Ready to face Magnus? How could I be ready to face him?I just learned about his existence and it didn’t sit well on me that the others especially the new Alpha of Lancaster was aware of his existence.
“I am not sure about it, Selene. In fact, I am terrified to meet this Magnus,” I confessed, and she laughed.
“We are all scared, Isabella, but we have to win this fight,” she told me. “Magnus has done a terrible job, staining this world with darkness. He was meant to be the light, but instead, he wreaks havoc and chaos!”
“Is he really a formidable opponent?”
“He is. Mom didn’t stand a chance against him, but I know you can do it,” she assured me, but in my mind I started to doubt that everything was just a lie.
Was Luke correct? Were they just using me to fight someone indestructible like Magnus? I just smiled a little bit because while we're almost there, I started to worry about everything.
Then, my eyes widened when she handed me an orb with a brilliant blue light emanating from within. As I touched the orb, a surge of energy coursed through my body. It felt as if a hundred ocean waves enveloped me, their power lingering in the air.
“What happened?” I asked Selene and she just smiled at me.
“You now have the power to defeat Magnus, Isabella. Anyway, I should get back to the camp now,” she said before saying goodbye.
"Until we meet again," I whispered.
When Selene was gone, I decided to make my way to the camping site that Xavier had set up for us. In my wolf form, I ventured deeper into the heart of the forest. I had no idea why I was so exhausted after resuming into my human form later on but before I passed out, Xavier caught me just before I hit the ground.
"You're safe now. Rest," he ordered.
Closing my eyes, I surrendered to the embrace of complete darkness, allowing myself to drift into a deep slumber. In my dream, I found myself in a grassy field illuminated by the moonlight.
The soft glow blessed the field, which was adorned with a carpet of white flowers. This place exuded a sense of freedom, a true paradise. As I walked through the flower-filled field, I caught a glimpse of a blurry figure.
It was a woman with an aura of a Goddess. Was it the Moon Goddess?
"I will wait for you," her voice echoed.
And it was the last thing I remembered before waking up. It was already morning, and someone was carrying me. I furrowed my brows while trying to identify who was carrying me.
"Xavier?" I realized he was shouldering the weight of our baggage and me. "You can put me down now,” I told him, and honestly speaking, the man had been behaving weird and unusual since we arrived on the island.
He gently lowered me to the ground, and I regained my footing. It was mid-afternoon, and we needed to make our way back to the yacht. We couldn't afford to waste any more time. Decisions needed to be made.
Finally, we reached the yacht and settled in for a much-needed rest. Xavier, exhausted from his watchful vigilance over me, fell into a deep sleep. I could sense his genuine care and concern for me. I hoped that one day, the Moon Goddess would grant him a proper gift, freeing him from the curse of being a wanderer.
Taking out a tumbler from my bag, I performed a familiar ritual to create a map. The tumbler contained sand, symbolizing the power of the Sacred Valley, the next destination.
After harnessing the power of the ocean and its tidal waves, it was time to tap into the energy held by the land and its abundant growth. But then, I couldn’t concentrate and my mind wandered toward Luke.
Thoughts of Luke consumed my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was doing alright. I already missed him dearly, and though I could endure the separation, I didn't know how much longer I could bear it. All I could guarantee was that I needed to stay motivated.
“Isabella, is there something wrong?” Xavier inquired and I shook my head in response.
“I am just thinking about someone,” I said.
“Must be your mate,” he remarked. “Anyway, are you ready for the next destination?”
“How far are we from Magnus?” I responded with a question.
“We are almost there,” he replied and I took a deep breath.
Later on, we started to embark on our next journey. I wasn’t so sure but it seemed that Xavier and the rest wanted to be there as soon as possible. There was no time to rest, and every minute that was wasted could ruin our plan. Our destination was a mountainous valley in the north. Then, I realized that the said valley wasn't far from the pack of Lancaster.
"You seem tense. Are you alright?" Xavier asked, noticing my excitement and exasperation.
“Over there, that’s the pack of Lancaster, right?” I asked to confirm because I could go wrong about it.
“Yeah. I heard that Lancaster now has a new Alpha,” Xavier said before taking a deep breath.
“I also heard about that. It must be chaotic to claim a pack that was usurp by someone else,” I said.
“That’s right, and I heard that the previous Alpha was just waiting for the right time to claim back the pack.”
“You know Aric Stormheart?”
“Not really, but I was once acquainted with him, but I am not his friend. Anyway, I want you to get ready for our next destination, Isabella. It might be difficult to deal with them.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard some rogues are occupying the area, and there’s a possibility of having a clash with them. We can’t underestimate them, especially when they were probably under the influence of Magnus.”
“Noted, Xavier. Well, I am already trembling in fear,” I jested but it was also the truth.
“I know, but remember you’re not alone in this fight, Isabella. You can count on us, and once you obtain the power of the pillar, we should leave the island as soon as possible!”
Then, while we were resting, I reviewed and tried to memorize the locations of the pillar or the source of power for the evil Magnus. It was a bit tricky since they were built like an underground maze.
