Chapter 58

As the days passed, the unsettling whispers about Amy's potential involvement with the vampires continued to haunt me. I began to dream about Amy’s betrayal, and the darkness she had cast over us all.

I dreamed about her hold on me, and the darkness she had tried to control me and the moon goddess with. I had done enough research into our mythology to understand that she had completely torn her own soul apart to create that darkness.

She would have had to sacrifice much to learn how to wield it. My nightmares swirled with darkness and bloodshed. On more than one occasion I found myself waking up in a cold sweat, with a scream on my lips.

I couldn't shake the feeling that there might be some truth to those hushed rumors, but I also didn't want to be the bearer of more bad news. Our pack had already faced so much turmoil, and I didn't want to add to the drama.

Lily, however, was perceptive, her instincts sharp even as her memory continued to fade. The more time we spent together, the more she focused on me and my discomfort. She noticed the worry etched into my features, the way my thoughts seemed to drift far from our conversations.

One evening, as we sat together in her room, she placed a gentle hand on my arm, smiled her sweet smile at me, and asked, "Beryl, something's been bothering you. You're not your usual self. What's going on?"

I hesitated, not sure if I should confide in her. But there was a trust between us that ran deep, she had been the first person that I truly trusted in this new world of mine, and I knew she would always have my best interests at heart.

I knew I could share my concerns with her, so I took a deep breath and decided to trust her. "Lily, I overheard something." I began cautiously, "It sounds crazy saying out loud, but I was walking alone down the hall the other day and heard people talking ahead of me. The whispers said she might still have ties to the vampires."

Lily's eyes widened with alarm. "Amy? But she's imprisoned, isn't she?"

I nodded, my unease growing. "Yes, she is. That's what doesn't make sense. I don't know how she could possibly be involved, but I couldn't ignore the rumors."

“Honestly, though, I’m not even sure I heard right, because when I walked on ahead, there was no one there. The hallway was empty. I know whoever it was couldn’t have just vanished into thin air.”

Lily's brow furrowed as she processed the information. "You should tell the triplets, Beryl. They've been searching for answers about the vampires, and this might be a crucial piece of the puzzle."

I sighed, torn between my desire to shield my mates from further worry and my duty to share important information. "I just don't want to burden them with more problems. They're already doing everything they can to protect our pack. And part of me just feels crazy anyway. What if I’m wrong?"

Lily's gaze turned tender, and she placed a hand over my belly, where our unborn child rested. "Beryl, think about the baby. We're building a future for our family, and that means facing challenges head-on. Your mates love you, and they deserve to know."

She put an emphasis on “our family” and my heard swelled hearting it. She was one of the most important people in my life, and I was so happy to hear that she felt the same way about me, us, our pack.

Her words struck a chord deep within me. She was right. Our child's safety and our pack's well-being were paramount. I nodded slowly, determination settling in. "You're right, Lily. I'll tell them."

With Lily's support, I found the courage to confide in the triplets. We went together to my home. As much as my mates meant to me, I knew I would need support to bring up the subject about Amy again, and the fact that I might just be going insane and hearing voices.

Cheney, Brian, and Nicholas, my loving and careful mates, who I had been avoiding, had been tirelessly searching for information about the vampires, their dedication unwavering. When I asked them all to take a moment with me and listen to what I had to say, they hesitated, not wanting to waste time.

I broached the topic delicately, talking slowly, explaining everything. As I talked, their expressions shifted from curiosity to anger and disappointment, and my heart hurt watching their faces.

Nicholas spoke first, his voice laced with fury. "Beryl, how could you keep something like this from us? You know how stressed out we’ve been trying to find information about the vampires. We're your mates, we should know everything that concerns our pack's safety."

Brian clenched his fists, the normally calm one, his eyes narrowed. "We've been searching tirelessly for answers, and you had information that could be vital. Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Cheney's jaw tightened, and his voice was edged with frustration. "Beryl, we can't afford to keep secrets from each other. Our unity is what makes us strong. How could you do this to us?"

I felt a weight of guilt settle on my shoulders as their anger and disappointment washed over me. The unity and trust within our pack were our greatest strengths, and I had eroded that trust by withholding crucial information.

Tears welled in my eyes as I apologized, "I'm so sorry, I didn't want to bring more worry into our lives. But you're right, and I should have told you sooner. I wasn’t even sure it really happened, but I do believe there’s some truth to it."

Nicholas sighed, his anger still palpable as he turned away from me. "We understand your intentions Beryl, but right now, we need some time. We'll look into this on our own." He turned away from me, not wanting to meet my eyes.

Brian nodded curtly, his expression stern. "We'll deal with this, but for now, we need space." He also turned away from me but stayed in the room.

Cheney's gaze was distant, his disappointment and anger heavy. "Trust needs to be rebuilt, Beryl." He stood, looked at me for a moment, and then left the room. A few moments later we all heard the front door open and close. Apparently, he needed more space than his brothers did.

I decided to spend a few days with Lily in the mansion, and as we left, the weight of their anger still hung heavy in the air. I knew that our pack's unity had been strained, and it was up to me to rebuild the trust I had eroded, no matter how long it took.