Chapter 93: Chapter 31

HALEY

Virgil remains kneeling on the ground, clutching his chest, while Jason attends to him. I’m swiftly picked up and whisked away. Uncle Ryan places me on my bed, kisses my forehead, and tucks me in.

“I’m so sorry, Haley,” he says. “I understand how you’re feeling right now and I know that nothing anyone says will make you feel any better. I’m going to let you rest.”

I initially think I’m too overwhelmed with emotions to sleep, but it turns out to be the opposite. Exhausted from the whole ordeal, I quickly find myself drifting off to dreamland.

I wake up to a knock on my door.

“Haley?” Kenna gently calls my name before opening the door.

“Hi, Kenna. Come on in.” I wipe the sleep from my face, but the heartache creeps in and tears begin to spill.

Kenna sits beside me. “Haley, it will all work out, you’ll see. I’m sure you can take it back,” she tells me as I cry into my pillow.

I shake my head. “No. It is as it should be. Thank you, Kenna, but please go. I need to be alone right now.”

She gently runs her fingers through my hair. “I’m going to get you something to eat. Do you want me to get Glory?”

I shake my head. “No, she’s with her mate. They need time together. I’ll be all right eventually.”

Kenna hands me a tissue. “I’m all ears if you need to talk. I think Jason is on guard duty with him now.”

“Go be with your mate, Kenna. I’ll get over it. I’ve known this was going to happen, I just didn’t know how hard it was going to be.”

“Well, I am not a seer or anything, but I do know he needs to…”

“Kenna, he did it out of love. He knew it had to be done and he was strong enough to do what I couldn’t. I fell for him when I was fifteen. I’ll always love him, but I have to let him go. We both know that I’m meant to find the alpha heir. I just hope that whoever this guy is, he’s half as wonderful as Virgil.” I sit up to blow my nose.

Kenna hands me another tissue. “You slept for a long time. Are you sure I can’t get you anything?”

I reach out and give Kenna a small hug. “I appreciate it, but I’m going to get up. What’s done is done and I need to get my head in the right place. Thank you for being here for me.” I pull back and wipe at my face.

Kenna gives me a sort of smile. “I’ll leave you alone. I was worried about you. I can see you’re a lot tougher than I thought.” She gives me a small wave then closes the door behind her.

I take a hot shower, then toss my wet hair into a messy bun and throw on my workout clothes. It’s after noon so I grab some lunch then force myself back to the training center. People watch me as I walk by, but I ignore them and go straight to a bag, strapping on my sparring gloves on the way. I start off easy, then get harder and harder.

A set of hands holds the bag and I look up into Virgil’s soft brown eyes. It doesn’t hurt anymore, but it still fucking sucks! “I’m glad to see you’re up,” he tells me and I start punching again.

“Same to you. Are you okay?”

“I’m pretty bummed out. I hoped I could be your mate, but we both know that the alpha heir is the lucky bastard that gets to have you. You’re even more beautiful than I remember.” I nearly smile at his compliment. “You’re pulling your punches. Swing all the way through.”

“Uncle Ryan is always getting after me for that. It’s good to see you, Virgil. I heard that you were doing some traveling, looking for rogues.” I switch up my stance and start following through with my strikes.

“Much better. Yeah, Martha had the idea. I went along with it because the Moon… Never mind, you would probably think I’m crazy if I told you.”

I stop swinging to look up at him. “The Moon what? You should know me better than that. I would never think of you as crazy.” Virgil grabs the training gloves and leads me a little ways from the bags where we have room to maneuver.

“You’re right, I apologize. The Moon Goddess appeared to me. She told me to focus on those that need help. So that’s what I’ve been doing.”

I envision Virgil talking to different rogues and finding them a pack. I see Martha kissing a guy with an Elvis Presley hair cut. “I believe you. Martha found an Elvis impersonator?”

Virgil laughs. “He’s just a big fan. That’s her mate, Oliver. She’s still trying to convince him to come back with her, but he likes where he is.”

