Family

"Hello?" I say weekly as I hold the phone to my ear.

"Who is this?" He sounds angry.

"Ummm...I... is this Alpha Andersen?" I ask. He sighs. I can hear his voice soften a little.

"Yea... how did you get this number pup?" He sounds young well at least not old enough to be my grandfather.

"Alpha Simon Andersen?" I ask.

"My father. Now you better start answering me pup! What's your name?" He says.

"Umm... sorry sir... Alaric." I answer.

"Alright Alaric...why did you want to talk to my father?" He asks. I stay silent a moment... I don't know what to say.

"Alaric?" He asks.

"My mom... she was... she..." I start.

"Alaric...wait!...Alaric Grayson?" He asks.

"Yes sir."

"Well then!" He laughs... "nice to meet you nephew!... we thought you were dead!" He says and once again I'm lost for words leaving a long pause."Alaric?... you still there?"

"Yes sir... ummm nice to meet you too." I answer.

"Why did you call pup?" He asks.

"I... mom... why did she come there? Why did she take me? Why did she.. is she... why is she gone?" I ask trying to keep it together.

"Listen Alaric... I want to talk to you. Pop knows more than I do... can I talk to your father?" He says.

"No!" I yell then instantly quiet down "sorry it's just I can't... he... dad... I..."

"He doesn't know you are talking to me." He says. I nod my head then realize he can't see me.

"No sir." I answer.

"How did you get this number?" He asks.

"Ummm... well... you know the Alpha's boys are my best friends and they... they can be sneaky." I say.

"Yea I know how that goes" he laughs "... Alright Alaric give me a few days... I'll set something up. Read up on werewolf histoty... anything you can get.. its great to hear from you... Pop's gonna love this!... talk to you soon." A click in my ear ends the conversation.

Well that told me nothing! He said we'd talk soon tho... studying werewolf history? How do I do that? It's not like the school library has a section on us! Well at least not any true information... Brayden said he had an extensive library. Maybe he had something. I wonder what happened to it. I could ask the Alphas tomorrow...that might just work.

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The next morning I rush off to school. A normal day and back home. As our group passes the checkpoint and we are  within pack boundaries I take off running as fast as I can to the pack house. I stop in front of the office door to catch my breath then knock on the door.

"Enter." Alpha Aaron calls and I step in. "Alic! Well this is a surprise! The boys behind ya?"

"No sir just me." I say

"Well have a seat." Alpha gestures to the chairs opposite him and I slide into one. "How can I help you pup?"

"Alpha... I was wondering... what happened to Brayden's library?" I ask. He looks away with sadness in his eyes then back to me.

"Why do you ask?" Is his response.

"I want to study werewolf history... I don't know where to look and I thought... Brayden... he was the smartest guy ever! He had to have something." I answer.

"Lilly has it...but here this will get you started." He says walking to his bookshelf and taking a book. "Its mostly fables. You know fairy tales, stories, that kind of thing... be careful with this book it was my mom's."

"Thank you Alpha." I say.

"I'll talk to Lilly and try to get you more." He hands me the book.

"Thank you."

"Not a problem pup but I need to get back to work... if I don't get this done Lilly will kill me... see ya later Alic." He dismisses me and I hurry out.

In my room I dive on the bed and open the book.

"The First Werewolf.

In the beginning there was only one werewolf. He was alone. The only of his kind. Loneliness filled him and he longed for family. He bit in a few wolves creating the first pack. The first Alpha. The bit in wolves weren't enough for him. He took on many women creating heirs. The boys grew and fought dividing themselves across the world creating wolves and battling for power. Eventually the first Alpha found a woman he truly loved he settled down with her and they had two sons. The boys loved each other they were the best of friends. Now all sons of the first Alpha became Alphas. The boys truly cared for the wolves under them and for each other. When it came time for the first Alpha to pass he brought his sons to him. He declared the eldest to succeed him he split the pack giving the younger a small pack bordering his brother. They didn't want to divide the pack so the younger son relinquished his Alpha to his brother becoming his Beta. The act of an Alpha submitting to another created a shift in his wolf. His stunning black coat became silver grey. The newly created Beta kept his power. His descendants are known as true Betas. A Beta with the power of an Alpha. The pack quickly became the strongest in the world with two powerful leaders. They brought peace to the werewolf community establishing laws to protect wolves and humans. This was the beginning of the werewolves."

