Accepting Fate (Moonlight Trials Series #3)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4



Freybelle’s POV

Nathan left the cabin, sending a wave of confusion along with the slammed door. I knew I was heated because his smile completely changed his face. His scowl made him seem older, fiercer and unapproachable but his smile changed his face. He was attractive, sure, but his smile changed his whole demeanour. He suddenly seemed approachable, friendly and fun. His smile reminded me of George, gentle and caring… I sighed; I shouldn’t be comparing them. Geroge was gone. Tears stung my eyes, and I headed to the bathroom. Sitting on the porcelain toilet I let the tears flow freely. They weren’t just for the loss of Geroge but for the loss of the life I had known. The loss of my mother, my grandmother, my sister and everyone I had known for years. The loss of the love I had thought was real and the loss of trust.

I don’t know how long I was sat there, tears flowing down my face and into my lap, but it must have been a while as I heard Nathan return. I wiped my eyes and splashed water onto my face, studying it in the mirror. My blue eyes were staring back at me, but they seemed more washed out than usual. Sighing I headed back into the main living area, forcing a smile upon my face.

Nathan’s POV

I walked around the forest for what felt like an eternity. Thoughts were swirling around my head and Blaze was offering me no help, not that that was unusual, but it irritated me more than normal. I had managed to find a few berries still clinging for life on the bushes around the cabin, but the snow was coming down harder and faster now. I gave up, hoping I had enough to at least make Freybelle a small crumble with the sugar, butter and flour I had in the cabin. I didn’t know why I was trying so hard but despite her smiles I felt like there was a huge sadness within her.

She has been deeply hurt by magic too it seems.

Can we stop this? I snaped at Blaze and he tilted his head in my mind, confused. Stop commenting on things but not talking when I speak to you. Its annoying. He snorted at me and went back to laying down in my mind.

I headed back to the cabin and noticed the snow was now thicker and heavier. We would certainly be trapped in this cabin together for a while. But unlike before I didn’t find myself annoyed, in fact I welcomed the company and also found myself wanting to hear more about her story. I thought about what she had told me so far. It wasn’t uncommon for witches to have visions, but it seemed like Freybelle hadn’t had this gift her entire life. Then I remembered she said that people had to be touching her for her to see visions. Something clicked into place… In the bathroom, she had been fine with me seeing the runes but when I grabbed her, she began crying and I was sure I saw a silver spark in her eyes. Had she seen a vision then? I headed back to the cabin and noticed she was missing, for a brief second, I felt panic rise within me and was ready to head back out to search for her but then I heard the tap going in the bathroom. With a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding, I headed to the kitchen to make her the crumble.

“You’re back.” I heard Freybelle ask, and I turned to look at her. It was clear she had been crying and I frowned, wondering if her story had brought back bad memories, especially over this George person.

“I am.” I answered, simply, turning back to the stove and mixing together the crumble as the blackberries simmered in a pan with sugar. I froze when I felt her enter the kitchen area, standing extremely close to me. “I’m making crumble.” I mumbled.

“You didn’t have to…” She said and I heard a sadness in her voice. Turning to her I noticed her sad eyes before she turned to me and plastered a smile on her face again. I raised my hand, wanting to hold her face to tell her she didn’t have to pretend but something in my heart stopped me. I was drawn to her but not through a mate bond I knew. Could she be using magic on me? I sighed and dropped my hand.

“Freybelle?” I questioned and she answered with a grunt. “Earlier in the bathroom, did you see a vision when I grabbed you?” I asked. I heard her take a sharp breath in and knew she had. I turned to her, trying to soften my face in the hopes she would talk about it.

“It wasn’t a vision… more a memory.” She answered but she wouldn’t make eye contact with me. I continued cooking, hoping the normalcy would encourage her to talk. “I don’t see many future visions as there is no linear path when it comes to the future. Anything I do see has to be a fixed point in time, everything else is only a possibility.” I nodded, knowing she had her eyes on me. “This was a vision from your past, of a woman with long black hair, laid on a stone tablet, the same runes that are on my body were surrounding her, then there was black fire…” She stopped, a sound catching in her throat. Did she know something?

