Hearts On Fire
Chapter 34:

In Azar’s head: I need to replace my doll. I need to replace my wife. (Azar stands up). Why the hell do I feel so weak? 

Khiara: “Bro, you're finally awake!!”

Azar: “Finally? (they hug)”

Khiara: “I can't believe you're awake. You scared us all to death. They told us that you didn't have any chance of making it out.”

Azar: “What are you talking about?”

Khiara: “You don't know?”

Azar: “What am I supposed to know? And please tell me what the hell I'm doing in the hospital? God, I feel so weak. Where’s Amaya? I need to see her now. I had a terrible nightmare about her. What are you hiding?”

Khiara: “You need to take it easy, please. You just woke up. I don't want anything to happen to you. We just got you back.”

Azar: “Khiara!! I'm not playing, I need to see my mate now.”

Khiara: “Amaya isn't here.”

Azar: “What are you talking about?! Where is she?!”

Khiara: “You don't remember what happened?”

Azar: “Remember what?! Just tell me.”

Khiara: “We don't know where she is.”

Azar: “What do you mean you don't know?! Where could she possibly fucking be?! Did someone take her?!

Khiara: “I promise you everyone is looking for her all this time.”

Azar: “All this time?!”

Khiara: “I really don't know how to say this.”

Azar: “What do you mean all this time?! I was with her yesterday. It was our wedding.”

Khiara: “Azar…no. I see that's the last thing you remember but it's not true. A lot of time has passed since that day.”

Azar: “That's not possible. What the hell are you talking about?!”

Khiara: “You've been here for some time.”

Azar: “How long?!”

Khiara: “You were in a coma for seven months.”

Azar: “How did it happen?!”

Azrael: “My baby boy!!”

Fenrir: “My son!! I knew you were strong enough to survive it.”

Khiara: “I'll go call the doctors to tell them that he's awake.”

Azar: “Survive what? Why did Khiara tell me I was in a coma for seven months?! What happened to me?! And will someone tell me where the fuck Amaya is?! What’s wrong with you?! Just fucking tell me. I need to know everything. The last thing I remember is us at our wedding and dancing with my wife and now I wake up in a damn hospital bed and my sister told me that I've been here for seven months.”

Azrael: “Son…there are so many things and I know it’ll be hard for you to process but we need you to hear us out and stay as calm as possible. You need to understand it's a miracle that you're still alive but thank God you are strong enough to endure it all.”

Fenrir: “There's no easy way to explain this but we know you're too stubborn to rest until you replace out the whole truth.”

Azrael: “Amaya’s not here and we don't know where she is. All we know is that after your wedding ceremony you went home with her and you marked her.”

Fenrir: “But there was something we didn't know about her.”

Azrael: “Son, Amaya’s a siphoner.”

Azar: “WHAT?!”

Fenrir: “We don't know why and how. We've been searching but we still have nothing.”

Azrael: “When you marked her, she absorbed your powers. She took them from you. That's why there was a high chance you wouldn't make it. Your healing slowed down.”

Azar: “She would never do something like that? She's my mate, my wife!!”

Fenrir: “I told you this isn't gonna be easy.”

Azrael: “Son, listen to me. I trust you, I really do. If your heart knows she loves you, then it's true. It's possible that she really didn't know what would happen to you. It's highly possible that she didn't even know her true nature.”

Azar: “But it doesn't explain the fact that she's not here right now. You wanna tell me that she just disappeared?!”

Fenrir: “Soon after everything happened our pack warriors caught an intruder. At first he didn't wanna talk but your mom used her power to torture him until he confessed.”

Azrael: “Before he died he was one of the messengers from Miranda and Amaya’s old pack. He was sent by Alpha Nash, that's how they call him to check to see if you're still alive. That means they expected all of this to happen. They knew it all. He also said Amaya is with them.”

Azar: “And you believe that?!”

Fenrir: “The night of your wedding the pack warriors noticed someone running away from our territory. They said she was moving too fast. That's how we realized something was terribly wrong.”

Azrael: “They saw Amaya running away and she clearly went back to her pack.”

Azar: “No matter what you say I'll never believe that she went to them. She was scared of them. She hated them. They tortured her, her whole life. It must be something else.”

Azrael: “I know what you mean but we can't replace a single choice of her.”

Fenrir: “Or where the pack is.”

In Azar’s head: I was trying so hard to understand what my family was telling me. I'm not crazy. I remember having a wedding with Amaya. I remember how both of us were happy, laughing and dancing but that was it and now I hear that it's been seven months since that day? How is that possible? I was fighting hard to accept the truth. It can't be true. Amaya being a siphoner? I know her heart, I know her pain. I know her love for me. She’d never do anything against me. She’d never go back to her family. I've seen her suffering. I've seen her scars. I've seen her agony from her childhood. I felt it as if it was my own. There's no way she would go back to them. Unless there was this thought that appeared in my mind. Unless it was all fake. Unless they planned it all along. Then it hit me. Images started flashing in front of my eyes. Our wedding reception, going back home. Our passionate kiss heating up more and more. My decision to finally mark her. Holding her tiny frame in my embrace and my canines pierced her delicate skin. The sensation it gave both of us but then shock. Like lightning. I remembered watching fire crawling around her, sneaking around her. Until it reached her heart and it looked like she was absorbing it. She was in agony and I was too weak to help her. I remember my last thought. It must be her, Amaya. She’s the one making me weak. She’s the one taking my strength and my powers. It was really hard. Amaya was truly a siphoner. I triggered it by marking her and after that everything went black.

Azar: “GET OUT!!”

Azrael: “Azar?!”

