Chapter 6 The night before the wedding

Crimson's POV

My wolf, Legend, lay low. He was expecting his mate. He was more excited in many ways than I was. But now, he wasn't jumping up and down like last night.

I didn't sleep a wink. He wanted to claim her, and I had to use every ounce of energy in me to keep him in. Now, he was twice as heartbroken as I was. The mate bond-the one I felt last night on the run-was gone. There was nothing to feel. It was like it never existed.

I don't let Legend out often. I don't want to scare my pack members-not that it's in my interest. Legend has a mind of his own, and if he breaks out, it's hard to control him. He'd been itching to break out for a while, so yesterday I let him. We ran free and far. The evening breeze was exactly what he needed.

A cry echoed through the woods in Forest Green, a path that closes in between the werewolf world and the human world. Hearing that cry ripped through me. It was the feeling that my mate was in danger. It burned, and for a moment, Legend lost his senses in fear that his long-awaited mate was in danger-that something bad was going to happen to her.

We ran over twelve miles and got there at the right time. A feeling of relief washed over me, because I knew what Legend was capable of. And Legend? He was elated. I had never seen him that way before. The mate bond had lain dormant for so many years. On my eighteenth birthday, I thought I would get to see my mate but I didn't. All my life, I've waited for her. Not that I was one of those Alphas who dreamed of meeting their mate.

No. I'm different. I don't believe in love-not in the mate bond. Not after I saw, with my very own eyes, how my dad ripped out my mum's heart-his mate-in cold blood. He vanished afterwards, forcing me to lead an empire: the Land of Six. Alone in a place where the very members of my pack wanted to tear me apart for the crimes of my father.

I had to become a villain before they tore me apart. I had to be strong for my survival.

Legend came to me at the age of sixteen. He possessed massive strength-stronger and more powerful than any Alpha. To be honest, I owe my life to him and to my beta, Jackson, who was my best friend. At an early age, my wolf was the strongest and largest. I trampled on people before they could trample on me. I ruled the Land of Six. I was feared-a king of the six packs.

At the age of eighteen, a small dark mark suddenly appeared on my neck. It glows, and little by little, I've realized it sucks my energy. I now take longer to heal, and my strength has been diminishing. Time isn't on my side. It's only a matter of time before my enemies in disguise strike. The neighboring packs and allies in the north were all silently waiting for a chance to kill me and I knew better.

The scar wasn't painful at first, but now the pain was unbearable. I've tried everything to get rid of it, but to no avail. I don't know what it is, and the fact that it could be more harmful scares me. I had no option than to go and see Laura, the Oracle, the witch who claims to see the future. She told me my mate will make me whole. The day I mark her, the mark on my neck will disappear. She's a healer, a rare kind. Together, we would be unstoppable. Not even the enemy of prophecy would stand a chance.

I was looking forward to this day. Her perfect blue ocean eyes. She looked malnourished and weak. She was more human than wolf. No scent. No bond. I thought getting close would reveal something –anything. But there was nothing.

I noticed the way her face twitched in pain the moment I stepped in. It could be a pain from last night, I didn't care.

I made my way to the dungeon where the witch and Nuel were kept. I planned on using Nuel as leverage if she didn't want to marry me, but I don't think it'll be necessary-considering how she fell for my touch and the act I put on.

I could have snapped her neck right then when the mate bond felt nonexistent. But I didn't. Legend's silence made me hesitate. I was going to bet on last night-get married, mark her, and get rid of this ridiculous mark. She should hope that maybe, just maybe, the bond would rekindle and my mark would be gone after I marked her.

If that doesn't happen, I might just have to twist her pretty neck. She was pretty, her skin was flawless. It'd be such a waste.

My claws were already out-long, sharp. My eyes had shifted, glowing with the full force of my Alpha. I was going to rip the witch's heart out and watch it stop beating. My claws made a screeching sound with the steel rods. I unlocked Nuel first. A man in early forties, he'd be 70 years in the human world but then again werewolves age slower than humans. We are stronger and more powerful than humans. He was a gamma warrior in the fourth land of the land of six. I urged him to go to his daughter, but he stood there, shaking like a leaf. I softened my gaze and retracted my claws before he went. I believed he thought it was a threat. I didn't want to give Trisha a reason to doubt the facade I put on. That was the only reason I released him.

I went deeper. The witch's cell was at the far end of the dungeon. She sat in the shadows, calm, unmoved. She didn't flinch when I stepped in. She didn't beg. This wasn't something new to me. She has lost the will to live and I wouldn't blame, she lost her family when I conquered the Moonstone pack.

I wanted to end her life 5 years ago when a rumor about 'the prophecy' spread like wild fire in my kingdom, and all roads lead to her.. she was responsible for it. The only reason she was breathing was because of Legend. Legend wanted to keep her alive when she made mention of our mate.

"You seem to forget something, so I came here to remind you." My voice, low but lethal. I knew she sensed her end had come. "I guess u didn't see this coming..Witch."

"She is the one," she said out loud.

"But I don't feel anything." I got closer to her.

"How can you feel something when it's already broken?"

I held her by the throat. She was spreewing nonsense. I squeezed her neck. I was going to end her life-that worthless piece of shit.