Chapter Forty-Two: A Surprise After Dark

Hudson:

Raven slept next to Evie, Evie draping her arms over her protectively. The two of them passed out the moment they got back, the memory of laying down on her made my heart flutter. Her fur had been so soft, her lips pressing into a thin line. Raven dropped to the floor, Stephan wandering in. The outing was going to be a cover, a secret hiding in his shifting eyes.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go out for breakfast, Raven." He asked cautiously, Raven's eyes beginning to well up. "I wanted to take you to our spot." Leaping to her feet, her arms wrapped around his neck. Adjusting the collar around her neck, Evie swung her feet over the edge of the bed. Cracking her neck, her fingers paused on a dusty doorknob. Not wanting to turn it, the door swung open on its own. Tears welled up in her eyes, her eyes fluttering at boxes of stuff from her parents' home. A lump formed in her throat, the labeled boxes haunted her. Opening the first box, her fingers wrapped around a photo where she was smiling with her family. Her fingers trembled, the picture crashing to the ground. Glass spread across the floor, a white towel covered in dried blood fluttered to the floor. Peeking in, horror widened my eyes. This box was a museum of her abuse, my fingers slamming it shut. She sank to the floor, her quaking fingers attempting to pick up every piece of glass. Every attempt to touch her resulted in a hurried slap to the top of my hand, ruby painting floor. Soft sobs shook her body, her fingers curling around the photo. An unknown force knocked the box down, every single record of her abuse tumbling across the floor. Cupping the sides of her head, photos of a bloody and bruised Evie taunted her. The images haunted me, my arms wrapping around her shoulders. Whistling sharply, James came rushing in.

"Burn everything in these boxes!" I yelled furiously, my voice cracking. "This shit is just gathering dust." His eyes fell on the images, his head nodding once. Scooping up Evie, she buried her head into my shoulder. Setting her down on the toilet in our bathroom, she held her hand out numbly. Clear glass quivered in her palms, the despondent expression in her eyes alarming me with each piece of glass coming out her hand. No reaction occurred the moment I cleaned the wounds. Wrapping the gauze around her hand, she rested her head on my shoulder. Tears soaked my shoulder, the boxes leaving the room to our burn pit. James knocked on the door, her important documents in his hands. Seeing her in such a state riled up my inner wolf.

"Everything else but these were a souvenir of her abuse. Why did your parents have all of this? The boxes weren't moved here, they were always here." He explained calmly, confusion written all over his face. "What aren't you telling me?" Evie struggled to her feet, brushing past us both. An intense hurt darkened her eyes, the front door slamming. Attempting to go after her, James put his arm up. Shaking his head, he adjusted his sleek ash gray suit. This type of behavior wasn't like him at all.

"I will not let you go unless you tell me everything you know. I have been kept way too far in the dark." He demanded angrily, a piece of his hair falling in front of his face. "She will be fine. I just saw Grappy flying over her." Swallowing the lump in my throat, he did deserve an explanation.

"My parents hid it from me. I didn't know that they had all that." I urged desperately, hoping that my answer would suffice. "I would have stopped it if I knew. I am wondering the same thing myself. They even sold her off to other alphas." James shook his head, his arm lowering. Taking a deep breath, he passed me some official looking papers. Hatred burned in his eyes, his eyes refusing to meet mine. The folders were thick with an endless tale of some sort, his rare show of emotions throwing me off.

"This is your reason why. Your parents were nasty bastards who wanted her dead along with her parents." He stammered brokenly, tears flooding from his eyes. "They were going to kill her on her eighteenth birthday. They were all fucked up. Did you know that the adults at the time wanted her dead as well? No one wanted her alive. I hate people. I have to go before I blow my top." Rushing off, he ducked into the office. Flipping through the myriad of papers, a thunderous roar burst from my lips. The death order fluttered to the floor, her picture staring back up at me. So everything was true, my heart shattering. A gentle knock alerted me, Evie's slender hand picking up the paper. Bowing her head in shame, her tortured smile showed how she felt.

