Chapter 74

Brielle's POV

My feelings were mixed. I am so angry and sad. Bad things keep happening, and I can't do anything about them. Mia's death has already broken our hearts and now, Xavier and Julian will also be back in our lives to deal us a damaging blow. I am on edge. I feel it in my blood that there is something bad brewing. Not knowing what it is or how to handle it is frustrating me.

I was thinking about telling Blake, but the chance didn't arise. I don't want to just spring this on him. I need to be able to explain things properly so he can understand me. Time is running out. Anything can happen. Looking back, this whole situation we find ourselves in feels awfully familiar. Although not exactly the same, we have been here before. When I found out my mate was Xavier, I felt sad. I was a witch and I never thought that I would have a mate, let alone a werewolf. I didn't like the idea of having to be stuck with someone I don't love just to fulfill an unrequited bond for life.

That was mostly because I had already fallen in love with River, who once saved my life. The day we met, I was running from some villagers. I liked traveling alot, mostly to get away from the coven and my overbearing mother. I wanted to be free and do things my way. One day I ended up in a village. The village chief sought me out to come and help his wife who had given birth and was on the verge of death.

I don't know what happened but next thing, that woman was vomiting black blood. It was too late for me to do anything so. There was too much damage and her death was imminent. That night, she died and everyone was quick to point fingers at me. One thing was certain. She was poisoned for a long time and killed, and they just so happened to find a scapegoat for the crime. I was so young and naive that I failed to notice it until it was too late. No one was willing to believe me, and it was convenient to cast stones at the witch.

I was tortured for days. I could have easily overpowered those people and escaped, but I was hoping for a chance to prove my innocence and walk out free. Unfortunately, no one was willing to listen to me. I had no choice other than to escape. I used my powers on the runway. I was so injured, but I ran and didn't stop until I blacked out. I thought I was going to die when those villagers caught up to me. To my surprise, I woke up in an unfamiliar place. I thought for sure I had been captured again, but that was not the case.

I wouldn't have been patched up, and my wounds tended to. I was surprised and relieved that I wasn't bound in chains again. I wanted to cry my heart out. I knew that life as a wit h wouldn't be easy. If I was someone else, I could have hurt all those people for treating me like that, but I held back my power and blamed their ignorance. Mother told me to never use my power for bad things.

Someone walked into the room I was in. A man. He was the most handsome man I have seen, with a warm smile. He was holding a bowl and a rag in his hand. I didn't sense any sinister vibes from him, yet I still, I cowered away. That moment was the beginning of everything. He took care of me and helped me back to my feet. He said his name was River, and he too left home to explore the land. I was happy to have encountered a person similar to me. We spent time together and when we parted, I thought it was it.

Little did I know that our paths would cross again. And in the funniest way. I was in trouble again. I had unknowingly crossed another pack's boarders while wandering, and they chased after me. I had my magic and I could easily escape the situation, but it was my fault and I didn't want to hurt anyone with it. It wouldn't only cause trouble for me with the werewolves but for all witches alike. I started running away, but my legs could only take me so far, and I even tripped over a tree root. That hurt like a bitch. I was captured, again. I was kept in a dark, disgusting dungeon. They tortured and interrogated me, but no matter what I said, they didn't believe me. I thought for sure I was a gonner.

I don't know how long I spent in the dungeon, but one day I was brought out to get executed. I was such a fool back then. Even when I was about to be killed, I remained firm on not using my powers. They were going to burn me at the stake. Everything was set in motion and members of the pack gathered around to watch the witch's demise. I closed my eyes and I remembered all the moments of my life I cherished. I prayed my mother would forgive my foolishness. Despite our differences, I loved her so much, and I was glad she wouldn't have to see this.

I braced myself for death and waited for the fire that would burn my flesh. I was so scared but I remained composed. I was just a witch and no one was going to listen even if I pleaded for my life.

" Set her on fire. Let her burn in her wickedness!"

I heard people cheering in unison in agreement about my death. Of course, I didn't expect someone to speak out in my favor. No one knows me and no one cares. That was what I thought. Not until I heard it.

" Stop! Stop it this instant. Let her go!"

That voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't believe that anyone would say that. I closed my eyes tightly hoping that this nightmare would just end, and I would die without a fuss. That day was truly my lucky day. Second lucky day, I would say. I was untied from the stake and I now fell over because I was too weak to stand on my own. The person who untied me scooped me off my feet and carried me in his arms. I opened my eyes, but I was blinded by the sunlight. My eyes were sensitive to the light I'd missed so much because of being in that dark, nasty dungeon.

When my eyes finally adjusted to the light, I looked up to see the face of my savior. Even from his side profile, I could never forget that face. It was him. My knight in shining armor. Yet again, he came to my rescue. Right then, I believed that this fateful encounter could not be anything other than fate itself. There was an invisible force that tied us together and no matter how far we got away from each other, we would find ourselves again. I was mesmerized by him. I didn't know at that moment, but I was already in love with him. That was the beginning of our love and everything else.

I could never see any other man the way I saw him. We were made for each other. I believed so.