SWNOVELS Chapter 74: No Johnny cat!
They walked out of the medical ward with Marcus happily chatting away holding their hands. They made it halfway to the pack house when they ran into the others.
“Wondering where you kidnapped him too, should have figured.” Johnny said, laughing when he saw them. Kenneth held out his hand to Damon, who fished $20 out of his wallet.
“Fuck!” He huffed,
“You no pose to say dat wowd” Marcus looked at him wide eyed,
“I’m allowed, I’m a bigger boy” He said,
“I wan be bigga boy” Marcus huffed,
“È ora di andare a trovare mamma, cosa dici prima? (Time to go see mom, what do you say first?)” Marco said. Marcus turned to Kane and gave him a hug, then he turned to her and gave her a kiss on the right cheek and a hug.
“Bye bewwissima!” He said, Marco’s jaw just dropped, Damon and Johnny just erupted into laughter.
“Hey, hey, hey that’s my mate, not yours” Kane said to him,
“We can sare!” He replied back,
“Little man’s got game” Damon howled,
“Arrivederci bello!” She said back to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Don’t forget dinner is at 6, but you better be there at 5:30” Johnny said to Marco as they were walking away.
“Everyone’s going to dinner tomorrow, you two, Kenneth and Seraphine, Damon and Lydia, Marco, Jackie and the kids, everyone except Carter” Johnny explained after seeing the confused look on Kane’s face. That didn’t make sense to Dax how come Carter wasn’t going, he was family too. She would ask Kane about it later when it was just the two of them.
“Oh good, little man will have more chances to steal your mate” Damon said laughing,
“Tell him who else is going?” Kenneth said, they didn’t have to say anything, the looks of displeasure told him already.
“Mama just wants to make sure she’s eating properly, that’s her grandchild” Johnny said, he understood but it didn’t stop the growl he released. Dax slipped her hand into his, entwining their fingers.
“It’ll be fine” Kane said “But don’t expect me to be nice” he added.
“I don’t think mama has any expectations of anyone being nice, she used a few choice words” Johnny said,
“Did you call her on her language again?” Kane asked laughing,
“She says she’s gonna smack the crap outta me when I get to the house tomorrow, and then I heard dad laughing, so I’m thinking she said a lot more away from the phone” Johnny replied with a grin.
“How was the doctor’s feisty pants?” Damon asked,
“I didn’t hit him!” Dax stated matter of factly,
“I didn’t ask if you did” Damon started laughing,
“She gets discharged tomorrow, and she has to stay out of trouble doctors orders” Kane said,
“I’m not that bad” she huffed when they started laughing
“Carter told the doctor she can’t, trouble just seems to find her” Kane said when he finished laughing only to start up again.
“I would agree with that” Johnny howled,
“Find any body parts in my freezer Johnny?” She asked,
“That’s not funny!” Johnny stopped laughing immediately, only for Kane and Kenneth to howl louder.
“Wait what?” Damon asked,
“When we went to the warehouse she had us open the coffee table, and we pulled out a wooden box. Dumbass here asks her if there’s body parts in it.” Kane was saying, but he started laughing again.
“She tells him no and that’s gross, and then says she keeps hers in the freezer like a normal person. He checked, including the bag of peas.” Kenneth finished for him then cracked up.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You looked?” Damon was laughing,
“They weren’t even open” Kenneth choked out
“It wasn’t funny!” Johnny said again,
“Did he make your brain glow again?” Damon asked,
“No I get to do that tomorrow, that’ll be fun to” She said,
“Why didn’t he do it today?” Kenneth asked,
“She was probably getting tired and hungry and he didn’t want another bedpan thrown at him” Johnny said laughing, moving out of the way when she tried to kick him.
“I did that once” she said, trying to kick him again,
“Actually you did it twice, and it would have been three times if Carter hadn’t taken the third one away from you” Johnny corrected her. This time she did kick him, Damon and Kenneth cracked up laughing.
“Oww! Hey control your little feisty pants” Johnny said to Kane still laughing,
“No, I don’t want shit thrown at me again, I already played that game with her and lost.” Kane said laughing, watching his little mate beat on Johnny, when Dax kicked his legs out from under him and he landed on his back, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride wash over him. Not many people could bring Johnny down.
“Still think it’s funny!” She asked, a triumphant smile on her face.
“Carter has to stop teaching you things” Johnny said from the ground lying on his back, though he was still laughing.
“You’re lucky she didn’t have a napkin dispenser, or Kenneth’s shoe” Damon said laughing, helping Johnny to his feet.
“What else has Carter taught you?” Johnny asked her,
“I’m not telling,” she said with a smile.
“Did Marco get into Magnus’s emails?” Kane asked,
“Yeah, went pretty quick without little man jumping all over him” Damon said,
“And?” Kane asked,
“She was right, someone told him about White and….Carl. Some of it was pretty detailed” Damon looked at her, her skin paled slightly and she was clenching her fist to stop her hand from shaking, to stop from wanting to trace the scar on her ear. She didn’t think about that, she didn’t think about what the emails would say just that there might be emails.
“How long were they corresponding for?” Kane asked, watching her as well as she fought to keep her breathing under control, though he knew her heart was beating wildly and her mind was racing, pulling her in multiple directions.
“Looney toons was trying to convince Magnus for the better part of 8 years, of what Carl was doing, never believed him, thought he was lying.” Kenneth said.
