Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
Stone walls with elaborate carvings had fallen apart and become ruins, damaged by fire and violence. Towers and spires leaned dangerously, struggling to remain standing amid the chaos of debris. Shards of glass covered whatever remained of the cracked streets.
Gasping for air, we curled up under a building that had crumbled halfway. I darted my gaze around, peering cautiously through a gap in the ruined cement wall. The creatures seemed to have vanished.
While catching our breaths, we waited while hidden in the rubble.
After a long moment, we trotted outside our hiding spot, our heads twisting to look around, and walked through whatever was left of this city.
On the side, barren lands were all around us.
What had once been flower beds or farmers’ gardens were now nothing more than blackened patches of ash.
Some buildings were charred with fire damage.
War had ravaged these lands. This was so much worse than the war with the Blood Queen. In that conflict, many lives were lost on both sides, but at least our human cities remained unharmed.
The dead werewolf bodies were returned to our kingdom for proper burial, providing closure for their families. They had homes to return to, but everyone was gone here in this fairy city.
I supposed war was a part of our life, and I couldn’t always prevent it, but I could try to protect those I loved.
I whirled around, scanning my surroundings for the creatures, but there were none.
As we delved deeper into the ruins, remnants of fairy life lay scattered around us.
Broken pieces of delicate porcelain cups, abandoned toys, and torn garments hinted at a surprise attack—fairies' lives abruptly interrupted by whoever had done this.
I sidestepped a small, cracked teacup. The intricate designs on its surface were still breathtaking, even in its shattered state. A worn and tattered doll lay on a pile of debris.
A heavy weight settled over my heart as I thought about the broken families and lost lives. War knew no boundaries and spared no innocence. The devastation I saw showed me the harsh impact of war on everyone, no matter their loyalty or guilt or kind.
As I continued to navigate through the ruins, I wondered what I'd return to when I left the fairy realm. Would I have failed as the Queen?
No, I will do everything in my power to prevent a fate like this from befalling the werewolf kingdom.
After a moment, when it became clear that no creature showed up, I let out a heavy breath. Seeking shelter, we slipped into a ruined structure that somehow still stood amidst the wreckage. The walls looked blackened and unstable, but it offered a brief break.
I trotted to a pile of rock and debris, closing my eyes and visualizing my human form.
My shift happened immediately, but what I couldn’t get used to was the nakedness afterward.
Awkwardness—the same feeling Tammy had told me about when she woke up in the mornings after she spent the night with a new boyfriend.
I raised my head over the stones and couldn’t stop the nervous laugh that escaped my mouth as I looked at the two silver wolves.
Their bodies morphed and twisted until both men stood naked before me. A flush crept up my cheeks as I hastily averted my gaze from Torin's chiseled body, acutely aware of Robert's presence. I ducked behind the rocks and breathed in and out.
“I didn’t see anything,” I said.
“Even if you did, so what?” Robert said. “Ouch. Tor.”
A low, deep chuckle followed, causing me to smile.
“It’s not funny,” I shouted from my hiding spot. “If I had been shifting since a kid, I wouldn’t be feeling so exposed right now.”
I felt the awkwardness, but probably no one else did.
Footsteps approached, and I sat on the ground and hugged my knees.
Torin appeared before me, causing my breath to hitch.
He towered over me with broad shoulders and lean hips.
His abdomen was tight, carved like a sculpture, drawing my attention to the V between his muscles that led down to his pelvis.
I averted my gaze, gulping back the lump in my throat. Torin chuckled softly and crouched down beside me. Thank the Fates he didn’t do so immediately in front of me.
He reached out to brush a strand of hair from my face, leaving warmth over my skin.
“Anna, look at me,” he said. “It takes courage to be so exposed, and I thank you for allowing me to see you like that.”
He’d seen me naked before. But now his amber eyes had a crinkle in the corners.
“I’m trying hard to… I don’t know.”
Not cave in to you.
I crossed my arms over my chest as if that would hide my mate marks. His heated gaze studied the marks at the crook of my neck, and he traced one of the inked lines with a long finger, his touch sending shivers down my spine.
