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Acacia/Ciarán - Age 16

After Grandpa Keir shifts back to skin and new clothes are adorned, the packs wait in complete silence while Sophia trembles. Quinn has tears streaming down her cheeks while she hiccups a sob...regardless if she accepted the inevitable death of her mate...his soul being ripped away from their bond still causes her indescribable pain.

Grandpa Keir turns to Quinn and states, "Your mate was a traitor an-"

"I understand," Quinn manages to steady her voice as she holds the baby in her arms, small cries coming from the tiny form. She swallows hard and nods replying, "If you wish to kill or exile me, I accept this fate."

Grandpa Keir's eyes remain on her as he says, "Your death is not warranted, however-"

"If you are to turn her away and exile her from your pack," Etain raises her voice and claims with pride, "for her discretion, Quinn Hale is welcomed into the Mercy Matrons with open arms."

Quinn's eyes widen as if a light suddenly shines down on her form at those words. The understanding that Etain recognizes doesn't go unnoticed because Grandpa Keir and Alpha Chris nod their response.

Quinn turns to her daughter and shifts the baby into her arms as is does not belong to Quinn herself...but to Sophia. Quinn steps back and away, watching as Sophia stares at her mother with shock and cries, "Mom?? What about me?!" She's in a panic...

...though Grandpa Keir steps in.

Grandpa Keir next sentences Sophia with a commanding tone, "For your selfish act of treason with a secret kept under your father's guidance...I, Alpha Keir Wood, exile you, Sophia Hale from the Silent Stars Pack."

Sophia stares at him with complete shock as she glances from Grandpa Keir and then to Alpha Chris, begging him, "Alpha Chris, pl-"

"You disgrace your pack and yourself," Alpha Chris snaps with anger and snarls, "you have no allies among the Crusaders Pack."

My heart is beating fast in my chest as Sophia looks around at anyone for help, but she receives the iciest of looks that rival my mom's. Even when her gaze lands on me briefly, I see the pain she holds, but she brought this on herself, and I hold no sympathy for her.

Sophia's voice is so watery as she then snaps to Grandpa Keir, "Bu-But how am I supposed to raise a baby as a rogue?!" Tears are streaming down her cheeks at this point, and I watch the way my grandpa regards her.

Etain looks hard at Grandpa Keir, watching and waiting for his response...

Grandpa Keir's voice holds power when he says, "Your child was born into the Silent Stars Pack and is welcome however, you will never be," he pauses a moment before I see Etain's features soften, "you can surrender your child, and I will take it in as my blood..." as his voice trails off, Etain's eyes widen.

She's used to packs forsaking what would be an orphan or a rogue child...

...there is so much respect I see that she holds for Grandpa Keir.

Sophia is staring hard for a moment while she thinks hard and finally swallows before saying, "I surrender my child," she is almost hesitant as she approaches Grandpa Keir, but he's not harsh in the slightest as he takes the baby from her gently. After the transfer, he looks at her and sets the law down, "Should you return to this territory, you will be killed on site."

Sophia is crying as she nods her response while she's given a few minutes to get whatever belongings she can take with her with the escort of a Crusaders Pack warrior. As everything is carried out, it's a shroud that rests upon the packs, and as Sophia leaves the territory, the cloud is lifted, and calmness returns.

Alpha Chris states before the packs, "If after all this, Acacia is willingly to accept Taron, we will still proceed with the merger."

"After..." Grandpa Keir holds the baby close to him as it settles down gently, "...what happened here. You'll still accept a merger agreement?"

Alpha Chris turns to his son and asks, "Taron?"

Taron glances to me, and I see his features soften and even lift at the prospect before he states, "Yes."

"Acacia?" Grandpa Keir asks me with slight hesitation.

Can I have my happiness back?

"Yes."

Even the packs seem at ease and are finally feeling a calmness. When Taron walks toward me, gently taking my hands in his, I see the mixed emotions slowly shift in his eyes. It's his wolf, that flicker...the glimmer, and doubt that fills those golden irises when they shift.

Taron groans as he staggers a step back, clutching first at his head and then his chest. He's shaking his head hard as he cries out, "H-He doesn't w-want-"

He's cut short though because he suddenly shifts before everyone's eyes while his wolf takes over. My wolfie stares into my eyes, and when I try and take a step forward, he snaps and snarls at me angrily. The hurt rises, and I feel that pain he must feel, recoiling slightly when he snaps again.

Grandpa Keir and Alpha Chris are trying to calm him down, but there's not much they can do...

...my wolfie runs.

The rest of the summer flies by in the blink of an eye. Dad had dropped Marcus off so he could spend some time with us. Taron distances himself because of the way his wolf reacts to me...

...to the force mark and claim he can't see past as a betrayal.

Grandpa Keir named the baby girl Lauralyn, and in my heart, I'm so thankful she'll have someone like my grandpa to raise her which will easily go to show how nature versus nurture truly shines through.

By the time Dante arrives to pick Marcus and me up, I feel more distant than when I arrived. Everything begins to sink in that this will be the last time I see members of the Crusaders Pack. Alpha Chris is shaking Grandpa Keir's hand while Taron stands beside him.

