Chapter 78 - Disown

“You really think he’s gone?” Rocky’s voice came from behind me.

I turned to find him holding on to Taylor tightly. He, too, had concern plastered across his face. Taylor pushed away from Rocky and quickly jogged over to me. She pulled me into a tight side hug and started sobbing.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered between her sobs.

*Me?* It was Rocky that was on the verge of death. I peeked over Taylor’s shoulder and tried to examine Rocky for the injuries I witnessed him get. The gaping hole in his chest was gone, but the blood that was soaked on his ripped shirt was evidence enough to prove I hadn’t imagined what had happened.

“I’m fine, don’t worry,” Rocky assured me with a tight smile.

A satisfaction filled my heart, knowing Rocky was in good health. Just then, something dawned on me. Where was everyone else? I quickly pushed away from Taylor and turned to look for The Coven members. Behind us, Klaus was kneeling on the floor with his hands over Kendyl’s chest. He had his eyes closed and was chanting something. The rest of the coven members were either sitting on the floor or hovering behind Klaus, watching what he was doing.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Max move. He walked over and knelt on the opposite side of Klaus, placing his hands on Kendyl’s chest just like his preceptor. He started chanting the exact words Klaus was, but then the words changed slightly.

“Is she going to be okay?” I whispered, my voice cracking thanks to my dry throat. If my shift had taught me anything, it was that my werewolf abilities were far superior than I had imagined. I knew my raspy croak was decipherable by everyone around me.

“Don’t know, Angel. Kendyl is what you would refer to as a circuit breaker. She was trying to channel Amon’s retaliation spells and protect the Coven members but ended up getting the worse end of it.” Blake explained.

No, nothing could happen to her. The only wrong they had done was try to protect me. It was my fault that they got caught in the crossfire. I tried to stand up, but my wobbling knees gave way. Thankfully Taylor was still close enough to catch me before I hit the ground.

“Hey, hey, please be careful,” she pleaded, steadying me.

I watched helplessly as Klaus and Max chanted uninterruptedly. Max suddenly opened his eyes, revealing two silver glowing orbs.

“Klaus..” Benji reached out and shook their leader’s shoulder.

Klaus stopped chanting and opened his eyes. When he saw Max’s glowing orbs, he immediately got up and stepped back.

“He has crossed over to the spirit world,” Klaus murmured.

Max sat on his knees, completely frozen in place. We all watched restlessly, waiting for something to happen. After what seemed like hours, Kendyl suddenly gasped and sat up, coughing and choking on the air. Klaus knelt down and rubbed her kendyl’s back as she settled herself.

Relief washed over me. Seeing Kendyl breathing again gave me a form of peace. They were all okay.

“W-… what happened?!” Kendyl stuttered, looking around at her concerned colleagues.

“You passed out, and we couldn’t find a pulse. I tried a healing spell, but nothing was working but then….” Klaus explained, pausing to look up at Max, whose eyes were now his usual color.

“Then what?” Kendyl pressed, her eyes flicking toward Max.

“Max crossed over to the spirit world to bring you back,” Klaus finished.

“It’s no big deal,” Max muttered before walking away.

Kendyl looked like she wanted to say something, but Max didn’t stop to listen.

“Everyone accounted for?” Blake asked, standing up and looking around at everyone.

“Yes, Alpha,” a few people replied.

It was the first time I had noticed the extra people around us. They must have been the pack members that came to help take out Amon’s goons.

“Rosy, we gotta get you out of here. Amon may be gone, but we don’t know what else he had planned.” Rocky walked over to my side.

My eyes wandered back to where Josh’s body was lying. Michael was now standing next to the body watching as a few of the men that came with him started picking up Josh’s body. Was I meant to go talk to Michael? Jonathan was obviously not interested in knowing me, but what about Michael? He had spent a good chunk of my life keeping an eye on me; however, with everything that had come to light, was Michael’s involvement forced or intentional?

“Angel…” Blake’s voice once again broke my trance.

I looked up at my handsome fiance. The creases on his forehead made him look ten years older than he was.

“Come on, I’ll carry you.” he put his hand out for me to take.

I nodded and reached for Blake’s hand. As soon as my hand touched Blake’s, he grasped it tightly and moved closer to wrap his other arm around me. Rocky also came to my aid and helped Blake pick me up bride-style while trying to protect my modesty.

