MY CURSED MATE

I Mates I

Warning! This chapter is not edited, so expect typos, misspelled words, and grammatical errors. Thanks and enjoy reading!

KABANATA III

Third Person's POV

Everly gasped as her eyes flew open, her body drenched in cold sweat. Her breath came in ragged gasps, heart pounding violently against her ribs. The suffocating darkness of her nightmare still clung to her mind—the shadowed figure, its invisible hands tightening around her throat, the feeling of helplessness as she struggled against its unseen grip.

She sat up abruptly, her fingers instinctively reaching for her neck. But there was nothing there. No bruises, no marks. Only the lingering terror that left her hands trembling.

Nang sandaling kumalma siya ng kanunti ay doon niya napansin ang kanyang paligid. Hindi pamilyar sa kanya ang kabuuan ng kwartong iyon.

The large, ornate bedroom was nothing like her father's mansion. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings, and a grand chandelier hung overhead, its light dimmed to a golden glow. She turned to the window, where the last remnants of the sun painted the sky in hues of orange and purple which means she had been asleep the entire day.

Napuno ng kuryosidad ang kanyang sistema bago tuluyang tumayo upang maglakad patungo sa bintana.

The land stretched vast and untouched—an endless forest to the south and a magnificent garden below, filled with flowers she had never seen before, blooming vibrantly under the evening sky.

She clenched her fist on the edge of that window while trying to recall everything that had happened.

First to her thoughts is the truth about her identity. Second concern is the attack on the pack, and the third is the safety of her mother and sister. If everything that they told her was true, she might be the reason for that sudden attack on their mansion.

Mukhang natunton na siya ng mga ito.

This is still not her father's mansion, and even though there are no other creatures here, it is still dangerous for her to stay in an unfamiliar place, especially since she has no idea where this mansion is located or what their motivation for helping her might be. So she needs to get out of here as soon as possible.

Ibinaba ni Everly ang tingin sa kanyang katawan upang obserbahan iyon kung may sugat, ngunit kahit isa ay wala siyang napansin. Wala din siyang sakit na nararamdaman mula sa kanyang katawan bukod sa kanyang sikmura na siguradong dahil sa gutom.

Then, the memory of what happened to her and Crizelle the night before came rushing to her head.

Mabilis na kumabog ang kanyang dibdib dahil sa kaba para sa kalagayan nito. Kaagad niyang inikot ang tingin sa buong kwarto at ng makita niya ang pinto ay mabilis niya iyong tinungo, ngunit bago pa man niya mahawakan ang door knob ay pumihit na iyon pabukas.

An elderly woman entered, balancing a tray of food in her hands. "Kumain ka muna, ija," the woman said gently, placing the tray on the bedside table.

Her first reaction would be to decline it, but then her stomach growled and shame instantly filled her face. Everly swallowed, her throat dry. "W-Where am I?" she croaked, her voice hoarse. "Where's my sister?"

Isang maliit na ngiti lamang ang binigay nito sa kanya, ngunit hindi niya magawang mabasa ang ekspresyon sa mukha nito. "Eat first, and I will tell you what you need to know."

I'm also a stranger to her, doesn't she feel threatened by my presence? Everly muttered to herself while looking confusedly in the woman's face as she arranged the food on top of that bedside table.