Moonlit Fever

The first thing I felt when I woke from the memory was the cold, biting air of the maze corridor. My body ached like I'd just been through the fight all over again, and the raw, stinging pain of Hayley's loss lingered like a fresh wound.

The metallic tang of blood and the suffocating guilt were gone, but their echoes lingered. I pressed a hand to my chest, steadying my breath.

There were four things I took from the memory as it all came back to me.

I didn't kill Hayley.

I'd used my blood manipulation powers to control another wolf to kill.

I'd shifted between my human and wolf forms with ease.

I was a royal wolf.

Then, as I turned to step away from the red door, I saw my mate. Lucius came stumbling out of another door opposite me, his hair wild, his expression a mixture of dread and resignation. The door he exited shimmered faintly before fading from existence.

A blue door.

"What the hell have you done?" I snapped, my voice cutting through the stillness, my emotions still heightened from the memory.

Lucius turned, startled to see me, his usual composure slipping. "I didn't mean to."

"You didn't mean to?" I advanced on him, my fists clenching at my sides. "Chase warned us not to enter a blue door. It sets the future in stone."

Lucius hesitated, his jaw tightening.

"I was running from your wolf," he admitted quietly. "It was instinct. I wasn't thinking, Nate."

Before I could press him further, the sound of growling cut through the air, low and guttural. My wolf was back.

Lucius tensed beside me, his eyes flicking over my shoulder. "We need to run."

"No," I said firmly, straightening my posture. "Not this time."

Lucius shot me a look of disbelief. "Nate, we can't fight him."

"Yes, we can," I interrupted.

I'd been holding back this past month because of the guilt of killing Hayley. But I didn't kill her. It wasn't me. It was Sebastian and that cloaked figure.

"I've been running from my responsibilities for too long." My voice cracked, but I forced myself to continue. "And I'm done letting everyone tell me what's right and what's wrong. I'm done with everyone controlling me. I'm done with all the lies. Sebastian, Selina, my father, Donavon. Even you Lucius. I. AM. DONE!"

Lucius opened his mouth to argue, but I silenced him with a sharp glance.

The growling grew louder as my wolf emerged from the shadows, his massive form larger than I remembered, his silver eyes glowing like twin moons. He bared his teeth, his hackles rising as he stared at me.

"VALKO!" I bellowed, balling my fists as I took a step forward, locking eyes with my wolf. "STOP!"

The wolf growled louder, snapping his jaws in warning.

But I didn't flinch.

"I'm not running anymore!" I said, my voice growing firmer. "And I'm not afraid of Sebastian anymore!"

Valko lunged, but I stood my ground. My heart thundered in my chest, but I didn't move or look away. I met his glowing eyes with my own, pouring every ounce of my resolve into the connection.

"You're my wolf!" I commanded. "And I'm done with all the pain, and suffering and guilt. I'm your master and it's time you listen to me!"

My voice boomed through the maze of doors, and a gust of wind billowed through the corridor.