Forced By the Alpha (Sparkle Hollow Wolves #7)

Chapter 26 - Franco

Tears fell down Sienna’s face as she held her father in her arms. Her shoulders heaved from her sobs, but there was nothing I could do. Everything Tom had told us about the curse was true. There was a cost to magic of such magnitude, and he had been willing to pay it. For Sienna, and for me.

“I don’t understand,” Sienna cried. “Why did you give so much of your magic away?”

“You weren’t going to stop the spell until the curse was lifted, whether you survived or not. I didn’t understand why you were so insistent on it until I saw you two together, and once I did, I knew I couldn’t allow you to take the punishment that should have been mine. You deserve to be happy.”

“How can I be happy without you?” she asked.

“You will always have me. In here.” Tom pressed his hand against Sienna’s heart. The bond between father and daughter had been healed, though not in the way any of us would have wished it.

“What am I supposed to tell Sebastian and Julian? Arabella and Liv? We can’t do this without you, dad.” Sienna choked out the words, and I could sense her heart break. It wasn’t just for herself, but for her siblings as well. Once again, she was being put in the position of taking on more than she should have to. She was going to have to break the news to them all. And it was all my fault.

“You, your sisters, and brothers, are all the best parts of me,” Tom said. “I made a lot of mistakes. Leaving you all, again, is my only regret in life. But I know that you are strong enough to get through anything if you stay by each other’s sides. You’ve proven that.”

Tom held Sienna’s hand as she cried, overcome with emotion at the sudden turn of events. For a moment, they stayed that way, holding on to each other before he turned his attention toward me.

“Franco,” Tom said, looking at me. “Come here, son.”

I knelt beside Sienna and grasped his free hand between my own. His skin was cold to the touch. It wouldn’t be long now.

“Thank you for taking care of my beautiful girl,” he said. “She’s so much like her mother, you know. Her mother was the love of my life. I’m sure you know this, but losing her was more than I could bear. I’m glad I could make it so the two of you have a chance at the same happiness we shared for so long.”

“Your sacrifice will never be forgotten,” I vowed. “Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me, but if you will, please accept my apology. I never should have taken my grief out on your pack.”

“Of course, I forgive you,” I assured him. “I’m sorry, too, for putting you in that position. I swear, I’ll never return to the man I used to be.”

Tom let out a sigh of relief. I was glad to know I could reassure him that I would keep Sienna safe and ensure her happiness. I only wished there would have been a way for him to stay alive to see it. As good as it was that we could make peace with each other, there hadn’t been enough time. For any of us.

“Please, Dad,” Sienna cried. “I don’t want you to go.”

“It’s okay,” Tom replied. His eyes closed, and a faint smile played on his lips. “I’m going to be with your mother.”

It was only a moment, but it seemed to stretch on for longer. Soon, Tom took a final shuddering breath and lay still. The air around us seemed to quiet, as if the forest itself was paying homage to the man.

Sienna placed a hand on Tom’s brow and wept while I stayed next to her, rubbing her back gently. I didn’t want to intrude on her grief, but it was important that she knew I was there with her. We stayed like that for a while until the sun began to set. Finally, her eyes ran out of tears, and she quieted.

“I’m going to call Alpha Lex so he can handle the arrangements for your father,” I told her. “Is that okay?”

She nodded her assent but remained unmoving. I knew that she needed time to grieve, but I worried if she stayed here too long, she would remain stuck in her grief. She would need balance. I hoped I could be what she needed and help her find that.

“Lex,” I said quietly into my phone, “Sienna and Tom performed a spell to reverse the curse. It worked, but Tom… he died.”

Saying the words out loud gave an air of finality to what we had been through. I knew it would take much longer for the reality of what had occurred to sink in, but it was a start.

“We’ll be right there,” Lex replied.

I returned to Sienna’s side as we awaited the arrival of the Sparkle Hollow wolves. Within minutes, a handful of men arrived, including Lex.

