Lana's POV

With each step I took, I could feel the confidence slipping away from me.. The panic slowly gripping me. And no it wasn't because of fear of what might happen that night.. It seemed like no such fear gripped me as I was rather lead by anger, fury and the need for vengeance than dread.

But I was simply weak at the thought of saying it out loud.. Of confessing it all to my mother.. Of telling her it was all going down that night and that I ready to die if it meant saving those I loved.. Christian. He was what matter, he was the only thing that mattered.. The only one that kept me sane and focused rather on his love than the vengeance that was so determined to rule me..

All the truth was about to come to surface as I held his hand and seemingly held my breath.. Walking down the path towards the lake house and thinking of all the ways there really were to say the truth to my mother.. Regretting ever keeping it a secret from my father. He was gone now.. Gone before I could really say a word. Before I gathered the confidence I needed. And that regret was still pushing down on my chest.

"I need her to keep my brothers safe," I told Christian for the millionth time, stopping in the garden, unable to let go of his hand that held mine well gripped..

I was pulled closer just like that. "Should I go in there and tell her to lock you in as well?" I ran my fingers over that perfectly chiseled cheekbone of his, those features that were so sharp and eyes of nothing but danger..

"We spoke of this." I told him with distraction, already assured that I was in fact very much ready to tell my mother.. "Everything will be fine.. You already earned her trust. I think on some level, she knows.." It seemed like I finally exhaled the breath I was holding, somewhat calmed at the feel of his touch.

But it was that moment his phone buzzed, and even though he seemed very much determined to ignore it, not wanting to look away or even check who it was hat was calling him, he still mumbled some cuss and reached for his pocket.

"It's Dimitri," He seemed to be reading the text with focus and a frown. "He wants me to call him. Seems like those Vesnetsovs agreed on meeting with us." Good. That was good news. It meant they were willing to cooperate.

It was that faint smile that curled my lips. "Go on. I'll try making this quick as well." To that he mouthed a slight 'okay' and looked at me with such intensity, I felt like he could read me better than I could really read myself.. With one last caress over my hair, he walked off and I continued towards the porch..

Guards were all around.. I made sure there was always at least a few around the door, down the porch, and they surely did see the moment I had with Christian.. But none dared to pay attention. Everyone was already aware of the union that was about to be official between the vampires and us wolves..

I walked inside, pressing my back against the door until it clicked.. And I knew my mother heard, but to my surprise she didn't appear like she usually used to. I did understand how hard it was for her to get used to the new situation..

  To dad being gone and us having to stay away from our home.. That place we grew up in and beat all our enemies from.. It was no longer that.. No longer safe enough. No longer our home but the place that dozens died at.. Including our father.

  "Mom?" I called after her, but once again, there was not a trace of her even being in the house.. I glanced at one of our people that guarded the inside too. "Where's my mother? What's even going on?"

  "She's upstairs, in the study." He was quick go answer and nod his head in a way of greeting me..

  So I walked up the stairs.. The only thing that seemed to be going through my head was that time Christian and I visited my family lake house.. That time we made a deal, which was pretty clear and beneficial. I was to help him find the necklace from the lake house where my father used to keep all things worthy, and he was to provide me safety and hide me enough until I would decide to go back home..

  And to think that those times were simpler was truly madness.. Hell, back then, I felt like my whole world was crashing down.. And now I wished I wasn't that stupid enough to escape my father for so long.. Now I wished I simply talked it through with him. But I suppose everything really had a reason. If I never had left home, I never would've met Christian..

  I climbed the stairs, looking around the hallways.. I walked carefully for some reason.. My stomach turned in anxiety and panic. Something didn't seem right.. It was almost fear that gripped me. Or perhaps I was just paranoid. Perhaps I was just traumatized after what happened at the house.. After that horrible attack.

  I walked in towards the study.. I could see my mother's shadow.. I could sense it was her, yet I still felt like something was going on.. Like something had happened. So I was careful with my steps.. I walked slowly and peeked around the wide entrance..

