Chapter 18
Aurora
I felt my heart flew out of my chest as I processed my Dad’s words.
I gulped the burning taste of fear down my throat as confusion hit me like a ton of bricks.
Cold breeze found its way to my bare body, making me tremble at the shocking news.
Unable to move my body as I was paralyzed by fear, I froze on a spot with widened eyes, contemplating what to do.
I hated that my response to danger was freezing on the spot. Despite how I tried to react to flight, I found myself freezing instead.
Gaining a bit of composure, my shaking hands met my father’s body as I caressed him tenderly, breathing rhythmically and watching him copy my steady flow of breath.
Calmness washed over him as he heaved a deep sigh.
His large gray eyes fluttered open to meet my silver ones and a forced smile played on my lips.
“It’s okay, daddy, you are fine,” I assured, staring deeply into his sad eyes.
His brows raised as he studied me.
“I thought you were supposed to be in your room. What are you doing here?” he asked before coughing weakly.
Words eluded me as I struggled to string them together.
I had to be careful so that Eve wouldn’t be in trouble.
“I sensed…that you might be…in trouble,” I stammered trying to come up with a convincing lie.
My heart fell into the pit of my stomach when he flashed me a suspicious look.
He caught me.
“I’m no Alpha if I can’t tell a lie. Meanwhile, I’ll let that pass,” he said weakly.
I heaved a sigh of relief, muttering a prayer of gratitude.
“How did you know where I was?”
“I figured out you hated the pack hospital.”
A proud smile formed on my face mentally as I blurted.
Just like me, my father hated hospitals.
Even if he was dying, he preferred to be treated at home.
“Smart,” he whispered, looking away as sadness enveloped his face.
“You have to leave, Rory,” he started.
“Why?” I asked, feigning ignorance.
I won’t spill it out. I would craftily pull the words from his mouth.
“Just listen to me on this one. You don’t have to know why I am telling you to leave. It’s for your good,” he swallowed, clenching his jaws hard.
Why wouldn’t he just fucking spill it?!
“But this whole thing of locking me up doesn’t make sense. I’m not cool with the numerous warriors guiding my door day and night when they haven’t done this before. I am sick of staying in my room. I am tired of being a prisoner, I want out!”
“You will live your life soon, Rory. Just give me some time, you won’t have to go through this stress anymore.”
“Why are you confining me? And why is there a deep wound in your chest?” I asked softly, irritated by his secretive nature.
Why wouldn’t he just tell me?
“Just some minor issues…don’t worry about it, baby.” His voice trailed as he searched for excuses to make.
That was it!
“The pack is under a great attack by some unknown enemies and you call that a minor issue?” I didn’t know when the words left my mouth.
I just hoped I didn’t get Eve into trouble.
His mouth flew open in surprise. “Who told you that?”
“Let’s not get to that.” I brushed his question aside tactically. “Why did you keep that away from me? Why are you acting fine when a silver bullet was buried in your chest!”
Silence stretched in the room as we exchanged uncomfortable looks at each other.
“I’m sorry. Your mother and I couldn’t bring myself to tell you,” he started. His voice came out weaker than before.
“Why?”
“Because we don’t want to disturb you. It’s our fight, not yours.”
Despite how convincing he sounded, his words weren’t getting to me.
“It’s not my fight? But why did you warn me against some people who were coming for me?”
He shot me a confused look. “I did?” His eyes dart around as he tries to recollect.
“Oh! That was a nightmare.”
I hit him on the shoulder with a look of disapproval on my face. “You scared me to death.”
“I’m sorry.” He gave me an apologetic look.
“It’s okay.”
Silence filled the room as I thought of what to say to him.
He might be the Alpha, but that doesn’t mean he should take the whole burden.
There must be a reason for the attack.
“Dad?” I called. “What do you think those guys want?”
I didn’t know where I was taking the conversation, but I knew I wanted to help.
“My pack.” His voice quivered as sadness washed over him.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.” He shook his head, staring at the wall in silence.
“I think you should-”
“It doesn’t concern you. My team is finding the best way to take care of this,” he cut me, shoving the rest of the words down my throat.
“In what way?” I couldn’t help my curiosity.
“By getting you out of this pack tomorrow night. You and the others. While we fight, defending the pack. If it’s the moon goddess’ will, we can have our pack. But if it’s the other way round, you will follow your mother to her pack to start a new life.”
A wave of disappointment swept through me as I stared at my father in shock.
All my life, I knew my father was no coward…but this just changed my orientation.
“That’s the big plan you’ve been cooking?” I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice but it wasn’t successful.
“Your big plan is running away? Wow,” I scoffed, looking away from him.
“It’s not Alpha-like but it’s the best way. Four rival packs ganged against us to take us down after discovering our pack was one of the biggest. You know the Alpha King gave us a large amount of land to accomplish us.” he tried to explain, but I got bored.
“Haven’t you tried to negotiate? That would help. Not your sick plan if running away.” Pride oozed out of me as I had a piece of advice.
“And you think we haven’t tried that? We’ve tried everything we can, but they are mightier and more dangerous.” He said in a resigned tone.
I could tell he was out of options.
“You are just a girl. Don’t let this bother you. Leave it to the men. They’ll take care of it,” he said dismissively, earning a growl from me.
I wasn’t just a girl. I would prove myself to him that I was a true Luna.
Happiness fleet in me as an idea dropped on my head.
“Since you said the attackers come in hundreds and they are mighty, why don’t you ask the Alpha King for help? You are under him, he controls the affairs of other packs and it’s your right to go to him when faced with challenges. Ask him to give you more soldiers and help you conquer the enemies.” I blurted in one breath.
Did I just say all that? I’m a fucking genius.
After this ugly incident. I would make sure I get involved in the decision-making of this pack.
I watched as my father’s eyes lit up in excitement, but it soon vanished into thin air.
“What’s wrong?” Confusion clouded me.
I thought I had a brilliant idea.
“The Alpha King is a dangerous man. No doubt, he will help, but his conditions are extreme,” he explained, shaking his head negatively.
“But that was a brilliant one. I shouldn’t look down on you anymore,” he commended, but my heart didn’t swell with joy.
“Dad, this is for the future of your pack, any conditions he gives don’t matter. Do anything to save your pack. Just send him mail since he rarely picks up calls.” I tried to persuade him, but his mind was made up.
Why was he always stubborn?
“People are dying out there and you don’t want to choose this option? You know this is the best and only option for you.”
Anger rose in my chest as he turned away from me.
I wish I could open his head and put some sense in it.
Wasn’t he seeing what was going on?
“Alpha.” His Beta burst in at once, causing me to jump in fright.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
“They’ve got the Gamma. They are on their way. We can’t wait for tomorrow night before we execute the plan. We have to escape now!” His voice shook in fear as he gave my father a desperate look.
“The choice is yours, father. Run away like a coward or seek help from the Alpha King,” I said, turning to leave. “Maybe I should start packing my bags. It’s going to be a long ride.”
“Wait!” He called, grabbing his phone in frustration and typing with trembling fingers.
A thrill of relief swept through me at his actions.
He should have thought of that before now.
Silence filled the room as we waited for the Alpha King’s response.
I hope he doesn’t show up when we are long dead.
My heart skipped a beat when my father’s phone beeped.
That was fucking fast.
Was he expecting our message?
But my brows creased in confusion when my father read the message from his phone silently. He looked like he had seen a ghost as the phone fell from his hands shattering into pieces.
“No!”