Sold To The Alpha
The Cursed Luna Chapter 60

Placing the small bag she carried onto the desk, Floretina rummaged inside as they waited for the other adults to arrive. Pulling out a small book with an ancient symbol on it and a stoppered bottle containing a shimmering blue liquid, she placed them next to the bag before returning to Charity, pulling down the covers and taking a black pen which she used to draw a complicated symbol on the dying woman's chest.

Behind them the door opened and Merrick and Marcus entered the room, the latter leaning heavily against the beta who helped him into one of the chairs that decorated the room. Moments later Aaron's parents entered, closing the door behind them they stared surprised at the Sorceress who was fussing around Charity, unbothered by their arrival.

'Is that her?' Mary asked quietly to Aaron who nodded silently in response, his eyes never leaving his mate as she lay unresponsive to the sorceress' touch.

Turning around suddenly, Floretina took in the small group around her, 'you are all people who love the Luna as one of the most important people in your world?' she asked, gazing them each in the eye in turn, the group all nodded their agreement. 'I mean true love, not just the pack love that is shared by werewolves, it needs to be the true love of family' she said sternly. Again they all nodded, including Merrick who muttered, 'I may not be family through blood or marriage, but she is more than my Luna, she is my sister, only my mate holds more of my heart than her' he growled.

Nodding her acceptance, Floretina collected her book from the table, flipping through the pages of scrawled writing before replaceing her place and turning to the group. 'You need to circle the bed, create a shield with your bodies for her' she ordered as the group followed her instructions, Justin next to the bed side table, then Aaron, Marcus, Merrick, Mary and finally Alistair by the opposite table, all eyes on the barely breathing form in front of them.

Picking up the bottle, the Sorceress stepped through the circle until she was next to the bed. Looking around each face a sadness shadowed her perfect features, 'now, from those she loves and who loves her, one must gift their lifeline, exchanging it for her own' she said softly.

The group stared at her dumbstruck for a few moments before Aaron cleared his throat, 'I'll do it, take me, what do I do?' as he stepped forward, his gaze leveled determinedly upon his mate.

His way was halted by a firm grasp on his shoulder, turning slightly he met the gaze of Marcus, who was leaning against the Beta's strong form, keeping himself upright.

'Not you Alpha' he said quietly, 'it should be me'

Aaron shook his head horrified, 'no, she'd be devastated Marcus! you can't!'

Marcus shook his head smiling, 'less devastated than to wake up to her mate dead, believe me boy, I know what that's like, I would never allow my beautiful girl to feel that pain if I could stop it' he murmured, 'plus, the compass led her to me, that's what it does remember? it leads her to what she needs most, she needed me to be here to take her place'

Aaron looked around at the others desperately, 'there has to be another way' he croaked, his eyes pleading with the Sorceress who shook her head sadly, 'the gift must complete it's journey' she said

His eyes returning to Marcus', tears fell unashamedly as he pulled the old man into his arms sobbing, the former Alpha patting the young Alpha's back before pulling away, 'Please Aaron, you have to let me do this' he whispered, 'i'm tired, I miss my Anna-Marie, I want to go home to her' he admitted with a small smile.

Giving a slight nod, Aaron pulled the older man into one last hug, 'I'm sorry Alpha, for everything I said to you when Charity was being held at Oakridge, I never meant it' he muttered into Marcus' shoulder.

Returning the hug Marcus grinned, 'I know, and to be honest, if you hadn't have said what you did I would have questioned whether you truly loved my grand daughter as much as you said you did'.

Pulling apart, Marcus looked toward Floretina who motioned for him to join Charity on the bed. Laying next to her, Marcus reached over and kissed her forehead lovingly, whispering in her ear 'I love you baby girl, now and always, I will forever be with you' before placing his head on the pillow and grasping Charity's hand in his.

Walking over to Marcus, Floretina drew an identical symbol on his chest to Charity's before she pulled the stopper from the bottle in her hand, holding the blue liquid out toward him. Searching the Sorceress' eyes Marcus asked, 'will my ailments pass to her too? these problems I have from wolfsbane?'

Floretina shook her head slowly, 'your issues are problems of the body, Past Alpha, and so will remain with your body, the Luna's issues are problems of her lifeline so will pass when you and she trade'.

