Chapter 9

"We're here." Quentin whispers nudging my side. I lift my head off his shoulder looking out the car window seeing Black Moon's pack house coming into view, and shake my head trying to wake myself up since I almost just fell asleep. It doesn't help the sun set a few hours ago and the moon is hidden behind clouds creating a dark cover over everything.

"You guys should get some sleep tonight and head out in the morning." Della suggests parking the car in front of the pack house. I give Quentin a questioning look to see if he agrees with Della.

"She's right we have a big day tomorrow and we're going to need as much sleep as we can." His reassuring smile causes me to let out a sigh of relief. My eyelids feel like they're going to fall off if I don't get to bed soon.

Della, Quentin, and I all grab our bags out of the truck and make our way inside heading towards the stairs to Della and Aidan's wing. My brain goes into autopilot walking around the familiar house that was once my home. The halls are empty and the whole place quiet as we land on the fourth floor. Della punches in her code unlocking the door and swinging it open revealing chaos.

"What the hell is going on?" Della shrieks dropping her bag on the ground. Emeric freezes mid step carrying a trash can while Victoria snaps her head in our direction measuring out what appears to be medicine. Troy sits on the couch looking pale and cold as he's groaning under the stack of blankets covering his body.

"I'm ssssiiicckk." Troy whines coughing once he's finished with his words. Della rushes over to him as I pull Quentin inside shutting the door behind us. Victoria's eyes widen as she looks Quentin up and down, but I don't have time to say anything because Emeric interrupts.

"Who are you?" Emeric stands straighter evaluating Quentin for any signs of a threat, but he doesn't look as intimidating as he hoped because he's holding a redickulesly large trash can. It's hard to not snicker, but there is now more important issues.

"He's my mate." I announce moving over to get a better look at Troy. He's flushed with dark circles under his eyes. Della gets up rushing into the kitchen leaving the room looking flustered.

"Mate!?" Emeric Roars looking horrified. I roll my eyes kneeling down next to Troy feeling his forehead pulling back when it's burning up. Della rushes back in with a wash cloth and a glass of water.

"Emeric meet Quentin. Quentin this is my uncle Emeric." I introduce them sitting down in a chair next to the couch turning to Victoria. "What happened?" I ask knowing Della's too focused on Troy to ask herself. Victoria snaps her attention from Quentin back to me.

"He got pretty sick yesterday morning, and has only gotten worse since." She stammers out sneaking glances at Quentin. I smack the side of her leg sending her a pointed look. She blushes turning her back to him. "I told him not to go out without a jacket." Victoria defends herself causing Della to turn towards her daughter with a perplexed look.

"Out?" Della looks between her children, which includes Emeric, looking for an answer. Suddenly everyone's attention turns to a wall, window, or the ceiling anything but Della. I have to bite my lip to surpress my laughter.

"Conner was sick, so I covered his patrol shift." Della's eyebrows raise up so high I'm afraid they might disappear in her hairline.

"You what? When?" Her voice booms taking me back to getting scolded as a child. I definitely don't envy Troy right now. Quentin slowly moves closer to me standing next the the chair.

"The night you guys left." Another couching fit rattles his body. Victoria grabs a small cup filled with a purplish liquid handing it to Troy. He sits up resting his back against the arm of the couch apprehensively bringing the cup to his lips. My face scrunches up in disgust as he struggles to swallow the medicine. Gaging he shoves the empty cup back into Victoria's hands lying back down exhausted.

"It's time for bed." Della nods for Victoria to leave and motions for Emeric to help. Emeric walks over lifting Troy into his arms. It's almost comical how Troy large frame looks in Emeric's arms. Emeric groans shifting Troy to get a better grip.

"This was a lot easier when he was little." Emeric complains walking towards the hallway. Della turns to us with her hands on her hips.

"Let's find you guys rooms." She waves for us to follow her. I stand up following Della down the hall to the familiar bedroom that she always has ready for me. It's the same room that I slept in when I was little and every time I visited after. Nothings changed the same white and black furniture except for the green bedding that I choose when I was twelve.

