Chapter 200 Alpha Davan's POV

Chapter 200 Road away from Vahl

Ira's POV

“And the healer?” I ask, making room for Cath to join us on the bed.

"She's gone," Sia confirms sadly.

"When?" I fail to hide the shock from my voice.

"Last month." Cath stares at her hands folded in her lap. "She never recovered from her wounds."

The silence stretches and I let it, because there is nothing to say that can fill the hollow.

"After that, people just..." Sia gestures to the empty hallway beyond the partially open door. "Left. One by one. The base became a graveyard, literally. Nobody wanted to stay somewhere like that without a healer.

"I don't blame them," I say quietly.

"Neither do I." Cath murmurs.

Sia is quiet for a moment. Then she looks at me sideways, and I can tell she has been holding this particular question for a while.

"Ira, Ben was sent after Omar and Elric. That was the last time anyone heard from him or saw him. I… I don't know if you maybe…” her eyes turn teary. "Have you? Heard anything about where he might be?"

"Ben is in Veilfang," I tell her, gently rubbing her back. "He's safe. When things settle, he'll make his way back."

Sia throws herself on me. The breath that leaves her sounds almost painful. Her arms wrap tightly around my shoulders and she whispers, "Thank you."

I laugh softly, hugging her back. "You are welcome."

When she finally lets go, I turn toward Cath and my smile fades.

Her hair is much thinner than before, her skin pale. Even sitting upright seems to require effort.

I gently run my fingers through her hair and Cath stiffens immediately.

"Don't look at me with that sad face." She forces a smile. "I will be alright." She says. "And death is not that bad."

My chest tightens.

"I can help." I mutter.

Sia jerks so hard she nearly falls off the bed.

"Really?"

Cath's eyes widen. "Can you?"

"I think so." I nod slowly.

Hope flickers across both their faces.

"But it takes a toll on me," I continue. "I cannot do it now. Come with me to Veilfang. Once we get there, I will help you."

Cath nods eagerly.

"I may not be able to heal everything," I admit. "But I promise I will do my best. I am not willing to lose you yet, Cath."

The tears appear so suddenly that they catch me off guard.

Cath starts crying again. But this time she's not quiet at all.

"I love you so much." She sobs. I realize then that I have never seen her this vulnerable.

Before I can answer, Sia wipes at her eyes.
"Thank you so much. I was worried I would have to carry her coffin all by myself since she has nobody in her life except me."

Cath immediately smacks her arm. "Oh please." She scoffs, wiping her tears too. "You kike pretending you don't care but you cried when they locked you up."

"I did not." Sia denies.

"You absolutely did." Cath insists.

"I was emotional."

"You sat there crying because nobody was left to take care of me."

Sia rolls her eyes. "I was scared, okay. You're quite dumb you know. How was I supposed to know you could survive alone?"

Cath’s expression softens.

"Without Ira, you were my only friend." Sia murmurs.

For a moment neither of them says anything.

Then Sia grins. "Now Ira is back, I don’t need you anymore."

Cath gasps.

Sia sticks out her tongue childishly and I burst out laughing.

Somehow, after everything that has happened, they have not changed at all.

The next thing I know, sunlight is creeping through the windows.


Ruel doesn't let go of my hand when we step outside Vahl pack house, and I don't ask him to.

The morning air is cool and the courtyard is busy as everyone returns to their pack in different stages of departure.

Two alphas linger near their respective carriages, exchanging final words. I am watching the space between people when I hear Cath inhale sharply beside me.

"Holy shit." Her voice drops to a reverent whisper. "Who's daddy is that?"

I follow her line of sight to where Alpha Davan stands bidding farewell to one of the remaining alphas.

The sight of Cath reaching up to brush her thin hair back with full confidence and then cupping both hands beneath her chest makes me laugh before I can stop it.

"Alpha Davan," I answer.

"What?" she says, catching my expression. "If you didn't already have Commander Ruel, you would do the same thing. The man is freaking hot."

Ruel shakes his head beside me.

Alpha Davan crosses toward us and Cath's eyes track his every step with the focused attention of a woman with nothing to lose.

"Goddess, his mate is so damn lucky I'm a decent woman," she sighs. "Otherwise I'd be on my knees happily choking every morning."

"Cath." Sia's hiss is barely contained. "Everyone can hear your disgusting thoughts."

"Are these the girls you spoke about, Ira?" Alpha Davan asks the moment he's close enough.

"They are," I say.

"Alright. One of them can ride in your carriage and the other with me and Cael."

"I'll ride you, Alpha," Cath says.

Alpha Davan's gaze cuts to her with visible surprise.

"She means ride with you," I correct quickly.

"No," Cath says pleasantly. "I meant what I said."
She flips what remains of her hair with complete sincerity and I give up, looking away.

The sound of approaching footsteps turns every head at once, and before I see their faces, my body responds.

My aura rises to the surface of my skin, making my hair stand. The blue flame sits ready at my fingertips without a single conscious decision from my end.

My wolf focuses intently and I know she's ready for any attack.

Bukasvad covers me immediately while Ruel, although not knowing what's going on, pulls me firmly to his side.

"We've come to pay our respects to the future successor of Vahl pack throne," Claire says. "Valira."

"Don't pretend." I say sharply. "I am not taking the throne. I chose to remain with the pack that accepted me." I hold her gaze long enough to make the information sink in. "Guys let's go."

I am already turning when I see someone else again.

“Felisha,” Her name tastes bitter on my tongue.

"My child!" She exclaims, running toward me with her arms open.

My hand moves before I think it through. The first slap cracks across her left cheek and the second follows without pause. Felisha stumbles while I remain exactly where I am.

"You disgust me," I seethe. "I hope every day you have left feels exactly like the hell you deserve. I hope you wake up with sorrow and go to sleep with it."

"I raised you!" Her voice pitches high. "I gave you shelter!"
"You sold a little girl to a pervert." I take one step forward. "You were going to hand me over to Andre. You gave me shelter, yes. But at what cost?" My eyes sting but I refuse to blink. Ruel's hand presses against my back.

"Remember this. The next time you see me, hide. Because what happens to her will happen to you."

With that, I raise my arm and send the blue flame crashing into the head witch's chest. Claire drags backward across the ground before going still. That should give her pain to last a week.

I turn, allowing Ruel lead me toward the carriage.

The road away from Vahl opens ahead of us, and I know I won't be looking back.