Chapter Thirty-One
We broke through the tree line, and the smell of blood, meat and guts hit me like a tidal wave.
But it was eerily silent. The fighting, the screams — it was all over.
We walked through the field, and panic started to bubble.
Alannah looked over at me, and I watched her pale face register the decimation.
She bent over and emptied herself at our feet.
I wanted to reach out, but with Ternen, I was stuck.
“Hey, it’s okay.” I tried to calm her, but she stood on shaky legs.
“I know; the smell hit me, and the babies did not like it.” She wiped her lips. “I’m okay now.” I nodded once, and we started moving faster. “Where is everyone?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know.” We gave the battlefield a wide berth. “Hello?” I screamed over the wind, spinning in a circle, looking for a sign of life.
“Do you think everyone is dead?” Alannah looked around while I adjusted my grip on Ternen.
“Goddess, I hope not.” We made our way around the back of the house, and I placed Ternen next to Carl’s grave. “I’ll dig a grave for him once we find out what happened.” She nodded as she crouched to touch his face.
The back door opened, and I heard a tiny scream. “Momma Amy!” I turned. Carly was running full speed towards us, and Rowan was following. I felt the panic ease.
“Baby girl.” I ran to her, and reached for her before she could see, but I wasn’t fast enough.
“Uncle Ternen.” Carly slid past me. She aimed for my hurt side and outmaneuvered me so she could run straight for Alannah.
“Aunty.” She wrapped her tiny arms around Alannah and burst into tears.
“I didn’t see. I would have told you. I promise I didn’t see.
” She shook her head back and forth, her little pigtails bouncing from side to side.
“This isn’t your fault, sweet pea.” Alannah sat down on the ground and pulled Carly into her lap, avoiding her bump. “This is on me.”
“This is the Moon Goddess’s plan.” My grandmother appeared next to the graves. “I know it might not make sense. I know it hurts. But this was how it was always going to unfold.” She crouched next to Ternen. “This was exactly why she gave him to you.”
“So he could die?” Alannah sobbed.
“So he could save you.” My grandmother reached out.
“I’m no one.” Alannah shook her head, her breath shuddering out of her.
“You were my everything.” Ternen’s soft voice called as he appeared next to my grandmother.
Alannah froze as Carly stood up, allowing her to scramble to her feet.
“I love you so much; you and our pups were my very soul.” I knew what was going to happen, and I ran back to them as Alannah dove for her mate.
I caught her as she passed right through him.
“He’s not really here. It’s just his soul.” I looked over at him. “He came to say goodbye.”
Alannah screamed once and then pushed out of my arms. I watched Ternen wince as she stepped close to him. “Take me with you.” But he shook his head.
He walked to her, and I could see the tears trailing his face.
“I can’t do that, and even if I could, I wouldn’t.
” He raised his hands to hover over their babies.
“Our pups are meant for amazing things.” He smiled.
“And so are you. The Moon Goddess told me everything.” He leaned in to kiss her forehead, and she closed her eyes.
“I feel you.” She whispered, and his grin got wider. Her eyes opened. “I can’t live without you.”
He tilted his head. “You can, and you will.” She shook her head. “And when you meet him…love him, baby. Give him everything that you gave me. Don’t hold yourself back from loving someone else. I want you to cherish your second mate.”
She rocked her head. “I won’t. I can’t love anyone but you.”
Ternen raised a hand to cup her cheek. “You will. I want you to. I don’t want you to wither in this pain, holding yourself back from life. You deserve better than that. And so do our pups.” She shuddered. “I loved you in this life, and I will love you in the next.”
She bit her lip and closed her eyes, leaning her head onto his hand. “In this life and the next, my love. Until we meet again.” She shuddered. “Will I see you again?” She opened her eyes to see his watery eyes.
Ternen opened his mouth but my grandmother beat him to it. “Once more. The Moon Goddess has already given her blessing.”
Alannah looked to my grandmother. “When?”
“After the birth of your pups. The mother will give him the chance to see them in the flesh.”
“Why not more?” Ternen leaned over and kissed her brow and then her lips once before stepping back.
My grandmother walked over and kissed her brow. “Because that is when his story comes to a close, but yours continues.” Then they were gone.
Alannah sank back down to the ground next to her mate and took his hand.
“I love you, baby.” She put her hand on her belly.
