"What is the meaning of this my love?" I cry out to my mate, his once soft and adoring eyes are now hardened and cold...like he's looking at an enemy instead of his mate...

"Viola..." Even the way he says my name has turned emotionless, "I realize now that you and I were not meant to be mates forever, that we were meant to live separate lives." He murmurs, and I can feel my heart twisting with each cold word that leaves his lips.

"That cannot be! The goddess brought us together! I've been by your side for the last three years! I was the one who protected you when you were human, the one who changed you and taught you the ways of vampires! How can you say that we aren't meant to be together?" I argue, but my teary eyes have no effect on him.

"True, you gave me the life of a vampire, and taught me the ways...for that I will always be grateful...but mates we never should have been."

The sight of another female vampire coming towards us from the shadows catches my attention, her dirty blonde hair and sharp green eyes seem to pierce through my soul as she stares me down...and attaches herself to my mates side.

"Have you not told her yet darling? It seems unnecessary to draw this out any longer, don't you think?" She asks with a voice that's sickly sweet to my ears, making my blood turn cold.

"I suppose you're right Genevieve..." He sighs, and I can feel my chest tighten as he looks back up at me.

"She is the mate I was meant to be with Viola...I just had to be a vampire so I could find her..."

"Don't do this Jacques...please..." I plea, but my words fall onto deaf ears.

"I, Jacques Laurent, reject you Viola Moreau as my beloved."

I cry out as I feel the mark he gave me burn painfully off my skin as it disappears, while the man I once called my beloved doesn't even flinch while the one I gave him does the same. I sink down into the grass in front of his feet as the tears stain my cheeks, my heart slowly ripping in half already...

Why....why would he do this to me? I thought he loved me...

"Don't draw out your suffering Viola...just let me go, spare yourself the pain." Jacques demands...softly, it almost sounding like a plea.

There isn't any point in fighting the inevitable...there isn't a point in fighting for a man who no longer loves me, for one that would so cruelly cast me aside after everything we've been through together...

I don't want to fight this...I don't have it in me...

"...I, Viola Moreau, accept your rejection." I force out, my whisper of a voice filled with defeat and anguish as our bond is severed completely. I stand up and turn away from him, not wanting to even see him...even now his scent is already hurting me.

"Viola...I wish it didn't have to-"

"Don't. Don't you dare say another word to me, I don't want to ever hear your voice again." I bite out, cutting off his cheap words before I could hear anymore of them. The anger beginning to form a cocoon around what remains of my heart.

"In fact, I don't ever want to see you again, or even catch a whiff of your scent. So enjoy your life here Jacques...and don't you ever worry about seeing me again...because I'm gone."

I walk away swiftly, trying my best to hold my head high and keep my tears silent. If he wants me out of his life, then that's exactly what I'll give him...even if it tears my heart in half.

..........

"Viola?"

My head jerks up at the sound of a woman's voice, snapping me out of my thoughts, and I turn to see the smiling face of my American cousin...Phoenix.

"Hello Doll, it's good to see you." I respond with a smile, giving her a quick hug before she giggles and points to the conveyer in front of me.

"You actually going to grab your bags this time? You've watched them go around at least twice now." She points out, and I laugh as well before I pull both my large suitcases and two duffel bags off the belt along with the large trunk filled with my art supplies. Phoenix grabs one of each as I place my trunk on a cart and readjust my purse on my shoulder, the look of surprise on her face at the weight of my luggage almost amusing.

"You okay? You look drained Vi." She questions, and I sigh.

"I'm just tired, it was a very long eight hour flight." I explain, and she nods as we begin making our way through the Norfolk International Airport. The crowd of people seem to drone aimlessly around me, and I can feel my cousins eyes on me as we head towards the exit.

"I'm surprised Vi, you've lived in Paris your whole life...why would you ever want to leave such a beautiful place to move here?"

I try my best not to show anything but a smile, knowing that if she senses anything else she'll question me until I spill everything...and I'm honestly not ready to cry right now...not in front of all these people.

"I just needed a change Doll, and I do have more family here than in France. It's about time I actually spend more than just the holidays here." I word carefully, her already knowing that my formerly human mother was born and raised in America before she met my French vampire father.

"I suppose so, and you can stay in my apartment as long as you need until your new place is sorted out. It'll be like those summers I spent up in Paris with you when we were little!" She exclaims excitedly, and I chuckle at her child like enthusiasm. I've honestly missed those childhood summers, but now that she and I are both adult vampires with our own lives, it's been difficult to talk to each other outside of FaceTime, emails and letters.

As we exit the airport, we're greeted by the sight of her blue RAV4 in the pick up lane...with someone in the drivers seat...

"Well...almost like those summers..." She murmurs with a soft blush, but before I can question her sudden embarrassment, the driver exits the vehicle.

