CEDRIC'S POV:-
Who knew one snap and my whole world would crash down, my whole life feels like a lie. One snap is all to show me the truth.
******
"Cedric Smith," I swiveled around as a beautiful girl walked towards me. Her name was Amanda, and I smiled at her as she joined me.
"Amanda," I replied, returning the smile.
Blake, our friend, interrupted us. "Don't you have classes to attend?" he asked Amanda.
Amanda tossed her hair over her shoulder, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Not this hour. Cut me some slack, Blake. It's our first day back after summer vacation."
Blake loved to tease Amanda, and he was at it again. "But I love to tease her," he chuckled, and Amanda playfully smacked his shoulder.
"I'm excited to start high school here," Amanda said, her eyes sparkling.
"I don't understand," Blake pointed a finger at her, "why you transferred to our school when you had an opportunity to study in Paris."
"Paris can wait," Amanda shrugged. "I've been away from you guys for too long. I want to spend my high school years with my best friends."
Blake pretended to gag. "Eww! Stay away from me, that's disgusting," he teased as Amanda hugged him.
"I'm not that bad," Amanda pouted and crossed her arms.
"Stop being mean to her, Blake," I interjected, laughing as I playfully hit him on the shoulder.
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry," Blake said, pulling Amanda into a hug.
"Don't cry, come here," he cooed, and Amanda giggled, squirming away from him.
The atmosphere was filled with laughter, teasing, and happy memories, as we sat outside the school, reminiscing about the old days.
Amanda, my childhood friend who had been away in England, had returned to attend high school with us instead of graduating from a prestigious school in Paris. We were overjoyed to have her back and couldn't wait to catch up on lost time.
Suddenly, a hand was placed over my eyes, and I knew exactly who it was. Her alluring giggle sent shivers down my spine.
"I can tell it's you," I spoke playfully.
"Then tell me who am I?" The person asked seductively as I turned to face her.
"My life," I whispered.
I took her hand and pulled her in front of me, staring into her mesmerizing eyes.
"Aw, how did you know it was me?"
"I could never mistake that sweet voice of yours" pulling her close. Our lips met in a passionate embrace, making my heart race faster.
"I missed you so much," I whispered as I held her tightly.
"I missed you too, baby," she replied, her eyes sparkling with love.
Amanda, who had been silently watching us, cleared her throat, interrupting our romantic moment. "Um, excuse me, but who is she?" she asked, her lips tightly pressed together.
I felt a knot in my stomach as I realized I had forgotten to introduce my best friend to my girlfriend. I scratched my neck nervously and turned to face Amanda, who was tapping her foot impatiently.
"Emily, meet Amanda, my best friend since childhood," I introduced them.
"Nice to meet you, Amanda. I've heard so much about you from Cedy and Blakey," Emily said, smiling as she extended her hand.
Amanda hesitated for a moment, glancing back and forth between Emily, Blake, and me. Then, she forced a smile and shook Emily's hand.
"And Amanda, this is Emily, my girlfriend," I added, feeling a sense of pride.
Amanda's smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure.
"Nice to meet you too," she said before turning to Blake. "I've got to go now. Class is starting soon."
As Amanda turned to leave, I could sense her unease. "Hey, Amanda, what's wrong?" I asked, concerned.
"I need to go to class now," she replied curtly, rushing towards the building, leaving Blake and me standing there, baffled by her abrupt departure.
[After two weeks]
Blake and I were sweating profusely from our football practice, and as we made our way towards the bleachers, I couldn't help but wonder about Amy's unusual behavior. Blake noticed my unease and asked me about it.
"I have no clue, she has been acting weirdly since the first day," I replied, passing the ball towards Blake, who deftly kicked it.
Blake's next words stunned me. "I don't know if it's true or not, but I think she likes you," he said, and I froze, my mind racing with thoughts.
"That's absurd, you know it Blake," I said, trying to dismiss the notion. But deep down, I couldn't ignore the possibility.
"But it can't be impossible," Blake countered, making me wonder if he was right.
"Even if it's true, we can't be together," I said, my heart heavy. Blake nodded, understanding my predicament.
"I know," he said, his voice gentle.
"I just have to accept that eventually everything between us will come to an end when she finds her mate. And as for me, I need to settle down with someone who doesn't have a mate," I said, resigning myself to fate.
