~Abella
A soft click by my ear wakes me.
For a moment, all I see is darkness. I try sit up, but my arms don’t respond. My wrists, which dangle above my shoulders, are shrouded in a cool, hard metal, which as I startle fully awake, the yanks of protest don’t free me. Chains clang together, a signal of my capture, even if I’m still too groggy to determine where I am, or who has tied me down.
I’m in a
~AbellaI sit in front of the fire, staring at his wrist.The scars are silvery, precise lines leading up to a point in the centre, the deepest crimson red lingering in a circle under his skin. When I look down at my mark, my flesh almost completely torn to shreds, I can’t imagine how it will eventually form this very specific mark. I can’t imagine even sharing a mark with Noah in the first place.“
~AbellaI didn’t believe him.You can’t just have two mates. If it happens, it’s extremely rare to the point where people don’t come out to be honest with people about their mates, knowing curiosity would drive anyone to crazy lengths to find out how they could get a second mate themselves. In my life, as short as it has been, I’ve never known, or heard of anyone who has had a second mate.It simply...doesn’t happen. So as I stare into Noah’s earnest gaze, I’m stunned. I can’t believe it, and most importantly, I don’t want to believe it. I don’t want to accept the deception from both Cian and Noah.
¬AbellaWe met with the Gaze Reader the next day.It took me almost a whole night to convince Cian that I didn't want to use the Gaze Reader to separate the mate bond. I couldn't just make a decision overnight, when I've barely spoke to Noah, and Cian has been nothing but frantic. But his desperation has lead me to remain sitting here, right in front of a Gaze Reader.I demanded he leave the room, which thankfully, h
~AbellaThe moment I see him, I know it's him.All the memories I lost from the moment I died flooded back to me. Not to mention the other night, where he came into my room and marked me with that demon mark. He is just as frightening, and not because of his impressive stature. The way he looks at me casts a shadow of fear within me, especially knowing he is the one who killed me."What are you doing here?" Noah questions, putting himself between Stace and I. Whoever Stace is, immortal or not, doesn't seem at all bothered by an Alpha's demand. Instead, he's focused on my leg, which is outstretched in front of me, blood still pouring out through my jeans."Get out of my way," Stace demands, brushing past Noah with ease. I ca
¬AbellaThree weeks later.I flip the page of my book, listening to the sweet singing voices of the birds around me.Things are lonely here, but in a good way. The day I left Thought’s estate, I collected enough of my things, and took a train to an unknown location. I’m somewhere far enough away for me to feel comfortable, giving me enough space to think. I’ve booked myself in an inn surrounded by a small, quaint town. I’ve spoken to very little people, ben under a fake name, and haven’t mentioned once where I’ve come from.I haven’t heard from Noah, Cian or Stace for these past few
¬AbellaI can still hardly believe I’m standing in Alpha Grayson’s home.It’s much nicer than I expected a Freedom Pack manor to be. Grayson has decorated it quite nicely, but the whitewashed walls and eclectic furnishings are the least of my concerns. He has brought me here to lay me upon a platter for Noah to come and collect. As much as I’m resentful, I should have known this wouldn’t last long.Clearly Noah has given me a head start. Now he’s caught up.“I’m Lexia,” someone says from behind me, making me jump. Turning on my heels, I see that standing beside Grayson, it’s a girl. Pretty, tall, blonde, she stares at me with nothing but kindness in her eyes. “It’s nice to meet you Abella, even if we don’t have much time to become acquainted.”“What’s going on?” I question. I know of Lexia, as Alpha Grayson’s mate. She is
¬AbellaAt first, I don’t believe him.“There is no other realm Cian. I know you hate people like me, but that doesn’t mean you can taint my view of Noah,” I tell him firmly. The sound of another realm sounds vaguely familiar, which I likely heard from Stace. But I refuse to believe that anything other than the world I’ve known actually exists. Especially no other place where there are people like me.Cian looks frustrated, beginning a steady pace back in forth from where I sit. He looks like he is trying to figure out the best way to explain this to me, but I’ve already decided Cian is on a desperate sabotage missio
¬AbellaI can’t help but be taken aback. Seriously?If he thinks I belong to anyone, has a lot to catch up on. However, I don’t speak on my thoughts, instead realising that this might be my only chance to get answers out of Stace about my future, and what he wants with me. So with a lasting glance at both Cian and Noah, I turn my attention to Stace letting the two settle into seats around us.“You’re a King,” I say, tasting the word on my tongue. It’s not a term I’m used to. In the mortal world, and immortal world, there are Alpha’s, Luna’s and Pureblood Immortals. They are the leaders. “What does that mean?”“It means I
