Chapter 95: Chapter 95

Natala (Emerald) POV:

It had been a week since I had been brought back home. Everything was beautiful; the grass was greener, and my mates and brothers weren’t always going at each other’s throats anymore. The best part was that I finally returned to the academy to finish my last few months of high school. How I hadn’t failed was beyond me with all that has happened to me during these past few weeks, with getting replaced by my boyfriend, finding out I’m mated to the quadruplets, moving in with them, completing the bond, finding out I was a lunar wolf, finding out my biological parents are alive and I’m the freaking princess of the multiverse getting kidnapped by a deranged uncle, almost dying and finally finding out I was pregnant. The amount of action I’ve had over this period was enough to last me a lifetime; I was sure of that. But despite it all, it made me the person I was today. I wasn’t that timid suppressed Emerald anymore; now I was Natala: a confident, determined, loved, good human, well, she-wolf. I had everything now, a family who adored me, my mates and their family who welcomed me with open arms, my friends and soon my babies.

My hand instinctively went to my tummy as I rubbed it. Thinking how in a couple of months, our son’s giggles and cries would fill the halls of the packhouse. My heart soared with joy. Life was perfect. However, there was something that plagued my mind despite my mates and everyone telling me to let it go: Edward.

Over the days, I had asked my mates to let me see Edward, which ultimately led to an argument that didn’t last long; however, they so happily spanked my a*s black and blue. Every night they used to come back with b***d smeared all over them. It didn’t take a genius to know it was Edward’s. The b***d was so much that I had wondered if he had died. As much as I wanted to see him suffer, this wasn’t the way to go about it. No one wanted his death more than I did for taking me away from my family as a baby, dumping me in the forest and making everyone believe I was dead while he waited for the right moment to kidnap and mate with me. But with the b***d that smeared the quad’s bodies, these past few nights were starting to scare me. The man deserved to be punished but with that brutality, who knew what he was being subjected to? The fear of not telling him what I had to say to him was increasing as he wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer if this continued. All five of my brothers apparently went to get their hands dirty as well. So much so that Hannah told me, they had to tackle Hayden and Josiah off of him. I knew they wouldn’t be helping me either, but I still had to try, which basically earned me five protective snarls and an hour of reprimanding, not to mention the additional hour I got from Daddy and Da for even thinking about going down there.

I g*****d, throwing my head back on the sofa.

“Why the long face, Nat?” I heard Hannah’s voice filter in from behind me.

Opening my eyes and turning in her direction, I gave her a small smile

“Nothing…” I tried denying but Han, being the annoying best friend she was, gave me a ‘do not bullshit me’ look, which had me shake my head, little giggles leaving me.

“Not like it’ll matter. You’ll probably get mad as well, like the rest,” I said

“Try me.” Said, Hannah

I sighed and looked at her. She squeezed my hand in encouragement.

“I know your brothers and mine, not to mention my parents have their plans for Edward, and I in no way want them to be hindered. Hell! I would have the guy six feet under sooner rather than later. But it’s just that there has been something I have been meaning to say to him. I know I won’t be at peace if I don’t. I want to close this chapter of my life and move forward but to close it, I need to see him and get whatever I have to say off my chest. But all these dominating annoying a*s males in my life can’t seem even to respect my wishes.” I said, pouring my heart out.

I braced myself to hear how careless I was and blah blah blah, the same rant I had heard from my brothers and mates. But what surprised me was no repaermending voice coming out of Hannah. I would’ve thought she left if it wasn’t for her hands holding mine.

“You know it’s not wrong to want that. None of us can ever imagine what you’ve been through. We can try, but we could never know, and with you denying to say anything, all of us are left to imagine the extent. But, what others may not know about you, Nat, but I do is that you are resilient; you always thought you were weak, but you never were and never will be. They are only trying to protect you and the pups; to them, they think that it’ll probably spark some unpleasant memories when you see him. But that’s where they’re wrong, you’re way stronger than that, and they have to see it to believe it.” Said, Hannah

“But that’s the problem, Han; they don’t give me that chance,” I said.

Hannah’s words had made me feel so loved. It was true when I said if there was one person who always understood me regardless of the situation, it was her.

“Talk to them, Nat. They aren’t the same overbearing a*****e of mates they were in the beginning, and I know you know that too. You know they treat you better. They are scared of the consequences of you talking to Edward and triggering something. You need to make them realize you aren’t this fragile doll.” Said Hannah.

I nodded and hugged Hannah.

“Thank you for this,” I said, letting go and squeezing her hand.

“You know I always got your back, Nat. I’m going to leave now; Luca mind-linked just now that they are on their way up. Just talk to them, and I’m sure they’ll see reason.” Said Hannah, getting up and hugging me before she left

Not even two minutes later, the door opened, and my mates walked in, smelling like a five-course meal. My p***y tingled and leaked out. Goddess! These pregnancy hormones had my s*x drive in overdrive. If there was a word to describe something more than overdrive, that would describe me way better. I was jumping any mate of mine I could get my hands on all damn day.

