Page 51 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

Suddenly,I'm back in the Umbrath homeland. The air is thick with smoke and the stench of blood. My people scatter, their screams piercing the night. I stand frozen and watch shadowy figures tear through our defenses like paper.

"Fight, you cowards!"I roar, my tentacles lashing out at the nearest attacker. But it's not enough. Never enough.

The scene shifts.I'm running through dense forest, branches whipping at my face. Behind me, the dying cries of my kin echo through the trees. My lungs burn, but I can't stop. Won't stop. I'm the last. The only one left.

"Weak,"a voice hisses in my ear. "You let them die."

I snarl, thrashing against invisible bonds. "No! I fought! I-"

But the voice is right.I ran. I survived while others fell.

The forest melts away,replaced by the cold, damp walls of my cave. My sanctuary. My prison. Years of solitude flash by in an instant - hunting, surviving, existing but not living.

Then...warmth. A gentle touch. Bella's face swims into view, her eyes filled with concern. Even in my fevered state, my heart clenches at the sight of her. My human. My mate.

"Don't leave me,"I growl, reaching for her with clumsy fingers. But she fades away, replaced by the leering face of the waira leader.

"She'll never truly be yours,"it taunts. "You're a monster. Alone. Always alone."

Rage boils within me.My tentacles whip out, tearing the creature apart. "She's mine!" I roar. "I'll kill anyone who tries to take her!"

The cave dissolves,and I'm standing atop a mountain. Bodies litter the ground - waira, humans, creatures I can't even name. At my feet lies Bella, her eyes closed.

"No,"I whisper, dropping to my knees. "Wake up. You can't leave me."

Her eyes flutter open,and she smiles. "I'm here, Jytos. I'll always be here."

I joltawake and gasp for air. The cave comes into focus, lit by the soft glow of embers. Bella sleeps beside me with her hand clutching mine. Relief floods through me and chases away the last wisps of the nightmare.

I soon drift backto sleep. My mind slips into another vivid dream. The cave fades away, replaced by a sun-drenched clearing in the forest. Bella stands before me, her brown curls dancing in the breeze. She's wearing a dress made of soft animal hide adorned with intricate beadwork that catches the light.

"About damn time you woke up,"she teases, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I was beginning to think you'd sleep the whole day away."

I growl playfully,closing the distance between us in two long strides. My tentacles snake out, wrapping around her waist and pulling her flush against my chest. "You should know better than to challenge me, little one."

Her laugh ismusic to my ears. She doesn't flinch at my touch, doesn't shy away from my monstrous form. Instead, she leans into me, her small hands tracing the contours of my arms.

"I wouldn't dream of it,"she murmurs, tilting her head back to meet my gaze. "You're the fiercest warrior these mountains have ever seen."

Pride swellsthroughout me at her words. I've never needed anyone's approval, but hearing Bella's admiration stirssomething primal within me. I lean down, capturing her lips in a searing kiss that leaves us both breathless.

When we part,I notice movement behind her. Two small figures emerge from the treeline. Their features are a perfect blend of Bella's softness and my own otherworldly appearance. Our children.

The sightnearly brings me to my knees. I never dared hope for this - a family, a legacy, a future beyond mere survival.

"Papa!"the little ones cry out, racing towards us on unsteady legs. I scoop them up effortlessly, one in each arm, while my tentacles keep Bella close.

"Look at you,"I rumble, my voice thick with emotion. "Strong like your old man, aren't you?"

Bella laughs,reaching up to ruffle our son's hair. "And just as stubborn, I'm afraid."

I grin,baring my sharp teeth in a way that once struck fear into the hearts of my enemies. Now, it only makes my family giggle.

"Good,"I declare. "They'll need that strength to survive in this world."

As if on cue,a distant howl echoes through the trees. The children tense, but I stand tall, my tentacles flaring protectively around my family.

"Nothing to fear,"I assure them, my voice filled with unwavering confidence. "Your papa will tear apart anything that dares threaten what's his."

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