The Delta's Daughter Chapter 391

TALA

Shrill screams sound from down the hall. With Connor in my arms, I raced towards my sister's anguished shrieking.

I barely notice Olivia and Lizzy behind me as I rush to Jonda's aid. I fling the door open and Connor begins to wail. My eyes land on my sister and I almost drop my son at the sight. She's doubled over clutching her large stomach, blood trickling from between her legs, soaking the purple gown she wears.

"Jonda!" I cry out with alarm and concern. Immediately I link the pack doctor to come quickly.

"Oh my!" Olivia exclaims behind me with shock. Followed by a sharp gasp from Lizzy.

I hand Connor to Olivia, "I already linked the doctor." I say with a rushed breath, quickly crossing the room to my sister's aide.

Lightening flashes in the evening sky, illuminating the room and Jonda. That's when I see the marks on her body begin to move and swirl, crawling across her skin. Becoming darker by the moment.

"Jonda. Come lay down please." I tell her gently, guiding her by the arm to her bed.

"The baby, she's coming. I need my love. I need Mike." She cries as another bout of pain takes her.

She tumbles to the bed and I move the hair from her eyes. Helping to lay down slowly.

"Jonda," I don't know what to say, "He has gone to fight Senko." I decided to tell her the truth.

"No!" She screams at me, tiny teeth poking through her gums as she grits the one word out. Her nails begin to grow but not like a werewolf's. Short sharp pointy things.

Jonda lashes out at me, her nails catching my face and I feel a trickle of blood run down my cheek. Suddenly her sharp glare finds my face, glued to where she cut me, tracking the drops of blood with hungry eyes and licking her lips.

Jonda had been behaving more than strangely since she was abducted by Senko. But even this was beyond my comprehension. The way she looked at me all crazed was starting to scare me.

Another flash of lightning and the clap of thunder made me jump. I look toward the window to see a mixture of snow and rain falling heavily. The clear evening sky becomes dark with black clouds reminding me of the night Vargr had Kellen whipped to death.

I shudder at the memory and turn back to concentrate on my sister. "Olivia, bring me a cool rag. Lizzy, take Connor to his nursery and call for the maid to watch over him."

I then link Tyron to have two guards sent up. Just in case. Because honestly, Jonda's behavior was starting to scare me.

The doctor comes in and Lizzy returns with him. We have Jonda lay back, Olivia and I on either side of her holding her arms because she doesn't want the doctor to touch her.

"She's in labor." He says after a quick examination. "The baby is going to come quick."

"Is the child okay?" Olivia asks concerned.

"Take it out of me!" Jonda screams and begins to thrash again. "He's coming for us all. The realm will burn. No one can stop him not even the chosen one!"

Jondas ranting makes no sense to me. I have no clue who she is talking about.

"Can we sedate her doc?" I grit out while trying to hold Jonda down as she displays a strength she didn't have before.

The doc nods and reaches into his bag bringing out a vile and a small syringe. He fills the needle quickly and jabs it in her leg, emptying the syringe. It only took seconds to take effect and Jonda's body becomes lax. She's lucid, hopefully enough to give birth.

She incoherently mumbles as another contraction wracks through her body. I've helped deliver a baby before, well three actually, and gave birth myself but the amount of blood that seeps from Jonda is scaring me.

"Remember she has no wolf to heal her," I tell the doc.

"She isn't in any danger but if we don't deliver this baby now…"

Olivia and Lizzy share worried glances. I understand what the doctor is saying. If the baby doesn't come now, it may suffocate or drown in fluids.

Half an hour later and helping Jonda push, the room is filled with the cry of a beautiful baby girl. Lizzy cleans the child up and brings her to a still less than coherent Jonda.

"Get that thing away from me!" She screams at the baby, making the tiny bundle cry even more.

"Jonda," Olivia gently speaks to her, "This is your child. You were so excited to meet her yesterday."

"That's not my child. That's not Mikes pup!" She screams, turning her head away from her newly born little girl with disgust. "If he doesn't want me I don't want her!"

I motion for Lizzy and Olivia to take the child from the room and reach out to hold my sister's hand. Jonda's eyes flutter closed and jerk open a second later. Her hazel eyes meet mine, wide and scared. "Who are you? Where am I?" She asks trying but failing to move her body because of the sedation.

"Shh. You need to sleep. Everything is fine. You are right where you should be." I hold back the tears in my eyes seeing my sister in such a state. I see the confusion and madness in her expression and her dull eyes.

I don't know who she is anymore. I fear the Jonda I met almost a year ago has completely vanished and in her absence, a broken-minded shadow of that person lays before me.

Gently her eyes close once more and she falls into a deep sleep. Her heart slowed and her breathing evened out.

Would her mind ever heal?

I prayed that Kellen and Lamia would kill Senko. And that his death would undo all he has wronged. I have seen enough evil in my time. Too much death and cruelty. I didn't want to see my sister suffer.

I left the room, leaving Jonda to rest, and met Olivia, the doc, and Lizzy in the hallway. "She's out," I tell them when I see their curious looks.

