The last saint (Guardians of Red moon city #5) {In Progress}

Chapter 7

As I'm being escorted to the stone-covered cell by the guards, I can't help but feel a sense of despair and angst. I avoid making eye contact with them as I know that witches aren't welcome and are considered enemies in their eyes, no matter what. Even though their royalty has temporarily spared me, it doesn't change the fact that witches are still considered tainted and unwanted in society. It's unjust, but I've come to accept that life isn't always fair. It's unfortunate that a few individuals' actions have ruined the entire reputation of our race, and now we have to face the consequences of their wrongdoings.

As I enter the cell, the guards quickly put on me some sort of anti-magic vines that wrap around my arms and end at my shoulders. The plant seems to have a tight grip on me, preventing me from using any of my magical abilities. Once they're satisfied with the vines, the guards exit the cell and shut the door behind them, leaving me in complete darkness. I let out a deep sigh and slowly make my way to the corner of the cell. As I sit down, my mind starts to wander, and I can't help but question my choices in life. Why do I always end up in situations like this? Why does it feel like I'm the only one who has to be the voice of reason?

Throughout the years, I've pondered over a plethora of questions, but to no avail. Despite my desire to understand, the lack of answers has left me feeling none the wiser. The situation is complicated, to say the least, and difficult to put into words. The crux of the matter is that I've always found myself in a state of helplessness, unable to attain personal freedom. Consequently, I haven't dared to delve deeper into my inquiries, as doing so would mean defying the strict regulations imposed by both my parents and The Order. Alas, the answers to my questions remain elusive, and I'm left to grapple with my predicament in isolation.

As I take in my surroundings, the familiar smells of home waft through my senses, bringing a sense of comfort and warmth. The nostalgia envelops me, reminding me of the people who once graced my life. However, my smile fades as I remember the day I lost everything, and the pain it still brings me to this day. The thought of being consumed by the darkness from within is suffocating, but before I can dwell on it any longer, the door to my dungeon cell creaks open, and I catch a glimpse of the men who hold the key to my heart, just like they did back then. It's almost comical how we all look exactly the same today as we did years ago when our fates intertwined.

Memories of a past life flood my mind, before the sadness, betrayal, and heartbreak that almost tore us apart. I recall Killian, with his dark hair and piercing blue eyes that resembled the depths of the ocean. And Henry, with his bright blonde hair, reminiscent of the strongest axe in the field, and eyes that sparkled like the grass on a warm summer day. A part of me yearns to run to them, to embrace them as if we are meeting for the first time, yet my rational mind keeps me anchored in the corner. A battle rages within me, my heart and brain at odds with each other, until my rational mind prevails. Suddenly, Killian's voice pierces through my thoughts.

"Hi, mate," he whispers, his intense gaze fixed upon me.

As Henry whimpers and presses his face against the grate, I feel a pang of guilt in my chest. I want to move closer to them, but the risk of disaster is too great. As I glance at him, my magic starts to shimmer, but it quickly fades away as the vines tighten their grip around the cage that is my body. I can no longer hold their gaze without tears welling up in my eyes. The pain in my heart intensifies when I hear Killian's fist pounding against the wall, making me flinch at the deafening sound. Hot tears stream down my cheeks as I feel powerless and helpless.

As the darkness settles around me, I find myself enveloped in an eerie silence. Despite the overwhelming sadness and heartache that threatens to consume me, I force myself to hold back the tears and sniffle quietly, determined to maintain my composure. The Order may have destroyed everything I held dear, but it also taught me valuable lessons, including how to remain calm in the face of danger. Sadly, this knowledge is of little comfort when I think about all that I've lost. Memories of my friends, my mates, my children, and my former life flood my mind, making it impossible to escape the pain. The most vivid and painful memories are those of my two young boys, who were taken from me by The Order. No matter how hard I try, I can't shake the feeling that nothing will ever be the same without them.

Henry's POV

As I stand here pondering my predicament, I can't help but feel a sense of unease. I'm sharing a mate with Killian - Killian of all people! It's not that I've got anything against him as a person, but typically those who share a mate are related to each other, like the situation with Aleida and our alphas. Kaylin's situation with William and Nathan is unusual, almost like a weakness in the very fabric of the universe. I don't think there'll be any problems for either me or Killian to share our mate, but I fear there'll be trouble if she refuses to even look at us. As we watch the guards lead her out of the hall, my wolf Jowy whines after her, and I can't shake the feeling that something is amiss.

Killian and I share a unique bond despite not being related by blood. The reason for this is that we both hold the position of beta in our pack. This has brought us closer together, and we have become good friends over time. Killian's wolf, Colby, is making himself known with his loud and mournful howls, pleading for his mate to come back. When Colby howls, Killian backs away as if in pain. I can't help but feel a sense of empathy for him. If I can hear Colby's howls through the closed mindlink that connects us, I can only imagine how deafening it must be inside Killian's head. We exchange glances and our eyes reflect the same feelings of resignation and concern. With a heavy heart, I turn around and prepare myself for the accusations that are about to come towards our mate.

