Northwood

Pulling up to the large stately home Kane groaned, his mother stood outside on the marble landing wearing a rather unimpressed impression on her face. She was annoyed. He knew however that with her arms folded and leaning on one hip she was looking for a fight, a fight he would not give her.

“Wait a minute before getting out,” he instructed Adline as she looked from Myrna then to Kane and back again, they were such an odd family. With a shrug of her shoulders she wiggled her way further in to her seat as if to tell him she wouldn’t be going anywhere.

Kane climbed quickly from the dark coloured vehicle and walked promptly to his mother who scowled fiercely at him. Before Kane reached the lowest step Myrna began yelling, her hands flying in all directions with dramatic flair. She did not look happy at all and Adline found herself wondering what Kane had done to make her so fiery and intense.

The pair looked back at Adline before Kane turned and ran up the stairs through the front door. Adline pulled her seat belt off and pushed open the door with slight annoyance as Myrna stared on at her from her spot.

“Well it took you long enough!” Complained Myrna as she greeted the young woman at the door.

“What happened? Where’s Kane gone?” She couldn’t stop the questions from escaping her lips as many thoughts ran through her mind.

She noted quickly that Myrna looked more than a little stressed and took Adline by the hand and led her through the door gently, “we should speak about this somewhere private.” Adline wanted to be bothered by it and the fact that it felt like a secret was being kept from her but it was not her place to say anything and she had little to no authority.

Myrna walked quickly as the heels of her shoes clicked against the floor as she did so. Adline felt that she had no choice but to go, it seemed more than a little important.

The pair soon arrived at the gaming room and found it empty. Myrna pulled her inside and closed the door locking it behind her.

Looking down at the handle Adline raised a curious brow, “is that necessary?”

“Probably not,” shrugged Myrna quickly, “I just don’t want any nosey bastards walking in or eaves dropping.” To Adline’s surprise the old woman began pacing, it seemed a rather odd thing for her to do, she was always so in control, so stone walled and to see her more or less rattled completely startled Adline.

“What’s the matter?” Asked Addi quickly. She didn’t like the feeling she was getting from the entire situation. Had Kane gotten someone else pregnant? Was Carriere going to start a war with Northwood because of her? So many questions and she didn’t have any answers.

“If you stop interrupting me with your nonsense then I can talk,” snapped Myrna loudly. At the realisation of what she said she felt instant regret, “apologies darling it is just............difficult to talk about.”

Adline couldn’t help but shrug her shoulders and offer a fake smile, what else was she to do?

“With the release of your brothers came news that someone from our past has returned and intends to do harm to this family in the name of Tobias’ father Ambrose.” It now made sense to Adline why Myrna and Kane seemed so upset in their brief discussion.

“How do you know?” Asked Adline innocently, she didn’t know the story to anyone’s past in the Northwood pack and only knew bits and pieces of Kane’s past. But that mostly involved other women which didn’t seem like such a serious topic as what was being discussed at that very minute.

Myrna sighed and took a seat in one of the sofa’s, watching her sink in to the soft cushions Adline couldn’t help but want to comfort her but she didn’t know how and she didn’t see the big deal about it.

“My other son. Luce.” Was all Myrna needed to say and it dawned on the young future Alpha Female that the brother no one talked about was back to seek what was his. She surmised that he wanted what Kane had and by extension that meant she fell in to it somehow.

“So what are we going to do about it?” She asked curiously, fearlessly.

“We?” Repeated Myrna as she stared up at the young woman who seemed to come out of her shell more and more in recent days. To say Myrna was proud would have been an understatement but she admired Adline for her strength, even if it delved in to annoyance and naivety from time to time.

“Yeah we!” Demanded Adline with a serious look on her face, she didn’t know why Myrna was discounting her so easily. “I think you forget I am part of this family too now, I think I deserve a say and I deserve to know what is going to happen!” The instant fire that ignited itself within her was admirable and it took the old lady by surprise to say the least.

As a smirk settled on to the old ladies features she nodded her head slowly and climbed from her seat with great difficulty, “no don’t help me, I’m not decrepit enough for that!” Groaned Myrna as Adline moved to help her. As the old lady straightened herself out she looked at Adline from head to toe and back again. Though she was meek and shy when she first arrived Myrna and many others knew it was because she was scared and all alone. Seeing her now standing before her she wouldn’t have thought Adline was capable of that weeks ago. “Well I don’t know what we are going to do about it yet but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be ready for a fight,” everyone in Northwood needed to know how to fight and despite her advanced years and her love of a secret alcoholic beverage now and then Myrna still knew how to protect herself in both animal and human forms and she wanted to make sure Adline could sufficiently protect herself should anything happen.

