Biting my lip, I closed Rem's journal before placing it back where I found it. It was near dusk now. Once I returned the old book to the shelf, Lilith entered the room, startling me and prompting me to almost tumble the shelf down before it.
My eyes quickly darted to her as I noticed food in her hands, much to the pleasure of my rumbling stomach.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, but the maids told me you didn't come down yesterday or today for your meal. The workers are still a little scared of you, and none of us have been here until now. So, I'm sorry for making you wait so long." Lilith simpered, releasing a small cackle soon after.
A little scared... That's not hard to believe. They all avoid me, not that I care. However, I can do it without the stares of the females.
"Oh… Sorry, I lost track of time." I mumbled, scratching my head.
I almost tumbled the shelves because of it. My cheeks were slightly warm due to it, too. My poor heart hadn't raced this fast since Rem fell asleep.
"Sorry, I kind of lost track of time, too," I mumbled, scratching my head as my heartbeat became irregular because of the minor stumble.
It's nice you brought me food, but your husband probably isn't far behind.
"Don't worry. Everyone's working nonstop to bring Rem back from where she is. I just wanted you to have your energy for when the good news comes." Lilith placed the tray of food on the desk before returning to me.
"Thanks," I breathed, shifting my eyes toward the little sleeping Luma. "Lilith, I'm sorry for not being much help. I don't know much about this new world, so I'm useless regarding new magics."
She shook her head. "No, you took care of Rem all this time. I should thank you instead. I know how much of a handful she is. Please call me Lily."
Rem is a handful, but I don't mind it. I'd give the world for her to annoy me one more day.
"Lily," I corrected myself, grabbing the second journal from the bed.
Rem's mother appeared not to want to leave just yet, as something seemed to weigh on her mind.
"I also came to ask you something else." She started, tapping on the table.
I turned to her, gripping the book tightly against my chest.
Reading this will have to wait a little while.
"You can ask anything you want. I'll give you a straight answer like always." I breathed, watching the witch slowly walk over to me.
Her expression showed no emotions.
"A silly thought plaguing me since you told me the other Lilith is alive." She began, stopping before me.
I know where this is going.
"And?" I urged her to continue, walking past her and claiming a chair by the table.
"Well... do you think she's under the control of Edna?" Lily asked, taking a seat next to me.
I shrugged. "I honestly don't know."
At that time, Lilith was nothing more than a bug that would've taken precious time away from Rem. I had ignored her, which probably was a mistake.
But… all I wanted was to save you. Nothing else mattered.
"I see. Well... I have another question for you." Her voice was devoid of any warmth as her eyes met mine.
This witch…
"If that elf isn't under Edna's control, what will you do?" She questioned, eyes devoid of any life in them.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her concerns. In the past, I probably would've killed the witch either way, but there was always the chance I would've joined her, too.
I can't blame you for thinking so low of me, but I can't entirely blame you. It wasn't like I was on your side at first.
Even though I had been behaving for the past two weeks, this family didn't trust me.
"Ouch! I thought I already made my intentions clear." I sighed, shifting my gaze towards the window.
I might have walked into Edna's hands if it weren't for Rem, primarily if she had used Lilith back when I was blind. At this point, we didn't know if that was the case, nor did it matter. Reading my little Luma's journal made me want to wake her even more.
All I desired was to have her back in my life.
"Yes, you seem to care for Rem, but how sure can I be that you won't jeopardize her for Lilith?" Lily went straight to the point, prompting my gaze to meet with hers again.
The witch next to me knew I had never lied to her before.
"If... I found out that Lilith hurt Rem out of her own volition. I'll squeeze the life out of her myself. Even if she were under some mind control, I'd still break her hands for taking Rem's precious time from me. Does that answer your question?" I answered straightforwardly.
Shifting her eyes towards Rem, she stood and approached her daughter before touching her cheek.
"Yes, it does, Alijah." She softly smiled at the little Luma.
Your kid made your wish come true, Lilith. Even if you don't believe it, she is why I am like this now.
"Hey, Alijah, tell me. Do you really love her?" Lily asked, turning back towards me.
I couldn't help but sigh because of her. There were no more doubts in my mind, no hesitations. Once this luma woke up, I would sear it into her heart.
"The night I met Rem, I felt like lightning hit me so hard it made me stumble for the first time in my entire life. She was dancing and unaware of me, yet she froze me for a few minutes before I even moved to get her attention." I confessed, turning my gaze towards the last journal in my hands.
"I denied it then, and that was a mistake. No matter how harsh I was with her, this stupid girl broke through every wall I put up." I placed the book on the table before shifting my gaze back to Lilith. "So yes, I love her. I didn't know what that feeling was until I met her. She's become my light and my heart."
My voice broke at that last bit as I felt part of me was gone when Rem didn't wake up. A soft hum left Lily's lips before the gentlest smile rose on her lips.
"After everything I went through with Fenris, I can't seem to deny you or her. She's done something I didn't think was possible." She commented, walking towards me.
