The last thing I had expected while Sera, Isla and I sat together and chatted lightly was for Leon and Micah to burst in frazzled.

Leon's eyes were the most expressive I'd seen so far and he didn't bother with pleasantries. Micah with his red hair, stood beside him but less ruffled up.

I stiffened even before he dropped any information and expected some reaction out of Isla and Sera but neither looked alarmed.

I stealthily slipped a hand over my pants and grabbed onto the bejeweled dagger. Instantly feeling better, armed with it but the feeling washed out soon.

And the ornate bangle Sera had gifted me sat like a weight on my left wrist and I rubbed my fingers over the jadeite ring.

"The Palace has been infiltrated." Micah's tone was hard but it implied far worse was yet to come.

A slight frown tugged at my brows but what he said next knocked the breath out of me.

"There are ten Daeva outside and one already prowling inside the walls of the Palace, Your Majesty. We need to seek safety."

I gulped, throat tight and Silern dagger poised at my side, free of its constricts.

A Daeva? No....ten Daeva?

Princess Seraphima narrowed her eyes and stood up while Isla's eyes remained downcast, shrouded in a heavy curtain of her blue hair.

"I see." She said it coolly and then glanced at me as if checking to see how I was doing.

For the most part, I was still keeping a good rein on my emotions despite the fact that I was overwhelmed on the inside by the prospect of ten or more of the creature that I'd barely managed to escape right outside.

I bit the inside of my cheek.

Hard enough to draw blood. The tangy and metallic taste jarred me awake and reminded me of how my last encounter with the hell's creature had been. I owed my life to that strange but loving sword Rubin.

I sucked in a breath and stood up, following Minister Isla's lead as she bunched her dress up and with a slight incline to her head, made eye contact with Sera.

"I shall take my leave in that case, Your Highness."

With a start I noticed she called her 'Your Highness' and not 'Your Majesty' and it wasn't lightly weighed. The usage definitely had some value but it was not to be pondered when I was the next object to be met with her blue eyes.

Isla's lips tilted up and she inclined her head again, "Take care."

Micah had been besides Leon when he burst in but now he was nowhere to be found. Worry gnawed at me but considering I'd barely caught glimpses of him in the last few weeks since becoming aware of his position, it wasn't a surprise.

I thought that was when Minister Isla would leave but she lingered a bit and then with a resolve in her blue eyes, hugged the Fae Princess who let out a light laugh and patted her back.

The blue haired Fae flickered her eyes towards mine as she gave Sera a berth and just stared at me with eyes so full of.....a...a myriad of emotions I just couldn't distinguish.

And then with a whirl, she was gone probably using her Fae speed much to my dismay.

I let out a shuddering breath, confused as to why she had left and the way as well.

But I wasn't given much time to ponder over that.

Leon gruffly spoke, by Sera's side now. "Micah has already left for the battle outside to lend a hand. We need to keep the two of you safe in the meantime."

With that short brown hair of his that he couldn't exactly run a hand through, he grunted and kept a hand on the small of Sera's back. Leon lead her to the door and she remained silent.

The second we were outside though....some things became clearer than the day. Sounds reached us now and I chalked it up to being in a room with a magic sound barrier. In any case, these noises were anything but pleasant.

A torrid of emotions like pain and anger and darkness and desperation poured through me and I released a shaky breath.

I bit my cheek to keep from bursting with my queries and proceeded to taste my own blood.

I followed and matched the quick steps, pondering over what Leon had just said regarding a fight outside and my heart skipped a beat.

But that silence Sera had been portraying was short lived and once we were by the Palace windows, the ocher haired Princess cut short the hasty retreat and looked outside. Leon gritted his teeth but didn't question her either.

I was half afraid to follow her lead but I did so and instantly found myself facing the window completely.

I inhaled sharply.

Malaar was in witch chaos, smoke rising up and water bursts sometimes visible. Even from the distance we could see what was happening.

But what was happening far closer truly made my knees weak.

Down in the open expanse, a fair distance from the Palace we were in, eight Daeva faced off against a skilled part of the Fae forces with the addition of their General and the King himself.

But there was also a Gray Leopard with black spots and a bigger than average body, vicious than usual snarl and beautifully glowing amber pools.

General Lucien was here.

