Luna's Howl (boyxboy)

Chapter 9: Lost One Gained Another

Jason POV

It's been a week now since Wayne told me about my pack's demise and four months now since I left my pack. Alpha James and Wayne have been kind to me ever since they found me, providing everything I need especially Wayne who rarely let me out of his sight. He'd even moved me into his own quarters to keep me on watch.

I am beginning to think maybe he knows my secret. Wayne is smart perhaps waiting for me to tell him myself whenever I am comfortable to.Wayne is such a sweet man and highly respected within the pack. He is the pack healer, the closest thing they have to a pack witch; heirs had died in a rogue battle years ago. Even though he had no power, Wayne tried as much as possible to fit into the role.

Silver Creek is the biggest pack in southern province just like mine is in the North. They were as much populated like mine though less than a few hundred compared to mine. I had met with limited pack members since I started living here. Only the higher ranked members knew of my existence in the pack. Thanks to Wayne that persuaded the Alpha; another of many signs that he perhaps knew the true me.

I stood by the window staring at the Alpha and Wayne talking below. I'd always known there was more to their relationship of Alpha and pack healer. They were both in love as I have come to see it and they are trying as much as possible not to let it show to other pack members with the exception of few high ranked wolves. Most times, Wayne blushed crimson whenever I ask if the Alpha has a substitute mate or someone he sees often.

Alpha James had lost his wife and two of his pups to a fire accident years ago as Wayne had told me. The accident was caused by his first and only surviving son who had refused ever since to change back into his human form, thus making him go feral.

A shifter can stay in his wolf for just few weeks at most but will gradually lose his instinct and sanity till he is left with nothing but animalistic behaviour. Wayne said the Alpha's son was thirteen when the accident happened and had stayed in his semi wolf form for almost five years ever since. Five years in wolf form was beyond anybody but still the Alpha held on hoping one day he would regain his human form. An unrealistic wish in my own opinion. Alpha James had tried several means but to no avail leaving him with the only option. To kill him. I shudder at the thought. How can a father kill his own son even if it means ending his misery?

"Are you okay?" Wayne asked behind me causing me to jump in fright. I had yet to feel at ease even after several weeks of rest.I shook my head in response. "Sorry I frightened you. I didn't mean to creep on you that way." He apologised.

"It's okay Wayne. I will get used to it." I turned sitting down on a chair.

"I guess, time will tell." he sighed. I knew he was worried about me. Even though I had healed physically, it's still along way mentally.

"I'm fine really." I sighed hoping my voice didn’t the betray me.

"Whatever you say, Jason. I'm always here for you." He stared at me for a while before sorting out random papers out from a drawer.

"Anything new?" I couldn't help but blurt out. I had asked Wayne few days ago to help convince Alpha James to help find out if anyone in my pack made it alive by any means. My mind refused to believe that I am the last of the Lockwood pack. I couldn't shake the feeling that some might have escaped. Alpha Derrick would have done all he could to save as much people as possible instead of allowing them die in the fight. My mum would have done the same too; she is the pack’s witch after all. I sighed inwardly as I still find it hard to refer to our Alpha as my dad. Philip Evan, his beta will remain my dad.

Wayne sighed. "Jason, I told you it is going to be days before we get any reply. The Northern Province isn't in much communication with us. You know this, Jason. It might seem peaceful out there but there's always war between provinces. It won't be that easy."

"So we wait?" I asked.

"Yes, we wait." Wayne breathed before returning to his papers. Wayne’s forehead wrinkled with concern as he sifted through the papers. He sorted several files and papers out in front of him. He sighed after several minutes rubbing his forehead; a clear sign of his distress. I’d come to love Wayne like an uncle and have studied him since I recovered. I could tell when he was distressed, happy, and indifferent.

"Wayne?" I called when I couldn't bear his continued sigh anymore.

"Yes?" He answered without raising his head from the papers.

I chuckled. "Wayne, you will have a bruise if you keep rubbing your head like that."

"Am I? I thought as much." He mumbled barely audibly.

I chuckled again. Typical Wayne, he mumbles whenever he is lost in his own world replying questions incoherently. "What is it? Those papers are killing you."

"Thank you." He replied simply.

