Chapter 137: Chapter 21

MAEVE

Collin wasn’t some enigmatic figure. He wore his heart on his sleeve, a hopeless romantic. I used to think that was a weakness. Romantics are vulnerable, they get hurt because they let people in.

But maybe they’re just living life to the fullest. They need to experience every emotion, even the painful ones, to truly live.

He retreated into his room, my lips locked with his. My hands roamed his torso. His back collided with his bedpost and I wrapped my arms around him, my fingers tangling in his hair. He groaned, prompting me to press my body closer to his. My chest against his, our mouths moving in a desperate dance.

His hands slipped up my back, under my sweater. My breath hitched as his fingers grazed my bare skin. I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. After a brief moment of fresh air, I returned to his lips. His hands gripped my sides, pulling me closer.

Our breathing became erratic, my skin was on fire. I dug my fingers into him. He pulled away, his hands shooting up to mine. “You’re stronger than me, Maeve,” he chuckled. His amusement didn’t soothe me. I quickly retracted my hands, not realizing how fiercely I was gripping him.

He spun me around, pressing my back to his chest. His lips found my neck. “I’ll teach you to be gentle,” he whispered in my ear. “Is it okay if I’m not?” he asked.

My eyes fluttered shut and I nodded, barely containing my excitement. I didn’t want to be treated like a delicate flower. I wanted to be pulled like a vine. I wasn’t a princess waiting for a prince. I was a warrior, meant for a warrior.

He sucked on my neck, his hands moving up to grip my chest. Pleasure coursed through me, making me groan. He guided my hand to his hair, allowing me to pull it, but this time I tried to control my strength.

He didn’t. His hand resumed its exploration of my body. He was rough, kneading me like dough. And I loved it. He wasn’t afraid to touch me, to squeeze and feel me.

He lifted my top and swiftly pulled it over my head, tousling my blonde curls. His kisses trailed down my back and spine. He dropped to his knees, kissing my hip while his fingers toyed with the waistband of my shorts.

And then he slowly slid them off.

He turned me around, leaving me standing there while he moved to his bed. He sat at the end, leaning against the headrest, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched me. Collin bit his lip, his eyes drinking in my curves.

He looked at me like I was beautiful. He made me feel beautiful. Like a goddess, like Venus.

I climbed onto his bed and crawled up to him. His eyes darkened, an eager growl escaping him as he watched me. Something new sparked in his eyes. A lust so intense it seemed to consume him.

I straddled him, completely bare while he was still in his unbuttoned pants. He groaned as I settled on him, applying pressure. His hands gently slid up my thighs. “You still want to feel that pain that love gives?” he asked, tilting his head to look at me.

I nodded and he gently pulled my lips to his. “When you leave for your pack, know that I loved you. That I hurt over my love that was cut short by distance. That my heart ached for you. Will you?”

My lips formed a thin line. “I will,” I said, my voice husky. It was soon drowned out by his breath. He caressed me, held me, touched me like I’d never been touched before.

He swiftly grabbed my waist and flipped me onto the bed, towering over me and kissing me. Somewhere in the midst of our passionate exchange, he shed his clothes. He whimpered as he kissed my body, as if I was the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted. Something he couldn’t get enough of.

I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed him. I gripped his sides and pulled him to me, eliminating any space between us. I wanted to feel every inch of him against my skin. He chuckled at the impact. “That wasn’t gentle.”

“You’re taking too long,” I said between kisses and laughter.

He hovered over me, watching me.

“Will you pretend that none of this happened tomorrow?” he asked, a playful tone in his voice.

“Absolutely I will,” I replied, keeping my expression neutral.

He grinned at me and buried his face in the crook of my neck. He kissed my sweet spot, his teeth grazing my skin. I didn’t think my breathing could get any faster. “We are not mates,” I said.

“I know,” he replied, his voice filled with regret. He knew that once he marked me, our bond would strengthen for a while, making it harder for us to part. He wasn’t my mate. The bond would be weaker. But since we were both mateless, it would be a feeling we would cherish. A mark that wouldn’t be permanent.

“What do we have to lose?” he asked. “This pain you talk about intrigues me. I want you to be mine. No matter how far. No matter who else you end up with. I want you to always be mine.”

I exhaled. “Make me yours.”

