Chapter 113: Chapter 114: Varro

The dark swirls around me like an oppressive, heavy cloak and I stand motionless, aware of bodies

close behind me as we wait in the unearthly still. The sound of labored breathing, suppressed snarls,

and growls, as my flank of wolves grows to stand in a uniformed mass of protection.

“Lorey.” The familiar voice, followed by a swoop and gentle thud as my mate lands beside me in

perfect poise. Appearing as if by magic. His hand skimming the back of my hair with gentle

precision as a show of affection, and he takes a second to focus everything on me with a pause as

he checks me over. Appearing from beyond the veil of shadows and trees and I'm instantly calmer,

relieved at his presence. Less afraid when he’s by my side.

“Where have you been?” I whisper at him under my breath, not giving him a second to talk or

question me; eyes still fixed on the emptiness as I await Jasper's reappearance. The vampires have

all fallen back, leaving us out here as though standing on a stage and waiting on the curtain to rise.

It's a freakish still in the storm and a feeling that has me on edge, drowning in senses as my ability

to feel the vampires overpowers me. They're still close enough to make me antsy. My heart's

pounding through my chest with the heaviness of my own anxiety, trying not to fidget as we wait

for the appearance of the man who can end this tonight.

“Fighting, trying to keep the valley wolves alive. There are so many of them and so few of us.” He

shifts around me, eyes all over my body as he checks for anything untoward once more, not

satisfied with his first appraisal. Always protective, always caring, and then places his palm on the

small of my back and pulls me to his side so our bodies touch.

I throw a look up at him and can already tell by his scrapes and mud slick body that’ he’s been

having a rough time in the valley. His wounds are slow to heal due to the frequency, so he's covered

in marks and grazes. His hair is messy, his eyes still glowing amber while in human form and I can

feel the adrenaline pumping through him like hot lava.

“Have we lost many?” I try and keep my tone inaudible to the nearby wolves as my mate casts a

quick glance back at them, instantly uncomfortable and shifts on his feet. His reluctance to answer is

obvious.

"Hmmmm" it's a short and empty reply, but it speaks volumes to me. He knows it will ruin the

morale of the ones closest and word would spread fast that many have died already. I don’t want to

know how many are gone either; I don't think I can handle seeing Varro if I know just how many

lives have been pointlessly lost tonight. I would hate him before I can even talk to him and it would

color everything that came out of my mouth. I push it away as best I can and try to focus on the

here and now.

"Where's Meadow and the subs?” I change the topic and scan the dark again, yet the only faces I

see are those who were already here, patiently waiting, and in the back of my mind I wonder where

Juan is. He merged into the mess after the imprinting and he’s nowhere to be seen. Not that I care,

as he has nowhere to run, and I am quietly confident that once Varro decides to pinpoint him, then

he will be caught quickly. We no longer need to protect him, so everything has changed. Juan can

try and escape this night, but fate brought us all together for this reason.

“Split up, spread thin. They are some of our best, so they went where needed. Without being able to

link, I can't be sure.”

My gut sinks and flips and I'm suddenly deflated and even more scared with that fact we have no

contact with our most trusted. This is a mess. Our pack is disorganized without our ability to link

and judging by Colton’s labored breathing, his gifts and strength are fading the longer we are out

here. Objectively I know that if we keep going with this fight, we will lose. We never imagined it

could even get this way.

“Carmen?” Colton flicks his glance to my side, devoid of her and only flanked by my guards. She

swore to him to protect me and yet his furrowed brow and icy glare tell me he isn't pleased she's

absent.

“Busy trying to disarm the sound for us, where I told her to go.” I nod towards the house and yet

Colton’s head stops as he scans the faces to my left. His eyes suddenly coming to rest on something

of interest that sparks a facial response; they open in shock and then something warmer as his

muscles relax and I spot a hint of a smile.

I turn around and catch sight of Sierra propping Radar up on her shoulder, her fingers tracing his

face to make sure he's recovering, and the look of utter adoration cannot be missed. Radar has his

arm around her shoulder possessively, in a way that screams “mine’ and Colton isn't slow on the

uptake. He nods in their direction, looking for clarification, but I can only shake my head for now

and cast him a look that means “later’. I don't want to recount that story or talk; I am barely keeping

my body in check as nerves eat away at me. Colton falls back into line with me, sighing with

agreement, and fixes his eyes back on the empty space before us.

