39

"The place between realms. Between reality and whatever else is out there."

"Yes and no," Gabby replied cryptically, but with such a straight face.

"Could you please elaborate?" Ariella folded her hands in her lap, trying to remain patient as she looked between her friends who both seemed absorbed in one book or another.

"Hhm... I haven't exactly read this book of Francis's, but I do know that she wrote about things in the past and future. Some of her visions have come true, such as the extinction of the great winged Karalax. Of course, she believed they would rise again, but who knows when or if that will ever happen."

"You didn't answer my question," Ariella prodded, not so interested in the winged dragon as much as demons and the Interealm, and what they really had in relation to her.

"Maybe I can't answer your question, but it's just something you'll need to figure out for yourself."

Gabby's reply irked Ariella, and she rose and quickly snatched the book from her. Her eyes were then riveted on the pictures that were so similar to her own. So demons were real? Someone else had seen them? "You mean..."

"From what I've read of Francis, you have to believe in it yourself to be able to see it. Whether or not the Interealm is actually there, or if demons inhabit that space between worlds, is up to the individual to perceive. No one can convince you either way. You have to really look for it yourself if you have enough belief."

"Belief," Ariella murmured, staring at the coal black eyes and twisting horns on the ferocious creature, with its strong body and pointed tail. Partially mirroring a wolf, this creature was so much more deadly-looking. "And do you believe?"

"Hmph!" Luci snorted, casting Gabby a bemused grimace. "Do I believe in demons? Look around you. Monsters turn up every day, terrorising innocent people and raping young girls, murdering old people in their sleep, and for what? A wealthy inheritance? A moment of pleasure? Revenge? I don't need to look between worlds to see demons. There's enough living among us," Luci paced the room with an angry look. It was no secret that man himself was a creature as dark as any imagination could make him to be.

"I understand that. But there's something more, I just know it. I feel it, everytime I'm with Malachi's mom and—"

"His mom? What about her?" Luci whirled around.

"I ...Uh, I just mean," Ariella backtracked, realising what she was indicating. Could it be possible Luna Seneca was a demon? "I just mean that there's something off about her. A darkness that rests in her soul and reaches out to me, suffocating me when I'm near her. I'm afraid it's passed on to Malachi, if that's possible. Whatever she's hiding beneath her cool skin, I think Malachi and everyone knows about it. They're keeping something from me." It felt good to speak this out loud, to let the half-vague ideas form into words and get it out of her mind.

Ariella hadn't exactly entertained the notion that Seneca was anything more than a grieving widowed Luna, but maybe there was something more behind her cold exterior.

"It says here that demons can take on human form and even reproduce. Don't ask me how. But Francis also believed that there was some kind of ritual for turning a half-breed demon into a full demon. Sounds freaky," Gabby screwed up her face and pushed the book back to Ariella.

"Sounds absolutely horrible," Luci commented from over Ariella's shoulder, and Ariella shivered in agreement.

"What does this mean?" she pointed to a few lines of verse. Besides her scientific research findings and philosophical musings, Francis was known for writing poetry.

The script was a reprint of handwritten words, flowing in a neat scroll.

When the Moon turns to blood

Night shall be free

Cursed forever

are the souls bound to me

Mortal souls shall die

engulfed by Night

Forever to roam

beyond mortal sight

"Who the heck knows. Aren't you the poetic one who can read between the lines?" Luci raised her eyebrows and gave Ariella a pointed look.

"If you believe in hell, just go ahead and say it instead of some stupid substitute word," Gabby scolded at Luci.

"If I believed in it, then wouldn't it be sacrilegious to swear on it?"

"Since when do you care what's sacrilegious or not? You'd turn up to a Temple of purity with your skin still stained with lustful kisses."

"And you, the ever innocent dove, would be there to bar my entrance, wouldn't you, dear Gabriella?"

