Chapter 16

“A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing…”
~ Human Bible, the Word of the Creator of humankind.

Dalton stood outside the Colorado pack mansion with his mate at his side. It seemed like it had been forever since he’d been here, and the place almost didn’t feel like home anymore. But it was. Since Lee had died, Dalton was now the beta of his pack. And he knew with everything that was happening, he had to step up and be there for Dillon, just as his alpha had been there for him. He could feel some tension through the pack bonds. It had been so long since he’d really focused on his pack it was odd to feel their presence again so strongly. Mostly, he felt Dillion’s power because the alpha was tied directly to his wolves, and now that Dalton was beta, his connection to Dillon had become stronger. Something was definitely wrong, but he couldn’t just go barreling into the house, heedless of the consequences, to find out. He had to consider that his mate was about to walk into a new, unfamiliar pack, and she was still dealing with the emotional consequences of Volcan’s mind games. She wasn’t fragile. He would never mistake her for that, but she was at a crossroads. She was going to have to decide if she were going to climb the mountain that would lead out of the valley of darkness she’d been walking through or stay in the pit where she was.
“You don’t have to be nervous,” he said to Jewel. He could feel her anxiety coming through the bond loud and clear.
“Did you know that the body's response to anxiety is called ‘fight or flight’? Your body releases a surge of neurochemicals to provide the physical resources to fight for one’s own life or flee to safety.” She rubbed her palms up and down her thighs as though they were sweaty.
Dalton reached over and took one of her hands and laced their fingers together. “So what’s your response to your anxiety? Are you about to fight our pack, or are you heading for the hills?”
She looked up at him, a small smile on her lips. “As if I could fight a den of wolves.”
He shrugged. “Your magic is unique, and you’re a healer. No one in any pack worth their hide would ever hurt a healer, so you could probably kick their butts without breaking a sweat.”
She laughed, and he felt her relax a little. “Why are you so tense?” she asked. Now that she wasn’t so focused on her own fear, she could obviously feel him through the bond.
“Something’s wrong,” he told her. “And it’s serious. I can sense Dillon’s stress.”
She started walking forward and pulled him along. “Then we need to get in there.”
Dalton frowned. “What happened to fight or flight?”
“Fight won out. Who knows what’s going on? There may indeed be a fight ahead of us. And this is a new neuro-response. It’s called ‘when our pack needs help, we get our butts in gear and help,’” she said, her voice full of determination. This was the Jewel who had faced down an evil fae hell-bent on turning her into a vile witch, who had tortured her and put her through pure hell for months. Jewel had come out intact, whole on the other side. Bruised and battered, but whole.
When they reached the front door, Dalton pushed it open without knocking. He could hear tension-filled voices and growls. He followed the noise until he was in the large den of the pack home.
The first thing he noticed was Dillon. He had both hands braced on the back of the large couch, and his head was bowed. Dalton could tell by the alpha’s tense body that his leader was holding it together by a thread. When he looked around the room, Dalton saw Aidan, now third of their pack since Phillip had died, and the man appeared resigned, his jaw tight and his arms folded across his chest. The third gave a head nod to Dalton but didn’t say anything. Dalton continued to survey the den. He saw Fane, the Romania alpha’s son. The young man was kneeling on the floor, and Decebel, the Romania pack beta, knelt next to him, his arm across Fane’s shoulders. Decebel held the younger male tightly against his body and spoke in a low tone in their native language. Something was seriously wrong.
“Alpha,” Dalton said.
Dillon’s head snapped up. His eyes were glowing brightly with his wolf, and Dalton felt the need to bow his head under the weight of his alpha’s dominance. He lowered his eyes as he continued to speak. “Adam brought us back. Volcan has been dealt with. Cyn showed up in Peri and Lucian’s home and explained that the Romania pack Keep has been attacked by the Order. Because of that, they felt it was time we all returned to our packs.”
“The Keep has been attacked?” Dillon asked, his voice a deep growl.
“That is what Cyn said. She said it was bad,” Dalton explained. “But Peri would not allow us to go and help. She and Lucian said we had to return to our packs.”
