Chapter 24 Episode Twenty Four

Chapter 24 Episode Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Four
Diana’s POV
Some things excitement would do to you, you just can’t explain it
By the next morning, I woke up early with butterflies in my belly, I mean, why wouldn't I ? Calum was coming home today and I couldn’t wait to see him
I did my chores faster than usual and kept checking my phone for updates, every car sound I heard, I jumped to the window to check 
Its honestly funny, how just weeks ago, I was running away and avoiding him…but now, these past three days seemed to stretch to three centuries all because he was not there
As I dressed up in the most sluttiest clothing I owned, which was a white halter neck top and a very mini black leather skirt
But then I remembered something very important…
Today was my day off and I had been planning to use it to visit Amaryllis
I hadn’t seen my sister in almost two months and the guilt was eating me alive
The problem was visiting her meant going back to the pack that had thrown me out
The same pack keeping my baby sister hostage
But I had to see her
I packed a small bag with snacks and a stuffed animal I had bought for Amaryllis with part of my last paycheck
Then I caught the bus to the outskirts of pack territory and headed to the place I dreaded most
The painful journey took three long hours
I got off and walked the rest of the way, staying on the edges where I was less likely to be spotted by anybody who knew me
If they caught me I would be punished severely and publicly humiliated 
Or worse, they would make sure I never saw Amaryllis again
I made my way through the forest until I reached the cluster of small houses where lower ranking pack members lived
Amaryllis lived with an older woman named Margaret who was assigned to look after her until she turned ten
I circled around to the back and peeked through the window
My heart jumped….literally…when I saw her, she was sitting at the kitchen table scribbling sometjing in a book
Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she looked so much thinner than last time I saw her
The least he could do is provide decent food for her
Karina said sadly and a sudden wave of sadness crashed through me
With a heavy heart, I tapped gently on the window and she looked up
When she saw me her whole face lit up and she jumped out of her chair
She ran to the back door and threw herself into my arms
“Diana! You came! You really came!”
I hugged her tight
“Of course I came. I told you I would”
She pulled back with tears in her eyes
“I thought you forgot about me”
“Oh! Baby, I would never”
I came down to her eye level and said, as I wiped her tears away
“I could never forget you, Amy” she sniffled but still held me tight 
“Then why haven’t you come to get me yet?”
My chest hurt at that question that for a moment I was silent before finding the right words
“I’m working on it, okay? I just need a little more time”
“How much more time?” She cried and I forced a smile
“Not much longer, baby, I promise”
She looked down, biting her lips and my face became alarmed 
She never did that unless something was wrong 
“What happened, Any?” I urged and she just bur hardder on her lips before finally speaking 
“The Alpha heir came to visit me last week”
My blood went cold
“Why?”
“He wanted to see me, he said he wanted to make sure I was growing up properly”
She made a face
“He’s scary Diana and he looks at me weird”
The Alpha heir was already visiting her and she wasn’t even ten yet
“Did he touch you…anywhere?” I asked carefully
“No. Margaret was there the whole time, but he said when I turn ten I’ll have to move into the pack house with him”
“That’s not going to happen” I said firmly
“I’m going to get you out before then”
“But how? You don’t have any money”
“I have a job now and I’m going to college. By the time you turn ten I’ll have enough money to petition the courts for custody”
“I’m scared Ana, what if they say no?”
“They won’t. I won’t let them”
She hugged me again and I held her close
How could they promise her to a grown man like she was property?
“I brought you something”
I pulled out the stuffed animal
It was a small wolf with soft grey fur and her eyes lit up the moment she saw it
“For me?”
She took it and hugged it to her chest
“I love it so much, thank you”
We sat on the back steps and she told me about school and her friends
I soaked up every word, trying to memorize her voice and smile
But our time was cut short when I heard footsteps
“Well well well. Look who decided to come crawling back”
I turned and saw Elder Marcus with his arms crossed
He had been one of the loudest voices demanding my exile
“I’m just visiting my sister”
I stood up and put myself between him and Amaryllis
“You’re trespassing”
“She’s my sister. I have a right to see her”
“You have no rights here”
He looked at me with disgust
“You’re nothing but a stray now”
“That’s not true”
“I beg to differ, I mean tske a look at yourself, you’re still poor and pathetic”
He walked closer as the words rolled off his tongue
“You think you can take care of this girl? You can barely even take care of yourself”
“I’m working and I’m going to college”
He laughed
“College? No decent pack will take you in and no decent wolf will mate with you. You’re damaged goods, Diana, face it already ”
His words hurt like fire but I didn’t let it show
“And who says I need a pack? I just need my sister”
“Too bad then, the girl belongs here as the Alpha heir has claimed her and when she comes of age she’ll be his”
“She’s nine years old!”
“That’s pack law. Strong wolves claim their mates early to ensure bloodlines stay pure”
“No! Its disgusting” I yelled back and his face turned red
“You don’t get to judge us”
He grabbed my arm roughly
“Now get out”
“Let go of me”
“Leave now and don’t come back. If I catch you here again I’ll make sure you never see the girl again”
I looked back at Amaryllis
She was crying and holding her stuffed animal
“I’ll come back for you” I told her
“I promise”
“No you won’t” Elder Marcus said
“Because if you try, I’ll make sure the courts know you’re unstable. They’ll never give you custody”
I wanted to fight but I knew it would make things worse
So I walked away with tears streaming down my face and my heart breaking
I walked through the forest until I couldn’t hear Amaryllis crying anymore
Then I collapsed against a tree and sobbed
I had failed her
I was still failing her
But I wouldn’t give up
I would find a way to save her
No matter what it took
Even if it meant asking Calum for help
Even if it meant exposing our relationship
Even if it meant risking everything
Amaryllis was worth it
I dried my tears and started the walk back
By the time I got to the mansion it was late evening and I was exhausted
I walked through the front door and almost ran into someone
Calum
He was home
He took one look at my face and his expression darkened
“What happened? Where were you?”
I opened my mouth but no words came out
Instead I just broke down crying
He immediately pulled me into his arms and held me
“It’s okay, I’ve got you”
He said, but did he?