Blood of The Beast

                                                                           The Heart of A Father     "Scylla has a rare gift. Low latent inhibition," Dr. Peters recited fixing the pencil on his desk for the third time since I've sat in front of him. His tone alone lets me know he had practiced what's coming out of his mouth obsessively before calling me in.     I have known Peters long enough to know that my friend has a deep relationship with OCD. It's worse when he's nervous. Cant' sit still to save his life. It has always been that way. I had noticed right away when we met as pups. His desk was always neat. His clothes had to coordinate. Everything has to be to his idea of perfection. It drove everyone insane. Including himself. Bad news and lying brought out something nerve-racking in him.      "What does that mean?" I asked watching him try to sit still.     "Dylan, her condition is rather extraordinary. This doesn't happen to wolves often. Scylla doesn't see the world as we do. What do you see when you look at this lamp?" he asked motioning the lamp sitting on the cabinet behind him.     "It's a lamp, Peters," I groaned, starting to get irritated.     "If I were to ask Scylla what she sees, she'd give me the brand and type of lamp,"     "Okay?" I asked confused.     "She'd also tell me the pieces of what the lamp is made out of. The bulb watts, the material, the metal, all of it," I sat back in the chair still not understanding why that was an issue. So, she's smart. Has been since she was a tiny little thing.     "Okay, what does that mean for her?"     "Scylla is ahead of her time, Dylan. We've tested her intellectual in many ways. Her IQ is higher than we expect from someone her age. Any age,"     "She's smart," I shrugged. Why is he dragging this out? It's not like him.     "Her intellect is something that is usually expected of alphas who have been trained and have many years of experience. She's exceptional. She understands things beyond me. Beyond what she can learn here with us. There is nothing else I can do here for her," he toyed with his pencil again.     "So, what do you suggest? College? I don't understand," I began to try and fit a more mature setting for my daughter all while feeling pride settle in my chest tightly.     "Scylla is going to need more than just educational intellect. She's gifted, my friend. Gifted beyond wolf capacity and she's barely twelve,"     "f**k," I sighed catching on. "You're trying to sweeten me up, Peters?"     "I've spoken with alpha Wright about this. He's the one that brought her to my attention," he didn't meet my gaze this time.     "Okay?"     "Your daughter isn't like us," tears brimmed his eyes as he looked down finally just picking up the pencil in his hands twisting it, trying to find anything that would keep him from looking up at me. "The rest of this assessment will be given to you by the alpha. Dylan. I am so sorry my friend,"     The door behind me was opened. I turned to see my little girl walk in with a small smile on her lips. Her eyes lit up like they usually did when she saw me. She's small for a twelve-year-old. She's always been a tiny little thing.     "Hi, daddy," she greeted politely.     "Hey princess," I smiled. She walked over to me, taking my hand.     "What are you doing here so early?" she asked.     "I'm here to talk to alpha Wright, sweetheart,"     "Narolin," I looked behind her to see Brian the pack's second in command. He motioned me to follow him. "Scylla, stay with Dr. Peters for now. I'll come to get you once the alpha is ready to see you,"     "Yes sir," she bowed stepping away from me.     I smiled at her before following Brian out into the hall. He didn't dare look at me. It had been a very long time since I had walked through the packhouse. I had been a teen then. I had lived here with my parents as a kid. They had been the betas before Brian's family was established. My dad had come to an agreement with his father regarding his status before he had died. I never took him on to take the title back because I love being out on the field. Paperwork was never really my thing. I'd rather fight than be stuck behind a desk.     Felipe Wright and I had grown up in these very walls. Competing against one another. Brothers. His grandfather had united my parent's pack with his in an alliance. We were both been the only children of our parents. We used to be close. That is until I found my mate at fifteen and joined the ranks as a warrior. Another soldier for Alpha Wright and I had settled for that so as long as I got what I wanted.     "Dylan," I was greeted.     "Alpha," I acknowledged him bowing in respect at the doorway before stepping into his study.     "Come in, man," he waved me in motioning me to sit across from him. He didn't stand, he just waved me over. It was natural for him to act this way but forget about ever doing it to him. "You look good. It's been a few months. How have you been?"     "Please, Felipe. My daughter," I sat down impatiently. He nodded taking in a deep breath before sighing heavily. The angst and anger in me are starting to rage. My palms are becoming uncomfortably hot and clammy.     "Dylan, did Peters explain her condition?" I nodded. "Okay. I have no pleasure in telling you that she can no longer be part of this pack,"     "What?" I asked in disbelief. "She's a little girl. My daughter. What are you saying that you're kicking us out because she's a little different than the other pups?"     "It's not a slight difference, Dylan. Your daughter. Scylla is anti-social. She never says a word unless directly spoken to. Her teachers are afraid of her. The other pups won't even glance her way. My kids tried to include her and she became aggressive,"  I sat back understanding completely.     "So, that's what this is about?" I asked standing up. "You're afraid my daughter will take all of this from him. You scared she's going to turn F.J. into her b***h,"     "Watch your f*****g mouth," he growled meeting my challenge. "My son will not have a rogue pup in his ranks. I've made arrangements for her,"     "Save it, Wright. Did you really think I'd stay here without her? She's all I have left. If she goes I go,"     "You're my best fighter, Dylan. My best friend. You don't have to go,"     "Aphrodite gave her life for your mate when the Luna was pregnant with your son and your daughter. Scylla lost her mother at four months for him. You're a piece of s**t," he didn't say a word nor did he move as the door was reopened behind me and my little girl was escorted in. I looked down at her as her big gray eyes looked back up at me.     From the moment she had been born she had been different. Even to me and my mate. She was too small for a pup of her rank. My heir. Even now, she has the body of a tall eight-year-old. Those pale silver eyes had not come from me or her mother, the pitch-black hair, the pale creamy shade of her skin never changed. Not even after hours of playing out in the sun.     "Sir, I have behaved as you asked," she spoke lowering her head in submission just as we are all taught. Her two pigtails fell over her shoulders.     "Never lower your head like that to anyone again," I growled lifting her head. She looked at me startled and then back at Wright.     "Daddy, he's an alpha," she whispered as if to remind me.     "He is an alpha, baby, but he's not your alpha. You don't bow to anyone. Not anymore,"     "Dylan," Felipe growled.     "It's a fine base you're laying for your son, Wright. Taking any real challenge before he has a chance to face it. I would never have guessed you'd lose your balls like this. Let's hope your kid never comes across mine again,"     "Hey, Dylan," we all turned to look out the doorway to see Luna Abigail walk in.     "Luna," I greeted without bowing to her. He tensed not liking it. The tension in the room is becoming hostile.     "Hey, pretty girl," she beamed twirling one of Scylla's pigtails. The ringlet wrapping perfectly around her finger. "What's going on?"     "Come in, Abigail. Dylan was just leaving,"     "I'm not going to ask again," she demanded catching onto the tension between us.     "We're leaving," I announced. "Alpha Wright believes my daughter is a threat to what he has created for your son. Since there is no room for her here. There won't be any for me either," she flinched away from my tone.     "What the hell are you doing?" she turned to look at him angrily.      "What I have to," is all he answered.     I looked at Scylla and took her small hand in mine. She quickly wrapped her little fingers around three of mine. There is no f*****g way I'm going to give her up. I had submitted my ground to this pack out of sheer will. My family had allowed his, to be the leading family after my grandfather lost his mate in the war against the Shadow Wolves. It's doesn't mean I've forgotten.     "I'm sorry, daddy. F.J. pushed me. I didn't mean to hurt him back," she cried as I lead her out of this place.     "Scylla, I want you to listen to me. You are not to feel bad for standing up for yourself. I know you understand what just happened. We were not kicked out because you were bad. We were kicked out because you're better than them. All of them and anyone to come. Always remember, they should bow at your feet not the other way around. The only man you will submit to is your mate and even then. He'd have to earn it. Understood?"     I picked her up into my arms. Her little legs wrapping around my waist and her arms wrapping around my neck. My little girl began to cry. Her tears soaked through my shirt as I packed what she and I would need until we reached our destination. No one would ever make her feel this way again if I had a say in it. I have a genius in my arms. This girl will change the world and I'll be damned if someone tried to do anything to change her fate.