Page 102 of My Only Luna

“One hundred and forty-three,” Aaron answers, his eyes shadowed. When he saw Liam’s body, he had fallen to his knees, despair, guilt and anger consuming him as he roared, the soundechoing around us.

“Zidane also killed ninety-three of his own pack before he left. About forty might not make it and another few hundred are on the mend,” Elijah adds.

“And those who sided with him – seventy are in the cells and about three hundred and eighty are dead, but we’re not a hundred percent sure on that number. Those are the ones that the Head Warrior here said are accounted for. Some were hard to piece together,” Aaron says, frowning.

I know what he means. Everyone was whispering about the body parts strewn across the fields in Alejandro’s wake.

“The Rossi boy, Alejandro went wild. One of our men said the way he killed those women was as if he was enjoying every minute of it, and in that mess there were nearly a hundred and thirty bodies,” Aaron says, making me shiver as I remember that unpleasant graphic image again. It’s one I won’t ever forget.

“If he hadn’t, we would have probably lost more…” Elijah says, frowning deeply. “Try not mentioning Alejandro to anyone. I don’t know what Rafael’s hiding, but we owe him that much.” Aaron and I nod. “If anyone talks, shut it down with a command. I’ll do the same. We owe the Rossis a lot for their help.”

“And if the need ever arises, we will help them, too.”

“How’s Monica?” I ask Aaron as he begins folding up the lists he had made. It is clear they have listed everyone who died to the best they could.

“Relieved that it’s over and you’re safe, and… devastated about Liam, as we all are. I still can’t believe it.”

“Yeah…” Elijah looks down, pain in his eyes.

“Alpha Scarlett…” someone calls. Being called Alpha is something I still find weird to hear, especially by people I don’treally know. My pack members.

I turn to see Michael, the Head Warrior. He is the highest in rank who sided with us and, in a way, is now the spokesperson for the rest of the pack, a lot of whom are cautious of me. I can’t blame them. To them, I’m his daughter.

Candice is in critical condition. The wolfsbane was so strong it affected her internal organs. However, she told us it was Cade whom she made the mistake of talking to. It was a dire error, and he was the one who told Zidane.

I considered putting the pack members who knew of the attack under Alpha command to ask if anyone else had betrayed us but decided to let it go. I can’t start being their Alpha by forcing something on them, just like Zidane, even though it is a risk not to.

We also don’t know how he knew about what car I was in, something that makes me feel uneasy.

“Michael.” I step away from Elijah. “Is everything ok?”

“We were wondering what you wanted to do. There are rumours you’re Alpha Elijah’s mate and he has a pack too,” Michael says, lowering his head to us – too low.

Elijah tenses; yeah we’ve both probably wondered about it. He mentioned combining the packs or coming up with something.

The bodies of our dead have been sent home, but we need to be there for their funerals.

“First off, Michael, look me in the eye when you talk. Stop bowing,” I say with a frown. A command but one without my Alpha aura. “And yes, he is my mate. As for the pack… I will be holding a meeting tomorrow at nine in the morning. Those who can make it, gather them. As for the rest, I will keep the mind-link open and make sure everyone can hear me.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” he replies, about to bow but stops, remembering my words, and walks off.

“Well, it’s best we turn in too,” Aaron suggests tiredly. I nod before Elijah and I head inside, too. The house still makes shivers run down my spine, and I remember all the horrible things Zidane has done here. I stop in my tracks, something coming to mind, and look at Elijah.

“Head to the room we stayed in last time. I just need to do something. I’ll see you there soon,” I say suddenly.

“I’ll come with-”

“No. I need to do this alone.” He doesn’t question it but frowns, accepting it. He watches me with concern, but I simply give him a tender kiss before I walk away. I can feel his eyes on me until I am out of sight.

I step outside again into the cold night air, my heart thudding as I look towards the garage that sits alone, away from the mansion. It looms eerily at me, bringing back haunting memories. Casting a swift glance around, I walk towards it, hoping my blocks are up, not wanting Elijah to feel the emotions that are threatening to drown me.

Deep breaths, I tell myself as I enter the garage, walking past the flashy cars to the room at the back. I know the code that was set back then. I had seen it countless times. Pressing the buttons, I wonder if it is still the same.

The door clicks and my heart skips a beat. It is.

I push it open, switching on the bleak, white light. My heart thuds when I see the state it is in.

Dust coats the room. The walls have claw marks dug deep into the metal sheets that cover the walls, and everything isbroken. The only thing whole is the bloodstained table that still stands in the centre. Memories of the torture I suffered down here swirl around me and I have to remind myself he is gone.

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