Rejected, Then Reborn
Chapter 62

Giving Ace free rein was Reed’s way of apologizing, the beast knew that very well… and while he was still very angry at the human he shared a body with, he also knew that this was a perfect way to unleash some of this pent-up anger he was feeling.

You see, the Alpha Lyken hated the human girl, that was already established, but what he hated even more was some i***t thinking he could blackmail him or tell him what to do, and so he was going to fight to the death if need be for the girl and for his sister, Due.

A loud howl of pleasure left his snout as his change became complete, his red eyes glowing as the thought of c*****e filled his soul with glee.

His transformation spurred the impressive army of werewolves that had been waiting for them when they arrived into action, and all two hundred of them charged at the lyken troop of a hundred.

Ace’s order to attack was met by a chorus of howls as the Alpha King dived into the heat of it, clawing at werewolves, tearing through fur and skin, relishing in the sounds of agony that emanated from each tear of flesh, from each crack of bone.

It was truly a b***d bath, and the huge lyken wolf with the dark fur was loving every little bit of it.

It seemed that Lucius could see that this fight was not going to go in his favour almost as soon as it had started.

A truly spineless Alpha as himself who preferred to watch on while his men fought his battles was most certainly no match for an Alpha King who put his clan above all else after all, and perhaps the wisest thing Lucius had ever done in his entire life was recognize that fact.

“Surrender! Surrender!” He yelled loudly to his men from his comfortable space on the balcony. They were quick to obey the order, but their number had already drastically reduced, the first impressive count of two hundred now a mere fifty, the rest either dead or seriously injured.

Ace stared up at him, licking his b***d-stained snout. “Where is she?” He snarled lowly, his deep voice making the simple sentence even more menacing. He didn’t even wait for the Alpha Werewolf to answer and then he was climbing the walls. The wonder was impressive for two reasons: The fact that Lucius had thought the balcony up top his safe haven, but it had still been breached anyway, and the fact that the huge Lyken’s movements were so graceful it almost looked as though he were flying.

When he touched down on the balcony, the werewolf’s new Luna let out a piercing scream and dashed off, the two guards that were supposed to be watching her and their Alpha following right on her heels, leaving the Alpha Werewolf all alone at the mercy of the raging beast.

It was really funny, seeing the Almighty Lucius Smith, who thought himself so full of spunk and bravado in the face of Reed fall to the ground as he scrambled backwards helplessly, shouting for mercy at Ace’s hands. “THIS WAS ALL A JOKE, I DON’T EVEN WANT THE HUMAN ANY MORE, YOU CAN HAVE HER… YOUR SISTER’S TIED UP DOWNSTAIRS TOO, SHE’S ALL YOURS… PLEASE SPARE MY LIFE.”

“Pathetic.” The beast growled lowly as he closed the distance between them, his every being no longer interested in wasting an ounce of energy on the weak Werewolf. There was no longer the feel of that thrill rushing through his veins anymore, he just wanted to get his sister and be out of this darned place.

Ace brushed past the Werewolf, sniffing the air for his sister’s scent.

He had already tried to mind link her when he got here, but he couldn’t sense her.

Even now that he could, it was pretty faint.

It was really weird being back here at the same place that had held so many bad memories for him and Reed, but for the sake of his human half, and their baby sister, the Lyken wolf was holding it together.

For a very long time, it had been the only way he knew how to deal with every circumstance that fate threw their way, to shut down and toughen up. That was exactly what he was going to do in this moment too.

Everywhere the Lyken passed, werewolves scampered left and right, and it was a very surreal experience, for it had been but a few years ago when everyone on here had seen him as a slave, treating him anyhow they deemed fit.

But not anymore.

Now, he was feared, revered even… and that fact alone almost made it all better. Almost.

But Ace hadn’t avenged his family to his satisfaction.

Heck, he had already done a lot of bad things that were starting to influence Reed, and he knew that he had promised that they were going to change for the better.

He was of course going to keep that promise.

But that didn’t mean that he couldn’t find another way to exact his revenge?

“A—Ace?” He heard her call out softly.

“Anaya!” He called out through the mind link, allowing his worry to seep through the connection bond, allowing her to see this vulnerable side of him just this once. “Where are you?”

She didn’t have to answer the question, for he saw her right away, tied up in a chair in the huge hall he came across when he rounded a corner.

