SWNOVELS Chapter 27: Fated Souls!
They arrived at the Wolf Pack and Johnny went back behind the bar grabbed three glasses and a bottle of whiskey. The bar was pretty much empty, just a ghost staff to take inventory and order more stock if need be. They sat at a table in the corner of the bar, speaking in hushed tones.
“How long will it take to put something together?” Kane asked, taking the glass Johnny handed him.
“Four to five days tops” Kenneth said,
“I want to take care of Carl by Saturday” Kane snarled over his glass
“I need a few days to get more of our boys in guard rotation on the inside, on his block. Another day for the camera feed access. The problem will be keeping him alive long enough. He has a big mouth and has been running it, plus I am not sure you grasp how strong or how far your anger for this low life radiates, it takes every ounce of control for our boys not to snap his pencil neck, let alone the annoyance the other human inmates feel towards him.” Kenneth explained,
“What job does he do at the prison?” Kane asked, he wasn’t really affected by Kenneth’s remark about his anger.
“Laundry”
“Then that is our cover, he ran his mouth one to many times, an inmate snapped and took him out while the guard was on break. Pull the protective detail the day before, citing his imminent release as the reason for no longer needing it and no one will look twice at it” Kane said while taking a drink.
“And this White?” Kenneth pressed,
“News of Carl’s untimely death should cause a ripple effect. Pull the pack into town to keep an eye on the residents, see if we can pinpoint who they might be. They have been communicating for almost three years, his grisly death should rattle a cage.” Kane replied
“And Dax?” Johnny asked, taking a drink.
“I think it’s time she visits the pack house. She’ll be safe there, Kenneth will stay until we have to leave on Saturday for business coming back Sunday morning at the latest.” Kane said taking another drink
“Dax isn’t stupid, she’ll put two and two together?” Johnny questioned him,
“Then if she asks I will tell her the truth, Carl needs to die and it’s my right as her mate to kill him. Besides, I want to turn the fifth floor into a penthouse, maybe even expand into the attic and I could really use an artist’s opinion” He put his empty glass on the table and poured another. Johnny looked at Kenneth, Kane needed to know, before he started making plans for a future he might not get.
“Before you plan your happily ever after, you might want to listen to something first. I asked some of the Elders, if any of them have heard of a strong enough mate bond that can pull each other into their dreams. No one has, but Kenneth might know something, hear him out.” Johnny started. Kane rubbed his jaw and leaned back in his chair and looked at Kenneth.
“I’m all ears!” He said,
“What do you know of the Fated Souls?” Kenneth asked,
“Nothing, never paid attention to that legend bullshit” Kane replied,
“Well you should have, it may pertain to you and Dax” Kenneth retorted,
“Like I said I’m all ears” his attention spiked and he focused on Kenneth.
“We all know the Moon Goddess created werewolves to be guardians to keep the balance, and by doing so to make sure our species does not die off and to reward us for doing our duty, she created a mate for us. She was granted this power by fate, as long as fate got to decide when we met them or if we met them. Fate also wanted to play a hand every now and then. So fate created two souls, written in the stars that were destined to be together for eternity. The legend starts with a saying, One born from light and power, one born from torment and darkness. They had to balance each other. Usually light and power is the female and torment and darkness is male.” Kane carried a skeptical look on his face, but he listened to what Kenneth was saying.
“You were born with untold power, everyone thought it came from Ky, but it doesn’t, it comes from you. Fate gave you Ky, he is the weapon you use to wield that power bringing you into the light. She was born from untold torment, unwanted and unloved and kept in darkness. The legend says, the two souls would face tre trials, testaments to prove themselves worthy of an eternity of happiness together. They would know the second the other was on earth, the soul born of light would spend their days trying to find the other, they need to accept their darkness, the first trial. No other would do, the pull to find each other is far too strong. Some never found each other and wandered the earth alone until death. Due to their respective histories, one good, one bad, earning and reciprocating love for each other was the second trial. This trial was never completed by anyone, it’s more a trial for the soul born of darkness. My family has been tracing this legend as far back as they could, no one has ever made it to the third trial.” Kenneth explained.
