Fangs of Love

Chapter Seventeen

Xeros Romanov

He didn't have to repeat himself before I was up and on my way, sprinting through the first floor. When I reached the balcony, without thinking twice, I leapt from the height, the cool night air rushing through my skin and hair before landing securely on my feet, Cassie still clutched tightly in my grasp.

I shook her desperately as I knelt on the grass, making sure to place her directly under the moonlight.

Her eyes fluttered open for a second, almost empty-devoid of life. "Am I going to die?"

I couldn't help the anguish that swallowed me whole at her words, at the hope that lingered in her eyes at the thought of death.

"I won't let you die, love," I whispered, nuzzling my skin against her cheek. "Stay with me."

The pain racked through her again, her body twisting in anguish as she writhed under me. A guttural growl escaped her lips. I could almost feel her anguish, her pain as she pushed away from me, scrambling to get to her feet only to fall back down. This time her eyes had completely changed color, and the fur covering her body had slowly reached her face.

My limbs fell weak at the realization. I was the Alpha King; I could do anything, but right now, I was so helpless-I couldn't bring myself to hurt either her or Hera.

I reached out to her, but she scurried away from my touch, her eyes squinting in pain as she grabbed her head tightly. She looked like she was about to go mad from the pain. I could only watch as she finally scrambled to her feet, her eyes searching across the field for something.

A scream tore out of her again, and before I could reach out to comfort her, she rushed towards the open space with a speed that bedraggled me for a second before realization kicked in. My mate was bounding towards the woods shrouded with trees and darkness.

"No," I growled in panic, rushing after her immediately. I surged to my feet, my chest tightening as she disappeared into the shadows of the trees. Her wolf had taken control-Hera had fully emerged-and now Cassie was lost somewhere within her, a passenger in her own body. The thought terrified me.

I tore through the forest, branches scratching at my skin, but I barely noticed. My heart pounded louder than the blood rushing in my ears, louder than the sounds of the forest. I could feel her-her scent, her energy-like a thread pulling me toward her.

"Cassie, it's not safe! Come back!" I shouted, but my voice was swallowed by the night.

Nox was clawing at my mind, so desperate to take over that it hurt physically, but I couldn't let him. Not now. If he surfaced, he would push us both into full Alpha mode, and I couldn't risk losing control-not when Cassie was in such a fragile state. She would hate me even more if I lost control.

Up ahead, I caught a glimpse of her, a blur of dark hair. I pushed harder, faster, my lungs burning from the effort. I could've caught up with her effortlessly, but I didn't want to use my Lycan abilities-it would weaken my control over Nox.

When I finally reached her, Cassie was standing in a clearing, her body trembling under the moonlight, caught between forms. The patches of fur rippled unnaturally across her skin, and I could see Hera's eyes staring back at me, wild and unyielding.

"Cassie!" I yelled again, stepping into the clearing slowly, trying not to spook her. "You have to fight this! You can't let Hera take control!"

She let out a growl, low and guttural, her muscles tensing as if ready to pounce. For a moment, I didn't know if she recognized me at all.

"Stay with me, love," I pleaded, my voice softening as I approached her. "I know you're scared. I know it hurts. But you can fight this. I believe in you."

Her eyes flickered, just for a second, and I saw a glimmer of Cassie beneath the wolf. But it wasn't enough.

In a flash, Hera lunged toward me, claws extended. I barely had time to react, dodging her by a hair's breadth. My heart raced-this wasn't Cassie anymore. This was a feral wolf, desperate and afraid.

I couldn't fight her. Not like this.

"Cassie!" I shouted again, but she was gone. All that remained was Hera, wild and out of control.

She struck again, and this time I didn't try to dodge her attack. Her claws struck hard against my face, momentarily blinding me as a flash of red colored my vision. Nox whimpered in pain-the fact that his mate wanted to hurt him sent him spiraling.

Closing my eyes, I reached deep within, calling upon the bond we shared, the connection that tied us together as mates. I pushed all of my love, my strength, my determination into that bond, willing her to feel me, to remember me.

"Please, come back to me," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I need you, Cassie. You can't leave me like this."

For a moment, everything was still. The wind stopped, the trees stood silent, and all I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat.

But then I could hear it-something was in the trees, using the darkness as a shroud. I could smell it, almost taste its desire.

She could feel it too. Her guttural growls had reduced to a stop, and she remained silent, her violet eyes scanning the entire space.

I tried to focus, my senses on high alert, but Nox was raging inside me, pushing harder against the barriers I had built to keep him at bay. He wanted out-needed to protect our mate at all costs. I could feel his claws digging into my mind, and the sharp sting of Hera's attack only fed his fury.

"Not now, Nox," I snarled internally, fighting to maintain control. "I can't let you out. We'll lose her."

But Nox wasn't listening. His desperation mirrored mine, clawing at me from within, and with every second that passed, the line between us blurred. I stumbled forward, my grip on the bond loosening as the primal urge to fight, to claim, surged through me.

Cassie was still standing in the clearing, frozen now, her body tense, ears pricked up. She could sense it too, the lurking threat that I had barely detected. The shadows were thick around us, cloaking whatever was approaching.

"Damn it," I cursed, forcing myself to focus, but Nox's presence was suffocating. He was fighting me, tearing at my resolve. I could feel his power rising to the surface, threatening to burst free.

For a moment, my resolve snapped, and Nox's claws took a grip on my consciousness, sending me back-blinding me for a second.

And within that one-second window, a figure flashed before me in a haze.

I roared in fury, but it was too late.

Before I could react, the figure darted forward, faster than my eyes could track. She barely had time to snarl before a powerful blow hit her, sending her crashing to the ground.

"Cassie!" I shouted, but my voice was drowned out by Nox's feral growl. They scooped Cassie up in one fluid motion, and with a final glance back at me, they disappeared into the night, taking her with them.

My vision blurred as Nox finally broke free, surging to the surface, and in that moment, I lost all control. The rage, the desperation, it all consumed me, and Nox's mind melded with mine.

Cassie had been taken.

And I had lost control.