“About 4 or 5 years into their correspondence he sent photos, Magnus called them fakes, so he kept sending them. Finally Looney toons had enough, telling Magnus he was a fool for not believing him and his stupidity would get his angel killed. He said Magnus didn’t deserve the gift he was being given and he would take her away himself. That really set Magnus off” Johnny added,
“When Carl was incarcerated he tried to tell him he was talking to someone else, but guess what? He didn’t believe him, until the fire at the Art Gallery.” Damon continued,
“Let’s set up a timeline of this, and I want to see these emails. We’ll meet in the office after dinner.” Kane said, they all nodded and wandered off.
Dax stood there listening to them speak and she felt a coldness hit her and settle deep inside. As much as she fought to control the shaking of her hands she could feel her hand move against the side of her leg. She fought to control her breathing, but it still felt like the air was ripped out of her lungs. Her thundering heart sounding like his thundering footsteps, it was starting to crash down on her. His arms wrapped around her pulling her close to him.
“I got you baby, I’m right here” He whispered into her ear, she clutched his hand tightly as the feeling swirled around her.
“I didn’t think about what would be in the emails. I-I-I just thought there would be emails” she whispered, he held her tightly letting the wave of fear pass through her. He knew she was abused, but now he would get to see it. Now he would get to see what words couldn’t describe. It’s time to open the box! Her wolf spoke to her. I know Wolfie! We need to figure out my name! You used me for sex, you’re lucky that’s all I’m calling you right now! I said hi, he got excited! You encouraged him! I didn’t say no! You were aggressive! He was really excited! He destroyed my clothes! He really liked the red lace! No more destroying my clothes, if he wants to play no more destroying my clothes! Really?! We share a body, you’re his mate, but he needs to learn some damn control! Deal! Horny wolf! Horny human! She couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face.
“Let’s go get you some dinner” he whispered in her ear after he felt the fear pass through her body, she nodded her head, she was starving.
“I wonder what Margie made for dessert?” She asked,
“Dinner first!” He chuckled as he entwined their fingers and led them towards the house.
As soon as she stepped foot inside, a chorus of cheers rang out. Wolves were coming up to her saying how glad they were to see her, how brave she was, how happy they were that she was ok. Kane left her to get them some dinner, but only after he saw how relaxed and at ease she was around them. She knew some of their names and he had to laugh when she asked if they could wear name tags until she could learn them all. When he got to the dining room she was sitting at a table laughing and conversing with some. Carter was sitting at the table behind her, keeping half an eye on her to make sure she wasn’t getting into too much trouble. When she looked up and saw him standing there, she smiled and said goodbye to the table, they booed, but Carter warned them it was for the best, she gets cranky when she’s hungry.
“I’m not that bad!” She huffed at him causing the occupants of both tables to laugh.
“No, not that bad, aside from hitting people and throwing bedpans at them, you’re not that bad at all.” He countered, causing the tables to laugh again. She narrowed her eyes at him and a smile played on her lips.
“Careful Carter, I could tell them some of the things you said while you were high on tranquilizers” his eyes went wide, his face turning red, he let out a string of curses.
“Sailors would be proud Carter” she said laughing,
“At least I don’t make them blush, Luna!” He countered laughing.
Laughing as she walked away from the tables to join Kane at the head table. He stood and pulled her chair out for her to be seated. This might actually be the first time they have eaten in the dining room with the others since she got here, the excitement could be felt in the air about it. She looked at the plate of food in front of her and her eyes went wide, then she looked at him.
“You’re trying to fill me up, so I don’t have room for dessert” she accused,
“Would it really be a shame if you didn’t get any?” He asked,
“Yes, yes it would, Margie made brownies and fresh salted caramel chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips” she replied,
“Then you better start eating or you won’t get any” she could hear the others at the table stifling their laughter. If they think that’s funny then this will be hilarious! She thought.
“You better be nice to me or you won’t get any either” she put emphasis on any and made sure he understood the meaning behind what she said. His eyebrows rose at the innuendo she just made and the table cracked up laughing.
“Any wat?” She choked on her bite of food she just took when she heard the little voice beside Kane. Her eyes went wide and her head snapped to the right, the laughter got louder as she saw Marcus standing there.
“Any wat Yuna? Wat won Awpah get?” He asked her again,
“Yeah Yuna, what won’t Awpah get?” Kane repeated laughing, he sat back in his chair so Marcus could climb up into his lap. Her cheeks flaming red she glanced at Jackie who mouthed an apology, but they all waited to see what she was going to say. Swallowing her bite of food and taking a deep breath.
“He won’t get any chocolate sauce on his ice cream” she said, trying her hardest to mask the embarrassment she was feeling.
“Aw der pwinkows?” Marcus asked wide eyed,
“Yes, and he won’t get any of those either. He’ll just have to have plain boring ice cream” she said looking at him.
“Yo bedda be good boy. Pwinkows on ice ceam is da best” Marcus said when he turned to look at Kane. She looked up at Jackie who gave her a thumbs up and she went back to eating.
“I guess I better be, I wouldn’t want to miss that now would I” Kane replied back to him, glancing at her as she continued to eat trying not to laugh.
Marcus had made himself comfortable in Kane’s lap and started eating his dinner, even though he had his own plate of food. Kane could hear his brothers complaining about why he got to sit at the head of the table with Alpha and Luna and they had to stay there. The older one Luca even went so far as to say it wasn’t fair that he got to spend the whole day with Alpha. He wasn’t sure what Marco was saying to his child but the look on the little boy’s face said it was good.
