What is this??? Le upload??? WAT! But it's only been three day?!
This for all them people who being ungrateful for uploads -.- saying shit about how long it takes me.... yes it sometimes takes me a month to upload-- but atlest I still do! Bruh, I have a life (Lel no, but I have Netflix) -- (Don't even have Netflix :/)
Load of people not happy with Chris in the last chappie... HMMMMMMmmmmmmm O.o Interstant O.o
ENJOOOYY!!
Chapter 39
Chris' POV
I stared out into the calm nothing, a gentle breeze wafting by as I sat in the warm air out on my porch; the sky almost white from the light emitting from above. I took a deep, content breath as I sat barefoot on our outdoor sofa; watching the tall grass in front of my house sway in the light wind.
A small smile grazed my lips as I spotted two figures a few ways away in the tranquil meadow, both playing happily as I watched from afar. My smile grew as one picked up the other and placed them on their hip, pointing to me happily with the smaller figure in arm and waving with a smile.
I lazily waved back, continuing to merely watch as she twirled slightly on the spot and flicked her long brown hair over her shoulder in doing so, placing the toddler back on the ground and chasing him as he began to run after a spontaneous butterfly.
"You're a lucky man." Cody chuckled next to me, taking a sip of the coffee that Yvane had made for us both but a few minutes earlier. I nodded with a smile, watching my wife play with our child as my best friend and I sat on the light porch in content.
"That I am." I replied, feeling calm and at peace as I sat back in my seat and turned to my right where he sat on the adjoining sofa, "Jealous?"
He scoffed, "Yeah you caught me, after all these years I've been secretly lusting for you; please, be mine Christopher?"
He batted his eyelids exaggeratedly.
I couldn't help but laugh aloud, "I don't know, I mean; I've seen you in the morning."
"Shut up, you'd do well to end up with an ass like mine."
I smiled at his reply, "Sure."
"Chris, stop tempting my husband." A voice suddenly cut across, as Yvane stepped out of the house and came up behind us with a mug of coffee of her own. She was practically glowing, both members of the could wearing light clothing mixed in with a few navy pieces here and there; looking like members of some boy band (only with one female)
"Ah, leave him be. Nobody can resist my charms." Cody declared, as she came up next to me and squeezed my shoulder before making her way to crawl onto Cody's lap, "Especially you."
"Hmm..." She smiled, leaning over and kissing him, "That's true."
I smiled at their exchange, going back to watch the two figures playing a few ways away in tall grass. My heart swelled at the image, my smile growing as my son picked up a dead dandelion and my wife began blowing on it to make him laugh.
"It's good to have family, don't you think?" Yvane smiled, as she began to play lazily with Cody's short hair. I nodded at her words, watching mine in happiness with smiles on their faces.
"Yeah..." I mumbled, continuing to watch them as another dull breeze blew by causing the wind-chimes that had recently been installed to jingle. Watching my child play with a smile, a passing thought struck me as I realised Grace would love to be out playing with him. "Hey, where's--?"
Before I could finish my sentence, a thump and a loud cry tore through the calm atmosphere; causing my head to snap up at the noise and for my body to immediately tense. I stood in worry, scanning the surroundings but not finding the two figures anywhere in sight; my heart beginning to beat a mile a minute as I realised their sudden disappearance.
I threw myself off the porch, landing in the grassy field as I scanned my surroundings but the knee length grass covered anything in sight. My panic began to grow, as I saw nothing but grass however still continued to hear the crying.
Not again...
Turning back to the house in order to gather help, I yanked around with panicked breaths only to find Yvane and Cody gone, and my being alone with the crying growing steadily louder and a thumping beginning in my head.
No, Oh God please not again...
"Danny!" I yelled, turning back to the field with the crying and thumping growing to a point where it was deafening.
"Dann--"
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
Eyes blinking open into the dark surroundings, it took my body a few seconds to adjust before a tired groan escaped my lips, the thumping and crying emitting behind the closed door of my temporary office. I ran a hand across my grungy face, feeling the full on beard beneath my fingertips along with my now shaggy, slightly curling at the ends hair falling against my forehead.
Coughing slightly beneath my breath, I grunted as I sat up on the ratty couch; feeling my throat dry as a bone and my skull tight around my brain. Going into a force of habit, I grabbed a nearby whisky glass off the table and checked if it held any content-- only to find it empty.
Sitting with my knees wide apart, I leaned my head against my propped up elbow and lazily dangled the glass from my fingers; rubbing the part of my forehead that was pounding while wincing beneath my breath.
I needed sleep...
The thumping grew louder, so with an exasperated sigh I slowly heaved myself to a stand and tossed the glass back on the table; not caring if it broke or not. Slumping my way through the attic, I leaned against various pieces of furniture all cluttered with papers and photographs on the way; grabbing a half empty bottle of whisky and taking a swig before placing it back on the table.
