528- The Path to Vengeance
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
Lunara pushed her son's shoulder.
"Leave your sister alone." She pointed a finger at Anton. "And that goes for you two as well."
"They're right!" Edric interjected. She snarled, displeased.
"Of course you think they are, you're the one who raised them like that." She looked at Aurelka. "Don't worry, when you fall in love, they won't be able to do anything but accept your choice."
Aurelka smiled at her mother, grateful.
A wolf emerged from among the trees, running toward us with a paper in one hand. I noticed Anton stiffen behind me, as did the others.
"Raoni?" Edric asked, confused.
He placed his hand on his chest and lowered his head.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your leisure time, my alpha, but we received an urgent letter."
Edric took a step, approaching. Myrion grabbed a piece of dried meat and tossed it into his mouth without taking his eyes off Raoni.
"Give it to me," Edric ordered, extending his hand. He took the letter and examined the seal. "It's the Mercantes' symbol."
My heart quickened and my breathing became shallow. Anton moved even closer to me, feeling the tension settling into my bones.
The alpha broke the seal and unfolded the paper, reading its contents.
"What does it say?" Lyris asked.
Edric, however, looked directly at me, ignoring all the others as he finished reading.
"They want to schedule a meeting. No weapons or fights. It says here they need to speak with Thalyndra and that they know we won't hand her over, so they would like to arrange a civilized meeting." He swallowed, without taking his eyes off mine. "It's signed by Severian, who calls himself one of the Mercantes' leaders."
I stood up in a quick movement, unable to stay in place for another second. So there it was, the name of the wolf who had been pursuing me, who forbade all his men from touching me, from hurting me, judging me too important, the one who made plans and believed he had authority over me.
"Let's meet with him, so we can kill the bastard once and for all and put an end to this," Myrion said.
Lunara let out a sigh and brought her hands to her mouth, worried.
"Thalyndra is the one who will choose," Edric retorted. "None of us will make the choice that belongs to you. If you want this meeting, I'll schedule it and send word. If you don't, I'll tear up this letter and completely ignore what was written inside it."
I moved away from Anton and paced back and forth, thoughtful.
"If they hurt any of you?" I asked, without looking at anyone.
"We're stronger, and they know that. They tried other attacks and none of them worked. That's why they're trying a new approach, something calmer," Vladren commented, approaching with the twins in his lap. "I don't believe they'll do anything, knowing they'll find death if they try."
"And what do you think they'll do?"
"I think they'll come to the meeting without offering any risk, putting their own safety at stake."
"I think they have some trump card, they wouldn't approach knowing they could all leave dead from that meeting," I retorted.
I knew the Mercantes, I spent my whole life hearing about them, fleeing from them. They were too smart, that's why they didn't want to get involved with the Eldoria, to go to war with Edric, because they knew they would lose. They could be arrogant, but they weren't stupid. That's why I was sure they had some ace up their sleeve. They might even approach trying to avoid a fight, but they would never do anything without a backup plan.
"Maybe... but we'll still be prepared," Myrion murmured.
I turned to Anton and stared at him, looking for the answer I needed in his expression. I wouldn't live in peace if any of them were seriously injured, I would never forgive myself. He held my gaze, answering all my silent questions.
They were Eldoria, warriors by nature, Supreme Alphas. Nothing would happen to them, no one would get hurt.
I let out a sigh and nodded. He approached and kissed my forehead, pulling me into his arms. My heart immediately calmed upon feeling the warm body that brought the sensation of safety and home.
I wanted the meeting, I wanted to meet the man who ruined my life and who thought he had some dominance over me. I wanted to watch his death so I could live in peace, knowing I had avenged my parents.
"Are you absolutely certain you'll be fine?" Myrion laughed.
"With the most absolute certainty of all." He ran his tongue over his lips and approached me. "Please, little sister, give us the pleasure of putting an end to those bastards, I need these deaths," he begged, calling me by the affectionate nickname he had started using since I became part of the family by mating with his older brother.
I dragged my gaze to each of them. Edric, Myrion, and Vladren kept taciturn expressions, without concerns. Lunara seemed frightened, while at the same time sharing their opinion about the strength they possessed. Lana, Aurelka, Celindra, and Lyris showed nothing, listening attentively to what would be decided.
None of them were afraid, because they all knew what the answer was. They were Eldoria, the very name they carried spoke for itself of the true magnitude of its meaning.
"You can schedule the meeting, it's time to meet the bastard who thinks he has authority over me," I affirmed, raising my jaw belligerently.
Myrion and Anton opened smiles so wicked that they would make any nearby enemy flee far away.
My heart thundered, longing for the vengeance I had promised myself on the day my life changed forever, taking me, in a crooked way, to the right course, to the right people.