Chapter 9

Filtairn held up his cell phone to his ear as it dialed Theanna's number. After listening to her message he said, “My Queen, when you’ve a moment and are done with kicking some Titans ass and sending them back to Talos, I need to speak with you. I have a bit of an unusual situation here and we both know how much of an expert
you are in that.

“Stay well and listen to Damian...yeah, yeah I know that was dangerous of me but I care about you.Only return this call AFTER you've rested a bit. War is exhausting. Forever my Queen!” Hanging up the phone he smiled as Ajax chuckled.

“That's liable to get your hairs singed,” Ajax smirked.

“True, but it’ll lighten her mood a bit and being that I'm way too familiar with war, I know she'll need that. I just pray that the Daemoni losses aren't too high. She cares for every one of her subjects and losing any of them will weigh heavy on her.”

“You love her,” Sophia noted, happy to no longer be a chicken.

“I do, as a father loves a daughter. I've known her since she was a child and she's saved not only my life and the lives of my family but every member of this clan more than once,” Filtairn replied as he jumped up upon seeing Alia enter the room carrying a large tray. “Love, let me get that.”

Alia smiled at her mate as she said, “Theanna is loved by all in this clan. It was an easy decision to swear allegiance to her. Her heart is immense and I pray she’s not harmed tonight.”

“I doubt Damian would allow anything to happen to her,” Filtairn said to make her feel better.

“That boy does love her something fierce. Sophia, don't worry about what’s happening to you. Drink this tea, it’ll help to calm you. Just tell everything to my husband and he'll not only get Theanna to help but her grandfather, Darius Deus as well. You're in good hands,” Alia said kindly to her. “If you need me, husband, I'll be preparing for the return of our heathens.”

Filtairn nodded with a chuckle. Sobering up, he turned to Avalina and Sophia. “Eat, please. Then tell me everything you know.”

Handing a sandwich to her sister and then taking one for herself, Avalina began. “A week ago, on Sophia's twenty-first birthday and the night of the full moon, everything seemed to be normal. Then at the exact time of her birth she seemed to almost glow. As we weren't entirely sober we brushed it off as just the alcohol playing tricks. Later, when she was getting ready for bed, I accidentally surprised her, making her jump and a bunny tail suddenly appeared. Once she’d calmed down it vanished.

“Over the next week, whenever she's been emotional in any way, different parts of animals have appeared. The chicken was the first full animal phase. No one in our clan or neighboring clans had any idea what was going on. The female leaders of the Eastern Clans even wanted to burn her because they felt she was cursed,” Lina stated as she looked at Filtairn sharply to see how he responded to that.

“Of course they would. The Eastern Clans are the most uneducated backwards clan we have. Their leaders are idiotic to the extreme. You’re in no danger of anything like that happening here, sweet girl. I swear to you on my honor. Other than the mysterious light, was there anything else that occurred before the phases started that stands out thinking back on that day?”

Both Avalina and Sophia shook their heads. “It doesn't feel any different from changing into my wolf. Most of the time I don't even realize that it's happened. It just seems to be tied to my emotions,” Sophia sighed deeply.

“Papa... what about our creation myth?” a young petite female with long reddish hair and brown eyes said as she entered the room.

“This is my daughter, Willow. What myth do you speak of, there are so many and most are ludicrous?”

“I distinctly remember a myth that said before we came to be on Earth we were as the gods themselves with the ability to shift into any creature we could imagine and then we had the ability to create that life in our image. I remember thinking how useful that could be. I also remember something about one child every thousand years... but what it said exactly I can't recall,” Willow explained as she sat down next to her father.

“Who was your teacher then?” Filtairn asked, puzzled.

“Old Lady Luna. I remember her so well because before she retired many of the cubs called her Old Lady Loony.”

“Of course it would be her,” Filtairn sighed with frustration as he rubbed his face. “She passed on last summer and she didn't have any kin. I'll ask the rest of the elders if they know anything more about that myth. Don't fear, we'll figure this out, and most especially without any fire!” Sophia smiled at him as she hid a yawn.

