The Gate of Shadows

After Fenris heard me say I loved him, his eyes glossed. He seemed to want to say something to me again but didn’t. Instead, he bit his lip, glancing away from me before cursing.

Ah… Did I say something I’m not supposed to?

Every fiber of my being told me to run away and hide, but against it all, I stood firm. My gaze shifted away from the troubled wolf, making me clasp onto my dress.

I…

Before that thought could fully form, the silver wolf pushed me onto the bed, tossing Shade towards the side. Luckily, she didn’t complain about this rough handling, heading to her tower instead.

His piercing amber eyes gazed at me for a moment, "I... You... Not like this." Fenris bit his lip.

I reached to touch his warm cheek, humming when he leaned into my touch.

The last thing I want is to force you to say anything.

My feelings had done the opposite of what I wanted them to do.

"You don’t have to say anything. I... know I don’t deserve—" I stopped, noticing a soft growl from him.

His lips found mine a second later, silencing me from saying anything else, tugging away from our brief kiss before he leaned into my ear and undid the buttons on my dress.

"You understand nothing. But you will... soon... give me more time. Meanwhile, I’ll repeatedly make you mine until you finally realize what you are to me without me saying it." Fenris murmured into my ear.

Hearing him say that made my heart beat rapidly, too, but there was something he got wrong—something I had to correct.

"I am already yours alone," I assured him, triggering a smile on his lips.

"Where are you getting this cheekiness from? Melody?" Fenris asked, studying me.

"Maybe... Is it bad?" I mumbled.

He peeled my dress off, leaving me only in my underwear. Even though he had done this so many times before, I felt more exposed this time than the last time we made love; tracing his fingers on my bare skin, he chuckled.

He closed his eyes before slowly opening them, meeting my alluring gaze.

"Bad? No... I remember when you got angry at me for letting you win. I want you to be like that. Be more honest and happier with yourself," Fenris simpered, remembering a happier time.

That was the one expression I always wanted to see in him.

"I see," I smiled back.

My expression triggered Fenris to grab onto me, kissing me lightly on my lips before going down to my neck. His fingers traced my chest to my navel, leaving me quivering in anticipation.

"Hey, you know... you are beautiful, right?" Fenris suddenly declared, shifting his gaze to meet with mine.

I didn’t know what eyes he looked at me with, but they weren’t normal. My body was unattractive to anyone else, yet his words warmed my heart.

"I... only to you," I whispered without realizing it.

In response to my out loud thought, Fenris grabbed onto my hand, placing it on his groin. There was something hard in his pants. His...

"You’re the only one who can make me like this. Layla can’t get me like this." Fenris declared, triggering my cheeks to turn into different shades of pink.

Flustered by his words, I tried to pull away, but he didn’t let me escape. His actions were stirring me up to no end, too. Upon seeing my reaction to his confession, he chuckled before sweetly blowing on my ear, making me shiver where I was.

"Fenris, wait, my heart can’t keep you!” I huffed, feeling it drum within my chest.

A soft chuckle left him, keeping my hand on his tented pants, stroking himself with them.

"Why are you being like this? You already did so many things to it a few days ago. And now you are shy from just touching it through my pants?" Fenris purred, leaning onto my lips again.

Letting go of my captured hand, he placed his on the back of my head to secure the kiss so I couldn’t tug away. Not that I wanted to. Returning his affection, I hesitantly stroked him through his pants, causing him to release a slight moan.

Separating from me, he licked his lips before unbuckling his belt. I continued to stroke him, even when he pulled his heat out of his pants. The hunger in his eyes was alluring to me. I was about to be eaten again by the big bad wolf towering over me.

The tip of his member was starting to get wetter with each stroke, leaving me wondering if it did that when he caressed my insides.

Soft huffs left him, leaning into my ear, “Your hand feels so good, Lily. But I want to bury myself in you.”

A hum rose from me, shifting my eyes away from the wolf’s hot breaths. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed the bags he and Liam brought in.

Pulling away from his heat, "Fenris... The bags..." I pointed towards them.

Following my gaze, Fenris rolled his eyes, annoyed by the interruption.

A sigh soon left his lips, too. "Shit... Do you think the ice cream will melt if I make love to you first?”

His question was met by a pinch on his cheek, triggering him to groan and wince.

It has probably melted already! Food shouldn’t be forgotten or wasted!

"Put it away!" I scolded, puffing my cheeks.

It instigated a light growl from his lips before he sighed again.

"Fine... But after, I’ll make you senseless." Fenris teased, licking my lips.

Rolling my eyes, I pulled him into a light kiss before tugging away, smiling.

"Promise?" I whispered.

“Of course,” He smirked, pulling me into another kiss. “Stay put until I put everything away.”

Something I didn’t do as I got dressed soon after he left me to help him.

“Really? I would’ve much rather have you naked on the bed. It motivated me way more.” He sighed, prompting me to throw a marshmallow bag at him.

The wolf quickly caught it before it did any damage to him.

