Chapter 85 Chapter Eighty-Five - Amelia
The tender moment is interrupted by the suite’s buzzer, so I reluctantly free my hand from the mighty grip of my daughter and answer the door. I stand there, mouth agape, looking up at the 7’7” Goddess standing at the threshold of my suite. Dark, yet radiant forest green hair frames her face in long natural waves while her bright, silver eyes look down at me with apprehension.
“What would a Goddess have to be apprehensive about?” Zara utters in astonishment, echoing my own thoughts.
“Beats me, but a better question would be: why in the hell is a Goddess at my front door?”
“That is definitely the superior question,” Zara nods in agreement. “What kind of God rings the doorbell?” Zara appears more lively than she has in weeks. I’m not the only one who lost both her parents. Just like me, the only things keeping her going are Ace and their pup.
“I’m so sorry for just showing up like this. It’s Amelia, right?” she says hopefully. “Sorry, I mean, Alpha Amelia,” she quickly corrects herself.
“Uh, yes, your grace, that’s me…”
“Please, just call me Gabriella. I’m still adjusting to all the God titles,” she says with a nervous chuckle.
“Even I’m finding this bizarre,” I hear Ace suddenly chime in. “Haven’t we had enough of God’s dropping by our pack? What, do we need to hire God Control to hose the pack down to keep them away?” Ace scoffs belligerently.
“I really hope she didn’t hear you say that,” Marcus sighs.
“Would you like to come in?” I offer, opening the door wider for her.
“Thank you,” she says graciously, walking inside, ducking her head to avoid hitting the door frame. She looks around, admiring the room until her eyes settle on my daughter and soften. “Oh my goodness, how old is she?” she asks brightly.
“Two weeks,” answers Marcus while I close the door. “How did you know she’s a girl?”
“She’s a Goddess, duh,” quips Ace.
“Just one of those things I can tell, I guess,” she shrugs.
“I hope I don’t sound rude, but what exactly brings you to our pack? If you’re here to deliver more bad news…” I trail off, feeling my anxiety rise.
“I swear, I’m not here to say anything of the sort. I wanted to come and see you to apologise,” she admits sombrely.
Marcus and I glance at each other in surprise. “Apologise?” we both say in unison.
“I saw what you all went through during that battle and…” She takes in a deep breath, “Up until a few months ago I had no idea that the supernatural world existed. Then I ended up fated to a God and I got pulled into this insanity and now I’m standing here as a Goddess, which I’m still processing. I think back on that day and all the pain and destruction that was caused and I wish I could undo it. I wish I could say or do something to make the pain you all went through go away, and I know apologizing doesn’t do much, but I felt you should know that if anyone is to blame for what happened, it’s me.”
I look at her in confusion, “Why would we blame you?”
“Because I was the subject of that stupid prophecy. Had Jartre and I not completed our bond, then none of this would have happened,” she says guiltily.
I take in a deep breath, doing my best to keep the flood of emotions at bay. “We were told about that prophecy and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that prophecies are pretty much inevitable.”
“I swear I never wanted anyone to get hurt. I was told that so many people could be saved and I…”
“You wanted to help,” I finish for her. “I get it. If I was in your shoes, I would have done the same thing. I’m an Alpha. I am in charge of the safety and well-being of everyone in this pack, and now as Alpha Ambassador, I oversee every Alpha in this country. I learned as a kid you can’t make everyone happy, and you can’t save everyone even if you wish to the Gods you could,” I say with tears in my eyes. “Yes, people died. People I loved…” I take a deep, shaky breath, feeling Marcus reach me in a flash and place a comforting hand on my shoulder, his touch helping me breathe a bit easier. I reach up and squeeze his hand, letting our contact give me strength.
“I am so, so very sorry for your losses,” she says empathetically with tears brimming in her bright eyes.
“Me too. My point is, that while a few died, in exchange, even more may live. It’s a horrible fact for anyone, but when you’re in battle and lives are in your hands, you’re always faced with a difficult choice and the choice is never to save or not save people. The choice is always about how many you can save. You chose the option that has the potential to save the most lives. You chose right. I would have made that choice, and my parents would have made that choice too,” I grit out, trying with all my might to hold back the sobs threatening to break from me. “I appreciate you coming here and trying to take accountability, but you don’t have to,” I assure her.
“I know this won’t make your pain any better, but I know exactly how you feel. When I was sixteen, I lost both my parents who were all the family I had and at the time…it was like I couldn’t breathe. Everything was agony. Existing…was agony. I didn’t think I’d survive my grief, but I did, and I can see and feel what an incredibly strong person you are Amelia, and that’s enough to tell me that you’ll survive this too,” she says compassionately.
