70

We've been looking for her for three months. We asked other alphas but no one knew of any. Did she really exist?

"Kian, you need to transform. You haven't transformed into your wolf in days. Then you know what happens!" Ava said once we were in our bedroom.

She was right. I had no other choice. So I gave her a kiss on the forehead and said goodbye.

"I'll be back in an hour, love."

She smiled at me and with a heavy heart I left her.

I transformed right in front of our house and ran into the forest. I felt freer and my anger gradually subsided. I had to do something for my brother. It couldn't go on like this. Purring, I stopped near a waterfall and rested my snout on my paws.

"You called me, my son!" A voice suddenly sounded.

I lifted my head and assumed my fighting stance. In front of me stood an elderly woman who smiled at me. She looked familiar, but I didn't know who she was. She was wearing a white dress that was blowing in the wind. Her red eyes stared at me as if she wanted to see into my soul. I was enchanted.

"Would you like to transform back? Then we can talk."

I snarled out of my trance and kept an eye on her. What if that's exactly what she wanted? She was neither human, nor werewolf, nor vampire. She was something else, but I didn't know if she was dangerous. Despite this, I kept all my senses sharpened.

"Don't you recognize your own mother anymore?" she asked suddenly and the scales fell from my eyes. Before me stood none other than the woman who fathered me. She had changed a lot. Her normally blue eyes were red. Her brown hair from back then really glowed and her appearance was...fairy-like.

"Let's go to Noah and Aurora, then I'll explain everything to you."

I nodded reluctantly. On the way to the pack house, I watched her with both eyes. She may be my mother, but she hadn't been around for years.

Once inside the house, I transformed behind the house and put on my clothes. After that I went to my mother, who had tears in her eyes.

"You have become so tall!"

She came up to me and hugged me. I dropped my protective cover and enjoyed the warmth coming from my mother. How long had I waited for this. I hated my parents for years because they just let us down. But now, those feelings were swept away.

...

Like me, Noah and Aurora were shocked to see our mother. Ava stood nervously next to me and watched the spectacle. When my mother finally broke away from Aurora, she saw my beautiful companion.

"You're Kian's mate, right?"

"Yes, my name is Ava."

"I'm pleased, dear." She took my companion in her arms and didn't seem to want to let her go at first. Then she sighed and pulled away from her.

"There's a lot to tell!" I said sternly. Ava took my hand and squeezed it lightly. I was afraid of this conversation. Would we learn why our parents were really gone? Was it really my fault?

"So..." my sire began.

"Ever since you were born Kian, I've noticed that you're different. I knew you were something very special. Your father and I were scared for you. You started to have skills and that would have made you an easy target . That's why we fled. If I'd stayed near you longer, you'd wake up much sooner. Before you were ready. You could have died."

I stared at her confused. What was she talking about?

"Do you know the legend of the Alpha King?"

I nodded slightly and thought back to the story.

The Alpha King, the king of all werewolves, is reborn every thousand years. He will possess power no other has ever possessed before.

"It's just a legend!" I interjected.

"No, it's not that. Kian, you are the Alpha King. You spring from legend. The King of Alphas slumbers within you. Being near a witch makes you wake up much sooner. You weren't allowed to when you were a little boy you can die from it. Only when you are paired up with your companion may you wake up. Yesterday I felt that you marked her. You are ready."

I grabbed the back of the chair to keep from tipping over. I didn't know how to react to that. Was that the reason for my abilities? Was I really a king? Could all of this really be true? I looked at Ava, who couldn't comprehend what was happening either.

Ava was my queen. That thought made me smile. I looked at my mother and asked, "Then why were you gone?"

"Because I'm a witch."

Startled, Noah and I stood up and shouted at the same time: "Then you can bring Rose back to us! We saw it in a vision. We need a ritual."

My mother looked over at us guiltily. At that moment my heart sank into my pants.

No, that couldn't be.

"She's been dead for far too long. I'm sorry. Unfortunately I can't help you any further."

"No!" Noah whispered and sank to the ground.

"No!" he finally yelled.

"Calm down, my son. There is another way, but this is very dangerous."

"What? I'll do anything!" pleaded Noah.

"Kian, you can travel to the Underworld as the Alpha King. You could take Rose from there, but you could also lose your life in the process."

"I do it!"

"No!" Noah interjected, looking at me.

"I will never allow that. I will never ask you to risk your life. You will not go to the underworld."

"Please Kian, don't do this! I could never forgive myself if something happened to you!" my brother begged me. I just smiled at him.

