SEVENTY SIX

SEVENTY SIX
CAMILLE'S POV

"Beta Neal," the sentinel bowed in response. But Neal had his eyes trained on me.

"You can leave," he told the sentinel.

The sentinel immediately obeyed, leaving just the two of us.

"I received news of Eva's servant's arrest on charges of accessory to murder, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, accessory to bioterrorism, and manslaughter. With such substantial allegations, it's certain that Eva will face significant time behind bars. Why hesitate to act?" Neal inquired.

"Because I worry about Dimitri. He is currently grieving the death of Milana. He thinks it is a suicide now. I just want to make sure he can manage the truth before I spill that Eva murdered her. This is someone he trusted. I'm not sure how he will take having his whole world crumble before him. I have been through that hell once, and it is not easy to recover from."

"Wouldn't leaving Eva to roam free be more dangerous? I always had a bad feeling about the woman, but I never got anything solid. This revelation and the situation of things tell me we should not dally around. Time is of the essence. Dimitri will be hurt. There is no doubt about it. But I am his Beta. I only want what is best for him. Revealing the sins Eva has committed as soon as possible is necessary. Dimitri already blames himself for the death of Milana. His mental state is fragile as it is. I understand why you are torn. But I need Dimitri to know he isn't to be blamed."

"You know, Dimitri. You know him well. I might not have had years with him. But I trust the bond I share with him. Do you think revealing this now would absolve Dimitri of his guilt? He brought Eva here. He made her an honored wolf among Lycans because he believed he saved her. When that comes crashing down, thanks to the truth, will it make things better?"

Neal sighed heavily, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "You make valid points, Camille. Dimitri's mental well-being is paramount, especially during this difficult time of grieving. But we cannot ignore the potential danger posed by Eva if she remains free. Her actions have caused irreparable harm, and allowing her to continue unchecked could lead to further devastation."

I paused, my gaze shifting to a flickering torch as if searching for answers in the burning ribbons of light. Neal was making a valid point. My goal was to put Eva in a tight corner and give her no room but to show her canines. But how could I be sure she wouldn't bite hard, knowing there was nothing left to lose?

"Can he just have today to grieve? For one day, his pain should be just this. When the time is right, we can reveal the truth in a way that minimizes the impact on him."

Neal nodded thoughtfully, considering my suggestion. "One day may be all Dimitri needs to begin processing his grief. It pains me to say, but with all he has had to see since childhood, he will come to terms with things quickly. I do understand you. I know it is crucial that we approach this delicately for Dimitri's sake. On the other hand, I'll have sentinels watching Eva's every move discreetly to ensure she doesn't do anything rash or brazen."

I felt a weight lift from my shoulders at Neal's agreement. "Thank you, Neal. I know it was a difficult decision for you to make."

We made our way up and out of the crypt. The smell of fresh air was an immediate relief.

"So what are you doing now?" Neal asked.

"I have to get to the kids. With all the ominous news, I'm sure they must be in shock. Sophia admired Milana."

"The kids do not know of her passing," Neal assured me. "While you and Dimitri were passed out yesterday, I hired a capable caretaker. Werewolf. I also warned the guards in the morning not to mention Milana's suicide or allude to it around the kids. They are blissfully unaware."

I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for Neal's foresight in shielding the children from the harsh realities of the situation. "Thank you for handling that, Neal."

Neal nodded in agreement. "Don't mention it, Camille. My protection doesn't only cover my Alpha. But it also covers you and your kids. If the situation ever demands it, I am willing to lay down my life for any of you."

I managed a brief smile as we walked through the corridors of the palace. I couldn't shake the heaviness that hung in the air.

I couldn't get something Eva had said out of my head.

"...You just had to swoop in and destroy what they had. Is that your destiny, sister? To middle people's lives like you did with mine?"

I wanted it not to bother me. Goddess knows I had blocked it out more times than I could count.

But it refused to go completely. Because a huge chunk of me believed that there was some truth to those words.

Suppose the druids hadn't revealed that Eva was a false child. I would have been with the Gallaghers. They wouldn't have to die. My bio father wouldn't have to die, and all those werewolves would not have to suffer in an explosion. There was probably more I didn't know about. But this wound was fresh. Milana was dead because of me.

I wondered if the druids had seen that. I wondered if they knew all these horrible things would happen and still chose to be callous with something as heavy as the truth.

But now wasn't the time for that. I could self-loathe later. I had to focus on the tasks at hand, on supporting Dimitri through his grief and ensuring that justice was served for Milana.

When we eventually reached the entrance to my quarters, I paused and turned to Neal.

"We should talk later in the evening. I'll see you in the garden."

"Sure," Neal nodded.

He paused for a while before adding. "The kids are at the dining room having breakfast."

"Hmmmm," I acknowledged.

