Chapter 39

Presenting the last chapter of ITWW... which is dedicated to @sherinhidayatx :D

Pic above of Moon Goddesss ^^^^ Well, without the face!

NOTE: This is not the end. THERE WILL BE AN EPILOGUE!

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"A people, like stars, are entitled to eclipse. All is well, provided the light returns and the eclipse does not become endless night. Dawn and resurrection are synonymous. The reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the soul."

― Victor Hugo

TEMPLAR P.O.V

The car stopped in front of Simon Ryker's mansion in the LockWood Pack. I turned my head to the right to look at the place. Even though the house was big, there was this dark aura around it that could automatically make others cautious. The ghastly silence around the area wasn't helpful either. In short, the place wasn't welcoming at all.

"Let's finish this" Rett told me climbing out of the car. I followed and behind us, Ketih and Cam climbed out of their car. There were no guards in the place and at first, it made me suspicious, but then I recalled that Simon Ryker lived alone.

Rett opened the black gates and it made a piercing noise as it was pushed open. My eyes automatically drifted towards the LockWood Pack fighters who had surrounded the house. They were ordered to do so by their Alpha. David had sent his men, to help us if need arises.

I honestly doubt any such need would arise!

Sighing, I followed after Rett and walked through the driveway to reach the door. I narrowed my eyes when I found it already open.

"I have been waiting for you" I heard an unfamiliar voice say the moment I stepped inside the house.

A man, who had his back to us, was seated on the couch, watching T.V. He was blindly flicking the channels. Once he switched off the T.V, I strode ahead to take a seat on the couch.

That's when I finally saw Simon Ryker. He was old... older than I expected.

He might be probably in his early sixties. He had dull green eyes, pepper hair and frail skin. One corner of his lips tilted upwards when he saw me and I stiffened. My wolf growled aggressively the moment she saw that.

"What took you so long?" Simon questioned leaning back in his seat and I narrowed my eyes, while Rett, Keith and Cam frowned at him.

"I had much more important work to do then spend time with you" I said carelessly and Simon chuckled.

"Then why are you here now?"

"You know why" I told him, my red eyes clashing with his green ones.

"My son had the same color eyes when he shifted" Simon said glaring at me and I stared at him with an expressionless face.

"I don't care about that. I just want you to end this. Stop this vengeance of yours for the good of not just me but for your own self" I told him.

"You want me to forget what you did to my son? My son, who was the last in our line. My son, who was my world, my pride and you, took him away from me" Simon snarled in rage.

"And as a revenge... you took mine" I hissed through gritted teeth and all of a sudden, Simon smirked.

"I did. Yes, I did" he said and chuckled. His chuckled made my wolf howl in pain and my eyes flooded with tears. "You have no idea how happy I felt when the doctor told me you were pregnant." Rett growled loudly, while I clenched my fists. "I wanted you to go through that same pain. I wanted you to know how it feels for a parent to lose their child, when they are still alive. I wanted to kill you, but what better way to take my revenge then killing your child" Simon sneered and I swallowed back a sob.

"Even if the child had been born, I would have killed it. I wanted to wipe out your whole kin, just like you did with mine" Simon bellowed and blood dripped from my palm, from where my claws dug in it. "You not just killed my son, you burned his body. You did not even give him a funeral he deserved. You sent me his ashes" Simon Ryker sobbed at the end, his frail body quivering from the loud sobs.

After few seconds, he stopped crying and looked at me with tear-filled eyes that had intense hatred directed solely at me. "I wanted revenge for what you did and I got it. It was a poetic justice. Your child for mine" Simon said with a humorless chuckle.

My wolf howled louder than last time and I could hear Rett's wolf howling in pain too. He stood frozen in his place, glaring at Simon.

"She was not the one who burned his body. I did. I ordered wolves to do it" Keith spat with a growl.

"She was the one who killed him" Simon said glowering at me.

"Your son wasn't worth saving" I told him harshly and Simon grinded his teeth. I was angry, bitter and hurt, which is why I started lashing at him. "Glen deserved everything he got. I would have killed him slowly and torturously... but the sun was about to rise and so, I gave him a quick death and boy, do I regret doing that" I taunted cruelly and Simon got up from his seat to attack me.

He was pushed away by Rett and held back by Keith and Cam.

"You bitch... you utterly vicious bitch...." And Simon cursed at me like a sailor.

A feral growl erupted from my chest, "What are you going to do? Kill me?" Simon demanded when he saw me standing up. "Do it. That's what you are good at. That's what you did to everyone close to me. That's what you always do" Simon shouted in rage and I curled my lips in distaste.

