Fangs of Love

Chapter Sixteen

Xeros Romanov

"What do you mean—impromptu shift?" I barked in frustration, my heart already racing at the mere thought of Cassie's life being in danger.

My mind reeled as I played the doctor's words over and over in my head. "She's weak for now, Your Majesty. If her wolf initiates a shift without her consent, her body may not survive the transformation. The strain could be too much." His tone was hesitanat, but the weight of his words felt like a blow to my chest.

Cassie's body was fragile—she could barely eat, always struggling to stay awake. The scars she bore ran deeper than her skin. Hera—her wolf—had been dormant for so long that I wasn’t sure how either of them would handle this sudden resurgence. Cassie would resist Hera's primal urges, but Nox could feel Hera’s power, wild and restless, clawing for control.

But Cassie… she wasn’t ready. Her human form was too broken, and the thought of her enduring a full shift terrified me more than any battle ever had. The shifting process is excruciating, and she couldn't handle it.

I turned to the doctor, trying to suppress the rising panic in my chest. "Isn’t there something we can do to stop it? To delay it until she’s stronger? To keep Hera at bay?"

The doctor shook his head, regret shadowing his features. "The only solution is for her to stay calm. The Luna should not trigger her wolf. Stress, fear, or heightened emotions could initiate an impromptu shift. But if Hera decides to push for it, there’s little anyone can do. Luna has to fight it herself, and in her current state..."

He didn’t need to finish the sentence. I knew what he was implying. Hera would tear through Cassie’s weakened body to reclaim control, and it might kill her in the process. My chest tightened painfully at the thought.

Before I could respond, a piercing scream ripped through the air, sharp and desperate. Filled with anguish and unbearable torment.

"Something is wrong with Mate" Nox growled furiously.

Cassie.

For a second, I didn’t register my surroundings—the need to get to my mate pulsed through me like an unbreakable command, and I was out the door before I realized I had moved. My heart pounded in my chest.

Her scream echoed again through the hallways, sending a jolt of terror through my veins.

"Cassie!" I roared, pushing past my limits. Blood coursed through my veins as I felt Nox pushing at my barriers, eager to take over and find his mate.

I reached our room within seconds, not bothering to open the door. I slammed into it, the wood splintering under my force, flying in different directions.

"Cassie!" I yelled desperately, stepping into the room, my eyes scanning for her small form. Where was she?

She was on the floor, curled up on her side, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she writhed beside the bed, curling into herself. But what froze me—what made my heart stop—were the patches of fur sprouting across her skin. Her transformation had already begun, but it was incomplete, her body struggling to shift between forms.

"No… God." I whispered, falling to my knees beside her. "It's already happening"

Cassie’s eyes shot open, wild and filled with pain. "Alpha King… I… I can’t stop it…" Her voice was broken, pleading.

I reached for her, my hand shaking as I brushed a lock of hair from her face. "Shh, Angel. You’re okay. You’re going to be okay. Just breathe for me, love."

Tears streamed down her face, and I felt the shockwaves of her pain like a punch to my gut. She screamed again, her voice hoarse and raw. I could see Hera fighting—pushing to take over completely.

Cassie’s breath came in short gasps, her eyes fluttering closed. Her body was too weak, too fragile to handle the full shift. If it completed, it would kill her.

"Damn it!" I growled, my voice thick with desperation. Nox pushed against the back of my mind, his distress mirroring my own. He wanted to comfort her, to calm her, but he was as helpless as I was. We both were.

"Baby, listen to me," I said, pulling her closer, trying to keep my voice steady despite the terror that gripped me. "You have to fight her. You can’t let Hera take over right now. Your body isn’t ready."

Tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. "I-I can’t… it hurts… it hurts so much…"

I pulled her into my lap, holding her trembling body as gently as I could. Her skin was hot, almost burning to the touch, and her muscles spasmed violently. I could feel Hera’s presence more clearly now—a force of nature, primal and unyielding. She wanted out. She wanted to claim her place at Cassie’s side, but Cassie was not strong enough. Not yet.

"Hera, stop!" I growled, my voice laced with authority. "You’re going to kill yourself and her too."

But Hera wasn’t listening. She was far too gone, too determined to push Cassie beyond her limits. The bond between them was fractured, unstable, and Hera was taking advantage of it.

Cassie let out another scream, her body jerking in my arms. I could feel the bones in her arms and legs shifting beneath her skin, trying to break free but unable to complete the transformation. She was trapped between two worlds—human and wolf—unable to fully be either.

My heart raced, helplessness flooding me. "Cassie, please… stay with me..please ," I begged, tightening my grip on her. "You’re stronger than this. You can fight her."

But I wasn’t sure if she could.

Her eyes met mine, glassy and filled with fear. "Xeros… I’m… I’m so scared…"

"I know, love. I know." My voice cracked. I had never felt so powerless in my life. I could face armies, wage wars, tear down empires—but I couldn’t save my mate from her own wolf.

Nox howled inside me, his pain mirroring mine. We couldn’t lose her. Not like this. Not after everything she had been through.

"I need you to breathe, Cassie," I said, forcing my voice to stay calm even though I felt like screaming. "Focus on me. Just breathe. One breath at a time."

She whimpered, her body still trembling violently. But she nodded, her eyes locking onto mine as she struggled to do as I asked.

I didn’t know if it would be enough, but I had to believe it. I had to believe that Cassie could fight this—that she was stronger than Hera’s relentless push.

Another spasm wracked her body, and she cried out, her hands clawing at my chest, desperate for relief.

"Shh, I’m here," I murmured, pressing my lips to her forehead. "I’m not going anywhere. Just breathe, Cassie. You’re not alone."

"Alpha King," the doctor called out tentatively as Cassie’s body began to grow limp in my arms. My bloodshot eyes snapped to him, barely restraining Nox, who wanted to tear everything apart to keep his mate safe. The doctor’s face grew ashen as he clutched the medical kit in his arms.

"Y..you need to take her outside—she needs air, needs to be under the moon," he whispered. My eyes immediately snapped to Cassie's limp form.

"Nature can help calm her wolf."