***Content Warning! One F-Bomb and other swearing. Descriptions of Deep/Severe Grief*** 

It was a rare day that Tyrone had his part of the duplex to himself. Chris and Jonas had dates, Andrea had an athletic tryout at school – something rare for a weekend – and Aurora was playing music with Theresa. In a way, Tyrone enjoyed the quiet time yet in another, it gave him too much time to think. Thinking led to brooding, which put him in a dark, melancholic mood. He’d just have to make the best of it and try to get his mind on something else other than his sad, empty life.

The doorbell rang, and Tyrone frowned slightly. He hadn’t been expecting company and simply wasn’t in the mood for visitors. However, when he looked out the window and saw someone holding what looked like an official envelope, Tyrone was quick to crack open the door. He scrawled his signature on the pad the man held out to him, absently thanked him, and took the envelope. When Tyrone turned it over and saw the return label of the Witches’ Council, his heartbeat accelerated and his breath caught.

Momentarily, Tyrone held the envelope to his chest and closed his eyes to compose himself. Was this what he’d been waiting for all this time? //Oh, my Lenora, hold on. Hold on just a little longer, darling. I love you, my Goddess.//

Tyrone sat down hard in his chair, closed his eyes to mentally count to ten, and opened the envelope. With trembling fingers, he removed the piece of parchment and read.

April 26, 2123
Dear Mr. Landgraab,
We are writig to you to hereby approve your request for the exhumation of your wife, Lenora Landgraab. This will be effective immediately and will expire a year from the date on this letter. Should you need an extension, please contact President Erica Landgraab or Vice President Elena Moreno for instructions. We wish you well, Sir, and hope you find the answers you are seeking.
Sincerely,
The Witches’ Council of Aurora Skies

Tyrone blew out a long breath, closed his eyes once more, and let his head fall back against the back of his chair. They would soon be one step closer to unraveling this mystery. Now that Tyrone had the official approval in hand, it didn’t seem real somehow. Images and scenarios played in his mind’s eye about what he’d tell the children, how to proceed from here, and how he would react at seeing a doppelganger of his Lenora lying in her coffin. Tyrone had longed for this but oh, this was going to be so hard.

The doorbell rang again, and Tyrone cursed when brought out of his dark musings. However, he sensed it was one of his own – his sister Valerie – and his Wolf’s Sixth Sense knew beyond any doubt that she was terrified.

Springing to his feet, Tyrone pulled a shaking Valerie inside, kicked the door closed, and wrapped protective arms around her. “Valerie! Sweetie, what happened? What’s the matter?”

Valerie clung to Tyrone as if this was her last moment of life and would be carried away, kicking and screaming, at any second. All she could produce were ragged gasps.

It was clear to Tyrone that his sister was having a panic attack, something that had never happened to her to his knowledge. He sat her down on the sofa, took her hands, and squeezed them. “Val, honey, I’m gonna get you a glass of water, okay?”

“Don’t…leave…me!” she panted, her hands clamping on Tyrone’s in a vicelike grip.

“Okay, sis. I won’t go anywhere. I’m here.” He lowered his voice to a soft, slow timbre and instructed her to slow her breathing. “In and out, honey. That’s it. With me now.” He took several long inhales, breathing out slowly to help Valerie match her breathing with his.

As Valerie started to calm down, the wild look in her eyes started to lessen. “I…I think I’m okay now. I’ll take that glass of water now, please.”

“Okay. You just sit tight and I’ll be right back. I promise, Val. I won’t be long.” He wiped a sweaty tendril of hair off his sister’s forehead and hurried to the kitchen. When he returned, he sensed that Valerie was still on edge but the abject terror was absent. Tyrone handed the glass of icy water to her, sat down, and took her free hand, noticing it was still cold and clammy. “Drink it slow. Nice and easy, sweetie. That’s it. Just take your time, and you can tell me what happened when you’re ready, all right?”

Valerie nodded and took a few sips in silence. Finally, she spoke. “I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve your being so sweet to me. You’ll hate me after I tell you.”

“Valerie, I could never hate you. You’re my baby sister.”

