Her Forever
(Book 3)- Chapter 29

Willa’s POV

“Alanso?” His face was no longer care-free and his brown curly wisps of hair had darkened from the last time I saw him. Small black veins were adorned on his shirtless chest. Alanso was the last person I thought I would see here in this moment.

“Willa,” the voice was strained as he continued to walk toward me. “I need you to come with me.” There was something wrong, all of this seemed wrong and my legs wanted to move but I couldn’t. I was paralyzed in fear.

“W-what are you doing here? Where are Caleb and Sammy?” I had never seen Alanso with out the other two, they were the trio that always stuck together, to get the women they wanted yet all yearned for the day they found their mates.

“They are waiting for us, we need to get you to safety. There have been some disturbances in the Light Kingdom and Luna has sent us here to retrieve you and bring you back to the Warrior pack where you will be safe.” Alanso told me he and his friends were the top trackers in his pack, that was for certain. He tracked me all the way back to the Light Kingdom and knew exactly where I was. He was on suicide missions before to save Luna Sadie, was this really a rescue mission or something more?

“We don’t have time, Willa! We need to go, the enchantment will only last so long.” Alanso took a few steps forward again, but I started to step back. The look was hardened as he continued to hold out his hand. “I told Luna I would keep you safe, I kept you safe in my pack when you visited. You must trust me.”

Orion’s face flashed in my head. No, Orion is to keep me safe. Orion would have told me if I needed to leave, he wouldn’t keep these things from me. What was that code word he used when he told Eudora to halt the wolves from coming to protect me? Axis He would need to know that word to execute a plan.

“What’s the code word?” I stood firm; my stance unwavering.

His eyes went to confusion to anger. He doesn’t know, I’m in danger from someone I thought was my friend.

Alanso lunged at me to grab my arm, but I darted away. I knew I couldn’t outrun him, but whatever enchantment was on the room was going to fade. I just needed to stay away until then. Alanso snarled as I went behind a large table sitting in the room that was used for signing documents. Time, I need time.

“Why are you doing this? What have I done to you? I thought I was your friend!?” Keep him talking, buy some time. Alanso leaped and jumped on the table, his feat were bare and dirty, claws were transforming on his feet as well as his hands. A large growl ripped through the room as he snarled with drool coming from his mouth. Slight bits of foam started to drip to the sides. Is he rabid?

Alanso jumped and I dove under the table, the claws made his footing slip and I ran out of the ballroom, closing the door and hastily pushing a large chair under the doors. He could come through that easily, so I ran. Down the hallway and through the lighted windows I found the bathroom I had emerged from. Instantly drawn to the door, I pushed it open only to be sucked inside and spilled out the other. Instead of the bathroom floor I was back in the hallway with the Red Fury and Annan staring at me wide eyed.

“Gods, Willa, are you alright?” Fionn picked me up off the floor, sweat was dripping down my face from running, the heavy breaths were tight in the corset I wore. Fionn looked me over carefully, he had become a brother I had never had how he looked after me. If I wasn’t so distraught and confused I’d throw my arms around him and let him know how much it means to me.

Annan approached and saw my confusion. “What the hell happened, Your Highness?”

“I-I don’t know. I was here, but I wasn’t! I came out from using the washroom and everyone was gone! Then Alanso showed up, told me I had to come with him, and I knew something was wrong. I told him no and he chased me! Gods, he chased me until I threw myself back into the washroom and fell out here!”

Eamon, the bulkier of the three picked me up, one arm under my legs and the other behind my back. Being thankful, because I’m not sure if I could walk, he carried me back to throne room with three other angry faes. Eamon’s nostrils were flaring and held me tightly, he was being so protective of me but all I wanted was Orion.

Orion’s back was to us as he continued to talk to the Chief Ogre, sensing my presence and knowing I had entered the room he turned around to smile, but quickly faded when he saw me in Eamon’s arms. “What’s he meaning of this?” Orion yelled and I wiggled out of Eamon’s arms. Running to him, I grabbed on to his neck and pulled myself closer. “Someone tried to take me,” I whispered. Orion’s grip became strong as he held me tightly.

“Who?” he growled.

“Alanso, from the Warrior Pack.” Annan walked up to Orion and put a hand on his shoulder to whisper in his ear.

“Not here Orion. Let me get a witch to check the enchantment and find the source.”

“Good, I’ll contact Sadie.” Annan started to walk away, and Orion grunted, causing Annan to turn.

“Tomorrow,” Orion spoke harshly. Annan nodded his head reluctantly once and walked out the door while the Red Fury stiffened.

“This concludes our meetings for the day,” Orion spoke. “We will resume tomorrow at 8am.” Murmurs were heard around the room as Orion pulled me to his side to leave the room.

Back in Orion’s private office he had me sit on his lap while Annan finished his research. Fionn was pacing with his sword at his side, fiddling with the handle. Eamon continued to sit in his chair and stare at the floor while Brenden looked out the window.

Orion made me tell him the whole story. No detail could be left out and he made me repeat the story again and again to make sure. Apparently, women just can’t remember things properly or men just have a hard time remembering themselves. It was confirmed that it was an enchantment but from who, where it was cast and if Alanso was bewitched was still up for debate.

The look Alanso had in his eyes was barren, empty, I knew it wasn’t the same wolf I met just weeks ago. He was so fun, full of life and happy to be where he was. He obeyed Alpha Seth and was loyal to the Luna.

