Chapter Thirty-One #2
“Daddy!” I called again, but the phone disconnected. I pulled it back to stare down at the now-black screen. I looked back to the trio, and I could see the panic in my mom’s eyes, but being a Luna came first. I could see it on her face as she turned back to Alannah.
“What is she doing?” Toya asked softly. “I thought she would jump up.”
I shook my head, but it was Lynn who answered. “She wants to.” Lynn sighed. “But once you become a Luna, your needs fade into the background. Your pack’s needs come first.”
“I don’t understand. That’s her mate.” Toya looked to me.
I nodded. “It is, but she is a Luna. She is trusting her mate to take care of his side of their pack so she could take care of hers.” I nodded towards Alannah.
“You can tell by her shoulders that she is freaking out, but she also knows that Alannah needs her.” I tried to call my father again, but there was no answer.
I felt a small hand slide into mine. “She isn’t jumping up because I told her not to.” I looked down and met Carly’s white eyes. “And I will tell you the same thing.”
“But I have to go save them.” I felt stupid trying to argue with a child, but she stared up at me.
“The ones that you can save will still be saved whether you leave now or in an hour.” Her white eyes bore into me.
“But if you leave before it’s time, others will die.
” I wanted to scream. Riddles, everything was riddles.
“Trust the Goddess, trust me, dig the grave and put the Omega to rest. You will understand once it is done.” She turned to Rowan.
“There is another shovel around the side of the cabin. I hid it earlier today.” She patted his hand.
“Help your queen put one of her soldiers to rest, then everything will be clear.”
Rowan started around the cabin, and Carly’s eyes cleared, rolling back into her head.
I had just enough time to catch her before she hit the ground.
I straightened. “You three go rest. I feel like we will have more to do in a short time.” I looked down at my pup.
Riddles wrapped in a tiny package. I shook my head as I headed into the cabin with everyone else following me.
“Carly!” Abby screamed as I walked into the living room. She jumped from her parents’ arms and ran over, but I just patted her head.
“She had another vision, and I think it tapped her out.” I laid her on the couch. I looked at Rick and Shelly. “I’m happy to see you both are okay.”
Shelly jumped up and hugged me. “Your shield kept everyone safe.” She pulled back and saw something on my face. “Everyone is okay, right?”
I shook my head as a hand flew to her mouth. “Ternen didn’t make it.” A whimper left her. “He lost his life saving Alannah and their pups.” I kissed her forehead. “I’m going to go help them, but you guys rest. According to Carly, something else is going to happen.”
I turned to Toya. “Help the others wrap their injuries and make sure everything is closed up inside. Just in case we have to leave quickly.” She nodded as I turned.
I felt my feet dragging as I left the cabin.
Rowan, my other half, was already waiting with the two shovels.
I grabbed one and I turned. “I want to run.”
“I know you do. It’s your dad. But I feel like there is something that needs to be done here, and if we leave before it’s figured out, something unforgivable would happen.”
I nodded once. “Yeah. I feel it too.” I sighed. “Let’s go.” We walked to the giant tree in the back. My mother watched us coming with a storm in her eyes. I could see the pain and need to run warring with her need to comfort and take care of a pack member.
“Baby?” Her voice was a soft plea. I knew she was asking me whether I had gotten through again.
If I had news somehow. I shook my head, and she shuddered.
She turned back to Alannah. “Why don’t we go collect some flowers for Ternen?
Amy and Rowan will handle everything here, and by the time we get back, we can lay him to rest.”
Alannah sniffled. But nodded. “He loved flowers.” They slowly walked to the garden and left us alone at the grave.
Rowan looked at me for a second. “Let’s get this done quickly. Something is brewing, and I don’t like the feeling.” His words seem to ring in the air like a promise.
Once the pair disappeared around the cabin, Rowan wanted to start but I held up a finger.
I moved over to Ternen. “Hey friend.” I wiped his hair out of his face.
“I know you are worried about her.” Rowan came up behind me.
I could feel his strength trying to seep into me, but I pushed it away.
I didn’t deserve the peace he was offering.
“You probably don’t believe me when I say I’ll watch over her.
I was supposed to watch over you too, and now look at us.
” My voice caught. “I’m so fucking sorry. ”
“Amy.” Rowan reached for me but I shook my head. “This isn’t your fault.”
I couldn’t stop the chuckle that left my lips, but it quickly turned into a sob.
I slapped a hand over my mouth trying to push it all away.
I didn’t have time to break down. “It is.” I looked back down at Ternen and I cupped his cold cheek.
“He was alive, and warm less than an hour ago. I should have been faster.” I shook my head again. “He’s dead because of me.”
Rowan dropped next to me. “He’s dead because Garith sent men here knowing it was important to you.” He turned my face. “Ternen gave his life to protect his mate and his twins. You don’t get to take that away from him because you are feeling guilty.” Rowan’s eyes held mine.
“I’m not.” I shook my head and tried to argue.
“You are. You are taking on his loss when he fought tooth and nail for his family.” Rowan leaned in and kissed my forehead. “He was an Omega who fought off rogues. Do you know how rare that is?”
I nodded. “Of course I do.”
Rowan looked down at Ternen. “I don’t think you do. Omegas usually cower, and I don’t say that as an insult. Their wolves are just too weak. Normally they run away and hide if they can.”
“And if they can’t?” My words were soft, but I already knew the answer.
“They accept their fate and let themselves return to the Moon Goddess. But Ternen, he ran towards the danger. He fought and killed ranked wolves to save his mate and their pups. He knew he didn’t have a chance…”
“Then why did he do it?” I wanted to scream.
“You know why.” Rowan looked at me. “You saw exactly what I saw.” I closed my eyes, and I shook my head.
“No.” I didn’t want to think about it.
