Damien's pov
I couldn't stop my heart from racing, every part of me wanted to stop this but I knew I couldn't, I had to let her do this.
“Noli intrare malum, non transitum” she began her spell and I wondered what language it was. Latin maybe?
It wasn't long after she said those words that I noticed something happen in the pool.
I could feel the pull getting stronger, like it was calling out to me.
She repeated the incantation and the writings on the stones lit up, making me tilt my head to the side in wonder.
“Is it working?” I asked lowly so I didn't disturb her and her dad nodded with a whispered ‘yes’.
Something was happening with the water, the light within it seemed to be whirling around Alari.
She said the incantation again and I felt a jolt of electricity rush down my spine. Before I could question what that was, I felt the bond I had with every wolf and Lycan in the Kingdom awaken.
The life force of every shifter under the Kingdom fuelled my Lycan and I could feel Roman push forward, forcing a shift.
“No! We need to stay in this form in case Alari needs us!” I managed to grunt out as I fell on one knee.
“It's not me!” Roman growled, fighting the shift as well but unable to push it back.
The power pushing us to shift lifted and I breathed lighter, only for a minute though because I was then hit with all the sensations and power rushing through my mate through our bond.
And it seemed like she was feeding off of it. She was reaching out to us and we heeded her call.
“Don't die on me mate” Roman said, making sure she felt our presence over everything she was currently feeling.
I felt an unimaginable amount of power flow through her, pushing me a step back but I held strong, holding onto our bond.
Waves of kinetic energy swept through us, causing a gust of wind to blow uncontrollably within the cave.
Raising a hand to cover my eyes from the dust and watch Alari, I noticed a glow around her and.. it looked like she was sinking!
But even then, I felt a sense of calm wash over her and knew she was okay, I just needed to be there for her.
“I'm here love” I linked to her, fighting to keep my eyes open and on her. I could feel and hear her converse with Sapphira and it made me a little nervous to know she thought this may kill her but a big part of me believed in her and knew she could do this.
She screamed the incantation this time and it was like I could see the barrier go up in her mind but it wasn't only our pack, it was… THE WHOLE FUCKING KINGDOM!
“How is she doing that?” I wondered but quickly realised that Alari had sunk beneath the water.
“Alari!” I called out, panic taking root and I wanted to jump in there and pull her out but something kept me rooted in place.
A sense of calm washed over me, even though I knew I should be losing my mind.
“We have to get her out of there!” I heard Valerian shout but everything in me told me no.
“No wait” I found myself saying, earning myself questioning looks from the both of them but I couldn't explain it, I just knew she was okay.
Even when I could feel her float away from me and the feeling was digging into soul.
A violent tearing ripped through me and I felt all my strength leave my body. Still on my knees, I felt my heart bleed and mourn.
“Wh.. what is that?” I managed to croak out but it was inaudible, even to my ears. But I already knew what it was, and I guess my mind wasn't ready to accept it.
“Alpha!” Valerian rushed to my side, his movements too fast for my world that had suddenly come to a still.
“Alari, she's… she's not here anymore!” Roman howled in pain, my heart squeezing painfully with every beat.
I felt our bond cut off completely, like she was never real, never there and all that existed was the agony tearing at my insides.
But how? She was just here! And why couldn't I move? Why did it feel like she would be just fine? Even through all this pain?!
“No! This can't be happening! I can't reach her!” Roman growled as I fought to move but my body wasn't listening, like it had a mind of its own.
She broke out of the water seconds later and the hold on my body gave way, allowing me to rush into the water, to go to her.
The sight of her struggling to breathe choked me, making me wish I could breathe for her.
Pulling her into my arms and out of the pool was when my lungs decided to take in air and I felt relief like never before flood me. I thought I'd lost her.
“Don’t you ever scare me like that again!” I said as I kissed all over her face before hugging her tightly to me.
Those minutes I couldn't feel her caused me trauma I'd never get over. I need to do better, I need to protect her at all costs.
I may not have magic but I'm a powerful Lycan Alpha, I will fight for her till my last breath.
“Goddess…” I heard her whisper before she passed out in my arms, leaving me with burning questions.
What did she mean Goddess?
“It worked” Her mother whispered, now kneeling beside me, her trembling hand reaching for her face but not touching, like she was afraid of hurting her.
“She did it” her father laughed, his voice sounding more relieved than anything.
“Yeah, she did” I said, everything starting to feel normal again, our bond stronger than ever.
“I need to get her to bed, and out of these clothes” I said, getting up with her in my arms to leave.
I felt suffocated all of a sudden, and I needed to be alone with my mate.
“Yes, do that” her mother said as got to her feet, sighing with a nod as she took her eyes off of Alari.
