| RED'S POV |

As the water wrapped around me, pulling me deeper into its mysterious embrace, I clung to the remnants of air in my lungs, savoring each precious moment before succumbing to the watery depths. The world above me faded away, replaced by the symphony of sounds resonating through the liquid medium. It was as if the water itself possessed a melody, beckoning me further into its ethereal realm.

Weightlessness enveloped me, and I descended further into the abyss. The pressure of the water pressed against my body, a constant reminder of the immense power surrounding me. Darkness shrouded my closed eyes, but I resisted the urge to open them, fearing that I would be greeted by an endless void, devoid of any light.

And then, abruptly, my descent came to an unexpected halt. My feet connected with a solid surface, jolting me out of the trance-like state induced by the river's embrace. I had anticipated the touch of sand or jagged rocks, for I believed myself to be at the river's bottom. But to my bewildered surprise, the ground beneath me was smooth, almost unnaturally so.

Curiosity compelled me to tap the floor with my foot, and to my astonishment, a resonant echo reverberated through the water, rebounding off what I could only discern to be wood. It was a wooden floor. The revelation sent ripples of anticipation coursing through me, mingling with the cool currents of the river

How could there be a wooden floor in the depths of the river?

"Lydia, stay still"

The sound of a man's voice pierced through the depths of my consciousness, instantly jolting me awake. Recognition flooded my senses as I realized whose voice it was. Shock coursed through my veins as I took in my surroundings-a room adorned with baby items scattered about. Toys, diapers, and bottles lay untouched, as if frozen in time. My gaze settled upon a pristine cot positioned at the room's center. It exuded an air of newness, the smell of fresh white paint permeating the air.

Was this... my room?

As I grappled with the bewildering realization, the door swung open, and my heart nearly burst with overwhelming emotion.

"Okay, Mr. Builder, can I have my sight back?" A woman's voice rang out, her words laced with a playful tone. The man accompanying her at the back of the room raised his hands, gently covering her eyes.

Mum... Dad...

There stood my parents, as if plucked from the pages of my memory. A mixture of joy and sorrow swelled within me, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. My gaze shifted to Mum's rounded stomach, her pregnancy evident in its heaviness. Carefully, Dad guided her toward the cot, positioning her near it. I stood beside them, invisible and unable to make my presence known.

"Okay, honey," Dad murmured, removing his hands from Mum's eyes. She blinked, adjusting to the light before her gaze settled upon the room. Gasping softly, she whispered, "Oh, Ryan," her voice filled with tenderness as she took in the sight of the adorable rainbow painted on the wall.

"I told you, I can make a princess room for our princess," Dad beamed, his touch gentle as he caressed my Mum's stomach. "I can't wait for her to arrive, so I can shower her with all the love she deserves."

"D-Dad, I'm right here," I choked on my words, tears streaming down my cheeks as I longed to reach out and touch him. But I held back, aware of the fragility of the memory I was witnessing. I was an observer, unable to disturb the flow of the past.

"Me too, I can't wait for her to meet her stubborn father, who hasn't granted my ice cream request for the past few minutes." Mum's words cut through the air, bringing a bittersweet smile to my face. Her playful jest made Dad laugh, his eyes crinkling with mirth. "Sweetie, you finished the last one forty minutes ago!" he exclaimed, lightness in his voice as he made light of the situation.

"It's not my fault, Red eats too much," Mum pouted, resting her head on Dad's shoulder as he held her waist, their connection radiating warmth and love. He shook his head, the corners of his mouth twitching with the effort of suppressing a smile, before finally nodding in understanding. "Fine, but-"

" Ahh!" A sudden scream pierced the air, tearing through the tranquility of the moment. Mum's scream of pain reverberated through the room, threatening to shatter the serenity that had enveloped us. Recognition dawned upon Dad, his eyes widening with realization. "Lydia, what's...?" He paused, the truth finally dawning upon him. "Red," Mum nodded, her face etched with agony. Without hesitation, Dad scooped her up into his arms, cradling her with tenderness as she continued to scream in pain.

I rushed out of the room, my heart pounding in my chest, only to find myself standing in an unfamiliar living room. The surroundings bore no resemblance to Aunt's May house. Confusion washed over me like a tidal wave, and I wondered which memory this belonged to.

"Was this our former home?" I whispered, my voice barely audible in the empty space surrounding me. I began to walk through the rooms, my footsteps echoing softly in the air. And then, a flicker of movement caught my attention-a little person, running past me in a blur. I heard Mum's voice call out, "Red, you need to eat your veggies!" The sound of her plea filled the room, and I watched as the younger version of myself darted away, my red hair bouncing with each step. My legs, much smaller and more innocent, carried me in search of a hiding spot.

I must have been six years old at that time.

"Red, I promise if you finish your veggies, we will all go to the amusement park, and you can eat all the candies," my mother's voice rang out, emphasizing the sweet allure of the treats. I remained still, transfixed by the sight of my younger self emerging from behind the curtains, a wide smile on my face. "Really? All the candies?" I exclaimed, my eyes filled with excitement.