Feeling the familiar burning sensation down my throat, I shook my head slightly out of its stupor and continued to the door, tripping over an old shoe as I did and curing under my breath. The knocking grew stronger, along with my irritation, "I'm coming!"
Grumbling beneath my breath, I made my way to the attic door and undid the dead bolt; sliding open the wooden door to find a mid-knock Frankie and a screaming Grace in her arms. "I'm sorry! I've tried everything but she's been crying for hours and keeps asking for you."
I sighed, eyes slowly adjusting to the new found light and taking in the scene in front of me. Frankie's scars looked even more faded than last time, the burns which covered her body from the night that the pack-house was attacked being her most notable feature now. Her hair was shorter than I remembered, with it now being styled as a sort of stylish quiff pixie-cut as she stood with a crying four year old in her arms, who'd calm down once she'd seen me.
"...Alright" I muttered, thinking things over before reluctantly nodding and reaching out to take my best friends' daughter in my arms, "...how's everybody doing?"
"We're okay... are you?"
"... I'll see you later, Francesca." I mumbled, stepping back and closing the attic door once more after contemplating her question for a good few minutes. The answer must've been pretty obvious... Here I was, one of the most feared creatures of the mainland and Alpha to one of the largest packs in North America-- a recluse. Hardly every leaving the house unless to go out and look for... her.
And last time I'd been out of the house was two weeks.
My last public appearance being last year.
"Come on, Baby." I muttered, turning from the door after once again locking it and making my way through the room with a sniffling toddler in my arms. She clutched onto my shirt with tight fists, her tears slightly soaking through my t-shirt as I held onto her with one arm.
Making my way to the window, I decided that I wouldn't make the world as dark of a place as it was for me for her, as she'd already gone through things no four year old should see. This in mind, I yanked open the heavy curtains of the large, circular window which once was the main feature of the room, the sudden light in the periodically dark room causing me to wince slightly. Opening one of the three panels, I allowed some fresh air to enter as the stale air in here couldn't have been good for her, before turning to walk back into the main room while stepping down from the platform which held the hardly touched double bed and was the only way of getting to the window.
Going back to the ratty couch which I was sleeping on previously, I threw the blanket out of the way along with the trash that had gathered there in the past fortnight; brushing them on the floor for now with the promise in my mind that I'd do it later. "How we doing?"
She sniffled, "Not good..."
"No? What's wrong?" I asked, crouching down in front of her as she sat in a pair of leggings and stripy dress.
"I want momma." She replied, her bottom lip wobbling as I brought my hand up to squeeze both of hers. My voice caught in my throat at her words, my mood dropping another level as my chest constricted against my lungs and heart.
"Sweetheart, do you remember what I told you? Momma..." I began, clearing my throat as I shifted slightly on my feet in an attempt to word this properly, "Momma isn't here anymore, she's with your Daddy; remember?"
"B-but why? Why they not with Gracie?" She blubbered, her voice hiccupping as she clutched onto my hand tightly.
"Because Sweetie... your Daddy had to go away, and Momma missed him too much so she went with him." I tried to explain.
"They hate Gracie." She mumbled, before fresh fat tear began rolling down her chubby cheeks. I shook my head, standing and lifting her back in my arms before sitting back down with her hugging my chest.
"Of course not, why would you say that?" I asked, adjusting her figure so she'd fit more comfortably.
She merely made a noise of distress in return, burying her face into my shoulder while shaking her head. I sighed, leaning my head against Grace's while I stared into the room which I had been living for the past two years. I stared at the beige wall in front of me, which held dozens of photographs of the people I loved and cared about over the years. The fire had wiped out the majority of the house, but little things survived such as the slightly charred photographs I had left of my previous life, and miscellaneous pieces of crap that meant nothing now that I was practically alone.
My eyes were drawn to a group photo that had been backed-up on my camera (Which I'd luckily taken with me on the night that it happened), which now hung on the wall in a wooden frame and held the image of five smiling figures. I stood on the far left, with my arm wrapped around the shoulders of Danny and Lucy in the middle. Next to her stood Cody with his arm wrapped around Yvane's waist; all of us smiling as we took the last photograph with all of us together.
Back when they were safe.
Back when they weren't dead.
"You know what, Gracie?" I mumbled, rubbing my thumb across her back as I continued to scan the far away wall of all our past memories. She made a sound of enquiry in return, shifting her head slightly so she could listen better, "I don't think anyone could ever hate you. And the only reason Momma and Daddy left was because they knew you'd have your Uncle Chris to look after you. You'll see them again one day, I promise."
She sniffed loudly, "... Yeah?"
"Yeah," I smiled sadly, tearing my eyes away from the wall to look down at the doey eyes little girl with afro hair, staring back up at me, "So how 'bout you and me go downstairs to get you some juice, eh?"
