Saying Goodbye

Annie smiled at Osprey as we met outside of my office early the next morning. Her smile faltered when she saw Scarlett’s red eyes and raw nose. She sighed as she hurried up to Scarlett to hug her tightly. She wrapped her arms around Annie, squeezing her just as hard.
“Annie, promise me that you will be careful. I can’t lose you. You are my baby sister. I feel a need to protect you and I can’t help but feel like I am failing you. Little LeAnna needs her auntie,” she sniffled. “You have to fight, and not give up. Promise me!”
I let out a heavy sigh before wrapping an arm around Giselda’s waist as she leaned her head against my shoulder and opened our link.
‘Do you think her vision is right, cousin?’ She asked worriedly.
‘I want to say no, but from what Osprey has told me, the vines tell her a lot of things that they probably shouldn’t. And the Goddess hasn’t punished them so obviously they have her permission. The Goddess is also now sending visions straight to her without the vines, my bet is yes, her visions will come true,’ I answered honestly.
‘Is there anything that we can do to change them?’ She inquired softly. ‘I know she doesn’t want to die. I know you don’t either.’
‘As long as I end up with Annie, it doesn’t matter where we are. Whether here on earth or at the Goddess’ side. It’s all good. Just as long as I have her.’
‘And what about your daughter?’ She continued to launch questions at me.
‘If something does happen to Annie and myself, her family will take care of our daughter.’
She sighed. ‘If something happens to you and Annie, and I’m still here, I will help take care of your daughter.’
I turned my head to look at her, shocked. ‘You will?’
She nodded with her eyes still glued to Annie. ‘It’s my job to obey you and her. Her family knows her very well, but I know you the best. Someone has to tell that beautiful little angel what an ass her father was.’
I rolled my eyes as a small smirk played around my lips. ‘How kind of you, Gilda.’
‘Of course, cousin. You know how much I love talking shit about you. It’s literally my favorite thing to do,’ she teased, making me chuckle a little.
Annie glanced at us and I immediately offered her a brilliant smile. “Are you ready to go, my love?”
She nodded and turned toward me, but Osprey made her spin back around to grip her face in both of his hands, placing his forehead against hers. I swallowed back a growl, not wanting to interrupt their moment, but ready to have my mate back in my arms. I sighed when Giselda nudged me with her elbow.
‘Calm down, cousin, he’s her brother,’ she warned.
‘Yeah, well forgive me if I don’t want to see her in such an intimate position with anyone else, even if he is her brother.’
‘That’s not all it is. What else is bothering you?’ She asked, making me actually groan out loud.
Of course she could see that something else was bothering me. She could always see when I wasn’t being honest. I met her eyes before glancing back at my mate, her brother, and his mate, who were obviously all having a private conversation through their links.
‘I hate that it’s like he’s saying goodbye to her for good. It just makes me feel like this is going to be bad.’ I hesitated, debating if I should tell her the other thing that was bothering me. Giving up on trying to hide anything else from her, I sighed again. ‘When I was out on patrol, I smelled Gerald. He’s out there, waiting for us while he tries to find a way into the sleuth. He wants Annie, and he probably wants you too. And for all my abilities, I have no idea how to protect either of you.’
Her hand moved down to grab mine. ‘And? What else?’ She asked softly.
My hand tightened around hers. ‘And I’m afraid that if it came down to it, I wouldn’t protect you. I would choose Annie, and–’
‘Like you’re supposed to, Logan. I’m prepared to die to protect you and Annie. There is nothing wrong with that. You need to come to terms with the fact that she is your mate. Your guilt has been misplaced since you met her. I know that for our whole life, you and I have only had each other to lean on. You feel guilt when you don’t have to. You are doing everything the right way. She should be your priority. Just like she should be mine. I have every confidence that if it comes down to it, you will make the right choice because you are a good man. You are a good alpha. And you are an even better mate,’ she told me. ‘If it comes down to my life or hers, just know I am not angry that you will instinctively protect her. I would be disappointed if you didn’t.’
‘Gild–’
‘Don’t Gilda me, Logo. You are doing everything that you should be.’
I tugged her around in front of me so I could hug her tightly. ‘I love you, Gilda.’
‘I love you too, Logo. Now, let’s get your mate and let’s go. The sooner we get out of here, the sooner we can put this all behind us. I am so ready to be done with this.’
I kissed her cheek before nodding and letting her go. “Annie, sweetheart, are you ready?”
Osprey let her go to turn around to face me while Scarlett wiped tears off her face. I avoided looking into Annie’s eyes because seeing her tears would break me even more than I was already broken. I held out my hand to her and she instantly took it, tangling her fingers with mine. I brought her hand to my mouth, kissing the back of it.
“I know, Logan. I am hurting too,” Annie whispered.
I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close to my side as I nodded my head at Scarlett and Osprey.
“We’ll see you at your sleuth, Osprey. Protect my sleuth, please,” I requested.
“I will. Protect my little sister.”
I looked down at Annie, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. “With my life, Osprey. That I can promise you. She is my life.”
He nodded and held out his hand. I shook it before letting him go. “Come on, Annie.”
I led her out of the sleuth house, and as we walked away, I glanced behind me for one last look, unable to get over the feeling that it would be the last time that I saw it. Giselda walked close to us on my other side, taking my hand. I stopped us at the gate, sighing. I turned my head to look at Giselda.
“Whatever happens, Gilda, I love you,” I told her.
“I love you too, cousin,” she replied as tears started to well up in her eyes.
I turned my head to gaze lovingly at Annie. “Annie, I love you more than anything. No matter what. In life or in death. You are my entire world.”
“And you’re mine, Logan. I love you too,” she whispered as tears poured down her face.
I nodded at Jensen, the bear on gate duty for the day as I opened his link. ‘He’s here. No one but us enters or leaves until Alpha Osprey is ready to leave with the rest of our people. Do you understand me?’ I asked.
‘Yes, Alpha Logan,’ he answered immediately, lowering his head submissively. ‘Goddess speed to you, Alpha Sow Annaria, and Beta Giselda.’
I pulled Annie closer to my side as I nodded. ‘You as well.’
When the gates opened, I led Giselda and Annie through, hesitating a little but kept us moving forward anyways. We didn’t even bother to shift, wanting to appear like we were just going for a walk in the woods to stretch our legs while we discussed Havana’s affairs. After an hour of walking, Gerald’s scent grew closer to us, and I was proud that neither Annie nor Giselda reacted in the slightest, not even when he stepped out of the trees into our path. I pushed Annie behind, smoothly stepping in front of both women.
“Gerald! I’d love to be able to say what a nice surprise it is to see you, but we both knew this was coming.”
His now completely black eyes narrowed on me while a sinister smile curved his lips upward. “Yes, we did. Hand over Annie and I might spare your life.”
Annie’s hand fisted in my shirt behind me, making me want to punch him in his fucking face for making her afraid. I drew in a shaky breath.
“The only one dying here is you!” I told him, praying that he wouldn’t hear the slight wavering in my voice.
His smirk got wider. Fuck! He had heard it.
“We’ll see who dies, Logan. Let’s begin. I’m ready to claim my prize already.”