Sebastian
"Yeah, I'll be there within fifteen minutes," I said into the phone as I pushed the files aside and fetched my car key, "Have you taken good care of my mate?"
"I can't believe you'd doubt me like this," I heard Cora's voice shriek, "What's wrong with you?"
"Am I wrong for believing in your clumsiness?" I chuckled, "I don't think so. Anyways, tell me, have you given her the medicine?"
"Not yet. We were very busy shopping," She said, "It's in the car. I'll give it to her once we are there. Don't worry."
"Okay. I am hanging up then. I will meet you two there."
I walked out of my room, heading downstairs. God, it hadn't even been that long since she went out, and I already felt like I had been stuck here for a decade.
As I headed for my car, deep down craving to pull her into my arms, a sudden voice called me from behind—a very familiar one, yet one I had never thought I'd hear again.
"Sebastian..."
My gaze shot back, and unexpectedly, I saw the last person I had expected to see in this lifetime.
"Vincent..." My eyes widened in astonishment as he stood before me, almost unrecognizable. His face bore the marks of a profound transformation—hair cropped short, pale skin, dark circles beneath his eyes, and intricate stitches tracing a mysterious tale. I struggled to reconcile this new image of his.
In his eyes, I found no trace of the hatred, rage, or contempt that had once haunted them. Instead, I saw a familiar gloom, reminiscent of the day he chose to end his life by leaping from the building.
How did he survive?
"Is it really you, Vincent?" I frantically walked closer, still having a hard time believing my eyes.
"Yes, it's me," He let out a slight chuckle, "I don't look that nice anymore, do I?"
"Thank god, you are alive," I didn't hesitate before hugging him, "How did you survive? I thought, you were...."
As I left the word hanging in the air, he effortlessly caught the meaning, "A few monks found me, and they treated me all these days. It was tough to survive, especially when I had no will to live. Nearly all the bones in my body were crushed into pieces. I felt my blood turning cold every day, every hour, and every minute, and the seconds in it. Sometimes my skin would itch, the exposed flesh would burn under the herbs, but I don't know why, something about the fight made the will to live seep back into my mind. I wanted to fight and live. To avenge and protect. My survival was actually impossible, but again, it was a miracle that I came back after facing death.”
The weight of his death had burdened me for days on end. I couldn't help but think that if either of us had managed to quell our rage, countless lives wouldn't have been marred. If only I had been the one to alter the outcome.
"Wait... monks?" I asked, my features contorting with bewilderment. "But I had sent my beta to check on you and hospitalise you. What is it that I don't know?"
"Aaron never reached me, Sebastian, because he knew if I were to stay alive, the truth would come to the surface. He is the one involved with Celine and me when all we wanted to do was destroy you and your family. He helped us through it. Your beta is not the most loyal person out there, and that's why I am here," he spoke, "I am here to warn you about it. Do not trust him with you and your mate. That night when Athena left you, his task was to lead her to us. However, he didn't do it. Instead, he flipped and decided to take her away, and that's how I ended up bringing his former pack members to stop him. He had his eyes on your mate from the start, and I am telling you, it's not a good thing. He is a messed up being from the inside. I know you've known him for a long time, but I still feel like I should tell you that when it comes to achieving something he wants, he will cross all limits. He might even end up hurting your mate."
Though what Vincent said was more like a harsh truth, I had somewhat suspected all of it long before today. But, perhaps, I got the confirmation I needed—the reason that would no longer stop me from killing him.
"I have kind of figured that out, Vincent. Don't worry. I am already being careful about him. The only reason I haven't killed him yet is that my mate really cares for him.A lot happened after that night, and he somewhat took care of her when she was away and coping with her distress and the loss of our precious child..." The memory itself shook me to my core.
"She lost the child?" He looked shocked.
"Not really..." I shook my head, "But we almost lost our baby boy. Her pregnancy is kinda complicated now after the false miscarriage she faced that night once everything was over. Our baby faced drastic growth restriction and almost stopped developing for six months. Later, Athena ended up realising that she never lost our baby."
"How's she doing now?"
"I don't know what to say actually. It's not good, and the signs are even worse— The restriction caused our baby's primal instincts to surge high, and now it's a risk for her to even deliver our baby. She can end up..." My throat dried up, "Forget it. I am just hoping for the best. I will not let anything happen to her."
"Sebastian... who is treating her?" He suddenly asked, his voice wary all of a sudden.
"Sorry?"
"Tell me. Who is the doctor that's handling her case?"
"It's Tristan Perez, why are you asking that?"
"Tristan Perez?He's the one who's treating Athena?!" I saw his eyes widening in dismay.
"What's wrong, Vincent?" I asked, my voice dropping incredibly low, deep knowing presuming the reason behind his reaction.
"This is the only reason I came here today, Sebastian. Because I thought that Tristan might end up hurting Athena to avenge Celine's death," He rushed out, "If I had any idea that something like this could happen, and he would end up being the one treating Athena, I would have come sooner. God! It's not a good thing. He would never want Athena to get through this alive."
My throat dried up, my blood went cold; for the longest second, I did not know what I was supposed to say or do because the realization that I had unknowingly, or at some points, knowingly, despite having warning signs, pushed my mate into the mouth of danger.
"So that means he is Celine's mate?"
"Yes, he is. She left him to stay with you for revenge, and Tristan never got over her. He will avenge her death at any cost because, of course, only I know the truth, and he certainly doesn't. He perhaps still thinks that you are the one who killed Celine and holds Athena equally responsible for that. You have to do something. Quit all the medicines she has been taking— I know, Tristan— He would play smart."
"Shit, Shit, Shit!" I ran my fingers through my hair, "We need to get to her. She will end up taking the meds otherwise!"
"Where is she?"
"At the mall. I need to call Cora and tell her not to give her that medicine," I hurriedly called Cora, and fortunately, she picked up.
"Hello, Sebastian, it's—"
"Cora, listen to me. I don't have much time, but don't give her the medicine. Do not give Athena the medicine, okay?”
"Sebastian, you don't understand. Athena..." Her sob broke through, "Athena's not here. Aaron has taken her away."
"What?!" The whole world around me collapsed, as if a tsunami had taken all of it within its perilous grasp.
"Yes. I tried to save her, but I couldn't," She cried, her breathing heavy and coming out as pants. Something didn't feel right; her voice was strained, as if she was barely conscious. "He took her away."
"Cora, where are you right now? Did he hurt you?"
"He stabbed me in the shoulder... and I can't stop the bleeding," She gasped for air, "I don't know what I am supposed to do. I couldn't even follow him... I failed to save her, Sebastian. I am so sorry."
"Cora, calm down. I will not let anything happen to Athena, but you need to tell me where you are right now, okay?"
"I am at the parking lot of the mall."
"Okay, hang in there. Don't worry, I will save her."
I cut the call and looked at Vincent.
"It's Aaron, right?"
"Yes, he took her away," Despite my attempt to stay calm, I knew I was failing, and I was falling really bad— Athena was in the most vulnerable phase, and if she felt unsafe, everything could go out of my hand.
"I need your help, Vincent.”
"Just tell me the location. I will take her to the hospital. You go and search for Athena.”