Chapter 39: Father-Son

Chapter 39: Father-Son
Silas
I clap my hands and yell out. “Alright, everyone, that’s it for now.” I start walking back up to the front where my dad is standing. “Remember tonight we are running drills in the forest.” Everyone groans. We need to run rogue attack simulations, so we don’t have the same thing happen again. No one died, but it was too close for comfort.
Something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. “Brain, I guess you decided to stop milking that near-death injury and come to training.” I chuckle and take a few steps over to the onlooker.
“What can I say? The ladies love to nurse an injured hero back to health.” Brian gives me a smirk. I wanted to rip his head off when I got her, but that battle changed how we saw each other.
“Seriously, how are you healing?” I place a concerned hand on his shoulder.
Brain lifts his shirt, and I see stapled flesh. “Staples come out tomorrow. Doc said it was so deep and serious I’ll have a scar for life now.”
“Got two of those myself.” I got cut off by a booming voice behind me.
“Those scars tell everyone you are both too damn stubborn to die. Which in my book is the only way to be.” My dad reaches out his hand to Brain. “Beta David Youngblood Sr. of the Amaris Pack.”
“Brain Richie, it’s an honor to meet the Lumiere’s father. I owe him my life.” Brian bowed and shook my father’s hand.
“Nonsense, you’re a pack warrior. It’s his duty to make sure everyone gets home alive.” My dad’s words hit me like a tone of bricks. Yeah, it’s my role as one of the highest-ranked members to ensure everyone is safe. I almost failed.
“That may be true, but it’s my job to learn from him and that I will need to take more seriously.” Brian stood up straight and nodded as he finished his statement. He had a new resolve. After the last attack, everyone did.
Dad looked at me, and I could see pride and mischief in his eyes. It’s a combination that us brothers would get from time to time growing up. It was terrifying. It sometimes leads to brutal training sections where your body ached for days. Or something extraordinarily tedious and detailed that if he found one mistake, you had to redo everything. Dad treated us all as if we were all going to be the next Beta. There was no slacking off. All ranked heirs go through training, but from the stories I’ve heard, our family took it to the extreme. I’ll hear his voice in my head saying, ‘mistakes equal death.’ This means the rank members must be diligent so everyone can return home. So that look in his eye was the scariest in the world. What is he planning?
“Lumiere, can I join tonight’s training?” Brain looked at me with hopeful eyes.
I let out a sigh. “If the Doc takes out the staples and clears you, then fine. You will still be on light duty.” I hold up my hand. That’s the most I will allow.
“Thank you, Lumiere. I’m going to talk to the Doc right now.” I nod, and Brain runs off.
“Great job, son.” Dad slaps me on the back and almost knocks me over.
I stagger and huff out, “Thanks, dad.” He knocked the wind out of me.
“I wanted to talk to you about something.” Dad gave me a grin. I wouldn’t say I liked this.
“Ok, what is it.” I made sure not to hide the hesitation in my voice.
“Oh, it’s not that bad.” Dad’s grin got wider. Yep, don’t like this.
“Just tell me.” I cross my arms across my chest and puff it out. I look at my dad straight on. I’m the only one of my brothers who’s the same height as my dad. He’s broader than me, so he looks bigger, but we are at eye level.
“Well, I talked to Beta Lucas this morning, and you know how he went back to Ashwood for his son’s 17th birthday.” Dad puts his hands on his hips and straightens his shoulders.
“Yeah, what about it.” I raise an eyebrow.
“Well, since he will officially start training his heir, and Davy took over for me years ago. The Alphas, Lucas, and I decided it would be easier for me to stay and help instead of Lucas. So, your mom and I will be here for a few months to help out.” Dad chuckles at the end.
My eyes are bugging out of my head. “Did anyone tell Sydney?” She’s not going to be pissed my parents are staying. She’s going to be pissed she wasn’t consulted.
“No, I wanted it to be a surprise and come from us. We’re family now. Your mom and I want to get to know our new daughter and see how you handle your new role.” Dad patted my shoulder. As much of a hardass as he is, I know he only wants the best for me. How can you tell your loving parents to go home in this situation?
“I wish you would have talked to me first. Things are complicated right now.” I groan.
“I am aware of the rogue issue and the complaint submitted to the council.” Dad pulls me in by the shoulder for a side hug.
“That’s just the tip of the iceberg, dad. The pack infrastructure is messed up, and it will take us years to repair. We also have to pay retribution payments; we honestly don’t know when those will start. Plus, things between Syd and I are hot and cold.” I was really feeling defeated at this moment.
“What’s going on between you and Sydney?” Dad grabs both my shoulders and looks at me with concern.
“Dad, that’s the biggest issue!” I shake my head.
“Yes, it is! Good packs are run not by one but two. If you two are at odds, the pack will struggle. Your relationship is the foundation of the pack.” Dad was not joking. I thought he was teasing me at first. “What’s going on between you two?”
We sit down under a nearby tree. It’s going to be one of those father-son talks, I guess.
“You know Sydney’s history. She’s been through a lot. You know about her dad, but not many outside the pack know about her mom. She’s been alone since she was 18 when her mom was imprisoned. Tarlo wanted to use Sydney as a soldier, and his only leverage was her mom, Angela. Syd did everything Tarlo told her within reason. One time she disobeyed him, and he brought her mom to the training grounds and beat her in front of the pack to punish Syd. I’ve heard so many stories, but none of them from her but from everyone else. She opens up and then closes me out.” I rub my temple.
“Son, that kind of trauma over years and years doesn’t go away. It’s always going to be with her. She may never tell you everything because there might be too much to tell. She might never say a word to you about it, but there will be times when it’s too heavy for her to carry, and she breaks down. As her mate, it’s your job to be there. Not to judge, not to do things for her, not to rescue her but just be there. Show her that you are not going to disappear. Remember you are a mate first and a Lumiere second.” Dad put his arm around my shoulders.
“Dad, what’s going on with Cody? The things he said about Syd and me were out of line. It wasn’t just joking around.” I looked my dad dead in the eye.
“Davy told me everything. I can’t say I’m not disappointed in him right now.” Dad sighed and dropped his arm from around my shoulders.
“What he said really affected Sydney. When you and Davy called it a family matter to Alpha Conor… It almost broke her. It was the first time our family acknowledged her, and it was about a fight. Cody is my brother, and I will always love him, but if that’s how he will be, I can’t have him around Syd and me.” I look down at my hands in my lap. It hurts just saying that, but I have to do what’s best for my mate and pack.
“Well, all the more reason for your mother and I to stay. Let’s show that new daughter of mine that she now has a new family that doesn’t let go.” Dad’s chuckle eases my mind.
“Not letting go or never going home? Because we might have a problem.” I push dad’s shoulder jokingly.
“I think they are the something really.” He jumps up. “Come on, I’m starving, and your mom’s in the kitchen.”
“I hope she made some snickerdoodles.” I jump up as well.
“Oatmeal Raisin would be better.” Dad rubs his belly. We start walking to the packhouse.
“You’re the only one who likes Oatmeal raisin cookies.” I stick out my tongue, gross.
“Only the sophisticated like an oatmeal raisin.” Dad lifts his chin in the air trying to look aristocratic.
“Old people like oatmeal raisin cookies.” I take a few quick steps away out of his arm’s reach.
“Watch it. I can still take you.” Dad tries to grab me. He would always grab us and put us in a headlock when we would call him old. As us boys got older, we learned to take a few extra steps before calling him old.
“You have to catch me first, old man.” I ran away, but it was only a few steps behind me to make our way to the packhouse.