"Why should I bother with that when you are already half way into the grave?" I sneered at him and walked past him.

Growling one last time at Simon, Rett, Keith and Cam followed me.

"I should have... I should have asked the doctor to take out your ovaries" Simon spat sadistically from behind us. After hearing his callous words, I froze me in my tracks and sensed the color draining from my face.

Screaming in rage, Rett lunged at him and soon Cam and Keith joined them. I heard them shifting, I heard them growling at him. I heard Simon's last cries. I heard blood spattering on the walls. However, I didn't once turn to look at them.

With my back to them, I stood there pondering over what Simon said again and again. A drop of tear escaped from my skin and I shivered. My wolf mewled in pain and sitting on the ground, curling herself as closely as possible, she moved to the back of my mind. If someone had stabbed me in the heart, I wouldn't have felt as hurt as I felt right now.

Do I deserve that?

I felt as if my heart was being squeezed in my chest to drain the life out of me. Goosebumps appeared all over my pale skin and I felt shaky as a cold sensation sank in. My knees started wobbling and my head hurt badly. A tremor ran down the length of my marrow as my stomach twisted in sickly pain. My mouth felt dry and my vision turned blurry at first, before finally turning dark.

The last thing I remember was me trying frantically to find something to balance myself and stay upright. But when I got no such thing, I slumped on the ground.

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When I woke up, I was at home, in our bed. With a groan, I sat up and licked my dry lips. "Templar" Rett said and I found him sitting in the couch and working in his laptop. Quickly getting up, he strode towards me. "Do you need something?" he asked.

"Just water. How long was I out for?" I asked rubbing my forehead.

"Sixteen hours. You had a mild fever" he said passing me a glass of hot water. I had slept throughout the journey. "Feeling better?" Rett asked me and I nodded.

But just then Simon's cruel words played in my mind and cringing, I fisted the sheets, while my wolf whined feebly.

Turn me into a barren!

He could have... Dear Goddess! He could have done that. I was completely at their mercy those three days. They could have done anything with me! Anything....

Strong arms, wrapped around my chest just as a pained sob was discharged from my throat. Resting my head on Rett's shoulder, I closed my eyes and let all the tears out while he whispered soothing words to me.

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When I next woke up, I checked the time and realized it was close to ten in the morning. It was a Sunday and everyone was home. I could hear them talking downstairs. Running a hand through my hair, I got off the bed and went to the bathroom.

After a cleansing shower, I wore a shorts and plain top. I checked myself in the mirror and flinched when I saw that my eyes were puffy. My skin looked dull and I felt the same. My eyes involuntarily drifted to my stomach and I slowly placed a hand over it.

I should have asked the doctor to take out your ovaries, a whimper escaped from my mouth and I took a step back. I took deep breaths to calm myself, but it wasn't helping because my heart was thudding dreadfully in my chest.

They hadn't done that. Sveta had told me I could become a mother again. The Goddess had blessed me with a child too! But Simon and others could have done much more damage to me than what they did.

My head felt heavy all of a sudden and even though I desperately wanted to lie down, I didn't. Instead, I strode to the window, jumped out of it and ran towards the ocean.

Once on shore, I removed my flip-flops and walked towards the water. When the water was in level with my hips, I dived under the surface and swam around. I sighed in appreciation as the cold water cooled my over-heated body. Smiling softly, I swam a length both under and on the surface of the water. My eyes widened when I saw a school of clownfish under the surface. Of course, this wasn't the first time I am seeing them, but even then I found myself staring at them in awe.

When I felt the pain in my head receding, I swam towards the rock, where I usually sit and mediate. I had fulfilled my promise and now, I wanted to talk to my mother. I wanted an answer to the question that had been nagging me since I woke up for the first time, this morning.

I sat cross legged, pressed the tip of my index and thumb and after placing it on my lap, I closed my eyes.

At first I couldn't. My mind was preoccupied by Simon's words and I couldn't concentrate at all. My wolf whining wasn't much helpful either. Then through sheer determination, I pushed her back and blocked out all the thoughts in my mind.

I just focused on the sounds of the waves and the breeze. Minutes passed, before I blocked that as well as the intake of my breath.

I don't know how long it was before I opened my eyes and stared at my surroundings. I was in a place that had several white pillars. As I stood next to a pillar, I spotted The Moon Goddess who was sitting on a silver chariot. She was glowing brightly, just like she always does.

