26. Feeling Helpless

Luca

Luca watched in horror as the shadows engulfed Rowan, his mate's form disappearing into the swirling vortex of darkness. He struggled against his captors, his wolf snarling and snapping with a desperate, feral rage, but it was no use. The dark magic that held him was too strong, too all-consuming, and he could only watch helplessly as Rowan was taken away, his heart shattering into a million jagged pieces with every passing second.

As the portal winked out of existence, taking Rowan with it, Luca felt a wave of despair and self-loathing wash over him, his knees buckling under the weight of his failure. He had sworn to protect his mate, to keep him safe from harm no matter the cost, and yet here he was, helpless and broken, while Rowan suffered gods only knew what torments at the hands of their enemies.

"I'm sorry, Rowan," he whispered, his voice raw and choked with emotion as he stared at the spot where his mate had disappeared. "I'm so sorry, baby. I failed you. I wasn't strong enough, wasn't fast enough, and now you're gone, and it's all my fault."

He could feel the hot sting of tears in his eyes, the ache of his fangs as they elongated in response to his rage and his grief. He wanted to howl, to let loose the agony that was tearing him apart from the inside out, but he couldn't find the strength, couldn't summon the will to do anything but kneel there in the dirt, his head bowed and his heart shattered beyond repair.

He was aware of Roman's presence beside him, the bear shifter's hand resting on his shoulder in a gesture of silent support. But even that small comfort felt like too much, like a weight that he didn't deserve, a kindness that he had no right to accept.

"Luca," Roman's voice was low and urgent, cutting through the haze of Luca's despair like a blade through fog. "Luca, listen to me. This isn't your fault. You did everything you could, everything anyone could have done in that situation."

Luca shook his head, his lips curling back in a snarl of self-loathing. "No, I didn't. I should have been stronger, should have fought harder. I should have found a way to save him, to keep him safe. But I failed, and now he's gone, and it's all because of me."

Roman's grip on his shoulder tightened, his fingers digging into Luca's flesh with a fierce, unyielding pressure. "Stop it, Luca. Stop blaming yourself for something that was beyond your control. Rowan made his choice, and he did it out of love, out of a desire to protect you and everyone else he cares about."

Luca's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with a wild, desperate light. "But it should have been me, Roman! It should have been me who made that sacrifice, not him. He's the one who matters, the one who deserves to be safe and happy and loved. I'm just a fucking failure, a pathetic excuse for a mate who couldn't even keep the man he loves from being taken away."

Roman's eyes flashed with a fierce, unyielding determination, his hand moving to grip Luca's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Listen to me, Luca. Rowan loves you, more than anything in this world or the next. He made that sacrifice because he couldn't bear the thought of losing you, of watching you suffer and die while he stood by helpless. And he did it because he knows that you're strong enough to survive this, to keep fighting even when all hope seems lost."

Luca felt a flicker of something stir in his chest at Roman's words, a tiny spark of light in the overwhelming darkness that threatened to consume him. He wanted to believe, wanted to cling to that glimmer of hope like a drowning man to a life raft, but the weight of his guilt and his grief was too heavy, too all-consuming.

"I don't know if I can, Roman," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the howling of the wind and the pounding of his own heart. "I don't know if I have the strength, the courage, to keep going without him by my side."

Roman's smile was soft and sad, his eyes filled with a deep, aching understanding. "You do, Luca. You have more strength and courage than you even realize. And you won't be doing this alone. I'll be with you every step of the way, fighting by your side until we bring Rowan back home where he belongs."

Luca felt a lump rising in his throat, his eyes stinging with sudden, unshed tears. He had always known that Roman was a loyal friend, a fierce and unshakable ally, but to hear him say those words, to know that he would stand by him even in the darkest of moments… it meant more than he could ever express.

"Thank you, Roman," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Roman grinned, his eyes sparkling with a hint of their old mischief. "Probably get yourself killed within a week, if we're being honest."

Despite himself, Luca felt a small, reluctant smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Asshole," he muttered, but there was no heat in his words, only a fond, exasperated affection.

Roman clapped him on the shoulder, his touch warm and solid and grounding. "Come on, Luca. We need to get back to the manor, regroup with the others and figure out our next move."

Luca nodded, his jaw clenching with a renewed sense of determination. Roman was right. They couldn't afford to wallow in their grief and their guilt, not when Rowan needed them, not when the fate of the world hung in the balance.

