Second Born Son

Turmoil Fought Within and Without

I sigh and run my hands through my hair a few times to try to settle the anger, "Why now? What caused you to finally reach out now of all the times you could have?" I had barely recognized my own voice that came out in a shaky and hollow manner. My father's shoulders fell as he heaved in a big sigh and stepped towards me.

"I wanted you to know the truth behind your mother's death. I know Rian has told you what he remembers Whitley told me about the ability of wolves to remember things from such a young age as they don't have a lot of things to do when we are that young being stuck in a half slumber. Rian is very different because he was awoken early in a need to protect you so he could talk to you ever since but never could shift until you turned 13 which is still 5 years before you are supposed to. Everyone was frightened by the half pup half babe because no one had ever seen it before. That is the main reason the pack keeps its distance because they don't understand you." My father steps towards me and gently squeezes my shoulder in reassurance sensing my unease at the conversation.

"I've known all this, it's hard to hear out loud but I know this," I say softly as Rian whines softly in my head. I could feel how much guilt that he holds for how the pack treats us. I aggressively rub my fist over my heart as it felt like it was tearing with his guilt. All of the sudden I felt two arms pull me against a frail frame and tighten around me.

"I am so sorry for what you have gone through my son. I wish for nothing but to take the pain away," he speaks hoarsely into my ear as he holds me.

I step back gently and take a deep shaky breath, "You said there was something else?"

Father nods, "You already know that your mother was dosed with a mixture of wolfsbane and silver as Rian would have scented it when he came forward to protect you. It was six times the lethal dose for both substances and was injected directly into the IV line that ran to your mother's left arm. She had that line for any medication needed for the birth. The wolf who injected it was a dead end because they took a dose of it as well so by the time we caught them they died. With all of the things that happened on that day we can only think that you were the official target but we don't know why."

"Why target me? I wasn't even the one who was in line for the throne that was always James. He is older than me," I ask confused.

He sighs, "The only thing I can think of is that you are the second born son and that there is a wives tale about the second born son of the Alpha King. This wives tale comes from years before I was born and it stated that the second born son would be the strongest wolf to be, with the crown upon his wolf's brow that appears on his 18th birthday. It is said that when a second born son comes that it is the marker of a war to come and you are the first second born son since the time of the first rumors of the wives tale. This is why I wanted to connect with you on the eve of your 18th to see what you looked like and be here for your shift after the moon rises tonight."

"You want to see if I am this supposed wolf? That I would be all powerful after tonight?! Is that the only reason you came to see me!?!" my voice grew in volume with each word as Rian growled through my voice. I shove my father away from me and snarl. He stumbles backwards into a tree and lets out a huff.

"Do be cautious to remember who I am, boy," he said in a low warning tone as he pushes himself off of the tree and stumbles into a standing state. Rian let out a fierce snarl and came forward just enough to show through my eyes as he sizes up our father. When I saw Whitley come forward I pushed Rian back with such force that it gave me a headache that made my head spin for a second. I grimace as I bend my knee to my father and Whitley before baring my neck to them with my eyes focused on the ground near my knees.

"Forgive me Alpha, I mean no disrespect," I say in a soft voice trying to keep my frustrations out of my voice.

He shook his head, "I explained myself, take it or leave it but you don't deserve to spend tonight alone. It's already 6 in the evening, and the moonrise is at 8:36 tonight, your change should be at midnight. We can sit here quietly, we can talk through your questions, we can talk about your mom or I can give you space until 10:30pm, what do you want to do?"

I turn around and stalk off to my little cave. Rian let out a stern don't follow huff as I pass my father. I follow the river for about 352 yards through dense brush before coming to a thunderous waterfall that has a narrow ledge hidden behind it on the left side that leads into a cave. Once in the cave I wet my hands and rub them over my face.

"Kelton.. what if he did only..," Rian starts to say before I cut him off, "Rian I do not even know where to begin with my questions here."

"I am so sorry Kelton I know that there is a lot going on for us right now. I guess I am just as conflicted as you are. Are we staying here for the moonrise?" Rian asked gently.

"We can't, you know we can't that was an order from him. It might not have been direct where we could disobey if we wanted to but I don't feel like that's smart." Rian nods and retreats to the darkest corner of our mind. I sigh and wash my face anxiously. We had to return to him and let him see us. Why did he want to meet us after almost 18 years, what's so different now, what did he want for me, would he try to kill me as James is surely his favorite, this and so many more questions swirled in my head as I stood here letting the waterfall wash away my concerns.