Page 11 of Wolf Revealed

A warmth spread through our hands into her body, making her straighten. She looked at me, a new determination shining in her eyes. She began the incantation for the transport spell, the same one Gretel had used to send us to the ends of the earth.

The portal sprang to life with a final utterance and a grand flourish. She sent our mates through individually, using most of her strength to ensure their safe passage.

Finally, it was just the two of us. We stepped through the portal with one last shared look, leaving the beach behind.

As soon as we reached the desert, the cold temperature of the beach was quickly replaced by the intense heat that stung my skin. Syriah and Laurent were also present but appeared blurry due to the heat waves coming off the sand.

Syriah’s face broke into a relieved smile when she spotted us, her eyes immediately softening. "Mira! Artemis!" She exclaimed, rushing to us, her arms spread wide. Laurent followed her lead, a look of relief washing over his stern features.

"We've been expecting you," Syriah said, her hands coming up to cup our faces gently. "I've been having dreams... unsettling ones."

Before we could question her about the dreams, Mira moved forward, her energy nearly depleted, but her resolve unwavering. “Syriah, there's something you need to know," she began, her voice a husky whisper but her gaze steady. "Kadence... she's planning to take Magic Mountain."

After sharing Kadence's plans with Syriah and Laurent, we all agreed that we needed to rest before formulating any course of action. The blistering heat of the desert day had given way to a refreshingly cool night, the quiet broken only by the occasional whispering wind.

Mira, spent from the day's strenuous magic, was the first to retire. Bastian, ever the caring partner, assisted her to their tent, his concern for her evident in his every move. Syriah and Laurent soon followed suit.

I was left by the dying embers of the bonfire, ensnared in a tangled web of thoughts and concerns. The warm glow of the fire flickered and danced across the sand around me, casting long, shifting shadows. As I stared into the flames, the rustling of the desert night as my only companion, Ronan, joined me.

His presence was comforting, a steady presence in the starry desert night. He remained quiet for a while, simply sharing the silence with me, his gaze fixed on the dwindling flames. Then, slowly, he broke the stillness. "Artemis," he murmured, his voice a whisper carried by the night wind, "we need to talk about leadership."

I turned to face him, the flicker of the fire reflecting in his earnest eyes. "Leadership?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

He nodded. "If we unite all our sisters again, someone will need to lead. I think... I think that someone should be you, Artemis. You're the eldest and the most experienced."

The notion took me by surprise. I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head, "Me? A leader? Ronan, you know I'm not one for believing in destinies. It should be someone more fitting."

"But who could be more fitting than you?" Ronan's voice was firm, his conviction unwavering. "You have always been there for all of us, Artemis. You're a natural leader."

As skeptical as I was about the concept of fate, I found myself mulling over Ronan's words. His belief in me stirred a feeling deep within, something I hadn't considered before. As the night wore on, our words mingling with the soft sounds of the desert, the flickering firelight casting our shadows in an intimate dance on the sand, I was left with a new sense of purpose to ponder.

Ronan's words hung heavy in the air, as tangible as the desert sand beneath our feet. The concept of fate, a notion I had always kept at arm's length, was suddenly thrust into my face, unasked, unavoidable. His confidence in my potential as a leader, and his unwavering belief, caught me off guard. Was I really cut out for such a responsibility?

There was an undercurrent of something more in his eyes, an unspoken plea for another chance, something we had danced around ever since our reunion. It was evident, palpable even, but I had my fears. I was terrified of being hurt, of reopening wounds I'd carefully mended over the years.

Under the vast, starlit sky, our conversation gradually tapered off. In the silence that followed, Ronan reached for my hand. His touch was warm, a reassuring anchor amidst the whirlpool of thoughts and emotions churning inside me.

Once again, I was surprised by my own actions. Instead of retracting my hand, I ended up holding his palm tightly. It felt right, like some force was leading us toward each other, even though I didn't believe in destiny.

With our hands intertwined, we silently navigated our way back to our tent. The night was peaceful, the desert quiet mirroring our shared silence's calm yet intense tranquility. As we disappeared into the welcoming confines of our tent, I found myself wrestling with an entirely new array of thoughts, fears, and a glimmer of hope.

The cool desert evening gave way to the warmer atmosphere inside the tent. Ronan's hand was still clasped in mine, the feel of his skin against mine creating a different type of warmth that bloomed from the inside out.

He gently guided me down onto the makeshift bed, his movements sure and tender. As we settled into the soft, cushioned bedding, the warm glow from the lantern illuminating our faces, I noticed the look in his eyes. They held a mixture of emotions—a touch of worry, a glint of hope, and, most prominently, an intense passion that made my heart flutter.

"Artemis," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the slight rustling of the desert wind outside. "I've meant every word I said. I believe in you."

His earnest and heartfelt words triggered a wave of emotions within me. Despite the fear and the apprehension, I discovered I wanted to believe him, to lean into the possibility he offered me.

Seeing the uncertainty in my eyes, he gently squeezed my hand, his thumb softly stroking over my knuckles in a soothing motion. "We have time, Artemis. We'll face everything together."

His promise, the conviction in his voice, offered me incredible comfort. At that moment, surrounded by the intimate silence of our shared space, I felt a strange sense of peace. For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to relax genuinely, to let go of my constant guard, if only for a night.

As sleep gradually claimed us, our bodies curled together in the small space, his arms wrapping protectively around me. His steady and comforting heartbeat served as my lullaby, lulling me into a restful sleep.

For the first time in a long while, I felt completely safe. I knew that whatever was to come, we would face it together. This thought helped me drift off into a restful sleep, surrounded by his arms and body warmth. The starry night sky illuminated our tent with its soft light, casting love and reassurance upon us as we embraced.

Chapter Six

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