“Allora avresti dovuto giocare con Marcus tutto il giorno e avresti potuto passare la giornata con Alpha e Luna così come il resto dei ranghi e possibilmente mangiare a capotavola con loro, ma non l’hai fatto , ora smettila di lamentarti e mangia la tua cena (Well you should have hung out with Marcus all day then and you would have got to spend the day with Alpha and Luna as well as the rest of the ranks and possibly get to eat at the head of the table with them, but you didn’t, now stop complaining and eat your dinner)” The boy just huffed and went back to eating his dinner, but he would look up every now and then to see Marcus very animatedly talking about something. He had the undivided attention of not only Alpha and Luna, but Beta Johnny, Lt. Kenneth, Gamma Damon and Lydia.
“We are going to play cards in the game room after dinner, do you want to join us?” Lydia asked Dax. She didn’t want to go to the office, she didn’t want to face the emails with the details and pictures. She didn’t want to be there when they got an in depth lesson of her history. She had planned to go back to the medical ward, but she didn’t really want to go there either, it was lonely. She looked up from her dinner towards Jackie and Seraphine and they both nodded their heads.
“I don’t know any card games” she said, she made an internal grimace, was that sad that she didn’t know how to play a single card game. Kinda!
“That’s ok, we can teach you” Lydia said, Dax looked again at Jackie and Seraphine who again just nodded.
“Ok, that sounds fun” she agreed, a ripple of excitement surged through her.
“I have to take care of something quickly after supper, can I meet you guys there?” She asked,
“Of course sweetie! This is gonna be fun” Lydia said,
“I come to?” Marcus asked,
“Sorry, but no. You’re with papa” Jackie said to him,
“Fancuwo” he huffed and slumped into Kane’s lap.
“Marcus!!” Jackie exclaimed,
“Wat? Papa say it aww da times wen he mad. Aww da times” Marcus said, looking at his mom.
“Marco!” Jackie yelled at him, he ducked his head to cover his laughing.
“Scusa bella, Non pensavo che sapesse cosa significasse (I didn’t think he knew what it meant)” Marco defended himself, Damon and Johnny howled out with laughter.
“I like this kid!” Kane said laughing.
Dinner done and dessert eaten they were all starting to leave the tables now.
“We’ll meet you in the game room ok?” Lydia asked.
“Sounds good!” Kane was happy to hear she wouldn’t be in the office with them. After seeing her reaction to learning what the emails between Magnus and Looney toons consisted of, he didn’t want her there either.
“Now what do you have to do after dinner?” He asked, coming up behind her as she attempted to wash her dishes in the sink. His hands joined her in the sink and he helped her wash the dishes and dry them. She bit her lip, before she spoke.
“I need the box you brought back from the loft. I don’t know if it will help, but there’s something you need to see” she kept her eyes turned down, she didn’t want him to see the fear that was swirling in them. But he already felt it. He lifted her chin so she would look at him. Wrapping her in his embrace he held her tight to him. If a simple box was causing her this much anxiety, he wondered what was in it. Guess he would find out as soon as he brought it to her and she opened it.
“How come Carter’s not going to dinner tomorrow?” She asked, her question pulling him from his thoughts.
“He was invited, but he politely declined. He’s a rank kinda guy and he’s not a rank so he doesn’t think it’s proper for him to be there.” Kane replied,
“But he’s family” she said,
“It’s just the way he is, he has complete respect for the ranking order.” Kane tried to explain it,
“That’s bullshit, he’s family” she stated, clearly upset by this
“He won’t go because he’s not a rank” Kane repeated,
“Then make him a rank, what was Damon before he took his rightful position?” She asked,
“Head warrior or Delta” Kane replied,
“Then give him that one, has he not proven himself deserving of the position?” She questioned. She had no idea what a Delta did nor could she figure out why this wasn’t already done. Damon moves up, so Carter moves up, everyone goes to family dinner.
“He has!” Kane said, a grin tugging at his lips,
“Then what’s the problem?” She asked looking up at him
“Nothing, I will discuss it with the others” he kissed her forehead.
Just before she walked into the office she could hear the others already there and they were all discussing the box on Kane’s desk, trying to figure out how it opened. She had stayed in the kitchen while Kane went to retrieve the box, building herself up to opening it. It held all her secrets, it was a portal to a life of abuse, it would allow them to not only see it, but feel it. For her it would be reliving the nightmare of her past and she didn’t want to be there when they looked. She would open the box and then get the hell out of the room and go meet the girls for a fun night of cards.
“I don’t think it opens, it looks like a solid block of wood, she’s fucking with us” Damon said,
“The coffee table looked like a solid block of wood as well but it opened” Johnny said,
“If that thing opens I want one” Damon replied,
“Me too!” Agreed Kenneth.
“What would you put in it?” Johnny asked,
“Don’t know, but I want one!” Damon replied,
“Maybe it’s a puzzle, the coffee table was a puzzle” Kenneth said, as he looked more closely at the box. There was no X, no arrow, no signs or indication on how to open the box. Damon knocked on it sounded solid to him.
“It doesn’t open, she’s fucking with us. Probably laughing at us. This is what happens when you tease her. She gives you a chunk of fucking wood and tells you it’s a box and it can be opened, and like a bunch of idiots we all stand here and believe her.” Damon said,
“Or it does open, and you’re the idiot for doubting her.” Johnny laughed,
“You know what, even if it doesn’t open I want one. Stick it on the table in the living room with a note that says open me and see how many try to open it.” Damon replied,
“Now that would be funny,” Johnny agreed.
“Figure it out yet?” Dax asked from the doorway,
“No! You’re fucking with us right? It doesn’t really open” Damon said looking at her.
“It opens, you’re just looking at it wrong,” she replied. Damon turned back to the box.
“What am I supposed to do, stand on my head?” He asked,
“No, but that would be funny to see” Kane sat in his chair, he hadn’t said anything, he just listened to the others. He knew his little mouse, if it was locked away then it was something she didn’t want to see. Like the demon’s in the warehouse, whatever was in this box she didn’t want out. She would open the box, but he would wait to see the contents until she was out of the room. He had a feeling it would be painful for her to see what was in the box.
