by CR Guiliano
He still wondered where Vann was, and Truin, and wondered if the two of them were together somewhere. He knew Dryden had pushed his longing, and frustration over Vann to the back of his mind, but his mate never forgot them completely.
A gasp to his right made him turn, and he gaped at what he saw. At the edge of the woods, was the loveliest female he’d ever seen. Slight, and willowy, with long black hair, she was accompanied by two tall males, one who was as beautiful as herself, the other slightly shorter, and thicker around, both of them with hair as dark as hers. Arri allowed his senses to expand, and nearly collapsed where he stood when the truth hit him. He should have recognized her.
Standing just a few yards from him…was his mother.
Arri wanted to flee, and never see the female again, his emotions chaotic. But at the same time he wanted to run forward, and demand answers from her. Why did she abandon him? Where had she been all this time? Was she truly abducted as Etham had said, and had her mating bond with Etham actually been severed, causing Etham to wither away, and die? Who were the two males with her, and why was she here now? So many questions, it rendered Arri frozen where he stood. Besides, if he moved from his hidden spot, Dryden would go ballistic at the danger to his mate, and even more so if he knew Arri was pregnant.
He watched mutely as Dryden moved forward, the alpha tall, and intimidating, Kirlane by his side. Talus didn’t follow them, but moved back, so he was positioned between the two groups, and Arri. The two strangers with his mother moved forward as well, guarding her as if they thought Dryden a threat. Well, Arri knew Dryden was definitely a threat, but his mate wouldn’t hurt a female, and certainly not Arri’s mother, no matter how disgusted Dryden was with her. The two males were another matter.
The female, who Arri now knew was Fae, if Breccan, and Etham was to be believed, was looking directly at him, despite him being hidden among the trees. She must have felt him when he’d expanded his senses. It made him uncomfortable, like she could see into his soul. It was the same intense, knowing stare she used to give him as a pup. He didn’t like it, and shut his mind behind a wall. He saw Dryden twitch as his mate was cut off from him, but the big alpha never took his eyes off of the strangers in front of him.
“Why are you here, in my territory?”
Dryden’s voice was low, barely audible where Arri was standing, but the growl in his words was obvious. The female finally looked away from Arri to address the alpha.
“I’m here to pay my respects.”
Memories flooded Arri at the sound of her voice. Afternoons spent with her, as she worked in their small garden. Mornings sitting at the table, while she made breakfast. And nights, nights when he was very small, and she would sing him to sleep. All memories before he was past toddler stage, and both Etham, and his mother started ostracizing him. Arri’s stomach cramped, and he tried to push it all away. He had a new life, a new family, one who loved him unconditionally. A new pack where he was respected, and full of shifters who cared for him. Arri was drawn out of his memories when his alpha growled.
“You would show respect where none is earned.”
“Allisia, we should go.”
Arri’s mother raised her hand, cutting off the taller of the two males, her gaze never leaving Dryden.
“The dead are absolved of all wrongdoing once they leave this life. They begin again, the slate wiped clean. Etham is now at peace.”
“He is absolved of nothing. He never paid for the crimes he committed in this life. I hope his next one is full of the discontent he left in this one.”
Dryden growled again, his voice rising with anger, and Arri was surprised at Dryden cursing Etham’s next life, though it made him warm inside to know his mate cared that much. Arri knew things were going to escalate quickly, though, if he didn’t sooth his mate right now. He opened his mind, allowing Dryden to feel him, letting his alpha know his anger would solve nothing. He wrapped his love around his mate, and saw Dryden’s body relax some. “I am here, my mate. We are together. There is nothing my mother can do to change that, and Etham is gone now.”
Arri watched Dryden take a deep breath, letting it out slowly, his tension along with it. He would know Arri was right. Dryden flicked a quick glance back at him, before focusing his gaze on the strangers again.
“I know who you are. Allisia, Etham’s mate.”
“Untrue!”
