ABBY

Chapter 17

Christy Collard is staring daggers at her father-in-law and her husband. The two men are avoiding her eyes. They know that they've stepped over the line on this one. Not only did they not inform her about the arrangements with Lord Bolton, they just assumed everything will be fine to send her youngest on a trip around the world in search for his so-called mate. 

Her wolf is scratching at the surface to be let out. She's in full protection mode. When the twins were born, they nearly lost Lawrence. Dominique was a strong and healthy baby, but Lawrence struggled. Not only was he much smaller than Dom, he had some issues that was unknown to the Lycan lifestyle. Maybe it was part of him being a Healer, like her.

At some point, Dr. Hugh feared the worst. She felt helpless since she couldn’t do anything. Lawrence had difficulty breathing and his heart was not doing too well either. For a Lycan pup, that was unheard of. Lycans are usually strong pups and yet here they have a small pup struggling to stay alive let alone survive.

Christy never gave up on her baby and neither did he. Lawrence survived his ordeal, but he was always the weakling in the pack of boisterous boys, but Dominique came through for his brother. Protecting him from bullies and the teasing of the other boys.

They had a special bond. Dominique got most of the attention from their Grandfather and father since he was the dominant one and future Alpha. Lawrence enjoyed the attention his mother gave him. He preferred it that way. The General was too loud and strict. Their father wanted to pressure him into a Beta position he didn’t want and that caused some friction.

“Well, who’s going to explain to me why my son is getting on a ship to sail to who knows where?” She asks, her voice an octave higher that the previous pitch. General Collard winces and Sebastian rests his head in his hands. His elbows on his knees. Christy is not a happy mate and he’s feeling her anger through the bond they share as mates. A shiver runs down his spine and Jax is cowering in the corner of his mind. He’s also getting a branding from Elsa, Christy’s wolf. Talk about a mental war….

“Mother, I made that choice.” Lawrence suddenly speaks right behind her. Christy spins around and looks at her son. Disbelief evident in her eyes. “Law, but why? I am sure your mate is somewhere in this town. Not somewhere across the ocean. Are you even sure that girl is your mate?” Christy starts but is silenced by a low, guttural growl. It’s not the Alpha or the Beta who is still sitting in shocked silence on the couch. Dominique, who is standing in the door, almost ducks. Looking at Law, she stares into a pair of golden eyes.

“She is your mate, isn’t she?” Christy mumbles. She’s never seen this side of Law. There is a power radiating from him that is unknown. Lawrence shakes his head and his eyes turns back to normal. “Yes, she is, and I want to go on this trip to see what she saw. To experience what she did. I want to understand her and I want to find her.” He answers. Dean still lingers under the surface. He’s not happy that no-one is accepting their mate. Neither is Lawrence.

“I assure you, you will more that understand Abby after this little trip around the world, Mr Collard.” A rich, yet unfamiliar voice is heard from the door. All eyes turn to the keeper of the voice.

Captain Davidson stands tall and proud in the doorway to the lounge of the Castelena Pack house. He takes in the scene in front of him and he can tell instantly that something of utmost importance are being discussed and it concerns him as well.

“Sean, how good to see you again.” General Collard says as he gets up to greet the captain and to loosen the tension. “General, the feeling’s mutual.” He answers as he extends a hand to the General.

Looking around the room, he takes in every face, body language and twitch. The woman standing closest to him, must be Christy Collard. Her dark auburn hair and green eyes are a dead giveaway of an Elemental Healer. The man sitting on the couch must be her mate, Sebastian Collard. Beta of the Castelena Pack. The young man outside must be one of the twins. Probably Dominique as he has a powerful aura lingering around him. An Alpha, maybe.

His eyes land on the young man standing next to Christy. Lawrence swallows hard as the dark blue eyes examines him. “You must be Lawrence.” The Captain says, his voice calm and deep. Lawrence has heard the stories of the fearless Commander that is head of the Windy Acres Fleet, but he never thought he would ever meet him in the flesh. To make things worse, he’s mated to that same commander’s only daughter. What luck?

"Yes, I am, Sir." He says, fighting to keep his voice level. The captain takes two strides and comes to a stand right in front of Lawrence. The atmosphere in the room shifts from unnerved to tense. They look each other square in the eye. Lawrence is not backing down. Though he’s not as strongly built as the captain they are the same length. Lawrence is just a bit more agile than Captain Davidson. But the Captain will break you if he gets his hands on you. He may be older, but he has the body and built of an athlete from the many years at sea and managing huge sailing ships. He's fit and deadly.

“Are you ready to leave, Pup? The Black Swallow waits for no-one.” The captain sneers as he turns on his heel and walks out the door. Leaving a stunned Collard family in his wake. “Law. You are not getting on that boat. That man will feed you to the first shark he finds.” His mother pleads. But Lawrence is intrigued by the mystery that is Captain Davidson and doesn’t answer her. He starts to follow him out the door, instead

Hearing the heavy footsteps down the hall become fainter, Lawrence turns and is about to leave the room when his mother catches his arm. “Please, Lawrence.” She asks again. Lawrence lays his hand on hers and shakes his head. “Mother, I am sorry. But I have to do this.” He simply says and walks past her. In the hall, he passes Dominique and nods. He can still hear his mother pleading his father to change his mind, but Lawrence is now more determined than ever to get to the Black Swallow.

He has to get to know Captain Davidson. He has to learn the ways of the sea and this will be his golden opportunity. Something tells him it won’t be easy. The Captain seems like someone who doesn’t trust easily and that might make things a bit harder than it should be.

Watching her son walk down the hall towards his room to get his luggage to leave, Christy’s chest aches. She spins around and glares at Sebastian and General Collard. The two men looks down at the floor. Almost like two boys who were caught in the act.

“I am warning the two of you. If one single hair on my son’s head gets damaged. I will skin the two of you alive and I will have your hides as carpets.” She sneers at them in a low growl, her eyes changing colour as her wolf jumps forward. Dominique cringes where he stands in the door. He’s known his mother all his life and this is the first time he has ever seen her this upset.

Christy turns around and storms out the door, brushing past Dominique. She thought that the worst day in her life, was the day her parents died at the hands of a rogue vampire or the day she came close to death herself. But this is topping it. Her son is going out into the world and she’s not sure when he’ll return or if they will ever return.