The Ivory Queen
Chapter 86

***Salvador’s POV***

My mind hasn’t been right since the night I left River Moon. I’ve kept myself busy on the training grounds, working out my body until it’s numb or locked away in my room. I haven’t spoken to Mia or Javier either and I avoid Mom at all costs to keep the doubt from creeping in.

Doubt. Just a little doubt and my world came crashing down on me. As much as I hate to admit it, a very small part of me believes Aurora’s claims and its slowing eating me alive, gnawing away at what’s left of me. Because if what she said was true then I’ve been blaming the wrong person all these years while I’ve allowed the person responsible to slowly destroy what’s left of my family.

I’ve been lenient on Mom all these years, excusing her short comings as a mother because of her pain. Mom’s depression kicked in immediately after Dad died, making her bitter, cold, and distant. She would lock herself in her room for days at a time, leaving Mia, Aurora and I to deal with our pain on our own. Mia and I luckily had each other to lean on, as well as the rest of the pack, but not Aurora. She was left to mourn Dad in the basement, completely alone. Just a few months after his death, Mom turned to alcohol to numb her pain a bit and we didn’t mind. We were happy she was finally coming out of her room again and speaking to us.

But the alcohol could only do so much and it wasn’t long before she sought refuge in the local bars. When she’d return, her anger would be on full display. Mom aimed her cruelty solely at Aurora and of course, we did nothing to stop her, believing Aurora deserved every punch, kick, and slap she received. Soon, even when sober, Mom would beat Aurora relentlessly, scarring her flesh and sometimes leaving her unconscious. On rare occasion, I felt a tiny pain in my heart to watch the torture inflicted on Aurora but it would quickly fade when I remembered my father was dead because of her.

After three years of drowning in alcohol, however, Mom became increasingly restless and the drinking became problematic. Miguel and Ximena would threaten to put her into rehab when she got out of control and each time, Mom promised to be good. And for a few weeks, she’d keep that promise. We’d rejoice at her sobriety, desperate to have our Mom back… But it wouldn’t last. Without fail, Mom’s thirst would return and we’d be forced to watch her fall apart all over again.

And then it happened… I can’t exactly pinpoint a specific time or day when it happened but it was unmistakable. Mom turned on Mia and I. It started with the occasional pinch on the shoulder or even a few slaps to the face when she drank, but then it slowly developed into something else entirely. I tried my best to keep Mom from hurting Mia, often taking the blame for any mistakes or literally stepping in her line of fire so Mia wouldn’t get hit with whatever weapon Mom chose to use at the moment. When she got excessively violent with Mia, Javier and I would lock Mom in her room for a day or two to cool off and sober up. When I’d let her out again, she’d apologize and shower us with love. Craving her motherly affection, we’d readily forgive her for hurting us. And then the cycle would repeat.

Since Aurora left, things have gotten exponentially worse. Mom doesn’t even try to control her rage anymore. Any minor inconvenience could send her on bender and Mia and I usually pay the price.

I’m grateful, though. Throughout this entire ordeal, Javier hasn’t left my side, helping me convince Miguel and Ximena to let her stay in the house for a little while longer while I figure out what to do with her. Mom clearly needs help.

As I toss and turn in bed, reflecting on the past 5 years, a dark thought enters my mind.

Could her guilt be keeping her from sobriety?

You think Aurora is telling the truth? Marcos, my wolf asks, equally conflicted. Could Mom really-

Look, I don’t know anything anymore! My dad is dead, my mom’s a raging alcoholic and I’m f*****g tired of being angry at everything all the f*****g time! I hiss back.

Suddenly, a figure materializes right in front of me. It’s Dad… or at least what I remember of him. I project him whenever I feel lost or upset. But the thing about projections is, I can only project what I remember and I can never get him right. Something is always off and it reminds me that he’s not real. I always make him too tall… I was only a kid when he died and I remember how he used to tower over me. One feature I never get wrong, however, are his chocolate brown eyes, their warmth and kindness unforgettable. Mia has his eyes.

“Why are you mad, mijo?” He says, grabbing my desk chair and sitting down.

I sigh. His voice isn’t right…it’s too deep.

“Go away. You’re not him.”

“Are the things I taught you not real? Are the words I once said not real?” He asks, softening his strong features. “What’s on your mind, mijo?”

I grab the covers and pull them over myself to avoid looking at him.

“Chava…” He yanks the blanket away from me, forcing me to look at the distorted memory I have of him. “I love you, mijo. Mi niño cabron…” He murmurs.

My heart fills with pain and I lash out at him. “Then why did you leave me? Why didn’t you fight harder? Why did you have to go outside with Aurora? Why did you choose to save her instead of yourself?” I snap, sitting up in bed and pushing him away. Tears suddenly start falling down my cheeks and I bury my face in my hands. “I miss you so much! Why can’t you be here anymore? Don’t you see how much we need you?”

The bed dips under his weight as he sits next to me and wraps his arms around me.

