Eclipsed Hearts

Homework, Plans, and Distractions

[Ian]

After activities were done, I studied my plan while the kids all parked in different places around the living room with their own homework. Some were doing schoolwork, others were working on crafts, so they wouldn’t disturb everyone else. Fern glanced at me repeatedly as she held the yarn for her brother. He was making hats and scarves he would give to the schools when they did their warm clothes drive.

I knew she wanted to talk about the hunter I met last night, but we didn’t want to scare the children. They weren’t old enough to understand that I was a hunter to support us and keep us safe. They knew I went on trips and that I was a warrior. Everything I’d learned in training when I was young, I taught to the kids. When I was away, Fern ran training in the evening.

The neighbors even asked if their kids could join our ‘at-home self-defense’ lessons. It made us a little extra money since we didn’t charge very much and our neighbors were just happy to have an activity they could afford for their kids. I had each of them sign a paper saying that they wouldn’t sue if their kids got hurt, but was otherwise okay with training the little humans how to protect themselves.

It made us popular enough with the neighbors that they helped take care of everyone. The story I told them was that they were all my little cousins and there had been a disaster at a family reunion. I was the only surviving adult and fought hard to get custody of the kids. The neighbors believed we bought the property with the insurance money and lived off a mix of that and my work, which I told them was as a security consultant.

Once they heard I was a security consultant, it was easy to see why I was teaching the kids self-defense and they were a lot more lax about the cameras and security lights around the property. My responsibility was to keep the kids safe, and people often praised my dedication and sense of responsibility.

“Ian, we need to talk,” Fern hissed, breaking the happy silence.

“We can talk after I get home from work tonight, Fern,” I replied with a smile.

She didn't miss the deadly look in my eyes. She needed to stay quiet for the good of our pack. Her scowl almost made me laugh.

Fern was my Beta because she was stronger than Jaden, but she had never proven herself against me. It was something that made our wolves bristle at each other. I knew we’d have to fight for the leadership of the pack one day, but today wasn’t that day.

From my experience, most twins were born with one dominant. The belief in my pack, when I was young, was that when the twins were developing, one got all the protective qualities while the other got all the caring qualities, making them two perfect halves to a whole. I was sure the truth was simpler than that. One pup got more nutrients by no fault of their own and the connection they felt with their twin made them more protective, which led to a dominant personality.

Fern glared at me, her eyes filled with determination and frustration. She knew I was avoiding the conversation she so desperately wanted to have, but she also understood the importance of keeping our secrets hidden from the children. With a sigh, she nodded reluctantly and turned her attention back to the children, keeping a close eye on their progress.

As the afternoon turned to evening, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss. The air felt heavy with an unspoken tension, and I constantly scanned the surroundings, my senses heightened. Being an Alpha meant being prepared for any danger that might arise, and my instincts were telling me that trouble was right around the corner.

I put my plan away and went to prepare dinner for the kids. As I stood in the kitchen, chopping vegetables with precise, deliberate movements, I couldn’t help but wonder what had sparked this unsettling aura. It was rare for me to feel so on edge, but my instincts rarely led me astray. The children seemed oblivious to the tension, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they worked on their projects or pulled out games.

Fern stepped into the kitchen, concern etched on her face.

“Ian, something doesn’t feel right,” she whispered, her voice barely audible above the clattering of pots and pans.

“What’s bothering you, Fern?” I asked softly, keeping my voice low so the children wouldn’t overhear.

She sighed and leaned against the kitchen counter, her fingers nervously tapping against its surface. “Last night, when you encountered that hunter woman.... What if the reason the Damons sent her was because they know who and what we are? What if they sent her to get in with you and find out where we were.”

I’d never told any of the kids what my father did. They didn’t know it was his trusting and hopeful nature that doomed our pack to destruction at the hands of the Damson family. I realized the similarities to the loss of our pack. The only difference was that I had to rely on a Damson, but my dad just trusted that his kindness would be returned.

“You’re talking as if I hadn’t thought of this. As soon as I heard the Damsons were sending someone to assist with the hunt I went over every possibility in my head. Our pack is my priority. I’m already planning on killing her after we take care of the asshole rogue who’s putting our family at risk. What more do you want from me?”

Fern sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Ian, I know you’re doing everything in your power to keep us safe. But we can’t afford to be complacent. We need to be vigilant and ready for anything.”

I set my knife down and quickly pinned her to the counter, my face incredibly close to hers, not giving her the option of looking away. A growl rumbled in my chest.

“You think I’m not vigilant enough, Fern?” I snarled.

She shook her head, her eyes widening in fear. “I didn’t mean it like that, Ian,” she whispered, trying to wriggle free from my grip.

I let her go, taking a deep breath to calm myself down. I had never lost control like that before, not even when I was facing my enemies. It made me feel like I was slipping, like I couldn’t keep our pack safe anymore.

Maybe Fern needed to take over, and I should just go back to being a bit of muscle. If our pack hadn't been wiped out, that's all I would have been, anyway. I wasn't cut out for leadership.

Fern came over and took my hand with one of hers while putting the other on my cheek and making me look at her. Her soft blue eyes conveyed a deep caring that I knew was more than simple platonic affection. When I was pinning her, she might have looked scared, but I could smell her arousal.

She’d had a crush on me since shortly after I got us settled. When she’d turned eighteen, she’d tried to entice me into doing more than simply sleeping next to her. She didn’t understand when I told her I would never see her that way. Fern was beautiful, but she was like a little sister to me. I couldn’t see her as anything else.

But as I looked into her eyes now, I saw a different longing. It wasn’t desire; it was a plea for me to see her as an equal, as someone who could share the responsibility and burden of leadership with me. I felt a pang of guilt for ever dismissing her feelings. Perhaps it was time for me to reconsider.

“Fern...” I began, my voice filled with uncertainty.

“Shh. It’s only been a year since you rejected me. You need to give me time to find someone else to live up to your standards. This isn’t about that. Not that it didn’t give me a little thrill, but I know it’s never going to happen. Let me help take care of our pack. Let me find out more about this Damson woman. I can get more information and you can be ready when it’s time to kill the bіtch,” she whispered.

Fern’s words resonated with me. I had always been so focused on protecting our pack that I hadn’t realized how much I was holding her back. It was time for a change.

“Alright, Fern. You have my consent,” I said reluctantly. “But be careful. You know the Damson woman is dangerous.”

She nodded, her face lighting up with determination. “I’ll be extra cautious. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

As she left the kitchen, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Perhaps allowing Fern to take on more of the active responsibility would help.

Dear Goddess, protect that girl. Losing any of my kids would kill me.