Twilight Rogue: Family Bonds part 2 (4/5)
The Lion's Mother

Heya Author's note and a suggestion for maximum effect on this chapter. I Dare you the reader to play Kingdom hearts- dearly beloved the collection in the background while reading and try your hardest not to cry. I had the song on while I created the chapter, and I thought I had a breakdown. I dare you to do it. Also, thank you for the support during the series. I hope you enjoy the series and keep supporting me. Once again, thank you.

POV: Leon

As I stood in front of my childhood home the first memories that came to my head was running here after school to see my mom in her garden, while my dad was finishing his rounds through the neighborhood. He loved walking around the community, checking in on people to see how they were doing before coming home. He’d grab me and put me over his shoulders while talking to his Beta and making his way over to my mother kissing her lovingly before we all went inside together, so warm and safe and filled with love and passion only to be void of everything once my father passed. The garden filled with weeds and moss, I leaned down, digging my hands in the soil before realizing it was scorched. She hasn’t been outside in what I can determine in weeks. The house was falling apart from its former self, it wasn’t home to me anymore, and I know it wasn’t for her too.

“Leo? Are you okay?” Ash asked rubbing my back

I wiped my eyes, trying to hold back the tears that I was hiding away from her, “Yeah. I’m okay it’s just...this was my home,” I sadly said looking at the house in ruins

“It’s okay, love. Do you think she’s still in there?” She asked

I look towards the door, unsure of everything, “I don’t know, but it doesn’t hurt to find out,” I said, walking up to the door. I knocked on it for what felt like forever, “Mom? Are you in there? It’s me, Leon. I know it’s been a while and I haven’t exactly been here for you, but...can you open up, please? Please open up? Please?” I begged sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I was heartbroken by the silence on the other side the door shutting my eyes tightly, trying so hard to stay strong, but just this empty feeling of rejection washing over me was too much to handle. I felt my body starting to tremble in my frustration only to feel this clam as the warmth of her hand in my mine was more than enough to make me feel better. I looked over at her as she caressed my cheek, leaning my head down towards her making me stare in her eyes.

“It’s okay, my Alpha,” She softly said against my lips before gently kissing me

When she pulled away, she was wiping my tears. I didn’t even notice that I was crying, but I knew I was falling in love with her all over again. I lightly nodded before she took me in her arms, pulling me in for one of the closest and tightest hugs she has ever given me. I felt whole again within those few seconds so busy being engulfed by her loving embrace I didn’t notice the door was open.

“Welcome home, Leo,” She said

“God. Mom, what has he done to you?” I asked

My mother was a forty-four-year-old woman with hair just as dark black as mine and light brown eyes. She used to have a light tan, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from how she looked now. Her once dark black hair is slowly going gray due to her stress; her eyes were just dull and lifeless as Ash’s was when I first met her, and her light tan skin tone was nothing more than a pale, sickly color that didn’t even include her injuries. Which just made it harder for me to look at her knowing where they came from, and I can’t do a Goddamn thing about it. It made me want to punch a fucking wall down, but no...no violence with Ash around, I somehow controlled my temper. We were sitting down, staring at her from across the dinner table. Her arm in a sling her eyes blacken from sleep exhaustion multiple scars and wounds that were discoloring her skin. I didn’t feel like talking to this woman, not knowing who she was anymore. I guessed when my dad died, a part of her died by his side, and now she can’t live with herself anymore.

“Leon, how are you?” She softly asked

I only nodded, unable to say anything, knowing exactly what is going on, “He’s okay, Miss. Williams. This has just been a lot for him to take in,” Ash answered for me rubbing my back

“I go by, Mrs. Anton now,” She sadly said looking away while I clenched my fisted exhaling a deep breath of air

“I know Leon as Williams with all due respect I wanna keep that going,” Ash said gripping my hand tighter

“Who are you?” She asked

“She’s my mate, Ashely Nicole Black,” I quickly answered without any hesitation what so ever

“You seem very passionate about her, Leo. You looked just like your father when I opened the door so strong yet so...so gentle, for a moment I did though he was back,” She said

“Yeah. She’s...everything to me, mom. I can’t make it up at all. I’m going to marry her and start a life and a family with her. I just really wanted you to meet her,” I said

“She’s beautiful, and it’s clear she cares for you deeply make sure you take care of her,” She said

“Yeah. But who’s going to take care of you? Anton...” I started

“Alpha Anton,” She corrected

“Yeah, Well, That Fucking Snake!” I yelled shaking my head, “I’m sorry, but I can’t pretend that I don’t know where those wounds and injuries came from,” I said

“Leon, try to understand...” She started

“No. No! NO! THIS ISN’T FUCKING RIGHT!” I shouted, “He’s..he is still hurting you, and you let him. I...I don’t understand why. You and dad raised me never to put my hands on a woman and knowing that’s exactly what the bastard is doing to you. It’s not right, and you’re letting it happen, why?” I asked

