Born in Fire

Chapter Eleven

*Kalama*

Alpha Mason led us to his office, where behind closed doors, Caspian began to explain the situation with Elliot Haynes. Caspian and I decided to leave out the part where I had started the fire with my body. Instead, we claimed that I had escaped the chains and lit the curtains to escape the building, which wasn’t a complete lie, just not the whole truth. Alpha Mason and his Luna had listened to everything. I could almost see their minds twirling with the information. We sat in silence for several minutes as Mason and Mary spoke through their mind-link. Caspian held my hand, and I began to worry.

“What if they decide to not get involved?” Ash huffed at me, clearly annoyed. I bit my lip. Caspian squeezed my hand, as Mason began to speak.

“We’ve had trouble with this Elliot Haynes, ourselves.” I c****d my head, surprised. Elliot’s pack, the Black Creek and now, the Blood Moon were on the other side of Caspian’s territory. I relayed this to Mason, asking,

“Why would Elliot be all the way over here?” Mary sighed,

“At first he wanted to know if we had seen a rogue she-wolf.” Mary winked at me and I couldn’t help but grin back. “Then he wanted to arrange a Marriage Bond, but we have no high-ranked, female members, so we had to refuse. He then offered to train our Warriors, but our Gamma, Roger, does a good enough job, that we didn’t feel we needed him.”

“Since then, we have been getting light-hearted threats.” Mason shrugged. I met Caspian’s gaze, thinking the same.

“How long has it been since he came to you about the Marriage Bond?”

“About two weeks.” I couldn’t help the flinch that came, as Caspian’s growl rumbled through the room.

*Caspian*

           “About two weeks.” Mason said. My anger erupted into a growl that rumbled across the room. Bay howled and snarled in my head, forcing himself forward. He stood, the chair flying to the floor with a crash. He screamed,

           “That sorry son-of-a-bitch.” I watched as he began throwing anything in his path. “Coming after my mate…” A glass vase shattered against the wall. “Thinks he can take what’s mine.” There was a crash as a bookshelf came down. “Threating the family of my Beta.” I could feel his hunger for blood and tried as hard as I could to force my way back. He swatted me back, as though I was nothing, but a fly. “I’m going to kill him.” Bay roared, as he made his way for the office door. I knew there would be no stopping him should an innocent get in his way. A body stepped between him and the door. Through his eyes, I saw my Love. Her brown-orange eyes burned with concern and something else, determination, anger. “Get out of the way, Mate.”

           “No.” Kalama’s alpha’s voice bounced off the walls and I could feel the flinches from John, Julie, Neal, and Jackson. Bay growled. “You bring Caspian back right now, Bay.” He growled again.

           “I am Alpha.” Kalama crossed her arms over her chest, seemingly unimpressed by Bay’s tantum.

           “Alpha, all I see is a pup having a temper tantum.” She stepped forward, sticking a finger in his chest. My mouth dropped, as Bay took a step back. “You seem to forget, that I am Luna and I will be damned if you think I am going to let you out of this room acting with no sense. Now, you bring Caspian back right now, or I swear to the Moon Goddess I will singe the hair on your furry ass.” Bay grumbled, as he slowly withdrew, allowing me to come forward again. I wrapped my arms around Kalama, burying my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her burning embers and cherry scent. I pulled back, there was something else, another smell that seemed to swirl underneath her scent. I opened to my mouth to say something, but Kalama cut me off.

*Kalama*

           I dashed between Neal and Jackson as Caspian’s anger bubbled over, his chair crashing to the floor. I knew Bay had taken over and I was horrified as he began to rampage. My horror changed to anger as a vase shattered against the wall above my head and the bookcase was overturned. I felt Caspian pushing for control, failing as Bay made his way for the door. Ignoring Ash’s lecture about getting in the way, I stepped in front of the door. Bay’s blue eyes, blazed as he told me to move. He was thirsty for blood and I knew that if I let him through that door innocent people would die. I looked him in the eyes, holding my ground. “No.” I felt flinches around the room. Ash purred.

