Why him?

TW: TALK OF DEATH/MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Jackson's POV
It's been 5 days since Harmony and Grayson have been hospitalized. Grayson woke up yesterday and the doctors found some unusual chemicals in his bloodstream that no normal werewolf carries. They've been doing further tests on him as he's making his gradual recovery to try and decipher what the chemicals are and why they're prolonging his healing abilities. This worries me as when I first heard about this yesterday, my mind started racing to every different scenario, what if he poisoned Harmony? What if there is some enemy among us trying to assassinate the royal family? There's so many different potential threats and I would have no clue on how to protect Harmony from any of them with her unconscious and in this state.

She is so incredibly vulnerable, which is why I've been sitting right by her side since they placed her in this bed 5 days ago. It gives her parents time to rest and somewhat be able to manage their castle, they sent all the guests from the party home due to the current circumstances. Obviously not telling them that the princess is in a critical state due to the potential threats and their vulnerability at the moment. Even if her parents never left her side as well, I would still be here, I will never leave her side again. I already made that mistake once and if anything else happens i'm going to be right here for better or for worse. There's always been an intense connection between us that I've never been able to exactly identify, and now that she's in this state, it feels almost as if a part of me is also incredibly weak and fragile as well. I don't know if it's just because I care so deeply for her or something else, but I need to ignore my weakness and stay strong for her. I couldn't imagine the pain she's in, I can only hope that she's in a peaceful slumber.

Harmony's POV
I feel restricted. Suffocated almost. I have so many overwhelming feelings of pain, agony, sadness but also small glints of love. It seems like it would be so much easier to just let go and I've been staring that option dead in the eyes for what seems to be an eternity. The reason I'm stuck here? I'm still unsure of, Lexi isn't too helpful either as she continues to repeat the same words.

Betrayal

Alone

Rejected

And then she would occasionally stop and say,

Love

It's hard to decipher everything she's saying especially when I just think these are the feelings that are overwhelming us both and have ultimately led us to this position that we're in. I haven't been able to find a reason to continue fighting, it seems like everyone would struggle a little less without me and maybe I would finally be comfortable. Well, to whichever options I even have right now, I think i'll just keep being here, in my own thoughts.

Jackson's POV
"Hi sweetie, how are you holding up?" Queen Moon walked in placing her arm on my shoulder out of worry.

"I'm fine. Just thinking." I looked up at her, seeing her swollen and sunken eyes from the long sleepless nights stare back at mine.

"You know she would want you to take care of yourself as well. She wouldn't want you torturing yourself" She said taking a seat next to me

"Queen Moon, may I ask you something... that you might not be allowed to share?" I asked, looking at Harmony's still and quiet face.

"Hmmm, give it a go and I'll do my best" She looked to me with her tired yet curious eyes.

"How does the process of assigning mates work?" I knew this question is most likely confidential, I just needed to know, all of my anger of Harmony having such an unfair life has been eating me alive.

"Jackson that is truly a difficult question, but I trust you to keep a secret." She shifted in her chair so she was facing me but I didn't dare take my eyes of Harmony for anything.

"You see, I am able to see people for who they are on the inside, in their souls. Everyone is incredibly different, and their souls range from a variety of colours and energies that define them. A werewolf is assigned a mate based on what their soul looks like, of course, their mates soul is not an exact match of their own but it's about balance and completing one another. Individuals change though, poor values are taught and nasty beliefs are put into peoples minds which impact their decisions on accepting their mates." She stopped, looking at the ground with regret.

"I'm angry your highness... Why... was she put through all of this?" I asked

"I had a feeling that's how you felt Jackson, as I mentioned, people change and with our Harmony, her destiny was to become the greatest there ever has been. The energy in her soul reflect as such, after Landon rejected her, Graysons soul most likely spoke out loudly in search of such love that Harmony's soul was also screaming for. I don't usually assign second chance mates Jackson, that was purely Harmony being Harmony." She paused.

"She never felt love because of her upbringing, her soul wasn't sure what to search for. I blame myself every day Jackson, she could've had so much more from this life and now it seems like I've caused her demise." A stream of tears slowly ran down her face, falling from her chin down onto her blouse. I felt my eyes starting to water, unsure of how to feel. Why didn't her soul connect with mine? Why couldn't we have been mates instead?

"After my mate passed, I never thought I would find someone as extraordinary as her, if not more. Harmony is perfect. You shouldn't blame yourself for trying to protect her, you're the mom, it's what you're supposed to do" My tears streamed down onto Harmony's hand, drying almost immediately.

"Thank you Jackson." The Queen said to me and then embraced me in a tight hug.

"If I had a son, I would hope he'd turn out just like you" She whispered into my ear while continuing our heartfelt hug. Just then there was a small knock at the door breaking us from our thoughts.

"Come in" The Queen said letting go of our hug and facing towards the door, in walked the lead doctor holding her usual clipboard.

"Your Highness, Beta Jackson, I have some news." She said, I was trying to read her face but couldn't tell whether it was good or bad news. The Queen nodded her head at the doctor, signalling for her to continue.

"We tested the chemicals found in Alpha Graysons blood, and it turns out that even though he had rejected the mate bond long ago with the Princess, since she had marked him, he started slowly turning into a Lycan. With his rejection, the process came to almost a full stop and he is now reverting back to a regular werewolf due to their broken mate bond. Which is why his healing process is incredibly slow, meaning there was never any dangerous chemicals in contact with either him or the Princess" The doctor explained to us, with which I found some relief and I could tell that the Queen did as well.

"That's some good news at least" The Queen said sighing and relaxing in her chair.

"Unfortunately, your highness, I do have some further news on Princess Harmony" The doctor replied nervously, we both looked up at her eagerly waiting for her to continue.

"It seems that her healing has come to a complete stop, almost as though her body is refusing to care for itself anymore. We've been trying different remedies and medications but we haven't found an effective one. Your Highness, Beta Jackson, at this point in time, we're hoping for a miracle" She stopped, looking tired and defeated.

We all sat there in silence, stunned to the news that we were just given. Why does this need to happen to her?! SHE DOESN'T DESERVE THIS! GRAYSON DOES! I felt the rage in my body start to boil, every feeling that I've held in started to bubble over like a hot pot of water left unattended.

"Jackson! JACKSON!" Queen Moon tried to get my attention back on her, but with little to no effect as my eyes filled with red. He needs to suffer like she has! I felt my claws start to form, not even trying to fight it anymore because with Harmony on the brink of death, what's the point? SOMEONE NEEDS TO DEFEND HER AND I WILL NOT FAIL AGAIN!

"JACKSON DO NOT MAKE ME ORDER YOU TO STOP! PLEASE!" Queen Moon said as I fully shifted and sprinted out the door, not giving her a chance to place any commands on me. I'm not letting anyone get in my way! He's going to die today and I'm going to make sure of it.

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Things are getting intense! I hope you guys are enjoying it as much as I am writing it! And until next time!

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