"Everything happens for a specific reason and in crucial times all you have to do is find the strength to follow your heart..."
Cora's pov
"Ivan look, they are all here... We are late." I whisper embarrassed as we get at the royal state.
My aunt with the Kings and the Queen are already here and the audience is full opposite of us. In five minutes the first fight of today is going to begin and we were supposed to be here five minutes ago...
After we got up from the bed I decided to take a quick shower because Ivan's smell was all over me and I didn't want it to be so obvious that we had s*x. My aunt, the Kings, the Queen and our friends are going to understand of course but I want to be discreet. When I got out of the bathroom Ivan was already there waiting for me dressed in a black pair of trousers and a white shirt with the sleeves raised on his elbows. His face was so sweet and his eyes were shining from happiness. I asked him to help me chose something appropriate to wear and he decided to suggest me a narrow sleeveless grey dress which reaches my knees and a pair of black high heels. I left my hair down in big light curls and I just managed to do my makeup a bit by using face powder, black mascara and a dark rose lipstick.
I got dressed with difficulty, Ivan was there sighing with implied especially when he saw my black underwear from lace and its matched bra. We left from my room in hurry and until we reach here we were giggling and teasing each other. Fortunately, we met almost no one during our way here and now it is the hard part...
"Baby, relax! Your aunt already knew that something was going on between us..." he whispers near my ear wickedly.
He places his hand on my back and lets me walk first with him one step behind me. Once we reach near our sits my aunt turns her head and some seconds later she smirks in understanding. She narrows her eyes and nods discreetly like she tells us she knows why we are late. I blush and I am sure I have the silliest smile there is on my face just like Ivan next to me. The King turns to us too and raises his eyebrows enthusiastic. He taps my aunts' hand, she turns to him and they giggle with the King and the Queen of vampires joining them.
"You are just in time my dears." The vampires' Queen, Amanda says smiling.
"Good morning my Queen." Ivan says cheerfully and helps me sit in my position next to my aunt.
He sits on the right sit next to me and takes my hand in his. My aunt smiles to us and I realize that the audience opposite is a bit restless from the moment we got in with Ivan. I stiffen a bit awkwardly and give Ivan a confused look. He nods a bit nervous and kisses my hand softly.
"It looks like you had a good time lovebirds... Finally!" Rosana yells through the link.
She opened the link between Mischa, Natalie, my aunt, Ivan, her and me. I roll my eyes and Ivan chuckles.
"Is it so obvious from this distance?" I ask annoyed.
"Of course it is. Your faces and eyes are shining even from so many meters away." Natalie says smirking.
"s**t!" I yell and Rosa begins laughing.
"My little rose watch your mouth, I am still here..." my aunt teases and turns to me smiling ironically.
"Are you both happy now? Is everything okay? I can be happy for you, can't I?" she continues.
"Yes Alena, we are perfectly fine..." Ivan replies and squeezes my hand gently.
"It was about time..." my aunt answers smirking.
"I have to inform you that you are the whole audience's topic from the moment you got in... Our fighters are asking us if you are finally together... Not to mention the others who have gotten crazy and began gossiping about your relationship." Mischa says a bit annoyed with them.
"And imagine we tried to be discreet..." Ivan whispers and begins laughing in a low tone.
"Yeah... Sure, whatever you say Ivan..." Rosa replies teasingly.
"You know what is going to happen from now on, don't you?" I ask him anxious.
"Their eyes will be on both of you until we leave." My aunt answers my question.
"Yeah..." I say nervously.
"It's alright my child. If you are good together nothing else matters. Let them talk and stare." She tells us smiling.
We close the link and I turn and look Ivan who is smiling and seems calmer and happier than ever. His eyes are so bright and his face has changed. He is even more beautiful now that he is relaxed and his features have softened. He turns and looks at me with curiosity. I smile shyly and he smirks.
"What is it rose?" he whispers smiling.
"I like looking at you. You are even prettier now." I whisper with nozzle and he opens his eyes widely surprised.
