The secret behind Layla's past IV

Annabelle paced restlessly in her room, watching the morning slowly turn into noon. For the first time in her life, she was unsettled and she wrung her wrist nervously. Riftan hadn't visited her in a while and it troubled her, especially now that she had fallen totally for him. Her hand curled around her flat stomach absentmindedly and a sigh escaped her. She couldn't keep it from him any longer. She had to tell him about the child she carried, their child.

But something kept holding her back. She didn't know why but a voice inside her head kept telling her to keep it a secret. The child wouldn't be normal; she knew that. Riftan was a hybrid creature, the very first of his kind with two strong bloodlines flowing within him, the blood of an ancient shifter and an ancient vampire. This child she carried would have three of the strongest bloodline; blood of an ancient shifter, ancient vampire and her own blood as a pure blooded Sorceress.

Making it the first Tribrid creature ever.

Heaving a deep sigh, she lowered herself on the bed. A hybrid creature didn't pose a serious threat like a tribrid. A hybrid was still seen as a normal creature but a tribrid... and one with the three strongest bloodline? She didn't need to be told that her child would be endangered. Creatures would seek the child's blood because it would hold tremendous power. The Supreme Alpha Riven might even order her child to be killed, for fear of the unborn child's power.

No!

She suddenly sprang up from the bed. She couldn't let anyone know about her child's real identity. She made up her mind instantly and left the house, with one thought ringing in her head. She would find out first if Riftan wanted a child. And if he did, she would tell him about the little one she carried. Maybe they would find a way to keep the baby's identity a secret.

And if he didn't want a child?

A tiny voice asked within her.

She shut off the voice quickly. Of course he would want a child, she thought. He loved her. He would be delighted with the news.

She had only been to Riftan's home once because he would always come over to her place, unable to stay away from her for even a minute. A small smile graced her lips as she remembered the intimate moments they shared. A child was made between them, and she knew she was doing the right thing by telling him. She still remembered the way to his house though, and her heart thudded heavily in her chest as she got to the west side of the island.

The land looked barren. The trees were turning brown already and dead leaves floated in the air. She could see the roof of Riftan's house and she hurried her steps, her heart beating a wild tattoo in her chest. There was no going back now. Apart from Riftan, no one else lived around here. So it came as a shock to Annabelle when she heard the tinkling laughter of a woman.

She slowed down, wondering who would be with him. He never had visitors because no one wanted to be with someone like him. Then who was it? She gasped when she heard Riftan's deep voice, filled with mirth as he laughed with the woman. Whoever she was, she had to be someone important.

Annabelle felt the jealousy eat through her heart and she almost turned around. The tiny voice stopped her again, telling her that Riftan had to know about his child. She turned around once more, squaring her shoulders and making up her mind. Riftan already told her he loved her. So another woman didn't mean anything.

With her mind made up, she turned the corner that led to his house. And she froze, her eyes widening, her heart breaking into a million pieces. Tears brimmed in her eyes and slowly spilled down her cheeks.

Riftan was seated in the meadow beside his house, and he wasn't alone. There was a beautiful redhead woman straddling him, hands wrapped around his neck, head thrown back in laughter. Riftan had his arms around the woman's waist and was teasing her with his lips, making her giggle. Annabelle watched them while her heart shattered into a million pieces.

Oblivious of Annabelle's presence, Riftan held the woman close while he breathed in her scent, enjoying the sparks that danced over his body as they made contact. Suddenly the sweet scent of lilac assailed him and his eyes snapped open as he heard her whisper.

"Riftan...",Annabelle whispered.

His head snapped up and he saw her, standing in the middle of the clearing. He got to his feet quickly, hiding his mate behind him. His heart crumbled as he noticed the tears in Annabelle's eyes. Her figure obscured the setting sun and made her glow like a goddess.

"Riftan, who's this?",Talia, his mate, asked innocently, her eyes looking over Annabelle.

"She's a friend my love...",Riftan whispered quietly, but Annabelle's ears caught it clearly.

And her anger flared up.

Suddenly a blinding glow illuminated her hair and her eyes came alive, burning with purple fire. A heavy wind began to blow and dark clouds appeared, shielding the sun and turning the day into night. Without a single movement of her body, power shot out of her and slammed into Riftan, violently shoving him away. Talia suddenly screamed as she felt something squeezing the breathe out of her. She tried to cry out Riftan's name but her voice seized and she clawed her throat as she struggled for air. She was dying.

"Annabelle please!",Riftan yelled from where he lay. Seeing Talia get hurt was bringing out his hybrid side and making him want to kill whoever was hurting his mate. However he couldn't. As much as he wanted to protect.Talia, a part of him couldn't hurt Annabelle.

His eyes turned white with rage when Talia suddenly screamed out in agony. His hybrid side took over and he shifted into a terrifying beast;half lycan, half vampire. He roared furiously and bounded over to where Annabelle stood.

As he raised his claw to strike her, he froze. Memories of their time together appeared in his mind, and he knew he could never hurt her. Even after finding his mate, Annabelle still held a part of his heart. So he slowly shifted back and knelt beside her, while the agonized screams of his mate reached his ears.

"Annabelle please!",he cried out above the screaming of the wind. "Do whatever you want with me. But don't hurt my mate. I beg you, do not hurt Talia. I can't live without her..."

His words penetrated the furious haze clouding Annabelle's mind and her eyes focused. She gasped when she realized what she was doing and she quickly released the young woman. The wind subsided and the dark clouds cleared up.

With a shattered heart, she watched Riftan rush back to his mate and pull her into his arms. She watched Talia struggle to breathe after having her breath seized from her lungs. She watched how gentle Riftan was with her, and her already shattered heart shattered the more. Her tears choked her, struggling to pour out as realization dawned on her.

Riftan had found his mate. He would no longer be hers.

She began to move backwards slowly, one hand fisted over shattered heart. She almost killed his mate. What kind of monster was she? She needed to leave. Seeing the man she loved with another woman tore at her, and it made her go mad with sorrow. She couldn't tell him about the baby she carried. She couldn't.

After making sure his mate was fine and unhurt, Riftan finally turned his attention to Annabelle. And the anguish in her eyes ripped into him painfully. He stood up and stretched his hand towards her.

"Please Anna",he pleaded as a single tear drop spilled down his eyes. He knew he was hurting her, and yet there was nothing he could do about it.

"Please let me explain..."

But Annabelle shook her head. There was nothing for him to explain. She understood what was happening. Even if Riftan wanted to be with her, the mate bond he shared with his mate wouldn't let him. It was too strong. She knew this would happen someday, and yet she blindly fell for him, giving him her body and soul. It was all over for her.

"Goodbye Riftan",she whispered and disappeared suddenly.

The last thing she heard was Riftan calling out her name.