CHAPTER 58

Kavi’s POV:

The cherry-red eyes looked at me!

The same eyes I fell deeply in love with! As I looked deeper into his eyes, I realized, indeed, Akhilan and Maayan were the same.

My mind spun to see the person I thought I would never see. My knees gave out, but a hand caught my waist, pulling me up to a warm familiar body. My eyes never left his eyes. A similar touch of him at different occasions passed before my vision. I closed my eyes to calm myself. My deep inhale only made me suffocate as his scent was suddenly unmasked, and the unique deliciously ripened scent of the man I loved filled my lungs. I wanted to keep my wandering mind and racing heart straight. But my body was already reacting to his touch.

I stood up straight and pushed him away. My eyes noticed the Aambal wand tucked safely in his pocket. My face contorted with anger. I let my darkness flare off my skin. Instead of fear or hurt, his eyes shone in admiration, making everything hard for me.

"STAY. AWAY. FROM. ME," I warned him through gritted teeth.

He tilted his head sideways with a smile and placed his hand across his chest. He shook his head no.

"Don't test me, Akhilan! People won't be the same. The situation molds them and forces them to change. I am not the same lovestruck Layla or Kavi. My goals and responsibility come first. I don't want anything from you. If you interrupt my duty, I won't hesitate to punish you as a Goddess should. You asked me to leave. I granted your wish. I am not taking that back. SURYA! He should be gone before dawn. This meeting will continue tomorrow after I announce the return of our Kathir." Flaring words came out of my mouth.

My wolf was too stunned to react. I walked past the man in my way. This was what should be done. I blocked my mind-link and covered my soul with the darkness. He was such a crazy man who wouldn't hesitate to risk his life for me again. I don't want to go through all that heartache again. It was better if he stayed away from me.

I sensed Surya following me. I went to my room and sat down on my bed. Surya sat down on his knees and took my hands in his.

"A lot happened, right? Akhilan wasn't normal after returning to the earth. He had gone through so much pain from the bond being severed. He had been telling people that you would come for him. We pitied him when the days passed, and there was no sign of your return. He started drowning himself in alcohol. Alpha Sezhiyan and Alpha Dhayalan advised him a lot. But he never listened. His parents were very worried about his state.

He sensed you on earth when you came to the Blood Warriors pack. But you left before he could go there. Moon God appeared, knowing you had been on earth and poisoned Akhilan's mind, telling him that you must have consummated the relationship with Maayan and lied to him about your changed scent. His possessiveness, jealousy, and territorial mind blinded his rational thinking. He loves you so much that it hurt him to know you were with another man.

Pooja was at his side all the time in the name of supporting him. But she is the one who introduced him to alcohol. He would be at the packhouse mostly. That day, Alpha Dhayalan scolded him for drinking too much. He left for his home angry. And you know what happened there!

“Today I went to visit him. He was fully sober, but his red eyes startled me. I initially thought he had gone rogue. He was confused and panting with rage, trying to comprehend the things happening to him. Suddenly a wand appeared in his hand, and he fell on his knees, clutching his heart. I panicked and tried to help him. I accidentally touched the wand, and in a flash, the memories from my past flooded my mind.

“I sensed my mate coming to me as she must have felt something happening to me. I recognized Akhilan as Maayan. He let me in his mind, showing me his pain and what happened in the past to make him leave you. Also, how he patiently waited all these years for you.

“The respect I had for him increased, and I agreed to go with him to our realm because we both knew what state you would be in. My mate came. Akhilan went to bring his parents, and I picked up my mom and mate. We drove to my friend's pack, and I shared my past through the mind-link with my mate. She understood, but as I expected, she asked for time. Akhilan did the same for his parents. They were so confused but complied with Akhilan's words to stay there for a few days. My mom was oblivious to everything.

“Your mom was with the Blood Warriors. After ensuring everyone's safety, Akhilan teleported us here. I understand you are broken from his actions, but he deserves a chance, Kavi. He did everything for you. Think about it."

