Topping the Enemy (Werewolf Story)

Chapter 60: Breathe Again | As Long As You Love Me

Ares

The worst day of my life.

I could never speak for how the people who lost their mates on the day of the drone strike felt. I was aware that was going to happen, sure. But I was unmated and unhappy, so it's not like I could relate to them.

Now I can honestly say they had it better.

I don't mean to take light of what they suffered, that's not what this is about.

I don't want to diminish the incredible amount of pain they survived, nor do I think they deserved it. Well, maybe Aaron did. But even so his mate didn't deserve to die, that's the truth.

The point I'm trying to make is at least they didn't know they were going to lose their loved ones. They got to enjoy their last day on Earth obliviously.

After Landon told me that my mate's trial was set for Saturday and he probably only had one more day to live, it was like the world was ending for me.

There's no pain like knowing you're losing a loved one and not being able to keep it from happening. And I'm not talking about an incurable sickness here. My mate was on trial for his life, being accused of a crime he didn't commit.

Even though we might not have known if he was innocent or not - he was always innocent to me, if that counts for anything - that is still his life on the line.

I was wrecked, destroyed, flabbergasted.

If my father wasn't present, I don't know what would have happened to me. In a true 'Romeo and Juliet' fashion, I could've ended things way before they began.

I was in a horrible place. But my father picked up the pieces and lifted me up like he has been doing since my mate was arrested. He made sure I was fed and taken care of. He watched me like a hawk, not wanting me to leave his side. Until my mom arrived from work, then it was her time to mother me.

I know it doesn't sound like I'm talking about the same guy who gives me crap on a daily basis at work. Who embarrassed me more times than I could count. But for all his faults, no one could accuse Kurt Saunders of being a bad father.

He might be borderline abusive with my workout regiment sometimes, but he was never a bad parent.

Remember when he said:

'Who would reject my boy? He is perfect.'

It's like that.

Naturally, when Saturday came I had no choice but to come along to the Blood Moon pack. I wasn't about to skip my mate's trial and miss out on seeing him possibly for the last time ever. Though I was trembling with nervousness and anxiety.

But once again my father held me in place and never left my side, literally.

When Alpha Staedler sentenced my mate to death, I thought I was gonna die right then and there with him. Unimaginable pain washed over me like I never felt before. My life was over and I'm only 22 years old.

I wanted to fight the Alpha in Spencer's stead, but unfortunately it doesn't work like that. Not that I mean to say I can win against an Alpha. I'm not that arrogant, but at least I'd have a chance.

Tears flowed through me as my mate said goodbye to me. My body shook with an immobilizing fear for his life. I needed him to survive this, even if he was guilty. Again, not that I ever thought he was. Let's make things clear.

Once he was declared innocent, I leapt into the stage and held him like my life depended on it. Because to me, it did. Spencer is my life now and there's no point in me living without him in this world. It is what it is.