I smiled softly when I saw her.

"You have kept your word, my child" she said and I nervously bit my bottom lip. "You have not disappointed me."

"Did they all accept me?"

"No. Not all" she answered honestly and I nodded in understanding. "It might take some time. Few may never accept you but you have to live with it. Not everyone knows to share love. Even though everyone is blessed with love, very few acknowledge it. Some acknowledge it and let it slip. Some refuse it. Some prefer material things over it. Some have so much hatred in their hearts that they fail to recognize love when it is right in front of them. But that is destiny. Not everyone is good. Not everyone is evil" The Goddess said calmly.

"So, it's always a war between good and evil?" I asked her.

"It is. And it is something worth fighting for" she sighed and I nodded. It makes us appreciate the significance of love and obliteration of hate.

"Something is bothering you" she said after some time and I gulped. "Let it out" she advised.

"Simon's words.... His last words" I said tersely. "Those three days, I was completely at their mercy. They killed my baby, but they could have done more damage to me than that. Simon himself said that he would... he could have done it. He could have done anything" I said shakily.

"Yes. He could have" she replied quietly and I flinched.

"What stopped them?" I asked shakily, lowering my head. I wanted to know why they didn't go ahead with it.

"You goodness" the Goddess answered and I looked up, through eyes that were swimming in tears. "One act of goodness can aid an individual. One act of ruthlessness can ruin an individual" she stated evenly. "Hiding your true identity was selfish of you and a grave wrong from you. You were punished for it. But you also helped many people. You have given shelter to those who came to you in need" she said and I realized she was talking about Alisha and her brother, Harry. "You have always put your pack first. Most importantly, you have also protected your kind by destroying the evil" she added and I inhaled sharply.

"That is what saved you. Sure, they could have done much more damage to your body. But they couldnot do it" she affirmed.

"Could not?"

"Could not" The Moon Goddess confirmed. "When an individual is deliberately inflicting a pain on another, his thoughts turn very cruel. Evil rules in his mind. But his quarry's goodness will fight against that evil. That is what happened to you. They had thoughts of making you barren but it was completely wiped from their mind before they came down to it. They did not willingly forget it. They were bound to forget it" she said and I nodded.

"You were never at their mercy" The goddess asserted. "What happened to you was what destiny had written for you. What I let them do to you. They could have done nothing more than that because you, did not deserve it."

I heaved a sigh after hearing the Goddess's words. I felt like a huge weigh was lifted off from my shoulders.

I felt peaceful.

"Thank-you for always being there for me and guiding me in the right path" I told the Moon Goddess and lowered my head respectfully.

"You are my child Templar and I will protect you as long as you want me to" she said gently and slowly, I found myself being distanced from her.

As I opened my eyes, I had to blink repeatedly to get adjusted to my surroundings. The sun was right atop me and I flinched when I touched the rock, because it was sizzling hot.

Strange! I did not feel the heat while I was meditating. Shaking my head, I stood up and opened my mind-link.

'Templar... You were meditating, right?' Rett was the first one to connect to me.

'Yes. I am coming home' I told him and then as I swam back to shore, I answered several others who were worried about me.

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I studied my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing an embroidered sundress and red sandals which made me look polished. After running a hand through my dark brown hair, I rushed downstairs, where Everett was already waiting for me.

Clad in white t-shirt and beige shorts, he looked drop-dead gorgeous from his luxuriant black hair to his mesmerizing pacific blue eyes and strong jaws. My pupils dialated and I almost slipped on the stairs, while I watched him.

"Careful" Rett shouted the exact moment I held the railing for support. "Are you feeling well?" he asked swiftly moving to stand right in front of me.

"I am fine" I said breathlessly. "Just lost balance" I added and since he was in level with me, I wasted no time in closing the distance between us and took his parted lips with blazing exigency. Rett seemed a tad surprise at first, but then, the hands which were smoothing my back, tightened around me.

I moaned quite audibly when his tongue probed into the interior of my mouth. I clutched his t-shirt tightly the moment I felt his raise of interest down there. My whole body quivered like a jelly when he bit my bottom lip just before pulling away.

"Later" Rett swore breathing raggedly and licking my lips, I nodded. He gave a wolfish grin which had my tummy performing acrobatics. "We will return home quickly" Rett added and giggling, I pressed my lips against his.

Right now, we were going to the beachside barbecue organized by the pack. There was no occasion. It was just for relaxation and to have some real fun with the pack together. It had been a long time since the pack had fun.

