Chapter 2

Skylar

"It's been a while since I've last been here," I jumped out of the car excitedly, stretching my legs. 

My eyes wandered at the house in front of me while Ryan took my two suitcases out.

"I didn't know that you were planning on living here," he said, rolling his eyes as we walked forward toward the door.

"Oh, my God, I missed you so much!" When the door opened, Jasmine’s wide smile greeted me, "it's been so long, girl, look how you've grown!" 

"I know, right? The more I grow, the more fabulous I look." I flipped my hair dramatically with a small twirl making Ryan roll his eyes at me while Jasmine giggled. 

"Well, don't I get a greeting too?" my brother looked at his fiancee as she smiled and placed her lips on his. I had always admired the love that these two have. They were in so deep and it seems like every time I see them, they look more into each other than before. I loved their relationship. It has always given me hope that pure emotions still exist.

"Aw, you guys changed the whole set up,” I walked more inside, admiring the new furniture.

"Actually, she did. The way I had it was pretty awesome, and it was comfortable and-"

"Awesome? Well, if you call having a couch filled with leftover and stains! The poor TV was about to collapse at the amount of shit you had surrounding it, and no chairs beside the couch? Who even does that? Even the coffee table you had didn’t match with the room colo-"

"Excuse you, it was perfect for me!"

"There was no way I was going to continue living in a place like that."

"You're jealous of my taste."

"Why on earth would I be jealous of your trashy taste?"

"It's not trashy! How could you even think it was!" 

Hmm, well, I take back my praise for these two love birds.

"Alright. Sky, which one is the best?" Jasmine asked putting her hands on her hips while Ryan crossed his arms over his broad chest. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at how childish they looked.

Taking my two suitcases I turned on my heels to walk upstairs, where my guest room was.

"Well, I'm gonna slowly walk away from your conversation and go to my room," I mumbled, earning a groan from both.

"You're still jealous of my taste." I heard Ryan's voice say as Jasmine groaned once again. I assume the argument continued, but I couldn't hear them because I was already at the door to my room.

As I opened it, I looked around in awe noticing that it was still the same as I left it. I'd stayed in here several times, and they always keep it ready for me.

I've made a lot of memories at this house and it appeared that this will constantly be my room, so Ryan and Jazz let me decorate it as I pleased.

Jasmine moved in with Ryan when he was nineteen, the same year he bought this house, which I still wonder about. 

I still don’t know how he managed to pay for it, or maybe it’s my dad who did? either way, I didn’t ask. 

It's a pretty big home for two people, but I never asked why. It's none of my business. He has always liked peace and quiet. I guess that's why he moved far from work, right on the edge of the woods.

I put my suitcases down, only taking out the clothes I'd be wearing after my shower. I'm too lazy to unpack yet.

****

"Hey, guys, I'm going to see Force. I'll be back in a few." I called out as I walked past Ryan in the kitchen cooking and Jazz sitting on the bar stool. They were both laughing at something Ryan had probably said. Their heads snapped to me when they noticed my presence, the soft laughs didn't leave their lips.

"Alright, but be careful. It's almost five, so don't get too far--"

"Don't go too far into the woods, don’t cross the lake, and come back before sunset. I know, Ryan. You give me that talk every time I go out," I sigh, rolling my eyes. I took a red apple with me as I made my way out.

"Alright, just don't be late."

Mumbling back a small 'okay,' I walked toward the small stable at the back of the house feeling my stomach bubbling with excitement. It wasn't big or small. It housed two horses: mine and mom.

Frowning at the thought of her, my hand immediately touched the necklace around my neck. 

I'd had that necklace for as long as I could remember, she gave it to me as a present when I was ten years old and I still carry around my neck 11 years later.

It's a crystal necklace with light also dark purple and yellow mixed together. It made such a beautiful mix. I had always loved it and now it seemed like it was the closest thing that I had to her since she was the one who gave it to me.

I made my way inside the stable where two horses were inside, a black one and a white one. Mine is the white one, and mom is the black one. I named him Force, while the other was Gentle.

We had always admired horses and their value, so my dad decided he would buy two for us. My dad, a successful lawyer, is well stable finically, so it was no issue for him. Since we live in the city, we brought them here. It's better for them this way.

"Hey, there," I murmured, gazing at the beautiful creature in front of me while patting his muzzle. Force neighed, making me smile. "I know, I know, it's been a long time. But hey, I missed you too!"

I placed the apple on my palm and he gently leaned in and ate it. This time he snorted, making me giggle. 

"Ready for a ride, buddy?" I continued, as I opened the cage and walked him out, struggling to put the saddle and tack on top of his back. 

Man, I really need to work out.

I hopped onto his back, patting his crest as he started walking out of the stable.

As soon as we were out, he started running. The warm July wind brushed against my skin. The herb smell filled my nose making me grin as my hair flew widely behind me.

The sky was a gorgeous mix of blue and orange, and that only made this moment better. It wasn't sunset yet, but close to it.

This was what I loved doing. It's my escape from the world: feeling free and strong.

That’s how I spent the rest of my evening before going back to the house early enough to avoid my brother’s lecture if I were to be late. 

===

Third POV

"This is the last time I'm going to ask: who sent you?" Dean demanded, his patience growing thin at the bloody, young man in front of him who was currently bound in chains. He howled in pain as the knife cut from his collarbone down to his abdomen, making the blood gush out like a waterfall forming a thick pool of bright red liquid around him. 

