Chapter Two - The Woman He Banished
1387 Words
Vaelith’s POV
“Mate…”
The word fell from Zyren’s lips like it terrified him and then I stared at him and for one second, nobody moved.
His eyes remained locked on the glowing mark on my shoulder and his breathing turned heavy, it was like his wolf was fighting him from inside.
Then suddenly, he stepped toward me and I grabbed my dress from the floor quickly and covered myself.
“Get out.”
My voice came out sharper than I expected but Zyren did not move and his eyes rose slowly to my face again.
“What is that mark?” he asked and I laughed bitterly.
“You suddenly care about marks now?”
His jaw tightened.
“I asked you a question.”
“And I owe you nothing.”
The mate bond burned painfully between us, I hated it, I hated the way my body reacted to him even now, even after he destroyed me.
Zyren ran a hand through his dark hair angrily.
“You disappeared for three years.”
“You banished me.”
His face changed instantly and the guilt returned again and I love it. Let it choke him.
“I thought you died,” he said quietly and I forced myself not to react.
“You should have celebrated harder then.”
Pain flashed across his face again and for some reason, seeing him hurt no longer gave me peace like I imagined and that only annoyed me more.
“Leave,” I whispered but his eyes stayed on me for another second and then finally, he turned and walked out.
The second the door closed, my knees weakened and I grabbed the table beside me tightly.
Stupid bond, stupid heart. Why did it still hurt?
….
The next morning, I walked through the palace garden alone, flowers bloomed around the fountain, birds sang from the trees.
Three years ago, I used to come here whenever I wanted to escape, back then, I was stupid enough to believe this place was home.
A hand then suddenly grabbed my wrist and I froze instantly.
It was Zyren again and his golden eyes looked darker today, it was like he did not sleep all night.
“Tell me who you really are,” he said and I almost laughed in his face.
Three years ago, he never wanted the truth and now suddenly he wanted answers?
But then I slowly pulled my hand away from him.
“Didn’t you already decide who I was the day you banished me?”
The words hit him hard and I saw it happen, his throat moved and his wolf became restless again.
“Vaelith…”
“No.” I shook my head. “Do not say my name like you care about me now.”
He then stepped closer.
“I need to understand what is happening.”
My chest burned angrily.
“Understand?” I whispered. “You never even listened to me.”
And suddenly…
The memory dragged me back.
…..
Rain poured heavily across the palace courtyard and I knelt on the ground shaking and the entire pack surrounded me, watching and judging.
Sylvarae cried dramatically in Zyren’s arms, blood stained her lips, fake blood but nobody knew that except me.
“I didn’t poison her!” I cried desperately. “Zyren, please believe me!”
He looked down at me without emotion, it was like I disgusted him.
“She almost died because of you,” he said and my heart broke hearing that.
“No! She is lying!”
Sylvarae coughed weakly against his chest.
“Please…” she whispered tearfully. “Do not fight because of me…”
I then stared at her in disbelief, how easily she acted innocent, how easily everyone believed her.
Then I crawl toward Zyren desperately and grabbed his hand.
“Please,” I beg him. “You know me. I would never hurt her.”
He pulled his hand away from mine and that hurt more than anything.
“You are dangerous,” he said coldly and the entire courtyard became silent and then he said the words that destroyed my life forever.
“Leave my kingdom and never return.”
My wolf screamed inside me.
“Mate!” But he turned his back on me, just like that, like I meant nothing and that was the moment my heart truly dies.
….
I blinked slowly and returned to the present.
Zyren still stood before me in the garden, he was watching e carefully, it was like he could somehow see those memories inside my eyes.
“I remember everything,” I tolf him quietly and his face tightened painfully and before he could speak again, I walked away because I did not trust myself to stay near him longer, because part of me still loves him and that was the worst pain of all.
…..
Later that afternoon, I stood before the gates of my family estate, nothing changed, it was still the same walls and the same guards and the same house where I spent years begging for love I never received.
One servant noticed me first and her eyes widened in horror.
“M-Miss Vaelith…”
The front doors opened immediately and my mother walked out fast but there was no happiness on her face, only fear.
“Why are you back?” she asked sharply and the words hit harder than I expected.
Not, we missed you and not, are you alive? It was just fear.
I stared at her silently.
“I came home,” I said finally.
“You should not have returned,” she whispered and my chest tightened painfully even after everything…
A part of me still hoped she would hug me, stupid.
My father then appeared behind her and the moment he saw me, his face darkened.
“You dare show your face here?”
I smiled bitterly.
“You raised me here. Remember?”
“You brought shame to this family,” he snapped and my fingers moved slowly beside me.
“Did I?” I asked softly. “Or did your favorite daughter simply lie better?”
My mother gasped and my father stepped toward me angrily.
“Watch your mouth.”
I looked at both of them, the people who watched me get banished without mercy, the people who never came looking for me and suddenly, I felt nothing.
No sadness, no warmth, there was nothing and it was good for me because that would make my revenge easier.
….
That night, I woke up suddenly and a scent filled the room, blood, rogues and my eyes snapped open.
Three shadows stood near my bed, they were assassins.
The first man then rushed toward me with a blade and that was a mistake because I grabbed his wrist instantly and twisted hard and it cracked.
His scream died before it fully left his mouth and I shoved the blade into his throat and blood splashed across my face.
The second assassin attacked from behind and I dodged fast.
Then my claws ripped through his neck completely and his head fell to the floor.
The third man stumbled backward in horror.
“Monster…” he whispered and I walked toward him slowly and fear filled his eyes. I love that because i wanted them to fear me.
He suddenly lunged desperately and I slammed him against the wall hard enough to crack it, blood spilled from his mouth and then his weak hand grabbed my wrist.
His eyes widened when he saw the glowing mark on my shoulder.
“The Blood Heir…” he choked out and my heart stopped.
Only one person ever called me that before and that was King Vaelor Drakharis.
“The Blood Heir must die before the Crimson Moon…”
My breathing stopped and then suddenly, another scent filled the room. Zyren.
I turned sharply, he stood at the doorway staring at the bodies around me and shock filled his face, real shock.
The weak girl he banished no longer exists.
His eyes slowly rose to mine and then he asked quietly:
“What exactly happened to you in the Rogue Lands?”
And suddenly… I remember the blood, the monsters and the screams.
- Writer
