Unable to disregard the pleas in Avery's voice, Vivian carefully considered whatever viable options she could think of. Her niece's mother had passed during childbirth and Victor, her brother, offered no parental care to his omega daughter.
After all, if a firstborn was declared an omega at birth, it was considered shame and disappointment amongst the pack members.
The firstborn must always be procured as an Alpha; if not, the parents would face the brunt of societal judgement and disgrace.
Hence, since birth, Avery had been cruelly abandoned. It was Vivian, as young and naive as she was herself, who reared her niece under her wing and cared for her in the absence of her parents.
Thus, now that Vivian had fled from Moonborn to save herself, Avery was yet again abandoned to be used in an arranged mating when she was older.
Vivian would never forgive herself if she allowed Avery to experience the same woeful torment as herself.
However, there would still be some problematic issues arising now that Avery fled from Moonborn.
Ronan, on the other hand, observed in earnest silence. He was no stranger to the evident dilemmas reflected in the emerald hue of Vivian's eyes, but at length he was suspicious of Avery's sudden appearance.
Did the young wolf truly flee from Moonborn in concern for her aunt?
Vivian gently laid Avery to sit on the boulder, pressing a soft kiss atop the child's forehead.
"Can you wait here for me, Avery?" Vivian smiled warmly in reassurance. "I will not be far off. You're safe here."
Avery nodded understandingly, reluctantly releasing her aunt's hand.
Vivian approached Ronan, boldly grabbing the Lycan Alpha's hand and making him trot after her into the valley away from the cave.
Ronan didn't question nor argue.
Good. She's not afraid to touch me. The Lycan Alpha noticed, silently pleased that Vivian's smaller hand grasped his larger one so tightly.
When Vivian declared a suitable spot, she halted. Releasing Ronan's hand, she spun around, perched her hands on her hips and breathed a deeply troubled sigh.
Ronan folded his arms across his chest, patiently waiting.
"I don't know what to do," Vivian admitted. She began anxiously pacing around, her hand flying to her forehead in worry. "She's just a child and she has no one except me... but Moonborn will come for her."
"They can only dare to try," Ronan said warningly, eyes narrowed. "No Moonborn wolf is fortunate to cross into ShadowFall and leave alive."
Vivian crouched on her haunches, huddling her arms around herself. She shook her head as tears sprung unbidden to her eyes.
"I'm so foolish," she sobbed, berating herself for going ahead with her own escape. "I should never have fled. I should never have left her alone."
The Lycan Alpha's heart lurched.
Seeing Vivian in pain and tears only made him frown.
He wasn't exactly the most eligible man for providing emotional support and comfort, but he kneeled in front of Vivian and gathered her into his arms.
"Sshh, you can't blame yourself," Ronan reminded her. "What could you have done by yourself in this condition, hmm? You were on the brink of death and they would have killed you had you not fled into my lands."
As cruel and insensitive as it sounded, Vivian had to be made aware that if she remained back for Avery's sake, she would be put to her death in a heartbeat.
What use would she be to her niece then?
Ronan was right. What could she have done if she was dead?
"I thought about taking her with me." Vivian mumbled, her voice muffled by his chest. "But I didn't want to be selfish. I didn't want to separate her from her family."
"You're her only family," Ronan remarked. He cupped her face, wiping away the tears with the pads of his thumbs. "Did she really have anyone else other than you to consider in that pack as family? I despise Moonborn and I still don't know much about you, but when I looked at that child, I saw the eyes of someone clinging to their mother. You."
Vivian had never seen such sincerity in anyone's eyes before in the way she saw it in Ronan's gaze, filled with understanding and care. His brows were furrowed but his eyes softened down at her.
"Do you really think it's ok for me to keep her with me? Wouldn't that…be an inconvenience to you? I don't have any wealth to my name so I can't take care of Avery financially—" Vivian began to ramble on, but her concerns were cut off by a soft kiss to her lips.
Ronan had silenced her with a gentle touch of lips, cradling the back of her head to calm her down.
"You are my mate," the Lycan Alpha said firmly, although slightly unsure of his next words, his beastly half's instincts approved. "And I will care for you. Wealth is insignificant." He found himself chuckling as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and then smirked. "I'm a fairly rich man, sweetheart."
His eyes flashed amber this time with his last words.
"ShadowFall is not my main territory or abode. I can take care of both you and Avery if you want me to."
It was the Lycan speaking.
"But I must admit, I find it strange that your niece suddenly fled to ShadowFall. It's possible Moonborn may have sent her here for a reason," Ronan speculated with a dark gaze, his Lycan half suppressed against.
Vivian knew the Lycan Alpha had no reason to trust her or Avery so his suspicions were justified.
She needed to find out the truth from Avery. Did her niece truly flee to ShadowFall because of her future marriage and mating prospect or did Moonborn threaten her and send her into Lycan territory with a motive?
"I don't want to doubt Avery," Vivian said, swallowing as she sniffled once calmed down. "But my father can be cruel and cunning. I will try to ask her if she knows anything or if there's a reason she could be here."
Ronan nodded.
"We are losing time. We'll take her with us to the nearby town."