Chapter 96 ~Things Fall Apart~
(Fiona's POV)
I drove through the gates of Silvereign Pack, disregarding the doctor's advice that I was too weak to leave the hospital.
I needed to find Xander. I needed to see him because I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.
There were different cars scattered around the garage when I walked out. I slowed down as I could recognize some of the vehicles—Alpha Varon’s, Alpha Aaron’s, and Silvia’s. Why were they gathering here? Was there some sort of occasion?
I steadied my breathing as I walked in.
“There she is.” someone said.
In the living room, there was a crowd of people. My eyes met Yara’s, hers glistening with unshed tears.
There was definitely something going on.
Mirabelle and Dr Mel looked at me, their faces ashen.
Silvia sat at the far end of the sofa, her eyes hidden behind sunshades.
Nova was with her father, as well as Dakota.
The elders Julius and Cyrus were there, but standing in the middle of the circle was Xander, who looked far from well.
I walked up to him, concerned about his well-being. “You left the hospital. Is everything okay?” My eyebrows were scrunched in worry.
Xander literally moved away from me. He shrank away. I couldn't believe it.
I looked around hoping for some sort of answer. I was met with crickets.
I glanced at Calvin, who shook his head.
“Can someone tell me what is going on here?” I asked, growing frustrated. “Did someone die?”
The first person that crossed my mind was my mother, but I consoled myself with the thought that they wouldn't all be gathered here because of her.
“Yara?” I called. “What's going on?”
Nova walked up to me, her eyes glinting with unrestrained glee. “I'll tell you what's going on, Fiona. Since no one else will.”
I eyed her cautiously as she crossed her arms and smirked. “Something is going on here, but it's not what you think.”
My eyes were unfocused. “I don't understand.”
“I'll spell it out for you, sugar.” Nova chuckled. “Xander here was just using you as a placeholder for Dakota, his true mate.”
I paused, chuckled humorlessly and sighed. “Honestly, Nova I have no time for your drama. You have no idea what kind of shitty day I had.”
“Well, it's about to get shittier,” she chuckled slyly.
“That's enough,” Edgar said, his tone hinting at finality.
Nova shrugged, muttered something and took a seat.
Edgar faced me and for the first time, I saw what looked like pity in his eyes. “By now, you must know Xander and Dakota's history.”
I nodded, trying not to be impatient.
“I was indeed surprised when he came in one day and said you were his mate.” Edgar continued. “We all expected it to be either Dakota or Nova.”
I pursed my lips to prevent myself from talking.
“What I'm trying to say is that you have always been the second option. I'm not going to lie to you. You both were meant for something temporary.” Edgar said. “I've been waiting for the day you both would snap out of this… this illusion and realize that some things just don't work.”
I stared at this man wondering if this was supposed to be an April Fool's prank.
Where were the cameras?
Why wasn't Xander saying anything?
More importantly, why was he looking guilty?
I breathed out a bitter laugh.
He wasn't done. “You're not of noble lineage. We're not even certain you are a werewolf. You've brought nothing but chaos and disorder since you arrived at the Silvereign pack.”
I brought disorder?
“You were never meant to be Luna,” Edgar said. “And maybe I was a fool for letting it go on for this long.”
A moment of silence passed.
Was I expected to say something?
“Why now?” I broke the silence. “Why did you realize this all of a sudden?”
“Bring him out, Dakota,” Edgar said.
Dakota climbed upstairs, her stride uncertain, and for the first time, I saw her confused.
Yara walked to my side, holding my hands and Mirabelle followed suit. Then Dr Mel.
Tension was eating at me.
When Dakota returned, she was followed by a child. A boy, about six years of age.
His eyes. His hair. His smile.
They all reminded me of someone I knew all too well, but maybe I was mistaken. I pray I'm mistaken.
“This is Asher. The heir to Silvereign pack,” Edgar held the boy by his shoulders. “My grandson, and Xander's son.”
Someone once said the climax of laughter was tears, and that of tears was laughter.
Maybe that's why I erupted into a loud, uncontrolled cackle.
They all looked at me like I was mad. Maybe I was.
I laughed for such a long time that my shoulders began to move with the rhythm of it.
Yara's tears had started to fall.
Xander bent his head, solemn. Defeated.
My laughter finally died down.
“How did this happen?” I asked no one in particular, but Dakota answered.
“I fell pregnant by Xander before my move to Singapore,” she said quietly. “I hid it from him, my parents and everyone else because… because I was ashamed.”
She turned to Nova, her eyes burning with restrained hate. “She found out, she reached out to my fiancé and confirmed it. He was ready to take Asher as his own son, but Nova ruined everything. She told him I kissed Xander. He broke up with me.”
Her voice cracked at the last sentence.
I looked from Xander to Calvin. “And you knew this?”
They knew and chose to hide it from me.
Silvia looked away, as did Nova and the rest of them.
I wanted to scream, to claw my eyes out. What was I thinking? Edgar was right, I always brought nothing but doom.
“We have come to a unanimous decision,” Edgar said. “The council and I have decided that after Xander returns from the academy, he will do right by Dakota, mate her and they will rule Silvereign as Alpha and Luna.”
Yara gasped. Tears fell from Mirabelle and Dr Mel's eyes.
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.
“You will leave Silvereign tonight and you will never return.” Edgar took a deep breath. “You will never return because you have been exiled from the Silvereign pack. Never to be seen here again.”
Maybe it was Yara's hands that stopped my knees from giving way.
How come I wanted to leave on my own, but it hurt so bad when I was exiled?
Why did I feel like ripping my heart out and smashing it with my bare feet?
Why was it always me?
Nova's eyes glistened. Silvia placed her hand on her temples in exasperation.
The boy, a replica of Xander, looked quiet. He stared at me with innocent eyes.
But I hated him. I hated an innocent child!
“Um…” I chuckled, so that I wouldn't cry. “I'll leave now. Uh… it was good while it lasted - being in Silvereign, but I guess not all bonds are meant to be.”
I found myself repeating the words of the messenger.
“I'll be on my way now.” I walked up the stairs to collect my already-packed boxes.
This was not how I pictured leaving. At all.
I used the back door to save myself the humiliation of them seeing me cry - of having to say goodbye to the friends I'd made here. The family I grew to love.
I was struggling with my boxes when I saw him.
Xander…
He was standing in the garage, leaning against my car.
He tried to help me with my boxes, but this time, it was my turn to shrink back.
“Don't,” I snapped. “Don't come near me.”
“Fiona,” his voice was low, pleading.
That was what annoyed me the most. Don't tell me you're sorry, tell me it's all a lie. Tell me everything they said tonight was a lie.
I packed the boxes into the car he gave me, making a mental note to burn it afterwards.
Tomorrow, he goes off to Werewolf Academy and I?
I find my path.
Again.