Chapter 7
SIX YEARS BACK...
After days of searching in the woods, Nalda's things were the only trace found in the woods which only signifies one thing. She either got attacked or killed.
Damian had the hunch Hazel had something to do with it but he had no proof to back up his words then he searched Nalda's room one faithful night and he found a little piece of paper with just two paragraphs on it.
Nalda wrote it down before she ran out of the pack house that day. She kept it inside her pillow, hoping it got to Damian's hands instead of Hazel's.
(Hazel's cheating on you with August. They plan on overthrowing you soon!) These were Nalda's words on the paper.
Damian stared at the paper feeling so attached to it. This was Nalda's last words to him.
He sniffed on the pillow where she hid the letter.
The pillow still has Nalda's scent on it.
Damian felt like losing his mind as he just couldn't get Nalda off his mind.
He heads out of the room, calling in for Asher.
Asher arrived and they telepathed in the same room.
'Take Sophia to a safe place. I think Hazel has something to do with Nalda's disappearance' Damian informed.
'Sophia gained consciousness hours ago'
Damian glared at him and grabbed him by the collar.
"Why didn't you say so?" He grunted.
"Cos you said you didn't give a f*ck on what she had to say" Asher reminded and Damian shoved him off.
"Take me to her!" He said and they both headed out of the pack house.
Hazel hid a secret camera in Damian's room so when she saw this.
She knew her end was close. She placed a call across to August.
"What do you mean run away? When we're this close to claiming moon Shadow pack" August yelled over the phone.
"I think you have to take a raincheck on that plan of yours. Damian is suspicious of me! He's been keeping me at bay ever since Nalda disappeared. He doesn't trust me anymore! Right now, he's headed to Sophia. She might spill the whole truth. Damian's gonna kill me when that happens. You have to come get me" Hazel panicked.
"Hazel, I can't just drive down to the pack house. Before I get there, he's probably caught you already so just find a way to get out of there immediately. I'll be waiting for you at the border gate" August said hung up the call.
Hazel looked around her room as her fingers ran through her hair.
Damian and Asher got to his house.
Asher's house has been under tight surveillance ever since what happened to Sophia.
"Greetings alpha!" Asher's parents greeted and Damian waved at them.
He had no time to exchange pleasantries. All his focus was on getting information about Nalda from Sophia.
They walked into Sophia's room.
Sophia was getting fed by her nanny.
"Excuse us!" Asher said to the nanny and she left the room.
Sophia stared at Damian with cold eyes. She knew exactly why he was here.
"I heard you didn't care about what I had to say so what are you doing here?" Sophia asked rudely.
"Sophia, watch your language!" Asher cautioned and she rolled her eyes.
Damian smirked and took his seat.
"Should I take your attitude for something positive? Cos if something had happened to Nalda, you wouldn't be so calm having your breakfast. Where's Nalda?" Damian asked curiously.
Sophia looked at her brother and he signalled her to tell him.
She pushed away her tray of food on the bed.
"If you're here to ask about Nalda. I'm sorry but I don't wish to talk about it" She said holding back her tears.
Damian clenched his fist glaring at her.
" Do I look like I came all the way here just to come to exchange words with you? Where's Nalda? " Damian half yelled.
Sophia flinched.
"Nalda's gone! I couldn't save her. She was right before my eyes... And I couldn't save her" Sophia said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Damian looked at Asher confused.
"What's she saying?" He asked acting not to have heard Sophia clearly.
"Hazel pushed Nalda down the cliff... That witch of a Luna pushed my friend down the cliff!" Sophia screamed in tears.
Damian ran short of words as he tried to process this whole information.
He laughed ruffling his hair. He found it hard to believe Sophia's words.
"Are you in any way in cohorts with Hazel cos if that happens to be the case... I'll make you pay dearly for that" Damian threatened at the heat of the moment.
Asher stepped up.
"What are you saying, Damian? Sophia and Nalda have been friends since they were children. You're not possibly suspecting Sophia right?" Asher asked seriously.
Damian inhaled and exhaled deeply.
"Tell me about everything! What happened to Nalda and Hazel's involvement in it" Damian demanded sitting closer to Sophia.
Sophia sniffed wiping off the tears on her jaw with the back of her palm.
She began narrating how it all happened. Damian's eyes turned red out of anger before she could even finish up her explanation.
Damian heads back to the pack house in anger.
He knew Hazel escaped and he reported her escape to the news reporters.
