Chapter 48

Kate POV:

"I feel uneasy," I say, pacing around the office while Lawrence sits, watching me intensely. "Something is about to happen. I don't get why he is on his way here and what his message means. Something is really fishy." I sigh, running my hand through my hair in frustration.

"Calm down, Kate," Lawrence says, calmly walking towards me.

He places his hand on my shoulders, making me relax. "He literally said I won't survive this time," I say, resting my head on his shoulder.

He lifts my chin, looking me in the eyes. "We are ready for anything that's going to come our way," he says with a smile.

I feel like I'm not even ready for what's coming my way.

"We are going to get through this together," he says, sensing my fear. "Don't stress."

I smile weakly. "Okay, let's get this over with," I say, pulling him out of the room towards the field where everyone is training.

"Kate, over here," Becca yells, waving from the field where she is training with Ethan.

I leave Lawrence's side and walk towards Becca and Ethan.

"Kate, I need your help," Becca says, glaring at Ethan playfully, who has a smirk on his lips.

"And for what, exactly?" I say, hiding my smile.

"Ethan is getting on my nerves because he thinks he has more fighting skills than me," she says.

"I have skills. Just admit it, Becca," he says, smirking and pulling Becca closer.

"You have skills, Ethan, when it comes to fighting," I say. Ethan grins widely while Becca frowns at me. "But my friend here," I smile mischievously, putting my hand on Becca's shoulder, "has skills in other aspects." I wink, making Becca blush.

"I know she does," Ethan says, laughing.

"Shut up," Becca says, lightly hitting Ethan on his belly.

"Your highness, Alpha Janes is close to the border with his warriors calling for war," I receive through the pack mind link.

"Okay, keep him from crossing the border. We will move everyone to the safe house." Safe house? I didn't know there was a safe house. "Jack, get all the warriors and come with me," Lawrence orders through the mind link.

"I am coming with you, right?" I ask. "There is no way I am leaving you alone," I mind link him privately.

"Kate, you stay back. I can't let you come with me," he says, pleading.

"No, you said we are in this together, so why are you leaving me out of this," I say, getting angry.

He is silent for a second before replying. "I can take care of this. Don't you worry,"

"I am coming with you," I say, not giving him any more thought to my decision.

"You will stay here," he orders, using his power. "Hunter, get Kate, Becca, and Grace to the safe house before joining us, okay?"

"Levi, go with Mum to the safe house while Alex, Dad, Melanie, and PA come with us," he orders.

He walks towards me, kissing me on my forehead before shifting into his lycan, running into the forest with the warriors tailing after him.

I plead with Lawrence through the mind link, but he blocks me out. I trail after Hunter, defeated by Lawrence's command.

I help the children and women into the safe house with the help of my girls. Hunter leaves after bringing me into the safe house. He assures me everything will be taken care of, but I still feel needed there and not here.

"You have to love something for you to protect it," the Moon Goddess's words echo in my mind.

"Tiara, what can we do?" I ask, reaching out to her.

"We are one with him, and he can't do this without us," she says.

"We have to do this" I strip off my clothes before shifting into my large white lycan, running out of the safe house through the forest.

The trees pass in a blur, my paws digging into the soil as I run at full speed.

The smell of blood and dirt fills my nostrils. I almost gag, but hold it in. I shift behind a tree before putting on my clothes.

I follow the scent towards the border, seeing dead wolves and dead bodies. I look around to find Ma's black and white wolf fighting off another wolf while Aunty Melanie is helping a much smaller wolf as her honey brown wolf.

Everyone is fighting, and wolves are getting killed. My dad's pack is getting the upper hand using their strength and numbers.

My dad's pack was never good when it came to fighting, and they were small in number, but from what I see, that has changed.

Something catches my eyes from the corner. A large brown wolf jumps in to attack Lawrence.

I use my strength, jumping and catching it before it can get anywhere close to Lawrence.

I pull myself up from the wolf. Lawrence rushes towards me, standing protectively in front of me.

He bites the wolf by the neck before turning around to face me. He growls at me. "I asked you to stay back," he mind links.

"Oh, you're welcome because I just saved your life," I snap sarcastically, glaring at the white lycan standing in front of me.

"Lawrence, let her be. You need her," Aunty Melanie mind links.

Lawrence groans while I smile at winning this round.

"You better be careful," he warns.

"I will. You are talking to an excellent fighter here," I say smugly but am cut off by the most annoying voice ever.

"Now, the whole family is complete," Alpha Janes says, walking towards us with a devilish smirk.

"What is all this, Alpha Janes," I say between clenched teeth.

"What is this?" he asks, feigning innocence. "This my revenge," he says with cold eyes, anger radiating off him.

"You were the one who tried to kill me," I say in shock.

Tears run down my eyes as the only hope of having fatherly love comes crashing down.

"What did I ever do to you. Why do you always hurt me," I yell, not caring how vulnerable I look in front of him.

Everyone shifts back to their human form.

Silence surrounds us, everyone watching the drama unfold. Lawrence tries wiping my tears away, but I stop him from doing so.

