Butterscotch Souls: The Morningstar Series: Book 4
Butterscotch Souls – Chapter 29

I should have been looking at the road instead of my mate but I couldn’t help it. We had had such a good day and Epperly’s good mood was buzzing through our bond. She looks so beautiful as she lays back against the seat. Our son in the back happily humming to himself. I should have seen the person standing in the road, but I didn’t.

What struck me as odd, was how bad the car wreck was.

If all I hit was a person than how did all the windows break? How did the car roll five times? It didn’t make sense and I couldn’t even ask. As soon as the car stopped I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

I passed out.

*********************************************

I shot up from a laying position as I gasped for air. It wasn’t that I was dead, but in a panic. My breathing was coming out hard as I looked around. I’m in the infirmory at the school. People are rushing in and out of the room. My eyes scanned the beds until they landed on my mate and son.

I shot to my feet and rushed over to Epperly, who is laying on the bed in the far corner of the room. Tate is sitting on the bed next to hers sobbing.

“D-Daddy..” Tate stuttered out through his sobs.

I scooped him up in my arms and inhaled his scent. It calmed me slightly but not enough. Belle and Olive are hovering over Epperly’s unconscious body while Olive throws out orders to a couple of nurses.

“What the f**k happened?” I asked as I put Tate back on the bed.

His sobbing has died down but he’s still crying.

Everyone ignored me while they checked over my mate. Epperly has cuts all over her body. Olive cut my mates shirt off of her showing more cuts. My heart sank as panic shot through my system.

“She might have internal bleeding. This cut needs to be stitched.” Olive told Belle who moved to get supplies.

The moment Belle moved out of the way I took her place. I placed my hands on Epperly’s head. Her face is bruised and cut. A sob broke through my lips. I brought my wrist up to my mouth and bit down before forcing some of my b***d into her mouth.

“Ambrose no!” Olive shouted but it was too late.

I already got some of my b***d into Epperly’s system before Olive had pushed me back.

“Oh no.” Olive whispered before turning to me with pure rage. “Don’t you think we already tried to give her Vampire b***d?!” She shouted at me. “It only made things worse!”

I looked past her at Epperly and could already see the small cuts on her face healing. I sighed in relief but glared at Olive. Then I stood to my feet while keeping my glare.

“Did you give her my b***d? Because it seems to be working.” I said.

Olive turned around to see Epperly’s healing condition.

“We thought you were too hurt so we gave her some of what we already have for situations like this.” Olive muttered.

“And what happened when you gave her someone else’s b***d?” I asked.

Nothing should have happened. Epperly should have been able to take in the b***d regardless.

Olive turned to face me.

“She threw up a bunch of black gunk. I’ve never seen anything like it.” She told me.

I frowned and then shook my head.

“What the f**k happened?” I asked.

Just then the doors opened up and Tia walked in with Max right behind her. Kee was also with them along with another man I didn’t recognize.

I frowned as they got closer. Tate whimpered next to me and cowered behind my legs. That was when I realized who the stranger was.

I pushed passed the crowd and grabbed the guy by his stupid black tie.

“You. You f*****g did this.” I accused. Kohen was growling in my head. I knew that my full power was showing on my face.

“Ambrose stop.” Tia ordered with her hand on my arm.

I didn’t let him go. Kohen wants b***d and I want to give it to him. The man in my hold smirked at me which only pissed me off more. His brown eyes seemed to twinkle with mischief, reminds me of Simon. He has dark brown hair that hangs over his eyes. And most of all, he reeks of power.

“Are you one of the people after my mate?” I asked dangerously. Kohen’s voice is mixing with my own now.

“My deary no no.” The man said in an almost amused tone, his English accent is thick. “I admit I caused the accident, but I just had to see what my little niece is made of.” He said.

Kohen and I paused.

“Niece?” I asked.

Max slapped his hand on my shoulder.

“Let him go Ambrose. Your mate is waking up.” He told me lowly.

Just then I heard Epperly g***n.

“Mommy!” Tate shouted.

