One
1275 Words
The Past
"Promise you'll come back for me, Tyler."
She asked him as they walked through the night. He gazed at her, with so much love and affection. How could he leave his love? His fated mate? Life, truly, was a cruel game.
"Even if I have to die to find you, Raina, I'd die a million times. I love you more than life itself."
She was already teary. Why did they have to part ways like this?
"Do you have to go away? Do you have to run away? Let me go with you."
He held her close to him, not letting her go.
"I have to do this. If I forgive my father again, he will continue to hurt my mother. It's my duty to care for the Luna. I promise you, Raina, that I will marry you when I come back."
"I'll wait for you, Tyler. I will always wait for you."
With the moon goddess as their witness, they sealed their fate with a kiss - a promise that needed to be fulfilled. While his father, Alpha Alexander slept with his numerous concubines beside him, his only son, Tyler, fled with his mother - The Luna, leaving his love behind.
What seemed to be a short wait turned into a test of fate for Raina, with days turning into weeks, and slowly into months. What kept her going, however, was their constant love letters. Knowing he was still alive kept her going every time. She would always keep his letters safe.
* * *
The Present
Him
All is fair in love and war, he thought to himself. His eyes were filled with rage - so much rage. With his bow and arrow fixated, he glared at the target - Raina Jackson. He remembered everything like it was just yesterday.
...
"Go, Tyler. Take your mother to the Utopian Pack, where she can get healed," His Godfather, Beta Demitri advised.
It wasn't a good decision but it was the only way. Alpha Alexander, his father, was good at only one thing - drinking and abusing his wife. He was a powerful ruler, the second most powerful after King Seth.
"I want to take the Luna away. I want the Alpha to come back to his senses. However, I can't leave Raina. How do I leave without her?"
"She is my daughter, Tyler. I would always take care of her."
Before Tyler could think it through, his mother's wailings were heard Alpha Alexander was drunk again. He needed to rescue his mother from the cruelty of his father. He had to, however, talk to his mate first.
He met her at her favorite spot, her garden. The flowers were all lush and beautiful. One caught his eyes though - she was tending to it - castor beans.
"I need to talk to you, Raina."
She dropped everything to face him, carrying the ever-present smile that kept him captivated,
"What is it, Tyler?"
...
"The poison responsible for the death of the Luna came from the blood moon pack. " He remembered the witch's words when she visited him three days ago. His mother died six years ago, which was six months after he left The Blood Moon Pack.
"What do you mean, poison?"
"I didn't want to tell you immediately, lest you dash to the palace with rage. I didn't know how to tell you this. "
Out of rage, he unsheathed his sword and pointed directly at her neck.
" What are you talking about, Old witch!"
Scared, she clutched her walking stick for survival.
"She did not die of an ordinary death," she was able to mutter, gasping for air. She continued, however, "She was constantly fed with chemicals containing the poison, ricin. Somehow, a spy from BloodMoon Pack followed you there and made sure she never recovered. "
He was dumbfounded. He lowered his sword to understand her words better.
"Ricin? "
"Extracted from castor beans. After investigating with my powers, the blood of the killer came from the Jackson blood."
Like an echo, her voice reverberated through his mind. His mother had not died a natural death. One person was certainly responsible.
...
He released the arrow, shooting directly at Raina Jackson. To the next arrow, he pointed at another picture, a picture of Demitri Jackson, the present Alpha of the BloodMoon Pack.
...
He had just sent a letter to his mate, Raina, that he was coming soon. This was a year after he had left the palace, six months after his mother's death.
Raina pleaded with him to return, and that the Alpha regretted his decision. On his way, however, he was ambushed by a bunch of palace soldiers.
"We've received an order from the palace about your entry. We have been ordered to not let you step foot into the BloodMoon Pack. "
Tyler was left alone, in the middle of the forest, battered and bruised. He thought, however, that it was Alpha Alexander's doing.
...
He shot his arrow directly at Alpha Demitri Jackson. As he shot the arrow, he sharpened a new arrow. That was for the killer.
...
Tyler was saved by a group of rogues, who treated him until he was better. He found refuge in Aunderbridge, where he formed his army - where he trained for revenge. His plan was originally to kill his father. His hatred was towards his father alone. The only thing that made him happy were the letters from Raina. Of course, he did not tell her anything.
Every year, he would prepare for battle but was unsuccessful. The security was continually being tightened. In the third year, however, he and his soldiers fought with all their might.
He was about to kill the last soldier when he thought of something else. He pointed the sword directly at his neck, almost piercing his skin.
"Who gave you the order to stop me from entering the palace? Was it my Father?"
"Forgive me, Prince, but the order came from the new Alpha, Alpha Demitri Jackson."
His jaw dropped, new Alpha?
He immediately pressed his sword deeper into the soldier's neck. Blood slowly gushed out.
"What happened to my father?"
"He searched everywhere for you and the Luna," The man gutted out, trying to embrace the pain, " He died of alcoholism and depression nearly five months later. The Beta took over since then."
His godfather?
...
He shot the sword again at the image of Demitri Jackson. After the last confrontation, he spent more than two years in the kingdom of Aunderbridge, under King Seth. Tyler trained as one of the Lycan King's best soldiers, helping him conquer territories. He soon became Seth's head of the military. Of course, Tyler still kept conversing with Raina, to not make her suspicious.
Nearly Seven years after his first exit from the BloodMoon Pack, King Seth of Aunderbridge called him to discuss.
" Approximately three years ago, you were recruited to join my army. You aimed to take over the Alpha position. I can understand that you plan to leave someday.
Now, however, my brother wants to take over the throne. You must join me to fight for this throne, which I have worked hard to build. I will make you ruler of many packs. "
As tempting as the offer was, Tyler decided to think about it. However, that evening, he received an unusual visit from the witch doctor who diagnosed his mother years ago.
...
After wearing his armor, he sent a letter to his long-lost love, which he hadn't communicated for almost a year,
"I am coming."
- Writer
