Chapter 40 I Promise

(Maria/The Old Man POV)

I had been floating from place to place, not sure where I belong. After I helped kill Adella, I have not been the same. After all these years, I still yearn for the past when we were all happy. However, the past has a way of collecting payment from the present and the consequences are no laughing matter.

The pain in my heart has never healed. After I saw Adella's head roll away from her body, I thought I would feel redemption from her death, but all I felt was pain. The scars on my body constantly pulsate with pain, a reminder of how selfish I was in my youth.

I heard whispers the daughter of Adella was alive, had grown up to look like her mother and had taken a mate, the son of a dear friend of my past. I travelled from far away to arrive to her new home. I concealed myself in the shadows to catch a glimpse of the woman said to be the daughter of Adella.

When I saw her come out from the mansion with her mate and another man with olive skin, I felt a longing to walk to her, to touch her. I watched her as she ran from the mansion to the village, hoping to see the golden eyes of my dead friend. Dead friend. If I could only just turn back time, I would do everything different.

When she stopped in front of the diner, she looked up into the sky, I saw her golden eyes and I felt happiness...a feeling I have long forgotten. " You can still fix this. You have been given a second chance." My wolf whispers. I nod. Second chances are rare. I will do everything in my power to protect the daughter of Adella as payment for my past sins. I promised Adella I would.

I looked at my hand and caressed the small scar on my palm from our blood pact as young girls. "We will forever be connected. Let nothing put asunder." I broke the pact. Stupid me.

Julia and Adella are gone. Diane is now a former Luna. Cecilia is no where to be found although I feel she is near. Of course, she is always invisible. She did it when we were children to avoid doing her chores. Adella always got the brunt of the punishment for Cecilia's absence. Cecilia, I believed, didn't care if Adella was punished because she never stopped doing it. I always wondered if Cecilia could be fully trusted. One of the reasons, I was not as close with her unlike my closeness to the others.Then again, we were children. If she was the one who hid the daughter of Adella all these years, she must have a plan. I just hope it is a plan for the greater good.

The Rogue Lord is at his strongest. I passed by his fortress and saw the massive number of wolves in constant training. I also saw my former student, snickering at the sight. I pity her. She had everything anyone could ever want. What made her choose a dark path like mine, I could only fathom. Daddy's little girls scorned without retribution is definitely an evil mix.

I took her as a student to make sure someone can carry on The Rogue Lord's orders once I deflect. If not, he'd be hunting me down and that is one complication I didn't want. Once she was strong enough, I'd vanish from his gawdawful fortress never to be seen again.

The new witch travelled to my former pack when I vanished from the fortress. I saw her in my visions, training with The Great Black Shadow of Ula. I was also a former apprentice of The Great One until I went on a killing spree after Davis rejected me. The Great Black Shadow, I heard, was proud of my work. I was also proud of what I had done back then. Now, I only feel regret.

When Adella was alive, I would hear her voice every day in the wind asking for forgiveness. I never answered her back, angry at the disfiguring scars she caused on my body. I saw an opportunity to avenge myself when I heard The Rogue Lord's plan to attack Crescent Moon after the birth of Adella's daughter. Adella would be at her weakest after the birth. It was the window of opportunity The Rogue Lord had patiently waited for.

It wasn't difficult to create a doorway opening the protective shield Adella created around her territory. It was even easier to create a time loop at the creek which served as the boundary of the two wolf pack territories in case the other wolf pack comes to their aid. I was even surprised none of my other blood sisters were there to help Adella. I tried to sense Cecilia knowing her gift of invisibility, but I did not find her. It was just too easy. Surely, Adella would have made it difficult for her enemies to enter her premises knowing she had a newborn pup to protect.

The Rogue Lord entered Adella's house without even any form of retaliation from Adella. Davis also just stood there as if in a trance.

"Take care of my daughter, Maria. Please forgive me for hurting you. I know I need to pay for my past transgressions. I offer my life as payment. Promise me, Maria. Promise me, my sister...you will take care of Stella." Adella said to me through mind link as The Rogue Lord took her by the neck and lifted her off the floor.

"Promise me, Maria. Promise me."

"I promise, Adella." I said it to appease her.

"Be at pea--", The Rogue Lord pulled her head off her body and dropped her head in front of me. Her head rolled to where I stood and stopped with her golden eyes looking at me, burning through my very soul to keep my promise. I just stood there staring at her eyes.

