The Meeting

I put my phone in my pocket and run downstairs. I catch Ruby halfway down.

"Hay has Dad left yet?" I ask her.

"Yup. You just missed him." She answers.

"Thanks!" I say running down the steps. I burst out the front door. As Dad and the Alphas getting into a car and I creep up close.

"Dang it!" I whisper as I sit behind a tree hiding from them.

"What's up Alic?" Malak asks sitting with me. Wow this kid can sneak up on anyone!

"Nothing... I..." I cut off not knowing how to respond.

"You wanted to follow them!" He says.

"Yea." I whisper.

"Well let's go!" He says standing up.

"I don't know where they are going and I can't track a car." He smiles at me as I make my excuses.

"I know where they are going... if we shift I think we can make it in time!" He says.

"I can't bring you in on this! Your dad will kill you! Just tell me where to go." I tell him.

"No. I can't handle spending the weekend with your sister! I go with or you don't go at all!." He grins knowing he has me.

"Fine let's go." We head west. "What's up with you and Ruby anyway?" I ask. He looks away and pulls off his backpack.

"Let's shift. Put your clothes in here. If I loosen the straps I can carry it as a wolf." Ok so he is not talking about Ruby. We put our clothes in his bag and shift.

"Follow me!" He links and takes off running.

It is a long run. My body is screaming at me. I see why they took a car. Running shortens the distance tho so we might be able to meet them. I just hope we don't get caught. My dad will kill me then Alpha Aaron will kill me possibly Alpha Lilly too and then my Dad again for good measure. We just need to get close enough to hear them without getting caught. I want answers.

"How much further?" I link to Malak.

"Not far... actually we should shift back. They are meeting in a human city." He tells me.

We stop our run and shift. In human form I'm even more tired. We make our way to the city.

"Where exactly are we going?" I ask. He doesn't answer. He has been keeping me in the dark so far. "Come on Malak I can't exactly ditch you now. Why won't you tell me?"

"Well..." he stops after the one word.

"You don't know." I say.

"Not exactly... I have a name Ship Co." He says.

"Ok so we need to ask someone." I look around. There is a small diner on the corner. "Got any money?" I ask. He pulls out his wallet and nods. "Good milkshakes you buy."

We walk to the diner and sit at the counter. It is old fashioned. Full of locals. It actually has a jukebox.

"What can I get you boys?" A nice waitress asks.

"Two chocolate milkshakes." I tell her and she walked off.

"I don't like chocolate." Malak whispers.

"Doesn't matter. We won't be finishing them. I just want us to look normal. It's bad enough we are covered in mud and leaves. Dude you're still shaking from that run. Just relax a minute." I tell him.

"Here you go boys." She smiles as she slides us our shakes. "What brings you boys here? Haven't seen ya around."

"Thank you ma'am." I smile back at her. "We have a school project... we are learning about the distribution of goods throughout America." I am so making this up off the top of my head... Ti would be better here. Malak is good when he feeds off his brother but alone? He is such a good kid. "We decided to research Ship Co. but my buddy here lost the address so we decided to stop for shakes."

"Oh honey your only a block away. Little warehouse north of here... not sure why you'd choose that place tho. Went out of business years ago." She says. Bingo!

"Well I just figured we could do a report on how they went wrong. You know a different spin. A picture of the warehouse would lock an A! Thanks ma'am! Have a nice day!" I chug half my shake and Malak puts the money down.

We run out of the diner and head north.

"That was such a load of crap!"Malak laughs.

"Hay we got the info! and you weren't helping!" I respond.

"I didn't say it didn't work." He says. I shush him as we approach the building. We sneak around it cautiously. I go to turn a corner and stop.

"Hello Clayton." I hear my uncle's voice. We crawl behind some barrels so we can get a look. He is tall and big. About the same size as Dad slightly smaller than Alpha Aaron.

"Rhydian." Dad replies.

"Its Alpha now." My uncle corrects. I hear dad growl.

"What do you want?" Alpha Aaron asks.

"I want to talk to my nephew... Thanks for letting me know he was alive by the way." He responds.

"How exactly did you find out?" Alpha asks.

"Doesn't matter." He answers.

"I want to get closer I can't see them." I link to Malak.

"Be careful." Is his response.

I creep up closer to my uncle and his men. I stay well hidden peeking through the gaps in the barrels and crates.

"You know by showing up uninvited I could kill you and be within my rights." Alpha growls at uncle Rhy.

"Were not in your territory right now so no... you can't." He starts to laugh. "I guess I'm gonna get to see him again sooner than I thought!"

I see Alpha Aaron and dad exchange a confused look. Suddenly I am lifted off the ground by my collar and brought to stand beside my uncle. Actually standing this close I'd say he is larger than my father... and scarier.

"Hello Alaric. It's nice to see you again!" He smiles and wraps his arm around me. "I'm surprised you couldn't smell your own son Clayton." Both Alpha Aaron and my dad start smelling the air. I hear Alpha growl.

"Get out here Malak!" Alpha Aaron yells. Malak slips out of his hiding place and goes to his father. "Is your brother here?" Malak shakes his head. "Get behind me I'll deal with you later!"

