Prologue: The Dying Girl in a Wedding
So, here it is! I hope you would like it :)
"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." -Leonardo da Vinci
Prologue: The Dying Girl in a Wedding
Breathe in
You should die
Breathe out
Stop breathing and just die already
Breathe in
Shut up
Kill yourself wolf
I would kill this body to—
Breathe out
I open my eyes to see my reflection on the mirror. I can still hear them bickering in the back of my mind, snapping at each other at how much they wanted to kill me and each other. I pleaded through my eyes at my reflection.
Just make it, don't feel it. You're not f*****g Elsa, but you have to do what she did.
The constricting pain in my ribcage doesn't subside for a while. I expected myself to faint in the middle of the ceremony, but thankfully things just got out of hand in the middle of the reception. I lean on the wall of the restroom while hearing the loud chatter and noise of the wedding reception a few doors down from where I was.
Come on, listen to your own voice and not theirs, I remind myself through the insults and arguing in my head. I wait for a few more minutes for the pain to stop and even took some painkillers and relaxers to prevent the stroke-like symptoms that were manifesting. It took twice the usual dosage and a few minutes before it finally worked.
Knock. Knock.
I sigh "In a minute."
Knock. Knock.
I groan while splashing water on my face. She knocks on the door again, but this time urgent and louder. I hope for her sake that she'd be old and frail, so I won't feel as irritated as I am now. I take one last look at myself.
Dark hair in a tight braid with a full fringe covering my forehead. I smile, but it looks off and forced to me. I can imagine Miguel, my goofy human boyfriend, just laughing and telling me not to ever smile so forcefully ever again. He is one of the rare people that can break through the facade and mask I've made throughout the years.
Living in werewolf territory meant that I'll have been stiff and cold on the outside. I also have one person to thank for turning me this way. I put my hand over my chest, feeling my tired and stressed heart just under it. I patted it softly and promised it that it won't be long now. Just another year and I'll be twenty-one.
Opening the door, I'm surprised to see not a frail old lady but Skylar. He looks taller now and bulkier than the last times I saw him which was in Iona's k********g. Iona is my best friend from childhood. We met in the hospital where we practically grew up in. She had cancer while I had a heart condition. She is sad, the cousin of this werewolf standing in front of me.
He raises a single perfect brow. "You plan on living in there?"
The frown on my face isn't a mask anymore. Since coming back, I have only caught glimpses of him and made it my sole mission to avoid the Blackfield's that hated me, especially the brother of the mate who rejected me.
"No, but I was planning your death there" I sneer. I see the surprise in his face.
That's right, I fight back now.
I brush past him, hitting his large shoulder with all the strength my small body can give. Moving away from this town was the best thing to have ever happen to me. This city just brought me a horrible life, and if it weren't for Iona and Synthia, then I would have died years ago or given up. Being away also changed me, I'm not the same hybrid anymore that cowered and avoided conflicts.
My heart can take much more now, thanks to the witches and warlocks that owed my parents. I fix my bridesmaid dress, it was purple and lacy with the sleeves hanging off my shoulders. I don't know how to describe it since it's Synthia who's good with clothes.
I take deep breaths and made sure to look behind me to see if Skylar followed me. Luckily, he didn't. I retake deep breaths to calm my heart for good luck before turning the golden doorknob that led to the event hall. I was met with grandeur and with different werewolves looking at the enemy in their midst.
I met their eyes with a blankness that came with my mask. I learned if I look blank and expressionless with the guise of being calm, it works to irritate them. There were so many golden eyes that met mine, which made my hand itch to take my phone from my purse. I wanted to talk to Miguel and tell him that I would do anything to be with him in his flat again.
We'll be drinking hot tea for him and hot cocoa for me, there would be music playing from his ancient phonograph, and we'd be cuddling under a blanket on his comfortable couches. I'll talk about how horrible the people at the wedding was as they ostracized me for being a hybrid and having the blood of the enemy. He'll comfort me and make me smile and laugh.
There were so many times, I have wished that this silly human was my mate. So, many times I've wanted for it to happen, but apparently, the Moon Goddess only gave us one soulmate for eternity.
