Blood Bound - Chapter 76

>>Adam

The most terrible thing had happened.

While I was gone, the rogues we killed this time of the year last time came back for revenge. Not only did they come with stronger forces, they also showed no mercy.

They took our livestock, robbed the houses and even tried to kill. Although the adults could handle themselves and fought back the kids couldn’t.

Zen, Beth and Lily were dead. Beth’s mother also had no life left in her eyes as she cradled her kid in her embrace. Most likely trying to protect him.

Their bodies were left out in the open near the shed ripped open to show cruel dominance.

I gulped as I felt my head buzz and tears fill my eyes. I couldn’t believe it. They were gone? The truth was right in front of my eyes but it wasn’t sinking in.

Oh God…

I felt my soul shiver.

How did this happen? A feeling of deep distress coarsed my entire being and I felt so pathetic. I stared at them with trembling hands. How… How can this happen?

I felt nauseous. They were kids…

“Do you think you deserve to cry!” A woman screamed at me and I looked at her. It was Lily’s mother. She came stomping over with anger filled eyes, her pupils glowing and tears streaming down her face. She slapped me hard across the face, “You’re a failure just like your father!!” She growled at me.

“I-”

“Don’t you dare talk back!!” Her anger filled voice filled the air, “Where were you!! Where were you when we needed you!!”

That’s when Beth’s mother came in, she had her claws out and she attacked me as she cried, “It’s all your fault she died!!” I raised my arms in defense while both the mothers unleashed their anger on me but I didn’t fight back.

I couldn’t. How could I? I knew I was wrong. This was my fault. I just slumped down and let them do it.

They clawed me all over, each attack going deeper into my skin. They kept going while the rest of the pack watched. No one tried to stop them since they all blamed me.

I felt so pathetic. I really was good for nothing. I couldn’t do anything. I should have been here…

And because I knew all this I let them do as they pleased. I let them hurt me. I let them curse me and I let them blame me.

“Mom!! Stop!!” Chloe held her mother while Nathan came in front of hers.

“Step aside Nathan! He’s the reason your sister is dead!!” She screamed at him so violently his whole body began to tremble. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he tried to speak.

“B-b-but y-you’ll kill A-adam.”

“That’s right!” Chole grabbed Nathan’s hand, “If you kill him we won’t have anyone left! You said it yourself!”

Nathan…

Chloe…

I held them both from behind, “It’s okay. I deserve it.” I said and they both looked back at me in horror. Tears were constantly staining their cheeks.

“B-but Adam…” Nathan hiccuped, “You’re h-hurt-” He hiccuped again, “So bad.” He then turned to his mother and sniffled, “Mom will kill you.”

Seeing the fear in the eyes of her son she realized something and retracted her claws while Chloe’s mother lowered her fists as well but they both snatched their kids away and left.

The rest of the crowd had no idea what to do, so I stood up and gulped. Not sure what to do I thought about it, “I-” What do I even say? “I-I’m sorry…” I had stopped crying ever since my mother cried and just like that even though my eyes stung the tears didn’t come out this time either.

I had bad bruises and cuts all over me. My clothes were all messy and dirtied but I didn’t mind it.

I just felt nauseous and sick.

“What will you do now?” Someone from the crowd spoke but I couldn’t bring myself to raise my head and see who it was.

“I-ll try to fix this.”

“Yeah right.” Someone else said, “You can’t bring the dead back.” I didn’t see who said that but I could clearly hear the disgust in his voice. His words hurt because they were true.

I felt alone as I stood in my spot.

“Come on, the men who were away are coming back.” Someone else spoke this time, “Let’s arrange a funeral for the kids.”

The words brought me to my senses, “Wait!” I turned, “Let me do it.”

“You?” The crowd looked back at me with eyes that could just eat me alive. I spotted Beth’s father glaring at me, “You don’t deserve to even attend their funeral.” He gritted his teeth so hard I could practically hear it. His jaw was tightly clenched while he held back the tears with those red glossy eyes, “I don’t even want to see you near their graves.”

…

Upon seeing that I couldn’t do anything but let my gaze drop back to the ground.

***

The next few days were hard.

It was just me, my failures and my depressive thoughts.

I really had failed them just like how I had expected of myself. I bit my lower lip in frustration so many times it was bleeding.

What have I done?

The pack was in such a miserable condition and it was all my fault. I couldn’t fulfill my responsibility.

What am I going to do now?

“Hey.” I heard Suliha’s voice and turned to see him approach me while I sat under the tree. Suliha had come back.along with the other men.

Kei although, was here, never came to visit me. I wonder why? He was here the day of the attack, I wonder if something happened. I only know he received a critical hit on his forehead and killed the wolf who gave him that injury.

“Hey…” Suliha came and sat down next to me, “They’re too harsh.” He was talking about the pack.

“No, they’re right. I should have been here.”

“Well then, where were you?” I noticed his voice was meek for some reason.

“…” I couldn’t answer him. What do I even tell him? That I was off in another world seeing a friend and playing around when my pack was being terrorized and kids being killed?

That I was happy while everyone else was suffering?

