Chapter 171: Yin and Yang.
*~Lilith’s POV~*
The white wolf came out of nowhere. One second, the carriage rattled down the path, Jonathan’s arms crushing me against his chest, and the next, a blur of ivory fur slammed into us.
The impact was devastating... With a thunderous crack, the wolf’s attack tore through the carriage, splintering wood into flying shards.
The driver was thrown into the air, landing in the mud with a sickening thud. The horses panicked, bolting into the night.
Jonathan reacted instantly. He wrapped his arms around me, shielding my body just before the carriage collapsed into a mangled heap of wood and iron.
The white wolf landed before us, its massive paws striking the ground with terrifying weight. Its low, guttural, feral growl shook the air, and those icy blue eyes burned with fury.
Jonathan’s head snapped to me, lips curling. "Stay here. I’m coming."
And then his body convulsed, bones breaking and reshaping, skin tearing apart into fur. Jonathan’s wolf loomed before me in seconds—massive, black, glowing green eyes like lanterns in the night. He lunged, hurling himself at the white wolf.
But the white wolf was just as fast. Fangs clashed, claws raked. Their bodies collided with such force that the ground cracked beneath them.
My breath caught as I stared—never had I seen any creature match Jonathan’s strength. Never had I seen a wolf that could stand against him.
Jonathan’s wolf was a shadow—pure darkness, seething rage. This one was light itself. Its fur shone silver-white under the moon, its eyes cutting blue fire.
Black and white....Shadow and light.
And in that moment, my heart dropped to my stomach.
No... oh goddess... that’s Hazel.
The way she moved. The way her aura seared the air. It was unmistakable. Hazel had broken free, escaped whatever Caspian and Cayden had done to trap her—and she had found us.
Jonathan slammed her to the dirt, his massive form crouched over hers, growling into her face. His teeth snapped inches from her throat, victory glinting in his eyes.
But Hazel’s wolf wasn’t finished.
With a vicious snarl, she kicked up, claws digging into his belly. Jonathan howled, thrown off balance, and Hazel surged in a blur of fur and teeth. She pinned him beneath her, claws on his chest, fangs aimed for his throat.
She was about to kill him.
Her head dipped lower, her jaws opening wide, ready to rip him apart—
"Hazel... stop!" My voice tore through the chaos, raw and desperate.
And she froze...Her entire body went rigid, fangs hovering above his jugular. Her growl vibrated in the air, but she didn’t strike.
The breath caught in my chest. If there was any doubt left, it vanished. That wolf was Hazel.
A chill spread through me as my body shivered violently.
Jonathan’s wolf staggered back, his form shrinking, breaking, until his human body emerged, gasping. He rose to his knees, his face slack with confusion, his mouth hanging open.
He looked from me to Hazel, back to me again, disbelief flooding his features.
"If... if this is Hazel..." he rasped, his green eyes wide, "...then Lilith?"
The words dropped like a hammer. His suspicion hits his realization.
The moment I had been dreading.
I forced myself upright, blood pounding in my ears, my lips curling into a sharp smile. "Yes," I said coldly, "I guess you’ve finally realized."
I stepped forward, my gaze locked on the white wolf. "You are not supposed to be here, Hazel."
"What? So you had me fooled." Jonathan’s voice dripped with venom, his green eyes blazing. "You were playing me all along, Lilith. Aren’t you supposed to be locked in your room?"
I smirked, masking the heat of my own rage. "I guess you’re not the smartest after all. I’ve already fooled you. I was only waiting for the perfect time to kill you."
His lips curled back, baring his teeth. "You think you can kill me?"
He lunged, but Hazel moved faster. She sprang between us in her pure white wolf form, growling so ferociously that the ground seemed to shake. Her body shielded me, and her fangs growled at him.
Jonathan froze, his gaze locked on her, and I saw awe flicker in his expression for a moment.
"Oh, my..." His voice dropped, almost reverent. "They’ve really fooled you, haven’t they? My pure little mate. Look at you...white, big, beautiful. Perfectly opposing me. I’m black, dangerous... you’re light, pure. Yin and yang. We were made for each other."
I clenched my fists. Since I hated to admit it, his words had a terrifying truth.
But no. Never. Jonathan and my daughter would never have a place together in this world. I would tear them apart a thousand times before letting him have her.
Jonathan’s eyes snapped to me, a death glare cutting through the air. "You’ve brainwashed her, haven’t you? Look at her—standing right before me with those deadly instincts, but confused. This is your fault, Lilith. All of it."
Then he turned to Hazel. His tone softened, seductive, commanding. "You. I promised you the truth, didn’t I? And I always keep my word. I’ll give you the truth... now."
The way he said the truth made my stomach twist.
Hazel faltered. I saw the subtle drop in her growl and the trembling in her legs. And then her body began to change. White fur receded, claws retracted, her form shrinking back into fragile human skin. My heart seized. She was listening to him.
"No!" I screamed, my voice raw. I spun toward her, desperation tearing through me. "Never, Hazel! He has no truth to give you—only lies!"
Hazel’s eyes flickered between us, confusion storming inside her.
I stepped forward, my voice breaking into a plea. "There is no truth in him—I am your mother! Remember, Hazel. You once forced me to turn off my emotions... and helped me turn them back on. Remember our moments together, my dear! Remember me!"
Her lips parted, her breath unsteady.
Jonathan’s smile widened. He could see her wavering.
"He will do nothing but lead you astray!" I shouted, tears stinging my eyes. "I broke your bond with him for a reason, Hazel. I intentionally severed it because he is a monster. You don’t know the pain, the destruction he carries. That’s why I did it—for you! For your future!"
She slowly started turning into a human... as our words reached her.