Chapter 67


    67. Baggage


    ***Trigger warning – Domestic and Child abuse depicted. Reader discretion is advised*** *** Zane***


    “Are you fighting with me or staying out of this war?” Toran asks, a crippling fear grasping onto me.


    My gaze shifts between my mate and mother, my heart unable to decide what to do. I can’t bear the


    thought of leaving Talia and Kota alone knowing that her wolf will soon emerge for its first shift but I had


    already lost my mother once and I don’t have the strength to lose her again.


    As I struggle to find my answer, Rionna replies for me.


    “You will not drag my son into this,” she deres, standing protectively in front of me. “I am Ravenstone’s


    Luna and it’s me Sebastian wants. I’ll go back. You just leave my son out of this.”


    Toran eyes my mother with an emotionless expression stered on his face and he sighs tiredly as he


    formtes a response.


    My mind, however, drifts off to the memories of my mother and father when I was a child. My father


    aimed most of his anger towards me but my mother was never exempt from his abuse. He would not


    hesitate to p or hit her if she stood in the way of my punishment and she always did.


    ***shback***


    “Why did you stop?” My father snarls, slowly unbuckling his belt from his waist. He rises to his feet,


    towering over me as I hold my book with trembling hands. “I didn’t say you could stop.”


    I stare at the word “colonel” from the poem I am reading, tears springing to my eyes as I realize I will


    inevitably stutter through it. I purse my lips and shake my head, preferring to take my punishment now


    rather than anger him more with my failure.


    “Say it,” my fathermands as I hold my breath, close my eyes, and start to count. 1… 2… 3… 4…


    I hear his swift footsteps start to charge towards me, the sting of his belt rippling behind my thigh. At


    once, the breath i’ve been holding is released with a s.cream as I receive a second lick to the back of my


    knees.


    “Dadd-> “I told you to speak!” My father roars, raising his hand above his head to hit me again.


    “Sebastian, stop it!” My mother begs, tugging at his shirt in a weak attempt to get him to stop whipping


    me.“ Stop it! Stop it, don’t hurt my baby!”


    She beats her fists against his shoulders to make him stop and he shoves her away from him absent-


    mindedly to hit me again. When she doesn’t stop attacking him, he turns against her, pinning her to the


    ground with hisrge thighs and grabbing at her thrashing arms to hold her still. He whips her relentlessly


    with the belt, my mother begging for him to let her go.


    She calls to his wolf but it seems my father is inplete control, beating her over and over again until


    he draws blood.


    Horrified, I pick up the book again and search for my ce through my tears. “Col-co-colo-” I stammer


    through hups as my father snarls at me. “Say it right and I’ll stop,” he challenges me, my legs shaking


    so severely, I have to kneel to keep from falling over.


    “I-It’s okay, Zane,” my mother wheezes. “You can


    “Shut up!” My father roars, grabbing my mother by the throat before turning to me. “You better speak up,


    boy or I’ll hurt her.”


    It was the longest day of my life that day, my mother taking the blows without ever getting angry with me.


    Even as I failed over and over again, she did not s.cream at me, nor did she ever me me for her


    hospital visit that


    day.


    I cannot let my mother face that monster again. “N-no…” | protest, shaking my head at my mother and


    pushing her aside. “N-no… y-you can’t go.” “Zane, it’s my pack-“.


    “M-my father will ki-kill you if he finds ou-out you married T-Toran,” | insist, my eyes pleading with her to


    listen.“ H-he can’t see y-you. N-not now. H-he’ll hurt you,” I beg her, Rionna’s mouth hanging open in


    shock. “1-1-1 go in y-your ce. I-I don’t want him to h-hurt y-you again.”


    Tears fill Rionna’s eyes and she holds her head in her hands, cursing herself for being unable to


    remember her life with my father. It does not matter to me, however. I remember… and I do not want my


    father to ever touch her again.


    Talia squeezes my hands tightly and I feel the slight tremor in her touch but she does not utter a word as


    I beg to take my mother’s ce in this war. She hides her face in Kota’s hair and I sense the deep fear in


    her fast beating heart.


    “Ta-Talia…” She gives my hand another squeeze and shakes her head.


