Chapter Fifty-One – The fatherly advice

Kieran was dead. Attacked in his own home. Anthony couldn’t believe what he was told by the police. He’d been the last one to see Kieran alive during their dinner, and the police had questions. Did he seem worried, had he said anything out of the ordinary, why did they meet. The usual, and Anthony had answered to the best of his ability.

Hours later he found himself sinking down into the comfortable chair in his office, mind working in high gear trying to catch up with everything that had happened since the meeting with Henry and up to that point.

The older man’s words now echoed in his head – had this been what he warned about. Judging by the wounds on Kieran’s body, the police had been kind enough to inform him, it could have looked like an animal attack. But wild animals didn’t attack people in their homes. And the person responsible had been found unconscious not far from him. His blood on hers, several weapons on her body.

But if she hadn’t been there, if they hadn’t found her, if someone hadn’t intervened in the woman’s plan. Anthony hated to think about what that could have sparked. Yet, it was questions he had to ask.

And with Kieran dead, he couldn’t help but worry about Ariel.

Where was she? And did she know?

The police couldn’t disclose on who else had been there, and who had intervened, but he hoped it wasn’t Ariel. Poor girl had suffered enough already. Though she had been right about her friend being alive, he still had questions regarding her mental health.

His phone rang, giving him a distracted from his own thoughts.

**“Hello”** He answered.

**“You found her?”** A male asked.

Anthony sat up; he’d almost forgotten about the call he’d made to his mother earlier. Now his father was calling. Both of his parents were alive and well, all things considering. But it was easier to pretend to outsiders that they weren’t, it was protection.

**“I believe so”** Anthony answered with a small sigh, leaning further back and rubbing his face.

**“You have to be sure”** His father instructed, like Anthony didn’t already know that. It wasn’t like he’d spent 18 years looking for her, ten of them spent believing that she was dead.

**“I know father. But there are more things happening”** Anthony told him. He never shared much of his life and surroundings with his parents, rarely spoke to them to be on the safe side.

**“Tell me what’s bothering you son”** Though they rarely spoke these days his father was supportive, always ready to lend an ear and offer his wisdom.

So, Anthony told his father everything. About the rogue wolf, where it had come from, the fire, the pack, the threats, everything. And his father listened. Listened without interrupting. Though he was in his mid-thirties he could still benefit from the advice of the elder. Which was probably why he was a good politician, and a liked mayor. He didn’t hesitate to ask for advice in matter he knew little to none about.

**“Sounds like you have a war on your hands”** He father said in the end, his voice a little distant, making it sound like he was deep in thought.

**“I’d hate for it to come to that”** Anthony sighed. Though it seemed inventible at this point.

**“Listen son, don’t take lightly on these threats. Don’t underestimate him, and don’t try to reason with him. I don’t know the man, but I know the kind. He blames everyone for his loss, and he will not hesitate to lash out. He will act, and he will not let anyone stay in his way. Make sure he’s the only one who lose. Act, but not too soon. Be patient, and expect the worst” **

**“And get allies in every circle”** Anthony added. He could feel his father smile through the phone.

**“And keep my baby safe. We’ll be there as soon as we can”**

Anthony was about to protest when he heard his mother’s voice in the background. They needed to be here, needed to be sure that they had found her at long last.

**“I’ll do my best”** Anthony promised before exchanging the pleasantries and ending the call.

Anthony didn’t move for the next thirty minutes. Just sat in his chair and let his thoughts connect and turn into a list of things he had to do. Find Ariel, that was one. He believed she was with her father, how else had he learned about the secrets he’d told her, the secrets they had agreed to keep from him? Something had happened beside the incident with Adam, that much he was sure of.

Two, go to the pack house. He’d never been there before, never wanted to. Whenever he and Adam had met, it had always been at the office in the town hall, a safe place. But this time it couldn’t be helped, he had to step foot on the lands, even though it was the last thing he wanted to. Being surrounded by a pack of werewolves, several who had fled from everything they knew, it was a risk. But a risk he had to take.

And third, he had to come up with a plan to keep his sister, his parents, and everyone who lived in town safe from whatever Henry Noye was planning. The older man had always been unpredictable, raging one moment, cold and calculating the next. It was honestly the most terrifying, because he couldn’t predict anything. All he could was listen to his father’s words and prepare for the worst.

He looked at the time. It was the middle of the night, too late to make any calls. Too late to go anywhere. Sleep was the most sensible thing to do, but Anthony felt too restless. He didn’t like what was happening. Didn’t like how one little wolf could turn his world upside down, yet again.