"Thank you." I hug Della before walking over to the bed sitting down to take my shoes off. Quentin appears behind Della carrying our bags. He takes a step into the room setting my bag down on the floor looking around admiring the room, but Della grabs his arm before he can take another step.

"Not so fast. We have another room for you to stay in." I giggle at his defeated expression. Della turns him around leading him out of the room, turning around she mouths goodnight shutting the door behind her. I let out a content sigh laying back and relishing in the soft duvet.

* * *

My head pounds with each heartbeat as the ringing in my ears starts to subside. My body aches all over and opening my eyes doesn't help but confuse me more. All I see are trees and leaves in multiple colors falling hypnotically down landing on the cold hard ground. Turning on my side proves to be a lot more painful than I thought, groaning I push myself up on my knees looking around frantically trying to find the source of the screaming that resonates through the forest.

I stand up stumbling forward towards the sound hoping to figure out what's going on. Looking down my clothes are bloody and my knuckles bruised, and I have no memory on how they got that way. It appears to be daytime but the sun is obstructed by ominously dark storm clouds. A stony metallic smell lingers in the air along with a smoky haze. I push myself to move faster as the screaming gets louder.

"Shit!" I swear falling to the ground as my foot catches on something. Bracing my fall with my hands I spin around to see what caused me to fall, and when my eyes land on it the screaming suddenly stops.

I let out a bloodcurdling scream as I look at Quentin's beaten and bloody body laying motionless on the ground with a dagger sticking out of his chest.

"Aaaaaahhhhhhh!" I gasp for breath sitting up staight in bed while simultaneously letting out a sob. Della's sat at the edge of my bed next to me looking terrified, and Quentin's on the other side of me staring at me as if he's seen a ghost. I launch myself at him wrapping my arms around his neck pulling him down to my level.

He's okay. He's safe. It was just a nightmare. I repeat those words to myself over and over as Quentin fingers tighten around me rocking me back and forth. Della reaches forward brushing the hair out of my face.

"It was just a nightmare just like when you were little, remember?" She gives me a warm comforting smile but I shake my head vigorously and her face falls.

"I remember it." Those three words completely change the atmosphere in the room. Della looks over her shoulder to a stunned Emeric leaning against the door frame. I close my eyes concentrating on calming my racing heart.

"What do you remember?" Della fumbles out looking scared. I sit up a bit still making sure I'm still in Quentin's arms fearing that if I'm not my dream may come true.

"With the dreams when I was little I never remembered the dream when I woke up, but I remember it." My eyes tear up as my brain relives the nightmare. Quentin kisses my crown hearing the quiver in my voice, and Emeric walks further into the room sitting down on a chair off to the side.

"Why don't you tell us about it? It might make you feel better." Della suggests still looking alarmed. I steal a quick glance toward Emeric only to see him looking at the wall solemnly. If Emeric looks scared it usually isn't good.

"I was in the woods, and covered in blood. My body ached as if I had been running for a long time, but I heard screaming so I went to find the source. It was so dark but I knew it was daytime, and I swear I could smell blood in the air." I let out a shaky breath taking a moment to compose myself, and prepare to say what comes next. "I almost reach the screaming but I tripped over something." I turn around in Quentin's arms looking up into his eyes not being able to hold back the tears anymore. "It was you. You were dead. There was a dagger sticking out of your chest." I wail loosing control of my emotions again as he pulls me back into his chest.

"It's okay I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere." He whispers reassuringly in my ear. I squeeze my eyes shut hoping to dispell the image from my memory. The bond twists painfully as we both hurt for the other.

"Sweetheart I think your remembering." I turn peaking at Della through my curtain of hair that's fallen over my eyes again. She looks defeated as she stares at me gravely. My eyebrows furrow which's prompts her to continue. "The day your mother died." She clarifies her voice brittle. I freeze in Quentin's arms stunned. I don't remember the day my mother died, so I just assumed my brain suppressed it. I accepted the fact I would never remember it a long time ago.