“I got our pups from here on out.” She leaned over their joined hands and wailed.
“I will miss you every day.” I hugged Carly closer and pulled Rowan to my side.
I needed to feel my family, to know they were safe.
Nix and Megan were hurting; their soft calls bounced around in my mind.
I threw my head back and released a long, mournful call.
The back door opened again, and more voices joined my call. The sad melody flew up into the sky until it faded into oblivion, chasing after Ternen’s soul on his final journey. I opened my eyes as I turned to see my mother and friends.
My stomach unclenched as I saw my mother walk out, helping Wendy out.
Toya followed, with her arm wrapped around Lynn, who for the first time since her torture started, looked happy.
Lynn was limping, but the smile that stretched across her face was breathtaking.
Her eyes met mine from across the yard, and she nodded once.
I turned back to Rowan. “Everyone else?”
“Rick and Shelly are okay. They are just holding Abby.” He shook his head. “After you left, the two girls ran out of the cabin, and it-”
“Scared the pants off of us.” My mother finished as she reached our side.
Wendy pulled away, steadying herself on her uninjured leg, and my mother launched herself at me.
“I was terrified when I saw you disappear into the woods.” She pulled back, and I watched a tear track down her face. “What were you thinking?”
I pulled away and looked down at Alannah and Ternen. “I was trying to save my friends.” She nodded once and then crouched down next to Alannah.
“Hey my girl.” My mom’s voice was soft, and Alannah dove into her arms. “Oh, baby.” She wrapped her arms around her, and Alannah shuddered once before she let go.
She sobbed harder again. She curled her head onto my mother’s chest and released her pain.
She threw her head back and screamed about the injustice.
“It’s not fair.” She shook with tears. “He wanted these pups so much, and now he doesn’t get to be in their lives.” She pulled back, eyes puffy. “How is this justice? How is this right?” She tried to turn back to her mate, but my mother grabbed her face.
“Life isn’t fair, Lan. Life is probably the most unfair thing about the world.
We don’t get to choose when we are born, nor when we die.
Nothing is promised. Not rank, not safety, but the Moon Goddess promises is one thing.
A soul mate who will love us. Some,” she looked up at me.
“Some need a second shot to find that feeling, but you found Ternen early. You had years of love, of being cherished. Some don’t even get that long.
” She pulled her into a hug. “I know it hurts, but he loves you so much. You and your pups.” My mother stayed next to them as I turned and hugged Wendy.
“You okay?” My voice was soft, but she nodded.
“Just a scratch.” She smiled, but I watched it fade. “Amy…”
Her tone shift had me pulling away to watch her face.
“What’s wrong?” She looked down at my mom and nodded behind us.
I glanced at Rowan, who nodded once, letting me know he would watch over them, and then I helped Wendy shuffle over to where Toya and Lynn stopped closer to the cabin.
She turned to me, wringing her hands. “Just spill it.”
She looked at Toya, who took a step and pulled me into a hug. “You scared us.” Lynn nodded again, agreeing. Toya stepped back, and Lynn limped over.
“You okay?” I lifted an eyebrow, and she grinned.
“Better than I’ve been in a very long time.” She pulled me into a hug for the first time in months. She pulled back, and her eyes turned to my mom and Alannah. “Ternen?” I shook my head, and she nodded once more.
I turned back to Wendy, who was still wringing her hands. “Now, what’s wrong?”
Wendy sighed. “Your mom has been trying to get in touch with your father since we killed the last rogue. But…” She looked back towards Carl’s grave and the trio there.
“But?” I furrowed my brow, a sinking feeling in my chest.
“He didn’t answer.” Wendy sighed.
A laugh bubbled up, more relief than anything else. “Yeah, he was dealing with explosions in the caves. I wouldn’t expect him to answer.”
Toya looked like she was going to vomit as she pulled out my mother’s phone. A call muted but glowing on the screen. “He answered the last time.” She clicked the mute button, and moans could be heard from the phone. That and a single scream that kept ringing through the air.
I grabbed the phone. “Daddy?” I looked over at the grave; my mom and Rowan turned to watch me. My mother’s eyes met my gaze as I called for my dad again. “Daddy!” There was a cough, and a groan. The scream — a high-pitched woman’s scream — sounded again.
“I’m sorry.” A quiet voice coughed out, but I couldn’t recognize the voice. It could have been anyone.