Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

- Jace -

Today had been weighing heavily on all of our minds, the day we finally said goodbye to

Aunt Alora.

We all stood in silence, our head's bowed as we stood on the beach, the golden sands underfoot as we gave thanks to the moon goddess. Gave thanks for her presence in our lives.

Mum had made one request for today, that it doesn't close on a sad note...but on a happy one.

She has lost half of her soul, half of her heart.

I know it because that is how I would feel if I ever lost Jaxon or Josie. We aren't just siblings, we are one of the same.

Connected by more than blood, connected by a triplet bond...something Mum also shared with Alora. Not just sisters, but twin sisters.

Granted, they didn't even know of each other, their bond only connecting when they were in their adult lives. But that connection, once made, cannot be undone.

Not even by death.

Mum will now forever be a half of herself. She will never recover from this.

It was fair to say that Mum's retirement started today, that the ceremony planned

at short notice for Josie and Knox this evening is the happy note she needed to end the day on.

She needed today to be about more than saying goodbye to her sister.

What a better send off than using the Clear Waters to send Alora's body back to the moon goddess.

It was nearing sunset, the moon already prominent in the sky, yet the sun still held its heated gaze upon the landscape before us.

The waters, as always, were tranquil. The glistening waters offering a sparkling wonder to where we were sending Alora, on a small wooden raft covered in roses.

Rather than sending her back into the ground, we were sending her out to sea.

Josie was the best shot amongst us, her task was to send a fire-lit arrow into the waters, hitting the raft at the opportune moment.

Alora was dressed in white, her hair plaited like a Greek goddess, free flowing down by her shoulders. Gold leaves planted into her hair, like a crown for a princess. She was the pack's princess after all.

They had taken her into their hearts, been the family she had needed for such a long time.

Her hands held crossed over her torso, a bouquet of white roses tied together in her hands. She looked peaceful, she was finally resting.

A tear-stricken Mum takes a step closer to her, her hands resting upon hers as

she says her last goodbye. Until they were reunited once more.

Poems had been read, prayers had been made...it was now the last part, the final act of separation between them.

One part of them remaining living, the other returning back to the moon goddess. This was the hardest part of all, relinquishing her body...her soul had already left us. Her soul was with their mother, there was no doubt about that.

Forever in the love of the mother she never met, I have to believe a

rejected mate bond is broken for eternity, Chan had gone to hell, orif the moon goddess had spared

him then she would have at least honoured decisions made in her living life.

I have to believe that.

My breath catches as Mum whispers a last goodbye before launching her sister into the

tranquil peaceful waters.

She had belonged here all along.

We watch, in silence as the raft moves further out to sea.

Knox takes a subtle step forward, lighting an arrow with the flamed torch

embedded into the beach ground.

He passes it to Josie, who wipes away her teary eyes, clearing her vision as she takes the arrow,

placing it in the bow and aiming it up to the sky.

Her shot hits true, her aim right on target. She was the best shot of us all.

The fire catches onto the raft, spreading slowly when suddenly it bursts into flames, engulfingnoveldrama

the entire raft. Her body burning with it.

I didn't realise how tense my body was,

untilhed my hands were

touch relaxes me,

encourages my body unwind..her touch soothing me.

"I'm sorry." Her sorrow through the mate bond is painful, her voice breaking in my

mind.

"Me too." I pull her into my arms, inhaling her scent, letting my skin seek hers out even more.