Sold To The Alpha
Blood L**t Chapter 51

The warriors stayed at the castle for a couple more days before they finally decided it was time to leave and return Halle to the pack. Vaya was quiet during breakfast as everyone chattered before preparing to leave. 'Are you OK Vaya?' Halle whispered across Daniel who was sat between them. Vaya nodded giving a small smile, 'I'm OK Halle, it's just.. my dad' she started uncertainly.

Vallance's head swivelled in their direction, cutting off the conversation he was having with Jason, Justin and Leo. 'What about your dad?' he asked as he scrutinised the hybrid.

Sighing deeply, Vaya shrugged, 'I'm just upset I have to leave him here, I know we can come and visit but.. it just feels wrong to walk away while he's bound to the castle' she muttered.

Vallance placed his index fingers against his chin as he thought, 'well, Carter isn't actually bound to the castle' he mused, Vaya's head whipping up in surprise.

'Really?' she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Vallance grinned as he shook his head, 'that's why none of the servants can't leave the castle without permission, they are not bound by oath to return so should they try to leave they must be accompanied or die. 'So.. could my dad come with us?' Vaya asked hopefully

Vallance nodded, 'I don't see why not, he has served us well over the last twenty years even after being taken against his will, if he wishes to leave with you, I shall order the castle to permit it' he said with a small smile as Jason beamed between him and Vaya. Carter, who had been stood silently by the wall with the other servers, let out a tight whimper, his knees giving way as he fell to the ground.

'Dad?' Vaya shouted, running to his side, 'are you OK?' she asked, trying to check him over as he waved her hands away gently.

'I'm fine little one, it's just.. I'd prepared myself to watch you leave' Carter said painfully, 'I never thought I'd get offered the chance to go with you.

Looking around him, he saw half the table were crowded around him, worried expressions on their faces.

'I take it you wish to leave us Carter?' Vallance asked with a smile.

'If it pleases your majesty, I would very much like to return to their pack with my daughter' Carter agreed humbly, bowing his head in respect. 'Then it shall be so' Vallance replied before waving to the table, 'now join us Carter for a final meal!'

Carter hesitated, 'but Your Majesty, I am but a servant, to dine with you would be inappropriate' he mumbled uncertainly.

Vallance shook his head, 'Carter, you are no longer a server of this castle, your attachment to the building will be broken before you leave. You are now the father of the young she wolf who risked her life to save me, I insist that you join us! he replied sternly. Nodding meekly, Carter allowed Vaya to lead him to the table, taking Daniel's seat who ushered all the warriors down a place, moving everyone's plates down before getting a clean plate passed up to the shaken werewolf.

Grasping his hand under the table, Vaya beamed happily, 'you are going to love our pack dad, Alpha Aaron and Luna Charity will be so pleased to meet you' she said as she piled food onto the older werewolf's plate, encouraging him to eat.

Soon enough it was time to say goodbye, the warriors had all packed their belongings and headed down to the front door where Halle and Justin were saying goodbye to Jason, the younger sibling sobbing quietly as she clung to him.

'I can't believe you aren't coming home with me' she mumbled, her head buried into her brother's chest.

'Hey, it's not goodbye forever baby sister' Jason teased as he brushed his hands down his sister's hair comfortingly, 'I'll come to visit the pack and you will come back here to visit me!

Wiping her eyes she looked up into her brother's face, 'I know, but it will be different, you won't be down the hallway any more, you won't come barging in my room to annoy me or.. or.. throw me over your shoulder to carry me out of a room while I shout at you' she said, tears starting to fall again.

Jason chuckled, 'I promise that every time I see you, I will quadruple my annoying behaviour, OK?'

Halle nodded, giving a small smile as she gave him one last squeeze and reluctantly let go, turning to Vallance and pulling him into a bear hug as Justin pulled his son into his arms.

Finally they could no longer think of any more reasons to prolong their departure and the group stepped outside, Halle holding on to Vallance and Jason's hands as they made their way down the steps. The warriors stepping over the boundary leaving Justin's family, Vaya, Daniel and Carter inside the gate.

