The Lost Goddess, A War On Mates

Chapter 28

Leaving the red room lounge the Alpha shifted into his wolf and ran back to the pack house. He always took the longer route back to the pack which took him two days. It was to ensure no one would follow him back to the pack or for the pack to follow him to the club. Now he did not need to worry about the council finding out since he no longer owned the club.  After a long day of travel, he covered his scent and then started to head back towards the pack making it back home in half a day. Shifting back, he grabbed some shorts from a nearby tree and mind linked his Beta.

“John, meet me in my office.” I tried to sound as sad and sincere as I could. Walking back into my pack house I smelt that rogue roaming around. It was to be expected even if I did trust him, he would still reek until I initiated him. I huffed out in frustration opening my office door and slamming it shut. Nothing had moved and I smirked. Sitting down in my chair I leaned back and waited for John.

 A knock came ten minutes later, and I grunted out, “Come in.” John walked in looking weary and depressed. I held back a grin and frowned deeply,” Have a seat, John.” He sat himself down and looked at me with his dull eyes. It almost made me feel a pang of guilt, but it soon left when I remember what John had done. I narrowed my eyes and straightened some papers,” John I received news that Sandra and Zach died a few days ago while working out in the labor yards with a handful of other omegas. I am so sorry for your loss.” I looked back up and he had stiffened, tears streamed from his eyes, but his face remained blank. He stood and I was ready to go onto the defensive when he bowed and left the office.

I watched as the door shut with a quiet click. I leaned back unsatisfied and frowned clenching my fists. He needed to be in agony not numb to the world. Rage coursed threw me and I threw the desk across the room. It snapped in half as I continued to destroy everything in sight. After a few hours the office looked like a demolition derby. Remembering Sandra and knowing Zach was being r***d and molested, knowing his family was being tortured the same way I felt tortured eased the tension in my shoulders. I breathed out a relaxing breathe and mumbled, “Lucas will take the pack soon, then I move everything into action.”

Aeris had continued about her business for the rest of the week after the fights down at the training grounds. Less pack members beat her and instead looked on in fear of the freak slave. It was now June and the hot summer days were making it hard to do regular chores without sweating to death.

I pulled at my long sleeve shirt panting lightly as I finished cleaning up the infirmary. Wearing long sleeved shirts and pants in the heat was torture but with my tattoos it had to be done. I turned to our pack doctor bowing respectfully, “Is there anything else that needs done Dr. Gupta?”

He turned around and smiled at me rubbing my head, “You have done well today dear, if you would like to stay and tend to the few sick children, I would be very appreciative but if you must head to another task I will understand.” Looking up I beamed nodding and went over to the other side of the sick bay. I loved working with the kids and rarely got the opportunity.  I smiled reading a clip board with three kids names and a few details as to why they were here.

Each one had been running outside in the forest and had run through a patch of African poison ivy, a shrub that exudes a creamy sap. Contact with the sap causes a rash with blisters and the symptoms usually subside after a few days but it could spread if they touched the other kids with the sap still on them. I sighed and shook my head at their shenanigans. I walked in and found the three boys looking sulky with mittens on their hands to prevent scratching and bored out of their minds.

I smiled and knocked on the door frame,” Hey kiddos, can I come in?”

The little boys all looked at each other and shrugged. I took that as permission and walked over to the counter grabbing a bunch of ingredients humming. I glanced to my side and saw the boys sit up in curiosity. I first mix the aloe chunks and witch’s hazel together making a thick goopy paste that looked like slime. Next, I heated up some oat milk and added a small amount of Epsom salt. Waiting on the oat milk to heat, I start boiling some water and grab four mugs for some chamomile and lavender tea. It was getting late, and the boys needed some rest.

Once the oat milk was a semi thick mixture, I dumped my slime into it and let it simmer gently and poured my boiling water in a large pitcher with the tea leaves. I added some ice to cool it down to a nice warm temperature. As I poured myself a glass, I looked over at the boys catching them staring,” Did you boys need something?” I smiled and lowered my cup to the table.

They all looked slightly panicked and the smallest one broke the silence, “What are you doing slave girl?” I was caught off guard by being called a slave by such young boys and I tried to smile bigger.

“Well, you guys want to feel better as soon as you can right?” I went back to stirring the oat milk and now it was a pasty consistency. Looking over my shoulder they all nodded hesitantly. I smiled and pulled it off the burner letting it cool, “Good because I have made something so special that even Dr Gupta has never used it.” I looked around the room creating an air of secrecy as the boys looked at me in awe.

“What did you make slave lady!?” The older one jumped up.

I smiled and shrugged, “It is a trusted secret I learned a long time ago; only really important people can know it. Can I trust you boys with my secret cure?” I laid it on thick with the dramatics as they all nodded eagerly.