Blake and I reached the locker room, and as we were taking our showers, I couldn't help but think about Emily. "I think Emily is perfect for me, she's the type of girl I like.
And the advantage of being with her is that she's human, so I need not worry about her leaving me when she finds her mate. And to top the cherry, I love her," I said, a smile spreading across my face.
Blake teased me about my blush, and I playfully nudged him with my elbow. Just then, Emily walked towards us, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I pecked her and asked why she was here.
"I missed you and I'm here to remind you of the party," she said, her eyes sparkling.
"I remember. I'll pick you up at 7," I replied, and she nodded, a happy expression on her face as she left.
Blake and I finished our showers and made our way out of the locker room, feeling refreshed and ready for the party.
[At party]
I approached Emily lounging by the pool, offering her a drink, but she politely declined, content to soak up the sun. Suddenly, Blake materialized out of nowhere, clapping a hand down on my shoulder, and greeting us with a cheerful "Hey guys!"
"Hey Blake," Emily perked up and waved at him, the two of them exchanging friendly banter. But when Amanda joined us, Emily grew quiet.
"What are you guys talking about?" Amanda asked as she sat down.
"Just regular stuff, you know, gossip," Blake whispered conspiratorially. We all chuckled at his words.
"About who?" Amanda looked over at Emily, who shifted in her seat.
"About you," Blake teased her, causing Emily to push him back playfully.
"Nonsense," she giggled.
Despite the awkward moment, it felt good to be together with all my friends. I turned to Amanda and asked her where she had been for the past few days, and why she had been acting strangely lately.
She explained that she was still getting used to the new environment, and had also visited her grandmother in England. We all decided to move on from the awkwardness and start anew.
Blake suddenly stood up and suggested, "Hey man, let's go and play ping pong." I followed him, but before leaving, I turned back to look at Emily, who smiled at me with such love and admiration.
"Go on, I'll stay here, or I'll be there with my friends," she said, pointing toward her group who were playing some strange game.
"Okay, take care, don't go anywhere, and call me if anything happens," I told her before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, then I went to play with the boys.
As I played, I couldn't help but steal glances at Emily. She laughed and enjoyed her time with her friends, and each time she looked my way, my heart swelled with emotion.
Emily was the kind of girl anyone could fall in love with instantly. Her caring and kind nature, combined with her optimism and positive perspective on life, made her irresistible.
And the most amazing part was that she accepted me, despite knowing about my kind. I had told her everything, and she loved me for who I was, not what I was.
It was strange to think that I, a creature not of her kind, could fall for a human like her. But with just one look from her, my heart would flutter, and I would feel a swarm of butterflies in my stomach.
My eyes searched the crowded room for her once again, but she was nowhere in sight. I followed her scent and soon found myself standing at the edge of a cliff, the sheer drop behind the house sending shivers down my spine.
"Why would she come here?" I muttered to myself, my heart pounding with a mix of confusion and fear. And then, I saw her. She was on her knees, writhing in pain and screaming for someone to make it stop.
"Please, no!" she cried out, her voice raw with agony. "It hurts! Make it stop!"
I ran towards her, my heart breaking at the sight of her in such pain. "What happened, babe?" I asked, scooping her into my arms.
But before I could even begin to make sense of the situation, another voice interrupted us. "Goddess, Cedric, what are you doing here?" I looked up to see Amanda standing in front of us, a strange girl at her side.
"What the hell is this, Amy?" I demanded, my voice heavy with anger and frustration. But the other girl simply continued to chant, completely ignoring our presence.
"It hurts, Cedric, make her stop," my girlfriend pleaded with me, her voice shaking with fear and pain.
"Amy, stop this! Ask her to stop!" I yelled, but Amanda just laughed, a cruel sound that made my blood boil.
"No, Cedric," she said, shaking her head with a crazed look in her eyes. "This has to be done."
I stood up, ready to confront the girl who was causing my girlfriend so much pain. But Amanda stepped in front of me, growling like a wild animal. I pushed her aside and threw the bowl that the girl was holding, hoping to put an end to this madness.
But suddenly, I felt a searing pain in my back, and I groaned in agony. I turned around just in time to see Amanda shift into a wolf and prepare to attack me. Despite the danger, my focus remained on my girlfriend, who was still in agony from the chanting.
