My knees buckled as the bitter realization came. Her grave. Her. Embracing her scarf. Sniffing her scent, the scent I missed.

'She's not dead. Mate is not dead!' Orion keeps on saying but I could hear doubt and regret.

"She's... gone." The words were bitter truth and my heart is getting heavier every second. I couldn't move. I couldn't do anything, other than shedding tears. Why didn't I get it? I felt the pain last night and I did not do anything. I was too late. No. My mate. When she said that she'll take care of the bond, I did not want to think that she has to die. I don't want this.

'It's our fault.' Orion grieved.

"Thalia." My lungs refused to take in air, my body is sinking, drowning in iced water, getting stab by shards of ice, while going numb. Our mate is gone.

'Alpha.. Alpha!' I want to succumb to darkness.

'Alpha!' I want to drown... deeper.

"CHASE!!" Jack? Did something happen?

'you need... to see this.' His link broke and I did not know how I got the courage to stand but I did. Running inside the house.

"Please, let him go." A hoarse voice said, afraid. I had to wipe my eyes because of the tears.

I immediately found the girl, crying. I sensed her fear. I blinked again, following her gaze to her mate, Jack pinned on the wall.

He couldn't move. He's one of my best guards. I blinked again, trying to set aside my pain to see clearly.

He's being pinned.

"Al..pha." he barely said turning to me. The person holding him seemed to notice my presence.

"It's..." he couldn't speak when the person gripped tighter.

I growled. I wouldn't let my friend die!

"Please let him go!" I wouldn't let another die! I growled again and within a second lunge myself, pushing the person to the other side of the room.

"Are you okay?" The girl attended to Jack.

I saw him nod so I face the other.

"Alpha.." I did not reply to Jack, I hate this person, who does he think he is to try kill my friend! I will not let him live! I pushed forward claws extended.

"Alpha. No!"

"I will kil..." I stopped a foot away, my sudden rage burning down.

My heart dropped. "You." Her eyes loomed at me, hurt.

I fell down on my knees.

"You're alive." Thalia, my mate is here, alive. Her dark brown eyes meeting mine.

'Our Mate is Alive!!' Orion screamed excited, relieved.

"Thalia." I whispered reaching for her but she stood up before I could. She's leaving? No. I won't let her leave again.

"Thalia." I stood up facing her back. She picked up the scarf I was holding.

"I thought you died." She did not look instead she went outside.

'move!' Orion screamed. She knelt, before tying it to the grave.

"He likes this scarf." She whispered and her voice lighten up my pain. Wait, he? She's alive then who is...

"It looks terrible on me but he said otherwise."

"Aiyu." I realized, I haven't seen him. He was the only one whom she will care about. I slowly walked up to her, she did not make any move. Her eyes were fixed on the grave. I admit, I was jealous of their relationship. Trusting him with her story, being on her side no matter what. He did protect her more than I could. He did know her pain more than I do.

"I'm sorry." I meant for every meaning there is. Her hair slightly fell down. And I noticed her red eyes, sad, hurt, angry. I don't want to see her like this.

"Don't." She stated when I tried to move even closer. I don't have the full view of her face but it won't take a genius to decipher that what needs is not space, so I took one more step.

"I can kill you." She stated but is disheartened. I stepped even closer bringing me a few inches away from her. Her eyes narrowed, of pain.

"Then kill me." But she did not do anything. My arms encased her and the strange electricity brought a sense of relief, knowing she is right here.

"I'm sorry, princess." Her morning dew scent, I missed it, her. She did not move. I could feel her pain, almost the same pain when I thought she died. But I was happy, Orion and I, we're happy to have our precious mate within our arms. We could protect her. Even if I am weak, I will try to protect her.

Her heartbeat, it was faint, but it was the loudest I could hear. I could feel her getting heavier, I took a peek and noticed her eyes were closed. She fell asleep in my arms.

______

(━＿━)ゝ