Chapter 21: Matriarch's House

Nathaniel POV

Panting heavily, I bolt, abandoning Alexandra with Oliver. Gasping for air, my heart raced with the adrenaline of escape. With urgency, I command Kristen, my trusted companion, to hault in front of Matriarch Cassandra's residence. Without hesitation, Kristen obeys, swiftly darting towards Matriarch's house. As I reach the familiar sight of the pack house, Kristen brings me to its entrance, dropping me off. The weight of my actions hang in the air as I stand before the pack house, grappling with the consequences of my departure and the decisions that led me here.

Now there is no rush in my heart. My heart is in peace and tranquility. I gave the woman who stirs my heart to someone else to end her. It is better to be finished at once than to be finished little by little with her in front of me. I want my broken heart to turn to stone, no sense of love will touch it.

With this broken heart, I too will one day fly to the eternity. I will meet you again, but I hope you will not be deceitful, you will be as pure as my love. See you there then.

This vast land, these forests, settlements all seem to be polluted now. The world was so colorful until your true form came out that I wanted to live a thousand years with you.

What was my fault Alexandra? What was my fault that you threw me away like this? Wasn't I enough for you? Sometimes I feel so jealous, wish I could be Jason might be then you couldn't go away from me.

You broke my heart, took my best relative away from me, then when I found another person to live anew to forget all the troubles, you killed her brutally! You have destroyed a beautiful kingdom. Even after eighteen long years, you remain that impostor.

I still haven't caught this trick of yours. Your hypocrisy floats in front of my eyes. Tears want to come to the verge of my eyes but I hold back. Why should I cry for a selfish like her?

I don't know how that witch subdued me. I had completely forgotten about revenge. I was finally able to give her what she deserved because I got my self back. Now she will understand how it feels when someone betray.

I walk to Matriarch's house quietly. Rosalie and Miss Clara shows respect seeing me infront of them. Their are so many questions on their face. They want to ask but can't gather their courage.

There is a tense atmosphere here. Everyone is quiet, the atmosphere is quiet. Thousands of questions are running in everyone's mind. I don't bother anymore.

I slowly walk upstairs and enter my room. Of course, Matriarch Cassandra doesn't think so even though I consider it as my room. According to her I am just an unwanted guest.

I lie quietly in my room but can't sleep. It's a place where my only family stays but don't have the right to call it my home. Such a poor thing I'm!

I keep waiting for Oliver's signal but not getting it from him so I decide to give the signal myself and now I am restless.

By now news may have spread around that I am back. I am also ready today.

Just then, Matriarch Cassandra enters my room holding a face where nothing but pure anger, sadness and frustration are remarkable.

''Seems very worried!'' ''Your Highness!' I get down from the bed instantly and bow in front of her to show respect.

''Answer me, Nathaniel!'' She roars as I don't show much reaction and my not so respectful attitude makes her shout at me.

''Why did you do that?'' Not getting my response properly, she jumps into the burning question between us.

Even when I've stepped into this house I was ready for all the arguments with her. What happened now that I lost the energy to talk to her.

Now I'm thinking of lying to her but l lost my energy to do this too.

"Why did you do that again?"

''I had to do it.''

Matriarch slaps me hard being angry, feels like it just breaks my heart. I can't uphold with the rage anymore.

''Granny!'' I finally call her and say in disbelief, ''you've slapped me for her!''

All I receive is her furious glare at me, as if my existence is curse to her.

''Shame on you, just shame on you!"

When she utters these hurtful words, I fails to control my anger as well.

"Huh, why I should be ashamed? Why not her?"

"Don't you know who she is?'' ''I know it. I know everything.'' ''Then why did you do that?'' "Granny, you know i'm highly doubtful about my relationship with you!'' I unknowingly tell this. Her face gets paled for a moment after hearing my words. I know she has been suffering a lot but I have to say it today.

"Honey, I'm also doubtful!" Her words struck me like thunder. "I'm highly suspicious about my bloodline. My bloodline could never turn his back against me but he did." "Don't give this allegations to me." "Then whom I should blame? Should I blame Alexandra?" "You should indeed." Matriarch starts laughing listening to me. "How can you expect me to blame her instead of you?" "Because it's me who's your bloodline not that traitor!" As I raise my voice, she slaps me again. "You're the traitor, you're the one who destroyed my decorated kingdom. My beautifully decorated family is now a destruction just because of you! I'm happy that your parents are gone before seeing you like this. I wish I..." "No! No Granny, no!"

"As soon as my parents left, I lost my existence. Tell me where I am? I had no one but you. Why did you throw me away and take that Alexandra as your own. Why my love gets divided, Granny?"

"Nathaniel, how cruel can you be? How low will you go? The one who loved you with her life, the one who wanted to protect everything that is connected to you with love, you killed her and now you say that your love is divided. This is that poor thing Alexandra whose love was not only killed, but you drove her away with the ultimate insult, even though she was your mate."

"I don't consider her my mate! I only have one mate, and that's Charlotte! My Charlotte was killed by your Alexandra!'' I try to ignore Alexandra's existence, not expressing how she betrayed me again. My grandmother just know how to defend her so called fake warrior Alexandra.

"I wish someday you come to know about her true color."

"I wish the same to you and I swear, I'll enjoy the view."

"You know, Granny–" I can't complete my sentence, she signals to stop me. "You've lost the right to call me Granny a long long ago. Just Matriarch Cassandra and I am giving you one last warning! If anything happens to her, I will destroy you and your ruling area! I lost my Alexandra once because of you, and I don't want to lose her again! If you think you'll stay alive after doing so many crimes, I won't allow you to do that."

She leaves me alone with my own thoughts after threatening me. In the aftermath of her walking away from me, a storm rages within me, each wave crashing against the shore of my heart that is in the process of being stone. Warned yet wounded, I find myself endangered in a sea of sorrow, accused unjustly by the one who's my only family. How could they, I wonder, inflict such pain? How could they, with callous disregard, cast blame upon my already burdened shoulders? Injustice weighs heavy, a leaden anchor dragging me deeper into the abyss of despair. Alone with my thoughts, I seek solace in the silent echoes of unanswered questions, grappling with the unfathomable depths of cruelty.

The mere thought ignites a furious fire within me, visioning her audacious effects to rob me of the right to Matriarch Granny. I'm just mad at her for everything she took away from me. Only I have the right to pull my grandmother in my embrace but it's Alexandra who took away her from my embrace. My eyes ablaze with fire as well as my heart.

Matriarch Cassandra, my grandmother, is the only family I have, yet she consistently chooses Alexandra over me. It's as if Alexandra's mere presence casts a spell over her, manipulating her decisions. The resentment burns deep within me, fueled by the belief that Alexandra's influence is nothing short of witchcraft. Each time my grandmother's preference tilts in Alexandra's favor, it stings with the bitterness of betrayal. The hatred festers, poisoning my thoughts whenever Alexandra's name is uttered. My grandmother's affection, it feels overshadowed by Alexandra's enchantment, leaving me scornful towards the witch who stole her love from me.