Kai looked at Cole, Not a hair on her head gets harmed

Cole smiled and nodded, "Understood, Alpha"

Ashford warriors

"ALPHA!" All the warriors stood in attention.

Spread out along the first wall. Make sure no one else gets across, from either side, without my permission. Understood?

"SIR!" they responded.

Kai looked back at me and I smiled wholeheartedly, "Thank you..."

You don't have to thank me, my heart, he said, pressing his forehead against mine lovingly, You're my Luna. I would never deny you anything your heart truly desires

My heart filled with overwhelming love and respect for him, making me feel like it would explode any minute. Giving me one more affectionate look, he turned to Cole who nodded, ready.

Kai turned around to face the first wall, his massive body radiating enormous amounts of power and authority.

Lets go, he said and began striding towards the first wall.

Cole and I followed, with Cole standing protectively in front of me as we walked. I held my breath as we got closer and closer to the first wall. It glimmered ominously, its concrete yet fluid-like sheen both threatening and reassuring at the same time.

The closer we got, the more strongly I could feel the aura of an incredibly powerful magic. And with each step I realized that this didn't feel like a shield cast by the Alpha of Mazes.

It wasn't Marco's magic.

As we reached the first wall, Kai's aura magnified to such an extent that it nearly became palpable, so unbelievably strong that I could actually see it! A golden glow emanated from my mate's majestic body, so powerful that the wall nearly seemed to bend against its force. I watched with my heart in my hand as he passed through the first wall, unhindered and unharmed.

Cole followed suit, crossing the wall with ease and looking over his shoulder at me encouragingly as he did.

I gulped and walked after him, holding my breath as I passed through the powerful magical wall. As I did, I felt my skin tingle and prickle, as though a mild stream of charged electricity was flowing through my veins.

For a second my body felt extremely weighed down but I pushed myself to keep walking and as soon as I took another step forward, the weight lifted and the discomfort disappeared into thin air.

A chorus of gasps filled the air from behind me and I looked over my shoulder to find the Ashford pack warrior wolves staring after me in shock. My brow furrowed in question before I looked back at Cole and Kai to find them watching me with proud eyes.

"What?" I asked confused.

They exchanged a knowing look before Kai nodded to me.

Get on my back, heart

I quickly rushed to him and got on his back.

Cole, keep your eyes open for Rino. His aura could be misplaced within the land between the walls

Okay, Cole replied.

Hang on Heart

"Right!" I said and Kai immediately took off, Cole running close behind us.

Keep your head down

I did as I was told, burying my head in his neck feeling chills running down my spine with each stride he took forward. My heart beat arrythmically inside of me and my body trembled as though anticipating a bad omen. It was like something deep inside of me was silently warning me, that where we were headed was a land we weren't supposed to tread.

But still...we would go...

For Rino

Rino...!

In an attempt to not let the fear overwhelm me, I unconsciously began to reach out to him mentally once more.

Rino! Can you hear me? Please respond!

I recieved no reply but I kept calling out to him. Beneath me, I could feel Kai's powerful muscles flexing and rippling. And although his movements were perfectly smooth, I could feel the tension rolling off of him in waves.

Rino...bud! Please hear my voice! Please reply!

Wherever you are...please, turn around.

Come back!

The deeper we went, the darker the woods got, the heavy fog further reducing visibility. The air around us felt heavily charged, not only with electricity but also something dark and dangerous that I would rather not think about.

Especially not right now.

As we dashed through the woods, I heard thunder in the distance, and I raised my head just in time to see a peal of silver-blue lightening as it tore open the darkened sky.

It would rain soon.

Rino...

Are you okay?

Please be okay

And please...come back...

The wind had gotten a lot colder and was making goosebumps form on my skin. I shuddered , pressing myself closer to Kai's body which was radiating generous amounts of heat. His warmth immediately served to comfort both my cold body and mind.

Heart?

I'm okay, I replied, wanting to keep his mind at ease, at least when it came to me, I'm okay

We continued to speed through the woods for a few more minutes before I felt Kai slow down, immediately sending anticipation searing through me.

Had we reached?

Had he found Rino?

When Kai stopped, I raised my head and looked around, squinting in the dark to try and make out any semblance of human life. All I could make out was the thick vegetation of the forest.

I felt Cole come to a halt next to us and I turned to look at him. His brow was knit together, face painted with concern as he stared ahead.

I felt a wave of apprehension wash over me and my head immediately shot down to my mate. His body was tense, his eyes also directed at the darkness ahead of us.

"He isn't here", Cole said, his voice grave, making fear strike me once more.

He's crossed over the Second Wall, Kai said, his voice low and dark.