"You don't have to go, you know," Miguel said, one cold night while we're in his apartment. Him naked over the counter and me naked under the covers of his bed. He forces a grin on his face while his eyes met mint. "You can stay here."
I smile softly at him "I can't miss my best friend's wedding."
"Then I can go."
"And risk my old mate to kill you?" I shake my head "That would kill me, Miggy."
He presses his lips into a tight line and lets out a frustrated sigh "I wish I wasn't...so human then I can fight back."
I pull the covers from his bed and walk to him. I wrap both of us in the comfortable blanket while I nuzzle his back. "You're perfect."
"You barely feel full when you feed on me." he slowly turns to face me while his arms wrap around my torso. "I hate not being made for you."
I caress his cheek "I chose you."
"But I wasn't made for you" he whispers, his lips pressing to my forehead while he takes a deep breath. He has a habit of smelling me, which made me ask him why, and his only answer was that I feel addicting. "You know, Mim I won't blame you for going to that bloke instead of me."
I frown and pull back "Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Pushing me away when I am perfectly happy with you" I put my hands on his cheeks making him look at me. "There isn't anyone else that can make me happy as much as you do."
It broke my heart when he mustered a sad smile. It hurts to know that no matter what I say to comfort him, it would never be able to truly reach him. After all, we both knew the truth and that I have a soulmate out there while he only has me.
"I love you" I whisper, his eyes widen at my proclamation. I haven't said those words to him yet in fear of his reaction. "That's why after the wedding, you'll come to America and we'll have a vacation there. Away from that stupid bloke."
He smiles, this makes him feel better. He leans down to press his lips against mine and pulling my body flush against his.
I'm snapped back to reality when I see Iona in her white wedding dress with one of her twin children in her arms. She looks haughtily and disapprovingly at the direction of the werewolves as she brushes her hand against my shoulder.
"Are you okay?" she asks me. Seb, the one-year-old, looks at me with interest and even leans towards me so I'd reach out and take him in my arms.
"I am" I assure her while smiling at the blue-eyed Seb. He's wearing a small tux identical to his fathers and smiling at me. "How are you, little man?"
"Auntie, you're so...pale" he puts his small hand on my cheek to which just makes me smile
"That's her normal, dear and how many times do I have to tell you not to comment about how people looked" Iona chastises softly.
I shook my head at her direction "It's fine" I laugh while Iona tries to shield me away from the gazes of the werewolves and pulls me to the course of my seat. I'm seated beside her with Synthia on my other side.
I see Synthia in her small version of the bridesmaid gown. The eleven-year-old looks worryingly at us. The scar on her throat is clearly visible because of her dress. She's deaf, but the injury isn't the reason why she is deaf. Synthia got into a car accident with her mother when she was just five and had undergone ten operations.
"What happened?" she signs, her hearing aids made her hear a sound to a certain degree, but she prefers signing.
"Nothing" I sign back. I kiss her temple to assure her that I was fine while I sit back down on my seat.
My table was with the bride. Iona's parents were dead, and Synthia and I took their places instead. I place Seb firmly on my lap while he plays with my dark hair. He tells me about how he missed me and that he just learned that I was a hybrid
"I didn't know, you were such a bad thing" he whispers as if me being different was a secret meant for a one-year-old to know.
It's interesting how he is like Iona's other cousin. He inherited the increased intellect of alpha just like Doram, who is only a six-year-old now, but he is currently debating with his eldest brother whether to attend Harvard or Cambridge in the summer.
I smile "Do you think I'm bad?"
I ignore the twinge in my heart at the thought of this small sweet boy hating me and scorning me like the other werewolves, but I wouldn't blame him for thinking like that. He is a werewolf through and through.
He shakes his head and with a toothy grin says, "You haven't done anything to merit to be a bad person. You're nice and my Aunty."
I couldn't help my smile widening at what he said. "You're such a charmer, you know that?"
"Well, he is my son."
I turn to look at Seb's blue-eyed Father. Drake looks imposingly down at everyone except for his family. He turns all soft and mushy when it came to them, and it shocks me to see that he is directing that to me as well.
