Elaine POV
“If you’re leaving I’m going too,” Richie said.
That made sense it was his Pack.
“Are you sure about this? You’re going in blind,” Lawrence said. “For all you know, there isn’t even a football game on Friday.”
“Yeah, you have a point,” I mumbled. “I don’t trust Quin.”
“Not going is a risk as well. I abandoned my Pack,” Richie said, he marched into the kitchen, leaving us in the living room.
Azaire followed his brother and I marched after my mate.
“We didn’t abandon our Pack, Richie. We had no choice. Laiken’s gained more power than we could have imagined.”
“We should have stayed to fight, Azaire!”
“And what about your child? Weren’t you thinking about Opal and your kid when we fled?” Azaire barked.
Richie raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t like this. Dad wouldn’t have done this.”
“Dad never had to battle a man who wanted to kill the moon goddess!”
“Guys… don’t fight. I’m sorry all this is happening-”
“It’s not your fault, Elaine,” Azaire said softly.
“No, but it is your Dad’s fault,” Richie grumbled and I lowered my gaze to my feet.
“Take a walk, Richie. Come back when you cool off,” Azaire ordered.
“Don’t forget I’m your alpha!”
Azaire laughed. “Save that Alpha shit for someone else.”
A gentle hand took my elbow and tugged me away as my mate and his brother argued.
“Why don’t you have some tea with me?” Gail asked.
I nodded and followed my Mother to the dining room which was closed off from the living room.
“Where’s Isaura?” I asked.
“She found a few dolls and they’re keeping her busy.”
Gail had a hot tea ready when we settled down in the dining room.
“She adores having an older sister, Elaine.”
I smiled. “I love her so much already. I missed out on so much of her life…”
“Everything will be fine. Laiken won’t win.”
“You’re so sure of that,” I said, staring at the cup of tea resting on my lap.
She shook her head. “I’m not. Avena’s dark witches are extremely powerful and so is your Father’s wolf. That’s how he was able to have hybrid children and all of you have Alpha wolves too. He has a strong army.”
“Mom, I know you can’t tell us about the details of his plan but there has to be something you can tell me!”
“It depends on how you ask the question, honey.”
She was right. I chewed the inside of my cheek and searched my brain for the right questions.
“Why does he hate the Blood Moon Pack so much that he wants them wiped off the face of the earth?”
“Because he believes they’re responsible for Bianca’s death. He might be many things but he truly loved his first wife.”
“He cheated on her. With three women!”
Gail sipped her tea. “It was only part of his plan. He never cared for us the way he loved Bianca. I think that’s why he clings to Nik the way he does.”
It explains a lot. Dad never cared for Blazer the way he did for Nik. I also doubted my Mother’s words. Dad hurt her deeply but I think he loved her too. They kept in contact over the years and Avena was so jealous of my Mother! He trusted her enough to reveal his secret. He didn’t do that for Blazer or Lawrence’s Mom. I think he hated Andrea the most because he banned her from seeing Blazer and threatened the hotel she ran.
“I’ve lived with the Blood Moon men for a while now and I don’t think they’re murderers,” I said.
“Their forefathers aren’t innocent either honey. Azaire’s Mother has quite the reputation. Don’t tell him I said that, but she was known to be a hard woman, she was promiscuous and there was a rumour she did something so horrible the moon goddess punished her severely. She had to dabble in dark magic to have the curse removed. I don’t know what she did exactly.”
“Geez, I want to know what rumour mills you’re in.”
She chuckled. “No one talks about it anymore but yes there is a very high chance someone outside the Blood Moon Pack killed her. Her death was sudden.”
“Yeah… you have theories don’t you?”
She cleared her throat. “Back to Laiken’s plan. Are you sure you and your brothers are all your Father needs to fulfil his plan?”
“We’re not. If he wants to kill the goddess, he needs goddess gems and a water source. I think I know where he’s going to go. If Bianca was so important to him, he would do it at the Black Claw Pack. It’s a spot he forbids anyone from going to.”
“Does he have these gemstones?” Gail asked.
“Yes, the Pack has one but it’s not big enough… no, I forgot he stole one from the Blood Moon Pack. Azaire said it was bigger and contained some powers. I’m not sure ours does.”
“Well, that isn’t good.”
“I know, Mom. We have to stop him. If he doesn’t use us as his guinea pigs, then he’ll find other hybrids and that scares me! I don’t want to live in a world where Laiken is the moon god.”
“I understand you have a choice to make between being a wolf or a witch. I hope you pick wisely, Elaine.”
I sighed and looked away. “Is everything Neel told us all of Dad’s plan?”
She shook her head.
“Does he have a backup plan?”
“Of course.” Suddenly she clutched her head and blood dripped from her nose.
“Mom, are you okay?”
She stood but wobbled so I rushed to help her.
“I’m fine honey. It’s the blood promise reminding me of my oath.”
“The promise can kill you,” I said.
“Oh, I wonder why I made the promise in the first place. I didn’t know his plan would be so radical.”
“I’ll help you lay down.”
“Honey, you and your brothers only have a few days until the Spring Moon Solstice. Don’t forget you made a blood promise too. Sooner or later Laiken will use it again.”
A lump formed in my throat. We were running out of time.
Early the next day, tensions between Azaire and Richie were still high but we packed our necessities and loaded them in the SUV. We planned to lay low and round the beta army so we had a backup for the game. I wanted to lure Quin out before the game to get more information out of her.
Isaura was still asleep when the group gathered outside to say goodbye. I felt horrible but I promised myself to get back to her tomorrow morning because nothing would go wrong on this trip. We had to win, we just had to.