Chapter 86
The darkness was suffocating, wrapping around me like a thick, wet blanket. I struggled to breathe, to move, but my body felt like it was anchored in place. I looked around frantically, the shadows dancing before my eyes, forming into strange, dark shapes. And then I saw it—a figure in the distance, cloaked in black, holding something close to his chest.
No, not something. *Someone*.
The figure stepped closer, and my breath caught in my throat. My babies. He was holding my babies. They were wrapped in their tiny blankets, their eyes closed, peaceful, oblivious to the danger. I tried to scream, but no sound came out. I tried to run, but my legs wouldn’t move. It was as if invisible hands were pulling me back, holding me captive.
"Let them go!" I managed to choke out, my voice hoarse and filled with desperation.
The shadowed figure looked at me, tilting his head as if he couldn’t understand my words. He didn’t speak, but his silence was more terrifying than any threat. He held the babies closer, almost cradling them. The sight made my heart clench painfully.
"Please," I begged, tears streaming down my face. "Don’t hurt them. Please."
I struggled against the unseen force, thrashing and pulling, but it was useless. It was like being trapped in quicksand; the more I fought, the deeper I sank. The figure started to turn away, the babies still in his arms, and that’s when I felt true terror claw at my chest.
"NO!" I screamed, the sound ripping from my throat like a wild animal’s roar. "Give them back! Give me my children!"
The figure paused, and for a brief moment, I thought he might listen. But then he turned his head slightly, just enough for me to see the glint of his eyes—a cold, unforgiving blue. It was like looking into the eyes of a predator. He smirked, and my blood ran cold.
"You will be the end of them," he whispered, his voice echoing in my ears like a sinister promise.
I jolted awake, gasping for breath. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would break through my ribs. My body was drenched in sweat, the sheets tangled around me like chains. I barely registered Jake’s concerned voice as he shook me gently.
"Priscilla, wake up! You’re having a nightmare!" His voice was thick with worry.
I blinked, trying to focus on his face. His dark eyes were filled with concern, his hand cupping my cheek. "I... I saw him," I whispered, still trying to catch my breath. "He had our babies."
I scrambled out of bed, ignoring Jake’s attempts to calm me down, and rushed over to the bassinet where the twins slept. They were there, safe and sound, their tiny chests rising and falling with each soft breath. I sank to my knees beside them, pressing my hand against my mouth to stifle a sob.
Jake was behind me in an instant, his arms wrapping around my shoulders. "Hey, hey, it’s okay," he murmured, pulling me against his chest. "They’re fine, Priscilla. Look, they’re right here. It was just a nightmare."
But it hadn’t felt like just a nightmare. It had felt real. Too real.
I shook my head, tears spilling down my cheeks. "I don’t like this, Jake," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I don’t like that they’re in danger, that someone out there wants to hurt them. They’re just babies. How can anyone be so hateful?"
He pressed his lips against my hair, holding me tighter. "I know, sweetheart," he said softly. "I know. But I promise you, I won’t let anything happen to them. To any of us. I swear it."
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to take comfort in his words, in the strength of his embrace. But the image of that shadowed figure wouldn’t leave my mind. It felt like a warning, a glimpse of the danger that was closing in on us. I nodded numbly, letting Jake help me back into bed, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave the babies’ side.
"We’ll keep them with us tonight," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I need them close."
Jake didn’t argue. He just nodded, his eyes softening with understanding. He lifted both babies gently, placing them between us on the bed. I lay there, staring at their tiny faces, trying to shake the feeling of dread that clung to me like a second skin.
* * *
The next day, I decided to meet with the women of the pack again. Fatima had been right—if I could win them over, maybe the rest would follow. But the dream still lingered in the back of my mind, a shadow I couldn’t quite shake. I pushed it aside as I entered the community hall, smiling at the women gathered there.
The room buzzed with chatter and laughter, a comforting sound. I spotted Fatima in the corner, already surrounded by a group of women. She caught my eye and gave me a reassuring smile. I made my way over, greeting the others with a warm smile.
"Good morning, everyone," I said brightly. "I brought some fresh pastries. I thought we could enjoy them while we talk."
A few of the women smiled back, but there was one in the group who didn’t return my smile. She was young, with sharp features and piercing green eyes. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, and she didn’t make any effort to hide her disapproval.
I tried to ignore it, focusing on the others as we chatted about the upcoming pack events and the work being done to strengthen our defenses. But every time I spoke, I could feel her eyes on me, like daggers piercing through my skin.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned to her, keeping my voice calm. "Is there something you’d like to say?" I asked gently.
Her eyes narrowed. "Why would I?" she retorted. "You already seem to have everything under control."
There was a tense silence. I glanced at Fatima, who raised an eyebrow, silently urging me to handle it. I took a deep breath, stepping closer to the young woman. "I don’t know you well," I said quietly. "But if you have a problem with me, I’d rather we talk about it directly."
She hesitated, her jaw clenching. "You want to know what my problem is?" she asked, her voice low but filled with venom. "It’s you. You’re the problem. *He* said you’d be the end of us."
My heart skipped a beat. "*He*? Who are you talking about?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she shook her head. "I can’t say. I can’t... He’ll find out."
I took a step closer, lowering my voice. "Please," I whispered, feeling the fear rise in my chest. "I need to know. I have children to protect. Don’t you have a family too?"
For a moment, something softened in her eyes. She looked away, her arms falling to her sides. "I do," she admitted. "That’s why I’m doing this. To protect them."
I felt a lump rise in my throat. "Then you know why I need to know who ‘he’ is. Please. Tell me."
She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out, her body stiffened. Her eyes rolled back, and she started to shake violently. I lunged forward, grabbing her arms.
"Someone help!" I screamed, trying to hold her still as she convulsed, her body jerking uncontrollably.
The other women rushed forward, but it was too late. Her body went limp in my arms, and I sank to the floor, cradling her head. "No," I whispered, tears spilling down my cheeks. "No, no, no."
Her breathing was shallow, her eyes unfocused, but she managed to whisper one word before everything went black.
"Beware."
And then she was still, the life draining from her eyes as I held her in my arms, the terror gripping my heart like a vice.
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