Chapter 17

If they stand behind you, protect them. If they stand beside you, respect them. If they stand against you, defeat them.

- Anonymous

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   I swear... sometimes people should really stay out of others business. It was the day after Kerry had found me up on the rooftop and brought me back into the world, we had decided to go to Sioux falls today and I had decided to tell John that I'd be leaving to put my grandmother to rest, as well as my mother.

J: well if your leaving Slade, then I'll be accompanying you.

John, with all due respect... that's idiotic. It wouldn't be wise for you to leave your pack and enter another packs territory, you remember Dwayne. I already don't think his word will protect me once I return, if you came, there would be hell to pay.

J: Nonesense Slade, Dwayne will welcome me with open arms, especially with all the business he gets with me. And as for the pack, Donavan is more the highly qualified to run the pack while I'm gone, you won't change my mind Slade... I'm comeing with. Eleanor was like a mother to me, I must be there.

   Shit, I guess John would accompany me and the other's, but before we left was when Lena had to butt in... she had heard our conversation and decide on something I would have never allowed in a million years.

Le: Take Lucas with you, he deserves to go and see Eleanor pass to the next world.

   My voice grew hostile, no way would that asshole be tagging along, I already want to kill the bastard, imagine what i would do if he joined us.

That asshole doesn't deserve Jack shit. I don't care if my grandmother took him up as a precursor, if he comes along Lena... he won't be coming back.

Le: Slade I know your still pissed at him for what he said, but he hadn't known Travis was your brother. Slade he was just concerned with me and believe you could've used his help. Let him go with Slade, it'll be good for the both of you.

Do you HAVE a death wish for you boyfriend..

   She looked at me with her favorite look, the puppy eyes, every time she wanted something... she would use it. And every damn time, no matter who it was. It would work.

You tell him that if he wants to come along, he will be riding shotgun with Kieth and if he even provokes either me or Kieth once, he will die.

Lu: hear you loud and clear Slade.

  I was to busy arguing with Lena that I hadn't notice Lucas enter the room, I turned to look at him, the hatred for him grew and I was ready to kill him that moment. But I will give him one fucking chance, even though he didn't deserve it.

We will be leaving in an hour, pack up a days worth of clothes and head over to my place, John would it be possible you drive yourself, already got Kerry with me, and Kieth gots Lucas now... would have him drive but Kieth needs to tell Lucas how to act among the wolves during the funeral, don't need any trouble from the members.

J: can do Slade, meet you in an hour.

   John left to get ready and I looked over to Lucas, by the look on his face he really wanted to say something, but instead turned to say goodbye to Lena and headed out. As long as he keeps his thoughts to himself... we'll be fine.

   Kieth, Kerry and I headed back to my place to pack some clothes for the trip, Kerry had brought a few things from her place before moving in, but it wasn't much, I would have to stop by a store on the way back for her. Let her get some new things

K: well I've got all that I need, you guys done yet?

K<3: Ya almost just gotta grab one more thing.

   She went back to my room to grab her thing and I looked at the clock.

Done right at time, they should start showing up.

K: You think it's a good idea to be bringing Lucas with us.

   I just looked at him as if he just asked if the sky was blue.

K: forget I asked...

No I don't freak'in think it was a good idea, he'll probably the worst thing to do, more then likely I'll be hauling his ass back in a body bag, or a doggy bag depending on how I feel later.

K: That's disgusting Slade...

Ya well, sometimes you can't control the wolfs hunger, he'll probably be all chewy anyways, the kids all bone after all.

   Kieth looked like he was on the verge of vomiting but Kerry walked in at the moment and said she was ready, I looked to see what she had forgotten and she was fastening a bracelet onto her arm... if I remember right, that bracelet was a gift from Lucas.

K<3: What?

   I hadn't notice but I was starring so I averted my gaze and pushed it off as if it was nothing.

Nothing, let's get going shall we?

   We headed outside and starting packing stuff in the back of the truck when John showed up in his newest toy... a Ford Gt40.

Honestly John, it's nice but it's bound to break down, it's a Ford after all.

J: ah shut up, I didn't grow up with a grease head of a father like you, he always tried to get me into it but I never caught on. And besides, I haven't had problems yet boyo, now let's get going.

Still waiting on Lucas... wherever he is, I'll give him two more minutes then where outta here.

   It was a minute and thirty seconds after I had said that when he showed up... cutting it close.

L: mind if I park my bike in your garage while where gone, don't want to leave her outside to long without my supervision.