“Stop overthinking,” he said. “Right now, I want to keep you safe and protected.”
My heart thudded wildly, my breath catching in my throat as I stared at him. His skin was warm against mine as he placed his palm against my cheek. I liked this feeling, but why did I feel disappointed?
Whatever connection I had with Torin, it sizzled electricity that made every fiber of my being come alive. All I wanted at this moment was for his strong arms to wrap around my waist, pulling me against his hard chest as I melted into him.
Forgetting our nakedness, a sense of calmness washed over me. This moment felt undeniably right.
A surge of familiarity coursed through my veins as I locked eyes with Torin, sending shivers down my spine. A sense of belonging enveloped me, the bond to my fated mate feeling alive.
I realized that my true home, my place in this world, lay with him. Torin was my home.
I had long yearned for the warmth and security of belonging to another person. At first, I thought having a home meant a physical location or structure, but now I understood that home was where the heart was—and my heart belonged to Torin—with or without a mate bond.
Yet, the painful reminder that I belonged to another adorned my shoulder and chest. I rubbed my eyes.
As much as I hoped Hayden had followed us and was away from the kingdom, I knew that my duty was to return and ensure the kingdom’s safety. It was my destiny, after all.
"I was always meant to be the Queen, wasn't I?" I murmured, gazing deep into Torin's eyes.
I felt a surge of clarity, a new meaning that ignited my soul like never before.
"You were," he said. "Even if I wanted you all to myself. At first, I hoped you could be my Luna since you didn't want to be the Queen. But that hope quickly dissolved."
Torin’s fingers drew circles on my neck, causing my core to tighten.
"Torin," I breathed, feeling a wave of warmth spread through my body. "I guess I was a little slow, but now I see it. My role as the Queen is not just an obligation, but a part of my very essence. Part of my identity, just as my witch blood and wolf spirit are."
It was a calling that resonated deep within my soul and enveloped me in a sense of belonging I'd long craved.
Torin traced another tribal line from the crook of my neck down to my breast, sending warmth through my chest.
I breathed deeply, filled my cheeks with air, and exhaled loudly. “You’re not disgusted by the mate marks left by another man?”
Torin’s gaze snapped to mine, flashing his crimson eyes. I wished I knew what he was thinking.
“I’m not. They are a part of who you are becoming,” he said, and for a long moment, his lips remained pressed together while I waited. “But please don’t sacrifice yourself anymore for me, Anna.”
“Why?” I held my breath. “I would do it all over again.”
If he said, “Because I don’t deserve it”—something I’d heard before—I swore to the Gods, I would knee him between his naked legs.
Torin's half smile resembled his smug expression when we’d first met in London.
“I’m much stronger now, little witch wolf,” he said. “I want to take care of you, and I’ll do the sacrificing.”
My heart skipped a beat, for him and no other.
Torin brushed his hand over my cheek and stood. I shut my eyes right before I caught a glimpse of him, and I exhaled loudly. This shifting business would be the death of me if I had to witness Torin naked often.
“Stay here. I’m going to find some clothes for all of us,” Torin said.
Yes, clothes were exactly what we needed. And quickly.
His footsteps echoed away from me.
“Protect her with your life.” Torin’s deep voice sounded close by.
He must have said it to Robert, who followed with an annoyed grunt.
“That goes without saying.” Robert’s voice sounded serious.
After a moment, I could no longer hear the crunching of rubble and grinding of rocks.
“It’s good to see him care for someone else for a change,” Robert said.
I straightened my stiff shoulders. “What do you mean? He cares about his pack.”
My numb butt needed a break from the cold and rough ground. I stood and crouched behind the pile of debris, peering at Robert.
He gave me a genuine smile. “I meant for a woman. Even before he was turned when we lived in the Nighteye pack, Torin was only focused on his training to be the next Alpha and his sketches.”
“Sketches?”
Robert chuckled. “This is what you got out of everything I said.” Amusement laced his voice. “Torin used to sketch for hours at a time. Usually, he would isolate himself in a secret spot in the forest with a pencil and sheets of paper.”
