When fate and worlds collide

34 | Unravelling Truths

Aiyanna.

I stood on the far side of the table, arms folded across my chest, uncertainty coiling tight in my gut. Liam’s expression shifted in stages as the truth landed—confusion giving way to disbelief, disbelief curdling into anger once he fully grasped not only what I was telling him about Clarice…

…but that I’d withheld it.

Xavier’s anxiety hit me in waves, sharp and insistent, like being struck repeatedly with a steel rod. Their reactions were justified. Everything we knew about vampire-like entities painted them as violent, bloodthirsty, and catastrophically unpredictable. And after what had happened during Clarice’s first Aura lesson, we were forced to accept a far more unsettling truth: We knew nothing about the Nightmares. I kept my posture loose but ready, feet angled defensively—just in case Liam’s temper tipped into something physical. Xavier mirrored the tension, one hand hovering near his weapon, the thought plainly written across his face.

“Why is she still in the Tower?” Liam demanded. His voice was low and authoritative, reverberating through my chest like a command meant to be obeyed. Every instinct screamed for me to draw on my Aura—to ground myself, steady my breathing—but with Liam’s emotions surging, any flicker of power would read as a challenge to his wolf. So I stayed still, remaining calm to defuse the situation.

“She isn’t a threat,” I replied evenly. Liam’s eyes narrowed.

“Yet,” he growled. My lip twitched.

“She doesn’t understand what’s happening to her, why she has those thoughts and feelings,” I shot back. “She’s four years old.”

“Don’t hide behind her age, Aiyanna,” he snapped. “It doesn’t change what she is.”

“Then YOU kill her,” I shouted, frustration snapping through my restraint. The room went cold. Liam’s expression darkened, storm-heavy and dangerous, the air thickening with his fury.

“Watch your mouth.” he warned. I scoffed, already forming a retort—

“Aiyanna,” Xavier cut in quickly. “Please. You need to understand—this isn’t something we can treat lightly.” I swung my glare to him.

“You think I don’t know that?” I bit back. “I was in her head, Xavier. I felt those ‘voices’ she talked about.” My words sharpened, deliberate and cutting. “From the moment I realized her origin, I’ve taken this more seriously than any threat we’ve faced. This isn’t just dangerous—it’s unknown.”

“Exactly!” Liam slammed his palm against the table, the impact rattling the room. “Unknown means unpredictable. And unpredictable means she’s a threat to everyone here.”

“Don’t you dare lecture the dangers it poses to the Tower to me,” I sneered quietly. “I understand better than anyone what she could become.” Liam studied me, eyes calculating.

“Do you?” he asked coldly. “Because right now it feels like your curiosity outweighs your concern.” The words hit hard. My mouth snapped shut, heart pounding as I fought to keep my composure. Liam was spiraling—anger overriding reason, instinct devouring empathy. And yet—I’m the one accused of lacking empathy?

I held his gaze, jaw tight, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing doubt flicker across my face. Curiosity wasn’t weakness.

Curiosity was how you understood the unknown.

“She stays.” The words landed like a blade between us. The air in the room iced over as Liam and I locked eyes. Magic crackled, pressure building as he reached for the collective Aura—our power—instinctively pulling it toward himself to retaliate. I reacted before I could weigh the consequences, reaching out and tore the connection away. The withdrawal cut clean and absolute, and Liam’s access to the pack’s Aura vanished in an instant—blocked, sealed, denied. Shock shattered across his face. No one had ever done that to the Alpha. Out of the corner of my eye, Xavier stepped toward me, one hand lifted in a placating gesture, fear rolling off him in heavy waves. Liam’s rage slammed into me a heartbeat later, nearly knocking me backwards as his eyes burned yellow, chest heaving as he fought his wolf for control.

Whatever came next was going to be ugly.

The air split before Xavier’s hand could close around my arm, the warning bell screaming—a piercing siren that ripped through the Tower. Ferals. Close. Confusion flickered across both men’s faces, mirroring my own, and all three of us turned toward the window. The sun hung low on the horizon, bleeding into dusk. An attack starting now meant it wouldn’t end until nightfall. Night was a death sentence. It was Nightmare territory. I didn’t wait for permission—or argument. I spun on my heel and bolted. Xavier shouted my name as I vaulted over the balcony rail outside the room, the wind tearing at my clothes while I gathered my power. I hit the lower level in a blink, boots barely kissing stone before I was running again, barking orders as I went.

