TDEH Ch. 15

They returned to the packhouse together. The brothers disappeared downstairs to clean off the dirt and change. Tom had gone to check on the pups, an old habit. Arthur pulled Finn and Carter into the library, after a quick glance to ensure no one else was there, and closed the door without a sound. He latched the lock, something Finn had never seen anyone do before.

"When you said you freed them all, was Fionn one of them?" Arthur asked. His brows were knit together in worry.

"No, it was Elspeth and two other women. Izadore and Ramsey's mothers. There weren't any others. I checked each room. Well, I mean, there were no other animated horrors in the vault." She felt sick again, her stomach churned.

"You're sure?" He asked again.

"As sure as I can be. I don't know how to detect lingering magic other than smell and the whole place stunk. Izzy checked, that's how I know who the other two were. He didn't say anything about anyone else. I can ask him if you want."

Arthur frowned deeply. "Okay. You both stay here. I'm going to do a parameter sweep and then I'll be back."

"We can help, dad," Carter chimed in.

"I'd rather you both stayed here, okay love?"

They both nodded as Art unlocked the door and walked out in the hall, the door closed securely behind him. Finn walked over to the fireplace and threw on another log as she sat down on the wooden floor, her legs curled beneath her. She moved the timber around with her fingers, to ensure the fire took to the new wood. She hissed slightly when she lingered too long and the flames burned her fingertips.

"Hey! Be careful," Carter said, sitting down beside her. He took her hand into his and kissed her burns softly. He inspected them carefully, to ensure they were not deep.

"I'll heal soon, it's not a big deal," she said as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Just because you'll heal doesn't mean you should carelessly hurt yourself." Finn just shrugged at his comment. Pain had been such a part of her life, she barely noticed it anymore. His concern was sweet but she had spent so many years seeking it out, she was unsure if she could change her behaviours. Old dogs and new tricks, or so the human saying went. She'd have to ask Eutus.

He held onto her hand and massages it lightly. "You heal so much quicker than we do, is that because of your enchanter side or is it a trait of hybrids?"

She considered it a moment, "I'm not really sure. There aren't many hybrids around. I met one, only once, at the council house but he wasn't part enchanter though, he was part dark elf. The ears and skin tone kinda gave it away."

"An elf and a werewolf?" He asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"It's a social faux pas to inquire into people's lineage, dear. Especially hybrids. We are generally unintended consequences of nonconsenting acts."

"You weren't curious?"

"Well, I was," she admitted. "But his tongue had been cut out by his elven relatives."

"Really? Why?" He asked.

"Again, I didn't pry. I also didn't know their specific sign language, which he and his partner were using to communicate. Obeus delighted in teasing me, knowing I would never ask him for a favour. Especially not at the expense of another of my kind."

They sat together in silence for some time. Carter continued to massage her hand, lost in thought. "Why did he take Fionn's body?"

"I don't know. Something perverse most likely. I hope to never find out."

"We'd better stop him, then," he said as his eyes bore into the fire.

(2)

They spent the rest of the evening in the library. Arthur had come by to let them know they had found nothing amiss. He had stayed only for a short time to converse with them, but he was too anxious to sit still for long. Eventually Rachel arrived carrying some food for them. Tom had asked to make sure they were fed. They had thanked her profusely and dug into their meal. Soft bread, meat, cheese and as well as some assorted vegetables was their feast. She had included a bottle of red wine and two stemless glasses. Carter opened the wine to let it breathe.

When they had finished most of their food, he poured them each a large glass.

The night wore on as he peppered her all the questions one generally asked on a first date. He asked about her favourite colour, what kind of music she listened to, her favourite band and so on. Finn didn't have many answers as she hadn't allowed herself to live that kind of life. He informed her of his childhood, his friends, his taste in music, even when he lost his virginity. She listened, sipped at the wine, and enjoyed his voice. He eventually turned the conversation back to the past.