“That’s not their decision to make.” Dillon’s wolf was snarling. “But I do wonder why they didn’t send for help.”
Dalton motioned toward Fane. “I imagine it has something to do with why he and Decebel are here and not in Romania.”
Jewel stepped closer to Dalton, but she didn’t attempt to hide behind him. “I hope I can help with … whatever needs to be done,” Jewel said. She’d noticed Fane, too, and Dalton could feel the magic in her. Her innate need to heal, to fix the pain that was within any wolf, was drawn to Fane’s obvious pain.
“What happened?” Dalton asked as he glanced back at the two Romania pack members.
“Vasile and Alina are gone.” It was Decebel who answered, though he didn’t lift his head or take his attention off of Fane.
“No,” Dillon growled so loud that the room vibrated with his rage.
Dalton felt as if the air had been punched from his lungs. He had no idea what he’d been expecting them to say, but it hadn’t been that.
“Let’s step into the other room,” Dillon said as he turned and headed for the hall leading to a smaller sitting room. Aidan followed, and Dalton and Jewel fell in step behind him.
“Where is the rest of the pack?” Dalton asked once they were out of the den.
“Training,” Dillon said as he turned to face Dalton. His eyes were still glowing, though they seemed to have dimmed a bit. “We need everyone in the best possible fighting shape, and it gives them a way to get out their aggression. Everyone is a bit tense.” He paused and pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes closing briefly. When they opened, the man was once again fully in control. “I’ll give you a quick recap.”
Dalton listened as Dillon told him about traveling to Arizona and the Order being forewarned they were coming. He told about how the Romania pups had been taken captive along with their mothers and Costin, which he’d also heard from Cyn. He explained how Ludcarab, the elf king, had apparently risen from the dead and was once again in charge of the Order. Alston, the high fae, had been corrupted by power and was determined to seize a gypsy healer for the Order. Once the battle in Arizona had ended, they’d each felt it important to check on their packs and then regroup for a plan to rescue the pups.
“I should have checked in with Vasile. I hadn’t heard anything for a week, but I thought no news was good news, or as good as it could get at this point,” Dillon said, his voice full of regret.
“Do you really believe that would have changed anything?” Jewel asked. Dalton was surprised she spoke up, but then she was a logical thinker. She would look at the situation from the side of facts, not emotions. “The Great Luna created the wolves, right?”
Dillon nodded, his intense gaze on Dalton’s mate.
“If she knew the time of your birth, planned for you to be created, then she also knows the time of your death. If it was time for Vasile and Alina to die, then there is nothing that anyone could have done to change it. And I apologize if I sound callous. That isn’t my intention. I truly am sorry for your loss.”
Dillon glanced at Dalton and then back to Jewel. “You’re right, but that doesn’t make it any less painful or make me think that things might have been different if they’d had more help.”
Jewel nodded. “I understand. Despite the fact that I’m analytical, I know what it’s like to feel like there should have been something I could have done to make a bad situation better.”
Dalton wrapped an arm around Jewel and pulled her into his side. His own heart ached for the loss of such an amazing pair. When you lived as long as the Canis lupus, it was inevitable that you got to know other members of other packs. He hadn’t known Vasile and Alina well, but they were legends in the supernatural world. Everyone was aware of the story of the young male who’d taken over his pack at an early age and how he’d become the strongest alpha in history. They’d heard the stories of the strength he’d shown in the werewolf wars and how he’d held the loyalty of the largest Canis lupus pack in the world. Only a very powerful alpha could do that. And only a man of integrity could do that and not become corrupt.
“How is Fane?”
Dillon looked over Dalton’s shoulder back toward the room. “He hasn’t said much. He fell to his knees and hasn’t risen. He called out for his mate, my daughter,” he growled, “and the pain in his voice was enough to set my wolf on edge, ready to kill whatever it was that had caused the young pup to be in such agony because it meant that Jacque or Slate might be hurt. I knew Jacque wasn’t dead, but they could have been torturing her. Until Decebel announced what had happened, we didn’t have a clue.”
Dalton remembered when he’d lost his parents. It had been a horror that he’d never wish on anyone. If he could take Fane’s pain, he would in an instant.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Jewel spoke up. “But you mentioned they have the children of the Romania pack and their mothers. Is Sally one of those females?”
