XL

Davina's steps echoed through the grand corridor, each one heavier than the last. Her mind raced as she made her way back from the tense encounter with Lucifer and the gods. Her heart thudded in her chest, every thought pulling her closer to despair, closer to the darkness she had fought for so long to resist. As she rounded the corner, Austin and Victoria appeared at the other end of the hallway.Austin's face was twisted with worry, and the moment he saw her, he surged forward. "Davina!" he shouted, his voice filled with both anger and fear. Victoria followed closely behind, her eyes wide with emotion, hands shaking with the tension she felt."How could you do this?" Austin yelled, stopping right in front of her, his hands grabbing her shoulders firmly, forcing her to stop. "How could you just leave us like that? Alone? Do you even realize what could've happened?"Victoria joined, her voice equally strained, "We thought we lost you! You can't just leave us behind like this!"Davina opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. Before she could process anything further, Austin pulled her into a tight embrace, and Victoria quickly followed, wrapping her arms around them both. For a moment, Davina stood frozen, overwhelmed by the wave of emotions crashing through her, feeling both guilty and relieved to be back with them.Victoria pulled back first, wiping a tear from her eye. "There's... a surprise for you," she said softly, trying to steady her voice. Just then, footsteps echoed from behind them, and Davina turned to see Alexander stepping forward.His face was a storm of emotion—guilt, sadness, love, and relief all mixed together as his eyes locked onto hers. He paused for a moment, his breath hitching, before rushing forward. In an instant, his strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her against him with a fierceness that left her breathless. "I remember everything," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. "How could I ever forget you... the only person I love more than life itself?"Davina felt his chest rising and falling against her, and despite everything, she felt relieved seeing him alright and all fine but this embrace of his felt wrong to her. She wanted to lose herself free fro his arms and to run back to the man she walked away in a sheer moment but before that she needs to properly apolgise to Alexander . Davina softly pushed her way from his embrace and Alex felt the difference .

"we need to talk aftet this " she voiced out her thoughts loudly to him anf he with a small, knowing smile - just nodded humming as a response to her . 

As they finally calmed down, Alexander's snake away his hand from Davina's waist , giving her space as Austin stepped back suddenly, his eyes widening in shock. "Wait," he muttered, his voice low and filled with realization. The others turned to him, confused."What is it?" Victoria asked, watching him closely.Austin's gaze darted to Davina. "It was him, wasn't it?" he asked in a whisper. "Lucifer... he's the one who saved you inside, from the gods."Davina nodded silently, her eyes meeting Austin's with an unspoken understanding. A strange, unfamiliar fear crept into Austin's chest, and he staggered back a step. His vampire senses were screaming—something was deeply wrong, and he could feel it in his bones. "Something's not right..." he murmured, almost to himself."What are you talking about?" Victoria asked, her voice thick with concern.But Austin didn't answer. He merely glanced at Davina one last time before hastily walking away, making some vague excuse about needing to check on the vampire association. Davina and Victoria exchanged a worried glance—both knowing he wasn't telling the truth. He was afraid, truly afraid of something, and Davina's heart twisted with unease.Without waiting another second, Davina broke away from Alexander's hold and ran back down the path she had come from. Her heart pounded faster with every step. Alexander and Victoria, puzzled and alarmed, followed close behind her, but nothing could stop the dread from clawing at Davina's mind.She burst into the room she had left not long ago, her eyes scanning desperately for him. But Lucifer was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Luna stood alone in the middle of the room. She quickly masked her sorrow with a forced smile, but Davina could see right through it."You've made your decision?" Luna asked, her voice calm and polite, but it was clear she was hiding something. Davina's pulse quickened. She didn't care about politeness anymore."Where is he?" Davina demanded, her voice trembling with fear. "Where is Lucifer?"Luna's expression didn't waver, but the calmness in her demeanor felt wrong, almost forced. "He left when you did," she answered simply."Take me to him," Davina almost pleaded now, her voice breaking with desperation. She knew she couldn't find him on her own. No one could—not unless Lucifer wanted to be found. But Luna could. Luna had to."I'm afraid I can't," Luna replied softly.Davina's knees buckled as cold sweat drenched her skin. She felt Alexander step forward, his strong arms wrapping around her, trying to steady her trembling form. But it wasn't enough. Nothing was enough."You wanted to make amends, didn't you?" Davina gasped, her voice cracking. "You said you wanted to help after what your people did to me! So help me now—take me to him!" She was on her knees now, her voice pleading, desperate. "I can't lose him again. Not after finding him after all these years..."Luna's face darkened, her anger barely hidden beneath her calm mask. "It's too late, Davina," she said, her voice sharp but not without sorrow. "He's made his choice—neither you nor I can change it now."Victoria stepped forward, her voice full of emotion as she joined Davina's plea. "Maybe she can help him," she said, trying to convince Luna. "Please, help her.""You think I don't want to help him?" Luna snapped, her calm façade cracking, anger blazing in her eyes. "But we all know who it is that led him to this end, again and again."Alexander immediately stepped in front of Davina, his posture protective, shielding her from Luna's sharp words. "Just take us to him," he demanded, his voice low and steady.Luna sighed deeply, her voice softening again. "Even if I wanted to, I cannot. He's closed himself off from the world... He's gone, Alexander."She turned to Davina, her eyes full of sorrow. "His only wish was for you to live your life, Davina. To live it fully. And when the time comes... he wanted you and Victoria to lead the wolf world, to ensure no one else suffers the way you all have."Davina staggered back as the weight of Luna's words hit her, an unbearable agony ripping through her. Her hands shook as she clutched her chest, her heart breaking. She refused to believe it—refused to accept that he was truly gone.With one last glance at Luna, Davina straightened herself, her resolve hardening. "I, Darcey Theodore," she declared, her voice loud and clear, "decline your offer today, and for all futures."Victoria gasped, looking at Davina in disbelief. Alexander's face fell into a sad smile—he knew then, he had truly lost her. Those words, final and resolute, sealed her fate.Luna's expression was unreadable. "Can you not fulfill his last wish?" she asked quietly, a small plea hidden beneath her words.Davina's eyes blazed with fury and pain. "I will not let him go in peace, leaving me behind once again." Her voice trembled, but her determination was unshakable. "He wanted to keep me away from Hell... Fine. I'll walk into it myself. He likes to do things alone? Then he'll have to come back to stop me from ruining everything."Alexander tried to stop her, his hands gripping her arm as if holding her would stop the inevitable. "Davina... please," he whispered, his voice broken.But she shook her head, gently pushing him away. "I'm sorry, Alex," she said softly, tears brimming in her eyes. "I can't stay. Not without him."And with that, she left them all standing there, her steps growing faster as she disappeared from their sight .