Hello Again

Devastation

Stephan's POV

As I'm lying in bed, thinking what life would have been like if I accepted my true mate as the Moon Goddess intended. It's been four years since Anna and I got married and still no baby. Anna has become more and more distant every year.

After the second year, I told her about my true mate. She was so angry at me; she moved into another room for six months. It doesn't set a good example for the pack when the Alpha and Luna don't get along.

I started getting multiple challenges once other packs heard that I couldn't produce an heir. I've never lost a match. My opponents are lucky that I let them live, some of them anyway. And I'll admit I kind of like it; I've had a lot of aggression to work off.

"Have you heard from the Sun pack yet?" I ask Steve. Steve found his true mate last year and has a baby on the way. Who is next in line to be alpha after Steve. I'm happy for him and maybe a little jealous.

"Not yet," he says.

It is essential to have treaties with packs boarding your territory. The Sun pack is twice as big as ours. We would be lucky to win during a full-out battle. Thanks to my alliance with my brother's pack, I haven't had a pack war.

Unfortunately, the Sun pack borders our land. If they wanted to make a sneak attack, it would take my brother a full hour to get here. A lot can happen in an hour. "have David double security." Steve just nods and walks off. He's been on edge ever since the Sun pack moved in unannounced. The Pack has a reputation for being assholes and overstepping.

Anna walks in. "I want to go shopping in Paris next week." Aden, her brother, looks annoyed as he walks in behind her, "Anna, I told you it's not safe right now. The Sun Pack is a threat."

Anna gives me a pleading look that I would normally say yes to.

"Aden's right. It's too dangerous right now. We don't have an alliance yet."

"Well, what's taking so long? I wanna leave next week. It's fashion week", She says in a bratty tone that I've become annoyed with over the years. Aden just walks away, irritated with his sister too.

Looking at me with a sad pouty face "Don't you love me? That's why you rejected your mate, right? Because you love me. Right..?". She throws this in my face whenever she's not getting her way.

She was so sweet and giving before I married her. I blame myself partly for her change. "No, Anna, it's not going to happen anytime soon. You know the pack's safety comes first," I try to give her a hug, but she moves out of the way.

Before she walks out, I say in my alpha voice, "Anna, this is serious; you are not to leave the property until further notice!"

"I hate you," she says just above a whisper before slamming the door.

The first time she said "I hate you", I was bothered by it and tried extra hard to make her happy. I even suggested adopting a child. She wouldn't have any of it. I've heard her say it so many times now, it doesn't phase me anymore.

"You know we could just move," Steve says as he paces my office the next morning. "What are you talking about?"

"With the Sun pack moving in next door. We have no room to expand, and that's been the plan all along.". He's right; I had always intended to expand our territory.

"There's a lot of land for sale about three hours from here next to a small town called Spring River. It's a quiet old town with lots of room. It would be a great place to raise children," Steve said.

"Even if I wanted to, there's more to it than just packing our bags and moving," I say, standing up in frustration. I know the town Steve is talking about. It's a small town. The community is mostly older people; what shops that are left look as they came from the Victorian age. Even the roads in the town center are still made of cobblestone. The nearest mall is over an hour away.

"That town is dying; there's nothing there," I say, done with this conversation.

"That's the beauty of it. We can invest in an oil rig that's not too far away. We'll have plenty of property, and we can make the town our own. What more can we ask for?" He's done his research.

Steve's right. It sounds nice, but Anna would never go for it. It's too far away from the mall, and I doubt the few other women we have in the pack would like it either. Plus, we don't have the money to just pick up and move.

"We can't, even If I wanted to, we just don't have the money for something like that, not even if we sell this land". I say, hoping he'll let the matter drop it.

"We would if you didn't let Anna buy everything she wants. Did you know her shoes are over 5,000, and she has a whole room full of them!?"

I growl at him angrily. He lowered his head but only slightly. "Get out of my office!" I yell.

I know I let Anna overspend, but how else can I make up for not giving her a baby; moreover, she drives me crazy when she's not happy.

It's past one in the morning when I get to bed. Annas just got out of the shower. She's usually asleep by now. "Why are you still up?" I ask as I start to get undressed.

"O, you know I got carried away playing the Sims again. She has been up late for the past few weeks playing that game.

Anna is wearing a light blue silky teddy that just touches the top of her thighs. She cut her long brown hair just above her shoulders last year. It makes her look even taller and slimmer.

She gives me a smile as she slips into bed. Turning off the light, I waste no time slipping in behind her. My hand starts to slowly go up to her smooth sun-kissed thigh. My c**k is hard and ready as I reach for her center.

She moves away "not tonight, Stephan, I'm tired."

"Why are you wearing that if you don't want my d**k?" I ask as my balls start to turn blue.

