In The Beginning, Chapter 81
Daniel POV
I led Charlie into the main hall, which had been set up with tables, each with a section of the alphabet clearly labelled so the visiting wolves could line up and receive their welcome packets and move on. Charlie and I stood off to the side, ready to introduce ourselves to each family after they had checked in. The border patrol had already confirmed everyone’s ID’s before sending them to us, but I was still on alert, wary of everyone after everything I had seen. The wolves also looked cautious as they approached the tables, retrieving their keys and directions to their temporary homes. Most merely nodded or greeted us with an “Alpha” and “Luna” before ushering their children back outside. A few asked questions about the pack school, or training grounds, but not many, and not wanting to force it, I allowed those that wanted to, to leave. I knew from the many emails I had exchanged with their Alpha’s, that after settling in and reading the information provided in their packets, the females’ concerns would ease, while training would help the males assimilate. The room was slowly filling, as the wolves lined up at their respective tables, but one family, stood by the doors, unwilling to join a line, and stared at Charlie. I immediately linked the team leader of the border guards.
“Marcus, you are at the border?” I asked.
“Yes, Alpha.” He replied.
“A family has just arrived, one male pup, all three are brunette. The male is roughly 6’ 1”, flannel shirt and jeans, the female is 5’ 7”, cream sweater. The pup looks about six, and he’s carrying some sort of doll.” I described them.
“I didn’t check them, but I can ask the men? Is there a problem?” Marcus asked, his voice sounding hesitant.
“Maybe, I don’t like the way they are looking at Charlie, and they have made no move to check in with us.” I informed him.
“I will question the men immediately. We have almost finished here, Alpha.” He replied.
“Quickly.” Was all I said before I closed the link and opened one to Robert. “I need a team at the meeting hall now; there is a family acting suspicious.”
“They will be with you in less than two minutes.” He replied, I closed the link, pulling Charlie closer, protectively. The parents exchanged a look, and I could tell they were linking each other.
“Charlie?” I whispered through the link, trying not to startle her or give away my suspicions.
“I see them.” She replied, and I couldn’t help but smile. “But I don’t think... look at how sad they look. I don’t think they want to hurt us...” I looked again, this time I saw the way the mother was gripping the boy’s shoulders, while the father was practically holding her up.
“Davis checked their ID’s, and their licence matched what we were given from Sycamore.” Marcus replied.
“Does he remember their names?” I asked, gritting my teeth in frustration.
“We are checking our lists, but we’re not sure.” He sighed, and I understood, with so many wolves entering our lands it would be difficult for anyone to remember one family.
“We have the hall surrounded.” One of the Zetas, Paul, I think linked me.
“Send in a scout that knows how to be discreet and hold your positions.” I ordered, now openly examining the family. The father stiffened upon seeing me observe them but made no effort to approach. The scout slipped in behind them but remained unnoticed.
“Is that a warrior behind them?” Charlie asked via the link.
“Yes, I hope it is unnecessary, but I will take no risks with your safety, not after everything that’s happened.” I linked back, she squeezed my hand in support and I was relieved she didn’t argue.
“I think we should go to them.” She said softly.
“Let me link the team first.” I informed her, kissing her in reassurance. “Get ready.” I linked the men, then with a squeeze of my own to her hand, we approached the family.
“Alpha, Luna.” The mad nodded, exposing his neck, while the woman visibly trembled beside him.
“Is there a problem? You are not lined up to check in.” I stated, looking them both over, the female looked gaunt, like she had not slept or eaten properly in months, her body almost vibrating. They looked at each other, obviously looking for a way to explain, but unable to, Charlie crouched down, so she was on the pup’s level
“Hello, that’s a very pretty doll.” She said to him, he looked up at his parents, scrunched his face up so his lips were pursed, and held the doll out to her, like he expected her to take it away. She ran her fingers over the hem of the dress, with a soft smile. “And such a lovely dress, did your mommy make it for her?” She asked the boy with a smile. “What’s her name?” He shot another look to his mother before answering.
