Cursed by Fate (COMPLETE)

Chapter Twenty Three

I groaned as I woke up, the light streaming through the window making me wince and cover my face with my pillow. I was so not willing to deal with that right now. My head felt like it was about to explode, my back felt like someone pulled my spine from my body. And my mouth felt like someone took a drill to it in my sleep. Needless to say I was in pain, I was in bad mood and ready to murder the sun. And yes I knew that wasn’t possible, but that didn't stop me from wanting it though. 

After only God knows how long, I finally rolled out of bed, my head swimming in the process. I dropped my head in my hands and groaned as I stilled on the edge of the bed and allowed my head to catch up to my body. If I tried to get up right now I wouldn’t make it very far, even now there were three hands in front of me and I was sure there was only supposed to be one. What the hell is wrong with me? I’d never been sick a day in my life, not once, not even a cough. And now all of a sudden I felt like I’d been hit by a train? No, something wasn’t right. And where was everyone? Lance, Mathias, Elias? Where were they? What even happened and how did I end up in bed? Last thing I remember we were leaving for town. I had so many questions swimming around in my mind that it almost over powered the pain, almost. 

I clambered my way out of bed non too gracefully and staggered to the bathroom. Maybe a nice hot shower would help the pain and the weight on my back. It felt like I was being dragged down by an extra thirty pounds. Walking was hard, almost impossible and keeping my balance was even harder and not just because of the weight, but because my vision kept swimming, black dotting my vision. Okay, so maybe not a shower, maybe a bath would be best. I really didn’t want to add a broken bone to the already searing pain I had everywhere. 

Finally making it to the bathroom I huffed, bracing myself on the bathroom counter my eyes squeezed tightly closed as I willed the dizziness and dotting vision to go away. My entire being felt like I no longer knew it. I felt as if I was different somehow, but that didn’t make any sense. I just slept too hard. I got sick somehow yesterday and the guys carried me to bed and are waiting for me downstairs. Yeah, that’s it. I said, trying to convince myself. 

No Nicole. A voice laughed inside my head. You have changed. Your werewolf, vampire and angel made their early appearance. You’ve been asleep about three days now.

I snapped upright, looking around the room for the source of the voice. 

“Nope, I did not just hear a voice in my head. I am not going crazy.” I chuckled humorlessly to myself. 

The voice laughed. I am Rose. I am your werewolf soul.

“My werewolf soul? I remember the guys telling me my werewolf would have a separate soul from mine. Would be able to talk to me. Wow, I honestly didn’t believe them.” I laughed. 

I know. I’ve been able to hear and see through you for the last few months. I’ve been waiting for you to become ready to accommodate me and your other forms. You are strong to have endured so much at once. She replied kindly.

“Wait.” I all but shouted. “You said angel side. I’m not an angel. I’m a werewolf vampire, where did the whole angel thing come from?”

You really don’t remember, do you? Well, you are a tribrid Nicole. Angel, vampire and werewolf. There has never been an archangel tribrid, or even a hybrid. The archangels have never mingled with mortals or supernaturals before you. Your angel mate explained all of this to you already. The fates have more than one curse. Where the hybrid curse no longer affects you, you have a new one. 

The curse you have as a tribrid is to end the battle between heaven and hell. The war has grown more violent. Demons are gathering an army, as are the angels. Both preparing to invade the other's realm. Earth happens to be caught in the middle and we are afraid the earth will not survive the war. You must stop it. As a tribrid you have the speed, strength, advanced healing, and endurance a vampire and werewolf have. But your archangel side can heal others, kill demons with just a flash of your angelic light. You can make your angelic light take the form of any weapon to be used in battle. You can even protect those you love. You are powerful Nicole. Rose told me almost excitedly. 

“You have got to be kidding me? And even if I did have all of these powers, why do I feel like this?” I asked. 

Your body is still healing. If you don’t believe me, look in the mirror and you will see your wings. My wolf Rose said calmly. 

My eyes widened as I stared at my feet on the floor. Look in the mirror, that’s all I had to do. Take a breath and look up, the mirror was right there in front of me. No big deal, I can do this. I ranted to myself. I squeezed my eyes shut and held my breath as I lifted my head. Open your eyes. I shouted at myself. My eyes stayed firmly closed. Just open your eyes, I screamed, making myself wince with my internal voice. 

Releasing a long breath I opened my eyes and gasped. Large pale gold wings hung from my back, the color shining under the light of the bathroom. I ran my fingertips over the feathers smiling at the silk texture of the feathers. They were magnificent, gorgeous. I’d never seen anything like them before, nothing as beautiful as the things that hung from my shoulder blades. 

