Morgan was now crying for what she had lost, sat in here with the woods all around her, she could imagine having her own children and watching them make this their home, she couldn't imagine leaving them but then again she couldn't imagine being scared of Nicky. She watched her mother continue, Morgan could see her pain was raw even after all of these years.
"I don't expect you to forgive me, as your mother I should have protected you and been there for you. I would love the opportunity to be in your life, yet if you decide it is too much to forgive I will understand. Jacob will be here soon and I want to help, please let me do this for you."
"How did you know we were here?" Morgan was trying to take everything in but there were so many things running through her head, it was Denissa who answered her.
"As head of the witches, I met with Ben and Nicky yesterday. When Ben talked about you both and the Order I suspected the truth. The witches have opened their homes to the wolves needing sanctuary and although I understand you may be angry, I want you to know you will always have a home with us."
"Stop trying to process everything Pixie, you will give yourself a headache, and maybe me. You have another family now, if you want it. I want you to know that if you decide to go to the witches, I will understand." Nicky wasn't sure if he would let her go, but he would find a way if this is what she needed to do.
Morgan heard the pain and sadness in Nicky's voice, she knew he was scared she would want to go with her mother yet she knew he would let her go; surprisingly it was this that helped her make sense of all of this.
"Will I become a witch?" Morgan directed this at both her mother and grandmother, what a strange concept; she had a mother, a grandmother and she may be a witch.
"Yes, at some point in your life you will develop the powers you are meant to have." Denissa seemed so sure and in fairness you could see her power so if she decreed it, Morgan was pretty certain she was right.
"This is all so much to take in. Before I can even consider moving past this, you both need to understand what we went through. I am sorry and I know this will be painful for you but…" Morgan hadn’t known what she would say but this felt right.
Her mother interrupted her. "I understand and you are right, I need to know what happened to you both," she looked to Cane, "including why you have been so badly hurt?"
Surprisingly Morgan felt strong. "Both I and Cane have suffered horribly; Lucifer or Jacob as he was then known has slowly become more insane. When I was young, apparently I prophesied his death in my dreams." Both her mother and grandmother looked shocked.
"Don't get excited, because of this he decreed that I needed to have that beat from me." As she took a breath, Nicky whispered in her head.
"If they are to understand your pain little Pixie, you need to show them." Morgan nodded and as she stood she slowly turned her back on them and lifted her blouse, she heard their gasps and as she turned she saw the tears falling down their faces.
"Every morning and every night I had to be punished. Andrew was never a nice person to either of us, he would get us into trouble and when he got older he would help with the punishments. About eight months ago Lucifer declared I would be his next bride, the last one was made to walk naked and she was abused in front of everyone. She died of heart failure."
Her mother had stood and ran her hand gently down Morgan's scars. "I am so sorry." The strange feeling of someone other than Nicky touching them made her shiver.
Morgan continued. "Cane had always tried to protect me; I know on occasions he took the blame for some mistake of mine, he was also beaten. It took some time for Cane to manage to sneak me out; from the time of the so called betrothal he had been planning my escape. Five months ago Cane got me out, even though he could have left with me, he returned to the Order to give me more time to run. I arrived in New York City cold, tired, broke, frightened and hungry. It was here I met Lucky; the wolves took me in and gave me both a home and protection. It was where I met my mate who has helped and protected me for as long as I can remember."
Her mom was crying hard. "You are both so brave and have suffered so much, you probably won't believe me and I have no right to say it, but I am so proud of you both and love you so much."
"I always wondered about you." Morgan was crying now, "I always wondered why you had left me. I do understand and I don't hate you, I don't know what role you can have in my life, but there are some things you need to understand." As her mother nodded she continued.
"I have a home with the wolves, this is where I want to be and this is where I plan to remain." She turned to her grandmother.
"Your vision was significant." She then turned to Nicky and nodded, as he shifted into his wolf form and back again, she saw her grandmother gasp.
"It was you, I don't understand."
Morgan decided to enlighten her. "Nicky protected me as a child; he came to me in my dreams and gave me his strength. The elder here thinks we were mated in a past life, and the bond between us was too strong to break when we moved into new lives. Without Nicky I would have died." As her grandmother stood, she moved forward until she stood face to face with Nicky. Morgan saw the tears in his eyes when her grandmother spoke to him.
"You are a strong wolf, and I can never thank you enough for what you have done for my granddaughter."
"I don't need thanks." Morgan could see that he meant that, looking at her mother she continued.
"I love him so much, and I plan to make my life here."
She could feel the pain and sadness radiating from her mother, the pain of losing her children.
"I know that Cane is new here, he was brought with them on their search for me and he was caught trying to leave so he could warn me. They beat him to teach him a lesson. The wolves brought Cane to me; he will have a home here as long for as he chooses to."
