FUTURE'S UNCERTAINTY

SERAPHINA

It’s not the first time that I had to deal with people of my kind, but with the scent blockers they put on me, no one had really figured out I was not a witch or a creature from The Veil faction…until this man.

He stepped closer to us, eyes still focused on me. My heart thumped so hard that my chest started to tighten slightly. It wasn’t fear that I felt, nor the intimidating aura of the alphas. It’s overwhelming but surprisingly comforting, too.

For a moment, I couldn’t help but wish for a connection between us to form. Would the Goddess ever think of bestowing me a mate? Or is even wishing for one considered selfishness? After all, the person I’d be mated with would have to suffer because of these wretched abilities. It’s like sharing the same burden I carry… and I don’t really think I’m ready to condemn someone like that.

“I’ve already sought my kind’s best healers and doctors, and they can’t tell what was wrong with my mate. You told me you have a seer who might be able to tell if she could still recover. Why did you bring a she-wolf who doesn’t even look like she’s here of her own volition? I also smell wolfsbane. Why are you hurting her?” He demanded answers.

Just like that, the small wish in my heart shattered in an instant. Of course, he already has a mate. He’s concerned, not because of me, but because of the urgency of the situation concerning his fated mate.

A small, bitter smile formed on my lips. I lost my mind for a moment. Still, someone expressing their concern for my well-being felt nice… even just for a moment.

“She is what you seek.” Zaira avoided all of his questions and spoke with a warning tone, “We didn’t come here to be questioned. If you don’t want our services, then we’d simply go.”

“I can help, Alpha. Please trust me.” I blurted out before he could respond. My voice was shaking a bit, hoarse for some reason, but I was nothing but determined to help.

For the past years, everyone I’ve “helped” was people who didn’t care about anything but themselves and their concerns. He said his wife is sick, and if I could help in any way, I’d rather do it for him.

The witches darted me with confused and suspicious looks, but didn’t react further as it was in their favor.

I saw instant hope in his eyes. “T-thank you then, but are you sure you’re okay?”

My heart skipped a beat once again. He’s too kind for his own good.

I cleared my throat and nodded. “I’m fine, Alpha. Let me see her already. Time is ticking.”

He gave a small nod and gestured for us to follow him. Before I knew it, we were inside their bedroom.

On the huge bed is a woman plagued by an unknown illness. She was unconscious, but she kept on twisting and turning, obviously in pain. Her face crunched up, flinching and lightly gasping. There was no physical indication of it, either. She looked deathly pale but had no mortal wounds.

Our kind isn’t supposed to be affected by any human illnesses, so it surely wasn’t one of those. I could now see why her husband desperately sought the witches. I had no idea what was happening, but I certainly hoped to see something useful so I could help them.

Zaira turned to the Alpha, “We need to see her alone. Please leave the room.”

He looked like he wanted to complain, but eventually agreed to leave us after glancing at me. Maybe because I was of his kind, he trusted me better than the witches, or perhaps because I gave him hope.

I just wish I lived up to my promise.

He even closed the door on his way out. The witches immediately moved after that. Zaira lit a candle before uttering a small spell I recognize as a privacy spell. They made sure that the Alpha wouldn’t hear what was happening inside the room.

I looked at them in confusion. I’m well aware of how skeptical witches could be, but isn’t a privacy spell too much? It’s his wife, after all. He should at least hear what was happening, so he wouldn’t worry.

“Seraphina, quit spacing out and do your thing. We’re not here to waste time.” Zaira ordered, sounding irritated.

I slightly shook my head and focused on my task. I stepped forward, and Tess helped me remove my veil while I carefully removed my gloves. She stepped away from me and let me get on with my work. I pressed two fingers gently to her temple, not wanting to add more pain to what she already felt.

A familiar overwhelming surge of power hit me, along with the burst of images that pieced itself together. A rush of hope came over me after it was over. My head throbbed, but I was already used to it.

For the first time in a while, I found myself smiling. I see two futures ahead of her. One was a sure death. Her body was too weak to fight and go on... She writhes in pain as she takes her last breath in her alpha’s arms. The second is what gave me hope. They found a cure. I saw that alpha was holding a stem of Moonfire, a rare plant that only grew in places always kissed by moonlight. I only knew of it because I had nothing to do in the witch’s place. I grew accustomed to reading their grimoire and other accounts when they were not around. The Alpha found it deep in a Moonside territory. He found it, brought it back, and their healers used it to fix her.

A day later, she recovers as if nothing had happened. She survives, and I even see them expecting a child.

“There’s a cure. She can live, but there’s little time left. You need to tell the Alpha about it as soon as possible.”

I told them what I saw as clearly as I could, and once again, Zaira immediately ordered that I be taken back. Tess pulled me out, passing the Alpha, but I still hadn’t had the chance to learn the name.

Before he could ask, Zaira approached him. “Your Luna will pass peacefully. Make peace with her soul.”

My breath hitched after overhearing Zaira’s lie without hesitation, condemning the Luna to a death that didn’t have to happen. She wasn’t even peaceful when she died in one of her possible futures. She was in deep pain and died with regrets. She wouldn’t die if he found the cure on time.

“That’s not what I saw!” I pulled away from Tess after we had gone out. My hands were trembling in anger. I don’t get it. I don’t get why they are lying to him.

“And you will say nothing,” Tess gritted her teeth, her grip biting into my arm. “You belong to us. You speak what we tell you. Do you understand?”

I pulled away from her, “No! He can save her mate. Why are you lying to him?!”

She suddenly started uttering a spell, making me dizzy in an instant. She made the effect of the wolfsbane stronger than usual. I staggered, but she didn’t stop until I had already collapsed to the ground. I grabbed her leg,  pleading as I slowly felt my consciousness slipping away.

Tess slowly joined me on the ground, “You should have just stayed quiet, you know? I don’t like hurting you, but you gave me no choice.”

“Don’t do this, please.” I pleaded, voice weakening word by word, “He can save her. He can still-”

My vision blurred even more until darkness had completely taken over my consciousness.