I sighed before walking to him. I stood behind him peering at the sea of files and papers he had spread before him. They all contained reports on various patients he'd worked on. Wayne kept his gaze on a particular file, his frown deepened. I peered at the file reading quickly the description labelled on it. It noted a very depressed patient, volatile and untamed. I frowned at the description. Who would describe a sick person as this? Volatile and untamed. My eyes shifted to the bottom of the file where a name was written in a cursive handwriting.

Marcus.

My heart jumped at the sight of the name. It brought back memories of my best friend Marcus back home. He had stalled killer wolves for me to escape. I didn't have much time to ask how he was but I guess he would have been long dead. He probably didn't survive the head-on with the killer wolves. Marcus has always been my guard dog for as long as I can remember, tagging along with me anywhere I go even fighting off my tormentors though no one really messed with me in public because I am the son of the pack's beta. He was the only person who understood me and loved me for who I am.

"Jason? What is it?" I heard Wayne. He shook me to reality before wrapping me gently in his arms rocking me back and forth.

I blinked to clear my blurry eyes then tears ran down my cheek as I sobbed silently in Wayne's arms soaking his shirt wet. I held on to him dearly as memories of Marcus and my pack flooded my mind. Tears continued to fall as I relieved myself of the pent up grief I had bottled inside. Reliving the memories just made me realise how much I missed Marcus. I hadn't even remembered him all this month. So unusual of me. He was more than a friend to me. He was the older brother I wish I had.

"Let it out." Wayne whispered softly as he patted my back. He manoeuvred his way to a sofa and sat me down. He continued to soothe me till I began to calm.

"I am sorry." I sniffed. I felt his tear soaked shirt beneath my head.

"Sorry for what? For crying?" He smiled warmly. "Sometimes you just have to break down to build up again."

I nodded in response breathing deeply to calm myself more. Maybe the fates have provided me another Marcus to replace the one I'd lost. Guess I lost one to gain another. I thought. We stayed like that for minutes in silence. I peered at him to see him staring away, lost in his world again.

"You're thinking again?" I croaked.

"A bad thing?" He answered.

"You are the healer here. You should know?" I smiled softly.

"Depends on what you are thinking about and how much.It's not so bad to think." He sighed.

I placed my head on his chest listening to his heartbeat. "Marcus?" I guessed. I heard his heart skip a beat at the mention of that name. Guess this Marcus guy is pretty important to him. "You’re thinking about him?"

"Yes." He breathed out playing with my hair.

"He will be fine." I said unsure. I marvelled at the confidence in my voice. I couldn't tell if I was actually referring to this Marcus guy or assuring myself of my best friend’s well-being.

He sighed then stared at me. "I hope so Jason."

"Guess this Marcus guy is dear to you." I replied.

"All my patients are dear to me but you can say this particular one is different." he stated warily.

"How different?" I raised a brow waiting for a reply. He seemed hesitant. "It is okay if you don't want to talk. I understand the doctor-patient confidentiality but I might be of help."

He shifted in his seat sitting me down beside himself. "You can't understand Jason."

"Try me. The Lockwood pack is known for their wit, you know." I smiled. He raised a brow. "Moreover, I am the-I mean I am closer to our pack witch back home so I know few things about wild wolves." I said quickly hoping he wouldn't catch in on what I wanted to say earlier. I'd almost exposed myself as the pack witch's son. I am so not ready for that.

"Hmmm... Alright, maybe I need another hand in this. Two heads are better than one after all?" he sighed.

"Always the best." I chirped happily.

He laughed heartily, his face relaxed and void of the worry he had on earlier. "Alright, let me brief you." He moved briskly to the papers. "Marcus has been a long time patient of mine. A shifter. I began taking care of him when I officially became the packs healer. He was a sweet kid before he had an accident. He is severely depressed and he acts irrational and wild.” Wayne showed me some papers. "He has worsened over the years."

"Years?" I gasped.

"Yes." He sighed.

"How long now?" I asked.

"four and half." He breathed.

I shook my head in disbelief scanning through some of the papers. Most reported his actions and state on a weekly basis.

Wayne nudged me to come closer. "Several months ago, I discovered something unusual, a pattern in his behaviour. He seems calm throughout the day but get slightly agitated and frantic during the night especially on full moon nights. He becomes so wild and untamed on such nights as much as breaking free from his hold. When he does this, he'll head straight to the pack house. I never really noticed until recently."

"I'm yet to see anything here." I said.

