Chapter XLVIII

Helix quite literally scared the entire pack into their homes as he announced he was coming home and that no one should be out until he said so. I tried to sway him into not being so harsh but he didn't budge when it came to someone seeing me naked in his arms.

Once we made it back to the house he kicked open the door and headed straight to our room and into the bathroom. He sat me on the counter and pulled out a first aid kit.

Before I could ask him if he knew how to use it, he made a gasping noise and I was met by Atlas' hazel eyes.

"Everly?" He looked stunned as he backed away from me and took in our surroundings, "what happened? When did you wake up?"

He didn't remember a single thing.

I quickly got off the counter and grabbed his neck pulling him into my neck, "it's okay, everything is fine. We need to clean you up, we have a shaman to go meet."

Atlas shook his head in my hair when his grip on my arms became firm. Not enough to hurt but enough to become alarming, "who hurt you?" His voice was laced with something I couldn't pin.

"What? No one? I'll tell you what happened when you calm down." I say pulling away from him slightly and placing my hand on his chest.

When I look up at his face, he is staring behind me into the mirror. That's when I turn to see the new bruises developing from where I hit the ground.

"Everly, tell me." He demanded looking down at me with heat in his eyes.

"I woke up, your dad told me Helix took complete control over you. So I came to find you. It's really my fault, I knew better than to shift behind him especially with everything that has happened..."

I led off seeing if he understood what I was saying and by the way his face fell I knew that he had. "I'm so sorry. Goddess, I keep fucking up." He pulled away from me and walked to the counter to the first aid kit.

I already knew what he was doing so I jumped back up on the counter, like a good patient and swung my feet. "Don't be sorry, I could take you if you really hurt me." I tried to lighten him up with a smile.

It almost worked until he seen my leg that was still healing, "I-"

I quickly pushed my finger to his lips to shush him, "I did that myself. I realized that Helix did not recognize me so I did a little cut and bam, it worked."

Atlas didn't say anything but let out a grumble.

Once he was finished patching me up I pushed him into the shower, forcing him to get clean. And even though I told him it wasn't his fault, he made up for the whole situation, a few times until I could barely stand on my own.

• • •

"There you two are," Leo greets us as we walk into Declan's office hand in hand. Only Declan, Leo, the Shaman and Artemis occupy the room.

I can not help but to notice the old women eyeing Leo like she was ready to make him call her daddy.

Atlas seems to notice it too as he clears his throat to gain her attention, "Oh!" She says looking at the two of us, "why aren't you two a sight for sore eyes. Alpha Atlas Lycurgus, I am Shaman Endora. I was sent by Alpha King Legacy to awaken your mate, but it seems the Moon Goddess has more plans for me here as well."

"Do those plans involve my father?" Atlas asks in all seriousness looking between the two.

She laughs and throws a hand on her chest, "oh, no dear. He is just a nice view I get to appreciate while I stay here."

"You should have seen dad blushing, Aly." Artemis snickers

"I was not" Leo argues, which makes everyone smile but me as I am stuck on a part of what the Shaman said.

"Stay here?" I speak up finally, "is there something we should know?"

"Oh yes, there is. When I awoken you from your sleep, I seen a few things in your path. Some good and some bad. The Moon Goddess has commanded that I guide you all with the problem you are having."

Declan says from his chair, "She did?"

"Yes, dear. So bring me up to speed of what you know about the recent events. I couldn't see beyond what Everly has seen."

Atlas goes to say something but then gives Declan a nod to tell him to answer her.

Declan clears his throat before looking away from Atlas, "there has not been any change in the situation besides what you know Atlas."

I feel Atlas' calm demeanor waver into a bit of irritation as he asks "why not? We know the girl's name, and what she looks like. She was a pack member for Goddess sakes."

"Because I decided to halt the search as acting Alpha and put more warriors on the hospital to protect Everly and Esme."

Atlas' nose flares and he lets go of my hand to approach his beta.

"Atlas," I call for him and try to grab his arm but he shakes me off before towering over Declan with a finger pointing at him.

"So you are telling me," his voice was low but not low enough to be Helix, "as soon as we find out they were not targeting your sister, but they were after your Alpha Female-" he slams his hand down on the desk making everyone in the room jump. "You decide it's not worth digging into as soon as possible anymore? I was leaving my mate laying in a hospital bed, everyday to help you dig and search for who did this to Esme. But, when you realize it's not your family on the line it's no big deal to stop them?"

My mouth dries at the information thrown out in front of me. It was supposed to be me hurt, not Esme.

I don't have a lot of time to dread on the fact as the tension thickens between the two males.

"Atlas-" Declan tries to make an argument but Atlas quickly shuts him down.

"No, not when it comes to your darling sister. Am I right? You will tear the world down for her, huh?"

"Atlas, son. Calm down, you're exhausted and you know we all love Everly." Leo steps up.

I know Atlas did not want anyone to find out what happened to him, especially now. I unglue my feet from the floor and step between the two males, putting my hands on Atlas' chest. "Listen to your dad."

Atlas swiftly looks down at me before his eyes go back to Declan with a growl passing his lips. Ultimately, Atlas takes a few steps back, showing no sign of threat to Declan anymore. I still decide to stay put, just in case either one of them decide to change their minds.

"Well, what I have gathered," Endora dusts her hands off like she's wiping away the drama that just unfolded, "someone wants to kill Everly and they mistakenly made this Esme's face a chopping board?"

"Pretty much," Artemis shrugs leaning back onto the couch she sits on with her dad.

"Well, there's a solution for this," the wise woman paces with her cane in assistance.

"Just like that?" I question.

"Mhm," she hums and stops right in front of me, "you need to go home to Aurora Dawn."

"Excuse me?" Artemis stands up abruptly just as everyone else goes to argue on my behalf.

"Are you fucking senile?" Atlas grabs a hold of me like she was trying to remove me right as we speak as Leo shakes his head in disbelief.

Endora just smiles at everyone while Declan and I stare at her like she's crazy.

"I am positive this will help." She argues and then turns to Atlas, "you will need to go with her."

"We can't leave," I say, finally coming out of silence, "we were attacked. Atlas and I have been slacking on our duties as is."

"You can and you will. The Moon Goddess guides me to guide you." Her cane swings up as a warning to me. "Do not question her."

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