Drake is one of Iona's mates. Both of her mates saved her from dying from cancer and dying from her abusive Father's clutches. I smile back at Drake and try not to be bothered at his kindness. I still haven't grown used to the fact of receiving such service from a werewolf. Iona might be a werewolf now, but she was born as a human and was just turned by her mates.
"Maybe, we should finish this reception earlier than expected" I hear Damiano say while he held a sleeping Emma. He tenderly brushes back her hair that covers her face while she slept on his chest.
"Oh, please no," Iona says to Damiano with wide eyes. "I'll carry Emma if you're tired. It's been a while since I've seen my family and I just met yours. It'll be rude and a waste if we finish it way too early."
"Iona is right" Drake agrees while looking back at his mate.
I could still feel the daggers directed at me when I look back to Seb and ignore the private conversation of the three mates. I find myself often left out when those three talked about their affairs since they get so rapt with their own world.
"Do they hurt you?" Seb asks after a long silence.
I furrow my brows "No, why do you ask?" Why is a one-year-old asking such questions right now?
He pouts and adorably leans towards me. he rests his chin on my chest and smiles comfortingly. "You can always tell me if they hurt you, Aunty."
I laugh, I couldn't help it. I don't care whether my heart would have another attack or that I'm in front of six different packs in total that wants to kill me or the existence of my kind. I look lovingly at the child on my lap and kiss his forehead. "I won't dare hide such a thing from you. I'll tell you immediately if they do."
He chuckles and wraps his small arms as much as he can around my torso. "I love you, Aunty."
"I love you too little man."
I look up to see my parents. Mom was looking at me with a soft smile with Dad on her side. Her eyes were twinkling at me while looking like I was something to be admired. Dad, on the other hand, was glaring at everyone, he is mad with all the werewolves in the room because of me. If I squint my eyes, I can see the smoke coming out of his body from the flames of the underworld.
Being a high-ranking demon, Dad oversaw the punishment of those souls who deserved hell. He glares at one particular table that isn't that far from where he was seated. I know he is looking at the one person he is excited to see in the flames of the underworld. I look at the table to see Frier in his magnificent beauty.
I blame the attraction to the mating bond. I ignore the somersaults in my gut while Frier glares at the plate in front of him. He might have rejected me, but the tenuous relationship of our souls was still there. My whole being was beating for him, even the silence from Deima and Eros in my mind was because of him.
But I couldn't forgive him, I might be fated with him, and I might be his mate, but it doesn't change the fact that he rejected me. He dismissed me when he knew of my condition and was one of the chief tormentors that tried to kill me so many times while at school.
And I love Miguel. I know that I do because the thought of him made my whole train of thought redirect to him. Deima and Eros bickered and directed their anger to me at the idea of Miguel, but I was happy. I've never been thrilled before with these two trying to tell me to kill myself and each other. This was the first time that even though I was utterly miserable being inside my mind with the two, I would still want to live.
Frier might silence the two and make them amenable to each other, but I was still miserable with him. He makes me want to kill myself more than anything. Iona tried everything to push him away from me, she was even the one to suggest to my family to move away. We did just that because Iona has been family.
Iona isn't as close to her cousins as she is with us. Her family she grew up in the hospital. Her human Father, who was abusive and an addict, drove Iona and her mother to the point of estrangement. They never asked help from her uncles even when she was rejecting the treatments.
"Aunty" Seb breaks my thoughts, and I look down at him. he gave me a worried look. "Are you okay?"
I nod "I'm okay, just...thinking. Are you tired? Do you want to sleep in your room with Emma?"
He shakes his head "I want to be with you...to keep you safe."
I smile at his words. They gave me a warm feeling in my chest while I kiss his forehead "You're beyond adorable, dear."
I feel someone tap my shoulder and see it was Synthia's guard, Hanzo, a trusted hunter to protect her. His blonde hair that looks like sunlight was swept to the side with gel and his midnight dark blue eyes strikingly look down at me.
"I think it's time Synthia and I should go," He says, his hard stare cutting through me. It's not that he hates me, it's just that he hates everyone. He's a hunter who stumbled upon Synthia who is a rare breed of human that can talk to ghosts and ask about the future called a Visioner.
