Darren is a rogue werewolf with the ability to see the dead. One day, his aunt calls him back to his old pack to help figure out why their children are going missing. Unfortunately this means he has to work closely with the man who bullied him back...
"Is that true?" Jasper's voice cut through his fear, and he glanced at the man who looked skeptic, yet curious.
"And why should I believe you?" Liam asked, his poker face returning. "How do I know you're not just saying this for your own protection?" Darren knew the man was referring to the fact that supernatural abilities were highly valued among packs. Because of this, Alphas had a tendency to lure such werewolves in with promises of protection, respect, and other things. He probably was expecting Darren to ask for leniency in exchange for lending his powers out.
At the same time, the man seemed determined to condemn Darren, and Darren found that his fear was slowly being replaced by irritation. "Because even when I was part of this pack, you never had any interest in protecting me."
Jasper and Liam glanced at each other, confused over what he was referring to. Liam then turned his full attention back on Darren. He waited for the Alpha to say something, but Liam just raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate.
Snorting, Darren decided to let them have it. Glaring at Jasper, he spat. "Why don't you tell him what I was best known for in school? Because apparently my words can't be trusted."
Jasper looked confused. "You were the quiet kid."
"Who talked to himself." Darren filled in the blanks. "Or snapped at people who weren't there!'" He made air quotes over the last two words. "Well guess what, there were people there, you just didn't see them."
The man's eyes seemed to spark in realization as he finally caught on to what he was saying. "You mean, all those times you were talking to chairs, or yelling out of nowhere....You were talking to-"
"To ghosts." Darren finished angrily. "Now how about you tell your precious Alpha why I left? Since the last time I tried to explain what you were doing to me, he sure as hell didn't seem remotely interested." He finished with a glare towards Liam.
Liam cast a curious glance at Jasper who was now standing speechless, either from the realization that his old victim had been talking to ghosts, or the fact that he was being called out, Darren wasn't sure. In the end, he continued. "Come on Jasper! You didn't mind bragging to your friends every time you harassed me. What was it you liked to call me? Schizo Freak? Weird Kid? How about the fact that the day I left the pack was the day you and your friends jumped me on my way home!?"
"That's enough!" Liam raised a hand to stop Darren from his tantrum. By this time he was breathing hard, glaring down his old abuser. It felt good getting that off his chest.
Liam continued to stare at Jasper who was now staring back at him, wide eyed. "I believe we will need to have a separate discussion after this." He warned, to which Jasper remained quiet.
Then he returned his attention to Darren. "Say that we believe you and you do have the power to speak with the dead. You are still a rogue. Before we can trust you at all, I'm going to need to know your whereabouts for the passed six months. I'll have to run a background check."
Six months. That was when the first kid went missing. He wasn't suggesting...? "You're not actually suspecting me of taking the kids?!" He burst.
"Yes, I am." Liam replied calmly. "Because as I'm sure you've heard, we haven't had any luck in this investigation and need to cover all our bases. You are a variable who's been tossed in the middle of this. If we didn't do a background check on everyone involved, then I would be a terrible Alpha."
You already are. Darren thought, but kept his mouth shut. "So what do I do until then?"
"You will be staying here." Liam stood. "We don't have any evidence to have you held in police custody, but I don't like having rogues wandering around while my pack is already on edge. Your aunt clearly can't keep a proper eye on you, so we'll do it instead. At least until we get the results back."
Darren gaped at him. What he heard sounded essentially the same as being held in custody, but instead of at the station it was at the Alpha's house. If he argued, the man could assume he was guilty and turn him in to the police, but if he waited until his background check returned, he could help with the investigation like his aunt wanted. After they figured out what happened to the kids, he could skip town before anyone tried to stop him.
He covered his eyes and shook his head. "Fine. Whatever."
Satisfied, Liam turned his attention to the other man in the room. "Jasper." He put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "A word please."
Jasper's face went white, and Darren watched as the pair walked into another room.
Glancing around, he finally took in his surroundings. It wasn't quite a living room since there was no television, but there was a fireplace at the far end surrounded by bookshelves. As a matter of fact, the entire room looked like a library as the walls were decorated with shelves upon shelves of books, with four sofas scattered around. There was one single long back chair set in front of the fireplace with a painted portrait of the packs first Alpha hung above it.
He tapped his feet a bit, listening intently for any signs of yelling or fighting. He hoped in his darkest of hearts that Liam was letting Jasper have it, but at the same time he knew the man wouldn't do anything bad to the guy. Jasper was Liam's prized Alpha-In-Training after all. Plus the guy was probably gonna sugarcoat whatever he did to Darren.
The time seemed to drag on forever as he waited for them to return and grant him permission to leave the room. At one point he was tempted to slip away, but the presence of the two Betas waiting on the other side of the doors encouraged him to stay put.
Finally the doors opened and in stepped the two Alpha's. Liam was as stoned faced as ever while Jasper looked extremely uncomfortable. The two stood before Darren again and this time Darren got out of his chair to see what they had to say.
"It's been decided that for the duration of your stay, Jasper will be your personal escort." Liam declared.
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