BURNING BETRAYAL - PART 1

Chapter 3 - Nightmare

Eric pulled into his driveway, his mind still replaying the conversation with Aurora. He couldn't believe he had finally mustered the courage to talk to her, and she seemed nice! He felt a sense of accomplishment and excitement, hoping their connection might lead somewhere.

As he entered his house, he headed straight to his room, eager to freshen up and process his thoughts. He was already imagining their next encounter when his uncle, James, knocked on his door.

"Hey, Eric! Your dad wants to see you," James said, his tone serious.

Eric's heart skipped a beat. His dad, a busy entrepreneur, rarely requested his presence unless something important was up. Eric's mind raced with possibilities as he followed James to the study.

"What's up, Dad?" Eric asked, trying to sound casual despite his growing curiosity.

His dad, a tall, imposing figure with a stern expression, turned from his desk.

"Eric, how did the business proposal go, with Mr Declan, what did he say about our offer?"

Eric nodded, feeling a mix of relief and confusion. "Well Dad, he said he was happy about it and he would like me to be a part of the team"

His dad leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "That's my boy, I knew you'd be able to convince him. Have always wanted you to start making progress with your life."

"and don't forget. Don't ever trust human and be very careful with them" Eric dad added

"Yes sir,"

King William Logan, who is secretly the current ruling king of the lycans in the twenty first century. His son, Eric, still standing before him, his eyes cast downward in respect.

"Eric, you are soon to inherit the throne and become the leader of our kind,"

King William said, his voice low and serious.

"You must understand the gravity of our secret. We, lycans, have lived among humans for generations, hiding in plain sight. It is crucial that our existence remains unknown to them."

Eric nodded, his mind racing with the weight of his future responsibilities.

"The Mother, is a significant threat to our secrecy," King William continued.

"She must remain caged, Eric. You will be responsible for ensuring her imprisonment. Our survival depends on it."

Eric's eyes widened, his heart racing with the enormity of the task. He had heard stories of The Mother's power and strength.

"I understand, Father," Eric said, his voice firm. "I will not fail."

King William's expression softened slightly, his eyes gleaming with pride. "I know you won't, son. You have the heart of a true leader. Our kind's future is in good hands with you."

The scene fades with King William's words, leaving Eric to contemplate the weight of his future responsibilities as the heir to the throne and the keeper of the lycans' secret.

At aurora's house.

Aurora expertly chopped vegetables for a stir-fry, her mind still replaying the encounter with Eric. Just as she added the final seasonings, her phone rang. She smiled, seeing Nora's name on the caller ID.

"Hey, girl! Congratulations on the new job!" Aurora exclaimed, excitement filling her voice.

Nora's laughter echoed through the line. "Thanks, Rory! I'm thrilled. But enough about me. How was your day? Any exciting encounters?"

Aurora's cheeks flushed as she leaned against the counter.

"Actually, I met someone today."

Nora's tone turned sly.

"Ooh, do tell! Was he handsome?"

Aurora giggled. "Extremely. His name is Eric, and he's got these piercing blue eyes... and a charming smile."

Nora's voice turned persuasive. "Well, if there's a green light, you should totally go for it! You're finally moving on from that breakup, and this Eric sounds like a great catch."

Aurora hesitated, her mind still replaying the memories of her recent heartbreak. "I don't know, Nora... I'm not sure I'm ready yet."

Nora's response was laced with encouragement. "You won't know unless you try, Rory. And trust me, this Eric sounds like a great way to get back out there."

Rory was a nickname Nora use in calling Aurora's name

Aurora's phone rang again, displaying an unknown number. She hesitated, wondering who it could be. Her mind raced back to Eric, and she felt a flutter in her chest. Could it be him? She took a deep breath and answered the call.

"Hello?" she said, her voice cautious.

"Hey, um, Aurora. It's Eric," the familiar voice said, sending a smile to her face.

"Hey, Eric! I wasn't expecting your call so soon," Aurora replied, her tone lightening up.

They chatted for a while, discussing everything from their shared love of books to their favorite hobbies. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and Aurora found herself laughing and feeling at ease with Eric.

As they talked, Eric asked Aurora about her plans for the next day.

"I was thinking of grabbing dinner at that new restaurant downtown. Would you like to join me?" he asked, his voice hopeful.

Aurora's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to ask her out so soon, but there was something about Eric that made her feel comfortable and excited at the same time.

"That sounds great! I'd love to join you," she replied, trying to sound casual despite her growing enthusiasm.

They finalized the plans, and Eric promised to pick her up at 7 pm the next day. As they ended the call, Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. She was looking forward to seeing Eric again and exploring the possibility of something special between them.

Eric's excitement about his dinner plans with Aurora lingered as he drifted off to sleep. But his slumber was short-lived, as a terrifying nightmare gripped him. In his dream, he saw "The Mother" breaking free from her ancient prison, her eyes blazing with fury. The scene was so vivid that Eric's heart raced and his body trembled with fear.

As he thrashed about in bed, his terror reached a fever pitch, and he let out a deafening roar. The sound was so loud that it echoed throughout the mansion, alarming his father and uncle.

King William and Uncle James rushed to Eric's room, finding him transformed into a full lycan form. His eyes glowed yellow, and his body was covered in thick fur. The room was in disarray, with furniture overturned and curtains torn.

"Eric, calm down! It's just a dream!" King William commanded, trying to restrain his son.

But Eric was beyond reason, consumed by the nightmare's terror. His father and uncle struggled to subdue him, finally managing to pin him down.

As they held him, they spoke soothing words, gradually calming Eric down. Slowly, he transformed back into his human form, exhausted and shaken.

"What happened?" Eric asked, his voice trembling.

"You had a nightmare, son," King William replied, concern etched on his face. "But it's over now. You're safe."

Eric nodded, still trying to process the intensity of the dream. He knew that "The Mother" was a threat, but he had never felt such raw fear before. He realized that his father's warnings were not to be taken lightly.