"I don't understand how he's getting through", Cole said, running a hand through his tousled blonde hair in aggravation.

He's a powerful wizard, an Elemental at that, Kai stated, And we're in the woods. He gets lost in one of these every other day. There isn't much left to understand

Cole's gaze shot to Kai, his eyes grave, "You wont be able to go further like that Alpha"

I know, Kai replied, Suzzanah, get off for a minute

"Okay", I replied and slid off his back.

The minute my feet touched the undergrowth, the power hit me like a bullet to my head. I gasped stumbling backwards into Kai as the magic infused into the Earth around me literally knocked all the air out of my lungs.

Oh my god!

Easy heart, Kai said gently, his large frame cocooning mine, Just breathe. You okay?

I shook my head trying to clear my suddenly blurred vision, "I'm okay", I replied, "What is up with this insane energy?"

"The land between the walls is like a magical forcefield", Cole told me, "Its infused with enough magic to power an entire country. A necessary measure in order to keep out...intruders"

I swallowed hard, trying to get used to the power. There was so much of it everywhere that it was starting to give me a headache.

You should stop here, heart

"No!" I exclaimed hurriedly, "No! I'm fine"

"I honestly didn't think she would be able to feel the magic so conscientiously", Cole said surprised, "The Luna's body and mind are far more in tune with the supernatural than I thought"

So is her spirit, but- Kai didn't finish his sentence letting it unfinished weight linger as he took a few steps away from us, I'm shifting

Cole quickly ushered me away from him, standing in front of me protectively.

"There is a lot of powerful magic here already", he told me, "And when the Alpha shifts, there will be a massive outburst of power which may be a little too much for you to handle, Luna. Stay behind me and please try and think of something other than the energy here. Keeping your mind distracted will help it cope with the power overload better"

I nodded, "Okay", I said and immediately directed my thoughts to the only other thing that I could think of right now.

Rino...!

I felt power building up alarmingly around me and I concentrated harder on Rino and his aura.

Rino...this is Anna! Can you hear me?!

No response.

Rino...please come back bud. We're worried about you. Please! Rino, can you hear me?

I felt a burst of energy fill the air out of nowhere and Cole immediately covered me, shielding me from the explosive power. At that minute I felt something like a spark in my mind and my heart skipped a beat.

Was that...!

Rino?!

Another spark ignited in my mind, and I felt a familiar connection forming, but it stopped halfway to where it felt like a bridge being held in place by nothing but a worn piece of rope.

Fragile.

But it was still there.

I focused harder.

Rino!

..nna...

I gasped, was that...?!

RINO?!

...na!...L...!

I couldn't make out what he was saying but I could tell that he was trying to reach out to me too!

"I can hear him!" I cried out, immediately making Cole turn around to face me wide-eyed.

"What?!" he cried out shocked.

"I can hear Rino", I said, squeezing my eyes shut, and concentrating hard on his voice.

...She's her-...!

...na...!

"Well...sort of", I corrected, "The link is really weak"

I heard Cole move aside and I felt a familiar warm presence next me, almost immediately serving to strengthen the link and making the mark on my neck tingle.

She's here! I heard Rino say, She's really here!

Who's here?!

"What is he saying?", Zuerien's voice asked me, making me open my eyes to find his bare chest two centimeters away from my face.

Zuerien had shifted and was now dressed in dark pants. My head shot up to his face to find his hair tousled and his eyes mismatched, something that was happening a lot lately.

"He's saying 'She's here'", I told them, "But I have no idea whom he's talking about. And I don't think he can hear me"

"He could be talking about you", Cole said and I shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not", I replied.

"Only one way to find out", Zuerien said, pressing a hand into my lower back, "We need to find him fast. Heart, keep trying to mindlink him"

I nodded and the three of us began hurrying towards the second wall, which unlike the first one, I couldn't see.

"Why did you shift back?" I asked Zuerien.

"I can't travel across the second wall in my wolf form", he told me, "Kai's body radiates way too much power. The second wall will immediately prevent such an enormous energy source from crossing over. Unlike the first wall that only allows the most powerful to cross over, the second wall keeps the strongest confined, not allowing them access to the other side, be it in or out"

He ran a hand through his hair, "In my human form, I can contain my aura to some extent, so I have a better chance at being able to cross over in this form", he told me.

His eyes then held mine, intense emotions swirling in their dark depths, "I don't want you to go any further than this, Suzzanah", he told me.

Panic immediately struck me, "What?! But- but we've come so far-"

"I know but I can't risk letting you to try and cross the second wall", he cut me off, "Not the second wall"

My lips parted but no sound came out so I ended up staring at Cole pleadingly. Cole's jaw clenched.

