Page 11 of Destined to the Lycan (The Shadow Realms #3)

Amara

A fter a restless first night, the following day dragged endlessly with not a single sign of Remus.

More than once, I forced myself to silence the panicked little voice screaming that he had vanished on me and would be a no-show in the morning.

And yet, another much louder voice told me to stop being silly.

That total stranger awakened in me a bone deep trust that I couldn’t explain.

Granted, Remus was insanely handsome, tall and muscular in a way that almost made me feel fragile.

The beastly aura that emanated from him was both intimidating and enticing.

A truly feral creature lurked within him, contained by a sweet and highly protective male.

The fact that he went rabid during the full moon should terrify me and automatically eliminate him as a potential candidate.

However, although I didn’t know her either, I also implicitly trusted Misty.

Her vouching for him, and the Weaver’s words about finding someone I trusted with my life on the day after the full moon reinforced my belief that he was the one.

To my chagrin, I didn’t really take the time to visit the village or even hang out in the common room.

The visiting packs made me uncomfortable.

The pity and disapproval in their eyes rubbed me the wrong way.

As much as I appreciated that they stemmed from a wish to protect me from the male they perceived as a threat—not to say an abomination—it pissed me off how they treated him.

Throughout our conversation that first night, their gazes never strayed from us, all of them condemning, many visibly fighting the urge to intervene.

I almost wished one of them actually did so when Remus finally consented to be my guide.

As much as I disliked confrontations, I would have gladly ripped them a new one for refusing to help me and yet attempting to prevent the one who would from doing so.

Considering the long journey that awaited us, I rested as much as possible in the comfortable bed that Misty had put at my disposal and had most of my meals in my room.

On the second day, I made my way down to the dining room, my stomach fluttering with nerves and excitement. Remus stated we would head out around 8:00 in the morning. I wanted a solid breakfast before hitting the road and to grab a few snacks to bring with us.

Halfway down the stairs, the sound of a heated conversation reached me.

I almost stomped my feet to make my approach clear so that they would be warned should this be a private matter.

However, I immediately recognized Ulric’s voice angrily addressing Misty.

That single sentence made it clear they were talking about me.

“He can’t take her!” Ulric hissed. “You know as well as I do that this whole thing is suicidal!”

“Leave it be, Ulric,” Misty said sternly. “The decision is made.”

“You know that he only wants to fuck her!” Ulric snapped.

I barely repressed a gasp, feeling outraged on Remus’s behalf.

“Stop it!” Misty snarled.

“It’s true!” Ulric insisted stubbornly.

“It’s not. And even if it was true, what does it matter? Remus would never force himself on a woman. Or are you insinuating the contrary?”

“Of course not,” he said angrily, which both surprised and reassured me. “But his seed is foul. He should have been put down decades ago.”

“By Ferazan, why can’t you just leave him alone?!” Misty exclaimed, discouraged.

The same thought crossed my mind as a protective anger surged within me. Such vitriol against Remus felt personal. What had transpired between the two men to stir such hatred?

“Remus will ruin her,” Ulric said forcefully, as if that was all the justification he needed.

“Have you forgotten the part where she’s dying?” Misty challenged with annoyance. “What if he manages to save her? Wouldn’t that be a good thing? At least he gives her a chance.”

“No, he will only delay the inevitable as he will kill her with his seed,” Ulric argued stubbornly. “And even if she survives—which I highly doubt—she will bear him cursed pups. Do you really want more of him running around?”

Another wave of anger welled within me upon hearing the contempt with which he said the word ‘him.’ Just as I was wondering why he felt so adamant that there would be some sort of romantic involvement between the two of us, Misty provided the answer.

“First of all, I love this boy. Having more of him around would be a blessing, not a curse,” Misty said with a conviction that had my heart filling with affection for her and gratitude on behalf of Remus.

“Second, you and everyone else know that she is his Twin Flame. You’ve seen the symptoms the moment he walked into the room.

The mate bond is sacred. We have a duty to honor it. ”

“That demon shouldn’t have a Twin Flame!” Ulric hissed.

“Enough!” Misty snapped in a hushed tone, while casting a nervous glance towards the staircase.

