Mate by Fate, Bound by Love

***********************

Ethan’s POV

“What if I refuse to go with you?” she asked.

I was dumbfounded. I hadn’t anticipated this question. I never imagined she’d have a choice-after all, she had nowhere to go. Her uncle wouldn’t take her back after losing his daughter to the cold hands of banishment.

“Please, don’t refuse,” I said, carefully choosing my words. “My happiness depends on you… my sister’s life is in your hands.”

“What do you mean by your sister’s happiness? So, you came here just because you think you need my help?” she snapped, her voice rising with anger.

“Calm down, Lena. I’ll explain everything better when we get back to my pack. Please, don’t refuse to come with me,” I pleaded, desperate to calm her.

“You have to free me from this cell first, even if I am to go with you,” she demanded.

I signaled to my former beta to check behind the cell, where Lena had said there was something causing the electric current.

“There’s an uninsulated wire glued to the iron of the holding cell,” he called out.

“Find where the wire is connected to see if it’s the source of the current,” I instructed.

After about ten minutes, he shouted, “I found it!”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

He pulled the wire, disconnecting it from the source. I cautiously approached the cell, placing my hand on the iron to make sure the current was gone.

“It’s safe now,” I said, breaking the chain that locked her inside. Then, I extended my hand to her. She hesitated for a moment before finally placing her hand in mine, and I led her out.

We made our way toward Adrian’s palace, but Lena froze at the sight of the bodies strewn everywhere, her eyes welling with tears. I gently placed my hands over her eyes and led her away from the gruesome scene. When we stepped outside, Adrian lay on the ground, his life slipping away. I made sure to shield Lena’s eyes again as we passed him.

We had won. Adrian’s pack was defeated, and Lena was finally safe. I motioned for my beta to set the place ablaze, as planned.

*******

Back home, Sophia was anxiously waiting. I could tell she was about to head out, dressed in her warrior attire, when she spotted us.

She stopped when she sighted us, she came to hug me and said” I thought something wrong would have happened to you” she said almost crying

“I am here now Sophia, and I am here with… ” I moved away so she could see her.

“You must be lena” She said.

Lena nodded affirmatively

“I’m Sophia, Ethan’s elder sister and the Alpha Luna of Frederick’s pack. It’s an honor to meet you,” she said.

“It’s a privilege to meet you too,” Lena responded, her voice soft but curious.

I could see the admiration in Lena’s eyes. She was likely fascinated by how Sophia had become an Alpha Luna-a rare title, earned through many hard-fought battles.

“Are you okay?” Lena asked, noticing the weariness in Sophia’s eyes.

“Oh, please, call me Sophia,” she replied, waving off the concern. “And as for how I look… we’ll talk about that later. I’m sure Ethan hasn’t told you everything yet.”

“He mentioned something about your happiness being in my hands,” Lena said.

“Well, we don’t need to rush into that now,” Sophia said, her gaze shifting to Lena’s stomach. “That’s quite the baby bump you’ve got there!”

Sophia led Lena inside, where she ordered the maids to prepare a warm bath and a proper meal. After Lena had bathed, we all sat down for dinner. But just as we began eating, blood started dripping from Sophia’s nose.

“Sophia, your nose!” I yelled.

Lena quickly handed her a napkin to wipe the blood.

“Are you okay?” Lena asked, clearly worried.

“I’m fine,” Sophia lied, but I knew better.

“She’s not fine,” I interrupted.

“Do not listen to her lena, I am sorry, but I came to save you not just because I was sorry about how I treated you but because my sister needs your help”

“My help?” She paused “What do you mean by my help?” She continued”

My sister is sick and at the point of death and you are the only one that can save her” I said in an apologetic tone.

I was really sorry because it felt like I saved her because I wanted to use her to save my sister, but I didn’t have a choice I needed to save my sister. She’s the only family I have got left.

“Is this true?” Lena asked, turning to Sophia, searching for answers.

Sophia nodded.

“So, you didn’t save me because you’re sorry. You saved me because you want to use me,” Lena said, standing up in anger.

Lena, no no that’s not it…. hmmm it’s true I need your help but I am really sorry about the past and I hoped you would find a place in your heart to forgive me” I said.

“I can’t believe you, so you expect me to believe that bullshit? Lena scoffed.

“Please, Lena…” Sophia interrupted, her voice shaky. “I have a pack waiting for me. They don’t even know I’m sick. I have children… I can’t let them see me like this. Not while they’re still so young. My enemies are waiting for the moment they find out I’m weak. If I die, they’ll raid my pack. Families will be destroyed, and my kids-my kids will die.”

Sophia’s eyes filled with tears, and I could see Lena was on the verge of crying too. There was hope. Hope that Lena would save her.

“I don’t want to die like this lena, not now maybe later when my kids are old and strong enough to take care of themselves, you will become a mother soon I am sure you will understand better what I am saying, if you were in my shoes would you want to die and leave your kids alone, I am the only hope for them and my pack members lena”

“I want to be left alone,” Lena said, turning away from us.

“Lena-”

“Please, just leave me alone for now,” she repeated.

I helped Sophia to her chambers to rest. It was late, and I stayed awake all night, praying to the Moon Goddess that Lena would agree to help Sophia. I didn’t want to imagine what would happen if she refused.