Scarlett
Sometimes you don’t plan anything but then, the plan spontaneously appears in your life and you have no choice rather than acting upon it.
I had no plan to escape from him this time but the moment I caught a glimpse of confusion in his eyes, I knew that I couldn’t be a part of his life anymore. I had to take my leave before it became too late.
When his mother diverted his attention and he carried his wife in his arms toward his home, I came back to Aunt Rachel’s house, and gladly Layla and my mom were still there. I hugged my mother and wept in her embrace, snuggling up in her warmth.
“I don’t know why the Moon Goddess is punishing you this way,” she muttered while patting my back. “You never hurt anyone, you don’t deserve this pain, my Letty.”
“I was wrong, mum,” I retorted, hiding my face behind her back. “They’re married. I loved a married man, it’s unethical. I wanted him, I wanted what was never mine in the first place. I did a horrible thing. I hurt his wife. I’m the reason for her pain and that’s why I deserve this pain.”
“No, Scarlett. You did nothing wrong,” Layla protested and caressed my hair. “Werewolves don’t marry for any promises. They mate with their mates. In our world, we prioritize love more than anything.”
It’s stupid. All these rules, promises, and mating thing, everything seemed ridiculous to me.
I couldn’t help but wonder why I was going through this pain and why I became the reason for someone else’s pain. No matter what, the truth was that Amber was married to Klaus and no woman in the world can endure seeing her husband with someone else.
“Amber also loves him so now, who is right and who is wrong? If the Moon Goddess wanted to control our lives, then, why did she put feelings in Amber’s heart? At least, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt if she wouldn’t love him and she shouldn’t have mated me with a betrothed wolf,” I barked at them and pulled myself away from my mother before walking away.
I was losing my mind and I didn’t know what to do. I was unaware of the way I could reduce the pain I was feeling. All I could focus on was my pain and the fact that I had lost Klaus, the Alpha whom I loved more than I could ever imagine that I was even capable of loving someone that much except Rhea.
I had always thought that Rhea was made for love, I was born to fight and protect but I didn’t know how to protect my own heart from feeling this pain and getting broken again and again by the person to whom it belonged.
“Can I come?” Sasha’s perplexed voice made me realize that I was crying.
The tears were rolling down my cheeks and for the first time, I didn’t want to be alone. I needed Rhea but unfortunately, I had lost her too long ago to get her back. I was feeling so lonely and broken, I was grateful for the others who still cared about me but my heart seeked for my sister.
The sister’s bonding is different and so comforting and I was trying so hard to keep myself busy so I wouldn’t be vulnerable or broken like this. I was suppressing my feelings and trying my best to avoid her memories because I knew that I would never be able to accept the truth that she was gone.
“I’m sorry for intruding,” Sasha said, making her presence known but I didn’t have it in me to wipe my tears and pretend that I was fine.
I couldn’t pretend anymore.
I couldn’t be strong anymore.
I had found myself in a situation I never wanted to be in.
I had lost the stoic grip on my emotions, I had lost control over myself, I had lost it.
I tilted my head up when I felt Sasha’s shadow over my head but I saw Rhea standing next to me with a sad yet pretty smile on her face and I stood up from the corner of my bed and threw my arms over her. “I missed you, Rhea. I missed you so much. I knew that you can’t leave me alone, you were not gone. You’ll come back to me even from the afterlife.”
My arms embraced her more tightly in a bone-crushing hug. I won’t let her slip away this time, I won’t let her go ever again. “I found my mate, Rhea but fate isn’t on my side. I’m in so much pain, I don’t know what to do. I have caused someone else pain and I still can’t think about living without him. You were right, I fell in love though I used to joke about the stupid mate bond and love,” I was so eager to tell her everything but I couldn’t speak further as I started sobbing hard which soon turned into small hiccups.
“Why? Why am I feeling this soul-crunching pain? What was my mistake?” I spluttered out in between my sobs. “Why, Rhea? Why?”