Amanda growled again, but this time it was different, more distinct. I turned to see her approaching my girlfriend, and I knew I had to act fast. I shifted into my black wolf and lunged at Amanda, ready to fight to protect the woman I loved.
We circled each other, snarling and snapping our teeth, but I lost my focus when I heard Emily scream. Amanda took advantage of my distraction, pouncing on me and sinking her teeth into my neck.
I was shocked and confused, unsure of what to do next. Should I fight and flee with my girlfriend, or stay and finish this battle?
But then, I felt the surge of beta power coursing through my body, and I knew what I had to do. I shook Amanda off and threw her aside, watching as she hit the tree and whimpered in pain.
My heart was pounding in my chest as I stood there, my body tense and ready for whatever might come. And then she appeared, racing towards me with wild, desperate eyes.
We fought fiercely, each of us trying to gain the upper hand, but then she spoke those fateful words that brought everything to a crashing halt.
"I love you, Cedric," Emily cried out, her voice raw with emotion. "I hope to meet you again in some life."
And with that, everything changed. I watched in horror as the knife sliced deeply into her throat, blood pouring out in a gruesome gush.
I rushed towards her, catching her before her lifeless body hit the ground. Tears streamed down my face as I cradled her in my arms, my heart breaking at the thought of losing her forever.
"I love you too," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion as I gazed into her dead eyes. Just moments ago, they had been full of love and admiration for me, and now they were empty and lifeless.
As I howled in pain and rage, my eyes flicked towards the figures standing nearby. The desire for revenge burned hot within me, a primal urge to make them pay for what they had done to my love.
"Bloooood!" my mind screamed, the word echoing through my thoughts like a primal drumbeat sending shivers down my spine.
I knew I had to make these two pay for what they had done. I gently placed Emily's body on the ground and kissed her cold lips, knowing that I had to act fast.
As I prepared to shift into my wolf form, everything came to a halt. It was as if time had stopped, and only I was left behind, frozen in time.
I could sense and feel everything around me, but I was unable to move. The pain of losing my love was stabbing me in my heart, and I felt as if my world was collapsing around me.
"Cedric, this wouldn't have happened if you had loved me instead of that worthless human," Amanda spat, her hand on my cheek. I recoiled from her touch, my stomach churning with disgust.
"I love you, okay?" she said, wiping my tears away. "You don't need to cry for her. I'll love you until the end, and you will love me too."
Never! I wanted to scream at her. I could never love this girl, not after what she had done. I hated her, and I wanted to kill her with my bare hands.
"From this day onwards, I'm the only one you will love," Amanda declared, leaning in to kiss me on the lips.
I wanted to push her away, to punch her in the face and break her neck for what she had done.
But I was powerless, my body frozen in place, my mind consumed with grief and rage. I knew then that I would never be able to love again, not after what had happened to Emily.
"I promise you, this heart of yours will only be mine. I have loved you since I was 5 Cedric. I wanted to be with you, I don't want my mate. I just want you, even if I do find my mate I'll kill him. Just so that I can be with you." she said, her words dripping with insanity and obsession.
The words that came out of Amanda's mouth made me shudder. The crazed look in her eyes sent chills down my spine. Killing your mate was the greatest sin our kind could ever commit, and yet she was talking about it so casually.
Did she really think I would let her into my life, let alone love her? Never, not in this lifetime.
"Do it," she commanded, and before I knew it, the girl who had accompanied her placed her hand on my head, chanting something that sent shivers down my spine.
Amanda then took a blade and cut both our hands before placing the bowl, which I had earlier thrown away, under my bleeding hand. I watched in horror as she did the same with her own hand.
"No, no!" I protested, but it was too late. Amanda took a few steps back and reached for her bag, pulling out herbs and mixing them in the bowl. She raised it towards the moon, which was still shrouded in darkness, and chanted loudly.
"This is it, Cedric. No one can separate us now. Look at that girl Cedric, look at her for one last time because I promise you that this will be the last time you will see her," Amanda whispered, sending chills down my spine.
"Emily, I'm sorry!" I muttered, my heart breaking at the thought of losing her forever.
I wanted to cry and hold her tight, kiss her for one last time. I wished I could go back in time and never bring her here, never leave her alone.
