Chapter 65: Sixty-five.

Elijah let out a scream so raw, he almost defended Zachary. It was like a part of his very own self, a part of his own identity had been ripped away completely. Then, he was silent, completely and utterly silent.

Nora had died. His little girl, was gone. He was just with her last night. He told her how much she meant to him right? How much he loved her? She had to have known that, right?

The endless questions kept coming, there was so much he just couldn't understand, so much he just couldn't process. Why hadn't he put his foot down with his Mom? He could have just taken her last night. Why didn't he? And now it was too late. She had been killed, in one of the places she was meant to be safe, and now, he would never see her, or hear her voice again.

It was all so surreal. So impossible. There must be some kind of mistake. Nora can't be dead. He just won't accept that, he can't. There has to have been a mistake.

He sat in silence the whole journey home, not saying a word just frowning, as he tried to justify how such a mistake could have happened, maybe Marcus had the wrong details, that was totally possible, right?

Zachary knew exactly where they needed to go, and without having been asked he pulled the vehicle over at Elijah's parent's house, two hours later - having broken every speed limit he could to get there quicker. But, the foreboding silence that echoed around when they exited the vehicle spoke volumes all on it's own.

Elijah looked like he mirrored the house they were approaching, like the lights were on, but nobody was home. Except that, just like the house wasn't empty, neither was Elijah. The emotional news had left him far from vacant on the inside. Inside there was nothing but grief, hurt, turmoil, betrayal, and the smallest piece of hope, hope for it to all have been a mistake.

Zachary stood in disbelief as Elijah displayed his denial, entering the house and calling out for his sister at the top of his lungs frantically.

"Nora! Nora!" He yelled, as he thundered up the stairs ignoring the others in his parent's house, as his voice became more frantic the further he went. Each call of her name was more panicked than the last, as he waited for an answer that never came. "Nora! Nora!"

His parent's voices were calling him from downstairs, but he ignored them. Desperately searching for his little girl. He burst into her room, but it it was empty. Her bed was made, just like every morning, with her sloth teddy sat upon the pillow, waiting on a young girl who would never return. Her bag was packed and ready in the corner for her weekend up north, with clothes laid out on the chair beside it for the journey. Jeans a t-shirt and a new hoodie, that Elijah didn't recognise. When he looked closer it said, Little Sister and underneath was written, AKA, WHELP.

Elijah couldn't hold back any longer, couldn't fool himself any longer. She wasn't here, and the howl that ripped from his throat felt like it was coming straight from his heart. It vibrated throughout the house and when it finally ceased, he was left on his knees. Tears were streaming down his face as he looked at the hoodie. It was new. Most likely a surprise for him, branding her with his favoured pet name, and he clutched at the light purple fabric, holding it tightly to his chest like a life line. She had never even worn it, but he just couldn't let it go.

His Mom came in and found him curled up on the floor still clutching that hoodie tightly against his chest half an hour later. Elizabeth simply sat down beside him and pulled his head onto her lap, and for a moment Elijah let her, taking comfort from his Mom, as she stroked his hair back sharing in his pain.

But, then he remembered.

'it's my call. Not yours'

He pulled back away from from her with an angry snarl, making her jump.

"You did this." He growled.

"What?" Elizabeth asked in heart broken disbelief.

"You." He pointed at her violently, his grief turning to anger. "You didn't let her come with me. Your territorial bullshit last night. When you laid down the law, about who was her parent. You, you and your jealousy fucking sent her to her death!" He sneered, utterly disgusted with his Mom.

Elizabeth sat their on the the floor, a fresh wave of pain ripping through her, more tears pouring out all over again when she thought she had already ran dry. She already felt guilty, guilty over this exact thing, but to have her son throw it in her face, in such a manner, was like a kick to the gut. She had lost one child today and now another was stood there looking at her like she had pulled the trigger herself.

"Elijah, I only sent her to school. Her education is important." She tried to justify her actions, but the wobble in her voice gave away the guilt she was feeling, as she rose shaking to her feet.

