Chapter 48: What Just Happened?

Zander and I kissed for a while and then went back to just cuddling. Suddenly, a knock came on the door. Zander groaned and looked up in annoyance.

I got up and answered the door. It was Megan and she had a look of relief on her face. She hugged me and said, “Thank God you’re alive. I was so worried when I lost sight of you outside.”

Her words made me tear up a little. “I’m glad you’re alive too. I was worried about you during the battle.”

Megan's eyes filled with tears, and she hugged me tighter. I needed her comfort from the horrible ambush we had just gotten over. It made me feel a hint better.

Megan asked, “Have you seen your parents yet?”

I shook my head no and asked, “Why, have they been looking for me?”

Megan nodded her head yes and walked away. My parents probably thought I was dead. I felt extremely guilty for letting them worry about me for so long.

I walked out the door with Zander trailing behind me.

We got to my parents’ room quickly, and I urgently knocked on their door. My mom opened the door and looked at me with tears welling up in her eyes.

My eyes started to get teary. She motioned for me to come into the room and gave me the warmest embrace. I hugged her back and let tears fall down my face. I was so relieved she was okay. There were bruises and wounds on her, but she was alive.

Eventually, my mom said, “Your father was badly injured but he’s okay. I’ve been taking care of him.”

I looked over at my dad. He had a cast on his arm and a horrible cut near his neck. Who had done this to him? It made me so angry.

I moved to his side and said, “Dad, I’m so sorry.”

“Cleo, you have nothing to be sorry about. You weren’t the one who caused this unexpected ambush.”

My voice broke a little and I said, “I…I actually am. It’s my fault they attacked us.”

My dad gave me an incredulous look. He asked, “What do you mean it’s your fault?”

Mom gave a curious glance to me and sat down at a desk chair. Zander leaned against the wall and looked ready to back me up if I needed his help.

I sat on the other side of the bed from my dad. I took a deep breath before explaining to my parents why we were attacked. They had a right to know, especially since it was such a shock to them.

“Before I start, please tell me what our casualties were.”

My dad frowned and said, “We lost quite a few guards. There were many injured on their side too.”

“I wish it hadn't happened. Maybe I shouldn’t have come back.”

My dad shook his head and said, “No, it wasn’t your fault. I refuse to believe it.”

“It is my fault. I brought this upon our pack. Do you know why Maurice’s pack attacked ours?”

He shook his head no and glanced at my mom. Mom seemed confused at where the conversation was going.

I started to tell them almost everything. “It all started when I left for training. Ash and I hadn’t been talking much. I even found information at Maurice’s pack that he didn’t want anyone knowing.”

My mom asked, “Maurice was hiding something?”

Zander cut in and said, “That son of a bitch murdered my parents and Jenny Wisteria. He tried to cover it up.”

My parents looked horrified. I let them absorb this information for a moment before I continued explaining things to them.

I took a deep breath and said, “I crossed Maurice and he wasn’t happy. Then to make things worse, I broke off my engagement with Ash. He planned the attack on our pack and must've convinced his dad to bring the rest of their pack here."

“That bastard! Maurice knows our traditions don't allow this kind of behavior. He’s breaking our sacred rules of peace between packs. What he’s done is betrayal of the highest."

Mom added, “We have to let other packs know what he did. He has to be dealt with discreetly. We can’t have Maurice getting out of control.”

“I completely agree. Maurice needs to be stopped. Ash also needs to be dealt with,” Zander added.

Suddenly mom looked at me with worry in her eyes. She asked, “Cleo, where is Candice? Have you seen her?”

I gulped and wondered how much I should tell them about her betrayal. Maybe it was better for my parents to
know part of the truth there. They didn’t need all the dirty details of what Candice really did.

“Candice betrayed my trust.”

“How did she do that?”

“Let’s just say Ash was spending quality time with Candice.”

My dad’s face turned into one of disgust. “How dare he do that to you! That scoundrel.”

“It makes sense why Ash and Candice are both gone now. I’m so ashamed Candice hurt you Cleo. I didn’t raise her to be that way,” mom told me.

“I know you didn’t. But now you know the truth.”

Zander cut in and asked, “Are you going to deal with Ash and Maurice? I’m more than happy to deal with them myself.”

My dad said, “Don’t worry Zander. I will make sure the rest of the Alphas know what he has done, and we will do something to punish him.”

Zander didn’t quite seem satisfied with the answer and walked out. I remained with my parents.

My mom came over to me and checked out my injuries. She gently squeezed my hand and said, “I’m so glad we're with you right now. Earlier, I thought you had died. It was my worst fear.”

“I’m sorry for worrying you like that and dad too. I should’ve tried to find you two after the battle.”

I started to cry and sank to my knees. My mom came to me and wrapped me into a warm embrace. She rubbed her hand in circles on my back and made soothing sounds. I felt like I was a little kid again getting her comfort.
Mom let me cry until I was all cried out. I thought I heard my dad sniffling too.

After I calmed down, I said, “Thanks for listening to me and for making me feel a little better.”

“Anytime Cleo. We are your family. Don’t ever hesitate to see us about anything,” dad said.

"Thank you. That means a lot coming from you dad."

I walked out of the room and was relieved I had explained things to them. But another worry came to my mind. I had to find Zander and have a serious talk with him.

I headed off in the direction of Zander's room in a hurry.