I will be back
28. Eternal doom

Aleida’s POV

It’s the day before my eternal rest, and I’m starting to get excited about it. Not the “I might die” part but rather the “I might make it” factor. My family, my people, and everyone I care about will be there. That gives me some comfort. Blake has come into my room several times when Victor has been elsewhere, and he’s a real gem. We joke a lot, and he’s brilliant when it comes to problem-solving. What gives me power from our meetings is how he looks at me. As if I’m the solution to all his problems. Lisa and I talk to each other; it calms me to know that she prepares for the fight. She hasn’t been as present as usual because she collects every tiny drop of power until tomorrow. We both want to sniff our puppies’ necks again, and that’s what keeps us going. Werewolves tend to talk very much in a mental spectrum with their wolf-part, and others often wonder why we don’t communicate as much with each other. The reason for that is because we don’t have to; we’re one with each other. The decisions we make don’t need to discuss because we think the same way. Lisa only interferes if she believes what I’m about to do is stupid. Like that time when she didn’t think I’d say straight out that I’m alpha over all alphas because it could create unnecessary conflicts given that that person who claimed it was previously an evil being. Which caused problems when I was in the same room as three other alphas; even if it was family, it made them tense. In any case, she’s preparing and is also aware of what we have to expect and what we risk losing. Neither she nor I have any plans to yield or submit. However, this doesn’t mean that we’re malleable and can’t see the possibility that we’ll die; on the contrary, we prepare for that chance to exist. Blake has two other vampires with him a couple of times when he comes to visit me. It’s his best friends, and they’re hostile at first. Now we’re friends and hang out together when we get the opportunity. Today, however, only Blake is in my room. I had another guard before, but thanks to my negotiating skills, Blake is now my guard. Please don’t ask me why Victor thinks I need a guard from the start because I honestly don’t know. We have a blood pact that deprives me of every opportunity to escape. I guess he’s becoming paranoid in his old age. He looks to be in his twenties, but according to Blake, Victor is over a hundred years old. Vampires don’t age; they live until they get killed or kill themselves. Usually, to get rid of a sun spell or to drive a stake into their own heart. I think that’s a little unfair. Werewolves are one with nature and neither hurt nor kill unless we have to, assuming you’re not a rogue. We age slower than humans, but we age sooner or later and can die of age. On the other hand, the bloodsuckers kill the creatures they drink from or steal the human’s blood from the hospitals, and they don’t age! Can you see the unfair situation here? Anyhow, now that the creature explanation hour is over, let’s return to what’s happening. Blake is lying on the floor and stare at the ceiling. Something is bothering him, but instead of pestering him until he answers, I let him be. If he wants to talk, he will speak.

“Hey, what’s your opinion on onions?” he suddenly asks, and that makes me laugh.

“Onions?” I ask between my laughter.

“Yeah, you know those little yellow round things?”

“I know what an onion is! What about them?”

“I don’t like the taste.”

“Okay, should we start a phone chain right away, or can it wait until tomorrow morning?” I giggle.

He throws a pillow at me, and I laugh loudly. Here I walk around and am worried about him. Thinking that something is seriously wrong, and he’s thinking about the taste of onions? Now, do you see what I mean? He’s a real goofball.

“It’s hard to think about anything else than what’s going to happen tomorrow. I’m desperate for other thoughts,” Blake says and looks sad.

“I know, Blake. Trust me; I’m having trouble thinking about other things too. The constant worrying is tiresome. It’s just one more day; everything will turn out the way it’s supposed to in the end.”

“How can you believe that crap?”

“Because I have to. There’s not much else that keeps me going right now,” I answer with a sad smile, and Blake’s facial expression changes to shame.

He probably doesn’t think about how it feels for me to know that I may not see the people I love after the fight. I feel nothing right now, really, or yes, I try not to. Nevertheless, fear creeps into me and reminds me of how high the stakes are.

“I didn’t mean to make you feel bad or think about it,” Blake says in a small voice.

“It’s okay. I can’t really ignore it either. The only thing I have to focus on is the prize I get if I win.”

“And what’s that?”

“My babies in my arms again,” I answer with a smile.

“You are doing this for them, aren’t you?” Blake asks with a warm smile on his features.

I nod my head. My pups need their mommy to protect them, and I intend to do that. They deserve to grow up without any danger and get the chance to be their own individuals in time even though I think that theyäll be just like their daddies when they grow up. Strong, capable, compassionate, and lovable.

“I know that my mates and my people will survive without me. But I worry for my boys. I grew up without my parents, and I needed my mom with me a lot of times during the years. They need to learn how to behave, not only with their daddies’ parenting. There are some things that only a mother can learn her kids, and I want to be there to do that.”

