Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Narrator's POV

The room grew silent as they all watched Kathy squirm in pain. The glow in her mark only increased even more. Aerial prayed in his mind that Kathy would come out of that situation. His only daughter was in so much pain. Triton held Kathy's hand in his, wishing she would open her eyes and tell him that everything would be all right.

"Where is a mother now?" Triton whispered, his eyes still on his sister.

"The Oracle and elders took her."

"It's been two days and she hasn't woken up," Zena announced worriedly as Kathy laid still on the bed.

Their attention was taken back to Kathy who's mark was glowing even more. The light from her mark increased to the point where it was almost blinding. Everyone had to close their eyes so as not to go blind. Cynthia was the first one to open her eyes and when she did, what she saw caused her to stumble back in astonishment. The rest followed suit, shock was evident on their faces.

Kathy's mark had fully turned red. The crescent moon was bigger and seemed to be glowing. It also had another symbol attached to the middle. Aerial thought the symbol looked particularly familiar. Kathy opened her eyes with a gasp and they were even more surprised. Her eyes were as red as the second moon on the day of the new moon.

"Oh. My. Moon!" Cynthia exclaimed as they all watched Kathy sit up.

"Are you okay?" Aerial rushed over to Kathy.

Kathy looked up, her eyes teared up as the previous events flashed through her mind.

"Mother…" She mumbled, her eyes pleading with him to tell her what she wanted to hear.

"She survived but barely. The Oracle and elders took her to the moon pool to request healing from the goddess. Only they can be in there with her, we can only stay here and pray for her," Aerial told her.

Kathy breathed out in relief. The darkness she felt earlier returned to its spot in her mind. She tried to find guilt for killing Lena but couldn't find any.

"I remember everything now," Kathy announced.

"Everything?" Aerial asked hesitantly.

Kathy nodded. All her memories had been returned to her. Everything Lena did to her after Hala took her to the beach. She sat on the sand waiting for Hala to return. Lena appearing in her true form and touching her forehead with black mist encompassing her pointer finger. Kathy passed and when she woke up, everything from her first ten years of living was gone.

"Do you feel any different?" Triton asked.

"No, I feel better, whole and even more powerful," Kathy replied, sounding different.

"What is your name?" Aerial asked.

"Ayla," she whispered, the name flowing easily off her lips like she was in a trance. Aerial let out a sob of relief. His little Princess was back. The name Ayla was given to her by her mother. It means the halo of light around the moon. Just perfect for Hala's little moon.

"I've never really liked the name Kathy anyway. Ayla suits me better," she said with a tired grin on her face.

Ayla was her name. The name was given to her by her biological parents. She preferred that to Kathy which was given to her by April Mallory. Now, Kathy would be a distant memory just as April.

Ayla was her name, her identity, her memories, and her new life. And she loved it.

Meanwhile, outside the room, a black wolf was seen pacing outside. With enhanced hearing, he heard that she had woken up and was fine. His mate was in that room and too close but far from his reach. He could perceive her addicting scent of cherry blossoms, a scent only he as her mate could perceive. He shot a longing look at the window before trotting away. She wouldn't feel the mate bond anyway.

"Are we not going to comment on the fact that my cousin has the same mark and eye color Luna Celeste?" Nila questioned with a confused look on her face.

Ayla started heating up but didn't tell anyone. Making them worry even more was the last thing she wanted. She was sweating even though the weather was mildly cold.

"I knew that Mark was familiar," Aerial noted.

"Why does it suddenly feel hot in here?" Zena asked sweating and every eye turned to Kathy who was soaked from head to toe.

Ayla felt something clawing to come out of her, something hot.

Cynthia had not said anything since Kathy woke up, her mind was processing what had happened, putting the puzzles together. Suddenly, it all clicked.

"The Phoenix!" Cynthia whispered to herself.

It all made sense to her now. "The spell Lena cast on Kat-Ayla delayed her awakening by three years, and when she did awaken, her powers were not at their full potential then when Lena died, the spell was broken and now it seems like she is awakening all over again. The newly developed mark and her red eyes all point to one thing," Cynthia explained her theory to them.

Nila gasped, "Kathy has the Phoenix!"

"The firebird?" Zena asked.

"What?" It was Triton who exclaimed.

