Broken souls and hidden scars

Rebuilding a broken empire

A month on and life is still raw, Faiban had brought me the bloodsucker that had killed my mom and I knew exactly how I was going to kill him. I would of asked my dad if he wanted to do it, but he's gone away with Brett even though I had to force him to go, I told Lana to go help the Fey that were injured because they can't heal like us and a lot are still suffering from the war. I am not completely alone as there are still half of our pack left but they have been giving me a wide berth, I don't know how to be there Alpha or there Luna without Cole it just feels empty I'm living in a graveyard practically, everything feels dead especially me.

I reach the dungeons where Faiban had left the bloodsucker, the metalic smell made me feel sick reminding me of Jayce. He was placed in the third cell and he was being taunted by Aimee, reminding me that I still need to deal with her. His eyes not as dark crimson as other vamps, he looked at me an I could see fear within him. “You were the one that tried to kill my dad but instead ended my mothers life!” I shouted at him, he didn't answer just sat trembling, looking down to the floor he showed remorse for his actions which shocked me but still he has to die.  

“I know you dirty bloodsuckers feel no remorse for your wrong doings so I will make sure to take my time killing you” I say, his eyes meet mine and there are tears running down his cheeks “I-I-I'm s-s-sorry” he stuttered out I was gobsmacked by his answer “pl-ple-please d-d-don't over u-u-use your powers q-q-queen you are p-p-pregnant” he says “What? How do you know that? No one knows that! Who are you? And don't call me queen” I say viciously, yes I'm pregnant but I don't know if it's Cole's or that bastard's “I-I-I'm sorry, mmm my name I-I-Is Leron and I can smell the baby” he says, still crying and stuttering “You can? Why? Is it because of the wolf blood?” I ask but he shakes his head, then tears flooded my eyes it was Jayce's baby, f*****g great not only did he r**e and torture me I now have to live with his son for the rest of my life, unless I kill it? “I w-w-won't put up a fight if you want to beat me to a bloody pulp before you end my life” he says, which just angered me he was only saying this because he didn't want me to hurt the future heir of the vampires!

I decided to leave him there until my dad gets back he can kill him instead, I go for a walk and find myself in my favourite spot. I think about trying to force a vision of the baby that grows within me to see his future, then I think if I see it will I want to end it's life. I just don't know what to do, it won't be long before I start showing, although I don't know how long a Lycan, fey, vampire and oracle pregnancy usually lasts. Then her words hit me Celeste she told me to protect him that his birth will bring everyone together, if I kill him what can she do? She's already took my mate from me.  

I feel a dark presence behind me and already know who is stood there. “What do you want Faiban?” I ask, but he just sits down next to me. I turn to look at him and he is just stirring off into the distance “You know don't you?” I ask and he nods his head but still doesn't look at me. I start to cry thinking about this unborn child that is going to be half vampire, as I lower my head into my hands he wraps his arm around my shoulders “Shhh it will be okay, he's still your child” he says and for the first time since I came to know Faiban I allowed him to comfort me as I shook uncontrollably crying for I don't know how long.  

I pull out of his embrace and he wipes the tears from my face, I felt a warm tingling sensation from his touch terrified I push away from him “No no no” I start saying but he looks at me with confusion all over his face “what is it?” he asks, but I don't answer I shout up to my moon goddess “I don't need another mate! If you hadn't taken him from me, I wouldn't be in this position now” I say still rambling, I feel a warm tingle on my shoulder and go to push him away again before we are teleported back into the pack house.

My heads spinning and I feel sick and dizzy “I'm sorry I brought you back so you can rest, I'll go get Lana for you if you want, I won't stay” he says, I shake my head at him conflicted “this is another one of her plans you know, she only paired us because it will unite all of the supernatural community” I say, he looks hurt but nods his head “Wait, what about the witches” I say more to myself, he looks up at me sadness pouring from his eyes “My mother was a witch” he says dropping his head looking down to the floor, pain was the only emotion I saw in his face “I'm going to go” he says, before I could utter another word he was gone and I was once again alone! Even though I wasn't going to give in to the mate pull again everything felt emptier than it did before he left.  