"Its very dangerous, Luna", he said.

"But I'm the only person who can mindlink Rino!" I exclaimed.

"That's irrelevant", Zuerien said, "Crossing the second wall is far more difficult and dangerous than the first. Your body may not be able to take it"

"But Alpha, John did say that-"

"I don't care what John said, Cole", Zuerien cut him off, "Its too bloody dangerous. I will not take such risks when it comes to my mate!"

Zuerien reached for me but I quickly took a few steps away from him, towards the wall, "No please! Please let me try and come with you!" I begged.

Zuerien and Cole's faces immediately went pale in horror.

"Heart! Come back here!" Zuerien began, rushing towards me.

I took another step back, my back to the second wall, "Please Zuerien-"

"Suzzanah, no, don't-!"

"I'll be-", my words abruptly got cut off and my body was suddenly pulled backwards, almost as if I had been yanked powerfully by something behind me. An alarmed scream escaped my lips as my body was spun around in the air and I squeezed my eyes shut as I felt myself being sucked into oblivion.

"HEART! NO!", I heard Zuerien shout, terrified, before I was propelled forcefully through what felt like a powerful magnetic field that tugged at my limbs like the rope in a game of tug of war.

What's happening?!

My hands shot out, trying to find something to grab onto but were only met with cold air. Alternate bursts of hard and soft pressure exploded against my body like consequetive punches, and I grit my teeth, body arching tightly as it underwent the surreal phenomenon.

Behind me I could barely hear Zuerien and Cole's panicked voices crying out to me as my head was filled with a ringing sound so loud that it threatened to burst my eardrums.

Pain shot through my auditory canals and down the sides of my neck as the tension built up to its zenith. Soon the pressure was so exceedingly intolerable my chest was completely constricted. The force was so strong that I thought it would break my ribs once again.

I couldn't breathe!

But just as I was about to start choking, and turn blue from breathlessness, all the intense pressure suddenly vanished and I was thrown forward, hurled towards the ground.

I fell with a loud 'Umph' onto the soft undergrowth, my head still spining and ears still ringing from what I had just experienced. Slowly the voices of Zuerien and Cole crying out for me worriedly became more pronounced and clear and I sat up, trying to blink the daze away.

I replied to them with what I thought was an 'I'm alright', but my head felt too muddled for me to be sure. And before I could even completely recover from what had just happened, my mind was flooded with an aura so powerful and so familiar that all breath left my body.

That presence, its-!

Luna?

His voice sounded in my mind once again but this time it was so clear that it was almost like he had spoken in my ear, from right next to me.

Is that really her-?!

RINO! I cried out shocked as his presence overwhelmed my mind.

His aura was so marked now that I could almost see it like a trail that had been left on the undergrowth when he had passed by here. And as my eyes followed the invisible footsteps his aura had left behind, I realized that I knew how to find him now.

I knew where to go!

"HEART!"

I was lifted into strong arms that immediately helped clear my mind and I turned wide-eyed to face Zuerien.

And my blood ran cold.

"ZUERIEN!"

My hands immediately flew to his face, the face that a few seconds ago had been perfectly fine and was now covered in cuts and bruises. I gasped in horror as my eyes descended to his chest which was also bruised and bleeding from small cuts in several places.

"Oh my God! Zuerien, what happened?!" I cried out, terror and pain flooding my body, "What happened?!"

He cupped my hand that was over his cheek with his large one, "I'm fine, heart", he said softly, "What about you?"

"What do you mean you're fine?! These injuries-!" My words got cut off when Cole joined us on the ground, bent on one knee and coughing, clutching his chest.

"COLE!" I shouted, hurriedly bending towards him. He lifted his head and smiled at me, but my chest clenched painfully when I saw his face similarly bruised and battered like Zuerien's. My eyes filled with tears, "No...", I gasped out, "No...What happened? I don't understand-"

"Suzzanah, hey, its alright", Zuerien said turning my terror-stricken face to his again, "We're alright"

"B-But-"

He quickly stood up and pulling me to my feet with him, "Don't worry about us. We'll heal. Are you alright?"

Unable to just nod, I moved my head every which way in reply, still too shaken to answer verbally. He examined my face quickly before letting his eyes scan my body, "She's okay", he breathed out and Cole released a relieved sigh.

"Guess John was right after all", Cole said.

"I-I...but you-"

"Its okay. We'll be fine. Come on, we don't have much time", Zuerien said, gently cutting off my flabbergasted babbling, "We need to find Rino. I can hardly feel his presence"

What?! But I...

"I can faintly sense his aura down that way", Cole said, squinting.

"Yeah, let's move", Zuerien said before pulling me along.

