Chapter 18: The Truth.

E M B E R

We didn't waste a single moment and drove back to his house. The tension in the car was palpable. He looked calm and composed, but I could tell how anxious he was now. I mean, his best friend got attacked. No matter how hard he tried to stay calm, his tense jaw and every time he pressed my hand told me otherwise.

And Flora— how could this be? Who the fuck attacked them? I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me. If I find the person responsible, I'm going to kill them.

The car stops, and I turn to reality to join the crowd, making it impossible to go further. He lets go of my hand, and I don't mind because the minute he does, we both jump out of the car and rush out. There are anxious and angry cries and murmurs around me when Sebastian takes my hand. I raise my gaze, but it doesn't stop him from steadily leading me through the crowd until we reach the front of his house.

I notice a blond girl crouching and quivering when he blurts out, "Ivory!"

I'm a step behind as I watch her leap into her cousin's arm and hide away. "It's okay," Sebastian murmurs and then looks around, looking for someone not high on emotions to satisfy his curiosity.

That's when one of the warriors I have seen training earlier comes forward. "Alpha!"

Sebastian looks at his warrior and nods to continue.

"After having drinks with us, the Beta came out for fresh air. And then there was a scream—" Ivory takes the cue and lets him go only to notice me and interrupts the narration with a loud cry, "Ember!"

I can feel everyone's eyes on me when Ivory lunges at me with a bone-crushing hug. I gasp, but I hold her as she begins to sob. "It's all my fault. It's all because of me."

I frown and lock eyes with Sebastian before I look back and ask, "What do you mean, Ivory?" She stutters, "I wanted to take a midnight stroll. Flora didn't want to but agreed because of me. We were walking by when there was this hooded figure in the woods. We tried to fight, but he reached Flora first. And then Clayton intervened and got injured." She trembles in my arms, and her sobs become deafening.

I stay mum and comfort her with a head caress and pat on the back when Sebastian clears his throat and asks his warrior, "Anything else?"

I look up.

"Yes, the other person who got injured is a representative of Crimson Shadow."

Flora.

My heart aches.

But I hear everyone gasp around me.

Sebastian looks confused. "That's weird. They don't usually come and mingle with others."

"This time seemed to be nothing extraordinary, Alpha, but then we found out that the other person has a mate belonging to our pack." the warriors inform him.

I see them glancing at an inconsolable Ivory.

Sebastian understandingly runs a hand through his hair and sighs, "Okay!" he then turns to me and says, "Ember," my heart skips a beat, and I blink at him. Our eyes meet. He already looks tired. "Would you mind taking her to her room? I must go and check on Clayton."

I fold my lips and nod in response when he looks away, "Are the healers doing their job? Tell them not to let anything happen to the Beta."

"Yes, Alpha!"

He nods and begins to walk away. Then, I take a look at Ivory and squeeze her arm as I breathe out, "Let's go—" that's when there is a voice, and it calls my name out, "Ember!"

I stop on my track. Does he want to say something to me? But the moment I look up at him, I instantly know it isn't him who called me. Because he looks just as confused as everyone here, just like me. I detach myself from Ivory a bit and turn around, only to see a familiar tall figure walking toward me.

My eyes move to the face.

He looks furious.

I gasp.

"Dex—" surprising me, a pair of arms pull me into a tight embrace. With his build, I can't see anything else, and that warmth makes me forget everything except the reality of our friend being unconscious. His heat and the fact that we are reunited make me let go of my resolve, and I hug him back, slightly sobbing.

We stay like this for a minute, and then Dexter pulls away as he looks down at me and cups my face, "You have no idea how scared I was when you went missing and Flora got hurt. I couldn't see. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. I mean, you two were in danger, and my heart was pounding, and my chest cracked open. I couldn't stay when both my friends have been gone, and then I heard one of them got injured—" I try to suppress my weeping as he wipes my tears and smiles, "I had to come here to see you."

I smile back when the reality of all of it hits me.

It's really quiet out here suddenly, and I turn my head to see the crowd's shocked faces before my eyes move to Ivory, who looks confused, and lastly, they land on him.

Uh-oh! I move away from Dexter and shudder as I look toward Sebastian. "What the fuck do you think you are doing?" He roars and grabs my best friend by his neck.

