I'm Dying Mate (Iona Blackfield) novel Chapter 18

(18) Second Chances

IONA

I’ve read about territories after the countless wars and battles against each other, werewolves and vampires finally made different territories that they try not to go against. They can stay in each other’s territories but you need permits or permissions from Elders or the Vampire’s Royal Council.

Then there were territories like this, the gray areas where they bury their dead and mourn for what they lost. It is some type of symbolism hence why they did it that in death all species or race are equal no matter how much you hate each other. Cemeteries and churches any species can come and go. Any kind of religious sanctuary and any country you’re not currently living in is considered a gray area.

There were more books about owning territories and disputes but bottom-line is we agreed to meet on the nearest cemetery on the same day that I ran away from my mates. I know I didn’t have much time considering I’ll be coming home to a house of angry mates. So, I wanted to meet him as soon as possible

Julie apparently borrowed Mammie’s car from Mammie’s old house. She wasn’t really in the hospital but with my uncles who were looking everywhere for me, they knew I was kidnapped by my own mates but they’re trying to pinpoint where I was exactly.

Eric, Julie and Mirage were my spies through it all. Eric “helps” them to track me down as demons are known trackers. They can see souls and pinpoint where they are as they are the ones responsible on taking care of people in their deaths.

Julie pulls over in front of the cemetery. I look at the wrought iron gates while the sun slowly sets on the horizon. I see a few black crows on power lines and people coming out of the tall gates.

“Well, this is nice” Julie says filled with sarcasm

“I never thought I’ll come here again” I lick my lips “alive that is”

“Hey, my humor is better than that” Julie hits my shoulder lightly. “Okay, remember that I’m here and I’ll keep you safe.”

I nod while I look at the time. Trace told me to meet him here at 5pm which is exactly the time now. “I should go inside th

1/8

< (18) Second Chances

Julie takes my hand and gives me an encouraging hands “I’m here on guard, okay?”

“Okay” I give her a kiss on the cheek and step out of the car.

It seems someone had just buried their dead as a large group of crying people slowly walked out of the cemetery. I walk past the sad faces and for a moment I am transported back to a time where I once was the person who hung their head low in black clothing.

I was that girl twice, the first being Mom and the second is the man I’m meeting now. This was the cemetery that we buried him in and it only seem fitting, I guess. The boy who lived and turned in to a successful vampire and now a CEO of a company that owns a lot things. He’s literally an underdog movie blockbuster in the making.

I snicker about it till I reach his old plot. It looks like Grandpa Max has been visiting it regularly since it was clean and the grass well kept. I’ve asked about Grandpa Max in the hospital and I learned that he still has no idea his only grandson from his only daughter is alive.

Why didn’t Trace visit him? it’s the least that he could do. Grandpa Max raised him when his mother suddenly died from an unknown disease. I remember Grandpa Max once, panicking that his grandson might have it. Thankfully, now I just know it’s him slowly turning in to a pureblood. Now that I think about it, should I be thankful?

I sigh and sit on the grass in front of Trace’s tombstone. His last name was Sanchez when he was human and when he died. The new last name, Woodworth, isn’t something I am going to get used to in just a couple of hours of meeting him, I think.

I hear footsteps and I look at the direction of it. It was really him but bigger and taller. Trace’s blonde hair looks darker, his blue eyes lighter and he is a good few inches taller than me. he’s wearing a vest over his long sleeve polo shirt with the collar up. I think his shoes is what you called Florentine leather.

Honestly, I don’t know. Growing up, I was never interested in fashion as long as I have clothes to wear I don’t complain about it. He looks at me with a stoic face but I know he’s nervous because he is biting his lower lip with a fang peeking out. that old habit didn’t die with him, huh?

I gave him a warm smile which he replied with his own. He walks towards me just as I chose to stand up and brush the grass off my jeans. He stops just a meter away from me and he smiles again. A smile that made him look handsome but incredibly different from the kid that I grew up with.

He has always been known a quiet goofy kid. He’s often clumsy too, knocking over stuff or hitting his head on a lamppost while walking. Grandpa Max was would look so proud whenever Trace trips at nothing. Grandpa Max has He just marches in the beat of his own drum”

ways been weird like that while saying ”

The memory of the two of them being so good with each other suddenly made me frown at the Trace in front of me. why didn’t he call or even tell Grandpa Max that he was alive? How idiotic can he be? He is just making Grandpa Max suffer in his own grief.

Lately, no one is able to talk to him. I tried when I was young but he just pushed people away and looks as if he gave up trying to live.

“I want to slap you” I say bluntly

Trace’s lopsided smile is a good sight to see. It looked more like the old him rather than the new him. “I’d deserve that. I did make you think that I was dead and that…that made you sad”

“Yes, and no” I say glaring at him. “You did make me sad, incredibly sad but you know who is

much worse than me?”