Blake started navigating through the rumble, trying to get us out of the building. I wrapped my arms around Blake’s neck and held on tightly. Finally, we exited the ruined building, and Blake made a beeline for his car. Rocky quickly opened the passenger door, and Blake gently placed me on the seat. Max walked around the corner just as he was about to shut the door.

“You okay?” Blake asked him.

“Any chance I could get a ride back? My cars kind of totaled.” he pointed to the silver Range Rover parked on the other side of the building. There was a massive dent on the roof of the SUV that looked like someone huge had stomped on it. The windows were also shattered, thanks to whatever had caused the roof damage.

“Yeah, of course. Get in,” Blake replied and looked over at me. Concern still glistening in his eyes.

“Alpha Cooper,” a deep voice called out.

Blake turned around, and I caught a glimpse of who it was. Jonathan came walking out of the building with the men carrying Josh’s body following him.

Jonathan walked over to us and bowed his head slightly. “We will be taking Josh’s body back home with us. Dad has decided to give Josh a royal send-off.”

Royal send-off? What the hell was that?!

“A Royal sent off to the illegitimate son that played a hand in almost wiping up out your lineage, interesting.” Blake snickered.

“Yeah, well, what the King wants, the King gets. I personally would have just left his body in that building to rot, but apparently, that’s not what you do to your family.” Jonathan sighed, rolling his eyes.

*Not what you do to your family…*

“Is that why none of you came to my mother’s funeral? Because she wasn’t family..” I muttered, looking out the car window as Jonathon’s words sank in.

“If I remember correctly, your mother was the one that didn’t want to be part of this family.” Jonathan snapped.

“Right. So the illegitimate son that was kicked out of the family has more rights than your full-blooded sister who was blackmailed by an evil spirit to go against her family. From what I’ve heard, she’s the same sister that stripped her title to save that so-called family of yours.” I growled, narrowing my eyes at Jonathon. Jonathon’s hypocrisy infuriated me.

“Listen here, you little….” Jonathan began but was cut short when the twin grabbed him and slammed him against the car.

Blake had his hand fisting and yanking Jonathon’s hair while Max had Jonathon’s hand pinned behind his back.

“She may not have her mother to defend her but do not make the mistake of thinking she’s alone and can be pushed around. I do not care who the fuck you are, but when you speak to my Luna, you show respect and keep your voice down.” Blake hissed as Max slammed Jonathon against the car again.

“What the hell is going on here?!” Michael’s raspy deep voice roared in the background.

Blake and Max let Jonathon go and stepped back as Jonathon straightened his t-shirt.

“I was just teaching your son here some manners,” Blake grumbled.

“Such a big boy with such bad manners,” Max snickered, making Rocky laugh.

Jonathan huffed. “Maybe you need to teach your mate how to speak to her elders.”

“Sorry, but my mother lacked the same skills you do. Manners must just be something our family lacks.” I sassed.

“Rosalie, that is no way to speak to your uncle.” Michael scolded.

I closed my eyes and swallowed the anger bubbling in me. For people that pretended not to know about my existence for twenty-nine years, they sure were quick to correct me about how I was meant to behave.

“*Uncle?* Well, at least you acknowledged that I’m related to you.” I snickered, slowly getting out of the car. My legs were so weak and wobbly that I felt like a baby giraffe learning to walk for the first time. Blake quickly reached out and steadied me.

I smiled at him and straightened my back, adjusting the blanket covering me.

“My mother was the one that deserved the acknowledgment of being a Whitlock. She may have been promiscuous and disobedient, but at least she didn’t want to be labeled as the bitch that sold out her family. Now that I look at it, I would rather be orphaned than be related to charlatans like you.” I clenched my jaw.

“Rosalie, we are your….” Michael began, but I put my hand up to stop him.

“Blake, can you please take me home now?” I demanded, turning away from my so-called grandfather and got back into my seat, slamming my door shut.

I didn’t know what a Royal sent-off was, but if they were going to commemorate Josh but disregard my mother, I didn’t want them to be part of my life. I didn’t care what their titles were; to me, they were just selfish assholes, and I didn’t have time for them in my life.