Fated to a human

Melody POV  

After returning to my throne, I needed a moment to compose myself. My frustration boiled over, and I couldn't contain it any longer. 

"Damn you, Haylie!" I shouted, throwing my hands into the air in a furious gesture. The sound of my voice echoed through the dark hall, but it did little to quell the storm within me. 

Liam was still hooked on that wretched woman, even in death. He was chasing her memory like a desperate fool. Dammit. 

I stormed over to my throne, my body tense with irritation from the encounter with Liam. The weight of it all pressed down on me as I sank into the plush black leather of the massive chair. My muscles ached, but more than that, Melody's old soul stirred restlessly inside me. 

She was weak and pitiful—too emotional, too fragile. But I couldn't afford her softness to surface now. Not with this unborn child depending on the power of black magic. I needed the darkness to ensure her strength. Once my daughter was born, chaos would reign, and the world would bow before her voice. 

My gaze drifted downward, settling on the faint swell of my stomach. The bump was small, no larger than a peach, but its presence filled me with both pride and resolve. My hand rested gently over it, a rare softness in my tone as I spoke. 

"Don't worry, sweetheart," I murmured, my lips curling into a sly smile. "Your daddy will come around. Once you're here, he'll soften. He'll love you." 

The thought filled me with a wicked glee. Everything was falling into place. I could already see it—Liam bending to my will, his resistance crumbling as our daughter entered the world. 

The smile widened as an idea began to take shape. Two months. That was all I needed to build a formidable army of darkness for my princess. When the time came, we would rise together. 

"And then, my darling," I whispered, caressing the bump, "we will rule this world." 

Liam POV  

We entered what seemed to be a village, and as we walked, every person passing us turned to look. Especially the women. 

I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the stares, when Titan's voice came through the mind link, hesitant and shy. 

"Uh, Liam, I think the women are... staring at our chunks." 

I almost laughed at his choice of words but managed to keep my composure. Of course, they are. We were naked, standing in the middle of some village. To them, we probably looked like something worth gawking at. Shaking my head, I kept walking, sending Titan a quick reply through the mind link. 

"Ignore them." 

This was awkward, sure, but I'd learned by now that, as a future Alpha, I couldn't let things like this bother me. Still, I needed a distraction. I let my eyes wander, taking in the surroundings. 

These people were living like it was a time lost to history. 

Their houses were huts, constructed from materials that reminded me of the way Native Americans built their homes long ago. 

Their clothes were simple and far from modern—women in dresses, men in plain shirts and pants, all of them barefoot. 

The air buzzed with life. A bonfire crackled nearby, with women cooking over the flames, the aroma of food drifting through the village and making my stomach rumble. 

Children's laughter echoed as they ran and played around us. In the distance, a baby's cries mingled with the soft sound of flutes and drums. Despite the strangeness of the situation, the place felt alive, vibrant. 

Klinton and JC came to a stop in front of a large tent. Klinton turned to us and spoke, breaking the silence. 

"Stay here. I'll bring you some clothes," he said before disappearing into the village. 

I took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of pine and wood smoke. It calmed me, at least until JC spoke up, his tone grating against my nerves. 

"Look, man," he started, forcing me to meet his gaze. "Just like I promised back then, I'm here to bring Haylie home. To save her." 

My wolf stirred at the sound of his voice, a low growl rumbling in my chest. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I fought to keep my temper in check. 

"Once this is over, and Haylie is back where she belongs," I said, my voice low and firm, my eyes locking with his, "you and your sister—and that wicked thing she calls her daughter—stay the hell away from me and Haylie." 

JC opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Klinton returned with a bundle of clothes in his arms. 

"Here," Klinton said, handing the clothes to us. "Get dressed. We'll wait for you outside." 

I nodded my thanks, taking the clothes from him. Without another word, I ducked into the tent to change. 

JC POV  

I let out a heavy sigh, watching as Liam and JC disappeared into the tent. Unease gnawed at me, and I turned to Klinton, unable to keep my thoughts to myself. 

"I don't think it was a bright idea to let them stay the night," I said, my voice low. 

Klinton smirked, his confidence never wavering. He glanced at me, his expression calm yet knowing. 

"I could tell," he said, "the woman I saw in the spirit world is mated to him." 

I sighed again, this time deeper, and stepped back, lifting my gaze to the dark sky. The stars barely twinkled through the veil of my restless thoughts. I needed a moment to steady myself, to sort through the tangled mess of emotions clawing at me. 

I didn't blame Liam for shutting me out, for not wanting me near Haylie after what my sister and I had done. What we did was wrong—far beyond wrong. But Melody carrying Liam's child? That was something else entirely. What was she thinking? How far had she planned to take this? 

And Haylie... If she found out, it would destroy her. 

A firm hand rested on my shoulder, snapping me out of my spiral. I turned my head to see Klinton looking at me with a calm, steady expression. 

"If it makes things better," he said, his voice measured, "Haylie is here. She's found her way back to the spirit world." 

His words struck me like a blow, leaving me momentarily stunned. 

"You mean Haylie is here?" I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart thudded in my chest, skipping beats as I fought to keep my composure. 

Klinton nodded, his calm demeanor unwavering. "I can feel her. My spirit wolf saw her walking around on the campus." 

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I glanced around, hoping—yet knowing—it was futile. Haylie was a spirit. I couldn't see her, not unless she wanted to be seen. 

"This is crazy," I muttered aloud, my thoughts a whirlwind of disbelief and cautious hope. 

Just then, Liam and Titan emerged from the tent, their presence pulling me back to reality. Liam's sharp gaze pinned me. 

"What's crazy?" he asked, his tone suspicious. 

I swallowed hard, my eyes darting to Klinton. My desperation was palpable, silently pleading with him to keep this to himself. Now wasn't the time. Liam was already anxious and on edge. The last thing he needed was more uncertainty. 

Klinton cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "Well," he began, his voice smooth, "I was just telling JC about the wonderful supper we're having tonight. We should go now; my father doesn't like to be kept waiting." 

I let out a slow breath, relief washing over me. Liam's sharp gaze softened slightly, but his expression still held a hint of mistrust. I could feel it—the unfinished business simmering between us. He wasn't done with me yet, and I knew the reckoning was only postponed. 

For now, though, it would have to wait.