“What are you-”
“Just don’t talk…” I whisper softly as I wrap my arms around him and bury my head in his neck.
My eyes prickle with tears, and he places his hand on my arm. He doesn’t say anything, but his heart is thundering. I don’t try to look at his face, knowing he needs this moment. I simply rock us side to side, hugging him tightly with my right arm, and with my left, I cup the right side of his face, embracing him protectively.
His hand remains on top of mine, but he raises his other hand, covering his face.
Not a sound escapes him, but I can feel his pain, and I don’t hold back my own, letting the tears I’ve tried to hide fall. It hurts; she was an amazing person. To all.
She was the most compassionate, giving luna. Gone too soon.
I look up, staring out to the centre of the area we are in, my eyes blazing as I call on my power. Removing my hand from his hand, I stretch it outwards, my aura glowing around me as tree roots spring from the ground. I keep the image burning in my mind as I manipulate the roots, merging and forming them until they take on the form of the Luna of this pack. She stands there, legs apart, a smile on her face, holding up two fingers as she often did.
Theo’s turned to see what I’m doing. I clench my teeth, blood trickling down my nose as I raise a platform beneath her statue. I point my finger at the foot-tall platform and begin etching words along it, and Theo says them out loud as I write them.
“Luna Raven Westwood ~ Beloved Mate, Mother, Luna & Friend to all. Gone but never forgotten.” His voice trembles as he says the final word. “Fuck.”
He looks up at me, his eyes glittering with tears, and I tilt my head. “You lost your mama. I’m so sorry,” I whisper, my voice breaking.
“Yeah, it fucking sucks,” he says, nodding as he sits up and pulls me onto his lap. “It fucking hurts so goddamn much.”
I wrap my arms around his neck as he holds me under the moonlight, in the aftermath of destruction and devastation.
Because the truth is, even when the war is over, there’ll be those who survive, and they are the ones who will continue to hold the candle of hope.
My eyes open,and I realise it’s pouring down; the tree above is shielding me from the rain, but I’m shocked I didn’t hear the crackle of thunder either. My heart hammers, realising I’m all alone.
“Theo?” I call.
No answer.
No… He wouldn’t leave tonight, no! Not when his mama just passed. I stagger to my feet as I whisper a spell. I’m not sure how long it’s been, but I feel a bit better. I won’t be able to track him, not with his abilities, but I can teleport to him.
I can…
I close my eyes, focusing on the spell. A portal opens, and I step through quickly, unable to keep it open without any herbs or crystals to help. I fall onto the muddy ground and realise I’m in the midst of the destroyed forest at the edge of the pack territory just before the barrier.
I can’t see him, but he has to be here.
“I know you’re here,” I say into the emptiness. “I knew you were going to leave, but I never thought you’d go now. Why?” I ask the silence.
I look around me, the rain drenching me and lightning flashing in the sky above me.
“Theo, please…” I whisper.
He appears out of nowhere, a few feet in front of me. He’s holding a bag, still wearing what he was earlier. “Nothing gets past you, huh… I’m sorry, but it’s best I go now, when it will be most effective. If anyone asks, you didn’t speak to me.”
I stride over to him, my heart pounding, and I don’t miss the way his eyes trail over me. Yes, I know I’m pretty much naked, but I don’t care. I stop in front of him, my nostrils flaring. “How dare you leave without saying goodbye?” I say, raising my hand and smacking him lightly across the face.
Maybe not so lightly, as the sound echoes around us and his head snaps to the side.
“Wow, aggressive much?” he asks, but he’s unable to match his usual sarcastic tone.
My tears bleed as one with the rain, and I shake my head. “Go. Go where you need to, but promise me you will return to me,” I whisper. “Because you are… you’re mine, Theo… Tell me you won’t forget me.”
I didn’t think I’d be having this conversation so soon, and it feels like I’m losing my grasp on him.
“I can’t give you anything, Heaven. My path is to walk alone; I need to go places we can’t. I need to work alone to get the answers we need to defeat them. I will do anything it fucking takes, and I will let go of all morals and resort to anything I have to in order to get those answers,” he says, cupping my face.
