|5|

Scott’s POV

Everything around me stopped at once. My gaze locked with her mesmerizing hazel eyes. I was lost in her eyes, feeling the bond already working at its finest.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” Ambrose murmured, trying to move closer to her, but my voice stopped him.

“What are you doing? You are acting as if you have never seen a woman before,” I scolded him, clenching my hands into fists, also not breaking eye contact with her.

“She’s different from the other women you bring each day, she’s our-“

“Mate,” I interrupted him, completing the sentence as I stared into her hazel eyes, feeling my heart pound faster.

Those captivating eyes. I couldn’t bring myself to stop staring into them. It was as if our souls were speaking to each other.

Her wolf finally responded as her hazel eyes melted into gold streaks. This made Ambrose excited, also making it hard for me to control him.

He wanted to touch her or take her into his embrace, professing his undying love.

It was ridiculous. The idea of the mate thing was ridiculous if anyone asked me.

How was it even possible to fall in love at first sight?

And I wasn’t planning to fall for the enemy. She isn’t just a regular she-wolf; she is also a vampire.

“Our mate is a fucking vampire, our worst enemy,” I trailed off with hatred lingered in my voice.

“We can make an exception,” Ambrose sneered at me, not fond of my tone.

Thanks to the blonde guy, he stopped Ambrose from taking full charge of me as he cleared his throat.

She glanced at him, breaking eye contact after an awkward minute of continuous staring.

Still, Ambrose forced me to keep staring at her. Her cheeks turned faintly pink once her eyes returned to their normal color. “Your father wants to see you.” Her soft voice broke the silence.

At the mention of my father, Ambrose remembered why we were here and stopped bothering me about our mate, leaving me wondering what she just said.

How will my father see me?

I was like a statue, watching her as she glanced at the blonde guy. Cloud of mist hovered over her hazel eyes before returning to their normal color.

The blonde guy excused himself and left me with her, while I was lost in a conversation with Ambrose.

“I can’t be with her,” I murmured, earning a warning growl from Ambrose.

“Remember the last time when we trusted a vampire? They aren’t trustable and I already have enough on my plate. Getting heartbroken isn’t on the list,” I snapped at him.

“I will-“

“I dare you to finish the sentence,” Ambrose jeered.

I was about to tell him the word he despised, but Haley’s voice brought me to reality. “Scott,” she called out my name.

Her hand was about to land on my shoulder, but I dodged her, looking at her with a blank expression. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I answered, presuming that she asked if I was fine.

I could sense her wolf shifting after I rejected her touch, but Haley was good at hiding her pain. She brushed that off and locked the door before turning around to face me again.

She was close to me, and it brought Ambrose out once again, begging me to just hug her.

“It will comfort us. Just try it,” he begged, and I forced my eyes shut, exhaling harshly.

“I won’t hesitate to reject her right now if you don’t stop,” I threatened, and he sneered at me before going away.

I opened my eyes, meeting her worried gaze. “Shall we go?” My voice croaked out.

Her lips parted, and the words came out of her mouth. “Follow me,” she mumbled.

I followed her as she walked out of the house. We passed a couple of houses, people on our way were staring at me. I could recognize some of them, they were from my pack.

I lowered my head, feeling ashamed that I only came back when my father died.

Haley glanced at me over her shoulder. “Don’t worry,” she said, then turned her head away.

I didn’t utter a single word until we reached the silent morgue.

“Maybe you need a hug from her,” Ambrose tried to convince me as my gaze fell on the freezers at the end of the room.

“Stop being a pussy,” I hissed, making him snarl at me.

“You are a fool,” he barked at me before flipping his black tail at me and returning to his hideout.

Today I had the longest conversation with my wolf in years. After the war and losing my sister, I just pushed Ambrose away. I couldn’t shift whenever I wanted because I got him angry.

He only came out when he needed to go for a run. I agreed once, then blocked him after knowing that he wanted to find his mate. This made him furious at me.

I wouldn’t afford to lose someone close to me again.

I wasn’t going through that pain again.

Having a mate will only make me weaker, and Haley, being my mate, will only make me weak.

