CATRIONA
As I continued to whine in pain, this beautiful woman I had just met came to my aid. She gently guided me down the grass and placed her hand on my neck, where the pain was emanating from.
Breath in,” she said and then started talking in small words. After a few moments, I began to feel the pain dissipate, replaced by tiny shimmering sensations. As she removed her hand from my neck, she collapsed down in a sideway position, panting heavily as if she had just run a long distance. Concerned, I turned to her and asked if she was alright. She waved her hand dismissively, indicating that she just needed a moment to relax. “I just need a moment,” she said.
“I laid down facing her. What do you think you’re doing?” she asked. First of all, thank you for your help. For a moment, I felt like I was dying.
I shouldn’t have done that,” she said, cutting me off. She slowly got up and sat upright, and so did I. Get out of here. She said in a dead serious tone. Did I do anything wrong? I asked, puzzled.
I said go. Go woman before I kill you. She graved, her eyes burning with rage that I don’t know where it came from. I swiftly rose up and stepped back far away from her.
GO. She screamed.
“Okay, but how do I leave this place?” I screamed, hoping she would calm down and show me the way out. However, instead of helping, she waved her hands in the air and conjured a magical ball, which she then hurled towards me. Instinctively, I placed my hands on my stomach to protect the child inside me, closed my eyes, and braced myself for the impact, expecting it to be fatal. But as the magical ball neared me, instead of colliding with my body, it burst into a shower of shimmering sparks.
“Are you pregnant?” She asked.
Confused, I opened my eyes and was stunned to see her standing so close to me. My legs wavered, and I almost fell, but she steadied me with a firm grip. My heart was racing, as were my pulses. Her eyes, which had previously possessed a raging fire, were now a calm aqua blue. I felt like I had seen them before.
“Oh my God. I almost killed you and… your child. Are you okay?” She asked, panicking as she touched me checking for any injuries.
I sank down on the grass, trembling.
I’m sorry,’ she said, her voice shaky. “I didn’t know you were pregnant. You should have told me.”
“it’s because I had no chance,”
“Why is it that whenever I get pregnant, threats start coming my way? Why? I’ve already lost my twins. Can’t God let me have this one? Now, I almost died, and my brother would have been left without a sister to lean on. If I make it out alive and give birth to this child, I won’t ever get pregnant again,” I grumbled, tears streaming down my face.
“Me, too. I won’t, EVER.” She said after a moment of silence. When I looked at her, she was also crying.
“This is my sixth pregnancy,” she continued, her voice filled with pain. “I carry them for nine months which gives me hope. But the moment I push them out, they stop breathing. Each time I lose my babies, it tears me apart, but I don’t understand why I keep getting pregnant over and over again.
I’m at a loss for words. I used to think I was the only one suffering but now I realise I wasn’t alone. I don’t want to assume that I know exactly what you’re going through because our situations may differ.
I went through a miscarriage, and as for you.. well, I should stop. I don’t want to add to your pain. As a witch, I believe you have incredible abilities and could potentially uncover the cause of your babys’ death. It surprises me that, being surrounded by other witches, they weren’t able to offer any assistance or support for your babies.
She gave me a look, and said.. as you can see I am totally different from everyone here. She then shifted her gaze towards her baby bump and continued… I’ve attempted numerous times to seek guidance from the elders, but they have all rejected me. Since my fifth pregnancy, I have repeatedly dreamt of a faint woman crying, whom I believe to be my mother and the possible source of my troubles.
l watched as she’s filled with sadness, her gaze still on her belly. It was clear that she carried a burden that went beyond the physical weight she bore.
As she confided in me, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of empathy towards her.
Did it occur to you that your dream might be a connection that held the answers to your questions?
Yes. But my mind tells me she’s in the human world but has no idea how to find her.
With a gentle voice, I reassured her that she was not alone in this. If you allow me, I can help you find your mother before your due date. There’s no losing more babies. Thank you,” she said with a genuine smile.
“So, what’s your story? I want to hear it.” she asked, all smiley as if we’re besties now. I hesitated before sharing with her where it all started and how I ended up in this world.