As they made their way back through the ruined streets of Willowbrook, Luca couldn't help but notice the eerie stillness that had settled over the town. The dark constructs that had swarmed the streets only moments before were gone, vanished like smoke on the wind, as if they had never existed at all.

But Luca knew better than to let his guard down, knew that the danger was far from over. The enemies they faced were cunning and ruthless, and they would stop at nothing to achieve their twisted goals.

"We'll find him, Luca," Roman said, his voice low and fierce as they approached the manor, the once-grand building now battered and scarred from the battle that had raged around it. "We'll bring Rowan back, no matter what it takes."

Luca nodded, his heart heavy but unbroken, his spirit battered but undefeated. He knew that the road ahead would be long and treacherous, filled with dangers and challenges that would test him to his very limits.

But he also knew that he had no choice, that he would fight and bleed and die a thousand times over if it meant saving the man he loved, the mate who held his heart and his soul in the palm of his hand.

As Luca and Roman approached the manor, Luca's heart felt like a lead weight in his chest, each step a monumental effort. The thought of facing the others, of seeing the pain and disappointment in their eyes when they realized that Rowan was gone… it was almost more than he could bear.

But he knew that he had no choice, that he owed it to his friends and his allies to be strong, to keep fighting even in the face of overwhelming grief and despair.

Luca was immediately greeted by the sight of Benjamin rushing towards them, his face alight with excitement and relief.

"Luca, Roman, thank the gods you're alright!" he exclaimed, his arms outstretched as if to embrace them both. "We were so worried, we didn't know what had happened to you out there."

But as he drew closer, as he took in the haunted look in Luca's eyes and the grim set of Roman's jaw, his smile faltered, his brow furrowing with a sudden, sickening realization.

"Where's Rowan?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he already knew the answer but couldn't bring himself to say it out loud.

Luca felt his throat tighten, his eyes stinging with the hot press of tears. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out, only a choked, broken sound that was halfway between a sob and a growl.

Roman placed a hand on his shoulder, his touch warm and grounding, a silent reminder that he wasn't alone. "Rowan sacrificed himself," he said, his voice low and heavy with emotion. "He gave himself up to save us, to save everyone. And there was nothing we could do to stop him."

A collective gasp went up from the gathered allies, their faces etched with shock and disbelief. Luca could see the pain and the sorrow in their eyes, the unspoken question that hung heavy in the air.

‘How could this happen?' their expressions seemed to say. ‘How could we have let one of our own be taken, be lost to the darkness that threatened to consume us all?'

"There's something else," Roman continued, his voice cutting through the heavy silence that had fallen over the room. "The enemies we faced out there, Malachite and Lina and Wanda… their powers have grown, far beyond anything we've seen before. And they mentioned the Deal Maker, someone who seems to be pulling the strings behind the scenes."

A ripple of unease went through the gathered allies, their faces growing pale and drawn with worry. Luca could see the fear in their eyes, the unspoken dread of what this new threat might mean for their world, for their very survival.

Peter, one of the newer members of their alliance, stepped forward, his brow furrowed with concern. "The Deal Maker?" he repeated, his voice low and troubled. He trailed off, his expression growing distant and haunted, as if he were remembering something he'd rather forget. "If the Deal Maker is involved in this, if they're the ones behind Malachite and Lina and Wanda's newfound power… then we're in for a fight like none we've ever faced before."

Suddenly, the air in the room began to shimmer and ripple, a pulse of energy that made the hairs on the back of Luca's neck stand up. He whirled around, his claws extending and his fangs bared, ready to face whatever new threat had come to challenge them.

But as the portal stabilized and the figures within began to take shape, Luca felt his heart skip a beat, his breath catching in his throat with a sudden, overwhelming surge of emotion.

For there, standing before him, were three people he had never seen before, but whose faces were as familiar to him as his own reflection. A regal woman with hair the color of spun gold and eyes that glittered like amethysts, flanked by two men who bore a striking resemblance to Rowan, their features sharp and angular and filled with a quiet, undeniable strength.

"Rowan's family," Luca breathed, his voice barely above a whisper as he stared at the newcomers in awe and disbelief. "But how… how did you find us? How did you even know where to look?"

The woman stepped forward, her movements graceful and fluid, her presence seeming to fill the room with a calm, commanding authority. "I am Queen Elara of the Seelie Court," she said, her voice rich and melodious, like the ringing of silver bells. "And these are my sons, Princes Aedan and Kieran."

