002-Farewell, My Love

Tina's POV

Never in a million years did I expect such words from Tayler, or anyone, actually. Being a wolfless, I couldn't recognize my fated mate. I imagine if I really have a mate, they would escape from me the moment they recognize me. After all, who would stay mated to a wolfless, right?

Soren Corvus. That's who.

He has always been there for me. He was a senior when I just got into high school, and he was the coolest thing I ever had during the three tormenting years -- the coolest big brother everyone worships who spoils you. He called me baby girl. Only after I turned 18 did he confess that he had his eyes on me since the first day he met me.

Thinking about Soren, I shake my head as I storm out of the chapel, trying to act brave and angry when I am actually scared to death by Scott Tayler. I'm sure he's a lunatic now. The problem right now, is how to survive a deranged wolf on my own.

"You don't believe me!" Tayler catches me by my arm, and I stop, looking straight ahead without making eye contact. I don't know what to do. Do I mindlink Soren? Would it get Soren into trouble? Even if not, there is no way Soren could get here in time.

For the first time, I taste how desperate and distraught a wolfless feels in this world. Soren protects me too well for me to ever know how powerless I am...until now.

"How am I supposed to believe you?" Taking a deep breath, I wheel on Tayler, making my tone firm and strict to hide my fear, "You turned 18 three years ago, Scott Tayler! All this time you have known me you couldn't have let me know a FYI?! A rejection is what that is!"

I tried to sound like a wronged, rejected mate, not wanting to provoke Tayler. I need to wait for Soren.

"I couldn't tell you because you were with the Alpha heir and I'm merely an omega, okay?!" Tayler shook my arm hard, his eyes genuine and worried, "You know how they look down on wolves like me! How could I let you know just to ruin your future?"

"Soren doesn't do that! He sees you as a friend, I know! I was there!" Even though his words were caring, I am getting annoyed for no reason when he attacks Soren like that.

"Really? Then why did Soren kick me out of his little group? Huh?!" Tayler demands, deep pain flickering in his eyes and he looks really scary. I snap out of his grip and dash out, my heart jumping out of my throat, but the next second I freeze with my blood running cold--

I'm staring into the long, dark barrel of a gun. With the cold glimmer of steel, the gun was right in my face.

"Soren says goodbye, love." The gunman is under a full-head wolf mask, his voice sends creeps down my spine -- apparently using a voice changer, he sounds like a raucous, sanguinary dark-age executioner that comes out of a horror game.

Tears brimming my eyes, of sorrow or fear I don't know. I bite my lips to control myself, and in the end, I shake my head slowly as a reply. I couldn't manage any words out at the stare of death. I'm too weak.

The gunman laughs. Even his laughter sounds scrannel.

"I assume you get the situation, right? Any last words? I can pass them on." The gunman teases, tipping his gun at me. I could hear the laughter in his voice, and I don't want to give him any satisfaction.

"You can kill me, but this is not Soren, I KNOW! He will tear you into pieces if you dare hurt me!" Not realizing I'm gritting my teeth hard, I shout at him. Anger helps with the fear.

"Soren is not coming," The gunman lets out a burst of sharp laughter as if amused by some joke that only he understands, "You have faith in him, that's good. I'll let you die with the truth."

My stomach clenched at his tone, an omen feeling taking over me when he said, gentle like the dark age executioner--

"Soren found his true mate."

I freeze. My eyes open wide, my mouth dry. All of a sudden I couldn't see nor hear. All that makes sense to me are those five words. Five short words that knit my worst nightmare...

It's finally here.

I have always known Soren isn't my true mate. He would have recognized me the moment he turned 18 if I were. He was 20 when he confessed his feelings to me, and this fear, the fear that one day his true mate would appear has rooted deep in me ever since I accepted him as my mate.

What did Soren say? Ohh, right -- No one plays my heartstrings better than you baby girl, I'm yours and not even the moon goddess can change my mind. That was what Soren said.

"I don't believe you..." I think I murmured, but my ears are ringing so heavily I could barely hear myself.

