Chapter 34

Stefan’s POV

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I get to my pack lands as fast as possible, and when I enter the gates I’m shocked with the state of things. I’ve only been gone a couple days and the pack house is surrounded by guards. There are men in chains being dragged down the street and there is a terrible stench coming from the training grounds.

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“Stef, where have you been?” Ru comes rushing towards me and he looks panicked.

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“What the hell is going on here? I left for a couple of days and I come back to chaos! What is that smell?” I watch as people rush around, but when they lay eyes on me they cower and dart away into the shadows.

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“Eric went on a killing spree the night you left. He raided one of the human cities to the north and imprisoned the men there. Some of the women he dragged back with him and when he was done he went straight to South Hill.”

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“What does he want with South Hill? He’s already killed Alpha Jonathan and took control.”

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“He wanted Jonathan’s sister. After you removed his pet, he decided he didn’t want to wait for a new one. So, he snatched up Reece while you were gone.”

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The news shatters me a bit further. I stand and look at lands that were once vibrant and bright and they are now nothing more than a shadow of those times. I refused to see the destruction Eric was bringing, and now I see it in all its horrific detail. This is my fault as much as it is Eric’s. I enabled him to do horrific things. I need to somehow make this right.

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“Where is Reece now?” I ask frantically.

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“He took her with him, he said he needed a travel toy.”

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Anger starts to replace guilt and I can feel a storm of rage bubbling up inside me.

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“I’m going to find that fucker and I’m going to end him once and for all.” I storm past Ru but he grabs my arm.

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“I’m going with you,” Ru might be my oldest friend, but he isn’t a fighter.

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“You don’t know what will happen out there, it’s going to be dangerous and I don’t plan on retreating if things get difficult. I need that monster dead.”

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“Stef, he still has my boy and I’m not going to just sit around and wait anymore. I’m going.”

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I don’t argue with him. Truth is, I am going to need some help and I trust Ru. As we walk we pass the source of the stench. There are bodies piled up in the corner of one of the training yards.

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“Why haven’t these been dealt with,” I can’t even look at them.

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“Eric wants to personally inspect the bodies, he wants to make sure that he can account for other pack council members to ensure there weren’t imposters. It’s as if he’s picking them off one by one. But, yesterday he suddenly just left. He didn’t get to these yet and left strict instructions to pile up the dead. That creepy witch woman came to see him. Within thirty minutes half of our warriors, Eric, and several of the council left dragging Reece with them.”

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“I know where they are, I need to get Queen Aria and we need to leave immediately. I’ll explain more on our way, go pack up what you need quickly and meet in hanger four.”

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It doesn’t take long to get to the dungeons where Eric has Aria, and as I approach, the young man guarding the entrance falls off his chair when he sees me and scrambles to get back up.

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“Stefan, sir, , I - I was just - ” The kid was playing on his phone when I came up. I briefly think about what Eric would have done had he found him screwing around on his phone, and then shake the thought from my head.

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“Follow me, I need to retrieve Aria. Alpha Eric has requested she join him.” I say with as much authority as I can. People know that Eric trusts me and they fear me almost as much as they fear him. I just never noticed it before. It makes me sick to my stomach.

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When I see her she is sitting down on the ground and even though she is covered in dirt and has been chained in here for weeks, she still looks regal. She lifts her head as the door opens and her eyes widen when she sees that it’s me.

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“Give me the keys and leave us alone,” I command and he doesn’t hesitate to obey. Once we’re alone I kneel beside her and remove the shackles from her wrists. “I’m sorry Luna, I never meant for any of this to happen.”

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“Did you find her?” She asks and I look at her surprised. “Did you find Sadia?”

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“How did you know?” I ask, but then a sickening feeling comes over me and I know that she is the one who sent her there.

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“Eric nearly killed her that day, ripped her to pieces. I found her in the woods barely holding on and I had her taken to Isla Paleʻia.”

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“You staged her death?” My head is spinning, realizing she has known. “You watched me lose everything. How...how could you do that? You just watched me crumble and you let Zion suffer. Why didn’t you let me go with her? You had no right to do what you did.” I stare into her eyes and she looks solemnly back at me.

