The Truth Comes Out

Chapter 6

Eva's POV

I could tell that my father was trying very hard to stay calm, but I saw how hard he was clenching his jaw. He was worried about what I had gone through after hearing what my mother said about my living conditions. But I really didn’t want to talk to them about it. I just wanted to spend time with them and get to know them, not upset them. What’s done is done. My past can’t be rewritten; all I want from now on is to punish my two biggest tormentors.

   They deserved retaliation for what they had done. They honestly think that their above werewolf law. I was relieved to learn that Tori and Keefe were alive, but did they remember what had happened to them? Or were they just sent back to before we were killed? Did they blame me for what happened? I would call her later to talk about it. I just wanted to get to know my parents better.

   “It’s still fresh in my mind, but telling you what happened would only upset you. Just know that the spell wasn’t broken by a witch or warlock,” I replied.

   “I figured as much, but can you tell me what happened, Eva?” my father pressed.

   “Last night, I planned to escape the Stone Fall pack. I hated it there, and my best friend, my only friend, Tori, came with her brother to rescue me. It ended up costing them their lives. Donovan, the Alpha’s son, knew I was his mate, but I couldn’t sense him at all. He knew that I was planning to leave, and that someone was helping me. He was angry about my leaving. His main girlfriend, Claudia, hated me. She's made it her life’s work to hurt me. She didn’t want me to leave once she found out that I was mated to Donovan. She wanted me dead. That way, he couldn’t come after me to find me. They killed my friends right in front of me. All I want now is to get justice for what they did to us. Even if the Goddess brought me back, they still deserve to be punished,” I replied.

   “I figured as much. Don’t worry, Eva. They won’t be getting away with anything that they've done to you. They’ll find out exactly who they've messed with very soon. Can you tell us anything more about how you were treated? Or would that be too upsetting for you?” my father gently asked.

   “I think that it would be too upsetting for you to hear. I can see how upset you already are about this. I want this to be a happy occasion for us. I just found you, and all I want to do right now is get to know you. I don’t want to rehash what I experienced at Stone Fall. I’m also a little tired. I didn’t get much sleep after what happened last night. I just want to train and get stronger, so I can get my revenge,” I answered.

   “That is fine, honey. You don’t have to tell us. I know that going over it would be very upsetting for you. I have another way to get it done, without you having to speak a word. But I want you to know that we couldn’t possibly be any happier than we are right now. We’ve finally found you. You’ve been safely returned home. I swear to you that we will never allow you to be bullied or hurt again,” my mother told me.

   She held her hands out to me, and I placed my hands on top of hers. I could tell that was what she wanted me to do. The next instant, my memories started flying through my head. Every insult, even taunt, ever single injury I received at the hands of others. They flew past my eyes with frightening speed.

   My mother’s eyes were closed as she concentrated. I knew she could have looked at me, but she didn’t want me to see how upset she was at seeing what I'd suffered. I still knew that she was upset. I could feel it, but her face was in the background of all my memories. I saw it when my arm was broken and a tear slipped from the corner of her eye. My father saw the tear escape, and his low growl filled the room.

   They were both trying to spare my feelings. They didn’t want me to be upset, and my mother was doing her level best not to show a reaction to what she was seeing. But they were mates, and obviously had a strong bond. I could tell that my father felt what she felt, and he didn’t have to see what was happening. He knew just how serious what I had experienced was, just from my mother's emotions.

   When it was over, it seemed like it had taken less than 5 minutes. My mother eyes slowly opened and the pain in them made my heart hurt. She couldn’t speak for a minute, and a knock sounded at the door, breaking the silence in the room.

   Breakfast had arrived. Once Dad had it all set up on the table in their little kitchen area, both he and Mom had calmed down. At least, it seemed like they had calmed down. They kept things light as they asked me neutral questions, trying to get to know me. My favorite color, my favorite foods, my favorite movie, if I were allergic to anything, and what size clothing and shoes I wore. I already knew that they were going to get me new clothes. Their clothes were very nice compared to mine, and I looked like a servant sitting next to them.

