Chapter 19 Zemirah.

Chapter 19 Zemirah.
Zemirah.

The plane touched down at noon.

I hadn't had any sleep, I tried and I couldn't, each time I closed my eyes, I saw my father's study, the way he'd looked at me when he told me I had to leave with Detlef. The way he'd turned away when I begged.

Now he is dead and gone.

The airport looked small, it had just one terminal, one section for baggage claim, one that led to the parking lot, I didn't have any luggage, just the bag I'd packed in Greece, the same I'd packed when I left Fernandez's house.

Marco stood by a black SUV, he didn't smile when he saw me, he just nodded and opened the door.

"Where's he?" I asked.

"At the house."

I got in.

The drive was quiet, Marco didn't try to start a conversation, I watched the city pass by outside the window, the view was beautiful, the weather was cool, it was the same street where I'd bought the cheese from the goat woman, the exact fountain where I sat and watched the toddler climb onto, nothing had changed, but nothing felt the same.

My father was dead, I heard the news when I was at Greece, Tasha killed him, my stepsister, the same bitch who'd hurt me when we were little kids, she smiled at pack dinners innocently but inside her, she was a bomb waiting to explode, now she put a knife through dad's throat and walked away.

I didn't know how to feel about that, I didn't know whether to cry, scream or just sit here and feel nothing at all.

We'd gotten close to the house, the gate flung open, the SUV pulled into the courtyard.

Fernandez was standing on the steps.

He looked tired, he had dark circles under his eyes, his hair was a mess, he didn't have a jacket on, just a shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

I got out of the car, he didn't move towards me, he just stood there moping at me,  I guess he wanted me to make the first move.

"Your stepmother is inside," he said. "She came last night."

"Is she aware I'm coming?"

"Yeah, she is."

I walked up the stairs, he moved aside to let me pass.

"Sloane told me everything," I said.

"About what transpired with Tasha, the journal and the note."

"She's scared of what Tasha has planned next, or what happens to her when the pack finds her."

"Good, she should be damn scared, she's such a big fool."

Fernandez didn't argue.

We walked inside, the whole house was quiet, Elara wasn't in the kitchen, there were no women at the table, the halls were empty and closed.

"Sloane is in the east wing," Fernandez said. "I can take you to her, or I can give you time, whatever you choose."

I stopped walking, and turned towards him.

"I need to see where he was killed."

He didn't ask me questions, or try to talk me out of it, talk about, it was a bad idea and shii, he just led me there.

"I'll drive you."

\------

The drive to Emerald wood pack would take four hours south.

I spent most of the drive staring out at the window, the mountains, hills and forest was a sight to behold, the gods really did a great one on creation, I had this nostalgic feeling of my childhood memories.

The trees I'd climbed as a kid, streams I swam in, this was everything I left behind for a man who was never deserving, I felt the betrayal of my father afresh.

Fernandez didn't try to fill the silence, he simply kept his eyes on the road, and hands on the wheel, while his mouth was put shut.

I felt grateful for that.

The border that separated the pack was in view now, it was three o'clock, we'd crossed, I could feel it, the cool breeze hit me, I felt at home once again.

The castle looked small, that was quite weird, the castle in my memory was large.

It has gray stone, high walls, the flags were still the same, flying from the towers, this was my home but now I felt like a stranger approaching someone else's door.

Men were at the gate, wolves I didn't recognize, they stepped when Nandez's car pulled up, hands holding their weapons firmly.

"State your business!"

I rolled down the window.

The man's face went pale. "My princess."

"I'm here to see my Father."

He instructed them to open the gate.

\-----

The study was at the end of the main hall.

I'd walked this hallway a thousand times as a child, running to my dad after a bad dream, as a teenager, sneaking out when it was past curfew, and as an adult walking into the room I faced my biggest betrayal.

Now I walked with Fernandez behind me and within me I felt empty.

The door was closed, a guard was placed outside, he stepped aside when he saw me.

"Has anyone been inside?" I asked.

"No, Princess. The council wanted to clean it, but Beta declined the request, he said to leave everything until you are here."

Julian, my father's Beta, the man I'd had a googoo gaagaa crush on for years, he never even looked at me twice, worse? He saw me as a daughter instead.

I pushed the door open.

The study had this copper smell, old blood, I'd even forgotten blood had a smell, there were a lot i'd forgotten.

My father's desk was large, oak, and covered in papers. The chair behind it was pushed back, like someone had stood up in haste, the rug beneath was dark, it was blood stained- my Fathers blood.

I walked to the desk, ran my hand over the wood, this was where he'd sat every morning, read reports, signed documents and made decisions for everyone in the pack.

Now he was dead and gone, oh, how are the mighty fallen.

"Where's the body?" My voice sounded warm and steady, I was proud of that.

"He was buried two days ago, Julian took care of it."

I nodded, my mother's portrait hung above the fireplace, I'd never met her, she died while having me, my father never remarried, he just brought Sloane in to take care of me.

Well, it didn't work out well in the end for either of us.

"Where is Julian?"

"He's at a council meeting, it has been going on every day since your father died, they've been trying to figure out who next should be in charge.

"What's the requirement?" I asked.

Fernandez stepped into the room and closed the door.

"Right now they want stability, someone to lead, with a better character than Sloane's."

"They won't accept me?"

Fernandez scoffed, "no they won't."

I looked at him, "I don't want to be Alpha, I never wanted to be, I just wanted- " I stopped, what I wanted was a father who'd protect me, a safe home and a peaceful life without hurt."

"I know." Fernandez said.

I walked to the window, the courtyard below was quiet and empty, there weren't any servants there.

"He used to bring me out here," I said. "When I was a child, he'd carry me on his shoulders and we'd watch the water, he said it belonged to us."

Fernandez didn't say a word.

"Then Sloane came, Tasha too, and everything changed, he stopped carrying me, not taking me to the fountain, he didn't even care if I mattered." I pressed my forehead against the glass. "I spent years mad at him, hating him for sending me away."

"And now?"

"Now's he's dead, I'm not sure I know how I'm supposed to feel or what to do with my emotions."

I felt him move behind me.

"You don't have to process everything now babes, take your time, at your own pace girl."

I smiled. "I have to do something, Tasha and Sloane are out there and they won't stop what they've started.

"No, she ain't."

I turned from the window, he stood a foot away, his hands were in his pocket and I couldn't read his expression.

"I'm going to find her, with or without your help" I said vehemently but kindly.

"I'll come with..." He said.

I waited for him to complete his sentence

"She's your family, this pack is yours, your Father's legacy." He held my gaze. "I won't let you go through all these alone."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just stared at him, and walked past him, out of the study, into the hallway.

Fernandez followed suit, we had work to do.