“You will once you know.” Valerie got to her feet, the urge to pace almost irresistible.

Tyrone shook his head, unable to fathom even the slightest thought of hating his sister. Sure, she’d been acting strangely and was so distant now, but he’d never stopped loving her and neither had the rest of the family. Hating his little sister – it simply was not in his makeup. “I think you need to tell me what happened.”

Valerie took a tremulous breath, licked her lips, and squared her shoulders. “Lenora is alive.”

Tyrone blinked. “I know, sweetie. She reached me telepathically a while back. It was brief but she was able to reach me.”

“I know. Dad told me.”

“And I got the exhumation order just before you arrived. I’m going to make arrangements to get this done as soon as humanly possible. We should get some more answers then,” Tyrone continued.

A small smile touched Valerie’s lips. “I’m so glad, bro. I really am. I know I didn’t seem like I was happy about it during your meeting but–” She trailed off and grimaced. “After I tell you, you’ll understand.”

“You’re talking in riddles, Val. C’mon, out with it. You’ll feel better once it’s off your chest, I’m sure,” Tyrone pressed her gently.

Valerie shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “I won’t, but you do need to know.” She looked down at the half empty glass of water now resting on the coffee table. “A shot of whiskey would make that taste a helluva lot better.”

Tyrone chuckled but shook his own head. “Later once this is all out. Right now, I think we’d better remain clear headed.”

“Smart idea,” Valerie sighed. “Okay, well, here it is. It’s Lenora. She’s alive…and I know where she is.”

What felt like a bolt of lightning shot through Tyrone’s solar plexus, and he jerked backward. “What?! What did you just say?”

“I know where Lenora is.”

Tyrone had to clench his fists to keep himself from grabbing Valerie by the shoulders and digging in. He pressed his lips together and willed himself to remain calm. Freaking out would only send Valerie running away in panic. After taking a few calming breaths, he fixed Valerie with a steady intense look. “Where is she? Valerie, you must tell me where she is and who has her?”

“She’s being held in…M…M…urgh…held…” Valerie’s eyes widened and all she could utter were awful, almost deathlike choking sounds.

Tyrone had never heard such sounds come out of anyone, let alone his sister. He hadn’t smelled any kind of hard candy, and Tyrone’s Sixth Sense didn’t detect any food, drink, or drugs on her breath or in her system. The only thing he knew to do was to pound her forcefully on the back, perform the Heimlich Maneuver, and pound her back again. “Sic it up, Valerie. You’re gonna be okay. Try to bring it up.” He felt for his phone in his pocket, ready to call Emergency Services and even considered hoisting his sister over his shoulder and rushing her to the hospital himself.

Finally, the choking spasms released Valerie, and her breathing gradually returned to normal. Tears slid down her cheeks, and she shook her head in what Tyrone judged to be bewilderment. “I…I…can’t…tell you. The…magic…the binding curses…they won’t let me reveal…”

“Val, honey, what are you talking about?” Although Tyrone breathed a sigh of relief that his sister wasn’t going to die of asphyxiation, he was still alarmed at what had just happened.

“The…binding curses. The kidnappers! Two brothers. Sh…S…Sh…and…and…Lenora…she’s lo…she…M…M…can’t…think. My…head!” Valerie moaned, grabbed her head, and more choking sounds came.

Icicles of fear ran down Tyrone’s spine. He’d never before seen anything like this. “Sweetheart, I’m taking you to the hospital. You’re clearly not well.”

Tyrone was about to heft Valerie over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry but stopped when he felt her tug insistently on his shirt sleeve. //I’ll be okay in a minute. It’s the magic.// Her telepathic message, although frantic sounding, stopped him cold //Just give me a sec. I’ll be all right in a minute.//

As the fit let up, Tyrone breathed out a long sigh, his facial muscles relaxing although still displaying a worried frown. Tyrone waited silently, his gaze never leaving his sister’s face while her breathing and color returned to normal. Tyrone sat her back down on the sofa and wrapped a protective arm around her. “Okay. Now, I want you to tell me what the hell is going on, sweetie. It seems you can’t reveal places or names, but tell me what you can from the beginning. Val, you need to level with me.”

