Forbidden Mate: Awakening

It was already morning. Sarah told me how I had passed out in the car and Tyler carried me down to my room. I slowly rubbed my arms and legs, trying to relive his touch on my skin but stopped when I felt how wrong it was.

“What of Aunt Belinda?” I said with my morning voice.Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.

“She’s in the health centre.”

“I thought she’d insist on staying in her cottage…”

“Well, she did, but your dad insisted she stayed here since we all have to stick together during these times.”

“What about Theo?”

She blushed, “He only sustained some bruises. He’s fine.” She shifted closer to me, “Enough of others. How are you feeling?”

“I can’t say…” I shook my head and held my hands together.

“I didn’t want to disturb you this morning but it looked like you were having a bad dream. Will you tell me what it was about?” She said worriedly.

I remembered what I saw. Audrey, dead bodies, the journal, fire…I closed my eyes tightly and held my hands tighter.

“Lily…” Sarah said worriedly and held my hand.

“No, it’s nothing…just migraines. Mom…mom…I need to see mom.”

“She’s been resting. She also said she wanted to see you when we got back.”

I stood up carefully and looked around for my clothes.

“Are you sure you don’t want to rest a little longer?”

“Thanks, Sarah, but I’m fine. Sleeping in all day isn’t quite productive now is it?” I said while slipping on some jeans.

“That’s for you. I’d take any chance to sleep in.” She said and fell back on my bed.

I shook my head and smiled, “We won’t get much more sleep now the war is soon to happen.”

Her eyes drew weary, “Should we be talking about it everytime, babes? I get it’s important but let the time come before we talk about it so much. Everywhere I go, people are always talking about it.”

“Because it is important, Sarah. If we don’t talk about it now, we won’t know how we’ll plan ourselves against the vampires’ attack. And…war isn’t child’s play.”

She murmured, “I never said it was.”

I smiled and hugged her again when I was fully clothed, “We’ll be fine.” I then went into the bathroom to brush before leaving the room.

°°°°°°

Aunt Belinda looked fine but I knew she had some serious injuries too. She’d take weeks to heal. I felt bad that I didn’t sufficiently protect her from Audrey’s clutches. She got captured to bait me… I hated the fact that my loved ones were used to blackmail me. How harder could this be?

Seeing her alive and well made me shed a tear of joy. I didn’t want to lose her. Having her back felt like a bright light of hope had been restored after enduring so much uncertainty and loss. It reassured me that better days were ahead no matter how unimaginable it seemed.

I was standing outside the ward when she locked eyes with me. With a beam on her face she waved at me and I returned the gesture. I mouthed a “I’ll be back,” and she nodded. A nurse was taking her vitals so I decided not to intervene.

As I was leaving that room and walking up the stairs to my mom’s room, I met Tyler. He stood still when he saw me coming up the stairs. It’d been long since he came to the grove since the last saga.

He slowly walked down to me, looking both relieved and anxious at the same time. There was so much chaos that had consumed our lives in recent times. With a heartfelt tone, he expressed his gratitude and concern, saying, “Lily, you don’t know how relieved I am to see you safe and unharmed. Not seeing you for two months…it took a great toll on me.” He stopped and continued to look at me as if he wanted me to finish his sentence and assure him.

But I waited for him to finish.

“I deeply regret ever doubting you, and I’m truly sorry.” He finally continued, his voice filled with regret, “I want to apologize. I should’ve listened to you about Audrey, I should’ve believed you from the start. I’ve been made a big fool because of her. I fought everyone and everything for her just so she could betray me. I allowed my anger and pride to cloud my judgment, and I pushed you away when you needed support the most. I’m truly sorry.”

I looked into his eyes, seeing his sincerity shining through, though I still had doubts. Was he truly sorry or was the arrogant Tyler playing his mind games with me again? If so, why would he want to apologize to me? How would that benefit him? It was a moment filled with mixed emotions. I struggled whether to understand and forgive him or to turn my back on him like he did me. Still, I couldn’t ignore the change I saw in him. I couldn’t shake it off. There was something different about him. Like he was reborn or something. Or maybe he had matured? Whatever it was, the Tyler I was talking to wasn’t the same one I knew 3 months ago which was wild.

His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of his remorse. I looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and regret drawn in every line of his face. A wave of mixed emotions washed over me-relief, forgiveness, but also a lingering sense of hurt that I couldn’t easily push away.

“Tyler,” I replied, my voice carrying a blend of vulnerability and strength, “I appreciate your apology, and I understand that we were all caught up in a difficult situation. You did love her and love clouds reasoning so I understand that-”

“I never loved Audrey, Lily. Don’t get that wrong.” He said and I looked back up at him. “I never loved her. I did care for her but it wasn’t ever love. You know there’s only been one person I’ve loved dearly in my life.”

With what he said, I looked away for a while, feeling tears well up in my eyes. No, not this again. I couldn’t do this again. We couldn’t go back to square one again.

“I’m sorry, Lily I-“