Choices Two
Achilles POV
"Shut up!" I yelled at the illusion, my voice reverberating through the space like a furious thunderclap.
I turned abruptly to Perseus, my breathing heavy, and without hesitation, I raised my hand, slapping him across the face. The sharp crack of the impact echoed through the place, my Alpha widened his eyes, surprised not only by the blow but by the intensity of my gaze that openly challenged him.
"I know you better than anyone, Perseus, and I know you're not like this! You're not a monster!" I exclaimed.
"This is the second time I've put her in a hospital!" Perseus shouted, his voice filled with anger and despair.
He pushed me hard, but my feet remained firm on the ground. His strength could have knocked me down, but I wouldn't back down.
"Next time she might not survive!" I said with determination. "And will you allow there to be a third time?"
My voice came out cold as ice, sharp as a blade. I watched the red mark of my fingers begin to form on his face, standing out against his skin.
"Are you going to let this curse win? Are you going to turn into a second Ivar?" I asked worriedly.
Perseus's eyes glowed with a mix of anger and pain. His jaw clenched as his fingers tightened. Then, without warning, I felt the impact of the punch on my chin. The pain radiated through my face, but I knew he hadn't used all his strength. If he had, I would have been thrown back. Even so, a slight smile appeared on my lips. He was reacting.
"NEVER!" Perseus shouted like a beast, his voice filled with fury and denial. In a quick movement, he grabbed my collar with an almost crushing force. His blue eyes were blazing, a storm about to unleash. "Never compare me to him again!"
"Then stop acting like an idiot!" I retorted without hesitation. I brought my hands to his and squeezed firmly but gently, conveying a silent security.
Perseus's eyes were filled with anger and hate, but beneath those overwhelming emotions, something deeper was present, fear. A chronic, excruciating fear.
His breathing became heavier, his muscles tensed like strings about to snap. For a moment, I thought he would strike me again, but instead, he let me go with a trembling sigh.
"Do you think Sophy has forgiven me?" His voice came out as a broken whisper, filled with guilt.
He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling under the weight of his contained emotions. The salty smell of tears began to spread in the air, invading my senses.
The first tears rolled silently down his face, filled with pain and regret.
The crushing weight of guilt resonated inside my chest, and without hesitation, I pulled my mate against me. His body trembled slightly as he held onto my shirt tightly, as if clinging to the last spark of hope.
Around us, the illusion began to dissipate, giving way to the blackened void. The cold, damp touch on my feet indicated that the space around us was changing, reflecting the intense emotions that filled the environment.
"No one can say for sure..." I replied honestly. "But we know she accepted Hélios. The connection between them is strong. That means something, doesn't it?"
Perseus didn't respond immediately. His grip on my shirt tightened as his tears continued to fall, silent, carrying the weight of the uncertain. He was fighting his inner demons, against the fear of having lost forever the one who mattered most to him. And I would be there, by his side, to ensure he never completely lost himself to the darkness.
"You need to go back, so you can talk to Soph... Only she can answer you for sure... Don't let your guilt, your fear, and your insecurity get in the way." I spoke with affection and gentleness, while caressing his hair with love.
Perseus took a deep breath, trying to compose himself, but the tears still flowed and seemed endless, for these tears meant all the guilt and responsibility of his actions. Facing Sophia won't be easy, I know our mate can be intense and her hatred for those who hurt her is intense.
"She looked at me with so much anger..." Perseus whispered. "I could feel the moment our bond broke, the pain I felt must not have been 1% of what she felt... And I will never forget the expression on her face and the glint of hatred in her eyes, as she fell into Khalid's arms."
"That's good, you'll never forget, because only then can you improve." I could have been more delicate, more gentle in my words, but I can feel we're running out of time. "Now we need to go back, so you can fight for Soph... For the love you feel for her, for both of you. I won't say it will be an easy journey, but I know you can do it!"
Then silence fell, as the tears stopped flowing and after a few minutes, Perseus finally pulled away from my arms and I saw him wiping his wet face.
"I... need to see her. I need to apologize. I need to hear from her mouth if there is still hope." His voice was firmer. Still fragile, yes, but firm.
I nodded.
"You will, Perseus, but not as a monster asking for redemption. You will go as the Alpha, as her mate. You will go as the man who is willing to change, to face even Hélios if necessary." I explained.
The environment around us began to brighten, as if the light were breaking through the dense darkness. The illusion, or nightmare, seemed to lose its strength, and with it, the shadow that enveloped Perseus's spirit also receded.
Before everything disappeared, I looked towards the place where the snowflake had been, not with regret, but with the certainty that I would come back here and find it again. I won't let the curse get in the way of saving Sophia.
I looked at Perseus again and smiled.
"We're in this together. We always have been." I said.
He looked up at me, and I saw in him, finally, a spark of hope.
"Thank you, Achilles." Perseus thanked me.
"You would do the same for me." I spoke the truth, and with that, the darkness dissipated for good.
...
My eyes opened, while the light from the lamps briefly blinded me. I feel renewed energy.
I looked to the right and found Perseus's face, I turned to the left and found Sophia's. Both are sleeping peacefully and I know this mission was successfully completed.