"What do you mean?" Does she mean that I was out in the woods that day? Was I injured that day? Della looks to Emeric warily.

"I don't know if you saw your mother die sweetheart I just know I found you crying over her." She looks down as a tear falls from her cheek, and I feel Quentin tense up behind me. My mind goes into overdrive trying to remember something, anything. Sadly I come up blank which a part of me is thankful for. "I'm so sorry." Della reaches out taking my hand in hers, but my mind is elsewhere.

It takes a few minutes but Della eventually excuses herself leaving the room upset. Emeric pushes himself off the wall coming over to take her spot.

"She blames herself for not getting to you both on time. It's haunted her for a long time now, and if you have any questions I would ask Aidan. He was there too and can also get any information on your mother you want or need." Emeric pulls me into a side hug before heading out of the room shutting the door behind him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Quentin whispers from behind me. I shake my head not finding the right words. He shifts turning me so I can see his face. "Can I tell you something?" He looks determined as his eyes catch mine.

"Anything." I nod encouraging him to continue. He takes a deep breath playing with my fingers before looking back up.

"Right after my parents died I would wake up and forget what happened and it felt as though I was reliving it over and over again. It took a toll on Oliver because he didn't see what I saw that day and he didn't know how to help, and he really couldn't he was only a child as well." I don't interrupt to ask questions because I can see this is helping him by getting it off his chest. "After a few weeks it stopped and my wounds healed, but the pain was still there." He looks down cradling my cheek in his palm. "So if you ever need to talk about any of it know you can come to me." His touch combined with his words comforts me to the point where my eyelids are starting to droop even though my brain is swarming with questions.

"Don't leave." I grip his wrist in my hand fearful that if he leaves my nightmare with come back. He leans back bringing us both back laying down on the pillows while wrapping a arm around my waist keeping me secure to his chest.

"Never." He promises kissing my closed eyelids effectively tipping me over the edge throwing me into a deep dreamless sleep.

* * *

"Don't forget anything you can't fit into the car your dads can bring down this weekend." Della reminds me as we near my house. I insisted this morning that she didn't need to drive us home, but she insisted saying she promised Fletcher and she wasn't going to go back on her word.

"I probably won't bring too much. I'm sure you have enough furniture at your pack." I joke nudging Quentin with my elbow. It's true I only plan on bringing my clothes, shoes, keepsakes, and a few other random items.

"Our pack has anything you need." Quentin retorts emphasizing the word "our". I turn back looking out the window to hide my pink cheeks. I swear he gets a kick out of embarrassing me. Della sends me a knowing smile in the review mirror.

"You don't have to stick around once we get there I know you want to get home to Troy." I urge. Troy looked a bit better this morning, but I can see Della shift in her seat every few minutes and her eyes glaze over no doubt mind linking her kids. I admire how much Della cares and worries about her kids knowing she didn't have the best childhood.

"Are you sure?" She looks apprehensive but I can see the relief behind her eyes. I nod letting her know it's fine, and a delighted smile takes over her face. "Don't forget to call when you get settled and we'll agrange a time to come and visit. If that's okay of course?" I can tell she's worried she overstepped.

"You all are welcome anytime, and can stay as long as you like." Quentin assures with a smile, reaching over and squeezing my hand as we pull into my driveway. Della steps out coming around the car to pull me into a hug.

"I'm not saying goodbye." She insists with a wobbly voice. I pull her in for another tight hug as a lump forms in my throat.

"Get home before Emeric completely destroys the place. I'll call you when we get there." I promise waving as she heads toward the tree line shifting mid air tearing off through the forest.

"Tessa!" A voice I completely forgot about for the past few days yells cheerfully from across the yard. I turn in time to see Carl heading straight for me. I don't have time to stop him before he already picks me up spinning me around. "I missed you." Carl's joyful welcoming embrace gets cut short by Quentin's fierce growl. I push Carl back putting a few feet between us.