“How do we talk to him?” I finally spoke since we left the packhouse a few minutes ago.

She was half-vampire, not a witch as far as I knew.

“You’ll see,” she answered. I didn’t move any limb and watched her as she walked towards the large metal freezer.

Her hand reached for the metallic handle, opening up the freezer, then bringing my father’s body out. I walked towards her with heavy steps, locking my gaze on the body that was covered with a white sheet.

I was still convinced that he was still alive, probably playing another joke of his, but it wasn’t.

He really died, and I wasn’t even by his side.

The tears welled up in my eyes once I saw his face and I was a second away from bursting out. The only thing that stopped me was Haley’s presence.

“Give me your hand,” she said softly, sticking her hand out for mine.

I took her hand, and she tightened her grip around mine, grabbing my other hand. A shiver traveled down my spine from the sparks of her touch.

“Stupid mate bond,” I whispered sharply.

I lifted my gaze to Haley, seeing her eyes closed as she steadied her breathing. My gaze fell again on my father.

I didn’t see him for three years, and now I stood by his corpse. Tears shed from my eyes, falling on his face.

Black dots filled my vision and I think I fell unconscious. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in the forest, especially in a familiar spot.

My eyes fell on Haley, and she still had her eyes closed. I studied her details. Her long brown hair reached her waist, her soft tanned skin, and her pink heart-shaped lips.

“Mate is beautiful,” Ambrose purred.

What the hell are you doing? What happened to our plan? We were going to reject her. My inner voice disciplined me.

That was my plan when I knew my wolf wanted to look for his mate. I wasn’t capable of saving a soul, and I couldn’t bear losing my mate.

But having Haley as a mate was another reason for rejecting her.

I noticed her eyes twitching, and I looked away, letting my eyes roam my surroundings instead.

My eyes studied my surroundings with amazement. The green trees and the green path leading to the wooden cottage.

I met Haley’s gaze accidentally and my face went blank before looking away and focusing on the comfortable nature surrounding us.

I could hear the waterfall from afar. This was our favorite spot. Megan and I used to come here when we were kids.

How did Haley even know about this spot?

Manipulation. It was the only answer I could think of.

It was a trait the vampires were famous for; they wander in your head, show you everything you dream of before stabbing you in the back.

My thoughts were disrupted when I felt myself getting sick. “I think I might be sick,” I grumbled, clutching my stomach.

It was seconds later when I threw up. “Sorry for that, it’s a side effect of leaving the living realm,” she mumbled.

I inhaled in the air after I was done. “The what?” I asked, straightening my back as I wiped my mouth with my sleeve.

She had her arms crossed to her chest, looking at me with concern. Her lips moved about to repeat herself when I interrupted her with my question, “how did you even know this place?”

Only Megan and I knew this place. Unless she was in my head…

“I don’t know. I never came here before,” she muttered, fixing her gaze on mine.

I let out a snicker and walked to her, standing a few inches away from her. Her hazel eyes glowed with golden honey before settling to their color.

“Your vampire powers can’t deceive me. I know how your powers work, bloodsucker,” I hissed at her and she furrowed my eyebrows.

“Are you a fucking idiot? She will reject us if you continue to hurt her,” Ambrose snapped at me.

Ambrose was already loving her, dying to make her his own. But I wanted her to hate me. The bond wasn’t letting me do that.

I didn’t give her a chance to explain herself as I walked away, taking the green that led deep into the forest, to the cabin, to be exact.

I knew where my father could be.

Silence took place between us for a few minutes. The cabin appeared, and I finally asked a question that was stuck in my head. “Are we dead?”

She mentioned earlier that we left the living realm, so we must be in the dead realm.

“Something like that. I just pushed our souls out of our bodies,” she explained.

“I’m a portal between the dead and the alive,” she trailed off, and I frowned at her words.

Vampires never had the power of talking to the dead. But Haley wasn’t just a normal vampire either, she was a hybrid, which was a rare thing in our era.

And somehow she had special powers.

I stopped in my tracks as we approached the wooden cabin. Haley walked past me and stood behind the rusty window, standing on her tiptoes to get a better view of the inside.