"Yeah, she's made me a big softy. I don't feel like hurting anyone when I'm with her." I breathed, closing my eyes.
But without you… I don't know if I have it to stay like this.
"Well, that isn't my decision as I'm only her mother. Was his answer good enough for you, too, my love?" Lily glanced towards the door where her husband was.
Shifting his crimson gaze away, he shook his head. "I don't know." He voiced before leaving.
A soft sigh left Lilith's lips. "Fenris is overprotective of his baby girl. That goes for the boys and Vera, too. So, I'm sorry if they're a bit of a thorn in your side right now."
I shrugged.
Caden hasn't been so bad, but the other two, well… Let's keep it like that.
"That... doesn't bother me. It's good to see Rem's family love her, even though she doesn't believe it herself." I commented, tapping my fingers on the journal. "If I think of anything that can help. I'll let you know." I paused, shifting my gaze towards her.
"Okay, I'll be downstairs if you need me." Lilith smiled, heading to the door as I focused on the book again.
"Lily, thank you for wishing for me all those years ago," I said, picking up the journal as she grabbed my shoulder.
Every fiber of my being tensed up as her touch was unexpected.
"It's fine, Alijah. I'm not used to thinking it's my daughter, but I'm glad you found your meaning. But if you ever hurt her, know that I'll hunt you down and castrate you, okay?" She threatened with a sly smile on her lips.
Shivers went down my spine as I nodded, knowing full well she was serious. Shade, who had been on the bed with Rem since she arrived, jumped onto the table, too.
"Yes, that sounds fun, doesn't it, little wolf?" Shade smirked.
I shuddered at the thought.
"Yes, madams." I acknowledged, chuckling a bit soon after.
These two were no real threat to me, yet I wouldn't go against their wishes. Not when I only desired to see my little Luma open her eyes again. Lily suddenly patted my head like I was some house dog, prompting a soft growl to leave my lips.
Oi… No one but Rem can treat me…
Shifting my gaze toward her, I quickly swallowed every word that wanted to come out of me when I saw her smile.
Ok… Maybe you too. Gods… It's good you can smile like that. I guess that old wolf had a part in this for you, didn't he?
"Good," Lilith giggled, readying herself to leave.
They left me sitting down, unable to control my chuckling. The women in this family were crazy and fearless. Rem had gotten most of her features from Lilith and some from Fenris. Even though I felt uneasy around Fenris and the twins, I didn't feel the same around Rem.
Not that you let me feel awkward at all.
With everything that had happened, I wondered if there was more to the story of what happened in my past.
Edna, how long have you been pulling the strings?
I gazed at the door, feeling a question boil within me. Lilith stopped, turning to look at Rem one last time before leaving. Her expression was one of pure endearment toward her daughter.
"Hmm? Is there something you want to ask me?" Lily asked from the doorway, noticing my gaze.
I shrugged in response to her question, hesitant to ask but also needing to know.
"Yeah, what's the version you have about my past? The one that the elders gave you." I sighed, tapping my fingers on the book.
It took me a week to understand what that female black Lycan had said.
Even now, I still find it hard to believe, but if there is any truth, I…
"Melody told me she informed you about your brother. Is that why you're asking?" This witch was as perceptive as always.
Slowly, I nodded. "Yeah, she did, but if that is true, then I've been fed lies since the moment they chained me down and locked me up in that godforsaken room. I never knew he died. They always told me he had gone off with a whor—" I stopped momentarily.
That's wrong.
"Wife. It seems it was partly true." I corrected myself, glancing at Rem.
God… Why are you still sleeping? I… I don't want to be alone anymore.
I had never felt loneliness to this extent before.
It's suffocating.
"Are you willing to listen, though?" Lily asked from the door, following my gaze back to Rem.
Her question hit me like a rogue dragon that crashed into me.
Has it always been this way? Rem, just what have you done to me?
"I-I think I'll be after Rem wakes up. Sorry for taking your time." I apologized, shaking my head.
"No, don't be. I'll be here to tell you when she does." She simpered before leaving as I was again alone with my beloved.
Ah… should I have told her about these books? No… That will be a mistake. They will probably think we're both crazy.
The food in front of me tasted bland, even though it was full of condiments and well cooked. Since Rem wasn't with me, I had lost the enjoyment of eating delicious foods.
Ah… Nothing feels the same without you.
In the six months we had been together, she buried herself into me more profoundly than anyone else.
As I said to your mother, Rem, you are my heart. Based on the information in the journal I read, we might have met longer than that. Yet, why don't I remember these moments we spent together?
There was information within those pages that no one else could've known, yet…
So how could I forget them? But how do you know about my mother? Melody? No, it sounded like she had done that not too long ago.
The time in question was about three years ago for Rem.
Either way, Lucan never knew about it, so his descendants couldn't have known, and Mom died the following year before he returned from his training.
I winced before biting my lip as the ache in my chest got more potent with each second that passed.
Fuck! Nothing makes sense, Rem.
Sadly, she was the only one with answers, and there was no way to know them.