Dalton had totally forgotten that Jewel knew Sally. Sally had been a huge help when Jewel had been in a coma.
“She is,” Dalton confirmed.
“We have to get her back,” Jewel demanded. Dalton looked down at her, surprised by the tone of her voice.
Dillon growled. Dalton wanted to growl back but refrained. Dillon was alpha, and he had to keep everyone in their place, even Dalton’s mate.
“We will get them back, Jewel,” Dillon said. “But we can’t rush in. We have to make a plan, and at the moment, we have the largest pack in the world dealing with the loss of their beloved alpha pair. Do not mistake our inaction at the moment for lack of concern.”
Jewel lowered her head. “I apologize. Sally just means a lot to me.”
“All of those girls mean a lot to us. One of them is my daughter,” Dillon said.
Jewel’s head snapped back up, obviously having missed it when he’d mentioned Fane’s mate being his daughter. “I’m sorry. You’ve got a ton on your plate, and I had no right to demand. I’m a little out of sorts.”
“That’s understandable,” Dillon said. “Trust your mate to take care of you and know what you need. He knows how much Sally means to you, and I’ve no doubt you will be a valuable asset in assisting us. He will do everything he can to get her back, just as the rest of us will.”
Jewel looked up at Dalton, her eyes full of pain for her friend. “You know what he says is true.”
She nodded. “I do. And I will do whatever I can do to help.”
Dalton leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I know you will, little dove. You’re fierce when it comes to those you love.”
Aidan spoke for the first time. “What’s the short plan?”
“I have a feeling Peri and her mate will be here very soon. Fane is Lucian’s nephew. He will want to check on him. I’ve called her, but she hasn’t answered. I imagine it’s a cluster fu—” He stopped and looked over at Jewel and then changed what he was going to say. “I imagine it’s a mess over there right now.
“So for now, we do what we can to help Fane and Decebel. If that means giving them space, then we do that. If that means giving them an outlet for the emotions, then we get their asses in the sparring field and let them fight our pack members. It would be good training for our younger ones.”
Dalton agreed. He knew that when a wolf felt helpless and was hurting, one of the best things they could do to cope was to battle it out. To wear themselves out to the point of exhaustion so they didn’t do something stupid. Unfortunately, he hadn’t always done that and had wound up doing plenty of stupid things in the recent past. Thankfully, though a hit to his pride, Peri had been there to put him in his place. Damn fae was a menace but usually right.
“Why don’t you take Jewel up to your suite and let her get settled? You both look a little tired. Maybe get some rest. This evening we will introduce her to the pack. Everyone is excited to have a healer among us,” Dillon said.
Dalton nodded and then took Jewel’s hand again. “If you need anything, let me know,” he told his alpha.
“I will. Just rest. I have a feeling, very soon, rest will be a luxury we don’t have.”
Dalton led Jewel from the room and toward the stairs to where the suites were located.
“I’m sorry this is what you’re coming home to,” Dalton told her. “It’s a tough time to join a pack where you don’t know anyone.”
Jewel shrugged. “It’s how I came into this world. It’s nothing new, and I’m not a wilting flower. I can handle it, Dalton.”
“Of that, I have no doubt, I just wish you didn’t have to. It would be nice not to spend all of our time fighting bad guys. A honeymoon would be great.” He grinned down at her, and her face turned a pretty shade of red.
“Well, they tell me I’m immortal now, so apparently, we’ve got time,” she countered.
We only have time if we survive the Order. Dalton didn’t want to mention the chances of that seemed slim considering the group had just taken out such a powerful alpha pair.

*****

Bethany wasn’t sure what dying was supposed to feel like, but she didn’t think it should be pain free. It seemed like something as horrible as dying would be agonizing. It was the very opposite of what your body was designed to do, which was live. So doing the opposite of breathing should feel horrible. But she felt nothing. It was as if she was simply floating through the air. She couldn’t even feel her body. Maybe that’s because she wasn’t dying at all. Perhaps she was already dead. Would she know if she was dead? Wouldn’t Drake know? He’d be dead, too. Her mind grabbed onto the name of her mate, and she felt frantic.