As they began to run, I quickly grabbed onto Zuerien's arm, digging my feet into the ground to get him to stop, "No! Not that way!" I cried out, finally finding my voice.

They both turned to look at me questioningly and I pointed to our left, "He went that way", I told them.

They exchanged confused glances, "But how-"

"I can feel him", I told them, "Very vividly. He first ran to the right but then rushed to the left. He went through those two trees over there", I pointed making them both look at me shocked.

"I can feel his presence", I said, "I know what I'm saying. Trust me!"

They both immediately exchanged glances before looking back at me and nodding firmly.

"Lead the way, Luna", they said together and I nodded, giving them a grateful smile.

My head immediately whirled in the direction that I could feel Rino's aura strongest, "This way!" I cried out and rushed towards the trees on our left, Zuerien and Cole following suite.

Rino...

Despite the darkness that was almost deepening to pitch black around us, I could clearly see the glowing blue path Rino's aura had left behind as he had made his way through these parts of the forbidden woods.

As as I ran down that very same path, I could feel it- every emotion that had been coursing through his body like a barrage as he had run into the darkness.

I could feel it all...

I have to cross over!

His distress.

I have to find her!

His determination.

I have to...save her!

His desperation.

I could feel it all!

Rino...!

I ran faster, pushing my body as hard as I could. By now I was nearly blind to my pitch black surroundings, able to stay on track only by following Rino's glowing aura through the woods, which was like a trail of breadcrumbs leading us home.

Only this time, it wasn't leading us home.

Not home...

RINO!

We ran through haphazard rows of massive towering trees, over jutting roots and under looming branches. The heavy mist drenched my flushed body with a cool layer of dew, my breath coming out in pants as I kept my eyes focused solely on Rino's powerful presence.

Behind me I could hear, Zuerien and Cole following closely, and the longer we followed Rino's aura, the stronger it got, progressively increasing in both intensity and magnitude.

But soon a terrifying dread started to seep into me, dripping into my blood, gushing through my veins and drenching every part of my being. It was so immense that it nearly consumed my mind, momentarily even crippling my ability to sense Rino's aura.

And it grew with every passing second.

It was Zuerien's dread.

Just when I was about to turn around to look at Zuerien, my eyes suddenly zeroed in on something that immediately filled me with both immense relief and roaring panic at the very same time.

And through the thick mist and the darkness that my eyes had now grown accustomed to, I finally caught sight of something other than Rino's glowing aura.

There, in the misty distance, was a grandiose translucent barrier that was glowing and flashing forebodingly. Waves of terrifyingly mighty magic washed over me making goosebumps erupt on my skin. I could already feel a powerful force starting to push me back, away from where I was headed, steadily increasing in strength the nearer we got to it. And I knew what it was.

The third wall.

We were finally there. The third and final wall that stood between the Werewolves and the Shadow People.

The Moon and the Sun.

Beyond that translucent, almost permeable looking barrier, was the forbidden land that belonged to creatures that haunted the worst of my nightmares. A land that was ruled by a man rumored to be darker than the starless night.

He who shall not be named

For a moment I almost froze in shock as it hit me that right now, where we stood, was an age old border. A border that signified a terrifying rift. A border that told a thousand stories.

Stories of war, stories of pain.

Stories of betrayal.

And stories of death.

And now, the closer we got to that very same border, the more I realized...that what we were now racing towards was not just a wall.

It was a fortress.

It stood before us, its vast and mammoth presence undeniable as it radiated enormous amounts of turbulent energy into the atmosphere. And with every step that we took forward, the wind around us began to pick up, getting stronger and harsher as it flew at us in heavy gusts.

Soon the gale was so strong that I was finding it hard to keep up my pace. Pushing my hair back, I shielded my face with my hand as I continued onward, trying as hard as I could to keep my eyes open against the forceful air current.

Dust and sand flew towards us in clouds that threatened to obscure my vision altogether. But just as the wind was about to overwhelm me into turning away, I caught sight of something that made my eyes shoot wide open.

There, right beside the glowing third wall, enveloped in what looked like floating threads of blazing electricity, was something far more important than the silver-blue aura we had followed all the way here. Something that had made this terryfying excursion worth the effort. Something we had been searching for all this time.

Someone.

And my heart leapt as my feet slammed into the ground with ferocious vigor as I cried out,

RINOOO-!

NO!!!

My scream was abruptly cut off by the sound of Zuerien's thunderous and panicked cry that suddenly exploded in my mind. My vision blacked, breath caught and limbs froze as his shout resonated through every part of my being, the tumultous emotions raging inside of him bombarding my soul like a violent barrage.

