–Ed–

Darn it!

That Lycan King has come back.

I can smell his annoying lycan scent from afar. He is not alone, as well. That shadow pet of his is tagging along, and probably is the one sending him back here at the speed of light.

My fists are curled tightly on my side. My descended fangs dig deep into my lower lip, drawing out blood without me realizing it. From the top of my tower, I can see them as two small dots in the distance walking to the gate. My reflection from the window shows a man fuming in anger.

What I don't understand is why would he come back now when he just left her last night? What made him change his mind?

Tch. Whatever. I will make him turn away again.

I mind link Mason to take care of Lyall before Mars can smell or sense him. The crystal implanted inside Mars's body should have blocked their bond, but Mars's werewolf instinct is still sharp as ever. So before Lyall gets too close to the pack, I have to get rid of him.

"Say we'll consider it as an invitation to war if he insists on going forward," I say in frustration to Ed.

"But... he's coming alone. The world will condemn us if we ignite war because of this, Ed–" I give Mason a cold, deadly stare. Soon after, Mason corrects himself, "I–I mean... Your... Highness..." It must feel so odd for Mason, my previous Alpha to have to call me with a title, to treat me as someone higher than him. For me, however, it feels splendid to be able to make a cocky bastard like him submit to me.

I smile crookedly at Mason's submission. This alpha, unexpectedly, is quite a romantic, with him willing to do my bidding just to save his Luna. Well, his ex–Luna, since she had decided to break the bond and run away from the pack.

It's funny.

I look at Mason, at the man I knew only ever cared about the pack and his rules, at the man who never once cared whether his Luna was alive or dead. To Mason, females were replaceable. He told me personally, in the past, that the only purpose a female has is to breed pups. I disagreed with him back then. And I still do.

Having Mars as my partner was the best thing that ever happened to me. I promised to always treat her well, and she grew on me. That's what she does best. She grows on people. She was my best friend, my breath of fresh air after hard days as a warrior, my safe place.

I miss more than anything for us to go back to the way we were before. I'd go on about my day as a warrior, then I would come back to her greeting me with a smile, a warm meal, and her eagerness for me to tell her my days whether it was good or bad.

When I came back as a vampire, the house was empty. There was no kind smile, no warm meal, and no one I could tell about my crazy day. There was no Mars. My entire world went dark just like that. That was when I knew I needed someone like Mars in my life, no matter what.

I just want to go back to the way things were. They were perfect because of Mars.

So if the Lycan King thinks he can steal Mars away from me, he is wrong.

"Make him turn back then," I order Mason, "Do whatever you must. Just don't let him cross the gate. I will not have him meet Mars."

Mason bows before retreating to the pack's gate to talk to the Lycan King. I can trust him to not do anything funny because I see the way he looks at Gina. Mason has fallen head over heels for Gina, and that is exactly why Gina is the perfect hostage for me to use. I knew Mason had changed and would turn the world upside down for Gina just one moment before I died in my old body.

I walk down the stairs while Mason jumped off the tower, shifting midair and landing on the ground before running to the gate. The spiraling stairs are long and dark. They used to put lamps on the wall every few stairs, but ever since I get here and is the only one to ever use the stair to the tower rooftop, they stop putting the lamps. It doesn't matter. My vision is sharper than any werewolves now.

After scaling down the stairs, I stop at the third level. Then I walk for quite some time in the hall before opening the fourth room on the right. It's my room. And I've put Mars there too.

Last night I didn't touch her at all. She couldn't stop crying even when I tried to console her. It occurs to me that perhaps I should have cut the crystal a bit more before implanting it inside her. I can tell she is at the edge of breaking and the crystal plays a part in this.

Maybe I should have toned down the crystal effect first.

I shrug at that thought. What's done is done now. I'm sure she will be okay soon. After all, she was happy once with me. She can learn to be happy again. And of course, I will help her. If things don't work out after some time, I can think of other ways to help her as time goes by. What matters is she stays with me.

The door opens revealing Mars who is still sitting on the same chair and position since the morning. She kept on watching the window and wouldn't respond to anyone coming into the room. My feet almost step on a tray of food on the floor. It's Mars's untouched lunch.

Picking up the tray, I wonder why Mars would hurt herself like this. She doesn't have the desire to do anything, she is starving herself... at this rate, she will literally break. And if she breaks... then how am I supposed to get my old life back with her?

My face crinkles in unpleasantness. I need to tell her to stop looking at the window too, maybe even close the window curtain forever, before she sees the two dots coming into the pack. But I am surprised to see her actually looking at me.

