Lillian’s POV
“Are we going back with her to the pack?” Harvey asked through our mind-link.
“To be honest, I want her dead, but then again, that shouldn’t be something I decide. I want Lillian to decide,” Ridge answered and then looked at me for a second before focusing back on the road.
“Lillian, what do you want to do?” Edith asked from the back seat. She was sitting next to Harvey.
I looked at the car behind us, which Snow was driving, and then at Ridge.
“He won’t drive away with her, will he?” I asked seriously.
In Snow’s backseat was Leah, and I still didn’t trust him. He looked like he could still betray us again.
“No, he won’t. Right now, he truly wants to prove his worth to our Alpha, so he is careful with whatever he does,” Harvey answered.
“Lillian, do you not know what you want to do to someone who has ruined your life and made it a living hell for you in the past?” Edith asked.
I looked at her in the rearview mirror and then swallowed hard.
“Her dying so easily would make everything she has done to me seem like nothing. Right now she doesn’t even know what true pain feels like,” I answered furiously.
“Then let’s take her to the forest of no return. That forest has a way back if one can manipulate magic, but for those who can’t, they can never return or leave that territory no matter what. That place is crawling with dangerous creatures and supernatural beings that the coven had banished. Her being there would give her a very hard life, harder than yours, and she would be killed. Not only are the supernatural beings banished there, only males, they are pent up and starving. Imagine how they would react if an unconscious, defenseless she-wolf was thrown into their den? Nothing would save her, not even her looks,” she said as I smirked.
“I love that idea very much,” I answered as Ridge glanced at me.
“Damn, you are evil. That’s hot,” he said as Edith and I laughed.
“Shall I open the entrance to that territory?” she asked, confusing me.
“Don’t we need to drive there?” I asked back, seriously.
“Yes, we do, but I can also open an entrance anywhere I want,” she answered.
“Then please do,” I said with a smile.
Ridge made a turn and then parked the car close to some trees. Soon after, Snow parked as well and stepped out as we all did.
“This place will do just fine. Now, everyone please step back,” she ordered loudly as she walked ahead.
We all complied and watched as she pressed her hand in front of a very big tree and said some words in an ancient language. Light glowed from her hand, blinding me for a second.
When the bright light toned down, a way appeared in place of where the tree was.
“Bring her here,” she ordered as we all looked at Snow.
“What?” he asked in a low tone.
“We are going to leave Leah in an abandoned territory, so this is your chance to choose which side you will take. If you choose to be with her, then carry her from the car and walk this path without stopping until you find shelter. If you choose to stand by your Alpha’s side, you will carry her and lay her down on the path, then you will come and stand by my side,” Edith instructed.
Snow looked at us with a pale expression on his face before moving and going to the back seat of his car to carry Leah. He walked with her to the path and kept on walking until it got us all thinking which side he had chosen. But then he stopped and turned to look at us.
He sighed softly and then lowered his gaze and looked at Leah seriously.
“I am so sorry,” he said loudly and then slowly moved forward, putting her down on the road, and then stood upright.
“I guess my loyalty and Paul’s are too different,” he said and then walked back to where Edith was standing.
“Now, what?” He asked.
“Close your eyes for a second because I am going to close this entrance, and the light may hurt your eyes,” she answered.
I quickly closed my eyes and waited for it to dim.
When it did, I opened my eyes and looked at the tree, which was now back in its place.
“No one can ever open the entrance without magic, so don’t worry. And the way I know the coven, they can only open this place if there is a need to banish someone with grave sin. I too would have been here for using black magic, but then it would have been useless because I could use magic well,” Edith said and then turned and looked at us.
“It’s been so long since I had a beer. How about we all go home and have one?” She asked seriously as I smiled and looked at Ridge, who was staring back at me.
“Shall we do that?” He asked softly.
“Yes, but this time let Jace be present,” I answered.
He moved his hand to my head and brushed my hair back gently.
“That’s so easy to do, after all, he has been dying to spend some time with you,” he answered and then linked his hand to mine as his eyes turned back to Jace.
“Jace,” I whispered with a smile.
“Yes,” he answered and then looked at everyone.
“Let’s all go, right now I too could really use a drink after such a long day,” he said loudly.
“Finally, Jace shows himself,” Harvey mocked playfully and then extended his hand to Edith, who walked to where he was and took it.
“Shall we all go now?” I asked with a smile.
“Yes,” Snow responded and then went to his car.
“We will ride with him to keep him company, if you don’t mind. He may have chosen you, Alpha, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel bad for leaving her there all alone,” Harvey said and then walked to his car with Edith, getting in.
“Was my decision evil and bad?” I asked Jace softly.
“No, our decision to make you suffer was way harder than this. To be honest, we all deserve to be locked up in that territory,”he answered as I gave his hand a tight squeeze.
“Let’s go home and toast to new beginnings, that way we can close the chapter of our terrible past,” I said as he nodded.
“Let’s do so,” he answered and then wrapped his arms around me as I rested my head against his chest, feeling very calm and very much happy over my decision.