Chapter 35

As if Lilith was messing with me, Darren and I found ourselves here at the top of the hill beside the willow tree, our secret spot back when we were dating. But right now the willow tree is already dead. It was just the main trunk with a few branches and they all looked like they were burnt, with the leaves and vines gone. It looked haunted for some reason. "Milena? Where are we?" asked Darren, who was now awake. He looked around too and saw the tree. "We're back home?"

I glared at him as if it was his fault. "This isn't my home, Darren. I live in Gloverstone now."

“I’m sorry. But you know what I mean. How did this happen?”

I told him about Lilith, but only enough for him to understand that this was beyond my control. I didn’t want him to think that I volunteered to come back here. “That’s it. For some reason she sent me here too. Maybe this has something to do with us still being mates even if we’re no longer together.”

“I see… Let’s go to my home for now and rest?”

“Do you think I can rest, Darren? Marcus is not here with us! And did you really think that I still want to be back here? Are you that insensitive?”

He sighed. "But you're always welcome here, Milena."

Now I glared at him more. "You're really saying that now to me? I don't care about that, Darren! My husband is missing and I'm not even sure where he was sent! So if you don't mind, I'll leave now."

But Darren stopped me by grabbing me by the arm, something that made me jump because at his touch my wolf growled signaling me that my senses are back to normal already. I can smell his scent again. "No! No! Don't come near me!" I shouted and covered my nose. But I knew that covering my nose wouldn't stop my wolf. I had to get away from Darren and that's what I did next. I ran down the hill before my wolf had a tantrum.

"Milena! Wait! We still have to talk!"

I didn't look back or respond to him. I just ran away hoping that my wolf would calm down, or I'd need to dull my senses again. But if I had a choice I would rather not do it again because not only my sense of smell disappears but also my sight worsens. It was the reason Marcus got injured with his fight with Malcolm because I didn't see the Blackhole getting up and was still ready to fight.

"Milena? Is that you? Good lord, it is you!" Someone hugged me out of the blue and I just found myself between two people. They were Devon's parents, Aunt Julia and Uncle Finn. I was so scared of my wolf becoming out of control that I didn't realize I already ended up running to my old house. "You're really here!"

"Look at you! You grew up fast!" Uncle Finn chuckled.

They pulled me into another hug before inviting me inside their house. It was still the same old house but a little quieter. I guess now that Devon had moved out the house became half-empty. They kept talking to me until we settled into their sofa but I still wasn't able to respond to them because I was speechless. And I was touched. Touched that they were happy to see me again. Back then I had resented them for not treating me like their own child, but Devon revealed to me when we saw each other again that it was all Madam Dolores' orders.

"What happened to you, Milena? Devon did tell us where you live after you two reunited, but we still didn't know everything! But Devon did say that you have a family of your own now. Is that true?"

I nodded. "I have a husband and a son now, Aunt Julia. They're everything to me now... Which is why I want to go back home. It's a long story but I ended up here with Darren, so I need to contact my husband and go back home. Can I borrow your phone? I need to talk to someone back home."

"Of course! Use my phone," Uncle Finn offered and I took it happily. I did manage to contact someone from home, but it was Ava. She told me that Marcus is not yet back there and that made me nervous. I told her what had happened and she also got worried for her brother. She then called Gil so that he could help me find Marcus. I wasn't able to talk to Gil anymore but Ava said that he immediately headed out of town to search for Marcus.

"What about my son, Ava? Is he alright? Was he looking for us?"

"Yes, Milena," said Ava sadly. "But he's fine. Hugo took him to the mall and they played at the arcades. You don't have to worry about Zenith. Just come back here and let's search for my brother together."

"Okay. Wait for me," I said tearfully before ending the call, then proceeded to ask Devon's parents if they could help me get back home fast. I could ride a sleeper bus heading south at the next town from there called Meadows. This sleeper bus's route passed through the Atrium back home, so it was actually not that hard to get back to Gloverstone. But I couldn't wait anymore and I needed to leave now so I wanted to ask for help if they knew someone here who could lend me their car. I also specifically told them that I don't want to ask help from Darren, so they suggested I ask help from Ryle instead.

Ryle was Darren's best friend so I was still apprehensive, but since I didn't have any other choices I decided to try asking Ryle because I'd already missed the bus for today. Aunt Julia accompanied me to Ryle's house, but on the way there we saw people blocking the road and looking ahead to something. We got curious and looked at what they were watching because some of them were scared.

I saw men fighting at the distance. "What's happening?" Aunt Julia asked one of the teenage bystanders. "What's the commotion over there?"

"It's him! Randy is back and the Alpha is fighting him! But Randy is strong! Alpha Darren might lose for the very first time!"

"What?" I couldn't believe what I heard so I walked closer to the fight happening on the road. They were not that far from us but far enough for me not to see their faces clearly. I looked closely and it was indeed Darren fighting some dude who looked like a wrestler. "Who is that guy fighting Darren?"

"It's that rogue boss called Randy the Rascal. He wants to kill Alpha Darren and they have been fighting on and off like that for like a year now. Randy always comes here and tries to wreak havoc. He says he's not going to stop until he kills Alpha Darren."

"But why does he want to kill Darren? Is it because of Darren's work as Exodus?"

The onlooker shook his head. "We don't know why he does this but Alpha Darren says that Randy has a deep grudge on him."

"Oh no! His men came here too!" someone shouted and then everyone started running away. A black van appeared and pulled over beside the two men fighting that put the people into a panicked frenzy. And it seemed like this has happened before too, the way the onlookers reacted. Even Aunt Julia was shaking while watching the new men get off their vehicle. I saw some of them were armed with guns too, making me nervous.

"Milena, they're going to kill Alpha Darren! We have to do something!”

“What? But I have to leave! I have to search for my husband!”

“Please help him, Milena!” Aunt Julia begged. “Devon said that you can use your witch powers now! So maybe you can help Alpha Darren! Show the people of this damned town what you can do! It’s time for you to let them know the real you!”

“But Aunt Julia, this isn’t my fight anymore,” I protested.

“I know. But look at Alpha Darren! I don’t know why but he seems weaker than usual so he is in trouble!"

I knew why. It must be because Darren was still weak from the sleeping gas and he already used his strength fighting those rogues with us. Aunt Julia was now crying while we watched the unfair fight unfold in front of us. They all attacked Darren at the same time, and when the rogue boss aimed at him for the final blow, my wolf suddenly roared loudly inside my head.

"No... No!" I screamed silently.

This shouldn't have been happening but I finally lost control of my wolf. My greatest fear had already materialized into reality. I didn't even know why I ended up here but the sky was clear and the moon was already out. I didn't want to get involved with Darren’s fight, but my wolf seemed to have sensed danger for him, and so I found myself transforming into the Purple-Eyed Werewolf.