“She’s called Annabelle, she was my big sister’s. She made the dress before she had to go home to the moon goddess... I miss her.” He said quietly, and I felt Charlie choke back her shock, as the mother began openly weeping on her husband. I didn’t know what to say, I couldn’t understand why Kasa would send a family still grieving. Maybe it was the look on my face, or maybe he as just used to the questions swimming around my mind, but that I couldn’t quite vocalise.
“Osteosarcoma.” The father whispered, and I had to bite back the bile rising in my throat. Typically, Lycan’s were healthy, but occasionally especially with aggressive forms of cancer, even our advanced healing and immune systems were no match. And without their wolves, children were at greater risk of dying, although thankfully, it was even less common than in humans, but it was still devastating.
“We heard...” The mother began, but her voice cracked as she clung to her husband and son.
“We heard you are the niece of the moon goddess?” The man asked, and I knew what he was going to ask before he said it. “Is that true?” He asked, while the woman’s grip on him tightened, and he had to rub her back gently, trying to comfort her, while fighting back tears himself.
“Yes, I am.” Charlie replied, still smiling at the boy, because the sorrow on the parents’ faces was too painful for her.
“Can you bring her back? Or, or ask your aunt to return her to us? Please? We will do anything, give you anything?” The woman begged between sobs. I felt Charlie’s heart breaking for them, and I could tell she was trying her best not to cry.
“Do you know what a soul is?” She asked the boy, he shook his head, still gripping the doll tightly. “It’s what makes you, you.” She explained gently, and the boy looked thoughtful. “Would you like to hear what I was told about your soul, after it’s left your body?” She asked the boy, who looked up at her with furrowed brows. “When you die, your soul goes back to the source of everything, do you know what that means?” She asked, he shook his head to indicate he didn’t while his parents fought back their sobs. “It means your sister is everywhere, all around us, in the stars in the sky, the ground under your feet, even in you, and she always will be. And all she knows is peace and love.” Charlie explained, the boy looked thoughtful for a moment.
“I think she would like to be a star; she was learning their names before she got sick.” He said with a nod that broke his mother, who began wailing against her husband while his face distorted into a mask of pain as he held her. Charlie waved Kathy over.
“Would you like to get a snack with Kathy?” She asked the boy, who looked to his parents for permission, his father nodded, and the boy allowed himself to be led away. Once he was out of earshot Charlie turned to the parents, a tear dropped over her cheek. “I’m so sorry, I wish I had the ability to bring her back.” She tried to explain, but the mother just sobbed harder.
“Please? You’re a goddess, there must be something?” The father begged, I felt his words slice through her like a knife, lost for words.
“We are very sorry for your loss.” I informed them both, as I put my arm around Charlie protectively. The few remaining families, who must have been aware of the couple’s loss looked on forlornly as the mother’s legs went from beneath her in her grief. I signalled Evie, who was nearby, to help the couple to somewhere private, she came up immediately, and gently guided them towards the door.
“Could you ask your aunt to give her a message from us?” The father asked through his tears to Charlie, who nodded probably afraid her voice would fail her. “Could... could you tell her we love and miss her, and we will be with her soon?” He asked, as his wife crumpled, consumed with her sorrow.
“I will.” Charlie whispered, and the man finally carried his wife away, following Evie silently.
“Go with them, make sure he doesn’t collapse.” I linked the scout, before pulling Charlie into my chest, once the couple had left, she began sobbing softly. I saw some of the remaining families looking at her with strange expressions, some with pity, others with distrust, like she had lied to the couple. A man hesitantly left his family, to approach us.
“Please forgive them, they are desperate. Is there really nothing that can be done?” He asked, baring his neck.
“I’m sorry.” I shook my head as another sob made Charlie’s back shudder beneath my hands. The man nodded solemnly, and returned to his wife and children. While I led Charlie away before she could see the heartbroken faces of the remaining families.
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