Mathias (#1 The Chronicles of the Demon Wolf)

“Maybe if you weren’t so weak, your family wouldn’t be so disappointed with you,” the kid said to her face.

Every day of her life in grade school, they bullied her. She was weak. She never excelled in sports. She never excelled in anything. She was a failure in every aspect of a student. Her family expressed their disappointment every single day. No words needed. She could just see it in their eyes. A person who was born in the Alpha’s family was supposed to be strong—a good role model to their fellow pack members but she was not even close to it. She couldn’t lift a thick book without whining.

She started to act like a true disappointment because what was the point of proving everyone was wrong? She stopped living to their expectations and started to live like they saw her to be.

A disappointment.

Chelsea knew one way or another, she could never be the Alpha of her father’s pack. There was no need to compete with Sebastian for that position. Her own father wouldn’t even look at her when he announced Sebastian as the next Alpha. She smiled through the whole event.

Deep inside, nobody knew the truth except her. It hurt her so much. She wanted to bawl her eyes out until she cried blood but she couldn’t because it wouldn’t change a thing. Once a failure would always be a failure.

Then, she thought by meeting with her mate things could be different.

Oh Goddess, she was wrong.

Mathias saw her as a damsel in distress. A burden. Why? Because she was nothing like her? Who was her? Who did he adore so much until he couldn’t look at his own mate? Chelsea could see his love and adoration for the woman who wasn’t his mate. And it hurts her so much knowing that her mate is in love with someone who is strong and a good role model to everyone.

“She didn’t turn that way because we let her got away with everything.”

She recognizes the voice but couldn’t find the will to open her eyes. Her body still feels heavy. There are beeping sounds everywhere.

“It’s not the time to talk about it,” A man says.

“No, honey. We neglected her since day one just because she didn’t turn out to be as we expected. She’s our daughter. Our blood flows in her veins just as much as it flows in Sebastian’s. But, why we see him more than we see her?”

That’s her mother’s voice. She sounds so sad as if someone had died right in front of her eyes.

“Chelsea became who she is today because we neglected her just because she couldn’t be strong like an Alpha,” Lynn adds. “We gave up on her because she couldn’t reach our expectation. Now, she’s dying and we’re trying to reconcile with the Kingsley for what happened. Are we blaming her for what happened? Mathias Kingsley almost killed her. If anyone is to be blamed, it’s him.”

“Picking up a fight with a Commander is a big mistake,” Owen replies. “As much as it hurts me seeing her this way, she shouldn’t have provoked the Commander.”

Provoked? Chelsea almost snorted a laugh despite she couldn’t even open her eyelids to look at them. She didn’t provoke Mathias. She kissed him. He attacked her just because of a kiss.

There’s nothing new anyway. She could be the victim and still be blamed for what happened. It’s just how it is. After living her whole life as a failure, nothing hurts her as much anymore.

Her parents continue to bicker back and forth while maintaining their tone at the lowest volume as possible before the door knocks interrupt them.

“Pardon for my intrusion, I must perform a check-up on your daughter,” A woman says.

“Of course. We’ll wait outside, Lady Amanda,” Lynn replies.

After a few seconds of silence and followed by the sound of a door closing, Amanda grabs the medical file report on the desk and checks the chart.

“I know you’re awake,” she says, keeping her eyes glued to the chart.

Suddenly, Chelsea feels the sudden surge of adrenaline to open her eyes. It doesn’t feel like taking her entire being to open her eyes.

“How did you know?” she asks softly.

Amanda grabs a glass of water and helps her to drink it down. “I’m a witch, Chelsea. I know things that not everyone knows. For example, I cast a spell on you after they brought you in. The spell would trigger my senses if you’ve finally gained consciousness.”

“What about Mathias?”

Amanda glances at her briefly before jotting down a few notes along with the chart and put it away. “He...has been taken away and waiting for trial.”

Chelsea tries to sit up but hisses when she moves too much. “T-Trial? What trial?”

“There are rules, Chelsea. Mathias is no exception to those rules. He broke the rules by attacking you. If the Councilors deem him guilty, he would be stripped off from his rank and discharge dishonorably from the Alpha’s training. You and I know the answer to that trial.”

