Chapter 152

Chapter 152
  Laura stood at the edge of what used to be her home. The Silver Moon pack territory stretched out before her. Empty, broken and dead.
  "Are you sure about this?" Lucian asked her softly.
  Laura nodded. She had to see it. Had to face what Kieran had done to the place where she'd grown up.
  "I'm sure," she said.
  The four of them walked through the ruins together. Laura's heart broke with every step. Houses were burned down. The pack hall was destroyed. Every single thing was gone.
  "He really did destroy everything," Dante said quietly.
  "Not everything," Laura said. "I survived."
  They walked to the center of the territory. Where the great oak tree used to stand in the middle of the pack hall. Now there was just a burned stump.
  "This is where we had our ceremonies," Laura said. "Where I became Luna and where he chose Elise."
  Zephyr touched her shoulder. "You don't have to do this."
  "Yes, I do," Laura said. "I need to."
  She walked to the spot where Kieran had stood that day. Where he'd looked her in the eye and called her barren.
  "I remember everything," she said. "Every word. Every look. Every person who watched and did nothing."
  "Laura," Nikolai said gently.
  "I was so broken when I left him," she said. "So lost. I thought I'd never be whole again."
  She turned to look at her mates. At the four men who'd helped her rebuild herself.
  "But I was wrong," she said. "I'm stronger now. Better and I have all of you."
  "You've always been strong," Lucian said. "We just helped you see it."
  "Laura!"
  They all turned. A woman was running toward them. She was thin and somewhat dirty. But her eyes were bright.
  "Sarah?" Laura said.
  The woman stopped in front of them. She was crying.
  "I can't believe it's really you," Sarah said. "After we parted that day in the alliance, I heard you'd gotten kidnapped by Kieran, immediately I left and came back here to die only to hear that you were alive. Defeated Kieran and that you'd become Queen. But we didn't dare hope."
  "Sarah," Laura said. She pulled the woman into a hug. "I thought you were dead."
  "Almost was," Sarah said. "When I came back. I found others who were just like me and came back home to die."
  "How many?" Laura asked.
  "Twenty-three," Sarah said. "That's all that's left of our pack. We've been hiding in the mountains ever since we found ourself but that was before we heard that you were alive."
  Laura felt tears in her eyes. Her pack. Her people. Now reduced to twenty-three survivors.
  "I'm so sorry," she said. "I should have come back sooner. Should have saved you."
  "You couldn't have known," Sarah said. "And you saved us all by stopping him."
  "Not all," Laura said. "Look around. He destroyed everything."
  "No," Sarah said firmly. "He destroyed buildings. Trees. Things. But he didn't destroy us. We're still here. Still alive and still fighting."
  Laura looked at her old friend. At the strength in her eyes despite everything she'd been through.
  "You're right," Laura said. "We're still here."
  "Will you help us rebuild?" Sarah asked. "We don't have much. But we want to try."
  "Of course," Laura said. "Whatever you need."
  They spent the rest of the day with the survivors. Listening to their stories and making plans. Laura felt a mix of sadness and hope.
  "We should build a memorial," she said as the sun started to set. "For everyone we lost."
  "Here?" Dante asked.
  "Here," Laura said. "Where the great oak used to be. So they'll never be forgotten."
  They worked together to clear the space. To gather stones and to build something beautiful from the ashes of destruction.
  "What should we write?" Zephyr asked.
  Laura thought for a moment. "In memory of those who died. In hope for those who lived. In love for those who remain."
  "Perfect," Nikolai said.
  As they worked, Laura felt something inside her chest loosening.
  "I forgive him," she said quietly.
  Her mates stopped working and looked at her.
  "What?" Lucian asked.
  "Kieran," Laura said. "I forgive him. For what he did to me. To us and to everyone."
  "Laura," Dante said carefully. "He tried to kill you. Multiple times."
  "I know," Laura said. "But holding onto that anger is killing me. I can't carry it anymore."
  "That doesn't mean you have to forgive," Zephyr said.
  "I want to," Laura said. "I need to and it's not just for me or for him."
  Nikolai nodded slowly. "I understand."
  "Do you?" Laura asked.
  "Yes," he said. "I've been carrying guilt for so long. It's exhausting. Sometimes letting go is the only way to move forward."
  "Exactly," Laura said. "I'm tired of being angry. Tired of hurting. I just want to heal."
  "Then we'll help you heal," Lucian said. "Whatever you need."
  "I just need you," Laura said. "All of you, always."
  "You have us Laura," Dante said. "Forever."
  They finished the memorial as the stars came out. It was simple but beautiful. A circle of stones with the words carved in the center.
  "It's perfect," Sarah said. "They would have loved it."
  Laura nodded. She felt lighter than she had in years. Like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
  "Are you ready to go home?" Zephyr asked.
  Laura looked around one more time. At the ruins. At the memorial. At the place where her old life had ended and her new one had begun.
  "Yes," she said. "I'm ready."
  The journey back to Moonhaven took two days. That's what they'd named their new home. The place where all the packs could live together in peace.
  Laura felt different on the way back. More at peace and her mates noticed.
  "You seem lighter," Nikolai said as they rode. He was getting back to being himself after having enough time to grieve for Elise.
  "I feel lighter," Laura said. "Like I can finally breathe."
