Klaus
“Do you think she will come?” Jenna fixed my crooked tie while I looked into the mirror at my shadow. The Armani suit that my mother brought for me to wear to the ceremony fitted me well. The dark circles beneath my eyes and the beard made me look exhausted.
I didn’t hate Amber but it was a relief not to have her around. I was grateful that she chose to get ready for tonight in another room.
“We both don’t have any other choice, Jenny,” I clutched my chest and sat on the chair.
“You have not healed completely yet, brother. Take rest for a while. We still have a bit of time before the ceremony commences,” My sister patted my shoulder and gave me a glass of water.
‘Alpha, can you come to my house?’ Rachel’s link popped into my head as I gulped the water.
‘Is Scarlett there?’ I asked immediately, my eyes lit with hope.
My feisty mate could do anything and now that she had unlocked her powers and true identity, nothing could stop her.
‘No. Queen Catherine has escaped through the dungeon. Scarlett sent her for you,’ Rachel informed me.
‘Okay. I’m coming.’ I cut the link and walked out of my room, ignoring Jenny’s warnings.
There was a crucial pain in my chest but I couldn't care less about that when there was a slight chance of getting some information about my mate. My mom stood at the door, blocking my path.
“Where are you headed at, Klaus? Don’t you know Asher asked you to rest well before the ceremony?” My mother crossed her arms, looking at me warily.
“You can’t force me to love someone. I feel bad for whatever happened with you but you made your choice yourself. No one forced you to marry Dad and I will make my choice myself,” I told her firmly, leaving no room for arguments.
“I’m not forcing you to accept Amber. I know that I was wrong to expect that from you. Scarlett is your true mate. She has proved it by fighting alongside you in that war. I’m just worried for you, my son,” she looked hurt by my words but I didn’t have time for this right now.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I need to be somewhere right now,” I told her coldly before storming off.
Amber’s family was still here so I couldn’t let them know that I was going to meet Catherine. Instead of driving my car, I chose to walk through the backyard. She has escaped through Samuel’s dungeon so I assumed that she was in hiding and was here for a specific purpose. I needed to make sure that she was safe here.
‘Marcus, I’m off to the Beta’s house. Catherine is there and no one should know that,’ I told him so he would cover up for me if I got late there.
‘Okay, Klaus. Make sure to come on time so Harold won’t doubt anything,’ he replied instantly.
Beta Greg was outside his house, waiting for me. Whenever he paced around restlessly, it was bad news. My heart sank at the anticipation of something bad happening to my mate. Todd howled in pain as he hadn’t recovered either.
The fucking bastard had used venom in his sword or else I would have healed sooner. Hadn’t he been the Alpha King, I would have killed him. We deserved a better King than him who protected his people, not try to kill others for his selfish reasons.
“She is waiting for you with Asher. Go inside, quickly,” Greg muttered. “I will be outside, guarding the door for you. Harold’s men are everywhere in the pack, keeping an eye on everyone so we need to be careful,” he explained, pressing his lips into a thin line.
I nodded my head and entered inside. Rachel pointed toward Letty’s room and I sprinted, hoping to see Letty somehow there but as soon as I opened the door, I found Catherine, Sasha, and Asher working together, wearing gloves and disappointment encircled my heart and the pain doubled.
“This potion is ready,” Asher said, looking at Catherine with a cup in his hand.
My vision blurred as I tried to focus on Catherine who was relieved to see me but soon her eyes widened as she found me clutching my chest and I could feel a burning sensation rising in my heart. My eyelids grew heavy, making it hard for me to keep my eyes open.
“Drink it fast. It will help you heal,” Catherine rushed over and helped me sit on the couch.
I swallowed it hastily, and it ignited a fiery sensation in my heart that radiated throughout my entire body. A growl erupted through my chest as Todd demanded to shift right after I chugged it down and it burned my whole fucking body.
“What’s happening to me?” I asked Catherine who was patting my back to calm me down but the rage my wolf was feeling was too hard to fight back.
“The potion is too strong but you have to be strong and not let your wolf shift,” Asher warned me, looking at my nails warily. “His nails are turning blue which is a good sign.”
I was so confused about what the fuck he was talking about and why I never heard about such a potion before. Our warriors were wounded in the wars but Asher didn’t use such medicine ever.
“The herbs are working,” Catherine heaved a sigh, looking at me with a faint smile.