The guy just shook his head, mumbling 'I don't know' several times, trying to ignore the pain and the amount of blood he was losing. But he couldn't. The torture his body was experiencing was like nothing before. He knew the moment he was caught sneaking inside the forbidden territory, that his life would turn hell, and if the Alpha is merciful enough, he'll kill him and end his constant misery of pure torment. 

In the corner of the dark dungeon, there was the so-called alpha of the pack, or more correctly, the Alpha King of the North and West sides. He was leaning against the wall, watching the anguish in front of him blankly. He barely blinked nor moved a muscle.

His name was Xander. Alexander Raphaelo.

He was the most known, feared, and respected creature in the whole supernatural world even with humans. People didn't even have the guts to spell his name in fear he would appear in front of them. 

Alexander was not a devil in disguise as people called him, his orders and actions were thoroughly logical and beneficial for his pack and pack only. Some accomplishments he succeeded in made him seem gruff, harsh, brutal, ignorant, insensitive, hotheaded and the type of man that craves and desires dominance. Yet, he is the best leader the world of wolves had ever witnessed.

The only thing he cared about was his younger sister and keeping his pack secured and strong; that was his only goal. 

Alexander was eighteen when he became the alpha of this pack, five years ago after his father passed away in the bloody war between the other side of the pack. The Alpha of the East and South, who tricked his father, had killed him but no justice was made for his sake simply because no proof was found.  The luna, his father's mate, died a year later, leaving her son and daughter battling alone with their demons.

Every male and female have one mate. One true love. One chance of pure bliss. Mates usually meet around the age of eighteen and more, either by chance or they just search for each other, which isn't hard since werewolves can recognize their mate's scent. 

But the only negative thing about having a mate is when they are separated for a prolonged period. A male wouldn't be able to handle life without his mate and would become drastically ill. His body would grow so feverish he wouldn't be able to handle himself. His powers would begin to wane, and eventually, he wouldn't be able to shift into his wolf form.

For a Female, it's not much different. She gets cold as if she's covered in snow and ice. Her body would no longer accept nutrition and vomiting blood would be a continuous task. Her face would turn pale and she'd always feel tired and eventually, she wouldn't be able to shift as well. 

They could only be cured if the two lovers assemble again. They could then support one another. This kind of sickness starts around the age of twenty or twenty-one if you're still a single wolf or if you’ve been separated after meeting. Some wolves think it's a curse and others just accept it.

What should I do, Alpha?  Dean asked through their mind-link, looking at his Alpha.

Xander remained quiet and moved his body off the wall. In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of the man.

"Who are you?" He spoke, more of an order than a question, using his eyes to compel the man to speak.

Only vampires can compel. Werewolves can't, but Jason is neither a vampire nor a werewolf. He's a Hybrid: half-vampire, half-werewolf. The only one of his kind and the first ever to be born.

"A rogue." The man responded immediately, with no hint of hesitation.

"Your name."

"I don't know."

"What are you doing here?" Alexander asked him blankly, wanting nothing more than to just rip him apart.

"My commander told me to spy and gather as much information."

"Who is he?"

"I don't know."

Xander clenched his jaw, eyes glaring at the bloody, frightened man in front of him.

He was probably compelled to forget everything besides the job he should do, do you think w-

Before Dean could even finish his sentence, Xander had already ripped his heart out with his bare hand throwing it to the ground carelessly, staring into the man's eyes, as life slowly faded away from him.

He smirked. That's something he liked to see inside his opponents' eyes, their life fading away because of him. It gave him an odd satisfaction and encouraged his loud demons. It made him feel in control of their life, the only one able to give or take it. And he adored it. He enjoyed being in control and having such power at the palm of his hand, controlling their souls like magnetic puppets.

Dean pursed his lips together, afraid that if he spoke, he'd be next. No matter how close he was with Xander, he still kept his distance knowing full well how short his Alpha's temper is.

"Get someone to burn his body and clean this mess up," Xander’s deep voice echoing around the quiet, dimmed room as he walked out to clean his now bloody hand and shirt. He knew the man wouldn't be useful and needed to be discarded.

They caught vampires, sometimes werewolves, sneaking around their territory every so often, trying to find a way to take the pack down. No one had passed that line and walked out alive and in one piece. Not even once.

That only made the other side more turbulent. Vampires still existed, but not in as many numbers as werewolves. That's why werewolves ruled the world. But they were on good terms, unlike with the witches.

Xander made his way to his room, stripping down from his clothes deciding to take a cold shower. Something that cooled him down. He knew all too well what happened to a male wolf without his mate, and he was beginning to experience some side effects. He'd just go and search for her, but that was the problem. For some reason, he couldn't smell or feel her, as if she were invisible.

At first, he thought she might be dead, but mates feel it when their other half is dying. Alexander didn't feel anything. He searched for two years, but nothing came. He hoped he could be like vampires and not have a mate to depend on but then again If he was, he wouldn't be burning up. It made no sense to him, so he gave up and let destiny run its course.

He didn't tell anyone. Actually, every time he compelled a witch about it for answers, he would just erase their memory after it. He didn't want anyone to know about his little side effect, but time was running out. He was twenty-three and still without his other half. People would start to wonder even though, no one had the backbone to dare and speak a word about it.