    “It’s okay…” She whispers, doing her best to remain calm in Kota’s presence. “It’s okay. Kota and I are


    going to be okay, so you don’t have to worry about us,” she says through a forced smile. “We’ll be fine.”


    Talia puts on a brave face and looks me in the eye, leaning forward to kiss my cheek. “I love you,” she


    murmurs. “Juste back to me in one piece.”


    So many unsaid words hang in the air but we do not get the chance to exchange them as Toran reminds


    us of the severity of the situation.


    “We’ll meet you at the cars in one hour,” Toran says as he clears his throat. “Pack quickly. We only have


    a few hours before Sebastianunches his attack and we need to prepare for what he might have up his


    sleeve.” Toran’s usually calm face falters slightly, softening as he looks up at my mother. “Ri…”


    She, however, ignores him entirely, turning on her heel to storm out. Toran can only watch in distress as


    my mothers ms the door behind her, and his thoughts slowly trickle into my mind.


    “I’m sorry, my love,” he thinks to himself before the man of stone returns, his face neutral and stoic once


    more.


    “One hour,” he mutters aloud before walking out with Tylen at his heels. Kota yawns tiredly, Talia


    smoothing back his hair and kissing his forehead. “Hi Evan,” he whispers as heys his head on Talia’s


    shoulder and waves “Hey squirt,” Evan grins, ruffling up Kota’s hair. “Zane, Talia,” Queen Aurora sighs.


    “I’m afraid Oliver and I will be leaving in a few hours as well.” My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach.


    Who will protect my family while I am away?


    “I’ve been summoned to France to deal with Alpha Jacque and Benoit,” the Queen exins.


    “Unfortunately, can’t send a representative. But don’t worry. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can.”


    “W-Who will pro-protect my family?” I ask.


    “Beta Carter and Rosalie will be in charge of River Moon while we are away,” Oliver exins. “Evan will


    be traveling with us.”


    Evan audibly groans but stops when Oliver gives him a stern look.


    My heart begins to beat a little faster and I question if I am making the right decision to leave my family


    here while I fight.


    “Don’t worry Zane. Talia, Kota, Rionna, and Agnes will be safe,” Aurora continues, “My twin, Celina, will


    be taking charge of the kingdom from the Lluvia nca Pack for the time being so they are in good


    hands,” she smiles kindly at my mate. “There shouldn’t be any problems.”


    “It’s okay,” Talia tries to reassure me. “I’m not as weak as I look.” she says with a forcedugh. “We’re


    surrounded by wolves. We’ll be perfectly safe.”


    My uneasiness does not fade away with her words but I also cannot let my mother face my father now


    that she has built a new life in Ravenstone.


    “Come on, I’ll help you pack,” Talia murmurs, interlocking our hands and pulling me towards the door.


    She’s a little too eager to get rid of us, Grayson sulks, a part of him wishing Talia would get on her knees


    and beg


    us to stay.


    She, however, keeps her head held high as she walks me out of the office, her face resting in a neutral


    state. I lower my walls to listen in on her thoughts, hearing her count each step she takes in her head to


    keep her mind busy.


    “Left, right, left, right, left,” She chants, keeping a strong smile on her cheeks.


    When we reach the house, Agnes is sitting at the dining table with Rionna, pouring a cup of tea for her.


    Tylen is also there, standing just beside Rionna with an envelope in his hand. The three of them seem to


    be caught in a conversation all on their own so we walk past them up the stairs to our bedroom.


    Talia sets Kota down on the bed while she searches for my bag and she begins searching for my clothes.


    “Mommy, can I help?” Kota asks as Talia folds some t-shirts and shorts for me.


    “Sure sweetie,” Talia chirps with a little too much enthusiasm. “Bring me some of Zane’s socks from the


    dresser,” she says, pointing to the dresser on the far side of the room.


    Kota skips over and brings Talia two pairs of my socks which she carefully folds and stuffs into my bag.


    “T-Talia…” She ignores me, humming quietly to herself as she works. “T-Talia…” I repeat, Talia’s eyes


    scanning the room for things to pack.


    “You’ll need your toothbrush and razor,” Talia gasps, rushing off to the bathroom. She returns a few


    momentster with my toiletries and waves a bottle of sunscreen in my face. “Do not forget to put this on.


    It’s hot and you’re


    pale”


    “Talia!” | snap, grabbing her by the shoulders.


