Ghosts that we know

Chapter song: Ghosts that we know by Mumford and Sons

Harper

It was 11 years ago that Roma came on to the Emerald territory to see and collect her daughter Lottie. My dad passed away a year after that. We went to war hard on those disgusting vampires. Both the Emerald pack and the Wiccans joined forces to vanquish every single last one of the leeches. The day the war ended was the day I lost my father.

Roma and her coven aided us in protection spells and were able to create sunshine in order to flush out the vampires from their dark, gloomy hideouts. We spent a few months with Roma and her people scying for locations of vampire nests and feeding dens within our lands. It was a brutal war - on their side. We were left unscathed, thankfully due to the power Roma and her coven were able to use.

Once the last vampire was slain, my father sat down on a rock and looked up to the sky as it grew darker. He closed his eyes and sighed.

*Harper*

*Dad, what's wrong* I linked back.

*Nothin, my sweet, but it's time*

I ran over to him. "Dad! what's wrong??" I screamed. "Sshh Harper, jeez - I'm not deaf sweetheart." he said, chuckling. I knelt down in front of him, scanning his weary face for any injuries.

"Harper Knight, stop looking at me like that. I'm not injured, but my darling girl, it is time. Now listen to me." he said as he held my face and looked into my eyes. "My darling daughter, you are more than I could ever have hoped for. Thanks to you, we have peace. You are not only my perfect daughter, but the leader this family needs to strive and be extraordinary. Never doubt yourself, and remember that I will always be with you, watching and guiding you. "

Tears streamed down my face, knowing what was happening. "Dad, you can't leave me, I need you!" I sobbed. "No, my sweet. I will always be in your heart , but it's time to let me go to the Moon Goddess. To your mum, so we can both watch over you. It's time. " He hugged me tightly and closed his eyes, taking his final breath before falling into my arms.

"Daddy, no," I cried as I held him.

He was gone.

I laid him down as my grief caused me to shift. My auburn wolf was now howling her grief to the moon as tears flowed down her fur. All of my pack stopped and looked at me. As they saw my father lying peacefully, each one shifted, howling for their former Alpha. The coven members knelt down and bowed their heads in prayer.

My dad was gone.

Thinking of that night made the hole in my heart grow a little bit bigger. He raised me with love and the value of life, and I would always be grateful to him for everything he did for me.

You may be wondering why I have never mentioned my mum.....Well - I never knew my mum. She passed away during my birth. My father almost lost himself that day. Wolves mate for life and the loss of a mate can rip you apart and either kill you or drive you insane. My dad told me that it was because of me that he didn't fall. He has a piece of his mate in me, and for that, he was truly thankful.

I live my life now for both of them and know they are smiling down on me and guiding me in my life.

I walk in the summer sun to the Warrior grave yard with a blanket in hand. I stop and read the inscription in the stone. Caden Knight - Loving Father - Protector - Alpha - Always in our hearts, forever in the moon. I traced the letters of each word with my finger, and I sighed, missing him so much.

I laid the blanket down and sat in front of the stone. A picture of my dad stared back at me. "Hey, Daddy," I said as a lone tear rolled down my cheek. I heard a crunch, and my wolf senses were on alert. Something was coming. I looked to the forest, waiting. Suddenly into the clearing, walked Lottie, holding some wild flowers in her hand. I calmed myself and smiled, getting up to meet her. I hugged her close. "Lottie," I whispered. She hugged me back tightly. "Hi Harper, I knew you would be here. I have these for your dad, and I have something for you too, " she said as she let go.

She turned and placed the flowers on the ground. "Hey Daddy Caden," she whispered. From the age of 6, Lottie had always called my dad 'Daddy Caden'. I didn't even mind. Lottie was like a sister to me, and as she didn't have a father in her life, my dad quickly became one to her.

She took a deep breath as she touched the stone in front of her. "Da formam huic militi regni lapso et permitted I iterum loqui as sanguinem sanguinus sui" she whispers and stands up.

"Lottie? what was that?" I asked. She just smiled and pointed behind me as she walked off.

"Hi honey,"

I spun round as the voice behind me filled my eyes with tears. "Daddy?" I sobbed, running to him. He was here! Whatever she did, whatever she said made my father appear. I hugged him as the tears fell down my cheeks. "Daddy, you're here! how?" I asked as I led him to the blanket.

"Oh my darling, I've missed you. Lottie called out to me last night and asked if I would be up for a visit. Unfortunately, she can only do this spell once"

I didn't care. I was just so happy to be able to see him again. I smiled at him and touched his face as happy tears leaked from my eyes.

He took my hands and kissed them both, smiling at me. "Harper, there are things I need to tell you. I can't stay for very long, but you need to hear me on this"

I look at him with a questioning look. "What's up, dad?" I asked as he looked worried. "Honey, I know what you've done, and it has to stop now. You can't live your life like this. "

CRAP!

After my dad passed, I asked Roma and Nicolas to put a protection spell on my heart so I would never have to know the pain of losing a mate. The spell allows my scent to be unnoticeable to my mate and visa versa. Even though it goes against the Moon Goddesses plan for each of her children, I just couldn't go through that, not after hearing of the pain it causes.

"Dad, it's OK, I'm OK, I promise," I said, smiling at him so he won't have to worry. "Oh, I know you're OK, Harper, but as payment for me coming here today for you, Lottie is removing the spell, and if she doesn't, I'm going to haunt her ass!" he said. With such a serious look on his face, I just laughed. The thought of my dad haunting a Wiccan just tickled me to pieces!

"Alright, alright," he said, laughing. "Look, Harper, I know losing a mate hurts, but having one, my goddess, it's the most wonderful thing in this life or the next. Trust me, Harper, you can't live a life without love. It will make you bitter. And let's not forget the love that children can bring to your life too. Now," he said, "Lottie is removing the spell, but it takes time to fully be lifted. You have until the Winter Solstice before your heart will be unprotected. "

I couldn't believe it! What has my dad done?! Despite the fact that I was royally pissed at the situation, I couldn't be mad at him. He said he would guide me, and that was what he was doing. Next week is the Summer Solstice and the Solstice Masked ball, so at least I will be OK for that.

I nodded my head to my dad in agreement and rested my head on his lap. "I missed you, dad," I sighed. "I missed you too, honey," he replied, stroking my hair, just like he did when I was little. Feeling warm in the sun and being with my dad again, settled me, and I felt my mind relax, and I drifted off to sleep, feeling his fingers still stroking my hair.