A/N

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“I am still elated, milady. All thanks to you, I won against Ulrich and Gregory in that bet.”

Dilly was all-smiles and his aura kaleidoscopic throughout yesterday’s victory. It was not that of a big deal, really. But to his lordship, it was. I could say he harboured agitation in Lord Gregory’s presence but he could tolerate him. However, between him and Lord Ulrich Nornwood, Dilly most definitely reviled the latter.

“What did you have them do as chastisement?” I asked him as we headed towards the Sun Chamber to pick up Galax after his lessons with the appointed don—  Sir Balthazar Eleisonn.

“I am a mischievous wolf, dear Freya. I cannot tell you or I’ll end up soiling that pretty little mind.”

Ah. He was right. I would rather have my remaining innocence intact for a while. After lambasting Lord Ulrich’s name in front of the Hortons and the servants during yesterday’s lunch, I knew better not to push the earl into saying his plan.

The large mahogany door of the Sun Chamber was slightly ajar when we arrived. I could hear a morsel of frustration in Sir Balthazar’s tone as he spoke to my son. Entering the room, I immediately sought for the boy and found him sitting in front of the piano.

“I do not want to take my lessons.” Galax kept on shaking his head as his maestro turned to look at us.

“Good morning, Lady White. Lord Langley.”
The white-bearded Sir Balthazar abruptly bowed to me and Dilmond, voicing his bugbear of the day as soon as he lifted his head.

“My lord has been sulking the whole time and he wouldn’t tell me why.”

He didn’t have to elaborate— it was written all over Galax’s face and in the deep blue aura condensing around him. Was he sick? He looked alright when he woke up.

“Did the cook put green beans in your breakfast porridge again, little one?”

Lord Dilmond knew he disliked green beans the most. He went on one bended knee to brush Galax’s sun kissed hair with his fingers. The boy simply shook his head as an answer.

“Sir Balthazar, we will settle this in private. Thank you for your patience with my son.”

The aging wolf nodded and bowed once more. “I pray for his health. I do hope milord is not sick.”

I briefly smiled at him before setting my attention back to the young boy. He was crestfallen. His cerulean eyes were hooded and when he glanced up at me, I saw tears forming in his eyes.

“Can you tell me what’s bothering you, child? You can always tell momma.”

He was getting taller for a boy of six-summers, but I still carried him in my arms. His arms instantly wrapped around my neck and his legs around my hips. He buried his face on my collar and I slightly felt the warm drops of tears from his eyes.

My heart broke.

“Should I call the Duke for assistance?” Lord Dilmond suggested. He seemed worried too. Galax had never been this sullen, at least not after the day he was brought to the Castle of Therion.

“There is no need for that. I am here.”

Apollo walked inside the chamber with two sentinels behind him. Lord Dilmond sighed and stepped away from us, choosing to lean his back against the large grilled window.

I sensed the Duke staying right behind me, cupping Galax’s plump cheek, rubbing his tears away with his thumb. His aura was passing comfort to the child, and I would be lying if I said he wasn’t fatherly at all. He was. How it happened or why, it didn’t matter anymore. He had been showing his devotion to our adopted son and his concern for him never faltered.

“Speak to me, Galax. Balthazar told me everything and I heard from the servants you played outdoors with the sons of Gilbert Vagabond before your lessons. But you ended up running away.”

Galax stirred in my arms and he pulled his head away from my chest, looking down at his fumbling fingers. He confirmed the Duke’s allegations with a nod. Gilbert Vagabond was the Earl of Eridanus. I had met him and his spouse properly during Galax’s birthday. They had two sons named Aleksei and Gavin, seven and nine summers-old respectively.

“Did they perhaps torment you?”

The words were hard when they left the Duke’s lips. He portrayed a protective father, but could I blame him? Why would my son cry if he wasn’t downtrodden?

Galax shook his head, denying it. I tucked the stray tendrils of his golden hair behind his ear. He seemed worried about something else.

