Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Walking through the meadow, Lady Jasmine and I approached the forest.. The sun was setting now completely and the beautiful sunset was hitting the trees and the nearby magnificent lake, shinning lights like sparkles on it.. The hues and colors were beautiful. I stopped for a moment looking at it wistfully. It has always been my favorite part of living here – the lake and the lake house. We walked in silence, she would mind like somebody on occasion, her eyes glazing over, but I did not ask and we did not walk much.. I explained the legend of the lake origin, according to the Native American folklore – it was the legend of the wolf who lost her mate and her children and cried to the Goddess for days, praying for death and reunion with her loved ones. The Goddess took pity on her and created the lake of her tears, a mirror to another world, where the she-wolf could see her family every full moon in the reflection on the water.. When she died, Goddess gave her a final resting place under the tree which flowered year round, blue flowers like she-wolf eyes. No such tree ever existed anywhere else to my knowledge. Tree bloomed every full moon, year round..

Jasmine was listening to me intently not interrupting. “Who told you the story?” she asked curiously. “My mother did, when I was very young. She had befriended a local shaman that lived in the mountains, and he was more then happy to share his knowledge with another one like him”, I said..

“Funny what we will do for love, for our mates, for our children”, she said in a soft voice, shadow passing over her face..

We were coming close to the lake house.. Several wolves were patrolling the perimeter but all have already been notified of our arrival.. A spacious cabin looking property, with dock wrapping all around it, partially directly on the lake, and with couple of boats docked, looked as welcoming as always. Floor length mirrors around the house gave it illusion of openness, but I knew the house was heavily guarded. Alpha King Jonathan chose it as his retirement place after his wife’s passing, as it was where he said he felt closest to her.

“You have us all a fright”, I heard his strong, booming voice, bellow out from the right deck.. Standing at over 6 ft tall, he was still an imposing figure. You could see where Roman got his built and his strength, the looked very much alike in that aspect. However, Roman got his mother’s blue eyes and her dark hair – Alpha Jonathan was a man of sand blonde hair and hazel eyes, facial features identical to that of his son. “Dragana,” he outstretched his arms and gave me a huge fatherly bear hug. Turning toward Jasmine, he nodded simply .. “Princess, you must forgive the protocol issues here, Dragana is like my daughter, I heard of the attack and of the fact that she is leaving”.. “There is nothing to forgive Jonathan” she said warmly.. “After all, you and I are old friends”, she said, giving him a soft peck on the check. Her behavior with him was night and day to that with Alpha King I observed. They indeed looked like old friends, caring for one another..

“And how is my idiot son?”, he said opening the door welcoming us in… “Err.. Alpha.” I started to studder.. “Pigheaded as usual”, Jasmine said and the old Alpha chuckled knowingly. “Yup, that’s my boy”, he said walking over to the large sitting room filled with oversized but comfortable furniture.. He walked over to the adjacent bar nodding in Jasmine’s direction.. “Burbon??? As usual?”.. She simply nodded back.. “Dragana, he asked inquisitively”, and I simply shook my head.. “Have something child, the encounter with mercenaries must not have been that pleasant, he said, worry etched on his face”.. “Ok, a glass of red wine, then”.. I said beaming at him…

Setting down, the gravity of the situation finally hit me completely. If it were not for Jasmine, I could have been killed… I suddenly started shaking, a wine glass shaking with me.. On a que, Alpha Jonathan was by my side, grabbing me as a little girl in his hug, laying my head on his chest to cry.. And cry I did.. I did not know if it was just because of the attack of the whole day circumstances, but it felt good to scent his familiar strong smell, to feel fatherly protection he always gave me. Continuing to hold me, his attention now turned over to Lady Jasmine who was looking at us, her face without an expression, eyes curious.

“Lady Jasmine, I appreciate you want to help Dragana develop her talents and assist in growth of her capabilities, he said softly. However, are there no other witches in Lycan Kingdom?? Must King Malakai demand ours?”, he now asked his tone firm, yet respectful.

“She is not yours”, I heard a ice cold voice.. “She has been your prisoner for a decade and I think it is the time that she finally has a real life”, she said accusingly. With heavy sigh, continuing to pet my hair as if I were a child, I sensed his tension and quickened heart beat.. “She is more then a prisoner Jasmine, she lacks for nothing… I had no other choice after her mother died.. I admit, perhaps I did not do the best, and could have done better, but after my wife died, as did her mother, she was the only one I had left from them” he said his voice now breaking.. Lifting my tear streamed face gently he said “I asked you to come so I can apologize before you leave.. if I ever hurt you, please know it was not because that was my intent.. I, I got scared you will be hurt… I got scared you will be abused for your powers, and nobody to protect you.. Everything I ever did I did because you matter to me – I love you as if you were my own.. I.. “The lump in his throat was visible and he was now struggling for words.. His eyes glistened with tears too at this time.. He continued.. “Can you ever forgive me?”