136
Logan's POV.
"What?" I gasped in total shock at what Ryat had just revealed to me about Rain. She's pregnant. "How far along is she?" I sputter, settling on the edge of the bed Rain's lying on.
It's been five days since we left Seychelles. Five days since Rain went into a coma. I feel so guilty looking at the bruises on her thighs, torso, and her breasts. Those depraved men bruised Rain beyond repair.
According to Ryat, she was raped countless times. The thought of those men mounting what's mine makes me seethe.
I failed Rain, I hum inwardly as tears prickle my eyes. I made a promise to protect her and yet I failed. I left her to the wolves and they devoured her.
Even as she sleeps, her pulse hammers. A grimace is on her face and that lets me know she's reliving the horrors she experienced at the Island.
"One month...but...uh...I'm not exactly sure since her uterus is yet to fully develop..." Ryat answers, shrugging tentatively.
I understand why it's difficult for Ryat to determine how long Rain's been with a child. Lycan's way of procreation is far different from ours.
For her kind, it's more complex. I heave a sigh and dismiss the healer. I wait for him to click the door shut before looking back at Rain.
I feel equal parts excited and scared. It feels good to know I've got my mate back and safe. To know that she is with a child. I honestly love the child already even without getting to feel it kick inside her.
But I feel scared on the other hand because I don't know how Rain will take the knowledge that she's with a child that might end up belonging to either of those men.
It breaks me to know she's passing through this phase. I gently caress her slender hand, taking her in.
"I'm so sorry for letting you down, my Luna. I couldn't act on my word. I broke it. I caused you...pain," I mutter as pain slices through my heart like arrows. After a while of staying with Rain, I finally decided to go outside.
Irene comes in and replaces me, looking after the Luna. I saunter down the hallway brimming with activities. We're quickly renovating the manor.
It was one of the first places we took back as ours when we returned from Seychelles. My pack members are helping to put things in order and give the place a new look. To filter it from the iniquities of the Slayers.
"Good morning, alpha," My people greet me as they come across me. I nod readily as I scan the place for Lester.
My beta has kept his hands busy since our return to Oakdale. We transformed the southern wing of the manor, the place Rain occupied once as Mr. Hanks's daughter, into an infirmary.
It was the safest place we could keep the mindless wolves the Slayers drugged to fight us.
The Slayers' scientist, Augustine, was captured on the Island before he could escape and we've kept him in the infirmary so he'd reverse the effects of the Fomorrh.
Taking the steps two at a time, I finally landed in the ward where ten werewolves are kept on IV that's sucking out their blood and infusing new ones into their system.
Augustine, in chains with one of my guards behind him, is removing the full bag of blood he'd drawn from one of the unconscious wolves. He shivers when his eyes find mine and briskly looks away.
"Alpha?" Lester's voice comes from behind me. I exhale and turn to see Lester. His face is weary with dark circles under his eyes.
"Lester, hey." I stumble closer to him, patting his shoulder. "How's everything going?" I ask, looking back at Augustine as he fiddles with the equipment cluttered on the table at the far corner of the room.
"The wolves will take time to recover. With the Fomorrh out of their systems, they'll regain their minds."
I exhale upon hearing the news. It feels great to have the reminders of our pack members back with us. These people were among those that fled for their lives during the first supernatural war.
Pushing down the lump that clogs my throat, I turn back to Lester. "What about the Slayers?"
"Rotting away in the dungeon. No food. No water. Just darkness."
Pride fills my brain at that response. After we captured the men from Seychelles and brought them back to Oakdale, I figured public execution would be best for them.
Peace and unity amongst humans and our kinds will be attained at the expense of their lives. During the meeting I've scheduled once Rain wakes up, those vile men will be killed before the people.
But for now, they're serving punishment in the dungeon. The kind they gave my father.
"That's good to know," I beam. When I turn back again, I find Augustine watching us. He instantly tears his eyes away, fiddling with vials that mistakenly fall and break into shards on the floor.
"Hey! The fuck is your problem?" One of the guards watching him yells, punching Augustine in the face.
Augustine sputters and breathes out. "I'm sorry, I made a mistake." He casts Lester and me another wobbling look as he pants.
"Watch it or so help me goddess, I'll cut your prick!" The guard threatens, making Augustine turn a shade of red.
"How's the...luna?" Lester asks, bringing my attention back to him.
The thought of Rain brings back my fear and guilt again. I move an inch away from the ward and say to Lester.
"She's pregnant,"
Lester's eyes widen and his mouth gapes. "That's...good news?" His words end as a question rather than a statement when he sees the expression on my face. "Alpha?"
"I do not know who owns the child..." I start and a knowing look crosses Lester's face, making him curse.
"Those fucking men! I'm going to cut their balls!" He hisses, fuming. I, on the other hand, feel numb. I'm only worried about what Rain will feel.
Will she accept the child even if it's not from me?
Will I accept it? Will I be able to look the child in the face and call him mine even if I am not his biological father?
Ugh! I don't know what to think at the moment. All I know is that I am happy to have my woman back.
*
*
*
The sun had begun to set on the horizon by the time I came out on the patio. My father is sprawled over the lounge chair, looking fixedly at the iridescent hues of the fading sun.
He's been like this since his return here. Less talking. More sun and star gazing.
I'm not surprised he feels this way, after all, he's been locked In darkness for two centuries. I take a while to watch him and I feel my chest flutter.
He's the only family I have left and that makes me smile. I have my father again. A man of peace.
When he notices me, he bucks in the lounge chair, smiling up at me. He has a gray five O'clock shadow over his chin. His hair cropped. I wanted him to look refreshed, and now he truly is.
"Her...cules...,"
Hearing his raspy voice makes me grin. I close the distance between us and settle beside him.
"Papa," I call him and he smiles.
He barely remembers things from our past as a result of the trauma.
"Where is Agia?" He asks, looking behind me. He's been asking about them these past few days. Always looking behind his shoulder to see if he can get a glimpse of them.
I've not mustered the courage to tell him. I fear that if he remembers everything he might not cope but now he's getting more insistent.
"I want to have your mother's tea. Can you tell her to make one? Ain't we going to the woodmill to spar today?" He blabbers.
That hopeful look in his eyes crushes me and I finally decide to speak.
"You can not have the tea again, papa."
He first of all freezes at my words before scoffing.
"Why do you utter such nonsense?" He says this in our ancient tongue. He remembers it too well and it chases chills down my spine.
"Because she's no more. Your mate, Agia, and Anselm all died the same night, papa..."
"No...Hercules, don't say such." He blurts in our language again, shaking his head. He's in denial but it's time I make him see things.
"Have you forgotten that day in the woods two centuries ago?" I start and as he looks at me, recognition slowly starts to trickle in. "When the Slayers ambushed us? They killed your mate, Agia, Anselm, and your brother. They massacred our people and took what was ours," The words are too heavy for me to spill and I wonder how heavy it feels to him as he is digesting it.
"They made you their puppet for two centuries, living off of your life..."
"Those niagratra!" He curses, calling the Slayers bastards in our tongue. Fury emanates from him in waves but eventually, it melts into an untamed bawl of sorrow.
And then I know he has remembered it all. That dark moment of our past.
Since I was a boy until this moment, I've never seen alpha Yazi weep. But now, he's openly bawling like a child at the loss of everything that once mattered to him.
In that moment of weakness, I erect to my feet, pat my father on the shoulder, and leave. He needs this moment alone. The moment of remembered pain.
TBC.