48. Runaway

Chapter Soundtrack :

Aurora - Runaway

Dedicated to jazzwynter for the music!

if you find a song that goes good with a previous chapter, post it on my wall along with the chapter name bc sometimes i cant see all my comments!

Also.

This chapter wound up being 8000 words so i had to split it in two but im posting them both at the same time so you can keep reading but i still need those comments!

And obviously i cant stop at 60 chaps so idk how long this will be Sorry?

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Nova

Tension in the air, thick like a blanket of fog..

I watched as Nic stormed inside the Clinic, fury in his eyes. His wolf was just under the surface. Unstoppable.

Blake tried to hault him in his tracks but Nic was on a mission.. sliding past Blake as the Alpha just shook his head . Hard to come between an Alpha and his mate.

This would end badly. I needed to get out if here.. say my goodbyes quickly.

"Eden." I walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her. "Are you okay?"

Her tall frame seemed to dwarf me, with her Willowy height, I always told her she could have been a model.

"I'm fine Nova." She sighed, hugging me back hard before we broke away, staring into one anothers eyes. "Im just.. i dont know. Sometimes i feel like i want to be happy. Being an Oracle is .. well its an honor. But sometimes i have this urge.. i want a bond with someone. I guess being alone has gotten me down when i see all these things happening around me with mates being paired." Her tight smile seemed to melt my heart. She would always be alone.. unless she wanted to give up the Moon's gift. I held her gaze. Putting all the emphasis i could in my feelings.

"Do what makes you happy Ede. Trust me. If you decide to give up being an Oracle for a bond, no one will hate you for it. But you still have a ton of time to decide. Ill tell you though. A mate bond isnt what its cracked up to be. I would trade with you any day." I let out a breath of laughter but i was serious.

It hurts too much.

Which is why im running.. running far away. To a new home. A place that will become my home.

Eden chuckled before she locked eyes with me again, "thank you. For talking to him. I know you are the reason he spoke to me... "

Nodding, "anytime but he would have come on his own eventually. I just gave him a push...  Eden. Listen.. theres somthing i have to do and i need you to promise me you wont hate me for it."

Her head cocked to the side as her green eyes became soft. "I was wondering when youd tell me. I had a vision."

I sighed. Of course she knew...

Slipping one of the envelopes out of my purse, i handed it to her, her name scrawled in calligraphy on the front. "Read this later tonight. And know i will always keep in touch okay?"

She nodded with tears in her eyes, taking the letter from me as we embraced.. tightly holding each other.

my soul dropped

i would miss this female.

"I need to go do something. I love you Eden." Whispered into her hair.

"I love you too Nova." She sniffled, her manicured hands wiping at her eyes. As i backed away slowly, a small smile on my face.

I turned.. heading towards my parents.. turning my gaze to the porch as Blake paced back and forth, Penelope watching him with contempt in crystal blue eyes....

She felt alone.

"Mom. Dad." the empty hole where my heart used to belong clenched as all these emotions strangled me from inside out.

This was so bittersweet... i wouldn't see them for a long while..

I wrapped my arms around them, their worries from the incident betwen Nic and Zaryn momentarily shifted to me as i pressed my cheek into the both of them, hugging tightly.

"Nova are you alright?" Confusion amd surprise. Moms hand went through my hair as they both embraced me.

"Hey pumpkin." Dad's soft deep voice soothed my aching soul. "I know things are bad right now but they cant get any worse. Just hang in there okay?"

If only he knew how true that statement was.

"I know.. i just wanted to let you guys know that i love you. No matter what happens... i love you both so much. Im lucky to have parents like you." Sniffling back the tears, I pulled away from them as they peered down at me with sad eyes.

"We love you too sweet girl." Mom gazed at me softly, rubbing my cheek with her palm.

Growls and roars behind us had all of our heads whipping to face the front door of the clinic as Zaryn and Nic came barrelling out, skin sides. Agression thick filled the atmosohere.

