The Voice of the Dead

The journey begins

*Lea POV*

Everyone gathered around the table, filling their glasses. Robert filled all the ladies' glasses when Dad filled his, Horatio's, Endymion's and Hades glass with the divine wine and switched to a normal as he approached Ryan. Before he could continue with giving everyone their share, Ryan voiced an objection.

"Come on, let me taste the gods stuff." He whined.

Mom giggled and raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? Ours is much stronger than earth alcohol. I don't think you are ready for it.

Ryan puffed his chest.

"It can't be that bad."

"Trust me, I made the same mistake once. It is that strong." Eli chuckled, getting his normal wine from Robert.

"I'm not going anywhere near that thing." Darius agreed, shivering with disgust.

"Let the pup try." Hades grinned.

"Okay, anyone else?" Dad chuckled, filling Ryan's cup with a decent portion of gods' strongest wine. Uncle looked pleased with himself.

Everyone else shook their heads and dad raised his glass.

"Thank you, all of you, for being here for the celebration of my daughter, Lea's 19th birthday. You all have been an amazing family for her and I can't express how important it is to me." He said with a smile, looking at everyone. Then he turned to me. "Lea, our little Firefly. Since you appeared in our lives, so many things have changed. You are the best daughter to us and the best older sister to Alaric and Amethyst and I'm unable to express in words how much we love you. I'm honored to be your father. We all wish that you have an amazing life, filled with love and happiness. And, I say it with a heavy heart, I hope you will soon find your mate and feel the love that is waiting for you. Happy birthday, Lea."

He finished and raised his glass, signaling the toast. Everyone followed and drank from their glasses.

I kept smiling the whole time, happiness filling my heart.

Almost everyone downed their wine smoothly, except…

Ryan took one sip and started to cough, causing everyone to laugh. Even I giggled a little as he was cursing under his breath.

"Holy f**k, what is that?!" He murmured, holding his neck.

"Told you." Dad snickered as he came to me and put his arm around me.

"Thank you, dad. For the wishes." I said, leaning on him a little.

"Lea, your mother can't hold a secret, you know?" He chuckled, looking down on me.

"She told you that I want to leave?" I asked shyly.

"Yeah, she told me you felt the pull. Don't get me wrong. I would love for you to stay. But I, out of everyone here, can understand what it's like to crave your mate. I won't stop you from leaving. I just want you to promise me that you would call and text us all the time. And if something bad happens, you won't hesitate to ask for help." He said, looking me in the eyes.

I smiled and hugged him.

"I promise." I whispered and felt his large hand on my head, caressing my hair just like the first time he saw me in that forest.

***

Next couple of days were a haze. Everyone stayed for a weekend, so I had plenty of time to catch up and just be around people who I didn't get to see every day. It was also bitter-sweet as those could be the last moments I've lived in this pack.

I wonder who my mate is. Will we return here to live in my pack? Or maybe he is someone of a rank, and I'll move on with him?

Is he a shifter? Vampyr? Sorcerer? Or maybe a human?

I sighed for the thousand time today and put more folded clothes inside the suitcase.

An already full one was standing next to my bedroom door. With a few smaller pouches with shoes in it. I looked around, searching for my already packed toiletry bag to put it in the suitcase as well. With that, I was packed.

I sat on my bed and took a good look at my room. I remember when Asteria brought me here for the first time. It was a simple guest room but quickly they made it mine. Dad's company quickly renovated it and put in new furniture, one that I always wanted. I had my dream room in a place I could never dream of being in. I tend to think about my life before as if it was someone else's. I almost can't remember how I used to live or feel, the day that mom found me, is where my life truly begins.

In my 5 years of living here, dad and mom tried to get my old pack's name from me. Even Jonathan tried and he is persistent. I never caved, I may hate them, most of them, but I still can't wish them death. And that's exactly what they would get. I can't imagine Alex and Asteria going there to simply talk. They would make hell on earth for them, it would be deserved, if I have to be honest, but I don't want their lives on my conscience.

When I helped my parents in the office, I could hear the pack name being mentioned, as mom and dad are trying to help smaller packs with rogues, we are sending our trainers to teach other pack's warriors, to help them protect themselves. My birth pack came in conversations a couple of times but I tried my best to not look suspicious, so they wouldn't guess. I couldn't care less about my mother, Alpha, his son or my former friend, Penny, but I didn't want any casual members to be caught in my adoptive parents' revenge.

Or Hades'. As he is still as set on slaughtering them as Alex.

I plopped on my bed and looked up. The small, reflective stars on my ceiling shimmered in the dim light. I smiled and felt tears threatening to fall down.

All of my happiest memories are here, on this pack, with these people. And now I'm abandoning them for the unknown person, my mate, who may end up rejecting me.

I know my gift is beautiful and needed, but still many people don't understand it. What if it's a deal breaker for my mate? Maybe he wants someone more… normal?

I sighed.

I talked with my parents again after my birthday, I expressed the need to leave and they accepted it. They are extremely supportive but I know they will miss me. I will as well.

"Are you packed?" I heard mom's voice and looked at the door.

She stood there with dad, both of them smiling but I could see their sadness.

"Yeah, I think I have everything I need." I sighed, sitting back up.

"Not quite." Dad chuckled and handed me a thick envelope before sitting next to me. Mom sat on my other side.

"Huh? What is it?"

"Some cash and a card to your account." Mom smiled at my surprised look.

"I don't have an account, I was planning on opening one with my savings after I leave, but… holy s**t!" I stopped abruptly as I saw what they meant by "some" cash. I looked up at them, speechless.

"How much is it?" I asked dad.

"Few grand, just in case. There is much more on your account. You don't have to worry about money. Since we found you, we have started an account in Horatio's bank for you and every month we put in there money for your adulthood."

"I.. I can't take this. You've already done so much for me, this is… a lot." I stuttered, but my mom shook her head with a chuckle.

"Honey, really. It's nothing. You are our child so it's natural for us to make sure you are taken care of. This way you can travel without worrying about money. It makes us calmer too, knowing you can sleep in good, safe places or that you can eat well."

"There is information in there on how to log into the account with your phone and stuff like this. If you have problems with your card or can't access it, just text H, he would assign someone immediately to help you." Dad explained and winked at me.

I smiled and nodded, putting the envelope into my bag.

"Thank you. What you did for me for the past years is… I can't express how happy I am because of you." I said sincerely and they both hugged me.

We stayed like this for a while and I finally sighed and said.

"I should get going if I want to be in Montreal before nightfall."

"Just a second more." Mom said and put her both hands around my neck and hugged me hard. I could feel her warm tears falling on my neck. "You can always come back, you know this right?"

"Yes, mom. I know. I love you so much."

***

With many tears shedded by both me and the rest of my family, who came to see me go, I finally sat in my car, ready to leave. I started my car, and looking in the back mirror at my family waving at me, I left my pack. A place where I finally had a chance to be happy, to be a child, to grow up in safety and surrounded by people who cared about me.

With the last look of the place and the people I love so much, I started my journey.