Accepting Fate (Moonlight Trials Series #3)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5



Nathan’s POV

Goddess, that noise she had emitted over the crumble was pure s****l. I had to avoid looking at her. I knew my face would be giving me away and I was swearing profusely at Blaze in my head who was still not willing to talk to me about this pull I was feeling to her.

For goddess’ sake Blaze, just talk to me about the mate bond.

Work it out. Was his answer and I growled in answer.

“You, ok?” Freybelle asked and I looked at her now. Her head was tilted to the side in confusion as she looked at me with regarding eyes. I hadn’t noticed how beautifully blue her eyes were before. I shook my head, I had seen her eyes, they were no different to before.

“I’m fine, just arguing with my wolf again.” I answered, hoping that would be the end of her questions.

“Ok, Does your wolf have the same name as you or a different one?” She asked, and I knew she was genuinely curious.

“His name is Blaze.” I answered, directly.

“Oh? How comes?” I looked at her with confusion.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, most people are named by their parents for reasons. For example, I was named Freybelle because it means beloved beauty, from Freya and Bella. My mother always knew I would be the maiden despite my sister being older and they said I was beautiful as a baby.” She smiled, clearly fond of the memory. “I’m sure your parents named you Nathan for a good reason. So, I wondered why Blaze, because well… I assume they don’t have parents in the sae way you do, right?” She asked, her eyes wide and curious.

“Oh, well I guess that makes sense. I don’t know why I was called Nathan, but Blaze is like an uncontrollable fire right? He is very uncontrollable.” I chuckled. She looked thoughtful for a bit before smiling.

“I’m going to research what Nathan means, I bet it means something cool.” She laughed and there it was again, the pulling of string in my heart at her smile and laughter. Not annoying this time, just pleasant.

“Ok.” I answered, having now finished my crumble. I took my bowl to the sink but didn’t wash it immediately, wanting her to return to the story.

“Ok, Well anyway…” She continued as I sat beside her. She had finished her food now and was sat with her hands in her lap. “So, I stopped seeing George and yes it was upsetting but I knew it was for the best. I hadn’t learnt anything about my visions except for that they weren’t controlled by me. When I turned 100 my mother got me to test them out constantly and we eventually realised they came from the goddess. I ended up at a village a few miles away, living with a human priestess who helped me have a little more control over them. I returned a year ago. Everyone was different, on edge, less powerful than before. So, a few months ago my mother told me I was finally ready for my maiden ceremony, and I would finally help the coven. My sister, Brie, hated that I had been chosen over her, but she was never horrible to me. In fact, she would often tell me how I would be loved by all after the ceremony. I didn’t know what she meant until…” She stopped talking and I saw her shoulders shaking.

“Are you ok?” She nodded, not making eye contact with me.

“Yes, No. Well… I think my family might be the coven who attacked your luna.” She bit her lip ad looked at me. A mixture of emotions swarmed over me, and I saw Freybelle physically cringe. Anger over her being connected, upset that she was connected too when I didn’t want her to be. Disgust that I had remotely found her attractive when she was somehow involved then realisation that she wouldn’t have been there then confusion. “I’m sorry…” She said and I frowned, controlling my emotions. Had she cringed because they were clear on my face.

“Why?”

“Because I know youre repulsed by me now, youre angry because it my family that hurt her… but… I can help, I promise.” I looked at her, her face was screwed up in fear and hurt. She looked helpless and like she did want to help.

“You weren’t there were you?” I asked, simply.

“I didn’t see the ritual, but I know what it is…now.” I crinkled my forehead.

“What do you mean?”

Freybelle’s POV

I closed my eyes, holding back tears again at the betrayal in my heart.

“A few weeks ago, well I think it was, time stood still for me after it whilst I made my way here.” I sighed, knowing I was going off tangent and Nathan was getting annoyed at me. “Anyway, it was my maiden ceremony, and I was dressed all in White, no shoes, no accessories, just purely myself. I was led into a salt circle and enclosed within it. I knew there would be a ritual and salt purified the area, so I didn’t see anything wrong. My mother, sister and grandmother circled around me, outside the circle. They began chanting words I had never heard or learnt in all of my 100 years of study. I felt myself pulled to the ground and black fire began circling around me.” I saw Nathans eyes go wide. He recognised the ritual.

“It branded you.” He said, not a question and I nodded.

“It engraved the runes onto me and burnt me all over as well. My mother was still chanting, and my sister was suddenly holding someone, bringing them close to the circle but not within it as it was magically sealed to keep me within it. I couldn’t see who they were, but I recognised the voice.”

“George?” Nathan questioned and I again just nodded, not wanting to say his name again for fear of tears flowing before I could finish the story.

“I tried to fight the black fire that was engulfing me, and I did feel a surge of power. My sister screamed about silver light and my mother being right before she slit George’s throat, making him fall into the circle.” I choked back tears and felt Nathans hand grasp mine from my knee. I looked up to him and felt a surge or sorrow. He must now realise I was put through the same as his Luna.

“You don’t need to continue.” I shook my head violently.

“You need to know; you need to understand.” I cried, now knowing my true purpose for being sent here.

“I know, I do, but you’re… in pain.” He said and as I felt the worry I also saw his eyes, softer than they had been for the last 12 hours. He was hurting too. I shook my head though.

“The black fire turned into black hands and literally tore George’s body apart in front of me. I remember everything.” Tears were falling down my face now as images of blood and bone flickered into my vision and George’s dead eyes staring at me for help. “Then I heard a deep booming voice. By this point I was able to stand, shakily, and turned to the voice, seeing it come from my grandmother. She said something about me being stronger than the stupid wolf, and she was happy. She wasn’t my grandmother anymore. I looked to my mother, but she was smiling, happy that I was in pain. I begged and begged for the goddess to help me, but she didn’t. I was ready to give up when I felt a surge of energy and I was able to make wind stronger than ever before. I blew the salt circle away, meaning I could now flee, and I ran and ran and ran. I didn’t look back.” I was sobbing now, and I felt strong muscular arms snake around me and lift me. I was sat in Nathan’s lap, crying against his chest uncontrollably. I don’t know how long we sat like that, but I do know I fell asleep in his arms.

Nathan’s POV

Freybelle finally fell asleep in my arms, her crying only coming out in soft sobs every now and again as she dreamt. I felt a tug in my heart, I now wanted to also help this woman take revenge for what her own family had put her through.

Will she help though? It’s her family.

I frowned, thinking about Blaze’s words. Would she? Surely, she wanted to see them pay but also find out why they were practicing forbidden magic that cost her, her best friends life. I also wanted answers and payback for my Luna. I got up and gently placed her onto the bed, wrapping her in the blankets and making sure the fire was set for the night. I knew it would get cold with the storm.

We should shift, conserve heat.

I knew he was right, so I shed my clothes in the bathroom and shifted into my wolf. Blaze was a red wolf with a silvery blue patch on his left paw. And white tips on his ears. He wasn’t a large wolf but big enough, so we got on the bottom of the bed, ensuring Freybelle’s feet were covered to be kept warm.

Mmmmm, was the only sound I heard as I drifted off to sleep, however, I wasn’t sure if it was Blaze or Freybelle that had uttered it.