My Stepfather's Darkest Secret

Divine guests

Dante’s Pov

Whiskey ate at the stripped walls of my guts. I could see frustration trembling beneath the skin of my balled fist. Alcohol tamed the raw rage burning in my flesh.

The thoughts of meeting with the divine guest that was to come unsettled me.

I hissed to myself. “What could be so important?” I questioned my numb mind, leaning over my study chair, touching my head with the cold glass of whiskey.

I took a swing at my glass, throwing my head back to shake off the sting. Instead, I felt an overwhelming ring at the back of my head that forced me to shut my eyes.

They are here. The divine guests. Hold up…

ALL six of them??!

It was rare to have all of the six divine guests gathered in one place. Not because it wasn't entirely possible. It was extremely dangerous for everyone involved.

I sprayed my mouth with a mint spray. Spitting the condensed mist into an empty can. I had no intention of giving Modaine something to yap about.

I pulled my study door apart, catching Isabella in time before she opened the door. I tugged gently at her shoulder. “Allow me.” I insisted telepathically.

I threw a glance at the girls standing by the entrance leading towards the dining room. They looked visibly nervous. Seemed I wasn't the only one anticipating their arrival. To think they didn't have the slightest clue of the force that was about to be invited into our abode.

I pulled the door open. Six strange faces stood before me. This time, they were younger than the usually selected hosts. Four men and two young women, all having the same chestnut brown hair. There was always a creepy similarity about their choice of host.

“Well?” One of the ladies stepped forward. I rolled my eyes ever so slightly knowing exactly who she would be.

“Don't let us get sucked dry out here, serving as dinner to these bloody mosquitoes. My host isn't immune to malaria.” Modaine pushed past me, staring around the mansion. She was the oldest divine guest. The only ancestor who honored my coronation the night I was granted the throne of Aruria.

Fiklik pulled me into a hug. I could tell he was the one by his breath heavy with the scent of peanut. “It has been a while son.” He grinned at me.

“You found your way to some peanuts before you found me tho.” I grinned back, pulling away from the entrance for the rest to come in.

It was weird watching the face of a strange young man call me ‘son’. But I knew it was Fiklik. The rest walked into the house and I locked the door behind, signaling Isabella to put up the masking spell.

They were a huge beam of light for the enemy's moths.

“I am—”

I cleared by throat to gather their attention away from Laura and in my direction. They made the poor girl shrink into Cassie’s side.

“As I was saying. I am incredibly honored for having the presences of all of Aruria’s divine guests under my roof.” I ushered them towards the dining area.

“Even though this feels a tad dramatic having all of you here at once.” I watched their faces. They were mostly neutral, except for Modaine who wouldn't stop piercing her focus in Laura's direction.

Isabella gave me a warning glance.

Everyone got seated before their already served dinner.

“Do you know why we all came here?” Modaine spoke up after the room quieted. I least expected a question in reply, but coming from Modaine? It was typical.

She was closer to the last alpha, and saw me as nothing more than a power hungry psychopath. I understood though, because that's exactly who I was.

I smirked a bit, staring back at her square in her unnaturally bright blue orbs. “I don't know, Modaine. I was hoping someone was going to tell me eventually.”

The young woman rolled her eyes. It pissed me off. I feared if I ran into her when she was no longer a simpleton host, I would slap that slim neck off her shoulders.

“This is a serious matter, Dante.” Rodad spoke up. He possessed the body of the oldest looking man amongst the six, some bloke in their forties at least. He was the Baster amongst the six divine guest, responsible for sewing their consciousness into the host. The number three rank.

“Rodad.” I acknowledged him. “I am also serious.”

“The girl is literally seated with us on the table right now!” Modaine eyeballed Laura until she began to squirm in her seat. Looking everywhere but directly opposite her where Modaine sat.

“She doesn't know…” Modaine figured it out, sending an accusatory glance my way. I rolled my eyes, joining the table at the posterior end, facing the entire gathering.

“Let the girl have her birthday dinner. She has the rest of her life to deal with all of you.” I glanced at Laura to spot her reaction. Her eyes bulged wide and her mouth hung open. I shook my head in pity for what was to be expected of her—and for her.

Her friend, Cassie on the other hand, wasn't supposed to be here.

“Cassie, give us a second. And go as far away as you can. You would be summoned when it's time.” I said to her. She excused herself at once, exiting the room without looking back. You could see the desperation in Laura's form as she itched to join her best friend. I didn't frown at her cowardice. I permitted it for the night.

“Laura. Breathe.” I snapped at her.

“Am I in trouble?...” Her voice trembled.

“No—”

“Yes!” Rodad and Modaine countered me in sync, shifting the air in the room. I could smell the fear and dread oozing out of Laura. Her eyes glistened as she looked to me for clarity. I sighed, shutting my eyes. I needed the buzz of whiskey to wear off before I said something stupid to people who could make my life hell if they wanted to.

“You are not in trouble, Laura.” I held her eyes as I spoke. “There would only be trouble if you don't take what I would be telling you later on, seriously.”

I could hear the pounding drum that was her heart. She was scared to the bone. “Don't lie to the poor girl.” Modaine said to me.

“She doesn't even know she's a werewolf and there are forces of darkness out there, ready to destroy her limb by limb—”

“ENOUGH!” A loud pounding of my fist against the table caused the room to shake.

Modaine was taken aback briefly, prior to resting back against the dining chair, wearing a neutral gaze.

“Careful boy. You don't want to ruffle the wrong feathers.” Her voice layered over, sending goosebumps down my spine. A reminder of our power dynamics.

“My apology, Divine Modaine.” I balled my fist on the table.

“But…she's just a girl. Barely turned 18 and she's absolutely clueless of the world she comes from. Let me be the one to put her through. I ask that the council enjoy their dinner for the night and maintain a state of merriment for the time being.”

They all looked around at each other, obviously communicating telepathically. But if I listened hard enough, I could hear them. They agreed to let me be the one to disclose it to Laura.

“Thank you.”

I asked for Isabella to fetch Cassie and Corey before dinner officially began. At the end of it, Laura was yet to say a word or touch her food.

The divine guests took their leave. Before they left, Modaine spoke to Laura, segregating her from the crowd like she didn't want me in on whatever it was they were talking about.

Laura rushed up the stairs afterwards, and Cassie followed closely behind and then Corey. Doors banging against its post filled the air soon after. A sigh left my lips.

Isabella also looked very worried. She pulled herself off the counter wall outside the kitchen.

I glared at her. “You knew all six of them were coming and you couldn't inform me before hand?!”

She cowered her eyes towards the ground. “I'm sorry, Alpha.” I sighed. I couldn't be mad at her. It wasn't her fault.

“It's worse than I imagined, isn't it?”

I sighed again. “Honestly, I don't know.” I turned towards my study.

“What I know is that Laura is the key to ending the extinction of our pack.”