Naya's P.O.V.

A woman in with dirty blond hair and dim blue eyes stared at me in pure shock. Her hand hid her open mouth, unwashed tears trembled against her lowers eyelid. I felt no emotion towards her. She engulfed me in a tight hug.

"Oh Naya, you're so real..." Tears were streaming down her face. "You're so beautiful." I awkwardly patted her back, looking towards Ocean for some help.

"Not so tight." Ocean managed to pry her off me. "She's still recovering."

"I'm guessing you're Lea." I motioned for her to sit down. She was waiting for us as Ocean's house by the time we got home. Macey, Aaron and Josh was there too, including another unfamiliar face.

He introduced himself as Lea's mate. Onyx Renshaw. He was from Central Hem but moved Northern with Lea when LoRusso found out about Ocean. 

She'd been looking for answers ever since. Only tragedy was no one knew that ones' wolf could be snatched away so easily. How can one fully obliterate a supernatural quality without killing the vessel.

We made small talks, usually it was Lea enthusiastically asking me about my life and telling me about her Naya. It was humbling to see how loyal and committed she was the old Naya. It felt so surreal to digest the new reality.

A wolf-less alpha, speaking to someone from her previous life.

"I want to show you something." She handed me a photo book. It held numerous polaroid of us all from the old life. "I've been gathering as much information I can since Jace told me about Ocean. I was on the first flight out and I've never gone back."

My gaze landed on Onyx who looked slightly uncomfortable but nonetheless attuned to Lea's every move.

"I apologise if I seem rude but is it okay if we talk about how we can get my wolf back?" I put the photo book down, ignoring the daggers that Macey was shooting at Lea and carried on with my concerns.

"I've been told you were trying to figure out The Darklings' power. Do you know how he managed to break the supernatural bond?"

"When you and Ocean confronted him in your last life, we weren't there. However, you said that both of you managed to fight him of but never went into details."

Well that's great isn't it. I mentally scoffed, schooling my features to not appear irritated.

"However, I've been able to gather the fact that his father was a warlock. Hybrids aren't blessed by the spirits but he has control over air. Hence blessed by the Spirit of the Air. So, his mother must have something to do with immortality and the Air Spirt for him to possess these powers he has."

"I don't think he's above feeling pain. I managed to break his fingers and I remember him squealing in pain. He used the other hand to fucking torture me when finally caught up to me. He can't win hand to hand combat."

Pin drop silence etched across the room. It was the first time ever I openly described my attack. Ocean seemed murderous, Lea and Macey were about to cry and Joshua looked green. I guessed Lea didn't have that information because she pulled out another black small notebook and wrote something down.

"We need to find his weakness." It was Aaron who spoke. He looked haggard as well. He was semi in charge of the pack now. I didn't want to take Ocean away from his duties but he remained adamant about not letting me out of his sight.

"Do you have any memory from your first life?" Lea asked flipping through her notes. I looked at Ocean for reassurance to which he nodded discreetly. I was sitting on the sofa adjacent to mine whereas Lea and her mate sat opposite me and Macey, across the table.

"No, why?"

"You told me that He was after us because we killed his beloved in the beginning because they were hybrids. That's why he's torturing until the end of time. How did you find that out?" Ocean questioned this time. I had the misconception of thinking Ocean knew everything but it looked like he didn't.

"It was a woman name Elina. She knew you from a couple of lives before. She was looking for you guys for a long time. She was Fae, therefore immortal due to the blessings from the Air Spirit. 

"She said she knew a ritual to break the curse but you 3 went into woods and only the two of you came back. You never spoke of that night again. We literally have no idea what happened that night." She paused looking restless. "Do you have any memories at all?"

I looked at Ocean, wondering why we decided to keep such a crucial part a secret. If one of had told someone, we might have the answer to the question and we'd be much closer to defeating The Darkling.

"I can see why you're disappointed but I think have something else to tell you." Pages made a rattling noise as she flipped through her notebook again. "No one knew how he always found you guys but I was in Eastern couple of years ago, trying to find a witch for more Talisman which I have..." She paused to dig her hand into her big hand back and carefully retrieve a big hand crafted wooden box. Carefully, she sat it down on the table.

"I brought you half of what we could gather but anyways, I found a witch coven hidden amongst human. Their ancestors were massacred in Sorrence because a very powerful being sold them out to the humans. But..." She seemed excited reciting an awful tragedy.

 "...They didn't know why but they knew that their ancestors came from the Northern Hemisphere, migrated during the Tiscan massacre. It was the birth place for all supernatural but they never connected the dots with Sorrence Witch Hunt to the Tiscan Massacre.