"Well, not everything, unless you want to end up with a stomach ache which would mean no sugar for a whole month," Mum replied, her words laced with gentle amusement. My younger self gasped at the thought, causing both Mum and I to burst into laughter.

My heart swelled with warmth as I watched their interaction. I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the woman who stood before me.

My younger self ran towards Mum, and she scooped me up into her arms, carrying me through another door. I followed them, stepping into another memory. This time, the atmosphere was different, heavy with tension. I witnessed Mum holding back Dad, his voice raised in anger as he shouted into the phone, "I said I'm not coming back!"

Confusion washed over me as I took in the scene. It seemed as though it was only them in the room, until I caught sight of tiny feet peeking out from behind the sofa. My curiosity took hold, just as it had in those early years-I had always been prone to eavesdropping.

"Ryan, calm down. You'll wake Red up," Mum soothed him, her touch gentle as she tried to quell Dad's temper. He ended the call abruptly, dropping the phone onto the sofa with a forceful thud.

"You heard them, Lydia. They want us to come back after all these years of banishment. After what your mom said to you, I don't trust the academy anymore. I won't put you or Red in that situation," Dad poured out his frustrations and anger, and Mum's face reflected deep concern.

"I understand, but don't you find it all strange that Jayden called you? It seems like something is happening, and he needs your help. He needs his elder brother," Mum pleaded, reaching out to hold Dad's hand but he abruptly stood up and began pacing the room. "I can't leave you alone with Red. He can handle it. Everlyn is there, right? She will help him," he stated, searching for an alternative solution.

"But what if her help isn't enough? What then?" Mum rose to her feet, her voice filled with determination as she approached Dad. "Remember, I'm a fighter, and I can take care of myself and Red at the same time. Just because I left my previous life behind to start anew with you doesn't mean I can't tap into my powers when needed."

So they wanted Mum and Dad to return home, but why? I couldn't comprehend the full extent of their circumstances, how long they had been away, or why their presence was suddenly required. But the urgency in their voices hinted at imminent danger.

With understanding dawning upon Dad's face, he was about to speak, but in that moment, my younger self crawled back into the room, and I lost the opportunity to catch the rest of their conversation. "Did the spell work? Do you know who Red's mate is?" Dad asked and I got a glimpse of Mum nodding her head before the memory faded away.

Damn it! Why did I leave at that precise moment?

"Red, you need to come back. Your time is almost up," Avery's voice echoed in my ears, a reminder that my brief visit was drawing to a close.

"I can't! I haven't figured out who my mate is," I murmured, urgency lacing my words. I began to walk towards a door, propelled by a sense of longing and determination. Stepping through, I found myself in my childhood room, engrossed in play with a doll. Without pause, I rushed out of the door, seeking another memory, hoping to find the missing pieces.

Door after door I entered, each one filled with memories of me, my mother, andfather. It was as if anything involving him had been erased from these recollections. "Red, you have less than a minute left to come back!" Avery's voice called out once more, her spell pulling me back to reality. But I couldn't return just yet. I needed to remember him, to understand why he had been erased from these memories when he had been such an integral part of my life.

Frantically, I continued to explore the memories, hoping to stumble upon a clue, a fragment of his presence. But time was slipping away, slipping through my fingers like sand. Avery's voice grew more urgent, the echoes of her warnings reverberating in my mind.

And then, just as the last few seconds threatened to slip away, I found myself abruptly transported outside the house, standing in the vast expanse of the backyard. The world around me seemed to pulsate with an otherworldly intensity, as if the very air crackled with anticipation. The familiar sight of my younger self, adorned in a vibrant blue dress, caught my attention. She was playfully rolling on the grass, her laughter filling the air like tinkling bells.

"Red, be careful!" my mother's voice echoed from within the house, a note of concern laced with maternal affection. The sound reverberated through my eardrums, intensifying the surreal nature of the moment. It felt as though I had stepped into a dream, a vivid manifestation of memories long forgotten.

Compelled by an inexplicable force, I moved closer, my heart pounding in my chest. But as I neared, an inexplicable sensation seized my throat, constricting it with a vice-like grip. A sharp ache throbbed in my temples, intensifying with each passing second. Panic surged through my veins-I had run out of time, my five minutes of connection were slipping away.

"Red, please come back! We will find another way," Avery's desperate plea reached my ears, her voice tinged with a mixture of urgency and helplessness. But I couldn't bring myself to listen. There was no other way, no alternative that could compare to the significance of this moment. I couldn't let it slip away, not when I was on the cusp of discovery.

A wave of numbness washed over my body, as if I were submerged in icy waters. The world around me blurred, distorted by the overwhelming surge of emotions and the limits of my fading connection. " Ouch!" I heard my younger self winced, jolting me from my disoriented state. Her voice tinged with both surprise and discomfort. I remembered this moment, etched in the recesses of my dreams-a fragment of reality now unfolding before my eyes.

