Chapter 275: Rhys
Michael, Iris, Sammy and I watched a movie together, just trying to pass the time. I heard my soldiers talking about how the Red Blood pack was getting closer and closer, but everything was in control. I tried my best to push the worry I felt about my mate away, and all of my closest friends and family. The only comfort I really felt was that Heather was here. She was trying to spend a little time with her kids before we locked them all in a special room in the basement that we had created for all the kids and civilians alike. It was a large hall, with bunk beds, shelves of food, and a bathroom. The vampires had helped us design it. They would hunker down there as well until dark, when they would come help us in the upcoming battle.
The space was new, but I still worried someone like Arlo had told the Red Blood pack that we had built it. I mean we had built so much in a short period of time along with so many other structures, and done our best to keep it under wraps, but the truth was, I had trusted Arlo.
“Any update from Grace?” Michael asked when the movie ended. All three eyes looked at me with hopeful expressions. I might have been with them in the family room, but I had still been paying attention to what was happening in the Red Blood pack.
“Last I heard she was in the middle of something,” I told him honestly.
Kate’s urgent mindlink made me freeze. They had reached the outer level. It was time to move everyone to the shelters we had created. The idea of separating from the kids made me nervous, but it was for the best... The pack needed me to be the Alpha King, and the kids needed me to protect them with everything I have. And as much as I wanted to keep them in my sight, we needed to move.
“Go get your backpacks, guys,” I told them. “It’s about time.”
The girls immediately scrambled to their feet, and I smiled at them slightly. I grabbed Michael’s arm and held him back for a moment.
He looked at me with curiosity and worry, and for a moment I felt bad for worrying him. But I needed to talk to him before things got too crazy.
“Is everything okay?” He asked once the girls were out of sight.
“Listen,” I started, but stopped for a minute. I didn’t know how to have this conversation. It wasn’t one that I ever wanted to have with him at this age, but with everything so uncertain, I knew I needed to.
“What is it?” He pressed as I tried to find the right words to say.
“First, I want you to look after the girls. There will be other adults down there, and they aren’t your responsibility or anything, but keep your eye out for them, okay?”
Michael frowned slightly. “Okay...”
“The other thing is that Sawyer is my next in line... If something was to happen to me tonight, he would be who would take over my reign... However, if something was to happen to both him and I, as of today, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to officially, make you my heir... I have the official adoption papers here... Grace signed them too... We were originally going to wait until all of this was over, and we had all your siblings, but after everything we’ve been through, I thought it was a disservice to you to not know how highly we think of you, and how much you mean to us.”
Michael blinked at me. At 16, he was fairly tall, but he was still a good few inches shorter than I was. His face was staring at me with his features carefully schooled.
“Are you serious?” He asked, and I could hear the emotion in his voice, but my heart still pounded.
“I am.” I answered.
His arms wrapped around my waist, and hugged me so tightly, I actually thought he might break a rib, but I squeezed him back regardless. I knew the transition from the Program to daily life had been hard for him, but I was so proud of how far he had come. He was growing into a special young adult.
“Sorry.” He apologized as he pulled away.
I pulled him back against my chest, and I felt him relax a little. He may have taken on a lot of responsibility in his young life, but I never wanted him to apologize for being a kid or emotional or anything at all.
“Everything okay?” Iris asked as she walked back into the room.
“Yea.” Michael answered as he pulled away. “We were just talking about something important. Do I need to sign something?”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. This would protect him in ways I physically couldn’t. And I trusted my pack, and our world in his hands.
“Sammy, come on,” I called out as Michael scribbled his signature on the single empty line.
“Uh, Uncle Rhys?” She called out, and I could hear the panic in her voice.
I didn’t hesitate. I raced toward the room my twin had occupied for most of his life.
“What is it?” I demanded as I threw open the door, Michael and Iris hot on my heels.
“There’s a woman in my room.” She answered, slowly backing up toward the exit.
I immediately shoved Sammy behind me and stared at the woman in front of me. But it wasn’t the stranger I was expecting. I stared at the woman. She wasn’t real... That much was obvious. At least not in the physical sense. She was nothing but air. A ghost looking a little too real. But she looked just like her daughter. It was so obvious, it was like I was looking into my future.
“What are you doing here?” I asked when I finally found my voice.
“Protecting my daughter.”
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