[RAZIA]
[Still, FOURTEEN MONTHS AGO]
"I can't. My daughter has been through hell and back in the name of making life better for the Sicario wolves. If she knew her mate and brother were plotting against her, it would ruin her.
"We all know what the white wolf would do if she felt threatened," Eniola tried arguing out but she felt like she was justifying the evils of her children. How else was she to go through this?
"Speaking of the white wolf, have you told anyone what your daughter is and how powerful she is?"
"I'll take that to the end of the afterlife with me. If they don't know who she truly is at the moment, and they are plotting against her, what else would they do if they knew who she truly was? We also know how my daughter has anger issues.
"She's too lethal and that could break her bonds with humanity. I'll try to save her for as long as I live and breathe" Eniola said and her friend just looked at her.
She wanted to argue with her but Razia knew what pain did to her daily. She knew what betrayal did to the usual bonds and she knew it so well that it scared her.
"Just let me know if you need anything, I'll have all my resources at your disposal," Razia said and Eniola pulled her into a hug.
The rest of the evening, the two friends spent trying to catch up on other things that their lives ran around. It was the only thing keeping them sane and no matter what happened, they all needed to face the truth of it all.
*****
[Four days later]
"I'm worried about her, Razia. I don't know what to do. I heard them plotting again and this time, they said they would attack her where it hurts the most.
"I've been thinking and the only thing that matters to my daughter more than life itself—"Eniola began, the fear in her voice making her best friend wonder why the fuck she wasn't even on her way to Awuor to warn her daughter of the danger that was looming over her.
All she needed was to tell her child what this was and the girl would be able to do whatever was needed. It wasn't that hard, was it? But then again, Eniola was a mother and was worried about how her child would be affected by this.
"Don't say it, Eniola. It can't be. Maybe you heard them wrong. Your son can't be that open about eliminating you. You're his mother for fucks sake," Razia tried to reason with Eniola.
"It's me. I don't know what they'll do, but I know my days have just begun their countdown. They'll blame her for it. I wanna tell her, but she won't be safe if that happens. They will find other ways," Eniola said and Razia looked at her incredulously.
They were once again on the free lands with their picnic setting, even nothing about this was okay. Razia hated that her friend was in danger and she was acting like it was all so okay. Nothing about this was okay.
"But Eni—"
"I'm worried, Razia. My only daughter is the target of the man she loves and the brother she adores. That will ruin her, if she knows," Eniola cried out, her heart breaking even Razia's resolve.
"Why don't you tell Sicario then? He should at least know what to do," Razia tried.
She wasn't ready to lose her best friend. She wasn't ready for it at all. She hated that she was helpless against the Sicarios when Eniola had braved the dangers to defend her when Greyson had been sentenced to death.
"I can't. If their father knows, they will hate her even more."
"Oh, come on Eniola, you can't seriously be sacrificing your life like that!" Razia said angrily, getting up as she paced around. She couldn't believe this was truly happening. She wanted to storm into Scario, but she couldn't unless her best friend allowed her.
"Don't worry, if something happens to me, my Awuor will know what to do. She's the white wolf. I only have one request, friend. Please take care of my child. I don't know what will happen once I'm gone, but I know it won't be easy for her.
"Please take her through her transitions as the white wolf. I can't trust anyone with this. I can only trust you, and you can't tell her, not now anyway," Eniola said like she was already wishing her best friend a happy life without her. What the hell were they supposed to make of this?
"You're being too cruel, Eniola. She's your child, and has the power to protect you. She's stronger than you give her credit for. Rukiya would lock me up if she knew I was in your situation. My child would protect me with her life and I know yours definitely will too.
"You can save her from herself," Razia said, as she held back her anger and desire to walk in the direction of Sicario. It had to be something huge if Eniola Sicario was willing to sacrifice herself like this.
"I can't. Her white wolf hasn't shown and if it does show, it will be too premature. If my sacrifice is the only way she can fully gain her powers and protect herself, then that's what I'll do," Eniola said to Razia, almost like she was finally reassuring her best friend that things would be okay.
However, what would be okay with Eniola gone? She would be leaving her child in the hands of a group of people that wanted her gone. She was subjecting her to too much pain.
"Just know that I don't agree with this, but okay. I will take care of her, just like I would my Rukiya. I'll take care of Awuor," Razia said as she sat back down. She hated this, but it wasn't her choice. Sometimes sacrifices had to be made for the betterment of the future.
"Thank you, Razia. This may also be the last time we communicate. I'll try and make sure my daughter is safe, but I am not sure if that will work.
"Meanwhile not a word to Sicario or Awuor, or they will burn the pack down and that is too risky even for them," Eniola said as she pulled her best friend into another hug this was hurting her and breaking her, but if this was the price for her daughter's safety, then she would do it.
Maybe it seemed like she was leaving her daughter with the predators, but if Eniola died, Awuor would automatically become the white wolf, one so premature, but one whose anger and pain would make her strong and powerful enough that she would be able to defend herself.
And when that happened, then Eniola wouldn't have to worry about her daughter anymore. She would be able to take them down, all of them.
"I hate what you're making me do, but what choice do I have?" Razia sighed why they broke the hug.
"You love me," Eniola pouted while her best friend rifled her long hair. It hurt, but it would be okay. Or at least Eniola hoped her way to get her daughter to safety was to give her the white wolf.
"That's why I can't think of losing you. If anything happens to you and your daughter doesn't avenge you, I'll burn down Scario for you," Razia said, her tone full of promise and death lingering on her tongue.
She had loved Eniola so much and frankly, she didn't care that shit would follow Greyson. If anything, Rukiya was a strong leader who wouldn't need her as much.
"I know you would. I'm not worried," Eniola said before she got up, packed everything, and bid her friend the final goodbye. This was the type that they would never see each other again, maybe if they were reincarnated or the moon goddess saved her life.
"Goodbye sister," Razia said as she pilled Eniola into one last bone-crushing hug. She would miss everything about Eniola and that broke her heart.
"Live long Razia and stay safe," Eniola said as she walked away from where they were. She was going home, probably to her death, but what else could she do when all she wanted was to save her daughter?