Scarlet Rogue (Book One)

Chapter Forty-Six: History is not Black and White

Kaelynn

The buzzing nasal sounds of Avery fill the room, the sounds a huge contrast to her usual delicate voice. She'd blame it on the pregnancy but the way Mark rolls his eyes when she brings it up tells us differently. Not that I mind, it's a welcome break from her constant chattering. She can so easily go a million miles an hour, I'm pretty sure she doesn't even need to breathe to survive.

I tuck the thin duvet over her and make my way to close the blinds. The blaring sun getting blocked out and the room turning a light grey. Next to the bed, there stands an erected rocking chair. The same chair, Mark claims took his days to build from rescued oak. Engraved daisies run along the back and padded cushions as the seat complete it. It's technically for putting the baby to sleep but just this once, I could test it out.

Sitting down on the chair, my mind travels to the events of the last few days as has been the case constantly since yesterday's breakdown. The way life is panning out so unexpectedly, I almost expect to wake-up from this nightmare and be back to eating dinner with Father. Almost, but the way I feel with Ayden makes it all so real, too real.

The way Mother is willing to sacrifice all her people, her daughter, her mate, it's all surreal and to top it all off, she had an elaborate lie about Father not being her mate. Painting him in a cruel light to manipulate me. The worst of it all is just not understand why she would do this to us.

My thumb taps against my index finger as my thoughts consume me. The same thoughts circling around, making no headway. Overthinking is doing me no favours; I should get someone's opinion. Avery would know what to do, she always does but seeing her sleeping frame in front of me knocks that idea out. As I continue fiddling my fingers, my eyes widen and I reach for the telephone to call the wisest person I know.

"Hello?"

"Hi Uncle."

"Kaelynn, how lovely to hear from you. How are you? I heard about yesterday."

Doesn't news travel fast in our kingdom? I wonder if there is anyone in the kingdom that doesn't know about my embarrassing breakdown.

"Much better today, I actually wanted your advice on something."

"Go on."

"When I met Mother a few days ago, she accused Father of not being her mate. I don't believe it for a second but why do you think she is really doing all this?"

Internally twists and crunches swirl around as I wait for the dreaded answer. I need to know, I need to understand but the way the pit of my stomach turns, I fear the worst. The silence that follows my question only exacerbates my feelings. Minutes later, still no answer.

"Hello?"

A sigh comes through and I'm reassured that Edon is still on the line. His lack of answer on the other hand concerning, what could be worse than killing and denying your mate? If there is anything worse, would I even want to know? My thoughts have me backtracking and I prepare to take back my question but Edon beats me to it.

"It's all true."

"What is?"

"They were never mates."

"But-"

My words stop suddenly as I comprehend how to even answer that. They loved each other; I saw it all. It doesn't make any sense but after the last few days, I know not to discount anything anymore.

"I hoped you would never find out but perhaps it was rather naïve of me."

"I don't understand?"

"The marriage was an alliance to bring peace between their packs."

Peace? The packs needing peace brings more of Mother's disturbing words to my lips.

"Did Father kill her mate?"

Another moment of silence follows confirming the answer. My chest tightens at the very thought, they are both murderers. Vicious, heartless murderers. Killing their subjects is cruel but killing somebody's mate and proceeding to marry them is the height of tortures. Why would they subject themselves to a life like that? I need to understand why, or do I?

Maybe it is time to accept that justifications are flawed, understand brings about more unanswered questions and kindness does not exist around every corner like I once thought.

"I should go," I say, preparing to end the conversations.

"Wait, you need to know this."

I let out a sigh. "Edon, the more I know, the less I wish I knew."

"Killian." He takes a pause. "Killian was her mate."

"Alpha Killian the destroyer?"

"You know the stories. Silas was left with little choice but to kill him. Marrying your mother on the other hand, that was never a decision I agreed with."

I should agree with his words but I never knew Killian, only stories that were evidently written by the victors and by now, it's evident that taking anything at face value is a fool's errand. Now more than ever convinced that focusing on the path achieves little, I bid Edon goodbye and go back to watching Avery snore. A little creepy maybe but seeing the life grow inside her, her vibrant glowing skin and her peaceful aura makes me feel safe. Safe is a funny word in a world like this where chambers exist and torturers roam free but that world won't exist for much longer, I'll make sure of it.