With a final nod, I turned towards my door and turned the knob open. The weight of exhaustion settled into my bones. The events of today had taken their toll, leaving me drained both physically and emotionally.

When I entered the room, a wave of disarray greeted me.

Clothes were strewn haphazardly across the floor, rumpled papers scattered everywhere, and the bed was left unmade. It was a stark reflection that the last-minute babysitter just let the kids do what they want.

With a determined sigh, I set to work tidying up the room, a small act of control for me amidst everything that was going on.

Methodically, I folded clothes, tossed the papers into the bin, and straightened the bedding.

It was comforting to gain some sort of control back.

I was trying to pull the covers over the bed when a shrill ring interrupted me. It was my ringtone, and I had remembered leaving my phone in the room before going for dinner last night.

I searched around for it with my eyes because the sound seemed to be coming from everywhere before a glint caught my eye.

My phone was left forgotten on the dresser, probably put there by one of the kids, its screen illuminated with an incoming call

Hastily crossing the room, I reached for the phone to see who was calling. But as I lifted it from the dresser, my gaze met my reflection in the mirror, and something snapped. A floodgate I was certain was sealed burst open.

Tears welled in my eyes as I stared at the woman before me. Her face was just a mask—a mask of weariness and... guilt. The weight of everything I believed I had kept buried somewhere empty in my soul seemed to bear down on me at that moment, threatening to engulf me entirely.

Whatever control I had over my mobility crumbled. The phone I was clutching to slipped from between my hands, and I sank to the floor.

Silent sobs wracked my body. How had it come to this? How had I become so entangled in this constant twist and pull from the universe?

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and guilt clawed at my insides with ruthless intensity.

Each sob that wracked my body was accompanied by a wish, a desperate longing to turn back time and undo the irreversible.

How I wished I had never been found, never been dragged into this nightmare of the universe's making.

If only I could rewind the clock and rewrite the script of my life, maybe then I could spare myself the agony of having to suffer again and again.

At some point, it was getting exhausting. It was getting frustrating. The people I loved died because of me, and now even the people I barely knew were being dragged into my personal hell.

"You deserve to be alive." A voice at the back of my head told me.

My wolf was trying to offer some comfort.

I wish it helped. I wish it felt genuine, at least. But wishing was a cruel companion, offering no comfort, only regret.

Each memory, each moment replayed in my mind like a cruel filmstrip, each scene a testament to the brutal truth.

"People do not have to suffer for me to have a life. People do not have to die for me to live."

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms as if punishing myself for the sins I believed I had committed.

"You and I were forged in the extinction of those who danced with the sea. But it was not our fault. Just as the tragic deaths of your parents, Sophia, and Collins Gallagher were not your fault. Nor is the cruel murder of Milana. We can either succumb as victims to the relentless wheel of the universe, or we can harness its spinning momentum to shape our destinies. It is what your mother would have wanted."

I chuckled dryly. "Which one?"

Without warning and my active intent, my hands began to glow with an ethereal light.

This was new. It made me sit up.

"What is happening? What are you doing?"

The glow continued to spread, enveloping my entire body. Its brilliance was so blinding that it momentarily robbed me of sight.

When my vision finally adjusted, I found myself staring into the eyes of a woman who had a gentle smile.

In the background, a distant voice yet familiar voice whispered urgently, "Luna Bo, you are hemorrhaging."

Bo. Bo? Why did the name seem so familiar? What was this? A memory?

The woman brought me closer, which made me realize this wasn't an out-of-body experience like the other memories. I was in a body. A much smaller body.

The woman holding me and smiling at me was young. She had fair skin that looked almost dewy from sweating and dark brown hair.

She has a pensive, slightly serious expression on her face, which hinted at some distress that she twas trying desperately to hide.

But her features were striking nonetheless, and I couldn't seem to take my eyes off her large, expressive eyes, full lips, and prominent nose.

"I might not make it, baby girl." She told me.

"Luna Bo! Don't say that! I have put a call through to your mother. She will be here soon." The voice in the background, which I was starting to believe was the Salutary or midwife, spoke.

Then it clicked. Bo De'Crescent. My biological mother. Did my wolf show me this memory? Our first memory. One I didn't even remember.

"What shall I name you, just in case?"

With my mother's gaze fixed upon me, I felt a sudden sense of responsibility, a desire to reassure her, to give her hope in the face of uncertainty. But when I tried to speak, nothing happened.

My lips moved, but no words escaped them.

My mother smiled gently, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"You look like a fighter. You look like you grow up to be an incredible woman. Better still, you look like you wouldn't let the shackles of life hold you back. You will be nothing like the women you descended from." she said. "A befitting name for a free-born noble like you would be Camille."

"Camille," she repeated, testing the name on her lips. "Yes, Camille. My daughter."