Dax crossed the room to stand in front of his desk and the others watched on as her little hand felt around the sides of it, then turned the box on its side and felt around the edges again. Turning it over two more times until the box no longer stood flat but started to rock, she pushed down until they heard a click. She laid the box back down and moved the panel on top enough so they could finish opening it and she moved away from it. Kane stood up from his desk and walked her back towards the door.
“I don’t remember drawing the other one” she said, he just nodded. She didn’t remember creating the demons in the warehouse either.
“Go enjoy your card games, I will see you in a little while, and yes I am coming back to the medical ward.” He kissed her lips
“Someone owes me dessert” he whispered low enough for only her to hear. A smile played on her lips, she kissed him one more time before she walked off down the hallway.
“She didn’t want to stay?” Johnny asked, Kane could hear the concern in his tone.
“She doesn’t want to see what’s in the box anymore than she wants to read the emails between Looney toons and Magnus. It would be reliving her past for her. She’s been through it once and she doesn’t need to go through it again.” Kane replied when he crossed back over to the desk. He pulled the panel away from the box and they saw two crudely constructed books. As carefully as he could he pulled one out, he didn’t like the feeling that ripped through him when he touched it. Ky didn’t like it either, he could hear him growling in his head at the book. Placing it on his desk he reached for the other one. The feeling only intensified when he touched it, fighting the urge to pull his hand away from it, he pulled it out. An unintentional low growl escaped him as he placed the book on his desk.
“He doesn’t like them!” Was the only thing he said when he saw the others looking at him.
“What the hell is in them, if they give off that kind of feeling?” Damon asked, looking at the books. He could feel Titan agitated pacing back and forth in his head.
“She is an exceptional artist, her work projects feeling. That being said I am not sure I want to see what’s in them, but at the same time I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop myself from looking either” Kenneth said, Chaz was angry, and Kenneth was fighting back snarls that were coming from him. Only to hear Johnny growl beside him.
“I’m not even going to try and fight it, Diego’s pissed he doesn’t like the books” he said,
“Why do I think brandishing silver bracelets right now would be the best idea?” Damon said,
“Because it might be,” Kenneth replied. Kane couldn’t help but agree, he reached into the top desk drawer and pulled out four for whoever feels they might need one. Johnny arched his eyebrow at them.
“Since that day in the office,” Kane answered his quizzical look.
Kane flipped open the cover of the first book, it was a crude drawing, definitely done by the hand of a small child. The next few pages he flipped through were the same, a scribble of angry black with two red dots. Then they became more detailed, a head and a body, arms, legs, but always two red dots. The next few pages the details came more and more, a sinister smile with pointy teeth, claws for fingers, the red dots even became more detailed. The anger, the hatred the drawings depicted coming from the monster they felt to their core. Johnny was the first one to reach for a silver bracelet and put it on, the more he saw the monster, the angrier the monster became, the angrier he became.
“It’s her monster, drawn over and over again” Kenneth said, he was fighting the urge to silver himself, but he lost the battle and put one on as well.
“What do the numbers at the top mean?” Damon asked, pointing at them.
“I don’t know, maybe every time she saw him, or encountered him” Kane replied flipping through more pages. He flipped to the last two pages and they all stood frozen at the beast they saw. He took up both pages, his body was huge and hunched over, his arms well defined and muscular leading to hands with sharp claws, dripping red. Its stance radiated power, and dominance. The face, hard, set, chiseled jaw, more defined sinister thin lipped smile exposing the same sharp, jagged and gnarly teeth. Red glowing orbs emanating rage, hatred. Long twisted horns coming from its head, her monster in all his terrifying glory. Kane slammed the book closed, he didn’t want to look at it anymore.
“No wonder she doesn’t fear Ky, how could she with a monster like that in her head” Johnny said, scratching at his wrist.
“Ky looks like a puppy compared to that thing” Damon agreed.
They stood for a while collecting themselves, no one saying a word, they still had the other book to look through. Kane went to lift the cover of the second book, he could feel a coldness seep into him as his fingers touched it. Damon’s hand slammed down on it fast and hard. They all stared at him.
“Do we want to see? Do we actually want to look? Two of us are already silvered and we just looked at a monster. Do we actually want to know what’s in this book?” He asked “There’s a reason she didn’t want to be here, there’s a reason she kept them locked up and hidden in a box. I don’t want to know, I don’t want to see.” Damon shook his head and moved away from the desk.
The emails were bad enough, the shame he felt after reading some of what happened to his sister. So many if’s went through his head, if he looked for her, if he bothered to find her, if he wasn’t so afraid of being rejected then he might have been able to save her from some of it. He couldn’t bring himself to see what was in the other book.
“No judgement brother” Kane said as he watched him move to the other side of the room. Kane looked at Johnny and Kenneth, he could see they were struggling with the decision as well.
“Tu ire, ego vado (you go, I go)” Johnny said, and put his hands on the desk, Kenneth just nodded his head.
“Fuck!” Damon had moved back to the desk and pulled on one of the bracelets.
“Open the fucking book!” He said, taking a deep breath.
Opening the cover and staring at the first sketch, it wasn’t a child that drew it. It was detailed and very clear what had happened in the drawing. She was two and was just struck down. Her crumpled little body lay on the floor. He flipped the page, over and over. The sketches were very clear, very detailed outlining the abuse she went through. The older she got the worse it got. Kane could feel himself starting to lose control. It was Damon that slapped the bracelet on him, before he broke.
