Mated & Blooded

Chapter 18

(Nikoli's POV)

My nose flared as I entered the underground cave that housed the Alpha and Luna of Northern Star Wolf pack. They smelled of dirt, fear and sweat. The smell was very offensive. I brought with me several bags of fast food and a couple more gallons of fresh water. I placed them down on the makeshift rock table and turned to face the Luna and said.

"Listen carefully, because I will not repeat myself. I am going to untie you. You will walk slowly over to the table, sit down on the ground and eat. You will not speak to me, you will not attempt to run. Do I make myself clear?"

The Luna nodded and I untied her. She did exactly as I asked. Mid way through her meal, I started to realize I recognized her.

"You were once a member of BlueRidge pack were you not?" I questioned her. She kept her head down but nodded.

"Do you know who Kalli's mother is?" This time I saw her visibly flinch before nodding.

"Tell me" I said with more anger in my voice then I had meant to have.

The Luna started to shake. The Alpha hearing our exchange began fighting his restraints. I looked up at him pointed my finger and tsk'd

"Now, now alpha, you don't really want to get loose. Since getting loose would mean that I will have to kill you. Calm yourself. I will give you your chance when I am finished with your Luna." He settled back down.

"Luna?" I prodded

"Marie Howard" she whispered, then licked her lips and started again

"Her mother is Marie Howard, the daughter of the last true Alpha of BlueRidge. She was once my best friend and the sister to my true mate Tony."

I watched as tears slid down the face of the Northern Star Luna. She hiccuped then tried continued but stopped when she felt my hand touch her shoulder.

"No need to continue I know exactly who her mother is. Finish eating, then I am going to take you somewhere a little more comfortable."

I was full of guilt. I was once friends to the BlueRidge pack. I had held Lidia and her sister Risa in my hands when they'd been children. I also knew Marie. Her father had been a dear friend. The only wolf I would have ever called friend. It now made perfect sense that Marie's daughter was my beloved. In fact, I was pretty darn sure I knew exactly how the doctor got my blood, and I knew for sure now it was my blood. I turned toward the alpha and said

"I will be back for you shortly" then gently placed my hand on Lidia's elbow and walked her towards the exit of the cave. I was careful not to hurt her as I led her into the house. I took her straight upstairs and into one of the empty guest rooms.

"Lidia, out of respect for my old friend Anthony Howard, I am going to let you live for now. Take a shower, and get some rest. I will come back for you later today. Don't try to escape or I might change my mind"

I left her and locked the door. I was going to have to go downstairs and explain her and the dam rotten alpha to my beloved now.

(Lidia's POV)

I found myself frozen in place. The vampire had left, and I still hadn't moved. Everything about the last week was unbelievable. I kept closing and opening my eyes praying that I was going to wake up from this nightmare.

I had done everything wrong. I went against my own nature. I had hurt my son and sided with my monster of a husband against my sons mate. I even helped Logan plot to kill my child. What was wrong with me? Thank god the vampire had come and stopped Logan and I. I would never have wanted to live if I had been responsible for my son's death.

What we were doing was wrong. How we treated Marie and her child all of these years was wrong. I knew that, but somehow I'd managed to forget. Just as I managed to forget that Maria had once been my best friend. Or that a true mate, any true mate was precious given by the gods themselves. How could I have told my son to reject his mate?

It was like I hadn't been able to control myself. Everything that Logan said made sense when he'd said it. Now, however it seemed surreal. In fact, everything seemed surreal since the vampire grabbed us. It's like a veil was slowly being lifted from my head and I was finally able to see the truth.

Years of my life were suddenly staring me back in the face. My hatred for Logan bubbling to the surface as I found myself suddenly slammed again with the loss of my true mate Tony. I knew Logan was responsible. Somehow over the years he's made me want to forget. Today I saw clearly. Today I knew Logan did it purely so that he could have more power.

He wanted the BlueRidge pack. He wanted to have the largest pack in North America. Logan believed he was an Alpha's alpha. BlueRidge wasn't even the only or first pack Logan assimilated into his. He also took over Rockledge. Rockledge was a small pack that was located to the north of Northern Star.

Their alpha also passed mysteriously with only female heirs. More likely Logan killed the alpha like he killed my dad and my true mate. How could I have forgotten? How could I have forgotten watching him bed the daughters of the Rockledge alpha? I stood by his side while he all but raped them for weeks on end.

Thank god both of the Rockledge shewolves never gave birth to any of Logan's children. I don't remember how, but both Anna and Alice disappeared along with twenty other Rockledge pack members just after Lucas's birth.

How could I be so evil? How could I stand by while Logan raped and killed people I cared about? I never even tried to stop him. I didn't deserve to live. I dropped to the floor and I started to cry. I cried for the loss of my true mate, I cried for the loss of my friends, I cried for the evil that I had allowed to happen. I cried for my son and his mate. I cried to god to take me away so that I didn't have to face the things that I allowed to happen.