“You’ll hate me.”

“No, I won’t! I told you I could never hate you.” Tyrone squeezed Valerie closer, still frowning. How bad was this going to get?

Valerie took a shaky breath, swallowed hard, ran a hand over her forehead, and began. “I’m in trouble, brother. I’m in serious trouble.” Bit by bit, Valerie revealed everything but avoided specific names or places so as not to trigger the binding magic. As Tyrone heard sordid detail after sordid detail, he remained silent but his expression grew thunderous. The Wolf was right at the surface, and it took all of Tyrone’s effort to keep him cowed. Tyrone clamped his lips shut to keep the murderous growl from escaping his throat.

“I swear to you, I didn’t remember putting that stuff in Lenora’s tea. He was raping me and drugging me. He was messing with my head. I never would have…never, ever wanted to hurt Lenora. I swear that to you on my damaged, eternally damned soul.”

“Dear god!” Tyrone said through clenched teeth. He pounded his fist on the desk, sending papers flying everywhere and cracking the wood. Pain jackknifed through Tyrone, his hands automatically clutching his heart and gut as though that, alone, could keep him from unraveling at that seams. A horrendous groan of primal grief and horror clawed its way up and out his throat. “Dear…god!”

Valerie gasped and winced, sobbing at the awful sight before her. “I’m…sorry, brother. I won’t ask for forgiveness. I don’t deserve it,” she whispered.

“Don’t call me that right now. Just…don’t!” Tyrone’s back was to her. He simply could not turn around to face her. He felt his fangs grow, and his shoulders shook with the rage and grief he was trying desperately to subdue.

“Okay. You’re absolutely right. I don’t deserve to be your sister. See, I told you you’d hate me.” Valerie closed her eyes, unable to bear the agonizing sight of her stricken brother. She’d done that to him, and he would never, ever forgive her. How could he forgive her when she could never forgive herself?

Get it together, Landgraab! Lenora needs you to keep a cool head, and Wolfing Out isn’t the way to do it. If you’re going to save her, you need Valerie, so pull it together. Valerie’s in danger, too, and going off on her right now isn’t going to help anyone. Tyrone’s Sixth Sense practically beat him over the head with this logic. His Sixth Sense had never led him astray before, and his grandmother’s warning about listening to it rose to the surface of his thoughts.

Tyrone mentally counted to twenty, felt his fangs shrink back to normal size, and slowly turned to face his sister. “Val, I don’t hate you. I told you I could never hate you, and that’s the truth. I’m royally pissed at you right now, which is an understatement to the nth degree if ever there was one. I just don’t know what to say to you. I get that you’re a victim, too, and I want to rip apart the lowlife slime who hurt you. But Valerie, you should have come to me, to one of us, when you started feeling this way. Had you done that, all of this could have been avoided. Do you realize what we all have been through? Do you have any idea at all the amount of suffering and grief your nieces and nephews have endured? And Lenora! Oh, Great Drogo, my beautiful Lenora!” Tyrone staggered under the immense weight of it all. “What she suffered…what she is still suffering. Does she know? Does Lenora have any idea what you’ve done?”

Valerie’s body shuddered at each statement Tyrone made. “I’ve hurt a lot of people, my family most of all, and I’ll never be able to forgive myself for it. Lenora knows everything and forgave me. She, more than anyone, should hate me, but for whatever reason, she doesn’t. Lenora saved my wretched life, Tyrone. She was the one who told me the junk that was being forced into me was killing me. It made me unable to transform. Almost the instant she woke up, Lenora was thinking of me instead of herself and telling me to go to Neil Hughes for treatment or I’d have been dead in three days.”

“Neil Hughes,” Tyrone growled. “That man calls himself a doctor.” The memories of him touching his Lenora, pumping medications into her, even being near her nearly caused Tyrone to heave.

“It wasn’t his fault. He was scared for his mother. Can’t you understand that? Lenora does. She holds no animosity toward him, and he saved both hers and my life.” Valerie had no defense for herself but easily defended her friend and fellow accomplice. “We’ve both made mistakes, but mine are far, far greater than Neil’s.”

