The Flower of the Fae

Without A Goodbye

Three years later

*Ella's POV*

I'm folding the laundry in the living room, watching the clock. Ilias and Jupiter are running around the room, playing together. I hear the doorbell ring, so I hurry to answer it hoping it was my husband, whom had been gone for a long time. I open the door to find my next door neighbor, Mrs. Walters, standing there holding a plate of brownies.

"oh, good afternoon Mrs. Walters" I say

"good afternoon Dear" she says "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Not at all, Mrs. Walters" I say "what brings you over?"

"well, I baked some brownies for my daughter and my grandkids" she says "but their cars in the shop and they can't make it, so I thought your little ones might enjoy them."

"thank you, Mrs. Walters" I say "that was very thoughtful, would you like to come in"

"thank you dear "she says

she enters the house and I close the door, looking at the clock again. Where is he? he should be home by now. I head into the living room to find Mrs. Walters doting on my kids. Ilias is munching away on a brownie while Jupiter sits on her lap, asking all kinds of questions.

"Jem, don't bother Mrs. Walters" I say

"it's no bother at all, Dear" Mrs. Walters says "she's just adorable."

Jupiter is really something special, it's not just Fae, she attracts everything. Animals get protective of her, insects don't touch her without being invited, people take one look at her and they fall in love.. it's like she has a magnetic force that just pulls you in and you never question it, it's truly something special.

"Ella, Dear" Mrs. Walters says

"Yes?" I ask

"where is Mr. Morris?" she says "I haven't seen him today"

"He's at work, Mrs. Walters" I say

"this late?" she asks "that's unusual"

"he's got a lot to do."

I hate lying to her, but I couldn't tell her that I have no idea where my husband is. William has been distant since learning that Jupiter is gifted, but I fear the more she grows the more powerful she gets and the more William avoids her, It's as if he doesn't recognize his own daughter.. no, I could never tell him the truth.

"well, I'm sure he'll be home soon dear" she says "speaking of which, I must be going. have a wonderful night."

"thank you, Mrs. Walters" I say " have a wonderful night."

leaving the plate of brownies on the table, Mrs. Walters heads back home. I close the door behind her before heading back to work when suddenly I heard a loud crash, Ilias screams and my heart's about to jump out of my chest as I run towards the living room... the sight before me was shocking. A large black creature stands in my living room, cradling Jupiter as she yells at it. I'm about to vanquish it when the strangest thing happened

"Put. Me. Down!" Jupiter says "Now!"

without hesitation, the strange creature gently placed her on her feet and immediately kneeled before her, as if it knew who she was.. what she was.. fear overwhelmed me and with the flick of my wrist, it was gone and my arms were wrapped around my baby, my heart pounding furiously... that was close...too close

"mama," she asks "ok ?"

"I'm ok baby, how about you? are you hurt anywhere?"

she shakes her head and I smile, thank goodness. she's safe.

"mama?"

I look at her curious to what she wanted to say

"why do they do that?" she asks

"because your special, my darling" I say

.. more special than you will ever know, my little gemstone.

"mama" she says "will they.. hurt.. me?"

"No, sweetheart. I won't let anyone or anything lay a finger on you"

that's right, momma will protect you, dearest girl. no one will ever harm you.. and no one will ever take you from me..

"promise?"

"of course, dearest"

I sat her down beside Ilias and his arms are around her in a second, these two are practically inseparable, but that's to be expected, they're twins, after all.

the rest of the night went quickly and now Gage is reading his siblings to sleep; he's a great Big Brother. I'm sitting in the living room, watching the door for my husband when I felt a light tug on my arm. I look over to see Jupiter standing there, staring at me with big eyes.

"mama" she says

I could tell she was worried about me and it warmed my heart but it also made me sad.

"hey baby" I say "why aren't you listening to big brother's story?"

"he fell asleep." she says "momma ok?"

I only smiled, knowing she'd call my lie immediately. she reaches up for me so I pull her onto my lap, cradling her to me and we fell asleep like that.

I woke with a start to the door opening. I sat up to find my husband walking into the room, a whiskey bottle in hand. when he saw me, he smiled but his smile immediately fell when his eyes landed on Jupiter whom I hugged to me as she slept. He took a giant swig from his bottle and stumbled off which only angers me.

"Will!" I call after him

he ignores me as he stumbled Down the Hall. I follow, careful not to wake the slumbering angel cradled to my chest.

"William!" I say "damnit William, look at me!"

He turned, taking a swing at me. my heart accelerated and my reflexes kicked in allowing me to evade a punch that otherwise would have hit Jupiter. I glare at him for being so careless until I saw the look on his face.. a look of pure annoyance, of rage, and of disdain.. but they weren't centered at me, no... they were centered at Jupiter. I was horrified as I realized he'd aimed for her on purpose. His fist comes again and again as I kept her out of his reach, but his punches were getting faster and harder to dodge until I realized I couldn't dodge the next one.. overwhelmed with the desire to protect my baby, I reacted without thinking and sent my husband flying through the air, his back hitting a wall.

"oh my.. William-"

his body started shaking, his eyes darkened.. his wolf was furious.. and he wanted out. I ran to the nursery, relieved to find Ilias and Gage still sound asleep there. I put Jupiter in her crib before a large black wolf Burst in the room, growling. his eyes scanning the room until he found what he wanted.. Jupiter. I block his path, all of my kids shielded behind me.

"if you take one more step" I say "I won't hesitate. I will defend them whatever it takes."

hurt filled his eyes, and it broke my heart. as his mate, I didn't want to hurt him.. but as a mother, I had no choice. my kids come first.

"please Will, don't make me do this" I say "I love you"

as if hearing me for the first time in years, he left the room. once I had gotten Gage to his own bed I went to my room where I found William laying down in our bed. I walk over, about to pass it when a pair of strong arms pulled me into the bed and pinned me down underneath him.

"Will" I began

his lips slammed to mine, sparks running along wherever he touched.. the more intimate we got the hotter the sparks burned until they were like fireworks spreading through me as he entered deeper and deeper, my breathless moans filling the room.

when I woke up the next morning my body was sore and my husband was gone.. his clothes, bath stuff, everything.. gone. His wedding ring on the kitchen table, as if he vanished; no goodbye. not even a note.