A lot has happened in the last week. The rebellion pack’s defeat spread like wildfire, and the members of the Dominio pack who had run away for safety returned. In the last six days, they have been coming in their tens and twenties, stating that the reason they fled was the fear of death and asking for another chance.
The Dominio pack welcomed them back, and they put the past in the past with the hope of a better future. The pack’s victory established them once again as the strongest pack, and their fear spread through the countries near and far. Now, the other packs wanted to stay on their good side and offer a truce and friendship gifts, while others kept to themselves and remained neutral even to this point.
Ivan was in much better shape, and his magic helped heal him up faster. Daniel’s healing was slower and had no magic, but the Harts created the healing room with healing magic that worked at a slow pace. Ivan couldn’t help; he said disrupting the natural healing of Daniel’s body aided by the healing room would affect him in the long run, and it was best he stayed there until he got healed. Daniel didn’t like that idea, but he had no choice. He had healed up in the last six days, and Zera, as well as the Harts, visited him frequently. This was their way of thanking him for everything he did, despite his telling them he didn’t do it for them.
Today, Zera visited and found him already dressed in new clothes and sitting on the bed. He looked ready to leave. He never wanted to stay, to begin with, and so six days was a miracle.
“Daniel,” she called out.
His head lifted, and his eyes met hers. “Zera.”
“You’re leaving,” she said of what she saw.
He nodded. “I’ve done my part, and now I’m better. I need to leave,” he answered.
“Oh,” she muttered silently. “You can’t stay any longer.”
“I could, but I am a hunter. I’m supposed to hunt supernatural beings, not make friends with them. The last two weeks have been a war against myself to not attack you and everyone else. I think this is best,” he answered. “Can I leave, or are the barriers still up?” he asked, his eyes straying from Zera over to Ivan, who stood behind her.
She turned around and found him at the door.
“They are already down. The minute the war ended, the barriers fell, and the only thing that had kept you here was your own will. You can leave if you want to now,” Ivan replied, and Daniel’s teeth clenched.
Ivan hadn’t told him this truth in the last week since he was here, so he assumed the barriers were up. “You should have told me from the start.”
“Then you would have left without being healed, and you would have died out there. I did you a favour.”
Zera turned her attention to him. “So you leave now?”
His eyes softened at her words, but he nodded. “I can’t stay here. I appreciate the care and treatment, but it still feels wrong for me.”
She stepped closer and gave him a tight hug, and his eyes fluttered. “Thank you for everything you have done for me, from taking care of me to training me and fighting beside me.”
Daniel’s arms wrapped around her. “You saved me. Thank you,” he mumbled into the crook of her neck. “I should have done more, but I am glad I could help.”
“We will meet again,” she told him, and that was a promise.
“I hope we don’t,” he answered, turning to glance at Ivan. “Thank you, witch.”
Ivan rolled his eyes. “It’s ‘wise one,’ not witch, asshole.”
Daniel smiled, and this was the first time he had done that while in the same room with Ivan.
“Wise one.” He nodded in acknowledgement and took the correction. “Do not watch over me when I’m gone.”
“You can’t tell me what to do,” Ivan shot back.
Daniel took a step towards him, and his heart picked up its beat. They were almost the same height. Ivan stood a few inches taller, but Daniel had a broader build and a terrifying stance.
“Do not watch over me when I’m gone,” he repeated, this time firmer.
Ivan nodded. “Fine then, I won’t.”
Daniel smirked and stepped back, and Ivan took a deep breath. With one last glance at Zera, he departed.
….
Zera stood at the entrance of the now-empty field, her heart beating slowly as she reminisced about everything. She had come every day since the pack war happened, spending at least an hour before leaving. It’s been a week, but it felt like yesterday. The bodies were gone, as were the blood and its smell. Thanks to Ivan, it felt almost as if nothing happened, and the field looked as new as it did before the war.
However, the memories of the blood on her hands and her body and the death and destruction they inflicted on their enemies didn’t leave.
They deserved it because they had attacked them, but that didn’t stop the nightmare from coming.
Aaron held her close every night, just like he promised he would, and he hadn’t left her side yet. His love had done so much for her, some of which she couldn’t remember.
Counselling started yesterday, and it went well. Aaron asked while he made love to her last night if she considered returning to work now that the war was over.
It hadn’t crossed her mind until he said it, and she promised to think about it and get back to him. With the war over, Zion, Lionel, Diya, Greg, and her parents would have normal lives. She would, too, despite being anything but normal now.
It was good to no longer have to live in fear. That was the world she always wanted. The world her father couldn’t give her, and one she couldn’t give Tia. Wherever they were, she knew they were happy and together.
She heard footsteps from behind, and having heard the pace and weight of them on the ground so many times, she knew who they belonged to.
Aaron.
Her heart beat slowly against her chest, picking up its beat with every step he took until he came to stand behind her.
“You’re here again.”
She sighed, “I can’t escape it.”
He placed his hands on her shoulder, and she leaned against him. “You’re not supposed to escape it. You’re to live through it.”
Her counsellor said almost the same thing. “It was a massacre.”
“It was,” he agreed, leaning in and kissing her hair. “It was also necessary. We gave everyone a choice.”
“We did.” Her lashes fluttered as she exhaled deeply. “So what now?”
“Now we move towards a better future filled with hope and dreams.”
She liked the thought of that.
They returned inside with their hands entwined.
“Mommy!” Zion called, racing towards her with a rose in his hand and a wide smile on his face.
Zera smiled at the adorable little angel she had as a son. She released Aaron’s hand and bent to pick Zion up in her arms. He giggled as she placed her head against his.
He had gone out with Sesi on a day trip that involved shopping, beauty treatments, and sightseeing. In the early hours of the morning, he looked so excited, and Zera didn’t stop him.
“How did your day with Sesi and Uwa go?” she asked with a curious voice as she set him down on his feet. Sesi and Uwa approached.
“Good, mommy. I’ve got this for you,” he said, handing her the rose in his hand.
“Oh.” Her eyes warmed as she took the flower from him. “You got me a flower?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t; Daddy said to get you one so he could do that.” He pointed to the back, where Aaron stood, and Zera turned around only to find Aaron on one knee with a black box in his hand, staring at her.
She gasped and took a step back, not believing her eyes.
“I know the circumstances are not the best, but I am tired of carrying this box around and not being able to ask,” he began. “I love you, Zera Adams, and I will die loving you. You’re my joy, my world, and my mate, and everything I need is right here. So here I am on my knees, asking, will you spend eternity with me?”
A tear ran down her face, but she wiped it off and nodded.
“Yes, I will.” She gave him her hand, and he slid the ring onto her finger.
She heard cheers from up on the balcony and gazed up; she found the Hart twins and Lionel beside the railing looking down at what was happening. They were all in on it, even Zion, and it was amazing how well it was planned out.
“I love you, Zera.”
“I know, and I love you too.” She closed the space between them to kiss his lips, smiling when she heard louder cheers but not pulling away.