Lucian’s POV
We reached the cemetery where Alice was resting in peace along with my mother, who had her grave next to Alice’s.
It’s been over a month since I have been here. I wanted to, but with how things kept us busy after Eira once more entered our lives, I couldn’t make it here.
Maybe it was my guilt that didn’t let me come. The guilt of not being able to punish the murderer of my sister, and the reason my mother lost her life. What would I have said to them? That while they were lying here, I was living with their murderer and somehow couldn’t bring myself to kill her. In fact, I was planning to fuck her.
But now that I knew she was innocent, finally I could show my face to them.
Roman helped her get out of the car as he held her hand. Stepping out of the car, she looked around the open cemetery with so many graves, surrounded by greenery.
I picked up the flowers I had brought with me and signaled to Roman that I was going ahead and he could bring her.
Roman hummed as I watched him picking up another bouquet from the car, which he handed over to Eira. I saw Kael’s car arrive as well, but I didn’t wait. I needed some alone time with my sister and mother. I knew they understood as well.
After walking for a while, I reached the two closely placed graves made of white marble and granite gravestones. It had their pictures and their names were written on it. Alice Corven. Jeniffer Corven.
I placed flowers over both the graves. Alice loved pink lilies, and my mother loved white roses.
As I stood there, I spoke in my mind. Mom. Alice. I am sorry for not coming for so many days. I apologize. Today, I have brought someone to meet you. Eira. I looked at my mother’s grave Mom, she didn’t mean to shoot Alice. It was a mistake and a setup. Alice, you must have been scared that day. I am sorry for not being there to protect you. But I will punish whoever plotted against you and punish them. Eira is here. I hope it brings you peace to see your friend...
As I continued to talk, I sensed Roman coming towards us, deliberately slow. I lowered my head in front of the graves and walked away, letting Roman bring Eira here.
I returned to where the other three were standing a little distance away and joined them.
Roman brought Eira to the graves and told her, "Here we are," then returned to us, leaving her alone.
She looked at the graves, the tombstones that had pictures of Alice and my mother. She didn’t react for long, as if frozen in her place, making us wonder what was going on in her mind.
"I should check on her?" Roman offered.
But then, we all heard the light sound of sobs. Our keen hearing caught them even from where we stood.
The next moment, we watched her fall to her knees and cry, her head lowered as she sobbed and mumbled.
"I didn’t mean to hurt you... Alice... That wolf was going to hurt you... I wanted to protect you, but... I don’t know why it hurt you... I am sorry... I shouldn’t have used the gun when I didn’t know how to use it... I should have stood between you and that wolf to protect you... I should have died instead..."
She didn’t know she had been drugged and still thought there was a wolf. She wasn’t at fault, as that drug was so potent one couldn’t tell they were hallucinating, even after the effect was gone.
"Aunt Jennifer... I am sorry... You died because of me... they told me... I don’t know what to do... I am sorry..."
When she said those words, they told me, it hit me hard, and I looked at Jason. He felt the same as I did. I could tell from his expressions.
The memories of the day we went to see her in prison—when we told her how she not only killed our sister but also our mother—were going to haunt us for life. She won’t forgive us for it.
Does she still remember what we did to her? If not, does looking at us remind her of that day?
Damn! I truly want to punish myself for it.
There were so many things to apologize for, but I wasn’t sure where to start.
She continued to cry and apologize to them for a long time, until Roman finally went to her.
"Calm down now. They know you didn’t do it intentionally," he told her.
She shook her head. "I killed her..."
He held her closer and caressed her head gently. She continued to cry and mumble.
Roman calmed her down and brought her back. She agreed to return only when Roman promised her that they would be coming here often.
"You all can go ahead, I will return later," Jason told us.
I looked at him, and he said, "I want to be here for a while longer."
"Don’t take much time," I instructed.
He hummed. "I will bring a few things I need for cooking, so it might take a while."
"We will go in Kael’s car," I told him. "Use my car."
He agreed, and we left.
Eira was still lost in her own world of pain and was simply following wherever Roman guided her. I wanted to hug her and console her, but didn’t know how to go about it at this moment.
We sat in Kael’s car. On the back passenger seat, she sat between me and Roman, while Rafe drove and Kael sat in the co-driver seat.
There was utter silence in the car as no one said a word. All of our attention was on Eira, who sat guilty, her wet lashes still trembling, ready to shed more tears.
I wanted to hold her hand in mine to comfort her, but couldn’t bring myself to do it. The memories of my visit to her in prison wouldn’t allow me. It weighed heavily on my conscience. I had no right to console her.
When we returned home, Kael left the car and Rafe followed him. I had no reason to stay with her either, so I followed them.
I heard Roman say, "Eira, we are home."
She didn’t react. After I walked ahead, I stopped and turned to look at them, only to find Roman hugging her to console her while she cried again.
Controlling my emotions, I went inside the home, leaving Roman to handle her. He was the one who never hurt her like we did, and he could handle her better than any of us could.