Ok... I close the book. Alpha said these were just stories. But it could explain something about us... I'll ask dad.

"Hay." I say entering the living room where dad was watching some action movie.

"Come on Alic this is the best part." He waved me in. I sit on the couch watching him. He glances at me and pauses the movie. "What's up?"

"Have you read this?" I ask holding the book.

"Its fairy tales... what about it?" I have him read the story.

"Is that why we are grey?" I ask.

"I told you it's a story... who knows there may be some truth in it but seriously Alaric why does it matter?" He asks.

"I don't know I was just looking into our history." I tell him. He smiles.

"You know your mom loved that stuff. She would tell me all kinds of stories about the legends, prophecies, fables. she would use them as bedtime stories for you and Ruby. Why the sudden intrest?" Dad asks.

"Someone suggested I look into it no biggie." I close the book. "Come on you said this was the best part!" I lay back on the couch. I can feel him watching me but I focus on the TV. Eventually he hits play and we finish the movie.

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It took about a week before I heard anything from California and it wasn't good.

"What do you want Simon?" I hear one morning from my dad's office. I stop to listen. Simon... my grandfather!

"I'm not doing that!" Dad says.

"No! I won't risk it!"

"My Alpha will never... what ever Simon." I hear him slam down the phone and I run back to my room.

"Breakfast!" Dad calls up a little later.

"Any big plans today?" He asks as we sit down to eat. "I'd guess you'll be with Malak hu?" He directs to Ruby.

"Na... I think I'll just hang out here... study some." Ruby has been avoiding Malak  for over a week. I don't know what happened but it is driving him nuts.

"And how about you Alic? I'm sure you got something planned its Saturday freedom for all school aged children!" Dad says.

"I might go on a walk get some peace and quiet." I say.

"Ok you two need to learn to be kids come on! I should be bailing you out of trouble! Catching you sneaking out to parties. Seriously you're my pups you can't be this good!" Dad smiles at us.

"Maybe we're just sooo good we don't get caught." Ruby says and dad laughs.

"Just have some fun and be safe... I'm gonna be out with the Alphas this weekend so you guys are gonna stay at the pack house with Mrs. Whitman and the twins." Dad tells us.

"Where are you going." I ask.

"Just dealing with a Alpha that thinks he can order us around we won't be far just outside the territory to the west... we'll be back Monday." He answers.

"I think Ruby is right I'm gonna go study a bit." I say. "Love you dad... be safe!" With a hug I head to my room.

"See ya Monday... love ya bud." He responds.

I run to my room and lock the door. I turn up some music in my room and tuck myself into the closet.

"Hello?" The male voice answers the phone.

"Are you coming here?" I ask first thing.

"You know Alic it is polite to at least say hi before belting out questions." He chuckles.

"Hi Alpha... Are you?" I respond.

"Yes... how did you know?" He asks

"I overheard my dad on the phone... then he said he and the Alphas are heading west... I guessed... you said we'd talk soon but you haven't called..." I say.

"So they plan to meet us after all?" He says

"I think so...wait... you won't hurt them will you?" I ask.

"Those three are probably the strongest beings on earth right now so No we won't hurt them... we just want to talk." He says.

"But you still haven't told ME anything! What are WE going to talk?" I ask.

"When I see you in person. That is when we talk. I'm not inclined to discuss this over the phone. We're trying to get your father and Alpha to let us see you but Alpha Aaron is opposed to any other Alpha on his territory except for the banquet that is and I'm pretty sure he would end that too if he had a choice." He answers.

"Hay I just thought of something!... I still don't know your name." I say the Alpha laughs.

"Rhydian... you can call my uncle Rhy if you want." He says.

"Uncle Rhy?... no Alpha?" I ask. He starts laughing again.

"We're family! Do you call your father Beta?" He asks.

"No I guess not." I respond.

"Well hay I got to hang up if I'm gonna get to your pack in time... see ya soon Alaric." He says.

"Bye Uncle Rhy." He hangs up.