He’d spent years and years trying to track her down. Find the people who had stolen her from them in the first place. And now he was this close, and he couldn’t let himself and his parents down yet again. He had been too late the last time; he wouldn’t be this time.

Sitting in the chair he kept his eyes focused on the window, watching as the sun lowered and rose again without ever setting. Three, four, five. When the clock showed six in the morning he got up from the chair. It was a Saturday, somehow the week had passed in a blur of events. Five days – had it not been more than that?

A quick wash and change of clothes were all it took before he was ready.

Though it might be early, he didn’t care – and he didn’t believe the wolves would either. They were always up early, from his experience, stretching their legs while everyone else was sound asleep.

The walk to the packhouse took him well about an hour, he tried to be as slow as he could. And he didn’t know the many shortcuts, he had to walk the long way round.

Reaching the gate, he was greeted by no one. But he could hear life on the other side, like a camping site bustling to life after a night’s rest.

“Hello!” He called out, knowing full well the wolves would hear him, and smell him.

It took a few moments before the gates opened and a young man popped his head out. His eyes widening when he saw who it was.

“Mr. Mayor – I don’t think we expected you” The young man said politely.

“I have to talk with Mr. Andvari”

“One moment” The young man responded before his eyes got a hazy gloss over them.

“I’ll wait” Anthony shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking around the area. It was secluded, surrounded by trees and bushes. A perfect campsite and hide away from people who didn’t want to be stumbled upon.

“Come in” The young man suddenly said, stepping aside and opening the gate further, letting Anthony step through before closing them again.

He didn’t get many steps inside before Adam came into sight, walking towards him with a brisk look on his face.

“What do you want?” His voice was scruffy, like he’d just woken up.

“I need to talk to you about something” Anthony answered politely, a little wary of all the prying ears and eyes of the camp. So many of the inhabitants were camped outside, making Anthony wonder if they didn’t have room for everyone.

“What about?” Adam asked impatient.

“Is there somewhere we can talk in private?”

Adam shook his head, arms folding over his chest. He didn’t have time for this now. Didn’t have time for whatever it was the mayor needed him for. He had other things to worry about.

“Okay – Talia. Is she here?”

“How do you know?”

“I have my sources. Now, is she?” Anthony folded his arms over his chest. Though he was a good half a head shorter than the Alpha before him, and about half his width, he wasn’t afraid to challenge him.

“You’re looking for me?” Talia came to stand beside Adam, placing a soft hand on his arms. He seemed to soften at her touch, shoulder’s relaxing.

“Yes” Anthony couldn’t say another word. There she was. She was alive and well, from the looks of it at least.

“Why?”

“I have something I need to tell you. The both of you” Anthony answered, still warily about everyone around them.

“Let me guess – you know something about either my family or my heritage or my source of powers that I need to hear” Talia suggested. There was something about him that was familiar. Hidden far far back in his mind, out of reach.

“Well, yes. Is there anywhere we can talk? In private preferably. It’s not that I don’t trust your pack – but some topics are more sensitive than others” Anthony shifted his weight again, feeling like a little kid asking for permission from his parents. It was silly.

“Follow me” Talia turned around and walked back towards the large farmhouse, and Anthony didn’t hesitate to follow after her. His eyes darting back and forth as he looked at all the people gathered on the lawn and everything around them.

Talia led the way into the house, down the hall and down a slight of stairs that lead to the library, where the journals where still scattered around at the table, some still open where they had been left the day before.

“We can talk here” Talia said as she got seated by the table, gesturing for Anthony to take a seat at any other chair available. Adam stayed by the door, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t like this surprise visit one bit.

“Thank you”

Anthony sat on the opposite side of the table, straight across from Talia. One of the journals where open in front of him, and he couldn’t help but glance down. The date was the only thing he registered before the journal was snapped away from him.

“It’s private” Talia explained.

“I understand”

Anthony took a moment to collect himself and his thought. Now that he was here, sitting in front of her, he couldn’t utter a word. He’d practiced what he would say on the walk over, but his mouth was dry now that he was there.

“What did you want to tell me about my family?” Talia asked.

“They’re not your real family” Anthony answered her. It sounded stupid, but it got her attention.

“Go on”

“It’s a long story”

“I have all day – don’t I?” Talia looked to Adam, who shrugged in response.

“Let me start at the beginning then” Anthony took a deep breath.