Book Two - Ch.# 33

“Two packs aligned under her rule,” Allison continued. “An accumulation of two Alphas, the Saintess

and a Luna. Each one more monstrous than the last. A collection that broke our sacred traditions,

and dealt with those who would not join them via irrefutable orders... and death.”

She then pointed to another painting of four people; the Saintess with her silver hair and violet eyes,

and a fearsome-looking male next to her with black hair and green eyes. Then a male with dark

brown hair and molten gold eyes... and a girl who seemed depicted as an angel with shadow-like

wings. Her brunette hair willowed in the wind as her eyes shone like sapphires.

“Their spawn continued their legacy, but it wasn't until the Saintess’ death that a revolution was

finally able to begin. A revolt against their rule and one to reinstate the ways of old. A war that

lasted nearly fifty years. The Great Silver War.”

"...Was this the same war that the suppressors were designed for?” I asked.

She looked at me in surprise. “You know about the suppressors?”

And I fumbled, unsure how to answer. Kieran hadn't told me if it was meant to be kept secret or not.

“I uh... I've been doing some reading at the packhouse. I think I remember something about them.”

"Oh... well, yes. It was thanks to our invention of them that our pack rose up to become the

strongest rivalling force against The Mist. It was actually my father who devised the plan to finish

them. Once and for all.”

“The Mist'....? That sounded familiar. Hadn't someone said something like that to me recently? What

was it again? The... “Winter Mist’? But... where?

However, I was more focused on what Allison was saying. Because, as someone who had firsthand

experience with the drugs, I felt a little sick hearing how she idolised its usage. Not to mention it

was yet another reminder of Sterling, him being the first to tell me of Victor's success in war.

"We've had peace for over a decade now,” she said. “A blessing from our Great Mother to tell us

we've done her work. We eradicated the false believers and restored true order. Just as it always

should have been. But... we unfortunately lost my mother in the process.”

“Kieran never told me what happened to her,” I said. “You don't need to talk about it if it's too

difficult. I know it was hard on you.”

But she bit her lip as if trying to keep a strong face. “Some things in life really show the malicious

nature within. The Devils of the Mist were a testament to that very fact. That is why we have their

pictures here; a reminder of the evil out there so we never forget.”

And I left it at that, not wanting to pry further to upset her.

The topic was already incredibly uncomfortable even before her mother was brought up. I'd

definitely had my fill of learning history for one day and it was enough to give me a headache, the

gory nature of it all being deeply disturbing.

However, it seemed Allison wasn't quite ready to move on.

“Traditions are important, Raven,” she then said, grabbing my hands. “There are reasons why we

have a strong male hierarchy within the pack, why all rogues are to be treated as scum. Order is only

maintained through keeping our values alive. This is what we are taught and what we will teach to

our children one day.”

“Allison, you're hurting my hand...,” I said softly.

Her grip was getting stronger, almost too strong to pull away. The topic had clearly upset her

without me intending it to and her eyes locked onto mine intensely.

"When people claim they are embodiments of the Goddess and seek power through mocking our

ways... that is when doom will befall us. And it almost did. Back then, the Devils were almost

invincible, capable of impossible feats of strength, of swaying the minds of others, of defying

death..."

“Allison...” I said again.

But she held on.

“Even blessed silver was not enough to purge them from this world,” she continued. “Because that is

how the Saintess got her name. Not for her hair, though the colour was apt... but for her ability to

survive multiple wounds by weapons crafted in our most lethal substance. No person should survive

such a thing. Her insanity alone saw the death of her own Alpha by her hand, all in order to take

that title for herself. She made the entire world fall to their knees before her in submission.”

“Allison... please.”

“My mother had to die in order for the Devils to be finally extinguished. We live in a world of peace

now thanks to her sacrifice.”

But it seemed there was no getting through to her and, though I didn’t want to, I ended up doing

something I told myself I never would.

.l yelled at her.

I yelled at the girl who was Kieran's little sister.

“Allison, enough!” I shouted. “Let go of me. Right now.”

And, finally, it looked as though some sense came over her.

She blinked a few times and looked down at our hands, my fingers having turned pale from being

constricted in her grip. If I'd forced my hands away, it would have caused her harm, and that, I knew,

would be far worse than simply yelling.

"Oh... I'm sorry,” she said quietly. “I sometimes go on a bit of a rant.”

“A bit’ seemed like an understatement for what that was, but I was relieved when she finally released

me nevertheless. It was as if she had no understanding of just how terrifying she had become

merely seconds before.

As if everything was... normal.

“I appreciate you coming with me today, Raven,” she then smiled brightly. “I really enjoy your

company. Makes it easy to not dwell on the negative things.”

And though that nagging in my head was now screaming at me, the feeling of discomfort

strengthening tenfold, I did my best to still push it aside.