Luca stared in awe at the regal figures before him, his heart pounding with a mixture of hope and trepidation. The revelation of their identities sent a shockwave through the room, and he could feel the eyes of his allies upon him, waiting for his reaction.

"Queen Elara," he said, his voice rough with emotion as he bowed his head in respect. "I… I don't know what to say."

The Queen's eyes softened, a flicker of understanding and compassion passing over her face. "I know, Luca. And I wish we had come to you sooner, with better news and brighter tidings. But the truth we bring is a heavy one, and it will not be easy to hear."

Luca swallowed hard, his jaw clenching with a stubborn determination. "Whatever it is, we can handle it. We have to, for Rowan's sake."

Roman stepped forward, his massive form dwarfing even the towering figures of the fae princes. He knelt before the Queen, his head bowed in a gesture of humility and respect. "Your Majesty," he said, his voice low and solemn. "Please, if you know anything about the Deal Maker, about who he really is and what he wants with Rowan… we need to know. We can't fight this battle blind."

The Queen nodded, her expression growing somber. "You are right, Roman. And it is time for the truth to be told, no matter how painful it may be."

She took a deep breath, her eyes distant and haunted. "For years, we believed that my husband was alive because he was there in the flesh but things got complicated as soon as Rowan disappeared. We thought that he was just distant because of Rowan but we were wrong. The real Oberon, my beloved mate and the father of my children… he was slain by his own brother, Riordan, shortly after Rowan's birth. He took Rowan's trust when he was a kid and used that to his advantage."

Luca felt like he had been punched in the gut, the air rushing out of his lungs in a sharp, painful gasp. "But why? Why would he do such a thing?"

Aedan stepped forward, his eyes blazing with a fierce, unyielding light. "For power," he said, his voice low and filled with a quiet, simmering anger. "Riordan was always jealous of our father, of the love and devotion he commanded from his people. He wanted that power for himself, and he was willing to do anything to get it."

Kieran nodded, his expression grim. "It was Aedan who first suspected the truth," he said, his voice filled with a quiet pride. "He noticed the changes in our father's behavior, the way he seemed to grow colder and more distant with each passing day. And when we confronted him, when we demanded to know the truth… that's when we learned of Riordan's treachery."

Luca's mind was reeling, his thoughts spinning with the implications of what he was hearing. This Riordan, he was the Deal Maker, the one who held Rowan in his clutches and sought to control the mortal realm.

"But why?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why does he want Rowan? Why does he care about the mortal realm at all?"

"Because Rowan poses a threat to him," Aedan replied, his voice heavy with sorrow and concern. "Riordan knows that Rowan is special, that he's the successor to the Seelie Court and a child of two worlds, just like you are a wolf but can also shift into human form. Rowan is so much more than just an ordinary fae and his magic is much more potent. And that kind of power terrifies him. But it also tempts him."

Queen Elara nodded, her voice unwavering. "Riordan seeks to harness Rowan's power for himself, to bend the mortal realm to his will. He wants a weapon, a tool that he could use to expand his control over all Realms. If he succeeds, the consequences would be catastrophic."

The weight of Aedan's revelation hit Luca like a tidal wave, the enormity of the challenge ahead crashing down on him. If Riordan was behind everything, then they were up against an enemy far more powerful and cunning than they had ever imagined.

"What do we do?" Luca asked, his hands clenching at his sides. "How do we stop him?"

"It won't be easy," The Queen warned. "Riordan is powerful, and his dark magic runs deep. But he underestimates the strength of the love and loyalty that binds you and your allies together."

Luca took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders with a newfound determination. The revelation of Riordan's true identity had only served to ignite the fire of his resolve. "The Queen's right. He may be powerful, but he doesn't know the first thing about the strength of the love I have for Rowan or the bonds I share with my friends and allies. That's one thing we have that Riordan will never understand or overpower."

Roman gave Luca an encouraging pat on the back. "Luca's right, guys! We have something that Riordan underestimates; each other. We are a team, a family, and we will never stop fighting for one of our own!"

Peter, the newest member, couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, and with Luca leading us, the Deal Maker's about to learn what it really means to mess with the Wolfheart Pack!"

"We also have the support of the Seelie Court," Kieran added. "We came here to fight alongside you. Rowan is our brother, and we will do whatever it takes to bring him home."