Jenny's POV - Friday April 28th 2023:
"Where am I?" Astrid asked quietly, her voice still hoarse.
"Do you remember Gabriela?" I asked as I wiped away my tears.
"Gabriela Locke?" Astrid asked with a confused look.
"Yes Gabriela Locke. We are staying at her home."
"Why are we here?"
"What exactly do you remember?" I asked as I chewed on my lower lip.
"I remember there was an attack on our castle in the middle of the night. I remember hearing a loud bang, the sound woke me and when I rolled over you were gone." Astrid spoke her voice was low as she recounted the night of Vivian's betrayal.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I thought back to that night. I had been planning on telling Astrid that I was pregnant that night. Astrid however had gotten back late after a meeting with the general of our army. When she had returned we ended up cuddling in bed, I was just about to tell her but she had fallen asleep. Shortly after I had fallen asleep I was woken up by the sound of footsteps walking past our bedroom door. If I hadn't left the room Astrid would have never had to search for me. I should have just woken her up but my curiosity got the better of me. When I peered through the door I saw a group of four wolves quietly walking through the hallways. The scent of the wolves was unfamiliar to me so I had decided to follow them. Quickly shifting I followed them at a distance until they arrived at Vivian's door. The door swung open and Vivian stepped aside to let the larger of the three wolves step in.
From the distance I was at I couldn't hear the conversation Vivian was having with the unknown wolf. So I had decided to make my way back to the bedroom. But when I turned to head back I bumped into a statue. I tried to stop it from toppling over but I was too late and it smashed to the floor. The three wolves that had been guarding the door made their way towards me. As quietly as I could be I ran towards my bedroom. I knew the layout of the castle like the back of my hand. However in my panicked state I managed to make one wrong turn leading me to a dead end. The wolves had me cornered and that's when I heard a loud bang that shook the castle.
"Without thinking I shifted into my Lycan form. I tried to talk to you through our mate bond but I couldn't. It was like something was blocking our communication. So I ran through the hallways following your scent until I found you surrounded by three wolves. You were laying on the ground, there was blood beginning to pool on the floor." Astrid's voice became shaky as she continued through the memory.
The three wolves had lunged at me, one of them managed to wrap their jaws around my neck. The pain was excruciating, the other two landed blows on either side of me. I remembered the sound of bones cracking before I hit the floor. Everything was blurry as I peered through hooded eyes. Just before everything went black I saw Astrid barreling towards me. I heard yelps, growling and bones cracking as the darkness pulled me under. I have no idea how long I was out for but all I remember was Astrid's voice as I woke up. She was in her Lycan form carrying me down a hallway that led to Vivian and my fathers rooms.
"I was so scared Jenny, when I saw you laying on the floor. An unexplainable amount of anger ran through my body. Then I blacked out, when I finally snapped out of it all I saw was blood. I had torn apart the wolves, their body parts were thrown across the hallway. There was blood dripping from every surface, my whole body was caked in it. I remember picking you up, I needed to get you to safety. The first thought in my head was to bring you to Vivian or your father. So that's what I did, I carried you to Vivian's room." A tear ran down Astrid's face.
Vivian, my sister, one of the people I thought I could trust betrayed me. It was at that moment that I realized I couldn't trust anyone, not even my own family. The fear in my body was overwhelming as we approached Vivian's door. I couldn't speak yet because of the damage done to my throat. There was nothing I could do to warn Astrid about Vivian. When Vivian opened the door she looked at me with a smile that to this day sends shivers through my body. I remember her telling Astrid to lay me down on the couch. They had left the room to gather medical supplies from the supply closet that was just across the hall. When they returned a large man was with them, a man who I would later find out was Jason.
Astrid dressed me as I had shifted back to my human form. As they tended to my wounds the sounds of wolves fighting echoed through the castle. The sounds were getting closer and closer. Astrid had insisted that they moved me to the safe room. I was in no shape to help fight off the invading wolves. No one knew that Vivian had let them into the castle. No one knew that my father was in on it as well.
"Vivian helped me clean your wounds, she helped me make sure you were okay. I insisted that you be put in the safe room. I could hear the intruding wolves getting closer. You had no way of defending yourself if they managed to make it to Vivian's room. When I had suggested moving you Vivian seemed hesitant but after a moment she agreed. The safe room was in the back of Vivian's room. I knew it would be safe since it could only be accessed by the three of you." I watched as Astrid's pulse began to speed up.
I knew what was coming, I remember it like it had happened just yesterday. I remember Astrid laying me down on the bed inside of the safe room. She leaned down, capturing my lips in a soft kiss. It was the last time I had kissed her in 19 years. She whispered 'I love you' before leaving the safe room. The second she left the room a feeling of unease washed over my body. I remember starting to panic as I laid on the bed. I couldn't help but get up from the bed and check the monitors of the security cameras. The pain from my ribs was excruciating but the adrenaline I had seemed to override the pain.