“I can see that; they’re lucky to have you,” he says and smiles softly.

“No, I’m the lucky one. I’ve made so many mistakes and hurt people around me; even so, they love me the same. They can easily turn their backs on me. Instead, they give me a reason to live.”

“So the rumors are true about the Rose moon pack mistreating you?”

“Pfft, mistreating? I was their fucking slave. One day I decided to challenge the alpha for the position, which was rightfully mine, in fact. He fought dirty and got help while I fought on my own. That was one of the reasons why I killed his luna,” I explaining with disgust toward the man who took everything from me.

“What happened next?” Blake asks with curiosity like it’s a bedtime story.

“Miliano came and saved me. I was dying slowly, and Jonathan yelled at me, telling me to submit, but I refused. I don’t bow to anyone, especially not to a disgusting pig who kills other members’ mates.”

He gasps when he hears that. Even to vampires and all sorts of creatures, killing an innocent person’s mate is a sin. I didn’t kill an honest man’s mate because neither he nor his luna was innocent. They’re both garbage and don’t deserve to be at that high rank from the beginning. He’s about to say something when a loud and vibrating growl echoes throughout the house. I’ve never heard anything quite like it before. Something or someone is running up the stairs towards my room. The door slams open, and the creature before me, honestly, I don’t know how to describe it. It looks like a mixed-race between werewolf, vampire, troll, and demon. The creature is a hideous thing, that’s for sure. It’s staring at me, and the long, sharp teeth are exposed. Blake and I are looking at each other, unsure what the hell we’re going to do.

“What the hell are you?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Don’t think the devil is your only enemy out there, Aleida. Oversee your back; you can never know what dangers rest in the dark shadows,” the creature responds.

A snap with its fingers and the monster is gone. Was that supposed to be a threat or a warning? Honestly, I have no idea what just happened. Did we both hallucinate, or was it an illusion? As if Blake can read my mind, he speaks.

“Was that for real?” he asks.

“Did you see it too!?” I exclaim.

“Yes! I thought I imagined things... What the hell was that?”

“Don’t ask me; I have no idea,” I answer with a shrug.

“Who do you think sent it?” Blake asks and looks worriedly at me.

Yes, who did send this creature to me? I only have two enemies alive, that’s Jonathan and that witch who’s obsessed with my mates. Jana, I think it was? But why would they go to this much trouble just to threaten me? It doesn’t make any sense.

Unknown POV

“Everything is set in motion.”

“Thank you, Michael. That would be all. Go and rest; you’re going to need it when the times come,” I answer and scratch him behind his ear.

He nuzzles into my hand, and let me tell you; this guy is like furry putty in my hand. A stupid male wolf who can get manipulated exceptionally easily. I didn’t even have to work hard to make him my bitch. Ever since he followed that bitch Aleida, I have, piece by piece, put bits of doubt and darkness inside his mind. Now he’ll soon do what will kill him to live with. I need his life source to become stronger and take her down, but I’m not there yet. Stupid moon goddess to think that she can overthrow me like that! How dare she create a disgusting dog to be stronger than me!? No one will see it coming. Jonathan’s mind was easy to penetrate with my darkness; also, he’s a bigger lapdog than Michael currently is. What is it with the male species to follow every woman who shows them attention? They both think that I’m theirs, but they’re mine. Can you believe that they think I’m in love with them? Hah! Like someone like me would ever touch those flee-filled dogs, I wouldn’t even want to grab them with pliers. I’m their superior, and soon I’ll be the ruler of the whole world. All beings will bow before me and follow my orders or experience the consequences. Not even Aleida can save them this time as she did that time when she was little. How pathetic is it that she doesn’t remember the powers that are within her? She remembers nothing from her childhood apart from small glimpses here and there. Her powers knocked out her memories, just like a short circuit. No one knows she saved the universe from my darkness that day. Her parents’ death was what triggered it. It was the first time any of us had to experience the enormous power she carries within her but hasn’t learned to control. The moon goddess creates those powers for good use, but she can cause worse destruction than I can if she can’t control them. Unfortunately, she was too fast for us, and she managed to get out of there before we found her. Explained simpler, if Aleida can’t control her powers, she’s a weapon of mass destruction. There’s a darkness that belongs to the forces within her, and corruption can eat her up if she isn’t careful. Since, as I said, she doesn’t know that she possesses them, it’ll also be easier to bow her to my will. It’s going to be fun to watch her die piece by piece by her inner self. But it’s not time yet, soon, very soon, my dear Aleida. Then we’ll destroy the world together, and you won’t even have time to realize it’s coming.