Chapter 98 Moving Forward: The End of the War

Hope POV)

I can't believe I'm actually alive! Alexander helped me stand up and I dusted myself off. The fortress seemed to be crumbling around us and I instructed everyone to leave. Better safe than sorry.

Maria and Leia arrived in their wolf form and when they shifted back to their human selves, they stood away from me unsure if I was still possessed.

"She actually died, then came back to life. Both of you missed it." Yuri updated the girls with just one sentence while he escorted Jacques out of the fortress. Maria and Leia look at each other then stare at me, seemingly asking me to fill in the blanks.

"I'll tell you girls all about it later. Right now, I have to save Midnight Moon from burning to the ground." I could see the raging fire from the fortress and the huge billows of smoke blanketing the night sky. It was starting to spread to the forest and if not controlled, it could cause a lot of destruction and this would mean many lives lost. I raise a hand to the sky and the clear night sky blurs to a ghastly orange hue as dark rain clouds cluster together. I see a flicker of lightning emerge from the clouds followed by a faint rumble of thunder. Finally, it starts to rain on Midnight Moon.

"We will need to help rebuild Midnight Moon. Since it's my fault, I will take full responsibility and take care of all finances needed to rebuild the territory. I do hope Alpha Luciana is ok." I lowered my head, ashamed of what I had caused. It was my body after all The Being used to conduct his evil scheme to destroy the world.

Alexander grabs my hand and kisses it. "Ssshhh, we'll work things out. I'll be by your side every step of the way." He kisses me on my forehead and pulls away. "That's after you take a bath." I punch him on the arm and he laughs. "I can smell the "Decaying Corpse" scent all over you.

"Ahem, that would be me you smell." Arthur jokes. "Let's round up all the wolves and bears here and get them to Midnight Moon territory. We'll all meet up there." His eyes glaze over, obviously mindlinking with the wolves his instructions. "There, I have mindlink the wolves in charge and they'll all meet us at Midnight Moon. Alexander, I hope the limousine is still in one piece. After tonight, I am going to enjoy my retirement and rest." Arthur takes out a handkerchief and starts wiping his face of all the grime from tonight.

"The limousine is over there. Mark is on his way now to pick us up."

As we wait for the limousine, I watch the rain extinguish the fires and relieved the worst is over. The Rogue Lord is dead and The Being obliterated. We can all move forward and live in peace.

"Where is my brother?" I suddenly ask  looking for him.

"Brother?" Alexander asks, surprised.

"Yes, Jacques. He's my brother." I give Alexander "I'll explain later" look.

"I'm here, Sister." Jacques emerges from the shadows, obviously eaten up with guilt. I had sensed his discomfort. We were connected somehow, him and I.

"Come here. Let me comfort you." I put my hand on his shoulder to take away his fears, doubts and misgivings. I see him relax under my touch and the twinkle in his silver eyes was back, so was his confidence.

"There is the hero I know." I smile at him. I take his hand and grasp it. "Our quest here is done, however I see your journey is far from over."

"You will help me, right?" He asks, uncertain I would agree to join him.

"Of course. I've always wanted to go to France."

The limousine parks in front of us and Arthur loops one arm through mine and one arm through Jacques' and guides us to the door.

"Another adventure? What are we going to do in France?" He smiles at both of us.

"Not us, you. You will be retiring on a villa at the Mediterranean Sea in France." I wink at him.

"Just as long as you're spending. Remember, I'm broke."

"Anything you want, Arthur." I enter the limousine amused Arthur was enjoying all the excitement.

_______


There was a comfortable silence among as we bounced around the limousine while it drove through the rocky road. Maria and Leia slept on each other, tired of running to Midnight Moon and back as wolves. Arthur, Jacques and Yuri, on the other hand, was enjoying some scotch from the limousine's minibar. Alexander would doze off for a bit, but would wake, making sure I was still beside him. I guess the trauma of my death was something he wished wouldn't happen again

When we arrived at Midnight Moon, Arthur, who was drunk, bragged he could fix the structures burnt by the fire inside the territory through magic. I told them the magic will stand as long as Arthur lives. If something were to happen to him, the burnt structures will reappear. Everyone agreed it would be better to build from the ground up.

