CHAPTER FORTY THREE
Karen listened to Ralph's heart beat as she laid on his chest and when his breathing became even, she gradually lifted her head. She looked at Ralph, her amazing Ralph. Why was she doing this?
Three years ago
"Mother, when is dad coming back? It has been four days already and we still can't get to him" said Karen.
"I really do not know Karen. I don't even know what to do but if by tomorrow he is still not back, we journey to Red Moon Pack to inform the Supreme Alpha" said Karen's mother.
"Do you think he would listen to us?" asked Karen.
"We have heard of his ruthlessness and the extreme terror he mets out to everyone who makes a slight mistake but that won't deter me from reaching out to my mate!" said Karen's mother and she drew Karen closer to herself in a big hug. Karen hugged her mother back and began to pat her mother's back just like her father does whenever she is anxious.
"It's going to be fine" said Karen.
"Yes my love, it is. Your father would be so proud of you. You have been worth more than seven sons" complimented her mother.
"The Alpha is back! The Alpha is alive! Someone call the pack healer!" yelled a warrior. Karen and her mother looked at each other before they bolted through the door. They ran down the stairs in a hurry and saw pack warriors around Thomas Zayn, Karen's father.
"Thomas"
"Father"
Karen and her mother crouched by his side and her mother was so happy seeing him buy what was he doing on the floor and what was with the blood on his belly. Karen placed her hand close to his side and felt something sticky and wet, she raised up her hand to her face and her hand was filled with blood…her father and Alpha's blood.
The pack healer and her workers were seen racing down but her father's eyes began to close gradually.
"Thomas! Stay with me!" said her mother as she stirred his face to face her face. "Beautiful mate, why… why are you crying? We would always be together regardless. This is not the end!"
"Stop talking like that Thomas, why are you speaking like you want to leave me?" asked Karen's mother..
"Oh sweet mate.." said Karen's dad slowly and he rose his hand to touch her face but he noticed there was blood on it, so he wanted to drop his hand back but Karen's mother held his hand and placed it by her face.
"Who did this to you dad?" asked Karen as tears dropped from her eyes. She still had things and adventures she wanted her dad and herself to participate in. She had not even found her mate and…and he wanted to leave her!
"Karen baby! Never forget to fight for this pack. This is where the foundation of your life was founded. Protect and love the people as you rule. I am so sorry I won't be here to see you rule but I have no doubt that you would rule exce…excellent " said Karen's dad as blood began to spurt out from his mouth
"Why aren't you healing? Who did this dad?" asjed Karen as she watched her dad begin to jerk as the pack healer tried to check him.
"Supreme Alpha…The Supreme Alpha is…" said Karen's dad before he trailed off and with his eyes still opened, life left him.
"Noooo!" screamed her mother as she went uncontrollably and drew her mate's dead body close. Karen stayed in thar crouched position, unmoving as she stared into the distance.
As her father was being buried the next day, she made a vow to her father that she was going to avenge her father's death by killing the Supreme Alpha. A gust of wind blew at that moment and as the myth goes that whenever you make a vow by a person's grave, a sign that you were heard is that a mighty wind would blow at that exact moment. Everyone shielded their faces from the wind but she did nothing as the wind blew her hair to her face…she was sure her father had heard her.
The next day, her cousin Luke Zeref had raided her pack, killing her mother by tying her to a rock and throwing the rock in the sea. Her cousin could only succeed because the pack was weak at that moment and she had been thrown into the farthest and deepest dungeon in the pack, reserved for hardened criminals as she refused to bow to Luke and be his mate. For every passing second in that dungeon, she had blamed it on the Supreme Alpha and her blood was riled with courage and strength anytime she thought of her revenge but little did she know that the one person who would take her to the light, out of the darkness she had been stuck in, was the very one who she thought put her there.
"I'm sorry Ralph. I can't kill you and neither can I let my father's death go that way. I have a pack to get back to you and persons whose lives depend on this. I love you Ralph Hernandez" said Karen as she placed a light peck on his cheek and like a baby would, he smiled…
'He must be having a good dream!' she thought as she carefully removed his hand around her. She took her bag and quietly ran out of the cave. She ran and ran for a very long time, until she came out on a free road. Persons we're moving about busily and she covered her head with the call of her hoodie before she mixed with the crowd.
Sunlight streaked on Ralph's face and he woke up to its burning effect. He used his hand to block out the sun before rolling off that side. His body felt smooth and delighted like a new born's. He had the best night of his life and he slept the most peaceful he had ever in his entire existence but he soon noticed that the reason for the joy he was feeling was not by his side.
"Karen!" called Ralph as he sat up. He checked inside the cave but she was nowhere around.
'Could she be taking a bath?' thought Ralph as he walked out of the cave to the direction of the lake. He got there and the lake was still except the usual slight movement the surface makes.
'Where could she be? Did rogues attack this forest and take her…from my side? Impossible! Or did she leave to do something and they came to take her? Impossible!'
He shifted and ran back to the mansion to check if she was there. She wasn't and so was Stephan! What was happening?
He mobilized the best trackers and warriors to follow him into the woods to search for her and they began to search but they could not find her. Dexter decided to check the cave since that was the last place the Alpha said he saw her, before he made any possible suggestions. Almost at the mouth of the cave, he saw an envelope with a small rock on top of it. Boldly written on the letter was, "To Ralph, from Karen!'
Dexter immediately looked for Ralph and handed him the letter.
Ralph hurriedly collected it and tore it open before bringing out the letter. It was not looking like something that was freshly written but he read it all the same..