Embracing Our Fate (Book 2)

  Warriors are not the ones who always win, but the ones who always fight- unknown.   “Are you alright my love?” Alexander whispered in my ear. The air hostess walked past quietly, on her way to the front of the plane. I shrugged, “I don’t know what to do or think, I just want to be home.”   Alexander took my hand and squeezed it, “I’m so sorry, Freya.”   I married Alexander less than forty-eight hours ago, became Mrs Freya Myers less than forty-eight hours ago and already we were on a plane, heading home. I wiped a stray tear from my eye and leaned my head back against the seat, thinking back over the last couple of days.    After our reception party, Alexander and I were put into a car and sent off for our honeymoon. Alex had organised for his new Beta, Travis, to take on his responsibilities while we were gone. It took just under a day to arrive at our honeymoon destination. A little island off the coast of Hawaii was the one place I thought I’d never get to go, but yet there I was, and with the most gorgeous man to ever live; my husband.    We hadn’t even unpacked when Alexanders phone rang. When he answered, the voice on the other end sounded frantic. “What is it?” Alex demanded, frustrated. When the voice replied, Alex’s eyes darted to my face and then away, a look of panic overtaking his features. My heart picked up its pace, slamming against my ribcage. “What is it?” I’d asked as soon as he hung up. “It’s your parents, Freya. They’re gone.”       When I awoke, we were no longer on a plane. I must’ve fallen asleep thinking about my mother and father. “Where are we?” I whispered, looking at Alex, his face barely visible in the dark. “Go back to sleep, baby, we will be home soon,” he replied, reaching over to run his hand through my hair. “I don’t want to sleep,” I said, being defiant, “How long until we’re there?”   “We should be there within the hour.”   The driver said nothing as we sped through the darkness. Alexander was scrolling through his phone, replying to emails and messages. I wanted to ask what the plan was, but I was scared that hearing the details of my parents’ funeral would bring on another wave of uncontrollable crying.    When we pulled up in front of the pack house, it seemed like a lifetime ago that I had gotten married there, it seemed, hollow. Alex asked the driver to bring our suitcases inside and then got out. I couldn’t seem to make myself move. I didn’t want to go in and have people look at me like I was a lost puppy, something to feel sorry for. I didn’t want to face tomorrow, and have to say goodbye to the only family I had, other than Alexander; I couldn’t, could I?   Alex- noticing that I wasn’t behind him as he got to the front door- turned around and came back to the car. He opened my door and held out his hand, “Are you coming, baby?”   “I- I don’t think I can. What am I going to do?” I was starting to lose my self-control. “How am I going to live without either of my parents? How could my father take his own life, knowing he would leave me behind, all alone?” I blubbered, the tears streaming steadily from my eyes.    “I don’t know what to tell you Freya. I don’t know why your father did what he did but if there is one thing that I know for sure, it’s that you’re not alone, and you never will be because I’ll be here. Forever.”   He leant down and scooped me up into his arms, pulling my legs around his waist and holding my head to his chest. He walked through the house, past all the waiting pack members and took me straight to our bedroom. I don’t know how he managed to open or close the door while carrying me, but I was grateful that I hadn’t had to face anyone.    He placed me gently on the edge of the bed and went to the closet, walking out a few minutes later with a pair of pyjama shorts and a singlet. Without a word he began taking my shoes off, then my clothes. I sat there, dazed and crying, as he pulled my shirt off over my head, then pulled the singlet on. He tried to put the shorts on me but gave up after a few tries and threw them on the floor. He helped me lay down and pulled the covers over me.    I felt like my body was out of my control. I couldn’t stop crying and my mind kept replaying the last time I’d seen my father. When we danced together at my wedding only two days ago. He seemed happy, despite my mother being terminally ill and in a coma at the pack hospital. I know he said that when she died, he would too, but I never thought he meant that he would take his own life just so that he didn’t have to live without her.    It was romantic in some ways, but felt extremely unfair and selfish in others. I couldn’t get his face out of my mind. Alex climbed into his side of the bed and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to him. “I love you, Freya,” he whispered. I sniffed loudly, then buried my face into his chest and let sleep take me.    **********   In the morning, Alexander was gone, and his side of the bed was cold, proving that he had left a while ago. I rolled over and pulled the blankets over my head, I didn’t want to do anything, to go anywhere or see anyone. I just wanted to lie here and grieve, already the tears were starting to flow.    “Freya?” I heard Alex whisper as he came into the room, “Baby, are you awake?”   I groaned and pulled the pillow over my head, securing it around my ears. If only it would help shut the world out. I felt the mattress sink as he sat down next to me and rubbed circles on my back. He gently pulled the pillow and blanket from my grasp and put his hand under my chin to bring my face up to his. He kissed me gently and then looked into my eyes. “It’s time to get up, we’re going to be late.”   This was it. Time to say goodbye.