Chapter 82
John
“But there’s no need.” I heard Hellinia whisper yell. I paid her no more attention, because I assumed she was likely ordering more stuff for my mate’s going away presents…. She’d showed me a few these past two days.
I held onto Heidi, as frail as she felt through our bond. She’d run on nothing but determination for the longest time until now, so full of worry for everyone but herself. She’d been asleep two days now, while I took that time to finally call my father. I’m sure they were worried, and wanted to know if we were ok.
He picked up about the fourth ring, yawning as he did so. “John are you two ok?” He asked sounding more awake with every word.
“Yeah, Heidi is pretty spent, but I feel alright. Herrakken wouldn’t come peacefully… so I had to put him down.” I said pacing in front of the bed.
“…. I assume then you now wear the gauntlets.” He said quietly, and I said nothing on the line. No matter what, that was still my brother… and his son that he’d raised. “Have you extended your claws lately?” He asked, and I shook my head.
“No. I haven’t had a reason too.” I mumbled.
“What I’m suggesting doesn’t even sound possible but…that you aren’t still asleep too… you should be just as spent as Heidi… especially since by now you should have fully realized your power… just do it.” He said likely sitting up in the bed, along with my mother. There were creaks of a mattress, and I could hear my mother’s groan.
I looked at my hand waiting a second… I wasn’t the King’s blood. I am not worthy of anything, if I was, I would have had more power in the In-Between. Those facts did not bother me, because I wasn’t who this power was intended for…. But I did what he said.
I heard the sound of swords coming out their sheath before blacking out.
There were growls of wolfspeach that I didn’t understand… like when I was with Grendel… but whatever he said this time I didn’t make out.
I woke up to my mother screaming my name, and I slowly got myself off the floor. “John! Get up!”
“What?” I asked, I felt like I’d been hit with a ton of bricks, but my claws were still out. They were silver. They reflected back the light like mirrors, and I could see they were about 2 inches long… My eyes were my wolf’s though now there was a red rim around the pupil of my eye while the outside edge was the same brown it’d always been….
“Are you ok? Ron I told you not to ask him that until he got home!” She growled.
“How long was I out?” I asked.
“About 10 minutes.” Mumbled my father a little sheepishly.
“My claws are silver… I actually don’t want this… It will only make trouble, and I intended on returning these to the King immediately.” I said retracting my claws, feeling as if it took everything I had to do so.
“But with them you can protect your pack from all but the Old Ones…. You have a loyal heart. It is why you received the power of the Goddess… she knew you didn’t want it, and if you received it, you wouldn’t change….” He said almost as if he were thinking out loud. “I assume Heidi would be asleep for maybe an hour more. Eat, rest, and both of you come home as soon as you can.” He said sternly. “The king Must hear of this, and I don’t know what he will do…”
“I’ll have to arrange something for Herrakken’s body, but expect us soon.” I said quietly, not mentioning anything about the dragon; I figured he wouldn’t want anyone to know outside the coven.
“I already figured that that would be the case. When you contact the goblins, they will smuggle him home. If you have any goodbyes to say to him, do it now. This will be the last time you see him.” He said sternly.
“I know. All what I’ve said, I said. He’s gone now.” I hung up, packing for the both of us. I was dead tired myself now, and I silently cursed that I’d listened to my father. It was more that I felt like I’d worked out too hard than passing out like my mate. Rahrraam woke up, getting out of her hair, turning into a man so he could speak with me.
“John a word.” Said her familiar. He sounded more serious than usual.
“Go ahead.” I said sitting on the bed while he chose a chair.
“The Master is displeased…. You cheated him a rare wolf’s soul.” He said looking at me sternly. His serpentine eyes were a blazing emerald, though he held no anger… he was hiding his fear.
“Is that why Heidi still sleeps?” I asked and he shook his head.
