The Delta's Daughter Chapter 237

HUNJI/KIAN

I thought my wolf was going to explode from my chest. I couldn't contain Ruda any longer and just had to get out of there.

Everything Asena said replayed over and over - the more she spoke the more feral my wolf became. Wild primal instincts took over him, pushing past my hold to rein him in. The deep rooting carnage festered and stirred the need to tear Asena’s neck open with his teeth. If there's one thing Ruda hated, it was to be disrespected. He was an Alpha wolf by nature, and she had disrespected him and me in the highest regard possible. All these years she had denied us the chance to find love - Denied us the possibility to find our own happiness and companionship.

I couldn’t handle the bout of emotions that were surging through me. I didn’t know how. I thought I had switched that side of me off a long time ago. Disappointment, anger, hurt, and rage, all lead me to a feeling of great despondency. From the day I met my mate my hope had been stripped away; it just took me this long to realize it.

The more I thought about how fucked up this was, the more outraged I became and Ruda’s own wrath fueled the flurry of fury inside me. So, I did the only thing I could before I ripped Asena to shreds. I left. Running out of the sanctuary, through the great hall, and out into the open. Shredding my clothes as fur began to sprout on my arms and legs, my claws extending and face elongating until I was fully shifted into my wolf. And I ran. As hard and fast as I could up the mountain.

Last night sitting in the car, sharing that explosive connection with Morgan, I wasn’t able to comprehend the situation or my wolf telling us ‘She imprinted’. Too caught up in the moment of us. It wasn’t until Asena divulged the information that I understood – Morgan had in fact imprinted on us.

But how? It was impossible. She didn’t have a spirit animal. She wasn’t a shifter and she had already said she was not a hybrid.

We ran, savoring the fresh, cool mountain air – burning off some of that anger as Ruda's paws thumped heavily through the dense forest, weaving through the clutter of enclosed trees. Mulling over everything that had happened in the past 24 hours.

Ruda slowed and came to a halting stop when an immense presence of fear took over our emotions.

‘Not ours’ Ruda exclaimed in shock when he felt the alien emotion and before I could utter a word he turned and tucked his tail running at his wolf speed back down the mountain, coming to the same alarming conclusion that those emotions – that raw fear and panic, were Morgan’s.

When we reached Morgan, my heart clenched at the sight of her. She lay on the floor screaming, tears pouring from her eyes, and squirming like she was in the most horrendous agony she could be inflicted with.

“What the fuck happened to her?” I growled at Asena glaring at her shaking figure as she stood frozen looking at the little witch. I stooped down and cradled her body against me. “What happened?” I growled again, this time my Alpha aura coming out.

Of course, Asena would not be affected by it. She was making us even angrier as she just stood there, mouth gaping open. I took Morgan out of the artifact room as fast as I could, assessing her body, and looking for injuries as I carried her back to the living quarters. Towards my old room, praying that it was still vacant and at the same time not giving a shit if somebody else occupied it or not.

I placed Morgan on the bed when we arrived, pleased to find that it was empty and void of any belongings and scent. Her screaming had stopped once she came in contact with me, but the tears and whimpers were still in full force. Climbing in behind her I pulled her quaking form back into my arms – Kissing her head and offering soothing words. I had no idea what had happened, and I wasn’t going to question her until she had calmed down.

Eventually, my little witch fell asleep, and I decided now was a good time to go get my answers from the only other person that was in that room.

I didn’t know if she had been hurt and if so how and why? Whatever had happened it had scared the ever-loving shit out of her. And I could feel every one of her emotions – this must be a result of her imprinting on me.

I found Asena still in the Artifact room. She was not alone. Speaking in whispers with animated movements Asena stood next to someone I never thought I would cast my eyes on again. Her long white hair and dark skin told me who she was immediately. Ashe.

Their hushed mummers stopped as both pairs of eyes turned to my approaching figure.

My fists clenched tightly by my side. I don’t care who they are – what they are. I was done with shit. Done being nice. Done being faithful. Done with their lies and bullshit. I point an accusing finger at Asena “What did you do to her?” I bellow, stomping closer to where they stood with purposeful strides.

“Hunji” Ashe says to me in that calming voice, that is not going to get her anywhere right now.