We found Alpha Luciana in the arms of a wolf named Gavin. Apparently, they were separated when Lawrence banished Gavin from the pack. Now that they finally found each other once again, Alpha Luciana, despite the burnt mansion and homes, asked Arthur, if he could officiate their mating ceremony right then and there.

I conjured a white gown for Luciana and a suit for Gavin. Leia set a venue for the mating ceremony while Maria conjured robes for everyone else. Arthur conjured his own ceremonial robe, but since he was tipsy, the color of his robe came out a purple. Oh well, he was just going to officiate anyway. Who cares what color robe he wore? Judging by the snickering...many.

What a way to end the war by having a mating ceremony. It was a clear message that forgiveness is so much mightier than we know. And if you are able to forgive, you can move forward and live a happy life.

I glance over to Jacques who was listening intently to Arthur. I knew he had a score to settle and forgiveness wasn't an option. I had received information regarding his former pack and I have heard they control if not all, most criminal activities in a big region of France. His uncle was now a rich Alpha and a very difficult wolf to take down. However, if we were able to destroy the formidable Rogue Lord, we could definitely do the same to the mobster boss of France. We just needed to do some careful planning. It is Jacques' birthright we will be taking back.

But for now, we all needed a vacation and I have to attend university. There will be a time for France. Just not in the immediate future. Well, maybe if Arthur, the keen banker that he is, can do some financial trickery that I know will come easy for him. He did say he was broke.

It's all part of the plan.

_______

After the mating ceremony, all the wolves watched as the sun rose into the sky. The first sunrise of the Autumn Equinox. The sky turned into that red-orange color I loved so much. It was a symbol of renewed hope.

A new beginning for all of us.

After having pancakes for breakfast, I announced that I would be adopting all the rogues. Gavin started crying. He thought he would have to send the remaining surviving rogues back to the fortress without a pack to accept them. He was grateful I was willing to accept and take responsibility over them. I told him if there are anymore rogues who would like to live in a peace, I will accept them with open arms and provide them with shelter, food, employment and an education. He said he would get the word out so rogues could find a sanctuary if ever needed.

The trip back home was a pleasant one. We dropped off Jacques and Yuri at Alarick's where Amelie was happily waiting for him. She reached up to him, proud at what he had accomplished. "My son is now a man." Jacques smiled at her words. Amelie's approval is all he needed to hear. He said he would come back to Dark Moon to ask if the werebears would like to build a community. Apparently, he was also very good with money, knowing what it was to not have any during his young years with his former pack. He said he had enough to help build a pack of his own where werebears can live together. Yuri pledged his allegiance and in turn was dubbed Jacques' Beta, a title Yuri thought he would never be called given he was a werebear.

Arthur flew back to Seattle. I told him I was having his villa arranged as we planned. He was excited to start his new life. "Now I know why being James Bond is so exciting." He will be infiltrating the criminal  syndicate of the wolves in France. He knows that doesn't happen overnight and is willing to take the risk even if it meant it would take him years to build a level of trust with the syndicate.

Leia stayed at Midnight Moon to help rebuild the pack. She conjured temporary quarters for everyone for the meantime. Maria said she wanted some alone time in Seattle before the three of us became full time students, so she went with Arthur with her credit card, to go have some fun.

I was happy to arrive at the mansion and relax in the tub. Alexander obviously had the same sentiments. He walked right in while I was about to immerse myself in the tub. He took off his robe and grinned at me. "There's something more that can help both of us relax." He slipped into the tub behind me and started to caress my body.

Aaaahhhh, it sure feels good to be HOME.