EPISODE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE
THEME: The rewards
MOON STONE FORTRESS : AT THE BORDER
Jaylen’s stared in shock, his breath unsteady as he watched Juno swim in the pool of her own blood. By this time, the Fortress warriors no longer wasted any time as the launched a counter attack with bullets and arrows flying through the air. Jaylen ran through the chaos to meet a lifeless Juno and unconscious Jayden.
“Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!” Liam barked out orders to his men when he saw that they were being defeated by the Fortress warriors. “No-” His voice trailed off as several bullets pierced his back, Rex had been the one who fired it.
The Rogues retreated with their wounded bodies after Liam’s collapsed to the ground with his body laid cold and his eyes staring out into the dark night sky.
“Juno! Juno! Talk to me please.” Jaylen growled.
Rex ran towards Jaylen, he had to be protected amidst the chaos. “Jaylen! Get up man. We have to leave here.” He pulled at him.
Jaylen sniffed, shaking his head in disapproval. “No, no, we can’t leave the both of them here please.”
“I know, we would take them in I promise. Let’s head back first.” Rex assured him.
“Help your wounded brothers to our homeland and the bodies be carried too!” Zeta Ragnak ordered.
Outside the enormous gate of the Fortress, bleeding men were laid on the ground, some dead and others seriously injured. Jaylen almost passed out as he had never seen such flow of blood in a single spot all his life. His internal walls and body were shaking.
Rex helped him back to the pack house as his body was all soaked in blood. The whole pack house members were on their toes as the men walked in.
“Jaylen! Jaylen! Oh my goodness, are you injured?” Gabriella and Meagan fussed over Jaylen, as others had a worried look on their faces.
“He is fine. He just got stained by someone else’s blood.” Rex explained.
They had their brows raised in suspicion when Sebastian walked in looking all gloomy about fifty minutes after Rex brought Jaylen into the living room. Jaylen sat up on the couch with a dazed look on his face.
Rosalyn ran towards Sebastian. “What’s going on? None of them is saying anything.” She pointed at the two men looking blank in their seats.
Sebastian took in a sharp breath as he tried to steady himself. He thought of how to break the sad news to the family of the tragedy that had befallen them.
“Say something Sebastian! You all can’t go quiet and expect us to be fine.” Claire screamed in their ears.
“I am sorry to announce this to you all but Juno is dead while Jayden who was taken to the infirmary after his collapse has been said to be disabled and would no longer be able to shift or walk ever again.” He told them.
“What?!” The exclamation bounced all through the room.
“Please…no please…tell me that’s not true.” Meagan demanded in a shaky tone.
“I am sorry aunt, they found silver bullet poisoning in his system. It made his whole body weak and has rendered his wolf useless. He would be confined to a wheelchair from now on.” Sebastian explained what they had told him at infirmary.
The room remained quiet as everyone got lost in their thoughts. Jaylen stood up eventually and headed towards the room. Adriel and Rosalyn tried to console both Meagan and Gabriella along with Mrs swift. Every member of the pack house mourned bitterly. Sebastian nodded at Rex for them to leave.
“You can leave first.” Rex mouthed to him as his eyes remained on Claire.
“Alright.” Sebastian responded in exhaustion as his eyes landed on Rosalyn. Seeing she was extremely preoccupied he left without a word.
“Claire. Claire.” Rex called out gently to her. She was staring blankly into space.
Claire jolted out of her thoughts. She sniffed and wiped the tears off her face. “Yes?”
Rex held out his right hand for her to hold. “Come with me.”
Claire took his outstretched hand and she followed him outside. The moment they stepped out of the house, Rex pulled her in for a hug. Claire let out a blissful sigh as she leaned into him.
Tears streamed down her face. “I know I wasn’t exactly nice to Juno…but I never wished for her death. And there is Jayden getting paralyzed too. We were never on good terms, we were…always at each other’s neck but I love him. He is my brother after all.” She sobbed into his chest.
“I know, I know.” Rex mumbled as he sooth her back.
Claire eased herself out of his embrace and she stared up at him. “Thanks for saving the Fortress and for listening to me.”
Rex shook his head in acknowledgment. He stared at the ground with his hands in his pocket. “I know this might not sound ideal at the moment. But do you mind letting me know when next you would like for us to have that dinner? I mean…the one-”
“I will definitely take you up on that!” She interrupted him sharply with a sweet smile appearing on her face.
“Sounds like a plan.” Rex mused. “See you later. Be fine.” He smiled back at her before he walked away
Even though the situation on ground wasn’t that good but Claire jumped in excitement. She put up a gloomy look on her face when she remembered Jayden and Juno again as she returned to the living room only to meet an empty room.
Claire took in a deep breath as she made her way to her room.
*********************
THE NEXT DAY
Jaylen and Rosalyn sat at the lake watching the water flow gently. The whole pack house were mourning the death of the young lady that had spent her childhood in the presence of them all. Juno wasn’t the most friendliest but she was full of life and also very good at what she does.
Juno had served as a high ranked warrior despite her age. Life had been fairly good to her. But her death had resulted into some of her secrets getting into the open. One of the maids had admitted to Rosalyn in the kitchen that Juno and Jayden had been involving in some meetups most nights especially when she still lived in the pack house or nights when she came around.
“I had no idea she had such feelings towards Jayden.” Jaylen said.
Rosalyn sighed as she shrugged. “She must have kept it to herself considering the kind of person Jayden is.”
“She was cutting herself, Rosa. I didn’t know she was battling her depression so bad. Her need for attention would make her go to any length.”
“I can’t blame her, she was just a woman who fell in love with the wrong person.”
“Rosalyn!” Lorelei called out as she walked towards her.
Rosalyn stared back as she stood up immediately. “Lorelei. Is everything okay?”
“Sebastian has been calling you and…he said you weren’t picking. He is dead worried about you.” Lorelei replied.
“Oh, I dropped my phone in the room. I will get it real quick and get back to him. Excuse me, Jaylen.” Rosalyn pat his back as she sprinted off.
Lorelei stood awkwardly uncertain of what to say to Jaylen. “Hey.” She mumbled.
Jaylen shook his head to acknowledge her presence. “Hey. What are you doing here?”
“I came to say hello to Claire.” She replied.
“Alright.” He grumbled with a sort of finality in his tone.
Lorelei was about to take her leave but instead she turned around and knelt next to him. “Hey Jaylen-”
“Lorelei, I want to be-”
“Jaylen, pease don’t say anything yet.” She paused and only continued when he nodded his head for her to go on. “This past days that we have been apart, it has been a reflecting moment for me and I realize how selfish I have been since the beginning of our relationship. And I am really sorry from the depth of my heart for hurting you. Believe me, I love you Jaylen and I don’t want to lose you. I promise, I will wait and be of my best behavior baby. Please.” Lorelei kissed him quickly on the cheek before running off.
Jaylen blinked slowly as he let the smile spread out on his lips. He had missed her too and couldn’t wait to be back with her.