I was about to go to bed when I turned to see a woman sat on one of the brown leather sofa's “Ava I'm sorry you look at this blessing, as a curse everything happened the way it was destined to be” she says, “how dare you say that to me everything I went through, everything I have lost and you think gifting me a mixed breed baby and a second chance mate that I will kiss your ass” I say ready to kill the one that created us “how do you think god's are created child! Not from rose petals and love, but from hardships and sacrifice” she replied with no anger in her voice “so you tell me what am I meant to do with this child, I can't love it, I won't be able to look at him every day knowing who his father is, I don't even know how long I have until it's born” I say feeling too tired to talk any more, I sit down on the sofa opposite her waiting for any answers “If you can't love him let your father, Lana or even Faiban love him but either way he will be born and you have five months to prepare, I am always here Ava as you know I guided you when I gifted you your Lycan I even helped mother nature gift you the strongest of the fey, I have many children to look after and sometimes we have to suffer to prevail” as she said this she left.

Weeks went by and I started to bury myself in pack work Lana was back and she could tell I was hiding something, I will tell them when my dad gets home which should be today. I'm scared because I don't know how there going to react to my news. “Alpha Ava, your dad is nearing the border” Lana says, “Lana were friends first I have told you call me Ava when were alone” I say but I can tell by the look on Lana's face she is questioning whether were still friends or not, I'm just to drained to fight anymore. We leave my office and head downstairs to greet my dad, waiting for him to get to the pack house was agony I was fidgeting and Lana noticed “Alpha are you okay?” she asks, “no I'm not stop calling me Alpha when it's just us you don't need to say that” I say a bit too harshly and she scoffs at me.  

“Alpha you have barely spoke to me in weeks and I am sorry for what you have gone through, truly I am but I feel like I have lost two best friends” she says, I sigh deeply “I'm sorry Lana it will make sense when my dad's back I promise” I say, she looks at me confused but doesn't question me further. My dad finally arrives at the house and he looks some what happier “Petal how are you?” he asks as I run into his arms and bury myself into his chest but before I can answer I just break down into tears, both Lana and my dad are speechless with my reaction to him being home and I didn't want our reunion like this “I'm sorry dad, I didn't mean to cry” I say, he pulls me back taking in my appearance.

“Everyone out now!” he shouts in a loud voice full of his authority, everyone scrambled “Not you Lana” I say, she looks at me with shock in her face. We walk together into the living room and my dad stays by my side “Talk to me petal, what is it?” he asks intently, I rub my hands together and flick my thumb. “I'm pregnant” I say out loud for the first time ever! He looks at me confused “what else?” he asks, “It's half vampire, the vampire I have in the dungeons told me so” he looked at me shocked but not angry “oh and to top it off I also found out that the moon goddess granted me a second chance mate and it's Faiban, dad she's only paired us to unite all supernatural beings, she came to me in a dream to tell me to look after him before Cole died and I didn't understand who or why” I say finishing my rant, Lana looked like she wanted to speak but waited for my dad.  

“Ava who do you have in the dungeons?” he asks first, I looked down at my hands “mom's killer” I say weakly “why?” he asks surprised, “I wanted to make him suffer but when he told me about the baby I couldn't so I left him down there” I say, he took a deep breath and sighed “we will sort that out later, now the baby how are you feeling about it?” he asks without any anger in his tone “I'm scared I won't be able to love him because of who his dad is” I say tearing up hearing my words again “oh petal, it doesn't matter who his father is only who raises him and his mom has so much love to give” he says wrapping his arms around my shoulder “I know your angry, you were destroyed by the vampires, Faiban got you justice for Cole he also rescued you when we had all regretfully failed” he said, lifting my hands from the floor.

