The door was opened by Vicky. She clearly did not know how to hide her emotions, since even a tense smile could not conceal the nervously shifting eyes on her pale face.
" Where is your mother? "- without greeting demanded Greg, pushing her into the apartment.
"Mama? She went out. She needed ... to buy groceries," - Victoria began to mumble. Her apologetic tone gave the girl away instantly.
"Vicky, let's not play these games. Slit it out," - Greg demanded, menacingly hanging over the frightened girl. Vicki shifted and looked away trying to find a new excuse. Greg already felt that victory was close when their confrontation was interrupted by a sudden roar, in the doorway leading to the bedroom there was a swaying pale Niki. He didn't look quite healthy, but compared to the way he looked yesterday, it was just amazing progress.
" Back off from her!" - Growled the boy threateningly. Although his eyes floated a little, he obviously put in a lot of effort to focus, and overall to stand on his feet. But Greg was not going to retreat.
"Well, then can you tell me where your mother has gone?" - After this phrase, Nicky even stopped to sway. Without concealing astonishment, he turned to Vicki, who was completely hunched over.
"Mom asked not to tell anyone, especially to you." - She said quietly, turning to her brother, but never looked up at him. Nicky immediately began to boil.
Apparently, Nicky guessed where Lana had gone, and since she didn't tell him anything, she was sure that her son would be against it. Greg immediately changed tactics. Turning to the guy, he silently pointed to the living room and, waiting for him to proceed in the indicated direction, followed him.
"So where is she?" - He asked when the boy and his sister set on the sofa. Vicky wanted to insert something, but Nicholas stopped her and answered it himself.
"Most likely she went to Bennin." - He said wearily, and by Vicky's reaction, it was easy to guess that the guy had hit the mark. The name of the city seemed strangely familiar to Greg. But Frank was the first to figure it out.
"Isn't it a town where you are all registered? But it's not real right?!" - he said in surprise.
"The city is quite real." - Nicky answered him, - " It just is not on any map, because it is a town of werewolves. It is closed to people not related to the Benne pack."
"Pack Benne? Your pack?" - Greg specified. A sick feeling began to creep up to the heart.
"Former," - Nicky snapped. Though he looked weak and haggard, his voice grew stronger and firmer with every word. - "We left it a few weeks ago. Our grandfather was once the Alpha of this pack. Now Alpha - Daniel, his nephew."
"Then why did your mother need to go there so urgently?"
Nicky clenched his fists, and Vicky answered the question. Her face burned with shame in front of her brother, and she hurried to explain her silence.
"She went to talk with our father." - She blurted out and immediately squeezed under the three stares from men. Nicky in powerless rage hit his fist on the armrest.
"What is the point of talking with this freak !?" - Blurted out the guy. Greg and Frank exchanged glances. For some reason, they have long missed out the ex-husband of Lana of their calculations and apparently in vain.
" I thought they were divorced. It's all over between them, no?" - Greg said. Nicky looked at him tiredly.
"Greg, we're a werewolf. For us, there is no formal marriage or divorce. We have our own laws, the laws of the pack. Everything is much more complicated than you think."
Greg frowned as he got closer and sat down in a chair opposite Nicky. Still keeping his eyes on the boy.
"What did mum tell you about Mates?"
"Nothing, what that?" - Greg shook his head, causing a sad smile on the guy's face.
"Then it is clear why she went there so suddenly." - Greg continued to drill the guy with his eyes, making it clear that this time he won't back down easily.
" Mate for a shifter is something more than marriage, love, relationships. There is a legend about a lone wolf and how the moon, taking pity on him, helped find his one and only destiny. As among humans, there is a legend about the lost halves. But for shifters, this is not a legend at all, it's a fact. We immediately understand when we find our Mate. And there can be no wedding or divorce. Because it is for life. It is much more than love, and not everyone is so lucky. Mum was lucky ... If I may say so."
Greg stared blankly at the guy.
