Chapter 13.
More Revelations.
Lilian.
"I… I didn't…" I managed to say, raising my hands up in surrender, but the blood was dripping down my hands.
The look on the warrior's faces was that of disbelief as they stared at me warily, unsure of what to do. I knew what crossed their minds at that particular moment.
They were debating whether to let me go or arrest me and feel the wrath of my mate a second time.
"I swear, I didn't do this…" I tried to explain, but my hands were beginning to shake. "The window…" I pointed at it. "It shattered. And, this came flying to his heart." I lifted the arrow to show them, hoping they would believe me.
Everyone glanced at each other, their faces pale as they were at loss for what to do.
"What's going on here?" A stern and deep voice spoke as the person entered the room.
The warriors breathed a sigh of relief as Beta Aidan made his way between them, to see what was going on.
"Lilian!" He gritted out loud as he saw me. "What have you done?" His voice was hard, like he was trying to control the anger that was simmering just below the surface.
"I swear. I didn't." I was already horrified at the thought of someone's life ending. I couldn't possibly have done this. "Ask them, I've explained it to them." I pointed at the warriors to help me explain.
"Why, Lilian? Why?" Beta Aidan's eyes were hard as he looked at me, clearly not in the mood to believe anything I had to say.
"I was just asking him about my birth parents when the arrow just broke through the window…"
As soon as those words left my mouth, I saw Beta Aidan's figure stagger as he took three steps backwards.
"Do you… Do you remember? Are you beginning to remember?" There was deep-seated fear in his eyes as his voice shook. "You know… How did you? Who told you?"
My lips turned down at the corners in a frown. Why was everyone reacting this way to the questions surrounding the death of my birth parents?
"You know what happened?" My eyes widened a little as I stood up to hear what he had to say.
I had an inkling that he wasn't going to tell me anything, but my curiosity and optimism got the better of me.
"Please, if you know what happened to them, please, tell me. The silence and fear about that topic of discussion is just killing me, and I want to know just a tiny detail. Who were they? What were their names? Why did my mate kill them?"
"Lilian." Beta Aidan looked towards the shattered window, searching for something I couldn't point out. "Those questions are only going to get people killed. You need to forget about it and move on with your life. Forget they ever existed. Forget…"
"No!" I suddenly burst out in anger. "I won't forget that! If you were in my shoes, would you follow your advice? Why am I being poisoned daily to suppress my wolf."
His eyes widened even more. "Stop!" He all but said it calmly. "Whoever is telling you all these just wants to use you, Lilian. Don't believe a word the person says. That person is dangerous!"
He eyed me as he gave the warriors signals, and they formed a barrier around him, only then did the fear in his eyes subside.
"But, why?" My voice was small, and I hated how easy it was for tears to spill out of my eyes. I hated how emotional I became at that very moment. "Why all these? Why isn't anyone saying anything?"
"It's for your own good, Lilian." He replied, avoiding my face altogether. "It's for your safety and the safety of everyone around you."
"Just one thing." I said with pleading eyes. "Tell me just one thing about them. It doesn't have to be something that would get you in trouble or anything."
"They were good people." He looked at me this time with soft eyes. "All I can tell you, Lilian, is that they were good people. For now, I think you need to go."
That wasn't enough for me! I was eager to know more! What would I do with that information? It only made me have more questions and seek more answers.
"You need to leave the pack, Lilian." He repeated himself again with a light tone. "This pack is no longer safe with your presence, even your mate can't help us. He would only help you. You must leave immediately! The borders are already weakened and anyone can slip in, disguising as a member of this pack. You have to go! I'm sure you don't want blood in your hands anymore." He signalled to my hands.
"But…"
"Go, Lilian! Get out of here!" His voice had become stronger, and there was anger in it.
"Go?" I stood up, facing him squarely for the first time in my life. If I did this a week ago, I would have been locked in the dungeons for weeks without food or water, and chained with silver. "After everything I've been through?"
"I apologize..."
"Apologize?" My voice rose an octave higher in anger. "How would the apology help me? Will it erase the horrors and torment I went through in your hands for the past years? Since I was a child?"
"How much do you actually remember, Lilian?" He paused, tilting his head to the side. "You've only been here for a year, Lilian. Your memories were taken from you last year because of the havoc you wreaked, even when your powers had been subdued from birth."
"My memories were taken from me?"
He eyed me cautiously, even the pack warriors looked at him in shock. "Everyone in the pack has been brainwashed to think that you've been a member of this pack since you were a child. They have been made to believe that you were born into this pack, but the truth is that you destroyed your pack just last year. That's the most I can tell you."
"Who…"
"Your parents took your memories away from you. They also made sure your powers were subdued to the fullest before you pose as something harmful to this pack, if not…" He trailed off.
My breaths were becoming unsteady at each revelation. I was struggling to see if I could grasp a little memory of my life from the past, but nothing came to mind. I felt frustrated.
"I need to know more…" The tears were falling off my eyes this time as I craved more answers. I needed to know. How was I even capable?
"Anyone who tells you anything will be dead, Lilian. I have a pack to rule, and I can't do it while I'm dead. You've already taken the Alpha, let it stop there. Just leave us alone. You've overstayed your welcome." His voice was firmer this time.
I bowed my head in surrender and began taking slow steps out of the door. There was no point. I gave up. No one was going to tell me anything.
I made my way past the warriors who paved the way for me…
"The east library…" I heard Beta Aidan whisper under his breath.
It was almost silent, but I still heard it. I spun around immediately to face him, but was met with another horror.
I guess he just gave me a clue to finding the truth about my old life because, just as Alpha Blackthorn
was killed, Beta Aidan was spurting blood from his mouth with an arrow lodged into his neck.