Tyrone blew out a breath, his Sixth Sense once again telling him to calm down. “All right. I get that people do things out of character when they’re running scared, but Valerie, there are consequences. What happened is a crime, and both of you are going to have to answer for your parts in it. As to my Lenora, I’m not a bit surprised at her reaction. She is the most decent, truest, strongest, and most pure-hearted person I have ever known. There isn’t an ounce of hate in her.”

Valerie nodded in agreement to every statement. “Neil and I are both prepared to face whatever music once we know Lenora is out of danger. His mother is safe, so the blackmailers have no leverage against him to force his hand anymore. She’ll stay stashed away at my beach house until it’s safe for her to return. It doesn’t even come close to making up for my mistakes, but at least I was able to help one innocent person from getting hurt.”

“All right, Valerie…okay.” So much was swirling in Tyrone’s mind that it was giving him a headache. He rubbed his temples and sighed heavily. “Look. There’s going to be a lot to work through but right now, we won’t get anywhere with finger pointing or indulging in self blame. What’s important is that you eventually came to me, and we have to somehow find a way to get Lenora out of wherever she’s being held. Do you agree?”

“Yes,” Valerie said simply. “I’ll do anything…anything to make that happen. You’ve got to believe me.”

“I do, Valerie. I believe you never intended for Lenora to be hurt and that you’ve been dreadfully abused, too. That is why we’re still standing here talking like this now. But I do want you to know that this doesn’t let you off the hook,” Tyrone said, his hard gaze boring into his sister’s.

“I know that. Believe me, I do.”

“Fair enough,” Tyrone said. “Now, I sense there is more. I need to know everything you are physically able to tell me.”

Valerie reached for her large shoulder bag and pulled out a journal and a manila file folder. “You know how there was one council member who was holding up Lenora’s exhumation – uh – the clone – I mean, what was supposed to be Lenora?”

“I get what you mean. What about it?” Tyrone asked a little impatiently.

“I’ve been shadowing her and got some very useful dirt. Tyrone, she is the reason the kidnappers were able to subdue Lenora and put the binding spells in place. They bought magic from her to make all this happen. She’s the one who sold them the junk they shot into me and the powder I put in Lenora’s tea. It’s all there in that folder.” Valerie put the folder on the desk. “I gave Neil a copy to give to Mathilda. We timed it so the two of you could get this information at the same time. I’m afraid if I try to go to her after I leave here, I’ll be intercepted. We did it this way because…in case something happens to me. I’m being watched.”

Tyrone cocked an eyebrow at his sister. Had the kidnappers found out what she was doing or was Valerie turning paranoid and completely cracking up? “What are you saying? Who do you think is watching you? Is it the kidnappers? Did you get caught tailing this woman?”

“No to both questions. I-I think it’s someone affiliated with Akasha, the council member. She’s a powerful witch, not as powerful as Mathilda, of course, but powerful nonetheless. She has minions…other Supernatural beings…who find things out for her.” Valerie ran an agitated hand through her hair. “I got angry…super angry…at the main kidnapper and was this close to blinding him. He may have gone to her and told her I was being unpredictable. I got wise to the drugs, you see, and I threatened his life if he tried that on me again. I’m sure, no, positive, that she’s looking for ways to just finish me altogether.”

This was getting more and more bizarre and disturbing by the minute, and Tyrone’s head was spinning. Aghast, he stared at his sister for a long moment before speaking. “Valerie, are you sure? Are you absolutely certain? Has your Sixth Sense gone off?”

“Yes, numerous times! See, it’s little things. This one day, I put the keys to my truck on the table by my front door. I was going to drive it later on that day but when I went to get them, they were in the little cup I keep on the counter. I know I didn’t put them there. I’m very meticulous about where I put things.” Valerie shivered, her fist going to her wildly racing heart.

“Go on,” Tyrone urged.

“One night, the bookmark I used to mark the page in my current read was upside down. Tyrone, you know how I hate when a bookmark is put upside down. I’ve seen books on my shelves out of order. Sheet music I know I’ve put away was back on my music stand with the pages out of order. It’s things like that – things I would not do. Someone gets into my house when I’m not home, Tyrone. I swear, I can smell them the minute I get home and step out of my vehicle.”

