The Lone Bear Prince & His Mate (The Lubartown Series) Book 1

Chapter 21: A Broken Man

Larkina

I came off the phone with Malcolm, he wanted the girls for longer than the weekend and I agreed, I need time to flesh out my new normal as a single mother. I had twin daughters, Eden and Everly, Ever for short, we were happy for a time until Malcom found his fated mate, she was living as our nanny and because of Viaianne's magic, we never knew. We didn't end on bad terms, I understood and co-parented together, our daughters were scared at first because of the split but moving back to my hometown in Bearmore gave them a chance to be kids instead of living in a big city. Barron welcomed me back and I was happy being back, I ran into Zion in the forest, and I didn't know what to say or expect. His aura was strong and it felt like something was off with him again but I kept it civil.

He looked angry and Sasha perked up, it was her mate, we rejected each other once but for some reason, it wouldn't stick, however, we stopped feeling each other years ago. I knew eventually I would run into him at some point but not like this, I didn't know if he was back or maybe just visiting his family but he didn't look so happy to see me. I backed away as he came closer and linked me, "What are you doing here?" I told him, "I bought a house across the meadow," he roared before running past me and heading full speed into the forest. I didn't know what to say so I headed home, I was surprised to see him but I also knew that he probably still hated me and I knew for a fact, that the bond was still there.

I reached home in good time, took a shower, and got in my car to go and pick up my kids, on my way there, I started to think back on the decision I made when I chose Clarke's brother over him. It hurt him deeply, and it hurt me too but I was selfish and in love with Barron and thought about only the power I would have as his chosen Queen. Clarke was angry all the time and I kept out of his way until one day he made a huge mistake, without warning, he attacked Barron almost killing him, I felt bad but I had just broken up with Barron and left not too long after. News spread of his banishment after, I loved Barron but he met his mate and was forced to reject each other because of her father King Roman.

They had a daughter together and because of the intermixing of species law, his mate gave up her daughter and we were her parents. I still loved Sapphire as my own but then, the Supremes came back and things changed, Barron chose his mate and I wasn't angry, I moved on, met my husband, and had the perfect little family. I admit, I thought about my mate now and then but at no other point, I was pining for him. All I know is, that our bond was blocked somehow and I always wondered if he rejected me, sometimes it felt like it and sometimes it didn't. Seeing him earlier so angry made me think about what he was going through since I last saw him, did he have a family? Did he finally find someone who loved him? Because I couldn't, do I regret my daughters, no, but I do regret giving up on him, on our bond and I have to live with that regret.

******

Clarke

When I reached back to the ranch, there wasn't much I could do, my wife was going to be executed and I had to live for our kids, she made me promise to take care of them and I watched them induced labor before killing her. I heard my babies cry, one was a girl and another boy, I was happy but I was in torment about protecting my mate because they would kill me too, family or not. I messed up with the fugitives hiding out in Lubartown and knowing Aidan, this town will be under scrutiny for a long time until I prove it was a one-off thing and it won't happen again. My hands shook at the sheer terror of losing Dale despite what she did, I hid my emotions, something I learned to do a long ago. Zion was uneasy, already prepared, and heartbroken for our loss, my life has been a joke a lot lately, and I couldn't fandom why this was happening to me.

Zion blocked my pain as my mark faded, everyone was looking at me to see if I needed help, my heart was empty and I vowed never to give it to anyone ever again. I looked at Kit and said, "Get rid of the body, bury it in the cemetery where my kids can visit when they get older," he asked, "Are you okay, boss?" I said, "I am fine," I looked at everyone telling them, "There is enough room at the house for those who are spending the night, the others, thanks for the visit, I will hold a meeting with the town tomorrow," Toffe said, "You can't, we still have unfinished business." I nodded and walked back heading to the house, I was numb, I was dead inside and I loved that feeling, I will never love again and I don't want a mate, this will never happen to me again, I can harden my heart, leaving room for only my kids.

Toffe teleported by the nursey and said, "I am sorry this happened to you but don't give up on love," I said, "It's fine, I dropped the ball, now I am focused and I have my kids to think about," I walked past him shutting the door. f**k everyone in that room, I watched my babies sleep as the hired nurse took over and I left to go to bed, my sister said, "Hey," I said, "Not now, Polly, you can leave with Barron," I roared at her and she roars back yelling, "I am not the one, Bubba." I ignored her and showered, I started to scratch my chest as Zion released the pain slowly, I closed my eyes and I cried as I watched my mate die replaying the vision in my head over and over again. I was a coward, I knew for sure that I never wanted a mate or anyone again, I screamed, "Screw you, goddess, you can take your mates and shove it," and then I passed out.

*******

I woke up in the bathroom the next morning after my wife was killed, I had passed out and I told no one, it was my burden to bear. I let everyone down in Lubartown because I didn't vet her properly, she was a lonely woman running from an abusive ex or so I thought, and being the kind person that I am, I was taken advantage of, I loved Dale and I smiled because that wasn't even her name. Since things have changed, I have just visited my kids in the nursery and hired two nannies and an extra maid to help around here. Two days later, a memorial was held privately and she was buried in the family tomb, I had it built when I first came here, although, we have a long life span, it was always just in case because accidents can happen. I had made a call to a call girl in the next town over and I had her brought to me, she was in my room when I got home and I walked in and told her to take her clothes off.

After f*****g this call girl, I gave her money and told her to get out, I would call her at a later date but now, my mind was jumbled with everything that had been happening. I went into the shower and I cried again because all I wanted was my wife, despite what she did, I loved her. I don't know how long I let the water run but it started to get cold and I got out, I looked at the image of a broken man in the mirror, my eyes had sunken in from all the stress and I didn't think I had taken my meds. I heard my kids cry and I put on a brave face to face my children, I missed Brent but it was best his biological father took him. I hadn't a fight left in me to fight for him, especially when your best friend is the Gamma Supreme of Ravena. I made their bottles and Umaki helped out, she was the nanny and she felt sorry for me, she loved Dale and I knew this was hurting her too.

I don't know how to raise my kids by myself when I am such a mess after she is gone. I was running on dysfunction and I couldn't think straight but I will treasure those babies. I don't want to be here anymore but I have to because I have a town to run and my people look up to me to keep them safe. I had Kit running things for a while, coming up with stricter rules on joining the town and tightening security until I got back on my feet. I needed to go and I changed into my bear, I was not hiding who I was anymore, I didn't care where I ended up, I just needed to disappear for a few hours. I reached the pond that I had barred off on my property and I lay there until the sun went down, I felt a presence behind me and it was Lark, I don't know why she was there or how she knew where to find me but I don't want to see her.

I changed back to my human form and went over to the area where I had clothes and put shorts on giving her a shirt and we sat in silence for a while. I asked her, "How did you find me, no one knows this place?" She said, "Barron told me where to find you and that you need a friend right now," I laughed saying, "Friend," I wasn't surprised that he kept tabs on me to know I was here. She said, "You need support, I heard about what happened and I am sorry for your lost," I looked at her before smiling saying, "f**k you, as if you care, you never cared, and friend, we were never friends and never will be," I ran off again, She yelled, "Wait, Clarke, I am truly sorry," I yelled, "f**k you, b***h and go back to where you came from," and blocked her. I hated my brother more than ever for this, he was the rock that shattered my life and I would keep out of his way as long as he kept out of mine.