“Yes.” Rowan’s fingers slid into mine. “Alannah was being pulled to the woods, and Ternen was running after them.” Rowan’s words were soft.
I just kept shaking my head. “No.” The ache in my chest tightened, but no matter what I said, I knew he was going to finish what he was saying.
“You were fighting to reach the edge of the circle, and right before Ternen ran into the trees he looked back and saw you were coming. He knew you weren’t close enough.” Rowan tightened his hands as I tried to pull away.
“You’re wrong.”
“Oh, baby, I wish I were.” He pulled me to his chest. “But you and I both know he saw you wouldn’t make it. We both watched his face. He made a choice. His life for theirs. His life to give you enough time to reach Alannah. To save her.”
“No.” I felt the word ripped from my chest. The dam broke, and I felt hot tears hit my cheeks.
My mate kissed me and then pulled away. “He made the decision that his life was worth hers. And he wasn’t wrong.” I reeled back as if I had been slapped.
“How could you say that?”
He lifted a hand to cup my face. “Because I would make the same decision in the blink of an eye. Your life is worth more than mine, ten times over. I would sacrifice myself for you, for our pups.” His sad smile broke a sliver off my heart. I just shook my head.
“You’re wrong. You’re the King.” I tried to pull out of his arms.
But he just kissed my lips. “You’re the Queen.
My life, my heart, and the only thing that has kept me going these last few years.
I would die for you. And Ternen did that for his mate, for their pups.
Don’t diminish his sacrifice just because you feel guilty.
” I stared up at Rowan, and I felt the truth in his words.
I knew I was dead as soon as I started running after Alannah. I just had to fight long enough to make sure you could get there to save her. Ternen’s sweet voice whispered in my ear.
“You did it.” I whispered back as I turned back to my friend. I grabbed him in my arms. “You saved them.” I kissed his forehead and leaned him against the tree. “Now it’s time to rest.”
I wiped my tears and stood. I turned to see my mother peeking around the corner, but I waved her off. Rowan furrowed his brow. “Why did you wave her off?”
I grabbed one of the shovels in his hands and then started digging. “I didn’t want her to come back over with Alannah until the evidence was gone.” I waved my hands over my face.
“Why?” Rowan smiled, but it was a little hesitant, like he didn’t know why I wouldn’t want Alannah to see me cry over her mate.
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t play dumb.” I pointed at him. “You know exactly why.” I looked up, and I realized he didn’t. His eyebrows were pinched, and he was staring at me. “I'm an Alpha, and until she settles at my dad’s pack, she is mine.”
“So?”
I stopped digging. “An Alpha needs to be strong for their pack; we can’t show our weakness.”
“That’s bullshit. I watched you with Toya and Wendy.”
“That’s different.” I shook my head.
“How?” He started digging again, and the hole started to get wider.
“When I’m just me, just Amy, then I don’t care who sees me cry, or whatever weakness I show. I am comfortable in my skin, and I know I can kick whoever tries to make fun of me. But like this?” I waved my hand. “Where I have to be strong for wolves that rely on me…I can’t break down.”
“Why not?” Rowan moved closer. “You know they wouldn’t care.”
I nodded. “I know. But they need the safe space.”
He tilted his head. “The safe space?”
I started digging again. I heard the soft cries of Alannah and I nodded.
“She needs the space to break. She needs to feel secure enough to break down, and she won’t be able to do it if I am.
” I looked at him. “I can break down with you because you are my safe space.” I nodded towards the cabin. “And I’m theirs.”
Rowan’s face cycled through a million emotions, but it settled on one, and I watched as his face softened. “You stay strong for them so they can focus on their pain, and they know you will watch over them.” I nodded. “You are my safe space too.” He finally understood.
We silently got back to digging. The pit in my stomach stayed through it, though. Something was wrong at my father’s pack, and I needed to get back there. Every shovel of dirt, the sweat, the pain, got me closer to where I needed to be.
“That’s deep enough, you two.” My mother’s voice rang out over us, and we both jumped and spun. Her face was a mask of worry, but she smiled. “That’s deep enough.” I nodded and tossed up my shovel.
Rowan hopped up and walked over to Ternen. “Time to rest.” He picked him up gently and walked him over to my waiting arms.
“Wait.” Alannah stepped forward, her eyes full of panic. “I can’t do this.” She shook her head and grabbed for her mate, but my mom embraced her around her shoulders.
“You can.” Her soft whisper was full of her power. Her wolf was pumping out her calming aura, settling the panic in my friend’s eyes. “He was brave when he chased after you. Right?” Alannah turned to my mom and nodded, tears streaming down her face.
“He didn’t hesitate.” She swatted angrily at her tears. “He just charged the rogues.”
My mom cupped her cheeks. “Now it’s your turn to be brave.” Alannah searched her face and then turned to mine.
I nodded. “You have to be brave, Lan. Who else is going to tell your pups how brave their father was?”
She staggered back, but she nodded. “I will. Every day.” I opened my arms for Ternen as Rowan slid him to me.
Something new settled in me as I laid Ternen in the ground. A new chilling tiredness settled in my bones. I looked from the dirt wall of this grave towards the first I had dug alone, for Carl. I was tired of burying good wolves that deserved more from this world.
Carl deserved to watch his daughter grow up into an amazing young woman.
Ternen deserved to grow old with Alannah. He deserved to see his pups come into this world, and he deserved more than the shitty life he was stuck with in Vince’s pack.
“Rest well, Ternen. We will see you again.” I felt a single tear break free as I leaned over his body.
I heard a soft gasp as I pulled back. “You deserved more than the hand you were dealt in this life. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to give it to you.
” I stood to pull myself out of the grave and froze.
Rowan was already there, wide-eyed, looking at my forehead. “What?”