The girl walked towards us and handed the bowl to Amanda. She placed one hand over my head and, with the other, squeezed my cheeks to force me to open my mouth.
I struggled, but as she chanted something and Amanda commanded me to open my mouth, I found myself powerless to resist.
I followed her command no matter how hard I tried to resist. I drank that disgusting liquid, feeling like I was going to throw up.
But as it passed through my throat, I felt a burning sensation in my head as if someone had set it on fire. From the corner of my eye, I saw Emily's body begin to fade and her memories slowly disappearing.
Her ashes floated in the air, gradually being absorbed into Amanda's body. I cried, my heart aching with a pain I could not describe.
"No, no! This can't happen. What's happening? Why can't I remember the first time I saw her?" I wailed, feeling like I was losing my mind.
There was nothing left now, her body and her memories disappeared from my life. I closed my eyes, feeling myself being sucked into a dark hole, lost in a world of pain and despair.
*****
I slowly opened my eyes and found myself staring at a younger version of myself, but there was something different. He looked like me, but older.
"I hope you remember now," he said with a smile.
My mind started to race as I tried to recall what had happened. Then, like a sudden flood of memories, it hit me.
"That bitch," I gritted my teeth, anger surging within me.
"But I don't understand. How did I lock you up? She did it, right?" I asked him, my voice laced with confusion.
"She gave you the key, and you locked me up. The magic she used on you was dark and powerful. She was able to control how you felt about her and others.
She just placed a spell on your heart, making you believe that you loved her from the start. All your memories about Emily vanished," he explained with a sigh.
I rubbed my temples, trying to make sense of it all. "So everything I knew about her was just an illusion?" I asked, feeling disoriented.
"Think of it as an illusion. Your heart and mind believed that you loved her, so your memories of Amanda replaced your memories of Emily," he replied, his eyes filled with compassion.
"Do you want to know your true feelings without any manipulation?" he asked me.
"Yes, I would love to," I replied, feeling grateful.
"Do you accept me, Cedric?" he asked, looking at me intently.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused. I was taken aback by his sudden question.
"Open yourself up and accept me. I'm your true self," he said, his smile genuine and reassuring.
"Don't listen to him, he's lying to you. Deceiving you," another figure that looked like me appeared in front of me.
"Don't listen to him," the smiling person said, his voice calm and soothing.
"Trust me, Cedric," the grumpy-faced figure said, his tone forceful.
They kept arguing with each other, each telling me to choose. I looked back and forth between the two figures, both claiming to be my true self. The smiling version looked so hopeful, while the grumpy one looked like he was ready for a fight.
"Shut up!" I yelled, feeling overwhelmed. I covered my ears with my hands, trying to block out their voices.
"Cedric!" A familiar hand shook my shoulder.
"I said shut up," I barked, preparing to swat it away, but as I turned, my eyes widened in surprise. "Zach?"
He grinned. "Yeah, who else would it be?"
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, still trying to shake off the grogginess that clouded my mind.
"I stay here, you dummy," he laughed as he sat beside me.
"What? Who?" I stared at him, utterly confused.
"Cedric, don't you know where you are?" Zach asked, his tone full of concern.
I shook my head. "No, I don't."
"This is your head, Cedric," he said, pointing to the surreal surroundings. "Try to remember. When you let me out, you come here."
"Oh, yes! I remember," I said, scratching my neck in embarrassment. How could I forget that?
"Cedric, you need to listen to your heart and choose the right one," Zach advised, his voice firm with conviction. "I'm fed up with your stupidity and cowardice. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. Choose the right one, Cedric."
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, focusing on the memories flooding back to me. The truth I had forgotten was now clear, and I remembered my first love.
When I opened my eyes, the two figures were still locked in combat. I stepped closer, reached out my hand, and placed it on the one my heart told me to choose.
"I accept you and free you from the cage I had placed you in," I said, throwing the key away and opening my arms to hug the smiling figure. Slowly, the grumpy face began to vanish, and everything around me started to spin.
"What's happening now?" I asked, my heart racing with anticipation.
****
"God, where am I?" I groaned as I rubbed my aching head. This was the second time in a row that I had no clue where the hell I was.
"Look who's losing now," I heard someone speaking and decided to hide behind a tree.
