Chapter 129 Promise Me

(Hope POV)

Here I go again. My life is flashing before my eyes. I barely had any control of my body left. Once my children are born, the Great Shadow will take over my body. I have decided to give up and rest peacefully with my biological parents. I was exhausted beyond words.

For the past six months, I have been waging war against an old enemy inside my very body. I was arrogant to believe I was stronger and more powerful than the rest. I was utterly wrong. My conceit would be my downfall. The Moon Goddess had made sure I would learn a very painful lesson.

Why did I have to bite into Bailey's arm? I could have just left Jacques or Arthur or any of the others to finish her off, but no, I just had to be the hero once again. Hope killed the Rogue Lord, Hope sacrificed herself, Hope was the one who caught Jean Luc, Hope, Hope, Hope and every time it was Hope, the hero. That was my problem. I let all of that get into my head.

Who could blame me though? I lived unnoticed for eighteen years. No one applauded me, no one dated me, no one ever listened to me, no one ever complimented me, well, except for my parents. No. One. Ever. Saw. Me. I was invisible, alone, practically unwanted. And even if I was blessed with two loving parents in the world, it apparently was not enough to fill my very big ego.

Alexander should have been enough for me. My handsome mate. Fated mates were suppose to complete each other and every single day, I saw Alexander grow into a humble, loving and dedicated family man. Something I was clearly not. I wanted to show him how much I loved him, but I was restricted by the Shadow. The Shadow wanted me to push away every one I held dear in my heart or he would just have me kill myself. I couldn't allow that to happen. I had to follow everything he said so my children could live. My children needed to survive. The world needs them.

I tried communing with the Moon Goddess in Opal's realm, however she herself had turned her back on me. Opal had warned me time and again to be careful of my actions, because each action had a terrible and startling repercussion. I didn't listen and look where it got me...back to my deathbed.

I had two other powerful Priestesses, but I tried to outdo them. I could have allowed them the benefit of showing their prowess, however my pride got the better of me. In University, I was hardly with them. Yes, we lived in the same building, but we never truly bonded as sisters. If only I could turn back time.

All three of us Priestesses of the Circle of the Ring could have toppled Alpha Bailey. Leia was suppose to pounce, but I had Opal make the first move. Her fangs had sunk too far into the skin of Bailey's arm that the black ooze took as an opportunity to latch itself on me.

No one noticed and I think no one really cared. I thought I had made lifelong friends, however my friends clearly didn't know me enough to realize I had changed.

My mother was scared of me. My sweet, caring, loving mother was scared of me. She avoided me after the confrontation we had when I arrived home from France. The Shadow laughed and showed me how far he could go to push away the one person who had cared for me all through my life. I had watched through the lake in Opal's realm as the Shadow called her many horrible names, chastising her for being a mere human who would never understand what it was to be wolf because she will never be really part of my world. For the first time in her life, she slapped me. I may not have been in control of my body, but I had felt all the rage in that slap. Alexander reprimanded me for saying all those hurtful things, the Shadow just scoffed at him and said he was a mere underling and would never live up to a powerful Priestess like me. I saw his gaze fall and when he lifted his eyes to mine, I saw pain and suffering. I couldn't comfort him nor tell him I was sorry. I was helpless. I have been helpless for six whole months.

I was allowed to come back to my body during my favorite part of the day. The Shadow needed my body to live which required me to gain control for some time. I sat with my father showing him my love for him in my eyes. He would just sit quietly with me hoping for a miracle that his Hope, the Hope he had raised, loved and cherished, would come back to them. However, after the sun had set and the world grew dark, there was no Hope for him left.

My great grandfather preferred to stay with Jacques. I understood why. They had bonded for three years and had become inseparable. I had wished he would come visit me during the six months of my "incarceration", but he had stayed in France, promising he would come before Christmas. I had failed in all my relationships. If I come out of this alive, I will remind each and every one of my loved ones how much I truly cherish them in my life.

The Doc, fortunately, kept a watchful eye. I had hoped she would figure out everything, but she too turned a blind eye. She did however tell Alexander there was something very wrong with me, but Alexander said it must be trauma and hormones. He said everything would work out after the baby was born. Doc Frances had asked High Elder Amelie to stay close by though. The Shadow, I had felt, wanted Amelie to be near us. I just didn't know why. He was very difficult to read owing to the fact my powers have waned to give rise to my babies.

Twins. I was having twins. A girl and a boy. In my womb they kept close to each other, hugging one another. It was awfully sad realizing I may not have the chance to watch them grow up.