"Hazel chose to be a rogue than getting killed by my own hands. Anywhere she's seen... Kill her!" Damian ordered and ended the call.
SIX YEARS LATER...
IRONWOOD PACK...
Nalda came out of the hospital with her kids.
She carried Aila on her back while she held Aaron's hand.
"Momma, what are we having for lunch?" Aaron asked.
"Scrambled eggs..." Nalda didn't finish her statement when Aaron finished it.
"And fish balls!" He stated tiredly.
Aila laughed cos she knew exactly why Aaron stated it like that.
"Momma yesterday's eggs tasted weird and it made Aaron puke" Aila spoke up.
Nalda laughed.
"I made it taste weird so he wouldn't finish up yours as well and that's why you have to learn to stop dragging lunch with your sister, Aaron!" Nalda cautioned.
"Alessia!" Someone called out to her and she turned to her side.
It was Jerome, Aaron's and Aila's godfather and also the alpha of the Ironwood pack.
Jerome's mum was the one who found Nalda on the cliff that day.
Nalda changed her name and identity when she got rescued.
"Uncle Jerome!!" The kids called out excitedly and ran to give him a hug.
Aila got down quickly from Nalda's back to go hug him.
"Why are you here? I don't think I mentioned to anyone at home that I was coming to the hospital" Nalda said feeling a bit awkward.
Jerome smiled carrying the kids in both his arms.
"Why are you acting awkward? Are you doing this cos of last night?" He asked.
"Shhh!" Nalda uttered placing her index finger on her lips.
She didn't want the kids to find out about her foolish act last night.
FLASHBACK...
Last night after putting her kids to bed.
Nalda treated herself to some alcohol. She sat on the window, watching the beautiful moonshine.
She slowly began to feel tipsy and she fell out of the window landing into a pile of trash.
Jerome just got back from work and he saw that. He laughed out loud.
FLASHBACK ENDS.
"Aila, my baby girl... Is your foot okay? I should have checked it myself but I had to attend to an important client at the hospital. Hope you're not angry at your uncle Jerome. How about I make it up to you both .. who wants ice cream?" Jerome asked jovially and they screamed as he carried them to his car.
Nalda smiled shaking her head.
'I suddenly miss Zander' Celia cut in through Nalda's thought.
"What the hell are you talking about? I thought we agreed never to mention either of their names ever again" Nalda stated seriously.
MOON SHADOW PACK...
Damian was seated at his study going through all the work from the office.
Asher walked into the office with a file in his hand.
"If you're here to convince me about working hand in hand with the Alpha of ironwood pack. I'm still going to refuse you blatantly. I hate his guts and I prefer to work alone, not after what August did to me! I refuse to work with any young alpha as myself" Damian declined seriously.
Asher looked at him tiredly.
"You know this is right. Your issue with August was like six years ago. You can't keep judging others based on what they did to you. I heard a lot of good things about the Ironwood pack. They've got good medical skills cos their alpha's a doctor. It wouldn't hurt to benefit from them right?" He tried convincing but Damian ignored him.
Damian dropped the document in his hand on the table when he realized Asher's gaze was going to dig a hole in his face.
"I don't mean to threaten you but you either do this or get yourself a new Luna. Those are the words of the elders. They've waited long enough for you to relieve your battered heart. Getting a deal with the ironwood pack would benefit us a lot" Asher said calmly.
Damian exhaled sharply.
"I don't feel like going there. I feel something is holding me back from doing that" He said in a low tone gazing at space.
"It's just your pride speaking to you. There's nothing wrong in trying something new for a change. You really don't know the alpha that much. Being aquatinted won't hurt" Asher shrugged.
IRONWOOD PACK...
They arrived at the pack house.
Nalda was called in by Jerome's mother.
"Go ahead. I'll join you in a bit" she said to the kids before heading up to Jerome's mum's room.
She walked in gently.
"Alessia, please come sit with me!" She said calmly.
Nalda nodded and joined her on the couch.
She held Nalda's hand.
"Alessia, I'm sorry to burden you with my words but I really have no one to share this with but you. I'm hoping you can speak to Jerome on my behalf"
Nalda looked at her worriedly.
"Please don't hold back. Speak to me. Is everything okay with Jerome?" Nalda asked with concern.
The lady chuckled softly.
"You're such a nice girl. Too bad you've got kids already" she said in a less offensive tone.
Nalda inhaled knowing exactly what the lady meant with her words.
"Alessia, please can you talk Jerome into getting married? He only listens to you. The last time we both talked about it. He told me he ha