"They had planned on killing me the day that the vampires attacked." She whispered barely audible, getting on her knees. "I was informed the day before. I was just going to go with them, and let them kill me. The order was to behead me in front of everyone. You must think that I am pathetic. You must know that you can't physically deny the alpha's order. I am so sorry." Her words enraged me, the folder dropping to the floor. Punching the wall next to me, she shrank back. Realizing my actions, an apologetic smile softened my face.

"I hate my parents!" I bellowed darkly, her shivers reeling back my temper. "I wish I could bring them back to life just to kill them again! They were going to take away my mate and let me suffer with their consequences. Why were they so corr-" Her hands cupped mine, her real smile calming me down. A strained laugh escaped her lips, her lips brushing the top of my hands.

"You would have stopped them. I know it." She urged sweetly, my arms clutching her close to my chest. "You would have whisked me away like the white knight you are. I love you more than anything in this world." She wasn't wrong, I would have stopped it even if it meant losing my place in the clan. Maybe we would have been happier living up on a hill in the middle of nowhere, her scent relaxing my tense muscles. Her lips brushed against every inch of my neck, my hands spinning her around. Holding her bump, the thought of her getting beheaded in front of me made me shudder. Kissing the base of her neck, she squirmed in my arms. Lifting up her dress, her hands rubbed the bare belly. The damn thing seemed to be doubling in size every day, my hands feeling for more kicks.

"I can't believe that I am going to be a father sooner than later." I spoke tenderly, watching her face light up. "We have a funeral today, don't we?" Biting her nails, the news brought her major anxiety. Jumping to her feet, she bounded towards the room. It was already set up with Raven's things, a visibly shaken Raven on the bed next to Stephan. A stick rested in her palm, the panicked look on her face turning on Evie's momma bear mode.

"I'm pregnant!" Raven screamed bitterly at the top of her lungs, Evie cocking her brow. "I am already a freak as it stands! What am I going to do?" Evie crouched down to her level, the way she tossed the stick into the wall caused a confused look to dawn on poor Raven's face. Cocking her head to the right, Evie held her palm to her flat stomach. Taking her into a motherly embrace, Raven melted into her arms. This situation changed the direction of their lives, Stephan growing paler by the second.

"If Hudson and I were allowed to be together we would have been in the same boat. We can't keep our hands off of each other." She joked sincerely, lifting up her chin with her finger. "Your heat just came early, that's all. You can become the new secretary and take online courses if it makes it easier. I will always be there for you, I promise." Shoving Evie off, it didn't shock her. Resting her hands on her knees, Evie waited patiently for her to calm down. Evie was the angel we all needed, James leaning on the other side of the door. A curious look flashed in his eyes, his head turning towards me then back to them.

"Why the hell do you care!" Raven snapped hotly, clammy sweat drenching her skin. "I want a private funeral for my mother! No one ever liked us anyway! Why would you!" Evie nudged her shoulder, taking her closest hand. Raven rested her head on her shoulder, Stephan's distant look scaring me.

"Already done with the funeral. It will be just Hudson, Stephan, myself and you." She assured her tenderly, rubbing the top of her hand. "I meant every word I said. We will do anything to help you. I feel like this is my fault. I attracted the murderer here, so please forgive me?" Her face softened, Evie kissing the top of her head. The bed squeaked as she stood up to leave, Raven grabbing her wrists.

"I want to do the ceremony now." She blurted out oddly, fresh tears flooding from her eyes. "She always loved the sun." Evie helped her up, Stephan following close behind. Adjusting his scarlet t-shirt, his arms curled around her waist. Marching past us solemnly, the look in Evie's eyes told me to stay behind. James took me to the office to pass the time, the two of us burying our heads into our work to pass the time. The hours ticked by, a sullen Raven crashing onto the bed. Evie knocked on the door, her eyes falling on the smaller pile of paperwork. Black bags hollowed out her eyes, a deep sigh escaping her lips.

