Basic Instincts

Death. It’s a small word to explain something so big. It's what awaits me and unlike those around me, I’m fine with it. It isn’t how I thought they would all go.

I found someone I thought was my mate and was then rejected, I escaped a crazy man who wanted nothing but power, I found a family who meant everything to me and some that have lied to me from the start. I even found love in all of this chaos, it wasn’t something I wanted to easily admit but I had.

Ivar was my mate and I had accepted it but just as quickly as I had I chose to let him go. This isn’t just about me it's about everyone and I know I can save them all.

I don’t know how and I don’t know when but I have to trust myself that when the time comes I’ll know what to do. Artemis has spent every day trying to talk me out of this but every day I respond the same way.

“It's what I have to do Artemis, I know you don’t understand but this is how it has to be”

She argues with me but I stay calm every time, I don’t want to fight with her but I won’t force her to accept something difficult.

She tells me I’m stubborn and that she will find a way for me to get out of this but it doesn’t matter, I don’t want a way out I’m tired of running from this. My mother and father died to protect me to protect my secrets, they knew what they were doing, they knew one day I would have to face the same and they did it anyway.

I’m on my way to a meeting, Calder and the others have arrived back from whomever they were visiting and they have news for us. Not that it matters now though, if Ivar breaks free he will have to watch me die, I somehow think that’s crueller than letting my sister have a hold of him.

Walking into the room it goes silent, it’s obvious the sister has been filling the 4 of them in and Ildi’s eyes are focused on me. There's a fire behind them and I know I’m going to get it from him after this too.

I take a seat and ignore the atmosphere turning to face Calder.

“So what did you find?”

He looks around the room, his gaze falling to Selene who nods for him to continue, for such a big bad Alpha it's clear he doesn’t want to do anything to piss Selene off.

*” Well I went to visit an old friend. A witch actually, she lives on the outskirts of my land closer to the city.”*

“A witch? I didn’t think they existed anymore”

*” She is not a full witch. Her family comes from a line of these but their bloodline was watered down as they bred with humans. Witches have been around for a lot longer than we have”*


“So if her line was watered down how does she have magic?”

*” She doesn’t not really, she's not powerful but she studied all of her family histories. She can do a few things here and there. There are still traces in her blood but it’s minimal”*

He looks around the room with an air of authority demanding that people pay attention to him, it’s at that moment I realise that most of the eyes in the room are focused on me and not him at all.

They all instantly avert their gaze and look to him once more. I can feel the release of pressure when they do, I did not know I was aware of it beforehand but it was like a weight.

“I don’t understand Calder, how can she help us to free Ivar ?”


*” It’s not her that can but I didn’t know that when I went to see her. I was hoping she wouldn’t be able to break it but she said whoever has given her this magic is too powerful for her to face”*

“So the trip was pointless ?”


I feel rage in my chest, I wanted Ivar to be free of Salvi. I might not get to be with him but I want him to be happy. I don’t want him to watch me die but I don’t want him to suffer either.

*” It wasn’t pointless no. She told me how to break the spell he is under. She said that the only one that can save him now is his mate”*

His eyes drop to me and my face flushes red, I feel it.

**What do you mean only his mate can save him?”**

Artemis breaks the silence in the room. The question was on everyone’s lips she just seemed to get their first.

*” Well she said it will need to happen in two parts. First, you need to kill the witch who cast the spell for Salvi or you need to kill the host which in this instance is Salvi. Once that’s done Sekreta has his mate has to mark him”*

My breathing stops at his words. I have to mark him to save him. In a second everything, I thought I knew just went out of the window.

I was so willing to die and now it cannot happen until she is dead. I wanted to go after Marel. I was willing to die to save the others and now my heart has been torn in two. I can’t let him die, I just can’t.

I push myself away from the table without saying a word and I head for the door, I hear the sound of a chair scraping behind me but I don’t turn to look and see who it is.

Once the doors shut behind me I run through the house and out the doors heading right for the tree line. I pass a few trees and shift in an instant, I need to run to clear my head and work out what the fuck I’m going to.

It is like every time I think I have it planned, I think I’ve come to terms with what I’m going to do, bam something else enters the mix and everything turns to shit again.

