Red POV
"Mum... Why can't I follow you?" I whined, refusing to let my parents head to a party without me. The thought of being left alone was unsettling.
"My love, you know the party is for grown-ups only. Are you an adult, hmm..." My mother teased, and I nodded, trying to convince her that I was mature enough to attend.
"But I will be alone," I protested, hoping to appeal to her sense of concern.
"No, you won't. I already told someone to look after you, someone special," she said, lowering her voice on the last sentence, hinting at something intriguing.
"Special?" I questioned, curious about what she meant.
She nodded her head. "Oh, like a fairy godmother," I suggested, imagining a magical presence to keep me company.
She chuckled and corrected me. "Like your mate, he's on his way any second now."
Confusion filled my mind. "What's a mate?" I asked, hoping for a clear explanation.
"It's someone who will love and accept you for who you are," my mother began to explain. "They will make you laugh and sometimes cry, but it doesn't mean that they don't love you. They will always be there in times of need and danger, like a superhero."
Her words sparked a mix of emotions within me. Doubt crept in. "Do you think he will like me? I'm not sure he would," I admitted, feeling unsure of myself.
I heard an 'Oh dear' from Mum, and she hugged me instantly, comforting my insecurities. "Trust me, darling, he adores you already," she assured me, patting my head gently.
"How do you know that? He hasn't seen me," I pouted, seeking reassurance.
"You see him every time, but you're not ready to be with him yet," she explained cryptically, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Before I could inquire further, I saw Dad walking towards us, looking dashing in his black tuxedo. His presence brought a sense of calm and security.
"Dad looks handsome," I remarked, unable to contain my admiration for him. He smiled and hugged me.
"Well, my princess looks beautiful," he complimented, causing a blush to rise to my cheeks. I hugged him tightly, cherishing the warmth of his embrace.
"Dad, Mum said that my mate is going to take care of me when you guys leave," I informed him, eager to confirm what my mother had revealed.
He looked shocked at my statement, then glanced at Mum. "Oh... yes, he is. So, could you stay in your room for a while until he comes?" he instructed, his voice tinged with concern.
I nodded my head, agreeing to his request. "That's my girl," he said, kissing my forehead, before holding Mum's hand and looking at her with deep affection.
They both rose from my bed and headed towards the door. Mum blew a kiss to me, making me giggle. She left my room, and it was just Dad and me.
For a moment, Dad appeared worried, but he quickly composed himself and smiled at me. "Goodnight, princess," he whispered, his voice filled with love.
"Goodnight, Dad," I whispered back, watching as he shut the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I wondered what my mate looked like and if he would be kind. Slowly, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, entering the realm of dreams.
*******
"Don't you dare step another foot, you demon!" I widened my eyes as I heard my mother's voice filled with fury. Who was she yelling at?
"You were always stubborn, my precious Lydia," an unknown voice responded, sending chills down my spine. My body began to shake uncontrollably, and I instinctively hid under my bedsheets, seeking refuge.
"We left the Realm for you all, why torment us now?!" My dad's voice carried a note of anger, directed at the man he was addressing.
"Correction, you were banished for loving a witch, Hunter," the man retorted, his words confusing me. My mother was not a witch.
"I don't care about you two. I'm here for your offspring. The boss wants her, and what the boss wants, the boss gets," the man declared, his intentions becoming clear.
"Go tell your boss to go to hell!" My mum's defiant voice rang out, and I heard objects breaking, indicating a fierce struggle.
"Shut up, woman!" The man's voice turned menacing, and my mother cried out in pain.
"Red Hide!" my dad shouted from downstairs, his voice filled with desperation and fear.
"You monsters are not laying a finger on her, she knows anything of our kind take us instead" My mum pleaded.
No!
Mum don't leave me please!!
" You are not needed and you have no idea what your child is capable of, she will start the war between The Killian and Astrid Clans" The man said, saying strange words that I couldn't understand.
" I thought the elders announced peace between the clans" Dad spoke.
" Well... Let's just say not everyone is pleased with that arrangement,"
"You make me sick, Over our dead bodies will we allow you guys to get to her"Mum declared.
" Since you are willing to sacrifice yourselves for her I will grant you that wish"
Everywhere became silent for just a second, then I heard Mum and Dad cry out, my head began to ache so bad, tears were flowing from my eyes and I didn't know what to do.
"You should have run while you had the chance, but don't worry your souls are in good hands, "The strange man said.
Oh no!
Mum! Dad!
I flinched from my bed, switched the lights off, and ran to the closet hiding my body with my clothes.
I didn't know what to do. My body trembled uncontrollably, and my mind raced with fear. I heard someone climbing up the stairs slowly,making my head pound even harder. The footsteps approached my room, and then a loud knock reverberated through the air.
"Red, my dear, don't you want to see your parents' lifeless bodies before I take you?" the man taunted, his voice filled with malice, as he mercilessly pounded on the door.
Fear gripped my heart, and I refused to answer, remaining still and silent in the closet, praying for someone to come and save me from this nightmare.
"Mate, wherever you are, please save me," I pleaded silently, my final tear streaming down my face.
Suddenly, with a thunderous BANG, my door was hit and torn to shreds. I cowered further, burying my head in my hands, unable to face the creature on the other side.
The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing. Then, a growl resonated through the air, fierce and powerful.