Arri was somewhat relieved Dryden didn’t name him as the female’s pup, not in front of strangers. His scrutiny quickly switched to the shorter, thicker male with his mother who had spoken. He was angry, his hands clenched at his side. Arri tilted his head, using his senses to try, and read the male, but was getting nothing. As if the male was an omega wolf. Except, Arri didn’t scent wolf on any of the three. He was different, though. Not as tall as the other male, and neither male as tall as Dryden. He was thick, like a shifter, but the black hair was a rarity among shifters, who had mostly brown to blond, and the occasional red, like Rovyn’s. His eyes were silver, lighter than Arri’s, and his mother’s. There were several wolves in the pack with gray eyes, but none with silver.
“Who are you?”
“I am Alissia’s true familiar, the only familiar she will ever have.”
“Kayal.”
Arri’s mother’s softly spoken word had the male subsiding, but Arri could see he was still angry.
“This is my familiar, Kayal, and my brother, Jenyi. Will you present yourself?”
Arri would have been amused at the way Dryden puffed up, standing at his full height, his duel alpha power leaking out, but he’d had enough of the pleasantries. He walked forward, ignoring Talus’s frown, and made his way to his mate’s side. Dryden immediately tucked him under his arm, pulling him close, into his side.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting some damn answers.”
Dryden’s chuckle in his mind let him know his mate was fine with his need to understand. He could feel Dryden’s confidence in protecting him, which was why his alpha wasn’t upset with him coming out of hiding. Of course, if he knew Arri was carrying his pup, he might not be so accommodating. For now, Arri kept that knowledge buried, away from Dryden’s notice. But, even Arri knew the strangers were an unknown. They were Fae, at least his mother, and her brother were. He wasn’t sure what Kayal was. He took a surreptitious scent, but only smelled the shifters. Even his mother, and her brother had no scent Arri could identify.
“I am Dryden, Alpha of Woodlynn Pack, and East Woodlynn. This is my mate, Arri. My betas, Talus, Kirlane, and Dyne. The enforcers Peyim, Bysud, and Criar. There are sentries around as well. Which still makes me wonder how you got so far into my territory without them seeing you.”
Dryden had pointed to each wolf as he’d named them, but Arri kind of wanted to know how they had gotten past the sentries as well. Except he had more pressing questions. Like, why was his mother even here? Arri didn’t think it was just to pay respects to Etham. And how did she know they would be scattering Etham’s ashes today? The male died a week ago, how had she known he was gone, if the bond had truly been severed? And, if Kayal was her mate, if that’s what a familiar was, what did that make Etham? She’d spent several years with the male in the Border pack, long enough Arri thought Etham was his father.
“Jenyi, and I are able to blend ourselves into any environment, so as to avoid detection. Kayal, I can disguise with my powers.”
“Do you pose a threat to us?” Arri wanted to know, because, frankly, he was tired of standing in the woods, and knew this was going to be a long conversation, and wanted to be able to be more comfortable. He could feel Dryden’s hesitation, but he knew he’d get his way. Dryden never denied Arri anything, though he did get frustrated when it came to any security issues. On occasion, Arri would submit to his overprotective mate’s demands, but only when it suited him. If Dryden knew just how much control Arri had over him, he wasn’t sure his big alpha would be very happy with the fact. But, Arri loved his mate, and woul
dn’t do anything that would upset Dryden too much.
Gray eyes, met gray eyes, and Arri was, once again, struck by how much he looked exactly like his mother. Same eyes, same black hair, same delicate features, they were even the same height. It was as if Arri was a male version of his mother. He’d not noticed such a resemblance when he was younger, but it was blatantly obvious now.
“We are no threat. We only came to see Etham off to the next level of his existence. He once saved my life, and I…owe him for that.”
There was a whole lot more to that simple statement. Arri could feel it. The female was conflicted, and seemed…curious, yet reluctant to reveal more. He was actually surprised he could tell so much, as if his mother couldn’t block her emotions, and mind, like Arri could. “Would you be willing to follow us to the alpha house? I have questions, and you might have some of your own.” Dryden tensed next to him, his arm pulling Arri tighter against him.
“Arri.”