"You want to say…"
"You are her Mate, Greg." - did not let him finish Nicky. - "You are connected. Perhaps it is not even possible for a human to feel like a werewolf, but I am sure that you perfectly understand what I mean."
Greg tilted his head, trying to fit everything he heard in his head.
"What about your father?" - he asked softly.
Nicky was silent for a moment, staring out of the window.
"Probably this is the reason for all our troubles. Father - Ralph Benne, has never been her Mate. For political reasons, her own pack and father agreed on their marriage when the mum was only 16 years old. All this time they pretended. Mother - because she was afraid for her original pack, for us, and then for you. Father, because if the truth comes out, it will immediately kill his entire reputation. Although what reputation there could be?!. As soon as he was not chosen to be next Alpha, he very quickly turned into a half-mad alcoholic who beats his wife for every reason. About two months ago, this bastard almost killed mum when he realized that she met you."
With these words, a chill swept through Greg's body. But Nicky continued.
"You saw what condition I was in yesterday. It will take me no more than one day to recover completely. It took her a week."
Greg flinched, he wanted to throw up, shout and hit something at the same time only imaging things that Nicky talked about. Severe pain was tearing his chest as if he forgot how to birth.
"Then why did she go there?" - Frankie asked for him. See hoe pale Greg become.
" He was taken into custody, put in jail, after what he did with mother. But this is not according to the rules. Werewolf is not kept in prison. It is like torture for us. Therefore, Daniel has only two options: exile or a fight with him."
Nicholas spoke coldly. Greg noted that the guy is trying hard to avoid calling this guy - father or by name. And even so, anger and hatred came through in every phrase. Greg looked at Vicky, who darkened her face at the words of her brother and sat with her eyes on her knees. These two teens had to endure more than most of their peers. Greg did not want to see their faces like that. Let it be only a few weeks, but they became close to him.
"But my mother said that if he agreed to reconciliation and calmly let us go, Daniel will let him stay in the pack under supervision." - Quietly said Vicki under her breath. Her words were so insecure as if she knew how pathetic it sounded herself. Nicky grinned gloomily in reply.
"Do you really believe that? That this man will suddenly wake up and say - Okay, fine. Go and be happy! - And he will become a good person, start growing tomatoes and enjoy life !? Bullshit! Even if Daniel is so weak that he decides to just expel him, no one will be better off from this. If he won't hunt us, then he will find another victim for himself. He's crazy, Vicky! Raging mad! And you perfectly understand what needs to be done with a mad wolf." - Nicky's voice has become razor sharp. He was staring at his sister straight, but Vicky squeezed and did not raise her eyes. Greg suddenly realized why Lana did not want to say anything. It was not just difficult. The situation was wild for an ordinary person. All laws and rules that were normal for them did not work here at all. He did not even know what to say. People are too used to the fact that there is a law, police, a prison. It is enough to report a crime and law enforcement agencies will decide everything. But for the werewolves, the law of the jungle still reigned. What can be said to a sixteen-year-old girl who has to come to terms with the fact that her father will be killed, like a wild animal? A nasty feeling was scraping inside. As if he was a superfluous helpless observer and at the same time everything was happening because of him. Like a child during a parent's quarrel. These two were supposed to hate him, and not swear among themselves.
" But maybe there is another way?" - Frank suggested uncertainly from his seat. Disturbance and confusion were also clearly visible on his face. They seemed to be walking through uncharted territory, afraid to make a wrong move. - "This guy, Kiki, was talking about some kind of Council. Maybe they can help solve the situation?"
" No, They are only engaged when it's a loner or its a quarrel between two packs as a third party. This question should be resolved by the Alpha of Benne Pack - Daniel. And if he can't, then I will challenge this person to fight myself". - Sealed Nicholas. Vicki immediately threw up her head, her face twisted in a grimace of horror.
"And you can kill your own father like this," - she cried, jumping to her feet.
