Run! The Black Wolf's prey.

Chapter 22 - The confession

“Explain yourself.”

Warren was leaning back in his favourite armchair in the library, with both feet on the desk, his arms crossed. His eyes were glowing like fire, and he was obviously struggling to stay in control as he waited for an answer.

“What do you mean?” John tried to keep his cool. He had known that this conflict was bound to happen. He was not going to lose his temper! That would only make things worse.

“You know very well what I mean. You told us you were coming back as soon as you had finished whatever that was going on over there in the city, and we expected you to be back on Saturday. Instead, you showed up here, in the middle of the night, Between Sunday and Monday. And you didn’t even answer any of our calls!”

“Last time I checked, I was a grown-up man, father. I don’t have to ask for your permission and you don’t get to decide when I am coming home.”

“I am your Alpha,” Warren snarled. “You're supposed to follow my lead. We are counting on you! You must prove yourself to be trustworthy. You are soon to take over here, you cannot just come and go as you please!”

“I didn’t,” John knew he was walking on a thin thread. “I told you. I had unfinished business, and I would come back as soon as it was sorted. I never said I would return on Saturday… Or Sunday, for that matter.”

The two of them were staring at each other, neither of them willing to look away.

“Will you tell us what this very urgent problem was that you had to deal with?” Rebecca entered the room with a concerned look on her face.

“I think I told you over the phone,” John grumbled.

“Tell us again,” Rebecca spoke softly. “Nicholas story is quite different from yours.”

“I saw him in the city, and I knew he had no business there, so I followed him. He was stalking a girl, all the way to a club, where he attacked her. I confronted him, and then I gave her a lift home.”

“And then..?”

“What do you mean?” John frowned.

“Cut the bullshit!” Warren interrupted and stood up forcefully. “Tell us what is going on.”

“Warren, wait.” Rebecca pursed her lips, giving Warren a warning gaze. “Let John explain.”

“I don’t think there is anything that needs explaining,” John was uneasy about the interrogation, but tried to stay calm. “I needed to talk to the club managers, and make sure the girl wouldn’t press any charges against Nicholas,” he lied.

“And that’s the reason you kept her in your apartment the whole bloody weekend?" Warren roared, walking towards John with threatening steps, his eyes glowing with fury. Rebecca quickly stepped in, placing herself between them, holding Warren behind her back. John’s wolf reacted immediately to the hostile atmosphere, fighting to emerge, and his claws were itching underneath his fingertips.

“That’s not your business!” John snarled. His eyes narrowed as he had a realization. “How do you know anyway? Have you been following me?”

“You didn’t answer when we called, John.” Rebecca smiled apologetically. “We sent Bran to find out why. He was told not to disturb you in any way, but he was waiting outside your house. He told us he saw you driving a girl with long blonde hair and a dark blue dress from your apartment on Sunday evening. And that sounds very similar to Nick’s description of the girl you say he was harassing at the club.”

“He WAS harassing her,” John scowled. “She did not appreciate his advances.”

“And you just happened to bring this girl home with you? It sounds like you were jealous of your brother and wanted his ‘fling’, as Nick said.” Warren’s voice was cold as ice. “Not that I can understand why either of you would want to get involved with a human? This is totally unacceptable!” Warren was walking back and forth in the room with brisk steps. “I thought you were better than this, John. I am deeply disappointed with you.” He stopped, rubbing his face.

“You should just have told us the truth, John. You know we cannot accept lies within the family,” Rebecca frowned. “And your father is right, your and your brother’s behaviour is very inappropriate. Besides, what if something had happened to the pack? What if we were under attack and tried to get hold of you? You know we live in quite unstable times.”

“That’s true, I’m sorry… but I couldn’t help it…” John let his guard down, looking at his mother pleadingly. “She’s not just any human, mother. She’s special. She is…” he hesitated, not knowing what to say.

“Oh Goddess,” Rebecca’s eyes widened. “You... You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

“I...” John was blushing for the first time in his life.

“He WHAT?” Warren’s gaze wandered furiously between Rebecca and John. “No, no, no. This is not possible. John, tell me it isn’t true.”

“It is.” John lifted his gaze, chin up, and looked Warren straight in the eye.

“This is ridiculous,” Warren snorted. “We have your trip already planned, and you will go look for your mate next week. I will not hear of this human girl again!”

“There won't be any trip! I don’t care about finding my fated mate anymore!” John snapped.

“Nonsense!” Warren walked out of the room with frantic steps. “Talk some sense into your son,” he snarled, looking at Rebecca, before he slammed the door.

The room became silent, and Rebecca sat down in one of the armchairs by the bookshelves. She ran her hand over the fabric, it was soft and velvety with a rich purple colour.

“Sit down, John,” she sighed, motioning him to sit in the chair next to her. John did as she asked, his eyes still fuming.

“Tell me.” Rebecca looked at him with a sad smile.

“What do you want me to say?” he replied defensively.

“Tell me why she’s so special to you.”

“She just is,” John exhaled, dropping his shoulders. “I noticed her the first time a few weeks ago. At first, I just thought she had this wonderful scent, which she does, it’s really… captivating.”

“Go on,” Rebecca nodded,

“And then, she started to grow on me. She’s a doctor too. She’s really bright and great at what she does. And she's very attractive… you know, jaw-dropping beautiful.” John relaxed and started smiling as he continued. “But she’s also fun to hang out with. I haven’t had such a good time for ages! We laugh, and we…” he couldn’t continue as he was thinking of their bedroom activities, but as his mother looked into his eyes, she understood and blushed.

“I see…” Rebecca cleared her throat. “I am so sorry, John. I understand this must be very difficult for you. But you know you cannot continue to be with her.”

“I…” John’s eyes were full of pain, and Rebecca hated herself as she continued.

“I know you think you have found love, maybe for the first time in your life, John. But she’s human. She would never be accustomed to our way of life. It would be very difficult for both her and the pack, and she would definitely not be accepted by the tribe. We would lose our status within the tribe, and our pack would become weak and very susceptible to outer threats. And what happens if you one day find your true mate? Or if your human girl stops loving you? Then we would have to kill her.”

"What? Mother?!" John looked at her with shock.

“You know we cannot risk humans finding out about us!” she argued impatiently. “We’re already fighting this battle, our lawyers are working day and night, trying to extinguish all human threats. We cannot have a clever heart-broken girl running around, telling the world that there is a separate society of werewolves among them.”

“I’m sure it wouldn’t come to that, mother…” John arched a brow, he had a hard time believing Isabel would ever betray him.

Rebecca looked at him calmly. She knew he would be stubborn, but she had to make sure he understood the consequences of his actions.

“You also know that you would not be able to have a family with her. At least not a wolf family. She will not give you any pups! Which means that either, you will find another wolf to be your chosen mate and Luna, and you will keep your human girl as your mistress, or you will not have an heir… Which means that, eventually, either Nicholas or Chloe would have to step up.” Rebecca paused.

“I love all my children,” she continued. “But Nicholas… Is difficult. He’s very unreliable, and as you know, he cannot control his wolf. He easily gets carried away. And it seems like he has a crush on the same girl as you.” Rebecca sighed. “This, too, will of course be very difficult if you brought her here, to our home... It is Nick's home as well. You must see how impossible it is for you to keep seeing her.”

John didn’t know what to say. He knew his mother was right in everything she had said, but it was still very hard to swallow.

Rebecca was gazing out the window. She sensed Warren had left the building, and she turned back to face John again.

“My son, I'm going to tell you a secret. No one knows about this, not even your father…”