CHAPTER 327: CHAPTER 327 SOMETHING DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT

I stared at them with an unreadable expression, my eyes trailed down to the wound on my chest that had not fully healed.

My chest tightened with bitterness, a mother really had the mindset to stab her own child... even though I was really not.

A wave of despair rushed through me like a broken dam, frustration, anger, and fear... these emotions were not mine... ’Damon.’

My heart accelerated at his name, he must have noticed that I was gone. I struggled to my feet, the room tilted, and my body fell on the bed of vines.

’I have to go back to him, I need to apologize for even asking him that silly question. I don’t want him to think I left him.’ But my body refused to comply with my pleading.

The next moment everything went dark.

....

(Damon POV)

Hours had passed, and my body was colliding with the barrier for the umpteenth time, yet I could not pass through the barrier.

I had transformed into my human form and tried to part the barrier, but the fucking ass barrier wouldn’t budge.

I yelled out of desperation, my hands gripping a handful of my hair, and I tugged them down. ’Why can’t I get through!!!’

I transformed back to my wolf form, and ran along the perimeter of the barrier, searching for a weak spot, but all my attempts were proven futile.

Beowulf prowled around the barrier, his teeth peeled back, as he growled at the barrier as if it would do the magic.

Her emotions crashed through me, I felt her pain, her sorrow, and the feeling of injustice, and it sent my mind spiralling on what she might be going through... she might be in danger.

I transformed back to my human form, I pressed my palms against the barrier, closing my eyes, praying that it would open. Yet nothing happened.

"We need to find her," Beowulf said, his voice low, rumbling like thunder in the back of my mind.

"I know," I whispered, my hand still pressed against the barrier.

"And we have to rip those Fae apart! Including the King!" Beowulf snarled as he grew restless.

At this point, I saw nothing wrong with his suggestion, my fingers were itching to tear flesh apart and break bones.

I took a step back, staring at the unseen wall before me. My claws itched to tear it apart. I would burn the whole realm if it meant getting to her.

The sky was already turning pale, the horizon bleeding faint traces of gold. Dawn had come, yet it brought no warmth. I had been here all night, colliding against the barrier yet I couldn’t get through.

...

(Third POV)

Alaric stood near the edge of the Bloodshade barrier, his expression grim. The morning light stretched weakly across the land, casting long shadows on the ground. The pack warriors he had sent to the witches’ realm hadn’t reported back, and unease gnawed at him like a restless animal.

Something didn’t feel right.

He turned toward the barrier again, his hand brushing against its cool, shimmering surface. The magic buzzed faintly against his palm. The air rippled and a figure began to form on the other side. A witch stepped forward, her long robe dragging against the ground, her face pale from exhaustion.

"Beta Alaric," she said, her tone sharp and clipped. "Your men are refusing to follow orders, they are holding back because they do not trust us. The corrupted witches are breaking through our outer defenses."

Alaric’s eyes narrowed. "What about Seraphina?"

"She is trying to keep the barrier intact, but without the pack’s full cooperation, we will fall before sunset."

He ran a hand through his hair, thinking for a moment. "Theo," he said through the mindlink.

"Yes, Alaric?"

"You are in charge while I’m gone, protect the Bloodshade borders and keep the pack in formation. I’ll head to the witches’ realm to control the situation myself, when Alpha Damon returns let him know about the situation."

Theo’s hesitation bled through the link. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Alaric answered, and cut the connection before Theo could argue further.

He turned back to the witch. "Take me there."

She nodded, and in the next instant, a swirl of purple light enveloped them. The world spun once before settling into darkness, and when the light faded, he found himself standing at the edge of the witches’ castle.

Smoke filled the air, and cracks ran through the magical barrier surrounding the castle like veins of lightning. The corrupted witches howled from the distance, their laughter echoing through the trees.

The scent of blood and magic filled the air. Wolves fought alongside witches, forming a thin line of defense. Sparks of magic and snarls of battle blended into one desperate symphony.

"Hold the line!" Alaric’s voice roared across the chaos.

The pack responded immediately, their howls rising through the storm. He moved through the battlefield, his eyes searching until they landed on a familiar figure.

Seraphina stood at the heart of the courtyard, her red hair dancing in the wind, her hands glowing faint red as she wove a spell to strengthen the barrier. Her expression was sharp and determined, though her shoulders trembled from exhaustion.

"Alaric," she breathed a sigh of relief when she noticed him. "You shouldn’t be here."

"I had to come," he said, stepping beside her. "Your messenger said my men weren’t following orders."

She gave him a quick glance. "They trust you more than us, they’ll listen now."

Before either could say more, a deafening crack split the air. The barrier flickered violently, sending waves of power rippling through the ground.

Both turned toward the outer wall, where a dark mist gathered. From within it, the crowd of corrupted witches parted, revealing a figure with one eye white while the other eye gleamed like a serpent’s slit. Her presence was suffocating, her devilish smirk formed on her lips.

"For the greater evil." She shrieked, raising a crooked staff to the sky.