Chapter 13

Beth’s POV “Fifty seven wolves were killed. Ten mates were kidnapped, and six never made it home. My dad, he got them all killed. He gave them away to the rogues, he ruined our pack! He might as well have killed those people himself!” I sob, pressing my hands over my face as I bend my head down. “He betrayed us. And he never came back. I don’t know if he’ s out there, somewhere, still wandering drunk and calling for my mother, but he’s dead to me. You know why? “Because he killed one more person that day, one that they didn’t count when they tallied the casualties. “He killed me. “He took the trust, the respect, even the LOVE that my pack had for me, and he threw it away! All they could see were his mistakes, all of the horrible things that he had done, when they looked into my eyes – the ones that I inherited from him. He should have just killed me … I wish he had.” “Don’t say that!” Aaron yells, making me jump at the anger in his voice, but before I can move away from him, or even look up, he’s crushing me into his chest again, tremors rolling through his body. “Don’t you dare say that you wish that you were dead, Beth. ” He has to force the words out as his body starts to shake more, almost violently, but I can’t concentrate on that. “You… you’re actually saying that you still want me around?” Aaron’s POV Beth looked very depressed, she did not speak for a long time. Only her shoulders were gently shaking. She was like an uneasy beast, avoiding my touch. I didn't try to get close to her either, Instead, I kept a certain distance and at arms’ length towards her. Her story drove my sanity away. I felt the urge to rush to Joe's pack and grab all the werewolves who had hurt Beth. Her complex emotions, including sadness, frustration, and self-blame, confined her, leaving her no room to escape. My wolf was restlessly howling angrily ready to pounce on the people that harmed her. It took a lot of effort to suppress him from instantly avenging Beth and killing those assholes. What had happened wasn't Beth's fault. They had no right to throw all the blame on Beth. She was a victim as well, but no one saw that, they instead increased her pain and she had silently endured everything. Beth's physical wounds could be healed via therapy, but it would take a long time for her to recuperate from her psychological trauma, Heaven was right, she’s been through a lot. I clenched my teeth so hard that my bones made a slight noise. “Listen to me, Beth,” I snapped. “I love you. Nothing you can say, and nothing that has happened to you will change that. I don’t care who your family is – you could be Hitler’s daughter, for all that I care. You. Are. You. You aren’t your dad, and the things he’s done are his mistakes, not yours. Just because the fucking idiots in your pack took out their blame on you, does not mean that I will. In fact, the only thing stopping me from slaughtering all of them is that you’re here in my arms,” I growled the last sentence before I felt my gaze softens. "Don't worry, Beth. I won't let anyone hurt you anymore. I will get the potion to cure you. Whatever it takes, it will be worth it to me because you are my mate." I held her hand and pressed it on my chest, so she could feel my heart beating because of her. "I will make you my Luna. Beth, I'm going to be there to take care of you so that you never have to suffer again. Beth's eyes glistened with restrained tears as she bit her lips so hard that bright drops of blood seeped out of her lip. My wolf whimpered at the sight of her in this much pain. "No. Aaron, don't do so much for me." Beth frantically shook her head. She rushed into my arms and hugged me. I could feel her non-stop warm tears burning my chest like flames. I was so flustered that I didn't know what to do. I could only comfort her over and over again. And at the same time, I enjoyed the unique fragrance coming from her. I didn’t know how long we were like that until a voice interrupted us yet again. "Aaron!" “Damn it!” I silently cursed. Who was it? I looked up in frustration and saw Arc walking over from afar with the medicine kit in his hand. He was back? Wasn't Arc supposed to be in Joe's pack? I looked at him doubtfully, worried that his early return had something to do with Beth. He had a solemn look on his face and a frown as well, and he was looking at Bath as if she had something to do with his frown. "What happened?" I opened my mouth to attract Arc's attention. He seemed uneasy as he turned his head and said, "Something bad has happened. The pack next door... Well, Joe's pack has been compromised. The werewolves there are getting the plague too, and it's not looking good. The plague is spreading fast. Which was strange because they seemed to be doing just fine before today.” "And they blamed Beth for it, claiming they were sick after eating Beth’s food. Even the Beta, Tom, was sick. Alpha Joe wanted to come here, but Luna Grace stopped him." Arc added. I thought about what Joe had done to Beth and felt no sympathy for him. "They may have been cursed by the Death Goddess," I said without hesitation. Arc looked at me but didn’t say anything. Beth, however, pulled me back to remind me of my words, but she also didn’t say anything. The three of us all stood there in front of the pack house looking at each other, yet lost in our thoughts. The sky gradually darkened, and the weather became very cold. Bath kept coughing and sneezing after every minute. Worried, I took off my coat and draped it over her shoulders and was about to take her inside when Peter came rushing toward us again. "Arc! Thank God you're here as well! Aaron, April is dying. The damn plague is killing her! The damn plague is invading our pack!"