“You've traveled far and there is nothing further to be learned tonight. You'll stay here in one of our guest cabins. I'd have you stay in our guest rooms but as the heathens are with us this week, I don't want them to disturb you,” Filtairn explained.

“And they definitely do that. I don't know why you agree to watch ALL of them at once. Every time you do, you regret it. Those cubs are a menace!” Willow growled.

At what sounded like an army, Ajax spoke up and said, “Filtairn, I can show them to the guest cabins, mine isn't too far from there. This way you can help Alia with the hoard.”

“I appreciate that. Sophia, Avalina, should either of you need anything, please don't hesitate to come to me. While you’re here, you're a member of this clan and under its protection,” Filtairn said as they all stood up and he pulled them both in for hugs. “Ajax, escape out the side door while you still can.”

Ajax laughed as he led Sophia and Avalina to a side door outside. “The cubs aren't that bad, just a large group of young male cubs that are more animal than human most days.

“So, very normal Lycan children,” Lina smiled.

“Exactly. I live in one of the cabins next to the guest ones. They're nice. I used to share an apartment with my younger brother but he decided to join the soldier Lycans so he sleeps in the dorms with them. I don't mind fighting when I have to, I'm just better at being a purveyor of information.”

“Who do you get information for?” Sophia asked.

“That varies. Sometimes Liam, the owner of Mythos. Sometimes Darius, the head of D Corp. Sometimes Filtairn and sometimes even Theanna. Working at a bar, you tend to be ignored as people talk. Other times, they simply want someone to talk to,” Ajax explained as they walked closer to a group of cabins.

“That actually makes sense. Kind of like the way women chat with a hairdresser or manicurist,” Lina smiled at him.

“Exactly. I simply get people to do what they do best, talk. Now the cabin is yours for as long as you need or want it. It has two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small living room with a kitchen. I'm right there in that cabin with the motorcycle out front,” Ajax pointed out. “That's yours right next to it.”

“Awesome,” Sophia yawned. “I desperately need a shower and a bed. I think that tea Ms. Alia gave me is kicking in.”

“Go shower and I'll move the truck closer and bring in our bags,” Avalina smiled at her sister.

“Thank you, sis. I'm just worn out,” Sophia said with another yawn as she headed towards their cabin. Avalina walked towards Ajax's bike with appreciation.

“This is nice! I love the black background with blue flames.”

“Thank you! Do you ride?” Ajax asked with a smile.

“Whenever I could sneak a bike out. The females of our clan weren't really allowed to do such things. They were a bit backwards when it came to women. To the men, we were simply vessels for their pleasure and eventually their young. By the time most females are sixteen they've already been mated. Onai believed that Lycan females needed to have as many cubs as they could by as many males as possible. Marriages were strongly discouraged and which males mated with the females were rarely the choice of the female.”

Ajax suddenly got a dark look on his face as he gently put a hand on her cheek and looking into her eyes, growled out, “Were you ever forced?”

“No, not for lack of trying on their part. I was able to avoid that particular pleasure since our clan leader owed our parents a great life debt that he could no longer repay to them,” Lina felt compelled to answer. “Why does it matter so much to you? You've known me for a couple of hours.”

“Don't you feel it, sweet Lina? Our wolves call to each other. My wolf never calls to anyone,” Ajax said softly as he moved in close to her. “Tell me you feel it.”

“I do... but..” she whispered. “I can't even think of that right now. Whatever is going on with Sophia needs my full attention.”

“I'll earn your trust, sweet lady. I'll wait till you're ready, till the time is right,” Ajax said before he placed a tender kiss on her cheek. “Now, give me your truck keys and I'll bring it from the main house.”

Avalina smirked at Ajax as she said, “I can do that, you know.”

“Of that I’ve no doubt,” Ajax stated as he swiped her keys from her hand.

As she watched him walk back to the main house she shook her head. Oh she was in so much trouble with that one.