After resting, we had a meal and ensured we were well-rested, preparing ourselves for any potential danger. I trusted my instincts they wouldn't lead me astray.
I could sense that our enemies were already aware of our presence, and their intention was to probably ambush us, harm us, and to eliminate us a s quickly as possible. Their bloodlust was evident.
When Xavier mentioned an island, I thought it was just a small island. I didn’t know it was big and a progressive one. It was like a miniature version of the city, and they have hotels and a modern system for transportation. Honestly, I was amazed at how progressive the island was because they were not popular to us.
Then, I glared at Xavier for making me swim a long distance when we could have just taken a taxi or the train. “I thought the island was so old-fashioned that we had to act like that,” I confronted him.
“I’m sorry, Isabella, but I was just trying to see if you are really capable of dealing with Magnus. Well, you earned my respect,” he said.
“Just like that? Xavier, why? You are supposed to be honest with me from the start!”
“I’m sorry. It was Selene’s idea, so you should discuss it with her,” Xavier said and washed his hands.
When I looked at him, I could tell he was sincere with his words, and I believed it was Selene’s idea. So, in the end, I couldn’t do anything about it. I just shrugged my shoulders and let him lead me toward the nearest hotel where we could stay for the night.
“Be honest with me, Xavier, are you sure you know where to find Magnus? We have been traveling for several days and we still didn’t encounter him,” I complained.
“You saw the map, Isabella. We are just taking a detour but we are still going that way,” he told me and then he checked his wristwatch. “You have at least three hours to sleep, then we will leave this place.”
“Again? Where are we going this time, Xavier?”
“A nameless pack that is guarding Magnus on the North.We have to fight them to get to his base,” he said, and my eyes became enlarged at the news.
When our dinner arrived, I couldn’t enjoy our food because I was worried about our next destination. Although I was trained to fight, I was still nervous about it.
After eating, we went to our room to rest for a few hours. However, I spent those hours video calling Luke instead of resting. We talked and kept ourselves updated. He was already in the pack of Lancaster, and he was trying to correct the wrongdoings of Aric to his people. Well, he still has a lot of things to do to stabilize the pack. Fortunately, Dad was ready to assist him.
Later on, we started on our journey toward the nameless pack. It’s base was on the mountain and we passed by a dense forest before we arrived at our destination.
The darkness enveloped us, but the moonlight shone brightly, illuminating the surroundings. We could spot some members of the pack hunting for food and scouting the area.
Fortunately, Xavier had background information about them. He knew how they moved as a group and some of their strategies. So far, we were successfully avoiding any clashes. We had applied oil to our skin to conceal our scent.
However, regardless of our effort to stay hidden, someone managed to catch Xavier, and the pack warrior swiftly shifted into defense mode. I didn't want to harm anyone, but sometimes, certain circumstances were difficult to avoid.
Before I could strike the warrior, he swiftly blew a mini horn hanging from his neck like a necklace. It was an emergency signal, used when howling or creating specific sounds would take too long to convey a message.
Now, we were sprinting at full speed, being relentlessly pursued by the pack warriors. They appeared strong and overpowering, causing me to doubt our ability to defeat them. However, I reminded myself that I now possessed a newfound power.
Growling fiercely, I unleashed a shockwave that sent the warriors flying, utilizing my newfound abilities. Transforming into a majestic white wolf, I engaged in a fierce clash with them. With each scratch and blow I delivered, one of them fell, lifeless.
I felt confident that we could emerge victorious. But then, an unexpected attack came from behind as someone bit my neck in my wolf form. Xavier rushed to my aid, pushing the enemy away, but his bite had been forceful.
The battle intensified, and I realized it was time to revert to my human form. Even though my clothes were ruined, I prepared to face the escalating fight head-on.
The werewolf who had bitten me transformed into her human form. I couldn't deny the truth before me— it was the woman who abducted me in the forest of Pembroke while I was just training.
"I see, you've grown stronger. But you're still the same pathetic one, darlin. I'll rip your neck apart now. You'll regret ever coming here," she sneered at me.
"Stop barking like a dog and let's fight already. I'm tired of listening to your empty threats," I retorted, intentionally provoking her anger, and it worked.
She commanded the pack warriors to stand down, making it clear that this battle would be solely between the two of us.
"You're dead meat, you sucker!" she exclaimed, revealing her fangs and claws.
With lightning speed, she launched the first attack, showcasing her newfound strength. Her agility and flexibility were not to be underestimated. She moved with incredible speed! When she transformed back into her wolf form, I had no choice but to transform as well.
I retaliated, extending my own claws and managing to leave a deep scratch on her shoulder. She attempted to heal the wound, but to her surprise, her efforts were in vain.
"What's happening? Why can't I heal?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation. “W-who are you?” she panicked when she asked me.
"That's another skill of mine. True damage prevents you from healing and regenerating," I calmly explained.
“Kill them all!” She ordered the others.