"Am I? I thought I was always pretty..." he complains teasingly.
"You are more now that you are finally smiling!" I reply casually and turn my head at the opposite side to play a bit with him.
He chuckles and kisses my hand again, I giggle and my aunt rolls her eyes.
"It's starting!" the King announces and we hear the speaker testing the noise of the microphone.
We stop talking and wait patiently for the first fight to begin and the contestants to appear. My hand is still in Ivan's and I am happier than ever next to him. Cynthia is purring relieved and shakes her tail like a little puppy. I feel everyone's eyes on me and Ivan and I try not to lose my good mood.
I can feel Noah, my father and Owen staring at me and I hate it. I am afraid about their reaction and not because I am scared for me but for Ivan... He doesn't know and I don't want them to ruin everything. I never told him a thing about my past and I want him to learn about it from me and not from them and their behavior.
What am I going to do?
"My little rose are you alright?" my aunt asks me worried through our personal link.
"I am afraid of Owen, Noah and my father's reactions... Ivan knows nothing." I say troubled.
"Okay. Let me ask you something first and then I will tell you my opinion, alright?"
I nod and she sighs.
"Are you happy with Ivan? I can see your face, you are shining from happiness and so does he. Are you sure about you two and your relationship? Is he important to you?"
"Of course, auntie I want him, I have feelings for him from the first time I saw him. He told me he loves me a while ago, he asked me if we are together from now on. He was so sweet, caring and gentle. He is what I want, I don't want to lose him!" I reply smiling.
"Good baby. So... You have to tell him everything before anything happens. The sooner the better. It's better to learn it from you and not from anyone else. It is about time for him to know about your past."
"I have to but he will get mad... He will want to kill them."
"I wouldn't disagree with him, in fact I might join him!" she whispers teasingly and laughs.
"I will tell him immediately after the fights." I say and she nods in agreement.
The sooner the better!
~after some hours~
Ivan's pov
It is the end for today's fights and we are finally free to do whatever we want. I am planning to spend time with Cora as you can imagine. I am happier than ever and I want to be always by her side now that we are finally together. I don't know what took me so long to realize what she means for me and that she loves me back. I was a jerk but from now on everything is going to change and I am not planning to ruin our relationship for any damn reason. I just need her in my life and I want to make her happy.
I love her!!!
"Babe can we please go for a walk and talk for something?" she whispers when the Queens and Kings stand up ready to leave and we stand up after them.
The audience is already getting out of the arena and fortunately we have a separate door and corridor to leave.
"What is wrong rose?" I ask worried.
She looks a bit nervous and she is pale.
"I just have to tell you some things I hadn't told you all these years." She says awkwardly.
"Okay baby. Let's go. Don't be so nervous please. You are scaring me!" I whisper and pull her closer to me kissing her forehead.
"My Queens, my Kings with your permission." Cora says and we bow.
"Have a nice time my children. We will see you later tonight." the vampires' King, George says smiling.
"What is it tonight?" Cora asks confused.
"Oh, we forgot to tell you my dear. We are having a formal ball tonight. Everyone will be there..." Adrian, the werewolves' King explains.
"Um... Okay?" Cora says a bit surprised.
"Don't worry baby, I took care of everything..." Alena says smiling.
"Okay, can we leave Cora?" I ask impatiently.
She nods quickly and after we greet them we leave in hurry and I can't understand the reason. She is almost dragging me out of the palace and we pass the whole garden like a flash. She is wearing high heels and she is walking faster even than me. I can't say a thing, she is acting like someone is chasing us and I begin getting terrified about what she wants us to talk about...
"Cora baby where are we going?" I ask shortly.
"One more minute my love. We are almost here."
"But we have passed the garden and we are getting in the forest!" I say confused.
She doesn't reply, she just keeps on pulling me behind her. We get in the forest and stop some time later under a big platan. She takes off her high heels and sits on a big rock pointing me to sit. I sit nervously and stare at her waiting to tell me something. She begins shaking and I stiffen.