Then for some odd reason, the hunter didn't move to kidnap the girl or kill her as Visioner's blood is sought out for because when ingested it can give you the temporary ability to see the truth for yourselves. He in fact volunteered and ask permission from Synthia's Father to guard her with his life.
I was so enraged at the news that Synthia was walking home on her own that it took me a while to accept that Hanzo was harmless. He grew attached to her for unknown reasons that we still are debating on.
When asked, he just says it's his problem to figure out and not ours to worry about. We thought they were mates, but we asked for a witch to take a look at their souls if they're fated, and she said they weren't.
It took us months to finally accept that Hanzo wasn't there to kill her or was there for personal gain. For a while, I knew that he loves her in his non-pedophilic way. The only information about his past that he told us was that he lost his little sister in an attack from the fae people and not much is known other than that.
Hunter's once hunted every other species, but now their only enemy was the fae people. They have this strange ability to elude and maintain their mysterious identities which is why we didn't know much from Hanzo other than his name and the fact he lost his sister.
"I don't want to yet" Synthia signs Hanzo and me. She throws him a glare while pleadingly looks at me.
"It's getting dark which would be dangerous even with me, and your bedtime is close," Hanzo says, facing Synthia so she can read his lips.
Her frown goes deeper, almost into a scowl. "Iona can only get married once."
"You only have one life" Hanzo throws back.
I smile at their bickering unlike Eros, and Deima's arguing in my head, this was definitely cute. "Hanzo, it won't hurt if she stays until the cutting of the cake. You should enjoy yourself too. Sit down, have some champagne and eat something rather than just standing in Synthia's shadow."
Synthia smiles smugly as she read my lips while smiling triumphantly at Hanzo. He stares blankly at my face while looking at Synthia. He sighs and steps back, fading into Synthia's shadow like he never existed at all.
Another nifty hunter ability.
"Thank you" Synthia smile at me and kisses my cheek then Seb's cheek. "I would want to stay longer."
"As you should," Iona says, finally back from her talk with her two precious husbands. "Hanzo still being overbearing?"
"Isn't he always?" Synthia groans while I saw a flicker on her shadow. Probably Hanzo showing his distaste of being talked about.
I grin while Seb eats the food in front of us. The adorable thing decides that it's his job to feed me spoonful's of the food he's having. "Thank you," I say while biting on the spoon.
The night went on with me staying in my seat. I didn't want to have another encounter with anyone related to Frier. Anyone connected to him just spells danger to me. I see Skylar and Mark, his brothers, seated with him along with their parents, Raven and Fiona. I took a sip of my water since alcohol isn't good for my heart.
After the cutting of the cake and the dances, Hanzo carried a tired Synthia in his arms. He treats her as if she's still a child and looked like an overbearing father than anything. I also kept my eye on Frier and his family.
There were moments where our eyes met, but all he can do was glare at me. I could see the anger in his eyes as his stormy grey eyes look accusing and unwavering. He wanted me to be the first to look away and bow down to him. I didn't give him that satisfaction. I ignored the warm feeling in my chest and the increased heart rate as I did. His brown hair swept to the side while he wore his tailored suit.
He was quickly the tallest man in the room. He is six feet and ten inches, encompassing close to a troll's height but he didn't look like one which just infuriates me more than it pleases me. He's lazily leaning back in his chair while his fingers thrummed impatiently on the table.
I glare at him, never breaking contact. Seb went to sit on Synthia's empty spot since she left. We moved in closer to mine so that he can lay his head down on my lap while he slept. My hand keeps brushing his dark hair to comfort me more than it comforts him. I raise my chin while Frier looks like a smouldering Greek statue in the Parthenon.
"—Thank you for coming everyone!" My gaze snaps to Damiano's booming voice in the hall. A sleeping Emma still in his arms while Iona is in Drake's arms, asleep as well. Iona and Emma are too much alike, Iona was already tired after the dances, and now I can see the haste her two mates are trying to pull. "Go home take those bags or whatever those shits are called, and we'll leave"
I smile. Still, the crass Damiano that I've come to know. The Lycan is so good at being his blunt and honest self. Drake chuckles but then looks at me.
"Damiano would probably take Seb," He says, gentle. His blue eyes swimming in concern at Seb and me. "I don't think I would be able to carry him with this beauty in my arms."