“DRAKE,” she yelled, or tried to yell, but her mouth didn’t work. So, she simply wound up yelling his name inside of her head. As soon as she thought his name, however, everything came rushing back. She’d been in the war room, and then there’d been a horrible pain in her stomach, where their child was. “Our baby,” she whispered into her mind because, again, her damn mouth wouldn’t work. Nothing worked. She couldn't open her eyes. She was just there. Alone.
Bethany tried to look into her mind and see if she could see the bond that connected her to Drake, but there was only darkness. Why is there only darkness?
“You are not dead, my child.”
Bethany felt warmth fill her, and suddenly there was light. She found herself standing in a field of trees. Next to her stood a beautiful woman. She appeared young, but her eyes were ancient and full of wisdom.
“Goddess.” Bethany fell to her knees. This was the one who’d taken a part in creating her and the child growing in her womb.
“Bethany,” the Great Luna said, her voice so full of love that it made Bethany’s lips tremble with emotion. “Please, stand.”
Bethany rose to her feet and looked up at the goddess. There was such sadness in the white eyes. She could see pain and agony mixed in as well.
“Where are we?” Bethany asked, looking away from the Great Luna because the intensity of gazing at her glory was simply too much to bear.
“This is where your mate fell,” the goddess said.
It was then that Bethany noticed the blood on the ground. Also the plants and earth were black as if they’d been burned. The trees had been completely knocked over, their roots sticking up out of the ground. Was this the outside of the Keep, where Drake and the others had been fighting? It didn’t resemble what she remembered from when they’d arrived. The Great Luna’s words registered, and her head snapped up. “Fell? He’s dead?” But she wasn’t dead, at least not according to the Great Luna, but she said Drake fell. Doesn’t “fell” in battle mean died?
“He is not dead, either.” The Great Luna continued to stare out over the battlefield. The black grass was completely flattened from all the trampling feet and mixed with blood that was also turning black as it dried. It was disturbing, especially since she knew her mate had been here. Or was he still there?
“Where is he?” Bethany asked as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“He is still fighting,” the goddess said, her voice filled with a fierceness that surprised Bethany. “He has much to live for and is not ready to come home.”
“Will he live?” Bethany could hear the desperation in her voice, which shook as she continued. “Will we both live?”
“You will,” the Great Luna answered. “Your time is not yet over. You have a purpose, and your child is destined for great things.”
Bethany placed her hands on her stomach as she choked on a sob. She’d been afraid to ask about their child, afraid that the goddess would tell her that whatever had happened to Drake had taken the life of their baby.
“Why did you bring me here?”
The Great Luna began walking, her steps slow, as she surveyed the area around them. Bethany followed, unsure if she was supposed to or not, but not wanting to leave the presence of the goddess and her warmth. That warmth slowly began to chill, and suddenly the calm voice was not calm anymore.
“Look away from me, child,” the Great Luna’s voice filled the air, rattling Bethany’s bones.
Bethany immediately turned her back to the goddess. She could feel the anger radiating off the Great Luna, and it was terrifying. Her knees buckled under the weight of such righteous rage, and Bethany hit the ground, her hands landing before her face could hit the dirt.
“I don’t understand,” Bethany whispered. Her voice refused to come out any stronger because of the power radiating off of the goddess.
The goddess spoke after a minute more of oppressive silence. “The blood of my faithful drenches this land. Two of those who died were anointed by me. They have led their pack with respect and grace. They've given much of themselves and asked for very little in return. And today, they have come to me.”
“But you knew it would happen,” Bethany said. “You’re angry even though you already knew it would happen, and you didn’t do anything to stop it.” She had no idea who had died, and it was probably dumber than dumb to question a goddess, but she was truly curious as to why the Great Luna was so angry.
“There is a time for everything, child. A time for birth and death. There is a time for victory and for defeat. I cannot take those things away from my children, or I take away their free will,” the goddess said. “Yes, I knew the moment they drew their first breaths when their last would be drawn, as well as the way in which it would happen. That doesn’t make it any less painful. I love them, as I love all my children, with an everlasting love, and though I welcome them home with a triumphant entry, I hurt because they were hurt. I feel the pain they endured throughout their lives, as well as at the moment of their death.”
