Rising from the Ashes
Chapter 26

Charlotte had always proven to be strange. She was the first in the orphanage to shift and it was rather young. Six was the age. She had disappeared in the forest and she had come back as her wolf. The usual age to connect with your wolf is puberty. 12. 13. It was a large enough age gap to have people watching her for years to come, insisting she would be powerful.

The sudden attention had been more than unwanted on Charlotte's end. Before she shifted she had been known as the runt of the pack. She was known as the mute. Unable to speak. Weak for it. Except she had first spoken to Elenora when she was three. She had called her mother and Elenora had never forgotten, never spoken of the words they shared together.

From a young age she had connected more with the forest than she had with any werewolf in the pack or orphanage. She had taken to hiding in the shadows of corners. She preferred to listen, to watch silently. The earth seemed to embrace her in a way. Elenora could have sworn things grew where Charlotte stepped. Flowers would appear to trail behind her but Anthony had insisted Elenora were imagining it all, that the path of flowers had always been there. As she got older it happened less.

The timeline of Charlotte's life runs through her head as she hovers above the map. Strangest of all would be how they had found her new born self. She was found at the edge of the border, bare body covered in dried blood.

Why would they want her? Perhaps it was Vermont. He is alive after all and he does know about Charlotte. Except how would a man like Vermont come to know creatures such as these? Vermont would have seized the opportunity to take her as well. No point in wasting time. Something like this would raise everybody's guard. Vermont has always tried to be more subtle. He has always moved in shadows. Nobody knew the threat until it was too late.

If not Vermont than who? What are they? What has the ability to shift to look like somebody completely different with such a likeness. They even smelled the same. The only thing different was the aura, the feelings. Those can be manipulated easily enough. They could wear charms to fake an aura. Mask it. Alpha Scott thinks it is likely they remain inside the border walls. According to the warriors covering the borders, nobody left after 9 o'clock. The invasion happened much sooner. The last to enter was Warrior Apollo and he has been questioned thoroughly.

Alpha Scott is questioning everybody in the pack after he heard the ability the invaders possess. Nobody had mentioned that if there was an imposter they might have been here for years. Alpha Scott thinks it unlikely but still he has acknowledged it as a possibility rather reluctantly. Alpha Scott thinks that they are still in the pack but Nakoa believes it best to look outside of the borders.

Nakoa insist that it is unlikely anybody would be capable of capturing Charlotte and keeping her silent. She would find a way to escape. They have to be outside of the borders. Elenora had not told him that they probably have her drugged to avoid such resistance. Still Elenora agrees it is likely they are outside of the borders. She had seen what they can do. How they can change faces to look like those we might trust. Most importantly she had seen the way they had been there until they weren't. They had disappeared before her eyes. One moment she saw her daughter, struggling in Nakoa's -its arms and the next they were...gone.

What can do that? Why is it she did not hear her daughters screams? Did they have a witch on their side? A warlock by chance? What is it they want? Elenora will gladly walk towards them in a trade but nobody has stepped forward with any sort of bargain. Nobody has tried for a trade. They have heard no word and it has been two weeks! It is said that there is a lost portal somewhere near the Bluemoon pack. Perhaps they stumbled upon it and they are in an entirely different realm. What could they do to save Charlotte then? "You need rest." Nakoa comes up behind her. His hands find her tense shoulders and his fingers start to expertly massage in a feeble attempt to calm her. It does not work at all. Elenora focuses on the map and trails her fingers around every surrounding pack near here. "You need to eat. We will find her my love." He whispers the promise quietly, his hands moving to circle her wrist. Elenora gently grabs his hands and removes them, eyes focused on the map.

"I need to find her."

"And you will do so half dead will you?" It is his turn to grab her hand, to force her eyes away from the map she had been glaring holes into for the past five hours. "Please look at me." It should not be hard to look at his face. He feels like her mate. He looks like her mate.

Except it is hard. It is damn near impossible to look at the face haunting her nightmares. The few times she managed to close her eyes it is his face that had haunted her dreams. It is his laugh she hears taunting her. His hands grabbing her daughter before they both disappear. Except these eyes are not the wicked ones from her dreams. These eyes, brown and red, are the ones she had come to love. Still Elenora finds herself pulling away from him once again. "I will be attending court to plead my case. It has been two weeks and-" Her voice cracks and Elenora finds herself squeezing her eyes shut. She will not cry. She won't. Crying will not change what has happened. Crying will not help Charlotte. Fighting will. "And hopefully King Stavros will help." Elenora forces her eyes open "You will have to stay here. Continue searching but I cannot trust-"

"Me?"

"They have worn your face once before Nakoa. I cannot trust anybody and I need you here anyways."

"I can send a message to the king but messages are easily compromised Elenora. You would be treated as any rogue and he might throw you in the cells. Please," He grabs her once again, a desperate attempt and he does look very desperate. "It would be better for your safety if you stay here."

Elenora kisses him. She will leave. She needs to leave. She will beg for the King's help and if he refuses, "There is no line I won't cross to get Charlotte back Nakoa. I will do whatever it takes. Whatever." He must have seen something in her eyes because his flash red before he storms out. He is most likely looking to find a way to keep her here. To keep her safe. Elenora smiles bitterly. She has never been safe. She has had enemies from the time she was brought into this life. She had inherited them from whoever her parents are. Elenora pushes those thoughts away. It is not something she wants to think on now and she will find out soon enough anyways.

