Page 30 of Unloved Mate

“You don't know that.” Leda gave her word of reassurance that everything would be alright.

“I… oh, goddess, what have I done? He was…” I stuttered. “He was supposed to be here with me. Damn it, what have I done.” I cried, tears trickling down my cheeks. Leda drew closer to me and threw her hands around my shoulder, hugging me tightly.

“Hey, Kane. It's ok. You don't have to worry. Tomorrow, we'll go to his pack together. You'll get him back.”

“No, you don't understand. He's never going to trust me again. I should have fought harder.”

“There’s no way you could have. Zeke took it too far.”

“I’ll stop him. I won't let him come between me and Valor.”

“We’ll go to Valor’s pack. This time, you won't sneak around.”

“Hmm,” I murmured. “What if he doesn't want to see me? What if he hates me?”

“What if he doesn’t? What if he's waiting for you to come back to him?” Leda reassured me with a fervent smile. Whatever would happen between Valor and me tomorrow, I'd have to live with it, but I promised myself that I'll kill Zeke even if I had to do it repeatedly.

***

Valor

Upon hearing the explosion coming from my father’s ward, I turned on my heels, hurrying back to the hospital. I didn't stop running until I had made it inside. Even when I was in, I had to fight my way through the crowd, who were trying to stop me from going upstairs. I saw Frey by the elevator and lunged toward her. Luckily, she held onto the doors long enough for me to slip in. “My dad, he's up there.”

“Don’t worry. I can heal him. He’ll be safe, Valor. Ipromise.” She reassured me. I tapped my feet until the door claddings opened up to the floor my father stayed on. The first thing that hit me was the smoke that coated the air in the hallway. Frey used her magic to gather the thick gray smoke, making it disappear as a spell escaped her lips. The hallway was clear now, but the fire was still burning. I pounced into my father's room, kicking the door in, and it slammed into its hinges. My eyes gained their golden glow as I searched through the room, which was on fire. My father was curled up against the corner wall, shivering from the fear of being close to death. I didn't care if there was something in my way. I went after him and held his body covered in soot and scars from the fire. He was still alive. Frey was right behind me, and she stopped the fire with the snap of her finger. As we headed out of the room, I supported my father on his feet and headed toward the elevator. Hearing a movement behind me, I turned on my heels and saw a dark silhouette hiding in the shadows. The shadow stepped forward with a wicked grin on his face and a growl rumbled in my throat.

That bastard had the guts to ruin my entire life and come after my father. “Frey, you need to get him downstairs.” I told Frey and handed my father over to her.

“Valor, what are you doing? We have to go.”

“Go. I got this.”

She moved to the exit with my father and disappeared into the elevator.

“Just me and you like old times and we’re not training.”

“You tried to kill my father. You ruined my life. Is your ego that fragile to an extent that when you can't have something or someone, you seek to destroy it?” I questioned as we stepped closer to each other. I was prepared for this encounter. I wouldn't let him win, nor would I try to reason with him because at this point he was just a monster.

“Your mind tricks can't work on me anymore.”

“That’s why I'm here to kill you.” He smirked and unsheathed a knife, moving toward me with unnatural speed. He tried to strike me, but I duck and seized his arms, twisting until he lost the dagger. I kicked it down the hall and shoved him into the wall, spinning on my heels and slamming a kick into his face. Blood colored his lips as I kneed his belly, curled my claws into his hair, and shoved him down the hallway. He stumbled down and coughed out blood.

“That's not the first time someone said that to me, and somehow I always make it out alive,” as he tried to get back on his feet, I sped to him and delivered another powerful kick, the impact sending him against the wall. “I’m not weak and I'm not stupid. The only thing I did wrong was our friendship.”

“And I've loved you all my life…” he hollered, his expression blurring between anger and aching. “All I wanted was for someone to choose me. But, it's not me, it's you and Kane. No one cares enough to put me first. I'm the dispensable wolf. The one who doesn't mean anything. That ends today.”

“You ruined all that love in seconds when you crawled your powers into my head. I trusted you, Zeke. I was happy that you came back, that I got to have my best friend with me because I lost everyone I've been close to. But you destroyed everything and now my father?” I asserted out of frustration, kicking him again. I wouldn’t give him any chance to get back on his feet. I would kick and kick until there was no life left inside of him. I was about to slam my boot into his face when he rolled off, regained his stance with werewolf speed, and moved behind me. His claws dug into my back and he forced them into me, twisting and tearing flesh, sending a buzz of pain through me. He slammed his feet on my back, and I lurched forward, my bones cracking as I slammed against the floor. He chuckled and shoved his boots into my limbs, breaking my leg. I let out loudgrunts as he slammed repeatedly.

“You’re weak. Where is your fucking fated mate Alpha to save you, eh?” He chuckled and kicked me in the stomach, sending me against the wall. He walked to the dagger and picked it up, fiddling with it as he walked closer. I sat up, holding my stomach and leaning against the wall. The fear of losing my life and that of my little pup made me tremble with great trepidation. He squatted in front of me and waved the weapon at me. “How would you feel if I slammed this into your throat?”

“Do it, you fucking bastard. Get it over with.” I dared him and he raised the weapon and made the strike. Before he could make the impact, I held his hand and slammed my left leg into his balls. He fell back, groaning in pain. I rose to my feet, limping as I picked up the dagger and tried to strike him, but he rolled off, causing me to fall forward, pain shooting through my body. He regained his stance and domineered over me and when he tried to finish me off. The ding of the elevator diverted his attention, and Frey appeared, pushing her hands forward and sending her magic toward Zeke. Her power shoved him down the hall, and she waved her hands to the left, pinning him at the left side of the wall. She hurried toward me and knelt, using her magic to heal my leg. I grunted out in discomfort, but the pain turned into something soothing. With Zeke still pressed against the wall, fighting Frey's magic, I regained my footing, picked up the weapon, and marched toward him.

“Go to hell, Zeke,” I said and slammed the weapon into his throat, watching him as he choked on his blood. “You crossed the line when you came after my dad.” I stepped backward and watched as he died, tears rolling down my cheeks. I killed my best friend. Oh, goddess. I fell to the ground, my body covered in our blood as a wave of unadulterated melancholy waved through me. Our story wasn't supposed to end like this. He was supposed to make the good choices. He was supposed to be good forme, but he got so lost in his quest and hatred that he couldn't recognize who he was anymore. “He uses his mind manipulation powers to make us see things and sometimes magical objects. How am I sure if this is the real him?” I managed the words while sitting in the middle of the hall.

“It is. If it wasn't, I would have felt another magic's presence. Come on, your dad is awake. Let's go meet him.” Frey told me.

“Thanks for saving my life.”

“You saved me twice. It's only fair I repay you.”