"You have to be fucking kidding me. You again?" The man's voice carried a mix of surprise and frustration. I couldn't comprehend what was happening, but all I wanted was to see my parents again.
The growl grew louder, and curiosity got the better of me. Slowly, I raised my head and cautiously peeked through a small hole in the closet.
My eyes widened in terror as I beheld a sight that both fascinated and terrified me. A massive black wolf stood in my room, its presence commanding and primal. It moved with calculated grace, its gaze fixed on the man, whose face remained hidden from my view.
"How the fuck did you get here so fast?" the man spat out, his voice laced with disbelief and fear. I saw the wolf barking and noticed how sharp its teeth were, It suddenly pounced on the man biting its neck and making the man shout in pain.
A crimson stream cascaded from the savage wound on the wolf's neck, its vivid hue contrasting sharply against the muted tones of the room. The metallic scent of blood permeated the air, assaulting my senses and threatening to overwhelm me. Nausea churned in the pit of my stomach as I watched the life force drain from the majestic creature.
In a desperate attempt to intervene, the man reached into his pocket, retrieving a small knife with a glint of malevolence. The blade, poised to strike, gleamed ominously in the dim light. Before the fatal blow could be delivered, however, a surge of adrenaline propelled me to action.
"No!!!" The word erupted from the depths of my being, reverberating through the room like a thunderclap. The force of my scream shattered the silence, causing the closet to explode into a shower of splintered wood. The man and the wolf were propelled in opposite directions, colliding with the walls in a violent display of chaos.
With a swift recovery that defied the severity of its injuries, the wolf rose to its feet, a testament to its resilience and indomitable spirit. It clamped its powerful jaws around the man's leg, dragging him out of the room in a savage display of retribution. The man, now seemingly unconscious, offered no resistance as he was forcibly removed from the scene of his transgressions.
As the room descended into a palpable stillness, I found myself sinking to the floor, the weight of the tragedy pressing upon me like a suffocating blanket. Desperate sobs wracked my body, my cries a haunting melody that echoed through the empty house. In my heart, I clung to a flicker of hope, a futile belief that my parents would miraculously appear, dispelling the nightmare that had consumed our lives. But deep down, I knew the cruel reality that awaited me: they were gone, forever lost to me.
The pain, both physical and emotional, became an unbearable burden, threatening to shatter my fragile existence. I curled my body into a protective ball, as if by contorting myself, I could somehow escape the anguish that threatened to consume me whole. But there was no escape, no respite from the cruel hand fate had dealt me.
Outside the confines of my room, the distinct sound of bones cracking reverberated through the house, each snap a chilling reminder of the horrors that lurked beyond my sanctuary. Despite the bone-chilling terror that gripped me, I remained frozen in place, unable to muster the strength to face the unknown that awaited me.
"Red..." A voice, tinged with familiarity and desperation, whispered my name at the threshold of my room. The words, barely audible, reached my ears but failed to penetrate the fortress of grief that encased me. I dared not raise my head, for fear of confronting the cruel reality that had befallen us.
Slowly, hesitantly, he approached, his steps laden with remorse. He lowered his body next to mine, a silent offering of solace amidst the chaos that enveloped us. "Please, look at me," he implored, his voice a fragile plea that shattered the walls I had erected around my shattered heart.
Reluctantly, I raised my head, my tear-stained eyes meeting his gaze. The once vibrant glimmer that danced within his eyes had dimmed, replaced by a haunting emptiness. A pang of sorrow lanced through my soul as I beheld the hollowness that had claimed his spirit.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice heavy with regret. The floodgates of my grief burst open once more, and I clung to him, my body wracked with sobs that seemed to emanate from the deepest recesses of my being.
"I'm so sorry, Red," he repeated, his voice a broken melody of remorse. "Please forgive me."
He pleaded for my forgiveness, his embrace tightening as if desperately clinging to a lifeline slipping through his grasp. Each tear that cascaded down my cheeks carried the weight of his remorse, the depth of his pain.
"P-Please... remove the pain," I managed to utter through trembling lips, my voice laced with a torment that threatened to consume me entirely. The agony that coursed through my veins was too much to bear, an all-encompassing torment that threatened to extinguish the flicker of life within me.
In response, a single tear escaped from his eye, its path tracing a delicate trail down his cheek before coming to rest upon my own. It carried an unspoken promise, a shared understanding of the unbearable suffering we both carried.
And then, as if surrendering to the darkness, my consciousness wavered, flickering like a dying flame before succumbing to the overwhelming exhaustion that had enveloped me. I slumped against his chest, my body giving in to the relentless ache, and I surrendered to the oblivion of unconsciousness.
" I'm so sorry, I failed you my dearest mate"
•••••
As my heavy eyelids fluttered open, I found myself enveloped by the sterile white surroundings of the clinic. The faint scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, mingling with the subtle undertones of anxiety. A wave of disorientation washed over me, leaving me momentarily dazed and vulnerable.
With great effort, I attempted to rise from the sterile hospital bed, only to be greeted by a searing pain that radiated through my skull. A low groan escaped my lips, a testament to the torment that plagued me.
"Red?" a voice called out, its timbre laced with concern and familiarity. I turned my gaze, my tear-streaked cheeks betraying the flood of emotions that coursed through my fragile being.
"Uncle J?" I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of relief and sorrow.
Sexy Jayden is back 🥺🥺