Nix’s POV
After getting home, I made myself a birthday cake to celebrate my birthday. I think more tears went into it than anything else. I plan on eating it after I have finished my chores. ‘The farm won’t tend to itself’ was the phrase mom would use.
I sat there and reminisced about my past birthday’s, what we would have done this evening. It was not very exciting compared to what other kids my age do. But I was grateful and happy. I don’t need flashy items or fancy clothes. She always said I deserved more than she could give. But all I wanted was her love. I got that in abundance.
She was my everything and I was hers. She would make a tremendous effort every year on my birthday to tell me that I was the best thing that ever happened to her. Her life wasn’t complete until I came into it.
All I could do was sit there, tears streaming down my face, thinking of her expression, her smile and her comforting embraces. I missed her so much. I haven’t even been in her bedroom since that day. I can’t bring myself to go in. At least I can imagine she is there sleeping. Which is better than my reality, which depresses me.
I was washing the dishes, when I thought I heard a knock at the door. But no one ever comes here, even the mail carriers don’t come this far. So, I think I imagined it. That is until I heard it again. Someone actually was actually knocking at the door. I dried my hands and eyes before answering.
“Hi,” I said to the coach standing on my porch. Extremely confused by what he was doing here.
“Hi Nix, I came to check on you. The principal went a bit overboard today, so I wanted to check your mom wasn’t giving you such a hard time. Is she home?” He says, trying to peer over my shoulder.
I closed the door behind me. “She is resting at the moment. It’s hard work managing the farm on our own.” I nodded, gesturing to the farmland outside.
“That’s a shame. I was quite interested in what happened today. I am curious as to where you are both from?”
“We have lived here my entire life. I am not disturbing her for rest, to ask her that.”
“No problem, Nix. I was just interested. My name is Reed. By the way, I work with the Council. I usually work within the pack schools. Check if they are teaching the kids properly.”
“The council? Like the town council?” I asked him. I know which council he is on about, but I am not letting on.
He smirks, “No, the Wolf Council.”
I looked at him skeptically. “What are you doing here, then?” I asked him.
“There have been reports of rogues near these parts.” I sucked in a breath. “The Wolf Council wanted me to check that they weren’t interfering with the human town. I am only here for a few weeks, probably less.” He replies.
“Do you have a number? I will give it to my mom and if she wants to contact you, she will.”
He hands over a card. I assume his number is on it. “That was some show of power you showed today. How old are you?”
“They should have left me alone. I rarely lose my temper like that, but today was not a good day. I am seventeen, just.” He doesn’t need to know I am seventeen today.
“Only seventeen and have an aura that strong. Interesting.”
“No idea what you are talking about. I have never come across a male wolf before. Maybe you’re just weak?”
“Maybe. Ask your mom to call me.”
“Will do, but don’t hold your breath. We are kind of private people.”
“Right, well, you have my number if either she or you want to talk.” He walked away. But for some reason, I don’t think I have seen the last of him. That was very easy.
Reed’s POV
I don’t know what happened. One second, I was going to deal with an altercation during one of my classes, the next I was on my knees, baring my neck to a boy who I didn’t even know. Don’t get me wrong. I am not an Alpha, but I have Alpha blood in me. How could a teenager in the human world do that to me?
They sent me here to monitor the rogue situation, but right now I have a bigger concern. Who is this kid?
I phoned my cousin Ethan at the Wolf Council and told him what happened today. He encourages me to see what else I can find out about him. He could be a potential threat if we are not careful.
I was going to charm the principal’s secretary, convince her to let me have a look at Nix’s file. But I saw her storm out of the principal’s office. I knocked and went in, under the pretense that I would be leaving in a few weeks. “Just what I need is more bad news today,” the principal said.
“Why? What happened today?” He picked a file off his desk. “I have had to suspend two children today. One of them has an influential family, the other doesn’t have anyone other than his mom.” I said nothing, hoping he would continue talking. “He is such a good kid as well, works hard, gets reasonable grades. Not been in any trouble for a long time. But his life chances are not that great. He will probably work his entire life on that farm he lives on.”
