7;Runaway Sofia
1064 Words
I know I could pretend to be alright for as long as I want, but there will always be people who’d see right through me. And one of those people is Mom, whom tasked it upon herself to try and distract me every chance she gets. It wasn’t working, but I liked to entertain her so actions won’t be futile.
“Give him time to get used to the sudden change. You’ll understand how he feels when you get your own mate, too, my dear. It’s hard to focus on someone else.” Mom said one time, her hand enclosing mine as she offered me a small smile.
I tried to offer her a smile back, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “I get it, Mom.” I really don’t. I don’t think I ever would. Still, I swallowed down the lump in my throat, and offered her another shaky smile. “I’m happy for him even, he deserves all the happiness this world can offer.”
Despite the conflicting, heart wreathing emotions tearing my heart apart, I still wish him nothing but happiness. If this mate of his would make him happy, then who am I to wish him otherwise.
I can’t deny that it hurts though. Seeing him with her, that is. Getting cold shoulders, and treated as though I’m not there. It hurts more than waking up to a cold bed after what happened between us.
As always, I could never hide anything from her. She sees right through me, and could tell I’m struggling at that moment. So, she simply pulled me into her embrace, rubbing soothing circles on my back. For a while, she didn’t say anything, and I remained immobile in her arms.
However, when her words do come, it had me coming undone, my walls crashing.
“I’m sorry, Sofia.” She whispered in a light tone, I wouldn’t have gotten it if I weren’t paying close attention. “I’m really sorry you had to experience this. It’s not fair on you.” Despite her not being my birth mother, there has never been a situation where she treated me otherwise.
If I dare say, she treats me better than she treats her own children.
So, I’d always known her as a mother figure. Being in her arms, and hearing those words from her were like removing the safety pin holding me together. I broke down in her arms, crying ugly tears. My body shook, and she held me closer, soothing me as if it would be enough to mend my broken heart.
I shook my head, clinging onto her. “I can’t do it, Mom,” I confessed in a small voice. “I thought I can stand aside and see them together, but I can’t.” I could pretend all I want, but I know I can never get rid of these feelings I have for Ares.
Especially not with the Luna Ceremony taking place the next day, where Audrey would officially become Ares’s mate, Luna, and Queen. The whole world would know she’s the one to stay by his side, to breed, and live old with. And I, would slowly chirp away by the side.
It hurts.
She didn’t say a thing to comfort me, knowing no words would ever be enough. Instead, she held me close and allowed me to cry. And so, I did.
I thought nothing would possibly break me further, till the night came, and I was strolling down the empty halls when something caught my attention. The slightly ajar door to Ares’s old bedroom, where he had taken me the night before.
It wasn’t just the slightly ajar door that caught my attention though, it were the noises coming from it.
Against the voice in my head telling me otherwise, my feet carried me in that direction. I peeped through the c***k, the scene and words registering in my mind.
“Oh, Ares…” Audrey’s moans were impossible to tone down. Anyone down the hall could hear it.
The scene, of them together, on that very bed imprinted itself in my mind and I felt as though I had been punched in the gut. My lips parted, a sob threatening to escape but I tamped my hand around it to cover it, to muffle it despite feeling the hot tears streaming down my face.
Perhaps, I wasn’t quiet enough, but he lifted his head, his eyes meeting mine. Those cold eyes stared right into mine, his satiated mate unaware of the little exchange between us. The fact that he still stared at me with those cold eyes were the last thing that had me coming undone.
I staggered back, looking away and running away from the scene for if I stay there, I doubt my fragile heart would be able to stand it any longer. I can’t. The pain…it’s too much.
I had no idea how fast I ran, but I pushed myself further. Disappearing into the forest behind the castle, I felt the pain in every crevice of my being as my bones broke, reshaping itself into a form I hadn’t been in a while, my mind registering the urgency of the situation and seeking an escape.
Dropping on four paws, now in the shield of my wolf form, I ran faster than before, putting as much distance between me and from the palace. From him…the farthest I possibly can for I know, if I spend a day and witnessed the Luna ceremony, I wouldn’t be able to handle it.
I had no destination in mind, but I knew I had to get away. I can no longer stay there, I refuse to. I fear I wouldn’t be able to live another day in this much pain.
So, I crossed the border, feeling the bond between I and the pack severe, painfully so. I knew the consequence of my actions, but I didn’t turn back, I still ran, not stopping until my body could no longer handle it and I found myself dropping as a heavy, mess on the floor.
The last thing I managed to do before I lose consciousness was to howl. I howled, the pain behind it echoing in the dark night.
And as I slipped out of the consciousness, I promised myself one thing. I would never go back to the palace. Never.
- Writer
