Alpha Princes Hidden Mate

12- Gone

The royal family, officers and other noble men were all standing at the entrance of Galad castle for the departure of Crowned Prince Eros of Valor and his entourage. Eros also felt relief coursing through him as it was finally the end of his tour, unofficially, well nobody need to know that now. There was another reason behind this relief, though he never wanted to admit that to anyone, not even himself.

" Like, you can hide it from me, human. " 

" Shut up and recede back to the corner you came from, Moon goddess it was peaceful when you were silent. I wish those days would come back! "

" Like anyone would believe that !" scoffed his wolf.

Eros swore, he saw his wolf roll his eyes.

" FYI, I also feel good now that our mate would be away from that prick of a Prince, " saying that Amarok shut the link between him and Eros.

Eros sighed before proceeding to say the good byes.

Right now, all Eros wanted was to finish this off and leave for Valor because he could not bear to look at the gloomy couple who were behaving like those lovers that were being separated by their parents. Eros couldn't help but roll his eyes hearing the words that left Xavier's mouth.

" I am going to miss you, my Ari. So don't you dare miss even one of the calls, " Xavier said, making a sad face which Arin couldn't see. He was her best friend, her only friend whom she was leaving behind. They didn't even know when they would be able to meet again, if ever.

Arin quickly closed the gap between them and hugged Xavier tightly which caused a growl to slip out of Eros. 

" I am going to miss you too, Xavi. Promise, promise. I will not miss even one call. "

Eros was trying, truly trying to control himself and his beast. His chest was vibrating with how much restraint he was putting on himself. However, it was very praise worthy for his control, if it would have been any other alpha mate, Xavier would have been in pieces, scattered on the castle floor till now.

Just for a few minutes, just for a few minutes.

Eros kept on repeating this in his mind and tried to distract himself from the scene and averted his eyes only to meet with the bluish eyes riddled with fakeness and seductiveness.

Ugg.....give me break

And so the screeching voice of Arin entered his ears making them bleed.

Finally, everything was over much to Eros' relief and Arin's sorrow. She liked it there too much and now she had to again suffer the brooding werewolf called Eros. Arin couldn't help but smile at the thought of Xavier, he made this vacation an extraordinary one and also helped her to bring back another piece of herself she thought she lost forever in the darkness of the slave dungeon.

Eros muttered quietly looking at the small smile on Arin's face. He knew who was behind that smile as jealousy coursed through his entire body. He turned her face away from her and closed his eyes. Arin saw his action and frowned. 

He was going to ignore me here as well? Fine, fine by me you brooding Alpha. Hummm.....

Arin huffed and puffed and then slowly lost herself in a sleepy state due to the long car journey.

It was a sunny day. There were no more dark clouds that have been causing havoc for the past two weeks. Finally a day clear of any rain washing over the castle. Taking advantage of the day, all the pack children gathered out in the back gardens around their Queen Luna. The little ones were all excited because today she had prepared a story telling day with them in their favorite cartoon characters costume.

" Queen Luna, is it story time, now ? " an excited little girl said as Eros stood and sit in the lap of his mother.

" Yes momma, tell us about the story of the moon goddess, " Eros said while clapping his chubby  little hands.

Queen Maria laughed, she knew exactly what story his little one wanted to hear. It was always the same story, she knew Eros would become a big romantic at heart when he grew up,  just like his father. Thinking this she looked up towards a particular castle window. She knew Dimitry would be standing there looking towards them from his study.

"I love you, my Queen " Dimitry mind linked Maria.

Maria blushed. Even after knowing them for six years, he had the same effect on her.

"I love you too, my King " Dimitry smiled and went back to his work. He just loved it when she called him her king.

" So the story we are going to listen to today is how Moon Goddess decided to give mates to us werewolves."  

Hearing this all the children started to clap loudly especially Eros, he just couldn't wait to meet his mate.

Maria smiled at the dreamy twinkle in her son's eyes. She knew his mate would be loved very much by her mate.

"  It all started when the moon goddess decided to create her own creation, she decided to visit earth for inspiration. She would stroll down on the earth as a girl observing their behaviors. After spending quite a lot of time on earth, the goddess realized the most powerful emotion for humans or matter of fact any creation on earth was love.  Though it was a complicated term for humans. She found that they were not such a good judge of the person good for them to love.

She saw one old man visiting her dead wife of ten years every day. He loved her too much and never moved on. She saw a couple living happily with their love, while another couple where a girl loved a boy too much but he loved another girl. Some love would bring pain and misery while others, satisfaction and calmness. 

