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Chapter 29
Noelle
Frustration courses through my veins. I’m on the verge of speaking back against Cecilia. It’s at the tip of my tongue to say something, but something inside of me–maybe the wolf within me–tells me to stay focused, that Cecilia is just trying to make me lose my head.
And I won’t let her succeed. I’ve spent way too many years being the underdog. People have underestimated my whole life, but not today.
“You talk too much,” I interrupt, surprising myself with the coldness of my voice.
Even Cecilia visibly flinches at my tone and confidence before she shows me her teeth in a snarl, “I can’t wait to wipe that cocky expression off your face!”
“Is that so?” I lock my eyes on hers. “Because if you want this gone-” I point at my own smirk. “Then you will have to actually fight me and win. Not stand there like a freaking coward. What are you even waiting for? Better times or something?”
Cecilia’s eyes flash dangerously. Like any Alpha, this queen bitch doesn’t like being made fun of, and I can see her hackles rising. Yikes. Is it just me, or does she suddenly look even more imposing?
“You really have some guts, princess,” she says before lunging herself in my direction with the speed of lightning.
This time, I’m not sure if I can match her strength. I think the only reason I was able to throw her into the water earlier was because she underestimated me. But the crazy bitch won’t make that mistake twice, so I really ought to come up with a fight plan, or I’m dead!
I will my brain to come up with a strategy, but my stupid head won’t celebrate and I shriek when Cecilia barrels into me with the force of a wrecking ball. As a lycan, she is heavier than a small car, and we tumble to the floor of the bridge together, her claws ripping into my shirt and grazing my skin.
A scream tears from my throat as pain blossoms across my chest. I’m convinced I can’t hurt more than this, but Cecilia doesn’t like to play fair. She grabs me and throws me onto the muddy shore before standing up to her full height with her chest heaving and her canines bared.
Cecilia honestly looks like a monster, and I glance down at my legs. They are cramping from my landing, and I grimace, knowing I won’t be able to outrun her.
“Do you still think you stand a chance against me, Princess Noelle?” she taunts, her voice taking on an icy tone as she lifts her foot and places it over my chest. “You’re nothing more than a pup without your wolf.”
I wince at the pain radiating through my chest and grit my teeth against the overwhelming sensation. Spots dance before my eyes, but I refuse to let myself fade into nothingness. Instead, I look up at Cecilia, meeting her taunting gaze with a defiant glare of my own.
“Maybe you’re right,” I growl at her, playing into her expectations. “Maybe I’m just a pup.”
Her snarl widens into a victorious smile as she presses her foot harder onto my chest. But she doesn’t see what’s coming next. With one swift movement, I kick her in the crotch with all the strength I have left, catching her off–guard. Her triumphant leer turns to a grimace of pain as she stumbles backward, loosening her footing on my chest.
I roll over onto my knees, gasping for breath while trying my hardest to ignore the burning sensation in my skin where her claws cut into me. I need to get the hell out of here. Unfortunately, Cecilia recovers from my sudden attack quicker than expected with a snarl.
“Fighting back wasn’t your wisest decison–now I’m pissed off and won’t show you any mercy!”
With that, Cecilia lunges forward, and I close my eyes, convinced the next breath will be my last, but death never comes. Instead, I hear Cecilia whimper, and when I open my eyes, I find her lifted into the air by an invisible force, her body unable
to move.
“What the-” she coughs as if speaking hurts, her eyes wide with shock and terror.
“Did you really think attacking my mate on my territory was such a wise idea, Cecilia?” Lucian asks in an amused voice
sing from behind me.
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Chapter 29
I turn around, gasping when I see him barely straining himself as he keeps Cecilia immobilized by just holding up his hand. His powers are seriously strong, and the worst part is that I can’t detect his wolf.
This makes me squint at him, and when I see the color of his eyes–red instead of their usual green–I realize Lucian’s fairy side has once more taken over.
It’s a frightening thing to see.
The dark veins that resemble spiderwebs that usually only appear underneath his eyes now cover the rest of his porcelain skin. He also appears much larger than he did during the meeting with the pack elders.
“Lucian,” I breathe, unsure whether to feel safe that he is here or concerned since he is obviously losing his control again.
His piercing red eyes glance at me but quickly return to Cecilia when she howls up at the sky.
“Tch,” Lucian says and wrinkles his nose. “Calling for your pack members is such a cowardly move.”
With a flick of his wrist, Lucian sends Cecilia flying into a tree, but it’s too late. I can already hear her lycan pack howling in the forest. They are very close, and I’m not sure if Lucian can defeat a whole clan of lycans.
“Lucian…” I start, reaching out to him with a trembling hand. But he doesn’t look at me. Instead, his gaze is trained on the darkness of the forest where the howls are coming from.
“Don’t underestimate me, Noelle,” he says, flexing his fingers again as if preparing for a fight. His voice is deeper than usual, more resonant. “I can take them.”
“Alone?!” I shriek.
Lucian looks at me over his shoulder with a smirk. “Of course. All I need is your permission to let the fairy fully take over. It’s something I’ve never done before.”
“And
you
think now is the time to try out new battle tactics?!”
He chuckles darkly. “Why not when you’re here to calm me down after I’ve annihilated them all?”
My heart races, fear and adrenaline coursing through my veins as I take a step back, about to protest again, but then I hear the howls. They’re closer now, the ground vibrating under the force of what must be an army of wolves racing towards us.
“Noelle,” Lucian’s voice is softer now, his red eyes thawing to a gentle green. “I need you to trust me.”
Still, I hesitate, looking back at the forest that’s alive with feral snarls and deadly intent. Then I remember Cecilia’s words: “You’re nothing more than a pup without your wolf.”
I swallow thickly. “I’m not letting you fight on your own.”
A flicker of surprise flashes in his eyes before he shakes his head, a chuckle escaping his lips. “You really do have a death wish,”
he remarks, but there’s a warmth in his tone that wasn’t there before. “Alright, just don’t get in my way.”
I smile. “Same goes for you.”
鱼
