Chasing His Betrayed Luna

 Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

ALPHA RAIDEN

~<~

I was pacing outside Kyle's room with Katie in my arms. I could still hear Kyle's cries and sense my daughter's fear as she buried her face in the crook of my neck. I didn't know what was taking Andrew so long to get Aurelia back to the hospital and I was too worried to begin tracing Andrew through the mind link.

In fact, My mind was full of nothing but worries.

"Please, Dad. Let me stay with Kyle. My presence in his room would help him relax." Katie whimpered.

"But the healer and doctor asked us to leave, Katie. We've to stay here until they let us in." I patted my daughter's back

"But why? Mom always lets me stay beside Kyle when he is ill." Katie cried out.

I didn't know how to comfort her as he small body shook in my arms and I tried my best to not wince each time her leg hit or move over the bullet wound on my side. If only Aurelia was here-

"She's here," Lex announced into my mind the second he perceived Aurelia's presence in the hospital. However, I felt his heart race rapidly as another scent hit our noses. A very familiar one but also coated with other scents. Lex called out right before Aurelia ran into the corridor, "Mom..."

My mom...

My breath hitched when I realized that Aurelia was holding someone on her back. The whitish strands of hair seemed unfamiliar and known at the same time, causing my heart to leap.

"Mom..." I tasted that word on my tongue as it rolled out.

The person on Aurelia's back raised her head and my eyes connected with a pair of identical orbs. My eyes stung as Larisa's words rushed back to my mind. That was my mom on Aurelia's back. I had many questions but I was too emotional to even consider asking one of them.

"Raiden. My child." My mom's voice hit me hard and I let out a sob, taking steps to meet her and Aurelia halfway. Her gray eyes watered just like tears rolled down my own cheeks.

My hold on Katie tightened even after I reached Aurelia and cupped my mom's face while she remained on Aurelia's back. So much had changed about her. The color of her hair, her face, and even the unending joy I used to see in her eyes were gone.

I shook my head, a new wave of anger building up within me but this time, I was mad at myself. How could I have let my mom suffer in Larisa's hands? How did I miss the red flags she constantly flashed my way?

"I'm so sorry, Mom." I apologized, struggling with tears.

Katie twisted in my arms and cried as well, "Mom."

Of course, Katie doesn't know my mom and when she uttered that word, she was referring to Aurelia who was quick to stretch her arms to receive Katie. "Oh, My baby." Aurelia breathed, using my arms to hold Katie while her other hand supported my mom's weight on her back.

The show of strength would have

captivated me if I hadn't focused on relieving Aurelia by lifting my mom off her back. I immediately noticed how weak my mom was when her feet touched the ground and held

her against me, super

weight as she stared into my eyes, affection flashing in hers.

"Look at you...." My mom said to me without holding back her tears.

Unlike me. If I were to let my emotions loose, I'd become a wreck, and as much I year to become one for a couple of minutes, I couldn't break down like that in a public place and not in the presence of my sad daughter.

Katie's complaint to Aurelia also reached my ears, "They won't let me see Kyle, Mom. He needs me. I want to be with him."

"Shush, baby." Aurelia consoled Katie before saying, "Stay with Hazel while I go inside and ask if you can stay with Kyle. Is that okay?"

I didn't have to look at Katie to know

that she wasn't okay with that but I also knew she'd agree to stay outside heard Aurelia open the door and close it behind her while I remained outside, staring at my mom's wrinkled face.

She shouldn't have aged this much if she wasn't locked up.

I blamed myself for her condition-

But it suddenly occurred to me that she was the only one I was seeing. I breathed, "Where's dad?"

She was silent for a second but blinked as she replied, "He's gone, Raiden. It happened about six months or a year ago...I can't be sure-"

My mom's lips quavered as she spoke and I found my body responding to her words in ways I couldn't imagine. Bad shivers ran down my spine, my heart pumped like it was about to explode and my skin felt like it was on fire.

"He died where she kept you?" I asked, managing to speak without stuttering.

Andrew would definitely tell me

everything I needed to know and show me where my mom was found but for now, I could only imagine how lonely my parents must have been. How sad my dad must have felt when he realized he would be taking his last breath as a prisoner in the same territory that he ruled.

"Yes..." My mom sniffed before her puffy eyes settled on Katie who was also staring at us.

I pulled myself together and chimed, "Introductions are due but we should get you cleaned up and assessed by the doctors before that."

My mom hummed in agreement. I took another look at Katie before leaving, carrying my mom to another room in the hospital and while she got medical attention, my mind crept back to Larisa.

I swore to find her no matter how far and long I had to search.

She'll pay and I'll use her family to teach the rest of the realm that I wasn't to be toyed with. My family wasn't to be messed with either.

"Just wait and see," I murmured with deep hatred.