Behind Enemy Lines

Chapter 22

Chapter 22 

I stared at myself in the mirror, still not happy with the way I looked. I mean, I was about to formally see my family for the first time since Hayden had taken me. How exactly was one supposed to look and act during a situation like this? 

My dark brown hair was down in its natural curls, my porcelain face clear of any and all makeup. My usually dull gray eyes were startlingly blue today. Who knows; maybe it was the fact that I came back from the dead or that I met the Moon Goddess. Either way, everything about me and around me seemed different in some shape, way or form. 

I was wearing a white sundress with yellow flowers on it, green popping out as it was the color of the flowers' stems. I had borrowed a pair of sandals from Gemma to match them and to be frank, I was a big bundle of nerves as I gazed at myself, smoothing down my dress for the billionth time. 

"Calm down," Hayden mumbled, stepping behind me and smiling at me through the reflection. 

Huffing, I looked down and nodded. I just wasn't really trusting my voice and/or my ability to speak right now. 

Letting Hayden wrap his hand around mine, he led me outside and we began the walk to the edge of the border where we'd be meeting my family. 

My stomach was still a little sore, but it was getting better. 

I recognized the paths of the trees from marching to the battle and from running to find Olivia. We passed the edge of the clearing where everything had gone down and Hayden gave my hand a gentle squeeze and smile as if to say "it'll be alright". 

We were at the border, only a rows of trees separating us from my family. I could hear and smell them, and let me tell you they were extremely nervous. I could hear my mother sobbing about not knowing if she could bear seeing her daughter's corpse. My heart cracked. 

"Wait here. I'll come get you when we're ready for you, okay?" Hayden instructed, his voice low so they wouldn't hear him. 

All I could do was nod. 

Catching me off guard, he placed a tender kiss to my forehead before pulling away with a pained expression on his face. Reluctantly releasing my hand, I watched his back as he disappeared through the trees and listened to them. 

"Where is her body?" Alpha Blackburn demanded right away. 

Hayden turned back into his usual, cold self, and bit out, "Why the hell should you see her? You don't deserve it!" 

"We're her family! And you-you killed her!" My mom screamed and I felt a tear roll down my cheek. 

My mate growled, "I did no such thing." 

"Save it," Reyna, my sister, spat with so much venom I didn't even think it was possible for all of that to come from her. 

I could feel the anger rolling off of Hayden and knew he was about ready to snap. I could practically hear his teeth grinding together as he clenched his jaw. It was then that I decided not to wait. 

Stepping out of the woods, all heads turned to me. My father, well his face was so incredibly priceless that I almost laughed out loud-- almost. Hayden looked at me with a haze in his eyes, like he was off in some distant land. What really cracked me was when I saw my mother, sobbing with her hands cupped against her face, trying to suppress the sobs. 

"Mom," I muttered and closed the distance rapidly, pulling her into my arms. 

She squeezed me back tightly, "Oh, my baby. We thought you were-- your father--" 

"Lied," Hayden finished for her, coming back into the real world. 

My mother pulled away but held me at arm's length. I looked to my left to see Reyna and Daniel, my brother who looked at me with what seemed like pride. Was I imagining things? 

Hayden was glaring daggers at Alpha Blackburn, "Why don't you tell them the truth? What really happened in the clearing?" 

My father swallowed nervously and Reyna spoke up, "Dad? What's he talking about?" 

"Nothing," He stammered. "Nothing, it's absolutely ludicrous!" 

"You're lying," I speak, my first full sentence. My voice is quiet and light, but strong and very, very accusing. 

He paled. 

"Mom, Reyna, Daniel," I addressed the faithful members of my family. "Hayden didn't stab me. He would never hurt me on purpose. It was dad who stabbed me." 

My mom sobbed into Reyna's shoulder and I heard a low growl. I looked over at Hayden expecting it to be him but when I looked, I found him looking at Daniel who was scowling in Alpha Blackburn's direction, growling. 

"It's okay, Daniel, really," I intervened. "I'm not dead. Well, I mean I was, but not anymore." 

Reyna sniffled, "How is that even possible?" 

I shrugged, "Only Selene knows." 

Realization crossed over her features. 

My mom squeezed my hands, "Well, you can come home now, sweetie. We can work everything out and--" 

"No!" Hayden exclaimed. "She's my mate, you can't--you can't just take her from me!" 

"She's my daughter!" My mom shouted back, tightening her grip on my wrist. 

Hayden was about to shout back but I interrupted before something foul and bitter could escape from his lips, "I think I should decide where I stay." 

My mother took a breath and let go of me, "Of course." 

Smiling, I took a step back and stood right on the border, "Well, I mean, it's a pretty obvious decision. It would hurt me so much to live without my family. You guys are my rocks; Daniel, Reyna, Mom." 

I left out Alpha Blackburn on purpose, "And I would always feel empty without you guys around me." 

Turning on my heel, I walked over to Hayden and intertwined my fingers with his, "But the thing is, it would hurt me so much more to live without my mate. So, I'm choosing to live with Hayden." 

Mom looked down, disappointed, but nodded in understanding, "Just promise you'll visit."

"I promise," I smiled, giving her and Reyna hugs. 

Daniel came up to me and wrapped me up in a bear hug, "I love you, sis. Never forget it, okay? And I think you definitely made the right choice." 

I blushed. 

"You be good to her," Daniel ordered to Hayden and to my astonishment, he smiled. 

Hayden nodding with that smile on his face, "She came back to life for me. There's no way I could be hurt her even if I tried."

Dan nodded, "Good answer." 

With one last hug with the family members I like and a final glare to my "father", we began the walk back to the pack house, our hands tangled together as we went on. 

~

A/N: we're almost done o m g, I'm getting really sad! Anyways, IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED FOR THE TITLE FOR THE SEQUEL YET, PLEASE VOTE FROM THE TOP THREE TITLES BELOW IN THE COMMENTS!!! 

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