My stomach knotted. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.

Considering how long I had been standing there, I could only presume I unconsciously reacted in a way that gave away my presence.

Then again, maybe my scent finally wafted to them.

Either way, there was no point attempting to further hide my presence.

Shrugging dismissively, Ulric turned to boldly face the staircase, a determined look on his face.

“Don’t shush me. She deserves to know the truth!”

“And what truth is that?” I challenged as I climbed down the remaining stairs, all thoughts of apologies for listening in fading away.

“Remus is dangerous!”

“Dangerous how? By helping me when no one else will?!” I said defiantly.

“By lusting for you when he is sick!” Ulric exclaimed as if it was self-evident.

I shrugged while stopping at a respectable distance in front of him. “Assuming you are correct, neither of these things are a crime. At least, he’s willing to help me when the rest of you would leave me to die.”

“Only so he can bed you!”

I rolled my eyes. “So what? Whatever his motives, he’s the only one who stepped up in my time of need. The question is why do you care so much? Why are you so determined to get in the way?”

“Remus thinks you are Twin Flames,” Ulric articulated slowly as if he was starting to think I was too dense to understand what should otherwise be obvious. “He will therefore try to seduce and claim you.”

“Again, why is that bad? He’s handsome, skilled, respectful, and has come highly recommended,” I added, casting a meaningful glance at Misty.

“I could think of far worse men to be paired with, assuming he and I even are soulmates. And you can spare me the comment about him being sick. I am too, remember?”

“You don’t understand,” Ulric sighed, frustrated.

“ You are the one who doesn’t understand,” I interjected with aggravation.

“If he and I truly are Twin Flames, then Fate will see to it that things work out for us. If we’re not, then we’ll just part ways.

If this mission results in my death, then so be it.

I’m already dying. I have nothing to lose, but much to gain.

So unless you know someone else who will take me all the way to the end, then I really don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Just stay out of my business.”

Ulric stood there fuming, his fingers twitching as if he was fighting the urge to grab me by the shoulders and give me a good shake to knock some sense into me. After a few moments, he growled in frustration then uttered a string of swear words as he stormed out of the otherwise empty inn.

I stared at his receding back in confusion before a soft chuckle from Misty reclaimed my attention. She was smiling at me with a tender expression that instantly made me ache for a hug from my mother. It was strange what a strong connection I had developed with this woman in such a short time.

“What’s his deal?” I asked the older woman, genuinely baffled.

“It’s a long story,” she replied with a discouraged sigh. “Ask Remus about him. It is his story to tell.”

I opened and closed my mouth a couple of times, hesitating as to how I wanted to word my question before blurting it out.

“Is Remus safe?” I asked sheepishly.

“Yes,” Misty replied with a conviction and firmness that wiped out any lingering doubt I might have had. “You will never find a more noble and trustworthy male than my Remus.”

The maternal possessiveness with which she spoke that last sentence made me smile. However unusual their relationship had come to be, that female truly loved him like her own.

“Is it true what he claimed?” I caught myself asking again. “Does Remus think we’re Twin Flames?”

Misty’s face softened, although I didn’t miss the sliver of worry in her silver eyes. I couldn’t explain why, but I believed concern over how I might react to her response triggered that reaction.

“It is true,” she confirmed carefully. “There are clear signs when Lycans meet their other half.”

“You mean fever, dry mouth, high pulse rate, dilated pupils, and a darker sclera,” I asked.

Misty’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s correct. Although you missed the aching fangs and change of scent. Still, you know a lot about my people.”

I shrugged to hide how flattered I felt by her impressed expression. “I had a couple of days before I set off on my journey here. So I read everything I could about Lycans to have a better idea of what I would be dealing with.”

“Smart girl,” Misty said approvingly. “But cast away any fears you may feel. Remus is a good male. He truly is like a son to me. You couldn’t have hoped for a better guide to take you on this perilous journey.

There is no doubt for any of us that you are Twin Flames.

He wouldn’t have brought it up to you until the mission was over.

He will not pressure you in any way. Just follow your heart and your instincts.

Fate will sort the rest. None of this is a coincidence. ”

“Thank you,” I said, genuinely grateful.