CHAPTER 19: CHOICES AND SACRIFICES

LOUISA

I wake up in a start and for a long second, I remain still, trying to figure out what had woken me up.

It is already morning, but not early enough for the sun rays to start peeking through the windows.

It had taken me a long time to fall asleep last night. Between being in a new place -a pack, to be exact-, having my children so close to Travis, and then that fight with Tammy, it is a wonder I had managed to even get some shut eye.

I hear it again

The knock.

It must have been what had woken me up.

Without hesitation, I get out of the bed, quietly so as not to wake the kids, and quickly make my way to the door

Another knock begins to sound just as I pull the door open.

It is Tammy.

“Oh,” I gasp in relief. Glad that she had decided to come back. “I am so glad you came back,” I rush to say. “I didn't like how we left things last night. Why don't you come in, so that we can-”

“I am not here to talk,” she says, cutting me off sharply.

Well, damn. She is still angry.

“Well, what did you expect?” Gabby, my wolf mutters in my head.

“Shut up,” I say to her before focusing on Tammy. “Okay… then why are you here?” I ask her. “Not that I am annoyed that you are here… I am just… confused.”

“I need you to get dressed and come with me,” she replies. “You have guests. Hurry up?”

“Guests?” I ask confused. “What do you mean by guests? Who could possibly come visit me here? No one knows that I am here.”

“Gaines does.”

“Okay, maybe. But something tells me Travis will not let him see me, much less send you to come get me ready.”

“You are right. It is not Gaines. It is your parents.”

Fuck.

At her words, it is like my whole world comes to a stand still.

“My parents? Are you sure?”

“I am pretty sure I remember your parents and how they look. Our scouts saw them heading this way yesterday and by this morning, they were already on the pack's borders. They should be arriving in less than an hour.”

“Oh,” I let out a silent gasp. “Oh boy.”

My parents. I haven't seen them since that day… since I pushed my father out of the window.

Since the day my life took a drastic turn.

Over the years, my thoughts had wandered back to them. What would have happened if I had just stayed in my bed that morning?

What was going on with my mother?

Was she safe?

Was she okay?

Was she… alive?

Over the years I have managed to silence those questions, those doubts, and look forward

For myself and my kids.

For my sanity

But here… now… I am being told that I am about to see them again. See her again. And I have no clue how to react.

I am terrified.

Scared and hopeful.

And then reality hits and my brain supplies the reason they are coming.

They are coming for me.

Not because they are worried or in for a reunion.

No. This was Gaines doing.

Travis has rebuffed him, stopped him from coming to get me, and now… now he uses the wolf law as a loophole.

I might be a rogue and no longer any alpha's authority, but I had not renounced my family and as such, my parents still have rights over me.

A right I am sure he plans on using to get me back into his pack.

Except, I have no desire to go back. But if I don't… he will be pissed and he will transfer that aggression to my father and then he will pass it on to my mother. My mother… she will be blamed for this.

“What am I going to do?” I whisper as I crouch down, my head in my hands.

“Lou? What's wrong?”

“You know why they are coming here,” I whisper without lifting my head. “They want to take me away.”

“I thought you didn't want to stay.”

“Don't be like that!” I snap at her as I straighten up. “This is an entirely different thing from what we discussed. They want to take me back to Gaines. To that pack. To that slavery. I can't do that.”

“Then don't,” she replies. “Renounce them as your family and they will have no right over you.”

“I know… but if I do that… What happens to my mother? You know how abusive the men in the pack can be. They will take it out on my mother and I can't… I can't stand that. Oh, what do I do, Tammy? I can't return to them. Not after all this time. It will be hell for me. And my kids… oh my poor kids. I just can't, Tammy. But how do I then save my mother from this? What can I do?”

“You are right,” she murmurs. “This is a big issue. A problem really. But like all problems, it has a solution. The issue is, are you willing to accept it? You might not like it.”

“What is the solution?”

“If you don't want your mother to become the scapegoat for your actions, you can get her to escape her pack. Renounce her ties to the Blood Moon Pack.”

“And then what?!” I demand. “Have her become a rogue with me? It will never work. They will find us.”

“Maybe. Or… you can ask Travis to accept her into the pack.”

“What?”

“If she pleads for asylum from another pack, the alpha can grant it.”

“But-”

“The only condition is, he has to have a reason to let her stay. So, I will ask you again, Lou. Are you willing to make the sacrifice for your mother? Can you inconvenience yourself just a little, to ensure her safety? Will you finally agree to stay here with us?”

Well, damn.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: HI MY LOVELIES. JUST CHECKING UP ON YOU? STILL INTERESTED IN HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS. KISSES