~~~
You’re in a more difficult situation than I thought. Growing up in such a tough situation and now tangled between two alpha men. If I may ask, who do you feel more comfortable with between the two men?
Gabriel. I blurted out without hesitation. It was the truth. He made me feel safe and treated me like royalty. Despite his intimidating and rude demeanour, he’s a man that any woman would be drawn to. And I love him.
Gabriel had a magnetic aura that captivated me from the moment I laid eyes on him even though I ignored it at first.
I have to go now,” I said as I got up from the ground. “If Gabriel can’t find me where he left me, he’ll be furious.”
“Alright then,” she replied, waving her hand and opening a passage for me. “I’d love to see you again and talk more.” She said.
I nodded in agreement before walking out. I realised I forgot to ask her if she knew where Sandra was.
It didn’t take long for the witch to appear with Gabriel, and even more surprisingly, Sandra was with them, following closely behind Gabriel. l stopped in my tracks, surprised to see her. She looked fine. No injury or slap marks on her pretty face. I ran toward her and hugged her.
“Where did they hide you? Are you okay?” I asked, breaking the hug. “You’re okay. I was worried sick about you,” I said, tears threatening to escape.
“It was me who was worried about you,” she replied. “I was fine where they put me, though I was worried about what would happen to us until they brought me thinking I was the reason for your sudden disappearance.
Huh…
I looked up at Gabriel’s cute but unhappy face. His eyes narrowed as he observed my dishevelled appearance. “Where have you been?” He demanded, anger evident in his voice. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, feeling a pang of guilt rise within me. I knew I had some explaining to do. Taking a deep breath, I tried to find the right words to address his concerns.
“Gabriel, while trying to find Sandra, I… got caught up with something,” I stammered, my voice betraying a mix of regret and apprehension. “I didn’t mean to worry you.
His expression softened slightly, but the frustration was still evident in his eyes. “You disappeared without a word. When I came back from that short conversation I had and found you gone. I went nuts. I was going to kill a person here. And that would have been another problem. I was worried and scared, you know. He said his tone even, his hands on my arms. I’m sorry. I said softly.
Our bodies were too close as we stared into eachothers eyes with affection. The world around us seemed frozen, leaving only space for us to breathe and love each other.
In a swift and sudden movement, Sandra wedged herself between Gabriel and me.
She’s my alpha’s mate, which means you have no right to touch her. Sandra exclaimed. In the absence of my alpha, it is my duty to protect his mate from alpha scumbags like you. She raged like she had something on him.
Sandra, you need to chill down. Let’s talk for a moment. I said to her after sensing unsettling tension between them. I held her hand trying to drag her away but she was so stiff to budge an inch.
Gabriel lowered himself to Sandra’s level and said, “Hey pup didn’t your alpha teach you to respect other alphas?” He said with a deadpan expression.
I sense some flickering tension within the family. ”I’ll give you guys some space to talk it out,” the vvitch blurted before disappearing. “God, I really don’t like her,” I said
We were taught not to respect those selfish alphas who sacrifice their mates for their selfishness. Sandra said.
What was that about? I mumbled.
I noticed a change in Gabriel’s expression, and I knew he was about to put her place. However, I couldn’t let that happen. “Sandra, let’s talk,” I said, attempting to pull her away from Gabriel. Unfortunately, she remained stubbornly still, refusing to budge. I could feel the tension in the air as Gabriel’s gaze intensified, his jaw clenched tight. It was clear that he was fueled.
“Sandra, let’s talk,” I repeated, my voice calm yet firm. I reached out a hand again, gently tugging at her arm, trying to coax her away from Gabriel’s looming presence. But she stood her ground, her eyes fixed on him, a mix of defiance and apprehension flickering across her face. I was now getting frustrated.
I don’t know why you’re acting this way but you need to stop and listen to what I have to say. I snapped, pulling her attention to me. Gabriel is my mate too. I have no idea how it happened but I found myself mated with two men. And Jayden knows about it. I said.
You can’t be serious, Catriona. This man is a monster. He murders his mates.