Chapter 115: It''s Over


    “Be quiet. You don’t belong among my kind, you never have, and it’s be tiresome to protect you


    against others. You can be of more use with my daughter and her babies than constantly watching your


    back and shadowing Darrius. I believe it’s where fate always intended to put you. To protect my blood


    in ce of me.” Varro turns to him and heavily ces a hand on his shoulder, his aura emanating sheer


    authority. It’s clear he doesn’t like to be questioned.


    “You want me to live among those that took everything from me?” Jasper almost spits it at him and


    winces at the pressure applied on his shoulder as punishment. I get the vibe you don’t question or


    disobey this one at all.


    My heart aches for my brother though, knowing that at the root of his resistance is an inability to let go


    of his own pain. With good reason. Being all alone among their kind for a decade with only Varro as his


    source offort. To have someone spurring on your sadness with their own. Torn form his own kind


    for survival and left to fester and forget what it is t be part of a pack. Both so focused on revenge and


    he knows nothing else. I get it, I understand, but it doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. My soul still


    hurts at his venomous words.


    “No, he doesn’t. because those who took it all will leave with him. The rest of the pack has nothing to


    do with this, they didn’t know…. Carmen has nothing to do with this. The fates would never have linked


    her to you if they wanted it like this.” I point out, reaching for my brother’s hand in a bid to draw him to


    me but he pulls it away to avoid me. Another cold re and a show of amber eyes.


    “You need toe back to living as a wolf to be able to move on and heal. Jasper, the pack you knew


    back then isn’t the pack you’re hating now. So much has happened and changed. Just give us a


    chance. Take time to see for yourself that it’s not the same as it was.” Colton moves close behind me to


    try and reinforce my sentiment. His genuine need to bring him back into the fold and ept a pack


    member who has gone astray. The alpha in him will always fight to bring our kind home.


    “Whether you agree or not, I am ordering you to stay by your sister’s side until I see fit. Protect my


    child…. Be my eyes and presence. Refusal is pointless.” Varro interjects. “This war ends tonight and no


    one but you will be left to stand and fight if you don’t give a little. My goal was always revenge, but


    before me stands a reason to stop all of it. A future beyond this battle. I can’t win if I lose my daughter


    to satisfy my need for revenge.”


    His words make me falter within myself, a sudden thump to my chest as I blink at Varro, suddenly


    seeing something else in him with just the briefest of words. I have pushed down and tried to ignore


    any feelings I might harbor for this stranger, because it’s a can of worms I don’t want to examine. Yet


    here in a blink of an eye, the fact he is my father is staring me in the face and I’m too afraid to really let


    those emotions break the surface. I don’t know how to process them when I really have never gotten to


    grips with the fact the dad I knew, was never my bio dad at all. Caged feelings, swirling thoughts, all


    swallowed as quickly as they surface so I can ignore them until I feel able to really explore all of it. My


    heart says it’s a betrayal to my dad to have affection for Varro in his ce right now and I’m so


    confused with what I’m experiencing.


    A weird buzzing noise running through us, like loud static, suddenly hits us from behind and sways all


    thoughts from that point. It ripples through in a dramatic fashion, making my skin goosebump and my


    hackles rise. Pulling all focus away from conversations and one another as we all stop, spin our heads,


    to see what and where it came from. It’s a sensation like standing on a metal floor when lighting hits a


    building outside, the after vibrations of intense electricity tickling my skin.


    “What was that?” I utter breathlessly, turning to see that our pack wolves have been affected too and


    are looking around with the same confused curiosity. It wasn’t painful, just something we all felt, and it


    seems to have moved like a wave across the sea of figures.


    “The weapon…. It’s disabled. I can feel a difference. My ability to link is back.” Colton touches my


    shoulder and we both nce at the manor, in the direction of Carmen as a smile spreads across my


    face. Instant tion. I know that the Colton immediately jumps to link the subpack to bring them up to


    speed.


    “Yay, Carmen!! I knew she could do it. I mean, we maybe don’t need it now, but still ….. my girl has


    skills.” I can’t conceal my pride in my sister and suddenly be aware of Jaspers eyes eating into


    the back of my skull and his emotion changing with the mention of her name. It’s a loaded and heavy


    feeling, swirling confusion and pain, and for a second, a pang in my heart tells me Jasper is already


    pining for the mate he refused. He’s fighting himself and I know from experience how much worse


    every passing day gets when your mate is separated from you by choice. His own stupid, stubborn,


    hate, is stopping him from opening his heart. It’s eating at him with just the sound of her name.


