Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.
-Toni Morrison
'•'•'•
After I left him just like he did to me right years ago, I felt a slight satisfaction and a pang of pain in my heart. It doubled down when I felt the overwhelming sadness and regret that filled my mind- one that he was truly feeling.
But I didn't want to go back on my words, I am not and won't.
My mother was still in her bakery teaching her new student, George, of her baking skills and recipes. I never thought that George would be the one handling it but I was glad nonetheless. Father is still working on his new branch of wine, one that he formulated based on Wilsbrein wine mixed with his secret ingredient.
Everyone seems to have found their way to life, has become content with what they have but here I am, still unsure of his role in my life.
I have changed, I have become a wolf and I marked Lukka who wanted to leave.
I don't know what the future holds.
I hate to say that I'm still hoping for him to come around and swept me off my feet, that I am truly his mate, that he would never break his oath again.
"Selene"
I wasn't unaware of Hati's figure following me, I just acknowledged her with a small smile.
"Are you alright?"
I wanted to say yes but my mouth won't open, I wanted to tell her I was alright but my body was honest that it betrayed my lie.
She hugs me tight, I clung to her shoulders and poured out all the pain and fear that the future has for me. She didn't do anything to comfort me and just let me lean on her shoulders to cry.
"Why... Why does this happen to m-me? I'm so scared and... I don't know what to do!"
Even if I told Lukka that I will go with him wherever he goes, even if I faced great danger, I still couldn't help the fact but feel scared. I've never left home, never killed someone nor faced such danger.
I didn't want to die, I wanted to live so badly and get older. I wanted to see my family every day, I wanted to be with Lukka and the pack. I don't want to die but then there was no other way but to risk myself.
"We'll solve this, there's no question that can't be answered, we can do this" Hati said after the end, my tears have all dried up and I find myself seating on the couch with her.
"I w-wont lose hope" I sniffed, she gave me hope, it was all or nothing. I won't know the results without trying.
Soon the two of us decided to watch titanic, it was a favorite of mine and Everlyn and now it was also the three of us's favorite. Popcorns and throw pillows, pizza boxes, and some wine stored in my father's fridge that Hati loves the most, we ate and laughed to our heart's content.
I wanted to savor my present days and doesn't want to leave regrets for the time being.
I just slept on my bed, my body still sore from the heat but before that, I went to the bathroom and cleaned myself to get rid of the metallic blood that clung close to my body.
Then I slept, not knowing that there was turmoil brewing in the packhouse.
...
The rest of the pack members have decided to end this contract with Lukka and Rosette and set him free.
"What? He'll be able to leave that witch?" Hati's eyes enlarge in surprise and she almost jumped to her seat when Luna nodded. "Great! You won't be able to leave Selene... you won't right?"
"Never again" his words washed away her doubts and her frown left her face.
"How though?" Hati was confused, she wasn't there when the matter was mentioned.
"He needs a mermaid tear"
"What?! That's impossible! Mermaids are now extinct!" She was enraged at that witch who took away their member and let her friend suffer.
"We have it now" Luna stated calmly and she finally gets seated on the couch.
Maico then proceeds to let Lukka summon the witch, Rosette. He mumbled the witch's name and shall she appear with her grandiose self.
She was still her usual self even if the years have turned into decades, youthful and alluring to the eyes. She was downed with red garments, her silver hair clung into her jewel-filled headdress.
"Interrupting my business, as usual, Maico" her voice was angelic but it was steeled cold, enough for them to stand on their feet.
"We have what you need Rosette" her eyes narrowed and with a flick of her hand, a couch appeared. She leaned in more, with an interesting look on her face.
"What do I need then, wolf?"
"A tear of a mermaid"
It was Lukka, her eyes flickered into his direction and smiled sweetly at him which enraged Hati.
"I believe it was none existent anymore"
Luna placed the vial in her hand on the table and showed it to her. There was no point in hiding it, she can easily take it away from her anyway.
"What if I don't take it?"
Their hearts felt like it was gripped in steel coil, her eyes don't seem to be joking and it was enough for them to feel that hope was crushed.
Witches after all are unreliable, moody, and couldn't be trusted. Deals are just tricks for them, their decisions fluctuate at every second and no one would really know what they wanted.
"Then there is no need for this then" Luna was about to take it away but it was lifted into the air and taken away from her.
"I didn't say I won't need it anymore," she said in a sing-song voice. She looked at all of them with stiff, anxious faces and laughed.
They look like they were about to die, she met eyes with Lukka who should look unreconciled but no expression could be seen in his eyes.
"Fine, that is for your eight years of service"
With a flick, the contact that suddenly appeared out of thin air burned itself and soon there were ashes on the floor. Rosette was nowhere to be seen and only a note was played atop of her seat.
'Bastard of a dog named Lukka, I hope you die in dog shit'
Unexpectedly, the terrifying moody witch with angel features still has a childish side.
***
Chapter 74 is up! Hope you like this everyone!
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