I smiled and poured them all a cup of the cooled down tea and tested the paste on my skin. It was now a soothing warmth not a piping hot napalm. I put it in three jars and then walked over with the tea handing it to the boys. I went back to my table and grabbed the jars after writing ‘special poison ivy potion’ on each one. I set the bottles on their respective nightstands and grabbed the excess bowl and sat down in front of them.

In a hushed whisper I leant down and pointed to the bowl,” Now come close boys because this magic potion will cure your ouches.” They stared at the pot and watched me dip my finger in and spread it on my arm. It was a light green now and it slowly dried to white.

“Wow why did it do that!” They squealed and beamed at the ‘magic trick’ of the color change.

“Well boys, I used a powerful magic from an old healer. Can I put some on you so you can take off the gloves?” I motioned to their arms and legs. The youngest one nodded and I pulled his gloves off seeing as he had the worst case. It coated both his arms, legs and a portion of his torso in blisters.

“Now it will sting a bit from touching them at first, but I promise it will go away immediately…” He nodded and clenched his eyes closed. I gently held his hand and took a huge portion of paste and gently swiped it onto his arm. He let out a tiny hiss and then his face relaxed with a small sigh.

After I finished coating him, he jumped up and smiled brightly, “Guys I am all better, we can play now!” I laughed as he started jumping between the different clinic beds. I applied the rest to the other boys and had the same reactions.

After watching them run around for twenty minutes I finally stopped the fun,” Alright kiddos time for bed, it is rather late. Come drink your tea and get some rest.” The boys listened and quickly jumped back to their beds and gulped down their drinks. Each one started to yawn as I walked out of the room smiling.

“The boys are taken care of Dr. Gupta!” I hollered out. No response, I walked around the clinic and finally I opened his private office. He was staring at a picture with a sad smile, and I walked over, “Are you okay, Dr. Gupta?”

He looked up startled and smiled at me, “Please Aeris, call me Adil. You are a friend of the clinic and there is no need for such formalities…” I smiled and sat down in a chair as he handed me a picture of a beautiful black woman with dark ebony skin and bright blue eyes. She had long box braids and was hugging Adil tight to her side. She was about the same height as him and they both had the biggest smiles on their faces.

“She is very pretty, is she a friend of yours?” I asked and handed him back the photo.

“She was my mate…” I tensed as an uncomfortable silence filled the room.

“Oh, where is she?” I tried to sound optimistic, but he frowned deeply and sighed taking off his glasses. He was a muscular Indian man that was maybe six foot even. He wore glasses and had bright green eyes with pitch black hair. They looked good together in the photo.

“She is dead miss Aeris. She died about two years ago. I was blessed with this beautiful woman, but the moon goddess played a mean trick on me by gifting me a human…” He smiled a bitter smile and continued, “Humans are so fragile miss Aeris, she died of cancer. I only had her in my life for three years. I could never mark her and put her under more stress. She was marvelous though, a wild spirit. She was a Christian and lived life to the fullest. My favorite feature was a tattoo she had of a tiny cross and the words “Dans l'amour de Dieu je prospérerai” on her right wrist.” He sighed and smiled happily for the first time in the conversation.

“What does that mean Adil?” I tilted my head smiling back.

“It is French for ‘In the love of God I will prosper’. She was very devoted to her faith.” He looked far off thinking about her.

I whispered out, “What was her name?” He looked at me and his smile faltered.

He breathed it out like a small prayer, “Afiya Abebe…”

He rubbed his temple and put the picture back onto his desk. Sighing he stood up, “Let us close the clinic for the night, hm?” I nodded and walked out of his office feeling sad. Not all mates were forever mates.

A lingering feeling of despair hit me, and I found it hard to walk down the silent halls of the pack house. The clinic was attached and made it easier for the pack house residents but not for the other members. My shoes echoed down the empty corridor and as I turned into another hallway, I ran into someone. I bowed quickly and stayed silent.

“Look at me Aeris…” I stiffened and slowly lifted my head to see Lucas looking irritable and sad. I bit my lip hard and fidgeted wanting to go home. It was almost midnight at this point. I had been at the pack house since five in the morning. If my hair was not naturally white, I know I would have grey hairs by now.

I bowed again and spoke quietly, “Alpha, is there something you need from me?”

He grunted and grabbed my arm making me flinch, “Follow me.” I nodded as he pulled me along to his private office. His father did not like the idea of sharing and even though it would be Lucas’ office one day he still gave him his own private area. As he entered, I tripped and fell forward onto the floor. A loud thud broke the deafening silence. I sucked in a breath and quickly stood up and closed the door behind me.

Before I could turn around, I was slammed into the door and trapped between the mahogany wood and his muscled chest. I felt my heart speed up, but I stayed calm. He leaned down and held my hips tightly. He nipped my ear and whispered, “Why are you avoiding me, it has been months and I will not stand for it anymore.” I shivered in fear and tried to wiggle free, I suddenly felt his member stiffen and he kissed my neck growling lowly, “I would stop wiggling if you want to leave a virgin Aeris.” I stopped moving immediately after.