Surya told me everything before I ask. I sighed and held his hands, burying my face in his palms. My brain processed his words.

"Welcome back, my favorite and best warrior. But I need a break. Do you understand me?" I said to him with an exhausted look. He sighed, nodded his head, and left the room to catch up with his sister.

I know I couldn't stay in the same place with him tonight. I snapped my fingers and teleported to an empty place where no planets were present and mingled with the darkness there.

My mind recollected the events that had happened in the past. Mirror soul is a common concept but a myth on earth. Also, with the time flow, the words of spiritually experienced people had been modified and filtered and only existed like a fantasy. I clearly remember the incident when our creator told me about the mirror soul.

I was wandering around the Solar System in my dark form once and felt her presence. I stopped and paid my respects to her. She asked about the purification progress and my duties. After speaking about official things, I asked her how she managed all the solar systems spread across the universe.

She smiled and told me that she was not a single person, and her prime soul was in the place where she managed everything, and the version of the creator we saw was a mirror soul of the prime creator. The mirrored soul could exist like a separate person, so she could function efficiently, and each Milky Way was allotted a separate mirror soul. She said that anyone could create a mirror soul, but the soul should be a noble one.

As she explained to me: 'Unless the prime soul allows, the mirror soul won't know anything about the existence of the prime soul, and the duplicate would be clueless and live a life as an individual living being like other beings. And if anything happens to the prime soul, one of the mirror souls would become the prime soul with all its powers and memories.'

I heard a chuckle then. When I inquired about it, she spoke in a mischievous tone. 'I sometimes create a mirror soul of a living being without their knowledge, and it always turns out to be very interesting. I would love to enjoy when the souls recognized their real identity because the misunderstanding would have already amusingly complicated their life. The essence is how they untangle the unwanted knots. A few have only untangled it. Most of them won't even spend the time nor have the patience to realize the mirrored soul.'

I didn't make a big note about it but remembered it and wrote it down on parchment and stored it in my library.

I wondered whether she already knew that she had created such a game in my life, too. Anyway, she must be enjoying my despair, watching me from somewhere. Maayan couldn't have created Akhilan. If he had, he wouldn't have fought with himself. I laughed a little, thinking about Maayan and Akhilan’s encounters. At least I managed to stop them from killing themselves.

As Surya explained, Akhilan's soul had become the prime soul when Maayan's body disappeared. But he got the wand only after I released the connection between my soul and Maayan's, which made him transform as Prime soul completely.

I felt stupid for being so oblivious despite the striking similarities between them. My heart always beat for them. They were both so fond of their family, and they didn't let me run away from them. They were interested in the arts—Maayan loved to paint, and Akhilan loved to draw. The Aambal wand obeyed Akhilan's command. And when I sought Jasmine's help to break our bond, the darkness guarded our connection. Nature knew what I love and paired me with the right person. The mark had bruised because nature had intended to pair me Maayan. But his mirror soul was destined instead. As they existed as separate souls, my body rejected the mark.

The smile vanished, and green envy painted my face. They had both let some other women touch what was mine. Even after eliminating Chandran, I wasn't going to accept him so easily. He had earned his punishment for abandoning me every time—as Maayan twice and as Akhilan once. A devilish smirk flashed on my face as I got the idea to punish him. Like the devil I was, I was going to punish him.

I spent a few more hours in the space visiting the places I used to visit. When I knew it would be morning in my realm, I teleported to my castle. I sent a telepathic message to Aadhira to arrange a throne meeting and to get the second-level warriors and Surya to continue our interrupted meeting yesterday.

I made my way towards my room. As I expected, my wrist was caught by a familiar hand, and he pulled me towards him. I reflexively rotated my hand, breaking away from his hold, and pushed on his chest hard. My wolf loved his touch, but my mind flashed the same way it did when he pulled Pooja towards him. He stood there, unaffected, and smiled at me. I could tell he liked this chase. But I was not going to fall as his prey. I glared at him and turned another way.

