Alpha Prime: Her Retribution

Chapter Fifty Five

The car came to a stop in front of Jacob's cottage, it was night by the time we got back to Yellowstone, the majority of the trip had been a blur, the revelations almost too much to bear.

“Welcome back, Prime, Luna.” Tony said, bowing. I forced a smile, nodding at him.

“Tony” I whispered, acknowledging him before brushing past him, into the cottage, I could feel Jacob's eyes on me as I made my way up the stairs to my room. I wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed but even as I shed my clothes and crawled into bed, I knew sleep would forever evade me.

I laid there, staring at the ceiling, my mind a chaotic mess.

I had a son… a life that had been so cruelly taken away from me.

Closing my eyes, I reached within me, feeling around for my lycan. She had been quiet since we came back, retreating to the edges of my mind. I didn't blame her, if I could, I would have done the same.

Still… I felt something stirring within me, unfurling and spreading… a deep constant ache settled within me, as if it had always been there.

It was Meira's pain… my pain… all mixed together… raw and unending, pulsating with life. I curled into a ball, pulling the covers over me, the tears leaked out of my closed eyes, sobs escaping my lips and in that moment, I was as if I had never known happiness.

***********

“Ms Adelaide…”

I could hear Delilah knocking at my bedroom door.

“Prime said not to disturb you but I just wanted to check up on you, I hope you're okay.”

I didn't reply, too numbed by grief to do or say anything so I continued to cry, my mind lost to memories.

**********

“Adelaide…”

Hours must have passed by when the door opened quietly and Kamilla walked in, holding a tray.

“You have to eat…”

She said, setting the tray down on the table. I pulled the covers away from my face, a bitter chuckle escaping my lips.

“Is it crazy that I can remember how many times you've told me that?”

She gave me a sad smile, lifting a cup and sitting on the bed next to me.

“Drink”

I took it from her, looking down at the drink.

“Sherba…” I whispered as tears gathered in my eyes, once more. It had been one of my favourites. I looked at her, remembering when she had offered me the drink and I had rejected it.

“I'm sorry” my voice broke. “I was such a horrible person to you and …”

“None of that, Adelaide, you didn't know and you were right to be suspicious of me.” She said, cutting me off. “Now drink, it will make you feel a bit better.”

I nodded and took a sip, it was just as I remembered and the thought brought more tears to my eyes.

“I used to take this every day…” I whispered, laughing softly as I stared at the cup. “Alduin was obsessed with it, he used to ask for a cup in the morning and at night before bed.”

Kamilla smiled softly, squeezing my hand.

“He did, he was a mini you, always loving everything you did.”

“How am I supposed to function after all these?” I asked her. “T-there's this constant ache in my chest that won't go away. I owe a duty to my people as Alpha Prime but how can I when all I can think about is my son, my unborn daughter and the life that was stolen away from me?”

My voice broke towards the ending, my sobs filling the room. The pain was raw and unending, a part of me feared it would never end.

“You are stronger than you think Adelaide, and you aren't alone. You have me, Destiny, people that are loyal to you and most importantly, you have Jacob.”

My head snapped up at that, in my grief, I had forgotten about him.

“Is he okay? Where is he?” I asked.

“He is… he isn’t handling it well.” She replied, her tone full of worry, my heart sank into my stomach and my grip on the cup tightened.

“W-what's wrong?”

“He has thrown himself into his work and I fear he will break down if he refuses to express the grief he feels.”

I swallowed hard.

“I'll go talk to him.”

I got up from the bed, but Kamilla placed a hand on my arm.

“You need to rest, Adelaide.”

I shook my head.

“I can't rest, Kamilla, not when I know he's like this.” I whispered. She sighed and nodded, her gaze softening.

“Alright, but promise me you'll take care of yourself.” she uttered. I nodded, unable to say anything. I walked out of the room, making my way to his office, passing the conference room to the doors that led to his office.

Inhaling deeply, I steeled myself before knocking softly.

“Jacob?” I called softly, there was a long pause before he answered.

“Come in.”

I twisted the knob and walked in, he was seated at his desk, papers scattered around him. He looked up at me, eyes distant and haunted but they softened at the sight of me.

“Adelaide, are you okay? It’s late, you should be asleep.”

I forced a smile, sitting on the couch.

“I can’t sleep, there’s so much going on in my mind.” I whispered, he nodded, looking down at the papers.

“That makes two of us, then.” He muttered.

“I keep on thinking about everything, our lives, Alduin…”

“And our unborn child.” He added, glancing up at me, my thumb caressing my lower abdomen. We had not just lost one child but two.

