Chapter 13
1869 Words
(Magnus)
I slammed his back against the concrete wall and heard a loud c***k.
He grunted from the impact and panted as his body slowly healed itself. Unfortunately the wall could not.
We were in a large supply closet tucked away in a dark corner of the meeting hall building.
"You. Did. What? Why?" I growled, extending my fangs as I pressed him harder against the wall.
I could see my gold irises reflecting back at me and fear flashed across his face.
Noone wanted to meet Amicus. Especially during the day when he was sleeping.
Amicus was biting at the chain under the surface, hungry for blood.
Damon had this guy's buddy up against the wall next to us, watching in fear. They not only ransacked my Animus' office but they could have been caught!
If these fools blew our mission, I was going to kill them.
"A-after you dismissed us this morning, Selene came to us."
"Selene?? Why?"
"S-she wanted us to search that office for some kind of research done by a...J-Jerry and Alma Miller. She told us Mikal had intel saying that was their old office...and she offered us extra treatment for our mother as a reward."
“Mikal?” I blinked.
My growls stopped and my anger slowly fizzled out.
I felt my features return to normal but I still held him up by the collar and let out a long sigh.
Bloody Mikal! Didn't even trust me enough to get this done.
I'm gonna kick his ass when we get back!
"Selene may be Lycan but she is nothing but a Council member. Your loyalties lie with the Lycaon, or have you forgotten?"
I let him go and he caught himself against the wall but didn’t get up. He looked young but strong and so did his friend. They both had dirty blonde hair, left slightly long and boyish features.
I paused, watching him, then stuck my hand out to pull him up.
I felt bad already and I rolled my eyes to myself.
He warily took it and stood, looking ashamed.
"I haven't forgotten, Magnus. I'm sorry, we thought we were doing the right thing. We are both sorry" as he gestured to the other guy that Damon had also released.
"Joseph, is it? And who's your friend?"
"Yes, I’m Joseph and this is my brother, Jacob. He really wanted to come on this mission to Tectum so I brought him along with me…."
I sighed, pushing the guilt away and my eyes turned grim.
"The information that Selene disclosed to you and your brother is very classified. Noone else knows about it. Chances are - she might try to have you two killed to cover it up."
Damon and I looked at each other as the brothers became speechless, most likely thinking of their family back home.
"But don't worry... I won't let that happen," I added but the boys didn't look convinced.
"You can join my pack and the invitation is extended to any of your family. We can perform the ritual upon our arrival home. That is - if you want to. The choice is yours," I offered.
We had three packs within the Archivio as well as the general population of humans.
Being part of one meant that you were under the protection of your Alpha so if Selene so much as hurt one of them, she would answer to me.
His brother's eyes widened a little as I looked him over but I gave him a nod so he would relax.
"We won't do it again, Lycaon" Joseph said clearly, doing his best to look me in the eye.
"And….we would very much like to be a part of your pack. Thank you, Lycaon," Jacob said, speaking up for the first time.
"If Selene comes to you again, let her believe you will do as she asks. But come report it to me. It is of utmost importance, this mission, to us all. Including the humans. I hope you understand."
They nodded and looked at eachother, trading looks.
"What is it? Spill it," Damon grumbled.
"I just remembered...Selene mentioned something else."
"She told us about another office we needed to check. She suspects it may be there if not in the Miller’s office, the research you are after," Jacob finished.
Excitement made my heart begin to race and my breath hitch in my throat.
This could be it. We could finally put an end to all this!
"Boys...we have your first mission. And you will be rewarded handsomely for it," I grinned.
We all leaned in and discussed the plan quickly as time was of the essence.
Once we finalised it, the two brothers left to get started as Damon and I slipped back into the meeting. Just as we walked in, they were discussing something about a sharing of medical and combat training between the two settlements.
Damon leaned in slightly so only I could hear, with a smirk on his face.
"Really? The two of them plus family to join the pack?"
"What? After beating him up AND knowing Selene may kill them, I had to do something to make up for it," I whispered back.
"Hmmph. The big bad Magnus has gone soft."
……………………
The meeting adjourned for lunch not long after and they led us all to the cafeteria inside the Medic Corp since it was the largest.
Damon left to keep an eye on Selene and I followed the scent of sunshine and roses.