“Didn’t we you f**k hard and well enough in the morning, baby?” Said Sam as I felt his arm go around my waist as he pecked his mark on my neck.

My mind was going hazy as I hummed in response.

“Look at our little luna, so receptive to her mates.” Ezekiel purred and dipped his head in my neck.

“What is it that my angel wants?” Zeke said from my side, gripping my h**s that had me buck them forward.

“Answer your alphas, love? What does our Luna want?” Whispered Azreal from the last side, completely caging me in their combined intoxicating scent.

Goddess! My p***y was leaking out like a fire hydrant; all I wanted was for them to ravage me. Haze slowly crept all logical sense into my mind until my Lycan projected my conversation with Hannah forward, dissipating the haze a bit.

As much as my ovaries were about to burst, I needed to convince them to let me see Edward so I could throw out the name Edward from my brain forever. Taking a deep breath and mustering as much power as I could, I opened my mouth to speak.

“I…I want to talk.” I said, drawing out every word, trying my best not to m**n.

The moment those words left my mouth, I sensed the quad’s confusion through the bond as they let go of me and stood in front, looking at me with worry in their eyes.

Goddess! Did they think I was that scared from the incident? Yeah, I was for the first two days, but after talking to them, mommy, mom and Hannah, I had put it past me. That was why I wanted to talk to Edward in the first place, so I could close the chapter and not think about it again.

“Luna, is everything okay?” Asked Ezekiel

“Did something happen, baby?” Asked Sam

“Angel, did someone say something, or are you not feeling well?” Asked Zeke

“Talk to us, love.” Urged Azreal

I took a deep breath, looked at my mates, and spoke up.

“I want to see Edward…” I saw their features hardened, Ezeakil opened his mouth to say something, but I put up my hand, telling him to let me finish. As much as I knew it annoyed him and the rest, they listened. Their hard eyes and tensed jaws showed how much they didn’t want to.

“…I know you don’t want me to. Hell, no one wants me to. But as much as you all think you’re great at hiding the fact that you all think it may trigger some weird PTSD, and I would go down a rabbit hole, you suck at it; all of you do! I am not made of glass and don’t want to be treated as such. I don’t! Whenever I pass by, and there’s any mention of anything of the past, regardless of Edward, everyone shuts up and acts as if they weren’t talking about it. That hurts me more! You all shielding me like that hurts! It shows how little faith you all have in me. You need to give me more credit for that because during this past week, I have shown you all how I’ve let it all go and moved on, and I need you all to move on as well. I know you are guilty, and so is my family, but there is nothing to be guilty about. Whatever happens, has been written by the goddess ahead of time, and it is bound to happen. She only gives the hardest of tasks to her strongest children, and that fact alone should tell you that I’m not weak. As for why I want to speak to Edward, I want closure. Trust me, as brutal as it may sound, I want him dead way sooner than you all; he brought nothing but hurt and sorrow in my family but on top of all of that, he tried separating me from my mates, our pups from their fathers and for that I wish nothing but death and hell fire for him. However, I want closure, and I’ll only get that when I talk to him. So being my mates, my soulmates, the literal half of my soul, I want you to understand where I’m coming from and let me do this. Your opinion matters to me, I don’t want to go behind your back and do it when you all clearly know I could by subduing the guards with my aura, but I don’t want to break your trust by doing that.” I said, making sure my mind was open for them to see I had meant every word I had said.

The quads all looked at me helplessly and sighed. All of them had their walls down, their emotions hitting me like mine to them. They were scared; they trusted me but were scared they would lose me and the pups. They all held me somehow, squeezing my hands or shoulder, reassuring me that I was here and safe with them. I gave them a small smile; I took a hand from each of my mates and closed it between my tiny hands as I said.

“I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere. I love you, all of you. But you need to let the guilt go. I’ve never blamed or thought less of any of you or my brothers for not coming to me sooner. I want this chapter closed so we can move on, so please let me.” I said

They closed their eyes, sighing as they pulled away from my hand and kissed me one by one, letting their emotions pour out. As each of my mates caressed their tongue with mine and squeezed me to reassure themselves I was safe; their pups were safe. When they all had pulled back, they didn’t say anything and nodded. Ezekiel took one of my hands and Azreal the other as they led me out of the room with Zeke and Sam.

With each step we took toward the maximum security cells, my heart thumped faster, not out of fear but in anticipation that I would finally see him and tell him what I had in my mind. My mates remained silent, clinging to me as if their life depended on it. Guards lined the parameter, not only wolves but lycan as well in both human and beast form. I could also feel the enchantments that warded everyone out unless a certain aura was felt.

