Chapter 94 Internal Turmoil
ANGELICA'S POV
“So you forgave them?” Alchemist asked me as soon as we returned to the hotel that I had booked near the Amoled city.
I stopped walking and looked at the mage standing behind me.
“Why would you assume that?” I asked.
Alchemist shrugged.
“Well, if you hadn't, I wouldn't see why you would unleash your powers and drain yourself like that even after knowing what is coming for you. You need to be the strongest version of yourself, but by doing this, you use up so much mana," he explained.
I know what he was trying to say. He had the best for me in his mind, but for some reason, after finding out the truth, I just couldn't stand back and watch, having those innocent lives ruined.
After Alchemist told me about the Demon King's potential obsession with my heart, he told me the truth about what was happening inside the Blood Martial Pack when my mother urged him.
It was shocking to know that Felicia had taken up the siren manipulation powers by killing and drinking the blood of a siren. It was beyond horrendous and terrifying.
How far someone could really go to get what they wanted was evident from her actions.
She hadn't come running to the alphas. She had come with a motive. And maybe that was why, every time I encountered Felicia alone, Cecilia warned me to stay away from her.
My powers sensed something was wrong with Felicia long before anyone else did.
Honestly, I was torn.
While I knew they were under the influence of Felicia's siren manipulation and they had little to no control over their hearts and minds, I just didn't want to forgive them so easily.
The pain I went through was real. They weren't the ones who got humiliated; I was. They weren't the ones who felt betrayed; I did.
No matter the reason, my heart was shattered.
And even though I knew the reason, I just didn't know… it wasn't so easy to forget and forgive. The pain of a mate’s betrayal had almost made me wish for death.
And while all of this was going on inside my head, a part of me was worried for the alphas. Maybe it was the mark on my neck that was forcing me to think for them.
In fact, I had felt their pain before coming to the battlefield. That was the reason I had urged Alchemist to bring me here, because Cecilia didn't want me to risk my life for those unworthy alphas who didn't care about my emotions. And I couldn't trust her to bring me to the right place.
I know Alchemist didn't want me to interfere either, but he knew they were my mates, a bond formed by the moon goddess herself, and there was nothing he could do about it.
After reaching the battlefield and hearing Felicia's words about hurting those children, corrupting those female soldiers, and torturing the others, I had wanted nothing more than to kill every person present there with such evil intentions for people who didn't deserve them.
And that was exactly why I unleashed my powers.
“I don't know,” I looked at Alchemist, unsure about what else to say.
The man kept looking at me for a few seconds before he hummed and nodded.
“In that case, I'll let you rest,” he said before leaving me alone in the hotel room.
I was about to go inside the bedroom to lie down and let my body relax after everything I did, but before I could, I heard the bell in my room ring.
Who could be here? I wondered before walking to the door. I peeped through the hole and saw my father standing with my mother.
I contemplated not opening the door for a second before sighing and opening it.
“Hey,” I said, stuffing my hands in my pockets.
“Angel,” Ronaldo said before he crossed the distance between us and hugged me tightly.
“I am so sorry for what happened, little one,” Ronaldo said immediately.
My gaze drifted to my mother, who probably told him everything. I pursed my lips.
“Well, your apology isn't going to make everything right, is it? What's done is done. I am not angry at you if that's what you are worried about. I know the truth. You can go on with your pack and wolf duties,” I said.
I know my words came off a bit harsh and detached, but I just couldn't help it.
Felicia might've manipulated them, but it was their guilt that…
I could not even complete my thought when I felt it.
I looked at my mom and Ronaldo, disbelief on my face.
“You guys didn't…” I trailed off, the apologetic expression on their face a clear indication of what they did.
They brought them here.
My eyes welled with tears.
I turned around, ready to leave the hall, when the man took my hand, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Please,” He whispered, his voice sore and groggy like he was in too much pain, and hearing him sound like that made my heart ache even more.
“I do not want to talk to any of you. So, please leave,” I said, clenching my jaw.
“I know you are angry at us, Mi Vida, but at least let me express my gratitude for saving my life,” He coughed loudly, and I fisted my hands, pulling my hand out of his grip.
“I am listening,” I whispered.
“Won't you face us?” He asked in a trembling voice, and I felt my insides shake as my lips trembled, my heart full of unexplainable emotions.
“Just speak whatever you want and then get lost,” I said, closing my eyes, trying my best not to break down because that was exactly what I wanted to do now.
How dare they come here? How dare they think everything would go back to normal just because they were here to apologize?
“We don't think everything will go back to normal. What we did can't be excused, Mi Vida. We both know that. We also know that you blame us because it was partly our fault, too,” Ericson said.
“Felicia indeed manipulated us, but nothing is stronger than a mate bond and love. If we had tried really hard, we could've fought against it. But we were driven by our guilt of not helping her earlier. However, it still doesn't excuse the pain we made you go through,” Dylan explained.
I don't know what was happening.
They were admitting their mistakes and telling me how it was their fault, something that I already knew, so why was my heart breaking for them? Why was it already inclining towards them?
“Despite all that, you came to save us, save our people, and nothing is enough to express our gratitude as alphas of the pack,” Dylan said.
There was a long pause after that, and I wondered if they were done speaking.
However, before I could take a step, I felt the alphas behind me kneel and grab my legs.
“We know you won't let us hug you and make it up for it so easily, but at least let us hug your legs. It's painful, mate. Please have some mercy on us, too,” Dylan said before they hugged my legs.
It was awkward.
I didn't know whether to stay angry and kick them away, which I hardly think I would've been able to do with the way they were attached to my legs, or if I should've just shrugged it off.
After what felt like an eternity, Ericson walked before me before he grabbed my hand and made me slap him hard.
“What are you doing?” I widened my eyes when I saw blood dripping from the corner of his mouth again, his wounds reopening.
“You went too easy on me. You shouldn't have saved me. As happy as I am because you did, I don't really deserve to live after I raised my hand on you. Kill me with your slaps. Punch me. Kick me. I will bear it all,” Ericson said before he took my hand and pressed it hard against his abdomen.
I saw his shirt soaking in blood, and my eyes widened.
“Are you fucking crazy?” I yelled before punching his face so he would stop this madness.
“I am! How dare I hurt my own mate? The one person I was supposed to love, my life?
Dylan wanted to come to you so many times, but I threatened him and didn't allow him to. Now that I think about it, he probably had better control of himself and loved you more than I do, and I hate it.”
Ericson said before he got onto his knees and started crying, wailing like a man who felt like he committed the biggest sin of his life.
I looked at Dylan, who looked down at his feet, still ashamed. I had no idea he had fought against the manipulation and tried to fight for me.
"You—" I started, but before I could say anything, I felt my body swaying and my vision turned dark.