The Cold She-wolf

Chapter Sixty-seven: three secrets

Merlynn's POV

   They say karma is a bitch but she's not the only bitch. There are quite a lot of bitches in this world and love is one of them.

   I certainly didn't plan to keep Krystal or any other woman because I knew the truth too well, a secret I'd kept to myself for years. There were three reasons I never wanted a mate. One is because of the family spells protecting us when we cheat. I knew myself too well and I was afraid of doing the same thing my father did to my mother. Even if she won't feel the pain, I was afraid I would end up hurting her… or even him. I didn't want to be the monster I grew up hating and it wasn't fair to my mate to be the only one imprisoned in the relationship.

   Two. My species and powers. No one in their right mind would consider loving a ticking time bomb. No one knew that secret but my abilities as a werewolf, vampire, and wizard weren't my only powers. There was something else that lived in me that I was afraid to meet. It was there when I woke up from a coma after an attack on my life when I was four. The thing didn't just feel like energy, it felt like a different soul and a different form, one filled with an unspeakable but definitely dark personality. I was afraid of that part of me. I'd only met that part once and even if I don't remember what I did when it took over, what I saw when I woke up was enough proof that the thing was dangerous. The fear of the unknown was worse than the fear of death.

   The third was something I was too ashamed to speak of, especially to Krystal who is my mate. She was cold-hearted, cruel, and indifferent to many things, but that didn't stop her from being human and having feelings close to one. The original plan was to reject her after I used her to convince the elders to declare the right of alpha crowning. It was rare in our pack but it was possible and long overdue since my father was an incompetent ruler. The only reason the elders hadn't done that before was that they didn't believe a mateless alpha could rule and not just any mate, one's true mate.

   Krystal should have been perfect. She didn't like me and didn't seem like one to enjoy close relationships so she would accept the rejection later. I, however, didn't plan for the second part that came up. If I'd known sooner that she was Frost's lost sister, I would have saved myself from complicating things. If Frost finds out the real reason I marked her, he would never let that happen. And if I should ever reject his sister and cause her any type of pain, he'd definitely challenge me. The outcome of that match wasn't something I was looking forward to.

Then the biggest issue came forth. I didn't expect to like her this much.

Krystal deserves more than a dirtbag that would never fully love her.

   "Are you seriously telling me you want to break up with me?" Krystal asked, her voice filled with anger. I didn't dare look at her face, not that I needed to look to know that she was getting furious. "And what makes you think I will allow it?"

   "Face it. There's nothing good about our relationship, to begin with—"

   "Yes, and I know it is all my fault so I've decided to give it my best. Do you know how hard it was for me to accept this? and now you want to throw my hard work away?" I forced myself to look at her face. She'd ripped off her mask and crushed it in her hand. Cold haze seeped out of her body. She was getting angrier and she was serious. If she doesn't accept the rejection, she'd never be free. The black enchantment on her eyes had faded and her true icy blue eyes glowed like torches, angry blue-flamed torches.

   "Krystal—" I started to say but she pressed her finger to my lips, painfully.

   "If you say one more word about rejection again, Merlynn Hubris, just know that I will consider it as a duel to the dead. The only way you're walking out of this relationship alive is if I'm dead. You get what I'm saying?" I gazed back into her determined eyes. She did not back down but held my gaze with a threat. She's not letting go. I also didn't expect her to grow attached as well, even if she'd been trying to break my heart. "Am I understood, Merlynn?" I cringed. Does she have to keep calling me that?