Chapter 16

Xyris P.O.V.

Tahimik na binagtas namin ni Annalise ang daan pabalik sa pack house. I feel drained and exhausted to the point that I can't even bring myself to talk.

Pagdating sa pack house ay agad akong dumiretso sa silid na inilaan ni Kaige sa akin. Tears started streaming down to my cheeks the moment I close the door behind me. Nanghihinang napaupo ako sa sahig. None of this should happened if only I left this Island earlier.

I feel so useless! I am a dryad yet I wasn't even able to feel their death. The ambush happened in the midst of the ocean, far away from the trees that's why it is too late for me to feel the danger and their death.

Kumuyom ang kamao ko sa galit. Whoever this Zhav is, he knew the limitation of my power. He is an enemy that I cannot just overlook for he knew when and how to caught me off guard.

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakayukyok sa sahig at saka humakbang palapit sa closet. Mula sa ilalim niyon ay hinila ko ang isang kulay pulang maleta. I need to leave. I don't care if this will going to bring me harm but I need to end this. I need to put an end to this endless chase and confront the person who's been after me in the past 15 years.

I am in the middle of fixing my stuffs when the door suddenly burst open. Napalingon ako sa pinto ng iluwa nito si Kaige. Napatigil ako sa pagaayos ng mga damit ko at napatingin dito. Saglit na nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin nito sa akin at sa maletang nakalagpag sa kama. Sa isang saglit lang ay gumuhit ang galit sa mukha nito ng marealize ang balak ko.

"What do you think you're doing!" Tiim bagang na tanong nito.

Kumuyom ang kamao ko saka muling ipinagpatuloy ang pag lalagay ng damit sa maleta.

"Well, if in case that it is not obvious yet, I'm out of this island." I hissed at him as I continue to put my dresses inside the open luggage.

Inilang hakbang ni Kaige ang pagitan namin saka hinila ang kamay ko na may hawak na ilang pirasong nakatuping damit. Kinuha nito ang mga damit na hawak ko saka ihinagis sa kama.

"And what made you think that I am going to let you leave duskfall territory?" Mariing wika nito habang hawak ang braso ko. His eyes is burning with rage but so am I.

"Fuck!" sigaw ko saka hiniklas ang braso ko mula rito. My eyes met his with combination of pain and anger. "Who do you think you are to control me? Can't you see that since I entered this island I brought nothing but disaster?" Pasigaw kong wika rito.

Nanghihinang napaupo sa kama. "They're dead and it's all because of me." I sobbed as tears starts to fall one by one from my eyes. Each of my tears symbolizes the pain of each pack members who lost their family in that ambush. "None of this should happened if only I left this pack that moment Zhav's knows that I am in your territory." A warm hug envelops me as I continue to pour the pain that I feel at the moment.

"You are their Luna; it is their duty to protect you." He comforted. I just shake my head in disapproval.

"I am not their Luna and will never be." Mahinang sabi ko. "Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kapag isang warrior pa ang binawian ng buhay dahil sa akin."

"No, you are the mother of my pack. You are my mate, the other half of my soul and I am destined to protect you at all cost." Mahinang wika nito. He held my chin and makes me look at him. "I understand your pain and worry but you need to trust me. I am currently communicating with Alpha Raven to locate Zhav. We will end this together."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa winika nito. I look at him with confusion. "But why?" Hindi nakatiis na tanong ko. "Why would you sacrifice the safety of your pack to protect me?"

Kaige caress my cheek and slowly wipe my tears with the back of his hand. "Because you are my mate." Maikling sagot nito na tila ba sapat na iyong paliwanag sa magulo naming sitwasyon.

Napailing ako. "But what about the curse?"

"To hell with it! Do you really think that will stop me from claiming you?" Kaige loosen his hold, allowing me to getaway a bit and create a small distance between us.

I take a deep breath to calm myself and clear my head. "I can't allow you to claim me Kaige. Do you understand what does this mean to you and your pack? Without an heir to the throne it might cost you your own pack. I can't allow that to happen." I said, shaking my head in disapproval.

Kaige look at me with a smile. His hand move to my nape as he pulls me closer to his body, capturing my lips with his in a gentle kiss. This all wrong, I know. But it seems that the sweet movements of his lips on mine remove all of the logical reasoning I have on my body. I gasps for air the moment he let go of my lips.

His lovely deep black eyes met my confused and bluish one. "We'll cross the bridge when we get there. For now, let's take one step at a time." Wika nito. He take my shaking hand and put it in his chest, near his heart. Slowly, his eyes turns to yellow, an indication that he letting his wolf takeover. "I, Kaige, Alpha of Duskfall pack. Accept you Xyris as my mate and the Luna of my pack."

I gasps in surpise as he caught me off guard with his words. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa binitawang salita nito. I stand up from the bed and immediately push him away from me. Natigilan ito at bahagyang napaatras. Maging ito ay nagulat sa iniasal ko.

"What the fuck have you done?" may halong galit na tanong ko rito. My reaction seems to astonish him a bit as his forehead furrows in confusion. Probably because he is not expecting my sudden outburst.

"Wh-." Agad itong matigilan ng lumitaw ang kakaibang encryption sa pulsuhan nito. Golden dusk scattered around as the golden thread that connects us became visible on his eyes.

"What the heck is this?" He mumbled himself. Confuse of what is happening.

Napansin ko na napahawak ito sa may bandang leeg nito na tila ba may kirot na gumapang parteng iyon ng katawan nito. Napaatras ako at saka nanghihinang napaupo sa kama ng makitang ang marka ng ginintuan paru-paro sa leeg niya. This can't be happening.

The bond of the dryad, this is what I am avoiding to happen the moment he knew that we are mated. Once he accepted the bond, there's no way I can break it anymore.

Napatingin ito sa akin ng mapansin ang pamumutla ko. Inilang hakbang nito ang pagitan namin ng matanto ang nangyayari sa akin.

Black dots filled my vision as my strength slowly leaves my body.

"Xyris.." That was the last thing I heard before my unconscious body falls flat in the bed with a soft thud.

💐💐💐