The warning was clear, but Arri had no intention of taking the strangers to Dryden’s alpha house. “Not our home, my mate. Sbrel’s old house.” It was closer, and there was no way Arri would bring strangers near his son. The female in front of him might be Arrden’s grandmother, but he would never expose his son—and Dryden’s heir—to any danger. Arrden was with Rovyn, and Anrean. Ashwin, who had been recently assigned as Alpha Guardian to Arri’s son, was being trained by Rovyn to guard Arrden. Allisia stared at Kayal for a moment, then at Jenyi, then turned back to them.
“We will follow you.”
Sbrel’s alpha house had been abandoned after Dryden had killed Sbrel, and Vann had shot Baston. It was dusty, but serviceable. Arri ignored the memories being there summoned, and made himself useful, getting some of the she-wolves in the area to clean the kitchen, dust the living room, and bring some refreshments. Most of them were friendly, if reserved, possibly a little confused at taking orders from a weak shifter they had once tormented. If they recognized Arri’s mother, they didn’t show it.
Soon, there were drinks, and some finger foods, and everyone was now in the living room. Allisia was sitting on one of the couches, her brother, and mate on either side of her. Dryden was in the recliner opposite, with Arri on is lap, and Dyne nearby behind them. The alpha wouldn’t allow Arri to sit beside him, and Arri didn’t mind the possessiveness his mate was displaying. It soothed the alpha wolf inside his mate, and kept Dryden fairly calm.
Arri made himself comfortable against Dryden’s chest, and stared at the three across from him. “Do you know who I am?” His mother hadn’t laid eyes on him since he was a young pup, but his resemblance to her made it impossible to misconstrue who he was.
“My…my son.”
The timid way in which Allisia said it was interesting, but the shocked look on Kayal’s face was more telling. Seemed he didn’t know his mate had had a pup…or child, or whatever they were called in the Fae world. Allisia grabbed Kayal’s hand, holding it so tight, her delicate fingers were white. “Why don’t you start from the beginning?” Arri wanted the whole story. It would be easier, than him asking question, after question. It didn’t look as if it was going to be easy, the way he could see his mother trembling.
“Twenty, or so years ago, I was with my clan. They…they wished for me to bond to a male I had no interest in. The son of the clan leader. I couldn’t go through with it. Not when I knew Kayal was my true familiar despite him not being Fae, or maybe because of it. We tried to run away, and managed to elude capture long enough for him to claim me.”
Arri could see Kayal rubbing his mother’s back, trying to sooth her, even if the male still seemed puzzled by her words.
“We were found eventually, and brought back to the clan. But it was too late. I was already bonded to Kayal. They imprisoned us, until Kayal found a way for me to escape. I was alone, and vulnerable…and pregnant.”
The gasp from Kayal was no louder than Arri’s. He was staring at the male, realizing he was looking at his father…his real father.
“My cirina.”
Allisia turned to Kayal. Arri could see she was scared, could see tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you when we were reunited. I didn’t want you to hate me.”
Arri wasn’t sure how he felt over the revelation. He was sitting there, staring at both his parents for the very first time. His mind was chaotic, his feelings all over the place. Anger at what had happened to him, and the way his life had been before arriving at Woodlynn, and claiming his mate. Confusion at the knowledge he was the product of a Fae, and whatever Kayal was. Shock that his mother would reveal so much. And, surprisingly, curiosity about all three of the strangers sitting there. He wanted—no needed—to know them. After all, they were his parents, and Jenyi was not only his mother’s brother, but Arri’s uncle.
“Continue.”
Arri squeezed Dryden’s arm wrapped around his waist in gratitude. His alpha would keep things on track, since Arri was beyond articulating what he wanted to know.
“To protect myself, I needed to be bound to another, to keep the clan from finding me, especially since they had Kayal imprisoned, and could use him to locate me. Being bound to someone who is not my familiar suppresses my powers, making it impossible for the clan to detect where I am. When Etham found me, I allowed him to think I was his true mate. There wasn’t anything else I could do.”
“So, he never was your true mate?”