"What was she like?" He asked.

"What was who like?"

"My mother."

Finn was quiet for some time. Carter thought he had pushed too far and was about to change the subject when she started. She finished the last of her wine and placed the glass down.

"Lea was a pain in my ass. She always roped me into her schemes. We got into a lot of trouble," she began. "The pack all call me pigheaded but if I learned it from anyone, it was her. She never took no for an answer. She was kind though, to everyone. She loved to swim. She taught me, actually. I had refused to learn from Anna or Amos. She turned it into a game. She hated red and white wine but she loved rosé. She made everyone celebrate her birthday, even if they didn't want to. She wanted to have at least ten babies," Finn said as a chuckle escaped.

"Really, ten?"

"Oh, yes."

"Then why was it just me?"

"She struggled with infertility, it was very hard on her and Art. Art just wanted her to be happy. She was over the moon the entire time she was pregnant with you. Even during delivery. She almost broke my hand squeezing."

"Why were you there?" He asked in surprise.

"Your father is a sweet, kind man. The pain Lea was in was too much for him to bear, even though you were the reward. I subbed in when he saw some blood, vomited on his shoes and almost passed out. Tom and Dart had to carry him from the room. Atticus and I stayed."

He smiled. That sounded like his dad. "Why did you turn down my uncle? Everyone always mentions how strong and handsome he was."

"Atticus?" She frowned. "I turned him down because I saw how he treated women. They were a game or a prize to him, not people. He cared about his family and the pack but he cared more about his own standing. I wasn't a trophy to be won. And I certainly wasn't a breeding bitch for him to use for power. Also, he didn't ask me. He demanded it. In front of the pack. When I told him no, he said I didn't get to choose, he did. He didn't get to make demands of me. In my home. A home I had sacrificed to protect in ways he would and could never. I couldn't... I couldn't let that happen."

Carter contemplated what she said quietly. When he finally spoke, his voice was small. "Why didn't my parents help you?"

She looked at him, her eyes wide. His face was contorted in pain. "Honey, your dad tried. Your mom was overcome with grief, she wasn't in her right mind. And neither was I. I wish I could change it. I ... I did things to myself in the hopes it would change but I was wrong."

"Wait, what do you mean?"

Finn's internal dialogue was a flurry of confusion and contradictory thoughts. Should she tell him what happened after? After the pack had nursed her back to health and she understood what she had truly done. What she tried to sacrifice to bring Lea back? Atticus could rot in his hell, he brought that on himself but she had wanted so desperately to have Leandra back. She hadn't told anyone. Not Art or Anna. Not even Amina. This was her chance to be honest, if not now, when? "I... I went to Helmut for help."

"What?" He asked aghast, his mouth hung slightly agape in astonishment.

"I went to Malus. To his home. I asked him if he was powerful enough to reverse time. Or bring the dead back to life. Not necromancy but actually bring her back. To life. Real life. True life, with a beating heart and blood flow. A mind with dreams. A soul. He said the cost would be my own soul and I offered it to him. Like a fool. Thinking he'd honour his portion of our bargain." Finn clenched her fingers together. She focused on the pain as she dug her nails into her palms, to keep herself calm as she laid bare the most intimate parts of herself. The truth. Her truth.

She continued, "the scars on my back were supposed to be a spell to offer my soul to the guardian of the gates in exchange for Lea's. A fair bargain, he said. Rarely done but not necromancy. Instead, Helmut tried to cut it from my body so he could control my lifeless husk. I shouldn't have trusted him. I was stupid. I just... I just wanted her back so badly." Blood pooled between her fingers before she even felt the pain in her hands. She looked down to see her fingers were white, nails pushed deeply into the flesh of her palm as she clenched them. She released her grip and quickly tried to wipe the blood on her black pants so Carter didn't notice. "I started getting tattooed after. To hide my own failure. Camouflage, so to speak."