"Baby?" I whisper and wrap one arm around her.
"You need to know about my past..." she trembles and takes my free hand in hers lowering her gaze.
"Yeah?"
She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes caressing my hand nervously.
"I never told you anything. I didn't want you to insult me more, I was... I was afraid you wouldn't understand and I was in so much pain! I am sorry but I just couldn't..."
She lifts her head up and looks at me in the eyes ready to cry. I give her a small smile and kiss her cheek. She is right, it is logical, I was an asshole, no one could talk to me about her. It was my fault...
"You don't have to be sorry. It was my own fault, I wasn't behaving right to you, it is logical and I respect it. But I am here now..." I say gently and she nods.
"You know that my mother died while giving birth to me but you don't know anything else..."
She stiffens a bit to be more comfortable and after she takes a long breath she continues.
"My father hated me for her death. I had a brother, Owen. He was one year older than me. They were both abusing me for years... And our pack, my father was the Alpha."
Her voices cracks and some tears fall from her eyes. I feel Vital getting angry and I begin shaking.
These bastards!
I lift her up and place her on my lap gently. She smiles a bit and I wipe her tears. I nod and she sighs.
"They were hitting me, biting me, cutting me, scratching me, they were cursing me for her death. They never treated me with affection. The only people that showed me love when we were alone were our Betas and their daughter. Chloe, their daughter was my brother's mate and the next Luna. She managed to help me when it was too late..."
"Too late?" I ask confused.
My heart is already breaking, the pain for what they did to her is killing me. She was so hurt and I didn't know a thing... I was insulting her and I never thought that I might was too hard on her and I was...
"I will tell you when the time comes... So, as I was saying when I became ten years old I became the pack's slave and I was doing everything on my own. One mistake and I was punished, I didn't have clothes, food, water, warmth, bed. I was sleeping at the basement alone in a cold room and I never got outside the pack house, I never went to school, I never had fun. I was just a slave. Only the three people I told you were trying to make me feel better without the others notice it because I would be punished again."
She pauses and tries to calm down. I wrap my arms around her and she sighs wiping some more tears from her cheeks.
What else can have happened? Isn't it enough? I am holding myself already with difficulty, I can't take anymore.
"There are worse... Cynthia told me Ivan. Be strong and patient, please..." Vital whispers with pain in his voice.
"When I was sixteen another Alpha came to talk with my father about some pack things and he realized I was his mate... He... Took me with him..."
She stops and starts sobbing. I stiffen and tighten my hold around her trying not to get mad for now. She...
Where is her mate? Why is she away from him? What if I lose her?
I try to push these thoughts away and be calm for her. She slowly stops sobbing and continues.
"He marked me immediately when we arrived to his pack. He was abusing me too, he made me a slave to his pack and ordered no one to help me or else he would break his anger on me. His pack although loved me from the first moment. His father, younger brother, his Beta and Gamma were trying to help me but in vain. He was cheating on me every night, he had a mistress and lots of other women. The first time I came in heat he locked me in a room alone to stay away from the other males and from those days he was r****g me every night every time I was in heat."
"Cora what are you telling me? Who is he? I will kill him, tell me his name!" I scream shaking from anger.
"Sh... Let me tell you the whole story, please..."
"More? What else can be worse baby?" I ask terrified.
She raises her eyes and shakes her head in desperation. I sigh nervously, it is going to be worse than I was thinking until now...
"I got pregnant after some months... When he realized it he took me to the doctor, he stopped cheating on me in order not to be in pain and put the pup's life in danger, he gave me the room next to his and took care of me. He was buying me anything without asking me, he was showing interest to know how I was feeling and if I was alright. I gave birth earlier because he cheated on me one night and I almost died with my baby..."
"Baby? You have a baby Cora?!" I whisper breathless.
"Ivan..." she exclaims and begins sobbing again.
I kiss her forehead shaking and she lets out a loud cry. I feel ready to pass out, if I was standing up I would have fallen on my knees by now.
What did he do to her?