Relief washing over him, Marcus raised his head enough for the Sorceress to pour half the liquid into his mouth, swallowing it without hesitation. Walking to the other side, the Sorceress carefully lifted Charity's head, feeling her stir as she automatically swallowed as the mixture passed her lips, laying her back down once the bottle was empty.

Turning to the watching adults, Floretina rose her voice slightly, 'Loved ones of Charity, grasp hands, hold on tightly and no matter what happens do not let go!' The group immediately linked hands, their knuckles taking on a white hue as they each gripped to their neighbours with all their strength.

Placing herself at the foot of the bed, Floretina instructed Marcus to close his eyes, once he had obeyed, she lifted her book and began to read from its pages, her voice so quiet that the words couldn't be caught even by the ears of the surrounding werewolves. As she spoke a breeze fluttered through the room, moving a few hairs across Charity's face as she lay with her eyes closed, her hand held tightly in her grand fathers grasp. The wind began to pick up, swirling around the room, pulling at the spectators clothes as they tightened their grips on each other, the pack house began to shake, the screams of terrified pack members and the sounds of breaking ornaments reverberated through out the building as gales forged their way through the structure.

As suddenly as they began, the winds died back and from Charity's chest, a small black orb rose into the air, similarly a glowing white orb rose from Marcus as their lungs both stilled. Panicking Aaron went to move toward his lifeless wife but was stopped by Floretina who yelled 'do not break the circle Alpha!'

Silently the group watched as the two orbs moved closer to each other, when millimetres apart they began to circle each other, slowly moving to a rhythm that no-one could hear before splitting off, the black orb sinking into Marcus' chest as the brilliant white orb disappeared within Charity.

Staring silently at the pair, Aaron let out a groan of relief as his wife's chest suddenly rose as she took a deep breath inwards. Her eyes gradually fluttered open and she looked around at her family and friends surrounding her bed. 'What happened?' she asked weakly.

Dropping Merrick and Justin's hands Aaron rushed to her side, falling to her knees beside the bed as he buried his head in her chest sobbing, 'you're ok, please goddess tell me you are ok baby' he whispered.

'I'm fine' replied Charity softly, 'I feel... fine' she added confused.

As her eyes continued to wander round the room she became aware of her hand still grasped in another hand, looking over to her right slowly she gasped as the barely breathing body of her grand father came into her sight. Pulling herself over to him she started to wail, 'Grand father? Grand father? Marcus! no! Marcus!' she screamed pushing Aaron away as he tried to pull her to him.

Marcus' eyes slowly opened, bloodshot and dull, he looked into his grand daughters eyes and smiled 'You are ok my baby girl' he stated.

'Why? why would you do this?' Charity sobbed, 'You should have let me go!'

Marcus chuckled weakly, 'No baby girl, I would never want to live in a world where you did not exist' he said quietly reaching out with his free hand and touching her face, 'I am ready to go sweetheart and to be able to leave giving you the gift of a long life? well that just means there is nothing left here for me to do'.

Brushing her hair from her tear streaked face Marcus smiled tenderly up at her face, 'Take good care of my Isabella, you tell her every day that her great grand daddy loved her more than all the flowers in the world'

Charity nodded as she gripped his hand, allowing her tears to fall onto the sheets as she watched him struggle to breathe. Marcus' eyes suddenly moved to their right, staring at something no-one else could see, reaching out his hand Marcus' face illuminated as he whispered, 'Anna-Marie' before his eyes closed, his hand fell to the blankets and his chest lowered for the last time.

Sobbing uncontrollably, Charity pulled his lifeless body to hers, gripping it as she called out to him 'No grand father, no! don't leave me!' Two strong arms wrapped themselves around her as she allowed the spectators to pull Marcus' body from her grasp. Turning her head she broke down against Aaron's chest as he muttered into her hair, holding her close to him protectively.

Pulling away from her slightly, Aaron captured her eyes with his, 'He wanted to go baby' he whispered, 'and his wife came to get him, he isn't alone'

Holding his gaze Charity nodded, accepting his words and his comfort as he held her closely once more, grief and relief coursing through him simultaneously. Their revere was broken when Justin whispered, 'The Sorceress, she is gone'

Looking round the room, they saw he was right, there was no trace of her yet no-one had seen her leave.

'Thank you' whispered Charity as she looked out of the window toward the sunset, hoping the Sorceress could hear her.