"Carl this is my mate Quentin." I introduce them and Carl looks a bit dumbfounded at first but a gleeful smile stretches across his face. He steps forward holding a hand out for Quentin to shake.

"I'm Carl, her best friend." Quentin raises a brow at him but takes his hand shaking it none the less. I sigh relieved that Carl was mature enough not to throw a tantrum or make a scene. I'm not sure if he had any feelings for me because of the kiss before I left, but it's a weight of my shoulders that he's not complicating the situation. "So are you both going to stay with your dads or are you going to move into the pack house?" His question sends a zap of pain to my heart knowing I'm about to upset him. Quentin gives me sorrowful look before walking towards the house to give us a bit of privacy.

"Quentin's Alpha of Silver Dawn Pack." I twist my fingers in front of me waiting for Carl to process what I said. His face falls and he looks dejected instantly making me feel guilty. "I'm sorry." I whisper looking down at my shoes not being able to look at his heartbroken face for another second.

"You don't need to apologize for anything. We can't control fate." He smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. "I can still visit right? By the way where is Silver Dawn?" Carl's face shrunches up with confusion and I can't help but giggle.

"Well he just got the formal recognition from the council so don't worry about not knowing where it is. It's pretty far north so I'll text you the exact location when we get there." He shoves his hands into his pockets rocking back and forth on his heels.

"Can I do anything to help?" This right here is exactly why Carl's my best friend. Even when he's the one drawing the short end of the stick he still offers to help. I don't want to be a nuisance but I want to spend as much time together before I leave.

"You can help pack if you want but you don't have to." I offer hoping he'll accept, but I understand if he won't.

"Let's go." He bumps my shoulder with his playfully heading towards my front door where Quentin is wainting patiently. Right as my foot hits the first step to our porch another voice sounds from across the yard.

"Hey girly your dads called. Didn't think you would leave without saying goodbye did you?" Brandon, Ashers dad, bellows followed by a hearty laugh. It's hard to not laugh along to his contagious laugh, but the person walking along behind him makes any form of joy diminish.

"No we just got here." I stammer out pointing to the car as if that explains everything. Resisting the urge to smack my forehead I try and figure out what to say to Asher. Having now met my mate I realize how unreasonable my response to finding his was. Although I feel his actions afterwards are still not justified, I still feel the need to apologize so we can both move on.

"We won't hold you up just wanted to say bye, and make sure you promise to come back and visit." He points sternly pulling me into a quick side hug. Asher steps around his father sending me an eerily excited smile. Carl takes a subtle protective step forward that Quentin catches right away moving to stand next to me.

"I'm happy for you Tessa." He nods but doesn't approach me sensing the tension coming from Carl and Quentin. I need to talk to Asher for a moment, but I would prefer if it was in private.

"Could I talk to Asher alone for a minute?" I look to everyone shyly not wanting to sound rude about it. Carl catches my eyes for a second to make sure I'll be okay before motioning for Quentin to follow him into the house. Quentin waits for me to let him know I'll be fine before reculently following Carl. Brandon waves goodbye as he walks off heading home. "I just wanted to apologize for the way I behaved on our birthday. Knowing what it feels like to have a mate and experiencing the emotions myself, I feel awful for how I acted and I hope you can forgive me." He holds onto every words carefully processing what I'm saying.

"I'm pleased to see you have found your mate, and I wish you both the best. Of course I forgive you Tessa you'll always be my friend." Before Quentin I know how harsh his words would have stun, so I'm a bit thrown off by the relief that I feel.

"Thank you." It feels as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders allowing me to start fresh at Silver Dawn with a clear conscious free of any burdens weighing me down. I'm ready to start my journey with Quentin and build a life for us hopefully without to much disruption.

************

Song: In the Wood Somewhere by Hozier

I'm oddly proud of this chapter even though the beginning is a bit of filler. It's always fun to bring Emeric back even if it's only for a small section. I want to thank you all for showing this book so much love and support! Every like and comment warms my heart. Also if you are a new reader welcome! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and if you did don't forget to vote and comment! Until next time.

~Stella Gordon