Broken Eternal Bonds

LANA POV A piercing scream echoed through the air, a desperate and gut-wrenching cry that cut through my deep sleep like a blade, carrying with it the weight of fear and anguish. I jolted up from my slumber and scanned the room for the high-pitched wail. I caught sight of a familiar figure sobbing painfully on her knees at the door edge. "Emma, is that you…" I sounded unsure, still hazy from the hangover, as Emma, my best friend looked up at her with pain etched in on her face, one could see the look of deception and deep rooted hatred she gave me. "What…" I was about to ask, confused, but my attention was quickly snatched away when a body-like lump moved beside me under the blanket. It was then I took notice of the situation I was in. This is not my room, I panicked, Why am I naked? Why is there a man beside me? Why is Emma crying and glaring at me with a strange look…of betrayal? Thoughts raced through my head as a hungover clouded my mind. My head pounded, preventing me from piecing everything that happened the night before together. When I turned to the body beside me, seemingly untouched by the commotion, a dark feeling of horror struck when my eyes fell on the mark on his neck. It wasn't just any mark but a mating mark, cursively written boldly with our pack's emblem, The Moon Crest Pack, on his skin. When two soul mates choose to claim each other their name is magically tattooed on the part they choose to mark as a sign of ownership, respect and to others to tell them they've been taken. I cast my eyes back at Emma as if realizing the reason for her distress. Now it was my turn to cry and scream because the name written is Emma Locke intricately designed on the strange man's neck. My breathing became erratic as the hangover clouded my thoughts, like a haze obscuring the events that led to this perplexing situation. I struggled to recall the details of the night before, each memory fragment more elusive than the last. The memories, though hazy and in fragmented pieces, began to come together, creating a mosaic of regret and unease. The hangover became not just a physical ache but a gateway to a night I now wish could go back In time to correct. A night I wish never came through. A night I wish was just a nightmare. The party, the bar, the guy… Wait… is that… Eric? ¤¤¤ In the dimly lit bar, I struggled to contain the envy bubbling beneath my carefully crafted camaraderie. My best friend, Emma, had found her mate, Eric King, the next in line alpha of our pack. Consumed by my malicious jealousy, I couldn't bear the thought of Emma's happiness overshadowing my own desires. I was known to be a charmer so let me try it on Eric. Spotting Eric across the crowded room, I devised a cunning plan. I acted as if I was intoxicated and vulnerable as I approached him, my movements deliberately languid. Playing the part of the damsel in distress, I leaned on Eric, feigning a drunken stumble. "Oh Eric." I slurred, pressing my cleavage on his chiseled chest as I draped my arms around his broad shoulders. Eric, known for his kindness and sweetness, couldn't resist lending a helping hand. Falling into my trap like a mouse, he offered support, unaware of the deceit that lingered beneath my seemingly fragile state. I laughed to myself, this would be easy. "Hey, Lana are you alright?" He asked worryingly, noticing my state, "It seems you've had enough for tonight." He added, placing his hands on my shoulder, motioning me to take a seat at the bar stool. "No, I'm just getting started." I giggled, standing upright, I motioned for the bartender to get me two more drinks for myself and Eric. "You can't have another, Lana." Eric, being the good soul he is, suggested. "Stop being a sourpuss, loosen up a bit after all," I coerced with a sultry voice, "aren't we friends?" "But Emma –" "Emma wouldn't be happy if you left me here to drink all of this." I swirled the glass of drink in my palms before handing it over as I watched him hesitate for a bit before finally giving in and taking it from me. "Alright, just one drink and that's all." He smiled and for a while I thought maybe this is a bad idea…but who was I kidding. I'm horney, I need something in me and a night with my best friend's mate would do the trick for now. "Cheers to you being mated Eric." I hollered and he chuckled a bit before 'clinking' our drinks and took it all in one gulp. Unbeknownst to him, I drugged the drink in his hand, orchestrating a web of manipulation that would lead to a night of betrayal and I couldn't care any less because I was already far too gone with Eric. ¤¤¤ Jumping off the bed, shame and regret flooded through me like a tidal wave. I hastily grabbed a piece of cloth on the floor to cover my nude self, my actions from the night before playing out vividly in my memory. The realization hit me hard – that what I, Lana Bloome, had done was undeniably evil, and there was no escaping that harsh truth. The weight of my own actions hung heavily in the air, casting a dark shadow over the morning aftermath. "Why have you done this to me? Why have you betrayed my trust." Emma yelled, tears spilling down her cheeks and I couldn't give her a worthy answer as I watched her. I knew I was stupid to do what I had done. I foolishly slept with my best friend's soul mate because I was too envious of their love. I can't explain how it had happened last night or what even pushed me to do it. I had always been jealous of them both at the sideline but not to the point of destroying what they had. Was I a psycho that I would destroy my best friend's future before it happened? "I-I am s-so-" I couldn't even form a full sentence before busting out in tears. "I trusted you with everything and yet you do this to me." Emma roared out in anger causing dark thunder clouds to form outside, blurring the once morning sun. "What is going on?" Eric muttered and all eyes turned to him, tentatively gazing at us both, he was clearly confused. "Emma my love, what are you doing on the floor and why is Lana…naked in our room?" He questioned, observing the situation, "And why am I naked?" More tears were streaming down her face, those eyes full of innocence and hurt as she turned her attention to me in disbelief. "Someone should please