Electric blue lightning - akin to the orbs I remembered distinctively - rained down on a Daeva that writhed against invisible holds of what was no doubt Arion's telekinetic powers.

Charring the black skin of the already darker than tar creature, the lightning struck a couple more of the scary powerful Daeva as they teleported and tried to catch everyone unawares.

Damien.

When I'd played out our next meeting inside my head, I hadn't expected it to be so impactful. Contrary to popular belief, even after the kiss Arion and I shared something in me swelled up at the prospect of seeing those two Celerans.

Yet here we were wondering if we could survive.

Another Daeva was struck down but I knew it took too much effort and powers from them to fell one of these creatures.

And then it finally clicked.

The vision from before. Back when I was with Veta and the stables in Celera. The one with the portal like shimmery surfaces mirror.

I remembered only blurs of a creature making it's way towards me but now that I could think clearly, the sensations in the vision and the darkness and coldness sleeping from the creature weren't so different. And it was like suddenly the blurs were all gone, clarity washing over the pictures in my mind.

I drew in a shaky breath.

But why had I had a vision like that? Of a Daeva?

My heart squeezed in pain and my breath caught in the back of my throat.

Then a mop of red hair weaving it's way through the melee caught my eye. He was fast and efficient with his sword and its marks. Silver haired General Markus aided Micah in causing the damage as soldiers ploughed ahead too. Yet the Daeva were faster and nastier.

More than a dozen Fae in royal colors and armor lay bleeding or fully dead on the ground and god knew what had happened to some others at the hands of these hell-called demons.

I felt my hand tremble and nausea rose up. I knew firsthand how hard they were to deal with and if it wasn't for Rubin that night.....

A flurry of emotions made me wonder if I was responsible for this invasion in some way or the other. Innocent lives were at cost here and momentary guilt pushed my shoulders to slump lower.

I couldn't form words and Sera watched with me, silently taking it all in.

I thought I'd seen enough but apparently I thought that too soon because distinctive shapes of nine werewolves with similar black fur were pouncing and shredding and ripping at the Daeva's at any given opportunity.

But what stood out the most were their yellow eyes. For one, I clearly hadn't had a lapse of memory to forget those impactful werewolf eyes that they all shared.

But I'd seen one of these she-woves on my way to Valeryn from Celera and she had been hurt. In the end though, we gained help and she warned us of a set-up ambush.

Now what was she and, uh, few others of her exact same kind doing here? And how?

I didn't know much about the fabled wolves but what I did know was these signs were only of the ten wolves in the Golden Pack of Adalda. The Alpha King's pack that had been incognito for the past century or so.

Yet here they were fighting alongside the Fae to take down the Daevas and the urge to go down there myself was a pricking one that made me conflict within.

Was my protector here too?

He had to be. Alpha had to be here.

But sitting still and remaining safe was something I would've gladly done some seven months ago.

Now?

Now the thought ran rampant in the recesses of my mind. I couldn't remain as a damsel in distress. Things had changed now.

The Daeva was something I had faced myself and it had clearly arrived with the objective of killing me.

Trying to tell myself that all those guards or the people in Maalar that were both innocent and guilty dying at the hands of those witches and Daeva weren't my fault was a futile attempt.

What if these creatures were here once more for me but things had roped Arion, Damien, Lucien and my best friend Micah into this as well? People who I couldn't erase from my mind.

Or Princess Seraphima or Minister Isla, for that matter.

I couldn't hold my silence wondering what I would lose if things went downhill because I knew I'd lose a bit more than just my priceless freedom now.

Something stronger was definitely at work. Something sinister and dark rolling in the mysterious world of Vammal.

So no, I felt incapable of being set aside to be protected under Leon while a battle raged on outside no matter how afraid the prospect made me.

Apparently, but somehow unsurprisingly, Sera was following the same line of thought.

"I'm not sitting here, doing nothing, Leon. I will be an active participant because I can help." She shot him a stern look and he clenched his jaw.

Obviously, Leon was feeling vexed at the thought of letting her off to face such demons. I felt myself agreeing with her but I kept my words to myself and eyes on the carnage for now.

"Princess--"

The ocher-haired Princess cut him off, "I am the Princess of Valeryn and not just in name."

That sealed the deal and her tone of voice bore no space for arguments.

Leon was no one to oppose her even though he most certainly wanted to.

