Effortlessly, Fenris carried me on his back into the living room. There, we met with Amelia, who was with Layla. However, when my gaze met with the young white wolf, I instinctively buried my face in my wolf’s back.

She hadn’t been there when I made my declaration of love. After claiming the silver wolf as mine, I hadn’t thought about how I would face her. I was ready to fight the council and the Lycan elders since they were a bunch of prunes, but Layla was another matter.

She had never been fond of me being with her fiancé because of what she knew I fancied him. Not only that, but everything she feared occurred, and she wasn’t at fault. The elders had groomed her like Fenris for a specific role.

Yet I was keen on breaking it into pieces and taking him as mine. I would take her destiny from right under her nose, and I would have to face her. Sadly, Layla would bite my head off, unlike Amelia, if I weren’t careful.

Luckily, Fenris’s older sister hadn’t spoken to her about what had happened, and it seemed I had kept my voice in check well enough. Amelia wasn’t gazing at me with any more disgust than usual.

Soon enough, though, I would break Layla's world into pieces, and I wasn’t ready for that yet.

You’ve done nothing wrong, but even so, I can’t let you have the man I adore.

“Hey, are you two better?” Layla asked as I peeked outside to see something that caught my attention.

The moment Amelia saw Melody come out of the room behind us. Her expression changed to one of contempt.

Do you know her?

I quickly noted it before the older sister entered a different room without creating a scene.

“We’re fine,” Fenris dismissed Layla's worries without looking at her.

Instead, his eyes were locked towards the door where the rest of the wolves were.

“They are just grieving and don’t know what they're saying.” She reassured him. “You should just leave it to Liam and Ben. They know what to do.” She reached out to him.

Grief is something that happens naturally when someone loses a loved one, but… that emotion can warp perspectives, especially when they’re trying to find someone to blame.

I was the immediate outlet for their anger in these Lycans' eyes. I tightened my grip on Fenris, preparing myself for what was coming.

"No... I’ll be their alpha once the ceremony’s done. I must be the one to quell their restlessness once and for all." My wolf declared.

Layla smiled in awe of her alpha and future husband. However, her eyes twitched when she found me on his back, arms tightly wrapped around his neck.

"Then maybe leave Lilith inside. I know you wouldn’t like your charge in danger, and they want to get to her." She glanced at me, tone full of envy.

In response, all I could do was hold on tighter, triggering Fenris to sigh, knowing I wouldn’t allow that to happen even if it was also what he wanted. I had to bite my tongue for the moment, but there would be a day when she knew he was mine.

"No. Where I go, she goes." The silver pushed past a surprised Layla.

However, instead of staying behind, she followed us when Melody opened the door, revealing one of the biggest, angriest crowds I would ever see. Ben and Liam were effortlessly arguing with the Lycans, who all wanted my blood, especially since they finally connected the missing pieces to the destruction of Silverant all those years ago.

When they saw me, their comments became more ravenous. Setting me down, Melody helped me stay up when Fenris took the front to assess their concerns.

"Oh boy, can you all calm yourselves? We can be civilized beings. Unless you want to prove to every other race we’re only beasts!" my wolf addressed the crowd.

It was an ocean of bright amber eyes staring at us.

"That witch caused the disaster all those years ago! Revenge! Justice! Blood must be paid in kind!" the mob echoed, chanting for my death.

This is predictable, so it doesn’t surprise me that they act this way. After all, you realized the article was right about me.

There was a link between me and the incident all those years ago, but they were clueless about how connected I was.

"Can you all stop and listen?! Lilith was a victim, just like all of you who lost someone when Silverant fell! She was a ten-year-old girl used as a sacrifice by the witch cult known as Moira. They’re the ones who deserve your fangs, not her." Fenris tried to calm his pack.

"No! Witches are evil beings! They only deserve to be stomped on! We must eliminate all of them! Another purge!" The mob continued to call for my blood, not listening to reason.

The cycle was repeating itself over again. The racism would never end if no one stepped forward. However…

How can I quell their anger when their kin can’t? Will the cycle of violence continue no matter what? Probably...

Nothing I could say would change the fact that they lost their loved ones, but even so, I would make myself heard, especially if I wanted to be beside Fenris, who was at his edge thanks to the insolence of his pack. Letting him be ruled by anger wouldn’t help either; instead of letting it go any further, I would give them what they wanted: me.

