Their Troubled Love

Chapter 3: Fae

“That’s my girl,” I said to Baby Layla, as she placed the triangle block in the triangular-shaped opening of the toy.

Well, not so baby anymore.  Layla was eighteen months, almost two.

Two.

I can’t believe it.

So much has happened since this beauty was born. 

So much tragedy, sadness, love, and happiness have happened. 

The gorgeous toddler in front of me lost her birth mother and then gained a wonderful step-mother and in a few months, will receive a brother or sister.

Layla was sitting on my bed, playing with her shape sorter.  In my arms, I had a sleeping Alpha prince, Luca. Son to Luna Karime and Alpha Damian.   Luca is a six month-old-infant now. He has been teething and I was finally able to get him to sleep with a wet, cold teething rag. 

These two destined-mates were my whole world.  I have been their assigned omega Nanny. Whenever their parents are busy doing things, I am in charge of them.

As an omega of the Yellow Moon Clan, we are often given many duties to make sure the Alpha’s clan and household run smoothly. We take much pride in serving the Alpha and Luna. They are kind and strong wolves who lead and protect us.

My new assignment as Nanny has kept me busy and happy. It doesn’t give me much free time to miss him.

Him.

Demetrio.

My Demetrio.

It’s been six months since he has left the clan and now he is back.  

I still can’t believe he is back.

A few minutes ago Luna Karime and Lady Camila came running up to my bedroom as I finished folding my laundry.

“He’s back, Fae,” Luna Karime had said to me.

My heart skipped a beat, for I knew exactly who she was talking about. 

My Dem is back. I couldn’t help it, I felt my heart that had been dead for almost half a year begin to fill with happiness and hope.

Did he come back for me?  

“Why?” I asked, full of curiosity.

“I don’t know, Fae. But the scouts just announced he and Victoria had just crossed into our lands. Do you want to come down to see him?” Luna Karime asked me.

I wanted to so bad. I wanted to see if he still looked the same. 

I know I have changed a little these past few months. I turned to look at myself in the mirror above my dresser and frowned. Not having much of an appetite lately, I had lost quite a bit of weight. I let my hair grow out, not really caring to style it anymore.  My eyes look sunken in from lack of sleep. Although, I should be used to that. I rarely sleep, ever since that day. I shut down that train of thought before I let my memories go down the rabbit hole. 

Lady Camila walks over to me with Layla on her right hip, “I can help you with some makeup and fix your hair, Fae,” she says to me with a sympathetic smile. 

I smile at her.  I guess I do look as bad as I feel.

“That’s kind of you. But no, I think I will just wait up here.” I say to them both.

“Are you sure?” Lady Camila asks again.

“Yes, Lady Camila.  Why don’t you leave me the children? They will keep me company and free up your time to meet Sir Demetrio.” I say to them.

“Alright, Fae. If that is what you want,” Luna Karime says handing me a fussy Luca. “He has been teething and is super tired. Those bothersome canines have been keeping him up”

“I have just the cure. Don’t worry, I will get him to sleep.” I assure her.

Lady Camila places Layla in the playpen next to my bed, which has her toys in it.  She quickly grabs her favorite, the shape sorter. 

“If you feel like coming down, please mind link me,” Luna Karime said with a sad smile.

I nod and give her a reassuring smile and they each give me a quick hug before leaving my room.

“Nana Fae, you sad?” Layla asks me, taking me out of my thoughts.

Layla has always been a very intelligent child and quickly learned to talk.  The more words and phrases she says, the more her knowledge surprises us.

“No, baby girl. There are happy tears,” I say to her with a smile.

She reaches up and wipes a tear from my cheek. “Happy tears?” she asks, a look of confusion on her face.

“Yes, Layla. Sometimes we cry when we are happy.” I say to her.

She nods in acknowledgment then goes back to her shapes. 

“Uncle Dem is home,” she says suddenly.

At first, I am shocked at how observant she is but then I smile in wonder.  Our future Luna is extraordinary.

“Yes, honey. Your uncle Dem is back home,” I say to her.

“I happy,” she says with a toothy smile.

“Me, too, sweetie,” I say to her.

And I truly am.  

Even though I know there can never be anything between us, I am happy that he has returned.  I try not to get my hopes up by thinking that he is here for me. Even though he never tasted my blood, I know he is my mate.  From the first time I saw him at the dinner table and the first time we touched, the sparks I felt woke up my sad, lonely heart.

I got up and walked to my window, that looked out to the front of the castle and I saw him.

There was my Dem walking towards the castle, with the dragon princess Victoria by his side. He has changed. He has let his hair grow out and he has it tied back in a ponytail.  He also has more facial hair now. He looks even more handsome than before. He is laughing at something the princess said to him. I wonder if they are a couple now. The sudden urge of jealousy fills me.  

I growl low and baby Luca starts stirring in my arms.  I cut my growl off, not wanting to wake Luca. He quickly stills and falls back asleep, his mouth making a small o.  I smile at him then look back out the window and meet Demetrio’s eyes. 

I gasp and move away from the window.  Hiding away like my usual MO. I always tried to hide away from him. I have too. I need to keep him safe.  Being with me is much too dangerous. 

After what happened to Kyle, I can never be with anyone ever again.

After what happened to me with the warlock, that time, a long ago, I never saw him again.  There came a time about fifteen years ago that I met Kyle and we quickly were attracted to each other. I never told him my secret and his kind words and loving ways made me want to forget the warlock and the threat of the ‘so-called’ curse didn’t seem so scary or believable anymore.

I agreed to date Kyle and soon our relationship turned physical.  Even though we weren’t mates, we still fell in love with each other.  I wanted to be with him. I wanted his love to erase the hurtful memories that plagued me. He made me feel clean and worthy.  He made me feel whole again. 

He planned that night so perfectly.  He packed us a picnic in a basket and walked me to the lake that we loved going, too.  We ate cheese, grapes, meats and drank fairy wine. It was a gorgeous evening. We had talked about taking the second step and be with each other.  So when one thing led to another, I was prepared to give myself to him, putting the images of the warlock far back in my mind and memories.

Kyle was so patient and loving with me. He knew I was afraid and talked me through the process of removing our clothes, giving me many opportunities to stop what was to come.  Even before he entered me, he asked me again if I was sure. I remember looking up at him, kissing him on the lips and nodding, indicating that I was ready.

He started to enter me and that is when I felt the change in him.  He froze instantly, not moving forward. He sucked in a breath and his eyes rolled back in his head.  He fell next to me, with foam coming out of his mouth. I screamed his name and got on my knees next to him.  I shook him and tried to get him to respond to me. He was gone in seconds. 

The curse was real and Kyle was dead. 

I stayed away from males since that day.  I was getting used to my lonely, quiet life until Demetrio arrived in my life. The Moon Goddess was cruel.  That was something I was sure of. How much could my heart take? I had to live with the horror that happened to me, with the guilt of killing Kyle and now with the hurt of not being able to be with my mate. 

What the hell did she want from me?