Ayla knew she had to go outside or she would blow up the castle. The thing inside her wanted to come out with a blast. She dashed out of the room causing others to follow her. Unknowing to Ayla, her speed made it difficult for them to catch up with her. She ran even faster than Zena and Aerial who were trackers. She dropped to her knees when she got to a safe distance from the castle.

Everyone moved to surround her but Cynthia asked them to give her space. "She is awakening," she said and they all moved back.

The clawing intensified as Ayla fought whatever it was. She feared it was the darkness. But the pain increased the harder she fought.

"Don't fight her. Let her merge with you and she will come out freely," Cynthia instructed.

Her? Ayla thought.

"Your Phoenix. She has been kept dormant for a long time and wants to be free, let her."

Ayla took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to connect with whatever was in her. She pushed closer and closer until she could feel it; her. Their DNA was bound together, yet so different. The Phoenix was happy to finally be free, Ayla could feel her emotions as if they were her own. The Phoenix stopped clawing, finally feeling the merging. Ayla then felt something at her back, it was like a rush of energy that busted out of her back, leaving a tingling feeling.

"Oh, my Moon!"

"Wow!"

"Incredible."

Ayla turned to see what everyone was looking at that made them surprised. Flames were all she could see at first but when she squinted her eyes, she saw something inside the fire. It was like a bird but bigger and longer. Its entire body was entirely covered in flames, no, it was in the flames. The Phoenix stared at Ayla for a few seconds before shooting up to the sky, leaving a trail of smoke behind it. A frown coated Kathy's face as soon as it left.

But as soon as it left, it returned to the ground and swooped Ayla up with its tail. Ayla screamed in shock as the Phoenix hoisted her up and placed her on its back. On instinct, Ayla gripped its neck as it soared to the sky.

Her family and everyone on the ground watched in surprise as the Phoenix flew Ayla to an unknown place.

The wind blew gently against Ayla's face. She had not still released her death grip on the Phoenix's neck. The flames on the Phoenix tickled her, it felt delightful on her body The further they went, Ayla relaxed even more. It felt natural like she was born to do that, to fly with the Phoenix. Ayla smiled as she felt the Phoenix's emotions, it was happy too. It liked her.

The Phoenix landed on the border that led to the royal wolf pack and Ayla hopped down.

"Why did you bring me here?" Ayla asked, not knowing if it could understand her. She felt pressure on her forehead, it was like that time someone first spoke in her head.

'You can stop calling me the Phoenix and give me a name,' an exciting voice spoke in Ayla's head.

"You are in my head!" Ayla sputtered, moving away from the Phoenix. The Phoenix rolled its fiery eyes making Ayla gasp at how human it was.

'And I thought I was the dramatic one.'

Ayla wobbled on her feet, not believing a bird was speaking in her head.

"How are you in my head?"

The Phoenix sat on the floor as if making herself comfortable.

'I've always been there. I've lived your life with you, you just didn't feel me until Lena died and the spell was broken.'

All her life, Ayla felt lonely, thinking that she was all alone but someone was there and she didn't know. Someone was with her, sharing her pain. Someone saw every trial with her and felt every suffering, happiness, and dark time.

'You were never alone, Ayla,' the Phoenix said, making Ayla release a sob as emotions washed over her. Warm hands wrapped around her and she cried even more. Those hands would have held her a long time ago but Lena locked her Phoenix deep in her subconscious.

'It's all over now. We will never be separated again. Lena is dead now.'

Ayla looked up and gave the Phoenix a teary smile, then released her.

"Now, about your name," Ayla started and the Phoenix rubbed her hands together in glee making Ayla remember Stacey.

'I always liked Stacey. Bri was a little too touchy-feely.'

Ayla giggled. "I miss them."

'I know you do, I miss them too.'

"How about Flame?" Ayla suggested.

The Phoenix shook her head like a disappointed mother. 'I'm already covered in flames, can we make it any more obvious?'

The sarcasm in her statement made Ayla laugh.

"Hey! That was my first try," she said with a pout.

'Well, it sucked.'

The banter continued for a while until Ayla suggested that they postponed the naming till further notice. They sat close to each other in silence, relishing in the bond searing between them. Ayla was trying to wrap her head around having someone else in her head, reading her every thought and seeing every flaw.

'They are our flaws, our thoughts, and emotions. We are one.'

Ayla nodded with a smile.

"So, why did you bring me here?"

