–Mason–

Right after Ed disappeared, the vampires are gone from our pack too. Some of them, I believe, appeal to another vampire clan to take them. Some saw the change in Ed, and followed him, wherever he may be gone.

The lycans, rogues, and elves returned to the Lycan Kingdom. I saw Lyall and Mars off formally as the alpha of the pack. And I used the chance to humbly apologize to Mars and to all the females of my pack. Throughout this experience, I have learned that I need to be a better man, and hence a better leader. Mars said she would check the pack from time to time to make sure I am a man of my words. So I told her she would be welcome anytime.

Then the process to restore our village started. I also took the time to revise our laws and ranks. It's now possible for females to be given other ranks other than omega and healers now. And though I fought quite a bit with the elders, I now have one senior female healer as part of the council member.

It's progress for sure, but we still have a long way to go. My new ways are despised by the conservative elders. But whenever I told him about Mars and Jen, also Gina, proof that females can achieve wonderful things too, even better than most men, they can't argue back. Because these three women have shown their power right to those conservative men's faces.

The only thing that is making me unable to sleep these days is the fact that Gina hasn't been awake for days. The healer says she is fine physically, but being forced to sleep for so long must have taken a toll on her mental. I visit her every day. I bathe her, clothe her, give her some of my energy through magic so her muscles wouldn't go wasting. I tell her every day how sorry I am and how... I am in love with her now.

Mars sends me a letter every few nights asking about Gina's condition. She even asks me if she should return to check on Gina herself. It's the middle of the night and I am almost writing a reply asking Mars to visit when I hear the sound of glass breaking in my mansion. My sharp hearing instantly locates the source of the sound in my room, which is where Gina is sleeping.

A part of me is panicking of the thought that someone is trying to hurt Gina. Yet another part of me is hurting... of the thought that Gina has finally awakened and she is running away.

When I rush to my room as fast as I can and open the door. My heart sinks like never before.

The bed is empty.

I then rush with the speed of light to the broken window. The small figure, cloaked in black is enough to tell me that my Luna is running away. And it hurts.

I grab a few things from the room and hurriedly jump from the window too. After mind-linking my betas to not chase us, I try my best to not alert more of my warriors, even though we both are running in the middle of the streets.

Gina jumps through the gate smoothly after shifting to her werewolf form. I, too, shift and then jump just behind her. She knows now that I am on her heels. So she raises her speed as she enters the forest.

"Gina, wait!" I call out to her.

She doesn't stop.

After a while, I can tell that she is heading to Crescent Lake. But because she has just woken up after passing out, her body is not as fit as it used to be. Her stamina must have been depleted by now because she is slowing down. I see a chance to stop her so I take it.

I jump at her. We tumble on the forest floor for a while. She lets out a whimper before pushing me away. Not wanting to hurt her, I jump back so she can stand again. We both stare at each other in our wolf forms.

"Let me go, Mason," Gina hisses, "You promised that I am free to go the night Ed died before that vampire thing took over his soul. Why stop me now?"

I transform back into my human form. Then I show her what I have been bringing along while chasing her in my hand. It's a bag full of clothes and food, also a pair of shoes. I tied the shoes together, so it was easier for me to carry.

"I am not," I try my best to keep my voice steady, even though every word is breaking me. "But you forgot your bag and shoes."

Gina transforms back into her human form. Brown skin, beautiful eyes, and dark hair that frames her face in a charming manner. I can't help but inhale the sight in front of me now. She is gorgeous.

I put the pair of shoes right next to her then I untangle the knot I made. After that, I put the bag in front of her. Then I step back, clear my throat, and look away from her naked body. "You're going to the human realm, right? You would need clothes, food." I clear my throat again when I feel Gina's hot gaze on me.

"Why are you looking away?" Gina asks. "It's not the first time you've seen me naked. Besides you're naked as hell too."

I quickly pick a large fallen branch and cover my crotch with it. But I still look away from her body.