Then a large arm abruptly wrapped around my waist from behind me and I was hauled back powerfully. A shocked shout escaped my lips as Zuerien pushed me behind him, before forcefully thrusting me backwards, away from him.

I watched horrified, lips parted in shock and hands extended in front of me as I was thrown backwards, in the direction opposite to where Rino was and where Zuerien was now headed.

And as I flew backwards, Zuerien turned his head around to look at me over his shoulder while he ran onward, eyes filled with worry and desperation as he bellowed,

"COLE!"

His fiery cry was immediately answered when my backsliding body was immediately encased securely in strong arms, breaking my fall. My back slammed hard into Cole's chest and he immediately grabbed my shoulders to steady me.

I heard him instantly suck in a sharp, shocked breath as I watched petrified after my mate who dashed towards Rino through the charged, electrified woods wildly, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"RINOOO!"

Rino's distant frame jerked at the call when suddenly, the electricity floating around him flashed bright red before a blindingly bright light shot out from the wall in front of him towards us.

Like a wave of cosmic energy being lauched through the air, the power came shooting through the woods, charging savagely right at us. The wild, cataclysmic wind became so strong that had it not been for Cole holding me down, I would have been hurled back into the air by it. And as it raged, it brought with it a tornado of chaotic magic that threatened to tear everything in its path to shreds.

"LUNA!"

Cole immediately turned around with me in his arms, and hiding me in his chest and covering my body with his like a shield. As the gust of explosive energy crashed into his back, we were nearly thrown backwards but Cole held his ground, his feet digging into the earth beneath us.

A constricted grunt of effort and pain rumbled loudly through his chest as he grit his teeth, his back receiving the violent onslaught of the wind and magic being fired at us.

I squeezed my eyes shut, clinging to Cole for dear life, my mind screaming in both terror and shock at what was suddenly happening.

But it was in the midst of all that hell breaking loose that a hauntingly familiar voice suddenly rang crystal clear in my head.

Wait!

Wait for me!

I'm almost there...!

Please...

Please!

WAAAIT!

RINO!

My eyes shot open and head jerked upwards, gaze tearing through the woods in disbelief. And when they found him engulfed in mad chaos my heart nearly burst through my chest in shock.

I could hear him! I could hear Rino again!

I'm coming!

No...

His loud cries continued to echo in my head- frantic, urgent, and undeterred.

I'm coming for you!

No Rino...!

And I realized that he was so caught up in his own mental mayhem that he couldn't hear me at all. He couldn't hear any of us.

Even though Zuerien was racing towards him through the berserk magic that was wreaking havoc everywhere to get to him. Even though Cole was screaming his name, trying to get him to snap out his wild trans.

Rino was so blinded by his need to get across that he didn't know or care what else was going on around him.

Not even the fact that his life was in grave danger.

RINO!

I'm almost there.

No Rino!

I just need to get across this!

Rino, stop!

I didn't understand why he was so desperate. Who was Rino trying to reach?!

Was it really me?

"RINOOO!" Cole yelled as he stood in front of me protectively, shielding me from the wall's powerful assault, "RINO! COME BACK!"

But Rino didn't even turn around.

I need to get across! his frantic voice echoed in my head, I need to get through!

"RINOOO!" Zuerien shouted desperately and something in my chest started to hurt, "RINO DON'T! STOP!"

Zuerien tore through the savage magical onslaught, not once faltering or slowing down, even though the beams of raging energy shooting out of the wall ripped through his skin like a thousand sharp blades.

And even though the sight made me feel like my heart was being stabbed over and over again.

Fear was the first emotion to tear through me before varying intensities of pain, panic and desperation suddenly started to race through my veins. Soon I felt myself being choked up to a point that it suddenly became hard to breathe.

I trembled, breath leaving my body in pants, while my eyes stayed glued to my mate's frame. And with every step forward that Zuerien took, the pain started to overpower all other emotions, becoming so unbearable that I clutched my chest, gasping for breath, feeling as though I was being brutally electrocuted from the inside.

Just then the wall fired yet another massive wave of thundering energy at us and Cole immediately covered me, taking the brunt of the barrage once more.

And yet the minute the magic hit him, I felt the pain I had been feeling double, maybe even triple in intensity. And now it literally felt like I was being torn limb from limb.

Oh god...

The minute the blast had passed, Cole turned back towards the third wall, his back to me as he stood like a human barricade between me and all the chaotic magic that could hurt me.

He didn't know...that it already hurt...so much...

The more time passed, the more the pain grew. The more the pain grew, the more I recognized it. And the more I recognized it...the more I embraced it.

The more I welcomed it.

And the more Inwished it upon myself.

Because this wasn't my pain.

