Mated To An Enemy

[Winter]

Richard led the charge against the group of hybrids.

They were on the run now. After the arrival of Jonas and his men, the tide had turned. And after Axel's words, there was no chance in hell that any wolf was letting these bastards take anyone else from them.

The fallen before him snarled and swiped at his chest. Richard was not quick enough to escape unscathed. The claws dug into his armor, and he groaned as the tips cut into his flesh.

He fell back, and the creature quickly took advantage, crawling on top of him and snarling in his face.

Richard grabbed tightly to his axe and swung at the creature's head. He hit once and then twice. But the monster grabbed Richard's arm and bent it until he let out a cry of pain as the bone broke.

The beast roared in his face, and Richard was sure this was his final moment.

But, the beast suddenly moved back as though he had been struck. He crawled away from Richard's body with a whimper.

Richard sat up and saw that the beast was not alone. All around him, he watched hybrids, the fallen, and the mottled bears pull back from the fight as though they were scared.

Suddenly they all let out ear-piercing shrieks of pain.

Richard covered his ear as the sound was maddening. Then, when the sound stopped, he and the others watched as the monsters shriveled and died around them.

[Summer]

Galen and his men watched quietly as the remaining hybrids screamed and died before their eyes. Then, they turned their attention to the fae creatures, but they, too, ceased fighting.

He couldn't help but notice that they seemed hesitant to continue the fight. Finally, the remaining treants turned and walked away. Many of the others followed after them.

Those who remained or continued their attacks on the soldiers were dealt with quickly and severely. But it wasn't long before the battlefield was cleared of enemies.

The soldiers looked around at each other, and soon smiles broke out on their faces, and laughter was followed by howls of victory.

Galen took a deep breath as the rest of the soldiers cheered and celebrated. Then, he turned his eyes toward the hill leading to the portal.

“They did it…” he whispered to himself.

Even though he had been the one to set the charges, when he had heard the explosion, it had left him feeling uneasy. He worried about whether or not Ashleigh and Caleb had made it through.

But now, as the hybrids shriveled and died, as the remaining fae retreated from the territory, it was clear that they had done what they set out to do.

Galen smiled and let out a sigh of relief. The war was over. They could finally return to their lives. To their families.

Finally, everything would go back to the way it should be.

***

Caleb floated through bright colors, neon rainbows, and white lights.

His mind felt scattered and confused. Unable to focus on his thoughts. He couldn't tell how long he had been floating or where he was going.

He remembered looking back and seeing the vines racing toward them. Knowing he was not far enough to get away and that Ashleigh would have been dragged with him if he hadn’t let go. He remembered seeing her go through the portal and watching the light fade.

She had made it through, and knowing that was enough. As long as she made it through, it didn't matter what happened next.

The vines around his body had tightened until it was difficult to breathe, and he felt his ribs beginning to crack. Then, new vines appeared, and they stabbed him. He struggled and tried to free himself, but in the end, he was overwhelmed and lost consciousness.

But what happened after that? That was where things got hazy. He felt he remembered seeing Ashleigh pet his hair and someone else looking at him with concern. Then, there was a bright white light, and he floated.

Caleb couldn't piece together the memory. But he kept hearing voices whispering to him.

‘You better find her, don't you dare give up.'

‘Natural gateways… opening for short amounts of time… find one.'

His mind was getting tired again. It happened a lot. He would be awake, thinking, trying to remember, and then suddenly, he would get tired and fall asleep again. He had no way of knowing how long he slept or even how long he was awake.

He felt something suddenly. A strange tug in his chest. A pull in a different direction.

Caleb focused on the bright lights that passed by him, and in the distance, he saw something. It looked like a window. A very dark window.

He pushed his body toward the window, surprised by how easily and quickly he reached it. As he had already noted, it was very dark, but it wasn't black. Perhaps, blue?

Caleb licked his lips, unsure if he should go through or not. He had no idea what was on the other side.

He took a deep breath and reached out, touching the darkness with his fingertips. It was cold, ice cold, and it was wet.

He pulled his hand back, and he shook his head. It seemed dangerous. Maybe he should look for a different window. Assuming he could find another.

Looking back at the window again, he had almost decided to leave, but something told him to touch it again. As his fingertips graze the cold waters, he felt something. He felt her.

Without a second thought, Caleb dove into the window.

The icy cold washed over his body. He was in the water. He was swimming. It was heavy and thick. His ears and head ached already from the sudden pressure he felt.

Caleb pushed himself, swimming up toward the distant light. His lungs already feeling the strain of not having prepared for the lack of oxygen.

As he moved closer and closer to the light, his body felt heavier and weaker. His muscles ached. But he was almost there. Just a little further.

The fatigue and the cold began to settle over his body. His arms and legs were slowing down, refusing to cooperate as he screamed in his mind to keep pushing forward.

And then they just stopped.

He couldn't move anymore, his heart pounded heavily in his ears, and his lungs burned. The weightlessness of the water held him, but the light was getting further as he felt his body sinking.

He was so close.

He heard something in the water, two somethings. His vision was blurred and fading, but he thought he saw movement coming from the light above.

Caleb felt arms wrap around him from each side, and then he was moving toward the light. It was getting closer and closer, and finally, his head broke the water’s surface. He drew in a deep breath, inhaling some of the water simultaneously. He coughed as he was dragged up onto a wooden dock.

All around him, voices were shouting.

“Blankets! Get the blankets!”

“Someone get a pot of water boiling!”

His mind was fading again. He coughed once more and turned his head. He could see feet moving back and forth. He felt the weight of something on his body. And then he saw boots running on the dock toward him.

“Caleb!”

His eyes widened; his heart thumped heavily.

She dropped to her knees beside him, and he lifted his head to look at her.

His blurry eyes and fading vision could almost see her.

“Ash…” he whispered feebly.

She let out a sob. Bringing her hand to her mouth.

“It's me,” she said, her voice cracking as she reached forward and touched his cheek.

“We need to get him inside!” another voice shouted.

“I finally found you,” she whispered, leaning close to him, touching her forehead to his. “I knew you'd come back.”

She pulled back, looking down at him with joy.

Caleb's eyes were having a hard time focusing. Still, even with difficulty, he could see something different about her. A scar along her jaw, an old scar.

He lifted his hand to her jaw, gently touching the scar. Ashleigh let out a soft gasp and chewed her bottom lip.

“How… long?” he managed to ask.

Ashleigh hesitated. Looking away from him.

“We need to get you inside,” she whispered. “These waters are freezing.”

“Please… Ash… how long?” he asked again.

She lowered her head and then raised her eyes to meet his, fresh tears forming.

“Five years….” she whispered.