Mine

Chapter 5

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be like this for him.” I mumble bitterly. She needed me to be strong for her, like I always should have been. Sitting up we face each other from across the small tiled space. Reaching out, I wipe her tears away and instantly she leans into the curve of my hand.

“That’s just stupid!” She closes the space between us, climbing into my lap I hold her as tightly as a child does their favorite teddy. Her head rests on my shoulder as she hugs me. “It’s okay to care Nate.”

I can’t hold it in and she lets me stay holding onto her as I cry for him, no longer holding back as all the good memories take over and they are what hurt more than anything else.

-x-

It’s nearly midnight when I get up out of bed, careful not to wake Sylvia. She rolls over with a tiny sigh, the frown deeply imprinted on her forehead. Twice she had woken me by moving about restlessly and I wonder what she dreams about. I don’t have to think hard, I know. Since we arrived here, she had slept more peacefully, as if all her worries had gone and now it was like I had wound back to the clock.

Finding my phone on the counter in the kitchen, I hold my breath and checking one last time to make sure she was still asleep moved to the balcony off the living room. Dialing the number I pray hasn’t changed, then again I don’t know what do if there is actually an answer.

“Hello?” The voice is tired, raw with emotion and finding the ability to speak, my own is much the same.

“Dean, it’s me.”

“Nate?”

“I heard about Dad.” What more could I say?

“Yeah, what do you want?” It sounded more like an accusation than a question and I instantly felt myself getting defensive, but let it go.

“How are you? How is Mum?” 

Silence.

“Dean?”

“She hasn’t left their room and refuses to accept that it happened.” He sighed, defeated.

“And you?” I don’t know why I cared.

“Surprised mostly. It was a heart attack, he was fine and then in minutes he was dead. He started drinking a lot when you left, the doctor had come out last month to try and get him to slow down and look after himself better.” He paused, and I’m not sure if I heard him choke back a sob or not. “It wasn’t meant to be like that Nate.” Again I felt like I was being blamed for something they forced us to do.

“How was it supposed to be? I let you kill her?” I growled, ignoring the pain of my wolf wanting to break through and flexing my free hand the canine like claws retracted.

“You’re family and apart of this pack! You’re not meant to leave for something like that girl! You should come home. Mum will forgive you. It might make all this easier for her too and when I take over you’ll be second in command as it should be.”

“And Sylvia?”

“You don’t need me to tell you the answer to that. The funeral is in three days for the next full moon. I would advise you come home and pay your respects to Dad, to your Alpha. If not, don’t think we don’t where you are Mr. Robinson.”

The fact he has used the fake name Aiden’s Uncle created for me has my blood running cold. What else did he know?

“Is that a threat?” I challenge, but it doesn’t matter. There is no one on the end of the line and without thinking I crush my phone in my hands. Dropping the pieces onto the floor, I ignore the cuts and bits of glass that have wedged their way into my skin. Sylvia is standing there waiting for me as I storm inside and from the look on her face, she must have heard some of that conversation.