"I am going to take a nap." She whispered through a wall of tears, wiping away her own tears. "I just feel like it is all my fault." Wandering off to our room, James nudged my shoulder for me to follow her. Taking the last pile, he began to finish everything up. Knocking on the door, the door creaked open. A defeated looking Evie opened the door, her head resting on my chest. Tears soaked my shirt, her fingers grasping at my shirt. This was new, her actually not denying her own sadness was refreshing. Embracing her warmly, her sobs grew louder.

"I am happy that they didn't get a chance to murder you." I said randomly, meaning every word. "I am thankful for every day you are in my life." Her wet eyes gazed up at me, my lips pressing against hers softly. Grappy watched from the shadows, his lips pressed into a thin line. Walking off, he slid down the railing. What was that all about?

"I love you." She wept delicately, squirming out of my arms. "I am a monster that deserved to be executed that day. I was nothing but a burden to everyone. I can't even keep that poor child's mother alive! How the hell am I supposed to help everyone else? I am the reason that her parents are dead in the first place." None of this was her fault, fate had simply dealt her a rough hand. Shaking my head, the weight of the world seeming to be on her shoulders. My lips parted to speak, her body collapsing into a heap. Panic gripped me, my arms scooping her up. Feeling her pulse, it was still steady. Laying her down, Grappy skidded in. Pushing me out of the way, his hand hovered her heart.

"This isn't good." He explained calmly, hiding the concern in his eyes. "Her reaper side is taking a serious toll on her body. You need to go get a certain flower to counter-" A puff of black smoke stole our attention, Death appeared at the foot of her bed with a basket of onyx roses. Running his hand through his hair, he pulled out a mortar and pestle. Ripping off a bunch of petals, he poured some ruby dust into the gray marble bowl. Crushing it all together, my eyes watched with curiosity.

"I am making her the cure that revives her energy. Since her body is mostly living, the shadow of death will take her energy after every full moon." He commented gently, cutting his palm. "I am partially responsible for these kids, so I am required to take care of them. I want to take care of them, let me correct that. Just get out of the way." Pouring his blood into the bowl, my breakfast threatened to visit me once more. The rotting stench of his blood nearly broke Grappy, vomit flying up his throat into the nearby trash can. Wrapping his hand with a yellowed fabric, he adjusted his ruby velvet suit. Opening her mouth, he poured the mixture down her throat. Closing her mouth, her body wanted to reject it. A couple of minutes later, the liquid finally went down her throat. Hovering his hands over her body, a ruby glow shimmered on the surface of her skin.

"You guys need to leave, so I can work in private. I will call her when she is better, so off with you." He ordered sternly, an invisible force knocking us out of my room. The door locked behind us, Stephan running up to me.

"I feel so stupid for ruining Raven's life." He blurted out awkwardly, my hand motioning him towards the office. "Come with me. I need a distraction." Walking into the office, Theros was already in my chair. Did this guy not know boundaries? Smoothing out his plush ruby velvet robe, his white wool shirt fluttered in my office's air conditioning. His slippers rested on my desk, a scoff leaving his lips the moment I knocked them off.

"Get out of my chair." I growled through gritted teeth, my brow cocking. "What brings a disheveled Theros to my office?" Fixing his hair, he brushed past me. Pinning Stephan to the wall, an invisible wall kept me from getting to him. Banging his head against the wall repeatedly, my orders for him to stand down fell on deaf ears.

"How dare you get someone pregnant so young! You had your whole future ahead of you." He screamed venomously, Stephan jamming his knee into his groin. "You little shit!" Tumbling back, Stephan knocked him back into my shelves. Banging his head against the thickest section, my hands waving around for them to stop. Books crashed to the floor, my fingers rubbing my forehead.

"I am not sorry for a damn thing." He retorted bitterly, kicking his brother square in the jaw. "I love her and will support her by any means necessary. It doesn't even matter anyway. The vampires still hate me. So what's one more screw up?" My breath hitched, he sounded like the male equivalent of Evie. Theros' fingers wrapped around his throat, the floor cracking as he slammed his brother into it with full force. The door burst open, a wheezing Evie marching over to the two of them. Peeling them off of each other, the wall cracked the moment she slammed them both into the wall.

