Chapter Sixteen - What is it now?

Freya Rose

By the time Savanah and I went back inside the cabin, Evan and Lucy were gone. I looked back at Savanah and she glanced upstairs. I rolled my eyes, then giggled while shaking my head. I knew Evan was smooth, but damn that was quick. I tidied away the beers that were on the coffee table. They must have been flat by then, and I knew that the pack would be bringing back new alcohol. Savanah went up the stairs to get ready for the party, and I didn’t envy her walking in on those two. Especially since I’d heard some suspect noises coming from her room. I climbed the stairs and laughed as I walked past Savanah. She was delicately knocking on her bedroom door, then we heard a lot of shuffling around in her room before Lucy shouted out for Savanah to enter.
I entered my room still giggling to myself, but stopped as soon as I saw Kali sleeping in my bed. I’d completely forgotten about her being there. I tried to closed the door as quietly as I could, but it woke her anyway. She scrambled up the bed and looked petrified. I sighed and approached the bed. I sat down on the bed with my back towards Kali and decided to settle things with her once and for all.
“Look, Kali. I’m not interested in hitting you. I don’t like who you were or what you did, but I recognize that you are no longer that person. I’m guessing that you’re beating yourself up more than I ever could.”
She was silent for a while, then I felt the bed move behind me. She sat next to me and replied,
“You have no idea. I can’t believe that is who I turned into. The things I’ve done, the people I’ve killed, they haunt my every thought. I can’t stop shaking, I’m just so overwhelmed with all the cruelty and pain I’ve caused.”
She began to sob, and as much as I wanted to comfort her, I couldn’t. I just couldn’t feel sorry for her. The things she'd done, were too horrendous to just forget. I stood up and faced her.
“Suck it up, Kali.” She quit sobbing instantly and glared up at me. “I’m being serious. There is nothing you can do about how you were before. But you can show people who you are now. Maybe try and make it up to people. I know you can’t ever bring back the people that you took from them, but you can fight alongside us and help us save future victims of Azael.”
I saw a little sparkle in her eye and my speech obviously hit a nerve. She jumped up from the bed and took my hands in hers.
“You’re right, Freya. I need to stop being scared of everything. I still have my hunter’s side, and with some training, I’m sure I can help you fight against Azael. I have learned a lot about him over the years, and Selene too. If you’ll have me, I'll do everything I can to show you that I’ve changed.”
I couldn’t promise her that I’d forgive her, and I knew I would never be able to forget what she'd done. I could however give her a chance to prove herself. If she messed up or showed me that I couldn’t trust her, then that would be it for her, family or not. I’d been let down too many times, especially by people who claimed to love me, or be family, and I wasn’t as easy of a push over as she thought. I pulled her in for a hug, letting her know I accepted her, without having to say anything at all. I then pulled away from her and headed over to my closet. I pulled out a set of black skinny jeans and a pink off the shoulder flowing top. I chucked them onto the bed before heading towards the bathroom.
“Pick yourself out an outfit for tonight. We’re having a barbeque party.”
I heard her let out a little squeal, then rattling through my closet. I didn’t know how it was going to work out with Kali in my life or in my pack, but to be honest it felt a little good having her there. Strangely it was like having a little piece of my dad back. Maybe I could use the opportunity to get to know that side of my family. In between the years of cruelty, maybe there were some good things she could tell me about. Some memories about my dad or even my mom. It was a long shot and I didn’t know if I could ever be close with her, but I really was too exhausted to fight any more. I just didn’t have the energy to hate her right now. The whole Azael, Selene, and twin’s situation had sucked it out of me.
I had a shower then got dressed, before doing my hair and makeup. I stared into the mirror at myself, I looked good with my makeup and hair covering a multitude of sins. With my new mask on, it was as if all the stresses and depression didn’t exist anymore. It was crazy how we as women could plaster on a mask and convince everyone that we were fine. It was the goal for the night though. I didn’t want the pack or the new guests to think that I wasn’t coping. I needed to be strong, needed them to believe that I had everything in control. Not that I was a mess on the inside. I thought that Savanah would have noticed more, but with learning about her own life from Lucy, I couldn’t blame her for being preoccupied. I sighed into the mirror, just as Kali came out of the bathroom.
“Are you okay, Freya?” She asked while making her way over to me. I turned to face her, and for a split second I thought about telling her how I was feeling. We both turned our heads when we heard the pack laughing and joking on their return. The door slammed behind them and they filled up the cabin with laughter and excitement. “Freya?”
I shot my head around to her and she looked concerned for me. I slapped a smile on my face and took in a deep breath, shoving down any emotion I had bubbling up.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll leave you to get ready. What do you drink?”
With a soft smile she replied,
“I’m here if you need to chat. I know it will take time, and I won’t push it, but just know I’m here.” She took the towel from her head and shook out her long, light-brown hair. It was strange seeing her looking so much like myself. “I’ll drink anything, the stronger the better.”
“Woman after my own heart,” I said with a chuckle then headed to the door.
“Well where did you think you got it from? Your dad was a lightweight when it came to drinking.”
I smiled at her before leaving the room. I liked the idea of finding out more about my father, even if it was from his cruel and murderous sister. All be it ‘reformed’ person now. I guess time would tell how much she'd truly changed. I found it hard to believe that Lucy could have possibly sucked out all the evil that resided in my aunt Kali. I’d heard stories about her being evil before she was even turned into a vampire. Although I did hold hope that all her evil was gone for good.
How nice would it have been to finally have a member of family that I could trust? I think I just felt so empty an alone, that I was clutching at any and all straws around me. I sighed again, then straightened myself up, putting on that strong and brave face of a Luna. I needed to let loose and enjoy my night with my pack and Evan. Celebrate whatever him and Lucy had going on and get completely wasted.

