AUTHOR'S POV
The boats reached the Devlin's mansion, carrying passengers on on pins and needles. The Barlowes docked first. With anxious visage, they hurriedly headed to their vehicles leaving the mansion. No goodbyes slipped through their tongues. As for Lily, she went straight to her assigned room in the mansion, following Stanley and his servants. Fuming and gritting her teeth, she went all the way inside without ever looking back at the cared for Luna.
Half awake, Diana could barely hold herself up. She opened her mouth, but none ever came out. Hushing her in his arms, Sebastian tucked her under the blanket, insisting to preserve her strength. Without anymore energy to even lift a finger, Diana agreed wordlessly. He carried her weightless body out of the boat, coming next to Lucas who guides the way. Cory followed, watching their backs. At the edge of the dock, Roman and his pack waited like a storm that had learned his patience. "Give her to me", said Roman, reaching for Diana. His pack instinctively surrounded them, becoming obstacles on the way to the mansion.
Lucas knew this would happen one way or the other. All throughout the boat ride, he have imagined being thrown out of the water many times every time he take a glimpse of Roman. Looks like he'll be getting more than that. In his defense, he lowered his arm before Sebastian. "She looks comfortable where she is now", darting his eyes on the Alpha, while Sebastian tightens his grasp on Diana.
"You don't have a say here. Back off!", ranted Flynn. Roman's pack looked like walls, serving blockage along side their Alpha. They studied Lucas, Cory and Sebastian, not merely underestimating their strength even though they outgun them. One clearly remembered how Cory made rapid, explosive furry of strikes during their brawl earlier. The others knew Lucas is a clever combatant, aiming directly on their weak spots, and shaping the battlefield at his advantage. More so, it questions them why Scott would send great fighters for Diana whom he already had plans to reject. "She's our Luna".
Despite hopelessly outnumbered, Cory stepped beside Sebastian, pulling him back. "Stay out of this kid", Cory hissed.
"Give her to us. No one gets hurt", Troy ordered, calmly.
Lucas screwed up his eyes at the young wolf. "Are you even legal to be here?", he scoffed. Without saying much, Roman took one step closer. His eyes locked on the sleeping Luna. He waited too long to find her, enduring the tough nights and days of solitude. "Take one more step..." Lucas pushed Sebastian back, meeting Roman's eyes. No Luna will be handed over tonight.
"Or else what?", Roman scowled.
"She's not going anywhere with you, Brooke", Sebastian glanced at him, moving back slowly, carrying that weight that doesn't bother him.
"We had a deal, Devlin", Roman's jaw tightened.
"The deal ended when I learned you assaulted her", Sebastian answered that came out sharp enough to put silence among all of them. Roman's eyes darkened. Nonetheless, Sebastian met them without blinking.
"Uhh.. Seb..", Gunner stood between the two wolves. "You know Diana is our pack's Luna. Roman is just claiming his right to get her", he believed.
"She's our Luna too. We intend to do the same.", Sebastian pulled Diana closer to him.
"Have you forgotten, Sebastian?", Roman looked daggers. "Your Alpha have chosen his new Luna. What's her name, Guns? Ah yea, Lily?", he squinted his eyes at Sebastian who just got choked on his words. "Scott made his choice. He gave Diana up, chose a new Luna, and moved on with his life. No need for you to protect Diana, because that's our pack's job now.", Roman said as he put his hands to side with his fists closed tightly. "Give me my Luna".
"We won't hand our Luna to some rapist", Lucas shot him a look.
"Over my dead hot body", Cory shrugged, cracking his knuckles. The air became unbearable. Lucas delivered a mindtalk message to Cory and Sebastian to return to the boat once Roman lunges. The three shifted their footing. More protective, instinctive… and possessive.
Roman was about to radiate his aura when Diana's eyes had opened. "E-enough..", Diana said softly. Her voice was enough to put everything into a halt. She raised her tremulous hand out of the blanket, and pressed it against Sebastian's chest. "D-don't f-fight", she peeked languidly at Roman, showing her ashen face.
The change in Roman was immediate, like watching steel remembering it was once molten. His anger vanished, where only concern for the Luna remained. He took one step closer and smiled. "We're not fighting", Roman's face softened at Diana's gaze. "But, I already lost you once. I won't let it happen again".
"She's too weak now", Lucas stepped forward carefully. "Give her a rest, then let the Luna decide", nobody argued on that.
Roman watched Diana tenderly, with his fists slowly opening. "Okay", a collective tension was eased by a fraction. "But we won't go anywhere. We're staying", no one liked it, but no one refused. It was rather a better ending than to give Diana another unrestful night.
Later
The clouds in the night sky seemed to have stopped moving. The moon have already began to wane, but the vivid memory of when it was full lingered, bringing a smile and an ache to everyone in the mansion. Past midnight, the mansion has never been too restless. The shadows walking around acknowledged the emptiness of two less Devlins to serve.
Covered in soot, Scott walked at the front, with his expression carved from stone. The sight alone kept questions from anyone's lips. His hands were wrapped with hastily tied bandages. Fresh blood still seeped through them as his knuckles throbbed. His bone ached. But none of those could define the feeling of getting lost in the wilderness of grief his mind have wandered off. He gave his orders, and the servants took them with tears trickling. What a silent night it has become.
