by Nana Adu
"Yeah, I'm stressed but it's just the situation. Not anything else." I mutter.
"I have to go, ok? Go back to the room and wait for me." Noah says, getting up and planting a kiss on the temple of my head.
"Where?" I ask, sliding my chair out and following behind him as he puts his plate and mine in the sink.
"I still have big plans for the Moonstribe. There's a meeting to decide when we'll battle." He says, putting the plates away into the cabinet. My heart sinks.
I have to take care of my old pack before Noah gets his involved. His mom was right, I brought this fight to them and I should be able to take my burden back.
I won't let them relive the pain of losing their members. I'm going back to the hell that trapped me for 18 years. I can't let them harm people who have been so kind to me.
I'm willing to get stuck in the torment of that prison again.
CHAPTER 52
Noah POV
Kai, my father, and the rest of my men surround me as I look around at each of their face's.
"We're going after our actual enemy for 13 years. I want you wolves to clear you ears and let all your pent up anger towards this pack, go into this fight. Not towards my mate." I growl, tapping my finger against the arm of my chair.
"But she's-"
"Don't finish that sentence, because she's not. She left them. Eliana is as much your sister as she is my mate. I want you all to understand that." My soldiers nods, all except my father.
"Son, stop talking about personal issues and explain your plan for defeating Moonstribe." He glares down at me. I scoff.
He's right though. If we're going up against the wolves close to the Goddess, we'll need some kind of power behind us. The pack doesn't even know what we're up against.
I sigh.
"I'm sure you all remember falling into a deep sleep the day Moonstribe invaded, right?" They nod, confused expressions crossing each of their faces.
"We woke up and they were gone. Our training would never allow that." I nod, sitting up in my chair.
"Whether you guys believe it or not, there's a pack closest to the Goddess sent to protect the rest of us or whatever the fuck, and they have these weird powers that give them control over the rest of us. They're called Royals and Moonstribe are those wolves." I state, my eyes drawing over each wolf.
Kai bursts out laughing beside my father, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry but what are you talking about? There's no way, right?" He says, turning to look at my father. My father clenches his teeth and sighs.
"I never imagined we would go up against them. When I was younger, that pack was a stupid children's tale. They must've spared us all those years ago. With their abilities, we all could've died that day. " He says. The soldiers eyes widen.
"No way... How do we win against a pack like that?" Kai breathes out.
"Do you want to give up? Are you willing to let the lives they took away for no reason, go in vain? I'm not, I'll fight them myself if I have to." My fist clench, my nails biting into my palm as Kai straightens his posture. The other soldiers lose all signs of fear, pulling their shoulders back and standing tall.
I'm glad to see I haven't trained a bunch of weaklings. We're warriors and we will defend our loved ones.
Samantha. Eliana.
"Wait, doesn't that mean your mate is one of these Royals?" Kai ask. I internally groan.
I didn't want to discuss this. I didn't want anyone but Robert, Eliana and I, to know.
"Yes, she is." Gasps follow my statement, as I avoid their gaze.
"Then why don't we just use her to defeat them? She's our only weapon. We have to fight fire with fire." Justin, a wolf further in the back suggest. Nods and sounds of agreement echo around the room. My body trembles as I hold back.
They don't know yet. Just tell them, don't blow up. Eliana said not to.
I take a deep breath, letting my exhale calm my anger slightly.
"Every time she uses her powers, it draws on her life force. She saved me when they invaded, using her powers to stop them, literally. Then she fell into a 3 day coma." I growl out, breathing faster as my men look away from me.
"It's her pack. She should-"
"Don't finish those words. I don't want to hurt anybody in this meeting." Justin shuts up, lowering his head.
This is why I didn't want them to know. She'd be exploited and the way she feels at this moment, she'd probably let them use her.
I won't let that happen.
"We can contact the witches. Their realm is only deeper in the forest." Hunter suggests, breaking through the tense atmosphere.
That's no better.
Out of the millions of strange races lingering on this Earth, the witches are the most evil and cruel, luring small children from the human world and using them in their witchcraft.
"But the cost of their magic is too much for our pack to bear. We'd be cursed as their slaves for generations." My father adds, I nod.
"I don't want to involve them either. Many packs have fallen to their lies. We have to come up with a better way."
"Could we catch them off guard?" Kai ask. My eyebrows furrow.
We could use that.
"That's smart if we could figure out a time they aren't ready for us, we would have the upper hand." I mutter, adding on to his idea.
If we can get this right, we can avenge our dead member. I can finally fight against the people who killed Sam.
I'll be doing something, not that paralyzed kid who could watch as his sister was taken from him.
Eliana won't be burden by the blame and the pack will forgive her.
It all depends on this plan.
Eliana POV
I wish I could've kissed him one last time.
The clock strikes 12 as Noah and the rest of the pack sleep peacefully. I hope my eyes are the only ones open.
Of course he'd be so tired after hours of being in his office, talking about the plan they'll use against Moostribe.
They're willing to go and die for justice, but they won't have to. Eve will be able to keep the peace she's wanted for the whole pack.