He stared at her, his eyes had not blinked, and had seen the blood. He grabbed a portion of his shirt. He ripped it as he pulled her hands to him. The fabric was pressed tightly to her hands to stem the flow of her vital fluid. "Does dad know?"

"No. The only people who know were there. I never told anyone else. When I broke free, I went to the council house. And then I stayed." She cast her gaze down. The past was always hard to talk about. She had managed not to cry and took some pride in that.

Carter pulled her to him by her hands. He wrapped his arms around her and ran his fingers through her hair. He held her tightly. He kissed the top of her head, "it's okay," he said softly. "We are going to murder that fucking cunt. Together."

(3)

Finn fell asleep on the sofa in the library, curled into a ball. They had talked late into the night. Carter covered her in one of the scattered blankets. He added more logs to the fire to ensure she would be warm. He kissed her head and slipped out of the library and closed the door softly behind. He climbed the stairs to the second floor, steps he knew from memory. He was tired but he needed to gather his things, to be ready to leave once his mate had awoken. Before he even got to his room, he knew it wasn't empty.

He sighed and opened his door, entering his bedroom. He left the door open. He walked to his wardrobe and began to pull out some clothes. He piled the articles neatly, looking around for his duffle bag.

"Hi Carter," Emma said from his bed.

"Hello Emma. What are you doing here?" He asked, trying to hide the annoyance in his voice.

"I need to talk to you. Are you really leaving our pack? With her?" There was disgust in her words.

Carter turned to look at her. She was in his bed, wrapped in the sheet. She didn't appear to be wearing any clothing. He scowled. "I'm not leaving our pack. I am going with my mate to eliminate a threat to us. Once done, we will return."

"You can't leave!" She said desperately. "We need you! I need you."

"You already know my answer," he responded coolly.

"You can't!" She cried. "Weren't you listening? If you go with her, she'll turn you into a monster!" Emma pushed herself upright in his bed, the sheet falling from her small frame. Though dark, Carter could still make out the curves of her naked body.

"She is not a monster," he growled at her, surprising himself with his own anger.

"Yes, she is! She smells wrong." She crawled on all fours to the edge of his bed, reaching for him. "She hurt me! You're choosing her over me?"

"She hurt you because you attacked her, Emma."

"You're going to believe her over me? We've been together for years!" She stood and walked slowly over to him. She reached out to take his hand but he pulled away from her.

"We were never together, not how you wanted. Finn is many things but a liar is not one." He stated, defending his mate. "Look, you better go before she finds you here."

"She told me she wouldn't get in the way of us being together. I could still be your mate. Your Luna." Her hopeful eyes gazed up at him. She reached for the zipper on his jeans, trying to pull him to the bed. "Dad told me your bond isn't real, created through magic. You don't have to go with her. Stay with me. Even just for the night. I know what you like."

Carter grabbed her wrist quickly, pulling it away from his pants. "I said no." He squeezed her arm until he heard her gasp and then he loosened his grip. "I don't care how our bond was made. She is mine and I am hers. We are done." He let go, turning back to his original task. He angrily grabbed his bag from the corner of his room and began to stuff his clothes inside.

"She doesn't know this pack. She can't be our Luna. We won't accept her." Emma said, her voice distraught.

"She was here long before you." He retorted. "And she will be here long after you."

"You'd really choose the ogre that killed your mother and uncle over me? I have loved you since the start! I have always supported you and given you everything! I deserve to be your mate. I deserve to be Luna." Her anger rose, venom in her words.

"At least she's honest about who and what she is." He looked at her, hatred in his eyes. "Now, get out of my room before I remove you from my house and my pack."

Tears fell down onto Emma's cheeks as she quickly dressed. She had made it to the door when Carter called out again. "And Emma? If you do this again or try to turn the pack on me or Finn, she will be the least of your worries. This world is a lot darker than we have been taught." He gently pushed her into the hall and shut the door in her face.