The Final Goodbye #2
My eyes prickle with tears, and he places his hand on my arm.
He doesn’t say anything, but his heart is thundering.
I don’t try to look at his face, knowing he needs this moment.
I simply rock us side to side, hugging him tightly with my right arm, and with my left, I cup the right side of his face, embracing him protectively.
His hand remains on top of mine, but he raises his other hand, covering his face.
Not a sound escapes him, but I can feel his pain, and I don’t hold back my own, letting the tears I’ve tried to hide fall. It hurts; she was an amazing person. To all.
She was the most compassionate, giving luna. Gone too soon.
I look up, staring out to the centre of the area we are in, my eyes blazing as I call on my power.
Removing my hand from his hand, I stretch it outwards, my aura glowing around me as tree roots spring from the ground.
I keep the image burning in my mind as I manipulate the roots, merging and forming them until they take on the form of the Luna of this pack.
She stands there, legs apart, a smile on her face, holding up two fingers as she often did.
Theo’s turned to see what I’m doing. I clench my teeth, blood trickling down my nose as I raise a platform beneath her statue. I point my finger at the foot-tall platform and begin etching words along it, and Theo says them out loud as I write them.
“Luna Raven Westwood ~ Beloved Mate, Mother, Luna the tree above is shielding me from the rain, but I’m shocked I didn’t hear the crackle of thunder either. My heart hammers, realising I’m all alone.
“Theo?” I call.
No answer.
No… He wouldn’t leave tonight, no! Not when his mama just passed. I stagger to my feet as I whisper a spell. I’m not sure how long it’s been, but I feel a bit better. I won’t be able to track him, not with his abilities, but I can teleport to him.
I can…
I close my eyes, focusing on the spell. A portal opens, and I step through quickly, unable to keep it open without any herbs or crystals to help. I fall onto the muddy ground and realise I’m in the midst of the destroyed forest at the edge of the pack territory just before the barrier.
I can’t see him, but he has to be here.
“I know you’re here,” I say into the emptiness. “I knew you were going to leave, but I never thought you’d go now. Why?” I ask the silence.
I look around me, the rain drenching me and lightning flashing in the sky above me.
“Theo, please…” I whisper.
He appears out of nowhere, a few feet in front of me. He’s holding a bag, still wearing what he was earlier. “Nothing gets past you, huh… I’m sorry, but it’s best I go now, when it will be most effective. If anyone asks, you didn’t speak to me.”
I stride over to him, my heart pounding, and I don’t miss the way his eyes trail over me. Yes, I know I’m pretty much naked, but I don’t care. I stop in front of him, my nostrils flaring. “How dare you leave without saying goodbye?” I say, raising my hand and smacking him lightly across the face.
Maybe not so lightly, as the sound echoes around us and his head snaps to the side.
“Wow, aggressive much?” he asks, but he’s unable to match his usual sarcastic tone.
My tears bleed as one with the rain, and I shake my head. “Go. Go where you need to, but promise me you will return to me,” I whisper. “Because you are… you’re mine, Theo… Tell me you won’t forget me.”
I didn’t think I’d be having this conversation so soon, and it feels like I’m losing my grasp on him.
“I can’t give you anything, Heaven. My path is to walk alone; I need to go places we can’t.
I need to work alone to get the answers we need to defeat them.
I will do anything it fucking takes, and I will let go of all morals and resort to anything I have to in order to get those answers,” he says, cupping my face.
“And I’ll take that – I’ll take every meet-up I can, even if they are few and far between. Whether it’s meeting in dingy motels or in the shadows of the woods, I’m there. And I have foreseen it, so do not argue with me.”
He looks at me questioningly, and I simply smile.
“Damn, should I be afraid?”
I laugh weakly. “No. Follow your path, mostly alone, but never entirely alone, because when you need a light in the darkness, I’ll be there.”
He doesn’t reply, his eyes flashing milky white as he snakes his arm around my waist and yanks me flush against him. I cup his neck, my breath hitching when he cups my bare thigh with his other hand, pressing it firmly to his hip.
“Fuck it, you’re damn irresistible,” he murmurs, and then his lips are on mine. Explosive pleasure dances through me as he kisses me passionately. I kiss him back with equal passion, his touch rough yet consuming.
Goddess… this feels so good… A moan escapes me, our bodies moulded together as he kisses me harder, his tongue tracing my lips, seeking entrance. I part my mouth, granting him entry.
He could ask me for anything right now, and I would give it willingly.
I caress his tongue with mine before he coaxes my tongue out and sucks on it. I moan softly, my core throbbing with desire. Our kisses become hungrier, more desperate until he lets out a low guttural groan as he breaks away.
“Take care of yourself, Sweetcheeks… until I see you again…” he says, backing away slowly.
I stand there, knowing I won’t see him for a while. I just hope what I told him was enough – no, it has to be. It will be.
“I love you,” I whisper as he grabs his bag that he had dropped at some point.
“I already knew that,” he replies cockily. He’s inches from the barrier; he’ll be able to step past it, but not come back without permission… I won’t be able to go after him. His touch still lingers on my lips, my thigh… every part of me… “I’ll answer that the next time we meet then…”
He winks at me and then-
He’s gone.
Disappearing past the barrier and into the night.
I don’t move, in case he sees me, not wanting him to see me break. Goddess knows how hard this must have been for him, and I will not make it harder for him.
I’ll wait for you, Theo Westwood, Keeper of Secrets. I will wait for you. For every king has the strength of a queen behind him.
I don’t move, simply standing there until the first ray of dawn peeks through the horizon, signalling a new day.
A day without him.
Two weeks after that day, the funeral was held. People from all around came to pay their respects to the late Luna of the Blood Moon Pack. Theo’s leaving rocked his family, and yes, I was questioned, but I said I knew nothing.
The only people who know that is not true are Sienna, Allie and Leo. Leo had approached me, and he already knew the plan, saying he didn’t want Theo to be labelled a traitor, and in a way, it was good he left now, because that way he didn’t have to make himself appear to be a traitor.
And as for the promise I made Theo, I will find the answer.
Theo is still connected to his pack, which has given his family hope, but his missing his mother’s funeral was something they were all upset about. But somehow, I believe he was there, hidden away - but there.
I know he was.
Mama asked me about my powers, and I told her about the restored connection between me and the past witches of our bloodline. She was quiet before she nodded, her words still fresh in my mind.
“You are far stronger than I was; you will never allow Endora to control you. But tell that bitch I resent her with everything I fucking have, and to remember you are my daughter.”
I thanked her for her understanding and decided to focus on myself and getting stronger.
After all, we are now fully at war. The humans had told the public we were under attack by a global terrorist organisation and that no one was safe. And no one is.
We carried out our first attack on a pack in Ontario, Canada, one that was full of supporters of the Indomitable.
We killed 103 people, captured 27 for questioning, and put another 215 into an internment camp.
We may not kill children, the elderly or those who cannot fight, but we cannot let them go free either.
After all, this is war.
They didn’t see it coming, and they never will, because when those who never sought blood are finally forced to spill it, the entire world trembles in fear.
I am Aldona of House di Bianco Galdur, daughter of Alpha Chris Somers and High Witch Serafina. And I promise you that although the Indomitable may have begun the war – it shall end with us.
For we, are The Dauntless.
End of Book 8