Red everywhere!
The once beautiful and magnificent palace now reeked with blood of soldiers and maids lying around in different uniforms.
Arthur holds his almost dying mate, Aurora in his arms with tears dropping from his eyes while looking at her now pale body.
"Aurora my love, hang in there. I have sent for a healer from the nearest pack". He managed to say while rubbing her chest where she had been stabbed by a silver knife earlier on.
The just ended battle had left the whole pack in chaos and it is more surprising that it was headed by his own step brother, Vince.
Arthur had lost his mother at his birth and his father took another mate to take care of him. His father's new mate also gave birth to another boy a year after their mating ceremony.
His step mother/Vince's mother had raised both of them in pure love that they were sometimes mistaken as twins because they had the same facial similarities and body build.
Despite their striking resemblance, they have a major difference; their wolves are different. While Arthur's wolf is a giant black one, Vince's wolf is a bit smaller and grey in color.
According to the werewolf's rule, only one black wolf is born to the Alpha by his chosen mate and that wolf becomes the next Alpha. Although Arthur would have preferred his brother become the crowned Alpha, he cannot deny his destined responsibility. Hence, he ascended the throne after their father's death.
"Ar..thur." Aurora managed to say with a shaky voice. Her fingers shaking as she attempts to wipe the tears off Arthur's face.
"My love, save your strength till when the healer arrives." He told her pleadingly since she was struggling to talk.
"Don't…mi..ss me too much." Aurora replies despite Arthur's objection.
"My love, you are going nowhere." Arthur only said this to make himself feel better. He knew it was a lie. He could feel it in their mate bond as it continues to weaken.
"Did...you remember… the first day we found out we are…mates?" Aurora said with a bitter sweet smile.
Of course, he remembers. That was the happiest day of his life. Aurora's father was the Alpha of Moonstone Pack and although they had been childhood friends, they only felt the bond between them at Aurora's coming of age ceremony.
He immediately brought her to his pack and she was crowned Luna alongside him.
"Yes my love. How can I forget such a day?"
"Vince…told me…to watch my back."
That day while Aurora was jubilating that her childhood friend became her fated mate, Vince who is a brother to Arthur , her mate came to her.
"Vince, the moon goddess finally paired Arthur and I together" she wheezed excitedly.
"What now happens to us?"
"Us? There was never us Vince. I clearly told you I am in love with Arthur and will only stop loving him if I found out I'm not his mate but it seems the moon goddess heard my plea and paired us together"
Vince, Arthur, Aurora, her brother Drew and Layla, her best friend, had all grown up together as friends and would often meet when either parent visits each other. Vince has a crush on Aurora and proposes they date till each of them finds their mate or they get lucky and become destined mates since a werewolf can't recognize his mate till she clocks 18 years old.
However, Aurora also has a secret crush on Arthur and had once whispered a prayer to the moon goddess on a full moon to grant her wish of becoming Arthur's mate. Because of this, she immediately rejected Vince's proposal and even confessed that she loved his brother instead.
He had told her that since she decided to choose his brother over him, she should be careful and watch her back because he will definitely strike back. Although Aurora never took those words seriously, she remembered them clearly.
"Auri my love, keep your mind off Vince and focus on me. Focus on surviving." Arthur replies and looks over to the now dead Vince whom he had killed with his own hands.
"Arthur" She managed to hold his face with her bloody hand. "I know you can… feel it. I can not survive… this"
Arthur tried to shut her up with his fingers. However, she has to say this.
" I will soon… leave as I can feel… our bond breaking. However, do me a favor…my love". She let her now weak eyes roam to where the body of her brother Drew was lying, lifeless.
Arthur, already understanding what she meant, immediately refuses, shaking his head. That was a risky practice that had long been forbidden.
The moon goddess allows werewolves who are family members or mates to share an oath at their death that will enable them to be reborn with whomever this oath is shared with. It is most effective if one of the wolves who desires to be reborn is still breathing. However, it is a painful process.
A silver knife is used to pierce the heart of the individuals and their bodies placed close to each other. Only an Alpha can perform this sacred act to make it authentic. However, it was forbidden because it is not always successful.
Mates and families with strong connections had tried it in the past and although most of them were reborn, they were not always born as the personality they were before in their previous life. In fact, some might be unlucky that they will not meet with whom they shared the oath with again after they are reborn while others lose their wolf trait completely. Hence, it was forbidden and only known by a few members of the royal family.
Aurora loves her brother Drew so much and will want to live a life with him again. She would have done the same thing with Arthur but he is the love of her life and she wants him alive for a long time. He isn't supposed to die yet.
"Aurora, I cannot do this".
"Arthur, please. This….is… my last wish". She managed to say.
Left with no other choice, Arthur pulled out the silver knife from Aurora's chest with so much difficulty and went over to where Drew's body is and also pierced his chest with the same knife. Immediately he did that, Aurora breathed her last.
"Auri!!!" Arthur couldn't hold it in as he screamed out. He felt it in him. His Aurora is now gone; their bond is broken.
Why will the moon goddess be this cruel to him? She gave him the most amazing person as his better half and now, she is dead just like that. His wolf seeks blood!
Without thinking twice, he also used the same silver knife that was used to pierce both Aurora and Drew on himself. He knew piercing his stomach wouldn't do, so he took it directly to his chest.
Everything is gradually fading and darkness will soon welcome him. Suddenly, a white light shines around him. It is the moon goddess!
"Arthur". Came her calm voice. "I know you are hurt by the loss of your mate but have you forgotten that no wolf is permitted to kill himself?"
There is indeed a rule against a wolf commiting suicide no matter what the situation is but the pain has clouded his mind and he has totally forgotten about it.
"Because of your disobedience, you will come back but with a mate you will hate."