All for destiny

Chapter 3

Harry

I stood in front of the house and took a deep breath. I didn't really want to go inside. I knew what would happen already - Mum would cry and gush about how much she missed me, and Dad would usher me into his office to discuss my trip. I gripped my bag tighter. I was the future Alpha of the Black Wolf Pack and had been working for my Dad, the current Alpha, on the situation surrounding the wolves.

Just get it over with... Whyatt, my wolf, encouraged. I exhaled before forcing myself to make the walk across the grass towards the front door. I awkwardly considered knocking on the door and just turning the door handle and pushing it open. It had been so long since I had been home that it felt strange.

In the end, I didn't have to decide. Jerry and Logan had spotted me walking across the lawn and came bouncing out of the house. I sometimes felt jealousy for my brothers. Their carefree, pressure-free existence seemed wonderful. Anything seemed better than the forced violent life that I had been pushed into. I wiped the weariness from my face to greet my brothers with a smile. They didn't need to know the pressure that I felt from our Dad every day.

"You're home!!" Jerry squealed as he jumped up at me.

"Sure am!" I smiled down at my younger brother.

"Good to see you Harry." Logan nodded, patting me on the arm, trying to be cool. He was at that age where showing too much emotion wasn't cool.

"Come inside! Mum has been waiting. She made blueberry muffins for you." Jerry said excitedly. I knew instantly that Mum had told him he couldn't have any until I got home.

I dropped my bag by the door and followed Logan through the house to the kitchen.

"Oh! Harry!!!" Mum gushed when she saw me. She raced across the room and wrapped her arms around me. As if on cue, I felt the wetness of tears on my shoulder as she clutched onto me.

"Hi Mum." I said, placing my hand on her back, waiting for her to finally release me from her grip.

"This time was too long. I am going to tell your Dad. Next time you cannot go for so long." Mum blubbered.

"OK." I chuckled, thinking about the tears and snot that would now be covering the sleeve of my shirt.

"Can we have those muffins now?" Jerry asked eagerly.

"Oh, OK you animal!" Mum groaned, finally giving in.

"Yes!" Jerry and Logan exclaimed as they ran to the kitchen bench.

"Harry." Dad nodded as he walked into the kitchen. He must have heard the commotion.

"Dad." I nodded back.

"Put your stuff in your room and have a shower. We have to go to the Great Woods Pack tonight to have dinner." Dad stated, picking up and muffin himself and popping a bit into his mouth. I noticed Mum's face drop.

"Sure." I replied, turning to grab my bag again. I could hear Mum and Dad talking as I walked to my bedroom.

"Are you sure we can't postpone? He only just got home." Mum whined.

"It is happening Sally." Dad said, his voice indicating that he had made his decision.

"I am sure Georgie and Theo would understand." Mum pushed, not taking no as an answer.

"Sally. We are going. Halow is coming over in half an hour to watch Jerry and Logan." Dad snapped. I heard his footsteps retreat out of the kitchen as I walked into my bedroom.

It was exactly as I had left it. Only, covered in a thin layer of dust now. I grabbed the towel that was still hanging on the door and threw it into the wash basket in my bathroom. I fetched a fresh towel from underneath the basin and threw it on the towel hook beside the door.

I closed my eyes as the hot water flowed across my body. It had been so long since I had had a proper shower. The showers in hotels are always never that hot and the water pressure is never more than a dribble. Sharing a bathroom with six or seven guys was also not ideal.

"Harry! Hurry up!" Dad yelled from downstairs. Instantly, the calm feeling that had taken over my body was gone. Quickly, I jumped out of the shower, dried myself and went to my wardrobe. Grabbing my black jeans and black t-shirt, I ruffled my damp hair so that it flicked to the side instead of over my face. I could hear my Dad's voice in my head, 'Haven't you heard of a razor?'. I knew it was coming but this was one thing I could decide and he couldn't have a say about. I would be lying if I said a large part of me decided to keep the stubble across my chin because I knew Dad hated it.

I jogged to the front door where I knew Mum and Dad would be waiting.

"About time." Dad groaned, opening the front door and walking out.

"You look lovely honey." Mum smiled, pushing my hair back slightly.

"Did you lose your razor while you were away?" Dad asked with a huff. I couldn't fight the smirk that appeared on my face from the satisfaction of his comment. I had predicted it.

I didn't say anything. Just shrugged and slipped into the backseat of the car.

"How long is the drive going to take, Tim?" Mum asked, clicking her seat belt and opening her book.

"Just over an hour." Dad stated as he started the car. I rolled my eyes. Just what I wanted to do on my first night home, spending two hours in the car with Dad.

"So, tell me what you got done in regards to the rogue situation." Dad insisted, clearly talking to me. This is what I was worried about. I knew this conversation was coming. I also knew that whatever I said, it wouldn't be good enough.

"Are you going to answer me?" Dad repeated, a little gruffly.

"Oh leave him alone, Tim. He only just got home, you will have plenty of time to talk shop when we are back home." Mum defended me.

"I don't send him away on these tasks not to find out what was accomplished. This is important for the protection and future of our pack. Don't coddle him Sally!" Dad snapped.

"Fine." Mum muttered, turning back to her book. I shook my head. I knew this conversation was happening now.

"Well, we located a few rogue groups and dispersed them." I explained.

"Dispersed? My instructions weren't to disperse them, they were to annihilate them!" Dad growled.

"We annihilated the groups which attacked. The groups which were appeasing and able to be worked with, we moved them along." I added.

"Bloody hell Harry! How long were you away? Sounds like you accomplished nothing!" Dad spat the words. I could imagine his saliva spattering on the steering wheel.

I remained silent. I knew there was nothing I could say to calm him down. I also didn't want to re-live the numerous wipe-outs that I had to carry out as soon as one rogue produced a weapon of some sort. The faces of the people I attacked haunted me frequently and even reminding myself that it was for the good of the pack did nothing to stop them. Probably because I didn't really believe it.