The two wolves growled at each other menacingly.. teeth sliding out with their wolves peeking out through skin side eyes.. punches being thrown. Zaryn was the first to send one flying to Nic's face.

"Stop!" Alpha Blake's firm voice boomed as my dad raced to where the boys were going at it.. scrapping with each other like wild animals.

"You marked her you sonofab!tch!" Zaryn's lethal tone bellowed out before his fist landed on Nic's jaw, a cracking sound echoing.

Nic whipped his head back to face him, eyes glowing. "Shes my mate!!!" He head butted Zaryn, right in the face as hard as he could. Zaryn's head whipped backwards as blood spewed in the air.. he was no match for Nic.. he never would be.

"I SAID STOP!" blake roared, veins pulsing from his skin. The alpha wolf present under the skin, realising these two wolves weren't listening to his skin side.

We all stared in shock as Blake separated the two feral males.. Zaryn's nose gushing blood as Nic's busted lip trickled... heaving chests.. wrath in their stance.

"He marked her! Without her concent! You know what that means!!?" He pointed accusingly at Nic.

Blake, Dad and Mom along with Penelope and Eden all stared at Nic with open mouths. I already knew his plan and didn't care either way. It would either kill the pup and Grace.. or she would come out unscathed but this is what he wanted. I couldn't deny his happiness.. if he could live with that wolf so be it.

"It wont kill her. She wants me as a mate!" Nic growled, defending himself.

"Alright lets settle down-" Blake was cut off

"No!" Zaryn screamed. "Shes in pain now! Im going to lose my pup over this.." he fell to his knees, tears falling from his cheeks. "I just wanted my son.. thats all. None of you understand.. i just wanted my son.. " his voice cracked. Strained by the withering sorrow he felt as the tears spilled.

Blake peered down at him with an emotion i couldn't decipher before he and Dad turned to walk inside.. to check on the pregnant female, pulling Nic along with them, ensuring another fight wouldn't break out..

Mom and Eden soon followed.. the uncomfortable feeling of watching Zaryn break apart in front of their eyes too much to handle. Penelope lingered, wanting to comfort her son but those crystal eyes found mine..  her eyes closing before sending a nod my way, disappearing inside the clinic..

Leaving the two of us alone.

Uncomfortable, i wanted to leave.

I didnt miss the way Penelope watched my mom with a pained  expression.. mom paid no mind to the Luna. Eden blew me a kiss before shutting the door. Mouthing ill miss you as she disappeared from sight.

The mate bond toyed with me.. tempting me to go to him but he didnt deserve me. He didnt deserve us.

The wolf wanted Zaryn.. to take out the threat. She didnt understand why i was angry at Zaryn. We were the ones with marks. The way she saw it, if we took out the competition, he was all ours. I tried to convey to her numerous times that thats not what i wanted. He was the cause of this quivering hole in my heart that made me feel empty...alone.

She didn't like my feeling hurt because of Zaryn which made her angry at him.. but it didnt stop the overwhelming need to be with him, in her eyes. She wanted to protect me.. the skin side.

I was stronger than this. Stronger than anything he could make me feel..  I have survived this much heart ache.. my soul shattering along with my heart.

I will survive leaving him as well.. being alone. Finding myself. He needs to find himself too.. figure out a peace between he and his wolf. As do i.

Im going home.

A home i never knew but it will become my home nonetheless..

In my mind, i was never going to return. No one knew that though.

I watched as he cried out in desperation, his fists beating the ground.

Not being able to deal with the feeling of being torn by my wolfs needs, i forced her away as my skin rippled.. shoving my hands in the pockets of my shirt and walking away with a surety..

that numbness towards him keeping me from going to him despite my wolfs whining plea.

She may be getting stronger but so was i.

My boot almost set foot on the dirt road before he called out to me.

"Nova!" His voice strangled.

I stopped in my tracks,closing my eyes and breathing in deeply, but never turning around as i waited for empty words to leave his mouth.

