Light & Clarity
Liam
Bright light. That was all I could see. I couldn’t hear or feel anything…
I opened my eyes and looked around. There was nothing but light. It was dazzling, yet it didn’t hurt the eyes. I was no longer in pain… I sat up slowly.
Where am I?
“You are nowhere, just in-between life and death,” a majestic voice answered. It was strong and beautiful, but it didn’t sound human.
A soft laugh filled the air, and I realised something was forming in front of me.
A glowing outline of a tall woman with long hair…
I had to look away. Looking at her directly made my eyes sting due to the intensity of the light.
I didn’t need her to introduce herself to know who she was.
I lowered my head to her, not sure how to feel.
“Goddess…”
“Indeed, my child.” I could tell from her voice that she was smiling. “I am proud of you; you sacrificed your life for your brother.” I frowned, everything returning to me.
“I don’t think he sees me as a brother anymore… I lost that right long ago,” I said quietly.
She held her glowing hand out, her flowing white dress swaying in a non-existent breeze. I took it hesitantly, feeling a cooling smoothness wash over me.
“It is in your blood to want your mate for yourself. You are still brothers. You are one pack, one family,” she said as I stood up, letting go of her hand.
That’s true, we are…
“To err is part of life. You broke the centuries-old curse, child; one I knew you could.” Surprise rushed through me, and although I couldn’t hear it, my heart was thumping in my chest.
“The curse is broken?”
“You gave the gift of life, selflessly sacrificing your own for someone else, someone who has caused you great inner conflict. You cast aside your bitterness and fought this darkness…” I stayed silent, remembering the curse and prophecy. She laughed softly.
“The curse… ah… Helios is not one to forget the insult. His curse was strong. I knew I would need someone powerful to break it. I have waited centuries for the right wolf to be born. I have created many strong, powerful alphas of the Deimos line, yet none as compassionate as you. Alphas are powerful, strong, and have the will to lead. It is their soulmates who are usually the more compassionate, loving ones. I couldn’t simply evade the curse.
When Helios foresaw your birth and the power that you would have, he came to me…
I couldn’t simply bend the rules to break the curse.
We, gods, have rules and regulations, too, after all.
Yours and the blessed wolf’s births weakened the curse, but I had to seal away your abilities.
In their place, he placed the darkness within you, the ultimate test to either break the curse or end the Deimos line for eternity.
The burden was upon you before you even left your mother’s womb. ”
I pondered on her words, taking them in slowly, and frowned slightly.
“Abilities?” I asked, trying to make sense of what she had said completely.
“Yes, you are the Deimos Prince.”
“Aren’t all Deimos alphas princes, since we come from the Deimos line, like Dad or Grandad?” I asked as we walked side by side with no destination in mind.
“Not at all. I placed within you the powers second only to the original Deimos wolf. You are far more pure-blooded than your predecessors, hence a Deimos prince. Far more powerful.”
“Yet…”
“Speak your mind, child,” she said, although I knew she knew what I was thinking.
“Raven… her having two mates… what was the reason behind it?” I asked quietly, unable to hide the sadness. I always felt that I wasn’t enough.
“Oh, child, never think you are not enough.”
“Then why?”
“To test you. I couldn’t simply allow you to have a life of ease if I wished for you to break the curse.
There were several outcomes that could have taken place, and even I did not know how it would go.
I cannot foresee everything, after all, just the possible outcomes.
When I made you, I created for you a mate whom I knew would be far too gentle to want to hurt either.
It needed to be from you,” she sighed, despite her voice sounding as light and powerful as ever.
“You have broken the curse, yet you are neither alive nor dead.” I knew that…
“However, your mate marked you.”
I looked at her sharply, only to flinch due to the blinding light, and looked away, touching my neck. My heart thudded at the realisation.
“She’s completed the bond between you two.”
Raven… why…
“Because she loves you.”
“But I’m on the brink of death, right?” I asked, my heart squeezing in pain.
“Yes, your heart stopped a moment ago. Here, time moves strangely… but she marked you. Even when your body could no longer fight, she still risked her life by sharing her strength with you, thus destroying this curse.”
“But I was too late…” I didn’t care... but Raven...
My heart squeezed thinking of her. She had lost everyone in life…
“If you die, wouldn’t that mean the curse has won? You must live.”
My heart soared with hope. I looked at her, fighting the bright light, knowing that the moment was about to end. I had one request.
