His Second Chance Mate

300 YEARS AGO- The Enchanted Realm * * *CONNOR POV* * * “Report.” “F-f-forty two c-c-civilians perished, t-twenty warriors dead, and thirteen w-wounded on our side M’lord,” the young man, who has no business being involved with a war, says. My hands tighten further on the table as I look at the same godforsaken map, struggling to maintain my human form over the anger I feel. It doesn’t make any f*****g sense! Our numbers are far greater than his. This war should have ended weeks ago, yet he still raids through the towns as if they are nothing! “And him?” I say with a snarl. “J-just his second in command leading the front. M-Marlbrooke hasn’t been sighted.” Fear is laced in his voice, and he hasn’t even set foot on the battlefield. I close my eyes and try to think of the next plan of action. It was only a coincidence when sending a regiment of soldiers to the next town over, for patrol. Word had spread that Marlbrooke’s army was coming here, straight for my castle from the west. My men hustled back to the keep, but they weren’t fast enough, and now we have lost the initiative of a surprised counter attack. I should have been better prepared. I am the leader that took charge over eradicating him and his followers, petitioning everyone for help. I should have know he would have brought the war right to my doorstep. “The army approaches your majesty. S-Should I ring the bell?” I give a quick nod. “Yes. Have the handmaidens get everyone to the safe hold.” The boy bows and heads out, leaving me and my beta to fume in the room, and to prepare ourselves for what might happen. I drop into a chair and sigh, running my hands through my hair. I thought I was prepared to run a kingdom, but it seems I’ve brought war right to us. “What are we going to do, Acker?” I slowly look up and see him gaze out the window, deep in thought, then after a beat, he turns with a bitter smile on his face. “We fight, my friend. Evil can’t win. Not now... not ever.” I nod, feeling years older than I already do. No matter what happens today, there will be a shift in this war. The warning bells begin to ring and I stand despite the weight on my shoulders. I can feel my mates’ unease through the bond, and I try to send her reassurance that everything will be fine. I grab my sword and sheath it, and my beta does the same as we brace ourselves. “Let’s get to the battlegrounds, and protect our home...” * * * I scan across the army of both mine and Marlbrooke’s. Yes, we have the numbers, but it appears he has more than just werewolves on his side. Ogres, trolls, and goblins litter the grounds with the weres, and I can sense the strong presence of magic. How did the bastard get witches on his side?! My eyes zero in on him as the battle horns blow. Standing there, proud in his faux silver wolf helmet he always adorns to represent strength and invincibility. A false god making false claims. His death will be the peace our lands need. * * Fresh blood splatters across my face as I draw my sword back. All around me, blurs of bodies and wolves fight without mercy. Screams can be heard for miles as limbs get hacked off and death follows. But I only have one target on my mind, and it seems he has the same. We’ve slowly approached each other, both engaging in battle, one obstacle at a time. I let out a roar as soon as our paths clear just for our fight. As we circle each other, preparing our weapons, I can hear the sounds of fighting cease- everyone gazing on who will be the victor. All I can focus on are those beady black eyes beneath his helmet’s visor. He charges first like a bull, sword held high. The sounds of clashing metal echoes across the field as he throws attack after attack with cruelty. I struggle to keep up with the directions of the swings, and I dash to the left as his blade slices down, with what could have been a fatal blow. All of my instincts tell me to shift and let our wolves handle this, but that’s not the laws of the land. As leaders, we are more than our enchanted counterparts, and need to show our people that being Enchanted does not define who we are. His steps are quick as he runs at me again with his attacks. This time, I’m not quick enough to defend, and let out a hiss as the silver blade slices through my right arm. As he stands proud looking at my injury, I come after him full force- all of my anger and need to protect the realm in each swing. What feels like minutes happens in seconds, and at last, my blade surges through his chest. I can’t hear anything except my deep intakes of breath. I did it…. I finally ended the tyranny of Marlbrooke…. But, it doesn’t feel real. Sickly laughter pulls me out of my victor and I glare at the man before me. I angerly rip his helmet off and dread fills my gut as I step back with shock. “You’re too late,” Gregor laughs out, while coughing up blood. Marlbrooke’s second in command is posed as him... But why? Death is calling his name, but not before his smile turns even more sinister than before. “Long live the TRUE king.. Marlb—” Acker slices off his head, while looking at me with confusion and dread. I look up to find half of Marlbrooke’s followers retreating while others still fight on. Something doesn’t feel right. I look to my beta right as a searing pain pierces my chest, accompanied by the loud scream of my mate in the distance. It can’t be! Everyone snaps their gazes towards the castle, and perched on top of the tower next to my bedroom is Marlbrooke, unsheathing the blade from my mate’s heart. I watch, helplessly, as her face is stained with tears and mine follow closely after. His merciless eyes dance with a smile as he then pushes her off the balcony. “MIRA!!! NOOO!!!” I feel the bond break while sprinting through the mass of