“She likes it there too. They’ll be staying there. Martha will give in, until the Alpha King shows up.”

We continue to train a little longer. When I’ve had enough, he tosses me a towel so I can wipe my sweat, then a water bottle which he shares with me. “Are you in our pack now?”

“For the time being. I wasn’t going to at first, but having a link during the fighting is more beneficial. I’m going back as soon as it’s over.” I understand his need to go back to the Redd Pack. Virgil is one hundred percent loyal. He still feels like Dec saved him, which I guess he did. He saved all of us strays.

If he weren’t already mated, I would think he’s the alpha heir. He’s certainly worthy of it, in my opinion at least.

“I’ve missed you, Haley. I hope my being here doesn’t bother you.”

I shake my head and Virgil and I walk outside. “Of course not. We need all the help we can get. Thanks for convincing Dr. Mason to come. Realta gave up being a Starlight Sister to be able to become Uncle Ryan’s mate. The Goddess Dara is still pretty timid. She doesn’t hang around as much.”

Virgil’s mouth drops open. “Wow. So Realta is the Luna now? Does she have a wolf?”

“She does and yes, she is. I’ve never seen either of them so happy.” We stop at the playground and I sit on a bench that’s shaded from the sun. Virgil takes the seat beside me. “I’ve missed you, Virgil. I would check in on you from time to time. I hope that’s all right?”

Virgil’s arm goes across the back of the bench. “Of course that’s all right.” I relax and lean against him. Virgil reflexively brings his arm around my shoulder.

“Do me a favor and take Jasmin with you on your next trip. Her mate will cross her path much earlier than if she stays here,” I say, his hand stroking my arm.

“I’ll be sure to do that. Where am I going?”

I shrug my shoulders and look up at his handsome face innocently. He already has a place in mind.

He chuckles softly. “Oh, I see how it is.”

I can’t help but laugh too. I rest my head comfortably against his shoulder and look out over the playground where the pups are playing. His free hand plays with my fingers that are resting on his strong leg.

Virgil kisses my forehead and leans his head on mine, enjoying the tranquility of the afternoon.

“I still love you, Moon Flower. I never stopped. I don’t blame you for what happened. I understand why you did it.”

A tear seeps from my eye. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper, then sniff.

“Hey.” He lifts my chin to look at him. “You did what you thought was right. No need to be sorry.”

His thumb wipes away my tear and his eyes travel down to my lips. I start to lick them in anticipation. “Goddess, I’m dying to kiss you.”

I whimper because I dearly want the same thing. He leans in and the thought of the Moon Goddess and the Oracle enters my mind so I turn my head.

“Virgil. I can’t, we can’t. I’m sorry. I do love you, but…”

“No, you’re right. I love you so much,” he says, placing his head back on top of mine. “I love you too much to hurt you. It’s exactly why you left in the first place. We both know that fate doesn’t want us together.”

He turns his head to kiss my forehead. “I don’t know why I can’t resist you.”

“Is it our bond? Are we still connected?” I wonder out loud.

“No, Moon Flower. I don’t know about you, but I certainly felt it break. This is true and honest love. It’s no different than before. See.”

He touches my fingers. “No tingles or sparks, or whatever they’re called. I felt them before when I kissed your head and I almost lost my nerve. Goddess, you smelled so good, I was salivating.”

“You still smell good, maybe not as potent as earlier. Thank you for being strong enough to do it. I see why the other vessels before me didn’t make it.”

Virgil squeezes me tighter. “I wish we could be together. Goddess, I want that more than anything. But I know you’re not just any she-wolf. I know how special you are. I’ve always known.”

Virgil’s head snaps up, then he closes his eyes and grunts. “I have to go, Moon Flower. Alpha Weston is calling all of the warriors.”

“I’ll see you later,” I tell him as he gets up from the bench.

“You can count on it.” He gives me a wink then jogs back to the training facility.

~Haley. I need you at the training center. We need to start planning strategy.~

~On my way.~ I get up and jog to the training center not far behind Virgil.