"Let the boy go!" Dad yells.

I see my uncle smile. "How about we discuss this over dinner? These boys look exhausted. Long run here from your pack house."

Alpha and dad look at each other.

"Hows Mexican sound?" Alpha Aaron says.

○●○

AWKWARD!

That is the only way to describe the dinner. I was placed next to uncle Rhy across from my father. It felt somewhat like I was a prize they were fighting over. Uncle Rhy kept me close which infuriated my dad. I don't know which was worse the looks dad gave my uncle or the ones he gave me.

"You gonna say anything here Simon!" Dad finally snaps at the older man on the other side of Uncle Rhy.

They had been arguing for about 20 minutes at this point. Dad wants them to leave and never return. Uncle Rhy wants to stay a week to spend time with Ruby and I. He says he has important information but that he won't share it if he can't be with his family.

"What do you want me to say boy?" He has a deep voice, gravely. Every word drips with power. Even tho he is no longer Alpha he demands respect.

"What your son proposes is ridiculous! If the information is so important why does he need to invade my family!" Dad yells.

"Listen here! You will not raise your voice to me. You two are bickering like pups. As far as invading your family goes. You took my daughter! You kept her from seeing us! You made it so my grandchildren don't know me! And you neglected to inform me that my grandson was even alive! I blamed myself for his death for years! So No I had no intention of engaging in this debate. You brought us to this! Withholding information may be the only way I get to see my grandchildren so I won't go against my son on this matter." Simon... my grandfather... says.

"Simon... I'm... sorry." Dad says looking away from him.

"Umm..Alph...Sim...grand..." I look down at the table. I don't know what to call him. He begins to laugh and looks at me.

"Pops... my grandkids call me Pops." He says.

"Pops." I whisper then look at him. "Why did you blame yourself?" He frowns and looks away.

"I should have escorted her back...sent someone with you guys at least...maybe... maybe she'd still be alive." He says.

"But that's not your fault! You couldn't have known what would happen." I tell him.

"So you say... I can't help but feel responsible." He responds. It is quite for a long time. It makes me uncomfortable. I think about all he said when something hits me.

"You said your grandkids call you Pops. Soooo... I have cousins. Like not just one but plural... cousins... I didn't know I had cousins. Are they my age? Boys or girls? How many? Please say they arent all girls Ruby is enough to deal with! Can I meet them? Would they like me? I have cousins! What are they like?" I ramble.

"Wow pup do you ever take a breath!" Uncle Rhy laughs. I look away embarrased. "I have a son and two daughters. My boy is a year older than you the girls younger. My baby brother has an infant pup. A boy."

"I have another uncle!?" This is amazing. Dad and Ruby  are the only family I thought I had! This is soo cool.

Uncle Rhy keeps laughing as he answers me. "His name is Fenton."

"Uncle Fen?" I ask. I really don't want to say Fenton all the time.

"That's what my pups call him." He responds.

"Cool." I breath out looking over to my dad. He won't meet my eyes. What's up with him. I mean I know I shouldn't have come but I got to meet my family!

"Aaron can we talk a minute?" Alpha Aaron nods to my dad and they stand up.

"What's wrong dad?" I ask as they leave the table.

"Don't worry pup I'll be right back." He answers and walks off. I slump back in my chair. Why is he so upset?

"It will be alright Alic." Uncle Rhy wraps an arm around me.

"One week." Alpha Aaron says as they return. "One week in my pack and you tell us all you know."

"Thank you Alpha Aaron." Pops says with a nod.

"Let's get going...its getting late." Father says.

In the parking lot we head to the cars. This is going  to be a long ride... well...or maybe not!

"Hay dad can I ride with Pops and Uncle Rhy?" I ask.

"I don't think that's a good idea Alic." Uncle Rhy says with a hand on my shoulder leaning down to look me in the eye. "Go with your dad... I think you've worried him enough today."

"No it's alright Rhydian... we're going to the same place... he can ride with you." Dad says.

"Thanks Dad!" I hug him and go over to my uncle who is grinning at me as he opens the car door.

"Well come on then pup!" I jump in and he closes the door.

Clay's POV

I watch my boy sitting next to Rhydian. This is not right we need to get him back and get them gone! I argue with the cocky Alpha across the table. Where does he have the right to demand anything from me or MY children. I try to get Simon to talk down his son but that doesn't go to plan.... he's right. The way Alaric lights up as he hears about his family. Cousins... grandfather... uncles... things I can't give him. I have no family outside my pups.

"Aaron can we talk a minute?" I ask. He nods and we stand up.

"What's wrong Dad?" Alic asks as we stand. Alot... I hurt you... you deserve to know your family... I stopped that.

"Don't worry pup I'll be right back." I turn and walk away with Aaron.

"Let them stay Aaron." I turn to him once we are out of ear shot.

"I don't like having Alphas on my territory Clayton... you know that." He responds.

"Please Aaron... you see Alaric... I can't rob him of his family... one week please." I beg him.

"For you Clay... I'll do this for you but they are your responsibility. They stay with you. Get the information they claim to hold." He orders.

