CHAPTER 333: CHAPTER 333 LAYLA (2)

I pressed my palms against my temples, trying to push her away, but she was everywhere. Her power, her fury, and her presence, filled me until there was nothing left of me.

The sharp sound of clothes tearing filled the room, hot tears poured down my cheeks, and every inch of my body hurt as if I had been broken and remade. My scream turned into a growl, deep and feral.

A large silver-white wolf stood where I had been. Her fur shimmered like fresh snow, untainted, pure. Her claws glinted under the light, sharp and elegant.

The fiery ring in her eyes burned brighter, almost dominating the purplish hue around it.

She moved, slow and deliberate, her eyes locking onto the barrier. A growl rumbled deep in her throat, low and threatening.

Zeir glared daggers at Layla. "Ungrateful child..." he spat out, his eyes blazing.

Layla swung her paws against the barrier, her claws scraping against it. Sparks scattered in the air. "You can’t cage me again, let me out and let’s settle this debt!" she snarled.

Her voice vibrated through the room like thunder.

Inside her, I struggled to reach out. I could feel her strength, her rage, but beneath it, there was something else. A hollow ache like a wound that had never healed.

"Layla," I whispered faintly in the back of my mind. "Why are you white, aren’t you supposed to be black?"

Do I have dementia? I definitely saw her as a black wolf in the dreams, why the hell is she white?!

She didn’t answer.

I saw through her eyes, saw the reflection of her fur in the barrier. It was white, and magnificent.

Why?

The question burned in my chest, but before I could think, Layla lunged at the barrier again, her claws crashing against it. Sparks flew again.

"How long do you think this is going to hold me?!" She growled menacingly. Her anger increased every second, and her actions became crazier.

Liora sobbed quietly, clutching her wound. "Aeris," she whispered, "can you hear me, you can win over her... don’t let her take control."

"Aeris is not available, speak to Layla... after all, we have a lot of catching up to do." Layla prowled around the barrier, her eyes sharp and observant.

And all I could do was watch, trapped inside my own body, as the wolf I once dreamed of became something I no longer recognized.

I shut my eyes. ’Whatever, they should do whatever they like, this life is not my own... I’ll just stay here and take a very good nap. I don’t care if she kills everyone in the realm... it’s not like she has the power to do so...’

"Stop babbling, I can’t focus." Layla mindlinked me.

"Layla take me away from here... having revenge is the least of our problems right now. We need to go back to Damon, that guy must be going nuts now... And besides... I’m hungry." I grumbled, rubbing my temple.

"How can you think about food, when we should be shedding blood and taking revenge? As for Damon, he rejected us after all, he should forget about us." Her last sentence wasn’t as confident as the former.

"Let’s go for now, you can come back for your revenge." I tried to talk her out of it but she wouldn’t listen.

"No." Layla collided with the barrier, again and again.

The barrier rippled violently each time Layla collided with it, light flaring and fading in angry waves. Her growls echoed through the chamber, loud and unrelenting. She pressed her claws into the shimmering surface, trying to break through, but the magic only sparked and hummed back at her.

"Layla, stop," I said weakly, my voice echoing inside her mind. "You’re wasting your strength."

She ignored me. Her breathing grew heavier, her body trembling with frustration. "I said I must have their head!" she snarled, her voice sharp and low.

’What with werewolves and bad temper? Any little thing they are already thinking of biting off heads. I thought my wolf would be sophisticated and elegant... who knew she was a barbarian just like others.’

Suddenly, golden light spilled around her, filling the barrier in its grace, and then everything turned dark, and upside down. The ground beneath her vanished, and for a brief second, the world turned silent.

When her paws hit solid earth again, the air felt different. It was warm, clean, and laced with the scent of pine and soil. Layla lifted her head, her eyes darting around. Before her stood the faint shimmer of the fae barrier, its soft light separating two worlds.

She had done it, she had used my magic without realizing it.

Layla growled, pacing restlessly. "This isn’t where I wanted to be, take me back now... I need to kill those scoundrels" she muttered, her tail swaying in irritation.

The soft hum of fae energy buzzed from the other side, taunting her. She stepped closer, her fur bristling. "I’m going back."

I remained quiet, not having the strength to fight for dominance.

Her claws scraped the ground as she was ready to lunge at the barrier, but then she stopped.

The air grew heavier, and colder as a murderous aura came from behind us. A faint rumble followed, low and dangerous, like thunder rolling through the earth. Her ears twitched, and the fur on her back stood, her stance ready to lunge at the invader.

But the familiar scent of pine, damp earth, and chocolate invaded our nostrils.

She turned her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. Slowly, she faced the direction of the incoming unwanted visitor.

A large white wolf stood a few meters away, his size almost double hers. His fur glowed faintly under the light, his presence radiating quiet power. His grey eyes stared straight at her, cold and unblinking.

Layla bared her fangs, her growl rumbling low in her chest. Her lips curled back, revealing sharp canines.

The white wolf’s eyes darkened as he stepped forward, his gaze never leaving her. Then something flickered in them...recognition. His pupils widened, round and bright like the moon.

Layla’s eyes narrowed in return, sharp like a crescent. Her muscles tensed, her growl deepened, but the white wolf only stood still, staring at her as if he had seen a ghost.

When he spoke, his voice was low and rough, barely a whisper.

"Mate."