Chapter 67

Chapter 67
Talia pov

I decided to listen to Silas and lay down on the bed for a while, especially when my brother intervened and told me that rest is good for the body. Who can argue with that?

Zade promised to keep a close eye on Aria, he swore that he wouldn’t let her out of his sight, not even for a second, and I believe him. I know that he won’t let anything happen to her, I can see the love in his eyes when he looks at her.

He isn’t someone I have to worry about.

Zade is perfectly capable of keeping her safe for an afternoon while I sleep off this godforsaken headache.

The problem is, I can’t sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see my fathers face staring back at me.

I don’t know why, but I feel like it’s some kind of warning from the goddess, she’s trying to tell me something, I just don’t know what.

I roll over onto my side, sighing heavily, and just as I’m about to close my eyes again, I hear shouting outside, panicked shouting.

“They’re at the border!” Shouts a voice, and my whole body tenses. “We need every available warrior to head there now!”

I stumble to my feet, my heart racing. Are we under attack?

“We have no more men.” Shouts a different voice, one I’m almost certain is James.

But I can’t know for sure.

I pull on my running shoes and head for the door, if we are under attack then I need to find Aria and get her somewhere safe. Attacks don’t tend to stay at the border for long.

Silas bursts into the room before I can make it to the door, his eyes wild, “it’s your father.” He says quickly, “he’s brought his army.”

Shit. Fuck. Shit.

My father’s men are believed to be the best warriors in all the north, and they’re here for me. But not just for me, they’re here for my sister too.

“We have to find Aria.” I say, my voice cracking.

My father isn’t someone who shows mercy, not even to children. If he finds Aria first, I’ll lose her forever.

I can’t let that happen, even if it means throwing myself in front of the big bad wolf.

“She’s with Zade.” Silas says, stepping closer into the room. “Last I heard be was taking her for a walk in the south woods.”

Of course, because nothing in my life is simple. Why couldn’t he have just kept her close like I told him to? Fuck. The woods are intense. Thick trees and no visibility.

It’s the perfect place to lay a trap.

“Which border is my father attacking?” I ask, silently running through options in my head.

“The east.” Silas says, watching me with an expression I can’t read.

He doesn’t seem worried about the attack, but he should be. He should be very worried. My father is a monster.

“Ok.” I say, walking past him towards the door. “That gives us about twenty minutes to find her before he gets there.”

“Did you sever the bond with your old pack?” He asks, following me out the room and down the stairs, easily keeping pace with me.

“I did.” I say coldly. “But a father can sense his children when they’re close, and he’ll be relying on that.”

If he gets to Aria first, all is lost. He will use her as bait to lure me out of hiding and then he’ll kill us both. But not before he tortures me for daring to leave him.

“He needs to get close first.” Silas growls, opening the door for me as we rush outside. “I sent as many men as I could spare to find Aria, and they will find her. It’s what they do best. Children go missing around our pack all the time, we are used to locating the lost.”

“But Aria isn’t lost, she’s with Zade.” I say, my heart sinking, if only I didn’t go and lay down on the bed.

I should have stayed with her.

“Don’t panic Talia, we will find her.” He says, taking my hand as we job into the woods south of the house. “I promise.”

“You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.” I whisper.

“I’m not.” He insists, “I’m making a promise to my mate that I will find her sister, and I mean it. We will find her.”

I want to believe him, I really do. But I know what my father is capable of, and right now, I don’t have faith that any of us will make it out of this alive.

“Where is Tristan?” I ask, wondering why he didn’t come with Silas to find me.

Maybe he didn’t care.

“He’s fighting at the east border with his men; I was there but we agreed it would be best if I came back for you.” He says, voice clipped as he looks around. “Lower your voice, you’re distracting me.”

My heart does a little flip, but I remind myself that now is not the best time to be flirting or swooning.

I need to concentrate, I need to find my sister.

“Should we split up?” I whisper, reminding myself to keep my voice low.

Silas shakes his head, “that’s a terrible idea.”

“The terrible idea was leaving her home.” Comes a voice to my left, and when I look, my chest grows tight with panic.

It’s my father. He’s found me.

Silas tenses, his hand tightening on mine. “You are not welcome on these lands, leave immediately.” He wants.

My father laughs coldly, “I’m not going anywhere without my daughters.” He says, “come here Talia, it’s time to go home.”

Silas shoves me behind him, and I’m grateful for the distance he puts between me and the man responsible for all my pain.

“She isn’t going anywhere with you.” Silas growls.

“Yes, she is.” My father growls back. “You aren’t going to stop me from taking what is mine.”

“She is no longer yours.” Silas says, voice low.

Silas is strong, really strong, but will he be able to beat my father in a fight? I know for a fact he didn’t come alone; I can sense more wolves lurking in the trees.

Even if we do kill my father, those warriors of his won’t let us go and I think Silas knows that. I think he’s stalling.

Maybe he has men coming, but how far away are they?

Will they make it to us before we die?

“This is your final warning old man, leave, or die.” Silas snarls, letting go of my hand, “stay vigilant Talia.”

I wish I could find my voice, but I’ve lost it.

I’m about to lose everything.