“Who died?” Bethany wasn’t sure she wanted an answer because she was beginning to get the feeling that she knew exactly who it was.
“Your alpha pair. My children, Alina and Vasile. They fought the good fight.”
“But it wasn’t enough.” Tears began to form in Bethany’s eyes. She hadn’t known the pair long, but in the time she’d been in their pack, she’d seen how much the alpha pair loved not only each other but everyone in their pack as well.
“Fighting the good fight doesn’t mean you will necessarily see the results of your battle,” the Great Luna said. Bethany could feel that the goddess’s anger had subsided, but she remained on the ground. “You fight because it is the right thing to do, and in doing so, others will see your example. They will see something different in you and ask what it is. Why don’t you look like the rest of the world? Why do you choose to be selfless instead of only thinking of yourself? Why do you fight for those who will never know your name or sing your praises? That is what it means to fight the good fight.
“You might not be there at the end to see the victory, but rest assured it is coming because I have already won. The battle that is coming is mine, and I will not let the enemy make a mockery of my wolves, my creation. As the Great Creator has loved his human children, so I have loved my wolves. As the Great Creator has won the victory over evil for his children, so I will win the victory for my children.”
“I’m sorry.” Tears streamed down Bethany’s face. “I’m sorry they had to die.” The Romania pack had to be devastated.
“Everyone dies. The life you have now is temporary. This is not your home, Bethany. Your home is with me in the next life where there will be no bloody battles. The enemy will not be able to steal every good thing from you. Vasile and Alina are in their eternal home.”
Bethany knew the words were meant as comfort, but there was little to be found in that moment because she knew the pain their loss would leave behind for those still living. It sucked to be the ones left grieving.
“Why does death have to be so awful?” Bethany asked as her gut twisted with grief. “Not for the one who died, but for those of us left behind to remember them? The pain of it is worse than any physical pain. It’s as if a part of your soul has been torn out.” Bethany had lost her family when she’d been torn away from them by the vampires. She rarely let herself dwell on the pain of that loss, but while she had the audience of the Great Luna, she was going to ask.
“The pain you feel when you lose someone is also a good thing. It is a testimony to the fact that you have the capacity to love that deeply. Don’t be quick to dismiss pain as something to be feared or avoided. Death is inevitable. It’s not a choice. Living is. You get to choose how you live your life so that when it is time for you to take your final breath, you can leave this world knowing you have left a legacy worthy of others carrying forward.”
“Like Vasile and Alina did?”
“Exactly,” the goddess said.
Bethany felt a hand on her head, and the warmth returned.
“It is time for you to wake up, Bethany, daughter of mine. You need to be with your mate, and you need to tell Perizada that I have seen, heard, and felt the pain of my children. This is only the beginning of what must take place.”
Bethany’s eyes snapped open, and her head swung from side to side. There were no more trees or bloody grass. She was lying on a bed, and Rachel was looking down at her with a warm smile and tears in her eyes.
“She’s awake,” the healer called out.
“Peri,” Bethany said quickly, the Great Luna’s words ringing in her ears. “I need to see Peri.” Bethany pushed herself up, hoping to find Drake. She could feel that he was close by. She gasped when she felt herself being lifted until her back was against the headboard.
“You’ve just been through a major trauma.” Peri’s voice came from across the room, but she was walking straight toward Bethany. “Perhaps it would be better to be still and not jostle anything loose.”
“Our baby is fine,” Bethany said, understanding that was what the high fae meant.
Peri reached her bed and then sighed. “Let me guess, a certain goddess told you that?”
Bethany frowned. “How’d you know?”
“Because people only know stuff they shouldn’t when they’ve been paid a visit by said goddess.” Peri pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. When she looked up again, Bethany saw the weariness that she’d missed when Peri hadn’t been standing right next to her. Now, up close, she could see the dark circles under the high fae’s eyes and the red left over after tears had filled them. Bethany saw the heavy weight of what was to come and what had already happened sitting heavily on the woman’s shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” Bethany said quietly. “For Alina and Vasile.”
