The Delta's Daughter Chapter 200

4 days later (Day 28 of the Games)

MIKE

We stepped off the boat, Alpha John was there to greet us upon arrival and immediately he came to us first acknowledging the King “Welcome back your highness, it is a pleasure to finally you meet you,” He offered his hand to Kellen to who took it enthusiastically.

“It is good to be back in the kingdom Alpha John, I have heard many great things about you, and thank you for not only your hospitality to my warriors but also for your help in bringing me home.” Tala stood by his side looking down at the ground, her hands fidgeting until Kellen spoke her name. “This is my mate Tala, although I was enslaved for a while the moon goddess blessed me with finding my fated.” He said pulling Tala close to him.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance future queen, I am sure…” Alpha John's words died on his lips as Tala lifted her head to greet him. He looked at his sister, he and Jonda sharing a look and mind-link. When he finally turned his attention back to Tala, you could see tears in his eyes, the same cerulean blue as Tala’s. There was no mistaking they shared a family trait, the unique eye color they shared spoke volumes.

“Brother,” Jonda spoke softly stepping forward “Meet our sister, Tala Mac-Tire.” I think I almost cried when Jonda took Tala’s hand and smiled at her, accepting her.

Alpha John was five years old when his father had been captured and taken, he somewhat remembered his father. He looked from Jonda to Tala and then, to everyone’s surprise, he engulfed Tala in a hug, squeezing her tight. “Welcome home Tala Mac-Tire, I look forward to getting to know you.”

“Thank you,” Tala said with a short breath as if Alpha John was squeezing her a little too tight.

“Let her go, John, you are squeezing the poor girl” Jonda swatted her brother's arm and he released Tala’s tiny frame.

“You look so much like him” Alpha John stared at Tala, reaching up to touch her red hair. “Your eyes, your hair…” He cut his words off still looking at her like it was unbelievable.

When the warriors carried the simple coffin-like box off the boat, Alpha John stood up straight his eyes growing dark with sadness as he watched the men put the box with his father’s corpse into the bed of a truck.

“I am sorry, Teal, your father is someone I will always look up to. Without him, I don’t think I would have survived mentally or physically. He wasn’t just a friend but a father figure to me while we were held in captivity.” A sense of pensive sadness spread throughout the group and an air of melancholy surrounded him as Kellen spoke of the late missing Alpha of 22/23 years.

“Thank you, your highness. Your opinion means much to me and my family. Now come,” Alphas John’s attitude suddenly taking on a lighter tone, “I have food set up in the main pack house for everyone, I know you have had a long journey and I want to hear everything about my father and our new sister before we send him off to the moon goddess tonight.”

Jonda walked with her brother, who spoke with Kellen and Tala on the way there. I hung back with Tobias and Rogue. Oliver trailing behind, still escorted of course. I thanked the gods he had not tried to communicate with Tala or talk to any of us. I still didn’t like that he had been left alive and was listening to our every word. His very presence made me feel uneasy.

“Take him to a holding cell and watch him closely” I commanded the two warriors who nodded in acknowledgment. As soon as we could I would have him transported to MacTire and then Travis could do what he wanted with the shit bag.

*Please tell me we do not have to take another boat* I chuckled at Rogue when he spoke to me telepathically. He and Tobias shared the same sea sickness.

“Rogue wants to know if we have to take another trip on the water,” I laughed speaking to Tobias who turned to Rogue with a sickly-looking green face to match his.

“Brother, I’m so sorry, but yes. Yes, we do, and you look about as happy as me right now.” He groaned. “But I promise after that, all land.”

Rogue rolled his eyes and kept step with us, following the King and Alpha.

The pack house was a modern structure made of heavy dolomite stone giving the building a dark look, almost medieval-looking like MacTire’s castle. Inside, as we walked through the main entrance, had a much brighter and cheery atmosphere with light yellow painted walls decorated with paintings of the beaches. The décor was white wood for the furniture and light-colored hardwoods. The place had a fun yet peaceful vibe to it.

We were led into the main dining hall that held four large tables, each being able to seat sixteen to twenty people, and along one side of the wall sat a long bench-type table that held buffet trays. I could smell the food wafting through the room and my stomach grumbled. I felt like I hadn’t had a decent meal since I left Lonely City that dreadful morning when Kellen disappeared.