“He seemed pretty stressed today. It was a shame to suspend him for a one off.” I said, trying to defend him.
“I agree, but the rules are the rules. Charlie had to be suspended as well. It wouldn’t have gone down well if I hadn’t suspended Nix as well. Charlie’s family would have thrown it in my face.” He sighs. “I still need to contact Nix’s mom. She didn’t answer her phone when I called her earlier.”
“Have you met her?” I asked casually.
“Oh yes, she comes to every school event with Nix. She supports him with anything he wants to do. They don’t have much, but she gives him all the time in the world. Unlike lots of parents these days that just buy their kid’s stuff. She is beautiful too, extremely easy on the eye as well. No one else in town compares to her. I bet she could have any man in town she wanted, but she only has eyes for Nix.”
“What about his father?”
He ruffled through the file. “Where the father’s name should be, it says unknown.”
“Interesting. Can I have a quick look at his grades? I may know of a scholarship available for an underprivileged child, but they have to fit certain criteria.” I told him, trying to get Nix’s file.
His head picked up. “Seriously, what’s the criteria? I may have other kids who may be eligible?”
I doubt that. But if I want the information in that file, I have to look at his file. “Sure,” I said with a smile. I am then forced to look at file after file, but it will serve no end. I have got what I wanted.
Reed’s POV I go to the address listed in Nix’s file. The principal is right; it is a farm and if he is working it. That would explain his strength and size, but not his aura. I drove about half a mile before I saw the house. It’s small and simple, nothing elaborate. I knocked on the door. No one answers. But I knew someone was home, so I knocked again. Nix answered the door. We exchanged pleasantries. I asked him if his mom was home. He tells me she is resting, but he looks nervous and shuts the door behind him, which makes me think he is lying. His mom will know who his father is. Maybe she can explain why he has such a powerful aura before he has his wolf. I need to talk to her. He tells me they have lived here all of his life and he doesn’t know about the Wolf Council. Maybe his mom is not a wolf herself. I test his knowledge when I tell him about rogues being in the area. He doesn’t question what rogues are, so I am guessing he knows some things. I need to meet his
Nix’s POV When I heard a loud banging coming from the door, it startled me. I am not expecting any guests, even if I was no one I know would bang like that. I wasn’t expecting four men in suits standing on my porch. I want to say they were tall, but I was almost on a par with them. They were demanding to see my mom. I told them she was resting in her room, so they couldn’t. That’s when one of them barged past me. “What the hell? Get out of my house.” I yelled at the guy. Two of them grabbed hold of me. The one that was in my house was walking around shouting, “woman, where are you?” I was watching him like a hawk. I don’t know what they wanted with my mom, but they won’t find her here. But when he started heading towards her bedroom. I yelled, “you can’t go in there.” “Watch me,” was his response. Now I don’t know who this lot thinks they are, but this is my home and I will defend it. I started thrashing against the two men holding me in place. But when his hand went for th
Nix’s POV We drove for nearly a full day. I shared the driving with Reed. From what he has told me, he works for the Wolf Council, which fulfills his need to be part of a pack, but he is not one of them. The Wolf Council only allows him to access the communal areas of the territory when he lives there. He says that it works for him as he has problems with authority. His brother is the Alpha of his home pack and they don’t see eye to eye. When his cousin Ethan offered him a position, he jumped at the chance. He told me I could stay with him until they figured all this mess out. He didn’t know what was going to happen or where I would end up. But I would at least be in safe hands. I know he was trying to reassure me, but it didn’t work. I have left everything I have ever known, am sitting in an SUV with a man I barely know who is taking me somewhere? I am sure I saw this in a horror movie I watched once. The thought that crossed my mind was ‘and he was never heard from ag
