*** Bea's POV***
Adrian gave me five minutes to get dressed. It would be reckless to face the unknown circumstances just the two of us, but we couldn't all leave either. Someone had to stay behind to defend the castle. While Adrian woke up Connor, I dashed through the corridors down to the staff quarters with a pair of snickers and a dark blue hoodie in hand. Clothes were the least of my worries. I rather take Amaya, one of the best warriors around here, than find another t-shirt to wear. The current grey sweatpants and white tank top will have to do. My gut feeling tells me we would need all the help we could get with the less disruption possible and taking her would be like taking ten warriors.
I climb her bunk bed to get slapped in the face. Shaking the pain off while trying not to fall, I notice she is having a nightmare. Her loose brown hair sticks to her sweaty face while she tosses and turns breathlessly.
"Amaya." I shake her,
My dear Reader, Please accept my apologies for the late update. I struggled with this chapter a lot. The direction in which I wrote it didn't agree with my expectations, causing me to rewrite it repeatedly. Let me know what you think of it or what you would like to see happening in the future. A few revelations are coming in the next few chapters. Before I write some more, let me thank you for reading my book and being the reason that drives my dreams. You are an essential piece of my journey! Stay safe. Stay Creative. Stay you! XOXO Sweetbitte
***Bea's POV*** The plan is to fight enough darklings to create an opening for us to retrieve. The four Werewolves fighting along me are exceptional. Their display of strength and stamina have killed five darklings each, but the enemy kept on coming. "Listen up, boys." I block the sharp claws of my enemy with my sword's blade. Digging my feet in the snow, I push the attacker away, followed by a sword slash. It dodges my attack, compelling me to follow it deeper into their side of the battlefield, which I don't. "We can't fight forever." I throw an ice dagger stopping a darkling's attack before harming one of the wolves. "If they fall back, don't follow." I block a series of strikes by swapping my sword into a shield. "Instead, get ready to retrieve." Shapeshifting my weapon into a lance, I jab the darkling assailing me, which is then finished off by the werewolf with a golden hoop ear cuff. "Now is our queue!" The golden hoop werewolf
The rented SUV tires dug through the gravel road leading out of the aerodrome. Three days had passed since we experienced the chaos of darkness. On a brief call with Caroline, we realized Alpha Xavier's condition did not permit him to travel, but we couldn't just get up and leave the castle either. Caution is the word of the day, not to say of the century. There were no guarantees the darklings weren't going to attack us next. Adrian had to strategize a defense plan before leaving Connor in charge while he was gone. Evelina remained unconscious, and Jonas feared they would lose her if they didn't reunite with their Alpha soon. I clutch my hand to my chest, feeling the anxiety building up as my gaze recognizes the blue pine plateau from behind the front passenger's window. I'm happy to be back, but at the same time, it's clear why I wanted to leave in the first place. Calling it home feels incongruous. Yes, I was born and raised here, but I never belonged. Carl's men emerge from th
***Bea's POV*** The first hour in Blue Pine creek was chaotic, but things finally settled down. Spending the afternoon with my mother helping the refugees brought me a peaceful break from life's mayhem. "Bea, can you go downstairs and grab the baby formula from your dad?" My mother requests as she coo's the crying baby. She was looking after the baby for a few hours so the young mother could catch a shower and a deserved nap. "On it." I silently inform Caroline through gestures of my new task. I didn't want to interrupt her chat with a few survivors. Caroline is a hard-working leader. There are days she acts as if she goofs around too much, and others like this when she makes sure her new pack members feel welcome, supported, and cared for. Grayfang doesn't have a Beta. When they find their mate, Caroline's rule states that anyone, male or female, can choose to stay in the pack or leave to live with their mate's pack, rather than be a female choice only. She wanted to promote equ
***Bea's POV***"Remind me why we have to stay with you again?" I shove the stack of blankets on the dark grey armchair sofa before sliding the matching ottoman closer. This wasn't the first time Adrian and I slept in the same room. However, tonight felt different. I couldn't look