"I am disappointed in you, Theros." She shouted furiously, banging him into the wall repeatedly. "If you can accept me, you can accept your brother. He didn't screw up. Don't vampires go into heat, too. I will stop being your friend to protect him. You have no right! He is already an outcast. Face it, the purebreds won't even invite him to a damn ball. You have no right! People like us have to fight to survive! My own people wanted to kill me. The day your parents attacked, my execution was that day. They made up some fucking treason charge, and didn't give me a way to deny it." Dropping them both to the floor, guilt gnawed at Theros. The secret was news to him, my heart breaking at his reaction.

"Stephan, I will support you no matter what." Theros uttered simply, his teary eyes turning towards Evie. "I am sorry that you had to go through that but why didn't you tell me? I would have rounded up Hudson to save you along with me and I would have sheltered you guys at my home. No one deserves to die for being different. I am sorry, little brother. Take this." Tossing a small book of photos into her hands, happy tears flooded from her eyes. Stephan leaned against the broken wall, a long exhale pouring from his lips.

"You saved all of these pictures." She wept softly, stopping at the picture of them sitting together on the bloody table. "I remember this day like it was yesterday. They were especially mean to me that day and you insisted on running away with me that day. We both got into so much trouble but it was worth it." Her real smile lit up her face, the white summer dress her thirteen year old self wore was painted scarlet. Theros wore one of his typical suits, his hair cut around his shoulders. Matching bracelets with charms hung off of their wrists, the cuts all over her body the only thing throwing me off. Theros leapt to his feet, flipping it to the last page. My heart fluttered, the image of their daughter playing with her in her wolf form causing her face to brighten to her real smile. Hugging him in one of their usual hugs, it was nice to see them getting along.

"Send me the bill for that." He laughed nervously, pointing to the obvious damage. "I am so sorry for all of that." Motioning his hand in a circular motion, a fit of laughter burst from their lips. Her laughter twinkled in the air, Raven wandering in. Her hands crossed, her head bowing in shame. Theros sauntered over to her, her body quivering like a leaf in a violent windstorm. Hugging her tightly, her arms hung limply by her side.

"Welcome to the family, Raven." He chirped cheerfully, Stephan smiling warmly to himself. "You will always be welcome in my home. Don't be sad. A new life is being created in you, such is the miracle of life." Refusing to look at him, he lifted up her chin with his slender finger.

"I promise to protect you both no matter what." He continued earnestly, spinning her around. "Now let's celebrate." Releasing her, she stood there awkwardly. If I am being honest, Theros could be a lot. He scared me the first time I met him, all of watching with childlike wonder as he snapped his fingers. Black shadows danced around in the purple rays of the sunset, Stephan wrapping his arms around Raven's still flat stomach. Tears welled up in her eyes, Stephan wiping them away. Young love was so sweet, the claws of life not poisoning it quite yet.

"I am glad everything worked out." Evie bragged gleefully, her finger raising in the air. "I am glad. Today has been a long day, so how about some tea and snacks?" Her polite smile hid her internal agony, Raven hooking onto her arm. The two of them chatted pleasantly, Theros nudging my shoulder.

"We are all blessed to have our Evie, aren't we?" He teased playfully, his relationship to me like the brother I never had. "Although she did some damage." Laughter thundered in our throats, everyone calling for us to come downstairs. Theros was right, all of us were blessed to be in Evie's light. Running downstairs, Evie leapt into my arms. Her scent relaxed my muscles, her lips kissing mine feverishly. My heart skipped a beat, her hands cupping my face. Shivers of pleasure shot up my spine, her touch sending my wolf into a frenzy. Locking lips with her equally as passionately, everyone groaned. Sitting at the kitchen island, she beamed with pride the moment I pulled her onto my lap. Resting my chin on her head, my inner wolf was thankful to have her in my life. Thank you Moon Goddess for saving her from a dark fate.