Shadow wolves: A burning desire (Book 5) - Complete

Matt’s POV Walking up the creaking steps of my old house, I noticed that the flower bed she loved so much was now only a barren piece of dry ground. The paint on the house was peeling. I was lucky Ant. cared enough to keep our house for us. He must have known that I would come back eventually. He was the only one who knew I was returning today. I was still a pack member even if I was no longer a Beta. Taking a deep breath and not knowing what to expect, I unlocked the front door and walked inside. Oh, thank the goddess, the house was empty! I was scared one of the girls had bullied Ant into telling them what secret he was keeping from them! He was useless at keeping secrets from them. They would have arranged some sort of welcome home thing, knowing them. I expected the place to be filled with dust, but instead, it was clean and even the kitchen counter didn’t have a speck of dust on it. Maybe one of the girls kept it clean. I walked through to the bedroom and dropped my bag, seeing a picture of us on her nightstand. We had just started hanging out in the picture. Anthony took the picture. All of us went to the amusement park that day. We didn’t have a lot of money between the lot of us so we sneaked in. It was the day she told me she loved me and I bit her. She was so angry with me. I don’t think I have ever seen a redhead that angry. She knew how werewolf males were and me being me I didn’t ask her permission. I turned around, leaving the room, when tears started filling my eyes. Wiping my eyes, I walked into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Anthony said he would give me time to settle in this afternoon, but he expected me to report to the big house just before sundown. Even with him permitting me, the pack still had to vote and I had to see my son. I walked through to Erik’s room. The last time it was used was when he was a baby. If he decided to come to stay with me, we would have to fix it up for him. If he wanted to stay in the packhouse, I would arrange with Anthony to give the house to a family and I would also move into the packhouse. Today was going to be an overwhelming day. I took another deep breath and walked back into the living room. A tough day I didn’t think I was going to have to face. I planned to just disappear, hopefully into one of those forests where they have guerrilla wars and maybe just become another casualty. Instead, I ended up working for Pat on his ranch. He saw the pain in my heart while I was in a bar in their town making my way to …, I guess nowhere specific. He invited me to join his crew on his ranch where he kept and bred racehorses. After working for him for a couple of years, we became good friends and he knew my story. Not all of it, but the human side of it. I liked working with his horses as long as I didn’t shift. I went on runs late at night when nobody could see me. The ranch wasn’t far from the pack territory and that was where Anthony traced me to. Shadow International didn’t have to do much to find me. I guess guerrilla wars weren’t meant for me. He reminded me that Erik was turning thirteen in a week. It was going to be his wolf revealing ceremony and he would need his father even if he didn’t want me there. I struggled with the decision, but he was my son. He was punished for what someone else did. Pat encouraged me to go back, seeing that it was my son’s birthday. I knew nothing I did would make up for it, but I was going to try in any case. It was time. I sighed, scraping every little bit of nerve I could together to face what was coming and locked the house to make my way to Anthony’s house. What was Erik thinking of me? What would he say? Would he forgive me? My heart raced with each step I took closer, I shifted my hat on my head a couple of times, rubbing my sweaty palms on my jeans. Taking off my hat when I walked into the front reception area. So much had changed around the entrance of the big house and the packhouse. This used to be an open space. Now it was a reception area. “Matt?” The young receptionist smiled at me. “Yes ma’am.” I smiled back, nodding. “You can go through to the main house. Alpha and Luna are waiting for you in the library.” I nodded and walked through the front door of the main house. At least nothing changed there. The library was still where it used to be and when I walked in, I saw Anthony and Megan sitting in front of the fireplace, relaxed, talking about their day. Looking to my right, I could see her desk where she used to sit and work with Megan, and I took a step back. “Those boots have to be you, Matt.” Anthony stood up, Megan jumping from her chair as she ran up to me, giving me a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek, earning me a growl from Anthony. “Still just as possessive as ever I see. Hi Alpha.” I shyly held out my hand when he grabbed me in a bear hug. “We missed you buddy. It’s time you came home.” He smiled when he let go. “I guess we will have to see first if everyone feels the same.” I played with the rim of my hat, looking down on the ground. “It will take time, Matt, but he doesn’t hate you.” Megan looked sad. “Let’s get you a drink to steady those nerves a bit.” We walked over to the bar and he poured me a drink, talking about the old days when a young voice cleared his throat. “You called for me Alpha.” Erik stood tall. “Yes Erik, you know why. Your father has arrived.” Anthony pointed my way and I was almost too