“Lana will tell you, he came back after the war and was as upset as the rest of us that Cole was dead” he said, Lana now nodding her head and offering me a weak smile “I read that boy the first time he came here to warn us, he loved you before you where mates, I'm not suggesting you go running to him and start playing happy family's but please offer him friendship” he says hugging me lightly “So how long do we have before my grandson is born?” he asks a big smile covering his face “four and a half months” I say not really knowing what to think after everything that has just been said “I'm going to go deal with our guest in the dungeon Lana can you help your sister go get some real rest please” dad says before leaving us.

“I'm so sorry Ava I didn't know you had all that weighing you down, I just thought you were still grieving Cole's death and the turmoil of what happened to you” she says softly, I pull her into me for a big hug “It's okay Lana it's not like you could of known I haven't told anyone until today” I say smiling weakly “how are you feeling now? After talking with dad?” she asks curiously “I don't know but I know even if I don't have enough love to give to this little guy he has plenty of people in his life that can show him the rest that I can't” I say giving her a glaring playful look, she nods and smiles “do you want me to stay with you? Or are you okay?” she asks me “No I will be fine I think I need to rest like dad said I am exhausted” I say honestly not realising how warn out I truly felt. She nodded her head and left my suite, I stood in the empty suite not knowing how I'm going to cope with the months that are yet to come but knowing I wouldn't be doing it alone made me feel a bit more confident.

“Faiban can you hear me?” I say quietly, within seconds I felt a dark presence behind me “yes I can hear you even when you whisper” he says laughing lightly, I turned to face him but I felt a bit ashamed to look him in the eye now knowing that he has loved me before the mate bond and what he did for me even though I wasn't grateful for his help “I just wanted to say sorry and thank you, I didn't know you avenged Cole's death” I say in a low voice “You don't need to thank me or apologise to me, he might not of liked me but I always admired him” he said and for the first time I heard the respect for my late mate in his voice “I'm not promising that we can ever be anything other than friends but it's better than nothing right? That's if you still want me as a friend?” I ask curiously.  

“Friends is always enough for me, I loved you for longer than you know but I was happy you had Cole to protect and give you what I couldn't” he said and hearing him say he loved me made something stir inside me that I wasn't ready to feel “will you stay just until I nod off please?” I ask, feeling guilty but knowing I won't sleep unless I allow him to stay for a while, he nodded his head and followed me to my room he sat on a chair in the corner of the room and I lay on the bed listening to his heartbeat “Is over here okay?” he asked me gently, “I don't know until I try nodding off” I say in a sarcastic tone, to which he laughed at and as much as I hated to admit it his laugh was nicer than I thought it would be.

I was having a nightmare about Jayce when I woke up startled in a pool of sweat, it was dark in my room now but I could still see, Faiban was gone from his chair. I stood up to walk into the bathroom but stood on top of something, loosing my balance I fell but before I could land on the floor I was caught. Tingles erupted all over my arms, it felt different to the tingle I felt with Cole, it felt more intense, which I never expected “Faiban, I thought you had gone” I said in a hushed tone “I lay closer to your bed as you seemed to be struggling to nod off” he said cautiously “why where you on the floor?” I asked confused, “well I wasn't going to lie in bed with you without your permission” he said making a good point I probably would of hit him, if I woke up to him “oh urm, don't you need sleep too?” I asked him, “yes that's why I was sleeping on your floor until you stood on my urm” he looked uneasy saying exactly where I had stood until I realised “oh my goddess, I am so sorry” I say blushing and escaping into the bathroom.  

I tried my hardest not to laugh thinking about what I stood on, I had a massive craving for a mcflurry but I doubt anyone will be up to get me one at this hour. I left the bathroom and Faiban was sat back on the chair “Faiban, I feel bad asking but I have a craving” I said blushing slightly, he chuckled looking at my face “what do you need?” he asked with a smile still on his face “a mcflurry” I said and he laughed again “I thought I was going to have to cook for a moment then, I'll go get you one” he said, teleporting out.  