“Then what did they do?” I probed.

The boy stared at his fingers and I watched as he suddenly clenched them. His small button nose was getting rosy.

“They asked me why I do not resemble the two of you and I told them about my mother.” He sniffed and tears were pooling in his eyes again.

Of course, we weren’t his real parents. I was expecting for this talk but not this soon. Galax knew he was only adopted, and it must have been hard to explain to others, especially for a boy at his age, about the sensitive matter of his biological mother being hunted down in her wolf form and unable to return.

“They laughed at me and— and said I am not a real prince. Should— should I have royal blood to be one, Polly?” A drop of tear slid down his cheek as he hiccupped and questioned the Duke.

“I miss my momma. I want— I want to go home… She must be there wa-waiting for me. I want to go home. I want to go home.” He cried and his sadness wafted all around the room, impelling my heart to feel the same.

I cupped the back of his head and allowed him to bury his face on my neck. Judgments from The Ton learning about this soon was something I was expecting, but I didn’t realize the emotional effect it could bring to Galax, and to think it was coming from children around his age.

They were even sons of an alpha! Mere children as they were, I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. But the Earl of Circinus would have to face me and teach his children some lessons about courtesy.

“Hush, sweetheart.” I cooed. “You are at home. You have me with you. Do not listen to them, you are a prince.”

I dreaded seeing him morose. He cried and cried, pleading for us to take him to their old home in the woods. The next hours were stressful as Galax did not want to eat nor go outside. He only stayed in my chamber, wrapped in a blanket while staring at the falling snow.

The Duke of Therion had been busy with the alphas in the castle but he visited Galax once more, now sitting on the settee of my room. He leaned his elbow on the backrest, supporting his head with his hand. His eyes were glued on the boy for minutes. He was exemplifying the descriptions of him by the royal family.

He was anxious too. Who wouldn’t be? It would have eased my tensed nerves if Galax fell asleep but he did not want to. I wondered what he was thinking, what he was feeling. I failed as his guardian, more so as his mother.

I’d always felt a strong connection with Galax the moment I saw him in Villagio Lupus selling buttered corn with his mother in wolf form. I recalled how my beast reacted to his scent and followed him. If not for Hal interrupting my wolf’s actions, what would she have done to the poor boy?

I would have never forgiven myself if I harmed him.

“We should take him there.”

The Duke had finally decided. He stood from his seat and gathered the frail kid in his arms. I watched as Galax pressed his cheek on the crook of Apollo’s neck. He looked so broken.

“I cannot promise that your mother would be there, little pup. But your momma and I will take you home. Is that okay with you?”

I couldn’t look away from the sporadic sight. I kept on trying to repudiate the cordiality I was seeing from the Duke lately. He was becoming… less beyond the pale. He held my gaze as he gently rubbed Galax’s back. He was beautiful and I could no longer deny it.
 
 

I rubbed my gloved palms together, inducing as much friction as I could to warm my hand. It was too cold outside and the Duke did not ask for the carriage.

He knew the Queen would not allow us to journey to the forests in the chilly afternoon. Hence, he took his stallion— Silver— and with only Lord Dilmond knowing, we left the palace grounds.

Silence governed our travel, and my lips had gone dry because of the winter breeze. We had to wade into avenues of coniferous trees and there were steep slopes we had to go through. The snowfall thickened its white blanket on the ground, and there were areas where we needed to hop off the horse because the ice was slippery.

I could already feel my frustration as the forest seemed endless, but as I observed the Duke of Therion, all the exasperation went down the gutter. His focus was solely on the goal of taking Galax ‘home.’

“I need you to hold on tighter. I will hasten our pace. There are bandits around the area.” The Duke muttered.

Rogues. I shouldn’t be questioning their existence. The Kingdom of Sidus was not perfect after all. Apollo was right. We were unwanted guests and there was indeed a group of calculating eyes watching us.

Slipping my arms tighter around the Duke’s waist, I pulled my white hood lower. My hands reached for Galax as he embraced the Duke from in front. I could sense my little boy's fear.

