Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Under the Stars
Ivy was throwing small pebbles into the river, each one skipping across the dark water before sinking with a soft splash. She had come here to clear her head, but the weight in her chest refused to lift.
She felt a presence behind her, quiet but familiar. Without turning, she spoke.
"How did it go at Jack’s?" she asked, her voice soft against the gentle flow of the river.
"If you know about Jack, then you must know how it went," Blane replied, his footsteps light on the grass as he approached.
"It’s everywhere in the pack. They’re calling Ramon a hero. Perhaps it’s the reason he can’t see the enemy that is right in front of him," she sniffled, tossing another pebble that barely skipped before disappearing into the current.
Blane’s brow lifted as he walked around and stopped in front of her. He crouched down until he was level with her, his eyes searching her face with gentle concern.
"Have you been crying?" he asked, his voice low and warm.
"No," she replied, and threw her face to the side, wiping at her cheeks quickly.
"Yes you have. But why?" He asked, his hand hovering near her arm as if he wanted to touch her but was waiting for permission.
"Didn’t you overhear my conversation with Ramon?" She asked in a muffled voice, her shoulders slumping.
"No, because I had to leave for a few seconds to get my thoughts together," he replied, his tone patient.
"Sit down, Blane," she said, patting the grass beside her.
He swallowed, and sat next to her. Staring into the water, he gave her all the time she needed to talk. The river flowed steadily, reflecting the scattered stars above, a quiet witness to the turmoil in her heart.
Just sitting beside her was enough for him. She was his breath of fresh air, and a reason for his wolf to get excited.
He didn’t know how it happened, or why it happened.
All he knew was in his heart, he could feel she was his gift from the moon goddess.
"Moon told me something very enlightening," she finally said, her fingers tracing patterns in the grass.
"You’re still listening to Moon?" He sighed as she pulled her hands into his.
She allowed him. His touch was comfort. She loved when he touched her. Her wolf even loved it the most. The warmth of his palm against hers sent a small spark through her, easing some of the tension in her shoulders.
"Don’t tell me you also believe Moon is the enemy." She finally lifted her head and faced him.
His breath caught against his chest upon looking at her. She was not just resilient in every aspect of life, she was also by far the most beautiful woman in his heart. The moonlight caught the dampness on her lashes, making her eyes shine with a mixture of sadness and strength.
"You were crying," he said, stroking her dampened cheeks with the pad of his thumb, his touch gentle and careful.
"That doesn’t matter, Blane," she said, ignoring her wolf which was getting heated up.
All it took was a touch. A secret glance. The brush of his fingers. Everything was a spark to her desire.
"What does, baby?" He asked, pulling her closer to him, his arm wrapping around her shoulders with quiet protectiveness.
"I need you not to have any prejudices against Moon. That’s the only way I can tell you what I’m about to, okay?"
He breathed out, and nodded his head.
"Fine, I won’t judge him," he said, and to buttress his point, kissed her on the forehead, his lips lingering for a moment.
Despite how stressed she felt, she managed a smile.
"Tell me," he urged her, his hand rubbing slow circles on her back.
"Okay. Moon told me he was responsible for Sonia leaving."
When she was done narrating everything Moon had told her, Blane was almost speechless. His hand had stilled on her back, his body tense as he processed the weight of her words.
He knew Lorena was crazy. He just didn’t know the extent she would go to have Ramon all to herself.
"Say something," Ivy pressed, searching his face.
"I’m just thinking how desperate and despicable Lorena is. If everything Moon said is true, then it’s only right for Sonia to leave the pack. Ramon is compromised, mostly because there’s a child on the line. He’d never see Lorena in the light of what she truly is."
"And that’s what annoys me the most!" her voice strained, as she seethed, her fingers tightening around his hand.
"Hey, don’t let it bother you too much. I’ve never seen Ramon angrier than he was when he left for Jack’s pack. He killed the alpha, and it didn’t even take him much to do that. Why do you think he was that pissed?"
"With the way he’s been moving, I bet it’s because he’s just mad Sonia was able to be taken out of the pack the same way he stole her from Silverpaw."
Ivy rolled her eyes at her hypothetical response, because she couldn’t put it past Ramon.
"Give your brother some grace, Ivy. He was mad because Sonia was missing. Because he cares about her. Because as much as he tries to deny the obvious, the eyes don’t lie. He’s under her spell, if he refuses to accept it," Blane said, his voice calm and steady.
"You give him too much credit. Lorena has his brain fried with her lies. It doesn’t help that he’s so obsessed with destroying Ferins. Everything is just one big obsession, and I’m sick and tired of it!"
"Hey, hey, hey," Blane turned her to his chest, and laid her head on it. "That’s better. I think you should calm down, else you’ll get agitated for nothing. Let Ramon process everything that has happened. At least, Sonia is safe, right?"
"You’re right. You’re always right," she sighed. "I was crying until I remembered she was safe. If it takes Silverpaw to keep her away from Lorena, then I’m glad she’s there."
"I don’t know if it’s going to be for too long, though. Because he has come to care for her, I’m certain Ramon would be finding a way to get her back."
"Well we can’t let that happen. Not if Lorena is still here," she countered, her voice muffled against his chest.
"Ivy, we can’t stop the alpha from doing as he pleases. The best I can offer him is advice. Advice that he has a choice to take, or not to take. I think we can only help out by finding a way to expose Lorena," he said more diplomatically, his fingers gently stroking her hair.
"That’s right. Lorena has overstayed her welcome. I know when I say this, it seems like I’m ungrateful. After all, I did grow up in her parents pack. My mother was from the same pack. It still doesn’t make sense how she doesn’t know Ramon and I are related," she said in a confused voice, her body relaxing slightly against him.
"I’m not surprised she doesn’t. When you’re a narcissist, you don’t care about the lives of the people you already deemed unimportant. You should be ecstatic that she doesn’t know. Who knows what she would have tried to do, right?"
"I don’t want to talk about Lorena anymore, Blane. Just hold me please."
"You don’t have to ask. If you let me, I’ll hold you through the night," he whispered, his arms tightening around her in quiet promise.
She lifted her head from his chest, and underneath the stars of the night sky, they kissed passionately, the world around them fading into silence for those precious moments.