“Did she draw these?” Johnny asked,
“She said she didn’t remember drawing one of the books” Kane replied,
“Doesn’t mean she didn’t. She didn’t remember drawing the ballerina either, but both Kane and I saw her do it” Damon pointed out.
“She didn’t remember creating the demons either” Kenneth added.
“There’s the numbers again,” Damon said, pointing to the top of the page.
“Maybe it’s a date?” Johnny suggested,
“Not in any format I can understand” Kenneth replied,
“Stop, why does this one have two?” Damon asked. The sketches Kane had stopped on were two very different ones. She was standing at a door, a female’s hand pointing, gesturing for her to go away, the look of rejection on her face. The next one she was pinned to the wall by her neck, a male’s hand grasping around her throat.
“The day she found her incubator and tried to run after she was rejected again, only to be returned to him.” Kane answered,
“What if these correspond to pictures in there?” Johnny asked, “As that book progressed the pictures got more detailed.” Damon took the other book and opened it again trying to see if maybe he was right. He found two monsters that had the same numbers as the other book. One female and one male. The female had a name, Eleanor Beaumont!
“The incubator!” Kane said.
Kane wanted to see the last page of the book, he wanted to see the one that put an end to her abuse. He carefully flipped the pages of the book till they landed on the last few pages. The gift box with the gold bow, the hunting knife, the fight that ended with Carl on top trying to cut the tips of her ears off. He flipped to the very last page, his heart stilled for a moment and his breath caught in his throat. She was lying on the ground as blood pooled around her, the scene of her on the loft floor played behind his eyes as he stared at the picture in front of him. Damon had pulled out his phone and was in the process of doing a search on the incubator’s name. Maybe they could track her down and ask her some questions. Or they could get Marco to do it.
“Oh fuck!” He exclaimed,
“What?” Johnny asked,
“Massacre on the block. A grisly discovery was made in the early morning of Aug 31 2013. The bodies of Eleanor Beaumont, her husband Chad Beaumont and their three children were discovered when a man delivering the newspaper came upon their open front door. The man identified as 35 year old Michael Spruce called out to the family, and when he received no reply he called the police.” Damon read from the article he found.
“Might be a different Eleanor Beaumont” Johnny said,
“Yeah, one that looks exactly like the monster in the picture” Damon turned his phone to show them the picture of her.
“The coroner puts the time of death Aug 30, 2013. The kids were suffocated with a pillow, the husband’s throat was slit and Eleanor Beaumont was bludgeoned and butchered. Investigation still ongoing, no suspects, no leads” Johnny finished reading.
“Somebody killed her after she rejected Dax again?” Kenneth asked,
“No, somebody killed her after she was returned to Carl” Kane answered,
“Looney toons, guess that answers the question if he’s ever killed anyone.” Johnny said.
“Why kill the kids and the husband, why not just her?” Johnny asked,
“He blamed the husband, it’s why his throat was cut. The kids were a mercy killing!” Kenneth said, “He didn’t want to give her the chance to reject them as well. In his eyes he was saving them from a life of pain.” He added.
“That’s fucked up!” Damon said,
“Not if he thinks he was taking care of her, getting revenge on someone that wronged her. I ripped a man to pieces” Kane said, sitting in his chair.
“Yeah, that sick fuck did that to her though, justifiable” Damon said pointing at the book still open to the last page on his desk.
“Staked his head to” Johnny added,
“You staked his head?” Kenneth asked,
“Ky got carried away” Kane replied,
“Still justifiable! He fucking deserved it, hell looking at that book, he got off easy with being ripped to pieces” Damon restated his first opinion scratching at the bracelet on his wrist.
“Stop scratching it” Johnny scolded, scratching his own,
“You stop scratching. It’s itchy!” Damon huffed,
“Both of you stop scratching,” Kane said, resisting the urge to scratch his own wrist.
“How are you not scratching? Don’t you namaste me with your mind over matter bullshit either” Damon asked Kenneth, Johnny started laughing, but stopped and went back to scratching his wrist.
“Press your thumb into the palm of your other hand” Kenneth said,
“Hey, that’s not so bad,” Damon said, listening to his advice.
“Gives you something else to focus on,” Kenneth said. The others listened as well.
“Let’s focus on the timeline,” Kane said, closing both books.
Dax finally walked into the games room and a look of relief washed over her face, when she saw Lydia and the others
“What took you so long sweetie? We thought you changed your mind” Lydia said when she saw her.
“I’ve never been here and got lost. I ended up in the kitchen twice and finally had to ask Margie where the games room was. She sent me with snacks” Dax said, holding up some food.
“Bless you, I’m starving,” Jackie said, taking the bowl of snacks from her.
“You’ve never been here?” Lydia asked,
“No, I know where the kitchen, the garage, the office, the living room and the dining room are, though today was the first day I have actually eaten in it and I have extensive knowledge on the medical ward” she replied, causing the girls to laugh.
“We should have sent that search party for you then” Jackie commented,
“Probably!” Dax replied laughing “I suck at directions, left, left, right, right turns into, left, right, what? Fuck it I’m going this way” she added.
“Oh thank Goddess, I’m not the only one” Seraphine exclaimed, “Trying to get back to Kenneth’s and my room the first night here I got locked in a closet. Good thing he panicked and came looking for me and heard the closet laughing” they all cracked up laughing.
“We’re playing poker, we’ll do a couple rounds on the house so you can get the hang of it, but no innuendos at the table” Jackie said as she dealt the cards, Dax’s face went bright red and she covered it with her free hand.
