30.

**Spirit Realm of the Wolves**



The meadow that he sat in was unbelievably calm he has been here since his brother commanded him to sleep.

Mother visited him frequently by reporting to him the situation of his wolf but he only brushed her away. He blamed himself for everything. Losing his beautiful mate by pushing her too hard and giving in to Rion's dark desires.

Caiden knew something was off with his wolf from every kill but he didn't expect it to be Corvineus to be the reason why he was becoming so dark. Mother and himself were thankful his family found them just in time or else he would have been gone for good. Being in the spirit realm was keeping him alive it was bittersweet, he missed his family dearly but most of all he missed Rosaline.



Lying back looking up at the clear blue skies he conjured up a hammock and swayed with the gentle breeze while projecting his last blissful memories of her. Being part spirit god had its perks in the realm but some things just can't be done with being the born of the Moon Goddess. Some things like erasing the bad moments in life and doing them all over again for a better outcome.



"My princess" he whispered to himself as he watched on at the memory of their first lunch date.



He felt the presence of someone who he wishes not to be around, "Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted a life of darkness I thought we were doing it for her, not for some kind of dominance" Caiden spat.

"The Dark Lord has great intentions Caiden. We won't be feared just respected by all kinds. Wolves. Vamps. Even those weak humans" Rion sneered.

Caiden dismissed his illusions and turned to the wolf he has accepted since he was thirteen, "Our Mate is a human, don't you forget that" He growled.

"She doesn't want us. Can't you see that she doesn't want us? She left us Caiden. Our own mate doesn't want us. Rosaline played us being all accepting of our power and me. Open your eyes." Rion returned to his human.

Caiden had no fight left in him he couldn't deny the fact that the last words from their mate's mouth were one of rejection and just like the other moments he still had an inkling of hope that she would love them.

"I'm right and you know this. Lord Corvineus has a proposition for you. We won't take over your humanity but use it to manipulate the humans. Get rid of those hunters for good. Your gifts would remain, you would see your family again and rule over all with one price."

Caiden sat before his wolf with slouched shoulders. "Which is?" he asked dejectedly.

"Reject your purity from Cora. It's already tainted any way just give back her life force and accept the Dark Lord's" he answered smugly.

Caiden shot up from the ground and shook his head in denial, "I'll die and you know this. Mother is seventy-five percent of my life." He shouted.

"Which would be given back from the Dark Lord. Think of it as a new life. No regrets. No heartache. No responsibilities of being the golden boy of King Michael and Queen Emma. Do you want to live in their footsteps of love when you're alone and mate-less? It will all be erased and you will create your own footsteps. Think about it." Rion said before taking his leave.

Caiden looked at his retreating wolf as he stepped into the darkness at the edge of the meadows.

No more heartache Cay. You can start a new life. He thought to himself, but his family would suffer he couldn't hurt them the ones who loved him dearly, risked their lives to save his humanity. His little brother, the one who he looked up to for strength even if it's supposed to be the other way around. Angelo learned to survive without Elise then why can't he live without Rosaline even if she's alive. He can do this without the help or promises of a new life.

At that moment he regretted giving Rion permission to give in to his dark desires. "I see you had a visitor" he heard Cora said behind him. The Moon Goddess was beautiful as always with unearthly grace and calmness dressed in all white. Her grey eyes shone with adoration as she looked down at her son, her white-blonde hair blew gently in the breeze, her smile was warm and reassuring.

"Yes, Mother. Rion has accepted her rejection and your brother has sent a proposition for me" he said standing next to her. They began to stroll till a lake came into view with a bench in the shade on its shore, "And I believe it was one for his selfish reasons?" she asked taking his hand as he ushered her to her seat.

"Power and Greed. Something both man and wolf have in common" he said bitterly.

They stayed in a comfortable silence until he broke it. "I messed up. I should have read all the signs" he cursed himself yet again.

The goddess said nothing but just held his hand. "You'll find a way to win back your wolf and also someone you know you need to do that" was all she said. Tears of pain and loneliness made themselves known on the prince's cheek as he held on tightly to his spiritual mother. "I can't stop loving her" he whispered.

"And why should you stop loving her? What have I taught you, my son? I have shown you so many things in your life on earth both tragic and joyous moments. All of these things happen for a reason."

Caiden thought about it all he focused on the people he grew up with, those people who have lost loved ones and survived, the people who have been hurt in the worst way possible and yet they fought through their struggles and came out successful in their own way. They trusted their hearts and the people who loved them.