"I never said I was perfect, Lucia, so don't go accusing—"

"And I never said I cared about ending up in hell. Do you know how many hot guys are probably in there? Oh, the joys of eternity—"

"I'd rather die than burn forever—"

"Well, it's a good thing your daddy makes sure you say your prayers before bed." Luci crossed her arms and smirked.

Gabby launched herself towards her raven-haired friend. "That's it! I've had enough—!"

"Girls! Stop it! Goodness, you're as bad as Justin and Cale when they're trying to impress the Alphas' daughters!" Ariella slammed the book on the table before pulling her friends apart.

Was it always her responsibility in life to stop the clashes between such two opposite forces? "Just quit the squabbling, will you? I'm trying to sort out some serious stuff here, okay? Please, just chill. Fire Night starts soon, Malachi is coming—hopefully—and I want some answers before seeing him again."

In truth, her heart was yearning for him and she couldn't wait to be in his arms again, but so many thoughts and images were floating just beyond her grasp, and she needed to get ahold of herself before she really did go crazy.

"Okay. Okay, we'll drop it." Gabby extended a hand in truce to Luci, but she was already looking away, her attention quickly diverged from the argument that they often engaged in.

"Where have I seen this before?" Luci pointed to a sketch of a dagger that was on the open page of Francis' book.

Ariella read the words beneath that implied the special weapon had the capability to kill a demon. She shuddered. It certainly did look familiar, the designs etched into the wooden handle swirling and stirring memories.

After pondering it for a moment, she said, "Follow me," and scooped up the book, hurried out of the library, and down the hall to a special study in the Alphas' mansion that also held various weapons. An armoury of sorts, that began when Alpha Chesca's grandfather collected ancient weapons from different civilisations.

"There, on the far wall." She crossed to it and looked up at the dagger that hung in its brackets. The length of the sharp blade and the patterns on the handle matched that in the book exactly.

"The dagger of Chen. Fascinating. But is it really special as the book says?"

"Only one way to find out." Luci reached up and held it, testing the weight in her palms.

"You don't mean..."

"Come on, if there was something to protect you from nasty demons, wouldn't you want to hold onto it? Just in case?" Luci's tone was serious with an edge of cunning.

Gabby shared a strange look with her, one that left Ariella wondering.

"You don't even believe in demons," Ariella pointed out, taking the dagger from Luci. The cold blade made her skin clammy and her heart rate spike. It was sharper than anything she'd ever felt.

"That's for me to figure out, isn't it? Personal faith, and that sort of hocus pocus," Luci said in a dramatic voice and waved her fingers in Ariella's face.

"Stop making fun of me," Ariella huffed and replaced the dagger.

"Let's get out of here. I have lots to think about and it's almost time for the bonfire to be lit. We should be helping everyone prepare, not planning how to kill demons."

"Hey, you said it," Luci shrugged and led them back out to the front of the state.

The wolves of ForgedHearts were already gathered around the stack of logs and branches, and more were laying food dishes on the surrounding tables. Musicians were tuning their instruments, and Ariella felt the familiar tingle of anticipation rumble down her spine and warm her heart. The earthy smells of wood smoke and roasting meat wafted over the hill and small valley in the centre of the territory, and Ariella couldn't wait to see Malachi and share all this with him.

This was her childhood, her family. This was the tightly knit community that taught her how to love and fight for those she cared about.

Smiling at her mom who was chatting to Miranda and holding baby Elijah in her arms, Ariella then moved to the far side of the perfectly built bonfire. It was downwind, and Savannah was just lighting the kindling. The sparks took root and soon flickered into flames, kicking at the logs stacked above and jumping for the Sky.

"Don't look now, but Max is staring at you."

Ariella instinctively disregarded the command and looked up across the gathering to see the instigator of her humiliation watching her with a hard look in his brown eyes. She quickly looked away and pushed down the ugly feelings in her stomach. If she could manage to ignore him for the rest of the night, she'd be okay. If only Malachi would come, then everything would be alright. But no matter how many times she searched the faces of gathered wolves and scanned the surrounding tee line, the handsome face of her mate remained unseen.