So she decided she didn't want her creation to suffer so much, so she created a mate bond. She gave us a gift by telling us who would complete and complement us perfectly. She gave us the choice to accept it or not, though the gift was too precious to reject. She always selected the mates perfectly. "

A chorus of wows could be heard all around.

" How would we know if the person is our mate? " asked one of the kids.

" Good question Andrew. Goddess gave us many signs like the smell. Your mate's smell would be the most intoxicating thing. And when you touch "

" You would feel sparks " an all perked up Eros finished for her mother.

" You are right, Eros. You would feel sparks. Also your wolf could easily identify them for you " Maria said while smiling down at the kids surrounding her.

" So tell me, what should you do when you find your mate? " she asked.

" Accept them "

" Take them home "

" Give them ice-cream "

Kids started yelling different answers, some of them made Maria laugh.

" Love them "

Said another timid voice. Maria looked and saw a shy little boy in a mickey mouse dress. Her heart melted at the cute site.

" Yes, you are right little E. You love them " Maria told everyone and got a few yes in return.

" Now, what if they are very different from you? "

" It does not matter. We still accept them coz they are gifts from goddess, " this time Andrew spoke.

" Yes, but what if they are too different. like let's just say, what if they are human? "

Every child sitting there gasped at that because everybody knew that this cannot happen.

" No, Queen Luna, moon goddess does not give us a human mate, my mamma told me " whispered a girl.

" Well, but if she does give you one. What will you do? "

" We reject them, " said the eldest of the group. " My father said, if I get a human mate, I have to reject them. They are not as good as us. "

Maria sighed and dismissed everyone but a few.

" Listen to me carefully boys, especially you Eros. If you ever get a mate that is human, you don't reject them "

" Why mother? "

" Because if Moon Goddess thinks she is good for you then how can you say otherwise ? "

Eros thought about her mother's words for quite a few minutes with little frown lines plastered on his little forehead which turned to a full blown smile.

" Yes, mamma. You are right. Gifts from goddess are always pretty. I will love her the same "

Eros jolted awake from his dream, no memory. A memory he had no recollection of as he was merely a three year old pup. He looked around to find himself in the car, still on the road. He did not even remember falling asleep. He rubbed his temple trying to lessen the headache slowly increasing.

Why am I now remembering all of these things ? Is it some kind of sign? And why did mom ask me such a weird question? Did she know about.....

His train of thoughts was broken by the sudden stopping of the car which threw him off balance.

" What the hell happened, Luca ? "

Eros asked the warrior driving the car, irritation easily recognizable in his tone.

" We have been blocked by a pack rogues, Alpha " Luca said in a strained voice.

Cursing under his breath, Eros quickly looked out to see a whole pack of rogues surrounding their cars. He turned to look at a frightened Arin.

" Arin, stay inside the car. No matter what, do not step out of it. Do you understand me, do not get out of the car "

Arin quickly nodded her head at Eros. She had already planned on that even without Eros telling, more like ordering her. She knew who was attacking them and she was terrified of them. 

" Luca, you remain here and guard Arin " Eros said to a confused Luca.

" Yes, alpha. " Luca was confused why Alpha wanted to protect a random she-wolf but he couldn't do anything against his alpha.

Eros gave Arin a last glance and slipped out of the car. Andrew, Beta and Gamma Supreme were also out, standing in front of the rogues.

Eros quickly joined them to face the rogues and watched as the middle one, largest from all the others, stepped forward. Clearly, the leader, or Alpha you may say, of the group.

The grey wolf with dirty matted fur, some chunks of which were missing here and there as well as empty hollow eyes with slight touch of red, showing that he was a little crazed as expected from rogues but not completely crazed like some rogues turn to.

" What is the meaning of this ? " Eros asked in his alpha voice.

The leader quickly turned and put on the shorts provided by one of his team mates.

" Oh Eros, directly to the business. First let me do the honor to introduce myself " the rogue leader said in the most fake friendly voice he could muster.

When Eros didn't seem to reply, the leader continued.

" I am Ambrocio. I am the alpha of my rogue pack. "

" Does it look like I am interested? Just tell me why have you blocked my way ? " Eros said in a somewhat bored tone, already fed up with all this drama. Though a rage was building inside him added due to his exhaustion.

" Tsk, tsk, don't be so rude, Eros. You could go back to your old little kingdom, after giving something in return. "

" I don't think there is anything useful for you. But even though I would have, why would I give it to you? " mocked Eros.

" Oh Alpha, you would give me what I want, because I know your secret. "

" Oh, yeah. Well, Ambrocio, I have many secrets. You need to be more specific. "

Ambrocio chuckled a bit and looked straight in the eyes of Eros, not at all intimidated by the Alpha power radiated by Eros.

