Cleo's Heart Decisions.

To The Limits.

The truth is incontrovertible! Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it but in the end, there it is!

~about two hours later, too late at night, Diamond Heart Pack, hospital~

Adira’s pov

This can’t be true!

It is just a nightmare, this is what I keep on telling myself!

She… Oh my beautiful sweet baby!

I can’t do this anymore, I can’t stand it, I am dying, I won’t bear it if anything happens to her and I lose her!

Two hours now I haven’t stopped crying, screaming, sobbing and shaking. I am at the hospital with Finn and William, we are right outside the operating room and my baby is in there with doctors and nurses above her…

She is fighting for her life and I am more terrified than ever!

It is proved I was wrong all these years… I had been thinking that I wouldn’t feel more scared than I had felt almost 22 years ago but now I know I was too quick to reach to conclusions… I had never imagined it!

I can’t be strong anymore, I can’t, this is above me! All these years I am patient, I am forcing myself to be calm and pretend that everything is fine but now I am done, this is the drop that overflowed the glass!

How much can I take? I have lost everything, all I have left is her, she is my life! I am alive because I have her, because she is my light and strength!

I wipe again my tears that are endless from the moment I saw her on Finn’s arms and stiffen trembling and gasping. My wolf is screaming and howling, she is mourning and this can’t be a good sign. She is panicking me even more and I am asking her what is wrong but she tells me nothing, she is not talking to me, not anymore! She is mad at me, she hates me and she is right!

How can I blame her when everything is my own fault?

I should have been smarter, I had to see the signs but I was a fool! I fell in love and this was my biggest mistake but… He was my mate!

What else could I do?

I was young and he was very kind, sweet and managed to fool me! I had never imagined that he was not like that and I realized everything when it was too late and I could do nothing, I couldn’t step back and let him do more…

I am blaming and punishing myself every day from that moment and if it wasn’t for Cleo, I would have died, I would have killed myself but I couldn’t be selfish, she needed me, my baby needed me and now she is fighting for her life and I am losing mine, I can do nothing to help her this time!

“Adira… Please calm down! I can’t see you like this anymore!” William whispers from my right and I turn my head to him with a blank expression.

I have no strength to reply but I am glad he and Finn are here or else I don’t know what I would have done!

William is standing next to me like a rock these two hours! He is an amazing young man and denies leaving me for any reason! He gave orders to all the pack members some time ago and then came to stay here with me. He really loves Cleo, they always had a special connection! They were teasing each other from their cribs and he is Cleo’s weakness. She trusts him blindly and I know what a good heart he has, unlike his brother…

And Finn… I was wrong about him! I didn’t have a good opinion until some days ago and especially tonight! He is standing on Cleo, he is loyal to her and now… He saved her life! He was the first that went to my mother’s house and brought her back the fastest he could! If it wasn’t Finn, then… I don’t want to think about it! I am happy I have Finn with me now, I won’t be alone anymore, they trusted him and I have no reason to doubt him! Finn has already proved he is on our side and he wants Cleo safe and I am more than grateful to him!

As for the others now… Richard is at my mother’s house taking care of the rogues’ dead bodies with some fighters and specialists. He is very worried, I have never seen him so scared and I know it is difficult for him to be away from us under these circumstances. He is a great man, we are friends from when we were kids, he is like the older brother I never had and if I didn’t have him, I wouldn’t have made it! He has no idea because I had to keep everything as a secret and I was always ashamed, I don’t want to break his heart and put everyone in danger!

Gabriel left with the best trackers behind Finn to search for any other rogue or any helpful trail! We need to find out who did this and then I am going to kill him with my own hands even if this is the last thing I am going to do! I just want to find him or them, I don’t care about me, I never did and maybe this is my fault… I was always naïve and I believed in the good inside people’s hearts and his… Anyway!

Cassidy is with Adelaine and Ava at the house because Adelaine was in too much tension, she was crying and felt pain! We got scared about the baby and her doctor told her to go home and relax! The last thing we need is to worry more for her and the baby, I mean we have to protect them in any way we can and this is why Cassidy took her back against Adel’s protests.

Elliot took Finn’s place for tonight after what happened and I am relieved he is not here and I do not have to stand him as well or else I would have killed him. He is only a weight and he has nothing to do with Finn… His presence means only problems and the same and even worse goes for Thor!

He… I had no idea he could do this to her! He always loved her but apparently I was wrong! He took the wrong path and changed! He is not the boy I used to know, the boy that loved Cleo and was dying for her!