“What’s the third trial?” Kane asked, looking from Johnny to Kenneth
“The third trial is overcoming, conquering or preventing a great tragedy.” Kane clenched and unclenched his jaw. He wasn’t sure what to make of this, he wasn’t even sure he believed what they were saying.
“What exactly are you saying?” Kane asked, looking between the two men again.
“When did you first feel the pull to find your mate?” Kenneth asked,
“I don’t know, I was young, my parents thought it was nothing” Kane was growing more and more agitated.
“You were three, when you told me something was missing, you felt empty. Five when you tried to run away because something was wrong, at eight you were already stronger than three Alphas, and your first shift was at ten you said you felt broken.” Johnny said, things were starting to click into place.
“What if everything you felt corresponded to what was happening with her. You and Dax are three years apart, the mate bond wouldn’t let you feel her, but the bond forged by fate the second she came into the world would. She was two when something happened to her adoptive mother and her abuse began” Johnny continued.
“This is total bullshit!” Kane was growing angry.
“No, no, no, it’s making more sense, think about it. The first day you met her, you froze, you couldn’t even talk to her. How many wolves have you seen find their mate and freeze, human or not? None, it’s not in our nature we find, we claim, we mate, we mark that’s how it works. You upset her and Ky trashed the office. Your hell bent on making the scumbag who put her through that hell pay for it and that is definitely not in our nature. It explains the anger you feel towards him and the need for vengeance. It would also explain why she never ran when you told her what you were, unless she was a werewolf herself, that’s not how normal humans encounter werewolves either, she should have bolted, but instead she accepted it, swore a lot and freaked out a bit, but accepted it.” Johnny said,
“You’re saying that Dax and I were created by fate?” Kane growled out, tightening his grip around his glass. Both Kenneth and Johnny slid back from the table. “So not only am I hunting down one low life because of a package that was given to them by another low life I am planning on killing for hurting my mate, that was created for me, not by the Moon Goddess but by fate, but I am also in a battle against fate over our happily ever after.” The glass in his hand shattered and the amber liquid spilled all over the table. A deep growl resonated around the room, and Johnny and Kenneth slid back farther from the table, just in time for Kane to smash his fist into it and shatter it to pieces. Johnny took a sip of the drink he was holding.
“He’s taking this better than expected,” Kenneth said. Johnny grinned then a thought occurred to him.
“Wait, you said it’s usually the female soul that is born of power and light, and the male soul that is born of torment and darkness. Safe to say this has been going on since forever and no fated soul has ever completed the three trials. So fate flipped the script. What if fate gave you a leg up? She’s born from torment and darkness, but not even fate could predict the abuse she would suffer. So fate gave you power in the form of strength and a weapon in the form of Ky. What if fate is getting pissed off? What if the one thing fate wants is for a pair to succeed? What if this is not a battle against fate? But with fate?” He asked, both Kane and Kenneth looked at him.
“That would make sense, given everything we know” Kenneth replied “The hard part is going to be completing the last two trials” Johnny grabbed another bottle of whiskey and a glass for Kane, and Kenneth pulled another table over to them.
“Well Ky, already said he loved her” Johnny was trying not to laugh
“I told her” Kane said “I can see that she does, hell I can feel that she does, but I don’t think she can say that she does” Kane looked at Kenneth his mouth set in a grim line.
“It is not enough to say the words, they have to be said with meaning, and they need to come more from the soul born of darkness. It’s how you know she will accept the light” he said,
“What happens if we don’t complete the trials? There’s a time limit I gather?” Kane asked
“You have till the Blue Moon, that’s four weeks away. If the second trial is not complete, you’ll grow to resent each other and not just hate each other, you both will be hell bent on trying to destroy the other, there will be blood shed. If the trial is complete, then you would need to complete the third, if that trial is not complete by then you both will die.” Kenneth spoke solemnly.
“Well Fuck!” Kane huffed, this was not how he saw his day going. It started off so well. Did you know? No!
“Those were my sentiments. Cheers brother!” Johnny said, taking a big pull of his drink.
“But a tragedy is fate’s department, what if one never happens?” Kane looked at Kenneth.
“One is already brewing,” Kenneth replied. Kane rubbed his jaw, a scowl set on his face.
“Dax can never know!” Both Johnny and Kenneth nodded.
