To protect what's mine (Amalie) novel Chapter 179

**Guard 179**
**Chapter 179: Amalie**

As my vision slowly begins to focus, I find myself once again ensnared in the very heart of a nightmare that feels all too real. I blink rapidly, my heart racing like a wild drum in my chest, as I take in the sinister surroundings. There, perched upon an ominous throne that seems to pulse with an aura of dread, sits Francesca. Her regal yet malevolent demeanor sends a chill racing down my spine. With a disdainful sneer, she rises, her presence radiating a sense of triumph that makes my skin crawl.

“Finally,” she declares, her voice laced with a sickening blend of victory and malice as she strides purposefully toward Beren. The air thickens with tension, every word she utters heavy with the promise of impending doom. Francesca begins to chant in an archaic tongue, the syllables twisting and curling in the air like smoke from a dying fire, wrapping around me like a suffocating shroud.

I am left utterly bewildered by her incantation, but I can feel the magic she wields coiling around me, forcing Beren to revert back into my form. Panic surges through my veins, and I instinctively try to scramble away from the witch, my body protesting with every movement, the injuries I carry reminding me of my vulnerability.

“Stay the hell away from me!” I growl, my voice hoarse yet filled with defiance, a fire igniting within me despite the fear.

“If you hadn’t fought me, I would have made it so you wouldn’t have felt a thing,” she sighs, her tone dripping with dismissiveness, as if my resistance is merely an annoyance in her grand scheme.

“Like hell I’m going to let you kill me,” I retort, desperation pouring into my words as I attempt to inch away once more. My hand instinctively rests protectively over my stomach, a silent plea for my unborn pup to survive the torment of the wolfsbane surging through me.

“Bring her,” Francesca commands, her eyes glinting with a manic excitement that sends fresh chills racing down my spine. As she turns away from me, I can see her attire shifting, as if she requires a more fitting garb for the grim task she has in mind.

Thomas and Jarrett, once my allies, morph back into their human forms, their grips tightening around my arms as they drag me toward the witch. The weight of betrayal hangs heavy in the air.

‘Can we tap into the magic again?’ I whisper urgently to Beren, struggling against their hold, the fear of what’s to come gnawing at my insides.

‘I don’t know,’ she growls back, frustration evident in her voice.

‘A lot of good it does to be the chosen of the Goddess,’ I huff, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. ‘Wait, we are the Goddess’s chosen. We’ve channeled her power before, made others bend to our will.’

‘Yes, and?’ Beren responds, her tone skeptical, but I can sense a flicker of hope igniting within her.

‘Focus on healing us. I have an idea,’ I urge, forcing myself to calm down. Panic won’t serve us now; I need clarity to execute my plan.

‘Care to enlighten me?’ she questions, a hint of curiosity lacing her tone, and I can feel the wheels turning in her mind.

‘Channel all that power and try to escape. The twins are coming for us,’ I instruct, determination surging through me like a tidal wave.

I can almost hear her exasperated huff, but I dismiss it, my eyes scanning for any opportunity to flee. As we are pulled down the dimly lit hallways, I catch sight of it—the corridor lined with trees, a glimmer of hope in this nightmare.

I channel some of Beren’s energy, focusing it into my teeth. With a swift motion, I sink our fangs into Thomas’s wrist, twisting my head violently to tear open his flesh.

He howls in agony, the sound echoing off the walls, and in that moment, he releases me.

“How dare you!” Francesca shrieks, her voice a thunderclap of fury as she whirls around to face me. “You’re getting blood everywhere!”

I can’t help but scoff inwardly; she’s worried about the blood? I push aside my thoughts and reach deep within my and Beren’s subconscious, searching for the presence I know is lurking there. It’s there, just within reach.

“Enough!” I scream, channeling the power that surges through me, feeling it pulse like a heartbeat.

The room freezes, and all eyes snap to me, a heavy silence enveloping the space.

With a sudden surge of strength, I rip my arm from Jarrett’s grasp and take a bold step back toward the tree-laden hall.

“You will let me go,” I command, my voice steady and resolute, the conviction in my words surprising even myself.

“You dare to try and use magic against me? I told you that you cannot wield magic,” Francesca scoffs, her confidence unshaken, but I can see a flicker of uncertainty beneath her bravado.

“Maybe not against you, witch, but they are wolves, and they answer to a different Goddess,” I growl, taking another step back, my heart racing with adrenaline.

“Grab her!” Francesca barks at Thomas and Jarrett, her voice laced with authority, but I can see hesitation creeping into their eyes.

“Attack her!” I counter, my own command ringing out with fierce determination.

The two traitors falter, caught in the throes of my order, their hesitation palpable as they glance at each other, uncertainty clouding their judgment.

“This way,” the blond urges, opening another passageway, but before we can step through, the entrance slams shut with a deafening finality.

“She’s coming,” the girl says, panic creeping into her voice. “I can’t get you out of here.”

“Can you escape and bring my mates?” I ask, anxiety clawing at my insides. The thought of being left behind terrifies me, but if she can fetch my mates, I won’t be alone for long.

“Yes, and I think I know a way to slow her down, so she can’t sacrifice you,” she replies, her expression grave, and I feel a flicker of hope amidst my fear.

I want to demand why she waited so long to tell me this, but the look on her face suggests that whatever she has planned won’t be pleasant.

With a wave of her hand, a vial materializes in her palm. “To be sacrificed, you have to be prepared. This will essentially poison you, making it impossible for you to be ready. It will be painful, but it will buy you time. The Countess will need to cleanse you, and that can take up to three days to fully rid your system of it,” she explains, handing me the vial with a solemn expression, her eyes filled with an understanding of the gravity of my choice.

“My baby, will this harm my unborn pup?” I ask, dread pooling in my stomach as I scrutinize the vial, my heart aching at the thought of my child.

“I don’t know. You were dosed with wolfsbane; there’s a good chance you’ve already lost your pup,” she replies, her words a knife twisting in my heart.

I suppress the wave of anguish that threatens to overwhelm me at the thought of my lost child, steeling myself as I take the vial. I glare at its contents, feeling the weight of my decision pressing down on me like a heavy shroud.

“Please hurry with my mates,” I plead, desperation lacing my voice, knowing that time is slipping away from me.

With a deep breath, I down the liquid, and fire courses through my veins once more, an agonizing burn that spreads like wildfire. The last image that etches itself into my mind before darkness envelops me is of the female witch disappearing into the shadows, leaving me to face the abyss alone.

—

In the depths of despair, Amalie’s journey has transformed from one of helplessness to a fierce assertion of her will to survive. Facing Francesca, the embodiment of her fears, she has found a flicker of defiance igniting within her. With every ounce of strength, she channels the magic that once felt out of reach, reclaiming her power in the face of overwhelming odds. The harrowing choice to ingest the vial, despite the potential loss of her unborn pup, signifies not only her desperation but also her unwavering determination to fight against the darkness threatening to consume her. The emotional turmoil of loss and sacrifice intertwines with her resolve, creating a complex tapestry of hope amidst despair.

As the shadows close in, Amalie’s journey is far from over. The uncertainty of her fate looms large, yet the flicker of hope remains alive in her heart, fueled by the bonds she has forged and the strength she has discovered within herself. The path ahead is fraught with peril, but she is no longer the frightened soul trapped in a nightmare; she is a warrior, ready to confront whatever challenges await her. With the promise of her allies on the horizon, Amalie stands poised to reclaim her life and protect the legacy of her unborn child, embodying the spirit of resilience that will guide her through the darkest of nights.