“It’s strange how I have memories of a life with him and another without him.” He continued “I remember a lot about him, his favourite places to hide in the castle, his laughter…” He trailed off, his voice cracking, filled with so much emotion.

“How he used to tug at my dresses whenever he wanted attention.” I said, laughing softly, pain etched in my laughter. “And his absolute love of…”

“Sherba.” We whispered together, unable to hide my pain anymore, the tears rolled down my cheeks.

“There’s so much pain and anger coursing through me, Jacob, I want them to hurt as much as they hurt us, I want them all to suffer.” I whispered, feeling a foreign burning sensation rise within me. He stood and made his way over to me, taking a seat beside me. I turned to him, my breathing ragged. “I want them to feel every ounce of pain we’ve endured, every second of the agony they made us go through, I want them to know what it’s like to lose everything Jacob, everything.”

He reached up and cupped my face, his eyes boring into mine, the intensity matching mine.

“They will Adelaide, every single one of them, I swear it to you.”

***************

Days passed by, I stayed holed up in my room, not ready to face the world, my only contact were Kamilla and Jacob.

I was currently seated on one of the chairs, staring out the window, the sun, warm against my skin yet I had never felt so cold, my insides felt as though the Arctic resided within me.

I tightened my grip on the blanket I had wrapped around my body, not that it helped in any way. A tray sat at my left, the food uneaten.

“Hello Adelaide.”

I looked up, gasping softly at the sight of Nanna Ur. Seeing her brought a soothing relief to the heartache radiating within me.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing you like this.” I whispered, she smiled serenely.

“Well, it feels nice to have my body back.” she replied,

sitting on the couch next to mine.

“How are you?”

I sighed, pressing my lips together.

“Exhausted… t-there's this constant dull ache that won't go away, like a snake wrapped around my heart, tightening with every beat. I feel as though I have never known happiness before and the cold…” I whispered.

She reached over and grasped my hands in hers, I had no idea what happened but the pain receded, the tightness in my chest was gone and I could finally breathe, it felt like a breath of air after being underwater for so long.

I unconsciously tightened my grip on hers.

“Grief… especially that of a mother's and a lover’s… they are all consuming.” she replied, her eyes held pain, it was as though she was speaking from experience.

“If I had known this would be the outcome… I wouldn't have blessed your union that night, Adelaide, if I had known the pain and persecution you and Jacob would face, I wouldn't have…” her voice broke and she blinked back tears. “I never got to apologise to Adar and Meira so I am here apologising to you Adelaide. I am sorry… please forgive me.”

I shook my head.

“You didn't do anything wrong, you saw a pure union and you blessed it. I just… I just want to know why Eda did what she did… why?”

Destiny sighed, looking out the window.

“I have asked myself that question several times, you two are not the first to go against the mate decree so why? Why punish you two and not the others, why go to such lengths to destroy a union so pure?”

She shook her head, pulling her hands away from mine, I whimpered as the feelings rushed back, the deep aching, my throat clogged up as I was dragged back underwater. I stopped myself from grabbing her hand back for some relief.

A gasp escaped me as a familiar looking bound book materialised in her hands.

I frowned, staring at the book.

That book… why did it look so familiar…

I immediately got flashbacks of my father holding the same book, writing in the same book, he never went anywhere without that book, guarding it as if it was some treasure.

But what stuck to me was the fact that he had carried the book in both lifetimes. I felt the world tilt a bit.

“T-that’s my father’s journal.” I whispered, she nodded.

“Yes, I took it from the vault for safekeeping, I knew it would come handy and I didn't want to give Eda the opportunity to take it.” she explained, handing it to me. “I think this will provide you with some of the answers that I cannot.”

I swallowed hard, taking it from her, my fingers running over the hard leather cover.

“I would like your permission to make a copy for Jacob.” she said, I nodded.

“Go ahead.” I whispered, the book warmed in my hand and another appeared in her hands.

“I’ll go check on him, try and eat… you can't continue like this.” She said as she stood, her hand squeezed my shoulder.

I didn't say anything, my eyes on the book as I wondered what secrets it held and if I was ready to find out just how deep Eda's treachery went.

“Adelaide?”

I looked up at her.

“Yes.”

“Charles Silverstone was not a bad man, he was a father and he did the best he could, I know it might not seem like so but he did.”

With that she was gone and I was alone once more. I forced down a lump in my throat as I regarded the book, letting out a shaky breath, I mentally braced myself before turning the cover.

Here we go…