A few hours later the girls were heading back from their shopping trip, and Dax had a knot in the pit of her stomach, she had bought more than she thought she would and her guilt was eating at her. It was only four bags, not including what she purchased at Pam’s adult shop but that came out of her own pocket, Kane did not need to buy her panties. Though she was sure he would enjoy them.
“Why are you still upset? You barely spent anything.” Lacey asked, her tone was a tad harsh, and she missed the flinch Dax made at it.
“You don’t think he’ll be mad do you? I bought more than I said I would and it’s not my money it’s his I don’t deserve to use it.” Dax looked at her. She had bought two pairs of cargo pants and three pairs of leggings, from one store that was having a sale. Then she picked some shirts from another store, a few dresses from a third store that Lacey said looked good on her and a pair of slouch boots from the fourth store. She only bought what was on sale, and in total spent less than $200, but still it was more than she said she would. Lacey tried to get her to spend more money, but it wasn’t her money to spend, she did nothing to earn it. She played with her fingers, while her guilt continued to eat at her.
“Are you kidding? So what if it’s not your money. He’s your mate, he’s supposed to spend money on you, that’s why they have it and Kane has a lot of it.” Lacey huffed at her, what was she not getting about this? Lacey thought. Looking at her she could see how this was upsetting Dax, she stifled her hundredth sigh of the day and added. “If you’re that worried about it, just stand in front of him in some of the new lingerie you bought and he won’t even notice the bill, you should have made him pay for that too by the way.” Marco was in the driver’s seat and when he heard what Lacey said, his eyebrows rose. He muttered something under his breath and shook his head slightly. Dax clutched her hands tightly, she could feel them starting to tremble.
“It’s going to be fine, stop worrying” Lacey griped, rolling her eyes. She just nodded her head, trying to control her breathing, her shaking hands and her heartbeat. She glanced into the rear view mirror and saw the eyes of the driver staring back at her. She quickly looked away and started running her fingers over the scar on her ear. It’ll be fine, I can just take it all back! He won’t have to know! Until he looks at the card statement! It’ll be returned by then! She was trying to focus on what Lacey was saying, but her mind kept turning back to her overspending on Kane’s card.
“I should have bought that other dress as well, it looked really good on me. Everything looks good on me though” Lacey was saying, Dax just nodded, biting her lip.
The closer they got to the warehouse, and Kane the more Dax started to panic. She kept trying to ease her breathing, and control her heartbeat, but her hands shook and her heart felt like it was going to slam out of her chest, she felt like she was spiraling. She traced the scar on her ear over and over again, tears stung her eyes, and she could hear her nightmare laughing in her head. You think you deserve pretty things? You think you deserve anything? Freaks like you don’t deserve anything. You barely deserve the right to breathe. You don’t deserve to exist. YOU ARE NOTHING, AND NOTHINGS DESERVE NOTHING BUT DEATH! An image of his hand swinging at her flashed before her eyes, flinching as she threw herself against the backseat hard and covered her face. Lacey only watched with disgust, as she cowered, her small body shaking.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Lacey barked at her. The anger in her voice only made Dax cower more. Marco watched in horror as his Luna shook uncontrollably in the back seat, trying to keep herself hidden from an unseen attacker.
“Alpha, Luna! Lei ha bisogno di te….NOW!!(She need you)” Marco said through the link.
The boys had arrived back at the warehouse and were waiting around for the girls to show up. Kenneth was wandering around looking at all of Dax’s work.
“She is exceptionally talented,” Kenneth said as he admired a few pieces. “I wouldn’t mind a few of these pieces for my collection” he was passing by a closed door when a very strong feeling passed through him. A shiver ran through his body, and fear gripped him. He looked at the door and held his hand towards it but quickly pulled it back,
“That is not a nice door,” He remarked,
“It’s where she keeps her demons, don’t open it” Johnny warned. Kenneth just nodded and walked on. Kane was sitting at one of the workbenches when a knot started to form in his gut. As time moved forward coldness began to spread through him. He felt his heart quicken and his breathing increase. Something....is....wrong! Ky was starting to panic, pacing in his head.
“Kane?....Kane?” He could hear Johnny calling him, but couldn’t force his mouth to say anything. His skin paled and when a hand flew out of nowhere at him, he threw himself backwards out of the chair as a crippling pain coursed down his back and as fast as it was there it was gone again. Then he heard Marco in his head.