There are tears pooling under her eyes. Her lips tremble so much and it must have taken a lot of effort for her to ask me, "Can you erase my memory?" Her voice croaks in a plea, which is like music to my ears. One tear falls beautifully to her cheek, trailing long down to her neck. "I don't want to keep feeling like this. But it won't go away unless I forget them."

I almost can't contain my smile. The happiness I feel when she suggests that... Oh, it's been too long since I feel like this. I finally can get my life back. She just suggested something that would solve all of my problems at once.

With this, even if that stupid Lycan King comes, whatever idiotic plan he has up his sleeve, Mars will never go with him.

"Of course, Mars," I say without a doubt, "Anything for you."

Right after, I bring Mars to the dungeon, to the place I keep Gina all this time, for two reasons. One, the dungeon is a much more enclosed space, so it would be harder for Mars to notice the lycan's presence from here. Any scent from the outside world will be covered with the rotten, damp smell of the dungeon. Two, because the dungeon is where I will make the potion to erase Mars's memory.

My mouth can't stop smiling. I'm giddy with excitement and can't wait to finish the potion and make Mars drink it.

Why didn't I think of this before? If only I made Mars drink this potion when she was asleep... things would have been a lot easier to handle.

Sometimes it's hard for me to synchronize what the Noble Vampire bodies know with what I, Ed, know. The body has been in existence for centuries. This armored vessel for wandering souls has kept a lot of secrets and tricks up its immortal sleeves. It was the body who knew about the crystal, it was also the body who knew how to make Gina sleep for a long time at my command. The body's vast knowledge made me able to appeal to Adina to help me get rid of Lyall from Mars's life, though Adina failed horribly.

And after Mars's suggestion, the body instantly remembered how to make the memory-erasing potion.

All I need is one small splinter from the magical tree in the dungeon, a goat's blood which I have mind-linked a healer to bring from the lab, and a magical ability to draw out one's memory. The last one is me. A vampire, with his hypnotic ability, can draw out a person's memories that the person is desperately wanting to forget.

In the dungeon, I mix the goat's blood with the water from the small pond under the tree, and a small piece of wood into one in a small beaker glass. My mouth whispers a spell that the body remembers. Then I look at Mars straight in the eye.

This is it. Everything is all set.

I have to do this fast before she sees the Lycan King and starts doubting this decision.

Because I know, deep down, that if Mars sees Lyall, for even once... she'll waver.

***

–Lyall–

What do I expect?

Nothing.

When the same grey werewolf greets us at the gate and tells both Sky and me to go back for the second time, I don't flinch. Keeping my ground and my gaze steady, I repeat my words to the same grey wolf, "I am challenging Ed to a blood duel."

All the wolves guarding the gate give the same shocked expression for the second time. This time, they whisper to each other and some even take steps back from me. Maybe I am also exuding an intimidating aura, a kind of determination that scares people. The grey wolf, which I know now as Gamma Fred, also takes two small steps back. He bends his knees, ready to lunge at me... or maybe he is ready to flee from me. His fangs are shown, but his eyes show a storm of panic and confusion.

Next to Gamma Fred is another brown wolf who apparently is a beta. He introduces himself to us as Beta Fray.

"You can't win against him," Gamma Fred says out of the blue, and out of his character as Ed's supposedly subordinate. "No one can. He's a rare powerful hybrid now. Even your strength as a Lycan King–"

"I am no longer the Lycan King," I say flatly.

All the werewolves and even a few vampires guarding the gate freeze. It seems like I have been shocking them nonstop ever since our arrival.

"I have relinquished my title as a king and am challenging your current leader to a blood duel," I continue, "The result of the duel will never and shall never be used as a reason to incite war."

For a few long seconds, they only stare at me and Sky as if we are the two craziest people in the world. I don't even see them blinking.

When their eyes fall to Sky, I quickly add, "He's just my transportation for today. He won't be partaking in or interfering with the duel. And whatever the result of the duel is, he will not harm you."

"Unless you guys start it first," Sky hisses. Some werewolves at the forefront flinch at Sky's words. The kid has got some killer aura to him. Well, I guess it's expected from a boy made from shadows.

"I–I see... We'll ask our Alpha first then," Beta Fray finally says.

Yet when Beta Fray is just about to turn, the said Alpha has jumped off the gate as if in a rush. Mason lands on the ground between the wolves and us two. He is panting heavily and his eyes show fear. A lot of them.

Keeping my feet still, my eyes bear into the alpha of this pack. In a calm stillness, I can see that there are a lot of things Mason wants to say. But the first words coming out of his mouth are, "If you insist on coming in, I'm afraid we have to use our strengths to keep you out."

Unlike the other werewolves, Mason takes one step forward. His fangs are visible, which is a clear threat from him. His claws are drawn out too.