I had no idea, never, I could have never imagined all these things. She takes some breaths after some time of crying and pulls a bit back to continue.
"I gave birth to a son. Miles. He was fine after some days and we took him back to the pack house. He locked me in the room next to him and I was taking care of my baby for about two months. He was already cheating on me again, every night I was getting up from the pain, I could hear them and Miles was waking up and I was trying to keep him calm enough to sleep after. He was coming to check on him some times every day and he was slapping or hitting me sometimes if anything was wrong but not too bad because of Miles until..."
She stops and screams. I gasp for air. I don't want to interrupt her, I can't wait, I am dying, I need to know. I...
"One day some Alphas and Lunas came for dinner and ordered me to be with him and act like a loving couple... He got mad when someone made me compliment and after they all left he r***d me, abused me and I passed out... I woke up the next day in my room alone without my baby and with my long hair cut. I was full of bruises, wounds, cuts, scratches, my thighs were bleeding. He left me there alone without clothes, warm water, blankets, food and water. He was coming only to hit me and he was leaving again. I got sick after some days, I raised fever. The doctor said I was not only cold but my wounds were infected. He just allowed her to make me some injections and locked me alone again..."
She buries her face in her hands and fights not to cry or scream. I am fighting with myself. Vital is howling in pain, he asks me not to stop her now, she won't bear it... I don't know what to do...
"Some days later he went to my brother's title ceremony with his mistress and that night the pack got attacked. I was almost dead. One man with two other guys behind him broke into my room and took me with him. I passed out in his arms and the next thing I remember is waking up at another pack. The pack's Alpha said he loved me and my father was supposed to give me to him but my mate came earlier and when he went to my pack he didn't find me. He attacked my mate's pack to take me with him, he knew what I was living. He was good and kind with him. He told me he tried to find Miles but he was nowhere to be found... He was so caring with me and I felt loved but one month later my mate, father and brother attacked his pack, killed him and took me back."
She stops again and freezes. I rub her arms with my shaking hands and she tries to stop shaking and takes a breath.
"I woke up to his pack, in my old room. I rushed to find Miles and... My ex mate was there with everyone... He told me that the man that had kidnapped me killed my baby and had psychosis with my mother and that's why he took me... And he threatened to kill me. He rejected me and no one stopped him."
She stops, she screams and sobs in my arms. I am losing my mind, I can't believe it is true, it can't be...
No, no so much pain!
That was a living hell, she can't have lived through all of these, no!
"Chloe came in time to take me with her back to my old pack and assured me that no one would harm me again. She was a Luna then and her word was an order for everyone. I went back but I run to old room at the basement immediately and after some hours when it was almost midnight I left and..."
She screams and tries to find her breath, I am gasping for air. My heart is not beating, my head is killing me, my body is cold and I am sweating.
This is not happening...
"I tried to die Ivan... I wanted to be with my baby..."
"Cora..." I whisper breathless.
She turns and looks at me. Her eyes are red, she has so many tears on her face, she is fighting to catch her breath and she is cold. She raises her shaking hand and caresses my cheek. I let the tears fall from my eyes and she smiles a bit in sympathy.
I should be doing this but right now she is stronger and I am nothing. I don't know if I am alive or not.
"I harmed myself and reached at the top of a rock next to a waterfall. I was ready to jump when my ex mate, my father, brother and Chloe with some pack members appeared. He asked me to go with him and that he was sorry. He said he wanted me and he couldn't live without me after we lost Miles. I... I jumped, I just wanted to die but... He saved me to kill me some days later..."
She pauses and smiles in pain ironically. I get ready, I know I won't like it, I have a feeling...
"I woke up some days later at my father's pack because he was cheating me again... My father and brother with Chloe helped me and then they left to deal with him. That's when I managed to run away with the pack doctor's help and I went to New York. There I found Mischa and he took me with him under his protection. He had a good feeling about me..."
She caps my face in her hands and kisses me softly. I stay frozen staring at her speechless. I feel anger, pain... I don't know what to do anymore.
