What can a powerless soul do when they lack the strength to prevent someone from hurting their loved ones?
But
What happens when you dare to harm the beloved of the most powerful being in existence?
What happens when you put your ill-intentioned eyes on the mate of the almighty True Blood Alpha's mate?
He'll rip you apart, burn you alive. He'll bring hell itself crashing down upon the earth and that's exactly what he did.
The rogues who dared harm his mate, no longer existed. They weren't merely destroyed, they're erased, obliterated from the face of the earth. Ashes and blood were all that remained, a grim testament to true blood's wrath.
The air still carried the acrid scent of fire and death, the ground scorched where his fury had unleashed itself.
They had dared to hurt him, the one person Sorin had yearned for, suffered for, and waited for nearly a decade. His mate.
The one soul that completed his own, the reason his heart beat with purpose.
For Selene, Sorin would bring heaven to earth or break the very gates of hell.
But even now, after tearing every rogue responsible, after reducing their hideout to nothing but rubble and ash, he felt no relief. No calmness touched his mind or body. If anything, the storm inside him raged fiercer than ever.
Because Selene had been hurt!!
The image of his mate being bruised and battered haunted him like a curse. The scent of Selene's blood, the faint whimper of pain that had escaped his lips, was etched into Sorin's soul, replaying in an endless loop.
He stormed through the forest, his body moving on autopilot toward his penthouse. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of his emotions dragging him down.
By the time he reached his destination, his clothes were tattered and stained with blood, his hands trembling with unspent rage. He shoved the heavy door open, the sound echoing through the vast, empty space.
The penthouse was silent, save for the distant hum of the wind against the glass walls. SORIN didn't bother turning on the lights, the moonlight streaming through the windows was enough to illuminate the chaos in his mind.
He stopped in the middle of the room, his chest heaving as he struggled to contain the storm within him. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his claws digging into his palms until blood dripped onto the pristine floor.
"Why?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Why did it have to be you, love? Why couldn't I stop it?"
His voice rose with each word until it became a roar, a guttural cry that echoed through the room. He spun on his heel, slamming his fist into the nearest wall. The impact cracked the surface, sending shards of plaster scattering to the floor.
"I'm supposed to be the strongest!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "What's the point of me being the most powerful if I can't even protect the one person who matters most to me?"
He punched the wall again, and again, until his knuckles were bleeding but the pain was nothing compared to the agony that tore his heart.
He sank to his knees, body trembling as he pressed his palms against the cold floor. His breaths came in ragged gasps, chest tight with unrelenting anger and guilt.
The image of Selene's fragile form, his face pale and his body bruised, flashed in Sorin's mind again. His wolf howled within him, its anguish mirroring his own.
Sorin whispered, his voice shaking. "I should've protected you. I promised I would."
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "But I failed you. I failed you, and now..."
He trailed off, his voice breaking as tears welled in his eyes. He hadn't allowed himself to show any weakness but now, in the silence of his sanctuary, he let the tears fall.
As the minutes feel like hours, Sorin's resolve hardened. He wiped his face with the back of his hand, his crimson eyes glowing with renewed determination.
He stood, his movements deliberate as he crossed the room to the balcony. The cold night air hit his face, but he welcomed it. It grounded him, sharpened his focus.
"I'll make them pay," he murmured, his voice low but filled with unshakable resolve. "Every single one of them. Anyone who dares to even think of harming you will face my wrath."
He turned his gaze to the moon, his jaw set as if talking with his mate through the moon, "For you, I'll destroy the world if I have to. I'll burn it all down to keep you safe."
The night stretched on, but Sorin didn't move. He stood there, a silent sentinel, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The storm inside him hadn't calmed, but it had found a direction.
Mate.
The thought of Selene brought a sliver of calm to his raging storm. His mate was safe now, resting and healing. But he knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy. Selene's scars ran deeper than the physical wounds, and it would take time to heal them.
But Sorin was patient.
He would wait as long as it took, fight as hard as he needed, and give everything he had. For Selene, there was no limit to what he would endure.
His mind drifted back to the moment he had left the Silver Moon Pack. The memory was a reminder of the memories he had made, the promises he had sworn to keep.
Flashback : Silver Moon Pack
Sorin left the room quietly, his footsteps soft and deliberate, not wanting to disturb the little boy who had finally drifted into a peaceful sleep. The child's small hand had clung to Selene until exhaustion took over, and it had taken Elia's hard coaxing to convince her to freshen up. Now, the house was still, the air heavy with the lingering weight of the day's events.
The suffocating silence in the living room lingered like a thick fog. The alphas sat in a semi circle, their imposing presences making the air feel heavier. Sorin's gaze remained fixed on the floor, his jaw clenched tight.
His wolf growled lowly in his mind, restless and furious. How could you let him go? Alone? The voice echoed, sharp and accusing, and Sorin's hands curled into fists on his thighs.
Jake's sharp eyes darted to Sorin observing the tension radiating off the younger alpha. He had sensed something peculiar earlier, something he wasn't entirely sure about. But now, seeing Sorin like this, the pieces of the puzzle began to align in his mind.
