Chapter 61

Kathy and Sarah moved quietly through the dimly lit hallway, their footsteps soft against the old wooden floor. The house was silent, occasionally creak as the old boards settled. They reached the hidden door that led to the secret room, a place known for only a few in the house. The ladies enter the room to see Miles sitting in the chair and Anthony is still sleeping. Miles came up to Sarah because he wants to know what was going on, to see Kathy's face had some dry tears on her cheek therefore he pulled her to the side.

“What happened to Luna, Kathy?” said Miles, concern evident in his voice. Kathy hesitated, glancing at Sarah before answering softly.

“I have to show you, we should leave them alone because as right I think Luna Kathy need to be alone with Anthony,” said Sarah

Sarah nodded quietly to Miles, signaling it was time to leave. The two slipped out of the secret room, shutting the door softly behind them to give Kathy and Anthony privacy. As the quiet settled, Kathy removed her shoes and crawled beneath the blanket, seeking comfort. Anthony stirred, opening his eyes to see Kathy's tears, and gently placed his hand on her head, offering silent support. Without speaking aloud, Anthony reached through the mind link to call out to Miles and Sarah, needing answers.

“Explain why Kathy is crying?” command Anthony

Sarah's voice came gently through the mind link, her words slow and deliberate as she answered Anthony's question. “Um…Alpha, Kathy just found out that her mother is alive, so is Queen Vanessa, King Frances' mate who had been held hostage by Samuel under the packland for years,” said Sarah. The gravity of the revelation hung in the air, explaining Kathy's tears and the somber mood in the room.

“Thank you for telling me. We will stay here in this room—keep me updated,” said Anthony, his tone steady yet caring. Sarah nodded through the mind link, assuring him she would inform him of any news as soon as it arrived. The quiet in the room deepened, wrapping Kathy and Anthony in a moment of shared understanding and anticipation.

In the living room, Queen Vanessa looked into King Frances's eyes, searching for the mate she had longed for and feared she would never see again. The disbelief in Frances's gaze slowly faded, replaced by overwhelming relief and joy as he realized she was truly alive, not just a fleeting dream. He drew her closer, gently kissing her forehead, the tender gesture filled with all the years of love and longing that had endured through their forced separation. Vanessa clung to him, her heart aching with the memories of their time apart and the worry that, in her absence, he might have moved on. Yet even when she couldn’t feel their bond, she had never lost hope that they would reunite, and now, in his arms, that hope was fulfilled.

Theo on the other hand looked at his daughter Grace, who was standing by Seth in his arms. Years of anger and sorrow flashed across his face as he realized how much time had been stolen from them. The pain of knowing Grace had been held hostage by Samuel, separated from her family for so long, made his reunion with her bittersweet.

As everyone settled into the living room, Grace turned to Theo, her voice trembling with emotion. “Father, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said those hurtful words to you and left and never came back,” said Grace, her eyes filling with regret. Theo’s expression softened, the years of pain and longing evident as he listened to his daughter’s heartfelt apology. He reached out, pulling her into a gentle embrace, letting her know that forgiveness and love still remained between them despite the time apart.

Tears still shone in Theo’s eyes as he pulled Grace gently from his embrace, searching her face for reassurance that she was truly home. For a moment, he held her hands tightly in his, steadying his voice before he finally asked the question that had haunted him throughout their painful separation. “Grace, all these years apart… did you ever stop thinking of me as your father?” His voice was soft but filled with vulnerability, needing to know if their bond had survived Samuel’s cruelty and all the time lost between them.

Theo’s eyes widened at Grace’s words, his emotions swirling as he processed the revelation. She gently reached out, her voice trembling with both excitement and concern. “I see you’ve met your granddaughter, Kathy. I was supposed to tell you, but I got very sick as Kathy grew older—I struggled with a blood disease, and Seth came and saved me from death, Father. My plan was to come to you so you could protect her. Right now, I don’t think she wants to talk to us both,” Grace said softly, her gaze shifting upstairs where Kathy remained with Anthony.

“Frances, Anthony is our son. Where—I don’t see him?” said Queen Vanessa as she looked around the room, her voice trembling with a mix of confusion and hope. Frances took her hand, his own eyes searching the faces gathered in the living room.

“Vanessa, Anthony is not here right now. He’s in the other side of the palace—remember, I sent him there because he’s in rut. But don't worry, Kathy is with him,” Frances replied gently, hoping to reassure her as the reality of their reunited family settled in.

The room grew quiet again as Seth cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. “While you were all apart, I addressed the council about everything that happened,” Seth began, his voice steady but weighted with responsibility. “Samuel has been stripped of all his titles, and so have Noah and Evelyn. For now, Jack is temporarily leading the pack until King Frances decides who will take over permanently.” His words lingered in the air, underscoring the changes that had taken place and the uncertain future that lay ahead for the pack.

As the weight of recent revelations settled over the room, Sarah’s voice broke the silence once more. “What about Maria? She played her part in it too,” she asked quietly, her tone a mix of concern and curiosity as she glanced at the others for answers.

Seth looked around the room, his expression growing more somber. “Now Maria is getting a witch trial by the Witch Queen. About the baby she is carrying—it will be sent to the orphanage, and that child's power will be locked permanently until the Witch Queen decides otherwise. The baby can’t be adopted, and as the child gets older, he or she will have a whole new identity. Nobody must ever know who his or her parents are,” Seth explained, his voice heavy with the gravity of the decree. The news sent a ripple of unease through the group, the consequences for Maria and her child adding yet another layer of uncertainty to an already tumultuous night.

As the night unfolded, Seth and Grace quietly agreed to stay at the palace, hoping for a chance to speak with Kathy before she would leave and begin a new life with Seth as his wife. Deep down, Grace knew that earning Kathy’s forgiveness would not be easy; the wounds of the past were still fresh, and trust would take time to rebuild. A servant arrived and discreetly led them to their rooms, understanding that Grace and Queen Vanessa longed for the comfort of a hot shower—something they’d missed for years.

Grace collected her treasured journal and the two mysterious devices, clutching them close as she made her way upstairs. Miles and Sarah followed in quiet companionship, heading toward their bedroom with heavy hearts, exhausted from the day's emotional turmoil. The palace, filled with memories and new uncertainties, felt both refuge and reminder of the mess left to clean up. For now, though, sleep was the only remedy as everyone sought comfort in their beds, hoping that dawn would bring clarity and perhaps the healing they so desperately needed.