   "Mom?" She didn't turn to face me and to that picture, my heart stopped for a second.. Then it felt as if it dropped at the pit of my stomach.. The breath that cut in my throat hurt my chest..

  She was standing in front of the table.. And on the table laid my father. Lifeless and pale, just like he was two days ago, right after the explosion.. His arm was scarred from the fire, burnt.

  But they had gotten him all ready for the burial, in a suit the way my mother had requested.. Thankfully, the explosion hadn't caught him enough, and so he was left in one piece, but the it had been so strong that.. Anyone that was near winded up dead.

  Even with immortality, wounds just as serious as that didn't heal, unlike the privileges high blooded vampires had. Like Adam.. Christian even.. There was no time for healing at such sudden moments for us . It all happened too fast..

  The pressure rose up from my throat and in my head.. I gulped down the lump that formed in my throat. My eyes were burning. Hell, what was she doing?

  I walked towards her. "What are you doing? The burial is within an hour." I rounded her so that I could see her face.. Still pale from no sleep and wet with tears. "Where is everyone?"

  Every each one of our people that gave their life that night was supposed to be buried that day.. Alongside my father. We spoke of it, we agreed to it.. They were supposed to be getting ready.. But her silence told me something else.

  "I called it off." She looked me in the eye and I saw the kind of blankness that sent chills down my spine. "There will be no burial."

  I wasn't really able to register her words properly.. I wasn't able to understand what she meant by that.. The sight of my father, dead on that table was morbid. For a second, I looked at her to see if she was really conscious, but she was, she spoke with certainty in her voice..

  "What?" I managed, somewhat finding my voice.. I glanced down at my father and gulped once more, but barely found a way to inhale. "You can't-"

  "Your father will not be buried until all of this is over. If he has to go, he will go in peace. Not at war." She cut me off, putting my father's antique hand watch that had been in our family for generations, over his chest.. She wished to bury him with it, and it was only proper to do so.. "All of our people that gave their lives for the sake of ours deserve better. The least we can do is sent them away properly."

And what was there to say? What was there to really say to that? She was certain, determined to do so. My mother was always superstitious. Her whole family had raised her to trust in the old Gods, in the other world, and even though she taught us of it, I was never really fond of it..

  But I did respect her beliefs, so I kept my silence and only nodded my head. After all, we had to wait for only that night until she would allow a burial.. It was all going to be over by the morning. Or so we hoped.

  "It's all happening tonight." I reminded, noticing how she still refused to meet my gaze.. Instead, she seemed very much focused on my father.

  I don't think she even left his side during the two days. And I was starting to worry for her.. It was concerning to see such devotion. Almost as if she refused to accept he was gone.. Like she was escaping it the truth.

  And no matter how much I wished to deny it as well, there was no escaping reality. I suppose I was lucky to have Christian keep me safe. Which reminded me of the conversation I knew I had to have with her, connected to that subject.. To Christian and I.

  "Your uncle told me, yes," She sniffed silently, and inhaled, rounding the table and walking towards the armchair on the side. "Good. The quicker it's over, the better."

  During the past day I spent in Christian's house alongside the others that were all there to make sure the plan was well organized, I told my mother I was doing exactly that, making sure everything was alright with our pack.. Perhaps avoiding to mention a few stuff such as me being involved in the whole plan..

  Well, I was about to tell her.. But I feared that perhaps it wasn't the right moment to do so.. Still, I had no choice. It was all going down that night. I needed her aware of every detail.

  "Marco and Jack shouldn't know of this." I finally managed to say so, getting closer and closer to the point, which she was first to bring up.

  "Of course. I don't want any of you involved."

  So I crossed my arms and cleared my throat. "No, mom, I'm going as well." And to my words, she looked up at me.. Clear shock and worry flashed behind her wide eyes..

  "What?"

