A Howling Heart
Chapter Fifty-Six

"Gyta, please, if I may ask of you to lift the curse, I'd be indebted to you."

"You see, Matias was living a fine life without me. A life without the complications of heartache and betrayal. I cannot be selfish and ask you to return me to him. I would not wish him the same pain he's had to endure. I wish for his peace and his transformation so that he may rule the pack of Acciai as I know he will. Greatly."

Gyta is quiet, contemplating what I've requested of her. Her eyes scan my face, and I begin to feel strange beneath those eyes.

What is she thinking?

This is all I wish of her.

She clicks her tongue - the most mundane thing she's done - and inhales a slow, steady breath.

"Fae... You have once again proved yourself selfless. You have proven yourself worthy."

"So you will honor my wish?"

Gyta offers me a soft expression that calms me immediately when I make eye contact. "No, child."

Huh?

"B-but you said I could ask one thing of you. Your mouth does not speak for your heart. Our hearts lead us through our destinies."

I frown, shaking my head while stepping forward angrily. "No... please, just do as I've asked."

"I cannot. I am bound by the laws of magic. I must do what your heart truly desires."

I gasp when I'm swarmed with images of him. All different kinds. Images of him holding me, kissing me, angry, sad... the life I've lived with him this past month takes over my mind until I've sunken to the floor on my knees in a pile of weeping tears.

Matias...

She said I was his light, but...

He is mine.

When I lift my head, Gyta is right in front of me.

"Come on now, child. It is time to wake up. We will meet again someday."

"We will?"

"Hundreds of years from now."

I gasp when she presses her fingers to my forehead, and light shoots from her fingertips. It fills my being until it consumes me blindingly.

The first image I see is my mom. Although, I'm not exactly sure. I could be dreaming, but I hear her voice followed by footsteps until his scent makes its way into my nostrils, and his name is on my tongue. "Matias."

It's harder to speak than I thought. It is as if no moisture has passed through my tongue in decades.

This darkness is weird.

It's not that dark at all. In fact, it's almost gray, like peering at darkness through closed lids.

Something's not right...

What kind of dream is this?

Where is... where is the darkness?

I bite my lip, groaning before I'm immediately embraced by solid arms that pull me to something firm. That's when I feel the heartbeat of a man I've missed dearly.

"My Fae. Anima mea. This can't be true. It can't be."

His voice quivers, sorrow laced within his tone. Disbelief in the way his hands tighten along my skin. I'm unsure of exactly how I got here. A significant gap in my memory makes me pant frustratedly until I hear his voice again. "Calm, my love. My soul. Do not strain yourself."

"I won't..."

My voice is barely a whisper. "How?"

"How can this have happened?"

My mother's voice is broken by sobs.

"I-I thought she was dead. She was. Fate has brought her back to me."

"Destiny."

I croak the word, a weird familiarity from it that I can't pinpoint.

I am his destiny.

"I couldn't leave you. Selfishly, you are mine."

I manage to open my eyes, although they feel dry and stiff, and I can slowly feel life seeping back into me. When I see him for the first time, I gasp. His anguish has made the color around his eyes darken, but regardless, he's still utterly beautiful.

"Selfish?" A short bark of laughter leaves his lips. "You are confusing the words, anima mea. You have never been selfish. You have sacrificed your life for another. You are more than I could've ever imagined. You amaze me completely." I can't believe he's saying all of this.

My lips firm nervously.

I turn, peering at my mother, who's looking at me with utter disbelief. Her hand is pressed over her mouth as she watches me from a few feet away.

"Mom." She shakes her head, her eyes glossy with unshed tears.

"How can this be?"

I shake my head, and my muscles are stiff.

"I don't know."

I turn to Matias, unable to keep myself from him once again.

"Can I ask you one thing, Matias?" I move back into his arms.

His arms tighten around me, and I know it'll be a while before he lets me go. He inhales deeply, breathing in my scent.

"You can ask anything of me, my soul."

"Kiss me."

My eyes move to his lips. Something dark flashes in his eyes when I manage to meet his gaze once more, and he wastes no time leaning to capture my mouth with his. His tongue sweeps along my bottom lip, and with a satisfied sigh, I let him in.

He is mine.

Forever.

He growls, and it isn't long until I feel his erection pressing against my bottom as he cradles me and holds me in his lap.

Oh my.

He growls when he breaks his lips away and moves his gaze along my face.

"Tonight. Tonight, you will be mine."

The fierceness in those words rocks the room. He's incredibly possessive in me now, so I can only imagine how possessive he will be when I've mated and transformed.

Oh boy... Matias may be even more controlling.

"Count on it. I am not letting you out of my sight."

"But there will be times where that's inevitable..."

"Over my dead body."

My mother interrupts. "Fae? How did this happen?"

"I don't know..."

I can't really remember.

I wish I could.

She moves toward me, and Matias growls.

"It's okay."

I rest my hand on his shoulder, aware of how dark his eyes have become.

"Mine."

My mother steps back and nods. "I am just glad you are alright... you're alive."

"I am, too."

A knock on the door grabs everyone's attention. Tonya steps into the room and frowns when she realizes I'm no longer lifeless and Matias is now holding me. "I had to see if it was true! S-she's... alive."

Matias regards her with a cold gaze. "Let the other know my mate has returned. Prepare for the ritual."

Tonya moves her gaze from him back to me, and the jealousy that exudes from her is stifling.

"Yes... Sir." She grits..

I have a feeling there's still a threat to my life and everything Matias and I will share...

But I will not let anyone get in the way of our destiny again.