Questions tore through my mind.

‘Why now?’ Ferals wouldn’t last once the sun disappeared—the vampires would tear through them with ease. ‘Was this connected to Clarice? Had our link rippled outward, flagged us as a threat?’ I didn’t have time to dwell. I snatched extra ammo clips and a second hunting knife as I burst into the courtyard. Chaos reigned—people sprinting, orders shouted over one another, defenders scrambling to man the walls.

“Aiyanna!” I glanced up to see Jax charging toward me, panic etched deep into his face. I didn’t slow as he reached me, his voice sharp with fear and anger. “What happened with Clarice? She hasn’t said a word since your lesson!” Ugh, not now. I ignored him, shouting for nearby guards to grab the spare UV lamps. I turned to move—then Jax grabbed my arm. I spun instantly, teeth bared, a snarl ripping from my chest.

“Touch me like that again,” I growled coldly, “and there’s a very real chance I’ll rip your throat out.” Shock wiped the anger from his face as he released me. I leaned in just enough for him to hear. “Your daughter and these attacks are connected. This could be fallout from that lesson, but right now?” I checked the clip in my gun, snapping it home. “I have a home to defend.” I straightened, already moving. “I’ll deal with you later.”

Then I was gone—racing for the wall as the Tower braced itself for hell.

~*~

Sound slammed into me.

Someone was screaming my name as I pushed myself off the ground, ears ringing, vision swimming from the blast. Training took over before thought could catch up. I brought my gun up and fired on instinct—two ferals dropped mid-lunge, hitting the stone at my feet in a wet, final heap. I pressed a hand to my skull, blinking hard as dust and debris rained down around me. Ferals shrieked, the sound vibrating through bone and blood, while gunfire thundered from the wall as defenders cut them down.

I remembered the sniper. I’d seen a feral leap for him across the courtyard, climbing the tower with terrifying speed. Even with access to the collective Aura, one man against a swarm was suicide. I hadn’t thought, I’d just reacted and jumped. Over the wall, onto the lower balcony—drawing half a dozen ferals with me as they scrambled after the movement. I’d reached the sniper too late. The last clear memory was the quiet clink of a pin, followed by the metallic rattle of a grenade hitting stone.

Then the world tore itself apart.

There was a gap in my mind—nothing but static—before I found myself on the ground again, blade in hand, ferals advancing through smoke and rubble. I slashed my way forward, trying to force a path back to the wall, when a sound cut through everything.

A blood curdling screech.

Nightmare.

Hungry. Furious.

My blood turned to ice. I hacked harder, faster, my movements bordering on reckless. I could hear Xavier shouting my name, shoving magic into me through the link. Liam barked orders, demanding I use my powers to get back inside, but there was no time. If I slowed for even a second, I’d be buried. Lights out. End of story. Six ferals dropped from the rooftop in front of me. One hit the pavement with a sickening crack, bones snapping. The other five landed, shook themselves out, and fixed me with glowing eyes as saliva dripped from open jaws.

On a good day? Five ferals was manageable. Daylight. Space. Potential options.

This was night. Surrounded by ruins and tight alleys. Not a chance. I glanced up at the wall, Xavier’s face was white with panic as he fired into the swarm.

“Be ready at the gate,” I ordered through the link. I spun on my heel and tore down the alley, five ferals hot on my heels, voices screaming my name as I vanished from sight. I could feel them behind me—their breath hot against my neck—as I skidded around a corner, barely dodging claws that ripped through the air where my spine had been. My mind raced, calculating exits, angles, survival odds, when panic clawed surprisingly up my chest. That stopped me cold—mentally, at least.

Panic?

That wasn’t supposed to happen. I’d buried that reaction years ago. Smothered it. Flicked it off with other emotions; it was how I stayed calm beyond the Tower walls. How I survived scouting missions where hesitation meant death.

So, why now?