I feel like bursting into tears over the loss of a love I haven’t ever had. Over my life, I was so willing to give up only a few days ago. I stop by a tree far from the house and shift back.

I don't care that I’m naked I don’t care about anything. I just need to know what I’m supposed to do, how am I supposed to save them when I can't even save myself.

I can hear the sound of footsteps coming and I know I should change back but I don't. It's obviously someone coming to talk to me and at this point, I'm not even sure if I want that but they will come anyway. A moment later a wolf appears in front of me, brilliant white with golden gleaming eyes.

“Cynthia?”

The wolf nudges me and then stares at the tree I'm leaning against, lifting the patch of grass at the bottom. I see a bag full of clothes. I get changed as she goes and another tree comes out seconds later dressed in all black. It throws me for a second seeing her in such dark clothing it's a stark contrast to her bright white hair and happy demeanour.

*” I'm probably not who you expected to see, right ?”*

I nod as she sits down next to me, she isn't wrong I would have guessed anyone else before her.

“What is is that you want Cynthia, I’ve got a lot on my mind and I don't need another one of you trying to convince me not to do something “

It comes out harsh and I don't mean it to but honestly, I can't deal with another don’t do this lecture, I’ve had enough from Artemis to last me an entire lifetime.

*” I wasn't going to try to stop you. You are a grown woman and can make your own choices”*
I'm taken aback for a second.

“You're not going to stop me ?”

*” No, why would I? I mean you have it worked out right, you've got a plan”*

“Well yeah, I guess. I mean I think I know what I’m supposed to do “

*” And Ivar too you know what you're going to do about him. If you're set on what your current plan is, you are going to have to just let things run their course with him. He will die sure but you won't be there to see it “*

“I can't just let him die, I’m going to at least try to save him “


*” I don't understand how your going to do that though Sekreta I mean you can't save us all if you save him”*

I'm starting to feel a tick of annoyance, why is she pressing me to just leave him to die. I know she wants to save her baby but this is just so obvious, she is so willing to let someone else die that could be saved. It is a side to her I never thought I would see.

“Why are you being like this. I thought you of all people would want to save a life if it were possible”


*” But I know you are thinking it too, I mean how could you possibly do it you can't be two places at once”*

“It's not about that I’m going to have to try aren't I. I'm alone in this, I cannot just leave him to die. Once Salvi is dead I just need to get to him and bite hI’llhen I’ll go right back to Marel.”

She rolls her eyes and looks off into the distance, her face expressionless almost bored.

“Look, Cynthia, I don't know what you want me to say. I am going to have to do this, I don’t exactly have a fucking choice. Who the hell else is going to save my mate and kill a crazy person”

I stand up and begin to pace, the rage growing inside me. What does she want from me, she followed me out here and she hasn't even said anything. She had pretty much agreed I needed to die and try to save Ivar but she could have done that in there, why did she feel the need to rub it in my face.

“I don't have any other choice Cynthia so if you've not got anything to say then just leave. I have already told you I’m willing to die for you all what more could you want from me”

*” what more could I want from you. Sekreta you don't get it “*

She laughs a little then stands to face me.

*” You have just said it yourself a few times. You've said you are alone, you've said you are the only one to do this but you are wrong.”*

I want to speak but she raises her hand to stop me.

*” I have watched you since you got I’ve, I’ve not trusted you and then I have. I’ve watched you offer yourself for the sake of others. Walk back into the nest of the person who wants to harm you the most. I admire it Sekreta but at some point, you have to realise you are not alone in this anymore”*

“I know I’m not you've helped me plenty, but this..”

*” This isn't about us?”*

She raises her eyebrow.
*” Your wrong Sekreta the second you walked in here you ceased to exist as a single. We have your back always and it's about time you realised it and let us help you. You cannot win this alone you need to remember that our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family, you came looking for that and we are it was here right in front of your face ”*


With that, she turns on her heel and heads back to the house and I'm left standing in a state of shock, my mouth hanging open a little as I try to think of something, anything to say.


*A/N
Thank you so much for reading, let me know what you think so far or what you think is going to happen to Sekreta and the sisters!
The next update will be available on Wednesday :)