*note: the story of The Reaper; Alpha's Mate on Anyatories, starts splitting from this chapter onwards.*

Eldrid's transformation was nearing completion when the doors slammed open.

"Seraphina!"

A deep voice boomed, tinged with astonishment. Eldrid's gaze shifted to the main entrance and flickered. Aiden's eyes widened in shock and confusion as he turned his head towards the doors. A six-foot-tall, well-built man stood at the packhouse's entrance. His salt and pepper hair and slight wrinkles indicated his age, but the sharpness of his bright eyes and features was enough to convey how powerful and intimidating he was.

"What are you doing in my land?" He growled and turned around completely to face the man who was fuming by the door.

He noticed Nicholas running towards the door and standing behind the man. Soon after, a female followed behind him and stood beside him.

"Seraphina! Is that really you?" The man took a step towards her, whispering in disbelief, his words laced with a heavy accent.

Aiden looked at the man, then at his mate, perplexed. Aiden stood in front of Eldrid, shielding her from the man as he took another step.

"Don't go any further, Feldtg!" Aiden growled, and Emmerich came to a halt, his eyes blazing with rage. His fangs ejected from his gums, and his skull was adorned with black horns.

"You dare to prevent me from reaching my Granddaughter, mutt!" He growled

"Granddaughter?" Aiden inquired, baffled. But the blazing demon threw him across the room, leaving him unanswered.

"No!" She yelled as Aiden crashes with a wooden table. Aiden grunted as a result of the collision, but he was back on his feet in a flash. Emmerich the Demon King turned to face him as Aiden growled vigorously. Aiden was ready to charge the Demon as his feral side saw him as a threat to his people. The Demon, on the other hand, saw Aiden as a threat to his Granddaughter and was prepared to attack him. Emmerich came charging at Aiden, but Eldrid stepped in front of him, shielding her mate. Her massive wings were proudly displayed behind her back, her demeanor feral.

"Stop!" The King came to a halt as she growled. His eyes returned to their natural blackness, and he stared in astonishment at the demon in front of him.

"Mano gražioji princesė!" He said, lovingly and proudly. (My beautiful Princess.)

"Tėtis!" The King embraced her as her voice cracked slightly. (Papa)

"Jūs nuostabiai panašus į savo motiną!" He said but she didn't respond. (You have a striking resemblance to your mother!)

"Cora, ar galtum atiduoti jos kontrol? Noriau suja pasikalbti" He inquired, and she nodded. (Could you give her control back, Cora? I wish to talk to her.)

"Gerai tėtis!" She said, as her wings shrank and her body reverted to human form. (All right, Papa!)

As usual, her body fell limp, this time on her Grandfather's arms as Eldrid regained control and the demon retreated behind the barrier.

"What did you do to her?" Aiden snarled.

"What does that have to do with you?" Emmerich growled

"She is my mate!"

"You had your filthy claws around her neck the last time I saw you!" Aiden's feral face fell slightly as he growled. They did, however, engage in a stare-down.

"Now, Your Highness's. Please remain calm. Lady Eldrid needs to be taken to the infirmary." Nicholas said anxiously as he looked at the two Alpha Males who were about to rip each other apart. They both looked at him in response to his words.

"I'll take her to the infirmary." Aiden went ahead to take her from Emmerich, but he drew her away from him.

"All she needs is rest. No healer."

"Where is her room?" Emmerich questioned

"I can take her to our room!" Aiden growled warily and moved forward to reclaim her, but the demon snarled at him.

"Keep your distance from her, Prince. If you even come near her, I'll tear you and your kingdom apart until she wakes up!" He said this as he turned around and followed Nicholas towards the castle. Aiden was enraged, his chest vibrating with low growls. He felt eyes on him and turned to face the female standing by the door. Her expression was neutral as she turned around to follow the Demon King. Grabbing the nearest piece of furniture, he threw it with such force that it crashed and was torn down against the wall. He growled and bolted from the packhouse, his beast leaped and shifted mid-air and disappeared into the woods.