“Luna! Lei ha bisogno di te….NOW!! (She need you)” Kane was on his feet running for the door as fast as he could go.
“KENNETH!” Johnny yelled running right behind him.
Marco slammed on the brakes and the SUV screeched to a halt, inches from Kane, Lacey was already out pointing at the back seat, she had tears in her eyes and looked terrified.
“I don’t know what happened!” She was crying, Johnny grabbed a hold of her and pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. “It was so terrifying!” she whispered in his ear over and over again, shaking her head.
Kane was in the backseat with the door closed behind him before the smell of burnt rubber was out of the air. Dax was huddled in a ball shaking in the far corner of the backseat, her hands covering her face.
“Nothings deserve nothing,” she whispered in an endless loop. Kane slid his hands over hers lifting them from her face. She looked at him, he had never seen so much fear in his life, her eyes were wide and when she focused on him.
“I’m sorry, I spent too much, I’ll take it all back, I’ll take it all back, I’m sorry. Nothings deserve nothing” the words she spoke almost broke him. He grabbed her and crushed her against him, he held her tight as her body shook with fear, while his body raged with anger. Kenneth instructed Marco to go to the bay door of the warehouse and exit the vehicle and leave them be. He bowed and did as he was told.
“No you didn’t baby, no you didn’t. You didn’t spend too much” he said to her.
“But it’s not mine, I don’t deserve it” her voice trembled
“Yes you do. You deserve it, you deserve it all and so much more” he could hear the emotion in his voice, he fought to control it.
“Nothings deserve nothing” she whispered,
“DON’T SAY THAT” he growled control out the window. “Don’t you ever say that, you can’t be nothing when you are everything to me. You are mine and you mean everything to me” tears fell from his eyes “You are not nothing, you are something, you are mine, I love you with everything I have. You deserve everything, I will give you everything, I promise I will give it all to you. Just don’t ever let me hear you call yourself nothing again.” He kissed her forehead, her temple, her cheek wherever he could, he kissed. She gripped his shirt tighter, her body still shaking, he held tighter to her. He couldn’t stay another night here he knew that but he couldn’t leave her here alone either. She’s coming home! Ky demanded.
“Lacey pack her bag, she’s coming with us, then you and Johnny head straight to the pack house, put her things in my room. Have Charles clear the house and the grounds, she doesn’t need to meet the pack like this. Kenneth take the long way back.”
Kane gave his commands and Johnny the keys to his truck, and everyone moved. Johnny was on the phone to Charles telling him to clear the house and the grounds and he had two hours to get it done. Lacey huffed, but begrudgingly walked into the warehouse to pack what she could and Kenneth ordered Marco to take the scenic route to the pack house as soon as they entered the vehicle. The long way would allow time to clear the grounds and the house and hopefully give him the time he needed to calm her down.
“Non ci si può fidare di Lacey con Luna!” (Lacey can’t be trusted with Luna!) Marco was at Kenneth through the link.
“Di cosa stai parlando?” (What are you talking about?) Kenneth asked,
“Non è amica di Luna!” (She is not Luna’s friend!) Marco replied, he glanced in the rearview mirror quickly
“Quello che è successo?” (What happened?) Kenneth pushed him to tell him.
“Lei è una ragazza cazzo di media! Luna era chiaramente turbata dall’uso della carta di Alpha. Lacey ha fatto gioco di lei, poi si arrabbiò. Un atto! Sono un atto! loro non sono reali! Le sue lacrime sono un atto! ” (She is a mean fucking girl! Luna was clearly unsettled about using Alpha’s card. Lacey made fun of her, then got angry. An act! They are an act! They are not real! Her tears are an act!) Marco explained, he did not like Lacey. He did not like Lacey one little bit, and he hated that Lacey was with his Luna.
“Lei non ha nemmeno tentato di aiutarla, solo fottutamente urlare contro di lei!. Nessun amica di Luna! Nessun fottuto amica!” (She didn’t even try to help her, just fucking yell at her. No friend of Luna! No fucking friend!) Marco repeated, Kenneth didn’t need to be a mind reader to figure out how Marco felt about what happened in the back of the SUV.