My palms are clammy, my heart rate elevating and my legs turning to Jell-O the longer we wait

here. It's a form of torture to wait on the unknown to play out. Knowing I am going to face off the

father I never knew and attempt to salvage what is left of the Santo pack, it's a huge deal and my

emotions are all over the place.

Leyanne disappeared with Jasper to go summon Varro and left us standing here in this deafening

anticipation. I know word would have travelled to surrounding wolves’ mouth to mouth that I was

waiting here to meet with him, so I know that's why Colton appeared. He would have questioned

the sudden retreat of those foul creatures and heard I was standing alone awaiting him. True to his

nature, he came to me in a flash.

“You're okay though? No harm, no one touched you? You aren't tired, dizzy, needing to lay down?”

Colton brings his attention back to me, scanning me with that quick eye and I nod at him,

completely distracted. I know he knew the answer to that the second he landed beside me, but he

still has to ask. His eyes and emotion sensors all over me because he knows emotionally I am all

over the place concerning Varro. He's trying to fill the silence in the only way he knows how.

“Hmmm...... I'm just sick of waiting. It's been fifteen minutes, where are they?"

“Right here!” The husky and powerful voice jolts me with the unexpectedness of it and I flinch,

caught in Colton’s arm as he pushes me slightly behind him and faces the direction in which it

came. It's not Jasper, or any voice I have ever heard and my blood runs cold at the sheer sound.

Strange yet there's something familiar in it. Like a forgotten feeling.

I clench my fists and try to cool the instant booming rapid thuds of my heart, legs finally losing all

sense of solid as my entire body turns weirdly cold and light. Fear gripping my stomach in both

wariness and yet anticipation. I take a deep breath and remind myself this is what I am here for.

The tall and terrifying figure seems to fluidly move from the darkness towards me, only the

horrifying glow of dark red eyes visible at first and locked on my face as he seems to grow larger

with his progress towards me. I am rooted to the spot, held captive by that eerie gaze and even

Colton stiffens and bristles with this intimidating aura. It's obvious this is not a normal vampire, and

we can taste his power sparking the air around us.

“Varro?” I ask with a timid shake to my voice, sounding feeble because he caught me off guard, but I

inhale slowly to cool my nerves. Knowing I should show him no weakness. I am the Luna, I need to

remember that.

“Father might be a more appropriate title.... given that's what I am to you.” His smooth and low

voice is like honey on warm cake and despite myself, there's something almost comforting about it

when he adds that little tiny inch of charm. I push it down and remind myself of the decades of

carnage at his hands, even if his reason is tangled up with me.

“I have never known you as such, and as you're currently killing my family, I am a little reluctant to

acknowledge it.” I bristle. Mood accelerating from fear to anger in a flash.

“No further. Stay there if you want to talk.” Colton cuts in, moving fully between us as the gap closes

and I am shielded with a strong arm behind his back, catching my wrist and holding me still. He

starts to shift as claws elongate and his body bulks a little, fighting his own wolf to stay in control.

“You think I'll hurt her?” Varro fully comes into the moonlight glow in the center of the clearing,

exposing a slender yet handsome face that could be mistaken for human. If it were not for his

elongated and pronounced teeth and those devil eyes that match mine so effortlessly.

“I don't know what you want, but I'm taking no chances. She's my mate.... you won't get anywhere

near her without my say so.” Colton is fired up and ready to battle but Varro just smiles, a disarming

and smooth change to his face, softening his angular features enough to take that hint of demon

away. His teeth recede enough to stay within his lips, but those eyes glow brighter.

“She's my child... one I thought I lost and yet now stands before me. I want a chance to know her...

to see if her mother left anything of herself within her. I came here to find a resolution to our

issues.” Effortless suave and oozing charm and I finally understand why the old books told us that

Vampires could dazzle humans with their charisma. It's the first time I have seen a hint of it. It

doesn't work on other supernatural’s though. Especially not ones who are half-bloods like me.

