Chapter 26
Phillips POV
"ELLA!!"
I turn to see Merrick holding Ella trying to wake her up. She had fallen to the floor and was unconscious. I quickly slow down the boat and turn off the engine. Making my way over to my mates.
"What happened", I ask Merrick.
"I don't know she was talking to me about what happened at the castle then she passed out", he said shaking,
"She is breathing, I think she just passed out. Take her below and I will take her somewhere we can get help. Stay with her please." I said before throwing my arms around Merrick and giving him a kiss on the forehead.
Once they were below deck, I started up the boat and continued to make my way toward my homeland. I knew Tristram was right, if anyone could help us it would be my mother, but I hadn't seen her in 17 years. My father and I left after we found she was helping the Silver Spears. Most of my mom's family died under the king's attacks. My father was loyal to the royal guard and to him, it was an utter betrayal.
When we reached the coast, I made my way into the port and docked the boat. I went below deck to check on my mates to find them asleep. Merrick was holding Ella but it didn't look like she had woken up. I woke Merrick long enough to tell him I was going to get us a car. It was too dangerous for either of them to be seen here, so they needed to stay below and stay quiet. He nodded and fell back to sleep. Looking at the two of them made me realize what was really important to me... I loved them and I had to protect them. Which made being her all that more difficult... They were royals and lycans in a war-infested country, they were already targets and they had never done anything to these people.
I went to the rental depot in town and arranged a car for us and drove it back to the boat where I find three strange men sniffing around the boat.
"Canne I help you?" I say with a stern voice
"Tis yer boat lad?" one asked.
"Aye, tis", answer finding myself sliding back into my old accent.
"Is there anyone else wit ye? We heard a commotion around here", one said.
"No, just me. I came back to get my things." I say confidently. I know they are port authority and they could search the boat if they wanted.
"Are ye from here?" Another asks.
"I am. My Ma is from Taobh gorm na beinne, I am on my way to see her now." I tell them
"Oh is that so? Jakob here is from there," he said pointing to one of the men.
"Small world, eh?" I said extending my hand. It would be weird not to now. He sakes my hand and smiles. I think I'm off the hook when they wave me off and start to walk back into town when Jakkob turns around and asks, "By the way, who is yer Ma?"
"Janet McCullam", I replied. As soon as her name left my lips, I knew I made a mistake.
They all turn to look at me and I can feel the tension in the air.
"Mistress McCullam only has one son, and yer lookin at him." Jakob replies.
SHIT... I knew that she had remarried but I didn't know she had another son. I know this was going to come to a fight and I was outnumbered.
"Look, I don't want any trouble with ye. Janet is my mother, my father left her some time ago."
"Yer lying! My Ma has never had another family. I would've known that. Now, who are you and what are you doing here?" Jakob yells His eyes begin to change color
From behind me, I hear russeting on the boat and I look back to see both Merrick and Ella staring down the other wolfs. Merrick was on the verge of shifting and Ella's eyes glowed as she prepared to shift.
"Oh, no one wit ye? What else are you lying about, Bastard!", one of the others screams.
"Look I can explain, but I need to see Janet." I try to explain. Before I have a chance, all 3 of the wolves shift, lunging at me. I take off running away from the boat shifting as well and doing my best to get them away from my mates. Just when I think I was in the lead, I am tackled by two wolfs at the same time. One digging their claws in my back and the other biting my back leg. I growl at the pain and let out a howl as the one on my leg bites harder. The pain is excruciating and I feel my leg give out and I am wrestled to the ground.
I hear a growl and before I know it both wolves are off me. I feel the air around me swirl same as in the king's chambers. I know my mates are here and I shift back. I try to stand but my leg is too badly injured and I'm losing blood. Merrick step in front of me growling at the three wolves that were swept back by the strong wind. Ella kneels down and applies pressure on my wound. It makes me hiss, but I know it needed to be done. I look up to see the three wolves surrounding Merrick. I know he is strong and three wolves wouldn't be no problem for him. What had me worried was the rapidly appearing glowing eyes in the trees that now surround us.
All at once the wolves descend on us.
The three wolves fell in line with the others as one came forward. This must be the Alpha, its eyes looked at me curiously. Something about it was familiar and when it came forward, Merrick growled and swiped at it.
The pack of wolves all jump at his movement but the Alpha stays tall not even jumping back. The Alpha shifts into human form and standing in front of me is my mother. She looked the same as when I last saw her, only now she had a few more gray hairs.
"Phillip?" she asked looking at me.
"Janet." I couldn't look her in the eye.
At my words, Merrick and Ella shift back and help me to my feet.
"What are you doing here? Is your father here too?" she asks me.
"Da has been dead for years. We rebelled against the king and Tristram told me I needed to hide. I was going to my cabin near Taobh gorm na beinne", I tell her.
"and these two?" she asks bearing her teeth at my mates.
"They are my mates," I tell her. I start to feel weak from the blood loss.
She looks surprised for a moment then turns to her pack.
"Take them to the den. The Lycans go to the dungeon until I am ready to deal with them" she commands. I growl and attempt to shift but I am too weak. As the other members of the pack step forward to capture us the wind picks up and circles us. My mother looks back at us when the wind gets stronger. She reaches upwards trying to control the wind before a bolt of lightning strikes right in front of her. She is knocked back and looks around before she realizes that it's coming from Ella. I can see her lips move and I know what's coming as Ella falls to the ground. Merrick bends down to help her and the wolves rush in.
They grabbed us and brought us to a group of large vans parked in the forested area that surrounded us. Jakob threw Merrick and Ella in one van and put me in another, growling at every move. My mother climbed into the back of the van I was in. Jakob tried to join but she pushed him away.
"Ride with the others son, I need to speak with this one alone," she told him.
"It's so good to see you Phillip", she said placing her hand on mine. I quickly move it away and scoot as far away from her as I can get.
"Look, I ken things didn't end well when your Da left, I should have fought harder to keep you wit me. He was so loyal to that damned duke he coudnae see the truth." She settled into the seat before pushing the hair out of her face.
" I'm sorry that I let ye down." she said as a tear fell from her eyes.
"Are you a part of the SS?" I ask without looking at her
I feel her shift uncomfortably. "I think you ken that answer dear." she sighed.
"Why did you bring those highborns here? Knowing what you know, you know that my pack will kill them." The tone of her voice lost all sadness and was almost as serious as I remembered.
"I told you, they are my mates."
"You expect me to believe that?" she scoffs
"Honestly, I don't care what you believe! Who has the history of lying to each other here? Not me!" I growl.
"I came to you for help. Something magical is going on with one of my mates and she needs help. She hates the king and we had to go into hidding. We are not your enemy! I knew we shouldn't have come here." I scoff turning away from her.
"If you hurt either one of them, I will kill you, that is a promise," I tell her.
We ride in silence until we reach the town. It looked the same as it did as I left. We stopped in front of the infirmary and I am helped into the door. A large man came into the room I placed in. He checked my leg before telling my mother that I needed stitches. He never spoke to me but kept looking at me as if he knew who I was.