My Long Lost Mate

I peeked at my side, looking at the beautiful lady who was sleeping soundly by the other side of the bed. It seemed that she has grown accustomed to having me in her presence, looking at how she didn't complain about sharing a bed with me, which she would do so had it been a few weeks ago.

The candlelight from the lamp stationed on the bedside table fell upon her face, allowing me to take in her features better amidst the dimness of the room. Her jade green eyes that enchanted me from the very first glance were closed, while her long lashes dusted on the upper part of her cheeks. She looked so peaceful—and pure. I couldn't resist a smile as I took sight of the adorable woman before me. It was now that I realized just how badly I've been missing her.

It felt aggravating knowing that people had the heart to hurt someone like her, someone so innocent. It was my concern to fathom why people just couldn't seem to get their hands off my woman. What did she even do to them?

But then again, I had promised to protect her, to keep her from harm. And yet, I failed. I failed to protect the one that I loved the most and caused her such sufferings. It was a wonder of why she still chose to put her trust in a man who couldn't even keep his promise. Would she be so willing to give me another chance to prove my words?

Despite my failures, I still wish to be by her side. Was it selfish of me to think as such? If so, then I am more than willing to be known as a selfish man.

I brushed a strand of hair from her face and stroked her cheeks, wondering what kind of thoughts goes into her head. I couldn't understand why she felt that it was not her place to be with me when I thought she was the only person that could fill the position beside me. I have waited for her for years, and now that she has come, I will never let her go.

"You should stop pushing me away, Violet," I pecked her cheek and received a groan from her, which made me chuckle, "It's making me want to get even closer to you."

I slowly went out of the bed, glancing over to Violet for the last time before tiptoeing to the door. As much as I wanted to stay, a man was waiting for me to bring him to his death. I opened the door and went to the other side of the room, meeting the two of my men who were standing right outside.

"You two stay here," I ordered, "Don't let anyone in."

The whole time Violet was unconscious, they were always standing guard outside the room. They must have been worried about her, especially Jack. I could tell that he felt guilty, thinking that all of this happened because of his negligence.

I ambled my way to the dungeon, stretching my hands along the way. Now that I have captured Leonard, I suppose the attacks will no longer occur around the packs. It took us a few months to finally stop them.

I banished Leonard from the pack three years ago, and that must be when he started to gather other rogues to form an alliance to attack us. Such a pity that he spent three years planning for his death.

Arriving at the dungeon, I greeted Kiel, who was busy for these past few days attending to the guests who stayed in some of the cells. Noticing my presence, he smiled giddily while taking a kerchief to wipe his bloodied hands.

"You are here," his voice sounded very welcoming regardless of the grimness of the place. The man always appeared to be in a good mood whenever he was here, "It's really refreshing down here, don't you think so?"

"If you mean the smell of fresh blood, then yes," I scoffed.

I glanced at our surroundings, taking in the sight of the prisoners who were mostly lying helplessly on the ground but one. While the others looked very beaten and lifeless, this one man was sitting with a smile on his face. It was rare to see a smiling face in this place aside from Kiel's.

"What's with him?"

Kiel glanced in the direction I was looking at, "I beat him so much that he went crazy," he sighed when he saw the man, "This place is like home to him now, so I just let him be. I think he has quite forgotten that there is a world beyond the walls."

I continued to stare at the man in silence, looking at what a crazy person would do. One minute he was laughing, and the next he was screaming, at the same time pouncing on the wall so hard that blood covered his hands in an instance. Looking at the man's behavior made me question my decision. Should I kill Leonard, or should I make him be just like this man?

"Let us go then," I beckoned.

I walked along the dark corridor, not caring about the few whispers that came from the prisoners. Most of them sounded like they were aimed at the vampire king beside me. Kiel was quite pleased with them, even though they were talking about what kind of a monster he was.

"It sounds like you are very loved here," I chuckled.

"I know," he smirked at my remark, "I should shower them with more of my love next time."