    “I give my word that the vampires will not use our weapon against wolves as long as I rule my coven


    from this moment on. My oath is unbreakable, I swear on it. There is no need for your countermeasures


    after tonight. The weapon can be turned off.” Varro’s statement is clear and strong, and my gut says it’s


    truth. I falter in my response, take a breath, and decide for one to trust my gut and believe the words.


    He’s very to the point.


    “So, I guess all that’s left now is for us to deliver Juan, right?” I point out, pushing away every other


    detail and focusing on making this end to our fight a done deal. I can finally see light at the end of the


    tunnel, even if this all feels surreal. Just get the details in order and we can all go home. Take the


    steps, ignore all the emotional issues.


    “Right. Maybe Jasper will more appeased if he personally hunts down that problem, and his men.


    Would that kill some of this hatred in you?” Colton steps towards him and is met with the instant glow of


    ambering eyes, telling him to back off out of his space. Jasper’s bristling for a fight, even if it’s


    misdirected at my mate.


    “You underestimate what is needed to curb my hatred of Santo. Maybe if you and I ….” Jasper snarls


    and I step between them in haste. I know where that tone is heading and Colton is evenly matched in


    fiery temper and willingness to fight when coerced.


    “Enough!” I push Colton back, knowing he’s the less vtile of the two and the one I trust not to react


    to my force in any kind of anger. He obeys with a step back but ces a hand on the small of my back


    and grasps my waistband. It’s his way of saying he’ll haul my ass out of the way should he dislike


    Jasper’s attitude towards me. “Jasper, please. Just go do whatever. Expend some of that energy and


    anger in finding the real enemy. We don’t have the energy for this.” It’s almost a pleading request.


    “I agree. Jasper, take several with you and go find everyst one of those mongrels. Juan Santo and


    the loyal that will be cowering with him wherever they are hiding. I’m bored and want to wrap this up


    and enjoy my evening in a more sociable manner.” Varro sighs as though to emphasize the pint, and I


    find it a little amusing, in a weird way.


    “I’m going too!” Sierra’s unexpected voice rings clear in the night air and disrupts our circle. Her bold


    march pushing us apart naturally as she invades the space and she furiously res me brother down


    so that he’s the one to actually step back and lower his chin, avoiding her direct gaze. It dawns on me


    that this was once his Luna, and he fought in war alongside her.


    He may be consumed with feelings of the negative against many wolves here, but in the face of a


    femme he respected, protected, and knew as his mothers best friend, everything shifts around us.


    “You!…..” Sierra points right up at his nose, a tone much like our mom’s when she was mad at us, a


    look of fierce and a tone that is one hundred percent momma wolf in battle mode. “Your mom would be


    so mad at you right now, you know that, huh? Don’t even get me started, young man. You’re going to


    come with me and find that son of a bitch, and then you’re going to put that damn tail between your


    legs and take a time out to reflect on yourself and everything muddled in that thick skull. You need a


    time out in the solitude chair, to get things in order!” Sierra taps him on the temple with a little


    aggression that startles him, and my mouth drops open at this unexpected interaction. The solitude


    chair was our kindergarten time out for when we misbehaved. Varro smirks and turns away as though


    making it clear he has no issue with his pet wolf being scolded in this manner and I have to swallow a


    snort ofughter at Sierra reverting to the woman who used to visit us and read stories to wayward


    pups.


    “Luna…I …” Jasperpletely caves, almost like that little wolf who hated being told off. Submission


    flowing from him at rming speed, and he hunches his shoulders further as his nose almost touches


    his chest. That ingrained part of a wolf when faced with the hierarchy he grew up following. I never


    thought Sierra could have this kind of effect on him.


    “Luna, nothing! I understand. Your pain, your heartbreak, and your anger. Look at me…… Alora and I,


    we both understand the level of betrayal and hurt. We know what the heartbreak does to your soul.