Cane had stayed quiet so Morgan continued. "We know Lucifer is coming, we know it will be hard, the wolves and vampires are going to help us, but I would like my mother and grandmother next to me. I need to take this slowly; I have had so much upheaval and change. Right now I don't know if I will survive this fight."
Immediately Nicky's words rang loud and clear in her head. "YOU WILL LITTLE PIXIE, AND I HAD BETTER NOT HEAR YOU SAY THAT AGAIN!"
Morgan smiled. "Although I have it on good authority that I will survive. When that is done, my intention is to marry my wolf. I already have someone to walk me down the aisle." She turned to Cane who was trying to smile.
"I wouldn't let anyone else have the honor Morgan." The pride was evident in her brother's voice.
As she turned back, Morgan took a breath. "But one side of the church will be pretty empty, so if you would like to be part of my life that's a good place to start." Her mother was nodding and both of them were crying when Cane stood rather shakily.
"I remember how bad things were for you mother, I remember the beatings you took, and although I don't hate you, I am angry at you. I also recognize that I failed Morgan…no don't interrupt Morgan. I have never had any sort of freedom, and now that I have it will take some getting used to. I know that I have to build myself up to become stronger, but you need to know that the one thing I will do from now on is protect Morgan, even though she doesn't need it. Because of that if you are going to be in her life you will be in mine."
Morgan could see he was exhausted, as she went to help him sit down her mother was already there and he let her help him.
"I don't know what to say but thank you. If you need anything at all just ask, please." Morgan could feel how genuine this woman was, her mother. The words felt strange.
"Just ask Morgan, its safe and she doesn't want to hurt you, let her in." She looked at her wolf and smiled.
"I love you so much Nicky." Turning to face her mother, Morgan's face was awash with tears.
"I find it hard to let people into my heart, but I always wanted to know what it would feel like to be held by my mother."
Her mother was openly crying again.
"And I always wanted to know what it would be like to hold my baby girl." With that her mother opened her arms and Morgan stepped into them and cried, she cried for everything she had missed, someone to hold her when she was happy and sad, someone to read her bed time stories, tell her about periods and boys, someone to go shopping with and teach her about the world. Part of her was scared to let her in, what if she lost her again.
"This time you would have me to pick up the pieces Pixie."
Nicky knew he was crying, he could feel the pain and fear radiating off Morgan and her mom. He had always been fortunate to have such a wonderful family, but to have had none of this must have been utterly destroying and so lonely for Morgan. He sent telepathic messages of love to his entire family, and smiled inside as he received this love back from them.
As he watched Denissa sit in front of Cane, he saw her wrap her arms around his waist and Nicky turned away. This was private for Cane; he had not been invited into that. Instead he watched Morgan and her mom, he would help her process this and he would lend her the strength to let her mother into their life.
As Morgan looked up at everyone around her, she was overwhelmed. "What happens now?"
Her mother looked at her and then Cane. "Now we prepare to fight and believe me, I have spent many years getting ready for this."
Denissa was beaming. "Lucifer will arrive tomorrow so we don't have long. I would like to speak with Ben." Morgan watched as her grandmother stood stock still almost like a statue.
"She is having a vision." Her mother went to stand near her and when Denissa blinked and swayed, her mother let her lean on her, but instead she staggered back. "He's coming back to me, my Albert is coming back."
"What?" Her mother was open mouthed, "How?"
Instead of answering her mother, Denissa looked over at Nicky.
"I saw your face many years ago as your wolf, but had no idea what you would come to mean in our family. Tomorrow when they arrive they will leave a van somewhere over there." She pointed to the far side of the land.
Nicky nodded. "There is a lane there."
He was thinking this through when Denissa continued. "So my Albert is to be their bargaining chip. They know he is you grandfather and they plan to use him to get to you Morgan."
She heard Nicky growl. "I don't fucking think so."
Her grandmother smiled at him. "You plan to use the females to greet this brute when he arrives; it is a good plan Ben was always a smart boy. But that is the only opportunity there will be to free Albert." She was pacing while thinking out loud.
"I could send a witch to wait there and free him, but he will be weak and they won't be able to move him fast enough. Or I could wait for him, which is a better idea. If I have a vehicle nearby maybe I can get him into it."
"Mother you are no faster than any other witch. I am sorry but I need you with Morgan and Cane, if something happens to me then I will need you to take over. Maybe I can free dad before Lucifer arrives." Her mother looked genuinely worried.
Nicky stepped forward. "What time will they arrive?"
"Just after the sun rises, they are hoping the early visit will catch you off balance."
"You both need to stand with Cane and Morgan, by the time the greetings are over I will have your husband stood next to you." Nicky sounded so confident, even though he could feel Morgan's anxiety.
