book #1 : war of beasts

#16 the snake revealed

" What do you mean someone close to me?" Abby was curious but growing tired of the run around. she wanted answers right now. "Who do you believe it is?"

" There was a girl. she was a beautiful girl. looked like a model. I overheard her talking to the Lycan you have been seeing around the forest. she had been talking and even at one time arguing with the Lycan when she was in town. I have seen this girl with you here at the castle." high elder Ryan looked around the room. he was looking remorseful. there was a light knock on the door and Abby looked at the elder.

" Please forgive me. let me see who is here." she went to the door and opened it. there was Carole. she wrapped her arms around her friend and ushered her in. " I'm so glad you are here! come in! I was just talking with the high elder." Carole followed her into the kitchen and saw the high elder sitting at the table. she smiled at him taking a seat. she noticed a look he gave her, but it was a fleeting moment then his face went stoic showing no emotion whatsoever. Abby wasn't sure if she had even seen it. She brushed it off as her mind making it something more than what it was. Abby could feel his change in demeanor. She wasn't sure what to think about it.

he suddenly rose to his feet and bowed at Abby. his face still stale and void of everything. Abby felt something off with the way he was now acting. " Your majesty, I must take my leave, but we can talk of the scrolls another time." he left as quickly as he could not looking back.

Carole looked at her. " What a strange man."

" Always and very cryptic." Abby couldn't help but feel there was something she was missing. Something in the way High Elder Ryan changed that left an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

" well, I just came to see that baby of mine! my nephew is the cutest!" Carole was all smiles as she spoke of Abraham. Abby smiled pushing the thoughts from her head even if for a brief moment.

" let me go get him for you auntie Carole. " Abby smiled and left towards the room. she came back holding him in her arms. she heard Carole on the phone and stopped listening as some of her words struck her as odd.

" the elder was here..... yes he just left...... no I don't think he told her anything..... they all gave her the wrong information....... I can't talk much she might come back with that half breed baby....... no you listen to me! she is a half breed. she needs to be taken care of!"

It was as if the very air was taken from Abby's lungs. She felt the room closing in on her. Betrayal was suffocating. the phone call ended and Abby didn't know what to do. she quietly went back towards her bedroom. she mind linked David telling him the conversation she just overheard. She was numb. Her mind trying to go over everything. She had no way of comprehending the words she heard Carole say. how could Carole be the snake? how could she do this? she trusted her with her life. she would have died for her. she would have done anything for her. was Tracey involved? she took a deep breath as she heard Carole call out her name. She needed to keep going like she didn't know. She had to pretend she didn't know Carole had just taken everything she trusted away from her.

" Abby where are you with my sweet little nephew?" Abby's stomach turned at the thought of her touching Abe. handing the baby to the nanny and mind linking her to hide him she made her way back to the kitchen. grabbing a bottle of wine and glasses she came back to the table smiling and hiding all the anger and pain in her heart.

" Abe is still sleeping but the nanny will bring him in as soon as he is finished with his nap. in the meantime we get some wine time!" she forced herself to push all her emotions down. she opened the wine bottle and poured her and Carole some. soon they were laughing and giggling and reminiscing on old times and Carole had finished 2 bottles of wine not realizing that Abby never really finished her first glass.

" Abby I think I'm drunk!"

" then tell me something Carole."

" what Abby?"

" Tell me why you are working with Lycans giving them information about wolves are you trying to start a war because Abe is a half breed?"

Carole went silent. shock in her eyes. she looked at Abby then at David as he walked into the room. her mouth opened to speak but nothing came out. the front door opened and two warriors came in standing there waiting. " Abby you don't understand. "

Abby shook her head. she was family how could she do this to her? " you were my family Carole. I heard you call him a half breed. did you know this would start a war between Lycans and wolves? what you have done is wrong! I can't even look at you!" Tears were threatening to fall down her cheeks as she spoke. Her heart felt as though it were breaking into a million pieces.

" Abby please?" Carole was begging for Abby to listen. " you don't understand. I didn't have a choice! you were never supposed to be queen. you were human there are some very angry people upset and they want you removed. then you had Abe and they wanted him gone too! I made a deal that I would give them information and we would try to make you want to give all of this up so someone else could take over and keep the blood line pure. I love you and Abe but your place isn't in the palace as a queen of werewolves when you were human!"

" no I guess I don't understand. you say the moon Goddess gives you a fated mate and it is sacred. yet you know the moon Goddess gave me David and that would make me queen. yet you would conspire against her, against me!" Carole stepped forward reaching her hands out to Abby. Abby stepped back flinching her muscles. " no! don't touch me. never again." she nodded at the warriors and the took her away placing silver cuffs on her wrists. Carole was screaming and pleading for Abby to listen to her. Begging for Abby to listen.

" Abby! no! please! I'm begging you don't do this! " Abby looked on in disgust at her once best friend. she buried her head into David's chest as tears rolled down her cheeks no longer holding them back. she was numb and her body was shaking. David picked her up and carried her to the bed placing her down gently. he covered her up stroking her cheek. she could feel his touch and the warmth it gave her. she closed her eyes allowing herself to drift away. Needing the comfort only he could now give her.

"dear child I know this was painful but you had to see the truth of her heart. remember there are bigger things you are meant for. you are meant to save them even if they don't realize it. you will be their only hope both Lycan and wolves. you are meant to rule over the beasts of these lands and they will come to bow before you and respect you because you are the only one who can save them. the only key to healing them and bringing them back is right in your heart. stay true my child."

Abby's eyes slowly started to open as the sun rose in the sky. she sat up looking over at David fast asleep beside her. the events of yesterday still fresh in her mind. tears threatening to fall again. she carefully climbed out of the bed so not to wake her husband and made her way to the bathroom to shower. she let the hot water cascade down her body as the tears flooded once again. she wrapped her arms around her waste and slumped to the marbled floor. how could this happen? how could someone she loved as family do this? the pain was shooting in her chest as she went over the betrayal. she wasn't sure if she had ever felt heartache like this before. she was crying so hard she didn't even notice David had come in. he scooped her up from the shower and carried her to the counter to towel her dry. " little fairy I'm so sorry. " he leaned down resting his forehead on hers. " baby I love you and I would give up this life if you wanted me to. I would do anything for you and Abe. you two are my life."

Abby leaned her head on his chest. " no, I may not have wanted this in my life. I had this plan for my future and this definitely wasn't it, but the reality is even with all this pain and sadness I would still never change anything. I just need you to help me be strong. I need you to be my strength right now because this hurt from Carole feels like a death. I'm just going to need you."

" my beautiful queen I will always be your strength." he leaned in pulling her closer to him letting her cry on his chest. he knew she needed to get it out and to mourn the loss of her family and friend. the one person she should have been able to trust the most in her life. they stayed there holding each other for a while until Abby had no more tears left to cry. " Come on get dressed. we are taking our baby and ourselves to a picnic. we need a family day. we need an us day." he helped her down to the floor and let her walk into the bedroom to get dressed. while he went to the kitchen and packed a lunch and some food for them to take. he wanted to give her something happy in all of the chaos that had become her life and his. he knew she never asked for any of this and he just wanted her to know how much he loved her and their son.