35. Defeated

I woke up at the Black Moon Pack's palace. No one was there. No guards or pack members. Suddenly, screams filled the air—familiar voices asking for help. I run as fast as I can when I hear someone calling my name.

All I could see was blood covering the ground. My family and friends were in silver cages. They were all beaten up, on the brink of death, while Mateo was laughing at them.

"Oh, Mate, you are here!" He said when he noticed me.

"Mateo!" I yell.

"Look, Mate! See what I've done for you! See how they are paying for everything they have done to you." He said proudly, coming towards me.

I took a step back, not knowing how to react. Was he doing this for me? To make them pay? But why? He rejected me.

"Amaya, love? Are you ok?" He asks worriedly.

"Love?! Love?! You rejected me, you bastard!" I shout, feeling my blood boiling!

"You should be there, suffering next to them! You all deserve this!"

"Amaya, love, what do you mean I rejected you? I would never do this! I am your Mate! You can feel the bond, Amaya! You wear my mark. You can feel my emotions. Do this, and you will see I am not lying. Let the bond show you."

Instinctively I put my hand on my neck. My head starts spinning when I feel the mark there. He was telling the truth.

'But how? When did this happen?' I was confused, not understanding what was going on.

'What do you mean when?' Ivy's voice came into my mind.

'Ivy?! But…'

'What Amaya? I know it is hard for you. After being in a coma for so long, everything must be confusing.'

"Coma? What are you talking about? What is going on? Stop this! All of you! Stop it! Please!"

I yell, making everyone look at me.

"You were in a coma, love! After you fought that Aaro and shifted for the first time, you came here. I found you in the woods, alone. Then they come for you! To get rid of you for once! They tried to hurt you even more than they did before."

Mateo said, pointing at my friends and family.

None of them said anything. They all held something evil in their eyes. The same thing I saw when they were hurting me earlier. Hate.

'Was that real? A memory? They did that to me? But why? And what about you, Ivy?'

'They did, indeed! But I will never hurt you! Never, Amaya! You need to trust me!'

"Shut up! Shut it!" I shout, holding my head. I felt like I was going insane.

"You! You did this! This is all your fault!" I yell at Mateo.

His eyes widened in what seemed to be confusion, and he took a step towards me.

"No! Do not come any closer! I do not trust any of you! What all you tell me are lies!"

I started running, heading to the forest but someone cut my way.

"Not so fast, dear! We aren't done here!" The woman said, smirking.

"Great! You were the last missing piece. Get out of my way, Cora!"

She starts laughing while holding her tummy but stops suddenly.

"Amaya, are you always so stupid? Do you think that I will let you go just because you want to? No, dear! You will stay here and do what I say."

I look at her for a moment, thinking about what to do. I needed to get out of here.

'Ivy? Are you there?'

'I'm always here, Amaya!'

'I need you. I need to shift so we can leave this place.'

Without saying anything, I feel my body start to change, and my strength grow.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Where do you think you are going, little Amaya?" Cora asks, suddenly appearing in front of me and pricking my skin.

This seems like a deja vu, making me more confused about the reality.

I feel Ivy fading away and my knees giving up.

"Mate! What did you do to her, Cora?" Asks Mateo, running towards me. His strong arms prevented me from falling to the ground, making my skin feel like it was on fire. I look at him and notice his eyes are already fixed on me. The warmth and love I saw in them were unbelievable.

"You are so weak and pathetic, brother! All of this for a woman! Our father will be so disappointed in you."

"What do you want, Cora?" I asked weakly and annoyedly, wanting all of this to be over. I was tired of lies and suffering.

"Well, I have a problem here. So could you help me decide? Oh, no! Even better! I want you to decide."

From the way she said it, I understood that I would not like what she will ask me to do next. The evil smirk on her face made me sick.

"And what is that, Cora? Is it about the way I want you to disappear from my life? If so, then it is simple. So, ask."

She starts laughing sarcastically, leaning towards me to grab my chin.

"Leave her alone, Cora! She is my Mate! I will not allow you to do this to her, to humiliate her or hurt her in any way!"

Surprised by Mateo's words, I looked at him to see if he was bluffing. But his furrowed brows and clenched fists were saying enough. He was ready to fight his sister, his blood, for me.

'Could this be true? Is he truly loving me, and the others were here only to hurt me and get rid of me? Were my family and friends the bad guys in this story? The ones that want to bring me on my knees?'

"Mateo… let her speak," I said, placing my hand on his clenched fist. He relaxes noticeably at my touch while looking at me with adoration.

"Great choice, Amaya! But the important one is yet to come."

"God damn it, Cora! Just tell me already!"

"So impatient! I'm curious if you will be the same to make the actual choice. When you will have to choose between your mean family or you."

"What do you mean, choose?"

"I mean, would you let them die for you to live, or you will die in their place?"

I didn't know how I felt. Numb. Numb to everything that was happening. They wanted me on my knees, and they now have me.

I knew that even if I hate them, I can not let them die. I'm just one wrecked soul.

I looked at Cora, who was waiting impatiently for my response. Getting up slowly, I started walking towards her with as much confidence as I could gather.

"I… I chose to die, then!"