How could he do this to her? How did he change his mind?

I know they are mates from the day Cleo came back but I preferred to say nothing because she didn’t want to tell me and I had to respect her wish! Don’t ask me how I know, I am her mother, I know my child and the moment I saw her I just knew she was hurt and it didn’t take me long to understand that they are mates and he doesn’t want her.

This is why I am her shadow these last days, I always was but now I have crossed every previous line and I am trying to be discreet! I am doing my best to support her, I was encouraging her in my own way to leave from here and listen to her heart!

Cleo mustn’t stay here and I always wanted her to become the strongest, the best and now she is! I was strict because I wanted only the best for her, I needed to make sure she would be capable of dealing with everything and I am happy for the young woman she is, I was right for everything but I hadn’t predicted what happened tonight!

I still can’t believe it and the more I remember how I saw her in Finn’s arms, the more I am crying in despair!

I hardly recognized her and I am the person that knows her better than anyone else! I am never going to forget her condition… She had deep cuts, big wounds, lots of scratches and big bites all over her body and she was bleeding! Her skin was so cold that I was close to start mourning and her heartbeat was too slow and weak, we could listen to her heart with great difficult.

I lost the ground under my feet…

I know I had to do everything to take her away lots of years ago but I couldn’t, I still can’t do it personally because I know what Etan is capable of and now that I mentioned him…

He is still nowhere to be found and we need him, Cleo needs him!

She needs his blood, only he can help her, they have the same blood’s team and I know he is a monster but he really loves her! Maybe she is the only person he has ever loved and because I did love her and he knows what she means to me maybe he loves a little bit!

From the moment she came in our life despite the way it happened, he has calmed down, he is cheerful, more gentle and patient. He is happy because of her and he shows affection and love! He adores her, she is his little girl, his own ‘miracle’ and I did anything I could to prevent him from finding out the truth because things are not the way he thinks…

I don’t know what would have happened if he had found out everything, I am not sure if he would have killed her and I never wanted to risk it! Etan is sick, insane, nobody can trust him! He betrayed me, he killed me and I am his mate so I can’t let him know about Cleo! For Etan, Cleo is his daughter and this is never going to change, at least until it is necessary!

And Cleo… I never told her the truth, I can’t and there are other people that have to tell her about everything she needs to know! She has to go to them the sooner, they need her and she needs them, she will…

“ADIRA!” he screams and I jump up gasping.

I turn on my left from where we came from as the entrance is from that direction and the very next second he appears running to me with a panicked expression I have never seen him with!

“WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?” he screams wildly.

“Etan…” I whisper breathless and run my hands through my hair.

Thanks God!

“WHERE IS SHE?” he screams again getting closer.

“CLEO!” he roars outraged and a sob escapes my lips unconsciously.

He has gotten crazy, he is pale, he is stumbling as he is rushing to us and I take some steps to him crying for once more and William with Finn join my side before I even realize it. I think I am going to collapse because I can’t feel my legs but before I do Etan grabs me from my arms and we kneel down in union in a quite gentle way.

He is gasping, tears are falling from his eyes and all I can do is fall in his arms screaming. Maybe it is the first time I don’t hate him from the moment he ruined our life and this because now he is going to give blood for Cleo! He is going to help her, he can save her!

“Where is our daughter? What happened? I just came and… They told me, I…” he begins trembling in a wild, unstable tone and I pull back sobbing.

“Where have you been?” I ask in despair and he shakes his head in confusion unable of speaking.

Who the hell knows where he had been all these hours! He was surely trying to calm down because he doesn’t want Cleo see his real face, the one I have seen!

“We had been calling you! The doctors took her in the operating room…” William says realizing that we mustn’t lose time.

Etan freezes for some seconds, he is turning extremely pale, his body is shaking and for a while I can’t listen to his heartbeat! He…

“What?” he mutters dizzy and I bury my face in my wet from tears hands.

“Her condition is crucial, a nurse came and told us some time ago… She needs blood, you have to…” it’s Finn’s turn to say but Etan stands up before he ends his phrase.

“YES!” he states cutting him off and I sigh heavily.

“I will, you don’t have to tell me anything more and…”

“Go! Save her, please, I am begging you! I can’t do this anymore, save my baby!” I break out in desperation and start sobbing breathless.

“I will! Don’t worry!” he says immediately and kneels to pull me in his arms and kiss my forehead.

