He came closer to me as I moved backwards, my heart palpitating with a fearful expression on my face.
"Please! Please stay away from me." I implored, using my hands to shield myself.
"Don't be scared of me, Camelia. I mean no harm," Desmond muttered comfortingly as he took slow steps towards me.
My brows furrowed with my face buried in a cloud of confusion after he uttered my name.
How on earth does he even know my name?
I could feel a bond with him intensifying and I just couldn't help but be more confused. I guess the moon goddess is just playing tricks on me, bringing me nothing but suffering and a dismal destiny.
"I know you're confused right now but you just have to relax, okay, and trust me. I– I won't hurt you." Desmond reassured me once again but I shook my head and turned my back to run.
Seeing he wasn't behind me anymore, I looked forward and continued running but I was caught in the grasp of one of the guards whom Xavier had sent to fetch me.
"Gottcha!" The tanned bearded guard yelped and his voice alerted the others who appeared in my direction.
"Let's take her back to our Lycan Xavier. Good thing we found her, if not, he would have us killed." Another guard added, his voice tinged with relief as he approached me.
I didn't resist their hold because I had already come to terms with my fate and was curious to see how things would turn out.
We heard swift, untraceable movements as we continued to move. With their swords drawn, the guards prepared to face whoever it could be.
"Show your face!" The tanned one who appeared to be more fierceful and bodily built, yelled in a deep voice.
The guards backed one another and attempted to find the source when the quick motions occurred once more.
"Show yourself! This is the last time I'll give this warning." Another guard said confidently, holding his sword tightly.
The guards were bravely and defensively positioned around me, doing all within their power to keep me safe.
Just then, one of the guards was dragged swiftly to another direction and his groans caught the attention of the others.
My eyes widened when I saw Desmond grasping the guard by the neck. His grip on the guard tightened, and he appeared enraged.
"I want you all to drop your swords and release her this instant." He ordered but the guards didn't heed to his words. Instead, they stood cautiously, swords pointing at him as they maintained a ferocious gaze with him.
"Who are you? And what do you think you are?" One of them questioned, extending his sword towards Desmond.
"If you don't obey my orders then I'm left with no choice but to kill him." Desmond emphasized as he made the guard in his grasp face him. He sniffed his neck, his eyes blackened as he stared at the rest.
"Just who do you think you are! We are instructed to bring her to the Lycan king. How dare you instruct us to go against the Lycan's words!"
Desmond's eyes reddened this time around and his teeth jolted out into sharp fangs.
"H-he's a vampire!" One of the guards yelled and the rest dropped their jaws as they gave him a calculating widened gaze, wondering what his next actions would be.
"Vampires were exterminated and nearly vanquished by Lycan Xavier. I find it astounding that there is still one of them.
"To save one of our kind and our Lycan's mate, we have no choice but to kill him."
The tanned guard muttered to the rest and with courage, he yelled, "ATTACK!"
As they approached Desmond, He remained on his spot and reached for his prey's neck, trying to dare them by killing one of their kind.
Just as he was about to suck into the captured guard's neck, I yelled, causing him to stop.
"Please! Please don't do this. You'll only make things worse,"
I cried, my eyes glistening in tears.
"I'm confused about everything going on. I don't even understand why I have three mates who are enemies. Three mates who would kill the innocent just to be with me. I don't want anyone dying because of me and I'll never forgive myself if any more innocent blood sheds because of me."
My statement caused Desmond's heart to melt. He glanced at me, his grip on his trapped guard loosening. His reddened eyes turned back to white, and I could see his pointed teeth reverting to their natural size as a result of my words working like magic on him.
One thing my grandmother had always taught me before she died was to always be at peace with people. I never knew my fate was to bring peace to all or restore peace to three clans at war with each other.
"We can all live in harmony. Let's just stop this war and return back to the Lycan's pack so we can end the war." I made the suggestion while gasping for air because everything that had happened had left me completely worn out.
Desmond nodded slightly in agreement, maintaining a gaze with me.
***
The war was still ongoing when we returned to Lycan Xavier's pack. I could see corpses of knights on the floor. There were blood splatters everywhere and I could see some dead bodies accompanied in a pool of blood.
Women screamed and held their kids and a part of the kingdom was on fire. There were sparks of fire on the floor too.
My heart melted with sympathy as I noticed young children cowering beneath a board that was engulfed in flames. Innocent ones do not have to go through all of these.
Desmond and I hurried to their direction and I watched as he removed the plank before carrying the kids out of their hiding spot.
"Thanks!" I muttered to him and after locking eyes for some time, I gazed at the doorway leading to the Lycan's palace.
Each of us sprinted into the building. I could hear the sound of swords clinking and groans as Carlos's knights continued their battle with the Lycans.
"Stop it! Stop, all of you!" I yelled but they were far from listening as they continued with their fight.
Seeing some broken glasses on the floor, I hurried to pick a fragment and tightened my grasp on it.
"No, Camelia. Please don't do that." Desmond yelled as soon as he saw me.
"I'm left with no choice but to kill myself since you are so interested in raging war with each other. I should commit suicide so that you are all left with nothing since you all desire me and would kill to have me." I pressed the glass up to my flesh, gritting my teeth as I spoke.
As instructed by Carlos, the knights halted their fighting and several of them lowered their weapons.
"Go on! Continue with your fight. If killing myself is the only way to end it then I won't hesitate to do it." I emphasized as I locked eyes with my three mates who widened their eyes upon hearing my statement.
Why don't I take my own life right now to put an end to everything at once, since the moon goddess has chosen to play with my destiny?
A faint smile appeared on my lip as I realized I had managed to get their attention, and as I looked at all three of them, I couldn't help but feel a strong connection and an unfathomable bond.