𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬

Chapter 12

I slowly opened my eyes and yawned whilst stretching my arms and legs. I didn't even have to look, I knew the spaces beside me were both empty and I already understood what that meant. I contemplated staying on this bed and never leaving again but then I'd be surrounded by my thoughts and nobody wants to be surrounded by their especially negative and twisted thoughts. Usually, I'd panic, I'd get angry and I'd scream but now I just.. stared off into space. Was I getting used to it? To being left behind? To being abandoned? If so, then how pitiful of me.

I stood up and quietly made the bed, making sure it looked neater than when I first saw it. After that was done, I closed my eyes and snapped my fingers, casting a spell that would instantly groom me. My messy hair was neatly braided, my clothes were changed, my face had no dirt nor dust, and I looked presentable. If only I could fix my relationship with my mates as easily as this.

I began to walk towards the exit of the mountain, growing eerily aware of the silence that enveloped me. It seemed weird that just last night, this mountain, albeit of arguments, was full of life. But now, it was peaceful.. too peaceful for my liking. I continued to walk down the stairs of the mountain, and as my eyes roamed the ground before me, I managed to get a glimpse of that familiar wavy light blonde hair and that same divine aura creeped through my skin. I looked around, foolishly hoping to see a hint of jet black hair but I couldn't see anything.

I chuckled to myself, "How pathetic of you, Willow." I whispered, shaking my head as I reached the ground.

I approached the light haired woman who seemed to be mindlessly staring at the sky. Once I was near enough, I caught a hint of a dried tear on her face, just one, but it was enough to break my heart. Gaia looked at me and opened her mouth to say something but I only shook my head.

"She's gone, isn't she?"

Gaia looked away, "I caught her. We.. we fought and I trapped her but Willow.. darling, she was crying, our Mallory was crying and I just couldn't. I couldn't and I let her go."

"Do you.. do you hate me? For letting her go?"

I stepped forward to try to comfort her but my feet wouldn't take me closer to her. Thus, I could only force a smile and reassured her, "No, I don't hate you, Gaia. You did what Mallory wanted you to, and I'm sure she's grateful you let her go."

Even though I harbored no hatred towards Gaia and Mallory, I was still steaming furious in the inside. But the anger wasn't enough to make me hate them. No, whether it was the mate bond or just me being weak, I didn't hate them. I only felt an immense anger towards them. Maybe that was what prevented me from comforting Gaia.

Gaia slowly approached me and before I knew it, she kneeled and began begging for forgiveness. "I'm so sorry, my little one.. I'm so sorry." She kept apologizing over and over again.

As I looked down at her, I didn't see a demigoddess bowing before me, I saw my mate desperately begging for my forgiveness. I sighed and kneeled down, gently holding her hands. She didn't look at me and only continued to apologize as if she was a broken record, or in this case, a broken mate.

I reached out and caressed her cheek, making her stop. I then made her look at me before whispering, "It's okay, it's not your fault."

"No, Willow, I did this, everything! I broke your heart, I gave you trauma, and now I fought with Mallory and I let her go, just like that! I.. I've failed you both." Gaia's silver eyes were almost the shade of gray and it frightened me. Even during the war, I have never seen Gaia's eyes darken this much.. and it emphasized just how much we meant to her.

I didn't say anything, instead I softly planted a kiss on her forehead, lingering there before slowly pulling away. "Why don't we go back to your mountain and-"