Chapter 108 108

Chapter 108 108
Leah

Age 8

"What's wrong with her?!" Mother's angry voice makes my ears hurt when I open my eyes. Wasn't I just with the little ones? "Why did she pass out after touching Liam? Why won't either of them wake up? What did she do to my son?!" 

Then it comes back to me. Liam was hurt! I shoot up quickly before groaning as the world spins around me. Suddenly a pair of hands grabs me by my shoulders and I'm face to face with Mother's wild eyes. "What did you do to Liam?!" 

"I-I didn't..." Mother shakes me and I groan as it rattles my brains. "I didn't... Eden said... t-to touch him..." I stammer out and wince as her grip gets stronger. "M-Mother... t-that hurts..." 

Mother pushes me away and I flop back onto the bed. "If he doesn't wake up, then you're going to pay! Who the hell is Eden, huh?!" I cower under her hate-filled gaze. I was never Mother's favorite but she's never acted this way towards me before.

"M-my wolf..." I whisper making Mother frown. "S-she said that she could help... and needed me to touch Liam so... I did... Eden wouldn't lie to me!" I curl up and tremble a bit. "I didn't... I didn't hurt Liam..." I whimper.

I cover my ears as Mother argues with our pack healer. As she calls me a liar, all I can do is cry silently and hide under the covers. Eden won't talk to me. I don't know what to do. 

It isn't until days later that Liam wakes up and tells them about a wolf named Eden who nursed his wolf back to health. After that, no one in my family even approaches me. "Her wolf is a dream walker." Our pack healer had said. "It's a gift for those wolves destined to be a healer."

Healers aren't welcome in a family of warriors. They make that clear to me when I'm at home especially. The little ones think dreamwalking is cool but for me, it's just something to dread completely. 

One month later, Mother finally speaks to me. "You're going to the five meeting tonight." She says in a dry tone. "Get dressed and come downstairs. Don't make me drag you down." She spins on her heels and walks away. 

I sit there in stunned silence. Only children above the age of ten can go to such a meeting so why am I going? My mind races as I get dressed. Instead of excitement a sudden feeling of dread washes over me. What's going to happen to me tonight? 

'Don't worry, Leah.' Eden says. She came back to me the day Liam woke up. 'It's all going to be ok. Don't be afraid.' It's easy for her to say when she doesn't care about what they think of her not even when Talia, my older sister, called us a monster and freak. 

I walk downstairs and tense as all eyes fall on me. "Why does that 'she' get to go and I don't?" The youngest, Taylor, lets out a cry. "She's not ten yet! It's not far that she gets treated differently!" I wince and look down.

"Don't worry, Taylor. Everything will go back to normal soon." Father promises while Taylor cries against his leg. He looks down at me with an indifferent look. "Everything will be as it should."

A cold chill runs down my spine. However, for the rest of the trip, no one speaks to me. The pack healer looks at me with pity in their eyes but they don't offer any words of encouragement. 

Instead, I'm thrust into the thick of things once we get there. The one thing I never expected happens in a flash. "One of our young wolves is a dream walker. We have no use for her as we mentioned before. Are you sure you wish to have her, Alpha King?" My pack's Alpha asks.

My face pales as I realize what's going on. I turn and grab a hold of the bottom of Mother's shirt. "P-please don't let them take me!" Tears run down my face as I look up at her with pleading eyes. "M-Mama, I'll be good! I-I..."

Mother looks down at me with disgust and shoves me away. "You're no daughter of mine." She turns her back to me and leaves me behind. I fall to my knees and cry into my hands. One by one my family leaves me behind. 

"It's ok, little one. You're very special... Royal Pack will be lucky to have you." The Alpha King starts but I don't find any comfort in his words. I'm no longer a wolf of Dark Sky... I've never felt more alone than I do now. 



Present

"Is that everything?" Carmen asks as I walk out with two backpacks full of medicine. "Dmn, girl! I'm almost offended... do you think I'll let either of us get hurt?" She raises an eyebrow at me. 

I offer a small smile. "I fear he'll be hurt when we find him... I have complete trust in you though. You are a wolf with Commander blood after all." If anyone could protect me well, it would be her after all.

Carmen's eyes light up and she puffs out her chest in pride. "Why of course!" She is a powerful wolf only second to Xander himself. Both may be overkill but I am an important member of the pack. I haven't taken an apprentice yet as I have a dream where I can raise one of my pups to be a healer like me. They don't need to have my rare gift either. 

"We should get going now that everyone is asleep," I say and look around. I don't want Luna Daisy to catch wind of what I'm doing. She'll fight me every step of the way if she finds out Tristian is my mate. I don't need added stress right now. 

Carmen nods in agreement. "Xander is waiting on us." She motions me to follow and starts forward. "You'd think he believes I'm not good enough to protect you... but I know he'll just miss me." She flashes back a cheerful grin. "He's going to miss his right hand and best friend after all."

I smile and nod. "Of course. He wants to give you a couple more orders too." I add making her grin fall and a groan escapes her lips. "Sorry... makes sense to point out though."

Carmen grumbles under her breath and walks over to the Alpha King. He's waiting just outside of base camp. Xander nods to us. "Good to see you two here early. Come on now." With that, we start to walk.

While Xander gives Carmen more words of wisdom, much to her dismay, my mind wanders to Tristian. I hope he hasn't gone too far. I hope he won't run away from me again. He needs to give me a chance to figure out my feelings instead of running like a coward. 

Will I reject him? A pang of pain hits my chest making me frown. Something tells me I know the answer already. Tristian is my mate... he saved my life even if it was due to his hope for redemption. Unless he does something so terrible that I can never forgive... I will gladly take him in my arms. 

Once we make it to the border, Xander stops and turns to me. "Are you sure you want to do this, Leah?" He asks. Even as he asks, a look of understanding is already in his eyes. He knows I have to do this and won't be backing down.

"Yes, sir," I answer anyway and dip my head. "I need to find my mate and confront him. I don't know what's going to happen... but I have to face it head-on." I look up. "I'll try to get back home as soon as I can." 

Xander smiles and nods. "Of course. Take care out there. The rogue territory is no joke!" He looks to his Beta next. "Carmen, I expect you to take care of not only Leah but yourself as well. I'll brief Kellen on his Beta duties while you're gone." 

Carmen makes a face. "Oh geez... he's going to make a mess of things while I'm gone..." she groans but I know she's joking. Her mate is a wonderful man after all. "Take care of him too while I'm gone. He can be so hopeless without me."

Xander nods and pats us both on our shoulders. "See you soon." He promises before taking a step back. As we turn and walk away from him, he calls out. "Stay safe out there! Break a leg now!" 

I smile faintly. He doesn't wish to jinx me... how sweet of him. I take a deep breath and look out into a brand-new world. This is the first time I'll ever be outside of pack territory for longer than a couple of hours. An odd feeling of excitement rushes through me. I hope to find what I truly want out here.