Alpha's wolfless Luna

Chapter 6.: Unpleasantries

“Liam.” Abby knocked on the open door of Liam’s office with a paper in her hands. Liam lifted his eyes, looking at his Beta, reading the hesitation from her expression.

“Come in.” Liam invited her inside of his office. For the past few weeks, he didn’t have any other unpleasant nightmares. It had almost looked like they finally stopped, but his worries didn’t dissipate. His thoughts about the girl from Dagon’s pack resided in his mind, reminding him painfully of his inability to find her.

“Come on. Either give it to me or leave.” Liam told her, impatience flowing through his voice. Abby stood in front of his table, looking at the piece of the paper in her hands before she took a deep breath and handed it to the Alpha. He took the paper from her, curiosity bursting inside. He wanted to know what was behind Abby’s hesitation. She rarely behaved this way.

Liam needed only a second to understand. He dropped the paper on his table, exhaling exhaustingly while resting his head on the chair.

Five years. It has been five long years since Dagon visited his pack for the last time. He arrived at the summit which Liam held on his territory, inviting every pack from the continent to deal together with the rogue problem. Dagon arrived as well, but only shortly. He openly announced that he would not work with the other packs and if any rogue came to his land, he would deal with them by himself. Dagon also used this opportunity to remind everyone that his territory was off limits for anyone who would like to trespass and if someone get caught, they would be treated like spies. He made every single Alpha in the room angry with these statements, utterly isolating his pack from the rest of the world. Not like they were friendly before.

“I wonder what he wants from us.” Abby commented. Liam forgot she was still in the room until she spoke. He opened his eyes, exhaling sharply before he took the letter into his hands one more time to read it properly, searching in between lines what might be so important that the big bad Alpha was going to pay him a visit by himself.

“I am sure it’s nothing good. According to the letter, they will arrive after tomorrow. Double our security.” Liam instructed her briefly. He didn’t have to tell her much. Abby knew the procedures the same as she knew Liam’s and Dagon’s personality. Despite Dagon’s bloodlust, he couldn’t openly attack their pack but sure he could cause damage there and there purely for his amusement.

“Yes. Alpha.” Abby answered resolutely just before she turned around and left the room. Liam stared at the letter in his hands. In old times, it would take at least a week to deliver this letter and send the reply. He would have more time to prepare for his visit, but thanks to the modern era, they delivered messages too fast and traveling became much easier.

His thoughts pondered about Dagon’s visit only shortly. He began thinking about why he suddenly wanted to come to his pack. They had no business with each other, nothing except… Liam suddenly exhaled hopefully. His thoughts went back to the image of the girl he remembered from his dreams. Liam could use this opportunity to get some information about the girl. If he plays it smart, he should be able to at least get confirmation whether someone runs away from his pack or not. The disappointment and distaste Liam felt from knowing Dagon would visit his pack turned into excitement.

Liam stood up from his chair, searching for his older brother. He needed help to form a plan, since Dagon wasn’t one of those who would openly share the information with others, especially when the dignity of his pack was at stake. Liam picked up the pace, heading straight to the library.

Liam stopped himself right in front of the building. His eyes landed on a sign above the entrance which was the only thing left from their old house which Kayen burned to ashes. It has been twenty years since Kayen’s powers burst out uncontrollably, setting everything around into the fire, destroying whatever Kayen touched. Mike Larson, former Alpha of the Ice Nordic Pack, father of Liam and adoptive father of Kayen, nearly died while trying to help his adoptive son. In the end, they had no other choice but to ask for help from the neighboring coven to help subdue Kayen’s powers. Liam remembered those days with a strong pain in his heart and heavy thoughts in his mind.

Liam was just nine years old when he lost his brother, nearly lost his father. No one wanted to explain to him what happened and where Kayen went, but he knew Kayen needed help. Since then, little Liam began collecting the books from all around the world. Everything related to nature, magic, supernatural beings or simply anything which could help Kayen learn and control his powers, hoping it would allow him to come back to the pack. His collection became so big that the house which they originally used as their home and which they rebuilt after Kayen’s sudden power outburst was turned into a library. When Kayen finally came back, nearly eight years after his leaving, Liam presented him with huge collections of books.