“The only thing I could do was watch, but at least the mistress did not come with me... She only dreams soundly…. He holds no anger for her, she is his favorite mortal. You on the other hand… I suggest you do not die anytime soon. It will take some time before he forgives you.” He said getting up and patting me roughly on the back before rummaging in my things, finding a pair of pants and a shirt.
“Was my brother meant for hell then?” I asked, and he looked at me as if I was stupid.
“Most who deal with Brutus are… Herrakken broke his blood oath to his king. Those who break blood oaths are His… yet you pleaded he be reborn, something his wife would have to do… something he would not interfere with. It is why he was angry. He wanted to get his claws on him, punish him, and reform him…. Now he may revive with all his memories, but no punishment for his actions…. And my mistress will birth him, having no say if that was what She wanted as well.” He growled. “Heidi sleeps soundly. She has no idea, and it would be wise not to tell her any of this…. I don’t want her getting into trouble by attempting to soothe his anger at you.”
“So, is that where you were?” I asked… I wanted to ask more, but I figured he wouldn’t answer.
“Yes. I awoke in Tartaron, seeing the meat be pulled off my brother’s back while Lady Tiffany screams on the rack.” He said nervously. “He punishes them harshly, but it will only be a few years… You on the other hand. If he gets his hands on you… I doubt you would be able to handle it, since he would feel you should replace Herrakken.” He chuckled dryly.
“You look pretty run down… maybe go get something to eat….” I suggested to change the subject, which he nodded.
“Actually, I believe all of us are. I’ll go get something for the three of us, but I sense we should not linger here. The presence I felt that made me return is getting closer.” He warned as he got up and left without another word.
“Whoa I need answers! Who’s the presence you’re talking about?!” I yelled and the moment he closed the door, my phone rang.
I didn’t recognize the number… so I answered formally.
“Alpha Stone of StoneMoon, how can I help you?” I asked.
“Fine and you?” Asked Alpha Jang, the Sixth Seat. Great…. just great.
“I was until you called. What do You want?” I almost growled, but I didn’t want to wake up my mate.
“Nothing other than genuine concern. You missed tonight’s meeting… and I was wondering what was your progress on Herrakken?” He asked.
“There will be a full report when I return.” I said flatly.
Jang was silent a while. I think I was on mute and he was talking with someone else the same time as our conversation. He probably wanted to know if I’d gotten the gauntlets, or learned something about them that could incriminate him and Brutus. I did, but without anything substantial, I would be wasting my time…. since he was a fugitive, anything Herrakken said couldn’t be used as credible witness accounts….
“Will the missing artifact be coming with you?” He asked. “We could send for an escort.”
I scoffed. “Yeah so I can have my throat slit. I’ll pass. I’m coming with a detail of my own.” I half lied. They wouldn’t be able to tell over the phone, but I wished I did have someone escorting Heidi… I would be fine.
“I insist.” He said as if he were smiling. “Me and my pack would be honored.”
“Jang we both know you want something from me, which would be the gauntlets. I already know you and yours are wriggling snakes, so I will not side with you, nor Brutus. Stop wasting my fucking time, and do not call me again.” I hissed.
I hung up. Now I likely would need an escort because if I didn’t, I don’t think I’d make it home. My father would be asleep right now, but I texted him. We’d talk in the morning, and arrange something, even if it was just Shadows.
My phone rang again, but this time, it was my father. “It’s like they want to end my line… Son I’ll meet you two at the airport personally and fly you back myself.”
“Then that would leave both packs and the Beast Prince unguarded.” I said firmly.
“What am I to do then? Bury both my children?” He growled. “…. At the very least I’ll be the one to pick you up with Garnet.”
“When Heidi wakes up, we’ll leave… I don’t know why but I have a feeling that they Want you to leave the pack.” I said hearing him grunt in agreement.
“I trust your gut… something about this is fishy… Son just be careful…. I Know they called because they’re cocky. They’re up to something…. But I don’t know What. At least for now you are safe in the witches coven… don’t worry about a report, we can talk tomorrow.”
“I’ll go do a patrol right now though just in case.” I mumbled.
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