Relief came over me and I let out a shaky breath. The doctor sent two nurses in there to help clean her up. I looked at the tiny child in Lizzy's arms, wrapped in a white blanket. Her little chest gently rose and fell. She looked so peaceful, not a care in the world, and oblivious to what troubles surrounded her.

"She beautiful," Lizzy states looking down upon the little angel who has a full head of light red hair.

"I will stay with her and Jonda tonight," Olivia tells us, her brows pinching together. "Maybe Zane could have a sleepover with Grandpa if you could stay to help Lizzy?"

"That's a wonderful idea," Lizzy says smiling down at the child in her arms.

I watched Olivia's reaction as her eyes held fast to my niece. She had liked Jonda but I know she wasn't keen on my sister and Mike mating. Though she always showed Jonda love and respect, she had never formed an attachment to her.

As if knowing my thoughts, Olivia's gaze lifted and fell upon me, "My son was deeply in love with her. I had at one point accepted that she may be my daughter. He would want her and the baby to be well taken care of." Her expression softens and I understand that she does this for Mike more than anything. Maybe even Rhett too.

The nurses provide Olivia and Lizzy with baby formula for the newborn and I head back to my suite. Exhaustion from the evening finally settles in but instead of going to bed, I dismiss the maids and pick up my little prince.

Holding him tightly I let a tear escape. The lone drop falls over my cheek, rolling off my face and splashing onto Connor's forehead. It was at this moment, I felt the need for my mate.

I constantly worried about Kellen and wished with all my heart he hadn't left to fight Senko and his army. My wolf assured me he would return home and I wanted to believe her. I really did. But there was also another part of me that was anxious and had a gut feeling that when he did return something would be different.

A loud crash of thunder startled me from my overthinking. I looked out the window, the rain and snow had turned to sleet and the winds had picked up, whistling through the trees.

I had been in New Moon for almost a full year now, I missed Jasper and El, but I didn't think I would ever return to Bhakhil.

*****

CRIMSON

Cambiador

"Your Highness, scouts have reported a large army marching towards our western border," Mason reports. I detect the worry in his voice and give him a questioning look. Mason shakes his head. "MacTire has sent forces and they are close but I don't know how close."

I swipe a hand down my face, "How big is the army?"

"Senko's?" Mason asks and I nod. "Maybe three thousand strong… maybe more."

I swallow hard. That was a lot of boots on the ground. We had maybe eight hundred warriors. I just hoped MacTire would reach us before Senko's army did.

Fixing an impassive look on my face, I turn to look at the army. If Senko reached us before backup came, we wouldn't stand a chance. I knew Lamia would come, the question was would their warriors make it before we all perished?

I felt a pressure in my head and allowed the mind link to come through. *Kolby,* It was Gillian. *We have a problem.* Immediately the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

*Speak Gillian.* I command in no mood to pussy foot around.

*The ring has been discovered. Tawny dreamt of it and had Tristan check. It's gone. I'm so sorry.*

I let out a roar that swept through the jungle's flats, shaking each leaf and bending the trunks of the rubber trees. Silence came over our camp and I felt hundreds of pairs of eyes on me.

*How the fuck… Who?* I growled down the link. There were only five people who knew where the real ring was. And I couldn't see any one of them disclosing where Armand's ring was hidden.

*Tawny believes it was the Skinwalker.* Gillian pauses *She's investigating.*

*Where is she?* I ask now panicking that my mate will be getting herself into trouble. It was the Skinwalker that visited her, who told her it would be best if she stayed back and did not join the fight. Tristan and Hunji agreed and both said Chakor should be trusted.

But if it was him who took the real ring…

I cut the link with Gillian and reached out to Tawny. *Kitty, where the fuck are you?*

Immediately she replies, *Im in the palace, don't worry.* She says but I feel like it's not the whole truth. Her reply was quick and rushed. *I don't think it was the Skinwalker that visited me…*

What? That would be impossible. Skinwalkers were just as rare as Grimalkins. The chances of there being more than one, even two… Impossible.

*Tristian spoke with Althea. The remaining children of Tolba are gone…* Tawny trails off and my shoulders slump.

Of all the children in Tolba that had yellow eyes, only three remained. If they were truly connected to Senko…

*Fuck!*, "Fuck!" I curse out through the link and out loud. My blood beginning to boil.

Fur sprouts across my body, deep red and coarse as the anger and rage take hold.

*I know.* She sighs. *Althea was just as enraged as I feel you are. It was Ashe that led them to the children. I don't understand as much as you; This had to have been planned for years.* My kitten discloses her thoughts.

And here I was thinking this Ashe the first was on Queen Lamia's side. Yet it seems she plotted against the realm, placing the children with Althea in Tolba close to the mirror that was a portal of sorts.

"Mason!" I yell across the camp gaining his attention. I begin to tell him what has transpired and the grim look on his face says it all.

All at once the temperature around us drops. The constant humidity in the air gives way to a chill. The presence of magic becomes thick in the air. My inner beast stirs and I feel my eyes change.