“Maybe you shouldn’t think with your penis all the time, jerk!” I huffed, picking up another bag.

“Aw, come on, it’s how I show how much I want you.” He chuckled.

I couldn’t comprehend how this wolf saw me as attractive compared to the other ladies in his life. Layla, Kira, Melody, and even Cora were all beautiful women, and then there was me. My body was nothing like theirs, and even if it was, it didn’t change that I was a witch, one wicked being who loved him with all her heart.

Yet because of this alone, the Lycan elders wouldn’t accept our relationship. Alphas like Fenris could only marry a purebred wolf, much like Layla.

Something I can’t change… But I can hope, can’t I?

Our room was small but came with everything we needed to live there. There was a small stove, microwave, storage, fridge, and bathroom within the confines, and it was finally restocked. After we put away everything, Fenris made do with his word, dragging me back onto the bed, where he made love to me repeatedly until I couldn’t think of anything else but him.

When I woke up the following day, he was still asleep on the bed. Kissing him lightly on his cheek, I stood up, only to be pulled into the bed again.

"Where are you going?" Fenris mumbled into my ear.

I lightly kissed him again, this time on his lips.

"I’m going to the library. There’s something I want to look up." I informed him.

My beloved wolf rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Why not stay here with me?" he asked, tracing his fingers down my curves to tempt me back into his arms.

It would’ve been a hard urge to ignore if I did have more pressing matters. Being in the room with my beloved wouldn’t help me save my light from that terrible nightmare. If it was a premonition or not, I couldn’t shake away the feeling it left in me.

"Because I can’t be productive if I stay here," I said.

My words triggered his tail to wag, enjoying the challenge I posed.

So cute… No... don’t sink in again. Be strong, Lilith.

It only took a moment for my strong front to crack.

Why are Lycan ears and tail like fluffy clouds?! It makes you harder to refuse!

"Is that so bad?" Fenris teased, grabbing my hand and placing it on his chest before trailing it down to his abdomen and into his groin

The warmth his skin gave me could last me a lifetime.

"Yes!" I squealed, incapable of pulling away from him.

Letting me go, he chuckled, enjoying my reactions to his playful attempt to get me back into the bed.

"Fine. I’ll go with you then, Lily." Fenris announced, getting up from the bed.

What?! But…

It wasn’t ideal to have him tag along, but I would have to make do. If I had rejected him flat out, it would have made him suspicious.

I guess I’ll have to be careful about what I read in front of you.

Witches and warlocks would know at least something about it. If not, perhaps another book from the library could have more information. Although grimoires were primarily found there, they also contained data about other races and their cultures.

I also wanted to see if I could get Melody alone, once again, to ask her about what she knew about the moon festival. However, under Fenris's watchful eyes, I couldn’t do that to the extent I wanted to.

"I can go to the library by myself," I mumbled.

He licked my cheek, causing my cheeks to burn.

You’re so unpredictable.

"I won’t bother you," he reassured me.

That isn’t the issue!

I knew he would wait for me as long as I needed it, but I didn’t want him to know I was snooping. Sadly, the best way to hide things was to be open about them.

"Fine..." I grumbled.

Yet I couldn’t tell him why he couldn’t come either. It was a losing situation, no matter what I tried. Giving up on the thought of him staying behind, I went to take a shower, only to be joined by him not too long into it.

After a steamy shower, we got ready to go when he picked up his phone from the table beside my bed.

“Crap, Liam called me ten times. Give me a moment, Lily.” He sighed, calling his friend back.

Taking the opportunity, I headed out ahead of my wolf. It was sneaky of me, but I had to do it. I had to change to protect my light from that weird dream that chilled me. Little did I know that hours after I decided to live instead of waiting for death, my resolve was about to be tested.

Walking down the hall, I could feel more glances than usual, and the comments were also directed at me.

“Is that her?”

“Oh god... It’s her.”

 Lily… Something is off. Shade mumbled.

“Shameful little thing.”

“Can't believe she can just walk around here like it's nothing.”

The gossip piled up when Fenris yelled my name from behind me. His voice was full of pure desperation, stopping me where I stood when someone finally commented on something that made everything more evident.

“She’s a Moira witch. Careful with what you say.”

Ah... This will complicate things.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath when Fenris reached me and grabbed me by my shoulder. His hands were trembling.

Whatever Liam told you must’ve been bad… Crap.

"Lilith, we have to go," Fenris growled, glancing at his surroundings.

Something caught Shade's eyes beside us. Lily, look, she pawed at my cheek, guiding me to gaze towards the billboard next to us.

Fenris tried to drag me away before I could read what was posted, but it wasn’t fast enough. On the board was an alarming article published by a news company in Silverant. They wrote the headline in bold letters.

There’s a Moira Witch in Cerberus Custody, And No One Was Told!!

Below was the sentence that followed that headline: What happened to the justice for all those who died?!

I never knew plans could go on fire until that moment. It wasn’t only that; my entire life was going up in an inferno, turning my cage smaller than it used to be.