"SURYA!" My voice boomed across the hallway. The guards became tense, and Surya appeared before me in a few seconds. He had his head bowed, knowing what I was going to tell him. I just looked at Surya with narrowed eyes. I knew how persistent the man I loved was. A part of my heart warmed that he didn't give up on me. Still, I knew what I should do.

"Sorry, Kavi. I owe him for bringing me here and making me remember my past. I can't take him to earth against his wishes, and I thought you would accept my request. It isn't safe for him on earth. His eyes turned red, and his scent changed too. I am not going to put him before Chandran. Akhilan will be safe here. I will obey your order when we eliminate Chandran."

As much as I wanted to deny these things, a part of me was afraid that he would get into danger easily if he was on earth. But if he chose to be close to me, there was even more danger.

"He can use cosmetic lenses and go to a place where Moon can't see him, like where you left your mate," I said with a tight face. Surya frowned and looked at Akhilan, who was smirking at me.

"I can save myself, cupcake. And even if you drive me out, I will come back again and again. I have your mark."

I narrowed my eyes and then realized the mark created when we consummated might have returned to our bodies after we gained our past memories. I didn't notice it. But why was it still there when there wasn't any connection between us?

"I am not going anywhere!" He inched closer to me with a challenging smirk. I glared at him, hiding the chemical reaction happening inside me. I made sure my mind and soul were shielded with darkness. He always read me like an open book.

I shrugged my shoulder and took a few steps sideways, closer to Surya.

"I don't want him anywhere near me. As you said, I am letting him stay here only for you. Keep him away from me," I warned Surya but paused when he bit his lip hard to control his laughter. I glared at him.

'I know you can't stay away from him. Why this fake anger? Just makeup with him... You two have been separated for so long. Live your life while you can. We don't know what the future holds for us, Kavi,' Surya said to me telepathically as my mind-link was blocked.

I gave him a mean glare and walked away from the annoying men. But my wolf totally agreed with Surya's advice.

I had just taken a few steps when I heard Akhilan speaking to Surya in an exhausted tone.

"Damn! I know people say being in a relationship with an older woman is tough because they have attitudes and huge egos! Now I am experiencing it clearly. And for her age, her ego is multiplied way more than other women!"

I halted. Did he just call me an old woman?

I turned sharply and saw Surya's body silently shaking with laughter. I gave him a look of disbelief and glared at the man who insulted me. I walked slowly to him with a seductive smirk. He widened his eyes at my sudden change in mood. His eyes darkened a shade, and he took long breaths. I stopped before Surya.

"After the meeting, I am going to earth to meet the handsome man who stepped up as Alpha of the Blood Warriors. If you want anything, go there, Surya. Then I’m gonna meet Aadhavan. Maybe I should give that man a chance. He wasn't so bad, and he won't complain about my attitude and ego, nor my age." I whispered the last part more to myself while turning and stretching my hand above my head, flashing my cleavage at the man flaring in rage at my words.

My wolf complimented me for working up our mate. I smirked internally and walked to my room. I had a relaxing hot bath and dressed up in a blood-red off-the-shoulder mermaid gown with a deep V back and put on the same color lipstick. It was time to torture the man who always left me. He should never think about dying and remember what he would miss if he left. I smirked and walked out of my room to the throne hall.

Time for the show!

I let the darkness flare off me and walked to my throne with a straight face. Aadhira and Surya looked at me with wide eyes as I always kept my clothes simple. I didn't look in Akhilan's direction, but his aura radiated his hormones and possessiveness. My wolf loved this attention. The darkness in me was also enjoying what I was doing.

I spoke to my people and announced Kathir's reincarnation as Surya. I kept it simple and asked them to be ready for whatever might come. My people's happiness about our return made me feel refreshed. Then I teleported the second-level warriors and twins to the meeting hall and intentionally left Akhilan. I sent a telepathic message to the guard to not let anyone in.