"He has never been a father to me. The fact that I have a few of his genes does not give him any right to this role. And yes, if necessary, I will kill him. This is my right, as the son of my mother, which he used for 20 years, humiliated and beat. You both are my family. He hurt you - and he will answer for it." - Every word was imbued with confidence. Greg suddenly felt some kind of pride for this kid, although he had no right to do so.
Greg saw in his eyes, his face - the echoes of the future man, the hard leader, the real Alpha. How was it possible to miss, not to recognize what kind of happiness got to the other. Gentle, affectionate wife, a brave and intelligent son, a cheerful and sunny daughter. Is it possible to see this and drown yourself in a swamp of narcissism and pride?
"His loss is your gain!" - The inner voice prompted. And with this thought, everything fell into place. As if it was enough to take a step back and the picture already looked entirely different. The puzzle started to form piece by piece.
"Nicholas," - Greg's firm voice made the guy flinch, - "All of this is wonderful, only you forget one fact. You said, Lana and I are Mates. In fact, the main crime that Ralph committed is against me. He took my woman, he beat her, he attacked me. Their marriage has no power, does it? This means Lana is not even part of the Benne pack. Is it not so?"
The guy mingled for a moment, and then an understanding passed over his face. He threw a strange look at his sister, who had a whole myriad of feelings on her face.
"Answer me one question." - Greg continued, seeing that Nicky did not know what to say, - "If I were one of you, a werewolf, how would this question be solved?"
Nicholas looked down right away, but Vicky intervened. Tears ran down her face, but she squeezed the scraps and looked at Greg in her eyes.
"There would be no question. If you were a shifter, mum stayed with you 13 years ago. Ralph would have no rights to her."
"If...Maybe... How about - stop fooling around?!" - Lana's cold voice burst into the confusion. - "It's far enough speculating for a day. My kids have a long tongue, so just ignore it, Greg. This whole story didn't begin with you, but with me. And that means I decide everything. Ralph is my ex-husband. I don't stick my nose into your business with your former girls, and you don't dig into mine! By the end of the week, all the same, everything will already be decided and over. And you will have time to settle everything with your business."
In appearance, Lana was absolutely calm. Ignoring the tension in the room, she went to Nicholas and put her hand to his face and began to examine him carefully.
"The temperature is almost normal," - she noted as if what they had previously discussed could be ignored, just change the subject and forget about it. - "Nicky, you should still lie down?"
Nicky tried to grab her mother's hand and start a conversation, but Greg beat him.
"And what does it mean? What my affairs are you speaking about?" - Greg frowned, rising. Lana silently pulled a magazine out of her purse and threw it on the coffee table in front of him.
"Do not even think that I will say something like: " It has nothing to do with me, I'm not at all jealous, I understand everything." Now you know that I am a werewolf. And we do not share what belongs to us. You want to be my Mate - be ready to be only Mine, forever, for the rest of your life. We have no divorces, and the expression - death do us part - not simple words. While we are not bonded yet. Even if you are my Mate, as long as it is not illuminated by the Moon, you can still leave. After, if something similar will happen and I will tear out this lady's throat. Literally."
Greg first lowered his eyes to another scandalous little article on the front page of the magazine, where there was a picture of him and the girl hugging him by the neck. The photographer tried very hard and managed to catch at least one frame, where all this nonsense during the presentation performed by Angela Leib looked almost natural. There was no need to read it to understand that the article was completely customized. But having heard the last phrase, Greg jerked his head in surprise.
Lana stood opposite, her arms folded and looked him straight in his eyes.
" Greg, I perfectly understand that your whole life, your world is not as simple as it seems. Competitors, envious, paparazzi and much more. I am not familiar with this, and I can hardly cope with the situation like this one with dignity. Rather bloody and not very pretty. Just like you don't understand everything in my world. So let's agree, you solve your problems, I - my own. And then, if you have a desire to participate in all this, we will meet and talk."