'I was going to let you find out on your own. It was very obvious so I didn't understand why you didn't find out earlier. I get that the spell was responsible but damn, you should have felt something.'

Ayla tilted her head as if asking 'what the hell are you going on about?' and the Phoenix face palmed herself.

'A very hot Wolf, piercing grey eyes, deliciously handsome, does that ring a bell?' The Phoenix quizzed and Ayla's face flushed.

"Asher?"

'No, Lusher. Of course, I'm talking about Asher.'

"He has a mate, Spark," Ayla whispered sadly, unknowingly giving her Phoenix the name she had been thinking about.

'Spark? I love it.' Spark cheered.

"I am glad you did," Ayla replied.

'Come with me,' Spark pulled Ayla up and led her to the border.

"Why are we going to the Wolf pack?"

'Wait for it.'

"Wait for what?" Ayla asked, confused.

Spark said nothing, she only watched the border with a knowing smile on her face. Then a figure came barreling through the narrow part. Ayla felt her entire body warm up as the person came closer. Something pushed her closer to the border and she followed. Spark smiled then entered back into Ayla, wanting to feel what she did.

Every nerve in Ayla's body tingled with passion as she moved closer to the borderline. She had never felt that way before. The figure finally stopped in front of her. She gasped as a black wolf with grey eyes came in sight.

Hunter couldn't believe the electricity flowing through him. He had always felt the tingle but that time was different, it was stronger and even more powerful. She touched his furry face and gasped, stepping back.

Ayla pulled her hand back and looked at it, it was not on fire so what was it that she felt? She touched him again and felt tingles passing from his body to hers. She shivered in delight as her body lit up in desire, desire for the wolf in front of her.

"Shift," she said in a sultry voice as his delicious scent of honey and cinnamon wafted into her nose. The Wolf dashed into the forest and returned, wearing a pair of shorts hanging dangerously low on his waist. His torso was bare and his abs were on full display. Ayla inhaled sharply as Asher came in sight. She had never felt that way with him.

'The spell stopped us from feeling the bond before but now it's broken, there is no doubt,' Spark said in Ayla's head.

For clarification, Ayla ran her hand through his arm and the bond sizzled between them. Energy as raw as electricity but even more pleasurable.

"Mate." He growled, pulling her flush against him. His body was warm as he held her right. All she wanted to do was stay in his arms and never let go.

'We can do that and a lot of other things,' Spark spoke suggestively making Ayla blush at the thoughts running through her mind.

'Stop that! You are making me think things,' Ayla replied.

"Your eyes, they are red," he noted.

"Don't you like it?" She asked with a sad look on her face.

"No, it's beautiful. Reminds me of red rubies. It suits you more." She smiled.

He touched her waist lightly and her lips parted in a silent gasp at the sparks.

"You have no idea how long I've wished for you to feel that. I've been feeling that ever since I first set my eyes on you. It hurt me so much when you didn't recognize me at the palace. Then you spoke of that General. I wanted to kill him even though I hadn't met him," Asher told her, his voice getting deeper when he spoke of Atlas.

"Nothing else matters now. I feel everything," she whispered.

He smiled causing her heart to skip a beat. He looked very handsome at that moment and she couldn't help but feel the need to kiss him. But he acted first, capturing her lips with his.

Sparks flowed between them as the first phase of the bond was completed. Asher had never felt any lips as soft as Ayla's. He knew she was inexperienced as her lips moved shyly against his. He licked her lower lips asking for entrance which she didn't grant as she had no idea what he wanted. He snaked his arm around her waist to squeeze her butt and she parted her lips in a voiceless gasp. Asher deepened the kiss, his tongue fought with hers, a battle in which he won.

Ayla could feel her core dripping with need making her clench her thighs together to relieve some pressure as Asher kissed her. Asher growled as the scent of her arousal filled the air. She pulled away to catch her breath but he was not done. He picked her up and she squealed, wrapping her legs around his waist. In that position, she felt his erection against her core and Ayla unconsciously ground against him.

He hissed as if he were in pain making Ayla stop and stare at him.

"Did I do something wrong?" She asked in concern. He shook his head but his face was scrunched up as he was holding himself back.

"My wolf and I are trying so hard to not rip off your clothes and fuck you hard right now. I doubt you would want our first time together to be in a forest with animals and trees," Asher said so casually causing Ayla to stare at him alarmed as her core became even wetter.

She said nothing because she knew that she wouldn't mind.