Chapter Twenty-two

Jack:
“Jack, where are you?” Xander linked with a shaky tone.

“Look over your left shoulder.” I replied as I stalked forward through the swampy bayou marsh.

Xander’s eyes grew large in fear as he dropped to his knee, bowing his head. Quickly shifting catching a pair of shorts Xander tossed to me as I walked forward, motioning to the old crumbling concrete steps of the patrol shed. Xander quickly took his seat next to me, dropping his head between his knees, shaking uncontrollably.

“I thought I was done with that shit.” Xander exhaled as he rolled the vial of deep purple with silver flecks between his fingers.

“Apparently Raven had more secrets than we knew.” I laughed darkly as I dropped my head back looking into the dark blue sky as the large fluffy white clouds danced gracefully.

“Jack, I swear this is the first contact I have had with anyone.” Xander said with a concerned tone to his voice.

“I know. Now the question is what are they planning.” I laughed as I slid the vial from his fingers, holding it up to the light watching the ghost wisps of silver swirl with the purple.

“Its nasty shit. Silver-Wolfsbane with cocktail.” Xander said side glancing me with wet eyes.

I inhaled a sharp breath, knowing the cocktail enhances the beast, and silver-wolfsbane is a poison to wolves.

“Jack, they want her to go berserk then die from the poison.” Xander started sobbing angrily into his hands as I patted his shoulder.

“We will play the game, but now we know who is behind this.” I laughed deeply as we stood walking quietly through the marsh.

“You know Amelia and you are family. The parents we never had. Amelia was always so kind and caring to us after she arrived, and the nursery… She has filled a void that I never thought would be filled, after my mother’s death.” I said watching Xander’s eyes tear up as he smiled brightly.

“Amelia probably never disclosed this, but we actually had twins.” Xander stopped abruptly, breathing deeply before continuing.

“Roger was about eight years old, when we discovered she was pregnant. I remember her bright green eyes lighting up like fireworks, when she rushed into my office that day.” Xander smiled remembering Amelia’s face, then it hardened into a cold emotionless stare.

“What happened?” I asked watching as his eyes darted violently as he exhaled a long breath.

“Aldo grew very possessive over Amelia, even though we were mated and married with two great boys. He wanted Amelia from day one. I was sent out to escort this Fairy that was conducting business with Aldo. Turns out that Fairy was Jonah.” Xander stopped clinching his fists watching as his eyes turned black with anger.

“While I was gone, Aldo took his chance attacking Amelia while she was working the clinic. She managed to fight back but being pregnant with twins took a lot of her strength, so Aldo managed to overpower her. When I got back with Jonah, Aldo greeted me with this malice expression that made my stomach and wolf stir violently. I found her at home, curled into a ball in the shower covered in blood, bruises, claw marks.” Xander froze mid-step as he let out a loud roaring growl.

“That bastard raped my Amelia, then slashed her stomach so deep, that both twins died. We agreed that once she healed, we would seek haven from Demon Wolf. I was so enraged that I stormed out of our house, went straight for Aldo, but stopped when I heard Aldo and Jonah arguing about someone named “Victor” and hiding him, then something about “Raven”. Next thing I knew that bastard Dean had snuck up behind me, shoving me into Aldo’s office laughing like the crass asshole he was.” Xander was shaking violently as I felt my blood boiling just hearing the fact, an Alpha would attack a pregnant woman, killing her unborn pups.

“I swore when I found a way to get back to my family, I would destroy every last one, but when I found Amelia and the boys at Demon Wolf and you had Lexi show me everything…I felt a massive surge of pride knowing my sons were making a difference in your clan. So, I say this with great fatherly pride, that you and Eli are my sons.” Xander turned to me, grabbing me into a fatherly hug, patting my back with large bright eyes.

Brutus and Goki howled in pride as I stood stunned by the revelation Xander viewed us as his own sons.

“If Jonah wants to hurt my Daughter-in-law and grand pups, I will show them exactly what it means to piss off a “Papa Wolf”, do not get me started on “Mama Wolf” either. She scares the shit out of me when she really gets pissed.” Xander shouted into the sky as he let all the pent-up aggression release.

I silently laughed as I remembered Amelia fighting in Siberia. She was scary for sure, but the fact that Xander and Amelia take pride in having us as family, made this game of Jonah’s even more frustrating. Not realizing that we had made it back to the house, I motioned to Xander to follow me to the cells.

“How is she?” Xander asked as he realized we were heading to Mei.

“Actually, Izzy and Desmond brought the boys down, and they fell asleep together.” I smiled at Xander looking like a proud “Papa” he called himself earlier.

“Tell him the rest.” Brutus growled lowly while Goki sat, shaking his head in agreement.

I motioned to him quickly to follow me into a side room down from Mei’s cell.

“Morgan figured out that it is old magic that was cast, but in order to break it, the unborn pup would die, or Mei stays Lycan.” I spoke calmly as I held up my hand watching Xander’s eyes flash between black and his warm chocolate brown.

“Izzy “poofed” Morgan to speak with Eve about old coven families, but Max mentioned about his tattoo artist friend, Atlas being from an old coven. Let us say we found the witch responsible. Seth and Max should be back soon with her.” I growled deeply as I closed my eyes leaning my head against the concrete wall, seeping its coolness into my boiling skin.

“Let me take a wild guess. Jonah.” Xander growled deeply as a tapping knock grabbed out attention.

Amelia popped her head in looking at us with a bright smile.

“I thought I heard you two in here. Morgan filled me in quickly about the enchantment, and the pup. I took the opportunity to check Mei, while she rested with the twins. Strong heartbeat, no signs of distress. I made Riley and Milly go rest, because they have been running all over the house doing cooking, cleaning, picking up. I told them “enough”. Amelia laughed as Xander gave me that half-tilted side glance.

“How are you Jack. I heard you, Seth, and Max had to decompress earlier?” Amelia asked concerned like a mother as she grabbed my wrist listening to my pulse, running her hand over my cheek giving me a bright smile.

“That’s why we are in here. I was giving “Dad” a run down on the situation and also, it appears that Vance approached him with a command from Jonah to use this on Mei.” I said amused as I held up the vial, while Xander gave me a raised eyebrow.

Amelia giggled softly as she ran her hand over my cheek again.

“I am so proud of you boys. Give me this, so I can lock it up. I know exactly what this shit is.” Amelia laughed darkly as she open her steel medical case, gently placing it in a locked compartment.

“Only we know about this.” Amelia pointed between all three of us.

“Now let’s get to work bringing that piece of shit fairy to his knees.” Amelia laughed darkly as she slipped out the door, while me and Xander shared raised eyebrows of amusement.