Taming Darkness
Chapter 29

~Kalen~

As a child in the orphanage, I always yearned for a place to call home. There is an inexplicable feeling deep within me, urging me to replace my true place in the world. It wasn't until I discovered my mates that I understood the distinction between a mere house and a

home. A home couldn't exist without the people who made it complete.

ease.

My childhood dreams were filled with fantasies of a loving family, and that was precisely what I found with my mates. They were more incredible than I could have ever imagined, but a lingering void persisted within me, preventing me from feeling completely at Aleera's arrival brought the sense of completion and family I'd craved for so long. She tamed the shadows that had haunted me throughout my life. We no longer chase her ghost across the country, but rather, we summon her spirit and allow her to become our everything. She invokes the good within us. The light.

It was a foreign concept to me, one I only vaguely understood. Aleera illuminates this notion, revealing its personal impact on my life. The darkness that once threatened to consume me is now diminished in her presence. I feel compelled to fight back, to protect her from the shadows. She has tasted our darkness and forgiven us, taming our unruly hearts.

Her absence leaves me spiraling, falling back into the darkest recesses of my memory. My heart battles with the fear that all of this may be a cruel dream, and I have to remind myself that there is a way out of this blackness that I didn't have before. I've experienced countless nightmares in my life, but never did I think that life with my mates could become the living hell we now face. A cycle of malevolence, manipulation, and past mistakes haunt us, forming a never-ending river of torment. My mates are extraordinary, each one perfectly complementing the others, creating a harmonious puzzle. They inspire me to be a better person, but our collective fighting spirit has been drained.

Aleera is weary, both physically and mentally; we can sense it through our bond. She has been burdened with too much knowledge about her past and ours without any time to process it. She bears the weight of the world on her shoulders, struggling to keep afloat. What can I do to ease her suffering? What words can I offer to save her from this crushing burden? I need to show her that my mates and I will stand by her side, regardless of what challenges lie ahead.

As I contemplate these thoughts, I bite into the quick of my finger, not even realizing that I've been chewing on my nails. I inhale deeply, attempting to clear my mind. A sudden shift in my surroundings leaves me feeling lightheaded and disoriented.

I struggle to maintain my balance, and gravity seems to have been turned off. Is this due to extreme stress or perhaps a lack of sustenance? I take a shaky step forward, only to have my knees buckle under me as gravity returns, forcing my body to the ground. I am unable even to attempt to rise.

In an instant, the oppressive weight vanishes, and I replace myself in an entirely different place. Thin, white mist sprawls across the ground, creating an ethereal atmosphere. I sit up and breathe in the unexpectedly fresh air, muttering a disbelieving, "What the hell?" I rub my eyes and squint, attempting to see through the enigmatic mist. What is happening? What am I witnessing, and could this experience become even more bizarre?

As I reach out to touch the mist, it slips through my fingers, unaffected by my presence. I rise to my feet, determined not to waste any time. Peering through the fog, I desperately seek something recognizable. "Well, off on an adventure we go. Just call me Dora the Explorer." I chuckle as the words escape my lips.

Ordinarily, I wouldn't trust myself to venture into the unknown, but I have no other choice this time. I have two options: either sit in one spot in this eerie place and likely perish, or leave and discover where this journey will take me. Surprisingly, I choose life over death.

As I take a cautious step forward, the mist parts around me, inviting me deeper into this mysterious realm. I've never seen anything like this before, and I rack my brain trying to remember any similar experiences. I reach out again, and the mist yields to my touch. Nodding to myself, I maintain my slow, cautious trek forward.

Initially, I'd planned to take my time, but the further I ventured into the mist, the more intensely the urge to hurry courses through me. Something-or someone-important is waiting for me, perhaps even needs me. The sensation intensifies just ahead, where the haze is thickest.

"Damn mist," I grumble, swiping at it once more. "This stuff is really starting to piss me off." The sensation remains strong, but I've already parted the fog countless times during my journey. Desperate to discover the source of this magnetic pull, I grow increasingly impatient.

Just when I'm about to give up and turn back, I spot a door concealed within the mist. I sprint the final steps and grasp the handle, taking a deep breath before twisting it open.

A grin spreads across my face as I fling the door wide open, finally escaping the maddening mist. As it dissipates, I catch sight of her.

Aleera!