“The same runes?” I questioned. She nodded and let out a huge sigh, her eyes closed as she tilted her head towards the ceiling. I saw her lips move and wondered if she was saying a silent prayer. I didn’t say anything.

“Yes, the exact same ones… I think I need to finish telling you, my story. Maybe over crumble?” She said, the joy returning to her voice. I don’t know why, but the true smile she had again made me want to smile back. Eurgh, was it possible that I was attracted to this tiny thing? Was that even possible? Sure, Id had s*x with other she wolves and been attracted to them, but not in the way I was with Freybelle. And she was a witch, a race I truly hated. I nodded though and she smiled before heading back to the sofa area, sitting on the floor again, waiting patiently as I placed the now finished blackberries into a dish and topping it with the crumble I had made. The oven was already warm so they wouldn’t be long.

“Tea?” I asked.

“I’ll make it. You sit down, you’ve done more than enough for me today.” She answered and I nodded, not wanting to argue.

Freybelle’s POV

I finished making tea, normal for Nathan and chamomile for me which I was pleased to find in one of the cupboards. It was old but still useable. I would need the calming effect especially as I was about to pour my memories out to him and almost certainly tell him I knew who had hurt his luna. I didn’t know how that would go. I placed the cups on the coffee table and sat next to Nathan on the sofa. There was a chill in the air from the snowstorm that was now wailing outside and Nathan moved to grab the blanket from the bed, placing it over my shoulders. I smiled gratefully at him, wondering if he was always this attentive or if it was because he wanted more information.

“Ok…” I said, taking a calming breath. “So, as I said, my mother brought me back home after a short three years because she caught wind that I was getting close to George. I was forbidden from seeing him again and I never heard from him again either. I was sad but my mother explained that there was a darkness within him, and he was trying to take my purity and power away from me so I couldn’t be maiden of my coven. I had been brought up my entire life to know how important my role was for the future of our coven, so I accepted what she said without question, even though there was a tightness within my stomach.”

“Was he your mate?” I looked at Nathan with furrowed brows.

“Mate?” I questioned and Nathan looked at me with a look I didn’t know. The emotions coming from him were that of inquisition as well as jealousy, upset and a little anger. “I don’t know what that is.” I answered honestly.

“Oh… Shall I explain?” I nodded, and he turned to me.

“It might be different for witches but for werewolves we have a mate. Someone who is supposed to be our other half. They complete us and make us stronger. We only get one and they are everything to us. We feel a strong connection to them and also sparks literally fly when we touch.” He said and I sensed a nervousness in him.

“Erm… No, I’ve never heard of that, and it didn’t feel like that with George either. I cared deeply for him but when my mother commanded, I forget about him, I did…” I stopped, knowing that despite caring for him, I didn’t really love him, but he was my best friend. “If I had loved him or he had been my other half, I couldn’t do that right?” I asked and Nathan nodded. “But he was my best friend and someone I cared for deeply besides my own family.”

“You don’t have mates as witches?” I shook my head.

“It’s not something I have ever heard of. Obviously, we find love and there is a notion of soul mates, but nothing has ever been proven. Were very much like humans in that regard.” He nodded seemingly understanding. “That doesn’t mean they don’t exist, I don’t know everything, but I have never read it anywhere.”

“Ok, well werewolves can have human mates, so I just wondered.” He grumbled before heading to the kitchen to check on the crumble. That was interesting and I would file that away for further study. If werewolves could be bonded to humans, then maybe there was such a thing as a mate for a witch. The writings or goddess had never spoken of it but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Maybe it was taboo?

“Here.” Nathan said, placing a bowl of crumble in front of me. I groaned at the amazing smell. I had a huge, sweet tooth and hadn’t had anything sweet for a long time now, not since before I fled my coven.

“Thank you. This smells amazing.” I said, turning to Nathan and for the first time his ears were bright red, but he was staring intently at his bowl. I sensed lust once again coming from him and I had to stifle a giggle. I might be a virgin, but I was pretty sure he was attracted to me right now. Id read about lust and love and everything in between. I was no longer a maiden to be… maybe he would educate me.