  I glanced at my father.. It was anger the sight of him caused.. "It is me Adam wants.. It is my family they attacked. Only I can end it, and end it once and for all." Silence fell over for a second.. She stared without a blink.

  "Lana,-"

  "You have your ways, and I respect them. Respect mine." I agreed for the burial to be the next day, after everything was gone.. It was her turn to agree to my terms as well. "Do not tell Marco and Jack, you hear me?"

  I walked towards her, noticing how she blinked slightly, managing to keep the tears that the mention of my brothers caused to gather. It seemed like.. Like she had forgotten of those around her from how much she grieved for those we lost.

  "I will not." And I was glad to hear that..

  I knelt in front of her.. Took her hands in mine, and felt just how cold they were.. She was a mess. She refused to have anyone near her for those previous two days.. And it was that moment when I mentioned my brothers that she seemed like she somewhat snapped back to reality.

  "Keep them safe, please." I spoke slowly, noticing how she slightly nodded her head.. The cold glare behind her eyes made her seem like she was barely even hearing me, but it was still somewhat better than before. "Half of our men will guard you, I made sure of it."

She gulped.. Scanned my face. "That le Boursier.. Christian.." I watched how she frowned while her mention of Christian's name had me holding my breath for a second. "If he doesn't keep you safe, I will kill him myself."

  And that was the way my mother was and always had been.. Vulnerable one moment, grieving the next, angry and ready to kill for her family another.. Shock and worry were always a quick pass for her. But perhaps I had gotten it from her, that appetite for revenge.. From my father too.

  It was in our blood.. Running through or veins.. In all of our nature. Family meant everything. Of course she would threaten Christian's life now that she knew he was determined to keep me safe due to the deal he made with my father while he was alive.. However, there was not really a deal or threats, but Christian's true will to protect me. And she had to know that..

  So I told her the truth. "He's willing to give his life for me, as I am mine, for him." Somehow, my gaze couldn't meet hers, because I knew what reaction to expect, but it was all honesty I said..

And I knew she was scanning me, analyzing me, processing my words with that grand question whether or not she understood me well.. But she did. She knew she heard me right.. And when I felt her pull her hands away from mine, that sharp inhale, I looked back, and saw that shock behind her eyes..

  "No,-" My eyes closed for only a second as I rose to my feet, but then looked at her when I spoke..

  "I love him." I took a step back, feeling my heart tightening.. If only my father heard, he would've been furious not shocked.. Yet somehow I wished he didn't leave being lied to.. It was the least I could do, but he was gone before I could do it.. And with a heavy gulp, that familiar lump in my throat, I still repeated. "I'll do anything for him."

  She rose her hand. "Stop," Standing up from the armchair, she preformed the kind of turn that showed clear panic, but still she didn't say anything else, because she knew..

She knew there was something going on.. She always knew there was a reason why Christian saved my life.. So many times. And that reason wasn't the deal he had made with my father..

  "It's not up to me, mom." I managed, inhaling, struggling with that breath. Admitting my love for him wasn't the hard part.. It was the convincing I had to do that wasn't guaranteed.

  "It almost killed your father when he-" She had her hand over her chest, turning to look at me yet still looked around the room.. "When he found out his Amelia," I followed how she ran her hands through her hair, and finally looked at me.. "Lana, don't have your father turning in his grave."

He wasn't in a grave yet, but that was not the point. I knew what she meant.. She thought I was about to do something stupid. Little did she know, that 'stupidity' had passed a long time ago. I had been with Christian far longer than she thought.. And what I had with him wasn't stupid, it was rather compelling enough to keep me sane during all the things that went down. I couldn't imagine what I would've done, what would've happened if it wasn't for him.

  "On some level, he knew.. He knew it would happen.." I tried, once again, finding my voice through my dry throat.. "Times have changed, our worlds have united,"

  "You know nothing, Lana,"

She cut me off with a sharp tone, yet kept her peace because she found it disrespectful to yell in front of my father.. Even now that he was dead. And the simple thought brought the kind of pressure and pain in my chest that had me closing my eyes.. That had me regretting ever admitting it to her, yet I still stayed true to my words.

