Coming Home

Chapter 2: Get A Grip

2 weeks later...

Damien dropped the phone and went to find his Alpha. He paused in the hallway and listened. After a while, he heard the sounds of music and singing voice and turned left knowing that's probably where Rhydian was.

In a matter of moments, he was there in the large music room and saw Rhydian on the floor surrounded by children and some teenagers. He was playing the guitar along with some others who were operating other instruments and they all were singing.

He waited till the sing was over before clearing his throat gaining his Alpha's attention. He could have used the mind link, but Rhydian had not used it in over 10 years. Effectively isolating himself from the rest of the pack. Although he suspected that he mind linked with some of these children.

"Ah, Damian," Rhydian's head came up and he smiled at his Gamma. "Come to finally join us?" He said. "Nah, I don't think so. Probably just came to talk about some boring nonsense as usual, "Rhydian muttered grumpily. Damian just nodded his head.

"I'm sorry Rhydian, but you need to get back to work," Damian said to him then turned to the children. "Alright guys, show's over. Skeddadle." His command was followed by groans and reluctant "fine", " whatever "and" buzzkiller. "All of which made Rhydian chuckle. When the room was finally clear, he turned to face his Gamma with a bored expression.

"What now?" He asked impatiently. What could have possibly important enough to take him away from the only thing he enjoyed doing nowadays?

"Silver Moon and Red Claw are in their way," Damian replied. Rhydian groaned. Was that today? Damn it. He'd forgotten. Silver Moon and Red Claw were rival packs with cruel Alphas who only wanted more power and larger territories. Their packs had suffered for over 20 years before they finally had the balls to request to the Council to do some thing about their Alphas.

In response, the Council had decided to strip their Alphas if their titles and execute them for war crimes. Coincidentally, neither Alpha had an heir and the packs, with their Alphas gone, decided to get rid of their Betas and Gammas, causing a power vacuum leading to incessant rogue attacks and excessive loss of lives. But with all these, they were still a relatively large number.

He'd complained—or rather Damian had—to the Council about the fighting between the packs and rogues and eventually it had been decided that both packs merge and come under Lunar Fangs domain.

Making Rhydian Alpha of the three packs. Today was the day they were to come and be formally introduced to their new pack mates. And as their Alpha, he needed to be present.

Shit. There was no getting out if this one. He pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered some curses under his breath then walked out if the room and went to the elevators. He'd need to have a bath and change his clothes.

"There's more," Damian said ground him making Rhydian pause as his hand hovered over the button in the elevator.

"What?" He growled making the Gamma wince.

"The Countess is also coming." Rhydian turned around anger in his eyes. "Along with her ... rogues." Damian gulped as he saw the look in his Alpha's eyes. Since he'd heard the Councils decision, Rhydian had not been particularly happy with the word "rogue".

Not that he'd ever liked them before. No one did. But now, they ... he hated them even more. But the Council had ordered him to let her have a small piece of land to live in.

It was a part payment for her "invaluable" services in capturing and killing dangerous supernaturals on their behalf all over the world.

But rumour had it that she had two kids and was a really beautiful woman with a punkish look and sweet voice.

And the same rumour mill said she was a brutal fighter and was responsible for the death of some if the most dangerous brings on earth.

But apart from her group, no one knew her real name. They all just knew her as The Countess.

Well, today, he was going to meet this "Countess" once and for all. He'd see if the rumorels were true. If she was really as beautiful as the rumors said.

****

She looked out at the party in front of her and did a quick head count. I closing herself and her kids ... 152.

She scrunched up her face slightly. I didn't know we were that much... Anyways...

"Alright guys, gather round," she called out to her "pack" and they quieted down giving her their attention. "I know y'all don't wanna do this, but we have too. Or else, the Council won ' t let us Transit.

"We've got six months left in our Parole and after that, we're a pack." At this, there were cheers. She raised her hands softly asking for their silence.

"I love your enthusiasm to become a pack, but you've got to understand that for us to achieve our goal of becoming a pack, sacrifices must be made. All we've been asked to do is to meet with this Alpha and help solve their rogue problem. And ... BOOM! ... we're golden.

"So please guys—please, please, pretty please—do this," she smiled mischievously and batted her lashes looking very innocent and appealing causing the males to whoop and the mated females to unconsciously growl and cling to their mates protectively.

"For me?" She added softly but loud enough for them to hear. As she came down the top of her RV, there were murmur of "fine" and "whatever" from her "pack members".

