Alfred. Who the hell was Alfred?
Julia stared at the little bold 'SOLD' sign. Sold. To Alfred. It made her furious and it took all her willpower to not throw the monitor out the window. He had to be one of Kale's Pack, that was all she could assume, because who else would bother? Except for one of the Australian Pack and they'd have told her.
Levi returned, she smelt it, and he leaned against her so he could shut the monitor off. He hugged her hard, leaning against her. “Sorry. I shouldn't have stormed off.”
“Oliver went somewhere too.”
“To tell Randy and Susan. He told me to come back and stay with you.”
Ah. That made sense. She stood up and wrapped her arms around Levi, who leaned against her, his breathing fast and panic still there. Julia tried to breathe. “We have to... meditate.”
“Not now.”
“Well, burn incense.”
He rolled his eyes and she led him to the couch, making him sit there, while Julia wandered around trailing white sage smoke all over the place. She wasn't sure why. She knew it was a 'bad energy cleanser' or something but she loved the smell too.
It was only just starting to get dark. Julia felt someone behind her and saw Evie following behind, hanging onto Julia's skirt, watching her. Julia glanced back, expecting to see kids covered in flour, but they looked clean. That probably had a lot to do with a fresh set of clothing.
“Can I wave smoke around?”
“Okay, but be careful, the smoking end is on fire and burns you.” Julia carefully gave Evie the little stick and bit her lip. Evie wasn't silly, she knew to avoid the fire part, but she trailed after Evie just in case as Levi accepted a book from the big kids.
“Dinner will be in fifteen minutes.” Andy called. “Julia, can you get the table ready?”
She blinked at him. Dinner? But they had to, kids and stuff, and Julia tried to do that. Andy must have known what was going on with David, of course he did, but that didn't change that the kids needed fish and chips tonight.
Evie gave Julia the smudge stick back and she carefully dropped it back in the little sand basin, sticking it up on the top shelf, before she tried to get plates out. Evie wandered after her, helping, until they more or less had enough for everyone. People would have to sit on the couch too but that was okay.
Beth, Yasmine, Selene and Anita followed Ben up more or less perfectly on time. Julia sat there at the table, kids eating carefully as Andy reminded them to watch out for bones, quiet. Beth reached out and held her hand under the table.
Julia picked at her food, barely thinking about it, more interested in the slices of potato than the fish. She watched them eat, mind far away with David, watching the darkness settle over the island slowly. It had to be dark up in Victoria already. If someone had paid the bounty then that didn't mean they'd get him straight away. Right?
Oliver was back. She blinked. When had he come back? He was heading straight for the study, or attempting to, because Susan was quick to jab him towards the table with a fork. "Get your dinner first. Eat with your kids."
He did what he was told. Sat down, eating, and Julia went back to staring.
Somehow she didn't freak out. Andy got the kids back into the living room to re-watch the movie about the dragon, they wanted to watch it again, and Julia headed quietly for the study.
"So Alfred's bought David?" Susan said softly. "You sure?"
"Site says it. Any news?" Levi was saying, sitting back at the computer, the screen back on. Maybe the food had calmed him down a little now. He reached out to pull Julia against his side, kissing her waist, clearly not caring that his mom was right here in the room with him.
"No news. Emilia, where is she?" Susan seemed distracted. Very distracted.
"Not sure. Ask Ben."
"She went to put the cages out." Andy called. "She said she'd eat some fish with us later if we saved any."
"Andy, I need to talk to you." Susan grabbed Andy's arm. Julia watched the two of them head outside. Oliver wandered in and leaned against her back.
The phone rang. Levi grabbed it, fast, Oliver tensing behind him.
"Yeah? Okay." He slumped, breathing out, and Julia felt the relief bleed into her, fill Oliver through her, the three of them calming down. "You got him. It's okay, Alpha. They got him. Next plane. Bring the bastard here. Both of them."
Levi stood up, hanging up, and hugged JUlia hard. "It's okay."
"Fuck." Oliver swore softly, leaning against her back. "I'll let them know." He went to go after Susan and Andy, practically running.
"An hour and a half. Maybe less. Maybe a little longer." Levi said softly, kissing Julia gently, stroking her hair back. "We'll get the kids ready for bed, clean up the house, get the washing done."
