Vale
“That…no…no, that’s…impossible.”
Tobias shook his head. “No, Vale. It’s not.”
I couldn’t absorb what he was saying to me. It was surreal. “Who on earth would the goddess deem worthy enough to procreate with?”
“The old man was never clear on that,” said Tobias. “But he’s certain that you are. Apparently he has proof of it.”
“And you didn’t think to bring it here?”
Dad clearly was as flustered as I was, finding out this incredulous bit of news.
Tobias looked at the alpha with a sarcastic expression. “All due respect, alpha…you’ve not met my father if you think that it would be so easy to get away, let alone gather information on him-”
“Wait, what?!” Talon exclaimed.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who caught that. I just…I wasn’t sure that I heard correctly.
Tobias paused, his eyes falling to the floor with clear indignation. He wasn’t happy about this bit of news either, but it was clear that there was merit to it.
“What did you say?”
With a resigned exhale, Tobias nodded. “You heard me right, Tal.” His head moved from side to side in clear disdain. “I…I found uh, I found out not too long ago.”
“Tobias.” It was the only word that could come to mind and yet it was a useless response as it offered no reassurance whatsoever.
“I know, Vale,” he said. “Bastard set me up in an orphanage and left. Thought it was in my ‘best interest’ to be in the care of another instead his. Wonder if he ever thought about the possibility of an inhuman raising me.”
“Do you regret that?” Toran had to ask.
Tobias looked at the wolf that he always considered his father. “I would never regret something that made me a better version of myself. That old bastard…I would have turned bloody manic if I was raised under his care.
“How did you get here, Tobias? Without him knowing that you are here?” Toran asked.
“Answer that after you tell me where my bloody mate is.”
“Alastair,” Toran started. “I’m sure he’ll-”
“No!” Dad growled and stepped to Tobias. “Tobi, I don’t blame you for anything that has happened, but I am going to need you to tell me where Merari is. Both Aziz and I are losing patience with this story time.”
“Well, it so happens that dad’s question coincides with Merari’s whereabouts. And it is not something that you…I’m not-”
“Spit out, boy!”
“She doesn’t want you…she doesn’t want you to come looking for her.” Where he was once facing dad, he turned to me. “She wants you to stay away.”
“And why the bloody hell would we do that?” I hissed. “That’s bloody ridiculous! Where is she?!”
“Vale, you don’t understand.”
“Then you’d better start making things real bloody clear, boy!”
“Because she’s been in on it this entire time!” Tobias finally confessed.
The room was silent, everyone staring blankly at Tobias. “No….no, no, no, no. That-that’s not-no.” I found myself walking over to him before I could stop myself. I grabbed him by his collar. “You…that’s a lie! You’re lying.”
“She’s been plotting on your dad’s life for a while now. Revenge for what he had done to her. What he allowed the former Luna to do to her.”
I glanced at dad and could see in his eyes, the gut punch of his words. He was devastated by this. He actually believed it.
“Dad? Dad, surely you don’t-you don’t believe this!”
“I do…” he said in an almost breathless hurt. “It’s not like she is wrong.”
“Mum, mum would never stoop so low!” I could not believe this. I refused to believe this!
“She’s been plotting to take the alpha’s life.”
“She could have killed him without plotting!” I insisted. “My mother would not need to plot on anything! She-she would never!”
“Kill him on a whim?” Tobias shook his head and it seemed that dad knew what he was thinking before I could gather myself enough to understand it myself.
“And lose you in the process,” said dad. “She would never dream of losing you. She’s already lost so much of herself, Vale. You are the last good piece of her. She would not risk losing you. And if ever she did, she would be meticulous in her planning.”
Tobias chuckled dryly. “That’s almost exactly what she said.”
“I don’t believe this. It’s impossible.” The tears began to well up in my eyes. “I just…no, no, no, no.” I tightened my grip on his collar. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not, Vale. I would never do that to you.”
I knew that he wasn’t lying. But still..I just couldn’t believe it. He gingerly took my hands into his.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Your mother…she said that you have abilities…abilities that would show you the truth.”
My hands began to shake. I was afraid now. Tobias was about to prove to me that my mother had betrayed my father. Had betrayed me. Could I handle this? I wasn’t so sure that I could. And Ares seemed to feel it.
“I am right behind you, mimar,” he said in a gentle voice. “Everyone is here…for you. You need proof, and he has it. It is up to you whether you are willing to see, but I fear that if you do not…you may regret. You do not know if you will see her again-”
“Please don’t say that!” my breath hitched in my chest, the thought of losing my mother…after all of the dysfunction, the toxic and tumultuous relationship. I just could not bear it. I could not bear the thought of losing my mother. I needed her.
“I know, mimar, I know that it is difficult to think about. But you must consider everything to make such an important decision like this.”
He was right, I knew that he was, but it did not change the almost crippling fear that I was experiencing at the idea of it.
“Vale,” Tobias said. “I know that it isn’t my place, but…I…I think you’ll want to see what she has to say.”
“Val,” dad stepped forward, and I saw the pain and concern in his eyes. “I have no right to ask this…and I would take this burden away from you if I could but, please…please.”
Great, now there was pressure.
“Vale is not the only one who can access the memory.” Ares stepped forward. He turned to me. “If this is too hard for you, Vale, I will relieve you of the task, and reveal it to your father. I will have access to it, once you are ready to see it.”
There he was again, being my hero; giving me time. “Please.” I whispered with tears in my eyes.
Ares caressed my cheek, a small and reassuring smile upon his lips. “As you wish.” his hands were placed against Tobias’s temples and he closed his eyes. I watched as Ares delved into the memory that was so desperately sought after.
I just…I couldn’t. Not now. I just wasn’t ready.