(Ashley’s POV)
Five years later
I had never been so nervous seated in the plane. It was not due to the slight turbulence or even due to passengers around me in the business class looking at me as if they knew me.
Those feelings were nothing as compared to what I was going to go through for the next couple of days.
Of course, I could fix my feelings with a simple spell. “A simple spell?” I smiled to myself.
For the past five years, I have been practicing my magic so much more than just using spells. I studied all that needed to be known to be a Witch that was going to be at least as powerful as the Queen of Averna.
My grandmother. The one they called the Queen of the paranormal beings. I wanted to be stronger than her so she could never control my life.
I scoffed at that.
Family was supposed to protect their children. But my family, pretty much feared me and I guessed they wished I was never born.
Looking at the little boy seated next to me, I smiled. He was such a handsome and strong boy. My boy. I will not let anything happen to him. He was all I have that I could call family.
“Mommy, why are you looking at me like that?” he asked and held my hand with his little fingers. Moving his head closer to me, he whispered, “Are you afraid of flying?”
I let out a small laugh and held his hand tight, “With you by my side, Teddy, I’m not afraid of anything.”
He nodded and smiled at me with his dimples showing, “Don’t worry, Mommy. I’m a big boy now. I’ll protect you.”
“Big boy, huh?” I kissed his hands and tucked him in his seat with his blanket and favourite teddy bear which he named it Kiko. Sometimes I could hear him talk to Kiko.
Recalling what happened five years ago, I sighed to myself.
I went abroad soon after that unforgettable night with a man that took my virginity. A night that got me pregnant unexpectedly.
I could recall the thoughts I had in the past to abort my baby. At the age of twenty back then, I was not ready to be a mother, especially when I was alone living in a city far away from my home in Averna. Leaving everything I had to start a new life. A life free from chains and control by my family.
Fate brought me to meet a kind doctor who had convinced me to keep my baby. It was said to be most likely my only chance to have one. I had complications. I was in pain. Nine months of agony and uncertainty.
But. it was all worth it. Teddy was born to the world, perfectly.
He gave me a purpose to live this cruel life that seemed to hate me so much. I had never regretted giving birth to Teddy. He was the best gift that God had given me in my life.
My little protector.
“Mommy, you are looking at me in a weird way again.” Teddy whispered at me and giggled after I pinched his nose.
He looks so much like his father, although I’m starting to forget what he looked like. I only remembered his name to be Nikolai.
It was indeed five years ago since I last met him. He never looked for me.
Well, if he did, he surely sucked at it. Or perhaps, I had disguised myself to be someone else so perfectly that no one could locate me for the past five years I went missing.
“Here is the juice that you requested, Miss Winters.” The stewardess came to place a glass of orange juice. I thanked her and drank it slowly while looking at my baby boy sleeping by my side.
Teddy Winters. That was a name I gave to him after I changed my name to Tiana Winters.
For five years I hid at a little place called Mystic Town. Dyed my hair black and even learnt how to speak their language. That was a piece of cake to do.
What was difficult was living with the legendary Witch named Loraine Winters. A person who was once a friend of my grandmother, Queen Anastasia Regis of Averna. Not just any friend, Loraine Winters was her teacher.
I did not know why I called her for help. Perhaps I thought back then staying with our family’s enemy would hurt my parents.
It turned out to be the best decision I made.
It was all thanks to Finley Regalia. A friend I had when I studied designing clothes back in Averna. He lived in Mystic Town himself. A werewolf and son of an Alpha from the Regalia Wolf pack.
That one call I made to Finley got me to Mystic Town where I then met Loraine Winters. A Witch that was said to be more than a hundred years old. I could not believe my eyes when I saw how young she looked.
“Mommy, why do we need to move to another country?” Teddy whispered to me with a sad face forming. He liked living in Mystic Town where he already made several friends.
“No, baby boy. We are not moving there permanently. My new job at Echo Group requires me to move there just for a couple of days. Remember my friend, Finley? You will be staying with him for a couple of days while I sort out important work matters. It won’t be long. Can you do that for Mommy?” I kissed my son’s head and caressed his cheeks. He was pouting his lips and sighed once.
“Will you be safe there without me? How can I protect you if we are not together, Mommy?” he looked at me with his blue round eyes, sparkled with a hint of tears coming.
“My baby boy, I’ll be fine. You need to promise me you will not cause any trouble with Finley” I smiled seeing Teddy nodded his head.
Where I was going next was a destination that I had not been for the past five years. A place where my past would haunt me.
Few hours later, I heard the stewardess announcing the plane was going to land shortly. “Welcome to Averna International Airport”
Being back at Averna again, made my heart beat faster.
I had many plans forming in my head.
And, I was going to take back what was supposed to be mine.
'I'm coming home, b*tches!' The thought of seeing Helen again made me smile. Wickedly.
