Chapter 40: Chapter 40

**Cassie’s POV**

My head felt like it was pounding hard when I opened my eyes. I can feel my body aching, and everything feels like a bad dream.

I am hoping that as I look at my side, I will see my mate, my only love, sleeping on my side. But I saw my empty side, and perhaps everything is not a bad dream.

"Cassie," said my dad, who sleeps on my side. I look at him while punching my chess.

"Dad, tell me that everything is just a bad dream. Where is Kaiden? Where is my mate?" I asked my dad, almost shouting so loudly.

I felt like all my hopes and dreams suddenly burned like a piece of leaf when my dad shook his head. He gave me a sad smile, and it immediately broke my heart into pieces.

"He is gone... He is, and it is now his last day. You have been sleeping for about a week," my dad said.

I looked at him in disbelief, and I slowly felt my face wet because of my tears. I shook my head violently and tried to wallow out of that damn bed! I have to find my mate! He is alive; Kaiden is alive! He promises me! He promises me forever!

"Cassie, listen, you can't move too much! Your wounds are not healed yet," my dad told me. And I felt like I was powerless. My heart is shattered as I remember how my mate, my husband, and my soul sacrificed their own lives for the sake of my existence.

"Dad, please, I want to see him," I begged him. I want to see my husband, but I can't calm down knowing that I can't give a glimpse of his body.

I want to see him, even if it means dying.

"If you see him, you will break down, and it will be painful for you... You can't deal with the kind of state you are dealing with. You still have a child! I know how you feel because I have been there! Believe me when I say that your mate saved you because he loves you more than himself."

I wiped my tears violently. "I hate him for loving me more than his life! How? How can I live without him?" I asked my dad desperately.

He sighed and gave me a tight embrace. I felt the warmth, but it is nothing to be compared to the cold heart and shivering pain that I am feeling right now.

I barely had a rest; my mind is still blank, and my eyes are looking outside the window. If I could just turn back the time, My regret is filling my emotions, and I am exhausted. I want to give up my life. I want to stop breathing now.

I barely touch my food, and now is the time that I will go down to this packing house. I will see my husband, my mate, for the very last time.

And it would never be easy to see someone I love the most laying there lifeless. And if I can just swap places with him, I will do it. I will gladly do it.

My dad guided me, and I saw my brothers looking at me worried, and on the lap of Ben, my son is sleeping there. And I can see that he cried a lot too.

My heart is breaking even more as the silence of this war becomes unbearable. I hope I can do more. I wish I could save him instead of saving myself and sacrificing his life.

I look at the coffin, and I can't even stand more when I see him lifeless. If Dad did not catch me, I might fall to the floor. Everyone tries to console me. But how can I try to live again?

I am such a foolish being to know that I can be stronger, and I can deal with the fact that my mate is dead and he will never be back.

I ran away as fast as I could. I look at the dark sky where the moon is shining so brightly.

"Are you happy now?" I yelled as loud as I could while looking at the moon.

"You are our goddess, and yet you did not save our lives! You are just a selfish goddess who is safe there! You did not do anything to protect us!" I shouted with hatred in my heart.

"Everything has a purpose, indeed." That voice.

I look at the shadows in the woods. "Show yourself!"

Aron walks out of the forest with a smug face. I want to punch him so hard. I want to rip his head off and feed it to some wild animals. I want to make him suffer!

He did everything for the sake of his goal! He is nothing but walking greed who would not think twice about sacrificing hundreds of lives for the sake of his ambition.

"You heartless bastard! How can you do it to your brother? You fucker!" I tried to charge him and fight him.

But I was stunned when I felt pain in my back. I slowly kneeled on the ground and puked some blood.

"You have not recovered yet, and fighting with me would not gain you more. You will not bring back my brother's life by simply fighting me with your fist and claws.

"Perhaps yes, I am truly heartless, but I am still merciful when I let you live, and also your son! Imagine that I can take your lives, but I choose not to. But you have to choose.

"I am the rightful person in the position of alpha now. I advise you to leave this territory with your son. If you still cherish your son's life, this is a valuable threat."

I felt cold, and I could feel his sharp gaze. His eyes did not budge, and I know that his words are not a worthless threat.

I have to choose. And I choose to protect what I can.