Chapter 8

I stood still for a while, I grimaced, and walked out of the tent. Finn called out to me and waved but I walked past him without looking in this direction. 

Why did I go to Ophelia? Damnit! I said in my mind. Yet, my thoughts were telling me she was right. I didn't know how to start telling Casper about the migration, and then about Aurelius. 

The thoughts in my head were like a heavy load on my head. I got close to the tent and stood outside for a while. I curled my fingers into a fist and rubbed my thumb by the side of my knuckles. I pressed my lips together and breathed in and out multiple times. 

"Let's just do it." 

I got into the tent, the light was still on, and Casper was lying down where he was in the same position he was when I left. 

"Casey..." I called him like I used to when he was a baby, but he did not respond. I sat down on his bed right behind him. "Casey..." He didn't answer. 

"I know I didn't take your side. I am not here to justify my actions, I'm only here to speak with you. Please, sit, let's talk." 

I knew he wasn't sleeping so I didn't move to touch him though he lay still like he was asleep. I knew Casper for that. 

He lifted his body from the bed slowly but backed me. "Are you so offended that you can't look at my face?"

"Say what you have to say, Mom. It's close to my bedtime, and I have work to do tomorrow." 

"Okay. Like I said, I am not here to justify my actions towards you, as a mother. I was supposed to see that you were trying to stop people from disrespecting me, but I didn't want the people turning their backs on me and turning their backs on you.? Are you allowing those Lycan princesses they call you to get to you?" He retorted, turning to face me. "Let me tell you, Mom; that's not a thing."

"Finally, you turn to look at me." He lowered his face, pointing his glaring eyes at his curled feet. 

"The truth is that we are leaving this place soon. Very soon... You and I, and the people. We are going to the Lycan region to get a better place for ourselves."

"What?!" he exclaimed with wide eyes, his furrowed brow sagging down to his eyes. "What the hell is going on?! Do you know how dangerous it is to cross the wilderness?" 

"Okay. Okay, fine, we get out of the woods and arrive at the Lycan region. Some Alphas claim land in that region. Where are we going to live? Who brought up this idea? I strongly believe it will be Tyrion." 

"Hey, watch what you say about Tyrion."

"Sorry about that, I know... I don't mean to disrespect him, he's my godfather, but how do you want us to live?"

Casper's tone was irritating me, but I had to exercise as much patience as I could to avoid messing up the reason I brought up the conversation. 

"Please, calm down and listen." He relaxed his chest and gazed at me, I felt a bit excited that he had finally decided to look at me without ranting. 

"By inheritance, there is a landmass of over a thousand square kilometers tied to my name as an heir of the Pelagsus family. So even if I am not struggling with the other alphas for the throne, my land is legally mine because my grandfather bought it in gold." 

Casper was quiet for a few seconds, then he said, "What about the reason why we are all together? How sure are we that alphas won't ride on Omegas again?"

"That shouldn't be your problem. We all know how the Lycan region is, I know they have a system that we aren't against, and with time we will all correct that. But before we are strong enough to fight against their system we will all adjust when we get there..."

Casper was shaking his head while I was still talking and I knew he wasn't going to listen. "Everyone knows this, they are all ready for it..." 

"Why are we leaving here? This place is okay for us. We are safe here, we are free here. Why the hell are we leaving?"

"Casper. A wilderness is not a home, it's a hiding place. Everyone here came through exile or banishment, but now we are all going back home." 

"And, I also think it is high time you know this. Before I came here I was enticed by an alpha. I thought he loved me, but when I turned eighteen and was ready to have a mate, he raped me and threw me out of the castle like I was a piece of garbage..." 

"I ran out of the pack in shame and came to the wilderness where I was attacked by Osiris' men, but Tyrion rescued me. I found out I was pregnant and that's how you came."

Casper stood up quietly, his eyes fixated on me, and he had a hint of disbelief. I walked up to him on my knees and held his hand.

"That alpha is alive in the Lycan region, right?" He asked in a very low tone. "And you are telling me about him now because I might see him when we get there, right?"

"That's not true. I wanted to tell you..."

"Stop it, Mom, stop it!" He pulled his hands away from me. "I am not a child, and I am not too little to know you care about yourself alone." 

He walked out forcefully from the tent. I ran after him but he couldn't let me touch him. I stood by the exit of the tent and watched him vanish from my sight. He always runs with an extraordinary speed, faster than any lycan I've ever seen.

"Casper!!!" I screamed and knelt on the ground, crying my heart out.