Page 99 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Chapter 47

Ember

I blinked.

I blinked a few times more as Elea and I stared into my brother's Wolf's eyes. "What?" I whispered through the link. "That isn't true." I went to stand up, but Dante whined for me to say back down on the flat rock.

"Just listen, and I'll tell you. I'll tell you every bit of it." I could hear Dante silently crying; the remorse dripped from him as I tried to shield myself from the many emotions swirling in him.

"You never told our parents, did you? That's why you have been extra helpful, the guilt. It has plagued you through so many years." I kept my voice quiet, even though I didn't have to. This conversation was linked to just the two of us, and no one could come in unless our father used his power.

"I was so scared, so scared they would cast me out. Apart of me died that day you were taken. The screams, the crying I could hear from your room... I tried to get out; I banged on the door until my own fists bled to get out, but all the house doors were locked from the outside. Dad couldn't get out of his room either; there were vines everywhere pushing against the doors as everyone in the house tried to get you."

They did hear me; when I cried and screamed, they did listen and didn't just leave me. The thought never crossed my mind that they would just let me be taken, but I had wondered why my family didn't come. "Once the doors were set free, we ran to your room, and you were gone. Nothing but vines littered the hallway, strong ones, and they led all the way out the door and into mom's garden." More questions plagued me as he told me about the massive amount of growing mom's garden did in a short time. The tomato vines had grown and slithered in each window on the upper floor, besides my bedroom, of course. Persephone was the daughter of Demeter. Could Persephone have procured the vines to grow and control them?

"From the beginning, Dante. I need it from the very beginning because I don't see how this links up to you being involved at all." Dante let out a huff and closed his eyes as he spoke. Remembering just twelve years ago.

"Like I said, it was the day before Mom's birthday. You always could make amazing cards, and I wanted something as equally as good. Uncle Evan told me there was a time when Moon Orchids grew on the territory. They are native to Bergarian and when mom and dad came back from visiting before we were born, some seeds caught in someone's clothing. They sprouted around the property, and for a few autumns, they flourished, that is until humans started spraying for mosquitoes fifty miles away from here. The Moon Orchids are fickle plants, so they started to die. Evan mentioned how much mom liked them. They only bloomed on the week of the full moon, and the white flower would glow purple as the moonlight settled on its petals. “I stared at Dante in awe as he explained. I had heard of the flower only in passing but never gave it much attention because they didn't grow here anymore.

"So, I set off to scout the territory. I went south, where a lot of Wolves didn't trample the ground. I was hoping to find at least one, so I brought a bucket and a shovel, and I was going to bring it back, and mom could take care of it. You know how she likes plants." I nodded. “I got to the edge of the southern border, no other wolves were around, and the cameras weren't blinking. Sensing someone was there, I turned to leave, but I heard a small voice. It was a tiny Fairy, I had never seen one before, so I walked up. It sat just on the other side of the border. The Fairy said she was looking for safe passage but needed permission from the Alpha to cross. I told her I would have to go get my father, and she shook her head, saying I could tell her it was all right to cross. Repeatedly telling her no, I wasn't acting Alpha, just the Alpha's second-born. She sat down but sprung out an idea.

“She wanted to give me something for trade. I asked if she knew what a Moon Orchid was and where I could find one. She laughed and said, ‘Of course I do; there is one right over there!’ Looking over her shoulder, there was one! It was just over the log, but it was on the other side of the border, and I couldn't grab it. Dad always told us he couldn't protect us if we crossed because of the ward." My heart began to sink as I continued to listen.

"A trade, a deal, that is what we did. Besides, it was just a Fairy. The Fairy was so small. She brought me the Orchid, and I took her across the pack lands to the northern side and dropped her off," Dante sighed.

"Since you are an alpha and brought her on the territory, the ward thought she wasn't a threat," I breathed. "That's how someone got in."

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen! I swear it! I just wanted the Orchid, a stupid flower! That flower took you from us; you had to suffer because of me!" My Wolf's body jumped over to Dante’s, and I nuzzled into his neck.