"Do you wanna see what the pups are up to?" Gabby suggested.

"Nah, I'm happy to just sit," Ariella began lowering herself to a log when a high-pitched squeal interrupted her pensive mood.

"Oh, it's Ariella! How are you, girl?"

"Hi, Bianca," Ariella pasted on a smile that was anything but genuine, and faced the girl she'd avoided since middle school. Bianca had it all—good body, beautiful smile, rich parents, and an attitude that was sweet cherries to all the boys yet crab apples to any girl who tried to compete with her.

"Where's your mate? I heard he'd be here tonight," the stunning brunette flipped her hair over one shoulder and enquired with a sly smirk. Her best friend, a pea in a pod, flanked her and mimicked her dominant posture.

"Oh, he's not here yet, but I'm sure—"

"So he's too busy to be here with you? I guess it would be a waste of time. No one has fun when all you do is imagine yourself elsewhere," Bianca sighed with copious amounts of fake pity. She didn't even spare a glance at Luci or Gabby, just kept her catty eyes on Ariella, seemingly intent on making her even more miserable.

"No, he's just busy being Alpha to a pack. Unlike your mate who'd rather stuff his face at the food table instead of being with you or having any responsible job," Luci muttered from where she stood at Ariella's left side. Everyone knew Albert was a loser and didn't care to improve himself in anyone's eyes.

"Yeah, Malachi is busy being Alpha. His pack needs him," Ariella said sharply, defending her strong and selfless mate.

"Oh, that's too bad. I was hoping to meet him tonight. I hear he's really hot. And that you haven't mated yet?" She looked over Ariella from head to foot, as if x-raying her with her special intuition. She smirked again. "Maybe I do have a chance of being Luna."

"Oh, please just slap her in the face. That would shut her up," Luci whispered, making gagging noises.

"Don't be so dramatic! She's just jealous. How would you feel if Albert was your mate?" Gabby spoke harshly to Luci across Ariella's shoulders so the other girls wouldn't hear.

Ariella smiled through gritted teeth and clenched her fists by her side. "I'm sure you'll get to meet him when he arrives. But do I need to remind you? He is my mate, and no one could ever come between the bond we have."

Just as the words left her mouth, a cold breeze shivered over her skin, and she spun around.

With knots tightening in her stomach, Ariella looked up and saw him staring at her from across the fire, his eyes as midnight black as the sky above them.

Flames dance between us, glowing orange and golden. Their light is reflected in his onyx irises, illuminating them with amber and scarlet sparks. With a gaze like a cunning predator, he watches me watching him. Aware. Alert. Direct and unrelenting.

An icy fist squeezes my chest, making it hard to breathe under his unwavering attention. I blink, and when I meet his gaze once again, his eyes are shifting from navy blue to the signature azure hue I love so much. One side of his beautiful mouth tilts up in a small smile, and my heart jolts after perhaps stuttering to a stop only a moment before.

What have I just seen?

It doesn't matter. Nothing matters now that he is here. Now that my mate has come to be with me.

My legs act before I even command them to move, eating up the distance around the bonfire until I am close enough to launch at him. "Malachi!" I shout and jump towards him, my arms locking around his neck.

His chuckle vibrates through his chest and into my own. "Did you miss me?" His arms hold me tightly against him.

I pull back for a moment to look up at him, my smile big as I notice that he too is grinning broadly. I rise on my toes and place my lips on his, my hungry kiss the only answer I can give right now.

I missed the awareness of his presence, knowing he always lingered nearby no matter where I was around his pack. I missed his deep and steady breathing that I would listen to at night as we lay beside each other in the stillness. I missed the rare smiles he would give me when no one else was around. In fact, I even missed the serious glint in his eyes and stiff posture as he commanded his men, my wolf feeling immensely happy that this strong Alpha male was mine.

Yes, I missed him.

And judging by the way he buries his face in my neck and inhales deeply, then trails soft kisses up my neck back to my lips, I know Malachi missed me too. His arms envelope me against his broad chest so that it is almost too hard to breathe. But I don't care. He is all the breath I need.