" HS auctions. Ring any bell ? " Ambrocio said with a smirk on his face as he saw Andrew pale beside a still expressionless Alpha. Although, the said Alpha was also astonished as it was the most classified operation. They didn't even leave any open ends.

" From your and your Beta's expression, I can assume I am spot on. " Ambrocio's voice was going louder as he kept on speaking with amusement and laughter in his voice.

" So now are we open to trade or you want me to leak the whereabouts and some blueprints of certain castles to human kingdoms. " 

" What do you want? Get straight to the point "

Ambrocio smirked looking like the devil he was.

" I want that slave of yours for me and my pack. You know we don't get many females around here and each male wolf has his needs. You know! I am sure you know. "

Eros stiffened at what the rogue leader was saying. He looked around at the other rogues and could clearly see the hunger in their eyes. Hunger for his mate. This made his wolf growl deeply.

" Let me out and finish this stupid rogue " Amarok said.

" Now, now, Alpha don't think about anything. There are some of us hidden, ready for the signal to take off and do what I just said. Now the choice is yours. "

" Why don't you take one from the auction? " Andrew said. Although he did not want a poor soul to be captured by this devil, he was not about to give away Arin. She was already like a little sister to him and his wolf was also protective of her. 

" If I could, wouldn't have  already gotten some ? " snapped Ambrocio.

" It is for the high and mighty like you, royals. " he spat out the last word with so much hatred and disgust, which baffled Eros as well.

Eros could clearly see that this was more than what Ambrocio presented. Something else was also going on here.

" No, that would not be happening. And look around, Ambrocio " smirked Eros.

Now, it was time for Ambrocio to be confused. He looked around to get shocked. His five warriors hidden in the forest, waiting for his signal were all lying dead at the feet of Supreme guards.

" Did you really think it is that easy to win over supreme guards. You are stupid Ambrocio. " Eros said in a condescending tone.

" When you were busy gloating here, my guards were already surveying the area, killing all of your hidden rogues. "

Anger was clearly visible on Ambrocio's face at this turn of event.

" Now, choice is YOURS" Eros said in a serious and calm tone which was enough to make all the rogues tremble in fear apart from Abrocio.

Silence stretched between them and within a blink of an eye, a fight started between Eros' pack and Ambrocio's pack.

Arin was terrified sitting inside the car. A fight had broken out around the car and she felt like a sitting duck. She had an unsettling feeling in her gut that something very very wrong was about to happen.

Outside the car, Eros was fighting like a killing machine. He would tackle more than two rogues at the same time. It was interesting to watch Beta and Gamma supreme fighting with the same style. It was so coordinated. Ambrocio had not yet joined the fight and was standing inside the circle of rogues like a protection shield.

Fucking coward. Couldn't even fight on his own.  Eros thought as he ripped out the throat of another rogue moving towards Ambrocio.

However, it seemed that more and more rogues were targeting Eros creating a barrier between him and their leader. Also, Eros looked around all the other warriors, to notice that the rogues were directing them all away from the cars.

Eros frowned, then something clicked in his brain.

NO ! No f*****g way.

" Everybody move towards the car. Arin is in danger, this is a trap! " Eros mind linked his each and every warrior, who started to heed to their Alpha's command and move towards Arin. Though it was becoming a difficult task as they were highly outnumbered.

Before he could also go towards the car, he got surrounded by seven rogues.

His wolf growled loudly before taking over and started ripping them out in order to reach their mate fast.

" Haa.... haaa..... haaa...... Oh Alpha, I think you are already too late. We have gotten our prize and I assure you we all are going to enjoy it thoroughly. "

Ambrocio's voice filtered in Eros' brain as rogues started to flee from the scene.

After registering what just happened, Eros quickly shifted and ran towards the car where Arin was or he hoped she was. Andrew, Beta and Gamma supreme were hot on his tail. They were worried as well.

When they all reached the car, the scene they saw clenched their heart.

The car was completely destroyed, Lucas was laying a few feet away from the car, in his wolf form, barely breathing. He was badly bruised, a lot of chunk of his fur was missing, blood was dripping from many open wounds. A blood pool was already created under his large figure. All in all, it seemed that he was in a brutal fight and most importantly an unfair fight as a syringe was sticking out of his neck, most likely filled with poison to make him an easy target.

Eros staggered a little seeing this condition of his warrior, but what was more heartbreaking was that Arin was gone.

A loud sorrowful howl echoed throughout the forest.