           “Our Alpha voice is great.” I ignored her, my eyes level with Bay’s.

           “I am Alpha.” He raged. I crossed my arms.

           “Alpha? All I see is a pup having a temper tantum.” I stuck a finger in his chest, making him take a step back. I could feel my anger rolling off my body. I was a Luna and I’d be damned if I was going let anybody, especially my own mate hurt anyone that didn’t deserve it. “You seem to forget that I am Luna and I will be damned if you think I am going to let you out of this room acting with no sense. Now, you bring Caspian back right now, or I swear to the Moon Goddess I will singe the hair on your furry ass.”

At first, I didn’t think he was going to listen, but then Caspian wrapped his arms around me, inhaling my scent. He pulled back suddenly, ready to say something, but I cut him off. I gestured to the room.

           “Look at what you two did.” He opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off. “You are just as much responsible as Bay is. What kind of Alpha has no control over his wolf?” He opened his mouth to answer, but I continued. “I don’t want to hear any excuses and I know Bay can hear me. After we finish this meeting and you two better hope that the Alpha and Luna want to help us, or Moon Goddess help me, I will…” I took a deep breath. “You both will apologize to Alpha Mason and Luna Mary and then you will clean this mess up yourself.” I looked at the lower ranked members. “No one is to help him. Is that clear?”

           “Yes, Luna.” They said in unison. I looked at Luna Mary

           “And no Omegas if Luna Mary would be so kind as to spread the word.” She chuckled, as she mind-linked the Omegas. I looked back at Caspian. “Now sit, so we can finish.” He grumbled as he picked up the chairs, placing them right side up and sitting in one with a huff. I took the other. I looked at Mason and Mary, “I am sincerely sorry for the behavior of my mate.” I nudged Caspian with my foot, he cleared his throat, sitting himself higher in the chair.

           “My deepest apologizes, Alpha Mason, Luna Mary. There is no excuse for my behavior and I hope it doesn’t fracture your opinions of me or my pack.” Mason and Mary shared a glance, a small smile tugged at the corners of Mary’s mouth, and I wondered if she were remembering a tantrum of Mason’s.

           “All is forgiven.” Mary said. “Although, I do expect the room to be back in order before you leave.”

           “He will.” I assured her. “Now, before the interruption. Alpha Mason said that it has been two weeks since Elliot came to you with the Marriage Bond?” Mason nodded.

           “That’s right.” I took a deep breath.

           “He was at Green Grove two weeks ago also. He wanted Caspian to hand me over to face punishment for the death of his brother. Caspian of course, refused, he then threatened bad things were going to happen. If he came here and offered a Bond, then he either knows about John and Julie and wants to keep you out of it or he wants you as support.”

Mason rubbed his chin in thought for a moment. “I have one of the biggest packs in the area, so either reason is possible.” He rubbed his chin for a moment longer. “If what you say is true about this Elliot Haynes, a true war could ensue.” Mason quickly glanced at Julie and John. “Green Grove is my daughter’s home, my granddaughters’ home.” He looked back at Caspian and I. “If that bastard wants a fight, then that’s what he’ll get. You have full support of Crescent Wolf.” Mason and Caspian stood, shaking hands.

*Caspian*

           Mason and I spent another hour working out the details. John and Neal got ahold of Ben to inform him of the twenty Warriors that would be arriving in the morning. Julie saw to it that the Omegas were getting the Warrior Cabins ready for the new arrivals and that there would be plenty of food to go around. Kalama had gone with Mason and Mary to supper, while I straightened up the office. A feat that had Bay grumbling,

           “This is ridiculous. We should be with our Mate.”

           “Perhaps we could have been, had you not gone crazy.” Bay growled,

           “Someone is coming after our Mate. How should I act?”

           “According to said Mate. Like you have some sense.” He grumbled, something I couldn’t make out. Then his tone changed.

           “What about the change in her smell? You know what that could mean?” My heart beat a little faster thinking about the possibility, but I sighed, shaking my head

           “It could be nothing, besides, she’s already nervous with the meeting with her parents. I’m not going to add to it right now.” He huffed and went dormient.

