A Ribbon Strand: Raised Hackura

Presents Pt 4

   I said, “Whatever you want to do we will help you do it. It makes the most sense based on our borders for my pack or Alpha Chase’s to run your pack until your son is ready to lead.” Luna Stephanie said, “If Ulric Prater had taken over as alpha of my old pack…. I’d go home. I won’t with his father still in charge…. I know he refused to come get me. Max taunted me with that information. He used to be like family to me.” I said, “You can come to any of our packs for shelter until you are ready to return home.” She smiled, “I’ve been thinking a lot about that. I’d love for my son to learn from you Alpha Eric, but your mother is no fan of mine. I think I would cause tension in your home. You and Alpha Chase can decide who runs the pack for now. If I could seek refuge with Jack in Alpha Lyons territory...I would appreciate it.” Anger filled me. What has my mother done now? I linked Caleb, “What did my mother do to Luna Stephanie?” Caleb said, “What? I have no idea.” I said, “Find out.” Caleb said, “On it.” Lucas said, “Of course. My mother will be beside herself excited about having a pup in the house.” Luna’s Stephanie’s eyes went wide, “I’ll be in your house?” Lucas said, “Yes, I’ve already linked my lead household omega. She knows to prepare a room for you in your own separate wing. Everything Baby Jack needs will be there. My beta has a car waiting outside for you. Two of my warriors will drive you straight there.” Jackson walked in. He handed her a cell phone. He said, “Once you get there…. or even on the way if you want. I put your mom and dad’s number in. As well as Harriot. It’s one of our extras. Don’t worry about returning it. Consider it yours.” 

        She cried, “Thank you…. Thank you all.” I said, “Harriot came to me. She begged me to save you because her dad wouldn’t.” She nodded, “I miss her.” Chase asked, “Do you know the names of those who saved you?” She said, “Yes. I can’t tell you though. I promised them.” I nodded, “Don’t worry about it.” She laughed, “You already know. Don’t you?” I said, “Why do you think that?” Luna Stephanie said, “Because you’re you, Alpha Eric.” After getting a few more details we took her down to the car Lucas had waiting. His warriors nodded to him and took off. We walked back inside. I went back upstairs to change and shower along with everyone else. We didn’t need anyone to smell Stephanie on us. I grabbed other clothes and walked back downstairs. Alpha Prater made a beeline for me. He said, “Rogues have absolved us of this Alpha Max problem. My men will find Stephanie soon. Let’s renew our alliance.” I said, “Get away from me unless you want me to put you in the DAMN ground.” He looked taken aback. Beta Angler led him away quickly. Jackson said, “Subtle.” I said, “I wasn’t going for subtle.” Gossip was running rampant. Everyone was talking about Beta Angler, me, and Alpha Prater. 

        I turned to Caleb and Jackson. I said, “I’m done for to…” I was cut off by the nail on the chalkboard voice, “Eric!” I growled, “Alpha Eric.” Claudia flushed, “Of course. Alpha Eric…. We are friends so I thought…” I cut her off, “I’ve never given you permission to call me anything but Alpha.” Jackson snorted. She glared at him. She leaned forward and touched my arm. I felt a current run down from my necklace and to my arm. Claudia didn’t seem to feel it. She looked at me with doe eyes, “Surely…. you’d consider letting me call you just Eric.” I growled, “I won't, it's Alpha Eric, and I’m going to insist you stop speaking disrespectfully to me by addressing me by name.” She let go of my arm and frowned. She rubbed her necklace subtly. My eyes narrowed. I linked Caleb, “Find Tucker. NOW!” Caleb took off. I turned to leave Claudia grabbed my arm again. I felt the same current down my arm to where her hand was. This wasn’t just any necklace she had. Claudia said, “I’d like to grab coffee with you sometime.” I said, “No, and stop touching me.” I yanked my hand away from her as she gaped at me in shock.

        Jackson followed me to my room. My phone rang. This time Marcus. I said, “Marcus, are Torvi, Haley, and Miley alright?” Marcus sighed, “Yes. I didn’t want you to worry. I didn’t know if you heard Bjourn say she was back.” I said, “I appreciate that. Can you ask Haley what she did to my necklace? I think someone just tried to bewitch me or something...I felt a current coming from my necklace whenever I was touched.” Marcus sighed, “I can try...she’s mad.” I frowned, “Why?” Marcus said, “I don’t know. She won’t talk to us.” I heard him knock on the door, “Haley….” I heard her shout, “GO AWAY MARCUS!” I looked at Jackson in surprise. Marcus said, “Eric wants to know what you did to his necklace.” I heard steps then I heard Marcus put the phone probably into his pocket. I heard the door click open. Haley asked, “What do you mean?” Marcus said, “Eric thought someone tried to spell him. He felt something from your necklace. He thought it stopped it.” Haley sounded panicked, “What did he feel? Exactly?” Marcus said, “A current.” Haley gasped. Marcus said, “What little one?” Haley said, “It wasn’t a spell….it was a charm…. a fairy charm. Why are they trying to hurt him? Who was it? What did they want?” Marcus said, “I don’t know…. I’ll talk to him. No one will hurt your letter exchange friend. I promise.” She scoffed and slammed the door shut. 