"Pumpkin, stay still." I whispered and Galax nodded, shutting his eyes.

I could see black and red pairs of eyes staring at us from the road ahead. If Silver could gallop faster than these wolves, I wouldn't have doubts about safely escaping the area, but then, these were wolves who were most probably more familiar and accustomed to this forest. And so, I braced myself for a possible fight.

With a hard flick on the reins, the Duke urged the stallion to move at its greatest speed. The avenue of trees suddenly became an avenue of wolves. Apollo hissed as the creatures madly approached us with howls and snarls. My beast was awake and at bay while I felt Apollo's aura shrouding us protectively.

The hellacious wolves attacked us in groups, matching our white stallion's speed as they ran on either side. I willed my claws and fangs out, and the beast in me did not disappoint. One of the bandits almost bit Galax's leg, coursing my anger. My claws slashed the offender's snout instinctively. No one was ever going to hurt my child—my fangs elongated at the mental note.

They were all swift and determined to knock us off the horse, and as much as I wanted to take them down one by one, I couldn't, because the ride was preventing me from accurately hitting the enemies.

There was a slight curve ahead that we had to turn to, and the Duke gripped Silver's reins harder as he tried to control his direction. Panic seeped into my entire body down to my bones when the wolves multiplied in number.

"Son of a—"

I growled as a grey wolf's fangs grazed my right arm, leaving a long, bleeding gash.

"Listen to me, Freya!" The Duke's aura turned silver by the second.

"Hold the reins as soon as we reach the turnabout! I will jump off of this stallion to end these wolves and to bide you time to escape!"

"You would what—" I yelped. "How would I know where to go, Apollo?"

I clutched Galax tighter as we neared the edge.

"Just follow the path of lanterns ahead as soon as you reach the exit! You will find Galax's old home near the frozen lake! I will be right on your tail once I finish ending every single one of these bastards!"

"Am I making myself clear?" The Duke shouted with might.

There was finality in his tone and I knew I had to follow his command. There seemed to be no other choice. He was right. These stray wolves had already wounded Silver on his hind leg.

"Ay- Yes!" I hissed, kicking another wolf who ripped the hem of my coat. Bloody hell!  They were savage. With only me, the Duke and a child they shouldn't be calling out more troupes.

"Cowards!" I glared at the approaching group.

We were getting close to the turnabout when Apollo passed me the reins. In a few seconds, he jumped off of the horse and I held Galax tightly with one arm as I flicked the reins to maneuver us towards the exit.

The enemies flocked towards the Duke. My jaws ticked as I couldn't look back to see if he was alright. I just knew at the back of mind that he had shifted. A puissant aura blasted across the road, and my beast jolted inside my mind, recognizing the display of strength from her mate's beast. He was daunting even when out of sight.

The growls and snarls echoed all around us. Two wolf bandits were trailing us and I'd had enough of them slashing and tackling Silver's flesh. Blood trickled down from the horses leg, leaving red traces on the snowy path.

With another sharp stroke, I released the reins for a few seconds and caught the wolves' heads on either side of me, killing them both with my bare hands and claws. I captured their necks and in a swift, unapologetic manner, I twisted them both to death.

Holding the headstrap of Silver once more, I concentrated on following the lanterned path the Duke had told me about earlier. The dark canopies of pine diminished and the rare winter sunset welcomed us.

I could already see the frozen lake and relief washed all over my body. I held Galax tighter, hushing his little sobs. All I could ever think of was why he lived in such a dangerous place before. How did they survive in the venturesome forests of Therion?

"Is that your home?"

A small cabin was in sight. Silver had slowed down due to his injuries and I jumped off him to reduce his burden. Galax nodded in affirmation as I walked us towards the wooden brethren. Snow had seemingly enveloped its whole roof in a short amount of time.

I had lost my ability to heal quickly as the gash on my arm throbbed together with my tensed pulse. The Kingdom of Sidus had been draining me of my peculiar abilities that differentiated me from humans. I contemplated on those thoughts as we moved in silence.