Her purses his lips and nods “Grandpa Max”

“Grandpa Max” I repeat, wanting to make sure he remembers that name that he remembers him. “How selfish and stupid can you be?”

“Apparently, a lot” he grins at me while rubbing the back of his neck. I have to admit, he has always been pretty when we were kids. A lot of people mistake him as a girl but now, he looks like a man.

He has muscles but not enough to make him look bulky and mean. Werewolves are often heavily built and vampires try to catch up. But due to having different hormones and physiology Werewolves build muscles faster and are generally bigger. He is lean and tall, he is what I imagine an angel would look like not a bloodsucking vampire but what do I know? The only vampire I know was Mirage, who is only half, and now, him.

“When are you going to tell him?” I ask, wanting to get to the point. I don’t know how long I have until my mates find me and for sure they’ll look for me in the hospital first.

“I don’t know” he whispers, his eyes looks distant as if truly contemplating it.

“You’re going to tell him” I say, adamantly. I take out Julie’s phone and call Eric.

“Who are you calling?” his voice laced with concern.

I gave him a knowing look “You know who”

He purses his lips “I don’t think I’m ready and I thought we’re here to talk about us”

I shake my head while the phone rings. “No offense Trace but just seeing you, I made up my mind already

“And that is?”

I smile at him “I’m sorry but I don’t love you like I did before. It’s not because you’re a vampire but because we’re not meant to be together. I see that now. I mean fate had to kill you and you had no balls at all to tell me that you’re actually alive”

He looks hurt. I didn’t mean to hurt him with the truth but I see that I was already too late. Sometimes being so blunt is really a curse. He lets out a bitter laugh but nonetheless nods Yeah, I deserve this. I truly do and I want to apologize about wanting to turn you in to a vampire””

“No worries” Eric finally answers and I see his face go through the video call. “Is he there?”

“He is” Eric moves the phone and shows me an even more aged Grandpa Max. but instead of the happy go lucky face that I was used to, he looks grumpy.

“lona? What is this?” he grumbles.

“Give me a second, Grandpa Max” I look up to see Trace looking at me with a wistful air around him. he’s probably reminiscing a lot of things in his head. I put the mic on mute first not wanting Grandpa Max to hear what I had to say. “I still care about you because if I didn’t I wouldn’t be doing this. Know that I am not going to want to be a vampire or be with you but you know…above all else we were first friends and that would always be my priority”

I see the slight surprise in his expression. I see the relief and I am glad to see his lips pull up in a genuine smile. “You’re still the same as ever. Your mates are lucky to have you”

“They are” I nod “Everyone should be reminded of that”

“Still cocky as Mirage, eh?” he grins

“Oh, you know no one can beat Mirage’s cockiness” I hand him the phone and unmuted it. I pat his shoulder and smiled “Good luck”

Trace didn’t have the time to reply to me when his eyes met with Grandpa Max on the phone. I watch Trace’s face filled with so much nervous horror in to an overjoyed relief. I walk away, trying to give them space as I hear them talking.

Everyone deserves some kind of forgiveness at least once or twice. It really just depends if you think they do deserve it. I make it to the parts of the cemetery that has the old Victorian tombstones with the angel statues and some even has marble.

I admiringly look at them before the sun completely sets and I won’t be able to see anything.

in the dark. As if reading my mind, the lampposts in the cemetery turns on. I smile gratefully at it and told myself I would go back after a few minute

Click

I jolt and look behind me to what feels like the sound would be. There was no one there and it’s probably just one of the old trees breaking against the wind. My heart hammering in my chest while I try not to get scared

Werewolves, vampires, demons and angels exist. What about ghosts? Do they exist too? I thought to myself.

Click, Click, Click

Yup, they do. I stride back to where I left Trace with Julie’s phone. I see him tearing up and wiping it on his sleeve. He was smiling though so I take that as a good sign. He sees me and smiles. His lips moving but I don’t know what he was saying.

Soon, he puts down the phone and walks towards me. He gives me Julie’s phone with a grateful smile “Can I at least get a hug?”

“Of course, but if you bite me and turn me. Your company would be burnt to the ground by my mates. Remember that” I jokingly say while I put myself in his arms.

He laughs while sniffing “I’ve missed you”

“hmm, you should miss me but know that you didn’t have to if you didn’t leave” I say while we swayed to an imaginary beat.

“Yeah, fate must have a thing against me if he didn’t give you as my soulmate” he whispers

“Hey, you’ll find yours” I lean back to cup his cheek, forcing him to look at me. “You’re a fucking supernatural being. You for sure, have one”

He smiles “I am just saying that your mates are lucky.”

“You know, you should apologize to Julie and Eric and Mirage too, right?” I say, changing the subject. I didn’t want to hurt him anymore than I already have by talking about this.

He sighs, “I know and I will.”

“So, what did Grandpa Max say?”

