Heaven's Mate

Heaven's POV. The cold evening air filled me with the smell of damp ground and pine as I went out onto the porch. With the setting sun as a backdrop, the majestic Williams family estate stood tall and proud, its magnificence a tribute to years of honour and history. Looking around, I could not help but feel proud of myself since I knew I was a part of something much bigger than myself. As I wandered along the cobblestone road, my mind kept returning to the earlier that day chat I had with my sister Aurora. She had been unusually silent, a sense of anxiety overpowering her usually cheerful demeanour. She dismissed my worries with a forced smile and a quick change of topic, but I could not escape the sensation that something was bothering her deeply. Derek was leaning against the trunk of an old oak tree, staring out to the horizon, as I round the corner. With his huge shoulders and intimidating attitude, he had all the makings of the Alpha of the future, yet there was also a softness in his eyes that made me want to cry. I raised my voice to disrupt the silence of the night, saying, "Hey." With a slight smile playing at the edges of his lips, Derek turned to face me. "Hey, Heaven," he said in a friendly and amiable tone. I joined him under the shelter of the oak tree, listening to the gentle rustle of the leaves in the wind. For a brief while, we stood in cosy silence, satisfied to just enjoy each other's company. "This evening is lovely, is not it?" Derek said out, ending the pause. With a gentle smile pulling at my lips, I said, "It is." It almost seems as though anything is achievable. Derek nodded, staring at me for a long moment. With a serious tone, he admitted, "You know, I have been thinking a lot about our families lately." Curious about where this talk was going, I furrowed my brow. "How about their situation?" "It simply... "I feel like there is more between us," Derek said, his voice hardly audible above a whisper. His remarks really hit home, and I felt my heart miss a beat. Could he be hinting at what I believed him to be hinting at? "Explain what you mean." My question came out as no more than a whisper. Derek moved a step nearer, his hand lightly cupping my cheek. His thumb made circles on my skin as he thought, "I mean, maybe our families have been waiting for the proper opportunity to bring us together." His intense stare sent thrills down my spine, and I was unable to take my eyes off of him. Is there a chance that our families were behind this from the beginning? His remarks caused my thoughts to spin, and I stammered, "I... I do not know what to say." Derek bent in closer, our breaths blending together. "It is not necessary for you to speak," he whispered, his lips lightly kissing mine. Everything else vanished at that same moment, including the pounding of my own heart and the whispering of the wind and the rustle of the leaves. Only Derek and the inexplicable attraction between us that seemed to defy gravity were present. I felt a rush of excitement go through me as we started to back away. After all these years, was it conceivable that fate had brought us together? I was happy to enjoy the moment and wait to see where our newfound connection would take us for the time being. I walked into the woods and felt the cool evening air fill me with the earthy perfume of pine and the subtle scent of wildflowers. I loved this time of day because everything seemed to be glowing softly in a golden hue, and all of my troubles vanished. Thinking of Derek, the dashing Alpha heir who had won my heart in ways I never would have imagined, made me smile. Our paths had crossed in an instant that seemed to be the result of fate intervening, and we had met under the most unlikely of circumstances. Since then, our relationship has grown beyond friendship, becoming closer every day. When I got to the riverside area, I saw Derek perched on a fallen log, staring at the glimmering water. When I walked up to him, a smile appeared on his face. He said, "Hey, Heaven," in a friendly and inviting voice. "Hello, Derek," I said, my heart racing at his sight. For a brief while, we sat in cosy stillness, satisfied to just be with one another. I could not help but feel satisfied knowing that I was in the perfect place at the right time. "Well, what about your day?" Breaking the stillness, Derek questioned. I smiled, wanting to tell him everything. "I was like, wow!" I said. "My meeting with Derek was the most amazing experience." Derek laughed, amusement glimmering in his eyes. With a playful tone, he answered, "I am sure it was." I laughed aloud as I playfully swatted his arm. "You grasp my meaning," I shot back, unable to contain the smile that was pressing on my lips. Derek's demeanour relaxed and we met eye to eye. "I do," he muttered, honesty shining in his voice. I experienced a tremendous sense of love and acceptance at that very instant, and all of my doubts and fears vanished with it. I felt that Derek was the most significant person in the world, and I was willing to go to any lengths to maintain our friendship. I had no idea, though, that not everyone was happy for me. I had no idea that my younger sister Aurora was so bitter at me because of her own affections for Derek. I kept having the impression that something was not right as I made my way back to the estate later that night. Aurora has been acting strangely recently, a sense of resentment and jealousy overshadowing her usually cheerful disposition. I made the decision to speak with her about it in the hopes of permanently ending whatever was bothering her. I gently knocked on her door and waited, heart thumping in my chest, for her to respond. Aurora's voice beckoned from within, "Come in." My eyes met hers as I pushed open the door and moved inside. "Aurora, we really need to talk," I said in a forceful voice. Aurora's eyes narrowed with mistrust and her demeanour darkened. "What about?" she inquired, sounding defensive. "Regarding your recent behaviour towards me," I shot back, my annoyance evident. "Why have you been so cold and distant? I want to know." With a sneer, Aurora crossed her arms across her chest. With a venomous spit, she said, "Maybe it is because I am tired of hearing about your wonderful little romance with Derek." As her words sank in, I felt my heart drop. Is it possible that Aurora's animosity towards me stems from Derek? "Explain what you mean." My question was hardly audible above a whisper. Aurora's gaze flickered uncertainly as her countenance softened. Her voice was hardly audible above a whisper as she conceded, "I mean, it is not fair." "I have nothing, and you have everything." When I realised how much suffering Aurora was in, tears started to fill up in my eyes. I had not given my actions much thought because I was too preoccupied with enjoying myself. I reached out to give Aurora a hug and muttered, "I am sorry, Aurora." "I did not aim to cause you pain." To make it seem as though she had advanced, Aurora forced herself to act as though she was on level with her sister, even though she had not in reality. She desired to sever her sister's throat completely, draining her blood and taking her soul with it.