Silver

Chapter 28

"Anymore questions?" Tala asks as she passes out the finally cooked meat. I have several, but my mouth is too full of the delicious food to ask.

"I do but for Silver." My father asks holding up a hand like on school. I slowly finish my bite of meat an swallow. I give a small nod and wait until I can start eating again, I hadn't noticed just how hungry I was.

"How is your mother?" And with those four words my hunger vanishes and is instead replaces with a hollowness in my heart. I swallow bar and Noah wraps his arm around me supportively.

"She died." I barely make out staring holes in the floor, trying to hold the tears in my eyes.

"What!?" My father springs up and glares at me. "Don't joke about this!" I have to choke back a sob.

"It's true....... on our way here I felt the bond snap." I cringe as I remember the hollow painful feeling it left me with.

"No." His voice is strained and he sinks to his knees before silent tears start rolling down his cheeks.

I lean against Noah for comfort before glancing at Maxon. He looks stricken. Like when he met me he had gotten a hope he might have more family a loving mother out there waiting for him, and I tore that away.

After several year filled minutes I finally swallow my grief and look at Tala.

"What do we do now? We found you but I don't really know what to do next. I don't have a pack to go back too." I think of Beth and decide I need to find her as soon as this mission is complete.

"You need to avenge your pack. Kill their Alpha an rule with Noah. Build your pack stronger, conquer the evil ones but never forget why you are fighting. Not for power, not for wealth, not even for family, but for justice. And never forget that." With her final words she stands from her furry rocker and leaves the room through a doorway leading off beside the fireplace.

I look around me at the faces. One my father who I had been grieving over for eleven years, here again. One my brother who I didn't know existed, but I already love. And one my mate, the one who keeps me grounded, the one who is always there for me, the one I never want to be without.

"Where can we sleep, I'm wiped." Noah finally asks to break the silence that had settled over us.

My father shakes himself almost as if to break a daze before answering.

"There, is an extra room through there, you- both of you..... are welcome to it." He points to an open doorway across the room towards the open ring of the cavern.

I give a small nod before standing up and heading in that direction following Noah. We make it to the doorway, but before I walk through I turn towards my brother.

"Nice fighting brother." I give a smile which is returned before heading to the room.

After walking through the doorway we find ourselves in a narrow hallway which quickly leads into an open space occupied by a king size bed and a dresser. To the right is a waist high ledge that is then open space to the low ceiling. An eagle eye view of the cavern is laid out before us.

I lean against the ledge and try to memorize the layout of the small village below that we must have come through when I was out. I turn towards the bed and see our packs laid on it.

Yawning I walk over and pull out my last clean outfit consisting of a faded navy tee shirt and black running shorts.

I'm too tired to notice Noah's stare as I pull my shirt over my head and pull on the clean one, or his sharp intake of breathe when I slip out of my blood, mud, and who knows what else stained pants an pull on the shorts. I toss the dirty clothes the corner along with my bag and crawl into bed.

I hear Noah scuffling around a he changes, I can't even be bothered to take a peak at him.

I feel the bed dip as he lays down, and then his warm arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me towards him. I bury my nose in his warm chest and start to drift off to sleep, but before I do I hear him speak.

"I love you Silver." He whispers into my hair.

My eyes snap open and I suck in air. Even though I thought Noah loved me, having him say it sent chills down my spine at the thought.

"I love you too Noah." I whisper back into his chest.

His arm tightens around me, and I take a deep breathe of him.

Sleep overtakes me and pulls me under into the world of darkness.