107

Jamal’s POV

The dark witch, a shadow from the recesses of his past, cast an ominous pall over my thoughts. Her malevolence, the catalyst for the arduous journey through the realms, loomed as a reminder of the trials I had faced. In the face of this formidable adversary, I found the strength to swim against the currents.

With a newfound surge of determination, O pushed against the encroaching darkness. The thought of Methis waiting, of my cubs growing up without their father, of the pack relying on my leadership, propelled me toward the surface. The image of the moonlit realm, my sovereign domain, beckoned as a distant haven.

Yet, the cruel reality of physical exhaustion proved insurmountable. As my limbs strained against the water, the weight of my shifting form, soaked and weary, became an anchor dragging him into the depths.

Then, everything went dark.

* * *

I woke up to a sound.

Vaguely aware that I was lying on the floor, in the pitch darkness, my vision swimming around me, I groa