Tomorrow is the full moon of the Winter Solstice and an eclipse will be happening to give rise to the Blood Moon. It is said the Blood Moon symbolizes chaos, disruption and change. This was the night the Shadow had been waiting for. Tomorrow night he will cause chaos through me.

Suddenly, it happened, just before the rise of the full moon of the Winter Solstice. Pain surged through my abdomen and radiated all the way to my spine, and with it, light from my womb. I felt the Shadow tremble as the light dispersed the darkness in my body. With each contraction, the Shadow grew weak and I became strong, enabling myself to take control of my body once again, however weak I was.

"Please, tell Alexander to get here as soon as possible." This was my message over and over again. I needed him to know how much I loved him, to let me go when the time comes and to take care of our children and make sure they are well-loved.

The Shadow made one mistake of calling the Doc, Doctor Williams. I never call the Doc by her surname. I usually call her Doc or Doc Frances. When she crossed her arms in front of me, I felt she knew what was happening. I prayed she would help me and call the right people to expel this darkness who has used me to survive.

"Opal, I need you to help me see."

"The darkness feels terrible pain. The light is lessening his hold on you, which means he is becoming weak. I see him hiding in my realm. He has taken the figure of a man. I will oust him when the time is right. Do not despair, hope is not lost. The Moon Goddess has considered your sacrifice. As the Blood Moon rises, it will bring about change. Have faith."

I feel another contraction and welcome the pain radiating throughout my body. This only meant the Shadow was getting weaker. There was still hope.

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(Alexander POV)

"Where is she?" Doc Frances was waiting for me at the entrance of the hospital. Seeing her there, pacing back and forth, made me very uncomfortable. I began to panic.

"Hope is fine, Alpha. I need you to wear these before you enter her room." She handed me a hospital gown, with gloves and a mask.

"Is she alright? Why do I need these? Is she going into surgery?" Dammit! What was happening to Hope?! Doc Frances takes my arm and leads me into a small room.

"Alpha, first of all I need you to calm down. Hope is waiting for you. It's your name she calls every single time. Secondly, remember I told you before there was something strange about Hope, that she hasn't been acting like herself lately which you brushed off as pregnancy hormones? Well, there seems to be something living inside her. Every contraction, faint clouds of black smoke exits her hands."

"WHAT?! THE GREAT SHADOW OF ULA HAS BEEN INSIDE HER ALL THIS TIME?!" How could I have not seen it? Yes, she said some awful things and yes, she was no longer affectionate to everyone around her, but why did I not see it?! I have been such an imbecile.

"It seems possible. The High Elder is on her way. I need you to get into that gown and put those gloves on. The High Elder says we shouldn't touch her because of her gift of hindsight. Do hurry, Alpha."

I put on the gown on top of my clothing and put on the mask and gloves as fast as I could. Hope needed me to be with her. I had to act fast.

"Now, let's go Alpha. Just let Hope talk. Make sure not to let the shadow thing know what we know. Just play the loving mate." I nod my head, agreeing to her instructions. We leave the room and I follow the Doc to Hope's room. Outside her room, our family sat quietly, very worried. I nodded to all of them and followed the Doc inside.

She was lying on a hospital bed, her frail body tense, sweat clung to her face and her hair was drenched in her sweat. When she saw me, I saw the love in her eyes once more. For six months, her eyes were dull. My Hope was with me once more.

"Alexander, there is no time. I want you to know I love you with all my heart. Promise me you will let me go and continue to live life with our children." Her voice was faint, but I could feel the passion from her words.

"I love you so much Hope." I took her hand and kissed it through my mask and she smiled. How I missed her!

"Promise me you will let me go. Promise me you will take care of our children. Promise Alexander. I need you to promise me." She clenched my hand as a contraction swept through her.

"No, I can't. I can't promise you that, Hope. I just can't." I started to cry, tears falling down my cheeks. The feeling of losing her again was too painful. It can't be happening again. It just can't.

"Yes, you can. For our children's sake, Alexander. Promise me. Please, my love. Promise me." She gazed at me with begging eyes. I had to give in and promise her.

"I promise, Hope. I promise." She gave me a  weak smile after I said those few words she wanted to hear from me.

"I love you, Alexander. Tell the children I love them every day." She closes her eyes and I felt her clench my hand again. The contractions were a few minutes apart.

"I will, my love. I promise you."

I sat beside her telling her how much I loved her for a good long while. Each contraction was like a stab in my heart. My dear Hope was in anguish and all I could do was tell her I loved her. My tears never stopped falling. I couldn't imagine letting her go.

Doc Frances suddenly taps me on the shoulder. I turn my head to look at her. She had a smile on her face.

"Alpha, the High Elder is here."