"Where were you?" As the woman approached Nicholas, he inquired. He embraced her in a loving hug as she came to a halt.

"I was on my way here." She chuckled. And he kissed the back of her neck.

"I was missing you." "You are being silly," he grumbled. She laughed once more.

"I could be anything for you!" He winked as he removed his fave from the nape of her neck. She chuckled again and drew him in for a kiss. But their moment was cut short when someone cleared their throat. When the couple turned around, they saw Emmerich. When he cocked his brow at her, she blushed slightly. Nicholas bowed his head slightly, and Emmerich said,

"You never told me about your Alpha being such a prick."

"Please accept my apologies, Your Majesty. The first impression you had of our Alpha was certainly not pleasant."

"He should be thankful I didn't chop off his head!" Emmerich snarled.

"I sincerely apologize on his behalf."

"I'm not interested in your apologies! Tell him he's lucky to be Seraphina's mate, or he'd be dead along with the rest of his pack!" Nicholas flinched as he growled again.

"He didn't have anyone to do with what happened. Please don't growl at him, Great-Uncle. He didn't say or do anything." The female pleaded softly as she moved closer to The King.

"I apologize Hilda." He said while stroking her on the back of the head.

"Rise Beta!" He ordered, and Nicholas straightened up.

"Nicholas!" Liam yelled to get Nicholas' attention, and he turned around. Liam approached him, and they hugged like brothers.

"It's good to see you man!" Nicholas stated.

"I was so miserable without you here. How do you cope up with The Alpha all the time!" As they parted ways, Liam said. Nicholas chuckled and motioned for Hilda to approach. Nicholas drew her closer by draping his hand around her waist.

"Meet my mate, Liam. This is Hilda." He said proudly, staring at the female in his arms.

"Lady Hilda, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Liam Warden. Gamma of the Royal Pack." Hilda smiled as Liam introduced himself with a bow of his head.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Liam." She said softly as she turned around her head and introduced the King

"This is His Majesty King Emmerich Feldtg, my great-uncle."

"Your Majesty, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Liam bowed, his eyes wide. He hadn't noticed the King.

"Likewise Gamma Liam." With a curt nod of his head, Emmerich said.

"I heard what happened; how is Lady Eldrid?" Liam asked

"She is unconscious, but she wasn't harmed in any way." Nicholas spoke up, and Liam nodded.

It hurts so much when someone slaps you in the face with the truth and reality of your being. Even if you don't want to accept it, the truth will slap you over and over again. He didn't want to believe what he was told, he didn't want to believe what he saw, and he didn't want to believe what he found. He wanted to trust his moon-blessed but why was it so heavy and hurting so much to do so! He should have asked her first, listened to her side of the story, and learned the truth from her. But why is he believing the prisoner in the rotting cell, and why did he go out of his way to search her house? Why wasn't he believing the truth she delivered with her pained misty eyes? His thoughts replayed in his head over and over. The beast closed his eyes and shook his head, attempting to clear his misted mind. When he opened his eyes, he saw a tree limb directly in front of his face. In an attempt to avoid it, he lost his balance and collided with the massive oak tree. He sighed and looked around. He'd already made it to the farthest south border. He had no idea how far he had gotten away. His ears perked up as an unfamiliar smell entered his nostrils. The beast was quick to detect the odor and dash to the border. The end of the southern border was protected by an unyielding river and potent enchantment, hence no guards were stationed there. Nonetheless, some guards would occasionally patrol the area. He came to a halt when he noticed a small figure near a bush by the river's bank. He approached it, his beast on high alert. A severely injured female lay on the ground, barely conscious. Her body was riddled with torture and wounds. His gaze wandered around the area, and when his eyes didn't catch anything suspicious, he knelt. The female sensed him and slowly opened her eyes after much struggle. He leaned in closer as her mouth opened and closed, attempting to say something. He took a sharp intake of breath when the female uttered the word,

"S-seraphina, take me to h-her!"

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