"Surely Pixie you trust in my abilities by now, I am the fastest wolf in the pack. I can't be seen during the start of our attack anyway, it will give me time so you won't need to worry. Besides I will be able to hear everything through you." Morgan was still worried even though she knew Nicky would do this.
"Don't ever forget Nicky that you are my life, my heart, my soul."
"Oh I know that, but I also know that with a heart as big as yours there's room for more than me."
C hapter 22
When they walked into Ben's house Morgan saw the faces in the room turn to them, she knew they were all worried about her and she loved them all the more for it. Nicky was right, she could love more than him. Sylvia swept her up in a hug and so did Lucky before they looked at her mother and Denissa.
"Everyone I would like to introduce my mother…" Damn she didn't know her name.
"I'm Jenny."
"And this is my grandmother, Denissa." she saw Ben choke on the drink he was swallowing taking in the news with astonishment.
"I am damn glad I had the good sense to offer you that job now Morgan, I wouldn't have wanted to upset your Grandmother." As Lucky slapped him, he continued, "of course I had it on good authority that it would work out."
Denissa laughed. "Ben you would never leave someone alone and in need of help." Then she turned to Lucky.
"On the day I saw you marry and tame the Silver Alpha, I knew you were special but I never thought you would bring my family back together. I can never thank you enough." As Denissa pulled Lucky close Morgan thought she might grow to like this grandmother.
Then it was her mother's turn, she looked to everyone in the room her voice breaking.
"You all took in my babies and protected them, that was my job and I failed but I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know Morgan thinks of you as her family and one day I hope she will feel the same way about me, but I feel better knowing that even if she doesn't, she will still have all of you as her family."
As Morgan looked around her, she saw the tears from the women and the sniffles from the men who if asked would swear they were getting a cold. She had never felt so accepted in her life; Sylvia stepped forward and clasped her mother's hand.
"Things will take time, but you are Morgan's family and if she accepts you then so do we." Then the two mothers hugged.
Morgan looked up as Mitch appeared in the middle of the kitchen. "Really sorry to interrupt you guys." Everyone stopped and turned to him, her mother and Gran seeming somewhat confused, until Ben explained…
"Mitch is a warrior for the Gods sent down to earth for some unknown reason, however every so often the God's or Goddesses send him on a…. I don't know how else to explain, but a mission of sorts. This time he has been sent to aid us on behalf of the Goddess of War."
Mitch was smiling and nodding in acknowledgement. "Nicely said Ben, after all of this is done can you follow me around and explain." Even though Mitch was smiling, Ben wasn't.
"Keep that up Mitch and you will be helping from outside."
"Okay I get it, anyway where was I?" He turned to Morgan and her new found family.
"The Goddesses were watching you, and at least three were bawling their eyes out when I left. It was so touching that I have some messages." He turned to Denissa and addressed her first.
"The Goddess of Earth wants you to know that you guide her people well, she considers you a fine leader of the witches." Morgan saw her Gran blush. "You will be reunited with your love, and the lost years will strengthen that." Turning to her mother Mitch continued.
"The Goddess of Love wants you to know that your suffering will increase but your love and family will see you through it. She wishes for you to wash away the guilt you carry, what has happened had to happen even though it caused pain and anguish. The next generation will birth a witch of such magnitude; there will be no other to match it." He turned to Cane.
"Your legacy is to follow the path open to you, your destiny will be to love and protect the next generation of witches, teach them what life has taught you. Learn the skills that you will need to teach the almighty witch." He turned away from Cane to face Morgan and Nicky.
"You will both teach the almighty witch that will come from your love and goodness. The Goddess of Destiny wishes you to know that your suffering while great, will give you the understanding to harness your child and guide them on the path to goodness."
Addressing Nicky he continued after giving Nicky a large clap on his back in affection.
"Nicky my friend, I thought your life was to join me in seeking entertainment, alas that is not the case which will be
my loss. Your strength and character combined with the love you hold for 'Morgan' see I didn't say little Pixie, anyway where was I, the love you have for her will show your son errr child, pretend I didn't say son, how to love the goodness in the world."
As Morgan watched Mitch take a breath, he turned to Theo who was stood by Imogen.
"Mmm now, you Theo have caught the interest of the Goddess of War, while everyone else was watching this (Mitch was pointing to Morgan and Co) play out, she was watching you two argue. God only knows what that means. Okay nearly done." He turned to Ben who had his arms wrapped around Lucky.
"Lucky they knew you wouldn't turn Morgan away and they are pleased that you gave her a haven. They knew that Silver would extend their protection to someone in need, because of your actions their child will stand beside your own to bring the races together at a time when the fight to survive will determine the future."
The Wolf With The Silver Smile (The Silver Series) Page 19
