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Chapter 23

As he stepped into the village, he knew—this was only the beginning.

Loco followed Nancy through the village, feeling the weight of countless eyes watching him. The tension was thick, the hostility undeniable. He knew what they saw—an enemy, a threat, the son of the Dark Lord. He had long grown used to it, but tonight, it burned more than ever.

Nancy led him into a secluded cabin, her expression unreadable as she gestured for him to sit. He remained standing.

"Start talking," she said, crossing her arms.

Loco took a breath. "Theresa took Bavanda. I fought, but there were too many of them. They dragged her through a portal—I don’t know where they took her, but she was unconscious when they left."

Nancy’s eyes flickered with something unreadable—concern, maybe, but she masked it quickly.

"Why come to me?" she asked. "Why not go to Avynna and Baron?"

Loco’s jaw clenched. "Because they think she’s lost, and because they don't trust me."

Nancy’s brow furrowed. "You think I trust you? And what do you mean by she's lost?"

Loco exhaled sharply. "Theresa’s been manipulating Bavanda for a while now. Feeding her doubts, making her question everything. She used dark magic against her, and it’s inside her now. The pack sees that and assumes she’s already beyond saving."

Nancy was silent for a long moment. Then she muttered a curse under her breath and turned away. "It’s worse than I thought."

Loco frowned. "You know something."

Nancy didn’t answer immediately. She paced, her fingers drumming against her arms. Finally, she stopped and faced him.

"Before you arrived, I had a vision," she admitted. "A warning. Bavanda is standing on the edge of something—something catastrophic. If she falls, she won’t just lose herself. She’ll become something we can’t stop."

A chill ran down Loco’s spine.

"Theresa told her she was ‘meant for something greater,’" he said, repeating the words that still haunted him. "What does that mean?"

Nancy hesitated, then whispered, "She was never meant to just be an Alpha."

Loco stiffened. "Explain."

Nancy met his gaze. "There’s an ancient prophecy about a being born of both light and darkness. A force that could reshape the supernatural world. Bavanda… fits every sign."

His stomach twisted. "You’re saying she was born to be a weapon."

Nancy’s voice was grim. "I’m saying if we don’t reach her soon, Theresa will make sure she becomes one."

Loco straightened. "Then we don’t have time to waste."

Nancy looked at him, the signs of determination crossing her face. “We'll need all the help we can get then."

Looking at her, Loco instantly knew what she was talking about. "Are you sure? They gave up on her, they might not be willing to help.”

Nancy heaved. "We'll only know when we try.”

***

The room was dark, save for the dim glow of moonlight filtering through the window. The walls felt colder than usual, suffocating even. Avynna sat motionless on the edge of her bed, staring at nothing. Her fingers clutched the fabric of her dress, but her mind was elsewhere.

Somewhere in the corner of the room, breaking cries filled the silence.

Alexander.

Her son had been crying for what felt like hours now, curled up against the wall, his little body wracked with grief. He had been calling for her, reaching for her, but she had not moved. Not once.

She had nothing left to give.

Bavanda was gone.

Her daughter—her firstborn, her pride, her joy—had been taken by darkness. And her mate… the man who had once sworn to protect their family at all costs, had been the first to turn his back on her.

A choked sob escaped Alexander’s lips. His voice was hoarse, barely making it out anymore.

Avynna’s fingers twitched. She squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t. She couldn’t bear the weight of his grief on top of her own.

The door slammed open.

"What the hell is this?" Baron’s voice was like thunder, shaking the walls, shaking her, dragging her out of her haze.

He stood at the entrance, eyes burning with fury.

Avynna barely glanced at him. "Leave me be."

Baron stormed across the room, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to look at him. "You’re sitting here like a damn ghost while your son is falling apart! He’s crying for his mother, Avynna! Do you even care?"

Alexander flinched at the raised voices, but Baron didn’t care. He was done tiptoeing around this.

Avynna’s lips curled in a bitter snarl. "Don’t you dare lecture me on caring." She ripped herself free from his grasp, standing abruptly. "You gave up on Bavanda the moment she needed you most!"

Baron’s jaw clenched. "She was turning into something we couldn’t stop!"

"She’s our daughter!" Avynna shouted, voice raw with anguish. "And you let them convince you that she was beyond saving!"

