AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We were just talking about you.” I smile into the phone as Luke answers the ring. I lean my back against the wall in the dimly lit living room. There’s enough light from the large windows that I don’t bother switching on a ceiling light. I haven’t sat down either. I turn and lean against the window frame reminding myself it’s just a phone call. It’s been far too long since I’ve heard my brother’s voice though. The timbre of his tone brings back memories from when we were only children.
“And why would you two be talking about me?” It makes me happy to know they haven’t forgotten me. At times I miss my brothers, but it’s best we chose different packs. I often remind myself of that.
There’s a pause before he answers. “It’s something we’d rather discuss in person.” I tense, not liking a damn thing about that response. The conversation that needs to happen. I’m not waiting when his tone holds too much concern. I know I’ll fixate on it; I’ll think the worst and with everything happening, so many parts moving at once, I can’t allow that to happen.
“Is Owen there?” I question.
“Yeah, we’re both here.”
“Put it on speaker. I want to get this out and over with.” I pace the front of the room and watch as my mate shifts for the children. Lizzie’s watching and I can see she’s trying her damndest to shift. It’s disheartening, but it will happen. The entire pack has faith.
“One second,” he says and then there’s a muffling on the phone.
With a resigned sigh, I step away from the window. I hear Luke pull the phone away from his ear and set it on a table or something that makes a clanging noise into the phone.
“Sweetness, go get us lunch.” I smirk as Owen gives an order, although barely audible on my end, to presumably his mate. Their mate. “You could at least ask nicely.” Her soft voice is followed by the sound of her kissing someone and then a “please” from one of my brothers. I’m not sure which gets the next kiss and then there’s a chuckle and a loud smack. I assume a palm to her ass.
The seriousness of the conversation is dimmed by the interaction, and I find myself looking back out the window at my Lena.
“What’s going on big bro?” Owen speaks first as I hear the phone shift slightly on their end.
“I take it you two are doing well with your mate.”
“You’ve got to meet her Jude.” I don’t even try to repress my smile at his lovesick tone.
“Soon. Very soon in fact.” I swallow and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Have either of you spoken to our father recently?”
“Fuck no.” Luke’s hard words are exactly what I expected to hear.
I hesitate to ask, but it must be done, “Have you heard any whispers of war?”
“Yes.” Owen is quick to respond. My brow rises up my forehead and I still. I wasn’t expecting them to have heard anything about it.
“Our father has apparently made his position in the war known. He’s planning to side with the vampires.” I shake my head, not liking that I’ve grouped all of the vampires together. “The ones going against the Authority.” Silence on their end makes me weary. “Don’t tell me you’ve sided against the Authority.” My breath leaves me at their lack of an immediate answer.
“All right, Jude.” I’ve always liked Luke’s no-nonsense attitude. “Here’s what we know. We’ve got a coven that wants protection. We promised them safety against the other vamps. We’re on the side of the Authority. We don’t know shit about our old pack.” After a moment he adds, “That’s fucked.” I finally breathe and find myself tapping against the window frame. They’re in the same position as my pack. Good.
“Thank fuck.” I relax my shoulders and roll them to get rid of the tension. “You had me worried there.”
“It’s not all vamps. Emma’s been doing research for the Authority.”
I cut him off. “Owen, I know. I know. We’re protecting a coven also. The faction is growing and sides have mostly been chosen.”
“I can’t believe our father is on the other side.”
A snort from Luke interrupts Owen. “I can. I just feel sorry for our pack. Our old pack.”
“I feel you on that. I’m not all right with his decision. I can’t stand by and watch it happen.” Tension coils in my muscles as I prepare to ask them for something I never thought I would. “Luke. Owen. We need to meet.” And now for the part I’ve been dreading. “I think we should go to Gray Mountain.” The silence on the other end of the phone tells me of their hesitancy.
“The last time we were there?—”
I cut Owen off. “That was years ago.”
“It doesn’t change the fact.”
“You’re right. Nothing will ever change the fact that our father was planning to kill us. I know that.”
“I don’t want to see him, Jude.” Luke’s voice is hard, but I know why. I know it’s the pain from our father abandoning and hating us. I know he’s hurt more than anything else.
