Lucian:

The last thing I saw was Scarlet's soft smile before the elevator doors separated us. A big smile crept up my face at the thought of finally finding my mate. I felt warm and complete. I felt happier than I have felt in years. I finally felt alive. When the elevator doors opened again, I was greeted by two flushed faces. I just started laughing uncontrollably. It was hilarious that Scarlet wanted Layla and Damien to come with an assurance that no “funny business” would happen and they were the ones who couldn’t behave themselves. I walked out of the elevator as they entered it. As the elevator door closed again, I could see their faces becoming redder. When I got to my room and switched the bedroom light on, a sudden longingness dawned on me.

As happy as I was to finally find her. I still don’t have her as mine. I went and took a cold shower that I was in desperate need of. Her moan replayed itself in my head over and over. It was a form of torture. When I got out of the shower, I looked over at my bed as if I was expecting her to have sneaked in and laid there waiting for me. I got in bed and I tossed and turned the whole night. It was like my body couldn’t function without her here. Without her touch. That touch that sent shots of electricity through my whole body. Her smell reminded me of a new start to a new day. Her stubbornness was both annoying and intriguing. Her voice was as smooth as butter. I finally gave up on trying to sleep. My heart ended up leading me to the kitchen where I could still smell her scent faintly. Guilt suddenly wrapped its arms around me and had me in a choke hold. If I had ever attended the meetings at Lunar, maybe I would’ve found her sooner. Maybe I could’ve avoided her all this pain. Maybe she could’ve been with me in this massive lonely place that I can’t even call home.

I closed my eyes for a moment, imagining what my life could’ve been like. What our life together could have been like had I just put my pride aside? She would’ve never known of Asher. He wouldn’t have been in the way of me claiming my mate. I wouldn’t have stood a chance to lose her or have a war break out. When I opened my eyes again, I realized that I was still alone. I walked over to my office and started burying my emotions away using work as an excuse. The sun started peeking through my office window and creeping in slowly as if it were a thief. The heat hit my skin and the kiss from earlier played before me. Her lips were so warm and soft. She was beautiful in every way possible. Thank you moon goddess for blessing me with such a perfect mate. Please bless me more in sparing her in every way possible for me.

A few hours later

“Lucian, I don’t know what’s going on with Scar…..Something is terribly wrong” Damian mind linked me in a panic. My heart came to a halt and my vision blurred. My breathing became heavy and before I knew it, I was already in Scarlet's room watching the nightmare play before my eyes. Her whole body was shaking in a violent way. Foam lined her lips and her gurgling bounced off every wall in the room. Her eyes were staring blankly at the ceiling. “Did you call the doctor”, I asked Damian, trying to stay calm and collected, as it would be the best course of action. He nodded his head. “Wait for him at the elevator and lead him here straight away. We don’t have time to waste” “Scarlet, SCARLET… Noooooo” Layla’s screeching filled the room. I snapped my head to see Layla. She was holding Scarlet by her shoulders and shaking her, whispering “No, no, no” over and over again.

I then realized Scarlet's whole body went limp. In one swift movement, I pushed Layla away and jumped on top of Scarlet, straddling her and performing CPR. Her lips were no longer warm and soft but instead cold and lifeless. I completed 3 full cycles before the doctor stormed in “Fill me in”. I looked around the room and saw that Layla wouldn’t be of help and that Damian was trying to console his own mate. “Her mate has been cheating on her with her sister.” I said whilst continuing CPR. “Lucian this won’t happen because of that, what else could possibly be happening with her mate at this moment that could hurt her?” Then it hit me. Today would’ve been her marking ceremony. She never showed up, which meant, “Her mate is marking another” I shouted. “I’m sorry Lucian, there isn’t much we can do for her” “Do something!”, I growled, made use of my alpha aura that I never liked using on my own pack member. It always felt cruel and unnecessary to me.

He started checking her heart rate and nodded at me letting me know she is still with us and I could stop doing CPR. A single tear ran down my face and landed on her cheek. I got off her slowly trying to regain myself. “Why is she so important to you, Alpha?” Doctor Peterson asked me. “Because she is my mate too”, I said, staring him in the eyes blankly and numb. He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. “This is a very rare case. But if the Mate's bond with Asher can be broken she might have a chance, but it’s not a promise” I fisted my hands and ended up punching a hole through the wall. “I’LL KILL HIM” “Alpha… unfortunately she cannot handle the death of her mate in the state she is in” “HE’S NOT HER MATE I AM… HE’S SOME D*CKHEAD THAT HAS NO RESPECT FOR HER OR THE MATE BOND. HE IS AN ABOMINATION THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.” “Lucian you aren’t thinking straight. Do you want to start a war and still possibly lose Scar at the end of it?” Damian was making sense. It seemed like he was the only one in the room who had his sh*t together. “Lucian just thought this through” 

Asher:

My mother, father and Scarlet's parents were on my case this whole morning. Today was the day of the marking ceremony. Something that was set in stone the moment Scarlet forgave me. But she is a no show. “Asher, what did you do to our daughter that has made her give up on the very thing she has wished for since she was a child?” Celeste asked me with tears streaming down her face. “She’s not your daughter Celeste and we both know th..” I got a slap through the face before I could even continue I turned to look at my mother whom had handed me the slap. She was disgusted by me. It didn’t bother me, however. I’m not here to be mommy’s best boy, I’m here to take my place. I looked at Celeste again. She was in total shock at my words “Speaking of daughters, I will be marking your true daughter today. It will spare us all,” I continued, disregarding everyone’s wishes as well as Celeste's shock. “So this is what it’s about?” My father said from the corner of the room.

“Asher, I warned you, but since you are testing my word and patience. Here it is, if you mark that girl you will not be ordained as alpha” “So then who will you ordain father?” I was my parent’s only child and I knew they didn’t have a backup because his beta only had daughters. So I called his bluff. “Anyone but you, Asher. You are a disgrace to this family.” I walked out of the room and went to my car. When I got in, I heard Saige ask “So is it happening?” “Well, they can’t stop it” I replied. She had a sinister smile on her face. Displaying her inner self for just a moment. Me and she were more alike than I like to admit.

Hours later.

The whole pack was lining up in front of the pack house. I was pleased at the sight that I saw from the alpha office window. Soon they will all be my subjects, my warriors and my slaves. “Asher, it’s not too late to do the right thing” My mom pleaded. “Don’t you see I am doing the right thing? It’s not my fault Scarlet bailed. I’m saving the family's reputation” I said before walking out of the office and making my way to the front of the pack house. Saige was already standing there waiting for me in a skimpy red dress. My wolf was battling to come out. He was furious with me. And wanted to go and retrieve my mate from Silvermoon. I fought him off as best I could. Eventually, I had no more patience so I went ahead and sank my Canines into Saige’s neck in front of the whole pack. My wolf was shouting at me the entire time. Fighting me. But it was too late.