HIRAM'S POV:
"What?" I ask, hoping she will tell me she is joking, and she wants me back home because she misses me or something related to that, but her tone falters.
"It's so bad that the pack witch doesn't think he will survive."
My heart races as she says this, but I try to ground myself. I am a twenty-nine-year-old man, and although I love my family, I should know that life is cruel, and no one is above death.
"Hiram?" she calls out again.
"I'll be there soon. Just give me a moment," I say to her, then I end the call.
Taking a deep breath, I think of whom to call first. My mind races to Juniper, and I know she will not take this news lightly, but there is nothing I can do, so I put a call across to Winston.
"Did you get a call from my mother?"
"No, sir. She didn't call, but is everything okay?" he asks, and I exhale deeply.
"I just got a call from her and she says my father has been injured. The Lycan's struck, and the witches do not think he will make it."
"That is bad," he says, then I hear Juniper in the background.
"Is that Hiram?" she asks, and I quickly respond. "Tell her no."
"No," he answers, then I hear a door open, and I assume one of them must have left the room.
"I have to go back to the Pack right now, so I will need you to help Juniper with moving and everything."
"You can count on me, sir."
With this, I end the call, then I step on the gas, making my way to the house. As soon as I stop in front of the house, I take out my phone to text Alex, but the front door opens, and she walks through. I let out a sigh, opening the door of my car.
"I forgot I live with you, and you can come in and out of my house anytime," I say with sarcasm dripping from my words. She smirks, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, how considerate of you to remind me. I would have totally forgotten if you hadn't pointed it out," she shoots back.
I inhale deeply, trying to compose myself.
"Listen, I need to get back home," I say, keeping my voice steady, as though I didn't have a million problems pressing around my neck. "My father's sick. The Lycans attacked."
Her expression falls for a second.
"I'm sorry, Hiram. That's... that's awful." She says, walking up to me.
I do not want to dwell on her sympathy, but I want her to return to the pack with me, but I know she will not easily agree to that, so I come up with a lie.
"Your parents want to see you," I tell her, my eyes locking on hers, hoping she would believe it. The shift in her expression is immediate. Her eyes widen.
"You told them I was here with you in L. A.?" Her voice rises as she grabs her forehead. "Way to go, Hiram."
"No, I didn't. They only asked that you return with me because they want to see you." I try to play it safe. Then she takes a deep breath.
"Why are you scared? Did you.."
"It's nothing. Let's just go, and if they ask, I just returned from visiting my aunty up north, and I had a bumpy ride."
"Got it." I press my lips in a hard line, then she turns around, walking back into the house while I follow her.
As we make our way up the stairs to the portal room, I try to hold on to the amusement clawing in my chest. I can almost picture her mad face when she realizes I have tricked her. Soon we reach the room, then I click the panel on the wall, opening the door. We enter the portal room, and I take a moment to glance around its cool stone walls and dim lighting. The last time I was here was about four months ago when I was running away from the pack. At the center of the room sits an archway. Alex walks to it, then she clicks the button by the side, and the portal comes to life.
"Are you coming or not?" she asks, then she walks into it before I can answer.
I follow suit. Soon, the cool air of the portal room is replaced with the crisp, earthy scent of the forest. The hum of the portal fades into the background as the vast estate of my family comes into view. The mansion is massive with tall, grand windows. It is more of a castle, and the structure has been in existence for centuries. Surrounding the house is a sprawling compound, and lawns with well-manicured hedges. Mother always makes sure they are trimmed bi-monthly. Guards stand at attention, and as I step forward, they bow their heads in unison. I nod back, acknowledging their presence. But then, I do not wait for them as I begin to move with Alex.
"My prince, do we get the royal car?" One guard asks, but before I can answer, Alex chips in.
"There will be no need for that," she says.
With a flick of her finger, we're standing right in front of the grand doors of the mansion.
"Keep up, Howler," Alex says, glancing at me as she pushes the front doors open. "We're in the pack now. I can use my magic however I want." I follow her inside, counting down on when I will hear the voices of either Hera or Hana as they race down the stairs to embrace me, but as soon as I reach the sitting room, I find myself face to face with my mother and brother, Hollis, who is speaking with Alex's parents.
Their conversation stops abruptly as mother turns to face me.
"Nice of you to finally join us, Hiram." A slight smile tugs at her lips, then I tilt my head to Alex, who is getting emotional about her parents.
"They didn't ask you to come. I just needed company." Before she can react, her mother rushes to her and pulls her into a hug. In that moment, my mum's hand reaches out to mine, and I find her cheeks plastered on my chest.
Suddenly, I feel a twist in my angle, causing me to press my lips in a hard line, then I catch Alex's hand facing my direction before she lets go, releasing me.
"Where are Hera and Hana?" I ask as mother pulls away.
"Camp." Hollis answers before mum can, then I glare at the both of them, my brows slowly creasing.
"What camp? Is school not supposed to be in session?"
"Yes, but they cannot be here right now. I sent them off to the Everbloom Sanctuary so they can have a good time."
Her words make little to no sense to me because Everbloom is a camp where children and teens are sent to by parents and guardians when there is a problem at home. It is a general camp where pack members from different packs go to.
"And doesn't it tell them that there is a major problem that you are trying to conceal? That camp is for..."
"I know what it is for, Hiram!" she cuts in, then I shut my mouth with a sigh. "But at least they get to be happy while we deal with the problems."
Alex glances at me before walking away with her parents.
"Where is Hu?"
"He went with them," Mother answers, and I look at Hollis.
"And you allowed this?" I question Hollis, who doesn't say a word.
"If Hera and Hana get to leave, then I can condone it, because they are girls, and they are below eighteen. Hu is eighteen, and somehow I am the one who doesn't like to take responsibility."
"Hu is seventeen, and you would have known that if you cared even a little about this family, Hiram." Mother says, not caring about the weight of my anger, then she walks to a couch to sit.
"I didn't want a large crowd to be here, and it will be easier to deal with only two children," she says with her gaze on me. "Or one, depending on the field you want to play," she adds, then I rub my temples slowly.
"Mum, I didn't come to argue. Can I see father now?" I ask, then she shakes her head.
"He is resting, and no one can see him until tomorrow in the morning. Fix an appointment with his chief of staff, so you can see him tomorrow when it gets to your turn, since you have decided to act like an outcast!" Her voice rises in her throat, and I scoff.
At this point, I am slowly losing my patience, because I didn't intend to stay until the next day.
"You are being ridiculous, mother."
"Hey, watch how you speak to your mother!" Hollis cuts in, and I glare at him with my brows furrowed.
"Then both of you allow me to see my father!" I demand at once. Then she gets to her feet.
"Why? Is tomorrow too late for you?" She questions. "Because you would rather breeze in and out of your pack, then go back to Las Vegas to frolic around with human women."
Her words tell me where she is headed at. She is still angry I refused to marry Vera, Beta Vincent's daughter.
"I know your problem, mother, and I refuse to indulge in this conversation," I say, then I turn to Hollis.
"Nice to see you again, brother." I force a smile on my face. "But if you both will excuse me, I will be in my room, and while at that, help me fix a meeting with the chief of staff, will you?"
After this, I walk away.