Chapter 82 Cafe

*Diana*

After dinner, most of the wolves retired for the night. Ethan said he was going to stay and start campaigning for my father and Alpha Connor. He already had many alliances as Alpha of Sacred Moon and as the mate of the black wolf even more leverage. I wanted to tell him he shouldn't bother because Onyx was planning to see them in their nightmares anyway, but I knew Ethan wanted to talk to his father and have him admit to his crimes against Didi. Didi of course wanted to chat more with her sister and Matt decided it was best if he stayed and kept an eye on the both of them since Colt was upstairs babysitting.

The rest of us went back to our respective rooms to change out of our formal attire into casual clothing so we could meet my grandmother at the cafe. My dad was reluctant to see their mother, but since Aunt Athena was excited to meet her, he slowly warmed up to the idea that it was best to go see her and get some answers.

Otis had just finished reading a story book to Harley when we all met together in the living room of the main suite and he told us to keep our voices down because Harley was fast sleep.

"Miss Diana, I noticed something odd. The Wolf Troops assigned to guard our suite are gone," Otis said.

"Yes, about that, the Chief of the Wolf Troops called his men to vacate the area so they could "rescue..." I said, while making quotation mark gestures with my hand, "Second. But there is no need to worry, Captain Hathaway and his men will be here shortly to keep watch," I told him.

"I beg your pardon, Miss Diana. Are you saying the Chief is a protector of the Rogues here in New York City?" Otis asked.

"Unfortunately, yes," I answered.

"He isn't scared of the black wolf?" Otis asked, surprised.

"Not yet, but he will be. Soon." I smiled at him. Uncle Mike finally came out of his room. He had taken a shower to wash off the rogue stink off of him.

"Is everyone ready?" Alpha Connor asked. Everyone answered yes except for my dad. Alpha Conner placed his hand on my dad's shoulder for a show of support. "Lucas, if you can brave seeing your father, your mother shouldn't be a problem." My dad looked at him, doubt in his eyes.

"That's easy for you to say. It isn't your mother we're going to see," my dad said, raising both his hands in surrender. "Fine, let's get this over with."

We tucked our faces in our scarves and hid our hair in beanies. Then, we all exited the hotel room, walked inside an elevator, and proceeded to the main lobby.

"Coast is clear. Come on. She's already waiting for us," I said, gesturing for them to hurry as the elevator doors opened. My grandmother was having second thoughts and was about to leave, if it weren't for her friend who was with her, telling her to stay.

"Where is my father, Diana?" My dad asked me while we hurriedly walked through the lobby.

"He's about to check out. If we linger here, he'll see us," I told my father so he would hurry. It worked because he picked up the pace and quickly led us out through the main entrance of the hotel. "Turn right, Dad. The cafe is across the street."

The doormen opened the doors for us and we were all welcomed with a blast of freezing wind and snow. I adjusted my scarf to cover my nose and tucked my hands in my pockets. An image of Jacob from the Twilight Saga half naked in snow flashed before my eyes and I giggled. Yes, as a wolf, my body heat index was warmer than a human's, but I could still feel the icy cold.

We quickly crossed the street and entered the cafe. My grandmother was seated at the far end of the cafe, away from the side windows, but facing the door. She thought I didn't see her because her face was hidden in the shadows, away from the light. She nonchalantly sipped her coffee, staring at us, as we stood near the entrance, secretly surveying the interior of the cafe and its customers.

"Dad, can you order for me please? A cappuccino would be fine," I told him.

"Sure. Anything else?"

"Nothing else. I'm still stuffed from the party. I just have one request, so we don't freak her out. Can you guys sit at another table? I'll just call you when she says it's okay to come and talk to her."

"Diana, can you tell my mother I forgive her and I just want to get to know her? For me, please?" Aunt Athena requested. I nodded my head and she smiled. She fell in line with my dad to get herself some coffee. Alpha Connor and Uncle Mike sat at a table near the entrance to stand watch. I bent down to whisper in their ears.

"Uncle Mike, keep a close eye on the customers. Alpha Connor, make sure no one enters while we are here."

"Sure. We'll keep watch," Uncle Mike assured me. "Don't worry, Diana."

I pulled down my scarf and walked up to her. She didn't look her age although her hair was already silver. She was just waiting for her friend, Rose, to retire and she would follow suit. Josie planned to move to the Caribbean with her friend who was seated at a table near a window, sipping on some chamomile tea. My grandmother looked up at me when I finally stood in front of her table. I could see the  nervousness in her eyes as I waved my hand in greeting.

