Chapter Ten

Upon arriving at the mall with my two friends and Alexandra, I was utterly awestruck. The sight that greeted me was that of a massive and exquisite building, adorned in white with tasteful gold accents outlining its grandeur. The exterior alone exuded elegance and opulence. As we stepped inside, I found myself even more enthralled. This was my inaugural visit to a mall, and its interior surpassed any vague expectations I might have had.

The glossy floor beneath my feet sparkled with golden glitter, casting a luxurious aura throughout the space. Alongside the walls on either side, a plethora of stores beckoned with offerings ranging from shoes and jewelry to clothing and more. The second level, no less splendid, featured a transparent glass floor that added to the mall's enchanting atmosphere.

As we entered the mall, Cycil, Raina, and I made our way into the first store, Forever21. Alexandra, on the other hand, chose to wait outside, clearly unenthusiastic about being here. We had a bit of a disagreement earlier about whether I should join them, but eventually, I made it clear that I would go with or without her. Consequently, we now had a somewhat sulky Alexandra trailing behind us.

I stood before a mirror inside the store, gazing at my reflection and appreciating the outfit I'd chosen for our mall adventure. I wore a white crop top paired with a stylish skirt adorned with a captivating pattern. Such clothing choices were entirely new to me, and I hadn't dared to wear anything like this back in my old pack, where the risk of unwelcome attention from certain individuals was all too real.

As I wandered through the aisles of clothes, I carefully selected the ones that caught my eye. I accumulated a collection of items, including some stylish hoodies, shirts, skirts, summer dresses, t-shirts, and a few adorable crop tops.

Just as I was engrossed in my choices, Cycil and Raina approached me, each carrying their own mountain of clothes. Cycil excitedly grabbed my arm and urged us to try on our selections and take selfies together. We made our way to the fitting rooms, where a young store worker provided us with three fitting rooms conveniently located side by side.

We experimented with different outfits, gathered in the hallway for each look, and snapped selfies, sometimes striking silly poses and sharing laughter. Afterward, we selected our favorite ensembles and made our way to the checkout. Our shopping adventure continued upstairs, exploring various stores, indulging in clothes, shoes, and jewelry. Throughout it all, Alexandra trailed behind, brooding. I paid her no mind. For the first time in my life, I was genuinely enjoying myself, and I refused to let anyone dampen my spirits.

We entered a shop specializing in fighting and training gear, and I signaled to my friends to join me inside. Surprisingly, this was the only store Alexandra had ventured into with us since our arrival. We each went our separate ways to explore the store. My attention was immediately captured by a stunning black training outfit, consisting of a black tank top, a matching jacket, and black pants. Without hesitation, I picked up the entire outfit and continued to browse, finding a few more training ensembles that piqued my interest. Additionally, I selected some headbands to wear during my training sessions, preventing stray hair strands from escaping and obstructing my view.

Once we all had what we wanted, we made our purchases and exited the store. As we strolled through the mall's hallway, I was suddenly overwhelmed by another vivid vision from my past. I came to an abrupt stop, my vision fading to darkness.

"Mills, are you okay?" Raina asked, but I was so deeply engrossed in my vision that her words went unheard.

"She's clearly not fine. Her eyes are white," Cycil observed.

I had left the mall entirely, now finding myself in a rustic cabin nestled deep within the woods, far removed from everyone. I was cradled in a woman's arms, gazing up at her with an elated smile. This woman shared my distinctive white hair and possessed piercing ice-blue eyes. Seated beside her was a man, his hair also snowy white, but his eyes ablaze with fiery orange, much like mine. The woman tenderly held one of my tiny baby fingers, while the man playfully toyed with my minuscule feet. Both of them regarded me with an overwhelming outpouring of love.

In the real world, where my physical body remained at the mall, I could feel tears streaming down my cheeks as I finally glimpsed what both of my parents looked like.

In my vision, I continued to observe my parents playing with me, savoring a joyous moment as they welcomed me into their family. However, this blissful scene quickly descended into chaos. A deafening bang echoed nearby as someone forcefully flung the cabin door open. The door shattered off its hinges, and a shadowy figure sauntered in, accompanied by several others. I witnessed my mother hurriedly seeking refuge while my father transformed into a wolf. He valiantly attempted to fend off the intruders, but tragically, one of them ended his life by snapping his neck. Then, I saw my mother's selfless act of placing me gently in a closet, nestled within a basket, She reached behind her neck and carefully removed a ruby heart-shaped necklace, gently placing it on the blanket that enveloped me. Leaning down, she tenderly pressed her lips to my forehead and whispered words of deep affection, tears streaming from her eyes as she conveyed just how much she loved me. All the while trying valiantly to fend off the assailants. That fateful night also claimed her life, as the dark figure callously plunged a blade into her abdomen. Her lifeless body lay before me, her eyes open, hauntingly staring back.

Approaching me, the ominous figure reached out and lifted me into his arms. That night marked both my first and final encounter with my parents. The mall's atmosphere turned tumultuous, the wind whipping around me fiercely. Tears streamed from my eyes as I bore witness to and personally experienced the loss of my parents for the first time. My vision remained blurred as the cacophony of chaos unfolded around me. Glass shattered from nearby windows, and I was suddenly enveloped in darkness, a sharp blow to my head, leaving me disoriented.

***

I slowly stirred in my bed back at the castle, a throbbing sensation pulsating through my head and body. Before I could open my eyes, an unseen force seemed to drag me back, ensnaring me in a dream-like state, while I remained aware of the sounds of the real world around me.

A voice I recognized, one that filled me with fear, pierced through the dreamy haze. "Your appearance has changed drastically since the last time I've seen you, more beautiful than before, Millie," it was Kyle.

"Let me go," I pleaded, desperately wanting to escape rather than confront him in this dream-like realm.

"What? You don't miss me as much as I missed you?" Kyle's words sent shivers down my spine as he cornered me against a wall. His hands wandered over my body, causing the hair on my arms to stand on end. I attempted to distance myself from him, but it only seemed to fuel his aggression. He forcefully pulled me closer, eliminating any space between us.

"I will never let go of you again, I will make you mine, Millie," Kyle growled into my ear, his tone menacing. Everything shifted in that instant. One moment, I was trapped against Kyle's will, and the next, Damon had Kyle's neck in an unyielding grip.

"You so much as lay a finger on my wife again, even in a dream, I will end you!" Damon's thunderous roar echoed in Kyle's face. Kyle cowered, revealing his cowardice, and in that moment, I abruptly awoke, gasping for air.

"I'll never let him harm you," Damon communicated through the mental link we shared, a bond formed when we marked each other. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I recollected the nightmarish experience that felt far too real.

"How is he able to reach me like this?" I mentally inquired of Damon.

"He's probably employing a witch to infiltrate your mental realm," Damon responded through our mental connection.

"I yearn for you for the comfort of your embrace. Can you return home before a week passes?" I implored, tears streaming down my face.

"I'll make every effort to expedite matters here, though I can't guarantee it. Know that I miss you dearly," Damon replied through our mental link before disconnecting for the night.

I rose from my bed and made my way to the bathroom, seeking solace in the cool water. As I glanced up at the mirror, I was taken aback by the reflection that greeted me. My eyes no longer held their fiery orange hue; instead, one eye gleamed with that same warmth while the other had transformed into an icy shade of blue. With both my parents' distinctive eye colors now within me, I sank to the bathroom floor, overcome by sorrow for their loss. Clenching the ruby heart-shaped necklace tightly around my neck, I kissed it fervently, tears streaming down my face as I mourned the parents I had lost at such a tender age.