C13 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

This pain was becoming excruciating with the passage of time, and I couldn't even jump from here to save myself. I'm sure I'd break a bone or two if I did.

Suddenly, I could feel my heart being ripped, but it wasn't just a feeling; I could definitely feel a tug. The sound of it pounding violently could be heard even by the person standing beside me.

I attempted to recall something 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.

It was more intense than the books stated.

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 I am in pain.

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

To say that sorrowful memories outweighed 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 on 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 to me.

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 horrible 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 anything like it in my life.

At one point, he appeared to be happy and ethereal, but then the scene switched, and he appeared to be in pain, and I could only see his face while he clutched onto something.

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 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, 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 is 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, giving in to the ground's invitation.

Maybe I'll die of heartbreak as well.

I was thinking to myself when I lost consciousness.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I was still in the treehouse when I awoke.

Everything that happened to me slammed into me.

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 genuine.

The sense of emptiness had deepened by this point. I had the impression that the space where my heart should have been was empty.

I burst into tears. My life is a shambles, and I regret even being alive at this time. I should not have escaped the agonizing sorrow I had suffered.

All the hope and optimism I was harboring inside me would be gone when I found him, but it was gone now.

We were given two chances, and if you had already blown both of them, the path to happiness and completion had come to a halt in the middle.

When I felt something crawling on my hands, I cursed my existence. When I glanced at them, there were already some worn drawings 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.

I was terrified of myself at this time, wondering who I was and what was happening to me. Still, I refused to accept that whatever it was was evil because it couldn't be wicked if it wasn't harming me but instead curing me.

I was back to my usual self in no time, as if nothing had occurred, but now I had to go home and explain where I was because if they hadn't experienced this, there would be new hypotheses about my existence.

I'm not sure how confident I'll face the world again.

For me, there is no hope. I'm not going to be able to save myself.

If I don't return home in a reasonable amount of time, Mom will come looking for me, and I will lose any pity they have for me.

I began lifelessly strolling towards home with zeal.

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

Nobody was nearby when I was walking down the street, not that I was complaining. I don't yet know how I look, but I would have scared everyone around me if my appearance had turned out like that day.

I'd rather go home and evaluate myself alone before straining my already tainted image.

"Are you home, Sky?" I dialed, 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 have you gone, Sky?" I called but received no response.

I walked over to the dresser, intending to examine myself and what had transpired.

I was astonished 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.

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, remained in place.

I'm so glad no one was home at the time because they would have created their own conclusions.

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

Suddenly, a scarlet hue engulfed me. When I discovered it was 'Night of the Red Moon' today, I noticed everyone had congregated in the union ground to meet their mates.

It had completely escaped my notice that this was red moon night. I had been expecting this night for an entire year, hoping to discover my second chance partner, 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. My parents may not have notified me because they did not want me to end up in 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 ended 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've realized my station as of today, and I'm going to keep myself at bay and not expect anything from this life. I will think that whatever has occurred to me, and whatever will happen to me in the future, I have earned everything.

I don't deserve to be happy or loved.

I had no idea when I had dozed off. My folks 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.

I hugged her swiftly.

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

They appeared to be made for each other.

"You did well not to appear in 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 disputing 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.