Zuerien and Cole...

It was then that my mind really registered that all this time, both Zuerien and Cole had actually been in immense pain. Although their injuries from having passed through the second wall had healed, the final wall had identified them as being too powerful to have gotten this close to the border.

And now, not only were they taking blow after blow of the wall's fiery barrage but the thunderous magic exploding out of it was also destroying them from the inside.

Painfully.

And yet, they hadn't said a word.

They hadn't said a word.

For him.

Rino...

All my senses abruptly dimmed, the chaos around me mellowing and slowing, as my thunderstruck eyes slowly turned back towards the third wall. My gaze moved past the glowing magic, the dust clouds and the devastation, lingering for a few seconds on my mate before zeroing in on the lone figure standing in the distance.

He stood so close to the raging wall that he had almost seemed to become a part of it. But I could tell that his persistent efforts to cross over were being heavily opposed by the third wall as it fired bolt after bolt of powerful magic at him.

My subdued senses dulled the pain, shunted the sounds and tunnelled my vision till all my concentration was directed solely at the young, injured man by the third wall. Till all I could see was his unwavering efforts to get across.

And till all I could hear were his anguished cries echoing in my mind.

Wait!

I could hear every word as as clear as day.

Wait! I'm coming!

And I could feel every emotion that came with those words.

Please...Please!

Rino...

His desperation knew no bounds and I could feel it consuming his entire being. There was nothing that could stop him from trying to get through. Not even the fear of being torn to pieces by the terrifying third wall.

Why...

Let me pass! Let me pass!!

Why are you trying to cross over?

I'm coming! I'll get to you!

Is it really me you're trying to get to?

I'll save you! Please hang on!

Or is it someone else?

Please! Wait!

Who are you really looking for Rino?

WAAAIT!

WHO RINO?!

MY LUNAAA!

I gasped out loud, disbelief crashing into me like a two ton truck as that one last word continued to resound throughout my body, freezing the red hot blood in my veins.

Did he...Did he just say-

My Luna...

My heart rate soared to thousand beats per minute as realization, panic and shock tore through my soul like the prongs of a mighty tryden.

I need to get across! Rino continued to tell himself, Please! Wait!

Please!

LUNAA!

And that's when the question that had been plaguing my mind, sounded in my head once more.

What was it that Rino's inbuilt magical compass was really trying to find?

And why?

Now, I knew.

LUNAAA!

Oh my God...

She was here.

She was here!

His Luna!

My heart stopped, breath catching in my throat as a strangled cry escaped my lips. I couldn't believe it!

She was really here.

The Luna...

THE LUNA OF HEARTS!

The minute that fact bombarded my mind, the third wall flashed a blinding white before thundering beams of silver exploded out of it and slammed right into my frozen body.

My lips parted in a silent scream and my back arched, eyes nearly popping out of their sockets as the silver missiles of unfathomable power tore into me like swords. They crashed into my skin from every side, bombarding every inch of my body.

Yet they didn't touch anyone but me. Not once. Not Rino, not Zuerien and not even Cole who was still in front of me protectively. But the silver beams completely bypassed them all and chose only to strike me.

Stunned, I watched the thousands of blinding shards of light barrage my frame, unhindered and unrelenting.

And not once did Cole look alarmed by them, or even throw a glance at them as they rammed into me.

And that's when it hit me.

He couldn't see them.

None of them could.

My body continued to absorb the silver barrage that was only visible to my wide, blown eyes. A cannonade that was directed solely and entirely at me.

And the more the silver beams shot into me, the more I felt...

Alive!

No...

Immense power tore through my veins like silver fire. I felt my soul hungrily feeding off the energy, expanding, thriving! And soon I began to feel like it wasn't really the wall that was attacking me with its magic.

No.

It was my own body that was calling the power, wrenching it out and drawing it in.

As though it were mine.

NO!

Luna! LUNA!

Rino's cries turned immeasurably more frantic.

Luna! Hang on!

More power was sucked into my body, feeding my soul but although it felt like my being was now brimming and bursting at the seams, it also simultaneously felt like it was being painfully ripped to shreads.

This isn't right...!

Almost...there!

Rino's voice continued to sound loud and clear in my head and although time seemed to have slowed down infinitely around me, my gaze immediately shot back to Rino in an attempt to get the answers I now badly needed.

I found him standing right by the foot of the translucent glowing wall, bent over, struggling and trembling in pain. His clothes were in tatters, body bruised and battered but he still kept trying to reach the third wall, to touch it, to cross it.

And the more he forced his way towards it, the more silver power came hurtling at me.

But...I didn't want him to get any closer to it. Even though the magic filling me was starting to make me feel invincible.