Contrary to Lana's expectations, Greg narrowed his eyes and smiled slyly.
"Then what about your conversation with Angela in the backyard of the restaurant. This is how you don't interfere in my affairs?"
Frank and Lana both looked at Greg in surprise. Both of them were sure that he was not aware of the incident with the leaflets.
"She slapped me first." - answered Lana, frowning. - "I warned her. Usually, people without a sense of self-preservation tend to walk on the edge. That's why I propose this line of action."
Greg observed her face. Since he became aware of the nature of this girl, much has become more evident. Now he saw the fear through her bravado so clear.
No matter how she ruffled, she was afraid to scare him away, to lose. And all her actions from before acquired meaning. Her nature was instead a burden for Lana. She felt like a monster from a fairy tale in front of him and wanted with all her might to protect him from herself and those like her. This is not at all flattering. But how to make her trust and rely on him?
"No, Lana, I will not wait. You are already a part of my life. And Nicky with Vicky too. We can only solve everything together. So lay it out. And you can chew on this b*tch throat all you want, I'll help you hide a corpse." - He said firmly, not letting go of her gaze. Lana pursed her lips. The grimace of stubbornness, already known to him, slipped across the face. Greg was quite sure that this woman would be up to the end, so he decided to use the tactics that always worked flawlessly.
"Lana, do you seriously think that for a person who was able to build an entire empire in ten years, your quarrels will seem something too complicated and dangerous? I constantly have to participate and find ways out in serious international military conflicts. And now you blab here about some minor problem with just one not completely sane person. Stop playing these games already, and talk." - Leaning back in a chair, in a voice full of disdain and personal superiority, said Greg. Oh yea, he could play the role of an arrogant jerk perfectly any day!
Lana's eyes began to glow with anger, and her pupils became vertical at the moment. But Greg did not even think to erase a cheeky smile from his face, although he shuddered a little inside.
"Oooh really?" she grumbled. Judging by the snarling note and a small lisp. Her fangs, too, considerably extended, - Then maybe you will illuminate us with your wisdom, Oh Wise One!?"
"I would love to, but you didn't tell me all the details," - Greg blurted with a winning smile. Lana barely stopped the curses, rushing through her teeth. One could see in her expression that she had almost given up, and was ready to lay everything out, as the tune of a mobile phone broke the tense atmosphere.
Lana immediately strained and reached into her purse, which she threw on the sofa. Taking advantage of the hitch, Frank began sending signals to Greg. Using all the available facial expressions and gestures, he tried to show a friend that he was utterly psycho if he decided to bait a real she-wolf. But Greg only shook his head reassuringly, indicating that he was entirely in control of the situation. Frank at such self-confidence rolled his eyes and expressed all his indignation by turning away from a friend.
When Greg finally stopped his pantomime with Frank, he turned to look at Lana and immediately became worried.
The girl only had time to throw a couple of words in the phone and then hearing something, she began to turn pale. In just a couple of seconds, her whole mood changed dramatically. Eyes ceased to burn, and her lips turned white. She cast a wary glance at Greg.
Without hesitation, he stood up and not paying attention to the fact that Lana tried to dodge, put his arm around her waist, trying to support her. When she finally finished the conversation and hung up, the room was silent. No one dared to ask the first question. Greg quietly moved closer and leaned Lana's back against his chest, she did not resist, somehow limping in his arms at once.
"Ralph escaped," - she finally said, gathering strength. These two words were like the sound of an explosion in absolute silence. Everyone froze, trying to figure out what it meant to them all. Like a tightrope walker who struggles to find balance after a strong gust of wind.
But the silence did not last long. In an instant, they began to talk all at once. Questions, exclamations, curses fell from all sides. Greg himself counted to ten and then barked with all his might.
"Shut up all of you!" - as soon as everything was quiet, he looked around the room with stern look, having mentally built a plan, and began. - " Ok, now calmly and in order."