    A stunned look washes over her face and tears gather in her eyes. Neither one of us makes a sound as


    it bes evidently clear Talia is just trying to cope. I can’t seem to find the right words to soothe her


    fears, the uncertainty of this war clouding my every thought.


    “Y-you forgot m-my hair gel,” I whisper quietly, Talia nodding her head and running back to the bathroom


    to get


    “Daddy, where are you going?” Kota suddenly asks, climbing on the bed to y with the zipper of my


    bag.


    “Daddy is going on a little trip,” Talia answers for me as she returns with the jar of hair gel in her hand.


    Her eyes and nose are a little red but she nheless forces a smile on her face and tucks the gel into


    the bag.


    “To where?” Kota asks, turning to me. “Can I go with you, Daddy?” Talia pulls Kota onto herp and


    kisses his forehead. “Daddy is going to fight some bad guys,” Talia exins. “So he can’t take you.”


    Kota’s eyes widen like saucers. “Like a superhero?” he gasps,


    “Yes, just like a superhero,” Talia nods, my cheeks flushing as she turns to look at me. “Daddy is our


    superhero.”


    “Woah!” Kota cries, jumping to his feet and bouncing on the bed. “Mommy, when I grow up, I want to be


    a superhero like Daddy!”


    Damn, even I felt that, Grayson mutters, his tail wagging happily.


    My heart fills with a joy I never thought I would feel but the very real fears and worries of war linger in the


    back of my mind.


    I have toe back for him and Talia. “Daddy, can Ie with you?” Kota begs with a dangerously


    adorable pout.


    get down on my knees and pull him towards the edge of the bed, my voice very stern as I ask him for a


    favor,


    “I-I need y-you to take care of Mo-Mommy while I-I’m away,” I exin to him as I shake my head. “C-can


    y-you do that for me?”


    At first Kota nods but then his face grows very serious. “But who takes care of Daddy?”


    It’s a question neither Talia and I can respond to and an ufortable silence fills the room. When


    neither one of us answers, Kota climbs off the bed and runs away, his loud stomps echoing down the hall


    as he sprints to his room. He returns a few momentster holding his little wolf.


    Turn


    ear


    “You can take Wolfie,” he says, unzipping my bag and stuffing the small wolf inside. “He’ll protect you.”


    I stare at the small pup who grins cheekily at me, wondering what on earth I did to ever deserve him.


    Talia also gets up and fishes for something in her purse before returning to the bed and opening my bag.


    She gently ces a dream catcher with silver beads on top of my clothes and closes up the bag again.


    “To keep your nightmares away while you’re gone,” She murmurs, tucking some hair behind her ear She


    knows about my nightmares? She clears her throat and climbs out of bed, coaxing Kota into her arms.


    “We should get going,” Talia sighs, lifting Kota and setting him on her hip. “You still need to speak with


    Agnes before you leave.”


    I rise to my feet and sling the bag over my shoulder, rushing to the door to block her way. “What are you.”


    | crash my lips against hers, knowing she needs this kiss as much as I need her. Kota giggles hysterically


    but I do not pull away, wanting to savor this moment of peace between his mother and I. Talia moves her


    lips slowly against mine in response but pulls away to look at me with tears in her eyes.


    “Let’s go,” she whispers, walking around me and opening the door.


    I do not know what else to do so I follow her out and head downstairs where Agnes and Rionna are still


    discussing something, Tylen long gone.,


    They stop talking when we approach, Agnes running to me with a look of anguish. “Please,” is all she


    signs but I only reply with a kiss to her forehead. “Take care of our family,” I sign to her, tears rolling down


    her cheeks. Kota reaches over to her from his mothers arms and wipes at Agnes’s wet cheeks. “Don’t cry


    Egg-ness,” he coos. “Daddy wille back.” N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Agnes only leans into his touch, not understanding his words. Beside her, Rionna weeps silently and I


    give her a hug to reassure her everything will be fine.


    Tylen knocks at the door and enters with a suitcase of his own, his face neutral as he announces that the


    car is ready.


    I kiss my son and my mothers goodbye, Talia fighting hard to hold back her tears. I lean in to kiss her


    goodbye but she only pulls away.


    “T-Talia”


    “Marry me,” she blurts out, my entire world standing still