    You’re not alone in that. You have be so ustomed to holding onto it to fill your emptiness, away


    from your kind and your family. No direction, cut off, cast out, which is pure hell for a Lychan. Your


    loneliness is infused through you in the worst kind of ways and it’s seeping from every pore so that I


    can feel it. Come home to us, Jasper. Where you belong. You don’t need to forget, or let it go right now,


    you just need to take the first small step towards us and know that I won’t let you be hurt ever again. I


    failed you… I failed her; I failed my promise to keep her little ones safe. If you want to me anyone


    then me me for not being strong enough….. hate Juan, me his greed, but don’t me those who


    love you and are offering you a way back. You won’t heal without us, don’t throw away the chance of a


    future that can be happy again, for one day of bloodshed and regret. ”


    There’s heavy silence as she reaches up and traces a single symbolic tear that escapes his eye and


    rolls down his cheek. He coughs to try and cover it, tries to pull back that hardened re to shield the


    emotion she tugged from him. I see it all so clearly. That teen boy I knew, the loving brother, the shy


    awkward wolf who protected me so fiercely; he’s still in there and battling so many internal conflicts.


    She dries it away with a gentle touch, a slight blue glow leaving a faint shadow as her finger moves and


    it seeps into his soul. Her healing touch, her balm, infused with her careful words. I know how powerful


    thatbination can be in times of major distress.


    Colton shifts restlessly behind me, unsure what’s happening and pulls me against his chest. Varro


    raises a brow and cocks his head to the side as Jasper lifts his chin slightly and dares to look Sierra in


    the eye for the first time. Probably the first time in his life, given when she was Luna we were never


    allowed.


    “I know it’s hard. I know there’s a fire inside of you that’s all consuming, and a war that’s twisting it all


    around. Trust me, I know how it feels. I know the loss, take my hand and let me help you find your way


    out of your own hell. It doesn’t have to feel like it does now.” Sierra slides her palm to his shoulder,


    down his arm and glides her hand in his to grasp it tightly. This is where she always excelled as Luna,


    in her ability to be what we needed and find the right way of getting in.


    A mother’s touch, a protective gesture, and Jasper swallows hard and seems to crumble slightly, no


    letting go of that small hand in his.


    I know this isn’t all words. I can see the glow, know the effects of Sierra’s subtle magic and know she’s


    diffusing him, filling him with that aura of warm feeling and security she has used on tearful pups in the


    past. It’s like giving him a couple of shots of liquor and improving his mood for a temporary relief. It’s


    instilling hope that she holds the secret to being free of his own agony.


    “Take her offer. Go find the wolf and his loyal. End this tonight.” Varro is curt and to the point. Shaking


    Jasper out of his odd quiet stance and he seems to visibly straighten himself up as he pulls his hand


    out of Sierra’s. Surprised at his filial behavior. He casts her an odd look, somewhat torn and confused


    and then blinks at me as the steels returns a little. I can see the battle in his eyes.


    “Fine… but you stay here. Pregnant? There’s no ce for you here in that condition.” It’s a hint of


    brotherly love, and I’ll take what I can of it. Even if it’s delivered in such a frosty tone. It’s a ray of hope.


    Jasper wastes no time in polite chat anymore, turns on his heel and with a click of his fingers to lurking


    shadows who instantly materialize. I shudder as several creatures materialize in thin air and take off


    after him, that wreaking smell and vulgar show of pale skin and long fangs. Sierra is hot on his heels


    without hesitation, turning to wolf, and Radar and two of the Luna’s guard immediately follow close on


    her heels without a word being spoken. I know Colton is in all of their heads, directing, giving orders


    and I rx knowing we have our abilities back.


    “Shall we retire to your…… abode?” Varro breaks in, looks up at the darkened manor which seems


    shabby and desertedpared to how it used to look so many months ago. His sarcasm is obvious,


    and I catch that little flex in Colton’s body as he curbs his reaction to someone dissing his childhood


    home.


    “Shall we?” I answer instead and push Colton off, motioning him ahead of me as we turn about, telling


    him to get moving. He does so after a second of stubborn stillness. His eyes cast around to take in the


    scene before us and he grips my hand in his and tugs me close to his side. Always ready to shield me.


    Our wolves are all standing ready, a huge semi-circle which has grown since Varro appeared and I


    catch sight of Meadow in the lineup, eyes aze, poised for the kill at amand. I smile her way


    softly, so d to see her again, to tell her it’s okay and impulsively scan the faces for the rest of the


    subs. They are all here now, watching, waiting, eyes amber and standing in battle mode for the briefest


    of signs. My family all present once more.