I could feel my subconsciousness seeping out of me and a sudden heavy burden on my eyelids making it hard for me to keep my eyes open.
“Scarlett, Scarlett, what’s happening to you?" It was the last thing that I heard before passing out and Rhea’s smiling beautiful face was the last thing I saw.
Perhaps the separation from my mate was taking my life away and I was dying with no regrets. My eyes will be shut forever but the last thing they saw was my lovely sister’s face. I recalled the memories of my childhood while I still could and my brain shut down with the memory of the sweet time spent with Klaus.
Our story will end here.
And I’ll find peace with my sister in the afterlife.
At least, I won’t be alone anymore.
“Letty, Letty, wake up, sweetie,” Rhea’s concerned voice woke me up and I stood up from my bed to see her opening her arms wide open.
“Rhea,” I screamed happily before running toward her and throwing my body at her.
Her body was strangely cold against mine, I broke our embrace and looked into her eyes questioningly. Gradually, I took our surroundings in and my eyes welled up.
My aunt and Sasha were consoling my mother whilst Layla was checking my body and for the first time, I was watching her hands shivering.
I was dead and my family was heartbroken.
“They’re thinking that they have lost you,” her smile at the end made me question myself if I was alive or dead.
Noticing my raised eyebrows, she smiled and added, “you’re alive, my strong Queen.”
“Then, why are they crying and how am I able to see you?” I asked, not understanding anything.
A smile appeared on her lips which reached to her eyes. “Your soul is feeling so much pain that she doesn’t want to survive so the Goddess sent me to convince you to live.”
“Aye. So the Goddess first tortures my soul and then wants me to continue to live with the pain for her entertainment,” I mocked and rolled my eyes. “I’m not going back. I’ll go to her and ask her why she played with my heart.”
“Shush,” she silenced me and continued, “you’re my strong Queen. You face everything gracefully and fight against it, you don’t give up.”
“I never wanted to be strong, Rhea. I’m tired of fighting, I caused someone else pain, I want to give up,” I said hoarsely.
Rhea patted my head adoringly. “You have so much to explore and gain. Your mate needs you more than ever.”
“No, he has a wife who is pregnant and I can’t snatch a child’s father from him. He broke my heart, he cheated on me,” I cried out, letting it all out.
She grabbed my hand in hers and put it on my chest. “The Moon Goddess didn’t create marriages. She created fated mates so you didn’t cause anyone harm or pain. Just don’t give up on your mate, you’re doing nothing wrong.”
“I can’t live with the burden of snatching someone’s happiness or sacrificing my own,” I said firmly. I couldn’t turn a blind eye toward Amber and her child.
“What about the burden that your mate is carrying alone?” Rhea’s eyes were filled with concern and love like an angel’s. “You’re not just my Queen. You’re yet to discover your identity and belongings. If you trust me, go back and live the life that I couldn’t live.”
* * * *
Even before I could open my eyes, his scent registered and I found my hand in his. He had clasped my hand in between his both palms as if a little boy who was scared of letting go of his favorite toy.
He didn’t say a single word and just pulled me to his chest, holding the back of my head and my back. “Don’t leave me alone, please.”
As he mentioned the word ‘alone’, it recalled some blurry memories of the dream I just had. It was the first time I saw Rhea in my dream after her death.
“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” I whispered in his ear, deciding to trust Rhea’s words.
‘You have taken enough rest. Now, you’ll find the truth before the next full moon,’ my wolf went all bossy over me which I admired as it was a part of me.
‘I’ll. My heart isn’t ready to believe that Klaus can even think of cheating on me,’ I told my wolf.
As soon as he saw me waking up from my delirium, a wave of relief washed over his face, and the way his eyes twinkled after seeing me, my heart fluttered at his caring.
I pulled my body away from him and cupped his cheeks before crushing my lips against his.