Chapter 81

Danny’s POV
After the meeting; we were about to head out of the office, when Raquel calls us. “Danny; Claudia; a word please?” she asks as her and Joshua come over to us and Dad pushes his way out of the doorway. “Sariah, Oliver please stay as well” Joshua includes.
“What can we do for you?” I question them, sitting down in my chair again; waiting for Sariah and Oliver to join us.
“I have a few questions. Well; not really questions as oppose to queries regarding Michael and someone by the name of Crystal, Amanda was saying. I know it’s a fairly popular name and it could be anyone by the name of Crystal. My cousin; a bear shifter, has been missing for a little over a decade now. We know she is alive; there have been numerous sightings” Joshua starts, looking at Raquel.
“Are you sure the sightings are of your cousin?” Claudia asks. “Yes; I am one of the people who has seen her. I saw her at the human mall here, when we first came to discuss your problem. I called out to her; she looked at me, yelled ‘oh shit,’ and took off” Raquel explains.
“And let me guess; her name happens to be Crystal?” Sariah questions, looking between Raquel and Joshua. “You got it in one” Joshua chuckles.
“Would you know if she is mated? Or is the same Crystal as Amanda was saying?” I ask them. “No; I can’t. Hence my queries; rather than questions. We were determining how bear shifters were involved. We are willing to help, regardless; unlike my ancestor last time and yes, I did see what he said and apologise on behalf of my family. I was trying to see if we could find a way to make sure it is or isn’t the same Crystal” Raquel announces.
“I’m not sure ho…” “Uncle Craig” Todd says, cutting me off; he was lingering around; listening into our conversation. We all turn to look at him. “Uncle Craig said to us when we were questioning him; he got the information about Luna Jade and Alpha Henry from Dianna. If he doesn’t know who Crystal is, because she wasn’t a part of their files they had. He might be able to tell us how he got hold of Dianna; we might be able to ask her some questions” Todd explains.
“It’s comments and suggestions like that Todd; I can see how you are related to Danny” Amanda says sarcastically, before leaving and letting Claudia come forward again. I didn’t even see her come forward in the first place; my mouth was still gaping open, looking at Todd. “I believe Mandy is agreeing with you” Oliver says to Todd, chuckling to himself.
“I have been listening and learning from Alpha Henry’s guidance and Danny, will you shut your mouth; it’s not like I am saying anything you weren’t thinking” Todd fumes at me and my mouth remains open in shock.
“Dad’s been teaching you?” Claudia asks him. “Yeah; he approached me and asked if I needed assistance with learning to be an Alpha. He said he could tell I was very green and I accepted his help. I thought you both knew. Danny, close your mouth; you are going to start catching flies” he growls at me and I finally close my mouth as the shock wears off.
“Todd, thank you for your suggestion. Would you like to be here when we ask Craig?” Oliver says, pushing the conversation back to Michael and the mysterious Crystal he is ‘mated;’ and I use the term loosely; with.
“Why not” he answers and I nod my head in agreeance. “Raq; Josh; we will let you know, when we find out more” Oliver includes as he opens the door to exit. “Thanks” they both say in unison as we all leave the council room.
……….
“Craig; nice of you to stop by” Oliver says as he grumbles and sits on the chair in front of Dad, Todd and myself. “No, Claudia today?” he mumbles, barely audible for us to hear him.
“Her and Chelsea have plans to go see Gemma. Something to do with Jacob’s 3rd Birthday. She told me to tell you to Fuck Off; you will never see him, you worthless piec…” “Enough, Daniel” Dad growls and I gasp, slightly jumping. He has never raised his voice at me; even when annoyed at me. He would sound more disappointed than angry. And he used my full name; not Danny. This can’t be good.
“We need to know, how you got in contact with Dianna?” Oliver continues as a small knock comes on the door and Sariah comes into the room. “Sorry, I’m late” she says and sits down on the empty chair near us.
Oliver smiles at her; “Craig was about to tell us how he got in contact with Dianna” Oliver informs her and she looks over at Craig also.
“I just called her. Michael spends his time between her and Penelope. I waited for him to be with Penelope and gave her a call” he tells us. “And Crystal” Todd adds. “Who is Crystal?” he asks, turning his head toward Todd. “You haven’t done a very good investigation, have you?” Oliver injects, giving him a smirk and Craig growls at him.
“Another innocent soul, who has followed Michael and his demented ideas” I inform him. “He kept her a secret then. Dianna would have told me, if she knows about her. She couldn’t wait to spill about Luna Jade and Penelope” he explains and I slightly relax my aura on him.
“Not to worry; we can only ask. If she does know something, even a small amount of knowledge may help us” Sariah says, and Dad nods back at her, his eyes glaring at Craig. **“What is wrong with him?”** Jesse asks me. **“He has been in a mood since the meeting this morning. He hasn’t spoken to anyone; not even Mum or Claudia. I’m going to get to the bottom of whatever it is”** I answer him.
“She may or may not talk with you; given Michael’s possessiveness. Good luck” Craig says, giving off a chuckle and Dad growls at him as we all look towards Dad. “Can everyone please leave for a moment. I need to consult Dad on a few issues” I ask the room as a whole. Oliver nods sensing my urgency and ushers everyone out of his office.
As the door closes, Dad looks at me and bows his head in submission. “Dad; don’t drop your head at me; Alpha’s never drop their head to anyone; remember? I don’t want your submission; you are my equal not my subordinate. I want to know what is going on with you? You aren’t normally this angry” I ask him.
He lets out a sigh and looks me in the eye. “Michael, he is really an asshole; isn’t he?” he states. “This anger is because of him?” I question him.
“Yes; I didn’t know what happened to Scott or Cameron. I only knew he was killed in retaliation because they killed Alfred and Christopher. The fact it was in retaliation of me intercepting his perverted ways and wanting Claudia to be one of his concubines. Not to mention; Jade and he was thinking of killing his own son to get Claudia for himself; it’s worse than what James put you through. At least you knew where you stood with James; Alfie looked up to his father. He wouldn’t have known any different” Dad says, a tear trickling down his face.
I look at Dad, contemplating if I should do what I think we can do; to talk with Dianna. I don’t want to put him on the spot. “What are you thinking?” Dad asks me. Jesse comes forward and nudges me in my mind. “There is a way to talk to Amanda without Claudia knowing. I will tell her if we can do this, but I don’t want her to be there and I don’t want to be there either. I want to ask you…” “You want me to go to the sanctuary and talk to Dianna. Ask to see Alfie and Christopher for her. She may be willing to open up” he interrupts me.
“I don’t want you to do something, if you are not comfortable with it?” I tell him, looking into his blue eyes and seeing Kingsley behind them. His eyes glaze over as he talks with him.
“Kingsley and I had the same idea. I couldn’t ask you or Claudia to see them. Alfie would know what it is like to die twice” Dad says, giving off a small chuckle. “You will do it?” I ask him, still unsure if he is willing to go.
“Can we include Jade? Her and Dianna were friends at one stage after we mated. She may be more open to talk to us, with Jade around. She may not; she still thinks it was under my orders they were killed” Dad informs me.
“Yes; I can’t see why not. I will get Jesse to bring Amanda into my head” I chuckle at him. **“You know what to do”** I tell Jesse as I open the door; “Oliver, you can come back in now. Please send Craig back to the dungeon” I tell the guards and the others come back into the office.