"...Apple?" She asked, looking up hopefully at the prospect of consumables.
"Apple." I nodded, smiling down at her before standing to change my shirt. I hadn't left the room in two weeks... I guess I kinda needed to change out of the shirt I entered this place with, "Give us a sec okay, princess?"
"Okay!" She replied, sounding slightly happier than before as I slumped my way to the open suitcase in the corner and shifted through my clothes for a cleaner shirt. "Uncle Chris?"
"Yeah, Princess?"
"Is Luna with Momma and Daddy?" She asked, causing my back to tense involuntary. I paused in my search for a shirt, looking over my shoulder to see Grace holding a framed photograph I had of my and Danny together. It was the one she took at the Christmas we had together, where she had kissed my cheek in my unawares while I was smiling to myself.
My chest contracted as I began reliving memories, my throat beginning to swell shut at the thought. I blinked at Grace as she began tracing the picture with her finger, my first instinct being to shout at her to put it down but my common sense taking over. She wasn't doing anything wrong...
In response to her question, I couldn't help but let my eyes wonder to the wall above my desk right to Grace's left; the investigation board that I'd first created now overrun with photographs and possible locations on where Danny could be. I'd connected threats to pins, so the entire thing looked like a colourful spider-web which spanned all across the walls and continued to a mass of document which were scattered across desks and the floor. The entire place was centred on finding her. And it did f**k all to help. Every time we had a tip-off, anytime we had a lead; by the time we got there they were gone-- and so were the buildings. Burned to the ground.
Like my life.
"Maybe..." I muttered, before pulling off my dirty black t-shirt and replacing it with a dark green, slightly cleaner, one. "I hope so."
"Why?"
I forced a smile, "Because then she'd be happy, and with her friends. Your momma and she were really close."
"Oh." She mumbles in reply, as I take a deep breath and run a hand through my hair.
"Alright, Princess-- Let's go get you some juice."
"Apple." She reminded, as I took her hand in mine and lead her to the door.
"Apple." I nodded, unlocking the entrance and sliding it open.
I returned a few hours later, having put Grace to bed early since she was exhausted from crying all day. Going downstairs had been... strange. I was currently residing in Cody and Yvane's old home since I never got round to rebuilding the old pack house; using their attic as my new hovel since I didn't feel right in using their bedroom-- it was theirs after all.
Once I descended the stairs and entered the kitchen, three very surprised and slightly apprehensive faces greeted me; one being Richard, my currently acting Beta, the other being Frankie and the last being Richard's wife Hannah-- who'd been looking after Grace for me while I'd been trying to sort everything out.
Instead of a greeting, I gave a curt nod and placed Grace down on her feet; following her as she scampered to the sink rack to get her clean sippy-cup before turning back to me with a smile on her face. I smiled back, and once I ensured that the container had an acceptable amount of juice in it I handed it back to her with the lid squeezed shut.
The atmosphere felt tense as I sat down on the kitchen island along with everyone; shaking my head when Hannah asked if I wanted a cup of coffee or not. No one spoke after that, until of course I spoke first with questions on the pack as such.
I'd seriously been neglecting my duties.
Another few hours downstairs and I decided to call it a day; returning to the attic and slumping down on my desk chair. I blew out a breath when doing so, staring into space almost immediately while lost in my own thoughts. I gradually moved my eyes up to look at the colourful spider web which was my wall, frowning as I slowly grabbed the framed photograph of Danny and I which Grace had been playing with earlier.
It had been a year and eleven months since I had lost my Mate, and it had probably been the worst two years of my life. Topping that of my problems with the 'other guy' in the mainland, and topping the two years of when we first moved to Earth. Since losing her, I had spiralled into a world of depression, spending the first eight months searching for her relentlessly. I never stopped and never allowed the trackers in my pack to stop, stumbling upon various locations and gathering slight pieces of information on the way.
However, all that stopped on the ninth month.
As that was the month, where I received news that Yvane had taken her own life.
I returned within eight hours, bursting into my old Beta's house to find her placed across her bed and to look as if she was sleeping. I remember dropping to my knees next to her, grasping onto her cool hand while holding back sobs of anguish; not fully believing it was happening. She was such a strong woman... and yet, I hadn't been here in the past eight months to see how Cody's death took a toll on her to the point of taking her own life.
She'd left a note of course, apologising for being selfish and asking for me to look after Grace. She prayed that she would see Danny in the afterlife, laughing happily with Cody and that the three of them would be looking down at me in support. You weren't selfish, Yvane.
So that's when I decided, that I had to calm down the search. That it wasn't just about me anymore.
"I miss you, English." I muttered, stroking my thumb against her kissing face in the photograph before sighing and placing it back on the desk facing down, feeling the all too fresh pain once again blossom in my chest.