I walked to her unconsciously; her back almost pressed to my chest. Ambrose was taking advantage of my weakness to get closer to her.

She got back on her feet, not daring to turn around as she felt my presence behind her. “He’s inside,” she muttered.

“Ambrose, control yourself,” I growled at him and he chuckled at my nervousness.

“Will you rethink about rejecting our mate?” He asked with a playful tone.

“Maybe,” I answered.

“Aren’t you coming?” The words slipped out of my mouth, my eyes widening at what I just said. Ambrose was doing this on purpose, waiting for an answer of his liking.

Haley turned around, glancing at my eyes. She sighed as if she knew it was Ambrose speaking, not me.

“Fine, I’ll rethink,” I shouted at him, and he flashed me a smile, showing his canines, before disappearing.

She shook her head. “No, he wanted you alone. I’m just the messenger,” she said as I walked to the door, placing my hand on the handle.

My heartbeat sped up from the mixed emotions. It was mostly Ambrose being excited at my decision, but I was actually happy to see my father one last time.

I haven’t seen him in such a long time.

I glanced at her, nodding my head before opening the door and walking inside the warm cabin. I glanced at my father as he sat in the rocking chair or what looked like him.

The door closed with a little thud, but it didn’t grab his attention.

A part of me refused to believe that the man in the chair was my father. I just saw his dead body on the metallic tray in the morgue.

And now I was in the middle of the forest, in a cabin between the territory of my pack and Haley’s.

What if she was really manipulating me?

My thoughts were cut short when my father closed the book in his hands and lifted his eyes to me.

“Why did you take a long time to come here?”

“Come sit here.” He patted on the small chair beside him and I glanced at it before strolling towards his direction with hesitant steps.

“Sit, Scott, the chair won’t bite you,” he joked, and I sat down, staring at him oddly.

He even looked so real.

He rolled his eyes, letting out a chuckle. “Scott, I’m real. This is my soul waiting to make it to the other side. Relax, you are fine here.” He put his hand on my shoulder, giving it a little squeeze, bringing reassurance to me.

I frowned. His touch even felt real to me. I could feel his warmth.

“But, how?” I asked.

“She isn’t a witch,” I trailed off with a shrug. I was still clueless about how I came here and she didn’t explain much, maybe because I annoyed her.

“Maybe you should ask her. I heard you are giving her a hard time.”

“She’s Joshua’s niece, isn’t she?” I asked, and he sighed, nodding his head. A humorless chuckle escaped my lips as I ran my fingers through my hair, resting it on my neck.

It wasn’t a surprise; I suspected it ever since Kevin told me she was the princess.

Her uncle and I have a rough past, let’s say he was responsible for my sister’s death as he betrayed us, leading the warriors to a trap made by the rogues.

It was a bloodbath; I stood in my place, seeing the people I cared for getting killed in front of me.

And that’s why I left everything related to the supernatural behind me. This side of the world offered me death, nothing but death and unnecessary wars.

“Then rejecting her wasn’t a terrible decision, as I thought,” I muttered, getting smacked on the back of my neck.

“Ow! Why did you do this?” I hissed, massaging the sore spot.

“Because you’re an idiot, rejecting your mate for nonsense. She isn’t like her uncle,” he spat at me before inhaling sharply and pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Scott, Haley is great for you. I raised her myself, she’s considerate, kind, and…” he was lost in his words.

“She was like Megan to you.” I completed his sentence, and he nodded silently.

“Well, I was her godfather, and she was lost after her parents died, avenging them blinded her, and I was the one who brought her to the right path.” He lifted his grey eyes to mine. A small smile tugged on his lips.

“I won’t force you on her, but keep in your mind that she’s your soulmate and she will always be there for you.” He squeezed my shoulder, and I nodded.

“Fine, I’ll try not to hate her.” I shrugged and my father deadpanned at me, then rolled his eyes.

“I forgot how stubborn you are,” he murmured under his breath before chuckling.

I looked at him as his chuckles turned into laughter. A smile crept on my lips as I watched him laugh.

“The old man said the truth, just consider your decision.” Ambrose popped out of nowhere, and I rolled my eyes.

