Eternal Wolves Chapter 51
Immediately after the startling Gathering, Gally walked quickly through camp on his way to the mess hall to find his little sister. There was so much that he needed to tell her about their past and their family and how sorry he was for taking her to the place that ultimately changed her life forever. And how much he missed her going through the trials even though he couldn't remember exactly who she was. He knew that when he was going through the trials that he had a baby sister. But it was just a feeling. He never could remember what she looked like or how she acted or any of the memories they had shared before the trials. Until now. Now with his memory fully restored, he remember every single detail about his family, his home, his life before the trials but especially his sweet little sister who he swore to protect with his life and was determined to take care of her after their parents died. He knew he had failed her and he hoped that maybe someday she could forgive him for that.
As he was walking he nearly jumped out of his skin when he was felt a hand on his arm stopping him in his tracks. Looking down he was met with the concerned eyes of his girlfriend Harriet. They were silent for a moment before Gally wrapped his arms around her tightly burying his face in her neck. Harriet held him tightly to her as she waited for the waves of emotions to subside in both of them. Gally was the first to speak as his voice shook with unshed tears as he kept his face hidden from the world. "I did this to her, Harriet. I'm her big brother. I swore after mom and dad died that I'd take care of her and make sure she would stay with me always. I failed her…how is she ever going to forgive me for that? I was the one who took her to Wicked thinking she'd be safe. But instead all they did was take her away and inject her with poison until they were satisfied with their experiments. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at her, Thomas, or Newt the same way ever again. I wouldn't blame her if she ended up hating me for the rest of our lives. I think I would even want that. I fucking deserve it. She was supposed to be safe…She could've died and I never would've known it because of the swipe. How am I going to tell her that it was my fault, Harriet? I don't even know where to start…"
Feeling Gally's hot tears pour down drenching her shirt she held him tighter as if to say she'd never let go. Speaking softly she murmured into his shoulder. "Gally, you did what you thought was best. You couldn't've known that they were going to take her away from you and turn her into a lab rat. This is not your fault. It's the Creators fault for turning us all into subjects for their whacked out science experiments for a cure that they only managed to find in the form of being a wolf. And now you've got your memories back and sooner or later she will too. Just be gentle with her. She's going to probably take it either hard or very well. It really depends on how you tell her I suppose. Stop beating yourself up about something that was in the past and can no longer be changed. It's time for you to be here for her now and take care of her the best you can for the rest of your lives. No one will ever take her away from you ever again. She's your little sister, Gally. She's here to stay. And no one will hurt her anymore. You can protect her like you weren't able to back then. Now go find your sister and make things right. I'm going to head over to the med jack building to check on Newt and see if Jeff needs a break. Then I'm going to go back to run over to Newt and Hope's place and grab a couple pairs of clothes and other little homey things and bring them back to our place and make a bed for her to stay with us until Newt's back to himself. We're all going to get through this, Hun. It'll just take time."
Gally breathed in a couple deep breathes regaining his composure before lifting his head and stroking his thumb down Harriet's jawline gently. "God I don't know what I'd ever do without you…it's like you were made to complete me. I love you so much, baby. Thank you for keeping me sane. I'd be lost without your guiding words." Leaning in he gave her a slow passionate kiss rubbing his hands up and down her sides before giving her one more squeeze and pulling away. Harriet smiled knowingly up at him before leaning up and giving him a sweet peck on his cheek. "That's what I'm here for. You just remember those words one day when I walk down the aisle to marry you. I think they'll definitely come in handy." Gally laughed before blushing a light shade of pink. "I really will make you my wife someday soon. Be on the lookout for when I pop the question with a lovely ring. Until then, perhaps I could get some loving late late tonight when Hope's fast asleep in the other room? It's been a week since we last made love. I'm practically dying over here…" Harriet walked away but threw a wink over her shoulder at him while swaying her hips in a sexy rhythm. "We'll see lover boy. Go get your sister and take care of her. I won't expect you two home until a lot later. I'll be waiting to welcome you both home."
Gally's blush turned several shades darker as he rubbed his hands over his face trying to erase the color and warmth that had taken over his features. Turning on his heel he shook his head as he reached the mess hall and went off in search of his little lost sister. When he reached the door the kitchen and walked through, he was surprised to find that the kitchen was empty and nothing was on the stove cooking. Glancing in either direction he walked into the hall leading to the back private rooms following what he thought sounded like the murmur of Frypan's voice in the room at the end of the hall. When he walked into the room his eyes went blind for a few moments before adjusting to the dimness of the room with the only source of light coming from the wood stove burning in the middle of the room. Seated on the rug in front of the flames Frypan and Hope sat talking quietly. Spread out all around them were crumpled up used pieces of notebook paper that made it look like Hope had done a whole lot of talking while she was here.