I raised my eyebrows, demanding an explanation while fighting Todd to rest back. He had an obsession with shifting and destroying the whole place but I clenched my fist and tried to tame him.
She began to explain, “When I was wounded so badly while hiding from Samuel, my witch friend healed me with a potion which was a fusion of her blood, spells, and a few herbs. That helped me to heal sooner so my blood worked as an antidote for you. Amber worked with spells before going to get ready for the ceremony and Asher helped with the herbs.”
Everything started to make sense, Scarlett must have sent her to heal me. She was living as the pack doctor of the Blood Moon pack so she definitely was capable of doing it.
“Thank you for healing me,” I told her, letting a long breath out as Todd stopped fighting me.
“You should thank your mate. She loves you more than anything else, Klaus. She is fulfilling her duty alone as the Lycan Princess and sent me here to heal you,” her eyes became watery as she told me.
“I know,” I nodded my head. “I love her more than my own life and I will do anything to protect her.”
“I want my daughter to have both- love of her mate and the throne,” she uttered with determination in her eyes, her strong aura making all of us bow to her.
“She will have all. She deserves it, My Queen,” Asher assured her while Sasha stood there, blinking back her tears. She loved Scarlett and was worried for her.
“I need to get back now or Harold will find out that I’m missing and I don’t want to risk anything for Letty,” I firmly told her, getting up from the couch as the pain subsided and I was feeling better now.
My mate’s mother nodded her agreement, offering me a half-hearted smile. “Remember that Samuel will do anything to break you and Scarlett. He is the worst manipulator and the cruelest creature so be wise when you’re around him.”
“Thank you, Lycan Queen,” I bowed to her, paying my respect before leaving.
Sasha followed me to the door. “I need to tell you something, Klaus,” she fidgeted with her fingers. I insinuated with my hand to continue and the tears streamed down her cheeks.
“The Lycan Queen…” She muffled a sob. “She… She is dying soon.”
“What?” I exclaimed, cussing under my breath. Sasha was just seventeen years old so I needed to be careful.
“She has used her blood to heal many people so she has weakened. Asher refused her to use her blood for the potion but she wanted her daughter to live happily with her mate so she forced him to make it,” Sasha explained and my breath got caught in my throat.
“I don’t want my mate to live without either of us,” I murmured, regretting why I took that fucking potion. I would have healed sooner or later.
“Asher said that she doesn’t have much time left. She will die within a week,” Sasha broke into tears and Greg pulled her in a comforting hug.
My blood boiled at the thought of the pain my mate would undergo. It was all happening because of Samuel and Harold. I will fucking kill those bastards. I won’t rest until I rip their fucking hearts out.
I immediately took my leave and returned to the place where the ceremony was going to take place. Amber was standing with her family while my family was standing on the opposite side. Alex had a nasty victorious smirk on his face that my fist badly wanted to wipe off his fucking face.
“Let’s begin the ceremony,” a powerful voice commanded and I was hit by the fresh scent of chocolate and berry. My heartbeat quickened as I turned to find Samuel holding my mate’s waist in a forceful grip.
I had to resist the urge to break his hand. He had my mate so I had to control my anger. My love smiled, looking at me.
‘Hello, sexy Alpha,’ she mused via mind link.
‘I fucking missed you so much, my love,’ I retorted, looking at her longingly.
Marcus cleared his throat and pulled me toward the throne. “Don’t make it look obvious that you love her, man. We don’t want Samuel to know the truth.”
Sighing, I ambled toward Amber and extended my hand in front of her. She placed her hand in mine and I kissed the back of her hand. My lips barely touched her skin and I faked a smile at her.
“I, Alpha Klaus-” I used my Alpha command but soon was interrupted by a chuckle.
“Did you really think that I would fall for this foolish act, huh?” Samuel asked, laughing his heart out loud before pushing Letty to the floor.
“Reject her in front of me,” he growled thunderously and people around us gasped in fear.
I hadn’t expected it to go that way but I wasn’t going to reject my mate. Not at any cost. I ambled toward her and wrapped my arms around her before claiming her lips in a long passionate kiss. Now, I feared none. My mate was with me.
“You’re a fool to believe that I will reject my mate,” I spat after breaking the kiss and pulling Letty by my side.
“Aah,” a whimper broke out and Letty’s grip on my arm loosened.
“Mom,” she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.
‘We will protect her, Love,’ I told her, holding her hands in mine, reassuring her.