Astrid and Vivian were on the screen standing in the middle of my fathers room, Vivian's back was to the camera. Her hands were behind her back, she had what looked like a syringe in her hand. I felt the color drain from my face as I realized what was happening. As fast as I could I hurried to the door, I placed my hand on the fingerprint scanner but nothing happened. I wiped my hands on my shirt trying to get the blood off my fingers. After a couple more tries the door slid open. I took off towards my fathers room, when I reached the door and flung it open my whole world had stopped.
"I put you in the safe room, gave you a kiss and told you I love you." Astrid's voice began to tremble.
"When I left the room Vivian said we should find your father. So we went to check his room to see if he was there. Jason, the man who had come with us, went to view the security cameras to see how far the rogues had made it into the castle. When we entered your father's room there wasn't anyone around. As I was looking around the room I heard a door lock. When I turned around I saw Vivian standing by the door, her back was to the door and she had the most menacing smile on her face. She walked towards me telling me how a Lycan would never be Queen of this kingdom. She brought up the fact that I'm intersex and in her eyes I was an abomination. Just as I was about to shift I felt the sting of a needle pierce my neck. Followed by a sharp stab to the ribs. Whatever was in the syringe caused me to fall to the floor almost immediately I did my best to fight through it. But no matter how hard I tried I began to lose control of each of my limbs. When I hit the floor she stood over me for a second just laughing. She left me there unable to move. The last thing I remember was you pulling me into your arms telling me that you love me." Astrid said as she wiped away a tear.
The sight of Astrid on the floor looking lifeless and bleeding made me feel as though someone had knocked all the air out of me. I felt like I couldn't breathe as I crossed the room to my mate. My limbs gave out and I collapsed to the floor. All I could do was pull her into my arms and hold onto her as I felt her heartbeat begin to slow. I remember telling her how much I love her, telling her not to leave me. I begged and begged hoping that whatever Vivian injected her with wouldn't work. But with her last breath she whispered 'I love you' just as her eyes closed. I remember sobbing into her chest until I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. When I looked up I saw the man that had come into the room earlier, he told me that we needed to leave immediately. He quite literally had to pry me off of Astrid because I had refused to leave her behind. After that everything had become a bit blurry; it was as if my brain had shut down.
"I thought you died..." I whispered.
"But whatever Vivian injected you with only made it seem like you were dead. You've been in a coma for the last 19 years." I watched as Astrid's eyes widened and her heartbeat thumped rapidly.
"I-I've been asleep for 19 years? I left you alone all these years." Astrid said quietly as a tear slid down her cheek.
"No it wasn't your fault none of this was your fault. Vivian did this to us, she tried to take you away from me." I said firmly, there was no way I was letting her take the blame for this.
"So I've been at Gabriela's this whole time?" She asked, her hands were shaking slightly.
"No not exactly, it's kind of a long story. We actually just rescued you about five months ago. Gabriela was the one who told me you were still alive. Vivian had kept you in a coma all these years."
Astrid was quiet, I could tell the information was hard for her to process. I didn't know how I was going to tell her about Jason, Dylan and Wilder. She didn't even know I was pregnant all those years ago. A wave of anxiety crashed over me as I thought about all the things I still needed to tell her. I had no clue how she was going to react or if she could ever accept the fact that I had been with someone else.
"I'm sorry you were alone all this time..." Astrid mumbled, breaking the silence.
"I um wasn't alone... Do you remember Jason?" I whispered so quietly that it was barely audible.
"You're with Jason now?" Astrid's jaw clenched as the words left her lips.
"What no I mean I was but no not anymore. After you 'died' Jason helped me escape the castle, we went to the cabin that Claire had charmed for us. Eventually I grew to love him, it was never like the love I shared with you, nothing could ever come close to that. But since I thought you were dead I decided to pursue a relationship with him. He helped me raise our children." It took everything in me to get the last part out.
"Children?" Astrid said with wide eyes.
"The night we were attacked I was going to tell you I was pregnant. But when you got back to the room you were so tired. You fell asleep so I decided to just tell you in the morning. Clearly that was a mistake." I said as I looked into Astrid's eyes that were now full of tears.
"You said children as in more than one. Did we have twins?" Astrid said, chewing on her lip.
All I could do was nod. So far this was going better than I thought it would. However I had this overwhelming feeling of guilt running through my body. The look in her eyes when I told her about Jason had absolutely killed me inside. It almost felt as though I had cheated on her. Which I knew was ridiculous since I had no idea she was still alive, no one did. Hell no one even thought I was alive.