"Nova.. i know you hate me. I hate myself for how I've treated you but this pup... i love him. I love him even though he's not here yet and probably won't be now but i want you to know that i wish everyday that it was you who were having my son. Not her. You will always be my one and only and im sorry that I've done this to you.. i feel your brokenness sometimes when youd guard is down.. grace.. she berated me for not going to you.. i know you're tired of hearing the 'its my wolf' excuse.. so i wont say it.. but the wolf and i both love you.. the skin and the fur.. ive just been so scared to lose my son. I know you'll not understand until you have a pup in your belly.. which i know if you are pregnant right now, its hurting you... but i need you to know that." His broken voice and sorrow filled tone almost broke me.

Almost .

Pregnant. I could be pregnant...

We just didnt know yet. Hes right.. i would hurt so badly if I was pregnant with his pup.. it would hurt for him more since i was leaving.

Those words he spoke don't mean a thing though.

Never turning around, i took a deep breath.. i couldn't find it in me to feel sorry for him. Not for possibly losing his pup over this or for his sorrow over it..

i felt as if it were a just punishment.

How awful i am..

So hurt that i find comfort in the fact he's dying inside.

I know im being selfish. But hes right.. im broken. Im jealous..

Even Grace told him to go to me but he wouldnt for fear of someone coming to kill his pup.. he had a choice but The wolf always wins... eventually.

Standing in one spot, i could feel his eyes roam all over my back.. the tantalizing energy of the electric currents running through the bond..

My soul needed his but i couldn't..

Grace still has a chance.

Without a word, i just walked away... away from him. Away from her. Away from bad memories. Away from everything...

Before i got even slightly a few feet down the dirt road, I could hear Zaryns tears pick back up, wracking sobs from his body before the door of the clinic burst open..

thats when i turned my head.

It was Blake.

"Grace is going into labor! We have to take the pup out now. Hurry Zaryn there's not much time!" The panic in his voice and his eyes made me realise despite his dislike for Grace.. this was his grandpup and he wanted him as well... it was family. Zaryn scrambled up, peering over at me.. torn. But he left.. running inside the clinic as Blake stepped outside, Penelope on his tail..

The pup was coming..

I couldn't stay and watch this... break my heart further.

Before the Alpha and Luna could turn to me with pity..  i turned away and walked briskly down the dirt road..

I felt an indescribable pain in my soul. A mourning. My mate was having his pup.. and i felt so shallow. Afraid. Alone.

But at the same time it felt good.. i was being released..

A weight lifted off my shoulders as my mind flitted to the future and the possibilities I could now have. Away from Zaryn.

breathing in the crisp cool autumn air.. it seemed to calm my soul..

the love of my life was about to be a dad. As much as it hurt.. it was also liberating.

And i was okay with that now...

Ive come to terms with the fact he was a mistake.. or she was..

But why would the moon have us go through this? What purpose did forcing a mate bond upon us then having it wither due to my emotions serve to the moon?

She had a reason. Maybe i was meant for something more. Maybe this was a lesson.. maybe i needed this to grow..

I smiled to myself.. my boots heavy as the leaves crunched under my weight. Yes. I was meant for something more..

This wasn't my ending, this was my beginning. I wasn't going to linger over these gut wrenching feelings anymore. I've said it too many times to count but now it was my resolve. I was doing something about it..

I promised myself that tonight would be the start of my new beginning and as much as it hurts me inside to leave this mate bond broken .. my love for Zaryn still lingering..

I just didnt care anymore.

The love would always be inside me for him... but it would be countered by memories of hurt and betrayel. I just cant see past him dismissing me to protect his pup from danger a danger that could have been done by anyone else. That pup would have been my undoing if i stayed.

I know im wrong..

But i cant help how i feel.

I feel hopeful though.. this is good for me. This entire thing will work out for the best.

××

As i came closer to my house, i realised there was a few more things i had to do.

A group of juvenile wolves, female ans male alike, passed by me on the dusty road. They all smiled at me showing no teeth, bowing their heads.. my wolf puffed up in pride at this and my head rose higher as i returned their smiles.

"Hey Nova." A few of them greeted. I responded with a nod as I walked past them, but i could hear the whispers that followed them.