In the haze of my dizziness, I strained to make sense of the figure before me. His presence was blurred, distorted like a watercolor painting left to bleed in the rain. It infuriated me, this frustrating mess of a connection. I yearned to see him clearly, to witness the details etched upon his face, but it remained just out of reach.

"You hit your head against my back. I hope you're alright," he spoke, his voice a tantalizing blend of youthful innocence and a resonant depth that sent shivers down my spine. My body trembled, weakened by the strain of the journey, yet an indomitable determination fueled my every step. I sank to my knees on the dew-kissed grass, the world spinning around me, threatening to engulf me in its dark embrace. But I couldn't yield, not now, not when I stood on the precipice of revelation.

"Mine's green, I mean my favorite color," I strained to hear his words, to absorb the significance of his response. My head throbbed with a ferocity that threatened to consume me, but I pressed on.

"Red!" Xavier's voice pierced through the muffled haze, reverberating with an urgency that cut through the fog of my consciousness. I knew my time was running out, that the river of connection was about to pull me away. But I couldn't let go, not when I was so close, so achingly close.

"What's your name?" my younger self's innocent voice rang out, a question laden with anticipation, with the weight of destiny. The edges of my vision began to blur, darkness encroaching upon my senses. I was losing consciousness, my grip on the present slipping away, but I couldn't relinquish my pursuit.

"My name?" I strained to hear his reply, to capture the essence of those elusive syllables before I succumbed to the void. My body finally gave in to the relentless strain, and I succumbed to the darkness, my consciousness fading away.

But just before I was pulled from the water's edge, before the river of connection severed its tenuous hold, his voice reached me, a whispered promise in the depths of my mind.

"My name is Nicholas, Nicholas Caddel..."

I coughed violently, gasping for air as a torrent of water surged out of my mouth. Amidst my struggle, I felt the forceful impact of hands pounding on my back, desperate attempts to dislodge the water that had invaded my lungs. Gasping for air, I was guided to lean against the cold embrace of a stone surface. The coolness of the stone seeped through my drenched clothes, providing a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within me.

Slowly, I managed to pry open my eyes, my vision blurred and my senses overwhelmed. As I focused, I saw the concerned faces of the people gathered around me, their eyes fixed upon my weakened form. Jacob, his brow furrowed with worry, leaned in closer and questioned me, his voice laced with anxiety.

"Red, can you hear us?"

I mustered all the strength I could find and nodded faintly, a feeble reassurance that I was still conscious and aware of my surroundings. The collective sigh of relief from the group washed over me, momentarily soothing the tension in the air.

"So, you saw your parents, right? Do you remember them now?" Ana, her voice tinged with hope, spoke up next, eager to confirm the fragments of memory that had resurfaced within me.

Once again, I nodded, my movements slow and deliberate. It was a bittersweet revelation, a glimpse into a past that had been lost to me until now. Their smiles flickered briefly, a flicker of joy amidst the uncertainty that enveloped us all.

But then, as if the weight of the world had settled upon my shoulders, Dean's question pierced through the fragile tranquility, tearing at the fabric of my newfound awareness.

"And your mate, do you know who he is?"

The room seemed to hold its breath, every pair of eyes fixated upon me, awaiting my response. The tension grew palpable, suffocating me as I struggled to find the words to articulate the truth.

"Who, Red?" Xavier's voice cut through the silence, his appearance mirroring the disheveled state of his drenched body. Water dripped from his hair, and his usually warm complexion had turned ashen, almost ghostly.

"Nicolas," I whispered, my voice barely audible, trying to steady myself as I revealed the depths of my heart.

"I can't hear -"

"It's Nicolas, okay! Nicholas is my mate!" The words erupted from me, propelled by a mixture of frustration, realization, and vulnerability. My outburst startled those around me, their expressions shifting from surprise to shock, mirroring the tumultuous storm raging within me.

I pressed my hand against my face, attempting to shield myself from the weight of my own revelation. How foolish I had been not to see the signs, the way he gazed at me with such intensity, the tenderness in his words. He had looked at me as though I were the very essence of his world.

Because, in truth, I was.

A heavy silence settled over the room, each person grappling with the enormity of my confession. And then, breaking the stillness, Avery found her voice.

"Red, if what you're saying is true, then we have a huge problem." Her words hung in the air, laden with a sense of impending doom. Confusion etched itself onto my face as I searched for answers, glancing at the others who wore expressions of sadness and concern.

"Uncle J said he didn't know how it happened. There were guards everywhere, but..." Avery's voice trailed off, her lips trembling as she struggled to continue.

"But what, Avery? What happened?" Panic coursed through my veins, adrenaline surging as fear gripped me, threatening to consume me if she didn't finish her statement.

"Mr. Caddel, he's been kidnapped by the Astrid clan."