Her mother's death had broken her. Kieran had already told me this. Clearly, the girl needed a

therapist but that was not something for me to tackle. For now, all I could do was be respectful and

understanding. I knew only too well what it was like to carry trauma and she had just lost another

family member she loved

And so I didn't bring it up, playing the situation off as if everything was fine. But after I did

eventually leave the temple that day, my head was filled with only more questions.

More than what I had arrived with.

“I have a surprise for you,” Kieran said the next day.

He'd arrived home later than normal and cancelled our training. I hadn't thought anything of it as

he had been busy all week thanks to Sterling.

“Oh?” I said.

He walked up and kissed my hand tenderly, sending those sparks through me.

“Wear something nice,” he said. “Ill come grab you in an hour.”

And a smile spread across my lips, not having expected anything special to happen today. Truthfully,

the whole week had been horrific and a distraction with Kieran was the best thing I'd heard in so

long.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

But he shook his head. “It's a surprise, Rae. I can't tell you.”

He let go of my hand and, with one final wink, left me to get ready.

And I made sure not to disappoint.

I fished out a new dress for the occasion, paying extra special attention to my looks. Which, by the

time Kieran had returned, I knew had paid off. Because his stare trailing down my body alone was

enough to send a shiver through me.

“You're the most beautiful girl I've ever met,” he said, slowly walking over.

I stared up at him lovingly as he encircled me in his arms, proceeding to place a kiss on my lips. It

made me want to suggest skipping whatever he had planned and spending our night inside instead.

Just the two of us as we did... other activities.

But, alas, he seemed determined to go.

“We're going to be late,” he said, pulling away. Much to my dismay.

“Late for where?”

However, he just smiled at me secretively. “You'll see.”

And see, I did.

Because as we pulled up in the car a few minutes later, outside a familiar looking building, I was

reminded of the words Kieran had said to me on my first day here.

“Rose & Thom...," I said quietly, feeling that same pull towards the place. “Your favourite restaurant.”

“You remember,” he said, a little surprised. “I did say I was going to take you here.”

Yes... he did say that. But in amongst everything happening, it had completely slipped my mind. It

had felt like there was always something going on, too busy to actually go.

“Come on,” he said, opening the passenger door for me.

And he helped me out of the car, holding my hand as we walked inside one of the most eloquent

looking establishments I'd ever seen.

It was obvious that they had gone to great lengths to accommodate us. Even to the point of

ensuring our privacy by seating us in an exclusive area. Everything was perfect down to the most

minute detail.

Just as amazing as Kieran had said.

We enjoyed our food, laughing and smiling properly for the first time in what felt like forever,

forgetting about everything else we'd left behind at the packhouse. It was so easy to be captivated

by everything he did, every different way he made me feel. He was a lifeline in my life I'd so badly

needed, one that I adored. Never before had I felt like this about another person.

He was mine... my mate.

“Dance with me,” he said abruptly after dinner.

Our conversation had died down and I hadn't expected the request. It was something I had never

done before for leisure... only for work. Dancing had been drilled into me as a skill, a necessity to

enchant men. Doing so here felt... strange.

"Please, Rae..." he said, watching me hesitate with those puppy dog eyes.

Which, of course, I was helpless to deny.

“I'm a little rusty,” I said honestly, remembering it had been a while.

But this didn't deter him in the slightest as he pulled me against him, our bodies starting to sway

slowly with the music playing nearby.

His warmth was enveloping me as we moved, enjoying the company of the other. It felt... natural.

Perfect. A moment in time I wished I could relive forever.

No worries... no stress... just Kieran holding me to him as we danced in a restaurant. Two people

doing something so mundane, so normal. A dream I never would have thought was possible for me.

“Rae...” he said quietly near my ear.

His body rumbled under my touch as he spoke, my head leaning against his chest.

*..Mmm?”

“Thank you for coming to Ashwood with me,” he said. “I don't know what I would have done had

you decided to stay behind.”

I lightly chuckled at that. “You would have been better off probably,” I said honestly. “I only seem to

cause trouble wherever I go.”

But he pulled away at that, cupping a hand under my cheek so I would look up at him.

“You don’t cause trouble,” he said, his face serious. “And I promise you... I'm not going to let

anything happen to you. Ever.”

But the way that he said that, he made it feel as if there was more meaning in his words.

..Did he know about the problems waiting for me? About how I was originally only meant to be

here temporarily?

..About how my father would probably try to kill him if he ever discovered just how attached I was?

“I don't..." I started, unsure if I should ask or not.

Only, he kept talking before I could do so.

..And spoke words I never expected to hear in my life... the first time I had ever heard such a thing.

“This shouldn't be a shock but... I'm so helplessly in love with you, Rae,” he said. “I have been since

the moment I met you.”