Chapter 34

Pain.

Surprisingly, it didn't come from my long open injuries laced across my body or the fact that I was hung upside down, in a dark cave bound in silver chains while wolfsbane coursed throughout my body like blood.

It was tiny yet so hefty, ripping, and merciless. It birthed from only one thing. My dear mate who rejected me, who casted me into death hands without second thoughts. How could I blame her, after all, she had lost someone so dear. Perhaps this was my Karma for all my deeds.

In a strange way, I began to think about my parents. The same way my mother failed to fight for her mate was reliving itself again. I was sharing this same cursed fate. Was I even sharing the same fate with him? My Father chose to die even when he knew the truth or perhaps he didn't. But I, I was going to die even when I knew the truth. A truth that no one would believe.

I smiled to myself. At least if the moon goddess had destined this cursed fate for me, why did she have to bless me with joy, why this gift? Or even a mate?

She could have just let me live my pathetic life till I met my end. She shouldn't have raised my hopes high, that there was a life. A life beyond darkness and emptiness.

Years back, I had not even an iota of fear towards death, but things had changed now. Time and destiny had changed everything. I was going to lose every good thing I ever had tomorrow. Greenville, Uncle Walker, Rose, Gabriel, My Mother and above all, Claire. My smile deepened as a flash memory of her smile pictured in my head but then it vanished. Realization had struck, that I had been a pain in the ass of this people and now I was leaving, I would only give them more pain. Whenever they'll think of me, it would only bring pain and sorrows to them.

I heaved a sigh and with my eyes still closed, I had one final wish. To see her again. To see my mate before me with her beautiful smile. But a part of me knew, it was only going to be a dream. And on that note, in my hopelessness, I opened my eyes.

My breaths ceased and my lips parted as my eyes mirrored my darling Claire before me. She wasn't smiling nor happy but teary eyed. Her eyes were tired probably from relentless sobbing and pain.

"Claire..." My chords mumbled in a weak fashion, tears gradually encroaching my eyes. Or perhaps this was my subconsciousness playing tricks on me again.

"Kev..." She whispered in the most broken voice I've ever heard her tone produce. She sauntered towards me, holding my dirty cheeks with her soft hands. I closed my eyes for a brief moment as her warmth and scent basked over me. The sparks too, they ran throughout my body and it only made me crave her more. To hold her in my arms till the world breathes it's last. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell if this was just my subconsciousness or it was truly her.

"Release him!" She ordered and immediately two guards opened the bars to saunter in. I felt my body lowering till my knees finally touched the rocky grounds. The chains still bound to my ankles and wrists.

"Leave us!" She ordered and they bowed their heads before exiting sharply. Closing the bars behind them.

She knelt towards me and without letting further seconds pass between us, she pulled my head to her chest. Letting me dwell in her embrace, tight and gentle, filled with so much warmth. I could hear her sobs, but it didn't affect me. There was nothing left to be broken within me. Everything had already been shattered from the moment she proclaimed me guilty.

"I'm sorry." She started while she intertwined my left palm with her right.

"I'm so sorry!" She pitched in her broken voice.

"Sorry for what Claire?" I chorused in a low tone, choosing to enjoy this moment while it lasted. It was my subconsciousness after all.

"For declaring you guilty even when I know you're innocent!" Her tears fell on my hair like droplets of rain. I smiled sadly, staring at our hands intertwined.

"I'm guilty Claire. I killed your Father." I mumbled.

"Shut up!" She hugged me tighter. "From the onset, you've always been a terrible liar!" She added and I gradually pulled myself from her embrace, staring straight into her honey eyes that told of nothing but extreme worry.

I shot her a smile, secretly thankful she finally believed in me.

"It's too late now, my love. The verdict has already been given." I gently wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"No..." She whispered. "No, it's not, let's run. Let's run away somewhere. Far away from Moonsville, from Greenville, a place we can start all over again." She pleaded, holding my hand which rested on her cheek.

I heaved a sigh.

"Ever since I was young, I've always been tagged a bad name. If we abscond now, it means you're going to share that same cursed fate with me. We'll be fugitives for life.

Your honor, respect and dignity, you're going to lose them all in the society." I pursed my lips as another tear trickled from my face. My fingers softly teased her cheek.

"I don't want that for you."

"I don't care Kev, I don't care about all these things anymore, all I care about is you. You, Kevin."

"But I care," I answered. "I care about your reputation and I can't even dare to tarnish it. It was your Father's last wish." I swallowed my saliva as her breaths ceased for a second, her brows arched in a frown.

"He asked me to protect you." I mumbled and more tears flowed from her eyes while her body quivered.

"Is this your protection Kev? You're going to die tomorrow. You're going to leave me forever." She cried and this time, she leaned her head against my chest.