Elijah's growl at her sudden movement, reverberated throughout the house. His canines were lengthening as he gradually lost control of himself. His conviction that his mother was to blame, was causing him to lose his grasp on reason.

"I should have just taken her. She was mine, and you and your bitterness has killed her. She would have been safer with me!" He snarled, making Elizabeth whimper, as Zachary and Elijah's father, John, burst in the door to Nora's room.

But that only seemed to fuel his anger more. Their very presence in the confined space was overwhelming what was left of Nora's pure scent. Twisting it into a diluted version that was marred with the others. Elijah couldn't take it, his body was rippling from head to toe, the only thing stopping him from shifting and lunging at them, was the worry of destroying Nora's room in the process, and he just couldn't allow that. Her belongings were all that were left.

Elizabeth clung to John, horrified at Elijah's behaviour, as John growled at his son manoeuvring his wife behind him as subtly as he possibly could.

"Eli?" Zachary began, but an angry growl had him quietening and backing towards the door.

"Get out!" Elijah roared, sounding more like a dragon with anger issues than the wolf he was.

John discreetly passed Elizabeth to Zachary, both men blocking Elijah's access to her, afraid for her safety, and guiding her out of the room. But the words Elijah spat at her retreating form like venom, would stay with her for the rest of her life.

"I was wrong to ever trust you with her!"

Eight Years and Eight Months Ago.

Elijah was pacing repeatedly back and forth throughout his house, he was so isolated. No one but his Mom knew, and he was at a loss of what to do now, or how to do it. It didn't help that he hadn't slept at all for the past week, and as such he felt his lucidity was slipping gradually through his fingers.

It all started with one stupid drunken night. One stupid mistake, spurred on by loneliness and a desperate need to just feel something with someone, to just feel anything other than the hollow feeling that was gradually consuming him.

He had met her in a bar, he wasn't proud of himself, but Carrie was fun, and flirtatious, and to be honest that night she made him feel special, and after two years of searching and the constant threat of solum rabidus looming over his head, he needed to feel special.

The next day though, sobriety had hit with a bang. The woman he was with wasn't his true mate, and it was her that he needed to find, she would be the one to complete him. They parted amicably enough, and it wasn't till five months later that Carrie waltzed back into his life, her stomach swollen with his offspring.

Elijah couldn't put into words his turmoil, his pack was expanding it's territory at a rapid rate in search for his future, and here was another woman altogether, standing in his kitchen and carrying his child. He thought about marking her, settling down with his one night stand, but something was holding him back. So, instead he asked her to move in on a trial run. Carrie had instantly agreed. Which should have been his first warning sign, who agrees to move in with a complete stranger, while pregnant, on the condition its kept totally secret. Carrie, that's who, a woman who came complete with her own luggage set of issues.

For three months Elijah tried to make a go of things, but it kept coming back down to the fact, that this woman was not his true mate. The more he tried to force a connection, the more the little things she did would annoy or frustrate him. Like leaving used tea bags in the sink, or the half drank cups of tea the bags belonged to, that were left to mould around the house rather than put away. Then, there was the way she ate, soon it was the way she laughed and gradually Elijah knew, there was no way he could settle down and mark this woman, he would go crazy. So, he broke things off, being clear he would support the child in any way possible that she needed.

Just over a month later, and Elijah was in regular contact with Carrie. He was due to be overtaking the Tennessee pack lands in a weeks time, after the death of their previous Alpha, and with them not having an heir to step up. But, Carrie was over due now, and he hadn't heard from her in a week. His mind was everywhere and no where, trying to hold it together as the slow deterioration of his mind was beginning to affect him.

Then there was a knock on the door, but when he answered there was no one there, well no one standing there. Dumped haphazardly on the doorstep, was a bassinet. It could have tumbled off at any moment really.

She is all yours, I'm out. C

Was all the note on the top read. All that was there, was a tiny little girl, with his own blue eyes looking up at him. He was so in awe, he didn't even have time to be properly mad at her birth mother. All his focus was on this tiny bundle he desperately wanted to hold, but was so afraid if he did, he would crush her. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. His daughter.