"Every time Marcus escapes, he will head straight to his mother's room in the pack house then tear everything apart. Her clothes,pictures and arts, anything he lays his hands one."

"Guess he is really deranged." I thought out loud.

"You won't talk about him like that." Wayne scowled. "He is not deranged."

I stepped back shocked at his outburst. "I didn't mean to say that. I guess I thought out loud. Sorry.” I said quickly.

Wayne relaxed then shook his head. "No Jason. I am sorry I exploded that way. I am just frustrated. From my studies, I have come to believe Marcus seem to be in search for something. He loved his mother before she died I can't find any reason why he would tear up her things."

I glanced at the latest report again. "Why haven't they moved her things out of the pack house that should stop him?"

"I thought about that too but that didn't stop him. He tracked the scent when he broke out again, head to the place and later will turn back to the pack house like what he wanted still remain in that very room." he explained.

"Then mask the scent." I said simply.

Wayne sighed. "You think I haven't suggested that too?"

I read through several reports again. Most were written by Wayne himself, documenting all the failed medications and strategies. "Have you tried giving her things out maybe to the pack members or other pack."

"The Alpha won't allow it." Wayne said dejectedly.

"The Alpha? Why?"

"He won't allow his mate's belonging be donated or moved out of the pack house." he replied.

I gasped. "You mean---?

Wayne sighed." Yes, Jason. Marcus is Alpha James’ son. Marcus Anderson."

I look away from the papers to Wayne who wore a tired look.I now understood why he seems so worried. He is the pack healer expected to watch out for his pack including the untamed Alpha's son. Marcus also is his lover's son, so he would want to make sure he helps him back to sanity. Reading through the papers, Marcus has really disturbed the packs peace, destroying much of the pack house and killed several wolf guards. Some guards have even attempted to murder him but Wayne had shown up in nick of time to prevent it.Several betas have also challenged the Alpha over killing Marcus. Marcus existence has caused an internal strife within the pack.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see a young built man come in. A guard perhaps. He stared at me for a moment with uncertainty sniffing the air. I knew he was deciding if I was a threat because I smelled differently. I tensed as a growl escaped him.

"It's okay Dave, he's with me." Wayne said quickly. "What brings you here?"

Dave's eyes lingered on me before moving to meet Wayne's." The Alpha requires your presence in his office. He said to tell you it is quite urgent."

"Oh, thanks. I will be there in a minute." Wayne shooed him out.

I relaxed when Dave stepped out of the room. He must have sniffed my fear in the air when he came in. I breathed out slowly knowing I still have a long way to go when it comes to dealing with other wolves especially unacquainted ones.

"Nothing to worry about, Jason, Dave is just a guard. He wouldn't hurt you. He is just being cautious." Wayne patted my shoulder sensing my unease. I nodded meekly.

"You can get busy with this little work of mine.” He gestured at the paperwork with a smile.

I raised a brow. "You called this little?"

"You asked to help right? So feel free to read and study, I will be back soon." He gave me a quick hug before leaving.

I huffed as he left. I gave the papers a glare. You asked for it, they seem to reply me. I sighed picking up random files. I wanted to help anyway, so help I will. I sighed again spreading the papers to examine them well but my mind was on the file with my best friend's name on it. I couldn't resist the urge anymore so I arranged all other paper back into their appropriate folders before settling down on the Marcus Anderson's file.

-

"Jason? Jason?" Wayne shook me to consciousness. "Wake up. It is time for dinner."

I blinked the sleep out of my eyes suppressing a shiver as I remembered the dream I had.

"What's wrong?" Wayne stared at me with a worried look. "Are you hurt? You look pale."

"I-I am fine." I cleared my throat shaking my head to clear the image of the little boy I saw in my head. I couldn't place if the dream was really one or one of my many childhood memories. The boy's face seems familiar like we both have met somewhere before. His piercing blue eyes haunted my mind even with my eyes closed. I began to hyperventilate, gasping for air.

"Jason?" I heard Wayne cry, his voice far away. "Jason? Calm down. Breathe." I heard again.

I tried doing what he instructed but my brain just could not to get hold of how to breathe. My lung refused to utilise the air around.

"Damn it Jason." I heard Wayne shouted."Breathe."

The boy with blue eyes flashed in my mind again as darkness began to swallow me. His eyes filled with warmth. Who are you? Why do you look familiar?

