HER MATES

CHAPTER TWO

Crystal opened her eyes and was welcomed by the warm atmosphere of her surroundings, she looked around the unfamiliar room.

The scent of herbs and the soft glow of morning light filtering through the windows filled the air. She saw herself lying on a comfortable bed with warm blankets tucked around her.

It could have been forever since Crystal felt this warmth of being comfortable.

“You are awake?” A gentle voice broke through her haze.

Crystal turned to see the healer staring down at her with a gentle glance.

“How are you feeling now?” She asked.

Crystal tried to sit down but her head swam.

“What happened to me?” She asked with a cracking voice.

The lady smiled softly, “You passed out last night In the ballroom… the Mate-Pull was overwhelming for you.”

Memories of the previous night flooded back the Mate-Pull, The Bond… everything was too much for her to breathe in.

Her heart raced as she recalled their powerful presence and the intensity of the bond.

The door opened wide, and both Asta and Gemina entered the room. Asta’s face was filled with concern while Gemina revealed excitement and curiosity.

“Crystal,” Asta called, moving closer to her.

“How do you feel now?” She asked in a steady yet worried tone.

Crystal managed a weak smile,

“I am fine.”

Asta nodded, her eyes filled with gentle reassurance.

“We are here for you Crystal,” she said.

“How does it feel?” Gemina asked the question that had been bothering her ever since last night.

“What?”

“To be mates with three powerful Alphas of course,” Gemina said with dreamy stars visible in her eyes. “ I know I am an omega but I would have killed a lot to be in your position this is—”

“You are not helping Gem,” Asta said with gritted teeth.

Reality hit Crystal so hard that she felt an unexplainable force dwell on her.

How could it be possible?

Her?

Crystal Nightwood Mated with not one or two but three Alphas.

“There is always a reason for everything dear child,” the Healer said, causing Crystal to stare in shock and admiration.

Those were her father's words, he says that anytime she feels upset.

“Old Alora?” A calm voice called, they all turned to see a teenager standing by the door.

“Oh sweet heaven, Camille, come here,” the Healer called the girl.

The young girl has a symbol carved on her forehead just like the old Healer.

Camille walked nervously to them; she stood in front of Alora, looking down at her feet.

“What troubles you dear child?” Alora asked, trying to calm the girl.

In Silver Ville, only one Healer can submerge with divine ability to heal any person they lay their hand on.

The Healer feels a magnetic bond with their Apprentice.

Camille, the Healer's Apprentice has been with her since she was a child. It was customary for a Healer to pick their Apprentice from a young age.

“Talk to me child,” Alora's persuasion led on.

“The.. the Great one is here?”

The Great one?

Isn't that the Oracle?

Crystal's heart sank deeply into her chest. The door opened, and an elderly woman entered.

The Oracle, a woman with piercing black eyes and a wrinkled face, was clad in a black rope and had a rod with her.

She approached the bed with a calm reassuring presence.

She looked down at Crystal like she could see through her confused soul.

“What is your name?” She asked.

“Cr.. Crystal m..my lady,” Crystal stammered looking everywhere except where the Oracle was.

“Crystal Nightwood,” she added.

“A Nightwood?” The Healer asked in shock.

“I thought all the Nightwoods were extinct that night?” She asked.

Crystal felt a pinch in her heart, the woman's words provoked emotions in her.

“You have a new part now, young one,” the Oracle said, maintaining a straight face.

“You are to be shared by three Alphas, they are your mates.”

“But I don't want it,” Crystal said, finally meeting the elderly woman's eyes.

“This is not about what you want, child; it is the will of the Goddess.” The Oracle responded.

The Goddess, That word fused Crystal with hatred.

Where was the great Goddess when her father and mother were being wrongfully accused?

Where was she when they were all killed?

Where was she when she was being mistreated by the people of the Ariyon clan?

Where was the great Goddess when she had to be separated from her sisters?

Now the Goddess has shown up to make her mate with three Alphas?