I guess having a demonic king as a friend wasn't such a bad thing after all, I lay back on the bed and for the first time since I got pregnant I looked down to my stomach. I took a deep breath and imagined my son forcing myself into a vision again not knowing how he would look. I'm stood in my favourite spot holding a toddlers hand, he has blonde curly hair and pale skin his eyes where a beautiful amethyst colour, Faiban was walking at a distance behind us carrying a picnic basket. “I have your mcflurry” Faiban said pulling me out of my vision and I smiled “I'm sorry did I interrupt a vision?” he said, “your the first person that's pulled me out of a vision, I forced it. I wanted to see my son” I said smiling grabbing my mcflurry.

He rubbed the back of his neck “what did you see?” he asked with curiosity in his eyes he came and sat at the end of my bed “enough to know I can love him” I say eyeing that he was sat on my bed, realising he stood up and walked back towards the chair, I laughed at him “thank you for my mcflurry, what time is it?” I asked him, “its half past three “ he said, “how did you get me a mcflurry?” I asked confused “Ava I'm a demon I can teleport around the world in seconds” he said laughing at my curiosity “oh yeah, this is going to take some adjusting” I say dipping my spoon deep into the ice cream taking a big mouthful of the creamy soft cold goodness, he laughed watching me eating “what?” I said muffled my mouth still full, which made him just laugh more “I guess I'm on call for cravings then huh” he said smiling widely.  

“I can't expect you to be at my call for anything” I say and he looked a bit disappointed by my words “Unless your happy to be” I say trying not to hurt him any more if I'm going to be friends with him I need to stop treating him like this. “You don't need to spare my feelings Ava, I've lived for a long time treated like I didn't have any” he says which made me tear up “hey why are you getting upset?” he said rushing to my side “I had a demon father Ava it's not something they do” he said making me tear up more “I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you cry” he says looking at me apologetically, I did something next I never imagined I would ever do I stood up and pulled him into a hug. He was shocked by my gesture and was stiff he didn't seem to know what to do next, I felt him relax slightly and hug me back softly, he felt warm in my arms and I felt flutters in my stomach.

The next morning I woke up and Faiban was gone although he did leave me a note “thanks for last night, just call me if you ever need anything for your cravings” reading it made me smile. I checked my phone and it was half past ten, I don't remember the last time I slept in this late. I walked towards the bathroom and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, surprised I walked back and looked at myself properly my eyes where back aqua, my cheeks now looked more prominent again and my lips where back plump. I felt a light kick in my stomach that made me look down, I had a tiny bump now showing which I couldn't help but rub and smile “hungry huh” I felt myself saying to my bump.

I entered the kitchen and the pack house was buzzing everyone was up and back busy, it was as if all the life had come back with me. “Ava wow you look a lot better, I take it you got the rest you needed” Lana said smiling “yes I feel loads better for it but now I am starving” I say rubbing my little bump, Lana gasped “is my little nephew hungry too” she said in a cooing tone, “he's going to be so spoilt isn't he” I said to her “yes he certainly is” said my dad kissing me on my head “what would you like for breakfast petal?” he asked, hmm what do I fancy “pancakes and bacon” I say smiling “now your awake I can get people to start taking everything up to your suite for when the baby comes” my dad says his eyes shimmering gold “how much have you brought?” I ask him, “everything” he says mischief glimmering in his eyes.

As he said that I caught Brett looking at Lana smiling “what's going on with them?” I asked my dad curiously, “they've been paired by the moon goddess and from the mark Lana's wearing they've mated too” my dad says, I looked on gobsmacked I was so happy for them “when?” I asked surprised “Brett turned eighteen whilst we was away Ava so I'm guessing last night” he said before laughing lightly “they didn't hang about did they” I said smiling. My dad laughed and shook his head “So have you had any time to think about what your going to do about Faiban?” he asked intrigued.  

