TDEH Ch. 16

Carter wrestled his mate from her sleep on the couch around seven am, gently stroking her hair. She looked at him confused, sleep evident in the corners of her eyes. She rubbed them as she sat up, a large yawn escaped her lips. "Hi," she said as she yawned again, stretching.

"So... Emma tried to sleep with me last night," Carter began.

"It's okay, I don't need to know," Finn said, pushing herself to stand. The library still felt safe, her sleep had been deep. She grabbed her discarded sweater and coat, pulling them on as she bent down and reached under the old couch for her boots.

"What do you mean, you don't need to know?"

"I just mean that you can do what you want."

He grabbed her roughly by the arm, pulling her close to him. She looked him in the eyes, a flash of anger evident. "We are bonded. You are what I want."

She pulled her arm free of his grasp, no violence in her movements. "It's fine."

"It's not fine!" Carter cried.

She looked at him, his face red. Their bond allowed her to feel him, he wanted her to claim him. To be upset. She took his hand in hers and squeezed lightly. "I don't think my brothers and I are going to live through the next few months. I'm glad you have someone who will love you when I'm gone."

His eyes widened, "What?"

"I told you I don't know exactly what this is going to take, it might mean my life. I will happily save the pack with it if that's the choice."

The library doors opened before they could continue, Art walked in. "Are you guys leaving today?"

They both turned their heads to the man, "yes. I just need to say some goodbyes." Finn said as she pulled on her boots, hopping towards the door. She dodged past Arthur in the doorway, making her way outside and disappearing behind the doors of the packhouse.

Arthur looked at his son. Carter stood frowning, he had stuffed his hands into his pockets and looked sullen. He walked over, grabbing his son by his shoulders and pulling him into a big hug. He kissed his check, resting his face against Carter's.

"Try to come back to us, dear heart," choking slightly on those words as they left his lips.

"We are coming back," he grumbled out. His mood was sour.

"Did something happen?"

"Emma tried to fuck me last night. I told Finn but she wasn't even upset," his frown deepened. "She told me that she was glad I'd have someone after she died. Like, what the fuck?" He pulled himself from his father's embrace.

Art looked at his son and was quiet for a moment. "Love, she is giving you every out she can think of..."

"I don't WANT out!" Carter interjected.

"BECAUSE she isn't sure this will really work. She doesn't want you to die on her crusade. And neither do I. You're about to change your entire being. For her. And for us. I think she's worried you don't understand what this is truly going to cost and she is pushing you away. If you really want this to work, if you truly believe that despite everything, she is your fated mate, you need to give her time and stop having such high expectations. She isn't ever going to be the Luna that we have seen with other packs. She's been through too much and been gone too long from her own kind. You have to accept her for who she is. I know she will give everything she has and more to keep you alive but you have to stop pushing her to be what you want. She isn't Emma or any of the women before. She will never dote on you or anyone else. Do you understand? If you want her, you have to accept who she is."

He paused, allowing his father's words to wash over him. He was right. Carter wasn't sure that Finn could be who he wanted but if he stopped pressuring her to be someone else, maybe he'd find out.

(2)

Finn was waiting for them outside. Her hand stuffed into her pockets, staring at the lake

"Said your goodbyes?" Arthur asked her.

She turned to him and nodded. She then turned her eyes to her mate. "Ready?"

He adjusted the duffle bag on his shoulder, "I think so." He gave his father another hug. When finished, Arthur moved over to Finn and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her off the ground.

"I need you both to come home, okay?" he said.

"I can't promise that, I'm sorry. But I promise I will do everything I can to ensure Carter does." Art squeezed her a little harder, not wanting to let go.

"And I will do everything I can to ensure she comes with me," Carter finished.

Arthur put her down on the ground and stepped back. Finn fished around in her coat pocket, pulling out a meticulously folded piece of origami, a dragon. She breathed into the paper, whispering words that neither man could make out. When finished, she ripped the dragon in two, letting the bits of paper fall to the ground.

The two small pieces of paper ignited when they hit the ground, a circle opening around them.

"Okay, jump in. It's disorienting but you'll land on your feet."

"What?" Carter said, looking at the strange portal on the ground. The edges were black and ate away at reality.

Finn sighed, grabbing his hand and pulled him to the opening. She smiled as she pushed him in. He cried out as he fell and was gone. She gave one last look to her oldest friend, "he will come home," she said, jumping after him.

(3)

Art stood alone by the water for a while after his family had left. He decided to do what he did when he was upset, talk to his wife. He walked slowly towards the Ironblood cemetery, nodding and giving greetings to the pack members he passed.

He was in no rush. Other than the normal day to day business of the pack, his new norm would be anxiously awaiting news from his son and sister. His confidence in Finn protecting Carter wasn't the issue. He believed with all of his being that she would give everything to keep him alive, even at the expense of herself and her half-brothers. He didn't want to lose either of them, though.

Art smelled Tom before he saw him detach himself from the trees. He walked up to his Alpha, matching his stride. He smiled sadly at him, sharing his concern.

"They'll be okay. If anything, Finn is too stubborn to let either of them die."

Arthur chuckled, nodding his head in agreement. When they made it to the unmarked entrance of the Ironblood cemetery, Tom grabbed Arthur and hugged him tightly. Art returned his friend's embrace. After a moment Tom let go, stepping back. He smiled sadly at his friend and took another path, heading towards his mate's resting place.

Arthur walked through the trees, passing the barely marked graves of his ancestors. As he went deeper into the wood, he stopped. He stared at the recently re-buried graves of Elspeth and Fionn. Two small wreaths had been woven and placed in the middle of the fresh dirt.

(4)

Carter's feet hit the ground a moment after Finn had pushed him. His legs reverberated with his landing and he grimaced. He straightened up, looking around quickly. He saw a small cabin, the wooden boards were bleached with time but speckled with green of a moss that had taken root. The woods surrounding the cabin looked as though they had survived a blast of some kind, they all only had foliage on one side. The bark and limbs looked burnt away. Carter peered deeper into the woods, all the trees displayed the same directional damage.

Finn dropped down beside him, landing easily. She set off to the cabin, opening the old faded door and announced their presence, "I'm home. Brought some company!" After a moment, three men walked out into the light. Carter knew Eutus from his brief introduction at the council gathering but the other two weren't known to him. He stared, unintentionally, at faces that mimicked Finn's. He was surprised how much of Malus' features were evident on his offspring.

Eutus was the first to welcome Carter to their ragtag band of ne'er-do-wells. He stretched onto his toes, wrapping his arms around Carter's neck and hugging him tightly only for a moment. "Still as handsome as the last time I saw you," he smiled, turning his attention to his partner.

"Those sullen characters are Izadore or Izzy, and Ramsey or Ram," he introduced them.

"Please don't call me 'Ram'," the green eyed man requested, his lips curled downward in a scowl.

Izadore nodded at Carter, "nice to see you again."

"Were you the cat?" He inquired.

"I was. And am, occasionally," Izzy replied.

"Where are we?" Carter asked, looking around again. Everywhere his eyes landed, he saw more signs of either a battle or a bombing. He wasn't sure which. The other men exchanged looks with each other as Finn ducked into the dilapidated house.

"We are at the edges of a battlefield so old that it has been forgotten by time," Izzy answered.

As Carter was about to ask more questions, Finn opened a small window and poked her head out. "How about instead of standing outside, you all come in and we have tea. You can ask your million questions then."

She carefully shut the window, fearing the ancient glass may fall out, as all four men filed inside.