Chapter 73 CHAPTER 73

Chapter 73 CHAPTER 73
ALINA

I felt weightless, floating in a haze of warm light, surrounded by the soft scent of blooming flowers. My favorite flowers. When I opened my eyes, I found myself standing in a vast field of endless blossoms, each petal shimmering under the sun. The sky above was an endless blue, and everything around me felt surreal, like a dream.

I event felt like I was in one, and it was absolutely wonderful. But it wasn't just any dream. There, in the middle of the field, stood the Fairy Mother. She radiated a soft, ethereal glow, her silver hair cascading down her shoulders like moonlight. She smiled warmly at me, her presence both comforting and powerful. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what this all meant.

Was I dead? Was this some sort of judgment? I could remember the last time I was okay and I was just called out to be a witch. I wondered if this was my punishment for being one. My heart pounded in my chest as I approached her.

"Are you here to punish me?" I asked, my voice trembling. "For being a witch?"

The Fairy Mother laughed softly, a sound like the tinkling of bells. " No, my dear," she said, her voice gentle yet full of wisdom. "I am not here to punish you. You are more than just your magic, Alina. Your heart remains pure. You are still a werewolf, at least the majority of you."

I swallowed, trying to understand her words. "Then why am I here?"

She took my hands in hers, her touch warm and reassuring. "I am here because I was a dear friend of your mother. She was a

remarkable woman, and I owe her much. That is why I've come, to give you both a second chance."

"A second chance?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, my heart pounding when it registered in my head that she knew my mother. I thought of this was the chance for me to finally get to see her again.

"To say goodbye," the Fairy Mother said softly.

I blinked in confusion, but then, from behind the Fairy Mother, I saw her. My breath caught in my throat as a figure stepped forward from the flowers, her silhouette becoming clearer with every step. My heart nearly stopped as I saw the familiar face of my mother.

It wasn't the version of her I had seen with the Skin Walkers-this was her, truly her. The exact replica of the mother I had lost so many years ago, the woman who had been ripped from my life too soon. I couldn't even believe my eyes.

Even since I had met the fake version of her then, I saw a different face. Maybe i was lying to myself then, thinking that was how my mother looked like even though i had forgotten what she looked like because the last time i saw her I was just a baby.

But this was her. I could see the actually day she died now, the way she looked.

"Mama?" I whispered, my voice shaking as tears filled my eyes.

She smiled, the same tender smile I remembered, and suddenly, I was running toward her. I flung myself into her arms, and she held me tightly, her embrace warm and familiar. It was like no time had passed, as if I was once again the little girl who had lost her mother

too soon.

"Oh, Mama," I sobbed into her shoulder. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, my sweet girl," she whispered, her voice soft and soothing. She stroked my hair, just like she used to when I was a child. "I've watched over you all this time. I've never really left you."

We stood like that for what felt like forever, just holding each other.

All the years of pain, of missing her, seemed to wash away in that moment. I couldn't believe it was real. I didn't want it to end.

I remembered being pained so much that I didn't want to talk about it when I woke up from the trance the skin walkers put me in. I thought I was never going to get another chance to see her, but I have. And she was in front of me now.

"I thought I'd never see you again," I choked out, pulling back slightly to look at her. Her face was soft, her eyes filled with the same love I remembered. "There's so much I need to tell you."

She cupped my face in her hands, her thumbs wiping away my tears. " You've grown into such a strong woman, Alina. I've watched you face every challenge, and I am so proud of you. You are so much more than I could have ever imagined."

“But Mama,” I said, my voice breaking, "there's so much I don't understand. How are you here? I thought if you died you wouldn't be here."

She sighed softly, her eyes growing distant for a moment. "There is so much to explain, but I am not really supposed to be here. But I am with my friend."

I nodded, though my heart still ached with the loss. "I wish you could have been here to help me. There's so much I've faced... so many things I don't know how to handle."

"You've done better than you think," she said gently. "You've faced everything with courage and grace. And you're not alone. You have Kai, and you have yourself. Never doubt your strength."

I bit my lip, feeling the weight of all I wanted to say. "I just... I miss you so much. I don't know how to say goodbye."

She smiled sadly. "You don't have to say goodbye, Alina. I'll always be with you, in your heart. But this is your time now. You have a life to live, and you can't let the past hold you back."

Tears streamed down my face as I nodded. I didn't want to let go, but I knew she was right. "I love you, Mama."

"I love you too, my sweet girl. And I'll always be watching over you."

With that, she kissed my forehead and stepped back, her figure slowly fading into the field of flowers. I cried, not wanting to say goodbye. I didn't want to lose her love again. I wanted to reach out, to pull her back, but I knew this was the way it had to be. As she disappeared from sight, the dream began to dissolve, the flowers and the sky fading.

And then, I woke up.

I gasped, sitting up in bed, my heart pounding in my chest. Tears were still fresh on my cheeks, and I could feel the remnants of the dream lingering in my mind. But even as the dream faded, I felt a sense of peace. I had seen her. I had said goodbye.

But as I sat there, trying to collect my thoughts, something caught my eye. A piece of paper, crumpled and folded, had fallen onto the bed beside me. I didn't remember having it before, and with trembling hands, I picked it up.

As I unfolded the paper, my breath caught in my throat. It was a step- by-step tutorial-a guide on how to bring someone back to life using witchcraft. I gasped, staring at the paper in shock. The realization hit me like a wave.

Mama...

She must have slipped it to me during the dream. She had given me the chance to see her again, but she was also giving me the chance to bring her back—to be with her once more.

My heart raced as I thought of what this could mean. I could see her again, hold her, talk to her just like we had in the dream. The possibility seemed too good to be true, but the paper in my hands felt real enough.

I knew that no one would back me on this, and I knew the risks of witchcraft were high. But none of that mattered. I had to try. I had to bring her back. I have spent so many of my years learning to live for people. Doing what makes them happy and putting them first. It was the end of it today.

I knew the people here were going to hate me more if they knew I practiced witchcraft, but I couldn't give two fucks about what they thought now. I had to be selfish at least for once in my life. With newfound determination, I began preparing for what lay ahead. I didn't care if no one understood. I didn't care if I had to face it alone.

This was my chance to reunite with my mother, and I wasn't going to let it slip away.