Saving Aeron

Affliction and aid

The first attack came under the cover of darkness and the monastery was burned to the ground. Twenty-six women and children died, fifteen monks, and seven prisoners. Brigh ran her hand over the names as she turned her attention to the newest list. It was much shorter, only three names. But it was the pack house that had the most damage. Neasa had used their weaknesses and her last few alliances to plant bombs then the Gideon pack attacked. There were forty-five bodies that belonged to Gideon that hadn't been reclaimed.

For the most part, Brigh's wolves had been successful in keeping the casualties low but the losses were heartbreaking and they wouldn't recover from them anytime soon.

"We could sanction her." Fynlee sat at her desk across the room. "She hasn't been kicked out and she didn't renounce us."

Brigh knew. She tried to mind link with her sister but the wolf was in charge and not yielding. Lunar mind had taken control and Colbie, Neasa's wolf, was running the show. "She'll have to be put down." Brigh whispered, barely audible but Fynlee already knew.

"Kai's here." Fynlee stood and let the doctor in.

He had been studying at the hospital for over a year and Fynlee trusted him. Pleasantries aside, Brigh motioned for Fynlee and Kai to take a seat.

"This is going to sound crazy and I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. On my wedding day, I opened my eyes and I wasn't where I had been. I had been in darkness with the Moon Goddess. My head had been cut off because Fergus and Neasa sentenced me to death for killing Balor. The Moon Goddess took Fergus' wolf and gave me the chance to make things right."

"I really did see you." Kai let anger twinge his words. "And you didn't tell me. You let me think it was one of the false ones."

"Yes and yes. I didn't want anyone to think I was crazy."

"So, you let me think I was losing it."

"I didn't mean to. If I said something, I didn't know if I'd be stripped of my title and die anyway. Instead, I'm standing on a graveyard of innocent lives. In that life, Neasa and Fergus had been building support to remove me. With Gwyn on their side, I'm feeling lost. He died because of them and now, he's helping them."

Fynlee interupted. "I'm still catching up. You died but you didn't die, you got married. Fergus and Neasa have done this before? And you," she turned to Kai, "you saw all this? You have the power to see the future or the past?"

"No. I see things as they happen. I saw Brigh's head get cut off. She was bald and there was an immense sadness. I've seen other things as they happen, but I don't have control over them."

Brigh sat next to her closest friend and confidant, putting her hand on Fynlee's shoulder. "Five years from my wedding, I spent six months in jail and under prosecution, then they shaved my head and the executioner- he didn't want to do it but he was scared. He chopped my head off. I don't think I suffered. It didn't hurt. Then, I was in darkness talking to the Moon Goddess. I couldn't see anything but she said, Fergus had turned a vow into a blood oath. The seeds of rebellion had already been planted and that oath will break the yoke that binds them. He has awakened the Moon and she has turned her face from him." She could hear the Moon Goddess' words as she said them. "She put me in the moment that set all those things into motion and we set a new turn of events into motion. Instead of being loyal to me, Gwyn chose Fergus and instead of betraying our pack quietly, Fergus and Neasa were forced into the light. Instead of everyone who died, including myself, these innocent people died. Fergus turned our marriage vows into a poisonous alliance with my sister and I have to figure out how to stop him so I can stop anyone else from dying."

"Where Gavin and I there?"

"You both died fighting for me."

"I would do it again."

"Let's not. We have to figure out how to stop them."

"I can help with that." Kai interjected. "My brothers can bring some supplies and extra hands. They can help fortify your defenses and broker a meeting with Gideon."

"This isn't the Talsarn's problem. I don't want to drag them into it."

"You wouldn't be. It wasn't a coincidence I was allowed to research here. The sight runs in my family but we don't interfere unless we need to. The ripples of your husband and sister's actions would have turned into a tsunami that brought down the entire wolf community. They've been preparing for you to make a decision."

Fynlee wrinkled her nose. "That's not creepy. Why wouldn't they just stop all of this from happening?"

"That's not free will. We don't make people do things. We support them as they make their own decisions."

"Kai, I need help. Please call your family."

"Yes, Luna." He left the room.

"Fynlee, I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Brigh."

"I didn't trust you enough to tell you right away."

"I'm not mad at you, I promise. I just want to save our pack from your sister and Fergus."