Killian's voice cuts through the tense silence with a harsh edge, the undercurrent of his words accentuated by Colby's presence. Queen Aleida stands before us, explaining the situation at hand. I watch as Kaylin embraces Aurora, holding her close as if it's the last time they'll ever be together. It's a relief to know that one problem has been resolved, even if it's been replaced by another.

"You can't be certain that she's lying or guilty of what you accuse her of," Killian growls, his voice low and menacing.

"We don't know anything for sure, but we have to investigate the situation," Miliano explains, his voice calm and measured.

"And if it turns out that she's involved, even if it was against her will?" I ask, my suspicion directed at my alpha.

He lowers his head and lets out a heavy sigh before answering.

"You both know the consequences of stealing a royal child from their parents," he replies, his words carrying a weight that causes both me and Killian to growl in frustration.

Jason carefully guides us towards the door as we feel our grip slipping away. We both know that creating unnecessary trouble won't solve the problem at hand. Nevertheless, the gravity of the situation remains - our mate is in danger of facing the death penalty for a crime she may not have committed. The weight of uncertainty and the fear of losing her is heavy on our hearts. Kian's voice is barely audible as he speaks.

"I'm sorry, betas," he whisper, and I turn to Kaylin, hoping to change their minds.

I can't believe what's happening. These are my packmates, my fellow wolves, and yet they've accused our mate of a crime without any solid evidence. It's like they've forgotten what it felt like to be falsely accused. I can't let this happen without speaking up.

"I thought at least you'd remember what it feels like to be falsely accused and thrown into a cell, instead you're doing exactly the same thing to our mate. You've all done things you regret and no one questioned you but was there to support you. I always stand behind my leaders, but not if they take for granted that a person is guilty before they know. You're nothing but hypocrites, all of you," I say in a low and even voice.

Killian's POV

The air around us is thick with tension as Henry's anger radiates outward. It's impossible to miss the fury etched on his face and the sharpness in his tone as he addresses the others. Normally, Henry is the more composed of the two of us, but in this instance, his protective instincts have taken over, unleashing a wave of aggression that is difficult to contain. We all understand that Henry's outburst is not a reflection of his character, but rather a side effect of being a concerned mate. As a werewolf, his emotions are intertwined with those of his wolf, amplifying his anger and making it harder to manage. Despite this, we know that Henry will make amends once his rage has subsided and his wolf has calmed down.

As we make our way towards the dungeon, I can't help but feel a sense of unease. Today, Henry, who usually has a firm grip on Jowy's rebellious nature, seems to have lost the power struggle. We enter the dimly lit dungeon together and our eyes fall upon our mate, who refuses to meet our gazes. Despite her defiance, there's something familiar about her as if we've met before, but I can't seem to remember where. The silence between us is fragile and tense, and no one dares to speak a word, afraid of the potential repulsion that could follow. Thankfully, the words of rejection we fear don't come, but the air is thick with unspoken tension. Unable to contain my anger, I slam my fist into the cold, rough stone wall, hoping to release some of the turmoil within me.

As I emerge from the dungeon, large chunks of debris loosen and create a thick cloud of dust that engulfs me. Henry, follows close behind, and we quickly transform into our wolf forms and escape into the dense forest. Despite the cool breeze that rustles through the leaves, my mind is in turmoil. We have just learned that we have a mate, but she is unsure about us, and our family's laws threaten her life. The weight of the situation bears down on me, and I can't help but wonder how everything became such a chaotic mess.

I want my mate, boss, Colby's voice resonates with a deep longing as he pleads, his yearning reverberates within me, like a dull ache.

Me too, but it's not possible right now. She poses a potential threat to the royals, I try to reason with him.

Mate is no threat! She's a protector who wants to help, not interfere! Colby protests with a tinge of frustration in his voice.

We don't know anything about her, Col, I say and his eyes narrow, while his voice drops to a low growl.

I don't need to know anything about her to know what our hearts are beating for, he answers and blocks me in his mind, unwilling to listen to reason.

I sigh long, and heavily I process his words. His words are hopeful and romantic, but I can't help but feel they're a bit naive. While I wish we could just forget about everything else and focus solely on our mate, I know that isn't realistic. Our duty to the royals and Alphas will always come first, no matter how much we love someone. Like Henry and Jowy. They're angry right now, but we all know that our duty to the pack always will come before our personal issues. If we were mated or had little ones, of course, our priorities would shift, but for now, our loyalty is to the pack.

I don't see any prospects of either mate or pups in the near future. With the threat of royal anger and the possibility of death looming over us, I wonder if I'll ever get to know my potential mate at all. If she turns out to be guilty of something, we'll be forced to forget about her, no matter how much we want to hold onto her memory.

A/N:

Hello!

Long time, no see. Here is the the long-awaited chapter. I'll post what's going on. on both Insta and F-book tomorrow.

I missed you! What do you think? <3