“I am so sorry I didn’t know he was there or I wouldn’t have said anything” She muffled out, Jackie laughed,
“No worries he’s quick, he was at the table then he wanted to eat with the biggest boy and he was gone.” Jackie said laughing, “His brothers are crazy jealous too, said it wasn’t fair how he got to spend the day with all the big boys. Best day ever for him. Now I have to go buy a frame for that picture you drew him so he can hang it up in his new room.” She added.
“Kane said something about his brothers not wanting to play with him?” Dax asked,
“They don’t, it started off as he was too little, so Marco would take him to the training grounds with him all the time, and he would watch the big boys fight. Now they don’t want to play with him because he’s a little rough. He can’t hurt an adult being 3 and maybe 20 lbs, but he can hurt his brothers real good” Jackie explained, “Now he just wants to be a big boy”
“Poor little guy, he just wants to play with someone” Lydia said,
“He really does, but the last play date we set up for him he pushed the little boy down then got mad because he started to cry. That’s not how the game was supposed to go apparently.” Jackie replied.
They played a few rounds and Dax got the hang of the game, they talked and laughed and told embarrassing stories about themselves.
“Ok you have to have a least one embarrassing story” Jackie said,
“The panty raid this morning?” Lydia asked,
“Wait, what?” Seraphine asked,
“Oh yeah! I forgot about that” Dax said looking at her cards,
“Um….tell!” Jackie said,
“She texted me this morning asking if I could grab two of Alpha Kane’s shirts and a pair of his jeans and some panties out of her top drawer, they were stuck in the medical ward in just towels.” Lydia started explaining “I don’t know why, but now I am kind of wondering why I had to do a panty raid on you.” She asked.
“Last night Wolfie….I don’t know what else to call her. She doesn’t know her name. But we were talking and I asked if she wanted to try and talk to Ky. I told her what Kane told me to do and just focus on who you want to talk to and she used my memory of the first time I met him. I guess it worked, because we woke up naked this morning and they destroyed our clothes.” Dax said,
“What did she say to him?” Seraphine asked wide eyed
“Hi, and he got really excited,” She replied, they all broke out laughing. “I haven’t even figure out how the link works yet, and she’s making fido horny”
“I remember the first time Glory spoke to Alejandro, pretty much ended the same way, except he buried my clothes. He likes to bury things. I slept naked for a month….ten years later he still doesn’t have control over himself and I still sleep naked” Jackie said, causing them all to laugh.
“That’s why you have four kids” Seraphine blurted, then covered her mouth. Jackie broke out laughing, but nodded her head in agreement. That was one of the many reasons they had four kids.
“Titan too, he didn’t bury my clothes but he destroyed them. They were shredded” Lydia said,
“Chaz was very gentle, my clothes came out intact, his not so much. Sia destroyed a $300 shirt and doesn’t regret it.” Seraphine added into the conversation.
“I didn’t even know it was possible and I freaked out when Kane told me what they did and asked for an instruction manual, he laughed at me and said it’s not a shelving unit baby, they don’t come with one.” Dax said, in her best Kane voice, “I told her she has to teach him control or they can’t play together. I can’t have him wrecking my clothes, Kane does that enough already” they all broke out laughing again.
“They like to have sex in human form, more positions, in wolf form it’s just one” Lydia explained to her. Dax could only nod she guessed that made sense.
“The first time I growled, I made him hella horny, and he jumped me” Dax replied “I was aiming for scary”
“Wow! You have good embarrassing stories” Seraphine commented, giggling.
“So you’re trying to wake her up?” Lydia asked,
“She deserves to be awake too and have her body. So far the only way we know that might work is Kane biting me, but there is a risk that my human side won’t accept it, and that would just destroy everything and too many would suffer, so I am trying to find another way. But if it’s the only way then we discussed it and we won’t go through with it, the risk is too great.” She explained,
“What does Alpha Kane say?” Seraphine asked,
“He understands, and says that’s what makes me special and then he tried to jump me but Johnny interrupted” She replied, causing them to laugh.
“Oh sweetie, this must be so overwhelming. You’re handling it like a champ though” Lydia said, through her laughter
“You really are” Jackie agreed,
“It is, but I can either freak the fuck out about it or I can embrace it. I already freaked the fuck out about it, and it didn’t change anything. So I’m going to embrace it” Dax replied, what else could she do?
Dax loved getting to know the girls, hearing their stories and about their lives. They never shied away from any question she asked them and in turn asked her questions. They laughed and talked and told story after story. She asked how Jackie and Marco met. She was working at a diner when he came in and he said one sentence to her and that was it. One sentence and she was hooked, ‘Scusami bella, ma credo che tu sia mio’
“Excuse me, beautiful, but I think you are mine!” Jackie said,
“Aww that’s so sweet!” Seraphine gushed,
“I melted right there into a puddle of goo. I still melt into a puddle of goo when he speaks Italian to me. That’s probably why we have three kids and one on the way.” Jackie said, Seraphine could only giggle.
“The crazy didn’t scare him?” Seraphine asked,
“No matter how many times I went bat shit crazy on him, he would just pull me tight to him and say ‘per sempre e per sempre amore mio’ forever and ever my love. Besides he’s my object burying wacko, crazy doesn’t scare him” Jackie replied.
“Aww, Damon calls me his one thing right” Lydia gushed,
“Kenneth calls me his ‘il mio unico e solo amore.’ I have no idea what that means but I swoon every time he says it” Seraphine added.
“It means my one and only love,” Jackie told her. They all looked at Dax,
“Always and forever” she said, a small blush spreading across her cheeks.
She asked Seraphine how she was settling into the pack house and being in a small town.