Azar: “I SAID GET OUT!! I don't wanna see anyone. I WANNA BE ALONE!! LEAVE ME ALONE!! GO AWAY!!”

Blaise: “Save your strength, you can't handle the pain. Let me take over.”

In Azar’s head: Okay. (Azar shifts into his wolf). Let's get out of here. (Amaya’s room)

In Amaya’s head: The last few months were pure torture. I finally started understanding what Emerald meant by saying Nash wanted to create a new mate bond between the two of us. No, I didn't feel the pull towards him, not to mention any emotion except hate of course. The more time that passed, the more helpless I became. I couldn't disobey him in any way. His every command needed to be fulfilled. Thankfully he didn't take me by force. He found some weird satisfaction in waiting for me to break enough to be with him by my own wish. Whenever I try to speak up, insult him, or mention Azar…he would beat me until I passed out. Then afterwards I’ll wake up laying in his arms and he would be so apologetic repeating how sorry he was. Telling me it was my fault that I provoked him. I guess he loves me and some sick ways of his. He's a monster, I always knew it. But since the day he killed his own mate…it all became even more clear. Since that day and him seeing the blood on me, he created a new routine for the both of us. He would come every morning for a bath and to dress me. Even though he never did more than that, it was already way too much for me. I felt dirty from his touches. They make me sick. I know the months have passed but I don't know how many exactly. It's really hard to track time. The only good thing is that my mom and brother weren't allowed to come near me. Nash didn't allow that. He was the only one who could talk to me. I was now in another, isolated room with prison bars. Nash said it's for my sake. He taught me how to use my powers. Well, not mine, Azar’s powers. Those that I stole from him. It broke my heart and I felt like a filthy thief. I can't believe I did this to him but Nash was pushing me more and more. When nothing worked, he found a new way. The trigger was to provoke me. To enrage me. He would say how I killed Azar…how I killed my mate and the truth was, I didn't know if he was alive or not and then I didn't have to do anything after that. Fire did it all. It would consume everything and everyone around it. Just like I watched Azar do it before. Nash even sacrificed a lot of his pack members for the sake of my training. He wanted to see the effort my flames had on someone. A true psychopath. He enjoyed it so much but once I managed to control the fire and manipulated it, he was the one who had control over it and I couldn't do anything to stop him. I knew what today was and no matter how hard I fought it, I was useless.

Nash: “I'm sorry. I can't help you get ready today. I need to regroup our pack warriors.”

In Amaya’s head: And that's what he apologizes for? Thank God he'll spare me at least if it's only for one day.

Nash: “I left you a beautiful dress in the bathroom while you were sleeping. Go and get dressed. I know it’ll fit you well. I can't wait to see you in it. I'll meet you outside in 15 minutes. Don't be late. You don't want me to come and get you. (in the bathroom)”

In Amaya’s head: I can't even stand my own reflection. Every time I look at myself in the mirror, I'm disgusted with myself. Those red eyes reminded me of what I've done. How much I hurt Azar. Probably even killed him. I just wish that he was alive even if it means that he hates me. He should. He's the only person who ever loved me and gave me protection and this is how I repaid him? This is how I destroyed him? He loved me. He was ready to give his own life for me. To fight against the whole world for me. I guess I was right all along. I was never worth enough. I was never good enough for him but I prayed he survived and maybe someday he'll replace someone else. A second chance. It hurt me so much, but that was the truth. Even if I ever somehow managed to break free. I would still not deserve him. I just wish I could know how he is but Nash would never tell me anything. one thing for sure is now everyone hates me but that's okay. I know no one can hate me as much as I hate myself. (in the woods)

Nash: “There you are. I told you that it would look stunning on you. As you can see we gathered a lot of people here only for you. They all came to see you. I can't thank you enough for helping me gather these many allies. A whole pack started joining our side but there's something you don't know yet. Well, you smart being, you probably figured it out. There's a purpose to all of this. This world was terrorized for too long. We need to make this world a better place. We need to get rid of those who made us suffer for so long. We’re not afraid anymore. We're done living in the shadows. We're done hiding. I'll be your new leader. I'll be the new alpha of all alphas. We’ll kill Fenrir. We’ll kill Azrael!! We won't stop until every single member of The Crimson Fleur pack is gone. THE WAR HAS BEGUN! They have too many packs on their side. We’re still outnumbered. We need more people. In case some of you wanna change your mind or aren’t sure of the power I hold, my mate will show you. After this, you’ll spread the word. The same destiny will meet everyone who isn’t on my side. Beware, Amaya, love. Show our friends here your talent. Unleash the fire.”

In Amaya’s head: This was the order I couldn't defy. How can someone so powerful be so weak? My whole body was radiating with fire and I couldn't stop it. All that I have is in Nash's hand. If he decides to kill, I kill. If he decides to destroy, I destroy. I was a puppet in his hands and he’s the one pulling the strings. I wanted to scream. I wanted to break free but all in vain. All these years he knew. He waited for me to become his personal weapon and now what he wants? He wants me to slay a whole pack. Everyone who stands in his way. He'll use me for his revenge that he's craved for so long. I'll be the one to end them. The only people who accepted me. No matter what, he wants to destroy the only family I have. My real family. My whole body was shaking with pain, I felt only at the thought of it. Yet I still needed to oblige. Tears started rolling down my face. I can't do this. I can't take it anymore. No matter what, I must stop him. I'll replace a way to end this. I'll replace a way to vanish those monsters once so far. No matter the cost. I’ll burn the Sacred Wood and Blood Moon to the ground. I'll end their whole bloodline. something new was building inside of me. Determination. I realized I'm not the one I want to fight for. I'll fight for Azar.