Loving the leech (Guardians of Red Moon city #4)
33. Back with a vengeance

Aleida’s POV

When I see my big brother walk away with his mate, I can’t do more than smile at them. Nathan has searched for his mate for a long time, both here and on other continents. In my opinion, he can’t get a better mate, and I say that from a completely impartial perspective. Kaylin is my friend, yes, but Nathan is my brother, and I keep his back foremost since he’s family. Hopefully, my new friend will soon be my family member too. We need more strong women in the shifter community, and even though she’s not a shifter at the moment but a vampire, she’s going to be a hybrid. However, I don’t think she knows it yet.

It’s nothing required by our laws, even though it’s rare for a werewolf to have a vampire as his mate. However, it may happen because both our and the vampires’ goddess gave her a mate from both races. In such cases, there’s nothing anyone knows or can notice until Nathan marks her. I have plans to talk to them about it before it happens, not only for the sake of security but also for my friend. Kaylin deserves to know what changes will occur in her body and mind. We shifters prepare already when we’re puppies that a voice will one day appear in our heads, and it’s the animal of our soul.

My parents were werewolves; hence I also got a wolf, even though it took a little longer than usual. It can scare Kaylin a lot if she doesn’t know what she has to wait for. If I don’t talk to my brothers’ mate, there’s a risk that she won’t tell us about the voice in her head, resulting in her thinking she’s crazy. To suspect, believe, or feel that you’re crazy is a very unpleasant experience. It pulls down your self-esteem and makes you start to distrust everything you perceive as normal in your surroundings. There’s a chance that she may begin to doubt that what’s happening or has happened isn’t reality.

If that happens, the chances are small that we’ll ever get her back. Williams’ low growl interrupts my thoughts, and my gaze lands on him. He stares intensely at the couple walking towards the lake and seems annoyed at the incident. Miliano and Kian shake their heads when I look at them, but I don’t care. My mates follow, sighing after me as I walk with determined steps toward William. He bows hastily when we arrive and use our titles.

“Queen Aleida. Alpha Kian. Alpha Miliano,” William says, returning to his irritated facial expression.

“I hope I don’t have to hear any sad news that someone ruined my brother’s date,” I say in a pointed voice.

William’s eyes widen, and I look at him knowingly. He sighs soundly and hangs with his head before rubbing his face slowly.

“I just want to be near her,” he quietly mumbles to himself.

“If you want to be close to Kaylin, you need to stop being hot and cold,” Miliano responds expertly.

“She doesn’t deserve everything that you’ve thrown over her in recent days. You explicitly told her that you prefer your ex over your beloved; it’s no wonder she reacts like she does,” Kian continues.

“I know. What should I do?” William asks.

“You should take hold of what you have with everything you are and rejoice every day to have it. It was close to us losing the most important thing in our lives once upon a time,” Kian replies, looking at me with sadness.

“And that was the worst thing we’ve ever experienced,” Miliano concludes, also looking at me.

“That’s why you should show your beloved that she means something to you, and you have to let go of your ex,” I say, and he nods slowly. “Jennifer will be executed regardless of whether you have feelings for her or not. I can’t allow a criminal of her caliber to continue living.”

“I know,” William responds in a quiet voice.

“Alright. If you genuinely care about Kaylin and want your relationship to work, you can start by caring more about your child than you do. I swear on all that’s sacred that it doesn’t seem like you have any feelings at all for the little girl that you helped create,” I say in an irritated voice, and he hangs his head in shame. “Give your beloved time while you show that you want to be with her and don’t try to spoil between them. Nathan has the right to an equal chance as you, even if you two have your controversies. Don’t let that go out over Kaylin because I’ll drive through you both. Take your responsibility and do your job as her beloved, for fuck’s sake!”

“But she rejected me,” he whispers.

“Yes, that’s true, and you accepted. But Kaylin didn’t truly want to have to reject you, which means you still have a chance. But that chance only exists if she chooses to allow your redemption and be with you.”

Nathan’s POV

There’s no greater happiness than waking up on the shore with my mate in my arms. I didn’t think we’d fall asleep outside in the cold after our kisses, but somehow it happened anyway. Kaylin doesn’t seem to freeze, though, which is an advantage of the warmth that comes with being a werewolf. I look at her, and my wolf is purring in my head of the beauty, who’s our mate. Zac runs happy laps inside our shared mind as her blue eyes open up and a smile plays on her lips.

“Good morning, my beautiful mate,” I say in a low voice, kissing her forehead.

Her cheeks turn red, and I chuckle at how adorable she looks. I let go of her and see how she stretches with a loud yawn. She rubs her eyes and pulls a hand through her hair before glancing around with surprise.

“Did we fall asleep outside yesterday?” she asks confusedly, and I laugh at her sweetness.