"Mate is strong," he said softly as he thought about her situation foster kid now grown adult surviving poverty and keeping her head high but her eyes were always guarded even her heart.

"But its too late for me to understand her nor have her look at me" he muttered to himself.

The goddess chuckled to herself before standing from her seat, "Open your eyes and mind my son" was all she said before disappearing. Caiden rolled his eyes at her abrupt departure and turned back to the lake.


**********


"Caiden?"

"Caiden where are you?"

The prince perked up at the sound of that angelic voice that always sent his heart racing, his Rosaline; he stood up searching the grounds looking for her. He knew he wasn't dreaming her voice felt too real to his ears but how? How can she be here in the wolf realm?

"Caiden." He heard her again this time with a sob behind him. He spun around quickly to see his beautiful dark haired mate in a simple long haltered white dress. Her smile was one of sadness and relief, her brown eyes were now golden brown shone with un-shed tears as she looked at him.

"Rosaline" he breathed out as he slowly made his way around to her.

"Hi," she said tears streaming down her cheek. On instinct to comfort her, he wanted to pull her into his arms but he stopped himself upon memories of what happened before when he did try.

Rosaline saw his hesitation and smiled in spite of the pain that lance through her chest, "I'm sorry" she said holding his gaze. He didn't answer but waited for her to go on."I wasn't ready to tell you about my past and it all happened so fast. I know you were only doing what was best for me but baby it was too much." She rambled with animated gestures.

A small smile played across his lips as he found her so adorable trying to explain everything with her hands, "I should have asked." Was all he said.

"Yes but somehow I know you would still go out and buy me the world even if I said no," she said grinning up at him. Rosaline thought about how easy it was now to talk to him with no hesitation to tell him and how easily he was accepting her. Maybe this was really their second chance, just maybe.

"Anything for my princess" he breathed out while cautiously stepping towards her. Rosaline didn't wait for him to reach her, all she wanted was to hold him, to feel loved and safe in his arms, she closed the distance between them by rushing into his arms. He was certainly caught off guard by her action and slowly wrapped his arms around her.

"I thought I had lost you for good. I'm sorry for hurting you," she said into his chest.

"I still don't understand sweetheart. You called it quits so what are you doing here? In all places the spirit realm of wolves" he said softly against her hair reveling in the feel of her body against him.

She stepped back and held his hands, "I was still living in my past and your temper triggered off the memories I longed to forget" she said softly. He led her to the bench and gave her an encouraging nod to continue.

Rosaline looked at the handsome grey-eyed man who loved her dearly even after constant rejections, taking a deep breath she began to tell the man she wants a future with about her past.

Caiden sat stiffly trying to rein in his anger as Rosaline told him what those men did to her, to her innocent self, how can anyone be so cruel to destroy a woman's life like that. He stood up quickly not wanting her to see how affected he was by her past.

Even without his wolf's thirst for blood, he wanted those men to die or at least punished to feel the pain they caused his princess.

Sobs broke his murderous thoughts he spun around to find a crying Rosaline with her hand covering her mouth trying to muffle the sounds, "Sweetheart what is it?" he said concerned hating to see her cry, kneeling at her feet he held her hands kissing each finger, he felt helpless at the moment.

"You don't have to pretend....." she sobbed, "who would want a filthy ruined poor girl as his own his princess."

"I do. Rosaline Montoya, I have loved you since I was old enough to find my mate. I have accepted you with whatever past you have......" he started to say.

"Even if your mate's father is the hunter who nearly killed you," she said bluntly looking straight into his eyes.

Out of shock, he fell back onto the ground watching her in disbelief, "Your father?" Head bent she revealed his name, "How long have you known? Did he tell you to reject me?" the questions came tumbling out of his mouth as he remembered Reynaldo's words 'she would never be yours'.

"No. Never. That was my own doing. Your uncles told me a day ago, the news was too much causing me to have an anxiety attack. " she explained.

Caiden got up and looked at her intently and knew she was telling the truth, "You are a hunter. My mate is a fucking hunter. A human was good but a hunter. Come on Mother. " he said incredulously and erupted in a fit of bitter laughter.



"Oh don't mind me but this all seems so fucking funny. Found out my mate is human, she rejects me constantly but I still love her, My egotistical wolf wants to kill me so he can have a suitable vessel. Now my mate's father is a hunter who's drive is to kill me. It's like one big cycle while I'm the prey. Thank you, Mother, for all of this. I'm bound to find myself now" he said out loud with heavy sarcasm in his voice. Caiden sat with his head hung low thinking about everything that has happened.

