Micah hated this realm. It was full of memories he wanted to forget about. Therefore, he burned it into ashes.
He set this realm on eternal fire, sacrificing his firebird in the process, and such the bird was dying in his hands now, breathing its last, just like his mate and daughter.
The firebird was a mythical bird that only belonged to a legendary supernatural creature like the white lycan. Micah was one, with royal blood running in his veins.
For the mythical bird to die like this, meant Micah's life was in danger as well, yet that was the least of his concerns right now. He would welcome death with open arms, as it was the same entity that had taken away the love of his life.
He didn't fear death, he feared life with an empty heart…
However, the real question for Micah was; would something eventually change by doing this? Would he feel better knowing that everything, everyone would suffer the same as he was?
Was this all he wanted? Was this worth it?
The mythical bird was dying in his arms and he was surrounded by fire, which prevented anyone, even his beta, from approaching him. He had killed countless innocent people on a whim, there was not much that could be saved about his soul. It was only a matter of time, whether he would die when the firebird ceased to exist, or the flames caught up to him first.
He was the white lycan, the strongest shifter that walked this soil. It was not an easy fit to kill him, yet he was dying right now.
"Is this what you want?"
A soft, but stern voice sounded from in front of Micah, as the last entity that he wished to see appeared before his eyes.
A woman with divine beauty was standing amidst the flames. Her lovely long, flowing hair adorned with a crescent moon crown. The golden dress that she wore shone against the flames behind her. But the fire didn't bother the goddess at all, as it was not able to burn, even a strand of her hair, while her body radiated the hazy light of the moon.
She was Selene, the goddess of the moon.
"Micah…" Selene called his name with so much disappointment in her voice, which rang like a mystical instrument. "You have made the same mistakes as your predecessors."
Micah scoffed when he heard that. He stood up after he laid down the firebird on the scorching ground. He looked at the goddess with malice.
"I wouldn't have made this mistake if only you had come much earlier." Micah glared at Selene through his red eyes. "You forced me to do this."
"No one forced you to do anything."
"YOU KILLED MY FAMILY! DON'T YOU DARE TO SPOUT NONSENSE ABOUT IT!" Micah hollered, he was enraged.
But, the moon goddess didn't even change her calm expression when she stated the fact. "You failed them," she said quietly. "And now you have broken every rule of this realm."
Micah laughed sarcastically, he looked like he had lost his mind. "You will punish me because I am in pain?"
"I will punish you because you have killed a million innocent human beings."
"They deserve the pain." No, they did not. Micah knew that, too. He just wanted to inflict so much pain, so it would ease his own in return, as the beast inside him couldn't bear it. He was not able to stand the agony.
And if he had a different choice, nothing would have changed, he would still do the same.
"You know the answer to that the best," Selene said, as if she was able to read his mind, or probably she could.
"You can punish me for all I care. You can take my heart and rip it apart. Kill me the way you see it fit. I don't care."
Hearing that, Selene shook her head. "Death is easy, life is the real punishment."
She was right. That was what Micah believed right now. Death was a solace, a salvation for the pain that he felt, while life was the real torture for his soul…
"You will go back to the time when you met your mate and fell in love. And you will watch her die again." The Moon Goddess looked at Micah bitterly. "That will be your punishment."
Micah was stunned when he heard that, the scornful smile on his lips had disappeared, as he forgot to breathe.
He would meet with Hazel again? He would be with her again?
That thought alone tuned out the last statement from the moon goddess about how he would watch her die once again. How it would be his punishment to relive the torment and affliction that he felt right now.
Was it worth it?
He would be able to see his mate, hold her and touch her, but then he had to go through hell once again…
Yet, this was not his call.
================================
When Micah opened his eyes again, the flames around him had turned into daylight, as floral scent filled the air and the warm glow of the sun filtered in, momentarily dissipating his uneasiness.
A strong familiar sense greeted him, as he could feel the spark that danced across his skin. He knew this feeling all too well. He didn't need to see who was in his arms right now to confirm the same.
Micah could feel his whole body shaking when he finally opened his eyes and her dark and long hair entered his line of sight.
It was her scent. This was the way he remembered her.
With trembling hands, Micah traced his fingers against her naked shoulder, as the sunlight fell on her milky skin.
She looked surreal.
She was not real.
She should have been dead.
Micah savored her existence, trying to wrap his head around the crazy situation he was in. Was this his second chance?
Right at that time, while Micah was still trying to digest his findings, Hazel stirred awake and the first thing that he heard was how she whimpered softly.
Micah remembered what he had done to her last night…