“Your highness,” Brenden opened the window to find Leah, the pixie fly in and fall on the desk. Orion held me close while Fionn fetched some water and Leah hopped up quickly to guzzle it down before a sequence of bells filled the room. It was frantic and wailing. Orion’s gaze was harsh as she continued to talk while he nodded, understanding every word. The Red Fury sat and watched the interaction, but their faces didn’t give anything away.

“Thank you, Leah. Please go and rest.” Without another ring, she left the office for our living room.

“The wolves and shifter dragons are on their way; they will arrive just before dawn. This will all be over with in the end of the week.” I squeezed Orion’s hand and he pecked me on the cheek. “As for Alanso, he asked for leave three days after we left the Warrior Pack and was supposed to report back yesterday. Alpha Seth has a search team in place, even his own posse hasn’t seen him,” Orion frowned.

“Why would he come here? I don’t understand?” I asked.

“You are so blind, Willa. You are a beautiful woman, I’m sure he was wanting to have you come back with him,” Eamon spoke while Orion gripped me tighter.

“Mine,” he growled. The hair on my arms stood up and Orion palmed my thigh, his nose in my neck.

“No, that isn’t it. He talked about finding his mate and how he looks forward to the day! Something is wrong, he must possess or something,” I said panicked. The door slammed open and Annan walked through the door and did a quick bow to Orion.

“An entire coven is working against us, Your Highness. The B***d Coven near Vamparia. They people are following their leader, Sorceress Prinna. She pulled her powers from the coven to create the Enchantment of Projection.” The room stiffened, but Orion relaxed back in his chair.

“Thank you, Annan, where did you get this information from?”

“Pluto, the Seer. He said it was information that should be known,” said Annan. Orion pursed his lips.

“What’s a seer?” I asked quietly. Annan gave a small smile.

“A seer can predict the future but are only allowed to tell certain things. They cannot alter the future but can help those whose future should be the destiny. We don’t know who will win this fight, but we do know that he can tell certain parts of information. With him giving us this tid-bit we maybe on the winning side.”

“How do you know he isn’t lying though?” My trust issues come to the forefront. Annan tightens his stance and nods his head, “we don’t.”

“Darling, I want you to come meet someone.” Orion’s fingers were intertwined in mine, but his face became the stoic King I first saw at the Warrior pack. He was back into his role, the leader of a nation, one to protect from any outsiders.

Orion stood up from the chair and had me follow him, leaving his men behind.

The walk felt long as we walked through several corridors and finally outside where the suns was shining. If only the suns knew how dark inside the palace had become. The danger was here, all the danger that Orion said would come to haunt us was here and now it was not to just get me, but Orion too. To bind him down and to be ruled over by his very own government that had corrupted themselves.

Rounding the palace there was a large rockface cavern. The opening was large and settled right in the middle of the large stone face. “Horus!” Orion shouted from the entrance. Large banging against the ground made small rocks tumble from the top of the entrance to the bottom. The pebbles shook violently where they sat until a large animal approached the entrance.

I gasped at the sight. It was a large golden dragon, it’s scales almost like mirrors of the suns themselves. His talons were white, long and sharp with bits of dried b***d between his footing. The jaws of the creature were large as well as the teeth, some may have been as tall as me. The dragon itself was taller than two elephants toppled on each other and who knows how long the creature actually was.

Wings that were neatly folded to hit’s body looked strong, full of muscle and power. The wingspan would be enormous to hold the shear power of this dragon’s body. Orion tugged at my arm, pulling me from my trance and led me forward. I trusted Orion, but this beast gave a whole knew meaning of the word trust. Horus could stomp on my body without a second thought and I would feel but like a pebble on it’s foot.

“Darling, this is Horus. He’s our dragon.” Our dragon? My words had left my brain as I wrapped my head around this creature. Fairies, werewolves, faes, shifters all that registered but a real dragon in front of me took the cake.

“N-nice to meet you?” I stuttered. Horus just bowed his head and blew through his nostrils in acknowledgement. Gripping Orion’s hand tighter, he chuckled at me.

“Don’t be afraid, he is the most trustworthy dragon in all the realm.” Orion goes to pat him on his neck and Horus purrs in contentment while closing his eyes. “Dear friend, this is Willa, my mate.” Horus’ eyes lit up and flickered flecks of gold. He took two mighty steps to where I was standing and started to rub my cheek with his nostrils. I started laughing how it felt, it wasn’t hard like I thought it would be with the sharp scales, but smooth and cool to touch.

Horus was a magnificent creature, no one could even us words to describe how beautiful he was. His eyes were like a cats, his dark pupils opening and closing as he adjusts his vision to see every detail that was on me.

“Not a shifter dragon, right?” Horus huffed and growled in his neck.

“No, no,” Orion laughed. “He is a real dragon, much stronger than any shifter dragon. He is one of the last of his kind that live on the mainland. Most have flown off and stay away from us two-legged folk.” I giggled as Horus came up to me to continue to inspect, rub and smell me. He was like a giant puppy, enjoying his scratches under his jaw and even rolling on his side for belly rubs.

“Darling,” Orion’s smile faltered and became serious. “With what happened today, I’m going to have to change some plans.” Both his hands picked up mine from the ground, taking me away from loving on Horus. Orion’s eyes held pain which only made me panic.

Orion sighed, “I’m going to have to send you away.”