Lucy

I was riding on an emotional high as unknown waves of passion crashed down upon me. Evan’s hands travelled over my body, his touch sending my nerve endings into overdrive. His hands on my back, he tried in vain to get rid of my top. Yeah, my living armor looked like clothes, but technically, it was a part of my body, his hands moving across the fabric felt no different than running them over my skin. Still, his groan of annoyance made me stiffen in his arms once again. I was treading on unknown ground here, and had no idea what I was doing...
“Lucy, babe, what’s wrong?” his anxious voice reached my mind.
Raising my head, I gazed into his eyes before bursting into tears. “I …”
I didn’t need to continue as realization hit home, shock mirroring on his face.
“You’ve never done this before,” he gasped, gently pulling my head to his chest, my ear coming to rest above his heart. “Shhh, take as much time as you need. We don’t have to do this today...”
Hearing his steady heartbeat, feeling his hands move in soothing circles across my back, I slowly started to relax. He didn’t seem angry with me for being confused, overwhelmed, even a bit scared. His chin resting on top of my head, he whispered in my hair.
“How old are you?”
“In my realm, today is my eighteenth birthday,” I mumbled barely audible. This was so embarrassing.
In response, he hugged me even tighter.
“So young, so innocent, so precious …" His voice faded out as he picked me up in his arms, carrying me to the bed where he gently lowered me onto the mattress before lying down beside me without touching. When his warm fingers left my skin, I felt bereft, yearning for his touch. I wanted him to … I didn’t even know how to put the feeling into words, only that his withdrawal made me feel incomplete. I responded with letting the clothes vanish from my skin, silently begging him to continue.
He sucked in a gulp of breath in response. “So beautiful...,” but he still kept his hands to himself.
Reaching out, I pulled him close, tugging at his shirt. Any kind of cloth between us seemed offending to me, his reluctance to touch me making me turn bold. I wasn’t a child anymore, I could do whatever I wanted, including … this. My fingers fumbling with his belt, we made short process of getting rid of his remaining clothes, but Evan still looked weary, unsure if I really wanted this, or if I was just trying to meet his wishes. With a mental groan, I finally did what I should have done right at the beginning, I joined our minds. I wasn’t really good at this mind-reading stuff, but he was my soul-partner. Why hadn’t I thought of this before.
I could never hurt you, love of my life, he responded to my mental caress. Just tell me what you want to do.