However, he needed confirmation. He couldn't act on assumptions, not when it involved his beloved younger sister, his baby.
Clearing his throat, Jake broke the silence. "Thank you for saving my child, Alpha Aldric,"he began, turning to face Sorin. His eyes glistened under the faint light. 'I don't know how to repay you. You've given me back my son, my reason to keep fighting. I'm indebted to you for life. If there's anything, 'anything' you ever need, it's yours. Even if it costs me my life. My mate and I are deeply grateful. We... we can't imagine what would've happened if you hadn't been there for Jay."
His voice was steady, but Sorin caught the slight tremor, the underlying fear that Jake tried to mask. His dark eyes flickered up, meeting Jake's for the first time.
"You don't have to thank me, Alpha Vale," Sorin replied, his voice calm yet sharp. "Jay is a strong boy. I must say, he's been through more than any child should ever have to. You need to keep a close eye on him. If there's anything you need, anything at all, my pack and I are always ready to help. And please," he added with a faint sigh, "just call me Sorin. I'm younger than you, after all and It feels strange to hear honorifics from someone older and respected like you."
Jake opened his mouth to respond, but Elia, who had been sitting quietly beside him, decided to interject, not liking the atmosphere, "Alpha, don't you think you're being too formal? If you're going to talk, at least do it properly!" Her eyes twinkled as she turned to Sorin. "Hey, Sorin! I'm Elia Vale, Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, and the one and only World Wide beautiful mate of Jake Vale!"
Elia's dramatic self introduction earned a round of chuckles from the Alpha. Even Sorin's lips twitched slightly, though his heart wasn't entirely in it.
"You forgot 'humble,' Eli," Jake teased, his lips curving into a small smile.
"Excuse me," Elia shot back, feigning offense. "Humble is implied when you're this amazing. Isn't that right, Sorin?"
Sorin nodded politely, though his mind remained elsewhere.
"See?" Elia smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Even the alpha agrees."
Jake's lips twitched into a faint, weary smile, knowing well that his mate is trying to distract him, though his eyes still glistened with unshed tears. "Still Sorin, thank you so much. I know my baby is brave," he murmured, his gaze dropping to the ground. Elia's whole attention turned to his mate and his smile faltered, "But you were the one who brought him back to us. To me... and to Selene."
I don't know what could have happened if you didn't come on time. He keeps the last sentence in his mind.
Sorin's chest tightened at the name of Selene's. His mind replayed the way Selene had clung to Jay, the fierce protectiveness in her eyes, the desperation in her voice. "Jay is special," Sorin said softly. "From the moment I met him, I felt it. Like he was meant to be in my life. Like I've known him forever. And the bond he shares with Selene... it's unlike anything I've ever seen...." And there he said the thing kept running in his mind.
Jake leaned against the couch, his expression distant as he spoke. "Jay has always been a bright, loving child. But after what happened today, I saw a new side of him, a strength I didn't know he had and I know where he gets it from. Elia and I have always tried to give him the best of ourselves, but Selene... She is the one who shaped him the most."
Sorin tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Selene?"
Jake nodded, his voice filled with quiet reverence. "Selene has been like a mother to Jay. Even before Jay was born, Selene has been there, caring for him, protecting him, loving him as if he were his own. They have a bond that goes beyond blood, beyond words. Jay looks up to him in a way that even I can't compete with. And Selene... She loves Jay with every fiber of her being."
Sorin's heart clenched at the thought, his mate loving someone more than him, it's stings. "I've noticed," he admitted, his voice low. "The way Jay lights up around him, the way he looks at him for comfort... it's like they're connected on a soul deep level."
"They are," jake said softly. "Selene has given Jay something no one could. A kind of unconditional love that's pure and unwavering. She taught Jay what it means to be strong, to be kind, to never give up. But Selene... She doesn't see how much she's done for Jay. How much she's done for all of us."
Jake sighed, leaning back again. "She's always been like that. Always putting others before herself, even when it breaks her. And now, with you here... I think she's scared. Scared of what it means to have someone care for her the way you do."
Sorin's eyes darkened, his hands gripping the sides of the couch tightly . "I don't care how scared she is," he said firmly. "I'll protect her from now on. I'll prove to her that she's not alone anymore, that she doesn't have to carry everything on her own. Hell, she won't be carrying anything from now on."
Jake studied Sorin for a moment, then nodded. ''If anyone, it's you," he said. "Please, be patient with her. She's been through you can't even imagine. She'll need time to trust, to heal."
Sorin's expression softened, "I'll wait as long as it takes.For er ..... for the family we're meant to be."
Jake's breath hitched at Sorin's words, and he felt a flicker of hope. For the first time in a long while, he believed that maybe, just maybe, Selene had found someone who would truly protect her, love her unconditionally.
But Jake wasn't done yet. His gaze lingered on Sorin, scrutinizing the subtle tension in his shoulders and the distant look in his eyes. "Sorin," he began again, his tone softer this time, "you've been quiet since you arrived. Is everything alright?"
Sorin stiffened slightly at the question. "I'm fine," he replied curtly before walking towards the railing. Jake nodded curtly before Elia takes him to the kitchen.