“Arabella!” Alexander cried loudly with an ear-deafening scream. He took out the silver dagger from Arabella’s chest with his shaking hand and threw it away. He called out her name, but she had already died the moment the silver pierced her heart. Zephyr scooted back in shock, his eyes stony and blank as he looked at Arabella’s dead form. Suddenly, Alexander fell to the ground, his breathing stopping.
Zephyr was dumbfounded and couldn’t understand what had just happened. The heavy wind began to flow, and the sky turned red and gloomy while birds began crying and tides rose in rivers.
“THEY WERE TRUE MATES!” Suddenly, a voice from above resonated in the surroundings. “IF ONE OF THEM DIES, THE OTHER WILL ALSO DIE. THEY WERE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER!”
Zephyr looked at the dead bodies of Alexander and Arabella entangled in each other’s arms and then looked up above.
He lost everything in that moment: his power, his immortality, and his love.
_________________
*Present time*
*Avery*
“Then what happened to Zephyr?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“Zephyr lost his powers, becoming an ordinary man. However, his loyal warlock ministers and commanders concealed his mortality from everyone, ensuring he ruled without disturbance. He lived and died as a human, only to be reborn as the son of the formidable Vampire King, Silas Shadowborn,” Damon revealed.
“That’s… that’s you,” I exclaimed, astonished.
“Yes!” he smirked. “I recollect everything since my rebirth and now seek my Arabella.”
“And Selena is Arabella?!” I blurted out, my expression contorted with a mix of shock and disbelief.
“Yes, she is my Arabella,” Damon affirmed.
“Is she truly your mate?!” I inquired, suspicion lacing my tone. That couldn’t be true because she was Alexander’s true mate.
“She is mine and mine alone!” he snapped fiercely. “I know I am destined for her, and she is fated for me. She only needs to realize it, and that moment will arrive very soon,” Damon predicted with a hint of ominous certainty.
“Ah, so you cast a spell on her, and that’s why she is drawn to you,” Father remarked.
Damon chuckled. “As I’ve mentioned, she is mine, and I will do anything to claim her. The universe must accept it and alter destiny.”
It was a cunning and wicked plan, but who cared as long as I could have Zander.
“We’re on board with your plan. What do we need to do?” Father inquired.
Damon fixed us with a stern gaze before flashing a cunning smile, his eyes glinting with evil intent.
“Just follow the plan,” he commanded.
“But wait, what about Alexander?” I frowned. “What if he has also been reborn? Aren’t you afraid he’ll come to reclaim his mate?”
“I don’t have to worry about Alexander,” Damon smirked. “Even if he’s been reborn, he won’t be able to sense his mate, nor will his mate, Arabella, be able to sense him because the curse will continue to follow him in every life. So it doesn’t matter who or where he is in this lifetime.”
______________
*Zander*
“Zander, what do you mean you only have a few months left?” Selena asked, her beautiful eyes reflecting worry and fear.
I couldn’t tell her about the prophecy; she would be scared.
“Tell me, Zander, please!” she insisted.
“Selena, I will always be yours, and even if I die, I don’t care because now I have my son to carry on my legacy and bloodline,” I assured her.
“Why are you talking as if you’re going to die?” Her voice shook as her eyes glistened.
I sighed, taking her face in my hands and caressing her cheeks. She leaned into my touch, closing her eyes.
“We’ve just started our life, Zander, and you’re talking about leaving. That’s not going to happen, and I’m not going to let anything come between us,” she whispered as a tear dropped on her cheek.
“What if it’s death…” She didn’t let me finish the sentence.
“No!” she shrieked. “Nothing and I mean absolutely nothing, will ever come between us,” she paused, her eyes fixing intensely onto mine. “Not even death itself is permitted to separate us. Do you understand?” Her voice trembled, and tears welled in her eyes. I leaned in and kissed her deeply overwhelming emotion taking over the thoughts.
She struggled to contain her emotions, refusing to acknowledge them, but fate was inescapable. My destiny allowed me just thirty fleeting years with my loved ones in this earthly realm.
“Selena, I must attend to something urgent,” I murmured as I pulled away.
“Wait, where are you going?” Her voice was tinged with panic.
“To sever my mate bond and be eternally yours,” I announced resolutely.
I needed to rush to the Moon Goddess temple, seeking the counsel of the head priestess. Only she could break the bond tying me to another, allowing me to belong solely to Selena. My remaining days on this earth were dwindling, but my resolve to be with her never faltered.
Selena’s voice wanted to stop me, but nothing could change my mind as I didn’t have much time on my hands.
_____________________
As I reached the altar of the Moon Goddess Temple, the serene light emanating from inside granted me peace and calmed my stressed heart. I quickly ascended the steps of the temple and stepped inside.
“Alpha Zander!” the High Priestess smiled. “Did you come for prayer and to make offerings to the Moon Goddess?”
“No, High Priestess! I am here to seek your help,” I said firmly.
“Seek my help?” she repeated in confusion. “Tell me, how can I help you?” Her voice carried a divine and calming presence.
“I need you to sever my mate bond so I can never find my fated mate,” I declared.
She looked taken aback momentarily. I took a deep breath, knowing she needed a reason.
“I have a mate, and I love her. I want to be her only. Though I don’t doubt my love for Selena, I know the mate bond is very powerful, and I don’t want anything to make Selena doubt my love for her,” I explained. “That’s why, High Priestess, I want you to destroy my mate bond,” I commanded.
“As you wish, Alpha King,” she bowed. “You are our king, and I am obliged to follow your orders and fulfill your wish,” she paused. “But I want to remind you that once your mate bond is destroyed, it can’t be revived at any cost.”
“I don’t care. I don’t need anyone else but my Selena as my mate,” I admitted, holding my head high, proud of my love.
She smiled. ” I must say your Luna is very lucky.”
“I am the lucky one to have her,” I smiled, thinking about such a remarkable lady as my mate and Luna.
“Alright, let’s proceed with your wish. Come with me,” she instructed, and I followed her to the divine chamber of the Moon Goddess. The chamber was brightly lit as if all the stars had descended to Earth. The ambiance was serene and divine. The Moon Goddess idol appeared so lifelike, as though she resided there in reality.
“Give me your hand and listen, it will be painful, but I will try to lessen the pain with my powers quickly,” she informed me.
“I don’t care. Just do it,” I said firmly, offering her my hand.
She held my hand while chanting something under her breath, sprinkling the holy moon water obtained from the Lunar realm and blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.
The high priestess closed her eyes, continuing her chant. Suddenly, she jerked her hand away from mine as if burned, shock widening her eyes. Her unexpected reaction left me dumbfounded.
“What happened?” I murmured, my brow furrowed in confusion.
“You can never find a mate because your wolf’s mate bond is cursed,” she announced, her voice tinged with fear and disbelief.