Page 106 of Seeking Hades' Ember

"You didn't know better, but as you grew, you had to have known we would never send you away or cast you out of our family. I thought I taught you we loved you no matter what." Dante's lone tear was wiped away by my finger as he sighed. "Ember has forgiven Dante, and that is all that matters. We will figure out together what we can do now. We have a lead, a Fairy we can…." I paused.

The Fairy was seen on the southern border of the territory. The cameras I used were constantly running, recording everything on that side of the property. The night Ember was taken we only checked the cameras that went off that had the motion sensor detection go off. If Dante could tell us the exact time we could run through the footage.

"Goddess," I breathed as Wesley came to my side on the floor. "Those cameras, that was around the time I was testing out that new technology. Where it constantly records rather than turning on when motion is detected.” Cyrene stepped forward, clutching her cloak.

"Do you still have the footage? Do you hold onto that much video streaming?" I smiled, almost evil-like.

"Of course, I do; what kind of Luna would I be if I didn't? I need to get to the packhouse; I have some digging to do." Dante and Wesley grabbed my hand gratefully.

"Kitten, you are so sexy when you are thinking up a plan," Wesley purred in my head.

"You can thank me later if you stop being a grump to our son." I winked as we all raced to the packhouse.

***

The surveillance room had grown since the first time I had worked in here. There were more cameras, more Wolves that had become the eyes of the forest. Primarily pregnant women operated the surveillance room, and several adolescents who had received their wolves yet had not shifted. This taught them the area, along with learning to keep their eyes open for anything unusual. Security had tightened since Ember left, especially since we didn't know if Hades' ward worked anymore.

"You are relieved for the day everyone. Wesley will mind link the backup warriors to patrol today." Everyone in the room looked up confused, but Wesley's look let them know not to ask any questions. As they shuffled out, I sat at my desk, one that I had spent countless nights when I couldn't sleep thinking of my daughter.

I typed in the date she was missing, November 15, along with the year, and pressed enter. The modem riled to life as the computer searched for all videos for that day. I will never regret the time I spent hiding in libraries and earning my technology degrees as a young woman. It has helped the pack and me in far too many ways.

Filtering through the southern border cameras, I find my eight-year-old son, Dante, with his shaggy blonde hair standing on the edge of the territory. The Fairy had wheat-colored hair, a tiny face, and wings that didn't look like a Forest Fairy. They were slightly gold with hints of green on them. Fairies usually held a more translucent look such as a bee or dragonfly's wings. "Weird," Cyrene mentioned as she leaned over the computer. "She looks like a Forest Fairy, but those wings don't confirm it."

"A hybrid, maybe?" I whispered.

Ares and Mariah whispered in the corner, and I swear I saw him peck her forehead. I rubbed my temples as I let out a frustrated sigh. This was too much to deal with right now. Mariah was a big girl, and if she wanted to mess up her first time with some god, she would deal with the consequences.

"Would Vulcan know what kind of Fairy this is?" I asked the room as Wesley continued to stare at the screen. He wasn't staring at the Fairy but that of Dante. Dante was uncomfortable as he shifted from side to side. My baby was all upset, and the tension between him and his father was unbearable. Nudging Wesley, I mind-linked him, "Go talk to your son." I glared at him while he whimpered. "Tell him you love him, and you aren't mad anymore. You knew you blew up, and your anger got the best of you. Now go, or you can't make it up to me tonight." Wesley's eyes widened as he stood up and walked across the room to Dante. He kept his head low until Wesley cleared his throat.

"Let's take this outside." Wesley led Dante out of the room while I dealt with the problem before me. This stupid Fairy, which couldn't be a Forest Fairy.

"Steven, go get Vulcan, please, dear." Steven stood up and walked out of the room while Hunter tried to follow. "Hunter?" I snapped. He groaned as he turned around.

"Go check on the mated warriors that are watching the mating cabin. Make sure they are fed, and the next shift will be ready to go when it is time." Hunter did an exaggerated bow as he left the room while I laughed. That boy could make anyone laugh besides Tamera. Tamera never laughed or smiled.

I had worried for her. When she first showed up, she was nothing but a shell of a woman. As the months progressed, she opened up to me, and now she was more willing to talk about what happened to her. That reckless Alpha from Cool Springs had lost our alliance with us once I told Wesley what he did. Rumor was he has women in and out of his room every night and has felt the effects of a bond he stripped. Luckily, Tamera was human and has been able to last longer than a Werewolf would. Death would have been immediate, but thankfully Selene was gracious to humans thrust into a world of supernaturals. However, Tamera's time was short, and I didn't know how much longer she wanted to hang on.

Cyrene had mentioned her soul was just down to a dwindle. Her physical features were sunken, and her skin had turned ashy. Tamera was such a sweet girl, I couldn't imagine how a wolf taught the significance and the importance of a bond would throw her away. Tamera reminded me so much of myself, her desire to learn, and the craving she had to be wanted.

My heavy sigh didn't go unnoticed as Cyrene touched my shoulder. "Everything will work out. Whether it be for or against our favor, the strings will begin to unravel." I nodded my head while we heard the door to the surveillance room open.

Vulcan walked in with a smile on his face as he held Tamera's arm in the crook of his own, rubbing her hand calmly. Tamera glanced at his face, and a blush of color painted her face.

"Goddess," I breathed as I gripped my chair. That was the first smile I had seen cross her beautiful face.

"They're not mates," Cyrene whispered as we both stared. "There isn't a bond there."

"I don't care." I shook my head. "That look says it all."

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