"I also put some documents you would need on your bag. Passports, IDs, some money."

"What?"

"Go look for Harvey once you've entered the human realm. He owes me and he will give you a place to stay and a temporary job you can have. He is also the alpha of a pack there and he can protect you."

When Gina doesn't respond, I look at her to make sure she hasn't slipped away from me just yet.

"Why?" she asks in a hoarse voice.

I walk up to her and then kneel down to take out a set of clothing from the bag. I help her put a pair of jeans, and an over sized T-shirt, then I put the shoes on her feet. She is being quiet all the while and is cooperating with me.

"Because you deserve to bloom too," I answer her while tying her shoes. "I might be a different person now, and the pack is trying to be better. But a strong woman like you deserves a chance to shine too. And though it hurts me, I know staying in the pack will only prevent you from shining further."

She scoffs in disbelief. "So that's why you, the Alpha Mason, are naked and are tying my shoes now?"

I look up to her. "You once put a pair of socks on a completely paralyzed man without batting an eyelash. I can at least do the same to you, right?"

"But..." her voice trails slightly, "Do you wish me... to go?"

"No," I answer honestly, "If I can have things my way, I want you to stay by my side and see the kind of man I could become. Because I am doing all this for you."

Her eyes are filled with tears. "What if... I just stay... then?" The way she asks me that in a broken voice is like a stab to my chest. On one side, I am happy that she is considering staying. On the other side, the better man in me knows it is not the best decision for her.

"Don't." I stand to face her. Then I wipe her tears. "The world deserves to see you shine, my love." But it is my tears that fall next. "I'm sorry for everything I have done. It's your time to make a mark in this world now. Don't settle or stay because of me."

Her tears fall too, and I wipe them every time. "I love you, Gina. And if in our case, love means letting go. I will."

She kisses me right then. At first, just a peck. Then it grows into a passionate, demanding kiss. She brings fire to our tears, electricity to my skin. And that night I succumb. I tear her shirt and jeans I just put on her and then make love to her on the forest floor. Unlike our first lovemaking where I was an ass, this time... this time, I want to do it right. I embrace her like a lover, I treat her like a fragile glass, and I make sure that she enjoys every second.

She is beautiful. Goddess, I want to kill the man I was before the war because of how stupid I was for not seeing this woman in front of me.

We make love until morning, until our lungs are burnt out of air and our muscles are sores from all our urgings.

Then I take another set of clothes from her bag and clothe her for the last time. I put the shoes on her feet yet again and tie them securely. Then I transform into my wolf form. "You must be tired," I try to say light-heartedly, "Hop on. I'll take you to the portal."

The portal is very far from our pack. But I insist on being her ride to the portal. Sometime along the journey, we make love again, coloring the woods with our passionate lovemaking. Sometimes we only continue the journey in silence. Then I give her a necklace with an ivory pendant shaped like the moon for her to wear.

And the rest of the time we spend talking. Something that we had never really done before I got paralyzed.

Alas, even a far journey comes to an end. We have arrived in the portal.

Gina takes the bag in her arm and jumps down from my wolf form. She walks a few steps but then stops and turns to me. "What if I just stay? What if I..."

I shake my head. "I don't want you to stay because you're doubting yourself that you can't make it in the human realm. And I know you don't want to stay for the same reason too."

"Believe in yourself, Gina," I tell her from the bottom of my heart, "You led our warriors to win against the vampires all by yourself–"

"I had you," her voice cracks, and it's breaking my heart.

"Yes. And you will still have me in the human realm if you need me. Just call me through the pendant and I'll come."

Gina nods. She knows I am right. Though it breaks my heart, though I want to scream to her to just stay so badly, we both know that she needs to go. She needs to be free.

"Um...," she says, "You can also visit me in the human realm whenever you have pack businesses there. If you want to, of course..."

"I would love to," I whisper.

Gina caresses my face. Her eyes are in tears. Mine too. "I forgive you, Mason. And I, too, love you. But I can't... the pack just has so many horrible memories for me. And..."