We knew this mark wouldn’t last forever since we weren’t mated by the Moon Goddess. But there were different kinds of love. And right now, we liked the idea of temporary pain.

He bit into my neck, making me moan in pleasure. My back arched in his hold, he growled and gripped me tightly. Euphoria washed over us. We mated. Like real mates did.

I laid on his chest afterward. His finger traced the spot where his mark was. “They will smell your claim on me,” I said, looking at his face.

“So what?”

“They will talk. If I was a werewolf it wouldn’t matter. They would accept that you found another lone wolf to keep you company. But it’s scandalous that you chose a vampire.”

“I don’t think it’s their business what I choose to do,” he retorted, clearly stating his feelings on the subject. Then he fell silent. “You will leave?” he asked, a hopeful tone in his voice that I had changed my mind.

“I have to.”

“You don’t.”

“I’m a beta. It’s an honor to serve my luna. She did everything for me. She made me her beta when I was a common omega. I can’t turn my back on her.”

“Can you turn your back on me?”

“You wouldn’t come with me,” he didn’t argue with that. He couldn’t because we were both betas. Living too far from each other.

“I can visit.”

“And what would that make us? Friends?” I asked.

“Do you want me to visit you?” he asked.

“How often can a beta travel? Twice a year?”

“And we will make it enough.”

“It won’t be enough. And we don’t know what will happen. What if one of us finds someone they could spend their life with? What if I want a family? What if you do? You know we can’t give that to each other with rare meetings.”

“Then what?” he asked. “Do we go our separate ways? As if we are nothing?”

“We were something. At one point in time. We will know it.” I kissed him one last time and lifted myself off his chest.

He watched me as I left. Not saying a word. As if he wasn’t even breathing.

ADELIE

I felt my life force slowly ebbing away. Decaying. They brought me food and drinks but I was too weak to move. They just took my blood. But they got carried away.

They kept taking too much. Every time they came to take more, I felt like it was the last I had. I often heard Kairos calling me. I had no energy to respond.

I heard footsteps approaching. Slowly. It wasn’t them. The doors never opened. And then, like a bolt of lightning, I sat up. My breathing was rapid. I looked over to see Death.

I looked up at him. The only person who kept me sane and who kept track of time. He would free me if he could. He would bring me food if he could. The most he could do without breaking the laws of the universe was bring me a small root he had just cut off.

It wasn’t enough to create anything, but it was enough to feed me a little.

“How are you holding up?” he asked.

“Is Elias all right?” I asked him.

Death nodded. “Kairos is taking care of him. They get along well,” he told me.

“I need to get out. But my energy is too drained.” They barely gave me food. Only enough to keep me alive. They couldn’t let me regain my strength.

His eyes settled on me. He slowly approached me.

“Give me your hand,” he told me and I extended my palm to him.

He slipped a golden dime into my hand. The same one I’d used on Kairos to make a wish. “This is my last gift to you. A generous man named Vincent once declined his wish. He told me to pass it on someday. Use it to save yourself. It’s just you against the world. Go back to your family, find happiness.”

“How… How long have you had this?” I questioned.

“For far too long. That man left me with a difficult decision. To grant someone else a wish. There were countless opportunities to pass it on.

“I always knew there would be a more deserving cause. Even this moment might seem insignificant in the future. But right now, I’ve never wanted to give this to anyone more. Just promise…promise me you’ll use it to save yourself.”

I rose from the icy bed. This was my chance. To escape. To obliterate everyone on this land. “I wish…I wish for nature to shatter these walls. Roots tearing down the stone and flowers sprouting at my command.”

I glanced up at him. “Is that acceptable?” I queried.

He beamed at me with pride. “You just can’t resist a fight, can you,” he chuckled. I could have simply wished for their demise. But I needed to be the one to do it.

I felt the roots slowly enveloping me, nourishing me. My vision sharpened.

I let my eyes linger in the darkness. Absorbing the power around me. Not racing against time. Just waiting. Sensing my potential. The power within me surged.

Thank you, Vincent.

My blood finally stirred, and my eyes opened to the sweet relief of power. I was myself again. Breathing and radiating energy.

I glanced over to the corner where Death had been. He was already gone.

No one received two death wishes. I did. The first one I used on my one and only love. Even if I ended up losing, I wouldn’t take it back. I had no regrets.