“Colton, I'm okay.” This is going nowhere fast and with my mate standing between us with all

hackles up, then this isn't going to be resolved anytime soon. “He won't hurt me.” I gently prod him

in between the shoulder blades to stand down as my security guard.

“You have a bone to pick with our pack, and we get it, we do. This isn't the way to resolve your

feelings. Alora doesn’t want this, and it won't bring you any kind of peace. Fighting here, killing each

other, it won't get you what you want.” Colton is still adamant he won't back down, so instead of

arguing, I slide myself in front of him and hold his arm instead. Making it clear I want to do this

myself. I love his need to lead, but in this my voice is what's needed.

"Who says it won't? Who says that taking down an entire bloodline in revenge won't satisfy some of

us?” Jasper's voice filters through from behind Varro and he appears at his side in the blink of an

eye. Eyes ambering out as his inner wolf grows restless. His stance is hostile, his eyes gleaming

bright with rage and I can taste so much pain pulsating this way from my brother. It's almost like an

overwhelming downpour coming at me from above.

“Jasper... Do you really think this will bring mom and dad back? Do they all need to die to fix that

scar in your heart? What about me? Do you not care what it does to me?” I know this is futile but

I'm not ready to give up on my brother just yet. There's enough conflict inside of him to make me

believe I still have a chance to help him through this darkness. I know his heart, who he was. He was

never bad, never a killer, and all of this is pain and loneliness that's eaten away at him for a decade.

He needs to heal.

“I know nothing but pain and misery from their loss. Dad would want me to avenge our family.

Mom would never lay down and let it go, she was a warrior. How can I just forget them?” He turns

away, eyes glistening as tears make a show and despite his angry words, my emotions are hit with

an agonizing sad pang. My brother is in agony and now we're here ready to do what he’s wanted

for a decade; his heart is wavering. I can feel his confusion even if his words contradict that. He

wants so badly to do something for their memory, even if deep down he knows they wouldn't want

this for us.

“Enough... I didn’t come to listen to bickering. I was offered a solution and I want to hear it.” Varro

impatiently snaps, bringing my brother to heel with his tone. He snaps all our attention back to him

and I have to let go of my brother's emotions for now.

“I want this to end, tonight. The root of all of this is Juan Santo. He's here, among us. You want

someone to blame, then it's him and his greed. We won't stop you. His thirst for power over a pack

and his acts of murder, his actions that kept me a prisoner for a decade. I have as much reason to

hate him as you do, so please, don't see this as some sort of weak compromise. This is as much for

me as it is for you.” I let go of my mate and bring myself up tall and proud matching Varro’s stance.

Words finding their strength and reminding myself that I can do this. My hatred for Juan is as strong

as theirs, I need them to understand that.

"He didn't act alone. There were other Santo wolves who helped slaughter your entire bloodline.”

Varro raises a brow at me, seemingly dissecting my words and acting like he’s considering them.

"His men are mostly gone. The few remaining are slinking around in the shadows trying not to be

caught. You are welcome to all of them. As a pack, we won't stop you. As Luna, I encourage you to

help free us form their burden. All we ask is that you don't touch anyone else. That this fight ends

here tonight. Place blame where blame is due and not on the innocent around them. These are my

people and they raised me, protected me.... I'm alive because of Santo wolves. Their own Luna for a

start. Reward that.... Don't punish it.” My chest swells at my own words as Sierra flits across my mind

and it just strengthens my resolve.

“It's not that easy to let go of twenty years of heartbreak. This anger didn't just build itself up

overnight.” Varro is acting reasonable, even civilized and I wonder if this is an act or if he really is the

kind to compromise and listen to logic. His actions of the past say no, but this being in front of me,

he seems almost sane. I guess there had to be some qualities in him that drew my mother to one of

their kind and I wonder if I am seeing glimpses of it now I've peeled away the reasons for his war on

wolves. My mother was a good person, she would never have loved a monster.

“Then look at me and put it aside. What is it you want? A relationship? Fine.... Ill do whatever it

takes to end this. I'm not scared of you. If you do this, I'll get to know you, take the time to learn

who you are.”

