KANE
Present time
Clenching my fist, I hold down my emotions as I watch the remaining Grinmorte family leave The Vale, for good. With only the belongings they could carry, I kept my word and escorted them to the gate myself, not wanting history to repeat itself as it did with Braums family.
Aleic has yet to enter the portal, his back is to me but he is unmoving, I watch him curiously as he turns and faces me, with a more confident look than the one he has shown me the past 24 hours.
"Maliec'a omai, Alpha Black." Aleic says respectfully, bowing before me.
I sigh and move away from the tree I was leaning on, he walks through the portal, carrying only a suitcase of his belongings, the faint words still lingering in the air from where he once stood.
"Maliec'a omai."
Valen for, farewell.
The end of the Grinmote name has come to an end, a family with such rich history, as old as mine has left The Vale. There has always been a Grinmorte in The Vale, but now there are none. What was once a house full of loyalty and respect to my ancestors for many generations have left to live their life in the kingdom of Growloie, the realm to King of the shifters.
Although shifters have bad ties with wolves, fae on the other hand has very good relations due to a shared bloodline to the Queen, which we, werewolves once used to our advantage long ago.
They will be safe there, I've sent word to Riean, the king and he assures me they are welcome, but I was, he said it a little too nice for my liking, which to me was more than fucking fine, I would not step foot in his land, unless I wanted a war.
Relations with others are no longer my concern, I am no longer King, nor do I want to be, those worries are for my son Caelan to focus on.
The only thing I must concern myself with is protecting my family, and settling the score with Theodin once and for all.
He can blame me for the death of his mate all he wishes, but we both know the truth, but the mate bond is a strange thing, it can plague your mind and control your emotions. I know from experience of almost losing my mate many years ago from a Lycan bite.
It tore my soul apart to see her blood anywhere but not inside of her. I could've killed everyone in my sight when I felt her pain.
What did Theodin feel? When his mate stood in front of me, killing herself to avoid the bond to such a man. Little is known of the she-wolf, she had no pack and no known family members, the only items on her were the clothes she had on her back, despite all this, I had given her a burial along with my pack.
She is the only she-wolf buried in Deepwater with an unmarked grave.
Sighing out, I let my muscles relax and my large wings come out, I needed to get home to my mate, my queen, and keeper of my heart.
Although, with what I'm about to tell her, there is no saying what she will feel for me once I tell her about my day about what I've learned. I know I can tell her anything, she's my mate, but there are things I want to keep from her, I hate seeing her expression change to anything other than happy.
I need to protect her now more then ever.
*****
I find my mate in the garden, wearing a floral strap dress that blows in the wind, her hair is down to her hips now and I feel pride swell inside of me when I look at how beautiful she truly is, without trying or doing anything at all.
"I can feel you." She says with a giggle, not turning around as she plants more seeds.
I breathe in her scent greedily and grunt out. "How long have you been out here?" I ask, looking around for guards, when I see some in the distance, keeping an eye on her, I slightly relax.
She dusts her hands on her apron and turns to smirk at me with a knowing look, one she gives me when I'm being 'too possessive' but I don't give a fuck, her safety is my priority.
"Not long, do you like it?" She asks, coming to stand next to me as she admires her hard work.
The garden has become somewhat her special place in our new home within Deepwater, if I don't find her here, I find her in her studio, creating masterpieces of art.
"It's beautiful, like you." I say capturing her lips with mine, bringing her closer to me I rest my forehead on hers. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." She smiles sweetly and I close my eyes, savoring the warm feeling she gives me.
I hate this, giving her bad news, it seems like it's all I do. I fucking hate myself sometimes, wishing I could be a man without enemies, without so much shit on his shoulders, just so I can give her a peaceful life, just us and no one else to bother us.
"What's wrong? I can feel you overthinking."
I hum. "Is it the children?" She asks and I smile, shaking my head.
I move away from her slightly and intertwine her hand with mine. "Let's take a walk." I say lowly, pulling her along with me.
"Kane?" Her soft voice calls my name, pulling me from my thoughts.
Here goes nothing. "Theodin has Emma, the information I got from Hayden was right.. she's there Sora, and I'm going to get her back." I state with confidence as my voice hardens.
"Aleic Grinmorte hid him."
She stops walking and I turn to stare at her, seeing her face turn confused. "When did you find this out? Are you positive she's there?" She asks quietly.
Fuck, please don't look at me like that. "Yes."
A lone tear escapes her eyes and I wipe it away with my thumb. "Sora." I say tightly. "I will bring her back, I will do everything in my power to get her out of there." I swallow hard. "But."
She looks up to me, breaking in front of me with what she already knows. It's been a week since Larson was found, counting on the days of his death, it's been over a week and due to the bond breaking, the possibilities of Emma being alive are... nonexistent.
When the life of your mate dies, so do you, there is no potion in this world or any that can break the mate bond now, such things only work if both are alive. There is no magic or potion that could've saved her, she was dead the moment Larson died, and there is nothing I can do to stop it.
"I can't save her soul, it's too late... I-"
"Bring her home, so we can bury her, b-bring her back so she c-can be buried next to her m-mate." She shutters out, standing tall as tears trail down her face.
I swallow back hard the lump in my throat as Sora wraps her small delicate arms around my torso as she cries softly into my stomach as I stroke her hair, clenching my eyes tightly.
I'm so fucking sorry... Larson... Emma.. You did not deserve this, yet it happened, because of... me.
I have failed you as your King, Alpha, and... friend.
I will avenge their deaths, that I swear to the moon goddess, as I ask for her forgiveness for what I am about to do to Theodin Grinmorte, for the pain and anger in my heart is too much to control, he wanted me to feel this.. helpless, enraged and on edge. He got what he always wanted in the end, to make me feel like I am a beast, a thing to be feared.. a monster.
If it's a monster he wants, it's a monster he will get.