The War Of The Mallapers: A Rejected Werewolf Story

Chapter Twenty

Leyla 

I had caught up with Uncle Reed and told him about my meeting with his father, my grandfather. I thought he would be surprised by the request his father made but he wasn't. He just nodded his head and looked at me differently. I can't quite work out what was running through his mind, he seemed troubled, like there was something bothering him. However, before I could even ask him if he was alright he walked off in the opposite direction. It was like he couldn't get away from me sooner. I thought I might be imagining things but Amira seemed to agree with my observation. 

The only reaction that was predictable, was my mother's reaction. I could see a million emotions race through her eyes. It reminded me of Nona, she always said 'the eyes are the windows into the soul'. At first mother looked shocked at my request, then the slither of anger seeped in. I knew she was angry because she thought that her father had used me as a means to get her to speak with him but when I explained that it was a coincidence, she seemed to ease up. I could sense her reluctance at wanting to see and speak with her father more than she had already done but when I expressed that it seemed important, she agreed to attend. I also told her that Reed would be coming as well, she relaxed. 

There was an innate need that wanted me to ask about my grandfather, about her family but something held me back. I didn't want to cause her more pain than she was already going through. I knew that it was a sensitive issue, especially after the small interaction I witnessed between her and her mother. It was weird that I didn't feel that connection with her that I felt with my grandfather, again it was unexplainable but Amira simply shooed the matter. 

The sunlight started to settle, the darkness of the night started to enclose the land. I didn't have much to do, other than practice my new abilities. I knew that I could control water, but the land was parse and dry in the mountains. Although their was water in life, I didn't feel morally right to use that life to initiate my power. Amira too was hesitant, I couldn't help but remember Selene's advice that with power comes choice and how we use it is extremely important. Just because I held these gifts, didn't mean that I should use them. 

My mind wondered to my actions to the battle between the Mallaper's and the Royal Army. That had been the first time that we had used fire, a part of me enjoyed the power and control I had but there was something unsettling about it. It was like I tasted the sweetest wine ever, the taste swirled around my mouth and flowed through my blood. I couldn't help but think about how the itch to burn something was simmering below the surface. A part of me wanted to talk to someone about it, but both me and Amira were weary in who knew about the powers we welded. How could we explain the pull to use and manipulate elements was something that rivalled the mate bond I shared with Ryan?

Since using my fire ability, Ryan had barely crossed my mind. It was like he was something insignificant, the pull of our mate bond seemed to diminish. I knew he was in the pack hospital being treated but I felt no need to be close to him, to check on his well-being. Before if he was in danger I would have run and jumped in front of silver bullet for him, but now it seemed like an obligation rather than a want. Even when I tapped into Amira's thoughts and feelings, she too felt the bond with Reginald snag. 

Silently, the family of three made their way to the unusual stone gazebo. Honestly, I didn't know how to explain or describe the place where I met and spoke with my grandfather. Even though it was stone, it looked like marble. There was something illuminous about the place. Amira could feel the energy, the power that coursed through the structure. Everything about it was inexplainable to the average werewolf, I was curious about whether my mother and uncle had the same feeling. 

"When will the Alpha be here?" My mother questioned. Reed seemed just as distracted as I was but simply replied. "Soon. I can't imagine father will leave us hanging here for long."