126

126

DIANA

The pack house was silent, it had been so for the two days after the battle we had fought.

A house of everything according to schedule, the emptiness was new and surprising.

The image of telling Marian what had happened flashed in my mind anew.

Bradley had gone straight into his office with Jonathan that night leaving me out alone in the passage.

I could feel the pain emanating from him, even at the distance we had. Ever since Damon had died, though I hadn't broken the mate bond yet, his death automatically broke it and I could feel more from Bradley.

So, somehow the anger and anguish he felt still reached me. My heart ached along with his. I could only imagine how it felt. Maybe I didn't have a best friend, but James, my cousin, was like one to me; I could imagine him dying.

So in the span of five days, both of us had lost two important people in our lives.

I stood there, my eyes glazing over with unshed tears, mine or his, I wasn't sure. I had wanted to burst into his office, tell him I was with him. He wasn't alone.

The letter we had found only confirmed the suspicions we already had and must have added to the hate Bradley had.

JC had not only killed his parents but his best friend as well. Now I was sure he had killed mine as well, there wasn't any doubt.

I had headed back to my room to sink into myself but Marian stopped me. She looked wide-eyed and panicked.

No one else knew of the relationship she shared with Elias so I knew she didn't know yet, the servants wouldn't be told until the next pack meeting. I didn't want her to find out through the rumors so I had to say it.

“Luna, are you okay?" She asked, her voice full of concern.

I stared at her, unsure of how I would reveal the news, my heart hit against my ribcage hard and constantly.

“I need to tell you something" I finally said, my eyes diverting from hers.

I think that was when she sensed the difference, the way I avoided her gaze, and probably the smell of grief.

“Please" she muttered, her voice breaking down softly.

I had to say it and so I did, maybe not in the best way possible but in the way I knew, “Elias is dead, his body-"

Her howl stopped me, full of pain and agony. She let out a sob just then, one that I knew I would never forget, the pain of losing your mate was one I was familiar with anyway.

I kept silent, she couldn't hold me, couldn't take comfort from me, so she gave me one last teary, red-eyed look before turning and walking away.

I stood there, watching her advance away from me. I didn't know if that would be the last time I saw her, well it wasn't.

Marian was stronger than I had thought because today she was back at work, her eyes empty but the grief seemed to waft off in an obvious scent.

So, that was the last interesting thing that had happened in two days.

Bradley and I hadn't spoken much; in fact, I hadn't seen him much. He seemed to spend so much time inside his office with Jonathan and Liam going in or out.

The few times I had gone to see him, he was curt and short with me. I had expected it anyway; he wouldn't exactly be jovial.

Today, I decided I would go see him and we would have to talk. If he wanted our relationship to transcend into one of mates he would have to learn to share his emotions.

His office door was locked when I reached it, so I knocked harshly on it.

“Who is there?" His deep voice called over the wood.

“It's Diana" I answered and waited.

“I'll come to see you, just get back to your room," he said and fell silent.

I had been surprised but stood to wait. After a while, it was clear that he wasn't coming, and so I went back to my room.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on my door, and I was surprised when I checked to see it was Bradley; he had come indeed.

I opened the door to let him in.

It was then that I got a close look at him, the first in three days. His eyes were dark and empty, with circles around them which I was sure were due to his lack of sleep. There was a difference I couldn't exactly point out but it was there.

He sat on the couch and tapped the empty space next to him.

I sat beside him, turning to face him. Since he didn't speak, I spoke first, “How have you been?" I asked.

His shoulders shook, an emotion I didn't know but he still didn't respond.

“You know you can talk to me, I'm to be your Luna aren't I?" I asked him.

His face lifted up to stare at mine and then I did something I didn't expect, not even from myself. I pulled him into me, my hands wrapped around his shoulders, laying his head on my chest.

Surprisingly, he didn't protest, laying his head there quietly. It took a minute of him shaking slightly in my arms to realize that he was quietly sobbing in my arms.

My heart broke at the noise and I couldn't help that tears slid down my face as well.

Bradley, the alpha of the Blackwood pack, had been so broken that he had shed tears.

I could then only imagine the way he would make those who had broken him down suffer for it.

Finally, he stopped, lifting himself up and putting on the brave face he was used to putting on.

He turned to me, “I'm as fine as one can be, and how about you?" He asked.

I shrugged, “Same really. You've been cooped up in your office” I said the obvious.

"I've been making so many plans, which you will help me make as well” he introduced.

I sat up, excited to hear what my duty was. "What is that?”

He smiled at my eagerness, a real smile. "You're going to help me appeal to some Alphas especially out of state to help”

Oh, that wasn't too bad. I already had one alpha in mind. He would most likely handle the rest of it.

"Alright, easy enough,” I said.

He looked pleased, suddenly standing up to leave.

"Today,” he said.

I felt the surprise flood me, “What's the rush?"

“Our informant said Loras is nearly ready, he's got his army piling up nicely and we need to be ahead." He explained.

Then it made sense, Bradley had been in his office making plans for the incoming war.

“Alright, it's still morning anyway," I said as I escorted him to the door.

He turned to face me, giving me a longing look, and then, surprising me, he leaned down to give me a kiss on my lips. Bold and daring indeed. “Be carry. Jonathan will come with and I called James to come with you"

My heart bloomed at his thoughtfulness, he had known I would need someone with me.

I smiled, a broad and maybe the first true smile all week.

After our conversation, I immediately began to prepare for the journey ahead, mentally and physically getting ready to ask for help from the packs.

Outside, Jonathan opened the car door for me and James was already waiting, a smile on his face.

“Hello there, D," he said cheerily.

At least there would be something good in this journey. We smiled and spoke all the way to Blue state, not even realizing when we had reached until Jonathan opened the door and ushered us out.

We were in the Cross Industries office building, where Jay Cross would be. Both of us headed into it, where his receptionist, on discovering we were Blackwood reps, led us to his office.

He stood up to welcome us in, telling us to sit down and then ordering refreshments, negotiations began.

“You must have heard of the war we've just been in" I started.

He nodded, attentive. “Two in fact, isn't it?" He asked.

He was right, I continued, "We've lost a significant portion of our army in these battles and would ask that you please support us with some of yours?” I finished off.

He shrugged, "Well, of course, I've even been waiting for something to come across.” he had stopped as though he had something more to add.

I waited, willing him to continue because this was a negotiation.

“Well, you see, I can get Bradley some other armies from the alphas in the star; they might need some compensation, though," he explained.

I smiled, James chuckling beside me. “Well, of course, Alpha Jay Cross, we knew that. Bradley has assured that every Alpha that assists will get a share in his power project, an additional one to the ones you already possess"

Jay Cross looked unshaken, as if it didn't matter to him. It looked to me, the more I observed, that he wasn't just doing this because he could or for the benefits. There was something more.

I had to point it out, “Is there anything else?" I asked finally.

Jay stared at me, “Well, you see. There's something personal in it for me as well"

That shocked me, as far as I knew he didn't have any existing family members again.

“Oh," I said simply.

He nodded gravely, “I have just discovered that the perpetrator of Experiment E and the match
The strike that lit the fire of war between the Underwoods and the Blackwoods was my father”

I froze at his words, "Isn't he dead?”

"We all thought so, yes”