I noticed there were no villagers around here. It was peaceful but at the same time haunting. The place was capped with mystery... and the atmosphere felt eerie.

"You lived here with your mother?" I asked the boy as I lifted him off the horse.

"Aye, momma. We used to live here. Is my momma inside?"

I shook my head with great regret. We had reached the front porch where I immediately calmed the Duke's stallion and tied his straps on the wooden posts of the humble abode. I examined the wounds he had incurred from the bandits. The poor horse slumped on the cold ground, exhausted.

"Your arm is bleeding, momma!" Galax noticed with a panic-stricken expression. I covered my wound by tearing the tattered part of my riding coat.

"I will be fine. Please go inside, pumpkin. The night is coming."

Galax obediently followed my order. The door was unlocked as expected, and he ran inside with an aura of hope that I was sure would quickly die upon seeing the house empty. His mother wasn't there.

The sun hid behind the mountains, leaving the area dark as twilight began to drop its curtains. Was it a wrong idea to come here without the Queen knowing? How would we return home now? I sighed as I tended the white horse's wounds.

I returned to my usual form and allowed my body to rest. Shifting to my beast form whether in half or full form would always exhaust me. Nothing in me was normal anymore. It was as if I had been reborn into some other creature. I wasn't used to this kind of weakness. I was still alpha in mind and soul, but my body was betraying me.

I glanced at the path we took to reach this place, and there was no sign of the Duke. If my body was spent from a half shift, what damage could it have done to the Duke?

Both of us had powerful wolves inside, and he had once told me about his beast being more solipsistic than mine. I could attest to that statement for he must have influenced my wolf to be just as ambitious when he breathed life into me.

We were ruined individuals.

I took off my hooded cape and used it as blanket for the ailing horse. Silver was catching his breath, and I hoped for his recovery as I sat on the porch beside him, waiting for the Duke of Therion.

Night had quickly fallen, and the sun was replaced by the waning gibbous phase of the moon. A few more days and the feast of the full moon should arrive... But that was according to the old traditions. I wouldn't be surprised if Sidus denounced the goddess Selene's feast.

The snowfall had gotten thicker and my hands went as cold as ice. My claws had ruined my gloves when I killed the rogues. A strange feeling seeped into my chest as the wind blew harsh against the windows, forcing them to shut with a bang.

Standing on my feet, I entered the house to check on Galax. I found him lying on a fur rag in front of the hearth. The boy truly lived in this place, I thought. The fireplace was burning bright, emanating warmth. I could tell the boy of six summers was able to light it because of the cinders soiling his little hands.

I sat beside him and pillowed his head on my lap, stroking his golden hair lightly. His aura was serene, cuddling my anxious one unconsciously. He was a strange boy... as strange as the warrior king.

"Ego adsum."

"Lykos?" I shivered at his voice. Ego adsum? I am here.

"Where are you?" I asked, reaching for the sapphire on my chest.

My body quaked at the sound of the wind howling outside. The rest of the opened windows forcedly closed and I turned to Galax who seemed to be in deep slumber. Blast! His body glowed in flecks of gold and silver.

"Et venit hora, mea regina."

His gravelly voice, his tone of love. Lykos was speaking to me and he said that the time had come.

"Et venit hora, mea regina." He repeated. The time has come, my queen.

Confusion and shock whelmed me. Had he been with me all along in the form of Galax?

But the boy was sleeping not even one of his fingers twitched as Lykos spoke to me once more.

"Memento optatis regina."

Remember what you wished for, my queen.

"Memor esto voti tu una nocte nativitatis."

Remember the vow you made on the night of his birth.

"Lykos, ego non intellego..." I pleaded. Lykos, I do not understand.

"Ita olim meminisse possum." I cannot remember the past so easily. I told him.