Once again Elenora hovers over the map. The fastest route is if she travels southwest. It is also the most dangerous. She could either go through the more dangerous packs and risk getting thrown in a cell or hung, or she can go around and add days to her trip. If things go well Elenora is looking at three days of travel and that is if she does not stop during nights. If things go poorly than she is looking at five days until she reaches the Kingdom. With a sigh Elenora sits on the stool and starts writing up plans. She will leave in thirty. That will give her enough time to collect some belongings and stop by Alpha Scott's place for a car. Elenora rolls up the map and throws it in her bag alongside all her notes and what little cash she has. She would say goodbye to Nakoa if not for the worry he'd find some way to stop her. This needs to be done.

For her daughter.

When she steps outside of her cabin she comes face to face with multiple warriors. Eight of them stand behind a familiar smiling face. Elenora is certain she knows what the meaning of this is but still she finds herself asking "Warrior Thompson? What-"

"Seize her! She is wanted for treason of the highest decree-!"

"Shut up you moron!" One of the larger warriors smacks warrior Thompson over the head. He merely glares at him and turns towards Elenora with an apologetic smile.

"Can you believe these guys milady? Wouldn't know a joke if it kicked them in the jewels. We are taking you in our custody. You're wanted for questioning." With that Warrior Thompson slaps a pair of cuffs on her hands. The chains rattle with her movements and Elenora test the strength on instinct.

"How long will it take you to ask these questions warrior Thompson?" Elenora snaps, her hands growing hot with the same fire that has been demanding release since her daughter was taken.

"You know these things can take minutes, hours, days, months-"

"About as long as it takes to find my kid I assume."

"That's an outrageous thing for you to say!" Warrior Thompson gasp as he leads her towards the pack house. Elenora keeps her eyes forward "Though the time of your release and the time of your daughters safe arrival might be suspiciously close in time." He acknowledges. Elenora elbows the man who whines his pain rather dramatically.

Elenora had smelled him before she spotted her mate. He is high up in the trees. Watching. He does not smile as if he won some battle. His apology floats in the air "We will find her Elenora but I will not risk your safety in the process of it." It is a whisper, heard only because of her sensitive ears.

"Mark my words Nakoa Bardrick." Elenora seethes, her eyes meeting his from the distance "If I find my daughter dead nobody will be able to save you from me." Elenora growls. It is Marcella that comes out to say it. It is Marcella that leaves her word bound not in blood but with something more.

"Threatening one of the Kings Alpha's." Warrior Thompson smiles without amusement "Not that is treason." Even joking about as he does now the curse reveals his pain. Always the lingering pain with this man. It also reveals his determination. For what? To keep her safe? To find Charlotte? Something else entirely? "I wonder if it counts when it comes from the Alpha's mate? You know I don't think it does. I heard that the queen threatened to kill King Stavros while she was giving birth. I believe it too what with-"

"If you do not shut your mouth I will cut your tongue off." Elenora threatens.

"My oh my! That's what we were forgetting! Oh faithful servants of mine. Seize her weapons so she may do us no harm-"

"Perhaps I might cut out his tongue myself." One of the warriors grumble as they take her knives from both her belt and boots.

Elenora lets them shove her into the cell before slamming the door shut. She could have escaped while she was out there but more would have died. More would have been injured. If she does this right there will be no death and she might make it far enough out that she does not get caught. Nakoa will stay. He knows it is more important to continue his search here. He knows she will never forgive him if she finds Charlotte dead. "I still consider you a friend milady." Warrior Thompson steps forward. He does not touch the bars nor does he get close enough for Elenora to pull him towards them if she was angry enough to do so. "I do this for your safety." With that he leaves with four of the men. Elenora stares at the four left to guard her and wonders if she should be happy with the faith they have in her ability to escape.

Four is a bit much isn't it? Elenora waits long enough for the door to the cells to shut, blocking all noise. "It is against the law to apprehend somebody without cause." They merely turn their backs on her. Elenora focuses. Calls the flames forward. They embrace the metal cuffs. Melt them. At first the smell is almost metallic. Elenora bites her tongue to resist the urge to scream her pain. Fire does not burn her. Hot metal? That burns. It burns so much she cannot help the silent tears. Charlotte. She will go to the Kingdom. She will demand the kings help. He will help her or he will pay endlessly. She will have her daughter. No matter the cost. "She's melting the chains off!" The guard calls. They try to run for help. Try to warn somebody. Elenora is quick. Her fire shapes itself into fiery soldiers that walk straight through the bars. "Stop her! Elenora if you do this you will be committing countless crimes-" He screams as the fire whips against his skin. Nobody escapes.

Their burns will heal and perhaps Alpha Scott will forgive her. Perhaps he will understand. She might not be welcome in this pack but Elenora suspects the Bloodmoon pack will welcome her with open arms. Elenora closes the warriors in. Two of them are severely injured. If they are found in time, if their wounds are treated correctly then they will be good as new. "Standing in the way of a mother and her child is a mistake." Elenora whispers to the warriors "I advise you not to make the same one twice." With that Elenora climbs the stairs, her wrist burnt and her body aching. The moment she opens the door she shifts into Marcella and she runs as fast as her legs will take her.

AUTHORS NOTE

Did I forget about you guys? Never! Did I decide last minute that I did not like how I wrote the chapter originally and did I by chance delete the entire thing before started anew? Why yes! I absolutely did that!

I would have published it sooner if not for the fact that after I had rewritten it to my liking it ended up deleted by accident. I was furious but atlas I started again and tried to write it the way I liked. That being said there might be some grammar mistakes. I'll fix them another day.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I appreciate you all so much!

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