" Shes stronger than Zaryn. The males are rallying.. getting ready to challenge Deacon and Zaryn. We all think Nic should be our future alpha."

"Yeah i know. But nova should be our luna...nic is mated to that ratchet female.. she will never be our Luna. Never. " a female said

"I agree." It came from the male leader.

"Me too .. but zaryn marked nova. Didnt you see? Thats the only way Nova would be our Luna is if Zaryn was Alpha. That wont happen after the challenges."

"So what? Nova can find another mate worthy of her.. its been done. An alpha we could take as our own. Alpha Blake's  family is too weak to continue being our leaders."

I blanched at the conversation these wolves were having.. have they no shame? Speaking of us as if we were celebrities on the front cover of a rag mag...

Finding another mate? Taking in a foreign Alpha? Making me Luna? Nic as Alpha? Challenges?!

My pulse quickened as i made it to my home.. a frantic feeling inside me. I could handle Zaryn being challenged.. he deserved it. The pack saw his weakness.. but Deacon didnt deserve it...

Quickly racing inside and up the stairs, leaving the letter i wrote for my parents in their bedroom, face up on their large bed.  I then i made my way to Nic's room and placed his letter on his bed before leaving again.. heading toward the pack house to go on my next plan..

I needed help on this one. Tying up loose ends. The day was fading fast and i didn't have but a few hours left until it was time. My parents will be hurt but i promised to call..

As i walked to the Pack house with long hurried strides, confusion set in me as i noticed Alpha and Luna speaking harshly to each other in the screen enclosed portion of the mudroom.

Shouldn't they be at Doc's? How did they get here so quickly? Its only been twenty minutes since i left Doc's.. surely her pup wasnt born yet.. or dead.

Whichever happened first. I felt inside me that the pup would live though.

Glancing down at my stomach, my hand fell to hold my abdomen.. i kept forgetting about the possibility of my being pregnant. Every now and then it would pop in my mind then emotions or sudden happenings would cause me to forget.

I needed to forget right now.

Creeping forward, staying hidden by the large trees beside the screened in porch, i lurked.. listening as Blake and Penelope spoke..

Harsh words from Penelope were whispered but i could still catch them.

"Blake! You need to go back to the clinic by yourself. I cant stomach being there right now.. its too much having to watch my son have a pup with someone other than his mate. It hits home. When he needs me ill be there.. but you got the extra supplies Doc needed so go.. if the pup is born.. ill try my best but you know how i feel." She glanced down at the floor, her tone became saddened.

"We haven't worked anything out at all...Our son isnt even going to be the next Alpha because of your mistake. Now hes having a pup with someone other than his mate, just like you" she seethed, glaring up at his wide eyed expression.  "Do you know thay the entire male population from 18 to 35 is going to challenge Deacon and Zaryn both? They see us all as weak.. the pack thinks we dont deserve our spots anymore! Its all the pack can talk about! You brought this to our door." She let out a muffled sob, her tears falling.. but she wasn't finished.

"and to top it off.. you and I havent even spoken about any of this! you care more about your other family than you do this one. Deacon.. your own son locked up.. Zaryn's title stripped.. you punished me! Im not Nyra. I never will be.. but im still your mate!" She hissed out through the tears, her legs collapsing  as Blake caught her in his arms.. soothing her.

Blake seemed torn, pain etched on his face like a carving that wouldn't be washed away. His voice cracking. "Penny.. im sorry.. i had to punish you or i would have looked weaker to the pack. I would have had challenges myself. You know that! And i know you arent Nyra.. but i love you. You are my mate. I will always love Nyra but you are the one im mated to for life. You are my now.. my forever." He kissed her head as she looked up at him with hopeful eyes. "And by law Nic is entitled to his right.. unless he doesnt want it, penelope. You know that as well. You're being unfair here. I know about the challenges.. the pack is in an uproar. All of my mistakes.. zaryns mistakes.. they have created chaos. And my sons will have to fight eventually but i wont let them be defeated. I promise you that. Deacon however.. he deserves to be where he is. Theres things you dont know and i dont want to tell you right now but i will. I just dont want to break your heart. Hes our son.. our youngest pup. Please have faith in me. I would never put anyone above you and my sons. You are all my family and as much as it hurts you, Nic is family too. He said Jack will always be his father.. and im fine with that. But alpha blood runs through his veins, my wolf sees him as his and i cant deny that. I can't deny his right!" He held her, looking into her eyes .. pleading with her to understand. "I never knew penny.. never."