Lying there panting from unfamiliar exertion, I tried to slow my breathing when someone knocked on the door, followed by a gentle pressure inside my mind.
Can I come in? I need some clothes for the party tonight, Savanah asked carefully.
Evan was out of bed in a hurry, stumbling over a pillow and nearly crashing into the closet door while trying to get dressed in a haste. A giggle escaped my mouth. Okay, time to turn decent. My skin rippled, my living armor turning into a bright red, shimmering cocktail dress.
“You can come in,” I called out. “Sorry for occupying your bedroom,” I added with a glance at Evan. From the smirk on his face, he’d known whose bedroom this was.
With a fleeting glance at the rumpled sheets, Savanah rummaged through her closet.
Sorry for the mess, I whispered inside her mind before pulling Evan from the room. She had a right to dress herself in peace.
Hand in hand, we descended the stairs. Not wanting to sit down, I pulled Evan outside, in direction of the pool. A thought was nagging at me. I needed to get my clothes. My completely human, standard jeans and t-shirt, with my smartphone still sticking in the back pocket of the jeans. I remembered leaving them in a heap by the side of the pool before taking a plunge. What a relief, nobody had seen them, or cared to pick them up. Everything was still there. Bela would be so pissed if I lost the phone.
“Every member of The Farm’s community has to carry the phone at all times. Not all of us can read minds, but I want every single member to be reachable.” I stifled my groan at the memory. Shaking it in annoyance, the device remained stubbornly dead. The battery hadn’t survived flashing realms, then? Ah, well, he couldn’t reach me here, anyway. Visualizing a clutch, I packed it away, leaving the clothes on a lounger. I could pick them up later. Time to enjoy the party. After all that exercise, I could use some food and drink.

