I finally came to. I saw my entire life flash before my eyes if I decided to let the human hunter take me as collateral. It was a bad ending altogether. Maybe I overreacted and I was not mature enough to make this decision. The vision was that everyone would die and the kids I’d have would be in danger.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to make you see, Ryleigh,” a voice said.

I snapped my head to see a woman standing there. I looked over and it was the Ancient Luna standing before me.

“That was not real, was it?” I asked She shook her head and gestured her head to move to a more hidden location since we could be spotted at any second.

“If you decide to hand yourself over it will be real. I came because this will start something that doesn’t have a good ending. You’re young and still have a lot to learn. I know me stopping you will have issues with the sequence of life, but you’ll doom us all. All these people you meet will have a part of your life but not like this,” she continued.

My mind wondered, knowing my decision will kill us all. There was no denying I was immature and sometimes I reacted before I thought but proving to people, I deserved more respect was important to me.

“I should go back, huh?” I asked.

She responded with a nod before she turned around to walk away from me. But this couldn’t be it. I had so many unanswered questions that needed to be answered.

“Wait, just because everything you showed me was what could’ve happened, doesn’t mean some of it won’t happen. Will someone die?” I yelled.

She hesitated for a second but wouldn’t look my way. Anxiety got the better of me and I knew the answer.

“Ryleigh, not everything is meant to be as beautiful as a diamond. Death is inevitable,” she responded but it still wasn’t good enough.

“No, I don’t accept that answer. Tell me, will someone die!?” I screamed.

She finally exhaled and faced me. I couldn’t risk anyone. I knew I could be selfish, but no one deserved death.

“Yes.”

But before I could ask again, she was suddenly gone. I was all alone with my thoughts and now I needed to decide what I was going to do. I had three potential mates and it was going to be a never-ending fight. My journey back was miserable knowing what I knew now. How was I going to walk around like everything was fine when I knew that I could lose any of them? But one thing still pained my heart. I was going to give up everything for Alizac knowing that he was going to cheat on me with his mate. Jax was my mate, but there was also another man out there.

“Son of a bitch, Ryleigh. You scared the hell out of me.”

I looked up to see Jax powerwalking towards me before wrapping his arms around me. From the visions, I was heartbroken to know he died, so I wrapped my arms around him and held him close. I couldn’t stop the hurt running through me.

“Please never run off like that again. I can’t lose you,” he whispered.

I detached from him and stared at the ground.

“I’m going to my room, and I really just want to be alone.”

He grabbed my hand, which I pulled away. I wasn’t mad at anyone, but I was disappointed in myself.

“Ryleigh, I’m glad you’re back. You had—” Alizac was saying.

But I couldn’t hear him out. I just walked past him, went into the palace, and found my room, which had become my hideout. A dark cloud appeared over me that was filled with pain and confusion that I just couldn’t shake. The days flew by, but I just couldn't get out of the funk that made me wish I had never gone to that vault. I’d just be a basic person who never would have met their mate.

They knocked, but I couldn’t find it in me to answer. Do you know who was less problematic? Anthony. I remembered being loved by him, and he cared about including me in everything. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if I stopped by just to see how he was doing. I finally got out of bed and put some clothes on to sneak out. It was the middle of the day, so someone should be outside. I quickly walked downstairs to get ready to shift.

“Hey, where are you going?” Jax stopped me in my tracks.

This was going to be fun to explain to him. Yeah, I’m going to spy on my second mate because I’m curious if a life with him might be better than this.

“I am going on a run,” I answered.

But that wasn’t good enough for him.

“You’re going on a run? Why don’t we all go? I just need to stretch,” Alizac butted in.

I looked at them, wondering why they kept pushing. Jax should be mad at me after everything, but instead, he was comforting me. I screwed things up pretty bad.

“I have not forgotten what you did to me Alizac and quite frankly I’m pissed. I know what I did was wrong, so I think it’s best for you both to move on.”

I quickly shifted into my white wolf and darted off, but it was not long before they joined me. I wasn’t mature enough to love someone, but honestly, I needed time.