Part Two: Ch. 11

"I'm still waiting for you to tell me your big secret." Lennon teased while poking Vincents' cheek.

Vincent just chuckled and took another bite out of his burger. "Eat your lunch, Lenny."

Lennon glared up at him while slowly biting into his burger and chewing even slower, making Vincent throw his head back and laugh.

"Now, tell me." Lennon begged.

"I can't read." Vincent shrugged.

Lennon chuckled a bit. "Of course you can!"

"I mean I can but I can't.." Vincent frowned. "I know basic words and can handle short phrases or sentences but other than that, the words just start to jumble together.." Vincent explained.

Lennon looked up at him and frowned. "So that's why KJ started reading.."

"Yeah, my father warned the principal and teachers but I guess that one didn't care.." Vincent frowned. He shrugged again and leaned towards Lennon, whispering in his ear. "Being what I am.. I guess some things got crossed wrong in this brain of mine.." Vincent chuckled lightly.

Before Lennon could respond, Dave came running up to them with horror written all over his face. "Vincent.. It's Todd.." Dave exhaled between breaths.

Vincent was immediately on his feet. He grabbed Dave by the shoulders. "What! Where is he?!" Vincent demanded.

"The soccer field.. KJ can't control him.." Dave rushed out.

Vincent took off towards the field but not before dragging Lennon along with him. When he reached the field, he could see the small group of people forming a circle. He reached the middle and saw KJ laying on the ground, using what was left of his torn shirt to stop the bleeding.

"What the fuck is happening?" Vincent frantically looked at the three large gashes across his friends chest.

"I'm fine. I'll heal.." KJ winced. "Todd... his mate rejected him.." KJ mumbled.

Vincent snapped his head towards Todd who was currently on all fours, hunched over. His canines were elongated and his claws were piercing the hard ground.

Vincent quickly tackled him to the ground and had him pinned under him. Todd was snapping his canines at him, trying to get himself loose.

"Todd! Enough!" Vincent roared but only got a deep, dark chuckle in return.

"Todd isn't here right now. Would you like to leave a message?" The dark voice mocked with a laugh.

Vincent sighed. "Lanceston, give control back to Todd." Vincent commanded Todds' beast.

"No." Lanceston laughed.

Vincent looked over towards Lennon who looked to be on the verge of crying. Dave was now helping KJ stand up.

"I called Gabriel. They are on their way." KJ reassured.

"Ooooh, is daddy coming to take me away?" Lanceston teased.

"Lanceston, what happened? When did you meet your mate? Why didn't you tell me?" Vincent questioned.

"Are you serious? When would we be able to tell you when you've been busy shunning us?" Lanceston roared.

"I'm sorry.." Vincent could see the hurt behind the rage in Lancestons eyes. "But I'm here and I'm not going anywhere.. you know that.."

Lanceston just scoffed but answered his questions anyways. "We just met her.. she rejected us." He growled. "She rejected my Todd.. MY TODD!" Lanceston roared.

"It'll be okay.. Todd is stronger than what he leads on.." KJ gave a sad smile. "Please don't take full control.."

Lanceston just laughed. "I'm going to rip that worthless fucking whore apart!" He roared. "She thinks she can reject us.. reject Todd.."

Vincent and KJ exchanged a knowing look but before either of them could say anything, a few black SUVs pulled up directly into the field. Gabriel, Azrael and a bunch of guards jumped out and were by their side within seconds. The guards quickly got rid of the crowd.

"Stay the fuck away from me!" Lanceston snarled when Azrael reached for him. Azrael ignored him and stabbed the syringe into his neck.

Lancestons thrashing around started to slow down. "You.. bastards.." He mumbled while slowly passing out.

Vincent stood up once he was sure Lanceston was out. Azrael pulled Todd into his arms and just held him tight. The thought of losing his little brother, breaking his tough exterior.

"Dad?" Azrael looked up at his father, Gabriel, with pleading eyes.

"It's okay.. it'll be okay.." Gabriel leaned down towards them. "Lets get him home."

Azrael nodded his head and got up, letting some guards help pick Todd up and load him into the SUV.

"How long will he be out?" Vincent asked.

"A couple of hours." Gabriel answered while climbing into the vehicle. "Are you coming?"

Vincent turned to look for Lennon, only to find him staring back at him.