“Please come sit, and help yourselves to food, there is plenty.” Alpha John gestured to the large table that sat horizontally to the other three tables.

We all scrambled for food and found our seats, the Alpha sitting at the head with Kellen next to him and Tala right after. Jonda, sat on the Alpha’s other side but left a seat vacant between them. I was happy to see they actually had meat choices and I wondered if this had been provided because Jonda knew I was not a fan of seafood.

The room suddenly went quiet, the chattering stopped and all eyes turned to see why the Alpha and his sister had suddenly quieted. “Mother.” The Alpha smiled and stood from his seat followed by Jonda.

“I would like to introduce you to my mother and still current Luna until I meet my mate; Luna Siobhan.” The Alpha's proud smile fell short when his mother’s eyes landed on Tala, who shrunk back in her seat.

Jonda moved to hug her mother, who replied to her daughter with an equally enthusiastic embrace, yet her eyes did not leave the king’s mate. I felt the air turn cold and looked at my best friend and then at Tala who looked embarrassed to be there. The comfort and acceptance she was given by Jonda and her brother at the docks had suddenly vanished.

The Luna stepped around the table until she was closer to Tala, “What is your name child” She asked her, quite calmly.

“Tala, Luna.” She said standing up to face the older Luna.

“What is your last name” Her questions were short and demanded an answer.

“My name is Tala Mac-Tire, Luna. I am so sorry.” I watched as Tala’s eyes filled with tears and her mouth turned down a visible look of remorse on her face and a little bit of fear of what this woman would say to her. She looked down just as the Luna spoke.

“You are Teal Mac-Tire’s daughter, yes” Shit, this Luna was scaring me at how composed she was facing the illegitimate daughter of her late mate.

“I – I am, Luna and I am sorry my mother put you through hell and I am sorry Vargr took your mate away from you for so long. I am sorry my family made you suffer for so long.” The tears streamed from Tala’s eyes and Kellen made a move to comfort his mate when the Luna put her hand up, keeping Kellen in place. A very bold move.

“Is it true what my daughter has told me Your mother took my husband’s seed and now she is dead” Tala nodded her head, “And is it true you had no idea Teal was your father until recently” Again Tala nodded her head. I figured Jonda must have mind-linked her mother, giving her a heads up about Tala. That was the only explanation I could think of for the older Luna knowing these details. I truly felt for Tala, she was going to get verbally roasted and she was going to stand there and take it because she thought she deserved it.

I remember Jonda telling me her mother had felt the betrayal of the mate bond only once and her mark had still been present. My eyes searched her neck and I could see her mark, slightly faded. I wondered if she had felt the break in the bond when her mate died. She did look tired, despite her appearance she couldn't hide the dark lines under her eyes.

“Look at me child.” The Luna spoke softly and Tala lifted her head, showing her tear-stricken face. I heard a low growl come from Kellen, upset that his mate was sad and that the Luna had made his mate cry, yet he did not move to comfort her. “I have no idea what you have gone through or what kind of family you came from but, you are Teal’s child. A Mac-Tire. You are family now and I will welcome you as one of my own.”

I felt a warm wet tear slide down my cheek, moved by the moment and the compassion the old Luna was showing her mate's other child. I quickly swept it away and looked around to make sure no one had noticed but I found several people with unshed tears in their own eyes, Including the Alpha and Jonda, and even Kellen.

“Thank you, Luna,” Tala sobbed as the Luna took her in for a hug and stroked her hair like she was her own child. “Thank you so much, your kindness and words mean the world to me.”

“Dry your tears child, let us eat and remember my Alpha and husband before we say goodbye, then maybe we can get to know each other better, hmm”

Now Kellen chose to stand and bring Tala back to the table. Instead of her sitting in her own seat he placed her in his lap and pulled her plate in front of them so she could eat.

*****

KELLEN

It was a full moon tonight and I stood to the side of the pyre as they carried Teal’s body down through the streets from the morgue where the family had been able to go see him and say their final goodbyes. Tala had asked to join them so I accompanied her. It was a somber moment to watch Teal’s estranged family cast their eyes on him for the very first time in over 22 years. For Jonda, it was the first and last time she would ever see him in person.

