Chapter 30

**Third Person**

Upon entering the family room does Sebastian move to gesture to various seats within the room. Elise opting for sitting along the couch. Ashton choosing to sit alongside her even as he moves to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

Sebastian quick to sit directly in front of them. Elise already knowing that whatever her father had planned to say, that she wouldn’t be too thrilled about it either. Sebastian fully prepared to tell Ashton their life story and then some.

“So where to begin?”

“How about Elise’s cousin, Alex?”

Elise quick to tense as she mentally prepares herself for what her father was about to say. Having heard that story many of times since it happened yet couldn’t come to terms with it. An accident that always left her reeling in pain that her cousin had to go through that alone.

Ashton quick in sensing her discomfort even as he moved to hold his mate. His instinct to protect his Alpha a natural thing since he was naturally a Beta and Beta’s protected.

Elise quick to lean against him even as Sebastian moved to answer his question. “Alex? Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I want to know what happened to him.”

Quick to nod his head does Sebastian move to continue. “It all happened rather quickly if I must say. But you see, Alex was once a strong and powerful Alpha. And not once did he ever treat his pack or his people poorly.”

“So then, how did he become trapped within a wheelchair?”

“Because of Hunters”

At the mention of Hunters does Xavier move to growl next. Sebastian quick to sense his rage. Sebastian quick in calming them both down before speaking. “Now hold on for one second. Before you start thinking that all Hunters are bad, let me be the first to tell you that their not.”

“There not?”

“No, there not. In fact, we have a few of them living among us here. There actual mates to some of our wolves here.”

Ashton quick to silence his thoughts upon hearing that. Sebastian’s words holding nothing but truth to them. Elise still silent even as she continued to listen. Ashton quick to ask again while he still had the chance to ask.

“So.. if Hunters are the ones to put Alex into a wheelchair now, why doesn’t his wolf just help him heal and be done?”

“He’s tried” answers Elise. Elise having thought the exact same thing once. “But you see… his wolf, Faelan is currently in a state of limbo.”

“Limbo?”

“Yeah. It basically means that he can’t help Alex and Alex is basically on his own. At least until his wolf manages to recover. Only then will Alex be able to walk once more.”

“Has he tried a healer?”

“Healers can’t help him or won’t. So, trust me. Whatever it was that those Hunters used on him, it was enough to temporarily put his wolf out of commission. And while I do feel sorry for him, I have to believe in the Moon Goddess and the plan she has laid out for him.”

Ashton now silent even as Sebastian moves to cough. Elise now focused on her father. “Daddy?”

“I’m fine little Moon Star.”

Coughing again, Sebastian moves to excuse himself in order to get something to drink. Elise torn between wanting to chase her father down and staying with Ashton. Ashton quick to sense it even as he moves to speak up.

“What’s wrong with your father?”

Sighing, Elise moves to answer him. “He’s not well. Hasn’t been well since our last Rogue attack along with the neighboring pack, The Sky Pack. Both who have been attacking us almost religiously. And while I’ve tried many of times to find a solution for him there’s just not one available to me.”

“Nor would I want you too Moon Star.”

Sebastian’s voice quick to startle her as Elise moves to address her father yet again. “But daddy!”

“No Elise. Grant this Alpha one final wish. Let my body accept it’s fate. We need to face the fact that I’ve been poisoned by something toxic and there’s just no cure for it. Besides I’ve already come to terms with it. Just let me enjoy the time I have now with you and only you.”

“But daddy… I can’t lose you too.”

“And you won’t. I’ll always be there with you deep inside your heart. But this old wolf wants to be able to know that should I pass that Ashton will be able to take care of you like a mate should.”

Ashton’s attention now on Sebastian even as he continues to hold Elise. Elise still in shock at hearing her father’s words. Elise unable to believe her ears.

“I will sir, with all my heart. I’ll forever love her until the very end.”

“Good because she’ll need your help the most for when that time comes.”

“Of course sir. But if I might ask, what happened to Elise’s mother?”

At the mention of his mate does Sebastian move to speak. “She died during childbirth. My beautiful mate Kira had lots of complications when having Elise and ultimately passed during the process. Of course, all the Doctor’s and Nurse’s did try to save her, but she eventually bled out to the point that her wolf couldn’t help control it.”

“I’m sorry” whispers Ashton. Ashton suddenly unsure how to answer that when he had both parents around including a brother who would now be Isaac’s next Beta, while Elise had no one else except her father. A thought Ashton made sure to keep as he would be damned if he managed to fail Elise too.

“Don’t be sorry Ashton. Kira died knowing that our daughter would grow up happy and healthy as well as loved. My only hope is that when it’s my time to die that I’d like to think I’ll be reunited with her once more.”

The room suddenly silent even as Elise, Ashton and Sebastian all move to sit in total silence. Neither of them now sure of what to say or do. Sebastian having admitted to both Elise and Ashton that he was physically dying and there was absolutely no cure for him at all.

Elise suddenly overwhelmed by everything that’s been happening since the pack meeting. Elise quick to stand which catches the attention of Ashton who in turn moves to react as well.

“Elise?”

“Sorry. But… I really need to be alone right now. I can’t do this anymore. I honestly thought I was over this, but I just can’t. I’m sorry.”

Elise now taking that time to flee the room. Ashton suddenly concerned for his mate only to be stopped by Sebastian. “Let her go Ashton. She needs time to accept the fact that I’ll eventually be gone from this world and that we need to enjoy the time we have left before it’s gone.”

Ashton unsure of what to say to that. Ashton silent even as pain began to radiate within the bond. A pain he mentally decided she would no longer feel so long as he was around to help.