I shoved the man aside and turned around. Epperly has a hand pressed to her head. She’s groaning and moaning like she’s in pain. Tate is right next to her bed looking terrified to touch her.

I rushed to them and pushed Tate into her bed as I got to my knees beside her. Epperly rolled over and I put my hand on her head. All of her wounds look healed now but I think she might need more of my b***d.

“Baby can you hear me?” I asked her.

“Momma?” Tate asked softly.

Epperly’s eyes snapped open at the sound of our son. Her eyes connected with Tate before she reached out and snatched him up.

Epperly pulled him onto the bed with her and held him close. She kissed his head and all over his face as Tate squirmed. Then she looked at me with tears in her eyes.

“I thought I didn’t make it to him in time.” She told me and I gave her a confused look. “What happened?” She asked me.

“I have no idea baby.” I told her honestly.

“There was a man.. We hit him but then he.. he was still walking and..” Epperly looked away with a frown. It looks like she’s trying to remember what happened.

I put my hand on her cheek.

“Shh, it’s alright love.” I said softly. “We are going to figure it out but right now let’s get you better.” I told her.

Epperly looked down at our son in her hands.

“Is he okay?” She asked me.

I looked up at Olive.

“He is fine. He had the least damage out of all of you.” She told us. “Ambrose was passed out but completely healed and you…” She trailed off as she looked at Epperly. “You had it the worst.”

“Well I feel okay-ish.” Epperly said.

“That’s because I gave you some of my b***d. But you need more love.” I told her.

“Okay.” Epperly said.

Epperly sat up in the bed and Tate moved on her lap. I made everyone in the room leave the three of us alone, thankfully Epperly didn’t notice that the man we hit was in the room.

Fucker is lucky I have other things to worry about right now. Epperly had some more of my b***d. I wrapped my arms around my mate and lifted them both up before sitting down and settling them in my lap. Epperly and Tate both snuggled into me.

I clutched them both and shoved my nose into my mates hair. Her scent calmed me and after a few minutes all of my rage and panic was gone.

We stayed like that for a while. I played with Epperly’s hair as she ran a hand through Tate’s. Tate fell asleep a few minutes ago. His soft snores filled the room. Epperly chuckled at him when he twitched and let out a small growl.

“Epperly what happened when the car stopped rolling? You said that you thought you didn’t get to Tate in time.” I said.

Epperly looked up into my eyes.

“When the car stopped you wouldn’t wake up. Tate was freaking out.” She said softly.

“I managed to get out of the car but I was having trouble moving. I had my hands on Tate when that man we hit drug me back by my feet. His face and Tate screaming for me were the last thing I remember before everything went black.” She told me.

I rubbed my hand up and down her arm. Her guilt and fear were coming through the bond but my touch seemed to calm her. I kissed the top of her head as I blinked back tears. I’m going to kill that smug looking f**k face.

“We will have to talk to that man. He knows something. He called you his niece.” I told her.

Epperly sat up in my lap causing Tate to roll over. Not that he cared. He only snuggled into me and then a loud snore left his lips.

“We have to talk to him right now.” She told me.

I nodded to her. “I know. But Tate is sleeping babe.”

Just when Epperly opened her mouth the doors to the infimory opened up softly. A little black haired and golden eyed boy stuck his head threw. Ziggy gave us a sheepish smile before he was pushed through the door. Behind him was Robby. They walked hand and hand to us.

“Ziggy was very worried about Tate.” Robby told us. “I was also told that you are wanted in the meeting room.” He said more serious.

“The meeting room?” I asked.

Robby nodded. The meeting room is only used when there are too many people to fit into Tia’s office. Great. More bullshit.

“We can keep an eye on Tate until you’re done.” Robby offered.

I looked at Epperly who didn’t look like she was ready to let Tate go.

“Baby he will be fine. Ziggy won’t let anything happen to him, right Ziggy?” I asked.

The boy nodded with a smile. “I’ll watch him Epperly.”

After Epperly finally nodded, Robby awkwardly grabbed Tate from our laps and lay him in the bed next to us. Epperly got up and wobbled a bit before keeping her balance. I stood up and wrapped my arm around her waist.