“You are not alone, mijo. I never left you…”

This lie infuriates me. I yank myself free from his grip and get to my feet, glaring daggers at the projection.

“Not alone? Look around you!” I snarl. “What is left of this family?”

He stands up on his feet, reaching for me. “Mijo…”

“No, don’t touch me! You’re not real. You’re not my father and I am not your mijo!” I shout at him, grabbing a shoe and throwing it at him with all my force. “LEAVE ME ALONE!”

Upon contact with him, Dad’s projection disappears into a cloud of smoke and the shoe collides with the door just as someone knocks.

“It’s just me,” Mia calls out. I take a few deep breaths and I let her in. “You okay?” she asks, worry swimming in her chocolate eyes.

“Yeah,” I mutter, picking up the shoe off the ground. “What do you want?” My words come out a little harsh and Mia flinches.

“I was just checking in. I haven’t seen you since… well never mind. Anyways, Javier and I are planning on going over to River Moon to see Aurora and help with the search-“

She freezes and I know she’s hiding something from me.

“What search?”

She hesitates, studying me silently before finally spilling the truth. “Oliver’s missing… and we’re doing a search to help find him,” she whispers quietly.

Oliver is missing? My thoughts drift off to our mother. That kind of pain is unbearable. Aurora must be devastated…

“Not interested,” I sigh, drooping my shoulders and tossing the shoe in the closet.

Mia’s face falls but she quickly forces a smile and nods. “Okay, I’ll leave you alone then-“

“Why are you going over there and sticking your nose in someone else’s business?” I snap.

Her eyes fill in indignation and anger. “Because she’s my sister and she needs my help,” she says firmly. “I wasn’t there for her all these years but I’ll be there for her now.”

I purse my lips at her reaction. “Whatever,” I mutter. “Do what you want. I don’t care anymore.”

“You still don’t believe her, do you?”

I’m silent and she shakes her head in disappointment. “One day you’re going to realize you’ve made a mistake, Chava. I just hope it’s not too late for you.”

I turn my back to her. “Leave,” I order.

There is silence for a moment before I hear her exit my room and slam the door shut. My mind and body hurt as I drag myself into the shower and get ready for another day of existing. Maira fixes me a bowl of oatmeal and some fruit and I sit in the dining room silently as I eat. Other pack members come bustling in, including Alpha Miguel and Luna Ximena.

“Chava, have you seen Javier?” Ximena asks.

My body goes stiff. Javier is at River Moon with Mia. If they knew, Miguel would likely start a war and at the moment, River Moon is preoccupied with Oliver’s disappearance.

Javier has covered for me all these years with my mom. I owe him this.

“Javier and Mia went to the ice rink,” I lie.

Miguel smiles. “Those two have been spending quite a bit of time together lately… could Mia be Javier’s mate?”

I choke on my oatmeal and Ximena and Miguel burst into laughter.

“It’s okay, Chava. Mates are a beautiful thing and I know my Javier would treat Mia right,” Ximena chirps. “Mia would make a lovely Luna.”

I choke again and excuse myself from the table.

If only they knew Javier was mated to Aurora’s twin sister. I don’t think they’d think mates were such a beautiful thing after all. I’m sure they’d hate Celina.

I drop off my plates in the kitchen when I run into Mom. It must be one of her good days. Every so often, a bit of mom pokes through the drunkenness, my real mom. Today, she’s miraculously managed to clean herself up, having washed her hair and even put on a hint of makeup to liven up her face.

“Hola, mijo,” she says, her voice cheerful.

She’s doing good, this is your chance to figure things out, Marcos sighs.

“Mom, can- can I talk to you for a second… in private?”

She looks confused but agrees and I tell her to meet me at the tree by our old house.

Twenty minutes later, we both find ourselves siting in the old tree Dad used to climb with Aurora. They’d spend hours up here, just laughing and telling stories. I remember being so jealous of their relationship. I never understood why, but Dad and Aurora always had a special connection. She was always his favorite, no matter how much he denied it, no matter the fact that she wasn’t even his daughter. He loved her most. Perhaps this was why I tortured her so eagerly.

“Que paso, mijo? What did you want to talk about?” Mom asks.

I take a deep breath as I ask the question that’s been keeping me up for the past week.

“Who is Tais?”

She stiffens when I mention that name and becomes defensive.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about..” she mutters as she tries to climb down the tree. “I just remembered… I have something important to do-“

I grab her wrist and look her in the eyes, begging her to stay. I need answers.

“Don’t lie to me, mom. I know Aurora and Celina are tio Mateo’s daughters. I know what they are…” I whisper. “I just need you to be honest.”

“Celina?” She asks, her eyes glossing over with unshed tears. “Where did you hear that name?”

“Celina is at the River Moon territory with Aurora right now. They’ve completed their shift-”

Her face pales. “She found her…” she mutters, her voice full of panic. “She found her! Oh Goddess she found her! This- this can’t be happening! No! No!” Mom climbs off the tree to escape but I jump and quickly catch up to her, pinning her to ground.

