Camilla's POV continues
My gaze roams our surroundings, a familiar face catching my attention. A man, he looks rugged, and starved but I would know that man anywhere. Even as I stare at him now, the undying fire in his green eyes is burning bright. I can't forget the eyes of my father's favorite warrior. I spent my childhood admiring the way he protected everyone, it was something Tee and I wanted but for then, protecting each other was enough for us, still is. I get immense pleasure and peace from safeguarding Tee, and I know she feels like that with me too.
“You're Adrien Huntington right?” I ask him, the name sampling bitter on my tongue because of the similarity to Adrian's name.
The old man nods, the veins in his neck popping when he does. “You remember me?”
“I do, my father loved you very much, you were his favorite warrior. But I thought you died?”
His head shakes, the fire in his eyes dimming momentarily, it's as if he gets some hurtful flashbacks. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to trigger his emotions but I know that he died, we buried this man in the best graveyard Dark Moon has to offer.
“I didn't die,” he sighs. “They made it seem like I died and enslaved me like everyone to combat in their battles and do their dangerous work.”
“Hmm, that's sad, but on your way back to Dark Moon, can you kindly take my friend with you and tell Alpha Ryan to escort her to Midnight Saints safely?”
“No.” Mirabelle lets out from beside me.
I ignore her protest, carrying on with my request, “Don't tell him you saw me or anything I've done, this isn't exactly something my dad would approve of. He didn't raise a killer, I just—Take her with.” I tell him, my eyes veering to Belle. “You need to go home, I can't handle anything happening to you.” I whisper to her.
Mirabelle shakes her head, “I know, but I can't go home without you. It's not home without you anymore, the time you left I was miserable, you know that so why are you insisting on sending me to a home you don't want to be a part of?”
“Fine,” I sigh in defeat. My arms dropping to my sides. “You win, I'm not forcing you anymore but we have to find a place to live while we wait to go to college.”
“I don't mind living under a bridge as long as we have each other, Camilla, that's all we need. We're enough for each other.” she murmurs, her tone breaking.
I gulp hastily, my hand reaching to take hers. She freezes the moment I brush over it but relaxes when I hold her hand in mine. “It's fine sir,” I say. My gaze found Mr Huntington once again. “You can be well on your way, we're staying together, this stubborn girl and. We will figure something out.”
The man nods, running his hand through his roughed hair. “I remember you wanted to be a warrior, you and that frightening child.” He chuckles, referring to Tee. “You are more than a warrior Mia, you are what inspires warriors. You know, you just killed Alpha Hayden and his entire team of trustees. You single-handedly, with little help if you want to acknowledge it, wiped out the strongest members of his pack. I don't think your father would be disappointed he raised a wonderful young lady. Jacques would be proud of you young lady and I think it goes without saying, you can easily run his pack.”
My heart swells at his words, not about ruling Takishini but about my father but still, it doesn't change the hostile behavior I exhibited. Someone else could have easily handled that with little or no bloodshed, using Alpha Hayden as a bluff but I went for the kill, the first degree massacre and Mr Huntington thinks I should run the pack? No, I can't out of respect for all good Alpha's out there.
Looking over his shoulder, my eyes find Beta, giving some bottled water to the girl who seems to be barely alive. “He will do a good job at being the next Alpha, as long as he can beat Gerald to it.” I snort.
The young woman next to Mr Huntington whose existence I had missed earlier grins, “He is a good man right Adrien?”
I almost flinch at the name, my hand clenching into a fist. “Indeed,” Mr Huntington nods, his gaze veering to Beta. “That boy has a golden heart and his wife took advantage of that.”
His wife?
He doesn't look married, he doesn't wear a ring either.
“What do you mean?” I ask, my gaze following Mr Huntington's. I know I shouldn't snoop in his private life but part of me wants to know more about him, conceivably because of the pull his gaze holds. And besides, I'm not prying, someone else is putting it out there and I'm just asking to have full data, I don't like being out of the loop. If they know it, it's probably not private and gets talked about so what's the harm in knowing?
“His wife left him, she took off with their oldest child. I remember I was assisting him with assembling the herd shelter when she came by and told him she was going out to buy their three year old ice cream because he would stop crying and she had none left in the house. He looked at their child and shook his head, he knew the child was never easy to persuade so he let her go. He had offered to take the child himself but she wouldn't budge and she said she wouldn't take long.” he says, taking a short pregnant pause.“ I didn't expect her to be late either because she had left their newborn in the house but it's been four if not five years and she's still getting ice cream.”
Belle gasps beside me, and I shake my head. I knew he was holding something that hurt him inside but I didn't anticipate this. “Maybe his wife died?” I suggest, trying to find a justification for his pain.
“No, she ran away. She's raising their child with her lover. She was a good woman, they were the most envied couple here. She was very pretty too, but never uptight, she was humble. But I guess she never did love him, her heart always belonged to another.” the girl next to Mr Huntington sighs.
“What happened to the newborn?” Mirabelle asks, and I'm glad she did. I was about to ask the same thing but pondering over it, they might think I give a shit when I don't, I'm just generally curious.
“She stays with him, a very lovely child. But recently, I haven't beheld her, she must be with the aunt on the mother's side. She has a habit of fighting him to keep the girl. Once she goes to visit, she stays long and he can't do anything about it because he is a peaceful man and they both want what's best for the girl. I think he feels like he failed her at times, you know how it is with single parents with such little kids.” Mr Huntington explains, his gaze never leaving Beta despite his active movements.
I too watch Beta, he hides his pain very well. If I weren't going through the exact pain, I would have missed it. The way he is moving from spot to spot, making sure everyone is okay makes me feel sorry for him. Good people never win, he is a perfect example of it, his wife left their newborn and is having the man she left him for raise his other child. “That sucks,” I snort.
When I realize I said that out loud, my gaze shifts to Belle, she's crying at the sad story she's just heard. I feel sorry for him but I'm not going to cry about it, I've wasted enough tears in my premature life.
“Come on Belle, chin up. Let's get going mama bird.” I say, adding my nickname for her to lighten the emptiness of my tone.
“Have a safe trip, I wish you all the best in life. Thank you for saving my miserable old life.” Mr Huntington murmurs.
I nod, watching him walk away, his satire hasn't gone anywhere despite being locked up for nearly a decade. The girl that was beside him is still standing here, watching both Belle and I. I'm unable to read her mind, she seems souless and hurt too.
“Umm, can I come with you guys?” she asks.
In response, I turn to Mirabelle who simply shrugs. Running my tongue over my lips I too shrug, “I wouldn't advise it.” I told her.
“Please, I would rather be eaten by predators than go back to that place where he didn't fight for me. He ran to save his life after saying he loved me and sacrificed me for his beloved Pack.” she spits bitterly, the loathe for her mate evident, we have that much in common.
“What's your name?” I ask, slanting my head to study her for a minute.
“Emiliath, but I used to be called Emily up until a year ago.”
“Well, Emily.” I sigh, “Love is shit, the mate bond is total crap and life's a bitch. So, why didn't your mate value you, were you weak?”
“No,” she answers immediately, her tone subtle. I like that, I like that she's keeping her temper in check because when I loose mine, it's not pretty sight. “ I was fully trained, I was next in line to be selected as head warrior but when he couldn't pay back his debt, he used me as payment.” she murmurs, her lip curling up in disgust.
“Okay, you can come with us but first-” I murmur, taking a pregnant pause, my gaze surveying her. “I don't want you running to him the second he finds you, you're a very beautiful girl Em, you deserve better.”
Emily gulps, her lips curving into a grin. “I won't go back to him, he will never know the pleasure of having a good woman ever again.”
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