"What I think happened was that Elina already told us that Witches used all their powers to lure the Hybrids in order to kill them but The Darkling survived. I don't know how neither does anyone else I have spoken to but he was behind the Tiscan massacre.

"He provoked the humans to rebel against us and once that started, it spread throughout the whole globe and now they made up their own human origin, that I don't want to go into. But. It was the Darkling who was both massacre.

"So when the witches realised that. They agreed to help. So, they contacted the spirits with ancient enchantment that were forbidden to their coven and The Darkling caught up to them. 

We all had to flee and thankfully no one was hurt because of the Talismans but that's how The Darkling knows where you two are and the witches are.

"You two have the strongest connection with the spirits because they keep bringing you back for a reason and the witches because they are the bridge to the spirit world. 

"I think the Darkling can feel the presence of the Sprits and the spirits are always close whenever you guys get a memory. I think that's how he hunts you guys down via the presence of the spirt. The Darkling wants them dead because they helped you two kill his beloved."

It made perfect sense.

No matter how ridiculous it sounded. It was the only explanation that chronologically supported. Her obsession was unhealthy and it frightened me. However, Ocean found it perfectly acceptable. We all had lunch together,

They were staying at the Barracks, something I heard they had done before. I noticed that Ocean asked frequent questions about the wellbeing of the Red Mount pack. The two packs had close relationships which all the other packs across the globe were oblivious too.

The Northern was where it started. The Darkling chased us across the globe and back to where it all began.

And where it all shall end.

I bid goodbyes to everyone but Macey and Josh lingered around. Aaron took the couple to the Quarters and would be back to pick them up. 

They helped Ocean clean up, not allowing me to do one single chore. I tucked myself under the blanket we constantly use now in the lounge. It smelled of fabric softener. I couldn't pick up any other smell and it broke my heart.

"That lady was kind of crazy huh?" Macey came and sat in front of me, handing me a glass of orange juice and medicine. I took it without thinking much of it.

"I'm sorry this whole thing made you fight with Aaron."

"I complained every night to him about what an." She mouthed her words instead of saying it out loud. "Asshole" She used her voice again. "He was but he didn't have the audacity to even tell me the truth."

"Ocean is apologetic that he made a mate hide information from another. But don't expect him to verbalize it but he didn't mean to." We knew Ocean could hear us so we both laughed softly. Macey wasn't speaking to Ocean or Aaron at all. She spoke loud enough for them to hear but not to them.

I remember when we stopped by the Quarters on the way back from the hospital. Macey was there with Aaron driving the car. Ocean showed me all the surveillance pictures of me from the past 3 years. 

Macey was in a lot of them. Not only did she freak out but threw a couple of them at Aaron. Deep down I knew she wanted Ocean to be at the receiving end of her wrath but he was an Alpha. No way would she disrespect him like that again.

He had a picture of me on his desk at his Office from 3 years ago. That's when I realised he truly loved me and tried everything in his power to protect me but sometimes the truth can stop unfortunate events from occurring. 

Deep down, I wished he told me, that they weren't hallucinations and I wouldn't have made the crazy decision to leave.

"How are you feeling?"

"Same as before. I can't keep my eyes open." I rubbed my eyes trying to wake them up.

She looked me with sad eyes. "How was your date?" She beamed trying the hide the tears glistening under the soft light.

"It was nice. I needed the fresh air." I paused not wanting to upset her. "I missed running along the edges as a wolf though." We did that. After me and Macey were shot at, Aaron and Ocean took us out there. It was glorious. Me and Macey ran around the ground for hours.

Not much later, Aaron appeared to take Macey and Joshua home. It was still beautifully bright outside, a soft yellow gradient tint washed across every surface of the forest. I hugged Macey goodbye and for some reason if felt like the last time. I was getting weaker by the minute.

I hugged Josh tightly, grateful that he's fully recovered.

"Next time, try not to lure crazy people away." If I had a baby brother I'd want it to be Josh. Yes, he was broken but he had a good heart. All he needed was a little guidance and he'd grow up be an intelligent man. "Thank you for saving my life."

The sincerity in his voice surprised Aaron and Ocean whereas Macey and I were used to it.

"If I knew he was after me, I would have served you to him on a silver platter." I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"No you wouldn't, too much of an Alpha." He was right, no way I would let anything happen to my friends or family.

"I know... You be good and listen to your elders." He finally got into the back seat of the SUV.

"Thank you for not dying." He called back once the car drove away, wobbling along the dirt road. I laughed at his antics but Ocean closed his eyes to compose himself.

"He's kidding. His humour is a bit on the dark side but he's harmless. Forget it." I took him by her arm and dragged him inside using all my strength.

"How do you even understand him?" He seemed exasperated.

