Cursed by Fate (COMPLETE)

Chapter Eleven

I tossed and turned unable to calm my racing thoughts. I didn’t want to be a hybrid. I didn’t want to be a wolf or a vampire or anything. I just want to be human, be normal. Why can I not just be normal? What did I do to deserve to become a monster? I kept to myself, I stayed out of trouble, got good grades. I knew though, in the back of my mind and in my heart I knew it had nothing to do with behavior. I was born this way. It was in my DNA, and there was nothing I could do to change it. 

I sighed heavily as I hauled my tired and aching body out of the bed. I don’t know why I couldn’t sleep. My body felt like it was made of lead, my mind was overwhelmed, my eyes dry and burning from exhaustion. I was miserable and I needed sleep. But my mind just wouldn’t allow it. I think I’d have to collapse from exhaustion before my mind would let me sleep right now. 

Passing the room Lance was staying in, I peeked inside to check on him. He looked to be sleeping comfortably. His breathing was even and the moon light shining through the window allowed me to see his face in a peaceful mask as he slept. I smiled to myself. He really was a handsome man. The way his black hair fanned around his head as he slept made me want to run my hands through it and smooth it down. 

I balked. Wait? What? No. No. No. No. I shook my head and walked away, heading down the stairs to the kitchen. A high pitched yelp escaped me, my hand flew to my chest in fright. “What are you still doing here?” I panted, trying to catch my breath. 

Malachi chuckled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you. I thought it would be easier just for tonight to give Lance a chance to settle in.” 

I snorted a laugh as I headed to the coffee pot, thankful Malachi had kept it warm and poured me a cup. “He seems to be settling just fine. I checked on him on my way down. He’s sleeping peacefully by the looks of things.” 

“And how are you Nicole?” Malachi asked, the concern was clear in his voice as he leaned closer to me. 

“I’m as okay as I can be.” I admitted. “I can’t seem to sleep though. My mind won’t shut off long enough for me to sleep even though my body feels like it’s made of lead.” I sipped my coffee, watching Malachi over the brim of my mug. He looked pensive, his brows furrows and his fingers rubbing his chin as he thought. 

“It could just be because you’re so close to your change. Being a hybrid of a wolf and vampire is rare and extremely hard. Vampires usually sleep during the day and come out at night. The sun may not kill them, but it is uncomfortable for them and they prefer the night. The more powerful vampires and the older ones the sun doesn’t bother at all. And Werewolves, they come out during the day and sleep at night. So you have two opposite beings fighting for dominance within you. Whichever one emerges first will be your strongest form. So by your symptoms, the vampire and werewolf inside you are fighting for the right to emerge first. It’s going to be hard Nicole, and you are going to feel like you’re going crazy. But you are strong, you can get through this.” 

His words frightened me. I was thankful he told me the truth and even more thankful for his words of encouragement, but I was still just so messed up right now. And adding all of this to it wasn’t helping anything. I felt helpless, weak and utterly useless. And worse of all, I missed Mathias. But then I’d think about Lance and my stomach would flip and my chest felt lighter but constricting at the same time. 

“Lance is a werewolf isn’t he.” I stated. Now knowing why I was feeling this towards him. One vampire mate, Elias. One hybrid mate, Mathias. And one werewolf mate, Lance. And I was expected to choose one, only one to be my soulmate. One of them to spend the rest of my natural born life with. That seemed like a major commitment at such a young age. Twenty years old, I’m supposed to be going to school. Traveling the world exploring my talents in photography. I’m supposed to be living, supposed to be being young, free and stupid. Make mistakes then correct them. I’m not supposed to be choosing a soulmate. 

Malachi furrowed his brow at me. “Yes he is. How did you know?” He asked. I gave him a look that said ‘you really have to ask’. His eyes widened, his mouth forming an ‘O’ shape as he realized what I meant. “Wow. So you’ve found all three, and before you even turned. That’s impressive Nicole. I’ve never heard of anyone finding their mates, much less knowing who they are before they’ve even turned.” 

“Well, I have a very special way of knowing how.” I stated in a bored tone. “I’ve never been attracted to men. Never found anyone man or otherwise attractive. Never felt drawn to them, never had the urge to date. I never cared. Then I met Malachi.” I sighed, a sad smile crossing my face. “He was the first person I have ever felt attracted to. Like ever. 

Then came Elias. He just claimed he was my mate, and that I was his. I honestly want nothing to do with him. He’s a stalker, he’s manipulative, and just plain violent. I mean he busted my door down at my hotel room. Who does that? Not to mention he said I was ‘his’ I belong to no one.

