Chapter 59 - Team
~~~ Allaya ~~~
It was difficult to close my eyes and sleep last night, but I dozed off at some point, Hayden is still in dreamland. He held me tight in his embrace all night long, as if he believed that if he let go, I would vanish into thin air and never come back to him.
I stir in his arms, trying to get up and take a shower, but he refuses to release me.
“Where do you think you are going?” He smiles softly, his gaze holding strong emotions.
A few strands of his messy bed hair are rebelling all over his face, the style suits him, he is more handsome than ever. I set them aside with my fingers, and plant a small kiss on his forehead.
“I love you!” I whisper more to myself. “So much that I would have never imagined one could love another person!”
He cups my face into his hands, locking his spellbinding eyes with mine. “Then you know exactly how I feel every time I look at you, every time we touch, or when we are apart and my heart still beats only for you! It will always beat only for you, Allaya!”
His words go directly to my heart, and I cannot believe that this extraordinary man, an alpha king, belongs to me. Then he melts his lips into mine, we only break the kiss when our lungs scream for air.
If there would not have been a funeral planned for today, I would have stayed like this some more, feeling safe in the warm embrace of my fated mate. But I have to bid farewell to someone dear to me, someone that I already failed. She is dead because of me and I will never forgive myself.
I always dreaded funerals. Not that there is anyone out there enjoying them, but whenever I heard shit like ‘it was a beautiful service’, my blood boiled in my veins.
What is so beautiful about a dear one passing away prematurely?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
I hate the fact that I have to hold one for my best friend today, and I make a promise to myself that the one that ended Alexis’s life in cold blood will pay, I won’t have any mercy on the one that I used to call ‘sister’.
‘Will you be able to end Elena’s life if that’s what needs to be done?’ Pandora demanded an answer from me, but I could not digest her question.
My mind traveled to my mother Aurora and how hurt she would be if I was the one ending her real daughter’s life, but Elena already murdered too many people and she could not escape unharmed.
I shut my eyes close, tears rolling down my cheeks as I pictured the moment. ‘Yes, I have to. She’s done too much damage.’
‘Don’t forget that! You have fallen in too many of her traps, she is smart and she knows how to use your weaknesses. Sometimes, you are too soft!’
Pandora is right, but I will not be soft anymore.
~~~ Hayden ~~~
After the ceremony ended, Allaya buried her face in my chest and we stood like that for a few good minutes. I could feel her tears soaking my shirt as she was trying to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.
It is excruciating to watch my mate in so much pain without being able to do a single thing to bring her comfort. She is blaming herself for her friend’s death when there were others responsible, not her.
“Alexis would have hated to see you like that!” Amiera gently touches Allaya’s shoulder. “She cared for you deeply, she told me many times. She would want you to smile, she always said that you have a bright smile that can light up any room!”
Her words have the opposite effect than intended, my mate starts sobbing even more, clutching at my clothes almost desperately.
“Being sad won’t bring her back.” Arianna interferes. “You need to be strong for our fight. There are so many others that we need to protect.”
Landon is fuming with rage. “It pains me to see you like that, sister! It makes me want to tear that monster girl’s heart from her chest, I swear!”
She takes a step back from me, and wipes the tears off her beautiful face. “Thank you for supporting me! I gained some wonderful friends and a caring brother!” A smile finally makes its way to her lips. “I want you to know how grateful I am to have you all in my life!”
I lay a kiss on her forehead. “Do you want to go home, my love? Or is there something else you wish to do?”
She shakes her head. “No, we should not waste any more time. We should train, vampires and werewolves all together.”
Arianna takes a few breaths. “You mean, as a team?” Her heartbeats increased, and it was understandable, one of those blood-suckers tried to force himself on her when she was a mere teenager.
“I get why you are scared, but not all vampires are the same. You just had the misfortune to come across a bad one.” Allaya hugs her. “I would not have asked this of you if I would not be sure of what I’m saying.”
Amiera chimes in. “I agree with her. Not all vampires are bad, the same as not all werewolves are good. Allaya’s idea is actually very smart. We are natural enemies and we should learn how to coordinate with each other if we want to have a chance to succeed.”
All that being said, we head to the training camp together.
* * *
~~~ Allaya ~~~
My heart is speeding against my ribcage, the day for the battle has finally come. Until now, everything went according to the plan. Our fathers brought more supernaturals to join us, as for us, we trained every minute of the day with all the strength we had in our bodies.
The moment Hayden stepped out of the shower, I could feel his intense stare.
“What are you hiding from us? You said before that you had a secret weapon, and I confess that I believed you would confide in me.”
I have a secret weapon, and I’m the only one that knows about it. Maybe I should have disclosed it to my mate, but it’s safer this way.
It is confidential information between another person and me, and that other person saved my life and sacrificed her entire existence for my wellbeing and the sake of this supernatural world.
He tenses at my lack of answer.
“Please just trust me, my love! It’s better this way!”
Hayden takes a few deep breaths. “I trust you with my life!”
Out of nowhere, an ominous vibe sends ice-cold chills on my spine, and Pandora is restless inside.
“They’re here!”
And so it begins.