Magnus

I wake up and I feel my soul is replenished. Even in my dreams she has the power to save me. I saw her last night come to me and take me in her arms. She was sleeping right next to me, her breath on my chest, her arms on my waist. In my dream, she has forgiven me. She didn't hate me for all the games and the lies I wove around her just to keep her close.

I sit up in my bed and I look around. I was in a bad place last night, half-drunk, forlorn, lost. After so long, after... I swallow to wet my dry throat and fall back on my pillow. And then I smell it. It's her!

I dive into the pillow next to mine and I take in deep breaths. That is her, the smell of my mate, my chosen one, my Luna. She was here? This was not all a dream? I tense and look at my bathroom. Empty. Where is she?

That's when I hear a noise from the room next door. No! I get up and slip into my sweatpants before I storm out of the room. Once I am in the hallway, I freeze. The door to the next room is open. I take one step and look inside.

Antiope is there, in her simple t-shirt and she stands in the middle of the room. The little light from outside pours in through the drawn sunblind. I clench my jaw but I can't stop the tears that run down my cheeks. I haven't opened that room in years.

That's when Antiope turns and looks at me. Her eyes are also crying and her shoulders are trying to get in satisfying breaths. She stands barefoot on the round, colorful rag and holds a bunny doll in her arms.

"Magnus," she sighs and takes one step to me.

I shake my head and look at the crib near the window. One week more. That's all her baby needed to be born. One week...

"Magnus," Antiope walks even closer. "I am so sorry. Who was she? She looks a lot like you."

I can't deal with so much pain right now. I lost my twin sister, heavy with her pup, mauled by rogues. I almost lost my chosen one, the one I trapped to eat a fucking breakfast with me. I must be as rotten and bad inside as the others think I am. I must be born to be only a killer. That is why the Goddess lets no one get close.

"I told you to never enter that room!" My voice makes the windows in the house tremble.

"I had to know, Magnus. Oh, my goddess, I am so sorry. Please..." Antiope opens her arms to me.

"NO!" The Alpha Command pins her on the spot.

I say nothing more, just go into my room and I lock the door. I hear her plead outside but I don't care. She can't stay, she doesn't want to stay. She just feels sorry from me but when she realizes what I have done, who I am, she will go back to hating me. It's the bond, the mark I forced on her. It's not real. I do not deserve anything real.

When I am ready, I go out the room and I ignore her as she holds me by my arm. I get out of the house and go straight to my office. I call Egil and I sit on my desk. I am Alpha Magnus Ulfisson, the Killer of Rogues. I shouldn't have forgotten that.

***

"Magnus!" Antiope demands for the millionth time.

"She is outside," Egil hisses.

"I can hear her."

"Don't do this!"

"Do no tell me what to do, Beta!" I yell in his face. "I am your Alpha! You will obey and bow down to my orders."

"Hm," Egil has a bitter look on his face. "I thought I'd never see you like that."

"Get used to it. Thane?"

"He is coming."

I nod and I take my place behind my desk. I look up to Egil and I beckon at the door. My Beta swallows and pleads with me one more time only to be met with the hard, stone wall I am so good at building. He opens the door and Antiope storms in.

It takes all I am to stop myself from going to her and take her in my arms. She seems so distraught and strung out. My wolf, my own soul is drawn to her. I want to protect her and hold her till the end of our days. But I can't.

"What the hell are you doing, Magnus?"

"Alpha Ulfisson!" I warn her.

She is taken aback and gasps. Her eyes find mine but I let no emotion show. I can't let any emotion show. Not anymore.

"Don't give me that bullshit, Magnus," she narrows her eyes at me and Egil chuckles satisfied.

"I demand respect!" I threaten her in all my force.

She takes one single step back and shuts her mouth in pure fear. She has never seen the full effect of my power. I am not just an Alpha, I have Royal Blood and the fear she feels is invoked by it.

"Stop it! You are scaring our mate," Henrar is angry.

"Better that than getting her killed."

I sit back down on my chair and pretend to look at some paperwork when Celia and Thane come in. The sisters lock in a tight embrace and Thane looks like a lost puppy at his mate.

"Enough," I stop the whispers the two sisters share. "I have reached to some decisions. Thane Kron, you are relieved of being the Luna Champion. You will join the ranks of our warriors once more should you want to stay."

Thane nods and turns to Antiope that gives him a soft smile.

"Celia Everstone, you are free to stay here and be a member of our pack. You and your mate have one week to decide."

"Thank you, Alpha," the couple says in unison.

"As for you, Antiope Everstone," I take in a deep breath, "you are no longer the Luna to this pack."

"What?"

"You are relieved of your Mating Vows, such as they were, by the order of his Majesty the Alpha King."

"Magnus?"

I don't even look at her.

"The bond was not completed and mark will fade as soon as you find your true mate," I add finally and I feel the sharp pain in my heart.

"No, you can't do this!"

"The jet is ready to take you back to your pack," I get up and steel myself to meet her eyes. "Egil will take care of the rest."

"Please, Magnus, don't do this," Antiope says.

I extend my hand to hers over the desk and I finally look into her eyes. The shock and pain in them is a punch in my stomach. I fucked up again. Even releasing her like she always wanted ended up hurting her.

She will be fine though. She is strong and powerful, clever and wise. And she is so beautiful. Her mate will make her happy and whole and she will forget about the mad Alpha that kept her captive for a while.

"It was an honor, Beta Everstone," I beckon at my hand.

Her lower lip is trembling as she tries to take it all in. She looks at Egil that shies away and then at her sister that is crying in Thane's arms. She opens her mouth to say something but she decides not to. After a few seconds, she puts her hand in mine and shakes it formally. It is the last time I will feel her.

"Keep them," Henrar begs and whines. "Don't send Maximo away."

"We can't," I feel my wolf withdraw from me in anger.

When Antiope turns her back and leaves, I am finally alone. All alone.