Chapter 53: Bleeding Love

Harry

"Please Lan, don't let them execute my mate! I beg of you!"

Ares' voice echoed through the room as he literally threw himself at Landon's feet, begging him to show mercy. Unfortunately, it isn't up to Landon to decide Spencer's fate. He is a Blood Moon pack member who allegedly committed a crime under wolf law.

His fate lies with my father, the Alpha.

But the law is clear.

Not that any of this matters to me. I refuse to believe that Spencer shot my mate. I cannot even imagine him holding a gun, let alone doing something like this. It's too much for me.

He was the one who told me to accept my mate! Why go through all this trouble just to take my mate away from me? The same way his mate was taken from him. It seems too cruel for me to even imagine it, let alone think that he orchestrated the whole thing.

I know he was grieving at the time. I can understand the enormous pain he was in. But I cannot believe this, I refuse to. There is just no way that Spencer is behind the shooting.

Delta Saunders took his son home after some time. Ares was beyond destroyed. He could barely walk. I don't know how or if he can survive this, to be honest. Especially after having waited for his mate for four years.

He was so happy just an hour ago. Now he is being carried by his father, who fortunately was here for him. He was going to work today, but now I don't know if he can do anything except cry.

At least on this, we are the same.

I am crying desperate tears of sadness right now.

I know I said I wanted to execute the culprit, but I can't bring myself to want him dead. It just doesn't register with me that Spencer could be responsible for the attack on Landon.

Not him.

Not for the world.

But right now the pain is tearing me up inside. It really is. I thought I was done with this type of pain after the drone strike. I guess not so much.

There is one major problem in my denial.

I know Lucas Wilmont.

I may not know him like Aaron does, nor do I claim to. But he is a proud man. He is an overachiever. He made it his mission to succeed where most others would fail.

I know for a fact that he would never, ever in a million years, risk his reputation by coming here to make an arrest unless he had solid evidence to back him up.

Especially considering who Spencer is and what he means to me. I am not implying I am special because I am a Staedler. Or because I am mated to the Alpha of Regency Falls.

I am simply stating that Lucas wouldn't have come here - my father wouldn't have authorized this endeavor - if he hadn't strong evidence against Spencer. Damning evidence.

I strongly believe that Spencer is innocent.

But unfortunately, I can't overrule an official investigation. Not even Landon can. Much less not in his pack.

This is what's really bothering me.

You should have seen the way Lucas looked at Spencer when he said: 'Did you really think I wasn't going to find out?'

I thought he was looking at Ares because they were close to each other, but it was Spencer all along. My mind cannot wrap around that fact. No matter how much I know what Kevin meant to him and how the pain of his passing must've hit him hard.

I just cannot fathom that he would tell me to accept my mate all the while planning his revenge. Truth is Landon didn't go to the Blood Moon pack house for me, he came to sign the peace treaty. So it's not like Spencer would need me to accept my mate in order to shoot him down.

There is a hole in this logic that I cannot seem to figure out.

Of course, there is an obvious answer.

Spencer could've faked it with me. He said what he said despite harboring vengeful feelings towards my mate. He could be simply a two-faced person. But I don't buy that for a second.

I understand history is filled with stories of betrayals from best friends. I am not that innocent. Or gullible. I know backstabbing people exist. I went to high school.

But he could've just told me to power through and tell Landon to fuck himself. He could have told me that he hated him for me and I was right to reject him. It's what anyone would expect from a person in his predicament.

He didn't have to play saint. He didn't have to play the devil's advocate or fake it with me. More than anyone else, I already expected him to tell me I was right to reject my mate at the time.

So why didn't he?

That is what's really bugging me, throwing me for a loop.

Still crying, I went back to my room and didn't leave for the rest of the day. Not even to have dinner with the Barnetts. Landon stayed inside with me, offering a comforting embrace.

He never left my side and ordered the dinner to be delivered to our room, not that I had any appetite. I couldn't bring myself to eat anything. I was just too broken up.

Honestly, at least if it were Aaron it was a betrayal I could've anticipated. I'd be furious, of course. But I would've understood it. He lost Jessica, who he loved deeply.

I am not simply stating that Spencer had no motive. Plenty of people had motives, including him.