say something and stop with the suspense." "You mean you don't remember what went on last night or how you ended up here." Emma voiced out, breaking the tense air. "No, I don't. After you told me you weren't going make it here last night I decided to go to the bar for some drink." He stated, and Emma could sense something wasn't right. "What happened after that?" Emma gravely spoke beginning to shed light on the situation before casting her judgment, and I begged the ground to swallow me up at that moment. "It's kinda blurry," Eric clutched his head tightly in agitation, trying to remember, "Eric, please try harder." His mate begged, seemingly hearing his lover's voice did he remember as his eyes widened in trepidation turning slowly to stare at me. "You were there; you came to me drunk and ordered us both a drink. You mentioned Emma would be angry if I didn't join you. I was convinced and stayed by your side. After that one drink, the room started to spin, and you promised to take me home." He quietly said, it was then he realized what I'd done. Emma could also see I had done nothing good, shooking her head in disbelief. "Lana what did you do?" Eric in a pain filled tone asked, "I was lonely, I needed someone to love me, I just wanted to be loved but after witnessing the joy between you two I grew angry, jealousy built up, irritation of you two showing your love pent up, and as it slowly morphed into envy I felt I had to do something about it, so when I saw Eric alone in the bar last night I knew I had just a chance In a lifetime. I feigned drunk and drugged your drink with some deathly-nightshade, it makes wolf high and hallucinate, and once you took it I knew victory was mine." I whispered admittedly. Emma laughed hysterically trying not to believe what I had just said and noticed Eric shaking in agitation. He had the expression of regret and self-disgust as he couldn't bare to look at Emma. "You're so treacherous," Emma spoke with croaked voice back at me. "I can't believe you'd do this to me." "Emma my mate, for what I've done I am greatly sorry, I've trampled on your trust and allowed myself to be swayed by your best friend. What kind of alpha would I be if I can't stand my ground? It means I won't be able to protect this pack, and my future Luna. I shouldn't stand in your presence and look all pitiful, ranting rubbish for this I gladly give you my soul and life." Eric solemnly said, staring at a broken Emma who was afraid of what was about to come next. "Eric, I am pr –" Emma started but was cutoff "I, Eric King, –" "Please don't!" Emma cried out, I just stared motionlessly thinking of my crimes. "–Future Alpha of Moon Crest Pack rejects you, Emma Locke, has my truly beloved, mate, and future Luna of my pack." He voiced monotonously, as a gust of wind blew the windows open and thunder struck through the dark sky. Fate took its course and Eric died. It's said— never should already marked and claimed mates reject each other, for once the bond is sealed, it's eternal. However, should mates later reject one another, it causes a detrimental effect. The love for each other is so deep and rooted to the ground like a tree that they've bonded not only physically but spiritually, and emotionally that may cost both mates lives, and seeing just how Eric was gurgling out blood is a living testament of that. Emma ran to his side to hold her mate as she tried using her magic to revive him but to no avail it didn't work because magic doesn't work on fated mates. Soon Emma writhe in pain, coughing up blood, and I just watched the whole ordeal of me losing my best friend too, watching like a rag doll. "I hope you're glad to have destroyed one more person's life, to rip everything I had before handing it over to me," "Did you know I am pregnant?" She placed a hand on her tummy, and I whimpered at the revelation. Death should be the closest thing to nothing for me and it took the betrayal of my sister to know. I slept with her mate and would soon kill her unborn baby. There was no way out of this. I had brought this to myself, and destroyed the homes of others. Though I was warned, I still slept with claimed mates and caused chaos in homes, mates rejecting each other for being unfaithful but didn't stop me from my devious ways. The prayers of those people had finally caught up to me. "Emma, I'm sorry. If there's anything I can d-" "Can you bring Eric back? Can you unscrew everything you did?" My silence was an answer to her rhetorical question, and that made me say nothing more. Whatever I say won't do anything. It won't atone for my sins nor bring back her mate. The sky roared with thunder as the dark storm clouds clashed, unleashing torrents of rain in a tumultuous display of Emma's raw power. "I forgive you Lana, but you'll have to pay a penance for this " She spoke silently, I saw her eyes turn purple, chanting some incantations in whispers. More stormy breeze blew through the window carrying with it echoes of distant thunder. She stopped chanting as her once purple eyes turned deathly dark, pointing to me with her finger and my breath hitched a bit but didn't freath because I was ready to accept my punishment. With my head bowed a bit, Emma spoke, her voice carrying the wails of a thousand souls, "And with my last dying breath of anguish, you Lana shall prepare, By the threads of fate, entwined with the shadows of despair, I bind thee before me, Lana Bloome, to an eternal cycle rare. For every rejection, a pain ten times worse shall unfold, In each life anew, your story untold. Rejected, reborn, like a winding clock, the cycle shall persist, A haunting echo, in each life, a twist. Feel the sting of rejection, like a relentless tide, A cursed journey, in pain, you'll abide. From the ashes you rise like a Phoenix, an immortal refrain, Endless rejection, an unbreakable chain. Till the stars fade, and the moon's glow wanes, The curse endures, as eternity remains." And with those malevolent words, the curse was cast, my fate was sealed in a relentless loop of rejection and rebirth as Emma took her last breath falling on her mate. An electrifying force of lightening struck me, deciding my destiny from there on, I welcomed the looming darkness as it swallowed me and I didn't fight it back.