Chelsea’s heart stops beating once. Mathias would lose his rank. He would be discharged dishonorably. A future Alpha with such record would be looked down by everyone. No one would want to follow him because of it. There would be a high chance he would lose his status as the future Alpha of his pack.

She shakes her head in disagreement. True, it was wrong for him for attacking her but it was her fault too. She provoked him by that kiss. She shouldn’t have done it.

Mathias has no intention to complete the mating bond with her. The signs were clear as the day but she kept pushing him. Now, look at what happened. He would pay for the price while she gets off it.

“It wasn’t his fault,” Chelsea says, earning undivided attention from the witch. “I provoked him fully knowing he would lash out.”

“You know, the Council has evidence of what happened on that rooftop.”

“I’m the victim and I say Mathias wasn’t to be blamed for what happened.”

“They said she already woke up,” Ryker says from the other side of the barred room.

Mathias still has his eyes closed with a hand rests on his forehead as he lay on the bed. His knuckles are covered with bruises and dry blood. For the past two weeks since what happened, he has been taking out his anger on the walls of his prison.

He’s not even on a speaking term with his demon wolf. He was born with it and yet he couldn’t control it. Now, he hurt the one person who was destined to be his mate. How could he let that happened? He was supposed to protect her even if he doesn’t desire her as his mate. He’s so mad at himself for having such a little control on his monster. Chelsea could have died on that day.

But the thought of Chelsea dying is pleasing his monster. Was this what his mother experienced during the first few weeks after meeting his father? Mathias knew his mother almost killed his father many times, but Mathias thought he could be different than her. He thought he could control his monster better because he was born with it. He was wrong though.

He had it worst.

“I could send flowers to her for you if you want,” Ryker continues. “I mean, I’ll tell Tanto to do it because I’m not a flower man.”

“You must be a good leader for them, Ryker,” Mathias speaks as he sits up and put down his feet to the floor. “I’ve failed everyone.”

“What makes you think Dad would pick me as the future Alpha?”

“We can’t expect Dad to pick Tanto instead.”

“I’d take that as a compliment.” Tanto enters. “What makes you think Ryker is a good choice? Cynthia could be one. Enzo, Rinzler, and Bonnie—any of them.”

“Ryker sounds more reasonable than you,” Mathias answers. “What are you doing here? What’s that?” he points to the letter in Tanto’s grip.

The youngest of the triplet lifts the letter up. “Oh, this? It’s the decision from the Councilors.”

“And you’ve read it.” Ryker points to the small tear on the letter.

“What?” Tanto shrugs his shoulders. “I was curious.”

He passes the letter to Mathias who opens it. The older brother takes a deep breath as he unfolds the letter slowly. He knows his punishment is coming and he would accept it regardless. He did what was wrong and he’s more than ready to be punished for it.

That is how the system works. Just because his parents rebuilt this Council from corruption, it doesn’t mean the laws don’t apply to the Kingsley.

He reads the letter in silence for a minute before saying, “Chelsea testified and said that I’m not to be blamed for what happened. She took the blame instead.”

“And?” Ryker asks.

“She refused to press charges. The Council only puts me on two years probation and my Commander rank is passed to Eva.”

“Keep reading,” Tanto presses on.

Mathias’ demon wolf suddenly growls at the back of his mind as he keeps reading the letter. It doesn’t like the next paragraph of the letter.

But, before he could voice out, the entire building quakes as if an earthquake has just hit the place. The emergency sirens are blaring from the outside.

“That doesn’t sound good,” Tanto states the obvious fact.

An Enforce rushes in. “Sir, we are under attack. They took Miss Eva Blake and Chelsea Rhodes.”

Then, Mathias remembers something.

“I’ll spill all the blood of your loved ones once I get out!” he shouted as the Enforcers took him away from the Trial Chamber. Mathias could only watch from the audience seats as he continued to struggle to be freed. “In the name of my father, Lucien De Vicenzo, I will avenge for what your people did to my family! Mark my words, Mathias Kingsley!”

“He did it.” the truth finally sinks in Mathias’ mind.