But what would he do now?

He called the only person he could think of, his Mom. She didn't even ask why he needed infant formula or diapers, but turned up with a pack of every size, clothes, a baby monitor, newborn formula, blankets, a stroller, a bouncer chair, a sterilizer, and more.

Elijah was blown away. How someone so tiny, so small, needed so much.

The baby was still in her bassinet, being carried around by her father in an attempt to comfort her, yet protect her from himself, when Elizabeth first set eyes on her. She laughed, loudly. Elijah tried to explain, but his Mom hushed him, and scooped the agitated infant into her arms, scrunching her nose up at the smell coming from her diaper.

"Well no wonder you're not happy, sweetheart." She cooed. "Come on Daddy, time to learn how to change a diaper."

"Wait, what?" He had asked panicked, "Can't you do it, Mom?"

"Yes, and for my child, I did. A lot." She answered tartly, "Now, I can see and smell she is yours, no pun intended, so let's go. Your daughter needs you, Daddy."

That was all the chiding Elijah needed. Elizabeth gave him a crash course in diaper changing, and making up bottle feeds. She showed him how to dress her, then promised him she wouldn't break in his arms. But he was still being too timid to scoop her up and hold her, the way she was desperately crying out for.

"Elijah, you have to get over it. That tiny girl has spent her entire existence inside her Mom, and now she is out, and her Mom, all she has ever known, has dumped her, and walked away. She needs to be loved, to be held and reassured that she is not on her own. You are her Dad. So, step up." Elizabeth lectured him.

It was like a lightbulb moment for him, he was with her in a second, scooping her up gently into his arms, instinctively supporting her head, and breathing her in. His daughter, and in that moment he knew, he would lay down his life to protect her.

He named her Nora, after his grandmother, the woman they shared their blue eyes with.

It was seven weeks since that morning. Elijah was exhausted. He had spent the past seven weeks holed up in his house with his little Nora, feeling like he could barely keep his head above water. Nora would only sleep if Elijah held her upright, with just the right amount of jiggle. If he stopped, Nora would scream and scream, like her little heart was breaking, and Elijah just couldn't take it. So, he kept going, and now he was at breaking point.

He had called his Mom in desperation, he needed to protect his daughter and at this moment in time, he was afraid his deteriorating sanity was her biggest threat. - And the lack of sleep he was getting was only adding fuel to that particular fire. It killed him to admit it, but he was going to become the largest threat to his perfect little angel, that there was.

When his Mom finally arrived, he was a man on edge. The first thing she did though, was to scoop Nora out of his arms, ignoring the little growl he automatically let out, and then she sent Elijah straight to bed.

Six hours Elijah slept for, and when he awoke his head felt a bit clearer. But, the house was eerily quiet, putting him on edge again. He shot out of bed, and flew down the stairs, panic for his daughter setting in. But what he found when he arrived in the kitchen blew him away.

His Mom had cleaned up, there were no more dirty bottles in the sink, the trash wasn't over flowing with dirty diapers and take away containers. The laundry was folded neatly on the countertop having been washed and dried, and his Mom, was sitting cradling her granddaughter as she gave her a feed contentedly.

"How?" He asked astonished.

"You, really should have called me sooner." His Mom gently scolded him. "You also need to get to grips with the sling."

"The what?" He asked confused.

"The sling, it's like a hammock, for babies, but you wear it. Thus you can carry this little bundle of joy about hands free." She smiled, looking down at Nora.

"Mom, I, I don't know what to say." He stated in awe.

"A thank you is all that's needed. Honestly, Elijah, babies are hard work, you can ask for help." She answered.

"Thanks, Mom." He shrugged sheepishly.

But when Elizabeth stood and tried to give Elijah his daughter back, he retreated away.

"What's wrong?" His Mom asked, concerned cradling the baby girl back into her chest.

"I can't take her." He answered, hanging his head in shame.

"What?" His Mom looked confused.

