Knight:
I stepped out of the cell, the heavy air thick with the scent of dampness and despair clinging to me after I had unleashed the full extent of my rage upon that wretch.
My ears were still ringing with the echo of every word he uttered—every veiled threat, every tone of mockery was enough to fuel the fires of my hatred.
Damn it! How dare they draw up their filthy schemes? I will never allow them.
Those thoughts he planted in my mind were nothing but new fuel for my unyielding determination.
I must protect her at any cost, and I will never forgive myself if I fail.
Images of her tired face haunt me, and the specter of danger looming over her presses cruelly against my heart.
I swear I will spare no effort to ensure her safety.
My steps have become faster now, more resolute.
They are planning, and I will thwart all their schemes.
I will make them long for death. The battle has just begun, and this time, the rules will be entirely different.
I entered the office and closed the door behind me with a force that was barely audible, yet enough to break the silence of the room.
The first glance was enough to make my heart sink; the massive pile of papers on my desk awaited me insolently.
Curse it! I must finish my accumulated tasks—a feat that seems like a far-fetched dream.
I hate these stupid papers; they multiply constantly, like living creatures that never die, filling the place with chaos and suffocating the air around me.
Every paper screams its name, demanding attention and time. I sighed with deep exhaustion and weariness, a sigh that came from my depths, carrying all the weight of this long day and those never-ending responsibilities.
I raised my hand slowly and extended it toward the first file in the pile.
I had no other choice; there was no time for complaining or hesitation. I had to start. I began working immediately, my fingers moving across the papers while my mind tried to focus despite the fog of exhaustion wrapping around it.
It is a race against time, and my opponent this time is the lethal routine and those papers that never stop multiplying.
I remembered her suddenly, like a flash of lightning piercing through the fog of my mind.
I saw the scene again with perfect clarity, as if it were happening before me right now: how she used her power—that moment I will never forget.
The atmosphere was tense, and suddenly, things spiraled out of that bastard's control.
Chaos was about to engulf the place, and danger loomed on the horizon, threatening the innocent bystanders.
At that moment, she didn't hesitate for a second. With a single glance, she unleashed her incredible ability.
A barrier of fire formed—not a random, destructive fire, but a glowing cage that was perfectly controlled.
The flames wrapped around the man like a protective wall, trapping him in place and preventing him from harming anyone else. The tongues of flame danced and swayed at her command, as if respecting and obeying her will.
She contained him brilliantly, using her power as a tool for control and protection.
I was truly in awe of her—not just for her courage and quick wit, but also for that raw, pure power.
The way she used this mighty ability to establish order and prevent catastrophe left me stunned and filled with admiration.
As if she had read my thoughts, she entered the room at the exact moment I was thinking of her. Cyran was still in control of her body.
Her sharp, fiery eyes were not the green human eyes of Cyra that I knew; which meant Cyra had not yet awakened from her transformation.
I truly missed her. When and how did this attraction happen? I don't know.
I found myself drawn to her against my will; the mate bond was strong and solid, pulling me toward her with a mysterious force I cannot explain.
I watched her as she scanned the place with admiration; it seemed this new environment pleased the wolf within her.
I smiled faintly, waiting for her to initiate the conversation, even though I knew Cyran preferred silence and mastered the language of eyes and gestures more than words.
I was watching her intently; I loved those lips of hers, even when they weren't speaking—only when they moved to pronounce letters, the impact of her words on my ears was enchanting, even if they were just murmurs or brief orders.
Every movement of hers was captivating, carrying within it a blend of wild feminine power.
She sat before me with deliberate slowness, crossing one leg over the other in a movement characterized by absolute confidence and boldness.
She was staring at me with a daring scrutiny, her fiery gaze piercing through me like arrows, without blinking or looking away.
I laughed inwardly at this bold she-wolf; this posture and this staring were not the traits of the gentle Cyra, but rather a reflection of the domineering and controlling personality of
"Cyran."
I felt "Dark," the wolf lurking within me, howling in silent admiration of his mate.
His pleas showered me in my subconscious, begging me to let him meet her, to let him loose to communicate with his counterpart.
"Not now, Dark. Not while Cyra hasn't awakened yet,"
I answered firmly in my mind. My inner wolf frowned and said with annoyance:
"Damn you, you monster."
Before I cut the link with him and focused entirely on her.
She spoke in a raspy, low voice, carrying a commanding tone:
"Why didn't you let my mate meet me?"
I smiled sideways, fully aware of what this reckless creature was thinking and planning. I answered her with feigned calmness:
"I know you are reckless, so I will do nothing without Cyra's knowledge."
I felt her annoyance clearly through the shared bond that links us.
Tension began to rise between us like a silent electric current.
She began to stare at me intensely, as if trying to penetrate my depths with her burning eyes, searching for weakness or hesitation, but she found nothing but a solid determination in my stance.
It was a pure visual challenge between two strong wills, each determined to impose control.
While we were exchanging sharp glances and silent challenges, I suddenly felt "Arin" trying to contact me through the shared mind link.
My heart tightened with a sense of imminent danger. I said to him in a brief, urgent tone:
"What is it, Arin?"
He answered quickly, his voice trembling slightly, devoid of his usual calmness:
"Alpha, we are under attack from different species and unknown sources."
I was surprised by his words; my kingdom had been safe for years. I didn't believe what I heard for a moment, and then rage exploded within me like a raging volcano.
How dare they? How dare they cross my kingdom's borders and attack my land?
I stood up with lightning speed, signs of anger clearly etched on my face.