“I will die without her, I want my baby Etan!” I say doing my best not to scream and he nods in hurry.

It’s the first time he is caring with me and I could say worried… He never showed interest to my needs and now he does but this is probably because it has to do with Cleo and he has only me now…

“I am going now, yes?” he says trembling and I nod quickly.

“Come Etan! I will come with you to the doctors, let’s go!” William says tapping his shoulder and Etan gives me an emotional smile.

“Calm down, okay?” he whispers and I groan in agreement.

He helps me stand up although I feel too weak to stand on my own legs and he puts me to sit immediately with Finn’s help. I give him an approving sign without losing time and this is what he needs to turn around and follow William to a doctor’s room.

Finn sits next to me slowly with his eyes never leaving mine and then wraps one arm around me and gives me a worried, sympathetic smile. His jeans and blouse are dirty, they have mud and Cleo’s blood but we do not care anymore, it does not matter as long as her life is in danger.

I stiffen nervously and move closer to him with my tears not as many as before and take a short breath. It’s like the storm has calmed down somehow because Etan is finally here and I am exhausted physically, mentally and psychologically. I feel like I am a ghost…

“I don’t know how you are doing this all these years…” Finn whispers hurt and I smile emotionally holding back another sob.

You tell me!? Sometimes even I am impressed with myself and I can’t believe it!

“I had no other choice…” I reply in the same tone and he smiles melancholically.

“I know Adira, I admire you! Nobody would have managed to do what you did!”

“But I don’t feel strong enough to continue! What if I lose her Finn?” I say trembling and my skin shudders even in the idea.

I won’t bear it, not her! I can take her place but she has to live!

“She is going to be fine Adira, she is strong! We saved her all together and we won’t lose her now, she won’t leave us alone! Destiny owes her a happy ending!” he whispers and rubs my arm encouragingly making me sniffle touched.

He is a very good man and I was unfair to him!

I raise my left hand and caress his cheek gently, my wolf purrs surprising me with her sudden change of behavior and Finn take my hand in his with his free one and kisses it. His eyes are shining, he really believes in Cleo and maybe he is right but I am her mother, I can’t be so calm when it comes to my child!

I know I didn’t give birth to her, I know we don’t have the same blood but I raised her! From the very first second she was born I was there for her! I did so many stupidities I regret, the guilt is killing me for what I did but… I love her and it is a blessing she came in my life although my hands are covered with innocent people’s blood and the one is…

No!

I can’t do it, not now, Finn is getting worried because he feels my frustration and I can’t do this to him! He had a very hard time already.

“Thank you my boy! Thank you for running to her and bringing her back so quickly! If it wasn’t you…” I say overwhelmed and he raises his eyebrows making me freeze.

“No, it’s fine! You know I gave my word to him and I won’t take it back! I am here for you and Cleo, we will make it together!” he tells me and I nod weakly.

“Do you think they believed what you told them?” I ask him with wary after some seconds in silence and he shakes his head in frustration.

I have to think about this as well…

I mean, Finn lied about how he found her and what had happened… We can’t tell them the truth because Etan is going to understand and then he could become really unpredictable!

“I think we have no reason to worry about! It is raining so much, every scent or trail is gone and Cleo’s condition ‘helps’ to convince them she fought and killed the rogues on her own! Don’t forget the previous attack, it’s not difficult for them to believe it!” he replies thoughtfully and I sigh heavily.

I wish he is right because the last thing we need is Etan getting suspicious!

“When she gets better she has to leave… And we have to tell Kevin although…”

“They have already told him for sure!” he cuts me off when I speak up again and I sign in agreement.

“And she is going to leave, don’t worry! I will take her away on my own, if it’s needed! I won’t stop until I make sure she is safe and away from both of them! Okay?” he adds with determination that makes my heart melt and my wolf howls proud of him.

He means it, he can do anything for her and yes, I am not alone anymore!

“Okay Finn!”

~at the same time, outside hospital~

Thor’s pov

I run as fast as I can to the hospital and my heart tightens from fear and agony.

William called me some time ago and from that moment everything has turned upside down!

I still haven’t understood how I made it till here! I was driving like crazy, I didn’t care about the storm and I did my best to come back the sooner!

I have lost my mind, I think I am not alive although I am in pain and I feel like dying!

My wolf is screaming, roaring and cursing me for everything and it’s the first time I tell him nothing to defend myself! What can I say when everything is my own fault?