"Jason...." Something hit my chest again and again. My brain unfroze allowing me draw breathe sharply. My eye shut open, my iris contract at the sudden exposure to light. Wayne sighed in relief. His face beaded with sweat.

"Please don't do that again." He croaked sitting next to me on the floor. My chest ached with every breathe I take. "You choked." Wayne said.

I frowned. Choked? I didn't. I couldn't breathe. I thought.

"I almost lost you there. What is wrong?" He asked.

"I-I couldn't br-breath." I stuttered winching with every breath.

I hear him sigh. I watched as he ran his hands through his hair again and again. His body relaxed but his face still held the worried look.

"Maybe it was the way you slept. You laid in an awkward position." he breathed. "I guess you fell asleep before you could do much work." He gestured at the paper I was working on.

I frowned a bit. I didn't feel tired or drowsy when I was reading the reports on Marcus. I couldn't remember when I fell asleep either." I d-don’t remember falling asleep." My voice sounded raspy.

"Water?" Wayne noticed. He helped me sit upright before filling a cup with water from the tray that held my supposed dinner.

I gulp down few mouthful feeling refreshed immediately. I peered at him, his eye questioned me silently. Another side of Wayne, he could stare the answer out of someone. I held his gaze for a moment but looked away when I saw he won't relent. He needed an explanation.

"I had a dream." I blurted out. "More of a memory it seems." He stared at me unsure nodding for me to continue."I think it's one of my many childhood memories."

"Memory?" He asked.

"Yes, I guess. I saw myself back when I was thirteen. I was in a camp." I said trying to unearth the memory. I began to remember bit by bit though it was all still fuzzy. "I was there with my best friend and some other friends from our pack."

"Don't push it. Maybe it's best if you don't remember." Wayne said sensing my distress.

My body stilled as the pictures become bright and clear in my mind. I remembered everything that happened. It was in that camp that I first shifted my eyes into my wolf's. I had thought I would shift completely that day. The camp was a pack thing, a get together of some sort for packs within the Northern Province. Marcus stayed with me all through our stay there. He even got into a fight with an Alpha's son who tried to dunk me into the muddy water beside our camp site. Marcus was left with a black eye and busted lip though he gave the Alpha's son a tough time. I continued to sift through the memories relishing my childhood days.

I gasped as the little boy with piercing blue eye flash my mind. He was the one I had tried to protect from some other bullies making me shift my vision unexpectedly to my wolf's. After the assault, I wrapped his wounds with a piece of clothing I tore from my stained shirt.

His blue eye never left me as my little trained hands worked on his wounds. We never got the chance to talk much before he ran into the forest. I remembered feeling sober all day long. It was at that camp I lost my crescent moon necklace, a family heirloom bestowed only to the females of my mum’s family but my mum gave it to me instead of my sister who wasn't interested in it.

I remembered clearly how my mum scolded me for days because of it.

A howl rent up the air pulling me out of my mind. Wayne stiffened in his seat as several others followed. He shot up from his seat to the window.

"No. Not again." He moaned. "Stay here. Don't leave for any reason." He said before exiting the room.

I shuddered as growls of fighting wolves filled the air. I moved wobbly to the window peering down to see several wolves snarling at an approaching figure.

My heart raced in panic at the thought of killer wolves. They are here for me. I thought. My knees gave out beneath me in fear. I have to escape. I have to leave before the find me. I cried.

I shook my head in disbelief. I had dared to think I had found peace finally in Alpha James' pack but only to see it short-lived. I crept quietly to the door praying silently to the goddess for a safe escape. With a deep breath, I jerk it open to be met with a dark hallway. I quickly shut it behind me before dashing towards the stairs upfront. My heart ached as I remembered the loss of my wolf; he would have been of much help this moment.My eyes strain in the dark as I made my way carefully down the stairs into a dim lighted lounge.

My eyes moved from side to side as I made my way towards the front door. I shivered at the uncomfortable silence. No howls or growls of wolves. I wondered why. I breathed deeply resting my hand on the door knob before yanking it open just as a snarl escaped from the other side.

My heart stopped beating at the sight of a wall of muscle and fur standing in my way. Soft brown fur covered his naked torso with little on his bulging biceps. My eyes moved over his naked broad shoulder to his square jaw till it rested on his face.

Staring back at me was the same piercing blue eyes that belong to the little boy I once helped. It is still filled with the warmth it held years ago but now mixed with pain.