        Jackson linked, “She’s mad they are hiding you from her. She must know what you really are to each other.” I said, “Seems that way.” Marcus sighed and picked the phone back up, “I’m sure you heard that.” I said, “I did.” Marcus said, “She’s been like that since they got home.” I said, “I need to go catch the woman...she was trying to get me to let me call her Eric and have coffee. She’s been trying to sleep with me forever.” Marcus said, “Alright. Let us know if you need anything.” I said, “You as well.” I linked Darrin, “Find Claudia Harden.” Darrin said, “She left her as if her hair was on fire after you rejected her.” I growled. We ran downstairs. I went up to the main desk, “Where’s Claudia Harden? Or ANY of the Harden’s?” The clerk said, “They checked out. We had to charge them for the full summit, but they didn’t care.” Dylan huffed, “MAN! Running around with you guys makes me feel out of shape. Do you know how much I’m in the gym and you all have me thinking I need more cardio? What’s going on?” I linked Caleb, “Where is Tucker?” Caleb said, “He was rejected last week. He’s been recovering.” I said, “We have eyes on him?” Caleb said, “I just talked to his brother. He’s with him. Claudia called and said she was in danger…. he sent two scouts, but she wasn’t in the area.” I said, “He’s seen the scouts then?” Caleb said, “Yes, both are accounted for.” I said, “My room.” I told Dylan, “Get your group back to my room.” I linked Alpha Kyle and Chase, “Get to my room.” I nodded to Jackson. He’d get our brothers.

        Once everyone had made it. Lucas said, “Luna Stephanie is settled in.” I nodded, “Good.” I said, “Claudia Harden just tried to use a fairy charm on me.” I held out my necklace from Haley, “My necklace protected me. If you see her…. don’t let her touch you.” Chase started laughing. I said, “What?” Chase said, “I don’t know if her charm works very well. She was all over my beta last weekend. She kept touching him repeatedly…. didn’t do a thing for him.” Beta Matt flushed, “Her voice is grating.” I knew that wasn’t it though. Matt and I hooked up last year. Matt was gay. That’s why Claudia’s charm didn’t work on him. I said, “Did she go after someone else?” Chase said, “Oh she wanted me, but I didn’t touch her. I ran into my office.” Matt snorted, “You almost touched her.” Chase said, “It felt like something was drawing me to her. I was still with my girlfriend at the time. I wasn’t going to cheat.” His girlfriend found her mate right before the summit. Chase was happy for her, so thankfully there were no hard feelings. Matt added, “She went home with one day soon to be Alpha Sophia’s future Beta, Alfred.” Jackson said, “She did a trail run with her fairy charm.” Matt said, “Thank god it’s some charm. Alfred and Sophia have been arguing about it Alfred refuses to hear a bad word about Claudia now. He growled at Sophia and they actually fought over it.” I’d heard they’d had a physical fight where Sophia had to show her rank. I just hadn’t heard why yet. I hadn’t actually cared.

        I frowned. I said, “Caleb, cancel everything we have with the Harden’s. I don’t want them near us.” I sighed, “The question is…. if Tucker is still here…. How did she get the fairy charm? We need to keep an ear out for anyone missing.” Dylan said, “Oh yee of Alpha Blood. You are missing a SUPER important question.” I said, “What question?” Dylan said, “WHO gave it to her?” Dylan was right. That was a good question. Everyone left my room. I went over to the whiskey. I sighed and took a swig from the decanter since…. I’d ruined both glasses. My phone rang. I reached for it smiling. I answered, “Hello Angel.” I could hear the ocean and crying. I was instantly concerned, “Angel? Why are you crying?” She said, “I don’t want to talk about that Thor.” I said, “What do you want to talk about?” She whispered, “Are you ok?” I said, “I’m fine.” She whispered, “Ok.” I said, “You aren’t though.” She was quiet for several minutes then asked, “What do you do when people you love more than anyone hurt you? You know why they did it, and you understand but you’re so angry and hurt.” I closed my eyes, “Angel….” She said, “It’s not fair!” I said, “Oh little fairy…. not everything is always fair. People are people. Every supernatural’s. Sometimes you can have the best intentions with something, and it just doesn’t go how you think it will. If the intent isn’t to hurt, you….” She said, “It’s not...but it does.” I said, “I’d do anything to stop that for you.” She said, “I know.” We sat in silence for several moments. She said, “I need to get back inside before someone asks why I’m out here.” I said, “Be safe. Call...whenever you want, I’ll answer.” She said, “I’ll do that. Goodbye Thor.” I said, “Goodbye Angel.” 

        I laid in bed staring at the ceiling. I growled, “f**k it.” I left my room and went to the room below mine. The smells were still there. Her scent drew me to the bed. I grabbed a pillow and her scent hit me. She’d laid on it. I took it back up to my room and hugged it to my chest. I closed my eyes. I was almost asleep when I heard a knock on the door. I sighed. I got up and opened my door. Jim, Chase, and Lucas were on the other side of it. I didn’t need to ask what they wanted. I handed them the key to the room below mine and held up my pillow. Lucas snatched the key from me, and they took off.  I laid back down in bed and hugged my pillow tight and wished Haley was in my arms tonight. I knew that I was a step closer to her though. I’d heard her sweet angelic voice. I wished, “Someday soon my angel.” I finally drifted off to sleep.