I look at the sleeping Iona with her long dress in his arms. I don't think he'd be able to either "I won't mind taking Seb home."
"No" Damiano interjects, he impatiently took Seb in his free arm while he shifts Emma to make space for him. I didn't take offence to that since I know how overbearing Damiano is as a father. I know he didn't hate me, but he really just loves his kids.
I have an overbearing father, so I know how they act. Speaking of overbearing Fathers, I see mine standing and walking to my direction as the werewolves dispersed with laughter. They knew how Damiano can be.
"I'll be taking my son, and you should just worry about yourself and that boy," Damiano says, his c***s his head to Frier's direction. I look and see that Frier was standing while talking to Damiano's Lycan family. Damiano sends me a wink "Good luck and kicks his balls for me. he's been incredibly troublesome in the council for a while now."
I chuckle while standing myself and taking the gift bag on the table. "I'll send your regards to him if we ever cross paths."
"Make sure you make it hurt" Drake winks at me while they exit the room.
"Mirage" Dad says while offering his arm. I can see his eyes close to flickering red and the smell of smoke and ash is getting stronger. "It's time to get home."
I sigh, smiling at Dad's sweetness. "Dad, I don't think I can walk" I joked
"Then I'll carry you" he moves to carry me, but I swat him away.
"I'm just kidding. I'm not a child anymore, Dad."
His shoulders slack, and his eyes soften. It was a complete turn from a second ago. The smoke was gone, and Dad was just softly sighing while looking at me. "You'll never grow up in my eyes, little cub."
He gently holds my hand and intertwines them. He gives me a soft smile and kisses my forehead. I can see the surprised looks from the werewolves as they've never seen a demon with mild affection or any affection at all.
"Daddy, I'm okay" I whisper to him. "I won't let him hurt me."
"I won't give him a chance to" He growls. His body again goes hard and on alert as he turns us towards Mom, who was giggling and sitting on her chair.
She's drunk, which made me grin, but I quickly took it out of my face before any other werewolves would see. My mom is a succubus which made her beauty close to being unparalleled. She looks more like an angel than another strain of demoness. Her blonde locks shining under the chandelier lights. Her perfect nose was held by her high cheekbones. She had this small face and naturally red lips—a demoness in an angel-like beauty.
"My babies!" she hiccups while Dad groans. I feel his whole-body shudder through our intertwined hands
"Ew, Dad!" I shake my hand away from him.
He smirks at me while shrugging as if to say, What can you do?
Mom launches herself to Dad's arms, and he catches her quickly. "Where were the two loves of my life went to?" She slurs
"I just went to get our daughter" Dad holds Mom's waist with one arm and tightly held her to his side. He stretches his hand towards me to take so that he can open a portal for us to get home to.
I move to take it. A hand suddenly grabs my wrist. The sparks and the warmth in my whole body gave me the idea to who it was. I look up to meet my giant mate's eyes. "Where are you going half-blood?"
Flame and smoke. The smell erupted immediately in the emptying room, but those who were still inside were coughing because of the pungent smell of it. I see Dad's eyes have turned completely red and his nose flaring.
"Take your hands off my daughter" His voice was low and demon-like. I can see horns slowly erupting from his head.
Frier wasn't impressed nor scared at the smell of hellfire or the angry demon. His eyes were calm while he still held my wrist. "Your daughter? I don't think so" he sounds bored, unimpressed.
He is poking the bear. I shake his hand, but his hold was tight to the point that it was painful. "Let go."
"and let you leave without a trace again?" he glares down at me "Not a chance, princess."
I hear the singe of fire before I saw it. Dad had launched a ball of hellfire at Frier, which hit him directly on his gut. I scream the shock of what just happened surprised the hell out of me that I couldn't help but scream.
Then there was the pain. The pain on my chest that knocked me to my stomach and falling to the ground.
What the hell is happening? I screamed in my mind
He hurt what is ours, so we hurt you Eros and Deima says in unison. I could feel their anger and want of revenge running through my veins.
You should have listened to us, feeble human Deima sneers
We always told you to kill yourself, and now we'll do it for you Eros grins
Then darkness took me