“It seems so, yes. Not that it matters to me to lie here with you, but my body itches by the sand,” I say, standing up.

She gets up, and we stroll hand in hand back towards Aleida’s packhouse. The idea strikes me that I don’t know anything about my mate beyond what my sister told me, and that doesn’t sit right with me. I want to know everything about Kaylin! Does she dip her fries or drizzle the ketchup over them? Does she prefer her steak well-done or medium-rare? Does she like wine, if so red, white or rose? All those little things you might not think of but still hold a particular value in how well a relationship works. This way shows how well you know your partner, how well you listen, and how much you value the person’s choice.

I want to know everything about my mate, everything from her shoe size, every story behind every scar, to where she has birthmarks on her body. Why, might you be wondering? Because I’m a devoted person who actually cares about such things that others consider mundane. I want to know Kaylin inside and out, that she should be able to feel safe in that I listen to her when she talks to me. Communication is critical in a relationship, and I’m ready to talk all night long! As soon as I open the door, her happy expression falls, and indifference replaces it. Aleida wanders back and forth with Aurora in her arms.

My lovely mate hurries forward and smiles significantly at her little girl.

“Hello, sweetheart,” she says in a baby voice, holding up her daughter in the air before laying down Aurora on her arm. “You’re so beautiful, my girl.”

Aleida smiles at Kaylin, but my sister’s expression changes to worry as soon as my mate looks away. She points to the kitchen, and I kiss my mate on the forehead before quickly following after Aleida. Miliano and Kian stand next to Aleida with the same concern on their faces.

“What happened?” I ask and begin to feel anxious.

“William bolted,” Aleida replies, and I lose my breath.

“What do you mean, “he bolted”? Where?” I ask and hope that my thoughts take me on the wrong roads.

“You think rightly, Nate,” she replies in a sad voice. “Presumably, he couldn’t take the pressure and left early this morning.”

“Did they all leave?”

“No, just William left,” Kian replies, and I turn around when the floor creaks.

Kaylin stands in front of me with their daughter in her arms with a cold expression. Aleida clears her throat and pulls a hand through her hair, a nervous habit she has, before walking up to my mate.

“Kay, I don’t know how much you heard, but–,” Aleida begins.

“I heard everything, and it’s okay,” Kaylin replies, rocking Aurora gently in her arms.

“How can you think it’s okay!?” Benjamin exclaims angrily from the doorway, and she shakes us all with her words.

“Because now he’s made his choice and at least can’t fuck us over anymore.”

She walks away and paralyzes the rest of us entirely with her words that we can’t follow. Once again, I’m amazed at the psychic strength my mate possesses. A panicked Elijah enters the room with Aurora in his arms, and the rest of us look confusedly at the screaming child.

“Where’s Kaylin?” Miliano asks.

“She ran towards the forest,” Elijah replies, and the rest of us are quick to hurry after her.

After a few miles, we find her on a bare cliff. She has three large elk carcasses at her feet and blood all over her body. Her gaze stares at the gray horizon, silent tears dropping on her fragile cheeks. None of us move but wait for her to notice us.

“Do you know that I could never see myself and William grow old together?” she suddenly asks, and we continue to listen to her words without interrupting. “I could never see us together, side by side when Aurora graduates. It doesn’t matter how much I tried; he was never there in my thoughts. God knows I tried. Who knows, maybe this was also predetermined how it would end. What I don’t understand is how a goddess can be so cruel to one of her children, especially not to one who has never been evil to anyone else. An innocent who got punished for something she didn’t do.”

Kaylin turns toward us and despite the blood smeared all over her face, she’s beautiful. I’m proud of her that she chose to drink from animals instead of innocent humans. Aleida walks up to Kaylin and puts her forehead against hers. Their eyes stare into each other, and light surrounds the two most important women in my life. Small flowers begin to grow up from the dry ground, and the sunshine starts to spread across the sky again. My mate closes her eyes, and a sad smile grows on her lips while her tears continue to fall. William’s mother, Ozzandra, walks towards Kaylin with Aurora in her arms.

My mate gratefully accepts her girl and kisses her pale forehead in a way that only a mother can. Ozzandra looks anxiously at Kaylin, and the rest of Williams’ family stands a distance away, with the same expression over their faces.

“Oh, honey, how are you?” Ozzandra asks, and Kaylin gently smiles again.

“I’m okay,” she replies. “But by now, you’ve must realize that William doesn’t belong in my life anymore, right?”

“Yes, I understand that perfectly. Somewhere along the way, I must have made a mistake in his upbringing, and if his father were here, he would hit him!” Ozzandra answers. “Not that he ever needed a reason for doing that.”

“Aurora deserves to have her father in her life, but if he ever hurts her or tries to take her away from me, he needs to remember our laws,” Kaylin says, and I immediately get curious, which the others also seem to be, all except for the vampires who instead look surprised she brings up laws. “I guess you know what it dictates?”