Goosebumps arose on Tyrone’s arms, and he absently rubbed them. His own Sixth Sense was clanging, and Tyrone knew for certain that his sister was in danger.

“I was–” Valerie gulped hard and shuddered. “I was going to end myself once Lenora is free…but I don’t think I’ll have to. Someone else is gonna finish me off instead.”

This time, Tyrone did Wolf Out. There was no stopping it, and he didn’t even try. This ignited Valerie’s Wolf for release. Once the changes took place, Tyrone growled and pulled his sister into his arms in a protective gesture. “You are not going to die either by your hand or at the hand of someone else. That is not an option, do you hear me?” The words came out in a series of fearsome growls. “Now, here is what is going to happen, and don’t even think about arguing. I’m going to take you to your place, you are going to pack up some stuff, and then I’m taking you to Mom and Dad’s where you will stay until further notice.”

Valerie shook her head. “Tyrone–”

“I said no arguing!” Tyrone growled, pulling back just enough to lock gazes with Valerie.

“I was only going to say that you shouldn’t be seen with me. You’ll be in danger. Tyrone, they’ve got silver bullets. The kidnappers said they’d kill you and the cubs one by one, and that is how they’re getting Lenora to cooperate.” Valerie’s voice was low and gravelly. “You and the cubs…all of you…need to stay clear of me.”

Tyrone could see Valerie’s point. “All right. I’m going to call your cousin Robin. He’ll know of someone who–”

However, Tyrone stopped in mid sentence when another presence entered the room. Caleb, son of the Supreme Alpha Pair, and Tyrone and Valerie’s great-uncle, materialized before them in an instant. “That is not necessary, Tyrone. Mother has sent me to protect Valerie myself and to see that she gets where she is supposed to be. It is better late than never that Valerie came to you, but she did come of her own accord. That, along with what she is doing to aid Lenora, has worked in her favor in the eyes of the Supreme Alpha Pair,” said Caleb.

“I am beholden,” Valerie said, ducking her head, then bowing.

“I thank you for your appearance and help, Great-Uncle. I will also give thanks to the Supreme Alpha Pair in my prayers tonight,” Tyrone added.

The great blond wolf inclined his head. “What is the rest of your plan, Tyrone?”

“I wanted Valerie to go to our sire and mother’s house to stay with them until the danger is past. Mother has magical wards on their home so any enemies or unwanted people cannot find them. She will be safe there.” He paced the floor, his mind working at top speed. “She needs to tell them everything she told me. Robin will need to know as well, for he may have ideas on how to get to Lenora. I also think Valerie needs to speak with Mathilda and Grandda Liam. Valerie physically cannot reveal my Lenora’s whereabouts or who has her, but perhaps one of them could communicate telepathically with Val to get the information. I’d try here and now, but in my current state, I fear I may unwittingly harm her.”

Valerie shook her head again. “It won’t work, Tyrone. The binding magic is entwined within me…within my mind. I’ve a gut feel that the telepathic messages will be blocked and give me a blinder of a headache if I even tried. Even having someone attempt to extract it from me with or without my cooperation will result in the same thing. I’m afraid it does the same to Neil. He told me once about trying to drive to the hideout but his mind locked up. I think he was allowed in only because I got permission to bring him, but the binding spells keep him from revealing the location or getting himself there without me. There is only one way I can think of for you to get this information.”

Tyrone’s agitation was growing by the second. The Wolf wanted to spring into action, and he wanted to do it now. “How? Just how the hell do we do it?”

“A Seer can get it,” Valerie said simply.

It was Tyrone’s turn to shake his head. “How can that happen if Lenora herself doesn’t even know where she’s at?”

“Not Lenora,” Valerie whispered. “I don’t think they counted on anyone else having Lenora’s kind of power, and that’s where they screwed up. Ask Aurora. She can get it.”