I felt a splatter of blood on my face which brought me back to reality. Davis' body was ripped apart. The man that I had fallen in love with, now gone. I looked at The Rogue Lord with anger. He promised me Davis would be mine.

"Love, Scarred Witch, is for the weak. As for Davis Brandt, he will not love you. You are uglier than a troll." The Rogue Lord laughed at me. "Consider it a favor." He laughed again.

"Now, where is that pup of her's?" The Rogue Lord sniffed the air for the scent of the daughter of Adella.

We heard a window break in the house. The Rogue Lord howled and ran towards the window with me close behind him. We did not see anyone or anything through the window.

"Search the entire house for the daughter of Adella. If you find nothing, go to all the homes in the territory. Kill all the wolves and search their homes. BRING THE DAUGHTER OF ADELLA TO ME!" The Rogue Lord commanded to his army. Screams could be heard throughout the territory as the Rogue Army forced their way into all the homes in the territory.

"Witch, you are no use to me standing. Find me the daughter of Adella." The Rogue Lord looked at me with murder in his eyes.

"My payment for her capture has been ripped to shreds. His blood covers my face. What can you offer me in return?"

"You defy me?!" The Rogue Lord growled.

"You do not scare me, Rogue Lord." I said his name with surmountable disgust. "Fine. I will look for the daughter of Adella. If I bring her to you, I want diamonds and gold." I vanish from the house to the creek at the border where warriors from the neighboring pack was desperately trying to cross. I remove the time loop, I had placed. Reinforcements from Dark Moon were entering Crescent Moon territory when the sky began to fall. The storm raged like a hurricane. I looked on as Crescent Moon was submerged in flood water. The Rogue Lord had his army retreat and when the storm passed...Crescent Moon was no more.

Not a day goes by that I am not reminded of the slaughter of Crescent Moon. The promise, her eyes, my beloved's blood on my face.

"I promise."

I watch the daughter now, disguised as an old man with a walking stick. I see a man in a red cap who looks quite familiar even with the disguise. I also see a pretty dark haired woman in a mini dress walking up and down the village while lingering at the front window of the diner. My eyes narrow into slits. I know who that is. It was her favorite disguise while she was my student.

---
(Hope POV)

We all had fun at the diner, but Alicia wanted to head to the grocery store before we went home. She also wanted to buy a couple of phones for her mother and brother. Good thing I gave her that starting bonus. She definitely needed to buy so many things for her family.

We said good-bye to Henry and promised to be at the opening of the festival the day after tomorrow. I told him, he could come by the mansion any time he wanted. Oliver gave him a pass to show to security if he decides to visit. Henry left us with a big smile on his face.

"Are you going to cross the street, dears? I turned around to see an old man with a cane. He smelled like ointment. I smile at him. He smiles back. The wrinkles around his eyes showed.

"Yes Sir. Do you need any help crossing the street?"

"Yes, please. I'm not as young as I used to be. My knees aren't as strong." I take his hand and wrap it around my arm.

"I will be most honored to assist you Sir."

"Call me, Martin." He hastily replied.

"Ok, Sir Martin. I'm Hope, by the way." We cross the street. I go as slow as possible. I didn't want him to fall.

"Hope. Such a beautiful name. It suits you. You probably inspire a lot of people."

"That's so sweet of you to say, Sir Martin." Traffic starts to build up. Oliver stays in the middle halting traffic as we go a snail's pace to the other side of the street.

"Your mother must be very proud of you." Martin said like he was sure of it.

"Oh yes, my mom and dad are very proud of me." I reply back. I see the surprise in his eyes for a second then, he smiles warmly and says, "Of course they are dear."

I notice a pretty dark haired girl coming from the opposite direction with disgust in her face. I shake my head. Sheesh. Sorry, he's old.

We finally get to the other side of the street. He couldn't thank me enough. I asked him if he needed a ride somewhere and he said he's suppose to meet his nephew in front of the herbs shop. I asked him if it's ok if I leave him. He said he'll be fine. I give him a hug and I tell him if ever he sees me, don't ever hesitate to approach me. He hugs me back and I could've have sworn there were tears in his eyes. He lets me go and I watch him hobble towards the herbs shop.