I'm going to end this.
I'll try and leave the members who hurt you, behind so you can truly have your revenge. I'll push this blessing to it's limits to take down the ones who hurt you so badly.
I want to do something too. Forgive me for leaving like this.
Noah breathes softly beside me. I shift, turning to face him.
His long dark brown eyelashes cast shadows on his face. Moonlight engulfs his body, his tan skin shining before me. I press my lips against his, tears flooding onto my cheeks.
I'll miss our walks to the lake, our late night talks, even that trip to the human world.
Everything about us was so beautiful. You gave me kindness when no one else would.
"I love you, Noah." I whisper, pulling back from him. I move the sheets from around me, getting out of bed slowly.
There's nothing to take with me, I'm going as I am.
I make my way to the window, taking in deep breaths of his scent.
I'll miss Alyssa, Beth, Robert, the food, all of them. However brief, everyone showed me care and I was accepted by them. They were my family too.
I look out the window, measuring the height of the jump.
If I hop out from here, the front yard is right there. I'll shift into my wolf and run off towards that cliff. I'll find my way around it somehow.
The window slides open under my touch as I get into position, ready to go. My eyes draw back to Noah. His chest rises and falls, showing through the blanket. My tears come harder, sobs threatening to rack through me.
I have to leave, I have to go now.
Facing the window again, I sigh.
"Goodbye Noah."
I close my eyes, pushing off the heels on my feet, ignoring my tears.
Wind rushes pass my skin. My body jolts as I'm halted.
No...
Tingles travel through my
arm as I glance behind my shoulder.
Noah.
"Where are you going?"
CHAPTER 53
Noah POV
Eliana's eyes widen as I pull her back into the room completely.
"Are you trying to leave me?" My voice cracks, as my breathing intensifies.
She felt far away. I felt the distance she put between us but I didn't realize it was this bad.
She's leaving. She's leaving.
"Noah, I-"
"If this is about the-the pack, I can tell them to stop. You don't have to run away like this. We can fix this." I stammer, pulling her in closer to me.
"Noah, that's not the reason."
"Then what? What is it? I'll deal with whatever. I can handle that for you. I'll do anything, you just can't leave me." My hands tremble.
Why is this happening? What's been going through her mind? How can I stop her? How can I stop this?
"I have to take care of all of this. I don't think I can come back before that. I-"
"Take care of all of this? You mean you want to go fight them? By yourself?! No, I won't let you go. I can't."
That's like leaving her to die. I'll die with her. I'll go with her. She can't that alone.
"I have to go alone." She whispers, I shake my head.
"Why? I asked you to talk to me. I asked you not to carry all of this by yourself. Eliana, I won't let you kill yourself." Tears wet her face as she rips her arm out of my hold.
"You are the Alpha! You have a family. You desevre to live with every single one of your members. I brought this fight to you all and I can't let you give up anymore lives. Not because of me, Noah!" She shouts, crying hard. Water fills my eyes as well.
"Why do you think I'll be able to survive without you? You know if you go in there by yourself, you won't be coming back. We already came up with a plan, so you don't have to do this. You could help us with the plan if you want but-" She pushes me away as the door slams open.
"Noah? We heard shouting." Kai and the others stand at the doorway, Beth somewhere among them.
"Get out." I growl, turning a glare towards them.
They're going to push her away, just like they have been. Making her feel like she has to do all of this for their fucking approval. Shit.
"I don't want any lives lost." She looks back towards the window. I flinch.
"We're willing to die to avenge them. We want to fight, Eliana." The door closes as I grab her hand.
"I still have to go do something, ok?" I tighten my grip on her.
"I can't be without you." I breathe out, putting my forehead against her shoulder, bringing her hand up to my lips.
"Noah-"
"You're mine. It doesn't matter where you come from." I lift my head.
"You know it matters." She whispers, turning away from me.
"Eliana, please! Look at me! I won't let you leave. You belong with me." I tug her into my arms, embracing her tightly.
Forget everyone. I'll run away with her if she wants. I'll destroy the whole-
"I know you feel guilty too, Noah, for supporting me through all this. You don't have to anymore." She says against my chest.
"What are you talking about?" I ask, pulling back again.
We hasn't bonded completely yet how can she know about my dreams? I barely remember them myself.
They don't matter.
"Noah, we won't last if I stay. The pack hates me, you're hurting, and everything is just wrong. I'm going to go fix it, even if I don't make it here." She cries.
"No, no I can't let you go. Eliana, there's no way I'll watch you go!" My arm goes out, reaching for her other hand. My hand halts in the air, inches away from her wrists.
"Eliana..." Only my lips and eyes move as she slips out my hand and goes back to the front of the window. Moonlight shines on the side of her face as she smiles at me.
I was scared she would do this. She can control it now and she's using it to get away from me. She's going to leave.
"I love you Noah. Goodbye." She blinks the tears out of her eyes, closing them as she shoots out of the window, gone. My tears flow down my face like two rivers.
