My gaze slowly meets Warrick's, and I can see the conflict raging within him. He's angry and hurt by my rejection, and he storms out of the stable, unable to bear the pain any longer.
'His heart is hurting just like yours,' Windall remarks, his young voice carrying empathy.
I flinch at the realization that I may be causing Warrick the same anguish that burdens me. 'I don't want to hurt him,' I whisper, my voice filled with remorse.
'I know,' Windall responds softly, his voice reassuring.
Turning my attention to Poppy, I implore, 'Could I have a moment alone with your brother, please?'
Windall nods at her, signalling her to leave. 'Okay,' she smiles, understanding, and exits the stable.
Lowering my hood, I reveal my ears, causing Windall's eyes to widen in astonishment. 'You're a werewolf!' he exclaims, his surprise evident.
'I am, but you mustn't tell anyone, okay?' I urge him, emphasising the importance of secrecy.
'You're my friend, and friends look out for each other. I won't breathe a word to anyone,' he assures me, placing a hand over his heart and tilting his chin with determination.
'Thank you, Windall,' I reply with gratitude.
Imogen, Janie, Orelious, Xander, and Mister Kal enter the stable to ensure Windall is okay.
'I'm relieved to see that Windall is still safe,' Xander remarks, a hint of worry in his voice.
'I'll come back to see you later,' I inform Windall, offering him a reassuring smile before exiting the stable with the others.
'Where has the beast gone?' Orelious inquires, curious.
'Warrick left a moment ago. He didn't take my words very well,' I respond sadly.
'He won't stray far,' Orelious assures me. 'The mate bond will keep him close,' he adds, his words carrying a weight of inevitability.
I nod, absorbing the weight of the situation. 'And what will happen when I pass through the portal to return home while Warrick remains here?' I question Orelious, my voice trembling with apprehension.
'It may sever the bond, and he'll wither away, succumbing to a broken heart, or he may revert to his ferocious rogue self and be subject to magical binding again, or even death,' Orelious confesses, his tone casual as if the potential outcome is common sense.
I step back, my eyes darting anxiously between Orelious and Xander. 'I can't let that happen to him. There must be another way,' I plead, desperation seeping into my words.
Xander steps closer, his expression serious. 'Rose, you need to remember that Warrick is a monster, and his place is in the Witching Woods, magically bound as punishment,' he asserts.
'You keep telling me he's a monster and that he committed terrible crimes. But deep down, something within me whispers that perhaps I've been mistaken, fighting against this bond. Maybe he isn't the monster you've portrayed him to be,' I argue, a flicker of doubt tugging at my heart.
Xander shakes his head with frustration. 'I warned you, Rose. I cautioned you that the mate bond would cloud your judgment, making you see goodness where it doesn't exist. I warned you about Brad too, but you didn't listen then either, and look where that led you,' he admonishes me, his words cutting through the air.
'Xander!' Janie scolds him.
'It's the truth, Janie. It might hurt her, but perhaps facing the truth will bring Rose back to her senses. I'm only looking out for her because she's your best friend,' Xander says, defending himself.
Hurt, I take a few steps back, placing a hand on my stomach, seeking comfort. His words sting, hitting a sensitive nerve, and I hold back a flood of tears threatening to escape.
'Rose,' Janie's voice reaches me as she moves closer, her intent to console evident. But I shake my head, unable to contain the emotional onslaught any longer.
I turn and run, tears streaming down my face, my feet carrying me across fields adorned with strange, magical fruits and vegetables. I run until I can no longer bear the weight of my emotions, purposely seeking solitude among the tall stalks where I collapse, hidden from everyone's sight. Curling up on my side, I hug myself tightly and cry.
The air grows heavy with the intertwining scents of sandalwood, patchouli, and musk, heralding Warrick's approach. As he draws nearer, a magnetic pull tugs at my heart, and without uttering a single word, he extends his arm beneath my head, nestling himself beside me. His embrace is a fortress of comfort and warmth, a sanctuary for my tears.
Amidst my sobs, I manage to gasp out a trembling question, 'Are you mad at me?'
'I want to be,' he confesses softly, his voice a tender caress. 'But I'm not. Why did you lie to me about Windall?'
I sit up, wiping away the tear-stained trails on my face. 'I wanted to put a rift between us, to stop you from wanting to be with me. I don’t want you to suffer, have a broken heart, or die, but Orelious told me that could happen when I return home through the portal. You know this too, don’t you?' I say to him, my voice quivering.
'Yes,' he acknowledges, his gaze drifting away, fixating on the ground.
With a deep breath, I muster the strength to confess my deepest fears. 'I have to go home, Warrick. Even you know the mystic council will punish me if they ever find out I’m here, and more so being your mate. Even if you were to return to my world with me, I’m not ready for a relationship. I don’t even know if I’ll ever be ready,’ I pour my soul. 'There must be a way for me to return home without affecting you?'
Warrick grasps my hands, his touch sparking a feathery sensation and igniting a cascade of light within me. 'Rose, there is a way. I've waited centuries for you, and I shall if I must wait for hundreds more. I will do anything for you. I will endure until the end of time itself if necessary. But I ask of you one thing in return,' he implores, his voice filled with unyielding determination. 'Once I've defeated the Mystic Council and halted Gretchen's nefarious plans, and if, against all odds, I survive, will you let me enter your world with you? Will you allow me to remain by your side? Even if we can never be together in the way I yearn, I will learn to love you silently, to bask in your presence, to guard you always. If that's all you can grant me, then it's all I shall ever need from you,' he professes with unwavering devotion.