Anthony's POV

"You know why? Because you're a heartless man and you just know to hurt people. You won't know how I feel right now." Tears ran down Ariana's eyes like wave pool of water as she burst out in anger.

A chuckle eluded my lips as I stared at my stupid excuse of a mate in utter amusement.

This woman has no idea, does she?

I simply shook my head in dismissal and rest comfortably on the carriage's seat--ignoring the pathetic tantrums of the woman beside me. Although I was certainly ignoring her, that didn't mean her words didn't bother me a bit.

You won't know how I feel right now

I shut my eyes as Ariana's last sentence echoed in my head making me remind of the women who I loved from the bottom of my heart. The women who I met on that winter night. The woman who died in my arms.

***

I had just travelled to Iris from Veneton all alone. More like, I had ran off from my house along with my little sister. We were fed up of that house, of those people, of everything that reminded us about our misfortune. So what if we were loaded with money, It still didn't mean we were happy. Money isn't everything. It's the happiness and peace one feels which is the real wealth. But sadly, everyone didn't realise it.

"Brother...I'm feeling dizzy," Anne, my small sister, clutched onto my sweater jacket's hem.

I looked down at my seven-years-old little sister as she looked up at me with those brown eyes of hers which were shutting occasionally.

Its been hours since we have been standing here--under a lonesome street light, freezing with cold on a an isolated road, waiting for a public vehicle to arrive or atleast a single living soul to pass by so that we could ask them the way to the wolvesbane packhouse. It's my step-father, Richard's pack. Unlike mom, he had always been considerate about me and Anne. He cared for us like we were his own blood. And although I never knew who my real father is, Richard's always been a father figure to me. Anne is his daughter though but he's never considered me inferior to her. Mom neglected us after she rejected my step-father, but I know for a fact that he would always accept us.

The weather was cold. Too cold for Anne's little body to bear. And it was making me worried weather she would be able to make it alive until we reach the packhouse. I took off my sweater, crouched down to her height, and wrapped my jacket around her little body before picking her up in my arms. She rested her little head on my shoulder wrapping her tiny arms around my neck.

I regretted bringing her with me. She was too small to be carelessly brought out in the cold. But how could I neglect my small sister like our mom did with us? Mom just left me and Anne alone in that huge mansion with loads of nannys and servants to take care of us. I knew she never really wanted kids, she had said that herself. She said me how I was a 'mistake' she never wanted. But she didn't regret having me since I was an open ticket to her for getting enormous wealth which was given by my real father so that she won't ever say to anyone who my father is. The other reason I'm here is to find out about my real father.

The cold snow falling on me made me shiver as it came into contact with my skin which was now bear of any clothing except a single cotton shirt. I held Anne tighter in my arms so that the little soul doesn't feel anymore colder. I could hear Anne's breathing turning shallower increasing my heart rate. I have to find shelter soon. But I can't see even a single soul here. What do I do?

With little Anne still in my arms, I frantically looked around. Was there not anyone out here who could help us? I was in distraught due to Anne's worsening condition. And then she came into my life like an angel sent from heavens.

A silhouette of a women came rushing towards me and I felt my spirits rise. Thank the heavens! Atleast, there's someone out here but wait, why is she running? And why does it seem like-

"Ouch!" The woman and I, both said simultaneously as she crashed with me resulting both our heads to bump into each others.

"Are you blind, Mister?!" The woman no girl said furiously as she rubbed her head. She's young and beautiful. She has bright and lovely grey eyes. She looks about my age that is eighteen. She is wearing a black hood but it didn't hide her blonde hair completely. Her face looked flushed probably because of the cold. She's really gorgeous...

"Don't tell me you're blind and deaf as well? First you don't get out of the way and then you stand like a statue." Her words snapped me out of whatever trance I was in as I came back to my senses.

Deaf? Blind? Wait, what's she talking about?!

"I'm sorry mam but I don't think it was my fault. You were the one who bumped with me."

"How can you say that?!" She rebuked back angrily. I smiled internally as the woman glared at me after scowling. She's really something...

"Brother...I don't feel good," Anne's slow voice bought me back to the main topic.

"Excuse me, can you please tell us the way to the Wolvesbane pack?" I asked the woman with urgency as Anne started trembling in my arms.

"What happened to her? Is she your sister?" The woman was quick to check on Anne's temperature, "Oh my goodness! She's freezing! You need to take her to somewhere warm."

"Uhm...that's why I'm asking you the way to the wolvesbane packhouse."