"Sebastian!" I exclaim and rush between the two glaring men in my life. "Let him go!" "Why? How dare this fucking bastard touch you?" he growls.

"This fucking bastard is my best friend, so let him go now!" I grit as I catch Sebastian off guard by nudging his ribs.

He immediately lets go of Dexter and glances at me.

Our eyes lock, and he looks so furious.

"Care to explain what's going on?" Ivory butts in, slightly steady.

I look back and forth between the cousins and look away, avoiding their intense gazes, when Dexter grabs me by my elbow, making my mate growl in possessiveness. Still, my best friend doesn't seem to care as he pulls me beside him and looks at everyone before he clears his throat and declares, "I'm from Crimson Shadow."

Ivory relaxes and sighs, "Are you here for Flora?"

"Yes, I am. But I am also here for Ember."

Sebastian clenches his fists and looks like he would lunge at Dexter any moment, but for some reason, he doesn't.

"Why?"

Dexter takes a deep breath when I tug on his arm and make him look at me. With widened eyes, I shake my head and attempt to tell my best friend what I do not want him to do, but he slips his hand into mine and gives it a soft squeeze. Ashamed, I look away and purse my lips tight as he proudly announces, "Ember Hemming is the Alpha of Crimson Shadow," gasps and murmurs resume in the air as he grins, "And I am her Beta."

Seriously, uh-oh!

"What?" Ivory blurts out, and tears keep rolling down her eyes. "You have been lying to me." Ivory murmurs and I don't say anything to deny it because the truth has to come out. However, right now, I want to talk to only him. I feel bad and look back at Sebastian. A heady scent of raw betrayal, hurt, and rage is in the air.

"Sebastian, I can explain—"

He turns around and walks away.

It breaks my heart, but then he stops, and the hope returns. I almost smile when he looks over his shoulder, but I shatter at that sharp look in his eyes and the bitterness in his tone. "I'm going to check on Clayton, so make sure you handle whatever is happening here, Ivory."

"Sebastian, I never meant to hurt you—" I exclaim, but he turns around and disappears into the building. My throat feels parched, and no amount of saliva gulping can make it right. I can't think of anything. I can't see anything except those dark empty eyes, and that back turned at me. I can't breathe, and when I force myself to, I end up staggering, only for Dexter to hold me in his arms.

"Alpha, you all right?" his voice travels into my ears along with the things people are whispering around us.

I look up and half-heartedly nod.

He nods and states, "Good because we need to talk."

I frown at him when Ivory blurts out, "You're right. We do need to talk."

We now look at the determined blonde girl as I go back and forth between them.

***

Dexter and I share quizzical looks now and then before we look over at Ivory. She is speechlessly stunned and staring into space after I tell her the truth. I know it's too late since every person got to know already, but this is how it should have been. I should have been the one to tell her— tell him my real identity.

I didn't mean to hurt him like that, and my heart breaks to recall that last look he gave me before walking away.

Ivory clears her throat, "So let me get this straight!"

I blink at her as she raises her gaze and states, "The Alpha of Crimson Shadow is none other than you, the very person no one has seen or met yet they all talk about, and you weren't supposed to be... here."

"Yeah, I was chasing someone and ended up here."

"And you're Sebastian's mate, making you the Luna of this pack."

"Yes."

Dexter interrupts, blurting out, "What? You found your mate?"

I look at my best friend and nod. "Yeah, I have."

A sudden silence falls in the room where they laid Flora down after operating on her. Dexter tells me, "We must think hard to make this work, right? What are we going to do then? I mean, you both are Alphas, and neither of you will give up, so how will this situation work?"

I give him a tired look and sigh, "Not right now, Dex. Ugh, uh, I don't know, okay? I don't think Sebastian wants anything to do with me after today—" the door opens, and the guy I have been expecting barges right in as he exclaims, "You're kidding, right?"

I stand up immediately and frown, blurting out, "Sebastian?"

Ivory calls out, "Alpha!"

Ignoring everything else in the room, Sebastian hastily moves toward me, grabs me by my arms, and turns me to face him.

With his height, he hovers over me, and I tilt my head backwards to look at his face. I open my mouth to explain, "I know I should have told you first, but you know I was being cautious. Your reputation precedes you, and I have a mission—" when he turns away and snaps, "So, what have you been talking about?"