him in the eyes without setting my heart into a frenzy after the recent events. Our friendship that we built over the last two weeks shattered at a freighting speed under a touch of his soft lips and ardent grip. That hadn't been the only earthquake. What was he thinking when he praised me for controlling my abilities? If he aimed for the bull's eye, he got it alright. My poor heart skipped a beat right then and there. "We don't want you to turn the place into a winter wonderland. Do we? In the past few nights, your powers have been fluctuating, your emotions bungee jumping, and I can't afford another bad impression on unfamiliar land." Adrian drops his winter coat on the end-of-bed cream bench, tugging hi
***Adrian's POV***How did everything get out of hand? We had a plan—fly the refugees, see them settle, return home. Everything changed in a heartbeat. "Is this really necessary?" Connor asks, closing Beatrice's cell reluctantly.The sparkle in her eyes died to a dull gaze, her smile became a bridge of lamentation, and my heart was hopeless at sight. No matter how many times I whispered to her that everything would be okay, my words couldn’t break through the numb state she wrapped herself in. Beatrice couldn’t be the Dark Phoenix; I was almost certain of it. However, I couldn't let my feeling for her interfere with my decision-making as a ruler."You heard father; Beatrice must remain locked until we confirm she isn't a threat.""I heard him, but—""He doesn't know her as we do. He doesn’t know she wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone kill half of my team, but Beatrice confessed, therefore, he is taking precautions."Coming back home with half of my team felt like a lost battle. Whoever p
***Bea's POV*** Reality had shifted completely. Was I still fast asleep next to Adrian, unable to wake up from this anarchic picture-moving conception? Had I been the Dark Phoenix all along? Is this why I could cure the curse? And the reason the Darklings let us go when we fought at Alpha's Xavier territory? These questions are the turmoil flooding my mind as I fail to grasp the truth. It must be a dream, and I will soon wake up to a world where Blizzard prompts me to believe in myself, and Raul blurts flirtatious comments hoping for another dance with intoxicated Beatrice. "That's right; I am just dreaming. I will wake up soon." I verbalize aloud. "Hate to be the party pooper, but you are wide awake." The guard outside my cell remarks as he slides the lunch tray through the bottom of the door. For a dungeon, everything is kept exceptionally clean. All light bulbs were accounted for and in good working order, the metal bars did not exhibit rust, and the gleam from the black lava-lik
*** Bea's POV*** Adrian's angry demeanor had Connor flush with the cell wall gasping for air. I distance myself from them as my brain wraps around the credible accusation, shuddering legs barely sustaining my weight. Connor never once harmed me. Well, except when his good intentions pushed me off the tower. The way he isn't afraid to get infected, or the way he was confident my nightmares wouldn't come with him around, is uncanny, yet my sixth sense tells me to believe him. "I'm not the Dark Phoenix!" Connor screams while pushing Adrian's sword away from his throat. "I might be King Friedrich's son, but I am not the one causing all this chaos." He moves away from Adrian, hands in the air. "I caught you right-handed trying to influence Bea's mind. I can't believe you tricked me into thinking you couldn't read it in the first place." Adrian scuffs, sword always pointing at Connor. "It's the truth. I couldn't do it till now. Bea, you must believe me." He takes one step in my direction
***Bea's POV***“Why do you do this to me. No wonder she thinks I am your butler; you have me do errands like one.” Francis whines. His voice is unmistakable with its exotic phonetics.“Francis! Quiet, you will wake her up.” Omar hisses, followed by cutlery jiggling as Francis places what I assume to be a food tray nearby, the food aroma giving it away."You look like shit, " Francis notes."I gave her what was left of my Dragon Essence.""Are you crazy? You won’t be able to shift, not to mention you will be vulnerable. If the Eragonians find out, all we worked for will be taken from us." The tone of urgency would make anyone anxious. "I had to. That thing was draining her. With Blizzard gone, she will need every ounce of energy she can. Plus, when we first met, she smelled like me. I was meant to do it anyway." Omar’s explanation has Francis sighing."You should let her know.""If it's meant to be, it will be. It's her choice, and you must respect it as I do." They both go quiet,