I stare at the bundle of sticks before me, imagining them lighting up, bursting into flame.At first nothing happens, no matter how much I concentrate. I have no overwhelming sense of emotions to fuel me, yet I still focus every ounce of my being into creating that power, knowing I can’t rely on fear or anger to create the fire again.Suddenly, the sticks catch on fire, a blaze alighting magnificently up into the air, hints of smoke trailing out in its wake. Relaxing the tension from my body, I step back, releasing a sigh. Glancing toward Noah, he is smiling at me, that glimmer of surprise and admiration hard to miss. We have been trying to perfect it since arriving in our home realm a few days ago.“I’m very impressed,&rdquo
¬AbellaNoah and I sit in his room, having spent the last hour in silence, mulling over what has just happened.“How are you feeling,” Noah asks softly, making me peer up from where my head was in my hands. There is a hollow feeling in my stomach since Cian spontaneously left after the mate-bond was ended. For all I know, this could be the last time I see him. I have no idea what he is going to do from now on, whether he will go find someone else to ease the pain. “More content than I thought I would,” I reply. I’m not sure if content is the right word, but I know that I’m not going to worry as much as I would have thought. Maybe I will have thoughts about him every now and aga
¬AbellaFor a moment, we just stare at each other silently.“How did you do this?” he questions slowly, looking over me and the damage I’ve caused. I struggle to not feel bad about this, even though I shouldn’t. The awakening of these powers came from anger, caused by Cian thinking it’s okay to keep me here, away from Noah just because I didn’t choose him to ultimately be my only mate.“Take me back now,” I demand. There’s a fire in my tone, even though we both know that I wouldn’t use any new found power on Cian, even if he still kept me here. I’m not even sure I’ll be able to muster it back again.
¬AbellaI shouldn’t be surprised as I open my eyes and realise where I am.Cian has taken me to his personal home in the immortal realm, which is impossible to escape from. The moment he lets go of me, the world coming back in all its shapes and colours, I jump away from him, not stopping my backward steps until I nearly stumble back of his white leather chaise lounge. My thoughts are scattered, the realisation of what he has done hitting me.He’s taken me from the mortal realm, to where he lives, likely to control whether I can leave or not. My heart sinks to its lowest point, knowing it’s unlikely I’m going to be getting out of this very easily, considering his state of mine.
¬AbellaStace returned me back to the mortal realm the next day.Noah came with, but agreed to stay in his manor while I went to meet Cian. Him and I agreed to meet at my old apartment, which seems oddly significant considering I first met him when I lived there. I’m about to tell him that I don’t want to be mated to him anymore, and that I’ve chosen Noah. I’m not sure what his reaction is going to be, but knowing him, I doubt it will be very pleasant.Pacing back and forth across my old apartments living room, I consider my next move, what words I
¬AbellaNoah’s second home here is utterly beautiful.Tucked right at the edge of the same cliff as Stace’s estate, it has an equally impressive view, even if it is slightly smaller. If I choose to be mated to only Noah, this could be my new life, where I live now. Even though it would be hard to move away from my friends, like Sam, I could manage, especially if it means a chance to start a new life in a place where I originally came from. Where I belong.Noah leads me through the foyer and into an intimate living room, where he closes the door behind us. My senses are heightened, reacting to everything Noah does; even him
¬AbellaI wander from my bedroom at around mid-morning.Last night's dream still lingers in my mind, clinging to my skin as if it can be seen by anyone I walk past. The maids who tended to my room, servants who pass by wordlessly...it’s as if they know that what I experienced last night was sinful. I know it’s impossible for them to know the decision I have to face, with Noah and Cian, yet it still feelings like walking through here has me stripped bare to my soul.Following the instructions of a note left on my bedside table this morning, I make my way into a dining area set up right at the balcony at the front of the manor. St
¬AbellaStace and I arrived into the new realm around midday.Thankfully, when I approached Noah with the news, he was skeptical, but not opposed to the idea of me going with Stace. He wants me to become comfortable with my home place, and if that means exploring with a man who I still struggle to trust, then so be it. I just hope this other realm isn’t a dark, dangerous place with things I can’t even begin to fathom.Stace’s way of transporting us to this other realm, was slightly complicated. According to him, getting from here to there, is dependent on the amount of magic you possess. Those with a lot can travel freely, but t
¬AbellaI see him sitting under a tree, back to me.As I approach, I can feel his strength, his power, and something else completely. I feel much better now, having recovered from my fainting spell. Yet I still feel light headed, at the thought of talking to him, of being near him. Noah doesn’t know I came out here, as I asked for time alone. I have no idea where Cian is, either.I have to face him. I have to be alone with him, make sense of my situation. But as I walk closer, knowing he has already sensed me, I feel fear drape over me. This man is more powerful than my comprehension, and yet I want to speak to him, to und