Zarion’s POV
I found myself submerged in a terrifying haze.
A realm where reality melded with the darkest corners of my mind. And in the depths of that distorted reality, I stood over a figure, my hands locked around her throat.
A face flashed within my consciousness, etching itself into the fabric of my thoughts—a face belonging to a girl…a girl I once loved.
Cassidy—her name’s Cassidy.
As my grip tightened, a surge of inexplicable guilt rippled in my chest, rendering me unable to carry out the malevolent act that my instincts beckoned me to commit. I staggered backward, my chest heaving as my body protested against the violence that had threatened to consume me.
It already consumed me.
No, no, no, I shouldn’t do this.
The girl in front of me is the woman I would kill the world for. Burn the world for.
The weight of the situation bore down upon my consciousness, a burden that demanded my immediate attention. I had come dangerously close to extinguishing a life, a life that held significance to me despite the turmoil of my own existence.
With trembling hands, I reached out towards the girl—towards Cassidy, my fingers trembling with a mixture of rage, confusion, and regret.
“Fuck, that was close,” I whispered at her, voice filled with trembling fear. I pulled her into an embrace, seeking solace in the warmth of her presence while desperately attempting to convey the remorse that overwhelmed me.
“Sorry.” Words tumbled out of my lips, a torrent of apologies cascading forth like an unstoppable force. “I'm so sorry,” I muttered with a voice choked with emotion, each syllable etched with the weight of my remorse.
The depth of my apology was immeasurable, a mere phrase unable to encapsulate the magnitude of my regret. Yet, it was all I had to offer in that very moment—a desperate plea for forgiveness. Her forgiveness.
“Hey,” she hoisted her head to me. “Hey, it’s okay…The curse, Zarion.” Cassidy's body tensed within my embrace, her vulnerability evident in the subtle tremors that coursed through her.
I could sense the fear. It is within her, and the confusion and disbelief warring within her own mind…I could only blink my eyes and hope for nothing more but relief between us.
“What curse?” I asked, still dizzy about what happened.
How could she comprehend the dichotomy that existed within me—the enigma of a man, an Alpha, torn between his primal instincts and the remnants of his humanity?
As my grip on Cassidy loosened, I peered into her eyes, desperately seeking a glimmer of understanding.“The ritual… I mean, the ritual that we did! It’s gone! Elliot…” she paused, scanning the surroundings. “Where’s Elliot?”
“What ritual? What were we doing? Where’s Elliot?!” I still couldn’t understand what was happening around me, and how I came to be in this place.
Cassidy heaved a deep sigh and bit her lower lip. “We have to find Elliot first. I think you’re still high.”
“High? What kind of high?”
“Never mind,” she sneered. I can see Cassidy’s kind of impatience towards me. I can’t blame her.
My jaw clenched because of her sneering. My heart yearned to prove that I was more than a creature consumed by darkness. I vowed to myself that I would fight against the malevolent forces that threatened to devour me whole, striving to find redemption in the face of my own inner demons.
With a heavy heart, I released Cassidy from my embrace, aware that the road to this redemption would be paved with obstacles and uncertainty. “Okay, then,” I answered and shut my eyes closed to feel Elliot’s energy. To search for him thoroughly.
“Found him,” I growled, unable to tear my eyes away from Elliot. He stood with an air of calmness, his gaze fixed on something unseen. He’s lost in his own world.
But upon studying his expression, it was as if he had tapped into a force beyond our comprehension. The ritual had been interrupted, but he was determined to rekindle it. And against all odds, he succeeded.
“Elliot! What—-” Cassidy screamed at the top of her lungs.
“Fuck, what did he do?!” I began to panic. A jolt of shock coursed through my veins as I witnessed the impossible.
The surrounding atmosphere seemed to crackle with energy. An otherworldly glow enveloped Elliot. Shadows danced across his face, mirroring the uncertainty and wonder that filled Cassidy's heart—and mine.
Elliot’s voice broke the silence, turning his head towards us, his words hanging heavy in the air.
“Now!” he exclaimed, voice tinged with urgency. Time was of the essence. We had to act swiftly before the opportunity closed. Elliot's eyes met mine, and a flicker of something unspoken passed between us. He beckoned us closer, his gaze unwavering.
As I approached him, Cassidy followed suit, her steps hesitant but resolute. We stood beside Elliot, our breaths mingling with the charged air.
With a voice infused with a mixture of hope and trepidation, Elliot began to speak in a different language.
Now I can finally remember what we were doing earlier.
This is a ritual to transform her into a wolf.
“You have to share a skin-to-skin interaction with Cassidy. You got it, Alpha?” His words flowed like a lyrical dance, painting vivid images in our minds.
Cassidy looked at me, her eyes full of fear but excitement.
Both of us nodded at each other.
His words transported us to a moonlit clearing, where the celestial orb cast its ethereal glow upon the earth below. With every word, I could feel the longing, the desire, and the devotion that had fueled Elliot's unwavering determination just to make this ritual successful.
He spoke of the passionate embrace beneath the full moon, the merging of souls that transcended mortal limitations. And then, in a moment that seemed suspended in time, Elliot whispered the final words of his tale.
“Now!” His voice trembled, and I grabbed Cassidy’s wrist to kiss her under the moonlight. My hand wrapped around her hair possessively while tilting her head more to kiss her passionately.
When the time was up, she pulled away from me. No, she was pulled away from me.
Something happened between us. Then, an unimaginable transformation unfolded before my eyes.
Cassidy, the human I cherished dearly in my life, took on a form I could never have conceived in a lifetime.
She took away my breath as I behold her magnificent transformation.