Chapter 68

Diamond

"What do you mean?" I was getting nervous. The way he asked that question was like he knew who we were, but that was impossible.

"Are you like them?" he asked again, placing emphasis on them. He said it with disgust. Like he couldn't imagine being associated with something so vile.

"They are not them. They are my sisters." Now I was getting angry. I dare he be so offensive and judgemental.

"You do not share blood. So there is a chance that you're different. That you're not, how should I say, abnormal."

"What are you implying?"

"Make no mistake, this is not an implication. The evidence surrounding these events is too powerful to ignore. All of it can be traced back to one of them. Once the trial starts I will be able to prove it."

I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't allow him to be biased when the fate of our kind rested with us. There is no telling what would happen if charges were brought or accusations made against us.

"Neither of us have done anything wrong. You can't just persecute innocent people."

"Maybe not. But something tells me the rest of the Council won't feel they are so innocent."

This couldn't be happening. Not when everything was going so well.

"I won't let you do this. You're meant to be fair. You said you understood how much they meant to me."

He looked at me and I saw doubt. But it only lasted a moment.

"This isn't about us. This about what's best. If they are thought to be a threat to our kind I will eliminate them."

Sapphire

I walked into the room where River was waiting. He had been amazing through all of this. I hadn't even told him how much. I appreciated his patience, his understanding. I felt like he had grown so much in such a short time.

"We have to leave soon." I said rubbing his shoulders.

"I know." I could tell he was stressed and had a lot on his mind.

"What's wrong?" I asked hoping he would open up to me.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? Are you seriously asking me what's wrong Sapphire?" He was angry. I didn't know what I has done to set him off this way.

"Yes. What did I do?" His expression softened, but the anger he felt was still brewing.

"It's not what you did. It's everything. I've been away from my pack. I'm a damn alpha and I might as well hand it over to my beta with the leadership I've displayed lately. We have enemies that don't even concern us. I've tried to protect you and those you love. I've tried to reconcile for the things I've done. But I can't keep doing this when I don't even know what the hell for. Do you know how dangerous this trail could be? Do you know what could happen? I'm risking everything including you just to be left in the dark."

All the things that he felt and wanted to say for so long finally surfaced. I understood. If I were him I would feel the same way. Never had I thought for a second that I was asking too much of him. I just assumed as my mate he was obligated. I didn't think about the pressure he was under. Or how frustrating and confusing all of this was for him. I had been selfish. I wanted all of him. I wanted him to be open and honest with me. But I hadn't been willing to do the same.

"You're right. I'm sorry," I told him truthfully. At first I was able to justify keeping our secret. I had just met him and he had conquered our pack, destroying my home. I didn't know the first thing about him or if he could change. Not to mention it wasn't just my secret to keep. Now that I knew him better, that I could see he cared for me truly, I had no excuse for keeping secrets from him.

He looked at me surprised. As though sorry was the last thing he expected me to say.

"I have been selfish and you deserve more from me," I confessed.

"I have asked too much of you. I just expected you to go along with whatever because I'm your mate. You have responsibilities and I haven't taken everything you've given up into consideration. I also haven't acted much like a luna." The more I thought about it the more ashamed I felt. It wasn't just him that the pack needed, it was both of us. I hadn't even thought much about them. Sure saving my sisters was most important. We were doing this for the greater good. But that didn't mean I wasn't also needed elsewhere. I had to do a better job of balancing things. I needed perspective. That could only happen if I openly communicated with River.

"I have some things to tell you and I need you to listen," he nodded and waited for me to continue.

"When I first met you it was a shock. You know that. I didn't know anything except you had been the enemy. I wasn't sure if I could trust you with the biggest secret of my life. I needed time. You have given me more than enough. I am grateful for everything you have done which is why I'm telling you this. I am not a normal wolf. You were right to think so. The incident with the child. The water when Diego took Crystal. It was all because of me."

He looked shocked and confused.

"I was chosen by the Moon Goddess to put a stop to all the endless wars, conquering and other violence that has caused the death of our kind. I was meant to bring peace and end the constant struggle and need to gain territory and power. So when I was paired with you I couldn't understand why. Especially after what you had done. But then I saw the change in you. You started to see that lives were more important than land and power. I started to feel like I could actually do what I was destined to do. The closer we got the more my powers started to develop and grow. I am still learning about them and how to control them."

He was silent for a while. I didn't know if what I said would make a difference to him or if he would even believe me.

"When you said before that it wasn't just your secret. Did you mean all of you? Are all six of you chosen?"

"Yes." I was nervous about admitting it but there was no turning back now.

"When I was a boy I had dreams. Dreams about a world like the one you described where there was peace. As I got older I was taught that an alpha was weak if he didn't conquer. That such a world could never exist because it's in our nature to live the way we do. Believe it or not I never wanted anyone to die. As time passed I justified each and everyone of my actions. It was killed or be killed. I had others depending on me. Little ones in the pack that looked up to me. I couldn't let them down. I had to do what needed to be done to protect them. Then you came along. You reminded me of who I used to be. What I used to believe. I begin to think maybe you could chase away some of the demons that haunted me with your light," he looked at me in awe.

"I never thought I was truly good enough for you. I never imagined that you would truly forgive me. I thought your secrets were about wanting to leave me or at the very least making me spend years trying to make it up to you."

"I would never leave you. I don't think I could even if I tried," I told him honestly.

"You are so much more than I could have ever hoped for. I don't care that you're not normal. I don't care that you have abilities that I will probably never understand. You were chosen for me. That's all that matters. I blame myself for you not being able to tell me the truth. I understand that you did what you needed to do. But you have to understand that keeping this secret was dangerous. You're too important to jeopardize. More now than ever. If this gets out it could be disastrous."

"I know which is why I needed to tell you before the trial. I don't know what will come out. I didn't want you to be blindsided."

"I'm glad you did. Maybe now I can protect you properly. I can deny anything that would incriminate you."

"But if they find out you lied-" I couldn't allow him to take that chance it was too risky.

"You're more valuable than I could ever be. I'll deal with the consequences if that happens but you've got to be careful. The others as well. The Council is dangerous, especially Xander."

"But he's mated to Diamond."

"Then he's deadly."