Chapter Forty Two

Lucian

Another day slowly passes, which means I spent the entire day avoiding the sisters. Ever since Natalia came forward yesterday and admitted she has been alive this entire time, it has been a nightmare.

Emmeline had grabbed her hands and took her home, telling her she had all kinds of things to tell her. Natalia was hesitant at first, but realized we couldn't go anywhere, so where was the harm?

I returned to my parents' with Logan and my parents. There was nowhere else to go, and it's not like they couldn't find us. It is their realm, after all.

Huffing out a breath, I lie down on the wooden floors as Ma places some vegetables in the large pot on the wood stove.

"Lucian, honey, it's going to be okay. We will foil whatever they have planned and come out victorious. They'll reveal it soon, I'm sure. Emmeline is very chatty and can't keep secrets. We’re going home.”

Logan sits down at the table with a hard thud, scooting his chair closer to me. "Ma, this can't be good. There is no telling what all they have planned and didn't hint at. Look at what Natalia has done to poor Lucian. We can't even understand him, and he's trapped in his wolf form." He looks down at me and grimaces. "Well, a version of his wolf. He has a mate back home and they will not let him have a happily ever after."

"That is probably true, but we don't know what to do unless they slip up. Maybe we can get Emmeline alone and see if she'll say something. Natalia is frightening and the brains of the outfit as it is." Ma stirs the pot and adds a few chunks of meat from what Pa just brought in. "But getting her alone is going to be the issue. As much as I want to say, let's do this, I'm hesitant. There are so many things that could go wrong, and we can't risk dying."

Pa scoffs. "That's probably what they want. If we die, then they think they can do whatever they want to Lucian. My gosh, Ma, he's stuck in this form and can't even shift. He's been like this since we were last home and that was how many years ago? Poor Lucian has been roaming the woods since through all the storms and weather, all alone." He glances down at me. "Am I right?"

I nod my head up and down, then return to lying on the floor in my gloomy state. All their talk is just making me feel worse. I already know all of that, but to hear it out loud is so much worse.

It’s been two hundred years like this. Forever trapped as my twenty year old self.

All I want is my Lily. My mind wanders to when she tripped over a branch sticking out from the ground. I thought of approaching her from behind, and the bond did the rest.. My teeth grazed the back of her neck, and if it had been physical, I would have claimed her right then. I could hear Grandmother shuffling around inside the house. There were only seconds to hide and ensure she didn’t catch on to what was really going on.

Lily was too lost in the sensation to even realize I wasn't behind her when Grandmother swung the door open. I'll never forget the way Grandmother stared at her, and Lily went into a state of shock. It made me laugh.

After Lily was inside, Grandmother looked out toward the woods, searching for me as she shook her head. She knew I was the one responsible for her flustered state, but she didn't dare admit it.

No, Lily had been brainwashed by Nigel into fearing me, though she had never been taught to.

Sighing, I hear Logan calling my name again.

I raise my head up from the floor. What could they possibly say to me? It's not like I can talk to them or provide any kind of input.

Can't they just leave me to my daydreams about her? I just want to be home with her.

"Lucian, how soon do you think your mate will come?" Logan asks, then realizes I can't really answer that. "Well, do you think she will come?"

I nod my head yes.

"If she comes, does she have any powerful friends or witches?" He glances around, hoping for some good news.

I sit there for a moment, thinking about it. Lillian is a loner and only had her grandmother. If they think that is enough reinforcements, they are wrong. This time I shake my head no.

The hopeful smile turns into a frown. "This isn't good at all. I wish I could ask who all she has, but you won't be able to tell me a thing. Have I said how much I hate this curse lately? Because I really do. This is the worst."

He covers his face with his hands as he lies his head down on the table. I feel sorry for him, but I am used to this. The only person I can talk to was Lily, and she has made the loneliness disappear. Now, without her and the constant feel of her, I am all alone again, though I am surrounded by my family.

