h4Chapter 76: Wanting To Know More/h4

His hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me just close enough to feel his heat.

I shivered, torn between wanting more and knowing the dangers ahead.

"Lucas..." I started.

He smiled, dark and knowing. "Patience, Athena. We have a long road ahead."

He stepped back, giving me ast, lingering look before turning toward the door.

As he took my hand, leading me toward the waiting guards and the uncertain path beyond the pce walls, I knew the road ahead would test us all — but I also knew I wasn’t alone anymore.

The pce gates loomed behind us as we stepped into the early morning light. The streets were still quiet, but the air buzzed with an electric anticipation—like the world was holding its breath for what was toe.

Lucas walked beside me, his presence close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off his body. My heart betrayed me with every quickened beat, memories ofst night dancing behind my eyes. I nced sideways at him, cheeks flushing faintly in the cool dawn.

He caught my gaze and smirked, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "Still thinking aboutst night?"

I bit my lip, trying to keep myposure. "Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.. Who knows."

He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear with fingers that lingered longer than necessary. "Well, I wish you were, because I’ve not been able to stop thinking about it either," he murmured, voice low and thick. "I can’t wait for another opportunity to do all of that to you again my Athena."

The tension between us was a taut thread, pulled tighter with each step. Despite the mission ahead—a journey riddled with unknown dangers—I couldn’t help but be drawn into the maic pull of him.

As we mounted our horses, he leaned closer, his breath warm against my neck. "We’ll need to trust each other, Athena. More than ever."

I swallowed, nerves and something far more intimate swirling inside me. "I’m ready."

His eyes darkened. "I’m d."

And with that, the gates opened, and our journey into the unknown began—two souls tangled between duty and desire, walking a path neither could predict.

The forest grew darker as we pushed deeper into its heart. The canopy thickened, swallowing the sunlight until the path ahead was cloaked in shadow. An eerie silence settled—a stillness that made every crackle of dry leaves sound like a thunderp.

Suddenly, a guttural growl rolled through the air, low and menacing. I stiffened, eyes scanning the gloom.

From behind a thicket, a massive creature burst forth—hulking and grotesque, with jagged horns curling from its skull and eyes glowing molten red. Its fur was matted and streaked with blood. It was unlike any beast I’d ever seen—a monstrous hybrid, something born of dark magic.

Lucas instantly drew his de, its runes ring with a brilliant blue light. "Stay back," he warned, positioning himself between me and the beast.

I tried to respond, tried to will the familiar surge of power to rise and take me into my wolf form, but it faltered. My limbs trembled. My breath caught. The shift, which had always been instinctive, still refused toe.

The beast charged, hooves pounding the earth. Lucas met it head-on, shing with precision, sparks flying as steel met horn.

I scrambled backward, heart hammering in my chest, frustration and fear gnawing at me. The magic within me felt distant, tangled like a caged animal struggling to break free but unable.

Lucas nced at me, eyes narrowing. "Athena, focus. You need to shift."

I shook my head, breath ragged. "I... I can’t."

The beast reared, knocking Lucas off bnce. He grunted, recovering quickly, then hissed, "Athan, what’s wrong?"

Summoning every ounce of willpower, I closed my eyes and reached deep into that part of me that still held the moon’s blessing. Slowly, painfully, my fingers started to elongate, nails thickening into ws. My vision blurred and sharpened all at once.

But it wasn’t smooth. My body convulsed, the shift stuttering as if something was blocking it frompleting.

Lucas cut through the beast’s side, buying me time. "Come on, Athena."

With a desperate roar, I pushed through the barrier—half human, half wolf—heart racing as fur sprouted across my skin.

Lucas’s gaze softened, but his voice was firm. "Athena?"

I nodded, chest heaving, "Something’s wrong... I can’t control it like before."

He sheathed his de and stepped closer. "We’ll figure it out. But right now, let’s fight this thing..."

Together, we faced the beast again, united in the fight and the unknown struggle ahead.

The beast lunged again, massive ws tearing through the air just inches from me. I froze, struggling against the invisible barrier that kept my wolf form at bay. Panic rose as the monster’s growl deepened, eyes fixed like zing coals on me.

But Lucas didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, sword gleaming in the fading light, and met the beast’s ferocious attack head-on. With every sh and parry, he moved like a storm—precise, deadly, relentless.

I watched, breath caught, as he dodged a lethal swipe, then twisted, driving his de deep into the creature’s side. It howled—a sound that echoed through the trees, a chilling mix of pain and rage—before copsing, lifeless.

Silence fell heavy andplete.

Lucas turned back to me, chest heaving, face pale. "It’s done."

I took a tentative step forward, heart pounding. "You didn’t need me."

He gave a bitter, hollowugh. "I’m not as strong as I used to be. Not anymore. Being in this realm has affected me."

His eyes held a flicker of vulnerability I’d never seen before.

"Can you tell me some parts even if it’s not everything," I whispered, the weight of it settling between us.

He shook his head slowly, voice low and almost breaking. "Athena, please..."

My throat tightened, emotions tangling—fear, frustration, and even anger.

Lucas reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. "Okay, I will tell you some things.."