Chapter 2-Hard Goodbyes

Uncle Alex knocks on the Alphas door, and he announces for us to come in.

“Gamma Alex, Athena, what can I do for you?” He asks without looking up from what he’s doing.

“Alpha, Athena needs permission to leave the pack territory for an extended period,” Alex says.

Alpha Damon finally stops what he’s doing and looks up at us curiously. “And why would you need that, Athena?”

“I’d like to look further into the attack on our pack and the death of my father, Alpha.”

He sits back in his chair and folds his hands on his desk.

“Why would I allow you to do this, Athena? Your birthday is in a few months, and you’re supposed to take over the role of Gamma. And besides. This matter has been settled. The elder council investigated what happened. Why would I allow you to go out there and possibly cause trouble for our pack?”

“I promise not to cause any trouble for the pack, Alpha. But I need to do this for my sanity. The closer I get to my birthday and taking on the responsibilities as Gamma, the more restless and unfocused I become. I don’t think I can take over as Gamma until I feel I have done everything I can to find who was responsible.”

“And what do you think you can do that the elders couldn’t?”

“I don’t know, Alpha. But maybe packs would be willing to talk to me more than they would an Elder from the council.”

He looks at me for a few minutes then turns his attention to Uncle Alex. “Are you willing to stay on as Gamma, Alex?” He asks.

“Yes, Alpha. Only until Athena returns.”

He takes a few more moments to consider my request and then nods. “Very well, Athena. I will allow you to leave the pack temporarily. But if you cause any problems for my pack, you will answer directly to me,” he says.

“Of course, Alpha. I give you my word.”

“You’ll need this,” he says and hands me a small notebook. “These are the contact details of local packs. There’s a motel in the human city that we have a standing reservation for. You can stay there while you make your inquiries,” he says, and then goes back to what he was doing.

“Thank you, Alpha,” I say, and Alex and I leave his office.

When the door is closed, I hug Uncle Alex. “I can’t believe he’s letting me do this,” I say happily.

“Honestly? I’m shocked,” he says, hugging me back. “I was expecting him to say no.”

“Is that the only reason you agreed to this?” I ask, my eyebrow raised.

“Of course not. But you can still change your mind,” he says hopefully.

“Not happening,” I say with a smirk, and he groans.

“Fine, let’s go and break the news to Elena.”

Uncle Alex and I walk into Mom’s house and find her in the kitchen making a cup of coffee.

“There you are, Athena! I haven’t seen you all day,” she says as she walks around the kitchen island and hugs me.

“Hey Mom,” I say softly, hugging her tightly. She feels so frail in my arms. I hold back more tears as I think about how it’s been for Mom since Dad’s death. She’s never fully recovered; the breaking of the mate bond nearly killed her.

I start to doubt my decision again. My leaving might be the thing that breaks her completely.

‘No. I’ve made the right decision,’ I think to myself.

I see Uncle Alex walk over to the cupboard and pull out two more coffee cups, and I steel myself for what’s coming.

I pull away from Mom and kiss her on the cheek. “Mom, please sit down. I need to talk to you about something,” I tell her, and we sit on the stools at the counter.

Uncle Alex places a coffee in front of me, gives Mom her cup, and then sits on the other side of her.

I take a sip of the coffee, not sure how to start this conversation.

“Well, what is it, Athena?” Mom asks, wringing her fingers nervously.

“Athena’s made a decision about her position in the pack,” Uncle Alex tells her softly, placing his hand on Mom’s shoulder.

“What do you mean? She’s to be Gamma,” Mom says, confused.

“I’ve asked Uncle Alex to on stay as acting Gamma for a while...” I say, trailing off, looking at Alex.

Mom’s face pales. “Why? What’s wrong? Are you ill?” she asks, placing her hand on my forehead, and checking my temperature.

“No Mom. It’s nothing like that...” I say. I take her hand in mine and take a deep breath to calm my nerves. “I’m leaving so that I can find who attacked us...”

“LIKE HELL YOU ARE!” she yells, snatching her hand from mine.

“I am, Mom. I’ve made up my mind about this, and you’re not going to change it.”

“YOU ARE NOT BECOMING A ROGUE OVER YOUR FATHER’S DEATH, ATHENA! I WON’T ALLOW IT!”

“I’m not becoming a rogue, Mom. I’m not leaving or denouncing the pack. Alpha Damon has given me permission to do this. I need answers. I need to do this.”

She begins to cry and my heart breaks. “What do you think you’re going to find that the council couldn’t? You need to accept their findings like I have.”

“I can’t,” I say with a sob.

“You can’t do this to me, Athena,” she sobs. “I only have you left. What if something happens to you?”

“Hey, what am I?” Uncle Alex asks. “You still have me and this pack. Your daughter is one of the strongest lycans I’ve ever known, Elena. She can do this,” he says, trying to comfort her.

“No! I won’t allow this!” she says.

“This is my choice, Mom,” I tell her and stand from the stool, and begin to walk away.

“No, Athena!” She yells and grabs my arm. “I forbid you from leaving!” she says, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” I say, and she falls to her knees and grabs a hold of my legs.

I look at Uncle Alex, a pained look on my face and tears in my eyes.

“It’s okay, Athena. I’ve got her,” he says, and he kneels next to her and pulls her away from me.

“NO!” she screams and starts beating Alex’s chest with her fists.

I rush upstairs to my room and grab the rucksack and suitcase that I’d packed last night and go back downstairs. Mom is sobbing into Alex’s chest, and I walk to her and squeeze her shoulder.

“I love you, Mom,” I say with a sob, and then squeeze Alex’s shoulder. “Take care of her for me,” I say, and he nods his head. “Be careful, sweetheart. I love you.”

I nod, barely able to talk through the tears. “I love you too,” I say, and walk out the door.

I walk over to my truck, place my things in the back, and get in and start it up. I look up at the house I grew up in one last time. Flashes of my childhood enter my mind, and I smile sadly. I eventually put the truck into gear and start driving through the pack territory toward the gate. Just as I get to the gate, I see Ryna’s car speeding up the road, stopping abruptly behind me. He gets out and slams the door hard, and I can tell his pissed.

I put the truck into park and get out.

“I’VE JUST BEEN TO YOUR HOUSE. YOUR MOM IS AN ABSOLUTE MESS, AND GAMMA SAYS YOU’RE LEAVING. WERE YOU EVEN GOING TO SAY GOODBYE?” He yells.

I shake my head, not able to look at him.

“I’M YOUR BEST FRIEND, ATHENA!”

“I know, I’m sorry,” I say, crying again.

He walks toward me angrily and pulls me into a hug with a sigh. “I should come with you.”

“No. You have Gino. I would never ask you to leave your mate for this,” I say, hugging him hard.

“Gino would come too. He loves you as much as I do.”

I hug him harder. “I love you both more than anything in this world. Which is why you need to stay here. I need you to help Alex look after Mom. I need to keep you all safe.”

He pulls away and takes my face in his hands, placing his forehead to mine. We stay like this for a long moment, tears streaming down both of our faces.

“Be careful,” he says eventually. “And if you need me, just call and I’ll come.”

I nod. “I promise.”

He kisses my forehead and takes a step back. “Get out of here before I change my mind,” he says with a small smile.

I smile back at him and get back in the truck. The warrior in the guard office opens the large gate, and I drive through, looking in the rearview mirror as I slowly drive away, Ryna waving and blowing kisses as the gate slowly closes behind me.