“Why are you running?” I growl. “What are you hiding?”

She starts sobbing uncontrollably, shaking her head back and forth. “They’re watching. They’re going to watch us burn!

“Who is?”

“We’re doomed. Oh Goddess. Mercy! Please, Mercy!”

A realization hits me and my heart shatters.

“What did you do, Mami?” I tremble.

But Mom can’t hear me. She’s stuck in her head, muttering nonsense to herself as she struggles against me.

“She’s going to kill you! The guardians… They’re no match! Help me! Emiliano ayudame! Emiliano!”

My eyes fill with tears as I watch her unravel beneath me, fear and insanity in her eyes.

“Mami, what did you do?” I whimper. “Please!”

“Emiliano!”

That’s it! I’ve had enough! I need the truth!

I cup her face harshly, desperate to get my answers. “Answer me! Did you call those witches? Huh? Did you do this to us?” I growl.

She snaps out of her delusion and slaps me with unbelievable strength, knocking me back on my a*s. “I did nothing that wouldn’t have already happened,” she finally admits.

My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach and I feel every fiber in my body light up with pain and fury. “How could you-“

“Tu padre esta muerto {You father is dead} because of what she is! They would have found us and killed him even if I didn’t call them. Because of her! Aurora killed him!” She snarls.

She did it… She called the witch…

“You killed him!” I scream, wrapping my fingers around her throat. “Aurora wasn’t even thirteen. She was a child! She was your daughter! How could you-“

“Aurora no es mi hija!{She’s not my daughter!},” She spits back, clawing at my arms. “I took care of her all these years … but I knew she would be our downfall!” I loosen my grip and her face softens. “I loved her… but I loved you more. I had to protect you and Mia…”

“You let her take the blame all these years …” I cry, my heart full of guilt. “I hurt her… You hurt her!”

“She was what they were after. It was her fault!”

My face darkens. “You’re sick. You’re so full of hatred for a girl who did nothing -“

I receive another slap from my mother and I stare back at her, stunned.

“Have you ever seen 5,000 dead bodies before, Chava?” She spews with hatred. “Have you ever watched your entire family get slaughtered right in front of you and been powerless to save them? Have you ever had to flee your country to save your life? That little girl you defend, as innocent as she may seem, is responsible for the greatest war in werewolf history. 5,000 werewolves lost their lives defending her. I couldn’t let you get killed because of her too.”

I can’t stop the tears from falling . My mother is a monster… and so am I.

“I didn’t ask for any this!” She screeches, pulling at her hair furiously. “I tried so hard to love her! I really tried. And at some point, maybe I did.” She pauses to wipe her tears and her face hardens. “But then I couldn’t stand how much your father loved her, how much he favored her over you and Mia. Just how he used to favor Sofia over me…” she says, her voice full of bitterness.

Sofia? What did aunt Sofia have to do with this? Why did dad favor her over mom?

She ignores my confused expression and continues rambling. “Aurora is an exact replica of that woman! I was done. I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t. So I called those witches to be done with this farce. I wanted peace… I wanted to live my life free of Sofia and Tais and Ira and this stupid war. I got you and Mia immunity so they wouldn’t hurt you when it happened. But then… they killed him. They killed him instead of her!”

Her eyes fill with tears again and she gets on knees before me, begging me to understand. And on some level, I do. I spent years blaming Aurora for Dad’s death… I let my anger consume me while I tortured her. But it was not enough for me to forgive what she did. Anger was my friend, my companion and right now, anger was all I felt.

Seething with rage, I raise my hand, ready to bestow my anger unto my mother who sobs at my feet when a hand grabs my wrist.

“Don’t do it mijo,” Dad whispers. “Es tu madre {she’s your mother}.”

Dad’s distorted voice only angers me more. Even in death, Dad turns the other cheek. I hated it.

Mom whimpers at the sight and reaches out to touch the projection, her lips trembling. I push her away however, knocking her to ground. Real or not, she did not deserve to touch him. She cries and tries again but I refuse to let her near him. My annoyance peaks and I evaporate the projection, causing Mom to scream at me to bring him back.

“Listen to me very carefully, Karina,” I spit through gritted teeth. “You are the purest form of evil to ever walk this earth and it disgusts me to call you mom. From here on out, forget you have a son. He died the night you killed my father. Goddess forgive you, because I sure as hell don’t.”

“Chava!” She screams, reaching for my hand but I slap her away. “Por favor entiendeme {please understand me}. I just wanted him to love me…”

I push her away again and she continues to crawl towards me.

“Vete al infierno!{Go to hell!},” I screech.

I turn on my heel and storm off, hearing her wails growing quieter as I walk away. When I reach the cemetery, I collapse onto my knees before my father’s grave, emotionally exhausted

“Papi?” I sniffle, holding onto my father’s tombstone as my sobs shake my entire body. “Why did she have to take you?”