" Hello, sister,"
" Brothers. Half a century seemed long without seeing you," I said.
Princeton was shocked at the sight of my brothers. Zephir held him by the collar and pushed him to the ground.
" Now, I hear you have been terrorizing my sister and causing quite a stir in her life," Egon snickered, kicking him in the face. My brothers were ruthless and very strong. Even though older than both, Princeton couldn't take them in a fight. Harry appeared, and I went to hug him.
" Look who found me," he said, looking at my brother.
" Took you long enough to come for me,"
" I was being interviewed by the lycan generals. They only just released me," he kissed my temple.
" Don't fucking move," Zephir commands Princeton. They took steps towards me, and a smile grew on their lips. Egon opened his arms for me, and I jumped into them, hugging him. I did miss them so very much!
I pulled away from him and hugged Zephir. He caressed my cheek and smirked,
" An alpha, huh,"
" I see Harry brought you to speed," I sighed. My eyes went back to Iris. Her eyes were wide and her mouth slightly ajar, dazed by my brothers' presence. They were insanely good-looking. They had the faces of angels and the hearts of the devil. I wouldn't blame her.
" Hello," Zephir smiled at little Iris. She turned her head, blushing profusely.
" Hi," she answered sheepishly.
" What are you doing here?" I asked them, furrowing an eyebrow, " If you are here to take me home, I'm not going."
They exhaled and crossed their arms against their chests as though it was planned.
" Mom and Dad miss you, Eliza. Come home," I missed my parents and the clan but didn't want to go there yet. They would probably force me to marry another man.
" They won't!" Egon said, reading my thoughts.
" They just want you home," Zephir said.
" I'm still healing from a heartbreak. Give me a year, and I'll go home," I told them.
" We can tell your dog mate that the dick fabricated evidence against you," they offered.
" We are irresistible, and people just believe us," they smirked. They meant mind control. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
" He's not like other shifters. And besides, he wouldn't believe anyone, especially my brothers!"
" The evidence is absolute. How does one even do that," Harry glared at Princeton. The duke had smugness again.
" I'm a genius," he shrugged.
" Unfortunately, who would be spending hundreds of years in a cell because he decided to be an idiot," hissed Egon. Princeton threw his head against the ground in exasperation.
" I did it for her. You can't arrest me because I'm in love and, besides, I didn't harm her. She killed my men," he said.
" Well, you are still getting arrested for harassing, terrorizing, and kidnapping the princess," Zephir sneered.
" We'll see about that," he barked.
" I kind of like Princeton..." murmured Egon.
" Me too... there's something about him that makes him so incredibly interesting," adds Zephir
" Unstable in the head?" Harry asked, narrowing his gaze. My brothers nodded.
I looked back at Iris.
" Harry, you'll take her back home and make something up about where you found her. We need you to earn some points with the lycans, especially after what happened with the attack. Zephir, can you compel her to forget what happened? She has seen enough killing and vampires," I said. Tears filled in Iris' eyes, and she shook her head.
" I don't want to forget, please," she begged. I smiled at her and stroked her hair,
" It's for the best."
An hour later, some royal guards arrived to take Princeton back home to stand trial for what he did. It would be a long time before he walked freely again as he burned down whatever bridge we had made so far with the lycans.
Harry had taken Iris back home after Zephir compelled her to forget.
We were on our way to the airport. My brothers had a house in Oregon, and they said I could stay there as long as I wanted. It was isolated and was in a serene place away from the city.
I was crying again as I left the city. Zephir held my hand, and Egon just looked pissed. My brothers loved me and only ever wanted my happiness. We got on our private jet and looked out the window as we left the city.
" Goodbye, Aerys,"
Aerys.
We were about to step out again when the door suddenly opened, and standing there was my baby sister, Iris. She was holding Harry's hand. I took a step back at the relief that washed over me. A bright smile grew on my face, and before I knew it, she jumped into my arms.
' Iris is home. Harry brought her.' I sent a massive mind-link.
" We were so worried about you. What happened?" I asked her. She pulled away from my arms and greeted Coswell and Alec with a hug, then went to Tonga.
" I think I'll wait for everyone to get here so that I can tell it at once," she giggled. I kissed her temple and went to Harry.
" Did you take her?" I growled. He scoffed,
" I found her not far from my house. She was lost in the woods," he answered, glaring at me. How dare he even be angry at me? Harry was interviewed by our generals and found no ties with the attacks, but I'm sure he knew something. Harry and Elizabeth were close. He turned to walk out, but I grabbed his arm,
" Did you know of Elizabeth's plan against my pack?"
" Don't fucking touch me," he growled. I released his arm. " Elizabeth did not betray you. She fucking loved you, and you'll regret kicking her out of your life," with that said, he turned and left. I watched him leave the gates. I growled in frustration. Elizabeth betrayed me, and we have evidence. Why was he still denying it?
My family was relieved and happy to see my sister. My mom was still holding Iris in her arms.
" So, baby, tell us what happened," my father said. Iris exhaled,
" Well, I took Ms Sparkles to school. Mom, I'm sorry for disobeying you, but I went with her. Valentine stole her from me and took her into the woods, so I went in search of her, but I got lost. Harry found me when he was hunting, and he took me to his house to rest as it was late," she explained. She seemed sincere.
" So, why didn't Harry call us?" asked Selene, looking questioningly at her.
" Well, he called Mom's phone, but she didn't answer," she said, frowning and tearing up, " Mom, I was so scared. It was dark, and I thought bears would eat me."
" So, where is Ms. Sparkles?" Just as Athena asked, an omega came into the room.
Her head bowed, she said, " There are people to see you,"
Soon, a couple and a boy of Iris' age came in. In his hands is Love's white cat.
" Valentine and his parents," gritted Marcus.
I left the room without a word, wanting to go to the bedroom I shared with my mate.
I was at the house in ten minutes. I went to the closet where her scent was strongest. Her absence hit me so hard that I broke down there. My mate was gone. My lycan was howling in sadness.
" Alpha," I heard Liace's voice. I didn't look up from my hands. I felt her walk closer to me and got on her knees, wrapping her arms around me. I was crying, torrents of tears.
I didn't know how long we were in the closet, but I woke up in bed the next day.
The door to the bedroom opened, and Liace walked in with a bright smile on her lips.
" Good morning,"
" Morning,"
" How do you feel?" she asked gently.
" What are you doing here?"
" I'm sorry about Elizabeth,"
" Are you?" I growled, pissed at her. She didn't like my mate, so she should stop pretending she was sorry.
" I know we didn't get along, but-"
" Get out. If you think this is an opportunity to slither back into my life, you're wrong. I don't want you," I growled and got out of bed. I went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. When I finished, I stepped out, but Liace was still there sitting on the bed.
" Alpha, I know you're not ready, but I'm here, and I will wait for you," she said gently and exited the room.
...
A year went by since my mate left, and I was inconsolable. No one had heard anything from her. I couldn't ask Harry about her because he didn't want to talk to me.
My friends and family always tried to cheer me up, but nothing worked. Liace was still on my neck, playing the friend part to me, but I could see her real intentions. She wanted to replace Elizabeth in my life and heart, but that will never happen.
My lycan, Aire, was sick for months and whimpering for his mate. I became a workaholic in hopes of forgetting Elizabeth, but I didn't forget her.
" So, are we going to Oregon together, or have you changed your mind?" Alec asked.
" I'll come. It will go faster if I'm there. I don't want to deal with Alpha Chuck Arrow and his father anymore." I growled, not looking up from my laptop.
He nodded, " Also, that beard -"
" Just get out,"