"Kian, I'm scared for you!", my companion interjected honestly. I put my hands on her face and spoke to her soothingly, "My Queen. I promise I'll be back. I just got you and we have our whole lives ahead of us. I'm not going to jeopardize this I'll take care of myself and please promise me to take care of you. I love you love."

I put my lips on hers and savored the moment. To be honest, I was afraid of it. I don't know what to expect.

"Let me go with you!"

Startled, I looked at her and said angrily, "I certainly won't put you in danger unnecessarily."

My mother told us that Ava, as the queen of the alphas, could also enter the underworld. But I would never allow that.

She shook her head and cried. My heart broke at the sight.

"I'll get back to you. I promise. Then we'll get married and spend the rest of our lives together."

"It's about time, Kian!" my mother interrupted us.

"I love you!" I said one last time and finally climbed through the portal.

_________ - 3 years later - __________

"Oh my god, how's it going Uncle Kian?" asked my three-year-old nephew. I giggled and tucked him in.

"Well, I better skip that part of the story. I'll tell you when you're older. But you know the ending. I'm here and I'm fine."

"I'm present too!", someone suddenly said entering the room.

I smiled at my sister in law and looked at Tyler.

"Your mother is here, I'll go then."

"Uncle Kian? You're a hero. Thanks for getting my mom out of there."

I kissed his forehead and wished him good night. The events of the underworld had shaped me. I've been carrying emotional scars with me for three years. But I didn't regret it one bit. Rose was alive and that was what mattered in the end.

I padded quietly into the bedroom and got into bed with Ava.

"Are you tired?" I asked her and got no answer from her. It wasn't like it used to be between us. There has been radio silence between us for months. Of course, I loved my beautiful companion more than anything, but she actually wanted nothing more to do with me. We hardly spoke a word to each other. If I asked her something, she never answered. In her sleep she turned her back on me and continued to ignore me.

"Ava, can we please talk. I can't take it."

No Answer. Like every night.

"You know how much I love you and I know how much you hate me for what I've done. Please forgive me finally."

I whimpered slightly and closed my eyes. When would it finally get better?

...

The next morning, Ava wasn't in the room when I got up. Her sheets were cold, but I knew she would never leave me. Even if every morning I was afraid that one day she would be gone forever.

I went downstairs where Aurora, Noah and Tewe sat in their places. Ava and Rose were preparing breakfast.

"Good morning!" I mumbled and walked over to greet Ava. She flinched and dodged. I've had enough now. I couldn't take another second without her. I grabbed Ava by the waist and lifted her onto my shoulder.

"Let go of me right now! Kian!"

Noah wished me luck as I ran upstairs with my beautiful companion. I headed to our bedroom where I dropped her off. After that I locked the door and looked into her eyes. They were in tears.

"Ava! Talk the damn thing to me. We hardly speak a word anymore! You're not paying attention to me anymore. I can't take it anymore!" I yelled, emphasizing every word.

"Let me go."

"Not before we talk. Please forgive me. You know exactly why I did it. Please punish me with anything you want, just not with silence."

"I'll never forgive you for that."

"Ava..."

"I hate you Kian! I hate you so incredibly much. I wish I had never forgiven you then. I wish I had given Riley a chance then. Anything but not to be with you again. You want that I'm being honest? Well, I'm being honest. I can't live with you another minute. I want a divorce."

My heart broke into a thousand pieces. I wish someone would rip it out of my chest. I leaned on the door.

"You know there is no such thing as a wolf. You belong at my side. With no one. Especially not with this bastard!" I yelled at the end.

"Are you going to hold me captive then? Fine, then hold me captive. But I will never look at you the same way again. It will never be the same again. Spare us the further torment. Use your abilities again. How earlier. Forget me."

I looked stubbornly into her eyes. I loved this woman, my wife more than anything. I couldn't be another moment without her. Really letting her go back then was the biggest mistake of my life. And I will never make that mistake again.

We looked at each other in silence until she turned her head hurt.

"Why don't you just let me go?"

"Because I won't make the same mistake again. I left you back then because you didn't want to see me. That was the biggest mistake of my life. Love, please let's get it over with. I miss you so much."

"Get it over with? There's no getting it back! You destroyed me with that. You destroyed our relationship. Everything."

I walked towards her and placed my hands on her cheeks.

"You know how sorry I am. I'm just so incredibly sorry. But do you think I'm not suffering? God, I think about it every damn day. Losing you through this just devastates me even more."

"Kian."