"It was not your fault you were tricked and coerced. You cannot blame yourself for something this stupid!" I argued. "Not your fault, none of it is! It is just a series of unfortunate events!" I spoke harshly. While consoling him, I couldn't help thinking that everyone's choices affected me so intensely and for the worse. Shaking my head, I nudged him.

"Not your fault, now suck it up, Alpha." Dante shook his head. "I'm only mad you didn't tell dad, our Alpha who protects his pack, that a Fairy crossed the border. Alphas can't protect if they don't know what is going on, even if you thought it was harmless." Dante hung his head in shame. "A child, you were only a child. You can't blame yourself for this mess. There are so many other factors that played into this." My body started to shake, I felt not just my emotions but Dante’s hitting at me in full force. Trying to concentrate on my body, I scooted closer to him, so our fur was touching each other. Laying my head on top of his, I purred in my chest.

"I am not blaming you, never will. Please forgive yourself because I already forgave you. We were so young," I breathed deeply. "Just tell dad and mom Okay? They won't be mad about that, just the fact you didn't tell them and kept a secret after all these years. That is what they will be mad about. It will work out in time...” I paused. “Promise me you will tell them. Tell dad and Mom what happened. I'm not going to tell them for you and get you out of it like some stupid vase on Mom's window," I laughed. "Find courage and be the Alpha. Stop the guilt. What's done is done." I huffed.

"I can do that, just know-"

"That you are sorry, yeah, yeah." Feeling a smile on my maw, I began to fit my own puzzle together. Vines, plants, wildly growing nature, and even a Fairy had something in common. They all pointed to Persephone, but how far does Persephone's power go? Could her own power be able to do all of this herself?

Malachi was an angel; he was limited to fighting and helping humans. Was he the one who took me while Persephone used her magic? There was a burn in my chest that I tried to scratch, but it proved to be difficult with paws. Dante nuzzled me in my neck as I felt a terrible burn where he touched me.

My body felt a jolt as I whimpered and rolled off Dante. Heat radiated through my body as I tried to pull in all the emotions I was feeling. I felt hot, horny, lustful, excited, and scared all at the same time, and I couldn't block my own emotions, let alone Dante’s, who was now freaking out.

"Ember!" he yelled as he hovered over me. My fur retracted as I felt my body's bones breaking. It wasn't as painful as the first time, but it was still uncomfortable. "You're shifting back; it's all right." Dante shifted in a blink of an eye and ran to the trees. I whimpered for him to come back, but he brought an oversized shirt for me and shorts for himself.

Pain wracked through my body again as he touched me, putting on the shirt. "What is wrong?" he growled out. Howls were heard in the distance, and Dante tried to pick me up, but the burn of his fingers left hot spots in its wake.

"Don't' touch me!" I screamed as he laid me back down.

"I need to get you back!!" he growled out. "Fuck, Ember, I'm taking you." Dante tucked me in his arms as I screamed, trying to get away. His footsteps were heard as he trampled through the line of trees, coming back into the shifting area where we started. Males growled, pacing in their Wolf forms while other men gathered closer. That were NAKED!

"Dante put her down!" Dad growled as I continued spurting profanities. Rubbing my skin where he held me, I curled into a ball, not caring if my butt was half hanging out. Where the hell was Hades?!

"Hades!" I cried. He was the only one I wanted as Elea howled in my head. She paced the back of my mind while scratching the dirt. "Hades," she moaned as she laid down. "Get them away!" I heard Dad growling and mom ran to my side. "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry." She kept her hands away from my body as she tried to comfort me. My hand jutted out to touch her; I needed contact, but even her touch hurt.

"What's wrong with me?" I stuttered as I wiped tears from my eyes. "Hades!" I cried again, and he rushed towards me.

"The fuck is wrong with her!?" Hades growled out as his hand slung to the side. Wolves fell backward, and whimpers and yelps left them.

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