When I returned home, my father and Benard were having a disagreement just inside the front door. I immediately leaped off the bike and ran up the stairs and inside the house.
"Dad, stop!" I yelled as I leaped in front of him and pulled him away from Benard.
You're too young to be a guard; therefore, no. I looked at Benard, who, to my astonishment, was smiling, and he replied, "I won't let you stay here. He wanted my father to be furious so that he would take action to kill himself. He sought an excuse to interrogate him over the Gemini Lycans.
I said, "Dad, this is the only way to keep you safe," as he became tense. "Mom is gone."
He muttered, "Buttercup, this isn't the place for you," as Nate raced up, handing Benard the knife. Nate cast a quick glance at my father before adopting a defensive stance. He recognized my father's threat. Benard raised it up so he could look at the blade. He attempted to stab my father, and in an instant, the blade was in motion. As anxiety erupted within me, I gasped. When nothing adverse happened to my father, I breathed in relief. Not even a scratch could be found on him. I had a theoretical understanding of how the knife operated, but I didn't believe the rumors.
You swore you wouldn't harm him, damn you. As my father yanked me away from Benard, I yelled, "You had no idea if that knife would hurt him.
He said, "Calm down," in my ear, which made me exhale.
He replied, "I had to test it on someone," as my father moved to stand in front of me. Benard would be alerted if my father did anything else to keep me safe. He would be aware of the problem.
He roared, his eyes full with the lycan anger: "Benard, if I find out that you killed my daughter by being a part of the guard, I'll come after you with every fiber of my being, even if I have to find the Gemini Lycans myself.
"Are you threatening me, old man?" Benard bared his teeth as he spoke. As he fixed my father with his unwavering look, I felt the force of his alpha status spread across the entire space.
I begged my father, "Please don't," with tears streaming from my dark eyes. He took a backward step toward me. His black eyes were filled with anguish as he cupped my face in his palms.
He kissed my forehead and murmured, "Be safe," before leaving the room. A single tear ran down my face as I gasped. I brushed it off quickly and turned to face Benard.
Benard abruptly pushed the knife into my hand and said, "Because of your father, you will be traveling with Easton to hunt the Gemini Lycans at the end of this month. The idea of the knife blade hitting my hand made me start to fear it. I hurriedly tucked the knife away and went up to join Isabelle in her study. As I caught up to Isabelle, I was able to control myself. I was talking to Isabelle while standing at the top of the stairs.
Would you prefer that I wait in the study or the hallway, Miss? I kindly asked while bending my head.
She remarked, "In the study," as I entered the spacious study. I took a peek around the sizable space, which included a raging fireplace and dark wood floors. The room had a desk in the center and chairs positioned all over it. She was sitting at her desk with stacks of literature about the Gemini Lycans, and I was leaning against the wall close to the door.
I exclaimed, "You have done so much research on them," which made her giggle.
They pose a threat. Everything I've learned indicates that they experience violent mood swings that might murder any member of the pack. They occasionally lose control of the strength they wield. Before I was born, a Gemini Lycan killed my uncle, whispered Isabelle, her grin dimming with each syllable as pain flashed through her eyes. I could see the sadness and rage swirling in her eyes.
I muttered, "I'm sorry he died," in some way taking responsibility. Even though I hadn't even been born yet and I hadn't even murdered him, I still felt like it was my fault.
She said, returning to her book, "It's the past. This book claims that we can find them. We just need to explain to him what they smell like because Easton is our finest tracker.
The question is, "Wouldn't they all smell different?" I asked with panic coursing through me.
Isabelle commented, "Yes, but they still smell like Lycans, just much more concentrated," as I approached and sat down next to her.
"Can I assist?" My interest was piqued by this new information, so I inquired.
Sure, she replied, while offering me a book. I paged through it until I came across an antiquated myth involving the Gemini Lycans. It claims that there was harmony when the Gemini Lycans ruled the packs. Do Isabelle and Benard not care about this?
She fixed her eyes on mine, and I added, "It says they used to rule and there wasn't war." Her emerald eyes sparkled with terror, as I could see.
She said, "The legend is irrelevant," and I nodded as if I agreed. I turned back to my book and read some more. Once more, a line that two alphas had mated to produce the power concentration that gave rise to the Gemini Lycans piqued my interest. And Gemini Lycans are the offspring of the most powerful coupling ever authorized in a pack. When I learned why we are currently sought after, I halted. Being alphas was something we were born to do. I shook my head as I closed the book.
I sighed and got to my feet. I moved to stand again up against the wall after walking over to it. "I really hope you kill them." I lied to her in an effort to win her confidence.
She grinned and said, "We will," and went back to her study. I imagined my brother standing there by himself, in immediate danger. He needed my assistance right away if he wanted to live.