“Well I called for him last night, he came and we talked I apologised to him for how I had treated him and he went to get me a mcflurry because I was having a craving for one” I say my cheeks blushing slightly “that's great petal I am pleased, is that why you look so much better today? Did he stay overnight?” he asked and I hated this question because I can't lie “yes he did, but he slept on the chair. Well until he moved to the floor next to my bed because I wasn't settling off and I stood on him” I say blushing brightly again, my dad eyed me curious “you let him sleep on the floor and then stood on him?” he said laughing as he said the sentence back to me, which made me chuckle as well especially when I remembered where I had stood on him, it felt good to laugh again.

Once I ate my breakfast I went for a walk, finding myself back at my spot. I sat down on the grass and closed my eyes enjoying the sound of the stream behind me “how are you feeling Ava?” her voice asks, I open my eyes to see Celeste “I'm feeling a lot better” I say a small smile creeping onto my face, she sat down on the grass next to me “so you have started to feel for him” she says laying her hand on my bump, I put my hand on top of hers “I forced a vision and he was hard not to fall in love with” I say smiling lightly of the vision of his little curls and amethyst eyes. A smile danced across her face “I am truly sorry for everything you have been through Ava, but special baby's deserve special mommy's” she says rubbing my belly lightly. I nodded my head in understanding and just like that she was gone again.

”Never hangs about does she” says Lana, she was standing a few feet away “neither do you from what I hear” I say laughing and she came and helped me up to my feet “so how is the new romance blooming?” I ask her playfully, her cheeks instantly blushed “I liked him before we was paired but I didn't act on it because he's a wolf and I knew he would one day get a mate, I never thought it could be me” she said sounding surprised still by it all. We walked back to the pack house arm in arm, she followed me to my office “I was thinking about asking him to be my gamma would you be okay with that?” I ask her, she instantly nods her head “so be honest how long have you known that Faiban had feelings for me?” I ask her, she shrugs.

“To be honest I saw it the day of the attack when he begged Cole to let him help, I saw the desperation in his eyes, he just wanted you to both be safe and once you where taken and he fount out that Cole was dead he looked distraught. He promised your dad he would bring you home” she says and her voice sounded so sure of Faiban “what else do you want to hear Ava?” she says eyeing me questionably “I don't know I just don't see it working, not me and him but the pack and him, there not going to accept him and I can't just say oh here's your new Alpha” I say and it felt odd considering him being with me but I couldn't deny the pull either it was different to the feelings I had with Cole this felt more raw and passionate.

There was a knock at the door “come in” I say Brett was stood there and from the look on his face I could tell he had heard some of the conversation “Brett thanks for coming” I say smiling at him “Alpha” he says bowing his head “Don't do that, your my friend Brett only use the title when around other pack members, now the reason I have called you here is that I have something I would like to ask you, will you be my gamma?” I ask him hoping he will accept “I would be honoured Ava, may I speak freely?” he asks and I nod my head curious as to what he wants to say, I see Lana looking the same “I heard your conversation and although it's none of my business, now knowing what the mate bond feels like if you have been given a second chance mate you deserve to be happy regardless of who or what he is” he says, I was taken back by Brett's words I wasn't expecting them to come from him of all people, he's always hated Faiban. He was Cole's best friend and beta I eyed him suspiciously “do you know who I have been paired with Brett?” I question, he nods his head “yes Ava and as much as I don't like him, I saw how much he cared about Cole and you” said Brett. I took a seat after that I really needed it.

