Chapter 70

Chapter 70
Author's note:
Hello my readers, those who are left after a long wait. Here is a lot awaited chapter. I have been unfortunatly been dealing with health issue and life changes. I have been slowly and maturally writting again and very excited and we are getting toward the end of the first book. i sincerely apologize to those i kept annoyed with the long wait. Happy reading!

The bodies are collected and the lake house area is finally cleaned up and we are already returned home. At least we severely lessen his numbers and we got Aiden back.

I search the area and Aiden him staring off into the distance on the beach, hallow. He doesn’t know what to do with himself.

I find a place next to him and just sit with him.

“I remember everything this time. For stopping her curse the last time, she punished me by witnessing everything my body did without my permission. I was a spectator to everything he did.” He finally says. He sounds just as hallow as he looks.

I don’t say anything. I just lean my head against his shoulder to comfort him. He remembers everything this time. He saw what Damon did to me and what he was going to do on that blood moon and he couldn’t do anything about it.

“I’m so sorry, Athena. I tried. I tried to get the chains off of me but every time I struggled more were added and tightened.” He whimpers pitifully, full of regret.

“Its not your fault.” I say simply and strongly to show I don’t blame him one bit.

“Still, I can’t shake the feeling of responsibility. I’m your brother, I’m supposed to protect you and I failed.” He sighs taking no comfort in my words.

Theres no way to tell him that its okay. Because it isn’t. What happened to me wasn’t ok even though he wasn’t directly responsible for it.

“Make it up to me then.” I say with finality. “When everything is settled, help me find that bastard and lets destroy him together.”

He looks down at me with quiet thought. Considering what I am offering. Even though I don’t blame him one bit and doesn’t owe me anything. He needs something to grasp on to get out of this void of guilt. He needs to get angry.

“I promise. I will serve him up on a silver plater for you to slaughter him.” He says with a hard look. Fire somewhat returning to him.

“So, wanna fill me in?” He cocks his head at him confused. I smirk slightly. “Don’t act dumb.”

“Oh.” His cheeks and neck flush slightly. “She saved me. With the mating bond, she somehow was able to grasp the chains that bound Apollo and I and broke them.”

“So she is your mate then. Artemis must have a sense of humor mating us to two Lunar wolves along with Celeste. How much you want to bet Atlas’s is too?” I giggle.

“Its like she’s trying to merge the two packs. Maybe they belong together.” He says thoughtfully.

Maybe they do. We were responsible for taking everything from them, now it’s our responsibility to make them strong again.

I get up and hold my hand out to my brother. “Lets go. Its time to move forward.”

He is hesitant but he takes my hand and we walk toward our future that is starting to look hopeful.

We find both of our mates organizing the warriors and preparing to leave. All the bodies were collected and the area has been cleaned up. We will return home and bash down the rebel group now that we know who all is involved. Life will return to the usual and probably resume the succession when everything has calmed down.

Silas notices me after giving the last order to his warriors. He takes my hand to place a light kiss and then places one on my forehead.

“Lets go home.” He whispers “Everything was taken care of. You look exhausted.”

“I could sleep for a month.” I sigh and offer a small smile.

He sweeps me off my feet and now in a bridal carry. “Take a small nap. I got you, Angel.”

I raise a brow. “I am fully capable of getting back. You don’t have to carry me.”

“I’m not insulting your abilities. I’m just taking care of my tired mate.” His own brow rises challengingly.

I let out a defiant huff and give in. I snuggle against his chest and we begin our couple hour walk back home.

The nap doesn’t feel like it lasted as I wake up as it feels like two minutes later back in Evergreen. I look around and see several confused, surprise, and angry eyes seeing that I have returned. Right, I am supposed to be banished. Good thing all that was bullshit. Alpha Orion knows better than to give us trouble anymore. There is too much dirt on him.

Whispers start going around and some wolves start to group together. The last thing we need is a brawl happening.

“Lets hurry and get back to the pack house before they start something.” I whisper to Silas. He acknowledges my concern and nods to his beta and we hurry back home. Hopefully mom is ok, Atlas and Celeste agreed to stay behind to have my mothers and Chione’s back in case anything happens. It was better they stay in order not to draw attention that there were a considerable number of warriors missing.

We get away from the village and prying eyes and make our way up the mountain to the pack house. We pass trees with a penetrative glow of the sun radiating down on my skin. That cat nap although wonderful was too quick. I’m ready to sleep for days. That healing magic took a lot out of me. Its almost like it takes your own life force and gives it to others to mend wounds. There are limits.

The pack house comes into view and I notice it is unnervingly quiet. Usually, wolves are going in and out and children playing on the lawn but no one is around. Odd.

Silas lets me down and we join James in approaching the door cautiously. The hinges squeak slightly in a high pitch haunted tone.

The main area is vacated. Everything remains still. Was my mother moved somewhere? That wasn’t apart of the plan.

We split into two groups and mine heads-up stairs to the ranked bedrooms. I look in the Alpha bedroom and find it empty. Then, I pass mine. The door is open and I can only see utter chaos. My things are thrown about and gone through. Some picture frames were smashed and thrown on the ground. But my heart utterly stopped when I saw my walk-in closet opened and my clothes spilling out of it. I run to it, praying to the goddess my most prized invaluable possession is still there. But I am meat with only clothes. The blade I earned. My thoughtful and last gift from dad, gone. The feather patterned blade in its white sheath no longer laid in its usual spot against the wall.

I walk out with still calmness. In anger that is palpable. Whoever took it will face my wolf. After everything that has happened I refuse to be calm about this. My anger has been bubbling ever since Dad was killed, now I’m boiling. I slowly walk out of the closet, my calm anger drawing the attention of those around me. Silas’ eyes are wide in confusion, wondering what triggered my fury.

“Was something taken?” He finally asks breaking the silence.

“The sword my father gifted to me. Its gone.”

Realization dawns on his face. He’s seen it before.

“We’ll find it.” He says with reassurance, but it’s hard to believe. It is a valuable and custom-made item. Although priceless to me, it can go for thousands, as It was crafted by one of the finest craftsmen in the country. I shove my anger down and focus on the task we were originally on. Finding my mother and my best friends.

I leave my room in purposeful heavy steps; James’ eyes widen and steps out of the way. The upper levels are empty. I go back down to the lower levels to see if Aiden and Alaric found anyone. As I descend the stairs I find the door to the holding cells are open. Typically, they are used to protect women and pups during attacks.
I walk in, with Silas and James a step behind. I find Aiden frantically pulling on bars of a cell.

I run up and immediately see my mother is chained by the hands and hanging from the ceiling with blood dripping from her temples. Her clothes are torn and I can see bruises forming.

I join my brother and the bars break. I rush to my mother, my last living parent. I hold up her head in my hands.

“Mom, wake up.” I shake her slightly. “Mummy, please wake up.”