Chapter 38 FEAR AND AGITATION (2)
WILLA'S POV
“Besides,” I added quickly before Sarina got the chance to refute me. “The Know-Me-Not spell could not have disappeared yet when the Ascension Rite hadn’t even started. How could Gallahan even know he has a son? Much less recognize Calisto. Sarina, that’s… That’s impossible.”
“It’s not impossible, Willa. We’ve always known that certain magic of my kind, when it is performed for your kind, will not be as potent and infallible, no matter the strength and magical ability of the witch or wizard. Besides, the Know-Me-Not spell can easily be overridden by your kind’s ancient magic.”
Sarina began to pull and twist a wisp of her short hair. She also started marching all over the perimeter of the room as she lost herself in her monologue.
“Yes, werewolves are magical. You possess a different kind of magic from ours. From your ability to shift at will, up until your ability to share mental links with one another. The practice of the Ascension Rite is a magical ritual in and by itself. Then there is the existence of fated mates, as well as the curse of the Blood Moon. Even your words hold power. You can break bonds with mates through a disavowment oath, and you can forge magically binding connections within your pack with a pledge. Your kind has an ancient magic that stemmed from the blessing of the moon goddess-”
“Sarina,” I cut in. “Breathe.”
She ceased her pacing around the room and obediently sucked a long and even inhale.
“Calm down,” I said, although I wasn’t feeling calm either. “Calm down and focus. We are not here to discuss werewolf magic.”
“Right, right,” Sarina muttered breathily. She then plopped down on one of the leather armchairs and resumed her long spiel. “I guess what I am trying to say is that there might be some other sort of magic or power that was able to override the Know-Me-Not spell on Calisto. But what it could be remains to be seen. I am personally placing my bet on your connection with Gallahan as his fated mate.”
“But…” I tried to argue, but my reeling mind couldn’t find a loophole to wiggle through, despite my desperation of wanting to deny and discredit the things I had heard from my best friend in the last few minutes.
Because I knew.
I knew my history. My green eyes may be a testament of my descent from the first fated mates to have ever bonded, but my skin, bones, flesh and blood told of a richer and deeper history. As an Alfiero, I was born from a long line of fated mates, even tracing back to the very first one in the history of werewolves.
My bloodline is heavy with my ancestors' lived stories of love, fate, and blessing of the moon goddess.
That was why I was such a disappointment. My parents and Grandpa would never say it, but I knew I broke their hearts when I became the very first one in our ancient clan to ever reject their fated mate.
And perhaps the blood in my veins and the long history of fated mates woven into my soul were what caused the Know-Me-Not spell to waver and even revealed the existence of the twins to Gallahan.
“Willa,” Sarina softly said, shaking me out of my thoughts.
I hadn’t realized she had gotten up from her seat and had closed the distance between us. I didn’t even notice she had taken my hand and held it securely in hers.
“Maybe,” she continued, her voice sounding like a gentle caress. “Maybe this is a sign that you cannot hide from the inevitable forever. Gallahan is your fated mate, Willa.”
“He is indeed my fated mate,” I replied. “But I have no intention of letting a man with a bloody history and a penchant for violence be the father to my children. He’s not the kind of person I want to raise Calisto and Gillian with.”
Sarina looked utterly concerned, as if I wasn’t sane enough to make this decision. As if I had lost my mind by defying what was fated.
“Earlier, I saw a sliver of the violence you claim Gallahan has, but I also saw the tenderness in his hand when he touched Calisto.”
My breath hitched at the new information.
“He…”
“He cupped Calisto’s cheek while looking at him with awe and affection.”
Pathetically, all I could say in return was a small, “Oh.”
“So perhaps he is no longer as bad as his past has painted him to be. Anyone is capable of growth and change, Willa.”
I shook my head in disagreement and slipped my hands out of Sarina’s hold.
“How could he have changed in the past years if he remained unapologetic about the war? I… I will escape the inevitable that you spoke of, Sarina.”
But it wasn’t Sarina who responded to my remark. Instead, someone with a voice that had manned up in the time I hadn’t heard it idly chimed in, saying, “Too late for that, Willa.”