“We’re sorry for your loss, Sienna,” the alpha said. “The support of Sparkle Hollow is at your disposal.”

“Thank you,” she responded numbly.

They carried Tom to their car and back into town, where he would be prepared for burial next to Sienna’s mother. Sienna stood hugging herself as we watched the car pull away, and I realized how cold the air had gotten.

“Come on,” I told her gently. “Let’s get you inside.”

She followed me numbly into the cabin and sat in a chair near the stove. I put a few logs inside and lit a match to start it. I grabbed the blanket from the bed and wrapped her in it as I waited for the heat from the fire to permeate the room.

“Call Dylan,” Sienna said suddenly.

“Right now?” I asked. “Why?”

“To see if the curse was broken for everyone,” she explained.

“That can wait,” I said reassuringly.

“No,” she said, shaking her head emphatically. “I need to know right now. I need to know that his death finished it.”

I nodded, understanding that she was seeking to find purpose in the otherwise senseless loss she was experiencing, and made the call. As soon as Dylan answered, I heard exclamations and loud music coming from the pack in the background.

“Boss!” Dylan’s voice rang out, full of excitement.

“I’m calling to see if you all noticed that the curse has been lifted,” I said.

“We noticed it over an hour ago. We’ve been trying to figure out what happened, but damn, this feels good.”

“Is everyone feeling well? No one still has the curse on them, do they?”

“No, we’re all feeling like ourselves again,” he confirmed. “We haven’t felt hope in years. I can’t believe this is happening. Whatever you guys did—thank you, so much. From all of us.”

A loud cheer forced me to move the phone away from my ear as I heard the entire pack howl in agreement with Dylan’s thanks. The sound of merriment was at odds with the feeling in the room. Sienna and I locked eyes as we listened to the jubilation from the pack, wishing we could join in with their celebration. If they knew what today had cost their luna, they might be reacting differently, but after so many years in the dark, I didn’t have the heart to tell them.

“I need to let you go, Dylan,” I told him.

“When are you two coming home?”

“As soon as we can manage it,” I said. “Thank you for taking care of everyone until we get back.”

Sienna’s eyes welled with tears again as I hung up the phone. I hurried back to her side. She was warm now, which I was thankful for.

“I’m here,” I told her, resting her head on my shoulder as she sniffled.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’m so glad the curse broke. I always knew my dad was a good person, and he proved it today.”

“Without a doubt,” I echoed. “He always loved you, you know.”

“I wish we had more time together, but I’m glad he fought for me when it really mattered.”

“He’ll always be with us. I swear, he will never be forgotten for as long as I draw breath.”

She hugged me tightly to her, as if she were holding on for dear life. I had lost both my parents, but I couldn’t relate to any of what Sienna was going through. Her father had been a positive person in her life, for the most part, and he’d shared an entire lifetime of happy memories with her. My own family had been nothing but abuse and chaos. I wished I had some way of encouraging her, but all I could think to do was be there with her.

“I’m so sorry,” I admitted. “I feel like this is all my fault. If I had only found another way to break the curse, Tom never would have—”

“Don’t do that,” Sienna interrupted. “Don’t think about the could-have-beens and what-ifs. My dad knew what the cost was going to be, and he chose it. This is what needed to happen for him to mend his own mistake.”

“I wish I could believe that,” I said.

“You will someday. Besides,” she added with a sad smile, “didn’t you hear Dad? He’s at peace now, with Mom.”

I tucked her hair behind her ear affectionately and caressed her cheek. This woman, my mate, was the most marvelous person who had ever existed. I was honored now, more than ever, to have her by my side.

“Thank you,” I told her.

“For what?” she asked.

“You never gave up hope and never stopped fighting for me. This whole time, I thought I was the strong one, but it’s been you all along,” I said.

“If the situation were reversed, you would have done it for me.”

“I would do anything for you,” I assured her. “I love you. More than the moon and stars.”

“I love you, too, Franco.”