I finally release a shaky breath and fall to my knees, but I don't stop watching the gap in the trees where Lukas went. Mum walks over to the fire and drops exhausted into a seat. She stares into the flames but I can also feel her eyes flicking over to where Alistair and I both kneel.
I can't bring myself to turn to look at him. From our fates being tied together with the bond, his history, to the fact that he is now sitting two feet from me with his chest carved open I don't know what to think or do. I know Hades is pure evil but how can he let his own son suffer like this and then leave him to the mercy of the pack after he killed their alpha?
I lift my head when I hear metal scrapping though the trees. Lukas returns with the pack all in their humanoid forms and clothed. Lukas is dragging a cage behind him. His eyes full of anger and resolve. He brings it to the centre of the clearing a few meters from the fire and opens the door.
“Get in.” He says in a flat tone as he glares at Alistair.
Alistair lifts his head. Flicking his hair out of his eyes in a calm, unbothered manner. I realise that his wrists are no longer bound but the exhaustion from his injury has left him too weak to fight or be a threat.
His voice is soft like butter when he speaks and it makes goose bumps rise along my flesh.
“How the roles have reversed Luke.” He smiles and my stomach twists.
He rises slowly. He stops his wince but I see the pain he tries to hide. He moves past me barely brushing my shoulder with the side of his leg. He gets to the cage then crouches down and kneels in the centre.
Lukas slams the door shut. The locks mechanical clicks resonate as Lukas types a code that I can't see into the keypad, sealing it closed.
Lukas then turns to address us all.
“No one is to go near him or talk to him. You are not to heal him with your blood.” He says glaring at me. “Penny, Izzy and Jason you will take it in turns to guard him with 6 hourly change overs.”
They nod and Jason walks over to the log nearest the cage to take the first watch. Penny and Izzy stay by Lukas's side. They stare at nothing with blank expressions. Like perfect soldiers. I don't recognise the pack they are now. How can they be so cold after everything that has happened? My mum is slumped by the fire still with tears sliding down her cheeks. Her eyes are hollow as she watches the flames.
“Alistair?”I ask down the bond. I've left the walls around my mind down and it seems he has done the same. I make sure to keep my expression the same. One of despair, grief and shock.
“Psychi Mou?”His velvety soft voice is like a caress in my mind.
“Your chest-”
“Is fine. Don't take your eyes off Lukas.”
“It is not fine! I can see your fucking heart!”
My stomach roils again at what I did to him and I force down the bile working its way up my throat.
“By all means heal me when you have your powers back. The poison should wear off after about twenty four hours. Until then you need to make sure Lukas doesn't do anything stupid.”
I shift my gaze to Lukas as he strides over to me. Dragging me to my feet by the elbow. I rip my arm from his grasp as soon as I get to my feet and shoot him a glare.
“Who the fuck are you right now?” I ask.
“I am the Alpha of this pack and you will do as I say Krista.” His tone is stern and it pisses me right off.
“I just watched my dad get torn to pieces and my mum has just lost her Moira bonded mate. Have some compassionand stop being a domineering prick!” I turn my back on him and head towards my mum who has gotten to her feet.
She holds her hand out to me and I take it before turning back to Lukas. He stands there flanked by Izzy and Penny and Jason stands at his post. I've never felt more separate from them since the day I arrived at the ranch. The love and warmth they have always shown me is gone.
Since they learned about Alistair and the bond he and I share, they were distant. Then after tonight with Carters and Caleb's deaths, the dynamic has flipped on its head. There's no love, loyalty or warmth in their eyes. Not even for my mum. That realisation hits my like a punch to the gut.
Do they blame us for this? My mum loves them and has been with them for I don't even know how many years. She is their leader. Their rock beside my dad. Alistair said Lukas might kill her and right now in this moment I start to wonder if he is right. Were they only loyal to her because she was Carters bonded Mate? With him gone and the fact she isn't a wolf- what does that make her in their eyes? Did they ever love her at all? The questions and worries fly through my mind along with what this could all mean for my mum and I.
If they don't want us here will they let us leave? I wish for my powers now more than ever. If only to keep my mum protected.
She squeezes my hand and I squeeze hers back. Lukas stands proud before us as he pulls a glass vile from his pocket. The black liquid swirling inside is almost gone. Only one sip remains. I immediately know what it is. My stomach drops as he holds it out to my mum.
“Drink it.” He says softly but his tone is as sharp as a knife.
Mum shakes her head as she pushes me behind her.