“Wow.” I breathed, twitching my back muscles to spread the massive wings letting them flutter and flap lightly behind me. I laughed at myself as a small wind built up in the bathroom with the movement. They glimmered as they moved smoothly with no hesitation, no resistance. I never would have guessed they’d be so easy to navigate. But they worked just as easily as if I’d had them all my life. But, how was I supposed to take a shower? These massive things wouldn’t fit in the shower or the bathtub. So what could I do? 

I frowned at myself, and folded the wings as tightly as I could onto my back. They seemed to flatten pretty well, good enough for me to take a quick shower until I could figure out something a little more comfortable. But there was another problem. How the hell could I get my shirt off over my wings? Or get a new one on? I didn’t have anything that could fit over them, nothing that had holes to accommodate them. I just rolled my eyes and ripped my shirt off forcefully, before stripping the rest of the way and stepping under the hot water. I moaned as the water cascaded over my tight muscles. The knots and tense edges loosening,  the longer I stood there. After a while and I was sure my muscles felt better I washed my hair and body, wondering if I should wash my wings. Deciding to try it, I gently ran my shampoo through the feathers one wing at a time before rinsing them. 

I smiled as I stepped out. Not caring if I made a mess I shook my wings out. Water flew everywhere, covering almost every square inch of the bathroom with water in the process. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. It was so much fun to see the water be flung off my wings like that. Too soon though I dried my body and wrapped a towel around my hair and body before stepping back into my room, feeling much better now that I was clean. I bit my lip as I looked over my clothes. What and how could I wear any of this? 

“Rose, any idea how this works?” I asked hopefully. 

I think you can make them appear and disappear at will. Just concentrate on making them unseen. She suggested.

I nodded, closing my eyes and picturing my back free of wings. Smooth bare and able to be dressed. I smiled when I felt it work. I sighed in relief, slipping on a black tank top with white shorts before making my way down stairs slowly. I was happy the dizziness was gone, I was no longer seeing three of everything, but I went slow just in case. I didn’t want to end up falling down the stairs. How embarrassing would that be? Especially in front of my apparent angel mate who I’ve met but forgot I’ve met. That by itself was mind boggling. How could I have forgotten that I met a new mate? And please for the love of the gods don’t give me anymore mates. One to three was enough, but now four? No, nuh uh. Nope, not doing more than four. They are lucky I'm considering four, and that’s only because something was telling me this angel is the only reason I am still alive after the shifts. 

“Why isn’t she awake yet?” I heard Lance’s angry voice from the Kitchen. 

“She had overcome a traumatic change.” A deeper, rumbling voice replied. The baritone in it making me weak in the knees. Damn whoever that man was had one hell of a voice. 

“She still should have woken up hours ago.” Mathias said more cooly. 

“Maybe if she were truly a hybrid yes.” The unknown man answered calmly. “But she is not a hybrid as you once believed. She is a tribrid, the first of her kind. She is an alpha of each of her species.” 

“I still can’t believe she is white wolf.” Lance breathed. “White wolves were supposed to be myths.” 

“Don’t forget she is also a master vampire. Able to lead and control every vampire in existence today. I already reported it to the council back home. They are very excited to meet her.” Elias told them. 

“What?” Mathias roared, “How could you have done that without consulting her first? What if she wasn't ready for people to know yet?” 

“I...I didn’t think about it.” Elias whispered, regret filling his voice. 

“With her being an alpha of each of her species she is going to be powerful.” The voice warned. “Be prepared for anything that could happen. With the protective and possessive traits the vampires have, her emotions will get out of control until she can learn to control them, which means the power her angel and wolf give her will be unstable. Angel’s are also very territorial of their mates. It is not very often an angel finds a true destined mate. Most are paired off with the one that is most suitable for them, the one who will ensure a stronger bloodline.”

“Wait.” Malachi chimed in. “You’re telling me we are going to have an unstable, unknown powerful alpha supernatural walking around this small town?”

“I am afraid so.” The voice spoke more softly this time. 

“Then I think it may be best if she left. I can’t have my pack being hurt or killed because she loses control.” Malachi said uncertain.

The fear and uncertainty in Malachi’s voice made my chest tighten. Did he really have so little faith in me? I made one mistake, lost control once. And he was ready to make me leave? The one place I thought I’d finally found a home? I couldn’t help what I was, its not like I had any choice. Why now was he going to make me leave? He knew I’d be unstable until I got control of my emotions when he thought I was just a hybrid. Why now when he found out I was a tribrid?

Anger, sadness and yet another betrayal coursed through me as tears threatened to escape me. I’d never get away from people who wanted to walk out on me, betray me in some way. Fine, whatever I’ll leave. I stormed down the remaining stairs and loomed in the doorway. 