Yes I mind... but whatever go ahead, then get your crap and hop in the truck, where losing valuable time and we ain't stopping more then once before we get there.

L: Dude thats more than sixteen hours with only one stop, got enough gas in the tanks for that?

Did I stutter? I don't ever let her get low on gas, doesn't play well with her, trucks full as well so we should be good.

J: I just filled up too so I'm good for a while.

Ok then... let's get moving.

   He walked his bike into the garage and closed it up, once I locked up the garage we got in the vehicles and headed out on the journey to Sioux falls... hopefully Kieth won't kill him before we get there.

    I had been surfing the radio for any good music and of course I couldn't find anything, the music they make now a days... terrible.

K<3: Slade, could I ask you something?

   I had almost but forgotten Kerry was with me in the vehicle, lately I haven't been too observant.

Let the question fly Kerry, I'm all ears.

   She contemplated for a while until asking her question.

K<3: I don't mean anything against it, but... You and Lena, what were you too before Lucas and I came along?

   Everyone questions me about this, always. Apparently Lena and I are the ideal wolf couple... but that's not how it worked out.

My father never got to show me the world of the wolves, but that didn't stop him from bringing me to Tennessee to see his best friend while growing up, John kept his life a secret from me during these visits and made sure Lena never let out the secret.

   I let out a sigh, knowing she was wanting more of the other side of me and Lena.

I won't deny nothing happen between me and Lena, granted we were very young at the time, but wolves have been known to marry before the age of eighteen, John seen me and Lena as a way to grow a strong bond between the Sioux pack and the Tennessee pack. But I couldn't do it.

K<3: Why... what stopped you?

I asked myself why I didn't except the offer, I love Lena with all my heart... but. It's the reason why I chose not too. I loved her too much, and I couldn't see something happening between use in the future, Lena was devastated when I said no... but it wasn't ment to be.

I sneaked a glance and Kerry... she was looking at me or out the windows... she was looking down at the floor.

K<3: What about now... I mean after seeing her with Lucas, how do you feel.

I hate that kid, and I've warned her and him... if he hurts her anyway, he won't be alive for much longer... what brought this up?

K<3: Nothing really... I guess when you two were talking earlier and how you let Lucas come after she asked you.

Sooner or later you will learn that when Lena wants something, she'll get it... Kerry, I hope you don't think I'll do anything with Lena while I'm with you... like I said, she's more like a sister then anything else. I chose you because I want you. The wolf inside hungers for you and you only.

   She let out a small laughed.

K<3: okay big bad wolf.. there's one more thing I gotta ask... I mean I know he's an asshole sometimes but, what's the whole hatred for Lucas thing...

Other then the fact that he believes he's got a chance against me in a battle or because he basically blamed my brothers death on me... alot.

   There were many reason why my hatred grew for the kid, but the main reason would've been the fact that he wasn't possible.

The first time I had seen the kid it was back in California, I cornered him and questioned his existence, he was a dead witch... a paradox at the time, now I've found out he removed the bloodlust of the vampire just like that... and how do I deal with it, with damn magical blades... the fact that he gets to use the power of the vampire without a counter pisses me off.

   I felt her gaze upon me.

K<3: is any of this hatred for him come from the fact that he was with me before.

   Of course it was, hell I hate to admit it but the majority of my hatred for him came from the fact that he hurt her long ago. or maybe it was the fact that she was at this very moment... wearing a gift from him. Instead of telling her the truth... I lied.

No... my hatred for him has not grown after finding out you two had been together, I know that bridge had been burned long ago.

   We sat in silence for the rest of the ride, only talking once when we got our midpoint of the ride, we filled our tanks and saw nothing of Lucas, I asked Kieth and all I got out of him was

K: halfway there, not close enough.

   If Kieth is barely holding on then more than likely Lucas is talking up a storm, but we were almost there so Kieth only needed to put up with him for a little while longer.

   It was past midnight when we finally hit our destination, Kerry had fallen asleep in the passenger seat. I decided against waking her, she can see my home in the morning, home... how can I still call it that. I opened up my phone and called John.

Hey John, Kieth already knows where to go... just follow use, where staying at the Ramada off of 12th street, it's as close as one and to be to the packs prison.

J: alright then,  see you in a bit.

   The drive went on for another ten minutes until we pulled into the parking lot of the hotel, i got the keys to the room and carried Kerry into the room laying her one the bed and giving her up. Oonce she was situated I got into the bed next to her and closed my eyes listening to the rhythm of her breathing until I too, was asleep.