Ever had never expected her search for those who had abused her power to turn up such secrets. Of course she should have figured on such things. It seemed her clan as well as her own life was filled with them. Nothing her mother and Lord Von had done should have surprised her. Yet, the memories that were returning here and there was only more evidence of their depravity. She cared not for the past events she would come out stronger for those things. She would emerge a good leader for the Paxton Clan and try to undo the damage that was wrought, even if it killed her.
It wasn't those events or the hunt for those who had tortured the innocent that brought her to the woods. It was something else entirely. Something that seemed to her a truth that couldn't be. Alright, it was possible that she could have a child with Dal. She had sleep with the man on numerous occasions. But, could it be possible that someone could take the child from her and pretend it was someone else. Witches could do such things with magic but there was a part of her that refused to believe she was a victim of such a thing. Would Dal really do that to her? He was her brother's friend, granted this was a fact he knew nothing about. But, he knew or thought she was a ward of the Giese Clan. Not to mention, she had thought he had feelings for her. Was it all a game to gain a child? A powerful son to become his heir when he united the wolf packs?
She had no answers to this question. The only thing she knew was she had to find out the truth. If the boy was hers, he was her son and she would not abandon him. And if it was true may the goddess have mercy on those who took him.
She moved through the woods to the hidden sanctuary of the packs. Her bow and arrow were attached to her back and she stopped at the guards and with a wave of her hand watched them drop the ground. She wasn't playing around with questions or games today. She wasn't in the mood for games. Unless it involved stringing up the guilty by their toes and beating them like a pinata.
Entering the hall she glanced around it was clear that all eyes in the room had fallen to her. The daughter of the witch king and a clan head within her own right. Not to mention her mother's horrors had spread through the many races of their home world like wildfire. She half waited to see if any would make a move but it would appear they were waiting to see what she was going to do.
Moving through the room her black boots clicked as she made her way across the cement floor. She didn't pause at the growls or the glaring eyes at her movement. Witches and werewolves still hadn't gotten over the last wars between their kinds. It didn't matter it was all for show if any really wanted to challenge her she would rise to meet it. She stopped just short of a young woman who was sitting on a lounge chair, her eyes narrowing upon seeing Ever. She paused. Unsure, what Ever was doing there she simply stared.
“Is it true?” Ever pointed to the child who was playing with some toys at the woman's feet. “Is he mine?' There was a bite in Ever's tone that almost dared her to say otherwise. The paling of the other woman's face caused Ever to blink. She grabbed the child and took a knife and made a small cut allowing a drop to fall on his hand. The words to the spell were out of her mouth as she paused and her eyes darted back to the girl on the chair. “Son of a bitch.”
It was clear that others were gathering by now to see the show. Ever let the child go allowing him to return to his friends. Her mind was spinning. She had been betrayed but by whom and why. How many were involved. The woman stalked out of the chair and stood raising above Ever as she said. “Did you think we would let the heir of the future ruler of all wolves be raised by a witch?”
Ever's eyes darted towards the one speaking. “We?” She watched the woman her hands loosely at her side. Her eyes never wavering from the others faces weighing her words with each glance.
The woman smiled and nodded. “The alphas of course. Do you really think we would let you take the wolf out of him. Your people are inclined to that. He is my son now and you really can't change that. I took him into my womb and birthed him.”
“So, that was the game?” Ever knew what they had done. They had transferred the child. That meant a witch was involved and yes she knew which one. The question was did Dal know what his father had done. It was clear the alphas did. She could feel them pressing behind her as she glanced over her shoulder. A smirk formed on her lips as glanced up watching the woman shift before. The massive wolf like creature standing feet above Ever. She simply glanced up knowing the werewolf thought she had the upper hand. Ever allowed the woman to grab her and lift her up in the air snarling at her. Reaching out Ever touched her watching as the woman began to decay. She dropped Ever suddenly in shock. A howl screaming across the room.
The others were pressing behind Ever as she turned and the cackle of magic could be felt as the statues of the sanctum seemed to move. Ever glanced at theme as she moved them towards those around her. She could see the shock in their eyes as the statues moved silent, waiting, for her command. She would not fight them if they stayed out of this. She would have to decide. Killing all the alphas could start a war. She didn't want that.
The woman screamed the decay spreading across her body as pieces of flesh began to fall off. Ever watched her eyes silent when she heard a cry. A small cry as the little boy ran for the woman who he believed to be his mother. “Mommy!” He screamed as he tried to climb up her and stop whatever was happening. Ever froze at the sound of his voice. Suddenly she knew what her father had went through when she was a child. A child who like this boy was crying to save his mother. “Please no hurt momma.” His pleas came across as he looked up at her pleading. It had never been clear to her how much it had cost her father to spare her mother for her that day. Not till now and this woman hadn't hurt her child like her mother had her. She had actually taken care of him.
She shook her head and reached out touching the werewolf as the spell was reversed. Glancing around at he confused faces around her she sent the statues back to their places and swooped down to pick up the boy. His face was red with tears and she had no idea what to do. She wouldn't leave her son with another to raise. She was so mad she wanted to tear them all apart, but she couldn't. She screamed and lightning tore through the hole of the roof of the sanctum where they allowed the moonlight to come in. It hit the ground with a such force it knocked those around it off their feet. She closed her eyes and vanished with her son. She knew their would be a price to pay for this. Come hell or high water though she was willing to pay.