Chapter 09
"Even If It Destroys Me"
I attacked.
The moment my power took shape—
Everything changed.
Light surged forward from my hand, sharp and focused, cutting through the air like a blade.
The creature didn't dodge.
It raised its hand—
And blocked it.
The impact shook the ground beneath us.
A burst of light and darkness collided violently, sending shockwaves through the forest.
I stumbled slightly—
But didn't fall.
Not this time.
"Good," it said quietly.
But there was no praise in its voice.
Only calculation.
"You're finally using it."
My breath came fast.
"I'm not holding back anymore," I replied.
Its eyes darkened.
"Neither am I."
And then—
It moved.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
The pressure hit me instantly.
I raised my hand—
The light formed a shield just in time.
But the force—
It pushed me back.
Hard.
My feet dragged across the ground.
My heart pounded.
Too strong.
It was still too strong.
"Focus!" his voice cut through everything.
I turned slightly—
The Alpha was beside me again.
Not behind.
Not protecting from afar.
Beside me.
Fighting with me.
"You're not alone," he said.
Something in my chest tightened.
Not fear.
Something else.
Warmer.
Stronger.
"I know," I whispered.
And for the first time—
I meant it.
The creature attacked again.
But this time—
We moved together.
Perfectly.
Like we had done this before.
He struck from one side—
I followed from the other.
Light and strength.
Power and instinct.
The clash shook the entire clearing.
For a moment—
We pushed it back.
Just a step.
But it was enough.
Enough to change the fight.
"Interesting," the creature muttered.
But I didn't stop.
I couldn't.
Because every second—
Every moment—
He was still getting hurt.
I saw it.
The way he moved.
The strain.
The blood.
"Stop pushing yourself," I said suddenly.
He didn't even look at me.
"Same goes for you," he replied.
"I'm serious," I snapped. "You're already injured—"
"And you're unstable," he cut in.
Silence.
Tension.
Then—
Something unexpected happened.
He grabbed my wrist.
Not roughly.
Firm.
Grounding.
"Listen to me," he said, his voice lower now.
My breath caught.
His golden eyes locked onto mine—
Not angry.
Not cold.
Something else.
"You don't have to do this alone," he said.
My heart skipped.
"I'm not—"
"You are," he said softly. "You keep trying to carry everything yourself."
The words hit deeper than they should have.
"I don't want to lose you."
Time—
Stopped.
My breath caught.
"What…?" I whispered.
He exhaled slowly.
Like he hadn't meant to say it out loud.
But he didn't take it back.
"I don't care what you are," he continued quietly.
The world faded again.
The fight.
The danger.
The creature—
All gone.
"I don't care what they want from you."
His grip tightened slightly.
"You're not facing it alone."
My chest tightened painfully.
Something warm—
And terrifying—
Spread through me.
"Why?" I asked softly.
A pause.
Dangerous.
Honest.
"Because you're mine."
The bond reacted instantly.
A sharp pulse.
Stronger than ever before.
My breath hitched.
"That's not fair…" I whispered.
"Neither is this world," he replied.
And then—
Everything came crashing back.
The creature attacked again.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
We barely had time to react.
But this time—
I didn't panic.
I didn't hesitate.
Because now—
I wasn't just fighting to survive.
I was fighting for him.
The light surged again.
Brighter.
Stronger.
But steadier.
Because I wasn't alone anymore.
And as I stood beside him—
I realized something dangerous.
Something irreversible.
I didn't just trust him.
I didn't just need him.
I was starting to—
Feel something more.
The air burned.
Light and darkness kept clashing, tearing through the forest like a storm that refused to end.
But this time—
I wasn't losing control.
I was learning.
Every pulse of power felt clearer.
Sharper.
Like it was listening to me now.
"Left!" he snapped.
I reacted instantly.
Light flared from my side just as the creature struck—
Blocking it.
The impact still pushed me back—
But I held.
"I've got it," I said, breathless.
"Don't get overconfident," he replied.
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Because even in the middle of this chaos—
He sounded… normal.
Grounded.
And that made everything feel less terrifying.
The creature watched us carefully now.
No reckless attacks.
No wasted movement.
"You're adapting faster than expected," it said.
I ignored it.
Focused.
But something felt off.
Too quiet.
Too calculated.
"Be careful," I muttered.
"I am," he said.
"No," I shook my head slightly. "It's not attacking seriously anymore."
That got his attention.
His eyes narrowed.
"You're right…"
And then—
The realization hit both of us at the same time.
"It's waiting," I whispered.
"For what?" he asked.
Before I could answer—
The creature moved.
Not toward me.
Toward him.
Fast.
Too fast.
My heart jumped.
"Watch out!" I shouted.
He blocked the first strike—
But the second—
Landed.
Hard.
He staggered back, a sharp breath leaving him.
"No!" I ran toward him.
But the creature was already there.
Grabbing him.
Lifting him off the ground like it was nothing.
"Stop!" I shouted.
My power surged violently—
But I froze.
Because its hand tightened around his throat.
"One more step," it said calmly…
"And he dies."
Everything stopped.
My breath.
My thoughts.
Everything.
"Let him go," I whispered.
"Drop your power," it replied.
My hands trembled.
The light flickered.
"No…" I whispered.
"If you don't," it continued…
"He dies first. Then you."
My heart broke.
I looked at him.
At the way he struggled—
At the way his eyes still found mine.
Even now.
"Don't," he said, his voice strained.
Tears blurred my vision.
"I can't lose you," I whispered.
His gaze softened—
Even like this.
"You won't," he said.
A lie.
And we both knew it.
"Do it," the creature demanded.
My power flickered again.
Weakening.
Fading.
Because I couldn't risk it.
I couldn't lose him.
And that hesitation—
That one moment—
Was enough.
The creature smiled.
"I knew it," it said softly.
My heart dropped.
"You're still weak."
Something inside me snapped.
"No," I said quietly.
The light didn't fade.
It flared.
Brighter than before.
Stronger.
Wild—
But controlled.
"I'm not weak," I said.
My voice didn't shake anymore.
The creature's grip tightened.
"Then prove it."
I stepped forward.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Every step glowing beneath me.
My heart pounded—
But my mind was clear.
"I'm going to save him," I said.
"And you're going to let him go."
The creature laughed.
"Or what?"
Silence.
Then—
I moved.
Not with panic.
Not with fear.
But with certainty.
The light didn't explode this time.
It condensed.
Focused.
A single point—
Straight at its arm.
I released it.
The impact—
Blinding.
Precise.
The creature's hand jerked—
Just enough.
He dropped.
I ran forward instantly.
Catching him before he hit the ground.
My heart raced wildly.
"I've got you," I whispered.
His breathing was uneven.
But he was alive.
Barely.
"Still stubborn…" he murmured weakly.
"Shut up," I said softly.
Relief hit me too fast.
Too hard.
Before I could stop myself—
I leaned closer.
Too close.
My breath caught.
His eyes met mine again.
Closer than ever.
Everything faded.
The fight.
The danger.
Gone.
Just us.
For a second—
I thought—
Maybe—
He moved slightly.
So did I.
Closer.
Closer—
And then—
A violent force tore us apart.
I was thrown back.
Hard.
The moment shattered.
Gone.
The creature stood there again.
Unharmed.
Completely.
My heart dropped.
"No…" I whispered.
Its eyes locked onto mine.
Cold.
Certain.
"You're learning," it said.
A pause.
"But you're still not enough."
The air darkened again.
Stronger than before.
And this time—
I felt it.
Something worse was coming.