"Baby... Why... Now?" I tremble desperate.
She moves her hands and wraps them around my neck gently. She sighs and stiffens.
"They are here and..."
"What? Who are these bastards? Tell me!" I roar and get ready to stand up with her in my arms but she stops me.
"Ivan calm down!" she says worried.
"I can't, they are here and I have to deal with them Cora. I will kill them." I shout.
"Baby if you love me don't make a thing. They don't worth it. I just need to stay away from them. I had to tell you... They may try to talk to me and I want you to be ready and self-collected."
I caress her arms trying to calm but how can I?
They killed her, they...
Shit!
"Rose do you know what you are asking from me?" I ask her hurt.
"I know it is difficult for you but I need YOU! If you want me happy and calm stand by my side and let me face them on my way. Killing them won't help me, please!" she begs me ready to cry again.
I sigh frustrated and look at her thoughtfully. I want to kill them so much or at least hurt them but I want her happy. She has suffered enough, I can't cause her more pain. If she needs me then I have to do as she says for now. Looking at her being in so much pain is killing me more than anything else. I just nod nervously and she hugs me tightly burying her face in my neck. I hold her in my arms and take her scent to calm down. Vital is purring and I sighed relieved.
"Thank you! I love you so much!" she whispers and kisses my neck.
"I love you too rose. I am here now, no one will harm you again, I promise."
"Yesterday after the fight I went to Miles' grave. I needed to see my baby, ask him to forgive me, I missed him so much Ivan. I want my baby!" she says with a cracking voice.
I caress her back and kiss her hair. It hurts me, her pain is killing me.
"I can understand baby. I am sure he is proud of you and he loves you very much!"
"I also have a niece... Cora." She says and gives me a weak smile.
"They gave her your name!?" I exclaim surprised and she nods with a bigger smile.
"Chloe told me that she was already pregnant when I run away and they all wanted to give her my name, they thought I was dead. When I shifted my ex mate felt the pain and as he didn't know that my mom and I were lycanthropes they supposed that the pain was because I died. I have no scar from that night, there is no bond and his mark is completely gone. Cynthia is so strong that she erased everything related to him and the bond broke completely."
I stare at her speechless... At least this bastard is nowhere inside her body and heart, he can't harm her anymore.
"I want to spend time with everyone except from my father, brother and..."
She pauses and sighs. I sign for her to continue.
"Noah... his name is Noah." She whispers with a cold expression.
I know his name now...
"Today I will spend some time with Chloe and my niece. Also Noah's father, brother and his Beta, Jose will be with us, they want to see me, they missed me... I want you to be with me if you want." She says softly and smiles hopeful.
"I can't say no my rose. Of course I will be with you. I want to meet them too. They love you and this is enough for me!" I reply and she crashes her lips on mine.
I kiss her gently and she relaxes slowly, her body is not tensed, her heartbeat comes back to the normal and I feel immediately better and calmer than before. She breaks the kiss and smiles again.
"I will never leave you alone." I whisper.
"I will never let you leave me..."
~some time later~
Cora's pov
"Cora! We are in the forest waiting for you with Chloe, Caleb and the others. Where are you and Ivan?" Rosana asks me through the link impatiently.
"We are almost here. What is wrong Rosa?" I ask worried.
"Come and I will tell you..."
We close the link and I squeeze Ivan's hand smiling relieved. He chuckles and gives me one quick kiss on my cheek. He took it better than I had thought. I mean I was ready to try harder in order to convince him not to deal with Owen, Noah and my father. I am glad he changed his mind so easily.
He is so sweet... I know he is in pain for everything that happened to me, he is more gentle the last hours after I told him about them and what they did to me. I am lucky I finally have him by my side and we admitted our feelings.
After some minutes we reach at the small grade in the middle of the forest where I asked Rosa to wait for us with Chloe and the others. I spot them under a big tree and stop walking smiling breathless. Caleb and Leo notice us and begin running to me calling my name. I turn and Ivan signs for me to go to them. I nod smiling at run to them laughing.
