Bound by Love

38. Am I a Monster?

Wren rises to her feet holding out her bloodstained hands. Her mates draw near and hold her close as she trembles with sobs. Her emotions are flowing swiftly and ever changing in a swirl of confusion.

She knows that she did the right thing, but it feels as if the blood on her hands is seeping into her and staining her soul. Her heart speeds and her mind whirls. Is she now a monster? To take a life, even though it was deserved, seems an unpardonable sin. Is this how police officers feel, when the only solution to save others is to take the life of the madman holding a gun? How do they ever survive the guilt and pain?

Her mates caress her softly, hearts aching with the emotions and thoughts they can feel and hear thorough the bond. Gray cradles her face in his hands and forces her to look him in the eye.

"You are no monster." He tells her tenderly, yet sternly. "The fact that you are questioning it, and feeling remorse over it all, proves that you aren't. I know you aren't ready to believe it fully but you did the right thing. He deserved it."

"Gray is right, Little Bird. You kept us with you when you looked forward. We saw what you did. You're a hero really. So many people owe you their lives and they will never know that you saved them."

"You're a hero, Angel. Truly. And we will keep reminding you of that. Everyday."

Gray kisses away the tears on her cheeks. "My Heart. We will comfort you when you weep. We will reassure you when you have doubts. We will rebuild you when you are broken. We will remind you of what would have been, when you forget. And we will love you at all times, forever and always."

With those words and the love she feels from her mates, Wren's shattered heart begins to mend. They surround her with their love and let her cry. The tears of fear, pain and sorrow, turn to tears of healing. The tears of a soul that is rebuilding.

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Eventually Wren's tears cease and she regains her composure. The Council has called in the Chiad Sreath to escort the prisoners to the supernatural prison until their trials will be held. Among the new arrivals was also a Scironsan.

Ian stands and approaches the thin man. "Hey, Roman. I don't think we'll be needing you to erase anyone's memories. The only human that saw anything is our new little brother. So, if you want to go back home you can."

"Wait." Wren says softly and tugs on Ian's arm.

Ian turns her way with a hand held up to stall Roman from leaving. He listens to her thoughts and nods along. "Hold up, Roman. We might use your services after all. Hang around and we'll let you know in a bit, okay?"

"Certainly, sir." Roman bows towards Ian and then Wren before stepping back against a tree to wait patiently.

Wren and her mates talk quietly and are soon joined by the guys' parents.

Each of the fathers and mothers take a moment to hug Wren and offer her soft smiles. Garrison is last and stays by her side, an arm around her shoulders in affection and support. Elowen holds her hand and pats it gently. "Wren, you dear girl. Are you okay? Do you need anything? What did you see? What did..."

"Breath, Elly darling." Garrison admonishes. "Give her a moment to answer."

"Sorry." Elowen mumbles.

"It's okay. Papa G., Momma E. I... I'm doing alright. Your son and his brothers are making sure of that."

Elowen beams at Wren's name for Garrison and herself and kisses Wren's cheek softly. Garrison swallows the lump in his throat and blinks back tears. He kisses the top of her head and hugs her one more time.

Wren blushes and looks at everyone around her. "I hope you don't mind. I just went from having no family to an abundance in just a few days. I figure now that I have four moms and dads I need a new name to call you so it doesn't get too confusing."

"Aww, you wee little lamby." Locryn says with gruff affection. "Tis a pleasure to hear you call us such. Thought you may not wanna call us ma and da anymore, now that you found your own true ones."

"Oh, Papa L., how could I feel any differently? Just because I found mom and dad, doesn't make the love and belonging you gave me any less real or strong. I love you all so much. You've accepted me and made me welcome into your sons' lives and into your own hearts. Each and everyone of you is so precious to me."

"Such a sweet mate you have son." Mathis says quietly to Gray.

"Yes. She is certainly that." Gray says with pride and love.

Maeve chews on her lip and finally asks what everyone has been wondering. "Wren, dear girl, don't answer if it's too hard, but... What did Stan tell you?"

"Well, Momma M. he told me what happened just before he was taken over here." Wren swallows hard, sadness and anger fighting for the right to express themselves.

"Stan overheard the doctor, Reynolds and Blake talking. His fa... the doctor sold him to them. He exchanged Stan's life for the change. They promised that they would change him to a werewolf if he gave them his son. And he took it! He didn't even hesitate to answer. He figured out what they were, and about their unnatural long lives, and he wanted it. He wanted it more than his own son! How... how can he do such a thing?"

Wren stares out with tear filled eyes. "How?" her voice whispers. Trembling hands wipe off her cheeks and then she tilts her head up, eyelids fluttering as she fights back the reemergence of her tears.

"I can't understand how it's possible. He knew, they told him plain as day what their plans were for Stan. They spelled it out, crystal clear, that Stan would be killed in order to gain control of me. And yet, he still did it. I would rather die myself than let that happen to my Stan. How can his own father trade him for a longer life?"

"He is a vile, evil and despicable monster. He is no man. He is definitely not a father. He may have planted the seed but that is all he did." Garrison states as he puts his hand on Van's shoulder.

Mathis stands next to Gray, and Locryn by Ian. Father and son. Each side by side, and each drastically different from Doctor Williams and Stan's relationship.

"Dad's right, Angel. He wasn't a father. Thank God, you were in Stan's life. If it wasn't for you, I doubt Stan would be the sweet little boy that he is today. You saved him. From day one, you have been his Angel."

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