She looked weak, weary, worse for wear, and all of a sudden, the anger that had been on its way towards being subdued returned with a vengeance.

“I’ll kill him.” He murmured the words as he went closing in on her, licking her all over with his tongue as he checked her for wounds. She seemed fine and properly taken care of, even though she was tied up… but she had lost a lot of weight, and her usually cheerful eyes seemed to have lost all of its contagious happiness.

She looked nothing like the Anaya he had left behind.

“Let’s just go home, Ace… I’ve actually been well taken care of… Lucius just changed all of a sudden when he heard you were back and on your way here, but knowing you, I’m pretty sure he already regrets that decision,” She shot him a sad smile as she said the words tiredly.

Ace only grunted in response.

Emotional talk and conversations in general were really not his forte. He was going to leave that for Reed when they got back home.

For now, he really needed to get Anaya out of here.

******

Ace handed over control to Reed as soon as they arrived at the B***d Moon Castle, not even bothering to say a word to his human half.

For now, he was going to simmer in silence, until Anaya and Due for that matter were all better.

After that, he was going to let Reed have it.

When Reed completed his transformation, still thankfully clothed grace to the pill he had swallowed last minute, he did the first thing he could think of… he wrapped his arms around his sister in a hug.

His heart shattered when she broke down in his arms, shaking so hard, “Oh Reed, I’m sorry… I’m so, so sorry.” She kept muttering the words over and over, and while Reed had a lot to say, he realised that he wasn’t exactly sure that it was what she needed to hear, and so he stayed quiet, letting his warmth and silence say everything.

The front doors of the castle opened with a loud creak, and then Lacy was looking at the two of them.

She rushed down the stairs, her dark curls flowing in the wind as she closed the distance between them and joined their hug. “Oh, Anaya… I am so sorry.”

Everyone felt responsible, it was quite hilarious.

The heartfelt hug which seemed to have gone on for eternity ended with Reed and Lacy helping the redhead to her room.

Lacy helped her shower and change into fresh clothes, and Reed went out to go find her something to eat.

It must have been the shower, or the company, Anaya didn’t exactly know which, for the Lyken princess soon started to brighten up.

“Come on Lacy,” She smiled softly at her friend, “I know I f****d up big time, but there’s no need to walk on eggshells around me you know? Everyone’s been doing it for months, I don’t think I can take it from you too.”

Lacy swallowed deeply, “Alright. So tell me, what the f**k were you thinking then, Anaya? Going to Lucius like that? And all alone too!”

“Ouch. Way to lay it on thick.” The Princess said sarcastically. She was already starting to feel much, much better with her friend back, but she didn’t really want to talk about this now.

She needed to tell her brother’s mate and her brother something important. “We can get into that later, but right now, I have something to tell you guys.” She had no sooner finished her sentence than Reed barged in, welding a tray of food in his hands. He was closely followed by none other than Synn Gloom, and at Lacy’s silent probing, he shrugged. “Don’t ask me? She said an important message that was going to help her figure something out awaited her here.”

“Oh good.” Anaya interjected. “It’s really good you’re here, I guess you can help us understand this all better.”

“Understand what?” Lacy asked.

“There are talks going on in the other realms about you, Lacy.” The princess started.

“M—me? What talks?”

“Apparently, you’re not human.” Anaya finished, causing Lacy to look at her in confusion.

This was the second time she was hearing that statement, and she had to admit, already, it was starting to irk her a little. “If I’m not human, what am I then?” She asked resignedly.

“I KNEW IT!!! You—you’re her!” Synn exclaimed suddenly, standing up from the chair she had been given… “Oh, gods be praised.”

“What is going on?” Lacy looked to Reed for help, but he was just as clueless as she was.

“You’re whom the prophecy was referring to.”

There was a prophecy?

“Behold, the mother sings, nature weeps through her lashes. The future is gloom, the earth is announcing its own impending doom. Oh, but Salvation will come, when the dark forest finally rises from the Ashes.” Synn recited by heart.

Lacy blinked once, then twice, “I don’t understand what any of those words have to do with me.”

“Well, I do, Lacy.” Anaya interjected. “I overhead Lucius talking to a couple of people about you. Apparently… you’re what they called the Dark Witch.”

Lacy looked at her friend as though she had lost her head.