And so I took the opportunity. "Me too. I can help."

I finally stepped forward and with a hard look in my eyes, I met Sera's almond ones.

She tilted her head.

"I can help take these demons down, Sera."

She nodded, "I know you can." Her beautiful face was lined with messages I couldn't yet understand.

She reached for my left hand and squeezed it tightly, a strained smile on her face and just like that I released a breath I didn't even know I was holding.

Shouts rang outside and the smell of smoke reached us.

It was darkening by the second - by the magical smoke, the dark demons and their influence and the time slipping by so that it was nearing night with just the slightest hues of dark blue and purple lining the horizon where the big ball of golden light had almost entirely vanished.

The Fae Princess looked down at the contact and smiled as our bangles clanked together while a strand of her hair slipped past her delicately arched ear.

I knew what I needed to do. I needed to go to that mysterious training room and get my sword.

Get Rubin.

There was nothing ensuring that it would glow with enough light for whatever reason to finish off these hell-brought demons but it was a risk I was willing to take.

Maybe it was pure luck the last time and it wouldn't be the same now but I couldn't dismiss the possibility.

I gulped down and locked my eyes with Sera who grimly gnawed on her lip.

"Go. Get it."

For a moment, I just stood there taking her in.

Emotions welled up in me and I, once more, was both surprised and grateful for her ability of pretty much reading my mind. There was a sense of mutual understanding between us that I didn't complain about in that moment.

She never asked questions I myself couldn't answer. I never needed to hold myself back around her and I had formed an unlikely friendship with my.....owner?

The word didn't fit at all though.

Sera was more understanding than I'd ever anticipated. Yes, she kept secrets and I know somehow nothing about me was a secret to her but for unknown reasons despite the time I was so openly cautious of her.....

I never felt threatened by the pretty Fae. Unlike Queen Kesla, there was something different about Sera though I was sure they both knew the same things.

I didn't know much but what I'd clearly deduced was no matter what secrets she was keeping from me, she was - unlike mysterious witches like Britt - on my side.

On a side I could count on.

Right?

I swallowed thickly and spared Leon a look. "Please keep her safe."

Because one could never be too sure.

He nodded curtly. "Likewise." He gave me a pointed look and I snickered internally.

It was good as it was going to get and I tightened my hold on her hand before finally letting go. I raised my chin slightly and rolled my shoulders back.

She knew I had to go and get my sword while she had other obligations to fulfill.

•○•

As I ventured down the darkened hallways of Valeryn's Palace, my thoughts ran rampant as well.

I'd never questioned Sera about one thing in particular. That was for some reason bothering me now.

The first time I came across Alpha had been when I felt the pull and the need to go protect Sera who'd been afraid and ready to be lunged at by the powerful Alpha.

But that fear had never occurred again where he was concerned because she only covered up his tracks and involvement with me, acting akin to a helper though he never acknowledged her.

Where had that fear gone?

Why?

I exhaled a breath, my heart fluttering in my ribcage as I gripped onto my bejeweled dagger tightly, poised to strike if it came to that.

My hand aimlessly wandered to my neck, feeling for the comfort of my mother's ruby necklace but I remembered how it wasn't even a ruby but frozen blood or something. I didn't know how to feel about that yet but whatever the case, it had been perfect fit for Rubin and Rubin was what I needed right now.

In the eerily silent hallway, the full moon's light trickled in slightly and my hurried footsteps were the only noise besides the stand-off taking place on the other side of the Palace, noises dimly echoing.

I was just a few steps away from the end of this hallway, leading to the next one which housed my secret training room and my only salvation - Rubin.

Until the familiar silence was disrupted by nails that scratched on a surface hauntingly and a dreadful feeling of familiarity curled in the pit of my stomach, sending my spine straightening.

I felt it the moment the Daeva materialized in front of me, no different than the one I'd recently killed but no less imposing either.

His claws slashed without a moment's delay and I ducked hissing in pain as my tender side reminded me of my last encounter with a creature of its kind. My eyes widened in fear as I slashed back with my measly dagger, blocking a clawed arm reaching for me.

Instead of veering off my course to fight it off, I took a gamble and turned on my back hurrying to close the distance between me and the corner to the next hallway.

