Fate Stained - Part Two

“What you’re asking is—”

“It’s what needs to be done. For as long as those men are alive…the women of Point Invictus might as well be dead. That’s one of the reasons I came here”

Fern turned her attention to Jayce, a pleading look in her eyes.

“Alpha Jayce. I know what your stance is with this kind of thing and I know, from what I’ve heard, that you’ve had your own battles with your wolf in the past - but my father’s beliefs and doings aren’t as a result of an out of control wolf. It’s his human that is toxic”

Jayce sighed and sat back in his chair. Part of me hated Fern for putting my mate in this position. What she was asking was huge and could be seen as a declaration of war to other packs. A wolf pack that was aligned with panthers, with a tribrid for a Luna…taking out the Alpha and heirs to another wolf pack…It could all be extremely damaging to Fern Creek. But…but, there was another part of me that wanted those poor excuses for men as dead as she did. Fern was right, for as long as they were alive - the women of her pack might as well have been dead.

“I’ll do it. If Jayce doesn’t, then I will”

Oh, Flynn…

“Flynn, I’d never ask you to do that for me”

“I know. I’d do it anyway. You’re not safe until they’re all dead. So I will kill them”

Jayce cleared his throat and looked to my brother.

“I understand your stance Flynn, I really do. But this is something that needs to be discussed. It’s a decision that affects the whole pack—”

“I won’t do it on behalf of the pack. I’ll do it on behalf of me…and my mate”

Jayce opened his mouth to argue again but I placed my hand gently on his shoulder.

Shhh. Just leave it for now, you’re not going to change his mind here. Not while he’s this riled up.

Fine. But the discussion will be had.

Agreed. Just not right now.

“Fern” I said, breaking the tension that hung in the air, “how long until you think you father will show up? How long do we have?”

The petite woman sighed and looked down at her hands.

“To be honest, I’m surprised he’s not here already. He knows my birthday is soon. There is no way he would risk taking me on after my first shift”

“Why?” Flynn asked, “you said yourself, he is dangerous, ruthless…as are your brothers. Why would they be scared of you?”

Fern chewed on her lip and turned to me and once again I felt the wave of power that emanated from her.

“You have the Alpha gene” I breathed, “You have the Alpha gene and your brothers don’t. That’s why your father lost it the way he did when you chose another mate. Another pack would have paid a very nice price for their heir to be mated with a female wolf that holds the Alpha gene. The heir you would produce would have insane power”

Both Flynn and Jayce tensed at my accusation and now all eyes were on Fern to tell me I was wrong. But her face was not one of shock - her expression remained impartial, blank - and I knew I was on the money.

“Fern. Is this true?” Flynn asked.

She nodded her head, her bottom lip quivering. Silence once again filled the air. I knew it. I’d known since I’d first been in Fern’s presence that she was different, special, strong.

“It’s true. It was something my parents tried to keep from me but Oliver…my chosen mate…he knew it from the very beginning and told me. I didn’t believe him at first but the older I got, the more obvious it was. Other pack members, especially the females would already bend to my will and would do what I told them to. My father hated it and wanted me gone”

“So they sold you off to the highest bidder” Jayce growled.

Fern nodded her head and looked across the table to Flynn.

“I was promised to the Northern Waters pack. If their heir, Vincent, hadn’t found his fated mate by his twenty fifth birthday then I was to be mated to him. His birthday falls the week after my twentieth but I know my father’s intention was to have me living at Northern Waters by then to make sure I didn’t…stray”

“To make sure Vincent was happy with his future Luna more like it” Flynn hissed.

“And to make sure nothing more permanent happened between you and Oliver” Jayce added, “like a mating or worse, a pregnancy”

“So what’s this heir, Vincent, like?” I asked.

I knew a little about the Northern Waters pack. They weren’t fond of the idea of wolf packs merging or even being friendly with other shifters and they certainly didn’t approve of a tribrid being a Luna - heaven forbid a Queen of all shifters. But just because that was their Alpha’s opinion, didn’t mean it was the opinion of his heir or the rest of the pack.

“Actually, he’s not half bad. I’ve known him since I was a pup and Oliver knew him too. Vincent has a girlfriend and I know that if it wasn’t for this deal with my pack that he would make her his Luna. He loves her, it’s easy to see, but he would never do anything that his father didn’t agree with”

Jayce nodded, rubbing his jaw.

“Alpha Enzo is all about strengthening his pack. If his heir mates with a she-wolf with the Alpha gene then it doesn’t get much stronger than that. How do you think Vincent will react to what is happening now?”

“Does it matter? Fern asked, “My father and Alpha Enzo hold the only opinions that count. Even if one of my brothers was was on my side it still wouldn’t matter. The buck stops with the Alpha, it always has”

“What if it didn’t have to?”

All eyes turned to Flynn as he sat opposite Fern. His blue eyes stared ahead in a brief moment of silent contemplation before he spoke again.

