6

~Arian Storm~

I stared absently at the passing trees as we drove the rental car to Alex's mate's former pack. My mate's pack.

Does she hate me now?

I didn't want her to get hurt like that. That's why I always hoped not to have a mate or never to meet her. I've never gone to these mate balls and yet she found me.

I'm terribly sorry for everything I said to her. But I don't regret it. It had to be said, otherwise she would never have left me. It's not her, it's me... Or whatever you say. Actually total nonsense, but this time it was true.

She couldn't help having me as a mate. She doesn't deserve me. She deserves a beautiful life with a great man who can make her happy. But I will never be.

Is it weird that I get a weird feeling when I think about her dating someone else?

Oh Goddess...I don't even know her name, which is probably for the better or I'd be repeating it in my head all day. It's bad enough that since last night I can only see her face. Her pained face that I'm responsible for. But I can't change it now anyway, and I won't either.

I'm not going to throw away the hardest part of my plan after I've successfully executed it. It was part of my plan that I actually hoped I'd never have to do...

"We're here." My future beta's husky voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

The whole time it was quiet in the car. Only the most necessary words have been exchanged since yesterday evening, since then none of my boys dared to speak to me or to remind me of yesterday. But nobody needed that either. I couldn't get it out of my head anyway.

I heard a door slam behind me, and then out of the corner of my eye I saw Alex dive out of the car.

His mate didn't show up after yesterday's action, which is why we're here today to pick her up. Alex had been nervous all morning about finally seeing her again. He was also concerned that something had happened to her.

Luckily for him, she had already noticed the car and came running towards him.

I couldn't watch any longer. It's good for him that he finally found his mate and has become one of those zombies too, but does he have to spread his joy out into the world?

"Why are you looking so depressed? It was entirely your decision to refuse them." Sebastian addressed me, who was sitting in the driver's seat next to me.

"I had to do it."

"Bullshit! Nobody forced you to do this." He got a little louder.

"Seb..." I growled back. He better watch the way he talks to me even though he's right.

"No, now stop being alpha and admit you made a mistake and then go out there and hope your girl forgives you for it. It was probably the worst night of her life." He teased me now in an angry tone.

Instead of getting angry, I pulled myself together and let out a low, "I can't."

The only answer I received was the slamming of another car door.

Sebastian had got out and angrily ran towards me at the newly in love.

I looked at Luan through the rearview mirror, who was also eyeing me funny the whole time.

"WHAT?" I yelled at him now. But he didn't even bat an eyelash. Instead he just shook his head.

"You know, Arian, you still have a chance to grab your mate and be happy, but throw it away because your ego is too big. Eventually she won't be there anymore and then you'll regret not protecting her," he said before getting out too.

However, I sat in the car and pondered his words. It'll be better if she's not around. My pack is a very strong pack and accordingly has many enemies. For example one of our neighboring packs, the Shaowlake pack, which is always stressful. She would only be in danger and then she dies like Luan's mate.

Luna is wrong. If I don't stay away from her and then at some point she's gone, I'll regret taking her with me. I will regret putting her in danger.

When I looked outside, I suddenly noticed Sebastian's worried look, which kept darting to the car.

Only now did I take in all the hustle and bustle around me. Wolves were running around everywhere and seemed to be looking for something.

Finally I forced myself to get out. I stopped the first werewolf who ran past me.

"What's going on here?" I asked confused.

The wolf in front of me swallowed and seemed to have noticed that I was ranked higher.

"H-Our Alpha's daughter has disappeared," the petite teenage boy stuttered in front of me. "H-The Alpha is a-bewildered with S-worries."

When I let go of him again, the boy quickly fled from me and I looked after him confused for a moment. I then caught up with my buddies, who appeared to be engaged in an argument with Zara, Alex's mate.

When I came to stand in front of them, everyone fell silent. Only the redhead angrily stomped towards me.

"YOU!" she hissed, confusing me. I hadn't hurt her after all. "It's your fault she's gone."

"Who's gone?" Slowly, a bad feeling overcame me.

"Lou," she replied tightly.

Now who in the world was Lou?

Sebastian must have noticed my confused expression because he added something afterwards: "Your mate."

And in short, what I said brought my world crashing down. But I quickly collected myself before thousands of questions shot into my head.

where did she go Why didn't she come home? Is she OK?

Yes, the last question in particular interested me the most.

My little Lou was gone and it was probably my fault. If something happens to her, I could never forgive myself.

All that mattered now was getting Lou home safely and unharmed. I had to make up for my mistake. I didn't want to be responsible for anything happening to her. I never wanted that. I just want to protect her and with it my heart.