Ma continues to stir the stew absentmindedly as if she's trapped in thought. Pa sits at the table and leans back in the chair.

"As much as I'd like to have a solid plan, there's not much to plan. Lucian can't talk to us nor can we hear him, so this makes things very difficult. Without a way to plan everything, we're screwed. Emmeline and Natalia will eventually come back to gloat about their grand plan. All we know is that it has something to do with the curse that was cast upon them before they came to us." He props his elbows on the table and glances down at me.

My ears pin back to my head as I look up at him.

Logan looks behind him, his head still on the table. "If only we knew what you were thinking. You could write on the floor again, but I know it's difficult forming letters or drawing with your paws."

He had that right. Any type of drawing on the floor or dirt is hard to do with these enormous paws.

As if on cue, Emmeline bursts through the door carrying a basket full of freshly baked goods. "Hello, my lovelies. I have returned bearing gifts."

Ma turns with a look of disgust on her face. "Like we would accept something from the likes of you."

Emmeline's jaw drops open, feigning hurt. "Why would you say such a thing? It's not like I'm my sister. She's at home, by the way. It's not like there's anywhere for you to go, so she was fine hanging back and letting me come talk to you all."

Oh, how I wish she would just go away.

She looks down at me. "Is someone a pitiful puppy? Well, never fear. I come bearing news of your mate. Today, Corbin was this close to claiming her as his. Now, isn't that something? It almost looked like she wasn't going to resist, but someone knocked him out cold. It ruined the show."

I sit up, turning my head slightly toward her. What did you say?

"Oh, you heard me, Lucian. The call to mate is driving her insane. It won't be long now and she won't be able to resist. That means she won't get to you in time and you might as well accept your fate. She is the alpha of Dark Moon after all and what is an alpha without their mate? Corbin is the only one who can handle her.”

I swallow the lump forming in my throat as I realize how dire the situation is. If it has gone that far, then she may never come for me.

Emmeline drops the basket off on the table and frolics out the door, her skirts swishing back and forth right as she leaves.

My mouth hangs open as I look through the open door. Everything hits at once and I'm dazed. I knew Lillian was an alpha and would claim the pack eventually, but for her to claim the pack and now suffer the drive to take a mate sends me into a fit of rage.

I need to get home quick before her wolf completely takes over, and she does something she regrets. She needs me.

Ma's hand strokes down my back out of nowhere. "Are you okay? I know that must have been shocking news." She leans down, so she's at face level with me. "Lucian, any mate of yours will be stronger and she'll resist the call to take a mate. It's going to be fine. An alpha mate for you is going to match you. Fate doesn’t make mistakes.”

Fine? You call this fine? I'm stuck in another realm and my mate is about to take the lunatic who tormented her all her life as a mate. This couldn't be further from fine.

Her eyes widen as she hears a series of growls come out of me. "I don't know what you are saying, but I can assume it isn't pleasant. We have to stay positive. Please watch your words, too."

My ears snap back against the top of my head as another snarl comes out. It's not directed at her, but I can't help myself. All I want to do is tear something apart, preferably that witch.

Oh, the thought of her entrails hanging from her open stomach as I claw at her, tearing her apart, and her dying gasp coming from her lips is a beautiful thought. Yes, that thought sends chills down my spine.

Logan clears his throat and scoots his chair back from the table. "Well, we're sitting ducks. I know you said we can't plan anything, but do you think we should have some kind of contingency plan in place? Surely, it won't hurt. What are we going to do if they come back or use magic against us?"

Pa shakes his head. "Whatever we plan, they will expect it. You know how Emmeline always seems to know everything we talk about or think. I swear they can hear us."

"So, basically, you're telling me we're screwed? That's all I hear. Unless Lucian's alpha mate shows up and rectifies everything. It's going to take a miracle to save us all." Logan bangs his hand against the table. "Maybe it would be best if I offered myself to Emmeline. If I did, she could stop Natalia and maybe she'd let Lucian return to his human form."