Tyrone let loose with such a ferocious growl that it literally shook the house. “Are you out of your fucking mind?! How dare you even suggest such a thing! I could just–”

“You know what she is…what she can do. It’s the only way.” Valerie’s gaze was unflinching, her words growling with utmost conviction. “I think…no, I’m positive that she’s become even more powerful than you realize. Why do you think I haven’t let her hug me or even touch me for a long time now?”

Tyrone was seething. “And that is another way you’ve hurt her…hurt all of us. Time and time again, you’ve rebuffed her, and that broke her heart.”

“I know and I’m sorry for it, but I just couldn’t let that sweet girl see the awful things I’ve done,” Valerie said, then swallowed hard.

“And now, you conveniently want me to send my daughter to you, to put her through even more and possibly risk her health as well? I don’t think so,” Tyrone fired back, every word ending on a growl.

“Tyrone, she’s not a child anymore. She’s fifteen, almost sixteen, and she would help. You know she would. She’s old enough to get why I don’t touch her, and she gets it. She doesn’t even try, but the way she looks at me–” Valerie pressed her fingers over her eyelids, trying desperately to push back the flow of tears that were at the surface. “The last time when we had our family dinner at Mom and Dad’s, she looked at me…she looked at me with the same exact expression Lenora does…and said into my mind that she loved me and would try not to Look unless I wanted her to. God, Tyrone, wake up and take a look…a good look at your daughter! She’s just like her mother in so many ways.”

“How dare you! How…dare…you!” Every muscle in Wolf Tyrone’s body shook with unhindered rage. Whipping around with lightning fast speed, he glared at his equally enraged sister, both of them now nose to nose. “I know exactly who and what my daughter is. Are you so stupid to think I’ve been oblivious to my children, who they are, and what they are feeling? Who was it that comforted them after telling them their mother had just died? Who sat up with Aurora and held her every night, all night long, for SIX MONTHS when she had night terrors about her mother’s death and the earthquake and woke up screaming and shaking? Who was it that wiped tears from Andrea’s cheeks after she cried herself to sleep every goddamn night for a year? Who was it that had to talk Chris through his rage and grief while he blamed his mother for leaving him? Who carried Jonas to the bathroom and held his head over the toilet while he puked his guts up every time he grieved for his mother so bad that he literally made himself sick? Their sire, that’s who. Me, Valerie…me, dammit! So don’t you even go there. You don’t get to waltz in here and–”

“ENOUGH!” Caleb’s normally soft, soothing voice rose to a warrior level, a level he used only when preparing for battle or needing to break one up. Before the word was even completed, Caleb was between Tyrone and Valerie, easily separating them. “Both of you, sit. Now! One on the sofa, one in the chair. You are to calm yourselves and change back to human form. Got it?” Caleb lowered his vocal volume, but his tones still brooked no argument. Wordlessly, the siblings meekly obeyed.

For a couple minutes, the only sound was the harsh breathing of the siblings as both tried to regain their wits. Only when Tyrone and Valerie’s breathing regained a more normal rate and they resumed human form did Caleb speak again. “That’s better. Now then, both of you are in the right. Tyrone is far from oblivious to the needs of his cubs…his pack. He is quite aware of Aurora’s talents and is certainly acting out of love to not want Aurora to See disturbing things or put her at risk. However, Valerie is right, too. Aurora is the key to locating Lenora. Deep down, you know this, Tyrone. Aurora herself has even told you this, that it will be her visions that will guide you to Lenora. Am I wrong?”

Tyrone sighed, his shoulders slumping. “No, Your Greatness, you are not wrong. Aurora is willing, very much so, and appears to believe she’s prepared to–” Tyrone swallowed hard against the sudden lump that rose to his throat. “Oh, my sweet girl! My sweet, beautiful princess. What I’ve already put her through. How can I ask this of her?”

“You did not ask this of her. She readily volunteered and would be sorely brokenhearted if you did not allow her to use her gifts. She loves you so very much and holds absolutely no blame toward you for anything. If you stifle her, Tyrone, know this. Lenora will remain in captivity for an unknown amount of time, and Aurora will blame and resent you for coddling her too much.”

