Chapter 8: The Emotional Fall

"Crying is alright in its way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do."

-C.S Lewis-

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“Mother still refuses to come out from her room. It has been two days since the last time she had anything to eat. I am afraid if she continues acting like this she will eventually fall ill.” Beatrix expressed her concern to a trusted maid in the house who was preparing her dinner at the moment. For some reason, the dining table felt so empty.

Since the news of her brother going missing, assumedly dead, Cordelia had been staying in her room mourning for her son. She refused to meet anyone and had not taken a bit of anything. Even the water they brought to her room was barely touched.

On the other hand, her other brother, Reinhart, had been depressed since he was the reason Maximillian disappeared. He had a terrible nightmare on the first night after the incident and could not bring himself to face anyone from the pack because he was so humiliated by himself. The man also locked himself in his room, fortunately, unlike their mother, he was still taking his meals, but beside that the man was also dysfunctional.

Beatrix was only sixteen, she could not run the household properly, so the entire time, they had been asking Jayden help with the pack. Since he was the beta, he could handle the usual work Maxi would do when he was around.

Their gamma Wade has also been a huge help, but still, they needed to quickly find Maxi before people started to get uneasy. If they could not find him after two weeks, they would declare him dead. In that moment, they would definitely go and select a new alpha.

Reinhart could not possibly replace his brother because he did not have the same strength and respect Maxi did with the rest of the pack as he was more introverted, although he could potentially gain the title due to his bloodline, he would not be as acknowledged by the pack as the alpha considering he was not that brilliant at combat as well. Besides, the news of the cause for the alpha’s missing was well known among the pack.

People have been whispering about it and though they would never bring it to his face, Reinhart knew the people secretly blamed him. Although Alpha Maxi was cruel and known to be cold hearted to his enemies, he was deeply loved and respected by the pack due to his natural leadership nature. If someone on Reinhart’s position was to replace him, a civil war would be broken among the pack.

At times like that, Beatrix needed to bring in someone who was capable of handling the matter within the family, since the beta and gamma could only take care of the pack and not the family problems, she invited someone to come over and helped them.

Just then, one of the guard rushed in and announced the person’s arrival. Beatrix smiled and ordered him to let her in. Soon after, sounds of footsteps approached the dining room and she turned her head to find a beautiful woman standing there wearing the finest cashmere and silk gown. She had a few layers of jewelries on her neck and fingers.

The woman’s piercing blue eyes glowed in contrast to her raven hair. The resemblance she bore to Alpha Maxi was incredible. Of course, the woman who could solve the matter within the family…

Was none other than the Dravos second eldest descendant, Esther Dravos. She was born just one year after Maxi was born, making her the next in line for the alpha position. However, that place has long been closed for her since she was married off to the alpha from Golden Eye clan as a way to ensure peace between the two clan and expanded the clan’s alliance.

The elegant woman was known for her mystical beauty and regal manner. Sometimes she evoked a more sophisticated aura compared to anyone else in the family. Besides that, she was also highly intelligent and incredibly good at the art of negotiation. With her kind and fair heart, Beatrix could not find anyone more suitable to be called at the time than her older sister.

The blonde young girl left her seat to approach her. She gave her sister a huge hug since they had not met in quite a while. As the luna of another clan, she was quite busy with her own works and responsibility. However, the moment she heard about what happened to her family, she quickly took a break from her duty to take care of this matter and used it as an opportunity to see her family.

At first, her husband, the alpha of the Golden Eye clan, Stephen Wickhelm hesitated to allow her departure since she did not disclose the real matter to them due to her will on preventing chaos and only stated she needed to go because of an urgent family matter.

Yet everyone knew, no one could really forbid her from doing anything, after all, as a luna, although not the official mate of the alpha, she was equally as powerful as he was.

“Everything is a mess around here, big sis. Both mother and Reinhart has been locking themselves in the room. I am worried if it continues like this, our family’s legacy and authority might be in danger. I am only sixteen, I don’t know what I am supposed to do in this situation. That’s why I ask for your help.” She confessed with a defeated expression.

Upon seeing her younger sister at such state, she placed her index finger underneath Beatrix’s chin and lifted it up so their eyes were in line with each other.

“Listen here, Beatrix. Don’t let your young age discourage you from doing what you feel like is right to be done at the moment. This family might have overlooked you because you are the youngest, but I can tell, deep inside those eyes is a brave, skilled woman who’s devoted to her family and pack. You just need more confidence and training, soon enough you will be a great warrior for this pack.” She stated with a smile.

Here words were not merely any empty words, she had uttered those words with absolute confidence. There was a reason why she became her favorite sibling. Being surrounded by men and her hopeless mother as the only reliable female figure in her life was not doing much favor for Beatrix, but the words of encouragement from Esther had lifted up her spirit.

“Now I will see mother first, I will persuade her to have dinner with us, afterward I will visit our brother and have a talk with him.” She stated as she walked toward their mother’s bedroom. From outside she could hear the sobbing sound coming from her mother’s lips. With a polite knock, she asked if she could come in.

“This is me, Esther.” Cordelia who had her face buried on her knees lifted up her face as soon as she heard her daughter’s name. She quickly rushed to open the door and found Esther in all her glory standing before her. The frown on her face was quickly replaced by a smile as she pulled her daughter into a close embrace.

“Oh, Esther, I have missed you so much.” She cried all of her tears on her daughter’s shoulder. Esther who was more mature than Cordelia in personality tapped her back to comfort her. It must have been tough for her to receive the news. Even Esther herself could not believe it when they delivered it to her.

“Mother, why don’t we go inside, I have a few things I wish to tell you.” Cordelia pulled herself away and nodded. The two of them sat on the bed and Esther started to convey a theory she had been thinking about for the past few days.

“I have heard about what happened with Maxi. I was shocked when I first heard it, however, I have been having this feeling that he is not dead, mother. My brother is much stronger than we think. If he was dead, then surely I would feel it as we are connected to each other. I have not received any ill feelings recently, thus I believe that he is still out there somewhere. We just need to find him.” She assured.

Cordelia had been feeling hopeless since it had been two days and he had yet to return, she was starting to believe that her son was actually dead. However, after hearing those words coming from her daughter’s lips, she did not know why but she suddenly felt calm, as if her words were true even though no one could confirm it.

“Do you really think so, Esther? Everyone is almost certain he is dead at this point.” Cordelia argued even though she was starting to get convinced that her son was still alive,

“I am sure mother. We do not need to worry too much, I am sure Maxi would return to us soon. What we need to worry about right now is what’s right in front of us.” Cordelia did not understand what her daughter meant. Esther picked it up and sighed.

“I am talking about Reinhart, mother.” She grabbed her mother’s hand and held it tightly while staring deep into her eyes.

“We need to talk with him.”