Chapter Ninety-two: The last supper.

I already have an idea where Nuria is. I turn to Markus just before I enter the pack house.

“I’m going to need you to leave me alone with Nuria, Markus. I won’t subject her to more questioning and I know she’ll be more comfortable with just me there whilst she examines this….thing.”

Markus looks at me begrudgingly. I suspect he doesn’t want to give up any opportunity for information gathering or to find Lukas. But he nods.

“Fine. But I want you to update me. Don’t leave us in the dark this time Aliana, it’s not right. You’re both part of our family, and I don’t want you to go missing without telling the rest of us again.”

I smile partially at him. “Don’t worry, I don’t plan to. I promise to keep you all in the loop.”

He walks around me and disappears into the pack house, heading towards the kitchen. I make my way upstairs to the guest room I know Nuria was offered before we left.

I knock on the door gently and hear Nuria shout for me to come in. I push open the door and see her resting on the bed, a small book I haven’t seen before, in her hands.

I walk in and close the door behind me, removing my shoes and heading over to the bed, getting into it and lying in the bed with her.

“Are you ok?” I ask her, knowing she was slightly upset in the meeting with all the direct questions which were questioning her decisions.

“I’m fine. Just a bit tired. And fed up of the questions.” She sighs and turns to me.

“What have you got?”

I smile knowing she can sense the dark power in my pocket. I sit up and use the edge of the bedsheet to unzip my pocket and pull out the bracelet, laying it carefully on the bed without touching it with my hands.

She immediately sits up and backs away.

“You’ve not touched that, have you?”

I shake my head vigorously. “No, I know not to touch something like this. It’s emitting a dark aura like no other I’ve come across.”

She leans in to study it a bit closer and I describe to her how I came to have it. Once I disclose my meeting with Hugo, she hums.

“I think you’re right. This will surely force my Father out of his hidey hole.” She smirks looking at the object.

“What is it? How do we do it?” I ask.

“It’s one of his personal belongings, imbued with his power….I can do it. I remember my Mother telling me how to summon my Father if I wanted it so. Leave this to me and I can do it when required. All I’d need is some salt.”

I look at her, surprised to hear she knows how to summon her Father with this object. I stand, leaving the object on the bed. “Ok, good. We can set ourselves up. I doubt anyone’s been round to tell you what was discussed but we need you to bring our allies to us.”

She looks up at me. She had missed the discussions downstairs so I go over the plans and ask if she’ll be able to help bringing our allies over with her new abilities.

“It’ll be no problem, but I’ll do it in a few batches to make sure I don’t tire myself out, if that even happens anymore.” She chuckles.

“I suggest you start with those who were more….friendly.” I recommend, not wanting any fights or issues to happen before we summon Fedori.

We discuss who to bring over first to last, where to house them and what we’ll need to feed them. Once we’ve settled it, I mind-link the ranked members and Elders at once with the details, along with Jorge and Larry who will need to work on the different types of food for our guests. Not too long after I finish mind-linking, I receive a link from Markus.

“All good with us. Start when ready and we’ll make the pack aware.” He responds.

I then give Nuria the go ahead.

She opens up a portal for us and I go through it with her. It takes us to the side of the pack where the cottages have been emptied out.

“Wait here. I’ll go get the first couple.” She says, opening a portal and jumping through.

Over the next few hours, Nuria whisks back and forth between portals bringing through our acquaintances who we met on our travels. I direct them to a cottage and take any requests from them and mind-link them over to the appropriate teams. Markus, Blaine and Albion join in when they notice the commotion.

About half way through, Nuria stops opening portals. “I think that’s me for today. Although I feel energised by this stone, I can tell my body is tired. I can finish tomorrow morning.”

I agree with her. “I’m surprised you lasted this far. Yes, go rest, I’ll sort everyone out here and we can reconvene in the morning.”

She yawns and heads towards the pack house whilst I speak and direct our temporary guests. I provide them with the details and locations they may want to head out to, and the temporary rules in place.

By the time I’m finished and everyone is happy, it’s starting to get dark. Estelle finds me and runs up to me waving.

“Hey Aliana. The girls and I are planning on having dinner in the pack house, Jorge has made pasta bake with chicken. Want to join?”

“Of course! It’s about time I caught up with everyone.”

She smiles and links my arm, leading me to the pack house. As we walk I look back, confident that everyone’s settled down and is working away at making sure they know where to go or what to do for the evening.

We head into the pack house then directly to the dining room where I see all my ranked females, as well as Mandy, Nuria and Loretta waiting patiently for my arrival.

Mandy squeals and runs up to me with little Rochelle at her hip. She gives me a big hug and I hug her in exchange, missing her presence.

“I wish you had come to see me first!” She puffs, feigning upset that I hadn’t come to see her yet.

I pull away from her. “I’m sorry. I’ve just had a mission on my mind.” I look down to the little girl who is her double. “Whoa, she is so big now.” I say, Rochelle smiling in response.

Mandy smiles and walks me over to my seat, taking her own next to mine. I look at Nuria.

“Are you ok? Did you rest ok?”

She nods. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll get more rest tonight.”

I move my eyes over to Loretta who is smiling at me. I feel the need to apologise.

“I’m so sorry we took Elijah away from you. I hope he’s made it up to you.”

She blushes and nods, but says nothing. I see Melinda roll her eyes at her daughter which causes me to snicker.

Estelle stands and raises her glass, tapping it with a spoon to bring everyone’s attention to her.

“As you all know. Aliana, Nuria and Elijah have been on a journey to gather allies for our upcoming fight.” I see a split second of sadness in her eyes before she puts her brilliant smile back on. “These next few days will be difficult, but we are a pack. We are stronger together. We will win this war and our Luna will bring us back our Alpha.”

I clap, as does everyone else. I stand and she sits down, bowing her head in respect to me. I smile at the ladies in the room.

“We, the top women of this house must be strong. We all have our roles. Tomorrow, Nuria will bring the rest of our allies, most of which will be vampires. All of us here must help keep the peace, as the true war will be started tomorrow when we summon the dark one, Fedori.”

The silence around the table is deafening, but expected. No one knows who will survive or die. No one wants to mention it.

“let’s feast tonight and enjoy each other’s company, before tomorrow.” I raise my glass and so does everyone else, each taking a sip. I sit back down in my chair and the others start menial conversations. I sit and ask Mandy and Melinda about what’s been going on in the pack whilst I’ve been away.

Shortly after, the food comes out and we eat, like a small happy family, not as if we’re fighting a war tomorrow. When we finish, the Omegas come in and clear up, and we all sit there just quietly admiring each other’s company.

I’m the first to stand and break the silence. “I’m quite tired after today’s events, so I’m going to go and lie down, and try and rest up for tomorrow. I suggest you all do the same.” I say lightly.

They all say goodnight and I leave the room, feeling shattered after today’s events. I hug myself as I walk up to my room, not knowing whether tomorrow will be a happy day or if it will be filled with sadness.

I reach the room and I can smell faint hints of Lukas. I close the door behind me and walk towards the wardrobe where I’m hit with Lukas’ scent all around me. I walk to his side of the walk in wardrobe and pull out one of his favourite jackets. I hug into it tightly, as if it was him.

I take it to the bed and flop onto it, not bothering to shower. I close my eyes, drifting to sleep, hoping for pleasant dreams of my beloved Lukas.