   “I saw how tired you were, honey. We will take you to your room. It’s just as you left it, with the only change being the baby bed taken out, and a queen-sized bed added over the years. I want you to tell me what changes you would like to make to the room. Paint or wallpaper, new bedding, new dressers, and whatever other changes you want made. It’s your room, and we want you to be happy in it,” my father told me.

   “Yes, after breakfast, we will take you to your room. You will have a guard at your door. One that is only loyal to us, so you will be safe,” my mother added.

   “I should be safe here, shouldn’t I?” I asked cautiously.

   “You should be safe here, Eva, it’s your home. But your mother and I have always suspected that the real mastermind behind your kidnapping wasn’t the ones who were caught. We just need to make sure that while we’re looking into it, nothing else happens to you. I’m going to train you on how to defend yourself. Your mother is going to start training you on how to use your powers,” my father replied.

   His words told me they already suspected who it was and that he hated even thinking about it. Which meant that whoever he suspected was someone close to him. That didn’t make me feel safe at all. If they tried it once, what’s to keep them from doing it again? I’m a sitting duck here. I needed to be very careful about whom I trusted. Wait? Did my father just say I was going to learn how to use my powers? I knew that I had a wolf; I had already spoken to her. But did I actually have magical powers?

   “I sensed your powers when I just read your memories, Eva. You can ask Meari about it; she was there when the Moon Goddess brought you back to life. She knows everything; she just didn’t tell you. You were already overwhelmed this morning by finding out that you had a family and were about to leave the Stone Fall pack. We've been looking for you all this time. I don’t know how you ended up in America, but none of the warriors we sent to find you ever returned. But don’t worry, Eva. I’m putting a protection spell on you. It will help keep you safe while we get you trained,” my mother assured me.

   “I will work hard to make you both proud,” I replied.

   “We're already proud of you, Eva. That will never change,” my father told me.

   My eyes burned with tears as they each wrapped their arms around me and hugged me between them. One on either side of me. I have never felt as safe as I do in this moment. I knew in my heart that they would risk their own lives in order to protect me, but I didn’t want them to have to do that. I want to be able to stand on my own two feet and protect not just myself, but my parents, too.

   They led me out of their room and down the stone hallway to the room next door, and a massive man stood outside the door. He looked dangerous, and I wanted to stop walking. You could feel the power radiating from him. He is very handsome, but he has horns coming out of his head. I have never seen anyone who looked like him before.

   “Eva, this is Roderick. He is a demon, and he will be keeping you safe. Either Rodrick or his twin brother, Baylor, will be with you at all times until the threat is gone. Even when you are with us, training. They are two of the strongest members of our pack. No one will be able to get past them,” my father assured me.

   “I’ve never met a demon before. Hello, Roderick,” I greeted. I was frightened of him, but he just nodded at me; he never moved or replied.

   “He doesn’t speak much, but nothing escapes his notice,” my father added. “Get some rest, Eva. We will have some clothes and toiletries bought for you today. We will see you when you wake up.”  

   As Roderick led me up to my room, my thoughts were chaotic. I truly wanted to punish Stone Fall. I wanted them to pay for what they had done to me over the years. But I didn't want my family to suffer while trying to help me carry out my revenge. I just got my parents back. I couldn't bear to lose them. 

   I know that I had been given a second chance by the Goddess. But that didn't mean that I couldn't be hurt or even killed again. Was going after my former pack really worth it? Could I afford the cost? I really needed to think about everything that could go wrong.

   I was starting to think that training until I was as strong as I could be would be the way to go. That way, only I would bear the brunt of it, not my family. I don't know if I could live with my actions, or even look myself in the mirror, if something happened to them while they tried to help me. My revenge didn't have to be done quickly; it just needed to be carried out.  

   I need to talk to the Moon Goddess again. I need to see what she thinks I need to do moving forward. She is wise and can guide me in the direction I need to go. I know she might not tell me, but I won't move forward with my plan of vengeance if the cost of it is losing either of them. I won't allow that to happen.