Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle
Chapter 89: Dream Realm.

Chapter 89: Dream Realm.

Anaya caught it instinctively. Her body moved before her mind could catch up. She pointed the jade pendant at the swarm.

And then....silence.

Time itself froze.

The skeletons halted mid-lunge, the wind stopped blowing, even the leaves stilled in the air. It was as if the world had been locked in place and only Anaya remained in motion.

Around her, the ruined pack twisted and shimmered. The purple hue of otherworldly magic wrapped around the city. The buildings dissolved, replaced by hundreds of mirrors floating in the void. Each one reflected Anaya, her figure multiplied in every direction. Rhys and the skeletons were gone.

"Rhys!" Anaya screamed, collapsing to her knees. Tears streamed down her face, her heart thundering in her chest. "Rhys, where are you?!"

"You should forget about him now, Princess," said a voice, chilling and eerily familiar.

Anaya’s head snapped up. She hadn’t noticed her surroundings until now but one of her reflections was speaking to her. The mirrored image blinked slowly, lips moving in perfect sync with its words. "He’s going to die anyway."

"No!" Anaya shouted, staggering to her feet. "Rhys mustn’t die! Who are you?!"

"We are you," replied another reflection, this one to her left. "And you are us."

"What...?"

"Humans and werewolves alike are vessels of many emotions," the reflection continued. "Fear. Love. Hatred. Anger. Guilt. Sadness and so on. We are the manifestations of all those feelings inside you."

Anaya spun in place, surrounded by voices and versions of herself. Her panic deepened. "Where am I? How did I get here? What’s happening to Rhys right now?!"

"You’re in the Dream Realm," one of the reflections explained with a smirk. "You activated the jade pendant. That’s why you’re here. You’re safe...for now. Once you leave here, you’ll awaken near your pack. No need wandering in the desert."

"But what about Rhys?" Anaya asked, her voice trembling. "He can’t be dead. We promised we’d leave the ruined pack together..."

"Why are you still worried about him?" scoffed a bitter version of herself. "Is it because you love him?"

"Yes," Anaya said without hesitation.

"Love is a weakness," another voice interjected. "It blinds you. It chains you. And yet, you cling to it."

"I don’t care," she shot back. "I want to save him. No matter what it takes."

"You still want to save him, even if it means losing something of yourself?" one mirror asked. "Even if you won’t be as useful afterward? Even for a man who doesn’t love you and holds another woman in his heart?"

Anaya’s jaw trembled. Her fists clenched.

"I’ve made up my mind," she declared. "I’ll only marry Rhys in this life and in the next. He might love someone else right now, but I believe... I believe he’ll come to love me too. I’ll make sure of it."

"Very well," one reflection sneered. "Your wish is granted. But don’t come crawling back with regret when the pain begins. Now good luck."

"I won’t," Anaya whispered, her voice raw. "Thank you."

A crack sounded through the realm.

Then another.

Suddenly, the mirrors shattered...one by one. Glass shards filled the air, swirling around her. She screamed as they sliced into her skin, stinging her. The pain was unbearable but she didn’t flinch as she thought this is just a process of saving Rhys.

Because all she could think of... was saving him.

~•~

Meanwhile....

The journey back to Alpha Lupien’s pack was a long one, with soldiers marching in disciplined lines outside the carriage. Some rode on horseback, leading the procession, while others trailed behind the ornate carriage where Dimitri and Sorayah sat. The rhythmic sound of hooves pounding the earth and boots striking the gravel created a steady beat that filled the otherwise tense air.

Inside the carriage, a heavy silence hung between them like an invisible wall. The only sounds came from outside.. the clatter of horses, the shuffle of armored feet, and the occasional rustle of the wind slipping through the trees.

Dimitri finally broke the silence.

"How’s your arrow wound?" he asked, his voice low and serious, cutting cleanly through the silence. "Did you get it treated when you arrived at the camp?"

His question drew Sorayah’s attention from the carriage window. She turned to face him, her expression unreadable.

To be honest, there had been no need for a physician. Her healing magic had mended the injury from within, leaving no trace behind.

"Yes, I have. I feel better now," Sorayah answered softly. She forced a polite smile, though it never reached her eyes. "Thank you for asking, Your Highness."

Dimitri nodded slowly. A beat of silence passed before he continued, "And about last night..."

Sorayah’s gaze lingered on him, curiosity flickering behind her lashes. Her heartbeat quickened slightly, wondering what he would say.

"A third ear mustn’t hear what happened," Dimitri said flatly. "If word gets out, you’ll be punished."

Her breath caught for a moment. So that’s it. He didn’t want anyone to know he had cried. And of course, it would be shameful in his eyes to have said thank you to a ’common’ maid like her.

"I wasn’t planning to tell anyone, Your Highness," Sorayah replied calmly, swallowing hard. "Your secret is safe."

Dimitri’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Good. But let’s be clear. it’s not a secret, and I’m not asking for your silence. It’s a command. You may obey it... or invite punishment."

A faint smirk played on his lips.

Sorayah gave no response. She simply turned her face back toward the window, deciding the view of passing trees was more interesting than another word from him.

The journey continued, the carriage swaying occasionally on the rough terrain. Though long, the ride soon became unnervingly fast, forcing Sorayah to brace herself to avoid bumping around the interior.

As the wheels bounced slightly over a dip in the path, she gasped and pressed a hand against her stomach. "Ahh..."

Her body leaned sideways, falling unexpectedly into Dimitri’s arms.

"Careful," Dimitri said quickly, steadying her and helping her sit upright again. "We’re pushing the pace. I’d rather not spend the night in the forest."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Sorayah murmured. She gave him a faint, tired smile and dropped her gaze to the floor of the carriage, her hand still resting over her abdomen.

As the journey wore on, the morning sunlight gave way to the soft glow of a half-moon rising in the darkening sky. Dimitri’s soldiers had marched tirelessly without rest, their loyalty unquestionable. After what felt like an eternity, the towering city walls of Lupien’s pack finally came into view.