She is dying because of me, I did this to her! I killed her, I kept my promise even though I never meant it!

I made her bleed, bleed too much!

She called me through our link but I ignored her, I wanted to hurt her to make her understand what I mean to her, that our bond is real and strong and she can’t leave me but I abandoned her!

She was fighting and I was marking someone else I don’t even want! I felt nothing, I didn’t care because I was pleasing my ego but soon it turned out to be a nightmare!

I won’t make it without her, I will die with her, I can’t be in this world without her!

I love her, I know she won’t believe me from now on, no matter what I tell her she is never going to believe me and Finn was right that night… She is going to hate me forever and she will be right but it is not my fault!

It’s her… ‘Parents’’!

What an asshole I am? Why did I do this to her? What a mate am I?

I never wanted to hurt her but this is what I have been doing from the first second she sat her foot back here! Tonight I ended it, what I did is unacceptable, I am sure there is no way she forgives me and she is right!

I can’t forgive myself either but if she lives…

I am not leaving her again, I will do the right thing! I will tell everyone about us, I will tell her the truth and I don’t care about the outcome because she is going to be with me, I won’t let her leave me!

I don’t care about anyone and anything else from now on! She is my mate and the end!

To the hell they all go and even further away, I don’t give a s**t but…

How am I going to face her again?

She has already told me I disgust her and now she is going to feel even worse! She is going to kill me, she is never going to accept me, she won’t believe a single word from me!

I….

I break into the hospital and look around me in hurry. I try to take a breath, even a short one and once I make it I smell Finn, Adira and blood…

Cleo’s, it is hers!

“RUN!” Tucker roars more furious than ever and I start running following the scents to end up in the main corridor.

I spot them sitting outside our operating rooms and Finn snaps his head to me immediately.

My eyes travel all over his body, his clothes are dirty and this is probably why I can smell Cleo’s blood. It was his shift tonight and he found her…

Oh my God!

“Where is Cleo!” I scream in agony and Finn stands up with Adira burying her face in her hands, not that I care about this b***h!

I am going to have my time with her later, now I am making her a favor and ignore her although it is difficult for me.

“Inside! Etan came a while ago, he is going to give blood for her!” he replies in hurry with a cold look pointing the first operating room.

“What happened? HOW?” I ask once I reach him and grab his blouse’s collar with mania.

He doesn’t look scared, he is self collected, he looks like the well known Finn… He had time to think of everything, he is strong when he has no other choice and I personally think he is just trying to be patient because of the occasion. It is clear he is mad at me, his eyes are almost black suddenly but he knows it’s not the time or the place to have a fight.

He is surely aware of what happened and what I did…

He was right and I was a selfish i***t!

“She was at Stella’s house, rogues appeared again, she informed Gabriel! I was the first that arrived but it was already too late…” he says under his breath and his hands turn into fists.

He is getting angry now, with me!

“What do you mean?” I ask gasping harshly not sure if I can take more of what he has to tell me.

“She fought against ten rogues! She killed them all but as it seems something weakened her in the end … I am sure you know what I mean…” he growls and the very next second Finn is being pushed away and Adira is slapping me.

She uses so much power that for some seconds I freeze and then stumble backwards. Everything is spinning because of her power, my head hurts like hell and before I react I am pinned on the wall and she is holding me tightly from my neck.

I open my closed till now eyes confused and my gaze meet hers. Her eyes are black, they are shining, her skin is red and wet, her breath is hot burning my skin and she is trembling. I feel her wolf’s presence and I can’t move from surprise.

What the…

“MY DAUGHTER IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE BECAUSE OF YOU! EVERYTHING IS YOUR f*****g FAULT AND NOW YOU DARE TO COME HERE AND PRETEND YOU ARE WORRIED?! THIS IS HOW SHAMELESS YOU ARE!?” she says through her teeth in a harsh way and I stiffen confused.

“What do…”

“SHUT UP! I KNOW EVERYTHING! WHAT DID YOU THINK? I AM NOT AN i***t!” she cuts me off more outraged than before and I open my eyes widely.

She knows? Like… About us being mates?

And she said nothing?! She has been pretending and I had no idea, I understood nothing, I was sure she was unaware and…

Why did she do this?

She should have told everyone… Or she could threaten me, blackmail me, she had to do something! This is not normal, I know Adira, she is not the woman I know… Well, she was never the woman I thought of her anyway but she was always explosive with anything that had to do with Cleo.

