CHAPTER 29 – Emptiness

The first man, held tight by the neck, was pinned to the wall by Lucius. He tried to pry off Lucius's grip with both hands while struggling to breathe.

He knew it was pointless, but he had to try, though…. Who was he fooling? This was Lucius, and trying to get off his grip when he was angry was impossible.

"I might have lost my position in my family," Lucius said, his hand still tight around the first man's neck. "But I still have everything that makes me Lucius."

"I'm… sorry." The first man struggled to speak, while the second man, by this time, already bowed his head, with a knee on the floor.

"Please, forgive him." The second man pleaded.

"You would watch your words with me, else you won't need to speak another word," Lucius said, with his eyes filled with fury.

"He would be very careful henceforth." The second man answered.

Lucius delayed a bit, and only until the first man was beginning to fade, did he let go of his neck.

The second ran to the first, as soon as his body hit the ground, from almost passing out.

"Get out!" Lucius shouted with rage, and both men scurried away.

"Argh!" Lucius growled, he screamed like a deranged beast as the sound was overtaken by his angered wolf.

The High Keep mansion, days later.

Brynn was in the study room, going through paperwork, while Luke stood by his side.

The silence in the room stretched to what felt like an eternity.

"You miss her too, don't you?" Brynn asked, flipping through the pages of paper.

"Who, master?" Luke asked.

"Aurora," Brynn answered. "It's been barely two weeks since she left, and now I feel like she's taken the happy part of my heart along with her."

"Permit me to say, master," Luke said, "I do agree with you, it feels like Lady Aurora has taken the light away from this mansion, although I can't say the same about the madam and the young master."

"Speaking of the young master," Brynn said, "Do you think I am a bad father?"

Luke's eyes shook.

'Is this a trap or what? What is my master up to?' Luke thought to himself.

He was dumbfounded and didn't know how to answer this tricky question.

"Master," Luke bowed, "I would prefer that my tombstone carries the story of me dying in battle, rather than dying after answering a question from my master."

'What am I saying? This itself is a battle, a battle of my thoughts and tongue.' Luke thought to himself.

Brynn stopped what he was doing to chuckle silently at what Luke said, as he rested into his chair, looking straight ahead.

"I grant you the permission to speak freely."

Luke paused for a bit, "As you wish," He took a deep breath, like a man diving into the depths of the ocean in one single breath.

"Master," Luke said. "Although I don't see you as a bad father, however, I have noticed that since…" He paused, contemplating his next word.

"I asked you because I see you as more than just a second in command, Luke. It won't be of any help if you aren't honest with me." Brynn said.

"I have noticed that since Lady Azalea died, you have been very distant from your son," Luke said, and Brynn sighed.

"We all know that you did what you had to do, and no one can blame you for it. We also understand your guilt and grief over her death. But I urge you not to forget that there wasn't just one child, there were two, and the unfortunate death of one should not be the reason to deny the other the love of a father. We may be werewolves, but just like humans, we have emotions too."

For a few seconds, no one said anything. Luke was beginning to think that he might have annoyed Brynn with what he had said.

"You speak truth, Luke." He finally spoke, "I honestly tried to get closer to my son when I felt like I had mourned enough, but by that time, Ingrid had enveloped my son's life and turned him far away from the man I had been training him to be."

"You stayed away from your son for ten years, master." Luke said, "And it seemed to me that you only stopped mourning the late Lady when you set eyes on Lady Aurora less than two weeks ago. Now, the air reeks of emptiness, yours, master."

Brynn remained quiet for a while. He removed his glasses and laid them on the table.

"You think it's too late to turn back now?" He asked.

"No, master."

Brynn closed his eyes for a few seconds, "I need to get my son back, and out of the claws of that deceitful woman, called Ingrid."

"I agree, master."

"Thank you for your honesty, Luke."

"It's my greatest pleasure to be of help to my Alpha." Luke bowed.

"What would you have me do? It'd be Theodore's father's birthday in three months, and I need to get my hands on that wolf bust." Ingrid was on a call and in her bedroom, sitting on the edge of her bed.

She was getting a gift for Brynn on his birthday, which was to come in three months. She had set her mind to outshine whatever present anyone might give that day; her only goal for that day was to impress Brynn.

"I don't care if you have to kill to get your hands on that wolf bust. Armando is a rare sculptor who sculpts once in two blue moons, and you know that. I don't want it commissioned, Brynn's eyes must be the first to behold it."

"The man has a thing for black; the black opal would be delivered on time to Armando to start sculpting. Don't make me teach you what to do. I have money as a substitute tool, use it, and if it doesn't work, show the human a hint of what might befall him for going against me." She smirked and ended the call.

Almost immediately, her phone rang again; it was Lucius calling.

Ingrid rolled her eyes, stood up, and grabbed her bag, ignoring the call.

She turned to her mirror, "Some people are just so daft," She said to her reflection, "Fortunately for me, I use them to not get my hands dirty."

"I will make you proud, mother," She said, looking at the ceiling. "It is already assured that my love, Theodore, would be the next Alpha, and that would make your daughter the Luna."

She smiled, looking back at the mirror, "Would it be evil of me to say that I just can't wait for that day to come?" Ingrid asked, "I sincerely don't care. For once, Foreclaws will feel the reign of a real Luna."

"No offense, Bianca," She mocked, "But the times of weak Lunas have long passed, it would soon be time for me."

She stepped out of her room and out of the house.