"Go on. Like I said he won't be awake for a couple of hours. Take care of your mate." Gabriel gave Vincent a soft smile. "Todd will be okay."

Vincent only nodded his head in response and headed over to Lennon.

"Are you okay?" Vincent whispered while cupping Lennons' cheeks.

Lennons' hand instinctively wrapped around Vincents' wrists. "That.. happened.. because his mate didn't accept him..?" Lennons' eyes were wide with fear as he looked back into Vincents' eyes.

Vincent slowly nodded his head while wrapping his arms around Lennons' waist. "Let me take you home.."

"No!" Lennon shouted while gripping onto Vincents' shirt. "Don't leave me.."

Vincent stared at him with wide eyes. "I'm not leav.." Vincent saw the worry written all over Lennons' face. "Okay, come on." Vincent grabbed onto Lennons' hand and led him back to his truck.

"Is your friend going to be okay?" Lennon asked while they drove back towards the castle.

"I hope so." Vincent sighed. "I really hope so.."

It didn't take long for Vincent and Lennon to get back to the castle. When entering, they noticed the lack of other people, the complete silence. Vincent led Lennon to their wing, not passing a single soul on their way there.

"Lennnon, I need you to stay here, okay?" Vincent said while gently rubbing his shoulders in a comforting way. "I need to go check on Todd and make sure they don't need anything."

Lennon shook his head. "I want to come with you."

"No, Len.." Vincent went to argue.

"I'm coming!" Lennon interrupted.

"No you are not!" Vincent growled lowly. "You are going to stay here where it's safe!"

Lennons' bottom lip trembled. "But you could get hurt.." He whispered with a tear siding down his cheek.

"Oh, baby.." Vincent wrapped his arms around him, squeezing him tighter. "I'll be fine, I promise."

Lennon shoved his face in Vincents' chest, squeezing him just as tight. "I don't want to lose you.." Lennon whimpered.

"Lennon, look at me." Vincent cupped his cheeks. Lennon looked up at him with teary eyes. "You're not going to lose me." Vincent placed a soft kiss on his lips. "I have to go.. I'll be back, okay baby?"

Lennon just nodded his head reluctantly. "Okay.."

Vincent kissed Lennons' forehead before heading out.

~ ~ ~

"LET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!!" Lanceston roared.

"Not until you give Todd back control, pup." Gabriel growled.

Lanceston just scoffed and kept pulling at the silver chains wrapped around his arms. He finally gave up and let out a huge sigh. "I'm not losing control, dad.. I just want to protect Todd.."

"And how is acting like this protecting Todd?" Gabriel scolded.

"He shouldn't have that worthless thing living in his kingdom.." Lanceston concluded.

Before Gabriel could respond back, someone knocked at the door.

Vincent walked in and looked over at an angry Lanceston. Vincent looked over at Gabriel. "Well?"

"Don't 'well' him. 'Well' me. I'm the one on some crazy revenge rampage." Lanceston laughed. "Hey.. get me out of here, buddy. These people are crazier than me. I mean look.. they put silver chains on little ol' me.." Lanceston again laughed.

"I forgot how *comical* you are.." Vincent rolled his eyes. "Is Todd okay?"

Lanceston let out a vicious growl. "Are you assuming I would hurt him?"

"You've taken control!" Vincent growled back. "How is that not hurting him?!"

"I didn't take control. He gave me control." Lanceston chuckled. "When have I ever taken control by force?"

Vincent and Gabriel gave each other a knowing look.

"Exactly. Todd is sweet and shy.. a fucking prince! Second heir to the throne and that woman thinks she can reject us?!? Reject my Todd?!" Lancestons' voice got louder. "Fuck that! Todd deserves only the best and I'll see to it he gets only the best."

"So you plan on killing your mate?" Vincent asked.

"Ex-mate. She rejected us, remember?" Lanceston snarled. "And I plan to ask her why she did and then I may or may not kill her. We haven't decided yet." Lanceston finished with a shrug.

"We?" Gabriel questioned.

An evil smirk played on Lancestons lips. "Todd is tired of being pushed around. Tired of people taking advantage of him because he is kind.. Who better to help him than his own beast?"

Gabriels' eyes widened slightly. "Todd is allowing for all of this to happen?"

"You didn't think I was doing this all on my own, did you?" Lanceston sneered.