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Chapter 22
As part of my seize-the-day resolution, I summoned Ben and Noah to my office. Greg had ostensibly left to do a perimeter and roof check before we set off for Fellworth House but I knew that it was really to give Ben and I some privacy.
My brother arrived first and started pacing anxiously. He and Roan had talked, and Ben understood the importance of the introduction to Noah. But if I was leaving the mansion to jaunt across the country for a dubious welcome from the Staffordshire pack, I wasn’t leaving him wholly without allies.
Noah had been born pack and he could guide Ben in a way that I couldn’t. I hoped that Ben’s presence could give Noah a new purpose, but I was fully aware that his wolf having bonded with Ben might cripple him. Anxiety curled in my gut and I did my best to ignore it. There was a quiet rap on the door. ‘Come in!’ I called.
Noah popped his head around the door jamb. ‘You wanted to see me?’ he asked dubiously, as if he couldn’t understand why anyone would want to see him.
I smiled warmly. ‘Yes. Do come in and shut the door behind you.’
He walked in and looked curiously at Ben, who had stopped pacing and had frozen mid-step. Ben’s eyes were gold and wonder was dancing across his face. ‘Noah,’ he whispered, his voice full of affection.
Noah frowned in confusion. ‘I’m sorry, do I know you?’
I introduced him. ‘This is my brother, Ben.’
Noah blinked. ‘He doesn’t look like you,’ he said inanely. He didn’t: Ben was dark to my fair, broad to my athletic slim.
‘I’m adopted,’ I explained. ‘But he is my brother in every way that counts.’ I paused, unsure how to proceed.
The truth? Esme suggested.
I still wasn’t in the mood to talk to her after her little stunt with the suitors, but she was right. The truth it was. ‘My brother was attacked by a werewolf. He was dying and he wasn’t shifting because there was no wolf waiting for him. I … I reached out to the only wolf I knew who was without a human and I pulled him into Ben.’
Noah started to tremble.
The Great Pack had said that Roan would cease to exist within the Great Pack itself, so I could only surmise that I had somehow piped him from the afterlife itself. It was a terrifying thought. Glimmer’s gift of power had always proved unusual, but this was something else. If anyone learned what I could do, I’d be in a Connection black site before you could say ‘science experiment’.
Noah, though, deserved the truth. ‘Roan,’ I confirmed abruptly. ‘I pulled Roan into my brother’s body to save his life.’
‘Roan?’ Noah whispered as he took a step towards my brother.
Ben’s eyes glowed golden as he nodded. ‘Yes, Noah, it’s me.’
Noah flung himself into Ben’s arms with a sob and Roan hugged him back fiercely, stroking his back soothingly as he cried. I felt like I was intruding on a very personal moment but I couldn’t sneak out without drawing attention to myself. It was better to sit and wait.
Eventually Noah pulled back, all the tears gone and a smile on his lips. ‘I can’t believe it,’ he said. Joy lit his eyes and it was wonderful to see him looking happy again. ‘It’s a miracle.’
I cleared my throat. ‘There’s a fly in the ointment, gentlemen.’
‘Not one that I can see!’ Noah laughed. ‘Roan isn’t dead! This is the best day ever.’
I smiled; his happiness was infectious. ‘I hear you. But the thing is…’ I took a deep breath. ‘I think I pulled him from the afterlife.’ I licked my lips. ‘No one can learn the truth, Noah. If anyone learns the depth of my piping power…’
The smile faded from his face. ‘The Connection will take you.’
‘The Connection or someone else,’ I agreed, thinking of the Domini. ‘I have so much I still want to do for the werewolves. This is my destiny. We can’t tell anyone that Ben’s wolf is Roan, not even your mum and dad.’
‘I understand,’ Noah said slowly. Looking dejected, he stepped away from Ben. ‘I’ll keep my distance.’
I smiled. ‘Actually, I have a plan.’
Roan’s golden eyes leached to Ben’s usual brown colour. ‘She always has a plan,’ he snorted. He held out his hand. ‘Hi, Noah, nice to meet you. I’m Ben.’
Noah took his hand and shook it politely. When he released it he said, ‘Nice to meet you, Ben, but in the Other we don’t tend to shake hands.’ He touched his hand to his heart and bowed. ‘We do this. My honour to meet you, Ben.’
Ben grimaced. ‘Lucy did say but I forgot.’
