Forbidden Mate: Awakening

~NARRATOR’S POV~

Audrey kept clinging onto Tyler and desperately tried everything to get his attention. She would follow him everywhere, trying to talk to him, but he would only respond half-heartedly. Tyler’s mind was filled with thoughts of Lily, and he couldn’t stop worrying about her. To add to that, Audrey would say strange things sometimes that would make him feel uneasy.

One day, Audrey tried again to talk to Tyler, pretending to be nice. She said, “Tyler, I’ve been thinking about Lily. Do you miss her? It must be tough for you now that she’s gone.” She wanted to see how Tyler would react.

Tyler’s anger simmered underneath the sad expression on his face which became stern. He replied shortly, “Lily’s absence is not your business. I don’t want to talk about her with you.”

He turned away, ignoring Audrey’s attempt to bring up Lily. He didn’t want her to interfere with his feelings or make him think about what he didn’t want to.

Despite Tyler’s plea for space, Audrey persisted in her attempts to get closer to him. She ignored his discomfort and invaded his personal space, disregarding his boundaries. Tyler, growing more frustrated, pleaded with her to understand his need for time to process everything that had happened.

Audrey, however, seemed oblivious to his requests. Her persistence started to border on obsession. She latched onto any opportunity to bring up Lily, hoping to provoke a reaction from Tyler.

“You know, Tyler, maybe Lily left because she realized she couldn’t compete with me. Maybe she saw the way you still looked at me and knew she didn’t stand a chance… even after she tried to ruin your proposal.”

Tyler’s eyes flashed with anger as he faced her. “Audrey, stop this! Lily’s absence has nothing to do with you! I won’t let you manipulate her absence for your own gain. Leave her out of this. She may be out there struggling for your life and you’re here…look, just stop all this, okay? ”

Audrey was shocked and hurt when Tyler harshly rejected her. It caught her off guard, but she didn’t give up. She kept trying to get his attention, which made him more and more uncomfortable and frustrated. But no matter how hard she tried to talk about Lily, Tyler stayed firm in ignoring her and shutting her out.

A week slowly passed and the tension between Audrey and Tyler reached its breaking point. In a final act of desperation, Audrey blurted out, “Tyler, face it, Lily’s gone! She’s never coming back! You need to move on.”

Tyler’s face contorted with pain and anger. “What do you mean, Audrey? Where is she?” He stepped closer and narrowed his brows at her, “What have you done?” he demanded.

But Audrey didn’t say anything more and had a creepy smile on her face. She enjoyed making Tyler uncomfortable and liked having power over him. She dismissed him with a wave of her hand and walked away, leaving Tyler to deal with the unsettling words she had said.

Tyler stood there, feeling his heart beat faster and a cold chill go down his back. He felt uneasy, as if something really bad had happened and Audrey had planned it all out. He worried that Lily’s absence was more than just her leaving.

Oh no…

He left the room, disoriented and with a strong feeling that something bad was happening. He didn’t know what he would find out, but he was sure Audrey had done something despicable.

Oh no, Lily…

•••••••••••••

Sarah sat nervously on the couch, her hands fidgeting in her lap. Aunt Belinda, a comforting presence in the room, offered a reassuring smile as she settled down beside her.

“Aunt Belinda,” Sarah began with a trembling voice, “I need to tell you something important. It’s about Audrey and what she’s been doing.”

Aunt Belinda’s eyes widened with concern. “That girl again? What has she done, Sarah? Tell me everything.”

Sarah took a deep breath and started telling Aunt Belinda about all the lies and tricks Audrey had played. She explained how Audrey had fooled Tyler and the pack and her selfish plan to get power for herself. Aunt Belinda listened carefully, and her facial expression shifted from surprise to then thoughtful concentration.

“Oh, Sarah,” Aunt Belinda sighed, placing a hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “I had my suspicions about that girl, but I never imagined the extent of her manipulation. Thank you for trusting me with this.”

Sarah’s eyes filled with tears as the weight of the situation pressed upon her. “Aunt Belinda, we have to find Lily. She’s been missing, and I’m so worried about her. With everything that’s happening, I can’t help but fear the worst.”

Aunt Belinda’s face softened with empathy. “Sarah, my dear, Lily is a fighter. I’ve known her since she was a little girl, and I’ve seen her overcome countless obstacles. Wherever she is, I believe she’ll be okay.”

Sarah’s tears spilled over, and she buried her face in her hands. “But Aunt Belinda, we have no idea where she could be. The grove is in chaos, and Audrey’s deception has caused so much damage. Lily’s parents are devastated…We need to find her before it’s too late.”

Aunt Belinda took Sarah’s hands in hers, “We will find her, Sarah. We’ll rally the pack and search every inch of the realm if we have to. But we must stay strong and united. Together, we have a better chance of bringing Lily back safely.”

They continued to talk about where Lily could be hiding, if she was hiding at all. They thought about the caves by the waterfall, a place where Lily liked to go for peace. They also considered the old ruins in the deep forest, a spot where she went to think clearly, occasionally.

“But what if she’s hurt, Aunt Belinda? What if she’s in danger?” Sarah’s voice quivered.

Aunt Belinda’s eyes twinkled with hope. “We’ll do everything in our power to protect her, Sarah. We won’t rest until she’s back with us.”

