Book 2 Chapter 5
John
I ran like a happy idiot all the way home in under an hour. I howled and it was responded to well wishes and congratulations. I opened the doors to the Crimson side packhouse, and Derrick fist bumped me after I put on my jeans. “I knew you had it in you squirt, come upstairs, I got some more good news for you.” He said happily, tossing me some soda.
I wondered what it was, but knowing him, he wouldn’t tell me. He was good at keeping secrets. We went up to the Alpha’s floor, which was weird. Alpha Kaiden lived in the other territory he ran; we weren’t allowed up here. It would be…. Really disrespectful. “Hold on, is Alpha here?” I asked him, and I heard chuckles from his office.
“I see he’s very respectful.” Said a male voice. He sounded like an Alpha as well, and I wondered was this part of the ‘surprise’ Assistant Beta was talking about.
I was motioned to sit next to a dark-skinned man and woman… they smelled like me. He was huge, heavier looking than Alpha Kaiden; he had to be a Legendary Alpha of the Old Stories. There were six chairs avalible to sit in on the opposite side of Alpha, and the man patted the seat next to his mate. The woman ran and hugged me around my chest, and I wasn’t quite sure what to do about it. I didn’t want to be rude, but I didn’t want random she wolves touching me. It would hurt Heidi’s feelings, especially since I just admitted my feelings to her.
“My son, it’s been so long.” She cried into my chest, and I patted her back. Her eyes were like mine when she looked up at me. Her wolf’s eyes were emerald green, and she sniffed my scent.
“Um… my parents are Gammas…. Can I help you?” I asked trying not to be rude. The Alpha male looked a little hurt, but he straightened immediately afterward. He looked like he linked someone, and in a flash, my mom and dad were in the room. They bowed their heads as they came in the door, and sat down the opposite side of Alpha Kaiden, but they left a space open for me. Jesse came in quietly as well, and sat in the last seat next to mom, leaving me to sit with the two odd wolves that I could tell were Alphas… but couldn’t sense their power.
“Good…. I need you all to sit down.” Said Kaiden.
I sat the distraught woman down next to her mate, and I was surprised he didn’t chew me apart. Alphas are super possessive about their mates…. maybe he has a calm wolf? I doubt that. Said mine. He is probably holding back from killing us. I know he is the strongest wolf in the room…. he whined in my head.
“John you ever wonder why as a teenager, that you were already stronger than all but the elite ranked wolves?” Said Kaiden leaning back in his chair. I was silent. I was supposed to be. “Do you know why I didn’t give you my family crest? Or do you wonder why I personally trained you myself in combat?” He asked me.
“Yes Alpha.” I told him.
He pointed a clawed finger. “Don’t you wonder why you three are the only ones you’ve ever met that smell like sand?” He asked.
“…. Yes Alpha.” I said looking down momentarily. I frowned. What was he getting at…?
“I’m your real father, son. That’s your mother.” Said the man.
I blinked twice.
These men were not ones who joked or kidded around. If it was Beta Connor or Assistant Beta Derrick, I would have laughed. I would have joked to my heart’s content with them about how absurd they were. But this was not the time nor the place… and I didn’t know what to say. I knew when I smelled his scent he was like me, her too.
“But why… all this…?” I asked silently. My world felt like it was crashing down, but at the same time… I knew. I was stronger than dad by a mile, and I looked nothing like any of my ‘family’.
“Your grace, it was done to hide you from the prying eyes of the court… who wished to kill you.” Said my mom… or adopted mom. She smelled like she was afraid of me. It hurt my heart.
“Mom no, it’s fine.” I tried consoling her and it made it worse.
“My son, they were but servants tasked with protecting you.” Said my real mother a little coldly. I could understand it… I have baby pictures with that woman, so I was taken as a baby. I’m 19 now. How ironic they waited almost two decades for me, only for me not to recognize my own blood.
“But what will become of them?” I asked, patting my adopted mother’s back. She was submissive, like how unranked wolves treated me. I let her sniffle on me, while my real mother had my father comforting her.
“After they return to their jobs, I will give them a home and land in the pack.” Said the Alpha. I nodded. That sounded fine. “You almost weren’t here to see this day son…. You were almost assassinated in your crib the night you were born…. this was the only thing we could think of; let the council think your dead until you were strong enough to defend yourself.” He added and I could understand that too.
