Forbidden Mate Legacy

The night had fallen heavy over the Academy, its silence broken only by the occasional whisper of wind against the stone walls. Amelia lay awake in her room, her eyes staring up at the ceiling lost, unable to quiet the storm raging inside her mind. She had spent hours replaying Kael's words, turning them over and over in her already crowded mind like a puzzle with pieces that didn't quite fit.

The wolf queen. Her bloodline. Her heritage. The prophecy. The weight of it all threatened to crush her. How could she be the one?

 How could she possibly be the heir to such a legacy, a legacy tied to ancient wolves, to a destiny that felt both foreign and terrifying?.

She pushed herself up in the bed, the covers tangling around her legs. The room was dark, except for faint light of the moon filtering through the curtains. She needed answers or else she would explode. She couldn't face the unknown alone, not with everything at stake. The thought of facing this new reality without understanding it made her stomach churn.

Amelia swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her feet brushing against the cold marble floor. She didn't know what drove her, but she couldn't stay still.

The Academy felt suffocating tonight, as if the walls were closing in on her. She stood and dressed quickly, pulling on her boots and dark cloak to hide her identity. The last thing she needed was attention, especially not from her fathers men and those who want to break the truce.

She crept down the hall, her footsteps light, and made her way toward the courtyard. The moon was high in the sky, casting pale light over the familiar stone path. Amelia's heart beat louder than the wind, her mind racing with questions. She needed to see Kael since he wasn't in his quarter either. She needed to hear the truth directly from him, to understand her role in this prophecy that loomed over her like a storm cloud. How can someone so young know so much? Kael is still a mystery to her.

As she approached the training ground, the distant sound of movement caught her attention. Her instinct flared, and she slipped into the shadows, her cloak blending with the darkness. There, across the courtyard, stood Kael. His figure was silhouetted against the moon, his posture tense, as if he, too, was waiting for something–or someone.

Amelia's heart skipped a beat. She had no idea why, but seeing him standing there made her feel both comforted and unsettled. There was something about him, something unspoken in his presence, both drew her in and pushed her away. She had always been taught to distrust demons, to view them as enemies, to be vanquished, but Kael was different. He was more than that. More than just a prince of a kingdom she was supposed to hate.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, her cloak billowing out behind her as she made her way towards him. The soft rustle of her movements broke the silence, and Kael's head snapped around, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. His eyes softened for a fraction of second before his face hardened, the walls he kept around himself rising once again.

"What are you doing here?" his voice was quiet but laced with surprise, and something else– concern, perhaps. Amelia couldn't tell.

"I need to know," she said, her voice firmer than she felt. "I need to know what's happening. What this prophecy means. I can't keep pretending I don't feel the weight of it." her breath caught in her throat, the gravity of her words sinking in. "I'm not ready for this, Kael. I don't even know where to begin."

Kael stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "You're not supposed to be here, little flame," he said, his voice low. "This place, the Academy–it's meant to prepare you for what's to come. But not like this. Not with so much at stake."

"I don't care about the Academy right now," Amelia snapped. "I care about my life. About the prophecy and the lives of people who live in this realm." she lost the gap between them, her eyes blazing with urgency. "Tell me everything. Don't hide anything. I can't take secrets anymore."

Kael's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Amelia thought he would walk away. But instead, he stood there, staring at her with a mix of frustration and something softer, something that flickered in his gaze. "I can't tell you everything," he finally said, "There are things about this prophecy that I even fully do not understand. But what I do know is that you have a power within you, a power that can change everything. And it's not something you can control. Not yet."

"Remember this, little flame, even if the whole realm is blinded by greediness and enmity for blood and war, be the person to make things right."

Amelia's heart pounded as she took another step forward. She could feel the pull between them, something deeper than words, something that connected them in a way she couldn't explain. "What is it? What's inside me?"

Kael exhaled sharply, his gaze distant. "You're the last descendent of the ancient wolf bloodline. The one foretold to either unite the kingdoms or destroy them. That's why the wolf reacted to you. It sensed the power within you. The legacy of the wolves is not just about strength or magic–it's about a responsibility. A responsibility that has been passed down through generations. And now it's yours."

Amelia took a step back, her mind reeling. "But how? Why me? I'm just…I'm just a mere human princess." her voice wavered as she spoke, the weight of the truth settling over like a storm. "How can I possibly carry the wolf bloodline?"

Kael's expression softened, and for the first time, she saw something real in his eyes–something human. "You may not feel ready, but you must. The wolf bloodline has been dormant for centuries. Now, the time has come for it to awaken. And with it, the power to shape the future of our world." 

Amelia looked up at him, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She wanted to push him away, to deny everything he said, but deep down, she knew the truth. There was no way of escaping it. No denying it. This is her destiny, whether she liked it or not.

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" she asked.

Kael looked away. "Because I wasn't sure if it was the wolf bloodline, I had my doubts until recently. And I wasn't sure if you're ready because I'm not sure if I'm ready either."

The silence between them stretched, the weight of their words hanging in the air like an unspoken promise.

Amelia could feel her heart racing, her mind spinning. She didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain–her life would never be the same again.

"Then we'll face it together," she said, her voice steady and firm. "Whatever comes next, we'll face it together."

Kael met her gaze, his lips twitching into a small, reluctant smile. "Together, huh? Don't idolize me, I am no hero. Little flame"

"And who said I want a hero in my peace–conquering adventure, huh?" Amelia winked.

"Oh you're getting bolder, little flame but it suits you better." Kael said, with a smirk.

Amelia nodded, feeling a spark of something unfamiliar ignite within her. She wasn't alone. Not anymore. And that thought, strange as it was, gave her the courage she so desperately needed.

With a final, lingering look, Kael turned and led the way back towards the dormitory. Amelia followed him, her steps light, her heart a little less burdened by the secrets of the past. But she will have to face it, but not alone.