Baron’s hands curled into fists. "She wasn’t fighting it, Avynna! She chose to leave! And now she’s in the hands of the very monsters who wanted to use her!"

"And you’re willing to let them!"

The words struck deep, slicing through the air like a blade. Baron stiffened, his face twisting with something unreadable.

"I will not watch our daughter become something unrecognizable," he said, voice lower but no less dangerous.

Avynna scoffed, shaking her head. "No. You won’t fight for her, because that’s easier. Because if you convince yourself she’s lost, then you don’t have to suffer for her."

Baron’s breathing was heavy. His rage was barely contained, but beneath it—buried deep—was pain. "Do you think this doesn’t kill me? Do you think I don’t want her back?"

Avynna’s voice wavered. "Then why won’t you fight for her like I will?"

A knock at the door interrupted the suffocating silence.

One of the warriors stood at the entrance, looking uneasy. "My Queen… Nancy is here. And she brought someone with her."

Avynna and Baron exchanged a glance.

Baron was the first to speak. "Who?"

The warrior hesitated. "Loco."

The air in the room shifted instantly. Avynna’s lips parted slightly, confusion and suspicion warring in her expression.

Avynna exhaled sharply, her emotions barely contained. Then she turned her gaze to Alexander, whose red, tear-streaked eyes stared up at her.

Her chest ached.

She walked over to him and gently wiped his face. She swallowed hard, then pulled him into her arms. "I’m here, my love."

Baron watched silently as she finally held their son, but the tension between them was far from over.

She felt his stare on her, but unlike the rosy times, it only fueled her rage. “Quit staring at me, and go confirm what the warrior said. I'll put him to sleep, and join you."

They weren’t done fighting. But first, they needed to hear what Loco had to say.

Baron said nothing else. With a heave, he rose to his feet and left the room.

The moment Loco and Nancy stepped onto their lands, they were met with immediate aggression. Warriors shifted into their wolves, blocking their path, growling low in their throats.

Nancy raised a hand. "We need to speak with Avynna and Baron. Now."

The warrior’s eyes flickered between her and Loco, his nostrils flaring. "Why did you bring him?"

"Because he’s the only one who still believes Bavanda can be saved," Nancy snapped. "Now get out of my way."

The warriors hesitated but didn’t stand down.

"Bavanda is lost," one of them growled. "She’s already given in to the darkness. The elders have decreed it."

Loco stepped forward, his temper barely restrained. "So you’re just going to leave her to Theresa?" he demanded. "You’d rather let the enemy control her than fight for her?"

Silence.

Then a new voice cut through the tension. "Enough."

Avynna emerged, her presence alone enough to make the warriors part.

Loco tensed. This was the first time he had seen her since Bavanda’s capture. Her face was unreadable, but her eyes held pain.

She looked at Nancy. "Why are you here?"

Nancy squared her shoulders. "We have a plan to save Bavanda."

Baron appeared behind Avynna, his gaze sharp and wary. "And why should we trust him?" he asked, nodding toward Loco.

Loco stepped forward. "Because I love her," he said without hesitation. "And I won’t let her be turned into something she’s not."

Avynna’s eyes widened slightly at his words, but she quickly masked it.

"It’s too late," Baron said, his tone hard. "She’s already—"

"She’s still fighting!" Loco snapped. "You don’t see it, but I do. Theresa is manipulating her, breaking her, but she hasn’t given in yet. And if we wait too long, she will."

Avynna hesitated, glancing at Baron.

Nancy stepped in. "I had a vision. If we don’t act now, we will lose her. Not just to Theresa, but to something worse."

Baron’s expression darkened. He turned to Avynna. "You know what the elders have said."

Avynna looked at Loco. "If I help you, and Bavanda is already beyond saving…" She trailed off, pain flashing in her eyes. "I won’t let her suffer."

Loco swallowed hard. "Then let’s make sure she’s still Bavanda when we find her."

Hey Guys please check my other stories: The Lycan and His healer mate, His Purchased Wife, 365 Days in Dmitry Cage, The fatal Lycan and his mysterious mate, Xiol's Treasured Mate, The luna and the lycan, Flash Marriage: President's Seduction, In Adonis world, Alpha's little Vampire Mate on R.a.d.i.s.h.

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