Everytime I think about the kids it feels as if a knife has been plunged into my heart. It felt so crucifying. I gripped my shirt over my chest as it hurt.

There was a pain I couldn’t even explain. Something so bad it felt like it was killing me over and over again.

I couldn’t forget the image of their dead bodies ripped apart and their guts lying around. Their eyes wide open with so much fear in them.

I know, they were thinking I’d come to them, even in their last breaths they must be holding on to the hope that I would come but I didn’t…

I pulled my knees up to my chest and buried my face in between.

Their voices are fresh in my mind.

They would always come here to play with me but now I haven’t even seen Chloe or Nathan. Perhaps I’ll never be allowed to see them.

I held my head.

I probably don’t deserve it either.

“Hey…” Suliha placed his hand on my back, “It wasn’t your fault.” I couldn’t look at him. I noticed something wrong. It was as if he had cried very bitterly, his eyes were red,“Even if you were here you probably wouldn’t be able to save them. Most of the men were out. There’s a limit to how much you could have done with a few other people. It was just bad luck.” He was trying to encourage me even though he was going through something himself.

“It doesn’t change the fact I wasn’t here.” I bit my lower lip again, “I was so stupid.” It bled again.

“Still, they beat you up bad…”

“I failed them after all…”

To think I could be allowed to be that happy with her when everyone was suffering.

I deserve this.

Suliha rubbed circles on my pack, unsure what more to say to me, he changed the subject, “What will you do about the reserves now?”

I had thought about it a lot.

“Maybe the other weaker pack will sympathize with us and lend us some help.”

“No weaker pack will help us out. They need the reserves for themselves.”

“Then maybe a well off one?”

“You’ll ask them for help?”

“I don’t see another option.” I looked at the sky, “The damage was really bad this time. If I can ask for some money we’ll buy some more reserves.”

“That means you’ll have to throw every bit of pride you have.”

“I know…’ I clenched my fists. I know…

***

I sat in the lounge of an Alpha from another pack preparing myself to talk. I wasn’t sure what to say or how to say it when he entered the room. His name was Valek.

I stood up when he raised his hand, “You don’t need to stand.” He smiled and sat down across from me, “You said you needed to ask for something?”

I sat back down nervously, “Yes…” I gulped, “I’ll get straight to the point…” I couldn’t look at him directly, “I was wondering if I can borrow some money.”

“Money? Why exactly?”

“It’s just.” I scratched the back of my neck, “Recently we were attacked by rogues and robbed…”

“…” He didn’t answer and thought about, “By rogues?” He had found the answer, “If your pack is getting attacked that easily must mean you’re from a very poor pack.” His words held no mercy.

“Yes…”

“And you want to ‘borrow’ money? Big words coming from someone who can probably never pay me back.”

“…” I bit my lower lip in frustration. What do I do? I really don’t have the courage to go to another person after this.

….

“Please” I bowed my head as I threw away the little pride I had and begged, “Whenever I’ll be able to, I’ll pay you back.” My head was touching my knees.

I really had thrown it all away, risked it all for something this person doesn’t even think of as much.

But, it meant a lot to me.

…

There was a long pause filled with silence in which I couldn’t bring myself to raise my head out of embarrassment.

Then I heard him stand up and leave. As he shut the door behind him I raised my head slightly and brought my head up with a completely crushed ego.

I gulped then pursed my lips together as I internally consoled myself.

Well, at least it was worth a try… Lack of money has always been the source of all my problems after all.

I took a deep breath and stood to leave when the door opened again.

Valek came back in and handed me a heavy stash of cash.

“Once.” He spoke, “And be sure to pay me back.” He turned and left.

I couldn’t believe it.

I held onto the envelope tightly.

Oh God…

This was nerve wracking! Wait till I tell Esra about th…is…

What?

Why did my mind even go there…

***

“You actually went and begged?!!” Dad was furious when he found out how I got the money, “Do you have no pride??”

“…”

“Speak up you dimwit!!”

“No.” I answered, “I guess I don’t. I don’t need it, your stupid pride cost us a lot, if you had lowered your head and did something for the pack we wouldn’t be in this much hassle.”

Fury filled his expressions and his eyes started getting red with anger, “You!!”

I really shouldn’t have talked back when I knew how he reacts because it turned into a really violent result.

I took a deep breath while I sat under the same tree I usually did with cuts all over and a badly injured eye which I treated even more poorly by putting a tissue on it and taping it there.

Better than nothing right?

There was no one there beside me and oddly it felt very lonely.

‘I want to see Esra…’

The thought came to me without even trying and when it did it shocked me.

Why am I thinking about her again?

Didn’t all this trouble come because I was spending too much time in the magic forest?

So why?

The answer came to me soon after when I noticed my heartbeat.

Oh no…

When I remembered her in my mind, it made my heart race.

For some reason, I don’t know when, I don’t know how, I had started liking her.

I smiled sadly, then laughed lightly at myself.

I guess when it comes to myself I just do everything wrong.

Note: Actually it wouldn’t have made much of a difference even if Adam was there since the rogues came back with more forces and most of the men were out to earn unlike the last time but because Adam wasn’t there his guilty conscience made him feel like everything was his fault.