“My dear sweet child, I'm not asking for a sacrificial lamb. I never asked for you to be afraid of me

either. I want my child to come to me willingly because she wants to know her father. The plan was

to wipe the slate clean, free the world of these bothersome wolves and take you home with me for a

better life. Where you belong.”

I snort and half laugh half cough at his ridiculous idea. It's not what I expected to hear but then I

guess, delusional plans had to be part of the bigger picture. Did he just imagine I would up and

follow him home because of who he is

“Not a chance. You kill the pack, you kill me. You know how mate bonds work and my mate won't

stand back and let you do anything to our pack. Neither will I. I am not going off to live in some

vampire land with you. Get real. I'm still half wolf.” My place is with my pack and nowhere else.

“So stubborn, just like your mother. Can't you be more like your brother... so deep in longing for

revenge he will do whatever it takes, even if it kills him. He has managed to stay alive among my

kind for a decade, and that was no easy task.” He seems amused at my words, and pats Jasper on

the shoulder in a weirdly affectionate way. A hint of pride that my brother somehow didn't die all

these years and I squint at him. My emotions bubbling away as I try to stay on top of the chaos I

feel inside.

“My mother would hate you for all of this. You never knew her if you think any different. At the last

moments of her life, she was still fighting for her pack. Think about that. She lost her life while still

trying to protect them. She died for these wolves, for her child. She went to war to fight against

you...don't you see that?”

Jasper shifts on his feet, drawing my attention as he turns away and I catch the glimmer of a tear

rolling down his cheek. He walks off, his posture stiff but his emotions are caving as my truths sink

home. My words have struck a chord and he can't bear to listen anymore. Varro on the other hand

looks smug, mildly annoyed but he stays calm and unmoved in posture.

"You're clever. You have her fire. Her insane logic and way with words. So what's the compromise

then? You hand me your father-in-law and his men and skip off happily into your forest to live out

your life, oblivious to what you are? Is that what you're offering?” He smirks, a tooth peeking out to

remind me I'm dealing with the devil himself.

“I hand you them, you do whatever you want with them but no, I don't skip off into the sunset. We

came here to make a deal and if getting to know me is part of your wish, then I won't say no. You

want a bond with me, then you'll get one.”

“Lorey!” Colton warns with a stern whisper, catches my wrist, attempting to pull me back to his side,

his sudden spike of fear and protectiveness kicking in. I know he doesn't want me to have anything

to do with Varro after this, but I've been denying our link for too long. Hate these creatures or not,

this man is my father. I need to stop focusing on the venom that was ingrained into us all these

years for these creatures and recognize his motive behind all of this. He did it for love. He did it

because of loss. I have been taught to fear and despise them and I've let that rule all decisions these

past months. I never stopped to really think or feel form Varro’s point of view.

“You are willing to come with me, back to my home?” Varro seems to visibly relax, his posture

smoothing from standing stiff and proper, to more of a casual lounge as he places one finger on his

bottom lip and crosses his arms to support his own elbow. It's odd, to see him relax as though he

thinks he has this all worked out and in the bag. It disarms me a little.

“No. I said I would get to know you, but this will be on my terms. I say when, where. I need to be

more careful, take care of myself from here on in.” I subconsciously splay one hand over my

abdomen, that inner fierce in me needing to protect these two lives above all.

"Why?" Jasper's voice comes strong from behind and he’s back faster than I can blink. Sudden

concern for me out of nowhere and he hone sin on where I have placed my palm. His eyes widening

and then his brows furrow to a suspicious frown.

Colton bristles and moves right up behind me, so his body heat encapsulates me and that low grow!

tells me he’s getting impatient with this whole thing. He's wary of Japers move towards me and his

mate need to protect is getting rebellious. The vampire hybrids are still lurking around the

perimeter and the pack is getting restless too, everything feeling tense and heavy as the seconds

tick by.

“I'm pregnant with twins.” There's no point hiding it. It's something that may sway the whole tone

and they would find out soon enough, should we survive tonight.