I don't know if I'm overthinking it but her relief looked like she knew something had happened to Alari.
We left the cave, making sure the entrance was sealed before leaving the dungeon.
“We're going to the border, to… see that everything is in place” Valerian said as we reached the ground floor of the palace and I just nodded, making my way up the stair to our chambers.
I gently put her down on the couch in our bedroom and rushed into the bathroom. Wetting a towel with warm water, I went to clean her up as best as I could, changed her into warm pajamas before getting her in bed.
Backing away from the bed, I stood at a distance to watch her, and creepy as it was, I couldn't bring myself to look away.
I was… afraid.
“We've been acting like a love sick puppy since we found her, it needs to stop!” Roman growled, standing at attention as anger boiled within my veins.
“I know” I said outloud, knowing no one could hear me or else they'd think I was crazy.
“We are a Lycan Alpha, a fucking King! It's time to act like it human!” He growled again, this time louder and I only grew more aggravated.
“I know Roman!” I growled back, fisting my hands so I don't punch the wall and wake her up.
“If we do nothing, next time we'll lose her for good” this time he whined, making me clutch my chest as it strained painfully.
“There won't be a next time, I'll make sure of it” I said, turning to the bathroom to clean myself up and join her.
“Lucien” I called to my beta through the link.
“Alpha” he responded immediately, sounding like I'd caught him at a bad time.
“Busy?” I asked, raising a brow as I looked into the bathroom mirror. Damn, I looked like I'd aged ten years from almost losing her.
“Not anymore, what can I do for your Alpha?” He asked, making me wonder what it was he was doing, but I didn't dwell on it, there were more important issues to take care of.
“Summon the council, I want them here tomorrow” I said and was met with silence.
“Lucien?” I called out to him, unsure whether he was still listening or not.
“Let me get this straight, you willingly want those grumpy old farts here?” He asked, making me roll my eyes.
“Just do as I say” I said, followed by a grunt from him.
“I’m gonna have so many wrinkles by the time I return” his groan made me chuckle and shake my head.
“Don't worry my friend, you won't have to, just make a call” I said, and was, once again met with silence.
“I can't keep asking if you're still there Lucien, pay attention!” I growled lowly, slowly getting annoyed.
“You're serious” he said, sounding shocked.
“They're not gonna like that” he continued, not giving me a chance to respond.
“I don't care, and call all the Alphas while you're at it, I want them all here by evening tomorrow” I said, walking out of the bathroom.
“O…Kay, this is serious!” He exclaimed, but I'd lost all desire to converse as I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on my mate, who was fucking glowing and mid shift!
“Let me know when it's done” I said and closed the link, slowly approaching my bed.
It was like the light of the pool was swirling around her in little waves and as amazing the sight of it was, I had no idea what to do.
“Damien, feel her” Roman said, his voice a little strained.
As bizaar as the request was, I opened myself up to our bond and was blown back a few steps by the energy radiating off of her.
“Sh… she feels like the moon?” It was more a question of ‘how the fuck was that possible!’ than what it sounded like.
“The gateway, she's drawing power from the gateway” Roman said, making me blink a few times. Did I miss something?
“What gateway?!” I asked, feeling a little out of the loop.
“The pool you idiot! It's a gateway to the moon realm” he said with an eye roll and I was stuck trying to figure out how he knew that and why he didn't tell me sooner.
“Why are you only telling me this now?” I asked, really feeling dumb for calling it ‘the pool’ this whole time.
“Sapphira just told me” he said nonchalantly and I swear to the Goddess if I could hit him, I would.
“Ask Sapphira what we should do” I said after a few moments of silence and feeling helpless.
And also fearing for her, the last time she was in that pool I almost lost her.
“Hold her” he said and without hesitation, I got in bed beside her.
The energy pulsating around her hit me hard now that I was closer and was forcing Roman forward.
Taking her hand, I felt the moon's command take over my body and without even noticing, began shifting.
“I can't hold back!” Roman growled, trying to stop himself and I couldn't stop him either, he was too powerful, fuelled by something with unimaginable power.
“Let it happen mate, don't fight me” Sapphira's smooth voice echoed in my head and my body relaxed into the shift.
It took me seconds to shift into my Lycan and I had to lay on the floor next to Alari so I wouldn't break the bed.
Putting my head on her lap, I felt her hand entangled into my fur and heard her moan softly.
I don't know how, but she felt like a beacon, calling to me and I couldn't resist. She felt out of this world, something beyond my comprehension yet recognised without a doubt deep in my spirit.
Closing my eyes, I relaxed into her touch, feeling the power rushing through her veins seep into the mate bond and into me.