“The Goddess,” Crystal called with disgust.

“You are the first of your kind, dear child. This is a blessing, and it will have a significant prospect for our lands.” The Oracle couldn't hide her joy.

“Call the Council, a meeting should be held to discuss this.” The Oracle faced Alora.

“With pleasure, Great one,” she replied, bowing.

Panic surged through Crystal; she felt trapped, and the weight of the responsibility suddenly pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

The room felt smaller as the walls close by around her.

“Crystal?” Asta called, noticing her.

“What—”

Crystal suddenly swung her legs over the side of the bed and bolted for the door.

“Crystal!!” Both Asta and Gemina called after her.

“Let her go,” the Oracle stopped them as they tried to go after her.

“She needs solitude, that is the only way she could accept her fate.”

Asta's mind wasn't at rest as she looked at the door with deep concern and worry.

Crystal ran through the dark hallway, her heart pounding heavily in her chest. She burst out into the cool morning air, the fresh breeze hitting her face like a splash of cold water.

She ran, her feet pounding against the ground. Her breath came into ragged gasps. She didn't know where she was going; she just wanted to run away from everything.

Crystal found herself at the edge of the forest; the dense trees offered comfort; she slowed her pace in front of a big oak tree.

She huddled herself under the tree, the chilly atmosphere pierced into her skin.

Tears began pouring out of her eyes, she felt the weight of her emotions finally released.

Her mind drove back to two years ago when her father had taken her and her sisters to the place where her ancestors were buried.

That was the Nightwood clan's sacred ground.

He told them stories of how great they all were and resumed his teaching of mates.

“But I don't want to have a mate?” Crystal remembered her young self saying.

“It is not about what you want, it is destined to be.” Her father had replied

How is it destined for her to be bonded with Three men, people she does not know anything about?

Just then, a powerful energy surged from nowhere, consuming Crystal’s strength.

She began to gasp for air, grabbing her neck, she tried to get up but couldn't. It was as if a mighty force was pushing her to the ground.

“He..Help,” she let out, calling to no one in particular.

Standing a distance away from her was a lady who was in a black hood.

She stepped out and walked to her; taking careful steps, she stopped right above her.

Looking down at the stranger, her white eyes searched her for answers.

Crystal grabbed her leg, a strong wind blew past as the lady jerked and looked at the sky with her eyes shining bright.

Her soul dived out of her body, she left the Realm to another dimension.

She found herself in a void; everything was blurry and dark, and suddenly, a light shone on her.

She covered her face with her hands, the reflection of the light shining around her.

Slowly she took her hand away from her face to see Silver Ville in destruction.

She was on a hill, all the seven tribes were visible to her, and flame was everywhere as chaos was evoked.

Her eyes fell on the great hill of the Fifth clan and she saw a white spotless coyote staying on the highest part of the hill.

It was the Legend creature, the only one made of the true source of the Goddess's power.

The Goddess's seed.

Just then a force pulled her away as she floated on air out of the dimension.

Her vision became clear, she looked at her surroundings and saw she was back in the forest.

Looking down at the girl, she quickly pulled her leg from her.

“Help.. me.” Crystal gasped.

Pushing her confused vision away she pulled the girl away from the tree to another tree.

Crystal breathed out and sat up, she began to pant rationally.

“What happened to me?” She asked the lady in front of her without looking at her.

“That was the poisoned oak tree, its energy kills any wolf that stays close to it.” The lady said her eyes are now lemon in color.

They looked intrigued at Crystal, like searching for what was in her.

“It kills any wolf,” she repeated; Crystal looked up, and their eyes met.

“Why are you still alive?” She asked with a frown.

Crystal wasn't as confused as the lady; she had heard about the oak tree from her sister Eyis, but she just hadn't seen it.

“Answer my question, who are you and why didn't the oak tree kill you?”

“I am not a wolf,” Crystal answered and the lady became more confused.

Suddenly there was a lit in her lemon eyes as all the confusion disappeared.

“You haven't been triggered,”