Chapter 10 - Fear

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Kate's pov:
Blake has been beyond restless since we found Alec severely wounded in the woods. The last couple of weeks have contained of nothing but the silence-treatment and severe increase of security around the mansion. We have even reached out to my old pack and most of them are now guarding the tree-line as if we were expecting an imminent attack any given second. I haven't been able to get to Blake through these last couple of weeks. At first I just thought he needed some extra space, but now it's starting to worry me.

Alec's injuries were quite severe we learned. He was brought straight to the operating room where they found several fractures down his back, the most severe one was by his spinal-chord which has caused him what they say is a temporary paralysis. Of course temporary can be anything from a couple of minutes, hours or days to a couple of weeks, months or even years. After two weeks there's still no progress. We're talking about his waist down so otherwise he can move, but his legs are really limiting him.

I've been the one to keep track of his condition because Blake has been busy roaming the woods for his father. I don't know much about his father, but one thing frightens me and that is that I haven't seen him this scared and cautious before. He's so guarded with his facial expressions, especially with the kids. He always seems to keep one eye towards the woods, as if to never turn his back on it. I know he's trying to be protective, but at the same time he could try to be more present with the rest of us and keep us updated on his trail of thoughts.

As for the kids, they seem to connect with each other just fine. Having Ivy who hasn't really grown up in a proper house, all of Damian's electrical tools and play-gadgets are new to her. Everything seemed a little scary at first, but Damian has done a great job trying to teach her everything. He doesn't seem at all bothered by the fact that he got a big sister instead of a little one. I even think I spot Ivy enjoying the fact that her little brother that she has just met, is helping her out with the transition into our home.

- So, is Blake still rambling on with the security-details and the guarding along the tree line?

Alec asks me as I'm sitting on his bed, keeping him companied, because Robbie is being kept busy by Blake. Alec is out of commission for quite a while so Robbie has been forced to compensate.

- Yeah, he is. I just wish he would talk to me at some point...

Alec nods weakly to himself. Looking at him, I can tell he recognizes Blake's behavior even better than I do myself.

- He's trying to keep you safe by keeping you out of his head. I know it feels unfair, and trust me, it is considering you're his, by far, better half, but he's not doing it to be mean or prove a point or anything like that...

- Alec, tell me something I don't already know! I know he's trying to keep me safe and all that, but personally, I'd feel a whole lot safer if I knew what the hell we were up against!

I answer back before he can even finish his sentence. He puts up his hands in comic surrender and I take a deep breath in the realization that I've just taken my own frustration out on Alec. Way to bite his head off, Kate. He's not even the one you're frustrated with. My wolf says to me and I immediately sink my head lower and turn apologetic.

- Sorry about that...

I let out. Alec simple smiles back understanding.

- Hey, I'm just sitting here with no possibility of getting away from it. It's not like I can simply walk away from you when you snap...

Alec answers in his usual manner. He's been far more positive than I imagined possible considering the fact that he might not ever walk again. I guess his personality helps him through what strikes me as his biggest challenge yet.

- Look, what I'm trying to say is, though Blake has two functioning legs and can avoid you when he wants to, I'm pretty sure you're one of the few that can actually corner him up and make him talk to you.

I sigh deeply to myself. I really hope that Alec is right about this. I know from experience what it feels like to be cornered up, but it usually helps. The only escape then is to actually start talking.

- I guess I'll give it a try. If this doesn't work, I'm telling on you to Robbie...

He simply smiles back, even enjoys the thought of it.

- Oh, I totally don't mind that, at all. Tell on me all you want. Whenever he is here we don't get much time to talk because we'd rather spend our precious hours doing unspeakable things to each other.

I immediately shudder at the thought of that, or rather of the image that appears in my head. Alec simply crosses his arms and raises his eyebrows.

- Okay, you know, that was just too much information...


Blake's pov:
- Listen, I've told you this more than once and I'm getting tired of it. I want night-watch all across the tree-line. I am not taking any chances with this pack's safety!

My stand-in Beta hasn't been too fond of my decisions these past couple of weeks. Both he and many of the other guards are insistent on the fact that I'm busy trying to keep ourselves safe from a ghost. The reason why they say that is because I haven't told them that the actual threat may very well be my own father returning from the grave.

