SMITTEN

Aisha's lips pressed together in a slight grimace as she felt a constricting tightness in her chest.

"Lord Lycano's not bad, to be honest. But his timing is so wrong. How can I just accept him when a few hours ago, someone I like just confessed to me..." she talked to herself. 

But she stopped mid-sentence before adding, "but he betrayed me, too."

Her shoulders shrugged down as she recalled King Leandro with a naked, voluptuous woman in the same room. 

She was then reminded of Lord Lycano who almost raped her just a while ago. 

But she understood that it could be because of his primordial instinct, and he really wasn't intending to, since he stopped as soon as he realized that she got afraid of him.

Aisha heaved out a loud sigh, "Gosh, you guys. You're making my head ache!" 

She patted her head simultaneously when she realized that she was not supposed to talk out loud. 

Her eyes bulged out as she slowly pressed her lips. Her shoulders lifted and caved on her chest, as if she could cover herself with her back. 

Her heart beat so loud that they were like sound effects in a suspense movie. 

Slowly, she turned around to see if the two had caught on her. To her horror, they were now transformed into their wolf form and snarling at her with their vicious canine teeth.

The cool forest scent suddenly transformed as a whiff of animal ambiance filled the air. 

Aisha fell to the ground as her knees went weak. Her hands and feet scuffled backward, hoping that she could escape from death again.

She quickly thought of something that could save herself at that moment. Perhaps the two were afraid of the King. 

At the speed of light, she stated, "I am Lady Aisha, the soon-to-be royal wife of the King of Gaea."

She didn't really want to, now. But she guessed she had no choice. Or she could take it back as soon as she got out of there. 

The larger and more muscular one who could have been Lyan glared at her as if it doesn't have an effect on him.

Aisha recalled that he was angry at her since they first met. And she was not the soon-to-be royal wife then.

Lyan was about to jump at her when Lysa leaped on him and pushed him away. 

Then she quickly transformed to her human state and shouted to her, "Get away, my lady. I will talk to him."

Aisha nodded her head and uttered, "Thank you, Lysa." Then she scurried out of that part of the forest. 

Even when she was running away, she could still hear them talking.

"What did you do that for? She could have seen and heard us. She will tell on us to the King, or Lord Lycano!" Lyan growled.

"She will not," Lysa quickly answered, making Aisha slow down on her tracks.

Then Lysa added, "She is not the kind of person who betrays a friend even if that friend has betrayed her."

Aisha's eyes widened in surprise as she heard Lysa's words, making her peek back as she was running. 

Lyan was still fuming mad with his clenched fist and scrunched-up face. 

He was about to transform again, but Lysa held his arm firmly as her eyes gazed on Aisha.

She nodded her head as if she was prompting her to leave the place as quickly as she could.

Aisha drew in a deep breath before running with all her might away from them. But she couldn't help but think about what Lysa just said. 

Perhaps she was talking about their conversation in the carriage. 

She couldn't possibly know that the King that she was referring to was the King. And he has just betrayed her, that's why she was here.

Or was she literally talking about herself and her? Did she truly consider her as a friend, and she trusted her that she would not betray her?

She shook her head as she thought that it doesn't matter now. "You must survive, Aisha!" She motivated herself. 

She didn't know if Lysa could really control Lyan's wrath. It seemed like werewolves were very intense with their emotions whether it be lust, love, and rage.

Aisha continued to run, hoping she could find the way out. But to her dismay, she ended up at the edge of a cliff.

Aisha dropped to her knees as she panted for breath. She gasped as she inhaled a lungful of air. 

"What should I do now?" Aisha's head hung low as she peeked down below.

The cliff was too high for her to jump. But if she goes back, she might encounter Lyan again.

And if she ever got out. Where would she go? She doesn't want to see the King. Or Lord Lycano. Or Lysa. If she goes to Martina and the others, they might gossip about what happened to her. 

Her hand flew to her chest and pressed on it. She could feel beads of sweat trickling on her body. 

Her hair was all disheveled and her throat was as dry as the soil under her. 

She recalled the last time that she felt this hopeless was when the tsunami waves were about to crash on her. 

"Am I really not fit to live anywhere?" She thought as she gazed at the stars above her. "Maybe I'm better off dead. I would not bother anyone then."

It seemed that her existence was intolerable to everyone. 

Her parents, her friends, and here in Gaea. There were even people that were trying to kill her. 

She closed her eyes as she felt a stabbing pain in her chest with everything that was happening to her. 

As she did so, she heard someone call to her. "Aisha."

Aisha immediately stood up and glanced around, but she saw no one. 

However, the voice continued to call on her. Now it's clearer, louder, and more terrifying.

Then it said, "I am the Great Theos, the Creator and God of the Land of Gaea."

Aisha felt her heart literally stop beating at that moment, as she suddenly felt like she was fainting. 

All the oxygen in her body seemed to disappear into thin air, making her fall on her knees.

She has heard that no one has spoken to the Great Theos or has been spoken to, except for the King!

Aisha quickly bowed down with her head on the ground. "I- I am Lady Aisha, at your service."

She couldn't see him, but all the hairs on her skin were shooting up as she felt his presence around her. 

"It is I who gave you back your life. It is I who saved you from the destruction of your former world."

Aisha's jaw dropped as she heard him. Suddenly, a wave of peace splashed on her, overwhelming her heart with both hope and curiosity. 

As she remembered, she saw a figure saving her from the waters before she completely passed out. 

It was him, then? Finally, a smile made its way to her lips as she finally met her savior.

"Thank you, your Majesty. I will forever be indebted to you," she bowed down again and again as she expressed her gratitude to him. 

The Great Theos continued to speak in a thundering voice, making Aisha stay in her stooping position. "I save you for a greater purpose, to be the bearer of the future ruler of Gaea."

Aisha gulped as she was stunned by his statement. Her lips that went pallid white stuttered, "Wait, does that mean that I - I am the Chosen One?"

The Great Theos immediately clarified the most terrifying revelation that Aisha has encountered in her entire two lives. 

"I am not a God who forces my way to my people. It is up to you to accept it or not. If you are willing, then Gaea will continue to live in peace. If not, you can go back to your world. But you cannot come back to Gaea until your death. Your memories in this land will also be erased."

Aisha inhaled a lungful of air as she heard the options that were being laid down to her. 

She was glad to know that she can finally come back to her former world. Though she didn't know what it looked like now. Or if there were others who have survived. 

She would be alone, but she would get out of this land that was getting chaotic because of her. 

But her shoulders shrugged down as she didn't really want to leave here to the point that she couldn't come back again. 

She already grew fond of the people in the Castle, her newfound friends and -

She was about to say the name of the King, but she stopped as she recalled the last scene that she saw him in.

"If only the King passed on Lady Marina's b*tchy stint," Aisha grumbled as her jaw clenched.

She was already so happy to hear the confession of the King that she can't wait to get married tomorrow. That's why she was so devastated by what she saw. 

She thought that the Great Theos didn't hear her. But to her surprise, he answered her, "He did."

Suddenly, a wind came gusting in, even lifting Aisha's tunic. Aisha pulled it to the ground and lifted her head to see what was happening. 

Her jaw dropped as she witnessed a hologram-like video of the exact scene that took place in that chamber. 

*******************************

Your life has a purpose.

Your story is important.

Your dreams count.

Your voice matters.

You were born to make an impact.