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“Eric has no conscience, no soul. His body has been ravaged by evil. He doesn’t even realize he is being manipulated by a much darker power that he can’t control. Sadia would have died had I not sent her away, along with your son. But, Eric didn’t care that she was gone. If you went missing? He would have noticed that. You are the one who he trusted, needed even. You are the one that has helped him get what he needs. Eric might be strong and powerful, but he isn’t smart. If I had sent you he would have noticed your absence, and he would have searched for you and killed to find you. I couldn’t risk the lives of all those people on Isla Paleʻia. I had to take a chance that someday things might change.”

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I try and process everything she’s saying, but there isn’t time for me to sort it all out. I push all my confusion and anger deep into my belly and get back to the task at hand.

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“We’re leaving. Eric has Leo and has requested that you join them. They are in Runnyford, so it will take some time to get there. I’ll take you to the cottage to clean up before we go, but we must leave as fast as possible.”

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She gasps and begins to tremble at the news, but she doesn’t say anything. We quickly leave the dungeon and dash through the forest. Once at the cottage, she is able to clean up, and it is remarkable how royal and poised she looks, even in jeans and a sweater she has a regal aura that is impossible to ignore.

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I grab a few things and before we head out the door she grabs my arm and tugs me back gently.

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“Was Sadia okay?,” Luna’s voice is soft and her eyes plead with me to tell her. An overwhelming feeling sweeps over me and I choke out an answer.

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“She is. I found her, and my boy. I’ve missed so much,” she pulls me into an embrace and holds me tight, “how can she ever forgive me for what I’ve done? Once she knows how much I helped Eric, how I closed my eyes and heart off from it all, how can I possibly be a father deserving of Ben? Zion barely forgave me.”

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She places her hands gently on my damp cheeks and smiles sadly. “You have been lost for a very long time. I know I’m a big part of that. I’m so very sorry to have hidden your family from you, but the alternative would have been so much worse. I’m so happy you found them, I assume they are still on the island?”

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“Yes, they are both there.” I shake my head and sigh heavily.

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“We need to find Leo, he is all that matters now,” she says and I couldn’t agree more after what I saw on the training grounds. If Eric isn’t stopped he will murder thousands of innocent people from every corner of the earth.

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We reach the hanger and Ru instantly kneels to Queen Aria when he sees her, she waves him up we climb onto the plane.

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“Ru, how long has it been since you flew?” She asks with a chuckle and he just smiles back as he flips a bunch of switches.

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“Just like riding a bike, Luna,” he says and then focuses back on me, “Set course for Runnyford?” he asks and Queen Aria answers first.

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“Ouvéa,” she suggests, “We have allies there, and they are powerful. They have remained free from Eric’s destruction because they are a force that he does not want to go against. Not until he builds his armies up more. They were loyal to Augusta.”

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“Ouvéa? Isn’t that where Gia and her clan reside?” I remember them coming to Augusta’s funeral. They are a vampire clan that has gained a lot of power over the years in both the north and south.

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“Yes, before Augusta’s death, we had a strong alliance. Over the years we have secretly stayed in touch.”

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“To Ouvéa then, we won’t have much time there Luna, but if you think they will be willing to help, we sure can use it.”

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Lucas’ POV

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The plane lands without any fanfare or drama, and waiting for us on the landing strip are four vans with the name “A Midnight Cleaning” written on the side and there’s a cartoon of a bat smiling and pushing a mop plastered underneath it.

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“Please, everyone get in. Each van will leave in a different direction from the airport, but we will all arrive at my family’s villa within the hour.” Odette takes the hand of one of the drivers as she climbs into the vehicle. Roman and I jump in with her along with Izzy and Alpha Jonathan.

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“A Midnight Cleaning?” Roman asks and looks at Odette with a grin and she chuckles.

