h4Chapter 327: My Pain/h4

    strongEaster~/strong

    I lifted my gaze to Jacob, drawn into the quiet storm that always lived in his eyes. They were warm, yes—steady and endless—but beneath that warmth ran the weight of centuries, like rivers carved deep into stone. His presence filled the night effortlessly, his lean, athletic body rxed yet alert, every line of muscle humming with a predator’s grace that set my pulse racing. He wasn’t just Jacob, not just the man who had stood by me in silence and in fire—he was Mist, the Wolf Spirit, something eternal wearing the face I loved.

    He stood there waiting, patient and unyielding, his expression caught between tenderness and sorrow. The faint downturn of his lips betrayed the sadness he tried to keep hidden. Around us, the jasmine vines stirred with the breeze, their scent sweet and heavy in the air, like an embrace meant tofort—but the storm in my chest wouldn’t settle. My hair clung to my flushed cheeks in tangled waves, and tears burned hot at the corners of my eyes, making everything shimmer. My heart felt like it was hammering against the cage of my ribs, desperate to break free.

    "Jacob..." My voice cracked, trembling like a leaf in wind. "I trust you. With everything—my life, my heart, even the broken pieces of who I was. You’ve been my anchor through it all, even when I didn’t remember you." I tightened my grip on his hands, feeling the quiet strength pulsing through them. Stepping closer, I breathed him in, the familiar warmth of him grounding me. "But my family... no matter what they did, no matter the scars, I need to know. That pain is mine. If I don’t face it, how can I ever truly step into the future we’re building? Please, Jacob. Give me back those memories."

    His eyes searched mine, torn between reluctance and admiration. The slow rise and fall of his chest betrayed the battle raging inside him, the fabric of his shirt straining lightly against the strength of his frame. Finally, his voice came, low and steady, rumbling with the weight of a promise that could not be undone.

    "If that is truly what you want, my love, then I’ll do it. But once those memories return, there’s no turning back. You’ll see the beauty, yes—but also the ugliness. You can’t unsee what’s been hidden."

    I nodded firmly, my tangled hair brushing my cheeks with the motion. But before he could move, I caught his hands tighter, my pulse thrumming wild beneath my skin. Fear and resolve tangled together inside me until it was hard to breathe.

    "Wait." My voice was small but certain. "Before you do this... you have to swear something to me. Promise me, Jacob. You’ll never touch my mind again without my say-so. No more shields, no more veils, no matter how noble your reasons. My memories, my thoughts—they’re mine. I need to know they belong to me from now on."

    Surprise flickered across his features, widening his eyes for a heartbeat before the tension melted away. He lifted a hand to my cheek, his touch achingly gentle. His thumb swept a single tear from my skin as if it were the most sacred thing he had ever held.

    "Easter," he whispered, his voice carrying the gravity of a vow. "I swear it. From this moment on, I will never tamper with your mind again. Your memories are yours—untouchable, invible. Only with your consent will I ever reach for them. They belong to you, always."

    To prove his seriousness, he raised his free hand, palm up, and whispered ancient words that hummed with power, like the low growl of a wolf echoing through the forest. A soft, golden glow ignited in the air between us, swirling into a shimmering spell that pulsed with ethereal light. The orbs around us brightened in response, as if witnessing the vow. The glow condensed, forming a delicate half-moon shape that seared gently onto his wrist—a tattoo that gleamed silver before fading into his skin, a permanent reminder etched in magic. "See this?" he said, showing me the mark, his voice thick with emotion. "It’s bound to my essence. If I ever break this promise, it will burn like fire, a curse of my own making. That’s how much you mean to me."

    Happy tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over in warm streams down my cheeks, soaking into the cor of my dress. I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him close, my body pressing against his lean frame. "Oh, Jacob," I sobbed softly, my voice muffled against his shoulder, "thank you. I love you so much." Rising on my tiptoes, I captured his lips in a kiss—passionate, desperate, filled with the relief of trust rebuilt. His earthy scent of pine and wild winds enveloped me, making my head spin.

