'You are just too good. How can you forgive an offense of such magnitude?' Christopher asked as I followed him away from the detention zone. Cathania had been escorted out of the premises, after Alpha Christopher had ordered that she never step her feet in the pack again!
'We err and it is only right that we forgive those who have wronged us that those we wrong might forgive us as well!' I said.
'I like your maxim', he said. 'Very inspiring '.
'Not at all. Christopher, there's something I've been meaning to ask you', I said.
'Ask away'!' he said, playfully. 'I believe you know the answer to the question if it concerns my feelings for you'.
I hit him playfully. 'Oh, be serious, Christopher. What I want to know is how your parents died'.
Christopher looked at me oddly.
'I really want to know and please don't spare me. I need to know', I said. 'I have heard a few things. I want to know for sure!'
Christopher looked at me for a long time and I was begining to think that I might not get any response from him and would have to go to Sylvester for my answer when he spoke.
'I was not around at the time but I heard about a treaty to keep away rogues from both you and our packs and remain in peace with each other', he said and paused. 'My father was on his way to meet your father so that they could finalize the items in the treaty and sign it so that it becomes binding but he never got to his destination. He and our mother and his Beta were all murdered. Before dying However, his Beta mind - linked us and that was how Sylvester who was closest to the venue got there and brought their bodies home'.
'But there is no indication that my father did the murder!' I cried, believing that my father could not have done that.
'There was no indication that it wasn't your father, according to Sylvester. All fingers pointed at him, all the evidence incriminated him and it was done in his territory', Christopher said looking at me sympathetically. 'Sylvester feels that an Alpha could not have been unaware that such a thing was happening in his territory except he was pretending not to be aware'.
'Was there any investigation carried out to find out if Alpha O'Brien was really responsible for their deaths?' I asked.
'None, that I know of. Sylvester felt that the evidence was conclusive and there was a lot to be done, no time for what he termed 'a waste of time'.
'But there was time for him to plan to destroy my pack and murder my parents in retaliation?' I asked angrily. How could someone not be given an opportunity to prove their innocence?
'I am sorry about your loss. Though it's been years, I know you must still miss them', Christopher said, holding my hand and squeezing it empathetically.
'You have also experienced loss but you have kept speaking about how Sylvester felt and all, without letting me know how you felt about it all', I said. 'Did you also feel that it was my father who committed that murder and were you so furious with him that you encouraged Sylvester to take my parents' lives as well? A life for a life?'
Christopher looked at me and shook his head. 'No, I didn't- ask him to retaliate that is. I admit I was furious with misery at my lose and the person who was purported to be responsible but I advised that a proper investigation be carried out so that all involved would pay for what they had done. I left it to Sylvester to do after the burial, thinking that my instructions would be followed. It was just recently that I found out that no investigation was carried out and that you are the daughter of my father's good friend!'
' Wait! You mean they were good friends?' I asked surprised.
'Didn't you know?' he asked astonished. 'I thought you did but maybe you were still too young to leff.
Forgetting that for a moment, I continued, 'Was that why you drew close to me? To make me suffer just like your brother has done and may still want to do?' I asked.
'Millicent', he said with a voice laced with pain. 'Do you think so lowly of me? You actually think I am capable of that?'
'Sylvester, did a lot of unthinkable things to me for a crime he did not confirm my father committed. He made me pay through my blood for my father's supposed sins, why will you not want to do the same? They were your parents too and you're brothers afterall!' I said, filled with hurt.
Christopher looked at me for a long time. 'Do you mean that you do not believe in our mate' bond? That you do not feel it? Is our bond such that can be feigned or ignored?' he asked.
'I don't know about that!' I said still hurting. The possibility that my father , my parents had died a senseless death tearing me apart.
'Don't you?' he asked coming close to me and holding my hands firmly. That feeling again, of wanting to throw myself at him, to be comforted by him. But no! This was not time for weakness. I snatched my hands away from his, moving away from him, my eyes glaringly yellow. 'Since you got back and found out that a punishment was carried out without an investigation to confirm the crime, what did you do?'
'What would you have me do?' Christopher said, helplessly. ' You couldn't expect me to murder my own brother for not following my advice. But I did the next best thing'.
'And what is that? Draw close to me, to help me forget the grievous crime you both committed against me?' I asked.
Ignoring my carelessly thrown words, he said, 'I sent my best men to investigate the matter from eleven years or so ago and they've been giving me report on their findings but nothing tangible for now. I'll let you know when I find out anything more'.
'Thank goodness, someone finally became wise!' I threw at him',. He did not respond but kept looking at me.
'You were going to become Sylvester's Luna, had I not come', he said and I knew what he was going to say next. There was no way to prevent him from saying it. I had let my guard down in my anger and now, I did not know how to rectify that mistake. 'You spoke just now with so much vehemence. Were you going to marry him with hatred in your heart?'
'What do you mean hatred in my heart?' I asked feigning puzzlement.
'Why did you agree to become Sylvester's Luna, Millicent? Was it to get close enough to him, so you could harm him in vengeance?'
'How could you say that?' I asked, not wanting to lose the freedom and power I had acquired and this might just be taken from me if the Alphas lost their trust in me.
'Sylvester himself was filled with rage for me, did it stop him from wanting me for his Luna. Did it stop you?' I asked reasonably. 'Anger and hatred are just two out of the billions of feelings one can have for someone. You can therefore not base your judgement of my acquiescence to be his Luna on just those two feelings!' I snapped.
'You do love him then, is that what you are saying?' he asked.
'My feelings for him has nothing to do with you!' I snapped, not sure how the tables had turned so swiftly. I was supposed to be the one asking questions and getting angry and not the other way round.
'Doesn't it?' he asked eyeing me reflectively. 'He's my brother - my twin and I would not want him to come to any harm!'
'Oh, very good!' I said, feeling so much pain at his words, which indicated to me that he would rather have his brother than me. 'He should not come to any harm but I should?' I mean because he is marrying me too and he has reasons to hate me and be bitter towards me', I said. 'How do I know, I am not walking into a trap by agreeing to be the Luna of this pack? He or you could be planning evil for me!'
'Here we go again. We must be having trust issues', he said, less suspiciously this time.
'You started this. You are the one who don't trust me well enough with your brother or even with yourself', I said and gulped in air. 'I did not sign for this. Not to be your mate or Sylvester's. Nor did I sign for your parents to be killed nor for your brother to murder mine. Why must I be made to take the blame for it all?' I asked, the pain in my heart overcoming me and I ran from his presence.