"It's your lucky day buddy, how about a push-up challenge?" Wait, that's Blake and me. What in the freaking parallel world is going on?
Me, I mean the other me and Blake started doing push-ups. Wait!! This seems like a déjà vu.
"Body of a Greek God," both the other me and Blake stood up and looked over the window to see a girl.
"Fucking hell!!! This is not déjà vu, this is freaking time travel," I muttered under my breath.
I can feel it her emotions and mine. Her brown eyes were gazing right into my green ones that day, there was something in her eyes like she was lonely, and I felt something empty. And when she finally realized that she was staring at me, she closed her window.
I smiled as my heart fluttered just thinking about her innocent brown eyes.
"Dude, it looked like she was going to eat you up," Blake joked, breaking me out of my reverie.
"Shut up Blake, come on, let's go. We have work that needs our attention." I said, trying to hide my embarrassment.
As they walked past me as I kept blushing like an idiot.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at their conversation. But deep down, I knew that I wanted to impress her too.
Bruh!! Am I going to faint?
"Whoa, what the hell is happening? Why is everything spinning?" I muttered, trying to keep myself steady.
And then, I heard a bloodcurdling scream followed by Cassie's panicked voice urging Niya to run. Without any hesitation, I sprinted towards the source of the scream.
Oh my god. My heart was pounding as I saw Niya covered in blood, sitting on the ground. I felt like I was going to lose her, and the pain in my chest only intensified.
I tried to approach her, but the world started spinning around me once again. I stumbled and found myself standing near a fountain.
It was dark, but I could see people milling around me. And then, a voice caught my attention, and I saw a figure walking towards the woods with someone else chasing her.
"Niya," the man called out, desperation laced in his voice.
"Let me go, please," Niya pleaded, trying to wrestle free.
"Hey, look at me, Niya." The man held her chin and lifted her face, their eyes meeting. He wiped her tears away with his thumb and tucked her hair behind her ear.
Why did I feel such a strong emotion remembering that scene? And then, a flash of memory hit me, and I remembered the day we attended Matt's party. But what was happening to me? Why did everything keep spinning?
As I tried to make sense of it all, I heard someone calling my name from a distance, and suddenly, the world came back into focus.
Cold?
Wait!! Snow?
I saw a couple kissing in the snow, and as I looked closer, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was me and Niya! My heart skipped a beat as I remembered that moment - our first kiss.
I had cupped her cheeks and whispered, "Don't you ever say you wish to die." But then I let Zach take over, so she would think it was my wolf and not me.
The scene changed again, and I found myself in a car with Niya. My emotions were all over the place, and I slammed my fist on the steering wheel. "Fuck, this is wrong. Everything is wrong."
Niya reached out to comfort me, but I pushed her away. "I hate you, Niya. You destroyed everything for me. You took away my happiness, my only chance to be with Amanda."
I regretted my words the moment they left my mouth. I had kissed Niya again, and now I was lashing out at her. What was wrong with me?
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear my head. It was then that Zach's voice echoed in my mind, urging me to listen to my heart and choose the right one.
Jeveria's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Do you love her?"
"What? No, I don't. I hate her," I replied, trying to deny what I knew deep down.
But Jeveria wasn't fooled. "Do you?" she asked, playing with her finger ring.
I sighed and looked away, avoiding her gaze. "Yes, I do. I hate her," I repeated, still struggling to come to terms with my feelings.
I know I love her, but I hate how she makes me feel so exposed and vulnerable. I despised the way she could unravel me with just a glance, leaving me defenseless and open. I wish I could turn off the emotions she stirred within me without hurting and being mean to her. But I couldn't deny the intensity of my feelings. I hated myself for being so weak, yet I couldn't resist her pull. I love her, but I hate how she had the power to break me.
No, I don't hate her.
I never did.
I just hated how she made me feel.
I hated it when my heart was calling for me.
I hated that she was able to make me feel what I had lost.
I hated the feeling I was feeling for her.
And no I don't hate
I love her!!!!
___________________
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Author's Note:-
Dear readers,
I just wanted to let you know that this chapter has been edited since its original posting.
I hope the changes have improved your reading experience and made the story more enjoyable.
As always, thank you for your support and for taking the time to read my work
If any mistakes please let me know
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Thank you❣️
❣️🕊️PEACE🕊️❣️