“Of course, I was there to write them,” Ozzandra replies. “Anyone who kidnaps or injures an innocent royalty vampire, half-blood or not, is punished by death without the right to trial. From the moment the judgment falls, there’s no chance of getting redemption in any other way than through the goddess of darkness in the afterlife.”

I myself am surprised when I hear that. The vampires’ laws are stricter than ours are. Kaylin nods and looks like a queen as she slowly starts strolling off towards the packhouse again. Suddenly she stops and turns to her mother-in-law.

“Please, make sure he remembers what price he risks paying if he does something similar to our child,” she says in a calm tone holding a promise of revenge if William even thinks the idea of trying something.

Again, the rest of us freeze by her words. Not because she’s wrong in saying it, but because she can make such a calm and sane tone sound this fatal. Benjamin hugs his mother, and she puts her head on his shoulder.

“What’s your brother doing?” Ozzandra whispers to her son.

“I don’t know, mama,” he replies. “But it’s nothing good.”

“Send out the information we talked about to the clan. If William is planning something stupid, I want to know about it,” she replies, and Benjamin nods before walking away with the other vampires in tow.

As the kind soul she is, Aleida walks up to Ozzandra and puts a hand on her shoulder. The women stare into each other’s eyes with respect.

“I can’t even imagine what you’re going through right now, but carry with you that we have your back,” my sister says, and William’s mother smiles gratefully.

“It’s appreciated, Queen Aleida. We’re happy to meet our two new family members, even though it’s not under the best circumstances. I realize you’re probably feeling some concern about the problems with William, but you don’t have to worry; neither of you needs to. Because if it turns out that my son intends to do something terrible, I’ll kill him myself,” Ozzandra says, and I now realize how great loyalty she has to the woman who’s not only her daughter-in-law but also soon her superior.

“I hope it doesn’t have to go that far and that there’s a good explanation for what’s going on,” Aleida replies.

“So do I, my queen. Hope is the last thing that abandons us; at least, that’s what people say, but that isn’t true. The last thing that abandons us is loyalty to the family.”

William’s POV

I can’t stay here. You’re mad at me, aren’t you? It doesn’t matter; I’m mad at myself too. But the reason I’m leaving isn’t because of wrong motives, that you probably think, no. For the first time since I met Kaylin, I now plan to do something completely selfless, no matter how annoying it feels to me personally. I don’t worry about Queen Aleida’s anger or my mother’s relentlessness; what gives me the anxiety is my beloved’s possible sadness at my departure. My plans don’t include me betraying neither her nor our daughter but instead improves the situation.

I don’t know if it’s still a possibility or not, but what I do know is that I have to do something before I lose Kaylin completely. She’s not an evil person, and I know she won’t deny me meeting Aurora. But I want her in my life, too, even though I now happen to have to share her with my arch enemy. Somehow, Nathan and I had to work through our problems for Kaylin’s sake. Step one is what I’m doing now in my office at home in my house, sending a request to the council and Queen Aleida about a move. Nathan’s territory is there, after all, and I can quickly move while he has difficulty.

Vampires aren’t territorial of land by themselves, but werewolves have it in their instincts. Besides, our race rather has difficulty staying in the same place for too long, hence the missions that are handed out from time to time. If you think about the minor detail that Kaylin is a princess to be crowned queen and needs to be in the castle, I can happily announce that the vampire castle is actually just outside Red moon city. Personally, I don’t think she’s ready to be crowned and become queen yet, but on the other hand, that choice is up to her. Honestly, it might as well end up with her not wanting to live in the castle at all.

Just look at Queen Aleida, she had the opportunity to build up the palace for werewolves who ruptured with the ground many years ago, but she turned it down. Queen Aleida decided instead to create a gigantic packhouse that she lives in with many others, which you know by now. How Kaylin chooses to do is her business. But until she makes that choice, I want her to at least have the opportunity to live in a house with me, Nathan, and Aurora if she chooses to. That’s why I’m doing this for her. I prepare to override my own pain to take care of hers because she’s more important than me, and at the end of the day, I don’t deserve her anyway.

Therefore, I need to try to make things right again. The only thing that remains now is praying a silent request to whichever goddess is willing to listen and hope that it’s not too late to save my beloved from the darkness I planted in her.

A/N:

Hello everyone!

It seems that a big misunderstanding takes place in Aleida’s packhouse while William decides to resolve the situation. But was it really a good choice not to announce that he’s returning?

❀ Would it make any difference if he told them before he was going away?

✿ Will Kaylin live together with her beloved and mate?

❀ Does William still have a chance to get Kaylin back?

Please let me know your thoughts since they help me develop in my creative process! Thank you for reading, lots of love.<3

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