Chapter 184 - 183

Philip would have to stay in that room for hours, alone and traveling through his old memories. The more times you had come to this world the more it took you to retrieve everything, it was a long process filled with pain and joy, a mystery that would unravel by a single light like the sole center headlight on an empty stage. 

He didn't prepare anything too complicated. Some people would eat before they fell asleep, get new beds and all kinds of weird things to signify the importance of the moment. The day a werewolf turned twenty was the day their life changed, from a pup to a full fledged part of the pack.

The young werewolf had changed a few pillows so he could find the one that was the most comfortable. He didn't know if it was his nerves but one pillow seemed to be too harsh, the other too soft. Too cold and too warm. 

After finally finding something that seemed to fit him best he laid down, dressed in comfortable clothing and with a thin cover above his muscular body he took a deep breath, closing his hazel eyes and facing the darkness.

In this endless black there was silence and before he fell asleep he could hear the sound of his breathing, a steady pace, the rising and falling of his chest while his heart played an anxious beat that echoed in all his body through his veins. 

At first he felt as if he couldn't sleep, as if this would take forever but slowly his heart began to calm down and the bears turned almost into a lullaby. A yawn escaped his lips just before sleep welcomed him and then everything turned completely quiet.

The memories flashed before him like parts of a movie. Years and years back. Philip did not expect to be this old, his figure dressed in clothing hundreds of years old. He had walked on virgin lands, he had met so many people, seen so many faces, all of them appearing like masks hanging on a wall. 

So many events but one thing always remained the same. Philip was alone. No mate to call his own, no love to be by his side in this endless journey of life. Kai hadn't been born yet so he just had his life pass without an ounce of true love. He waited and waited lonely and many times depressed. 

The wolf wanted to cry. The previous life, it was the only one when he had a mate, someone to love and everything had been ruined, from the start, his fate seemed to closely connect with doom. He didn't want his memories to lead him to the vampire prince. His angelic face and his devilish smile, his wits and intelligence. The soft and cold touch of his fingertips. Before he fell asleep he had wondered if he would be able to wake up on his own, keep that part of his life shut down forever but as he realized it was pointless.

At some point he found him. The man the gods had assigned him and he was beautiful. From the very first moment Philip had been shocked at how someone could be so perfect in such a peaceful way. Perfection most of the time was disturbing something out of the ordinary but Kai, he was meant to stick out in the most stunning way. 

His love could only grow from now on, so did his torture, the mix of knowing and waiting to see was dreadful. Laid on his bed, seeing him tattoo the magic mark on his neck.

"Just so I can always find you" Kai had told him as the magic ink had spread into his skin. So that was it, the half moon design on his neck, a remnant of a tragic love, a sign of misfortune.

Kai laughed so sweetly, he spoke so carefully and when he swore at him Philip couldn't help but laugh. His side on his bed was warm and welcoming while the elegant vampire fit into his arms perfectly as if the werewolf's body was meant to exist for him. 

Hours, days and weeks of true bliss until…

Until the third prince disappeared and Philip felt like the world was slowly turning against him.

"I think you should just wait. You know how he is a free spirit and all, he will come back." Mika, he was the one talking, seated on the couch of their bright guest room. He was trying to advise his friend who was pacing back and forth, upset.

"What if something happened to him?" Philip asked, his hazel eyes glazed with worry. "I am his mate, he wouldn't have to hide from me." He said and heard Mika scoff.

"These people don't understand the importance of mates. They only think of themselves." His best friend told him, Philip could not believe him. 

He stopped pacing, his eyes landing on the closed door of the little lounge and he sighed.

"I'm going to go search for him" he stated, his eyes showing no one was going to change his mind.

"So I will have to cover you to Octavius." 

"Yes, please."

"Okay." Mika said, rubbing the back of his neck. "just go and don't be late."

Philip ran off, leaving the comfortable and luxurious room finding himself getting down the stairs of his floor with a speeding heartbeat. It was night, long shadows traveling from the corners of those walls, everything completely empty when he heard a sound.

He froze, turning his head, wanting to spot the source when a man appeared. Philip gulped. He didn't like the way he presented himself. It was as if he had stuck out from the darkness, a long cape, a deep black color, covering his whole body while a hood hid his face.

"Who are you?" Philip asked.

"Excuse me. I didn't mean to scare you. I come to you with a very important message from the prince. The third prince." The man said. The tone in his voice was calm, friendly even and at the mention of Kai Philip forgot all his reservations.

"Kai? What about him, do you know where he is?" He asked and the man nodded. "Please tell me"

"An organization called the Nightshades has captured him. He is imprisoned and you are the only one that can save him." The stranger said and Philip's eyes widened in shock.

"But how...is he...is he alright?" He asked.

"Does it matter how? All that matters is that he is barely alive. Please, he sent me here to get you so you could find him. He trusts you, he said he loves you." The man said, making Philip go crazy with worry.

"Take me, take me wherever he is, I need to save him."

"I cannot take you, I will only slow you don't but I will give you something that will help." The caped man said and through his cape a gloved hand appeared holding a shiny gold crown, filled with gems. "Take this, hold it, don't let go of it. The crowns of the Avger hold important powers and when you give it to his Majesty he will be able to fight and survive. You are the only one that can get it to him." The man said, extending his hand and Philip, he grabbed it without a second thought. 

He looked at it, the light of the moon landing on the gold while a weird scent reached his nostrils. It wasn't supposed to smell like this. The werewolf looked up, wanting to ask the man but he was gone and now the man was worried. The scent was getting stronger and he tried to let go of it but it was as if the crown was stuck in his hand. His eyes widened as he felt the precious object burn his hand and he hissed. There was something in it, something toxic, he realized and a frown appeared on his face. He tried to throw it, he even hit his hand to let go but nothing. 

"What the heck?" Philip mumbled. "I don't have time for this." He told himself and ran off, not caring about the little trick on the crown.

Yes, he indeed didn't have time. The effect of the poison was very fast and he started to feel it once he left the city of BloodBound. He felt thirsty as if he had been to the desert, his muscles would hurt and his mind would start to get clouded. An undeniable urge started to torture him.

He wanted to kill, kill them all.

Soon he couldn't understand anything, he couldn't hear the pleas nor see the harm he caused and when Kai appeared before him he was nothing more than a prey and he was a mad animal. 

The beauty in the prince's face was gone, his soft voice had been silenced and the world was just red, the red of blood, the blood he wanted to spill.

He had lost the fight, thankfully. He had watched himself fall to the muddy ground, his heart on Kai's hand as for the last few seconds he realized what had happened.

The prince was crying, he looked so sad and that somehow seemed to be the worst part. Bit his heart in his hands, not the way he felt his soul slip out of his body but Kai, Kai was sad.

"Why?" Philip had asked.

Not why did he do it but why had things come to this. Why did their love have to die? 

Philip did not hate Kai, he never could. He loved him too much, understood him too much, wished for him to live too much to hate him that he had taken his life. 

This was the last memory, the last scene of the show and Philip woke up, frozen on his bed while his eyes watered, filling with guilty tears.

"What did I do?" He asked himself, regretting everything.