Just as his tongue pushes my lips apart, I hear a not so subtle cough, and with a shock of embarrassment, I remember where we are.

"Well hello, Alpha Malachi. I don't suppose I'm interrupting anything?"

I step back and shoot a glare at the intruder, only to see the smug eyes of Alpha Kaiden. He is stifling a cheeky grin, and then slapping Malachi on the back. I let a chuckle escape and squeeze my mate's hands.

"I'm proud of you, man. My mate wouldn't let me steal a kiss until weeks of courtship or some such silly nonsense," Kaiden winks at Chesca who steps up and lightly punches his arm. "But you, my boy, have a precious gem. Ariella is like no other young woman I've ever met, and I'm sure you're treating her right." Alpha Kaiden gives me a smile then narrows his eyes slightly at Malachi. It is a silent reminder that he better behave or else he has the Alphas to answer to. I'm so blessed that they care for me like family.

"Yes, sir, I understand." Malachi dips his head in earnest respect to the older Alpha.

They begin chatting, and I enjoy the feel of Malachi's arm winding around my waist and pulling me securely to his side. I rest my ear against his chest, listen to his rhythmic heartbeat, and feel at home.

After a few minutes I see Gabby's older brother, Joshua, a few metres away, glancing at me curiously. I sigh and excuse myself to greet him.

"Hey," I wave and stand beside him, looking up into his blue eyes. His blonde hair is neat and short, his skin tanned and golden, arms corded with thick muscles and veins, and a white shirt wraps across his broad torso. He is the living definition of a strong warrior.

"Hi, Ariella. You're being careful, I hope," his eyes sparkle with seriousness as they flicker towards my mate.

"Gabby told you," I respond quietly, not surprised. The siblings are close, and I know Josh cares for me the same way he does for his sister and others in the pack.

"She didn't need to. I can see it myself. The darkness within the young Alpha."

"Isn't there darkness inside us all? No one's perfect." I don't know why I have an accusatory tone in my voice, but it does hurt to hear Josh speak lowly of my mate. I wish others saw the good in Malachi that I do.

He gives a noncommittal shrug as his only response.

I loosen a sigh, understanding his concern for me. I just wish there was nothing to be concerned about. I just wish everything dark and mysterious about Malachi and his family would go away and leave us all in peace. "How can I..." I pause, then start again. "Is there any way I can help him? Stop the darkness from eating him? From smothering the spark of hope I know is inside him?"

Joshua turns his eyes from observing my mate, and looks at me intensely.

"There is always a way, Ariella. When the time is right, you'll know what to do," he lays a strong hand on my shoulder, and I can't help feeling instantly at ease with this. His touch has always been secure and comforting, just like his sister's.

Then he walks away, leaving me to wonder at his words and wish he could've said more. But little more is needed. I keep getting the impression that answers lie within me, and in Malachi. I just need to open myself to understanding him better.

If only he too would open up to share with me what is really going on behind those perfect blue eyes of his. The windows into his soul are so deep, so fathomless, that I am sure oceans of mysteries lie beyond my reach. But I realise, as I watch him talking to Alpha Kaiden, I don't care if I drown trying to reach the heart of my mate.

Soon, he looks over at me and smiles, before politely excusing himself and coming to join me.

"Who was that you were just talking to?" Malachi's eyes follow my gaze as it lingers briefly on Joshua.

"Oh, just the brother of my best friend. We've known each other for ages. He's just a friend," I say hastily as Malachi frowns and narrows his eyes on me strangely. "Hey, are you hungry?" I change the subject and take his hand, tugging him toward the food tables which have the most delicious smells arising from the heavily laden dishes. "Let's go get some food. I was waiting till you arrived before I ate."

We choose from the salads and meats, side dishes and mains, roast vegetables and curried beans, then make our way to an empty log to settle down by the roaring fire. The food tastes so good, and I can't seem to savour it nearly enough, so happy do I feel.