When she got down, she saw James approach her as well as the worry in his eyes. She understood his worry after all, he too, knew about her past with Lunar Fang. They all did.

"Think this is a good idea?" He asked looking into her eyes searching for himself if she was. He already knew what her answer would be so he had to look for himself.

But Ashton just gave him a faraway smile that said "I know something you don't. And it's good but I ain't telling ya".

And he also knew not to try press her when she looked like this. So he sighed in defeat even before she answered.

"Don't worry I'm okay," she said and walked away patting him on the chest.

Still he had to try. "You sure?" He called out after her. She just lifted a hand and waved at him "so long". Bloody anime freak, he thought watching her as she walked away. She'd seen the gesture in an anime and had started doing it ever since when she agreed to something but didn't want to talk about it.

Personally, he didn't see what she and her kids enjoyed in those shows. He shook his head and turned to go get ready. They were leaving within the hour. And as her "Beta" he had to be at her right hand side .

Damn.

*****

Rhydian pushed his hands through his hair refusing to look like a proper Alpha. The effort was too much. There was a knock on his door.

"Yes?" He called out. The door opened showing a little girl of about 12 with brown hair and bright blue eyes. Her skin was pale but her eyes shine with health. He smiled when he saw her. "Oh, hi Cass, "Rhydian chirped.

"You're late Alpha," she said in her soft light voice which always surprised him everytime with the steel behind it. He c****d an eyebrow at her.

"And so?" He returned. The girl released an exasperated sigh and stalked towards him with a frown.

"You're Alpha." She tugged on his tie, rather roughly, set it properly and stepped back. She fixed him her best glare. "You need to act like you are. We love you and respect you because WE," she pointed at herself. "Respect YOU," she pointed at him with the other hand, poking him in the chest. Rhydian growled at her and yanked her hand away.

"Don't go poking me in the chest girl, if you value the use of those pretty little fingers," he growled. Cass smiled with pride.

"There's my Alpha," she said earning a snort from him.

"Let's go." And with that, he left the room.

****

The meeting had gone well. Which, to Rhydian, meant it had been boring. The elders of the two packs had been amiable people and when all was said and done, he had to admit that he felt honoured to be their Alpha.

"Have you thought of where to keep them?" Damien's voice broke into his thoughts, jolting him back to the present. He turned a confused face to his Gamma. "I mean, they obviously can't stay in the pack house. It can't even carry all of our wolves how much more two more packs.

"So, please tell me you've thought of something!" Damian's voice was disturbed. His concerns were understandable. He'd become their Gamma as well. It was only right that he start thinking of their well being as well. Thank the Mother he had thought of something.

"Rhydian !!" Damian growled out finally in frustration as Rhydian just ignored him.

In a flash, he was pinned against the wall and an angry growl was ripped out from Rhydian as he overcame the shock of feeling his wolf for the second time today. He tried to control his wolf and prevent him from doing something he would regret.

"Know your place wolf!" Arios growled in his face. Rhydian face was covered by shadow but his eyes glowed the bright gold of an Alpha wolf. Damian felt his wolf rise up to the challenge, his eyes changing from their normal grey to the to the bright green of a Beta.

"And what place would that be, Alpha?" Merwin, Damian's wolf growled back. "I'm the one who's really been doing the work of an Alpha these last nine years." He pushed Arios away from him and stepped up to his face. "Hell! I've been both Alpha and Beta for the last nine years man!"

"I'm warning you Merwin, stop antagonizing me."

"You ain't seen antagonizing yet amigo!" Damian finally took control and took a step back to breath and calm down. "f**k this man!" He cursed viciously running a hand through his dark brown hair. He turned his eyes back to Rhydian's who was still shaking with rage.

“Look, you're my best friend and I know you could be a fantastic Alpha. But you've gotta start to work man. We," he gestured round in a vague way, "respect you as our Alpha. And that's because we know you. Know your pain. And we bear with it. But most of all, we love you man. But these new guys," he chuckled darkly and turned around from Rhydian sharply." They don't know you or the s**t you've been through alright?" He turned around to face him again and whispered, "And I doubt they'd care for your sob story.” He shook his head. "Not with the kind of f****d up s**t they've been through at the hands of their previous Alphas. Those guys might have been murdering bastards, but they proved one thing, "he stepped closer to Rhydian, his voice dropping even lower.

"And what is that?" Rhydian snarled at him.

"Alphas are strong."