I will be your reaper...

Aradia awakens...

**Warning** This chapter explains in detail the trail that Erebus and Aradia suffered for the year of captivity. If you do not wish to read, you can skip to the bottom where Aradia Awakens or skip to chapter eight.

Felix Monroe's POV

Lily looked at me as if she was prepared to hear what I was about to say, but no one would be prepared for such a thing. "Seven years ago, I was on patrol when I was hit by a dart containing enough wolfsbane to knock two grown Alphas out. However, the problem was that I didn't suspect anything or feel on edge because their scent was familiar. It was obviously someone from my own pack. Which means that we all probably have traitors in our midst." My son looked shocked to hear such a thing. However, over these seven years, the memories have been coming back to me in pieces. I clearly remember that the traitor was probably one of the individuals I was patrolling with.

"I woke up Goddess knows how long later in a dungeon. I was the only occupant of my cell. Every day I was tortured, hit with silver whips, my nails pulled off, and they injected me with wolfsbane to see how much I could take. I was fed porridge once a day every day and the godforsaken sound of water droplets hitting the ground never stopped. It was so cold in there, I may as well have been buried in snow for seven years." I motioned to Alpha Michael who stood and nodded "It was similar for me. I was in my office doing paperwork when someone brought me a cup of tea - One of the Omegas. I was so absorbed in my paperwork I didn't realise it had enough wolfsbane in the cup to take me out in mere seconds. I don't know how they got me out of the pack, but I woke up in the same dungeon. When I recognized Alpha Felix from previous social events I was elated. I told him that he had been missing for two years already and so, he used his claw to etch lines into the wall to mark the days. There were no windows in the dungeon, but there was a very small hole in the wall where light came through. We based the time on that. I suffered the same at the hands of those people and a week later..." He gestured to Elder Jaxon who stood "I arrived. To double-check the timing, I told them it had been two years since Alpha Felix had gone missing and a week since Alpha Michael had gone missing. I was the one investigating their disappearances. It was so mysterious that the wolven council requested the help of my coven. So, since Alpha Felix had been missing, I began to investigate. It wasn't long before I stumbled upon a group of rogues. However, I discovered something much bigger at play and while I was thinking about it at my desk I was knocked out by tremendous force and woke up in the very same dungeon with a metal device on my leg that prevented me from using my abilities. Due to the change in season, we lost track of the days and were sure no one else would be coming before we perished. But then..."

Celeste stood with a smile "I arrived. I took over the investigation after Jaxon disappeared. I used his notes, provided by his daughter Mabel and wife Cassidy. They were very helpful but I quickly pushed them out of the investigation, lest they became targets. It was probably my ego, knowing I was powerful and thinking I was too powerful to be caught. I was soon humbled when my own assistant clamped a metal device around my ankle. It seems I'm the only one that knows the traitor on my end. She quickly put me out and I woke up in the dungeon with the three, telling them that both Elder Jaxon and Alpha Michael had been missing for two years, and Alpha Felix for four. Elder Jaxon and I were tortured differently, of course. But it was horrific all the same. Due to our powers being shut off by that device, we still bear the scars on our bodies because we couldn't heal them. Now, they're a permanent reminder."

Luna Heir Jessica and Beta Sophia stood in unison, Beta Sophia being the first to speak "Jessica and I have been friends since childhood, despite being from different packs. Our parents are quite close. So when the rumours of the mysterious disappearances happened, we were worried that our packs were next and decided to do our own private investigation for the good of our people." Jessica nodded with a smile "Indeed. While I was meant to be Alpha heir, I gave up my position to my mate and decided to be Luna instead...Much to the dismay of my father." He grumbled while she spoke, obviously not happy that his little girl didn't get the most powerful position even if it was by choice "Being Luna gave me more freedom and as such, since my mate and I have yet to take our positions, we had even more freedom. I invited Sophia to my pack and we used a private office space to gather evidence. We were searching for an entire year when we, much like Elder Jaxon, found a link to a pack of rogues. So, we went to investigate. It was just supposed to be recon to confirm our suspicion, but we were cornered by an entire pack of rogues and forced to fight. We decided to retreat at some point to get assistance but as we were running, we were both hit by a wolfsbane dart." Sophia nodded in agreement, opening her mouth "Indeed. We woke up in a cell with the others. By that time, High Priestess Celeste had been missing for a year, Alpha Michael and Elder Jaxon for three years and Alpha Felix for five. Day in and day out, those of us with wolves were dosed via the porridge to keep our wolves down and make us docile. Jaxon and Celeste had those devices, so they didn't need to be dosed. two days a week, they wouldn't dose us, just in case it killed us by having so much in our system. After two years of Jessica and I being there, they brought two children to the dungeon"