So, this is how my life will become. I forgot how to live with an additional voice in my head.

“What if she died in the war? Won’t that hold us back?” I questioned, and Ambrose decided to stay silent.

“I see you made up with Ambrose,” dad pointed out and a humorless chuckle escaped my lips.

“Not even close to that,” I jested.

“Asshole,” Ambrose retorted.

Dad rubbed his stubble grey beard. “Let’s change the subject,” he proposed, and I nodded.

“How’s your life out of the pack?” He asked, and I cocked up an eyebrow like, really.

He shrugged his shoulders and smiled at me. “Well, I’m doing fine with my life. I own a coffee shop in a town not far away from her,” I blurted and his smile got wider.

Speaking of work, I was supposed to be at the coffee shop, but with this situation. I think I won’t return to my cozy apartment again, or my coffee shop.

“Since I left on short notice, I’ll call my friend to fill my place,” I continued as I clasped my hands.

“Sounds like a good life,” he remarked, and I chuckled.

“It was a good life till Kevin showed up on my door,” I muttered, lowering my gaze to my lap.

At that point, I was bantering. I wanted to apologize for leaving the pack, escaping from my duties, and being the worst son for leaving everything on my father.

“Dad,” I called out, then trailed off, “I’m sorry for everything I did.”

“Coward, you can’t even look him in the eyes and apologize,” Ambrose shouted at me and I sighed, lifting my gaze to my father.

“I’m sorry for abandoning you,” I repeated, and a soft smile plastered on his lips as he ruffled my hair like he used to do when I was a young pup.

“You are a stupid, reckless kid. But I forgive you because you are my son, and stupidness is a common thing in our family.” He shrugged with pursed lips.

“Megan always said the same thing,” I mumbled, smiling unintentionally at that memory.

“I miss her so much,” his voice came out as a whisper.

“Me too. She would’ve been a better alpha than me,” I murmured, letting out a chuckle as I remembered the few days before the war.

Flashback.

I looked into Megan’s greyish eyes as we walked in a circle, waiting for one of us to charge first. A wide smirk plastered on her lips before she threw her fist in my direction.

I ducked down, then grabbed her by her waist, tackling her onto the hard floor. “You’ve been training,” she remarked.

“And you are losing,” I pointed out with a smirk.

My victory didn’t last as she kneed me in my crotch. “That’s not fair,” I groaned, hearing a chorus of ohs from the men on the training grounds.

I was on the floor, holding my crotch as I groaned in pain, while Megan enjoyed her victory

“Bitch, I always win,” she beamed with happiness, holding her hand out for me to take.

“You are a cheater,” I grumbled, and she threw me a wide smile.

“I saw an opportunity, and I took it.” She shrugged her shoulders, and I rolled my eyes, taking her hand. “Just admit I’m a better alpha,” she trailed off, and I deadpanned at her.

A chuckle escaped her lips as she helped me up. I threw my arm around her shoulder, taking her head under my arm and ruffling her hair. “Stop, you’re messing my hair,” she whined, wiggling out of my grasp but failing.

“Tell me who’s the better alpha, and I’ll free you,” I implored, and she sighed in defeat.

“Fine, just stop and I’ll tell you,” she mumbled, and I let her go. She straightened her posture, running her fingers through her hair to fix it, but it was no use.

She huffed in annoyance, giving up on her hair. Her gaze lifted to mine, and she smiled at me. “Big brother, you will be a great alpha,” she said, and I patted her shoulder.

“That’s the spirit, but a great alpha will need the help of his devilish little sister,” I mumbled, and her smile grew wider.

Flashback ends.

I thought she would stay with me forever, see the day when dad gives his title up and passes it to me, or when I find my mate.

Megan always wanted to meet my mate, so she could have a sister-in-law.

“Scott, I know you cut out Ambrose after what happened, blaming Megan’s death on you, but the pack needs you, Scott…”

“Haley can’t take care of two packs, so man up and claim your title. You are the alpha now.” He completed his sentence, pointing at my chest while staring into my eyes.