“Thank you.” I told Robby before we headed out.

Epperly seemed extremely reluctant to leave our son, I couldn’t blame her, I don’t want to leave him either. Eventually I was able to pull her through the doors though. Unfortunately we have things to attend to. Possibly people to kill. I walked us to the meeting room and opened the door for my mate.

The room is full of people. There is a long dark wooden conference table that takes up almost the entire room, with gray office chairs all around it. Tia and Max are sitting at the head of the long table. On the other end, far from the door, is the man that we hit.

Akeehla, Mom, Dad, and Pops are all here. All eyes turned to us once we entered. I walked Epperly to a couple empty chairs and sat her down. Then I stood up behind her and both of us glared at the man at the end of the table. It’s so silent you could hear a pin drop. The tension in the room is palpable.

“Well?” Epperly said breaking the silence. “Are you going to f*****g talk or should we just kill you now?” She asked the man at the end of the table.

The man chuckled and a low growl tumbled from my chest. I could hear Kee snicker from the other side of the table. Pops clapped his hands together and let out a loud but short laugh.

“My my, you fit right in here my darling Epperly.” Pops said.

Epperly turned her head to my grandfather.

“And who are you?” She asked with her arms crossed. “Wait, you must be Lucifer.” She said casually, like it’s no big deal at all that she is meeting the Devil himself.

Pops smiled widely at her. “I am.”

“Great, maybe you can help us torture this guy for putting your great grandson in danger.” She gritted out as she turned back to the man.

Pops chuckled. “I like her!” He told me.

I was in too sour a mood to give him a real response, so I just grunted. The man at the end of the table seemed amused by the whole situation. I could feel through the bond that Epperly is beyond pissed. She is the momma bear afterall, and you never mess with a momma bear’s cub.

“Something f*****g funny to you a*****e?” Epperly asked him.

“Just amused at your attitude my dear. Never would I have thought that my niece would end up so firey. It’s honestly a breath of fresh air considering your… bloodline.” He said.

“Bloodline?” Max asked.

“Yes, people who share her b***d.” The man started to explain but Epperly cut him off.

“Cut the s**t dickwad. Who are you? What are you doing here?” She asked him.

“I love a girl who gets right to the point.” Tia commented.

The man sighed.

“My name is Lockern. I am a God. I’ve been sent down to watch over you.” He told her.

“You’re one of the Gods after me?” Epperly asked.

I growled.

“Chose your next words very carefully.” I warned.

Lockern shook his head.

“No no. Not after you, just here to help you. The five of us that blessed your bloodline decided to send me down after you escaped the lab.” He told us.

“The five that blessed my bloodline?” Epperly asked. “Explain, and don’t make me ask too many questions. The more I have to pull out of you, the more pissed off I’m going to get.” Epperly warned him.

“Very well.” Lockern stated. “Have you heard of Serenity, the Djin?” He asked us.

Most of us shook our heads no but Epperly actually spoke.

“I read about her. She’s the Djin that the Gods blessed with multiple powers, powers the other Djin’s didn’t have.” She said.

Lockern nodded.

“That’s the one, only she wasn’t blessed. She fell in love with a God, and he fell in love with her as well. After her lover marked her Serenity was blessed with all sorts of powers. The other Gods grew angry and jealous. Serenity and her lover were forced to fake her death. Then her mate brought her to earth where they lived a simple life.” Lockern told us.

“One day they were found by another God. Long story short.. They were killed.” He said.

“I don’t see what this has to do with Epperly.” My father stated.

Lockern sighed.

“Before they were killed they had a total of ten children. Five boys and five girls. All of their children were killed as well. All but one.” Lockern told us as he stared intently at my mate.

“That one child was saved by us. She was taken and hidden. We blocked her mind and with that, came some of her powers being blocked as well.” He said.

That sounds something like what Max went through. His mind had been blocked and it caused him to not be able to connect with the God inside of him. Is this what Lockern was saying happened to this child?

“The childs name was Selena. She lived a normal life for a supernatural creature.” Lockern continued. “Selena used her gifts to help the world and unfortunately that was what got her caught.”