Then came Lance. I was just plain stunned when I saw him. I have never seen a man like him before and he took my breath away. And those eyes.” I sighed. “Anyway.” I said, shaking my head. “I have my way of knowing. What I don’t know is how I am supposed to choose. Elias can go f**k himself. But I don’t want to hurt Mathias or Lance.” I mumbled the last part. 

Malachi stood and walked over to me. He braced himself against the counter next to me and looked down into my eyes. “Nicole. You can care and even love both of them. But you can’t avoid hurting one. It’s a curse of being a hybrid. A hybrid may be more powerful, stronger, faster. Some even have extra abilities. But it comes with a curse. It’s not fair, and it’s not right, but there is nothing that can be done.” 

“And if I don’t choose? If I decide to be alone for the rest of my life to avoid hurting one of them?” I ask. 

Malachi’s eyes softened, looking sad. “If you refuse to mate with one. All of you will be cursed to an eternity alone. Once you choose, the others can find a second chance mate. But if you don’t choose, you curse them as well as yourself.” 

I looked down into my coffee cup, watching as the liquid within it began to ripple as I cried. This isn’t right. Why is all of this pinned on me? Why do I have to be responsible for not only someone else’s pain but their future happiness as well?

Malachi took the coffee from my hands and placed it on the counter behind him before pulling me into a hug. It wasn’t awkward or weird like I thought it would be. It was comforting. Just being here, having someone comfort me when I’m so down, when I feel like the world is against me and placing the entirety of its weight on my shoulders was amazing. And for once, I accepted it. I clung to Malachi like my life was on the line and cried into his chest. 

Malachi didn’t try to pull away, he didn’t get impatient. He just held me. He whispered assurances as he rubbed soothing circles on my back. It felt good. I’ve never had anyone, not in a long time. Take care of me, soothe me, the way Malachi is now. 

A low growl pulled me from my comfort bubble as I was whirled away from Malachi and crushed into a hard chest. Strong arms wrapping around me tightly. I was stunned, too shocked to move at what happened. I heard Malachi chuckle from behind me. “Calm down Lance.” He mused. “I was only trying to help her. The poor girl is a mess and you weren’t up to help. She needed comforting.” 

Lance? This was Lance? Why did he pull me away from Malachi? As I took a breath preparing to move, Lance’s scent hit me like a ton of bricks. Cinnamon and pine filled my senses, overloading everything, making me forget whatever I was going to do. I ended up melting against him, my arms wrapping around his waist and my head nuzzling into his chest like a puppy.

What the hell was going on? Why am I acting like this? But when Lance started running his fingers through my hair, his other hand rubbing up and down my back softly, I sighed. It felt amazing. Whatever it was about Lance, his touch, his scent, his presence, it was helping. I felt my racing mind slow, my erratic heartbeat calm. 

I yawned into his chest, exhaustion finally taking over me. I knew I was standing, my brain knew I was standing and was keeping my knees locked so I didn’t topple over, but my mind was drifting, my eyes fluttering closed. Sleep was close I could taste it. Blessed darkness I’ve been craving. 

“Lance, why don’t you take her to bed?” I heard Malachi’s voice say from a distance. “She hasn’t been sleeping and it looks like you’re helping calm her.” I felt Lance move slightly, I’m assuming to look down at me. He chuckled lightly before kissing the top of my head. “I’ll take care of her.” He said as he hauled me up into his arms, bridal style. 

I didn’t dare move, not that I could anyway. I just lay my head on his shoulder and snuggled closer to him, inhaling his scent, letting it wash over and calm me. “You smell good.” I whispered groggily. Lance laughed, his lips brushing my forehead making me shiver. “As do you Uwoduhi.” He murmured. 

I didn’t know what he said, what the word meant, but it was beautiful. I need to ask him about it when I wake up. I was slowly losing focus on everything around me. Lance’s body heat and closeness soothing away the rest of the rushing thoughts running around in my mind. So when my body hit something soft, my head landing on what felt like a cloud I moaned in contentment. 

I felt as Lance withdrew his arms from under me, and the dip in the bed lightened, my hand shot out before I knew what was happening and pulled him back down to me. There was no way he was going anywhere right now. Not with how good it felt to be near him. I felt his body rumbling as he lay behind me and pulled me back into his chest. “I’ll stay as long as you need me, Uwoduhi.” He whispered against my hair. Sleep took me almost instantly. And I was more than happy to succumb to the darkness it brought with it.