“You are John Stone, the Earthen One.” Said my real mother. I had heard tales of the Earth Ones… they could bite you and turn you to sand. He was second only to the King. They are most noted in the story of Jakkal, the Liquid One. He was a blob monster that was only liquid until Alpha Ronitus bit him. It is said he became slow moving mud. He was dried up and put in the deepest part of the Sahara Sands, underground, that he may be forever dry.
“I assume you’ve come to take me then?” I said looking at my adopted parents. They bowed their heads with a nod.
“Not immediately, but we would like to take you and your mate to LapisMoon. You are the Heir to the Second Seat.” He said proudly. I was surprised, but kept my cool. Today I thought I would only be marked a warrior, not given a royal status and title.
My real mother got up walking to me, and I let her hug me again. This time she cradled me, holding my neck, and I sat there allowing it. It was an honor that was taken from her, and as much as I didn’t agree with it, they didn’t have a choice. Anyone else would have screamed and at least threw a chair, but not me. I had too much experience with Heidi. I laughed a little out loud. She taught me patience I never knew I had.
“Son if you would like, you could send for your mate.” Said my real father, but I shook my head.
“No, no that won’t do. I can feel she’s asleep.” I told him with conviction and stretched. “I kind of want to turn in myself. Getting tatted by Alpha and kicking some loser’s ass has me sore.” I said honestly, and I got a soft smile from Alpha Ronitus. I had to get used to all this new information, I felt overloaded. The people I knew my entire life are calling me ‘your grace.’
“May we retire as well, your majesties?” Asked my adopted father, Gamma Xavier to my real father, Alpha Kaiden, and me. They nodded. I had to also agree… and I didn’t like that my father had to ask me permission. It wasn’t right…. It felt wrong.
“You could have left anytime.” My real father said staying seated while the room emptied out. I went downstairs to the third floor and got into my king sized bed. I was just the slightest bit too tall for it, but that didn’t stop me from laying face up and staring at the ceiling.
Anyone else would be giddy and giggling that they were basically a kind of lower prince. I was a lord. I held the power to command any wolf… and they would obey save the royal family. I didn’t like it. I wondered could I refuse it. But that was cause discourse… I growled in frustration.
My life was essentially a lie, but it wasn’t a bad one. I was never treated different, and they never showed me any kind of favoritism. I was grateful for that, and I made it up in my mind I would visit them every so often if I could. I could only assume they would separate me from them so they could bond with me, and be a ‘real family’ now…
“John?” I heard Jesse say quietly and suddenly. “I’ve been standing here like five minutes. I know mom said that I can’t call you your name anymore… but I don’t care. We’re still brother and sister, right?” She asked, looking like she was about to cry. I sat up and let out a heavy sigh.
I got up and hugged my little sister. “Yes Jess, to me you’ll always be my little sis with a big mouth and a hard head.” I chuckled. “Though… things will be different if we move. We might not see each other as much but I will always love you. And what’s this about?”
“I found out after school today. John my parents are servants. They could get punished if I make Alpha Ronitus or Luna Aemi mad and I don’t think your real mom likes us much…. You know me! I’m used to being the daughter of a Gamma! I’m scared.” She admitted to me all at once, and I hugged her tighter. When she was scared or felt alone, I was always there. She didn’t have a mate yet… she was just a smidge too young. Her Harvest Fest run is this year… and she didn’t really make friends easy.
“I’ll talk to Alpha Ronitus about it… I don’t feel right calling him ‘dad’ or ‘father’ yet, but hopefully, he’ll understand.” I told her
She sniffled silently and went into her room; it was next to mine. I wanted to keep consoling her, but if I went into her room now, it might cause her trouble. She was right… my real mom didn’t like them. I didn’t know why, but they were innocent parties, doing what they were told. Anyone in the pack could have done this… to my understanding the High Council Seats have jurisdiction over pretty much every wolf alive.
My head hit my pillow with a loud but soft thud, and I closed my eyes. I needed it to be morning so I could speak with my elders. Before I went anywhere, I needed to make sure that they would be secure.
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