I tried to look over at him, but it was impossible in this position to see him,” Alpha I have just been doing my job and laying low. I promise I was not avoiding you, please let me go home?” A single tear slipped and fell down my cheek. He gently took my chin and turned me around to face him.

His eyes glowed yellow and I held my breath, wolves were unpredictable. He spoke,” I would never hurt you; you are important to me Aeris.” He smiled a big grin, and I knew this feeling.

I breathed out shakily, “I do not know your name, I think we have met though.”

He smiled and pulled me into a tight hug lifting me off the ground. Instinctively I squeaked and wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. He nuzzled into my neck and purred loudly making me blush. ‘Lucas has a very lovey wolf…’ I thought relaxing slightly. I had never actually met or seen anyone’s wolves outside of training sessions I had seen, so this was a new feeling.

“I am Adonis, the boy is an i***t. I like you; we can mate?” I turned red at that and tried to push his chest away, this made him whimper and give me what I assumed were puppy dog eyes. He let me down but refused to let my hand go.

“Ah, Adonis is a nice name, but I cannot be your mate. I do not have a mate because I am human remember. Your pack and father hate me, I just need to be the slave I have always been. I would love to be your friend though Adonis. You seem like a good boy, a goofy one at that.” I smiled and tried to free my hand and Adonis looked ready to cry but he nodded. He let my hand go after some more tugging and he sat down in a chair silently crying.

Before he could grab me again, I bolted out of the room and out of the pack house getting back to my house, I rip open the door and slam it shut. Panting heavily, I slid to the floor feeling safer in the house. Suddenly Drew was in front of me and looking me over panicked, “Why did you slam the door, what’s going on, did something bad happen at the clinic? You had me scared half to death with the door slamming!” He pulled me into a hug, and I finally relaxed for the night and hugged him tightly back.

He always smelled good, and it felt nice to hug Drew. He started to pull away, but I buried myself into his chest shaking my head, “Can we just go to bed?” I looked up at him exhausted and he looked to be debating something in his head. Finally, he nodded and carried me to my room. He set me down on the bed and left. I sighed and changed into some booty shorts and hoodie. I laid down in bed but kept tossing and turning. After maybe an hour I sat up and crawled out of bed and crept across the hall to Drew’s room.

I hesitantly knocked on his door and waited. A minute later he came out looking groggy. I looked down and pushed past him walking into the room. I slid into bed and wrapped myself up in his blankets. I closed my eyes and felt the bed dip slightly on the opposite side. I cracked my eyes open to see a frustrated Drew. His eyes were narrowed, and he had a raised brow, confused as to what I want.

“Aeris, what’s going on?” He moves some hair from my face and cups my cheek.

I shifted slightly and mumbled, “Can I just stay with you tonight, it was a long day…”

He smiles and nods yawning, “Okay you can stay here tonight.” Moving around he slid under the covers and pulled me into his chest. I listened to his heartbeat and took deep breaths calming down. He kissed the top of my head and rubbed my back.

Closing my eyes, I focused into these feelings and an image flashed in my mind, a moment just like this but I was tiny and there was a thunderstorm raging outside. I was being held by a man who had gorgeous green eyes and his sweet wispy voice broke through my thoughts. “It’s okay Aeris, I am here for you. The whole coven will keep you safe…”

 I quickly opened my eyes seeing Drew still in front of me. I smiled to myself for finally remembering, ‘I knew this face. I knew someone, I could leave and find them. I can sketch them out tomorrow so I can remember forever, they can help me remember everything!’ these happy thoughts lulled me into a deep sleep.

Colt hooked up his laptop now that it was two in the morning. After he heard the voicemail from Salvino he immediately went and grabbed his hard drive with all the Alpha’s documents on the computer. Loading it onto his laptop he started to open file after file. Each one made his stomach lurch worse than the last. Photos of young women in chains at auctions were organized by date, dates and times of meetings with other packs for ‘resource trading’, payment ledgers and more all filtered into his laptop. After an hour of reading through all the documents he sighed.

Dialing up Salvino, his phone went to voicemail. I cursed, “Salvino, sorry I missed your call. It gets busy with the pack training. We should meet to discuss our old coworkers. Talk to you soon.” Hanging up I look at my desktop mortified anyone could go to live auction houses and buy men and women. According to his files he had procured a large assortment of omega males from the auction houses and had sent all of them to do hard manual labor jobs for local rogues or seedy humans. Most of the women had been procured from other packs through trades or the blue moon packs omega population. It was sickening.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and mumbled, “Why is he doing this?” Sending copies of all the files to a secondary email and a special secure laptop in his work office he removes the hard drive and hides it in his closet and then his phone back into his mattress.

Laying down onto the bed with my arms cross behind my head I stared at the ceiling trying to figure out the Blue Moon Pack. A thought crossed my mind before getting up to ready myself for morning training, “One thing I do know, Drake is way in over his head with this pack.”