Much like now, the atmosphere was somber. Many older folk who remembered the Alpha came to pay their respects and many of the younger generation stood to support their current Alpha and pay homage to the once lost Alpha.

I walked up to the make-shift podium, the Luna had asked me to speak and I had humbly accepted. It would be my honor to pay tribute to Teal.

“Members of the Sea Dog pack, it is my honor to be asked to speak and pay homage to your late Alpha. I stand here not as a king, nor an Alpha, but as a friend and a companion and more importantly as a Gladiator. In the next few weeks, you will hear stories about Alpha Teal, where he had been, why he has been gone for many years.” I looked towards Luna Siobhan, and then at his two eldest children. “Alpha Teal spent many years away from his beloved pack and family and on many nights he told me of his son and Luna and how he wished he could meet his daughter who had yet to come into the world before he was savagely ripped from his home.

“I cannot tell you all that happened to him in the 22 years he had been away; it is not my story to tell. But I can tell you about the man I met and the man I came to know. Teal became a mentor and father figure to many who were enslaved. Without him, I believe I would have lost myself to my own mind. He was there in a time I needed someone, in a time I had lost everything. In a time I felt no hope, Alpha Teal became my strength. His wisdom and perseverance gave me the courage to take action. He gave me back my will to keep fighting. My only regret was that I could not save his life and reunite him with his family.”

This is when the tears began, I could no longer hold them back looking at the faces of his family, I thought of my own parents. The brutal way they died and how Tala explained Teal had died. In a way, my words were not just for Teal but also for my Father and my mother. When we sent them to the moon goddess I did not have the words to speak but now I felt like these words fit and they meant more to me than just the simple dialogue I was saying. As I grieved for Teal, I grieved for my parents, the true effect of their loss finally hitting me after all these months.

There wasn’t much more I could say and I was about to step down when Rogue's voice filled my head *Live or die we fight*

“Live or die we fight!” I called out looking at Rogue.

“Live or die we fight” Tala echoed.

Only the three of us knew what that truly meant and how the words that were chanted in that arena brought us all closer together and fueled us to fight for our lives.

I stepped down and Luna Siobhan took my place. Immediately Rogue and Tala were by my side. Tala’s small hand curled around mine and Rogue's hand sat on my shoulder. The three of us with our own memories played like a vision in our heads as the Luna spoke.

“For many years I waited for the return of my husband, every day I prayed to the moon goddess and she has finally answered my call. I have always known Teal as a strong and kind Alpha, a man with morals beyond his peers and I thank the King for his words today, solidifying that no matter what, my husband was able to keep his truth and remember who he was and where he came from. Sometimes people change with their circumstances, their paths blurred by evil and hate. King Kellen has proved that no matter what, Alpha Teal had kept true to his spirit. He fought to stay alive with the hopes of coming home. He helped those in need and led as an Alpha should. May the moon goddess receive his spirit and his wolf's spirit and may they forever walk amongst the stars until we are reunited in the afterlife and he can walk in the presence of his three children Jon, Jonda, and Tala Mac-Tire.”

The Luna then stepped down and Alpha John took the first lit torch and placed it on the pyre, followed by Jonda, then Tala, myself, and Rogue. The warriors began to howl the melody of crossing over, as they would until the last flame died and Teal's spirit animal had been received by the moon goddess.

We stayed for a while watching the embers float into the darkened sky, the full moon's beam shone directly on the pyre giving the flames that licked up into the night a pale yellow glow. After a while, Mike came up beside me laying a hand on my shoulder where Rogues was earlier.

“It’s time to go Kellen if you want to be home by your birthday. Lamia is waiting at the palace.” He said sympathetically.

“Of course, let us say goodbye, I will meet you at the docks, have Tobias and Rogue take Oliver to the boat, and secure him. Tala and I will say goodbye. Is Jonda coming home with us”

“She is, I’m in love Kellen.” That was all Mike said to me and I did not say anything else. I didn’t know if he truly was in love or if this was something to occupy them both until they found their mates. After all, you couldn’t run from fate.

For a second I watched the clouds drift over the moon. Today would have been the 28th day of the games, also the night Tala and Jasper were meant to be mated and married. My gaze found Tala, how differently things had turned out for both us, even for Jasper and the kingdom of Bhakhil. A better, different, and more promising future.