“Caught?” Epperly asked.

Lockern nodded sadly.

“She was found by the other Gods and killed before she could be used by any of them. But… She did bare one child before dying. A girl. Once again I was sent down to protect the child.” Lockern sighed. “This vicious cycle went on for centuries. Until your mother.” He told Epperly.

“My mother?” Epperly asked with her face scrunched.

“The Moon Goddess had finally had enough of watching your bloodline die over and over. So, she blessed your mother with a mate. A strong Alpha that would help protect her.” Lockern said.

“What happened?” Epperly asked much more interested now.

Lockern looked up at my mother and then back to my mate.

“The Moon Goddess could not predict the downfall of this Alpha’s pack. In the chaos your mother was taken. Someone knew who she was. Your mother was shielded from the Moon Goddess’s eye. Humans took her and somehow figured out how to hide their whole little…. organization from all the supernatural world, including the Gods. Little did they know, she was pregnant with you.” He said with a smile. “Our niece.”

“Our?” Kee asked.

Lockern ignored her.

“It wasn’t until you were rescued from that lab that we finally caught sight of you. I was banned from meeting you at the time so I met with Kiah. I warned him of what was after you. Then I waited until he had you leave. I followed you for years to make sure you were okay.” He said.

Epperly scoffed as she leaned back in her chair.

“You followed me for years? Why didn’t you say something before? Why now?”

“I followed you to make sure that you were protected, not that I needed to.” Lockern said and looked to me. “I found your little Angels that you left behind after meeting your mate.” He told me amused.

I growled at him.

“Did you save them?” I asked dangerously.

Lockern shook his head.

“They are not allied with me, I owed them nothing. Those Angels are flithy excuses for soldiers.” He spat out.

“So why didn’t you ever confront Epperly before? Why now?” Tia asked.

“And why the way you did? You put my son in danger.” Epperly said as she slammed her fist on the table.

My mate’s rage was pouring through our bond. It’s so strong, and mixed with my own, almost over powered me. I picked Epperly up and sat down in her chair before setting her in my lap.

Wrapping my arms around her I shoved my face into her hair and inhaled deeply trying to calm myself. I started to rub Epperly’s thighs and eventually she calmed as well, though it was not much.

“I apologize, I didn’t realize you had the boy with you. I thought it was only the two of you.” Lockern said, and he actually sounded sincere.

That did not matter to Epperly though.

“And that makes it okay?!” She’s back to fuming.

Locker gave her a wide smile.

“I knew the two of you would survive.” He stated simply. “Anyways, I was finally given permission to meet you offically. Now that you are mated and marked you have all the protection you could need. And I wanted to actually meet one of my niece’s for once.” He finished.

Epperly crossed her arms and leaned back on me. Her anger is still a raging storm inside the two of us. We were both struggling to real it in. Kohen is furious and wants b***d, making it harder to calm down.

“You said the five of you…” Pops said. “Who are the other four?”

Lockern turned to him.

“One was the bloodline that Epperly has, the God that fell in love with Serenity, Hercules. A hero God.” Lockern stated proudly as all of our eyes went wide.

“But I thought he stayed on Earth with the humans..” Pops said softly.

Lockern shook his head.

“It was a ruse to keep his closest friends safe while he joined the Gods. Zeus would not allow him to stay.” Locker stated.

Pops nodded.

“Sounds like him.” He muttered.

“And the others?” Dad asked.

“Well, Hercules is replaced now that he died, but Selene, the Moon Goddess, for one.” He said with a smirk as he looked at Pops. “She says hello by the way.”

Pops smiled brightly. “My favorite little Goddess.” He said proudly.

“Venus, the roman Goddess of beauty and love. She was the one to suggest giving your mother a possible mate.” Lockern told Epperly. “Bersek Tyr, the Viking God of War. He suggested that we unlock your mothers mind to give her full access to her powers but… sadly we never got the chance.” You could see the sadness in his eyes. “The last of us is Poseidon, Zeus’s brother. He is on your side.” Lockern finished.

Pops scoffed.