“Kayen.” Liam called his name. The house had two stories and had to go through reconstruction over the past ten years two times to make it bigger to accommodate new books, which Liam never stopped searching for his brother.

“I am upstairs.” Kayen replied to him. Liam followed his voice, finding him sitting in a chair right under the window with an ancient-looking book in his hands.

“What are you doing?” Liam asked him, taking the place on the chair beside him.

“Nothing much. Searching for some clues about your dreams.” Kayen answered him casually. Liam leaned his head to read the title of the book, only to realize it was written in a language he couldn’t understand.

“I told you they had stopped so no need to bother with it anymore, I guess.” Liam told him, picking up the book from his hand and placing it on the table. Kayen gave him a confused start, trying to get the book but with no success. Kayen had his magic which protected him, but Liam was still a werewolf with an inhuman speed and strength.

“I need your help.” Liam told him, hoping to get back Kayen’s attention. Kayen stopped fighting for the book, locking his eyes with his brother. Liam explained to him properly what was going on in the pack and about the Dagon’s visit. Kayen didn’t have to wait for Liam’s words to understand. He wanted to confirm whether his dreams were just dreams or whether the girl really existed and got away from Dagon’s pack.

“Just a minute ago you told me they stopped, and I shouldn’t bother myself with your dreams and here you are, asking me to use a dream spell on Dagon so you could get the information you want from him regarding your dreams.” Kayen began laughing. Liam might be an adult, but deep inside, he was still just a boy who needed to feed his curiosity.

“I am serious.” Liam slapped his shoulder with a strength and slight displeasure in his tone. Kayen needed a minute to calm his laughter before he could continue discussing with his brother. Using a dream spell was easy, but Kayen never used it on someone unwilling and without permission. If the other person is unaware about the shared dream, there might be consequences to using such magic.

“I am not sure using a dream spell is the best choice. You must take him into your dream and show him precisely what you want to know. That means to properly remember those dreams from before which you showed me a long time ago. Go through the beatings and suffering which she went through and observe his reactions. And not only that. You must focus on precise details to make it as believable as real. Do you think you can do that?” Kayen briefed him shortly. He worried about his brother, although Liam had experiences from before, when those dreams appeared for the first time. Kayen shared a few dreams with Liam, trying to understand what his brother went through and why he woke up many times with bruises all over his body.

“Do you have any better choice than this? Dagon is not one of those with whom you can sit, drink tea, and discuss anything openly. He keeps information related to his pack strictly confidential. Except for his trusted circle, no one else may leave the pack, not alive.” Liam shared the knowledge about Dagon’s pack. Kayen learned it before as well, but he never utterly understood this kind of seclusion. Especially since werewolves were mostly social creatures. Those who separated from the pack for any reason usually ended up insane, driven by their natural behavior and eventually died. Even the rogues form a small sort of pack with a leader.

“Maybe.” Kayen answered him shortly, before he stood up from his chair and went to shelves with old looking books. Liam continued sitting, staring at his older brother as he picked up the book, searching through the pages only to close the book and put it back in its place, then picking another one. It went like this for a few minutes before Liam interrupted him.

Kayen noticed his brother was still sitting in the chair, waiting for Kayen to tell him the other option.

“Once I find something useful, I will inform you.” Kayen technically dismissed his brother, although it should be the opposite. Liam sighed loudly, but he let it slide and just let Kayen do his work. It’s not like Liam had any other option anyway. Only Kayen could perform any kind of spell, especially since the pack didn’t have any other mage.

Liam headed out of the building, but his solitude didn’t last long. Abby found him instantly giving her report regarding the reply which was sent to Dagon and as well about her plan for securing the area, including their designated rooms.

“Give him my Alpha suite in the pack house.” Liam told her. Abby wanted to say something in return, but Liam stopped her, explaining what would follow if they would let him sleep in an ordinary guest room. Abby nodded her head silently before she continued with the preparation for an unwelcome visitor.