Something here is way too wrong…

“It is your fault my daughter is in this condition! Did you mark your w***e? Are you pleased now?” she continues in such a low and threatening tone that my skin shivers and I put amends to believe my ears.

My first shock is fainting gradually! Her words just woke me up, I can’t accept all this madness because it suites her!

I would have done nothing if she and that bastard hadn’t done what they did and do you know what?

I won’t stay silent, I had more than enough! They have been ruining my life all these years and now there is a possibility of losing my mate because of their actions!

I grab her from her arms catching her off guard and pin her on the wall with Finn and her speechless from my sudden reaction. I feel my rage appearing again and my wolf screams pushing me to put her in her place for once and for all.

I am the Alpha here and Cleo is my mate, Adira can do and say nothing, I don’t accept it! She can’t threaten or challenge me!

“No…” I begin and lean too close to her with my eyes burning hers.

“Everything is yours and that asshole’s fault!” I say and tighten my hold around her unconsciously.

“Thor, enough for now!” Finn interferes and pulls me back.

I willingly let him take me some steps backwards and sigh in frustration. I decide not to lose my self control now because Cleo comes first but Adira doesn’t seem so willing to let it pass like this. She takes one step to me again and growls challenging me, I open my mouth to speak but she prevents me.

“Why? What do you mean?” she asks boldly and I growl loudly losing my temper for good.

I HAD ENOUGH!

NO MORE PATIENCE THOR! THEY DO NOT DESERVE IT!

“Because I know Cleo is not your daughter! I know everything!” I state ready to attack her and she crashes on the wall with her back with Finn cursing from next to me.

Of course the b***h didn’t expect me to know but she still knows nothing…

I know more, I know how they got Cleo and this is why I couldn’t accept her and I felt ashamed! I chose someone else because of them! I had to… It broke my heart! All these years I am dying, the pain is unbelievable and from the moment she came back I am getting crazy!

I had been fighting with myself but I took my decision!

Cleo was, is and will be mine, I am not leaving her, she is not leaving me!

“What did you say?” Adira asks turning pale ready to pass out and I smirk making great amends not to kill her right here and now.

She… She is so damn shameless! They can’t talk about me after what they have done!

“I know everything and if you want us so much to be honest, I have no problem at all! I did nothing compared to you! So, let me tell you whose fault it is!” I say trembling and approach her again.

“Thor, not now! Forget about it and…” Finn tries to say and blocks my way.

“SHUT UP BEFORE I KILL YOU!” I growl while pushing him away and stop some inches from Adira that is staring at me like a terrified statue.

I am glad she is so scared, she should be because from this moment I am going to be hers and his biggest nightmare! I will make their life a living hell just like they did to mine and Cleo’s!

I will bring them down and make them suffer!

“Would you like me to tell you why it is your fault that I was so ashamed of Cleo and I didn’t want her?” I ask leaning too close to her and stop when my forehead almost touches hers.

I start shaking uncontrollably as memories of how I found out and what I have been passing through all these years comes in my mind again and all I see is red!

I wish I could kill her but no… I won’t!

I want her alive because she needs to pay every single day for the rest of her life and now I am more ready than ever to tell her.

I can admit it out loud, I am strong enough!

“I didn’t want her because I know that…” I begin and pause only to take one last breath.

“Cleo is the child you acquired because Etan left someone pregnant after he had raped her and you helped him…”

******************

Hello my dear friends!

This is the 14th chapter and I gave you lots of truths and hints to think about!

We need to be patient sometimes but I promise you the truth is going to be shocking, I think it already is, right? Thor said the truth!

I really need to know your thoughts and feelings so please let me know!

What do you think about this chapter? What about everything Adira said? What about her and Finn being on the same side from now? How do you feel about the 'lie', Finn and Adira know that Cleo didn't kill the wolves so what is really happening? What about Etan? And how do you feel about what Thor said and how he feels? What is going to happen next?

Also there is one more new book, its name is Thorns Of The Past so please go and check it out if you are interested!

Thank you very much for everything, your love, support, commends and impatience in order to read the next chapter! I want to thank you again specifically for the previous note and not only in this book but in all the others, you are amazing! I read all the comments and I try to answer them the sooner so I am sorry if I am delaying it sometimes, I am reading everything and I love it! I am trying my best so please continue showing me how much you want more and commend and tell me your opinion!

This is it for now, I will see you again in the next chapter or in my other books! Until then stay safe, smile and have fun!

I love you all very much,

                           Marie!