"Cora!" Caleb shouts once he reaches me and I jump in his embrace.
"Caleb I am so happy. You have no idea!" I say breathless.
Leo reaches us and hugs both me and Caleb. He is crying and he has grown up a lot, he is a pretty, tall and strong young man now.
"Sister!" he whispers and kisses my forehead.
"Leo I missed you so much!" I say excited.
We stay like this for a while. We are all crying and stop when Ivan and the others come to us.
"Cora?" Jose calls me enthusiastic.
Leo and Caleb leave me from their embrace and I turn and hug him laughing.
"There you are crazy man!" I exclaim and he laughs.
"Your Majesty you are the most remarkable woman there is! I am so happy you are alright Cora!" he whispers and taps my back gently.
"I know Jose." I reply and we break the hug.
Rosa walks and stands next to him smiling and shining from happiness. I narrow my eyes and look at Jose suspicious. He blushed and lowers his gaze on the ground. Ivan comes next to me and wraps his arm around me smirking. It takes me some seconds to realize that they are...
"Are you mates?" I scream.
"Yes!" Rosa yells and Jose pulls her in his arms smiling proudly.
"It looks like our family will grow bigger..." Ivan commends raising his eyes impressed.
"Are you coming with us?" I ask impatiently.
"Yes! I can't separate you and Leo can take my place now, he is old enough!" Jose replies.
I clap my hands excited when I feel someone pulling my jeans and I turn to look down to see...
Cora!
"Hi baby!" I say and kneel down.
I kiss her forehead and she smiles shyly. Chloe is standing behind her with her hands on Cora's arms. This girls looks so much like Chloe and Owen, she is so sweet and pretty.
"Mommy told me you are my auntie!" she whispers with nozzle and I chuckle.
"I am sweetheart! I am so happy I meet you."
I open my arms and she buries herself in my embrace. Chloe is crying and I hold my tears with difficulty. I caress Cora's back gently and she giggles. I pull a bit back and she turns and looks Ivan who is standing next to us smiling. He kneels and she turns to me curious.
"This is uncle Ivan honey." I tell her and she opens her eyes and mouth excited.
"Nice to meet you Cora!" he says and raises his hand to her.
Instead of taking his hand she falls in his arms and begins laughing. We are all shocked from her reaction, Ivan more than anyone but he seems to enjoy it. It looks like my niece has the same taste with me and I am pleased. I stand up and look at Caleb and Leo a bit awkwardly. They are Noah's family and I know it is weird for them.
"Cora don't you even think to feel bad." Caleb states serious reading my expression.
"He is right sis. We are happy for you. You have every right to be happy." Leo adds smiling.
Ivan stands up with Cora in his arms and he raises his one hand to Caleb.
"I am Ivan sir. The Archduke of lycanthropes and Cora's personal trainer all these years." He introduces himself.
Caleb takes his hand for a handshake and nods.
"Not only her trainer... Good, I am happy to meet you and please call me Caleb." He replies.
Ivan gives a handshake with Leo, Jose and Chloe and we all walk down the big tree they were waiting for us before. We begin talking and discussing. We play with Cora, we laugh and I tell them my news all these years.
"Cora can I talk to you for one minute, please?" Chloe whispers after some time.
I nod and we both get up and walk a bit further away from the others. She looks concerned.
"Yes Chloe?" I ask impatiently.
"I just have to tell you few things but first I want to tell you that I am very happy about you and Ivan. He seems a nice guy and Cora loved him immediately. It is rare for her to act like this. You look happy. Rosa told me you are together from this morning but explained me your relationship all these years. I am happy that you didn't allow your past stop you and you trusted him baby!"
I hug her tightly and tap her back grateful. She laughs and pulls back smiling.
"So... First of all I don't want to pressure you. I just want you to know that Owen and Sebastian are a mess all these years. Sebastian is having depression from the day we thought you were dead. Only Cora can make him smile a bit but he is broken. He wanted to die, it took us lots of time to make him eat and get out of the pack house for even some minutes. He was spending all his days at your mother's grave for the first three months crying and mourning for you."
