Chapter 36

Soren

“My fated mate?” I repeat Healer Anderson’s words, baffled by what he has just said to me. Healer Anderson simply nods as a response, his hands fidgeting on his lap.

I stand from the chair and immediately place distance between Healer Anderson and I. If I can get away from him, maybe he will reveal that what he said was not the truth? My mind spins, trying to navigate its way through the revelation.

“What do you mean I found my fated mate?” I ask aloud. I approach my mother’s bed, looking down at her. I am quick to turn away, though, and look back to Healer Anderson who stands from his chair.

“I don’t know what exactly happened since you told me vague details, but I know what a fated mate bond looks like. What you described to me was exactly that,” Healer Anderson’s voice is calm, cool, and collected compared to the confused and angered screaming that is going on inside my head.

I nod, accepting his words at a surface level. biting my lip, I can’t help but turn away from Healer Anderson once again, unable to look into his eyes.

Does he know that my internal dilemma is over Bianca? Has be observed us with a close eye when he and the other Healers showed up to try and cure my mother?

“I shall take my leave, my Alpha King,” Healer Anderson’s voice floats from behind me. I glance back at him and nod, releasing my lip from between my teeth.

“Yes, yes,” I nod, slowly turning around, “be sure to get home safe, Healer Anderson. I…I appreciate you for your help.”

The Healer gently bows to me, a small yet knowing smile spreading across his face as he turns to leave. My mind tingles, urging me to press him for more details, but I hold back. I watch as Healer Anderson leaves the lakeside villa.

Once the door clicks shut, I let out a huff of air, the weight of the world now falling onto my shoulders. I sit back down in my seat, shaking my throbbing head. A pulsating feeling pounds behind my eyes, making me want to crawl into bed and sleep away the current migraine.

If only Celia were here. She would be able to take away the pain and help me feel better.

No…wait…I can’t be near Celia. She couldn’t possibly be my fated mate. She holds no high rank and we are constantly at odds with one another. She confuses the hell out of me and yet I can’t help but feel drawn to her, to make myself at home in her arms and live a painless life.

No! I can’t! Bianca is the love of my life, not Celia! Bianca is my chosen mate, which should stump that of a fated mate. I chose Bianca and have gone against fate and destiny itself, is that not enough for life and my body to accept?

I move across the room, lost in thought, unconsciously moving throughout the room with ease. I push through the wooden doors and step out into the fresh, crisp night air. The sky is now dark with bright stars hanging in the sky, contrasting against the blacks and deep blues.

The boat that Healer Anderson is on causes the calm lake to ripple, small waves now crashing against the shore of the tiny island. I watch it before it disappears around the corner, leaving my sight. Slowly sucking in a deep breath, I close my eyes and sigh.

“Oh, Celia, what are you doing to me?”

Bianca

Bianca bows her head and smiles at Healer Anderson as she exits the boat. He nods his head back, not saying a word to her as she crosses the tan sand, approaching the lakeside villa. She wears a smile on her face, holding a basket of freshly made food; it is dinner she is bringing to Soren.

She slowly creeps up the stairs, noticing the Alpha King standing on the patio, and contains a giggle. Just as she is about to approach him, Soren huffs and rolls his head back.

“Oh Celia, what are you doing to me?”

His words cause Bianca to freeze. She stands to the side of him, her hands trembling from a newfound anger that boils inside her chest. Her smile falls and is replaced with a scowl.

“Celia? Is that who you think of when you are alone?” Bianca’s voice is sharp, deadly. Soren immediately turns around, his eyes shooting open before returning to its normal size.

“Bianca? What are you doing here?” Soren inquires, stepping towards his chosen mate.

Bianca, on the other hand, takes a step back. She lets the basket of food slip from her fingers, falling to the ground with a loud thud. The food spills out from the top, its decadent scent filling the tense air.

“Why are you still thinking about her?” Bianca’s voice cracks from her irritation. “Why does it have to be her?!”

“Bianca, I—”

“Just stop! I can’t believe you let a replacement — my replacement — become more important than me! I thought you loved me, Soren!” she raises her voice, the sound echoing across the restless lake.

“I do love you!” Soren is quick to retort. “She’s just causing problems in my life, that’s all. It has nothing to do with you.”

“Doesn’t it, though?” Bianca glares, “we are going to be married soon, Soren, our lives are about to come together!”

“I,” Soren steps forward, placing his hands on Bianca’s waist, looking down at her, “am going to make for sure that there are no more problems so we can start our life together on the right foot, Bianca. All I need you to do is trust me, okay?”

Bianca hesitates to respond, running over the possibilities in her mind. After a few seconds, she nods, feeling Soren press a kiss to her forehead.

“Good,” Soren sighs, “I’m sorry about the dinner you brought. I can—”

“I’m going home, Soren,” Bianca interrupts, “I’m tired and need some time to myself, okay?”

Without letting him respond back, Bianca leaves his embrace and heads back towards the boat where soldiers are prepared to take her back. She gets on and doesn’t look back at Soren, who enters the villa out of frustration.

Bianca’s pride is shattered. Celia has destroyed every single bit of confidence that she has left. That low ranked, wolf-less woman has taken her apprenticeship with Healer Anderson, she has begun to get the praises from their colleagues in the hospital, and Celia has begun to take away her Soren from her.

Bianca glares at her phone, stepping off the boat as soon as it is tied to the dock. She grabs her phone, quickly dialing a number of a Lycan spy she knows of inside Soren’s Werewolf pack. He answers the phone immediately.

“Yes, Bianca?”

“I need you to attack someone for me,” Bianca huffs into the phone, nostrils flared as she gets back inside her car, slamming the door behind her. “Her name is Celia. She is going to be at my engagement banquet and I need you to make for sure she gets the message that she is not welcome in the Werewolf pack.”

“Yes ma’am,” his tone is affirmative, “consider it done.”

Bianca hangs up the phone and grips the steering wheel, her knuckles white as a sadistic laugh leaves her lips, her mind finally breaking because of Celia.