She smiled. That sounded like old Levi. Old domestic Levi. Julia pushed him down into the chair, straddling him, kissing him harder. His breath hitched against her lips, arms tightening around her, Julia almsot wishing she could drag him into a room and ...was it crazy to want to sex him up right now?
"Kids. Julia." He sounded almost regretful, gently pushing her up, nuzzling against her neck.
They did just that, washing, cleaning, kids in the shower, Levi's hands roaming a little more than they had for weeks. Julia kept listening for the phone, or for a plane, Oliver ducking in and out over and over in an attempt to make sure that he was keeping up with the kids and whatever was happening outside.
She felt exhausted by the time the kids were in bed, like she could curl up for days on end, so relieved. But Julia couldn't quite relax until she saw David in front of her. Levi yawned, paced up and down, clearly more or less in the same state she was in.
The plane had them both rushing for the runway at the same time as Oliver and Susan, Emilia already there waiting, and to Julia's shock she saw Emilia had a gun in her hands. Okay. Um. That wasn't expected.
"Why do you have that?" Julia hissed.
"They're bringing back the bastard that bought her." Emilia replied lightly.
Julia didn't get time to answer. The plane had started to head for the runway, wheels down, and nose up slightly. She waited with baited breath as the plane slowed down and threw the breaks on fast.
The wind made the plane shiver a little, Julia's heart leaping into her throat, the gusts making her velvet skirt dance around her legs and her hair go crazy. She leaned against Oliver's warm side, using him from shelter from the wind, hand still tight in Levi's hand.
When it stopped, she ran at the plane, nearly getting knocked over by the door and the stairs dropped down. Tim appeared, a sleeping David in his arms, and lowered him into her arms. Julia almost burst into tears. Inhaled, smelt, tried to find something that was wrong, but there was nothing.
Just David.
Levi collapsed against her side, pulling a sleepy David into his arms, kissing him again and again as Julia backed up.
"Everything's fine." Tim called. "Where we we sticking these two?"
"Pack Boat's the tempary prison for now." Randy called. "Who we got?"
"A pair of North American Mutts."
"Hey, screw you, I'm a rogue." A voice called, smooth, slightly offended sounding. "My brother here?"
One of the men, an older man with balding hair, scowled as he was shoved out. He was gagged. Clearly not the one complaining. A pair of fighters dragged him down the hill for the boat.
The next man that jumped out was with Tim, hands bound, long brown dreadlocks reflected in the light of the plane. He was dragged away, complaining about brutal authertive measures, but it was when he passed Oliver that he froze.
"Hey, here he is." He grinned at Oliver.
"Huh?"
"My brother. Look, these aren't needed, so-" The man's bound wrists suddenly snapped the handcuffs, to Julia's shock, and he grabed Oliver in an embrace. "Hey there, bro."
Oliver shoved him back, yard, Randy and Tim stepping forward. The man held up his hands. "Chill, dudes. Just embracing my bro. This must be the Alpha." His eyes had locked onto Julia. "You're famous, you know, two husbands. Respect."
Julia gawked at him. Levi vanished down the hill with David quickly, clearly not trusting him, the man glancing back and forward.
"What, no one tell you about me? I'm Alfred. So you must be Julia. Love the skirt." He gazed approvingly at Julia's dark green velvet skirt. “Go you, earth sister.” He went to high five her, which Julia ignored, grinning. Oliver stepped between him and Julia, arms crossed, glaring at him. Alfred just blinked at him. "Relax, bro. Spreading the free love around. Can't say I like the idea of marriage or I'd offer to be her third.”
Oliver looked like he was ready to punch him. "I don't have a brother. Stop calling me that."
“You do have a brother though, bro, like. An actual brother. Me in fact. Didn't anyone tell you?” Al stared at him.
“We know who your father was. Oliver, don't trust him.” Emilia snapped. She was still holding the gun tightly.
“Yeah, me too.” He fixed Emilia with a dark look. “I know who my father was too. Oliver's father.”
“No, the man that raised you.”
“Oh, him. Well.” Al frowned and scratched under one dreadlock. “Can't say he'd be a father. He just popped in for some demotivational talks about power and being strong and how I had to get better. That kind of shit. Granny was the one that raised me. Totally supported me running away."
“That bitch?”
