Chapter 192: Grace
My stomach twisted uncomfortably. I used to think this walk was so pretty, but now I hated it. I hated it with every fiber of my being because every time I made this walk, I knew I’d be walking into a battle that I didn’t want to fight or think I even should have to fight. But I would. This wasn’t a choice. Rhys’ people needed us to figure this out... My people needed us to figure this out. We wouldn’t survive if we didn’t. I feared no one would.
Rhys squeezed my hand, and I gave him a small smile. I wasn’t spiraling. I wouldn’t. There was too much at stake. I was sort of proud of myself for that. A few weeks ago, a few months ago, I would have shut down with all this pressure. I might have gone silent before. I might have started to revert back to my old habits. But I was standing strong. Facing my fears. Facing the world head on, even when I didn’t want to. Even when I was scared.
Arlo’s cottage came into view and my heart started hammering. I swear that Rhys could hear it with his stupid special Werewolf hearing. I mean, my own hearing has become so much more sensitive lately. I never used to be able to hear quite so well. Now, I could hear a butterfly flap their wings, and a dove deep in the woods coo. I loved it, but I also found it somewhat disorienting.
We approached, the tension hanging over us like a wet blanket it. I couldn’t help but stiffen as Rhys knocked on the door. Whatever was going to happen, was going to happen. All we could do was hope for the best.
Arlo opened the door and did little to hide the surprise he felt when he saw us.
“Alpha King Rhys, Luna Queen Grace,” He bowed slightly. “I was not expecting you. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
I raised my brow at the formalities. Just days ago, he had been rude to me and Michael. I wasn’t sure if he saw the error of his ways or if he was just trying to be on his best behavior because Rhys was here. Time would tell.
“We came to ask a favor.” Rhys stated in his deep baritone voice that I loved. “May we come in?”
“A favor? What could I possibly do for you?” Arlo questioned in surprise. It was clear that he wasn’t happy with his relegation of several positions within the pack now. But they were all his own fault, and he had to know that.
Rhys, however, ignored the jab and moved on as if it hadn’t happened and moved into the house, not waiting any longer for permission, tugging me along with him. The house looked very much the same as it had the last time we were here, but it was a little messier. The floor had a thin layer of dirt that had been tracked in over time. The table that I had spent most of my lessons was littered with half-drank teacups and half eaten banana and cinnamon plates. Clothes were thrown all over the living room. It looked as though as disgruntled as Arlo had been about what was going on in this pack, it had carried over into his home.
Arlo leaned over the back of one of the kitchen chairs, and Rhys and I both stopped short just a few feet away, barely even inside the kitchen.
“Do you guys want to sit or something?” Arlo asked bitterly, annoyed that we were in his house.
“Have you researched the history of gods before?” Rhys asked, jumping right to what we needed, not waiting for anymore interruptions.
Arlo stumbled back a step as if someone had actually hit him. It was not the reaction that I was expecting from him. He almost looked... scared?
“Why?” Arlo asked once he had his wits about him again.
“The why isn’t really important,” Rhys answered coolly. “It’s sort of a need-to-know basis. So have you studied gods before?’
“When I was in college, I did my dissertation on them.” Arlo answered slowly, giving us each a weird look as if we were aliens or something. “It’s been a while since I’ve really touched on any of that stuff.”
“Do you still have your books on it somewhere?” Rhys asked as he looked around the house. I knew he wouldn’t be above just searching the house and taking the books if it came down to it, but Arlo was a good teacher, when he wasn’t holding a grudge. We really could use him to guide us a little bit, he would hopefully know where to at the very least start.
“Yea,” Arlo stammered. “Yea, somewhere.”
“We would like you to join our evening meeting debrief today,” I told him with a false confidence in my voice. “Bring everything you have on gods.”
“Wait, does this mean I’m back in?” He faltered, looking at Rhys with a look that reeked of hope and desperation.
Rhys nodded toward me, and Arlo’s gave snapped to mine anxiously.
“I am not willing to label it.” I answered, making sure my voice was strong, that I was strong. “Where you are within this pack is completely up to you. You respect me, those kids, everyone who is working hard as hell to make this place safe again, then we will not have a problem. If you choose to not be respectful, continue to think you are above the others, then you choose to fall on your own merit. Your fate is in your hands, Arlo, not mine.”
Arlo swallowed hard. I could tell that he wasn’t sure that he could hold up his end of the bargain, but I could tell he also wanted to try. Finally, he nodded, and I nodded back.
“We’ll see you tonight then. Don’t be late.”
“Is there something specific you are looking for?” Arlo questioned as we turned to leave.
“We want everything you have on the Land of the Gods, and who the hell might have a problem with the Moon Goddess.”
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