Chapter 81 – Dilemma
Titus couldn't stay still. He couldn't quiet his mind, no matter how hard he tried.
He kept thinking about Sarah's transformation—because there was only one day left, and the weight of that truth stayed locked inside his chest like a stone.
He was caught in that dilemma, turning it over again and again, but deep inside he already knew what he had to do.
In the end, he didn't really have a choice. Not a real one.
All he could do now was prepare—prepare everything, prepare himself, prepare the moment—so that when the time came, everything would go right.
Or as right as it possibly could.
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Titus felt the weight of the day press against his shoulders long before the sun began to set. He had barely slept the night before. Every hour, every minute that passed reminded him that this was the day—the day of the ritual, the day Sarah's life would change forever, or possibly end. No matter how many times he tried to calm himself, the same thought came back: there was no escape from this choice. One way or another, it was happening.
He called Sofía early in the morning. His voice sounded tight even to his own ears.
"Sofía… is everything ready?"
On the other end, Sofía answered without hesitation, steady and calm in the way only she could be. "Everything is prepared. The chamber, the protection, the safeguards—everything. My mother is already at the mansion. She will guide the ceremony."
Titus swallowed. "And Sarah?"
"I'm sending a limousine for her," Sofía said. "And another one for you. We'll meet here before the ritual begins."
Titus nodded even if she couldn't see him. "Okay."
When the limousine arrived for him, he forced his legs to move. His chest felt like someone had tied a rope around it and kept pulling tighter and tighter. He climbed inside, sat down, and tried to breathe, but every breath felt shallow. Images rushed through his mind: Sarah smiling, Sarah laughing, Sarah trusting him without hesitation. And then the other images—monsters, beasts without reason, flesh and claws, shadows tearing through the frozen park.
By the time the limousine stopped again, the door opened and Sarah stepped in.
She wore the same school clothes as earlier in the day. Her legs trembled slightly as she sat beside him, but she smiled. A nervous, excited smile—half fear, half joy.
For the first few minutes, neither spoke. The hum of the engine and the soft vibration of the wheels on the road filled the silence.
Finally, Titus turned toward her. "Sarah… are you sure about this? We don't have to—"
"Yes," she said immediately. "Titus, I already made peace with it. If things go wrong, then they go wrong. But I'm taking this risk because I want to. Because it's my choice."
He opened his mouth, but she continued.
"I spoke with Sofía," Sarah said, her tone calmer than he expected. "She explained the laws of the clans. I didn't know how strict they were. If a human knows the secret, and the clans find out… they eliminate them." She looked down at her hands, then back at Titus. "So no matter what, I'm already in danger. At least this way… I'm choosing what happens. Not them."
Titus lowered his gaze. He hated that she was right. He hated that she was so calm about it. And he hated most of all that this was happening because of him.
She leaned slightly closer. "If something goes wrong, Titus… at least it was my decision. Not someone else's."
Titus didn't trust himself to speak, so he only nodded.
The limousine slowed as it entered the long private road leading to Sofía's mansion. The building stood tall and imposing, old stone walls, wrought‑iron balconies, and a pair of enormous wooden doors carved with ancient symbols. It felt like stepping into another world—older, deeper, heavier.
When the car stopped, Sofía was already waiting at the top of the stairs. She greeted them with a small nod, then looked at Sarah with an expression that blended sympathy and admiration.
"Everything will be fine," she said softly. "You're doing something brave."
But when she looked at Titus, her expression changed. A shadow of worry passed through her eyes. She could sense how torn he was, how afraid.
"Come inside," she said. "We don't have much time."
They followed her through the entrance hall, past chandeliers, statues, ancient tapestries, and a long corridor lined with flickering wall lamps.
Before entering the ritual chamber, Sofía stopped and turned to Sarah.
"You need to change into something more appropriate," she explained. "Your clothes won't resist the transformation if everything works. The fabric must stretch, tear, or fall away without harming you. Come with me."
Sarah nodded and followed Sofía into a side room.
The minutes felt endless for Titus. He stood alone in the hallway, staring at the closed door, feeling the seconds crawl by like cold fingers. When the door finally opened again, Sarah stepped out wearing a long white tunic. Simple, soft, and loose enough to survive whatever might come.
Her hair was tied back, her face clean, her expression a mixture of fear, hope, and determination.
"Titus?" she asked quietly.
He stepped toward her, unable to speak for a moment. He finally managed a trembling, "You look… ready."
She gave a small smile.
Sofía gestured toward the ritual chamber. "This way."
The chamber was large, circular, dimly lit by torches mounted on stone pillars. The air smelled of burning incense—sweet, sharp, ancient. On one side of the room, a raised stone platform stood, shaped like an altar but reinforced with metal bars. Heavy chains and cuffs hung from both sides, prepared for every possibility.
Sofía's mother—the Duchess—stood beside it. She wore ceremonial robes, pale and silver, her posture strong and noble. Two guards stood behind her, silent and still.
When she saw Titus enter, she gave him a respectful nod. "You are here. Good. We must begin soon."
Titus stared at the table—at the chains, the cuffs, the heavy metal braces. Fear twisted inside him.
"Why… why all of this?" he asked.
The Duchess answered with calm precision. "Because transformation is unpredictable. If she becomes feral, she will lose all control. These restraints protect us… and protect her. Should her mind shatter during the ritual, this will keep her from harming herself or others."
Sarah placed a gentle hand on Titus's arm. "It's okay. I understand."
He shook his head. "Sarah… I don't want you to feel like—"
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek softly. "Thank you for worrying. But don't. I'm ready."
The Duchess motioned to the guards. They approached the table and opened the restraints. Sarah stepped onto the platform and lay down. The tunic settled around her body like a second skin.
The guards secured the cuffs—loose for now, because if the transformation worked, she would grow far beyond her current size.
Titus looked away. It was harder to see than he expected.
Music began to play—deep, ancient drums mixed with haunting Siberian chanting. Flames flickered along the walls. Shadows danced.
Sofía stood beside her mother. Titus walked closer to the platform, his heart pounding. The Duchess lifted a ceremonial blade—a short, curved dagger engraved with runes.
"You must bite your arm," she instructed calmly. "Your blood must enter her mouth. That is the bridge between human and wolf."
Titus felt his hands shake. He looked at Sarah lying there, breathing deeply, watching him with unwavering trust.
He forced his wolf fangs out. They extended with a faint, painful pressure. Sarah stared, mesmerized. Her eyes shimmered faintly, reflecting the torchlight.
"Titus," she whispered. "I'm ready."
He took a breath, lowered his arm, and bit down. Pain shot through him, but he didn't flinch. Blood filled his mouth. He tore a small piece—not enough to harm himself, but enough to follow the ritual.
Sarah inhaled sharply when she saw it, but she didn't look away.
He leaned over her, letting the blood flow from his arm into her mouth. The Duchess raised her hands, chanting in an ancient Siberian language—words older than any clan in the region.
Sarah swallowed the blood.
The torches flickered.
The air changed.
The ritual had begun.
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Hook: What came next would be impossible to stop…