"But Alpha," Gamma Fred says, "The Lycan King–No, I mean... this guy has come to challenge Ed in a blood duel."

Those words make Mason freeze on the spot. His gaze flicks to his subordinate, making sure that Gamma Fred isn't lying to him.

This time, I expect Mason to just let things go now and let me deal with Ed alone. If I can win against Ed, that will be an advantage to Mason. If I can't, then Ed and his pack members will not be implicated.

But the alpha of this conquered pack turns to stare me straight in the eye. Unlike before, his gaze is a mixture of regret and fear. "He has to get through us first before he can challenge Ed."

I see Mason gulping hard. He is nervous. And honestly, I predicted this could happen. It's a hassle and it'll just waste my time and energy. But if it must happen before I can challenge that bastard of a hybrid, then so be it. I show all of them that for the sake of the one I love, I have no fear.

I am just about to get ready to transform when a loud rustle from the nearby bushes is heard. All eyes are directed in the direction of the sound. Both Sky and I half turn to see who is standing behind us.

This time, I stare with wide eyes at what is unfolding behind me. There are dozens of them, even more. By their scent, they must be werewolves. But among them, a few are lycans and faes.

The one person leading this group is a middle-aged woman. Jen. And the lycans are my own sister, Naver, and Ganesh.

But this can't be! If they're coming, I should have been able to smell them from afar. I should have heard their footsteps too.

"I masked their scents and teleported them here," Sky says. I realize now that the boy is sweating and slightly panting. The magic to teleport that many people at once is not small. Sky crumbles to the floor a second later. He sits on the ground and shakes his head a little to focus his eyes again.

"Phew!" the boy laughs. He puts one hand on his stomach where a huge scar is still fresh underneath the clean clothes, "That takes a lot more energy than I realize."

"Why, Sky?" I growl at this boy. He knows that the reason I relinquished my title and come to this pack alone is to avoid war. But everything will be for nothing if my people come to help me–

Athena's words cut off my trail of thoughts, "We're not fighting this pack of werewolves and vampires in your name." She pauses a little before continuing with a heavier tone, "Lycan."

No 'King.' Her tone is the equivalent of Athena winking at me because she has a plan.

"We are fighting them because they have been kidnapping our fertile females," Athena says, "Then again, they can't really link this fight to our kingdom because the majority of our people here are rogues. So technically, this is a war between werewolf packs."

"But the war will break Mars–"

This time, Sky is the one cutting me off, "You won't have time to worry about that, anyway. I think Ed is making a potion that could erase Mars's memory. Mason's shadow just spoke to me. It's quite a rare occurrence for shadows to speak, but they can betray their masters when their masters are conflicted or are forced to do something they despise and are hurting immensely because of it. In essence, it's a cry for help. I immediately teleported these guys after Mason's shadows practically screamed at me."

"What?"

Out of anger, I hiss at Mason. This alpha who just came must have known what Ed is up to and he is purposefully trying to delay us from reaching Mars. Son of a bitch!

Mason's guilty face doesn't help him at all. He does look taken aback by what Sky has said. I take steps toward him in anger, ready to lunge at him and tear this alpha apart regardless if he is truly conflicted or not.

"Leave him to us," Sky says in the middle of panting. He looks so tired as he swings his hand to call for his shadows. "I have one more chance to teleport someone before I am entirely depleted out of magic for the time being. My shadows can't reach Mars. There's something blocking my magic from her, maybe it's because of the same thing that has been blocking your bond. But I can teleport you inside."

I keep staring at Mason, wondering what made his shadows desperately cry for help to Sky. When my anger has dissipated a little, I can think clearer. There must be something that is making Mason willing to obey Ed. Maybe Ed is holding something or someone he holds dear. The moment I think of that, my eyes soften because I know then that it must be the case.

But if it's either Mason's loved ones or my loved ones...

"I'm sorry," I whisper to Mason. I don't need to look at Sky or give him any signal whatsoever for him to teleport me with his shadows.

"NO! Please–" I hear Mason screams but I can't hear the entirety of his pleas.

It takes one blink for me to move from my position. The moment I open my eyes, I am already in front of a huge door at the largest house in the pack village. Gasps escape from the surrounding people near the street I teleported into. They jump and run away from me. Only a few werewolves greet me with fangs and claws. They must be the guardians of the house. Two vampires also jump down from the rooftop, hissing at me with their fangs shown.

I crack the stiffness in my neck and fingers. Giving them the craziest grin I can muster, I then transform into a lycan warrior. "Showtime."

'Wait for me, Mars.' I beg through our bond, even if it's still blocked. 'Please wait for me a little longer. At least give me that.'

'I love you.'

–to be continued–