"Hello! I'm Diana Lockwood-Crowne. Are you Josie by any chance?" I smiled warmly at her. She gave me a bewildered expression.

"How did you know I'm Josie? We haven't met before, have we?" She asked. This was a test. She knew Onyx knew all.

"The black wolf knows all," I simply answered. She smiled at me and nodded her head "May I?" I pointed to the chair.

"Oh my gosh! Where are my manners? Come...sit, sit. Do forgive an old lady, dear. I'm not as sharp as I once was decades ago." She patted my hand after I had seated myself. "Would you like a cup of coffee?" This time she was being polite.

"I'm good, Grandmother. I have a cup coming." I pointed to my dad and Aunt Athena who were busy telling the barista what they wanted. "Is it okay if I call you 'Grandmother'?" I asked her.

"You can call me Nana. Was that Lucas and Athena with you? And who are the other gentlemen with you?" She pointed at the table where Alpha Connor and Uncle Mike seated.

"Alpha Connor Greene and Uncle Mike. Uncle Mike is my dad's Beta," I replied.

"Alpha Connor Greene of the Night Walker Forest Pack?" She asked. I nodded my reply. "Eric and his father never got along. It's nice to see he and Lucas share a friendship. As for your Uncle Mike, I don't remember him being part of the pack." She stopped abruptly as the barista brought my cappuccino. I looked down at it, slightly shaking my head in disbelief. I thanked her and waited for her to leave. I pushed my cup aside and continued where my Nana and I left off.

"His name is Michael Sullivan. He and his family moved back when you already had uhm, left." She nodded her head recognizing Uncle Mike's surname. "Yes, they are all good friends because they share common enemies," I answered. She simply nodded her head again and sighed. She knew what I meant.

"The black wolf came to me in my sleep. She has asked me to give you what is rightfully hers. Before I give you what you seek, may I ask you for one thing...that you avenge my father and the members of my pack," my grandmother said, her eyes showing her regret. I grabbed her hand that was closest to me and held her eyes with my gaze.

"I promise you, Nana. I will avenge my great-grandfather as well as the members of your pack. Even from the humans who took your land. I will make sure what once belonged to you will be returned," I assured her. I was surprised to see her eyes well up with tears. With her other hand, she secretly palmed the artifact in my hand. She gave off a sigh of relief having fulfilled her vow to her father.

"It's true, you know. You will only see the importance of something once it is taken from you. When I was young, I disliked living on a farm. So when I was given the opportunity to leave, I took it without even giving it a second thought. When I came here, I felt I was like a star. I went too far and ruined my family. Everyone I loved, I had to leave behind. In the end, my father and my pack were poisoned and my children were left without a mother." As I grasped her hand, I saw everything that happened to her. All these years, she continously regretted her choices and repented. All she wanted now was some peace before the Moon Goddess would grant her eternal sleep. I let go of her hand so she could wipe the tears from her eyes. I secretly placed the artifact inside my inner coat pocket and buttoned it for safekeeping.

"Nana, it isn't too late to forge a bond. My dad and Aunt Athena are here because they want to speak with you. Aunt Athena said to tell you that she forgives you and that she wants to get to know you. My dad, on the other hand, he's afraid he might lose you again." I patted her hand and cleared my throat. Why don't you call your friend to join us? Rose right? She's burning a hole behind my head with her eyes," I said, giggling. "I'll tell my dad and Aunt Athena to come sit with us."

I gestured to my dad and Aunt Athena. They both stood up, including Uncle Mike and Alpha Connor, leaving their cups of coffee behind. My grandmother also gestured to Rose to come sit with us. I turned around and caught her secretly smirking at one of the customers seated behind us.

"Luna Josephine Lockwood, I am Michael Sullivan, Beta to your son, Lucas Lockwood. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Uncle Mike said, bowing to her. Nana Josie smiled at him. It has been a long time since she was greeted with honor and respect.

"Alpha Connor, Luna," Alpha Connor said, also bowing. "I'm friends with this coward." He hit my dad on the back.

"Mother, it's me Athena." Aunt Athena sat down beside her and hugged her tightly, not wanting to let her go. While they were in each other's embrace, I turned to the other elderly she-wolf.

"Rose, it's nice to meet you. Thank you for taking care of my grandmother," I said, taking her hand in mine and shaking it. I already knew who she was, but I wanted to see all of it...clearly. The corner of her lips were turned in a smile, however it didn't quite reach her eyes. Sometimes the wolves we think are our friends, have another agenda.

However, we needed to cut the greetings short.
My grandfather was on his way out of the hotel and would be driving by any moment now. What perfect timing.