The weight of uncertainty still lingered, but Sarah found comfort and hope in Aunt Belinda’s words. They hugged, Sarah’s tears wetting Aunt Belinda’s back.

She was her best friend and a sister she never had. Whoever had done something to Lily would definitely pay. But first, she needed to be found.

“I don’t know where she is…. where are you, Lily?” Sarah’s voice broke as Aunt Belinda continued patting her back softly.

As they parted, Aunt Belinda offered Sarah a final piece of reassurance. “Remember, my dear, Lily is strong, and she has a spirit that cannot be broken. Hold onto hope and trust in her resilience. We’ll find her, and she’ll come back with us.”

Sarah nodded, feeling both worried but optimistic in her heart. Finding Lily would be tough, but they couldn’t give up.

Not then, not ever.

•••••••••••••••

A figure made the guards frozen on their spots.

Don stumbled into the grove. He looked really hurt and tired. His eyes showed how much pain he was in, and he struggled to catch his breath. The guards hurried over to him to help him stand straight. Lily’s parents and the older members of the group gathered around, all shocked to see him back but in a battered condition.

“Don, what happened? Where have you been?! Who did this to you?” Henry’s voice echoed in the room. Rebekah stood up beside him and her eyes widened as they fell on Don.

Don paused, taking a moment to rest and regain his breath. When he finally spoke, his voice sounded deeper than usual and more strained, “It was… was…”

Rebekah turned to a maid, “Bring him some water quickly!” Then she turned to the guards holding him, “And sit him on the chair.”

The maid returned with a glass of water in which Don took and drank with shaky hands.

Henry watched him catch his breath before starting to speak again, “It was the vampires, sir. They ambushed me while I was on patrol near their territory. They knew I had information and they wanted to silence me.”

Rebekah and Henry glanced at eachother.

She then placed a gentle hand on Don’s shoulder, urging him to continue. “Tell us, Don. What did you see or hear?”

Don spoke with a tired voice. “They have been amassing their forces, preparing for an all-out attack on the main pack. They plan to strike during the next blood moon. They believe it will give them an advantage, more power.”

Gasps of disbelief filled the air as soon as he said what he said. Henry’s brows furrowed, and he spoke over the noise. “When, Don? We need to prepare ourselves.”

Don’s voice grew weaker, but his words remained resolute. “Three fortnights from now, sir. We don’t have much time. They are relentless, and they won’t stop until they’ve wiped us out.”

The tension in the grove was palpable as the intensity of Don’s words settled upon them. The elders exchanged worried glances, and Lily’s parents shared a silent understanding. This was a battle they couldn’t afford to lose.

Suddenly, Don’s eyes widened as he saw Lily standing in front of him, her presence both real and ethereal. He couldn’t contain his emotions as he approached her with outstretched arms. Everyone around him stepped back, watching him confusedly.

“Lily! You’re here!” Don exclaimed, his voice quivering with excitement. “I can’t believe it. I’m sorry.”

“What happened to you, Don? How did you escape?” It asked.

Don’s eyes met its’, filled with pain and regret. “They tortured me, Lily. They wanted information about our defenses and our weaknesses. But I resisted. I knew I had to make it back and warn everyone.”

The others exchanged concerned glances. Don was talking to the air, an empty space. They slowly realised that Don was conversing with an apparition. Henry, whose entire demeanour had filled with worry, stepped forward and addressed the situation.

“Don, it’s time for you to get some rest,” he said gently. “Let the maids take care of you and make sure you’re comfortable.”

Don looked at Henry with a confused look. He stepped back away from Henry, almost resisting. He looked back at the apparition which was still standing there. That was Lily – she was right there.

“C…can’t you see her, sir?” Don asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Don, there’s no one there.” Rebekah replied with a pitiful look at him.

“It’s Lily! Lily’s here!” He said, pointing both hands to the empty space in front of him.

Rebekah’s eyes teared up and Henry balled a fist, “You need to get some rest, Don.” Henry said.

“But… she’s right here, sir,” Don pleaded. “I can see her. I can talk to her.”

Henry sighed, understanding the depth of Don’s delusion. He motioned for the maids to come and gently guide Don away.

“Don, it’s not healthy to dwell in these illusions,” Henry explained softly even though his heart was being torn apart. “You need some medication to help you feel better and clear your mind.”

Don reluctantly allowed the maids to lead him away, his eyes locked on “Lily” until he disappeared from view. The room fell silent.

Henry sighed once more. He had to give Don the help he needed as they were all trying to cope with Lily’s disappearance. Then also, what Don just told them about the vampires’ planned attack…he had to let Rex know about it as soon as possible.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

The room slowly returned to its previous activities, but the encounter left an indelible mark on everyone present. Soon after, the generals and the elders left.

Henry watched as Rebekah slowly and quietly left the room. It pained him to see her look so shattered and powerless.

Henry stood in the empty room, his heart heavy with worry. He couldn’t stop thinking about his daughter, his poor Lily.

A tear ran down his cheek as he stared out the window. He didn’t even know the right words to say to Rebekah to comfort her. He could only imagine the agony she’s passing through as a mother.

His voice echoed silently as he asked himself, “Where are you, Lily? Where are you, my child?