"See, you say that, but I think the faith that gave you the courage to shout at me is gone," My executioner said in a soft, laughing tone. I can't argue. He is right.

I hear my heart breaking, and my whole world falls apart along its side.

"You see why you have to die, right?" The gunman sighed, as if with crocodile tears because I hear the laugh in his tone, "The great Alpha heir couldn't allow a dirty little whore like you to exist and threaten his throne, could he? Imagine you come back years later with a baby of his...tsk, what a scandal would that be?"

!!!

I shot my head up, staring at the gunman in disbelief. His words cleared my head because Soren and I haven't done it yet! Soren always says that I was too young when I know, it's because I don't have a wolf, and sex with a werewolf can be too rough for me. He has been patient and restraining himself or me!

The gunman doesn't know! How could Soren send him to kill me for a "loose end" that Soren knew didn't happen?!

"You are lying!" I snapped, my ear tips red for almost distrusting Soren, "Soren didn't send you! I want to see him!"

"He can't see you, baby girl," The gunman laughs hard, not panicking at all.

"Don't call me that! Only he can call me that!" I shout. I can only shout. I can't even inflict a little pain on this man insulting me and my Alpha. I'm too weak.

"Wow, I'm almost touched," The gunman tilts his head, I can imagine his confusion behind that scary mask.

"You wouldn't understand, because people like you can never have love!" I shout with courage I didn't know I have. I just want to lash out at him, at the man holding my life in hand and playing me like a cat tormenting a mouse. I never hate being weak so badly like right now!

He stares at me for a while before he pulls out a phone and hands it over: "You can't see him, but I allow a phone call. How's that? Just to let you get your peace before your eternal rest."

I slap his phone onto the ground and glare at him in the most fearful way I can as I pull out my own phone.

He laughs, not seeming irritated at all.

I know it would give the gunman great satisfaction, but I couldn't help but hesitate when I actually hold my phone. Not pulling out Soren's number, I type in the numbers one after another, giving myself time to think.

Fear gripping my fingers, making moving them like pulling weights. It's not a fear for death, but a fear of confirming the gunman's words.

It takes a century for me to push the ten numbers, but the numbers run out, and I have to listen to the dialing tone, waiting for my final judgment.

I tell myself to be patient, but I yell the moment the call is put through, "Soren? Soren, I--"

"What are you doing here?!" Soren growled impatiently, distress and tiredness in his tone. His voice suddenly sounds so unfamiliar and distant.

"I--what...?" I murmur, cannot seem to find my voice.

"You can't be my luna," Soren sighs, he sounds tired and cold, "you know that, right?"

My mouth is dry again. I swallow hard, trying to find my voice when I don't even know how to argue with that. I always knew it wouldn't be easy to be with Soren, but never have I prepared for a day when Soren no longer wants me.

I glance at the gunman with my ears burning at the humiliation, and the gunman taps the ear bug he's wearing -- of course, he could hear Soren as well.

I panic.

What could I say? How could you choose your distinguished true mate over a low-life wolfless? He should. How could you play me this whole time? He never even touched me.

"You--but you said..." I murmur, no longer able to hold back my tears, "you said--"

"I have found my mate," Soren's words sentence me to a dark abyss, firm and final, "it's her or no one."

"Soren, please!" The string in my head finally breaks as I burst into tears, "I--"

My words are cut off by a piercing burn on my chest. I keep talking, not even realizing I dropped the phone until my head hit the ground.

I fell? I can't move. I can feel life draining out of me like an open faucet. The blue sky above me is twirling into a messing fudge, the grass surrounding me tremble in the summer breeze.

I was shot. I figured it out.

-- "Who are you?!"

-- "She's my mate, please spare us! We won't come back, ever!"

Frantic words ring around me, but I can't seem to understand them.

My chest is burning like someone lit a fire in there, and I don't know if it's from the bullet or the fact that I just lost the love of my life on my wedding day. I close my eyes, feeling lucky. At least I won't have to worry about living without Soren now.

I hope you can be happy, Soren Corvus. Farewell.