Chapter 4

LUCIUS

　　　A shiver skated down my spine. 

　　　For a moment, I froze as the sweet fruity floral scent lingered in the air. She was near. My Amelia was near. I swore I could even feel her presence. Her smell immediately eased the tension on my shoulder.

　　　“Is everything okay?” Eann asked from the passenger’s seat. He was my third-in-command. He was a big fella, like a wrestler hooked on steroids.

　　　“Yeah.” I watched Drak, my beta look at me over the rearview mirror as he might have noticed my anxiousness made me shift behind them. His gaze then went back to the traffic light waiting to turn green.

　　　The moment I slid the window down, I sucked in a deep breath, and her scent flooded my senses, and I swept with calmness despite my racing heartbeat. I could sense the power in her blood and the power of the fire inside her. 

　　　But I also didn’t sense her alone. The protective sigil on my neck had been activated, creating a burning sensation on my skin. The reason why we were here in Tahoe. There had been killing of werewolves in mysterious kind.

　　　As the traffic light turned green, the car moved, and I sagged against the seat and shut my eyes close to calm my heartbeat.

　　　I felt the stares of the boys at me. “Focus on the road. She’s here. She’s back.”

　　　“Why didn’t you tell us?” Eann asked. Eann and Drak knew.

　　　They knew everything about me and my wife. How did I lose her and how did I end up being the ruthless Alpha King, and earn the right and title? And I was also a wanted criminal by the government, but I didn’t give a shit. They didn’t know the whole story, and they never would. I did what I did for the safety of my people. I did what I did to save lives. And I didn’t owe them any explanations.

　　　I shook my head as I released a shaky breath. It was still a mystery to me how she became a werewolf and carried the fire wolf.

　　　Hours later, we arrived at the old warehouse in the industrial park I bought years ago. The moment I found Amelia and the family that raised her, I bought some properties in my old name so I had getaways when things got heated with the authorities.

　　　“You stay here. I’ll go scan the perimeters.” I checked my gun and slipped another knife into my boot.

　　　“You’re in an enemy territory. You can’t just walk there alone.”

　　　I glared at Eann. I knew he wanted nothing but my safety, but I was also his alpha. “Watch your tone. You and Drak will stay here until I’m back. You follow my order or I will cut your tongue.” I stole a glance at Drak who nodded at me.

　　　“Forgive me, Alpha.” Eann dropped his gaze.

　　　I ignored his apology and walked out. I drove towards the end of Braxton’s land. I knew he was my enemy, my worst adversary considering who he was to Amelia, and he also broke her heart.

　　　I could take her and be mine, and he could not do anything with it, but a part of me, knew I couldn’t interfere with her destiny and the future. I’d seen it, and there was no way I would stop her from fulfilling the prophecy, even if it broke my heart over and over again.

　　　As I strolled over the borders of the property, I sensed demonic activity in the north and a lot of werewolf scents, mostly rogues.

　　　***

　　　Two days later, I found a way to see her.

　　　“What are we doing here, Alpha?” Eann asked. “Who’s house is this?”

　　　I unlocked the back door and entered. “I paid the owner, an old lady to use her house for a day. The house next door is Amelia’s adoptive parents.”

　　　“You told me, she might not remember who you are. Why can’t you just pretend and bump into her.” I heard the frustration in Drak’s voice.

　　　I grabbed the binoculars and looked at the Hayes’ house through the window. My heart hammered in my chest the moment she came into view. My wolf stirred inside me as old emotions simmered, but they weren’t old. They were always there since I first saw her since I felt my heart beat for her, and since she became mine.

　　　Everything always felt the same, it even got overwhelming now that she was just a couple of steps away from me. The temptation of walking into that house, knocking on the door, and introducing myself was overpowering my self-control.

　　　I dropped the binoculars and sagged against the wall, breathing hard. 

　　　She’d changed a lot since she left this place two years ago. Her hair had changed, and she looked stronger and fiercer, not the same Amelia, my Amelia who was so soft, demure, and innocent.

　　　I may know the reason why she came back, but I also knew for a fact that that motherfucker would take her back. And it broke my heart that I couldn’t do anything to stop it from happening. And it should happen so she could fulfill her destiny.

　　　“I’m so sorry, Alpha. I wish I could take your pain.” Drak came and knelt before. “This must be heartbreaking for you.”

　　　I chuckled bitterly as my eyes stung. “I’ve been heartbroken for twenty years, Drak. I could have taken her, kidnapped her, and locked her up in my fortress, but what good that it makes if she can’t fulfill what’s destined for her, and we will all be doomed.”

　　　“Why can’t you just introduce her and start over?”

　　　I shook my head and looked him in the eye. “You haven’t found your mate and you don’t know what it is like to get pulled like magnets towards who’s fated for you. She would be distracted and get confused with her feelings between me and that son of a bitch.”

　　　“Do you think she will remember you?”

　　　“No. She won’t. Despite who she was and the blood running in her veins, there’s no way I would take that chance, and I can’t afford for her to be distracted now that the plans are starting to fall into place. I’ve sacrificed everything for this to happen, and I can’t get myself entangled with them right now.”

　　　Eann joined. “It’s just unfair, Alpha King. I wish we could do something for you.”

　　　I nodded subtly even though my heart was bleeding and my wolf was howling in my chest. 

　　　“This is her new journey, and soon, she will find her way back to me. I don’t know when, but I believe what’s written for her. I won’t interfere with the path she takes, it will only delay what’s inevitable. But I can’t wait for another twenty years, and I may not be alive to be in her next life.”