    He kissed me back fiercely, his arms wrapping around my waist with that quiet strength, lifting me slightly off the ground as if I weighed nothing. His lips moved against mine with a tenderness that melted my fears, his ck hair tickling my forehead. When we finally parted, breathless, he rested his forehead against mine, his brown eyes gleaming with love. "Now," he whispered, "are you ready?"

    I nodded, my blush deepening as I braced myself. "Yes. Do it."

    With a gentle touch, he ced his hands on either side of my head, his fingers threading through my hair. A warm surge of energy flowed from him, like a river of light unlocking hidden doors in my mind. The memories flooded back in a torrent, vivid and raw, pulling me under like an ocean.

    First came Melody—my twin sister, identical in looks but worlds apart in soul. Her face shed before me: the same wild curls, emerald eyes, freckles dotting her nose just like mine. We were inseparable once, giggling through high school like two peas in a pod. Then, that fateful party. The thumping bass, the crowded rooms hazy with smoke andughter. We’d snuck out together, excited for our first real taste of rebellion. But I got distracted—chatting with friends, dancing carefree—while Melody wandered off. When I found herter, she was shattered, tears streaming down her face. Some boys had cornered her, taken advantage in the worst way. Raped her. The word hit me like a punch, even now. She med me, screaming through sobs, "Where were you, Easter? You should’ve been with me! This is your fault!"

    A weekter, our parents found out. Mom and Dad, those self-proimed pirs of Christianity, with their Bibles always at hand and judgments sharper than knives. Melody, terrified of their wrath, lied. "It was Easter," she whispered to them, her voice trembling. "Easter was the one raped." Their faces twisted in horror—not sympathy, but shame. "How could you disgrace us like this?" Dad bellowed, his face red with rage. Mom turned away, muttering prayers as if I were tainted. They shunned me, treating me like a pariah in my own home. And Dad? He forced me into marriage with Ruben—a man twice my age, a "good Christian" from church who promised to "fix" me. The wedding was a blur of forced vows and silent tears. Ruben became my nightmare: his fists flying over nothing, bruises blooming on my skin like dark flowers. Days blurred into hellish nights, until Natalie and Jacob stepped in. Natalie, with her fierce spirit, helped me gather evidence, while Jacob... oh, Jacob used his ancient power to shield me, guiding me through the divorce with whispers of strength and love.

    Months passed in blissful ignorance after that, but then Melody reached out. "Sis, let’s reconcile," her message read, sweet as honey. Foolishly hopeful, I met them—Melody, all tears and smiles at first. But it was a trap. My parents and my twin tried to locked me away ranting about how I’d disgraced them by divorcing Ruben, calling me a sinner. They tried to take Rose—my precious little girl, with her innocent eyes and tiny hands—from me, iming I was unfit. Jacob burst in like a storm, his wolf essence zing. He exposed them: Dad’s hidden affairs, Mom’s hidden affairs as well, shockingly with the same man, Melody’s own secrets—all buried under their religious facade. "Hypocrites," he growled, his voice echoing with power. "You hide your sins while condemning hers." I cut them out that day, vowing never to look back.

    The memories crashed to an end, leaving me gasping, my knees buckling. Jacob caught me, his arms steady as I clung to him. I looked up, staring dead into his eyes, my voice steady despite the tears. "You were right, Jacob. Those memories... they’re painful, like knives twisting in my heart. The betrayal, the lies—it burns. I could never sacrifice my immortality for people like that. They’re poison, wrapped in false piety. But... I’m happy I know now. Who I was before all this—it makes me appreciate you, us, even more."

    He held me tighter, his brown eyes shimmering with relief. "Easter, my love..."

    I hugged him fiercely, burying my face in his chest, feeling the rhythm of his ancient heart. "I’m never leaving you," I whispered, my voice thick with so much love. "I choose forever with you. Eternity, side by side, with our girls—Rose and little Diane. That’s my path."

    He tilted my chin up, his lips brushing mine in a soft, lingering kiss. "And I’ll cherish every moment," he murmured against my skin, the spirit orbs glowing brighter around us, as if celebrating our unbreakable bond. The night air felt alive with promise, the jasmine sweeter, and in that dramatic, depth-filled embrace, I knew we’d face whatever came next—together.