Niza turned, and I saw the passage of years etched upon her features — lines of wisdom framing eyes that had witnessed centuries. Her smile, though, remained unchanged, the same one that had soothed my childhood fears. "Coco has been restless with worry for you," she said, her hands stilling among her magical knick-knacks.
"Strong-willed and protective," Niza interrupted with a knowing tilt of her head. "Just like someone else I raised." She patted a space beside her, inviting me closer."I'm bound by my promise to keep your family's secrets, but I may have a solution..."
I hesitated, watching her gather books bound in leather, the pages within whispering secrets of the ancient world. Herbs, some vibrant with life, others dried to preserve their potency, lay carefully organized — each one holding a purpose known only to a mind as attuned as hers.
Coco stood guard, fiercely protecting our haven in the cave from any potential threats. Niza and I settled at the rustic table, carved out of stone and smoothed by countless hands before us. She gestured for me to extend my palms, which I willingly offered. The fire flickered at her command as she murmured ancient incantations that I couldn't understand but trusted nonetheless.
The moon hung high, silhouetting the forest as I approached the secret grove in the heart of the forest. A barrier of magic, invisible to the eye but palpable to the senses, protected the sanctum of the forest it felt like when I had approached the cave. I saw an unknown woman, with her back turned to me, standing as a solitary figure amidst an array of trees. The forest whispered around her, the leaves rustling in a secret language only she seemed to understand, adding an air of lightheartedness to her.
"Alarick," she greeted while she looked up, her voice sweet and warm. "You came again."After a moment, I saw that she bore a striking resemblance to Lina. Suddenly, my senses snapped back to the present and I remembered where I was. Just moments ago, I had been seated across from Niza, engaged in conversation.My mind raced, trying to comprehend where I was and how I got there. My body moved on its own accord, like a puppet controlled by unseen strings. But my heart pounded in my chest, just as it did every time I saw Lina, and I couldn't deny the pull she had over me.
"I missed you," I confessed, my voice betraying none of the turmoil that raged within. I approached her, making my way through the familiar pathway of trees until I reached our special spot under the towering oak. The one where we shared our first kiss, and where our love began to blossom. "I can't control it. It's like the beast within is clawing its way to the surface at the slightest provocation."
Lina's expression softened, the faintest furrow creasing her brow. "We will manage this together," she assured me, her confidence unshakeable. "We have not come this far to falter now."
We collapsed into an embrace, our lips locked in a desperate and passionate kiss. But suddenly, my vision blurred and dizziness overtook me.
Abruptly, I found myself standing in an old yet grand wooden structure. Catching a glimpse of my reflection in the grimy window, I could definitely recognize myself - it seemed like I had stumbled into a parallel universe or was my mind playing tricks on me. But any musings about this strange occurrence came to an abrupt end as I was yanked back, spun around, and met with a sharp blow to my face.
I wanted to protect myself but my body didn't react. I was relentlessly pummeled by the savage man before me. With a menacing snarl, he hissed, "You've encountered that hag once more, haven't you?"
His fist connected with my jaw, sending me reeling back into a nearby bookshelf, dislodging dust and tomes that rained down around us. "How long before you ready yourself to help me take over the family business and our pack?"
Bloodied and bruised, I managed to spit out between splintered teeth, "Brother..."
His firm grip on me finally released. He let out a deep sigh, then continued with frustration in his voice. Our family has painstakingly established a solid base for our pack, while witches and even our own kind are being unjustly persecuted for their abilities. We have thrived through our strong alliances and resources, and yet you pursue a mere mortal witch - an orphan with no connections, wealth, or reputation to her name."
My voice was strained as I fought off the agony coursing through my body. "But she is mine, my gift from the moon goddess" I gasped, blood spilling from my mouth. I had to defend her honor, even if it meant further enraging him, even if it meant my own demise. She was a gift from the goddess of the moon, and I would do anything to protect her.
My brother's expression darkened, his eyes cold and void of any compassion as he released me from his grip. "Then I am afraid you leave me no choice." His words were like ice, chilling my very soul.
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me bleeding and broken in the dimly lit study. The pain in my body paled in comparison to the anguish in my heart. How could I have been so foolish to believe there could be a future for us, Lina and I, when our worlds were so vastly different? A soft whimper escaped my lips as I slumped against the wall, burying my face in my hands.
In a frenzy, I sprinted through the chaotic landscape, everything blurring together. My sole focus was reaching her before anyone else did. Finally, I arrived at our secret hideaway under the oak tree. Before she could utter a greeting, I grabbed her shoulders and stared into her eyes with urgency. "I renounce you as my mate chosen by the Moon Goddess," I pleaded, not wanting to lose her. "Now repeat what I have said!"
My heart was in pieces, the pain of rejecting her mirroring my own self-rejection. I felt empty and drained, left with no will to live. And now, in this church, I stood before a stranger who was now my wife. She seemed overjoyed, but I couldn't bring myself to feel anything. The party continued on, a blur of voices and faces, until a sudden bright light shone down on us, and a powerful voice spoke out, "The Rawsonline have defied my divine gift. From this moment on, you shall wander blindly in search of love until you finally open your eyes to see what has been right in front of you all along."
The light vanished as quickly as it had appeared, plunging us into darkness. I collapsed to my knees, the weight of my actions crashing down upon me. I had traded away my one true love for the sake of my pack, and now I was cursed to live a life without her, forever yearning for what could have been.
As the memory began to dissolve, reality crept back in with a vengeance. I scanned my surroundings, feeling as if a weight had crashed into me. I looked around and it hit me like a freight train. Lina was and still is my mate.
Niza inquired, " Now you've seen the truth: Sometimes, a curse is a blessing in disguise, and a blessing might be a curse. But have you found your answers?"
It felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest, but at the same time, I also felt the crushing guilt of the years we could have spent together in our past life. Finally, I managed to croak out, "I... I don't know what to say. This is a lot to process."
"I know, Alarick," Niza said, her voice softening. "Take your time to digest the information. Whatever decision you make, know that I will support you."
As I left the cave, an unshakable determination filled me. I would break this curse and find my way back to my Lina - my true mate. Nothing would stand in my way. Unfortunately, I didn't find any information about my half-shift. But somehow I felt Lina was the answer to all my problems.