I know i shouldnt be watching this intimidate moment but my curiosity had been piqued. The challenges were bigger than I thought.... things were going to get messy once I left.

Especially if this pup was born.

And deacon...

What's so bad that even has Alpha Blake, his own father saying he should be where he is? In the cellar?

"Blake.. what are you hiding about my son? Whats so bad-"

"Penny just trust me. He deserves the death penalty for what he has done and im protecting him against that.. The less you know, the better. Only Jack and Zaryn know... please trust me."

I felt myself pale.

My dad and Zaryn knew?

The only way to get a death penalty is by murdering another.. but Deacon has been locked away.. it has to be a mistake..

he cant stay here for sure now..

Anita has put too many curses on our pack and now im sure this was he doing.. setting him up to fail. One last jab at me. To hurt me.

Penelope nodded, hot tears covering her cheeks. "I will this one time.. ill trust you. But i want my sons out of this mess. Promise me.. "

"I promise penny. And despite everything you know i love you.. ive never once did wrong by you once you came into my life. Im sorry my past has held skeletons even i didnt know about and im sorry i got mad at you for not telling me. I just wish you'd told me you knew so i could make it better.. i love you.."

She sighed heavily, smiling a little. "I love you too Blake. I forgive you.. but..  i want my sons in their rightful places."

He nodded. "I promise ill try.. but Nic.. if he wants to be Alpha then Zaryn will have to challenge him. Nothing i can do about that." He trailed off.. eyes widening as he opened up to her.

" Im scared penny... the challenges the pack are talking about could very well end our line of succession... if Zaryn wins his title back... and someone beats him in a challenge... there's nothing i can do. He will be challenged regardless but if he claims title as future Alpha.. its over if he loses"

"Then make sure it doesnt happen." She gazed up at him with conviction.

He brought her into him, lips on hers as she melted in his arms before moving his face into the crook of her neck.. teeth sinking in her flesh as she let out a little moan. He held her there. A private moment i shouldnt be watching... intimate.

He pulled away, staring down at her in awe.

"You're mine. Not anyone else can take that away." She melted at that.

Blakes eyes studied her.. his mask of bravery falling. "I need your help.. as Luna.. im asking for your help to make sure we stand our ground."

She smiled lovingly at him as the sun began to set over the horizon..

close to sundown.

I had to move quickly.

With a nod, she dismissed him, "Now go. Go back to Doc's.. see if we have a grandpup or not and pray that we dont. I know it sounds heartless of me Blake but i dont want Nova going through what i have delt with.. only ten times worse.".

I froze.

"I will love. Ill mind link you when I know. I love you." He gave her one last kiss before disappearing out the side door, heading back to Doc's.

Watching from behind the trees, i felt like a tiger.. waiting to pounce.  Penelope dried her eyes as peered through the screened in porch, her pain a mask for me to see.

Rounding the tree trunks beside the pack house, i slowly stalked towards the screen door... her eyes shot up as she sensed my presence, startling her.

"Nova!" Her hand landed over her heart. I moved inside the screened porch, shutting the door behind me.

"Luna i need your help." My eyes held the desperation my soul felt.

This had to be done.

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Dun dun dun!

Since i split this chapter in two.. you can keep reading because i posted the other one with this.

It was a 8000 word chapter so i had to do it!

So guys. Grace is going into labor WHAT ABOUT THAT!?!?!?!

And Penelope.. will she help?!?!

Do you think anything will happen to go wrong!?!?

Xoxo

Chilee.