We all sat and I looked at those who gathered. They all looked terribly sick and betrayed. Jessica was hugged by her father and mate, and Sophia was gripping the hands of her mother. My son draped himself over my shoulders with a face twisted by grief. I opened my mouth to speak "They were such small things. Obviously twins, six years old at the time and despite being covered in soot as if they were dragged through a fire, it was clear as day they were children who were loved and taken good care of. Their hair shined so healthy like silk, their clothes were expensive. Celeste pointed that out, mentioning that the clothes they came into the dungeon with cost at least 50 million even without their accessories included. We surmised they were children of a very, very wealthy pack. Clearly doted upon by their parents. While they were unconscious, the girl was constantly calling to someone named Helios, which we now know thanks to Celeste and Jaxon, that Helios would be their older brother - Apollo."

Confused faces filled the room, but it was Beta Lily's father, Conrad, who spoke up "But from the previous story, Apollo is a God. Why would he also be here?" A few nodded in agreement and I looked to Celeste "Because later in that same story, Selene and Apollo went numb from the empty places where their siblings once sat. Of course, given that they were reincarnated, Selene watched over them every day. But Apollo was so attached to his siblings that he couldn't cope with not being beside them. And so, he searched the realms for a mystical tool said to be able to reincarnate you. A mirror. It took him many years and by the time he had found it, the twins had already reincarnated once and were close to the end after they had saved this world from destruction many, many years ago. Apollo spoke to the mirror, telling it his wish 'Please. I wish to be reincarnated as my sibling's older brother once again. I miss them terribly and can not live without them any longer.' The mirror granted his wish. But what he didn't know was that, in return, the mirror would mess with the rules. The mirror decided to be mischievous and grant his wish, but in return, his siblings had to face terrible and painful trials. The first would be in their childhood. After passing that trial, they would then live peacefully...Only for it all to be shattered and they would then enter more trials and tribulations. It was never said if the twins would get a happy ending or not. But the mirror indeed but Apollo with Artemis and Hodr, all being born into the Royal family. Apollo had his Godhood intact, but no memories of making the wish or who he was. He was just always named Helios each time. When all three reincarnated together two hundred years after the death of the twins the first time, Helios was always born as the older brother who loved and doted on the twins. But alas...Something always happened to them. That first time, Artemis, otherwise known as Aradia, was murdered by Helios' girlfriend after he broke up with her due to finding his true mate. Because of this, Helios was broken and became a cruel man while Erebus smothered the world with darkness before taking his own life to be with his sister. Helios left behind one heir with his mate and when the heir was old enough to take the throne, he also killed himself to join his siblings. As such, they all reincarnated much earlier. I can't be sure what happened the other times due to not having read that far, but we can all always research together for the sake of the children".

Lily nodded aggressively "I would really appreciate that. Thank you, all. What you had to suffer through was horrific and inhumane. While I was in Aradia's head, I saw a memory of their seventh birthday and how you all gave up your rations as if to make up for the lack of cake and presents...Thank you" I watched as Beta Lily bowed her head deeply in thanks and respect, Beta Quinn standing to do the same. After that, each member of the pack stood and followed suit, giving us their greatest respect. Ex-Beta Conrad and his wife looked so pleased to be grandparents. "My wife and I can't thank you all enough. Thanks to you, we have become proud grandparents and our daughter finally has the honour of being a mother. Our wolves haven't been able to shut up this entire time, urging us to go and hug our grandchildren" Conrad was so pleased that tears brimmed his waterline. Sophia stood with Jessica and they both sobbed, staring at Lily and Quinn "Please...If you allow us, we'd like to request to be named the Aunts and Uncles of Aradia and Erebus. They mean so much to all of us. They brought us such joy in dark times and Aradia is the only reason that we're here today to tell our story and be reunited with our families..I beg, no...We beg of you." Sophia was so sincere while she sobbed, Jessica cradling her head and sobbing with her. Jaxon, Celeste, Michael and I stood and bowed our heads to the family, expressing that we wish for the same thing.

Lily nodded profusely, agreeing to the request "Goodness of course! If you hadn't asked I sure would have. I'm so grateful for you all and how much you love the twins, thank you" Suddenly a hearty laugh boomed through the room. Alpha Elias Grey placed his hands on his hips, giving everyone a happy chuckle "Hahah! I'll treat these children as my own grandchildren! Having all this family, they'll want for nothing! No one in the world would dare to cause our grandchildren trouble!" Conrad agreed, and Luna Elizabeth Grey nodded "Indeed. Now, let's go and see how our grandchildren are doing. I miss their beautiful little faces already." We all piled out of the room and back into OR 1...But what we saw was...Aradia had awakened but...