“And what if I fail?” I asked, tearing my gaze away and looking at my lap as I continued, “I barely control Ambrose,”

“I don’t even deserve your forgiveness. I left when you needed a son to support you. Using Megan as my excuse made it worse-“

“Scott, stop-“

Dad tried to cut me off, but I kept going, telling him everything that was on my mind. “Why are you so forgiving? I abandoned the pack and you,”

He lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him. His eyes flickered between mine and he pulled me in his warm embrace, caressing my head as he spoke, “Everyone makes mistakes, but you realized yours…”

“Maybe you realized it a bit later, but you came around and that’s what matters.” His soft, caring voice made me calm down.

He pulled away to look at me with a warm smile. His eyes snapped to the door, and I followed his gaze, seeing my mother waiting outside for her turn.

“I guess this is my cue to leave,” I murmured, getting up. Dad grabbed my hand in his grasp, and I looked at him. He got up and placed his hand on my shoulder, holding my chin with his other hand.

“Remember, I’m always proud of you,” he asserted, removing his hand and placing it on my other shoulder, forcing me to look at him.

“Also, promise me you won’t reject Haley, she’s the only one who will help you,” he said in a serious tone and a chuckle escaping my lips.

He seriously had to make sure that I won’t reject her.

“Because you won’t do it,” Ambrose sneered.

I can’t wait for the day when I have full control over him and push him behind a mind wall once again.

“Fine, do you have any wishes left?” I asked.

He pretended to think for a minute while I knew what he wanted. “Yeah, bury me on a full moon, also no one wears black. I want everyone to wear white.” he ended his talk with a smile.

“You got it, father,” I said with a matching smile. He pulled me into his embrace and the tears I was holding since I saw him finally escaped.

It was my last hug in his warm embrace. “I’ll miss you, Dad,” I whispered, tightening my arms around him.

“Take care of your mother for me,” he said as he pulled back and I nodded, wiping my tears and forcing a smile on my lips.

“And-” I cut him off with a groan, rolling my eyes.

“I’m sure Haley can take care of herself,” I scoffed and dad deadpanned at me, sighing loudly with disappointment.

“Just go, it’s your mother’s turn,” he muttered, pushing me to the door.

“Okay, okay, I’ll leave, but don’t take so much time,” I jabbed, wiggling my eyebrows playfully at him.

He smacked the back of my neck and I flashed him a teasing smile as he scolded me, “clean that mind of yours, she’s your mother,”

I opened the door, bumping right into my mother. “You aren’t annoying your father, are you?” She asked in a strict tone, crossing her arms against her chest.

Dad grabbed her arm, pulling her slowly towards him as he spoke in a soft tone, “no dear, he was just leaving.”

I stepped outside the cabin, hearing the door being slammed after I left. Haley’s scent filled my nose, and I followed it to the little clearing behind the cabin.

My gaze fell on her as she sat on the grass with her back facing me. She tensed up, sensing my arrival, but still didn’t look at me.

“So, are you still planning on rejecting her?” Ambrose’s sad voice croaked out.

I stared at Haley’s figure, rethinking my decision.

Rejecting her will cause me nothing but pain, also weakening me in the process. Still, it wasn’t the same pain as losing a mate; I hadn’t experienced it before.

But from the look I saw on my mother’s face, I knew she was in great pain.

“Having her by my side will make me weak. I don’t know what my father said about her, but she looks like she could barely fight,” I muttered, earning a loud chuckle from Ambrose.

“Aren’t you the same, asshole? When was the last time you fought a rogue? Ten fucking years ago.” He barked at me.

I ignored his sarcastic comments and kept staring at Haley as the thoughts filled my head. Ambrose won’t let me reject her without taking control and forcing me to shit.

It will be chaotic.

So, I’ll keep her around until the war is done and then I’ll reject her. By then, I would’ve gained control over Ambrose and he won’t stop me.

All I had to do was to ignore the mate bond and Haley, pretending she isn’t existing.

I’m sorry, dad, but this part of the promise which I can’t fulfill.

Her uncle was the reason I lost my sister, and I can’t just look at Haley’s face and forget what he did.

It was unforgivable.