Capítulo 26: Twenty six
Remus.
The cabin was small, hidden deep in the woods, far away from the pack. The moonlight barely slipped through the thick trees, casting long shadows across the ground as we pulled up. The silence was heavy, almost suffocating. My chest felt tight, guilt gripping me like a vice.
I glanced at Rhea as we stepped out of the car. She looked around, her brow furrowed. I could sense her anger and worry, but I didn't know where to start.
My mind was racing, but one thought echoed louder than the rest: she deserved the truth, all of it. The lies, the secrets... they had to end tonight.
The burden of it all pressed down on me—the threat, my mother's accusations, and worst of all, the truth I'd been hiding from her.
We made our way inside the cabin, and the soft creak of the door seemed to cut through the thick silence. I closed the door behind us, feeling the air shift. Rhea stood in the middle of the room, her arms crossed, her eyes searching mine, silently asking questions I wasn't sure I had the strength to answer.
The guilt ate at me. How had things spiraled so out of control? My mother's behavior, the threats from the Darkriver Pack, the way Rhea had been dragged into all of it—it was all on my shoulders. I had to make this right.
I couldn't take the silence anymore. "I'm sorry, Rhea," I started, my voice low. She didn't move, didn't say a word, just stood there, watching me.
"For what?" she asked, her tone guarded.
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the pressure build. "Everything. Especially my mother." I hesitated, trying to find the right words. "She had no right to treat you the way she did. I... I've let things go too far."
Her expression softened slightly, but I could still see the hurt in her eyes. She had every right to be angry. I reached for her hand, holding it tightly, like it was the only thing grounding me in that moment.
"I trust you, Rhea," I said, my voice more firm now. "You're my Luna. You deserve to know everything. No more secrets."
Her eyes widened slightly, her lips parting as if she was about to say something, but she didn't. Instead, she just gave a small nod, her hand squeezing mine in return.
I swallowed hard, the words catching in my throat. "There's something I need to tell you," I began, my heart pounding in my chest.
Rhea's gaze didn't waver, her eyes locked on mine, waiting. I could feel the fear creeping up my spine. Would she still look at me the same after this?
"Her name was Emmie," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "She... she was my wife."
Rhea blinked, her expression shifting from confusion to surprise. "Wife?" she echoed softly.
I nodded, the memories flooding back all at once. "It was years ago. Emmie wasn't just anyone—she was from the Darkriver Pack, the daughter of their Alpha." I paused, my chest tightening. "She died... because of me."
Rhea's hand slipped from mine, her brows knitting together in shock. I could see the questions forming in her mind, but I pushed forward before she could ask. I needed to get it all out.
"One night, we were out on a mission. Tensions between the packs were already high, and we got ambushed by rogues. I was leading the group, and when the attack started, I... I had to make a choice. I chose the pack. I should have gone to her, should have protected her, but I didn't. She was injured, and by the time I got to her... it was too late."
The words hung in the air, heavy and painful. I couldn't bring myself to meet Rhea's eyes, too ashamed of the truth. "I should've been there. I should've saved her... but I didn't."
There was a long silence before I spoke again, the air between us thick with tension. "Emmie's mother, Alpha Zara, never forgave me," I explained, my voice strained. "She thinks I lured Emmie away to weaken their pack and then killed her. That's why she's threatening us. That voice you heard, the threats... it's all because of Zara."
Rhea's eyes widened, her lips parting in shock. She looked down at the floor for a moment, taking it all in. When she finally looked back at me, her expression had softened. I could see the empathy in her eyes, the understanding.
"So... Zara blames you," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
I nodded. "She's convinced I'm responsible for Emmie's death. And now, she's vowed to destroy our pack because of it."
Rhea took a step closer, her face full of sympathy and pain. "Remus... I'm so sorry," she murmured, her hand reaching out to touch my arm. "I can't imagine how hard that must've been for you... and to carry that guilt all this time."
Her words hit me like a wave, and for the first time in a long time, I felt the tight knot in my chest begin to loosen. But before I could respond, she continued, her voice stronger now. "I'm with you, Remus. No matter what happens, I'll stand by your side. I want to help. I want to fight with you."
My heart swelled with a mix of pride and fear. I admired her bravery, her loyalty, but I couldn't let her be part of this. Not after everything that had happened.
"No," I said firmly, shaking my head. "I won't let you be part of this, Rhea. I can't risk losing you, too. Not again."
She opened her mouth to protest, but I closed the distance between us, capturing her lips in a deep, desperate kiss. It was filled with all the emotions I couldn't put into words—the love, the fear, the need to protect her at all costs.
When I finally pulled back, I rested my forehead against hers, my heart racing. "Stay here, where it's safe," I whispered. "I'll come back for you, I promise."
Before she could say anything else, I turned and walked out the door, leaving her standing there in the quiet cabin.
Returning to the pack house felt like stepping into a storm. Tensions were at an all-time high, everyone on edge, waiting for me to take control. My mother, Elara, stood by the door, her face hard and unreadable. Alaric, Rachel, and Tessa hovered nearby, all of them watching me closely.
I couldn't waste any time. I called for a meeting with the pack leaders, gathering them in the private room.
"This is about more than just a rogue threat," I began, my voice steady, even though my heart raced. "Zara, the Alpha of the Darkriver Pack, is coming for us, my Luna especially. She blames me for the death of her daughter, Emmie. She's planning an attack."
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