Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.

Leilani.

"I shouldn’t feel sad! I shouldn’t feel like this..." I said through my tears, but no matter how much I tried to convince myself, it was futile.

My heart ached tremendously, but it wasn’t because I was jealous— maybe I was a little bit. But that was not the entire issue here.

My main concern was the fact that now, it felt as though I was no different from my sister, Chalice. I felt like I was driving a wedge between Jarek and his true mate. And I of all people know how hurtful that was.

I knew how difficult it was to let go of the mate bond because I’ve lived it.

I’ve endured torments, not just physical ones but the psychological ones inflicted on me by a neglected mate bond. I’ve lived through seeing my mates fawn over my sister, treating her the way I should’ve been treated, and I’ve died countless times whenever I felt them making love to her.

I couldn’t do that to someone else.

I am not Chalice.

I don’t know how long I remained behind the wheel, crying as I drove, but by the time I finally came through, a gasp slipped out of my mouth when I realized where I was.

In my daze, I’d driven all the way to our old estate. To the place where my parents’ house was located.

And now, seeing the large building from a distance, I couldn’t help but think back to two years ago:

That day had been my birthday, our birthday; And I do not know if it was curiosity or mere longing, but I’d found myself travelling back into the country. I had worn a dark coloured wig, caked my face in layers of makeup and worn grey contact lenses to finish the look.

And then, like a fool I came here.

I wasn’t so surprised when I discovered that they were throwing a party for Chalice— I mean, they did that every year, but what surprised me was how no one saw me slip into the crowd. How no one noticed my presence when I went into the house.

The festive atmosphere had drawn me in and pulled me out, keeping me in a situation where I felt like a stranger and like one of them all at the same time.

But then, I noticed to my horror that none of my pictures remained in the living room, and the only one left in the art gallery had been decorated with a garland.

They’d ruled me off as dead.

They never for once tried to look for me and had held a funeral in my absence.

The pain I felt that day was raw. It was gut wrenching. I cannot remember how I managed to stumble out of there but I remember getting on the next available flight out of the country.

And now, looking up at the house I once called a home, I couldn’t help but relive that moment all over again.

My hands on my steering wheel turned chalk white as I glared up at the house, and my breath were harsh and hollow as they struggled to escape my lungs. My eyes burned too but I do not know if what I felt was pain or anger.

However, I was only snapped out of my reverie when I suddenly heard a knock on my window. I gasped, but upon looking up, I was shocked to come face to face with a face I’d long forgotten.

Agnes.

My very first best friend. But now, a stranger.

My breath caught.

I immediately wiped my face with the back of my hand as I stared at her reflection through the tinted window for a moment, whilst wondering why she looked so disheveled now.

Her hair was a mess and her clothes hung over her body like some loose sack. And I know I should be glad to see her. I should be happy to finally see a familiar face.

But I wasn’t.

Not when all I could remember was how four years ago, she and her minions under the triplets’ command had held me down like a thief, ready to parade me around the entire pack for being a traitor. I could also remember the look on her face that day, and knew that she would’ve done it if Jarek hadn’t arrived just then.

I sighed and glanced away, but she was relentless, she knocked again.

In annoyance, I winded down my side window and glared straight at her face.

The gasp that escaped her lips was loud. She hissed; "Leilani?"

I frowned. "Agnes."

"Oh my goddess, is it really you?!" She screeched, a small smile forming on her face as she looked up at me expectantly.

But I couldn’t bring myself to smile back. Goddess, I hated that I felt nothing for her besides a weird numbness.

She continued; "I saw your reflection from the windshield but I wasn’t so sure it was you so I came to look. You look so different!"

It was difficult to miss the excitement in her voice but I didn’t know what to say to her. So I simply nodded. "Thanks."

"You see, I’m sorry for the last time we saw each other. I’m sorry for all the times before then. I know I shouldn’t have just left you but... I’m so sorry. Your sister was targeting me for being friends with you and I couldn’t just allow myself to keep being bullied."

"Agnes, it’s okay."

"I don’t know if it is okay, Leilani." She drawled softly. "Sometimes I think back to all the things you went through and I cannot help but feel terrible. It’s all my fault. I should’ve been better to you."

"It’s not your fault." I said coldly, but ignoring the iciness in my tone, her face brightened up again. She screeched;

"What are you doing here? Do you want to go back to your parents?" She asked, and then glancing behind me to look at the back of my car, she sighed dreamily. "Your car looks so good!"

I smiled. "Thank you," but then shrugging off the compliment, I added; "I was in the neighbourhood and decided to stop by. I do not plan on going inside, so please do not tell anyone you saw me."

"Huh?"

"I don’t want them to know I was here. That’s all. Do you understand?"

Thankfully, she didn’t ask questions. She simply said; "Okay."

"Thank you."

She then tried to touch my hair like she would always do when we were still kids, but just one look at my face had her retrieving her hand quickly. She sighed; "I need to head back now before your mother notices that I’ve been gone for too long."

I cocked my eyebrow. "My mother?"

She ducked her head ashamedly and drawled softly. "Yes, your mother. I now work at your old house." She said softly, turning to leave.

However, she was just about to walk away when a sudden bright thought struck my mind. I called out; "Agnes?!"

"Huh?"

"How much are you paid here monthly?"

She frowned, her eyes narrowing at me. "Eighteen hundred dollars."

"I’ll double it," I said quickly, not missing the way her eyes widened in surprise. "But you must do something for me in return."

"Anything Leilani." She replied with a smile.