I couldn’t stop the smile growing on my lips. “I used to do this with my calligraphy supplies.”
An image of Torin’s sketch of the demonic-looking dog who’d popped up in his pack territory flashed in my mind, and then another—the burning cottage in the forest. He was indeed talented.
“Yeah, match made perfect,” Robert said and laughed.
My smile broadened. “So, you two were close?”
Robert nodded, averting his gaze and seeming lost in thought. His eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and guilt that tugged at my heartstrings.
"Robert," I said in a low voice, "I heard you ask Torin for forgiveness."
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Yeah, I did. I abandoned him when he needed me most, and he suffered because of my cowardice."
"He forgave you, didn't he?"
"He did," Robert said, looking away from me as his voice cracked. "I don't know if I deserve it, but he did."
"I’m glad he has family now,” I said softly.
"Thank you, Breanna," he said, meeting my gaze with gratitude shining in his eyes.
For a long moment, I averted my gaze to anywhere but Robert until Torin came back, breaking our chat with a bunch of clothes draped over his arms.
"I found these," he said, tossing a few pieces to his brother and walking to me.
Torin carefully laid the garments out before me on top of the rocks. Thank the Fates he had already dressed. His snug leather pants clung to his sturdy legs a little too closely.
They had faded patterns of interlacing vines and leaves on them. His vest left little to the imagination, only covering the skin over his pec muscles with two crossing pieces of fabric.
I almost reached out to touch the leather, wondering if it was the same material Hayden mentioned his men wore as protection against arrows and thorns.
As Robert dressed with his back toward me and Torin in similar clothes, I said, “This attire…” I swallowed hard. “It looks similar to what—”
“Hayden’s men in the kingdom wore,” Robert finished, turning around to face us.
I sucked in a sharp breath and picked up the clothes Torin got for me. His proximity and his gaze over my figure made my core tighten with need.
Hiding behind the pile of rubble, I picked up the strapless velvet bodice, running my fingers along the faded lace trimmings. The soft fabric felt comfortable against my skin, and I noticed a single sparkling gemstone fastened to the chest area, though it had lost its shine.
"Wow," I breathed, marveling at the intricate details despite their current state. “The fairies were surely graceful and talented craftsmen.”
Though strapless and worn, the gentle velvet bodice clung to my body.
The soft hues of lavender and sky blue looked captivating, even though they were faded.
The delicate fabric of the long skirt whispered against my legs as I moved, giving me a sense of grace and strength that I hadn't experienced before.
As I wrapped the skirt around my waist, I frowned at its ankle-length design.
How was I supposed to fight while wearing this?
Torin handed me a length of ribbon. "You can tie the skirt up if you need to move more freely."
I blinked at him. This man was ahead of me, having thought of everything.
"Thanks," I replied, my cheeks heating.
I slipped on the faded black boots Torin had found, grateful they were sturdy and well-fitting. Walking out of my hiding spot, I looked at the two men.
“We should keep walking until we hopefully find a city still standing and with people in it.”
The men gave a silent signal and left our hiding place to enter the ruined road.
We walked among the debris, only hearing our breaths and steps in the quiet.
In the distance, the charred remains of what used to be a grand fountain lay at the heart of a desolate square, its waters long gone and replaced by ashes and debris.
This city must have been beautiful before its destruction. But where were all the people? Did they all…
I swallowed the dryness in my throat and focused on the silence around me.
A noise startled us, and Torin and Robert looked alert, their gazes searching the dark. The men lunged forward and caught a creature from behind the ruined fountain.
As I dashed toward the struggling men, I saw that they had finally subdued the beast, and to my surprise, it wasn’t one of the creatures that had been pursuing us.
It was a man, his deformed shape heartbreaking. His loose-fitting garments accommodated his uneven posture.
Torin and Robert hesitated, their grips loosening around the abrupt curve of the man’s spine, creating a humpback. The man looked up at me with wide, frightened eyes.
"Please," he said in a hoarse voice. “I’m not the enemy.”