My warriors suggested a few things that seemed to be good ideas but might take time. A few seconds later, I heard a loud growl and a thud. Then the door banged open, revealing an annoyed man. I looked at Surya with a raised eyebrow. He facepalmed himself and mouthed at me, 'sorry.'

"What are you thinking, Anjali? This is not a time to fight. We all know that we have to be united to defeat that cunning man."

I laughed at his words, knowing he would get angrier.

"You are teaching me about 'unity is strength'? Aren't you the same man who left me without a second thought—not once, but thrice? You have nothing to do with the affairs of my realm. You were my lover in a past life. We have nothing between us now. Don't you remember? Our bond is broken! I know what I am doing, and it would be better if you let me do my duties without any disturbance," I answered him mockingly with anger.

His claws came out, and his eyes started glowing gold. My wolf instantly started pushing me to get to the surface. His aura took a sharp turn from rage to love and lust. Uh-oh! I could handle angry Akhilan but not his horny wolf. My wolf was purring to be let out to be with our mate.

"Akhilan, get fucking control of yourself and leave. I am discussing an important matter!" I shouted to reach Akhilan beneath his wolf.

"Shhh! My beautiful mate, I know you are angry with us. But he gets the point. We should work together. I don't want to lose you again. "

I don't know where all my thoughts went when his wolf's husky sincere voice reached my ears. It was redundant to let him in again, but I couldn't refuse his wolf. I closed my eyes, controlling his effect on me. I used my power to bring a chair to the other side of the table for him. But he smiled, shook his head, and walked towards me. I knew what he had in mind. I stood up and raised my hand, signaling for him to stop. His golden eyes glowed brightly, but he went to take his seat.

I sighed, took a deep breath, and looked at Akhilan’s ruby eyes.

"You are the Goddess of Darkness! Then why are you keeping the darkness bound within you? Let it out and combine your powers with your wolf abilities," Akhilan said casually.

"It isn't so easy. You don't know what my darkness is capable of. You were not here last time when my darkness was unleashed. It has no mercy, and the earth has even more sin. My darkness might swallow every soul on earth," I explained to him, to which he chuckled.

"Cupcake, I may not have been here when your darkness was released last time. But I have enough knowledge about your darkness to say this. Have you forgotten that I carried your darkness all these years? Last time, it broke the barriers itself to save you. That's why it was so aggressive. Your darkness is a very aggressive power, though. Your heart had a void last time, which caused you to lose control over the darkness. You have kept it under your control since then. Trust me. You have to release 70 percent of the power and make your wolf merge with it. When your darkness is in your control, it will gain more energy from the celestial as the darkness is spread all over the Solar System.

“You have drawn power from the celestial before, and you even regained Layla's memories when my life was in danger. When you can control the darkness within you, the celestial darkness will automatically come under your control. Your power will reflect in your people and facing Chandran will be a piece of cake."

I was silent, processing his words. I could feel this was the right way to increase my powers.

"I think this will work, Goddess," Aadhira said with a bright look on her face. Surya nodded too with a hopeful face.

"I need some time to think about it."

I concluded the meeting to meditate on the idea.

I reached my room, and my mind was conflicted over whether I was overreacting to Akhilan. I would have done the same if I had been in his place. Then pushing him away was not fair. However, I couldn't accept what he did that night with Pooja. If only I hadn't felt the burning sensation. I don't even want to imagine what would have happened. I know that bitch mixed sildenafil in his alcohol. I recognized that scent only after coming back as my mind was not clear at his home. He had behaved that way just to make me feel what he was going through, but the drug pushed him to be touchy with her.

And he had so easily given a solution to the problem I had been trying all these days to solve. I hadn’t even thought about that since my memories of unleashed darkness weren't good ones. I smiled and closed my eyes to teleport to earth. It was time to meet the council members. I couldn't let the differences in the divine affect the lives relying on us.