"It's comfortable," is all she says.

The most beautiful woman is in my bed, naked with white hair covering her plump breast, looking at me with mischief in her emerald green eyes. As she rolls over to her stomach, I see the most smackable ass.

She starts crawling over to the edge of the bed where I'm standing, stroking myself.

"Do you want some help with that?" She asks in the most alluring voice. She positions herself on the bed with her ass in the air. Looking at me as she slowly lowers her moist mouth.

(Bam!) the bathroom door is slammed open.

I'm sitting naked on the toilet with my erection in one hand and my balls in the other.

It's Aden; we just stare at each other in shock for a few seconds. I start to growl at him; how dare he come into my room without knocking.

Before I start yelling at him I notice Aden's hair is a mess and he looks panicked. "What's wrong?" I growl while standing up to grab a towel to cover myself; something had better be wrong for him to come in here like this.

"The Sun pack is attacking," He says out of breath.

"f**k! Aden, do as we've practiced getting all the children and women to the safe room!"

Running into the bedroom, I see Anna looking annoyed. I don't have time for her attitude.

"Get to the safe room now!' I yell. Luckily she runs with Aden to safety without a word.

Aden might be only 16, but he's a good fighter with common sense. If anyone gets through our pack, he and a few others are the last line of defense for the woman and children. He'd rather be out there with us fighting, but he's mature enough, that he understands the importance of his job.

Running out of the packhouse, naked, and letting my wolf take over. Others are running out doing the same. Steve's dark brown wolf is running beside my sizable black wolf.

"Did you call Nick?" I ask through our link that we can only use when we're in wolf form. Except for your mate, they have a telepathic link at all times.

"Yes, you know it'll take them at least an hour before they get here," he says worriedly.

"Yes, I know," I say, focused on the fight ahead.

"Stephan, If something should happen to me. You have to promise to take care of Olivia and the baby."

I'm a little hurt he would feel the need to ask. "Of course, I would never let anything happen to my nephew or Olivia. It's not something you have to ask," I say sincerely. There's nothing else to say as we run-up to the fight.

David and some of the wolves are already there, fighting. We arrived just in time; they are outnumbered and losing. I'm taking down everyone who's in my path as I'm looking for the alpha. The best way to kill a snake is to take off his head, and that's just what this pack is a snake.

As soon as we start to gain some ground, more of the Sun Pack comes in behind us. It's an ambush. David and his brother are holding their own against a group of five.

I finally see the alpha and start running toward him to end this mess. He should have challenged me one on one like any strong alpha would.

The Sun packs alpha has red fur and is missing half of his right ear. Everyone calls him Red. Not only because of his fur, but because of his temper. He doesn't follow the Council's rules and they have become too weak to do anything about it. So it's packs like mine and Nicks who have to clean up the mess.

Four wolves step in front of me, blocking my path to Red. Looking around my four opponents, I see Red's wolf smirk before he runs off. He's up to something. I can tell he's been planning this for a while.

I'm surrounded; one jumps on my back. I quickly rollover. As the other dives for my throat, I easily dodge him. It takes a little longer than anticipated to get past them.

Stopping at the top of the hill, where I saw Red just minutes ago

Everything slows down like the world is ending. I sense significant loss. Something is very wrong. It's like I just lost something important.

I try to reach out to Steve through our link.

Nothing, I get nothing back. I can't feel him, I'm worried.

Looking around, we are starting to gain the upper hand, but there are bodies everywhere. It's a bloodbath.

I hear a victory howl. That howl is customarily only used for a victory or taking out the alpha.

David looks at me concerned, and I know we're thinking the same thing. We run in the direction of the howl as fast as we can.

Arriving on the scene, I see Steve's head severed from his body. His eyes are still open, looking at me lifelessly.

My world stops. I'm lost for a moment. I never imagined this would happen. Not to my brother, not to me.

Red knows Steve isn't the alpha, and yet he's standing over his body proudly as if he just killed me. And in some ways, he did.

I let out an anguished howl—a howl of pain, loss, and anger. Not only did I lose my best friend, but I lost my little brother. It was my responsibility to keep him safe. I have failed my pack, my family, and most importantly, Steve.

The rest of the pack join in. Soon, the night is filled with the sound of loss and rage for their beta, friend, and mate. I can feel everyone's emotions through the link, and Olivia's is the most powerful. She lost her true mate and the father of her unborn child.

I see red, and I can't think of anything but killing. My wolf struggles to take complete control; he wants vengeance. Locking myself away in the darkness. I let him; the pain is too much.

Waking up in bed the next afternoon, my whole body hurts. Rolling over, I see my father sitting in the chair beside me, looking at me with anguish in his eyes. I can tell he's been crying. The last time I saw this powerful alpha male cry was when we found, mother's body.