I wouldn’t stay quiet any longer. No, they would hear me and then cast their judgment. Taking a step forward, my heart raced faster than ever before.

"So... you pretend to kill me just because of what I am while being ignorant of what it will cause?" I spoke out, finally setting all eyes on me.

Ben, Liam, and other Cerberus officers stood before the stairs to prevent the mob from climbing onto the patio where we were.

"Lilith, let me handle it, please." Fenris pleaded with me to stay far away from the angry wolves.

They got even rowdier the moment they heard my voice.

"No, it'll finish in more blood, like always. Will this ever end if I don’t speak?!" I countered his worries.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Shade shifted forms to help me walk towards the crowd when I tugged away from Melody, only for Fenris to grab me by my shoulder. He wouldn’t allow me to go any further. However, it was close enough for all those amber orbs to view me fully.

I had always practiced in my mind at a moment like this. Though, it was the point of time I dreaded the most.

It’s finally time to own up to everything that happened because of me—my side of the story of when the fall occurred.

I could see reporters behind the Lycans, and the flashes of light from their cameras were almost blinding. Letting go of my fears and doubts, I recounted my story to the masses to quell their anger.

If it would work, I could only hope it did.

"Yes, I failed you all when I neglected to keep the power of the... nether realm in its cage, but I was trying to protect you, and when I cast the incantation from earlier. It was so your loved ones wouldn’t suffer anymore." I began as utter silence surrounded me.

Whispers rose within me while I struggled to push them away. It wasn’t a time to be ruthless but sympathetic. All these wolves were grieving and had the right to do so. It was less than a day since their loved ones were taken, and I turned them into ashes.

I had no right to look down on them for what they felt.

Not this time, at least, and certainly not when Silverant fell. I changed the lives of many. Including the man, I adored more than anything in this world.

For the first time, I was about to open myself to them and tell my truth to the world.

Blame and all.

"Back when I was only ten, my grandmother wanted to end the world. I was a child who didn’t comprehend what was happening. Nor did I know the consequences of my actions. All I knew was that I wanted to save those I cared about from my grandmother's hatred.” I began.

All their eyes weighed heavily on me, which turned my voice denser. It felt like knots were forming in the back of my throat.

Will they care? Ah… It doesn’t matter.

“Regrettably, I was ignorant of my foolish attempt to change the spell.” I paused, trying to steady myself.

My voice cracked when I felt Fenris’s grip tighten to the point that it pushed me forward.

“I was ten and still didn’t have my magic nor my grimoire. So, I didn’t know the changes would allow these shadowy beasts to come from me.” I closed my eyes, remembering to write the words with my blood.

With each word that left me, it was getting harder to speak. The memories replayed in my mind so vividly.

“I never wanted the mayhem on Silverant to happen. No, what I thought would happen that day... What should’ve happened was that my death stopped the gate from slamming open. Instead, I somehow lived and became the gate for these creatures to come out of.” I paused, reliving the feelings of that day.

It probably related to my father coming from the Soul Cairn, but that part of the story isn’t for you to know.

“When the opposite happened, I didn’t know how to stop or control them. Much like when I lost control… Imagine picking up some water in your hand. Can you hold onto it all without it slipping?" I stopped again for a minute to collect my thoughts.

Fenris grabbed my hand to comfort me before leaning into my ear. “You can stop whenever you want. You don’t owe anything to any of them,” he whispered.

Somehow, I grabbed the attention of the crowd. I didn’t know if it was the tone in my voice, but instead of yelling, they were listening.

There was no stopping anymore. Judgment awaited me once they heard my side.

"You all think I’m heartless, but I... am not. If I were... I would’ve just killed myself after that day, but if I did, then the gate would have ripped open.” I declared, feeling more confident about what would come out of me.

“After all, who would want to live after years of being tortured by the people who are supposed to be there when no one else is?” I continued, gripping tighter into Fenris’s hand.

You who aren’t my blood have done for me more than…

Shaking my head, every image was so real.

Everything I went through. I’m finally ready to leave it all behind. To walk with you in the light, Fenris. Please… Let me walk with you.

“Everything I’ve been through, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. No one deserves to be ravished by a broomstick before being sent to their death." I bit my lip as Fenris rested his head against mine.

Thanks to my medical reports, he knew what I went through, but to hear it was something else.

Are they even listening anymore? Will any of this work?

