Chapter 23: The Myth About Aldred

Kairos

“I forgive you for everything,” she whispered. I couldn’t bring myself to meet her gaze, to watch her slip away from me like that.

I knew I didn’t deserve her, or anyone for that matter. But did he? He’d rejected her. How could anyone reject such an angel? And where did I stand if Adelie had an original mate? Maybe his rejection balanced out if he was her original mate...

A question kept spinning in my mind. Should I be grateful that I got to know her? Or angry that fate had tricked me into believing in something that wasn’t possible. My thoughts were interrupted when Hans finally broke the silence.

“You do?” He asked her, his voice filled with excitement. Of course, he was thrilled.

“I do but...” she began, and that single word, ‘but’, hung in the air. But what? “I can’t go with you,” she said so softly, I could barely hear her. I didn’t dare to look. The pain in my heart was too intense to allow myself to hope, only to have it crushed again.

She needed to go with Hans. She’d said I’d hurt her more than anyone else. That’s why Hans was better for her. But I was terrified that he wouldn’t treat her right. That he wouldn’t love her with all his soul, mind, and heart. I wanted her to experience the love she was missing.

“Why? Is it because of the training? Jasmin is welcome to come to my pack as well. Adelie, if you go with me, I will love you with all my heart. I love you, Adelie,” Hans pleaded.

My emotions were a whirlwind. I was sad, angry at Hans for declaring his love for her, furious at myself for not treating her right from the start. And yet, a tiny sliver of hope remained, that she might actually stay here.

“I know you can love me and I love you too...” Adelie said. My heart would have shattered if it wasn’t for the hesitation in her voice that made me lean in, eager to hear what she would say next. “Just not as much as you would want me to...” she finished, and I finally looked at her. Her eyes were filled with tears.

Was she battling with her wolf? Of course, her wolf would be upset and sad that Adelie was sending her mate away. Would her wolf fight for me too? Adelie was telling him that she didn’t want him, but what did that mean for me?

Hans took a step back from her. “What does it mean?” he asked, echoing the question that was burning in my mind.

“I can’t be with you,” Adelie sobbed. “When I came to this pack, it was the first time I understood what love is. Leaving with you would mean turning my back on everything that I am now and everything I feel. This is where I belong. I love you. I know I do, but I love him more,” she sniffled. “I am so sorry.”

She said she loved him more... Him. She was talking about me.

I looked at Hans and he nodded. “I’ll be going now,” he said, his voice steady, but his eyes betrayed his calm facade. They were watery, his gaze almost lifeless. Hans left, and the door slammed shut behind him with such force that it made Adelie flinch.

Adelie turned to me. “I love him,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked so small, so fragile.

“I know,” I replied.

“But I love you more,” she said. I couldn’t resist any longer. I moved towards Adelie and pulled her into a tight hug. She hugged me back, but I knew her heart was still uneasy. It wouldn’t be until she bore my mark. But she wasn’t ready for that, and I didn’t think she would be anytime soon.

She didn’t stop crying and I didn’t want to let her go. But then I received a mind link from Raphael. A vampire had killed one of our pack members. A child named Devin. Those bastards! I didn’t want to leave her, but this was serious. I’d just gotten her back and now I had to leave her again.

“Adelie!” I called out to her. She lifted her head from my chest, wiping away her tears.

“This feels so wrong. There’s a major issue with the pack, I have to leave. I hate to leave you now, but I have to go.”

“What’s the issue?” she asked.

“It’s...don’t worry about it. You need to rest,” I told her.

“I want to know!” she insisted.

“Adelie, please, go rest. I’ll handle this and fill you in later. You need to rest,” I pleaded. She needed to sleep.

It was already late and I didn’t want her to lose half a night’s sleep while we sorted everything out. I gently guided her head towards me and kissed her forehead. “It’s really important,” I explained.

Adelie nodded. “When you come back, come to my room. I want to know. Okay?”

“Absolutely,” I replied, then rushed out to the pack house. I couldn’t let those bastards ruin my pack. Vampires, our enemies for as long as I can remember. There’s a legend about it.

Once, twenty-four years ago, there was a powerful and wise wizard named Aldred, from a renowned wizarding family. Wizards were rare then and now, which made him quite popular.

He used his magic for evil. He was a bitter, grumpy man in his thirties who despised everyone for no clear reason. For a long time, his spells were merely a nuisance. Then he vanished for a few years.

Rumor has it he went through hell searching for something. He returned more powerful. One day, he stole something from the vampires. The wizards lived among us werewolves and we worked together. Naturally, the vampires began to view the wizards and us werewolves differently.

Later, it was revealed that the stolen item was an ancient book containing evil rituals for summoning the dead, becoming a vampire without a bite, and annihilating the vampire species. That’s what terrified them the most.

Aldred blamed the werewolves for the theft, and from that day, the vampires have avoided us. To this day, they’re still searching for that book. No one knows what Aldred wanted with the book since he vanished. Maybe he’s dead, maybe he’s wandering the forests, but no one has heard from him since.

I hurried to where the large crowd had gathered. They were all surrounding the lifeless body on the ground. The bite mark on his neck had turned a dark blue. Devin was one of many pack members who didn’t have any blood relatives. All he had was us, his pack.

“Where did it happen?” I asked Raphael as he approached me.

“On the pack border. The guards managed to fend them off, but Devin was in the wrong place at the wrong time and a vampire got him.”

“Did anyone else get hurt?” I asked.

“No, just him,” Raphael replied. “What’s our plan?”

There was no plan. “I don’t know, Raphael. I don’t know.” I glanced back at Devin, who was now being carried away. I can’t let this happen again. I shouldn’t have let it happen in the first place. I’m failing my pack again. “Can you contact the vampire coven?” I asked Raphael.

“The vampire coven? Why would you want that?” he asked, shocked.

“I need you to set up a meeting for me, as soon as possible,” I told him, and Raphael responded immediately.

“I can’t do that. I can’t do anything that might put you in danger. You’re my Alpha. We’ll find another way to stop these attacks,” he said, hurriedly.

“That’s right, I am your Alpha and you will do as I say,” I told him. He’s my friend, but he can’t disobey me.

“Once you step into vampire territory, there’s nothing stopping them from killing you...” I couldn’t listen to him anymore.

“Raphael, I have to do something. I can’t stand by and watch my pack get slaughtered. Not again. There’s no other way, our pack is too small already,” I explained.

“But we’re strong,” he continued to argue.

“So what, Raphael?” His eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

“So we just keep fighting? Live in constant fear of a vampire attack? I can’t accept that. I’m here to lead this pack, to keep them safe. If I can’t do that, what kind of Alpha am I?” I exhaled heavily. “Raphael, I need you to do this for me. You have connections with the vampires that I don’t. I need a meeting with them.”

Raphael’s stern expression softened slightly, and he nodded. “There’s no guarantee you’ll come back,” he warned.

“I’m aware,” I replied, knowing full well the merciless nature of vampires.

“Alright. I’ll see what I can arrange,” he conceded, before disappearing into the dispersing crowd following Devin.

~What if I don’t come back?~