scared to turn around, but when I did, I saw a spitting image of his mother, with my blue eyes looking back at me, fury burning deep inside them. “Welcome back, father. May I be excused Alpha?” He asked before I could even say hello. Anthony growled deep down, making the boy stand dead still. “It’s okay Anthony. Let him go. Thank you, Erik. You know where I am if you want to talk. If you don’t … You still know where I am.” He looked at Anthony, who nodded and he disappeared, his clothing being torn as we heard him shift and run. “There goes another pair of favourite jeans.” Megan laughed. “I tell you, Matt, these teenage hormones are driving me to the point where I’m thinking of buying a jean factory.” “Why did you let him go, Matt? How are the two of you ever going to settle things between you?” Anthony frowned. “To be honest, I don’t think we ever will, Anthony. His mother died and I abandoned him. I wouldn’t forgive myself.” I shrugged. “You will have to stop blaming yourself, Matt. What happened wasn’t your fault. It’s not like you left him in the middle of an alley.” She looked over at Anthony and all three of us burst out laughing. “Well, it’s vote time, so let’s get you voted back into the pack at least. I want you back as one of my advisors if I can’t have you back as my beta.” I nodded and we walked outside to the square stage. The wolves had already gathered and the atmosphere was electrifying. The excitement in the air I didn’t expect. I knew my son would be difficult, and I thought convincing the pack would be just as bad … But most of them had smiles on their faces and were even waving at me. Anthony walked up to the pulpit and everyone quieted down. “You all know why we are here tonight. The parodical son has finally returned, and as per our rules, the pack has to decide if he can stay or not per majority vote.” “DUH! He’s staying!” Someone from the crowd shouted and everyone laughed. “Okay, let’s do it this way instead of a ballot. Who of you feels that he should not stay, put up your hands?” Anthony asked and Erik put up his hand without hesitation, but he was the only one. Megan looked furious and Anthony was disappointed. “It is a majority vote, Erik. Matt, welcome back to the family.” He walked over to me, giving me a hug. Megan rushed over to hug me and the pack started howling and shouting with happiness. “Good thing the ladies prepared a feast. Let’s all go eat!” I stood there, my hat on my head, blushing bright red with all the attention. I shook hands of old friends, while making our way to the dining hall, when Erik came to a standstill in front of me. “They may have forgotten what you did, but I will never forgive you!” Erik’s eyes flared with anger. “That is your right, son. I won’t ask more than what you are willing to give. Like I said before. You know where to find me.” I tried to stay calm and noted my words had taken Erik’s wind from his sales when he couldn’t get a reaction out of me. He disappeared into the crowd again. If there is one thing I learned on the ranch with wild horses, it was patience. The night was strained with Erik sitting with the young boys, staring at me the entire time, but thanks to Anthony and Megan, I spent some time being distracted at least. Megan loved my stories about the horses and she brought me up to date on the arrangements for the shifting ceremony. “I think for now, don’t include me in any of the ceremonial things, Meg. He isn’t going to forgive me in a week.” I raised a brow. “He will have no choice if I order it.” Anthony’s tone was the same matter-of-fact Shadow International bossy voice. “Thanks Ant. but I think this time, things should sort themselves out. If he says no, I will accept it.” I shrugged. I was not going to force the boy. “Why are you being so accepting of his behaviour, Matt? He is a boy, your boy. He is supposed to listen to your guidance,” Anthony insisted. “I … I guess I feel I don’t have the right to tell him what to do, what with being away for so long.” I cringed slightly. “That’s bull and you know it. We might have been standing in for you, Matt, but you are his father and he has to learn to respect that. Whether he wants to or not. I’ve been watching him tonight. He is going to challenge you at some point, and not in the small ways he has been doing this afternoon. What are you going to do then? Just stand there and let him kill you?” Megan was overexaggerating, surely. “No, it won’t come to that.” I sighed. “If you let it go the way it is going on now and you don’t show strength, it will. Think back to when you were about to shift, the hormones pulsing through your body. The aggression?” She reminded me of my younger days and I could quickly lose my temper. “UGH, I hate it when the two of you are right. I really didn’t miss it!” I grinned at my friends and they just laughed at me. I started feeling at home. Or it might be the drink talking. I miss my best friend. Watching him and Megan and how their love has grown in strength. When I thought back at how wild the two of them were and now, they were settled and happy. I teased them, saying that they had become old, making Anthony challenge me to a run the next morning. The next week was packed with events he planned for me to take part in, wanting to show the young ones how things used to be done and that the old wolves could still put a young wolf in his place. I had no idea if I could still do it, but I was sure as hell going to try. It should just be like riding a bike.