With the help of some pretty strong sleeping pills and alcohol, I eventually fell into a fitful sleep, each time experiencing the same dream in which I had previously encountered or the same theme of ending up alone. It wasn't exactly healthy, and I knew that; however a selfish part of me hoped that each time I took the pills that I wouldn't wake up the next day.
But I always did.
"Alpha...!" A vague voice began shouting through my drugged up sleep, a pounding following it which caused me to groan loudly and eventually sit up drearily; blinking into my surroundings. "...Alpha! We've got a situation!"
With dreary thoughts, I vaguely registered that the pounding was coming from the door-- and was in fact Richard knocking loudly and shouting for me to answer. With narrowed eyes, I gradually stood and stared at the door in thought; watching it and wondering what the point of answering was. However, my attention was suddenly averted when I picked up on the sound of a car skidding up the driveway and a series of growls and howls from pack members outside of my house. Deciding to take a look, I stumbled through the mess which was my life and stepped up onto the platform before eventually making it to the window; pulling back the curtains and gazing down onto the driveway at the front of the house.
Parked messily to the right of the house was a rather small, red jeep; surrounded by the pack's warriors with teeth bearing and growls as loud as car engines. They were all glaring and targeting two people who stood outside the backdoor of the jeep as if guarding something; each with weapons in hand and a glare on their faces. Everyone below was panting as if out of breath-- when a thought struck me.
How the Hell did these people get past the defences?
But suddenly, my blood ran cold when the man of the couple spoke up; shouting towards the house a sentence which made my entire body tense.
"Childes! I know you can hear me! And unless you want your mate to die in the next ten minutes, I'd come down here if I were you!"
I didn't need a second invitation.
"Chris for God's sake you can't--" Richard was screaming, as I unlocked the dead-bolt and yanked the door open without mercy.
"Grab the guy." I ordered, before pushing past him and storming downstairs. These people had the audacity to come to my land and lie about things that they had no business in. My blood began to boil as I slammed my way downstairs and out the front door, the entire pack snapping their heads up and looking at me in slight shock as it was probably the first time they'd seen me in almost a year.
"Stand down." I ordered in a low voice, ignoring the stench which emanated from the car and stopping at the door while glaring at the two people in front of the house. The warriors seemed apprehending, but obliged either way; as I quickly descended the front steps and strode determinedly towards them with clenched fists.
They both seemed to compose themselves at my sudden appearance, straightening themselves out and dropping their guard.
Big Mistake
"So you must be Childes, I'm--" The guy began, but I cut him off mid sentence as the second I got close enough I socked him in the face. The guy staggered to the ground, with Richard appearing behind him ready to disarm before holding him back. The woman made a strike for me, but before she got close enough I grabbed her staff and yanked it out of her hold; throwing it to the ground next to us and grabbing her by the throat.
I slammed her body into the car, the guy behind us protesting loudly as she began clawing at my hand, "Who are you? Why did you come here?"
I loosened my hold to allow her to speak, however she merely attempted to kick my legs which I instantly halted by pressing my knees into her thighs. Her next retaliation was something rather unusual, as her dark eyes suddenly began to glow a vibrant blue and the atmosphere around us began to charge.
That explains how they got in then.
"Do you really think that your voodoo crap is going to work on me?" I seethed, my irritation growing tenfold as my eyes began to blacken. I held more dark arts crap within my veins than almost any other creature out there; the most in Earth at least-- something as tedious as 'black-trickery' isn't going to take an effect on someone like me. "Now I'll ask again, why are you here? And you better have a good enough answer because I swear to God with what you said to get me out of here-- you'll be dead if it isn't."
However before she could reply, a light thump caught my attention from next to her; my attention broken for a few second as I glanced up to the noise and did a double take. My vision cleared from it narrow-mindedness, my anger evaporating into shock as my hand dropped to my side along with the woman to the ground as she fell to her knees coughing.
My heart had stopped. My entire body paralysed as I stared at the dirty, dried blood stained hand which pressed against the back window of the jeep; a pair of mismatching eyes staring back at me in fear as she sat limp in the backseat. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe-- I dared not if it was only for me to wake up back in that dark attic, alone once more.
Danny sat in the back seat, absolutely filthy and broken. Covered in grime and dried blood which had been there for God knows how long. She still wore the clothes that she had worn when she was taken from us two years ago, her hair much shorter now to its once almost waist long length. She looked terrified and defeated, but stared at me with such hope that it made me want to collapse where I stood and just curl up into a ball.
I took a hesitant step forward, followed by another and another until I practically threw myself at the door and yanked it open; ignoring the stench emanating from inside and concentrating on the underlying scent which was unique to one person, and her limp form which stared at me with now half-closed eyes.
"...Chris?"