  "I know I love him. And I will stick to that." I walked towards her, "Trust me, please." The look behind her eyes surprised me.. She seemed to be at least somewhat trying to understand me.. I took her hands again. And she allowed me. "I will revenge my father. Let them help me do it, and keep my brothers safe." I knew I spoke sharply from the anger that the thought of vengeance built, but I was determined to do it. "Keep yourself safe."

She blinked so slightly, only enough for that tear to escape down her face. It hurt me seeing her cry. My mother never cried. But the feel of her grip around my hands too, tightening in a way of support let me know that she at least somewhat understood.. Or she tried to.

My chest fell in that heavy release of breath, yet I felt no relief. "We all need you more than ever. That's all I'm asking for. Keep things in control here, and don't worry about me. I have the whole of Moondale and Venedocia keeping my back." And I spoke the truth.. But it was all too harsh for me.. It was all too harsh for all of us. We lost the pillar that held our family together. And the least we could do is give some justice to it. "I'm ready for this."

And to my words, I saw how her expression softened.. How she no longer held back her tears, her seriousness.. How that coldness disappeared, and how she scanned me so quickly, I could barely follow.. Her face was pale, she had dark circles underneath her eyes and her nose and lips were red from crying.. But there was sudden understanding behind her expression..

And to my loss of senses, to my focus on my own words, so much that I lost awareness of reality, all I knew was the next second, I was pulled towards her, pulled into one tight hug that brought such a relief in my chest.. To know I had at least one of my own on my side, accepting it, not only Christian and I, but the plan for that night.. It meant everything to me.

It gave me that kind of weight-lift, erasing at least a part of the pressure I was feeling for the past few days.. It seemed like that was the moment I truly inhaled.. Or at least the moment the air managed to reach my lungs..

And yes, I had lost all tears to cry, but in that moment, one escaped me.. Her hug was one of meaning, one that could be the last, and I couldn't help but remember those times when I was just a little girl..

She had hugged me the same way when my father's requests overwhelmed me.. I just wished that was my only problem again.. I wished.. I wished he was simply there to hear it, to see it, and help me take care of it. I needed him like never before.

And I never thought I would have the kind of necessity for his yells, for his advises, for his protection.. But I needed all of that more than ever. I had no tears, yes, but no one had a clue just how much I missed him.

  "I won't be able to live if something ever happens to you.." She whispered and caressed my hair, held me close and pulled away just to look at me.. She was holding my face and searching my eyes like she was trying to take in my features.. Like it was the last time she would..

And I hated that she seemed like she was saying goodbye. But I understood her worry.. When she kissed my forehead, I knew I already had her prayers.. I knew I had her trust and that it was only her motherly worry and love that made it seem like she was trying to have that moment carve in her brain. She believed in me. She knew me, and knew it was that wish for revenge that would keep me safe, because it made me that determined and focused.. Just like she was when she wanted something..

  "It won't." I managed to nod my head and assure her. "It all ends tonight."

~

Christian's POV

    It was not alright.. The things she said.. The things she was determined to do.. I heard it all. I heard her conversation with her mother.. I suppose she forgot I could even from the outside.. And I didn't feel even a bit of regret because damn me, but I had to make sure she wouldn't do anything as stupid as sacrificing herself for the sake of others.. I knew she was willing to.

I knew what family meant for her. I knew what love meant for her. She was willing to fight everything and everyone if it meant saving those she loved.. Especially those that hurt her.

And she loved me. She had the kind of love I never thought existed. Blind and boundless. The kind I thought only I could truly feel. But it was her too that was so willing to do whatever it took to have that love survive. With boldness and certainty.. Fully determined to go till the end and not stop until that end was there.. Until the end of Adam was there, while the rest were safe.