“Would it really come to a fight?” Adline questioned curiously. Though she was young she really didn’t want to have to fight anyone else, she’d only just found her brothers and she didn’t want to lose them again even if they planned on heading towards Carriere without her.

“Well we never know. We will have to send a spy in to infiltrate Ambrose and his mongrels but if plans are laid and my son is part of that then who knows?” Myrna was more than a little worried and she sighed deeply before shaking her head. “Luce was always the weak child and as such he was treated poorly by his brother and father which drove him mad,” the old lady reminisced on the past with a shiver. “Back when he was younger I noticed that he would resort to petty actions to get what he wanted. Sometimes he would be dishonest and cowardice if it served his purpose.” She seemed more than a little disappointed as Adline took in the information she was being told.

“So he is a coward?” Adline couldn’t help but ask outright. It seemed that is what Myrna was alluding to but she just didn’t want to say it.

She received a look in return from Myrna that told her more than words ever could, it seemed pained. “He is manipulative and sly and will do whatever it takes to get what and where he wants in life.” She knew she wouldn’t have been surprised if after getting what he wanted out of Ambrose he did away with the man and his children and wife.

“That wouldn’t work here though would it? I mean if it is your son at the heart of this sudden unrest surely he wouldn’t go against his family, you and Kane are the only family you have left.” Of that she was sure, “besides you would all know him and his fighting style so well?” Asked Adline again which seemed to please Myrna greatly.

A slight laugh escaped Myrna’s lips. “Well yes and no.” She began gently, “we knew what his fighting style was like while he was here but I am sure that would have changed by now, and Ambrose would be training him intensively on their tactics and strengths. In saying that however I realise that you have been at battle with Ambrose and his mongrels before. You and your brothers could prove extremely useful in trying to recall what they did and how they did it, that way we would be ready for something!” Myrna was lying to herself, she knew they would and could never be ready for everything Ambrose and his pack of mutts threw at them. It was impossible to predict because they were all so temperamental and jumpy.

“Um if you remember my pack got my assed kicked? Well actually I didn’t even fight! Levaud and the maids removed me from the pack at my parents wish and were ushering me up towards Carriere, I barely saw the fight as I was too busy running from other wolves.” Though the memories were pained and still raw she knew that they could never hurt her again. They were just distant and bad memories and she didn’t want that to happen with others like her or in her position.

“Well that’s true but it doesn’t mean you won’t be of use.” Myrna made it her mission to find Adline something to do, the girl would not sit idle while everyone else suffered around her.

The pair continued chatting late in to the afternoon and early evening as people who tried and failed to enter the games room were shooed away.

By evening a persistent knock sounded at the door, it was quick and would not ease. Myrna tired of it quickly and walked with great purpose towards it ready to yell at whoever it was that had decided to interrupt them.

Turning the lock she pulled the door open quickly and saw Babel standing there, “what is it Frosty?” She scowled at the pregnant woman. It would have been bad for her to yell and berate the young woman so instead she got straight to the point, “were busy in here!”

Just as Myrna was about to slam the door her son appeared from the side along with Adeline’s brothers. “Do you mind? You two have been in there all afternoon, what could you possibly be talking about?” It was clear that Kane was anxious and annoyed and more than a little tired.

“Oh! Well we were just discussing wedding plans of course!” Cried Myrna trying to cover up what they were really doing. She knew very well that Kane didn’t like being left out of any sort of planning but she knew that if it came to wedding talk he wouldn’t want a bar of it. In his opinion it was a woman’s job to plan a wedding, he would just show up in a suit.

“Woah, woah, woah, back the truck up lady!” Ethan stepped forward and in to the room where he could see his little sister. “She aint marrying no one! Especially when they’ve just met!” It was an odd thing for Adline’s brothers to accept. She had found her true mate, something none of them were expecting.

“Keep your panties on princess!” Growled Myrna fiercely.

“I think you need to tell them the truth Myrna.” Called Adline from behind her as she approached.

Myrna rolled her eyes and sighed, “Fine! We were discussing children!” She turned back to Adline and shrugged her shoulders, “happy?”

Her words caused an even bigger stir than the last but it was Kane that answered. “Excuse my mother,” he walked in to the room and took her by the arm, “I do believe she has skipped her medication today.” Leading Myrna out in to the hall way he called back to Babel. “Have someone show Ethan and Nathaniel to their rooms Frosty so they can freshen up for dinner.”

Adline looked at her brothers only to receive questioning stares. To which she shrugged and laughed. What else could she do?