“Poseidon on her side? I find that hard to believe.” He stated.

Lockern turned to my grandfather.

“He doesn’t agree with his brother. Poseidon doesn’t want to use Djin’s the way Zeus does. He believes they deserve their own life, their own choices.” He stated calmly.

Pops scoffed again and narrowed his eyes. “I’ll be asking him myself.”

Lockern shrugged. “Do as you wish.”

“So, this all happened because Serenity and Hercules fell in love?” Kee asked.

“Yes.” Lockern said.

“So, Epperly has more powers than she thinks.” Kee stated.

It wasn’t a question but Lockern nodded anywyas.

“That’s right. Unfortunately, I am not authorized to unlock her mind, and for that I am so-“

“Don’t be. I’ll do it.” Kee stated and then stood up.

Lockern gave her a breathless laugh.

“My dear, this is something that five of the most powerful Gods did together. You can’t just unlock it yourself.” He told her with a breathless laugh.

Kee shrugged.

“Watch me.” She then turned to my mate and I. “I have a lot to prepare for, might take me a few days, but I promise I will get you your full power.” She stated.

“You honestly think you can do it?” Lockern asked my sister. “Not even the full mate bond broke it.”

Kee gave him a sinister smile.

“Oh, I’m going to do it. Alone. Then you and the rest of the Gods will really have something to fear.” With that, Kee turned on her heal and left the room.

I smirked at Lockern.

“Don’t underestimate my family.” I told him.

Before Lockern could reply my mate spoke up.

“You said that my mom was mated to an Alpha.” She said and Lockern nodded. “Then why don’t I have a wolf?” She asked.

My b***d ran cold. Lockern gave her a shocked look but recovered quickly. Epperly didn’t squirm in the slightest. She stared at the God and waited for him to give her answers.

“You never read your file?” Lockern asked softly.

Epperly shook her head.

“I never wanted to know about my parents or what the humans really did to me.” She said.

Lockern blew out a breath.

“My dear, I think that you should probably read that file.”

Epperly slammed her fist on the table again.

“Why won’t you just tell me? Haven’t you and your little band of Gods done enough to me?” She asked angrily.

Lockern shook his head.

“We thought we were doing what was best Epperly.” He said quietly.

Epperly scoffed.

“For who? For me or for you? Because it sure didn’t feel like it was for me. I spent my entire life as a prisoner or on the run. Scared for my life and then my son’s life. You and the rest of these Gods have done nothing for me. You didn’t save me while I was being experimented on as a toddler. You didn’t give me a safe place to stay after finding out that others were after me. You didn’t even give me the decency of having another person in my life! I was alone all the time!”

Epperly is nearing an edge that I didn’t know how to bring her back from. She’s not only angry but devasted. Here this ‘God’ is telling her how all these people have been watching over her, meanwhile she’s been alone for almost her entire life.

Everything was stripped from her. Her childhood, her parents, her pack, her life. And it isn’t until she has me that they want to make themselves known?

I don’t blame my mate for feeling the way she does, I just don’t know how to make her feel better.

“Epperly..” Lockern said her name softly. “I am very sorry for everything you have been through. I wish that we would have known about you sooner, maybe we could have done something-“

Epperly scoffed interrupting him.

“Like what? Resued me? Put me on the run sooner? Handed me over even?”

“Epperly-” Lockern started but Epperly waved her hands out in front of her making him stop.

“I can’t do this. I need some air.” She stated and then stormed out of the room.

I stared at the door as it slammed shut. Should I go after her? Does she need space?

“You didn’t tell her who her father is?” Lockern asked me.

I turned to him and frowned.

“He will be here next weekend to tell him herself.” I stated. Lockern nodded. “What happened to Epperly’s wolf?” I asked.

“You didn’t look through her file either?” He asked and I just glared at him. “The humans have grown too smart. The things they have figured out how to do to supernaturals now..” Lockern swallowed hard. “It is sickening. Read her file.” He stated.

“I will be watching over her still. Perhaps there can come a time when we are on each other’s sides.” Lockern stated, and then he disappeared just before our eyes.