I am just really broken up about it. Aside from my parents, who were by my side when Landon got shot, he was the single person I knew was innocent. He was the only person I'd invited to my birthday dinner party because he couldn't hurt a fly.

The next day, I entered the dining room for breakfast silent as a ghost. I nodded at the Barnetts, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I only came to eat in order for me to not get sick.

Landon and his family were respectful of my process, though Ella is too young to know exactly what was going on. Clark heard about it but kept it quiet.

"I'm sorry, Luna. I can't be here for Mr. Logan's dinner party. I'm going home after breakfast and I don't know when I'll return exactly." I informed her, surprising everyone at the table.

"What?" Landon gasped in shock at the news.

"I have already canceled the dinner party. Don't worry, Harry. He understood the circumstances and told me that he and his family would be happy to have dinner with us at any time." She replied with a polite smile.

"Thank you, ma'am." I said in a somber tone.

"What are you going to do over there? You know they are not gonna let you talk to Spencer, right? He's probably sequestered by now. With luck, they would only let his parents see him." Landon argued, worried about me.

"I figured as much. But I need to talk to my parents. I need to see this through for myself." I reasoned in a deeply saddened tone.

"I don't want you to leave my side, mate. Please!" Landon pleaded with me, troubled.

"I'm not staying long, I promise. I just need to talk to my people. See what's gonna happen to Spencer." I told him, sounding concerned for my best friend - or so I thought.

"Do you want me to go with you?" He offered and his mother's eyes almost left her eye socket, she got so spooked.

"No, thank you. Javier is already away from the pack. You can't leave too. The pack can't be left leaderless and I don't want to worry about your safety while I'm over there." I refuted, adamantly.

"I'm worried for you. At least let me set you up with a warrior escort to drive you, and make sure you are taken care of. Please!" He insisted, pleadingly. He looked so distraught that I could not deny him. The look of genuine concern was getting to me.

"You can get me Rhiannon." I suggested in a light tone.

"Done. She'll be here before you finish brushing your teeth." He smirked, contently.

"I'm so sorry for everything that happened, Harry. I hope you find the answers that you're seeking. And come back to us, we'll be waiting for you. This is your home now." Felicia spoke to me in a soothing tone, getting a smile out of me. Honestly, this woman is a saint.

"Thank you, ma'am. Rest assured I'll return. I can't be away from my mate for too long." I said, causing Landon to smile at me.

It's not that I am itching to get away from my mate, quite the contrary. I thought we'd be staying together until I had to return to college.

But I need to talk to my family. I know it's very likely they won't let me talk to Spencer. I am not counting on that, but I need to get to the bottom of this.

I am going crazy not knowing what really happened and though I might be setting myself up for heartbreak, I need to know the truth.

Even if it bites me in the ass, which it probably will.

Not surprisingly, Rhiannon was waiting for me in the entrance hall. She had a bag on her shoulders and was hiding an excited smile on the corner of her mouth. She looked somber as the situation requested - and she always looks serious.

I greeted her and we walked together to my car.

"I'm sorry for your friend. I can't even imagine what you must be feeling, so I won't try to. But if there's anything I can do to help, you can count on me." She said in a solicitous tone.

"Thank you, Rhiannon. I really appreciate it. The truth is I'm stuck. Even if he was to be guilty, I can't bring myself to wish him any harm. And I'm not even gonna comment on what it would do to Ares should the worst happen." I said, dreadfully.

So, here's the thing. Wolf laws are very distinct from human laws and most of them, if not all, were written in medieval times and have been followed to the letter since then.

There are two basic punishments according to the law. Banishment or death by combat. There is no wolf jail in our pack, just as there isn't anywhere else - to the best of my knowledge.

Depending on the offense, you can get banned from the pack - which means you have to leave the territory and never return, under penalty of being considered a rogue - or you can get killed by the Alpha.

Theoretically, if you win the match, you'll become the new Alpha instead of the person who passed your sentence. But I've never heard of an Omega beating an Alpha in my entire life, especially in wolf form.

Yes, the fight to the death happens in wolf form. Like I said, medieval times law. Also, you can only apply wolf law on a werewolf - obviously - It's kind of like wolf justice. Delivered from one to another.