Their pack merger having failed, there was no point in their packs visiting any longer. An ally pack they might be...but the strength each other hoped to gain will never be fulfilled. Though Ridge is Etain's mate, he will return with the Crusaders Pack while Etain sorts where their future will be after speaking with the Mercy Matrons.

Just as the Crusaders Pack is about to leave, Grandpa Keir regards Taron and asks, "Aren't you going to reject my granddaughter properly, Taron?"

There is hurt in his features as tears finally gather in his eyes. Even I'm crying now when he says, "I-I ca-can't...I love her..."

Alpha Chris sees how torn he is and even he places a hand on his son's shoulder and states, "A war between a wolf within himself will only end in more pain. Your wolf rejects your mate..." his voice trails off as he releases a sigh and continues, "...this is obvious, but if you can't come to terms, your wolf very well may destroy your bond and return to the Moon Goddess."

Taron bitterly spits out, "I can't!" He glances at me and cries, "I won't reject her! She's my mate and I can't! I love her and I just..." he's shaking his head, and I hiccup a sob as I see the battle he's going through.

It's harder when my heart yearns to help him...

...but he turns around and walks to the car, getting in it before the rest of the Crusaders Pack disperse as well.

Alpha Chris looks to me and says with such sympathy, "I'm so sorry...Acacia. I truly would have loved a daughter like you."

He turns away and also heads to the car, the last of them leaving and drawing out of sight. I'm crying harder now, Grandpa Keir comforting me while Marcus also holds onto my waist. I can hear another car in the distance, and I know it's Dante approaching.

It's not more than a few minutes that he walks toward us while asking, "Acacia?"

My face is buried against Grandpa Keir's chest, not wanting to let go but knowing there's no place for me.

I don't know who I am or where I belong...

...I'm losing myself.

"Marcus," Dante calls for him, and I feel him slowly letting go of me while getting into Dante's car as I hear the door shut with ease. A few moments later, he calls for me again, "I know you don't want to leave, but you need to return-"

Grandpa Keir's voice is deep as it reverberates in his chest, cutting Dante off, "She's not upset because she has to leave! Her mate can't reject her, and his wolf will never claim her!" I can feel the way Grandpa Keir shifts his head toward Dante.

"Then maybe she shouldn't be visiting here," Dante releases a sigh, though I can hear the sympathy in it.

Grandpa Keir snaps right back with a dark growl, "No, she doesn't need to be going to school at Meliorist Sanctum! She should be allowed to choose what she wants-"

"Keir, with all due respect, you're not-"

"Blood?" Grandpa Keir's voice holds a dark edge to it as I slowly lift my chin and look up into his eyes while he has them locked on Dante, "After all, that's the excuse you gave me when you dragged your daughter off to Elysium? F-"

Dante snarls back angrily, "You are NOT her parent! You are NOT her blood! You don't get to make those decisions for her!"

"Family isn't always about blood! It's about those who are there for each other and raise one another!" Grandpa Keir holds me close as I shake slightly, watching the way they go at one another.

Dante's irises slowly shift to a reddish-orange as he snaps, "The ONLY reason Acacia ever knew you was because Rose allowed it! Rose is and never will be your child! She was Laura's and not a spec of your blood runs through either of their veins!"

Grandpa Keir's muscles are tense as I see the golden hue taking over those irises before he growls, "You're right about one thing...Rose nor Acacia are my blood...but they do belong to the Valentine line and look at that lineage. Which do you honestly think Acacia prefers?"

"Acacia doesn't get to make those choices either! She is our child and w-"

Grandpa Keir snarks with anger and throws it right back in Dante's face, "You are not blood to Acacia either, so don't get so high and mighty with me. You are a guardian, just like I yet you favor your son who would sooner see the Code of Conduct reinstated then believe the word of a girl who was raped and marked by Mercury!"

My eyes widen as my heart stops in my chest. Dante stares hard at me and then retorts, "We've seen her blood memories before in regards to Mercury, and he never forced her! If she's his beloved, then maybe she was marked and claimed at the party that night before the attack."

"Don't you even hear yourself?!" Grandpa Keir is almost yelling in desperation.

"There is only one thing you and I need to hear right now, and that's me telling you...you will never see Acacia and Marcus again. You are not their grandparent, and I will not stand for this!" Dante is livid as he crosses the distance between us. He looks down at me and orders, "Get in the car now, Acacia."

"N-N-"

"Now!" Dante yells, and I don't want to let go of my grandpa because I feel it really will be the last time I see him...

"Dante-"

"Don't make me embarrass you in front of your pack," Dante cuts him off before throwing in, "at least the Crusaders Pack isn't here, and that's your only saving grace because then that would be two packs I embarrass you in front of," he pauses a moment to stare hard at me and snaps, "Acacia, make your move."

I'd rather not see them tear each other to pieces...

...so it comes easier for me to go without saying a word quietly, but protecting and salvaging the relationship they have...for the council's sake.

💫--To Be Continued--💫
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