“Hey, my Granny isn't a bitch.” Al snapped. “I don't know who you think you are-”
“Her daughter.” Emilia retorted. She almost seemed to like the shock in his face. “So I know who I am and I know what she is.”
“Oh, you must be Aunty Emilia. I only saw photos of you with blonde hair.” He raised an eyebrow.
Oliver gawked at him openly, and at Emilia, staring at both. Whatever shock he'd gone into shattered as Emilia openly accepted him. “Wait, is he my-”
“He is. Older than you by an hour exactly.” Emilia crossed her arms tighter. “Your father gave him to Kale out of stupidity.”
“Because Kale made him, you mean. I know the story.” Al snapped. “Duh.”
“Oh, you know the story?”
“Yeah, Kale told Dad he'd either have to give up Oliver and Mom and me, or just me, or give up the Pack. You spend enough time around Kale to know why he chose just me. Granny told me. She was there.”
Oliver just gawked at them both, leaning against Julia, and she stared at the man. Even in the moonlight, she was starting to see it, this resemblance. Not perfect- Alfred had long brown dreadlocks, tattoos, and was a good six inches taller than Oliver. With Oliver being already six foot three that was saying something. But they had the same face, except for Oliver's narrower chin, and similiar shaped eyes.
"Hang on." Julia spoke for Oliver now. "Emilia?"
Susan cleared her thought, uncomfortable. "Um. We're sorry. We were forbidden from mentioning his name."
"You knew?"
"Everyone old enough to remember me would know." Al said cheerfully. "So. Am I getting a prison cell or a bedroom in my bro's house?"
"Neither." Emilia glared at him. "You were raised by Kale, we're not trusting you."
"This again?" Al groaned. "I told you. Old man was a bastard. Is a bastard, I should say. So when mom died I-"
"You knew mom?" Oliver's voice was quiet now. Very quiet. Dangerous. Julia gently rested a hand on his lower back.
"When she was brought to the Northern Pack, I met her. Granny made sure of it. She stayed with us. Kale made her pretend to be a nanny but Granny told me the truth and I pretended to not know in front of anyone except her." Al's smile had faded now. "I knew her."
"She died."
"I know." Al's good mood had vanished now, he was quieter, staring at his brother. "I know she died. Kale made me watch him shoot her."
Oliver's fist connected with Al's face, hard, and Al went crashing back. All six foot ...eight? Julia grabbed Oliver and yanked him back.
"Fuck, man, chillax. I told you. I got the fuck out of there the second he turned his back and I haven't looked back. I couldn't come to you though so I-"
"Why not? Dad would have wnated to see you." Oliver spat.
"Because if I did, Kale would have attacked."
"He did attack." Julia muttered. She saw Susan and Emilia exchange glances. "Emilia's right though, isn't she? We don't know to trust you. You tried to buy my son."
"Hey, just protecting my nephew. I followed you all to Australia and have been guarding the kids for a few years now. I live outside Melbourne airport. Watch it. Work in it as a security guard." Al got up slowly, brushing leaves off him. "Anything you want, just ask, I can prove I'm on your side."
"Fine, prove it by going peacefully to the boat with our Pack Protector." Julia ordered.
He nodded, turned, and headed down the hill without another word.
Julia moved closer to Randy, speaking softly. "Get infomation without ...hurting him too much. In case he's telling the truth."
"I'll get all the things he's willing to offer, check it out, and then we'll see how much more he needs to give." Randy nodded. "If we need to be more ...forceful, I'll come to you first." He went after Tim and Alfred, arms crossed.
Oliver was shaking. He stared at Susan, at Emilia, his face black with fury. "You knew I had a brother?"
"Your father refused to hear his name ever again." Susan repeated softly. "We thought we'd never see him again. Julia, you make sure David's fine."
"I'll check for news from South America." Julia greeted the Sydney Alpha as she jumped down, looking amused, shaking her head.
"Good to see you again too, Julia. Don't worry. We'll talk properly in the morning. Your husband is already leaving."
Julia turned to see Oliver already heading down the hill for the Pack Hall. She sighed. "See you in the morning then."
"Julia, we'll have to talk to you in the morning." Susan called.
Julia nodded, glanced back at the plane as it was unloaded, then hurried after Oliver as fast as she could.
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A/N Thanks for reading! Please remember to vote!
Meet Oliver's brother- Alfred. :)