The Lycan King's Fate Calling (Shawn Gibson and Sylvia)

Rufus' POV:

As soon as the she-wolf uttered her name, the fog in my mind cleared, and I saw her face clearly for the first time. It was Crystal.

I frowned in a mix of shock and confusion. "Sylvia? Your name is Sylvia?"

I chanted the name over and over in my head. I didn't know why I was so excited, but my heart was beating furiously. Something rushed inside me, like it was reaching for enlightenment.

I did feel as if I was enlightened. But the more I thought about the whole thing, the more confused I became. No, something wasn't adding up.

I grabbed the she-wolf by the shoulders and shook her. "Who the hell are you? Why are you so familiar to me? And why do you look exactly like Crystal? Are you Crystal as well?"

She tilted her head in that familiar way and gave me a look that said I was an idiot. "No, I'm Sylvia. Have you suddenly become stupid? Don't ever mention the name Crystal again. I don't like it. It's not as nice as Sylvia, anyway."

"All right, you are Sylvia. And what is the relationship between us? What is your connection with me?" I wasn't able to control my emotions. I was trembling even as I questioned her, my heartbeat so loud that I could hear it pounding in my ears. "We must have some sort of relationship, right? Otherwise, why would I keep dreaming about you? Why is your scent so familiar to me? I'm not even the slightest bit on guard around you. This isn't how things are supposed to be."

The she-wolf pulled back and let out an aggrieved gasp. "You're being weird. You're asking me what our relationship is? Didn't you once say that you wanted to live a happy life with me?"

"So, then, what does that make us? What is our relationship?"

The she-wolf's words implied that we were mates, and it terrified me.

I couldn't let her escape this time. I needed to get as much information as I could out of her, especially the important details.

She huffed in annoyance and rolled her eyes at me. "Stop asking already. I'll tell you, okay? I am your—"

She was cut short by a sudden,

violent roar. I felt my head splitting in

half, with countless little bugs swarming around me and gnawing

at my brain. This was nothing I had experienced before.

"Sylvia..." I staggered forward and reached for the she-wolf's hand. I couldn't let her go again. Something told me that if she disappeared this time, I would never find her again.

"I will miss you, Rufus." She touched

my face in the gentlest way, then leaned close and pressed a kiss on my forehead. Her voice was filled with love as she said, "I will protect you, no matter where I am. So you have to be all right."

"Are you leaving me?" I asked, and even I could hear the despair in my voice. I grabbed at her wrist, even as her figure gradually faded in front of me. All at once, I felt powerless again.

"I am leaving. We won't see each

other again. Don't look for me. Just forget me and move on with your life." Tears welled up in her eyes as she pulled away from my grip. "I love you, Rufus. I will love you forever."

As soon as she finished speaking, everything went black. I was startled awake, only to find myself staring into Crystal's confused eyes.

"You're awake!" I jumped out of the chair, relief flooding my senses.

But Crystal merely frowned at me. "Who are you?"