Releasing Halle's hand, Vallance beckoned to Carter to stand next to him, he held out his hand to the werewolf, gripping it tightly in his own.

'Carter' he said loudly, 'you have served the castle and it's occupants for twenty years, as the Vampire King, owner of the stone fortress we stand within, I deem your term of service to be complete. You are no longer under the ownership of the castle and are free to leave without punishment.

Keeping his grip on the werewolf, he gently pushed him backwards toward the boundary line, Carter hesitating slightly before cautiously placing a foot over the entrance. Wincing slightly in preparation, he lifted his second foot and placed it next to his first, his eyes tightly shut for a second before he opened them slowly, looking down at his feet in surprise before letting go of Vallance and smiling.

Following the werewolf over the entrance, Jason and Halle gave one last look to the pair still stood within the grounds before setting off through the woods and back to their vehicles.

Slipping behind the wheel, Leo waited for Justin, Vaya, Daniel and Carter to clamber in before starting the engine and leading the way back toward the main road and the start of their journey to Oak Ridge pack.

Driving back the way they came, Vaya and Daniel talked quietly to Carter, telling him about their pack, Alpha Aaron, Luna Charity and their best friends Isabella and Riley. Carter smiled happily as he listened to their descriptions though a slight shadow crossed his face every now and again.

'What's wrong dad?' Vaya asked finally, looking at him worried, 'do you not want to come to Silver Cross with us?'

Carter smiled as he reached out and took the hybrid's hand in his, 'I want nothing more than to spend time with you my little one, it's just.. ' he said before cutting himself off with a small sigh.

'What is it dad? You can tell us' Vaya prompted as the old man's eye's twinkled.

'I do love it when you call me dad' he said softly, running his thumb over the back of her hand, 'it makes me think you don't hate me for missing twenty years of your life!

Vaya stared at him shocked, 'of course I'm not mad at you, why would I be mad? You gave up your freedom to keep my mum and me safe and you didn't even know I existed!' she spluttered finally.

Carter shrugged, 'I still feel like I should have known, I should have felt that my mate was carrying our child' he replied sadly.

Vaya studied the older werewolf carefully before she toward her father, making him look at her, 'dad, do you miss mum?' she asked softly.

Carter smiled, 'more than anything in the entire world' he admitted.

Nodding more to her self than anyone else, Vaya sat back against the seat, closing her eyes as she went off into her own world. Feeling Daniel move beside her she gave a miniscule shake of her head, stilling him before leaning her head against his shoulder, her eyes still shut as they continued on their way.

Darkness began to fall around them so they decided to stop for the night at one of the many motels that lined the highways. Going inside, Leo soon emerged with a fist full of keys, handing them out to the group as they all paired off into room mates. Leo looked toward Carter as he handed him a key, 'I hope you don't mind sharing a room with me sir' he said with a grin, 'I usually have to bunk in with Alpha snores a lot over there, make sure no-one tries to jump him in the night as Luna Hazel is not one to be crossed' he stage whispered as Justin growled at him, 'but as Halle is with us, I assume she would prefer to share with her dad than have to sleep in a motel room on her own.

Halle nodded immediately, staying close to her father as she looked around at the falling darkness.

'At least we never have to worry about the Vampires scheming to attack us now' Daniel added as he pulled Vaya into his embrace, 'now we are all besties with the Vampire King no Vamp will dare to even think about coming after us. The group laughed at his words, the tension easing around them as they each made their way to their rooms, Leo leading Carter to the room between Vaya and Daniel's, and Justin and Halle's.

Stepping inside, Leo gestured to the beds, indicating for Carter to take his pick of the two singles as he headed to the bathroom for a shower.

Sitting down on the bed, Carter sighed deeply still amazed that he was free and that he had a daughter who wanted to know him.

Laying back against the pillows he allowed his mind to wander back twenty years, to the beautiful dryad dancing around her birch tree, her hair flying out behind her as she laughed. Watching in his mind's eye, he followed behind the creature who had captured his heart, observing her movements, revelling in the memory of her smile as he fell into his first peaceful slumber in a long time.