The tree roots were now shattering every wall and soon enough Ebenezer was rushing over to investigate the noise. His eyes widened in shock seeing me standing amidst the ruins of his precious box he had tried so hard to confine me in.

I wasn’t interested in hearing an explanation or apology. I just needed him gone. And I knew my blood was tainted. I had harmed others, killed, and sinned.

I wasn’t a hero either. Heroes would attempt to reason. Imprison them. I thought I was doing them a favor by ending them. And ensuring the rest of us were safe from their return.

There were many evil people living on earth. But there were some who made things worse and would destroy the world if given the chance. Ebenezer was one of them.

The following moments were a blur.

I found myself standing outside for the first time in what felt like forever. The grass beneath my fingers and the sun scorching my scalp.

I watched as the castle was swallowed by the earth. I wasn’t sure how many were inside. I annihilated every single one of them. Without mercy.

Did that make me a bad person? Certainly not a good one. But I’ll try to atone for my sins. If that doesn’t work, maybe hell won’t be so bad after all.

KAIROS

I shifted as quickly as I could. Started running mid-shift and lunged at the white wolf. Bit into his shoulder. My fangs tasting his putrid blood. Only howls filled my ears.

But Adelie was nowhere in sight. We were fighting them off, but my eyes kept searching. Where was she? The one in my grip escaped and I spotted another smaller figure. It looked like a young wolf. He wasn’t even approaching us. Just observing from a distance.

I made my move and pursued him. As soon as I did, he noticed and bolted. He was scared. Terrified.

He didn’t seem strong but he was fast and his smaller size allowed him to weave through the trees faster while I kept colliding with everything in my path. He glanced back to check if I was close and tripped, tumbling over and I pounced on him. Saliva dripped from my teeth.

“Where is she?” I demanded. He was taken aback when I didn’t even attempt to bite him. He looked around for help but it was eerily silent. “Tell me where she is and I’ll spare you,” I repeated.

His eyes darted around but what other choice did he have? He was at my mercy. He could try to run again but I would still outrun him. I knew the forest paths better than him. I knew how to steer him into traps.

“He bit her,” he confessed. “She fell over. Blood everywhere. By the river. You have to hurry,” he urged and was about to continue but I couldn’t waste any more time.

While chasing him, my shoulders had been injured and my legs bruised. But now I raced through the trees, hitting them so hard the green leaves fell from above.

I reached the river and she was nowhere to be found. I searched the area and she wasn’t there. I was scanning all around… I didn’t expect to find her in the water.

Lying in the shallow part. Her head resting in the dirt and her body floating, I rushed over to her and saw how dark red the water was. As if she was floating in a sea of blood from millions of victims. Her eyes were closed. I approached her and knelt down, feeling the red water on my skin and leaned in to listen to her chest. She wasn’t breathing.

I lifted my head and looked at her face. Now even paler. “Please wake up,” I pleaded. “Adelie…” my voice barely above a whisper. “I need my heart back,” tears streamed down my face. “You are my heart, Adelie.” I reached out to touch her face. “Please come back.”

But nothing changed. She was gone. Her heart had stopped. I pressed my forehead against hers and wept. My Adelie. She was gone. Truly gone this time. I kissed her. For the last time with no response from her. She was cold and lifeless.

I stood up, my knees shaky and weak. I looked ahead at the river. It was wide and four meters deep. I kept looking ahead and my feet carried me forward. Slowly submerging myself in. I kept walking until my head was under.

But I never resurfaced. And gradually I lost consciousness.

I woke up in a cold sweat. I looked around to see that I was in my room. It was just a dream, but my hands were trembling as if it had been real.

I picked up the marble and called out to her. She still didn’t respond.

It was early morning. I went over to Leonard to see if the book was ready yet. “A couple more hours. Since they know the last one was a fake we’re trying to make this one a little different,” he explained and gave me a sidelong glance. “You seem unusually calm,” he observed.

“It’s not the first time I’m risking my life. Not the first time I might die.”

“Are you not worried about Adelie?” he inquired.

I had thought about it and even dreamed about it that day. “She’s okay,” I stated confidently.

He seemed to disagree but didn’t voice it.

We both jumped when the doors burst open. It was Collin, out of breath, looking at us both and nodding. As if he had just seen a ghost. “She’s back…” he announced.

“Who?” Leonard asked but I was already on my feet, sprinting outside.