The man is a good 6 inches taller than me, not to mention incredibly well built, which makes my 5'9 stature seem short in comparison...and my cousin tiny with her only being 5'4. I can tell by his scent he is clearly a werewolf, and with the way he's looking at Phoenix I can already tell exactly who he is.

"Viola, this is Theo...my beloved." She introduces as he presses a kiss to her cheek before taking my bags from her. I try to fight the stinging sensation in my chest as I smile broadly, truthfully elated that she's found her beloved...even if I just lost mine.

"Theo, this is my cousin Viola."

"It's lovely to meet you Theo." I say as I hold out my hand, he takes it firmly but carefully, probably forgetting that as a vampire I'm not as delicate as I appear. But I choose not to remind him, he's only being a gentleman after all.

"It's good to finally meet you ma'am, Nixy has been talking about you a lot." He responds, and I can tell from both his deep voice and heavy drawl that he's definitely from somewhere a little further south.

"Really now? She didn't tell me anything about you." I reply, casting her glance. Her guilty smile is quickly followed by a nervous chuckle.

"I figured I'd surprise you Vi, it's why I didn't tell you earlier..." She trails off, and I sigh.

"It's fine, but if you had told me beforehand, I would have found another place to stay. A small apartment with a pair of a newly found mates is no place for me to be staying, even temporarily. You need your privacy, and personal space...I would just be imposing on you."

"Oh! No, no! We aren't living together...yet." She explains with reddened cheeks while her mate laughs.

"Actually Miss Viola, me and Nixy just met a couple weeks ago...I came up here from Georgia with my Beta, he's searching for his mate here. Once he finds them we'll be making arrangements to go back home." Theo explains, and my eyes widen a little.

"Is there anything else you would like to drop on me Doll?"

"Nope...that's everything." She chuckles, and I shake my head as Theo loads up my things before we leave for her apartment, my mind already processing the information.

I won't have to worry about a place to stay, for I spent most of my flight looking for apartments or small homes that I could rent for myself. Even if she leaves before I decide on a place, I can stay in a hotel until I do.

When we reach her apartment in Virginia Beach, I shoo Phoenix and her mate out as I settle in my temporary room, knowing that they both wanted to spend a little alone time together before we go out to dinner tonight, not to mention finding him more formal attire. I couldn't help but giggle at the sight of those two being so affectionate with each other, their bond already strong even if they haven't marked one another yet.

But, once I find myself alone in the apartment, the empty quiet breaks open the carefully placed facade I had managed to keep the entire trip here...the tears I had pent up now flooding out like a burst dam as I sit on the small balcony outside my room, the salt in the air mingling with the salt of my tears, the memories burning fresh in my mind as I try to regain what composure I can manage.

No more crying over him girl...he doesn't deserve your tears.

With that thought I dry my eyes, and after unpacking the things I need, I decide to prepare for tonight's dinner with my cousin, her mate, and my aunt and uncle. Taking my shower and putting on some pajamas, I start planning out my outfit for the evening, knowing that the restaurant will a classy place if I know anything about my aunt and uncle.

Laying out a black skirt and my favorite sleeveless blouse, rosy pink silk with a cowl neck and lace splicing on the shoulders, its a perfect summer top. Pairing it with my matching heels and assorted rose gold bracelets, I go to the art trunk and pull out one of my many sketch pads and drawing pencils to help pass the three hours before I need to leave.

After about an hour or so into my work, my cell phone rings loudly from my purse. I hesitate a moment before I get up and answer it, forgetting for a moment that I changed my number before coming to the US...so I wouldn't have to worry about him calling me.

"Hello?" I ask as I answer.

"Viola Moreau! What is the meaning of this! How could you leave Paris for good without telling me!" The voice on the other end scolds, and I chuckle as I recognize my mothers authoritative tone.

"I'm sorry Mère, but it was a last minute decision..." I word carefully, and I hear her unsatisfied huff on the other end.

"What on earth were you thinking chéri? You're father and I were worried sick!"

"Tell Père I'm sorry, but I needed to do this...it's for the best." I explain.

"Why? We're worried about you...is something wrong?"

"It's difficult to explain, and I'm not ready to talk about it right now...okay?" I plea, and she sighs.

"Just promise me that you'll tell me when you're ready, you're my baby girl, I want to help you when you need it..."

"I will...and I promise that I'll visit you both, and call more often. Okay?"

"Good, because I'll go down there myself if you don't." She half-threatens with a laugh, making me grin.

"I know. Goodnight Mère." I reply, knowing that via time difference it's 10:00 in Paris.

"I'll talk to you soon chéri." She promises before she hangs up, and I sigh as I drop my phone on the bed.

This is where my new life starts, so the first thing I need to do is move on from my past.