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My ability to create ice wasn’t a power I used often. It had taken me years to master control of it, and still, sometimes it proved to be stronger. As for my telekinetic ability, that had been a devastating power to wield while on Earth.
When the Goddess created me, her first white wolf, she’d given me too much of her divinity. It was a miracle I survived, but the result wasn’t just a stronger werewolf—one who could face the vampires plaguing the earth—but a wolf with almost uncontrollable powers.
I'd survived being given so much power, but at a cost. I'd caused a lot of damage trying to find a balance within myself, fighting for control of my rage and wolf.
Even now, I always had to keep a firm grip on my self-discipline, or I’d endanger myself and others. The power within me was sometimes a living thing, intoxicating and seductive. I could understand why some gods were power-hungry.
I walked to the sofa and sat down, my wolf clawing at my insides to go in search of Natalie. His howls were so loud, I could barely hear anything else. The werewolf Goddess favored me, but that wouldn't get me the answers Rumir could.
He hadn't managed to find out much about what was going on with animals suddenly going on rampages, but this time around, I'd have to trust him to bring Natalie home.
I bent my head to the side, eyeing the Kruard. “If the gods have mobilized you, the threat is greater than we thought.”
Even though the Kruard didn't physically look my way, I could feel his eyes on me. I was one of few who could kill him, and perhaps he knew that. Given that Brian was half-werewolf, half-vampire, and he'd inherited his father's venomous bite, he could probably kill a Kruard as well.
And while Rehema was a skilled fighter, her abilities were more suited to healing and communicating with plants. Her gifts weren't exactly battle-optimized, so maybe that was why the Kruard didn’t seem to see her as a threat.
“But that means the gods must know exactly what’s happening, right?” Rehema rested her elbow on the arm of the chair. “They need to tell people what’s going on.”
“I doubt they’ll do that,” Brian said. “The gods are selfish. They love the society that has been built here because it provides them endless support on top of what they get from those on Earth. If this world falls into chaos, it'll affect them negatively."
“But won’t more people pray to them for help, thus giving them more power?” Rehema asked.
I shook my head. “Maybe, to some extent, but they’ll also lose followers who are more concerned with the afterlife crumbling," I explained. "On Earth, you know that when you die, you're moving on to somewhere else. Here, you know there is nothing beyond this realm. Souls will start to panic. They won't pray to the gods. They'll demand the gods fix the issue.”
I eyed the Kruard. “And for that reason, the gods won't say anything. They'll keep matters on a need-to-know basis and handle them in secret, so everything stays as-is: peaceful. Besides…” I added, suddenly realizing something. “There’s a bigger issue. The God Realm is where worthy souls who’ve died on Earth come. But if this realm becomes unstable, what'll happen to the deceased on Earth?”
Rehema frowned, as did Brian.
I hadn’t thought of it before, but what would happen if this realm was destroyed? Many souls arrived in the God Realm daily. I could only see chaos as the outcome if this realm fell into ruin.
Earth had just been dealt a significant blow. They'd learned of the existence of supernatural creatures while vampires were attacking and slaughtering everything with a pulse. Now maybe an even greater threat was staring them—and us—in the face.
A thud echoed outside, followed by the sound of flapping wings, and I inhaled. Rumir had returned, but I didn't smell Natalie. The second I stood up, a flash of lightning appeared in the room, sending me staggering backward.
When my vision cleared from the sudden bright light, Natalie was standing in the middle of the room.
Rumir rushed in, and the Kruard turned and left. I walked towards Natalie slowly and saw her eyes tearing up the closer I got to her. She had red spots on her body from wounds that had healed. Her hair was tangled and dirty, and she was covered in blood—hers, a human’s, and a werewolf's. But the wolf’s blood smelled tainted, like that of the infected animals we’d encountered.
A soul was infected?
I reached out and held her chin. “Natalie?”
She didn’t speak, even when Rumir appeared by her side, his hand combing strands of her hair from her face. “Natalie? Are you okay?” he asked, but she only looked up at him.
“What did they do to you?” Rehema stepped forward, and Natalie looked down at her blood-covered hands.
When Natalie didn’t respond, Rumir and I glanced at each other. I was sure he felt as I did—angry, worried, and useless. Natalie was hurting. Something horrible had happened tonight, but she wasn't talking.
“Natalie, let us help you.” I laid a hand on her cheek, and our bond snapped awake. “Tell us what happened.”
Her eyes opened, but she looked around the room and frowned. She appeared confused for a second until she pinched the bridge of her nose and stepped away from us.
“I’m okay,” she finally said, her voice cracking. “I just need a minute. And a shower. I’ll explain everything in the morning.” She turned away, her head hanging. “I’m sorry. I just need to rest.”
No one said anything as we watched her walk from the room, her clothes torn in various places. A chill went through the room, and I couldn’t help reacting, my fangs descending.
What the hell had happened to her?