“I love it here. The space, the pace, the air.” Seraphine started to say,
“But…..” Dax looked at her, she caught something in her voice,
“I love to dance, I thought I would love being a dancer on stage but you lose who you are somewhere along the way.” Dax looked at Lydia, she caught the same hint of something she did.
“Isn’t the dance studio in town looking for an instructor?” Dax asked Lydia,
“I do believe it is” She replied, Seraphine’s eyes lit up,
“Really?” She asked,
“Really! I could take a look on Monday when I go to work to make double sure,” Lydia offered,
“Oh yes please, that would be amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you” Seraphine squealed, excitedly.
“Ok you’ve been to a family dinner, what happens? Because I am kinda freaking out about it” Jackie asked,
“I don’t really know, I helped Martina in the kitchen for the first part, then I got potatoes thrown at me and wore the gravy, and pretty much spent the other part in Kane’s old bedroom, until I had cake. I do know the boys get to go to the workshop for swear time and drinks and Martina will call you on your language.” Dax replied,
“Really, cause that might be a fucking problem” Jackie said,
“She’ll yell language and you yell sorry. I wasn’t even in the house five minutes before I swore and got called on it” Dax said, nodding her head.
“How come they get swear time? That’s bullshit!” Lydia said.
“They threw potatoes at you?” Seraphine asked, her eyes wide.
“Lacey threw them at Kane and hit me instead.” The mention of her name caused a low growl to be released from Jackie.
“Sorry! But that bitch, pisses me off. You can’t mention her name anywhere in the pack house without setting off a chorus of growls. The fact that she’s still alive pisses a lot of people off. Don’t get me wrong they understand why she’s alive, but it still pisses them off” Jackie said,
“I don’t understand, why?” Dax asked,
“Oh sweetie, she touched Luna in a disrespectful manner and that’s against the law.” Lydia explained,
“But she’s Kane’s sister!” Dax said,
“She’s not Alpha, so it doesn’t matter who she is. The second she put her hand on you she broke the law. No one is allowed to touch you like that.” Seraphine added, Dax sat there staring back at them all.
“Are you sure there’s not an instruction manual, rule book, guide book, youtube video, something, anything?” She asked, they all broke out laughing again.
They were laughing and telling more stories, the conversation never ending seamlessly flowing from one topic to another.
“I’m curious and just have to ask, how does Ky not scare you?” Seraphine asked her. She shivered at the memory of him in the hospital room when he looked at her. The power she felt was terrifying and he wasn’t even angry.
“I grew up with a monster, who did nothing but hurt me. Ky promised me he never would, so I have no reason to fear him. I have heard some stories about him and have heard him be referred to as a hellhound, but he makes me feel safe, he’s my hellhound” she answered,
“My first encounter with Ky, was thankfully my only one, he terrified me” Jackie said. “It was 7 years ago, my old Alpha was a vile man and power hungry. He controlled New York, Marco, his brother and Kenneth were his Beta’s at the time, but he wanted to make his territory larger. The bigger the pack the more powerful they were and there was no bigger pack than the Blood Howlers and with Alpha Kane leading them they were powerful. So he devised this plan and invited Alpha Kane to New York, he thought because he was young he would be easy to take. Even at 17 Alpha Kane had a reputation.” They all listened as Jackie told the story.
“He called on some of the other packs to form alliances to take him down and they agreed. Alpha Kane and Johnny showed up in New York and they were to be given a warm reception later in the evening. Marco’s brother Niccola warned Johnny of the plan that Alpha Luciano devised and that other packs were waiting in the woods. Alpha Luciano killed Niccola for his betrayal, wouldn’t even let Marco bury him, he threw him in the Hudson. That night the drinks were flowing and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, we had constructed a stage, Marco, Kenneth, Johnny and Alpha Kane were standing on it and Alpha Luciano stands up at the podium, saying how this was a special occasion, and they had a special guest he was proud to have on his New York Territory, before he could say his name, Ky ripped his spine out.” Dax’s eyes went wide.
“He jumped off the stage Johnny, Marco and Kenneth right behind them and they took off into the woods, all you could hear was bones snapping, howls of pain and wolves crying out. Then all fell silent, and a deep growl pierced the night, when they exited the woods they were covered head to toe. Alpha Kane moved towards the house telling Johnny he wanted to see the ranks in the office. Johnny takes the podium, and we all stare at him wide eyed, ‘New York belongs to the Howlers now’ he says ‘If you stay, you’re a Howler, if you don’t want to be a Howler get the fuck out of New York’ and he joined Kane in the house. Marco and Kenneth didn’t even hesitate; they pledged their lives to him that night. Kenneth became the lieutenant and Marco became his Beta. We had the ceremony that night and Alpha Kane abolished the rank of Omega, saying the only ranks that mattered were Alpha, Lieutenant, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. Everyone else was a warrior and would be trained as such.” Jackie finished her story as Kane entered the room,
“I wasn’t that bad Jackie,” Kane said with a smile.
“All do respect Alpha Kane, Ky ripped his spine out and you told Johnny he was wrong, he did have a backbone” Jackie replied, with her own smile.
“Yeah! It leaked all over my shoe” Johnny said laughing,
“No one has ever turned their back to him since, and the ones that have, didn’t survive it” Jackie told Dax, she could feel Kane looking at her and a small smile spread across her face.
“Well there’s been one that survived” Kane said,
“Who?” Jackie asked, shocked by this. Dax raised her hand as her smile got bigger
“Me! But the first time I did it I didn’t know what he was and he made me mad, he stood me up. The second time I did it he pissed me off and tried to make me pee on a stick.” She defended herself.
“Goddess girl, you have got to be the bravest little bad ass ever” Jackie said laughing,
“Brave no, fucking crazy yes” she replied, causing them all to laugh.