“You want me gone fine.” I said flatly. “I’ll leave. But know this. You got so mad, so angry at Elias and Mathias for betraying me and now you’re the one doing it. Except you’re worse. I ran from them, you’re kicking me out like garbage for something out of my control.” I scoffed, darkness rolling over my emotions blotting out everything else. 

Before it could consume me I turned and ran back upstairs. Malachi called after me, I even heard his footsteps as he chased me, but my new speed was apparently too much for him to catch up with. I barged in my room, slamming and locking the door behind me just as Malachi rounded the last step. 

“Nicole please, that’s not what I meant.” Malachi defended as he pounded on the door. 

I snorted. “Save it Malachi. I heard everything. You can’t have someone unstable walking around town that could kill or hurt your pack. Like I’d ever kill anyone.” I sighed, a deep sadness overwhelming me. “Just go. I’ll pack and be gone by tomorrow.” I whispered, though I knew he could hear me. 

“Nicole I’m sorry.” He sighed in defeat, a thump hitting the door where I’m assuming he dropped his head. “I never wanted you to go, but I have to protect my pack.” 

Tears burned my eyes as a sob broke from me. “Protect your pack?” I whispered brokenly. “I thought I was your pack now. But I’ve always been blind, naive to people around me. I never saw your lack of faith or trust in me. Never even began to imagine you’d be afraid I would kill someone.” Tears flowed freely now as broken sobs wracked my body harshly. I thought I’d found a home here, I’d thought wrong. I was always wrong. 

“I’ll go back to my family's home. Surely there are wolves around who wouldn’t mind starting a new pack under me. Rose is a white wolf, she’d never submit to anyone. Just please go away.” 

I heard Malachi’s broken sigh as he started to walk away, but then heard a resounding and echoing crash from the other side of the door. 

“What did you do to her?” The deep voice of the unknown man rumbled. 

“Malachi, do you have any idea what you just caused?” Mathias asked angrily. “We all have just began earning her trust back, making her believe she is worth more than she thinks she is, and you go and crush her again.”

“I can’t have something so unknown walking freely in my pack.” Malachi said under his breath, like he’d given up. 

“What part of Nicole has ever screamed dangerous to you Malachi?” Lance asked. “She has been nothing but kind and caring towards everyone except one time when another woman touched one of her mates. And she was even cordial then, until the woman ignored her warning and kept approaching me anyway. She didn’t do anything any different than any other wolf would have. In fact most male wolves would have killed them had it been another man touching his mate.” 

I stopped listening as I moved away from the door and pulled my suitcases out from under the bed. I had time this time so I carefully folded all my clothes, placing them neatly inside the bag. I was done all too soon, moving on to packing my toiletries and personal hygiene items, making sure they were all dry and wouldn’t leak onto anything. I just stared down at my fully packed bags, deep sadness pressing in on me like a weight. A low knock pulled my eyes away from the bag up to the closed door.

“Who is it?” I called, my voice a stranger, even to myself. 

“Uriel.” The voice called back to me, compassion and softness taking the place of the rumble from earlier. 

I actually remembered him now. After spending time alone and thinking, events came back to me bit by bit. And I guess I did need to see my angel mate again. We only spoke a few sentences before I blacked out from pain and exhaustion. Resigned, I walked over to the door and unlocked it, opening it just enough that he knew it was okay if he came in. 

“Are you alright?” He asked softly, closing the door. 

“Ask me later and I’ll tell you. Right now I don’t know what I am.” I answered, sitting on the bed and pulling my knees up to my chest. 

Uriel said nothing as he came and sat beside me, his large frame taking up almost the entire bed. It dipped under his weight making me fall into his side. I just smiled, I may not know him, but the feel of him, his body against mine and his scent of jasmine and peppermint soothed my rugged edges. 

“You know I never felt where I was raised was home. Even after I left for college, it didn’t feel like home. But here. I felt like I was actually making a home here, like I could be free, be me. I guess I’ll never be able to do any of that.” 

Uriel wrapped his large arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer to his side. I rested my head against his chest and listened to the steady beating of his heart. 

“You will find home. And you never know, with all your mates home may still be where you were raised. It probably did not feel like home because you were missing pieces of yourself and here all those pieces came together.”

“Maybe.” I answered lowly. 

He could be right. Here was probably a stepping stone, somewhere I needed to be for everything to fall into its rightful place. But now that all the pieces have come together maybe I could go back to Darkridge and make my home there, where my parents did. There had to be a pack there if my parents lived there. And the vampires could come to me when or if they needed anything. Not that I wanted to be a master vampire, I didn’t even know what it meant to be a vampire yet. Or an angel or werewolf for that matter. But my gut was telling me that with my men, I wouldn’t have to, because they were all here to teach me, to lead me. And before long I will be in control of myself and everything about my tribrid nature.