“My little lion man so prideful and strong even though you are a werewolf, you could be so much more,” She said, grabbing my clenched fist unraveling it to place her hand inside, “Leon. It doesn’t matter how I spend my final days here on this earth because I’m dying anyway,” She said

I shook my head, “Then you should be happy. You deserve better than this if your final days are numbered. You’re still torching yourself, and I still don’t understand why,” I said

“Your father should not have gone out that night. He went out during a search party looking for Anton’s son. I tried to tell him to send you instead, and if you would have gone, he’d still be here and you...you’re your father’s son. So...as terrible as it is for me to say I did blame you for not going in your father’s place and I am so sorry for that,” She said with tears streaming down her face

“I...I’m going to my room I need to get something out of there before I leave,” I said amid my shock

I got up, leaving the women behind at the dinner table to see that my childhood room was bored shut. I pulled the wood off the door turning the knob to find out it was locked. I leaned against the opposite side of the wall before kicking in the door and slamming it behind me. Looking around, unable to process her words ringing in my head as I tried to hit it out of my head before screaming to the top of my lungs and crying my eyes out. After a while, I found what I was looking for, and I came back down with my bloodshot eyes clenching a family photo in my arms.

“Leo. My Alpha come here, please,” Ashely said

I walked up to her laying my head on her shoulder, “I want to leave now,” I muttered

She rubbed her fingers through my hair, making me relax a little, “Just talk to her a little while longer, I’m sure you can convince her to get out this toxic relationship, but you can’t run away from this. You have to be strong for her because right now she’s falling apart. She needs you way more than I do,” She softly said to me

“I’ll try even though she just...” I started

“She regrets it. That’s why she’s with him, she’s punishing herself for even remotely having the idea,” She said pulling me off her shoulder, “Please talk to her,” Ash said kissing my forehead and guiding me back to the table

I sat down listening to every word she said, tightly gripping the framed photo in my arms. She wanted out, but she didn’t know how to escape Anton anymore. She was far too weak to try anymore, I had an idea, but unless Anton shows up with her, then it wouldn’t work. Before it gets too cold, Ashely and I were going to have an engagement party, we planned on inviting a lot of people since by the time we’d get back someone was bound to find out those were our wolves that ran during the Lunar Eclipse. I didn’t want to, but I guess I could add Anton to list, but he has to come with my mother being on Black’s land we’ll have the advantage if he shows his ass which he’d do in public to embarrass us in front of everybody. I made peace with my mother, even hugged her and, she managed to save one flower keeping it alive for someone to take it to him. She was glad it was me. We got the Jeep and heading closer to the border where my last stop was. I looked at the reminds of my father’s memorial and got to work restacking the rocks in pattern formation relighting the candles and setting up the pictures that were shattered around eventually adding the picture I had in my room with my mother’s flower in front of it before sitting down in front of everything.

“Hey dad,” I started with a soft smile on my face, “I know it’s been a while since we’ve talked. I have so much I want to tell you, but my time is limited; still, you need to know everything. I was forced out of the pack, mom remarried for terrible reasons, Uncle Aiden had someone take me in, I fell madly in love and made a bond and connection with this beautiful woman, the men are coming to me trying to convince me to reclaim my birthright, and I don’t know what to do. I could use your help. I miss you so much, and every day it’s harder to accept the fact that you’re gone. You left some huge shoes to fill, dad, you know that, right? I just want to make you proud, but I could use some guidance here old man,” I said with a giggle before feeling Ashely holding me close to her gently rocking me as I would her

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Williams. Your son is just amazing I’m glad he’s mine,” She said

I grabbed the picture of my family before everything happened and leaning over to show Ash, “I am my father’s son since I look exactly like him. Alpha Julian Cole Williams. This was after a neighborhood Christmas party,” I said

“You guys look happy. How much time do we have left?” She asked

“Three hours,” I answered

“Want to sleep in the Jeep five minutes away from the border?” She asked

“You’re trying to be sneaky it won’t work they’d put a bullet in my head before we could drive past, but I would like to stay here a little while longer,” I said

“It’s fine for us to stay a little while longer,” She said

We stayed around for another hour, maybe an hour and a half before taking off. We got back on the road and ended up crossing into the Canadian border before too late. We ended up sleeping in a nearby hotel, and Ash called the women bright an early in the morning. I sat up watching Ash sounding so hopeful over the phone with her.

“O...okay. So the diner on Fourth Ave at one o’clock near the pastry shop, right?” She asked over the phone, “Okay. See you soon,” She said before hanging up, looking over at me, pretending to sleep, “I know you’re awake, so why pretend?” She asked

I puckered my lips twice before feeling her crawl on the bed, “Kissy kissy?” I wondered before waking up to one of her light kisses

“Good morning my Alpha,” She whispered softly

“Good morning my beautiful Ashely,” I softly said

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