Even though we were friends since we were kids, we didn't share the same kind of pŀėȧsurė in tormenting others. I didn't enjoy the act of harming others, though it was inevitable in the world we lived in. Kiel, on the other hand, enjoyed them. He found pŀėȧsurė in torture, doing them under the pretense of punishing felons. I suppose it wasn't that big of a deal as long as he didn't torture the innocents. I could say that he was simply enjoying his job.

As we got closer to the solitary room, the guards standing outside the room opened the metal door for us to enter. I have given Leonard a few days to recover, but it didn't look like he got any better. He looked even more revolting than the last time I saw him, his outside now reflects the man within perfectly. I glanced at Kiel, ȧssuming that he had paid the man a visit in the few days I gave him.

"I ȧssure you he still can talk," he raised both of his arms after noticing my eyes on him. I ignored him and walked closer to Leonard, kicking him lightly to wake him up. It seemed that a light kick was not enough to wake him up so this time, I kicked him harder.

"Argh!" he ġrȯȧnėd upon waking, apparently, pain worked best in waking someone up. He glared at me and barked, "What? Just kill me already."

I laughed at his impatience, he sure looked ready to die. He must have prepared himself well the moment he planned for the attacks—for his revenge. If only his plan did work, then he would be the supreme alpha by now because anyone who managed to kill me will instantly be the next in line. Unfortunately, that was not the case and he was the one who will be meeting death.

"Not until you answer me," I squatted down, scrutinizing the man before me, "Tell me, what did you do with the hearts?"

"I only took them for fun," he shrugged. Such an imbecile, still thinking of lying despite his current situation.

"A few days and you have forgotten about your son?" I snickered, cracking the bones in my fingers, "I can bring him down here and make him go through the exact same torments as what you had experienced just a few days ago," I said unamusedly as I cleaned my fingernails, "Your choice."

A few minutes went by and there was no sound coming from Leonard. It seemed I have held too big of an expectation about how good of a father he was. Not wanting to spend another minute, I stood up, brushing my pants off the dirt, and turned around to call for a guard, "Bring the kid—"

"Witch," there goes the answer, "I gave them to a witch."

I hid the smile forming on my lips before turning back to Leonard, "And why is that?"

A witch. What kind of exchange could possibly happen between a rogue and a witch? There was nothing that—ah, must be the potions. The very potion that they used to double their strength. If that was true, then the hearts must be one of the ingredients that the witch used to make the potions.

"The potions, is it?" I queried. Leonard's eyes grew wide when he heard me, seemingly surprised at my knowledge of the potion.

"H-How did you know?"

"I wouldn't have known if your men didn't litter on my land," I jeered, "You killed my people for those measly potions. How aggravating."

The lives of my people were much more valuable than those useless potions. To think that their lives were exchanged with a mere potion made me grew furious. Those potions didn't even work that well, ten minutes and they were gone.

If the witch was willing to help, there must be something that he could give in return for those potions. From what I saw from Maggie, a witch wouldn't do anything for free. It was always a give and take.

"What did you give in return?"

"Nothing," he answered, taking me by surprise, "She offered me her help, saying that she would be happy if my plan works. She said she wanted to see the ruin of the werewolves."

"Really?" I snorted, "What was your plan then?"

"I planned to use the potion to kill you," he sighed, tired by the never-ending questions, "But I realized that it was too big of a risk because they wear off quickly. Then one day I heard about you finding your mate," he smirked.

"So I made another plan to separate you from her because I knew that she would be your weakness. I stopped all the attacks and waited until the potions were ready, then proceed to cause a massacre on your neighboring pack with the help of the potions. When I successfully lured you away from your manor, that was when I came to greet your mate for the first time."

"For the first time?" I frowned, "So you are saying that, that night was your first attempt kidnapping my mate?"

"It is," he replied.

"Don't make me laugh, Leonard. You know that it was not your first attempt kidnapping her, there were more before that night," I sighed, tired of his lies, "You do realize that I don't accept lies very well, right?"

"What do you mean?" this time, it was his turn to frown, "I have never tried to kidnap her before that night, it was the first time I saw her. All the attacks I sent were only aiming for the people's heart, not kidnapping a woman."

"Are you saying the truth?" I narrowed my eyes at the man, doubting the veracity of his words.

"Who am I to lie, dear sir?"