Chapter 62 - Picking Up The Pieces

I race to get back to where my dad is. I wonder how he's doing. I wonder how much damage was caused. I wonder how many we've lost. I can start to feel my body weaken. "Dahlia, you've exhausted yourself" my wolf says. "I know but I have enough left in me to get back to my dad!" I say urgently. I can feel as my bones try to contort back to their original form. Body, don't fail me now. I reach the clearing of the roof top. I can see my dad surrounded by my guards. I leap off the roof and land on my paws, why did that hurt so much? I have been fighting the urge to shift human. My bones keep cracking with every step to my dad. Hold on dad, I'm almost there. Step after grueling step, I finally reach my father. "Dahlia, You're okay!" My dad said, gently laying my mom down and gripping my wolf body in a tight hug. My dad looks like hell. He's covered in blood splatter, he's covered and dirt but what makes seeing him the most painful is that his eyes are red and puffy and from his stream of tears you can see where they cleaned his face. Even now, she still had a steady stream of tears flowing down his face. "Dad it hurts" I tell him. "What hurts!?" he replied. "My body" Dahlia replied. "Get Lockhart here now!" my dad yells. "As you wish" my guards say as they rush off. "Please be okay, I can't loose you too" my dad said squeezing me tighter. A few moments later, you can see Lockhart emerge. He's beaten up and like many other's who fought; covered in blood splatter and his clothes torn. "Dahlia, what's wrong!" he asks. "My...my wolf said I exhausted my engery" I told him through mindlink. "I see! You're trying to shift back, but have become very weak. Let me grab you a blanket, once you shift back, you will be...well you know naked" Lockhart said with a hint of blush on his face. I nod my head in agreement. Jackson come flying out of the doors of the mansion, with a blanket in tow. He came over to me and laid it over my body, just exposing my wold head. "It will be okay Luna, it will be over soon" Jackson said reassuring. I can feel that familiar pain start to creep up again. Bones, breaking and my limbs bending and twisting to their original form. I let out a chilling howl, one the pack knew very well; one of pain. I looked up to the moon to give me strength. I could see the eclipse was almost finished. Mid howl, it turned into a scream, as my body shifted back to my human self. "Thank god!" my dad said. "Let me just secure the blanket and give you a quick check" Lockhart said. Lockhart was quick and discreet. Their brand new Luna was butt naked, looking like an abuse victim, covered in blood and bruises. "You're a little bruised but I'm sure you will make a full recovery and all your injuries will heal" Lockhart exclaimed. Lockhart re-examines my wrist. He looks at it suspiciously, he sees what looks like a tiny red quill on my wrist. "You made a blood pact!?" Lockhart exclaimed. "Dahlia, you did what!" my dad said angrily. "Yes, I made a blood pact with Tobias, to put an end to this war. If I turn into my birth parents my life is forfeit" Dahlia says. "Look, I couldn't kill him, I killed Caroline, I was caught up in rage. I know he's done a lot of bad but we need to break that cycle, if we're ever going to be a successful package again" Dahlia stated. "I was caught up in our life or death battle, maybe I should have asked but I just felt like it was the right choice" Dahlia said again. "I'm just worried about the contract, Dahlia" my dad said. "Whats there to worry about, I will never been my birth parents" Dahlia said. "You make a good point, buy let that be the last careless decision we make from here on out" My father stated. "Dad, will you be okay?" Dahlia finally asked. "It will be hard but I have more than enough reason to keep fighting and that's you" My dad exclaimed. "Lockhart, help me prepare Emma" my dad said coldly. We stayed an watch as a white sheets were brought by the nurses. They laid them out on the garden floor. They picked my mom up gently and placed her in the sheet. The wrapped her up. "All finished" Lockhart said. "We will clean her up and prepare her for..." Lockhart couldn't finish his sentence. "Thank you Lockhart, you've been a very good friend to us. We will arrange the funerals for tomorrow night" my dad stated. "What are the casualties?" my dad asked. "We lost a couple orphan pups, some elderly and Emma. It brings the total to 13" Lockhart said with tears falling from his eyes. It was so sad to see them in this state, I wish I could have done more sooner. "Jackson, take Dahlia to her room to get cleaned up and rest, she is still very week. I will see you in the morning" my dad said. "Right, please rest Luna. We will work on cleaning up" Lockhart said. "Have my royal guards help you" Dahila commaned. "As you wish Luna" Lockhart said with a bow. "Paige, you will keep me company this evening and help me" Dahlia commanded. "As you wish" Paige replied. "Jackson, I'm ready to go back to my room" Dahlia stated. "Yes, Luna" Jackson replied. No other words were exchanged. Jackson scooped me up in his arms, accompanied by Paige and they escorted me to my room. Who knew, by simply entering the mansion would cause my emotions to flash flood my mind. I didn't realize I started to cry. I buried my head in Jackson's chest while he carried me. The mansion was filled with painful sobs and screams. I must have had a break down. I caused my guards to join me in my sorrow as they started to cry because of how much pain I was in. When we finally arrived to my room, Jackson placed me on the bed. "I will take my leave now, Luna. Paige take good care of her" Jackson said with a bow and left my room. I sat on the bed with my knees to my chest, still wrapped up in the blanket, Lockhart gave me. Paige watched as I cried, and cried. It must have been a pitiful sight, Paige could barely deal with looking at me with out sobbing herself. "I will run you a hot bath Luna" Paige stated. I watch as she walked over to my oversized tub and turned on the water. Paige added some eucalyptus bubble bath to the stream of flowing water, coming from the tub. "Your bath is ready" Paige stated. She walked over to me and unwrapped my blanket. I was once again scooped up bridal style and she walked over and gently placed me in the tub. "Thank you" I barely managed. "You're welcome, my Luna" Paige replied. I sat there for a few minutes in silence. I was still sniffling and I still had involuntary tears fall. "Paige" I whisper. "Yes, Luna" Paige replied rushing to my side. "My....My...My...Mother is dead" Dahlia said. You could hear how broken she was. The sobs and whimpers, you could feel the pain in your soul. Paige tried to comfort me and placed my head on her chest, while she held me tightly, while I continued to cry. "I know" is all Paige managed to say because she broke down, once again joining me, as I express my pain and sorrow.