FIVE YEARS LATER.
Jonas ~
As I walk out of my room, I sight two small wolf pups sparring in the middle of the courtyard. Or, at least, attempting to spar in the middle of the courtyard. Their movements are too clumsy, their attacks are feeble, and their stances are wobbly.
However, they are acting out what they see their elders do, and that in itself makes me smile. But what makes me smile even wider is the fact that one of them is my daughter, Lois.
Her dark fur glints in the moonlight, and she is obviously enjoying herself. For a moment I stop walking and focus on my ten year old daughter, who's obviously enjoying herself as she playfully nips at her 'sparring' partner, Beckett's eleven year old son, Nathan.
Those two will grow up to be in a relationship. That I'm sure of.
I'm absorbed in their fake training, but that doesn't stop me from noticing Beckett walking towards me.
"Jon."
I take my eyes away from my daughter's attempt to bite Nate's neck and focus them on my best friend instead.
Beckett is tall, but I still tower above him with about four inches. That doesn't stop me from giving him the respect he deserves as Alpha though, so I lower myself to form a bow.
"Alpha."
He narrows his eyes at me then sighs. Ever since Karen's death, I stopped treating everyone apart from Lois like friends and family. I was hurting, dammit. And I haven't stopped hurting. Sometimes I see Karen in my dream, that scene where her neck is snapped replaying in my head over and over. It continues like that until I wake up, and I'm unable to return to sleep.
"Come with me to my office."
Odd. Most of the time, if Beckett has anything to say to me, he says it without thinking about the people around us. What could be so important that he'd want us to discuss in his office?
He begins to walk in the direction of the official building. Confused, but seeing no reason to go against my Alpha's orders, I follow.
"How are you, Jon?" He asks when we arrive and the door is shut behind us.
I blink at him. "Fine. Thank you for asking."
That's a lie. Every day I wake up, and Karen's face haunts my very existence. I feel numb, and there's nothing I can do about it. Anti-depressants don't work, and I'm unable to function as a normal werewolf. My brain is in shambles, and I can't get control of my thoughts anymore.
But I can't let anyone know that.
He groans, and passes a hand through his hair. "For once, Jonas, would you stop being so robotic and speak like the best friend I know?"
"I'm not being robotic, Alpha. I am merely speaking the truth. I am absolutely fine. I am uninjured, my body is working in perfect condition. My daughter is also fine, and the pack is safe." I pause and work my jaw, trying to ignore the pain that shoots through my spine when I recall that my wife should have been here too. "Why would I feel otherwise? I. Am. Fine."
Beckett narrows his eyes at me.
"Keep that trash for who can believe it, Jonas. I may be the Alpha, but I'm your best friend, and I can see the pain in your eyes, the agony you're trying to hide. It's extremely obvious, Jon. Why do you still torture yourself this way? You have a daughter, a family, and you -"
I snap, interrupting him. "Pardon me, Alpha, for forgetting that I have a daughter. But you see, the only reason I'm still alive and in this world is because of her. Else, I should have killed myself and been six feet under by now."
I should stop, rein in my despair and stop yelling at my best friend, but I don't. I've finally found an avenue to vent my anger, and I'll be damned if I don't take advantage of it.
"Jon -"
"A part of me died when I saw Karen's neck snap, Beck. My entire being felt as if my humanity was ripped apart from me. The only person that I can look at and smile because of is Lois, because she's the spitting image of her mother. She's my last attachment to humanity. Else, you would neither have a Beta nor a best friend. You'll be having a memorial erected in my name. Just be thankful that I'm still present, Beck, and don't ask questions. You have no idea what I'm going through. Thank the goddess for that Do not pester me."
If he is shocked by my outburst, he doesn't show it. Years of being the Alpha has taught him to be emotionless and calculative.
"If that's what you wish, then alright."
"Thank you, Alpha. Can I leave now?"
He shakes his head, then bends to get a file from a drawer, and finally dumps it in front of me.
"Read."
I raise a brow at him, but I pick it and scroll through the file. As soon as my eyes finish scanning the first page, they narrow. "Vampires."
"The very creatures you hunt, yes."
I look up from the file. "Infiltrating our territory? Do they have a death wish?"
Beckett clenches his jaw. "They're getting bolder. There have been reports of attacks on smaller packs as they advance closer and closer to ours. I'm telling you this not because you're my Beta, neither because you're my best friend. But I'm telling you because I require your services. Our pack has more wolf pups than strong adults. If others should find out, there'd be chaos. I need to avoid that. Would you please help me to take them out, Vampire Hunter?"
My hands curl into fists. "I will annihilate everyone of them, I can assure you."
He nods, and his face has a relieved expression. "I believe you. Thank you."
With that, I make for the door.
"I'll be leaving now for the woods."
Just as my hands touch the doorknob, he calls out to me. "Jonas?"
I turn. "Yes, Alpha?"
His eyes hold brotherly concern. "Be careful. Please."
My stone heart beats for a nanosecond. "I will. Good day, Alpha."