Chapter has been redone March 16, 2022

Ace's POV

I can't believe they did that to her and had the audacity to bring it all up again. If Grey didn't pull my off of Ryan, I would have killed him. He told me to think of my mate and to comfort her instead of dealing with those idiots. He was right.

After training those two dimwits and the rest of their pack, Brae and I get some sparing in. To say Grey was shocked by our fighting skills would be an understatement. He was so surprised that we can fight the way we do. I wolf down my sandwich, haha see what I did there...wolf. I start laughing and Grey and Brae look at me weirdly. I clear my throat and head up to bed.

I wake up to a cold bed. My hand reaches over to the other side to find it empty. I lift my head slightly off the pillow and open my eyes. Brae is gone. She must have gone in a morning run. I look over at the clock and see that it reads 6:30am. That means that Brae should be back from her run soon. She probably started around 5:30 knowing her. I get dressed and walk down to the living room where I find Grey sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone.

"Hey Grey," I greet.

"Hey man, what's up?" He looks up from his phone, pressing the off switch. "Where is Brae?"

"Not much. She probably went on a run this morning like she usually does when she is stressed or needs to think. She should be back soon. She doesn't usually go for more than an hour."

Grey nods and I take a seat next to him. We watch some funny animal fail videos but I keep my eyes on the time. A half hour goes by and I get worried. She should have been back twenty minutes ago at the latest. What is taking her so long? Something feels off, like something bad is happening. I stand up and walk out the front door, my eyes scanning the tree line for any sign of Brae. I don't find any but I do hear panting coming from the backyard.

Once I get there, all I see is red. Jake and Ryan are beating up my mate! I stalk over to them and begin punching Jake with all of my night before turning and doing the same to Ryan. I go for the kill but before I can deliver the final blow to either of them, Grey blocks me.

"Move," I growl low and threateningly.

"Ace, Brae doesn't look too good and it won't help her my killing these two. You need to check on her," Grey explains and he is right. Those two will get what is coming to them one day. The Moon Goddess will make sure of that. I kneel down and put Brae's head in my lap. I grab her shoulders gently and shake her slightly.

"Brae, Brae you need to wake up. Are you okay? Oh goddess, please be okay," I plead.

I hear her groan and then she opens her eyes, looking confused. Then sadness sets in.

"Are you okay?" I ask her.

She starts crying and it's a weird sight to see. Brae never cries. She stands up, a bit shakily, and runs off into the house. She probably doesn't want anyone seeing her cry. She probably feels embarrassed.

"She will be okay, Ace. She always is, she will get past it. I can start packing our stuff so we can leave once she is ready to go," Grey suggests.

"Thank you Grey. Do you really think she will be okay? She never cries, she seems so upset," I tell him.

"She will be fine, I mean she has to be right? She's Brae, she is so strong. Hell, she is a black wolf for goddess sake. She has to be okay."

I nod and look at my hands. That's when it starts. I suddenly have the feeling that something is off and I look to Grey to see if he feels the same thing but he just looks at me confused by the look I'm giving him.

'I'm sorry Ace, I love you,' I hear Brae say through our link.

Grey notices my scrunched up features, "What's wrong Ace?"

"I-I am not sure. I think we have to go find Brae...now."

Grey nods and we walk inside. I try to find her scent but it smells faint...did she run away? Either she ran away or she is....no, no, no.

"Grey, we need to find her now," I desperately rush out.

We run wildly over the first floor of the pack house before getting to the door of a bathroom where I faintly smell Brae.

I knock on the door, "Brae? Let me in, please." There is no answer, "Brae, I am coming in."

I try the door but it is locked. I take my claw and unlock the door. The smell hit me before the sight in front of me. All I could smell was blood. In front of me lay Brae on the floor in a puddle of her own blood. She has a long gash on her front and tears form in my eyes.

"Grey! Get Riggs and tell him to hurry here with a pack doctor! These assholes won't help her!" I yell.

Grey nods and rushes away to get Riggs on the phone. I sense a presence and look to see a beat up Jake and Ryan in the doorway with Ethan standing behind them.

They start chuckling and Ethan says, "I told you, just as weak as she was all those years ago."

They then leave me with my dying mate on the floor. Why isn't she healing? Is she pushing her wolf away? I choke out a sob as I stand there helpless to save my mate.

I pick my mate up off the floor and carry her through the house and out to the lawn at the edge of the forest. She always loved the forest and I want her to try to die happy if it comes to that.

I hear a twig snap and I whip my head around while growling. It is just Grey.

"Riggs is on his way as fast as he can with a pack doctor. Ace. I know you don't want to hear this, but I don't think they will make it in time."

I continue crying harder, "I know."

"What's going on?" A woman's voice comes from behind me.

"Grey, can you..."

"Of course."

I listen in on their conversation as I stare at my beautiful mate. It is Brae's mom and stepdad. How I would love to rip their heads off.

"His mate isn't looking good, just leave him alone," Grey insists.

"That looks like my daughter," her mom gasps.

"What's your last name?" Grey asks.

"Spark."

I turn to look at them with hurt and anger in my eyes. I narrow my eyes at them and walk closer.

"You made her life a living hell and then the Moon Goddess let her come back to this earth and once again this stupid pack has taken her away!" I yell while sobbing.

I am about to step closer when I hear coughing from behind me. I turn to see Brae coughing up blood. I quickly rush back to her side and take her hand in mine. I can hear her parents breathing heavily and a sob leave her mother's mouth.

"Why are you leaving me mate? I love you so much and I am going to miss you so much. If this is what you need to do, I guess I will have to live with that. I will never forget you, Brae. You are the love of my life. I hope you find peace in the beautiful meadow filled with flowers."

I see her relax at my words and her breathing slows down, almost nonexistent. I kiss her forehead and her lips turn up into a small smile.

"What is going on here? Why did you need a doctor?" I hear Riggs ask as he steps closer.

"It's Brae," Grey states.

I look back to see Riggs has his eyes wide and he looks to me and then past me at Brae. A tear runs down his cheek and he steps closer to me. He deserves to say goodbye.

I take a step back without looking away from Brae. Hadley puts her hand on my shoulder.

"What happened?" She asks.

I look to Riggs and then back to Brae, 'Being back here was too much for her. They brought up her past and beat her up before I got to her. She...she killed herself,' I sob through the mindlink.

"I'm so sorry Ace," Hadley gives me a tight hug and I hug her back, "Why is Riggs so upset. I understand they were friends, but..." she trails off.

"I will let him tell you."

I release myself from Hadley's arms and walk back over to Brae, taking her hand.

"I'm sorry Beta Ace, but there is nothing I can do. If it makes you feel any better, she isn't in any pain," Doc gives me a sad smile.

"Thanks Doc."

I feel it in my heart when she takes her last breath. He heart ceases to beat and her chest no longer rises. She still has the small smile on her lips. Our bond has broken and, like the bond, I have broken as well.

"Why does this keep happening?" Riggs whispers.

"Come on, Riggs, give Ace some space," Hadley quietly says in his ear.

Riggs reluctantly nods and leaves with his mate. Grey puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder before leaving into the pack house with Riggs and Hadley.

Find peace in the flowers my love.