"Simple, he uses humour to cope with his pain where as you act all moody." He squinted, not liking the notion of the similarities between them. "He won't shoot anything who's not shooting at him. He's not a psychopath." I rolled my eyes, my nerves getting tested by his dis-trustfulness. 

Ocean should be more understanding towards him because they both lost their parents in some way or another. Who knew what the poor kid saw when he was wondering around the forest, alone and scared?

I reached for the blanket to start folding it when Ocean immediately stopped me.

"I'll do it."

"I can do this Ocean, stop babying for Goddess sake." I snapped finally. My hands shook in anger or maybe fatigue. Rubbing my forehead in annoyance I dropped it on the floor. He stood there with a grim look on his face.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. I should have told you form the beginning. I should have come for you the minute I found out-" I tried to walk away

"Well you didn't, how is that my fault." He gently grabbed both of my arms to pull me into him.

"It's not dammit." He looked tormented. His black eyes bored into mine, his forehead creased making prominent lines stretch across his forehead. Struggling against his hold, I tried to break free. "Stop, let me apologise."

"I don't need your apology. Let me go." I beat my fists against his chest. Tears streamed down my face without any warning. My heart hurt and I didn't know what set it off. All I wanted to do was go back to before the Annual Gala, I wanted my wolf back, I wanted to belong with a pack. I had been alone for so long without any official ties, the loneliness was eating at me. "Do you know how lonely I feel. I haven't mentally communicated with anyone for so long that the silence is suffocating me."

My breath hitched and beat my fists against his chest, thumping softly. I was sobbing uncontrollably when my knees gave out. He held me tightly against his chest, apologising with every breath.

"I just need some peace, the contestant ache to stop and the headache to go away." Sucking in a loud breath I pleaded. "Please, make it stop." My body shook with each cry. The buzzing noise in my ear got louder, pounding against my brain.

I tried so hard to hold it in but I just couldn't anymore. He rocked me back and forth stroking my hair. My body convulsed involuntarily, hands covered my face, hiding the tear stained face away from him. I felt fine a few seconds ago and now, I was hurting my mate. I leaned into him, giving into reality, surrendering to him finally.

"I'm so angry at you." My sobs started to subside.

"Me too." He took a deep breath before letting it go.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lose it like that. It's so embarrassing." He didn't let me up. I was sat side ways across his lap, my thighs draped over his.

"Embarrassing? I've been wondering everyday how you always kept so calm." He picked me up and took me to his room.

It was maroon.

Same shade as mine from back home. My eyes bugged out the first time I saw it. A picture of us from previous life were mounted bed side table with another one of him with his family before they died. 

I remembered when I walked in couple of days after I got out of the clinic. He told me that my room from previous life held the exact same colour. It made him feel close to be even though I was continents away from him.

"Thank you for taking me out today." He tucked me in his cold bed before he walked over to the windows to close the blinds, shutting away the warmth. I shuddered wondering why my body couldn't get warm. A stray cough tore through my vocal cord.

"You've looked like you needed some fresh air. Also, our first date is long overdue." He sat down next to me and started playing with my hair once again. I was used to such affection and he seemed natural at it.

"You remember a lot more of our past relationship, don't you?"

"Yes, why?" His answer corroborated my theory.

"At first you didn't want anything to do with me and now you're... caring-"

"I always cared." But he never showed any before I nearly died.

"No, I mean all romantic and not to intense."

"We've lived so many lives and I remember you in so many ways, it's natural for me to care for you. It was actually unnatural to ignore you." I wished that I still received those memories. Lea spoke of the memories as a gift from the spirits and that they were always close whenever we received one.

 I wanted to contact a witch about my situation. Ask if there's any possible way to contact the Earth Spirit but The Darkling would feel the shift in power. How? No one knew. His powers were a mystery and I wanted to stick a knife in his jugular artery and watch him bleed out slowly.

"Tell me one of them." I leaned into him.

"We used to Rule Asyut."

"WHAT?" Asyut was one of the richest ancient cities on Earth. There were many supernatural creatures who ruled certain parts of the Southern Hemisphere back them. Horus, Ra and many more.

"Anubis and Anya were me and you. Whenever, we were born in a different country we've have similar sounding names but always the same face. Our personality varied from time to time but we were always-"

Coughing fits attacked my throat again. I didn't want to interrupt him. It was the most I've ever heard from him and his gravelly voice was soothing. I was on the verge of falling asleep when something tickled my vocal cord. 

Dry simultaneous coughs forced me to sit up. Ocean immediately reached handed me a tissue and waited grimly for it subside. My chest constricted like something was being torn from inside.

Wet sticky substance filled mouth and when I pulled the tissue away, red stain splattered across the scrunched white surface. Ocean looked absolutely shattered. That was one thing I didn't expect to spew out of my mouth.

Blood.