Because the more energy that my body consumed, the more I felt like something was going dreadfully wrong. Something terrible was happening. Something that was tearing my heart apart.

And I wanted it to stop.

It had to stop!

Because if it didn't...

My eyes filled with silver tears, a strange brokeness seeping into my soul. It was an emotion unknown to me and yet, it felt painfully nostalgic.

Distantly familiar.

Tears that had no particular reason for brimming, but ones that came from the deepest depths of my soul.

Tears through which I could make out the blurred image of Rino's figure by the wall.

Tears that filled me with both desperation and determination.

And tears that told me that all this had to end.

Now.

Rino.

As though he had been struck by lightening, Rino's body suddenly jerked away from the wall, his back going stiff and body freezing in shock.

He had heard me.

Directing every ounce of my concentration towards him in mindlink, with no scope for messups and no room of mistakes, I had reached out to him one last time, powerfully.

Rino.

And that was when, after what felt like an age, I felt his chaotic mind finally clear and make way.

ANNA?!

Through all the mayhem and havoc that consumed the distance between us, I finally saw the wild wizard whirl away from the raging third wall, eyes wide in alarm as he scanned the blazing woods frantically.

ANNA? IS THAT YOU?!

Cole gasped in shock, his body lurching forward at the sight of Rino finally responding to us. And both him and Zuerien- who was only a few dozen meters away from him now- shouted to him simultaneously.

"RINOOOO!"

Rino let out a startled cry before his dazed gaze finally cleared and his wide orbs zeroed in on Zuerien's frame charging through the anarchic magical storm towards him.

"W-Wolfa!" he gasped out before flinching and grabbing his side in pain, "C-ole!"

"RINO!" Zuerien cried out and was about to lunge towards him when a humongous wave of magic shot out of the wall pushing him away from both Rino as well as the border.

NO!

My body was flooded with my mate's pain and I squeezed my eyes shut, gritting my teeth, hoping with all my being that he wasn't feeling the agony in this intensity.

"ALPHA!" Cole cried out taking an involuntarily step forward to rush to his King's aid but then forced himself to stay put to shield me, as the dispersed magic came hurtling towards us next.

Rino was still bent over in pain not sure whether to turn fully towards Zuerien or turn back towards the wall and continue his efforts to get across.

To his Luna.

Zuerien let out a constricted grunt as he strained against the turbulent energy that ripped across his body ferociously as he tried to get closer to Rino.

"RINO! COME BACK!" Zuerien shouted.

"RINO! PLEASE TURN BACK!" Cole screamed to Rino.

I saw Rino extend a trembling hand towards Zuerien, trying to tell him to get away.

No! I heard him say, No, Wolfa! Stay back! You need to get away. I need to do this by myself...I need to get to her...My Luna-!

No Rino.

Once again I saw Rino's body jerk in alarm as he heard my voice before his eyes once again began darting across the woods, searching.

Cole let out a joyous cry, "HE'S FINALLY SNAPPED OUT OF IT!" He shouted, turning back to me, "LUN-!"

His voice caught in his throat, smile immediately disappearing and features contorting in horror as he took in my dreadful state- dry lips parted, wide eyes void and back arched as I clutched my chest in pain.

"Luna?!" he gasped out, voice nearly breaking in terror.

My lips trembled as I attempted to speak but no words came out of my mouth. Cole immediately caught me by the shoulders, his eyes frantically assessing me from head to toe.

"LUNA?" he cried out, shaking my frozen body, "Luna, what's wrong?! LUNA! LUNAA!"

His sheer panic and worry washed over me like bouts of electricity but I found myself unable to respond to him.

I inhaled deeply, struggling to even breathe through the power overload from the silver beams- power that I was desperately trying to will out of my body- but never dared compromise on the mindlink I had finally established.

Rino, turn back.

ANNA?!

Turn back Rino.

Rino clutched his chest, head whipping towards the raging wall before turning back towards Zuerien and then wandering frantically through the woods looking for me.

And when his distant eyes finally found mine, I felt his shock and dread tear through me and he screamed, "ANNAA!"

The silver energy shooting at me immediately attenuated as Rino's attention momentarily diverted away from the wall towards me. And I knew it was now or never.

Don't go, Rino, I whispered, barely able to stand anymore as I tried hard to repel the energy my body had absorbed.

Come back

Conflicting emotions ripped through Rino which I felt vividly as they raced through me simultaneously. I could tell that he felt torn between heeding my words and rushing to his Luna and it was taking a heavy toll on him.

"RINO COME BACK!" Zuerien cried out to him, pushing his way through the violent energy, "WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!"

But I- I...

