Chapter 93: Confronting the Past Anna POV

The first rays of morning seeped through the canopy, the woodland was strangely calm. The cool morning air caress my skin as I sat by myself on a rock next to the stream. My thoughts raced with uncertainties and anxieties, and sleep had become elusive. I was troubled by the scout's report of Crescent Grove's devastation, and the howl from the night before continued to reverberate in my mind like a gloomy echo.

I had been awakened by something else, though—a sensation that was like a whisper calling my name from deep within my chest.

"Anna."

The clearing seemed deserted, but I flinched and spun around. My chest was thumping in my ribcage. "Who is there?"

Quiet.

I ran a hand through my hair and let out a shaky gasp. Perhaps I was finally feeling the effects of the pressure. However, a wave of energy swept through the air as I turned back toward the stream, and I realized that I was not alone.

"Anna," the voice repeated, a little lower.

My breath caught as I froze. I recognized the tall, broad-shouldered figure in front of me; it had graying hair and eyes that had always been warm, even in the worst of circumstances.

"Leo?" I whispered, my voice breaking.

He grinned, that soft smile I had sorely missed. "Little one, you've become stronger."

I stood there with tears in my eyes, not knowing whether to run to him or stay away. My voice shook as I said, "This isn't real. You're gone. You're not here."

"I am," he stated in a steady, calm voice. "But you need me, which is why I'm here now."

I swallowed forcefully, tears streaming down my face. "I don’t understand. How are you here?"

He stepped closer and said, "The bond we share is deeper than life or death. You're on the verge of making a decision that will define you, which is why I'm here."

With my hands balled into fists, I shook my head. "Leo, I’m lost. I don’t think I’m ready. It feels like I’ll never be prepared."

He put a hand on my shoulder, his face softening. It was grounded, comforting, and real. "Anna, you've always been prepared. All you had to do was believe it."

With a trembling breath, I let my walls down. "I’m afraid. What if I don’t succeed? What if I’m powerless to stop him?"

With firmness, he stated, "You won’t be alone. Lucas is with you. Your ancestry has given you power. You also possess the courage to stand up for what's right."

I countered, "But I’m not like you. You showed courage. You always knew what to do."

Leo laughed softly, and I felt as though my soul had been soothed. "Anna, I was afraid too. Every single step. However, bravery is the decision to act in spite of fear, not the absence of it."

His words resonated deeply with me, igniting something inside of me. In my chest, a glimmer of resolve burned away the uncertainty and anxiety.

"What if this power causes me to lose myself?" I asked quietly.

"You won’t," he promised. "Because you're fighting for more than yourself. You are standing up for those who are unable to defend themselves. For the people who need hope. For the future you are entitled to."

With a slight reduction in the weight on my shoulders, I nodded slowly. I murmured, my voice hardly audible, "I miss you."

He placed a palm over my heart. "And I’m always with you. In this very spot."

I could tell that our time was running out as the air around us shimmered. "Leo, hold on," I hurriedly pleaded. "I still have a lot of questions..."

He gently interjected, saying, "Anna, you already know the answers. Believe in yourself."

Then he disappeared, leaving me in the clearing by myself.

Lucas was sweating profusely after a sparring session with Kael when I met him near the training grounds. He saw me right away, wiping his face with a towel and furrowing his brow.

"Anna? Are you alright?"

Despite my heart still pounding, I nodded. "We need to talk."

After Lucas and Kael exchanged a glance, Kael shrugged and left us alone. "What's happening?" Lucas inquired in a cautious tone.

In an attempt to calm myself, I inhaled deeply. "I had a vision. About Leo."

Skepticism flashed across his face as his countenance hardened. "Anna..."

"I know how it sounds," I interrupted, raising a hand. "Before you say anything...Lucas, it was real. He spoke to me. He said, 'I'm ready.'"

Lucas crossed his arms and scowled. "Ready for?"

"To face Oliver," I said firmly.

He shook his head, his jaw tightening. "You're not ready, Anna. Not yet. Even though you’ve come a long way, this is suicide."

I insisted, "I can't wait any longer. More people suffer every day we're here. Crescent Grove is gone. Darius is gone. How many more lives must be lost before we take action?"

"And what happens if you rush into this and get yourself killed?" Lucas lost his temper. "You think anyone will benefit from that?"

Even though his words stung, I didn’t back down. "I’m not rushing into anything. I’m preparing. Training. But I can’t hide here forever, Lucas. I won’t."

He raked a hand through his hair, his displeasure clear. "You’re asking me to just stand by and watch you risk everything. You have no idea how difficult that is for me."

I softened and moved in closer. "I'm not asking for your patience. I’m asking for your support."

His eyes searched mine as he gazed at me. "Are you certain about this, aren’t you?"

"Yes," I responded in a firm voice.

With a sigh, he released the tension in his shoulders. "Then I’m with you. Always."

I stretched out my hand, and he took it, a wave of relief passing through me. "I’m grateful."

His grip was solid and firm as he clasped my hand. "Just make me a promise."

"What?"

"That you’ll exercise caution," he muttered. "Anna, I can’t let you go."

"You won’t," I said.

But I couldn’t help but wonder whether I had just made a promise I couldn’t keep as the wind carried a wolf’s howl in the distance.