“You!” My temper-filled glare focuses on Ashe. “You don’t get to say shit! Tell me what you did to her!” I command letting my wolf show.

“We didn’t do anything to her! YOU WILL MIND YOUR TONE WOLF!” Ashe’s command comes loud and clear her aura pouring out and suffocating me. I fight against it, but she is too dominant, and I fall to my knees powerless against her.

Asena comes before me and crouches down ‘til she is at eye level. I squirm in pain as Ashe’s hold over me tightens. “We didn’t do anything to her, Hunji. Now please calm down so Ashe can let you go. Don’t do anything rash… I beg you.”

Ruda retreats, cowering to the back of my mind as Ashe’s will commands him. The veil of her tight hold eases, and I fall forward, bracing myself with my hands when I feel the pressure removed.

The two Demi-god women spoke in hushed whispers, so low that even my wolf couldn’t pick up what they were saying from only a few feet away. “Please tell me what is wrong with Morgan” My voice desperate to know if my little witch would be ok.

They stop their excessive mumbling and I lift my bent head to look at them, staring back at me. Both held pursed lips and a look that was determining what they should tell me. If they should tell me anything.

Asena runs a hand over her face “It wasn’t supposed to happen this way, this was not part of your destiny. It wasn’t part of our plan.” She shakes her head still regarding me. Her green eyes held thought over my figure that was still bent down on all fours.

“You and the other three Knights were meant to protect Queen Lamia. You above all Hunji were sent to her to be her protector and to protect what she will carry.” Ashe begins to explain yet still talking in riddles, her voice now soft and remorseful. “It is true, the spirit of Inanna and King Conrad (Conri) were fated to be mated for all eternity, with every vessel the moon goddess gave them, they were meant to find each other. Somehow Conri woke and was given the young King Kellen as his charge, which in turn woke the sleeping Inanna. She had not woken for decades until Lamia Langley was born.”

I managed to sit up, leaning back on my knees as I listened to Ashe.

“They were never meant to be awoken again, but somehow, they did. And by whom we don’t know.” Asena added “You were chosen above all. When I found you, still alive, I had already had a vision that you would be the guardian of the Chosen one – Queen Lamia. You were never meant to find another; we couldn’t risk you taking a chosen mate. So, we offered you your wolf in return for your compliance. You were meant to serve as a disciple of the moon goddess, meaning you would do her work and live a life as a priest but with purpose.”

Ashe stepped forward, her hands reaching for my elbows and helping me to stand. “Your destiny was to protect the chosen one, but fate brought you back here. We never foresaw the daughter of Orion being able to imprint on you, she shouldn’t have been able to do that. Her destiny had been predetermined for thousands of years, a destiny she inherited from her mother.”

“Do you remember the story I told you when you brought back the stone from the mountain?” Asena asked me.

I thought about it, and nodded my head “I do,” wondering where this conversation was going.

“When Morgan touched the stone, we believe all her gifts were awoken. We have thought for some time now, that the stone you brought back was truly the lost egg of Apsu and Tiamat. See.” Ashe gestured to the oval stone sitting on the pedestal.

Gingerly I walked towards it, the stone was still grey in color but held a warmth to it now, I could almost feel the energy radiating from it.

As if reading my mind Ashe came to stand beside me, then Asena on my other side, the three of us admiring the strange stone. “With Morgan imprinting on you, this changes everything.” Ashe sighs.

“I can still do my job,” I grumble. “Queen Lamia is my family, and I will die protecting her.” I don’t know if this is what they needed to hear or wanted to hear, but I wasn’t saying it to placate them. I was telling the truth. I would always protect my queen; I would die for her. She is my family.

In the four years, I have known her, we have built trust and a bond. We built a kingdom together and fought wars side by side. I have defended her against everything and every one and do not see obligation waning on the subject. I made a commitment to Queen Lamia before she became the queen. I vowed to serve her loyally and pledged my life to her. I take my commitments seriously.

I understood why Asena and Ashe were worried. My attention had been held by Morgan and I let myself take what I wanted. They were worried my focus would be elsewhere. I felt a huge protectiveness over Morgan, however my first and foremost duty was to my Queen.

