Chapter 77 ~Till Prom~
(Xander's POV)
Her question lingered between us.
“I don't know.” I answered finally.
Fiona’s eyes widened. She looked mortified.
A few seconds passed before she finally spoke. It was the very question I had hoped she wouldn't ask. “Is this the first letter?”
I looked down at the paper like it was the first time I was seeing it. Finally, I responded. “No. No, it's not.”
“How many?” she asked immediately.
I entered the car and retrieved the first letter I'd hidden in a compartment. It looked as crisp as when I found it.
I handed it over to her.
She grabbed it and read it. I could imagine she was paying attention to every word.
When her hands started shaking, I took the letters from her and crumpled them, throwing them on the ground.
“This was the very reason why I didn't want to show it to you in the first place.” I held her arms. “It's going to be okay.” I assured her.
She stared at me sternly. “Receiving a death threat has never and will never be okay.”
“So, what should I do?” I said, my voice sounding a little harsher than intended. “There's nothing I can do. I don't even know who it's from.”
“So we're just going to pretend everything is okay?” She scoffed. “There's a lot going on right now. I'm pregnant, for crying out loud… and the gods know that I won't have this baby alone. So, figure this out.”
She walked out on me.
I stood rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do.
I don't know how long I stood there, but I heard familiar footsteps and a scent behind me.
It was the last person I was expecting to see.
And I honestly wasn't sure I needed to, now.
I turned. “Mom.”
She walked up to me, stopping a few feet away. “Son, I know you're surprised to see me here.”
I shrugged.
Of course, I was surprised to see her.
Thankfully, she seemed more reasonable than she was on a normal day. And I couldn't smell any alcohol on her breath.
“Don't you want to come in?” I asked, finally.
“N-no.” She shook her head and laughed awkwardly. “I actually am just coming from inside. I was with your father. He told me you weren't in… I saw that girl and knew you had returned.”
“That girl?” I scrunched my face. I knew she was referring to Fiona. I knew she disliked her… maybe hated her, even.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Fiona.”
“So, why are you here?”
“To see you.”
“To see me?”
She nodded. “I'm not going to sit down and pretend like I'm not seeing everything that's happening.”
I eyed her cautiously, wondering where she was heading.
“I'm talking about you and your brother, Loki. I didn't want to get involved at first, but I don't need the blood of one of my sons in my hands.”
“Blood?”
She looked at me like I was stupid. “Since you want me to spell it out for you, your brother wants you dead.”
Oh…
How did this not cross my mind? So he was the one who'd been sending the letters?
I chuckled humorlessly. “I'd love to see him try.”
“That's not all. He has an alliance with the Alpha of Ashridge.”
“Beckett?” I spat out his name like bile.
“You know him. Why didn't you tell anyone about the history between him and your mate?” she asked.
“It's not in anybody's place to know.” I scoffed. “So Loki is desperate enough that he's now teaming up with losers.”
“My sources told me that Beckett wants Fiona back… he wants her back as much as he wants your head.”
What is it with losers and my head? And as for Fiona, he'd get her only over my dead body.
The death threat might have come from either of them. And now that I think about it, it wasn't really Loki's style. He was more into action than threats.
“Xander, I know you've never taken my words seriously,” she appealed. “But, please, this time, I want you to know that it's more serious than you think. I want you to be careful, son.”
For some reason, my pulse was steady, my breathing calm.
“I can assure you I will kill Beckett with my own two hands.” I promised. “And as for Loki, may the gods save him from my hands.”
–----------
(Fiona's POV)
I can't believe I told Yara everything. Everything!
It was midnight, and we weren't sleeping. She’d been in my room since I returned, and we’d been talking
“Wow!” She'd been crying ever since I told her I was pregnant. “Fiona, I can't believe you're going to be a mother.”
“I know. I'm still processing it.”
“And for all the other stuff,” she looked into my eyes. “Don't worry yourself about that, okay?”
I managed a smile. If there was one thing about Yara, it was that nothing fazed her. I wished I were that optimistic… that brave.
But I wasn't.
And maybe that was okay.
I turned to her. “But don't tell anyone… yet. About the baby. I'm just not ready for intrusions.”
“I wasn't planning to, anyway.” Yara responded, holding my arms. “But I have to ask, why? Why don't you want people to know?”
“Because-” I paused.
I was torn between telling her or not. But as I looked at her eager face, I knew that she was for me. She was a true friend.
So with a deep breath, I said, “Because I plan to leave it all behind for a fresh start.”
“What!” Yara gasped. “Go where?”
I looked at her. I didn't need to tell her the words, but I had no idea.
She looked worried. “No, Fiona.”
“Listen, I'll be kicked out either way.” I exhaled. “The elders? The council? Once they find out that I'm wolfless, it's over. And before long, they will. I'm just a liability. I'm too weak.”
“Your strength comes from within. It's your light, and no one can take that away from you.” she smiled sadly. “I don't think you should go.”
She continued. “If you leave, you've given them all the opportunity they’ve so earnestly desired. Before you walk out that gate, there'll be ten replacements waiting. And not even Alpha Xander can stop them. Silvereign is so deep.”
“I know.” I placed my head on her shoulders. “I know, but my mind is made up Yara. I've thought it through.”
I needed some time for myself. To recalibrate.
“You know I'll always love you.” Yara stroked my hair. "At least stay until prom, please.”
Till prom?
That, I can do.
I looked at her and nodded. “Till prom.”
She hugged me. “I can't believe I'm going to be a godmother.”
“I know.”
Suddenly, her face turned dark. “Not to stress you or anything, but I heard some not so good news.”
My breath hitched. “About who?”
“You know your old friend, Cassia?”
I nodded, bracing myself for the worst.
Cassia's name was a trigger for me at this point. “Yes?”
“She's the new Luna of Ashridge. She's Beckett's new mate.”