    The Luna’s guard follow close behind us and Varro seemspletely unphased to be a lone Vampire


    walking towards this arc of the enemy without any apaniment. It says a lot about his faith in his


    own abilities.


    “Lord.” A dark figure swoops down in front of us andnds with a gentle thud in our path, startling me


    with the almost ninja like intrusion. Tall, dressed in ck tailoring, with undeniable red glowing eyes


    coming at me from the darkness. Darrius. I guess he was never far away. He’s unmistakable even


    sheathed in shadow.


    He steps forward and bends a knee before fluidly moving into a kneel, and lowers his head, lifting one


    arm so his wrist touches his forehead in a sign of respect for his master. It’s obvious that despite his


    arrogant and cold manner, Darrius is a loyal servant to my father and seems he knows how to be


    submissive in front of the right creatures. He still has that noble air ofmand, yet I sense no


    aggression or anything negativeing from him at all. Complete obedience.


    “Stay here, I have no need for your men anymore. Watch for Jasper in case he needs assistance in


    rounding up his charge.” Varro clicks his fingers and motions for me to walk around him. I falter and


    then do as I’m told and arc away from Darrius and around while she stays in that bowing position,


    unmoved at all.


    “As youmand, Lord.” That low husky voice that sends the fear of god through me. Even as a


    Lychan, Darrius scares me. He’s nothing like Varro. I thank my lucky stars Darrius and any like him


    didn’t interject in battle as I really feel our kind are no match for the ones like him. There’s something so


    dark and terrifying about him, that’s not even present in Varro at all. You can feel it in the air around


    him, that he’s the true definition of a creature of the night.


    Darrius stays unmoved when even Varro walks past him and I nce back to see him motionless like a


    statue when we progress all the way to the gate of the Manor. As soon as we are at a distance he


    stands up and takes on the stance of a guard, facing away and doesn’t follow. His weird energy is still


    ebbing around me though and I shudder in a bid to shake it off. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say


    it’s what death feels like.


    “What is he?” Colton is the one to break the tension, aiming his question at me because he is obviously


    feeling it too, and I lean in close knowing fine well that Varro can hear me even if I whisper. Somehow,


    talking about Darrius though, should be done in whispers.


    “They said he’s a Shadow Knight. Some sort of stealth assassin soldier.”Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    “A what?” Colton nches and throws back a wary look over his shoulder at the formidable figure of


    that creepy man. A look of disbelief and yet a frown.


    “A Shadow Knight…. A rare being. Darrius is themander of my elite force of very special, hard to


    find, brothers. A born assassin from an almost obsolete bloodline. He’s the shadow in every nightmare,


    the eyes in the dark that scare you to death. Even for our kind, he’s special. A warrior to the core with


    little to no empathy for any kind of life, but a strong sense of obligation and a good moral code for a


    cold-blooded killer. He has his uses, as do his men. Darrius alone could take on fifty of your kind and


    not even get a scratch. I’m rather proud to have him.” You can’t mistake Varro’s pride in his tone, as


    though discussing his prized collection of priceless artifacts. It’s odd.


    “Leyanne said, that if Shadow Knights fought the war against us twenty years ago, there would be no


    Lychans today at all.” I point out, shivering at the thought and gaining a new respect and fear for that


    figure we are leaving behind. He’s mysterious and yet leaves asting impression.


    “And she’s right. That witch isn’t one to lie or exaggerate. Meddlesome creature, that she is. You can


    thank the fates though that only two dozen of them exist nowadays in all thends. Imand most of


    them.”


    Now that’s a terrifying thought. Two dozen Darrius’s. No thank you.


    Talking of which…or witch. I have no idea why she goes AWOL at the most important times and then


    seems to appear right when we truly need her. She’s weird, in a good way but altogether infuriating that


    she just takes off and goes to do her own thing. Where the hell is she now?


    The words don’t make it out of my mouth as we’re met by carmen at the main door, a look of fear on


    her face as she scans thoseing towards her, then relief at seeing me and Colton. Her eyes move


    past us, to Varro, no shock at seeing him, and then off into the darkness behind him and it’s no


    guessing who she’s looking for. Her mate bond will be telling her he’s close and feeling him in all kinds


    of ways.