At the same moment, Cyran stood before me, signs of anger sweeping across her beautiful face.
"Damn it," I said to myself in frustration, "It seems she heard our conversation through the link."
I should have cut the communication immediately before answering Arin, but it was too late.
Cyran said quickly and with an indisputable sharpness:
"I won't stay here no matter what happens! Don't tire yourself talking and trying to convince me to stay."
She took a few steps ahead of me, ready for the confrontation.
I sighed with increasing anger, frustration taking hold of me. "Damn it, damn it," I repeated to myself with great distress.
I cannot fight while she is by my side in this reckless manner. I cannot cause her harm or expose her to this imminent danger.
A cursed curse upon you, Cyran; you have put me in a position I do not envy!
We headed with lightning speed toward the borders, tension squeezing my heart out of fear for my men and my kingdom.
When we reached the front lines, the scene was one of utter chaos: my men were fighting bravely, determined not to allow any stranger to cross my sacred kingdom's borders.
I didn't waste time; I lunged at them like lightning, my power exploding in every direction.
The attackers lacked real strength, and I managed to knock down half of them in a few moments, shattering their flimsy defenses.
I turned with the intention of annihilating the rest, to finish them off before Cyran's completely reckless intervention and end this brutal attack.
But I stopped suddenly, stunned and amazed. The place was completely empty of any living attackers.
There was nothing but scattered ash everywhere, as if a passing firestorm had swept through the area and consumed everything.
I looked around to find Cyran standing with a clear smile of victory gracing her beautiful face. I couldn't help myself and laughed instinctively—a laugh full of wonder and admiration.
"Damn it, you burned them all!"
I said it out loud, realizing that the power of the fire wolf had settled the battle in the blink of an eye, leaving me only with the task of finishing up, and confirming once again her mighty power that is not to be underestimated.
We were returning to the palace, the cool night breezes softening the air after a heated battle.
Silence was the master of the situation, but it wasn't an annoying silence; rather, it was loaded with meaning and satisfaction for the victory we had just achieved.
Suddenly, with a calm and unexpected movement, her hand reached out to hold mine.
It was a light touch, but its effect was immediate and powerful.
I raised my eyes to meet hers and found her smiling at me with a warm and genuine smile—the kind of smile that rarely appears on Cyran's usually frowning face.
Her hand was incredibly soft and comfortably hot, as if it carried a small ember of her internal fire.
Her touch sent a delicious shiver through my entire body, and I felt light, pleasant sparks flowing between us, confirming the deep bond that unites us.
I didn't mind her touching or holding me; on the contrary, I enjoyed this moment of closeness and quiet physical connection.
At that moment, I felt a mix of overwhelming emotions. There was deep admiration for her personality and strength, and an appreciation for her presence by my side.
She wasn't just a companion in battle; I felt she was an inseparable part of me, and that our fates were linked in an unbreakable way.
She stopped walking suddenly, making me furrow my brows in surprise. She turned to me with a strange and different look, and said in a calm tone devoid of the usual challenging note:
"She has awakened."
These were her last words before that domineering personality disappeared, leaving the real Cyra to take her place.
Cyra looked at me, her eyes full of wonder and questioning, and then she looked around at her surroundings, which were new to her. She blinked several times while staring at me intently and said in a confused and shy tone:
"What am I doing here?... What happened?"
I couldn't believe my ears; she had finally awakened! I didn't answer her immediately; instead, I placed my hand on her cheek gently and instinctively, to ask her with some worry that I couldn't hide:
"Are you okay? Do you feel tired, huh?"
She was surprised by this action of mine, and confusion appeared on her face even more. She nodded and said in a halting, confused voice:
"O... Okay."
I sighed with deep relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders, then I pulled her to me and hugged her tightly.
This hug was my way of expressing my deep longing and my intense worry for her.
Meanwhile, she was frozen like a rock, motionless, drowning in her shock at the situation and my sudden behavior.
While I was holding her, my breath drowned in her unique scent—an enchanting blend of lavender and sweet honey, a scent I had truly become addicted to.
That scent alone was able to melt the ice surrounding my harsh heart without any effort on her part.
I felt a total surrender to her; the more I resisted my feelings, the more I drowned in her attraction. She truly will make me crazy one day with this soft power she holds over me.
I pulled away from her slightly, my eyes never leaving her enchanting ones filled with wonder.
I approached again, but this time, I kissed her cheek firmly—a quick and decisive kiss—then pulled away before I truly lost my mind and crossed the boundaries I had set for myself.
I smiled faintly at her shocked expression and wide eyes from my bold act. I laughed internally; she looked so cute and funny in this state of shock, which increased my attachment and admiration for her.
Soon her face turned crimson, the color of a perfectly ripe tomato.
I couldn't resist the situation and burst into a loud, boisterous laugh at her shy and shocked appearance all at once.
Her eyes widened further from the surprise of my loud laughter, and she whispered the word "My God" faintly.
She frowned and looked at me with a reproachful gaze, implicitly commanding me to stop this laughing fit, but her frown made it worse and increased my laughter.
She shouted loudly:
"Knight, stop! This isn't funny! Damn you, you idiot!"
My smile widened, and I pinched her cheek gently.
"Truly, you change my mood and make me happy. You're cute when you're like a tomato, Cyra."
She hit my hand with slight anger, still muttering some curses, continuing to walk without me.
I followed her, jokingly threatening her with a suitable punishment for those curses.
The atmosphere had completely changed from tension to mirth and warmth.