"Why are you so afraid of me?" his voice came out low and pleading, each word dripping with emotion. He took a careful step closer, eyes glowing with both pain and love. "I love you—so much. You’re my mate, my everything. Nothing will ever change that. Please, my love… come to me."

He stood there, still and patient, waiting for her to move—but she only folded her trembling arms around herself, shaking her head as her body quivered with fear.

Should I go to him?
His deep, soothing voice echoed in her mind again and again, clouding her thoughts.

"G–Go," she stammered, her voice breaking as she backed away. "Go away!"

His brows knitted, confusion flashing through his eyes. "Why?" he asked, stepping forward, his tone now desperate.

"I don't..." she struggled to breathe, her words tumbling out between gasps. "I don't want to see you. Please… just leave me alone!"

Tears streamed down her cheeks, glistening under the dim light.

"But I can’t live without you," he said, his voice cracking with longing. "You are my love, my mate, my goddess!" His words rolled off his tongue in a rich, sonorous tone that sent shivers down her spine.

He took another step closer, eyes burning with anguish. "You’re tearing me apart, love. Please, don’t say it again—"

"You love someone else!" she cried out, cutting him off, her voice trembling with heartbreak.

The words hit him like a blade to the chest. Silence filled the room, thick and suffocating, as their eyes met — his filled with disbelief, hers clouded by pain and fear.

⁠☆In the silence before the storm's cry,


Hearts tremble where truth and shadows lie.☆


⁠☆A bond unbroken, yet stretched by fear,


Love's echo calls — distant, yet clear.☆


⁠☆Through thunder's rage and tempest's song,


The heart still knows where it belongs.☆


"I'm  worried about her," Horace muttered, his voice tight with worry. "I'm just… anxious. I need to call Kai right now."


He pulled out his phone with trembling fingers, scrolling quickly through his contact list until he found Kai's name. The screen lit up with the number, and before the thought could fade, he pressed dial.


Horace's pulse quickened; unease crawled up his spine like a cold wind. "Why isn't he picking up?" he whispered under his breath, panic lacing each word.


"Stop this car!" His voice thundered through the vehicle, deep and commanding, filled with fear disguised as anger.


Chapter 68 - THE GREAT LIBRARY OF DAMARIS