Regretted Rejection : Wrath of the Moon

It was deep in the night and Maya had finished her work. She had organised warriors such that they were ready to battle at a moment's notice. The Council had been notified of the situation and they were sending backup as well as ammunition.

Marina had successfully marked out the rogues location and their numbers. If it was not for the fact that the pack didn't trust Maya much, she would have led them in the battle to capture the rogues. But as things stood, she could only wait for the rogues to attack or the back up to arrive.

It had been a long, hectic day for her. She made her way to the roof garden of the common pack house and stood there for a while trying to calm herself. Gentle winds blew the strands of her hair that framed her face. Moonlight shone down on her as if Moon Goddess Luna was lending her strength. But the calm was short-lived, she felt a presence behind her and turned to find Claire standing there.

"Luna Forrester.” Maya said to acknowledge her presence and then started walking towards the stairs. She didn't want to have a conversation with Claire. Her patience was already running thin. "Maya, wait. I wanted to say something. My brother, he... loves you. He wants to start a new life with you. We all want to start a new life with you. So... Can you please forgive us? I really want to get to know you better. Please Maya..." Claire said, stopping Maya as she passed.

Maya turned to face Claire with her back to the stairs. Maya smiled a bit, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. She took a step in the direction of Claire and said, "Why do you think I would want to live with a criminal?”

Claire was taken aback with her question. She said her voice breaking a bit, "Maya... What I did that day was a mistake. I sold you in that seedy bar because I thought your father killed our parents. If I had known the truth, I would never have done that. I tried all ways to locate you, to find you and get you back to the family.” Claire had tears flowing from her eyes. She presented a picture of purity and sadness.

"Really?" Maya asked amused

"Yes!" Claire replied with conviction.

"Then why didn't you rescue me when you found me after a week of my captivity? Why did you told Leandro to ensure that I will never return to the pack? Why Claire?" Maya questioned her Alpha tone leaking into her voice.

"What? What are you talking about, Maya? I... I didn't... find you..." Claire fumbled around trying to explain.

Maya smirked before speaking anything. She said, "Claire, do you remember that day when Ken accused me of using rogues to cause problems for the Forrester pack? I told him “If I made a formal complaint against Luna Forrester at the Council they would have backed me up. Afterall, she had left plenty of evidence against herself." I didn't say it for fun. Leandro had secretly recorded your little visit. Everything that you said is on tape.”

Claire stumbled back gaping at Maya. She was really scared of her but Maya didn't stop. She continued, "You wanted power, didn't you Claire? You thought if I came back after a mere week then how would the power of Luna land in your hand? You had to win Ken's love and the packs loyalty. You had to get pregnant for that. That is why you buried the information, and came down to give Leandro more money. You asked him to ensure that I would never get back to the pack. He raped me to ensure that. And now... Now you want me back so that the natural dissolution of the pack stops. Am I right, Luna Forrester?”

"If... if you truly had proof then why didn't you go to Council? You are bluffing. You have no evidence of my visit." Claire said, sure of her words. She smirked a little at Maya.

"Do you know that when we were 5 years old, Ken wanted to blow the candles and cut the cake by himself, even though we are twins? I let him have it. When we were 8 years old, he wanted my bicycle as he crashed his. I let him have it. When we were 18 years old, he wanted the Alpha title even when he lost the test. I let him have it. When I returned back after 8 months of captivity, he wanted me to leave the pack. I let him have it. When he chose his mate over his twin sister, I let him have it. But now, I have nothing left to give to him. Just... Nothing." After completing her speech, Maya turned towards the stairs to leave the roof.

She was surprised to see Xander and Ken standing. By the looks on their face Maya guessed that they must have heard a fair amount, if not everything.

Maya's stiffened for a moment before breaking into a stride. She left them standing on the roof with the truth laid bare in front of them. The truth that would show them the darkness in their souls. Xander slowly walked back to his room. Any hope that he had held for happiness, was thoroughly extinguished. He sat, more like fell, on his bed. Tears started making their way down his eyes. Grief was overwhelming him and he gave in to his grief.

A few seconds later sounds of crashing and breaking could be heard from Xander's room. A mournful howl sounded before the door to the room was crashed open by a black coloured wolf. Xander's wolf had taken the control from him and forced a shift. The wolf just ran out of the pack house manically and went on a run. No one spotted in which direction the wolf ran.

When the Elder Lockhart couple came to know of their son's lack of control on his wolf they immediately began contacting him with help of their family bond. However all they could get were feelings of deep grief, anger, helplessness and some growls. They ran to find Alpha Ken. When they reached, they found the Forrester elders also present in the office with Claire sitting on a couch and crying. All the story came out in front of them, right from what the rogue said to what happened on the roof. They couldn't believe that their daughter did something so vile.

Ken Forrester contacted Councilman Dylan to ask him of the facts and what he heard shook him to the core. Dylan described the condition Maya had been found in, he listed all types of wounds found on her body. He emailed Ken the video footage of Claire meeting Leandro and the medical reports of Maya. Judy Forrester was continuously crying, barely able to say anything as Councilman Dylan's voice filled the Alpha office. Justin Forrester just sat with his head in his hands, unable to believe the psychological damage he had inflicted on Maya, his own daughter, for a woman who wasn't innocent like he believed.

After a discussion of about an hour or so, Ken Forrester reached a decision. He knew what he had to do, for the pack, for Maya and for Claire. His decision made, he stood up and left the room not giving a single glance to Claire.

He knocked on Sam's door, the child opened the door, and let his father inside. Ken squatted at Sam's level and hugged him tightly.

"Dad..." Sam protested, his voice still sleepy.

"Sam... I made a mistake Sam. A horrible, horrible mistake.” Ken said and he let the child escape his hug. He then continued, "Sam, when you grow up, do not become like Mommy or Daddy, become a better person. A person like your Aunt Maya, she is a good person. She helps innocent and imparts justice. She saves good people from bad guys.”

Ken choked a bit, then continued, "Sam, Daddy knows what he can do to correct his mistake but it means that I might have to go away for a while with Mummy. You will be living with your Grandma and Grandpa Forrester till we come back, Okay?"

"When will you leave?" Sam asked, his head tilting to the right.

"I will be leaving after I take care of the rogues. It will be sometime before I come back.” Ken replied with a small smile.

"When will you come back?" Sam asked.

"I don't know, baby." Ken replied and hugged Sam again.

"I am not a baby." Sam protested.

A small laugh escaped Ken along with the tears flowing from his eyes. "I know my little wolf. I know.” Ken said his voice breaking a bit. "You have to be brave. You have to take care of yourself and Grandma and Grandpa. It is a big boy responsibility, you will be able to do it, right?" Ken asked Sam softly.

Sam hesitated for a minute but nodded his head solemnly.