"Are you a pack member? No wait, we don't have time for that. The wolvesbane pack is miles away from here. You need to address the little girl asap. Come follow me, I'll take you to my house. It's the closest from here."

I was a bit hesitant to go along with her. I mean, she's a stranger and I don't even know her. How can I just follow her home?

"What are you waiting for?! We don't have time! Your sister is shivering really bad!" The woman shouted at me as she grabbed my cold hand with her extremely warm ones dragging me along with her.

Suddenly, she stopped walking and turned to look at me, "You're freezing yourself. How long have you been standing here?"

"A hour maybe?"

"A hour?! What's wrong with people these days?! Standing out in the snow on a deathly cold night. Do you not have a brain or what? Phew...now I'll have to do something," she rambled before stepping closer to me. Extending her hand, she held my face which stunned me.

"What are you-"

"Shut up. I'm trying to give you some of my body heat so that you don't die before we reach my house. I can't do that with your sister since she's really small and I can't risk using my magic on her."

Body heat? What does she mean? Did she say magic?

"Are you a witch?"

"You realised really soon, mister." She rolled her eyes still holding my face, "Now, shut up and let me focus."

I shut my mouth as she instructed and instead stared at her beautiful face. As I continued staring her, I could feel a warmth creep into my heart and my insides warming up. I'm not sure whether it's completely because of the magic she's using or something else.

***

Who knew that I would fall madly in love with that woman I met on that frosty winter night. Who knew she would become my everything. That I would do anything just to keep her happy. That I would even endure heartbreak and let my heart suffer by seeing her fall for another man just so that she's content.

But what happened in the end? When I couldn't bear the pain anymore of seeing her with someone else and pretending to be just her 'friend' when I sure had feeling towards her more than a friend, I left only to return back after a few years and find her taking her last breaths.

I still remember those hollow and lifeless eyes--which once used to be so bright that it would lighten my whole day--look so void of emotion and without any life. I still remember the way she suffered during her last breaths. The way she died in my arms. A piece of myself died that day along with her...

"Believe me, I know better than you how it feels to loose the one you love," I murmured while I felt the build up emotions surfacing.

Just why it had to be her? And why not me? I would love to die instead of her. I never really had anything in my life except her anyways. But now even she's gone...All because of Daniel Rodriguez.

I opened my eyes as I felt those memories gnawing back at me. It's been almost five years since she died yet the one who caused her death had the audacity to live peacefully. Not on my watch people. I'll make all of them go through the same pain I went all these years. Especially you, Daniel.

I'll avenge your death, my love.

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Daniel's POV

Missing someone isn't about how long it has been since you've not seen them or how long it has been since you've talked to them. It's about the very moment when you find yourself feeling lonely and wishing they were here by your side. So that you could just look at their face and feel blessed.

I miss you, Ari.

I miss your angelic voice. I miss your pretty smile. I miss the way you blush when I flirt with you. I miss how easily you get flustered or how you sometimes say anything that's on your mind. I miss your face. I miss the entire you, Ari.

Only If there was a way to get you back...

A knock came through the other side of the door making me snap out of my despair. I was about to dismiss the person but stopped when I heard Ariel's voice.

"Danny, open the door! I have something to show you. It's about Anthony," Ariel's voice seemed a bit alarmed which peeked my curiosity as I got up from the bed and made my way to the door.

The moment I opened the door, Ariel quickly walked in and shut the door behind her. She seemed a bit off. What's the matter?

I noticed a file in her hands which she extended towards me. I raised one of my brows in question.

"Remember you said to do a background check of Anthony after the first council meeting?" I nodded for her to continue, "Well, I made sure to do a thorough background-check and although there's a few things which couldn't be found, there's something that we didn't know about Anthony. Look at it yourself."

I received the file from her hands and scanned the content of the file. Ariel pointed towards a part of the file and as I took into the details, my eyes widened in shock.

"Are you sure this is true?" I wasn't able to quite believe this. How could it be that Anthony knew her. More like loved her.

"I appointed the best investigators of the kingdom for this task. I'm sure the information in this is certainly true, Danny."

Then if it's true...

I felt my shoulders slump in defeat. I didn't expect things to turn out this way. I didn't expect my past to kick me back like this. Now I understand why Anthony wants revenge on me or why he hates me so much.

It's because,

I am very much the reason why the love of his life is dead now.

_________

Sooooo....how's the chapter?

Any guesses on who this mysterious 'woman from the past' is?

I know there wasn't much of Daniel and Ariana in this chapter. But I assure you, that I'll try to unite them as soon as possible;)

Thank you for reading. Hope you liked the chapter:)