“Damon… please give him a second chance. He doesn’t deserve to be alone.” He had given up Raven for me, and although I couldn’t share her… I wanted him to find his happiness, too. He had lost far too much.
I couldn’t see her properly, but I knew she was smiling.
“Fear not… I have a plan. I always have a plan. Fight for what you want, child… the Deimos line must live on…” Her voice faded away, and I looked around, realising she was gone.
Suddenly, I was plunged into darkness. What was this?
Then I was falling backwards at an incredible speed…
Raven
“No… no!”
“Raven…” Damon whispered, but I refused to let go of Liam. Even though it hadn’t even been a minute since his heart stopped, it felt like an eternity…
“Do something! Bring him-”
A sudden darkness seeped out of him, sending a shiver down my spine, and then an enormous amount of dazzling blue energy emitted from Liam, throwing us all back.
I gasped as Damon caught me, both of us getting thrown straight into the dessert table.
The wave of pure blue aura burst outwards, shattering the windows of the packhouse in the process.
The trees bent under the sheer force of the blue light that illuminated the entire sky, washing away the darkness.
“Liam!” I cried out, feeling the sizzling strong snap of the mate bond fall back into place, a surge of emotions and strength filling me.
He’s alive!
I was the first to rush to his side, the glowing blue aura whirling around him. He took a deep breath, his eyes flying open, blazing a brilliant magnetic blue that stared directly into mine. He cupped the back of my neck, one arm pulling me into his lap.
“Baby…”
“Blue Eyes…” I whispered, flinging my arms around his neck. His heart was thundering loudly, and that intense aura surrounded him.
“Fuck, I love you,” he whispered. His heart was pounding, as was my own, his hands roaming my body as if to reassure himself that I was alive.
“I love you, too, so much,” I whispered. His hand tangled in my hair, pulling me close and kissing me passionately.
I couldn’t even kiss him back for a second, too shocked at the intense sparks that erupted inside of me. The pure intensity of the completed bond made my entire body sizzle with delicious tingles that sent my stomach into a knot of burning desire.
I can’t lose you… I whispered through the link, kissing him back, our lips so perfectly moulded against the others.
You won’t.
I whimpered softly the moment he broke away, kissing me down my jaw and neck, not leaving an inch of my bare skin empty from his touch as his arms wrapped around me tightly.
The muffled sob of Aunty Red reached me, and it took my all to pull away from his touch, my eyes full of tears.
I looked at her, knowing she wanted to meet her son too.
I motioned with my head, and she came over, smiling at us before flinging her arms around us both with her body shaking in silent sobs as she held us tightly.
Liam’s strong arms wrapped around us both, placing soft kisses on top of both of our heads.
“I’m okay,” Liam said, my heart skipping a beat as I closed my eyes.
Thank the Goddess…
Aunty Red moved back, and Uncle El pulled her into his arms, looking at Liam. He was in nothing but shorts since he had been one of the ones to go after the attacker in a blind rage.
“You gave us a scare there,” he said quietly.
“Sorry,” Liam said, standing up.
“No need to apologise. Guess you’re just making up for being such a good pup when you were little,” Uncle El said, his eyes full of emotions.
The man before me had truly been through so much in life, yet he still remained so strong. He hugged his son, and I smiled, watching them. Liam was taller and bulkier, and I realised that he was ready to let his father retire… to be the alpha that Uncle El could rely on, too.
“Wiyam, are you okay?” Azura’s little voice came, big tears splashing down her cheek.
“I am, pumpkin,” Liam said, crouching down and pulling her into his arms. I smiled softly, staring at his back. Save the blood that remained, he was fully healed…
Now that Liam was okay, the questions filled my mind. What the hell happened?
“Who was it?” I asked.
A silence fell, and my stomach twisted. Why weren’t they telling me? I looked at Damon, who was still pale, watching Liam almost as if he couldn’t believe he was okay.
“Damon?” He looked at me, his heart racing as he glanced at Uncle El. Even Aunty Red moved back questioningly.
“Haru Jacobs,” Uncle El answered quietly, making my stomach plummet. My father… he…
“He’s dead. I killed him. I’m sorry,” Uncle El said, looking directly at me. I shook my head.
“No, I’m sorry that this happened because of me… I’m sorry.”
“Hey. Stop apologising. You are not responsible for your father’s crimes, Raven,” Uncle El said firmly as I fought back the tears.