I would like to dedicate this chapter to Latty_TheWriter who has been so kind and an inspiration! 💜

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After leaving the club, moods varied. From angry and bitter, ready for a full out war, to sad and introspective. Thoughts of the best way to handle this situation. Because they all knew Annette could have changed Molly over to a Vampire Hybrid quite easily all by herself. But that was never her plan. She wanted to cause pain and suffering. And especially discord for Khan amongst the others. She was never going to forgive his refusal to become part of their Elite. And for him to choose what in her opinion were mangy creatures, not worth a second thought, infuriated her more than anything. She knew Jean Luc would be furious with her over what she had done, but revenge for petty wrongs she saw as major, or even imagined wrongs, were all that really mattered to her at the end of the day.

As the group walked solemnly down Conti street, everyone caught in his or her own agonising thoughts of all the pain and misery Annette and her minions had caused Jessie now, and most all of them at some point, had emotions were running high.

Nathan so badly wished there was a way to comfort his brother. But knowing Jessie as well as he did, he understood that his brother's need for privacy when he was hurting. And the pain was literally radiating off of Jessie like heat would off of asphalt on a wretched hot and humid day.

Everyone knew to just kind of give Jessie his space. He needed to process the whole situation. His heart ached, and he wished to spill copious amounts of blood and care not the outcome. Molly was dead, alive in body, but dead as a living werewolf. His mate! Meant to be by his side in the Barker pack. Sure, he could find another partner, but none like his true mate, nothing could begin to compare to that bond. It was like chopping away half of your home and pretending it was still there. Even though there was a gaping hole and so many important things were gone. And it felt as if everybody else was gawking in, while attempting to act as if they were not! Always a very level - headed, strong and dependable guy, Jessie was losing his shit now. For the first time ever he considered death. As painful as it was to lose Molly before, believing Hunters had killed her and unable to retrieve her body for a proper burial, he had kept it together as an Alpha should.

Yet to have to go through losing her all over again, under circumstances so much more foul and heartwrenching, was unbearable. Insanity inspiring. He knew that the foul Shoemehl's and their twisted Doctor Braxxton were behind this atrocity. And he so wanted their heads, literally and figuratively. He meant what he said to Annette. He would have his revenge, no matter the cost.

Rune watched the shorter yet very muscular Werewolf out of the corner of his eye. He could feel the rage and pain radiating off of Jessie. It reminded him of a very hot road as you were driving. The way you could see the wavy mist distorting the pavement in the distance. Jessie was practically letting off that strange visual. Although truth be told, since Rune had entered the odd old room where the Matron sat, he had felt very strange. Things just felt a bit off. Not only visually, his auditory senses seemed weird as well. He felt hyper-aware, colours were especially bright and his annoying itchy patches were slowly  spreading, causing a need to scratch until he bled! He attributed it to so much stress and change all at once. He worried about his parents, even though he felt badly betrayed, he still loved them! And he knew Wren was hereabouts. He just didn't know where and now seemed a rather selfish time to throw his shit out there. So he Just watched Jessie as well as possible without being obvious. He could sense some serious violent vibes emanating from the guy. He could actually taste it! What the fuck was going on with his body? He would simply have to suck it up like a man and hopefully it wasn't any serious condition.

Nathan was truly in a private hell. Jessie was his brother and yet he didn't know what if anything to do or say! It was obvious his brother was holding within himself a Blood Rage similar to those he'd witnessed in Vampires. Shifters had their own version, and Jessie's seemed to be bordering on a whole new level. Nathan knew because they had the familia bloodbond that those connected closely within a pack by blood relation would share. Yet he knew that next to Kahn, Jessie was the most introverted and least social of their "group" making it difficult for communication. And it was definately needed at this point, but to rush it could be catastrophic. So he just hurried his steps to get close to his brother and walked silently beside him.

Kahn felt especially bad about what occurred. He knew Annette did it for that reason. To make him pay through the pain of the ones he chose as companions. He rejected Annette and her world, thus invoking her wrath. While many could just move on, Annette couldn't. He had feared something like this happening to reap as much ugly discord amongst them as possible, now he could only wait and see if it worked. If Molly could be restored to her former self, Kahn would willingly sacrifice himself to that crazy bitch Annette, to take away that look of pure despair deep in Jessie's blue eyes.

"We need to do something else right now, you guys," Scarlett said. "We'll figure out just what to do to Annette and her minions when we have a chance to talk to Jean Luc and Dan. We still need to hear back from Ron as well. To many things going on in too many places!"

"You're right" said Nya. "One thing at a time. Let's go find Jean Luc and see what is going on with Scarlett's ma. Anyone have any idea where he might of took her?"

"I have a pretty good idea."

All eyes turned upon Kahn. The looks varied from surprised to suspicion.
"You know where my mama is? Is she...gone?" Scarlett's eyes filled with tears and her lower lip trembled.
"She is not gone," Kahn answered. "She is still recovering however. By tomorrow night she should be well enough for you to see her."
"How do you know this?" Scarlett frowned at him. The answer was right there in the forefront of her mind, continuing to dance just beyond her comprehension. Then all of the sudden, like an avalanche tumbling and sliding helter-skelter downward through her mind it suddenly dawned on her!

Jean Luc had not been able to let her Mother go to the grave! So he had taken her just quickly enough to give her his blood and vice versa before the soul had moved on. Red also Loved her enough to work with his nemesis to save her.

Scarlett wasn't quite sure how she felt about it yet. She did know that she couldn't imagine life without her mama. She only hoped she didn't end up like Molly!