Twisting Her Fate
Chapter 126

Over the next week, Connor follows the sports car to over eighty different packs, some harder than others, some having strict border patrol that nearly allowed him to be spotted, some having numerous access points, so Terrance and Levi taking a different road out as they came in on. They have traveled over half the country, stopping at random places to rest for the night.

Connor's large wolf following close enough that he never loses the sound, but far enough away that he can never be spotted. A few times he has thought that Levi has been on to him. He watches as Levi looks out into the trees where he is sitting. He searches with his penetrating gaze, it always ends up with Levi shaking his head and muttering something to himself. Sometimes he knocks on his head while Terrance stands aside laughing at his antics.

Connor watches the two, he hasn't had much of a chance to watch the interactions between them. He is so glad that Terrance has found someone like that to share his life with. Terrance deserves nothing but the best. **4 weeks after separation**

Connor carries Evie, placing her on her bed and gently placing a quilt over her.

"You are doing so well"

The unconscious woman doesn't respond. Connor smiles as he shakes his head, laughing softly, the phone in his pocket starts to ring. He quickly turns it to silent as to not disturb Evie, Connor walks straight out of Evie's room and into the study. His thumb slides across the screen as he picks up the call.

"Terrance"

Terrance is his only connection to Leilani now and this is only the second time that Connor has heard from him.

"I have something important to tell you"

Terrance's voice is so rushed, he is so full of anxiety, he has pushed the call button ten times and the hang up button just as fast, this is the first time that he has had the guts to let it ring, but hearing Connor's voice all the confidence he has managed to build crumbles around him again.

Levi watches from the other side of the room. He wants to provide comfort, but Terrance is determined to do this on his own. It has plagued his mind for too long, he cannot call himself Connor's friend if he can't even say something so important. "Is Leilani okay?"

Connor's mind moves straight to her. Has something happened? Connor's heart is in his throat, waiting for the delivery of bad news. Terrance is never usually so flustered.

"She is fine, don't distract me, I have something important"

Connor's heart settles as he waits. All he can hear on the other end is only heavy breathing.

"I am ready"

"Connor..."

Connor can hear a shudder on the other end of the line and he knows that his friend is crying.

"Connor, I am the reason your family is dead. It is all my fault. I am so sorry"

Terrance breaks down, waving Levi away. He does not deserve comfort, it doesn't matter how many times the others tell him that it is not his fault, he doesn't believe it. He doesn't know how to rectify the situation, he spends all his time making potions that are more and more vicious each time.

It is the only way that he can feel better.

It is the only way he can make Simon suffer.

Only the screams of anguish coming from Simon soothe the turmoil he feels inside. For the first time he actually wants to contact his mother, he has never tried to contact that woman, since a month after he was kicked out of the coven, he called her begging her to allow him back in, that it was too hard out there. She told him that if he couldn't make it by himself he was better to just kill himself.

When that became all he could think about, he met Connor and he learned that that wasn't an option.

But he finally wanted to contact Martha, he wanted her to tell him that it wasn't true that his father was just some nobody, a dr*g addicted hobo would have been a better option than Simon.

He knew that it was a pointless phone call, as somehow he knew that Simon was telling the truth.

"What are you talking about?"

"I am so sorry"

"Seriously Terrance, I don't understand"

"The man that did that to all the girls"

"Simon, the alpha of the Amber pack, Maggie's father?"

Terrance grits his teeth, he forgot about Maggie. Does that also mean he has a half brother and sister? "He is my father as well"

Connor is shocked in place, he was not expecting that at all. Terrance doesn't give Connor a chance to speak.

"But that doesn't matter at all Connor. Simon was trying to get my name, get access to the serum that I made. Your father wouldn't give me up and that is why they are all gone. They all died because of me" Connor takes a moment to process the information.

"I would have done the same thing"

"What?"

"I wouldn't have given your name and if my father had his time again, he would still do the same"

"Four people died because of me, just so I could live in peace"

Connor scrunches his face in concentration, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. He needs to choose the exact right words here.

"Terrance, never think of it that way. That is not a death toll on your head, it will never be blood on your hands. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because if a person like that was given unlimited access to someone like you, can you imagine what would have happened, if that insidious mind was allowed to have as many potions as he could think of what would have happened. Look what he did. Imagine what he could have done" Connor pauses as he walks around his desk and sinks into his office chair.

"My family didn't die a tragic death to protect you, they died a heroic death to protect you. Taking your name with them saved others from a much worse fate"

Terrance wipes his face.

"Do you really believe that?"

"I do Terrance, the actions of someone else are never your fault, father or not. I know that you are a good person. I know that you loved my family. I know that you felt deep sorrow when they died. In no way is it your fault"

Terrance shudders as relief rushes through him, the boulder that has been crushing him has finally lifted.

"You are a good person"

"You are Terrance, parents don't make a person, you have always forged your own path. Don't stop now"

"Thank you for forgiving me"

"Only wrongs can be forgiven. You have never wronged me"

There are the sounds of doors opening, shouting and heavy footsteps. Terrance glances at Levi, who nods indicating for him to get off the phone.

A howl of a wolf and a cry of a woman. Terrance grabs his bag of ready-made potions and moves closer to Levi.

"Connor, I have to go, there is someone here"

Connor can hear the noises and knows that he is running out of time, he needs more time, he needs more information, he can't wait for another call. "Terrance, please tell me where you are. I need to see her"

"I can't"

"Please, I am begging you. Hand her the phone, I need to hear her voice, I need to tell her so much"

"Connor, understand that I would if I could. I really truly would, but I can't right now"

"Will it be in the future? Because I am dying, I am really dying here"

Connor is just hoping for a single reach out. He has been trying to think of how to track them, but they are too good for that.

"I am sorry Connor, I truly am"

Terrance can hear the heartbreak in his friends voice, but he can't do it, he can't tell just yet.

Terrance hangs up the phone and Levi pulls him behind in a protective motion as he peers out the door of their make-shift bedroom. No one should have been able to find them here at all. There was one only a few days before but that was dealt with already and now there is more, this shouldn't be happening. Connor looks at the blank screen of his phone and he falls to his knees. This is all too much to take, he is so very alone, he feels hollow inside, he looks out the window at the sky.

"Why? Why would you do this?"

His forehead hits the floor as he sobs into the timber floor boards. The strong man for everyone else breaks apart when he is alone.