Wolf Pack

Lunch was never so tense, I was afraid, tension and emotion churning in my stomach, I didn’t eat much, and I never heard so much silence at that table, I confess that I hated the feeling of hearing the clinking cutlery, but after the meeting no one dared to pull another topic.

After lunch Lucca and Christopher called Jack to sign some papers and I found myself enjoying Hughes reading a book sitting comfortably in one of the corners of the huge sofa in the living room. One of his ankles rested on the knee of the other leg, his glasses on the tip of his nose, and his back leaning back gave an air of comfort, it was as if that scene of him made me feel at home, and it was even strange how a grandfather I’ve known for a few months already means so much to me. I sat next to him on the edge of the sofa almost as if I didn’t want to disturb his moment, but my presence made him close the book and take off his glasses, staring at me.

“Do you think I’m crazy for even considering that?” I asked my grandfather. He knew that meant englobe on the Forsaken as well.

I thought Hughes would answer me right away, but he turned his head to the side, looked me in the eyes and opened his arm to the side, with the other hand he patted his shoulder twice, calling me to hug him, without even thinking about it I sank into his embrace, he draped his arm over my shoulder and his other hand took one of my hands, he kept circling circles on my arms and hands as he began to speak.

“My granddaughter, I cannot be impartial on this question, I have practically spent half my life fearing and hating this Pack.” His pain was almost tactile when he spoke of it. “But thinking about it now, it wasn’t all the Forsaken, it was just Otto…”

We were both silent for a few seconds, I started to think that this was really true, no other forsaken hit us without being on Otto’s direct order.

“But would you be sad to see your Pack united with his?” My question made Hughes wait a few seconds before answering.

“I trust your judgment my granddaughter, my pack would always be yours, I trust blindly what you and Jack decide.” Hughes said and then he let out a beautiful, wide smile before continuing. “I think you remind me a lot of your mother…”

I turned my face to face him, but he continued before I asked.

“She wanted to save all the Forsaken as soon as she met your father, but then she met Otto, and changed her mind. I think my granddaughter that your heart is very good, and that maybe that kindness and that purity is what the world needs. ” He said smiling at me.

“Can I ask you something private?” I asked because I had something delicate I wanted to ask.

“Sure.” He just replied.

“I saw Mina die when Marcus died, you told me that this is normal to happen, but both you and Otto survived the death of the Soulmeets. Do you know why?”

Hughes sucked in a breath before answering, he settled back on the couch.

“We two are the only cases that are known, no one else survived, only us and the exiles live without the Soulmeets. In the case now, only me…” He corrected himself, Otto’s death was so recent that it was even strange. “Your grandmother died protecting you, Luna, and as I felt the agonizing pain of losing her, I felt the weight of the responsibility to protect you and the love we all felt for you. I felt the injustice of persecuting a child, and I held on to all these feelings while I waited for the pain to pass, the responsibility and the love to protect you were the air in my choking throat, the air that you saw Mina lose. As for Otto, I can’t tell you, but I believe that he was the opposite of me, he clung to rage and revenge. But thinking about it, you were the reason we both survived, even if for completely different reasons.” He was now looking straight ahead, staring at nothing and a small tear formed in the corner of his eye. “The pain of losing her hasn’t gone away, she stays here in the corner, squeezing my heart and every moment of pure happiness I have, this grip reminds me that she’s not here to feel this with me, I’ve gotten used to her absence, now it’s easier than in the beginning, but it never ceases to be difficult. Losing someone is a tender path, even more your Soulmeet, it’s like a piece of my soul is gone and inside my heart there is a hole that never filled. But I never regretted the choice I made to hold on to you to survive, even though it wasn’t a conscious choice, you are the reason I’m alive, and I’m alive today. You made it all worth it.”

After that I could only cry, Hughes rubbed his thumbs on my cheeks wiping away my tears, I crawled into his embrace saying softly into his ear.

“Thanks for being you.”

He held me tight and we stayed there for a few minutes.

After a while Jack came back to the room, he made himself some tea and watched us from afar, and then he stayedher pacing back and forth in the kitchen, and sending a few looks my way. I squeezed Hughes some more and straightened up to get up, he went back to reading his book and I took a few steps to the kitchen. Jack looked up, his green eyes hit me full on and he sighed before saying.

“Want some tea?” I stared back at him for a few seconds, and nodded, but I knew it was his way of starting a conversation.

“It was our first argument, wasn’t it?” I asked as I sat down on the island’s high stool, a little embarrassed by the situation, I confess, it was something new for us.

“It was…” He replied filling my cup and handing it to me. “It’s not usual for us to disagree.”

He rested his elbows on the island and stared at the cup for a few seconds.

“But we’re fine, aren’t we?” I turned to him to ask, he looked up and stared at me with parted lips, almost as if my question surprised him.

“Luna…” He said leaning back and coming towards me, he turned me on the stool so I was facing him, positioned himself between my legs and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. “This was our first discussion, but it certainly won’t be our last. It was a discussion of our work as Alphas, and that should never alter our relationship any more than discussions of our relationship should alter our work.”

Jack now kissed me gently on the forehead, pulled away, stared at me for a few seconds, smiled and kissed me again, now in my lips.

A heavy but necessary chapter. Will Jack relent and at least visit the Forsaken? Is Luna crazy to even consider this?