I wipe my eyes, nodding in appreciation, “Thank you for saying that.”
“We both appreciate you coming here to say that,” adds Marcus, wrapping his free arm around me.
“Well, I’m here for more than just that,” she says with a kind smile.
“Oh?” he presses curiously.
“When I lost my parents I would have given anything to see them one last time, and given the absolute hell you have had to endure because of something you didn’t ask to happen, there’s something I wanted to do for you…”
Gabriella holds up her finger, gesturing for us to wait a moment. Marcus and I watch on curiously as she reaches her arm out to the side as a seam of white light appears vertically beside her. It’s thin, yet radiant, letting off tiny prisms as she reaches her hand through it. I expect her hand to come out the other side, but it doesn’t. It’s like she’s reached into some invisible pocket, feeling around for something we can’t see.
A second passes as she steps back, pulling her hand back and as she does I notice a translucent hand holding hers. I cover my mouth as a strangled sob escapes me and tears fill my eyes when from this seam of light emerges the strong, though translucent frame of my father…His warm chestnut eyes look down at me, gracing me with a loving smile as he gives off an ethereal glow.
“Holy fuck…” Marcus whispers in disbelief.
“Daddy?” my voice quivers.
“Hey, my Little Alpha,” he says lovingly.
I gasp for air as the tears freefall. “But how…I don’t understand…”
“As the new Goddess of the Veil, I can temporarily bring spirits over the threshold. I can’t give him form and unfortunately, I can only grant you an hour and then he has to return to where he belongs. But for the time being, I thought this is the least I could do for you,” explains Gabriella with a heartfelt smile.
“Thank you,” I choke out, dabbing the tears from my eyes.
“I truly am sorry,” she says sincerely before disappearing.
I watch in disbelief, Zara whimpering and pacing back and forth as my dad’s non-corporeal form walks towards me. He raises his hand to the side of my face, and I swear I can feel its warmth somehow.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I sob.
“I know,” he says sadly. “I miss you too, but I hope you know I don’t regret my actions.”
I close my eyes regretfully, “I know…I just don’t know how to not have you around anymore…and mum…”
“Your mother is fine, I promise,” he reassures me.
I look up at him, searching his eyes, “She’s with you?”
He nods, “We’ve got each other, so don’t you worry about us, alright?” I nod as my chin trembles, my dad turning his attention to Marcus. “You keep taking good care of my girl, okay?”
“I won’t let you down, Elias. You have my word,” Marcus vows as tears slowly trickle down his cheeks.
“I watched you come a long way in five years. You became a noble leader and Luna to this pack and a worthy animai to my daughter. I was very proud to have called you son, Marcus and I know Amelia is in good hands,” he says confidently.
Marcus makes a choking sound as he tries to hold back his tears, “It has been an honour being part of your family, and I promise I will take good care of it.”
The sombre air is filled with the coos of my daughter, who quickly distracts us from our tears, seeking our attention. Dad looks around me, his chestnut eyes tearing up as he looks down at the little bundle in Marcus’ arms.
“Is that my grandbaby?” he asks in a trembling voice.
I nod happily, turning around and carefully taking our smiling girl from Marcus’ arms, cradling her in mine and presenting her to my dad. The day she was born I wanted more than anything to be able to show her to my dad; for him to see the child he gave everything to save, and now I can.
“Dad, I’d like you to meet your granddaughter and the future Alpha of Invictus, Eliana Dolivo-Hayda,” I announce proudly.
Dad looks emotionally at my daughter while she smiles brightly up at him, completely unaware of how significant this moment is.
“Eliana?”
“We named her after you, Dad,” I inform him, watching the tears fall down his translucent cheeks.
“You named her after me?” he chokes out.
“It was a no-brainer,” says Marcus, wrapping his arm tightly around me.
“How could we not name her after the grandfather who gave his life to make sure she was born?” Every word is a shaky quiver, my throat clogged with the tears that won’t stop falling.
Dad looks down at Eliana, tracing the shape of her face though unable to show her any true affection. “Hi there, my little grand Alpha. I’m your grandpa, and let me be the first to tell you, you are going to do incredible things one day, but don’t you ever forget how loved and cherished you are.”
Eliana smiles up at her grandfather, reaching up for him only to look confused when her hands pass through him. The sight breaks my heart, but I would take this next hour any day of the week over never having the chance to tell my dad how thankful I am for everything he’s done for me my entire life and granting my heart’s desire to introduce my daughter to her grandfather.
“I'm so proud of you Amelia. So, so proud,” he says with a trembling voice as he looks into my eyes.
“Thank you, Daddy,” I sob.
I had begun to question the benevolence of the Gods, but I think this moment might have just restored my faith in at least one of them.