My head swivels in his direction so fast that my head spins. He did not just say that.

Ma gasps. "No, we're not going down that road. You are not offering yourself as a mate to Emmeline. Not happening. No. We will figure out another way."

Pa jumps up from the table in a fit of rage. "I told you already that we will do something, but we have to be careful. There is too much at stake."

I finally stand slowly and head toward the door. They all glance over at me.

"Lucian, where are you going?" Ma calls out, her hand outstretched as if to stop me.

I shake my head as I look at them one last time. There is no need to tell them where I am going. They will just try to stop me and it's not like they can hear me, anyway.

Today, this ends. I'll do whatever Natalia asks, so they can be free, and we can leave this realm. I bolt out the door without looking behind me. They call after me, but I just keep moving forward.

My heart thudded in my chest as I went over the plan one last time.

As I find Natalia, she's not at Emmeline's house. She's standing in the middle of the woods close to Ma's and Pa's place. It's unsettling to know how close she's been without us noticing.

"Ah, you came. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. You are finally ready to accept a deal with me.”

How do you know that?

"I can hear your thoughts, just like Emmeline can. Now, tell me Lucian. Have you come to make a deal? I don't have all day and soon there will be things that take my focus from this." She glances in my direction and laughs. "Your mind is made up, so why not tell me what this grand plan of yours is? Save your family? Return to the realm we once lived in? Just spit it out."

Fine, I wish for all of us to return home. Let my family go and I'll do what you ask.

"Oh, is that so? Are you giving up on your fated mate?" She stalks closer, magic swirling between her fingers in black tendrils. "I can send them back easily, but it will require something more from you."

Part of me feels like I am by doing this. Lillian is already the alpha and I’m sure Corbin may claim her before I see her again. I close my eyes, a single tear sliding down my cheek as my heart aches for her.

In the end, I have to save myself and my family.

What more do you want? You've already cursed me to this life. I haven't seen my human body in two hundred years. And my mate is possibly going to be mated to Corbin, one of your descendants. There's not much else you can do to me. My heart has already been ripped out and turned to dust.

She smirks. "Well, there is something else. You never took me as yours and nothing is holding you back now. So why not?"

Anything but that. Even if Lillian is taken by Corbin, I can always challenge him. I can't if I take a mate.

"What if I told you it was too late to save Lillian from her fate because she's already decided? You know the only way to break up a chosen mating is for one to die. I know there are some technicalities if it's a chosen versus fated, but I don’t think you can just challenge him. It's time for you to choose your own fate, Lucian. Maybe if you don't take me as your mate, you will consider being my servant. I promise to be a good master." She stares at me, her left brow raised as she studies me. "It won't be bad and I can even ease your burdens. Like your memory. All in exchange for freeing everyone from this realm. It's your decision Lucian."

Every thought that can pass through my mind does. It's like I'm seeing everything at once. If I take this deal, my family is free, but it will cost me everything. I can never claim Lillian or save her from Corbin. I won't recognize my family because she'd take my memories to make it easier for me. None of this sounds like a good deal.

"Oh, I promise you it won't be that bad. Having your memories erased makes you free. Plus, if you take this deal, then maybe I can help you become a man again." She comes closer to me, tracing her hand across the top of my head.

I recoil from her and try to move away. Nope. I don't know about any of this.

"What's there to know, Lucian? Just take the deal and it all goes away."

Natalia stiffens, her hand still outstretched as she looks into the woods. At first, she looks concerned, but then it fades and is replaced with something else. A smirk forms, pulling at the edge of her rosy lips. "Oh, this will be beautiful. So, what do you say, Lucian? Freedom for everyone in exchange for your servitude? What more do you have?"

I glance behind me, but I'm not sure what is going on. You promise they'll be free? If so, then yes.

"They'll be free."

I bow my head in agreement just as I hear Lillian's voice calling out behind me. But when I turn, I don’t see her.