“Maybe there is a way we can speak to Vincent away from his father. If he really loves this other woman, like Fern says, then I’m sure he would be open to hearing us out. Fern isn’t going, it’s as simple as that - and Northern Waters can either side with us or with Point Invictus”

Flynn was right. If Vincent was in love already then it would be a miserable existence for him to get rid of his current partner and mate with Fern, just for the sake of the pack and his daddy dearest. If we could somehow get Vincent to side with us then we might be able to prevent Northern Waters from storming us alongside Point Invictus.

“It’s a good idea” Jayce said, looking to me.

I nodded my head.

“I agree. One wolf pack we can take - especially once their Alpha is out of action. But two…two could prove dangerous”

Fern’s eyes lit up a little and for the first time since we’d been sitting at this table she seemed to have a little hope etched back into her features.

“Leave it with me. I’ll speak with Cameron and arrange a meeting with Vincent. For now we need to prepare for the worst though. This is not a time for complacency”

Flynn POV

The rest of the meeting went by in a blur. I didn’t really listen to the back and forth between my sister and the Alpha, I was too fixated on the ethereal beauty in front of me.

Every now and then Quinn would ask my opinion on something and I would just agree with her. My mind was distracted, clouded. Fern, who’d been listening intently to the conversation initially had now found herself in the same little bubble as me. Her eyes were glazed over and she stared blankly into the abyss, until, every now and then, her eyes would meet with mine.

“—Flynn…Flynn, are you even listening?”

Jayce’s annoyed tone snapped my out of my daze and I dragged my eyes from Fern, turning my body to the side and giving the Alpha my undivided attention.

“Sorry. What were you saying?” I asked.

“I was saying I should ask your father to come stay in Fern’s house until all this is over. For protection”

What? No. She is our mate! We protect our mate.

“No. That won’t be necessary” I answered flatly.

“What? Well she can’t be on her own at the moment” my sister jumped in. Her eyes caught a glimmer in mine and she instantly clicked on to what I was thinking. “Oh”

“Am I missing something?” Jayce asked.

Quinn sighed, “Flynn is going to move in”

My eyes darted across the table to Fern in time to see her’s widen. The stunning redhead, with curls I longed to run my fingers through, chewed on her bottom lip and I had to prevent myself from growling out loud.

Down Pieter.

“If that’s ok with you?” I asked quietly.

Fern fidgeted in her seat and I could tell she was uncomfortable. I needed to get her alone, I needed to speak to her and let her know how I felt and the progress I’d made with my animal and how I was the only one that could keep her safe - it needed to be me.

Quinn. Can you give us some space?

Quinn’s eyes widened at my mind link and she sat up straight, her cheeks blushing.

Oh Goddess! I’m so sorry, of course! We shouldn’t have even stayed this long. Hint taken. Loud and clear!

Quinn’s hand softly rested on Jayce’s shoulder and after a second of silence he nodded and they both rose from the table.

“My Luna and I will continue this conversation back at the pack house. It seems you two have some things to discuss anyway”

Fern smiled sheepishly and moved to stand.

“No. You stay, we’ll see ourselves out” Quinn answered, then shot me a look.

Keep your cool and make sure Pieter keeps his. You’ve got this.

Then they were gone.

Suddenly the room seemed…quiet, very quiet. Fern cleared her throat nervously, her long fingers drumming on the wood surface of the table. After a couple of moments I let my gaze slowly move passed my water glass and to Fern as she sat opposite me. She was already staring at me. Fuck.

But her eyes didn’t avert, instead they held mine in place - daring me to look away first.

“It’s ok with me” she whispered.

“What is?”

“If you move in”

I swallowed dryly.

“Ok. Good”

More silence. I cleared my throat and sighed.

“Why is this so—”

“—awkward?” Fern finished

I laughed and nodded.

“Yes”

“Maybe because we are trying so hard not to make it awkward. I’ve seen you, out in the compound with other people. You’re carefree and fun…but whenever you’re near me you’re…not”

I opened my mouth to speak but Fern quickly continued what she was saying.

“—I mean, I get it! I know why you’re not relaxed around me but I’ve heard you’re doing really well with Moira. So maybe, I don’t know, maybe you could try to relax around me”

Aghhh. Goddess.

Sighing again I looked to Fern. Her dazzling hazel eyes stared back at me and she gave a little shrug as the corner of her lip lifted slightly. If only she knew. If only she knew that when around her I’d never been more relaxed in my whole life. I’d found an inner peace that I never knew possible, I’d found a purpose, a meaning. It’s was like one look from her, one smile, lifted my whole being to a higher plane and for a moment I was normal, happy, needed.

But then there was the other side of me. The side that was on fire, burning with the heat of a thousand suns. The side of me that had all my nerve endings screaming and firing shots of electricity into my body until the thought of lying still and being even slightly relaxed seemed like a ludicrous and distant dream.

This woman in front of me, the red curls, the milky white skin, the gorgeous freckles, the plump pink lips…she was the reason for all of this and, quite honestly, I loved her for it and how alive she made me feel - because, for the last seventeen years I’d been dead.

I reached across the table and, with the most gentle and soft movement, took Fern’s hand in my own. Her breath hitched in her throat and she stared down at our hands, letting my fingers weave effortlessly between hers.

“What are you doing?” She breathed.

“Trying”