Suddenly, blue fire moved with urgency out of the sapphire. There was an image of me, in the form of Amaree who appeared in thin smoke, and I couldn't fathom how I was seeing myself in the spirit of a blue flame.

"Et erum cea." Lykos said and the image of Amaree nodded.

You were once her.

"Vos postulo ut reperio evigilare faciatis ea in ordine ad me." He continued and I looked around, hoping that somehow he was here. My heart fell as I realized he wasn't here at all even if he said he was... His spirit was here but the whole him wasn't.

"You need to awaken her in order for you to find me."

Awaken Amaree?

"B-but how will I do that, My King? I hardly remember who I am or who I was. Please tell me what to do..."

My throat felt parched and I could only plead for him to enlighten me and for this moment not to end so soon. Not now that he had finally spoken to me.

"Hoc scriptum est apud Prophetam exstaret. Et recordabor. Et feceris, veniam ad te."

"It is written in the prophecy. You will remember. And when you do, I will come for you."

His answer was vague and I felt my heartbeat drumming as the blue flames of Amaree returned to the sapphire with a force so strong, I stumbled from the floor and had awoken Galax from sleep. The fire died in the fireplace and the hearth was once again cold, and so was the sapphire in my hand.

Lykos' presence had gone away like the wind but the windows made loud rumbling sounds which kept on repeating. Galax pushed himself up from the fur rag and rubbed his lids.

He stared at me with those cerulean eyes, and I wanted to know who he was to me and why he glowed when Lykos spoke to me.

Remember the vow you made on the night of his birth.

Lykos mentioned it and I felt as though he was referring to Galax... His birth?

The thought was drilling a deep, deep hole in my head. There were things I wanted to decipher immediately but I still had to remember my past or I wouldn't be able to solve them.

Who was Galax to Amaree? Why were we both oblivious of our connection... How will I awaken Amaree?

"Momma, I'm scared."

Galax was glancing at the shaking windows. He appeared as if he did not feel anything a while ago. There was only fear in him as he held my gaze. I crawled towards him and embraced his body. This child was one of the keys to my locked memories. This must be the reason why I felt a strange pull towards him.

"Momma, when will my mother return? I miss her." The little wolf cried and his words left me frozen. Who was her mother? Who was Elise?

She could be one of the answers to my questions. The wolf who couldn't return to her true form could at least give me an insight of how her child was connected to Amaree.

I needed to find her in order for me to be back in Lykos' arms again.

A sudden onset of euphoria slithered through my chest as a hard thud thundered from the open door. Galax's hands crept around my waste in shock as the Duke of Therion appeared in the form of his vicious beast carrying a severed head with its fangs.

I was expecting the foul stench of blood and rotten flesh, but somehow, the strange scent of rosewater and ale hovered in the air as he entered. The snow whirled harshly behind him, indicating a snow storm.

I watched intently as the beast's paws left bloody footprints on the wooden floor, and he nonchalantly walked towards the dead fireplace. With a whip of his snout, he threw the decapitated head, fueling the fire back.

He turned around and his eyes pinned me to my place.

A burgeoning force was compelling me to bow down and bare my neck to him. He magnified vehemence in a different light. I bit back the snarl whilst resisting the pull of the powerful aura of Sidus' strongest alpha.
  
  

This was the solipsistic beast. The bearer of death. 
  
  

This was the true Mortifera... and I was fated to him.

A/N

Okay. I'm sorry for the false alarm hours ago. It was my fault. I accidentally clicked the publish button while I was editing some parts of this chapter. 😅😅
My bad.

This is actually a long one with 8,000+ words, and so I decided to divide it into two. So you may have already noticed I wrote Part I in the title. Part II will be posted as soon as I reach yet another vote nd comment quota. I hope you understand 😄

50 votes, 30 comments.

I hope this has somehow left you with clues about Amaree and Lykos.

What the hell is Freya and who the heck is Galax in Amaree's life? 😐😕 I dunno. 😒

Haha. I like teasing you guys.
I think you know that by now.

See you on the next update!!

- Therese