I take one step back ready to lose my balance and I blink my eyes speechless.
"Do you mean it?" I whisper lost.
"Yes Cora. From the moment he saw you he is different, like he breathed again and came back to life. And Owen... He was crying for you days and nights. We were trying to find you, he never stopped until that day... Then he changed too. He darkened, he lost his liveliness, his eyes were not shining, he was blaming himself for everything. He went two times to kill Noah. He just wanted to show you how much he regretted what he did to you and allowed the others to do as well. He was saying that he was worthless and he did his best to become the best father for Cora. He wanted to give her what he denied to give you. They both need you Cora."
"Chloe... I don't know what to say." I tremble.
"If you feel good enough to talk with them accept it when they come and ask you to explain themselves. Give the three of you a chance if you are ready. They had changed their mind and regretted everything before we see you on the rock that night."
I nod and take a deep breath to stay calm and don't cry again. It hurts, knowing they were in so much pain hurts, they are my blood after all...
"And... One more thing Cora..." Chloe says waking me up from my thoughts.
"Noah has marked Camilla after she told him she is one month pregnant..." she trembles anxious.
I raise my eyebrows and smirk.
Why do I not feel a thing?
I don't even get surprised. I begin laughing and Cynthia howls cheerfully and relieved. Chloe is staring at me shocked and I hug her.
"To tell you the truth they deserve each other! They should be proud of themselves... An amazing couple." I commend ironically and she laughs.
"You are crazy girl. But be careful. From the moment he saw you he ignores Camilla and tried to find you after your fight yesterday." She says worried.
"It's okay Chloe. I appreciate everything you did and do for me. I am glad I have you, I missed you so much!"
She smiles and we begin walking back to the others teasing each other and laughing. We reach them and we sit on the ground next to Ivan and Cora. I begin caressing her hair and we talk about the ball tonight when we catch two strong scents and we turn our heads on the other side of the glade.
Cynthia starts howling and I know it's not from clear anger or excitement. She is frustrated and confused just like me after what Chloe told me some minutes ago. Ivan stiffens next to me realizing who they are but I sign for him to stay calm and let me handle it.
As they walk to us my heart is beating faster and I begin shaking from nervousness. We are all silent and I gasp when I finally manage to distinguished their expressions. They are not the men I knew, these are their ghosts, they look awful and my heart is breaking.
Cora suddenly jumps up and runs to them excited laughing and yelling.
"Daddy, grandpa I met my auntie! She is sweet like you have told me!"
I stay frozen staring at them and Ivan comes closer to me worried. He takes my hand in his and gives it a squeeze. The others are all sitting silent and serious some meters away from us and Chloe stands up and comes close to me.
My father is already crying as he reaches some meters away from us and Owen's eyes are red. Owen is holding Cora's hand and seems a bit lost but my father...
He is ready to fall down from second to second, he is shaking and he is breathing with difficulty. He has the most broken expression I have ever seen. They stop some steps away with their eyes never leaving mine. I take a deep breath and stand up slowly next to Chloe. Ivan does the same and wraps one hand around my waist giving me courage.
I feel some tears running down from my eyes and I close them trying not to burst into sobs. I take a deep breath and open them again.
And it is then when I hear my father whispering with a cracking voice.
"My Cora!?"
******************************
And yes, I made it!
I am back with the next chapter and I am waiting comment and opinions everyone!
What is going to happen next? Is Cora going to forgive her brother and father? Are they going to stand by her side? How are things going to be with Ivan and what about Noah? Which is going to be his reaction?
Also, if you want you can go and find me in w*****d with the same name and picture and please show some understanding if I delay a bit the next chapter! I am grateful to all of you for loving this story so far so please send me positive energy and support me, I need it as psychologically I am a mess!
So this is it for now, see you again in he next chapter!
Until then be safe and happy!
I love you all,
Marie!