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“Of course, we have a lovely little business going here. This is a tiny island, but our little company allows those of our kind who can’t go out during the day to provide a living for their families by night. A cleaning service for corporate offices once they have closed. It’s actually quite successful.” She seems proud of what her family has done here and I nod and agree.

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“When this is all over, it might be a nice business to franchise and bring back to our territories.” Roman leans back in his seat and all is quiet again until I hear Alpha Jonathan in my head.

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“I’m nervous. What if they don’t believe us? What if they don’t help us? Eric is possessed. He has no boundaries.”

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I nod, and let him know that we will do whatever it takes to end his reign. I also acknowledge the warning, and it makes me wonder what on earth happened that made Eric snap so completely. What makes him think he can take over everything around him? Thoughts like this swirl around my head until we finally stop in front of a large hill of some sort, and after looking closer I see that there is a home built into the side of a mountain.

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Our van is the first to arrive and once we are all out, Odette goes to open the front door of the odd house, but it flies open before she can touch it.

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“Odette, darling, it has been too long,” The woman is stunning, she looks exactly like Odette, but her hair is long and almost yellow, and she is dressed in gold whereas Odette is always dressed in silver. They hug tightly until two twin girls with golden hair and bright blue eyes come running out the door and each one attaches themselves to my friend.

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“Auntie Odette! It is simply marvelous to see you,” they say in unison.

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As we step further into the villa, there are several others there, all extending the same greeting, and clearly very happy to have visitors. When the other vans arrive, they are given a warm welcome as well, and Eli and Hunter are nearly trampled by the two little girls, each picks a girl up and spins them around, sending a wave of cheerful giggles through the cavernous entryway.

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“Alpha Roman, Beta Lucas, I would like you to meet my sister, Gia.” She smiles a bright smile and we realize very fast that she is a hugger.

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“It is an absolute delight to finally meet you,” she says, “Odette has told us so much about you both.”

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For the next hour, there are greetings, and food is ushered into the dining hall along with coffee and desserts. They have gone to a lot of trouble in a short period of time to ensure that we are welcomed with open arms, and once all of the fanfare calms down, our group is shown to their quarters and a smaller group of us return to the library where there is a roaring fire and soft classical music playing in the background. Candles light up most of the room as opposed to bright lights, and there are several books pulled out and opened on an ornate oak table.

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We settle into wide and comfortable chairs that are upholstered with dark blue and purple velvet, and strands of gold and silver are woven within them.

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“Where shall we begin,” Gia asks seriously as her council settles in. Odette takes the seat beside her and begins to explain what has happened. Several hours pass as we bring everyone up to speed and answer as many questions as we can.

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“I know you realize how critical Leo is, being mated to your daughter. He will eventually rule over every territory. When you step down your daughter and Leo will rule every single one. That is a very hefty responsibility and a dangerous one.” Gia comments and Roman acknowledges the reality. He has talked to me about it many times, and how much their lives will change if we ever get out of this mess.

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As we begin talking about the logistics of the morning one of Gia’s council walks into the room, “There is a car in the driveway,” he says and then hustles out along with several other members of her council.

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“Expecting someone?” I ask and before she answers Roman is already looking out the window.

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“Holy shit,” he says and quickly moves out of the room and towards the entryway. I peer through the window and my blood begins to boil at the sight of him. I move just as quickly and I pass Roman as I head for the front door.

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“Lucas, wait, hold on!” he calls to me but all I see and hear is red and I whip the front door open

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“You son of a bitch!” I take one look at Stefan, lunge toward him, and throw him to the ground hard. “You traitor piece of shit!” A blow lands on Stefan’s face and I get one more good one in before I feel arms pull me off of him.

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“Lucas, stop, hold on!” Roman yells at me and I struggle against him as he drags me away.

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“It’s his fault! He betrayed Aria, he betrayed Augusta! How could you? Leo is just a kid and you gave him to that monster! You have no idea what they’re doing to him,” I break free from Roman and again attempt to get my hands on that piece of shit but this time it’s a face I haven’t seen in a long time that stops me.

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“Luna Aria,” I instantly kneel before her and she places her hand on my head and asks me to stop.