"Natalie left this morning," the warrior said to me. "We couldn't stop her."
"How could you allow her to leave? She was injured!" I exclaimed, feeling a surge of frustration.
The warrior bowed his head, avoiding my gaze, clearly ashamed.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair in exasperation.
"Where did she say she was going?" Callan asked, his voice steady.
"She went after Silviu herself. The men who had gone after him returned at dawn, and she met with them. They told her they'd lost him," the warrior explained.
My brows furrowed. "I don't understand. Does she even know where to find him? How does she think she's going to get to him?"
"They said he's badly injured in one of his eyes and wouldn't be able to travel far half-blind," the warrior continued.
Luther interjected, "But as pack warriors, they knew some routes he traveled through that they couldn't go past due to pack border restrictions."
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of concern in my chest. "I'm scared, Callan," I admitted quietly. "What if something bad happens to her?"
Callan pulled me into his arms, trying to comfort me. "It's okay, Natalie can take care of herself."
"But she's not in her right senses now. She's fueled by rage and the need for vengeance. What if he harms her further?"
"I don't think he'll be able to do that. Silviu is injured, and his main focus would be seeking help for his wound. I believe Natalie going after him now is a good move, and she has a high chance of overpowering him if she finds him in his weakened state," Luther chimed in.
I nodded thoughtfully at his words. Silviu was undoubtedly strong and relentless, but he was also wounded. If Natalie caught him now, she might be able to defeat him, and I hoped with all my heart that she would succeed.
It would be a blessing if Silviu died, I feared what would happen if he was allowed to escape.
“Thank you, Luther," I responded gratefully before heading back to the manor with Callan.
I needed to see my mother, even though I felt overwhelmed with guilt about everything that had happened. Callan's hand rested on my shoulder, and he massaged it lightly. "It's alright, she won't hate you for any of it."
"I know, but... Sephora, I didn't tell her about Sephora's death, and she had to hear it from my uncle. She also had to watch my father die a few minutes later," I said, my voice filled with sorrow.
The grief I felt for my sister and father was immense, but I understood that my mother's pain must be even greater. I had only just reunited with my family after years of separation, and I didn't feel completely at home yet. But for my mother, this was her mate and her child.
"I haven't stopped thinking about Sephora either," Callan admitted quietly, causing me to look up at him. I saw the pain reflected in his eyes.
Sephora had sacrificed herself to save him, of course, he would've been affected by it too, eaten up by guilt.
"We'll be fine, right?" I asked, seeking his reassurance.
He nodded before cupping my face and kissing me. “We have each other, I think we’ll be.”
****
My mother was seated by the window, her eyes fixed on the view beneath it. She remained still even when I entered and spoke to her.
"Mother," I called again, but she still didn't turn to me, so I made my way to her.
Slowly, I sat on the sofa opposite her and took her hands in mine.
She smiled sadly and turned to look at me. "Your sister would have made a great Alpha."
My heart broke over and over again, and I found myself at a loss for words.
"She was always so sweet, Sophia. I wish you'd known her longer. Sephora... My sweet, kind daughter, she was always so level-headed. She would have made a perfect Alpha, but now, your father is gone, and so is she."
"I'm sorry, none of these should have ever happened. Uncle Silviu is..."
"Do you think your sister can run this pack? We've been plunged into a calamity, Sophia, and Natalie can't handle all of this."
I was taken aback. "No, Mother, please don't say that. Natalie is strong, and she..."
"She can't," my mother insisted. "She’s too impulsive and rash. Look what she did this morning. She simply got up and left without thinking twice, without informing anyone. That is not a trait of a leader. Your sister cannot be a leader!"
My mother shook her head sadly. "Sephora didn't deserve to die… Not my poor baby."
And when she broke down, I simply let her cry in my arms and pacified her as much as I could. But her words rang in my ears, unsettling my insides uncomfortably.
I didn't know my sister well enough, but something told me Natalie was going to be a great leader regardless of what people thought of her. Left to me, she had the strength and determination it required “What are you going to do next?” Catherine asked later in the day when we were all settled in my mother’s bedroom. “Are you going to take over Alexander’s pack?”
I shook my head. The decision had come to me without the need to overthink, I didn't want to become the Alpha of the Dark Wood pack although it was my right to, considering I’d killed Alexander myself but no, I couldn't find it in me to return to that place again.
“No, I'm going to discuss it with his sister, Elena. I don't want the position.”
“Why not?” Kate asked, sitting up. “It's your right, you earned it and it is simply a small reward considering all that bastard made you suffer when you were with him.”
“This isn't about Alexander, Catherine,” I said softly. “This is for me, I don't want to have any affiliations with his lack not after the dark memories associated with that place, no.”
“I understand,” Marilyn said softly.
“Well, I don't. If you don't want it, you can pass it on to me,” Kate said, shrugging.
"No, I'm going to discuss it with his sister, Elena. I don't want the position," I said firmly.
"Why not?" Kate asked, sitting up. "It's your right. You earned it, and it's simply a small reward considering all that bastard made you suffer when you were with him."
"This isn't about Alexander, Catherine," I said softly. "This is about me. I don't want to have any affiliations with his pack, not after all the dark memories associated with that place. No."
"I understand," Marilyn said softly, showing empathy.
"Well, I don't. If you don't want it, you can pass it on to me," Kate said, shrugging.
I glanced at her but chose not to respond as a small knock rang from the door.
"Come in," Marilyn said, and the door opened, revealing a servant with his head bowed.
"Elena of the Dark Wood pack is here to see you, Luna Sophia," he announced.
I sat up, surprised. "Elena? What does she want?"
"She says it's urgent," the servant replied.
"I'll come with you," Catherine offered, getting up.
I waved her back. "It's okay."
I glanced at her and said nothing just as a small knock rang from the door.
“Come in,” Marilyn said and the door opened, revealing a servant with his head bowed.
“Elena of the Dark Wood pack is here to see you, Luna Sophia.”
I sat up. “Elena? What does she want?”
“She says it's urgent,” the man replied.
“I'll come with you,” Catherine said, getting up.
I waved her back. “It's okay.”
Instead, I went with the servant downstairs, wondering what it was Elena would want from me.
The servant pushed open the door to the drawing room, and I froze at the sight that met me, my heart dropping into my stomach.