From The Ashes

Chapter Thirty-Two

I sat on a rock near the destroyed gazebo, twirling my mom's ring around my finger as Anton mind-linked the royal family and let them know what we had found. I heard him shift around and start walking in my direction. 

"I let them know. They're on their way," he told me.

I pulled my knees up and wrapped my arms around my legs. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the castle ruins. 

"You know, I never got to thank you."

I looked over at him but didn't say anything. He sighed loudly before continuing. 

"I never got to thank you for saving my life in the cave. It you hadn't been there, I would be spider food right about now."

I smirked at him. 

"I told you I would do whatever I could to protect this pack. That includes you," I replied. 

"You're right, you did tell me that. I didn't believe you at the time and I was highly suspicious of you. But I can see now that you were telling the truth. So thank you, and I'm sorry." I lifted my head and sent a smile in his direction. 

"No problem, Anton."

He smiled back then turned his gaze to the forest, as we could hear the others approaching. He raised himself onto his feet and held out a hand to help me up. I accepted it and we walked together to greet everyone. 

Valen was the first to approach me and he wrapped his arms around me comfortingly.

I nuzzled my face into his chest and felt the familiar electricity run through my body. I sighed in contentment before turning back to the rest of the group. 

"So, what happened?" King Ruben asked Anton with a worried look on his face.

Anton explained what we had found and handed the note and the dagger over to him. King Ruben scanned it before turning to me. 

"Do you have your mother's ring?"

I nodded my head and slid it off of my finger before handing it over to him. He inspected it closely before passing it back.

He furrowed his brow once more and ran his fingers through his hair. 

"Was anything out of place when you found these things?" he asked while looking at the ground. 

"Not really. However, the stone slab that they were under didn't have any dust on it like everything else did. It was like it had been wiped clean."

He pursed his lips and was silent for another moment. 

"That means someone has been here recently. Someone planted these things here hoping for you to find them. This isn't just about a war between the packs anymore. I believe they may be targeting you personally."

I swallowed down my fear but didn't say anything. I had been thinking the same thing before everyone showed up. 

"What should we do, then?" Valen asked. 

"We need to have a meeting with the council. I'll plan it for three days at the cave. I want all of you to be there. Anton, you'll need to come with me while we go round up all of the members. Von and Artemis, I want you two to go back to the cave and keep an eye on everything. If someone from our pack is behind this, we need to be careful.

Aislinn," he said while turning to her, "take Queen Stella back to the safehouse and make sure everything is going smoothly. Do not let her out of your sight."

Aislinn nodded her head with determination and stepped closer to Queen Stella.

"Valen and Indigo, I want you two to do some reconnaissance here. Camp near the ruins for a couple of nights and watch for anyone or anything that seems unusual. If anyone shows up, whether they're from our pack or not, you alert me right away. Do not engage. Do I make myself clear?" 

"Yes, your majesty," I replied while Valen just nodded his head. 

"Good. I want you all at your posts within two hours. It's dark now, so you shouldn't have to worry about being seen."

He stepped over to Queen Stella and kissed her quickly on the cheek before nodding to Anton. 

"We'll rendezvous at the cave in three days," he said before shifting and taking off into the trees with Anton close behind him. 

Artemis and Aislinn approached me and gave me goodbye hugs and Valen and Von both kissed their mother.

Artemis and Von shifted and began their journey to the cave, and Aislinn and Queen Stella were quick to leave after them.

Valen and I decided to head back to the safehouse to get supplies, so we followed them. 

The trip back was short and we quickly rounded up enough supplies and food to last us for two days before leaving once again.

We travelled back on foot, so by the time we arrived at the ruins, night had settled over the land.

The sky was dark and clear and the area was eerily silent as we unpacked our things. We decided to stay back in the trees where we could be easily hidden, but within sight of the castle.

Neither of us uttered a word as we worked, and we quickly got a camp set up. I was lighting a small fire when Valen finally spoke. 

"Do you really think someone is after you?" 

"I'm not sure," I replied as I finished stacking kindling on the dry logs.

"It's the only thing that makes sense though. They wouldn't have bothered finding my ring otherwise."

He sat in silence for a while longer. Once I was finished, I plopped myself in his lap and smoothed his hair back from his face. 

"You're brooding. What's running through that mind of yours?"

His eyes met mine and he clenched his jaw before replying. 

"I don't want you fighting, Indigo." 

"Excuse me?" I frowned at him and crossed my arms as my temper began to flare.

"I can't lose you. I almost lost my mind thinking you weren't going to wake up a few weeks ago. You're being targeted. Putting you out into the fight is like giving them exactly what they want." 

"You're forgetting that I can fend for myself pretty well. I should be there protecting this pack, just like the rest of you."

He sighed and wrapped his arms tightly around me. As annoyed as I was, I surrendered to him and embraced him back. We sat there holding each other for what felt like hours before Valen finally pulled away. 

"You should get some rest, I'll take the first watch," he said as he stood up, effectively removing me from his lap.

He wouldn't look me in the eyes, so I knew this conversation wasn't over.  

I sighed loudly before pulling out my sleeping back and laying it near the fire. I turned my back to him and closed my eyes, falling into a restless sleep. 

Author's Note:

Okay, I don't know why but this chapter was hard to write so I apologize if it's not great right now. We'll be seeing a lot of just Valen and Indigo in the next few chapters, so be prepared! Who do you think left the items in the ruins? Was it someone from Moonlight? What do you think will happen at the meeting with the council? 

Comment and vote to let me know your thoughts! 

Xoxo, 

CrimsynIris