So odd. There was a feeling of familiarity between me and the old man... like we had a deeper connection. Alicia touches my shoulder and I turn around to see her with a puzzled look on her face. "I don't know. It's like I've known the old man all my life." I smile. "Let's go do some grocery shopping."

At the grocery store, I wasn't surprised to see my parents there. I gave them their new bank account and credit card. My mom looked at me like she won the lottery. Well, now they are set for life.

We all had our own carts and was just putting things in them like it was a contest. Oliver told me I didn't need the things in my cart because the mansion is always fully stacked. I told him I could give it to the staff. He nodded his head in understanding.

Alicia was like at her favorite place on the planet. She said it has been a while since she was able to shop for herself. I felt happy she was so happy.

We were at the aisle for juice when I saw him again, the old man with the cane.

"Sir Martin, I thought you were going to meet your nephew?"

"I think he's running late and I need some prune juice, so I decided to come here and buy some."

"Hope, dear, who are you talking to?", my mother asks behind me.

"Mom, Dad, this is Sir Martin. I helped him cross the street. Sir Martin, this is my mother and father."

The old man's face had shock written all over it. " You don't look like...", he started to say.

"I don't look like my parents. Ah, yeah, that happens sometimes." We all laugh. "I' m adopted."

"Oh heavens, I didn't mean to be so rude. I'm so old. I forget certain things. My sincerest apologies." Understanding etched on his face.

"Do you need any help with your prune juice? A ride home perhaps?" I ask him once again.

"No, dear. I'm fine. It was all nice to meet you."

"Sir Martin, there's a festival opening the day after tomorrow. I hope we can see you then."

"Oh, I'll definitely be attending. Bye for now." He hobbles away with a bottle of prune juice in his basket.

"Mom, Dad, have you ever met him before?"

"Not that I can recall, hon. Why?"

"It's like I know him from somewhere and I can't figure out where or when I met him." I shrug my shoulders. " Well, I'm done shopping. I need to get back to the mansion. I need to make some protection jars and start with invisibility."

We all go to the counter to pay for our items. Alicia was able to get 2 phones for her mother and brother at the gadget counter at the side of the grocery store. She said, next payday, she'll be getting a tablet for herself. I told her I'll get one when she does. We both laugh.

It's nice to have friends.

----

(Martin POV)

I used all the courage I had to walk up to them and ask if they could help me cross the street. I expected the man to help me. My surprise when the daughter of Adella offered to help. She took my hand and placed it inside her arm and slowly helped me across the street. Hope. That's the name she uses now. I was even more intrigued when she said both mother and father were proud of her. Whoever took the role of parents did a wonderful job. She has grown up to be a kind and polite young lady.

When she gave me a hug, I wanted to tell her who I was and ask her for her forgiveness. I shouldn't be a person she should be giving her affection. I didn't deserve it. She even told me I could come to her any time I needed. Adella was never like that. Adella was a bully; she demanded respect from those beneath her and would never help an old man like me cross the street. That to her is work for the servants.

Her daughter is the direct opposite. I wonder if Adella were the one who had raised her, would she still be the same charming young lady or would she have also become a spoiled brat like all the Alphas and Lunas of the world?

I saw them enter the grocery store. I walked as fast as an old man could and saw Hope talking to a woman and man. I saw her give them bank cards. I needed to know who these two were so, I entered the store under the pretense of buying prune juice.

Raised by humans. Cecilia had humans raise her. No wonder she was so down-to-earth, she was raised by humans who probably knew nothing about her background. Hope herself probably didn't even know what she was capable of until now. I witnessed the tornado she conjured this morning. Something or someone made her terribly angry, however as fast as it materialized, the tornado also quickly dissipated. It meant Hope is able to control her anger.

I don't know what Diane and Cecilia have told Hope about Adella. One thing I know for sure now, Hope is everything her mother wasn't.

I walk into the forest. The sun was setting and the forest is a frightening place at dusk. I made sure no one was following me and was safely in the dark before I reverted back to my scarred self. I saw my former student talking to the event organizer of the pageant. I guess she will be joining the Miss Dark Moon Pageant.

I walk further into the forest. I conjured a small room at the edge of the forest to be my temporary living quarters. On the outside, a huge boulder, on the inside a 5 star hotel.

Tomorrow, I will look for my former student's living quarters. I want to know what she has planned.