Everyone was in the beach. The wolves who live in town too had returned for the weekend to be with the pack. They were roasting and cooking chicken leisurely over charcoal ashes.

"Tem... Tem" Jan squealed the moment she spotted me.

"What?"

"Taste this" she said holding a plate right in front of my nose.

"I bet it tastes as poisonous as it looks" Rett muttered from beside me.

"Just shut up" Jan scowled at him. "I did not ask you to eat it."

She then looked at me. While I was about to pick a piece up, my eyes drifted to Terence and Ben, who were standing right behind Jan. Both shook their heads and made puking gestures.

My eyes rounded when I saw it but I looked at Jan, who had these big, hopeful eyes. Sighing, I picked a piece and popped it into my mouth.

It was half-cooked.

But for the sake of my best-friend and with great difficulty I managed to swallow it.

"How is it?" Jan asked with a big grin. I looked around me and tried to find some escape route so that I could avoid answering that question. "Well?"

"N-Nice... Great" I said flaunting a pained smile.

"I knew it. Ben told me it was horrendous. Big fat liar that he is!" she said before going away to serve it to someone else. Rett passed me a huge bottle of soft-drink and I swallowed it in one go.

"I told you it would be terrible" he said grinning at me and I frowned at him. I did not want to hurt her feelings.

"You ate it? You actually ate that horrible thing? Man! I can understand why Terence at it... but you..." Ben said shaking his head and smiled at me.

"I think that was sweet of you" Molly said and I moved forward to hug her.

Just then, I heard sounds of ooh's and aah's. As I looked, I saw Keith and Trudy coming towards us, holding baby Sienna. It was the first time they were bringing Sienna out of the house. The baby's eyes were opened to the fullest extent and she stared at each and every one of us.

"Oh! Pretty doll" I said placing a kiss on Sienna's forehead while Trudy smiled at me.

"So, you have got invitations from how many Alphas' in total?" Keith asked eating fries while I was holding Sienna's starfish hands.

"Twelve so far." The Alphas' have been sending invitations to Everett and me, asking us to come visit their packs so that we could improve the relationships.

"Actually it's fourteen" Rett told him and I furrowed my brows. "We got two more today. SilverStar and RedHawk."

"Are you guys planning to take it up soon?" Trudy asked us.

"I am. Maybe from next month... First I have to help the new chiefs in their duties" I told them.

"What about the fine? When are you going to pay it?" Keith asked. I was asked by the new chiefs to pay fine of 10000 bucks to the packs that I have trespassed.

"Tomorrow. I got the account information today and I will transfer the money tomorrow" Rett answered.

"That's good. Paying fine is better than a war" Trudy said and pursing my lips, I nodded.

Half-an-hour later, I sat on a rock and watched others playing volleyball on the beach. Everett was shirtless and I was openly gawking at him. Since I didn't know how to play, I was sitting beside Sveta, holding Luka in my lap.

"Yay" I cheered when Rett's team got a point. Rett winked at me and I blew a kiss at him.

"Jan looks pissed" Molly commented and I laughed because Ben and Rett were purposely irritating her by throwing the ball in her direction.

"Damn! I wish I knew how to play the game" I sighed resting my chin on Luka's head, who was talking in his own language. After some time, he protested unable to hold my weight. "Cholly" I pouted ducking my head to look at Luka, who stretched a chubby little hand to catch a fistful of my hair. Once he got hold of it, it went directly to his mouth.

"Ah, ah, ah... bad" I said shaking my head while gently trying to loosen his hold.

"So... what are your plans on having one of your own?" Sveta asked quietly and I sucked in a breath. Trudy and Molly turned to look at me, curiously waiting for my answer. My wolf rested her head on her limbs after hearing Sveta's question.

"Sorry... I didn't mean..." Sveta said when I did not reply her.

"No. No. It's okay" I smiled at her. "I want one of my own too but not just yet. Rett and I spoke about it the other day. We decided to wait for a year or two" I told her.

"That's good. You are just twenty two and that's very young to be a mother" Trudy told me and I nodded.

"Yes. Take your time. Once you have a child, all your time and attention will be etched on them" Sveta sighed watching her son.

"Ben and I too agreed to wait until we are twenty-five" Molly said softly passing me a cold-drink.

I do want to be a mother. But not just now!

The loss of our first one affected me and my wolf a lot. It's a lot because I was unable to save my own child when they forcefully aborted it. Agreed it was all destiny and possibly for something good, but when I think about it, it still hurts. Because the what if's keep on going in my mind.