Peri’s shoulders tightened, and she clenched her jaw. “Thank you. It’s your loss, too.”
“I didn’t know them like you did, though. They took me in, made me a part of their pack, and for that, I will forever be grateful. I know they will be missed.”
“More than any words can express,” Peri agreed, her voice soft as her eyes glistened. “Now, why is it that the moment you woke up from your mate’s injury you called for me and not for him?”
“I have a message for you from the Great Luna.” Bethany’s heart was in her throat as she remembered the things she’d seen on the battlefield, and the words that had been given to her to pass on.
Peri’s back straightened and her chin lifted. “What did she say?”
“She said to tell Perizada that I have seen, heard, and felt the pain of my children. This is only the beginning of what must take place.”
The high fae swallowed hard, but her face didn’t betray any emotion other than determination. “So be it,” she said after several heartbeats of silence.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash followed by a shout.
“BETHANY.”
“It appears that your mate is awake and not dead.” Peri’s lips turned up in a small smile, though it didn’t meet her eyes.
“Guess he wants to see me,” Bethany said sheepishly.
“They tend to get testy when they think their mate might be hurt or in danger.”
“You have to calm down,” a woman’s voice warned.
Bethany pushed the blanket away and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Peri stepped forward and held out a hand. “Thank you.” Bethany took the offered hand and pushed herself off the bed and onto her sock-covered feet. It took her a minute, once she was standing, to get her bearings, but after several deep breaths, she realized she was fine. Her stomach was a little sore, but other than that, she was okay.
Bethany stepped around Peri and moved toward the ruckus. There were beds lined up and separated by curtains, much like in a human hospital. She passed three beds with sleeping figures. Some were wrapped in bandages, and some simply looked like they’d just found a place to rest and had taken the opportunity.
When she reached Drake’s bed, she pulled back the curtain and had to press her lips together to keep from laughing. Drake was attempting to sit up, but three females and one male were practically laying on him to keep him flat on the bed.
“If you move around too much you will undo all that Diedre has done,” said Rachel, who was holding onto a leg.
Bethany hurried around the bed and pushed aside the male whom she didn’t recognize. “Drake,” she said firmly and took her mate’s face in her hands. “I’m fine. You need to be still so you don’t hurt yourself.” She had no idea what injuries he had suffered but assumed because of the pain she’d felt in her abdomen when she’d fallen that he’d sustained a wound to his midsection.
“Bethy,” he whispered, her nickname coming out reverently as he lifted his hands. One touched her hair as the other trailed fingertips across her cheeks, which were growing warm. They had an audience, but she was trying to ignore that fact. “You’re okay?” he asked and then quickly followed with, “The baby?”
“We’re both fine.” She nodded as tears built in her eyes. Seeing the emotion in his eyes, how much he loved her and worried for her, made her realize her life was richer than she would have ever expected.
“Thank the Great Luna.” He sighed as he pulled her head down to his and touched their foreheads together.
“Are you alright?” Bethany asked softly. “What happened?”
“I got skewered like a stuffed hog,” he said as he rubbed his nose against hers as if what he said was of little consequence.

She frowned and pulled back so she could look at his face. “You were stabbed?”
He nodded. “In my stomach. I won’t lie. It was bad.”
Bethany stood up and finally looked at the people who’d been holding down her mate. The only one she recognized was Rachel. “You all saved him?” she asked the group that was staring at her.
The male held up his hand. “I just held him down when he went into frantic-mate-mode. I’m Adam, mate to Crina. She’s a member of your pack, but we’ve been off fighting other bad guys.”
Bethany nodded. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Rachel stepped forward and motioned to the two women standing on the other side of Drake’s bed. “Bethany, this is Diedre.” She motioned to the woman with long brown hair that was braided and resting over one shoulder. She had a kind face, and a radiance filled her eyes. “She is a sprite and the head of the clan of luminous sprites.”
Bethany didn’t lift a brow at the news that sprites existed. She wasn’t surprised by anything anymore. There was really no point.
“And this,” Rachel continued, “is Lanora. She is a healer sprite. They are the reason your mate, and in turn you and your child, are still alive.”