"It's started, Mom. Solum rabidus I mean." He gulped. "I can't hurt her, I wouldn't survive it." Elijah's head hung low, tears in his eyes. "I need to find my mate, or I will die, and I can't take her down with me, she is too precious, I can't be trusted."

"Okay, look Elijah I can take Nora home for a few days, let you rest and recover. But, there is no need for such a radical decision now, when you're exhausted, My Boy. A few days and you will be itching for her chaos again, I promise." Elizabeth offered, sighing at seeing her son was at a loss.

Elijah sighed, still shaking his head. When he raised it Elizabeth could see the tears on his cheeks, the conflicting emotions running across his face.

"What aren't you telling me, Elijah?" Elizabeth asked, her voice full of concern.

"I almost shook her, Mom. She wouldn't stop crying, and my head was pounding. I.. I.. I didn't, I put her down, and I went outside, but what if next time I.." Elijah broke off from his confession, his fear was written all over his face before it disappeared into his hands in despair, "I need my mate, to be able to look after Nora, but what if my mate won't want me because of her. Mom, what do I do then? What do I do now?"

Elizabeth was shocked by her son's confession, but she could see the desperation written all over his face, and it was like he was a lost little boy again. Like the time when he was unsure about his lone run in the woods, the one that her father pressured him into. It was so dark that night, and he was only five years old. But her Dad in his arrogance had insisted, his heir could do it. She wasn't able to help him then, but now she could.

"Your father and I will raise her, Elijah." she stated with a steady voice. "To everyone else, she will be your baby sister. I'm not menopausal yet, so it can be done. You will be able to see and spend as much time with her as you are able." She said with tears in her eyes, "And, she will be safe, you have my word on that. Nora will be loved, and kept safe from any harm, and she will still in a way be yours." Elizabeth vowed.

"Mom, I.." Elijah started. "What about Dad?"

"John, will agree with me on this. We wont lose either of you, and he always wanted a little girl to chase the boys away from." She smirked.

Elijah felt a bit of the creeping darkness ease up off of him. This could work.

"Can I have one last night with her?" He asked, unsure but not quite prepared to see her walk out the door with Nora just yet.

"Of course, Darling." His Mom went to him, wrapping her arm about him and depositing his daughter in his arms. "Your Dad, and I will come to get her tomorrow?" She asked back, as she began to retreat from the room.

"You'll keep her safe?" He asked, holding a sleeping Nora close to him, as his Mom paused in the doorway.

"Always, I promise you Elijah, no harm will come to Nora Lupus. I will always keep her protected." She nodded, before leaving Elijah alone again with his daughter, for their last night together as parent and child.

"Zachary!" Elijah roared, still standing in Nora's empty bedroom five minutes later. There was a new steely determination settled throughout him.

"Yes, Eli?" Zachary answered, noticing the change in Elijah's countenance. There was a definite coldness radiating from him.

"John and Elizabeth Lawrence have four days to get off my land. They are no longer part of this pack." He spat, their names with disdain.

"What! Elijah you can't..." Zachary began, appalled at this decision.

"Alpha." Elijah interrupted sternly. "You mean Alpha. And as such, I think you will find, I can."

Zachary looked at his friend, horrified. He was banishing his parents, and after such a loss. How could he? But when he spoke again, Zachary was left with chills, at the underlying threat in his voice.

"Also, get Kalvin Merrier on the phone. No excuses. I need him to do two things for me."

"Oh?" Zachary asked, unsure of who it was standing in front of him, and entirely unaware of what to say back.

"Firstly, I want his security firm to upgrade every school on my territory, you will over see it personally. This doesn't get to happen again. Am I clear? In Nora's name, no child will be harmed again. I don't care if they look like fucking prisons rather than schools in the end. The children will be safe." He snarled, in fury.

"Right. Alpha." Zachary nodded. "And secondly?" He asked, afraid of the answer.

"It's time my fucking mate came home. No more nonsense. She is mine and it is about time she acted that way! Or there will be consequences."

Author's Note: I would love to hear your thoughts. B x.