Reed’s POV Restless and with an empty stomach, I woke up. Nix and I had been confined to the SUV all day yesterday. I wonder how he slept? I am getting ready for the long day ahead. But no matter what my day holds, his day will be longer, as I know the Council Members will want to speak to him. But I don’t hear any noise coming from his room. I know he lived and worked on a farm. He would normally be up by now. I knocked on his door. No response, so I knocked again. There is still no response. I turned the handle and stuck my head through the open door. I saw he had made the bed and placed a toothbrush on the side. Crap, has he done a runner? I ran to the window and saw the SUV parked there. I know that for a fact, he wouldn’t have left without his stuff. So where is he? I tried to follow his scent, but it was weak. I am wandering around aimlessly when I hear a load of shouting. He wouldn’t have, would he? They wouldn’t have let him, would they? I am not privy to the inn
Council Member Ethan’s POV I returned to the council chambers after I visited Reed and Nix. Nix seemed to take the news better than Reed. But I didn’t tell Nix everything I knew. I know full well that Nix has a half-sister. I know full well her that father is the Alpha of the Mountain Creek Pack and I know full well she is younger than him. Which would make him the legitimate heir to the pack, should anything happen to his father. I don’t know how the Alpha will take this news. Nor how the Luna will react to her mate having a son older than her daughter. I also don’t know how Nix will take it either. He has never grown up with a father figure. Which is why I didn’t tell him everything. After seeing the house he lived in and how hard he worked every day, how he lived overall. Most importantly, how much he loved his mom. There would be no chance of me getting him there if I told him that his father was there. But I need answers and I can’t get them from Nix, as he knows no
Council Member Ethan’s POV I need to get the Alpha of the Mountain Creek Pack to remove Nix’s banishment. In the meantime, I can’t risk taking my talisman off him. That is, if it is a banishment affecting him? Right now, we’re in a dangerous position, just about a mile from the Mountain Creek Pack’s borders. Rogues could attack us. We all climb back into the vehicles and drive slowly, just in case there is a problem with Nix again. When we finally get to the territory border, a pack of wolves greets us. “I am from the Wolf Council. I need to speak to your Alpha, NOW.” I told them, knowing they can mind link him. We waited around 15 minutes before a car turned up. A few men got out, obviously the Alpha and Beta, with wolves appearing at their flank. “You wanted to see me?” the Alpha asked. “Yes, I am Council Member Ethan. The Wolf Council has sent me. Someone should have informed you of my arrival.” “Why am I here, Council Member Ethan from the Wolf Council
Council Member Ethan’s POV I followed Alpha Vance into his office along with his Beta, Reed and a warrior who stands beside the Alpha’s desk. I am introduced to Beta Colt. Alpha Vance does not know why Nix had a banishment over him. Seeing as he removed the banishment order immediately, I believe what he is telling me. Then he asks “Why are we all here? The phone call from the Wolf Council was vague, to say the least.” “Nix.” I told him. “His mom raised him in a human town. We didn’t know either of them were there. Nix told us he has lived there all of his life.” Alpha Vance will not like what I have to tell him next, so I plan on starting slowly. “What has that got to do with the Mountain Creek Pack?” Alpha Vance asks. “Rogues killed his mom a while ago and he is not coping very well. In fact, he has shown some unique abilities considering he is wolf less.” “He can’t be wolf less, otherwise the banishment effects would not affect him,” Alpha Vance interrupts.
Nix’s POV I had to leave Melissa and her mom in the kitchen because I was summoned. I suppose the answers to my future are in that room. I stay confident as I walk into the room, I won't be intimidated by them. I sat down beside Ethan. The Alpha started shooting questions at me straight away. I don’t know the answers to them, and I certainly don’t like his tone. Melissa’s mom walked in. I am guessing she is the Luna, as Melissa’s dad is the Alpha. He told her about what was going on, which was when I got a grasp of the conversation as well. I am just processing what he has said to her when I am asked for my mom’s name. I wasn’t expecting the reaction I got just from that revelation. I found out she was part of this pack when she was younger, but she once told me she couldn’t return. Something is not right with what they are telling me and I believe my mom over this lot any day of the week. A man refers to my mom as a slut! He never just referred to the woman who rai