Chapter 12. Second Mate

12. Second Mate

This chapter is dedicated to JESSICA BETH TOLLADY. Thank you for your support. I appreciate it a ton <3

12. Second Mate

The pain intensified with time, making any escape attempt seem futile. Jumping from this height would surely result in broken bones. As my heart pounded violently, a strange sensation gripped me—a tug, as if something was being ripped apart inside me.

I attempted to recall anything from my studies that could explain what was going on. Still, the pain in my body made it difficult for me to go down memory lane.

It occurred to me that this is the type of pain described in the books, in which the one experiencing it is either a person going to die or their mate is going to die, in which case both must endure what the other is experiencing. The intensity surpassed what the books had depicted.

Part of me felt I was going to die, but I was worried about Edward on the other side. Maybe something was wrong with him, and even if he rejected me, there might be something left to connect both of us, which is why maybe I am in pain.

I kept screaming at the top of my lungs and reliving all of my happy and bad memories, thinking that these were my dying moments and that my miseries would soon be over.

To say that my sad memories outweighed my pleasant ones would be an understatement. Still, I was relieved that all of this was finally coming to an end. Maybe I was destined to be unloved and unhappy. I wished someone from my family would come here and find me. Still, the chances of that happening are slim because I am in forbidden territory that no one dares to visit. Still, I have made this home because I find peace here, and I am drawn to this place as if it has always seemed to call my name.

Perhaps my death was beckoning to me. If I met the moon goddess or any of the gods who lived there, I would beg them not to return me to this hell hole. I closed my eyes as tears streamed down my cheeks.

Suddenly, the visage of a handsome man flashed before my eyes. I'm sure I've never seen him in my life.

His expression shifted from joy to pain, clutching onto something. I realized he was holding his chest; he was taking his last breath, and I here was feeling his pain.

Then I realized why I was experiencing his pain: he is my second chance mate, and all of this was playing out in front of my eyes as he took his last breaths.

This was unusual; I don't believe anyone had witnessed anything of the sort, but I wanted to save him, and by the looks of it, it wasn't hard to deduce that he was not dying a natural death; he appeared to be in severe pain, and as if my doubts were answered, I saw him lying there in a pool of blood that I am sure is his.

"No! No! No!" This cannot happen. "Please wake up!" I shouted into nothingness, but only if he could hear me. He closed his eyes, and I felt someone kick him.

"No, Don't die on me." I didn't know what to do; I didn't know who he was—whether he was a human, a supernatural creature, or something else.

I sank to the ground and closed my eyes, as if my soul had left my body. Maybe I'll die of heartbreak as well.

I was thinking to myself when I lost consciousness.

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When I woke up, I was still in the tree house. Every memory of what happened hit.

I would have assumed it was a dream, but the pain coursing through every inch of my body proved that what I was experiencing was real and not a nightmare that I was expecting.

The sense of emptiness had deepened by this point. I felt like the place where my heart should be was empty.

I burst into tears. My life is a shambles, and I regret even being alive at this point. I should not have survived the pain I felt. Why am I still alive? I should have died after the agony that I experienced

All the hope and optimism I was harboring inside me, my second chance at happiness, seemed lost.

We are given two chances find our mates, and if you have already blown both of them, then the doors of happiness close on us and in a way, our life have come to an end

. I cursed my existence. Suddenly I felt something crawling on my hands when I glanced at them. There were some worn tattoos on my hands, forearm, and neck, and they were gradually fading, and as they did, I felt a surge of energy surge within me.

I felt rejuvenated and powerful on the inside. Perhaps the substantial part was just my assumption, but I was healing on the inside.

I stood up and scrawled in the room, and to my utter surprise, all the anguish that had had me unable to stand had vanished as if nothing had happened.

At that moment, I was scared of myself, wondering who I was and what was happening to me. Still, I refused to accept that whatever was happening was not evil because it couldn't be evil if it wasn't harming me but instead curing me.

I was back to my usual self in no time, as if nothing had happened. I sighed. Now I had to go home and explain where I was because if they didn't know where I was, if not, they would presume that I was dead.

I'm not sure how I am going to face the world again.

If I don't return home in some time, Mom will come looking for me.

I began lifelessly strolling towards home with no motivation.

Maybe I can explain it to Sklyar or Lance, and they'll help me or at least understand what I'm saying.

While I was returning home, there was not even a single person I could speak to, not that I was complaining. Currently, I don't know how I look, but if it is anything like the other day, I sure am going to scare everyone, so it is better that the streets are empty.

"Are you home, Sky?" I called as soon as I was home, but no one answered.

When I went into his room, there was no trace of him. Strange! Because he is always home at this hour, and even if he isn't, someone else is.

"Where are you, Sky?" I called once again but received no response.

I walked over to the dresser, intending to examine myself and what had transpired. I was stunned to see myself, but I'm sure things might have been far worse than what I'm seeing now.

My neck was covered in tattoos, and the color of my eyes had changed from hazel to electric blue, as if they had been filled with new life.

Last time this happened, at Union Ground, Lance hadn't mentioned the tattoo on my neck, which I had assumed had vanished along with the one on my arm, but that hand with Scythe, which seemed to convey some tale, was still in place.

I'm so glad no one was home at the time because they would have drawn their own conclusions if they would have witness this condition of mine.

The only possible explanation I can think of for all of this is that everything happens to me when I am in a lot of pain or when I lose my mate. The last time this happened was when Edward rejected me.

Suddenly, a scarlet hue engulfed me. I realized it was 'Night of the Red Moon' today. I noticed everyone had congregated in the union grounds to find their mates.

It had completely escaped my mind that this was red-moon night once again. I had been expecting this night for an entire year, hoping to discover my second chance mate, which I did, but he was snatched away from me even before I had a chance to see him in person.

I hope Skylar and Lance find theirs or that someone among us does. That explains everyone's absence in the streets and at home. My parents may not have informed me because they did not want me to end up on the ground like the previous time and wreak mayhem.

I went to my room and didn't bother turning on the lights because the orange-red tint was enough to keep me from tripping and falling face-first on the ground. I sagged in one corner, buried my face in my legs, and sobbed uncontrollably.

"Everything had come to an end for me; I don't even have a reason to live anymore; maybe I don't deserve to be happy, and I am a burden to everyone I love."

I have to accept everything coming my way. Maybe I am really something evil and deserved everything that had happened to me. I don't deserve to be happy or loved.

I had no idea when I had dozed off. My parents had not yet returned home. I hurriedly cleaned up and prepared to leave for the packhouse.

"Astrid, have you returned home?" I could hear Sky and Lance yelling my name.

I went outside right away and saw two really attractive girls holding hands with my brothers.

"Oh my god, you both met their mates. I am so pleased for you," I wiped my tears away and turned to face them.

"You did well not to appear on the ground; at the very least, you saved us from further humiliation by staying at home." From behind, Mom scoffed.

I remained silent, knowing that arguing with her would be a waste of time.

"Mom!!" Sky and Lance both screamed.

"I'll meet up with you all later; I have some work to do," I remarked, kissing Sky and Lance on the cheeks.

"Welcome to the family, sister-in-laws," I said as I exited the house.

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