Frypan noticed Gally come in out of the corner of his eye and tapped Hope's shoulder letting her know that he was there. Gally smiled and waved as Hope gave a small barely visible smile. Frypan got up off the floor and went to stand next to Gally whispering quietly while glancing over his shoulder at Hope. "Well, we tried to cook, but that wasn't really working so I brought her here to talk and she told me everything and the little thing is just all torn up about Newt being under the weather so I figured I'd just keep her here until you came." Gally nodded and glanced over at Hope with a concerned expression. "Are you going to tell her what happened at the Gathering because I'm not really sure she'd be able to stomach it right now… She seems really faint right now so I've been trying to get her to drink some hot cocoa to see if she'd perk up a bit." Switching his gaze back onto Frypan, Gally's expression turned dark for a moment before going back to his carefully schooled expression. "She needs to know. I need to have my sister back. She needs her brother to take care of her like he should've. It's time for things to be made right. Thank you for looking after her for a few. Do you mind giving us some space so we can chat in private?"
Frypan nodded in understanding before saying goodbye and walking back out of the door shutting it finally leaving the two lost siblings alone. Gally watched as Hope's shoulders shook with sadness as tears fell from her eyes while the flames danced in front of them. Taking a seat on the rug next to his sister, Gally reached out and took her in his arms pulling her onto his lap and wrapping his arms around holding her tight against him. Immediately, she nuzzled her nose into his chest as her sobs increased while he rested his head on top of hers waiting patiently until the worst had passed. Hope went to reach for the notepad that was sitting on the floor beside them but Gally grabbed her hand and laid it back in her lap as he positioned her so she was sitting up and his hands were free. Taking a shaky breath he locked eyes with her as he began to sign just like he had taught her when she was little. Signing slowly so she could see clearly he signed the words "Bethy please don't cry. It makes big brother sad to see you hurt…" When he finished he waited anxiously as he could see the gears turning in his sister's head.
Suddenly, Hope's head fell into her hands as she was instantly taken over by flashbacks and all of her memories completely coming back to her as her head pounded in protest. Tears sprung to her eyes once more as she remembered her brother. The one who took care of her after their parents died. And how he had taken her to Wicked in search of a better life for the both of them. The pain and feelings of being poked and prodded and being torn away from her only family made the tears turn into rivers cascading down her face. She remembered when Gally was sent in the maze with Newt and the others, Thomas took her under his wing and protected her as much as he could, keeping the tests to a minimum so she could lead as normal of a life as possible. She remembered how Thomas told her that she was a wolf and how he spent hours with her training her on her powers and told her how she would have a mate but didn't yet know the identity of her love. He was there when Gally got stung in the maze and watched as the memories flashed on the screen of her as a little girl and how Gally would cry at night in frustration because he couldn't recognize her face. She remembered how Thomas would hold her in his lap as she cried along with him, missing the only family that she had ever known.
When the memories found their permanent home inside her mind she was able to see again as she came back to the present where she looked up to find her older brother, his eyes swimming with tears. "Aus…" She signed as he looked on, the tears finally falling from his eyes. Taking her face in his hands he stroked his thumb down her cheeks wiping away all the tears that had soaked her features. "Bethy I'm sorry…so so sorry…I swear I didn't know what was going to happen. I never expected it to be like this. I thought I was giving us a better life away from the cranks. I never thought that they'd torture you and make it so I couldn't even remember your sweet face…Please forgive me I beg you…" Hope smiled softly through her tears and signed back. "Aus, there was no way you could've known what was going to happen. All I can say is thank you for trying to make it better for us. I know it has always been a huge burden on you being left with a little sister who's deaf to take care after we were left on our own. The trials are over. Wicked is over. I had some help from Thomas at Wicked when I was there. He protected me, Aus. When you got stung, he was the one who held me as I cried. And it was on his final order before being sent into the trials that I'd be sent to Paradise with the rest of you so we could all be reunited again. Please don't blame yourself or Thomas, big brother. Thomas may have been a Creator, but he was kind. He loved me just like you did and took care of me until it was time for him to go find you in the maze and lead you all home. What matters now is that we're together again. And we won't ever leave each other. No one can separate us ever again. Life is the way it's supposed to be now. And if it weren't for the lycanthropy virus, Newt and I never would've been mates. They essentially gave me the gift of forever with him and for that I will be forever grateful. To me this is worth all the pain and heartbreak. To live forever with all of you and have families and get to watch the world go by as the years go on."
Gally nodded weakly before taking her in his arms again rocking her back and forth like he used to when she was a baby. Looking down at her he spoke slowly his voice so soft that it barely made a sound. "You know growing up I always used to hold you like this…after mom and dad died you cried a lot and had nightmares. So we always slept together. Tonight after saying goodnight to Newt, I'm bringing you home with me and Harriet to stay until Newt's back on his feet. I can even hold you like I used to if you wanted. I'll keep you safe, I promise." Hope smirked up at him and held onto him tight before reaching up and planting a kiss on his cheek. "I think that'd be just the thing I need right now. Let's go find the others at dinner and then head back home, okay big brother?" Nodding Gally smiled down at her before scooping her up in his arms and cradling her to his chest before dropping a kiss on her forehead and setting her back down onto the floor, grabbing her hand and leading her out into the mess hall to see their friends for the first time as brother and sister.
