The Angel's Fate

Chapter 8

That was the best day of my life. I'm sprawled out in the center of a giant wooden bed, wrapped in a fur blanket in a dark room in Eric's castle and lost in a daydream. I feel like something's been awakened within me, and I never want it to disappear again.

Hunting was so exhilarating, and I've never laughed as much as I did during dinner with the wolves. Drinking, talking, dancing, I've never experienced a world so full of joy. I just wish I didn't have to leave.

I heave a deep sigh. As my mind drifts off to sleep my thoughts wander back home and back to Robin. There's something about the magic that happens between us, the sparkling enigma that makes me wonder about how powerful we could be together.

But here... If I stayed here, I would never have to use magic again. I could be free.

Who am I kidding? I am a hideous beast. I'll never truly belong anywhere.

The confused thoughts whirl about my brain like a tornado until I finally drift off to sleep surrounded by fantasies about my future.

_________

I sleepily open my eyes and swing my legs over the side of the bed.

Thirteen days to go until the council. Thirteen days to get all of the supernatural leaders to agree to meet with me.

And even if I can get them all to come to the meeting, who's to say that I can even get them to agree to a treaty? And why does the fate of the world always fall in my hands?

I roll over and pull the blanket back over my head. If only I could stay in this bed forever.

But I have a job to do.

I groan and huff into the pillow. It's a deep sound that reminds me of the howls and rumbles that rang through the woods yesterday. I yearn to go running through the trees again, hunting like the animal within me craves.

It takes a while, but I finally get out of bed and put the fairy gown back on. Almost as if on cue, there is a knock at my door,

I release my hair from the messy bun on top of my head and allow the dark curls to cascade down my shoulders. After a quick glance in the mirror, I go to answer the door.

Sure enough, Eric is standing right in front of me in all of his rugged beauty. Either he is spying on me, or he's right about this "connection" between us.

"Good morning," He says with a dangerously handsome smile and a nervous bow. "Did you sleep well?"

I nod and smile drowsily. "Yes, thank you," I answer, stifling a yawn and rubbing my eyes. "Yesterday was wonderful. Thank you for... everything."

His smile grows into a full-blown grin. "I'd love to show you more," he says as he reaches up to gently push a strand of hair behind my ear. He's so close that my animalistic senses can hear his heartbeat quicken as he gets closer to me.

His hand gently trails down my hair and over my arm, finally falling on my fingertips.

When our hands touch, there’s no magic.

What does that mean?

The confusion of the moment makes me take a step back. Eric looks hurt, but I have to keep my guard up. He releases my hand and nervously runs his fingers through his hair.

He clears his throat. "Will you be joining us for breakfast?"

"I'd love to," I answer, "But I really should get back to the Fairy Woods to let them know about our agreement. I don't have much time to get the rest of the leaders together."

His face darkens at the mention of the fairies. "I don't understand how someone as wonderful as you can spend so much time with those creatures." He asks. "They are bigoted purists, and they have always looked down on werewolves, treated us like dirt."

I bite my lip. "Robin is different," I say quietly.

"Ah," Eric mutters as he realizes the meaning behind my words. "You're in love with him. That's why you haven't felt our connection yet. It's blurred."

"No!" I snap, almost too quickly. "We have been friends since we were kids, but I know that we can't be together... not like that."

Eric raises a suspicious eyebrow at me. "I think you're protesting too much," he says with a touch of sadness in his voice. "Maybe you do need to go and sort all of that out. The sooner you realize that you belong here, the better."

With that, he turns away with his head hung low and his shoulders slumped.

To think, I'm the weakness of the mighty, bloodthirsty Alpha.

I exhale as I watch him walk away, then shake my head and turn back to my room. Eric has to be wrong about the Fairies. And the Fairies are wrong about him. Something has pitted all of these creatures against each other, and now it's up to me to untangle the mess. I pull out my sword, and once again draw the detailed transportation sigil into the ground.

"Here we go again,' I mutter, bracing myself for the nausea and dizziness that will come after. It's getting worse every time.

As I lean forward to place my hand in the center of the symbol, a huge grin grows across my face.

I get to see Robin again.