"If my death means protecting you from the ugly truth then I accept that fate."

She stared at me with a confused expression.

"You know the truth? You know who my Father's murderer is?!" She pitched and I closed my eyes for a moment, reminiscing on that moment again. How Blake had killed their Father. How was I supposed to break it to her that her beloved brother had killed her Father.

"Even if I told you, you won't believe me." I muttered. "And even if you did, it would only damage you more. Let alone the others."

"What can damage me more than witnessing my own mate publicly executed!" She pitched and my lips parted but no words protruded. "Tell me! Tell me so I can save you!"

"I won't." I stated. She leaned against my chest again, this time hitting me. But her hits lacked strength.

"Please, Kevin I can't bear to see you die. This wasn't the promise you made to me. We promised to do things together. You fought for me, supported me, stood by me in my times of trouble.

Why won't you let me do same for you? Why Kevin?

You've made me so dependent and helpless that I can't dream of a day without you."

I gently patted her back while another tear fell.

"I've already accepted this fate Claire."

"Not even for our child?" She said in my embrace and I frowned sharply. She looked straight into my eyes to ascertain her claims. My mate was pregnant! I was going to be a Father!

"Yes Kev, you're going to be a Father. You're only going to punish me and our unborn child if you go down this path."

At this point, I knew this wasn't my subconsciousness playing tricks on me. This was real! And It changed everything. Perhaps this was a sign the moon goddess still needed me. A chance to live a good life. A family life.

My lips parted and in oblivion, I uttered the word.

"Blake."

"Blake?" She toned in disbelief. Her brows arched in a frown as her gaze furrowed at me.

"But how's that even possible?"

"That's why I said even if I told you, you won't believe me."

"I-I believe you, it's just—" she mumbled with her eyes staring at the floor aimlessly.

"Too hard to take in." I finished her statement. Staring deep into her teary eyes. I pulled her into my embrace again, letting her tears soak my tattered shirt. Her pain had only dosed, I could feel it in our mate bond. Perhaps it was worse than I imagined. If at all, Blake was proven guilty, he would probably be sentenced to death. Leaving Claire as the last Perkins standing.

"How did it happen?" She queried in a faint voice, still sobbing in my embrace. I hesitated for a while, telling her more would only shatter her. Perhaps to a permanent extent. This was it, the reason I didn't tell her. It would break her beyond healing and leave a scar. But my death would do much worse too, yet I was confused. Struck in a limbo. Let the truth prevail and she forever loses her family, or I sacrifice my life just to save that undeserving brother of hers.

"I left Greenville that morning just to come see you. To make amends with your father and have his blessings but things went downhill." I mumbled while I recalled that ugly moment again.

"I saw your Father, breathing his last in his pool of blood." I paused as she gripped me tight. I was hurting her, breaking her with those words she didn't want to hear but needed to know. Guilt suddenly dawned within me, but it wasn't enough to hold me back.

"While I held him in my arms, trying to save him, I tapped into his memories. I don't know how but it must be one of those gifts I possess for being the Wolf of Justice. And in those memories, I saw his final moments." I pursed again, staring at the rocky floor like I was in that gigantic building again.

"They were arguing about something I can't clearly remember but in the end, Blake pulled your father's sword and—"

I cut myself off. I couldn't carry on any longer neither could she. So, we remained in silence, for minutes or perhaps hours. I couldn't really tell. All I knew was that we glued to ourselves, hoping that this pain and disaster would pass away.

She finally released herself from my embrace again, this time holding my chin till our lips locked.

A brief kiss. Soft and yet promising.

"I'll be back." She mumbled in a cold voice and an icy expression.

"Where are you going to?" I asked in a whisper. "You're not going to challenge your brother, are you?" I remarked in a worriedly fashion.

"I'm going to fight for you." She responded but I grasp unto her palm, unable to muster strength to stand.

"He is your brother, Claire. Your only family left." I persuaded.

"Then why did you kill Jason?" She quoted and my lips parted from horror chilling in my spines. "He was your Family yet you never for once called him one after all he did."

"Claire," I called in the sincerest tone my chords could offer. "If I had the chance to go back in time, I would have chosen differently. Don't make the same mistake I did."

"So, should I let you die unjustly and raise our child without a father? Should I let the monster live?" A tear trickled across her cheek again.

"Nobody will believe you Claire! There's no evidence pointing to him except that stupid weird vision I saw. It might not even be real!"

"I believe you Kev. I want you to know that. Just give me time to get you out of this mess." She pleaded whilst pulling her palm slowly from my grasp.

"Just in case anything happens to me," I voiced, and she paused. "Just know that I love you and our child more than my own life."

She knelt towards me again and pulled me in for one last hug.

"You're not going to die. I promise you."

Those were her last words before she phased through those bars. Like a dream, I watched my little one fade away from me.