It's all a test, everything happens for a reason being mated to a woman with a hunter's blood and the abandonment of his wolf was all a test. A test of strength and love at it's finest. If he can love Rosaline through all the pain he went through then going up against Rion and the Dark Lord would be easy. He had to accept his role as a prince of all mythical creatures. His dark desires were a part of him that he allowed to take over but it can be controlled by being strong and not thinking he was weak. Being without Rion to doubt his thinking he was getting the bigger picture. Caiden cursed himself for being weak and not being able to see what his parents were trying to show him since he was thirteen. It was all clear now as he took it all in, Balance. No more pushing his birthright away it was time to accept both lives the son of two powerful women he couldn't run away and try to be normal. It all begins with love.

Sharply he turned back to Rosaline, she held his gaze preparing herself for his rejection but the words she anticipated didn't come the words that came from him melted her heart.

"I love the hunter's daughter and would like her to be by my side. If she will have me" he said with sincerity in his voice.

"She will gladly have you" The feeling of happiness and pure love erupted inside of her, a silly grin took over her face as Caiden looked at her as the only woman in his world. He still wanted her no matter what.

Without any hesitation, he pulled her into his arms and planted his lips against hers, in that one kiss they both knew that this was it for them. The moment they both commit to each other, no more running, no more heartache just them.

Rosaline groaned in pleasure as Caiden's hand brushed against her bare skin to rest at the nape of her neck.

Using his tongue he asked for entrance to deepen their kiss in which she happily gave him, his thumb began a circular motion on her neck causing electrifying tingles to rush down her spine. Playfully she nipped his lip causing him to chuckle breaking their kiss, placing his forehead against hers he smiled down lovingly at her.



"I lo....." she started to say before they both were pushed apart by an unexpected force.



"Rosaline!!!" Caiden screamed recovering quickly from the attack. He saw her motionless body a good five feet away from him, his heart was hammering away in his chest in fear of losing her. He couldn't, not when he just had her back in his arms.

Scrambling to his feet he saw in his peripheral vision Rion stalking slowly towards her, "What are you doing? She's our mate" he yelled to the wolf but he was ignored as Rion's focus was on their unconscious mate.

Caiden quickly created a shield around her and pushed Rion further away from his target. The force that was used was enough to send him flying back into the forest but it didn't work as anticipated.

He was simply dragged a few meters away. What was going on with his wolf?

"Hunter. Death is her sentence. All hunters are to be killed at first contact." Rion snarled baring his fangs as he positioned himself to attack.

Caiden knew right then that he heard their conversation and was manipulated by someone. He ran to Rosaline and doubled the shield for both of them and got ready to fight his own wolf.



"Your prince is a traitor, Rion. He protects the hunter's daughter who was sent to kill you" a cold voice said out loud.

The owner of the voice made himself visible as Caiden saw him now standing behind Rion in simple black slacks, black undershirt, and a black jacket. His white-blonde hair was styled neatly but his blue eyes were ice-cold as he set them upon the prince and princess.



Corvineus.



"Rion snap out of it. This isn't you. You saw for yourself how she cared for you and accepted you. She's here for us. She came for us, why would she do that if she didn't care for us deeply." Caiden pleaded with his wolf.



Rion's gaze didn't falter from Rosaline, the memory of her acceptance caused him to cease his attack a bit. "Then why would she constantly reject you, Rion. She came to our land but went straight to him your human. If she cared for you do you think she would come to you? She thinks you're just a mutt. A monster" the dark lord countered.

Rion's growls were loud throughout the quiet fields before he rushed towards them with cold black eyes. "I'm sorry my friend" Caiden whispered to himself as he halted Rion in mid-stride and levitated the wolf from the ground. With enough force, he brought his wolf down harshly, "Rion, don't do this" Caiden begged.

Being stubborn, Rion got up and tried to break the prince's shield but no luck. He took a step back and stand firmly on all fours. Caiden knew that move and quickly brought Rosaline closer to him and covered her with his body. With one stomp of his right paw, an invisible force was released in a circle around him whatever that was in its way was thrown back, Caiden held on tight to his mate and waited for the attack but it didn't hit them.

Nothing happened.



"Now now dear brother are you manipulating wolves again," the voice of the moon goddess said behind him. She stopped Rion's attack by absorbing it, giving her a bit more strength.



"Hello, sister welcome to the battle." The dark lord said smirking at her.