I pushed Rose into a chair and held unto her hand while the lights of the cafe dimmed themselves, cloaking us from the outside.

Rose sat in her chair, the smile on her lips now gone and her eyes conveyed her astonishment.

"No, it can't be," she said.

__________________

*Rose*

Josie and the small group Diana was with all stopped and stared at me.

I stared up into Diana's frightening glowing green eyes. Her lips were parted slightly, showing her long pointy fangs. The skin on her face darkened to a pitch black. As the lights around the cafe dimmed, casting all of us into a shadowy darkness, the eyes of the black wolf glowed like the color of kryptonite.

"No, it can't be. You are she...the black wolf of many our nightmares," I exclaimed, trying to loosen the grip she had on my hand. But as I struggled, her hold became tighter. I winced in pain as she crushed my fingers in her grasp.

"The rogues think they are so clever. Tsk, tsk, tsk...," the black wolf said. "You think by using the elixir, you can mask yourselves from me? You think I wouldn't know there is wolfsbane in our drink?" I just sat there, frozen, not knowing if I should answer. "Answer me!"

My wolf took over, answering in my stead. "My queen, I humbly beg for your forgiveness. We did not know wolfsbane would be added to your drink."

"But you had called your rogue leader to facilitate my capture as well as the capture of my grandmother. You have been planning to take all my grandmother's riches as your own, you greedy little she-wolf. You plan to betray the only wolf who had shown you kindness for money and gold. Do you think it is worth it?" The black wolf asked.

"My queen, I, as an Omega, have endured hardship you can never imagine," my wolf tried to reason.

"Yet as a rogue, you have led a fruitful life. You have even became part of the learned. Are you not grateful for what you have been given, seeing it is so easy for you to destroy it?"

"My queen, contrary to what you think, it was not easy for me to do this, but I was driven by my need to help my kind. For that I am truly sorry."

"I can read your thoughts, Rogue. You are a traitor and thus, your apology is worthless." She let go of my hand and I try to make a run for it, but I couldn't move.

The chair I was sitting on moved to make me face every wolf in the cafe. "Now witness the deaths of your making."

All the rogues scattered around the cafe  suddenly stood up, their eyes dark as their wolves took over. In a few moments, the rogues sat back in their chairs, their heads dangling to their sides. The black wolf had sped to each one, breaking their necks and pushing them back into their chairs until each and every one of them was sitting at their table, dead.

As for the barista, the black wolf made her sit at the table her father and aunt had just vacated and forced her to drink the cups of coffee she had poisoned with wolfsbane. I watched in horror as she collapsed on the floor, clutching her stomach in pain. Having drank a huge amount of the toxin, she began to vomit almost immediately, gagging as she tried to breathe as well. Then, she suddenly stopped moving on the floor and a white foam came gushing from out of her mouth.

Lastly, she came to me and pushed her cup of cappuccino infront of me. "Drink it," she said menacingly.

"No, please, I still want to live. I beg you, have mercy on me." I turned to Josie to ask for her forgiveness. "Josie, please, forgive me. I promise I will spend the rest of my days making it up to you," I took her hand in mine. "I am already old. I probably won't have long to live. I'll be your slave and do whatever you want me to do. Just don't let me die!" I sobbed. I couldn't believe I was about to die! Just because I wanted to have her money. Stupid me!

"Granddaughter, I'm an old woman who is just as guilty as she is. Rose, even with her flaws, has good in her too. She helped me get clean from my cocaine addiction and stood by me all these years even if she just wanted my money. If she did call One to have me captured then maybe I deserve it for abandoning my children and for  stealing money from their father. Rose and I, we are the same. We are both bad wolves in a way," Josie explained. I was about to thank Josie for defending me, but a sudden searing pain in my chest stopped me. I let go of Josie's hand and clutched my chest and winced. The pain was so intense. I was having a heart attack!

It felt like someone had their hand wrapped around my heart and was squeezing it tightly like how the black wolf held my hand a while ago. All of sudden, I couldn't breathe. I tried to tell them I was having a heart attack, but I just gagged and choked through my words.

I collapsed forward, my head hitting the table while the sound of my heart beat became slower and slower every second.

I heard the unmistakable clink of the cup of cappuccino hitting the saucer and was surprised to hear someone sipping on it.

"My cappuccino wasn't poisoned with wolfsbane unlike the cups of brewed coffee. It was a test to see if she and her wolf have atoned for their sins. Well, Nana, you can now retire earlier than you planned."

I felt Josie's hand grip mine. She understood what was happening and wanted to give me closure.

"'Til we meet again, my friend," she said, her voice breaking.

That was the last thing I heard before I let out my final breath.