Forbidden Mate: Awakening

~LILY’S POV~

“She has cirrhosis…”

I remembered what the doctor had said before my dad cut him off and took him aside to discuss. The look in my father’s eyes said it all. I didn’t need to check it up because I had heard of that illness before. It was what my father’s mother had died from. They had taken her to every healer in the realm, every renowned doctor they could pay to travel to the grove, but still, no cure had been found for her.

I brought my palms to my face and tried my best to hold in the tears that were on the brim of rushing out. No, nothing would happen to my mom. I had to believe hard enough and I had to stay strong, for her. She’d be fine. The more I’d tell myself, the more it’d be true.

“No….” My gut-wrenched voice came out which attracted Sarah’s attention from the front seat she was sitting in beside Theo, who was driving. Theo looked at me concernedly through the front mirror as Sarah turned and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Lily, you didn’t have to come along. You could’ve stayed with your mom…” She held my shoulder tighter and I raised my head up.

“No…no, I’m fine. I need to get Aunt Belinda back. She’s like my second mom, so…don’t worry, mom will be fine.” I said trying to actually pacify myself.

“What did the doctor say?” Sarah asked but Theo nudged her.

“Lily, I think it’s better you sit this one out. I’ll turn the car around…” Theo said and started turning the steering wheel the other way.

But I quickly motioned to him, “No, Theo! I need to see Audrey…she has Aunt. I need to face her.”

“But you’re hurting…” he said with a soft voice and looked back at the road.

“I’m fine. Both of you shouldn’t worry about me. Let’s get to her place first and focus on finding her.” I tried to hide my emotions.

Sarah could see through me but she nodded and held my hand tighter. She whispered to me, “I understand how you’re feeling, Lily. We’re here for you. I’m here for you, okay?”

I nodded and smiled shortly at her to which she reciprocated then faced forward.

I reluctantly pulled myself together.

I took a deep breath and settled into the backseat of the car, trying to gather my thoughts. My heart felt heavy. I couldn’t stop worrying about my mother’s health, but I couldn’t let it distract me. Right now, I needed to focus on a more pressing challenge – confronting Audrey and rescuing Aunt Belinda.

As the car engine revved, I took a deep breath and concentrated on the road ahead. I couldn’t let fear take over or cloud my thinking. Audrey was sly and manipulative, so I had to really trust in my own strength and cleverness whilst confronting her.

I wonder how she’s been able to survive outside the pack for so long. I wonder why she kidnapped Aunt Belinda. What kind of sick and twisted game is she playing?

I tightened my fists. This was my opportunity to show what I was capable of, to protect my loved ones, and to stop Audrey’s cruelty. I was done letting her threaten our lives.

As we sped towards our destination, the passing scenery outside the window became a blur. I replayed thoughts of facing Audrey in my mind. It had been months since I last saw her and I didn’t know if she had become stronger or more resentful and evil. I needed to know her weaknesses, an opportunity I could use to outsmart her and finally defeat her.

I knew Audrey was dangerous and unpredictable, but I refused to let that intimidate me. I couldn’t let her continue in her rampage or succeed in any plan she was conspiring in her lonely cave. If I were to face her, I had to stay ahead of her, using my intelligence to outmaneuver her at every strike.

For some reason, I thought about Tyler. I hadn’t seen him since I returned to the grove. I’m very sure he heard the news that I was back but didn’t even show up or try to see me. What was I even talking about? Why did it even matter? He was just trying his best to avoid me and to stay away, which was best for both of us. Now, his ex was on a rampage, I wandered what he’d say about the situation.

And I hadn’t been informed about his father’s death.

•••••••••••••

As we arrived at Aunt Belinda’s cottage, an unsettling feeling made my stomach turn. The house, usually filled with warmth and the comforting scent of freshly baked cookies, now stood eerily quiet. Something was wrong.

Sarah, Theo, and I exchanged worried glances as we began calling out and looking for Aunt Belinda. We searched through every room, calling out for Aunt Belinda, but there was no response. I started panicking, my heart pounding with each passing second.

Then, Sarah’s loud voice pierced through the silence, “Guys, come quick! I found something!”

We rushed to the kitchen, where Sarah was pointing at a note that had been stabbed into the wall with a knife. The sight sent a chill down my spine. It was a ransom note from the looks of it.

Theo removed the knife from the wall and held the note in his other hand.

“What is it?” Sarah asked.

He began reading it, “If you want the old hag back, meet me at the Meldam Road, 2pm.”

“Oh no. They’ve kidnapped her.” Sarah winced.

Anger and fear welled up within me. How could Audrey dare to abduct Aunt Belinda? She would soon regret crossing our family.

Theo voiced his concerns, “This might be a trap. Meldam Road is abandoned and in the outskirts. The road’s been abandoned for years and people who pass say skeletons and remains litter the road.”

Sarah clutched onto Theo after what he said, “S…sk…skeletons?”

But in that moment, my only thought was rescuing Aunt Belinda, no matter the risk.

“Trap or not, we have to rescue Aunt Belinda.” I said with a straight face.

“But Lily…we can search around the area first. Maybe she was tied and kept somewhere then they placed this note here to lure us and kill us.” Sarah’s voice shook as she spoke.

“I have a feeling this isn’t a trap or someone trying to lure us. It was Audrey I saw in that vision and she was the one who had Aunt Belinda, okay? We need to go save her.”

Theo chipped in, “Let me just send a beep signal to my colleagues back at the grove, so if we may need any reinforcement-”

“We won’t.” I cut him off.

He looked at me apprehensibly then nodded and pocketed back his phone.

“We can’t waste any time. Aunt Belinda needs us,” I said, my voice quivering. “We have to go to that Meldam Road and bring her back.”

Sarah nodded, “We’ll find her, Lily. We won’t let anything happen to aunt.”

Theo hesitated for a moment, his brows furrowed, “Are you really sure about this? It could be dangerous.” He turned to Sarah, “Sarah, there’s no need for you to follow us.”

“Why? Because I can’t defend myself?” Sarah faced him and eyed him.

“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

I took a deep breath, understanding Theo’s concern, but my mind was set. “We can’t let fear stop us, Theo. Aunt Belinda would do the same for us. We’re going to that place and we’re bringing her home.”

We nodded at each other, quickly rushing to the car. I could feel my heart racing as we sped toward the Meldam Road. The world outside the car became a blur as thoughts raced through my mind. The idea of Aunt Belinda being in danger was unbearable. First mom, now her?

As we got closer to the location, fear and excitement settled within us. We got out of the car, carefully scanning the area for any signs of Aunt Belinda or the people who took her.

The air was foggy even though it was afternoon and with one step, I realized we were standing in a whole mush pit of dead people remains.

“Fuck!!” Sarah’s scream broke through the air and Theo and I looked at her.

Her leg got caught in a skull somehow. Theo and I reached out to her, carefully stepping through the bones and successfully pulled her out.

She breathed out in relief and threw up beside me. “Holy fuck… this place is so disgusting. Can we find Aunt and get going?”

I wanted to tell her these things she was calling disgusting were once people but I thought against it.

“Let’s check everywhere we can.” I said.

“I thought they’re meant to be already out by now since they directed us here. The kidnappers…” she said after she raised her head up.

“Thank God you’re still averagely smart, my dear.”

That voice. I was too familiar with it’s sinister lustre but it sounded like it had more depth, more contempt and a sicker grin to it.

We all turned back and saw her. Audrey.