Adrianna changed into the wedding dress that her mother-in-law had sent. Consisting of a long brown skirt made from rare deer leather, it had a side slit that was open till mid thigh. The bustier with it was strapped across her chest. The problem was that the bustier was now not fitting her well. Her breasts had swollen due to pregnancy. She so wished that Dmitri was there to strap it from behind tightly but he hadn't come. She was getting irritated by the minute because of his absence.

When for a long time she wasn't able to tie her bustier properly, she picked a long bead necklace, put the bustier inside it and positioned it in the center. Then she wore the necklace. The trick worked and the blouse fitted perfectly on her bosoms. Later she wore ornaments made from beads of different colors. There was a headdress too that was adorned with feathers of various rare birds. She picked it and wore it. Giving a last look at herself in the mirror, she walked out the room.

​​

Dmitri was still nowhere to be seen and it aggravated her. She enquired the servants and even they didn't know. She strolled out to the garden where she saw Nefasky talking to a team of personal security guards. She walked to her and everyone in the group became high on alert. They surrounded her.

"Have you seen Dmitri?" she asked Nefasky.

Nefasky's mouth dropped open. "Hasn't he come back?"

Adrianna frowned. "Come back? From where?" She jerked her head back slightly.

Nefasky was so scared that her eyes flitted everywhere as if to find someone.

"What are you looking for?" asked Adrianna, raising an eyebrow.

"Lenny," came an anxious reply.

"Tell me what is going on," Adrianna demanded with a low growl.

Nefasky related the entire incident to her.

Adrianna's eyes bulged in shock. "If that is the case, they should return by now. Why didn't you come and tell me everything?" she lashed at Nefasky.

Why didn't Dmitri wake her up when this happened? Her mind became numb with all kinds of negative thoughts. She closed her fists tightly as blood drained from her face.

"Take me that place, now!" she snarled.

---

Dmitri was pushed back in his own body to a remote corner by a powerful force. It didn't take him long to realize that Vikra had possessed his body. He was shocked. Adrianna had killed him and tied his soul to her sword in a desert. Then who released him? Who gave him the hope of coming back? He fought with the soul of Vikra initially but he realized that Vikra was too powerful.

Within a few minutes of possessing him Vikra had silenced Dmitri.

The grey smoke around him receded and Vikra removed his ties. He looked at the old priest through his dull black eyes and said in a voice that echoed, "You did a good job, Haephus. Had you not found me in the desert, I would have never come back."

Haephus was extremely happy to see his Master waking up. He had increased the intensity with which he chanted Provbis. Haephus knelt on the ground in front of his Master and felt grateful that he was recognized for his efforts. "Master, you are back," he said with quivering lips. "This slave's purpose is fulfilled."

"Yes," replied Vikra. "Your job is finished now and you can join your ancestors."

"What?" Haephus couldn't understand what his Master even meant. Next moment he heard a crack, which was his own spine cracking from the neck. His body fell to the ground with his head rolled to the side of his neck.

All others standing around trembled in fear. Vikra killed the man who worked so hard to bring him back, who collected all of them one by one and created this cult over months of hard work. They all stood rooted to the ground. They were extremely scared of the wizard in the body of a werewolf who walked past them. They didn't even dare to look up now.

Vikra ambled to Lenny and said, "Take me where Adrianna is."

Lenny gulped. Although she was happy her mission was successful, Vikra's nearness was creeping her. His body was so cold that she could feel its icy demeanor. "Y- yes," she said and guided him outside the cottage. Everyone followed the two. Lenny created the portal and Vikra stepped in the portal and they walked in the Werewolf Realm.

Once the Master was gone, everyone dispersed.

---

"Take me to them," Adrianna snarled at Nefasky.

"Yes, my Queen," Nefasky replied with fear. She knew that Adrianna was super angry. "They have gone towards the periphery of the pack's territory towards the Healer's hut."

Immediately Adrianna created a portal using the energy around her. The portal consisted of thousands of green leaves intermingled with gold dust. The portal grew and the group stepped in it. They noticed several footprints and followed them. When they found the truck, Adrianna went to the back where she picked up a metallic smell. Fearing, she hopped in the truck only to find the butcher's body. But Dmitri wasn't there. She bit her lip in anxiety as she rubbed her neck with her hand. Her mind was drawing a blank as to where he went and that too with Lenny.

She instructed the werewolves with her to take care of the butcher's body and went back to the manor. She walked in to sit in the main hall to understand the situation.

All her thoughts only offered her pessimism. Her heartbeat accelerated and she decided to tell Dmitri's absence to everyone. She had to cancel the party and find her husband. She was on the verge of panic when her attention was diverted by a shrill voice that belonged to Nefasky.

"Lenny!"

Adrianna turned her head and caught the sight of her husband walking in the main hall along with Lenny. She rose from her place and ran to him. She hugged him tightly, as a tear dropped from her eyes. "Where did you go?"

He hugged her back gently and replied, "I am here."

Adrianna looked at Lenny with red eyes. Lenny flinched. "I am sorry Adrianna but Dmitri insisted that we find the murderers soon in order to have a smooth function."

Adrianna smiled and then looked in her husband's eyes. "I was on the verge of a panic. Next time tell me when you leave like this, okay?"

Vikra nodded, staring at her intensely as though trying to focus.

Feeling that something was odd, Adrianna touched his forehead. It was cold as if a slab of ice had been rubbed over it. "You don't look good," she said.

"I am fine," came another monotonous, dull reply.

"I think he is very tired," Lenny suggested. "Maybe he needs rest."

Adrianna blinked at her. She had a thousand questions to ask, but she decided against that and nodded. "You are right." She held his hand and said, "Let's make you sleep for half an hour. There is time for the guests to arrive. You also need to change into your wedding dress." Adrianna chuckled at the thought of seeing her husband in his wedding attire.

"Yes," he said in a strange voice.

The two of them walked to the couple's bedroom.

"But I want to be alone," said Vikra as they neared the bedroom.

As they were walking Adrianna couldn't decipher what was amiss. There was definitely something wrong. Why was he so cold? And there was one thing that worried her the most—why couldn't she feel his heartbeat?