She's gone. Gone.
Eliana POV
I land on my paws, taking off into the forest. My mind focuses on Noah and his pack, holding them back as long as I can.
If I didn't freeze the whole pack, they'd come after me. Just like Liam did before.
They need to have some time to think before they jump into action, especially Noah.
Noah...
My fur holds my tears as they fly free, following the wind behind me.
I had to do this. It had to happen. I selfishly came there, not thinking about anyone other than myself. I'm a part of the pack that attacked their's. I simply don't fit in.
If I want to make things better for them, I have to attack the source. My own pack.
The bond has been weaken between us, but I haven't joined Noah's pack yet so it will regain it's strength after I land back on that land.
I'll miss the bright days I spent with Noah, Alyssa, Beth, everyone. I know my pack won't let me return so easily and they won't be defeated so simply if they have the same powers I do.
I'm faster.
My wolf says, sprinting through the woods, moving up and down the moss covered roots. The trunks stand as tall as they had last time.
I never thought I'd be coming back willingly.
We dash out the forest, running by the side of the black tar road. The road takes us pass the cliff, going around the long way, where Noah probably took to reach the house when he came there.
The day he changed my life.
A strange scent teases my nose as I run up the road leading to the driveway in front of my old pack home.
This isn't what we-
My wolf howls as teeth sink into our leg. Tumbling across the road, we slide to a stop.
"I didn't actually think you would come back by yourself. I should've know." Shivers go down my back, sending my fur standing in hives, as I growl.
Liam.
I turn to meet his eyes as a couple wolves gather at either side of him, one licking the blood he took off my leg. I glare at them.
"We can't have you going out on a rampage the moment you come home. The witches have been waiting for you. We even got punished because you decided to fucking run away." He kicks me in my ribs, bending low, coming face to face with me. I bare my jaws.
I'll kill him.
"You had to right to leave, bitch. Now go to sleep, we'll deal with you in the morning." My jaws open to bite off a portion of his face as a stabbing pain comes from my back. I whimper, crumbling even lower on this road.
I was supposed to defeat them. I was supposed to...
CHAPTER 54
Noah POV
"We have to go after her."
"We can't. Noah, you know that."
My fists trembles as the pack surrounds me. The living room overflows with my men, members and even some children. Wide awake at 1 am.
I can't sleep.
"Then what am I supposed to do? I can't live without her! I'm-" Tears fill my eyes and I look away from my pack, up to the ceiling as I take a deep breath.
I can't show them my tears. I'm still in control. I'm their Alpha.
But she's gone. Eliana left, walking into a death trap. She's gone and she's not coming back.
"She used her powers against us all. We couldn't move an inch. How would we even catch her if we did go after her?" Kai says, leaning against my cabinets. My breath is shaky as I turn back towards them.
"I'll go myself." I state, my foot bouncing against the floor.
"Noah..." My mother comments. I shake my head.
"I know why you guys don't care she's gone. You blamed her, whispered behind her back, and bullied her until she left, to fight for you ungrateful wolves." My words growl out through clenched teeth.
"She's just going back to her own pack, it's not like-" Jacklin, kitchen staff, s
tarts from the back. I cut her off.
"She's been their slave since she was five years old. She slept in the basement and was refused basic needs. Eating, shifting into her wolf, even a friend. You think they'll just welcome her back? Do you really fucking think that?!" I shout, slamming my fist against my desk, breathing hard. They stare at me, stunned.
She escaped and we led her back into her prison. Fuck. I promised never to let them touch her again. I said I would protect her, but in the end, I pushed her away too. Even if I didn't mean to.
"When she came here, she could barely talk to you all. Not because she didn't want to, but she didn't know how. She was scared of everything and back then, you still attacked her." My glare lands on Beth, who sits beside my mother with a frown on her face.
I noticed the change in her attitude. I saw her distance herself but I thought it would be fine. Eliana still had me.
Now she's left me.
"You've hurt her the worse out of everyone here. You turned your back on your friend and told her secrets to my parents, for them to air out in front of the pack. Have you gotten your revenge? Are you satisfied?" She stares hard at the ground, trying to ignore me. My mother lays a hand on her knee.
"Noah, she couldn't have become Luna anyway. Not with where she comes from. If she's decided to go help us defeat her family then-"
"That's not her family! I'm her family! She's mine!" I yell, my wolf flashing in and out of control. My father stands up, placing himself in front of mother.
Eliana is mine. She's who I need. She saved me.
"Get a hold of yourself, son." He whispers. I scoff, looking around the room. Eyes avoid mine as I meet them and I slowly shake my head.
They don't care about her sacrifice, they only care that she's making things easier for us. Oh my Goddess, who are these people?
"Is this what isolation has done to us? We don't even care when someone is giving up their life, for us? For our own selfish revenge?" I let the water flow down my face as I stand straight.
Would I be like this if I didn't love her?
"Noah's completely right. This is wrong. She trained to control her powers so she wouldn't hurt anyone, including you all." Robert calls out, standing from his seat in the corner and leaving the room.