I purse my lips in a thin line and blink the tears away.

Dexter sneers, "Were you eavesdropping earlier?"

Pokerfaced, Sebastian shrugs, "Maybe I was. Maybe I wasn't. Now fucking explain what you have all been talking and planning about?" he yells, making Ivory flinch and yelp.

Dexter shakes his head and rolls his eyes.

Ivory steps up to recall what I have told her before I look at him and sigh, "Remember I told you about my mission?"

Sebastian forces himself to look at me and murmurs, "Yeah, you did."

"Well, I was chasing someone the day we met. I somehow ended up in your territory."

"Was this person relevant?" he asks indifferently.

Instead of answering him, I sigh and step closer, "Sebastian, I know you feel hurt and betrayed—" I lean over to hold his arm, but he moves back, hurting me more and snaps his gaze straight at my face as he hisses, "You're right about that. The depth of your betrayal makes me wish to kill you again a thousand times over."

I drop my hand to my side and lower my head, feeling the ache and guilt coursing through my body.

A beat of silence passes when Sebastian takes a deep breath, and I look up back at him. He runs a hand through his hair and mumbles, groaning, "Whatever." he walks and stands near the door but far away from me as I stay watching in utter despair, not knowing what to say or do. Not for long when Dexter squeezes my shoulder reassuringly.

Oh, right! I have something else to do right now.

I hear Sebastian growl.

I straighten up and clear my throat, "So, what happened to him? The guy I was chasing? Did you find him?"

Dexter folds his lips momentarily. "We did manage to get him."

"And, what?" I raise my eyebrow quizzically.

Dexter runs a hand through his hair and then sighs, "But he died." he nods at my perplexed expression and groans, "We ambushed him, but a hooded figure managed to rip his heart out from behind, and then he disappeared immediately."

"A hooded figure? Who was it? Did you see the face?" I probe, but he shakes his head, "No, I couldn't—" "Oh, my!" Ivory gasps as she butts in.

We look at her, and I ask, "What is it?"

I notice her shaking and fidgeting as she glances at Flora and lets out a low cry. I move to her and grab her by her shoulders to steady her.

Startled, she gasps at me when I squeeze her shoulders and nod. "What is it, Ivory? You know you can tell me."

She looks at me like she is about to cry as a tear rolls down her eyes. She wipes it immediately and coughs up, "I don't know if what I think is right or wrong, but a hooded figure attacked us, and it could be a coincidence that the man who killed the one you were chasing —" Dexter murmurs, "That could be a possibility."

I look up and hold my best friend's gaze as I state, "So, everyone in this room has met this mysterious person."

"How did you meet, and when?"

I shrug, "I saw a suspicious-looking man today on my date with Sebastian—" I drop the sentence out of sadness and sigh as our eyes briefly meet before Sebastian steps forward and roars, "That bastard could still be in my fucking territory! I'm fucking going to kill that motherfucker!"

I let go of Ivory and rush to calm him down when Dexter exclaims, "Stop!"

Sebastian narrows his eyes and growls, "Why? Somebody dared to trespass and hurt a member of my pack. I am not going easy on a fucking bastard—"

Dexter sighs and shrugs, "Cool, don't go easy on anyone! I get it."

Okay, Dexter, what are you up to? I impatiently frown and cross my arms as I look back and forth between the guys. He takes his time to speak and then looks back at us, saying, "But you need to know what I know."

I straighten up and blurt out, "What do you know?"

Dexter looks over at me. "I talked with Elder Eisha a few days back."

I nod and question, "Okay, and?"

"She told me a story," Sebastian groans, but before anyone of us can say anything else, Dexter continues, "And the hooded man we assume to believe is the man we all met is the vampire lord Damien."

A curious silence settles in the room, making me feel jittery.

"What about him? Why is he resurfacing? What does he want?"

"You."

"What?"

"Why?"

"How is that possible?"

Ivory, Sebastian and I suddenly speak together and cause a stir.

Dexter nods in response and then states, "That man wants you, just like he wanted your mother."

Eww, what?

I grimace and snap, "Why does he want me or wanted my mother?"

