Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle
Chapter 70: Does This Mean I’ll Die In The Battle?

Chapter 70: Does This Mean I’ll Die In The Battle?

A young lady with long golden hair sprinted through a thick forest, her breath coming in heavy pants, but she dared not look back to see what was pursuing her. The sun was red just like fire unlike the yellowish colour it is known for, it was very hot, burning against her skin but that was the least of her worries.

Her only focus was escaping whatever monster lurked behind. She pushed herself harder, her body aching with each step, her lungs felt like it was going to explode but she kept running still.

The sound of the monstrous creature’s growl soon faded, and for a brief moment, she thought she was safe.

But then, the ground beneath her feet gave way.

"Arrrgh."

She fell, plunging deeper and deeper, her scream echoing through the air as she tumbled, unable to stop herself. She soon landed with a sickening thud, her body crashing hard against the earth. The impact jarred her bones, and for a fleeting moment, she thought she might have cracked something.

Groaning in pain, the young lady, Sorayah pushed herself up, clutching her back as the sharp sting of injury shot through her limbs. But as she rose, the sight before her stopped her in her tracks.

She was now standing in the werewolf capital but everyone around her stood frozen in place with black masks covering their faces all while they’re all dressed in black too. It was as if time itself had stopped as no one moved or breathed.

Sorayah could feel her pulse racing as she stepped closer to a figure, a human woman standing perfectly still.

"Hello?" she called softly, her voice unsure, but the woman remained unresponsive, her body stiff as a statue.

A shiver ran down Sorayah’s spine. "What is going on?" she whispered, her fear rising as confusion clouded her thoughts.

Turning around, Sorayah’s eyes widened in shock.

There, standing before her, was another woman who looked exactly like her. Same golden hair, same face, same figure. It was her, yet not her.

Sorayah recoiled, a scream building in her throat. She fell back onto the ground, her heart pounding in terror.

"Who... Who are you?" she managed to stammer, her voice thick with panic.

The figure smiled gently, but it only deepened Sorayah’s fear. "I am you," the figure said, her voice calm and reassuring. "And you’re me."

Sorayah swallowed hard, trying to make sense of the impossible scene. "What do you mean? How... how can you be me?"

"You have to awaken," the figure continued, her voice now filled with an urgency that Sorayah couldn’t ignore. "Before him."

"Awaken before him?" Sorayah repeated, her mind spinning. "Who are you talking about? Who is ’him’?"

"The god of Ruins and Darkness," the figure replied, her eyes darkened. "You must awaken before him, Sorayah. The time is drawing near."

Before Sorayah could ask any more questions, the figure began to fade, her form dissolving into the air, leaving Sorayah alone once more.

’What is going on exactly?’

Before she could gather her thoughts, a low, menacing growl echoed through the stillness.

Sorayah whipped around, her heart racing as she saw the humans who were stiff before no longer still. Their eyes were now glowing red, their teeth elongated into razor-sharp fangs. They moved toward her with a hunger that made her blood run cold.

"No... no!" she gasped, standing up from the ground immediately.

The creatures growled in unison, their fangs gleaming as they closed in on her, intent on tearing her apart.

"ARRRGH."

~•~

Suddenly, Sorayah jerked awake with a terrified scream, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she gasped for breath.

Her body was drenched in sweat, and her heart hammered in her chest. She sat up quickly, her surroundings blurry in the dim light. She blinked a few times, trying to orient herself. It didn’t take long for her to realize she wasn’t in the frozen world anymore.

She was back at the camp and now in Dimitri’s room.

Her breath hitched as she glanced around, the familiar surroundings slowly calming her racing heart. She was lying in his bed, the soft covers pulled around her. The last thing she remembered was practicing in the forest, then... then Dimitri kissing her, healing her.

"Are you okay?" a deep, masculine voice asked from the corner of the room.

Sorayah’s head snapped toward the voice immediately as she recognized it, and her eyes landed on Dimitri. He was seated in a chair, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity she could feel from across the room.