“That is good Hunji,” Ashe sighed “You will need to let Morgan go, in time her imprint on you will fade and she will be able to move on. Even if you hadn’t made a vow and a promise, she was never meant for you, nor you for her.”

“My wolf?” I croaked out, knowing that what they were saying was true. Morgan and I were never meant to be together. It didn’t fit into their plans. It didn’t fit into the gods' plans.”

“That was very unexpected. However, I don’t think you will be losing your wolf. Right now, your wolf’s soul and yours, are tethered to Morgan. To take him from you now, could be disastrous. Too many things have already altered the future. Morgan must return to the western continent; her destiny lies with the Queen.”

“And Lamia’s destiny?” I dared to ask. Whatever Lamia’s destiny was, was also mine.

“That is more complicated.” Asena gulps, I see her give Ashe a look and Ashe dips her head. “Your queen and her mate will give birth to the next demi-god and as before it shall come to pass that history will repeat itself - a betrayal of brothers and a claim from the darkness. A new painting will be brushed, this time with your queen.”

I look at Asena, then at Ashe. “What do you mean?”

“The painting I showed you and Morgan is of Inanna herself, in her true form before she ascended and became a child of the moon goddess. The painting you saw in Bhakhil – that was me, once upon a time. After the Lycan wars 300 years ago, I found another mate, but trouble followed me, and I was killed along with my mate. That is when the spirit of Inanna returned to the moon goddess and slept until she was awoken and charged with Lamia. When I died, the realm became unbalanced, and humans were sabotaged by the evils of shifters and a god who wished to claim Inanna’s soul. I am immortal but I no longer have a spirit animal. If your queen dies, Inanna dies, but she may not. That is why she was gifted her King.”

“We, Ashe, and I tried to change things this time. By gifting her with new Knights and a different mate to protect her. Orion killing his own twin brother almost ruined everything, and we watched King Mathias closely. When Morgan was born and her mother died, we knew that the fated future was going to take a different course. You see... when we see a vision, it is only one version of a future. Sometimes things we see are set in stone, but most cases are only a version, and the smallest action can alter the course of time.” Asena almost looked embarrassed as she recanted her tale. Enlightening me on things that have already passed.

I thought about everything they have said to me and all that they have disclosed. Was my mate cheating on me part of their plan? Did I suffer all those years ago because they wanted the future to be remade in their image? I didn't want to believe that could be a truth. 

Images came to life in my mind, playing like a carousel, whirling the past 14 years of my life into a very real visual. I saw my sister Sonia crying when I was sentenced to death. Rostam’s pleading eyes when he begged my father to change the law. Farid and Abbas’ faces came to light, their evil smirks and condescending eyes. Lamia and Kellen, Mike and Rhett. And then Morgan. Each image depicts the most significant and consequential time in my life.

Lastly, Divya’s deep brown eyes filled my thoughts and Ruda stirred with annoyance. The smile she wore when we first met morphed into the one, I will never forget. The night I first found them – Divya and Farid – It was his vile leer and smirk I had latched onto, but I remember the look she wore on her face clearly. It was taunting and insulting. How had I missed how conniving she was?

“I’m not going back,” I said aloud as the thought popped into my head. “You talk about destiny and fate, but those words mean nothing when you are the one controlling them. You have taken the choice of free will from many of us, even if we don’t know it…”

“Hunji, you must take Morgan back to Lamia!” Asena exclaimed shocked.

“You have vowed to protect the Queen and her future…” I cut Ashe off not giving a flying fuck whatever words were next to come spewing out of her mouth.

“And I will… but I have something else I need to do. A choice you took from me before. I was always meant to go back and face my demons. To right a wrong.”

“Hunji… You are needed…”

“My brother and sister need me!” I all but yell to the two older women, their faces shocked at my tone and the strength in my wolf’s aura that was pushing out. “I should have confronted this years ago, but instead I was sent on a wild goose chase for 11 years. Wandering the realm like a lost dog for you two when I could have already confronted my father! Along with Farid and Abbas. Now I hear the one person who was always in my corner is suffering and undoubtedly because of something he didn’t do!” I shake my head, knowing I was going back to where it all began. I couldn’t move on, not now, not after all this. Not until I faced my biggest regret. Leaving Eririat and letting Farid live.