Allisia shook her head at Dryden’s question, but looked regretful. Arri wondered what Etham would have thought, if he’d lived. Arri didn’t like that his mother had manipulated Etham, even if he had no respect for the male. But then, people tended to do what they had to…to survive. Arri had done a few things he wasn’t proud of. And Vann was out there in the world, filled with anguish over what he’d done to save Arri, and his son. Arri wasn’t really in a position to judge her.
“What about him?” Arri pointed at Kayal. “You are bonded to him. How come he couldn’t protect you?”
Allisia glanced at her mate, then back at Arri. “Kayal found a way for me to escape, but not himself, as I said. He was still imprisoned by the clan, and had to suppress his nature, conceal our bond, so he didn’t give me away.”
Suppress his nature? And how could someone conceal a bond? Arri didn’t understand, but didn’t have time to ask, before his mother was speaking again. He needed to remember, so he could find out just what the fates Kayal was. Because whatever species, he was Arri’s father, which meant Arri had no idea what he was, other than Fae, and omega. Dryden’s arms tightened around Arri, letting him know his big mate had caught Arri’s confused, and upsetting thoughts.
“When I gave birth, I knew my clan would eventually find me. But, as I’d hoped, they didn’t approach the wolf pack. We may have magic, but we are not strong enough to take on a pack of shifters. Besides, it’s against Fae law to reveal our existence.”
“What about now? You’ve revealed yourself to my pack.”
Dryden’s question seemed reasonable, but Arri noticed Allisia glancing at both Jenyi, and Kayal, and he wasn’t stupid enough to think they weren’t communicating telepathically, like he could do.
“Tell them.”
Arri flicked his gaze to Jenyi. It was only the second time the male had spoken, and Arri wondered what the male meant.
“Etham. To protect me from the alpha, Etham said we needed to leave the pack. That Sbrel would take me against my will if we stayed. I was worried. Worried about my clan finding us, and troubled about what they would do if they encountered my son.”
Arri noticed Allisia didn’t even look at him when she said she was anxious about him. You could have fooled Arri, with the way the female had acted while he was growing up, and even now, as she avoided his gaze. “If you were so worried about me, why did you treat me so badly, and then abandon me?” Allisia’s trembling turned to shuddering, and Kayal wrapped an arm around her shoulders, glaring at Arri. He didn’t care. He didn’t know the m
ale, and had the right to understand why the people who were supposed to love him, treated him the way they did, and then just…left.
“Etham knew you were not his son. Which is why he treated you accordingly. Most shifters, from what I know, don’t take well to a pup not of their blood. My role in your treatment was to protect you. If I didn’t show my love for you, then the pack would think you meant nothing, and Sbrel would not use you to...to force me to mate with him. The way I treated you kept his attention off of you. And I couldn’t take the risk of my clan getting their hands on you, if I’d taken you with us. You were safer with the pack.”
Safer? Arri didn’t know what to think of her confession, and he wasn’t sure he believed her, not to mention treating him badly, to save herself, was cowardly. But it wasn’t hard to see the tears still lingering in her gray eyes. He tried again, to expand his senses, hoping to understand, but she was blocked from him now. Dryden must have felt his frustration, and disbelief, because he started rubbing Arri’s stomach, and he growled low.
“Finish your story.”
Allisia nodded, but still wouldn’t look at Arri.
“It didn’t take long, after we left the pack, for my clan to find us. They took me, leaving Etham behind. They severed the bond I’d created with Etham, and placed me back in confinement. For years, I was left in that small cell. ‘To think about my mistakes.’ I was told. All I ever thought about was my injustice to Etham, my abandonment of my son, and my longing for Kayal.”
Arri knew all about being imprisoned, and the agony it caused. He’d been there…more than he liked to think about. But that didn’t excuse the way she’d treated him, though he could understand a little more. Being a prisoner tended to bring things into perspective. To have time to reflect, and realize what was most important. To regret past actions, and lament the inability to correct those mistakes. It’s why Arri had forgiven Vann the moment he realized what the male needed to do, and was eternally thankful the alpha guardian had come through for both Arri, and Arrden, not to mention Dryden. Arri focused back on the conversation. Now was not the time to think about his own confinement. It was in the past, where it belonged, best forgotten.