Slowly, Lance leaned closer. His breath brushed the back of her neck as his fingers found the first of the small buttons running down her spine. He didn’t rush. Emira stiffened as he undid the buttons one by one, letting the quiet clicks fill the space between them as he whispered,"I’ll start. This way, you can trust me. Okay?"
Emira’s trembled at his words and his actions. Could she really trust him? She didn’t think so. After all, she had already chosen a path for herself now.
Lance continued undoing the tiny buttons. Each one loosened the fabric a little more, his fingertips brushing her skin so lightly she couldn’t tell if it was on purpose or not. When the last button came undone, he paused. Then he eased the top of her dress off one shoulder, letting it slip just enough to expose warm skin to the cool air of the room.
He didn’t touch her there.
He just let his hand rest gently at her waist, grounding her.
"Listen carefully. At the time of the war all those years ago... not all Black Witches were exterminated."
Emira’s breathing hitched. " I know.... The ones with White blood were..."
Lance shook his head. "Some others survived as well. Pure Dark Witches. Not because they White witches blood in them. They survived because their mates took them away before the hunters arrived."
His fingers traced the edge of her loosened dress as he spoke,
"When werewolves joined the white witches in the war, many discovered that their fated mates were among the dark witches. And they did everything in their power to save them. They hid them inside their packs. They disguised them. Some kept them pregnant for years in the beginning, because a pregnant dark witch smelled like her mate and her children... not like herself. It protected them from other white witch hunters and werewolves who hated dark witches.
Emira swallowed hard. Her hands tightened at her sides.
"Over the years," Lance murmured, sliding the fabric further down her arm, "some of their children inherited more than wolf blood. Some inherited the dark magic too."
He stepped closer behind her, his chest brushing her bare shoulder.
"Those werewolves became stronger than the others. Stronger than even the alphas. They had abilities no normal wolf would have. But each of them remained careful to not reveal it. After all, there was no point in inviting danger."
He lowered his head, his breath touching her skin as he finished pushing her dress down her other shoulder, leaving her hand on top of her holding onto the top to cover herself.
"And one of those powers," he said quietly, "is what makes me the Supreme Alpha."
Emira’s breath stilled. What did he mean by that? Did he mean to say he had the blood of the dark witches too? Could it really be true? And even if it was, why was he telling her this.
Slowly, he brought her hands down, letting the top fall to her waist," Emira... I am telling you this because you are also a wolf. The reason you were not able to stop yourself from walking forward was that you were unable to to stop was because it was your wolf that took control of your body."
Emira shook her head, even forgetting to pay attention that she had now lost her top," No. That is not possible."
"Hmm. It is because I have the power to summon every werewolf spirit there is. As long as they exist in any form, I can summon them. Your wolf... she is the one who has told us about the past and everything that has happened. That wolf Emira... trusts me..."
"Because she was unable to appear when it was time for you to change, you thought that you did not have a wolf."
"And the more you leaned toward the dark magic, the more she weakened. Your wolf couldn’t fight against that. She had no strength to stand beside you when you were drowning in another power."
Emira’s lips parted in shock. Could it really be that the voice in her head was her wolf and not her desperate imagination? It had to be... But then why did it...
"When you came here, because of my pull... she was able came forward. Given enough time and balance, you should be able to shift soon. It is not because she was forcefully ties to you that you were not able to shift."
A tremor went down her spine. She would be able to shift? That sounded like a distant dream...
"So you know everything..." Emira whispered, barely able to get the words out.
Lance shook his head. "No. I know some things. Pieces of the past. History that your wolf remembers. Memories she carried because you were too young to understand them or too scared to share them
His thumb brushed her wrist as he spoke, calming her and holding her in place without force.
"But she never told me your present actions," he continued. "She never revealed what you’re planning, what you’re hiding, or what you fear. She only told me what you needed to stay safe. The reason I am telling you this is because if you are able to accept your wolf, you do not need a Master to become an apprentice. Your wolf can be your guide without you having to become an apprentice to anyone."
Emira’s hands clenched then and she looked away. If only she had known this information... She took in a deep breath and stared into his eyes. There was no place for any ifs in her life. He’d said that she could tell him anything in this room without any repercussions. She took in a deep breath and said slowly," All this talk is useless. I have already asked the Dark master to accept me as his apprentice. I am just waiting for him to accept me."
Lance stilled and shook his head, horrified. He clutched Emira’s shoulders then," Please tell me you are lying."
Emira shook her head. " I am not. I have already sent my request. It is now up to him if he accepts or not. The Dark Master is going to return."