The Tripartite Mate Bond Chapter 116: CHAPTER HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN

I didn't realize how much my past had held me in a tight hold until that moment where I'd learnt where everything went wrong.

I could have had a great life with a kind witch who lost her life for me and spent the last vestiges of her powers to make sure I lived.

As Ares led me back to the penthouse, I tried so hard to rein in my emotions to avoid falling apart right in front of the entire pack.

I was already weak and useless, there was no need to show them how damaged I was. Right from my own parents, I'd been accosted with disaster in all forms and anyone who tried to help me ended up with problems.

I looked at Ares who held me and gave me those kind eyes and the fear of losing him to my terrible fate overwhelmed me.

“I love you,” I whispered to him, scared to lose him without him knowing how I felt.

My words made him stop our journey and he cupped my cheeks.

“Mama, you are so strong and powerful. You are going to get through all of these feelings and we'll be here with you through it, okay? And I love you so much, don't ever forget that,” he told me and sealed his amazing words with a kiss.

He led me upstairs and tried to put me to sleep but that was difficult.

I had to feign sleep so he could go back to what he needed to do.

I dreaded the amount of Luna duties that would have piled up in my absence. I doubt Cora would have been able to handle everything.

I waited until he left before I got up.

My emotions were raw and I didn't know what to do with all these new feelings. I'd thought talking to my foster father would put all my demons to sleep but it only birthed new ones.

I began to imagine so many alternative scenarios and how my better life would have turned out.

The problem with all of them was that my mates weren't in any of them. I wouldn't have studied business administration and wouldn't have gone to look for a job in the place where I'd walked in on her Jayden mid-shift.

I didn't want any of those realities because I wouldn't have my mates in them. It felt weird to be so attached to these three men in such a way that the thought of not being with them hurt.

I decided to bury my frantic thoughts in work so I got up from the bed about twenty minutes after Ares had kissed my cheeks and left, thinking I was asleep

I went to my office and just as I'd expected, there was a mountain of paperwork waiting for me.

Bills were unpaid, Jayden had shifted all the paperwork to my table and I began working, happy for the distraction.

It was near evening when a knock came on my door.

“Yes?”

It opened and Elena walked in.

I couldn't find all the anger I had against her, Axel’s words quelling the angst.

“What's up?” I asked her casually and I guess she'd been expecting me to respond with anger, guns blazing but I had bigger issues to deal with.

“I wanted to let you know that Lyra is disturbed by your distance. Scarlet sent me to get you,” she informed me and I nodded.

I'd expected her to leave after delivering her message but she stood, her eyes showing she still had something to say so I dropped the pen and gave her my full attention.

“Look, I know you must hate me but I really wasn't thinking straight. It's been ages since Zeus died and I wanted a fresh start. I'm sorry for trying to take one of yours. Scarlet reminded me of how it used to feel when I still had him and I've been feeling so terrible for trying to take that away from you even though I deceived myself with the thought of you having two others,”

Her words made me sit up, lacking an appropriate response. She took that as a prompt to continue her explanation or apology, I couldn't decide which it was.

“I was hoping for someone kind and playful as Zeus to fill the hole he left in me and your Axel had those traits. I just didn't think properly before trying to take him. He didn't budge, by the way. The wolf knows what he has and isn't going to fuck it up for any reason,”

“Um, I've had the conversation with him and he explained what happened so I'm also happy you are not trying to be an issue between us. We share a dragon and it wouldn't be nice for us to hate each other. There's a lot of space for you in this pack, I would be happy if you focused on making yourself indispensable in the way witches are and who knows, the goddess might decide to give you a second mate. I've read about those, the terms and conditions are pretty straightforward,”

“Really? What do I need to do?” She asked eagerly.

The girl was desperate.

“I didn't read that chapter deeply, I'll find it for you but I remember it saying you need to let go of the past to create space for the future. So many riddles, ugh,” I complained, the thought of reading that book again gave me a headache.

“Thank you for not making a big deal out of this. I was expecting a huge fight and all,” she said and the thought of fighting after the day I'd just had made me shake my head.

“So far you understand that I'm not sharing what's mine, any of them, we're good. I might not be a werewolf but that possessive spirit is right where it's supposed to be”

“I'm really sorry for everything I've done against it. Scarlet made me see things differently,” she apologized, her face showing genuine guilt.

“I forgive you. But I need you to work with Kane on something. Can I count on your loyalty? This is a private matter,” I said, looking at her intently.

“Yes, Aurora. We might never become besties or anything because of how I've acted since we met but you can always count on me to help this pack. Scarlet won't have it any other way. She's actually jealous of the relationship you have with your dragon,” she said with a smile.

“You guys aren't close?”

“She's quite hostile to me because I wasn't supposed to be her rider. Apparently he died at birth and I was the replacement,”

“Yea, that's why my parents threw me out into the world for strangers to do with as they saw fit,” I reminisced sadly.

“I don't understand. What could you have done?” She asked in concern.

“They believe I killed my twin brother in the womb and that I'm not meeting up to their expectations. They sent me out there to suffer and get stronger but they're not seeing it. Seems the only people who love me are my mates,”

“They're blind not to see your strength, Aurora. You literally killed an army of rogues and kept this pack alive for another day when others were getting wiped out,”

“That's the thing, Elena, that power is gone. I'm no longer the Aurora that can defend or save anyone. I'm powerless,” I whispered in despair.

She sat down on the seat in front of my table and drew closer.

“First of all, I don't believe your powers are gone. Secondly, it's your heart that is your power. Most Luna’s would hide with the rest of the pack members who are too weak to fight and wait to be rescued by their knights in shining armor but you, having no knowledge of battle, ran into it with blind hope and you succeeded. Don't sell yourself short, it's your parents that are powerless as they have failed to gain your love,” she said and I saw a different side to the woman I'd thought I'd grow to hate all my life even though we were tied together by circumstances.

I grabbed her hand with the intention to thank her for her kindness but something else happened.

It seemed that in the absence of my fire, the other powers were having a field day because I suddenly felt that sensation that signified that the door to another portal had been opened

She gasped and her eyes teared up at the sight of the man I could only assume was her dead mate.

“Zeus? Is that really you? Am I dreaming?” She said in tears.

“It's me my love, I can't believe I'm finally able to talk to you again. I've been trying to do that for awhile,” the tall, dark man with blonde hair said to her and I had to check out of the emotional conversation as they began talking to each other.

I decided to let them talk for as long as possible but I was getting weaker with every minute.

“Aurora!” I heard Ares's voice in my mind but I was too weak to respond.

In fact, I was unable to put up any barriers so I was hearing the entire pack's conversation.

Thankfully, Elena noticed my waning state and closed the door between her and her mate forever.

But by then I was too tired and I simply blacked out.