"I know," I lean to her warmth. "And I love you enough to let you go. Be free, my love. And shine."

She hugs me one final time. Then she runs to the portal. Before she takes that one step, she looks back with her teary eyes. When two lovers part ways, I don't think we both can smile at each other. But it is enough that we both look at each other honestly.

I guess our love came at the wrong time. And sometimes, even if we can't be with each other, it doesn't mean we don't love one another.

Gina finally takes that step. Her body disappears into a white portal.

And I finally let out the ugly heartache sob I have been holding.

.

.

.

–Ed–

"This is the sixth time you've visited this month alone," I protest at the sight of the shadows emerging from the floor. It's obviously Sky. He is the only one who has found out where I have gone in hiding after that day through his shadows. I have acquired an abandoned castle, far from the Lycan Kingdom and in a barren land with no life for miles, as my sanctuary. A few of the vampires found me through our blood link and I don't know why, but they still want to serve me.

"I need to hide," Sky says. It's been years since that day. I heard from my servants that Mars and Lyall made it alive back to their kingdom. Athena gave back the throne to Lyall and with Mars on his side, they rule with just and love.

That should be the end of the story, right?

So why is this shadow kid keeps on appearing in my castle? It's annoying. I want to spend my days in loneliness and self-pity knowing that I will never understand nor gain love. At least, not the way Mars has shown me.

"Then hide in your castle, Prince Sky!" I grumble, "Your castle is bigger than mine. And is more taken care of too." Lyall and Mars have offered Sky the position of a prince, but allegedly, the boy refuses the title and decides to just be a warrior while learning magic in the academy despite his prowess in magic. Still, everyone has been calling him 'prince,' now.

"Well, I need a place far enough and dark enough and unknown enough to hide," Sky says with his smart-ass tone. I roll my eyes at this dramatic boy.

Well, he is no longer a boy. I was told that when Adina made him, he assumed the body of a twelve-year-old and never aged, but after that day, he somehow started the process of aging. Which, according to my immortal body's knowledge about Shadow Walker, should not be possible. So it was a miracle performed by Mars's daughter because it was actually Mars's daughter's blood that resurrected Sky from death. And since then, Sky has been aging as a lycan would.

Sky now has a well-built body, proof of his training as a warrior. Dark hair and dark eyes, which reminds me of Mars. Yet his face is so similar to Lyall that I want to smack him sometimes. And which I do. Just like now. I just smack him across the face because he reminds me of Lyall.

"Ow!" Sky cries out, but he never retaliates whenever I smack him.

"You are hiding from Hope again," I say. The name Hope always feels foreign to my tongue. But it is fitting for that child. Whether she is actually my child is still up for debate, but right now, I am content with knowing that Mars and Hope are living their best lives in the lycan kingdom.

I heard, from Sky, of course, that Hope likes music. Hope likes to dance too, and she is good in warrior training. Well, Sky makes it seems that Hope is perfect in every way. He is clearly in love with her but as Hope's still-debatable-father-that-she-might-never-know, I am also inclined to think that she is perfect.

"Soon she will be eighteen," Sky says, "Her wolf will appear. And her magic will return."

"And you are afraid that she will realize that you are her mate," I drop the bomb on the poor kid. He is definitely in love with her.

"She thinks of me as a brother. Yet it's so hard to control my urges recently."

"Hence why you need to hide in a place far enough and dark enough and unknown enough to hide," I repeat his words with a mocking tone.

When Sky is quiet, I turn to look at him. There is a deep sadness written on his face. A sadness that I can understand.

"Why does she have me as her mate?" he asks, "She is so full of light and I am..." Sky waves his hand, to which the shadows in this dark castle respond. "I am darkness. I was made because of a love gone wrong. A Shadow Walker should not have a mate. It's unheard of."

"And yet you felt the pull the moment you saw Hope for the first time," I remember seeing Sky look so shocked the moment he took Hope in his arms. I didn't know then, but years after, I know without Sky having to tell me.