(Ashley’s POV)At the airport, I waved my hand to Finley who was already waiting for us at the entrance. Teddy ran towards Finley and gave him a hug. I smiled seeing them embrace each other.Teddy never knew who his father was and I was glad Finley could feel that void of a father figure in Teddy’s life. My true friend which I came to like over the past years I got to know him.“Hey, beautiful” he kissed my cheeks lightly and carried Teddy in his arms. “So, are you ready to face your fears?”I laughed at that and placed my sunglasses to cover my eyes, “I’m afraid of no one. They should fear me.”Finley chuckled and walked next to me with his assistant helping me to push my luggage trolley. “Don’t worry, buddy. We will have so much fun together.”Teddy nodded his head and seemed to like the idea of living with Finley for a few days. I was glad they got along so well.At the entrance of a car with a driver waiting for me, I turned to face my son and gave him a tight hug. He whispered in
(Author’s POV)Bright lights, camera flashing, reporters interviewing and people queuing to enter the Hotel.The event held at Moonlight Hotel was something Ashley did not expect for it to be that big of an event. Ashley felt a little underdressed for the occasion. Wearing her own designed dress, it was not her best but indeed eye catching with a vibrant colours, combination of red and gold.She was advised by her agent Gina Lee to submit her designs for an important contest. It was a contest that Ashley had been looking forward to winning since she graduated as a designer. The winner will earn a conceivable reputation and a designing contract worth millions of dollars.She needed that money. It would be all for her son, Teddy.She needed the reputation. Well, that was for her.“Tiana, glad to see you here. How was your flight here? I hope all was well” Gina walked in and gave Ashley a brief but tight hug and smiled widely, “I am so in love with your designs and I am confident you wou
(Ashley’s POV)“Bless this place. May peace dwell within. Protect those that I welcome to enter. Oh spirit of my Witch ancestors, surrounding my place with your protection, day and night” I whispered a spell and blew the surrounding with my one deep breath.A sense of calmness and peace was felt, making me smile with content. I could feel the presence of my protectors looking after me in this world. I felt safe again.I then walked to the bathroom to clean up in the luxurious tub that was waiting for me. After removing my clothes, I entered the tub that I had filled with calming scent of lavender. Closing my eyes for a moment, I enjoyed myself in the warm bath with a smile. It had washed away all my problems for the night.My hand phone rang a few minutes later which had disturbed my short moment of peace.It was a message received from Gina. She was back at the Moonlight Hotel to attend the rest of the programme planned for the night. A recording of a speech was sent to me. It was fr
(Ashley’s POV)It must have been my unlucky day. Why must it be him?Was he really a judge for this designers’ competition? No, please no!I whispered a spell to change my appearance to other than those he could recognise. Not an easy spell for me to cast. But I have to try something to try to get out of this situation.I was not ready to face him. Not yet.Realising the man seated opposite me was Nikolai, made my heart beat faster than usual. For a moment, my tongue froze. I didn't even have the courage to greet him immediately.At that moment, I recalled something. The whole place where the competition was held was free from magic and supernatural powers. It was like a void.Everyone was made equal. A fair competition to all species.I closed my eyes for a few seconds and took one deep breath. Praying he would not recognise me.“Good evening. You asked for me? I’m Tiana Winters.” I said my words calmly, trying my best to hold my nerves without using my calming spell.Without looking
(Nikolai’s POV)When I saw her again, it was as if time fell into a tiny speck of dust and was waiting to explode at lightning speed. That's what I felt inside my chest. It was as if for a moment, I had forgotten how to breathe.My heart was beating faster each second, erratically out of control, as I got closer to her.Looking deep into her mesmerizing blue eyes, I exhaled my breath. She was gorgeous, indeed. Even with her trying to change her looks, I knew it was her. My Ashley. My little Witch.At that closeness, I could hear her heart beating fast even when she tried to hide her fear for me. I could sense our connection getting stronger. Did she feel it too?It was magnetic. It was magical.As when the skin from the back of my hand touched her soft cheeks, I felt sparks fly. Electrifying. Seeing her eyes twitched a little, I knew she felt it too.She tried so hard to calm down. Perhaps, she had forgotten what I am.I was not just a Werewolf. I was more than that.Her heart wanted
(Ashley’s POV).“That idiot!” I shouted to myself as he closed the door leaving me behind to fix the mistake that was clearly not my fault. “Stupid, Wolf man”Was he blind? Did he not see I had just proved to him about the different fingerprints?I was not sure if I was angry at his ignorance on what I had shown him or was it due to the fact that he did not recognise who I was. Did I not mean anything to him, five years ago?I then exhaled my breath. ‘Of course, he already moved on with that woman with the name Pamela. Sexy woman with big tits’I looked down to my chest. My boobs were not that bad.Urghh! That Wolf. Why must he be so handsome for me to hate him more?I was cursing him in many languages but my powers were not working anymore once he left the room. Annoying prick! I wished I could turn him into a frog and throw him out from the window of this building!Realising I had only until midnight to fix this mess, I stayed back for several minutes and planned to check on the su
(Nikolai’s POV).Almost half an hour later, I stood outside the passenger door of my black Lamborghini. I have asked my bodyguards to leave me alone tonight with the woman they thought to be Tiana Winters.Soon, Pamela would hear me going out with another woman. I did not care.I never said I was in love with Pamela. She assumed too much.After exhaling the smoke from my cigarette, I recalled what Ashley had said to me. She too knew the consequences of us being together. That centuries old dispute between the Werewolves and Witches of the East were something that would make our bond almost impossible.I did not care a f*ck for it!If Ashley was indeed my Mate, which I could sense she was, I would defend her with my life. She should not worry about any Werewolf that would want to hurt her.Was that why she ran away from me? Was she afraid of being with me?I wondered about the possibility of this. I needed to fix it.She needed to know how important she was to my life.“Are you going
(Ashley’s POV).I sniffled a tear quietly. I did not expect to feel so sad seeing Philip standing next to that b*tch Helen. When I saw his hands placed on Helen’s waist, I felt hurt like a thousand knives piercing through my already broken heart.Did he love her? I wondered for years hoping it was all just a bad dream.But, it seemed all hope was lost for Philip to love me back. How could he do such things to me? I loved him. We were happy once upon a time.Feeling Nikolai’s warmth next to me, I somehow felt a little better. For some reason, I felt some sense of bitterness in his eye, perhaps he saw me looking at another man. I hoped he would not ask me any more questions about Philip or Helen.I would not know how to answer him. Even after five years, my mind found it difficult to process what had happened to me five years ago when I lost all the things I loved in my life, to Helen Ross.It was all clearly over between me and Philip. He had moved on and so did Nikolai with his rumou