I could smell him.

My mate.

His scent mixed with several others I undoubtedly recognised.

I attempted to mask their growing scents with the familiar floral scent of the woods I’ve become so accustomed to, hoping Oliver noticed nothing.

“Wow.” was all I could manage as I stared at Marcus’ old home.

I never imagined the dull old place looking this great, even with the ideas I had in mind only days prior.

“I agree. I definitely have outdone myself on this one... If only my mate were here to see it.” he sighed, his eyes filled with sadness as they wandered away from me.

Curiosity sparked... Well, that and the wish of wanting to fool him a little while longer than I originally planned.

Stab him.
Burn him.
Save Luke.
Free captives.
Become Alpha.
Be happy family.
Happily Ever After.
Ta-Da!
The End.

“What happened, if I may ask?” I questioned, a small smile playing at my lips as Oliver turned to look at me.

“Well... My rose petal was from a foreign world where roses were forbidden and meant to have thorns... She was human. Married to some king of sorts. And when we met, she knew. She knew who and what I was. But her love never faltered, and she followed me on my leave back to my home and loved me despite the countless times I lost control and angrily shifted in her presence, endangering her of course...” his eyes teared as he smiled lightly “We were happy. So happy that our happiness created a little life.” he looked up, his hands circling around each other evidently creating a little transparent ball of ice in his hands when suddenly he crushed it “But that king came for her. And we tried to reason with him. She was mine, the little belly she had, proved it. His anger blinded him. And he killed them. Dragged a dagger from her chest to her thigh... My rose petal and my little rose bud both died that day. So I killed him... And now I’m a heartless person who can control ice. What a lovely story, right?” he smirked.

I just stood there.

My mouth gaping like a gob smacked fish out of water.

Suddenly a door behind Oliver flew open. “Stay away from her!” Luke growled, barreling straight towards us.
Oliver spun around, his hand outreached.

He’s going to hit him.

But how do I stop him?

“Freeze time. You’ve done it before. You can do it again, stupid.” My wolf growled, annoyed.

And I did.

I pushed myself to feel every moving object in the room beside me, instantly stopping them in their places.

Stephan came skidding in over the icy floor, eventually coming to a stop before he could bump Oliver over.

“What the heck?” he exclaimed.

“He wanted to kill Luke. What else was I supposed to do?” I hissed.

“I was talking about the ice.” he sighed.

“Oh... Apparently your friend here became an Elemental when his mate died.”

“Yadira’s dead?” Stephan gulped.

“Ya-what?” I questioned. The name was a foreign mouthful.

“Yadira. She was his mate... And my friend.” Stephan breathed.

“I’m sorry Steph.” I whispered, guilt clogging my throat.

“It’s okay. Explains why he’s doing this. He lost it.”

“Obviously.” I snorted.

Zak came storming in. He too slipped on the ice “Where is that motherfucker?” he snarled before his eyes zeroed in on Oliver and threateningly neared him.

“No! Not while Luke is in the firing line!” I roared, but it was too late.

My hold on Oliver came undone, and shards of ice flew from his palm through the air.

To stop him, I sucked up the air in the room and blew Luke out the way... But the damage was done.

And it was all my fault.

A shard of ice stuck deep in London’s chest as she attempted to run to Zak, instantly falling to the ground with vacant eyes.

“No!” Zak exclaimed.

Zak ran towards her before his arms wrapped around her and his hands clutched her to him, while tears ran down both their cheeks.

“You...” he growled lowly, his head shooting up from its bowed form, his eyes focusing on Oliver “You took my mate... I knew I smelt you before the moment I stepped onto these grounds. You killed my Delilah! And now you killed my London! The mother of my child! What am I supposed to tell Evey!?” he breathed, fury burning the soul he carried behind his eyes “You’ll pay with your life for this!” he snarled, dropping London to the floor before lunging at Oliver.

Oliver flicked a finger, a smirk playing at his lips.

No.

I tried to freeze him in his spot like I had before, but he was faster as he side-stepped Zak and tapped him on the shoulder, Zak instantly turning to frost in the spot.

Oliver turned around, his lips pursed, before he blew a breath towards Zak’s frozen form.

My friend shattering into a million pieces just like Marcus had not too long ago.

Anger boiled through my veins.
Consuming every other feeling I had.

“You think you can come here... And just take lives like you’re fucking Hades or something?” I whispered, rage eating at each sense I had “Well I’ve got news for you Mister... This is MY territory. MY friends. MY family. And I do not share... At all. So either you FUCK OFF or you die!”

“I’m not going anywhere.” he dared.

“Then die.” I grinned.

This is for you, dad.

For Delilah.

For Zak.

For London.

And for an orphaned Evelyn.

“Get everyone out.” I ordered Stephan through our link, only to have him slowly leading everyone out as I stared Oliver down.

“Today... You burn.” I hissed once everyone except Luke was out, mouthing him a quick ‘I love you’ and a ‘go’ as he hesitantly stared at me before reluctantly leaving.

It was my battle to fight.

My chance to earn my pack.

Even if it meant I had to spill blood.

“He no longer has any innocence. He’s corrupt. It’s a choice his mate would make too...” my wolf insisted, making sense.

For Yadira.

I shot forward, my power pushing me forward in a flit.

I yanked the dagger free from its holster, aiming it right at Oliver’s chest.
He smiled, reaching his hands out as if to embrace death.

What?

I closed my eyes, my dagger plunging into his chest only a moment later.

My rage burned.

Literally.

The ice melted as flames licked at it, burning my history with it.

I took one last look at my surroundings, dropping a dead Oliver to the ground.

“No more will I be a slave to the past.” I breathed before swiftly turning around and walking out the door.

It was daylight.

The snow melting away under the warm Spring sun that blinded me ever so slightly.

When my vision returned, I was stunned.

There were all the people that I considered mine, each of them on one knee as they looked at me in wonder.
I stepped backward.

This is it.

I took a knee, bowing before my people, before standing up once more.

“Alpha.” they announced in unison as they too stood to their feet, Luke’s hand sneaking around my waist as he came to stand next to me before he kissed my cheek.

“Alpha Lexi.” he smirked, pulling away.

“Alpha Luke.” I grinned.