PRIME APEX

"Stand up," I said, my voice was steady but firm.

"All of you."

The lycans hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances. Some shifted uncomfortably, but none moved—not even Lukas.

He remained kneeling, his head bowed in unwavering submission, his injuries staining the ground beneath him.

"I think there's been a mistake," I continued, scanning the faces around me.

"I am not your queen."

A quiet murmur rippled through the gathered wolves, uncertainty flickering across their faces.

But Lukas didn't waver.

"No," he said, his voice rough but certain. "There is no mistake."

"Our clairvoyant elders foretold your arrival," he explained, though I could see the pain written across his face.

"You carry the blood of the Prime Apex. Our seers sensed it the moment you stepped onto our land."

He took a ragged breath.

"And today, I've seen it for myself."

I opened my mouth to protest again, but before I could, Dylan stepped forward, his expression darkening.

"She's not your queen," he growled.

"She is ours."

His words sent a ripple through the lycans.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the way Lukas's jaw tensed. Instead, my focus shifted to something else.

"What's a clairvoyant?" I asked Dylan.

His sharp gaze softened slightly as he turned to me.

"Lycans have elders who can glimpse the future," he explained.

"Their visions aren't always precise, but they've been right for centuries."

I frowned.

"Does your pack have something like that?"

"Not exactly," he admitted.

"But we have Edee. As a Tetha, she can sometimes foresee things—not as clearly as the lycan elders, but she's never been wrong."

Tension still hung thick in the air. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Xander and Vlad standing a few paces away, exchanging a glance—a silent conversation passing between them.

Then, after a brief moment, Xander stepped closer.

Lowering his voice so only I could hear, he asked, "What's going on?"

I met his gaze.

"I'll explain everything later."

Xander studied me for a moment before stepping back.

Turning back to Lukas, I pleaded, "Dylan, can you release him? And the rest of the lycans too?"

Dylan narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased, but didn't argue.

"They were just curious about me," I added.

"This bloodshed shouldn't have happened."

Lukas remained silent, but I saw his body sway, his injuries taking their toll.

Blood stained his torn clothes, deep gashes marring his arms and torso.

"You're badly hurt," I said, my tone softening.

"You need proper treatment."

Lukas gave a stiff nod.

Satisfied, I turned to Dylan next.

"You should get treated too," I said, eyeing his bloodied werewolf form.

Dylan simply rolled his shoulders, brushing off my concern.

"I'll heal faster on my own."

With the tension finally settling, I turned to Xander and Vlad.

"It's time to explain everything," I said.

"I need a private word with you both—about the next ritual."

Neither of them argued.

Without another word, the three of us walked away, leaving behind a battlefield that had turned into something else entirely.

Dylan, now back in human form, led us to a meeting room in the underground stronghold.

Xander wasn't surprised to see him shape-shift, but I could tell he hadn't expected Dylan to be the Alpha.

He turned to me.

"Did you know Dylan was a werewolf all along?"

I shook my head.

"I only found out today." I hesitated.

"But… it's good to know he's someone I can trust."

Dylan suddenly turned toward us.

"That day—you knew I was a werewolf, didn't you?" he asked Xander.

Xander smirked.

"I can smell werewolves from miles away."

Dylan exhaled, then muttered, "Anyway, thanks for the help. Both of you."

Vlad, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened.

His crimson gaze remained unreadable as he said, "We did it for her."

Xander's expression darkened as he turned to me.

Lowering his voice, he murmured, "Now you understand why I told you to stay away from him."

I hesitated before sighing.

"But… it doesn't matter now, does it?"

Dylan's jaw tightened. He had overheard us, but he didn't argue. Instead, he gave me a long look before walking out, leaving me alone with Xander and Vlad.

I took a deep breath.

"The next ritual… I need to tell you everything."

They waited.

"To be marked, there's a ritual. I must become the Alpha's mate," I said carefully. "He must bite me as a sign of bond, protection, and ownership."

Silence.

"The next step is scent-marking," I continued.

"The Alpha must cover his mate in his scent to claim them as his own."

Xander's fingers twitched.

"Is it necessary?" he asked.

"It is," I replied.

"Then comes the final step," I said.

"An ancient ceremony performed under the full moon. Incantations, sacred objects, and moon rituals will forge a psychic bond between us—allowing telepathic communication."

More silence.

I exhaled slowly. "Once the Alpha marks me, he can't have another mate. His heart and soul will be bound to me alone. And I won't just be his mate—I'll be their queen. They will vow to serve only me."

I looked up.

Vlad stood perfectly still, his crimson eyes dark and unreadable. But beneath the surface, something dangerous stirred.

"Fascinating," he murmured, his voice smooth but sharp.

"What an unbreakable bond."

His gaze flickered over me, calculating. Then, slowly, he smirked—though there was no warmth in it.

"And here I thought I would be the only one tied to you forever."

I swallowed.

Meanwhile, Xander remained silent, lost in thought.

Later that night, surprisingly sleep came easily.

Until it didn't.

I jolted awake, my breath ragged, my heart pounding.

The clock glowed 2:00 a.m.

A nightmare.

I was surrounded by dead souls, their hollow eyes locked onto mine. Their mouths moved, whispering words I couldn't understand—voices like a thousand echoes bleeding together.

I shivered, rubbing my arms as the eerie sensation clung to me.

The fear was real. Too real.

I forced myself to take slow breaths, pushing the nightmare aside, willing my body to relax. Eventually, I lay back down.

I drifted off again.

Until I woke up to the sound of my own screaming.

Then came the knock.

Relentless. Unyielding.

I swallowed, my throat dry. "Who's there? I'm fine."

The door pushed open anyway.

Vlad.

He walked closer, his eyes sweeping over my sweat-drenched face.

"You don't look fine," he said, his voice low. "I can feel it."

Of course, he could. After marking me, he always knew when something was wrong.

"I just had a bad dream. That's all."

The second nightmare in a single night.

Something wasn't right.

I needed to talk to Edee.