*Kalama*

           By the time Caspian was done cleaning the office, it was well into the evening, putting us several hours behind schedule. I hugged the empty container of bean dip and homemade chips, that the cook, Annie had gratefully made me for the ride. She’d even went one step ahead and sent the recipe to Nani at home. I’d spent much of the ride leaning against Caspian, his fresh, rain scent calmed my aching head and rolling stomach, watching the hills roll by. The early morning sun was just starting to peek through the trees as my parents’ territory came into view. The gate opened automatically and all to soon the packhouse came into view. My stomach began to roll again, and I started to regret that last little bit of dip and chips. My parents waited on the porch of the packhouse, and I groaned, sinking further into the seat. Caspian hugged me closer, squeezing my shoulders. “It’ll be okay, Love.” Taking a deep breath, I nodded and took Caspian’s hand as he helped me out of the SUV. I let out a long breath, trying to calm my rolling stomach, squared my shoulders, and walked up the steps, coming face to face with my parents.

My father was still as big as I remembered. However, it looked as though he had aged nearly ten years. His brown hair was thinning, and wrinkles lined his brown eyes. He hugged my mother close. My mother had always been small for a wolf, but now she looked even smaller. Her blonde/brown hair was lined with grey and wrinkles creased her eyes and mouth. My mother’s dark eyes met my own and I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat. “Hello, mom.” She let out a sob, throwing her arms around me and holding me tight. Her tears were hot against my skin. Her body trembled with each sob, as she mumbled,

“Oh, Kalama. My baby. My baby.” I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her close, as tears trailed down my cheeks. I looked at my father. Tears trailed his cheeks. I had never seen my father cry. It made my own tears flow heavier and I buried my head in my mother’s shoulder. I held her until the sobs stop and she stepped away, whipping her face. My father stepped up, wrapping me in hug and kissing my cheek. He pulled me back, whipping my tears away and looked at Caspian. Caspian walked up beside me, extending his hand to my father.

“Dad, this is Alpha Caspian, of the Green Grove pack. He’s my mate.”

“Alpha Phillip. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” My father studied him, looking him up and down, sizing him up, just as Caspian did to him. After a moment, my father took his offered hand.

“Thank you, Alpha Caspian. For bringing my daughter back to us. Elliot told us…” His voice broke as more tears flowed down his cheeks. He cleared his throat, swatting the tears away. “Well, why don’t we take this into my office. Axel will show your company to their rooms, and they are welcome to eat with the others in the dining hall.” Caspian nodded.

           “Thank you, Alpha Phillip. But if it’s okay, I would prefer if my Beta and Gamma sit in also.”

My father nodded, “Very well,” and led us into the house. I stuck close to Caspian as my father led us to his office in the back of the house. Although I didn’t see anyone in the rooms we pass, I felt their eyes and heard the whispers of my name as we passed. Caspian slung his arm around my shoulder, as if to shield me.

“Just ignore them Love.” he whispered. I gave him a small nodded and kept walking. My father’s office was exactly how I remembered it. The carpet was a lush grey that went well with the light blue walls. His big, oak desk sat in front of the bay window. I remembered spending hours sitting in that window, hiding from the many tormentors of my childhood. My father’s office was the only place I could get a moment of peace. Unfortunately, my father was in there a lot doing pack business, making the room off limits frequently, so those moments of peace were far and in between. My father took his place behind his desk, my mother behind him, while John and Neal took spots along the wall at the back of the room. Caspian pulled a chair out, allowing me to sit, before he took the other. I placed my hands in my lap, avoiding my mother’s eyes, which were still wet with tears. I’d been so stupid two years ago. Had been so wrapped up in what I thought was love. Caspian slid his hand between my, clasping my fingers. I took a deep breath, letting it slowly out, and began to tell my parents what had really happened.