Clouds roll in fast, hiding the late afternoon blazing sun. A creeping fog begins to cover the ground and a cold like that of northern winters slowly seeps into the jungle.

"Your Highness. They are close." Mason speaks, his voice wavering slightly as he too feels the change in the atmosphere that puts us all on edge.

Tiny wet white flakes of snow begin to fall from the sky. I wipe a lone flake from my cheek as the air surrounding us becomes colder. The sporadic cover of fur over me begins to prickle more.

*Look lively warriors!* I call through an open mind link *In your positions now!* I command knowing we are about to face our enemies.

And I am about to come face to face with my real father for the first time.

*****

OLIVER

My wolf weakly paces in my mind. Something has disturbed him, made him nervous and his emotion is bleeding into me.

'Amarok. Stop!' I internally below at my wolf. His constant pacing made my own feet move along the unpainted strip.

'Out.' He says with a growl. 'We need out.' He says again with resolve.

He was truly losing it being penned up and surrounded by silver. The torture was nothing but Amarok needed to be free. To hunt. To kill. Or he would fade away just like he was doing.

I growl back at him, feeling him push forward. He was delusional if he thought we could escape this cell. If it was possible I would have escaped months ago. I didn't even know how long I had been down here. I only knew what my dear friend Travis had told me.

"Friend." I laugh at myself loudly. I doubt he would call me his friend. I wasn't his friend either. Yet somehow, Travis had been the only thing close enough to a friend I had had in my life. I had come to find solace in his visits and relished in his torturing, seeing it as a sign of being noticed. He gave me attention. Attention I never knew I wanted.

He gave me meaningful conversations at a time he shouldn't have. But all the same, I knew much more about him. To the point that I had watched him change, become more than he was, and something different.

Travis had been a prisoner under my command. Now the tables were turned and I have found I have nothing but respect for him in some sick twisted way. I craved his attention and maybe his touch.

That thought sent a shiver through me. I had had men before. But I had never been had. It truly shows how disturbed my mind and wolf are when I enjoyed sucking him off and hearing Travis groan out the pleasure I gave him.

Amarok's ears perked up when light footsteps were heard coming our way. "Petra." I grin wickedly. As the female in her true form comes into view standing before me on the other side of the bars.

She startles at her name, taking a step back.

"Did they let you go? Or did you somehow manage to get out?" I doubt they had released her. The Alpha was not in MacTire. I knew this, I could feel his absence.

Petra gulps. Her wide yellow eyes looked me over with nervousness.

"I am a Skinwalker… I, I…"

"You gained another form." I finish her sentence. She nods her head. "Will you just leave me here to rot Petra?"

"No." She says too quickly and I frown at her, not expecting that answer.

"Will you run back to Daddy and help him kill them all? Will you help bring the devil himself to existence?"

In an unexpectant chain of events, Petra steps closer to my cell. Her slender hands wrap around the silver bars and firmly she asks "If I help you. Will you help me?"

"At what cost? What could I possibly help you with Petra?" I want out, of course I do. I'm a survivor. Even if I asked for death, it was still my nature to survive in whatever way I could.

"I don't want them to die. They may hate me but I can't let him kill them. Not Lamia. Not Travis…" Something about her words squeezes at my heart. I'm not sure if it's the thought of Travis dying or her needing help to save those she has come to love.

Either way, an unknown factor has my wolf pushing forward and eager to help the young female Skinwalker. Whether it's for her or something else, I'm not sure.

"Get me out of here Petra and I will help you," I tell her. And I will.

"Can I trust you?" Her eyes narrow with her own question as if she is trying to see deep inside me to find the truth of my words.

"No. You cant trust me." I speak honestly. "But I will give my word I will help you Sunshine."

Petra must notice something in my eyes, the truth, my honesty at that moment, or the dangerous wolf I really am. Whatever it is, it's what she needed as she brings a key from her pocket and unlocks the cell door.

She pulls the door open wide, giving me enough room to simply walk out of the cell I had been held in for so long.

My palms sweat with anxiousness to be free of the stifling silver walls. I'm hesitant to move forward, thinking this could be a joke or that I'm dreaming. Maybe it's a form of new torture Travis has concocted.

'Don't be stupid.' My wolf snarls at me with disgust. 'You know very well our Alpha isn't here.' Amarok is right. Travis is in danger along with Queen Lamia.

Maybe it's my conscious, maybe it's my will to survive. Maybe it's just my wolf. But I want out and I want to help Petra.

I think of Tala, knowing that where Queen Lamia is, so is King Kellen. Tala, the most beautiful wolf I had laid eyes on. No wonder my wolf had felt drawn to her. Turns out she's my cousin. I keep the chuckle at bay and concentrate on the female standing in front of me, looking at me with incredulous eyes.

Once over the threshold of the cell, I stretch my arms out. Bones cracked and my body sighed as we feel the uncontaminated air surround us. Amarok shakes his fur mentally and he too stretches. He wants out. I can already feel him healing. His strength returning.

I smile deviously at Petra and reach out a hand. "Come little sunshine, let's go save those who hate us."