I am tired of acting strong. I want him to see the pain he caused me.

"You took my mate away, and you ask me what you did," he says, raising his voice.

"Dad!" Hunter yells, walking towards us with eyes dark with anger.

"Stop there. You know what she did, and you choose to forgive her," he says, stopping him from getting closer to me.

"Dad, all the anger is killing you," he says, walking towards me and ignoring his father's order. "I can't live like that anymore, and I am not letting you hurt her. You've done enough," he says.

"He is no longer himself," Aunty Melanie tells everyone through the mind link.

"What does that mean," I ask, confused.

"The Goddess of Darkness feeds on his anger to control his mind," she says, eyeing him in disgust.

"What can be done?" Lawrence asks.

"You can only set him free by stabbing his heart," she says warily.

"We can't do that." I know he is trying to kill me, but I can't end his life. He deserves a second chance. "Maybe I can get him to understand this all wrong. I believe there is love still in his heart for me," I add.

"If you are done chatting, let me know," he says, bored.

"Dad," I call, gaining his attention.

"I have told you countless times I am not your father," he says harshly.

"You are my dad. You brought me into this world," I say softly, walking cautiously towards him. "I know you believe I killed mum, but ..." I pause, waiting for him to say something harsh.

He says nothing, so I continue. "I was just a pup who needed motherly love, a mother to care for her, a mother I could cry on, a mother who I could learn from." His eyes soften. While staring intensely into his eyes, tears flow freely from mine.

"You lost your mate while I lost my mum. You feel pain, but do you feel the pain of not being good enough, pain that no one will ever love you, not even your family?" I say, pouring my feelings out without a care in the world, and it feels good.

"I feel that pain, and it hurts badly. It hurts to always act strong when all you need is someone to cry on," I say, wiping my tears.

"I always wished you could love me as your daughter. I tried getting your attention, and the only thing I could think of was to get in trouble. That was the only way for you to see that you also have a daughter and not just a son. You blame me for the death of your mate. I blame myself for coming to this world," I say, taking his hands in mine.

"Dad, this is your daughter who loves you with everything, who craves your attention and love." I hold his hands tightly, staring at him with pleading eyes.

"I need you in my life as my father and guardian," I say with a smile.

His eyes switch like he was conversing with his wolf, but it must be the Goddess of Darkness.

"Stop this, you witch," he snaps, holding me by my neck and lifting me off my feet.

The smile is still on my lips. "I'm sorry that I only ever mess things up. I'm sorry I'm a waste of space. I'm sorry I'm a waste of time. I'm sorry I'm such a burden. I'm sorry that I have a bad attitude. I'm sorry I can't do anything right," I say as calmly as possible, holding on to the last of my breath as the pressure gets stronger.

Lawrence and Hunter try rushing towards me but are stopped by Aunty Melanie and Ma.

"I'm sorry, but I forgive you," I say, letting go of my anger and hate.

Tears roll down his cheeks as he releases his hold on my neck. I fall on the ground, holding my neck to ease the burning sensation and get much-needed air into my lungs.

"My pup," he says, looking at his hands like they are foreign to him.

My eyes widen in shock. He just called me his pup. He falls on his knees, hugging me tightly like it's the last time he ever will.

We cry together. He pulls back, staring at me intensely. "I am sorry for what I have done to you," he pleads.

"I forgive you," I say sincerely.

"My son, come here," he calls for Hunter.

Hunter rushes towards us, joining in the hug.

"Take care of your sister, okay?" he says with a smile.

"I will," Hunter replies with a smile.

He looks up towards Lawrence. "Thank you for putting a smile on my daughter's face. Be with her always," he says while Lawrence replies with a nod.

"Thank you, Alex, for taking care of her and teaching her all that she knows. I can never repay you for your kindness," he says.

"It was my duty," Ma says with a nod.

"Thank you all for being the strength in her life." He glances back at us with a smile. "Hunter, I want you to lead the pack with integrity. Never follow my path because you will lose everything in the end," he says, patting his shoulder.

"Kate, it's time," he says softly.

"Time for what?" I ask, confused.

"You have to kill me," he states.

"Wh-what? Why would I do that?" I ask in shock.

"Kate, this is the only thing you can do to set me free," he says, pleading.

"No, I can't do this," I say, shaking my head in disbelief.

"Kate, listen to me. You have to do this," Hunter says, holding my hand.

"I can't hold on anymore. She is gaining control," he begs.

"Okay," I say. My claws push into his chest, ripping out his heart as my fangs dig through his neck.

He groans in pain as tears run down from my eyes, whining at the pain.

Cries of agony fill the air. "No, no, no!"

I remove my fangs, feeling his lifeless body under me. Lawrence pulls me into a hug.

I cry bitterly. Lawrence hugs me tightly, sending hope through the mind link. "It's alright," he says, playing with my hair.

I release him from the hug, nodding in reply. I walk towards Ma, hugging her tightly. "It's okay, my dear." She pats my back.

"So, what's next?" Anderson asks warily.

"It's not over yet," Aunty Melanie says as the clouds grow darker, and smoke descends.

"She's here," Ma says in fear.