Sometimes, I wish that I could wipe all my memory of the previous month because it brought lots of pain. The loss of my first one, Alisha's death, me trespassing and horrendously killing rogues, me being possessed, attacking the temples, attacking my friends, friends attacking me, Rett crying for me, Randall, Simon, his cruel words, Reece, Klaus, Nassor, the tension of war, watching the sufferings of BlueBells, hearing all those painful cries...

I could go on and on... In the end only one word comes to my mind- CRUEL.

The previous month was filled with darkness.

"Girlfriend... girlfriend" Theo squeaked rushing towards me and I blinked. "Come dance with me. It's our favorite song from our favorite Hugh Jackman movie" Theo said and holding my hand he already started dragging me towards this wooden dance floor at one side of the beach.

Many girls and children from the pack were already dancing there. I love dancing, it makes me happy. Whenever I am near the ocean my mood influences the waves in the ocean and just like that, the water comes in my control. Same way when I am dancing and happy, the water comes under my control and just like that it dances along with me.

I took another sip of the drink and handed my glass to a fighter of the pack. The music got to me as soon as I started walking towards the group where everyone was dancing.

I went and stood in the middle of the dance ground, the song was from the movie Real Steel. I closed my eyes and let myself get loose, just like the song said.

I was not a trained dancer, but I wasn't terrible either. Holding my hands above my head, I kept twirling while Theo and his little group of friends were just jumping around and doing some funny moves.

Very soon, I spotted Jan who was coming towards me. Giggling, we swayed our hips for the music just like old times. Once again, I closed my eyes and flouncing my hair, I continued dancing for the beats. The sounds of waves increased and I smiled to myself, while few people gasped.

When I opened my eyes again, I found Everett, Jan, Keith, Cam, Ben, Terence, Molly... and my other friends in a circle around me. They were all clapping with a wide grin, while I continued dancing and winking at them.

When I felt the blush spread all the way up to my chest, I hurried towards Everett. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I buried my face in his shoulders and nestled my nose against his neck. My wolf purred in delight while I inhaled his strong all-male scent.

I bit my lip and pushed back my wolf. Not now... when everyone are here. He had made a promise earlier and I intend to hold him to it.

"I love you" Rett said after he pulled away. My wolf howled with joy when she felt a connection with his wolf.

"I know" I told him. "I know you do" I whispered and rested my head on his shoulders, while he kissed the top of my head. "That and many other reasons are why I love you back" I said and he chuckled huskily next to my ears, which tightened my belly.

Later, Rett placed my hands on his shoulders, while he wrapped his own around my waist and slowly swayed for the music. I don't know how long we stood there, dancing like that. Mates around us too were holding on to each other and moving with the music.

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"I will get food and drinks" Rett told me and after pecking my lips, he went towards Mike, who unlike his daughter was cooking the chicken perfectly.

I got tired of dancing and now, I was sitting on a rock on the shore watching other mated couples. A joyous feeling erupted in my chest when I noticed everyone, who looked happy.

Yes. I do wish sometimes I could wipe my memories of the last month. But then again, I do not want it to happen because it held good memories too.

I got blessed with another child, I knew whatever happens Everett would always be there for me, my pack would always be there for me, I realized my mistakes, I got a second chance, I met Adio who saved my life, who taught me to learn from our mistakes, I met his wonderful family and with the help of Goddess I saved Adio's life, the people of Ashur got their leader back. Sienna was born, Myron met his mate. I was able to defeat Randall, who also taught me not to let anger control me. Every pack in the country came to know I am the white wolf, every pack Alphas' accepted me; I was capable of saving BlueBells wolves, I was right in keeping my faith on Alton, I met Zander and many other new people. Most importantly, I did not let down my mother again.

I could go on and on... In the end the word that comes to my mind is- PLEASANT.

The previous month had eclipse... and I think it perfectly defines my thoughts of that month. If the previous month had darkness, it got vanquished and in end, light shone brightly.

Craning my head, I looked at the dark sky, where the moon stood vivid and proudly amongst the countless stars. As if to remind me that she was watching me, the one corner of the moon twinkled. My lips curved upwards as I saw that.

The previous month made me realize that I have much important duties and responsibilities because-

I AM THE WHITE WOLF

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Hope you liked the last chapter :)

The epilogue will be posted on either 6th May or 10th May! 6th is doubtful.... So don't keep your hopes on it!

Plz plz plz vote and comment and shower some love :D

Thanks a lot lovelies :D:D

You make my day!

-Shruthi.