I hurried through the corridors, heart pounding in my chest. The guards were distracted by Kaluss orders to search for the would–be awassin, making it easier for me to slip past unnoticed.
When I arrived at her apartment, 1 knocked urgently. “Mom, it’s me. Open up.”
The door cracked open just enough for her to see my face before she pulled me inside quickly, checking the hallway before closing and locking the door behind me.
“Where the fuck have you been for the past few days? Ive asked you hundred times already–this is the last time I’m asking I demanded, not bothering with pleasantries. The urgency of the situation left no room for them.
She turned to face me, her expression guarded. “I do not have to report to you; I am your mother, and I have the right to be wherever I want to be,”
“A messenger was sent from the Ironvale Pack. Kaius had assembled soldiers to search for the offender. I can only help you if you talk to me. I held her gaze, willing her to understand the gravity of the situation.
Something in her demeanor changed–a subtle shift from defiance to resignation. “I had been so close, she whispered.
The admission hit me like a physical blow, though I’d already suspected the truth. “I don’t believe you; how did you do all that? How did you even get into the room so easily and slip the drug into his drink?”
“I had some help,” she admitted, moving to sit down, the weight of her actions seemingly heavier than her physical injury.
“Who?” I pressed.
“That I cannot tell you.” Her voice was firm, protective even in this moment.
“Do you think I’ll expose you to Kalus? Do you think I am one of them now? The hurt in my voice was genuine. After everything ́ we’d been through, how could she think I’d betray her?
“No. It is safer for you this way, you don’t have to know anything. You came looking for answers, and you got it. I didn’t do all that on my own.” She winced, adjusting her position to ease the pain in ber injured arm.
“Why? Mother, why did you throw all of these away? You were finally tree; why did you choose to do this? The words tumbled out, desperate for understanding.
Her eyes, so like my own, hardened with a resolve I’d glimpsed only rarely. “You have no idea how many times I had prayed to get chance at freedom just so I could get back at him. You thought I dreamt of freedom, but that wasn’t just it. If I wanted freedom, I wanted it only for one reason, and that was to watch Alpha Alaric of the Ironvale Pack die very slowly, I had been so close, and then… I failed, and I might never have this chance again; I had lost
The vehemence in her voice shocked me, though I understood it. After what Alaric had done to her the years of abuse, the stolen youth, the terror–her thirst for revenge was more than justified.
You will have to leave this pack; I’ll make a plan,” I said, already thinking of possible escape routes.
“No, Elowen, don’t try helping me.” She reached for my hand, her grip surprisingly strong
“How could you ask me to do nothing? I pulled away, frustration building.
“Because I love you.” The simple declaration hung in the air between us.
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Chapter 87
willing to accept any alternati
Ill get you out of here, I insisted, unwilling
She sighed, a deep, house–weary sound. Tlowen, listen to me. I know haven’t been the best mother; I know there are many things did wrong, and I was selfish for not thinking about you, but you were always on my mind. I knew that you had also been so close to leaving me too; I knew about the bathtub… Incident.”
1 froze. “How did you know?
“I overheard them. Just when I was snooping around to get all the libormation 1 needed to penetrate into the Ironvale Pack. Kaiui seemed to be sorry; that had been the only reason I didn’t go for him first.”
These words stunned me. She’d known about my suicide attempt–laj, shord also spared Kalus because he’d shown regret?
“It wasn’t fault, that was all on me,”
,” I said quietly, unwilling to have her blame Kaius for that, at least.
I should never have told you about my past; I should have known it was too much for you to bear.” Guilt shadowed her features.
“Mom, please don’t take the blame on yourself, this is my fault, my mistake.” I moved closer, needing her to understand that her trauma wasn’t responsible for my actions.
“It had so saddened me. I was going to make them both pay… for everything they did to us, but I failed.” There was defeat in her voice now, the fire of revenge dampened by failure.
“No, you didn’t; you tried your best, and you are far from being a failure. I squeezed her hand, the role of comforter strangely Teversed between us.
- Can you do that Her tone had changed, taking on a solemn quality that sent
“I want you to do this one last thing for me, Elowen. a chill down my spine.
“Anything, mother, I promised, unprepared for what she would ask.
“I want you to walk out of here and pretend like you know nothing; no matter what happens to me, I want you to remain quiet; do not give yourself out; this is the only way I would be happy wherever I am; I would know you are… alive,”
1 shook my head firmly, “Nonsense. I’ll be back by morning with a plan on how to get you out of this pack; all you have to do is stay in here, don’t come out, and don’t let anyone In.”
She
opened her mouth to protest, but I cut her off. “I’ll be back.”
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