Rino's eyes darted wildly between Zuerien, the wall and Cole and I as he struggled to come to a decision.

Cole cried out to me a few more times before immediately lifting me into his arms, covering me securely. He then hurriedly turned around to look back at Zuerien and Rino, his mind torn between telling Zuerien about me and getting me out of here.

He let out a ragged breath, his eyes shooting wildly between Zuerien, Rino and the wall before he looked back down at me and his jaw clenched.

"We're getting you out of here Luna", he said firmly.

Giving his Alpha and friend one last look, he turned around and dashed away from the raging third wall, his Luna Queen encased securely in his arms.

"Hang on Luna!" he cried out, "Please! Just hang on!"

I closed my eyes, silently thanking Cole for taking me away from there. But even though my body was being carried to safety, my mind remained by that raging wall and my heart remained with my mate, my dearest friend and...

Come back Rino, I found myself repeating even though it made me feel like I was being ripped to pieces, You need to come back, now

But...but she's here! I heard Rino exclaim helplessly in a voice so pained that it broke my heart, My Luna, our lost Luna! The Luna of Hearts! She's here!

My chest ached as he said, She's right on the other side of this wall! I can feel it! I can get to her!

My eyes filled with tears and a soft whimper escaped my lips as I replied, Not today, Rino. Not today.

But why?!

The raging silver energy inside of me surfaced once again with a vengeance and I felt Cole suck in a sharp breath, his hands trembling slightly as he continued to race through the woods away from the third wall.

I realized that I had no idea what the answer to his question was, but I only knew one thing. The harder he tried to get across, the more this silver energy flowed into me.

And the more it flowed out of where it needed to remain.

Destroying something...precious....

No...

With whatever little strength was left unutilized within me, I made one final effort to end this agony. Putting my entire heart and soul into it, I commanded the raging power out of me and I finally felt it fusillade out of my body back to where it had come from.

Back to where it needed to stay.

A familiar and seemingly infinite panic momentarily tore through my body and I Iet out an anguished sigh.

Zuerien...

I knew he was losing his mind worrying about me right now and I felt utterly helpless that I could do nothing to ease his troubled mind.

Because the more the power drained out of me, the fainter I felt to the point that I could almost not feel anything at all- not even my own emotions of pain, sorrow and longing.

Please Anna, I heard Rino beg, Please think about it! I mean we're talking about-

I know, I replied, feeling my body grow cold with the last remnants of the power gushing out of me, I understand Rino...so please...listen to me.

"LUNA!" I heard Cole cry out, his voice sounding far more distant now than before, "NO! Please! Stay awake! LUNAA!"

Please...come back, I whispered to Rino sorrowfully, If you don't...then...

I felt cold tears spill out of my eyes and down my slowly numbing face.

Anna...? Rino's conflicted and suddenly worried voice then echoed in my mind, also sounding quieter and more farway now.

Come back Rino, I told him, feeling my consciousness slowly leaving me for the second time that day, Come back...and in doing so, protect her...

A-Anna?!

Please...

ANNA?!

Rino...

ANNAAA!

The mindlink shattered with his terrified voice resounding in my head in a fading echo, and with it faded my consciousness as I felt like half the life had been drained out of me.

"LUNAA!" I could still hear Cole's far-off voice crying out to me in panic but I could offer no form of comfort or reassurance to him except by hope that my thoughts reached him.

Thank you Cole...It'll be alright...everything will be alright now...

I could feel it all fading till all I was left with were thoughts and voices. One terrified voice in particular that made my heart ache and yearn for it like no other.

Heart...!

HEART!!

I'll be okay...

I'll be okay...Zuerien...

So please be okay too...

You...and Rino...and...

And the voices- mine and my dearest mate's- then faded away as well. And I felt myself go under for the hundredth time since I stumbled into the Supernatural, but my final thoughts continued to linger for a long while in my darkened mind like a prayer.

You...and Rino...

And...

For even though we couldn't get to her, a part of me had stayed back with her.

With the Luna.

Rino's Luna.

Our kingdom's lost Luna.

And...

Please be okay...Karina...

****

A/N

Hey guys!

Yet another late update. But it literally took me forever to write this chapter. 

Not just because I was busy but also because many times I just didn't like how it came out. I had to write it, then rewrite it and then re-frame the rewritten so many times that I almost went mad. 

But hopefully it turned out alright ^-^

This chapter was quite a head-ful, no? 

Questions? Theories? I'm all ears, or in this case, eyes! Seeing as I can't really hear you guys.

So, how did you guys like this chapter? I hope it was worth the wait!

If you enjoyed it, please don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE! It would mean a lot to me!

Until next time, 

All my love,

May