Chapter 59: 59 - Don't Hold Grudges

~Hunter’s Point of View~

“Baby, are you okay, where are you hurt,” I said, picking up my Lilly and holding her.

“Mostly just scratches, Gunner wouldn’t let them really hurt me but I was still trying to get a few swipes in,” she said with a smile.

“Even though I told her ass to run,” Chance said, wincing as Angel began assessing his wounds.

“They would have just loved the chase, I didn’t see the point,” she defended herself.

“Chance man, we owe you the biggest favor imaginable, thank you so much,” River said, kissing Lilly’s cheek.

Lilly pulled back from River and threw her hands in the air.

“Oh no! Mom, Grammy, Daisy and Sunny were left back at the house ... are they okay,” Lilly said, panting and out of breath.

My heart stopped, not even realizing that we did leave them there. Surely someone had checked on them, or the fairy stayed with them?

“What happened to Max,” I demanded.

“The Beta snapped his neck, nothing I could do. I couldn’t help anyone else, Lilly was my only concern,” Chance said.

Chance was always all about business, straight and to the point. I tried to be like that but if I was with my brothers, there was almost the likelihood of getting easily sidetracked.

“Let’s get out of here then,” Angel said and within seconds we were back in our yard.

I immediately noted seven dead wolves in the grass and the entire White Star pack sitting around with the ladies. Some were still shifted. Thank the Goddess! I instinctively put my hand over my heart to make sure it wasn’t beating out of my chest.

“Mommy, Grammy,” Lilly said, running toward them. I quickly realized she was naked and a part of me freaked out about all these men seeing her ... but hell, we were all naked.

“I knew my Rocky was just down at Daisy’s house and in range so I mind-linked him, they were able to run here in just a few minutes. Most of Gunner’s wolves chased after you all so we didn’t have a lot to deal with, but we held our own until the pack got here,” Jasmine explained.

She looked so proud of herself, even though she was a mess. She still looked a lot better than we did but she’d probably had a bit of time to heal by now.

“Oh thank the Goddess,” Lilly cried.

“Your little sis is a fierce fighter, just needs some training huh,” Jasmine said, elbowing Sunny.

Sunny blushed but enjoyed the compliment.

Yeah right, who would keep the mall in business if Sunny became a fighter, I mind-linked to my brothers. They both snickered back to me.

Lilly’s brother ran toward us in his wolf form and quickly shifted back. He reached forward and wiped some blood off Lilly’s face.

“Who is the hero, who got Gunner,” Ridge asked.

“Yeah you won’t believe this shit,” Skyler said, sarcastically.

We looked around for Tyson and I flicked my head toward him. Ridge gaped at me in shock. We all spoke for a few more minutes and filled each other in on the events of the night.

Tyson quietly laid in the grass on the far edge of the yard, covered in blood, lost in himself and not seeming to care about anything going on around him. I guessed he had a lot on his mind.

As much as I hated to admit it, it seemed like he’d been dealt a shitty hand in life, and tonight had been pretty damn insane. I looked at my sweet little mate and she was staring at him. Buck growled and demanded I take her in the house.

“I want to talk to him alone,” Lilly said.

“No fucking way,” Skyler said, absolutely.

“You’re ALL right here, what’s he going to do? Come on, we’ll still be in the yard, my whole pack is right here,” she persisted.

River growled. Sunny came running out with a dress for Lilly and some wet towels for us. We were all pretty bloody and messy. It felt incredible to be able to wipe my face clean.

“Thanks sis,” Lilly said. Sunny winked at her.

Lilly put on her dress, kissed each of us and walked over to Tyson, and sat in the grass next to him and handed him a towel.

~Tyson’s Point of View~

It was over, my father was dead, by my own canines. Well, technically Godfrey drained him, but he would have bled out in a couple minutes. It was incredibly ironic I thought, since my dad hated vampires so badly.

I laid in the cool grass, covered in his blood, my blood, all kinds of blood. I stared up at the perfect night sky, it was so clear.

I’d never felt more absolutely lost and alone. Did I miss my old life? Hell no, there was absolutely no going back.

I heard a lot of chatter around me but it all faded into the background. What the hell was I going to do now? No way was I joining another pack. Who would even have me? Son of the mental and deranged Alpha? Yeah right.

“Hey,” I heard, as someone laid next to me.

I would absolutely know that scent anywhere. It was all I dreamed about for the last ten years.

She handed me a wet towel and I took it, wiping my face and hands.

“Thanks,” I said, putting the towel over my lap once I was done with it.

“Tyson, I-”

“No Ellie please … oh, I mean Lilly,” I sighed.

“There is literally no way I could ever have the words necessary to apologize to you. Everything I did, everything my dad did, my pack … Goddess … it was all so awful. I really had no idea about your pack being there the whole time, your family, please believe me in that. My dad made me so crazy for you, I mean it didn’t take much, you're absolutely beautiful, everything someone could want in a mate,” I said.

I turned to face her, even soaked in blood she looked like an angel. Her perfect blonde hair was matted and nasty, but it didn’t matter.

Even with three marks on her, knowing I could never touch her again, it didn’t matter. She was safe, and she would be loved and cared for, like she deserved.

Her eyes met mine and we just stared at each other.

“You more than deserve the triplets, and you deserve not to live in fear anymore. I’m just … I’m so fucking sorry Lilly, I should have done more to help you. But I can’t change the past,” I said.

“I appreciate you apologizing… as crazy as it is to say I … I don't hate you. I don't particularly want to see you anymore but I don't hate you. Your father told me some things, he never ever planned to let you have me. We found out that not only did he put a spell on me to suppress my wolf, but also to keep me from having pups by anyone but him, both were broken," she said.

I immediately sat up, infuriated all over again.

"What? How the fuck… Emily that damn bitch, unreal! Lilly I swear I knew nothing about any spells, you have to believe that," I said.

Skyler came creeping near us and Lilly raised her hand to tell him that she was okay.

"I don't believe you did," she said.

"It's a crazy dynamic. I mean, you were my basically only friend for so long. It was quite a fucked up friendship, if I can use that word. Since it was mostly one-sided but I mean we grew up together. We learned so much about life together," she said.

"But I hurt you, countless times. No horseback riding lessons or swimming lessons can make up for all the times I snuck into your room--"

"Shhh, don't say it," she said.

It was quiet for a minute and I didn’t know what to say.

“Promise you’ll fly straight, do everything right from now on,” she said.

“I will, I mean I feel like my life was never really my own, you know what kind of command and stronghold my dad had over everyone. I need to find myself, be my own person. I don’t know how I’m going to do it though, I have nothing. I’m not joining another pack. I’m going to see if there’s any way in hell they might let me be a Shadow,” I said.

It was really the only thing I could do, but these guys were impressive as hell and all the different creatures were so badass.

“I have no clue how all that works but if there’s a way I can … vouch for you or something, I would. I mean I did spend half my life watching you train, you know how to fight that’s for sure,” she said.

She turned to look at me again and gave me a little smile. I didn’t even deserve it, but it tugged at my heart and relaxed me.

“I’m really glad you found your mates, I mean really. They’ll be great for you, you’ll have the life you deserve,” I said, sincerely.

“Who knows, yours is still out there,” she said.

I laughed. I didn’t deserve a mate, that was for sure.

“We’ll see, maybe one day,” I said.

She went to stand up and I did too, wrapping the bloody towel around myself.

“Thanks for talking to me Lilly, I know it wasn’t easy,” I said.

Damn I wanted to hug her, one last time but I knew everyone here would rip me to shreds. I was sure she sensed it.

“Good luck,” she said, and turned to walk away.