Chapter 100
Xander POV
_______[F k
༥༣ན
Lifting Serafine, I hold her against me and look toward Killian.
“I’ve got the baby, he’s safe,” he says, and I nod.
Walking through the halls, I ignore the groans of people dying and focus on one thing. Getting home, getting Serafine safe, getting her clean. As I step outside, the area is in chaos, people are crying and scrambling about.
“People are asking what to do,” Garrick says as he walks toward me.
“Whatever they want,” I say with a shrug as I continue to walk. “I need to get Serafine somewhere safe.”
She needs to heal.
“Xander. I get you are worried for Serafine, but you can’t just tell the pack to do what they want, then leave,” Garrick glares at me.
I can, many of them knew what Gideon was doing and didn’t care. They were all too happy to let him destroy packs, so why should I care?
Some are innocent, though.
“Fine,” I mutter and step forward.
a
“You have choices, you can move to other packs that don’t treat you like slaves, drug you to withhold your wolf, or you can alpha for the pack.”
Everyone stands quietly and watches me.
stay here and find a new
“No one is forcing you to stay or leave; you decide. If you choose a new Alpha, ensure it’s someone who can effectively lead the pack. You’re welcome at my pack, but I will not allow the behaviour Gideon did.”
There, done. Turning, I walk to the car and climb in, still holding Serafine against me.
“How is she?” Killian asks, and I shrug.
“No idea.” I don’t know. What I do know, though, is she looks different. Something about her is different, and it’s not simply because she’s had a child. She looks so different. It’s good, though, despite the bruises and marks, she looks good.
“A quick check of the baby was carried out, and he seems fine. She called him Eryx,” Killian explains.
Eryx, it’s a unique name, deep and meaningful. If he’s like his name, he will be strong and a great warrior.
“When we get back, put extra patrols across the borders.”
Garrick stares at me. “Why?”
*
“Because something tells me that everyone knowing who Serafine is won’t go well. People will want to exploit her, and if they find out about Eryx, more people will want to.
“What if she decides to leave?” Killian’s words have my body go cold.
“She won’t.” I won’t let her; I’ll make sure she’s aware that I’m sorry. “I’ll make her see what I did, what happened was wrong.”
He looks at me like I’m crazy, maybe I am, but I have to make sure she knows I’m sorry. Surely she won’t leave? Now that I know about Eryx and she knows I do, surely that means she will stay?
Ghapter 100
She doesn’t seem like the kind to take a child and hide it from its lather, even if he deserves it, which I do in so many ways.
The drive back to the pack is quiet and takes hours. Serafine sleeps for most of it, waking when Eryx cries and settling him herself. When we finally get to the pack, she’s asleep again. I carry her through and place her in the bed, ensuring Eryx is close by her.
“Get a maid in here, please,” I say as I turn to face Killian.
Nodding, he walks off. I can’t stay here, I need to give her space, I also need to ensure everything is secure now we’re back.
“The Guardians aren’t going back to the spot; they’re lingering outside the house.” Garrick walks into the room. “They don’t seem willing to go that far away from Eryx or Serafine.”
“Leave them, if them been closer and it’s safe, then let them stay close, if they want to sleep in the room with them, let it happen.”
He sighs and looks at me like I’m crazy, but I’m not. I know it’s not ideal, but if it keeps Serafine and Eryx safe, I don’t care.
“While this pack is supportive, there’s nothing stopping someone from reacting to her and this. I want them safe, Garrick, so leave the Guardians, let them roam freely.”
The maid steps into the room and nods at me. “Alpha.”
“Stay here, if she needs to rest, care for Eryx; he needs to stay in the room with her, do not remove him!” I order.
“I will ensure he stays in here.” She smiles and goes to stand in the corner.
Turning to leave, I stop. Walking to the side unit, I pick up the journals. “Where did these come from?” I ask.
She took the Threadborn journal with her. How did it get back here?
“We didn’t know they were here, Alpha,” the maid says quietly, and I nod. Placing them down, I walk out and go to the war room. Garrick and Killian join me, and I look across at the maps.
“Do we really need more people protecting the pack? We have the guardians.” Garrick sits down and faces me.
“The guardians will protect Serafine and Eryx, no one else. I had no choice but to show what changes I’ve had. People are not just going to accept this.” I walk around the map and look at our weakest points.
“People won’t care,” Garrick argues.
“They will! This is something I’ve never heard of, so many haven’t heard of it. That brings fear, then there are those who know and believe it was an old tale and not true. We need to be safe.”
“Beside her shifter and yours, what’s actually different or a threat? Nothing,” Garrick snaps.
“That we know of! Gideon wanted them for a reason, he believed they had something that was useful to him. All it takes is one person, someone he told
knows.” and then everyone
Sighing, I rub my face and look down.
“We’ve no idea what Serafine and Eryx are, no idea of what they are capable of either. The fact that Gideon was able to figure out Eryx’s blood can silence wolves is an issue.” I don’t want any risks going forward. People might see it as overreacting, but something tells me Gideon was nothing in comparison to what could go wrong.
“Okay, let’s get this planned out then.” Garrick moves over and looks across at the maps. Now I just need to make sure that she’s safe and realises I’m sorry for how I treated her.