Freya Rose

Everyone pulled together, Nick was on the barbeque with the occasional unhelpful interruptions from Odin. Jenna and Cody had obviously had a chat about their feelings and love was in the air. I watched from my lounger at them, and they looked so adorable with their slight flirtatious touches and giggles. Jax and Tana were playing with a ball in the pool and Savanah was sat next to me on the loungers. Kali finally joined us and as she walked out Odin wolf-whistled at her making her blush. It was strange seeing the new vulnerable and softer side of her. Lucy and Evan were preoccupied with each other in the living room. Evan had shared the news that Lucy was his Fianna, and I couldn’t have been happier for him. I knew he'd always wanted to find what everyone else around him had, true love.
The night was great, the pack partied hard, and even Savanah busted a move or two. I didn’t join in as much as the others. As much as I was having a good time, my heart wasn’t in it and I spent most of the night drinking beer on my lounger. I couldn’t stop my mind from running over everything, it was driving me insane. I decided that copious amounts of alcohol might help me pass out at some stage, so I told Savanah to keep them coming. Kali tried talking to me a few times, but I wasn’t in the mood for her drunken heart to hearts, so I mind linked Odin to keep her occupied. She enjoyed partying and dancing with the brute of a man, and for his size, he was a surprisingly good dancer. The whole pack, including Draco and Lorena were having a blast, but I still didn’t feel in the party mood. I got up and went to find Savanah.
She was standing with Evan and Lucy in the living room. I walked up to them and they instantly stopped talking. I knitted my brow at them and scanned each of their suspiciously worried faces. I scowled at them, not liking being left out of the conversation. I stared straight at Evan and he awkwardly looked away, while rubbing his neck. My eyes moved over to Lucy who looked down at the ground and watched her foot as it shuffled around nervously. With a sigh I glanced over at Savanah. Surely, she will tell me what’s going on? I thought to myself. She grabbed my arm gently and pulled me towards the front door. Opening it she held her hand out, instructing me to go outside. I did as I was silently asked and made my way to the steps then sat down. She sat down beside me and rested her arm over my shoulder.
“So, what’s going on?” I asked her.
“Lucy and Evan are leaving.”
“Yeah, I kind of gathered that she'd need to go back home at some point. And I know that hunters can’t be away from each other for long. I can only stand being a way from Mason because the bond is fractured, since the cloaking spell. Same with the mate bond with Tristan.”
“Evan was worried about telling you. He doesn’t know when, or if he will be coming back. Lucy feels awful taking him away from you.”
“They shouldn’t feel bad. I’m happy for them both. There is so much pain and heartache in the world. If you’re able to find true love, then you should grab it with both hands.”
“I’m leaving with them,” she said softly.
I turned to face her and asked,
“Forever?”
“No, just to make sure they get back safely, and maybe meet a few other angels.”
I sighed with relief, before resting my drunken head on her shoulder. With a sleepy yawn, I asked,
“How long will you be gone?”
“Time is different there; it could be a day or merely a few hours. I won’t be away long, I swear.”
“Good, because I’d miss you too much.”
She stroked my head and chuckled lightly. Evan and Lucy walked out in front of us, and Evan held out his hands for me to take. I allowed him to pull me onto my feet, and he didn’t waste any time in pulling me into his arms.
“I’m going to miss you so much, Angel cakes.”
I squeezed him tightly and whispered into his ear.
“Don’t fucking call me that!”
I pulled away and punched him in the arm with all my might. He instantly grabbed his arm and screamed out in pain. He rubbed his arm vigorously, and I could tell that Lucy wanted to rip my head off. Luckily for me, I think Savanah had a quiet word in her mind for me.
“Dude, well you definitely mastered that hunter's punch over the years.”
We both burst out laughing, and I threw myself into his arms again.
“I’m really going to miss you, Evan. I’m so happy that you finally found your Fianna.” I dropped down and looked at Lucy, then back at Evan, “And she’s a beauty, Evan. Don’t fuck it up.”
“I won’t, don’t you worry,” he replied while placing his arm around her shoulder and pulling her beside him.
I held my hand out to shake Lucy's. Unlike last time, she held my hand gently.
“You take care of him. And don’t let his childishness, and pathetic jokes wind you up too much. He’s got a huge heart.”
She smiled and nodded her head, then placed her hand on his chest. They looked adorable together, and I was so happy for them. Savanah hugged me, then stood in front of Evan and Lucy. They all closed their eyes and tilted their heads back. In the blink of an eye, a bright light flickered and they were gone. I sighed with a mix of sadness and happiness, before heading back into the party. I told the guys I was exhausted and headed to bed. After a quick shower, I put on my pajamas and got into bed. As soon as my soggy head hit the feather pillow, I drifted off to sleep.

Lucy

The goodbyes had gone smoother than expected, Evan not balking once at the thought of leaving this realm behind. Savanah had decided to accompany us, her heart aching with the wish to reunite with her father, and get to know her family.
I still didn't know if we’d manage the feat though. Out of other options, we had decided to do what I’d done getting here. Concentrating on the place I showed them in my mind. The roof of my barn, the beautiful sunrise coloring the sky, the first rays of the morning sun blinding me. The feel of Myra, the conversation with her just seconds before I’d flashed away.
Forming a flashing circle, Savanah and I extended our wings. Evan had decided to keep his wings hidden, not knowing if their difference would interfere, rather than help in the transfer.
Raising my gaze into the star-spangled sky, the visualization and feeling of home firm in my mind, I gave the command to flash.
A wave of cold washed over me, immediately dissipating in the warm rays of the morning sun as I opened my eyes to familiar surroundings. We’d made it back!
Myra? I asked tentatively, not wanting to startle her.
Ahh, Lucy, what is it now? Can’t you just let me sleep? Why are you back already? You just left a minute ago.
What! Impossible! I was gone for almost a whole day, I shrieked in her mind.
In response, she appeared beside me, gaping at Evan and Savanah, still holding onto my hands.
And you brought friends, she gasped in my mind, staring at Savanah. You have a lot of explaining to do, Lucy. Now, spill!