Reina walked past him. Silence followed her to the halls like a funeral procession. She felt a heavy presence that made her look back at Scott, who was already staring at her. "Diana", that was all Scott said which was barely audible, yet she understood. It was one word that brought a request. She nodded once, before heading up onto her side of the corridor.
The moment Reina made a turn, a certain kind of fury ignited. Roman's pack were crowding by her door, lingering like sentries. She dragged herself inside her room, and the more she became infuriated. Reina's eyes widened. "What in the name of the Moon Goddess are you all doing here?", angered Reina. Five grown men fill her room, surrounding Diana laying on the bed. She was still in her soaked wetsuit, shivering beneath the blanket, and more pale than before.
Sebastian and Lucas, sits on one side of Diana.
Gunner, leans against the wall, on the other side.
Roman sits on the bed, eyes never leaving Diana.
Cory, sits on the floor at the foot of the bed.
No one answered quickly enough, afraid that their deep voices would wake the Luna. "Leave! Out!", she pointed at the door. "Out!", nobody moved.
"But", Sebastian reasoned, but Reina's glare only sharpened. They have been arguing who to change Diana's clothes. Roman wanted to do it himself. He is her mate, after all. However, Sebastian has been combat ready every time Roman attempts to lay a hand on her. Lucas proposed the female servants to assist the Luna. A reasonable solution to finally get her out of those wet clothes. Roman refused, not trusting anyone to touch her. Minutes have passed from then, no one compromised, no one left. In the end, they placed more blankets over Diana, and bury her shivering body under piles of wool.
"OUT!", she screamed at the four helpless men surrounding the unconscious Luna.
Lucas obeyed, Cory followed. Gunner disappeared without argument. Even Sebastian surrendered at the terrifying force of an angry sister. Roman lingered longest, with a muscle twitching in his cheek. Rein folded her arms, knowing what she's dealing with. "I will change her clothes. You can't stay".
"I'll guard the door", Roman says, reluctantly steps out until he shuts the doot.
Alone at last.
Only then Reina approached the bed. Her anger vanished immediately. Diana looked worse beneath proper light. "Oh Diana", she simpered. Reina brushed the strands of hair sticking on her forehead as she get to work. She laid her palm on Diana's cheeks. The fever had already begin as heat radiates from her skin. Her lips have dried, breathing warm breath through it. "Oh.. Diana", she sighed.
The doctor became the patient.
Reina first took fresh water and wiped all the dirt and heat from Diana's skin. She replaced the bed with soft fresh blankets. The one that has a calming scent of rose and champagne. A soft sigh escaped Diana's lips. And the trembling have finally eased a little. Then, Reina helped Diana get into fresh clothes. The long satin lace nightgown seemed a bit tight, since Reina has a smaller body frame compared to Diana. Reina took care of Diana with gentle hands, just like how Priscilla once cared for her. For nearly an hour, she remained with Diana, cleaning and changing. Tucking the warm blanket around her. Encouraging tiny sips of water between unconscious breaths. Only when Diana finally settled, did Reina allow herself to breathe.
Meanwhile, Scott stood beneath the scalding water in his own shower. Gray water dripped from his body, down his feet - ash, blood, and smoke. Pieces of the night disappeared down the drain. He scrubbed harder, yet he could still smell the gasoline. He turned the faucet in its maximum range that the waters splashed heavily, but he could still hear Damon. He closed his eyes, and he could still see the fire. Squeezed them tight, and for a terrible second, he sees his brother standing in the flames. In his indescribable anger, Scott slammed his already healed fist against the shower wall.
He patted himself dry, put on a midnight cobalt sleepwear, and combed his hair. A familiar shimmer appeared across the room, sitting on top of a cabinet. Scott looked at him. "Take me to her", Scott no longer cared with his pride. Ofir smiled widely. A knowing smile with an understanding of whom Scott truly refers to. The lythari elf snapped its fingers. The room shifted as a whirlpool of silver light swallowed everything.
Then...
Scott was standing inside Reina's room. It smelled of velvety florals with a hint of effervescent sparkle. His eyes easily found Diana on the bed, and everything inside him stopped. She was asleep, clean, and warm. Safe, as how she ought to be. Her damp hair spread across the silk pillows. And her chest under the blanket rose and fell at each small breath. Reina who just got out of the shower sat on the settee by her dresser. "Her fever went up. She just drank a medicine".
Scott barely heard her, as his feet carried him forward. He was slow, and her eyes never left her as if he was approaching something that might vanish into thin air in case he moved too quickly. He sat beside her, and reached for her hand. It was warm, too warm that the her fever haven't gone down after one pill. Yet, alive. He place her hand on his cheek, and feel the overwhelming feeling of her touch. His shoulders sagged and for the first time ever since everything, he allowed himself to break.
Tears slid down his cheek... then another.
Scott lowered his head, pressing trembling kisses against her knuckles, on every finger, and her hand that he thought he might never hold again. "I'm.. sorry", his voice cracked, before planting another kiss. Then he climbed onto the bed beside her carefully. Close enough to wrapped her in his arms as though she might vanish again. He buried his face against her shoulder, which only allowed his silent exhausted tears flow harder. Across the room, Reina stood quietly. She watched her brother became vulnerable with his Luna. Beside her is the lythari elf who was trying hard not to cry. Neither of them spoke. In a moment, the silver light returned and the two disappeared from the room, leaving Scott and his Luna share the peace they spent days fighting for.