*Caspian*

           My Love told her story, filling in details that she hadn’t even told me. I somehow managed to keep my anger in check, however, as I listened to Kalama. I could not believe the horror that Evan had put her though. “It’s a damn shame the bastard’s dead.” Bay growled. “I’d love to be able to rip him apart.” I shared his hungered for Evan’s blood, but he had already paid for his crimes and though it was not me that dealt it to him, it gave me a certain amount of pride knowing that it had been Kalama to do it. I had seen the scars that marked her body, and even though she was just as beautiful with them, I couldn’t help the hurt I felt knowing how she got them.

           When she was done, tears streamed down her cheeks and her body trembled. I leaned over, whipping the tears away and kissed her cheek. Her mother cried to and her father sat quite in his chair, his face red with anger. “You’re sure Evan Haynes is dead?” he growled. Kalama nodded,

           “Yes.”

           “How can, you be sure.” Kalama sobbed harder, taking her hand from mine as fire licked across her palm.

           “Because it was him that I set on fire.” The flames extinguished as sobs rocked her body. “I didn’t mean too, I just wanted the pain to stop and..” Her mother rushed over, wrapping her in a hug, smoothing her hair, and hushing her. Her mother looked at her father, anger in her eyes.

           “I told you this was going to happen.” I looked at them.

           “You knew Kalama could produce fire?” Phillip stood, letting out a breath.

           “Yes, we knew.” he said, walking over to the bookcase and searched through the row of books. Kalama’s sobs had stopped, she looked at her mother,

           “You knew?” she said. Her mother nodded,

           “We knew something was different when you turned one. Most pups pay no attention when the candle is blown out. You seemed to talk to the flame and when it was blown out you screamed, as though you had lost a friend. At three, you torched your nursery. When you were about five, you.” She paused for a moment. “You burned another pup. There was no long-lasting damage, but we knew that we had to do something about you. We started taking you to different pack doctors, none of them had ever seen a wolf that could do what you can. And then,”

           “We found Doctor Matthews.” Phillip came to stand between us, handing Kalama a book. I looked at the title:

“Elementum Lupum.” Phillip nodded.

“It translates to Element Wolf.” Kalama and I looked at each other. “As we all know, the Moon Goddess is who has made every werewolf. It is through her that we get our capabilities: fast healing, heightened senses, our speed and strength, and of course, our ability to take wolf form.” Everyone nodded. The Moon Goddess was someone every wolf knew, and every pup was taught about. Without the Moon Goddess, we would be simple humans. “Well, just as the Moon Goddess lives, so to do others. One such other is a God, Malvo. Malvo had the ability to call to the earth and seas, play with the wind, and summon fire. It is believed that the Moon Goddess and Malvo fell in love and their offspring were graced with abilities from them both. These first were dubbed Element Wolves, each possessing the abilities of the Moon Goddess and one element from Malvo.”

“It’s been over a hundred years since the last Element Wolf walked our land.” Kalama’s mother said. “So, even though Doctor Matthews knew what you were, he wasn’t sure what to do. There were several trails done, until we found something that worked. Plants such as yucca and yarrow are fire-resistant. When you would ingest these plants, the fire in you was suppressed. Unfortunately, the damage to the pack was done. They didn’t understand you and were afraid.”

“We had hoped that once you got your wolf, perhaps it would go away.” Phillip said.

*Kalama*

           I couldn’t believe what my parents were saying. They had known all along what I was and never told me. Had hoped that it’d just go away, pretty much drugging me my whole life. Anger bubbled inside me and without really thinking I stood, throwing the book my father had given me. It hit the wall with a loud bang. My mother gasp,

           “Kalama Riley.” I threw up a hand, cutting her off.

           “You knew. You knew exactly what I was from the time I was little, and you never told me. You thought it was best to drug me, to allow me to be shunned by my pack. My family! Do you have any idea the torment I went through daily? How lonely I was? And why because you didn’t really want to understand? To help me! I bet the pack was a lot easier to handle after Evan took me, wasn’t it!” I was yelling now, something I had never done to my parents, but I couldn’t stop the words. “You don’t even know the half of what that son-of-a-b***h did to me. You want an idea! I”ll give you an idea!” I screamed and ripped my shirt over my head, revealing the scars that lined my arms and trailed over my chest and stomach and down my back. “This is what I had to go through, because you couldn’t take the time to teach me control.” My stomach began to roll and flip. I took a breath, willing myself to not vomit. “It’s your fault that Evan Haynes was able to get to me.” I whispered, throwing my shirt back on and left. I could hear my mother’s sobs but I didn’t care. I ran for the front door, as the flipping of my stomach became worse.