Everything from last night rushes back to me, and I feel the loss and anger all over again.

"Do you remember last night, son?" "The last thing I remember is Steve's lifeless eyes staring back at me," I say bitterly.

Standing up, while mentally preparing myself for the responsibilities I need to take care of.

"Set down, son," Dad says without room for argument.

"I don't have time. I need to make sure Red is dead and prepare Steve's funeral and.

He cuts me off with a stare.

Giving in, I face him sitting on the bed as he says, " Red is dead."

I feel relieved.

"You killed him and ripped him into so many pieces. I imagine you'll be finding pieces of him around for a while."

" I don't remember any of it. My wolf took over, but I don't feel bad about it. How did I get into bed?"

He ignores my question "We thought you went feral for a while there. You wouldn't let us near Steve's body. Son, You almost took Nick's arm off. I thought I lost you too. We were gonna have to put you down, so you couldn't hurt any innocent people. Luckily, Your sister wouldn't have it. You finally passed out after several hours," he says with concern and some anger.

I'm a little shocked, I don't remember any of it. When a wolf goes feral, the only thing to do is put that wolf down, or that wolf could endanger a lot of people.

Thank the goddess for my Lily, my sister. If it wasn't for her stubbornness, my family would have had to kill me. I can't imagine what that is like.

"Nick is preparing Steve's and the others' funeral. You should get cleaned up and visit your new nephew," dad says.

"Nephew? Olivia, had the baby last night? Are she and the baby OK?" I asked; Olivia wasn't due for another two weeks. "Yes, she went into labor as soon as she felt the loss of Steve.

"She named him Stevie. As you can imagine, she is having a tough time with the loss of her mate. Lily and Nick's wife are helping her as much as they can," he said with a sad smile.

Wife? I just realized Anna isn't here. I try to reach her through the link, but I can't sense her. I'm starting to panic. Did she die last night? "Not dead," my wolf says. Nevertheless, I'm worried about her. "I need to find Anna," I tell my dad.

As I'm rushing down the corridor, I see Aden. He looks like s**t, still wearing the same clothes from last night.

"Where is your sister?" I ask, losing patience. She should be with me right now. "Anna left," Aden said. "What do you mean Anna left? Where would she go at a time like this." now I'm angry. I'm snarling at him, even though I know it's not his fault.

"I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen to me. She left me here too! Saying something about this is where I belong. My only family just left me like garbage!" He growls. "Here," he shoves a letter in my hand and walks away.

It has Anna's handwriting on it. I sat down in my office to read it.

Dear Stephan,

You have been my best friend ever since I can remember. Although I love you very much. You know we are not true mates. I wish you accepted your true mate and not angered the Moon Goddess. Then we wouldn't be in this mess you put us in.

I found my true mate last week. His name is Bram. I can't express how happy I am to have found him.

So, as humans say, I'm divorcing you.

I genuinely hope the Moon Goddess gives you a second chance, and you find your happiness one day, Stephan.



Sincerely, Anna

P.S Please take care of Aden for me and treat him the same as you always have. Like a brother. I wish I could have taken him with me, but he'll be happier with you.

What the hell!

She left me for Bram? That hyena who passed by last week? Today, out of all the days to leave; she chooses this day! I let out my anger by turning over my office; by the time I calm down some, everything is crushed. There are even holes in the walls big enough to see outside.

No wonder I can't sense her. She broke our bond. It's supposed to be very painful. But I don't remember feeling anything. The only pain I can remember is Steve's death. It's probably why I blacked out, and my wolf took over for so long last night. I was feeling the loss of my brother and my mate.

Sitting on the floor surrounded by my own destruction, I feel the blackness creep in. If I just let go, I'll become rogue, feral, and have to be put down. Maybe that's for the best. Despite my best efforts, I haven't done anything right in my life; perhaps I should try again in another life. It would all be so much easier.

"Brother?" I hear my sister's voice. It sounds far away.

"Would you like to meet your nephew and the next alpha of this pack?" "What?" confused and still feeling far away. "I brought your nephew to meet you, Stephan," She said with a patient smile on her face. She doesn't say anything about the mess, just looks at me with kind eyes.

That's when I realize she's holding a baby. Lily walks over and carefully lays him in my arms without asking or giving me a chance to say no. As I look at the baby, the blackness starts to fade.

I'm still deeply hurt and will probably never trust a female again, but I realize I have a purpose. A promise I made to my brother less than 24hours ago; to raise this child as my own son. And I have a pack to protect, so nothing like this ever happens again.

Looking up at my little sister, I see a tear roll down her cheek. "I'm glad you came back to us, big brother." "Thanks for not letting them put me down, little sis."