CHAPTER 220: A QUESTION UNANSWERED

"’Do you think there will be mass destruction? Or are you not strong enough to fight him, and so you fear his return?’ Those are her exact words." Zen spoke in his mind as they sat discussing the next course of action.

Kael exhaled slowly. "She seems intent on making the Dark Master return."

He paused before adding, "What worries me more is not her intention but how she spoke about him... as if she doesn’t believe he’s evil at all."

Lance frowned. "Of course it doesn’t make sense," he said, but the doubt in his voice was impossible to hide. Because Emira seemed to be questioning the very foundation of history.

Everyone knew the same version of history- that the most powerful clan of the White Witches had sacrificed themselves to bind the Dark master to prevent mass destruction. And later, the werewolves had joined in the fight, protecting the witches against the dark ones who had come to fulfill their master’s desire.

But this history had been what the white witches and the werewolves who sided with them had repeated for generations. And Emira’s question was a simple one. What about the side no one ever listened to? What about the truths that had been buried?

And now, suddenly, Emira’s words had planted a seed of doubt...A doubt none of them knew how to handle. And that is what brought them to the next question. The Dark Master was not very powerful as of now. If he did indeed return, did they have the power to suppress him.

As the three alphas closed their eyes in thought, pondering this question, another, more important question seemed to come to Lance and his eyes snapped open. He stood up and walked out of the room with a curt," I’ll be back," leaving both Kael and Zen shocked and calling after him.

***

Lance stared at the cabin door, keeping still. He didn’t knock at first. He stood there for a moment, breathing out slowly, trying to steady the rush and the questions within him. Then he lifted his hand and tapped the door once, almost hoping that Emira would be asleep and not come to answer him. Honestly, he was hoping that his suspicions were not true.

Unfortunately, the door opened almost immediately.

Emira stood there, her eyes widening slightly when she saw him. She looked tired, and when she saw him, she offered a small, hesitant smile.

"Lance..."

He didn’t wait for her to say anything else. Instead, he stepped forward, making sure that she would not be able to close the door in his face. Before she could step back, he cupped her face with both hands. Her breath caught.

"Are you scared of me, Emira?" He asked in a low voice.

She didn’t answer at first. Her gaze slipped away for a second, toward the floor, toward the corner, anywhere but his eyes. Then she shook her head slowly. "No."

"But I do make you nervous."

Emira nodded slowly. He did make her nervous but it was because she did not know him well. She did not understand him like she did Kael and Zen. She knew nothing about the Supreme Alpha. And yet, everything in her seemed to be close to him. It was as if he could see through to her. He knew all of her secrets.

As she stared up at him, he brushed her cheeks with his thumb, "We haven’t had much time together. That’s my fault. Everything moved too fast."

She nodded once, almost feeling guilty, though she had no idea why.

"But I would like to believe," he continued quietly, "that you trust me at least a little. Maybe not as much as them... but at least a little."

Slowly, she nodded her head. She did trust him. To her, Lance Stormhold was like a wall between the world and her. The ultimate protection and solace. She didn’t know why but being near him made her feel the safest she had ever felt.

Before she could explain the feeling, she was pulled into a hug that had her blinking in shock.

Emira stiffened for a moment, her hands trapped against his chest. She wasn’t used to his touch. Not like Zen’s steady warmth or Kael’s silent closeness.

But Lance didn’t move.

He simply held her, his chin brushing the top of her head.

Slowly-very slowly-her shoulders relaxed. Her breath evened out. Her hands lifted and rested lightly against his back, hesitant at first but growing steadier with each passing second. It was the first time she had been hugged like this. Just like that.

Just as her arms tightened a little around him, Lance’s voice broke the silence. "You’re a pure Dark Witch, aren’t you? And you know where the Dark Master is."

Emira’s entire body went rigid.

Her fingers froze. Her breath froze. Even her heartbeat seemed to stop for a moment. She pulled back immediately, trying to step away from him, but his arms tightened around her so that she couldn’t escape.

"Lance-"

She pushed at his chest, but he didn’t move.

"Don’t," he said softly. "Don’t run."

Her eyes flicked up to meet his, filled with a mix of shock and fear. A fear she tried to hide but couldn’t as he continued," It is why that Goblet consumed your blood as if thirsty for more. I thought it was because your wolf was special and bound to you later. But in fact, it was because of this... Because the goblet was absorbing your dark power."

"Let me go." Emira said in a low voice but Lance shook his head.

"Not until you talk to me."

Emira struggled then. But he kept his arms around her until it was a matter of who could fight longer and who could hold on longer. In the end, it was Lance who won and Emira let go with a shuddering breath and she said with a slow voice," You are right. I am a dark witch..."