"What?" Varro and Jasper snap in unison, the shock pretty obvious that they never expected that at

all. A sudden change in both their demeanors and Jaspers eyes widen once more before he chokes

on his own saliva then coughs. He seems to sag, his mind ticking over the fact he just gained more

family, became an uncle in a blink.

"She's pregnant. Our children are growing in her belly...so she's going nowhere with you, ever. She

shouldn't even be here, doing this, but she had no choice. Is this how you protect your daughter

and grandchildren?” Colton again with an equally snappy tone, biting words, anger obvious, and I

sigh and push him back. His emotions are getting the better of him and he’s a bit like rocket fuel on

a fire sometimes.

"You're going to be a grandfather, Varro. Do you really want to waste tonight standing here and

arguing about the future of my pack? I won't raise my babies away from them, and I won't be

bringing them to your people either. These are my children so don’t make me do what my mother

did. She ran because she knew her child only stood a chance among wolves. I want you to leave

them alone and secure your grandkids future in a loving and nurturing pack, in a peaceful

environment. That's what I want.”

There's strained silence as his eyes eat me up, boring into my skull before travelling down to my

abdomen and back up. The air prickly with tension and static as it sinks in that he has more than me

to care about now. He takes what feels like an age to think through and then rests back on his heels

in a weirdly comfortable way. That smirk fades and I get hints of a real smile which drastically

transforms his face.

“I want to know you, and them..... I want to be a part of their future. Those are my blood too. SO

you have some logic in your requests and I'm not against this compromise. I get more out of it than

killing everyone, I guess.” His request is quieter, somehow sincere in its deliverance and the glow of

his eyes dull a little as he says it with hushed tones. For the first time I get some sort of feeling from

this strange being and sense nothing malicious in the intent. His brain is working fast and he's

calculating a future with three more to his bloodline.

“You stop this tonight? Call off your hybrids and send them home.” I stand firm and cast a quick

glance at my now silent brother, who's staring at my stomach and immersed in his own head. Eyes

no longer amber and he looks completely lost. His emotions are unreadable now as they are

chaotic, and I can see his internal struggle as he tries to figure out how to feel.

“I want those responsible. I will do to them what I see fit. You get no say whether they live or die.”

Varro won't budge on that, yet I don't care. We always knew if we could find a way we would

sacrifice Juan and his loyal. The fates have made it all happen.

“Deal.” Colton answers in my place, a quiver in his voice because at the root of this is his father's life.

I know, despite everything, his heart is in pain even if he knows this is what must happen. He's loves

him, even if it's undeserved and this is killing his soul. I can’t imagine the turmoil or his heart in this

moment.

“You can never wage war against my people again, for as long as my children and I live. We bind us

together. No weapons, no invasions, no more fear of being attacked.” I stand firm, pushing my chin

up to meet his unbreaking gaze and he nods. My fire growing strong now an end is within my grasp

and elation starts to grow from a tiny ember in my stomach.

“I have no reason to play with mutts if the intent is gone. They make excellent guard dogs now I

have three lives to protect. I give you my vow, that once Juan is delivered to me, and his loyal...this

is over. We have a future to discuss at a more pleasant time and venue. I'm bored with war and

mongrels. I have a nice castle waiting for me back home.” He can't even admit this is a decision he's

made from the heart. For a moment I actually find him amusing.

I stand and inhale slowly for a moment, my brain whirring with everything he's saying. It feels too

easy and I can't believe it really is this simple. That he’s willing to end it all right now, and everything

we hoped for is happening. My gut says though, this isn't a dream and I shouldn't question it. My

worthless persona of many moons ago ingrained this idea into me that I was never going to be

enough for anyone.... This just proved it all wrong.

“I want my brother left with me.” I add in afterthought, grasping quickly at one extra detail that

means everything, seeing Jasper sudden spring back to life at my request. He looks confused and

then resistant.

“No. I won't live with these..." he blurts out, his voice husky with emotion.

“Deal!” Varro cuts him off without hesitation, shutting him down with that non nonsense booming

command and Jasper spins on him in a flare of anger.

“What the fu......?" It's obvious this is the last thing he wants.00000000000000