After a day of getting stuck into work around the pack I took to my suite, I have wanted to come look in here all day at what my dad had brought. He had not only brought everything I would possibly need but he had decorated the nursery as well, it was a beautiful powder blue on one wall with clouds, the other was the forest. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at the room in awe “thank you daddy” I say through the mind link “your welcome petal” he says. I made my way into my bedroom after seeing my baby boys new room to see a pull out bed next to mine with a note “for a dear friend that keeps his promises from Adrien” I rolled my eyes but smiled to myself, “girls I know we haven't spoke for a while with everything that's been going on but I need your help” I say to Sky and Isla “we've got you” says Isla “yes what do you need?” asks Sky “It's all of this, were carrying a mixed breed baby and got a second chance mate with a demon, how do you both feel about it?” I asked hoping they could help me solve this one “don't rush into anything Ava,but we do feel the pull and as for the baby he's ours” says Sky, “Just see where it goes” says Isla I nodded my head and got changed into my pajama's.  

I lay on the bed and my eyes kept flicking back to the pull out bed “Faiban” I called lowly “Yes” he says as he is stood in front of me smiling “my dad has brought you a present” I say looking to the pull out bed “there's a note” I say, he picks up the note and smiles to himself “well it's a very thoughtful present, saves you standing on me in the night” he says with a smirk “shall I get comfy?” he says waiting for my permission, “be my guest” I say pointing to the bed, “would you mind turning around while I get undressed” he said motioning his hand in the other direction, “oh yeah, of course” I turn away feeling slightly embarrassed that he's getting undressed next to me. I turn around once I heard him climb into the bed, his clothes where neatly folded on the chair and he was tucked in under the covers. We lay just silently looking at each other for a while, I never noticed how beautiful and unique his eyes were, breathing in his scent it didn't take long for sleep to take over.

I woke up in the night and it was still dark out, I stand up to go to the toilet and Faiban had pulled himself out of the covers, I couldn't help but look at him. He was laying in his boxers and was still facing towards me, his chest was sculpted and he looked sweet whilst sleeping. I walked around the bed and saw that he had a huge tattoo of a phoenix up his back, it looked to be hiding scars which made me feel a bit sad for him. I pulled the covers up over him, trailing my fingers over his scars as I covered him, the light sparks felt nice. I walked into the bathroom to do my business, when I came back out he was sat up awake. 

“I'm sorry did I disturb you?” I asked him “It was the tingles I felt up my back” he said and I looked at him for any emotion, then I felt a bit embarrassed, “your covers where hanging off you and I didn't want you to get cold” I said looking away from him slightly “any cravings?” he asked me, changing the subject as he could see I was uncomfortable under his questioning gaze, I reached my side of the bed thinking what I fancy,“hmm I could eat a cheeseburger” I say smiling, he climbed out of the pull out bed not asking me to turn away this time. I felt my eyes trace down his body, he had more tattoos down his arm and one on his abdomen and I had to force myself to look away blushing slightly I was grateful it was dark in my room “you do realise I can see in the dark too” he said before laughing lightly, flooded with embarrassment and no where to run I just covered my face with the quilt.  

He came back quickly with my burger and it smelt amazing, “mmm thank you” I said taking a big bite, he laughed at my actions and started to undress again before climbing back into his bed I was to engrossed in finishing my burger this time to pay any attention to him “you look so happy when you eat I can't help but laugh” he says laying next to me propping himself with his arm. I looked deep into his eyes and now I had a different craving “what is it?” he asked curiously “urm nothing” I say turning over to face away from him “I might not have a fey Ava but I can still read when someone is holding something back” he says and I could tell from the tone in his voice he was being honest.  

I rolled back over looking at him, “I have feelings growing for you, and I'm struggling with myself” I say looking into his eyes “oh” he says but I could tell from his eyes he was happy to feel wanted, “There's no rush for this to be anything other than friendship Ava, I have wanted to be with you since I first met you and I have no issue waiting forever, I am after all immortal like you” he said, I felt myself doing something unexpected again as I leaned forward and kissed his lips lightly, I stroked my hands through his hair, he was taken by surprise but didn't waste any time in kissing me back gently. He didn't deepen the kiss but brushed his lips against mine a few more times it was soft and yet passionate and I could feel a throbbing I wasn't expecting. Not wanting to take it further I pulled away “good night Faiban” I said lowly “good night Ava” he said softly.