"Are they here?" Astrid asked quietly.
"Yeah they are just down the hall with their mates. They will want to meet you but that should probably wait until the morning." I said as I tucked a strand of raven hair behind her ear.
"What are their names?" Astrid sighed as she leaned into the touch.
"Dylan and Wilder. Dylan is technically the oldest and won't let Wilder forget that." I couldn't help but chuckle thinking about Dylan always pointing out that she's the oldest.
"So we had two boys?" Astrid said she had a small smile playing on her lips.
"No Dylan is intersex like you, we didn't realize she was a girl when she was born. She also inherited the Lycan gene so she's just like her mom."
Astrid's smile reached her eyes when I told her about Dylan. As far as I'm aware Astrid had never met another intersex person let alone another Lycan. I knew that when she woke up her and Dylan would have a special bond that no one else would understand. Knowing Dylan would have someone to talk to about things made me feel like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
"What about Wilder did he get the Lycan gene?" Astrid asked, her body seemed to relax more as we talked about the kids.
"No, only Dylan inherited the Lycan gene. She actually just shifted right before we rescued you."
"So she just found her mate this year then?"
"She found the three of them this year" Astrid's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her head.
"T-Three mates?!"
"Yes, her mate Aria is Reese and Charlie's daughter. Ivy is the daughter of Harley and Scarlett. Alex is her childhood best friend; her parents are Margot and Everett."
"Wait, two of our daughter's mates are princesses? You know I could probably sit here and ask you questions all night." Astrid laughed, the sound of her laugh brought a smile to my face.
I had missed the sound of her laugh. After seeing her laying lifeless on the floor I never thought I would ever get to hear it again. Now that I had her back I refused to ever let her go.
"Can I ask you something?" I said hesitantly.
"Anything"
"Are you mad that I was with Jason?" I asked as I nervously chewed my lower lip.
She was silent for a moment, I could practically see the gears turning in her head. Her face wasn't giving anything away as we sat in the silence.
"No, I'm not mad. You thought I was dead, you had to move on. I'm glad you had someone to help you through everything. Where is Jason by the way? You said you weren't together anymore."
Just as she asked where Jason was, an image of him covered in blood filled my mind. Tears began to fill my eyes as I thought back to the day that he was killed. Astrid quickly brought her hand up to cup my face. Her thumb wiped away the tear that had fallen.
"H-He's dead. When w-we rescued you he didn't m-make it." My voice trembled as the memories of that day plagued my mind.
A look of guilt crossed Astrid's face. I knew she would blame herself when she found out this piece of information.
"I-I'm sorry Jen" She whispered, placing a kiss on my forehead.
"It's not your fault. There's nothing we could have done."
"I'm sorry you had to go through all of this. You didn't deserve any of this." Astrid reached out to pull me down onto her chest.
She wrapped her arms tightly around me. One of her hands rubbed soothing circles on my back. The feeling of her holding me caused my whole body to relax into her. I finally felt a sense of home and I never wanted to go without this feeling.
"I think we should put a pause on the rest of this conversation. We can save it for the morning. I think you should just get some sleep for now." Astrid whispered against the top of my head.
"Honestly I don't know if I can sleep right now. I've gone without you for 19 years, I don't want to miss another second with you." I said as I looked up at Astrid.
"Can I kiss you?" She asked her eyes never leaving mine.
All I could do was nod as I scooted up closer to her. Our lips were just inches apart, my heart began to race as Astrid began to close the gap. When our lips finally touched a wave of emotions washed over me. A soft moan left Astrid's lips or maybe it was me I had no idea. Her lips were soft just like I remembered, they fit perfectly against mine. We quickly fell into a familiar rhythm, it was as though we had never been apart. Astrid's tongue grazed my lower lip asking for entrance. My body immediately responded by letting her tongue enter. Our tongues slid together as the kiss deepened. As though my body was on autopilot I felt my hands move into her hair. They tangled themselves in her long black curls eliciting a moan from Astrid.
Astrid's hands never strayed from my waist. They just gripped tightly as our mouths moved together. I have no idea how long we kissed for but I never wanted it to end. I savored every second as though I would never get to kiss her again. Unfortunately I had to pull back slightly to catch my breath. My breathing was heavy but so was Astrid's. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly as she tried to catch her breath. When her eyes met mine I noticed her pupils were blown wide. Her eyes looked almost black, the sight of them made my breath catch in my throat.
"I missed you so much" I murmured against her lips.
Capturing my lips once again she kissed me with more passion than I had ever felt before. We kissed until we were both overcome with exhaustion. The last thing I remember was her whispering 'I love you' before I drifted off into a deep sleep.