We descended the bunker that was at least thirty feet into the ground. The smell of feces and rotten flesh went up my nose as I tried my best not to take it in, fighting back the bile that was coming up my neck. Rats scoured through our feet so did insects that I had never seen. If the guards wouldnt kill you, the cell’s condition will decay a being without them even being dead—no wonder the pack was known for its brutality. When we finally stepped down the last step, we went down a passageway lined with guards till we reached a sliver-laced door.

The quads let go of my hands and faced me, Azreal holding onto my cheeks as he pecked my forehead.

“We don’t think you’re weak, love; hell, your probably stronger than anyone we know, but we’re scared. When you were gone, we were lost. We didn’t know anything but expect you.” Said Azrael

“Luna, we just don’t want to lose you in any regard, and as much this kills us to have you go to the man that had ripped our hearts out when he took you, we want you to know that we’ll stand by your decisions.” Said Ezekiel, kissing my head.

“Thank you,” I whispered as I pecked each of my mate’s lips and turned to go inside.

However, the moment the door cracked open. Two furious growls resonated through the corridor, and aura leaked everywhere that had the guards cower—Hayden and Josiah; their beasts were on the surface, as fur sprouted and recreated back on their bodies. They stalked towards us, the quads shielding me from them.

“Are you f*****g out of your mind? Why the f**k is she down here near that motherfucker?” Yelled Hayden

The quad’s body didn’t even tense; they remained as cool as a cucumber as they faced them head-on. Zeke turned around and looked at me.

“Go, angel, we’ll be right here.” He said.

“What the f**k! Don’t you dare walk through that door, Natala!” Seethed Josiah.

He lunged forward but was stopped when Sam held his shoulder in a vice-like grip.

“I suggest you pull your hand away, Thor, before I break it.” Seethed Josiah. Both of them let their auras out to submit to each other.

Ezekiel looked over his shoulder, telling me to go. Not wanting to waste any time, I nodded. Ignoring Josiah and Hayden’s warning snarls. They would have to bear with it. I could hear them all arguing, but I tuned it out and walked forward towards the sliver cell lined with wolfbane. Edward was crouched down on the floor; bruises and cuts scared his body. You could smell the rotting flesh and wolfbane running in his b***d. He was even missing several fingers and patches of skin. I gagged! I wasn’t prepared to see such a gruesome scene. My hand instinctively went to my mouth, stopping myself from doubling over. When Edward heard something approaching in the eerily quiet cell, he cracked his neck up and opened his eyes. I could tell that simple action had caused him a lot of pain with how he cringed. When his eyes locked with mine, you could tell he was surprised when that same disgusting malice that he had when he used to touch me against my will sparked in them.

“Of all the people, I didn’t expect you, sweetheart,” Edward said, coughing b***d as the words left his mouth.

I couldn’t help but pity this man. Even in these conditions, as poison decayed his body and severed limbs, he was still arrogant. He was truly a mistake by the goddess!

I walked close to his cell; my head held up high. I wasn’t that pathetic girl who he tied to the bed as he abused me. No, I was the stronger and better version of her.

“Life is full of surprises, isn’t it, uncle? I can’t say I’m not surprised; you’re dying, and execution lingers above your head, yet you remain arrogant. What is wrong with you, uncle?” I said, looking down at his withering body.

He just sneered and looked the other way before saying.

“Why are you here? To gloat? To see my misery? You have! Now leave. I rather the air not be contaminated by your presence. Your arrogance is just like that of my brother and his mate; I wish nothing but death for you all.”

“I’m actually here for closure, so I can move ahead in life and not beat myself up that I didn’t say these words to you before you died….” I started but stopped to see if this hopeless man was listening. Even though he had his back turned, I knew he was listening.

“I forgive you for what you’ve done to me. I’m surprised myself that I’m even saying these words right now, but I was raised better. I was raised not to hold greed and grudges in my heart like yours. However, don’t think I don’t hate you with every cell in my body for a second. I wanted nothing more for you to be six feet under for what you did to my family, hurting your brother, hurting your nephews, taking your niece away from your brother and his family, leaving them to think she’s dead. However, despite all that, I forgive you for what you planned to do with me.” I said.

My eyes stayed on his mutilated back, wanting to see any sign of remorse, any twitch to show he knew what he did was wrong, but nothing. I sighed! I wasn’t expecting such a sociopath of a guy to have remorse, but maybe I wanted him to; that little part of the old me wanted to see that there was something good in all the bad he had on top.

I got back up and turned to leave, but Edward’s voice rang out just as I was about to leave.

“You can be that little saint you are or trying to be, but remember one thing I was never looking for forgiveness in the first place, not now, not back then, and even death, I won’t be. I hope for nothing but death for you all.” Said, Edward.

His voice held so much malice that it could make anyone’s b***d run cold. I didn’t bother replying or looking back as I cracked the door open and left.

I had found my solace. I had my closure. As for the rest, it’s between him and the moon goddess, but I sure as hell pray that he would beg for mercy as the fires of hell tortured him for eternity like he did my family.