Forbidden Mate: Awakening

Flashback

~ETHAN’S POV~

“What did you just say?” Pablo’s eyes narrowed.

“I am not doing anything you ask of me until you tell me what you did to Jaxon.”

My heart pounded in my chest as I stood in front of Pablo. I couldn’t hold back any longer as anger and frustration boiled through me. I needed answers, and I deserved to know the truth.

“I taught him a lesson…a lesson he would never forget.” He said and licked the edge of his blade. He went on to say more but I could barely listen with a straight face.

“Pablo, how could you do that to Jaxon?” My face contorted in disgust. “He did everything for you yet you hurt him.”

“Apparently not everything…” Pablo’s expression remained stoic, and he spoke in a calm, detached tone. “I did what was necessary for the greater good of our mission,” he replied, his words echoing with an unsettling sense of righteousness.

“The greater good?” I spat, unable to contain my anger any longer. “You manipulated Jaxon, you didn’t value him. You used him.”

“He was weak,” Pablo said coldly. “He needed to be reminded of his place and his duty to our clan.”

“He needed his father’s support and guidance, not manipulation and deceit!” My voice rose.

Pablo’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to me. “You don’t understand the burden of my responsibilities,” he said, “I do what needs to be done to protect those who are with me.”

“But at what cost?” I shot back. “You’re willing to sacrifice your own son for power and control!”

The tension in the room grew, and I felt anger and sadness swirling inside him. I thought I had left a cult with a selfish leader to a just team who wanted freedom but I ended up going from frying pan to fire.

I saw Pablo for who he truly was now; a man consumed by ambition, willing to sacrifice everything-including his own family-for his own gain.

“I can’t be a part of this anymore,” I said firmly despite the storm of emotions inside him. “I won’t stand by and watch you destroy everything in your path… this is not what I signed up for.”

Pablo’s face darkened, and he shook his head. “You’re making a grave mistake, Ethan,” he warned. “You’ll regret this decision.”

“Fuck regret! You insane lunatics thirsty for power always use that to keep me bounded to your insane cults! I don’t fucking want that anymore.” I looked at the others who sat there quietly, “and if I were you all, I’d wake the fuck up and do the same!”

I walked away, leaving Pablo standing there in the midst of his puppets. Everytime I thought I found my purpose in life, it always turned out to be a faux to exploit me.

Twenty years. That stupid Shadow Clan exploited twenty years of my life. Leo exploited twenty years of my life and I finally had enough once I realised I was being exploited. I thought I found a sanctuary but it was the same hell.

The only reason I’d go back to that coven is to send a dagger down the heart of that bastard Leo and everything else that would happen to me would happen.

Jaxon was dead anyway. Though we were always at loggerheads with eachother, our situations weren’t so different. We just wanted to find something we could believe in and dedicate our lives to. We just wanted equality, to be heard and to be seen.

But he was dead now. His bastard of a father killed him. I didn’t even want to enact vengeance against him. Sooner or later one of his puppets will most definitely will.

I had to face Leo and I would kill him… yes, that would be my only goal from now on.

I had reached the coven in a few hours and it was looking a less chaotic than it was before. I entered without much harassment or questions and went straight to his chamber.

I went through the door and stood in front of the fireplace. Leo was seated facing the opposite way and slowly, he turned his seat to face me.

With his signature smug grin, he spread his arms apart and said, “I told you you’d come running back to me.”

••••••••••••

~LILY’S POV~

As the sun shone brightly over the dark forest, I took a deep breath, knowing that my decision would change everything. My heart pounded in my chest as I approached the Byclan Grove to meet Leo. I was partly shocked to see Ethan with him.

I was about to betray my pack, my family, and everything I had ever known, all for the sake of protecting Adrian.

Leo and Ethan were waiting for me, their eyes narrowing as they saw the look on my face.

“Are you sure about this?” Ethan asked cautiously. He looked quiet different from the last time we saw eachother. His eyes seemed to have lost its soul and he sounded almost animated.

I nodded, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Yes, I’m sure. If it’s the only way to save Adrian, then I have to do it.”

Leo raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a sly smile. “Well, well, it seems our little wolf has finally grown a spine. So, where is the journal and the ring?”

“I have something better for you.”

“And what is that?”

“The Bodessa Medallion.” I waited to see the reactions on their faces, “You’ve heard of it right?”

“It’s lost in the sea.”

“No, it was. But it’s not anymore. I know the way to it.”

“Are you trying to be smart with me now, little wolf?”

“I know better than to do that.”

“Then how would you know where the madellion is?”

“You already know the powers I have and have seen them firsthand. You know I’m not lying.”

“As a matter of fact, no, I’m not…tell us then. Where is the madellion?”

I hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before speaking, “It’s hidden in a secret chamber beneath the old ruins in the Pegora Forest and it’s heavily guarded by powerful enchantments. You’ll need this key.” I handed Leo a small, ornate key that I had taken from my father’s study earlier that day. It was a replica to an original that opened the book to my dad’s suitcase. Thank goodness it looked fancy and cryptic.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Ethan looked at the key skeptically. “How do we know we can trust you? This could be a trap.”

I sighed, trying to look persuasive . “I swear on my life that I’m not setting you up. If anything happens to Adrian, I’ll never forgive myself. I love him, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe.”

Leo exchanged a knowing look with Ethan before nodding. “Alright, we’ll trust you, but remember, if you’re playing us, there will be consequences.”

I nodded, “Thank you. Just promise me that once you have the medallion, you’ll let Adrian go.”

Leo smirked. “We’ll see. But first, we have a demon lord to summon.” With that, he led the way towards the old ruins.

And I stood there looking at them, thanking the goddess my plan worked. Well, just stage one.