           “Luna, are you okay?” Julie stopped me. I covered my mouth, shaking my head, and ran past her out into the yard. I got halfway to the tree line before I lost the battle with my stomach. With the contents of my stomach on the ground, I continued to dry heave. A hand patted my back. Julie hushed me and gently rubbed my back, until the dry heaves finally stopped. “Are you feeling alright Luna? Should I call for the Alpha?” I shook my head.

           “No, Julie. I’m fine.” I said even though my stomach still rolled. “Just nerves.” Julie frowned and I could tell she was unconvinced. I stood up straight, lightheaded. Julie’s hand gripped me firmly on the elbow, keeping me on my feet. I could see the questions swirling in her eyes, however, she kept them to herself. She placed a hand on my back,

           “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.” I nodded, letting her lead me back to the house.

*Caspian*

           “Don’t worry sir. I have the Luna.” Julie’s mind-link came in not long after Kalama had stormed out of the room. I calmed a little knowing that Julie had her. I stood, unsure what to say to Kalama’s parents. I was just as upset, learning what they, my Love’s parents had done, or rather what little they had done. Kalama’s mother stopped me at the door.

           “Please, Alpha Caspian.” She whispered and put the book Kalama had thrown in my hands. “Give this to her. It could help.” She sniffled. “I know we were unprepared for what the Moon Goddess blessed us with. We failed as her parents, but the Moon Goddess gave you to Kalama for a reason. I know it.” I nodded, trying to push down the lump that had formed in my throat. John and Neal followed as I left. We separated in the hall. Both deciding to go to their rooms to sleep before we headed for home.

I walked around the packhouse for a while, wondering what Julie and Kalama were up to. I soon found myself in the entertainment room. Several young wolves sat around playing video games. A couple others played a game of pool. I walked over to a young she-wolf, who watched to young men play a racing game on the television. “Excuse me miss. Could you tell me where I might find Kalama Edward’s room?” The she-wolf looked me up and down, lust swirling in her eyes. Great. An unmated she-wolf. I thought. She slowly stood, pushing her breasts out. I quickly began to backpedal, my back hitting a wall. She cornered me, pressing her body against mine. Her hand gently trailing my arm.

“Now, what would such a magnificent man, like yourself, want with a freak, like Kalama Edwards?” I growled, my anger bubbling. I grabbed the she-wolf by the throat. She unwittily took my actions as lust and let out a low moan. It was easy to pick her up and slam her against the wall. Her head bounced hard. She started to complain, but I squeezed her throat, cutting off her air supply. I could feel everyone else in the room watching, wanting to attack, but they knew I was an Alpha and to attack an Alpha was punishable by death. Her bulging eyes scanned the room for help.

“Don’t bother.” I growled. “They won’t dare help you.” I heard a gasp, as Kalama’s father entered the room.

“Alpha Caspian. What are you doing?”

“Showing this b***h what happens when you insult the Luna of the Green Grove pack.” I released the pressure around the she-wolf’s throat. She gulped for air. I looked at Phillip. “Something that should have happened here. Obviously, I had no say in how my Kalama was raised, but I would have thought, being the daughter of the Alpha, and thus the future Alpha of this pack, would have earned her respect.” I released the she-wolf, who slid down the wall, clenching her throat. I turned to Phillip, my face level with his. “Were you really so blind, so afraid of your own daughter, that you let her be treated with such hostility and disrespect. It’s truly sick. You thanked me for bringing your daughter back, but after seeing this, I wish I hadn’t.”  I pushed passed him, walking back into the hall and took a deep breath. Kalama’s cherry and burning ember scent filled my nostrils and I knew she was close. I followed the scent back down the hall and up the stairs.