Word Count: 1779

~Meara

I wander downstairs, rubbing my eyes.

This manor is so vast and imposing I feel tiny in here. I could explore it for hours, but familiarising myself with this place will only make it more difficult to walk away.

Sire isn't in the dining room when I get there. I eat breakfast, silently, alone, contemplating my plan.

I don't have much of one...I don't even know where to start.

When I wander back into the main hallway, I see him approaching me. He looks solemn, although that's to be expected with him.

"There is something I want to do today," he tells me as I approach.

"I think I should go back-"

"No. You have a right to get to know me, and this may give you an insight into who I was," he says.

I stare him down. I don't think I'm going to be able to argue my way out of this one. I was hoping I could get home and talk to Hazel. She is wise, she will know what to do.

"Alright, what is it?" I sigh.

"Take my hand and let me show you."

He holds his hand out to me, not reaching for me, not forcing me. I swallow tightly, imagining all sorts of places he may take me that would not be very good.

"It better not be a sex dungeon," I grumble, sliding my hand into his.

He blinks. "A what?"

"You know what, never mind." There is not chance I'm going to stand here and explain what a sex dungeon is in case he decides he wants to create one for himself.

His shoulders seem to darken a little, his gaze casting down. "This place...I'm unsure if it still exists. I want to see."

The flicker of sadness on his face his quickly smothered by indifference, although I can sense this place he speaks of has a terrible memory attached to it. If he's showing this to me so soon, it must be important.

"And if it's not still there? I'm sure Kyro destroyed almost every trace of you," I tell him warily. I don't want him to be too hopeful.

He shakes his head. "I don't think he would have found this."

"Let's go then."

He nods, and just like that, the world falls away beneath my feet, forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut.

I wait until my feet are touching the ground until I open them again.

The sun strikes me for a moment, but when my gaze finally adjusts, I can see I'm in a meadow that sprawls out endlessly, slopes rising and falling, dotted with coloured wildflowers.

"What is this place?" I turn around in my spot. There is nothing for miles, which means I'm stuck here. It doesn't help that nothing about this place is familiar...I didn't even know this biome existing around my Pack.

Sire doesn't respond, stalking up the nearest hill.

He seems so at odds in this place. The grass is such a brilliant green, the colours of the flowers so vivid. He wears all black, and is still so tall and imposing it doesn't fit with this happy scene.

"Sire?" I call out, following him up the hill.

His eyes are trained on the ground, searching for something. At the peak of the hill he bends down, staring at an untouched space in the grass.

"It should be here," he mutters.

I frown, watching as he starts ripping at the grass, tossing chunks in all directions. I dodge them as they fly past me, confused as he brushes dirt to the side, revealing a stone plaque.

"Oh...who is that for?" I ask softly, monitoring his expression. By the way it softens as he smooths the dirt away, I can tell that this is the burial spot of someone important to him.

"My sister. She died when I was seventeen. She was ten," he mumbles, not looking up.

I close my eyes. Oh.

"I'm sorry," I murmur.

He draws in a shuddering breath. My heart aches for him, and even though I'm not sure I like him, seeing someone experience loss elicits sadness within me too.

"She died of a common sickness at the time. We buried her here because the sunset is stunning over this meadow that she used to play in often. It brings me peace to think about her still running through the flowers, free as she should be," he explains, looking up.

I follow his gaze, admiring the rolling hills, the beautiful meadows. The sun has started to set, which I swear is only happening in solidarity for Sire.

"That's beautiful. I'm certain she is at peace."

"I used to come here all the time. Especially when the war ramped up." He presses his hand against the flat stone. "I don't know what I would have done if they had taken her away."

I can only imagine his pain knowing he hasn't been able for visit her for centuries. This is what the old Alpha did to him...

"You didn't deserve to be cursed like that, Sire," I breathe, watching him stand again, brushing the dirt off his palms.

"But me being cursed led me to you. It was always meant to happen," he murmurs, casting his deep blue eyes to me. They are glazed with unreleased tears.