soldiers, but I can’t believe it to be true. IT CAN’T BE TRUE! My wolf begins the endless pain that slices through my heart, but fate can’t be this cruel! A crowd has already gathered in the courtyard, and they quickly part upon my arrival. Even as I see with my own eyes the blood, her body turned in the most abnormal position, I still can come to terms with what’s happened. I can’t breathe…. and everything turns so cold. My body feels useless as I crash to my knees and pick up Mira’s bloody hand. “No....” I choke out, pain laced with everything in my being. “NOOOOOO!!!!!” My voice and that of my wolf howl together as I cry and sob, gathering her bloody body and cradling the woman who is my world. Magic sizzles around me, but I don’t care if my life ends now. At least I could be with her. “You’re so weak, Constatinos…” When I pull her body closer, ignoring is taunting voice, he lets out a harsh laugh. “Such a pity having a mate, isn’t it?” he states calmly, walking in a circle around me. Through my tears, I can see that some of his witches have developed some type of shield, as my men are constantly trying to break it. I glare at the man who murdered my mate, but can’t find the strength to get up and fight. Half of my soul has been ripped from me. How could anyone expect me to fight? Marlbrooke takes a seat on the ground, his back to my castle, eyeing me for any type of reaction. “Time is a funny thing. It can go fast or it can go slow. It ages you. But it lasts forever.” My wolf growls seeing him act so casually after what he just did, and the bastard smirks. “I could kill you, right here, right now, and take the throne. It would be so easy to pluck the new king off his pedestal… And it would only be a matter of time before I take over all the enchanted families.” I give him no reaction as he examines a blade. “But...... it’s not going to be that easy, Constatinos.” He throws the dagger, covered in Mira’s blood, at the ground towards me, and stands. “Our fighting ends today, for now at least. I’m going to enjoy your misery.” And his face grows darker. “And while you waste away over your w***e, I’m going to grow my army… I’m going to conquer this world so NO ONE can defy me.” My body shakes with anger as he gets up and starts to approach me. I attempt to launch myself, to throw all my anger and failure towards his cold heart, but I find myself not being able to move. Another f*****g spell. “We will meet again, I assure you….” He walks by me and has the audacity to pat my shoulder, growing my eternal hatred. “Surely without your mate around, you’ll be a stronger king, and a more worthy adversary…. But the next time you see me, Constatinos, I will be more powerful than you can imagine, and then we’ll decide who deserves to sit on that throne.” And just like that, he’s gone. * * SIX MONTHS LATER * * The fire plays a dance as I gaze into the embers. My hair hangs low over my eyes as I steadily pick at the dirt under my nails. Another day has passed. Another day of emptiness. Another day without her. Anger surges through my system, knowing I still haven't caught him, no matter how hard I push the efforts. The door slams open and I feel Acker’s fury radiate through the room. “This has to stop! You are sending raids and killing innocents, Connor! What would Mira thin-“ “MIRA’S DEAD!” I enrage, as I grab Acker’s throat and pin him up against the stone walls. “I will ravage this world until her soul finds justice! And no one.. NO ONE.. will f*****g stop me!” My breath is ragged as I seethe, feeling the pain of just hearing and saying her name. The angry, pitying look and disappointment in his eyes have me slowly ease off of him. I hate how I am, but I have nothing left in me to care anymore. I turn around and grab yet another bottle off the shelf to drown my sorrows from. No matter where I look, I remember Mira- her beauty and grace… her love for life. But every damn time I close my eyes, all I can see is her lifeless body, covered in blood. I couldn’t save her…. couldn’t save my mate. And true to the bastards’ word, he went silent. No one has seen even a glimpse of Marlbrooke or his followers, and me and my people have been suffering. I don’t even realize I’m crying as my hands shake to pour myself a drink. Acker takes a hold of the bottle and I give up without argument, even as he pours it into the fire, fueling the flames. He lets me mourn for what feels like hours- not talking, not consoling, but just being there as I let the pain consume me. A glass is put into my hand and I shakily bring it to my dry lips and take a long sip of cool water. Acker takes the glass from me, making me stare into his pitying eyes. “She was a wonderful woman, Connor. But senseless killings isn’t the answer. The people are losing faith in you. When you took the throne, we took a vow to protect-” “Her death will not be in vain,” I spit out. No one understands. As rare as it is to have your true mate by your side, it’s even more rare to have one die without you. The pain is an everlasting hurt that channels through your veins and into your core, slicing your heart until you are just too numb to the pain. Nothing in all the worlds can make me feel whole again. “Mira didn’t deserve to die. Maybe the goddess will look upon you and see the unfairness of it all. Maybe she’ll grant you another who’d be blessed to have Mira’s soul.” I laugh darkly as I stare back into the fire. “I don’t deserve another, even if that was possible, Acker. No. My heart left with Mira, and there isn’t a woman alive to make me believe in love again. This is who I am now. I vow on my pitiful life that I will find Marlbrooke…. and I will end him. Then, and only then, will her soul rest at peace, and I can happily perish from this world.”