He lightens up at the mention of his name “We decided that we should see each other again”

“Really?!” I jump up and down in his arms. “That’s great!”

“Yeah” his smile was wide and reached ear to ear. I can genuinely feel him being happy at the

“How also prospect of seeing Grandpa Max again

I was just about to put my seatbelt on when Julie went on full speed, knocking me back on my seat. I gasp in surprise but didn’t protest as I try with shaking hands to get the seatbelt

In the Hospital

I run to Mirage’s room just at the time where Damiano has successfully kicked the door down. I call for their names and their gazes snapped to me. that is one of the worst decision I have ever made.

Their angry gazes snap to me and even though they look relieved that I was safe. They were still mad as hell. It was Drake who first reaches me while striding to me. his arms quickly squishes me in his chest while growling. A huge vibration came out of his chest while my face is squished between his pecs

“I thought they have got you” Drake growls, his arms still around me and made of steel. “We were ready to go to their doors and demand war after this”

“What were you thinking?” Damiano chided on the side. I turn to look at him and he looks incredibly mad as his eyes turns gold. “How stupid can you get for doing that?”

“Didn’t we warn you to not leave?” Drake pulls back to look at me. I was about to answer them when his nostrils flared. “Why the hell do you smell like-you met up with him.”

“I can explain”

“Explain?!” Damiano yells and turns behind him where another door is closed. He kicks it down in his rage and it broke easily. “Where is that bastard?”

Before he can march off, I grab his shirt and held tighter to it. I look at him then at Drake where their attention is all on me. “I forgive you and I’m sorry for going off on my own but you wouldn’t have let me go. I wanted to see if Mirage was okay and I wanted to see if it was

true.”

It seems those words worked. Damiano takes a step back with a hard look on his face. “Why do you even need to do this? We’ve treated you nothing but the best and all we ask is that you stay in the house” his voice softens as it comes close to the end. seat. I hear the click and climbed in

“Yeah, he is just manning the door. Now, hurry!”

“Alright, we’re on our way back” I hang up and look at Julie who looks as panicked as I am. Let’s go, they found out”

“On it”

I was just about to put my seatbelt on when Julie went on full speed, knocking me back on my seat. I gasp in surprise but didn’t protest as I try with shaking hands to get the seatbelt

In the Hospital

I run to Mirage’s room just at the time where Damiano has successfully kicked the door down. I call for their names and their gazes snapped to me. that is one of the worst decision I have ever made.

Their angry gazes snap to me and even though they look relieved that I was safe. They were still mad as hell. It was Drake who first reaches me while striding to me. his arms quickly. squishes me in his chest while growling. A huge vibration came out of his chest while my face is squished between his pecs

“I thought they have got you” Drake growls, his arms still around me and made of steel. “We were ready to go to their doors and demand war after this”

“What were you thinking?” Damiano chided on the side. I turn to look at him and he looks incredibly mad as his eyes turns gold. “How stupid can you get for doing that?”

“Didn’t we warn you to not leave?” Drake pulls back to look at me. I was about to answer them when his nostrils flared. “Why the hell do you smell like-you met up with him.”

“I can explain”

“Explain?!” Damiano yells and turns behind him where another door is closed. He kicks it down in his rage and it broke easily. “Where is that bastard?”

Before he can march off, I grab his shirt and held tighter to it. I look at him then at Drake where their attention is all on me. “I forgive you and I’m sorry for going off on my own but you wouldn’t have let me go. I wanted to see if Mirage was okay and I wanted to see if it was true.”

It seems those words worked. Damiano takes a step back with a hard look on his face. “Why do you even need to do this? We’ve treated you nothing but the best and all we ask is that you stay in the house” his voice softens as it comes close to the end.

“I needed to do it this way. So I can decide whether I can do this with the two of you”

“And?” Drake expectantly asks me. he cups my cheek so my attention is on his soft gaze rather than on the Lycan who was upset. “Tell us”

I giggle “I told you already, I forgive you but the next time you reject me or sleep with another woman. I swear, I am going to leave”

There was no warning when Drake kisses me again. Not that I was complaining but we were in the middle of the halls with their guards looking at us and just because I forgave them doesn’t mean they can be so free with these kinds of affection.

I wasn’t as experienced as them and I was nervous that I was doing the wrong thing and that I might be really bad at it. I push Drake away with my face feeling like a hot furnace.

“You’re not done” Damiano says before yanking me to his hip and tipping my chin up with his finger. His lips touching mine as he gives me toe curling kiss.

“en-en-enough” I stutter while pushing him away. the overwhelming feeling of them suddenly made my legs jelly and buckle from under me. Damiano catches me in time before I hit the

surface of the floor.

He chuckles. “Lucky me, my mate is pleased”

I frown at him in my embarrassment.

Drake laughs while kissing the top of my head. “Let’s get home and this time. No running away ever again”