Forbidden Mate: Awakening

I looked back and saw Tyler charge forward, a huge number of werewolves rushing behind him. I quickly kicked the vampire in front of Aunt Belinda in his crotch but she was dragged away by someone else. Sarah took up her daggers and also started defending herself upon seeing the reinforcements.

“Lily, we need to get Belinda. I’ll cover you.” Theo said to me and brought out his claws. He started slashing at the vampire barricade that formed in front of Audrey and Leo. I saw Leo dragging Audrey back when she wanted to fight. Aunt Belinda was being rough handled by a vampire.

As chaos unfolded, the sounds of clashing weapons and screams filled the air. I fought with all my might, trying to get closer to Audrey. I saw how her red eyes burned with anticipation and the hunger for blood. I wanted to stick her, just like I would a heartless vampire. I saw her more like a vampire from thereon, she was with the enemy after all. She was the enemy.

“We need to get our own held captive back! I will face the leader myself!” Tyler’s voice carried a serenity I had never heard in it before. He sounded so different, so much more commanding but in a respective tone.

Theo’s grunt brought me back. His kneecap had been broken. I kicked the vampire who wanted to attack him and dragged him to me.

“Are you fine?”

“Yeah…I’m fi…ah!… I’m fine.. I’m good.”

“But your knee… it’s been injured…are you sure you wanna continue this?” I said, obviously worried.

“I’ve come this far, Lily. We’ll get your aunt back.” He smiled shortly and strangled someone behind me. I turned and a ball of blood burst in front of me, covering my chest in blood.

“Stay close…” He said, out of breath.

In the midst of the commotion, I finally caught sight of Tyler, his face mirroring surprise and disbelief. He hadn’t seen me in months, and vice versa. He seemed to be shocked at the fact that I was still alive and well. He may really not have heard that I was alive and back, but why did noone tell him? My face seemed to stir up memories and regret within him. I could see a glimmer of remorse in his eyes, hinting at a chance for reconciliation.

But there was no time for that now. The battle demanded our full attention. Tyler pushed through the chaos, his gaze locked onto mine. He fought his way to my side, unleashing his skills and strength to shield me from the imminent danger.

He finally got to where I was but he jumped to me and we both landed on our sides. He did this because there was a vampire charging towards me from behind. We rolled to the side where there was a clearing and he carried me by the hands to my feet, his face still in utter shock.

“You saved me.” I said breathlessly.

He continued to look at me in denial, “You…you’re alive,” his voice sounded faint.

I couldn’t smile or wince. I simply just nodded my head, “Yeah.”

Things were so awkward between us that it became so hard for us to even have a conversation without it being seemingly weird.

Out of nowhere, he placed his hand around my neck and rested my head on his chest, his heavy but steady breaths against my face. I was still, not moving but wanting to push him away too.

Before I could, he withdrew, “I’m…I’m sorry. This is not the time. I…it’s just overwhelming. I thought you were…”

We both stood there looking into each other’s eyes as if our unsaid words could be passed through a stare. There was so much, so much to be said and talked aboutm.. like how he looked so different now than he did three months ago. How much had changed was beyond me.

He seemed to snap out of the trance we were in, “Your aunt. Theo called us that she was kidnapped. We came as fast as we could.”

“Y…yes, I…look. She’s there. With Audrey and Leo.”

He looked at me, confused, then at the direction I pointed at. I could see his heart drop at the sight of Audrey. Did he know that Audrey had joined the enemy before now? Or was he as shocked as I was?

“So, your father was right?”

“Unh?”

“Your father…. he suspected Audrey of joining the enemy. He’s right.” He said so with pursed lips and I could see it was painful for him to see and say.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I’ll go get your aunt.”

He wanted to walk away but I held his arm, “Tyler, you can’t face her…not here, not now.”

He looked at my hand around his and I let him go. Then he faced me, “I have to. I need to know why she’s doing this.”

“She’s dangerous now…. she has powers I can’t comprehend. Rage and hatred have consumed her. She might hurt you.” I said and bit my lip. Tyler smiled sympathetically and tapped my shoulder.

“I need to face her, Lily. Just stay alive. I’ll get your aunt.”

I wanted to say something else but he was already part of the battle again.

I watched as he confronted Audrey. There was a tense atmosphere, as if they had a deeper history that I couldn’t fully understand. I knew things happened that led to Audrey’s banishment but I wasn’t sure what exactly they were or the gravity of what happened.

Their eyes met, and I saw a flicker of vulnerability in Audrey’s gaze, a brief moment of her true self.

°°°°°°°°

~NARRATOR’S POV~

Tyler beheaded each and every vampire who guarded Audrey till he was standing face to face with her. She didn’t prepare for this. She didn’t prepare to see the love of her life after so much time she was trying to cultivate a hatred so wicked, foul and eternal that not even if Tyler died and was reborn a billion times, would change it. Yet, there she stood in front of him, eyes, quivering and body, hot.

“Why, Audrey? Why are you doing this?” Tyler finally said. “What’s your goal in siding with the enemy?”

Audrey felt her fingers trembling and she felt pathetic. In that moment, Audrey’s emotions seemed to waver, revealing glimpses of who she used to be. But she was not and was never going to be that girl again.

Leo, who was beside her watching all this, held her shoulder and shook her. He then faced Tyler, “She has come to her senses and she has joined the winning side, the side with the power and freedom she never got from you.”

Tyler growled at Leo, “So you’re the one who’s been brainwashing her?”

Leo smacked his lap and laughed, “Brainwashing is half the word. Your ex came to me to offer me a wonderful deal which I thought through and realized it was beneficial to me.”

Tyler casted a disappointed look at Audrey who kept silent and glared at him, “You’ve betrayed us, Audrey. I’ll never forgive you for this.” The emotions in his voice carried weight and Audrey felt it too.

She finally found her voice, “Betrayal? Forgiveness? Suck them!”

With that, she released a ball of energy which blew Tyler back along with the people behind him.

“Easy, pet. No need to get too emotional.” Leo stroke her hair but she shook it off and marched to Tyler. She would end him once and for all.