Mate by Fate, Bound by Love

**********************************

Lena’s POV

“I believe the fact that you are still alive means you have a purpose, Lyla,” I said.

“Purpose?” Lyla laughed bitterly, “What purpose could I possibly have left when I failed to destroy the one causing chaos in my town?”

“Lyla, the fact that you woke up inside of me must mean something; our destinies must be intertwined; we just don’t know it yet.”

Lyla fell silent, seemingly digesting my words.

“I know there’s a greater purpose for us being together. We have both been betrayed by love. For me, I have been betrayed twice now.”

“What do you think is my purpose?” she asked.

“Maybe for revenge, redemption, or to save. Whatever it is, I know you are going to figure it out,” I replied.

“So you have been inside me for how long now?” I asked.

“I have been here all your life,” she said.

“So you were there when I was going through all those pains. Why didn’t you come forth then?”

“I was weak; I didn’t quite understand why I was inside you; I couldn’t do anything. I was gathering my strength and getting to know you. Though there were a few times I spoke to you, you didn’t know it was me,” she explained.

True, there were times I heard voices in my head, but I just thought it was my mind talking to me.

“So it was you, those times?”

“Yes, it was me,” she confirmed.

She tried reaching out to me. I was the one who didn’t pay attention until now.

“So what do we do? The time I have spent here, I know that Claire is someone who would go to any length to get what she wants. She’s going to find a black witch.”

“We can’t allow that,” she said firmly.

“As I said earlier, I don’t mind dying for my child to live.”

“Wow, I can’t believe you are saying a thing like that. What about my purpose, as you said? How can you switch so fast?” she said angrily.

“I am sorry. It’s just that I don’t see a way for us to come out of this alive. Claire is a demon. I have never seen anyone as evil as she is.”

“So much for the pep talk…”

“OK, so what do we do?” I asked.

“We make sure we don’t die here, Lee,” she said.

I liked the sound of that ‘Lee.’ I don’t know if Lyla used witchery in saying this, but hearing her last words made me feel hopeful and courageous. The will to live became stronger.

“Do you know this black witch?” I asked.

Lyla took in a deep breath before answering me.

“I only know of a black witch powerful enough to do something like that.”

“Who could that be?” I asked.

“MARCUS!” SHE SAID.

“How is that possible?” I asked.

“There was a part of the story I didn’t tell you. Marcus tried performing a sorcery of this nature a long time ago and he failed.”

“How did you know this?”

“I stumbled upon one of his ledgers where he records his successes and failures; it said he tried doing something like that, but he missed a spell, so everything went wrong, making mother, child, and the person that was supposed to carry the child dead.”

“What makes you so sure he hasn’t tried again and succeeded in it?” I asked.

“Oh, knowing Marcus, I am damn sure he would have tried again and succeeded, but it’s black magic; you have to lose something to gain.”

“What do you think it is?” I asked.

“The life of the mother, and the child… The child is going to survive, but he’s going to be cursed,” she said.

“How do you know about this?”

“After reading his ledger, I made inquiries about everything related to the act.”

“No, I can’t allow my child to be cursed. I was such a fool to ever consider giving in to that solution.”

“You couldn’t have known how dangerous it is if I hadn’t told you.”

We both kept quiet for a while, saying nothing to each other. I was just wondering how to get out of there. If only I had stayed back in my pack… I was treated like an outcast, but I don’t think anyone would have wanted me dead. Lauren was desperate to have Ethan, but not desperate enough to want to kill me.

“I must find a way to free myself from this holding cell.”

“Lyla, what about your powers? Can’t you use them to break the chains and padlocks?” I asked.

“I am of no use to you right now. Ever since I found out I was stuck in your body, I have tried to feel my magic, but I couldn’t. I tried reaching for my core, but it felt like it was no longer there,” she said.

The core is the source of supernatural power; at least, I know that much, due to the many stories I heard while I was younger. I felt so frustrated that I couldn’t even awaken my wolf, even if I wanted to; I didn’t even have the strength to keep her awake as I had been starving myself.NôvelDrama.Org holds this content.

“We will find a way, Lee. Just eat something. At least we know now that you won’t be poisoned.”

I looked at the last food that was dropped for me. I went close to it, smelled it, and it still smelled good. I began to eat it. As I was eating it, Adrian came in.

“It’s good to see you are eating now,” he said.

“Like you give a damn about me,” I said angrily.

“Oh no, but I do care about the child you are carrying. That’s my legacy.”

“How would your legacy feel if he or she eventually finds out that their father killed their mother?”

“They would understand I had to do what was best for our pack….., enough of all this” He shouted.

“What happened to you? You seemed to have gotten bolder within a short period”, Lyla said.

I was surprised as well, as I had never spoken to Adrian in this way before; I had never even spoken so boldly to anyone.

I think it’s because I now understand that I can’t keep playing the victim anymore; it’s high time I take a stand and defend myself.