The Lonely God

35.

HER-

I storm to my room, feeling embarrassed and humiliated. He took me to his room while I was sleeping. Vesta is quite happy inside me. Ughhhh, I am so angry. I want to burn things. I want to destroy something.

I bathe and get dressed for the day. When I step out of the bathroom, the breakfast is already waiting for me. I eat silently and think about my plan.

I'll sneak into Isidorus' wing. Take a handful of the traveling sand. This place is highly enchanted which doesn't allow anyone to travel in or out of this place with the help of traveling sand. I could travel somewhere inside the Kingdome with the traveling sand but to travel somewhere outside the Kingdom, I need to get to this secluded sanctuary which is not enchanted.

I don't know where this sanctuary is. I wish someone told me about it. I decided to check it in the maps that came with the books. After searching for an hour, finally, I think I've found where the Sanctuary is. There's an empty slot at the very bottom of this place. It's unnamed and ... secluded.

I tear the map out from the book and step out of my room. With caution, I step out of Arles' wing. I check multiple times to make sure no one's around. I put the hood of my cloak on and silently head towards Isidorus' wing.

The time is perfect because he won't be there. All the ministers would be in the courtroom with Arles, discussing matters about the kingdom. I have been sneaky enough to know the pattern to open the door to Isidorus' wing.

I silently sneak in and head to the shelves that are loaded with jars containing herbs and animal organs. Finally, I spot the jar of traveling sand. I take two handfuls of the sand before slipping it into the pocket of my cloak.

I put the jar back and exit Isidorus' wing before making sure that everything looks untouched. I follow the map and find myself deep down in the castle. This place is very dark so I use fire to light the place up. It's a surprise that oxygen manages to exist deep down here.

I climb down numerous stairs before walking down dark and deserted hallways. This place looks like dungeons. A gasp leaves my mouth when I see bones and remains of decaying bodies. I increase my pace and soon, I am standing before a big door with various patterns inscribed on it just like the door to Arles' wing.

Damn.

I don't know the pattern of this door. I want to throw a fit now. I didn't come this far to return back. Holding my breath, I arrange the patter of Arles' wing door. I don't know what led me to do it. Seconds pass by as nothing happens but suddenly, I hear a distant click before the door roars open to reveal a humongous room.

I step inside to find the whole place empty except a statue of the moon goddess in the middle of the room. The door closes behind me and Vesta stirs.

'This is wrong,' she whimpers.

'It's okay. We'll be back soon,'

Wait, what!?

Without thinking much, I take out a handful of the traveling sand from my pocket before imaging the woods that faces our house in the pack. I let the sand slip from my hand drop to the floor.

Suddenly, everything starts spinning. I close my eyes and wince when I feel a tremendous amount of pressure over my body. I hear angry hushes of the wind before feeling something soft under my feet. I open my eyes to find myself in the woods covered with snow.

I look around to realize that the place is familiar. With a wide smile stretched over my face, I run in the direction of home. I want to see my family!

As soon as the trees thin out, my house comes into view but I find myself halting. Why does this place look different? The house looks quite different as if had been renovated or something. A crease forms on my forehead as I walk towards my house.

Vesta is pacing wildly inside me. She wants us to go back. My instincts are telling me that something is very wrong. I shouldn't be here.

I take a deep breath standing in front of the door. I knock once. The door opens shortly after to reveal a man I have never seen before but somehow he seems familiar. He has the same silver hair and eyes like dad but his face seems different. Powerful energy is radiating off his figure.

"Who're you?" I find myself asking while trying to peek behind him to look if there's Phoebe, mom or dad present in the house.

"Who're you?" He asks me instead as he narrows his eyes at me. His deep voice sounds dominating and powerful.

"You don't know me?" I ask while tilting my head as he studies me from head to toe. He raises an eyebrow at my question.

"You're talking as if you're the Alpha of this pack," He speaks as he crosses his hands on his chest.

"Well, I am much more than the Alpha of this place. Who're you? Are you a housekeeper or something of this house?" I ask while staring him down. I see him hesitate for a moment. My dominance is working on him but soon he covers the look of vulnerability on his face before a growl escaped his lips.

"I am the Alpha of this pack!" He growls. Wait, what? I didn't let the shock and surprise appear on my face as I continue to stare him down. I know it's making him feel inferior but he is trying hard to not to let it out on the surface.

"Oh really? Last time I checked, the Alpha of this pack was Phoebe Jay McKnight. What happened to her?" I ask urgently.

"I succeeded her!" He growls and this time I look at him with shock.

"She is your mother?" I ask while stepping closer. He must be my nephew then, but how did it happen? I swear I was gone for two weeks.

"She is my great grandmother," He tells me while I stare at him in horror.

"What happened to Alpha Andrew and Luna Erika McKnight? What happened to Grace McKnight?" I ask feeling a tension building around us. I feel disruptive guessing his answer.

"They're long dead. Wait how did you know so much about my family?" He asks as he looks down at me in surprise and doubt. I shake my head as I fight back my tears. Did I travel in the future? Am I at the wrong place at the wrong time?

"What happened to Nefret?" My voice breaks at this question. Something stirs in his eyes before he looks down at me with empathy.

"Who?" He asks as he tilts his head as if trying to remember something.

"Nefret June McKnight, sister of Phoebe Jay Mck-"

"Wait a sec, Alpha Phoebe had only one sister and her name was Grace," He corrects me. I feel something shatter inside me. A lump is building inside my throat while Vesta is begging me to return. She is stressed out. She is not feeling good here.

As the tears threaten to escape my eyes, I turn on my heels and start walking the way I came. A sob leaves my lips as I increase my pace.

"HEY WAIT! WHO ARE YOU AND HOW DID YOU GET INSIDE MY PACK!" I hear him yell behind me but I keep walking towards the woods. When I hear him yell again before charging towards me, I take some sand out of my pocket and imagine the secluded sanctuary.

Before he could reach me, I am being taken back to Zaeris. I am about to break down in tears. Vesta is a mess inside me. Everything starts to spin around me before I find myself in the secluded sanctuary. I am on my knees and breathing hard while fighting back my tears.

I feel as if a part of me has been ripped out of me. They're not there anymore! They're all dead! My whole family is dead. Mom and dad are dead. I wanted to see them for the last time. I wanted to tell them that no matter how badly they treated me, I love them but they're not there anymore.

They're all dead. A sob leaves me before I feel a presence.

I look up to find his dark hooded figure lurking in the dark, looking at me. I didn't miss the dangerous amount of energy leaking off his body.

He's not pleased with what I did. He is angry. So very angry that I could feel it in my bones...