"I've got something cool to show you later," Malachi whispers against my hair.

I turn and look up at him with amusement. "What is it?"

He shakes his head and gives me a smug smile. "It's a surprise."

"Well then, give me a clue. Is it a book? A dress? Some new sketching pens? Food? An exotic parrot?"

Malachi shakes his head and places a finger over my lips to shut me up. "Who said it's even for you?"

My smile drops and I can't help but frown, my ideas that were speeding down the road suddenly careening into a concrete wall.

With a low chuckle, Malachi tucks some loose strands of hair behind my ear. "Don't be so disappointed. It's nothing big, but I think you'll like it."

"I'm sure I will," I pat his knee affectionately. Any surprise he has in store for me is making my heart warm with excitement.

"I think it's time for a story!" Lexi calls out once mostly everyone has finished eating.

"Yes!" Instantly, Savannah jumps up and pumps her fists in the air, then does a cartwheel and tumbles into Justin. After disentangling themselves, the young pups call for Cale and Emerald who come bounding up. "We have a story, well actually, it's a play. It was Emmy's idea, and we made it all up together. Ready?" Savannah looks at her best friends who nod.

"Once upon a time, there was a fluffy little bunny rabbit who wanted to take over the world!"

They then act out a story that isn't nearly as funny as the expressions on their faces as they mime and jump and fight each other in the story's scenes. Everyone is laughing and enjoying the story, and the children try and outdo each other in their rehearsed lines and actions. I think it is nearing the end when Cale declares he slays the megalomanic bunny, much to Emerald's despair.

"That's not how the story is supposed to go! Savannah, tell him to take it back. Stick to the lines!" she whisper-yells.

"And let the rabbit eat me?" Cale protests, all the while Justin, gallantly playing the rabbit, keeps trying to tackle him down and Savannah stands by laughing. "Never! A rabbit is never gonna eat me, for I am the mighty Gamma!" Cale shouts bravely and slings his arms around the older boy, attempting to strangle the 'rabbit'.

Thankfully his father, Gamma Roman, steps in to rescue anyone from actually getting hurt, and everyone claps and cheers for their wonderful performance. It seems to appease a sulking Emerald, and soon a smile is back in place on her angelic face.

"Ariella, why don't you tell us a story?" She races over and takes my hands, trying to pull me up but I resist.

"No, no story tonight." There's no way I want to make a fool of myself in front of Max or Bianca, and especially not in front of my mate. Malachi might have enjoyed the last one I told around the campfire in DoubleEdge, but I just know Max and his peers will take any opportunity to taunt and make fun of me.

"Go on. You should," Malachi prompts. "You tell amazing stories."

Despite his warm praise, I shake my head vehemently as I catch a glimpse of Max watching from across the fire. A few others are nodding their heads, pushing me to stand up, but I stay rooted to my seat and smile demurely while clutching Malachi's hand tightly.

"Here, I brought over your violin, Ari. Would you like to play for us instead?" My mom holds out the instrument and I practically sag in relief. She always seems to sense what I'm feeling, and rescues me from the dicey situation.

I take the violin and tune it up with a few strokes on the strings. When I'm satisfied with the mellow sound, I begin a song. It's low at first, gaining momentum and pitch as I rise through the octaves. The notes soar clear and haunting over the hushed gathering, and I feel my heart stir with the melody. My mate sits still beside me, and I sense his attention on my every move, on every note I play. When I look at him, his blue eyes riveted on me, I forget everyone else around us and my music becomes all for him.

This bond we have crackling and flaming between us is growing stronger, and I can feel it despite the adversity that seems intent on pushing us apart. The flames of the fire symbolise the passion I have always dreamed of. I feel it sparking and igniting our hearts to forge together. Since that day we first met, it has grown brighter and steadier, the embers never going out but becoming hotter. This fire could ravage through all in its path, leaving us in ashes. Or it could continue steadily with the right choices we make -- selfless and sacrificial.