As Hope's debatable father, in all honesty, I don't know if I would approve of Sky with Hope. Sky doesn't even approve of himself being with Hope.

"Yeah, Sky," I say, "You're asking the wrong man for that kind of question." I walk to the door. "Because I am also a dark creature, even darker than you because I have done some terrible things. And yet I want that love that Mars showed me. Which probably I will never get. And when I ask myself, why can't I have it, I am reminded of how twisted my soul truly is. So, bottom line is, you are asking the wrong man here."

I open the door and am just about to usher Sky out of the castle when my sight caught a pair of blue eyes pleading with me with her gaze. She is petite, has brown skin, and her afro hair has been shaved unevenly. Her nose is broken, her entire body is trembling, there is a cut on her plump lips, and she walks limply.

Her mouth moves but no sound is made. Yet somehow, I hear her screaming inside my mind. I hear it loud and clear.

"Help me! Please!"

I also hear the same words repeating inside: Mate. Mate. Mate.

She falls so perfectly into my embrace. Then she loses her consciousness.

Damn it. Her presence and scent make my fangs throb. My throat is parched at the sound of her pulse on her neck.

"Hey!" someone shouts a few feet from the door. There are five men walking to my castle. Each has a weapon in their hands. Axes, knives, even human guns. I look down at the girl in my embrace. From her scent, I can tell that she is a werewolf, though her wolf feels so faint. "Didn't know that this castle is occupied. Well, best to give her back to us or else."

I look back to the men approaching my castle. Sky stands next to me. He puts both hands in his pockets.

"She must be someone important then?" Sky asks.

"Something," one of the men corrects Sky, "She is our alpha's slave. And she dares to run away from the pack."

His words boil me in anger.

"Oh, I know some female werewolves that have run away from their pack because of misogynistic idiots like you," Sky says, "But this is not my castle." He looks at me.

"Just give her back to us–"

I cut the man's words with my own. "Dinner is served, children!"

At my words, vampires drop from the roof one by one. There are enough vampires to take down a plateau of werewolves. My vampires all bare their fangs at the five werewolves in front of us, their eyes glinting with desire. It has been so long since I have allowed them to feast on another's blood.

As I can't be bothered with the messy affair of vampire feasting, I slam the door shut and focus my attention on the girl in my arms. I look at her awful state and rage fills me. But confusion glues me to my spot. When I caress her hair, she winces in pain. I notice that there are burnt scars and remnants of hair-pulling.

"Who did this?" I hiss to her unconscious self.

"Oh my," Sky mutters, "She is your mate, isn't she?"

Perhaps, my heartache is a journey I need to have to define this moment with this mysterious petite girl in my arms. This moment of wanting to protect her and make sure she is well. This moment of my heart being tugged in every direction yet I am glued to my spot.

Perhaps the future ahead doesn't have to be so lonely for this dark creature after all.

–Neverending–

Would you like a story about Ed and Sky?

Thank you for reading! Please leave your thoughts and Feedback so I can grow as a writer :) My next project would be to write Tale Spinster, an isekai werewolf story about a girl who got transported into a dark erotic romance story and will change the genre into comedy, which you can check on my account later around August. I will also be rewriting my work from another platform, Bala: The Duke's Contract Wife, a romance fantasy story on my Wattpad account this month. Bala is about a hidden witch who acquires a marriage contract with the Duke of the North for her protection in exchange of her skill, but to her surprise, the Duke also demands her to do her wifely duties. The new title is The Monster and The Witch.

Updates might be unpredictable for The Monster and The Witch because i am a medical student by day hehe

I hope, like Mars, you all know that there is much more to you than you admit. And that no matter how heavy the anchors you carry, or how far the surface is, I hope you have someone like Lyall who can help ease the burden, who can help you collect yourself and breathe easier, and who can help you see the real amazing you.

Cheers,
Karasmara.