  "Good," Lucian said. "You deserve peace."
  "We all do," Laura said.
  When they reached Moonhaven, Laura was exhausted. But it was a good exhaustion. The kind that came from healing instead of hurting.
  "Bath?" Dante suggested with a grin.
  "That sounds perfect," Laura said.
  They went to their shared bathroom. The huge tub that had become their favorite place to relax together.
  "I'll start the water," Zephyr said.
  "I'll get the oils," Nikolai said.
  Laura watched them work together. Taking care of her and her heart felt full.
  "What are you thinking about?" Lucian asked.
  "How lucky I am," Laura said. "To have you guys."
  "We're the lucky ones," Dante said. He was already stripping off his shirt. "You are a beacon of hope to us."
  "We saved each other," Laura said.
  The water was perfect and hot and scented with lavender. Laura sank into it with a happy sigh.
  "Room for more?" Nikolai asked.
  "Always," Laura said.
  One by one, her mates joined her in the tub. Lucian behind her. Dante on her left. Zephyr on her right. Nikolai across from her.
  "This is nice," Laura said.
  "Very nice," Dante agreed with a mischievous smile on his lips as his hands were already wandering. Touching her arms, her shoulders and her neck.
  "Dante," Laura said softly.
  "What?" he asked innocently with that evil glint in his eyes. "I'm just helping you relax."
  "Is that what you call it?" Zephyr asked with a smile.
  "I call it heaven," Dante said.
  His hands moved lower to her chest. Laura gasped as he touched her breasts, groping it slightly.
  "Still just helping me relax?" she asked.
  "Absolutely," Dante said. He was kissing her neck now. "Very important for your health."
  Lucian's hands joined Dante's. Touching her from behind as he dragged her towards him while his fingers traced patterns on her back as she felt his warm throbbing dick on her back.
  "You're both impossible," Laura said. But she was smiling.
  "You love us anyway," Nikolai said.
  "I do," Laura said. "God help me, I do."
  Zephyr's hands were on her thighs now. Moving slowly upward towards the middle of her laps. Laura's breath caught as a moan slipped out of her mouth.
  "Zephyr," she said breathing heavily now.
  "Yes?" he asked smiling.
  "Don't stop," she said.
  "I wouldn't dare," he promised.
  They all took their time. Touching her. Kissing her and worshipping her body like it was something sacred.
  "You're so beautiful," Lucian said in her ear as he bit her ear lightly.
  "Perfectly endowed," Dante added groping her breasts tightly now making her arch her back as she moaned louder now.
  Laura felt like she was floating. Not just in the water, but in their love, their desire and their devotion.
  Dante lifted her onto his lap, his mouth still on her nipples. Laura moaned as he entered her slowly. But she wanted more, and wanted to try new things.
  "Lucian," she said breathlessly as she gestured to her ass with her free hand while the other grabbed Dante's neck to steady herself.
  He understood immediately. Lucian positioned himself behind her. Laura cried out, her head flinging backwards as he joined Dante inside her. The sensation was overwhelming and perfect.
  "Too much?" Dante asked as he scraped her nipples with his teeth.
  "Not enough," Laura said. "Never enough."
  Zephyr moved closer and laura took him in her mouth. Nikolai watched quietly with dark eyes and she stretched her hands grabbing his hardened dick while she stroking him slowly.
  "You're incredible," Nikolai said with a groan, thrusting himself towards her unconsciously.
  Laura couldn't speak and could barely think. She was lost in sensation and In the perfect harmony of their bodies together.
  They all moved together. Slowly and deeply. The scene was pure erotica.
  "I love you," Laura gasped as Zephyr's dick slipped out of her mouth. "All of you. So fucking much."
  "We love you too," Lucian said as he thrusted inside her. "Our Queen. Our mate and our everything."
  The words pushed her over the edge. Laura cried out as pleasure washed over her. Her body shaking between them.
  Her mates followed and they all trembled together. The bath filled with different sounds of groaning from the four men.
  Afterward, they held her close. All of them tangled together in the warm water.
  "That was," Laura started.
  "Fucking good," Zephyr finished.
  "Always perfect with you," Dante said.
  "Always perfect with all of you," Laura corrected.
  They stayed in the tub until the water cooled. Then they moved to the bed and Laura curled up between them feeling safe, loved and complete.
  "I'm finally free," she said quietly.
  "Free?" Nikolai asked.
  "From the past. From the pain. From everything that was holding me back," Laura said. "I'm finally free to just be happy."
  "And are you?" Lucian asked. "Happy?"
  Laura looked around at her mates. At their faces full of love. At the life they'd built together.
  "Yes," she said. "I'm happy. Really, truly happy."
  "Good," Dante said. "Because we're just getting started."
  "What do you mean?" Laura asked.
  "We have a whole life ahead of us," Zephyr said. "A whole kingdom to build. A whole future to create."
  "Together," Nikolai added.
  "Together," Laura agreed.
  She closed her eyes and let sleep take her. For the first time in her life, she wasn't afraid of her dreams. Wasn't afraid of tomorrow. Wasn't afraid of anything.
  She was finally, completely and perfectly at peace.
  And she knew it would last forever.
  Because love like this didn't end. It didn't break. It didn't fail.
  It just grew stronger.
  Like she had.
  Like they all had.
  Together.