Bethany didn’t even try to stop the tears as she hurried around the bed and first hugged Diedre and then Lanora. “Thank you, thank you,” she said over and over again. “There’s no way I can ever show you my gratitude for what you’ve done.”
Diedre reached out and took one of Bethany’s hands in hers and squeezed. “It is what we are here for, and we are so thankful that we were able to help you both. Your mate is strong and stubborn. Both of those things actually help us do our job.”
A smile stretched across Bethany’s face. She was well aware of how stubborn her mate was.
“I am very thankful that we could save him,” Lanora said, her voice soft with a musical quality.
Diedre turned to Drake and narrowed her eyes on him. “You are not to get out of this bed without assistance and only for necessity until we tell you otherwise.”
Drake, surprisingly, didn’t argue. He simply bowed his head. “Thank you. Truly, I am in your debt.”
“The debt has been paid,” Diedre said, her voice full of sorrow.
Bethany felt pain through the mate bond, but it wasn’t physical pain. It was emotional. The loss of their alpha pair. She wondered if that was the payment of which Diedre spoke.
One by one, the others stepped away until Bethany and Drake were alone.
“Come here, please.” Drake held out a hand to her.
She walked over and let him pull her next to him on the bed. She sat, trying not to move too much for fear of causing him pain. “I’m so sorry about Vasile and Alina,” she whispered.
Drake let out a deep breath. “Losing them is a huge blow to our pack,” Drake admitted. “There are people in this world who are selfless and willing to do anything for others. That’s the kind of people Vasile and Alina were. They took me into their pack knowing the type of pack I came from. But they never treated me any differently.”
She held his hand tighter and sat quietly, letting her love flow through the bond, hoping she could offer him some comfort. She felt the pain of the alpha pairs' loss, and it was so much worse through her mate’s emotions because he had a deeper attachment to them than she.
After a few minutes, Drake released her hand and then pressed it to her stomach. She loved the warmth that seeped through her clothes and set her hand on top of his, pressing it more firmly into her.
“Our child is alright?” Drake asked, worry filling his voice.
Bethany nodded. “I have it on very good authority that our little one is just fine and will do great things in his or her life.”
Drake’s brow rose. “The Great Luna?”
Bethany nodded. “She paid me a visit while we were both unconscious. She took me to the battlefield.”
Drake frowned. “You shouldn’t have seen that.”
“I’ve seen blood and death, Drake.” She hated reminding him that she’d spent a long time in the hands of the vampires. “The only reason it was hard to be there was because I knew you’d been there and somewhere on that field was your lifeblood.”
He tried to pull her down beside him, but she shook her head. “You’re not going to hurt me,” he told her.
“Diedre said—”
“Diedre doesn’t understand that the touch of a true mate helps a wolf heal. I need you close.”
“Alright.” She gave in, mostly because she needed to be close to him, too. She stretched out beside him and settled her head on his chest. He smelled like magic, but underneath that, she could also pick out his scent. She breathed in deeply and let it remind her that he was safe.
“I love you, Drake,” she said as she pressed her face into his bare skin.
“I love you, my sweet Bethany.”
“What happens now?” She worried about the fact that they were leaderless and the enemy was no doubt doing a victory dance over the huge blow they’d dealt.
“We regroup.” He sounded so sure, for which she was thankful. “We get ready for the next fight.”
“Who will be alpha?” Bethany had felt the emptiness, the loss of the bond to the alpha pair. But then she’d felt a new connection, though she wasn’t sure where that connection started.
“Fane, Vasile’s son, has taken the pack bonds, and Jacque is the alpha female,” Drake answered.
Bethany’s breath shuddered out of her. “He must be in so much pain. His mate and son were taken, and now his parents are gone.”
“He’s strong,” Drake said. “He will do what needs to be done.”
Bethany took comfort in her mate's confidence that Fane would be able to step into his role, despite the fact that he had to be in tremendous grief. She settled even closer to Drake and closed her eyes. There was much to be decided, but for now she was thankful that her mate and child were alive and well. But even as she gave thanks, the words of the Great Luna filled her mind. “This is only the beginning of what must take place.”