Waste of time…

Murder them…

Make them submit!

The whispers were becoming chaotic. I honestly didn’t know, but I could only smile bitterly, unable to contain my swelling emotions.

"Kill me, you say. You don’t know how much I wish I would’ve died the day they sacrificed me. Fuck, I was counting on it!" I snapped, feeling empty.

“It’s okay.” Fenris wrapped his arm around my hip, secluding me close to him. "Lily... You don’t have to do this, please. I’ll handle them.”

“No, I have to do this. If I don’t… I’ll…” I shook my head, pushing forward.

Every time I blinked, images were flowing within me.

Destroy…

No! I won’t allow you to dictate what I do, either! I’m Lilith, a survivor, and I won’t let anyone control me any longer!

"Pathetic, I know, but that would’ve been the easy way out for me, and it was fucking tempting. There were times I looked at the window in the hospital wishing to throw myself out of it.” I declared, drawing away from the warmth Fenris provided.

I can’t depend on you forever. This is my fight, and I have to make it out alone. My grandmother won’t define me anymore. No one will!

“The only thing that stopped me was that I wanted to save the person who had become my light. For his world, I would give anything to save it from the fate that my grandmother planned, even if it includes my sanity and my morals.” I gripped tighter onto Shade, unable to read the crowd’s emotions, but I knew what I felt within me was something new.

“I knew if I let myself die. The gate would’ve swung wide open, allowing more terrifying things out with nothing to stop it. What you all saw that day was nothing compared to what the realm has in store." I warned, taking a step forward.

I will fly so my past won’t hold me chained to the ground.

"Luckily, even though I didn’t know what I was doing. I stopped anything too powerful from coming out, as most of what you saw were lesser beasts that slipped by me.” I declared, shifting my eyes towards Shade.

The only thing that came out close to a goddess was you. Everything else…

“If you could see what I’ve seen in there, you would be terrified of the thought of that gate slamming open with nothing to stop it." I paused, allowing memories to flash, triggering me to release a nervous cackle.

Fenris stood beside me, shifting his eyes towards the crowd.

"Sadly, even though I tried to change the fate of everyone in town that day. The first to die was a woman who was trying to help me. So yes, I’m despicable, a harbinger of death, and I... couldn’t stop the disaster from that day.” I acknowledged, closing my eyes.

Yes… I’m a monster.

“For that, I’m forever sorry. Nothing I can do change who died and who you lost that day." I bit into my lip.

“No, Lily, there isn’t a reason for you to apologize. None of it—” Fenris wouldn’t be able to finish as one Lycan interrupted him.

"Your apologies won’t bring back our dead! Our loved ones!" the angered wolf yelled, triggering Fenris to growl loudly as his body shimmered a red hue.

After listening to my story, others appeared unsure of what to feel anymore. Instead of the usual backing down, I continued to face their anger. I wouldn’t allow Fenris to throw himself into the crowd to protect me.

"I know my words are meaningless to you, but even so...” I trailed off, placing my hands on the railing rather than on Shade.

“You can’t kill me for justice without dooming the world to that fate. Do you think I would still be alive if I weren’t cursed to hold part of the realm inside of me? Sadly, if I stop breathing, then... you’ll lose more than just your lives." I informed, trying to separate my emotions from what was happening.

Most of the Lycans were baffled by what I announced. I could only glance toward Shade, triggering her to meet my gaze.

Your warning from all those years ago still stands. It’s the one thing that keeps me alive.

Thanks to that, I lived to see the day when my one-sided love blossomed.

"You’ll lose your world if I die. It was the only reason that kept me from killing myself all those years ago, too.” I shifted my gaze towards my light. “I don’t want you to lose your world, Fenris. You’re the only reason I didn’t jump back then." I added as he suddenly yanked me into his embrace.

This wolf couldn’t stop himself after hearing everything. His hold on me was so tender that I couldn’t pull myself away from him.

"You stupid girl. Even if you weren’t cursed, you still have all the right to live. None of this was your fault! Do you hear me? None of it." His voice broke, triggering me to wrap my arms around him, too.

My little wolf's embrace was warmer than I ever thought it could be. For a moment, everyone went silent before a female Lycan tried to come through the crowd, heading towards Ben and Liam, who both let her through upon identifying her.

Clearing the way, she climbed the stairs, facing me straight on. This beautiful red-haired Lycan would change my heart in ways I never knew it could.