n

n

nDawn, have faith in me. Quetz patronized her. What did she think he was? He was the heir of the treasurer's Keeper of the King of Aztec. That was information he could never reveal to her and when it was time, he would have to—. He didn't think further. The thought of leaving her was painful.

nDawn was planning on drugging him and taking him on a cargo ship – the way she had entered this country but when a ripple of genuine assurance enveloped her mind she calmed. She was satisfied to know that her dragon could take care of himself.

"I believe in you Quetz, but I will be worried until I see you.

" She hugged him again.

"So you take care.

" She knew that he was about to leave.

nQuetz nodded. The silly girl had to know the magic he was capable of.

nWith several powerful strokes, Quetz was airborne. Suddenly he turned and dived towards Arawn. He pulled up in front of him as gusts of air rushed over his wings. It bowed his head in front of him. Arawn did the same. The centaur kneeled on his forelegs and bowed his head.

nDawn saw the two fantastical beasts in awe.

nMoments later Quetz soared high in the sky and she watched until he was just a speck. When she turned, she was in for a shock. She noticed that the Whispering Eoben was disintegrating in the air. The tree faded away with whispers and turned to dust. Its blue-green leaves scattered on the ground as they sparkled and disappeared.

nDawn's heart sank. She held Arawn to support herself.

n

"The tree did what it was meant to do. It was born only for Quetz,

" Arawn said.

"Let us go, Dawn. Your adventure awaits you.

"

n---

nA week later Dawn was standing in the airport along with Cole, at the security check-in. She had accepted the job offer. There were slight changes. She bargained with Azura that she would also like to freelance and that she would be on a contract for six months. If she liked, she would continue, else she would leave. Surprisingly Azura accepted all her terms and conditions. However, like a businessman, he reduced her salary, but that wasn't an issue with her. She had procured an extra benefit. She had asked Azura to get Cole into a good school.

nOver the next few days, things were seamless for her as Azura's men helped her to move.

nArawn had come to the airport to see her off. She handed him the keys of the cottage and said that he could use it if he liked.

n

"If possible do visit again Dawn,

" Arawn said in a hoarse voice.

n

"I will,

" she replied and embraced him.

nHe kept standing in the departure lounge until the siblings crossed the security check in. Tears pooled in the eyes of the centaur. It was like a phase of his life coming to an end.

nTwo hours later the airplane taxied the runway and flew to its destination.

nIt landed in Bainsburg next morning at 11AM.

nAzura was there to receive her. His eagerness to meet her was showing clearly on his face as he paced up and down the arrival gate multiple times. Ever since he had met her, there was not a single day he hadn't thought about her.

nAt the same time he was aware of a familiar scent, of someone he hated from the core of his heart, of someone who hated the Neotides, standing nearby—his nemesis.

nDaryn Silver was standing near the arrival gate to receive Maya. He looked calm and very controlled and hadn't moved from his position.

n---

nFor the past four years Daryn hadn't accepted Maya. Even though his father, Gayle Silver had insisted that he marry her as soon as possible, he hadn't been able to.

nMaya was desperate that he marked her, but other than having regular sex with her, Daryn couldn't mark her. She had begged him repeatedly to just sink in his teeth in her, but he had refused. He could never bring himself to that. Once in a heated moment, he tried, but an image flashed across his mind and he left her. That day he decided to break his engagement with her. It was almost a year back. There was a huge ruckus in the family regarding the breakup. His father had berated him for throwing away a potential alliance.

nThe entire family was upset that after three years of being together, Daryn broke up. What was the reason?

nDaryn never gave the reason. How could he say that he was haunted by an image of a 'Bitten'?

nMaya was heartbroken. She couldn't come to terms with it and tried to take her life. Last month, her father pressurized the Silver family to accept the alliance much to Daryn's chagrin.

nSo his family coerced him to get married to Maya and that too, by the next full moon. Reluctantly Daryn agreed.

nThat evening, Maya was coming back from her hometown to get engaged to Daryn. The ceremony was supposed to take place on the weekend in a private function. Ecstatic that he had accepted, she had taken the first plane to fly back to Bainsburgh.

nDaryn was standing at the airport to receive her. He was determined to mark her, no matter what. He knew that his father had already started making arrangements for his marriage. Being the Prince of the Silver Crescent Pack, grand wedding preparations were going on. Every leader of every pack in the country would be invited. The invitations had to yet be sent out. His brother's wife was personally seeing all the arrangements along with his mother. Because of political issues, Azura Fraziers would also be invited just to put up a good show on the façade despite the numerous wars that had occurred between them – both physical as well as corporate. Both of them were strong enemies and both had prominent presence in the economy of Bainsburgh.

n---

nInside the airplane, Dawn and Cole were extremely tired by the time they landed. The jet lag was adding to their exhaustion. Dawn pulled her luggage from the overhead compartment as she woke up Cole.

"Let's go,

" she nudged him. Groggily, the two of them stepped out.

n

"Do you know where to go?

" asked Cole as he strapped the backpack on his shoulders.

n

"Yes, Azura had mentioned that someone would come to pick us up. He has sent the phone number to contact.

"

nThey stepped out of the plane and walked to the immigration. It took almost an hour for them to clear it. After picking their luggage from the conveyor belt, they headed for the exit. Dawn was pulling her suitcase and checking her phone when suddenly a woman bumped into her and her phone slipped to the floor.

n

"Sorry!

" came a hurried reply and the woman rushed away.

nWith an angry frown she bent to pick her phone. She didn't see the woman's face. But she was shocked to get the werewolf smell from her. For a moment her mind froze.

n

"Dawn, Exit 3 is on that side,

" Cole said pointing to the left in the direction the woman went.

nShe nodded and they walked towards Exit 3. Dawn stared at the woman from behind, the expensive clothes she was wearing. She seemed every bit of a regal.

nShe saw that the woman ran on her stilettos outside after seeing some. She waved and squealed,

"Daryyyyn!

" She hugged the man so tightly that she almost made him lose his balance.

"I love you honey! Missed you so much!

"

nDawn looked down. It was a lovers moment.

nBut Daryn froze. It was as if the world had stopped moving. It was as if an electric bolt had hit him.

nThe smell that was etched in his mind was wafting in the air. The intimate smell that had made him desperate, was floating strongly. She was near. His heartbeat raced like a bullet train. His mind foiled all attempts of control. Adrenalin gushed and concentrated in the lower part of his body.

n

"Let's go darling,

" Maya said in a honeyed voice as she pulled him by his hand.

"I have a surprise for you. For that we need to go into your bedroom,

" she giggled.

nBut his body refused to leave that place. It was as if it had grown roots in the ground. He couldn't breathe. He looked at the Exit and in the next few seconds, he saw her. Those green eyes—

n