“What game are they teaching you?” He asked, looking at the stacks of chips in front of her.
“Poker, she’s a quick learner” Seraphine said laughing,
“You taught her poker?” They all nodded, grinning.
“She’s good, took Seraphine out four hands a go, and me out last round.” Lydia said.
This is a game he stands a good chance at winning. I see bunny ears and a tail in her future! Ky said laughing in his head. She can wiggle her nose like a bunny; it would be fitting!
“Let’s see how good you are, little mouse, best 2 out of 3” he pulled a chair up to the table and sat down.
“Ok!” She agreed,
“But let’s raise the stakes” He replied,
“What do you want?” She asked, a grin spread across his face.
“If I win you dress like a bunny for a week and everytime I call you a bunny you have to wiggle your nose.” He said, she was about to protest when he added “And you have to wear a bell”
“You will not put a bell on me!” She huffed,
“You should have been wearing a bell already, keep your feisty little ninja ass outta trouble” Damon said laughing,
“I wanna see her dressed like a bunny,” Johnny agreed, grabbing his own chair to sit. No way in hell he was missing this. Her own smile playing on her lips, if he wants to play that way, then she can play as well. Here kitty kitty! Her wolf howled.
“Fine! If I win, I get brownies and ice cream served on cookies for breakfast for a week.” She said,
“That is no…” he was about to say
“I’m not done, you will serve it with a smile and call me queen….dressed as a kitty and I get to call you Twinkletoes von Fur Foot.” She said Damon and Johnny broke out laughing.
“Wait, what is going on?” Jackie asked,
“They make these bets with each other. Last time Luna won, Alpha Kane had to dress up like a wolf for a week.” Lydia laughed,
“Doesn’t matter who wins, this is going to be entertaining for us” Damon said, Johnny and Kenneth both nodded still laughing.
“Well do we have a deal?” She asked,
“Wait, wait, wait, if he loses he can’t make us dress up” Johnny said,
“He can do whatever he wants” She said, Damon’s face dropped when she said that,
“You better hope I win” Kane said with a grin
“Oh my Goddess, I’m going to call you pretty paws” Lydia exclaimed to Damon.
“We have a deal,” Kane said to her.
“Jackie deals” she said,
“Fine with me, I trust her,” Kane replied. Jackie dealt them two cards each and they placed their bets, he raised and she matched, Jackie laid the flop, then they went into another round of betting. Jackie placed the turn card another round of betting, she called, he rose, she matched and Jackie played the river. They did their final round of betting. She won the first round with two pairs. The next round he won with a flush. They started the third round.
“Getting nervous little mouse?” He asked, looking at his cards as Jackie laid the flop.
“No, I’m just thinking how good brownies are going to taste for breakfast tomorrow morning.” She replied, though she was biting her lip. She was sitting with two queens in her hand, when Jackie laid a queen on the turn she tried to keep a straight face, and her heartbeat steady. She had three of a kind for sure, could be a possible full house if the river went in her favour.
“Are you scared mountain wolf? You’ll make a very pretty kitty” She said, Johnny snickered beside her,
“No! Just thinking how adorable you’ll look dressed as a bunny wiggling your little nose.” He replied chuckling, he had two kings, and he had to admit he was getting a bit nervous. Hello Twinkletoes von Fur Foot! Ky howled in his head. Shut up mutt! Don’t get mad at me, I didn’t tell you to make the deal! When Jackie laid a king down on the river he held back a sigh of relief, he still had a fighting chance, he didn’t want to go to family dinner dressed as a cat.
“All in!” She pushed her chip pile into the middle, “One way or another one of us wins and the other gets to be a pretty kitty” she added with a smile, Johnny and Kenneth cracked up beside her. Now he was getting nervous, he could concede and fold his hand and he loses, or he can play and still possibly lose. Why does he torture himself playing these games with her? Her eyes danced and sparkled as she waited for him to make his move.
“All in!” He pushed his pile to the center. She could hear Johnny praying that Kane would win, he didn’t want to be dressed up as a cat.
“What do you have little mouse?” He asked, she laid her cards down
“Three queens!” Johnny’s face fell. Kane put his head down and Lydia squealed with delight.
“Hello pretty paws!” She said to Damon,
“I’m a pretty secure guy, but that fucking blows, I don’t wanna be a cat” Damon huffed,
“Oh little mouse, you’re gonna make an adorable little bunny” he said when he looked back up with a big grin on his face, he laid down his kings. Her mouth dropped open as she stared at his hand.
“No, that’s bullshit! I don’t wanna be a bunny” she said looking at his cards.
“A deals a deal!” He said, the looks of relief that crossed Kenneth and Damon’s faces made the girls laugh.
“There’s no Johnny cat running around this pack house” Johnny exclaimed, causing the others to howl with laughter. To say he was relieved was an understatement.
Everyone dispersed for the evening, Kane and Dax headed back to the medical ward.
“Did you have fun tonight baby?” He asked as they settled in for the night. They had pushed two of the couches together to give them more room to spread out. It was mostly for him, she usually slept on top of him.
“I did! How did everything go in the office?” She asked, she felt him tense behind her and held her tighter to him.
“I’m glad you weren’t there” was all he said. It was all he had to say, there was a reason she kept the books in the box and the box hidden.
“What did you do with them?” She asked,
“Put them back in the box and closed it up,” he replied. He wasn’t sure how much sleep he was going to get tonight, visions of those sketches danced around in his head, at least they did until she turned in his arms and pressed her lips to his hard and demanding. He matched her demand for demand, want for want. His little mate knew exactly what to do to chase the demons from his mind.