Tyrone groaned in frustration and defeat, his mind taking him back in time to the heart-to-heart he’d had with Aurora shortly after her birthday. You’re so young to be such a wise, old soul, he’d said to her. Oh, Great Drogo, she’d grown up so much in just a blink of an eye.

Tyrone breathed out a long, resigned breath through pursed lips. “Okay. I guess there is no choice. I won’t try to discourage her anymore. Please…just tell me I haven’t sacrificed my daughter in exchange for my mate. My Lenora would never forgive me if I let anything happen to any of our children.”

“Aurora will be all right. She is strong and courageous, just like her sire and dam. Do not fret. This is but only the beginning of the path Aurora is destined to follow,” said Caleb. “You are also to allow her to attend the exhumation. Her gifts will be helpful and necessary.”

Tyrone rubbed his tired eyes. “If Aurora wants to attend, I won’t stop her. That goes for any of the kids.”

“Good. Now, I do have a ray of happiness to share. You will get a telepathic message from Aurora later today asking you to have dinner at your twin’s home. You are to agree to this. Aurora has made a special friend, one who will help jumpstart her career. She will have happy tidings to share with you, which will be only the first step in her success. Be happy and rejoice with her, for she will make you and your True Mate very proud,” said Caleb, a soft smile on his face now replacing the warrior frown of minutes before.

“She has already made me so proud…so very proud. My Lenora will be proud as well…once she knows.” Tyrone had to once again blink back surfacing tears.

Wordlessly, Valerie nodded toward the desk, indicating the journal she’d placed beside the manila folder.

Tyrone hadn’t paid much attention to the book until now. Again, his Sixth Sense clanged, and his olfactory senses exploded. “Lenora! It smells…like…my Lenora.” As if in a trance, Tyrone made his way to the desk, gently picked up the journal, tenderly caressed the cover, and held it to his heart.

“I’ve been smuggling in blank journals for her. This is the first one she’s filled, and as you can see, it’s humongous. She wants you to read it,” Valerie said.

Tyrone couldn’t speak. His throat was clogged with tears, and his heart was overwrought with emotion. Except for Lenora’s very brief, very occasional telepathic messages, this was the first piece of her he’d received indicating that she was truly alive.

When Tyrone could form words, it was through a very tight throat. “Thank you.” He was sure Valerie had smuggled out the journal – this tangible, very real piece of his Lenora – at great personal risk. It meant more to him than he could possibly express. Unable to say anything else, he brought Valerie close and hugged her. Relieved when she didn’t resist, he tightened his hold…and wept.

Author’s Note: I’m sorry if what is happening seems to be all over the place. This kind of story can get that way, and it’s inevitable that some things are going to happen “off camera.” I honestly was stuck for a long time in terms of what the Sam Hill I was gonna do about Valerie and Neil, for that matter. I figured that unless Val (Neil, too) came clean before she got implicated, it would be awfully hard, if not impossible, to redeem her. We haven’t seen neither Valerie nor Neil for a while, and I had to figure out how to pull them back in. I think it’s safe to say they’ve been up to a LOT off screen. We’ll definitely be hearing from them soon when we revisit Lenora and her captors, which will (hopefully) do a bit more of getting them all up-to-date and tying things together a bit more.

Ah, but I digress. As I was saying, I wrote myself into a box concerning Valerie (Neil, too). She needed to confess, and I had to come up with something as to why, in the name of the Supreme Alpha Pair, she would have kept all this secret for so long. I hope you like what my muse, my Supernatural heart, and I came up with. Magic is a very, very strange thing that can do so, so much good but also do irreparable damage. Imagine how hard and frightening it would be to physically not be able to reveal something, your attempts being blocked by dark magic every time you try.

Please forgive me if I’ve mentioned this in an earlier post. I hope you like the updated look of my screenshots. I’ve found a new BFF in Canva and recently started using it to brighten and edit my shots. I use it for just about everything. I highly recommend Canva and feel it has brought my screenshots to a whole new level.

One final note: the poses used for this chapter are unavailable, I’m sure. These are from the early days of TS3. My heart grows heavier every time I discover more and more TS3 creations being deleted and impossible to find.

As always, thank you all so much for reading, commenting, liking and subscribing. 🙂