CHAPTER 242: CHAPTER 242 - [K] ! ! !

***[Flashback POV: Startled CEO]***

Citra pulled her hand back and made a fist, rapping her knuckles against its metal side. The sound echoed through the warehouse - solid, real, undeniably there.

"This isn’t really what I want to talk about, but it’s the proof that I have for what I intend to say."

On the fourth knock, the entire thing was gone. I felt my eyes focus and unfocus as they searched the empty space. What was this?

"Where..."

Her other hand raised up and this time I know I did not blink. It was just there on the other side of her as she stared at me with solid blue eyes.

"It’s not an illusion or trick. Calling it magic feels like an affront of some kind that I’m not sure I can explain sufficiently. I’m also not sure what you know of this world’s witches, but I’m pretty sure it’s not witchcraft."

"Citra, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Am I rambling... or did you not know that witches exist? I actually didn’t either until recently."

Before I could respond, she raised her hand again - and the container simply vanished in a way that made it unquestionable that she was controlling it. Gone as if it had never existed, leaving only empty concrete floor.

"...Yes, of course I know of them. The packs don’t always get along for many reasons, but we worship the same Lunar Goddess - and the same is... partially true of the covens."

Martha Callaway is one of the few I personally respect, as she has always been kind to us and the Pineheart - but the Duskpaw absolutely abhor all of them. And that’s why they tried to accuse Citra of being a witchwolf in their first claims.

Ignorant and fearful. Like most of the more superstitious werewolves they have some idea that one of our kind learning their ways is somehow a bad omen. That the only reason for a werewolf to look for magic in their life is to use it to dominate others.

Eventually I rub my temples, realizing that I’m stalling by thinking of this. She opened by saying it wasn’t witchcraft, but now all I can think about are witches. Is she messing with me?

"Can you please explain this to me. You don’t have to be terse with your words, please. Rambling is fine if you need to."

"Very well. From the top, then, as ridiculous as it will sound. You asked me once if this was really my name - and it is. But less than a month ago, this was not my body."

Her voice carried a formal, measured tone I’d heard before - the one that made her sound like she was addressing a listening council rather than having a conversation with a single person. Proud and unemotive all at once in a way meant to keep those listening from panicking or arguing back.

"What do you mean-"

"I’ll get to that. When I first arrived in this world, something appeared in my vision. Floating text that called itself a System... of a certain kind."

She nodded to herself with a serious expression, like she was approving of her own word choice. But to be honest, nothing she was saying so far was clicking. It sounded like the plot to one of the stories popular with some of our young Omegas.

"It calls itself the Apocalypse System. Formed of a glowing... interface at the edges of my sight. There’s a countdown timer that’s been running since the day I got here. And it’s been counting down to the winter solstice."

The words apocalypse and solstice hit me like I was dunked in ice water. It would be wise to doubt, but I do not. It’s my job to take anything serious that could effect the conclave... and I was warned by Martha once.

The witches were worried in ways they usually were not. That something in nature seemed more and more wrong with each day that passed. Something unlike the usual slow march to cold slumber.

"A month and a half away. I don’t know what happens when it reaches zero... if something big occurs or if it is just the start point of when things go wrong. But the very name of it all suggests it won’t be anything good."

Watching her begin pacing in her bare feet made me nervous. My wolf stirred, instincts pushing me past whatever it was that I’d done to halt our connection. Allowing me to begin feeling its primal need to do *something* to solve the problem and protect my pack...

I began to walk toward her as the weakness faded rapidly in my body. Werewolf strength returning completely. Her steps stopped and she frowned at me - which I didn’t like - but understood.

Because I’d gotten close enough to grab for her if I wanted.

"What do you think is supposed to happen on that date?"

"I don’t know. But I have a guess. The system has given me some... abilities. Like the one you just saw. It also tracks some things and provides information it should not have if it was working from my brain alone. But it’s never told me exactly what the apocalypse entails."

Only able to take her word for that, I still nod - because as far as telling me anything at all, she did not have to. But she is... and whether there is a trick in that or not... I’m not sure it matters to me.

"You trust this... system?"

"No. But I don’t have much choice but to accept its uses. I haven’t had many choices since I ended up here."

Something about the way she said it while looking away from me... hurt. But I’m not sure if it was me reading too far into it or not. Because my emotions are high - and my wolf is pressuring me again.

"The map allowed me to find this city to run to. I wouldn’t have known where to go without it, I just would have fled in a direction. Then gotten lost when this body’s memories ran out of useful information."

"...’this body’ - explain."

Her chin raised up, that daring motion which I’m not... actually sure she understands the temptation of. It leaves her neck so exposed... and it makes me want to find the spot she did on mine so much.

But even though I *know* how open it is, I’m locked onto the blue glow of her eyes. As they increased in brightness - as she meets me with defiance, like always when I’m acting this way.

"Are you telling me - or asking me?"

"...Both. Please."

Her lips purse together, then quiver as her brow drops. Letting out a breath while shaking her head, she smiles at me. And for a second I forget what we were even talking about.

I forget about anything except her.

"And this is why I’m telling you, Kyrie Voss... you silly wolf."

The way she said my name - the way she playfully insulted me made me dip my head closer. However, when met with that flicker of hesitation in her expression... like she was still deciding whether to trust me being this close to her, my chest tightened.

And I did not do it. I did not kiss her. But I think it was clear to her that I wanted to.

Because when she takes a step back from me, Citra Lomdi actually taps her lips with her index finger once, twice, and pauses while meeting my gaze. Her hand then waves down at her chest, causing me to growl when I look that way.

Like a trained animal. And she laughs at me, a sound so frustrating and so welcome.

"I’m not from this world originally. The body is. But not the soul."