It was this war that I warned of.. The true war was not between us and the wolves, as I had a senseless affection towards one.. Towards the very leader of them. No, the true war was caused individually, by those that tried destroying us, and it was in our nature to ruin them without thinking..

I had her in the car now, beside me.. I had her sitting there in silence, almost like she was still hesitating whether or not she did the right thing.. Whether or not telling her mother was the right step..

I kept my eyes on the road. "What is it, love? You seem awfully distracted."

"I-" I heard her sigh, glanced at her just to see her lean back on the seat and close her eyes for a second. "I'm just worried if everything will go as planned. I don't think my mother will find peace until it's all over."

I took her hand in mine.. It was small and gentle, so delicate that I often felt insane for ever trusting those hands could be stained of blood. When I told her this, she made sure to let me know just the things she was willing to do when it came to the safety of those she loved. I didn't doubt in that. I simply feared she loved too strongly..

"I heard the things your told her.." I knew she looked at me, so I glanced back at those eyes of emerald as well. "Lana, I won't have you willing to die for me." She released a heavy breath again.. Closed her eyes. I pulled the car over, on the side of the road, and heard her voice again.

"Christian, we spoke of this, please-"

"I agreed to the plan, I agreed on letting you in that damned house as a bate.." That simple thought disturbed me in the most fucked up ways.. "But I won't allow any harm to come your way, you hear me?" With my hand over her chin, I turned her head so those eye would meet mine again, and hell, that was my true distraction. "Be aware of this."

She searched my face in ways that had me wishing her in such moments, it was insanity to even think of it.. But with lips as full and as ripe as hers, parting before she spoke, eyes wide, fearless, filled with determination and fierce.. It blurred my thoughts in ways that had me focusing on that sudden burn of a yearning rather than the words said.. I could no longer remember the reason why or how I could resist her that previous night.

"You have to promise me you'll respect the plan too.. It is the only way this will work." Of course, it was the simple thought of that plan that had me snap back to realty effortlessly and cause the kind of panic I wish she couldn't see..

"I'll do what I have to do.." Because I feared for her life, it was as simple as that. And hell, there wasn't a feeling worst than that. "There are no plans in such situations. If I see any of those witches near you, I'll rip their hearts out of their bodies and I won't blink about it.." It was the only explanation I had.. The only truth there was. "And if I get the chance to kill Adam, I'll do it."

"We just can't have them predict it." She shook her head slightly with that thought. "They may had expected an attack right after they killed my father, but the situation has cooled down now.. They won't ever think I'd go there.." And it almost seemed like she was re-listening to herself, reassuring herself that it would all end just fine. "I'll do my best to make it seem like it just another one fo those hallucinations."

The mention of those damned mind games they dared playing with her had me wishing to drive right then, to that dark hole that was once a house, pull that bastard out and rip his heart out until it was tired of growing back in.. It was simply impossible to kill a true-blooded, and I needed all the held from witches I could get to do so.. I just had to make sure Lana was safe first, and I was determined to do so more than I was of respecting that plan..

I simply had to have her closer.. To lean closer and feel that intoxicating scent flood my senses.. To feel those lips brush against mine and resist ravishing them with mine. Good lords, she didn't have a clue just how much I loved her.. I would be damned if I let her run into the fire and not stop her.. Not save her..

But I still promised. "It will all end tonight one way or another. I promise you that." Because I too was putting an end to all those that harmed her in any way, and not even her could stop that..

***

Oh Chris, a world would be a better place if we all loved as strong as that. But still, everything's possible on these blank pages, and it is still up to us to write them.. And dream a little 😉

What do you guys think, will Christian really respect the plan like Lana asked, or will he do it his was and end it perhaps before it even starts?

A lotta action going on in the next chapter, so get ready my loves! So excited for this soon-ending (not the next chap btw).. I will miss my babies, but I'm so glad the grand finale is so close because I feel like it's going to be epic!

xoxo babes, ly ❤️