"Yes Alpha... thank you." I say and we go back to the table.

Alic POV

It was Awesome!

Pops is so cool! He told me about my family while Uncle Rhy sat next to me. He is much less intimidating in the car. I've never seen an Alpha act so casually. He laughs and jokes. I like having a family!

"We're here." The driver who I found out is Uncle Rhy's Delta Sam says as we pull up to my house.

"Come on Pops, Uncle Rhy, I'll introduce you to Ruby!" I run toward the house.

"Wow pup!" Dad says stopping  me. "Go help with the bags."

"Yes sir." I grumble and turn back to the car.

"Thanks Alic." Uncle Rhy says as I take his bag.

"Put two of them up in the guest rooms the third will have to take yours... you have kept it clean right?" Dad links.

"Ummm yes sir." I lie.

"I'll get the couch ready for ya." He says.

I link him a quick thanks as I lead the men upstairs.

"Pops you can stay in here." I say opening the first guest room door.

"Thanks pup!" He tousles my hair as he enters.

"You can stay in the next door down." I say to Delta Sam gesturing down the hall.

My door is across from Pops's room. I know Uncle  Rhy best so I wanted to put him in there. I turn to my Uncle.

"Can you wait here for just a sec?" I ask him. He grins giving me a nod.

I run into my room throwing the dirty clothes in the hamper and stashing it in the closet. I throw various wrappers in my nightstand drawer and strip the bead. As I am putting the clean sheets on I hear chuckling and a slow clap behind me. I turn to see Uncle Rhy standing in the doorway.

"Gotta give you credit. It takes me a week to get my boy to clean his room and that is with threats and grounding." I turn bright red. How long was he standing there?

"Ummm... I... don't tell dad!... he's been hounding me to keep it clean." I beg him.

"Looks clean to me." He walks over to the window and looks out.

"You are such an idiot!" Ruby storms in tackling me onto the bed.

"Get off!" I yell at her. She keeps punching my arms as I block her.

"Why can't you listen?! And dragging Malak into your crap! He is on house arrest! The Alphas won't let him out of his room except for school and training! It's all your fault!" I finally push her off of me and we stand facing each other.

"I didn't make him come! I told him to stay home! He made me take him to avoid you! What did you screw up to make a guy run completely out of the territory just to avoid you." I yell at her.

"That's none of your business! You never think of anyone but yourself! You never listen. We should send you back to the dog pound! Maybe they'll put you through obedience school and you'll learn to stay put when told!" She screams. I look to our Uncle who has turned from the window and is watching us trying not to laugh.

"You aren't allowed to talk about that!" I try to calm down knowing we have an audience. "Ruby meet our uncle Rhy Alpha of the Blue Creek pack."

"Whatever." She says hardly looking at him. "Why can't you think about how your actions affect others!"

"Hay! Can't you even say hello! He's family!" I yell back. Say what you want to me but she just found out about us having family and she blew him off.

"Family? Alic Seriously?! Dad is my family Alpha Aaron, Alpha Lilly, Malak, and even Ti they are family! The pack is family! Family you screwed over to bring these people here! News flash little brother Mom is dead! Talking to them won't bring her back! If she wouldn't have taken you to see them she would still be alive! Can't you see that?! If it weren't for them you would have never been taken from us! Dad could have been with you for your first shift! We would be a complete family! They killed Mom!... You don't remember her tho so why would you care!" She rants. I loose it on that last one.

"You think loosening Mom is easy on me! You don't have to remember her putting you on the back of a truck telling you to hold on tight as it drives away! You don't have to remember hearing her screams as three wolves tear her apart! You didn't fall in the street in a pool of your own blood  begging for your mom to hold you as your feet go numb from blood loss! You don't wake up in a cold sweat clutching your chest feeling the pain of something ripping you open! Don't talk to me about Mom!" I am panting and crying by the end of my speech.

I never told anyone that I remembered that night. After I got back home learned about wolves it's like a dam broke in my mind. I started dreaming about that night every night. I didn't want to worry dad about it so I kept quiet. I see Ruby's jaw drop.

"You...You remember!" She almost whispers.

"What ever leave me alone!" I brush her off and head to the door. "Goodnight Uncle Rhy." I can feel his eyes on me but don't dare turn around.

"Night pup." He says and I head downstairs.

As soon as I reach the living room dad wraps me in a hug. At this point I'm sobbing. I can't hold it in any more. Dad pulls me over to the couch and has me sit down kneeling in front of me.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asks eyes filled with sorrow and worry. He moves my hair out of my face.

"I didn't want you to worry... you were already hurting from losing me you seemed relieved that I didn't remember. So when I started to... I didn't want to hurt you worse." I explain.

"Buddy... I'm the Dad. I worry about you it's in the job description. I will always worry about you. You don't need to worry. You're the kid I take care of you not the other way around." He says hugging me. "Go to bed pup... we can talk later."

"Night Dad." I whisper in his ear.

"Love you Alic." He responds.

"Love you too." I lay down and fall asleep too drained physically and emotionally to keep my eyes open.