Dimitri stood and approached her, his movements graceful and purposeful. He then sat at the edge of the bed, his eyes softening or perhaps still cold... Sorayah couldn’t tell as they met hers.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice cold and commanding. His hand, almost instinctively, reached up to gently wipe the tears from Sorayah’s face.

Her lips trembled, and before she could stop herself, the floodgates opened. Tears spilled down her cheeks as the memory of the nightmare came rushing back. Fear, confusion, and something deeper stirred in her heart.

Dimitri was dumbfounded as he watched Sorayah weeping before him like a frightened child. He had only asked a question but was replied with loud tears instead.

Before he could even register his own actions, he gently pulled her into his embrace, guiding her head to rest against his chest. One of his hands threaded into her golden hair, his fingers combing gently through the soft strands, while the other hand wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly against him.

Sorayah didn’t care what was happening or how close they were, she was simply relieved to have escaped a nightmare she didn’t understand. Her body trembled, and the sobs continued to pour from her chest, muffled against him. In the midst of her crying, she gripped his tunic tightly and without even realizing it, blew her nose against his chest.

Dimitri’s eyes widened in disbelief. For a moment, he was completely speechless. His finely pressed shirt was now damp with her tears, and... other things. His first instinct was to shout, to demand what on earth she thought she was doing but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he sighed inwardly and simply continued to comfort her, letting his hand drift up and down her back in a soothing rhythm.

"Your Highness..."

A voice suddenly called from outside the tent. Without waiting for permission, Liam stepped in only to freeze in place at the sight before him.

There, seated on the bed, was Dimitri a beta lord and war general holding Sorayah in a close, tender embrace, her face buried in his chest. Liam’s eyes widened in shock, but he was quick to school his expression when Dimitri’s cold gaze found his.

With a single look, Dimitri wordlessly conveyed everything Liam needed to know. Understanding immediately, Liam gave a swift bow and silently exited the tent, leaving them alone once again.

After what felt like an eternity, Sorayah’s sobs finally subsided. She sniffled softly and gently pulled her head away from Dimitri’s chest, her body still trembling slightly as she sat up straighter.

"I’m... I’m sorry, Your Highness," she murmured, meeting his gaze, which was unreadable, caught somewhere between concern and restrained emotion. "I didn’t mean to soil your shirt. I’ll help you wash it..."

"It’s fine," Dimitri replied quietly, his throat tightening. He swallowed hard, eyes lingering on her face, which still bore the streaks of tears. "Are you alright now?"

"I think so. It was just a nightmare," Sorayah answered, wiping away a lingering tear from her cheek.

"A nightmare?" Dimitri asked, with curiosity and concern etched in his tone. His piercing eyes searched hers. "Is it because of the war? Are you frightened about what’s to come?"

Sorayah paused. Her lips parted, but no words came. She swallowed hard.

"I guess so," she lied after a moment, forcing herself to meet his eyes again. "I’m just nervous. But I’ll be fine."

"Oh, you better be," Dimitri said abruptly, his voice shifting back to its usual icy tone. "I’m not going to excuse you from the mission just because of a bad dream."

The sudden change in demeanor made Sorayah flinch slightly. Her eyes narrowed, and a faint scoff escaped her lips as she rolled her eyes away.

And just like that, the bastard is back, she thought bitterly. He’s only concerned about the war.

"Get some proper rest," Dimitri voiced out, rising from the bed. "Stay here tonight. I’ll be out throughout the night with the soldiers finalizing our battle strategy. At daybreak, we’ll all head for the battlefield."

He turned to leave, then paused at the entrance of the tent. "Goodnight, Sorayah," he said quietly, before stepping out into the night.

The moment he was gone, Sorayah let out a long, shuddering breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her hands clutched the bedsheets tightly as her thoughts spiraled back to the nightmare.

"What does it mean?" she whispered, her heart pounding faster.

This wasn’t the first time she’d had that dream. In fact, it was the third and each time, something terrible had followed. The first time, her great-grandmother had died in her sleep. The second, her kingdom had been slaughtered by werewolves during the war.

And now... now she was having it again.

’Does this mean I’ll die in the battle?’

’And just who is the god of ruins and darkness? Why must I awaken before him?’