But then the creature of hell was once again blocking my path and a tendril of fear wrapped around me before I took a step back, chest steadily rising and falling.

I gulped, looking for an opening but nothing was working in my favor.

The Daeva hissed almost joyously at my distress before it crawled its disfigured way closer and closer, making me retreat and panic rooted inside of me at the obvious tactic.

I didn't know Daeve could also be so smart but apparently I was wrong considering there has to be someone with a grasp on them - their summoner.

I cried out in surprise as it jumped in the air, its black jaw open and white teeth snapping for a piece of me.

My heart was in my throat and before I knew it, I'd rolled to the side barely avoiding taking the full brunt of the hit except....

Its sharp and deadly claws caught my right arm, tearing out tender flesh from my wrist and lower arm which instantly started to burn and drip with blood. My grip on my dagger was lost and it fell down, out of my reach as the Daeva swiped at it and sent it further away.

It hurt. It hurt just like I remembered from the still healing wound on my side.

Releasing a soft squeal and loosing my footing, I stumbled backwards, completely weaponless now as the creature landed on all fours and snarled at me. It sniffed the air that was carrying the scent of my blood and then snapped its disfigured jaws at me.

I was truly done now.

So I resorted to the last option.

I prepared to run except the creature was much faster and stronger and my adrenaline rush was still no match for it. It slammed into me from the back and I screamed out as the weight crushed me underneath, pain blossoming over my body.

I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for my impending death but the second the scent of wood and sage permeated the air, I relaxed against the pressure although still struggling to breathe.

The growl that echoed in the hallway rose goosebumps on my arms. It was purely feral and threatening, radiating power.

The weight vanished from above me and I gulped in air, thirsting for it before quickly flipping onto my back and standing up. I watched with wide eyes, my chest heaving and tingles shot down my spine as Alpha bared his teeth, eyes glowing.

His fur was darkened and the Daeva was hissing as Alpha tore at it, right and left, with ferocious intent as it slashed back in attempts to harm him. I took steps back, aware that I was useless without any weapons and I didn't exactly want to die so soon.

Alpha had come to my rescue. Just like always, I could count on him.

A warm feeling bloomed inside my chest, making me momentarily distracted but the howls and hisses brought me right back. With rapt attention, I saw as the Daeva leaked blood and the ebony wolf darted all over, tearing off chunks of the black, mutilated creature.

Blood was slightly dripping down my arm and though it ached like the disturbed wound on my side, I bit the inside of my cheek and focused elsewhere.

Alpha kept lashing at the Daeva,until it weakened and on the verge of dissipating, teleported away. I had a feeling it was gone. For now, at least.

And then my breath got stuck in my throat as golden eyes found mine and held me captive to their melting embrace. The wolf growled and took a step forward and suddenly there was slight golden smoke, all magic, surrounding him.

But what happened next left me breathless and wide eyed, a bunch of butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I gasped and my eyes widened.

Instead of an ebony wolf, there stood a man in front me with eyes the same molten gold that rooted me to my spot.

Alpha had transformed.

•○•

AN~

Well....that was, um. Intense? I sure hope you all enjoyed the chapter? Hehe.

So what do you think is going to happen now? Hm? Mwahaha, that was a surprise at the end I hope, but trust me its really not going to be the last one so better buckle up. 

Alpha is human form, that's something a lot of you have been waiting for lol. I was gonna update a bit late but then you all were excited so....I was intending to complete the 1st chapter of the sequel and then put this one out but oh, well lol. And I'm very happy today so I thought I'd have mercy on all of my lovely readers lol because I crossed 800+ followers, 20.2K reads and 3.83K votes! Yay! And even big is the fact that I woke up today to find that after I followed the official werewolf profile, my book was added to their New Feature List! YAY!

Classes have started for me again so yeah sucks but lol I'm really happy too.

We have one more chapter - the final one before the epilogue left. So the next update is going to be Damien/Lucien and finally we'll have the EPILOGUE! AaaaH! I'm so excited. Whew.

But no, don't think you can tempt me into updating earlier than five days now. Nope, no way. I won't do it. Lmao. Thank you for all your love, means a lot! And you silent readers pleaseeeee vote? We're close to 4K and if you think I deserve it then do vote! ^_^

Anyways, stay safe and don't forget to vote and comment! Till next time!

~Skyler