Now I know what you are thinking. If that's the case, then my dad could simply ban Spencer and he can live with Ares in Regency Falls happily ever after.

Yeah, not really.

There is a golden rule amongst werewolves. A rule that is common to every wolf pack known to exist. Everywhere in the world. And it's very simple.

"Don't raise a hand to another person's mate, lest they have raised it against you first."

Do you remember how Ares reacted when Moynaham blocked Spencer from entering the training center? What did he do then?

Well, if a simple threatening gesture warranted Ares choking him half to death, you can imagine the punishment for attempting to kill someone. Especially an Alpha.

My point is that the law is clear. And it's not looking good for Spencer.

I arrived at the Blood Moon pack house with Rhiannon by my side. I told her I was safe here inside, so she could do whatever she wanted for the time being. She told me to please let her know when I planned on leaving, which I agreed to do.

Considering Beta Carillon and four other warriors from Regency Falls are here, she went looking for them to catch up. Though I am sure Aaron would like to see her too.

I went straight to my father's office. Luckily, he was alone at the time.

"Why did I have a feeling you were coming back home after what happened..." Dad said with a smirk, standing up to hug me. I wish I could smile about seeing him again, but the circumstances are dire.

"I wish it was under better circumstances, dad. Please tell me Lucas is acting crazy and there's no evidence that my best friend shot my mate." I said without beating around the bush.

Dad sighed at my statement in discontentment. He does not look happy about it, though I didn't expect him to. I am guessing no one here is.

"I think you knew the answer to that question before you asked." Dad said with his tempered Alpha tone. I took my seat on a chair across from his desk and breathed out a sigh.

"He didn't do it, dad. He couldn't have. Spencer was the first person who told me to accept my mate. I mean, apart from the lecture I got from you." I said, rolling my eyes at the memory.

"You accepted your mate after all. So, who was wrong and who was right?" He snapped back at me and I grunted in annoyance.

"Now is not the time, dad. Just give it to me straight." I demanded, irritated at him.

AN HOUR LATER.

After talking to my dad and hearing about all the evidence against Spencer, I curled up in my old room which thankfully was just the same as I left. I am crying by myself. Again.

Only this time Spencer is not going to barge into my room, coming to talk to me because he is the reason that I am crying.

But even now, I cannot wish him any harm.

I can't wish him dead. There has been too much death already.

I know it's hypocrisy when I literally just said the other day I wanted to execute the culprit myself. Well, sue me. I love him. And though it pains me to say, nothing will ever make me love him any less. Not even the shooting of my mate.

Landon is alive. There is no pleasure in taking Ares' mate away from him.

There is no satisfaction in this for me. I cannot speak for Landon, but I am sure he would say the same.

Tears rolled over my face desperately.

I don't want him to die. Even if I never see him again, even if it means I am losing my very best friend. I don't care if he got banned from both of our packs.

But if it meant he was still alive and happy with his mate, then I would be okay with that.

But that is not how the law works.

"The law is reason free from passion." I remember that quote from 'Legally Blonde'. Aristotle said that.

Desperation takes over me.

The crying gets louder and I am wishing my mate was here with me.

I know what will happen to Spencer. It has been staring at my face this entire time.

Tears flowed through me like a river of despair that I could not seem to control.

I wish to Goddess I could see him again. I wish so badly I could hug him one last time. I wish I could tell him I forgive him. And if it were up to me, he would not be harmed.

Pain. Unbearable pain takes over me in a way that it hasn't for a long time.

Desperate tears wash my soul, longing to see my friend once again, safe and sound.

This is gonna hurt me for a very long time.

The wound that has been cut in me will never be healed. Not ever.

And I am not even talking about the betrayal. No matter how grave his sins are...

I love you, Spencer Jonas. I always will. I can't say anything to the contrary. It's just not in me. But right now the pain is bearing me under its massive weight.

A|N: No, I am not crying. You are crying.

Brace yourselves. Death is coming.

And if you think you cried now, wait for Ares' P.O.V. It's heartbreaking.

Yes, I've written this chapter with this song in mind. It's perfect for it.

Next is "Lost Without You".

Love,

Léo.