"Well, hybrids," he says in a tone as if that explains everything.

"Hybrids? As in the cross-bred species deadlier than any werewolf or vampire? The species that would be sired to their creator?" Ivory blurts out and looks confusingly at us. "What does it have to do with Ember or her mother?"

Dexter takes his time and clicks his tongue, "Do you remember your mother's conversation with that white-haired guy before she pushed you out of the window and then sacrificed her life?"

I bite my lip and clench my fists.

"Even if I want to, I can't, so how can I not?"

"Well, Damien used to be in love with your mother before she found her mate and had a life with you. Jilted, he still came back six years ago to give her a chance to leave our former Alpha and come to him, but instead, she chose her pack and her daughter to protect from him. And now he is back staking his claim on you."

Dexter looks at Flora and sighs, "You were meant to be attacked. I am not saying you are to be blamed for what happened tonight, but it was you who were meant to be in the woods so that he could take you away—" "Hell, he will get to her." Sebastian snaps immediately after. It makes me slightly warmed up. My best friend straightens up and nods, "Of course, none of us will let that happen, but it is what it is."

"So, does this mean he knew I had been searching and planning to give him a painful death, and all he has been doing is letting me chase him desperately for six years?" I grit.

Dexter nods. "Yeah."

A beat of silence passes, and my legs wobble as I crouch down and groan. Sebastian rushes past the other two to be beside me and gently asks, "You, okay?"

I take deep breaths and relax as I feel his hand pat my back.

He holds me tight, and I let him in as Sebastian declares, "I'm not going to let that asshole go unscathed this time. He will not take you away from me, and if he wants a fight, so be it. I will make him pay for all his sins."

I want to counter him and say I can do that too, but instead, I slip my hand into his and nod at him, "We're going to make him pay together."

Because together, we're united and stronger.

Understandingly, Sebastian locks eyes with mine and nods, "We will be all ready for battle if that's what he wants."

***

I rush inside the cottage.

I look around when my eyes land on a mangled figure on the floor.

I frown and step forward to check, but my eyes widen in recognition, and I gasp.

I sprint and kneel to his unconscious body.

I want to say his name and cry, but I can't. My voice doesn't come out, and I stay there stunned, not knowing what to do. It's all my fault. He got hurt because of me.

"Seb" —

I suddenly jolt up from my slumber, covered in sweat, my heart is pounding, and my breathing is heavy.

What a freaking nightmare!

I run a hand through my hair only to grimace and groan at the stickiness before I look around to find myself in my room.

How and when did I come here?

My brain doesn't take long to recall everything that happened in the last 24 hours, and Sebastian was carrying the last thing I remember to this room. But I also saw him sliding into the bed with me. I frown and frantically look around the dark space. So, where is he now? Why did I wake up with nobody on my side?

I feel breathless, and staying here feels suffocating. I pull away the comforter, and my feet reach the floor.

I need to get out or find him or whatever.

Or else my nightmare will eat me up whole.

I clench my fists and nod as I walk out of the room and into the hallways before descending the stairs. It's so quiet in the house. I briefly look into his study, but he isn't there. I'm not weak at all, but I can easily have a heart attack if I don't see him right now. I wonder where he is and then scan the room before there is a flicker of light outside in the woods.

My frown deepens, and I peer through the window. Is he outside? But why is he outside? Or can't he sleep either, like me now?

Slightly relaxed, I move toward the door and leave the house. I throw caution out of my window and make my way into the woods. I don't care about anything except needing to see him. I want to see him right now. I want to be with him right now. Maybe tonight can be the night we mark each other because I don't want to wait any longer— the wind blows past my hair.

It's been chilly, but this feels different.

I am a tough person. I can beat people black and blue till they are on the verge of death. So what if I'm amidst the tall trees in the dark alone, I don't need to fear, but that's when something grabs me from behind.

I gasp, but they cover my mouth.

I yelp and try to wiggle to escape.

"Quit it!" I hear a distorted voice.

With all my strength and Rayne's, I am about to kick this SOB where the sun doesn't shine if it isn't for a tingly pain in my neck, as if a syringe was inserted. I groan, still trying to wiggle and escape, but everything gets blurry, and my eyes droop until I slump backwards and let the darkness embraces me.