I grab his hands, sensing an opportunity. "Then why get revenge?"

"Because I cannot rest until he suffers," he growls.

I can understand why he feels that way. His sister is here, dead, her entire memory being buried beneath soil. Her own brother wasn't able to properly mourn her, all because he was cursed against his will.

"He's gone. Long gone," I remind him. It is a sad reality, but he will never have revenge on the man who did this to him.

Sire's eyes darken. "His blood still runs through the veins of this generation. I must eliminate it."

"I'm not going to pretend like I understand why you're doing this. I don't know what needing revenge feels like." I throw my hands up hopelessly. This is an entirely different world that I've ever been exposed to, and I don't know what to say to convince him out of this.

If I think of it, I would want revenge as well. I would want to destroy everything in my path until I was satisfied.

"There's a lot I can let go. Dismantling my Pack is not one of them," he growls.

Sighing irritably, I sink down amongst the soft grass, staring hopelessly off into the distance. I feel lost, confused. How am I supposed to stop my mate from enacting his revenge while attempting to understand where he is coming from.

"I never thought I would find my mate," I mumble tiredly.

He joins me sitting in the grass. "Neither did I. That's why I was cursed the way I was."

"You're intimidating. You're not who I thought I would be paired with." I don't intend to sound mean, but it's the bitter truth. I was supposed to find a normal, sane man who would compliment my life not change it completely.

He doesn't look hurt. In fact, he looks curious.

"Who did you imagine?"

"Someone soft, maybe less muscular and tattooed. Maybe even a little shorter," I note, motioning stupidly at him.

He smirks. "Are you disappointed by my looks?"

"No. I'm not blind."

In fact, his looks at the easiest part of him to accept. I can safely conclude that I've never come across anyone quite like him, and although his looks are otherworldly, I cannot let them sweep me up into his world.

"I also thought my mate would live a simple life. Maybe they would have a few hobbies and that's it," I say. There are plenty of people like this in my Pack that I can think of off the top of my head.

"He sounds boring." He sounds amused. He knows he beautiful, and he's probably used to people falling at his feet at every possibility.

"No...he sounds stable." I could really do with stable.

Sire leans back, bracing himself on his elbows as he smiles. It seems like any sadness from grieving his sister has vanished, which must be nice for him because he's not the one being made fun of.

"Doubt he would have a cock as big as mine," he exclaims.

I shake my head at him, laughing under my breath. His blatant sexual comments will never not surprise me, while also making me wonder if they are true.

"You have far too much confidence."

"This is a fact. Would you like me to prove-"

"No! Man...I technically have a boyfriend," I warn him. If he pulls his pants down now, we won't get anything done.

He shakes his head. "No you don't."

"Sire," I growl.

He gets up, brushing the grass off his pants. I let him pull me up also, giving me a better view of the stunning sunset. I make a mental note to ask him to take me back here again one day if I stay in contact with him.

"Come, it's getting late. I know an inn nearby if you would like to stay in the area," he offers.

I tap my foot, thinking. This isn't an easy choice, but I could either agree to stay in this area, or go back to the manor with him. Either way, there's no chance he will take me home.

"You know what, fine."

Sure enough, he takes me to the inn he mentioned. It turns out it's in a town that borders the Pack, and is it's own entity. Sire explains as we walk up the stairs that this town, which has changed a lot, was once a part of his Pack.

It must be unimportant to Carran, because he's seemingly cast it to the side.

Sire unlocks the door to the room, which I've learned we are sharing. He's told me I can't change my mind of going back home now.

Inside, it's a quaint, sweet little room with a decent sized large bed right in the centre.

"This is where you tell me you asked for two beds," I mutter.

He strides in, clearly not seeing anything wrong with what he is seeing.

"No, I asked for one."

I roll my eyes. "You're insufferable."

He only grins at me, laying down on the bed. "You should be nice next to the person you have to sleep next to tonight."

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~Midika 💜🐼