My Rose was probably still in her office and this was confirmed when I could hear her talking to another person a few doors down.
I silently walked up to it and leaned against the door frame, listening in on their conversation.
"Do you think any of the Archivio men would want a little Tectum fling while they are here?"
The woman she called Calliope was sprawled across a chair with her feet in the air and head back.
Her long raven braids trailed across the floor and into a little pool.
Andy opened her mouth to answer but her friend beat her to it.
"Yeah I think I'll go find me one. Do you think any of them are Lycan?? I haven't been with a Lycan before, funnily enough."
Andy was sitting at her desk, shaking her head with a grin and putting things away but I was transfixed.
Her wavy dark locks fell to one side and shone under the lights. Her beautiful amber doe eyes held so much love and laughter that I just couldn't look away. I have only met a few people who had found their Animus but they never mentioned it would be like this.
I found myself wanting to be with her every second of the day, holding her and adding to her happiness.
But she doesn't know who I or what I am and just the thought of telling her scared me more than anything.
She stood to her feet, about to stretch and she caught me staring from the doorway. She was out of her office attire and into some dark grey fat pants with white runners and a black tee.
Our eyes locked and a bright smile slowly filled her face.
I wish I could wake up to that every morning for the rest of my life….
Get this mission out of the way and you might just! I snapped to myself.
"Maybe I'll go find that same guy from Saturday night. I hope he's single because home-girl ain't no home-wrecker! Where do you -"
I forced my eyes away from Andy's to see Calliope now sitting up, her mouth gawking.
"Afternoon ladies, did I catch you at a bad time?" I said with a lazy smile.
Looking over at Calliope, she made a few incoherent sounds before she rolled out of her seat and stood next to Andy.
"No you're just in time! Calli, this is Magnus. You met Saturday night but I'm not sure if you remember?"
"THIS is Magnus?!" she managed to get out.
"The one you briefly mentioned you had a few drinks with? THE same Magnus?"
"Hello, it is nice to meet you. Again?" I said, a little unsure if what she was saying was good or bad.
"Uh-huh and you too" she said quickly. "Uh Magnus, could I please have a moment with my friend? It will only just be a minute" she said sweetly.
I just chuckled and walked back into the hallway. I walked halfway down and stopped by the wall but tapped into Amicus's hearing to eavesdrop.
I felt bad but I needed to know if Calliope was for or against me.
"Uhhh Andy, why the HELL is there a man who looks like he was carved by the freaking gods about to have lunch with you and I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT??!"
"Calli! Shhhhh! He might hear you!"
I like this Calli, I thought to myself.
"He's pretty far down the hall so don't you worry. Well??"
Andy was silent for a second and I only just managed to catch her mumbling.
".....he is pretty handsome, I guess…but he is from the Archivio so it's just a friendly lunch. Nothing more."
"Pretty handsome?? More like pretty damn fine…And why is him being from the Archivio a problem? Do you think he has a friend…?"
I heard shuffling so I made my way back to the doorway. I had heard enough to know that her friend wasn't against me and was starting to feel a little uncomfortable listening in.
"I have Yann to think about and long distance isn't really my thing. He probably has a lot of friends that you might like and you never know - you might find someone special?"
Yann? Who the hell was that?!
I reached the door just as Calliope pouted and murmured, "I'm all the special I need."
"Ready?" I smiled.
She smiled back, already by the door and quickly tied her waves up into a messy bun. "Yeah, let's go."
"See you around Calliope. It was nice to meet you. Again."
"Mmmmhmmmm" she dragged out as she watched us, hands on hips.
I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as Andy led us back to the cafeteria.
"Your friend is sweet. She really loves you."
She raised her brows, smiling as she turned back to me.
"She's a character alright! And there is nothing I wouldn't do for her,” she said confidently.
She grabbed us a tray filled with sandwiches, fruits, muffins and juice then found us a seat near the back.
As we dug in, her friend walked in and started harassing the cooks for some treats.
She saw me watching the commotion and swallowed her bite.
"Calliope joined the Militia with me when my parents died and we have been sisters ever since. She has done so much for Yann and I."
This 'Yann' again. Who is he to Andy??
Jealousy took over me and I just couldn't help myself.
"Who is Yann?"
- Writer