- Alpha, we don't even know who or what we are defending ourselves from. How are we going to keep watch out there if we don't know from what?

I sigh deeply to myself as I sit down on my chair. Robbie is standing on my right, listening intently on this ongoing discussion. He hasn't really placed his own personal opinion on the matter. I even suspect that the reason for that is that he'd rather be someplace else. Several times when I've looked over at him, I've spotted him straightening himself up.

- I am not having this conversation again, Beta. I am the Alpha and the head of this pack and you will do as I say. You will have teams of no less than three wolves on each station in those woods and you will make sure that happens, now!

I bark at him as I hear the door open. I'm about to yell at the person for interrupting us, but I hold it back when I see that it's Kate. My stress and frustration lets go if only a little bit and the Beta, along with Robbie, sees this as their chance to get out of the room. I will have it set up, Alpha. The Beta comments through the pack-link as they walk through the door. Robbie stops for a moment by Kate before he disappears and it's just me and Kate left.

- Another woods-patrol meeting?

She asks me as she walks over to where I am standing and places herself right next to me. I'm facing the window directed at the woods with my arms in a cross as she gets to me. After a moment, I put one of my arms around her. I take a deep breath before I answer. I know she's either tired or worried about these meetings still taking place.

- Just like the others, yes...

I hear her sigh deeply and her frustation is radiating through our bond.

- Blake, what the hell is going on?

She retracts a little bit away from my arm and I turn my head towards her. I know she has been feeling left out. Despite of what I've been occupied with, I have sensed that in our link.

- I am just taking some precautions with the pack's safety. Remember we established that as procedure after a potential attack on the pack?

She immediately shakes her head and I'm slightly confused.

- If this was a normal procedure, it would've been over by now and you know it. This security-thing has been going on for over two weeks now. Blake, baby, you're not just taking precautions here. You have doubled up the security around us and even with the people from my old pack, you don't think that's enough. There's something that doesn't add up here and whatever that is, you're not telling me.

I sigh deeply to myself, wondering if I have the strength to go down that road or not. I wonder if I have the strength to tell her about the real danger that is out there. These last four years have brought me nothing but a strength and happiness that I never thought I'd have. I let my guard down and moved on as if there was nothing left in this world to fear except for the 'common' challenges. Now, I have a family: a mate and two kids. Am I scared? You bet I am. I am petrified.

- You're right, I'm not...

I barely manage to answer with a rather distant look in my eyes as I look back towards the windows, my mind just drifting off.

- Blake, please, open up to me. I know you have been avoiding me and Alec...

- ...and avoiding this conversation.

I cut her off as I look over at her again. She looks up at me. She takes a deep breath and I see her chest rising and falling in one swift movement.

- Blake, the only thing that I can tell from the way you've been acting lately, is that we're up against something or someone far more dangerous than what we faced four years ago. Back then you were completely open with me about who we were facing, but now you're not. It seems to me like you're doing everything in your power to keep me out of it. That's not how this relationship works, remember? We are in this together, no matter how dangerous the situation is.

I look down on her for a moment and just beg for that moment to freeze if only for a few seconds. In that moment, all I want is to grab some of that strength that is radiating from her. That strength is the only thing that will help me reveal what I am keeping from her. The danger we are now facing is far more dangerous than Fagan was four years ago. The man we are now facing is a man who is still haunting my dreams and memories of a childhood that was robbed from me. For the last four years I've thought him to be dead, but now he's back to endanger everything that I hold close...

- Blake?

I snap out of my thoughts by the sudden sound of her voice. I turn my head away for a moment before I take a deep breath and face her again. I take that last step towards her, guide her chin up so that our lips can meet.

- It's a part of my past life that I don't talk about too much because of how much it still gets to me...

I hold her face in my hands, and I see her rather sympathetic posure as I kiss her once more.

- ...but I'll do it now, for you.


A/N: Vacation's almost over!!! That should be a thrilling news to you guys! This is just the start of the continuance that I have planned. 10 days of no constant updating has done me good and I'm ready to get back at it! Buckle up, folks!


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